2019-20
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Join the gold club • Season ticket for all home league games • Members-only Aylesbury United polo shirt • 3 exclusive pre-match meals with a talk from the manager • Advert in every matchday programme for business members.
Visit bit.ly/aufcgoldclub to sign-up
Welcome to The Meadow Aylesbury United FC 01296 487367 aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk
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ood afternoon and welcome to The Meadow for the opening game of the new season against Corby Town. The Southern League’s fixture computer has served up a tough task to begin with, pitching us against last year’s beaten play-off finalists. The Ducks lost two exciting games against last season’s third place finshers who’ll undoubtedly be aiming for another promotion push over the next few months.
It’s been a mixed pre-season for the Ducks, with three wins balanced against three losses. Victory against Colchester United’s under 18 side has been followed by two defeats against sides who play in the same tier as us. But as everyone knows, the real work starts today. It’s still possible for supporters to take advantage of our new super season ticket, the Aylesbury United Gold Club. For £25 a month you’ll
the Ducks
receive a season ticket for all home league and league cup fixtures, an exclusive polo shirt, an invitation to three pre-match meals with a talk from the manager and, for business members, an advert in every matchday programme and your logo on the website. To join the club, download an application form from the website or have a word with Ken Turnbull.
Up the Ducks!
Chairman Graham Read Vice chairman Ken Turnbull General secretary Steve Baker Fixture secretary Ian Pluck Directors James Byrne, Brian Metcalfe, Ian Pluck, Alan Sherwell, Warren Sheward Welfare officer James Byrne Safety officer Warren Sheward Ladies team chairman Andy Foster 21st Century Ducks chairman Zana Saunders Matchday hospitality Muriel Turnbull First team kit Ron Schmidt Web editor Luke Buckingham-Brown Photographer Mike Snell Programme editor Paul Snell Media assistant Chris Howarth Legal name Aylesbury United Football Company no. 05814026 Significant interests (Shareholder/ Shareholding) Graham Read: 49% 21st Century Ducks: 39% @aylesburyutdfc @aylesburyunitedfc flick.kr/ aylesburyunited issuu.com/ aylesburyunited
d e it n U y r u b s e yl A t u o Ab A
ylesbury United was founded in 1897 when three local sides, Night School FC, The Printing Works and Aylesbury Town, decided to merge. The club, nicknamed the Ducks due to the famous Aylesbury breed, has experienced some incredible highs over its 112-year history but are now without a home ground of its own.
a year later a local lad called Cliff Hercules made his debut. ‘Hercy’ is an Aylesbury icon, and hung up his boots 20 years later having smashed club records with 669 appearances and 301 goals.
Fame and the FA Cup
Promotion to the Southern Premier was soon achieved and shortly afterwards the Ducks moved to their new Buckingham Road stadium. Gould’s talented squad secured the Southern League Championship in 1987-88 and gained promotion to the Vauxhall Conference.
Ducks first tasted national publicity in 1951 as they became the only club from the Delphian League ever to reach the First Round of the FA Cup, losing to Division Three Watford.
That year the Ducks became the only nonleague side ever to take on the full England team, as over 6000 packed into Buckingham Road to see the Ducks take on the Three Lions.
Aylesbury turned semiprofessional in 1976 and joined the Southern League, kicking off the club’s most successful period. In 1983 the club appointed Trevor Gould as manager, and then
Between 1985 and 1992, Aylesbury boasted the best FA Cup record of any side outside the Football League, reaching at least the First Round Proper every season. In 1994-95 the club became famous
United played in local leagues before joining the Spartan League in 1908 where we remained until the Second World War.
