The Pitching In: Southern League Premier Division Central
Royston Town FC Vs Stourbridge FC Saturday 10th October 2020 Kick Off 3.00pm Royston Town FC would like to welcome this afternoon’s opponents Stourbridge FC for their visit to Garden Walk for Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture. We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game. We also welcome this afternoon’s Match Officials and hope they have an enjoyable game.
Today’s Match
Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary
Founded 1875
Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY 07772 086709 email terry.mckinnell@talktalk.net
Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board
Angela Baulk Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell
Webmaster Programme Editor Official Photographer
Steve Endacott Angela Baulk Kevin Richards
Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager Reserve Team Manager U18 Team Managers Womens Team Manager Vets Team Manager
Steve Castle Chris Watters Lewis Endacott Dan Evans/Matt Campany Lewis Endacott Lee Wilkinson
Ground
Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204
Colours
First XI Reserves U18 Ladies Vets
White/Black/White White/Black/White White/Black/Black White/Black/White White/Black/Black
Members of: The Hertfordshire Football Association Southern League Premier Division The Herts Senior County League Thurlow Nunn Youth League Eastern Region Women’s Football League The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League Royston Town Football Club is an unincorporated association controlled by its members under the Constitution of RTFC
CLUB HONOURS Today’s Match Sponsor: Winners Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73 Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977 South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979 South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980 Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989 Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990 South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993 South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999 Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005 KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007 South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009 KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010 BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011 BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011 Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011 South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012 South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012 Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014 Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013 Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15 Suburban Premier League 2015-16 Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16 Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17
Runners-Up
South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979 Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009 South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982 North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983 South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990 Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993 North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994 South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996 Herts F.A. Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15 Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002 KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011 Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014 Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15 Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16
ROYSTON TOWN WOMEN VS BRETT VALE LADIES
VITALITY WOMENS FA CUP, FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
2PM, SUNDAY 11TH OCTOBER GARDEN WALK, ROYSTON, SG8 7HP
FREE ENTRY!
Royston Town FC Club History So when did it all begin? After some intensive research the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford. The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time. The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77. In 1978 we re-joined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking. Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980. The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994. After a period in the doldrums which culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk as 1 st Team Coach in November 2007. Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League. The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best set of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103. The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with the winning of the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central. In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table. Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position. In the very last game of the season a play-off was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87 minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost. In our second season at this level our steady progress to claim a place in the play-off zone was given a severe jolt when, at the beginning of November, Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health. The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town. Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1. As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town. From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the play-off places. On a miserable Tuesday evening in February we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play – offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season. That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the play- off semi-final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers. After an incident packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but
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it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot-out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way. We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club. However three games in succession proved our down fall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1. Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh C extended runs in the first team. However the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence. Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0. With cup football out of the way the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues. Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club will be playing at its highest level in its 142 year history! Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceeded all expectations in our first season at Step 3. Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventually play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh place finish. The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals. A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties. We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup were we played Boreham Wood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1. Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League. Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a play-off spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances. We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market. A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 1875 - 2012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow after over five years of painstaking research and can be purchase via the Club on by visiting www.avbarlow.com.
Royston Town FC Player Pen Pics
Joe Welch (Goalkeeper) Joined us from Chelmsford City in 2016/17, Joe started his career at Southend United before joining Histon where he played over 50 games and earned a loan deal at Stevenage. Joe’s other clubs include Ebbsfleet, Bromley and St Albans City. Harry Smart (Goalkeeper) After joining the Crows in season 2018/19, Harry has proved to be a more than capable understudy to Joe Welch when called upon. Gus Scott-Morriss (Defender) Full-back who made his Crows first-team debut in season 2014/15, Gus was a member of our successful Under 18s team that season and has gone on to establish himself as a First Team regular with over 200 appearances to date. Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Rejoined the Crows last season after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading, Ed started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team during the 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before moving to Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town, Ed is a versatile defender who can anywhere across the back four. Adam Murray (Defender) Adam joined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons at Cambridge City where he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into the squad and has proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows. Daniel Brathwaite (Defender) Joined the Crows from Chesham United for the start of 2015/16, Daniel is an experienced defender whose former clubs include Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic. Dan Newton (Defender) Joined us at the start of this season, Centre-Back Dan spent last season at Biggleswade FC after previously playing for Northwood. Taylor Parr (Defender) Centre-Back who re-joined The Crows in February 2019 from St Neots Town. Taylor made 59 appearances for us between 20122014 and spent three seasons at St Neots Town, making 126 appearances for The Saints. James Brighton (Defender) Experienced full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where he had spent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City & Cambridge United. Josh Castiglione (Midfield) Midfielder who was a member of our successful Under 18 team in season 2014/15 and made the step up to the First Team the following season, Josh is approaching 200 appearances & has chipped in with 30+ goals. Scott Bridges (Midfield) Scott rejoined the Crows last season after spending last season at Hayes & Yeading, having previously been a Crow for four years, scoring 71 goals in 194 appearances. Originally he was with Aston Villa until 2007, Scott then played most of his football at Banbury United. Scott was made Club Captain in 2016. Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile hard-working midfielder or defender, Spyros rejoined The Crows in 2018/19 after a season away at Hayes & Yeading, he previously played just under 100 games for us from 2013 during his first spell at Garden Walk.
Tom Newman (Midfield) Joined The Crows at the start of 2018/19, Tom impressed when called upon and chipped in with some useful goals from midfield. Adam Watkins (Midfield) Re-joined us last season after a couple of seasons away at Chesham United & Cambridge City. Adam started his career as a 17 year old at Luton Town and in his 5 years there played 42 games for the Hatters before moving to Eastleigh and then Dunstable Town, where he scored 19 goals in 127 appearances. Danny Green (Midfield) Joined us in December 2018 from Chesham United, Danny is an experienced midfielder whose other previous clubs include St Albans City and Dunstable Town. Jonny Edwards (Forward) Joined the Crows at the beginning of this season and made an immediate impact with four goals in the first competitive game of the season. After leaving the Stevenage Academy Jonny impressed within the Peterborough United youth set-up to earn himself a professional contract, making his First Team debut in 2015. He then spent time at Accrington Stanley, Woking, Halifax Town and Maidstone United after leaving Peterborough. Brandon Adams (Forward) Brandon spent four years at Queens Park Rangers which included loan deals at Malaysian club Perlis and Linfield in Northern Ireland. After leaving the R’s in 2018 Brandon dropped into non-league hoping to catch the eye of pro clubs and has certainty impressed. After a short stint at Enfield Town he moved to Ware last season and bagged an impressive 23 league goals in 25 games. Josh Williams (Forward) Signed for the Crows this season after spending last season at Ware, where he scored 17 goals in 30 appearances, Josh previously played for FC Romania. Isaac Galliford (Forward) Previously with Hitchin Town, St Neots Town & Hemel Hempstead after starting out with Luton Town. Isaac signed for us for the beginning of this season. Whilst with The Canaries Isaac’s performances earned him an England ‘C’ call-up.
