MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Town vs Eastbourne Borough | National League South | Saturday 21st March 2026
Gameweek 40 rolls around as the Sports are in town.
Following a yo-yo of Home & Away matches, we settle into the run in, as we host bottom of the table Eastbourne Borough.
The opposition
Formed in 1965, 60 years ago, as Langey Sports FC the club would be renamed just after the turn of the millennium. Langey started out life as a club in the Eastbourne & District Football League
As the Sussex League took a new form in in 1983, they would become founding members of the third division. Langey earned successive title wins in 1977 and 1978 to reach the third division.
Another title win in 2000 earned them progress into the Southern League for the first time.
After just four seasons in the Southern League structure they became inaugural members of the Conference South. Four seasons at this level preceded a playoff final win against Hampton & Richmond to earn promotion to the National League.
Three seasons fighting relegation at Step One was too much, and in 2010/11 they finished second bottom of the table and with relegation back to the Conference South. They have consistently remained at this level since, with only Chelmsford City having a longer spell in the division.
25/26 calls for the Sports’ 15th consecutive season in the division, with their time spent closer towards the drop zone rather than the playoff positions. Pre-pandemic the Sports had three consecutive 18th placed finishes, with the 21/22 giving Eastbourne a 6th placed finish and a playoff berth. Whilst they would lose to Oxford City in the Eliminator it was progress.
The playoffs called again last season, as the Sports were one of the six-way final day title fight. Despite a final day win against Weston-super-Mare other sides’ victories meant a playoff semi-final spot only. They would lose ultimately to Maidstone, with an Aaron Blair last minute winner forcing them for a 15th season in the division. Their manager Adam Murray departed for the National League North and Kidderminster over the summer with Matt Gray, a former Sutton manager, taking the reins.
Their run of seasons in the same league is seriously under threat, as they sit bottom of the table as of kick off.
The Sports were winless until their 12th league match of the season, forcing the sacking of Matt Gray and the appointment of former Aldershot boss Tommy Widdrington. The Geordie was relieved of his duties in February and was replaced by former Gloucester and Dartford boss Steve King. We last played King in his final match for Dartford, in our playoff victory in 2022.
Eastbourne currently sit six points from safety with seven left to play, and have been inside of the relegation zone since Matchweek three, the longest continuous run of any side this season. Their biggest low came with a 7-0 defeat at Torquay, but were redeemed a few weeks later with a 6-0 drubbing of Hampton & Richmond and a 4-2 return serve against Torquay last month.
Their most recent form sees them with one win in their last five (2-1 at Hampton & Richmond) and defeats against Dorking, Salisbury, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead.
Fixture History
We first met in the Dr Martens Southern Premier League in 2003, as we lost 1-0 at home, with a 2-1 win away from home. Eastbourne left the Southern League system that season, so we did not meet again until 2017, as we joined them in the National League South.
Our first NLS campaign saw 10 goals across the two games, a 4-2 loss away from home and a 4-0 win at home.
The high scoring matches subsided until 2023, each of the last five fixtures have seen at least three goals scored.
Last campaign, we toppled Eastbourne from the top of the table in the early season thanks to goals from Tom Mehew, Luke Haines and Harry Parsons. Away from home was a differing tale, as despite taking the lead through Leone Gravata we were defeated 4-1 by a side chasing the title.
Despite the taste for goals in his fixture we have never managed a win away from home during the National League South battles, and only once have we managed a point. That point came in October of 2021 as a brace of Harvey Bunker penalties gave us a lead before being pegged back by a late home penalty from Joshua Oyinsan in a game that saw Kieran Parselle shown a straight red card.
The reverse fixture this season saw a rearranged game due to both sides’ cup progression meaning we visited them on a Tuesday evening. A close first half was edged by the hosts, and we trailed at the break. A CTFC goal for Canice Carroll equalised before an odd decision gave Eastbourne a penalty kick which was scored by Kai Corbett. Late on a fantastic free-kick from Caine Bradbury levelled things, in what was our first away point of the season.
Dangermen
This dangermen article originally included George Alexander, a man who has scored against us six times in the past. He departed for Hornchurch this week, and we will be seeing him when the Urchins visit in April.
Jack Jebb – Jebb was signed by The Sports this week, for a third time under Steve King. An Arsenal Academy graduate, he signed for Stevenage on two separate loans with Stevenage before making the permanent move after leaving the Gunners. Once leaving Stevenage he joined Newport County, where he played twice with Tom Owen-Evans. He then joined a multitude of NL & NLS Club including Sutton, Welling, Wealdstone and Dartford to name a few. Signing for Folkestone Invicta in Step 3 at the start of last season he joined AFC Croydon on a short loan last month before signing for Eastbourne this week.
Jebb has played against us eight times in the league, winning just two (with Welling and Dartford respectively) but failing to win in his last six attempts. Most famously, Jebb played the full 120 minutes as we defeated Dartford in the NLS Playoff Eliminator in 2022. Jebb has not scored against us previosly, and is known for his accuracy from set-pieces.
Tayt Trusty – Dartford born, Trusty was a product of Blackpool’s youth academy. Loans to Radcliffe, Hyde United and Hartlepool. Following a short break without a club he signed for Maidstone where he was a part of their playoff final run last season. He signed for Eastbourne over the summer and has played all but one league match this season. A powerful centre-half he has only failed to start six games in the league this season.
Supporter Information
This game is non-segregated, and tickets can be purchased via our INTIX page, as well as both cash and card on the day. It is recommended to purchase online to speed up your entry into the ground.
See you there Bluebirds 🐣
