2009–10 Eastbourne Borough F.C. season

The 2009–10 season will be the 45th season in the history of Eastbourne Borough Football Club and the 2nd season in the Conference National. This article covers the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.

Background

Eastbourne Borough started their first ever season in the Conference National as the underdogs and were tipped to be relegated at the end of the season. Although the first half of the season would have said that they would be back in the Conference South in the next season, having only won two games out of 13, Garry Wilson brought in Plymouth Argyle's promising youngsters Ashley Barnes and Dan Smith and signing Dan Brown from Cambridge United, who brought confidence back into the club which saw them rise to the top half of the table, beating Torquay United and York City in the process. Eastbourne finished their first season 13th in the table with 16 points clear of the relegation zone. A team that had little changed from the previous season, and out of the four summer signings, Simon Wormull managed to stay in the team beyond January, the others Jean-Michel Sigere and Mo Harkin moved across to Farnborough Town and goalkeeper Chris Winterton went to rivals Lewes. There was a small shock to the end of the season, although they had won the Sussex Senior Cup from the current champions Brighton & Hove Albion reserves, goalkeeper Lee Hook and utility player Jay Lovett plus three other players were released of their contracts. This gave Wilson and coach Nick Greenwood more time to sign new players for the new season unlike the rushed signings they made last year. In May, goalkeeper Danny Knowles and striker Liam Marum from Woking, signed to Eastbourne ready for their second season in the top flight of non-league football, a day later Dan Smith signed to Eastbourne from Plymouth Argyle. England Schoolboy international, Simon Johnson, joined the first team from the under-18's squad, followed by Gary Elphick a week later, from Havant & Waterlooville, and Simon Weatherstone. Simon Wormull left Eastbourne in June 2009, making all of last seasons summer signings leaving the club.

Review

Pre-season

Eastbourne announced the first pre-season friendly on 12 May, with the first game at home with League One promoted Wycombe Wanderers on 24 July 2009, which will be a testimonial game for manager, Garry Wilson and his assistant Nick Greenwood who both celebrated 10 years with the club climbing from the County League to the Conference in that time. More fixtures were announced on 1 June with a mini Dorset tour at Poole and Dorchester. Also away games with rivals Lewes and at Hornchurch, and a home game with Havant & Waterlooville. A new fixture was added against St Francis Rangers which was to be the first pre-season fixture, followed by the signing of striker, Jamie Taylor, from Grays Athletic.

August

Eastbourne completed the signing of Brighton youth striker Kane Louis who will start off in the reserve team. Eastbourne started the season with a 3-0 loss away to Wrexham. The second game resulted a 1-0 win to Eastbourne with Neil Jenkins scoring a rare goal from outside the penalty box. A debut goal from Simon Weatherstone earned Eastbourne a point in their first season draw against Rushden & Diamonds. Eastbourne's fourth game of the season ended with a 1-0 loss against Grays Athletic. Jamie Taylor scored his debut goal in the 2-1 win over Barrow A.F.C.. Eastbourne won 4-0 in a local derby match against Sussex County League winners, Eastbourne United for the Roy Hayden Memorial Trophy. The third game away was a 1-1 draw against Salisbury City, the goal from Simon Weatherstone. Danny Knowles sees a red card and 10 man Eastbourne lose with 1-2 win to Ebbsfleet United, Jamie Taylor scoring for Eastbourne.

September

A 2-0 win over Kidderminster was their first away win of the season, goals coming from Nathan Crabb and Jamie Taylor. The team then lost the following away game, 2-0, with Stevenage. Their first home game in September saw a 1-1 draw with Chester City, Andy Atkin scoring from a poor back pass. Eastbourne struggled to score past Oxford United and lost 4-0 to the league leaders . The next home game was their second home win against Hayes and Yeading in which Liam Evers-Marum scored two goals in the 3-1 win. Liam scored his third goal in the next game against Tamworth which ended 1-1. This was then followed with a 2-0 defeat away to a 10 man Histon team .

October

The first home game was lost 0-1 to high table Kettering. This was then followed by a 3-0 defeat to Gateshead. The third game of the month was also their third defeat of the season with Mansfield visiting Eastbourne, Liam Enver-Marum scoring the only goal for Eastbourne,. The next game was the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup, Eastbourne just drawing 3-3 with Ryman outfit Tooting and Mitcham United, goals scored by Matt Crabb, Jamie Taylor and Ben Austin . The replay ended with a 3-4 defeat seeing Tooting & Mitcham playing Stockport County in the first round, Eastbourne's goals coming from Paul Armstrong, Gary Elphick and Ben Austin . The last game of the month saw Eastbourne draw 1-1 against Forest Green, Matt Crabb scoring the goal, whilst James Fraiser makes his first debut.

November

Midfielder Dan Smith was made available for loan or a permanent move, whilst goalkeeper Micheal Jordan and Simon Johnson were available for loan moves. Joe Benjamin joined Eastbourne on a one months loan from Northampton Town, followed a few days later by Welsh Under-19 International striker Kayne McLaggon, from Southampton. Their first game with the loan pair in a 1-0 defeat home to Salisbury in a late minute winner. Their first point in November came against Mansfield Town with a goal from loanee Kayne McLaggon . This was followed by another 1-1 draw at home to Histon, Liam Enver-Marum scoring the goal. The away game to Chester ended up being abandoned after pitch invasions forced the referee to abandon the game.

December

The first game in December was away to Hayes & Yeading which ended in a 1-1 Draw, Jamie Taylor scoring the goal. This was followed by another draw with Cambridge United ending with 2-2, Paul Armstrong and Liam Enver-Marum scoring for the home team. Their first win in a few months came with a 1-0 win over Conference South side Welling United in the FA Trophy, Liam Enver-Marum scoring.

Team kit

This seasons team kit supplier is by the Italian sports brand, Macron, who paid a £30,000 for a four-year deal supplying the football kit via Super Stitch 86.

The clubs main sponsor is by Best Demolition Group, a Heathfield based company who agreed on a two year sponsor deal.

Match fixtures & results

Friendlies

Legend

Conference National

For information on this season's Conference National, see Football Conference 2009–10. Eastbourne Borough's home games are played at Priory Lane

Results summary

Results by round

FA Cup

FA Trophy

Conference League Cup

Sussex Senior Cup

Roy Hayden Memorial Trophy

This trophy match is played between the Sussex Senior Cup winners and the Sussex County League champions of the 2008-09 season.

Player details

''As of 02 December 2009.

Transfers

In

Out

Loans In

Loans Out

See also

• 2009–10 in English football
• Football Conference 2009–10

References

General

• Eastbourne Borough F.C. Official Website

Specific

External links

• Eastbourne Borough Website
• Eastbourne Borough statistics - ESPNsoccernet