Stowmarket Community Sports and Social Club CIC Bury Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 1JQ 01449 612533
info@stowmarkettownfc.co.uk stowmarkettownfc.co.uk twitter.com/stowtownfc instagram..com/stowtownfc facebook.com/stowmarkettownfc
Eastern Counties League First Division Winners: 2016-17
Suffolk Premier Cup Winners: 1962-63, 1976-77, 1985-86, 1990-91
Suffolk Senior Cup Winners: 1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1957-58, 1961-62, 1964-65, 2006-07
Suffolk Junior Cup Winners: 1907-08
Essex & Suffolk Border League Winners:
1950-51
Essex & Suffolk Border League Cup Winners: 1950-51, 1951-52, 1970-71, 1991-92, 1994-95
CHAIRMAN: Kevin Blundell
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Ian Moyes
DIRECTORS:
Nigel Jarvis, (Director Infrastructure)
Doug French (Commercial Director)
Paul Rudland (Director of Operations)
INTERIM MANAGER: Richard Wilkins
GOALKEEPING COACH: Nathan Munson
RESERVES MANAGER:
Craig Brown
UNDER-18’S MANAGER:
Liam Hawkins
UNDER-18’S ASSISTANT MANAGERS: Ellis Smith and William Wharton-Richardson
is a key to a competitive squad. They are a to none. Che likes a fry up and shot on a and kept it going and without them there you.
than ever to keep singing, banging the drum clarity on.
A very warm welcome also to all players, staff, committee and supporters of Tilbury
After the Lowestoft Town game it was a very difficult day for the club. We didn’t get the result we wanted in the game against Lowestoft Town and then post the game our Manager Paul Musgrove approached Ian Moyes (Vice Chairman) and myself to inform us that he would be stepping down. I would like to take the opportunity to again thank Muzzy for everything he has done for the club over the years. We wish him all the very best for the future and we hope he enjoys his well earned family time.
Post a very fast reactive meeting the board of Directors and I are very pleased to confirm that Richard Wilkins and Nathan Munson have both agreed to step up and become our Manager and Assistant manager respectively for the interim period (return of a previous combination whilst both at Needham Market FC) Good luck gentlemen. Just like the entire club board members, we hope that all players and supporters will support them and will continue to bring the noise as always to push them forward at every game.
January and February were always going to be very tricky months with the sheer number of games we have as a club increased due to the re-scheduled calendar from the deep freeze and weather battered pitches in the previous months. Well done to our fixtures secretary Andonis Wolverson on managing to re-arrange the games in difficult circumstances.
Let’s keep the noise levels high from every single one of our great supporters to the club. Up the Stow
Kevin Blundell
Abuse in all sport has now become a noticeably massive thing and especially in football. Since the advent of that day a year ago when some very high-profile players told their very distressing stories live on the Victoria Derbyshire show and subsequently brought about the advent and birth of the wonderful organisation The Offside Trust who have done amazing work with no funding from The Football association at all to help them and a very minimal amount from the PFA. Their help has given me the strength to deal with what happened to me all those years ago as it did to them.
As a young child I wanted nothing more than to watch football, play football and be a professional footballer. My uncle used to take me to watch Luton Town from the age of seven onwards at first my uncle was wonderful nothing was too much trouble and enjoyed our visits to watch Luton at home and used to get extremely excited at around noon awaiting my uncle’s arrival to take me and even have a kick about in the park before the game. Unfortunately, there was an ulterior motive I later found out to this as from the age of around nine we used to go to coaching sessions with a team on our way to football under the guise of they worked for Luton Town and if I did well, I would have a chance to fulfil my dreams.
Just as the season started and the coaching session became more intense, I was told that they could help me fulfil my dreams if I did something for them after the games. At first it was nothing too bad just touching etc of parts of their anatomy, but it slowly became a lot more sinister with more of our team involved in some sadistic and sordid acts including being raped over one hundred times, some even photographed and filmed. When we left the so-called house, we were all given gifts and told that we must never tell anyone that these things had happened.
The older I got the more the acts became more depraved, and the threats became even more dreadful should we go to the police etc or even tell what had happened. I retreated into a shell on my return home and would turn into an insular and exceedingly difficult person. Luckily once I reached the age of twelve my
uncle no longer came to get me and the trips to football stopped as luckily, I found a more local club to allow me to play.
This club was well run and very safe with good coaches and it made me wonder what and why the original team coaches had asked me to do the things they did. I was still fearful of telling my parents so hid the sordid things away for many many years.
