Local football returns next week

Grassroots football returns to Uckfield next week with the announcement of the September fixture list for AFC Uckfield Town.

AFC Uckfield Town play in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination League and last season finished 8th in a shortened season due to the onset of Covid-19. The team at that time was under the management of Anthony Storey, who has subsequently left the Oaks along with the majority of his team to Saltdean United.

The club then engaged former manager Steve Ives who joined from Crowborough Athletic in April, with previous experience with Horsham and Eastbourne Town. With his assistant manager, Graeme Mintrim a strong team has been put together.

Last Saturday the team travelled to Sutton Common for a friendly game and despite coming away losers a lot of experience was gained by the young team.

Images from the game courtesy of Sutton Common – Gary Brigden

Uckfield United Football Club was formed this year and so far have not lost a pre-season friendly match.

The Hummers came away with a 5-1 win over the weekend against Buxted.

The report on the match from their Facebook page:

United put in another great performance and remain unbeaten preseason.

Uckfield pushed from the very start and with Buxted unable to handle the high press Ben Ryder opened the scoring blocking the keepers clearance and tapping into an empty net. Buxted equalising soon after with a soft one on one goal. Jay Pullen bullying the midfield made it 2-1 clearing the ball in his own area and steaming up the other end to tuck under the keeper after a brilliant one two with kelvin Walsh on the buxted 18yrd line. George Fyffe was bound to score again and he did so crashing home left footed inside the box just before half time. Second half was more subdued and quiet than the first. Ben Evans running the length of the pitch from centre half and winning a penalty that Harrison Burley tucked away. With the game all but over Sid Nicholls finished well after skipping past half the buxted defence with the ref played advantage when Chris Evans was bought down. Overall a very very solid performance from the Hummers, in a game where we dominated from start to finish. We go into next weekends last pre-season friendly against East Grinstead Meads!

Kevin Walsh

Images from Uckfield United

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