Dunstable Town v Leighton Town - Sat 28th Dec by Dunstable Town

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF DUNSTABLE TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB 2019/2020

CREASEY NEWS

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LEIGHTON TOWN

Saturday 28th December 2019 Kick Off 15:00 Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division

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OUR CLUB HONOURS LIST

Southern League Central Division Winners 2013-2014 Southern League Championship Trophy Winners 2013-2014 Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Winners: 2002–03, 2012-2013 Bedfordshire Senior Cup Winners (12): 1895–96, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09 Bedfordshire Premier Cup Winners (4): 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 2006–07, 2011-2012 Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup Winners: 1999–2000, 2008–09, 2018-19 Bedfordshire Floodlit Cup Winners: 2007–08 Eastern Junior Cup Winners: 2006–07 Colwyn Cup Winners: 2006–07, 2009–10

WHO’S WHO AT CREASEY PARK Playing Staff Gareth Jackson - First Team Manager Ryan Sturges - Assistant Manager Ivan Arapov - Coach Wayne Upton - Coach Rory McMullen - Goalkeeper Coach Tasos Psarras - Sports Therapist Justin Lucas-Hill - Club Medical Consultant Colin Lauder - Development Team Manager Valentino Qoku - Assistant Manager Samir Amadu - Coach

Non-Playing Staff

Neil Barker - Chairman Andrew Amu - Vice Chairman Andrew Madaras - Club Secretary Dudley Peacham - Treasurer Kristy Lewington - Club Welfare Officer and FA Charter Standard Coordinator Stephen Lewington - Press Officer, Social Media, and Youth Engagement Officer Chris White - Social Media Manager and Club Photographer Katrina Peacham - Committee Clerk and Turnstile Manager Nikki Lauder - Events and fundraising Patrick MacKay - Match-day Merchandising Coordinator Peter Burrows - Community Engagement Officer Vince Dunnell - Youth Section Chairman and Assistant Youth Welfare Officer Adrian Dunne - Youth Section Vice Chairman and Events/Fundraising Kristy Lewington - Youth Section Secretary and Club Welfare Officer Christian Baxter - Youth Treasurer and Assistant Youth Welfare Officer Brad Cawthorne - Match day Camera man Jacqui Dunnell - Match day Hospitality Bradley Fields & Jon Keenan - Match day Volunteers

FROM THE BOARDROOM Good afternoon and can I on behalf of all at Dunstable Town wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Whether you have spent time with your family, taken in a Carol Service, eaten too much or a combination of all three, this time of year is special in so many ways. In the football calendar the traditional Christmas fixtures are always keenly anticipated and this afternoon we welcome our near neighbours Leighton Town. We are all hopeful of a thrilling encounter and with the weather anticipated to be less wet and miserable, I’m sure we can out the recent postponements behind us. The Christmas season has seen both our 1st Team and Development squads visiting Caddington Grove recently. Thank you to both teams for going out of their way and bringing some Christmas cheer to the residents. We were so warmly welcomed. We talk about being a community club a lot. Words are nothing without actions. It is a privilege to be involved with this club but we are part of a larger community who are striving to make this town the best that it can be. We take those responsibilities seriously. Many of you will be aware of our stall at the Quadrant. In the last couple of weeks as we have approached Christmas we have shared our ‘pitch’ with the Salvation Army and New Life Church, both seeking to serve the community. We were grateful for their offer of drinks and cakes and their friendliness.

Thank you to those of you who supported the excellent Noah Enterprises charity recently with your donations of warm clothes and toiletries. These donations will be well used you can be sure of that. On the field, It is rare in football when an opposing manager apologises for a victory. This was our experience at Eynesbury a couple of weeks back. A game played on a super surface and in good spirit had the result in doubt right up to the final kick. A couple of fine saves by the Eynesbury keeper and some resolute defending thwarted the Blues. As we often reflect its fine margins . The previous week we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 96th minute goal at London Colney, so we are experiencing the metaphorical ‘slings and arrows’ that’s for sure. As these are my last programme notes for 2019, can I encourage you to keep supporting the team Bring a friend, or friends for that matter. Be positively vocal, respect those around you with your choice of language, appreciate that the match officials are human, and like you and I, will make mistakes, and make your observations humorous rather than personal. Enjoy the game, thank you for your ongoing support, and lets move into 2020 on the front foot.