About 9 years ago I was summonsed to a meeting at a solicitor’s office in London after my uncle had died and left his will. I was taken to a side room and given a letter from my uncle by the solicitor that he instructed me was going to be read out at the will reading. The letter detailed my uncles and his friends sordid past and was his was of asking the family for forgiveness from his crimes, unfortunately it was to be announced that he had abused a member of the family with his friends in an unbelievably bad way and wanted forgiveness.
The family had no idea but as you can imagine it was exceptionally harrowing for me and my mum and sisters and really was difficult for all to take, unfortunately I was blamed and called a liar by most of his side of the family meaning that I was cast aside as an outcast by that side of the family.
From that moment on I became an exceedingly difficult person to even talk to and took to drinking excessively ended up losing my wife, house, and a lot of family members. I also had to attend two court cases to see some of the dreadful people sentenced which was an exceedingly difficult experience.
As with all people that have suffered any sort of abuse, I tried to take my own life about a year ago but was found and have regular treatment from counsellors and doctors to ensure I can make the best recovery possible from these dreadful nightmares.
I apologise if this is harrowing reading, but it is the only way to get the message across and I will say I have left out the dreadful bits as no one should go through what I and my friends did for over those horrible years meaning most of us lost our childhood and still struggle dreadfully on the difficult days which we all still have.
Alan Arber A Survivor
MANAGER
SCOTT DASH
PLAYERS
CHRISTIAN NORTH
RHAMAR GARRETT-DOUGLAS
ARCHIE EDWARDS
KIERNAN HUGHES-MASON
OSAMUDAMWEN AAHATISE
CONNOR MARTIN
ALEX CLARK
HARRY DONOVAN
JAMES EWINGTON
CHRIS MILLAR
ROMAN MICHAEL PERCIL
LUKE REEVE
BRIAN TESTOLIN
ALFIE WHITEAKER
LEWIS JAGGS
TOM SALTER
MANAGER
SCOTT DASH
Tilbury F.C. now have concrete proof that they were formed in 1889, and competed in the Gravesend League from 1889/1890. With the Docks being the only employer of any size in the area, all the Players and Officials of the Club were Dockers, hence the adoption of the nickname, “The Dockers”, which still stands today.
The aim of the Club was to gain success at Junior level via the Essex Junior Cup, and thereby to eventually bring Senior Level Football to the Town. Tilbury soon made a name at the Junior level, with successive League championships, and an appearance in the Final of the Junior Cup in 1903/04, where they were defeated after a replay by Chelmsford Arc Works. It was to be another 5 years before they reached the Final again, in 1908/09, but this time they carried off the Trophy by defeating the County’s oldest club, Saffron Walden Town.
However, at this stage, support for the club was poor. Only a couple of miles down the road, Grays Athletic were now playing in Senior ranks, and Grays Thurrock United were playing Professionally in the Southern League. Most local fans were going to these clubs, and finances for Tilbury were very tight. At the end of the 1910/11 season, the club also lost its home ground, and the Committee decided that the club should take a break from playing while it sought a new home base.
The intended short break stretched to three seasons, and was then further extended by the outbreak of the First World War, in 1914. As a result, it was not until 1919/20 that Tilbury were able to resume, this time in the South Essex League. They became Champions of that League in 1921/22, and were again a force in the County Junior ranks. The big push for advancement into Senior ranks came in 1924/25. The Title was again captured, and so was the Essex Junior Cup. As a result, in the following season, Tilbury were invited to enter
the Essex Senior Cup instead, which they accepted, as they realised that some good results would really aid their cause.
In 1926/27, Tilbury reached the 3rd Round of the Cup, the first Junior side to do so, and also became the first Junior club to knock a Senior club out of the Cup, when they played superbly to defeat the mighty Walthamstow Avenue 3-2. During the Summer, they were granted Senior status by the Essex F.A.
Disaster almost struck however. Application was made to several Leagues but, one by one, they were all rejected, and it looked as though Tilbury were doomed. At the very last moment, the Kent League stepped in and offered them a place, which was eagerly accepted. With Tilbury remaining as one of only 5 Amateur clubs in a Professional competition, it was no surprise that they found it tough going on the field of play.
Off the field, however, the 4 seasons spent in the Kent League were a success. Tilbury enjoyed their time in the League and made many friends and contacts. It was an off-field matter, though, that led to them eventually leaving the competition. The League had expanded in size greatly since Tilbury joined, and added to the difficulty of continually crossing the Thames was the end of season fixture congestion.
