Rusthall vs Meridian VP

The match day magazine of Rusthall Football Club Season 2020 - 2021 Issue 5

Saturday 31st October 2020 SCEFL DIVISION ONE v

Meridian VP

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Welcome to the Jockey Farm Stadium from Club President Rich Smith Welcome back to the farm for our latest SCEFL game as we host Meridian VP from Charlton.

Since our last home game against Lewisham Borough when he won the man of the match award, James Miles has decided to leave the club and transfer to Premier Division side Welling Town. While sad to lose a player of his obvious quality I simply don’t understand the move, I have always backed players that have moved on from the Rustics to improve their game and play at a higher level, Welling are no more than a mid table side and on Saturday they lost 1-4 at home in front of 27 people. While wishing James all the best for the future I just cannot understand what he hopes to gain by making this move.

Last week at Snodland, Jimmy and the lads showed no signs of missing James and even without the injured Reuel PowellDowney and Sid Sollis they brushed aside the opposition with a great all round performance that saw them run out comfortable 4-0 winners and make it 3 wins in a row.

Once again the amount of supporters that made the trip was amazing as we easily made up half of the attendance of 116. To hear the fans singing and chanting throughout the game was something I never thought I would witness at a Rusthall game and it makes me even more proud to be involved with this great club. I know how much it helps Jimmy and the lads and the help it gives them especially away from home.

We are currently one of the best supported step 6 sides in the country are better supported than many teams at step 5. During the week the newly formed supporters group have been pushing today’s game and they are expecting to get close to our 300 limit for the game. More and more people are making their first visit to Jockey this season as they cannot currently watch professional football and the feedback we are getting is brilliant as many of them are

coming back and I sincerely hope that trend continues. I am confident that we offer football at a really good standard at a very reasonable price, something that is not the case at the professional level of the game.

Today’s visitors, Meridian have not had the best of starts to the season but as we all know you cannot take anything for granted in this league and we will have to be at our best to get something from the game and continue our recent great run.

Last week the Reserves put in a brilliant team performance here at Jockey to end Larkfield & New Hythe’s 100% start to the season with a 1-0 win. Larkfield are looking to get in the SCEFL nest season and have a decent playing budget at their disposal which makes the result all the more remarkable for Lee and his team.

Please get behind the lads this afternoon, sing loud and proud but also show respect for the opposition and officials.

Enjoy your afternoon

Rich Your very proud club President.

Matt Bailey

From the Bench - Jimmy Anderson Good afternoon, Welcome back to The Jockey Farm Stadium for this afternoon’s game against Meridian VP! On Saturday we comfortably beat Snodland Town away, Matt claimed his first clean sheet and Kamz his first hat-trick for the club. It was a special day and the 50 or so supporters that made the trip, made it all that more special too.

There was a really nice moment for me during Saturday’s game when a young supporter, Theo, was leading a chant through his megaphone. To hear my name from across the pitch was a great feeling! As supporters, please don’t underestimate the influence that you can have on my young squad, you’re going to be key to us getting the results that we all want over the coming few months! Keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll repay you with goals and the football that we’re all enjoying, once again!

We trained very well on Wednesday night, the ‘buzz’ around the squad is definitely back and I’m pleased to report that the only ongoing injury that we have within the team is that of Sid’s hamstring - thankfully, he’s only a couple of weeks away from making a full recovery. We’re certainly benefiting from having Ellie with us, treating the lads and helping with their recovery after each game.

Today’s game will be no less demanding than the last, or the next and although Meridian are sitting at the bottom of the table, they should not be underestimated. This time last season Bridon Ropes were in the exactly same position as them and they handed us a comfortable and somewhat embar-

rassing defeat, because we became complacent based on their league position.

Finally, be our ‘12th man’ today - We need to hear your voice, so please sing loud and proud and play your part in getting the points that we need!

“Green & White Army!”

Enjoy the game!

Jimmy

Today’s visitors

Deportivo Galicia and Hollands & Blair however, the run came to an end following a 30 defeat at Horley Town. This season also Meridian VP saw the club reach its highest ever points The club was originally started as a five tally in a league season of 49 which unfortuaside team which consisted of four Tamna nately was not enough for the points per brothers and colleagues playing for other game ratio for entry into the FA CUP. teams learning their trade. Later officially the club was incorporated in 1995 to give it The Club also had a youth system which an identity and progression into the world of covered all age ranges and the highlight of grassroots football. this was our first ever FA Youth Cup entry At its forefront as always has been Chairman Dwinder Tamna, who has been involved in the club now for over twenty years being the driving force from day one with his vision of achieving the highest possible status slowly becoming a reality.

