WEALDSTONE v TORQUAY, GLOUCESTER BY MARTIN READ WORLD OF BALL Visiting No. Just no. received at the other end of the for some time I kept this collection on a scarf. ground as if we’d been asleep all Obviously I blame Toby, but honestly, how the while. long can you stay mad at a man whose glori- fans: a list of Actually, from our perspec- ous badge displays make every visit to the tive, sometimes it really is nice Vale feel like Christmas Day? (I drew a line at to know the opposition fans are last year’s range of badges for every match, here, as indeed they will surely though - the work of the devil.) minor irritants be in some numbers from our But here’s my red line: taking such a scarf, visitors Torquay today (and weighed down with those shiny metal adorn- Gloucester fans, respect is due ments, and wrapping yourself in it to visit ugh, can you believe last week’s for any of you here on Monday an away match. Again, there’s no maximum result? The ultimate sucker-punch night). The amount of times badge-to-scarf ratio to divide the acceptable and a final five minutes from hell. you can look over and see just enthusiast from the utter madman, but here, AIn all the heat it was good to see the re- three or four blokes, a couple of today, I offer such a number: four. More than sponse of our fans: sympathy for Bradley full-kitters and a flag they could four badges on a scarf and you’re trying too Bubb, who just forty minutes earlier had all be wrapped up in together, hard. How many times have you had to edge seemed to eradicate our penalty taking is appalling at this level. How’s past an oppo fan in a scarf seemingly trans- curse; and applause for the hard-working that going to up the atmos? ported out of the nineteenth century made up Stones team which, despite succumbing in Instead of ‘It’s nice to know like a chuffing Christmas tree? Unacceptable. the most appalling way, had clearly stuck you’re here’, sometimes we to a game plan against notably stronger get ironic cheering amounting 6) Shirts of success from decades past National League Premier opposition. to the same thing. And ironic Leaving last week’s devastating defeat I got It’s in the nature of the game that fans to cheering of any kind can only walking behind a Sutton fan in what looked go into grief mode following such a dramat- be replied to in one way - ironic like a replica of the 1989 kit in which they ic exit, but perspective is all and to my mind cheering of the ironic cheering. beat cup holders Coventry City. the bigger disappointment came with the news a few days later of Wadah Ahmidi’s Hmm. Is this acceptable? I’m not so sure. 4) Flags OK, so it’s a match that has become, under- sudden long-term absence from the team. mery’s got a strong roofing service to sell That’s quite the skills gap we need to fill. Here’s a rule of thumb. The standably, a huge part of (for full details, please email info@gmum- bigger and more ornately Sutton’s history. But come on Anyway, as we were adjusting to our meryroofing.co.uk) so you, grubby away fan, crafted the opposition sup- mate, it’s hardly yesterday cuplessness last Saturday I couldn’t help are getting in the way of his message. Desist! porters’ flag, the fewer the “Try clapping is it? You’ve gone on to play turn my eyes to the celebrating Sutton Can you imagine us doing the same, or cov- fans likely to be accompany- Arsenal since then. (Mind United supporters. Nothing against the club ering one of your club’s ad panels with a flag ing it. This is no hard and some time. You do you, here’s a suggestion for and their uniquely coloured kit, but seeing about us? Of course not. Never. fast rule, but you must have the mega-store: a (definitely them jumping up and down as if they’d won noticed. not skinny-fit) replica t-shirt the final - which, to be fair, we would have 2) Keeping The Vale untidy Huge flags are fine and NOT, repeat NOT based on our double win- happily been doing ourselves - left me oddly ning 1985 kit would, I have compelled to list some of the things that get Wait a second, that bloke’s just dumped his dandy if accompanied by chip wrapper / tea cup / coke can on the massed hordes of opposi- need a drum” little doubt, sell in decent my goat about fans of ‘the oppo’ when they numbers.) visit our humble abode. (Oh, and let’s be ground *next* to the bin? Or just casually tion supporters, but the clear, we’re just as guilty when *we* travel thrown it away? Or left it at the back of the fewer the fans the more we should deride away.) Why not treat this list as a kind of stand? No no NO! Only *we* should be giv- their oversized banners. Unless, of course, 7) Any hint of a drum bingo card and check off how many you ing our hard working volunteers this sort of they recognise this ridiculous ratio and are Look, here’s there situation: this is a football encounter today? clean-up work. Who do these opposition fans sufficiently self-deprecating. I’m particularly match. Can you use that drum to convey your think they are? impressed by Wingate & Finchley’s flag bear- disgust at that last failed attack? Can a drum ing the wonderful legend “Yes, this is all we 1) Low-level vandalism communicate your advice to that flat-footed take away.” Class. number four? No it cannot. It’s like using a Hang on, they they’re banging on *our* cor- 3) ‘It’s nice to know you’re here’, and variants swanee whistle at a funeral or an air-horn rugated iron walls? Surely the instruction not 5) That scarf, those shiny badges in an orchestra. Jarring, stupid and entirely to do that is one that only we are allowed to It’s particularly galling when, if our own sup- port has been subdued after a particularly I’ll admit to a certain amount of schizophrenia unacceptable. You have hands. There’s this ignore? Also, can you stop thumping those high-pitched percussive sound every time advertising panels with your fists, please? I poor passage of play, to find that our own on this one. I’ve a full set of Stones enamel sudden burst of appreciative shouting is spanning the fifties to the modern day, and you slap them together. Try it some time. You know it makes a nice sound, but Guy Mum- do NOT, repeat NOT need a sodding drum… GLOUCESTER CITY WEALDSTONE v GLOUCESTER CITY OPPOSITION IN FOCUS

