Football Focus Magazine

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Here we go again! Approaching the midway point of any season can bring mixed feelings. Anything can still happen— injuries, call-offs, suspensions, to name a few. However, this edition of Football Focus Magazine has selected a group of clubs that have one thing in common: they are as strong off the pitch as they are on it.

It is our hope that these stories not only inspire other clubs but also encourage those individuals involved in and running these clubs to take a moment and give themselves a welldeserved pat on the back. Football clubs don’t run themselves, and in my experience, they are managed by special people who influence the results on matchday.

In a world where things can sometimes seem unkind, you find individuals who freely give of themselves with no thought of a return on their investment. Please take your time to read about these heroes, their journeys, and their outstanding contributions to the great sport of association football. After all, what a tremendous hole they would leave if they didn’t exist in our towns and cities. Enjoy!

Martin Morgan Editor

Knaphill FC

100 Years of Football

NICK CROSHAW –CLUB SECRETARY

“During my first visit to the Redding Way ground, I fell in love with the club!”

I first got involved with Knaphill back in 2007 when I was approached as a local

businessman to sponsor the team’s shirt in their first season in the Combined Counties League. I was happy to do so hoping that the added publicity would benefit my Estate Agency business. During my first

visit to the Redding Way ground, I fell in love with the club. I was quickly invited to become the Chairman of the club and threw myself in with the committee and players. Over the years I have also taken over the roles of Club

Treasurer, Youth Secretary and Fixture Secretary as my changing business demands have allowed and this season, I took over the Club Secretary role.

The biggest challenge every year, and I expect this is the same for many clubs in and around our level, is keeping the club financially afloat. Whilst I was the Chairman, we had a number of fundraising events including a charity match against the Arsenal Celebrities XI, the first time in many years that I put a pair of boots back on again.

In the time I have been at the club, I and the other Chairman of the club have been instrumental in getting floodlights installed, two seated stands, a fully fitted bar and kitchen facility as well as numerous other updates – some small and some large - around the ground to keep our grading up to standard. We have been very lucky in have some excellent managers and fine players grace the Knaphill

bench. For a small club we have constantly punched above our weight, and this has included promotion to the CCL Premier Division and wining the CCL Premier Challenge Cup. Last season saw Knaphill finish in their highest ever placing (3rd) and reach the play-offs to gain promotion to the Isthmian League. In just four days we hosted two games the first against Tadley Calleva which resulted in a 2-0 win in front of a record crowd of over 500. Then we entertained AFC Croydon Athletic in front of over 800 fans, the gate was bolstered by the appearance of one of the joint owners of AFC Croydon – Stormzy and his then partner Maya Jama. Unfortunately, the result was a 2-1 loss, but the scenes at the end of the game were wild. Off the pitch we as a club and specifically the current Chairman, Chris Drane, have been looking to improve the club’s facilities and image with a steady programme of updates and increased presence on social media to the extent that we now have a club photographer and two social media managers controlling X, Facebook, TikTok and other accounts that have put the Knaphill name out to all corners of the world. Our Knappers burger has become something of an institution with people travelling from far and near to try it out. It has had many imitators, but there is only one Knapper’s burger!

1972-1973 Woking & District League

Charity Cup Winners League Cup Runners Up

Reserve Division 2 Champions Reserve League Cup Runners Up

1973-1974 Woking & District League Division 2 League Champions (“A’Team)

Charity Cup Runners Up (“A’Team)

Reserve League Cup Cup

Final (“A’Team)

Sportsmanship Cup Winners (“A’ Team)

1978-1979 Woking & District League

Premier Division League Champions

League Cup Winners

Les Slater Charity Cup Winners

Challenge Cup Runners Up

Division 2 League Champions (“A’Team)

Division 2 Charity Cup Winners (“A’Team)

1979-1980 Woking & District League

Premier Division Runners Up League Cup Winners

Les Slater Charity Cup Winners Challenge Cup Winners

1980-1981 Surrey

Intermediate League Division 3 Champions

1981/82 Surrey

Intermediate League

Premier Division 2 Runners Up

1984/85 Surrey

Intermediate League Premier Division 1 Runners Up

1990/91 Surrey

Intermediate League League Cup Runners Up

1999/00 Surrey

Intermediate League Reserve Premier Division 3 Runners Up

2004/05 Surrey

Intermediate League Reserve Division One Runners Up

2005/06 Surrey

Intermediate League Division One Champions

2006/07 Surrey

Intermediate League Premier Division Champions

2015/2016 Suburban League South Champions Winners

2017/2018 Combined Counties Premier Challenge Cup Winners

2018/19 Aldershot Senior Cup Runners Up

2023/24 Combined Counties Play-Offs Runners Up

BY MATTHEW FANCE, MATCHDAY SECRETARY & COMMITTEE MEMBER

“Everyone at the club has it’s best interests at heart.”

I got involved with Knaphill FC at the age of eight when my grandad, Dave Holloway, was appointed Club Life President in 2011. This honor was given in recognition of his dedication to Knaphill FC over the years. He had also served

on the Woking FC Committee and managed various teams for Woking, including the First Team. I began by attending First Team games, where my brother and I were mascots and ball boys. We would collect balls that went out of play or out of the ground, and at the end of the match, we would gather the corner flags. Quickly, I became a full-time supporter, attending most home and away games. Over the past 13 years, my role at the club has grown significantly. I started by selling “Golden Goal” tickets for a few seasons, then became the club’s turnstile operator. In 2019, I was elected to the Knaphill FC Committee, and in 2020, I became Matchday Secretary, assisting the Club Secretary and overseeing media, press relations, and the operational running of the club.

My mum, Lisa Fance, and dad, Michael Fance, are also heavily involved with Knaphill FC. My mum hosts the boardroom on home match days.

Throughout my time at the club, I’ve seen many

challenges, from financial issues to fluctuating results. After a few turbulent seasons, the club is starting to gain stability with experienced individuals in key roles.

Knaphill FC has long aimed for promotion to Step 4 and deservedly came close last season, narrowly losing 1-2 to AFC Croydon Athletic in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South play-off final.

We are working to grow our development and youth teams in the coming years. Due to COVID-19, the club hasn’t run an U18s team for a few seasons, but we are excited to introduce a new U18s squad for the 2024-25 season, playing in the Allied Counties Youth League. The First Team and U18s will have a close relationship.

We have a new management team and an entirely new squad following our play-off finalist season. The atmosphere is one of excitement and optimism as we look forward to what the new season brings.

Rob Atkinson, who once played for Knaphill U18s,

has gone on to play for various professional clubs and currently plays in the EFL Championship for Bristol City. It’s still early in the season, but we’ve had a good start. With a new management team and squad, it’s been positive to see us win five of our nine league games, with two draws and two losses. We are hopeful for a cup run along the way.

I consider Knaphill FC a true community club. We’re often complimented on our friendly, welcoming atmosphere. We offer reduced entry to season ticket holders from other local clubs to encourage local support.

Our sponsors are invaluable, allowing us to remain self-sufficient while maintaining a competitive squad at Step 5 of the nonleague pyramid. We offer a variety of sponsorship packages to suit all budgets,

whether for businesses or individuals.

What truly makes Knaphill FC great is the people. Over the past 13 years, I’ve seen committee members, players, managers, and others come and go. Yet, the club remains supported by a core group of dedicated individuals, ensuring it continues to thrive. Everyone involved has the club’s best interests at heart. Our friendly and welcoming nature is often mentioned by visitors, and it’s something we’re very proud of.

As we celebrate our

centenary season, marking 100 years since the club’s founding in 1924, we reflect on the many challenges we’ve overcome. Volunteers and committee members have always worked hard to secure the club’s future. After a record-breaking 2023-24 season and a heart-breaking end, the club is optimistic about the future. The current 2024-25 season is setting the path for the next few years. The new management team has brought much-needed stability after last season’s play-off final defeat.

GETTING TO KNOW DAVE HOLLOWAY - CLUB LIFE PRESIDENT

Following the announcement of our new Club President, Dave Holloway, the former Woking manager reveals his involvement with the club over the years.

First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone at Knaphill Football Club for giving me the opportunity to hold the position of Club Life President, and I am honoured to do so. When I was asked, it took me all of three seconds to reply.

I have lived in and around Woking all my life—22 years in Old Woking and 42 years in the Knaphill and Goldsworth Park areas. My family’s connection to Knaphill goes back generations. My granddad was the landlord of the Barley Mow Pub, which was located in the old building at the Chobham Road end of Barley Mow Lane. I’ve been told that in those days, there was a picture house in Highclere Gardens!

My dad attended Knaphill School, and during the 1921/22 season, he played for and captained the Knaphill, Woking & Surrey School Boys team. That same season, Knaphill won the Woking School League. When I played for Highlands School from 1958–1962, we also won the Woking School Boys League. It was nice to see the Large League Winners Shield engraved with “1921/23 Winners, Knaphill School.”

After leaving school at 15, I trained as a bricklayer and held several positions in the construction industry throughout my working life until I was advised to take early retirement due to

as goalkeeper, a position I kept. One of my fondest memories is playing in prewar lace-up collar shirts!

I later moved on to senior school and played for Highlands School at each age level, also representing the school at every level in district teams.

After leaving school, I played youth football for Maybury Youths, the only youth age level being under 18 at the time. We did well, winning the area league against strong teams like Woking Football Club Youths. At youth level, I had trials with Charlton Athletic (who were a First Division team back then), Leyton Orient, and spent two weeks on trial at Reading.

First Team won the league without losing a game, drawing just one, and we picked up a few cups along the way. The Reserves and A teams also began to earn honours.

Earlier that season, I was asked to join the Woking & District League Committee and help reinstate the Representative Team, a cause I was happy to support. These games were often for charity, and we would pick players who would attract the biggest crowds to raise money for injured players facing financial hardship.

medical reasons.

My interest in football began around the age of five or six, when my dad used to take me to watch Woking play, with the occasional professional game thrown in.

Our Chairman will be pleased to know that the first professional game I watched, around 1953/54, saw Portsmouth beat Sheffield United 7-2 (a score he might not appreciate!). Two weeks later, I watched Portsmouth beat Arsenal 6-0. Portsmouth was one of the best teams around at that time.

As a boy and a Woking FC supporter, my highlight was watching Woking play in every round of the FA Amateur Cup, which culminated in their first appearance at Wembley, where they beat Ilford 3-0 in the 1957/58 season. That match drew the last big crowd of 72,000 for an Amateur Cup Final at Wembley. The old Wembley Stadium had no floodlights, and 75% of the crowd was uncovered. I’m proud to say that even blindfolded, I could still name the Woking team that played that day in ten seconds.

The following week, the local School Board Inspector, Clary Jarman—who was also Woking FC’s Secretary—took the FA Cup to every school in Woking for the children to see and touch. Not bad for a man who lost a leg in the First World War and rode a bike!

I began playing schoolboy football at the age of eight for Westfield Junior School. At first, we only played friendlies, and everyone was tried in different positions. The following season, we joined the Woking School Boys League, where I was selected

I played most of my senior football with Lion Sports in the old Surrey Senior League, which later became the Combined Counties League. I enjoyed my time at Lion Sports, as the club was similar in setup to Knaphill. I remember joining the first team at 18, where I quickly realized I was in men’s football when some of the older players removed their false teeth before games! Older committee members, who had played right after the war, would often tell stories of how players used Reader’s Digest booklets as shin pads, and when playing Old Woking, they would use telephone directories!

I joined Knaphill Football Club in the 1976/77 season as goalkeeper and took over as First Team manager the next season. At that time, Knaphill had three teams, one in each division of the Woking & District League.

Thanks to my wife, Sue, who provided the refreshments, I held team meetings at my house three nights in a row to explain my vision for the club and to listen to any concerns the players might have. I was pleased with the nearly 100% turnout from players and management teams.

By the 1978/79 season, we had built a formidable squad of players. With the help of Phill Gasson and a work party, we installed floodlights for training at Waterer’s Park, with key welding work done by Mick Garbutt and his dad Jack. With my coaching qualifications (gained at Crystal Palace some years earlier), we were able to train more effectively. Previously, training was just a few five-a-side games and some circuit training, which kept players fit but lacked constructive coaching. Once the floodlights were installed, training attendance was high, benefiting all three teams. The

One of the most memorable matches was when we played a Surrey Intermediate League side preparing for a cup final. They likely expected an easy win, but we fielded a strong team and ran them ragged, winning 4-0. They only had one shot on goal, which we saved.

Knaphill’s success led to us securing the first sponsorship deal of any Woking League club. Waterer’s Park also became a hub for the local boys’ team, Knaphill Dynamos, some of whom eventually joined the senior teams.

With Mick Garbutt and John Claydon (a Lion Sports player), we ran FA Coca-Cola Soccer Skills Award Courses, which included boys and girls aged 5–10, at a time when more girls were becoming involved in football.

I left Knaphill FC at the end of the 1979/80 season, seeking to manage a team where match days included a referee and two official linesmen. In the Woking League, we only had a referee, and biased decisions from managers or substitutes running the line often cost us games. Thankfully, our Treasurer, John Wood, ran the line for the First Team most weeks and was one of the fairest linesmen in the league.

I then managed Lion Sports, who had moved from the Surrey Senior League to the Combined Counties League and coached their strong youth side.

Just as I was settling in at Lion Sports, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from Woking Football Club, informing me that they had given Lion Sports 14 days’ notice to approach me for their management and coaching team.

In the 1981/82 season, I became Woking Reserves and Youth Team Manager. The following season, I was promoted to First Team Manager, joined by Mick Garbutt. That season, we led Woking to their first-ever London Senior Cup Final. At the end of the 1983/84

season, I attended a Woking FC Directors meeting where I learned about upcoming ground improvements, including the construction of a Fitness Centre, Snooker Club, and Gym Club to help with the club’s financial stability. I was asked to become a Director to assist with these projects and to take on the role of Football Director, responsible for ground maintenance, health and safety, crowd control, and player welfare. Over the next six years, I served as Vice Chairman and occasionally assisted with the financial side of the club.

By the 1989/90 season, due to increasing mobility issues, I decided to step down.

Although I’m not as mobile these days, I’ve always maintained an interest in football, whether through reading the papers or watching TV from my reclining armchair. I’m very glad that Mick Garbutt persuaded me to come and watch Knaphill, and I’m more than pleased with the club’s progress.

Having seen the club in action, spoken to committee members, and watched all three teams several times, I’m confident that Knaphill Football Club will achieve the success it deserves. I’ve spoken to Chairman (at the time) Terry Chapman, whose enthusiasm, professionalism, and passion for the club are evident.

In conclusion, I sincerely hope that Knaphill FC has a long and successful future. If anyone would like to chat about Knaphill Football Club or football in general, I would be happy to listen and help if I can.

SETTFORDS

Knaphill FC is proud to have Setfords as our primary sponsor for the 2024-25 season. Based in Guildford, Setfords is well known for its innovative platform law model and commitment to excellence. Their support means so much to the club, not just for the exposure it brings, but because Setfords embodies the same spirit of teamwork, dedication, and community that drives Knaphill FC forward. Their backing will help us continue building on last season’s success as we aim high for the future.

Brocton FC

”There is a team of people at the club who are the backbone of Brocton FC.”

“The

loyalty of

the lads was outstanding; they have all stuck together for three seasons!.”

Alex Curtis arrived as manager in October 2021, with the club languishing near the foot of the North West Counties Division One South. His story is one of tremendous success for a very young manager.

“I have loved my time at Brocton, which is now coming up to three years. During this period, we have seen the club go from strength to strength. In my first season, we stabilized the club when it seemed destined for relegation, ultimately finishing 10th. In the following two full seasons, we ended in play-off defeat, but last year we won the North West Counties First Division. This was a huge achievement for the club, especially given its lack of a playing budget. The loyalty of the lads was outstanding; they have all stuck together for three seasons.

Initially, what attracted me to Brocton was Matt Skinner (a former first-team captain), who is now one of the committee members. He had asked me multiple times if I would consider becoming the manager. I had previously had a loan spell at the club

as a player and loved the atmosphere and the people. I knew it was well-run by people who care deeply about the club, which was crucial for me as someone taking their first steps into management at 25. After meeting with Terry, Nigel, and several other committee members, I knew it was the right club for me. It was also important that I felt I could make a difference to the club for those who care so much about it. I have a great backroom team, including Jake Triggs, Steve Vaughan, and Richard Stone. We have also developed a structure for the U21s and U18s, which supports the first team brilliantly.

The group has experienced major success, especially with winning the league last year. I believe the achievement of winning the North West Counties Division One title has been slightly underrated. I attribute this success to three factors: player loyalty, a solid football structure at the club, and strong off-field support.

The players share a closeknit bond and are genuinely a group of friends. The environment is perfect for them to enjoy their football and be successful. In the final

game of last year’s league title win, 10 players in the squad and 7 starters had played in my first league game in charge. The lads have stuck together; they spend a lot of time together off the pitch, and that bond is worth more than any money to the players. They play for the management team, the club, and, most importantly, for one another, which is key to their success. There have been additions to the team, but only the right players who fit the dressing room. It was notable this summer that all players from last year’s squad remained at the club for this season.

When I arrived at Brocton, the first thing I asked for was the formation of a U18s midweek floodlit team. Ben Douglas and Ryan Douglas have been managing this team for two years, and they have produced more than 10 players who have gone on to play in the first team. Not only that, but they have also won trophies each season, with their cup final victories being supported on the terraces by the first team. This has been phenomenal support for the first team and has contributed massively to our success. This year, we also reintroduced a U21s team to bridge the gap for any players who become too old for the U18s but want to remain at

the club to progress. Both teams play in the same style as the first team, and the roles for players are consistent across all three teams. So, any player stepping up to the next stage already knows what is expected of them, which has been vital to our success.

Lastly, the support from the committee off the field is essential. There is a team of people at the club who are the backbone of Brocton FC. They work tirelessly to keep the club looking presentable, maintain the best playing surface, and create a fantastic environment. I have made sure the players understand what goes into running this club and ensure they show the gratitude the committee deserves. People like Terry, Brian, Barbara, Nigel, and many others are phenomenal assets to the club. We have created a fantastic culture where there is no division between players, management, supporters, or committee members. Everyone gathers for a drink in the bar after a game and gets along well. This camaraderie

was something I was told was missing before I came to the club, and I believe it is pivotal to our success.

Brocton FC has been a great place for my first job in management, and I thank all the players, committee, and management for their support over the last three years. Let’s hope we can keep progressing.

Connor Haddaway, Brocton’s first-team captain, is a leader both on and off the pitch. Connor is one of ten current players with over 100 first-team appearances. To go from fighting relegation when Alex joined, to finishing 4th the following season, and then winning the title convincingly the season after that, shows how much the club has grown on the pitch. However, for me, this success is largely due to the togetherness of the group away from football.

Surprisingly to outsiders, the squad that fought relegation in the 21/22 season was largely unchanged from the one that won the league in 23/24. We have therefore relied on our youth teams to provide players who can step up when needed. Not only have the younger lads done that, but they have also become permanent members of the first team. In the 22/23 season, we had the likes of Charlie King, Jack Bostock, and Will Finlay, who were mainstays in the first team while still playing for the

Nigel Pepper is club Chairman and is Brocton through and through. He has served as player, committee member and now Chairman in the order of 40 years. Here he outlines some of his thoughts around the present, the past and the future for Brocton FC.

GROUND DEVELOPMENTS

• New LED floodlights circa £32,000 – substantially funded through Football Foundation in partnership with Premier League Fund

• Refurbishment of changing rooms, Manager’s office and First Aid room circa £15,000 similarly funded.

• Refurbishment of Club Room bar at circa £5,500, improvements to kitchen at circa £700 and toilet facilities upgrade jointly funded through Grant Aid and football club members donations and Club Funds.

Brian Townsend, former Chairman, now Finance Director at the club has been instrumental in overseeing the development of Silkmore Lane Sports Ground from 2006 to date and in obtaining various grants to make this possible.

He has served as a player and a volunteer with the club for some 55 years tirelessly working to develop the facilities enabling the Club to move from grassroots level to step 5 in the Pyramid.

CONTINUITY

Continuity has been the key so far as Club development is concerned.

Terry Homer has served 60 years as player, Secretary and for the last twenty years award winning groundsman.

Treasurer, Eddie Wright (in position for over 40 years) has moved into a consultancy role in the new finance team of Peter Russell (also with the club for a similar period) and Liz Ashfield who has been with the club for several years.

VOLUNTEERS

The Club boasts numerous volunteers in that all at the Club, whether it be managers, coaches or officers or players receive no payment.

The volunteers are offered a place on the Club committee around 30 in number to give them a stake in the Club. Husband and wife team, Brian and Barbara Chandler are stalwart volunteers for several decades now helping to maintain the facilities, amongst other roles (in tip top order). A special mention for Geoff Tyler and Andy Faulkner who play a key role in pitch preparation particularly on a Friday before the weekend fixture. In addition, Andy is a real terrier where fundraising is concerned.

ON THE FIELD SUCCESS

The 23/24 Season saw great success on the field and the feel good factor around the Club was and remains exceptional. With promotion to Step 5 being achieved by the First team and the all important Under 18 teams lifting silverware and providing players (several as young as 16) for first team duty.

MEDIA

Under the guidance of Gary Hazlehurst, the media team has stepped up several gears and for the new season the team is joined by two teenagers who are carrying out tannoy duties, Twitter updates, Match reports and post match interviews belying their young ages.

DECISION MAKING

Through the Players’ Leadership Scheme incepted by Alex Curtis (First Team Manager), there is regular input into all matters relating to the Club with four First Team players also serving on the Committee. Alex and his coaches have instilled that players show respect to their

peers and all that attend the Club; and this helps promote a wonderful atmosphere on match days and excellent reviews on Social Media platforms as to the welcome proffered to all that attend at the Club.

GATES

Over the last two seasons, gates have doubled, and sponsorship increased with the Club having in the region of twenty sponsors. For several years Joie have included Brocton in the clubs which they sponsor sitting alongside Liverpool F.C. and Manchester City Ladies F.C. The sponsorship received by Brocton is very modest compared with the sponsorship provided by Joie to the 2 clubs mentioned but indicates a trust in Brocton meeting Joie’s very exacting standards.

CLUB STRUCTURE

• Company Limited by Guarantee (Not for profit)

• Community Amateur Sports Club

• Benefits: Gift Aid Scheme, attracts grants and effectively prevents payment of players which syncs with the Club ethos

TEAMS

• First Team Midland Premier (24/25)

• Under 21 Team (new): Midland League Under 21 Division

• Under 18 teams: MFL, MJPL and Mid Staffs League

• Under 17 Team – MJPL

• Veterans: Staffs Veterans League

ACCREDITATION PARTNERSHIPS

Brocton does not seek to replace Junior Clubs who are experts in their field. It does, however, provide pathways to teenage footballers moving from Junior Football to Youth Football and ultimately the chance of Senior Football. Brocton is therefore formally in partnership under the Accreditation Scheme with Eccleshall Eagles and Berkswich Junior Clubs and informally with Milford Juniors – 3 excellent clubs fielding numerous Junior Teams across the board of boys, girls and disabled teams. In this way, the autonomy of the Junior Clubs is maintained but as the Senior Partner, Brocton is able to provide a ‘home’ for the Junior Clubs to conduct meetings and for their young players to follow, hopefully, the good role models in the senior teams.

U18s. Charlie and Jack were starters in our play-off semifinal. Charlie then became a regular starter and one of the players of the season in our title-winning campaign while still playing every week for the U18s floodlit team. This shows the attitude and commitment that the lads must have to fit in at the club with the culture that has been created. It also shows that the environment in the first-team changing room allows the young lads to be comfortable and express themselves on the pitch.

Any lads who have joined the squad from other clubs have also had to be a certain type of person, as well as a good player, to improve the squad on the pitch and fit in with the culture that has been created. The likes of Lucas Green-Birch, Matty Bestall, Morgan Payne, Charlie Marshall, and Will Whieldon, to name a few, have been exactly that.

The rate at which players are retained shows how much everybody enjoys being a part of the club. Every single player who finished the 23/24 season with the club has been retained for the 24/25 season. This is unheard of in non-league football, which is even more impressive considering the club has no budget whatsoever. It shows that being part of a great club and team is the most important thing.

Over the past 2.5 seasons, we have created memories to last a lifetime as a group of mates all playing for the same club, and last season’s success was the highlight. This has created a hunger to achieve even more, which will be our aim moving forward.

Gary Hazlehurst heads up the media team at Brocton, a role he has developed since joining in the summer of 2021. He has a long history of covering local football and has brought that expertise to the club.

My football writing journey is probably very familiar to many in non-league football. I began writing match reports for the Unofficial Stafford

Rangers website, which led me to do occasional reports for local papers and the club website/programme. Things changed when Stafford had a fledgling radio station that decided to cover Stafford Rangers games. My involvement came by accident. The webmaster for the Unofficial website received a call from the Saturday afternoon host asking if he could give a halftime report from a game at Guiseley. His response was, ‘No, but the chap standing next to me can.’ That chap happened to be me, and my many years of radio reporting began with a 0-0 draw. Over the years, this developed until a full-time FM license was granted, and we went all out providing live commentary. When Rangers were without a game, we covered other local sides, and that’s how my involvement with Brocton began. Live games were infrequent, but I provided live commentary on the night the Badgers clinched the Midland Combination title at Coventry Copsewood and when they lifted the Les James Challenge Cup at The Bescot Stadium. It seemed destined, even then, that I would eventually become part of this great club.

Eight years ago, I left the radio world behind and took up the Press Officer role with the Midland Football League. This was a great opportunity to raise the profile of the league and its member clubs. Without blowing my own trumpet too loudly, this was a huge success. To top things off, thanks to Big Centre TV, the MFL had a weekly slot on local TV with yours truly as the MFL pundit. I never expected to be recognized at various grounds as ‘the man off Jumpers for Goalposts,’ and it is still mentioned to me at various grounds today.

Following the two COVIDruined seasons, I decided to take a step back from football, which is where Nigel Pepper comes in. Shortly after receiving an email from the MFL saying I was stepping

down, Nigel picked up the phone and asked if I would be interested in joining Brocton. I had a great affinity with the club, but did I want that dayto-day involvement again? The answer was a resounding yes. We were then given the news that, as part of the FA restructure, Brocton was being moved into the North West Counties League. Concerns at the committee level were high: how could we afford the traveling, would players want to play in this league, the crowds might be lower, etc. Given our start to the 2021/22 season, you did wonder if all these fears would be realized as the club languished near the foot of the table. A change of direction was required, and in October, Alex Curtis and his management team were appointed. Here was a manager whom I first met as a 16-year-old making his debut for Stafford Rangers, now taking over a struggling side. He was very open about what he needed to do, and with the influx of a few returning Badgers, he began to turn the ship around. A 10th-place finish was followed by a playoff defeat and last season’s phenomenal championship win. In my 20+ years in football, I have never come across a group of players like this. They are totally respectful to everyone involved in the club, a great bunch of friends,

and footballers who want to get better. I have worked with many managers over the years— some very high-profile, some with no profile at all. I have had decent relationships with most but exceptional relationships with few. Alex is in the latter group. From day one, he has been approachable, thoroughly professional, and keen to embrace what we wanted to do to raise the profile of the club. The weekly ‘Gaffers’ Corner’ has proven to be a huge hit and something that both myself and Alex enjoy. In terms of his skill as a manager, Alex is in the top two of those I have worked with, alongside Phil Robinson. As a manager to deal with on a day-to-day basis, he is by far the best I have ever worked with. The way Alex behaves permeates his entire squad. He leads by example.

This leadership is echoed throughout the football club. What makes Brocton so special? The people. Having so many former players as part of the management committee is what makes non-league football what it is. Members of the Midland Combination-winning side continue to play an active role in the club. Alex Curtis has mentioned the involvement of Matt Skinner in his becoming the first-team manager. It

is difficult to quantify just how many years of loyal service many members of the committee have given to this, their club. They all make it a place where newcomers are welcomed. We try our hardest to make Silkmore Lane a great place to visit, and we make everyone feel welcome. Success does not often come to the good guys,

but on this occasion, it has. A phenomenal football club from top to bottom and an absolute joy to be involved with.

Terry Homer is Mr. Brocton and the heartbeat of the club. Terry is an awardwinning groundsman who provides one of, if not the best, grass pitches in Staffordshire, which is the

envy of all clubs. He is kept exceptionally busy as secretary—a job not for the faint-hearted these days—and he is respected by everyone who knows him.

Terry shared his thoughts on what makes Brocton such a special place: The club has been run in much the same way as it was when football was restarted after the Second World War. The solid foundation and structure laid down by Charlie Holt, the Buttery Family, George Lawton, Lionel Morris, Les Smith, and many more have been built upon and gently brought into the modern era.

Over the years, the club has always tried to move forward (not always successfully).

From the halcyon days of the

1950s and early 1960s, when numerous league titles and cups were won, to the present day, the club has had far more good days than bad ones. The loyalty of the players is something we are very proud of. Kenny Devoir has played well over 300 games, and six others are fast approaching the 200 mark. Charlie King, at the ripe old age of 18, has already played 86 games— who knows how far he can go.

The committee also boasts people with 60, 50, 40, and 30 years of service. Let’s hope this commitment is maintained in future years. Longevity is what sets Brocton apart; many of the committee members are ex-Brocton players. As we say, ‘Once a Badger, always a Badger.

MIKE MEE, COMMITTEE

MEMBER, SUPPORTER &

SPONSOR: MEE REFURB

I’m originally from Wolverhampton, and when I was younger, I played for Bilston Town FC in the old West Midlands League. In those days, the West Midlands League was very competitive, with teams like Kidderminster and Stourbridge competing against each other. Many good sides went on to play at higher levels. I played football until I was 56, including a stint with a very good vets’ side—we played together for 14 years, and I loved the great camaraderie we had with each other.

My involvement with Brocton has spanned the past 12 years, beginning after my retirement from business in 2012. We had an advert in the program for a few seasons, and I would attend the occasional game. Like many retirees who have been active at work, I needed to find something to replace that and to stimulate my interest. Initially, I came on board as a supporter and volunteer, and I have to say it has all been very fulfilling.

What impressed me when I joined Brocton was

POTTED HISTORY

Brocton was formed in 1937 when Arthur Mayer, landlord of the Chetwynd Arms pub in Brocton Village donated the original match ball and provided the field beside his pub as the pitch.