This meant a great many midweek matches and, with no Floodlights in those days, those games had to kick off at 4.30pm, and Tilbury nearly always had to field weakened teams due to players’ work commitments. At the end of the 1930/31 season, the Committee very reluctantly took the decision that the club would have to move on. They made an application to join the London League, one of those that had rejected them 4 years earlier, and this time were accepted.
Tilbury stayed in the London League until 1939, when the outbreak of the Second World War led to the disbandment of most Senior Leagues. During that spell, they were twice
How the Seedgrowers began to blossom, winning Division 1 in 1962-63 and under the manager ship of ex Colchester United player, Bob Dale the championship in 1966-67, Alf Marshall was in charge when they retained their title and won the Knock-Out Cup in 1968-69. Another former Colchester star, Derek Parker, led them to the Border League and Cup double, the Essex Intermediate Cup, 2- 0 v Great Wakering in 1970 –71. The clubhouse was added in 1971. From 1972 onwards, the club played in the Essex Senior League without winning any honours.
4thin the table, and once reached the League Cup Final, but were mostly to be found in the bottom half of the League Table. In September 1939, all Football was forced to return to a more local basis, due to Travel restrictions and Fuel rationing. Along with 9 other local clubs, Tilbury formed the War Time South Essex Combination.
They completed the 1939/40 season in this League, but at the end of that campaign were forced to disband for the duration, when their ground was commandeered by the Army, as a site for the Anti-Aircraft Guns brought in to protect the Docks.
The club’s future was threatened again in 1981 when the landowner announced that he wished to sell the land. Once more, the club embarked on a fundraising campaign. The commitment of those involved is evident from the efforts of the club manager, Peter Barlow, who embarked on a run from “The Crops” to F.A. Headquarters at Lancaster Gate to hand in an appeal for support to save the ground. A little behind schedule, he arrived at the F.A. to find it closed. Nevertheless, he raised £500 toward the fund. With the help of Coggeshall Parish Council and the Sports Council, the club raised the funding to buy the land and for the first time, just over 100 years since they were formed, Coggeshall Town owned their own facilities.
Tilbury resumed in the London League in 1946/47, and then on a new home ground, the present Chadfields in 1947/48, and embarked upon a four season spell of much success and National recognition. They reached 2 successive Essex Senior Cup Finals, were 3 times League Runners Up, and were desperately unlucky to be knocked out of the F.A. Amateur Cup at the Quarter Final stage, when reduced to 9 fit men through injury.
The proudest moment, though, came in the F.A. Cup. In 1949/50, Tilbury fought their way through to the 1st Round Proper, eventually going down 0-4 away to a Notts County side led by the legendary England centre forward Tommy Lawton. In the previous round replay, at home to Gorleston, a crowd of 5,500 had packed into St. Chad’s Road, and that is still the official Ground Record. The proceeds from this Cup run were used, a few years later, to buy the Freehold to the 13 acre site that the Ground stands on.
The Border League was again joined in 1990—91 followed by two spells in the Essex intermediate League which sandwiched a single season in Division IV of the Colchester and East Essex League. Since the last return to the Border League in 2000—01, the club has risen from Division III to the Pemier Division and back to the first Division. Ivan Gooday was Manager when first losing 1—0 to Harwich and Parkeston in the 2011-12 League Cup Final and then winning promotion back to the Premier Division as runners up in 2012 -13.
The start of the 2013-14 season saw major changes at Coggeshall Town with the club accepting a proposal from local businessman Graeme Smith to become involved in running the club. Initially Smith’s involvement was in
In 1950/51 Tilbury moved into the Corinthian League. Apart from one League Cup Final, this was to be a barren 7 year spell, and at the end of that time they returned to the London League. The move into the Corinthian ranks had coincided with the gradual break up of the successful but ageing post-War side. The move back to the London League now coincided with the coming together of an extremely talented bunch of local young players that brought
great success in the coming seasons.
In 1957/58, Tilbury finished 3rd in the London League, but in each of the next 4 campaigns were the undisputed Champions. On 3 occasions they also captured the League Cup. Also, in 1960/61, the Essex Senior Cup was won for the first time, when Walthamstow Avenue were beaten 4-1 (aet) in the Final, just 3 weeks after they had won the Amateur Cup at Wembley.
Tilbury were inaugural Champions of Division Two, also winning the Essex Senior Cup again. 5 seasons later, they completed the climb to the Premier Division, by winning the Division One championship. 5 seasons were spent in the Athenian Premier Division before, in 1973/74, they joined the newly formed Isthmian League Division Two, which was later re-named Division One.
