Non-League Paper

TOM’S PREP IS PITCH PERFECT

by
The Non-League Football Paper Team
2 August 2026

SLIMBRIDGE joint-manager Tom Deakin went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure last Saturday’s pre-season friendly with League Two side Cheltenham Town went ahead.
By Tim Blake

With the Thornhill Park pitch starved of water during the recent hot spell, Deakin slept in the clubhouse at the ground the night before the game, getting up every two hours to move the sprinkler system stem around the pitch and provide the best possible surface ahead of the big game.
“We tried to get as much water on the pitch as we could, knowing how dry it had been,” said Deakin, ...

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