SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of your Newsletter, if you have anything to contribute, please do get in touch by email- [email protected] You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at - @Sydwessex You are more than welcome to use any material (excluding attributed photographs) but it would be appreciated if any material used is acknowledged. It is hoped you enjoy reading this each week. With readership quite widespread, not only within our own competition, but across the three counties and beyond- if ANY club has anything they’d like to have published in here, whether that be a request for helpers, promotion of forthcoming events, items required or available for sale please contact the Newsletter Editor. As a general reminder- Match Reports, player news and photos are always welcome- it is your Newsletter!

Friday, 19 June 2020 Page 1 of 11

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

FA AMATEUR CUP – BOURNEMOUTH FC

I have been delving back into the history records and it looks like the first time Bournemouth entered the FA Amateur Cup was in 1894/95 a 3-0 reverse at Hereford Thistle the result that day. Joining the Bristol & District League in 1894, in their sole season in that league they won the Division 1 title so were quite a strong team back then- in 1895/96 the league became the Western League that we know today. Thistle are recorded as playing at Edgar Street but there doesn’t seem to be any association with the United side that played there from 1924. The first time the club featured in the national stages of an FA competition was a few years later, in 1909/10 when a 3-0 home win was secured over Poole Town in the 1st Round of the FA Amateur Cup. The 2nd Round though saw a home reverse against eventual winners RMLI Gosport (Royal Marines Light Infantry?- any military buffs out there?). The Final was played out in front of around 8,000 spectators at Bishop Auckland against Middlesbrough outfit South Bank, winning 2-1. The next time (1912/1913) saw a 2-1 home defeat against Royal Engineers Aldershot in the 1st Round. Eventual Runners Up Oxford City saw them off at the second round stage 5-1. The best season for Bournemouth though was 1923/24. Semi Finalists from the previous season joined at the first round proper along with other leading clubs chosen by the FA, with the numbers made up by teams progressing through the qualifying rounds in such a way that saw clubs compete on a local basis before a Regional Division winner was decided. On 13 October 1923 a debut hat trick from Pettey saw Poppies advance 3-0 against Shaftesbury. A fortnight later Blandford Institute (who subsequently amalgamated with Blandford United in the Summer of 1924) were defeated 1-0 and then on 14 November Portland United were dispatched 3-1 The Regional final had been reached. 8 December saw Poppies and Bournemouth Tramways fight out a 1-1 draw and the replay a week later saw Bournemouth through by two goals to nil. Trams were no slouches at that time having picked up the National Tramway Shield in 1921. A first round victory at Wells City by three goals to one was followed by a home win over Barnet- with the same score, 3-1. The game at Wells was played on the ground they still use today, pictured here in May 2009. The 3rd Round though was as far as Poppies went. A 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Botwell Mission ended Poppies involvement. Botwell Mission lost their next game to the eventual Runners Up- Erith & Belvedere. Botwell Mission were playing in the Great Western Suburban League in those days and indeed were winners of that competition in the 1923/1924 season. Founded in 1909, the club changed its name to Hayes in 1929- some 20 years later. Hayes then merged with Yeading at the end of the 2006/2007 season to become Hayes & Yeading United. The Poppies line up that day was: Butt, King, Barnes, Brooks, Stride, Barkas, Pettey, Holmes, Burton, Machess and Pepper. I can only find a couple of further seasons that Bournemouth were involved in the national stages of the FA Amateur Cup, in 1924/1925 it was again a 1st Round exit. This time it was Royal Marines Portsmouth 5-3, the victors being the same “club” from 1909/1910 renamed. The next season (1925/1926) Bournemouth again had reached the National stages of the competition and were rewarded with a home tie in the 1st Round. Home advantage did no favours though as Poppies went out at the hands of Portland United by the odd goal in three. Whilst it was never likely Bournemouth would reach the final, 36 different clubs won the cup, with the following winning the tournament on more than one occasion; Bishop Auckland lead the way with some 10 victories to their name; Clapton and Crook Town notched up five each, and as shown in the table below. Bournemouth Gasworks Athletic came close to glory before succumbing to Ilford in 1929/30 going down 5-1 in a game played at the in front of over 21,000 spectators on 12 April 1930. This was Ilford’s second victory having won the previous season as well (3-1 over Leyton at the Arsenal ). But that is another story.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

