Creasey Park Drive, Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable, Beds LU6 1BB
Dunstable Town FC is a Community Benefit Society. It is registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 Registration Number 8667 as Dunstable Town Football Club Ltd
dire C tors
Andrew Madaras
Chair / Secretary / Director of Community Activities & Matchday Operations
Matt Carrington - Vice Chair / Treasurer
Neil Barker - Director of Partnerships
Peter Bottom
Supporters’ Groups Director / Fundraising Manager
Gary Levy - Director of Football
Kristy Lewington
Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity
Lee Nania
Director of CBS Growth & Marketing / Business Consultant
Julian Nutley
Commercial & Marketing Director / Business Consultant
Dan Roberts
Director of Specialist Community Projects
C ommunity bene F it so C iety team
Adrian Witkowski - Membership Administrator
Yvonne Verla - Mental Health Ambassador
Ian Bateman - Walking Football
Patrick Mackay - Walking Group
Lee Nutley - Chums and Crumbs
Andrew Madaras - Sphere at the Glider
Lou Goodman - Volunteer
C oa C hing sta FF
Joe Deeney - Head Coach
Kyle Durcan - Assistant Head Coach
Anthony Christophi - Coach
Ayub Nabongo - U18s
Adam Ashton - Physio/Sports Therapist
Steve Lewington - Kitman
C lub o FF i C ers & o FF i C ials
Brad Cawthorne - Digital Manager
Jeffrey Roy - International Supporters’ Ambassador
Abby Slough - Marketing & Advertising Manager
Liam Smith - Events Manager
Wayne Upton - Community Activities
media team
Brad Cawthorne - Website/DTFC TV
Chris White & Liam Smith - Club Photographers
Matt Carrington - Social Media
Abby Slough - Instagram
Richard Scott - Programme Editor
Fly Design & Print - Programme Printing
m at C hday t eam
Wayne Upton - Matchday Manager
Brad Cawthorne - Matchday Cameraman
Andrew Madaras - Match Reporter
Amanda Madaras - Turnstile Manager
Dan Roberts - Matchday Merchandise
George Lewington - Matchday DJ
Chris Gray - Matchday Steward
Bradley Field & Mark Williams - Stewards
youth se C tion
Andrew Madaras - Chair
Wayne Upton - Vice Chair
Kristy Lewington - Secretary/Club Welfare Officer
Christian Baxter - Treasurer
Steve Chiswell - Assistant Welfare Officer
Wayne Upton & Joe Le Vien - Football Development
Jeff Abraham - Parents Representative
Karl Clarke & Steve Lewington - Social Media
Welcome to the management, players, supporters, and all associated with Ardley United ahead of this afternoon’s league clash. Ardley United come into this game unbeaten in 6 league games and are a side I’ve always been impressed with. They have vast experience in the squad and present a tough challenge today in what is a vital game for us. It always feels like teams seem to hit form just before we play them which will hopefully ensure we are well up for the test.
Our last home game against St Panteleimon feels a lifetime ago when in reality it’s been 3 weeks. Despite the 1-0 loss I felt we deserved more but as I have said to the players its only fairy tales where you get what you deserve. We had enough chances to win 5 games of football never mind 1 but their GK was absolutely outstanding and we were left to reflect on “if only”.
We have 22 league games to play as well as a cup semi-final and all inside 12 weeks. You don’t need to be Rachel
Riley to work out we are going to have an extremely busy few months. Whilst some might see it as a huge hinderance I am really looking forward to it. I have moaned about a lack of games, and I would rather have too many than not enough. Nothing quite matches the feeling of a game of Football at 3pm on a Saturday or 7:45pm on a Tuesday! Luckily, we all now have lots of these games to look forward to!
The mini break might have done us some benefit as it has given us a great opportunity to assess every single individual in the squad. We have had 2 full blooded 11v11 internal games over the last 2 Saturdays. I would like to pay tribute to our Chairman Andrew Madaras for facilitating the pitches on both occasions. Neil Barker’s dedication has been a different class. Neil attends every training session without fail. Each week I run around coaching with about 18 layers on as well as a hat and Neil is in his Dunstable jacket watching and supporting despite the Baltic conditions.
“i watch loads of games at other clubs and have been at games where it feels like i am the only one there. the lack of atmosphere at so many other grounds go to show why the support you all provide is so special.”
I can’t help but admire that level of dedication. Last week it was -5 degrees, 30+ players training in icy conditions and there was Andrew Madaras, Neil Barker and Steve Lewington watching, I was freezing looking at them! It just goes to show the level of support I receive as the Manager. Our club is full of great people which feeds our hunger to get us winning consistently and flying up the table.
I want to express my gratitude to our wonderful Kit man Steve Lewington. Where most kitmen have had plenty of time off, Steve has had his workload doubled in the last 2 weeks and has been exemplary in his delivery as always. Without Steve the internal games wouldn’t have anywhere near the same intensity. Put an 11v11 on with bibs and it does literally become a training game. Put the lads in full match kits and the games were lively to say the least. That is why all of us coaches and players believe we have the best kitman in the business.
