Andover New Street v Romsey Town - E-Programme 2022-23

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CLUB OFFICIALS

President: Nick Richmond

Vice President: Brian Funnel

Chairman: Martin Tobin

Football Chairman: John Ward

Executive Committee Members: Paul Reidy, Steve Cox, Fiona Tobin, Ady Burdock, Kevin Pipkin, Amanda Cox, Les Hillon, George Harrison, Andy Welfare

First Team Manager: Jamie Coleman

First Team Assistant Manager: Ashleigh James

First Team Coach: Jamie Dockree

Head Of Goalkeeping: Alex Thompson

Head Of Medical: Pete Tunney

Physiotherapist: Josh Oatly

Kit Man: Ken Hardy

Club Secretary: Kerry Tobin

House Chairman: Jim Wilson

Treasurer: Amanda Cox

Membership Officer: Kerry Tobin

Swifts Chairman: Paul Reidy

Swifts Secretary: Stephen Leighton

Swifts Manager: Robbie Skeates

Swifts Assistant Managers: Stephen Leighton & Ryan Facey

Ladies Manager: Kyla Tobin

Sponsorship Chairman: Paul Reidy

Media Manager: Kevin Pipkin

Website Designer: Chris Robins

WORD

Made in Andover.

Edited by Kevin Pipkin (programme.editor.andovernewstreetfc@outlook.com)

Photography by Andy Ormerod & Kevin Pipkin

Thanks to contributors: John Ward, Jamie Coleman, John Gorman, Neil Jensen and Sam Emery.

The views in this programme are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the editor and/or Andover New Street. ANDOVER

Foxcotte Park, Foxcotte Lane, Charlton, Andover, SP11 0TA Telephone: 01264 535358 | andovernewstreetfc@hotmail.co.uk | www.ansfc.co.uk @AndoverNSfc @ANSSwifts @andovernslfc facebook.com/AndoverNewStreet

THE MANAGER

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Foxcotte Park to all our supporters for today’s game against our visitor’s Romsey Town.

I’d like to welcome the Town’s management team, their staff, players and all officials and supporters who have made the journey to Andover this afternoon.

Romsey are now in their ninth season in League One after their relegation from the Premier in 2014 and they have always been a tough side to play against.

This season they have made an indifferent start and perhaps should have more points then they currently have. They have taken points off both Folland Sports and New Milton Town and come into the game fresh on the back of a win over Fawley AFC.

That result over the Oiler’s stopped a losing run of four games so we know that we are in for a tough game this afternoon.

We come into the game having continued our impressive unbeaten run in the league into the new year with victory over league leaders New Milton Town.

I thought the game with the Linnets was a good advert for the Wessex League. Both sides went for it in difficult conditions.

I’m not being biased when I say my team were magnificent, and so were you in the stands. We showed great character to weather the New Milton attacks in the first half and scored a great goal from a Mikey Davis corner that beat the keeper and gave Scott Hassell the easiest of headers to give us the lead.

In the second half, we showed the attacking prowess we have as we grew stronger and just when it looked as though we would hold on to a 1 -0 win, Cooky broke through to make certain of the points

Then a few weeks ago we came up against a spirited Ringwood side that certainly made life difficult for us and we were thankful to Josh Moore’s late equaliser that earn a point that could be crucial at the end of the season.

Recent postponements have seen us fall to third place in the league, but we know we need to maintain our season form, starting this afternoon.

Enjoy the game.

WE WERE THANKFUL TO JOSH MOORE’S LATE EQUALISER THAT EARN A POINT THAT COULD BE CRUCIAL AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

FACT FILE

NICKNAME: The Town

STADIUM: The AEC Protection Ground

CAPACITY: 1,500

LEAGUE POSITION 21-22: 8th Wessex League One

MANAGER: Luke Watts

MILES FROM ANDOVER: 21 miles

LAST MEETING: AEC Protection, 01/10/22, 5-2 League One

FEB 04

2023 15 00 SEP

MEMORY MATCH

NEWPORT IOW 0

ANDOVER NEW STREET 2

WORDS: JOHN GORMAN

STREET:

O’Brien, Field, Le Brun (Rogers C), Curtis, Scott, Dockree, Lock, Kinge, McCracken, Connor Thorne, Yates

NEWPORT IOW:

Streeter, Butcher, Hughes, Lamb, McDonough, Reynolds, Kelly, Taylor, Browne, Craig, Barron

The “promotion” word looked very much on the cards for Street, especially when they embarked on a 12-match winning run, starting with a 3 -2 victory against Newport, that put them into second place behind leaders United Services Portsmouth but with a number of games in hand.

Unfortunately, the 2019-20 season would be abandoned in mid-March with around 10 matches remaining, due to the global pandemic.