List of FA Amateur Cup winners down the years-

CLUB WINS YEARS Bishop Auckland 10 1896, 1900, 1914, 1921, 1922, 1935, 1939, 1955, 1956, 1957 Clapton 5 1907, 1909, 1915, 1924, 1925 Crook Town 5 1901, 1954, 1959, 1962, 1964 Dulwich Hamlet 4 1920, 1932, 1934, 1937 Bromley 3 1911, 1938, 1949 Hendon 3 1960, 1965, 1972 Leytonstone 3 1947, 1948, 1968 Stockton 3 1899, 1903, 1912 Enfield 2 1967, 1970 Ilford 2 1929, 1930 Leyton 2 1927, 1928 Middlesbrough 2 1895, 1898 Old Carthusians 2 1894, 1897 Pegasus 2 1951, 1953 Walthamstow Avenue 2 1952, 1961 Barnet 1 1946 Bishop's Stortford 1 1974 Casuals 1 1936 Depot Battalion Royal Engineers 1 1908 Kingstonian 1 1933 London Caledonians 1 1923 North Shields 1 1969 Northern Nomads 1 1926 Old Malvernians 1 1902 Oxford City 1 1906 RMLI Gosport 1 1910 Sheffield 1 1904 Skelmersdale United 1 1971 South Bank 1 1913 Walton & Hersham 1 1973 Wealdstone 1 1966 West Hartlepool 1 1905 Willington 1 1950 Wimbledon 1 1963 Woking 1 1958 Wycombe Wanderers 1 1931

The last FA Amateur Cup was played at Wembley in 1974, the next season saw the start of the FA Vase. The last Final saw Bishops Stortford defeat Ilford 4-1 at to give them their place in the history books- one win and last winner. Old Carthusians were the first winner’s way back in 1894, with a 2-1 win over the Casuals.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

WESSEX LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE SIDE CHARITY MATCH

Sunday 27 February 2011 at Cuthbury, the line ups were-

Wimborne Town: Kevin Leonard, Phil Langdown, Trevor Ames, Darren Powell, Robbie Beacham, Simon Lynn, Steve Richardson, Anthony Tilley, Nicky Bridle, Jamie Sturgess, Shane Turner. Subs included Paul Launder, Tommy McCormick, Mark Turner, Martin Beardsley, Paul Randall, Danny Robbins, Pete Howard and Jason Lovell. Wessex League: Wayne Shaw, Dave Moteane, Dave Jenman, Gary Green, Paul Morris, Ian Rew, Shaun Dyke, David Hughes, Paul Odey, Nicky Banger, Ben Thomson. Subs Adam Gage, Mark Blake, Glenn Damen, Graham Kemp, Alan Williams.

A Wimborne Town team, including eight players who started the FA Vase final of 1992 in which they defeated holders Guiseley 5-3, beat a Wessex League Legends team 2-1. The day prior to this event saw Guiseley, their opponents in 1992 being involved in FA Trophy quarter-final action against Luton Town. The Magpies were enjoying their first season in the Southern League, having won promotion at the end of 2010 as Wessex League Runners-up. Tommy Killick was unable to play, but Alex Pike and former Portsmouth winger Nick Jennings were once again at the helm as they had been in 1992. Pike had won both the Wessex League and the Wessex League Cup with two separate clubs. Many of the Wessex League team had been in title winning Wessex League teams for the likes of Bashley, Romsey Town, AFC Lymington, Eastleigh and Winchester City, and their team had been selected by four people, three of whom Neil Hards, Roger Sherwood and Graham Kemp having been successful Wessex League managers, while the fourth, Ray Murphy was a very well respected club secretary. The Magpies took the lead in the 9th minute when Sturgess two goal hero of their F A Vase triumph looked to be on target with a lob, but Nicky Bridle made absolutely sure. However the Wessex League team drew level before half time when Gary Green was set up by David Hughes. Also in the first half Shaun Dyke hit the post and Ben Thomson hit the underside of the bar for the Wessex League team, and Nicky Banger was denied by an excellent goal-line clearance by Darren Powell. However the Wimborne team also forced Wayne Shaw into action during the half, while Odey, Hughes and Kemp forced saves from Leonard. The vital goal came when an effort from substitute Paul Randall was deflected in. Also during the second half McCormick had a shot saved, and Glenn Damen made an excellent goal-line clearance. At the other end Wayne Shaw who was pushed up front when Adam Gage came on, had a one on one with Leonard, but the 46 year old goalkeeper saved his effort well. There were a few occasions when another goal seemed likely, but the score stayed that way, although both teams played with great commitment, and there were a few crunching tackles at times. Wimborne introduced as substitute Jason Lovell who had played briefly in the F A Vase final, and like Taffy Richardson had played in this season's FA Vase despite being in his 40's. There were good passes during the game, especially from those who had been playing football comparatively recently. The Wessex League side were denied a deserved draw when Green was denied by an acrobatic stop from Paul Launder in the final minutes. The game attracted a crowd of 167; and helped raise money for The Dorset Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre.