I have watched both games back several times and let me tell you there was nothing friendly about those games. The demands were sky high, the tempo excellent and the tackles were as tenacious as ever. The games were designed to see who we could take forwards for the last 3 months of the season.
I am a manager who loves every single one of my players contrary to what some may feel. They feel at times like my children and the amount of time we have spent together good and bad creates a bond. Irrespective of how much I like them personally the harsh reality is this is no time to be nostalgic! All I care about is winning games and it as simple as that! There isn’t time to have players that lack competitive aggression
or players that duck out of headers or dangle legs at tackles. Our error count has been far too high this season which has cost us. It is now purely survival of the fittest.
The realities of football are cruel but so is life. Speak to any manager and they will tell you the same things. 1-11 are the most important on a matchday, 1216 are also very important in terms of the ability to make tweaks or changes. Anyone outside the 16 on a matchday is unable to help us win which is never easy for any player to accept but unfortunately that’s the truth. Our job is to make decisions and I have never been frightened to make some unpopular ones. I realised very early in my Managerial career that Football Management is not a popularity contest. If you worry about being popular you will never be able to make tough decisions.
I genuinely mean it when I say how much your support helps us all. You all create a great atmosphere home and away and really helps our players push through tough moments.
I watch loads of games at other clubs at this level and have been at games where it feels like I am the only one there. The lack of atmosphere at so many other grounds go to show why the support you all provide is so special and critical.
Please keep your fantastic support coming for us all. Our average attendance is up to 231 which is more than we could have expected this season. Whatever the weather we seem to always have such a great support and that is testimony to you all both home and away. We will give everything in our quest to get where we want to all be.
Joe DeeneyGood afternoon, everyone and welcome back to Creasey Park for this afternoon’s fixture v Ardley Utd. A warm welcome to our opponents who have travelled from Oxfordshire and who are currently on a fine run of form. We hope they enjoy their afternoon with us and have a safe journey home come five o’clock.
The corresponding fixture in October was, to put it politely, “incident filled” A stoppage time equalizer for the hosts ended our seven game winning run, with incidents earlier in the game provoking serious debate among the many Blues fans there that evening.
Three months have passed since that fixture and I hope very much that this afternoon we get to see a good game from two sides who like to entertain and play the right way.
It’s three weeks since we last played a competitive match. The defeat at home
to St Panteleimon was one of those games where even unbiased observers said we were the better team and should have won by a clear margin. A soft penalty was our undoing and a display of Tomaszewski-esque goalkeeping (those of a certain vintage will understand the reference) denied our forwards time after time.
Thankfully despite the severe weather we’ve had the players have had in-house matches on consecutive Saturdays to keep sharp and stay fit.
Our U18s kept up their impressive run, following on from their 3-0 victory over Luton Town Cedars with a fine 3-1 victory over Colney Heath last Monday. Two goals from Caleb Capone and one from Ashley Harris saw us through. A reminder that the lads play AFC’s U18s here at Creasey Park next Wednesday (1st February) Season Ticket holders
“it’s three weeks since we last played a competitive match. the defeat at home to st panteleimon was one of those games where even unbiased observers said we were the better team and should have won”
get free admission so please come down and support the stars of tomorrow.
Off the field there’s been plenty of action. You’ll notice the new portacabin next to the Aaron Bateman stand. It’s still to be decked out in DTFC colours, but this will serve as our CBS HQ. As we continue to grow and expand the range and number of community groups it’s imperative we have a home for them. That’s the primary purpose of the cabin, but it will also enable us to provide corporate hospitality on matchdays, and somewhere private for Joe to meet with his coaching team and players.
Our Youth Section coaches will also be able to meet there so the cabin will be at the disposal of all sections of the Club.
In the programme there is an advert to promote our partnership with More Life, who have been commissioned by Central Bedfordshire Council to help and support people who are wanting to lose weight. Most of you by now are aware of our programme, Improving the Lives of Others, which underpins the Club’s philosophy as a Community Benefit Society.
The very first group we established was the Walking Football group. Our intention was to attract, among others, middle-aged people at risk of developing the types of chronic medical conditions that can reduce life expectancy and restrict independence and quality of life. Obesity & Type 2 diabetes were two of the conditions we had identified, and both can be treated with diet and exercise.
We hope that our partnership with More Life will attract more players who want to shed some inches from waistlines and enjoy a better quality of life.
I’m delighted to inform you that we have our first owner from Spain. Mark Rees became a Silver owner last week. He’s a Villa fan and although living in Southern Spain still gets over to the UK two or three times a year and will make sure on one of those trips he comes to Creasey Park to support the boys.
Peter Bottom is arranging a Charity Football Match which will take place on Sunday 21st May at Creasey. I’ve been fortunate enough to see what’s being planned, so I can say with confidence that you will be thoroughly entertained on the day, so please make a note of it in your diaries. It’s a joint event Peter’s arranging with the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital fundraising team with proceeds from the event being evenly shared with the Hospital and the Club’s community groups.