Lockdown gradually ended and the Street would be able to start to prepare for the new season, which would start a month later in September.

A new looking management setup was introduced with Jamie Coleman and Danny Dolan joining forces in the dugout, while John Smith and Iain Meechan, would have the opportunity to help all the club’s sides in their new Director of Football roles.

The Street were poised for an instant return to the Wessex Premier following their one season stay in the Wessex top division in the 2018-19 season.

midfielder’s Scott Kinge and Connor Thorne, defenders Danny Field and Gary Thorne and also goalkeeper Sean O’Brien

Although pre-season matches are viewed as an opportunity to get minutes under the players belts, the Street were worryingly not performing to the best of their ability with some Jekyll and Hyde performances, when playing against the likes of Salisbury, Eastleigh Development Squad and Basingstoke Town.

The Street would start the new season with one the longer journeys with a trip over to the Isle of Wight and would be up against tough opposition in Newport IOW, who were still ground sharing at Beatrice Avenue, following the sale of their St George’s Park.

The Street management team must have been pulling their hair out when trying to make their squad selection for the game, as a number of players reported unavailable including striker Denham.

Then the preparations went from bad to worse with a misreading of the departure time of the ferry. The squad arrived too late and were forced to board the later ferry, which would mean little time to get ready and warm-up for the game.

Whether or not this was a factor, we will never know, but John Smith would later say it was all part of the plan as the Street produced a brilliant performance in an enthralling opening game

The enforced changes saw the Street give five debuts to the side, with one of those, Ally McCracken starting brightly, and he was rewarded, when he followed up a Shane Lock effort that was spilled by Gary Streeter, to fire home on 12 minutes.

Keeper Sean O’Brien produced a number of crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet, including an incredible point blank save to deny Jordan Browne, just after half- time, when the Port striker looked certain to have an easy tap in and bring the Port level.

Then the influential Alex Dockree was red carded for a late tackle and was followed by Newport’s Jacob Reynolds, who retaliated for the challenge.

Another debutant, Charlie Rogers was introduced in the first half for the injured Kieron Le Brun, had a fine game at left back and Scott Kinge showed his experience in the middle of the park with a battling display that ensured that Street maintained possession.

With both sides down to ten men, the Street took advantage of the space available in wide areas. Gunner Yates and Connor Thorne were taking their markers on at every opportunity and Shane Lock was always a threat with his usual high energy, used to keep the pressure on the Port defence.

And it was Lock that capped an excellent performance with a close-range finish on the hour mark to seal the three points.

Unfortunately for Street, this would be their best performance of the short season. A 1- 0 home defeat to Petersfield Town would precede cup defeats to Bashley and New Milton Town in the FA Vase on penalties. Totton & Eling were dispatched thanks to a better 2nd half display before a 5-2 defeat at Andover Town and draws with Hythe & Dibden and Downton. Saw the Street struggling in mid -table.

Defeat to leaders Laverstock & Ford in early December summed up the Street season, so it came as a relief that a second lockdown would mean an early end to the campaign.

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES

Action from our last home match against Ringwood Town last month. The Street were made to fight for a point, thanks to Josh Moore’s late equaliser. Pictured is Shane Lock looking to put the Town defence under pressure.

THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER

WITH MATT BADCOCK – NLP EDITOR

For many, he is the best player Marine have ever had, but what some might not know about are Peter Smith’s summers in America’s NASL where he ended up playing with George Best for the LA Aztecs – and marking Brazilian legend, the late Pele!

Non-League is such a vast church it never ceases to surprise how deep the stories go.

When the iconic Pele passed away recently, friend of the paper Barry Lenton dropped over an email to remind me Mariner’s legend Smith had gone up against the great forward.

What’s more, Pele remarked how well he played – despite New York Cosmos beating Smith’s Aztecs 6- 0. A few days later I caught up with the very humble Smith to hear his remarkable football story that began with Wrexham reserves and took him across the Atlantic. It came from Marine manager Roly Howard, who had contacts in the States.

Smith first played six games for Philadelphia Atoms but without a work permit he had to return home. Fast-forward a year and some representatives from LA Aztecs came over to sign John Marsh from Stoke and Chelsea’s Charlie Cooke to add to the squad that already had Best committed.

“We played one night in March and the two guys were there – part owner John Chaffetz and another guy," Smith, who scored 174 goals in his 957 appearances for Marine

after being converted from a forward into a centre back, tells me.

"I sat down with them, and they were saying, ‘It’s going to be spectacular with Best’. Like a typical American trying to sell something but would I be interested. I said, ‘Yes, I would’. I was working for BT at the time, so I had to get special leave. He opened his briefcase, got out a contract and I signed it. There was international clearance to sort and making sure I would return back and stuff and that was that. At the end of the season, I packed my bags and off I went.”