WEEK FORTY SEVEN ROUND UP

Clubs who have organised or are arranging pre-season games are requested to let me know through email or Twitter so that we can build up a list for games planned. Goes without saying that such games can only proceed once the guidelines provide for them. Thanks in advance.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

RUSSELL-COTES CUP FINAL - 13 APRIL 2005

Eastleigh 3 - Gosport Borough 1 A crowd of 350 witnessed Eastleigh winning the Russell-Cotes for the first time at their fourth attempt. The hosts fielded a mixed side with the club looking for a Ryman Premier play-off place at the time. The opening goal came when Stokoe’s fifth minute cross saw Thornby score with a diving header. Borough’s Lindsey missed a possible equaliser some three minutes later, but former Eastleigh ‘keeper Matthews was worked the most. Stokoe and Thornby both had more chances to extend the lead. But it didn’t happen until around the 35th minute, when a pass from Blake was volleyed home by “man of the match” Haddow. Into the second half moments before the third goal Dyke forced another save but the ‘keeper was beaten by Ashford from the penalty spot on 57 minutes when Rew brought down Beck. Gosport Borough, who had already claimed a 5th place finish in our First Division, got one back also from the penalty mark when N’doye was fouled by Oliver and Cripps scored. LINE-UPS Eastleigh: Wayne Shaw, Mark Blake (Craig McAllister 59), Ian Oliver, Shaun Dyke, Lee Bright, Rob Marshall, Ryan Ashford (Graham Harvey 59), Alex Haddow, James Stokoe, Jamie Thornby (Nicky Banger 70), Martin Beck. Unused subs: Lewis Hunt, Chris Collins Gosport Borough: Colin Matthews, Jason Mann, James Barfield, Mark Tryon, Ian Rew, David Rowe, John Cripps, Perry Holland, (Simon Stone 60), Neil Scammell, Graham Lindsey, Ian Dyer (Abdoulie N’doye 60). Unused subs: Wayne Boud, John Batten, Mark Brown.

1st Round Lymington Town 1-0 aet Cove Petersfield Town 5 - 1 East Cowes Victoria Athletic Sandhurst Town 5 - 3 Horndean Bemerton Heath Harlequins 7 - 0 Hartley Wintney BAT Sports 1 - 2 Downton Brockenhurst 2 - 0 Hamble ASSC 2nd Round Andover 2 - 2aet Fleet Town* Havant & Waterlooville 1 - 4 Bashley (removed) Moneyfields 2 - 0 Blackfield & Langley Christchurch 2 - 3aet Eastleigh Gosport Borough (win on pens) 3 - 3aet Winchester City Petersfield Town 0 - 0aet Lymington Town(win on pens) Downton 2 - 1 Sandhurst Town Brockenhurst 2 - 1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins Quarter Finals Fleet Town 2 - 0 Havant & Waterlooville Eastleigh 4 - 1 Downton Brockenhurst 2 - 0 Lymington Town Gosport Borough 1 - 0 Moneyfields Semi Finals Brockenhurst 0 - 3 Gosport Borough Eastleigh 2 - 0 Fleet Town

