News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Match Preview

Match Preview

sam surbey11 Jan 2018 - 16:16
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.hernebayfootballcl

Greenwich borough

Greenwich Borough were formed as Woolwich Borough Council Athletic Club in 1928 and played most of their home games at Danson Park, Welling. The club joined the Woolwich and District League and were champions at the first attempt. Owing to their success, "Borough" was awarded Senior status and joined the Kent Amateur League Division 1, where they failed to build upon a bright start over a number of years. The club moved a ground at Harrow Meadow, Eltham (now built over for housing) in 1933 and briefly disbanded during World War II. In 1948 they relinquished their Senior status to join the South London Alliance League Division Two gaining promotion as champions in 1954/55 and were promoted to the South London Alliance Premier Division for the 1956/57 season. The club then enjoyed their most successful period ever when they won the Premier Division title for six years running from 1961 to 1966 inclusive.

In 1965 the club changed their name to London Borough of Greenwich FC. In 1976, the club transferred to the London Spartan League. The club regained its Senior status the following year. For the 1984/85 season, the club changed to its current name of Greenwich Borough FC upon joining the Kent League. They won the title in 1986/87 and 1987/88. During the 80’s Greenwich had the slight edge in the in the games between the two teams, winning five, with 3 draws and Bay gaining four victories.

The balance changed in the 90’s, Herne Bay coming out on top with 10 wins from 20 matches with 3 draws and seven defeats.

Herne Bay again came out on top in the first ten years of this century, winning 11 and losing 9. At the end of the 2008/09 season Harrow Meadow was sold to property developers, with the club subsequently groundsharing with Holmesdale. Going into the 2010’s Herne Bay were runners-up for the second year in succession in the Kent League, on goal difference, in 2010/11 with Greenwich in 4th. The following campaign Herne Bay won the league, securing the title at Oakley Road, Holmesdale, 2-0 against Greenwich Borough in front of 72 mainly travelling supporters. Greenwich ended the season 16th and bottom of the table. Bay were promoted to the Isthmian South.

When the Kent Keague was renamed the Southern Counties East Football League for the 2013/14 campaign and with backing of sponsors DGS Marine, Greenwich became a leading light in the league, moving in with Dartford at Princes Park, and finished as Champions in 2015/16 to gain promotion to the Isthmian South. In 2016 the club agreed a 30-year lease to share Cray Valley PM's Badgers Sports ground. They finished 3rd in their first season but lost 4-3 to Corinthian-Casuals in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

Last season Greenwich beat Herne Bay 2-0 at Badgers Sports ground and 5-0 at Winch’s Field. Greenwich are 16th in the Isthmian League attendance table with an average of 130 (high 204, low 89).

Greenwich started this season slowly, 11th after nine games, but 2 games later they were in the top six. 28 games in and with Greenwich in 3rd place, manager Gary Alexander quit, following budget cuts, having been unbeaten in the last nine matches (five draws and four wins). Tom Carlse, Liam Hickey and Huseyin Torgut took charge of the Club’s trip to Hastings United last Saturday and came away with a 5-2 victory. Paul Barnes, formerly the coach of Ashford United, has been announced as their new manager. They currently sit in 4th place, 11 positions and 19 points ahead of Herne Bay. Greenwich have played twice more.

The return is at Winch’s Field on Saturday 28/04/2018 (the last match of the season).

Results in the corresponding weekend games in previous seasons saw a waterlogged pitch cause the postponement of the game at Burgess Hill Town in 2012/13, a disastrous 5-1 defeat at Ramsgate in the following campaign and in 2014/15 the match at South Park could not take place because of the recent rains. In 2015/16 Molesey were beaten 3-1 at Winch’s Field thanks to an own goal, Dan Johnson and a Danny Walder penalty, and Walder was again on target from the spot in 2016/17 when Bay went down 3-1 at Lewes.

Further reading