Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Getting to that time of year where we can start to see the teams we will be facing next season. Obviously we don't know what league we will be in yet but we can see the confirmed teams so far for both.
NLS Confirmed Teams for 26/27 so far:
Dagenham & Redbridge
AFC Totton
Tonbridge Angels
Horsham
Slough Town
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Farnborough
Walton & Hersham (Southern Prem winners)
Folkestone Invicta (Isthmian Prem winners)
Truro City (Relegated from NL)
Braintree Town (Relegated from NL)*
Playoff places for both leagues are basically set as well, so we will see one of Gloucester, Farnham, Poole, Berkhamstead or Sholing from the Southern, and one of Aveley, Billericay, Brentwood, Chatham or Dartford from the Isthmian.
Will be interesting to see what league Gloucester go in if they win the Southern League playoffs. Recently have been in the NLN but they could switch with Braintree.
NL Confirmed Teams for 26/27 so far:
Hartlepool United
Woking
Tamworth
Wealdstone
Solihull Moors
Boston United
Altrincham
Yeovil Town
Gateshead
Sutton United
Aldershot Town
Eastleigh
Worthing likely to be added to this list, as well as either AFC Fylde or South Shields. Still not clear who will be coming down from League Two but Barrow and Harrogate Town are starting to get left behind.
Chatham is a horrible place to go to, and ground in dodgy area. Ran out of beer in away end a couple of times. Went there in a playoff semi final with Horsham a couple of years ago. Was evening kick off, and they made away fans walk round and through park to get to stadium. Match finished in the dark, and we had to leave the same way to avoid cheering home fans, but the park was unlit, and we had to climb over fences as they had locked gates. Complained to club, but did not even got a reply.
Been to 3 of the 4 Isthmian ones before, only Brentwood not been to, and it looks a tiny ground, but if it was a midweek trip in the first half of the season with 150 Wands there it would be fine.
Chatham have a chavvy teenager problem, segregation would be preferable there which is a shame as when I went there watching DW women in the FA Cup last season it is a very well appointed and tarted up ground (floodlights are rubbish mind!)
Done Farnham and Poole, Gloucester is a new ground since we went there in the FA Cup in 2018. Berkhamsted looks tiny but a lovely one.
Farnham hugely on the up, ground is tidy but very tight. Really don't know what their endgame is, 4000 as would be required by the NL would be ridiculous on that site, they'd have to take down almost everything they have put up in the last 2years and start building again!
Folkestone we haven't been to since the Ryman days and Walton & Hersham are very ambitious as we saw in the Surrey Senior cup.
Give me Boston, Carlisle, Forest Green, Tamworth etc any day though!
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
