Saturday marks our inaugural meeting with Eastbourne Borough, who have risen through the non-league ranks since being founded in the 60s, and face the U's having been freshly promoted from the Blue Square South. The Sussex side have lost two of their opening three games this season, though, and seeing them ship six goals last week against Oxford, United may be hopeful of maintaining a winning start to the campaign.

So, what do we know about the Sports?

A skirt back through time sees them formed in 1964 under previous moniker Langney FC and commencing life in the Eastbourne & District Football League. 1968 saw a name change to Langney Sports Club and a move to Prince's Park. In 1974 the club were promoted to the Eastbourne & Hastings Premier Division, and by 1983 had become founder members of Sussex County League Division Three. Within a year came the move to current home Priory Lane, boosting their status and acting as a springboard for further promotion to Division 2 in 1987. Division One was subsequently reached in the space of twelve months.

The 1999/00 season concluded with Langney clinching the Championship, and with it elevation to the Dr Marten's Southern League Eastern Division. The name switch to Eastbourne Borough was decided in May 2001, with club directors aiming for increased commercial profile. The judgement of the board paid dividends and with increased gates came promotion to the Dr Martens Premier Division in 2003, Boro boasting the best defensive record in the League that season.

A major coup arrived prior to the 2004/05 campaign when the Sports were elected to the newly formed Conference South. Survival was the aim but, under the tutelage of Garry Wilson, who twice picked up Manager of the Month awards, the club ended their regulation season in fifth place and an unexpected tilt at the Play-offs. However, despite battling through to the final, Altrincham claimed promotion after a 2-1 victory.
2005/06 was spent hovering disappointingly just outside the relegation places, but thankfully survival was achieved. They did reach the FA Cup first round for the first time though; eventually bowing out following a 3-0 replay defeat at Oxford.

Wilson guided the ship to safer water in 2006/07 and, thanks to squad overhaul, including a number of recruits from local leagues, they were regularly within the top ten. Only two games were lost at Priory Lane, but away form proved their downfall and the Play-offs were a step too far; the Sports finishing four points adrift. One note of interest for Haverhill-based U's fans is that Borough suffered a 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Hamlet Croft during this particular season.

Last season saw Wilson and head coach Nick Greenwood wallow in the fruits of their labour as Borough rewarded the supporters with an imminent dose of Blue Square Premier football. The campaign commenced with an impressive 23-game unbeaten league run, including eye-catching victories at Fisher Athletic, (4-0) and Bromley, (3-1) whilst Lewes were unceremoniously thumped 7-2 in the Setanta Shield. A fine win was also recorded at Basingstoke, with Borough remarkably scoring three injury-time goals to snatch a 3-2 triumph. Promotion-bound Lewes gained revenge on 1 January, though, as they ended the Sports fine league run with a 2-0 win at Priory Lane; a match pulling in a gate of over 3,000.

The Rooks and Borough found themselves locked in a race for the title but, following another win over Basingstoke, this time a 6-0 hammering, a combination of injuries and suspensions took there toll. Wilson's men concluded in second place and, after defeating Braintree Town in the play-off semi-final, met Hampton & Richmond Borough in the televised final at Broadhall Way, home to Stevenage. The two sides were locked until the latter stages of the game, however, with the clock ticking down Nathan Crabb and Paul Armstrong scored history-making goals to clinch a place at the top of the non-league pyramid.

The Squad

Throughout last season Ben Austin, Marc Pullan, Neil Jenkins and Darren Baker held the defence together magnificently, protecting goalkeeper Lee Hook who kept a healthy twenty clean sheets. Austin and Baker are club stalwarts, having progressed through the Leagues with Borough; the former having made 307 appearances whilst Baker has worn the yellow shirt an amazing 778 times. The on-pitch relationship they enjoy with their colleagues is also strengthened by the longevity of Hook and Pullen, who also boast a collective 378 matches for the Sports.

In midfield, influential Club Captain Paul Armstrong added to his aforementioned promotion clinching strike with an additional eleven goals and will be a key component this season. He is ably supported in the engine room by a combination of the experienced Simon Wormull, who has joined from Lewes, former Brentford man Jay Lovett, tough-tackling Matt Smart and, another long-serving player in Matt Crabb, whose brother Nathan, a nippy winger, supplies plentiful ammunition for the strikers. Both brothers have an eye for goal, claiming fourteen goals last season.

The front-line is generally dominated by Andy Atkin, who bagged an impressive thirty goals last year, and will be partnered up front on Saturday by one of Allan Tait, new recruit Jean-Michel Sigere or Pat Harding, who can also operate on the wing.

The season so far

The campaign began with a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Rushden, but memories soon faded thanks to a fantastic 3-1 win at Stevenage. The Sports were 2-0 up within 14 minutes through Andy Atkin and Pat Harding and, despite the hosts pulling a goal back, sniffer-supreme Atkin rounded off victory. Harding was on the scoresheet again last week at Oxford but, although Allan Tait and Paul Armstrong added to the goal count, manager Garry Wilson, who celebrates his tenth year in charge shortly, will be concerned at the farcical defending which saw his side concede six in return.

Priory Lane

Priory Lane is based on the outskirts of Eastbourne and is a mere fifteen minute walk from the coast, so don't forget to purchase your bucket and spade and 'Kiss Me Quick' hat. The ground has a capacity of 5,644 within which U's fans will be afforded the River End Terrace.

The 542-seater Main Stand comprises a Directors' Suite, Executive Suite and Press area, whilst the upper floor boasts more Executive Suites, in addition to the exclusive 'Legends Lounge'. Opposite U's fans will be the Mick Green Stand, which is custodian to the Dressing Rooms from which the players emerge.

The large Clubhouse attached to the site has two bars: the Sports Bar and the smaller Happy Jacks Bar.

Doug Shulman

Doug is also a regular programme contributor so help is needed if this article is to appear before every game. Do you have a couple of hours to research and write alternate articles with Doug? Your help would be greatly appreciated and your article could be read by thousands of readers! Please e-mail web@cambridge-united.co.uk if you can help.

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