Hertford Town Fc 2019/20 Official Matchday Programme

HERTFORD TOWN FC 2019/20 OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

BETVICTOR LEAGUE SOUTH CENTRAL VS CHIPSTEAD THE ACRE CARS STADIUM SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22ND 3.00PM

TEMPORA MUTANUR NOS ET MUTAMUR ILLIS

VS CHIPSTEAD THE ACRE CARS STADIUM Saturday February 22nd (3pm)

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Welcome to The Acre Cars Stadium Today we welcome Chipstead to Hertingfordbury on one of the longest journeys in our division, half way around the M25 from East Surrey. Chipstead are pushing for the play-offs and beat us comfortably at their place back in December so this is sure to be a tough test for us. Last week’s last-gasp defeat at Bedfont was galling but it is worth noting that that injury time concession was the only goal we conceded over the last two games. Both of those fixtures were against sides similarly placed to our visitors today so there is good evidence that our once leaky defence has been tightened up. At the other end of the pitch there is no doubt that Alfie Cue’s injury lay-off has blunted our attack, so the sooner he is back the better. The ground and pitch have taken a bit of a battering over the week as Storms Ciara and Dennis have passed through and- if the game does go ahead this afternoon- it will be down to some hard work by volunteers draining a waterlogged pitch and repairing a collapsed dugout. Hopefully there are no more storm clouds ahead this season- either literal or footballing- and we can enjoy a good game and hope for a good result today to set us up for the final ten games of the season.

Pete Hough Programme Editor Club Details

Address: The Acre Cars Stadium Hertingfordbury Park West Street Hertford SG13 8EZ Tel: 01992 583716 founded 1908

Acting Chairman: Colin Hay

Club Secretary: Marc Sinfield

Manager: Ben Herd

Press Officer: Peter Hough

Programme Editor: As Press Officer

Safety Officer: As Club Secretary

website: www.hertfordtownfc.com

Today’s Opponents

History of Chipstead Fc Chipstead Football Club was formed in 1906, when the Netherne hospital was being built, and the building workers and the lads in Chipstead challenged each other to a match. The oldest club records dated 1911 show a far from healthy position, survival relying mainly on the proceeds of whist drives. The club’s health began to improve and, in 1920, it even had its own transport for away games, an open topped lorry owned by a local builder. Up until the 1962/63 season, Chipstead played junior football, but, having finished runners-up in the County Junior Cup the previous year, they then moved into the Surrey Intermediate League

The club played at this standard until 1982, when they became founder members of the Surrey Premier League. The next four years saw the club have great success finishing runners-up three times and also winning the League Cup on three occasions. During this period they were also beaten finalists in the County Premier Cup. The reserves also met with success being runners-up once and also winning the League Cup. After a long battle, the club were awarded senior status in 1986 and were promoted to the Combined Counties League, where once again success followed; a League Championship was gained in 1989/90 and a runners-up spot was gained on two occasions, with six League Cup Final appearances, with Chipstead being victorious in four.

Season 1987/88 saw the club make its debut in the F.A. Vase and the following year in the F.A. Cup. Over recent years the club has continued to grow and strengthen its youth policy with some 200 players between the ages of six and eighteen involved every week. Two former Chipstead youth players - Leon McKenzie and Steven Sidwell moved on to professional clubs, &, more recently, Saidou Khan played for our 1st team, & is now with Maidstone Utd. The Combined Counties Championship winning squad contained no fewer than 12 players, who had represented the club at youth level. In 1998 Chipstead was able to purchase the freehold of the ground from the Local Authority. Thanks to a grant from the F.A. in 2001, the club was able to purchase additional land, which was developed into mini-soccer pitches to further enhance its youth policy. More recently in November 2004 a 100-seater stand was installed, which was increased to 150 in March 2007. In May 2006 a covered standing area for 150 people was also erected

2006-07 was the club’s ‘Centenary’ season, and the hope was that it would be a memorable one. On the opening day of the season, the team won their first game and went top of the table; come February, and still top, the decision was made to do the necessary work to achieve the ground upgrading. The next six weeks saw the ground transformed thanks to the incredible hard work of the committee and supporters. The team remained top and promotion to the Ryman League was achieved for the first time in 100 years

