Hoppers do it Anywhere
As teams from the Football League join in this season’s FA Cup, Steve Sharman hopped on the supporters’ coach to follow the lowest-ranked team left in the competition – Maldon & Tiptree – to Vale Park, in the hope of seeing an upset against League One Port Vale in the first round. The romance of…
In his first post for Hopper’s Guide this season, Steve Sharman seeks some post-summer holiday recovery time at Woodside Road, home to the Blues of Bishop’s Stortford, as they take on Real Bedford in the FA Cup. It’s September, and it’s raining. The summer holidays are over, the kids are back at school, and it’s…
FA Vase Final: AFC Whyteleafe vs. Whitstable Town After ten games across nine rounds spanning multiple counties and teams from many different leagues, Steve Sharman’s journey through the 24/25 FA Vase reaches a thrilling conclusion. The final sees him travel to Wembley following Kent side Whitstable Town, who take on AFC Whyteleafe. All photographs are…
FA Vase Semi-Final: Hartpury University vs. Whitstable Town After a commanding first-leg performance, Whitstable Town head to Gloucestershire with a two-goal lead in their bid to secure a first-ever appearance at Wembley. Steve Sharman embarks on the longest trip of his FA Vase journey to see if Whitstable can keep hold of their first-leg lead,…
FA Vase Quarter-Final: Whitstable Town vs. Whitchurch Alport The FA Vase has reached the latter stages, and the quarter-final draw saw the side we are currently following, Whitstable Town, drawn at home to Whitchurch Alport. Before returning to the Kent coast, Steve Sharman spoke to Whitchurch Alport manager Adam Shillcock about the impending battle of…
FA Vase Round 5: Whitstable Town vs. Fleet Town Back on the FA Vase trail, Steve Sharman’s route to Wembley now follows Fleet Town, after the Hampshire side earned a hard-fought win at Crawley Down Gatwick in the fourth round. The Blues now travel to the Kent coast where fifth-round opponents Whitstable Town will no…
FA Vase Round 4: Crawley Down Gatwick vs. Fleet Town After a nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory against Tunbridge Wells, Southern Combination Football League side Crawley Down faced Fleet Town in the fourth round of the FA Vase. Distracted by a groundhopping trip to Italy, Steve Sharman enlists the help of Sussex football expert Trevor Knell…
FA Vase Round 3: Crawley Down Gatwick vs. Tunbridge Wells After edging past Southern Combination Football League leaders Hassocks in the last round courtesy of a late equaliser and some quite frankly diabolical spot kicks from the visitors, Tunbridge Wells are again drawn at home, this time against Crawley Down Gatwick. Steve Sharman talks to…
In a rare foray into the dizzy heights of the Premier League, Steve Sharman takes temporary leave from non-league groundhopping to join the prawn sandwich brigade and watch West Ham take on Liverpool from the posh seats at the London Stadium. All photographs in this article are the property and copyright of Steve Sharman. It’s…
FA Vase Round 2: Tunbridge Wells vs. Hassocks Following a comfortable 3-1 win over Pagham in the previous round, Steve Sharman’s journey through the FA Vase takes him back to Kent, where Tunbridge Wells are again at home – this time against Sussex side Hassocks. All photographs in this article are the property and copyright…