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Kayte Lane Bishops Cleeve Glos. GL52 3PD Tel; 01242 676166 Email; [email protected] Website; www.pitchero.com/clubs/bishopscleevefc Affiliated to; Gloucestershire County F.A. Members of The Hellenic League Cheltenham Football League Cheltenham Youth League
Chairman David Walker Cleeve Colts Vice Chairman Hanif Tai Chairman – Jon Symons Secretary – Nigel Green Secretary – Geoffrey Ketching Board Members Hilary Green Marc Blackford Cleeve Colts Managers Jon Symonds U6 – Jim Wyatt – [email protected] Welfare Officer Daryl Fields U7 – Liam Beames – [email protected] Press Officer Matt Jones U8 – U9 Colts – Kevin Debonis – [email protected] U9 Rovers – Ian Fletcher – [email protected] First Team U10 Colts – Darly Field – [email protected] Manager Stephen Cleal U10 Rovers – Stephen Dolman – Asst. Manager Matt Jeynes [email protected] Coach Mike Rhodes U11 Colts – Andrew Hyatt – [email protected] Physiotherapist Pat Cleal U11 Rovers – Paul Bignell – [email protected] U12Colts – Tony Debonis – [email protected] “A” Team U12 Rovers – Jason Burge – [email protected] Manager James Trigg U12 United – Louis Averiss – [email protected] Match Secretary John Hunt U13 Colts – Andy Moss – [email protected] U14 United – Rich Gill – [email protected] U15 Colts – Becky Verhoest – [email protected] Development Team
Manager Nicki Debonis Girls Teams Asst. Manager Keith Carter U10 Colts – Anjie Winter – [email protected]
U12 Colts – Rob Winter – [email protected] Under 18 Youth U12 Rovers – Toby Harris – [email protected] Manager Richard Gill U14 Colts – Dipak Karadia – [email protected] Asst Manager Jon Symonds U16 Colts – Chris Gough – [email protected] Physio
Good Afternoon and Welcome to all players, staff, officials and supporters of Brockenhurst FC I hope you enjoy your visit to Kayte Lane this afternoon for this FA Vase Round 1 encounter. After getting back to winning ways in the league last Saturday we followed it up with an impressive 5-2 win over southern league Mangotsfield United to book another game against a pre season opponent in Forest Green Academy in the Quarter-Finals of the challenge trophy. It was pleasing both last Saturday (showing character to win late) and Tuesday (showing the strength in depth of the squad) to get two wins in 3 days to gain momentum ahead of today's game that I am sure will be a tough and entertaining encounter. Brockenhurst like us sit second in the Wessex league and are in a good run of form so both sides will be looking to progress. Those here last week saw Ieuan Crowe return to the club and react badly to a challenge that will see him miss the next 3 games after his red card – no one is more gutted than Ieuan but it was a foolish reaction and means he will miss out on today. Those who made the trip to Mangotsfield couldn’t help but be impressed with debutant Kai Mahon but like Ieuan he is unavailable today because he played for Saracens in the Vase. We do welcome back Steve Davies, Mikey Davis and Ash Davies who all missed the win in the week but none were injury related so they all come back in At the time of writing this Will Morford (back) and Harrison Iddles (ankle) are both touch and go whether they will be able to make the game but we will leave it as late as possible for both. Exciting winger / forward Lucas Price comes back into the fold having been left out last week but Ryan New (holiday), Elliott Kennedy (hamstring) and Lee Davis (ankle) will miss the next three games at least. We now have 4 home games left in October – today, Tuesday Westfields Cup, Westfields League and Flackwell Heath league but if we win away at Shortwood Saturday we play Tuffley home on the Tuesday in the next round of the cup. As always, your support is invaluable to us and so Thanks again for your support
Enjoy the Game
Soots
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BISHOPS CLEEVE FOOTBALL CLUB BRIEF HISTORY
Founded 1905 County Members Gloucestershire Football Association Southern League History 2006 – present day Hellenic League History 1983 – 2006 Principal honours 2011/12 & 2015/16 Glos. Senior Challenge Trophy Runners-Up =====
In their long history Bishops Cleeve have led a much more nomadic existence than many clubs, but have now been settled in the impressive Kayte Lane ground since 1997. For many years the club played on a ground in Stoke Road – with facilities rebuilt and reopened in 1971 by the then secretary of the Football Association, Ted Croker. The enforced move to Kayte Lane came about due to the old ground being sold by the landlord. The club enjoyed a brief period of success in the late 60s – gaining promotion from the Cheltenham League and winning four Championships in their six seasons in the Glos. Northern Senior League. After dropping back to the Cheltenham League, Cleeve gained promotion into the Hellenic League in 1983, quickly becoming a force in that division, finishing fourth in their first two seasons in Div. One. This great start was followed up with a third place finish, then winning the