In the 2007-08 season Chipstead established themselves in the Ryman League finishing a creditable 15th. They also went on to win the Southern Combination Cup beating Ryman Premier side Ashford Town (Middlesex) in the final. In 2008-09 Chipstead struggled in the league, but, in the FA Cup, reached the 4th qualifying round for the first time in their history, eventually losing at Torquay United. 2010-11 saw Chipstead finish 10th, their highest position ever. 2012-13 was a poor season for the club with no fewer than 4 managers - Mark Tompkins left the club after just one game; assistant Mick Read stepped in as temporary manager for a month, before the club appointed John Hamsher. Things seemed fine until January, when results took a dip. John decided to step down in early April, with vice-chairman Mick Ford taking over the reins for the final 3 matches

In 2013-14 Chipstead started the season with a new management team - Kevin Rayner, with Roly Martin as his assistant, and Mark Elgar as technical assistant. From August until the end of October 7 games out of 21 were won in all competitions, including losing both F.A. Trophy & F.A. Cup matches within eight days. Geoff Corner stepped aside as Chairman, with Mick Ford taking up the position. Mick's first task was to appoint a new manager in Steve Baker. A mid-table finish of 13th was a great turnaround for the club. Steve left the club in 2014-15, and was replaced by Simon Colbran. Following a poor start to the 2015/16 season, Simon resigned, and was replaced by Lyndon Buckwell. Unable to turn things around, Lyndon was himself replaced by Craig Tanner, who ultimately managed to save the club from relegation with a few games to spare. Craig then left the club during the summer

2016-17 saw the return of ex-Chipstead player Antony Williams to manage the 1st team along with his assistants, two of whom had played for the club in the past. Having former club players in management gave everyone at the club a lift, and they quickly got to work, and comfortably avoided relegation. They laid the foundations for the 2017-18 season, & remain at the same level to this day, although the powers that be put the club in the Bostik League South Central Division for 2018/19. This provided many new clubs in opposition, yet Chipstead held their own in the division, although Antony decided to step aside, as the season drew to a close – his two coaches, Rob Kember & Rob Smith stepped forward to take up the mantle & now lead the club into this 2019/20 season in the newly-named BetVictor Isthmian League South Central Division.

Talk of the Town

Going Down a Storm! Storm Ciara, which ripped through the country shortly after our last home game against Marlow a fortnight ago, left its mark on the Acre Cars Stadium by blowing the roof off the home dugout (see left). This looks like another job for Graham Oakeby (who recently saved the clubhouse from ruin)! Still, we were far from the only club to succumb to the might of Ciara and, in fact, maybe got off lightly. Bognor Regis Town suffered extensive ground damage due to the high winds coming in off the south coast and, in Yorkshire, Tadcaster Albion were completely flooded. Probably the biggest footballing victim, however, were Norfolk’s Wisbech Town who saw their entire main stand- built at a cost of £13,000 only 10 years ago- demolished by the storms. No doubt club officials have been engaged in the frantic reading of their insurance document small print since then.