In 1974/75, they became the first ever winners of the Isthmian League Cup, and 12 months later were the Division One Champions. 5th place in their first Premier Division season was the best Tilbury could achieve in their 5 season stay, before being relegated back to Division One.
However, during that spell, in 1977/78, Tilbury enjoyed a remarkable run in the F.A. Cup, as they started in the Preliminary Round and fought their way right through to the 3rd Round Proper, before going down 0-4 away to Stoke City. The storm clouds were already forming though, and just 2 seasons later relegation followed, amid a financial crisis so severe that the Club almost died. Since then, Tilbury have found things tough. They have suffered relegation on several occasions, but have mostly bounced back fairly quickly, but the successes of previous years have never been re-captured.
In 2004/05, Tilbury finished their one season in the Southern League Division One East in rock bottom position, and were relegated to the Essex Senior League. They bounced back immediately, and earned a return to Isthmian
League Cup and the East Anglian Cup, these were their first Trophies in 30 years.
2010/2011, with a new Manager in Paul Vaughan, and a tie-up with South Essex College Academy, saw the Club hoping to build for the future. With an inexperienced squad, the first half of the campaign was a real struggle, and by Xmas Tilbury were in real danger of relegation. However, as he gained experience, Vaughan gradually rebuilt and reinforced his squad, and the 2nd half of the campaign saw a run of results that steered the Club to safety well before the end of the season.
2011/12 saw Tilbury greatly exceed their expectations, as Vaughan’s squad stayed in and around the promotion race all season, clinching a play-off place with a game to spare. Sadly, though, it ended in extra time defeat against Needham Market. Success spread through the club as well, with the newly formed Reserves, comprised mainly of players under 21 years old, coming second in the Essex Senior Reserve League, and winning the League Cup.
Unfortunately, this level could not be maintained over the next few seasons, as Tilbury continually lost some of their better players to higher level clubs, and Vaughan was continually having to rebuild his squad. The Club’s Academy proved its worth in this respect, as Tilbury still managed to finish in a respectable position.
In October 2014, Paul Vaughan stepped down as Manager, and the Club acted quickly to appoint player Gary Henty as the new boss, and he acted quickly to appoint former Tilbury player Danny Smith as his assistant and another ex-”Docker” George Young as Coach.
Tilbury finished that season in a comfortable lower mid-table position, but showed great improvement in 2015/16, at one time being as high as 5th, on the back of a very long unbeaten run. This included good runs in both the Essex Senior Cup and F.A. Trophy, with no fewer than 3 National League sides being defeated.
However, as the season entered its final few weeks, their poor disciplinary record came back to bite them, with player suspensions taking their toll leading to a fall down the Table to 11th. That pattern was repeated in 2016/17. The first half of the season saw Tilbury in or just below the Play-Off places, but in the second half of the campaign a dramatic loss of form of just 3 wins from 22 games saw them plummet down as low as 17th.
The season was rescued in the final month, in which Tilbury went unbeaten, winning three and drawing two of the final five League matches, climbing back up to a respectable 12th position. On the cup front, Tilbury had a fine run through to the Semi-Final of the Essex Senior Cup, before going down narrowly to National South side East Thurrock United.
Unfortunately, Tilbury suffered a terrible run of results in October of 2017. A heavy defeat in the F.A. Trophy brought about the resignations of manager and assistant, Gary Henty & Danny Smith, plus coach George Young.
Once again, the Club turned to a former player to take over. Joe Keith returned to the club and brought in a few new signings over the next few weeks, and guided the club to a safe final position. However, this run could not be maintained, and in October of the next season, with the Club lying second from bottom, the Management Team was changed again.
Marc Harrison, a former Under 16 side Manager at Tilbury, had enjoyed a very successful spell with Basildon United, and now returned to Chadfields, bringing Liam Wallace with him as his Assistant. Making several new signings, they immediately brought about a big
SPONSORS
HOME NEIL PRENTICE
AWAY IAN VAN DER REE
SPONSORS
HOME TARTARS ARMY
AWAY CJR SURVEYING LTD
HOME & AWAY SPONSORS
TONY MORLEY & JAMES BAXTER
HOME & AWAY SPONSOR
TONY MORLEY
HOME & AWAY SPONSOR
TONY MORLEY
HOME & AWAY SPONSORS
KEV BLUNDELL & TONY MORLEY
HOME & AWAY SPONSORS
PRECON PRODUCTS
SPONSORS
HOME GS SAFETY TRAINING
AWAY TARTERS ARMY
HOME & AWAY SPONSORS
TONY MORLEY & CONNOR ELLIS
HOME & AWAY SPONSOR VICKI THEOBALD
HOME & AWAY SPONSOR VANDERS TV
SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
SPONSORS
HOME BOYDELL & SONS LTD
AWAY TARTERS ARMY
SPONSORS
HOME THE GEARY FAMILY
AWAY AWAY SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
SPONSORS
HOME THE 2 EDDIES
SPONSORED BY THE 2 EDDIES
AWAY AWAY SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
SPONSORS
HOME & AWAY SPONSOR ZARKEYS
SPONSORED BY DAVID WALKER
HOME DAVID WALKER
AWAY SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE
SPONSORSHIP RESERVED
Sponsor your favourite player and have your company advertised throughout the season across our print and online platforms. Player sponsors will have their company promoted in our matchday programme, on our website, and on our social media channels.
