West Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 31st August 2024

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

Sussex Rangers 0 Watersfield 0, attendance 26

@ King George V Recreation Ground

Summerley Lane

Felpham

PO22 7HN

No Admission or Programme.

I picked today’s game for two reasons. Firstly, it was the only ground I hadn’t already visited in this division and secondly, it is not a ground that survives very often when it’s raining…..something that seems to be a problem all too frequently these days. Anyway, it was the season opener for both. Sussex Rangers were known as Felpham Colts last season, but changed their name during the summer. They’d finished second bottom, winning just twice in 22 games, but somehow managed to avoid relegation, whilst Watersfield had finished seventh. It was a bit concerning to see the last Tweet from Sussex Rangers, back on August 17th, stating that they had withdrawn their first team from the Premier Division for this season, although the fixture was showing on the league’s F.A. Full Time website. Neither club, or the league Twitter, bothered replying as to whether it was indeed going ahead okay. Thankfully, on arrival about an hour before kick off, it was all good! There’s not a lot here. Just a brick built changing room and a huge field, where there appeared to be four pitches. Today’s game was on the one in the far right corner, furthest from Summerley Lane. It was roped on one side. Just to give it a bit of a ‘Sunday League’ feel, the crossbars were bent downwards in the centre, particularly at one end and the home ‘keeper played in a yellow shirt with black sleeves, very similar to the Watersfield kit…..not that anyone (apart from me?) seemed to notice, or even care, for that matter.

Not much to say about the game. Sussex Rangers were poor and never looked like scoring. Watersfield tried, but just couldn’t create anything of any real quality. They really pushed hard in the last ten minutes or so and were unlucky not to have made the breakthrough, going close a few times, but kept out by last ditch blocks and tackles. The final whistle was greeted by much cheering and whooping from the home players, obviously very pleased with their afternoon’s work.