Neil

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LOCAL NON-LEAGUE CHAT with Ollie Bayliss

There’s no longer established tradition in the sport than Boxing Day football. For well over a century, games have been played on the day after Christmas. In fact we have two nonleague clubs to thank for the tradition, Sheffield FC and Hallam FC played the first-ever match on that day in 1860. It’s a tradition that’s even survived the war, with soldiers on the Western front in 1914 finding time for a kick around during a temporary truce. In recent years, however, the tradition has been on the decline. Several leagues at Step 5 and below have reduced their festive fixtures. Similarly, the Isthmian League has offered clubs the chance to opt-out of Boxing Day and New Year’s Day football this season - an option many teams have taken. Last week on the Non-League Show I spoke to Ware manager Paul Halsey - the Hertfordshire club has asked for no Boxing Day and New Year’s Day games this season. Paul explained that whilst some of the players would be keen to play, the team felt it was unfair on volunteers to give up time away from their families to get a game on. Paul commented that the break also had the bonus of allowing him to go on a Christmas cruise! Players often take a similar view. On the show I spoke to Aylesbury United midfielder Greg Williams and former non-league defender Steve Nott-Macaire. Both agreed they’d rather have the time off – traveling on a long away day on New Year’s Day puts a dampener on any celebrations the night before.

Whilst there’s no scientific measure of this, it does feel as if there are fewer big local derbies over the Christmas period. Traditionally games would match up two local neighbours in a big derby game to pull in bigger crowds. That seems to have slightly waned in recent years. Certainly locally we have far fewer big local rivals playing each other on Boxing Day, perhaps because of the way the leagues have been restructured. Crowds seem to be down too, with back to back Premier League games on tele and rubbish weather outside people be forgiven for staying inside and munching their way through cold ham and Christmas cake instead. Personally, I’d be sad to see the end of festival football, especially when they involve good local derbies. This season’s doubleheader between Boreham Wood and Barnet over Christmas and New Year is an exciting prospect. Barnet born Wood manager Luke Garrard said he relishes the derby every season, thanks in part to the ‘away’ tie being within 4 miles of his home. Down the leagues, Flackwell Heath v Burnham and Thame v Aylesbury United are other tasty looking sides. Perhaps with less local clubs playing over Christmas, these local games can expect a bigger crowd.

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A TRIBUTE TO MISHI MORATH

When Dunstable Town, was being saved by its supporters in 2017, colleagues from Dulwich Hamlet offered us invaluable advice and support. So it was with great sadness that we learnt of the recent passing of Mishi Morath affectionally known as Dulwich Mishi. Mishi was a lifelong Dulwich Hamlet fan with a legendary reputation on the NonLeague scene. He was the type of fan every club needs. Mishi was caring and passionate about every aspect of the club. He made a notable and long-lasting contribution to the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community activities which many clubs will do well to follow. He fought to help the club survive

through its darkest hours and was one of the ardent campaigners and architects of helping the club to return to its Champion Hill home. Mishi was much loved by the Pink and Blue Army and supporters of other clubs up and down the country. You could always have a great conversation with Mishi on football and non-football matters. I had the pleasure of meeting Mishi on a number of occasions. Not only at matches but also through the Football and War Network, which he championed and supported. When the Network and the club hosted a seminar at Champion Hill, it was with great pride that Mishi took me around the clubhouse and boardroom explaining the history of the club and the sacrifices members of the club made during the First and Second World Wars. His quips on the night made us laugh and we were in awe of the depth of knowledge he had of the club. Mishi is a massive loss to Dulwich Hamlet and the football family. He rightly deserves the accolade of being called a legend and he will be hugely missed. Alex Alexandrou

LEIGHTON TOWN HISTORY Leighton Town, who were known as Leighton United between 1922 and 1963, were formed in 1885. They were mainly involved in local leagues until the outbreak of the Great War, and were winners of the Leighton and District League on several occasions. Leighton were one of the original members of the South Midland League in 1922 – which at the time was known as the Bedfordshire County League. They were also members of the Spartan League between 1922/23 and 1951/52, but their only successes being the Spartan League Division 2 title in 1923/24 and 1927/28. They were Bedfordshire Senior Cup winners in 1926/27. In 1952, they became a founder member of the Hellenic League, but after two disappointing seasons, moved to the South Midlands League. In 1965/66 season however, the Premier Championship sat in the Leighton Town Boardroom. The club then rejoined the Spartan League in 1967/68. Leighton proceeded to consolidate their League success by winning the Bedfordshire Senior Cup for three successive seasons in 1968, 1969 and 1970. Unfortunately, some of the successful players moved onto other clubs, and Leighton’s fortunes again declined. A move to the United Counties League proved disastrous and, after just two seasons, the club rejoined the South Midlands League. During the ‘70s and ‘80s, Leighton were unable to capture the success of the ‘60s.