season. In the 1981-82 season a sixth place finish TIGER FACTS was enough to clinch a place in the reformed following season away to Bedminster on Premier Division. They were also runners-up GROUND - Jubilee Stadium CAPACITY - 3,000 Saturday 30 September 1893, losing 2-3. in the League Cup, going down 1-2 to In 1934-35, after winning both the Cup and Wealdstone, who included future England MANAGER - League, City turned semi-professional, joined captain Stuart Pearce in their ranks.Despite 2017/18 - 14th the Birmingham Combination and moved to a Kim Kasey scoring 40 goals, the club were new stadium in Longlevens in which the club relegated to the Midland Division in 1984-85, www.wfcmegastore.co.uk stayed for the next 26 years. after three seasons in the Premier Division. had left off, and the bombshell hit City that They won the Tillotson Cup for being the It is generally seen as one of the lowest Les Alderman had left the club. The squad best club in the Combination, and then had moments in the club’s history. was ripped apart: major players were former Chelsea and released for derisory sums, some went Wanderers striker Reg Weaver blow away all MEADOW PARK unpaid and took the club to the FA and records with his stunning tally of 67 goals in In 1986 the club moved grounds again, this forced a transfer embargo. the 1937-38 season. time to the Hempstead area and Meadow Park. THE GLORY YEARS AND FA TROPHY SOUTHERN LEAGUE ENTRY AND CUP In 1988 chairman Geoff Hester wanted to RUN SUCCESS appoint a new manager and after an West Ham United and Bristol City striker In 1939 the club participated in the exhaustive search found his man: former took over the club and had to Southern Football League for the very first Aston Villa and Wales player Brian Godfrey. virtually rebuild the team from scratch after time, albeit in a restricted wartime Players such as Lance Morrison, Steve most of the players had walked out. Leroy competition as they took part in the west Talboys, Wayne Noble and Brian Hughes assembled one of the most potent front lines section, a league they would spend the next were among those who walked to the in non-league football and it was no surprise 70 years in, becoming the longest serving Championship title, but the most important to see the Tigers beat all comers. Despite he club was officially formed on members. signing came just before Christmas when having to play manager Leroy in goal against March 5th 1883, Gloucester AFC, as For three consecutive seasons, 1948–51, Chris Townsend joined from Cheltenham Kingstonian in their first game in the FA they were then known, did not play the club reached the First Round Proper of Town. Trophy, City managed to reach the semi-final Ttheir first game until 9th February 1884 It was a very competitive league and was the FA Cup, each time losing to League before being beaten by Dagenham & when a match was advertised as the first in opponents: Mansfield Town, Norwich City actually the penultimate game of the season Redbridge after a dramatic replay. the city under Association Rules, losing and Bristol City. The attendance record was at King’s Lynn’s The Walks Stadium that saw The cup run proved to be a thorn in the 1-3 to Warmley. Unfortunately, the first set at Longlevens in 1952 when Stan Myers City crowned Champions. side for City as they had to play three games venture was to last only three seasons and scored both goals to beat Tottenham The next big achievement of the Godfrey a week to claw back games in hand and folded in 1886. Hotspur 2-1 in front of 10,500 spectators, a years was the famous FA Cup run to Cardiff eventually lost out to Cheltenham Town in A group of players keen to have a major team side which included the superstars of the City. The Tigers suffered heartbreak in the the race for second spot. in Gloucester played eight fixtures in 1888-89, day such as , Ted Ditchburn, replay after being 2-0 up at Ninian Park with after two games they were known as Charlie Withers and Les Medley. just five minutes to go and beaten 1-0 in the ALMOST BANKRUPT ‘Gloucester Nomads’ due to the lack of a It took until the 1955-56 season for replay at Meadow Park. City struggled to keep their heads above home venue. It was these players who passed Gloucester to taste success, a famous water and the club’s weekly playing budget the baton on to two enthusiasts of the game Southern League Cup final win against PROMOTION HEARTBREAK AND DEBT was slashed. Managers came and went until who re-formed the club in September 1889, Yeovil Town in which City had lost the first The 1990-91 season was one of the most club legend Chris Burns came in and they being the Reverend Henry Lloyd leg 4-1, only to beat Yeovil 5-1 in the second exciting ever seen at the club. On the final steadied the ship. He was tempted back to Brereton, a local Headmaster, and Charles leg to win their first Southern League honour. day, despite premature celebrations from the Meadow Park from Forest Green Rovers Poole, assistant Headmaster at a local thousands of City fans that had travelled to and brought with him a largely untried bunch Grammar school. HORTON ROAD STADIUM ERA see a victory at Bromsgrove Rovers, of young players. It took the side a while to The club became members of the Bristol and In 1964 the club moved grounds again, from Farnborough had scored a winner three find its feet, and they had some real District League, which became the Western Longlevens to the massive Horton Road minutes from time to be promoted to the setbacks too (namely the 1-7 home defeat at League. Although Gloucester AFC did not stadium, closer to the centre of Gloucester. Conference instead. the hands of Bedworth United), but gradually participate in the inaugural season of 1892-93, City were promoted to the Southern Football Into the 1991-92 season, one that began to look the part. the historic first league match was the

