CAFC vs Burgess Hill Town – Preview
After a narrow 2–1 defeat at Chatham on Saturday, the Robins face another away trip on Tuesday – this time to newly promoted Burgess Hill Town.
Carshalton Athletic
Following heavy defeats earlier in the season to Dartford and Chichester, Carshalton Athletic have shown significant improvement in recent matches. A spirited second-half comeback against Cray Wanderers saw them earn a 2–2 draw, followed by a strong showing – despite defeat – at Chatham Town.
While the Robins haven’t always received the points their performances have deserved, there is a growing sense of momentum, and they’ll be looking to turn good performances into wins. Tuesday’s trip to Burgess Hill will provide another stern test against a side returning to Step 3 for the first time since 2019.
Burgess Hill Town FC
Burgess Hill Town return to the Isthmian Premier Division after a six-year absence. They finished 3rd in the Isthmian South East last season with 90 points, defeated Margate 2–0 in the playoff semi-final, and then stunned Sittingbourne – who had amassed 101 points – by winning the final on penalties following a 1–1 draw.
Since promotion, the Hill have experienced a mixed start to life back at Step 3, with two wins, two draws, and three defeats in the league so far. Their most notable victory came in August with a 2–1 win over Cray Valley at The Artic Stadium. They also progressed comfortably in the FA Cup with a 5–1 win over Wokingham Town in the First Qualifying Round.
It’s worth noting that Burgess Hill played their first six league matches away from home due to ongoing work on their new artificial pitch. Tuesday’s clash with Carshalton will be just their second home game of the season, following Saturday’s 3–2 defeat to Folkestone. A big crowd is expected at Leylands Park as fans continue to welcome Step 3 football back to Sussex.
Head to Head
The last meeting between these two sides came during the 2018/19 Isthmian Premier season. Burgess Hill won their home fixture 3–2, with goals from Pat Harding and a brace by Aaron Smith-Joseph. Peter Adeniyi and current Peterborough United player Jacob Mendy were on the scoresheet for the Robins.
Carshalton claimed victory in the reverse fixture at Colston Avenue on Good Friday 2019, winning 2–0 thanks to a brace from Ricky Korboa – who has recently re-signed for the club.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Luke Read missed Saturday’s match at Chatham Town but hopes to be back in the squad for Tuesday night. Last season’s top scorer David Smith returned to the starting XI at the weekend, winning a penalty and looking sharp throughout. He’ll be hoping to retain his place in the lineup.
Pre-Match Analysis
Both teams have had inconsistent starts to the season, and Tuesday’s match presents a valuable opportunity to build momentum. With Burgess Hill finally playing in front of home fans after an extended run of away games, the atmosphere at Leylands Park is expected to be lively.
Expect both sides to view this fixture as a winnable one – and a potential springboard to climb the table.
Key Player
A familiar name to Carshalton fans, Bobby Price made his Robins debut in 2013 and went on to make nearly 300 appearances, scoring 26 goals. After a stint with Horsham, he joined Burgess Hill in 2024 and played a key role in their promotion campaign, making 44 appearances last season.
Now 30, Price has featured in six of the Hill’s seven league matches this term, scoring in the 3–3 draw at Aveley in August. The right-back is expected to feature on Tuesday and will likely receive a warm welcome from the Robins faithful.
The Gaffers
Gary Mansell took charge of Burgess Hill in December 2023 and helped the club to a mid-table finish that season. Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Jay Lovett returned to the club to form a joint-management team with Mansell.
The partnership sparked a remarkable turnaround, as the Hill doubled their previous season’s points total – finishing with 90 – and secured promotion in dramatic fashion with a penalty shootout victory over Sittingbourne in front of 1,583 fans.
Now adjusting to life back in the Isthmian Premier, the management duo will be focused on stabilising their side at this level and building toward a strong finish.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Opponents: Burgess Hill Town FC
Venue: Leylands Park, RH15 8AQ
Competition: Isthmian Premier League
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Admission: Adults £12, Conc (65+/Students) £8, 12yo-18yo £3, U11 £1
Tickets: Purchase at the turnstiles
