05/09/10

Club Weekend Round Up

'Goalkeeper' & Goalscorer Celebrate Another Incredible Match In The History Of Eastbourne Borough
Pic www.pixelationphotography.co.uk

Details of the incredible game .v. Darlington where 9 man Eastbourne Borough fought back from a goal down to grab a draw are now online.

The Reserves also lost their goalkeeper to a red card on Saturday : - a 4-0 reverse the result at Hampton & Richmond Borough. This morning Priory lane saw the U18's win 6-0; Little Common the visitors.

Supporters are advised that the Home Fixture .v. Rushden & Diamonds has been delayed by 24 hours and will now take place at Priory Lane on
Wednesday 29th September 2010 - KO 7.45 p.m.

John Terry Watches Boro Fight Back As His Brother 'Skippers' Darlington - Pic : Lee Smith

On Non-League day Priory Lane welcomed Chelsea captain John Terry as he came to support his brother Paul, captain of the visitors Darlington. He chatted to Boro officials and supporters before the game, at half-time, and after, staying on well after the final whistle to sign autographs and have pictures taken with both young and old. Although he did not get to see the result he would have wanted for his brother it is hoped he enjoyed his brief visit to Eastbourne Borough, his willingness to engage with all a credit to him.

____________________________________________

03/09/10 : Updated

Text Alerts .... And Players On Loan At The Rooks

UK Media request that any fans who registered for Boro Text Alerts last (bank holiday) weekend re-register. A technical error has led to their details not being lodged for the service(s).

The club can also confirm that Kane Wills and Ollie Rowe have gone on loan to BSBS side Lewes FC.

____________________________________________

01/09/10

Support Borough on 'Non-League Day'

EBFC - Your Town - Your Club - The Highest Standard Of Football EVER In Eastbourne
Pic : Pixelation Photography

Eastbourne Borough are anticipating another big crowd through the Priory Lane gates this Saturday for the first-ever clash with former Football League club Darlington on 'Non-League Day'.

With no Premier League or Championship fixtures this weekend, and England playing on Friday night, a campaign initiated by QPR fan James Doe is urging those who would usually go to top-flight matches to instead 'adopt' their local side for the day.

Non-League Day has the backing of the Football Supporters Federation, Conference sponsors Blue Square and the Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust. It has also received national press coverage and is spreading fast across the Internet, via fans’ forums and club websites. The Eastbourne Herald, in the shops from Friday, will also be running a full-page feature in its sports pages, promoting Non-League Day.

James hopes Non-League Day will encourage those who normally go to watch big teams to take in a game at a nearby club and those who usually travel up to watch any of the big London clubs will be welcomed with open arms as visitors to Priory Lane, for a match with one of the biggest clubs in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Kick-off is 3pm and the game will be UNSEGREGATED.

Borough chairman Len Smith said: "There's a lot of people from the Eastbourne area who go up to watch league games in London. We hope those who have never tried it at Priory Lane will come along, enjoy the experience and be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the football. We really want to get the gates up to 1,500 this season. That would make us more comfortable and we'd maybe even be able to strengthen the squad. If we can keep playing as we have done at home hopefully people will keep coming."

Garry Wilson's side will be hungry for points after two defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend, which has left them in 14th in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Since their relegation from League Two, Darlington have made a steady start to life as a non-league outfit. They have beaten Gateshead and Newport County but away from home have only managed three draws, and the Quakers are currently ninth. Their squad includes midfielder Paul Terry, brother of Chelsea and England defender John, who is their leading scorer so far with two goals.

Tickets are priced at £14 for adults, £10 concessions and £4 for children. Stand tickets will cost an extra £2. Free car parking for around 400 vehicles is available at the ground.

A poster advertising the Darlington, and all September fixtures, is now available from the Downloads section of the site - here.

____________________________________________

31/08/10 : Updated

Club Weekend Round Up

Details of the 1st XI Bank Holiday Weekend defeats are now online via the Fixtures page.

The Reserves lost 3-2 away at Beaconsfield SYCOB on Saturday whilst the 18's beat a Sussex Schools side 2-1 on Sunday AM.

A Blank Bank Holiday

A challenging Bank Holiday weekend of football saw The Sports drop to 14th in the BSP table.