On Mondays Arone Thasan has started a DTFC Darts team which is already drawing good numbers. They’re already established in a League and will be playing their matches on Thursdays. We’re away at Hoddesdon on Tuesday night and Arlesey next Saturday, 4th February. The following Tuesday, 7th February, Cockfosters are our opponents here at Creasey and we then play Hoddesdon again, this time at home on Saturday 11th February. It would be great to see you at those matches if you can make it. Your support this season has been phenomenal, thank you.
Enjoy today’s match, be loud, be proud, but please be respectful to our opponents and our Match Officials.
“In spite of it all, life is beautiful”
Andrew Madaras
Entering the pitch without permission
Smoke bombs and pyros
Throwing objects
Drug use
Discriminator y behaviour
Serious injur y
Automatic club ban
Repor ted to the police
Criminal record
Education and employment at risk
HELP US ENSURE MATCHES ARE SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FOR ALL
Ardley is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Bicester. The parish includes the village of Fewcott, which is now contiguous with Ardley. The 2011 Census recorded the population of Ardley parish as 751.
The two villages of Ardley and Fewcott are on either side of a stream that rises at Fritwell, flows south to Ardley, then turns east through Stoke Lyne to Fringford. There it joins Crowell Brook, which continues east into Buckinghamshire and ultimately becomes part of the Great Ouse.
The limestone quarry at Ardley has yielded a significant find of dinosaur tracks (ichnites), discovered in 1997 and thought to have been left by Megalosaurus and possibly Cetiosaurus. Some of these are on display in the dinosaur garden at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. There is a site of special scientific interest in the village with a colony of the great crested newts and an outcrop of Jurassic limestone.
Ardley Castle is a motte-and-bailey which is believed to have been built early in the 12th century during the civil war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen.
The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary dates from at least 1074. The original church was demolished and completely rebuilt, but both the chancel and the bell tower of the present building contain small amounts of re-used Norman stonework. The present Early English Gothic chancel was built late
in the 12th or early in the 13th century. The tower has a saddleback roof and may have been built in the 13th or 14th century. The present nave was built in 1793 and has a west gallery that was added in 1834.
St Mary’s is now part of the Benefice of Cherwell Valley, along with the parishes of Fritwell, Lower Heyford, Somerton, Souldern and Upper Heyford.
In 1910 the Great Western Railway completed a new main line linking Ashendon Junction and Aynho Junction to shorten the high-speed route between its termini at London Paddington and Birmingham Snow Hill. The line passes within a few hundred yards of Ardley and the GWR opened a railway station on the main road just south of the village. British Railways closed Ardley railway station in 1963. The railway remains open and is now part of the Chiltern Main Line.
In 1990 the section of the M40 motorway between Wheatley and Hockley Heath was built. M40 Junction 10 with the A43 road is about 550 yards (500 m) northeast of Ardley and its Cherwell Valley services are about 1,100 yards (1 km) from the village.
Ardley had a public house, the Fox and Hounds, but this is current closed and on the market. Fewcott also has a pub, the White Lion Inn. A popular and welcoming rural pub, family friendly, serving both the local and nearby communities, a hub of the community. A true free house, serving two constantly changing ales from both local and national breweries, often something new or seasonal.
Warm and cosy, with a welcoming fire in the winter, a place to enjoy good conversation and excellent beer. There is a large beer garden which is popular in the summer. An ever present listing the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, the pub is a former local CAMRA Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year.
Ardley United were formed in 1945 just after the end of the Second World War. In the early years, the club plied its trade in the Lord Jersey FA and played on a pitch which was situated close to the railway line on the Oxford Road. The 1950’s and ‘60’s were successful for the club as they won both league titles and cups; most notably the Oxfordshire Junior Shield on three occasions as well as many other trophies. The acquisition of the current Playing Field site in the mid-60’s enabled the club to move into the heart of the village, and several volunteers led by life-long supporter Doug Hodges built modest changing rooms.
Ardley continued to compete in the Jersey League throughout the 70’s and early 80’s without much success but this was to change in the mid-‘80’s with the arrival of Norman Stacey as chairman – a position that he graces to this day. In 1988 the club were promoted to the
Oxfordshire Senior League and won the Division One title at the first attempt, following this up with the Premier Division title the following season. Accepting a place in the Hellenic League for the 1993/4 season, Ardley spent six seasons in the ‘old’ Division One winning it in both 1996/7 and 97/8 as well as winning the Division 1 Cup for a record four consecutive seasons before it was merged with the Premier Division Cup to become the Challenge Cup that we know today. The manager during these years was ex-Oxford United leading scorer Peter Foley and he was to be the first in a line of managers to keep Ardley at the forefront who include Paul Spittle, Paul Berry, Dan Still and Kevin Brock among their number.