It’s a far cry from playing at Mayplace Playing Fields, Perry Street, Crayford, Kent. The clubs inception into the Dartford & District League in 1995 where the club achieved many successes winning the Bawcutt League Cup twice and were also losing finalists on three occasions and the club also finished League Runners up on two occasions.

The club has grown from strength to strength eventually becoming a member of the FA Football Pyramid in 2003 plying its trade in the Kent County Football League at Step 7. In 2010 the club were proud to achieve FA Charter Standard Status.

with our U18’s where they achieved far beyond what was expected of them reaching the 3rd round after being beaten by Shoreham away. The U18’s were one match away from playing Millwall FC in the 1st round.

The club catered also not for just young players as the Veterans were not forgotten.

Winners in the Southern Veterans Cup, Southern Veterans League runners up and featuring the oldest player in the UK Mr Derek May aged 76 for a few seasons. We think he might still be going..!

In order to excel and meet the aims of the club, ground improvements have been carried out with the investment from the chairman and the Football Foundation, the stadium now meets the Ground Grading criteria for Steps 6, 5 and 4.

Meridian VP are now looking forward to an In 2011 the Club became a founder mem- exciting 2020/21 season following the disapber of the Kent Invicta League at Step 6. In pointment of a 2019/20 campaign that was 2016 the League became the Southern cut short due to the Coronovirus Pandemic.

Counties East League (SCEFL) where the club have remained to date. The long term ambition of Chairman Dwinder Tamna is for the club to progress to the Bostik League Step 4.

Season 2015-16 saw Meridian VP enter the FA Vase for the first time enjoying a magnificent 7-2 away win at St. Francis Rangers before bowing out in the First Round losing 1 -4 at home to Lordswood. Two years later the club went one better reaching the Second Round proper after victories against

SEASON 1974 - 75 - TONBRIDGE INTERMEDIATE CUP WINNERS Back row L/R: Alan Saunders, Dave Purser, Martin Thomas, Gary “Chinga” Mitchell, Mick Smith, Mick Chapman, Robert “Nobby” Clark, Front row L/R: Wally Histed, John Akehurst, Dave Knight, Chris Warren, Peter Gearing.

At the start of this season the very future of the club was in doubt, forced to withdraw from the Tonbridge League Premier Division due to a lack of players the club managed to continue with one team in Division two. This was largely due to the hard work of then secretary Peter Smith (my Dad) who along with another club legend Les Chapman put together a mainly young side who mostly came from the village. Peter’s Son Mick along with Les’s Son Mick were joined by the sons of 2 more club legends, Alan Saunders, Son of Roy and John Akehurst Son of Frank. Another of the clubs legends Wally Histed was part of the team and he is still a keen supporter of the club and will indeed probably be sitting in the stand this afternoon. Also in that side was Dave Knight, the Grand Father of current first team player Connor Knight. As well as lifting the Tonbridge Intermediate Cup that season they also finished runners up in division 2 thus gaining promotion. Happily it was not too long before the playing numbers grew again and a Reserve team was formed again and as they say the rest is history. But without the hard work of Peter and Les things could have been very different and the club would certainly not be in the position we are today.

SCEFL RESULTS & FIXTURES Saturday 24th October 2020

Monday 26th October 2020

SCEFL Premier Division

SCEFL Division One

AFC Croydon Ath Att: 102

2-4

Corinthian

Canterbury City Att: 74

3-2

Punjab United

Crowborough Ath Att: ??

1-3

Erith & Belvedere

Erith Town Att: 182

3-6

Chatham Town

Fisher Att: 298

0-0

Deal Town

Hollands & Blair Att: 167

2-1

K Sports

Lordswood Att: 70

0-0

Balham

Sheppey United Att: 300

3-2

Beckenham Town

Tunbridge Wells Att: 300

2-1

Glebe

Welling Town Att: 27

1-4

Bearsted

SC Thamesmead

4-1

Forest Hill Park

Att: 70 Saturday 31st October 2020

SCEFL Division One FC Elmstead Att: 44

1-2

Holmesdale

Greenways Att: ??

