ROYSTON TOWN vs ST IVES TOWN - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 2024

ROYSTON TOWN

ST IVES TOWN

3PM, SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 2024

MATCH SPONSOR:

Saturday 2nd March 2024

Kick Off: 3pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome today's opponents St Ives Town FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

We also welcome today’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

ROYSTON TOWN OFFICIAL SHIRT SPONSOR

President

Chairman

Secretary

Finance Director

Welfare Officer

Fixture Secretary

Executive Board

Alan Barlow

Steve Jackson

Terry McKinnell

9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY

07772 086709

email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk

Jeff Gill

Angela Baulk

Steve Endacott (07971 512402)

Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery. Webmaster

Programme Editors

Official Photographer

Football Management Team

First Team Manager

U23 Manager

U18 Team Manager

Women's Team Manager

Vets Team Manager

Ground

Colours

Members of:

The Hertfordshire Football Association

Southern League Premier Division

Spartan South Midlands Football League

Thurlow Nunn Youth League

Eastern Region Women’s Football League Royston

Steve Endacott

Angela Baulk, Neil MacLeod

Kevin Richards

Chris Watters

Dan Evans

Roy Smith

Lewis Endacott

Lee Wilkinson

Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP

Telephone (01763) 241204

First XI

White/Black/White

U23 White/Black/White

U18

White/Black/Black

Women's White/Black/White

Vets

White/Black/Black

CLUB HONOURS

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

Southern League Challenge Cup 2021/22

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

Scott Taylor / James Smith

Jardaine Patel-Joseph

Chris Watters MANAGERS

Ricky Marheineke

LATEST RTFCTV VIDEOS!

WHO’S GOT WHO? WHO’S GOT WHO?

TODAY’S FIXTURES IN THE TODAY’S FIXTURES IN THE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE

PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

We are pleased to introduce 1000GBP.com – a weekly online football quiz which combines fun and challenging questions with fundraising for non-league clubs like ourselves at Royston Town FC.

Each week 1000GBP.com offers 50 chances for supporters and their clubs to win money, including a top prize of £1000, which will be split evenly between the winning player and their nominated non-league club – so in your case, it could be you and The Crows very soon.

What makes 1000GBP especially unique is that they automatically donate up to 30% of all fees to the nominated clubs, regardless of whether or not the questions are answered correctly.

Since the start of this season, many clubs have already benefited and as of 5th February, they include Saffron Walden Town FC (£6637), Colney Heath FC (£2524), FC Clacton (£1966) and Stapenhill FC (£1578) Money that will be enormously useful for clubs such as ours, that are so important to local communities and supporters

It’s really easy to take part and help the club. Just register as a player at www.1000gbp.com, purchase a question pack, and select a category. Each multiple choice question has been specifically written for 1000GBP.com. The time option you choose determines how many points you win and if you correctly answer the question before the clock runs down, you’ll immediately be entered into the weekly prize draw – and each point won represents an additional place in that draw!

The weekly competition closes at midnight each Sunday and winners are selected by a random number generator managed by an independent company on the next working day, with the results announced on our website Winning funds will be transferred to the online wallets of the successful players and clubs in the same week

We all know that our non-league clubs face challenging times and that football supporters love having their knowledge tested so 1000GBP.com was created to bring together both elements and we hope you’ll enjoy the challenge of the questions and the opportunity to win even more cash support for Royston Town FC and yourselves and be a part of our community by registering now at www 1000gbp com

WE’VE OFTEN been told how football can learn from its oval ball cousins in rugby union, especially when it comes to on-the-field discipline. While it’s dragged its feet for years in introducing goal-line technology and then, of course, the dreaded VAR to bring it in line with the 21st Century, FIFA chiefs do at least appear to have the game ’ s best intentions at heart in attempting to protect its integrity as much as it possibly can.

