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East Grinstead Town Football Club was formed on May 8, 1890 although it was another ten years before they played their first competitive matches as founder members of the Mid Sussex Football League. In those early days the club played in blue and white with the town's coat of arms on the breast pocket. It was some years before they adopted their current colours of amber and black and were nicknamed 'The Wasps,' both of which survive to this day. The Wasps were original members of the Sussex County League when it was founded in 1920. A succession of promotions and relegations was the norm since the Second World War until taking the Second Division title in 2007/08 by 18 points and firmly cementing themselves with a place in the First Division. At the end of the 2013/14 season they gained promotion from the Sussex County League as runners-up after finishing 17 points adrift of Champions East Preston and two points ahead of third placed Littlehampton Town. The Wasps ended their first season at Step 4 in the bottom three but were reprieved from relegation and have fared little better since then, finishing in 20th and 18th place.

We have met four times in the FA Cup, in 2002 we lost 3-4 away with goals from Dave Peachy, Sam Denly and Andy Thompson. In 2007, after drawing 0-0 at Winch’s Field, there was a 3-1 away victory courtesy of a Martin Chandler penalty, Dave Soutan and Luke Harvey. Last season saw Danny Williams score the only goal in a 1-0 home victory. In the Isthmian League we have yet to lose to East Grinstead with four wins and three draws and a positive goal difference of 12.

The Wasps only two victories in their last nine games have come against Kent sides – Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, the later were beaten away last Saturday with a 90th minute winner. They currently sit in 21st place, 16 points and 6 positions below Herne Bay. East Grinstead have played two matches more than the Bay.

Our three previous away games against East Grinstead have seen crowds of 97, 108 and 104, an average of 103. The Wasps are 19th in the Isthmian League Division One South attendance table with an average of 101 (high 263, low 60).

The GAC Stadium, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead. RH19 3LS. 68.2 miles from Winch’s Field. Estimated journey time 1 hour 24 minutes.

In the corresponding weekend in Herne Bay’s Isthmian League history Bay won 2-1 at Walton & Hersham in 2013/14, drew twice Folkestone Invicta (2-2, home, 2014/15), Walton Casuals (4-4, away, 2016/17) and lost twice Maidstone United (1-3, home, 2012/13), Corinthian-Casuals (0-1, home, 2015/16). Last season’s game at Walton Casuals was the last away draw, since when there have been 20 matches without a stalemate.