FIND A WHOLE OF THE WORLD WEALDSTONE MEMORABILIA MEGASTORE: AT League Premier Division in the 1968-69 promised to start where the previous one Just before Christmas 2000 Meadow Park FIND A WHOLE WORLD OF MEMORABILIA AT THE WEALDSTONE MEGASTORE:www.wfcmegastore.co.uk GLOUCESTER CITY GLOUCESTER despite the loss of a stadium and revenue revenue and astadium of loss the despite Rovers’ Green Forest New Lawn Stadium, at was exile of season first club’s The history. its in time first the for Gloucester away move to from club submerging the crossbar; this forced the water, of feet almost eight almost with hit was club The flooding that engulfed the county. Gloucestershire bythe affected 2007, was Park July In Meadow AND EXILE FLOODING, PROMOTION FA. bythe imposed restraints the contract lifted and ex-players with settled they hand with the Supporters’ Club, together in hand Working chairmanship. over the take to club the to returned Gardner Colin ex-director 2001 However, November in to players. contracts offer couldn’t club the that meant and members, ex-squad with dispute acontract to added was This club. the on out ofto players non-payment several walked due that meant it and under go it saw almost club the for revenue of lack The population. public for fit wasn’t Park Meadow that the environmental health ruled inspector as weeks six for ground the at matches hold to unable was club The adecade. in time second the for banks its burst Severn River the when blow hammer another struck was P 16W9D2 L 5F30 A 22 WEALDSTONE’S RECORD vGLOUCESTERCITY seasons, 7 of them at Cheltenham. at them 7of seasons, 10 for exile in have been would club Cheltenham Town. This would mean the to rent increased with but Road Whaddon at stay season one afurther announced 2016/17 club the For the season under League rules. Town’s Corinium Stadium was not suitable Cirencester share to adeal after future Town foreseeable the for Cheltenham rivals club would with major be groundsharing 2010 the that March in announced was It Final. Play Off the in Farnborough defeating after time first the for North Conference to promotion gained club the 2008 In the league. in 6th acreditable finished club the stream the Jubilee Stadium, Evesham. Stadium, Jubilee the at United Evesham with ground-sharing be 2017–18 will the From Gloucester season, 2016. 4October on stadium the build to Council City Gloucester from permission planning full received club The requirements. A FA meet category and capacity over 4,000 to stadium the take to work of phase additional an has plan 2016. May 26 on The council the by validated was Bstadium category capacity a3,060 for application matters 2015. reserved Afull September 22 on came council bythe granted been had permission Confirmation that outline planning WEALDSTONE v TORQUAY & GLOUCESTER BY VICTOR KLARFELD

ood afternoon/evening to all the sup- golden goals ticket and the chance to win porters of Torquay Utd and Glouces- £50 if you get the 1st goal time with a £10 terG City ,on behalf of WFCSC I would like prize for the last time. to extend a warm welcome to you all and Did you know that WFCSC is now the hope you enjoy the game and have a safe second highest shareholder in WFC? We journey home. are looking for people that want to stand up and be counted and help shape the future of Writing these notes the morning after last Wealdstone FC. We are currently looking for Saturday’s gut wrenching loss to Sutton Utd people to join our committee. We currently is proving extremely difficult as we had a need someone to run our website and people great chance to be in the First Round of the willing to help with our events, help in the FA Cup and all the financial rewards that go Megastore etc. If this is you then please with it and unfortunately we came up short come and see myself or Adam in the mega- despite our players giving their all against store, you can email me at m_c_randall@ a team from a higher level who last season hotmail.com or find us on twitter @WFCSC1 made the playoffs. www.wfcmegastore.co.uk Don’t forget to see Mim at the gate for your Victor Travel - Chippenham Town

The next coach the Supporters Club plan to run is on November 17th when we visit are now being taken by text to 07881624890 Chippenham Town FC or email [email protected] A 51 seater coach with toilet will leave at When booking please quote the FULL NAME 10am and will be stopping in Chippenham for / NAMES of the person/persons you are lunch before going on to the ground and will booking for and a contact phone number in depart at 5.30pm following the game and ex- case I need to call you. pect to be back at the club shortly after 7pm As I am on holiday between November The cost for this trip will Adults £25 2nd to 13th an announcement will be made Concessions £20 Children Under 14 £10 on social media/forum on how to book in my absence.

Bookings for this game up to November 1st MEGASTORE: WFC & @WFCSC1 Team Draw Winners - September

Tim Allman £125 WfcMegastore Mick Gallagher £75 Voucher Stuart Chantrey Adam Edwards £50 Alan Couch £25 Quarterly Prize of a TV for John Fairman £25 holders of 3 or more entries: Daniel Gloor £10 Michael Bennett Mark Randall £10 Ian Stapleton £10 OUR TWITTER FEED: @ at thedaeth. sparked intolifeandmassive chancefor4-4issavedbythevisitinggoalkeeper wealdstone in addedtimethehomesidegot theirrewardandhalvedthedeficit(3-4). FromthenonStonesheadsappeared todropandNorthwoodseemedincontroluntil stone keepermakingit(2-4). defensive positionleavingtheNorthwood attacktorunthroughandslideundertheweald second attempt(2-3). Then straightfromthekick-off wealdstonelosetheballinacentral the boxanddespiteinitialshot beingblockedontheline,visitorswerelucky All ofsuddendisasterstruckforthehomeside. A cornerfromNorthwoodisdrilledinto but despitethekeeperfumblinginitialshotit’s keptout. utes. A lobpassfromtheleftfindswealdstonesnumbersixwhotakesitdown andshoots wide oftheleftpost.Stonesrammeduppressurewithanother chanceonsixtyfivemin turn. A sprintdowntheleftfindswealdstonesnumber7onpenspotand theshotisjust just overthebar. A chancewhichmanybelieveheshouldofscored. Then it wastheblues pass fromtheleftfindsanattackerandhelaysitoff toanotherattackerandtheballgoes ButitwasfiftyeightminutesthatNorthwoodhadagoldenchance totakethelead. couple ofyardsoutsidetheDandhisshotgoesstraightat goalkeeper. wealdstone withthefirstdecentchancetoscore.Newsigning Femifindsalooseball The beginningofthesecondhalfsawNorthwoodwithmostpressurebutitwas sy occurred. A late challengesawwealdstonereducedtotenmenratherharshly. drifts justwideofthelefthandpost. Then ashalftimeapproachedamomentofcontrover it backinandtheballisnearlycaughtbyadanglingfoot. Thankfully forwealdstonetheball wealdstone keeperandtheballfindsaNorthwoodplayeronedgeofboxwhochips minutes theynearlygottheirreward. A dribbleroundthebackforcesasavefrom The momentumofthe game changedasNorthwoodpressuredfortheleadandforty straight attheGKwhichheunabletohandle(2-2). a Northwoodplayerontheleftedgeofboxandhecutsinsidereleasinglethalshot attacker whodinksitoverthekeeper(2-1). Then fiveminuteslateradiagonalballfinds after agoodinterchangeofpassinginthecircleandedgeboxslipsthroughan Butthetwogoalleaddidn’tlastlong.SevenminuteslaterNorthwoodpulloneback into thebottomrightcorner(2-0). in linewiththeDseesanunbelievablecrossfindheadofFemiwhoplacesitbrilliantly score againbutitwaswealdstonewhowentontodoubletheirlead. A free-kickontheleft luckily forthebluesnoonewastheretoconnect.Bothsideshadverygoodchances shot whichfelltotheNorthwoodplayeronrightwhodrillsitacrosssixyardboxbut on 1ispreventedbyalastminuteslidingtackle. The resultingthrowleadstoadeflected right andhiscross/shothitsthefarpostfromoutsidebox.Fiveminuteslateranear1 Northwoodnearlyreplyinstantly. A throwfromtheleftfindsaNorthwoodplayeron tacker foraneasytapinwithinthesixyardbox(1-0). second timeluckyashortcornergoesthrougheveryoneatthenearpostfallingtoan Wealdstone gotoff toablinderandtooktheleaderafterjusttwominutes.Incaseof out ontopinwhatprovedtobealivelyandentertainingwestLondonderby. Despite havingatwo-goalleadaftertwenty-twominutesitwasNorthwoodthatcame WEALDSTONE ISTHMIAN YOUTH LEAGUE SAVE THE CHILDREN -BOSTIK MATCH REPORT Worst FootballExperience: Best FootballExperience: Lawerence FC,MiddlesexFA, HertfordshireFA, FinesseFC Teams PlayedFor: Studying: School: Age: Position: WHO’S WHO.. WHO’S 17