1-3

SC Thamesmead

Kennington Att: 140

2-0

Croydon

Kent Football Utd Att: 31

1-1

Forest Hill Park

Meridian VP Att: 22

2-3

Lydd Town

Rochester United Att: 72

3-1

Bridon Ropes

Snodland Town Att: 116

0-4

RUSTHALL

Stansfeld Att: 75

4-1

Sutton Athletic

F.A.Vase 1st Round Proper Holmesdale

v

AFC Uckfield Town

Kennington

v

Fisher

Risborough Rangers

v

Erith & Belvedere

Stansfeld

v

AFC Hayes

Sutton Athletic

v

Sheppey United

Welling Town

v

Hanworth Villa SCEFL Premier Division

Balham

v

Bearsted

Beckenham Town

v

Lordswood

Chatham Town

v

Hollands & Blair

Corinthian

v

Deal Town

Erith Town

v

Tunbridge Wells

K Sports

v

Glebe

Punjab United

v

Crowborough Ath

Tower Hamlets

v

Canterburt City SCEFL Division One

Bridon Ropes

v

Lewisham Borough

Kent Football Utd

v

Rochester United

Lydd Town

v

Greenways

RUSTHALL

v

Meridian VP

Snodland Town

v

FC Elmstead

Tuesday 10th November 2020

SCEFL RESULTS & FIXTURES

SCEFL Premier Division Wednesday 4th November 2020 SCEFL Premier Division Welling Town

v

AFC Croydon Ath

Sussex Senior Cup Midhurst & Eas’ne

v

Crowborough Ath

AFC Croydon Ath

v

Glebe

Bearsted

v

Deal Town

Beckenham Town

v

Balham

Erith & Belvedere

v

Welling Town

Lordswood

v

Chatham Town

Sheppey United

v

Hollands & Blair SCEFL Division One

Saturday 7th November 2020 SC Thamesmead

SCEFL Premier Division AFC Croydon Ath

v

Hollands & Blair

Bearsted

v

Punjab United

Canterbury City

v

Erith Town

Corinthian

v

Chatham Town

Deal Town

v

Crowborough Ath

Glebe

v

Erith & Belvedere

K Sports

v

Beckenham Town

Lordswood

v

Fisher

Tunbridge Wells

v

Sheppey United

Welling Town

v

Tower Hamlets

SCEFL Division One Croydon

v

Sutton Athletic

FC Elmstead

v

Lydd Town

Holmesdale

v

Forest Hill Park

Kent Football Utd

v

Snodland Town

Meridian VP

v

SC Thamesmead

Rochester United

v

RUSTHALL

v

v

Bridon Ropes

Saturday 14h November 2020 SCEFL Premier Division AFC Croydon Ath

v

Corinthian

Canterbury City

v

Punjab United

Crowborough Ath

v

Erith & Belvedere

Erith Town

v

Chatham Town

Fisher

v

Deal Town

Hollands & Blair

v

K Sports

Lordswood

v

Balham

Sheppey United

v

Beckenham Town

Tunbridge Wells

v

Glebe

Welling Town

v

Bearsted SCEFL Division One

Bridon Ropes

v

RUSTHALL

Croydon

v

Meridian VP

Kennington

Greenways

v

Stansfeld

Stansfeld

Kennington

v

Forest Hill Park

Lydd Town

v

Kent Football Utd

Rochester United

v

FC Elmstead

Snodland Town

v

Holmesdale

Sutton Athletic

v

Lewisham Borough

www.scefl.com

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE - Season 2020-2021 Pl

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

SC Thamesmead

8

7

0

1

24

10

+14

21

2

Kennington

6

6

0

0

27

3

+24

18

3

Holmesdale

6

5

0

1

20

9

+11

15

4

Rochester Utd

6

4

2

0

15

6

+9

14

5

RUSTHALL

7

4

0

3

18

12

+6

12

6

Greenways

7

4

0

3

13

12

+1

12

7

Croydon

7

3

2

2

17

19

-2

11

8

Kent Football Utd

7

2

2

3

8

13

-5

8

9

Stansfeld

6

2

1

3

18

18

0

7

10 Lydd Town

5

2

1

2

14

15

-1

7

11 Forest Hill Park

7

2

1

4

9

13

-4

7

12 Sutton Athletic

7

2

1

4

11

19

-8

7

13 Snodland Town

6

2

1

3

6

14

-8

7

14 Lewisham Borough

6

1

2

3

6

9

-3

5

15 FC Elmstead

7

1

1

5

8

20

-12

4

16 Bridon Ropes

6

0

1

5

5

16

-11

1

17 Meridian VP

6

0

1

5

4

15

-11

1

Here are the Promotion and Relegation guidelines coming in at the end of next season Step 6 (SCEFL First) The top four teams from each division will be promoted, with the exception of the SWP division which will promote two sides from each division.

At Step 6, the bottom two sides are liable to relegation to Step 7. If any reprieves are available then the side with the best PPG will be reprieved.

In summary for the SCEFL then there will be more promotion places up for grabs in both Divisions. TWO teams could get promoted from our Premier Division and FOUR will get promotion from the First Division. Only the bottom side will get relegated from the Premier Division yet there could still be a reprieve for them should they be among the 2 best PPG teams nationwide.