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for the ‘Duck Walk’ goal celebration as Aylesbury reached the third round losing to Premier League Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road. Rollercoaster ride Steve Ketteridge delivered the Isthmian League Cup, but it was the beginning of a rollercoaster ride for the club. After almost going out of business, the Ducks were pipped to the Isthmian League title by Sutton United in 1998-99. The following season saw the Ducks in administration and fighting for survival on and off the pitch. Despite defeating Reading in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup for the second time in four seasons, the club was relegated to Division One for the first time in its history. In October 2000 Hercules took charge and secured promotion back to the Isthmian Premier Division and an FA Cup first round trip to Port Vale. 2002-03 saw Aylesbury returned to national
prominence hosting Sven Goran Eriksson’s England squad for training, and the club made its first appearance in the FA Trophy semi-final. Bring the Ducks home In summer 2006 former chairman Bill Carroll cut ties with the club he had been involved with since 1997, having failed in his plans to convert the Buckingham Road playing surface to a third generation artificial surface when the Southern League and FA baulked at his ideas. Local businessman Graham Read took over the club, but the Ducks were left homeless after the lease expired. Since then United have been forced to play their ‘home’ matches away from Aylesbury while the committee work hard keeping the club alive. The campaign to ‘Bring the Ducks Home’ was generated plenty of publicity, but sadly nothing concrete in terms of a new home. On the pitch the club did remarkably well,
going close to the playoff positions in the Midlands Division for the next three seasons but a new challenge arose when the previous manager left taking almost the entire playing squad with him.
The 2014-15 season saw the club finish in 13th place but reached the final of the Berks & Bucks Cup for the first time in 10 years, losing the final 4-0 to Conference side Maidenhead United.
This lead to another turbulent season which saw Martin Stone initially appointed as manager, before resigning less than than two weeks before the first game of the season. His assistant Byron Walton did a sterling job assembling a competitive team before former United defender Tony Joyce became the new permanent manager. Unfortunately he was unable to prevent the club’s relegation to the Spartan South Midlands League.
Tony Joyce tendered his resignation after six years at the club following a disappointing start and was replaced by coach Glyn Creaser. In Glyn’s first full season in charge he led the club to the semi-final of the Southern League Cup and 13th position in league. Current manager Ben Williams was appointed in January 2018 and led the team to 13th place finish, followed up with a 15th place last season.
Starting to rebuild After two seasons of steady improvement and finishes of sixth and fourth in the Spartan South Midlands League, the Ducks clinched second spot in the league and with it promotion back to the Southern League, as well as winning the Premier Division Cup.
Work continues to identify opportunities to return to Aylesbury. This year the club was invited to tender an offer for the now derelict Buckingham Road. While that was unsuccessful, the site is now being offered on the open market and the club intends to resubmit a bid, giving fans hope the team may be able to return home in the near future.
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Meet the Ducks
Jack Hopwood Goalkeeper
Archie Davis Goalkeeper
Fabian Etienne Defender
Anthony Ball Defender
Jake Bewley Defender
Jordan Jenkins Defender
Dave O’Connor Defender
Jack Wood Defender
Sonny French Midfielder
Ollie Hogg Midfielder
Harry Jones Midfielder
Melvy N’Somi Midfielder
Lewis Osborne Midfielder
Mark Riddick Midfielder
Jamie Rudd Midfielder
Ben Seaton Midfielder
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Sponsor: Erika Robinson
Sponsor: David Horne
Greg Williams Midfielder
Ken Feyi Striker
Jacob Hutchinson Striker
Ben Williams Manager
Mike Hogg Assistant manager
Paul Batchelor Coach
Sponsor: G Williams Builders
ck
Featured Du
Luke Robertson Physio
Ben Seaton Appearances 69 Goals 6 Ducks debut 7 October 2017 vs AFC Sudbury Previous clubs Tring Athletic Age 21 Understated attacking midfielder who brought his fine technical ability to the club from Tring Athletic in October 2017. Finished the season winning the Gary Hawksworth Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Player.
