Phoenix Sports (A)
The Mayplace Ground
Isthmian League South East Division
IST
1st February 2025 - 3:00 pm
The Mayplace Ground
Isthmian League South East Division
IST
1st February 2025 - 3:00 pm
Phoenix Sports welcome Deal on 1st February for a match in the Isthmian League South East Division (IST). Kick off is at 3.00 pm.
We make our way to Mayplace Ground to face Phoenix Sports for the second time this season. We previously hosted Phoenix back in December so it's the return leg as Darren Anslow's side host this coming weekend.
Anslow made the move to 'Sports following Keith McMahon's decision to step-down from the helm. He moved to appoint coaches Sam Clarke-Keen, Nick Taylor and Bradley Pritchard, the latter a midfielder who also joined the playing squad.
CURRENT FORM
Phoenix Sports have recently picked up a number of positive results, with an excellent 2-2 draw at play-off chasing Margate last weekend. The game saw Margate twice take the lead, with Phoenix showing great determination in drawing level.
Deal Town FC are currently in 8th place with 40 points, having shown mixed form recently. Victory over Sevenoaks on Saturday allowed us to leapfrog Town; the win also putting a stop to three losses in succession. The last five matches include two wins and three losses:
28/12/24: Win over Lancing (5-0)
01/01/25: Loss to Ramsgate (0-3)
04/01/25: Loss to Burgess Hill Town (3-5)
18/01/25: Loss to Three Bridges (2-1)
25/01/25: Win over Sevenoaks Town (3-1)
28/01/25: Steyning Town (-)
Phoenix Sports are currently sat at in 20th place with 15 points with recent form challenging. Their last five matches include a win, a draw and two losses:
28/12/24: Win over Hythe Town (2-1)
04/01/25: Loss to Sevenoaks Town (0-2)
18/01/25: Loss to Burgess Hill Town (0-3)
25/01/25: Draw with Margate (2-2)
28/01/25: Erith Town (-)
As a last ten game (league fixtures) comparison it looks like this:
DTFC: LWWWDWLLLW
PSFC: LLLDLDDWLL
ONES TO WATCH
Richard Pingling is top of the club's goal scoring chart so far this season; six goals in all competitions, helped with consecutive goals in four of their six games in November.
Perri Iandolo was one of those signed prior to their match with East Grinstead Town; only a fortnight after announcing his move to Cray Wanderers. He was previously part of the Maidstone United Academy, progressing through the Under 23 side to play for the first team. He moved on to play for Hemel Hempstead Town and has been a strong player for them since his move.
Bradley Pritchard will be missing from Sports, following his dismissal three minutes after coming on as a substitute last Saturday at Margate.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Unlike our previous fixture, we don't have to travel too far back in time to look at our previous encounters with Sports. As already mentioned, we hosted Phoenix Sports back on the 7th December 2024; a fixture which saw us come from behind to win 2-1. Perri Iandolo opened the scoring for the visitors (40') which a wind-carried cross which sailed over Adam Molloy. Tom Chapman quickly pulled us back (42') before a Rory Smith strike on the hour mark saw us home. Sports were also reduced to 9 men, following the dismissals of Deshane Dalling and Perri Iandolo.
It was only the season prior to last (2022-2023) when they pipped us into 2nd in the SCEFL by just a solitary point, joining Erith & Belvedere back in the Isthmian League the following season.
We hosted them at the Charles Ground on 25th March 2023, in front of a healthy 758 supporters. Alfred Evans opened the scoring for the visitors early in the first half (22') before super sub Riley Alford equalised (63'). This was followed by a number of cautions picked up by Sports, who subsequently had Tom Hanfrey dismissed deep into stoppage; 1-1 at the end of this one.
The Hoops travelled to Mayplace Road on the 12th November 2022, in the second round of The FA Vase. Plenty of action in this one as we made our way into the next round following a 4-2 victory; a brace for legendary Connor Coyne (15', 76'), either side of a Jack Penny strike prior to half time (45'+2) prior to Ben Chapman ending the scoring (90'+1). Ryan Hayes had opened the scoring for Phoenix after just ten minutes.
Phoenix did enjoy early success in October, as they hosted the Hoops on the 8th October 2022; a 3-0 victory in front of just 78 people.
MATCH OFFICIALS
The match will be refereed by Level 3 match official Christopher Poole. He will be assisted by Robert Poole and Alexander Molloy.