Until 1979, the Club fielded 1st and 2nd teams in the Rugeley and District League, Cannock Chase League and Lichfield League. The Club won a plethora of trophies.

Between 1979 and 1991, the 1st team competed in the Staffordshire County League (South) before gaining a much-prized place in the Staffordshire Senior League (at one point called the Midlands League). This necessitated a move to Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford for the 1st team whist the 2nd team played on ‘the Chet’ until 2013/4.

In 2003 an application to the Midlands Football Combination was successful, the Club having moved to the excellent facilities at Cannock Stadium the season before. After a year, however, Cannock Stadium was no longer available (it was shortly to be demolished and sold for housing) so a further move was made to the Newlands Lane ground of Heath Hayes for a 4 year period by which time Brocton had secured a 30 year lease on a former sports field belonging to Staffordshire Police at Silkmore Lane, Stafford and had developed it

the professionalism of the committee. The club members all had key roles in the operation of the club, and it was a well-oiled machine— still is today!

When the club decided to have a licensed bar and club room, I was able to help by obtaining the drinks license.

to a standard for the Midland Combination in just 18 months.

In 2013/14 Brocton, under Manager John Berks, were the last winners of the Midland Combination League before this competition merged into the Midland Alliance to form the Midlands League. Brocton achieved the highest league status in their history – membership of the Midland League Premier Division (Step 5).

After 3 years in that division, Brocton were relegated to Division 1 (Step 6) where they remained after achieving a promotion place in the 2019/2020 season truncated by the Coronavirus pandemic after 80% of the season had been completed. The FA decided, however, to declare the season null and void and expunge the record of the season.

In May 2021, following league restructuring, Brocton were placed into the North West Counties Football League Division One South. In their third season, under the managership of Alex Curtis, Brocton ran out away with the Division One South title and were once again promoted to the Midland League Premier Division (Step 5)

A full history of the Club for its past 76 years can be found in the book ‘Brocton Football Club 75 years and beyond’ ISBN 978-1-910090-45-19

I became the bar manager, assisted by my wife Shirley, on matchdays. The bar and club room have worked out really well for both home and visiting fans, providing post-match hospitality. Most opposition fans comment on how impressed they are with our setup.

One of the things I insisted on was watching the matches. Two minutes before kick-off, I shoot from the bar to the stand to watch the game. Two

minutes before halftime, I rush back behind the bar and then return again before the second half kicks off.

There is a core group on the committee that attends both home and away matches. Last season, we won the league, and this season, the management and coaching staff have really helped improve our players. Coaches travel to all away games on the coach, which has definitely aided bonding among the squad. Despite having no budget, we do well. This season has been more challenging, but the lads deserve the chance to compete in the Midland Premier League.

Most of the committee at Brocton FC are former players, and they have all done remarkably well in improving the ground through grant funding over the years.

All things considered, it’s the people and volunteers at Brocton Football Club that make it such a great club to be part of. I expect to be associated with this fantastic club for many years to come. Mee Refurb, the company I retired from, will hopefully continue to be associated with the club well into the future. The ethos of Brocton Football Club truly makes it a pleasure to be part of!

Brocton FC.”

Harrow Borough FC

“Up the Boro!”

JAMES

CLOUTING,

SUPPORTER

&

VOLUNTEER,

TALKS ALL THINGS `THE BORO.`

My dad and I started visiting various local grounds about 15 years ago, and we still go whenever we fancy watching a game. It was at Harrow Borough that we felt the most welcome, thanks to people like Mr. Harrow Borough himself, chairman Peter Rogers, Stuart Hobbs (who sadly passed away three years ago), and Tony Venus, who, unfortunately, can no longer attend games. Their warm welcome, combined with the ground being just five minutes down the road, helped our connection and passion for the club grow quickly. Now, I assist with the club’s website, social media, local press, post-match interviews, and community work. Along with the rest of our media team, we’ve significantly increased website traffic, social media followers, and YouTube subscribers over the past year or so.

Alan James and I manage our Twitter, Alan also runs the History Section of our website which is well worth a look! His daughter Clare designs our

graphics, Andrew Owen is our cameraman and editor, Danny Godfrey runs our Instagram, and Brian Walter, our talented writer, has become a cult hero among Boro fans for his witty match reports, which he describes as “a load of nonsense with some football thrown in.” We’re also lucky to have two excellent photographers, Bruce Viveash and Jamie Buckingham, who recently joined us.

Alan James runs our winter short mat bowls league, and led the efforts to re-open West Harrow Bowls Club after it closed last year. It is now a thriving community club. There have been friendly matches this summer and next year the club will be entering a local league.

CHALLENGES

As a club, our main challenge is money—no surprise there. With one of the lowest budgets in the Southern League over th past few seasons, a significant portion was spent on hiring a coach for trips to places like Tiverton & Totton. Despite this, the club has worked miracles to stay at step 3 for as long as we did. Much credit is due

to Steve Baker, especially in recent seasons when money and resources have become increasingly important. Playing in step 4 this season has alleviated some financial strain, with fewer coaches required for away games.

Unfortunately, non-league football mirrors the state of the country (I know, I’m getting political!), with most of the money hoarded at the top. Many non-league clubs that struggle or fold could have been saved with proper support. Even those that survive need more help from higher levels. While some non-league clubs have rich investors, many are forced to find new ways to raise or save money. There has been strong interest for significant investment in the club as yet it has not materialised, but there is so much potential. Another challenge is the need for more volunteers. On match days, a small group of people perform various duties, and if one or two are unavailable, we’re really stretched. Peter Rogers has a million and one things to do every day, with Keith Loddy not far behind. While we’re managing for now, we need to attract a new generation of supporters to ensure the club

is in good hands for years and generations to come.

We have an Under18s team in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League and an Under23s team in the Suburban Premier Division, alongside the reserves/youth teams of some National League clubs. Two years ago, the Under-23s won the Suburban League Plate. Both teams now run in partnership with AG Academy and the club has just announced that Ex-player Albert Adomah is the new shirt sponsor for both teams this season. Its a wonderful way for Albert to show his support for where his illustrius career started!

ON THE PITCH

At the start of the season our target was the play-offs. We have had a fantastic start and are already dreaming of more! However we need to be in a better position to compete at Step3, which ties in with some of my previous points.

On field It’s great, very positive. The best it has been for a long time. Even during pre-season, before our strong start in the league, the immediate impression that Ben and his coaches made was that it was genuinely a

fresh start. They have helped quickly build a strong bond between the fans and team. Yes, winning helps, but it has also been great to see the bar packed after every home game, where we present the new for this season, Supporters’ Man of the Match award.

OFF THE PITCH

Our goal is to attract new supporters by spreading the message—and the reality— that there’s affordable football for the whole family right on your doorstep. We run school days, inviting local schools to matches with free entry for children and halfprice admission for parents/ guardians. Each child receives a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize from the club shop and can take photos with players. We’ve also donated prizes to school fairs, local scout groups, and Mencap.

The club supports the local homeless charity Firm Foundation by cooking meals for their winter shelter and organizing monetary and clothing/toiletry collections. Our supporters have been incredibly generous.

For many years, our hall has hosted the Tanglewood Club, a social club for adults with learning disabilities, every Monday evening. What Geoff Havard and his team of volunteers do, including some of our season ticket holders, is truly incredible. Below is a little story we would like to share with anyone reading our club tribute:

A SPECIAL MOMENT

For our home game against Uxbridge on Bank Holiday Monday, we were contacted by Tim, who was bringing his friend Michael to the game to celebrate Michael’s 50th birthday. Michael, who is in a wheelchair and registered blind, received a special experience thanks to the club. Tim and Michael had a

photo taken with the players and coaching staff and were presented with a birthday card signed by everyone.

Manager Ben Bukowski and his coaches also chipped in to buy Michael some presents from the club shop. We made announcements before the game and at half-time, and after the match, Michael presented the Man of the Match award in the bar before everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” It was a tear-jerking moment.

Tim later sent a heartfelt thank-you letter, which he asked us to make public. Heres an excert and a full letter is printed on the next page.

“Michael will never forget it, and neither will I. Thank you. Up The Boro!”

HONOURS BOARD Club Honours League

• Isthmian League (Premier Division) Champions 1983/84

• Isthmian League (Division One) Runners-Up 1978/79

• Athenian League (Division Two) Runners-Up 1963/64

• Spartan League RunnersUp 1957/58

• Spartan League (Division Two West) Champions 1938/39

• Spartan League (Division Two West) Runners-Up 1937/38

• Harrow & District League (Division One) Runners-Up 1933/34

Cups

• FA Cup: 2nd Round Proper 1983/84; 1st Round Proper 2000/01, 2010/11, 2016/17

• Middlesex Senior Cup Winners: 1982/83, 1992/93, 2014/15; Finalists: 2000/01, 2018/19

• Middlesex Charity Cup Winners: 1979/80, 1992/93, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2014/15; Finalists: 1978/79

• George Ruffell Memorial Shield Winners: 2006/07; Finalists: 2005/06

• Isthmian League Cup Finalists: 2008/09

• Harrow Senior Cup Winners: 1995/96, 1997/98

• NW Middlesex Invitation Cup Finalists: 1956/57, 1957/58, 1959/60

League Landmarks

• Election to Harrow & District League: 1933

• Election to Spartan League: 19\Promotion in Spartan League: 1939

• Election to Delphian League: 1958

• Election to Athenian League: 1963

• Promotion in Athenian League: 1964

• Election to Isthmian League: 1975

• Promotion in Isthmian League: 1979

• Isthmian League Champions: 1984

STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE CLUB’S NEWS

Website:www.pitchero. com/clubs/harrowborough

Twitter/X: @harrowboroLive Facebook: Harrow Borough FC Instagram: harrowboroughfc YouTube: @harrowboro

HEART & SOUL OF FOOTBALL!

We often hear talk about the soul of football. Apparently, the soul of football has died, and it is certainly easy to become disheartened when you see the premier league season evolving into a petrostate-funded, sports-washed, 10-month-long betting ad. You go out and see Inter Miami, Manchester City and Real Madrid shirts at your local park in London. And international tournaments do not provide any respite with Russia and Qatar as the perfect dance partners for FIFA’s grand party with the global game.

But the soul of football is not dead, it is hiding, and as with anything hidden, you can find it if you look in the right places.

Let me tell you about my long-time friend, Michael. Michael just turned 50 and lives in a care home in Harrow, Northwest London. Michael loves heavy metal, wrestling and football. He is one of the funniest, most irreverent people you will meet. He comes over for Christmas and we are terrified by what inappropriate comment he will bestow on us all and particularly my very respectable Auntie from Barnes. When he speaks to Auntie the room falls silent and everyone turns to watch, it is a bit like rubbernecking a crash on the motorway, you cannot look away. Michael is also disabled, he has very limited use of his legs, is registered blind and has learning difficulties.

Michael doesn’t go out much at all, his care home is pleasant enough, but he is a man full of life and it is sad and boring that he spends so much of his life cooped up in his room. One of Michael’s releases is football, he listens to it on the radio and talks about it constantly. He has a weird obsession with Derby

County (he doesn’t support them, just always wants to know how they get on). He grew up in Palmers Green, North London, and thus supports Tottenham (when you think a man has suffered enough etc etc), he also supports and watches his local team, Harrow Borough, in the Isthmian League SouthCentral (Step 4).

As Michael’s 50th birthday was the big one, we spent ages in the build-up talking about how he would like to celebrate it. Michael is never short of ideas, some are realistic, some not: bowling, Chinese food, meet ups with friends around the country, boats, pub and parties were all suggested, but one idea topped the bill – a day out at a Harrow Borough match.

As a result of this, I phoned up the club using the number I found on Google. It was about 5.15pm on a quiet Thursday and I was not expecting anyone to answer. How wrong I was. The call was answered directly by the Chairman of the Club, Peter Rogers. Imagine trying to get hold of Daniel Levy to ask for favour! I explained the situation, that Michael was turning 50 and that I would be bringing him to the next match to celebrate. I wondered if the club might make an announcement at half time or even get him to meet the manager after the game for a photo. But Peter and his team had other ideas.

Peter set up a group email involving me and the club’s hierarchy, including the manager Ben Bukowski, and James Clouting, the Community Outreach Lead. Before long, things had escalated. Peter had offered Free Admission on the Guest List, announcements throughout the afternoon and meeting the players. Ben had raised that by offering to introduce Michael to all staff and players. He also

invited Michael to join them all on the pitch for photos and a chat before the match. Ben had already initiated a whip-round amongst the management to buy Michael some gifts from the club shop. Not to be outdone, James suggested that Michael could also present the MOTM award in the bar after the match and pick the winners for the half time raffle. This sounded astonishingly generous, I was surprised and delighted. I said very little to Michael as I did not want to get his hopes up.

On the day, we arrived for the match a couple of hours before kick-off and went for a pint. Whilst Michael nursed his celebratory birthday drink and asked who Derby had signed in the transfer window, I waited nervously to see how the afternoon would play out.

Much to my surprise what followed was the most extraor-dinary afternoon of kindness, laughs and pure, unadulterat-ed joy that exceeded my wild-est expectations.

The club did not just make a fuss of him, they went beyond anything we could have possi-bly hoped for. They could have done nothing; they could have done one or two nice things, what they decided to do was to give Michael the best afternoon of his life.

Michael was taken from the bar to the pitch where ev-ery single player and member of staff came up to wish him well and shake his hand. He was presented with his gifts: a shirt, rosette, scarf, pin badge, programme and a birthday card signed by all the players – the warmth of the welcome was genuine and astonishing.

We started to get slightly emotional, and it spiralled from there. Regular birthday

announcements kept coming over the tannoy and the raffle draws were made by Michael at half-time.

Community

After a hat-trick from strik-er Leo Sery had handed Borough a 3-0 win, Michael made his way into the bar. The players came in one by one and made a beeline for him, telling him they had won it for him. It was genuinely beautiful.

An hour or so later, a few pints in and with his bladder bursting but not wanting to miss the action, Michael was asked to present the manof-the-match award to Sery, prompting a huge cheer from the packed bar, before everyone joined in to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Michael.

For a man who spends much of his day alone in his room listening to his radio, the af-fection, rowdiness, noise and acceptance was overwhelming in the best possible way.

The noise died down and eventually we departed, tired but elated, after the greatest of days. Michael phoned me later that night and said something that he very rarely says – ‘thank you I really enjoyed that’. Of course, the thanks should all go to the wonderful team and my local club.

At the beginning of this tale, I suggested that the soul of football was not dead, merely lost. It was certainly alive and well at Harrow Borough last Monday. It lives on in James, Ben, Peter and everyone at Harrow Borough FC who gave Michael Murphy the very best day of his life.

This is the power of football, the power of sport and the power of community. We came face to face with football’s soul last week. Michael will never forget it, nor will I. Thank you.

DENNIS WILLIS, CLUB MANAGING DIRECTOR & SPONSOR: WILLIS MOTOR GROUP

I’m originally from Greenford and went to school at Greenford High. Subsequently, I moved to the area, where I have a business—a car dealership

that has been operating for 40 years—right on the border with Harrow Borough. My association with the club grew in part from its geographical location. I’ve always been an avid football fan and became involved with the club both commercially and from a sponsorship perspective.

The club has been established for the best part of 90 years, and like many small clubs, it is run by many dedicated people; however, there was an element of a lack of business strength. Around 15 years ago, the club was in dire straits regarding its financial position, and to secure its future, I was approached along with my brother-inlaw, Mark, to help. We were elected to the board and were able to assist the club, putting it on a more secure business footing.

The chairman and his family had worked hard to keep the club going for nearly 50 years. We managed to create financial stability and ran it more like a business with a view to securing its future. Harrow Borough owns its own ground in the middle of a housing estate, and the demographic around the club has changed substantially

in the last 25 years. The club has three bars offering functions and other services to the local community. As times changed, it was important that our offering to the community also changed. The banqueting suite we have is a nice large hall, and we attract a huge following from the Gurkhas, who use the club two or three times a month for their traditional and ceremonial activities. As a club, it has been essential to diversify as times have changed.

My main role at the club is to ensure that we balance the books. We aim not to lose money on a season-byseason basis, so budgets are set out at the start of the season and are strictly adhered to. My experience within the pyramid is that some clubs sign a manager and say that’s your budget, but when Christmas comes around and they feel they’re not going anywhere, they change direction financially. If monetary commitments are adhered to, people get paid on time and receive the agreed amounts.

Part of my role is also to bring money into the club. For example, if you were the manager of a small building company, one company that comes to mind was a large Watford supporter paying a fortune for their sponsorship each year but just being a number at such a big club. So, I said to the owner, “By becoming the main team sponsor at Harrow Borough, you become a big fish in a small pond. It may not add pounds to your balance sheet, but you can become a philanthropist who wants to invest in their local community.” We all have children or grandchildren that need support from a grassroots perspective. We have been very successful over the years in nurturing this, and the biggest player success we have enjoyed is a chap named Albert Adomha, who started as a park footballer and then went on to earn £35,000 to £40,000 per week at clubs like Middlesbrough and Bristol City. This is what this club is all about, as our level of football is really a vital part of the football world.

I have five granddaughters, and one of them is a keen little footballer. It’s important that we support these children. At Harrow Borough, we have a stadium with a capacity of 3,000, and it is essential that we hold onto that. We want to play at Harrow Borough. The more success we have

on the pitch, the greater chance we have of growing organically.

Harrow Borough FC is a wonderful community. We have a group called Tanglewood, consisting of members with mental and physical disabilities, who approached us and were due to be turned out of their 40-year accommodation. We were able to be a lifeline for their weekly meeting, which was really their only source of community and interaction. You’ll see the sign as you approach the club: “Harrow Borough FC – Home of Tanglewood.”

Harrow Borough has a tremendous number of volunteers at the club, taking care of four and a half acres of land. If they’re not painting, they’re doing woodwork, fixing hoardings, or jet washing the stands— all testament to the great community we have.

As a club, the aim is always to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. The spirit of Harrow Borough Football Club is unquestionable. As a businessman dealing with the trials and tribulations of running a company, coming to the club is like an oasis for me. If I go down there and there isn’t a game on, I can still sit in the stand, hear the kids playing in the local school, and look out on this oasis positioned in a metropolis. It’s very rewarding for me to be part of Harrow Borough FC, and when we are playing really well, it feels like we’re winning the Championship!

& SPONSOR: HARROW FENCING

As a company, we have been a sponsor of Harrow Borough FC for many years. Although our business is based in Harrow, I live in Norwich and commute to our branches throughout the week, so I haven’t been able to visit the club as often as I would like. That said, I do intend to get down for one of the club’s mid-week games, which I’m very much looking forward to.

I’m originally from Lowestoft, so the matches I’ve watched so far have mostly been fixtures played against Lowestoft FC. I bought the Harrow Fencing business last August, and the previous managing director had a long and positive relationship with the club and its board members. He regularly attended events such as golf days organized by the club.

From my business’s perspective, and as a former footballer and fan, I just feel that it’s really nice to continue supporting a local football club. I appreciate the challenges clubs face in running a good communityfocused football team and the invaluable service they provide to local people. I am very proud to be

Our hall is booked most weekends for a variety of events, and we also host music nights. Much of

a sponsor of the club. Our business has two branches, in Harrow and Hillingdon, as well as a team of eight fitters who erect fencing both domestically and commercially throughout the region.

As a former footballer myself, I remember how getting new kits for the team made a positive difference to the players. It’s great for Harrow Fencing to be involved with such a well-run and passionate local club.

Harrow Fencing Supplies Ltd

FENCING

“Very

Non-league clubs offer that special community feel. I used to live in High Wycombe and would often experience local football. The interaction with away fans was always great fun as we walked to the games at local grounds like Oxford. Unfortunately, as you move up the pyramid to higher levels of football, that personal touch gets lost, making the experience a little less enjoyable. Living in Norwich, I often visit local clubs, and I just feel

grassroots football is amazing. Being able to enjoy the game and have handshakes postmatch is great. It would be fabulous if Harrow Borough were to realize their ambition of gaining promotion this season. It would be justly deserved for all the hard work they put in behind the scenes. Myself and all our staff at Harrow Fencing wish everyone at the club all the very best for the remainder of the 2024/2025 campaign!

Alan Carr’s ITV series Changing Ends was filmed at the club.

Scunthorpe United FC

“Onwards & Upwards!”

MICHELLE HARNESS, CHAIR & ACTING CEO

“Matchdays are inspirational and beyond words, making it all worthwhile!”

I was born in Scunthorpe in 1963 at the Maternity Home, and my parents are also from Scunthorpe. I started working at the football club 15 years ago in the commercial department under our thenchair Keith Wagstaff, and later Steve Wharton. I’ve seen a few chairmen and managers pass through the club in my time. I took a break when Peter Swann came in, and I moved on.

After leaving the club, I went back to work in our engineering company. Just over a year ago, I became involved with the club again. I have always been a supporter, keeping one eye on the results and maintaining relationships with the staff. Those connections were really what enticed me to return when I was invited to join the board as a director to help on the commercial side. Things seemed to start off well, although they declined after a few months.

I am currently the Chair while also covering the CEO role, which I expect will continue into next year. We do need a full-time CEO, but I’m handling it for now to position the club on a sustainable path. I oversee the main areas of the club, and while I’m sure I get on the nerves of some of the staff with my frequent questions, I won’t step back or let the club regress until we are truly stable.

The town, fans, and local businesses are fully behind us. Thanks to the size of our crowds and the reduction in our wage bill, the club can become sustainable fairly quickly. We’re only a few months away from achieving this.

I’m at the club every day and attend all home matches. It’s been incredible how quickly we’ve hit the ground running this season. Compared to last season, when we had a squad of 31 for the 23/24 campaign, this season we have 21 players, which is much easier to manage. With a great preseason, our current squad is fitter, and their nutrition

is second to none. On the analytical side, we’ve brought in Catapult Sports Tech, BePro, and Hudl to help our squad perform at their best.

Scunthorpe United has a fantastic group of players and an excellent goalkeeper in Ross Fitzsimons, as well as a solid second keeper in Maison Campbell, all supported by our outstanding goalkeeper coach, Paul Musselwhite. With our stadium and fans, we are operating like a league club and are committed to presenting ourselves as professionally as possible. We’ve been in league football before, so we know what’s expected and are passionate about returning to that level.

Once we regained control of the stadium, we immediately got to work with a full repaint, carpet replacement, and general

refurbishments, including the executive boxes. Air conditioning systems, lighting, and other work were completed in time for our first match. I haven’t seen the stadium look this smart in years. The support from an army of volunteers, who show up every day, has been incredible, and local businesses have generously supplied materials.

Off the pitch, we are continuously improving, bit by bit, both on and off the field. This season, our catering is in-house, which has been a large undertaking since we had to start from scratch, reopening previously closed areas around the club. The Iron Foundation, hospitality bars, matchday food, events, bookings, and sportsmen’s dinners are all well underway—things are

really starting to roll.

Looking ahead, we are exploring the development of other teams we’d like to introduce into the club, including junior setups and women’s football. However, the main goal this season is promotion and keeping our fans engaged, as their support is vital to our progress.

We now have a stadium sponsor, Attis Insurance, who joined us on a two-year agreement at the very start of the club’s rebirth. Many of our existing sponsors have renewed with us, including our stand and shirt sponsors. We also produced three excellent kit launch videos, one of which was shot in Spain by James Moody with Alex Garcia, one of our legends. Another video was based on our Steelworks, which symbolizes the 125-

year relationship between the club and the town.

What really brings Scunthorpe United home to me is the incredible support we see on Saturdays. Our fanbase has grown significantly, and the home end of the stadium is packed. The fans sing from start to finish, showing just how much they are behind our team and the club—it’s truly motivational. Matchdays are inspirational beyond words, making it all worthwhile. The other six days still present plenty of challenges, but that’s the nature of the job.

JAMES MOODY, MEDIA, TICKETING AND RETAIL MANAGER

I have worked for the club for 13 years, under four different regimes in terms of ownership. I started at the tail end of Steve Wharton’s tenure and spent 10 years working under Peter Swan. I’ve also worked briefly with David Hilton, and now I’m under the leadership of Michelle, Roj, Ian and George. Throughout my time, I have mainly worked with operational staff behind the scenes, and that landscape has changed significantly since the previous ownership,

due to redundancies or people leaving. This was naturally a very difficult few months for many of us and was personally both mentally and physically demanding. At one point, I was Media & Ticketing Manager—covering the same role I hold now— while also serving as Secretary for a month and still handling ticketing. That should give you an idea of how stretched we were.

I don’t want to dwell on the past too much, as the present is what matters most. Operationally, from top to bottom, the people we have at the club are here for the right reasons. They love the club, know it inside out, and work for the badge. We are also grateful to have some key people return who left during the previous regime: Stadium Manager Phil Jacklin and Head of Commercial & Partnerships Glyn Sparks, both of whom are doing an excellent job.

Off the field, the progress has been fantastic. Over the summer, we carried out a DIY SOS SUFC initiative, where loads of volunteers—along with businesses—donated not only their time and services but products as well. This allowed us to carry out repairs on the stadium’s sheet metal, complete painting work, and more. Everyone contributed, and as a result, the stadium looks better than it did when we first opened it in 1988.

As staff, we are extremely proud to be here on a daily basis. At one point, it was touch-and-go regarding whether we could continue at this stadium. The previous owner didn’t own the ground, and there was talk of potentially relocating to Gainsborough Trinity, which could have meant the end of this great football club. It was a really challenging time.

Now, however, we have many good people pulling in the right direction. Our four owners can only be described as outstanding to work with and for. They truly understand what we, as staff, are here to do. No disrespect to previous ownership, but there was a lot of over the top micromanagement, which prevented us from doing what we knew we could. The current board has told us: “You are in these roles because you know what you need to and can do. We will ask questions when required of course, but it’s your job to get things done.” This was really important for me to hear as the head of Media and Retail, especially during our 125th anniversary. I’m passionate about harnessing

this great milestone while exemplifying what Scunthorpe United has been over this incredible period of time.

When Michelle Harness first arrived, there was a substantial amount of debt to address—£1.7 million, to be exact—so that had to be her main focus, even though she allowed me to run with my own plans. The 125th anniversary presented many opportunities, particularly in retail, where I was given control over the kits, which I felt would be successful. So far, so good—it has been utilized very well. The retro home kit is significant because it was the first one we had in 1988, and last year was the year we regained ownership of our stadium. As a club, we will never be owned by a single person again.

Having been a supporter of the club for over 25 years, I believe the club’s identity is very important. This is reflected in our 1988 away kit, which was worn in the season’s playoff final at Wembley and has been brought back by popular demand. Our other kit features an image of local industry, representing our community ties and showing that, as a football club, we are all united and share associations with the Steelworks in the town;

something we are very proud of. Our other kit launch video took us to Spain and Alex Garcia which is a great watch.

From a retail perspective, last season, the previous owner ordered 2,400 shirts across all three designs, which only sold out near the end of the season. This season, we ordered over 4,000 shirts across all sizes, and we’ve already sold out of most sizes above XL in all three designs. We’ve also sold out of some kids’ sizes in the home shirt, resulting in another order for 1,000 more. For a football club in the sixth tier to order 5,100 shirts is unheard of—a testament to our supporters who love what we are doing. It was a real moment of pride for me to see so much hard work behind the scenes come to fruition.

Kit launches have been a significant part of this success. Hats off to Pete Hewes, Aaron Cheeseman, and Mitchell Blades for their work on the kit launches, which brought many of our club legends back to celebrate our 125th anniversary. We’ve had an outpouring of support from people wanting to help the club, including commercial partnerships, sponsorships, and donations. It’s important to mention that Michelle has reduced the club’s debt from £1.7 million to just £200,000

in a single year. This season, all of our players started with everything they needed, including kits—something that didn’t happen last season. We now have over 2,000 season ticket holders, and our average attendance is over 4,000, with 5,000 attending a recent Friday night game. These numbers are phenomenal for our level.

Andy Butler First Team Manager, often says that we are one team with one goal: to get the club back to where it belongs. The results on the pitch this season are proof that all the hard work is paying off! Our owners are committed custodians, focused on giving Scunthorpe United a lasting legacy. I can speak for all our staff when I say we have nothing but admiration for what the board is doing.

A LITTLE OF OUR HISTORY

Scunthorpe United has been in existence since 1899 with 72 of those years played in the English Football League between 1950 and 2022.

In 1910 they merged with local rivals North Lindsey United to become Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and joined the Midland Football League in 1912.

Turning professional in 1912, United were crowned Midland League champions in the 192627 and 1938-39 seasons.

The “& Lindsey” was dropped from the club’s name in 1958.

The 1957-58 season saw the club win the Division Three (North) title and earn promotion to the then Second Division, where the club stayed for six further years.

The Iron’s best campaign finish saw the club end up Fourth in the Second Division in 1961-62.

Scunthorpe were relegated in 1964 and then down to the Fourth Division in 1968. United spent 34 of the next 37 seasons in the basement tier, punctuated by one-season stays in the third tier after they secured promotions in 1971–72, 1982–83 and 1998–99.

Brian Laws saw the club promoted out of League Two at the end of the 2004–05 season and his successor, Nigel Adkins, led the club to the League One title in 2006–07. Scunthorpe spent just one season in the Championship, but victory in the 2009 League One play-off Final saw the club promoted back into the Championship. They remained in the second tier until two relegations in as many years saw them back into the fourth tier by 2013.

Scunthorpe were promoted to League One at the end of the 2013–14 campaign. They missed out on a return to the Championship via the playoffs before being relegated back to League Two in 2019 and, in 2022, being relegated to the National League.

Notable former players include all-time top appearance maker Jack Brownsword, Barrie Thomas, Steve Cammack, the three England captain of Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan and Ian Both, while in the early 21st century, the club developed a reputation for developing promising young strikers, having sold Billy Sharp, Martin Paterson and Gary Hooper on for sevenfigure sums.

In terms of stadia, the Old Show Ground was club’s original home from 1899 to 1988. The Old Show Ground needed significant investment to maintain its fabric and ensure compliance with new regulations introduced in the wake of the Bradford City stadium fire. In 1987, with the club hampered by financial difficulties, it announced plans to relocate. The ground was sold to the former supermarket chain Safeway (now Sainsbury’s) and the search was started for a new location. In 1988 Scunthorpe United became the first English football club in the modern era to move to a new, purpose-built stadium, Glanford Park.