Major change was to come in the early 2000’s as, along with the Ardley Playing Field Committee, Ardley United oversaw the construction of dedicated facilities along with a separate village hall which enabled the club to be independent of community activities. The new clubhouse, which had been awarded the Non-League Paper’s Hungerford Cup for most-improved facilities, allowed the club to be promoted to the Hellenic Premier Division and so began the club’s most successful years to date.
seaso N so far a rdley uN
Kevin Brock took the reins for seven seasons which saw Ardley win several cups including the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in 2013/14, a season during which they narrowly lost out on the Premier Division title by just two points. Following Brock’s departure, Paul Davis took over as manager for nearly two seasons until the resignation of long-time chairman Norman Stacey in June 2017 for personal reasons. Ian Feaver took over the role of Chairman and appointed Craig Adey as First Team Manager. A decision to be voluntarily relegated to uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West gave everyone some breathing space to adjust to the new regime.
Craig brought with him a talented squad of players and they won the Division title gaining promotion back to the Premier Division at the first time of asking. The 2018/2019 season had its ups and downs, but the team finished on a high winning the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup.
Lee Matthews was appointed manager for the 2020-21 season, after being joint manager with Danial (Elvis) Knight after Craig departed during the 201920 season. The club went through a restructure in the back office, leading to Eddie Nix being appointed as Director of Football and the creation of the Ardley United Development team, managed by Carl Reed.
Thursday 12th January
The purpose of the 100 Club is to raise funds for kit, equipment and the general costs associated with running the footballl club.
Subscriptions are available at £3 per number per week and are drawn every Thursday.
To join contact Steve Lewington, stevolew79@gmail.com
spo N sor your favouri T e players For sponsorship enquires, find Matt Carrington on a matchday, email treasurer.dunstabletownfc@gmail.com or call 07903 751121
Ollie Bayliss returns to BBC Three Counties on Saturday afternoons, for all the latest non-league news from Beds, Herts & Bucks.
Promotion (91)
(84)
(27)
Guidelines are using the average points per game data for the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division from the 2000-01 to 2021-22 seasons but does not include the COVID abandoned seasons.
Osborne Olaleye Muchineripi Osei-Addo (1) R Stirling Ikuyinminu (1) Faulkner (66) Mead (81) Naylor (90)
osborne Faulkner Crilley osei-addo (1) sellers-west ikuyinminu r stirling (46)(1) beaumont (90)
osborne Faulkner Crilley olaleye sellers-west ikuyinminu (1) beaumont (48) osei-addo (56)(1) mcCrohan (64) r stirling (90)
osborne beaumont Crilley osei-addo (1) r stirling (1) ikuyinminu Faulkner (70) olaleye (74) sellers-west (86)
osborne beaumont Crilley osei-addo r stirling ikuyinminu Faulkner (56)(2) sellers-west (56) mcCrohan (89)
osborne Faulkner Crilley osei-addo sellers-west ikuyinminu r stirling (63) beaumont (69) mcCrohan (75)
osborne beaumont (1) olaleye sellers-west Faulkner (1) baker r stirling (66)(1) Creary (69) osei-addo (79)
osborne beaumont dunstan sellers-west (1) Faulkner (3) ikuyinminu muchineripi (61) osei-addo (67) r stirling (68) Crilley (77)
Creary beaumont dunstan (1) sellers-west (1) Faulkner baker (1) osei-addo (65) r stirling (70) naylor (76)
osborne beaumont muchineripi sellers-west (1) Faulkner (1) baker r stirling (52) osei-addo (65) immanuel (65)
Ikuyinminu Beaumont Sellers-West (1) Faulkner Baker R Stirling Osei-Addo (30)(1) Immanuel (73)
Ikuyinminu (1) Naylor Sellers-West Faulkner Baker R Stirling Olaleye (46) Immanuel (67) Beaumont (78) Percy (86)
osborne beaumont dunstan sellers-west Faulkner (1) ikuyinminu (1) olaleye (60) osei-addo (86) r stirling (88)
Osborne Beaumont Dunstan Sellers-West (1) Faulkner Ikuyinminu Mills (13) Osei-Addo (78) R Stirling (90)
Osborne Beaumont (1) Dunstan Sellers-West Faulkner Ikuyinminu R Stirling (56) Immanuel (77)(1) Osei-Addo (88)
osborne beaumont olaleye osei-addo sellers-west (1) ikuyinminu r stirling (46) mills (46) immanuel (67)(1)
Ikuyinminu Beaumont R Stirling Sellers-West (1) Baker Olaleye Naylor (18) Immanuel (57) Osei-Addo (78) Percy (87)
osborne beaumont dunstan webb sellers-west ikuyinminu immanuel (54) r stirling (75)
osborne naylor olaleye (1) webb Faulkner ikuyinminu Creary (11) beaumont (66) sellers-west (66)(1) stirling r (73)
dunstan webb (1) beaumont immanuel Faulkner ikuyinminu mcCrohan (60) verney (81) r stirling (89)
Webb Beaumont Faulkner Ikuyinminu Verney McCrohan Olaleye (55) Immanuel (71)
osborne webb beaumont Faulkner (1) ikuyinminu dunstan immanuel (50) verney (50) naylor (64) r stirling (88)