This latest plan, to introduce blue cards and sin bins, has split the opinions of the powers at be game, not least among the game ’ s elite players, managers and pundits who already have their tails in a spin with the controversies over VAR Sin-bins – essentially a 10-minute sending off for offences of dissent or cynical fouls - have been used successfully in rugby for more than 20 years but were only introduced in grassroots football, from Step 5 and below, from the 2019-20 season in an attempt to improve levels of respect and fair play in the game

By and large, the experiment been a success with the round ball too with managers and players acclimatising pretty quickly to the new dynamic under close scrutiny from governing bodies keen to determine whether it could be used in the higher reaches of the game in the near future

This week, NLP columnist Tony Incenzo - who has visited over 2,500 football grounds across the country and watches around 60 games a season at Steps 5 and 6 - went out and about asking referees at the level just what they think of the sin bin rule and whether they believe it could just work along the elite

His first port of call was a pretty significant one too. Starting his career in the Northern Premier League, Keith Hackett went onto become one of the top referees in world football before retiring from the Premier League ranks in 1994 Now president of the Northern Counties East League and Penistone Church FC, Hackett told him: “Sin bins are definitely a deterrent. Although there are many opportunities for referees to use this sanction but often they don’t

“Match officials allow their performances at times to be undermined by not delivering the punishment when it would be to their own benefit and that of the game. A sin bin ruling not only penalises the individual but also the whole team. When I have seen it applied, I have not witnessed the affected team adopting delaying tactics until their player returns after the tenminute period of temporary suspension. I also consider using a different coloured card – like the blue one suggested – might give greater clarity to supporters and other participants that the sin bin has been invoked ”

Tony also spoke to David Stappleton, who referees in the Southern Combination League. He offered some firm views.

“I have experienced football with and without sin bins,” said Stappleton “I prefer the latter with an ability to use it to desired effect during a game. I believe a good referee communicates to the players. And accordingly, I can implement the sin bin or potential use of it I try to use a stepped strategy when officiating This includes public admonishments, then bringing the captain and the offending player into our discussions regarding their poor attitude and behaviour, before lastly deploying the sin bin. More often than not, I find responsible captains will speak with their player and the issue of dissent goes away But if it doesn’t or if the captain himself is involved, the sin bin becomes a useful tool.

“I would add there is extra work for referees due to sin bins. Although it stems from a lack of understanding generally. Most people don’t realise it concerns 10 minutes of ball in play, rather than a straight 10 minutes. Dependent on breaks in the action, this can actually last 12 to 13 minutes.”

Steve Joyce added: “I was a level 5 referee in Kent until a couple of years ago The sin bins were brought in for dissent only I was very sceptical initially but they worked well At grassroots, you knew the players who were going to get a yellow for dissent at some point in the game and sin bins helped deal with them.”

Michael Pedler, chairman of Cardiff Referees’ Society, says the figures speak for themselves.

“Sin bins have been trialled in Wales and they obviously work since dissent has dropped,” he said

John Lowe is not convinced either: “My experience as a ref is sin bins don’t work,” he revealed

“Dissent hasn’t declined. When a player is going to give you dissent, the thought of 10 minutes in the sin bin doesn’t stop them so it is no deterrent. Players don’t feel they’re doing anything wrong anyway.

“What I’m also finding very common is that once asked to go to the sin bin, the dissent regularly escalates to foul and abusive language resulting in a red card I don’t think I’ve sent anyone off this season in anything other than those circumstances ”

All in all, Tony encountered some mixed opinions across a decent cross-section of those at the sharp end, although, generally, it seems most refs are in favour of sin bins, with the odd caveat, of course.

As Tony rightly pointed out though, here is a significant shortage of match officials in the grassroots ranks so protecting them from abuse of any type has to be the priority

After all, whatever shape ball you play with, you can’t have competition without a referee

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS

r)

eUtdlastseasonasinjurycoverandimpressedwithhis ed the Crows on a season-long loan from the U's Has ambridgeCityandStNeotsTown

nry (Defender)

ned the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st on In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town

nning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two ere he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into be a formidable addition for the Crows.

the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at wn Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to ames for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells of two seasons at Luton Town.

ghton (Defender)

d full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where ent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel own, Cambridge City & Cambridge United

nsend-West (Defender)

n from Stevenage last season and signed on a permanent basis at the eason Mackye signed his first prof contract with Stevenage in October ade his professional debut in the Stevenage’s 3–2 EFL Trophy defeat ons in October 2020. Has previously been on loan at St Albans City.

nson (Defender)

Crows in November 2023 from St Ives Town, having previously been 18/19. Charlie started out at the Cambridge United academy and has yed St Neots Town and Bury Town

ge Djadja (Defender)

ned the Crows at the start of the campaign after impressing in pre-season His evious clubs include Farnham Town and Walton & Hersham

ie Williams (Midfield)

nedtheCrowsonloanfromStevenagelastseasonandwassignedonapermanent sis this season. Alfie joined Stevenage from Spurs and signed a pro deal with them April 2021. Made his professional debut for Stevenage in a 1–0 victory at unthorpe United in May 2021 Alfie has spent time on loan at Kings Langley, Hemel mpsteadTownandHayes&YeadingUnited.

