In 2024, Reigate Priory achieved one of their greatest feats having won promotion to the Southern Combination Football League Division 1 (Step 6), which is the highest level on the pyramid they’ve ever been. Reigate Priory FC is going up.
Reigate Priory 1st Team
The Mid-Sussex Premier Division was incredibly competitive and topsy-turvy throughout the 23/24 season, but with Reigate Priory able to fulfil the majority of their fixtures without too much disruption, they ended up becoming the leagues front-runners picking up some notable results along the way.
Reigate Priory is going up with 3 teams
The season started with a tricky away fixture v Holland Sports, who had previously battered Reigate Priory 4-0 when they met in the Championship in 2021, but having closed the gap over the past couple of years, Priory knew this was a fixture they now needed to be winning if they’re to fulfil their ambition of promotion.
It was a game Priory largely controlled, but some very questionable officiating kept Holland Sports in the game and made the ending a lot more uncomfortable than it really should’ve been and a Shane O’Keeffe stunner from the edge of the box sealed the victory for Priory. The following fixture was a true test of character away to Cuckfield Rangers who were under new management and keen to impress.
Having found themselves 2-0 down at half-time, Priory thought they were back in the game at 2-1 before the hosts regained their 2 goal buffer to make it 3-1. The tactical changes at half-time were paying dividends though and the Priory players were starting to believe that they could still turn it around. Josh Wille’s free kick pulled the scores back level to 3-3 which set the stage for towering centre back and summer signing from Tooting Bec Mikey Thompsett to steal the headlines, completing the comeback, turning in a header from close range to snatch all 3 points making it 4-3 Priory.
The unbeaten start to the season continued with a draw away at Westfield, a home win against Oxted, a late late equaliser away to Battle and a thumping 8-0 win away to Copthorne before coming up against Balcombe at the end of October. Priory took the lead 3 times in this game and had opportunity to kill it off with a penalty on 70 mins but a good save kept the visitors in the game and with the score 3-2 Priory in the 93rd minute, Wyatt’s men were left baffled as to how they then ended up losing the game 4-3.
Clearly shaken, 2 further defeats followed. Firstly at home in the cup to Cuckfield Rangers and then away in the league to Ringmer after a very questionable red card against left back Chris Parsons changed the game in Ringmer’s favour. A welcome fixture against ‘lower level’ opposition resulted in a 4-1 victory and progress in the Surrey cup and the feel-good factor returned.
Then followed the 6-1 demolition of 22/23 runners up Lindfield and then the 11-1 away mauling of Sedlescombe Rangers. A handful of postponements due to weather then meant that December and the start of January was very stop-start which really wasn’t what was needed in the build-up to the reverse fixture v Balcombe. Balcombe were fired up from the last fixture and absolutely battered Priory in the first half taking a deserved 2-0 lead.
Priory showed a bit of a spark and pulled one back in the 2nd half but it wasn’t enough and Balcombe completed the double. The following week was the return fixture of Ringmer and this time Priory kept all 11 players on the pitch. The game ended 1-1 with Priory having largely dominated the game and having a number of chances in the final 10 minutes to take all 3 points. It just wasn’t to be and once again, Ringer rode their luck to grind out a result, a trait which is sometimes the mark of champions.
A positive performance for Priory nonetheless and they built on that picking up 21 points from an available 27 and going unbeaten in the next 9 games which set them up for a grandstand finish away to Oxted and Lindfield. Knowing that all that was required was a top 5 finish for promotion, there was now the unwelcome distraction of also knowing that winning their 2 remaining games could all but secure the Mid-Sussex league title.
The first half away to Oxted ended 0-0 and it was quite clear that improvements were required in the 2nd half to get anything out of the game, but unfortunately for Priory the occasion overawed them and Oxted strolled to a 3-0 win. With the league title now a long-shot, Priory wanted to end what was a very positive season on a high and it seemed it would be that way when they flew into a deserved 2-0 lead away to Lindfield.
