


Hampton & Richmond Borough Preview
Saturday brings an immediate opportunity to put the nightmare of Tuesday evening behind us with the, nonetheless difficult trip to Hampton and Richmond Borough.
Firstly, to address the team issues out of “that game”, suspensions to be served by Garrett Kelly and Gianluca Botti, do not take effect for seven days so both are available for selection for Saturday.
Hampton come into the game on the back of a fine comeback win at Welling United on Tuesday where they recovered from a 2-1 half-time deficit to record a 3-2 success, courtesy of two goals from Mauro Vilhete.
The win saw them rise to 11th place in National League South, presently four points and a couple of places behind the Angels, but with a game in hand. Hampton are on a run of six unbeaten in the league, dating back to a 2-1 defeat at Chesham in late November, although they did see their run in the FA Trophy ended with a fourth round defeat by Spennymoor Town at the Beveree.
It's been a busy week at the Beveree for transfers. They lost goalkeeper Ted Curd, who has been recalled by Chelsea, but they have added their former striker Bunmi Babajide, the ex-Welling defender Lachlan Byrd, and striker Makise Evans from Stevenage just days after he ended a loan spell at Longmead,
Evans joins a number of former Angels in the Hampton and Richmond squad alongside former Tonbridge defenders Billy French and Kristian Campbell as well as winger Gianni Crichlow.
Hampton’s leading goalscorer is James Roberts who has 11 to his credit this season having joined the Beavers from Havant & Waterlooville where he had three good seasons making 120 appearances, scoring 26 times. Vilhete has seven goals from midfield this season having joined in the summer from Hornchurch.
Earlier in the season the two clubs fought out a 2-2 draw with the Angels grabbing a 94th minute equaliser from Liam Vincent from the penalty spot, a game that left Jay Saunders feeling: “We were not at our best today but credit to Hampton, they were a good side and, for large parts, they were the better side.”
Last season’s fixture at the Beveree brought a goalless draw in late March in a game in which we were a little disappointed to come away with only a point. Two of our last three visits have been goalless with the other game a 1-0 win in 2023, so don’t expect a goalfest!
Admission to the game has a £2 reduction for adults when bought online in advance of the game with Adults £17, Concessions £12, Students £12, Youths (16-18) £5, Children (5-16) £3 and Under-5’s free with paying adult. Online tickets can be purchased HERE
Angels travelling supporters should be aware of engineering works on the rail and a closure on the A3 from Junction 10 on the M25 that could affect those travelling by road. By train, Waterloo East and Charing Cross are shut and trains are being diverted into London Victoria from where you should take a train to Clapham Junction and change there for Hampton which leaves a short walk down Station Road.
There is no car parking at the Beveree and many of the nearby residential roads have permit parking restrictions, so be very careful where you leave your car!
At the Beveree, the main stand has 234 seats with another stand alongside that holds another 250 seats. On this side there is also a length of covered standing. Behind one goal is the Alan Simpson Stand which has a capacity of 100 seated. The remainder of the stadium is made up of mainly flat standing areas.
Our football foodie, David Knight, reports: From the small window that provides the catering outlet at this venue a perfectly reasonable standard of food is served. Generally honest pricing as well. Service is reasonably quick but the queues do swell quickly, so get in early. There is an additional outlet in the terraced stand but this is more of sweet shop than a food outlet. It should also be noted that the Beveree is a cashless stadium and only cards are accepted at the outlets and the clubhouse bar.
Looking ahead to the game, following Tuesday, Jay had this to say: “Tough one. They’ve got a good side, play good football. We’ve just got to prepare for it, now it’s about getting us right for Thursday and doing the right sort of recovery.”
Enjoy the game!