fixtures

Date Opponents co R At 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Subs used L 0-1 160 Hayes Herd Whiting2 Ehui Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Moses3 Bailey Gymer McBrien1 Tshikala1; Yildiz2; Sa 17 Aug Tooting & Mitcham Merlo3 Tu 20 Aug Waltham Abbey L 5-2 122 Hayes Herd Whiting Ehui Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie2 Merlo Bailey Gymer1 Tshikala Batt1 Rus2 Sa 24 Aug Whitton FAC 2-1 55 Hayes Herd Whiting Ehui Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Merlo2 Bailey Moses Guymer1 Pedro1; Jones2 L 2-1 180 Hayes Herd Whiting Ehui1 Yildiz Atkinson2 Domafriyie Pedro Bailey Batt Rus3 Tshikala1; Jessop2; Mo 26Aug Barking Jones3 Sa 31 Aug Hanwell Town L 4-1 207 Hayes Herd Whiting Ehui2 Yildiz Atkinson Domafriyie Pedro Bailey Batt Jones1 Tshikala1; Gymer2 VT 0-0 155 Hayes Rus Whiting2 Pedro Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Herd5 Bailey4 Batt1 Zola3 Gymer1;Merlo2; (p0- 3 4 Sa 7 Sep Cambridge City 3) Brown ; Odeh ; Yildiz5; VT 3-1 139 Hayes Rus Whiting Pedro3 Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Herd Odeh2 Batt Zola1 Brown1; Merlo2; Tu 10 Sep Ware Gymer3 Sa 14 Sep Westfield L 1-9 133 Hayes Rus Herd Pedro Jessop Atkinson1 Brown Merlo2 Domafriyie Batt Gymer Yildiz1; Whiting2 Tu 17 Sep Chalfont St Peter L 1-5 80 Hayes Rus Whiting Pedro Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Herd Odeh1 Batt2 Brown Belshaw1; Gymer2 Sa 21 Sep Harlow Town L 2-1 171 Hayes Rus Whiting Ehhui2 Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Herd Odeh1 Gymer Brown Belshaw1; Batt2 Sa 28 Sep Heybridge Swifts FAT 4-1 162 Hayes Rus Herd Ehui1 Joseph Atkinson Domafriyie3 Pedro Odeh2 Gymer Brown Batt1; Zola2; Merlo3 Sa 5 Oct South Park L 0-0 132 Hayes Rus Herd Ehui Jessop Atkinson Domafriyie Pedro Oyeniran2 Gymer1 Brown Batt1 Zola2 VT 0-2 64 Hayes Rus Herd Pedro3 Joseph Atkinson Domafriyie Kiangebeni Oyeniran2 Gymer Brown1 Weyman1; Batt2; Tu 8 Oct Soham TR Ehui3 L 2-3 119 Hayes Rus Herd Pedro3 Yildiz Atkinson Domafriyie1 Kiangebeni Oyeniran Gymer Brown2 Weyman1; Batt2; Sa 19 Oct Staines Town Ehui3 VT 6-2 79 Hayes Jessop Rus Ehui1 Yildiz Atkinson Weyman Kiangebeni Domafriyie2 Gymer Brown3 Batt1; Oyeniran2; Tu 22 Oct Harlow Town McBrien3 L 3-5 121 Hayes Rus Herd Pedro3 Joseph1 Atkinson Domafriyie Kiangebeni Oyeniran Gymer Brown2 Jessop1; Sa 26 Oct Ashford Town (Mdx) Batt2JThompson3 Tu 29 Oct Chertsey Town L 2-3 71 Hayes Herd Whiting Pedro Jessop Atkinson Rus1 Kiangebeni Oyeniran Gymer Weyman2 Batt 1; Belshaw2 VT 0-4 71 Hayes Herd Rus1 Pedro Jessop James-T. Weyman Kiangebeni Oyeniran3 Gymer2 Bindit Ikoku1; Batt2; We 6 Nov Histon 3 Odeh Sa 9 Nov Uxbridge L 1-5 102 Hayes Herd Rus Pedro1 Jessop Gardiner Cue Kiangebeni Oyeniran Gymer Weyman Fuma1 Sa 16 Nov Ware L 3-3 402 Hayes Herd Rus Pedro Jessop Gardiner Cue Kiangebeni Oyeniran1 Gymer Weyman Brown1 Sa 23 Nov Northwood L 1-6 111 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Jessop Gardiner Rus Kiangebeni Oyeniran1 Gymer Weyman Brown1 Sa 7 Dec Marlow L 1-0 111 Malone Herd Byron Pedro Jessop Gardiner Rus Kiangebeni Oyeniran1 Gymer Weyman Brown1 L 6-0 42 Malone Herd Brown2 Pedro Jessop Gardiner Rus3 Kiangebeni Oyeniran1 Gymer Weyman Odeh1; Batt2; Tu 10 Dec Chipstead 3 Fuma Sa 14 Dec Bedfont Sports L 1-4 125 Malone Herd Fuma JThompson Jessop Gardiner Batt Kiangebeni Odeh Gymer1 Weyman Brown1 Th 26 Dec FC Romania L 2-1 102 Hayes Fuma Byron Pedro Jessop Gardiner Cue Herd Odeh1 Gymer Weyman2 Oyeniran1; Brown2 Sa 28 Dec Barking L 4-1 68 Hayes Fuma Byron Herd Jessop Gardiner Weyman Batt Odeh Gymer Cue1 Ogbonna1 L 0-3 220 Hayes Pett Fuma Pedro Jessop Gardiner2 Cue Batt Odeh1 Gymer Ogbonna3 Weyman1; Brown; Sa 4 Jan Hanwell Town 3 Oyeniran L 2-0 188 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gardiner Jessop Cue Pett Oyeniran3 Gymer2 Ogbonna1 Weyman1; Brown; Sa 11 Jan Bracknell Town Odeh3 Sa18 Jan Staines Town L 4-1 141 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gardiner Jessop Brown Fuma Cue Gymer Weyman1 Ogbonna1 Sa 25 Jan Chertsey Town L 6-1 308 Hayes Herd Byron Jewers Gardiner Jessop Brown Batt Cue Gymer Ogbonna Sa 1 Feb Harlow Town L 0-2 274 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gardiner Fuma Brown Jewers Cue1 Gymer Ogbonna Oyeniran1 2 1 1 2 Tu 4 Feb Chalfont St Peter L 1-1 50 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gardiner Fuma Brown Jewers Oyeniran Gymer Ogbonna Weyman ; Odeh Sa 8 Feb Marlow L 0-0 137 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gardiner Fuma Brown1 Jewers Oyeniran2 Gymer Weyman Batt1; Ogbonna2 Sa 15 Feb Bedfont Sports L 1-0 67 Hayes Herd Byron Pedro Gosling Pett Brown1 Jewers Gymer Batt Weyman Ogbonna12 Jagdev2 Sa 22 Feb Chipstead L Sa 29 Feb Ashford Town (Mdx) L Sa 7 Mar Ware L Sa 14 Mar Uxbridge L Sa 21 Mar Westfield L Sa 28 Mar Bracknell Town L Sa 4 Apr Tooting & Mitcham L Sa 11 Apr Waltham Abbey L Mo 13 Apr FC Romania L Sa 18 Apr Northwood L Sa 25 Apr South Park L