CLUB STATEMENT: BERNARD BROWN 08/10/2020 It is with a deep sense of loss and sadness that we have to announce the death of Bernard Brown one of the Club’s most loyal supporters and a longstanding servant to the cause of Royston Town FC. Bernard died peacefully at the age of 81 in the early hours of Monday morning, 6 th October, after a long and debilitating illness. Bernie had a very long history of involvement with the Club going back to 1970 when, as Dawn his devoted wife recounted recently, they moved from Enfield to Royston and on return from their honeymoon in 1970 he announced: “I’m off to play for Royston on Saturday”. That early commitment to the Crows never faltered as he became a key player in the Club and part of the Championship-winning Reserve team in the 1971/72 season. Over the years Bernie also served the Club as Chairman, with Dawn as Club Secretary, during the early 1990s when the club was experiencing some of the most difficult financial challenges in its history. He also was manager of the Crows Youth team, continued when his best playing days were over with our Vets and was the kingpin in the revival of the Vice Presidents Club in 2008. Bernie will always be remembered as a statesmanlike personality who commanded everyone’s respect but not least because he was a really genuine nice guy and a true gentleman. On behalf of everyone at Royston Town FC, our deepest condolences go to Dawn, Stuart, Catherine and all of Bernie’s family and friends. RIP Bernie
Alan Barlow President
KNIBBS BUTCHERS SUPPLIERS OF THE FAMOUS ROYSTON TOWN FC MEAT RAFFLE
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www.roystontownfc.co.uk
Today’s Opponents – Stourbridge FC Club History "The Glassboys" were founded in 1876 and were originally known as Stourbridge Standard. Top honours eluded the club until the 1887-88 season when the Kidderminster Cup and the Worcester Charity Cup was won. By that time, it is known that that the club had changed its name to "Stourbridge Football Club" and were competing in the Birmingham and District League, where reasonable success was achieved without actually gaining the league title, but the Worcestershire Senior Cup was won on three occasions. The 1923-24 season was one of the best in the club's history, when the Birmingham League championship was clinched by finishing seven points clear of Shrewsbury and the Worcestershire Senior Cup was won yet again. After the Second World War, "The Glassboys" (reflecting the town's connection with the Cut Glass industry) enjoyed a particularly successful period with the Birmingham Combination Championship achieved in 1952 and the Birmingham, Worcestershire and Herefordshire Senior Cups were also won too during this particular era. The club returned to the Birmingham League in 1954 on the disbanding of the Birmingham Combination and were runners-up in 1955-56. The Birmingham Senior Cup was won for a second time in 1958-59 and later, the 1967-68 season saw the club achieve a 'double' in lifting both the Worcestershire and Birmingham Senior Cups. INTO THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE In 1971 the club was elected to the expanding Southern League and soon enjoyed success under manager Alan Grundy in the 1973-74 season, with the Division 1 (North) title and the Merit Cup (for the league's highest goalscorers) coming to Amblecote. Twin strikers, Ray Haywood and Chic Bates, each notched 50 goals that season and were transferred to Shrewsbury Town, where Bates served 13 years as both player and manager. Another highlight in 1973-74 was a tremendous run in the Welsh Cup, in which we disposed of both Swansea and Wrexham on their own grounds and then faced Cardiff City in a two-leg final. A record crowd of 5,726 saw the Glassboys lose the home leg 1-0 and then also go down 1-0 at Ninian Park. Four seasons were spent in the Premier Division of the Southern League between 1974 and 1984, but little of note was achieved except for a Worcestershire Senior Cup Final victory over Kidderminster Harriers in 1981. Two centre-forwards were also sold, Steve Cooper to Torquay and Tony Cunningham to Lincoln City during this time. Subsequent Midland Division form was mediocre too, despite three good F.A. Cup runs, and a disastrous run of results in 198788 led to a relegation spot, however fortune was on the club's side and we were re-elected to the League in the close season. Stourbridge then went on from strength to strength, culminating in winning the Midland Division Championship in 1991 under the managership of John Chambers. But disappointment followed when Southern League officials refused promotion due to the shared use of the Ground with the Cricket Club. 1992-93 also proved to be a truly remarkable season. Our league form was inconsistent, however following a memorable run in the Barclays Commercial Services (Southern League) Cup we reached the final, where despite the resignation of John Chambers as manager in the lead-up, we upset the form book by recording a 3-2 aggregate success over Southern League Premier Division champions Dover Athletic to win the trophy. After a mixed start to the 1995-96 season, the Club parted company with boss Colin Gordon at Christmas and then Chairman Morton Bartleet took control of team affairs. He led the side to the 1996 Worcestershire Senior Cup final where the Glassboys lost 4-3 on aggregate to Bromsgrove Rovers. October 1997 saw a new Chairman at the club and many impressive signings for the 1998-99 season were made under the guidance of a new manager, Steve Daniels. However early season success proved short lived as budget cutbacks then saw many of the more experienced players move on. The club finished in mid-table and shortly after the end of the season, Daniels resigned as manager, and player/coach Micky Guest was promoted as his successor.