The club’s nickname, The Iron, marks the town’s association with the iron and steel industry. The club’s first choice playing colours are claret and blue.

MIKE ABEY, SUPPORTER, FORMER DIRECTOR &

SPONSOR: ABEY AIR CONDITIONING & THE BLACK HORSE INN, BLYTON

I have been a Scunthorpe United fan all my life. Growing up in the Foxhills area, I regularly went to watch them, including seeing them play in the Championship and at Wembley. Those were different times from where we are now, but I’m sure we’ll see those days again. I also played for various local teams and pub teams, including Scotter United, over the years.

People think that because we are a big club, we should easily climb the pyramid, but the National Leagues are tough. You only have to look at teams like Kidderminster,

who have just come down – everyone thought they would go straight back up, but there have already been a few upsets for them and many other teams this season. Funding for National League teams is also an issue. In the Football League, you receive a certain amount of money just for being there, but at the level we’re at now, you don’t get anything. We don’t have the playing budget that league teams have. It’s more difficult to get back up than many people realize.

However, there is a real energy around Scunthorpe this season. I noticed this because I used to sponsor the club years ago and couldn’t help but see the deterioration over a 10-12 year period.

Using our extensive air conditioning and ventilation expertise, we are able to offer a full

There were times when we thought we were bouncing back, but it never came to fruition. Once Michelle Harness took over, though, you could feel the buzz rise significantly around the club and the town. You only have to look at the number of fans we’re attracting now— everyone wants to be part of this great resurgence!

Michelle genuinely cares about what she’s doing and is an inspiration to our club, you can also see that in the team she has around her. All the club staff, including myself as one of the directors until recently, were Scunthorpe United fans not for any personal gain, but because we love the club. That’s the big difference between those who

were historically at the club over the last 10 years, and those who are there now. To be fair, when Steve Wharton was here, he ran the club like clockwork and is still a Legend to us supporters! You can clearly see from the staff that it’s not just a job for them—it’s much more. They’re focused on giving their best to the club and the community.

I attend most home games and a significant number of away fixtures as well. I came into the club in late October last year and went down to see Michelle shortly after she took over, at a time when there were still many financial challenges. As a local businessman, I offered my help. We had a good talk, and she showed me the mountain

of debts that needed to be resolved. It would have been hugely stressful for anyone to tackle that volume, and I could see it was difficult for her. I was grateful to help out as much as I could financially and told her I would return the following week to see what more I could do. I started as an associate director but quickly moved to a full-time director role, contributing financially to ease the burden with an interestfree loan to help keep the club going. At times the now four owners and I all made equal contributions to cover expenses like staff wages.

As the owner of an air conditioning business, I was able to offer support and advice, particularly around

the horrendous energy bills. After going around and changing all the lights to LED and replacing the storage heaters with air conditioning systems, we managed to reduce the bills by 50%. This had a positive knock-on effect in dealing with the additional historic debt.

My brothers Chris and Mark Abey are also valued supporters and sponsors of the club. They regularly called me when they heard about the difficulties and asked if there was anything they could do to help. The club was looking for shirt sponsors, so they stepped in as back-of-shirt sponsors with their business, Abey Engineering Solutions. Additionally, they helped by

supplying and installing steel signage structures around the ground that generated significant additional revenue for Scunthorpe.

They did this free of charge. The amount of support the club attracted over the summer, with a huge DIY SOS effort, was overwhelming. Many of those individuals and businesses had full-time jobs but took time off to help their club. Everyone in the town wanted to contribute.

Alongside all of this, I continued attending all the games, and to be honest, as a Scunthorpe United fan, it was one of the best times of my life because of what I was doing. Fortunately, I had

HAVING AN EXTENSION BUILT?

semi-retired from work, which allowed me to offer the club some of my extra time.

We were disappointed when we didn’t gain promotion at the end of last season, losing out in the semi-final. However, we went into pre-season fully prepared for the 2024/2025 campaign. During board meetings, we set out budgets for the season. A meeting was held, and it decided that the now four owners remained and took shares, and I became the club’s primary investor on an interest-free loan basis. Although disappointed to not be included in the new ownership structure, I know my investment and time committed, has helped save and implement a sustainability for the club moving forwards., which is the most important thing to me. I’ve known Michelle for a few years through our businesses, and I’ve always had the utmost respect for her. If I’m honest, she was one of the main reasons for my involvement. I was committed to helping reduce the pressure and did everything I could to make that happen. I contacted some of the debtors, negotiating settlements from another office, which helped lift a bit of the burden.

At home games, I have the option of sitting in the director’s box, but my preference is to be in the stands—the atmosphere there is second to none, just being one of the crowd really appeals to me. I was lucky enough in life to be able to give something back to Scunthorpe United Football Club. I know that the people I stand alongside in the stands would do exactly the same thing if they had the opportunities I’ve had—they are proper football fans.

Myself and one of the other directors Roj Rahman were like brothers and would travel to away fixtures together. Although I didn’t see George and Ian as much around the club, both are great guys. Roj was like a brother, and Michelle was like our mum, so it felt like a little family to me. It never really felt like going to work. Although this has been a difficult period for the club, I will always look back on it with fondness, it’s now a part of our long history as a club. It’s the people I’ve already mentioned, the fans, and all the staff including Andy Butler, Glyn Sparks, James Moody, Lee Turnbull, and many others too numerous to mention, that make me want to support this great club we all know and love as Scunthorpe United.

OF SHIRT SPONSOR: HITEK ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LTD

My dad, Michael, was a resident of the local area and was based in the RAF. He spent time in North Wales, where he met my mother, Iona, who still lives in the same village where she met my dad. Through my dad’s work, my parents lived in Germany, in Mönchengladbach, before eventually returning to the UK with my eldest sister. Not having a UK license when he arrived on England’s shores, he had to take his driving test upon arrival. He was subsequently stationed in Lincoln (which is how my son got his name) and Scampton in the 617 Squadron.

Unfortunately, my dad passed away when I was very young, and I came to reside in the local area when I turned 18 because we naturally had family living nearby. As a young boy I recall standing outside the Old Showground, as it was then. Although I never went to that ground, I remember listening to the great roars from the fans on Saturday afternoons.

As an 18-year-old, I secured a position with a local company called Ericsson, and while working there, I often joked, “Why should I go to Scunthorpe United FC? They don’t come to visit me at work!” Lo and behold, one day, they did! They visited Ericsson’s offices, and so I thought, I have no choice now, swallowed my words, and went along to watch them.

Later on, I also worked for a company that sponsored the front of the shirts, called Motec, which helped me develop a

connection with the club over the years. Thirteen years ago, my son Lincoln was born, and I thought this would be a great father-son opportunity to go on a footballing journey together. When he was about six, I started taking him to the games.

I also realized there was an opportunity, from a business perspective, to highlight Hitek as a company—not to sell products, but to increase the company’s awareness among people in the town. I was conscious that when we interviewed people locally, no one really knew what we did because we don’t sell to people locally but to military and defence companies in the UK. Initially, we undertook some advertising after speaking with Glyn Sparks, a very likable chap. I told him the story I’ve just related about my long history and association with Scunthorpe United. I mentioned to Glyn that it would be quite serendipitous to also do some front-of-shirt sponsorship at some point. Two years later, he convinced me to sponsor the front of the shirts.

I felt really proud, having worked for Ericsson and Motec, both of whom were also front-of-shirt sponsors, that I too was now in a position to make the decision to do likewise. Very quickly, my relationship changed from being a proud sponsor to a deeper relationship and supporter of the club. It was a difficult time for Scunthorpe, with the leadership and ownership not doing the club any favours back then.

From our initial involvement as advertisers from a business perspective, I realized that the club, businesses, and community really needed to

come together; and it did come together because we were all in it together. If it weren’t for Michelle and her fellow directors, it may have been a different story, and we wouldn’t be having this chat today.

As a unified team, we had no idea how it would make us all feel. We were all able to contribute in ways beyond just having our logo on the shirt by meeting many new people. Now, whenever people come to Hitek, we talk to them about our company, and they know us in a different way. We have become less of a brand and more of a friend throughout the community. The momentum of the club over the last year can only be described as dramatic.

One person stood up and said, “I’ll help,” and purely through association, another and another appeared— whether it’s the nephew, grandson, friend, or uncle of a member, they all came

PROUD SPONSORS OF SCUNTHORPE UNITED

HITEK Electronic Materials Limited is a global partner to the Electronics Industry with over 35 years Manufacturing & Distribution experience. Predominantly servicing the Military , Aerospace & Defence sectors

on board to help. Everyone started to look at the situation and say, “Yes, we too want to be a part of this!”

For me personally, while I’ve come at it from a company perspective to start with, my wider family has not only been entertained by our involvement through visiting the club but also has convinced other people to support Scunthorpe United too.

Lincoln and I are regular attendees at the matches, and he is a very passionate supporter. He wants to go into the DRE section of the stadium and chant along with the other fans. I’ve reminded him to be on his best behaviour, as he is not only a representative of our family but of the company as well!

Last season offered its challenges. It was important that the club got on an even keel, and that’s what Michelle and the board have done, with great risk and sacrifice to themselves, I may add. The stars really seem to be aligning now at Scunthorpe United. With 125 years of history behind us, our team is in great shape with a fabulous and experienced manager whose ethos and approach I believe will get us over the line. Whenever we have a good win, the club and town are absolutely rocking, which is so great to see.

If Hitek and I can pass on an inspirational spark to other local people to engage with this great club at Scunthorpe United, then I’m a happy man! Whether you’re in the stand or in the director’s box, you develop a certain camaraderie among us all, united by a mutual passion for our team. Yes, we’ve had our challenges, but the amount of goodwill and positive attitude makes us very strong.

Our program has changed its name to Unity, and for me, that’s what Scunthorpe United Football Club is all about!

JASON & NICHOLA THREADGOLD ARE VALUED SPONSORS AND LONG STANDING SUPPORTERS OF SCUNTHORPE UNITED FC. THEY RECENTLY SPOKE TO FOOTBALL FOCUS MAGAZINE ABOUT THEIR POSITIVE ASSOCIATION WITH THE CLUB.

Nichola: Jason and I are both born and bred in Scunthorpe. When I was little girl, my dad, George Sharp, was already a fan of the club from his own youth. As I was growing up, he would often take me along to watch the matches. Eventually, he upgraded his support by becoming a season ticket holder.

When I was 18, I became involved with the voluntary side of the police force. At the time, much of my role involved working on matchdays at United. Although I spent most of the match facing the crowd at the Old Showground rather than enjoying the football, I still loved the whole experience. When the club moved to Glanford Park, I naturally followed them there too.

Having our own business, Threadgold Funeral Directors, it has been really nice to continue supporting the club, especially over the past 12 months, as they’ve begun stabilizing after some challenging times. Without a football team in our community, it would have been a sad and serious loss,

undoubtedly affecting future generations. I’m proud to say that my family has a long history of supporting the club ever since my dad first took me along as a child. My dad recently turned 80, and although he doesn’t attend matches as regularly as he used to, he still follows the games on the local radio if he can’t be there in person. He even comes along occasionally and uses the private box we’ve taken on as another way of demonstrating our support of the club.

This season, it’s been very emotional watching the magnificent support the club has received. So many local people are getting behind our club and team, and it’s been touching to witness the outpouring of goodwill. Visiting the club on matchdays and seeing Michelle and her team has always been a positive experience, and we’ve always been made to feel very welcome. Their appreciation of Jason’s and my contribution as fans and sponsors has always come across strongly. It’s fair to say this is mutual in how we feel about the club.

In our business, families and people often compliment us on our support of United, which is lovely to hear. Having known Michelle for many years, it was a no-brainer when we were approached to help the club. The marketing team at Scunthorpe is second to none, and they’re very good at “twisting your arm”! They use social media very well, and we happened to be at the club the day they posted about needing a sponsor for the training ground. Since we were in a position to strengthen our

commitment to the club, we took the offer.

For me, the main factor in increasing our support for Scunthorpe United FC is that it aligns perfectly with our values of caring for and supporting the community. Supporting local people and initiatives in our region has always been important to us. Helping the club in its hour of need was too important to ignore. My history with the club has stood the test of time, and I’ve always appreciated how they bring families together. It’s crucial that Scunthorpe has a place where people can come together in a happy, healthy way, and there’s no better way to do that than through a club like United.

Jason: I’ve never been a huge fan of football, so I wouldn’t describe myself as someone who puts football above everything else. That said, it’s still important to me, and I do care about it. I’m more focused on helping grassroots sports throughout the community, not just clubs facing challenges but also those teams that need ongoing support to keep going.

Before the 2024/2025 season, we were already sponsors of Scunthorpe, with advertising boards around the ground. But when the club hit its breaking point last year, we were able to increase our sponsorship to where it is now. We attend home games regularly and have only missed one this season.

On matchdays, you can’t help but notice and appreciate the tremendous change in atmosphere at the club. As a company, we’ve always made use of United’s corporate facilities, and when

you look across the pitch, you’ll struggle to find any empty spaces around the perimeter. Glyn Sparks, the club’s Commercial Manager, has worked miracles by attracting local businesses to advertise. He’s seized every opportunity to sing the club’s praises and encourage local businesses to support Scunthorpe, which has added much-needed revenue.

When the club needed immediate action for its survival last year, Michelle Harness quickly reached out to Nichola on LinkedIn. As Nichola said, it was a no-brainer for us to respond quickly.

I’ve been in the funeral business for 30 years now and Nichola and I started Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors 10 years ago. When Nichola and I got married a decade ago, her dad George gave me a little nudge to get my act together, which was the push I needed to start our company. Nichola also worked in the industry at the local crematorium, and now we have five branches of Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors throughout Lincolnshire. We’re blessed to have 24 wonderful staff members, who we couldn’t run our business without.

As a company, we’re in a fortunate position where we can help our community, and with that comes the responsibility to do so. I can’t imagine a town like Scunthorpe without a football team. Scunthorpe gets enough flack as it is, often being seen as a “dirty old town,” but I’ve always loved it because it’s my home. Why wouldn’t I want to back Scunthorpe United FC, which truly keeps our whole community together?

Lewes

FOOTBALL CLUB

Lewes FC were the first football team in the world to allocate equal budgets to its men’s and women’s teams. Now a pioneer for equality and sustainability, FootballFocusMagazine caught up with director Joe Short to discuss this unique club and its work with sponsors to generate meaningful impact on and off the pitch.

Joe told us, “I was first introduced to Lewes FC in 2021 when I moved to the town. I am a journalist by trade and wanted to help on the communications side of the club. Lewes FC has a reputation for shouting louder than its size and I wanted to help amplify that. We were the first club to pay our men’s and women’s teams equal budgets in 2017, and have been fan owned since 2010. Community is what the club is all about – so volunteering for Lewes isn’t just about writing match reports and interviewing managers. It’s about making an impact across the world.

I ran for the board in 2023 and was elected at a pivotal time for the club. We had just ended our negotiations with Mercury 13 over a viable investment into our women’s team. Our owners voted to approve the negotiations, but the investment never happened. Since then, as a board member, we have been working on restructuring the club at a time when our women’s team suffered relegation from the Women’s Championship. There were no parachute payments for dropping into the third tier, and we went from having a professional women’s team to a semi-professional set-up.

There are two big challenges that Lewes FC continually face. The first is finance. We are not backed by big money and aren’t a billionaire’s play thing. We have +2500 owners across 40 countries that each pay for a £50 share in Lewes FC. This share gives them voting rights and exclusive content. The

owners elect the board, who run the club. However, even with high ownership levels we struggle to complete financially with other men’s teams in the Isthmian Premier League, and certainly other Premier League-backed women’s teams.

The second is impact. We exist to serve our community and create impactful campaigns wherever we can. However, our voice can sometimes be a lone one. Football changes at a rapid pace and can often overlook communities, especially at the top of the men’s game where money bleeds from the sport. Investing in our local infrastructure and our local communities is rewarding but tough work. Trying to expand that to make significant global change – especially in how sportswomen are treated – is even harder. Just look at the fate of Reading FC Women and the recent controversy around Manchester United’s women’s team.

We are one of the only football clubs in the country to have solar panels on our roofs, which feed directly back into the Grid. We have a protected grass bank that runs alongside our pitch that has been there – along with the original site of the Dripping Pan – since the 1750s. We have a flower garden and a vegetable garden that is regularly maintained by a team of volunteers. Players of the Match are given flowers or produce from the veg garden as a prize.

We want to do more. We have recently helped the Lewes FC Foundation come to fruition, where our community teams can play

under one organisation at our 3G pitch, The Rookery. However, the pitch is maxed out and ideally we would have a second pitch so more community teams can play and train alongside our first teams. We desperately need a permanent facility at our 3G to provide a safe, warm community hub for everyone. Sadly, resources are the main block in us being able to proceed.

Xero, our partners, helped fund our new scoreboard that fans had waited years to have. We refrained from building a cheap scoreboard for two years and our reward

was a proper outdoor TV screen that, when we have the manpower, will be able to show highlights, sponsor messaging, and supporter content too.

Our philosophy has always been to Do Football Better. From an activation point of view this means delivering better fan experiences, offering better facilities, and treating our staff better. The club itself doesn’t have a coaching philosophy that runs through. Our men’s first team manager Craig Nelson is dedicated to playing a passing game and building from the back, exploiting

space and keeping the ball alive. Our women’s first team manager Nat Lawrence is exceptionally experienced at bringing new teams together and instilling a team ethic that lasts across the season. Both are new first-team managers for us this season but both exploit our Premier Leaguestandard pitch with a focus on passing out from the back.

Running a football club is never easy but Lewes FC has greater stresses and greater rewards than most clubs. Financially things are tight, which means budgets have been cut since our women’s team were relegated and lost a big workforce grant from the FA. Remember, there are no parachute payments when you drop from the second to the third tier, and become semi-professional overnight.

However, the mood is always one of optimism at Lewes FC. We have two teams that represent our community and our fans in the very best light. Our men’s team – managed by Craig Nelson – is flying in the Isthmian Premier League and players have been receptive to our messaging around equality in football. Our women’s team is young and hungry to impress. Both sets of players have loved wearing the shirt and championing Who Gives A Crap, our new front-of-shirt partner that also strives to make a difference in the world.

The club has also recently appointed Kelly Lindsey as our new COO. She has returned to Lewes FC with

an ambition to see us grow within our means and still make an impact off the pitch. She has brightened the mood after a very, very difficult summer dealing with relegation.

Our men’s team kicked off the season with five wins from five in the Isthmian Premier League. Craig Nelson has brought together a group of players who want to work for him, the team and the fans. Craig was the only manager we interviewed who

even mentioned the wider philosophy of the club and the impact we have outside of football.

Our women’s team have started fairly well, when you consider it’s a whole new team from last season bar a couple of players. We claimed two draws after four games, losing to promotion favourites Exeter and Ipswich.

Our community teams have come under one entity as the Lewes Football Foundation and offer an extensive range of activities on the 3G pitch and the adjacent playing fields. More than 150 adults aged 35+ play for the men’s vets, while the women’s vets is growing in numbers too. There are scores of kids playing in Lewes FC’s junior teams, while walking football recently launched in September 2024. The aim of the Foundation is to provide a safe place for everyone to play football, not matter your ability.

We are literally a community club. Lewes FC were brought into community ownership in 2010 and we are run by our +2,500 owners. The owners elect a board each year, with board members sitting in threeyear terms. We are owned and run by our community. We have an owner’s app and other membership perks that include discounts in shops across Lewes. We engage with local businesses regularly through hosting events at the Pan, and running our Sisterships programme for businesses who want to support “unwanted women”

POTTED HISTORY

There has been a playing field of sorts at the Dripping Pan since the 1700s. The club was established in 1885 and became a regular fixture in the men’s leagues around Sussex. Lewes FC were founder members of the Sussex County League. Since the 1970s we have bounced around the Isthmian League set-up, getting relegated and promoted.

Our women’s team officially launched in 2002 but it was not until the club went into community ownership in 2010 that Lewes FC experienced a significant change. In 2017 the club launched a new initiative called Equality FC, where our men’s and women’s teams would be given equal budgets and share resources. The result was both teams were promoted. Lewes FC Women have since dropped back into the Women’s National League South and the club is at a point where we are restructuring following relegation.

and give them a place to enjoy football at the Pan.

We see our sponsors as our partners and we are very selective with who we join forces with. Our partners are hugely important, from a financial and impact perspective. We cannot operate as a football club at this level without the help of sponsors. They support the club to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds. In return, we join with our

sponsors to help their causes.

Xero, for example, are a massive gamechanger for women’s football. They were one of the first businesses to see the value of women’s football from the start, before the Lionesses conquered Europe. Xero’s support helped pay for our core staff, who do amazing work in running the club and driving impact beyond football.

Who Gives A Crap is our latest partner who donate 50% of their profits to the Crap Foundation, which supporters sanitary initiatives around the world. It’s no coincidence that these brands find a home at Lewes FC. Our values align and together we are able to deliver real change that makes a difference.

Lewes FC is bigger

than a football club. It is a movement. Everyone can find their place here. You can hate football and still love to grow vegetables in Brad’s Pitt (named after our former player, and exCharlton midfielder, Bradley Pritchard). You can be a men’s football fanatic and go to one women’s match and suddenly realise a whole new side of the game. You can drink local beer on the stands, eat local pies, and watch games from our hospitality beach huts.

You can talk to our Sisterships who do amazing work across the country. You can get involved and become one of our 30+ volunteers who help run matchdays season after season. You can join the Foundation and play football on the 3G every

week, before nipping up to the Pan to catch the second half on Tuesday night games. There’s nothing Lewes FC can’t do when we put our minds to it.

Lewes treats its men’s and women’s teams the same. For many ‘traditional’ football fans this can be hard to get their head around. We are called Equality FC for a reason. We don’t always get it right. We had a complaint from a man the other day who asked why we offered a ticket discount on a women’s match, but didn’t on the subsequent men’s match. To him, this was not true equality.

There are always instances like this. When you state that women’s football is scrambling to catch up to the men’s game; women

were banned from playing football for decades; women need different facilities to men; and attitudes towards football need to change by bringing about a more level playing field, the naysayers understand.

It’s a bit like those who complain when women are paid the same as the men at Wimbledon, even though they play fewer sets. As Serena Williams once said, no-one has ever asked if the women would be up for playing five-set matches.

Equality is at the heart of sport. We’ve just seen that at the Olympics and Paralympics. We’re not striving for women to be paid £200,000 a week like the top pros in the men’s game. We striving for there to be equal appreciation and understanding of the barriers women face in football. We will get there and we know it takes time. That’s why we need more owners to join our movement and enjoy some amazing matches at the Dripping Pan too!”

SAM DANIELS, HEAD OF BRAND & CAMPAIGN

MARKETING AT XERO

Xero provides accounting software for small businesses to help them manage their finances. Our purpose is to make life better for people in business, their advisors, and their communities, and this runs through everything we do.

Our growth in the UK naturally led us to explore opportunities in women’s football, even before the Lionesses’ success at the Euros in 2022. Lewes FC came up in conversations as a club with strong values. After listening to their story, we found their commitment to community, equality, equity, and financial sustainability perfectly aligned with ours.

Football clubs are small businesses, and like any business, they must be solvent to grow and involve more people. Lewes exemplifies this, using local suppliers to enhance their matchday experience and positively impact their

community. The club’s success has a ripple effect, benefiting fans, players, families, suppliers, and the local economy.

Grassroots football is closely tied to small businesses and relies heavily on volunteers. Helping these clubs become financially sustainable is crucial. While financial sustainability is often discussed for larger clubs, it is just as important for grassroots clubs. Success breeds success and investing in women’s football is vital for its growth. Through our software and accountancy partners, we aim to support clubs by simplifying their financial management, helping them improve cash flow and long-term viability.

Our partnership with Lewes includes our logo on their kit, signboards at The Dripping Pan, and a Xerobranded beach hut. More importantly, we’ve developed guides and kits that cover not only financial management but also fostering equality and community engagement, based on Lewes’ own

experiences. We offer tips on setting up football teams, fan engagement, and financial sustainability, using Xero’s tools to help clubs thrive.

We want to showcase the work Lewes is doing and inspire other clubs to apply similar principles. Financial sustainability is a lesson many clubs can learn, and I’m proud of the resources we’ve created together, from guidelines on starting teams to tips on matchday management. These resources are available for any club to access. Any football club can get 25% off Xero, and FA-accredited clubs can receive a six-month free subscription. We aim to make it as accessible and easy as possible for clubs.

Football’s contribution to society extends far beyond the pitch. Grassroots football contributes over £16 billion to the economy, with benefits in healthcare savings, mental health, and leadership development. Xero’s partnerships alone can’t address everything, but sport’s impact on

communities is clear.

As the Xero tagline goes, ‘Better numbers off the pitch lead to better numbers on it’. That’s why we involve our bookkeeping and accountancy partners with clubs, helping them manage their finances effectively. Our website even helps clubs find local accountants who may already be involved, often serving as club treasurers.

Many of us at Xero, myself included, have experienced the fantastic matchday atmosphere at Lewes FC. From vegan weekends to bonfire night celebrations, Lewes creates an inclusive and unique experience.

The club’s connection with the local community, its commitment to gender equality, and its pursuit of financial sustainability are truly impressive.

I hope more clubs take advantage of the resources Xero and Lewes have created, exploring how our software can support their financial sustainability and, in turn, help more girls and women play football.

Wormley Rovers FC - The Wormley Way!

“Promoted to Step 5 for the first time in our history!”

NIGEL SCULLY CHAIRMAN

“Everybody should get to play, enjoy the game, have fun with their friends, and grow their love for the sport.”

I moved to the area from East London while recovering from a broken leg at 29. I had a decent career playing non-league football up to that point. One day, a heating engineer came to repair a radiator, and we got talking. It turned out he was the manager of the 1st team at Wormley, Ray Joyce. I asked if I could join them for a bit of training, and I ended up playing for the 1st team for five or six years. I then coached and managed the Vets team for 12 years before proudly serving as Chairman of the Football Club for the last 9 years. I dread to think what would have happened if the radiator hadn’t stopped working!

For our Men’s 1st team, the challenge has always been about securing funds and finding sponsorships to support all our teams. At the club, we’re very clear that none of our sponsors’ money goes towards paying players. Another big challenge is the ridiculous sums being offered to players in Steps 5, 6, and even 7 locally. We do not pay players individually. Instead, for the last two seasons, we’ve operated a players’ pool, where based on performance—wins and draws—money is put into a pot for the players to enjoy at the end of the season, often for a trip abroad. This money has been generated through a groundshare arrangement we set up.

Another challenge is moving beyond just being competitive and content with our league position. In my opinion, many small clubs surrounded by bigger clubs are happy to survive in their league, but there’s more to the game than that. You might as well “Have a Go,” given all the hard work everyone puts in.

We are keen to develop the ground, and we aim to complete one big project each year. Four years ago, we built the new stand. Three years ago, we added new floodlights, moved the

dugouts, and installed new fencing. Two years ago, we added disabled toilets, and this summer, we redecorated and upgraded the clubhouse. We also have a nursery, reinforcing our commitment to the community—we cater to everyone from babies to the oldest locals. Everyone has a place at our club. While we have long-term plans for the entire ground, for now, we’re taking it one step at a time.

There’s a great feeling around the place at the moment. We have the right people in key positions to move things forward, and everyone is pulling in the same direction, wanting to be the very best we can be without putting the club’s future at risk for short-term success.

We’re proud of some of our former players, like David Bentley, who started at Wormley and went on to play for Arsenal, Tottenham, and Blackburn Rovers. Charlie Lee, a Wormley boy, played in five play-off finals at Wembley, winning four, and is highly respected at Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Gillingham, and Yeovil Town.

Last season, our Men’s 1st team finished second in the league after finishing third the season before and losing in the play-off semifinals. We were subsequently promoted via the play-offs, winning the final 2-1 with a last-minute winner, marking

our first promotion to Step 5 in our history. The Men’s U23/ Reserves won their division in the Herts Senior County League, and our 1st Team Ladies, playing at Step 5 for the second season, won the Eastern Regional Shield last season. It was a fantastic season for all our senior teams.

As we enter the 2024/25 season, we have two U18 Girls teams, one Ladies 1st team, and 10 additional Girls teams in our Youth ranks. As for walking football, watch this space!

Sponsors are vital and help us in numerous ways. Everything costs money, from officials’ fees, kits, and line-marking equipment to maintaining the machinery that keeps our pitches in top condition.

When people ask what makes Wormley Rovers such a great club, I always give the same answer: most of our Youth coaches, who now represent our Veterans team, were once at the club as youth and 1st team players. Many left to play higher up the football pyramid, but wherever their journeys took them, they’ve all come back to give back to the club and be part of its future. It’s wonderful to see, especially in recent years as several of our Girls coaches are also former players.

With 30 boys’ teams, 12 girls’ teams, and four senior teams for both Men and

Women, as well as Darts teams, a Golf Society, a nursery, and a walking club, we have so much to be proud of. Every player is welcome here, and we always strive to ensure they leave as better players and, hopefully, better people—what we call “The Wormley Way.”

JAMIE NICHOLSON, SPORTS CLUB CHAIR (played for all WRFC teams, from Youth to Vets)

The Ladies’ 1st team was formed three years ago and has made great strides in a short time. They currently compete in Step 5 in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League. Ladies’ football is growing rapidly, but finding support each season is a challenge, and we rely heavily on backing from local businesses and grants from governing bodies. Winter facilities are another challenge. Without an astroturf pitch, we spend a significant amount to offer training facilities for up to fifty teams each week.

The Youth teams have been the heartbeat of the club since its inception half a century ago. We now have over 40 teams and 500 players, ranging from U7s to U18s, in both boys’ and girls’ football. We also host one of the biggest youth tournaments in the region, which is gaining a reputation as one of the best around, thanks to our top facilities.

The Youth teams had another successful season, winning leagues, cups, and tournaments across multiple age groups. Notable achievements include the U16 girls, who won the top league and cup double, losing only one game all season, and the U8 boys, who won the Butlins tour and came runners-up in the national tournament at St George’s.

The Ladies’ section has been growing for the past six years, with a team in every age group from U9s to U18s. We offer a community football scheme on Monday evenings to provide opportunities for kids of all abilities, complemented by our Saturday morning development squad for under-6s.

