Invicta head to Sussex on Saturday as we face off against Burgess Hill Town for the first time since January 2019.

Invicta head into the weekend as one of only two unbeaten sides in the Isthmian Premier Division, along with leaders Brentwood Town.

A win for Invicta could see us sitting top of the Isthmian Premier Division on Saturday night, dependant on Brentwood’s result against Billericay Town. A defeat meanwhile could see Invicta drop to fourth, dependant on other results.

Supporters’ Coach

Spaces are available on our supporters’ coach, departing from The Dugout Sports Bar at 12pm on Saturday. Supporters can book their seats via our ticketing provider Fanbase. Click here to book.

Kit

Invicta will be in our blue away kit on Saturday, with our hosts in green and black.

From The Manager

First-team manager Jay Saunders spoke to Invicta TV on Monday evening:

“We’ve got a real tough test in Burgess Hill on Saturday, their first game at home with their new pitch and I’d expect a big crowd and they’ll be right up for it.

“We need to see how everybody is at training on Thursday and then prepare for a tough game. We’ve got to be better than we were tonight [against Aveley], which might sound crazy as we won 5-2, but we have to be better as a group on Saturday.”

The Opposition

Saturday will be the first fixture at Leylands Park this season, with Burgess Hill having played all their fixtures away from home so far as they install their own 3G surface. The Hillians go into Saturday off the back of an FA Cup exit, beaten 3-1 by Southern League side Farnham Town.

Burgess Hill are 13 matches unbeaten at Leylands Park and have only conceded three times in that run with ten clean sheets since their last home defeat on 30th November 2024.

Recent Form

15/08 – Aveley (A) – Drew 3-3
23/08 – Brentwood Town (A) – Lost 2-0
25/08 – Lewes (A) – Won 2-1
31/08 – Wokingham Town (A) – Won 5-1 (FA Cup)
06/09 – Cheshunt (A) – Drew 1-1
13/09 – Farnham Town (A) – Lost 3-1 (FA Cup)

Recent Meetings

The sides last met in the 2018/19 season, with Burgess Hill knocking Invicta out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Leylands Park before both league fixtures finished level. Ade Yusuff scored in the 1-1 draw between the sides at Cheriton Road.

Invicta are without a win in seven visits to Leylands Park, Richard Atkins and Johan Ter Horst on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win in February 2013.

Of the last 15 meetings between the sides, seven have finished as a draw with four wins apiece.

Last 6

02/01/17 – Invicta 3-1 Burgess Hill
19/08/17 – Burgess Hill 1-1 Invicta
30/12/17 – Invicta 3-1 Burgess Hill
08/09/18 – Burgess Hill 1-0 Invicta (FA Cup)
15/09/18 – Invicta 1-1 Burgess Hill
05/01/19 – Burgess Hill 0-0 Invicta

The Manager

Joint managers Jay Lovett and Gary Mansell led the club to their play-off success last season, with Lovett having returned to the club in the summer of 2024 to work alongside Mansell who took charge in December 2023 following the departure of Dean Cox. Lovett was previously manager at Leylands Park from 2019-2023.

One To Watch

Former Peterborough, Gillingham, Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon midfielder Chris Whelpdale joined Burgess Hill in October 2024 after spells in the Isthmian Premier Division with Lewes and Whitehawk. After scoring six goals in 31 appearances last season, Whelpdale has three in six so far this season.

How To Follow

You can keep up to date with the action with updates from our X (formerly Twitter) account or via Football Web Pages.

The Venue

Directions can be found here.

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Travel

Always check rail times/strike action before you travel. 

Thameslink services from St Pancras and London Bridge stop at Wivelsfield which is an 8-minute walk from Leylands Park.

Admission

Supporters can pay on the gate for this fixture.

• Adult: £12
• Concession (Over 65, student): £8
• Age 12-18: £3
• Under 11: £1