Hengrove Athletic v Wells City 12th August

“THE GROVE”

Official matchday programme of Hengrove Athletic F.C

Toolstation Western League’s

“Best Programme - Division One” 2022/23

Toolstation Western League Division 1

Hengrove Athletic v Wells City

Saturday 12th August 2023 7.30pm

Issue: 3

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 afternoon everyone,

Today, we offer a warm welcome to the players, officials & supporters of our opposition Wells City 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.

After two resounding victories over Warminster and Keynsham, we were on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing by AEK Boco. Three down by half time, we conceded a fourth before “Captain Jack” Jones sneaked a goal back. The final Boco goal was a screamer from Ollie Williams, sometimes you just have to clap a finish even if it’s against you. On the plus side, that is 20 goals already in our four games this season, we are the team to watch. (Cue a 00 now).

Wells have enjoyed a mixed start to the season recording wins over Cheddar and Longwell Green in the League but losing to Cadbury Heath (League) and AFC Portchester in the FA Cup. Games between the two sides are usually competitive and I doubt today’s will be any different.

This coming week, the first team make the very short trip to last season’s champions Brislington then on Thursday, the under-18’s kick off their 23/24 season with an FA Youth Cup tie at Cheddar. Be warned that the kick off time for FAYC ties are 7.00pm.

The recent Somerset Premier Cup draw was kind in that we didn’t end up being in it! We were given a bye in the first round so no game for us in October; that’s the second cup competition we’ve had a bye in following the FA Vase First Qualifying Round draw - that paired us with Roman Glass St George in the Second Qualifying Round.

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. And that could be all in the first month!

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

Enjoy the game.

Saturday 12th August 2023

Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Barnstaple Town v St Blazey

Brixham v Nailsea & Tickenham

Clevedon Town v Saltash United

Helston Athletic v Bridgwater United

Ilfracombe Town v Falmouth Town

Millbrook v Street

Oldland Abbotonians v Buckland Athletic

Shepton Mallet v Welton Rovers

Torpoint Athletic v Wellington

Toolstation Western League Division One

AEK Boco v Wincanton Town

Bishop Sutton v Shirehampton

Bradford Town v Hallen

Cheddar v Keynsham Town

Cribbs Reserves v Longwell Green Sports

Gillingham Town v Bristol Telephones

Hengrove Athletic v Wells City

Middlezoy Rovers v Cadbury Heath

Odd Down (Bath) v Brislington

Radstock Town v Bitton

Warminster Town v Portishead Town

HENGROVE ATHLETIC STATS 2023/24

(max 4 games, up to & inc 8th Aug 2023)

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.

THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD SPONSORS

If you would like to join our board sponsors, please call Martin McConachie on 07432 614494 or email secretary@hengroveathletic.com for further details.

The cost is £250 for the first year (including a one-off manufacture cost of £100) then £100 per year thereafter. This includes adverts on our website and in the programme.

Top To Toe Physiotherapy

Abacus Waste Management

D C Windows

Covertek Ben’s Reclamation & Demolition

E R & B Print

Belvedere Building & Plumbing AVB Commercial Vehicle Repairs

Avon Hydraulics (UK) Ltd AVPI Apollo Cleaning Solutions

Under-18’s - the new season begins...

WESTERN COUNTIES FLOODLIGHT YOUTH LEAGUE

AEK Boco

Almondsbury

Bishop Sutton

Brislington

Bristol Telephones

Hengrove Athletic

Longwell Green

Oldland Abbots

Reserves - the new season begins...

BRISTOL & SUBURBAN LEAGUE SENIOR DIVISION

Hengrove Athletic FC

Green shirts, Green shorts & Green socks

Ben BRITTON

Jackson BROWN

Regan BURTON

Jack COUSINS

Taylor DOYLE

Louie FARROW

Jacob GRINNELL

Ethan HARDY

Rohan HARTREY

Harvey IMPEY

Aidan JONES

Jack JONES

Connor KINGDON

Giorgio MANCINI

Jude McCARTHY

Mickey PARSONS

Dylan POWELL

Pete SHEPPARD

Regan SOLLARS

Oscar SULLIVAN

Manager Jamie HILLMAN

Asst. Manager

Coaches

Physio

Jon BERRY

Ian JONES

Mike STONE

Matt TAYLOR

Referee

Daniel BUGG

SQUADS

Wells City FC

Blue shirts, Blue shorts & Blue socks

Tom CREED

Kai MURRELL

Ali SEN

Tom ELLIS

Tom HILL

James BAYLISS

Harry WARWICK

Charlie MOON

Rhys COOK

Conrad PECK

Michael DUFFY

Josh CHAMPION

Craig HERROD

Jake CURTIS

Louis de GREGORIO

Richard FOWLER

W E L L S C I T Y

Manager Brad ALLEN

Assistants

Ross PADFIELD

Josh MORRIS

Physio

Loui ROLLI

Assistants

Daniel LEAVER

Bobby TUTTON

Wells City Football Club was founded on May 27th 1890 when a meeting was held in the Star Hotel in Wells. Success was immediate winning the first ever Somerset league title a feat repeated the following year.