Nicholas BreakspearCatholicSchool

Left Back Maths, Biology, Chemistry U18’s King GeorgeFC,HistonSaint The dayIlearnttodokickups

Getting rejectedbyWatford FC WEALDSTONE 3-NORTHWOOD 4 MILES KDUMBA 2018/19 All ofasudden A - - - -

WEALDSTONE FC UNDER 18’S 2018/2019 FIXTURES -ALL HOME GAMES KO @ 7.30PM A MOMENT IN TIME BY TIM PARKS TORQUAY UNITED REWIND 27.10.2018

Saturday August 7, 1976, Friendly: Wealdstone 3 The very Torquay United 1 first ‘Royal Blue Review’ h, the long hot summer Wealdstone v Torquay makes an ap- of ‘76. You’ll have to pearance for excuse an even more the Torquay Aself-indulgent column than 1976.. a tale of one friendly (left) usual this week for that ... without summer was one to the teams remember. programme and one that were And not for the normal supposed teenage-boy reasons either. to adorn the Yes, girls were on the radar cover. Two but football had dominated long, hot summer weeks later my thoughts for ten years we played and more...particularly Barnet (right) Wealdstone FC. and it was www.wfcmegastore.co.uk When I’d finally accepted sorted I’d never be good enough to play up front alongside George Duck* I thought of pursuing a career in design or journalism. Hold on, what have these To be honest, I was just making it the teams on the front for that opening ramblings got to do with up as I went along. Which is much issue. Colin sought me out and explained Torquay United, you are like I do nowadays in my day job, that the first programme was a ‘double probably asking? Well, that putting together sports pages for header’ to cover games against Torquay that summer was to the Daily Mirror. But somehow the and then Luton on the following Tuesday become the perfect triangle headline, the vertical panel to the night ‘and we couldn’t get two lots of line of my passions. Football right and the white space for the ups on the cover’ he explained. programmes had long been line-ups just fell into place. All was rectified for our first competitive an obsession of mine and, I carefully placed the A5 sheet of home game, against Barnet in the that summer 42 years ago, card into an envelope and posted it Southern League Cup, and that cover George Duck leaps to head I put my mind to putting off to Colin, c/o Wealdstone F.C. and survived for four successive seasons until the opening goal against Torquay. together a new cover for thought little more about it. After all it being subject to another redesign in 1980 Can you spot the young Couch my beloved Wealdstone. was an unfeasibly hot summer, the when a picture of Lower Mead appeared brothers in the background? Nobody asked me. I had temperatures rarely dropped below and ‘Royal Blue Review’ bit the dust. From provided the late Colin 30degrees for four months (even in the year 2000 until the present, however, Pope, erstwhile Stones press United Review. Perhaps that was an i Scotland, where I zoomed off to on I’ve had the job of designing the officer and programme editor with a few nspiration. Another team (Coventry?) had holiday) and there was much sunbathing to programme... but Torquay United, 1976 editorial ideas for the club publication but as the teams on the cover and that was defi- be done. I got back home a fortnight before was my first! the 1975-76 season ended I remember nitely inspirational as not many non-League the start of the season. And there was a ne thing that puzzled me then, and thinking that maybe something a bit more sides even carried the fixture on the front! letter from Colin Pope on WFC headed even right up to a month ago, is why notepaper! radical was required... and thus the ‘Royal So I sat down with a sheet of blue card a Fourth Division side like Torquay Blue Review’ was born. (purchased from WH Smith in Hatch End) ‘Absolutely thrilled to receive your rede- Otravelled all that way to play a friendly at I had long thought that clubs at our non- and some white Letraset which, for any sign of the programme cover’ he wrote. Wealdstone. Normally, a non League club league level had programmes that were youngsters reading this, was a sheet of ‘We were planning to change it and very will only attract league opposition as a predictable at best. Typically they were an letters that could be rubbed off (like trans- pleased to adopt your idea. Thank you’. favour from the bigger club - for signing a eight-page effort with club notes, supporters’ fers) and magically appear like printed And thus, little more than a week later player for peanuts, for example. club notes, the line-ups and er, well that words on the card. we kicked off our friendly matches at Lower The only obvious connection between was about it. Even the big clubs like What is now the work of moments, thanks Mead against Torquay United with the new the clubs was stout and ageing centre-back Chelsea and QPR were little better. to inDesign or Quark Xpress, took hours of design. And how thrilled was I... even if the Bill Kitchener, who had played for the Manchester United‘s prog was called The careful positioning in the 1970s and 80s. club didn’t seem to grasp the idea of listing Stones briefly the previous season after FIND PRE-LOVED PROGRAMMES THE MEGASTORE: WFC FIND PRE-LOVED LIKE THESE AT CONTINUED OVERPAGE TORQUAY UNITED REWIND CONTINUED