in Keller (Midfield)

omising wide player who joined the Crows at the start of this season from ertfordshire rivals Kings Langley Came through the ranks at Stevenage before ning Hendon in November 2021 and then went on to play for Biggleswade Town nd before switching to Kings Langley

doYoung(Midfield)

ed the Crows in July 2023 He began his career with Norwich City, making sfortheirU18sandU21sbeforemovingon.Apaceyforwardwithakeeneye d has the ability to change a game Previous clubs include Ilkeston Town, ghTrinity,GranthamTown,FrickleyAthleticandLongEaton.

sGeorgiou(Midfielder/Forward)

ng from Braintree Town Started his career at Stevenage FC and made his pro nst MKDons in 2017 Joined Wycombe Wanderers in 2020 Has had spells at ey,Hendon,StAlbansCityandBraintreeTown

an(Midfield)

d dynamic midfielder who joined the Crows in July 2023 Samson signed for d United in February 2022 from Potters Bar Town but spent the rest of the that k on loan at the Scholars. Prior to playing at Potters Bar, Samson played at nandwasayoungsteratNorwichCity.

evens(Midfield)

p up the A505 when he joined the Crows from local rivals Hitchin Town e began his career at Boreham Wood in 2016 and went out on loan to gs Langley - who liked what they saw, and signed him on a permanent oseasonstherebeforesigningforHitchinTowninthe2019-20season.

e(Forward)

s at the start of this season. Started his career in college football in playing for East Grinstead Town, Harrow Borough, Chalfont St. Peter, rtlandPhoenixinUSA,UxbridgeandNorthwood.

-Braithwaite(Defender)

m Enfield Town Started at Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, and has also d non-league experience with Carshalton Athletic, Potters Bar Town and St Neots

rayAnyadike(Midfielder)

his career at Southend United and spent time on loan at Harlow Town and dge Sports before moving to Walthamstow in July 2022. He was a firm fan avou teatWadhamLodgeandwasvotedSupporter’sPlayeroftheYearlastyear.

enDeLacy-Turner(Midfielder)

egan his youth career with AFC Wimbledon Has represented England at U17 and U18 igned for Aldershot Town in 2022 and made his senior debut for the Shots in the same ear. Has spent time on loan at Kings Langley, Beaconsfield and joined Redbridge at the artofthisseasonbeforejoiningtheCrows

FabioVirciglio(Midfield)

A product of the Crows U18s, Fabio has impressed for the U23s this season and he has nowforcedhiswayintotheFirstTeamsquadwherehecontinuestoperformwell

KianHarness(Forward)

Excitingyoungstrikerwhobrokeintothe1stteamsuadlastseason Kianisalocallad who has come through the ranks of Royston Town Youth and our Under 18s and Under23s.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

LOUIS

CHADWICK

RONNIE HENRY

ADAM MURRAY

ED ASAFU

ADJAYE

JAMES BRIGHTON

COOPER MCKINNELL

DAVID GRAY

JEFF GILL

JAKE EASLEY

FABIO VIRCIGLIO

KELSHALL PLASTICS

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

JOSH COLDICOTT STEVENS MACKYE TOWNSEND WEST

TREVOR & ALISON DEARDS

BEN LACEY RNER AVAILABLE

MSON SAN ANDRONICOS GEORGIOU

ALFIE WILLIAMS

JACOB & STANLEY CLOWERY

MICK & ENID TOOVEY

CAIN KELLER

JUWON AKINTUNDE

ORLANDO YOUNG ANGE DJADJA

GREG SANDIFORD

DEMARAY ANYADIKE

RYAN CLOWERY

RACHEL & LILLIE CLOWERY

PETER MILLER

JOHN CHAMBERLAIN

PHIL THOMPSON

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

DEQUANE WILSONBRAITHWAITE AVAILABLE SAM MVEMBA AVAILABLE

CHARLIE JOHNSON

KIAN HARNESS

Scott Taylor / James Smith

Jardaine Patel-Joseph

Chris Watters MANAGERS

Ricky Marheineke