The club suffered a torrid few months on and off the pitch at the start of the 1999-2000 season and Micky Guest resigned. Meanwhile a new owner came to the club, and swiftly appointed Mark Serrell as Chairman and Mark Harrison as Manager. Despite an influx of new players, continued poor results meant the bell finally tolled on our 29-year spell at Southern League level with defeat in the last game of the season at Hinckley United in May 2000. We finished in 5th place in our inaugural season in the Midland Football Alliance, but the highlight of the 2000-01 season was the capture of the MFA Davis League Cup. We emerged victorious over Bridgnorth Town following a dramatic penalty shootout after the final had finished in a 1-1 draw, to collect our first silverware for eight years. The 2001-02 season began well with the lifting of the Joe McGorian Cup after a 2-1 victory at League Champions Stourport. In November 2001, however, the club parted company with Mark Harrison, with the former Bilston Town boss Joe Jackson subsequently taking over as manager. We remained amongst the front-runners in the League despite an inevitable transitional phase and on the final Saturday of the season, we were crowned champions in dramatic fashion as a last gasp stoppage time goal by Brian Gray earned the point we needed at Stafford Town to pip Bromsgrove to the title. Joe Jackson again led the club to the Midland Football Alliance Championship in 2002-03. Our record total of 101 league points only just being sufficient to overcome the strong challenge of Rushall Olympic and Stratford Town. The Joe McGorian Cup had earlier been retained after a 2-0 win at Rushall. Promotion though proved beyond us again due to the ground grading regulations in place at the time. Joe Jackson declined to try and lead us to a hat trick of titles in 2003-04 and was replaced by Jon Ford and Gary Hackett, who had enjoyed two successful seasons in charge at Bromsgrove. The new management team had to rebuild the side from scratch, but an encouraging second half of the season saw the Glassboys finish a creditable 9th. In 2004-05 we enjoyed a memorable run in the F.A. Vase to reach the last 8 of the competition. We put up a tremendous display at AFC Sudbury in the quarter-final before finally succumbing to a 4-1 defeat after extra time. In the league, we were well placed for a title push at the turn of the year, but after our exit from the Vase in early March we suffered a terrible run of results which meant that we slipped down the league table and eventually finished in 8th place. In May 2005 Gary Hackett took sole charge of the team after Jon Ford decided to step down due to work and family commitments. With a re-organisation of the non-league pyramid at Step 4 level on the cards, we looked to mount a strong push for promotion. Off the pitch, concerted efforts were made to enable the club to meet the new F A ground grading requirements by April 1st. Entering the last week of the season, a league and cup 'double' was still achievable, but we went down to a 1-0 defeat to Willenhall Town in the Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup and then four days later, we were pipped to the MFA title by Chasetown and had to settle for the runners-up spot. Mark Bellingham had hit 61 goals for the season to break the club record, while his tally of 48 goals in the MFA also smashed the league record. An anxious two-week gap followed before we received confirmation of promotion and a return to the Southern League after six years at the lower level. In our first season back in the Southern League Midlands Division, a respectable 7th place finish in 2006-07 was achieved. We also reached the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup, but following a goal-less draw at Amblecote in the first leg of the final against Evesham United, we were somewhat unluckily beaten 2 - 1 aet away in the second leg. In the 2007-08 season, an excellent run of results during March and April saw us seal a third-place finish in the Midlands Division to reach the play-offs. A narrow 1 - 0 win at home to Sutton Coldfield took us through to the Final away at second placed Leamington and in front of a crowd of 1.634, a stunning goal from Leon Broadhurst four minutes from the end of extra-time sealed a 2 - 1 victory to earn us a second promotion in three seasons and a return to the Premier Division of the Southern League after a gap of 24 years! After a difficult start to our return to the Premier Division, we eventually acclimatized to life at the higher level with a final placing of 16th. We also reached our third senior cup final in four seasons with a fine run in the Birmingham Senior Cup, however we once again suffered heartbreak in the final as Hednesford Town defeated us 2 - 0 at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. In 2009-10 Gary Hackett became the first Stourbridge manager to take the club through to the First Round Proper of the F A Cup with the Glassboys earning a home tie with Walsall. In front of a crowd of 2,014 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground the Saddlers ran out narrow 1 - 0 winners on a momentous day for the club. Some excellent results in the second half of the campaign also saw Stourbridge finish in 9th place in the league. 2010-11 saw the Glassboys taste cup final success as we defeated Worcester City 2 - 0 to lift the Worcestershire Senior Cup at Kidderminster Harriers. Another solid Premier Division season ended with Stourbridge finishing 8 th.