osborne (1) dunstan beaumont webb (1) Faulkner ikuyinminu verney (15) r stirling (45) immanuel (76) olaleye (90)
osborne dunstan beaumont webb (1) sellers-west ikuyinminu immanuel (50) olaleye (72) r stirling (76) davidson-gordon (88)
osborne naylor dunstan webb (1) sellers-west ikuyinminu osei-addo (46)(1) olaleye (78) mead (81)
Osborne Beaumont Dunstan Osei-Addo Webb (1) Ikuyinminu (1) Naylor (69) R Stirling (70) Sellers-West (78)
Crilley beaumont dunstan osei-addo webb (1) ikuyinminu naylor (51) immanuel (67) sellers-west (82)
Crilley Beaumont Dunstan Osei-Addo (1) Webb Ikuyinminu Osborne (65) Sellers-West (65) osborne mills sellers-west osei-addo webb ikuyinminu beaumont (44) r stirling (67)
arou N d T he ssmfl 2022 - 23
saturday 14th january 2023
Eaton Socon 1 - 3 North’ton ON Chenecks 65
Moulton 5 - 3 Winslow United 141
Rugby Borough 3 - 1 Langford 87
Wellingboro’ Whitworth 2 - 6 Ampthill Town 74
saturday 21st january 2023
Lutterworth Athletic 2 - 3 Ampthill Town
Rugby Boro’ 4 - 1 Letchworth Garden City
saturday 7th january 2023
Bovingdon 1 - 1 Totternhoe 55
Eynesbury United 5 - 1 The 61 FC (Luton) 87
N Brad St Peter 0 - 2 Risboro’ Rangers Dev 40
saturday 14th january 2023
Milton Keynes College 2 - 2 Sarratt 0
saturday 21st january 2023
Milton Keynes College 3 - 0 Bovingdon
monday 7 january
CREASEY PARK
KO 3.00PM ATT 161
dunstable town
Connor Coulson
Ethan Creary
Benjamin Crilley
Kyle Davison-Gordon
Tolu Ikuyinminu
Ruairi Mills
Alfie Osborne
Kelvin Osei-Addo
Joseph Sellers-West
J’Ardell Stirling
Danny Webb
st panteleimon
Clayton Afonso
Renzo Alves
Alexandros Androutsos
Brad Gilmaney
Gustavo Nunes
Courtney Massay
Guilherme Monti
Dean Morgan
Emerson Pilonetto
Jonathan Moura
Ahmed Zaghloul
Sponsored by Heritage Funerals
Watch the highlights on our YouTube channel. Scan the QR Code to access or search “Dunstable Town FC” on YouTube.
Dunstable fans who didn’t watch this game and simply looking at the scoreline may be forgiven for thinking that this was a game of few chances, devoid of goal mouth action and their team not firing on all cylinders. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The Blues were on good form and on another day the result could have been a home victory by a clear three or four goals.
The fact that it was the visitors who returned to Hertford with all three points was largely due to an inspired piece of goalkeeping from Gustavo Nunes who defied science on a couple of occasions with important saves to protect the first half penalty from Guilherme Monti and ultimately all three points.
Wave after wave of blue shirts pressed forward almost at ease but despite sustained second half pressure the white shirts of St Panteleimon dug deep and held out.
This was the third occasion this season the two teams had met. The first two games had both ended in draws, with there being barely a cigarette paper between the two teams in terms of quality and a desire to play football.
Dunstable came out of the traps on the front foot and within the opening 15 minutes could have been two up. Firstly Kelvin Osei-Addo wrestled his way clear and went one on one with Nunes. Unfortunately for Dunstable Kelvin’s shot went agonizingly inches wide of the left hand post.
Minutes later, Danny Webb got clear
down the left-hand side, only to see his shot go across goal and inches wide of the right hand post.
It wasn’t all one way traffic and Connor Coulson needed to make a good stop with his feet to keep out former AFC man, Courtney Massey.
The only goal of the match came just after the half hour and was won by former Hatter, Dean Morgan who went down in the box. Referee Daniel Jones pointed straight to the spot and Monti sent Connor Coulson the wrong way with a well-taken penalty.
Alfie Osborne needed eight stitches after coming off worse in a challenge with a St Panteleimon boot. There was no intent and Referee Jones was right to keep his cards in his pocket. Harry Beaumont came on in his place and took over the Captain’s armband.
During the second half, Remell Stirling replaced Kelvin Osei-Addo, yet despite the change in playing personnel, Nunes could not be beaten despite the best efforts of the Dunstable sharp-shooters and goalkeeper, Connor Coulson, who was waved up field in the dying moments of the game by the home bench. It was just typical of Dunstable’s lack of good luck that despite getting his head to the ball, Coulson could not direct it home.
It was a hard defeat to accept as the performance merited a point at the very least. However it was not to be, and the Blues returned to 9th place in the League.
The game began in a cagey way with very loose passing from both sides. The early half chances went to Heart who came close in the 8th minute when the winger slalomed in on goal and his reverse shot slid by the post. In a surprisingly free flowing half Heart had a good chance to take the lead, but the striker shot weakly at Callum.