Boro fans at Priory Lane Saturday witnessed a great comeback from 2 down only to lose to a cruel strike in the closing minutes - 3-2 AFC Wimbledon the scoreline ..... whilst Monday saw a much changed Sports take on Cambridge United at The Abbey. 2 down in the 1st 45 was too much this time, and despite a fine performance and the bar coming to The U's defence Boro drew their 1st scoring blank of the season to lose 2-0.

Full details of both games to follow this evening.

 

___________________________________________

26/08/10

Histon Report .....

Details of the point earned at Histon, with the help of Matt Langston (above) returning to his old club, are now online.

..... and Bank Holiday Preview

Ex Don & Local Resident Neil Jenkins

An Eastbourne Borough side unbeaten in three matches chase more points over the Bank Holiday weekend with two attractive fixtures, at home to second-placed AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and at former Football League club Cambridge United on Monday (3pm kick-offs).

Garry Wilson's side won both those matches last season and will be looking to build on a good start which has seen them earn seven points from the first four games to sit third in the Blue Square Bet Premier table. They were on course for another victory when leading 1-0 at Histon on Tuesday night, only for an unstoppable 87th minute free-kick to deny them maximum points.

Last year's home match with AFC Wimbledon attracted the biggest-ever league crowd at Priory Lane (3,108) and another sizeable attendance is anticipated with the match all-ticket for AWAY supporters only (full ticket details for AFC Wimbledon fans are on the Dons' official website - www.afcwimbledon.co.uk). Terry Brown's side, in only their second season in non-league's top flight, have made an impressive start to the campaign and lie second, with three wins in four matches. They suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, however, going down 1-0 at Rushden & Diamonds.

Tickets are priced at £14 for adults, £10 concessions and £4 for children. Stand tickets will cost an extra £2. Free car parking for around 400 vehicles is available at the ground.

Two days later - and six days after their jaunt to Histon - Borough's part-timers will journey back to Cambridgeshire for the match with Cambridge United. Borough took the spoils at the R Costings Abbey Stadium in January thanks to a Jamie Taylor header and will be hoping for a similar result against the U's who, ahead of this weekend, have yet to win, having drawn three games and lost one.

The Eastbourne Borough Supporters' Club coach will be leaving Priory Lane at 10.45am - ring Les Baker on 01323 735378 for information on joining the supporters club and travelling away.

Speaking to the BBC this week ahead of this weekend's matches, Borough boss Garry Wilson said: "It's two big games for us but that's what we're in the Conference for, that's where we want to be playing our football. We will pull in a big crowd on Saturday for AFC Wimbledon and then we'll look forward to going to Cambridge on Monday."

Reserves Abandoned

Boro Reserves were 4-1 up last night .v. Tonbridge Angels, Ethan Strevett and a hat-trick of Andy Atkin headers putting the side well on top. However torrential rain saw the game abandoned on 60 minutes due to standing surface water.

____________________________________________

23/08/10

Draw At The Stutes

Boro returned from Cambridgeshire with a point following yesterdays 1-1 draw at Histon. The Sports created several chances over the 90 minutes and Ross Treleaven's (above left) early strike looked like claiming all 3 points until a wonderful free-kick 4 minutes from time drew the hosts level.

Full report to follow soon.

 

Free Entry With Airbourne Voucher

Eastbourne Borough FC are flying high in the league at present - and the club is now offering free entry to one of two selected matches to those with vouchers from the recent Airbourne air show.

It has teamed up with Eastbourne Borough Council's tourism team, which printed the vouchers in the 2010 Airbourne Souvenir Programme. They were intended to be used against the first home game of the season, .....

..... but are now also valid for the league matches with Darlington on Saturday September 4 and Altrincham on Saturday September 18.

The voucher CANNOT be used for the fixture against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday August 28. Only one voucher can be redeemed per person per season, and the offer expires on September 18, 2010.

The match against Darlington, relegated from the Football League just last season, is in particular expected to attract a big crowd, with September 4 being declared 'Non-League Day', a campaign to persuade fans of professional football clubs to instead go along to watch and support their local side.

Last season's home match with Altrincham ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw and this year's match is anticipated to be another closely-fought encounter.

____________________________________________

23/08/10

Hotshots Head To Histon

Matt Langston - Returns To The Glassworld Stadium This Tuesday

Boasting the Blue Square Bet Premier's most lethal attack, Eastbourne Borough head to Histon on Tuesday night (August 24th) aiming to build on their impressive start to the new campaign.