filling out the Torquay shirt admirably for many years in the late 1960s. I couldn’t think of any other reason. But then the answer popped up on the Torquay fans forum a few weeks ago - appar- ently our chairman Harry Benjamin, a travel agent, had landed Torquay’s youth team a good deal for a tour to Holland that summer and the Seagulls agreed to the friendly as a ‘thank you’ to Harry. It was quite a coup to be facing a Torquay who had only recent been playing in Div Three (or League One in today’s money), www.wfcmegastore.co.uk and even more exciting to rack up a convincing win. y overriding memory of that sunny afternoon, played out on a parched MLower Mead pitch at the height of the hosepipe ban, wasn’t just the exciting new programme ... no, it was the discovery of a ball-playing midfielder to match the two tute, scoring a delightful goal from 35 yards, exDartford stars who had saved us from and then was impressive against a strong relegation the previous season. Luton side a few days later. Edmundson Danny Light and Kenny Halliday were the was a doctor, apparently South African, and ex Darts with contrasting influence as the he appeared to have the cure for our pedes- season wore on. Steve Edmundson was the trian midfield. man who exploded onto the scene against But alas. Like so many around that time Torquay as substi- he flattered to deceive and by the time our southern League Prem fixtures kicked off we were a sorry rabble - even having star men Bobby Moss, Willie Watson and playmaker Light all suspended for the opening three games after all three were sent off in the final game of the previous season at Wimbledon. These were the days before the big money arrived in football, and well-known (even international and World Cup winning) names appeared against the Stones on a regular basis. In September 1976, when Above: The Harrow Observer report of that game and, on the drought finally broke the opposite page Torquay’s team picture that year plus PROGRAMMES THE MEGASTORE: WFC FIND PRE-LOVED LIKE THESE AT the line-ups - and Harry Benjamin advert! And did the CONTINUED OVERPAGE Stones really wear red?! REWIND CONTD GLOUCESTER CITY.. HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? turning Lower Mead into Lower Mud, England’s 1966 hat trick hero Geoff Hurst turned out for Telford in 47 years ago..Hale their 4-2 defeat; the following week the towering ex-Northern Ireland star Derek Dougan ran riot in Kettering’s 3-0 win (marked by and hearty start to midgets); and the month ended with ex England and Man Utd winger Ian Storey-Moore running life in the pro game rings around us for Burton Albion. But we survived. Torquay United Saturday September 27 1971, Southern League did too, in Div Four for a few Div One North: Wealdstone 2 Gloucester City 1 decades at least until they dropped tones fans eyes light up at the very mention into non-League for the first time. of Gloucester City - well, fans of a certain The other Wealdstone connec- vintage anyway. S www.wfcmegastore.co.uk tion with The Gulls, I’ve just Back in April 1982 they were our opponents in remembered, is the end of season the two-legged Southern League Cup Final when a trip to Devon by our supporters single strike from teenage defender Stuart Pearce team SFC Wealdstone in 1996. We (yep, the same Stuart Pearce) in the first took on Torquay supporters on a leg, and a penalty from skipper Paul Bowgett in the second at Lower Mead Saturday morning in June and that tied up a 2-0 aggregate win. Over 2,000 match was remarkable for our ace people were at each game. striker Mickey ‘Bananas’ Kane running around like a loon as he But who remembers our very first [email protected] home League game as semi-profes- attempted to rack up his 50th goal sionals? Well, I do for one. And pretty of the season against a rather memorable it was too, back in makeshift Gulls team.... all the Above: The ex-Eire international Dixie Hale leaps to head the winning September 1971. Our hastily scratched more amusing as the pitch was on goal (at Lower Mead’s Cinema End) from a Gary Townend cross together team - completely remodelled a clifftop, and sloping from end-to- from the one that had quit the amateur end AND side-to-side! Isthmian League a few months earlier - Even more bizarrely, the game container a few nuggets in former pros was refereed by World Cup official like Cliff Jones (ex Spurs double winner Lester Shapter who had only just and Welsh international), ex Millwall hung up his whistle. He was striker Micky Brown and former Watford and Swansea Republic of Ireland inter- certainly fitter than any of our national Dixie Hale. players, and I remember hoping he would bring down the rampant We were lucky to catch midfield Kaney as he homed in on goal for general Hale just as Watford decided he wasn’t up to Second Division (EFL the umpteenth time. Championship) football at the age of Did he chalk up his half-century? 36. Just two years earlier I’d seen him play No doubt Bananas will let us know against European Champions Manchester this afternoon if you buy him a pint. United in the FA Cup and actually over- shadow Bobby Charlton. Yes, actually There was also much talk of our outplay him, although the Horns were budget hotel in Torquay being beaten 2-0 in a Vicarage Road replay. haunted. I certainly didn’t get a wink of sleep but that was more to So, despite his ageing legs, the amiable do with sharing a room with Pete Irishman unsurprisingly looked head and shoulders above most teams we faced in ‘Snorer’ Worby. this debut Southern League (Div One *I DID actually play alongside the North) season. Why was our first home legendary Georgie Duck in what game but until September though? I hear Hale was on a one-man mission to win Stones their first-ever points in the Southern League... and here he

was his last game in a Stones shirt. you asking. Well, the opening month was PROGRAMMES THE MEGASTORE: WFC FIND PRE-LOVED LIKE THESE AT blasts us level just half a minute after Gloucester had taken the lead. In the background is the Elmslie End

