V
Croydon Athletic is all systems "Go"
Word from Geoff is that the referee has given the all clear, so the journey over by the players and officials wasn't wasted. Game well and truly ON. Supporters best get moving then...
Saturday 30th January 13.45
Reserve game given all clear
The sun is shining on Fetcham Grove and the pitch has defrosted. Game on! News from Croydon as soon as I have it.
Saturday 30th January 12.00
Are the games on today? Read this...
Here's what's happening. All the players and officials are being asked to turn up at Croydon Athletic, as the referee will make a decision on whether the pitch is playable at 1.15pm - hopefully this will give it the longest possible opportunity to defrost.
The reserves game at Fetcham Grove against Ashford (Middx) is in doubt, again because of a frozen pitch, and there will be a pitch inspection and decision at 11am.
Watch this space for the outcome of both decisions.
Saturday 30th January 10.00
Rams away!
Croydon Athletic v Leatherhead - Ryman League Division One South - Sat 30th Jan 3pm
I know this is a trip that all Tanners fans look forward to. Yes, we are off to play the big-spending, high-flying Rams. We go with real hope based on two tremendous performances in our last two games. Let's hope it continues. I won't be there because I'm preparing for Band Night back at the Grove Bar, but no doubt Dickie will keep me abreast of the situation (incidentally Band Night is sold out so if you haven't got a ticket you won't get in).
Friday 29th January 22.00
Tanners on YouTube
A kind supporter of Bognor filmed the game on Tuesday night, see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgEDIbubt6w. Unfortunately he missed the best goal of the match (Marc Elston's) but Tommy's has been caught in all it's glory (fast forward to 5 mins 45 secs).
Thursday 28th January 20.00
Mick reflects
I spoke to Mick Sullivan today about last night's encouraging victory against Bognor, here's what he had to say:
"Again the players gave it their all against stronger opposition last night and at times outplayed a side that likes to pass the ball around. We now need to focus ourselves against Croydon Athletic - one of our toughest tests - on Saturday. If we come away with another solid performance with some sort of result we might well have turned the corner to push up the league table.
I know the players really believe they can push for the play-offs but I think it will depend on how fit we keep the squad, and with a little bit of luck we don't pick up too many injuries to key players along the way with so many games on the horizon.
But I do believe we have enough quality playing in our Reserve side along with players out on loan to cover when needed."
Report of the game here. To see some great photos of the Bognor game go to:
http://www.simonroephotography.co.uk/Leatherhead%20vs%20Bognor%20Regis%20Town%20260110/
Tuesday 27th January 18.30
Love on the Rocks
Leatherhead 2 - 0 Bognor Regis Town (Isthmian League Cup 3rd round)
An emphatic and convincing win for the Tanners at Fetcham Grove. Solid in defence, creative in midfield, pacy and troublesome up front. What more could you want? Well work rate would be nice, and we got that in abundance too. What a difference a week in football makes. Two games in a row now with no goals conceded, and decent football being played. Bognor offered very little so we shouldn't get carried away, but the basis for moving up the table is surely there. Croydon Athletic away on Saturday
will surely provide stiffer opposition than the limp Rocks performance, but if we stick to this then we'll be just fine. Our reward for the victory is an away tie in the fourth round against high-flying Godalming Town - next Tuesday 2nd February. Report here.
Wednesday
27th January 07.00
Rocks away!
Tanners v Bognor Regis Town - Isthmian League Cup 3rd round
After numerous postponements, the Tanners finally get the opportunity to pit themselves against higher league opposition. The Rocks are in Ryman Premier, their messageboard seems to think it will be a straightforward win for them, let's hope it's one of those special Tuesday nights at Fetcham Grove! Kick-off 7.45pm, see you there.
Tuesday 26th January 07.00
Youth victorious
The first team weren't the only winners at the weekend. The U-18s warmed up for their Ryman League cup tie against Woking this Thursday with a rather splendid 6-0 victory over Epsom Eagles. For a full report go to the
U-18s tab on the Fixtures tab above.
Monday 25th January 19.00
Mick reflects on yesterday's victory
Here's what manager Mick Sullivan had to say about yesterday's win against Chatham Town:
"
I'm really pleased the team responded to the changes. They played the way I've wanted them to play from the start of the season - high tempo football with work rate. I reminded them it's now got to become consistent and not just a one-off which has happened before. I can only hope they realise what a good squad of players they are, and progress to fulfil their potential. We've got to repeat yesterday's performance against Bognor and Croydon Athletic - only then will I know we have turned the corner."
Fixtures pages for u-18 Youth (cup tie against Woking this coming Thursday at River Lane) and Leatherhead Sunday (includes report of today's win) have been updated.