League Table Pld. GD Pts 1 Ware 27 +34 57 (promotion) 2 Hanwell Town 26 +38 55 3 Westfield 25 +34 48 (play- 4 Chertsey Town 26 +31 48 offs) 5 Waltham Abbey 27 +18 47 6 Uxbridge 26 +19 46 7 Bracknell Town 24 +20 44 8 Tooting & Mitcham 24 +22 43 9 Chipstead 25 +16 42 10 Barking 26 +5 40 11 Bedfont Sports 27 0 38 12 Marlow 23 +9 36 13 Harlow Town 26 -8 34 14 Chalfont St Peter 27 -14 31 15 South Park 24 -13 27 16 Hertford Town 27 -42 19 17 Ashford T. (Mdx) 26 -41 16 18 Romania 26 -46 15 19 Staines Town 26 -35 13 20 Northwood 24 -47 13 (relegation play-off)

Non-league matters Salford City- Cinderella Story or Ugly Sister? Last Saturday our near neighbours Stevenage Borough edged towards relegation out of the Football League after losing at home to Salford City, who made the opposite journey last season. It is not only for reasons of local footballing interest that, for many, this represents a sad development. Whilst many fans from afar have romanticized the rags to riches story of Salford City most non-league followers outside Greater Manchester (and even many within) lament their much-publicized rise.

