#COYD - Come on You Dockers

Newhaven 5 Midhurst and Easebourne 0, SCFL Premier Division Match #17 Just two weeks on from co-managers Sean Breach and Andy Cook celebrating their 400th game for the club, this afternoon’s match against Midhurst saw another Docker reach a significant milestone. Ten years ago to this very day, a young Jake Buss made his first appearance between the sticks for Newhaven. A decade later and much has changed at Fort Road. However, skipper Buss (now a little older and, hopefully, wiser) has been a consistent figure behind the Docker’s steady rise to becoming annual title contenders. Of the current players, only Lee Robinson has been here longer. A short presentation ahead of the match (albeit not just before kick-off due to someone being a bit of a spoilsport) recognised Buss’ achievement, with players, managers, officials and fans getting the chance to show their appreciation to Newhaven’s long-standing keeper. As had been the case at Loxwood a couple of weeks ago , all that remai...

Newhaven 1 Eastbourne Town 1, SCFL Premier Division match #16 With no Premier League or Championship matches due to take place for the next few weeks because of the upcoming World Cup (something I still can’t quite get my head around), has there ever been a better time for non-league football to enjoy the Saturday afternoon limelight? Probably not is the answer to that somewhat rhetorical question. With that in mind, we’ve been keeping our fingers loosely crossed that all our home games over the next few weeks might draw slightly larger crowds that usual.  And, with more than 300 turning up for this afternoon’s league encounter with Eastbourne Town, it would seem that this hope is well-founded. Hopefully a similar number can be replicated at next week's encounter against Midhurst and Easebourne. In fairness, Eastbourne Town are well known for having a loyal following, enjoying one of the best supports in the division. Even when, as like this season, results have not necessa...

Newhaven Ladies 3 Steyning Town Women 2, London & South East Women’s Football League Division 1 South, Match #10 Following two trips to Kent in the past two weeks, Newhaven were back on home (artificial) turf this afternoon, entertaining fellow Sussex side Steyning in a LSEWFL Division 1 South match. Like the Dockers, Steyning have endured something of a mixed start to the season. Having picked up seven points from their opening seven games, they went into the game knowing a win would move them level on points with their hosts, and with a couple of games in hand. This was undoubtedly a game that both sides will have had designs on winning. With Newhaven manager Andy Cook serving a stadium ban following a dismissal in a cup match away at Brentford a few weeks ago (seems a tad excessive, but there you have it), it was left to Martin McLaughlan to be the voice in the dug-out. Something I’m sure he will have relished! Shorn of their influential gaffa, you could have been forgiv...

Loxwood 1 Newhaven 6, SCFL Premier Division match #15 The Dockers headed north for one of their longest league away trips of the season this afternoon, visiting lowly Loxwood in the SCFL Premier Division. The match marked a significant milestone for the Dockers managerial duo of Sean Breach and Andy Cook, who were taking charge of Newhaven for an almost unprecedented 400th time. A phenomenal achievement for both managers. I’m sure I speak for most Docker’s fans, officials and players when I say that hopefully there will be many, many more games to come from the hardworking – and hugely popular – gaffas! Unfortunately, despite the significance of the occasion, Cook was sadly absent from the ground, serving a ban following a recent dismissal at a women’s game (he pulls double-duty managing the women’s team as well - selfless). Good to see that sentiment is, as always, alive and well at the good old FA! In a quirk of fate, the man in the opposing dugout for the co-manager’s 400 th...