10 minutes from the break and Town took the lead. It was deserved, based on possession and territory. Ben and Michael exchanged quick passes. Michael played Joe wide left. Joe drilled a cross, and George volleyed in on the back post. (1-0) It was a well worked goal. Town could not keep the lead and a lapse at the back gave Heart the ball and it was gleefully tucked home for the equaliser with moments to go before the break. (1-1)
The half began in the same pattern as the first. From more good football, Town won a corner. Buddy sent it deep to the back post. There was lots of contact in the box and the ball found its way to Brandon on the back post. He took a touch and squeezed the ball in between the diving defender and keeper. (2-1)
The lead was to last 6 minutes. Again, Town lost the ball at the back, and it was squared for a tap in. (2-2) On the 60th
minute the Heart striker found himself 1v1 from a ball over the top. Jayden sprinted back and won the ball in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Callum was booked for not retreating to his goal line and when the penalty was taken; it was scored. (2-3)
It took Town 4 minutes to equalise. Buddy stood up a corner and George hung in the air to head it in. (3-3) Town won a free kick, 5 minutes from time, when George was felled on the right wing. Brandon floated it to the back post and Joe headed Town in to the lead! (43).
It was time for cool heads. Darren spotted Ricky’s run and passed it to him. Ricky weaved in the box and took a tumble under pressure. The referee pointed to the spot and George calmly passed the ball to the keeper’s left to seal the game and claim his 15th of the season. (5-3)
The referee blew the whistle, the away fans came on to the pitch to remonstrate with the referee over alleged comments heard and decisions made. The away coaches were upset with perceived fouls that contributed to several Town goals. It was all very unseemly and an FA charge is a possibility.
Thursday 24th November 2022 – The FIFA World Cup – Stadium 974, Doha
Game three was being held at Stadium 974, the most central and in theory, one of the easiest to get to. Eight stops back to interchange central at Msheireb then a change onto the gold line for the journey east to Ras Bu Abboud – a 45-minute journey including the walk at the far end. With Brazil facing Serbia in game four of the day at Lusail, thousands of South Americans were heading north, also through Msheireb that led to chaotic scenes at the station. The volunteers put in place a one-way system that had us going back one stop on the metro then changing to avoid an almighty crust – 45 minutes was now 55 minutes. Touch and go whether I’d get there for the anthem now.
Stadium 974 was named not only after the International Dialling Code for Qatar, but also coincidently, included 974 shipping containers in its design, meaning within hours of the final game it would host in the tournament, it would be taken apart and distributed far and wide. Quite what someone would do with a shipping container that contained used urinals and all that sailed in them, I don’t know.
The walk from the stadium saw the first ticket touts out in force in the games so far – the going rate was over $300 for a category 3 ticket, about 3 x face value. It seemed everyone wanted to watch Ronaldo, with numerous fans holding homemade signs and even homemade shirts.
The extraordinary interview the player had done with Piers Morgan just before the start of the tournament had meant to make everyone feel sorry for how he had been treated at Manchester United. It had the opposite effect,
perhaps because who the interview was conducted by, polarising Ronaldo from the rest of the Portuguese squad and even some of their fans.
I reached Gate 32 and then started to climb up and up. The anthems finished just as I emerged into the brightness of an impressive bowl. It seemed there were Portugal fans everywhere…or Ronaldo fans to be more precise. Every time he touched the ball, up they went cheering and waving their flags. Even when he gave the ball away, which was more than he did something right, there was applause. Had he been withdrawn after five minutes I suspect the majority of these “fans” would exit too.
The first half was average at best. Having seen 1 goal in 180 minutes, the odds weren’t looking good here. Ronaldo headed past the post, then hit straight at the keeper when clean through. Oh, and put the ball into the net, but looked like a child forgotten by Santa on Christmas Day when the referee pulled play back for the clear foul on Djiku. 0-0 at the break.
Any doubts about this being a dull affair were soon dispelled and this turned out to be the best 45 minutes I saw in the tournament and perhaps that anyone else saw. It all kicked off on the hour mark when Ronaldo, who else, surged into the area and went down very easily under a challenge from Salisu. There was no doubt this would be a penalty – there would conveniently be no VAR review. He stepped up, scored, and celebrated like it was the World Cup winning goal.
Against the run of play, Ghana equalised in the 71st minute, when Andre Ayew stabbed home from close range in one of their first forays into the Portugal
box. The stadium, bar the “sponsored” Ghana fans, conveniently located behind the goal, fell silent.
With twelve minutes remaining Portugal retook the lead when Joao Felix who “dinked” the ball over the Ghana keeper as he rushed out to close him down. Two minutes later they appeared to have wrapped up the win when Rafael Leao finished smartly from a Bruno Fernandes through ball.
Ronaldo departed in the final minute, as too did half of the stadium. But those that did stay saw a very dramatic last ten minutes. Firstly Bukari headed home for Ghana to reduce the arrears to 3-2 and then came THE moment of the game and one that Ghana would rue for their tournament. In Andy Dibble style, goalkeeper Diogo Costa dropped the ball in front of himself, oblivious to the presence of Inaki Williams lurking with deadly intent behind him. Williams darted forward and stole the ball but slipped as he turned to shoot into an empty net and there was a huge collective exhale from the Portuguese team and fans.