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The visitors C
orby Town were formed in 1948 and are the second club to represent the town, following Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, who were formed in 1935. The club’s nickname ‘the Steelmen’ derives from the steelworks that were in Corby. The first chairman of the club was local MP William Montgomery, while Reg Smith was named the first manager. Smith had played for Millwall and Dundee and represented England. The Steelmen won their first game 5-1 against Wellingborough Town on 21 August 1948 at Occupation Road, which was home until a move to the Rockingham Triangle in 1985. It took the club only three years to win their first title, the United Counties League in 1951 before doing the same again a year later. Ernie Middlemiss scored a club record 135 goals in 136 games, a record that stood for 40 years. 1958 saw the introduction of floodlit football in
Corby and in the same year the club moved from the Midland League to the Southern League. The move looked to be a good one as the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier Division in 1964, but were promoted the following year. The club moved to the multipurpose Rockingham Triangle venue in 1985 but it didn’t prove to be lucky as the Steelmen were relegated from the Premier Division in 1990. They didn’t spend long outside the Premier as they achieved a league and cup double the following season. The mid-90s saw a cash crisis which threatened to put the club out of business. Although they were spared, relegation followed. The turn of the millennium brought about more positivity at the Triangle as they consolidated a mid-table position in the Dr Martens league. In 2005 they just missed out on a play-off place under manager Rob Dunion. Dunion’s side
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were promoted a year later in 2006. Corby saw a change of ownership in 2007, and under Graham Drury the Steelmen won the Southern League title in 2009. The Steelmen narrowly missed out on a play-off spot during their first season in the Conference North. Club chairman Peter Mallinger passed away in January 2011, before the club’s new 3,000 capacity Steel Park stadium was due to open. His son David Mallinger took charge of the club and a positive start to life in their new home led the Steelmen into play-off contention and the first round proper of the FA Cup, where they were beaten by Bristol Rovers. Sadly off-field issues affected results and Corby only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the 2011-12 season. In the summer of 2012 a Leicestershire businessman took control of the club, with Ian Sampson installed as manager. But after a
tough start to the season Sampson departed and was replaced by his assistant manager Chris Plummer. The former Peterborough Northern Star manager could not repeat the survival act of the previous year, with Corby Town relegated from the Blue Square North at the end of the season. Plummer remained in charge of the side, but resigned just two games into the 2013-14 season after heavy defeats against Burnham and Hemel Hempstead Town. The chairman appointed the managerial duo of Tommy Wright and Andrew Wilson, who helped to guide the club up the Southern League Premier Division table, but once again financial issues at the club prevented any real challenge to reach the play-offs. In April 2014 it was announced that a local consortium of seven businessmen headed by Paul Glass had agreed a deal to purchase the club and save it from the threat of administration. Stevie Noble was appointed as
the chairman and Tommy Wright was given sole charge of the first team, with Andrew Wilson departing.
assistant manager Gary Mills in mid-October 2016 as Corby looked to kick start the 2016-17 season.
In his first year in charge Tommy Wright led his team to the Southern League Premier Division Championship. The Steelmen secured the title and promotion back to the Conference North with a dramatic 3-2 win on the final day of the season against Poole Town who had led the division by one point going into that fixture. Spencer Weir-Daley scored the winning goal for Corby with just nine minutes remaining.
Mills was relieved of his position after just six months, with the job being placed in Steven Kinniburgh’s hands for the rest of this season 201617 as caretaker. In early May 2017 David Bell was appointed manager along with Rob Gould as his assistant as Corby hoped they could get the club back into the fourth tier after two successive relegations tumbling from the National North to the Northern Premier League.
Corby suffered relegation after just one season in the National North. After a period of uncertainty as to which league Corby would be placed in by the FA the club made its first-ever start in the Northern Premier League for 2016-17. Tommy Wright was relieved of his position in early October 2016 after a poor start, and was replaced by former Kings Lynn and Wrexham
After a poor start to the 2017-18 season the club parted company with Bell and Gould in late September 2017. Director of football Steven Kinniburgh took over as interim manager, and was named permanent manager in March 2018. Kinniburgh resigned in July 2019 and Corby appointed senior players Gary Mulligan and Ash Robinson interim managers with Elliot Sandy to assist them.
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The opposition Elliot Sandy Striker has played for Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering Town, Brackley Town, Cogenhoe, Northampton and Stamford. Corby will hope his vast experience will help younger players this season. Now temporary assistant manager following Steve Kinniburgh’s resignation in July 2019. Greg Ling Midfielder was signed on the eve of the 2018-19 season from Newport Pagnell who play in the United Counties League. Delroy Gordon Gordon rejoined Corby Town last season, and previously played for Corby in the Conference North. He has also played AFC Stamford, Rushden & Diamonds and Nuneaton Town among others. Sam Warburton Defender signed from from Kings Lynn who can also play on the left wing. Sam joined Corby in the summer of 2017. Hard working player who never gives up.