In 2011-12 we reached the First Round Proper of the F A Cup for the second time in three seasons and after a fabulous 3 - 3 draw away at League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle, a crowd of 2,519 saw the Glassboys defeat the Devon club 2 - 0 at Amblecote in front of the ESPN cameras to reach the 2nd Round Proper for the first time in our long history, but our glorious run was finally ended by Stevenage who won 3 - 0 at Stourbridge in-front of an attendance of 3,067. The Glassboys also remained in contention for the league play-offs, however a draw at Frome Town in our final fixture saw us just miss out on goal difference as we ended another memorable campaign in 6th place. We got our 2012-13 campaign off to a winning start too as a 1 - 0 victory away at Kidderminster Harriers enabled us to retain the Worcestershire Senior Cup in a Final carried over from the previous season, but our early season form was wildly up and down. From December onwards though, we showed more consistency and a strong final run-in saw us clinch the runners up spot in the Premier Division. The Worcestershire Senior Cup was won for a third successive time in April 2013, but we needed penalties to overcome Redditch United after the final at St George’s Lane had ended goal-less, however a week later we suffered play-off heartbreak as we were beaten 2 – 1 at home by Gosport Borough in the semi-finals to miss out on the chance of promotion. In 2013-14 the club managed to reach the competition Proper stages of the F A Cup once again. A 4 – 1 home victory over league rivals Biggleswade Town in the 1st Round Proper earned us an away tie at Stevenage where we bowed out after a 4 – 0 defeat. In the league, a last day draw at Hitchin Town secured 5 th spot and a play-off place for a second successive season, however in the semi-final we were beaten 2 – 1 at league runners-up Chesham United. We were moved across the pyramid structure for the 2014-15 season to become members of the Northern Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. In an ultimately disappointing campaign, a dismal run of one win in our last 17 league games saw us eventually finish in 16th place. A host of new signings over the following summer gave the side a fresh look for 2015-16. Another remarkable run in the F A Cup, which included victories over Kidderminster Harriers and Dover Athletic saw the club reach the Second Round Proper once again before going down 2 - 0 to Eastleigh in-front of 2,086 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground and we also reached the last sixteen of the F A Trophy before succumbing to Nantwich Town. There was some late season disappointment, however, when defeats in our last two league games saw us consigned to a 6th place finish, therefore narrowly missing out on the playoffs. The club once again enjoyed success in the F A Cup in 2016-17. In the 2nd Round Proper the Glassboys defeated League One club Northampton Town at home 1 – 0, in front of a crowd of 2,520, to famously reach the 3rd Round Proper for the first time in our history, where with the backing of over 2,000 travelling fans, we fell to a narrow 2 – 1 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers. Soon afterwards defender Dan Scarr was sold to Birmingham City for a five-figure sum. A strong April saw us finish 3rd in the Premier Division to secure a play-off berth, but after overcoming Workington at home in the semi-finals, we lost 1 0 away to league runners-up Spennymoor Town in the play-off final to miss out on promotion. The 2017-18 campaign saw the Glassboys have mixed fortunes in the league, eventually ending in 10th place, but the club reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the F A Cup and 2nd Round proper of the F A Trophy and the season ended on a high note with the lifting of the Birmingham Senior Cup with a 2 - 1 win over Hednesford Town in the Final played at St Andrew's. The Club returned to the Southern League for 2018-19 as a member of the newly created Premier Division Central. Home wins over National League North teams Leamington and Kidderminster saw the Glassboys once again reach the FA Cup 4 th Qualifying Round, but this time Guiseley proved too strong as we fell to a 3 – 1 defeat in West Yorkshire. In the league we held a top two spot for much of the campaign only to slip to 3rd on the final day of the season with a home defeat to King’s Lynn Town. We then had to give up home advantage in the play-off semi-finals and were subsequently defeated 2 – 1 at Alvechurch to see our promotion hopes dashed once more. A day after the play-off loss Gary Hackett resigned his post to bring the curtain down on an outstanding 16 years in charge and Jon Ford and other members of his backroom team also followed him in leaving. Ian Long then arrived from Alvechurch in May 2019 to take over at the helm. Despite a large turnover of players that summer, the Club reached the 1 st Round Proper of the FA Cup again following wins in the qualifying rounds against Bromsgrove Sporting, Coalville Town, Stafford Rangers and Whitby Town before losing to Eastleigh after a replay. However, In February 2020 Ian Long was relieved of his duties with Mark Yates subsequently appointed in his place with Neil Howarth as his assistant just before the 2019/20 campaign was brought to a premature end by the pandemic.
Today’s Opponents – Stourbridge FC Player Pen Pics CHARLIE PRICE Goalkeeper who first joined the club in May 2015 from Tividale and he made 14 appearances for the Glassboys in 2015-16 before ending that campaign on dual registration to Lye Town. He moved to Alvechurch in the summer of 2016 after his year at Stourbridge but in June 2019 he returned for a second stint at the War Memorial Athletic Ground and some strong performances early in 2020 have seen him secure the no. 1 jersey for the new campaign. KRISTIAN GREEN An experienced and highly rated right-sided defender who returned to the Glassboys for a second stint in the summer of 2019. He first came to prominence at Gornal Athletic where a particularly successful 2012/13 campaign led to him joining Halesowen Town in the summer of 2013. He enjoyed two fine seasons with the Yeltz, helping them to win promotion from the NPL Division One South in 2013/14 along the way. He signed for Stourbridge in the summer of 2015 and was a member of the side that reached the 3rd Round Proper of the FA Cup in 2016/17 before earning a deserved move to Solihull Moors in late January 2017. He spent the next fifteen months or so there and then the summer of 2018, he moved to Tamworth where continued energetic and consistent displays saw him win their Player's Player of the Year award for 2018/19. BEN O’HANLON Signed for Stourbridge in the summer of 2020 from Hednesford Town. The Telford-born player started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left Molineux in the summer of 2017 having had loan spells with Corby Town, Nuneaton and AFC Telford and and he then headed north to spend time with Harrogate Town before signing for Darlington in January 2018. He returned to the Midlands on loan at Hednesford from the Quakers in February 2019, before making a move to the Staffordshire outfit on a permanent basis ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. JORDAAN BROWN A strong left-sided player, who is equally at home at centre-back or as a full-back. He started his career at AFC Wimbledon and gained some senior experience with Chipstead before signing for then Conference South club Staines Town in the summer of 2012. After two seasons with the Swans, he headed to Vaasa in Finland to join VPS in the spring of 2014 where he got to play in the Europa League for his new club. In February 2015 he moved to Flekkeroy in the Norwegian 2nd Division before returning to England the following winter and signing for Hayes & Yeading FC in January 2016. He subsequently joined Redditch United early in the 2016/17 campaign after re-locating to the Midlands and then moved on to Stafford Rangers in the summer of 2017. He enjoyed a fine 2017-18 campaign with Stafford, which saw him pick up three honours at the end of the season. He won the Manager's, Players' and Supporters' Player of the Year awards. He joined Stourbridge in the summer of 2018 from Stafford Rangers where continued consistent performances saw him land the Players’ Player of the Year and Directors’ Player of the Year awards in May 2019 and he has continued to be a popular member of the side. DARRYL KNIGHTS Joined the Glassboys from AFC Telford in the summer of 2020. The Suffolk-born attacking playmaker can operate at the head of a midfield diamond or out wide. He started his career with his hometown club, Ipswich Town, before spending time on loan at Yeovil Town, later making the move to Somerset on a permanent deal. He has also had two spells with Kidderminster Harriers, as well as stints with Newport County, Solihull Moors and Tamworth respectively before signing for AFC Telford in the summer of 2018. He made 64 appearances during his two seasons with AFC Telford United and netted seven times for the Shropshire outfit. ANDRE LANDELL Livewire athletic forward who started his career in the Wolverhampton Wanderers youth academy set-up. After being released in the summer of 2011 he signed for Bath City early the following season before moving on to Hednesford Town in December 2011. He later headed to America to study and play. He represented Tiffin University before joining Michigan Bucks of the North American Premier Development League. After returning to England he signed for Rushall Olympic in September 2017 before moving to Alvechurch in October 2018. He scored against the Glassboys in the play-off semi-final in May 2019 but subsequently moved to Stourbridge over the summer of 2019 and is now in his second season with the club.
