
Langney Wanderers are set to make their Sussex County Football League debut on Saturday when they play Billingshurst in a Division Three clash at Shinewater Lane.
Formed just three years ago, Langney Wanderers join the Sussex County Football League this season as its only new club despite five other clubs having been lost to the league over the summer (through a combination of promotions, withdrawals and a merger).
Langney’s promotion from the East Sussex Football League also sees a return to County League football for their Shinewater Lane ground in Eastbourne. Previously the ground had been home to Shinewater Association before that club merged with Eastbourne United some years ago.
Times have changed since then and ground requirements are a lot more strict and demanding. When asked what work the club had to carry out in order to secure their promotion, Club Secretary Tracey Saunders replied: “The work we had to do; where shall I start! We had to lengthen and widen the pitch, add a handrail around the pitch, install dugouts, construct a referee’s room with shower, put four new showers into the away changing room, add an 18-seat bench plus coat hooks into both changing rooms, put in a unisex toilet for spectators and install a bell to enable the referee to signal both teams prior to each half.
“All the work is finished now and we can’t wait to play Billingshurst in our first league game on Saturday.”
After losing just one game in the East Sussex Football League last season (winning its Premier Division by 15 points) and having further strengthened their playing squad, Langney are understandably confident ahead of the new campaign.
“We want to win Division Three and I think we have a good chance of doing so,” said Saunders when questioned about the club’s ambitions for the forthcoming season.
Langney Wanderers host Billingshurst in their first ever County League match this Saturday (24 August) at 3pm.
Kit Munns | Freelance Sports Writer
Formed just three years ago, Langney Wanderers join the Sussex County Football League this season as its only new club despite five other clubs having been lost to the league over the summer (through a combination of promotions, withdrawals and a merger).
Langney’s promotion from the East Sussex Football League also sees a return to County League football for their Shinewater Lane ground in Eastbourne. Previously the ground had been home to Shinewater Association before that club merged with Eastbourne United some years ago.
Times have changed since then and ground requirements are a lot more strict and demanding. When asked what work the club had to carry out in order to secure their promotion, Club Secretary Tracey Saunders replied: “The work we had to do; where shall I start! We had to lengthen and widen the pitch, add a handrail around the pitch, install dugouts, construct a referee’s room with shower, put four new showers into the away changing room, add an 18-seat bench plus coat hooks into both changing rooms, put in a unisex toilet for spectators and install a bell to enable the referee to signal both teams prior to each half.
“All the work is finished now and we can’t wait to play Billingshurst in our first league game on Saturday.”
After losing just one game in the East Sussex Football League last season (winning its Premier Division by 15 points) and having further strengthened their playing squad, Langney are understandably confident ahead of the new campaign.
“We want to win Division Three and I think we have a good chance of doing so,” said Saunders when questioned about the club’s ambitions for the forthcoming season.
Langney Wanderers host Billingshurst in their first ever County League match this Saturday (24 August) at 3pm.
Kit Munns | Freelance Sports Writer