Sunday 24th January 19.00
Tanners stop Chats in tracks
Leatherhead 3 - 0 Chatham Town
A game which was everything Tuesday wasn't. Commitment, energy, pace, movement and passing along the ground. Tommy was always a handful, Marc skilful and pacy, the back four looked solid, Simmo ran the show from midfield - he was imperious. A game to restore your faith - and hopefully the attendances. Report here. And the reserves gained an excellent point with a 1-1 draw at Tooting & Mitcham.
Sunday 24th January 8.30
Game on
The Fetcham Grove has passed it's fitness test so it's all systems go for today's encounter against Chatham Town. See you at 3pm.
Saturday 23rd January12.00
The Chats are coming (perhaps)
Tanners v Chatham Town Saturday 23rd January 3pm
There will be a pitch inspection tomorrow morning at 11am to see if the Fetcham Grove pitch is playable. Watch this space!
Friday 22nd January 16.30
Quiz answers
Just to take your mind off last night, here are the answers to the recent quiz questions (see below):
Name the two Leatherhead players (and the opponents) to have scored hat tricks in the noughties yet not finished on the winning side?
Answer - Dave Stevens @ Burgess Hill (Feb 08) & Tommy Hutchings @ Chipstead (Aug 08)
How many Leatherhead hat tricks have there been in the noughties?
20........or 21 if you include Alex Inglethorpe v Dorking in the Advertiser Trophy (2001), or 22 if you also include Alex Inglethorpe v Bookham in a pre-season friendly (2003). This is assuming that 4 and 5 goal hauls count as hat-tricks.
Which Leatherhead player holds the record for most goals in a game in the noughties?
Alex Inglethope 5 @ Wivenhoe (Jan 02)
Which game saw players from both sides record hat tricks?
Burgess Hill Town v Leatherhead (Feb 08) Steve Harper (no relation) and Dave Stevens
There's always Saturday
Tanners 2 - 6 Horsham YMCA
This was not the 'kick-start' to the season we were looking for. Apart from the first 20 minutes, we always looked second best and got severely punished by a lively YMCA side. Report here.
Tuesday 19th 22.00
Game on!!
Tanners v Horsham YMCA - tonight 7.45pm
Pitch OK, let's play football!
Tuesday 19th Jan 18.45pm
Update on tomorrow's game plus forthcoming event
The news from the Grove is encouraging - the levels on the Mole have receded, the pitch has no surface water, so the general consensus is that in the absence of any more significant rain, we could actually see a game of football at Fetcham Grove. Horsham YMCA provide the opposition, let's hope we can resume the season with a victory. 
Back due to popular demand, Saturday 30th January sees the next Band Night at the Grove Bar. And what a line-up we have.
Some of you may remember local old boys Macavity's Cat, well they're back playing their home town for the first time in years! Plus local favourites The Witch Doktors and Aeroplane Blondes, with up and coming Epsom band The Traffic kicking off the evening in style.
Tickets £7 in advance from David Pope on 07500 118005 or e-mail me on david.pope3@ntlworld.com.
Monday 18th Jan 19.00
Rearranged fixtures
First team:
Home v Bognor Regis Town (Ryman League Cup 3rd round) - Tuesday 26th January
Away v
Whyteleafe (Ryman Division One South) - Tuesday 9th March
Reserves:
Away v Tooting & Mitcham Res (league game) - Saturday 23rd January
Sunday 17th Jan 20.00
News just in - Saturday's Corinthian-Casuals game is OFF
Meaning neither the first team or reserves are in action this weekend. So you can stay in and exercise your brain with the quiz questions below. Even if you don't know all the answers, it's worth entering although you only get half a pint if you win with half the answers.
Friday 15th Jan 12.30pm
Another update
Mick Sullivan told me that there was another good turn out for training last night with 34 players again including some of our U18s. There was a good fitness session in the snow, then the players used the club house for a team event football quiz. There are some photos of this if you go to 'The Club' drop down along the top and go to the 'Photos' tab. Or just click here.
There will be more training at Wilson's School again this Saturday from 12noon till 2pm in readiness for the Horsham YMCA game at home this Tuesday. The only injuries at the moment are Kev Terry and Hassan Nyang who is recovering from calf strain picked up in the Whyteleafe game on Boxing Day.
And don't forget the quiz below!!
Friday 15th Jan 8.30
Update and a Tanners Trivia question for you
Firstly, the snow is thawing rapidly at the Grove so Dave can get to work on it in readiness for the next first team home game - against Horsham YMCA on Tuesday evening. Apparently Dave put his fork in the pitch in a few places today, and the ground was soft underneath which means the frost has come out. Also the River Mole is quite low which means the pitch will hopefully drain OK. It might not stay that way of course when all that snow on top of Boxhill begins to melt. Whatever, there's likely to be a pitch inspection on Tuesday afternoon so watch this space.