With a couple of chances to extend that lead further, they were still happy and seemingly in control with the lead at half-time. Lindfield started the better of the sides in the 2nd half though and pulled a goal back through a soft free-kick. Shortly after, captain Elbishlawi was given his marching orders after a clumsy challenge saw him sent off and Lindfield’s control of the game became dominance and whilst Priory fought and fought to keep them at bay, eventually after a long-season it took its toll and Lindfield who due to fixture postponements were just a bit fresher, broke through and equalised.
Drama then broke out as a Lindfield striker landed a kung-fu kick on Priory stopper Jordan Markey with the ball having been dead for a few seconds and the assumption was that he would also be given his marching orders, giving Priory a chance to get back in front. Somehow, the attacker was only awarded a yellow card and you guessed it, with just a couple of minutes left on the clock, he then scored the winner for Lindfield.
It later transpired when other teams caught up with their fixtures that holding out for victory would’ve meant Priory would’ve won the title jumping above Ringmer and Eastbourne II. The ultimate prize was the chance to be competing at Step 6 for the first time in the clubs history and re-entering the FA Vase for the first time in 50 years and Priory achieved that this season.
In previous seasons, Priory’s success was largely built on the side’s defensive capabilities and structure, having finished 2nd in both the 22/23 and 23/24 season to Eastbourne United II/Hollington on goals conceded. A key difference this season though, was their potency in front of goal and the addition of top-scorer Dan Taplin clearly had a large part to play in this.
Having scored 74 goals in their league campaign, Taplin contributed to 17 of those but also assisted a further 10. Wingers Nathan Madimba, Callum Johnson, Max Bicknell and Harry Downer then shared 30 goals between them and centre midfield duo Joe Elbishlawi and Matt Harrington a further 13. The large spread of the source of goals made it very difficult for their opponents to keep them quiet and ultimately resulted in them having the best attacking record in the league.
Reigate Priory is going up
Manager Dale Wyatt explained that the recipe behind the success was initially the culture of the squad. Recruiting players who were hungry for personal and team success but also fit into the social dynamic of the group. Ensuring that players would attend training of course for the fitness, tactical and technical improvements, but also largely for the social side and making sure the team were bonding is a pre-requisite and making training fun is a key element to that.
That’s where captain and coach Joe Elbishlawi stepped up. His well-planned, on-theme but fun sessions really helps to bring the group together and pushing each other to be better week in, week out. A group of players’ who were brought together from various different sources, develop into a team where they arrange their own golf-days or nights out with each other and it shows on the pitch and in training that they genuinely enjoy playing alongside each other.
With a good level of buy-in to the project from the players, it then makes it easy to develop a style of play which initially focus’ on how to counter the opposition threat and then how to expand and exploit space in-between the lines and in behind. Wyatt and Field (assistant manager) operate what they describe as four ‘phases’ which enables the team to adapt defensive shape/strategy in-game, but in a way which enables them to transition back into attack using a familiar pattern.
The personnel for the 24/25 season largely remains the same with some quality additions to provide further depth and replace the minimal outgoings. Young central midfielder Sam Luard who came through the Reigate Priory Youth section was dual signed with Horley Town last season, but his progression has been such that he is now full-time with Horley Town at Step 5, which means he is one to be replaced but all for the right reasons.
Reigate Priory is going up
This is something that Wyatt wants to continue and is proud of and says that there are occasions when the personal development of a player accelerate beyond that of the team and it’s only right to support that player in finding a more senior club where he can spread his wings. Of over 70 applications to their trial day, Wyatt and Field have identified the talent they want to add to their squad who also keep with the culture.
With most of the recruitment complete, they have announced Lee Peacock (striker, former Oxted & Horley Town), David Bodie (centre back, former Peterborough United), David Mensah (full back, former Guildford City & Fisher Athletic), Jay Smith (centre back, former Nutfield), Harry Rossetti (central midfield, former Banstead Athletic), Brad Johnson (central midfielder, former Frenches Athletic), Jay Rogers (winger, former Banstead Athletic & Tooting and Mitcham) and Teije Brown-Bami (winger, former Sutton United U18).