Full time and Portugal had their win. I had 45 minutes to get to Lusail for Brazil versus Serbia. The stadium to stadium buses were running, Google Maps suggested the journey time was 30 minutes. Four games in a day would be an amazing achievement. However, one small fly in the ointment was the fact I didn’t have a ticket. I’d reached out to a few people I knew were in Qatar, but no one had a spare. The resale markets were at the $275 level, too much at the moment (but in hindsight I wish I had splashed out).
And so, onto day two.
Dunstable Town Football Club has relaunched as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), which is a recognised legal entity structure, supported by the FSA (Football Supporters Association) and regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).
This means that the club is owned equally by its shareholders, and anyone can become a shareholder with equal voting rights. When you become a member of the Club you will receive ‘The Blue Card’, which entitles you to the discounts listed below:
10% (Collection only, offer not valid on Tuesdays)
Belvoir
1.5% off quoted monthly fee for full management service + £96 inc VAT off the quoted landlord startup fee
5% off all food and drink on matchdays between 1pm and 2pm on Saturdays and 6pm and 7pm on Tuesdays Curry
Creasey Park
5% total food bill when dining in the restaurant (not to be used for any other promotion in the restaurant)
Current club owners
Jeff Abraham
Ciaran Hannon-Abraham
Niamh Hannon-Abraham
Andy Acton
Szymon Adamczyk
Rizwan Ahmed
Alex Alexandrou
Clare Alexandrou
Louie Alexandrou
Panayis Alexandrou
Aglaia Alexandrou
Julie Allaway
John Anstey
Daniel Armas
Neil Barker
Linda Barker
Ian Bateman
Aaron Bateman
Christian Baxter
Peter Bottom
Rosemary Bowen
Lee Burgoyne
Andy Burrows
Matthew Byrne
Matt Byrne
Matt Carrington
Jackie Carrington
Brad Cawthorne
Michael Charge
Dan Crooke
Darren Court
Warren Davies
Douglas Deeney
Taylor Doult
Bill Dunston
Christopher Eastham
Lindsey Edwards
Ciaran Fairley-Edwards
Dean Falla
Simon Faulkner
Paul Fisher
Kai Fisher
Aaron Flemons
Ros Fowler
Colin Fox
Annette Fox
Jake Fox-Nania
Cassius Freckleton
Stuart Fuller
Mark Galpin
Daniel Galpin
Lewis Gibbons
John Greener
Rupert Groves
Roy Hall
Alan Hill
Abbas Hussain
Nick Jackson
Isaac Jackson
Patrick Johnson
Gaj Jika
Dave Lawlor
Gary Levy
Steve Lewington
Kristy Lewington
George Lewington
Freddie Lewington
Ted Lousvet
Graham Luck
Amanda Madaras
Andrew Madaras
Lucy Madaras
Les Marsh
Andrew McCloskey
Elliott McCook
Richard McCook
Steven Mead
Peter Mills
Anthony Moore
Mohammed Munaim
Lee Nania
Derek Nutley
Lee Nutley
Julian Nutley
Charlie Nutley
Gabby Nutley
Hanna Nutley
Jack Nutley
Stephen Overell
Mark Page
Nigel Palmer
Nikki Park
Dudley Peacham
Katrina Peacham
Dean Purcell
Shaun Rapcewicz
Mark Rees
Graham Rhodes
Daniel Roberts
Ron Roberts
Vera Roberts
Luke Roberts
Leo Roberts
Chloe Roberts
James Rogers
Jeffrey Roy
Mark Saccoccio
John Sanders
Charlie Sanders
Richard Scott
Hunter Seabourne
Adam Shearsby
Alison Skea
Abby Slough
Liam Smith
Kian Smith
Alan Soper
Maurice Sullivan
Arone Thasan
Simon Thatcher
Ian Tofts
Nigel Trewin
Daniel Trif
Kenneth Trott
Wayne Upton
Zahara Verla
Pearl Verla
Yvonne Verla
Anne Verla
Steve Warboys
Bob Warner
do you remember this former dunstable town player? answers on page 50
Can you correctly identify these club badges? answers on page 50
Can you guess which dunstable town player is hiding behind Creasey the lion? answers on page 50
BLUE CARDDISCOU
101 High Street
Dunstable
Bedfordshire LU6 3SQ
Telephone 01582 666836
or order online www.anarkalidunstable.co.uk
After successful walks to Leverstock Green, Harpenden and Tring, we are planning two more this season, totalling approximately 100km.