Jordon Crawford Locally-born forward who initially joined Corby Town from Stewarts & Lloyds as a 17-yearold in 2014. Crawford made nine first team appearances in 201415 and then spent the following season with Harborough Town. He returned to the Steelmen in the summer of 2016 and was a regular member of the starting XI throughout 2017-18. Voted young player of season in 2017-2018 by the Northern Premier League. Gary Mulligan, interim manager Born in Dublin the defender has played for Rushden & Diamonds, Sheffield United and Gillingham. More recently at Northampton Town and lately Kettering Town. Gary was made club captain on his arrival. He joins us after three seasons with our local rivals. Took on the role of assistant manager in the interim term following Kinniburgh’s resignation in July 2019.
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Callum Westwood Signed for Corby this week after some good displays in pre-season. A versatile player equally at home at full back or in Midfield. He has also played for AFC Stamford and Kettering Town among others. Stephen Diggin The striker rejoined Corby from Banbury United. He has made more than 150 appearances for Corby Town and is a fan favourite. He also won the FA Trophy in 2018 with Brackley Town. Started off at Cogenhoe United. Joe Burgess Burgess joined from AFC Stamford. He is a versatile player, playing in midfield or at the back. Previous clubs include Boston United, Ilkeston, Histon, Fleetwood and Peterborough United. Dennis Nkrumah Recently signed forms for the first team. Made his debut in the senior county cup at Wellingborough Whitworth, scoring a wonderful solo goal.
Ashley Robinson, interim manager The midfielder joined Corby from Peterborough Sports. Appointed manager following Steve Kinniburgh’s resignation in July 2019. Jake Duffy Joined Corby from local rivals AFC Stamford. He previously played for Grealey, Holbeach United and Oadby Town. Player’s player and manager’s player of the season for Stamford in 2018-19. Scott Sandy Scott is the younger brother of Elliott and a proven goalscorer. He has mostly played in the UCL for Sileby Rangers and Daventry Town.
Luke Aridegbe Luke is looking to break back into the first team after injury. Josh Carpenter Goalkeeper is 6ft 2in tall and started out at Harborough Town before joining Corby Town but was mostly understudy to Paul Walker. He then joined an academy in the US for five years. Daniel George Goalkeeper played for AFC Stamford, and also numbers Peterborough Sports among his former clubs. Starting his second season at Steel Park. Andrew Dempster, physio
James Ireland ‘Paddy’ as he’s been nicknamed joins us from Oadby Town. Curtis Hartley Curtis rejoined Corby after several seasons away playing for Daventry Town, Harborough Town among others. He was the youngest player to captain Corby in a League Cup game at Royston.
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Ducks in action
Above Ben Seaton finds his cross blocked against Chesham United Below Jordan Jenkins focuses on the ball against Hanwell Town
Above Melvy N’Somi tangles with Colchester United Under-18s
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Left Fabian Etienne cuts inside against Hanwell Town
Above Dave O’Connor in action versus Chesham United
Above Lewis Osborne receives the ball against Colchester
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Season 2019-20 DATE
TIME
VERSUS
COMP
17 Aug 19
15.00 H Corby Town
LEAGUE
20 Aug 19
19.45
A