After scoring twice in an opening day defeat at Tamworth, Borough have since taken their tally for the season to 11 in just three games, with a 5-0 thumping of Hayes and Yeading United followed by Saturday's 4-3 victory over Wrexham, which moved them up to third in the table. Not only have Borough netted more goals in the league than anyone else (league leaders Luton are next with eight), but they also have two of the Blue Square Bet Premier's top four goalscorers - summer signing Richard Pacquette (four) and centre-back Gary Elphick (three).

The part-timers from Priory Lane's next mission is a trip to Histon, two clubs with strikingly similar recent histories. Both won promotion out of their respective County Leagues in 2000, meeting for the first time in the Southern League Eastern Division in 2000-01. Borough were the first to break away, with their promotion to the Dr. Martens Premier Division in 2003, but the clubs were reunited when Histon were elevated to the Conference South in 2005. The Cambridgeshire side then pulled ahead, winning the league in 2007 and joining the non-league elite - but Borough were to follow them the next season. Both clubs also owed much of their rapid ascent to the stability of their management team - Steve Fallon took over at Histon in 1999, just a few months after Garry Wilson became Langney Sports manager, and was a permanent fixture for 10 years. However, he quit last season amid changes at boardroom level and and his successor John Beck, who was Fallon's assistant during the rise up the pyramid, resigned suddenly last Thursday, over budget restrictions. Histon have since appointed former Millwall and Brighton midfielder David Livermore for his first management job, at the age of just 30. Livermore will take charge of the team for the first time against Borough.


In the 14 league matches between the two sides, Borough have won three. Their last victory at Bridge Road came in 2006, when first half goals from Jay Lovett and Pat Harding helped Borough to a 2-1 win over a Histon side which at that time topped the Conference South. The Stutes went on to win promotion, but only after Borough had taken four points from them. Last season, Histon beat Borough 2-0 at the Glassworld Stadium, both goals coming from Nat Knight-Percvial - ironically, a member of the Wrexham team beaten by Borough on Saturday.

Former Histon captain Matt Langston is likely to play against his former club. Langston joined Borough in the summer after four years at Bridge Road.

____________________________________________

22/08/10

Club Weekend Round-Up

Another Game, Another Goal - Richard Pacquette Celebrates - Pic : Pixelation Photography

Details of Eastbourne Borough's last gasp victory over Wrexham are now online.

The Reserves started their season on Saturday, a trip to Leatherhead resulting in a 4-2 win for Shaun Harper's men, Ethan Strevett, Kane Wills, Billy Medlock & Nathan Crabb on the score sheet.

The 1st XI travel to Histon this Tuesday evening but The Reserves are at home on Wednesday at 7.45 - Tonbridge Angels the visitors.

____________________________________________

19/08/10

Buoyant Borough Welcome Wrexham

On-form Eastbourne Borough will be aiming for a hat-trick of home wins over Wrexham when the former Football League club visits Priory Lane on Saturday (August 21) 3 PM Kick-off.

Buoyant Borough thumped Hayes and Yeading United 5-0 on Tuesday night, their biggest ever Blue Square Bet Premier victory and most convincing home league win since January 2008. Striker Richard Pacquette grabbed a brace, and his strike partner Jamie Taylor was also on target, but with midfielder Matt Crabb and defender Gary Elphick also netting, it proves Borough have goalscorers in most positions. They now sit eighth in the fledgling league table ahead of the clash with Wrexham.

Sports have a proud home record to defend against the Dragons. Wrexham have tasted defeat on both of their previous visits to Priory Lane, 1-0 in 2008-09 and 2-1 in 2009-10. Matt Smart scored the winner for Borough in the first match, with Jamie Taylor and Liam Enver-Marum on target the following season.

A big crowd is hoped for at Priory Lane, with Wrexham - managed by former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders - smarting after a surprise 3-0 reverse at Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night. On opening day last weekend, the Dragons edged out Cambridge United 1-0, the winner coming from the boot of experienced striker Andy Morrell. Wrexham's squad also includes veteran former Chelsea and Leicester defender Frank Sinclair, now 38, and ex-Trinidad and Tobago international Marvin Andrews.

United Images

'Mine' appeals Richard Pacquette - Pic : Pixelation Photography

Images, courtesy of 'Pixelation Photography' (Click Here) are now available in the match report. Many thanks Neal for your photos.