GOT AN ARTICLE FOR THE PROGRAMME? E-MAIL US AT GOT ANFOR ARTICLE THE PROGRAMME? AT US E-MAIL But that’s a story for another day.... CONTINUED OVERPAGE GLOUCESTER CITY CONTD... CITY GLOUCESTER Stevenage. Lower Meadby3-1,thoughlosing1-0to Bletchley andBanburybothcomfortablyat played onagroupbasis,andwedisposedof taken upwithSouthernLeagueCupgames ground. before a1,000-pluscrowdatourfamousold very decentGloucestersidepitchedup and thusitwasSeptember25bythetime at KingsLynn (2-1)andStourbridge(4-1) OurLeaguecampaignbeganwithdefeats won 7-0! but Workington thistime the teamsmetagain - few weekslaterwhen as apeaceoffering a team backtohishouse invited theSwansea midfield. Four, bossing the a 6-1wininDivision new teamWorkington to Field andsteeredhis returned totheVetch five yearslaterwhenhe although notsopopular popular withthefans... 1959 wherehewas across thewater)in for theSwans(just League beforesigning rock RoversintheIrish Waterford andSham began hiscareerwith Swansea past.Hale in connectionwithhis online mentionsmainly judging bythefond much-loved footballer home inSouthWales. care a in Alzheimer’s ently suffering from he willbenow) is appar that the83-yearold(as family hasmentioned although afriendofhis much cametonought, him downin2018pretty commute. South Wales, toofarto his newjobtookhimto less thantwoyearsas only hadhisservicesfor behind. And sadlywe after wehadfallen Mr Haletosavetheday goal scoringinstinctsof O (left),itneededthe Sugden andtheHarry As reportedbyPhil Apparently Dixie A sadsituationfora My efforts attracking - - ON THIS DAY BY GORDONMCKAY

FIND PRE-LOVED PROGRAMMES LIKE THESE AT THE WFC MEGASTORE: www.wfcmegastore.co.uk GOT AN ARTICLE FOR THE PROGRAMME? E-MAIL US AT [email protected] ON THIS DAY one andwerenotabouttowaste the oppor with away gotten they’d realised Dagenham Ground andfromthestartyoufelt was playedaweeklaterattheWhiteLion home replaytocome. Attendance: 576 were comfortedbyourperformanceanda unlikely equaliser. Very harsh onusbutwe prolific scorer Dagenham’s kick free resulting the from Moore wassentoff foralatetackleand With thegamegoingintoinjurytimeFergus from thatpointonthetieranawayus. and saved was penalty Bircham’s Steve This wasthebigmomentbutunfortunately minutes laterwewereawardedapenalty. terrific minutes. Firstlywetooktheleadthrougha until thegameburstintolifeinlast5 that seasonbutchancescameandwent Probablyoneofourbetterperformances a fewdayslater. different sidewhenthetwosidesmetagain been particularlyimpressivebutlookeda hadn’t Stones the truth In pitch. waterlogged minutes withtheDaggers1-0upduetoa Saturday butwasabandonedafter40 The gamewasinitiallyplayedtheprevious in thelevelabovePremierDivision. sion 1whereasDagenhamwereridinghigh first seasonintheRymanDivi were doingquitenicelyinour T Trophy)D1-1 Away Dagenham &Redbridge(FA Saturday 27October1998: sickenerpenalty missed late late, Another tale of a 20 years ago: that view. A recurring theme.... moments andthat penaltymissreinforced tie hadbeenlost. winners butweallknewbythenwhen the scored lookedback,eventuallyfinished 5-0 on thegoallineinfirsthalf.Daggers with PaulMcKaybeingsentoff forhandball tunity. Again thegamehinged onapenalty Football isabout small marginsandbig WHAT HAPPENEDNEXT? paper atoughdraw. We Trophy matchandon his wasaFirstRoundFA Stuart Kent DaveCobb goal...andthenafew snatchedan The replay The -

- dried upbutsomehow westayedup! week inMarchas wecashedin..thegoals and Jollyweretransferred inthesame at theendtosaveapoint. Attendance: 380 course notandinfactwewere hanging on minutes togo,couldweholdout ?Of no chance.So2-0upwithjustover 20 above byAdamWilliams) screaming intothetopcorner some 30yardsouthejustsent a volley defensive headerdroppedintohispath Beckford scoredanoutrageousgoal...asa doubled ourleadinthe2ndhalfwhen low shotfromtheedgeofboxandwe early leadwhenBeckforddrilledhomea Attacking theGraveyardEndwetookan money moveinthespringtoLeedsUnited. displaying thetalentthatledtohisbig course wasimperiousatthetimeand scoring gameswerethenorm.Beckfordof the oppositionbackintogame-high would findallsortsofingeniouswaystolet defence our in them bang we’d as fast As defence inactionallwouldbecomeclear. to achievebutifyouhadseenourhapless bottom four! and JermaineBeckfordbutwereinthe top scorersinthedivisionRichardJolly remember inthenewyearwehadtwo A Premier Division)HomeDrew2-2 October 29th2005Slough(RymanLeague lights up graveyard up lights end Becks of brilliance The WHAT HAPPENEDNEXT? Youimpossible that’salmost think might BY GORDONMCKAY two underwhelmingteams.I shared groundatNorthwoodbetween Ryman Premierleaguefixtureatour givingthekeeper BothBeckford (pictured