Championship and gaining promotion to the Premier Division at the fourth attempt, and winning the ‘double’ by adding the Glos. Amateur Cup. A fantastic achievement. The five seasons in the Premier Division proved to be a struggle for the Club, although the team followed up their Cup success by adding another trophy to their collection, winning the Premier Cup at the first attempt. The return to Division One proved the catalyst for a period of rebuilding, on and off the pitch. The Club needed to enter into a number of ground share agreements to preserve their League status – Forest Green Rovers, Moreton Town, Wollen Sports and Highworth all allowed us to use their grounds. This difficult period galvanised our club members, and the club was kept running by the dedicated efforts of a few stalwarts – notably Cheltenham Town legend, Dave Lewis, whose efforts were recognised by Carling Brewery, awarding him their ‘Clubman of the Year’ accolade (and a year’s supply of beer!) After approval for the Kayte Lane site was given in 1997, club members started the building of the clubhouse and changing rooms – using materials kindly donated by Smiths Aerospace (now GE Aviation) There followed a great transformation in the team’s fortunes, and they duly secured another promotion in 2001 back to the Hellenic Premier Division. In order to take this opportunity the club entered into another ground share at Evesham United! 2003 & 2004 proved to be a landmark period for the club – returning to ‘The Lane’ after the new Stand and floodlights were approved, achieving FA Charter Standard for Football in the Community, and the completion of the building and facilities. In 2006 the team gained promotion to the Sothern League, joining the Midland Division before being moved to the South & West Division a few seasons later, where the club currently reside. The club has enjoyed mixed fortunes in their Southern League time, generally enjoying mid-table security, with the highlight being season 2011/12 when the club finished with their best ever points haul (in a creditable 11th) and reached the Gloucestershire Senior Cup final, played at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate ground, where we unfortunately succumbed to a Bristol City side featuring two Full Welsh Internationals!
With the departure of Alex Sykes to County rivals Shortwood United, the ex-Cheltenham Town professional John Brough took the helm but left towards the end of the season to join Cinderford Town. 2013/14 saw local lad Stephen Cleal take charge with Derek Lightstone, as his assistant, both had a long history with the club and they forged a close link with our Second and Third teams – as well a community tie to Bishops Cleeve Colts Youth section – the future of the club seemed much more secure on and off the field of play. After surviving relegation in their first season they put together a competitive team finishing 12th in the league and losing 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers in the County FA Senior Cup. 2016/17 saw another first for Steve winning the club’s first FA Trophy game. 2017/18 saw the arrival of Matt Jeynes to the management team another who had played for the club in recent years and they later joined by Alex Lumsden Unfortunately a number of players left the club and the season didn’t get off to a good start. The team did rally towards the latter part of the Season but were relegated after losing the last game. So after 12 years the club looked for a speedy return to Step 4 of the NLS. However, having retained most the players, the team had a few slip ups on the run in to the end of the season and finished, they also were runners-up in the County Trophy
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Brockenhurst FC history...
The club was founded in 1898 initially playing close to the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. The Badgers were founder members of the New Forest league which they won a number of times. They moved before the first World War to a site between the Rose and Crown and Snakecatcher pubs. Following the war the club played in both the Bournemouth and Hampshire leagues, moving to Fathersfield. In 1931 they were forced to move again to Black Knoll when Fathersfield was given over to housing. In 1935 the club won the New Forest Lads Cup. Within two years the Badgers moved to Oberfield and after the Second World war they spent some seasons at Tile Barn before moving to their current home at Grigg Lane in 1951.
The club were crowned Hampshire League Division Three champions in 1960 as well as winning the Bournemouth Seniors cup. They moved between the Second and Third divisions until in 1971 they were promoted to Division One where they won the league title in the 1975-76 season. Brockenhurst were founder members of the Wessex League joining in 1986. The club’s FA Cup giant killing reached its pinnacle in season 2001/02 when Kingstonian were defeated and in season 2004/05 the club reached the 3rd qualifying round, the run ending in defeat to Bath City.