BRAD BIRCH A tenacious central midfielder who likes to get forward. He was originally signed in July 2016 after impressing in the pre-season build-up. He began his career in the youth ranks at Worcester City and has since seen service with Westfields, Bromyard Town and most recently Littleton in the Midland Football League. After one full season with the Glassboys he moved on to Worcester City in the summer of 2017 where he captained their side. He re-joined Stourbridge on a dual registration basis in March 2018 before committing to the Glassboys fully that summer and he has made over a hundred appearances for the club. RICHARD PENIKET Stourbridge-born 6 ft 3ins. forward who started his senior career with Fulham after coming through the junior ranks at Walsall. He represented Wales up to under-21 level. He spent several loan spells away from Craven Cottage to gain experience, spending time with Hereford United, Kidderminster, AFC Telford and Farnborough, before eventually returning North to the Midlands on a permanent basis with Tamworth. He then furthered his career with FC Halifax Town, before spells followed with Gateshead and Alfreton Town respectively. He signed for Kidderminster Harriers in the summer of 2019, however he departed Aggborough in January 2020 and took a break from the game before linking up with the Glassboys ahead of the 2020/21 season. GREG MILLS A skilful and direct left-sided winger who started out his career at Derby County where he progressed through their ranks to go on and make two first team appearances with his debut coming in October 2009. He also spent time on loan with Solihull Moors, Macclesfield Town and AFC Telford United. Following his release by the Rams he signed for AFC Telford United in August 2011, but with his opportunities limited, he subsequently joined Worcester City in January 2012. He moved on to Boston United in March 2013 before signing for Barrow that summer. In October 2013 he joined King's Lynn Town on a month's loan before linking up with Corby Town the following month - again initially on loan. Greg flourished there, eventually joining the Steelmen on a more permanent basis and he spent two-and-a-half years with the Northamptonshire outfit, playing his part in their 201415 Southern League Premier title success with over 20 goals that season. He moved on to Tamworth in the summer of 2016, but in January 2017 he joined Nuneaton Town where he was re-united with Tommy Wright, his former boss at Corby. When Wright became manager of Darlington in November 2017, he soon agreed a move to the north-east and he made 16 appearances for the Quakers netting once. He signed for Stourbridge in the summer of 2018 and as a key player he scored 24 times to be the outgoing Manager’s Player of the Year for 2018/19. He transferred to Bromsgrove Sporting in October 2019 but was brought back to the Glassboys for a second stint during the summer of 2020 by the new manager. ALEX NICHOLLS The Stourbridge-born winger or forward signed for the Glassboys in October 2019 after a lengthy career in league football. He started his career at Walsall, progressing from their youth set-up into the first team during the 2005-06 campaign. Early in 2007 he had a loan stint with Burton Albion, then in the Conference, before he returned to the Saddlers where he featured more regularly in future seasons. He went to chalk up over 200 appearances for Walsall before being released in 2012. He joined Northampton Town on a free transfer that summer after the expiry of his contract and he started the 2012/13 season in good form before suffering a broken left leg towards the end of October 2012. He was side-lined for 22 months before returning to action with the Cobblers in August 2014. The following month he joined Exeter City on-loan and he played six times and scored once before being recalled to Sixfields. He made nine appearances back at Northampton but then returned to Exeter City for another loan stint at the end of November and the move was made permanent in January 2015 when he agreed an 18-month contract. After making over 70 appearances for the League 2 side he moved to Barnet in June 2016. He scored on his debut for the Bees but later fell out of favour and at the end of January 2017 he moved north of the border to join Dundee United for the remainder of the season. While he was at Tannadice Park he won a Scottish Challenge Cup winners medal. He was back in the fold at Barnet for the following season and his best run of form in a Bees shirt came towards the end of the 2017/18 season when he scored 7 goals in the last sixteen games of the season. In July 2018 he left Barnet and signed for Crewe Alexandra on a one-year deal. He scored twice on his league debut for the Railwaymen against Morecambe but was released at the end of last season. He had trials at Walsall and Yeovil Town during the pre-season period before accepting an offer to join Solihull Moors for a month, making six appearances and scoring once for the National League club. He took caretaker charge of the Glassboys for two games at the end of February 2020 before Mark Yates was appointed manager. ANTHONY DWYER A pacey forward or wide player with dual Montserrat and England eligibility signed in November 2019. He started out with Mansfield Town where he progressed through their youth ranks. After being released in 2016 he signed for Ilkeston FC for the start of the 2016/17 campaign. He left to join Stafford Rangers in November 2016 before moving on to Matlock Town just over a month later, however his spell with the Peak District club was also short-lived and he was soon back in Ilkeston colours. In July 2017 he signed for AFC Telford United before moving to Hednesford Town in March 2018. He initially signed for Altrincham that summer, however personal circumstances meant that he instead linked up with Leamington for the beginning of the 2018-
19 season. He switched to Barwell FC early in January 2019 before transferring to Tamworth at the start of March 2019. He was initially with National League outfit Bromley FC at the start of the 2019/20 season but had also been featuring for step 5 side Glebe FC before making the move to Stourbridge. KIERAN MORRIS A central defender who originally come through our youth ranks. His performances were noted by Brentford who signed him as a teenager in the summer of 2013. He played for their under-21 side and impressed sufficiently to win another one-year contract ahead of the 2014/15 season. In December 2014 he returned to Stourbridge on loan and spent two months back at the War Memorial Athletic Ground before being recalled and then later loaned out again to Maidenhead United. After being released in the summer of 2015 he joined Worcester City on trial in pre-season and earned himself a deal in the process. After a bright start a broken hand led to a spell on the side-lines and after making a come-back he was loaned out to Rushall Olympic in January 2016 for the remainder of the season. He was back at Worcester City for the start of the 2016/17 campaign, but in early October 2016 he joined Stafford Rangers on dual registration before cutting his ties with Worcester two months later. Some fine displays for Neil Kitching’s side led him to sign for Leamington in the summer of 2018, however after failing to win a regular starting berth with the Brakes he moved on to Halesowen Town in September 2018. Following the Yeltz relegation at the end of last season he joined Hednesford ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, but after some upheaval at the Staffordshire side he opted to join Coalville early in January 2020, however the Dudley-based player moved back to the War Memorial Athletic Ground in February 2020. MARK YATES (Manager) Appointed manager at the end of February 2020. He began his playing career with Birmingham City and subsequently also had stints with Burnley, Doncaster Rovers, Kidderminster Harriers and Cheltenham Town. After a spell as first team coach at Burnley he moved into management early in 2006 when he became the boss of Kidderminster Harriers. He has since been in charge at Cheltenham Town (leading the Robins to the League 2 play-off final in 2012), Crawley Town, Solihull Moors and Macclesfield Town. Mark returned to Kidderminster on a short-term contract in January 2019 before leaving Aggborough towards the end of 2018/19.
