Grier's Guide to Haywards Heath Town
The match: Haywards Heath Town v Kingstonian, pre-season friendly. Tuesday 26 July, 19:45
The club: Sussex league mainstays who eventually made it to Isthmian 1 South East in 2018. They've made the playoffs in both completed seasons since.
The town: Mid-Sussex town probably best known to Ks fans as that place where the train divides on the way to places like Lewes, Burgess Hill and Worthing. Historically its best known as the site of the Battle of Muster Green in 1642, where Parliamentarians beat Royalists in the English Civil War.
The ground: Hanbury Stadium, Allen Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 3PT. It has a good-sized main stand with an old-style sloping roof, impressive for their level, although there isn't much on the other three sides.
Directions: Around 40 minutes on the train from Clapham Junction, followed by a walk of a little over a mile. The car journey from Kingston will take between 1 and 2 hours depending on traffic, down the M23 to Crawley and then on B roads through Balcombe. The ground has its own car park and there's plenty more space in surrounding roads.
Tickets: Their last friendly was £5 adults; £3 concessions; U16s free.
Our record there: A new location for Ks fans, apart from a few mildly panicked shouts of, "Are you sure we're in the right part of the train?"
Recent form: Recent results have included a draw with Tooting and a 3-0 defeat to Hartley Wintney. Last season they finished fourth, only to lose on penalties to Herne Bay in the playoffs.
Players to watch: Manager Martin Dynan is the brother of ex-Ks boss Leigh. His summer signings include popular ex-Ks creative midfielder Tom Collins and centre-back Richard Orlu, whose former clubs include Dulwich, Farnborough, Dover and Woking. Skipper Byron Napper also had a short spell at Ks in 2012.
Crowd: They achieved a healthy average of 361 last season as they chased promotion - like many teams outside London, they've benefited from a post-Covid crowd boost.
Food: The ground is in a residential area but has a chippie, Washingtons, nearby.
Drinking: Greene King pub Burrell Arms is right by the station and has a pool table, an outdoor area and typical pub food. Worth a quick stop if you've got the time.