Wantage Town
LEAGUE
24 Aug 19
15.00
A
Brimscombe & Thrupp
26 Aug 19
15.00 H Didcot Town
LEAGUE
31 Aug 19
15.00
LEAGUE
4 Sep 19
15.00 H Berkhamsted
LEAGUE
14 Sep 19
15.00 H Coleshill Town
LEAGUE
21 Sep 19
15.00
A
Biggleswade
LEAGUE
28 Sep 19
15.00
A
Bedford Town
LEAGUE
5 Oct 19
15.00 H Kidlington
12 Oct 19
15.00 H Sevenoaks Town
FA TRO
19 Oct 19
15.00
LEAGUE
2 Nov 19
15.00 H North Leigh
LEAGUE
9 Nov 19
15.00
LEAGUE
A
A
A
Daventry Town
AFC Dunstable
St. Neots Town
FA CUP
LEAGUE
16 Nov 19 15.00 H Bedworth United
LEAGUE
23 Nov 19 15.00
LEAGUE
A
Barton Rovers
30 Nov 19 15.00 H Welwyn Garden City
LEAGUE
7 Dec 19
LEAGUE
15.00
A
Kempston Rovers
14 Dec 19 15.00 H Yaxley
LEAGUE
21 Dec 19 15.00
LEAGUE
A
Halesowen Town
26 Dec 19 15.00 H Thame United
LEAGUE
1 Jan 20
15.00
LEAGUE
4 Jan 20
15.00 H Wantage Town
LEAGUE
11 Jan 20
15.00
Corby Town
LEAGUE
18 Jan 20
15.00 H Biggleswade
LEAGUE
25 Jan 20
15.00
Coleshill Town
LEAGUE
1 Feb 20
15.00 H Bedford Town
LEAGUE
8 Feb 20
15.00
LEAGUE
15 Feb 20
15.00 H AFC Dunstable
LEAGUE
22 Feb 20
15.00
LEAGUE
29 Feb 20
15.00 H St. Neots Town
LEAGUE
7 Mar 20
15.00
LEAGUE
A
A
A
A
A
A
Didcot Town
Kidlington
North Leigh
Bedworth United
14 Mar 20 15.00 H Barton Rovers
LEAGUE
21 Mar 20
LEAGUE
15.00
A
Welwyn Garden City
28 Mar 20 15.00 H Daventry Town
LEAGUE
4 Apr 20
15.00
LEAGUE
11 Apr 20
15.00 H Halesowen Town
LEAGUE
13 Apr 20
15.00
A
Thame United
LEAGUE
18 Apr 20
15.00
A
Yaxley
LEAGUE
25 Apr 20
15.00 H Kempston Rovers
A
Berkhamsted
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LEAGUE
RES
ATT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
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Stadium safety To ensure the safety of everybody, please observe the following: • DO NOT use foul or abusive language, or obscene gestures. Any form of racial abuse, or language used to incite or provoke others is a criminal offence under the Football Offences Act 1991.
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• NO glasses or bottles are permitted outside the clubhouse. • DO NOT throw any items onto the pitch. • DO NOT run onto the pitch or encroach on the playing area. • Aylesbury United reserves the right to remove or refuse entry to the ground.
The squads BetVictor Southern League Division One Central 3pm, 17 August 2019 Match officials
Aylesbury United
Corby Town
1. Jack HOPWOOD 2. Anthon BALL 3. Fabian ETIENNE 4. Jack WOOD 5. Jordan JENKINS 6. Ollie HOGG 7. Ben SEATON 8. Greg WILLIAMS 9. Harry JONES 10. Melvy N’SOMI 11. Ken FEYI
1. Dan GEORGE 2. Callum WESTWOOD 3. Sam WARBURTON 4. Greg LING 5. Joe BURGESS 6. Gary MULLIGAN 7. John DEAN 8. Jake DUFFY 9. Elliot SANDY 10. Stephen DIGGIN 11. Jordon CRAWFORD
12. Archie DAVIS 14. Jake BEWLEY 15. Dave O’CONNOR 16. Lewis OSBORNE 17. Mark RIDDICK 18. Jamie RUDD 19. Jacob HUTCHINSON 20. Sonny FRENCH
12. Curtis HARTLEY 14. James IRELAND 15. Scott SANDY 16. Ash ROBINSON 17. Josh CARPENTER
Manager Ben WILLIAMS
Interim managers Ash ROBINSON & Gary MULLIGAN
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Referee Mr Michael Begley Assistant referees Mr Matthew Ball Mr Chay Hathway
Today ’s Fixtures AFC Dunstable v Biggleswade Bedford Town v Thame United Bedworth United v St Neots Town Coleshill Town v Barton Rovers Kempston Rovers v Didcot Town Kidlington v Daventry Town North Leigh v Berkhamsted Welwyn Garden City v Wantage Town Yaxley v Halesowen Town
Next match
Wantage Town Tuesday 20 August 2019 Kick-off 7.45pm Alfredian Park Manor Road Wantage OX21 8DW
MATCH RANGE