Address: The Mayplace Ground, Mayplace Road East, Bexleyheath, Greater London, DA7 6JT.
Match day programmes are now online and available via the Match Programmes link or on each Match Preview and Review.
Pin badges are available at the turnstile for £3.
We have a fully stocked bar and tea hut serving hot and cold food for every game.
We are located between Crayford and Bexleyheath in South East London. The 492 bus stops directly outside and the nearest train station, Barnehurst, is a 15 minute walk away.
Ticket prices:
Adults: £10.00
OAP's (60+): £5.00
Young Adult (17-21) £4
Youth (13-16) £2
Under 12's: Free with paying adult
Formed in 1935, Phoenix Sports Club originally started out as St. Johns Welling, later changing its name to Lakeside, before renaming to Phoenix following the Second World War as it was seen to rise from the ashes of the previous two clubs amidst the destruction caused by the blitz.
Over the years the club has played at various locations in the local area, including Danson Park until 1950 when the local council offered them a piece of waste land in Mayplace Road East, Bexleyheath. Over time it evolved into the ground that we all know now as The Club.
Both football and cricket have been played at Mayplace Road East, with many members, both past and present, representing the club in both sports. However, with the growth of junior football, cricket has now moved away from the club.
After entering various leagues, including the Sidcup League, Kent Amateur League and the Dartford League, the club settled in the Kent County League Division One West.
In the 1986/7 season, the club entered the Spartan League and competed there for six seasons. They then returned to the Kent County League - Division One - West, winning the Challenge Cup in 1993-94.
In 1999/2000 we won the league, gaining promotion to the Premier Division, however after two relegations ended up in Division Two West, finally returning to the first division in 2004/05, and then back to the Premier Division in 2007/08.
After three seasons in the Premier Division, the first team became founder members of the Kent Invicta League at step 6 of the National League System (Step 10 of the English Football League System) – the highest level of football the club has ever played at. We went on to finish runners up, missing out by only two points to eventual champions Bly Spartans as well as reaching the League Cup Final, again losing out to Bly Spartans.
Unfortunately, the First team and Reserve Team Management both resigned for personal reasons at the end of season 2011-2012. After an exhaustive process we appointed Steve O’Boyle and Tony Beckingham as Joint First Team Managers and John Hope as Manager for the Reserves assisted by Brian Magenis and John Barry.
Off the pitch we installed floodlights and a 108 seat stand and with further improvements around the ground we soon received an F Grade.
After a successful first campaign under the new management structure, and after losing only two league games all season, Phoenix won the Kent Invicta League and gained promotion to the Kent League (now renamed the Southern Counties East Football League) to play at step 5 of the National League System.
We finished in sixth place in our inaugural Kent League season but had aims to do even better the next year. We had a very good start to the campaign but unfortunately lost in our first ever appearance in the FA Cup - losing on penalties after a replay.
We then began an unbelievable run in both the League and FA Vase. The Vase journey was fantastic culminating in us reaching the 4th Round Proper, where we lost to the eventual winners North Shields.
In the League we managed to lose only 1 game all season and accumulated 30 clean sheets. Due to these great performances we managed to win the League quite comfortably in the end, although there were a few sticky moments along the way.
W then needed to work miracles off the pitch, but we eventually managed to get all the necessary works done in time to gain a D Grade and promotion to Isthmian League North Division.
Our first season at this level saw us finish in 14th place, which was improved upon the next year when we came 8th.
We were then the subject of a lateral movement and competed in the newly sponsored Bostik League South, for the 2017-18 season. After a decent start and sitting in the play-off spots for a while, we were rocked by the departure of First Team Manager Steve O’Boyle. Paul Bryon came in and steadied the ship and we finished in a creditable 11th place. The following year we improved to a pleasing 9th position.
The early ends to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, prevented us from again gaining top half finishes and we now go into the 2021/22 campaign looking to continue our progression as a Club.
Alongside the First Team and the Reserves, we presently have over 20 teams playing in Phoenix colours, making us one of the biggest clubs in the area.
Phoenix Sports are a FA charter Standard Community Club - the highest level of youth recognition from the Football Association.
Mini-soccer is played at the Mayplace Ground and Sundays are always busy with parents cheering on the young players wearing our green shirt.
COME ON YOU HOOPS