In season 2012/13 the club returned to the Wessex Premier League as Division One champions and reached the final of both the Southamption DFA Senior Cup and the Wessex league Cup though unfortunately were beaten in both. The club has been rebuilding under the leadership of Manager Pat McManus in recent seasons with the target of going better than last season’s tenth position in the coming season and developing the squad to the best possible finish.
BROCKENHURST FC PEN PICTURES SEASON 2019/2020
PAT MCMANUS (MANAGER) Seventh season in charge of the Badgers, after taking over at the start of the 2013 season, joining from Winchester City where he ran a successful Reserves side. He is now starting to put together a good young side who are starting to play a bit with pace and power. SAM COUSINS (ASST MANAGER) Randle was originally the team Keeper, but due to injuries he has found a home in the dugout helping Pat. Great character for the dressing room and still helps out in sticks for the odd game when needed. RYAN ANDRESS (COACH) Joined us this summer after previously spending six Seasons running Winchester City Res & Under 18’s. Has a proven track record of producing good young players and we hope he can help replicate the same with the Badgers. MATT TAYLOR (GOALKEEPER) Joined this summer from a brief spell with Hythe & Dibden. Previously with AFC Totton, Totton & Eling this young keeper comes well recommended. Made the number one position his own last Season and had a fine campaign producing a number of great performances and saves. JON WEBB (GOALKEEPER) Joined permanently this summer after a couple of cameo appearances in previous Seasons. Played previously at Winchester Castle, but is capable of playing a lot higher and has had experience already between the sticks at Southern League level. TOMMY BARNES (RIGHT BACK) Joined October 2016 from Totton & Eling and dropped into the back line allowing Jude a more roaming role. Has made the number two shirt his own since joining the Club. Previously capped at Northern Ireland Schoolboy level. RONAN MOORE (LEFT BACK) Signed 14 March 2016 from Bashley where he has come through the Wyvern side on the last few seasons. Solid defender who has now claimed the left back berth and is known to score the odd wonder goal from distance. Last Seasons Supporters Player of the Year. DYLAN MANUFOR (CENTRE BACK) Signed this summer after previously playing for Borehamwood Academy and Winchester City. Played against us last Season for Bashley and Bemerton Heath Harlequins. A big and powerful defender who can play anyway across the backline. ZAK PICKETT (CENTRE HALF) Rejoined the Club this summer after playing during Pat’s first Season at the Club. Known to be a bit of journeyman, but we hope with a number of decent displays already in the Badgers backline he finally calls Grigg Lane his home. GREG KING (CENTRE HALF) Joined the Club three Seasons ago and is rock solid in the heart of the defence. Previously played for Bashley and he is calm on the ball. Hoping to have an injury free Season so he can establish his place. TOM HILL (MIDFIELD) Another player to have rejoined the Badgers this summer. A previous AFC Bournemouth Scholar who was playing for Blackfield & Langley last Season. Fingers crossed we have an injury free player as on his day he is a dynamo in the midfield engine room. JAMES SHOREY (MIDFIELDER) A previous Under 18 Player who has come through the ranks, but now relishing in the team with his hard working and driving forward with the ball. One to watch out for this Season after a number of superb displays towards the end of last Season. MATT CASEY (MIDFIELD) Joined Badgers in early September 2015 from Blackfield & Langley. Previously with Folland Sports. An important part of the teams engine with his non stop work to start attacks or break up play. Also none to score some sublime goals from time to time. BEN KEMPLEN (MIDFIELD) Another new player to have joined the Club this summer. He had previously played against us for Hamble Club and can play a number of positions. When this hard working player became available, Pat signed him up immediately. BRAD MAGOOKIN (MIDFIELD) Another former player to have rejoined the Badgers after two previous spells with the Club. Another ex AFC Bournemouth Scholar or plays midfield. Bags of experience and will be an integral player for the Club this Season. CASSIUS NEWTON (MIDFIELD) Joined a few seasons back now and when he plays through availability we know he is on the pitch. A big strong midfielder who always puts in a shift and not afraid to get stuck in. Fingers crossed we get to see more of him this Season. JUDE NWACHUKWU (UTILITY) Signed in 2015. Previously with Blackfield & Langley. Big and strong and doesn’t mess around. He has played Right Back, Centre Midfield and also Striker. When he does get the taste for goals they are usually blinders. MATT SHEEDY (ATTACKING MIDFIELD) Joined a couple of Seasons ago now and has established the number ten shirt at the Club playing behind the striker. Another fans favourite who never stops running and with his link up play is an important part in the Badgers attack. LEON CARBAYO-BORGES (WINGER) Another young talent who made his debut whilst still school and having to sit