The club would not exist without the help of its volunteers. A core group of people has been instrumental in recent years, investing a huge amount of time and effort into putting the club where it is today. A new generation of volunteers is now keen to reinforce the old guard and ensure the club has the support it needs to keep moving forward.

Our ground staff have done an amazing job, and our pitches are the envy of all the clubs in the area. Lastly, our committee members contribute countless hours of their own time to ensure the club operates effectively and stays in line with standards set both internally and externally.

Wormley Rovers has a vision to develop into a sports and wellness hub that supports the community, with football as its heartbeat.

MIKE FANTIS

SPORTS CLUB VICE CHAIR

(Played for all WRFC teams from Youth to Vets)

There’s a great feeling around the club, with a combination of both on-field

OUR ETHOS

The ‘Wormley Way’ champions positive values and behaviours such as fairness, integrity, inclusion and leadership. It is the fabric that underpins our commitment to being a model club within the community, developing players and making football enjoyable for everyone.

“Everybody should get to play, enjoy the game, have fun with their friends and grow their love of the sport”

We have a great committee that make decisions based on how they will benefit the club for now and the future. The committee mandatory positions are Chairman; Secretary; Child Welfare Officer; Head of Development.

We have amazing facilities, one of the best grounds in Hertfordshire and proud to say we have the best pitches in the area.

PRINCIPLES

• Football for children of all ages/abilities in a safe and friendly environment.

• Welcoming and fun atmosphere that promotes good behaviour and respect for others.

• Encouraging players to be as good as they can be, have fun and understand it is acceptable to lose.

• Challenging and supportive environment where children can learn from their mistakes.

STYLE & PHILOSOPHY

• Play fair and adhere fully to the rules of the game.

• Use of the whole pitch (including the goalkeeper) to create a total passing game.

• Positively discourage consistent long balls.

• Produce players who are comfortable in possession and are able to master the ball.

• Enjoy positive and attacking football.

TEAM STRUCTURE

The primary aim is for all the players to have fun, whilst developing at their own rate and playing in a team which is consistent with their own ability. We do not ‘stream’. We create a pathway for all children to play and develop their skills.

Player streaming is the process that allows the movement of players between the teams, in line with their level and speed of development.

Streaming can be a contentious issue, and it is inevitable that there will be some level of debate and difference of opinion.

• U6s to U8s teams will rotate players across different teams (within the given age group).

• Equal playing time for all the players in all age groups up to U12s.

• U12s upwards will be set teams with streaming and reviews at the discretion of the coaching staff.

and off-field success. Our men’s first team’s promotion is fantastic, and our clubhouse serves as a social hub for our members. The clubhouse is regularly hired for private functions, so we’ve recently renovated the space to provide additional room for members while keeping the main area available for hire.

The renovation reflects the current feel-good factor, with many members volunteering to help get the work done quickly and minimize disruption. We’re very pleased with the result, and visitors have been impressed. It’s fair to say the girls’ and ladies’ sections of the club are also growing rapidly.

A recent initiative we’ve introduced is to promote member-owned businesses and, in return, offer bespoke deals for our members. It’s a way of helping our members grow their businesses, supporting local enterprises, and adding value for the club’s members.

We won’t rest on our laurels. We aim to continue improving the club’s facilities and offerings. Watch this space!

• Positive structured coaching to give the children confidence, nurture their skills and play in all positions.

GOALS

• Over 20 players between 4 to 6 years old attend the Dev Squad every week.

• Minimum of 2 teams formed at U7s.

• 90% of players from the original U7s are still playing football when it moves to 11 aside.

• 90% of the players that started 11 aside are still playing football when they leave senior school.

• 50% of the U18s team play for the Wormley Rovers (senior football) or for a club at a higher standing in the football pyramid.

THE WAY WE PLAY

We have a style of play and philosophy that underpins the structure of the teams as they move through the age groups.

WAY WE COACH

We focus our coaching on the development of technical/ psychological/physical/social skills in line with the FA ‘4 Corners’ model and all lead coaches will be FA Level 1 qualified (as a minimum).

“Your role in helping children to develop as footballers and young people should never be underestimated”

All coaches must complete the FA Child Safeguarding course and have DBS clearance, and we require coaches per team with at least 1 coach having at least the FA Level 1 coaching badge.

• Lead by example.

• Encourage players to try things without fear of failure.

• Highlight positives and things people do well.

TRAINING

In partnership with professional football coaching companies, we have designed an age related training programme to support our coaches to deliver a consistent approach to training throughout our youth section. There is a training structure and a detailed syllabus for each age group.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WORMLEY ROVERS FC

Wormley Football Club was originally formed in 1921, playing its home matches on land donated by Joseph Rochford & Sons, a wellknown name in horticulture at the time and a major employer in the local area. The club was reformed in 1947 after World War II, moving to its present ground at Wormley Playing Fields, in Church Lane, in 1954.

During the late 1940s, 50s, and early 60s, the club was a major force in junior football, frequently upsetting more senior opposition during that period. However, the late 1960s and early 70s saw a decline in fortunes. This was reversed by 1975, when the club progressed to join the Herts Senior County League, where they had two teams: the First team in the Premier Division and the Reserves in Division 2. Despite several close calls over the years, the First team has never managed to lift the Premier Division title.

The highlight for the Reserve team was winning the Division 1 Reserve title in 1998-99, dropping only four points in the process. Since stepping up to the Herts Senior County League, the club also formed a successful Youth Section in 1975, with several players going on to play in the professional ranks. David Bentley, who played for Arsenal, Blackburn, and Spurs, began his football career with Wormley Youth, as did Charlie Lee, who played for Peterborough, Gillingham, Stevenage, and Yeovil Town.

In 1984, the club added a flourishing and successful Vets section. In line with league

requirements, a fixed post and rail was installed in 1990, floodlights were added in 1994, and brick-built dugouts were constructed in 1996.

Adam Arnold achieved a fifthplace finish in the final season of County League football before the club embarked on the 2018/19 campaign at Step 6 in the Thurlow Nunn League.

Despite a tricky start to the season, the side settled by October, playing well at the new level and notably handing the eventual

champions Hashtag United their only home league defeat. A strong start to the 2019/20 season saw Wormley spend much of the early season in the top five, but a poor run in November and December led to a managerial change in February.

Jamie Elliot stepped up from assistant manager to take charge, and with a few changes, the club went on a long unbeaten run, finishing the season in eighth place

when it was cut short due to COVID-19. The team had also reached the final of the Herts Centenary Trophy, where they were due to play Oxhey Jets Reserves. However, the match didn’t take place, and the Herts FA jointly awarded the trophy. Off the field, the club installed a new 75-seat stand in March and looked forward to the 2020/21 season, which would see the club celebrate its centenary year.

In the centenary season, the club consolidated its position in the division, finishing seventh and enjoying an undisrupted season. Jamie retained most of the squad going into the 2022/23 season, but a slow start, with the team throwing away winning positions and drawing matches, left them struggling in the bottom half early on. In September, Jamie Elliot moved to Cheshunt as assistant manager.

The club quickly appointed Ryan Wade and John Stevenson to take charge. With the addition of several players with Step 5 experience, the club went on an impressive run of results, climbing into the top three by Christmas. A good run in the FA Vase ended with a defeat to higher-level Sheringham Town in front of a large crowd at Church Lane. Continued positive results in the new year saw the team go top of the league with three games left after beating eventual champions Frenford

at home. However, the terrible April weather forced them to play their last three games in six days, causing them to drop into the play-off places, where they lost to a strong Sporting Bengal side, who were promoted to the Essex Senior League.

Disappointment deepened when Ryan Wade left for Ware FC at the start of preseason training. A dozen players followed in different directions, leaving the club in a difficult situation with only a month to go before the start of the new season. Dean Harrison, originally appointed to assist Ryan, took charge and, with some loyal players, managed to pull a squad together to get the team up and running again. However, Dean Harrison soon left for a lucrative position as CEO of Kent United after only six games, and Ryan Wade, unhappy at Ware FC, was keen to return and rebuild the squad he had assembled the previous season.

Ryan’s return sparked a run of results that put the team back into the promotion places and into a title race with Benfleet FC. Although Wormley dominated their away match at Benfleet in October, they suffered a rare 2-0 defeat, which they avenged with a 4-0 victory at home in March. This was followed by a 4-2 win over Harlow Town to jump into top spot, but Benfleet won their game in hand, and that’s how it remained until the end of the season. Wormley entered the play-offs for the second year in a row. Both play-off games were nail-biting affairs: Wormley first beat Clapton Community F.C. 3-2 in injury time, then defeated Dunmow Town 2-1, again in injury time, thanks to Bradley Empson’s late winner, sending a massive crowd home happy. Now, onto Step 5 football for the 2024/25 season—let’s see where it takes us!

HONOURS LIST: HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE

• Division Three: Winners: 1976/1977

• Division One: Winners: 1986/1987; Runners-up: 1991/1992

• Premier Division: Runnersup: 1993/1994, 1998/1999, 1999/2000

• Roy Bailey Memorial Trophy: Winners: 1993

• Herts Senior Trophy: Runners-up: 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2009/2010 (Joint holders 2019/2020)

• South Midlands Floodlit Cup: Runners-up: 2002/2003

• Chairman’s Cup: Runnersup: 2001/2002

• Reserve Division 1: Winners: 1998/1999; Runners-up: 1993/1994, 1999/2000

• Reserve Cup: Winners: 1994; Runners-up: 1995

• South Midlands Reserve Cup: Runners-up: 1998/1999, 1999/2000

• Thurlow Nunn Division 1 South Play-Off Winners: 2023/2024

“We lost a great Sports Club Chair, one year ago, Brian Lock after he had courageously fought cancer for five years and his legacy drives us to push the club forward, we are desperate to finish the work he started with us.”

NORTHERN SUBURBAN LEAGUE

• Premier Division: Winners: 1965/1966

• Enfield Senior Charity Cup: Winners: 1965/1966

HERTFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

• Division One: Winners: 1946/1947

• Herts Charity Shield: Winners: 1946/1947

• Waltham Hospital Cup: Winners: 1948/1949

• Tottenham Charity Cup: Winners: 1948/1949

• Herts Junior Cup: Runnersup: 1948/1949, 1955/1956

Photography taken and supplied by Gbenga Sodeke www.gbengasodenke.com 07932 751 366 Instagram: @gbengasodekephotography

`The History Maker` Brad Empson celebrating after scoring our last minute winner in the play off final that got us promoted!

TONY CORNWELL, FORMER PLAYER, COACH & SPONSOR: GLENCAR

I hail from Cheshunt, which is just five minutes up the road from the club. I used to play against Wormley in the youth team before progressing into senior and non-league football for Harlow and Ware. I then joined Wormley where I ended up captaining their first team in my 20s. My dad, also named Tony, would often be there supporting me on my footballing journey. When our first team manager stepped down, my dad who was reserves manager at Harlow Town, took over as first team manager at Wormley for a few years. I had the pleasure of playing under him for a season, which was a really nice experience and memory for me.

After playing in some local leagues, I returned to play for the club’s vets’ team and became player-manager for five years. Fast forward and I’m now coaching my son Bobby’s U14s team (Bobby is named after the great Bobby Moore). I also coach my daughter Ruby’s U8 girls’ team in their first season, and my eldest daughter Elsie plays for the U12s girls’ team, also an important part of the club.

Now, at 48, with most of my footballing days behind me, I wanted to help out our youth teams at the club. Girls’ football has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and our U14s boys has three girls playing in the team, which is fantastic. The inclusion of the girls, along with their no-nonsense attitude, has brought the best out of the boys and contributed positively to the whole squad, creating a real balance and dynamic within the team.

Sometimes we don’t fully realize the influence football and coaching can have on children’s lives. It provides a safe place for them to evolve, change behaviours, and become more stable and

grounded within themselves in an environment that fosters positive development and inclusivity in a healthy way. It’s very heartwarming to see this all unfold as a coach. I can’t speak highly enough about the quality of all our coaches and their management of our teams, including the likes of Jamie Nicholson and Steve Magona; both great examples amongst many.

I really feel that the foresight of our coaches at the club in moving players around within the same age group between school terms has allowed players to experience a variety of different squads and coaches. This has resulted in more well-rounded players throughout our youth section as its grown.

Myself, Jamie Nicholson, Nigel and Micky Fantis are all still involved with the club after all these years. Nigel was first team player coach when I was playing in it and Jamie and others were just coming up through from the youth sector into the first team alongside him. We have all been lifelong friends, pulling in the same direction for over 20 years. Many of the current youth team coaches and managers are also friends who played with us in earlier years and came through the ranks to senior and then vet’s football. Vets football was very successful at Wormley, with many accolades won over the seasons fostering a continuation of friendship, support, and camaraderie amongst us all within the club.

It’s also worth mentioning that some of our older girls’ team players are now helping to coach the younger teams, so there’s a truly inclusive attitude throughout the whole club. Little things matter—like our Ladies squad competing in the FA Cup, who regularly invite some of the younger girls to be mascots. This isn’t a one-off but a regular occurrence, demonstrating the thoughtfulness of our members.

Last season, I managed to attend as many senior games as possible, usually the mid-week ones, as weekends are spent transporting the kids to their various matches. Many of my friends play in the first team, so watching and supporting them is always great. A nice story about Ryan, the manager of our first team, is that he was given his Senior Wormley first team debut at 17 by my dad. I played with Ryan in Senior football and have known him for many years.

The company I work for, Glencar, is also a proud sponsor of Wormley and has been for the past six years. They do various sponsorships for the club, including hoardings, sponsorship of my daughter’s team, and the canopy at the ground. My boss, Eddie McGillycuddy, is very passionate about nonleague football and has been the owner of Berkhamsted FC since 2009. Berko, as they are known, have enjoyed much success and continue to do great things for their club and community. They are having a strong start to their season and currently play at level 4 in the Southern League Central

Division. As a club I feel they are an excellent example of a well-run, community-focused club which others can learn from. I’ve known Eddie for over 20 years. He has always been a great supporter of grassroots football, and everyone at Wormley greatly appreciates his continued support.

For me, what makes Wormley Rovers FC such a great club is the people and our community. Whenever someone visits the club, they’ll undoubtedly find a warm, welcoming environment and be well looked after. A smile or a laugh is never far away. It’s a comfortable place to be, and there’s usually someone from times past who remembers the time I gave away that penalty years ago and gives me some friendly stick about it.

The longevity and dedication of the people at Wormley Rovers Football Club, whom I call friends, speaks volumes about the type of club we are. People who spend decades of their time volunteering wouldn’t be there unless they truly enjoyed themselves and the company of others!

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CLUB TREASURER & SPONSOR: SCOTCH

ACCOUNTING LTD

I have been the club treasurer for Wormley Rovers FC senior football section for the past seven years. Before I became treasurer, I played for the club’s vet teams and briefly played alongside Nigel Scully, the senior football chairman (and my father-in-law), and the great club stalwart Brian Lock, who sadly passed away not long ago. So, there was an existing football relationship before I started helping with the club’s finances.

The committee has always been a group of hard-working volunteers, doing an amazing job to keep pushing the club forward. The previous treasurer was stepping down, and Nigel asked if I could join the committee to help manage the finances, particularly as there were some significant ground improvement projects on the horizon.

The key thing for me when managing the club’s finances is transparency. Allowing everyone to clearly understand our financial position, and what we all need to do to keep moving the club forward. It’s been great that the whole committee has got involved with fund-raising, finding sponsors, and driving various income streams which helps the club cover it’s many costs. We’ve achieved a lot in terms of building the infrastructure at the club, with new stands, dugouts, floodlights, security fencing, paths… and we’re not stopping.

I try to attend as many matches as possible with my family. My daughter, Belle, and son, Lenny, are supporters of Wormley. Although Lenny plays for youth rivals Ware Lions. There’s always some friendly banter with his grandad, Nigel, when he turns up at the club in his Ware Lions kit.

The club is so familyoriented that you’ll often see youth teams playing in the morning, who then stay and watch the senior team in the afternoon. There’s a really good buzz about the place,

and more and more people are coming to support the team.

Wormley Rovers FC is a fantastic community club, and its success, both on and off the pitch, is due to the great people and the family environment that’s been cultivated. I’ve been told by some of the more experienced committee

members that the club has often been referred to as ‘little Wormley,’ but there is so much potential at our club. Everything is coming together at the right time, from performances on the pitch to future growth plans. All the hard work is paying off, and other clubs may no longer see us as ‘little

Wormley’ but as a thriving club that’s really going places.

Outside of Patrick’s treasurer role, he is a chartered accountant and runs Scotch Accounting Ltd, which helps small businesses take control of their finances.

JEMMA HARDY, PARENT, SUPPORTER, AND SPONSOR: PEPPERSMITH LIMITED

I’m originally from the Isle of Wight and moved to London before heading further out to Broxbourne 15 years ago when we decided to start our family. It was through my children, Alice and George, that we first became involved with the club. We had previously been part of another club, but one day, while walking my dog at the Wormley playing fields, I noticed the sports club and mentioned to my husband how impressed I was with its appearance and the great family vibe it had. We ended up going down to the club for a few drinks, and some conversations ensued with the club members on a Sunday afternoon. We chatted with a few of the coaches who invited us to bring the children down, which we felt was really nice, especially since they didn’t know much about us or our children’s football abilities.

Once we became involved in the club, we were astounded by the number of people we already knew there and how welcoming everyone was. Both my children are football mad and started off playing for Coach Marco Lopes, a former Portuguese National U21’s and Angola National First Team player now in his late 40s, at “Gold Talents, 1st Touch Football,” a school where children start as young as 2 years old. Marco is an inspirational guy, he continues to support our children’s football successes and he often comes along to watch the children play at Wormley, which is really nice. Alice, who is 10, has been playing football since she could walk, trains five days a week, and plays for both the U11s and U12s. She has also joined an all girls’ academy called “She Can Play,” but Wormley is her main club, which is great because we want to keep her in grassroots football as long as possible. George, who is 8 years old, has been playing football for 5 years and is convinced

he is going to be the next Guglielmo Vicario. We are also Spurs season ticket holders, so my husband, Andy, and I alternate taking the kids to White Hart Lane, where we also watch their ladies’ team play. The girls’ enthusiasm is outstanding; over the summer, they all continued training on the Wormley playing fields. With George being a goalkeeper, he was able to get involved too—regardless of age or gender, there were no barriers to his participation. Both their teams have started off their 2024/2025 seasons with winning the majority of their matches.

The evolution of women’s and girls’ football has been great to witness, something that was never really an option when I was growing up. Our youth coaches of the kids’ teams, for the boys U8 Whites Adam and Danny and then James, Adamo and Stuart for the girls U12 Blacks , are excellent. They guide the children through the ups and downs that are inevitable in sports, teaching them how to lose, which offers them important life lessons and attitudes. Although I work full time, an opportunity arose for me to help with the clubhouse renovations over the summer. I spent 1 a day steaming wallpaper and removing broken plaster from the many layers on the clubhouse walls. It didn’t matter that I ended up with all sorts of things stuck in my hair because it was so much fun just to be part of it all, to contribute, and to spend some time with the community of friends who had come out to help. After a long day, Iit’s safe to say I slept well that night!

Once complete, The club put on a barbecue for the helpers and their families who supported the renovation of the clubhouse. My, kids feel super proud that we were all part of the club—each in different ways but together. It’s the place to be for the kids’ birthday celebrations. All the kids want to celebrate their birthdays at the club, and with their parents involved, a great family support network is created too. I work for a small

company called Peppersmith, which is a sponsor of the club, and we were invited to sell our mints there as part of the sponsorship. It’s so nice to see the children come over and shake their boxes of mints at me!

Wormley Football Club offers everyone a safe place to be. I’m never concerned about my kids running around

having fun within the club, as there are so many good people keeping a watchful eye on the children. Everyone is so friendly, and the dynamic it brings to us as a family unit is superb. People congregate at Wormley, bringing fun, football, and friendship together in a very special way, and I’m honoured to be part of this great club!

DARREN & ZOE

WATSON: SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS OF WORMLEY ROVERS FC

D. Watson Ltd. recently spoke to Football Focus Magazine about their long and positive association with Wormley Rovers FC.

Darren said:

“I’m originally from London and moved to the local area 18 years ago. I was keen to introduce my son to football and had heard good things about Wormley through one of my son’s friend’s dads, who mentioned they were starting a development side for kids.

At the young age of just four and a half years, Henry and his friend Jack joined Wormley every Saturday for the development squad run by Barry Harding, which they loved

After a few short weeks the development squad grew and many of Henry and Jack school friends and lots of local children attended. The training and interaction with the coaches and participants made these Saturday training sessions a highlight of the week

Once the boys reached the age of 7 and had been training for a few years, they became a large squad of over 30 boys ready to start putting their training in to practise and started playing friendly matches as the Wormley U7’s. It was at this point that Barry

approached Darren and Zoe and sked if they would be interested in sponsoring the whole squad, which was a pleasure to do and was great to see all the lads in there

D.Watson Kits

At the age of 8 the squad was divided in to 2 teams, the reds and blacks and they started playing every Saturday against other teams/clubs throughout Hertfordshire, We, D.Watson Ltd continued to sponsor and provide the Home and Away kits for the Wormley Reds until Henry left Henry played for the reds through the various levels at the club up to the U18s. The Reds finished there run with Wormley at U18’s going out in

style winning the league cup. They had a really great group of players, management and parents, it was a real shame they couldn’t stay together. Henry is now 20 and captains another local side with five or so of his mates who also played at Wormley. My daughter Ava, who is 17 and keen to get back into women’s football, also played for the club for many years. Out of the blue one day, Ava said to my wife, ‘I want to play football!’ Zoe replied, ‘If you really want to play, lets make it happen!’

I love Wormley FC, and we miss it when we’re not there, so I get down as often as I can. Wormley has always had a great setup, and over the

years, I’ve been able to sing its praises and help attract more people to the club, including My mate Nick Jarvis’s son, Jack, who now plays for the club’s U15’s. Wormley FC is just a really nice family club to be a part of. When Henry was 10, he came home one day and said he wanted to raise money for a cancer charity called Teens Unite, based in Broxbourne. We subsequently met with the chairman at the time. Dave, as Henry wanted to set up a big football event. Together with the club, we managed to get it up and running, attracting several celebrities to play, including Paul Merson. It was a great day at Wormley, and although initiated by Henry, it was fully supported by the club.” The event raised over £6000 for for Teans Unite

Zoe continued:

“It was through our son’s friend that we first got involved with Wormley Rovers FC. The club had a development squad at the time, which was run by Barry Harding, who had been at the club for around 40 years. When Henry progressed to the Under-7s, we were invited to become sponsors, something we continued for around 15 years, sponsoring Henry and Avas teams I became involved with the admin side of the Wormley Reds boys team from U8’s, which I did

until they left at U18’s

When my daughter Ava was in Year 5, after being dragged around football with her brother Henry and the Wormley Reds for her whole life, she shifted from being a singer and dancer to wanting to play football.

Within a year of Ava’s request, and after a lot of ground work, Zoe with support of the Wormley committee had created the first ever Wormley girls team, The Wormley Robins. We registered The Wormley Robins with the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League which they played in until Season 2022/23. As with the Boys Team D.Watson Ltd also sponsored the Wormley Robins throuout there time at Wormley. The majority of the girls who signed up had never kicked a ball before but there determination to play was fantastic. Since then, girls’ football at Wormley has flourished, which is fantastic to see.

Wormley was absolutely the centre of our lives and has always felt like an extended family. Henry still sees Barry, who taught him football when he was just four and a half years old. The people who run the club and the facilities are absolutely amazing. Last year, I stepped down from the Youth and Seniors committee during the club’s 100th anniversary year. Its been a great privilege

for me to have been involved for so long and I’m very proud that Ava was the first member of the first Wormley Girls team

The club has been super supportive. They helped me through my Level 1 coaching qualification to become a team manager, and I brought two of the boys from the Wormley Reds, Adam and Thomas over to help train the girls’ team. They were also put through their Level 1 badges by the club and were the first to be supported in that particular way.

Darren added:

The club has excellent senior, and youth sections, with many willing volunteers, often parents, who consistently step forward to help. The club boasts an excellent first-team pitch, which Henry and his teammates aspired to play on from a young age —and they achieved this when they played U18 football. We still have a sponsorship board around the first pitch and will continue to do so.

The club has been a huge part of our life and has always welcome myself and my family with open arms. Whenever we get the chance, we always look forward to visiting the club. There’s no other football club I would recommend more to anyone I know than Wormley Rovers FC—a truly fantastic family club!”

ANTONY HARRISON, FORMER PLAYER, SUPPORTER

& SPONSOR: HARRISON HAYES

VENTILATION

I am a local lad living in Broxbourne, and back in the day, I played for Cheshunt Youth from the age of 10. We often played against Wormley. I became involved with the club through my best mate’s dad, who was running the reserves side. While I was working for him, he asked me if I fancied a run-out for the team; I was about 20 years old at the time. I played for the reserves and the first team for five years. When I progressed to the first team, I ended up breaking my leg, and the manager organized a whip-round for me because I was out of work for a while after that, which was a really nice thing for the club to do. I subsequently played for a very good vets’ side that competed in the Saturday leagues against many strong younger teams and won several trophies. It’s been around two years since I last played for the vets’ side. Due to work and family commitments—I have four young kids: Dolly-Rae (age 10), Honey-Mae (age 8), Harry (age 6), and Blousey (age

4)—I don’t have the time to get down there as much as I would like. I always keep an eye on how the team is doing, whether through social media or word of mouth. The first team captain, Louis Offer, also works for me, so I hear about how the lads are doing. Wormley are doing fantastic this season with much lower budgets than other clubs and are competing strongly in their league.

Many of the youth coaches and those involved in running the teams, for both boys and girls, are former players, many of whom I know. I have also been a club sponsor for the past seven years with my business, Harrison Hayes Ventilation, and last season, I became the tracksuit sponsor too. It’s always nice to give a bit back to the club and the community.

Many of the people running Wormley Rovers FC these days are former players, so they have a particular connection to the club and the local community. I always get a good feeling when I visit Wormley because I see many good people and friends who have given a lot of their time to keep the club running and thriving to this day. Best of luck to everyone for the rest of the 2024/2025 campaign!

MARK CARTHY, FORMER MANAGER, LONGSTANDING SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: DEC

TO SPEC LTD

I grew up near Enfield, and my boys, Callum and Joe, used to play against Wormley. When we moved to the area twenty years ago, Wormley became our local club, so I brought the boys over there. I now live literally within walking distance of the club. I managed their teams all the way through to U18 level, and my youngest son, Joe, who was 9 years old when they joined (Callum was 11), is now the reserve team manager. It’s very nice for me because I can now watch him manage from the touchline.

Joe is managing again this season, following a promotion season for his team at the end of the 2023/2024 campaign, and he is completely dedicated to his role at the club. In fairness to Wormley, although Joe had been very successful in managing Sunday league teams previously, they gave him a fantastic opportunity. It was quite a bold move for them to appoint someone so young to a senior management role. In addition to men’s football, it’s a testament to the club’s openness that they have embraced and encouraged girls’ and women’s football, which is also wonderful for the many parents who have daughters!

My wife Paula and I ran a little café at the club for around four years, fully supported by the club. Paula still has many friends and connections there, and whenever she visits, she is welcomed with open arms. The big thing for me about Wormley is that even if you leave the club for a while—due to work or for

any other reason—when you return after six months or a year, it’s as though you were there yesterday. It truly is a family club with a genuine family feel, which I have always appreciated. When I think back on my journey with Wormley, the whole experience is surreal—from arriving all those years ago with my boys, not knowing a soul in the area, to now, where I know everyone, and all my friends and connections were made through the club.

I am also the proud owner of a “seat for life” at the club, which is very important to me from a nostalgic point of view. Wherever I go or whatever I do, I know my family’s name will always be associated with the club in that seat.

My business, Dec to Spec Limited, is also a proud sponsor of the club and has been for the past 12 years. Among other things, I have a board at the club, and there’s no greater pleasure than walking over to see my business name displayed around the main pitch.

The work and energy that Nigel Scully, Peter Dent, Nick Sparrow and not forgetting the late Brian Locke (Locky) who is sadly missed and will never be forgotten by us all, have put into Wormley Rovers FC can only be described as outstanding—they’ve turned a good club into an even better one. Myself and the boys are West Ham season ticket holders, and Joe, in particular, has sacrificed his seat to put his all into his passion for Wormley. Now that we’ve entered the autumn, you think, “What should I do today?” I know what I’m going to do on a Saturday afternoon—and that’s to get myself down to this great club we all know and love as Wormley Rovers FC!

GIAN VIGNOGNA: PARENT, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: GV HEATING & PLUMBING

I am a local resident and have known Wormley for about four years now. Originally from North London, I moved to the Broxbourne area around five years ago. My connection with the club began through my daughter Elliana, who has played for the club for three years, despite having never played football before. She currently steps onto the field as a centre-back for the club’s U15 girls’ team.

I’ve been sponsoring Elliana’s team through my business, GV Heating & Plumbing, since they started, and they’ve been running now for the past three years. This season has been fantastic for her team. They play in Division 3 of their league, and they recently won a competitive home match 17-0, as well as an 8-0 victory in another recent fixture! Football has been amazing for the girls, helping them develop skills that will positively influence their confidence and outlook on life. It’s great to see how, as the team matures, they’re becoming more comfortable with the overall understanding of the game.

It’s wonderful that Wormley has created a pathway for

KYRI MICHAEL, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: THE WOODMAN & OLIVE

I own a local pub just a mile up the road, and this season marks my first involvement with the club. Our relationship began when we needed a local football pitch for a match. I reached out to the club, and Nigel and his team were incredibly accommodating in helping us out.

I’ve been a local for about three years now. When I first moved into the area and started running my business, I was eager to raise awareness among the local community. We reached out to various local organizations and offered discount cards to their members. This included the local zoo and its employees, Wormley Rovers, and a few others. In return, the football club has been very supportive of both me and my business at The Woodman & Olive.

