FA Vase finalists heading to ‘Lane’
SUNDAY’S losing FA Vase finalists Cray Valley Paper Mills FC will be swapping Wembley for Footes Lane at some point next season.
The Southern Counties East League side who went down 3-1 to Chertsey Town FC in extra-time at non-league finals day at Wembley two days ago are one of three first-time opponents for the Green Lions.
Defeat denied Cray Valley – who had 40-year-old former Charlton, Leyton Orient and Jamaica striker Kevin Lisbie in their side – a fantastic double for the Eltham-based club.
Also on the Green Lions’ fixture list for the first time are Southern Combination Premier Division champions Chichester City, who are based in west Sussex, and the Brighton-based side Whitehawk, who were relegated from the Bostik Premier Division.
Tony Vance and squad will also reacquaint themselves with an old foe in Burgess Hill Town, who have also been relegated from the Premier Division.
They were opponents of the Green Lions in the Guernsey club’s first two seasons at this level.
Vance’s side beat them twice in 2013-14 but the Hillians got the upper hand on both occasions the following season on the way to winning the league.
Other than those four opposition changes, the league remains very familiar. The full Bostik South East list for 2019-20 is: Ashford Utd, Burgess Hill Town, Chichester City, Cray Valley PM, East Grinstead Town, Faversham Town, Guernsey, Hastings United, Haywards Heath Town, Herne Bay, Hythe Town, Phoenix Sports, Ramsgate, Sevenoaks Town, Sittingbourne, Three Bridges, VCD Athletic, Whitehawk, Whitstable Town and Whyteleafe.
Meanwhile, the Guernsey club have released more details surrounding their use of Footes Lane while running track relaying works are under way.
The Bostik League has agreed to arrange GFC’s first few fixtures away from home until 14 September. If the Green Lions are scheduled to play at home after that date but before Footes Lane work is finished, the Guernsey side have permission to switch home and away fixtures with the scheduled opposition with their agreement.
If the opponent does not agree, GFC will have to hire a pitch in the UK to play ‘home’ games on the mainland. The contractor is due to hand the facility back on 30 September.
If all goes to plan, only one game would be affected and GFC has asked if it will be feasible to use the pitch and stand in the last couple of weeks of the contract.
