Isthmian League football is finally back at Footes Lane on Saturday and it’s a new opponent as Harrow Borough come to town.
The Green Lions are looking to bounce back from a narrow opening day day defeat to Hartley Wintney to start a bumper bank holiday weekend that also includes a trip to Sutton Common Rovers on Monday.
Tom Dodds is set to pass Ryan-Zico Black and become the club’s outright sixth all-time appearance maker. Charlton Gauvain will also surpass Marc McGrath onto 145 games. Zach Gilman starts his three-game suspension having been sent off on his debut against Hartley Wintney.
There are young players knocking on the door, including teenager Fin Patterson, who has impressed in the youth team at Sylvans. He has been given squad number 22. Another player returning to sign on a temporary basis is midfielder Ben Acey, who was named GFC Young Player of the Year for 2021-22 and earned goal of the season, scoring four times from 27 appearances in midfield. His time with Bristol City ended this summer and he is back in Guernsey on a short-term basis while he assesses his next steps back into the professional game. He will wear number 27 during his brief spell back with the Green Lions, but it remains to be seen if Tony Vance considers him ready for selection for Saturday.
Harrow Borough edged past Ashford Town on the opening weekend, but are out of the FA Cup after losing to Ashford United in a replay on Tuesday. They were relegated from the Southern Premier League South at the end of last season.
Some of their notable former players in include ex-Millwall and Leicester City striker Steve Claridge, and current Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope. They reached the first round proper of the FA Cup in 2016-17, eventually going out to Northampton Town.
The Boro announced 11 new signings on their website over the summer. They become the Green Lions’ 109th different opponent.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 2.15pm. Fans unable to make it to Footes Lane can follow the action on our social media channels. Highlights will be uploaded to our YouTube, Facebook and X Channels after the game, and there will be a full match report on the site.