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

STAGGERING- KNOCKED OUT BUT COME BACK TO WIN

Back in May 1990, AFC Totton won our League Cup after beating Thatcham Town 3-2 at West Leigh Park, the home of Havant Town. At the time, each round was played over two legs, so after seeing off Eastleigh in the 1st Round by the odd goal in seven following a 1-0 win at Eastleigh and a 3-3 draw after extra time in the second leg. The Stags defeated Portsmouth Royal Navy 7-1 at the next stage, with a 4-0 win on the road no doubt setting them on their way. These results earned the club a Quarter Final tie against AFC Lymington, again over two legs. The first leg was at Road with AFC Lymington claiming a 1-0 win. In the second leg an early strike from the visitors gave them a 2-0 lead on aggregate. By half time two goals from Mark Barrett had made the tie all square at two apiece. Andy Stinton put the Stags ahead before a leveller from Lymington and Mark Barrett completed his hat trick to put the hosts in the ascendancy again only for a fourth from the visitors to make it 4-4. Totton regained the lead yet again, this time Martin Stickler with the goal, only to see Lymington make it all square again with the last kick of the match! So with it standing all square at 5-5 it was time for the dreaded penalty shoot-out, and it was the visitors who squeezed through 4-3. But did they? There was some misunderstanding at the time over the cup rules and how to decide a drawn game, and penalties should not have been taken to decide it, it should have gone to a replay. Therefore- and after a toss of the coin, the game was replayed at Lymington a fortnight later and the Stags came through 3-1 without the need for extra time. Mark Barrett again on hand with two goals one either side of the interval, Paul Doswell also finding the back of the net. A strike from Tim Packer late on being scant consolation for Lymington. The semi-final saw Len Wolfe’s Newport IOW side go down to a 1-0 home reverse and a 3-1 away loss meaning AFC Totton progressed to the Final. Goals in the Final coming from Adam Hanley, Andy Stinton and a Nick Voller OG were enough for AFC Totton to win by the odd goal in five with Bailey and Hurdwell on target for Thatcham. That defeat didn’t seem to do much harm to the Berkshire outfit, who went on to claim the next two Cup Finals. As a footnote, AFC Lymington were the winners in 1989 so were unable to retain the title that they won 3-1 ironically at AFC Totton.

WESSEX WORDSEARCH #6

R A S H F O R D O F H S A R T E T H R G F E Q U A L I S E R I S M A L L I N G B E R R K G D L S N O D G R A S S N G L F H H L N S D F O E K A A S A E M A I A H E B B R O W N D W Y A M V K T A R E T D A Y B A E P P E A I R R R R H O A A L N D D R N F O P T I R E N R K R E E M R F A S S L I A M T R E N N O S I R R O M L L S R T I E E R D R V R N L T I L E H T N N E E G E T A L L I H B R S G U W E R G L U M R E D A S C L J W E A R M S T R O N G C O

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

ALLI EQUALISER MORRISON We head back to June 2017 ANYA GORDON MULGREW this time, with the Scotland ARMSTRONG GRIFFITHS RASHFORD v England World Cup BERRA HAMPDEN ROBERTSON Qualifier at BERTRAND HART SMALLING that saw an injury time BROWN KANE SNODGRASS equaliser from Harry Kane CAHILL LALLANA TIERNEY salvage a point. DIER LIVERMORE WALKER

WATCHING WESSEX AT THE WESSEX

A relatively short trip back in time this week to Season 2016/17 and Weymouth Reserves only full season in the Sydenhams Wessex League. Chairman Ian Hoare provided the transport on a dull, dismal afternoon in terms of the weather and we arrived at the ground to be met by the ever cheerful Christchurch Chairman and Secretary duo expressing concern over the weather. There was some mist about and Portland’s game, a few miles down the road, had already been called off because of fog making it a long journey for nothing for opponents AFC Portchester. Happily, the fog stayed away from Weymouth and after receiving the always pleasant welcome that Secretary Ray Pearce and his colleagues afforded all visitors, plus a look round the Stadium, it was three o’clock and kick off. The game was enjoyable though sadly the match report was lost but memory suggests that, to use one of footballs most popular clichés “it was a game of two halves”. The visitors dominated the opening forty five minutes with Ashley Pope terrorising the home defence at will on both flanks and it was no surprise when he opened the scoring. Steve Rattue added a second to give Christchurch a deserved lead as all headed for some warmth and half time refreshments. There were perhaps some harsh words said in the home dressing room at the break or perhaps Christchurch unwittingly eased off but the second half very much belonged to Weymouth and two goals gave them an ultimately deserved share of the points, one coming from Sanchez Baker and one from Morgan Turner. An enjoyable afternoon to which the Match Officials contributed though there was one slightly odd decision. The referee, on one side of the pitch, stopped play because of a player laying injured on the far touchline. After treatment the game was re-started with a throw in – though the ball had never gone out of play! These things happen and the game attracted a decent attendance of 83 though they looked lost in the comparative vastness of the Stadium. At the season’s end Christchurch were in fourth place and Weymouth tenth and it is interesting to compare the Christchurch side then with now. This, it must be stressed, is an observation, NOT a criticism, but of the fourteen players on duty for Christchurch that afternoon, only two remained in the current truncated season. Football changes all the time, often unnoticed. The only names that mean anything now in the home side were Steve Boore and Sean Stewart who both featured for Portland United this term and Dominic Panesar Dower who has something of a Jack Nicklaus attitude towards Clubs having played for most in the area. He recently had two short spells with Winchester City interrupted by a few games for Bideford – hardly just down the road! Despite the many reservations regarding their entry Weymouth Reserves were a credit to the League during their stay and the people running same were harshly treated by the Parent Club over the withdrawal. It was an enjoyable afternoon and my second visit to the Wessex Stadium, nearly twenty years after the first. That was to see Fareham in the Southern League Cup with the home side scoring the only goal in the dying seconds of injury time, so avoiding an extra thirty minutes which is the last thing one wants when you are a hundred plus miles from home on a Wednesday evening!

