With the winter fading away, on the final weekend before the clock go forward and the dark nights begin to shrink back to allow the British summer to gain a foothold, I made a short journey up to Leylands Park, home of the Isthmian Premier Division’s Burgess Hill Town, to see their efforts to claw their way into the play off places against Chatham Town. Arriving at the ground I decided to leave my coat behind and gamble on the warmth of the bright sunshine.

Leylands Park has seen the home side’s good form draw bigger and bigger crowds this season, with visitors Wingate and Finchley FC attracting a gate of 1492 on 21 February 2026. The ground, with its new 3G pitch, which was unveiled in September 2025, can hold 2500 with seating for 408. The ground boasts three stands and good clubhouse, bar and refreshment facilities. The new fanzone with bars, food stalls and live music has been a key factor in encouraging family engagement this season.

The Hillians, managed jointly by Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett, have enjoyed this season as they push to sneak into the play off places, having won seventeen and lost eleven of 35 matches. Defence has been a problem for the home side with 65 goals conceded in 35 games but they have managed to score 66 goals, with George Vorster, Chris Whelpdale (both 13 goals) and Martin Box (8 goals) leading the way.

Chatham Town, managed by Kevin Hake, had a chance today to win points that would secure their play off credentials, pushing one of the chasing teams, in Burgess Hill Town, further back down. Goals this season have been led by Tope Fadahunsi (15 goals), Matt MacArthur and Sam Sene-Richardson (both 9 goals). The Chats are hungry, since going full time this season, to win promotion up to the National League South at their third attempt.

The game opened with both sides pressing hard to break the deadlock. Reece Butler for Chatham Town and Josh Spinks for Burgess Hill Town controlled the defences, to ensure that the game stayed tied at 0-0 into the half hour mark.

Then with 35 minutes gone, an error by the home side put Junior Dixon through on goal for the Chats and he finished with confidence to put the visitors 0-1 ahead sending the away fans into rapturous applause.

Burgess Hill Town came straight back at Chatham Town and on 40 minutes had a chance cleared from the line.

Unfortunately with three minutes left in the half, Burgess Hill Town gifted another chance to the visitors when a poor defensive pass was presented to Sam Sene-Richardson who fired home for his tenth league goal of the season. The score stayed this way at the break, despite a fine solo effort by the Hills’ George Vorster, which was saved by Nathan Harvey.

The second half started well for Chatham Town, when Matt McArthur set up Junior Dixon to score his second, making the score 0-3, with just three minutes of the half on the clock.

The remainder of the half was more balanced but Burgess Hill Town never looked like breaching the Chatham Town defences. At fulltime it was the Chats who cemented their play off place and walked away with a fine win in front of a lively crowd of 863. Burgess Hill Town will now think the playoffs might be out of reach, having never quite been in today’s game.

A lovely touch at the end as Kevin Hake and his players came to high five the away supporters who had travelled from Chatham, or like me, from much closer. I grew very fond of Chatham Town during my time in Kent and watching today and seeing the family feel, reminded me exactly why.