ON THE ROAD WITH THE RUSTICS Saturday 14th November 2020

October

Away v

Player

Bridon Ropes

of the Month

Meridian Sports & Social Club,

Generously sponsored by

Charlton Park Lane, Charlton, SE7 8QS

FORTHCOMING GAMES AT THE JOCKEY FARM STADIUM Sunday 1st November 2020 KENT YOUTH LEAGUE Under 16’s v Hastings United Kick off 10:30am - free admission Saturday 7th November 2020 SCEFL DIVISION ONE First team v Stansfeld Kick off 3pm

Voting slips available from Rich Smith at the end of today’s game.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

TONBRIDGE ANGELS F.C. ON REACHING THE FIRST ROUND PROPER OF THE F,A,CUP AND GOOD LUCK WHEN YOU PLAY

BRADFORD CITY F.C.

Season 2020-21 Results Date

Opponents

Comp’

Result

Att’

Scorers

5 Sep

Kent Football United

Lge

W 5-1

232

Aibangbee(2)Anderson,Lear, Miles

12 Sep

Croydon

Lge

L 2-3

250

Aibangbee, Cuozzo

19 Sep

Raynes Park Vale

FA Vase

L 2-3

101

Anderson, Gyeabour

26 Sep

Kennington

Lge

L 0-4

106

3 Oct

Holmesdale

Lge

L 1-3

254

Naessens

10 Oct

FC Elmstead

Lge

W 4-0

81

OG, Miles, Powell-Downey, Lawrence

17 Oct

Lewisham Borough

Lge

W 2-1

208

Aibangbee, Miles

24 Oct

Snodland

Lge

W 4-0

116

Gyeabour (3) Lawrence(p)

31 Oct

Meridian VP

Lge

7 Nov

Stansfeld

Lge

14 Nov

Bridon Ropes

Lge

21 Nov

Sutton Athletic

Lge

28 Nov

MANAGEMENT & SQUAD SEASON 2020-2021

Jimmy Anderson Manager “It’s a privilege to sponsor such an inspirational manager!”

Nigel Humphrey

Joe Charlsworth Coach Go to www.rusthallfc.com to sponsor Joe

Steph Harper Assistant Manager

Roger Graber

Ellie Dunn Physio/Sports Therapist

Matt Bailey 1

Go to www.rusthallfc.com

to sponsor Matt

Louis Anderson

2

Good Luck for the Season Louis Stephen & Oliver King

Steve Camacho

3

To sponsor Steve go to www.rusthallfc.com

Paul Butler 4

Ryan Styles 5

Callum Naessens 6

Have a great season Buts

All the best for the Season “Lenny�

All the best for the season

Stuart Turner

Alan & Pauline Hawkins

Mary & Dave Anderson

Charlie Clover 7

Tommy Lawrence 8

Danny Lear 9

At the end of the Season all player sponsors will go into a draw to win a signed framed shirt of their favorite player.

Have a great season

www.rusthallfc.com

John & Tina Lawrence

to sponsor

Danny

Reuel Powell-Downey 11

Jake Hampson 12

KEEP MAKING THOSE MEMORIES

Go to

10

Lyn & Rich Smith

Go to

www.rusthallfc.com

to sponsor Jake

Jefferson Aibangbee 14

Jack Smith 15

Ed Jonas 16

Go to

Keep banging them in!

www.rusthallfc.com

Jack Turnbull

Ed

Lorenzo Cuozzo 17

to sponsor

Jake Beecroft 18

Cameron Gyeabour 19

Go to

All the best for the season

www.rusthallfc.com

to sponsor

Jake

Kamz Shaun & Sarah Turnbull

Sidney Sollis 20

Go to www.rusthallfc.com

To sponsor Sidney

Connor Knight 21

Ezekial Eboda 22

Go to www.rusthallfc.com

to sponsor Ezekial

You club needs you - we need your help Match Reporter - We are looking for someone to compile match reports for first team games that will be published in the local press, The Tunbridge Wells Times & The Kent & Sussex Courier.

Programme Editor - We are also looking for someone to put together the match day programme for first team home games ready to go to print.

If you, or someone you know might be interested in either role or you would like more details please speak to any club official.

We are also looking for match day volunteers to help out in a variety of roles on first team match days. Once again if you are interested just speak to any club official in the ground this afternoon.

