Ex-Player update: May 2022

[KT15 Card]

Worthing would be a decent away day and a new ground to tick off for many.

Don't be surprised to see Farnborough possibly challenge for a play-off spot. On really good form and quite a few games in hand at the moment.

[Adrian]

Wet, cold Barrow on a Tuesday night in January 2024 is this season’s ambition.

Dare To Dream!!!!

[Nonsense Potter]

My memories of late 80s visits to Worthing involved hours (probably 15 minutes) in the arcades before the game. My two kids would be delighted with that.

Wasn’t it Worthing who we got Tim Read from?

[jonwoozley]

My memories of late 80s visits to Worthing involved hours (probably 15 minutes) in the arcades before the game. My two kids would be delighted with that.

Wasn’t it Worthing who we got Tim Read from?

It was. I wonder if he's still learning?
We went there three times in Isthmian League Division One days, when we were playing small clubs such as Boreham Wood, Dorking and Satanage.

[Card Sharp]

Another plastic funded club. It's a no from me

So you’d prefer DIRTford, Ebbsfleet or Chavant?

Are we now a hobby club with the investment?

And to answer your other point, yes we are. Maybe on a smaller scale to some.

[doylie]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but Jason Banton moved from Herne Bay (after a mighty 8 appearances) to Brightlingsea last month, a change of sea air and yet another new club!

Please note that this was a couple of weeks ago and he may have moved on again since. He’s now turned out for five clubs over the last calendar year and as far as I can see he hasn’t scored for the last four clubs, basically since February 2022 🔥 🔥 🔥

[Adrian]

So you’d prefer DIRTford, Ebbsfleet or Chavant?

Are we now a hobby club with the investment?

And to answer your other point, yes we are. Maybe on a smaller scale to some.

We aren’t a “Hobby Club”

We have American investors, not folk putting money in for their own personal image/vanity/fantasy/fun.

We are a business proposition.
Some changes at the club mentioned on here are testimony to that.

So more at the investment end of things for me.

[oakie]

Worthing is definitely another cancer carpet but I don't see them as a SoB hobby club really - Dowell sunk his compo money into his hometown club and its still very much a community based ethos, as covered in NLP

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.c ... champions/

At the age of just 17, George Dowell’s career as a footballer was cut short in a car accident that left him paralysed. The crash happened merely two weeks after he made the bench for Worthing FC’s first team for the first time and broke his neck and two vertebrae in his neck, leaving him unable to walk again. While the accident was severe, Dowell didn’t let it end his career in football. Instead of giving up on his dreams of bringing success to Worthing, he used the accident compensation money to become the majority stakeholder and chairperson of Worthing FC.

In March 2015, at the time of the purchase, Worthing were in serious debt, and the future of the club was in doubt. Since then, Dowell has helped his childhood club go on to reach promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2016. Some people have compared buying a football club to playing at a casino. Even if you use sites such as Bonus Finder Ireland to find the best deals, you can never predict what will happen.

However, the story of Worthing has been one of continued success, even if there were bumps in the road along the way. The club were favourites for promotion in 2019-20 before the league was cut short but finally managed to secure their place in the National League in 2022.

How Have Worthing Achieved Success?
Since becoming the UK’s youngest football chairman at the age of twenty-one, Dowell has set his sights high for his childhood club. Worthing has received steady investment from Dowell since he took over. While he hasn’t revealed the exact figure, Dowell reported that the amount was “close to a million”, which he added was “pretty mental”. The club hasn’t simply depended on the generosity of its new owner. There has been a total culture shift since Dowell took over.

In 2015, Worthing lost their manager Adam Hinshelwood, who had just been appointed that season. Dowell hired assistant manager Jon Meaney and defender Gary Elphick to take his place, bringing in fresh ideas and a new mindset. The club quickly saw its fortunes change as it climbed up the table. That season, Worthing managed to reach the playoffs, where they were then promoted to the Isthmian Premier Division after beating Faversham Town 3-0 in the final.

From here, the club has only been on the up. For 2019-20, the club found itself seven points clear at the top of the league before the FA declared it null and void. This season, they were able to repeat their success, winning the league and securing promotion for next season. The improved success also brought in bigger crowds, resulting in the club having some of the largest attendances in the country for this level. Their fans will now be able to cheer the team on as they play in the National League South next season.