____________________________________________

18/08/10 : Updated

Match Analysis Software

Eastbourne Borough F.C. will be using state of the art software technology this season with the use of the Dartfish Team Pro Analysis. Head Coach Nick Greenwood commented "This software will enable us to review all the recordings of each match and be able to capture and tag key moments from each game. The use of this as a coaching tool will be in-valuable, to show players in minute detail any performance issues and maximise time spent on the training ground."

The analysis software is being used at the highest level of sport to diagnose and improve performance and once again we are breaking new ground at the football club in being innovative and ensuring best use of time at the training ground. The phrase
"See, Learn, Succeed" is key.

The club are delighted to be able to use this software and extremely grateful to all at Dartfish Video Solutions for their support with this new venture.

A short promotional video is at the foot of the 'Fixtures' page of this site. Installation of Silverlight (via the page) and 'Active blocked content allowed' will be required should fans want to see the software in action.

Hayes & Yeading 'Blown Away'

Details of the 'thumping', record 5-0 home victory over Hayes & Yeading United, where Ross Treleaven produced a MOM performance, are here.

____________________________________________

16/08/10

Tamworth Details .....

Details of the defeat at Tamworth, where Seve Brinkhurst, Rikki Banks, Matt Langston and Richard Pacquette (above), all made their debuts are available onlne.

Congratulations to Gary Elphick. Despite the defeat the vice-captain scored and chalked up his 50th appearance.

..... Hayes & Yeading United Tomorrow At The Lane

Eastbourne Borough have the chance to make amends for Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Tamworth when they host Hayes and Yeading United on Tuesday night (August 17). Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

It will be the first competitive match at Priory Lane since Borough's dramatic win over Oxford United on April 24, which preserved their Blue Square Bet Premier status.
Groundstaff have worked hard over the summer to prepare the pitch for the season ahead and home fans will be streaming through the turnstiles hoping for the right result.

Borough's 2010-11 campaign did not begin the way they would have wanted at Tamworth. Having conceded three goals in the first half hour, new Sports signing Richard Pacquette opened his account with a header on 49 minutes to reduce the arrears, but the Lambs added a fourth midway through the second half, with Gary Elphick netting a consolation on 83 minutes.

Hayes and Yeading won their opening match, 2-1 against newly-promoted Bath City, thanks to two goals from on-loan Peterborough striker Ben Wright.

Borough will be keen to bounce back immediately in this clash of two old friends from Conference South days. In fact, their record against Hayes and Yeading United - and the two clubs in their pre-merger days - is immaculate. Garry Wilson's side have never tasted defeat against Hayes, Yeading or the merged club in 14 matches.

Both home matches against Hayes and Yeading, last season and in 2007-08, ended 3-1 to Borough - and both away games finished in a 1-1 draw. Prior to the merger, Borough won two and drew four of six matches with Hayes, and won three and drew one of four games with Yeading.

In last season's corresponding fixture, a Matt Ruby own goal put Borough in front just before half-time, and Liam Enver-Marum added two goals in five minutes shortly after the interval. Sean Canham grabbed a consolation on 72 minutes.

____________________________________________

15/08/10

Tamworth Defeat On The Road

The Sports have been maintained the unfortunate stat of losing their 1st BSBP fixture of the season with a 4-2 reverse at Tamworth this weekend.

A full match report will be posted Monday evening ....... meanwhile the squad prepare for Tuesdays home fixture .v. Hayes & Yeading - Kick-off 7.45.

____________________________________________

13/08/10

Here We Go Again !

All the training, talking and preparation will finally come to an end tomorrow as The Sports start their 3rd season in the Conference National division.

The spirit in the Priory Lane outfit is high. newly appointed skipper and long time servant Ben Austin is already looking forward to the challenge "Pre-season has been successful and the squad can't wait for the Kick-off." Tamworth, the squads 1st opponents this season, are also looking forward, manager Gary Mills commenting that the pre-season has been good but there is nothing like a league fixture. His side have a few injury concerns and Boro will hope to exploit this with a decent return from the opening exchanges. The Boro skipper and Manager Garry Wilson are both reported as looking for a quick start to the season.

Determination is apparent throughout the club with Chairman Len Smith looking to improve on last seasons league position. He also hopes that the Priory Lane crowd will "become the 12th man" and provide the backing vocally and in numbers at home and also on the road.