an exam the following day. Exciting winger on his day who can also play as a striker due to his pace. Hoping to continue his develop with the first team again this season and is getting better and better. WILL TICKLE (WINGER) Another player who had previously played for the Club on a number of occasions, but has now settled with the Badgers for a few Seasons. On his day can be a world beater with his skill of putting his defender on the back foot. When he scores they are normally very special. TOM SYKES (WINGER) Joined us this summer having previously played at Gosport, Moneyfields and last Season in the Southern League with Blackfield & Langley. He is a wizard on the ball with his quick feet and after a number of promising Pre Season Matches it was a no brainer to sign him. ARSHIA SHEIBATZADEH (WINGER) Another new signing this Summer having previously played for Colden Common and Folland Sports. Already showed us in Pre Season what he can do with his pace and skill. Encouraging start to his Badgers career with a few goals too. NOEL MCCARTHY-GARDINER (WINGER/STRIKER) Joined three seasons and made his debut at 16. Very talented, pacy and good striker of the ball. Can also play up front when needed and is hoping for an extended run in the team this Season. GERSON RAMOS (STRIKER) joined the Club from Bemerton Heath Harlequins towards the end of last Season. A big and strong centre forward who has already become a fans favourite with some encouraging performances and leads the line well as a lone striker.
Sometimes you just have to improvise. There were two good examples of ingenuity in testing situations in non-League this week. With the referee running late for a match between Essex & Suffolk Border League sides Tiptree Engaine and Stanway Rovers reserves, and no one else having a whistle with them, they kicked off anyway using a harmonica instead. Effective and melodic.
Meanwhile, when a delivery failed to materialise at Combined Counties League HQ in time for their Women's Cup draw, in the spirit of Blue Peter they ploughed on with a bit of creativity, some ping pong balls and an egg box.
The Anatomy of a Footballer
Professional footballers are apparently not built like you and I. From head to toe, their bodies are subject to an entirely different terminology to the Average Joe.
Used figuratively as often as it is literally, the concept of the head in football is conveniently vague. Composed young footballers are said to have an old head on young shoulders, at least until they lose their head, at which point they need an arm around their shoulder. Players who lack genuine pace are able to call upon the yard in their head (pace is quantified simply in yards, on a narrow scale from 0.5-1).
A predatory striker is said to have an eye for goal, which occasionally involves giving the goalkeeper the eyes (having seen the whites of them), despite often having one eye (or half an eye) on an upcoming fixture. Meanwhile, today's mutant referees are required to have eyes in the back of their head.
Calling upon the other senses, players can sniff out a chance if their team smells blood (unless they're not given a sniff) but only after the two teams have finished feeling each other out. Hearing is less frequently referenced, but the universal gesture for a footballer not hearing something (a referee's whistle, or a goalkeeper's shout) is unmistakable:
A goalkeeper faces the frequent prospect of a shot arriving straight down his throat, which in reality is much less threatening than it sounds. One can only assume that big-money signings wear their price tags around their necks, while players still subject to a hands-off warning have their price tag slapped upon their person.
A particularly goal-shy centre-forward must bear the burden of both a monkey and the crowd on his back. The well-established (if rather dubious) remedy for his goal drought, however, is for one to go in off his backside.
In the game of football, the hands and arms are a consistently controversial region of the body. Penalty areas are frequent witnesses to a suspicion of a hand while everyone knows that as soon as you raise your hands, you're asking for trouble. Goalkeepers must possess a strong hand while making sure errant crosses are plucked out of the air using their grateful hands. Palms, meanwhile, exist only to be "stung" - the act of palming away has slowly been superseded by the more menacing-sounding clawing away.
No sports scientist has yet been able to determine the whereabouts of a player's engine, but it is likely to be found in a lung-bursting location near the centre of the body. There's no real room for innuendo in football commentary, but a great deal of mirth is reserved for when a player is struck in the unmentionables by a shot or a boot.
And so the business end of the footballer's anatomy. The legs seem the most obvious place to find the ever- elusive malicious bone, but loyal managers have rendered the search fruitless. The most notable part of the lower-body skeleton is surely the dreaded metatarsal, which homo sapiens only developed in the early 2000s if the succession of major tournament-disrupting breaks to the feet of your Beckhams, your Rooneys, your Nevilles and your Owens are anything to go by.
