Bank Holiday Monday sees United continue their search for a first home win of the season against Eastbourne. Our visitors to the Abbey will be aiming to steer clear of another unexpected relegation scrap this season and, thanks to a barnstorming start to the campaign, are on target to achieve this. Prior to Saturday's visit of AFC Wimbledon, Borough had picked up two wins and draw from their first four games, whilst proudly waving the divisional top scorers flag.
After lying comfortably in mid-table last year, the East Sussex club plummeted downwards from February onwards with their backsides hovering dangerously over the proverbial bacon slicer. However, their status was finally secured courtesy of a nerve-wracking final day victory over Oxford.
Arriving in the Blue Square Bet Premier for the 2008/09 campaign, the Sports have risen swiftly through the lower divisions following their 1964 formation. Under previous moniker Langney Sports, the part-time club shot through the Eastbourne & District, Eastbourne & Hastings and then Sussex Leagues before taking their place in the Southern League Eastern Division in 2000. Renamed Eastbourne Borough in 2001, they rose to the Conference South in 2004/05 and clinched a place at the top of the non-league pyramid in May 2008 thanks to a Play-off Final triumph over Hampton & Richmond. Boss Garry Wilson steered Borough to a commendable thirteenth place finish in 2008/09, prior to the tumultuous drama of last season.
Goals have been at the forefront of Borough's campaign to date, with fans witnessing no less than twenty in their opening four games. A 4-2 loss at Tamworth was followed up with a 5-0 thumping of Hayes and Yeading, before Wrexham were beaten 4-3 at Priory Lane. Their trip to Histon last Tuesday ended 1-1 and left Borough third in the BSBP table.
In the Dugout
The playing career of Garry Wilson was cut short by injury after a 1998 move from his native Scotland to Hastings Town. Previously turning out for Queens Park and Stranraer, defender Garry remained with the Southern League and graduated from coach to first team Manager in 1995. He departed in January 1998 and joined Langney Sports, (latterly Eastbourne) a year later. In retrospect, his arrival at Priory Lane was probably the wisest move Borough have made in their history. The Sussex County League Division One title secured a year later, with further promotions following on thereafter, thanks to a combination of Wilson's superb man-management skills and the assembly of loyal squad never lacking in character.
The Ones to Watch
Structured with a spine of long-serving and fully committed players to the Borough cause, Wilson has dabbled wisely in the transfer market to further prepare for the season ahead.
Browsing through a selection of those players we find goalkeeper and new kid on the block Rikki Banks. Signed in May 2010 from neighbours Lewes, Rikki was a Rooks regular during their BSP campaign of 2008/09. Player of the Year at the Dripping Pan that season, with several league clubs showing a resultant interest.
Two cogs in the Sports backline are part of the furniture at Priory Lane, with Ben Austin and Darren Baker having made a staggering 1,260 plus appearances between them. The former, with a mere 400 under his belt compared to Baker's 860, switched from Eastbourne Town in June 2000. The centre-half was an instant hit at the Lane and, despite his share of injury problems, has always been a solid performer. A physical player, the 33-year picked up a worrying nine bookings last season but, nonetheless, still pocketed the Supporters Player of the Year award. Baker made his debut for Borough, then Langney Sports, in 1992 and has been a rock at the heart of Borough defence ever since. Prior his arrival the 35-year old was a youngster at both Brighton and Littlehampton Town. Rising through the divisions with Borough, the left-back is now an accomplished player in the BSB.
Most probably lining up the Abbey on Monday will be a face well known to U's fans. Centre-half Matt Langston arrived at Eastbourne from Histon during the summer after four seasons with the Stutes, where his mountainous frame was an obstacle for most BSBP sides. Matt previously donned the colours of Stevenage, Barnet and Cambridge City. Matt, who bagged four goals in each of the past three seasons, including the Stutes equaliser in a 1-1 draw with United last October, also had a loan spell with Crawley last term.
Borough's midfield is also packed with guile and experience, as the presence of Simon Weatherstone will testify. Deployed in a central role, Simon was recruited by Wilson in May 2009 following a season with Crawley. Made his debut with Oxford in 1996 and was also a member of the Boston side gaining Football League promotion in 2002. Pitched up at Crawley in July 2008 and, although he was a regular starter and scored six goals, soon found himself on the way to Borough. Simon despatched the late penalty which sealed victory over Oxford and saved Borough from relegation on the final day of last season.
Another long-serving player at Priory Lane is Matt Crabb, who switched from Eastbourne Town in July 2000. A commanding influence on both flanks, local lad Matt supported Borough from the terraces during their Sussex County League days, and has pulled on a red shirt in more than 425 matches whilst bagging 52 goals. Also complementing the midfield on Monday will be Ross Treleaven, who scored the Sports opening goal at Histon last Tuesday. Operating in an advanced role or within a three-man strike force, Ross was picked up from Sussex County League side Crowborough in April 2008.
The Sports forward line is likely to feature journeyman strikers Richard Pacquette and Jamie Taylor. Much travelled Richard started out at QPR in 2001 but, despite scoring six goals in thirteen starts, failed to settle at Loftus Road. Moved to the MK Dons via spells with Stevenage, Dagenham, and Mansfield, and has also worn the colours of Brentford, Farnborough, Stevenage, (again) Havant & Waterlooville, Histon, Maidenhead, St Albans, Worthing and York, from whom Eastbourne signed him in July. Richard, who scored an FA Cup goal for Havant against Liverpool in 2008, has bagged four goals in four games this season. Former Grays man Jamie signed for Borough last summer, and scored eleven goals during the Sports relegation fight. His nomadic career has seen him pitch up at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, Aldershot, Carshalton, AFC Wimbledon, Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge, where he picked up a Conference winners medal, and the aforementioned Grays. A tricky presence up front, Jamie bagged the only goal of the game when Borough snatched a 1-0 league win at the Abbey last January.
Haven't we met before?
Monday afternoon marks our seventh encounter with the Sports and United will look to pick up a fourth victory in that sequence. Matches at the Abbey have produced one win apiece with a solitary draw sitting in accompaniment. United have a better record on the road, with a 3-0 success pocketed in our first ever encounter, and last season's FA Trophy match at Priory Lane ending in a 2-0 win for the U's. December 2009 saw Martin Ling's men travel to East Sussex and, thanks to a goal from Brain Saah and Eastbourne's Ben Austin putting the ball into his own net, the game concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Matchday Connection
Former United midfielder Danny Brown signed for Borough from the U's in January 2009 following a loan spell on the south coast. A popular figure in the dressing room and on the terraces, he started out at Watford then Leyton Orient, but was sold to Barnet in August 2000 for the princely sum of £40,000 following just one appearance. Moved to Oxford two years later after 67 games, (four goals), but could not secure a first team place at the Kassam Stadium. Crawley snapped him up in August 2005 and he was a regular in the starting line-up at the Broadfield Stadium until United swooped in November 2006. Danny pulled on a black & amber shirt for the first time in our 3-0 win over Gravesend, (now Ebbsfleet) the following week and went on to make fifty appearances for United, (two goals).
Doug Shulman
**To read more details on the opposition please buy the new look brand new Matchday Programme on sale tomorrow! **
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
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