View from the corner.

The ‘Rebel Corner Crew’ (as we’ve named ourselves) are a group of fun-loving folk who stand in the SE corner of Woodside. We watch WFC away when we can and when doing so will find a cosy corner to stand in if possible! We have a variety of flags, stickers, bespoke t-shirts and at least one dubious haircut! We love our football (although the passion varies from only WFC through to the top echelons of the sport) and love having a laugh when we get together – before, during and after the game and most of us are old enough to enjoy a beer/cider before, during and after the game. Despite the rumours,we are not sponsored by The Brooksteed pub, but we are open to negotiations. We try to use social media to share our adventures as well as our support for WFC, our thoughts on football, booze and life!

This occasional blog will be an extension of our social posts. The most important thing to know about us and our attitude is - we don't take things too seriously, especially this!

Pre-Season 2024/25

Chichester City vs Worthing, 13 July 2024

Football’s back! The first thing to make clear is this is not a match report, just a few observations.

Only two of the Rebel Corner Crew (RCC) made the trip west to Chi. The day started just after midday with a visit to Little Monster Tap for three pints of very fine, locally brewed craft beer; enjoyed in glorious sunshine!

We eventually dragged ourselves off to the ground and were greeted by a small queue of predominantly Worthing supporters. We languished in the queue making small talk for a good 15 minutes or so while the volunteer on the turnstile struggled to get to grips with the card reader technology, while blaming the internet signal. All this time the other turnstile was queue free, with the underemployed volunteer occasionally yelling to us loiterers that if we had cash we could enter the ground without delay. Of course, as soon as we gained access to the ground another card reader was rustled up for use in the cash only turnstile.

The ground itself had a nice feel to it, small and compact with a mix of new facilities and old stands, but as we weren’t there to review the standing areas we made our way straight to the bar. The beer was OK, Camden Hazy being the tipple of choice, BUT they had run out by half time. When questioned, the bar staff said: “It’s no surprise you Worthing lot are here” – not sure what was meant by that.

The atmosphere at the game was a million miles away for the atmosphere of the last game we were at, the Play-Off final, but it will take some going to match that. This was so obviously a pre-season friendly. It felt like not only were all the players huffing and puffing their way toward getting back into the swing of football, supporters were also labouring to get themselves reacquainted with their role in proceedings. The excitement of seeing the new summer signings and a few triallists quickly disappeared into the oblivion of a dull first half. Being honest, one of the trialists should not be asked back and one of our new signings will really need to put more of a shift in if they want to win over the RCC, and no doubt the rest of the Worthing faithful. The second half got a bit livelier, partly due to the lightning flashes that forked across the black sky over one end of the ground and the downpour that soon followed, forcing us and many others to take shelter in one of the old stands. It was snug and good natured, despite some dodgy nationalist England chants from one or two younger Chi fans. On the pitch the action was improved by two good Worthing goals; the first from an impressive looking Danny Cashman (we are so glad he stayed) and from one of the triallist who looked good and hopefully will be asked back.

At the final whistle we made our way back to toward the city centre and to a pub, not before a short exchange of words with renewed signing Glen Rea who seemed most impressed that we were on the booze and on the train… You had to be there. In the pub we had a good laugh with a group of Chi City old boys and wished each other well for the coming season. Another walk in the rain to the next pub had us breaking into song “Worthing get soggy everywhere we go”, and after another quick pint we headed to the station. The platform was full of petrol heads returning from Goodwood Festival of Speed and we managed to get on the wrong train – much to the delight of a stag group who tried to warn us… Thankfully we changed at Barnham and we all got home in one piece.

Lewes vs Worthing, 20 July 2024

Nothing to say here, none of us went. We either had other things planned or were not given permission by our spouses to go…

All being well some of us will be heading to Whitehawk on 27 July, watch this space.

Finally, we are on a mission to change the narrative toward match officials, especially the lino. We have all heard or given the lino abuse, some of it good natured some of it not so (Tuesday night game against Slough last season springs to mind with the lino getting some proper grief). This season, RCC will try its hardest not to rise to any poor lino decisions and will instead let the lino know that we appreciate all their good calls. If the lino does good we will sing their praises.