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.
W&H ground is really, really poor. Probably the worst in the league.
Also a nightmare to get to by public transport so book early on the coach for that one...
roof over the away end
Not a priority for me. Amplifying away fans noise would not help us. And given the actual days when it really pour during a game (I'm sure Tom has some stats 😉), is it really worth it?
I disagree.
Next season this club will have spent 6 of the last 8 seasons at Step 2. And in step 2, for 90% of games the space right behind that goal is for Dorking fans, not away ones (the approved roof only covers the centre section of that end, which is nearly always for our fans)
If you calculate the 'dry' capacity of the ground (ie under cover) then it is less than the average attendance, so on a wet day, 'floating' fans will choose somewhere else to go and watch a game, where they know they won't be soaked.
If we look at things ambitiously (we all dream of promotion) then by National League standards our ground, and in particular our away section is incredibly poor. Last time around Marc sunk thousands giving away fans free beers to try and make up for the poor standard of our away section. And whilst it kind of worked as a deflection tactic (comments were usually about what a great bloke Marc is, rather than what a disgraceful away section we had). However it was totally embarrassing the absolute soaking that Oldham fans got on the open away end.
The club has brought in hundreds of thousands in shares and bonds over the last couple of years, there is no good reason why the fairly modest roof that has been approved at that end cannot be provided.
With our away support being frequently segregated nowadays, I am quick to criticise some poor away sections in this division, I even went in the home end at Maidstone last season rather than have to bag a standing spot there (and then not move for 3+ hours), the sardines at Worthing and so on, well to be honest our away section is no better than those places, and I do believe firmly in treating people how you would want to be treated yourself.
We can, and should do better.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle Fair points.
If it's relatively cheap to do, of course. Although the real complaint from away fans is the terrible view at that end due to shallow terrace. Something to fix that (even perhaps some pre-fab metal steps over the top perhaps) would be great...
@calvertskans Yes my son plays a monthly tournament next to the ground and wasn’t impressed when i said we’ll be going there next season. Leisure centre in the middle of nowhere
I’ve seen Horsham are replacing their pitch with a “revolutionary “ new surface.
Yes Horsham's old pitch was far better than ours already. Our pitch is really awful and I feel dangerous to players, but technically still in usability period. I guess as the Council own the ground, they are not willing to pay for it to be replaced or even improved.
I agree a roof on the end opposite the Bank would be a good idea. Apart from not being able to see the goal, you get the sun in your eyes a lot of the time. I prefer the view from the North side of the ground, but if there was a roof on the opposite end and it was raining, I would always stand there rather than the Bank. One of the few advantages of standing at the Bank is it is nearer to the toilets!
The West end ('away end') is intentionally shallow sadly. Each step is designed to be two people deep (rather than one) and half as high as a regular step should be.
The result is very, very poor sightlines. Made worse by pitchside standing being allowed along the front railing behind the goal!
All to primarily tick a box and fulfil a required capacity figure from the FA's grading people.
The SGSA gave special dispensation for it to be like that too:
The 750 mm depth of each step represents a special
dispensation against the standard 350 mm depth (as set out in the Sports Ground
Safety Authority’s Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds) that has been afforded to the
club. This allows two persons to stand on each level which ensures that any structure
that is set out at this end of the ground is as low as possible to overcome any
significant impact on lines of site for the residential accommodation to that end of
the ground. Had the 350 mm depth been imposed then 11 steps would have been
required which would have raised this structure by a further 450 mm to 825 mm.
On the positive, DWFC do seem to restrict capacity for all ticket matches below the actual ground figure of 4125 so that at that end of the ground people can at least try and position themselves more sparsely and obtain something of a view.
I would think if there was ever an all ticket game where the club wanted to sell 4125 tickets then they could put in temporary tiered standing steps along the dugout side again, like they did at the 2022 play off final, just to give people an improved view.
I would say that all the time the club is not regularly needed 3k+ capacity then I would personally favour tiered standing improvements in other parts of the ground.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
This video well worth a watch, going into Walton & Hersham's finances over last season month by month. Taking into account they don't make money from the bar, the loss was not as much as I would have expected. Anyone know if that wage bill is normal for Step 3, since I would have thought that is quite a high wage bill for that league.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-xXWWEQp4E
Tony Craig has joined Tonbridge as part of the backroom team
Pleased for him. Also thought he would do that once he retired from playing.
Youngster Jack Saunders has joined Sholing in the league below.
Sam Howes has re-joined Horsham.
Former loanee Morgan Williams has joined Harrogate Town.
Sholing will be in the NLS within next 2 years, very ambitious set up
Horsham fans said Howes would be back before it was announced lol
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Good news, the permanent tv gantry is being installed 👍
(Pic link below)
Hopefully it will be relatively easy to walk underneath. Can't see the houses behind being pleased about the top level! Can't see it being used much this season unless DWTV use it, as DAZN concentrate mainly on the NL.
Yes, it will high enough for people to walk underneath.
A gantry was actually a grading requirement for our first season in the NL in 22/23, so it is a very welcome addition. Also it means that in the future the tv camera footage won't be restricted by the glazed end of the Stonegate Stand 👍
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@crawleysth It will be used every single game I would assume, as that is where match footage/highlights will be filmed from.