Here we go - months of challenges, highs, lows, tears and cheers are all expected - would we have it any other way ? I think not !

____________________________________________

12/08/10

Nick Gets His Licence

Nick - Providing Instruction Before Oxford United Last Season

After completing the final assessments in a two-year course last night at Priory Lane, Eastbourne Borough FC Head Coach Nick Greenwood has been awarded his UEFA"A" Licence Coaching Certificate. There are only around 1000 qualified coaches in England at this level, so he is delighted to join such a prestigious group. Nick's colleagues on the course over the past months have been Chris Sutton (Lincoln City), Eddie Howe (Bournemouth) Burnley player's Martin Paterson and Brian Jensen, and ex-Aston-Villa's European Cup winning Goalkeeper Nigel Spink to name but a few.

A pleased Greenwood commented "It has been hard-work but very rewarding to be awarded such a prestigious level of coaching licence. After two years of attending courses, taking and passing theory and practical coaching sessions in such company, I am proud to have successfully completed the award. As the level of the football challenge has risen over the last decade at Eastbourne Borough it is vital to keep pace with modern practices and development."

Congratulations Nick from all at Priory Lane.

Tamworth Details

The Sports have been advised by Tamworth that the home side's colours will be Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks for this fixture. The home keeper will be wearing a Green shirt.

The match will not be segregated and supporters can gain admission via gates 3/4/5/8. There is a £10 charge for supporter’s coaches, £5 for mini buses, £2 for cars. The game is a category ‘C’ game and prices can be found at

www.thelambs.co.uk.

____________________________________________

11/08/10 : Updated

BLUE SQUARE BET PREMIER 2010/11 Season Preview

What do the top two teams in the betting for next season’s Blue Square Bet Premier have in common? Money! Favourites Luton Town are managed by (Richard) Money and 5/1 second favourites Crawley Town have been throwing lots of it around. Neither club has escaped the attention of punters and the quotes of 3/1 for the Hatters and the huge 33/1 about the Sussex club winning the title have long gone. Luton were the 5/1 favourites at this stage last year and in a strange way their inability to confirm that quote has led to an even shorter price, as they have a second crack at promotion. It’s not that there will be less pressure at Kenilworth Road this season, if anything the opposite is true. Money took over from Mick Harford as Luton stuttered whilst getting used to Non-League football’s top flight. Now he has a full pre-season under his belt with some decent signings he can build on an unbeaten league run that goes back to the early days of March. Disappointment in the Play-Offs could be another motivational tool for his accomplished squad of players, the current 7/4 favourites appear to have everything in the right place for a strong assault. Crawley’s capture of last season’s joint top scorer Matt Tubbs from relegated Salisbury was the highlight of some frenzied transfer activity at the Broadfield Stadium. Manager Steve Evans knows exactly what it takes to win the division and his players will be kept up to the task with the Blue Square Bet Premier’s version of the ‘hairdryer’.

Luton will no doubt testify to the difficulty of climbing out of this highly competitive division and it’s no surprise to see recent calls from the high profile manager of Welsh giants Wrexham, Dean Saunders, demanding a third promotion place. Darlington and Grimsby Town are the newcomers dropping in from League 2 and both have been quick to embrace some real ‘Conference’ experience. Darlington have appointed former Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper to steer them back to the Football League. Cooper will be hoping to emulate the clubs achievements from the 1989-90 season when they bounced straight back as champions. The Quakers are 11/1 to win the division and 11/2 to go up by any means. Grimsby have captured proven goalscorer Charles Ademeno from Crawley and tried to retain some of the spirited squad which fought against a poor start to last season which eventually ended in the drop. Boss Neil Woods will no doubt have his work cut out to return the 15/2 third favourites to League 2 at the first time of asking and they start with a difficult away game at Crawley followed by games against York City and Luton in the first month of the campaign.

Mansfield Town start a third successive season in the division off the back of two mid-table finishes. The Stags have been given a realistic 18/1 quote for the title and feature towards the middle of the market with fellow former league clubs York City and Wrexham at 12/1 and 16/1 respectively. York improved immensely last term to set up a play-off final against Oxford United but it proved a bridge too far. If they can hold on to the prolific Richard Brodie past transfer deadline day then they look set for another top five finish. Cambridge United fans have been quietly confident that boss Martin Ling has got the right recipe for success after a decent end to last season and they are 7/1 to secure a promotion that has now eluded them for five seasons including two finishes as runners-up, for that reason they could appeal to some at 14/1 with each-way places paid to fourth at Blue Square.