In 1892/93 Wells entered the Bristol & District league, the forbearer of today’s Toolstation Western League of which Wells is a founder member. It was recorded that it was a Wells player who scored the first ever goal on the opening day of the season in a 2-0 victory Vs Mangotsfield.

In 1893/4 Wells re-joined the Somerset Senior league as well as moving to their present location at Rowdens Road. Wells were invited back into the Western League in1928/29 and competed in both the Somerset and Western leagues eventually leaving the county league in 1931.

After the war years Wells competed in Division One of the Western League eventually winning being crowned champions in 1949/50, pipping Poole Town on goal difference.

Success became more difficult in the following years and Wells City re-joined the Somerset Senior League in 1960-61 with the Reserves competing in the Mid-Somerset Football League. The club finished very much mid –table until 1965-66 when they were third behind Street and Welton Rovers Reserves. They were Runners-Up behind Paulton Rovers in 1971-82.

Between 1977 and 1998 Wells suffered from the yo-yo effect, promotion to the Premier division one year, relegation the next. It wasn’t until the 1999/2000 season that Wells once again cemented themselves in the County’s premier division.

Wells City became Somerset Senior Cup champions in 2006-07 season defeating Burnham on Sea at Weston super Mare’s Woodspring Stadium 2-1.

After an absence of nearly fifty years, Wells City returned to the Western League First Division in 2008-09 with a mid table finish.

Wells City was crowned Toolstation Western League Division One Champions at the end of 2009-10 season. In 2011 Wells reached the 2nd qualifying round of the FA Cup with a home tie versus Woking FC with the visitors coming away comfortable winners. That was to be the highlight for Wells as after only a brief spell of 3 seasons in the Premier division found them relegated back into Division 1 in 2012-13.

A period of rebuilding was needed and a few seasons in the lower mid table positions followed. A change in direction late 2014 has seen a gradual change in fortunes resulting in Wells having their most successful season to date; gaining promotion back to the Toolstation Western League Premier Division and becoming Champions of Somerset beating Taunton Town, Frome Town, Weston S Mare and a thrilling 2–1 victory over Larkhall Athletic in the final to lift the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time in the clubs history.

This success was yet again short lived, after only a couple of seasons in the Premier division Wells were again relegated to Division One.

184 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 2DL

Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay Park Road, Winterbourne, BS16 1LG

Prior Park College Sports Complex, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH

* - season declared null & void ** - season curtailed *** - current

Hengrove Athletic Football Club is renowned within the local leagues and amongst match officials for offering a warm, friendly welcome and top notch hospitality. The ground itself, the AVB Stadium, is pleasant and offers superb views of Bristol as well as the peace and quiet of the country. It’s a lovely place to watch a game of football! Here at the club, the last few seasons have been very successful and as a result, we are looking for people to join the team. Not the one ON the pitch that has won two promotions and a Les Phillips Cup in the last ten years but the one OFF IT; the team behind the team if you like.

We are looking for anyone that feels they can make a contribution to the club. On matchdays, it could be serving refreshments and food, selling raffle tickets, working on the front gate or helping to tidy up after the game. You’ll get to watch the football free of charge of course but better still, you’ll be joining a small team of dedicated hard working volunteers that make this club very special.

On non-matchdays, there are other jobs that need doing such as strimming, painting, cleaning, weeding and brushing. You name it, we need to do it! However with only a small band of willing helpers, we can always do with a little more help, no matter how many hours you can give up. If you feel this is you, please email the chairman Mike Greatbanks at michael.greatbanks@btconnect.com or call him on 07884 492217. And thank you!

Supporting the club...

There are several more ways of getting your company name out there that we can help you with. Perimeter banners, perimeter boards, programme advertising, website advertising.. they are all available within the club.

Perimeter Boards are one option that many companies have chosen recently. Match action pictures often appear online either on websites or social media so your company board could be seen regularly as well as those who attend the match.

Perimeter boards cost £250 for the first year (including a one-off manufacturing charge of £100) then cost £100 a year thereafter.

Perimeter Banners are a similar option but made from a hard wearing fabric. The same size as a board (2.4m x 915mm or 8’ x 3’), they cost £200 (including a one off manufacturing charge of £75) then cost £100 a year thereafter.

