Log in or Register
Tonbridge Angels 1
1
Lema (58')
1 Chippenham Town
1
Mehew (42')

Chippenham Town Preview

On Saturday we welcome to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Chippenham Town, who are one of the clubs who have been in Vanarama National League South every season since the Angels won promotion in 2019.

Chippenham, who were promoted in 2017 as Southern League Champions, have established themselves as an always competitive National League South club. Now in their eighth season in the division, they have never come close to relegation and in 2022 had the best season in their history, finishing seventh, beating Dartford in the play-off eliminator and taking Ebbsfleet United to extra time in the semi-final. Prior to that their finest hour was in 2000 when they reached the FA Vase Final at Wembley, losing 1-0 to Deal Town, who had former Tonbridge Angels manager Tommy Sampson leading the team with ex-Angel Roly Graham scoring the only goal.

Chippenham are currently 16th in the table with nine wins, four draws and 11 defeats. With 31 points they are seven points behind Tonbridge; 12 points from the play-off places and 13 points clear of the drop zone. The Chips are happy travellers with six of their nine wins coming on the road, as well as an FA Cup victory at Nailsea. They have been successful on their trips this season to Weymouth, Aveley, Welling United, St Albans City, Hornchurch and AFC Weston-super-Mare.

Chippenham’s last game was against Weston, the most recent of those six wins, winning 3-1 on New Years Day. Manager Gary Horgan told the club's media: "We were well worth the win. It was good to bounce back after the disappointment of Boxing Day (they lost 3-0 to Bath City). It was a good performance, some good goals, I'm really pleased to get a win against a very good side. It's whether we are ruthless enough in both boxes and today I thought we were."

Horgan also said the 10-day gap between that game and the trip to Kent could work in their favour, adding: “It will give us time to work, reset and hopefully get some people back and that will leave us in a really good place for the second half of the season."

Horgan has been manager since 2022. He had two spells as a player at the club before joining the coaching staff in 2017. His squad will feature last season's supporters’ player of the year, goalkeeper Will Henry, who joined permanently in 2021 having had two loan spells from Swindon Town.

Luke Haines, who captains the side, can play at centre back or in midfield. He joined Chippenham in 2023 from Swindon after a spell on loan at the club earlier in his career. Leone Gravata will be reasonably well-known to Angels supporters from his time at Eastbourne Borough and has recently extended his loan at Chippenham from York City until the end of the season.

Chippenham's leading scorer with 10 goals in league and cup is Harry Parsons who arrived from Maidenhead United having played at this level for Farnborough and Weymouth. Alongside him could be former Maidstone United striker Matt McClure.

Chippenham will be looking to win at Longmead for the first time, having lost in each of their five completed visits. Last year's fixture was a 2-0 Angels win with goals from Kodi Lyons-Foster and Sean Shields. Our visitors might well point to an abandoned game, behind the closed doors of Covid, in December 2020 when they were leading through a Chris Zebrowski goal before heavy fog brought an abrupt end after 20 minutes and by the time they boarded their coach home the fog had lifted.

Our visit to Wiltshire in early September brought a goalless draw as Jay reflected after last Saturday’s win: “Chippenham are a really good footballing side. I thought we got lucky with a point down there earlier in this season but it’s a game we look forward too, it’s another home game, obviously we are in a good place in the league so hopefully we can back this up and get back-to-back home wins.”

Admission prices to the game are: Adults £17; Concessions £14; Youths £7 and Under-12’s free with accompanying adult with tickets available HERE

Gates open at 1 pm with the Sports Bar and Marquee Bar open from the outset. The Tea Hut serving burgers, hot dogs, butties, hot and cold drinks and Fries Like An Angel, serving all your favourite loaded chips are also open from 1 pm. The Pie Shack opens from 1.30 pm. After the game, the Sports Bar will be open, where for a Happy Hour, there will be £1 off all pints of draught lagers and ciders.

Our award-winning programme is available from the Programme Hut, priced at £3 and will feature reflections from Jay Saunders, club captain Scott Wagstaff, board member James Ford with reports from our men’s and women’s first team games plus youth teams.

Accompanying the Angels captain as the teams walk out will be mascot Hadley Rowe, son of supporters Simon and Nicola and grandson of our former Press Officer, Jim Rowe and his wife, Angela.

Enjoy the game!

Published Wednesday 8th January 2025