“THE GROVE”

Official matchday programme of Hengrove Athletic F.C

Toolstation Western League’s

“Best Programme - Division One” 2022/23

Toolstation Western League Division One

Hengrove Athletic v Warminster Town

Tuesday 1st August 2023 7.30pm

Issue: 1

Hengrove Athletic Football Club

Founded 1948 - celebrating our 75th anniversary this season

Main club sponsor for season 2023-24 - AVB Commercial Vehicle Repairs

Club Officials Club Honours

Chairman Mike Greatbanks Alf Bosley Cup winners

Treasurer Mike Greatbanks 1958/59, 1963/64

Secretary/Media Martin McConachie Somerset Junior Cup winners

Groundsman Dave Fear 1964/65

First Team Manager Jamie Hillman

Somerset League Cup winners

Asst. Manager Jon Berry 1979/80

Coach Ian Jones Somerset Senior Cup winners

Coach Mike Stone 1979/80

Physiotherapist Matt Taylor Promoted to Som. County Prem.

Kit Manager Pete Stenner 1995/96

Somerset Senior Cup runners-up

Reserve Manager Sean Day 2003/04, 2004/05

Asst. Manager Nilton Crane Som. County Premier winners

U18’s Manager Alex Sully 2005/06

Western League Div 1 runners-up

Club Committee Jon Berry 2012/13, 2016/17

Alan Burton Nilton Crane Les Phillips Cup winners

Sean Day Dave Fear 2015/16

Mike Greatbanks Jamie Hillman

Ian Jones

Giorgio Mancini

Martin McConachie Pete Stenner

Bristol u18 Comb Div 1 winners

2021/22

Bristol u18 Comb. Plate winners

Mike Stone Alex Sully 2021/22 The AVB Stadium, Norton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 0BT

Good evening everyone,

Tonight, we offer a warm welcome to the players, officials & supporters of our opposition Warminster Town as well as our match officials too. We hope that they all enjoy their brief stay in the village and have a safe journey home too.

As always, the summer break flew by in the blink of an eye and less than thirteen weeks on from the finale of last season, here we are kicking off our 75th anniversary season. Well, the season began at Bitton on Saturday of course but tonight sees Warminster Town arrive as our first home opposition of the new campaign.

On Saturday, we picked up a creditable point at Bitton despite playing more than half an hour with ten men. Although Harry Neil put the home side ahead, a goal lead is nothing really and Aidan Jones, who had only come on eight minutes before, smashed home a free kick with six minutes to go to earn a point.

Bitton were one of six clubs to join Division One during the summer along with neighbours Cadbury Heath & Keynsham Town. Bradford Town and new rivals in the shape of Cribbs Reserves and Middlezoy Rovers. We welcome them all to the division while waving a goodbye to promoted Nailsea & Tickenham and Oldland Abbotonians; FC Bristol, Bishop’s Lydeard, Tytherington Rocks and Almondsbury.

One can’t look back on games between tonight’s two sides without remembering the epic, crazy match two seasons ago when the two sides shared thirteen goals at Warminster” The host side were seemingly coasting at 7-1 up with half an hour left but the Grove found another gear and pulled five of the six goals deficit back, missing out on an equaliser. Think it would be too much to ask for more of the same tonight, wouldn’t it?

So strap yourself in and get ready for the rollercoaster ride that is the Toolstation Western League Division One season. 42 games; hot weather, frozen surfaces, waterlogged pitches, suspensions, players going elsewhere for £5 a game more, floodlight failures, red cards, sin bins, Tuesday/Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday and so much more.

You wouldn’t want it any other way. Would you?

Enjoy the game.

ATHLETIC STATS 2023/24

Entry costs just £1 per team per week (£10 total)

Competition runs for 10 matches

Highest scoring team wins £200 first prize

Second highest scoring team wins £100 second prize

Lowest scoring team wins £50 wooden spoon prize

Teams awarded two goals when not playing

Competition 1 Friday 4th August to Monday 9th October

Competition 2 Friday 13th October to Monday 18th December

Competition 3 Friday 22nd December to Monday 19th February

Competition 4 Friday 23rd February to Monday 22nd April

PLAYER SPONSORS 2023/24 SEASON

Jack Cousins

Lewis Bond-Kendall

Regan Sollars

Rohan Hartrey

Dylan Powell

Louie Davies

PLAYER SPONSORS 2023/24 SEASON

Aidan Jones

If you would like to sponsor a first team player, please email secretary@hengroveathletic.com with your logo and which player you’d like to sponsor. The cost is £50 for the season and your name will appear alongside the player’s name in the online matchday programme.

Thank you for your generosity.