Forest v Eton Manor, 31/8/13 (Fr
iendly)
Anyone remember this place? It seems like an eternity ago that we last played here, and if I’m honest, I never thought we’d be back. Even this summer, there were times when it seemed like the world was against us, and we’d be confined to another season at Camp Cricklefield. Upon our return to competitive football at the Lodge, we’ll be producing a commemorative programme, and I’m looking for as many contributors as possible to make it a real special
publication. I’ve already had a few people send me their piece, but there’s always room for more. If you’re interested, please email andrzej@walthamforest-fc.co.uk. If you’re unable to make the match, you can reserve a copy of the programme. Again, please email me for more information on this. Pre-season results are always tough to gauge, especially in non-league football. While our results this July haven’t been the greatest, we’ve played some decent
football along the way and I’m sure we’ll be raring to go come the 10th of August. Our complete fixture list is available overleaf. We’re looking for match sponsors for each of our home games. At only £75, it’s a great way to show your support, and well worth the money. More info is available on our website, walthamforest-fc.co.uk.
Kimble demands more Garry Kimble, manager of Ryman League Division One North club Witham Town, has warned any under-performing players that they will have to put some hard work in if they want to face Tilbury on the opening day of the season. Kimble admits that some of his squad haven’t shown him what he wants to see so far in their pre-season preparations and he has warned them that they may be disappointed when he names his first team on August 10. He said: “I think we are on track, but there is more improvement to come. “I have a very open mind about what my starting 11 will be in our first game on August 10. “We’ve had a lot of preseason games and done a lot of gym work, but we need to get out on the training field and work on our short and sharp game. “We need to be doing extra now other than at the Tuesday
and Thursday sessions and the lads have been told that realistically they need to be working on Mondays, Wednesdays and even Fridays. “I have a squad of about 20 players now and come August 10 at Tilbury, there will be four or five who won’t be playing. “Everyone is getting an opportunity to put themselves forward to be in that team. “There will be some disappointed faces, but they will have to show me in pre-season that they want it.”
Tiptree, defender Michael Graham from Takeley and striker Jamie Smith from Broxbourne. Young defender George Florence joins from Reading Protec, and left midfielder Ben Culora has also signed for the club. Returning players are Ricci Crace, Tony Martin, Elliot King, George Ironton, Alhassam Kamara, Spencer Knight, Kevin Kuhn, Vedat Ezel, Harry Larner, Liam Foster, Matt Gill, Gareth Madden, Louis Rose and Tim Shaw.
Ware get 20 registered Following their first three preseason games, 20 players have now signed for Ryman League Division One North club Ware for the upcoming 2013/14 season. There are six new players amongst the 20 to have signed so far. Midfielder Joe Reynolds comes in from Biggleswade Town, Kyan Gulliver joins from Maldon &
Ramblers boss eager to get started Burnham Ramblers boss Keith Wilson says he is counting down the days until the start of their inaugural Ryman League Division One North season, after the fixtures were announced. Newly-promoted Ramblers travel to play Waltham Abbey in an Essex derby, on the opening day of the new Division One North campaign on August 10.
Aug Sat
10 H VCD Athletic
R1N
Wed 14 A Romford
R1N
Sat
R1N
17 A AFC Sudbury
Wed 21 H Wroxham
R1N
Sat
24 H Redbridge
R1N
Sat
31 A Aveley
FAC
7 A Maldon & Tiptree
R1N
Sep Sat
Wed 11 H Cheshunt
R1N
Sat
14 H Waltham Abbey
R1N
Sat
21 A Thurrock
Tue 24 A Ware Sat Oct Sat
28 H Needham Market 5 A Folkstone Invicta
Sat
12 A Aveley
Sat
19 H Barkingside
Sat
26 H Erith & Belvedere
Nov Sat
2 A Tilbury
Sat
9 A Harlow Town
Sat
16 H Brentwood Town
Sat
23 A Dereham Town
Sat
30 H Witham Town
Dec Sat
7 A Heybridge Swifts
Sat
14 H Romford
Sat
21 A VCD Athletic
Thu 26 H Burnham Ramblers Sat
28 A Wroxham
Jan Wed
1 A Redbridge
Sat
4 H AFC Sudbury
Sat
11 A Soham Town Rangers
Sat
18 H Chatham Town
Tue 21 H Ware Sat
25 A Waltham Abbey
Feb Sat
1 H Maldon & Tiptree
Sat
8 A Needham Market
Tue 11 A Cheshunt Sat
15 H Thurrock
Sat
22 H Aveley
Mar Sat
1 A Barkingside
Sat
8 H Harlow Town
Sat
15 A Brentwood Town
Sat
22 H Dereham Town
Sat
29 A Witham Town
Apr Sat
5 H Heybridge Swifts
Sat
12 A Erith & Belvedere
Sat
19 H Tilbury
Mon 21 A Chatham Town Sat
26 H Soham Town Rangers
They follow that up by hosting much-fancied Needham Market at Leslie Field, in their firstever home game in the Isthmian League. Matches against Erith & Belvedere and Tilbury follow before Ramblers make the short trip to play Maldon & Tiptree, on August 24. And Burnham finish off a busy opening month in the league on August 26, when they host Waltham Forest. Wilson said: “We can’t wait for August 10 now – it can’t come quickly enough. “In our first few games, we’re playing three fairly new sides for us and they’re good games for us. “We’d have liked to have been at home on the first day but in the grand scheme of things, it could have been a lot worse.”
