The Hop kicks off on Friday evening and here is our in-depth guide to the full weekend, courtesy of Finn Honeywood:
This weekend, groundhoppers from around the country will converge in Sussex for GroundHopUK’s 2024 ‘Sussex Hop’. The event will spotlight six games from across the three tiers of the Southern Combination Football League (SCFL), beginning Friday evening in Roffey and ending Sunday afternoon in East Preston.
For those from out of town who may not be familiar with the teams, leagues or grounds involved, or simply those looking for a game or two to fill their weekend, this preview will give a brief insight as to what you can expect from this year’s Sussex Hop itinerary.
Game One – Friday 25 October, KO: 19:45
Roffey vs AFC Varndeanians
Competition: SCFL Premier Division (Step 5)
Venue: Roffey FC (Bartholomew Way, Horsham,West Sussex RH12 5JL)
Preview:
This year’s Sussex ground hop kicks off at the ‘Theatre of Trees’ with two sides placed firmly amongst the early chasing pack for the SCFL Premier Division playoff places.
Hosts Roffey, joint managed by Jack Munday and Jimmy Ferrar,earned promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history two years ago. Despite suffering relegation in their inaugural campaign at Step 5, the Boars bounced straight back up this year following a dominant season spent almost entirely at the Division One summit.
Formed in 1929 by a group of former students at Varndean School (Brighton), Varndeanians have been a mainstay in the Brighton & Hove non-league scene for decades. In 2015, the Vs took up residence at the Withdean Stadium, the former home of Brighton & Hove Albion before their move to the Amex in 2011.
Form:
Roffey:
League position: 9th out of 20
Last Five (all comps): LWLD(5-4p,L)L
AFC Varndeanians:
League position: 10th
Last Five: WLLLW
Roffey’s last outing on Tuesday night saw them exit the Sussex Senior Cup in the second round at the hands of Isthmian South East side Eastbourne Town, while Varndeanians will look to consolidate on a 5-0 league win over bottom side Little Common last Saturday.
Game Two – Saturday 26 October, KO: 11.00
Oakwood vs Alfold
SCFL Division One (Step 6)
Venue: Oakwood Sports and Social Club (Tinsley Lane, Crawley RH10 8AT)
Preview:
The first of three Saturday games sees a Division One matchup between two sides looking to turn the corner following tough starts to their respective seasons.
Based on the outskirts of Crawley, Oakwood have been regarded as having one of the premier youth setups in the county at club level, with the Oaks taking credit as the youth side of Brighton captain Lewis Dunk. Head Coach Mark Gilbert has been a prominent figure at the club for over a decade, first joining the club in 2011, combining management with chairman duties along the way.
Hailing from just over the West Sussex border in Surrey, Alfold have been members of the Southern Combination since 2015. Fold were Division One champions in 2018, spending five years in the Premier Division until they were relegated back to step 6 in the 2022/23 season.
Form:
Oakwood
League position: 17th out of 20
Last Five: LWWDD
Alfold
League position: 19th
Last Five: LLLLL
Eight points from a possible 12 have given Oakwood a much-needed boost following a slow start to their league season. Things are looking bleak for Alfold as far as the standings are concerned with just one win and 11 defeats in the league, with only point-less Montpelier Villa keeping them off the foot of the table.
Game Three – Saturday 26 October, KO: 14.30
Jarvis Brook vs Southwater
SCFL Division Two (Step 7)
Venue: Limekiln Playing Fields (Palesgate Lane, Crowborough TN6 3HG)
Preview:
The weekend’s only venture into Division Two pits together two sides who have both made strong starts to the season.
Jarvis Brook have continuously been at the top end of the table in Division Two for the last couple of years. In 2022/23 the club achieved a league and cup double, however were not promoted to Division One due to ground grading, meaning runners-up Copthorne were promoted. Head coach Jacob Baldwin first took up his position in May 2022, having had previous coaching experience with Southend United and Crawley Town.
Southwater, just south of Horsham, have comfortably solidified their place in Division Two with back-to-back midtable finishes. Founded in 1958, the Swifts share facilities with the village cricket team at Southwater Sports Club, which has been around for over 125 years.
Form:
Jarvis Brook
League position: 2nd out of 13
Last Five: LWWWW
Southwater
League position: 4th
Last Five: WLDWW
Jarvis Brook have been in sparkling form in recent weeks with an aggregate goal difference of 27-1 in their last four games, two of which came at home with 6-0 and 8-0 wins over Bosham and Upper Beeding respectively. Like Saturday’s hosts, Southwater have only lost on one occasion in the league this season.