Flat-footed defenders are exposed by fleet-footed wingers, and given a torrid time by jet-heeled ones, resulting (in extreme cases) in twisted blood. Appropriately, some footballers' feet are now beyond cliché - the good feet for a big man are now rarely referenced unknowingly. A distinct bias towards the exotic, sinistral footballer has always been in evidence - left feet are educated and cultured, while any old neanderthal can swing his right boot.
When a footballer finally loses that half a yard, it is said that his legs have gone. Luckily, fresh legs are always on hand (so to speak) to replace them.
By Matt Badcock
NON-LEAGUE Day celebrates its tenth edition today – a simple idea from founder James Doe has mushroomed into an established part of the calendar.
James – a QPR fan – came up with the concept when he visited Tavistock Town in a pre-season game in 2010 and that led to him visiting local club Harrow Borough.
So each season during an international break, NLD encourages fans down to their local team. From there it has grown and grown. In the build-up to this weekend, Premier League clubs were tweeting about their local clubs and Prostate Cancer UK and Kick It Out continue to show their support each year.
Perhaps you’re reading this today at your first Non-League game – we’re sure you will enjoy the experience.
Many clubs have benefited from the extra publicity and media spotlight the day brings and that is something to be welcomed. It’s not easy when the game at the highest level is everywhere. Finding column inches or air time often needs an angle and NLD is just that.
Of course, we can trot out many clichés about Non-League football. The players don’t dive – some do – that clubs are more welcoming – most are – and you can speak to the players in the bar after the game. And it’s affordable!
Non-League football will mean different things to different people but there’s no doubting it is at the heart of the game in this country.
Where else would four-figure crowds watch a game in the eighth tier? Sometimes even lower.
Non-League football is to be celebrated and treasured. But we shouldn’t be blind to the fact a number of clubs are struggling to make ends meet. That getting through the season is an achievement. Costs are high and it is hard to compete. For those that have the resources, there are more that don’t.
A particular issue facing these levels is volunteering. There aren’t enough of them!
Giving up your time can be a rewarding experience and the more savvy clubs are making better use of people’s skills. Look around you in the crowd today, there are people from all backgrounds, industries and trades. Look at yourself, you will have skills that are invaluable to a Non-League club even if you don’t realise it.
It doesn’t have to be all the hours under the sun. Just putting up posters to advertise games or delivering leaflets in the local area can make a big difference. And that all makes for a healthy, thriving Non-League.
Enjoy the day!
Mitres come from behind to win
Bishops Cleeve 2 Burnham 1 Bishop’s Cleeve laboured to a 2-1 win against Burnham who started the day in the bottom two. The Mitres nearly took a first minute lead when Steve Davies was put through and the attacker just blasted over from a tight angle but from then on Cleeve struggled as they were unable to find their rhythm constantly giving the ball away. It was from a misplaced pass in midfield that Burnham broke and won a corner and it was from that corner the visitors scored. The corner was played short to Sam Coles and only he will know whether his first time hit was an out swinging cross, or a perfect lob over Matt Wieczorek in the Cleeve goal. Either way the result was a goal for the visitors. Cleeve weren’t behind for long however as minutes later Davies was tripped in the box by Thomas Willment and it was Davies who stepped up to convert. Cleeve continued to given the ball away and shortly after Aiden Higgs saw two shots in quick succession well saved by Mitre of the Match Wieczorek then shortly after Adam Mace had to make a goal-line clearance from Willment’s header. It took till the half hour mark for Cleeve to start getting some chances of their own, first Jack Watts saw an effort saved then Loam Wright saw a powerful effort blocked. Burnham were still getting chances and were looking a lot better on the ball than their league position suggests and will be wondering how they weren’t a couple of goals up at half time when Cameron Rohart- Brown saw his shot blast just over before Higgs saw his header in the back of the net only for it to be ruled out for a foul on Mace. On the stroke of half time Cleeve had claims