Salford were taken over in 2014 when a Tier 8 cub (i.e. the same as Hertford Town) by a consortium of high-profile ex-Man United players and their subsequent rise through the leagues was documented in a TV series. Last summer this culminated in promotion to the Football League after winning a National League play-off final at Wembley. That lucrative Wembley showpiece, against AFC Fylde- another superannuated Lancastrian side-, was attended by a paltry 8,000 fans. The fact that such a profound lack of interest should be evident for the biggest match in the history of a highly-publicized club from a major city illustrated something wrong and worrying rather than heartwarming. Accrington Stanley Chairman Andy Holt was accused of sour grapes in suggesting that Salford were “stealing” promotion but he had a point in that the relative financial advantage they were operating in is no longer tolerated in the Football, Premier or Champions Leagues. Multi-million pound backing by Singapore businessman Peter Lim and six of the ‘Class of 92’ United players allowed the club to buy striker Adam Rooney from Aberdeen and pay him £4,000 per week and run the club at a huge loss. Financial Fair Play is now an accepted part of the professional game but not- yet- in the non-league pyramid.

Salford have had a solid start to their Football League career but their presence there is somewhat artificial and is also at the expense of other clubs not lucky enough to be bankrolled in the vanity project of rich, bored retired footballers. To note this is not mere envy, recent cases illustrate that real-life footballing Cinderella stories do not always have happy endings. Prince Charmings can lose interest and clubs running at a loss on tiny crowds are not sustainable in the long-run as the stories of Bury Town or now-defunct Rushden and Diamonds testify. Hertingfordbury Heroes

Great Games of Yesteryear

Hillingdon Borough v Hertford Town FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round Saturday 3rd November 1973

This game sadly ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Blues but still represents a milestone in the club’s history as this is the furthest we have ever travelled in the FA Cup: just short of entering the First Round proper with the full-time professional clubs. Prior to this round Hertford knocked out: Wokingham (H: 5-1); Chesham United (H: 2-0) and- most memorably- Ware 3-1 in a replay at Hertingfordbury after a goalless draw at the old enemy’s place.

HTFC line up 1. B. Godfrey 2. W. Green 3. P. Robinson 4. K. Kilbourne 5. J. West 6. D. Sharrey 7. C. Bonner 8. V. Jackson 9. C. Brooks 10. R. Macrow 11. B. Key Sub: R. Strapp

• Hillingdon lost in the first round proper at home to Grantham. The eventual winners were Liverpool who beat Newcastle United in the final. • Hertford went on that season to finish a creditable 3rd in the Isthmian League Division 2 (behind Dagenham and Slough Town) and just missed out on promotion having only joined that league that campaign.

Hertford Pen Pics

Nick Hayes – Nick is on loan from Premier League side Norwich City. A very talented young keeper, Nick is an England youth international.

Ben Herd – Player/Manager Ben is an experienced right-back who started his career at Watford before amassing 400 football league appearances for Shrewsbury and Aldershot.

Andrei Rus – talented young right back, Andre made his Isthmian League debut at 16 for Potters Bar Town.

Toby Byron- classy, attack-minded left back previously with Luton Town.

Nathan Fuma- versatile and technically-gifted young full back, equally at home on either flank.

Max Jessop – Teenage central defender starting only his second season in senior football, played last season at Hatfield. Played his youth football at Potters Bar Town.

Sam Whiting – A tenacious left back with good experience, Sam had previously played with Ware and Aylesbury.

Harvie Gardiner- Strong, commanding Centre Back formerly at Hendon and Real Betis

Sukru Can Yildiz – Can is a strong, effective central defender who previously played for Enfield Borough and Potters Bar.

Daniel Pett- versatile defender / midfielder formerly with Northwood.

Isaac Pedro – Strong and technically gifted young midfielder, Isaac made his senior football debut last year at Broxbourne Borough.

James Jewers- strong, combative midfielder who recently joined the club

Elias Moses – attacking midfielder who was once on the books of Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham, Elias is an experienced non-league campaigner. Played at Arlesey last season.

Dane Batt – formerly of Colney Heath, Dane is another teenager looking to make his mark in senior football. A gifted attacking midfielder.

Marco Merlo – Hertfordshire native who played last season as a professional in the Czech League for FC Vysocina. Still in his teens, Marco is an all-action midfielder.

Niall Jones – another young player with senior experience, Niall made his senior debut last season aged 17 at Cranfield. Niall is a strong runner with huge potential.

Luke Gymer – another Hertfordshire teen who played his youth football at Biggleswade Town, Luke is a intelligent attacking midfielder with great invention.

