CCL SEASON STARTS ON TUESDAY

It is the start of another exciting CCL season this week with four Premier Division matches on Tuesday, as shown on the fixture list. There have been one or two changes to the original list with the matches scheduled at SCR (Sutton United) and Colliers Wood on Monday and Wednesday respectively having been postponed, now to be played later in the season.

Playing on Tuesday are two of our promoted sides. Bedfont & Feltham entertain strong opposition in Epsom & Ewell at The Orchard, whilst CB Hounslow have a more local match away to AFC Hayes. There is another all Middlesex derby with North Greenford United, back in the CCL after several seasons in the Southern League, entertaining Hanworth Villa. The other match sees Badshot Lea, under recent new management, take on local rivals Farnham Town.

Next weekend on Saturday 6 August all the Premier Division clubs will be in FA Cup action along with just four of our Division One sides. Apart from the four matches on Tuesday, it will be the first competitive match of the season for most, following the decision of the FA to bring the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup forward by two weeks. There are five all CCL matches, which is disappointing, but it does mean that at least five of our clubs will get through to the Preliminary Round, to be played two weeks later.

Due to ground sharing, one tie is to be played on the Friday evening, when newly promoted Abbey Rangers, in their first ever FA cup tie, will travel to Thame United, whilst Epsom & Ewell will entertain Gravesham Borough on Sunday afternoon at Chipstead.

Badshot Lea and CB Hounslow have probably the longest trips for any CCL clubs as they go to Sheppey United and Fairford Town, in Gloucestershire, respectively, both journeys of around 83 miles.

If any of the FA Cup matches are drawn there will be replays week commencing 8 August and any such replays will take precedence over the scheduled league matches.

We finally have our first full league programme on Saturday 13 August which was the originally intended start date of the season. There is already one change: Cove FC are having some unexpected problems with their pitch, so their match at home to Cobham has been switched to Cobham FC and will now be Cobham’s home game.