The likes of AFC Wimbledon and Fleetwood Town have the right set-ups behind the scenes to warrant a place at Non-League’s top table and both are 20/1 to cement that with a title winning season. Some teams that have progressed through the pyramid and find themselves in the Blue Square Bet Premier just want to stay as long as they can for the ride but with four relegation places it usually makes for a fascinating end to each season.

Please remember to access www.bluesq.com/fans webpage where supporters can register to earn money for our club when they open a Blue Square account.

Testimonial Auction Extended

As part of their Testimonial Event Dean Lightwood and Ray Tuppen invited 'silent' auction bids for the following items:

2 tickets for a Manchester City home fixture, to include players lounge entrance for post match man-of-the-match award - kindly donated by City and England's Gareth Barry.

4 corporate hospitality tickets for Brighton & Hove Albion home game .v. Brentford - 28/09/10.
Includes pre-match meal and post match hospitality - gratefully received from the FDM Group.

Signed Brighton & Hove Albion shirt, worn and donated by Tommy Elphick.

Bids for the above items should include,
Your name,
Your address,
Your contact telephone number,
Your bid,

and can be sent to :

By Post -
Testimonial Auction,
Eastbourne Borough FC,
Priory Lane,
Eastbourne,
BN23 7QH

By e-mail -
web@ebfc.co.uk & ceo@ebfc.co.uk

Please note no monies to be sent at this time please !

The auction will now be open until 12.00 midnight on 17th of August - the 1st home fixture of the season. This is to allow people on holiday during the earlier auction timeframe to consider and place a bid.

Winners will be contacted soon after this date.

Reserves Defeat

Eastbourne Borough Reserves continued their pre-season with a 1-0 defeat at Saltdean.

____________________________________________

10/08/10

The Sports Prepare For The New Season

Pic: D. Bauckham

Eastbourne Borough begin their third season in non-league football's top flight on Saturday (August 14th) with an opening day trip to Tamworth.

It has been a busy summer on and off the pitch at Priory Lane as the part-time club prepares to take on the likes of Grimsby, Darlington, Luton and York in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Borough have strengthened their squad with five new signings in the close season, all with a good pedigree in the non-league game - goalkeeper Rikki Banks (Lewes), defender Matt Langston (Histon), midfielder's Steve Brinkhurst (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Kane Wills (Ebbsfleet United) and striker Richard Pacquette (York City).

Banks, 22, started his career as a trainee at Crystal Palace and was at Worthing prior to joining Lewes in 2008, where he was named player of the season last year.
Sussex-born Langston, 29, a long-term target for Borough, hit the headlines at Histon for scoring the goal that knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup in November 2008. He began at Watford before spells at Aldershot Town and Cambridge City.
Brinkhurst, 19, and Wills, 20, both played for Brighton and Hove Albion against Borough in the 2009 Sussex Senior Cup final. Brinkhurst spent a period on-loan last season at Lewes, while Wills featured in the Blue Square Bet Premier for Ebbsfleet United. Both are talented young midfielder's looking to establish themselves at this level.

Like Langston, Pacquette, 27, also has an FA Cup pedigree as he scored at Anfield in Havant and Waterlooville's FA Cup fourth round tie against Liverpool in January 2008. Pacquette, who has won two international caps for Dominica, began his nomadic career at Queens Park Rangers, but spent the most successful period of his career at Worthing (30 league games, 17 goals), Havant (68 league games, 22 goals) and Maidenhead United (30 league games, 17 goals). He scored four times in 18 appearances for York City in 2009-10.

Up-and-coming youngsters Ross Treleaven, Ollie Rowe and Ethan Strevett have also impressed during Borough's pre-season warm-up matches. The club have won six of their seven friendlies - against Eastbourne Town (4-0), Brighton and Hove Albion (3-2), Tonbridge Angels (2-0), Hastings United (2-1), Lewes (3-1) and Eastleigh (4-0). The only loss came in a battling 0-1 reverse to npower League Two side Southend United.

Assistant manager Nick Greenwood is confident the quality of the new additions, plus the work done on the training ground in pre-season, will enable the club to get off to a flying start. He said: "The players have worked extremely hard, doing three sessions a week since the end of June. It is absolutely crucial to get a good start in this league. Every point matters and you need to start accumulating points from game one."