“But I thought we showed a lot of character in the first half to come back and as the first half went on I thought we became the better side. We deserved our equaliser and then I was really pleased to go into halftime on top.”
Millers bring in Gayle Justin Gardner, manager of Ryman R1N League Division One North club Aveley, has announced the latest R1N acquisition to his Millers squad R1N ahead of the new campaign. FAT Aaron Gayle, 26, joins R1N the Millers from Tonbridge Angels R1N in the Skrill South, and will be R1N thrust straight into the firing line as Aveley play host to Ryman League R1N Division One South champions R1N Dulwich Hamlet tomorrow at Mill R1N Field. R1N The 6’4” striker has a R1N wealth of experience at NonR1N League level, having played previously for the likes of AFC R1N Dereham boss warns against slow start Hornchurch, Chesham United, R1N Boss Matt Henman admits Ryman Potters Bar Town, Waltham Abbey R1N League Division One North and Harlow, as well as Tonbridge, R1N newcomers Dereham Town will be and Gardner says he is delighted R1N Gone in 60 Seconds next season if to have added another player of R1N they start as slowly as they did on quality to his squad. Gardner said: “I’ve been R1N Tuesday night. trying to get Aaron signed all The Magpies endured R1N summer. a torrid opening at higher-level R1N “I have had to be patient W King’s Lynn Town with Shane Tolley R1N putting the hosts in front inside a with all my signings so far, trying toT R1N minute. bring in quality over quantity, and A R1N And although the Aldiss I’m pleased to have captured his d c signature.” R1N Park club eventually drew with Gayle joins Shane Oakley g R1N Norfolk’s Step Three new boys, and another new signing Sos Yao Henman believes his players can R1N on the list of strikers at Mill Field, n take plenty on board from their R1N as the Millers look to replace the i latest friendly. A R1N goals provided last season by “I thought we started R R1N really sluggishly and that’s a Jordan Cox. “He won the Ryman One C R1N little bit of a lesson for us,” said North with Waltham Abbey, has R1N Dereham’s manager. played at Conference level and he t “When you move up R1N knows a couple of the lads as well s levels, you can’t take anything R1N so bedding him in shouldn’t be a t for granted and spend five or 10 R1N minutes getting into the pace of problem,” said Gardner. d R1N the game like we did at Lynn – and t R1N we paid for it.
Pre-season so far
Waltham Forest 2 - 3 Billericay Town, Monday 8th July A mixed Waltham Forest side went down 3-2 to Billericay Town in a close encounter which could have gone either way. There were some familiar names in the Forest starting XI, including Eric Barratt, Josh Green, Ahmed Mohamad, Ferai Hallam, Ricardo Ponton, Luke Stanley and Chris Taylor. Forest took the lead in the first third of the match, but the score was soon reversed as ‘Ricay took a 2-1 lead. The away advantage was doubled midway through the final third after a goalkeeping error, but
‘keeper. From the result corner, Forest struck the first blow, with Waltham Forest 2 - 1 London Bari, Ricardo Ponton heading in at the near post. Tuesday 16th July Forest continued to Waltham Forest secured 2-1 victory dominate, though Bari should in what was a fairly untidy friendly have levelled when their forward with London Bari. Pre-season friendlies are inexplicably decided to pass the ball often especially stop-start affairs, rather than shoot with an open goal but Forest made 10 changes at half in front of him. time, while Bari made at least 4 in Early in the second half, the first half, and a further 10 at half Bari equalized. A long ball from time. midfield was met by the away forward whose looping header Forest dominated the opening play, with Chris Taylor and found the top corner of the net. Luke Stanley both going close – the Forest’s finishing will have latter’s free kick only just being to improve by the time the season tipped over the bar by the Bari starts, as they squandered a number Forest reduced the deficit with only seconds remaining.
of good chances, before eventually changes at half time, though not grabbing the winner just before the as many as two days earlier against London Bari. final whistle. It was these substitutes Waltham Forest 1 - 1 FC Romania, who swung the game in Forest`s Thursday 18th July favour, as they dominated the Forest`s pre-season continued with second half, grabbing an equalizer a 1-1 draw with Essex Senior League mid-way though the half courtesy outfit FC Romania, though the of a neat one-on-one finish. At times, the match was score does not begin to convey the played more like a cup final than a realities of the match. With heavy traffic around friendly, but Forest will take solace from the fact that they were very east London, Forest were without rarely troubled by the away attack. several players and a goalkeeper, meaning a stopper had to be Sawbridgeworth 1 - 0 Waltham borrowed from the visitors. And it was the stand-in Forest, Tuesday 23rd July Waltham Forest’s keeper who was undoubtedly at pre-season preparations were fault for the first goal, as he stood and watched while a deep cross dealt a blow as they lost 1-0 to Sawbridgeworth, despite sailed straight in. dominating much of the game. Forest made a few
Forest’s first chance fell to Chris Taylor, who fired narrowly over from a Ricardo Ponton cross. The first half continued in much the same way, with Forest pressing, but unable to break the deadlock. In the second half, a number of changes were made by both sides, but the pattern of play remained the same. However, it was the home side who scored the only goal of the game, with a sumptuous volley from well outside the area. Forest continued to press into the dying minutes of the game, but were unable to break through.
Next home fixture: Tuesday 6th August - 7.30 pm v potters bar town (pre-season friendly)