Flying all over the America as the season played out, they were soon at the Yankees Stadium up against Pele’s Cosmos, who were also fielding a well-known debutant, Italy World Cup striker Giorgio Chinaglia.

Smith was used to mixing it with the stars. He also played against Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, as well as calling Best a team-mate. Smith recalls: “He said, ‘My name is George Best, Peter nice to meet you’. I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, I know who you are!’ It was surreal. He was so normal, a smashing fella.” And he’ll never forget going toe- totoe with Pele, who scored twice in the win including a trademark wonder strike.

THE NLP PAPER

“We basically just stood in awe; the ball came to him on his chest. It didn’t touch the floor, he flicked it over a lad called Jose Lopez’s head and volleyed it with the opposite foot into the top corner. You think to yourself, ‘That’s not bad’.”

H Laverstock & Ford

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER

AFC Stoneham v Hamworthy United

Alresford Town v US Portsmouth Alton v Christchurch

Bournemouth v Baffins Milton Rovers

Brockenhurst v Cowes Sports

Fareham Town v Bashley

Hamble Club v Shaftesbury

Horndean v Amesbury Town

Hythe & Dibden v Portland Utd

Moneyfields v Blackfield & Langley

SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE ONE

Andover New Street v Infinity

Ash United v New Milton Town

East Cowes Vic v Andover Town

Laverstock & Ford v Fleet Spurs

Petersfield Town v Newport IOW

Ringwood Town v Downton

Romsey Town v Bemerton Heath H

Verwood Town v Whitchurch United

Andover New Street Football Club’s commitment is to promote inclusion and to confront and eliminate discrimination, whether by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. People can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to work and watch football in an environment without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment, bullying and abuse. Should you wish to report a specific incident, please contact your nearest club official or download Kick It Out’s free, confidential reporting app on the App Store or Google Play.

THE WESSEX LEAGUE PREVIEW

In the Premier Division some things never change as AFC Portchester maintained their 100% home record and their top of the table position with a 2-0 win over Christchurch with the goals coming from Brett Pitman and Scott Jones. And with their two nearest rivals both dropping points the lead at the top is now 13 points.

AFC Stoneham travelled down to Portland and took an early lead through a Liam Callaghan double before second half goals from Ben Morris and Liam Sayers gave the home side’s new managers a good start. Horndean went down by the odd goal in seven after the scores were level at two apiece at the break. These results enabled Bemerton Heath Harlequins to move in to third place after a 5 -3 win at US Portsmouth. Stuart Green and Ronan Clancy both with doubles, with Greg Peel also on target; the home side goals came from Shawn Benjamin, Cam Quirke and Lamin Jatta.

Moneyfields are beginning to feel at home on Friday nights at Havant and scored five for the second week running. Callum Laycock and Ryan Pennery both scored twice with Charlie Bell the fifth as Laverstock & Ford went down 5-1, Russell Jones having given the Bulldogs the lead as well!

Hamble Club remain in contention for a top five finish after strikes from Braydon Douglas and Bailey Honeysett gave them a 2-0 win at Brockenhurst and Hythe & Dibden came out on top in a tight game with Baffins Milton Rovers. Kelvin Robinson gave the visitors an early lead but Charlie Drury and Harrison Fay ensured the points stayed with Hythe, and means the Waterside

club have a points tally the same as last year already- with plenty of games to play. A good and valuable win for Pagham at Shaftesbury with a late goal, the only one of the game, from 16 year old debutant Tom Holland and an important 3 -0 win for Cowes Sports at Bournemouth. Lastly Alresford’s woes continue as Blackfield & Langley won by the odd goal in three on the Waterside.

In Division One Andover New Street’s enforced rest due to their game at Amesbury being called off saw them overtaken in the table by Both New Milton Town and Newport. New Milton were given a fright by Romsey before finally winning by the odd goal in five. Goals from Jordan Browne and Rafferty Boyd-Kerr gave Newport a hardfought victory over Downton. Petersfield recorded a best of three victory over Ringwood at Love Lane A good win for Andover Town at the Portway as Follands went down 2-1. Goals at Fawley where the home side were 3-1 up at the break only for Verwood to fight back to three all and a share of the points. Comeback of the day, if not the season came at Whitchurch where a Brett Denham hat trick gave the home side a 3-0 lead before Millbrook countered with five for a remarkable victory. Finally Hamworthy Recreation marked their first ever visit to Fleet Spurs with a 4-2 victory

Streets’ last team

Goals: Moore J (42’)

Subs: Moore A for Davis (70’) Phillips for Thatcher (78’) Thatcher (16’), Hibberd (32’), Dallimore (69’), Moore J (70’)

Town’s last team