You can join us on as many as you wish and help us raise some funds for the club, to continue our work within the local community, and for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the OLLIE Foundation.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/dtfc2
All walks will leave Creasey Park on a matchday and plan to arrive in time for a well-earned pint (or few)
Join
Follow us on social
tuesday 31st january - 19:45 - premier division
address: Lowfield, Park View, Hoddesdon EN11 8PX
website: www.hoddesdontownfc.co.uk
twitter: @hoddesdontownfc
travelling by Car
From A10 take the Hoddesdon turn off, A1170. Follow slip road to roundabout at bottom of the hill and turn right into Amwell Street. Take the first right at Church, into Paul’s Lane. Follow road round to left, which becomes Taverners Way, at mini roundabout turn right into Brocket Road. At T-junction turn left into Park View and ground is approximately 200 yards on your right. Please note that there are strict parking restrictions in Park View.
travelling by publiC transport
The nearest station to the ground is Broxbourne which is on the Greater Anglia service out of Stratford or Liverpool Street. The ground is a brisk 20 min walk or serviced by the 341 Hatfield bus.
reCommended pub
Several pubs are on the High Street. The White Swan is a former stable for over 60 horses and dates back to at least 1595. Wooden floor, oak beams, flagstone entrance, brick fireplace and two regular cask ales make it a good choice. Its near neighbour the Star is a Wetherspoons establishment of the same age and has 3 regular cask ales.
ex on the pitch: Midfielder and captain Moses Olaleye made 110 appearances for the club and was instrumental in the Invincible season and lifting the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division title. who are ya: Ipswich Town and FC Halifax Town
guess the player: Robbie Goodman spot the ball: A
Ardley Road, Ardley Oxfordshire OX27 7PA
www.ardleyunitedfc.co.uk
New Lamb Meadow Stadium, Hitchin Road, Arlesey SG15 6RS www.arleseytownfc.co.uk
Haywood Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP19 9WZ
www.aylesburyvaledynamos.co.uk
New Lamb Meadow Stadium, Hitchin Road, Arlesey SG15 6RS www.baldocktownfc.com
Second Meadow, Fairfield Rd, Biggleswade SG18 0AA www.biggleswadeutd.com
Cockfosters Sports Ground, Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, Barnet EN4 9HZ
www.pitchero.com/clubs/cockfosters
The Recreation Ground, High Street Colney Heath, Hertfordshire AL4 0NP
www.colneyheathfc.co.uk
The Stadium at the Brache, Park Street, Luton. LU1 3HH www.pitchero.com/clubs/crawleygreenfc
Creasey Park Community Football Centre Creasey Park Drive, Dunstable LU6 1BB
www.dunstabletownfc.co.uk
Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2EF
www.harpendentownfc.co.uk
Stewart Edwards Stadium, Lowfield, Park View, Hoddesdon, Herts. EN11 8PX
www.hoddesdontownfc.co.uk
Bell Close, Lake Street Leighton Buzzard LU7 1RX
www.leightontownfc.co.uk
Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4NQ
www.levgreenfc.co.uk
North Orbital Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL2 1DW
www.londoncolneyfootballclub.com
Hutchinson Hollow, Biggleswade Road, Potton, Sandy SG19 2LX
www.pitchero.com/clubs/pottonunitedfc
The B.E.P. Stadium, Horsenden Lane Princes Risborough HP27 9NE
www.risboroughrangersfc.co.uk
Shefford Sports Club Hitchin Road, Shefford Beds SG17 5JD
www.twitter.com/sheffordcampton
New Roker Park, Arlesey Road
Stotfold, Bedfordshire SG5 4HE
www.stotfoldfc.co.uk
Hertingfordbury Park, West Street
Hertford, SG13 8EZ
www.stpanteleimonfc.co.uk
Grass Roots Stadium, Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5NS
www.tafc.co.uk
JOE
Dylan Baker
Harry Beaumont
Connor Coulson
Ethan Creary
Benjamin Crilley
Kyle Davison-Gordon
Luke Dunstan
Kyle Faulkner
Robbie Goodman
Benjamin Gray
Tolu Ikuyinminu
Sean Immanuel
Liam McCrohan
Joe Mead
Ruairi Mills
Terrence Muchineripi
Daniel Naylor
Jamie Nicholls
Isaac Olaleye
Alfie Osborne
Kelvin Osei-Addo
Jack Percy
Joe Reynolds
Joe Sellers-West
John Smith
J’Ardell Stirling
Remell Stirling
James Verney
Danny Webb
referee
Philip Evans
assisTaNTs
Bradley Hallybone
Jon Panconi
hoddesdo N
ToWN (a)
SSMFL Premier Division
Tuesday 31st January
Kick off 7.45pm
arlesey
ToWN (a)
SSMFL Premier Division
Saturday 4th February
Kick off 3.00pm
cockfos T ers (h)
SSMFL Premier Division
Tuesday 7th February
Kick off 7.45pm
Declan Benjamin
Darius Browne
James Casbieri
Mason Courtney
Hayden Durrant
Lewis Gabbidon
Lewis Gabbidon
Leam Howards
Benjamin Hoy
George Jeacock
Sam McConnell
Hayden McConnell
Callum McNish
Jordy Ngathe
Anaclet Odhiambo
Elliott Osborne-Ricketts
Conal Rogan
Alfie Talbot
Liam Talboys
Joshua Tooke
Morgan Williams
Ben Willoughby