Photo courtesy of Royston Crow
From ÂŁ150 to incl bar staff
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First Team League Table Pitchin In Southern League 2020/21 Premier Division Central Team Needham Market Stratford Town Coalville Town Stourbridge Tamworth Rushall Olympic Banbury United Lowestoft Town AFC Rushden & Diamonds Redditch United Biggleswade Town Bromsgrove Sporting Kings Langley Alvechurch St Ives Town Peterborough Sports Royston Town Hitchin Town Nuneaton Borough Leiston Barwell Hednesford Town
P 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4
W 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -
D 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 1 1 1
L 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3
F 11 9 9 9 9 9 6 4 11 6 10 7 7 9 5 3 6 6 5 7 3 1
A 5 7 3 6 6 7 4 4 5 5 9 7 7 10 6 4 8 9 7 14 10 9
Diff 6 2 6 3 3 2 2 6 6 1 1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 -3 -2 -7 -7 -8
-Pts -
Pts 10 9 8 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 1 1
Forthcoming League Fixtures 2020/21
Team
Date
Opponent
Competition
1st Team
Saturday 10th October
3.00
Stourbridge
League
Home
Saturday 10 October
3.00
Hatfield
League
Away
th
2.00
BrettVale FC
Womens FA Cup
Home
Women’s Dev
th
Sunday 11 October
2.00
Langford Ladies
League
Away
Reserves
Tuesday 13th October
7.45
Colney Heath Reserves
League
Home
1st Team
Wednesday 14th October
7.45
Bishop’s Stortford
Emirates FA Cup: 3rd Qual Round
Away
U18’s
Thursday 15th October
th
Reserves Women’s 1
Kick Off
st
st
1 Team
Sunday 11 October
Venue
7.45
Histon
League
Away
th
3.00
Tamworth
League
Away
th
League
Home
League
Home
League
Home
Saturday 17 October
Reserves
Saturday 17 October
3.00
Wingate & Finchley Development
Women’s 1st
Sunday 18th October
2.00
Haringey Borough Women’s
Women’s Dev
th
Sunday 18 October
2.00
Letchworth GCE Ladies 1
U18’s
Thursday 22nd October
7.45
Haverhill Rovers U18’s
League
Home
1st Team
Saturday 24th October
3.00
Hednesford Town FC
League
Home
th
Women’s 1 st
1 Team U18’s
st
Sunday 25 October
st
2.00
AFC Dunstable Womens
League
Away
th
7.45
Hitchin Town FC
League
Away
th
7.45
Newmarket Town FC
League
Away
Monday 27 October Tuesday 28 October
Player Sponsorship 2020/21
Player: Dan Brathwaite Sponsored by: Katherine Thompson
Player: Ed Asafu-Adjaye Sponsored by: Jake Easley
Player: Adam Murray Sponsored by: Jeff Gil
Player: Josh Castiglione Sponsored by: Scott, Ryan-Lewis, Jacob, Lillie-Rose, Stanley Clowery, Lexie Tuck & Timothy Hutchinson
Player: Joe Welch Sponsored by: Ryan Easley
Player: Taylor Parr Sponsored by: Cambs Roofing
Player: Gus Scott-Morriss Sponsored: Luke Easley
Player: Jonny Edwards Sponsored by: Billy Baulk
Player: Adam Watkins Sponsored by: Toby Pendrick
Player: Spyros Mentis Sponsored by: Graham Hagger
Player: Isaac Galliford Sponsored by: Graham Hagger
Anyone interested in sponsoring a player please contact Alan Barlow on matchdays. ÂŁ150 per player Still available: James Brighton Scott Bridges Isa Rotimi Josh Williams Dan Green Dan Newton Tom Newman Duncan Culley Harry Smart
ROYSTON TOWN FC RESERVES - 2020/21
ROYSTON TOWN FC U18’S – 2020/21
ROYSTON TOWN FC WOMENS – 2020/21
ROYSTON TOWN FC VETS – 2020/21
Royston Town Fixtures & Results 2020/21 Date
Kick Off
Opponents
Competition
12th September 2020
3.00
Newmarket Town
19th September 2020 22nd September 2020 26th September 2020 29th September 2020 4th October 2020
3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00
Banbury United Wroxham Alvechurch Needham Market Stamford AFC
Emirates FA Cup: Preliminary Round League Emirates FA Cup: 1st Qual Round League League Emirates FA Cup: 2nd Qual Round
6th October 2020 10th October 2020 14th October 2020 17th October 2020 24th October 2020 26th October 2020 3rd November 2020 7th November 2020 14th November 2020 17th November 2020 21st November 2020 24th November 2020 28th November 2020 5th December 2020 8th December 2020 12th December 2020 19th December 2020 26th December 2020 2nd January 2021 9th January 2021 16th January 2021 23rd January 2021
7.30 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Biggleswade Town Stourbridge Bishops Stortford Tamworth Hednesford Town Hitchin Town St Ives Town Stratford Town Nuneaton Borough Leiston Redditch United Barwell Bromsgrove Sporting Peterborough Sports Biggleswade Town AFC Rushden & Diamonds Rushall Olympic Kings Langley Lowestoft Town Tamworth Stourbridge Hitchin Town
League League Emirates FA Cup: 3rd Qual Round League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League
Venue
Result
Score
Royston Scorers
Home
Won
6-0
Edwards (4), Gallimore, Mentis
Home Home Away Away Home
Drew Won Drew Lost Won
Castiglione, Adams Edwards, Galliford Adams (2) Edwards Adams (2)
Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home
Drew
2-2 2-0 2-2 3-1 4-2 (aft Pens) 1-1
Watkins
Date
Kick Off
Opponents
Competition
