MATCH PREVIEW: Salisbury vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Saturday 21st September 2024

A Wiltshire derby awaits.

After the triumph in the FA cup last weekend, Chippenham return to league action when we travel across Wiltshire to face Salisbury FC in the National League South at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium. The game will be played on Saturday 21st September 2024 with a 3pm kick off.

The Bluebirds started their FA Cup journey with a 6-1 win over Nailsea & Tickenham of the Western Leaue. Chippenham settled the nerves after 10 minutes when Caine Bradbury finished his first-time shot from a Will Dawes cross. On 28 minutes, Tom Mehew doubled Chippenham’s lead when he hit a lovely volley just after a flick over the defender from outside the box. Just after the half hour mark Harry Parsons scored his first goal since joining permanently when Mehew split the defence and Parsons finished into bottom corner. He would then get his brace on 39 minutes following a scramble and a finish from just outside the penalty area. Half-time substitute Tyreke Johnson scored to make it five after 70 minutes, with a simple finish. A minute later Nailsea & Tickenham got one back with a volley over Will Henry through Oscar Collins. But Parsons restored our 5-goal lead and secured his hattrick with an easy finish.

Salisbury FC, who are nicknamed The Whites, were founded in 2015 after Salisbury City FC was liquidated after the 2014/15 season. They play their football at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium what has a capacity of 5000 of which 500 are seated.

Last season, Salisbury finished 3rd in the Southern League Premier Division South and gained promotion through the play-offs beating AFC Totton 4-3 in the final. The Whites are currently managed by Brian Dutton who has managed Salisbury since October 2022 and has played for Salisbury (including in the previous pre-2015 iteration of the side) in 3 different stints. During his coaching career he has been on the backroom staff at Bristol Rovers and Walsall where he also became head coach in February 2021, seeing out the rest of that season with the Saddlers.

Salisbury currently sit 20th in the league on 8 points with Chippenham currently 18th on 9 points.

With the two clubs being from the same county there have been many players that have played for both Chippenham and Salisbury, and the Whites have two of their current side very familiar with us Craig Fasanmade will be someone us Bluebirds fans will obviously know after he made the switch to the Whites the summer of 2024. Fasanmade joined Chippenham during the 2022/23 season where he scored in his first start for the club when against Hendon in the FA cup. Fasanmade would make over 60 appearances scoring 15 goals in the blue shirt.

Another player who played for both Chippenham and Salisbury was Chippenham Academy graduate Noah Coppin. He joined Salisbury in 2022 after leaving Weston-super-Mare. While at the Bluebirds, he scored his first National League South goal against Hungerford and was part of the play-offs squad that reached the semifinal by beating Dartford on penalties, with Coppin scoring in the shootout.

Our player to watch is the Portuguese experienced centre back Sido Jombati. The 37-year-old, is 6ft 4 has played throughout the English pyramid with his career starting in Portugal with the academy of Sporting CP.

After being released at 16, he moved to England and played at non-league clubs such as Weymouth, Basingstoke and Bath City. He would rise into the football league with Cheltenham. In his 3-year stint with the Robins he would make 134 appearances Jombati would be a part in Wycombe Wanderers’ two promotions and played alongside now Chippenham players Matt McClure and Aaron Amadi-Holloway. Jombati signed with Ebbsfleet in 2021 and would defeat us in the 21/22 National League South Playoff Semi-final. He joined Salisbury in 2023, and as club captain, won promotion with the Whites last term.

So, the stage is set for the first competitive league Wiltshire derby since 2011- we urge supporters to travel in your numbers and be as loud as always to help the Bluebirds and drum up some more fantastic away support!

Tickets can be pre-purchased at here.

Please note: Segregation could be in place for this fixture. Salisbury FC start each match with full segregation and then may down grade dependent on the number of away fans. Away fans will have an away bar and canteen.

COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS

Salisbury Football Club

The Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Partridge Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6PU