Minuteman advert

Rusthall Football Club - A brief History The club were first registered with the Kent County Football Association on June 17th 1899 when the club joined the newly formed Tunbridge Wells League. The “Rustics” first success came in 1905 when the league was won in convincing style. The 1920’s saw the club up among the best locally with the Kent Junior Cup being won in 1924. The club were champions of the Tunbridge Wells League in 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and again in 1930. The success continued through the 1930’s with more League titles and another Kent Junior Cup in 1935.

The club were unable to continue these successes after the war and these were lean times for the club and in the 1970’s the club were close to folding but just managed to keep going largely thanks to the hard work of the then Secretary Peter Smith with just one side in the Tonbridge League.

The 1980’s saw an influx of new young players and in 1982 the club won Division One of the Tonbridge League, at this point Derek Seal took on the role of Chairman. One of his first tasks was to get the club into the Kent Amateur (now Kent County) League and the club lifted the Division One title at the first attempt in 1983-84. The success followed in 1984-85 when the Division One title was secured on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win at Paddock Wood.

After several embarrassing incidents at the Council owned Southwood Road recreation ground the club obtained the use of a field at Jockey Farm in the village. After a lot of hard work by the Committee the ground met the League’s ground grading criteria for Intermediate football and by now the club were running three senior sides.

An amalgamation with Rusthall Boys FC was a big step in making the club what it is today, with the club running three senior teams and close to twenty youth sides from Under 6 right through to Under 18.

In recent seasons work has progressed at the now named Jockey Farm Stadium with a 120 seat stand, floodlights and a totally level pitch with state of the art drainage system.

Following relegation from the Premier Division of the SCEFL we were in a great position to get promoted straight back before COVID put an end to the season in March, we are hoping to put that right this time around.

All this has been achieved by a small group of dedicated volunteers as the club strive to achieve their motto….

“To be the best football club possible”

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST

Meridian VP F.C.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Meridian Sports & Social Club, Charlton Park

DIVISION ONE

Lane, Charlton, SE7 8QS

SESON 2020-21

Rochester United F.C. Rede Court Road Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 3TU

Bridon Ropes F.C.

Rusthall F.C.

Meridian Sports & Social Club, Charlton Park

Jockey Farm Stadium, Nellington Road, Rusthall,

Lane, Charlton, SE7 8QS

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8SH

Croydon F.C.

SC Thamesmead F.C.

Croydon Sports Arena, Albert Road,

Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead,

South Norwood, SE25 4QL

London SE28 8NJ

FC Elmstead F.C.

Snodland Town F.C.

London Hire Ground, Lower Road, Hextable,

Potyn's Sports Field, Snodland Community Cen-

Kent BR8 7RZ

tre, Paddlesworth Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5DL

Forest Hill Park F.C.

Stansfeld F.C.

Ladywell Arena, Silvermere Road, Catford,

Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6SD

London SE6 4QX

Sutton Athletic F.C.

Greenways F.C. K Sports, Cobdown, Station Road, Ditton, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6AU

Holmesdale F.C. 68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HG

Kennington F.C. Kennington FC, Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent, TN26 1NJ

Kent Football United F.C. Glentworth Club, 154 Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1JB

Lewisham Borough F.C. Ladywell Arena, Silvermere Road, Catford, London SE6 4QX

Lydd Town F.C. The Lindsey Field, Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent TN29 9JH

London Hire Ground, Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ

London Road, Southborough, TN4 0QB.

01892 530195 / 01892 543403

TODAY’S TEAMS FROM Rusthall

Meridian VP

v

TODAY’S MATCH

1

Matt Bailey

2

Louis Anderson

3

Steve Comacho

4

Paul Butler

REFEREE

Jess Samba

5

Ryan Styles

Stephen Ryan

Nabil Mbaye

6

Callum Naessens

7

Charlie Clover

8

Tommy Lawrence

9

Danny Lear

10 11 Reuel Powell-Downey 12 Jake Hampson 14 Jefferson Aibangbee 15 Jack Smith 16 Ed Jonas 17 Lorenzo Cuozzo 18 Jake Beecroft 19 Cameron Gyeabour 20 Sidney Sollis 21 Connor Knight 22 Ezekial Eboda

Charlie Martin Callum Berg

OFFICIALS

Rodney Dos Santos

ASSISTANT REFEREES

Saidou Camara

Brian Wheatley

Harvey Browne

Benjamin Marshall

Ross Obazee Billy Reavil Ahmed Bangura Asher Pottinger Danny Childs Zach Beedon Bradley Maybrooke Jason Kaate Adrian Spence Raul Lupelescu Olly Spedding Alex Osijo Emmanuel Akinte Manager: Dwinder Tamna

Assistant Manager: Sean Boothe Coach: Hamzah Collins GK Coach: Paul Daley