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

FIND THE GOALKEEPER

Answer the following twelve questions, take the first letter from the surname of each answer and re-arrange same to form the name of a goalkeeper that has graced the League over the Years.

1. Manager of Coventry when they won the FA Cup in 1987. Has a brother who was a cultured full back with Saints and Chelsea. 2. English Referee who awarded a penalty in the first minute of the 1974 World Cup Final. 3. Full Back who spent his entire career at Blackpool, captained England, before becoming a successful summariser on the BBC Radio Five commentary team. 4. Played in goal for Southampton in the 1976 FA Cup Final. 5. Scored a winning goal in a Third Round FA Cup tie for Manchester United in 1990 that was generally assumed to have saved ’s job at . Currently a Manager in the Football League. 6. Current Leicester defender who has also played for Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion. 7. Swedish Manager in charge of England between 2000 and 2006. 8. Scored the winning goal for Arsenal in the 1971 FA Cup Final against Liverpool. 9. Left Full Back who played over 400 times for Blackburn Rovers, won seventeen England Caps and possessed a real “Lancashire” surname. 10. Long standing central defender and Captain of Real Madrid with 170 Spanish Caps to date, and a serial collector of Red Cards. 11. Russian goalkeeper between 1950 and 1970, generally acclaimed as the best in the World in his time. 12. A Swindon Town winger and Legend – 400 appearances and 150 goals for the Wiltshire Club.

CLUB NEWS

Folland Sports require an enthusiastic new Club Secretary to handle administrative matters for their Wessex League One and Hampshire Combination teams. The club also anticipate entering an under 18s team in the CSYL (City of Southampton Youth Football League). This provides an exciting opportunity to take a route into local football administration with a very long-established and respected club. The outgoing secretary, in his continuing role at the club as Treasurer, will provide all necessary instruction and support to the successful candidate. Should you be interested, then do please contact Jason Simmonds (Vice Chairman) on 07920 513552 or [email protected] Blackfield & Langley, who were League champions in 2018, are seeking a voluntary relegation from the Bet Victor Southern . The Waterside team had enjoyed back to back promotions and, when last season was suspended, they were in 18th position in the Southern League Premier Division. However, the loss of key personnel led the club to make such a request to the FA who will deal with club allocations for the forthcoming season. AFC Stoneham have confirmed that both Lee Webber and James Campbell will be joining the clubs coaching team. Lee holds the appearance record for Fareham Town with 442 appearances followed by another 115 appearances for Sholing where he was on the coaching staff at Wembley for their FA Vase victory in 2014 and most recently has been coaching at Solent University. Lee has coached and developed numerous top class keepers in recent years. He replaces Scott Williams- who is taking a break to spend time with his young family. James will be joining as first team coach working with James Phillips and Mick Marsh; and will also get involved with some of the younger age groups. Having spent time at both Arsenal and Stoke City as a professional player before joining Solent University, he’s coached at various levels whilst undertaking his EUFA A licence and gaining a first class honours degree in Sports and Business. The club extends a big warm welcome to both.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

AFC Portchester have appointed Lee Molyneaux as their new Assistant Manager. He joins having only just left the hot seat at Privett Park and was in the Gosport Borough team in the FA Trophy Final loss against Cambridge United back in March 2014. Recent signing from Alresford Town Mike Gosney, was also involved in that game. There’s a new face at Cams Alders as well, with Dave Hook joining Fareham Town as goalkeeper Coach.