Sponsoring a player is the ideal way to promote your company to our supporters. A player sponsor will have their company advertised in our matchday programme, on our website, and on our social media channels throughout the season.
EMAIL VICKI@STOWMARKETTOWNFC.CO.UK
It was great to be back in action after the Christmas break as we welcomed Thetford Town Reserves to Greens Meadow for our first game since winning away in the league cup quarter-final against top of the table Walsham on 26th November . Unfortunately, we started the game off slow, not pressing or winning enough second balls, and we were punished on the 30th minute with a low strike from the edge of the box that beat our goalkeeper, Young Read. However, just on the stroke of halftime, we were able to draw level from a corner kick taken by Dan Knights.
Luke Bates was able to bundle the ball into the net for his second goal of the season. In the second half, we came out on the front foot, much like how we should play.
Unfortunately, Thetford then took the lead again as they caught us on the break, against the run of play, to go up 2-1. Dan Knights hit the bar before his delivery was headed home by young Joel Simmons to make it 2-2. It was a game of two halves as we huffed and puffed to come away with a share of the spoils. Well done to Thetford as they didn’t play like a team at the bottom of the table and deserved their point. We have no game next weekend, so we will work hard to put in a better performance away at Framlingham Reserves on 21st January
Lastly, I would like to extend my best wishes to Aidan Phair as he moves on to play for Brantham First Team. He always gave me everything he had and deserves this opportunity to play at a higher level. Good luck, Aidan!
Jimmy up the Stow
CRAIG BROWN SPONSORED BY ADAM RIGGEY, DENZIL KEV AND GRAHAM BRUNO BROWN
64 appearances scoring 8 goals also won mangers & players player of year last season
AIDAN PHAR
Stowmarket Community Sports & Social Club CIC was formed in 2009 with the aim to create a community club, driven by football, that builds better facilities for the good of Stowmarket.
Our mission statement focuses on five key principles:
• Community
• Equality
• Participants
• Trust and Respect Integrity and Fair Play
The CIC’s aim is to bring the community to Greens Meadow. To achieve this, our three main objectives are to:
• Improve the clubhouse facilities
• Improve the performances on the pitch
• Change the age demographic of the club to rejuvenate local interest
MONDAY CLOSED
TUESDAY - THURSDAY
7:00PM - 11:00PM
FRIDAY 5:00PM - 11:00PM
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
12:00PM - 11:00PM
THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY FACILITY ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE STARTING
OUTSIDE PATIO AREA
SCAN QR CODE TO BOOK
(GK) JAMES BRADBROOK O
(C) TOM BULLARD O
JOE JEFFORD O
JACK AINSLEY O
CHRIS CASEMENT O
KANE MUNDAY O
TOMMY SMITH O
TEVAN ALLEN O
LUKE HIPKIN O
JACK WILKINSON O
JOSH CURRY O
SHAUN BAMMANT O
REGGIE LAMBE O
ED UPSON O
DYLAN LOGAN O
OLLIE SOTOYINBO O
MARLON AGYAKWA
TILBURY
O CHRISTIAN NORTH
O RHAMAR GARRETT-DOUGLAS
O ARCHIE EDWARDS
O KIERNAN HUGHES-MASON
O SAMUDAMWEN AAHATISE
O CONNOR MARTIN
O ALEX CLARK
O HARRY DONOVAN
O JAMES EWINGTON
O CHRIS MILLAR
O ROMAN MICHAEL PERCIL
O LUKE REEVE
O BRIAN TESTOLIN O ALFIE WHITEAKER
O LEWIS JAGGS
O TOM SALTER
MATCH OFFICALS
“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero-tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly, any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.” (The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162).The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”