In 1990/1991 the First Team won the South Midlands League Challenge Trophy and the O’Brien’s Premier Division Cup, both for the first time in the club’s history. The 1991/2 season was one of the club’s best ever. The South Midlands Premier Division title, which had eluded the club for so long, was won, and with it a place in the Isthmian League. 1992/3 saw the Club’s success continue when they won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup for the first time since 1970. The Club missed out on promotion in their first Isthmian League season by just a single point. 1995/6 saw the First Team win promotion to Division 2 of the Isthmian League, whilst at the same time retaining the Buckingham Charity Cup. In the 1996/7 season, Leighton won the Isthmian League Associated Members Trophy for the first time. 1998/99 saw the return of the Associated Members Trophy and the Buckingham Charity Cup. Season 2003/04 was arguably one of the Club’s best ever, as the First Team won the Ryman Isthmian Second Division title. The team was also named Ryman Division Two Team of the Year, and Paul Burgess was awarded Manager of the Year. They also reached the Fifth round of the FA Vase, and the final of the Beds Senior Cup, before losing to Andover and Arlesey respectively. The 2004-05 season saw the club placed

LEIGHTON TOWN HISTORY in The Southern League East Division and finished in a creditable tenth place. They also won the Buckinghamshire Charity Cup. The 05-06 Season saw the Club progress again, improving on the year before, as they finished 8th in The Southern League West Division. After a poor start, League results improved and the side only suffered four defeats from the start of November until the end of March, a play-off place just eluding them.

The 08/09 Season the First Team finished 8th in the Southern League, Midland Division, achieving their highest points total to date at that level. The 09/10 season saw Leighton once again finish in the top half of the table, when they finished in 9th place and they also lost the Bedfordshire Senior Cup Final to Southern League rivals, Arlesey Town after penalties.

The Club were relocated to the Southern League, Midland Division for 06-07 season but only one League win in the first six games and early exits in the two FA Competitions cost Paul Burgess his job in September. He was replaced by former Wycombe, professional Keith Scott, results did improve but it was a disappointing season, although Town did win the Bucks Senior Charity Cup.

Season 2010/2011, saw Town finish in 7th place in the League, gaining 69 points, their best performance since joining the Southern Football League.

The 07-08 started brightly with the first League defeat not coming until midOctober. Three wins in the FA Cup saw the Club reach the 4th Qualifying Round for the first time in itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. A 3-0 defeat to Conference South, Havant and Waterlooville finally ended the run. Keith Scott left in December to join Windsor and Eton. In January 2008, Assistant Manager Sean Downey was appointed as First Team Manager and did a splendid job as the Club ended their League season in 9th place, winning the Bucks Charity Cup and reaching the final of the Beds Senior Cup once more.

2016/2017 was a disappointing season with the club struggling for much of the time after yet another Managerial Change. The club retained Scott Reynolds as Manager, however Manager, Scott Reynolds unexpectedly resigned at the end of the season.

After 3 disappointing seasons Leighton finished the season in the bottom two of the Southern League Central Division and were relegated to the Spartan South Midlands League where they had last played in the 1991/92 season.

2018/2019 The Club appointed experienced coach Danny Nicholls as the new Manager, but he resigned at the start of October. The Club have now appointed Joe Sweeney and Paul Copson as their Management Team.

TAKE FIVE LEIGHTON TOWN LAST FIVE SEASONS SEASON LEAGUE

P W D L F A P POS

2014-15 SOUTH-1C

42 10 13 19 52 71 43

18/22

2015-16 SOUTH-1C

42 9 8 25 47 86 35

21/22

2016-17 SSML-P

42 14 5 23 68 82 47

16/22

2017-18 SSML-P

40 24 9 7 88 52 81

4/21

2018-19 SSML-P

38 12 14 12 52 49 50

11/20

LAST FIVE RESULTS Sat 07 December