Programme Advertising has also proven popular in recent seasons. After having “gone online” in recent seasons, the club have decided to go back to printing a copy for its supporters, a popular move with many non-league fans too.

Advertising costs just £100 for a full page (A5) or £50 for a half page; this is for a full season of matchday programmes so this season, at least 21 programmes. You can change the actual composition of the programme each week to keep it topical and/or time sensitive!

Website Advertising is the cheapest form of advertising and is just £25. For this, your link/logo will sit on a carousel on the front page and when visitors click the link, it will take them to your website. Our club website is one of the most popular ones in the league with more than 2,000 unique visits each week during the season.

If you are interested in any of these deals, please email the club secretary, Martin McConachie, on secretary@hengroveathletic.com or ring 07432 614494.

Hengrove Athletic Club History

Hengrove Athletic F.C was formed in 1948 from players demobbed from National Service. As a footnote, there is also wartime history to the club colours of green and white. With rationing and many shortages, football shirts were virtually unobtainable, so all of the members of Hengrove Athletic F.C donated an ordinary white shirt and a mother of one of the players kindly dyed them green in the bath at her Knowle home. The colour green had no symbolic meaning. It was the only colour available at the time! The founding fathers of Hengrove Athletic F.C then agreed to retain these colours for the new club.

A successful application was made to join the Bristol and Suburban League and they were placed in Division 3 for the start of 1948/49 season. A Reserve XI was established in 1950 and in the same year Hengrove Hall was rented for club meetings and social gatherings. The club continued to expand and the ‘A’ XI started in 1953, followed by the 30-plus XI in 1959. These four football teams made Hengrove Athletic F.C the largest club in the Bristol and Suburban League at the time – after just eleven years. A ‘B’ XI replaced the 30 plus in 1962. The long search for a ground came to fruition on Sunday 7 June 1964 when Norton Lane was officially opened and Hengrove Athletic F.C took up residence.

The first XI was accepted by the Somerset Senior League for the 1974/75 season, where they remained until 2005/06 when they were runaway, unbeaten, Premier Division Champions and joined the Western League for the start of the 2006/07 season. Our Floodlights and Stand were installed at the ground in 2007/08 to achieve the necessary ground grading of the Western League. The EWW Stand was installed at the ground in 2012/13 to achieve the necessary ground grading of entry into the FA Cup and future possible promotions.

The first XI finished runners-up in Western League Division One in 2012/13, achieving a promotion to the Premier Division. They also lifted the Les Phillips League Cup (Western League) in 2015/16 before winning promotion to the Premier Division again the following season. In 2017/18 under new manager John Durbin, the club finished ninth in the Premier Division, their highest ever position and were also the highest placed Bristol side in the division. However, this was followed by relegation back to Division One in 2018/19.

Jamie Hillman returned for a third spell as manager in the summer of 2019 but the next two seasons failed to play to a finish due to the COVID pandemic. Last season, 2021/22, did get completed and for the fourth year running, the Grove ended in mid table. This year sees the club celebrate its 75th anniversary.

A guide to away games this season in Toolstation Western League Division 1 (mileages shown via www.theaa.com)

Fixtures & Results 2023/24

Sat 12 Wells City

Tue 15 Brislington A

Sat 19 Radstock Town H

Tue 22 Cribbs Res. A

Sat 26 Cadbury Heath H

September

Sat 2 Shirehampton A

Sat 9 Longwell Green A

Tue 12 Middlezoy Rov. A

Sat 16 Brislington H

Sat 23 Roman Glass H (FA Vase)

Tue 26 Bishop Sutton H (Les Phillips Cup)

Sat 30 Bradford Town A

October

Sat 7 Bitton H

Tue 10 Cheddar H

Sat 14 Cadbury Heath A

Tue 17 Hallen H

Sat 21 AEK Boco A

Sat 28 Warminster T A

November

Sat 4 Longwell Green H

Sat 11 Gillingham T A

Sat 18

Middlezoy R H

Sat 25 Wincanton T H

December

Fixtures & Results 2023/24

Date Opponents Ven.

December

Sat 2 Wells City H

Sat 9 Bradford Town H

Sat 16 Portishead T A

Tue 26 Bristol Tel. H

Sat 30 Bishop Sutton A

January 2024

Sat 6 Cribbs Res. H

Sat 20 Odd Down A

February

Sat 3 Gillingham T. H

Sat 10 Hallen A

Sat 24 Radstock Town A

March

Sat 2 Portishead T H

Sat 9 Wincanton T A

Sat 16 Keynsham T H

Sat 23 Odd Down A

Fri 29 Bristol Tel. A (Good Friday)

April

Mon 1 Bishop Sutton H (Easter Monday)

Sat 6 Cheddar A

Sat 20 Shirehampton H