ANSWER BY NUMBERS

Twelve questions followed by twelve numbers. Those numbers are the answers to the questions but which number goes with which question?

1. The number of Football League Clubs played for during his career 2. The number of the shirt Martin Peters wore in the 1966 World Cup Final 3. The number of times Arsenal have won the FA Cup 4. The number of Clubs in the Scottish Premiership in the 2019/20 season 5. The number of times Celtic have been Scottish Champions including this season 6. The number of time Brazil have played in the World Cup Final 7. The number of seasons have played at the Stadium of Light 8. The number of days was Manager of Oldham Athletic 9. The number of different Managers Southampton have had since Lawrie McMenemy 10. The shirt number currently worn by at Derby County 11. The number of Clubs in the inaugural season of the Wessex League 12. The number of England Caps won to date by Harry Maguire The Numbers are:- 3-7-12-13-16-17-23-26-30-31-32-51 Answers next week.

BADGERED

Have you thought about getting one done for your team, there are several people out there who do bespoke versions at competitive prices and help promote your club at the same time. Just as an example, naming a couple- www.blackdragonbadges.co.uk or www.terrysbadges.co.uk please visit their websites for more information. They will provide price details as well as the various style options available including shape, size, colours and fittings. Just four examples from Terrys are shown below.

Downton Fleet Town Lymington Verwood Town

Many of our teams have had pin badges produced for them over the years although at time of writing I’m not sure as to whether they are readily available at the clubs. The only clubs that are yet to dabble it seems are East Cowes Victoria and Totton & Eling. Certainly the latter, but a Vics one might possibly crop up on the Internet. Other rare ones seem to be Brockenhurst, Horndean, Newport IOW and Ringwood Town unless they know otherwise. As I understand it, Fawley and Romsey Town may be entering the market this coming season. There are many collectors out there who are interested, and this is just an idea to add to clubs’ commercial portfolios.

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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

THIRTY YEARS IS A LONG TIME!

The East Cowes Vics Twitter account rightly paid tribute this week to their former Secretary Darren Dyer as he completes thirty years unbroken service with the Club. “So most people within island and Hampshire football knows this individual.... Daz Dyer has been with Vics for 30 years.... Up until 2 years ago was secretary but handed the reigns over to Lisa Woodward. He is still very much involved with club doing programmes and kit. He is an amazing guy and well respected by not only those associated with Vics but football clubs around.” “Daz”, as he is universally known, has filled just about every role possible at Vics over those thirty years and has seen the good times and stuck with the Club during the bad times – there have perhaps been one or two of those over the years – and his love of the Club and football still shines through over everything. Coincidentally around the same time a Programme Cover appeared on Twitter from an FA Vase tie in 1988-89 which must have been around the time Darren started with the Club. The game in question was a replay in the Extra Preliminary Round of the Vase at Kintbury Rangers. The two sides had drawn one all on the Island and the Vics travelled to Kintbury, which is just south of the A4 midway between Newbury and Hungerford. Their opponents were in the Hellenic League Premier Division, where they finished in the bottom three at the season’s end, and Vics returned home with a best of five goals victory to their credit. The Preliminary Round saw them drawn at home to Petersfield United – the forerunners of the present Petersfield Town side and then members of the Division Two – and a single goal was enough to send Vics through to the First Round Proper. As an aside the Petersfield Secretary at the time would almost certainly have been the present incumbent, Mark Nicoll, who matches Darren in the longevity stakes. It was more Hellenic League opposition in Round One and another trip up the A34, this time to Didcot, and again a single goal was enough to take the tie. Round Two and a home draw against fellow Wessex League side Thatcham Town, but there the run ended with a five two defeat and that still remains, thirty years later, the most successful run the Club have ever had in the Vase.

Extra Preliminary Round Kintbury Rangers HOME 1-1 Extra Preliminary Round Replay Kintbury Rangers AWAY 3-2 Preliminary Round Petersfield United HOME 1-0 1st Round Didcot Town AWAY 1-0 2nd Round Thatcham Town HOME 2-5

It was a good season in the League as well with Vics finishing in eighth place (of 17) amongst exalted company – Bashley, Havant, Wimborne, Eastleigh and AFC Totton to name a few.

