Eastbourne Borough ring out the old year – and ring in new optimism
New Year, new optimism. Eastbourne Borough have closed the door on an eventful 2025, and rub their hands with glee at the prospects for a 2026 that brings the smiles back.
It ought to be fun, following your local football club. Long-standing friendships and loyalties, familiar faces next to you in the stand or on the terraces, exchanges of opinions and wisdom.
Cheer the goals and groan at the near misses. Borough supporters can look back on a 2025 which saw their club just inches away from a National South title - and then a first half of the current season which saw under-achievement and frustration.
We saw Adam Murray depart, and three-quarters of his squad go too. And when the race began again in August, we saw Matt Gray’s under-powered team left on the starting grid. But when owner Simon Leslie made the call, the right man answered. And Tommy Widdrington is getting it right.
The Sports have had an eventful Christmas. A fortnight ago they returned from Dover Athletic with five goals and three points in the bag. Then on Boxing Day Borough were edged out – but not destroyed – by Adam Hinshelwood’s formidable Worthing side.
And on the bitterest of nights at Tonbridge on Wednesday, the Sports turned on a performance to warm the hearts and thaw the frozen toes of their 100-plus travelling supporters.
Eastbourne edged a thriller by 4-3, but in the process they produced a dazzling brand of football that had jaws dropping all around the Longmead Stadium. At the turning of the year, it was surely a turning point of the season. But - as the line goes in all the best Christmas pantomimes- we’ll have to do it again then, won’t we!
Tomorrow (Saturday) the Sports are off to mid-table Slough Town, and on Tuesday (6th) they welcome Sussex rivals Horsham to the Connect Management Stadium.
Manageable opposition, and precious points on offer. In a bunched-up lower half of the National South table, just six points cover Eastbourne and the half-dozen clubs above them.
But - just when spirits are lifting - Widdrington and his CEO Alan Williams have some pressing business.
At least three Borough players saw their half-season loans expire on January 1. Pemi Aderoju - Eastbourne’s top scorer with 20 goals - might well be recalled by parent club Peterborough United. And keeper Ryan Sandford (Crawley Town) and forward Victor Akinwale (Crystal Palace) will either depart or have their deals re-negotiated. Watch this website for updates.
But Borough fans should not fear squad changes. Just look at the quality of players Widdrington - with the blessing of his owner - has brought in so far: Harry Phipps, Kai Corbett, Maxwell Mullins and, just this week, defender Archie Taylor from Aldershot, who impressed at Tonbridge.
Ring out the Old Year - and ring in the New Borough…