As a relatively new business owner, I haven’t had the chance to attend any matches at the club yet. However, due to my strong ties with Cockfosters FC and knowing their manager, who

girls’ football, and it’s clear that the program is growing stronger each season. The women’s senior manager initially introduced us to girls’ football at the club, and it was a fantastic experience watching one of the women’s matches recently. As a sponsor, I take pride in contributing to the club by ensuring the team has quality, weatherproof training gear. The girls are dedicated and disciplined, and they deserve to be well-supported—I love being a part of that! Wormley Football Club offers much more than just football. The camaraderie and friendships that develop are invaluable as they carry through life, providing great support for everyone’s mental health and social well-being. The people at the club—from Nigel, the chairman, and his committee to the parents, coaches, and supporters—all contribute in a truly positive way to the Broxbourne community. Hopefully, if I can find more time, I’ll be able to assist more in helping out at the club.

Although I’m an Arsenal fan, Wormley is truly my local team, and I’m proud to support them! Best of luck to everyone at the club for the remainder of this season and for many more years to come!

later moved on to Wormley, I feel a natural connection with the club. My accountant is the treasurer at Cockfosters, and my nephews play there, so I have many links to the club. I also played for Cockfosters myself, although that was a few years ago when I was much lighter! :)

We are thrilled to have such a positive relationship with Wormley Football Club through their membership and the many bookings they make with us. The players, managers, and their families often come to eat at the pub, so I fondly refer to them as “The Wormley Family,” including their supporters, who are regular visitors at The Woodman & Olive.

As a family-run pub, we feel a strong sense of synergy with the club and greatly appreciate everything they do for our community. It’s fantastic to see such a great local club receiving the recognition and publicity they deserve in the area. From myself and our staff, I wish everyone at Wormley Rovers FC all the best of continued success, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Beverley Town FC

Northern Counties Eastern League Premier Division.

KARL HORNSEY, CLUB VOLUNTEER & SUPPORTER

“Our growth has been the result of a huge amount of hard work on and off the field.”

Beverley Town are all set to embark on a new chapter in their history, as they begin life in Step 9 of the football pyramid, in the Northern Counties Eastern League Premier Division. The campaign follows their remarkable promotion, which was secured in May with a play-off penalty shootout victory at their Norwood home, in front of more than 1500 spectators. After finishing ‘only’ second in the league, despite scoring more than 100 points and over 130 league goals, the Beavers were finally promoted after playing more than 50 games in a campaign of many challenges, including the good old British weather.

The club have been in existence since 1902 and will also set another record, as they play in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup, returning to the competition after an absence of 99 seasons. Their last appearance was in 1919, and their fixture against nonleague stalwarts Whitley Bay means they become the club to have ‘enjoyed’ the longest gap between appearances. While the first-team enjoyed great success last season under head coach Dave Ricardo, there has been plenty of focus on the other teams at the club, with the reserves and third team now being added to by a new development squad, meaning four senior men’s teams, a women’s side that have been involved in the FA Cup in the last two seasons, and a total of 36 teams across a

vibrant and growing junior section, including girls’ teams at under-11, under-12 and under-14 level.

There’s no walking football (yet!) but the club is proud to hold weekly under-17 disability sessions and hold an under-7s Saturday morning academy. Success on the field goes hand in hand with growing the club organically off the pitch, and a growing band of volunteers is proving invaluable in helping to steer this. There have been ground maintenance sessions during the summer to give the ground, which is shared with cricket, squash, tennis and crown green bowling sections, a lick of paint, extend the pitch to meet league requirements and generally keep adding to the facilities and matchday experience. A new, extended matchday programme has been unveiled, the local radio station (Beverley FM) have started to provide live match commentary, and there are hopes that attendances will continue to steadily grow, having the first and second highest in the NCEL Division One over the past two seasons. The mood around the club is positive, but nobody is under any illusions as to the challenges ahead,

as each step up the ladder brings with it different issues to face and Beverley Town are now mixing it with some vastly experienced and wellknown non-league outfits.

The club has excellent links with the likes of Hull City, North Ferriby United and Bridlington Town, among others, in East Yorkshire, and is aiming to become a club that local young talent in East Yorkshire see as the next stage in their development. The Director of Football at Bishop Burton academy, James Bennett, has joined the coaching staff for this season, and developing youngsters and offering a pathway through to the first team and beyond is a key aim of the season. The role of all non-league clubs should be to nurture youngsters and provide them with the right environment to develop, and Beverley have a great reputation for being able to do just that. The community around Beverley Town have been massively supportive and the football club, along with all of the other sports played at Norwood, see ourselves as a central part of that community.

Of course, no club at our level can thrive, or even survive, without its sponsors and the number of companies and individuals interested in being a part of our journey continues to grow. It’s wise not to be over-reliant on just one main sponsor, as that way can lead to financial ruin, and Beverley’s annual Sponsors Day league fixture is very well attended by all those

who support in whatever way they can. The supporters group sponsor a couple of players and give their time and effort (and occasionally cash) to help out, with our main sponsor Gateway Fabrications leading the way. Gateway are also our shirt sponsor and, speaking of shirts, our new first-team kit includes an interesting and innovative feature. There is a QR code on the sleeve that directs people to the East Riding Healthy Minds website as we continue to do all we can to promote strong mental health and wellbeing in the community. On that note, we’re also organising a Mental Health matchday, with a week of events and social media signposting ahead of our league fixture against Hallam at the start of October, and we’ve become a regular drop-off point for the East Riding Food Bank donations.

It’s worth remembering that Beverley Town’s history has been somewhat nomadic, playing at all manner of venues in and around the town, and that our growth has been the result of a huge amount of hard work on and off the field. We take for granted the likes of floodlights and a 56-seater stand, but it’s not that long ago that we had neither, when playing in the Humber Premier League. Ambition is a fine thing and Beverley would love to move higher up the pyramid, but settling into the NCEL Premier and growing off the field are the most immediate priorities.

OUR HISTORY

Beverley Town Football Club has been in existence since 1902, when the club was registered as a member of the East Riding County League. The first recorded honours came in 1910/11, with victory in the Hospital Cup (later the Stanley Wilson Cup), but the club was forced to disband in 1914 upon declaration of the First World War, before reforming as peacetime returned. A sporadic existence was once again ended by the Second World War, but some momentum was finally secured in 1948 following a merger with Beverley Rangers, which saw the team playing at its current home of Norwood Recreation Ground.

This move came after former professional player Jack Gittoes, who had previously plied his trade with Coventry City and Blackpool, persuaded his fellow cricket committee members to allow football into the ground for the first time. Despite Jack’s untimely passing in 1951, the team continued to play at Norwood, and a further merger occurred in 1954, this time with Beverley United.

This helped to strengthen the club further and allowed them to establish themselves as a competitive force on the East Riding County League scene over the next two decades. However, disagreements with the ground committee saw the team leave Norwood around 1970, leading to a nomadic existence for many seasons, playing at various venues in the ensuing years, including the Victoria Barracks – now the site of Morrison’s supermarket, Hodgson’s Recreation Ground, Longcroft School and Orchard Park playing fields near Hull.

It wasn’t until 2000, when the club became a founder member of the newly-formed Humber Premier League, that it was finally established as a presence of note once again, returning to its roots at Norwood. Successes

THE BEAVER

were achieved in the 2010 Grays League Cup and a first Humber Premier title in the 2012/13 season, with just one league defeat during the campaign. A year later, Town won the Northern Counties Senior Cup, one of only two East Riding sides to have done so, and a further Humber Premier league title followed in 2020/21.

The following season, the club were league runners-up, but were awarded promotion to the NCEL Division One as improvements at Norwood meant that it finally fulfilled league eligibility, including the installation of a 56-seater stand named in honour of former player and local schoolteacher Ivan Usher. Dave Ricardo returned as manager for a second spell and led the club to a solid mid-table position in a season in which they were the best supported club in the division, with Olly Baldwin becoming the first player to play 100 matches for the club in its modern history.

With the town fully behind the club, the Beavers clinched a remarkable promotion from NCEL1 in a play-off final victory over Shirebrook Town, in front of more than 1,500 fans, having finished second in the standings behind Parkgate, despite gaining more than 100 points and scoring over 130 league goals. The club will now play at the highest level in its history as well as competing in the FA Cup for the first time since 1919, setting a record for the longest gap in history between FA Cup matches.

Over the years, several players who represented Beverley Town at junior or senior level have gone on to play professionally, including ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, and Hull City stars John Hawley, Ray Clubley, Linton Brown and Gavin Kelly, while the team were also trained by John McSeveney and Andy Davidson – the Tigers’ record appearances holder – during the 1960s.

CRAIG LANE

Craig Lane is a supporter and sponsor of Beverley Town FC with his business Sargent Leisure Services, and he recently spoke to Football Focus Magazine about his positive family connection with the club; He also talks about his father-in-law, Ian Sargent’s, involvement as a supporter and main sponsor through his businesses: Sargent Electrical and Laurel Vines.

“I’m originally from Derby and moved to the Beverley area in 2021. Unable to follow my home club, the Rams, anymore, I was looking for a local club to support. With Beverley Town FC being on my doorstep, it was a natural choice. Although growing up my family wasn’t particularly football-oriented - except for an uncle who was scouted to play at a higher level - I developed a passion for the sport through friends at school. When I was old enough, I started supporting Derby County. One day, after moving to Beverley, my wife Rebekah and I were in the village, sitting in a local pub, when we noticed a group of Beverley Town players come in, all dressed in their tracksuits. I realized that there had to be a local club nearby, so I looked into it and visited the club for the

“Very proud

first time with one of the lads from our village. I was hooked immediately and now attend matches regularly.

Having never been to nonleague football before, I was struck by the truly personal nature of a local club. It really felt like a family to me. I was used to watching football at Pride Park in front of 30,000 fans, but at Beverley, the personal touch of going into the clubhouse post-match, chatting with the chairman and players, and shaking hands with everyone was a truly refreshing experience. Last season, I attended most home games and some away matches, and I’ve continued

sponsors of Beverley Town Football Club.”

www.sargentleisureservices.co.uk

www.laurel-vines.co.uk

www.sargentltd.co.uk

that this season. Around 40 supporters are in a WhatsApp group where we chat and contribute. About 90% of the group attend away games, sometimes traveling together on the coach, which is great fun.

The season before last, we settled into the NCEL, and our manager, Dave Ricardo, then strengthened the squad with some excellent team players. Our points tally last season was fantastic and would have usually won the league, but winning in the playoff final with over 1,500 supporters was a fantastic achievement - though the queue at the bar was a challenge! This season, after a slow start, we’ve picked up some great results and are settling into a tough league with a young squad. My son Oliver, who still lives in Derby, comes to the matches when he visits me in Beverley. He attended during the playoffs, and Rich at the club arranged for him to be a mascot for the day. It’s usually the first question he asks when he’s coming up: ‘Are Beverley Town playing at home this weekend?’ He’s become a passionate fan and really appreciates the support he has enjoyed at the club.

The hard work of the club’s personnel and committee in running Beverley Town was a major factor in my decision to get involved. I wanted to give back, so I became a sponsor with my business, Sargent Leisure Services. I’ve sponsored players like Conner Harman and Danny Earl, as well as sponsoring games and match balls. When Danny moved on to Bridlington, I switched to a new player. This season, I convinced my father-in-law, Ian Sargent, to come to the playoff final, and it was his first time at a football match. His previous perception of football was probably of rowdy terraces, but he was amazed at how different it was from what

he expected. He was taken aback by the friendliness at Beverley, and how easy it was to chat with the chairman and others. Since then, he has become a sponsor with his two businesses, which are now main sponsors of the club, all thanks to that visit to Beverley Town! Ian has also attended games this season and speaks highly of the atmosphere, saying how much he loves it. As a main sponsor, he receives six season tickets, which are drawn from a hat at work each week so that staff, who wouldn’t normally attend matches, get the chance to come along.

Rebekah, who has lived in Beverley all her life and comes to all the home games, recently remarked on how many local people say hello to me when we’re out and about in the village. She said in amazement, ‘How many people do you know in Beverley now?’ One of my friends, who I attend matches with, has a son who plays in the club’s pan-disability team on Monday evenings, where you’ll often see parents playing against the team, which is fantastic to witness. Harry, my friend’s son, had a favourite player who later moved to Australia. Before he left, I took a picture of Harry and his idol Olly in the clubhouse, which has been a real highlight for him. The club is always thoughtful about its supporters and the wider community, supporting local causes like the East Yorkshire Food Bank and joining with initiatives such as Andy’s Man Club, where people can come together to talk about any challenges they might be facing.

Beverley Town Football Club is an incredible club because of the people and the welcoming atmosphere they provide. You’ll always find a positive experience there, and it really feels like an extended family - a truly special club!”

JON ADAMS, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: ADAMS

TYRE SPECIALISTS

Adams Tyre Specialists is a local company that has been in existence since 1969. We have always supported local sports and organizations like the rugby club; however, our relationship with Beverley Town FC is relatively new.

My son Jake, a huge fan of many sports, is eight years old (turning nine in January). He joined the club one Saturday morning to play in the academy setup when he was around five and progressed to the newly formed under-7 team. Since then, he has been a stalwart in the team’s defence as a formidable centre-back for the Beverley Town Tigers U9s. I manage to attend most of Jake’s games. A few of the dads have jobs that require them to work away from home, but since the matches are recorded, everyone gets to see their kids playing from anywhere in the world, which is great.

We are also Hull City fans, but to be honest, I feel Jake prefers to spend time supporting Beverley Town. He’s been a mascot twice and just loves walking onto the pitch hand in hand

with one of the players. He has aspirations for the senior teams and envisions that someday we’ll see PSG down at our Norwood home! Time permitting on a Saturday, we do get to watch some of the senior matches. The first team looks like they are really making good progess this season after moving up a level.

This is my second

season as a sponsor with my business, Adams Tyre Specialists. I appreciate that my sponsorship of Beverley Town FC benefits all the teams in the club. When the U9s needed new footballs, Simon, the manager, put in a request, which was granted right away, drawing from the club’s overall pot, which I appreciate.

Beverley Town Football Club is 100% a family-friendly club with an environment that has healthy boundaries, which they implement if needed. It is the sort of club where you could just turn up on a whim for a pint, and you’ll inevitably find a friendly face to chat with. Best wishes to everyone for the remainder of the 2023/2024 season!

CHRIS RAMSDEN, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR:

GATEWAY FABRICATIONS

I was born and raised in Hull, but I’ve lived in Beverley for several years now. I’ve been involved with Beverley Town Football Club for the past five years, both as an avid fan and through my children’s participation. One of my boys, Michael, has been with the club for four years and plays for the U14s Beverley Town JPL team, which competes in the Junior Premier League on Saturdays. He also plays for their Sunday team, Beverley Town Moles. My other son, James, plays for the U13s team at another local club, AFC Tickton, where he’s been for some time.

I started by watching the men’s team and quickly realized what a large and vibrant community Beverley is. With the town’s population and the club’s strong support, I could see it’s a bit of a sleeping giant! Beverley Town already commands a significant presence, but I believe they have the potential to grow even bigger.

I was naturally drawn to Beverley Town FC because of its welcoming environment. Mark, the chairman, has a great motto: “Football For All!” From senior to youth football, there’s an excellent

structure of teams and a consistency in abilities, whether it’s boys’ or girls’ football.

We’ve attended most of the league games this season, and I always bring my children, which speaks volumes about the positive and familyfriendly environment the club promotes. The home matches, in particular, are a great day out. Although the first team had a slightly shaky start in the new division, they definitely don’t look out of their depth now. A few new players have

been added, strengthening the existing squad. They recently played Hallam, who are competing well in the league, and Beverley Town deservedly won that match with room to spare.

It’s important that our team stays grounded. While expectations are naturally high after last season’s promotion, this is our first season at this level. Remaining in this league, with a view to pushing on next year, would be a fantastic outcome. This season is a

project, and we all want Beverley Town to progress as far as they can in the league. The club has developed so well that they’re starting to outgrow their current ground, and I believe moving to a larger facility is inevitable—a progression I would love to be part of.

This is my fourth season as a principal sponsor with my business, Gateway Fabrications. When asked what my business does, I like to say we’re “metal bashers.” We specialize in all aspects of Fabrication in construction, structural, vehicle structural parts, staircases, mezzanine floors, engineering and much more. You tell us what you want, and we’ll do the rest. I sponsor the men’s first team squad’s kit, their training kit, match days, as well as youth and girls’ teams.

Beverley is a great, vibrant town, full of fantastic restaurants, bars, shops, the racecourse, golf course, and much more. Having a football club like Beverley Town FC at the heart of the community, open to everyone, is the icing on the cake. I was at a match recently, watching people come into the ground, and I turned to one of the members and said, “What a truly great family club Beverley Town FC is!”

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Moneyfields FC

‘Up

the Moneys!’

GLENN TURNBULL, TEAM MANAGER

“All I’ve done has been built on team identity. Team camaraderie and an ‘all in it together’ mentality.”

I managed a local side (Meon Milton) from under-6s through to under-10s. When we moved to 11-a-side, three players were taken by academies, which broke the back of our team. My son was also approached to sign for Moneyfields, as he wanted to play for the best side in the city and, as proven, the county. I thought my venture into football would stop at mini soccer.

One of the coaches from that side was asked to step up and take on the reserves at Moneys. He asked me to be his assistant. Unfortunately, he left after only nine months, and I took on the reserves with the now Chairman, Pete (Seiden), who was the U18 manager. We worked jointly as the majority of the reserve side was made up of his under-18 side, who were again Hampshire Champions and were the mainstay of the side that progressed to the first round proper of the FA Cup.

When the first team manager left to join Chichester, I became disillusioned with the lack of progression for players through the club to the first team, with the new manager preferring to bring in players for the first team rather than

test the youngsters. Gradually, they all left to play at the levels their ability deserved.

I joined the board before moving for work to Saudi Arabia and so again gave up football. On my return, I thought my involvement was finished but was asked to do the reserves at United Services Portsmouth (USPFC). After one season, I was asked to take on the first team, and many of the players I had at Moneys reserves I took to USPFC. We had the best seasons in USPFC history in three seasons, two of which were affected by COVID. We ‘won’ the league twice, although one was curtailed, and the second season was won on PPG. We were a penalty shoot-out away from the FA Vase final at Wembley, losing in the semi-final to Binfield. We also reached two other cup finals, which impressed Moneys enough to ask me to come back when their manager left to join Portchester. In our three seasons, we have progressively improved and have reached two cup finals, winning the Wessex Premier League at a canter, losing only one game before winning the league and only two games all season. This, despite a points deduction and the upheaval of no home ground for two and a half of the three seasons.

Undoubtedly, growing the playing style and progressing the team while going through a protracted ground

redevelopment were the main challenges we faced.

I issued through the club a Moneyfields philosophy. High and wide wing backs were an example, but the principle of attacking forward as a first opportunity is one I hope all teams strive for. Without a doubt, whether boys or girls, having a structure from under-6s to our first team allows us to show a pathway for all players at the club and indeed for coaches and managers to aspire to. This is so important, and if we put the financial side to one side, the social and emotional aspect of belonging to a club that is currently successful is a

huge statement. Success, as they say, breeds success!

All I’ve done has been built on team identity, team camaraderie, and an ‘all in it together’ mentality. Anyone who comes to us also mentions the good vibe around the group. Winning the league last year, when no one outside of our camp expected us to, has inevitably bred real positivity. Additionally, the women’s growth and success are also a huge motivator.

Moneyfields have had many player and club connections over the years: Jason Prior, Steve Hutchins, Alfie Rutherford, Marlon Pack, Vincent Pericard… and Elliott Turnbull, LOL. Also, the link to USPFC, Petersfield, and of course Chichester… shall we say we are quite positive with Portchy too! And the IOW FA!

Last season couldn’t have been better. I honestly feel it is a very good achievement in Wessex League history, especially considering the budget comparisons and NO home ground.

When I walk to home games or training, having kids shout ‘Up the Moneys!’ is a brilliant feeling. Having someone recognize the hat when I was at the top of a

Norwegian mountain last year in the Arctic Circle was also a demonstration of the impact we have had! Portsmouth is a tight-knit community, and league position and club size tell you Moneyfields is the biggest club in Portsmouth, with the exception of the professionals at Portsmouth Football Club. That comes with responsibility, and I hope all associated with the club know that and see it as the honour and privilege it is, rather than take it for granted.

That all said, I feel there are huge opportunities to grow the club and make things even better. This is an area I will likely move into when my time as manager comes to an end.

Moneys is my club and always has been, from watching the Pompey youth team play here or the first team train here in the ‘80s, to climbing fences to kick about on the Bowling Green (sorry, Uncle Bob), to managing the first team to their most successful season.

I do feel we have more to do with our sponsors, but many of them are excellent, and without them, we simply wouldn’t exist. Such as Jamiesons Services Ltd, Bernards Estate Agents, TWC, Blue Stone, Diamond AC, SJ Metherell Decorating, and many more.

All in all, Moneyfields has a great heritage, is a fantastic club to be part of, and is bloody good at what we do!

HISTORY

The Club began its current guise back in 1987. Having reached the upper age group of the Portsmouth Junior Leagues, a group of players decided to continue playing as a collective by joining Portsmouth Civil Service and in turn forming their Reserve side.

Gradually most of the players moved up to the First Team, by 1991 the side had risen from the Portsmouth League into the Hampshire League Division One, coming off the back of three successive promotions. The Club’s League success was also matched in Cup competitions with Portsmouth Senior Cup wins in 1991 and 1992, followed by Hampshire Intermediate Cup victories in 1992 and 1993.

After several seasons in the upper reaches of the Hampshire League, it became apparent that the Club would have to move away from their home in Copnor Road if they were to progress. After scouring the city, the Club agreed a lease on the old Moneyfields Sports Ground in Copnor.

In 1994 the Club moved to its current ground and became part of the Club whose name we now carry.

The Division One years were particularly successful and under the management of George Wain and Micky Gee, Moneys never finished lower than 6th and clinched the 1996-97 League Title by 15 points.

Success on the field was matched by extensive ground developments off it. This was in thanks to a National Lottery Sports Fund grant. New changing rooms, offices and a floodlit all-weather pitch were constructed as part of the scheme to bring the facilities up to Wessex League standard.

With the developments in place, the 1997-98 campaign saw a tense battle with Blackfield & Langley to see who would claim a spot in the Wessex league. Although Blackfield just pipped Moneys in the table, Moneyfields better facilities meant it was they who claimed promotion.

The first season in the Wessex League saw the club surprise many people by finishing 6th. The next couple of seasons saw the club post respectable top-ten finishes, but after finishing a disappointing 16th in 200001, George Wain and Micky Gee decided to step down after 13 seasons charge.

Under the managerial trio of Calvin Hore, Terry Arnold and Paul Gregory, and then the duo of Craig Stafford and Miles Rutherford, the Club has established itself in the middle third of the table as well as embarking on a series of runs in the FA Cup and FA Vase.

The management line up was boosted in 2004-05 by the arrival of Bobby De Ste Croix and Alan Smith from Havant and Waterlooville. Where the duo managed to lead Moneys to mid-table finish, for 2 seasons in a row and reached the Final of the Portsmouth Senior Cup in 2005-06 losing 4-3 to Gosport Borough at West Leigh Park. In the 200607 Moneys reached the 3rd Round of the FA Vase, losing to AFC Totton.

The 2007-08 season saw the sudden departure midseason of Craig Stafford, with the team ending the season in 7th position. Moneys were defeated in the League Cup Final, losing 1-0 against Wimborne Town. They also reached the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, being knocked out by Team Bath at Dover Road.

2008-09 season Moneyfields had their best start to the season, leading the remaining 21 teams for

a short period of time and seeing Moneys youth product Conor Bailey scoring Moneys 100th Goal of the season. The campaign ended positively with the First Team and Reserve Team both Finishing third in their respective League Tables. While the 2009-10 season was Moneys worst season at home, with only 5 wins at Dover Road leaving the club in twelfth place. The Reserves ending the season in 4th place.

After 5 seasons in the Moneyfields Hot-Seat, Bobby De Ste Croix Retired as Manager. He was replaced by former Manager Micky Gee’s son Graeme, who was also a very loyal player over the years at Moneyfields.

2010-11 season Moneys finished a respectable 7th place in the Wessex Premier League. Warren Hunt topped the goalscoring charts with a Club Record of 35 goals in a season. The Reserves finished 4th in the Wessex Combination League and finished Runners-Up in the Portsmouth Senior Cup Final losing 1-0 to Horndean. Moneys ended the following season [2011-12] in 4th position, with former AFC Bournemouth Forward Steve Hutchings finishing top goalscorer, with 34 goals. The Reserves again finished 4th but this time in the newly formed Wyvern Combination League, another Portsmouth Senior Cup Final defeat was on the cards for the Reserves, as they were beaten 4-3 at Fratton Park by US Portsmouth. The Club bounced back in the 2012-13 campaign with a Portsmouth Senior Cup victory, but then were Runner-Ups once again in the 2014-15 Portsmouth Senior Cup.

The 2015-16 saw Moneyfields manager Miles Rutherford resign after 12 years in charge and was replaced with Dave Carter, who joined from fellow Wessex Premier Division side Horndean in October. Carter led Moneys to an 8th placed finish and Moneys also reached the 4th Round of the FA Vase. The Reserves ended the season 2nd in the Wyvern Combination League.

In Carter’s first full season at Dover Road [2016-17] Moneyfields finished top of the table in Wessex League Premier Division. But only three days after the season ended, the FA took 3-points away for Moneys fielding an ineligible player giving the title to Portland United. Moneys still gained promotion to the Southern Football League Division One South-East.

Moneys ended their first season in the Southern Football League Division One South-East with a decent 10th placed finish. The Club also entered FA Trophy for the first in their history.

2018-19 Moneys won a place in the Play-Offs, after ending the season 4th in the League Table, on 71 points. Despite clinching a Play-Off place, it was made impossible for the Club to gain promotion due to technicalities. This was because of a League restructuring and there then being insufficient space in the Leagues above for all of the Play-Off winners to be promoted.

Moneyfields were placed in 18th when the 2019-20 season was abandoned and were also in the Portsmouth Senior Cup Quarter-Final and the Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Final. Moneys played the remaining Portsmouth Senior Cup ties during the 2020-21 season and went onto win the Portsmouth Senior Cup against Baffins Milton Rovers at Fratton Park. In February 2021 Dave Carter stepped down to join AFC Portchester as Manager, so the two Louis’ [Savage and Bell] took charge for our Portsmouth Senior Cup Semi-Final versus Fareham Town and for the Final.

The 2021-22 campaign was Moneys first season back in the Wessex League after voluntarily being relegated due to a loss over sponsorship and finance because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The team was under new management in Glenn Turnbull, Fraser Quirke, and Paul Barton, who joined from US Portsmouth. Moneys finished 9th in the League and made the Final of the Portsmouth Senior Cup, losing to Gosport Borough 4-1. The following season, Moneys played their home games at The Draper Tools Community Stadium [Home of Havant & Waterlooville] due to the redevelopment of Dover Road into the John Jenkins Stadium. The Club attendances were at an all-time high in the 2022-23 season, with gates averaging 230 per game, including a Club record attendance of 1,012 against AFC Portchester in a thrilling 3-3 draw on 27 December 2022.

On 13 April 2024, we beat Laverstock & Ford 4-2 away from home to clinch the Wessex Premier Division title, being the first team from Portsmouth to do so.

ANDY PEARSON, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: DIAMOND AIR CONDITIONING

I was born and raised in Portsmouth, and it was through my wife’s aunties, uncles, cousins, friends, and my own son becoming a player that I got truly involved with the club. We have many good friends and family members associated with the club, including Pete, Micky, and Craig Stafford, who have been long-standing supporters and have helped get the club to where it is today.

For the past 20 years, I have always maintained a connection with the club, whether it be attending weddings or events. So, when Joe Albertella contacted me regarding advertising and sponsorship opportunities, I was happy to contribute. I am a season ticket holder, but due to work commitments, which often extend into weekends and evenings, I haven’t been able to attend many matches recently. I always keep up to date with how the club is doing through social media. Last season’s promotion was a fantastic achievement for both the club and the community. I’m sure they’ll

be looking to consolidate their position in the higher league during the 2024/25 campaign.

I’ve been a proud sponsor of the club for the past five years, which has provided great recognition for my business. As a local company supporting a local club, it’s fantastic to see Moneyfields Football Club being progressive and continuing to nurture both players and people, offering them opportunities to be part of the club.

With the stadium in its current state, it’s clear that the club has the foundation to keep building. Moneyfields are undoubtedly heading in the right direction—they are one of, if not the best, clubs in our region. One of my employees also has a son who plays for Moneyfields, so the club is truly reaching all parts of our community.

I’ve always enjoyed my long association with the club and, over the years, have loved the traveling and being part of the club’s success. It’s wonderful to see them being recognized in Football Focus Magazine. I wish everyone continued success this season and for many more successful years to come.

JAMIE HILL, FORMER PLAYER AND PRINCIPAL SPONSOR: JAMIESONS SERVICES LTD

I was born and raised on Dover Road, not far from the club, and I loved playing football while growing up. I attended Court Lane and Springfield schools, and as I got older, I very much enjoyed going out in Southsea. I am a Pompey boy and supporter, though I wouldn’t claim to be the biggest fan. I do recall watching them play Liverpool at Villa Park in the FA Cup with my parents.

Growing up, my dad was my first manager at Fleur de Lys FC, and then he left to set up another local team called East Lodge FC. I later played for Fratton Boys, a very successful side that won the league, the Hampshire Cup, and other trophies in our last year. That team, managed by Pete Hughes, was adopted into the Moneyfields youth setup. From there, I progressed into the reserves, and at a fairly young age, I played for their first team. After I left Moneyfields, I continued to play for a few other clubs, including Hamble Aerostructure, Petersfield Town, and Horndean.

However, I have always had a close affiliation with Moneyfields, and some of my best career moments were at the club, along with some nice write-ups in the local press! After suffering backto-back hamstring injuries, coupled with work and family commitments, I decided to hang up my boots over ten years ago.

I have been a sponsor of the club through my business, Jamiesons Services Ltd. for four and a half years. Initially, I was looking to sponsor the women’s team, but after a chat with the committee and some friends at the club, it became clear that they were seeking a certain symmetry across both men’s and women’s football, which made sense to me. So, as a former player for the men’s team, I decided to sponsor both.

For me, it’s the people who make Moneyfields FC such a great club to be part of. In my early experiences with the club, I met some wonderful people, many of whom are still associated with the club. Moneys has truly stood the test of time and has maintained the same ethos of being a very approachable club that plays football the right way while offering a welcoming environment.

