Crawley Town boss John Yems wants to give non-league neighbours a pre-season boost

Action from Crawley Town's pre-season friendly at neighbours Horsham in 2019. Picture by Derek Martin

John Yems hopes Crawley Town can give their non-league neighbours a much-needed boost during pre-season.

The Reds will play a grand total of ten friendlies in the run-in to the 2021-22 League Two campaign, with the majority of those being away at nearby non-league clubs.

Crawley Town began their pre-season schedule with a 3-0 win at Walton Casuals last night.

The Reds now hit the road with four friendlies against non-league outfits.

Crawley Town travel to Horley Town on Saturday (3pm), Burgess Hill Town next Tuesday (7.30pm), Three Bridges on Friday 16 (7pm), and Horsham on Saturday 17 (3pm).

Yems' sides host Southampton under-23s on Tuesday 20 (7pm) before visiting East Grinstead Town on four days later (3pm).

The Reds then welcome the under-23s of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to The People’s Pension Stadium on Monday 26 (7pm) and Saturday 31 (3pm) respectively.

Crawley Town conclude their 2021-22 pre-season itinerary with a trip to Kent to take on Beckenham Town on Tuesday, August 3 (7pm).

Yems was adamant that the Reds gave their local neighbours a financial boost in pre-season after a tumultuous year-and-a-half for non-league football.

He said: “I’ve purposefully made sure that we play all the local non-league sides because they deserve the income.

“If it helps them out with the bar takings then great.

“Crawley Town wants these supporters to come and watch Crawley and vice-versa.