The match at Tamworth's The Lamb Ground kicks off at 3pm. The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw, Ben Austin scoring Borough's goal. Tamworth finished 16th last season, just three points ahead of Borough.

Eastbourne Borough's first home match of the new campaign is on Tuesday August 17, against Hayes and Yeading United, at Priory Lane. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Borough Go The Distance

Pic : D. Bauckham

Eastbourne Borough's part-time squad will certainly be going the distance this season - and will travel further than all bar eight other clubs in the entire country.

In total, Borough's team bus will travel 9,560 miles to the 23 Blue Square Bet Premier grounds - and the same distance back again. Only Swansea City in the Championship, Carlisle United, Hartlepool United and Plymouth Argyle in League One, Torquay United in League Two, Borough's league rivals Barrow and Gateshead and Southern League Premier Division side Truro City will go further this season.

No Premier League club will be travelling those sort of distances - Sunderland will be the best-travelled, doing 7,656 miles. Midlands-based Tamworth are the most handily placed club in the Blue Square Bet Premier, covering just 5,346 miles this season.
Borough, in contrast, will have to travel more than 1,000 miles in the space of a few days in March. They are due to travel to York City on Tuesday March 29 (586-mile round trip), come back to the south coast and then make a 594-mile round trip for a match against Southport four days later.

Eastbourne Borough assistant manager Nick Greenwood said the figures underlined the task facing his squad. He said: "I don't think some people appreciate how hard it can be, spending six or seven hours on a coach and then trying to come out and play football. It's all part and parcel of Conference life and goes with the territory and we're getting used to it, but it's not an easy thing to do. Having said that, it will be a great experience for the club to go to places like Grimsby, Darlington, Fleetwood and Southport for the first time."

TOP 10 TRAVELLING DISTANCES 2010-11
1. Carlisle United (League One), 12,174 miles
2. Plymouth Argyle (League One), 11,279
3. Hartlepool United (League One), 11,060
4. Torquay United (League Two), 10,869
5. Gateshead (Blue Square Bet Premier), 10,327
6. Truro City (Southern League Premier), 10,100
7. Swansea City (Championship), 9,987
8. Barrow (Blue Square Bet Premier), 9,779
9. EASTBOURNE BOROUGH (Blue Square Bet Premier), 9,560
10. Exeter City (League One), 9,397.

____________________________________________

08/08/10

Pre-Season Ends With Resounding Victory

Ethan Strevett (Here .v. B&HA) - An Impressive Cameo At Eastleigh :-: Pic : D. Bauckham

Eastbourne Borough completed their pre-season fixtures at Eastleigh yesterday. The Sports toiled in the 1st 45 but an early Gary Elphick header saw the side 1-0 up. The 2nd 45 was far more impressive with Matt Crabb, Richard Pacquette and Jamie Taylor extending the lead with fine finishes.

Captaincy 2010/2011

Pic : D. Bauckham

Eastbourne Borough are pleased to advise that Ben Austin (above) will serve as the club captain for the forthcoming season.
Ben joined Boro in June 2000 and has won numerous 'Player Of Year' awards during the decade - including Supporters and Managers award last year.
Congratulations Ben.

Pic : D. Bauckham

Ben Austin will be assistsed in his duties this year by Vice-Captain Gary Elphick. Gary's history at the club is very different from Ben's, the 2009/2010 season being the central defenders 1st at Priory Lane. He did, however, impress with his committed displays - congratulations Gary.

Reserves

Eastbourne Borough Reserves started their pre-season with a 3-3 draw at Priory Lane .v. Uckfield Town.

____________________________________________

06/08/10 : Updated

Pre-Season Fixtures Draw To A Close In Hampshire

Pic : D. Bauckham

The Sports pre-season fixtures complete this weekend with a trip to Blue Square Bet South side Eastleigh.

The Spitfires, old rivals from the BSS, have won 3 and lost 3 in their 'warm up' fixtures, a stand-out result a single goal defeat .v. Southampton.

Kick-off at The Silverlake Stadium is 3 PM Saturday.