Next, and not surprisingly given the above, Saturday's reserve team game at the Grove against Basingstoke Town is cancelled (the Suburban League has already postponed all games on Saturday).
Lastly, to keep your brains tuned into the Tanners, here's a tricky trivia question to test your Tanners knowledge (courtesy of Mr Richard Wilkinson):
- Name the two Leatherhead players (and the opponents) to have scored hat tricks in the noughties yet not finished on the winning side?
- How many Leatherhead hat tricks have there been in the noughties?
- Which Leatherhead player holds the record for most goals in a game in the noughties?
- Which game saw players from both sides record hat tricks?
A free pint of beer is on offer to the first person who e-mails me withall the correct answers! My e-mail address is david.pope3@ntlworld.com. Get thinking and good luck!
Thursday 14th Jan 20.00
Update from Mick
I thought I'd get an update from Mick, here's what he had to say:
"There isn't much to report really. All I can say is that the players are training hard and focused on the next game we play. I'm trying to change the mind set of the players that the season is starting again and there's plenty of points to play for. We haven't given up hope on achieving fifth spot. There's plenty of competition for places now, and our only injury doubt (Kev Terry) should be fit before we play another game. We have had two great training sessions - one at the club last Tuesday when 35 players turned up including the promising players from the u-18s. They will be brought in towards the end of the season to have a look at the ones we think can make the transition. And on Saturday we had a good team bonding session at Wilson's School in Wallington where Mark Simmonds is the PE teacher (as per photos below)."
Wednesday 13th January 09.00
Snow joke...Merstham game OFF but players are keeping fit!
Confirmation that the game at Fetcham Grove tomorrow night is off, it has been resecheduled for Tuesday 2nd March. Also the Reserves cup game against Mole Valley has fallen victim to the weather, it will now be played on Tuesday 26th January at Cobham FC.
Here's a few photos to remind us what Fetcham Grove looks like, looks lovely doesn't it, pity we can't play football on it!
And here' some of the players at their indoor training session last week - Mick has got them all working hard to stay fit, but it would be great to kick a ball in anger wouldn't it?
Hopefully the big thaw is on it's way, I wonder if the game away to Corinthian-Casuals could be a go-er? Watch this space.
Monday 11th January 18.45
Rearranged game
The postponed match away to Whyteleafe will now be played on Tuesday 26th January. No news yet on the Bognor cup tie though. As far as Tuesday night's home game against Merstham, watch this space but don't hold your breath...
Sunday 10th Jan 21.00
Fleet Town game OFF
Yup no surprises, tomorrow's match against Fleet isn't going to happen. A bit of snow on the pitch. Let's see how it goes for Tuesday's league encounter with Merstham, but don't hold your breath. Watch this space...
Friday 8th January 19.00
Fixtures update
First team - if the Fetcham Grove pitch is playable we will be playing Merstham in a league game next Tuesday evening (as per the fixtures list) - the much postponed cup game versus Bognor Regis Town will be rescheduled
to another date, will let you know as soon as I get details.
Reserves - see fixtures for updated games including the much postponed match against Mole Valley.
Under-18 Youth - tomorrow's (Thursday)
game against Woking at River Lane is postponed for obvious reasons.
Wednesday 6th January 19.00
Bognor Match - CANCELLED (as has the Reserves game)
The first teams cup game against Bognor Regis Town tonight at Fetcham Grove has been called off due to a frozen pitch. As has the Reserves game at Corinthian-Casuals. Stay in the warm!
Tuesday 5th Jan 10.00am
Bognor match - update
There will be a 12.30pm pitch inspection at Fetcham Grove tomorrow. I won't be able to update this site until about 5.30pm, but check it out before you set off. It's not looking promising though...
Monday 4th Jan 17.30
Reserves - rearranged fixture
The Reserve's postponed Surrey Premier Cup tie against local rivals Mole Valley will now be played next Tuesday 12th January at Cobham FC.
Monday 4th Jan 18.45
Both Tanners games OFF today
You can all stay in the warm because both the reserve game at Fetcham Grove and the first team match at Whyteleafe have been called off due to frozen pitches. The referee arrived early at Whyteleafe for the inspection but after a quick walk on the surface he declared that there was no point waiting until 12.30 as it was clearly unplayable and was very unlikely to improve. So the Tanners again go without a match, next up is the Ryman League cup game versus Bognor Regis Town on Tuesday night, but seeing the forecast for the next few days that must also be doubtful. Anyway, watch this space for news.
Saturday 2nd January 11.40
Pitch Inspection at Whyteleafe
At 12.30pm. Watch this space.