30th January 2021 6th February 2021 13th February 2021 20th February 2021 27th February 2021 2nd March 2021 6th March 2021 13th March 2021 20th March 2021 27th March 2021 3rd April 2021 5th April 2021 10th April 2021 17th April 2021 24th April 2021 1st May 2021 3rd May 2021 8th May 2021
3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Hednesford Town Stratford Town St Ives Town Bromsgrove Sporting Peterborough Sports Needham Market Banbury United Alvechurch AFC Rushden & Diamonds Rushall Olympic Coalville Town Kings Langley Leiston Nuneaton Borough Redditch United Barwell Lowestoft Town Coalville Town
League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League League
Venue Away Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away
Result
Score
Royston Scorers
TRAVELLERS TALES 6 By Brian Buck 21st game of the season. (Match 13,280) Monday 31st August 2020. Woodford Town 3 London Colney 1 (Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round) (Played at Harlow Town) (7.45pm kick off) att 247. Tonight, we arrived here early for the first competitive game of the season, just in case there was a problem getting into the ground, but there wasn’t. One of was asked for his phone number, who was also asked if we were together. This was confirmed and we were then let in. Knowing that Woodford are on the verge of moving back to Woodford I asked the gateman, “How long are you going to be here for?” The initial answer was, “Until just after kick off!” but the reply I was really looking for was somewhere between October and December. Next it was off to the stand, but whilst no one said that I couldn’t sit in the seats where I usually sit, it was pointed out to me that the Woodford Town band were housed in these seats tonight, because the stand opposite, from where they normally operate, was being used as overflow dugouts for both sides. So, I went down to the other end of the stand, where the noise was still irritating but just far enough away to stop me getting a headache. Anyway, just before kick off my car registration number was read out. My first thoughts were that I had won the ‘Cleanest car in the Car Park’ award, long overdue in my opinion, but disappointingly it was only to tell me that I’d left my lights on! As for the game Colney started off well and they took the lead on 8 minutes with a follow up to a blocked shot. At this juncture Woodford lost confidence and Colney were playing quite well. But on 34 minutes Woodford equalised when an early sub was played in out left and he ran on shooting home across the face of the keeper. Then on 56 minutes they took the lead when the visiting keeper lost control of the ball, seemingly being uncertain if he was allowed to pick up the ball or not. But on 63 minutes Woodford had a player sent off in a ‘last man’ incident, but some of us weren’t convinced that he was the last man! However, in the end it counted for little as on 77 minutes the scorer of the first goal did it again with a similar goal to his first, but this time more impressively as he started his run at goal from a deeper position. It seemed that after the final whistle there was a punch up and while we were walking back to the car, we heard the refs whistle go at least three times. 22. (13,281) Wednesday 2nd Setember 2020. Godmanchester Rovers 1 Ely City 1 (Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round) (Ely City won 4-2 on penalties) att 128. I arrived here some 50 minutes before kick off, this early mainly because on my way to the game I received a text saying that my friend, who I was due to pick up from Huntingdon railway station, was unable to make it because the trains were buggered up. As sad as that was, this turned out to be an advantage because had I arrived much later then I would have struggled to get a seat in the stand. This was because in line with ‘social distancing’ rules, most of them were taped up. Being on top of a hill this ground is never one of the warmest around and so it turned out to be a cold breezy, damp evening, with a bit of drizzle from time to time thrown in for good measure. The game, not especially a good one at that, was fairly even in the first half. Both sides had periods of dominance, but in truth neither side looked like scoring. This scenario continued after the break, but then on 54 minutes the deadlock was broken when a Goddy player hit a bobbling 35 yarder towards goal. It kept low and eventually curled into the goal with its custodian being unsighted. At this point you couldn’t see Ely doing much about it. Goddy didn’t look like losing their grip on things and their time wasting made it more difficult for Ely as well. But on 75 minutes Ely brought on their only two subs, apparently and on 83 minutes they equalised when for me their 40 yard centrally hit direct free kick was accidentally turned into his own net by a defender. So as there is now no extra time or replays in the FA Cup, we moved on to penalties. Here Goddy were deficient and they missed the second and fourth of their spot kicks. Meanwhile Ely scored with all four they needed to take.