Newmarket Town FC

‘The Jockeys” Promoted to Step 4 for the First Time in the Club’s History!

Celebrations on the pitch continued into the night in town with players and supporters.

COLIN BITHELL, VICE CHAIRMAN

“It’s a family…everyone has the best interests of the club at heart.”

I initially joined the club as a youth team manager, coaching and running a boys’ team from under 8s. Gradually, I became more involved year after year. Upon joining the club committee, one of my first jobs on matchdays was selling raffle tickets at the gate. While not much fun on a wet Tuesday night, it had the benefit of helping me get to know all our supporters. Not many would get past the shake of the money tin without a brief, cheery chat and the purchase of a ticket.

I am now the Vice Chairman, and my roles at the club include matchday hospitality, stadium announcer for the men’s and ladies’ first-team games, and helping to produce the matchday program along with our media manager, Sean Doyle.

We are very lucky at Newmarket Town to have a hardworking group of volunteers who all pitch in and help with everything from matchday duties to ground maintenance and behindthe-scenes administration. A lot of work goes into running a football club, even one of our relatively small size. My motivation has always been to try and help improve the club in any small way I can. I have

been fortunate enough to watch my son and daughter come through the ranks at the club, with my daughter now representing our U18s and looking to break into the ladies’ senior teams.

For our first team to progress at our level, it’s a delicate balance of getting several factors right at the same time. You have to show ambition to recruit and retain your best players, and you need a blend of youth and experience to balance the budget. That is our manager Michael Shinn’s job, and he, along with his management team, has done it superbly. Off the field, it’s up to the committee to support them and raise the funds to cover the budget and improve our facilities.

A huge part of that has been installing the 3G

surface, which enabled us to bring our youth training and games back to our home ground. Previously, we were somewhat scattered as a club. We trained elsewhere, and our youth games were played in a neighbouring town, which was both financially prohibitive and poor for our local identity.

Cricket Field Road has been our home for 139 years, but the last ten years have seen huge changes to the Tristel Stadium. We’ve had a new 3G surface installed, which has now become the financial engine of our club, helping us generate income and grow. It has also been a great benefit to the local community, allowing us to host fundraising summer tournaments for charities and good causes. As always, there’s a long list of jobs to do,

especially with our promotion to Step 4 and the ground improvements required. We are currently awaiting the delivery of a new committee room/hospitality suite, but the biggest job on the horizon is the much-needed upgrade to

our car park, which we hope will start soon!

Youth development is hugely important to us as a club. We have around 30 teams with over 300 local children registered. We take great pride in both our boys’ and girls’ divisions, but our girls’ section has strengthened measurably of late, with us now having a team at every age group. Our ladies’ and men’s first teams are both strongly represented by players who have progressed through the club. Having such a strong, proven pathway is priceless for a club, with reciprocal benefits—the greatest of which, for me, is the strengthening of our bond with the local community.

With the adult season now beginning, there is a palpable sense of excitement. However, with the men’s first

team’s promotion to Step 4, playing in the Isthmian North League for the first time, there is also a touch of trepidation. This is the highest level the club has played at, so it is somewhat a step into the unknown. We kicked off our season with an FA Cup extra preliminary round tie against March Town United, and happily, we progressed to the next round, so there is already that familiar buzz. All our youth teams have now begun training again, so after a couple of comparatively quiet months, the ground is once again a cacophony of noise in the evenings.

Probably our most successful old boy is Harry Darling, who is currently plying his trade in the Championship with Swansea City. We have a good relationship and are a partner

club of Cambridge United, who use our facilities for their youth teams. Another player to have turned pro is Thomas Knowles. He played for our youth sides and first team before signing for Cambridge United, and he has since played for Yeovil, Walsall, and now Forest Green.

We had an incredible year last season in the Thurlow Nunn Premier. The management team recruited well in the summer, adding experience and guile to our squad, which complemented the players already on board, including an excellent crop of youngsters who had just graduated from our under18s. We spent about a third of the season in the top spot before a couple of injuries led to a dip in form, but we recovered and went on a run again, finally finishing second

A LITTLE OF OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1877, the club’s first game was against Pembroke College of Cambridge. The club initially played on the heath before moving to Cricket Field Road in 1885, where it still plays today. The Jockeys have mostly played in the Eastern Counties League. During the 1990s, the club enjoyed a period of success in the Suffolk Premier Cup, winning the trophy in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1999. The club’s last trophy was the Eastern Counties League Cup in the 2013-2014 season. The club’s highest attendance was 2,701 vs. Abbey United (now known as Cambridge United) in the FA Cup in October 1949.

to local rivals Mildenhall. To be fair, they had been solid all season and ground out a lot of one-nils; they rightly deserved to be crowned champions, but I know which team I’d rather watch play. We scored 97 goals in the league with a brand of high-octane, quality attacking football. For the first time in the Thurlow Nunn Premier League, playoffs were introduced, and as we had finished second, we were granted home advantage. We won our semi-final against a tough Dereham side, but all eyes were on the other semi-final, where it transpired Thetford had fielded an ineligible player. They were expelled, appealed, reinstated, and then beaten in the replayed game by Mulbarton Wanderers, whom the Jockeys then beat in the final in front of nearly a thousand supporters. Celebrations on the pitch continued into the

night in town with players and supporters. It was an incredible and memorable day for all involved with the club.

Our ladies’ side was originally formed in 2004. It disbanded after the 2008/09 season and was then reformed again for the 2014/15 season. The last ten years have seen huge growth, and we now also have a development side and an under-18s team, all fed by a very strong girls’ division. Both senior teams recorded their highest-ever league finishes last term, and our under-18s, in their inaugural season, narrowly lost 3-2 in their league cup final.

We are very much a community club. With so many local children representing the club and, through us, the town itself, we take our role in the community very seriously. We strive to be affordable and inclusive to all. As mentioned before, during the summer

months, we host tournaments for many charities, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Cancer Research, and Mind. Last season, we were awarded a cash prize by the Thurlow Nunn League for our two-month unbeaten spell, which we matched and donated to the Newmarket Open Door charity.

Every youth player who signs for the club is given an adult season ticket for our men’s team, so they can attend on matchdays with a parent for free. This has helped hugely with engagement, and it’s great to see our town’s youth attending proper local grassroots football on a Saturday afternoon.

Sponsors are hugely important to us. We don’t have a “sugar daddy” or mysterious benefactor at our club, and without the support of local businesses, we would not be able to survive. We are

lucky to be backed by some fantastic local businesses, and we try our hardest to repay their support through all our means—from our socials to our quality matchday program (unofficially the best in the league!)—and any pitch-side advertisements

get great exposure, as our ground is in use seven days a week with a huge footfall for a club of our size.

Tristel has been our ground sponsor for several years. We receive great backing from UP Building Products, who sponsor our men’s team

shirts. Our ladies’ team is sponsored by Rushtons, and just this season, the National Association of Racing Staff has generously sponsored our entire ladies’ senior team section, providing every player in the first team, development team, and U18 sides with a tracksuit.

An amazing recent sponsorship for our youth teams came from The Jockey Club, which enabled us to outfit every single youth team player, from under-7s to under-16s, in identical kits.

It might sound corny, but I believe it’s the people — from the committee to the players and the supporters — that make this club feel like a family. You might fall out occasionally, but you know that everyone has the best interests of the club at heart. I feel like we are doing something special and beneficial, and we are trying to do it the right way.

IAN MINGAY, SUPPORTER

AND SPONSOR: UP

BUILDING PRODUCTS

I was born and bred in Newmarket, and my grandad, Edward Shaw, and dad, David Mingay, were former players at Newmarket Town. I've been an avid supporter since the early 80s. My dad's career ended in his early twenties due to a cartilage injury, but he is still a fan of the club. I spend most of my Saturdays at the football club, and as a Coventry City fan, I’m often watching one or the other on weekends.

Last season, Newmarket Town had a brilliant run. Gaining promotion and reaching step four for the first time in their history was a fantastic achievement. The two or three additional players they signed at the start of the season made a significant difference, and coupled with a strong defence, this resulted in some great all-around performances. We seemed to get better and better as the season progressed, and the outcome was beyond our expectations.

The difference the 3G surface has made has been huge, particularly for the youth teams. On Saturday mornings, multiple games are played from under sixes upwards until the first team or reserves have a fixture in the afternoon. Previously, teams had to play at Borough Green, which is five or six miles away; now, all the teams have been brought back into the fold at the club. My friend Kevin Parsons, who is also a Coventry City supporter, runs the club's ladies' team.

Now that our first team has been promoted to the higher Isthmian Leagues, our fixtures are more challenging, but I

feel they will be absolutely fine and should consolidate their position in this new division as they become more settled and accustomed to the league.

UP Building Products became a club sponsor over two years ago. As the manager there, when the new owners came in, I was able to allocate part of my marketing budget towards various sponsorships at the club and across different teams. We believe that our sponsorship is a two-way street where the club and our business both benefit from and support each other, which is great.

My eldest son, Jacob, is a first-team player who has come all the way through the ranks at the club, starting from under sixes. My youngest son, Luke, who also began at under sixes, plays for the under-16s. Both my sons play on the wing. The club fosters a fantastic pathway to senior football, and Jacob's good friend Ryan has also progressed through youth football into the first team. This is a testament to the great coaches at the club.

My wife, Amy, and I both attend Luke's games on Saturday mornings while Jake plays in the afternoon. Newmarket Town Football Club has a wonderful community spirit that brings everyone from our region together. Jay and Colin are now overseeing 30 teams down there and are tireless in their efforts to run the club and organize weekly training sessions and weekend matches. Their dedication is admirable.

All of us at UP Building Products wish everyone at this great club continued success for many more years to come!

Ashton United

FOOTBALL CLUB

“Up The Robins!”

ANDY CLAYTON, GENERAL MANAGER & DIRECTOR

I am a relative newcomer to Ashton United FC. Having taken early retirement in December 2020 after 32 years in IT Project Management for a major UK Telecommunication company I went along to an away game at Whitby Town to support my son, Matthew, who is now Head of Media at the club. He was doing radio commentary on the game, having worked all day in his day job as an estate agent he was unable to catch the team coach and had to drive there so I volunteered to drive for him.

At that match I had a chance conversation with the Vice Chairman, Steve Hobson who “invited” me down to look at the club’s IT systems which he described as a “shambles”, to be fair he wasn’t wrong!

After a few months of righting the wrongs of the IT set up and putting some policies in place to protect the club whilst also getting involved in some of the day to day running of the club and the charity I was asked to go on a phone call with the Joint Chairmen, Jonathan & David Burke which basically

turned out to be an informal interview after which, I was given the role of General Manager of the Football Club and appointed a Trustee of Ashton United in the Community. All in a voluntary capacity I may add.

Since then, my involvement in the club has grown and grown to the extent where I think I spend more time “working” than I did when I was working for a living but the difference is I am doing something for the enjoyment of it and in September 2023 this culminated in me being

appointed to the Board of Directors, a position I am immensely proud of.

Ashton United truly is a family club and I was welcomed by everyone, there are no cliques and there is a transparency throughout the place with everyone from top to bottom working for the good of the team and club as a whole. I hope I can continue to play a part of the progression for some years to come.

AMBITIONS AND SEASON SO FAR

After just missing out on the NPL play-offs last season our immediate aim is to gain promotion to the National League North this season either automatically or via the play-off system. This is no easy task when there are teams such as Macclesfield and Worksop Town in our division with significantly bigger playing budgets.

Steve Cunningham stated “Recruitment throughout the summer has been good and with the backing of the chairmen I have been able to build a squad I feel is capable of challenging for promotion. There are no easy games in this league as can be seen by the number of strange results already but as a team

we want to reward the faith of the chairmen and the belief our loyal fans place in us by achieving this goal.”

At the time of writing, we have just suffered an unexpected defeat in the league and an early exit from the FA Cup however the mood around the club remains bullish and we are currently sitting in the playoff positions. Outside of the NPL season, the Frank Hannah Manchester Premier Cup has a great affinity for Ashton United, being current holders winning it for the 17th time in April 2024 and something the club will be keen to defend. Cunningham adding “The Manchester Cup may not have the recognition of the FA Cup & FA Trophy however it gives the fans a piece of silverware to celebrate and local bragging rights so it is important to myself and my squad.”

Off the field we have already seen the pitch and ground facilities improved over the last couple of years and there is still work to be done in readiness for promotion to a higher level. Hurst Cross dates back to 1878 and the process of keeping on top of it has been likened to painting the Forth Road Bridge, it is never ending.

Ultimately, the aim has to be to install a 4G pitch to enable us to not only have a better playing surface (albeit not to the purist’s liking) but to allow us to bring our Junior Teams in-house, reduce the amount we have to spend on training facilities for the 1st Team, to encourage development of ladies teams, disability teams, walking football and use from the local community to reap the benefits of the additional income this would bring in.

Overall, the club is in a much better place than it has been for many years, we are making steady progression both on and off the pitch and everyone at the club is working together towards the Mission Statement issued by the Chairmen. Up the Robins!!

STEVE HOBSON, AUITC PROJECT MANAGER/ AUFC VICE CHAIRMAN

At Ashton United we pride ourselves in being a “community club” in the true sense of the word. Our ground, Hurst Cross is located in the Smallshaw & Hurst area of Ashton under Lyne which is a neighbourhood in the top 2% most deprived in England.

In 2015 we formed Ashton United in the Community (AUITC) which from small beginning has now grown into a fully constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), seen by others as a leading charitable organisation within the borough of Tameside supporting around 75/80 volunteers.

The charity really exploded into life during the Covid Pandemic when we started a Food Pantry running out of the Tea Hut at the ground serving

food packages to local people. It soon became evident that the Food Pantry was outgrowing the facilities at the football club and we moved it over to a pavilion in a local park where it continues to serve around 90/100 families per week with 270 members signed up. Recently although still supported by AUITC it has now become a registered charity in its own rights.

We have now become an “anchor charity” that facilitates activities in support of local people working in partnership with other local groups.

The events and activities we have provided are a result of us engaging with the community and asking them what they want, what would benefit them?? These events are aimed at the people from the local community with most if not all reflecting the fact that those taking part have little or no disposable income. Where children are involved, most are children who are living in poverty, many with parents not in employment, education or training, from single parent families, or in the care system.

During the school holidays we provide regular “Skillz & Drillz” football coaching sessions run by members of our first team squad providing free sessions & a packed lunch for children aged 6-12 years old which are very popular and booked up well in advance.

We run an annual “Whit Friday Brass Band Contest” at the club funded by the charity and partners, often described as “the Greatest Free Show on Earth” we are just part of an evening that sees 11/12 contests in the Tameside and

CO-CHAIR JONATHAN BURKE/SAYER TALKS ABOUT SPONSORS

Our sponsors are incredibly important to us! It’s hard to overstate what they’re involvement means to us. Firstly, we’re a small club so any additional revenue on top of our gate receipts is crucial but beyond that as community football club we pride ourselves in our relationships with local business, schools and institutions in the area. I think those connections keep the club relevant to the locality and etched into the fabric of Ashton-Under-Lyne.

We’re also quite unique as a non-league football club in that we have several sponsors from further afield through my work in theatre and my dad’s connections in the construction industry. We have ad boards for West End shows and other creative projects plus I’m pretty confident that we’re the only club in the north west to have a pitch-side advertisement for a Vegas Magic show happening over five thousand miles away from the ground (Courtesy of our friends Penn and Teller).

My company, Mischief Theatre, also sponsor our home shirts which has been really great experience for us. It’s helped give the club extra exposure and find new supporters and helped us to sell replica shirts all around the world.

As joint chairman alongside my father and I wrote a book based on our first season at the helm called “Nowhere To Run” which has also brought in new sponsorship and revenue as a percentage of the proceeds from the book go directly into the club.

Saddleworth area attract over 100 bands from around the UK and even further afield to play at the various venues in search of prize monies. More importantly it allows residents to watch & listen to live music for free and an opportunity to have a great night out meeting neighbours and friends. Last year we had over 400 visitors on the evening.

From late October until Easter, we host a weekly Luncheon Club where our more senior members of the community can come along and get a free hot lunch, enjoy a bit of entertainment and a game of bingo as well as the chance to get out of their homes and chat with people they may not have seen during the winter months. This regularly attracts 40/ 50 people per week.

In addition, amongst other initiatives, we host “Andy’s Man Club” meetings (a national project dealing with men’s positive mental health and suicide prevention) in our social club every Monday evening and regular “Digital Drop In events” where free IT advice and guidance on how to avoid fraud and scammers is given out to attendees.

ASHTON UNITED – IF THINGS DON’T CHANGE, THEY STAY THE SAME!

At the conclusion of the 2017/18 football season

Ashton United were promoted to the National League North as play off winners. This was after 4 or more years ‘knocking on the door’ of the higher division but just not quite making it out of the end of season play off scramble.

The joys of promotion were quickly forgotten as the reality of the costs of reaching our ‘goal’ were brought into stark reality.

Some £20k+ in ground improvements, higher travel costs, player wage increases all began to put pressure on a traditional north west non-league club with a proud history going back to 1878. Indeed Hurst Cross, the home of Ashton United FC is one of the oldest continually played on football grounds in the world.

The problems of promotion were exacerbated by bigger clubs prising the better players away from Hurst Cross with the offer of better wages and playing contracts. Not wishing to put the club at financial risk the Board

of Directors stuck to their financial plan which left as many as 8 of the promotion winning squad leaving for better terms.

By November of 2018 it became apparent that the promotion to step 2 of the National League System was a rise that could not be sustained with the current Board structure and new ‘faces’ were needed to breathe new life into the club. The club released a ‘Twitter’ (now ‘X’) post with the iconic picture of the ‘Dragons Den’ chairs asking for a ‘Dragon’ to help to take the club to the next level. Two people responded, father and son, Jonathan and David Burke. It transpired that Johnny Burke, David’s father and Jonathan’s grandfather, had played for Ashton United in the ‘60’s. He was club captain for 10 of the 12 years he was at Hurst Cross and completed over 400 games for the club where he remains the record appearance holder with 410, a figure unlikely to be surpassed.

David, a property developer, and Jonathan a theatrical entrepreneur joined the club board and quickly became joint chairmen. Their passion and vision for the club has completely changed the outlook. From the outset they sought to improve the facilities at Hurst Cross with a view to creating a sustainable business. With cash investment and grant support

from the Premier League Stadium Fund, the club bar was completely refurbished followed by stadium improvements - a new outside bar, spectator toilet block, new kitchen, spectator accommodation, pitch side barriers, main stand seating, and pitch renovations; all creating a facility where supporters would want to come, and players would want to play.

In conclusion Ashton United is a community club doing ‘what it says on the tin’. We may well strive for success on the pitch, but this is achieved in a measured and sustainable way with an eye on the future. A key element of our business model is an exit strategy for all of our people. The football club will be ‘alive’ long after our current custodians move on. It is important that succession planning is a major factor in club development with every role covered from hospitality, stewarding and throughout the club to board level. We have not achieved this yet but are working hard towards this aim.

LUKE SAYLE, GROUNDSMAN, CHAIRMAN - OFFICIAL ASHTON UNITED SUPPORTER’S CLUBSUPPORTERSCLUB@ ASHTONUNITED.CO.UK

Ashton United Supporter’s Club take great pride in the part they play at Hurst Cross all year round. With a

massively diverse membership spectrum, ranging from board members, first team staff, to junior members who are enjoying their first year supporting Ashton United, and our very own “Dad’s Army” who have been here longer than anyone can remember.

This means that the reach of the Supporter’s Club gets into every nook and cranny of the football club, and can impact so many more people.

The manager, Steve Cunningham, is a huge advocate for fan engagement and we have seen the relationship between the first team and the fans grow

immensely over the last 2 seasons.

Away from the football, we have a massive appreciation for all of the hours put in by our volunteers around the club, as well as recognition that others around the country are doing the same for their own team. This year, our aim is to lead the way in encouraging unity between clubs. We have set aside funds from the Supporter’s Club to champion and reward a volunteer at every single team we visit in the league, and this is chosen by the directors at their respective clubs.

This not only helps to bring supporters and volunteers closer together, but also encourages others to get involved in their local club, after hearing stories of why other people have done it. If only one other person joins in at their local club, then I believe we have achieved something by doing this.

JEREMY SAYLE, CLUB HISTORIAN

Despite coming from a village (and having to compete with clubs from far larger towns and cities) the original clubknown as Hurst FC - enjoyed some early successes in the

FA Cup (first entering in 1883, the 13th running of the competition) and helped found the Manchester & District Football Association in 1884; by winning the first ever Manchester Challenge Cup in 1885 (beating Newton Heath, the fore-runners of Manchester United in the final), the club’s reputation soared and many of the leading clubs wanted to see the name Hurst on their fixture card over the coming seasons - in 1887, the year before the Football league was founded, four of the 12 original members (Accrington, Blackburn, Everton, and

Preston) played against Hurst.

Some of the early Hurst players would also make it into the Football LeagueJimmy Burns was the 32nd man to turn out for West Bromwich Albion in the new competition, he also played for Notts County ... and scored a century for Essex in their first ever County Championship match! Burns had left Hurst in 1886 to move to London Caledonians, soon afterwards a promising young talent from Gainsborough Trinity arrived at Hurst Cross, Charles Booth - he went on to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1889 and played at Molineaux for three seasons before joining Arsenal - where he, James Henderson and Arthur Elliott once all scored a hat-trick in the same game.

Hurst went into decline after the foundation of the Football League but, as one might expect of a club whose history goes back to 1878, a good number of players from the club’s days in the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire League have made the step up to play professionally. Amongst the first in the 20th Century was Paddy McGuire, who played for Manchester City just before the outbreak of World War I - he died on the Somme in 1916. The names of many of the men that played in the Football League and for Hurst in the interwar period (such as Peter Percival, Bert Burridge, George Taylor and Albert Pape) will not mean much to today’s audience due to the passage of time, but the club’s most audacious signing in 1939 will surely never be forgotten as long as football is talked about - William Ralph Dean; the gamble of paying big money to an injury prone 32-year old on the cusp of retirement paid off, crowds doubled... but the timing was wrong, and Hitler’s invasion of Poland ended Dean’s career after two matches at Hurst.

Hurst became Ashton United in 1947 - since then famous names to grace Hurst Cross have included John Mahoney - plucked from park football and propelled into a professional career that would go on to earn him more than 50 caps for Wales; Eric Kerfoot, with more than 300 appearances for Leeds, he still features in Greatest Players features at Elland Road despite leaving the club 65 years ago; Ken Chaytor - known as The Durham Wonderboy - youngest scorer of a Football League hattrick until Trevor Francis beat his record; John Coleman, manager of Accrington Stanley started his managerial

career as player-manager with Ashton; Eddie Hopkinsonformer Bolton and England goalkeeper - was forced to turn out as a player in his 40s when managing Ashton and several players were delayed en-route; Scott Hogan, who has recently parted ways with Birmingham, is a former Ashton player; Jeff King currently of Swindon Town played at Ashton; Malcolm Allison’s last signing as manager of Manchester City was Barney Daniels from Ashton United - he scored two 1st Division goals for City; Alan Ball was picked by Ashton United’s manager (Alan Ball senior) when he was just 15, at the end of the season he played for the club in the Manchester Intermediate Cup Final and then went on to join Blackpool as a professional... the rest is history. Apart from Coleman and Hopkinson, famous managers at Hurst Cross have included Paul Futcher, Scott Green, Sammy McIlroy and Jack ‘Gunner’ Rowley.

A footnote on a local man, Tony Ryan... still supporting Ashton United home and away to this day in his mid 70s, he has been;

• Royal Navy boxing champion 3 times (beating future British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Danny McAlinden)

• a member of the Fleet Air Arm team that won the Field Gun tournament at the 1971 Royal Tournament at Earl’s Court in a record time

• a professional rugby league player with St Helens and Oldham

• centre forward for Ashton United

• a player for both Ashton Rugby Union Club and Ashton Cricket Club

• a low handicap golfer at Ashton Golf Club

• Manager at Ashton United

• Director at Ashton United

• Chairman of Ashton United

THE HAALAND STORY

Following a beer influenced discussion in a local pub back in November 2022 about what Erling Haaland was doing for the next six weeks whilst all his Manchester City colleagues were playing at the World Cup in Qatar our Head of Media, Matt Clayton decided it would be a good idea to post a mischievous tweet that Ashton United had made a bid to take Haaland on loan from the Premier League giants for the duration of the World Cup to keep him match fit.

What happened next was truly amazing! The post went out at lunchtime, by 2pm we had 2K hits on our site, by 6pm the then gaffer, Mike Clegg and Co-Chairman, David Burke were on the phone to Matt complaining that their phones had gone into meltdown.

That was just the start of it. Over the next couple of days we had the local TV News down at the ground interviewing the gaffer, the supposed approach was

mentioned on Sky Sports, our Co-Chairman, Jonathan Burke, was interviewed by several radio stations including ones from Scandinavia, Dubai and Australia. In total we received over 40 million hits on the twitter account and at our next home game we had supporters turning up in Haaland masks.

The chairman commented “his only regrets were that we were unable to monitarise the twitter responses as even at 50p per response we would have enough to install a new 3G pitch and even play Haaland’s wages for a couple of weeks.”

Needless to say, the loan never happened but the power of social media is undoubted and this just shows what a bit a creativity from volunteers can do. The exposure for the club was immense and everyone was talking about Ashton United. For certain whatever Matt comes up with next this will be a hard one to beat.

Images © Nicky Johnson Photography & Ashton Snapper

NICK CATT, SUPPORTER & SPONSOR: WEIGHTRON BILANCIAI LTD

I have been involved in football supporting local football and sporting initiatives for a long time and had the pleasure to start my involvement with Ashton United FC in the 22/23 season. I was asked if I could provide some sponsorship at the club, so I popped over to see them having already known some of the coaching staff at the club who at the time were Nigel Keogh and the current manager Steve Cunningham from my sons prior involvement at Buxton FC, where he had been the first academy player there to progress into first team senior football.

Prior to the Ashton United sponsorship discussions, I had been and currently remain the Community Partner at Sheffield FC (The Worlds First Football Club) where we were able to help the club by purchasing over 90 kits for their disability/ inclusion teams, as well as supporting some of their Half Term camps and age-friendly sessions, where vulnerable local residents could attend football matches. The club offer to pick them up, provide food and drinks, and take them home after the game, so I was keen to understand the community work, involvement and support that Ashton United provided.

Football wise I had to

hang up my own boots over eight years ago after a serious skiing accident that resulted in my leg being broken in six places. After a rebuild and six months of recovery, I learned to walk again, and 18 months later, I had the plates removed by an excellent surgeon in Austria. It was then that I decided my footballing career was over.

I guess we are quite a footballing family, and I have two great kids: Ewan, who is at Liverpool John Moores University, and a 23-yearold daughter who has just completed her Master’s Law Degree at Nottingham. She is back home at the moment and has just bought her first home with her boyfriend, who is a footballer and plays for Matlock Town, so they are in the midst of a house renovation, fitting it in around a busy footballing schedule with my help.

As well as studying at University Ewan plays semiprofessional football as a striker, anywhere across the front three positions, having come through the academy systems as a youngster at Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. This led onto a football scholarship at Leeds United before sport became curtailed due to COVID-19 with him eventually moving to Buxton FC to complete his 2nd year scholarship and joining the first team during their league-winning season. He is currently in the Ashton United squad for the 24/25 season but is out on loan at Colne FC to get more game time, match fitness following periods of sustained injuries over the last few seasons, where a good friend of Steve Cunningham has taken over as manager.

These days, you’ll often see me traveling around the country to watch Ewan play as I live in Chesterfield, Ewan lives in Liverpool and he’s playing across the North-West, so many hours spent on the road.

In non-league football, everyone knows everyone, so I know lots of people across at different clubs, non-league football has a certain charm to it that you don’t get in other sports or the EFL. The Northern Premier League (NPL) Premier Division is highly competitive and difficult to get out of, many teams have substantial player budgets, such as Macclesfield and Worksop Town who are amongst the clubs alongside Ashton United that are pressing for promotion this season. Player budgets are a key factor, but there are no easy games, anyone can beat anyone on their day.

I was already involved with Sheffield FC from 2020, so when I got involved with Ashton United I felt the relationship came from a continued desire to give back to local communities and foster support and connection with local people. I was very impressed by how deeply the club was immersed in its local town. David Burke, Jonathan Sayer, Steve Hobson, and many others showed tremendous community commitment, both on and off the pitch.

As a main sponsor of the club through my business, Weightron Bilanciai, I was able to install their new 4m x 2m scoreboard this year as part of the equipment we supply alongside our weighing solutions. We didn’t intend to get our name out there, as it’s unlikely anyone

at the club would be buying a weighbridge or weighing solution from us! However, it’s great to see our name on the back of the shirt. What David and Jonathan are doing to keep Ashton United sustainable and to secure its future, hopefully for the next 100 years, cannot be overstated. I enjoy being involved with a club like Ashton, not for the recognition, but to support the tremendous work they’re already doing in a region that is among the top 20% most deprived areas in the UK.

When I look at Ashton United from top to bottom, there’s a fantastic number of people involved who give freely of their time. It’s all about community, and the cochairmen are the right people to steer the club forward with their commitment to the long term sustainability of the club. Too often, I’ve seen individuals at other clubs come in, throw money at the team for a season, and then leave if achievements aren’t met, withdrawing their support and moving on to the next club, leaving committee members and fans to pick up the pieces afterwards That won’t happen under David and Jonathan; they’re doing it for the right reasons. I see integrity, genuineness, and authenticity in Steve Cunningham and his coaching staff. I’ve been around football long enough to know when a manager says one thing but means another just to keep players on the hook in case they’re needed. But with Steve, that’s not the case. He treats people with respect, consideration, and honesty— values that were important for me to instil in my own family.

Ashton United is building a plan to develop its own

talent over the coming years, with real progression for young players coming into the first team. Players need that kind of environment, and parents of young players need managers to be honest and direct, providing support both on and off the pitch. Treating players as tools for your own ends will only push them to a point where they just want to give up, with only a lose – lose situation. The ethos developed by David, Jonathan, Steve and the team assembled cannot be faulted from my perspective. From top to bottom, Ashton United FC is a very well-run club. And Luke, the groundsman, he’s a top guy, working round the clock to ensure the pitch is ready, the facilities around the club are match ready and seemingly never away from the ground.