What’s Next for Worthing and Dowell?
Dowell has no doubt played a vital role in the success of the club, bringing the club out of debt and helping them achieve success. However, the players and coaching staff have also played an important part. Adam Hinshelwood returned to manage the side, and the team led the league for much of the season. The academy has also been an integral part of the team, with more than forty youth players making first-team appearances in recent seasons.

The team will now be in full celebrations as the season winds down, but there’s still a lot to do to prepare for their first time in the National League. Next season will be a very different challenge, but with everything this chairperson and team have been through already, it shouldn’t be more than they can handle. The club will likely stick with the talent they have, keen to promote the idea of a community club that gives kids a chance.

[Chobham Card]

Fleetwood Town have gone full Garry Hill, signing Jack Marriott and Jayden Stockley on the same day.

Partially posting these so I can complain about the phrase 'substantial undisclosed fee.' "Totally cost us so much, such an investment in the club for our fans, a huge fee, best fee in the world." Very Trump.

[celtic card]

Fleetwood Town have gone full Garry Hill, signing Jack Marriott and Jayden Stockley on the same day.

Partially posting these so I can complain about the phrase 'substantial undisclosed fee.' "Totally cost us so much, such an investment in the club for our fans, a huge fee, best fee in the world." Very Trump.

I hope Scott Brown chews Stockley out for breaking Kieran Tierney's face in the Scottish Cup final a few years back!

[LondonCard]

Ex loanee Jahmari Clarke has gone to FGR on loan.

[Adz]

Paul Hodges leaves Hartley Wintney and joins Basingstoke Town.
Highly likely the 2 clubs will swap divisions based on current tables

[GWP Card]

Ethan Wady has gone back to Chelsea

[Texas Dave]

Ethan Wady has gone back to Chelsea

well they are a bit short of players do we have a reserve custodian?

[Rio]

Ethan Wady has gone back to Chelsea

With any luck that means we have a (proper) second keeper coming in.

[CardsWFC]

Ethan Wady has gone back to Chelsea

Feel a bit sorry for him, never got a chance but still came and clapped the fans at the end of every game. Obviously he never proved himself in training

[GWP Card]

Ethan Wady has gone back to Chelsea

With any luck that means we have a (proper) second keeper coming in.

It looks like we do have a proper keeper coming in https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/02/02/exc ... -new-club/

[alas Tom Jones]

Surely he must be the first Woking player to have three umlauts on his name.

[Nonsense Potter]

Whoever gets that on the back of a shirt deserves a free season ticket.

[GlenH]

With any luck that means we have a (proper) second keeper coming in.

It looks like we do have a proper keeper coming in https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/02/02/exc ... -new-club/

Oh wow. As a former Sunday league goalkeeper, his Dad was one of my heroes growing up, along with Shay Given. Boy do I feel old...

[Igor]

With any luck that means we have a (proper) second keeper coming in.

It looks like we do have a proper keeper coming in https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/02/02/exc ... -new-club/

‘Guaranteed playing time’. 👀

[KT15 Card]

It looks like we do have a proper keeper coming in https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/02/02/exc ... -new-club/

Oh wow. As a former Sunday league goalkeeper, his Dad was one of my heroes growing up, along with Shay Given. Boy do I feel old...

Used to love watching his dad back in the big Sam days! Brilliant goalkeeper.

It seems his son was number 1 for Crewe a couple of seasons ago. Could be a decent signing!

[celtic card]

If anyone is desperately missing Ben Dempsey, his Ayr Utd side are live on BBC Sport just now. I haven't been watching it, but it's a goalless Scottish 2nd tier match. Probably not a thriller...

[Red and White Army]

If anyone is desperately missing Ben Dempsey, his Ayr Utd side are live on BBC Sport just now. I haven't been watching it, but it's a goalless Scottish 2nd tier match. Probably not a thriller...

Ahh Ben Dempsey.

One of many players who people claimed “a definite upgrade on last season” when we started the season well. Before he became shit when we fell away during the mid/late season.

Luckily this season is different.

[Horsham Cardinal]

Kadell Daniel signs for Horsham FC from Folkestone Invicta