Saturday 2nd January 11.30
Bring on the 'Leafe
Whyteleafe v Leatherhead - Saturday 2nd January k.o. 3pm
Tomorrow sees the Tanners make the short trip to the Church Road home of Whyteleafe. A chance to gain quick revenge for the home defeat only last Saturday (although it seems a lot longer). Let's hope that we can start the New Year as we mean to go on - with a win and a much needed three points! Directions can be found here. I guess there must be some doubt about the playability of the pitch - any news will be posted here as soon as I have it.
Friday 1st Jan 18.00
Chipstead 1 - 3 Leatherhead
On a day when Iain Hendry made his 400th appearance for the Tanners, it was Tommy Hutchings who stole the headlines with a superb hat trick to power Leatherhead to a vital three points at basement side Chipstead...read more
Under 18s - home game on Thursday
Our Under 18s youth team are at home at River Lane this coming Thursday 3rd December. It's against Woking and it's in the League Cup
Friday 27th November
News
Race Night - Sunday 20th December @ 7pm (first race 7.30pm)
Come and have a great night out with friends and help raise valuable funds for your club.
Tickets are going fast for what should be a terrific evening. Tickets are £5 which includes a buffet .Please bring along as many friends and family as possible. Tickets from Peter Ashdown on 07774 229400 or see Peter at the Folkestone home game this Tuesday evening.
22nd November
Double victory for Tanners teams
With the first team recording an emphatic 3-0 victory away at Sittingbourne (see home page), the reserves gained an equally impressive 4-2 home win against second-in-the-table AFC Wimbledon Reserves. The reserves match was also notable for the return to a green shirt of Tanners fans favourite Jamie Beer.
21st November
Club update
Player latest from Mick Sullivan -
Mark Simmons played in the squad game last week against Three Bridges and played well but unfortunately aggravated or tweaked his knee (not the injury he has been out with for a while).
Mark Elson is progressing OK but we don't want to rush him back too early.
Craig Bradshaw has been released due to personal problems and I felt he needed more motivation else where, we have left on good terms.
Released players - Dean Gunner to Banstead; Zak Graham not known, Julian Beko Owuso trialing at Rushden & Diamonds. All have left on good terms and are welcome back. Kwebena Agyei has gone on 1 months loan to Chertsey.
Our new first team coach is Mark Williams who was the Raynes Park Vale Manager - welcome Mark!
20th November
17th November: Leatherhead 1 Burgess Hill 0
Leatherhead won this Championship Manager Cup tie with a late extra time winner from Greg Andrews.
With several of his players missing through injury or suspension, Tanner s boss Mick Sullivan brought in some new faces to his starting line up.
7th November: Walton Casuals 1 Leatherhead 0
Leatherhead slumped to a now depressingly familiar looking scoreline away from home, as for the fourth time this season they were defeated on their travels by the only goal of the game...read more
3rd November - FRIENDLY CANCELLED
Leatherhead's First XI friendly against Holmesdale of the Kent League at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday 3rd November has been cancelled.
Leatherhead's Isthmian League Cup tie against Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday 10th November has been postponed as Burgess Hill are playing a delayed County Cup tie that evening.
The Isthmian League Cup tie will be rearranged for a new date (to be advised)
27th October 2009: Walton & Hersham 1 Leatherhead 0
Tanners left Stompond Lane pointless on Tuesday night, but were left enraged at a weak referring performance which saw 5 of their players booked and young Adam Goodwell dismissed late on following some desperate antics from the home players...read more
24th October 2009: Leatherhead 2 - 0 Burgess Hill Town
Leatherhead moved up to ninth in the League table with a comfortable 2-0 win against Burgess Hill.
Following on from two poor performances in cup competitions Tanners boss Mick Sullivan made some changes to his team’s starting line up. ..read more
20th October 2009: Leatherhead 1 - 3 Corinthian-Casuals (aet)
Leatherhead crashed out of the Surrey Senior Cup at the first hurdle with a poor performance against their Ryman League neighbours Corinthian-Casuals...read more
Ramsgate 3 - 0 Leatherhead
The Tanners were shown the exit gate from the F A Trophy on Saturday, as the Rams strolled to a 3-0 victory at the Southdown Stadium.
A scrappy affair, not helped by a strong wind, turned against the Tanners in two pivotal moments when they spurned golden opportunities to score and then immediately conceded at the other end...read more
13th October 2009 - Match Report
Leatherhead held on for a point in an entertaining draw against Croydon Athletic, as goalkeeper Craig Bradshaw saved yet another penalty....read more
10th October 2009
Leatherhead chalked up a second away win of the season with a hard fought victory at Whitstable on Saturday....read more