Connor McBrien – another young player from Herts, Connor played with Luke Gymer at Biggleswade. Another crafty number 10, who can also play across the front three.

Ben Weyman- exciting young wing prospect promoted from the Under-23 team

David Ogbonna- skilful, direct winger signed from Hendon Alfie Cue- roaming goalscoring winger formerly at Dartford and Hitchin.

Sam Belshaw – local lad and Hertford Town fan, Sam is a graceful forward who made his senior debut at 17 for Hatfield last season.

Kevin Zola- quick, direct winger signed from Ashford Town

Kit Brown- skilful right-winger formerly at Ware and London Colney Sam Oyeniran- strong, pacy centre-forward previously with Northwood and Welwyn.

Iken Odeh- Strong, bustling centre-forward formerly with Berkhamsted

Match Reports Hertford Town 0 Marlow 0

Hertford Town battled to a creditable 0-0 draw against in-form Marlow but were left frustrated after missing several good chances to seal a vital win in their battle to stave off relegation from the Isthmian South Central League.

Neither side could make a breakthrough in spite of an even game that ebbed and flowed with plenty of scoring opportunities. Hertford started the brighter and created three good chances in the opening quarter of the game. Kit Brown volleyed narrowly wide from close range shortly before Sam Oyeniran had a shot blocked when through one on one with the Marlow keeper Simon Grant. Ten minutes later Luke Gymer then had a strike cleared off the line. Just before the half hour mark the Blues were then presented with an even better goalscoring opportunity when Isaac Pedro was bundled over when charging into the box for a clear penalty. With regular spot kick taker Alfie Cue still injured, new midfielder James Jewers stepped up to the mark but- after a long delay resulting from Grant’s gamesmanship- the penalty was saved. This miss inspired the visitors who then twice went close to scoring towards the end of the first half, striking the bar with a long-range effort and then firing just wide a few minutes later.

Marlow continued where they had left off in the second half and went close again with a free-kick struck just wide and two shots well saved by Nick Hayes. As the game drew towards a close, though, Hertford revived themselves and finished the stronger side. The Blues laid siege to the opposition goal for the final ten minutes but it was to no avail and the game finished 0-0. With all the sides below them losing this was a point gained for Hertford but, after the latest in a long line of penalty misses this season, Ben Herd and the boys were left rueing ‘what might have been’.

Photo Gallery

Nathan Fuma

Kit Brown

Action from the Marlow game (Thanks to Ian Bush) Next on the Road Ashford Town (Mdx) Short Lane Stanwell TW19 7BH

Car Leave M25 at Junction 13 to join A30 towards London. Stay on A30 through Crooked Billet Roundabout towards Ashford Hospital. After passing hospital at large crossroads, stay on A30 and take the 3rd left hand turn by a blue footbridge over the road into Short Lane. Ground is signposted from main road. Ground is about quarter of a mile on the right hand side. (signposted).

Public Transport

Take the tube to Hatton Cross (Piccadilly Line) and then catch a bus from Stands D or E towards Staines, Walton or Addlestone. Get off at Long Lane, Stanwell. Walk down Long Lane and then head left down Short Lane

Making a Day of It

• Staines Reservoir nearby is good for fishing, birdspotting and walking.

• For 80’s synth pop fans- Gary Numan is from Stanwell and played his first gig at the village hall.

LINE UPS

Hertford Town Chipstead

Nick Hayes 1 Oliver Pain Ben Herd 2 Tommy Smith Toby Byron 3 Karn Miller -Neave Isaac Pedro 4 Chris Boulter Max Jessop 5 Rob Sheridan Daniel Pett 6 Daniel Moody Kit Brown 7 Tobi Adaje James Jewers 8 Jensen Grant Alfie Cue 9 Tom Collins Luke Gymer 10 Samuel Clayton Ben Weyman 11 Ollie Tanner

David Ogbonna 12 Allan Tait Sam Oyeniran 14 Jacob Sewell Dane Batt 15 Aaron Miller Iken Odeh 16 David Wilkinson

MATCH OFFICIALS

• Referee: Neil Morrison • Assistant Referee: Gareth Burton • Assistant Referee: Joseph Casey