for another penalty waved away when Morford with his back to goal looked to have been cleaned out by the goalkeeper however the sides went in level at 1-1. It’s probably safe to say manager Steve Cleal had some words to say to his Cleeve players at half time and the Mitres did seem to up their game in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half as they managed to find their passing game which enabled Davies and Wright to see shots well blocked. Whilst Cleeve were still not in top gear you they continued to keep their heads up looking for the winner as the match entered the final fifteen minutes which then started to see the match have some edge to it. First off Willment went in with a strong two footed challenge on Watts and it was probably only the vision and agility of Watts to jump out the way that saw Willment receive just a yellow. Burnham sub Benjamin Fraser then saw two shots saved before the deciding goal was scored as they clock was about to tick into added time. Watts received the ball on the left and drove to the goal line before passing the ball back to the edge of the box for sub Harrison Iddles to blast into the bottom corner on his first appearance coming back from injury, and sending the home support crazy. Immediately after Burnham saw claims for a penalty waved away as Firas Chniba was booked for diving instead. Tempers then overflowed on both sides as Ieuan Crowe in his first Cleeve appearance this season took exception to a challenge and lashed out a kick. Whilst he didn’t connect by withdrawing his foot quickly the initial intent was clear to see and Crowe received his marching orders and he will be as disappointed as anyone at his reaction. The full time whistle blew with Cleeve claiming all three points but this was perhaps one of the toughest 3 points Cleeve have won this season so far. After the match, Cleeve manager Steve Cleal said “Too many of us weren’t on song today and credit to Burnham they caused us a few problems and they’re very good going forward and we knew they were going to be a very direct and physical side and they certainly caught us napping a few times in the first half. When you win a game when not at your best it shows a good togetherness and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Harrison Iddles returning from injury to score the winner.
Too big, too small, worn out, brand new: The curious ways players wear their boots
The lucrative sponsorship deals get the headlines, but be it superstition or whatever feels most comfortable, every footballer has their own preference when picking a pair 25 September ~ Many footballers will have started the season with new boots – breaking them in is an important ritual. With darker evenings and cooler temperatures, September provides a glimpse into the long season ahead. The sun-baked earth of summer gives way to more suitable surfaces for running around in studded soles. This is vital for those trying to break in new boots. Once a player has a pair supple enough to get a good feel for the ball, they are loath to part with them. The Nikes that Jack Grealish wore for Aston Villa in May’s Championship play-off final were falling to bits. Grealish persisted with them, believing they were lucky – and so it proved. Not everyone’s boots are as fortunate. As West Germany’s designated penalty taker during the 1990 World Cup, Lothar Matthäus had already scored from the spot in the quarter and semi-finals. Yet when his side were awarded a spot-kick five minutes from full time in the final, he assigned the responsibility to Andreas Brehme. The sole of one of Matthäus’s boots had cracked during the first half, forcing him to wear a new pair. Unlike the Adidas World Cups he’d played in during the tournament, this new model lacked the familiar folded-over tongue. “They didn’t feel right,” he said. Brehme scored from the spot, but Matthäus did get to lift the World Cup. In the past, apprentices were often given the task of breaking in the boots of senior professionals, who wanted to avoid blisters on rock-hard pre-season pitches. Stan Osborne, author of a book about his time as an Everton apprentice, remembers Alan Ball requesting this with a handful of pairs of his new white Hummels. A fistfight broke out among the youngsters for the honour of doing so. Ball was reported to have made £2,000 for the deal with Hummel. In early August, Raheem Sterling was considering wearing Nike Air Jordan boots in a deal that could earn him £100 million while it might come as a surprise to some, given his open admission of playing purely for money, that former Spurs defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto is the voice of frugality. “I’d rather be free than a sponsor’s prostitute,” he said, after it was discovered he bought his boots from Ebay for no more than €30, which he describes as a good price for comfortable boots. As children, many African footballers began playing without boots, including Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mané, who was laughed at during trials in Senegal. “I was wearing pants that looked nothing like football shorts,” he said. “And my boots were completely shredded.” The striker had attempted to repair them using wire. This year, New Balance launched a design to commemorate his Senegalese heritage: Maagum, which in the Wolof language translates as “rise”. It’s unlikely Mané imagined this happening when fleeing home in secret to follow his dream of becoming a footballer. When you have boots you are happy with, you just want to wear them. In 1986, Gary Lineker’s favourites had gone missing before an Everton game against Oxford United at the Manor Ground, forcing him to wear a spare pair that were too big. Oxford won 1-0, a victory that helped them stay up. The boots were found in time for Everton’s last two league games of the season, which they won, with Lineker scoring five. Everton ended the campaign just two points behind title-winning Liverpool. The boots were repaired for Lineker to wear in that year’s World Cup in Mexico, in which he was top scorer. Size wasn’t a problem for Southampton midfielder Brian O’Neil in the 1970s. As something of a free spirit, he never owned a pair of boots, a story he has recounted in a few books: “I just used to borrow some.” Arriving at The Dell late one afternoon, the only ones left were two or three sizes too big for him. O’Neil still scored. John Terry had a more unusual attitude. From 2013, he liked boots that felt tight, believing they allowed for better control. He would change the pair he wore in the pre-match build-up for fresh ones for kick-off, before changing again for the second half. Given he played 179 games, this means he got through 537 pairs of boots over five seasons. So, comfort is the name of the game – even if that means cutting holes in the heel, as Philippe Coutinho has been known to do, supposedly to prevent blisters. One man’s desecration is another’s comfy pair of slippers. Mark Sanderson
th As at 10 August POS P W D L GD PTS
1 Westfields 9 7 2 0 25 23
2 Bishops Cleeve 8 6 1 1 17 19
3 Fairford Town 8 6 0 2 7 18
4 Reading City 8 5 2 1 8 17
5 Binfield 8 5 1 2 5 16
6 Lydney Town 9 4 3 2 2 15
7 Ardley United 9 3 4 2 -2 13
8 Longlevens AFC 10 4 0 6 -4 12
9 Windsor 9 3 2 4 -1 11
10 Brackley Town Saints 8 3 1 4 3 10
11 Flackwell Heath 6 3 1 2 -1 10
12 Tuffley Rovers 9 2 4 3 -3 10
13 Shrivenham 8 3 1 4 -4 10
14 Virginia Water 10 2 3 5 -6 9
15 Easington Sports 6 2 1 3 -4 7
16 Royal Wootton Bassett Town 7 1 2 4 -8 5
17 Holmer Green 9 1 2 6 -19 5
18 Burnham 7 1 1 5 -3 4
19 Brimscombe & Thrupp 8 0 3 5 -12 3
SAT 12 OCT 2019 15:00
HLP Ardley Unitedv Royal Wootton Bassett TownThe Nolan Oils Ground
FAV Bishops Cleevev Brockenhurst Kayte Lane
FAV Brackley Town Saintsv West Bridgford St James Park
HLP Burnhamv Virginia Water The Gore
FAV Christchurchv Brimscombe & Thrupp Hurn Bridge Sports Ground
FAV Egham Townv Binfield The Runnymede Stadium
FAV Flackwell Heathv Colney Heath Wilks Park
FAV Longlevens AFCv Cowes Sports Sawmills End
FAV Newton Abbot Spursv Westfields Recreation Ground, Newton Abbot
HLP Reading Cityv Easington Sports Rivermoor
FAV Shrivenhamv Fairford Town SHRIVENHAM RECREATION GROUND
HLP Tuffley Roversv Holmer Green Glevum Park
HLP Windsorv Lydney Town Stag Meadow
TUE 15 OCT 2019 19:45
BLFC Abingdon Unitedv Longlevens AFC Northcourt
BLFC Bishops Cleevev Westfields Kayte Lane
BLFC Brimscombe & Thruppv Hereford Pegasus The Meadow
BLFC Burnhamv Penn & Tylers Green The Gore
BLFC Flackwell Heathv Binfield Wilks Park
BLFC Long Crendonv Ardley United OXFORD CITY FC (COURT PLACE FARM) #8
BLFC Shrivenhamv Malvern Town SHRIVENHAM RECREATION GROUND
BLFC Windsorv Virginia Water Stag Meadow
BBiisshhooppss CClleeeevvee BBrroocckkeennhhuurrsstt Mat Wieczorek Jon Webb (GK) Luke Payne Mason Barratt Adam Mace © Ronan Moore Freddie Ward Dylan Manufor Ash Davies Greg King Tristan Haswell Zak Pickett Liam Wright Jude Nwachukwu Lee Llewellyn Matt Casey Will Morford Tom Hill Steve Davies Ben Kemplen Jack Watts Brad Magookin Ben Maguire Matt Sheedy Mikey Davies Will Tickle (Capt) Lucas Price Cassius Newton Ryan New James Shorey Rich Thwaite Arshia Sheibatzadeh Lee Davis Tom Sykes Leon Carbayo-Borges Freddie Bullard
Referee A. Gregory - Swindon
Assistant Referee D. Midwinter - Cheltenham
Assistant Referee K. Watkins - Stroud