I was born and bred in Chesterfield, and I chose Ashton as the club I wanted to support simply because I didn’t want to be associated with a faceless organization. On one occasion, I managed to sneak into the ground unnoticed on match day, as I enjoy being amongst the crowd. But I knew I’d been spotted when someone picked me out from the fans and asked to return my entry fee—which I, of course, refused, but they insisted as David had instructed.

I’ve been fortunate enough to live what feels like three lives, partly due to the amount of global traveling I’ve done with my job. I’ve often emphasized to my son the importance of respecting everyone you meet along your life’s journey and at any clubs you play for, treating people as you would want to be treated. Ashton United Football Club seems to hold a very similar philosophy, with mutual respect and regard for everyone in their community.

Marine FC

Promotion Play off Champions Northern Premier League 2023/2024

DAVE MCMILLAN, HEAD OF MEDIA & VICE CHAIRMAN

“a 1st Round FA Cup tie v Harrogate, retaining the Liverpool Senior Cup for the first time in our history, culminating in promotion in the playoff Final at Macclesfield. We were backed by nearly 1,300 Mariners in a gate of 5,300, an unforgettable day - and night!“

I have been a fan since 1979 when I wandered into the ground by chance really. Started following home and away all the way through

into the 80s, volunteered for various roles along the way and joined the Committee in 2004 and have been Vice Chairman since 2012.

I’d guess in common with most clubs, our greatest hurdles have been financial challenges in balancing playing budgets and ground improvements are always the biggest. Finding volunteers to sell programmes, 50/50 tickets, is never easy but we do have a loyal band who help in all sorts of areas, especially following a threefold increase in average

gates since 2021!

As a club we have publicly announced plans to develop a second site that will remove the constraints of further expansion at the Marine Travel Arena. There are ongoing improvements

though this season that will improve fan experience including a seated stand and scoreboard at the Crosender Road end.

Junior partner clubs like Crosby Stuart use the 3G pitch at the MTA, and partnerships with local schools and community organisations through our charity arm Marine in the Community, with around 90 junior teams using the facilities on a weekly basis.

You could say that Marine are the original pub team! Formed in the Marine Hotel, Waterloo in 1894 and moving to the current site in Crosby in 1903. The club is still the same entity it was back then, ie a Members’ club so is effectively owned and run by the supporters via an elected Committee. One of the very few clubs in the country who don’t have a place name in their title.

The mood at the club presently is very positivethere’s always excitement going in to a new League and playing some teams for the first time, new grounds to visit etc.

Probably the most wellknown ex player we’ve had at Marine was former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland international Jason McAteer who was picked up by Bolton Wanderers. Just this summer Sol Solomon has gone into the EFL with Tranmere Rovers, hopefully he will go on to have a good career in the full time game.

Marine Women play in the Liverpool Women’s 1st Division and play their home games on Sundays at the MTA. There are lots of other football activities including the junior side mentioned

above, plus walking football, soccer camps etc.

Marine won the FA Community Club of the Year award in 2009 and 2010 and since then have hugely expanded our community work with the formation of Marine in the Community in 2020. MITC hosts Community Cafe, Zumba, Yoga, Literacy Kicks, 4 Clubs on Goal (anti knife crime initiative) plus a host of other events. Our social media presence is quite effective with 50,000 followers on X alone.

Our sponsors are

absolutely key to our short, medium and long term planning. Our Main Sponsor Marine Travel have extended their shirt and ground deal for another ten years, having already been on board since 2014 – a fantastic long term commitment from MD Dave Thompson, who has been a Marine fan since a boy.

I guess all clubs say theirs is “more than a club” but Marine is really a great family, with adults and kids really enjoying the whole experience and if you can’t enjoy a game of football there’s not much point!

HONOURS

Northern Premier League Champions 1993/94, 1994/95

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup Winners 1984/85, 1991/92, 2002/03, 2015/16

Northern Premier League Premier Division Play Off Winners 2023/24

Northern Premier League Division One West Play Off Winners 2021/22

Northern Premier League Challenge Shield Winners 1994/95, 1995/96

Cheshire County League Champions 1973/74, 1975/76, 1977/78

Liverpool County Combination 1st Div Champions 1927/28, 1930/31, 1933/34, 1934/35, 1943/44

I-Zingari League 1st Division Champions 1902/03, 1903/04, 1909/10, 1919/20,1920/21,1922/23

I-Zingari League 2nd Division Champions 1901/02

Lancashire Junior Cup/Trophy Winners 1978/79, 1987/88, 1990/91, 1999/00

Liverpool Senior Cup Winners 1978/79, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1999/00, 2007/08, 2022/23, 2023/24

FA Amateur Cup Finalists 1931/32

Football Foundation Community Club of the Year 2008/09, 2009/10

Unibond League Club of the Year 2009/10

CLUB HISTORY

The club was formed in 1894 by a group of local businessmen and former college students, taking its name from the Marine Hotel close to the River Mersey sea front at Waterloo, seven miles to the north of Liverpool, where the founders met. They moved to their present ground The Marine Travel Arena (formerly known as Rossett Park) in 1903.

Marine quickly made an impression on local football, winning numerous titles in the I Zingari League and the Liverpool Combination. Their greatest success as an amateur team in this period culminated in an FA Amateur Cup Final appearance in 1931/32, when they lost 7–1 to Dulwich Hamlet in front of a 22,000

crowd at West Ham United. In 1946 they went close again by reaching the semi-final. In 1935/36 they moved to the all-professional Lancashire Combination and enjoyed limited success before moving to the Cheshire County League in 1969/70. In 1972

Roly Howard was appointed first team manager and completed 1,975 competitive games over a 33 year period before retiring at the end of the 2004/05 season. He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest serving manager in world football as Marine enjoyed its most successful period winning some 30 trophies.

The Club relinquished its amateur status and became professional in 1974. Three Cheshire

League Championships were won in five seasons before progressing to the Northern Premier League in 1979/80. They have twice been Champions (1993/94 and 1994/95) as well as twice being runners-up and have won the League Cup on four occasions (1984/85, 1991/92, 2002/03 and 2015/16) which is a league record.

In more recent times, the club have had a number of managers including Alvin McDonald (2005-2009), Kevin Lynch (2009-2013), Phil Brazier (2013-2014), Carl Macauley (2014-2015), Sean Hessey (2015-2017) and Tommy Lawson (20172018). Alvin qualified for the UniBond Premier playoffs in two seasons, losing to the eventual winners

on both occasions. Kevin Lynch narrowly missed out on a play off place during his reign and Phil Brazier enjoyed his first season of football management. In February 2015, following a disappointing run of results, Carl Macauley left the club and defender Sean Hessey took over team affairs as caretaker manager. In Sean’s final 12 games in charge of the season, the club escaped relegation by losing 1, drawing 5 and winning 6 matches and were handed a reprieve, following the demise of Salisbury City. In February 2017, the club parted company with Sean Hessey following a poor run of results, the increasing threat of relegation and poor discipline on the pitch.

North West in their 125th Anniversary year, which was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 with the Mariners in a play-off position.

Season 2020/2021 will be best known for the magnificent Emirates FA Cup run which was a record breaker, having won through seven rounds beating Barnoldswick Town, Frickley Athletic, Runcorn Linnets, Nantwich Town, Chester, Colchester United and Havant & Waterlooville on the way before taking on Premier League Tottenham Hotspur at the Marine Travel Arena. Club Officials worked tirelessly to get the green light with the relevant authorities to stage the tie at home. Meanwhile the Covid-19 pandemic was still rife, and the team only played seven league games with five wins and two losses.

in the FA Cup and have beaten three Football League Clubs (Barnsley, Halifax Town and Colchester United) in the competition. Marine have twice reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in 1983/84 and 1991/92 and have been winners of 14 senior county cups. Marine have won the Liverpool Senior Cup eight times and the Lancashire Challenge Trophy three times.

The club have twice won the accolade as Football Foundation Community Club of the Year in 2009 and 2010, as voted by readers of the Non League Paper, and in March 2011 the club were awarded the FA Charter Standard Community Club award by the Football Association. In 2010, the club was awarded Club of the Year by outgoing league sponsors UniBond.

club’s first season back in the NPL Premier Division, with a crippling injury list eventually catching up with the squad after being in contention for the play offs until the final weeks of the campaign. The FA Cup saw a 2nd Qualifying Round exit at Stocksbridge Park Steels but progress was made in the FA Trophy, the Mariners overcoming Radcliffe, Basford United and Scarborough Athletic before exiting in the Third Round Proper at Marske United.

The Liverpool Senior Cup returned to the MTA for the first time in 15 years, with Pilkington, Everton and Southport all dispatched at home. Runcorn Linnets were the opponents in the Final at Widnes’ DCBL Stadium, with Marine claiming the Cup for the eighth time on penalties, after a 0-0 draw in front of 2,561 fans.

Gates continued to rise for the Mariners with an average of 1,243 for the season in the League, with Manager Neil Young signing a new contract to keep him at the club until 2027.

Season 2023/24 saw more success for the Mariners as a new look squad improved upon the previous season, being in and around the play off positions for most of the campaign. Cup success was also achieved with FA Cup wins over Guiseley, Spennymoor Town, Hyde United and memorably 1-0 at National League FC Halifax Town. EFL League Two side Harrogate Town were the opponents for the First Round Proper tie at the MTA, Chris Doyle heading an equaliser in front of 2,071 fans before the visitors proved too strong.

With just a few weeks of the 2016/2017 season remaining, former Skelmersdale United manager Tommy Lawson was appointed as manager. In 2017/2018, his first full season in charge, Tommy and his team reached the Second Round proper of the FA Trophy losing away to Dover and also reached the Liverpool Senior Cup Final for the first time in a decade. Tommy Lawson resigned as manager in September 2018 with experienced and successful manager Neil Young being appointed as manager, assisted by Alan Morgan and coach Ian Johnson. In April 2019, the club were relegated for the first time in their history and competed in the Northern Premier League First Division

Ahead of the 2021/2022 season, manager Neil Young was offered a three-year contract, in a season that would see the club promoted back to the Northern Premier League Premier Division after beating Workington away in extra time in the play-off semi final and Runcorn Linnets away in the play-off final.

Marine’s best performances in the FA Cup were reaching the 3rd Round in 1992/93 (losing 1-3 to Crewe Alexandra) and in 2020/21 (losing at home 0-5 to Tottenham Hotspur, with the game being broadcast live on BBC Match of the Day and watched by a record nearly 40 million viewers worldwide). Marine have also achieved twelve First Round and four Second Round appearances

The club is continuing to make improvements to their Marine Travel Arena base and over the last ten years have installed new floodlights, a new boardroom, new offices, hospitality suites, snack kiosk, kit store, first aid room, steward control room and club shop. In Summer 2022 the club installed a FIFA Quality Pro 3G pitch at the ground for community use and ready for a new era back in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, as well as upgrading the floodlights to an LED system. In addition a major refurbishment to the bar and function facilities created a new kitchen and outside seating area, to move the club to a seven day a week operation.

The 2022/23 season ended in a 9th place finish in the

The Liverpool Senior Cup was retained for the first time in the club’s history, with Widnes, Everton and Prescot Cables beaten followed by a 2-0 home success against City of Liverpool in the Final to clinch the cup for the ninth time.

The addition of several key players in January saw Neil Young’s men collect 40 points from their remaining 17 League games, clinching third place with a last day win at Ashton United. Warrington Rylands were beaten 1-0 in a tense play off semi final at the MTA before a grandstand finale, a 2-1 win at Macclesfield in front of nearly 1,300 Marine fans in a sell out crowd of 5,329 seeing the Mariners clinch promotion to the National League North for the first time in their history.

2024/25 is a new chapter for the club as they return to step 2, with further ground improvements ongoing and a new site on the horizon.

Cinderford Town AFC

“A fairytale 2023-24

JULES EVANS & THE COMMITTEE.

”Once you join the club, you never want to leave!”

I got involved with the club after they put out an advert for a volunteer to manage their social media. As a football enthusiast for as long as I can remember, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me. My offer to volunteer was accepted, and during my first season, I learned a great deal. It gave me immense satisfaction to keep our supporters informed about the club, upcoming games, results, sponsor advertisements, and more— far more than I can describe here. I then took on the responsibility of managing the website, and I now also serve as the Club Welfare Officer, which has deepened my love for the club. Cinderford Town has a true family atmosphere, which I believe is increasingly rare these days.

Our current Chair, Nick Simonds, got involved as an anonymous sponsor to help the club survive in 2016/17. Since then, he has taken on a larger role, driven by the challenge of transforming his hometown club into a community hub. Vice Chair Graham has been a supporter

Season!”

since he was 12 years old, starting in 1960 while visiting his grandfather. He joined the club committee in 1982, took a break, and later rejoined, eventually becoming Vice Chair and Programme Editor.

Sara, our Hospitality Manager, began supporting the club about three years ago. She then volunteered on the committee and has since completely revitalized our hospitality offerings. She values the community feel of the club, noting that regardless of one’s background or struggles, the club makes everyone feel part of something special.

Our Secretary, Rob, started watching the Town as a child, brought by his father many years ago. Although life took him away from the club in his 20s, he always kept an eye on the results. When his son joined as a young player, Rob started watching again and became more involved with the club in 2002, joining the committee and becoming Club Secretary in 2003—a position he took on temporarily but has held ever since.

Our legend, Phil, the kit man who takes care of the first team for home and away games, began watching the

Town in 1989/90. He started helping with the kit and eventually took on the role fully. Phil has worked with many great players over the years, and his all-time favorite is Clive Boxall. He loves the friendly atmosphere of the club, and he’s committed to helping Cinderford Town move onward and upward! Dave Roberts helps out on all home match days, supervising supporter safety. He got involved in the early 1970s and has served as a committee member for much of that time. Over the years, Dave has edited and printed match programs, marked the pitch, worked the turnstile,

served behind the bar, helped run the reserve team, and now takes on the thankless task of emptying all the bins around the ground after home games.

Paul, who manages our merchandise, began watching the Town as a kid in the 1970s with his schoolmates. In 2010, his son started playing for the local youth side at Forest Rangers, later transferring to Cinderford Town Youth FC, where Paul continued to watch games until 2016. About three years ago, he started attending games regularly and helping with various tasks around the club. He was eventually invited onto the committee and now handles

our merchandise and anything else that needs doing.

THE MAIN CHALLENGE: NAVIGATING TEAMS INTO THEIR CURRENT POSITION

The biggest challenge for any club is managing financial pressures amid soaring costs and revenue uncertainties. Many people don’t realize the financial demands of running a football club. Without the support of local companies that sponsor us, it would be an impossible task. Performance pressure is another challenge—when teams are winning, everyone is happy, people want to come and watch, which brings in revenue. When teams are losing, attendance drops, sponsors disappear, and it becomes a challenge to win them back.

AMBITIONS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

We aim to be an all-inclusive club, making our youth setup crucial to our community. Our youth teams are highly successful, ranging from under 5s to under 18s, with the under 5s and 6s being training-only teams. The other age groups compete in local leagues. This success attracts not only our local communities but also those beyond the Forest of Dean boundaries. As players progress through the age groups, some go on to make it into the first team, which is vital for a club that wants to progress.

Recent youth achievements include:

• Cinderford Town Boys U14s: Youth League Champions & League Cup Winners 2023/24 season

• U12s: Broadwell Tournament winners in 2022

• Boys U14s: Winners of Monmouth & Broadwell Tournaments 2024

• Boys U11s: Runners-up at Quedgely Tournament 2024

• Girls U12s: Runners-up at Quedgely Tournament 2024

• Boys U13s: Cheltenham Youth League Div 2 winners 2022/23

• Boys U18s: Cheltenham Youth League winners 2021/22

We now also have girls’ teams for various age groups, all playing in local leagues. We believe that participation in football teaches our youth the values of teamwork, hard work, commitment, and social skills while having fun.

CINDERFORD

TOWN LADIES

In recent years, Cinderford Town Ladies has grown from strength to strength. The team initially played under the name Huntley Ladies, but quickly came under the Cinderford Town umbrella. It started with a small group of players who wanted to get back into the game and enjoy it. Even now, after our first ever league season, we continue to prioritize enjoyment as we progress.

Inspired by the success of the England Ladies’ team, several new players joined, and we eventually played a friendly against Lydney Ladies. With a full squad, the ladies voted to join a league and compete, opting for the Herefordshire Development League over the Gloucestershire leagues.

The team grew stronger over the summer, playing preseason matches and developing as a team. In our first season, we played 18 games, winning 9 and losing 9. We competed in both the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire county cups, showing good form in our cup runs.

To ensure player development, we created a second team, Cinderford Ladies 1922, which has now been rebranded as “Cinderford Town Ladies’ Development.” As a club, we encourage everyone to join in and play the game we all love, regardless of experience level. We currently have 20 returning players from last year and three newcomers who joined us in preseason. We are always eager to welcome new players and encourage them to give football a try.

The future is bright for women’s football at Cinderford Town, and we are also in talks to form a mixedability team, with the hope of making this a reality soon. With such a variety of teams, we are fostering a close-knit community and have future plans for joint projects to promote and celebrate all our successful teams.

GENERAL MOOD AT THE CLUB

After the fairytale 2023-24 season, the club’s mood is extremely positive! The squad is getting stronger, with more players showing interest. We are looking to improve our community connections, become more inclusive, and support local charities. Mental health awareness has become even more important post-COVID, and we aim to work with charities to bring more attention to this issue. With so much going on, the success of all the teams, and the leadership of our chairman

HONOURS

• Hellenic League Premier Division Playoff Winners 2023-24

• Southern League Division One South & West champions 2015–16

• Western League Division Two champions 1956–57

• Hellenic League Premier Division champions 1994–95

• Hellenic League Premier Division Cup winners 1994–95

• Hellenic League Floodlit Cup winners 1994–95

• Hellenic League Division One champions 1990–91

• Warwickshire Combination Western Division champions 1964–65

• Warwickshire Combination League Cup winners 1964–65

• West Midlands League Cup winners 1968–69 (joint)

• Midland Combination League Cup winners 1982–83

• Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Champions 1938–39, 1960–61

• Gloucestershire Senior Cup Winners 2000–01

and committee members, these connections build valuable relationships that foster a sense of belonging, which will only help Cinderford Town continue to grow.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS AND LINKS WITH OTHER CLUBS

The Forest of Dean is a close-knit community, and while there is local rivalry, the connections between clubs are strong. For Cinderford, our manager Matt’s links with Welsh clubs widen our network. We have particularly strong ties with Merthyr, but we also have connections with many grassroots clubs. Notable player connections include:

• Olympic medallist Darren Campbell played for the Town

• Former Arsenal & Welsh International Derek Tapscott

• Local boy Mike Kear left Cinderford to join Newport County and then Middlesbrough

• Craig McKernon joined Mansfield and then Arsenal

• David Bird left for Cheltenham Town

• Chris Price signed for the Town after stints at Hereford United and Blackburn Rovers

• Chris Burns moved to Portsmouth from Cinderford

• Tony Hopkins, previously with Bristol City, played for and managed Cinderford

• Ex-Swansea & Newport County player managed Cinderford

HOW DID LAST SEASON GO FOR OUR TEAMS ON THE PITCH?

Excellent! For the first team, the cup competitions weren’t successful, but reaching the playoffs and winning was unbelievable. Written off by many at the start of the season, Matt’s ability to rebuild the team and instill belief in the squad was

something extraordinary. Winning the playoff final 4-0, after being underestimated by so many, was a moment of sheer triumph.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL AND OTHER FORMS

Women’s football at Cinderford Town is going from strength to strength, achieving a great deal in a short time. We are also working on forming a mixed-ability team in partnership with a charity.

COMMUNITY CLUB: ENGAGING WITH LOCAL PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES

The Causeway Club is a true community hub, offering rental space for various events at a reasonable rate, lower than most other venues in the area. We host a skittle team, a weekly bingo club, and screenings of major sporting events like the Euros. The ground is also available for community events, although bad weather has caused some cancellations this year. We rely on social media to advertise events at the Causeway and generally receive a good response.

Local businesses play a crucial role in keeping the club going through their sponsorship. We hold an annual sponsors day to show our appreciation, promoting them in our online programs for home matches and across our social media platforms.

VALUABLE SPONSORS

Sponsors are invaluable to our club, with their contributions, no matter how big or small, going a long way in helping us operate and grow. Engaging with local businesses is a way to promote each other, expand our audience, and attract additional sponsors.

We are extremely grateful for their support, and we consider them an integral part of our community.

WHAT MAKES OUR CLUB GREAT

Cinderford Town is a friendly club that, once you join, you never want to leave! Everyone is made to feel welcome, and no matter your background or struggles, you are always met with open arms. The club offers something for all age groups and abilities, both male and female. I love that the club is diverse, inclusive, and always looking to improve. Given that the club is run by volunteers, everyone is always willing to pitch in, whether it’s painting or rolling the pitch. You don’t realize how much work goes on behind the scenes until you become part of it—everyone works so hard to keep the club going. What’s so great about our club is that it provides a much-needed foundation for our community, offering a pathway for young players to develop their skills and progress to higher levels of competition. It promotes social interaction, teamwork, and physical activity, contributing to a healthy lifestyle and putting smiles on our faces!

POTTED HISTORY OF THE CLUB

Formed in 1922, Cinderford Town AFC initially played in the Glos Northern Senior League until 1939, when they joined the newly formed Bristol Charity League, which unfortunately folded two weeks later at the outbreak of World War II. In 1957, the club joined and won Western League Division 2. During their two seasons in the top flight, they set a ground attendance record when a home game against Minehead attracted 4,850 spectators. However, participation at this level put severe financial pressure on the club, forcing them to withdraw and return to the Glos Northern Senior League.

In 1964, the club made the unusual decision to join the Warwickshire Combination, winning the league and cup double, which led to a step up to the West Midlands (Regional) League. The 196869 season was their last at this level, but they bowed out as joint League Cup winners with Kidderminster, sharing the trophy for six months. Cinderford then returned to the newly formed Gloucestershire County League, where they stayed for

the next five years, finishing as runners-up on three occasions.

Seeking a greater challenge, the club was accepted into the Midland Combination, where they played for the next 10 seasons, achieving a best finish of 4th and winning the League Cup in 1982-83. Financial problems once again forced a return to the Glos County League, but the assembly of a new committee stabilized the club to the point that they were able to purchase floodlights outright!

In 1990-91, the club gained admission to the Hellenic League Division 1, where they won the title at the first attempt. Four years later, they claimed an historic treble by winning the Premier Division title, the League Cup, and the Hellenic Floodlit Cup, earning a step up to the Southern League, where they maintained 28 years of unbroken membership.

The 1995-96 season was a landmark year for Cinderford, as the club embarked on an incredible FA Cup run, beating two Conference clubs to reach the second round proper. After holding Gravesend & Northfleet to a 1-1 draw at home, they lost 3-0 in the replay, narrowly missing a third-round match against Aston Villa.

In 2015-16, Cinderford were champions of

Southern League Division 1 South & West but initially rejected promotion due to undisclosed debts. After a series of appeals, they accepted promotion, which affected the league’s constitution going into the new season. Unfortunately, the club was relegated in its first season in the Premier Division and returned to play in the Southern League First Division.

Under the leadership of manager Paul Michael, the club went from strength to strength, reaching the League Cup final and the League Play-off final, narrowly missing promotion. After 28 consecutive seasons in the Southern League, the club was relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season. They joined the Hellenic League Premier Division, with Matt Driscoll taking over as manager. He had the challenging task of rebuilding the entire squad, with only one senior player remaining from the Southern League side. Despite a mixed start to the 2023-24 season, the team began to climb the table, ultimately securing a 5th place finish and a playoff spot. A successful playoff run culminated in a 4-0 win in the final, securing our return to the Southern League after just one season.

PAUL WILLIAMS, FORMER PLAYER, COMMITTEE

MEMBER & SPONSOR:

PAUL WILLIAMS

PLUMBING & HEATING LTD

I’m originally from Cinderford and began playing for the club in the 96/97 season, arriving from Gloucester City Youth just after Cinderford’s great FA Cup run. I joined the old town club when they played in the Beazer Homes League. After a good run in football, I snapped my Achilles in 2015, and I was never the same again, which put an abrupt end to my playing career.

Although I played elsewhere over my career, I have always been a supporter of the club, now spanning 30 years. Last season, with the manager having to build a team with few players, we didn’t have any great expectations for how the season would turn out—it was really one game at a time to start with. However, what the manager achieved can only be described as fantastic. Week in and week out, the performances just kept getting better and better, with the team winning many away fixtures toward the season’s end and then reaching the playoffs. We totally dominated the final to gain promotion, supported by over 1,000 fans—this really was a fairy tale! Initially, we had looked at a three-year pathway, so to do it in one was beyond belief.

This season, our initial matches have been tight, and while coping with an injured striker, we are still looking to build our squad by bringing a few more key players on board. Although we hoped to have more points by now, the work going on behind the scenes will, I’m sure, result in more victories.

Moving from the Hellenic to the Southern League is undoubtedly a massive step up and can naturally be a shock to any player who hasn’t played at this higher level. With the extra challenge

of travel—3 to 4 hours on some journeys—we have to look for a particular breed of player who is willing to make this additional commitment. Our hope is obviously to consolidate in this division and stay up. I would, of course, be absolutely over the moon if this happens. Our manager, Matt Driscoll, is fantastic, and I have full confidence we will find our feet over the course of the season in this new division.

Cinderford Town FC has many volunteers and is blessed with a fantastic committee who work tirelessly and can often be seen at the club every day! Without this small band of invaluable people, I don’t think you can successfully run a club. Younger members are also coming through, and we would love to see more supporters and local businesses come on board too.

My plumbing & heating business is also a sponsor of the club, and I’m always happy to help out whenever any work needs to be done.

For me, what makes Cinderford Town FC such a great club is the close-knit membership we have. The Forest is a relatively small area where we all help each other out, with everyone mucking in to sort out any challenges. The club atmosphere is outstanding and second to none; I can only really describe it as a big family.

As soon as you walk into our club, you receive a warm welcome, whether you’re an old or new member, and our hospitality is professional, well-organized, and appreciated by away teams.

A football club can’t run without a leader, and Nick Simonds, our outgoing chairman, deserves a special mention. Nick has been an outstanding contributor to all things good at Cinderford, and I really want to thank him for his many years of outstanding service and steadfast commitment to Cinderford Town FC.

RICH KEAR- FORMER PLAYER, SUPPORTER

& SPONSOR: FOREST SPORTS EDUCATION/ PROSTARS

I’m from the Forest of Dean and live in Lydney, where I played youth football for Lydney FC. We used to play against Cinderford Town. Later, I played at the U16 level for the club before going on to play professionally for Charlton Town FC. After four seasons there, I returned to the non-league pyramid and played for Cinderford’s first team for many years. One season, before the leagues were reorganized, we were on the brink of relegation, but I scored a penalty in the second-to-last game of the season that kept us up that year, which was great for the team and club. I then went on to manage Lydney Town in the Hellenic Premier but was unable to continue due to my son Jack’s involvement with Cardiff City’s youth academy, where he is currently playing at the U13 level.

I try to get down to the club as much as I can. These days, with such a busy schedule, I make an effort to watch the lads play as often as possible, and I also sponsor

the club through my business, Forest Sports Education. We have two components to our company: we are sports PE specialists working in primary schools, and the second part of my business partners with sports colleges and universities. Students come to us for training, and we provide them with hands-on experience by taking them into schools. Our coaching side of the business started over 17 years ago, and the college side has been running for 11 years. We currently assist students taking BTEC and Diploma courses, as well as university students working towards their BSc in sports qualifications.

Cinderford Town FC is truly at the heart of the Forest of Dean, being the highest-ranked club in the region and the one with the longest history. The club offers individuals the chance to play at a decent level and is blessed with a great group of volunteers who contribute to making the club what it is today. Without these committed people, the club wouldn’t be able to operate at the high standards it demonstrates!

Peterhead FC

“The club is from the community and for the community; we are a family club with people who have been involved for decades!”

The main challenge we continually face, not just as managers but as a club, is our geographical location. It is a constant battle to recruit players who can compete at the higher end of where we want to be, so we often have to look further afield. If we cannot recruit locally, it presents difficulties in training as a group, finding suitable training venues, and managing the fatigue of those traveling up from the central belt before home games. –Co-Manager Ryan Strachan

For many years, community activities were led by Nat Porter. However, the Covid pandemic became a catalyst for the club, and like many others, our very future was under threat. Thanks to generous support from the community and local businesses, we managed to stay afloat during that dark time.

Once we were able to play in front of crowds again, the board wanted to give back to those who had helped us so much. This led to the formation of the Peterhead FC Community Foundation, aimed at increasing and diversifying the club’s activities to reach more people in our community.

We’ve been humbled by the response so far. The cost-of-living crisis has meant we’ve had to adjust our strategy, such as opening the community kitchen on Sundays to provide meals for children who rely on school meals for nutrition.

We’ve developed new community events and have even more planned for this year. One of our most exciting projects is developing nearby green spaces to provide age-appropriate pitches and year-round access to facilities at a low cost. This will

maximize participation in sports and improve health outcomes for our community, especially by encouraging young people to stay active through Peterhead FC.

The management team of Jordan Brown and Ryan Strachan were long-term players with the club, so their understanding of the club’s role in the community has been key in building a sense of togetherness between the town and the team. This has resulted in larger crowds over the past two seasons and a positive atmosphere at the club. – Gavin Mundie, Community Foundation Chairperson

We are developing an integrated strategy for coaching that aligns with Scottish Football Association coaching levels. The ingenuity Ryan and Jordan have brought as first-team coaches, along with support from Jamie McNee, is what we are trying to replicate across our younger age groups. The foundation’s role is to provide oversight and administrative support so players and coaches with talent and ambition can reach their full potential.

We have a partnership with our neighboring Juniors club, Buchanhaven Hearts, and our PFC Community Foundation Under-18s team trains with them and plays at Balmoor. We also have good links with Aberdeen FC, with several of their youngsters joining us on loan before making the step up to first-team football.

We have started the season in blistering fashion, with four wins from five matches and remaining unbeaten in top spot. Our team is undoubtedly playing for the badge. Our managers were recently awarded “SPFL League 2 Managers of the Month” for August, and we have advanced to the fourth round of the SPFL Trust

“The club is from the community and for the community; we are a family club with people who have been involved for decades.”