Danny Backs The Red Devils - All In A Good Cause

Pic : D. Bauckham

At a recent Conference meeting the club were required to 'supply' a 1st XI squad member at the venue. Midfielder Dan Brown travelled to the Midlands for the event, accompanied by Chief Executive Mike Spooner, Football Vice-Chairman Mick Grimer and Football Secretary Myra Stephens. On the trip a member of each clubs playing staff were invited to take part in a competition to juggle the Blue Square Bet Square Football. The club are pleased to report that Dan won the competition with 34 'keep up's' and his prize was a free £250.00 bet with Blue Square Bet - any proceeds to be donated to the Blue Square's chosen charity. Dan's bet you may enquire ? ..... Manchester United to win the Premiership.

August Fixture Poster Available

A poster advertsising the August League fixtures is now available at the 'Downloads' section of this site.

____________________________________________

04/08/10

Testimonial Win .v. The Rooks

With goals from Rowe, Taylor, and Pacquette, Dean Lightwood and Ray Tuppen celebrated their Testimonials with a win over Lewes FC. Ollie Rowe started the ball rolling in the 24th minute before Jamie Taylor doubled the lead across the keeper on the hour. The visitors deservedly pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go before Richard Pacquette smashed the ball into the roof of the net for 3-1 and his 1st strike in a Boro shirt.

The duo are pictured above with Boro Chairman Len Smith and Match Sponsor Ross Greenwood of Advanced Blockage Clearance.

There was also a generous presentation to Dean & Ray from Lewes FC and thanks are extended to all at our neighbours for their contribution to a most enjoyable evening.

Please remember the auction items avaialble until 10/08/10. Details are listed below.

Spot On With FREE SMS Service For 2010/2011 Conference Premier Capmaign - Courtesy Of UK Media Limited

With Eastbourne Borough FC tackling their third season in the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier, the interest in 'The Sports' has been on the increase. So EBFC has teamed up with UK Media Ltd - responsible for ace tennis alerts at EastbourneTennis.com and EastbourneTennis.net.

The goal for this latest partnership is to keep fans on the ball for free during the 2010/2011 season, with red-hot news as well as match details from both home and away. These can only be sent directly to UK mobile phones, and even those overseas with mobiles can keep on the ball for free.

We kick off this season with three different alerts, which supporters of any team can sign up for and stop at any time:

RED-HOT NEWS // Match previews, Cup competitions, player news and exclusive quotes;

HOME MATCHES // Team line-up, substitutions, goals, red cards, half-time whistle, full-time whistle and short match report, and;

AWAY MATCHES // Team line-up, substitutions, goals, red cards, half-time whistle, full-time whistle and short match report.

For Free SMS Alerts on RED-HOT NEWS
To receive | text HOT2011 to 07530.781.888
To halt alerts | text STOP HOT2011 to 07530.781.888

For Free SMS Alerts on HOME MATCHES
To receive | text HOME2011 to 07530.781.888
To halt alerts | text STOP HOME2011 to 07530.781.888

For Free SMS Alerts on AWAY MATCHES
To receive | text AWAY2011 to 07530.781.888
To halt alerts | text STOP AWAY2011 to 07530.781.888

For further details see link to free text alerts at bottom of right hand info bar or via the Downloads section of this site. Supporters can also contact Monticelli on
07813 355979
____________________________________________

02/08/10

Auction Items For Testimonial

As part of their Testimonial Event Dean Lightwood and Ray Tuppen invite 'silent' auction bids for the following items:

2 tickets for a Manchester City home fixture, to include players lounge entrance for post match man-of-the-match award - kindly donated by City and England's Gareth Barry.

4 corporate hospitality tickets for Brighton & Hove Albion home game .v. Brentford - 28/09/10.
Includes pre-match meal and post match hospitality - gratefully received from the FDM Group.

Signed Brighton & Hove Albion shirt, worn and donated by Tommy Elphick.

Bids for the above items should include,
Your name,
Your address,
Your contact telephone number,
Your bid,

and can be sent to :

By Post -
Testimonial Auction,
Eastbourne Borough FC,
Priory Lane,
Eastbourne,
BN23 7QH

By e-mail -
web@ebfc.co.uk & ceo@ebfc.co.uk

Please note no monies to be sent at this time please !

The auction will be open until 12.00 midnight on 10th of August.
Winners will be contacted soon after this date.

Don't forget the main event - a testimonial fixture .v. local rivals Lewes FC takes place tomorrow, Tuesday evening, at Priory Lane, with a 7.45 kick-off.

____________________________________________