Game Four – Saturday 26 October, KO: 17:45
Crowborough Athletic vs Hassocks
SCFL Premier Division
Venue: Crowborough Community Stadium (Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Aldervale Cottages, Crowborough TN6 3FY)
Preview:
Staying in Crowborough for Saturday’s final action, the Premier Division retakes centre stage as Crowborough Athletic play host to league leaders Hassocks.
Crowborough Athletic returned to the SCFL in 2022/23 having spent eight years in the Southern Counties East Football League. Last season had a bittersweet ending for the Crows, with an impressive 3rd place finish culminating in a play-off semi-final defeat on penalties to Newhaven. Crowborough also made it to the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to now Isthmian South East side Steyning Town.
One of two sides remaining unbeaten in the entire SCFL, Hassocks sit atop the Premier Division standings having lost out in last season’s other play-off semi-final to eventual winners Eastbourne Town. The Robins are the division’s longest serving team, having remained there since promotion from the old County Division Two in 1994/95.
Form:
Crowborough Athletic
League position: 6th
Last Five: WWLLW
Hassocks
League position: 1st
Last Five: WWWWW
Tuesday night saw Crowborough advance to the Sussex Principal R.U.R Cup semi-final with a 3-0 victory over league rivals Crawley Down Gatwick. Victories have been the regularity for Hassocks of late. A 2-0 win over Combined Counties outfit Camberley Town saw them reach the FA Vase second round, their joint furthest run in the competition.
Game Five – Sunday 27 October, KO: 11:00
Pagham vs Loxwood
SCFL Premier Division
Venue: Pagham FC (Nyetimber Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 3JY)
Preview:
Sunday gets underway on the West Sussex coast as hosts Pagham look to get their season back on track as they welcome Loxwood to Nyetimber Lane.
Jason Mines’ Pagham are another club who have recently returned to the Southern Combination after a one-year stint in the Wessex Premier Division in 2022/23. The Lions’ best historical period came in the 80s, when they won the old Division One (now Prem) three times including a treble winning season in ‘88/89 (Division One, County League Cup, R.U.R Cup).
Just down the road from Alfold, Loxwood have done well in maintaining their Premier Division status over the last few years. Known as the Magpies, Loxwood have spent a lot of their history in the West Sussex League. They made it to the FA Cup Preliminary round for only the third time ever this season, earning a trip to Isthmian South East side Margate.
Form:
Pagham
League position: 17th
Last Five: DLLLL
Loxwood
League position: 12th
Last Five: LLLLW
Pagham will be looking for only their second home victory of the season since their opening day thrashing of Crawley Down Gatwick; their last game was a 3-1 defeat at Tunbridge Wells in the FA Vase first round on Tuesday. Loxwood had a great start to the season collecting 11 points from a possible 15 in the league, however a turn of unfortunate results has cooled their early form.
Game Six – Sunday 27 October, KO: 14.30
East Preston vs Godalming Town
SCFL Division One
Venue: The Lashmar (Lashmar Road, East Preston, Littlehampton BN16 1ES)
Preview:
The final match of the 2024 Sussex Hop includes two teams with playoff aspirations in SCFL Division One.
It’s been far from smooth sailing for East Preston since they were relegated from the Premier Division in 2021/22, with only two points keeping EP off the bottom of the table last term. Situated between Worthing and Littlehampton, East Preston had their best period under the management of current Horsham boss Dominic Di Paola in the early 2010s. Having gained Division Two romotion and an R.U.R Cup win, Di Paola led the club to the Division One (Prem) title in 2013, however were denied promotion to the Ryman league due to ground grading.
Two time winners of the Surrey Senior Cup, Godalming Town have been a key player in Division One over the last few seasons, reaching the play-off semi-final and winning the Div. One Challenge Cup in 2022/23. Having played their football at Wey Court since 1970, Godalming renamed their home in honour of former club president of 57 years, Bill Kyte, after his passing in 2018.
Form:
East Preston
League position: 8th
Last Five: WWLLL
Godalming Town
League position: 11th
Last Five: DDDLD
East Preston have had a solid start to this Division One campaign winning seven and drawing two of their 13 games played so far. EP’s Sussex Senior Cup exploits landed them a home tie against National League South side Worthing, who came away 3-1 winners at The Lashmar. Godalming boast the second best defensive record in the league with 10 goals conceded so far, with only league leaders Seaford Town having conceded fewer.