This week's Non-League Paper contains a feature on the revival of Ramsgate. The Kent town is, of course, the home of VOTV editor Rick Everitt, ousted last year as Thanet Council leader. Although attendances at Ramsgate have grown from around 185 a year ago to 700 now (863 for last week's clash against Haywards Heath Town) I doubt whether the Rickster goes there.
Pushing for a play off place in the Isthmian League South-East, Ramsgate have hired 61-year old former Gillingham and Welling United boss Steve Lovell as manager. Whether the hiring of the former Glaziers and Spanners striker is quite the coup they think remains to be seen.
At my own non-league club, Leamington, I am known as 'the Charlton supporter'. The Baggies seem to be the favourite Football League club, although there is also a history of Villa support (there is a bit of tension with Coventry City with one song directed at them). I am secretary of the vice-presidents club which offers a half time cup of tea and the biscuit of your choice in a 'lounge' (aka portakabin).
I am thinking of doing a survey of the non-league clubs that Charlton fans go to watch when Charlton are not playing, or at least not at home. My hunch is that the favourites would include Bromley (supported by the SLP's Louis Mendez), Welling United (perhaps less so these days), Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet. However, I would be interested to hear other suggestions for survey prompts.
In days gone by there were quite a few fans who alternated watching Charlton and Millwall and some occasionally went to Arsenal.
I used to go to Welling. Several times I went to see Dartford, now I occasionally watch Bromley FC. It's fairly local and they have a decent team. I just bought tickets for FA Trophy Final, where they will playing Wrexham.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Drinking During the Game Welling are in trouble.
DeleteI lived the first 55 years of my life in Northfleet. So I would occasionally go to the Fleet (Gravesend & Northfleet now Ebbsfleet)
ReplyDeleteI moved near to Maidstone and promised myself I would go there sometime, but never did.
I moved again to the West Malling area which is between the two clubs. As yet since living here, I've still not visited either club, but then I've only been to Charlton once since the pandemic. For my 70th birthday with my son. Hospitality day V another local club. Gillingham who kindly capitulated 1-0 for me.
I should have mentioned the Fleet, also Maidstone as there are a lot of Addicks there.
DeletePleased that you saw a win against the Gills on hospitality day. I have only been once this season as mobility problems make the journey from Warwickshire taxing.
Delete"Welling United (perhaps less so these days)"
ReplyDeleteInterested to know why that is?
I moved away from SE London 25 years ago, but when I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, Welling was our standard non-league club. I loved it - you could spot yourself in the match photo in the News Shopper much more easily than you could at Charlton games at Selhurst Park :-)
We also used to go to Maidstone when they were playing at Dartford, particularly in their season in the 4th division. Even though we lived in Erith, we never went to Erith & Belvedere - I'm not sure why, although I suspect my mum had decided it was a bit too rough down there and banned my dad from taking us!
I get the sense from reading The Non-League Paper that there have been a lot of upheavals and the standard of play has declined. I remember seeing them at Rushden and Diamonds. Apparently the ground is in some disrepair. My uncle supported Erith and Belvedere as he lived in Belvedere.
ReplyDelete