FIND PRE-LOVED PROGRAMMES LIKE THESE AT THE WFC MEGASTORE: www.wfcmegastore.co.uk

APPEARANCES FIRST TEAM, SEASON 2018/19 at 20h October 2018 A = STARTING APPEARANCES • S = APPEARANCE AS SUBSTITUTE • G = GOALS SCORED * = HAS NOW LEFT CLUB

NATIONAL FA FA MIDDX MIDDX TOTALS WEALDSTONE LEAGUE CUP TROPHY SENIOR CHARITY CAREER SOUTH CUP CUP A S G A S G A S G A S G A S G A S G A S G Ahmidi, Wadah 11 3 14 14 Brown, Stefan 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 Bubb, Bradley 5 4 5 3 2 8 4 7 20 6 12 Charles, Elliott 1 1 1 Clark, James 1 1 1 Grant, Freddie 11 3 14 14 Green, Danny 9 2 1 2 11 2 1 107 10 26 Hudson-Odoi, Bradley 8 1 3 1 9 1 3 47 9 18 Lench, Matt 3 6 1 1 1 4 7 1 4 7 1 Mambo, Yado * 1 1 1 1 1 1 Mitchell, Reece 5 5 5 Monakana, Jeffrey 5 4 1 2 5 6 1 11 7 2 North, Jonathan 12 3 15 358 1 Okimo, Jerome 12 3 15 112 5 1 Poku, Godrey 12 3 15 15 Pratt, David 11 4 1 12 4 33 1 10 Sheppard, Jake 3 2 2 1 5 3 17 3 1 Shomotun, Fumnaya 2 3 2 5 2 5 2 Slew, Jorome 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 Stevens, Connor 11 3 1 14 1 14 1 Tyler, Rhys 10 1 1 11 1 11 1 White, Joe * 5 1 1 5 1 1 22 5 9 Wilson, Glenn 20 1 1 WEALDSTONE v CHELMSFORD BALL SPONSORS BALL SPONSORS

Our magnificently refurbished hospitality lounge, courtesy A traditional package for businesses (from £175 + vat) or fans (from £150) for two of GPF Lewis & Ruislip Soclal people that will give you the satisfaction of knowing you have paid for the ball that Club, is looking foward to Wealdstone FC are banging into the net (or out of the ground!). welcoming you and your guests in surroundings As the match ball donor you will enjoy: befitting such a special occasion be it a birthday, 2x Match tickets (+ car parking space) Bath City 10th NOVEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH anniversary or any other Prime seats in the main stand if required special event! Publicity over the PA system and via the official club website and social media • Your name and details here Boardroom hospitality (half time refreshments, snacks and hot food after the game) • Your name and details here Bar allowance 2x Match-day programmes Eastbourne Borough Slough Town If you or your organisation are interested in donating the matchball for a home match then please contact Club President, Paul Rumens at paulrumens59@gmail. 1st DECEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 26th DECEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH com or call 07710 929692 • Tony & Peter Drew • Sentinel7

07710 929692 • Your name and details here Bromley Weston-super-Mare Oxford City Dartford 28TH JULY • PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY 4th AUGUST • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 29th DECEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 5th JANUARY • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH • Alan Couch • Alan Hill • Your name and details here • Terry Hissey • Simon Stephens • Your name and details here Concord Rangers Truro City Hungerford Town Billericay Town 25th AUGUST • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 1ST SEPTEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 19th JANUARY • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 2nd FEBRUARY • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH • Barry O’Sullivan • Alan Couch • Your name and details here • Your name and details here

BY GETTINGBY IN TOUCH ON • Mike & Val Weston • Your name and details here • Your name and details here Chelmsford City Great Wakering Rovers St.Albans City Welling United 15th SEPTEMBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 22nd SEPTEMBER • FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND 16th FEBRUARY • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 9th MARCH • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH • Toby Jackson (Lapels Badges) • Roger Slater & Alan Hill • In memory of Jim Klarfeld • Your name and details here • Anthony Rickman • Your name and details here BALL SPONSORBALL Hampton & Richmond Sutton United Chippenham Town East Thurrock United 13th OCTOBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 20th OCTOBER• FA CUP 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND 23rd MARCH • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 6th APRIL • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH • Toby Jackson (Lapels Badges) • Sentinel7 • Alan Couch • Your name and details here • Your name and details here Torquay United Gloucester City Dulwich Hamlet Hemel Hempstead Town 27th OCTOBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 29th OCTOBER • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 20th APRIL • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH 27th APRIL • VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH BECOME A 2018/2019 • Your name and details here • Your name and details here • ‘In memory of Wealdstone Fans no longer with • Your name and details here • Your name and details here • Your name and details here us’: Ron Moore, Dave Edwards, Tony & Peter Drew • Your name and details here KIT SPONSORS 2018/2019 KEY: C = Management & Coaching Staff; D = Defender; M = Midfielder; F = Forward; L = Legend Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

16-03-86 22-07-90 05-11-93 23-12-97 SHOW YOUR SUPPORT — SPONSOR A STONE! UPPORT your favourite player by C C D M M GK sponsoring their kit for the whole of the 2018/2019 season. The cost is £130 to Ssee your name on these pages through until our final game in April 2019. Choose your favourite and call Paul Rumens on 07710 929692. All pictures on these pages repro- duced courtesy of Steve Foster / Aqueous BOBBY WILKINSON IAN HOBBS GLENN WILSON GODFREY POKU JEFFREY MONAKANA CALLUM THOMAS Sun Photography (@aqueoussunphoto) TO SPONSOR IAN TO SPONSOR JEFFREY TO SPONSOR CALLUM ALYSON ANGELIDES CALL 07710 929692 GINGE JAMES KLARFELD CALL 07710 929692 CALL 07710 929692

