Highland League side Fort William are having to play all of their games away from their Claggan Park home at present. This is because the league found their pitch and playing surface breached a rule requiring it to be in a good condition and with efficient drainage. The club had been the victims of vandalism at their home which has apparently caused many of the problems. So far they have zero points having lost all seven of their league games played so far conceding 34 and scoring just 5 goals. Their next game comes at Nairn County on Wednesday evening.
FOUR
Dover Athletic have scored just 4 goals in their eight Vanarama National League games played so far. They have failed to score in five of those eight games. Koby Arthur, signed from Kidderminster Harriers over the summer, has score two goals along with Aaron Cosgrave who is currently on loan from League One side AFC Wimbledon. He joined The Dons in the summer from Isthmian Premier side Lewes. The Kent side's next game is a tough one being an away trip to Grimsby Town who are currently third in the table. Dover are currently on -9 points as they started the season on -12 a punishment for not fulfilling fixtures last season.
ONE
Back in 2015 Whitehawk went very close to promotion to non-league's top table when they got to the then Conference South play-off final narrowly losing 2-1 to Boreham Wood. Two relegations in as many seasons in 2018 and 2019 see's them now back in the Pitching In Isthmian League Division One (South East). The Hawks have only won 1 league game in six played so far which was 1-0 at home to Sittingbourne on Saturday 28th August. Ross Standen's team has had their best form in the Emirate's FA Cup springing a real surprise in the last round winning at Vanarama South side Slough Town. They travel to Hayes and Yeading United, who are currently top of the Southern League Premier South, in the next round.
THIRTY-ONE
Like The Hawks Histon have been up and down the leagues in recent times rising from the Eastern Counties League to The National League. They, along with their local rivals Soham Town Rangers and Cambridge City, have been moved to the Northern Premier League Division One (Midlands) for this season and they are currently bottom of the table with just one win in their ten games played conceding 31 goals in the process. Since 1995 The Stutes have played in the following divisions:
1995 - 1997: Eastern Counties Division One (Step 5)
1997 - 2000: Eastern Counties Premier (Step 4)
2000 - 2004: Southern League Division One East (Step 3)
2004 - 2005: Southern League Premier Division (Step 3)*
2005 - 2007: Conference South (Step 2)
2007 - 2011: Conference (Step 1)
2001 - 2014: Conference North (Step 2)
2014 - 2016: Southern League Premier Division (Step 3)
2016 - 2107: Southern League Division One (Central) (Step 4)
2017 - 2019: Eastern Counties Premier Division (Step 5)
2019 - 2021: Isthmian League Division One (North) (Step 4)
2021 - Northern Premier League Division One (Midlands) (Step 4)
* From 2004 the Conference South/North Divisions created.
Clapton Community Football Club are currently top of the Step 7 Middlesex County Football League Premier Division on 18 points having won six of seven league games so far. It's early days yet but could they be playing in the Thurlow Nunn First Division (South) for the 21/22 season. The club, formed by disillusioned fans of Clapton FC, are due to move to The Old Spotted Dog ground soon after they took over the freehold of the historic ground in 2020.
Since Woodford Town have moved into their new Ashtons home ground in August they have a brilliant average crowd over six league games of 430 with 822 seeing their opening game against Stansted and 442 attending the Southend Manor game on Friday 3rd September. 2021 FA Trophy winners Hornchurch of the Isthmian League Premier Division currently average 392 for their three home league games so far.
Hythe and Dibden, promoted to the Wessex Football League Premier Division for the 2021/22 season, have lost all ten of their league games played so far. They have also lost games in the FA Cup, FA Vase and the Wessex League Cup. They did win one game in the Hampshire Senior Cup against Fleet Spurs (3-1) before losing to Andover Town in the second round. They have scored just 2 league goals so far - Joel Jackson scored in their opening day game against Bournemouth and Ethan Cheshire at AFC Stoneham on Tuesday 17th August. Since the AFC Stoneham game they have lost 0-2, 0-7, 0-8, 0-5, 0-5, 0-6 and 0-6 in league games. They travel to sixth placed Bashley on Tuesday evening.
ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO Bury AFC, formed after the demise of football league side Bury FC, have made a great start to their North West Counties League First Division North campaign. They are currently in second place by goal difference to Golcar United. They have an average of 1,322 for their five home league games played at Step Six of the non-league ladder.
They currently play home games at Radcliffe FC's Stainton Park which is around three miles away from Gigg Lane the spiritual home of football for Bury.
TEN
Port Talbot Town are struggling at the bottom of the Cymru South Division which is one of the two divisions at Step Two of the current Welsh football pyramid. Manager Mark Pike stood down from his role just prior to the season starting and since then The Steelmen have had to rely on younger players in their games - they have lost all 10 of their league games played so far.
From 2005 to 2013 the club finished in 5th, 6th, 4th, 5th, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 4th in the top division of Welsh football and played in the Europa League in 2010.
Just over half a mile separates Port Talbot Town and Afan Lido's grounds. They are only a few places above their Town rivals in the Cymru South on 6 points at present with wins against Risca United and Undy Athletic.
The two rivals played each other in the Welsh Cup First Round in August with Afan Lido coming out 0-6 winners with Jay Thomas netting a hat-trick and former Port Talbot player Jordan Edwards also netting. Afan Lido were knocked out in the next round by Step Three side Dinas Powys.
When CPD Bangor 1876 faced Menai Bridge Tigers in the North Wales Coast League Premier League last Wednesday evening it was the most local of local derby games as the two team's grounds are separated by just 40 yards. Bangor won the game 3-1 and have made a perfect start to their league campaign at Step 4 of the Welsh Football Ladder winning eight of eight league games so far. The club were formed in 2019 by the supporters association of Bangor City who voted to form a breakaway club as they were disillusioned with the running of the club at the time. The Citizens continue to play in the Cymru North and are currently in sixth place.
Croydon Wolves of the Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division One are a team to watch if you like goals! Their games have ended 4-8, 3-4, 0-9 and 4-4 so far this season with a total of 36 goals and an average of 9 per game. Next Saturday they host South Croydon at Ashburton Playing Fields in the big Croydon Derby.
Falmouth Town are a club on the up - they have won all 10 of their South West Peninsula League Premier West. If their good form continues they could be playing in the Western League Premier in the 21/22 season.
The Ambers have had some good crowds at their games this season with 465 watching the recent League Cup game against Penryn Athletic.
They have got to the Third Round of the FA Vase for the last two seasons so could be looking at another good run this season.
Pakefield Dynamos of the Lowestoft & District League Division Two have had a difficult start to their season losing four league games and conceding 43 goals.
They have lost 0-19 on the opening day to Waveney, 1-5 to Beccles Town 'A', 2-8 to Crusaders and 0-11 to FC Whitehouse.
They make a trip to Southwold Town Reserves on Saturday who have lost all three of their games so far too so could The Dynamos be in with a chance of a result?