RANK DIVISION 1 PL W D L GF GA GD PTS 1st Bashley 32 26 4 2 87 24 63 82 8th East Cowes Victoria 32 11 8 13 44 48 -4 41 17th Portsmouth Royal Navy 32 5 4 23 25 73 -48 19

Whether Darren made the trip to the wilds of Kintbury is unknown but no doubt he will be able to recall the side that day – Nigel True: Carl Young, Andy Watson: Benji Jarvis, Gerry Shaw, John Watson: , Tony Blow, Derek Ohren, Paul Butler and Ian Minshull – in the same way he can recall most things that have happened with his beloved Vics over the years All a long time ago – here’s to the next thirty, Daz. Friday, 19 June 2020 Page 10 of 11

SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 51

SUMMARY OF FA MEETING OF FRIDAY 19 JUNE WITH STEP 5 & 6 LEAGUES:

Firstly the FA produced a series of slides for their presentation which they said will be emailed out to the League(s). The meeting obviously went into more details than the slides and each league was able to ask a question. Summarising the main points: THIS SUMMER- Even if a league at a higher step has a vacancy caused by a club folding or requesting voluntary relegation, NO Promotion will occur and that league will run short. The FA will look at applications to enter the pyramid to fill a vacancy (note that AFC Bury and Isle of Man were only ones mentioned). FUNDING- The FA National Game have had a 38% cut in funding. This will impact all NLS leagues who will no longer receive FA Development funding, but they will still receive Administration grants at current level. FA Vase prize money will be reduced by approximately 6% COMPETITIONS- It is the FA’s ambition still to run the FA Cup & FA Vase in full, BUT that may not be possible and certainly with the FA Cup they are contractually bound to have the FA Cup 3rd Round on the opening weekend of January, so the dates and numbers of earlier rounds may be affected by that. The non-league final day at Wembley is subject to the FA calendar given that Euro 2020 matches now have to fit into 2021. Consideration is being given to do away with Replays in both Cup and Vase to aid fitting in league fixtures. If the season does not start in August then League and County Cups cannot be run in the traditional formats during the league playing season, but possible that new ways could be found to run Cups. RESTARTING NLS FOOTBALL- The FA stated that NLS will only re-start when the Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) gives approval AND subject to any conditions that the DCMS makes. Games cannot re-start at Steps 1 to 7 of the NLS without spectators, AND ALL STEPS ARE TIED TOGETHER on a restart date (for example Step 6 cannot start whilst Step 3 is not allowed and vice versa). Football BELOW Step 7 where no admission is taken may start on a different date and is subject to specific “grass-roots” Government guidance. The FA are working on various scenarios as to when and how it affects the programme of games, this was explained as: August – A normal season September/October – Full League seasons to be priority with NO League or County Cups November/January – Not possible for a full league season to be played and in this situation either half seasons (play each other once) or splitting divisions in half. Later than January – Worst case scenario with re-structure and leagues maybe held over again until 2021/22 season. Whilst NOT a commitment or guarantee by any means, the FA said the most likely current scenario would be September. Pre-Season – The FA stated a pre-season would occur before commencement of matches, but they were not prepared to say what duration in weeks that timeframe would be. End of season – Flexibility to go into May rather than the last weekend of April, but again this would really depend on the starting date of the season. Possible agreement prior to restarting so that if a second spike forced another curtailment of next season, that the leagues could be awarded based on the percentage of games actually played at that time – details to follow. CLUBS- The FA will require ALL CLUBS to produce and publish a Risk assessment and/or action plan to ensure they are Covid-19 secure. This is specifically for clubs that are neither “elite” nor “grassroots” and will cover such things as: • Return to full training/matches Thanks to the South West Peninsula • Use of facilities including clubhouses, dressing rooms etc. • Travel League for the notes and permission to • The volunteer workforce at each club reproduce them here. • The FA are currently writing a guidance paper on this and it will follow to clubs in the near future. • Ground Grading: The FA have built into the temporary changes to regulations some flexibility regarding ground grading dates, whilst no specific date or rule has been changed, the FA stated that it is “Not the intention to relegate any clubs for work that Covid-19 has meant they have been unable to do.”

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