23. (13,282) Thursday 3rd September 2020. Bassingbourn 1 Melbourn 1 (Friendly Match) att 40 approx. This rather bizarre encounter was advertised on Twitter earlier in the day, which stated that it would be a 6.20pm kick off. Persistent light rain had given way to a sunny but blustery evening with the wind feeling warm until the sun set. Of course, we didn’t start at the appointed time, but only six minutes late. My usual bench seat here was already taken by the time I arrived, so I had to use my trusty garden chair instead. On 16 minutes we had the first of some dubious fouls, or otherwise, when the ref, standing in the centre circle, declined to give Melbourn a spot kick for a foul. He waived away their appeals and at this point it seemed that they might have a point. But as the game progressed, I didn’t know what to think. Some of the tackles saw players rolling around as though they were ready to receive the last rites and then almost immediately getting up as though nothing was wrong. Also, the ref was on the end of a lot of sarcastic comments, of which he let most go. However when one Bassingbourn player shouted out “Hooray,” when he gave his side a free kick, he did have words. I’m sure that had this been a competitive game rather than a friendly then the approach by both parties may have been a lot different. Both goals were weird. The Bassingbourn goal, scored on 32 minutes, was an own goal. The player concerned had time and space to shoot, but instead, unless he miskicked the ball in trying to shoot, he elected to cross or pass it across the face of goal to another unmarked player. But the ball hit a Melbourn defender and slowly bounced into the goal off the far post. The equaliser came from the spot on 53 minutes. A Bassingbourn player considered that he had been fouled and also injured inside the area. But the ref didn’t blow his whistle. So instead he picked up the ball and threw it out of play. I can’t remember if he was actually injured at all, but if he was then it wasn’t serious. So, the ref, after consulting his lino, gave a spot kick from which Melbourn scored. Then as the game continued the fading light became an issue and it finished with there still being about eight minutes left for play and under a brilliant red sky, which in truth was the best part of the evening. 24. (13,283) Friday 4th September 2020. AFC Flitwick 0 Cranfield United (Sunday) 5 (Bedford & District Sunday League 2019/20 Brian Craddock Jubilee Invitation Cup Final) (Played at Kempston Rovers) att 120 approx. This was a cup final left over from last season. Once again, we arrived early, so as I could be certain of getting a seat, a necessity for me at the moment. Once again entry regulations were similar, but not the same as at my earlier game during this week. At Harlow on Monday you could sit in all the seats. At Godmanchester you could sit in a few and here you could sit in some. However, the tape was easily breakable if you didn’t want to comply with social distancing. The Flitwick fans must live in one giant bubble! At the gate, we had our temperatures taken, but had to wait until some sanitiser arrived, to use on the pen, before signing in. My friend got around this by using his handkerchief which even with its germs, was considered a safe option! The pitch looked good, even with an abundance of mushroom rings on it. Before the game started, there was a minutes silence, but as there wasn’t a programme or any announcements over the tannoy, we didn’t know who this was for. Furthermore no one switched off the music blaring out, so this was far from a minute’s silence! The match was keenly contested and well reffed, but the teams didn’t seem to be mentally prepared. This being a Friday game meant they weren’t playing on a Sunday, still feeling the effects of getting pissed the night before! The outcome of the game was decided in a fourteen minute spell leading up to half time, during which time Cranfield scored four times. The third one was an interesting back heel from about 6 yards out and the fourth came from the spot following a stupid foul. With the winners already known by now, the second half was quieter and we only saw one more goal, scored in the 62nd minute, to bring to a close one of the better evenings I’d been at by this stage of the season.
Southern Premier League Central Club Directory Club
Address
Postcode
Phone
Return Mileage
Hayden Road Sports Ground, Hayden Road, Rushden
NN10 0HX
01933 359206
91
53 Redditch Road, Alvechurch
B48 7RS
0121 445 2929
227
The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury
OX16 5AD
01295 263354
140
Kirkby Road Sports Ground, Kirkby Road, Barwell, Leicester
LE9 8FQ
01455 843067
184
Langford Road, Biggleswade, Beds
SG18 9JT
01767 318802
30
The Victoria Ground, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs
B61 0DR
01527 876949
244
Coalville Town
Owen St Sports Ground, Owen Street, Coalville, Leics
LE67 3DA
07496 792650
197
Hednesford Town
Keys Park, Keys Park Road, Hednesford Cannock, Staffordshire
WS12 2DZ
01543 422870
240
Hitchin Town
Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin
SG5 1NU
01462 459028
34
Kings Langley
Gaywood Park, Hempstead Road, Kings Langley, Herts
WD4 8BS
07730 410330
72
Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk
IP16 4DQ
01728 830308
167
Crown Meadow (Amber Dew Events Stadium), Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk
NR32 2PA
01502 573818
205
Needham Market
Bloomfields, Quinton Road, Needham Market, Suffolk
IP6 8DA
01449 721000
117
Nuneaton Borough
Liberty Way, Nuneaton, Warwicks
CV11 6BB
02476 349690
178
The Bee Arena, Peterborough Sports & Leisure, 651 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, Cambs
PE1 3HA
01733 567835
94
Redditch United
The Trico Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch
B97 4RN
01527 67450
228
Rushall Olympic
Dales Lane, Rushall, Walsall, West Midlands
WS4 1LJ
07909 560407
226
St Ives Town
Pro Edge Stadium, Westwood Road, St Ives
PE27 6DT
01480 463207
46
Stourbridge
War Memorial Athletic Ground, High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge, W Mids
DY8 4HN
01384 394040
250
The DCS Stadium, Knights Lane, Tiddington, Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 7BZ
01789 261037
194
The Lamb Ground, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, Staffs
B77 1AA
01827 65798
217
AFC Rushden & Diamonds Alvechurch Banbury United Barwell Biggleswade Town Bromsgrove Sporting
Leiston Lowestoft Town
Peterborough Sports
Stratford Town Tamworth
Tuesday 10th October 2020 3.00pm Kick off
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 17 19 20 22
Royston Town FC
Today’s Match Officials:
White & Black Shirts Black Shorts White Socks
Referee: Thomas Hancock Assistant Referees: Laurentiu Hantea, Christopher Severino
Charlie PRICE Kristian GREEN Ben O’HANLON Alex FLETCHER Kieran MORRIS Martin RILEY Darryl KNIGHTS Ellis DEENEY Richard PENIKET Andre LANDELL Greg MILLS Kayelden BROWN Darragh BUSTIN Brad BIRCH Anthony DWYER Alex NICHOLLS Jordaan BROWN Lewis DERRICK Eshan GREER
Joe WELCH (GK) Ed ASAFU-ADJAYE Dan BRATHWAITE (C) Scott BRIDGES Adam MURRAY Taylor PARR Josh CASTIGLIONE Adam WATKINS Brandon ADAMS Johnny EDWARDS Isaac GALLIFORD James BRIGHTON Josh WILLIAMS Spyros MENTIS Dan NEWTON Gus SCOTT-MORRISS Harry SMART (GK) Tom NEWMAN
Steve Castle/Chris Watters Scott Taylor/ Arron Benstead
Stourbridge FC Red & White Shirts White Shorts Red Socks
Managers/Coaches Sports Therapist(s)
Mark Yates/Neil Howarth/ Gavin Hurren Richard Drewett
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