– Gavin Mundie, PFCCF Chairperson

Trophy. We couldn’t ask for a better start.

The foundation is fully inclusive, and part of our strategy is to develop women’s and girls’ football. We are in discussions to support Buchan Ladies and Girls to fully involve them in our football development initiatives and help them reach their potential.

Nat Porter and coach Steven Chalmers host recreational football every Monday evening, open to anyone over 35 and of any ability, fostering fun, friendship, and activity. They also host matchday coaching for primary school children and deliver sessions to our local ASN specialist school.

We are fortunate to be able to open our doors every day. We have a coffee shop attached to the club and offer facilities for community groups and businesses, making the club a hive of activity. The chairman and club staff are here most days, and it has become a real drop-in place for anyone to stop by for a chat and a cuppa. This has fostered strong links between the town and club. Our Youth and Community coach, Nat Porter, is also at the club most days, offering stadium tours and sharing stories about PFC.

We are very proud of our school partnership program, with two of our first-team players in fulltime employment as health and well-being coaches in local schools. This has had a far-reaching positive impact on students, particularly in terms of attendance and confidence.

Sponsors are hugely important to us. Our corporate hospitality is known as one of the best in Scottish football and is often fully booked. We also have loyal patrons who are incredibly supportive of the club. This support helps with the rising costs of running a small community club in today’s economic climate. Advertising boards, match ball and match sponsor packages, and program advertising all help us grow as a proud community club.

OUR HISTORY

In 1890, the Feuars Managers of Peterhead gifted the newly formed Peterhead FC a piece of land within the town’s Raemoss Park. Named Recreation Park, it was opened by the town’s Provost Smith, accompanied by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, in August 1891. Recreation Park remained Peterhead’s home for over 100 years.

Peterhead began their competitive journey in 1900, joining the Aberdeenshire Football Association. With just six teams competing, it was a rather short season. They remained in the Aberdeenshire League until 1931 when they joined the Highland Football League. During that time, the club had just one success, winning the Aberdeenshire Cup in 1906. They eventually repeated this success in consecutive seasons in 193435 and 1935-36.

It was nearly forty years before the club would again claim league honours, winning their fourth title in 1988-89, followed by a fifth under the guidance of Ronnie Brown ten years later.

Much of Peterhead’s success has come in cup competitions, especially in the Aberdeenshire Cup, which they have won 20 times, most recently in 1998-99. Peterhead have also won the Highland League Cup five times and the Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) six times, in addition to holding one Aberdeenshire Shield.

In January 2000, Peterhead were voted into the Scottish Football League alongside fellow Highland League side Elgin City. This move compensated for the loss of two clubs to the expanded Scottish Premier League (SPL). It coincided with the move from Recreation Park to Balmoor, a modern stadium built in 1998. Since joining the SPFL, Peterhead has won two league titles and participated in four championship playoffs, with notable victories, including a 2-1 win away at Ibrox against Rangers in 2013.

“The togetherness of the club, from the board to the backroom staff, office staff, and football staff, is a pleasure to be a part of. The longevity of players, staff, board members, and fans highlights this. The culture is constantly improving, and having visited a few parttime clubs, Peterhead rightly has a reputation throughout Scotland for being one of the best and most welcoming, with a strong family feel. With an excellent, established home ground that is improving all the time and is at the heart of the community, there is always a buzz about the next home game.” – CoManager Jordan Brown

We enjoyed a successful 2023/24 season with our newly appointed young managers, finishing the season in second place. This past season also saw significant growth within the club, with new projects, including a development team and the formation of our community foundation. We also built a new stand, “The Rec,” for our young “ultras,” which made national headlines. Our crowds have grown week by week, and it has been heartening to see so many young people coming to games. I have been Chairman since 2006, and while running a lower-league club always poses challenges, it helps to have a great team on and off the pitch. I am surrounded by good people who all have the club’s best interests at heart, and the mood within the club is optimistic and hopeful for the future. – Rodger Morrison, Chairman

An added benefit since the foundation was formed is the increased engagement with the community. Two firstteam squad members now coach in primary schools, and our community ambassador, Nat Porter, works across Aberdeenshire in schools and with children with ASN (Additional Support Needs). We also run a women’s wellness group, community kitchen, and food drives, all supported by first-team players and management. This has truly fostered a sense of togetherness between the town and the team. –

Gavin Mundie, Foundation Chairperson

“Peterhead FC has always been a great family club. On matchdays, everyone— including full-time and parttime staff, and volunteers— works together to make the experience special for all at Balmoor. Whether it’s kids taking penalties, supporters behind the goals, corporate

customers, disabled supporters, or elderly season ticket holders who have followed the team for many years, we make sure they enjoy their day. That’s what makes Peterhead FC a great club.” – Nat Porter, Youth & Community Liaison Officer and Club Legend

SHARON BROWN GENERAL MANAGER

I am a local lass, born and raised in Peterhead, so I’ve always known about Peterhead Football Club. My dad and three brothers are all big football fans, so football was always important to our family growing up. I recall attending matches in my early days. The club has always maintained close links with our community. The popular lounge upstairs would often attract people from the area, not just the football crowd, and it was somewhere I, too, would spend time.

I first came to work for the club in 2015, by chance through my previous employment at the local newspaper. One day, I came across a job advert for an Office Administrator position at Peterhead FC. I quickly sent in my CV and was offered the position; I’m still here 9 years later!

COVID was a strange time for everyone, and it was no different for the football club. Although we weren’t physically in the office, we still worked on club matters, doing our utmost to keep everyone associated with the club engaged. The GM at the time was running an online 50/50 raffle, and we held picture competitions to entertain the kids, among other activities, so we were regularly reaching out and connecting with everyone. When football started up again, it took time to shake off the staleness and it wasn’t

all the away matches, we manage to attend a few when we can fit them into our family commitments. Sometimes, the club staff are able to travel to away games, which is always a nice experience. Ollie, who is now 14, sometimes helps with the kits, and Emillie, who is 11, is now at the age where she can attend matches on her own with her friends in tow.

Everyone at Peterhead— from the managers, players, and chairman—knows my husband and children by name, which says a lot about the close-knit community we foster at Peterhead. Martin is always on hand to help out on matchdays when needed.

everyone, as we’re all one big team. I don’t really want the chairman to hear me say this, but he’s a fantastic chairman, as is the entire board. Rodger is always available to support us. I’m very lucky to have a fabulous staff team that manages the vast and necessary administrative work through to completion.

Our community foundation has recently launched, and we are motivated to “do good” throughout the club and our wider region. As an important local hub, we are well-positioned to provide valuable and needed support to local people.

exactly fluid, especially with many restrictions and social distancing in place. Fans weren’t allowed at games for a while, but I feel we did a good job under those restrictive and difficult circumstances.

In December 2023, I became the club’s General Manager. Football is obviously a huge and important part of Peterhead FC, so there not just a lot to organise on the field but off it too. My office staff and I handle a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. These include liaising with the club managers, booking training and travel for players, ensuring kits are prepared for matchdays, engaging with other clubs regarding player signings, and much more. Peterhead is a large facility with events occurring daily. Across the road, we have a primary school, and we serve as their holding facility. Right now, we’re running a dummy fire exit drill for the school’s 500 kids—never a dull moment! Additionally, we operate a coffee and club shop, and since we’re open full-time, we often have fans pop in to say hello. We frequently give them a grand tour of the ground which goes down well.

My husband, Martin, and our children, Ollie and Emillie, are all into football too. They see my role as a `dream job` and think it’s great that I work for Peterhead FC. I’m at every home game, and although I can’t get to

There’s a really good vibe at the club right now. Jordon and Ryan are always approachable when we offer ideas for their consideration. We also have a great team in the office—Mandy, Emma, club secretary Ken, and myself—with everyone willing to help each other out in any way we can. Frequent contact with the players is part of the job, and it’s enjoyable because of the great relationship we share. Interactions often comes while handling various requests they may have.

Winning matches is undoubtedly top of the list at the club and lifts the mood for

At the moment, I feel it’s the best it’s ever been for me at Peterhead Football Club. Yes, it’s all about the football at the end of the day, but we have so many great people who just want to do their best for each other and for everyone else.

If I didn’t love my job, I wouldn’t be here at Peterhead FC. Despite the volume of work required to run a football club, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Seeing local children dressed in Peterhead Football Club colours is so magical and uplifting. A win on the pitch is a win for everyone at Peterhead and for everyone who supports this great club!

Mildenhall Town FC

Eastern Counties Premier Division Champions 2023/2024!

TREVOR BENNETT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Winning the league by 14 points is sure to lift the mood at any football club. Like all seasons, there is always a great buzz at the beginning of a new campaign, but this season feels especially significant as we look forward to competing with bigger teams and enjoying some exciting away days.

With our recent promotion to Step 4 within the football pyramid, the club has worked tirelessly over recent months, along with the FA, to successfully secure a grant for replacing the existing floodlights at the stadium. The benefits are clear—not only do we save financially with each use, but we also gain environmental advantages.

Youth football is high on our agenda. We aim not only to increase the number of teams and players but also to establish future U23s and reserve teams to strengthen the pathway into our first team.

A significant challenge within grassroots football nationally is finding the right floodlit venues for winter training that aren’t already booked or prohibitively expensive. While using council or village greens for Saturday/

Sunday morning games is fine to an extent, costs remain a major concern, along with maintenance and repairs.

Without sponsors, there is no club—it’s as simple as that. Securing financial contributions in today’s economic climate is challenging for all grassroots clubs and first teams. We at Mildenhall Town are fortunate to have businesses that stay with us year after year. These individuals are not only supporters of the club but also part of our local community, creating a social connection. New sponsors who have recently joined us are already reaping the benefits of increased visibility through advertising on our social media platforms and newly updated website.

Mildenhall Town has a strong community ethos. Our members’ clubhouse offers a family-friendly environment where you can socialize over a drink or two, with ten TV screens showing football and other sporting events throughout the year. With a subsidized bar and regular weekend entertainment, including singers and quiz nights, it’s truly a place to be!

As the newly instated Youth Development Manager for

Mildenhall Town FC, I would like to introduce you to the recent plans and strategies we have implemented at the club.

Historically, Mildenhall Town FC has been a focal point of the town. The addition of new committee members, including local businesspeople, along with the chairman’s vision, has elevated this club to a new professional level, both on and off the pitch.

From my perspective, the entire committee is not only volunteering their time and effort but also showing a level of commitment to the football club and community that deserves recognition. Their dedication should be taken seriously when considering any funding requests or applications.

We all know that nonleague football is not only an expensive endeavor to run and sustain but also that mandatory stadium improvements and amendments require significant financial outlay that far exceeds our day-to-day revenue.

Starting from the bottom up, we have seen a passionate drive to establish a youth football setup that allows local children to play football with pride under the Mildenhall Town FC name

The clubhouse itself is a fully functioning, membersonly venue that offers a safe and enjoyable environment Images

while also enjoying freedom and exercise on a weekly basis. The new 2024/25 season will see our U13 team play on the main pitch, with some teams conducting their winter training sessions under the newly installed floodlights. This is a massive benefit to our youth section, as it reduces our reliance on outside venues that charge exorbitant fees due to high demand. This is a topic for another day, but when we as a club spend over £8,000 a year on facilities for the community’s children, it’s clear we need to seek alternatives. Going forward, we hope to expand our coverage by establishing dedicated girls’ and disability teams.

The first team has completed a very successful football season, and by gaining promotion to the higher level of Step 4 within the FA pyramid, the club has attracted and convinced local businesses that joining our bespoke sponsorship packages will provide valuable advertising opportunities, thanks to increased spectator attendance and media coverage.

for all families living in the town and nearby villages. The committee has welcomed local pool and dart teams to use the facilities, not only to support their own ventures and teams but also to explore all avenues for generating revenue to keep the club going through these harsh economic times.

While our focus is on the present, we must also consider the hard work the club puts in for the community, both now and for future generations. The club has just celebrated its 125th anniversary, showcasing its longevity for all to see. The history of this club is something everyone is proud of, and as we begin the journey of growing the club further, we must all recognize the importance of additional support, whether financial or through more volunteers.

This is not just a football club that many might think is only used on Saturdays and Tuesdays for matches. It is the heart of a town, long established and deeply ingrained in families, with stories of happiness and sadness tied to all four corners of the ground. We need the local authorities to help and recognize the importance of the journey we are continuing to take.

“Mildenhall Youth enters the 2024/5 season with an additional 2 teams. We now have 5 teams ranging from Under 9s to Under 13s and we expect this to grow in the near future.

We have recruited and retained some talented coaches, who bring passion and vision along with their dedication and commitment.

Claire Darkins and Justin Williams are the Youth Welfare Officer and Chairman respectively. Both are invaluable and have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the youth football sector.

My role as Youth Development Manager is

Lawrence Houghton, better known to everyone as Lol, is by far our longest-serving volunteer. He started coming to the club in 1969 with his 14-year-old son Ian. Lol has raised well over £150,000 over the years through his raffles and draws—a tremendous achievement. A great supporter in all the right ways, Lol has recently announced his retirement after 54 years of loyal service. He is a terrific family man and a great clubman. Mildenhall Town FC is proud to have Lol associated with the club. Players come and go, but every club has a “Lol”— someone who is there week in, week out, year after year, no matter the weather or how the team has performed.

to now continue the growth of the teams, to provide the community a safe environment and a wellequipped football club for the local children.

We will be working closely with businesses and individuals to promote bespoke sponsorship packages and fundraising events so the benefits of the money raised for our youth teams and advertising on our social media platforms will increase for all concerned.”

Our History

1899 -1900

Winning the Suffolk Junior Cup

The early years are vague, but it is known the club won the Suffolk junior cup as long ago as 1899/1900 when they defeated Southwold 4 -0 in the final.

1990 - 2010 Brian Brigden

Under the leadership of chairman Brian Brigden, the club saw a major transformation during the 90s, bringing the ground up to current standards and building the excellent clubhouse. Mildenhall then went through a period of consistent creditable positions i n the ECL premier division.

2023 - 2024 League Winners

Under relatively new manager Phill Weavers we were champions of Thurlow Nunn Premier League and won promotion to the Isthmian League - North Division.

1898

Mildenhall Town FC was born

Mildenhall Town FC are a long-established club formed in 1898. The football club has been an integral part of East Anglia and the local area for generations

1920 - 1990

Marching Band

Brian Hensby a supporter and club secretary for over fifty years can remember ground sharing with the cricket team where the square was within the centre circle. Also, stories of Mildenhall players in the 1920s getting changed in the local town hall before each home game. The team was then walked to the ground with a band playing in front of them.

2016 - 2017

Double League and Cup Winners

Our biggest success up until then has to be the 2016/17 season where Mildenhall became double league and cup winners. Finishing the league 9 points clear and winning promotion to the isthmian league.

2024 Present Day

The present Mildenhall Town FCc is a non -league semiprofessional football club competing in the Isthmian League - North Division and with Bill Flynn as the chairman and Phill Weavers as the team manager, the stability and future of the club is in good hands.

Milden hall Town Football Club

BEN CHILDS, SUPPORTER, COMMITTEE MEMBER & SPONSOR: ACORN LABELS

I have lived in Mildenhall all my life and reside about half a mile from the ground, and I’ve always known about the club. My son Harvey has played football since the age of 5 so I’ve spent a lot of time in football over the years, taking him through youth football and traveling for matches. Harvey, now 17, is a very good footballer in his own right, playing U18s for a very successful Haverhill Rovers FC team. They’ve won many trophies over the past four years as they now head toward senior football.

I’m also a season ticket holder at Arsenal, but getting to matches is difficult these days. Some time ago I was encouraged to go down to the club for a few beers and thoroughly enjoyed the great atmosphere, I soon became addicted to the down-to-earth environment.

A few weekend engagements and holidays meant I couldn’t attend all the matches last season, but with my usual group of friends in tow, I managed to attend three-quarters of the games. The performances across the season were phenomenal. The team certainly overshadowed previous years, helped by a good budget and a change in management—it all came together.

Last season, Phil Weaver breathed life into the team, and everyone delivered on the pitch. Moving up a league this year naturally offers challenges. The hardest part of football is putting the ball in the back of the net, as most strikers will tell you, but we’ve performed well this current campaign, improving with each fixture and being a bit unlucky in a few matches— most notably against Cambridge City, where we were the better side, and Waltham Abbey, where we had a man sent off.

As a club and team, most of us are expecting a tough campaign. Staying in the league is our first priority—we don’t want to be a team that goes up and down each year. Our committee is blessed with good characters with varied skill sets, all of whom have great passion for the club. We are financially well-run and always working on making the

place look better and more attractive for players, visitors and fans alike.

I run a business, Acorn Labels, which has been a club sponsor over the years, and we are now both a board and kit sponsor. The club committee was also keen to include members with business acumen, so I was asked to join the team. Since my son came through youth football, it was initially thought that youth development might be a good role for me, but it didn’t really fit my skill set or desire. Trevor Bennett was already running the youth side and doing such a remarkable job with a great vision for the future that he was the ideal person to take that role forward. Food and catering were previously run separately from the club, and those people were starting to leave. Given my experience in that sector, I decided to take it on.

As a club, we would love to have more people, especially kids and parents, involved. With walking football on the horizon, it will be another great addition for both the club and the community. At Mildenhall Town Football Club, community involvement is very important to us. We have a very busy bar open throughout the week, making it a local drinking spot for many of our patrons. Everyone is part of the club, even if they don’t attend on Saturdays—they’re still involved in their own way.

With great crowds and many long-time patrons, whether they come socially or as volunteers, the club is an important part of their lives, and they really enjoy being involved. One of my favourite parts of being at the club is that I’m the announcer, which offers endless opportunities for top-notch banter—although I may have gone overboard on the odd occasion! I also enjoy running the kitchen. There were challenges in getting it all up and running, but it’s been a tremendous amount of fun with everyone pitching in.

I’ve been an Arsenal fan for 40 years, but if you were to give me a choice of where I’d rather be on a Saturday afternoon, Mildenhall Town FC wins every time! My son Harvey still can’t get his head around that!

BILL FLYNN CLUB CHAIRMAN

I grew up in Mildenhall during the 60s and 70s, and I was always aware of Mildenhall Town FC, of course. We used to go down to the “playing fields,” as the ground was known, to watch, play in the evenings, and our youth teams used it as a base. Our family was heavily involved in youth football during the 70s.

To my regret, I was only vaguely aware of the club’s progress in the 80s and 90s. To be honest, that period of my life was a bit of a blur; the only things I was involved in then were greyhound racing and our own cricket team, Riverside, which, to be fair, was more about the social side of the game.

In 2002, Club Chairman Martin Tuck asked me and my brother Dennis to sponsor the Mildenhall vs. Maidstone Utd FA Vase match. I knew Maidstone had been a League club for a short period, and I had even visited their old stadium for an FA Cup tie against Cambridge Utd. Mildenhall won that match 3-0, and by the end of the season, I had become vice-chairman and main sponsor through our business, SAFEPAC International Removals.

On the surface, it might seem like the club hasn’t come very far in the last 20 years, but in reality, we have. We consistently finished in the top half of the Eastern Counties League and had some terrific runs in the FA Vase, reaching the last eight on a couple of occasions. The club itself grew in stature and was firmly established at its level. We achieved promotion to Step 4 football in 2017 after securing a league and cup double in the ECL, but our time at Step 4 was tough, and we were relegated back to Step 5.

By this time, I had become chairman, and my task was to form a stronger committee with experienced business and football people who were movers and shakers. Everyone needed to be focused on the sustainable future progress of the club.

One thing to note is that during my time at the club, there really wasn’t a well-run youth section. There were some good teams, but there was always a disconnect between the senior club and the youth section. Personally, I wasn’t overly interested in the youth side, believing they should be able to run themselves, and for a time, that’s what they did.

However, after the COVID years, things started to change. The youth section began working together, rebuilding from scratch. Now, with Trevor Bennett and Claire Darkins at the helm, the transformation has been remarkable. No longer is self-interest prevalent among the teams; they now all have proper coaches, and sometimes even firstteam players lead coaching sessions. The youth section is now vital to the club and the wider community, bringing everyone together to work towards shared goals. Its growth potential really depends on the number of people willing to commit to being coaches.

When we were relegated in 2019, I was determined to get back into the Isthmian League. I felt we were a Step 4 club playing in a Step 5 league. Now, we need to be a Step 4 team playing for a Step 4 club. It’s not easy, as many local clubs are chasing the same players, but we’re holding our own. With the current management and team, we certainly have a great opportunity to cement our place in the Isthmian League.

What makes Mildenhall such a great club? The answer is simple: it’s the selfless, friendly people involved that make it so special. Just come down on a Saturday matchday, and you’ll experience the emotional rollercoaster of nonleague football. You become part of the whole thing. For me, I could have moved on to other clubs, but this is my club, from my home. It’s brilliant – the people involved are proper people, and the youth section is now an integral part of the club.

BRIAN KEANE, SUPPORTER, COMMITTEE MEMBER

& SPONSOR: CAMERON VENTURES GROUP

I lived and worked in Mildenhall for 25 years, and in more recent times, the club and its community ethos really caught my attention. This inspired me to bring my own children to the club, where we fully enjoyed the great facilities and got to see the inner workings of the club at a deeper level. I soon got to know the Chairman and Committee, and I was inspired by their vision for the club’s future. It was all quite intoxicating to me, so much so that I wanted to be part of it all. With the capacity to help out, I became a committee member. Whether it’s helping at the gate, assisting for getting the ground match ready, helping with away support, or enjoying a beer with the fans, it’s all been great fun. For me, it’s all about being part of a club and community.

I have three sons: Cameron, Ciaran, and Callum. My youngest, Callum, currently plays for the club’s U10s, which to him is like playing in the Premier League! He proudly wears the club’s yellow colours even when he’s not at the club,

which is great to see.

Last season, I attended most home matches and a few away fixtures. Weekends are often spent doing dad stuff around the county, but as the kids grow older, I expect my availability to travel to away games will increase.

Phil Weaver has a great team of players under his guidance, and he has created a fantastic culture where they play as a team and for each other. Although this season presents tougher challenges in a higher league, they have continued where they left off last season—a very positive testament to them all!

For a relatively small town playing against larger towns, the gates we attract are commendable. I love visiting the club; it’s a very safe place to bring your children, where you can hear them shouting out the players’ names. The interactions between club members, players, and fans are what it’s all about, as we watch the kids—our future generation—celebrating goals with the players, which is really nice to see.

Mildenhall Town Football Club has a great footballing history with a clear plan for its future, including the development of youth players and other forms of community football like

walking football. Anyone can come to our club, walk on the pitch, and play football for health and fitness benefits or just to make new friends— whatever your age or ability.

If you were to ask me the biggest concern we have at Mildenhall Town Football Club, I’d say it’s Ipswich or Norwich phoning up Phil Weaver with a job offer!

Very proud Sponsors of Mildenhall Town Football Club!

Callum Keane on left with George Rix right and Mildenhall Town captain Luke Butcher.

Cameron House, 5 King Street, Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, IP28 7ES

Sporting Bengal United FC

“History Makers!”

“The club has created shockwaves in East London and Essex and done the unthinkable by winning back-to-back promotions and now compete in the Isthmian League at Step 4 level for the first time ever!”

CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU FIRST BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB AND WHAT YOUR JOURNEY AND CONNECTION HAS BEEN LIKE TO DATE?

Sporting Bengal United FC is a club that is part of a wider community organisation called Sporting Foundation. Based in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, Sporting Foundation are a leading organisation in inspiring and transforming people’s lives through sport, youth and community engagement. It’s one of the biggest community sports organisations in the UK and one of the key projects the organisation runs is the football “Summer League”. Being an aspiring footballer, I found myself playing for and captaining my local football club which participated in the Summer League. The purpose of the Summer League was to not only give local footballers an opportunity to play competitive league football but also act as a stepping-stone to be recognised and scouted for Sporting Bengal United and have the opportunity to play semi-professional football. In a more local level, Sporting

Bengal is effectively the “national” team for the all the local clubs in Tower Hamlets who play in the league. As a consequence of this set up, many players such as me were fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Sporting Bengal on a national level playing in the prestigious UK Asian Championship. From this experience I fell in love with the club and its values. There were not many clubs at this level giving these opportunities to young Asian players and this was something I valued greatly. I felt like I had to get involved with the club and since then I have voluntarily been at the club and have been involved in giving many young aspiring

footballers the opportunities they wouldn’t get elsewhere and have also been blessed to be part of the most successful era of the club as we made history by winning back-to-back promotions in the last couple seasons.

WHAT

WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES FACED IN NAVIGATING YOUR TEAM/ TEAMS INTO THE POSITION THEY ARE IN TODAY?

• Transitioning into mainstream football from Sunday league

• Historic racism and other cultural obstacles faced by the club during the early years

• Finance, including ground grading etc, working with local authorities.

HOW IMPORTANT IS JUNIOR/YOUTH FOOTBALL TO YOUR CLUB?

The Sporting Bengal Football Academy was created in 2012 with the support of ex-West Ham player Anwar Uddin. The academy offers children from 6-17 the opportunity to receive structured football coaching from FA qualified coaches. The aim is to engage children into sports from an early age and support the talented players to move to academies of professional clubs. Youth football is extremely important in our community, and we have young aspiring players from all backgrounds in our Academy. Amongst that, we are proud to have many youths of Asian background. A common discussion in the football world often is around why South East Asian players in particular are not very well represented in the professional game. This is an issue we’ve tackled head on and through our Academy, we aim to bridge that gap and allow more players the opportunity to develop and potentially play at a good level.

COULD YOU PROVIDE A POTTED HISTORY OF YOUR CLUB?

Having brought together the best local Bangladeshi

footballers in the mid-90’s, Sporting Bengal United was created and went on to win multiple UK Asian Championship titles and dominated the local Sunday leagues. It was time to explore the next level.

In only eight years, the team rose from amateur Sunday league football to semi-professional football. Having reached this level, the club broke down many barriers and was one of the first Asian teams to play in the famous FA Cup. Today, the club offers local young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to play semiprofessional football.

Having initially competed in the Kent Senior League when securing semiprofessional status from 2003, Sporting Bengal moved to the Essex Senior Football League in the 2011-12 season finishing 11th in the league and reaching the FA Vase Third Round Proper in the first season. The club finished runners up in the Essex Senior League Cup in 2013-14.

Ex-Dagenham and Redbridge FC footballer,

Anwar Uddin, was the most high-profile manager of the club and managed during the 2015-16 season. In 2016-17, the club reached the First Round Qualifying stage of the FA Cup for the first time after Imrul Gazi was appointed the manager. The 2018-19 season saw the team finish 8th in the Essex Senior League. After a couple Covid hit seasons, the club suffered massively and was relegated in the 2021-22 season.

However, under the management of Steve Clark, Sporting Bengal

won promotion back to the Essex Senior League from the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South at the first attempt after winning a dramatic penalty shootout in the Playoff Final. The team also matched the club record run of reaching the FA Vase Third Round Proper.

After Playoff success in 2022-23 season, Sporting Bengal did the unthinkable again and reached the Playoff Final of the Essex Senior League Premier Division in the 2023-24 season after finishing in 5th position in the

league with a club record 70 points. Sporting Bengal beat non-league giants Romford FC 3-1 in the Final to secure promotion to Step 4 football and the Isthmian Football League for the first time in the club’s history.

HOW’S THE GENERAL MOOD DOWN AT THE CLUB AT THE MOMENT?

The club is in buoyant mood having reached step 4 in dramatic and unexpected fashion last season. We are excited to start the season at step 4, with a sense of trepidation as this is a massive step up on and off the field. However, the club is working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we can compete at this level.

COULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT ANY PLAYER CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OR PLAYED FOR THE CLUB OVER THE YEARS? DO YOU HAVE LINKS WITH OTHER CLUBS?

We have had various players who have come through our club with notable histories. We have had Shahed Ahmed who was our captain for many years who played for Wycombe Wanderers under Tony Adams. We have also had former West Ham/ Dagenham & Redbridge player Anwar Uddin who also managed us for a season. A few players have also gone

onto play abroad in the Bangladesh Premier League such as Mahdi Khan.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY LAST SEASON WENT FOR YOUR TEAMS ON THE PITCH?

Last year was a recordbreaking year for our senior team having accumulated the most points, wins, clean sheets in our history. This culminated in winning the Essex Senior League Premier Division playoffs to reach Step 4 football. This was also the first year of our new reserves team which consists of a lot of younger players, and they finished runners up in the Essex Senior League South Division.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURS TO BE A COMMUNITY CLUB AND IF YES HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE/BUSINESSES ETC?

Our club was founded as a community club with members of various local football teams/organisations working together to break into mainstream football. Many of our players are participants in our ‘Summer League’. This is a tournament that runs throughout preseason and consists of teams from all around the Tower Hamlets

borough. These teams contribute not only to our playing squad but also to our committee and many volunteer at Sporting Bengal during the season. We have a great working relationship with many businesses within the community, many of which have supported us through our journey.

HOW IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE ARE YOUR SPONSORS TO YOUR CLUB?

Finance is a major issue in grassroots football, our sponsors are invaluable to us as they enable us to carry out our projects. They have supported us with kit, finance, equipment and other support. We have many links with local businesses who have supported us from beginning of our journey.

PLEASE FINISH OFF BY TELLING ME WHAT MAKES YOUR CLUB SUCH A GREAT CLUB TO BE PART OF?

Sporting Bengal Utd is a community club, run by local volunteers and consists of players from East London and predominantly Tower Hamlets. In comparison to other teams in non-league football, we are a club in its infancy and therefore much

smaller than others. This makes our underdog story even greater as we shouldn’t really be in the position to be competing with the clubs that we do. However, there is a culture to take on the challenges and fight adversity at the club. The club have tackled historic racism and cultural obstacles in the past and through that fighting spirit to overcome difficulties, the club has created shockwaves in East London and Essex and done the unthinkable by winning

back-to-back promotions and now compete in the Isthmian League at Step 4 level for the first time ever.

In both seasons, Sporting Bengal were tipped to be relegated by all the local journalists and experts. In fact, the Isthmian League published a recent news post where the Supporters Predictions for this current season had Sporting Bengal at the bottom of the league. This was to be expected but is once again another reason for the club to rise and fight to prove everyone wrong.

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