23-12-97 04-01-90 18-06-92 08-06-88

C C C C D S D D

JAMIE LEACOCK MIKE PERCIVAL MARK POVEY TONY WAUGH JAKE SHEPPARD JAMES CLARK RHYS TYLER JEROME OKIMO TO SPONSOR MIKE TO SPONSOR JAMES IAN, MIKE, RON MOORE CALL 07710 929692 WEALDSTONE LADIES NEIL & XANDER RANDS DAVE EDWARDS CALL 07710 929692 TONY & PETER DREW BRIAN & DOUG

18-02-91 29-11-88 07-10-92 01-04-90 XX-XX-97 23-12-97 30-05-88

L GK M M F F F F

LEO MORRIS JONATHAN NORTH BRADLEY HUDSON-ODOI MATT LENCH ELLIOTT CHARLES JEROME SLEW STEFAN BROWN BRADLEY BUBB AKHIL, NIKHIL AND TO SPONSOR MATT TO SPONSOR ELLIOTT TO SPONSOR JEROME TO SPONSOR STEFAN MEGAPHONE MICK SUDHIR RAWAL RAY CORNER CALL 07710 929692 CALL 07710 929692 CALL 07710 929692 CALL 07710 929692 MARK & MATTY SNELL

09-01-98 04-08-90 01-08-87 09-12-96 28-05-91 18-02-91 04-08-90 01-08-87

D M F D M GK M F

CONNOR STEVENS DANNY GREEN DAVID PRATT FREDDIE GRANT WADAH AHMIDI JONATHAN NORTH DANNY GREEN DAVID PRATT FRIENDS OF WEALDSTONE DAVID LEIGH BARRY BENVENISTE MIKE & VAL WESTON ALAN COUCH BRIAN BALL SENTINEL7 SENTINEL7 Follow the Stones UPCOMING FIXTURES here and on the road

HOME AWAY

Gloucester City Welling United VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Monday, 29th October, 7:45pm Saturday, 3rd November, 3:00pm £9 entry for Premier / EFL season ticket holders www.wellingunited.com Uxbridge Chippenham Town MIDDLESEX SENIOR CUP 2nd ROUND VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Tuesday, 6th November, 7:45pm Saturday, 17th November, 3:00pm — www.pitchero.com/clubs/chippenhamtown Bath City St.Albans City VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 10th November, 3:00pm Saturday, 8th December, 3:00pm £9 entry for Premier / EFL season ticket holders www.stalbanscityfc.com Eastbourne Borough Truro City VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 1st December, 3:00pm Saturday, 22nd December, 3:00pm £9 entry for Premier / EFL season ticket holders www.trurocityfc.net (TO BE PLAYED AT TORQUAY) FOR ALL FIXTURE NEWS: WWW.WEALDSTONEFC.COM Vanarama National League South — as at 24th October Opposition All Home Away P W D L F A P W D L F A P W D L F A +/- Pts Results 1 Billericay Town 12 8 2 2 23 10 6 4 2 0 11 6 6 4 0 2 12 4 13 26 0-1 2 Welling United 12 7 3 2 23 11 6 4 1 1 10 7 6 3 2 1 13 4 12 24 3 Woking 12 7 3 2 20 13 6 4 1 1 12 8 6 3 2 1 8 5 7 24 1-0 4 Wealdstone 12 6 3 3 19 12 6 4 1 1 13 6 6 2 2 2 6 6 7 21 —— —— 5 Bath City 12 7 0 5 17 10 6 4 0 2 12 6 6 3 0 3 5 4 7 21 6 Dartford 13 6 3 4 14 15 7 4 2 1 9 7 6 2 1 3 5 8 -1 21 3-0 7 Hampton & Richmond 12 6 2 4 18 13 6 2 1 3 7 8 6 4 1 1 11 5 5 20 2-1 8 Slough Town 12 6 2 4 16 11 6 3 2 1 8 4 6 3 0 3 8 7 5 20 9 Torquay United 12 5 4 3 13 8 6 3 1 2 7 5 6 2 3 1 6 3 5 19 10 St Albans City 12 6 1 5 25 21 6 3 1 2 10 8 6 3 0 3 15 13 4 19 11 Concord Rangers 12 5 3 4 16 16 6 4 1 1 12 6 6 1 2 3 4 10 0 18 1-1 12 Chippenham Town 12 6 0 6 17 18 6 4 0 2 10 7 6 2 0 4 7 11 -1 18 13 Hemel Hempstead Town 12 5 3 4 16 18 6 2 1 3 9 12 6 3 2 1 7 6 -2 18 14 Chelmsford City 12 4 5 3 21 15 6 1 3 2 5 7 6 3 2 1 16 8 6 17 2-3 15 Eastbourne Borough 12 4 5 3 17 18 6 2 1 3 10 13 6 2 4 0 7 5 -1 17 16 Dulwich Hamlet 13 5 2 6 15 17 6 2 1 3 5 6 7 3 1 3 10 11 -2 17 1-1 17 Oxford City 12 4 2 6 15 15 6 4 1 1 9 3 6 0 1 5 6 12 0 14 0-3 18 Gloucester City 12 4 2 6 8 14 6 2 2 2 5 6 6 2 0 4 3 8 -6 14 19 East Thurrock United 12 3 0 9 7 17 7 3 0 4 6 8 5 0 0 5 1 9 -10 9 1-0 20 Hungerford Town 13 2 2 9 11 30 6 1 1 4 4 13 7 1 1 5 7 17 -19 8 1-1 21 Truro City 12 1 3 8 12 27 6 0 1 5 6 15 6 1 2 3 6 12 -15 6 3-0 22 Weston-super-Mare 11 0 2 9 11 25 5 0 2 3 5 8 6 0 0 6 6 17 -14 2 4-1