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