The aim this season is to stabilise in a new division and enjoy participating in the FA Vase, though the positivity around the camp indicates that they feel there might be an outside chance of a playoff push or a decent cup run. There is certainly a desire to add more silverware having last brought home a trophy in 21/22 winning the Mid-Sussex Championship.
Reigate Priory, Club overview
Reigate Priory were founded in 1870, making it one of the oldest clubs in the country and the oldest club in world football to still be playing on their original pitch, the stunning Park Lane. Having entered the very first FA Cup competition in 1871 and then the first FA Vase competition in 1974, the club is steeped in history and holds a truly unique place in the world of football.
The club is at the heart of the community, getting involved in local projects such as hosting foodbank collection days and entering representatives into local charity running events. They partner with local colleges as well as their mammoth youth section (50+ teams) to support the transition of youth to adult football with the aim of retaining interest from young sports people and increasing participation in the area. In recent history, the club has boasted outstanding performance across 5 men’s teams with league titles, a cup titles, cup finals and promotions but that’s just the beginning.
There’s also examples of progressing young talent to teams at higher levels as well as continually rising standards in training and mental health support for young men. The club also aims to add a women’s team to the fold in the coming years subject to access to facilities and funding.
Reigate Priory II:
Led by Ricky De Abreu and Ben Smythe, Reigate Priory II is tasked with developing and supply quality young stars for the first team as their primary objective. Recent success on this front has been the integration of one of the stars of their cup run in Dane Riecker who stepped up to the first team at the end of the 23/24 season.
They’ve offered refuge to first team stalwarts like Josh Wille on return from injury to get him back up to a competitive standard before moving back up to the first team. Despite being at the mercy of Dale Wyatt and potentially losing some of their own star players, De Abreu and Smythe guided their team to a cup final and the Mid Sussex Division 1 league title, seeing them promoted to the Mid Sussex Championship, which is the division Reigate Priory’s first team won as recently as 2022.
De Abreu who nurtured young players like Leo Alleway, Lucas Alloway, Jude O’Connor and Sid Parsons in Reigate Priory B’s (4th team) a couple of years ago, will be immensely proud of the way they’ve stepped up to the 2nd team with him and will be sure to see some of them making more first team appearances this season.
It’s also well worth watching out for up and coming stars Dilan Tunstall who was a standout in Reigate Priory U18’s in 2022/23 which saw him rise into Reigate Priory II before sadly breaking his leg. Zach and Noah Chant are regularly on the scoresheet too, with both having made first team appearances previously.
Reigate Priory III:
2023/2024 was a hugely successful season for Tristan Davies’ Reigate Priory 3rd’s as well. Having worked with Ben Smythe of the 2’s to integrate some of the players from above, combined with the quality players already within the squad, they got to work on setting a high standard from the start of the season.
Unbeaten in the first 7 games, they stormed to the Mid Sussex Division 4 league title with little room for error, whilst also achieving 2 quarter finals and a semi-final. Liam Peskett stole the headlines firing 18 goals in 20 appearances whilst demonstrating versatility as a striker, winger and full back. Ripley Salgueiro and club veteran Joe Charles supported by notching 11 goals each. With their league title, they achieved a double promotion to Mid Sussex Division 2 and will be hoping to work even closer with the 2’s to be competitive once more.
Reigate Priory Youth Section:
Founded in 2006 by Richard Stephen, the youth section goes from strength to strength and now boasts the largest youth sports club in the borough of Reigate and Banstead with over 50 teams and 850+ members. Supporting Richard with the running of the youth section, Andy Michelmore plays a huge part with bridging the youth section with the adult section.
The 2021-22 season saw the introduction of the Youth Development Centre (YDC) which is aimed at the strongest teams in each year group. The YDC aims to provide these teams with all the tools required to compete with the major clubs in the area and sees them competing in the upper divisions of the Epsom & Ewell League and the Surrey Youth League, whilst training twice per week.
These boys learn what it means to represent Reigate Priory and when they feed into the senior set up, they already have a strong sense of the ethos and way in which we continue to grow and develop young talent.
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