GUT FEELING SIMON STODDART’S

My views - not United's - on semi-pro football and occasionally, other topics.

NICE ONE WAYNE!

When you're unable to see United in action these days, you end up relying heavily on social media to keep up. Usually it's work that interferes with a couple of 4 week sojourns way, way away in the Philippines. Where I am now. And at 2am or so, Sunday morning, I was able to enjoy 3 of Saturday's goals on Facebook posted by Wayne Southby. And on Monday evening I saw Joe Knight's video prese ntation too. Thanks to all concerned - great to be able to keep in touch.

arrangements are just that - you have to be realistic about recalls which we've already seen with Joe who is an exceptional talent to be getting in the Gills squad at just 17. Indeed not many 17 year olds feature in Isthmian Premier squads let alone EFL2. Enjoy Joe's contributions while you can!

Bit up and down lately - 4 frustrating narrow defeats, all single goal margins with 2 big away wins - we needed that Borough result last Saturday. Four goals a big bonus and despite those recent reversals, we still have a decent defensive record with only Bishop's Stortford having conceded less goals.

Chippenham Again

Still off Wayne's video as the Cole Warren end celebrates Chinedu making it 4-1 with another instant impact goal!

Big 3 Points

Footballwebpages showed United a goal down to Haringey Borough on Saturday. What a second half turn around that was. Gary is fixing the goal scoring issue, Popey has got going, Chinedu has made an immediate impact and here's hoping Joe gets to stay at the Pilot Field a while. Loan

Memorable FA Cup win at Hardenhuish Park last season with United, then two levels below Chippenham, winning 1-0 thanks to the goal of the season from Kenny Pogue.

Chippenham are going well in this season's FA Cup with a recent 1st Round 1-0 win against EFL1 Lincoln City earning them a 2nd Round tie at old Southern League sparring partners of ours, Burton Albion. More EFL1 opposition for them tomorrow week.

Today's FA Trophy tie is just Chippenham's second visit here. We played them twice in our yoyo 2002-3 season. We were 6th in the Southern Premier after a 0-0 draw at Hardenhuish almost 20 years ago to the day - 9/11/02. Chippenham had been promoted to the Southern Prem as Western Division runners up the previous season while we were winning the Eastern Division.

Yoyo? How things had changed when we met here in April 03. Our FA Cup exit at Stevenage earlier in the season seemed to spark off a horrendous run of defeats and when we kicked off on 12/4/03 we were 4 points adrift of safety with 6 games to play. We were to win that must win game 2-1 with goals from Tony Burt and Danny Simmonds to give us a real chance of a big escape. Which all never happened. What an up and down season that was.

You have to wonder if Jefferson will reach that half century. Imagine if, say, Danny Simmonds (pictured below) was still doing the business pitchside. 2019 saw him here in the Manchester United Legends game and he looked well capable of running midfield.

Crawley

Goalmouth action as, I think, Stuart Playford goes up to challenge with Tony Burt hovering in the background. Veteran Chippenham supporters here today will recognise some of their players from 20 seasons ago.

Evergreen

Check this out for a playing career .......

Contact with our old Southern League opponents from West Sussex is infrequent these days. The last game with points at stake was a 0-0 draw just over a week after that win over Chippenham 20 long seasons ago. Sussex Senior Cup games won't be top priority till the final looms with the prospect of a trophy but those Sussex bragging rights - bit like the Burgess Hill Trophy tie recently, eh.

All reflected in Gary's team selection Tuesday evening (Early Wednesday morning for me in the Philippines). Pretty much a first team line up and a fine result as penalties decided a Cup tie for the 2nd time this season.

I shall be following today's game from Phillies Sports Bar in Angeles City (pictured below). Thursday sees me on the 50 mile bus ride from Manila which on a good day is 1 hr 50 and on a horrendous day - 4hrs 30. Always good to, er, leave in good time and here's hoping Just Stop Oil hasn't opened a South East Asia branch........