SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of your Newsletter, if you have anything to contribute, please do get in touch by email- [email protected] You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at - @Sydwessex You are more than welcome to use any material (excluding attributed photographs) but it would be appreciated if any material used is acknowledged. It is hoped you enjoy reading this each week. With readership quite widespread, not only within our own competition, but across the three counties and beyond- if ANY club has anything they’d like to have published in here, whether that be a request for helpers, promotion of forthcoming events, items required or available for sale please contact the Newsletter Editor. As a general reminder- Match Reports, player news and photos are always welcome- it is your Newsletter!
Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 1 of 24
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
STAT ATTACK
PREMIER DIVISION Bashley v Brockenhurst 339 14 March Fleet Town v Brockenhurst 241 28 September Top three league attendances AFC Stoneham v Alresford Town 221 8 February DIVISION ONE Newport IOW v East Cowes Victoria 304 26 August Andover New Street v Andover Town 248 8 October Top three league attendances Laverstock & Ford v Downton 201 28 December
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
. Advance notice of our AGM. Full details will be announced soon, but for your Diary and at time of
writing- it’ll be at the Totton & Eling Sports Club, on SUNDAY 28 JUNE with a kick off of 10:00.
It doesn’t clash with Father’s Day so no excuses this year Dads.
WHISTLE STOP The answers from last week.
1) A throw in from a defending player goes directly in the defending team's goal. What should the referee do? b) Award a corner kick
2) A red team defender commits a holding offence on a blue team attacker that starts outside the penalty area, but continues into the penalty area. The foul Denies an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity. What should the referee do? c) Award a penalty kick to the blue team and send off the defender
3) From a corner in the 32nd minute of the match, there is a shot at goal which a defender on the line handles, in an attempt to stop the ball from going in the goal. The attempt is unsuccessful and a goal is scored. What action should you take? d) Award a goal and caution the defender Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 2 of 24
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
FLEET TOWN CENTENARY- 1990
Last week we made mention of the Wessex Representative side travelling to Calthorpe Park to take on Fleet Town to help celebrate their 100th Birthday. Well with thanks to club Secretary Matthew Thorne we are able to put some more flesh on the bones so to speak. The home team line-up from the programme on that evening was as follows- 1 Steve Osgood 2 Steve Cherry 3 Scott Hunt 4 Allen Manville 5 Gavin French 6 Richard Manville 7 Colin Simmonds 8 Steve Rayment 9 Mark Frampton 10 Ross Larkin 11 George Bryan 12 Paul Dear 13 Nigel Lowe 14 Kevin Merryweather 15 David Veale Unfortunately our Rep side is not named, this is likely due to Manager Kevin Dinan being short of a number of players due to several League matches taking place that same evening. The programme confirms that he was “deprived of a few notable names, the strength of the League can be gauged from the calibre of the players on view” and goes on to say “It will be a hard and well fought match worthy of the occasion” The presentation to Fleet Chairman Tony Cherry of the Illuminated Scroll commemorating Fleet Town’s 100 years was made prior to kick off by Mr Jack Barter the President of the Wessex League in tandem with a Representative from the FA. It was a night that saw a number of dignitaries in attendance as one might expect for such an important occasion, with County represented by Peter Vine the President and John Ward who was the Deputy Chair at that time, County Treasurer Norman Cook who has also served our League well was also there on County duty. Jack Barter, Alf Peckham, Cyril Hurlock and Ted Walters represented the Wessex League. Aldershot District FA were also in attendance with Chair D Draper heading their party. In the following days a Report was posted in the local Press about the event, “One hundred years old and still going strong. Fleet Town celebrated their centenary recently when they were presented with a commemorative scroll from the Football League (sic). The club which plays in the Wessex League is aiming for greater glories following this momentous occasion”. The Commercial Manager of the time, Bob Worthington explained that he wanted to take the club into a new era and there were plans to have a 240 seater stand erected, at a cost of about £36,000. Plans were also underway to upgrade the floodlights as well as to enclose the whole ground at Calthorpe Park. He continued by suggesting that although the team was not then ready for promotion, doing so would see them one division behind close neighbours Farnborough Town- then in the Southern League Premier Division. Prior to the Representative game, the hosts had secured the services of Aldershot reserve goalkeeper Steve Osgood on a two year contract for an undisclosed fee.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
A COLD NIGHT IN CALNE
Something of a rarity from the Programme pile this week with a game played on a neutral ground in the Wiltshire Senior Cup. The semi-finals of the competition are always played on neutral grounds, even now, and in 2014/15 Amesbury and Highworth both travelled to Western League Calne’s ground to contest a place in the Final. For some seasons around that time the Wiltshire FA “enlarged” the Competition by including Clubs below Step Six in the pyramid – a practice they have now ceased – which rather went against the use of the word “Senior” in the Competition Title. This meant that such Clubs as Sarum Youth, Wroughton, Southbrook, Trowbridge Wanderers and Vale of Pewsey were included in the thirty sides in the First Round Draw, though the last named withdrew before a ball was kicked. Amesbury, then in Wessex One, had defeated Chippenham Youth, Shrewton (a most local of local derbies) and Warminster to reach the last four whilst Hellenic Premier Highworth had overcome New College Swindon, Downton (5-0) and Melksham. Having located the ground with some difficulty – my usual story but in mitigation my earlier visits were in daylight – the game kicked off at 7.30 (always welcome when there is a long journey home) and almost immediately Amesbury were on the back foot when they conceded a “soft” goal – a mix up between goalkeeper and defender – after just six minutes. Highworth were a level above the Wessex League side (and have since advanced to the Southern League) and that became clear as the game progressed. They also possessed a striker by the name of Terry (TJ) Bohane, a proven goalscorer for more than one club, and he made his mark on the game with two well taken goals in the 29th and 39th minutes. A fourth Highworth goal just before the break meant game over and we retired for the half time refreshments – or that was the intention. We, the Amesbury Officials and myself, had been told at the gate that half time refreshments would be in “the hut in the corner” but when we reached the hut we were told it was Wiltshire FA Officials only – there appeared to be around fifteen of same in there – and the door was literally slammed in our faces. Very few of the “fifteen” emerged to watch the second half! To their credit Amesbury never gave up, suffered from a few decisions , on the night, by a rather fussy referee and “drew” the second half as the half time score remained unaltered, at 4-0, but the better side won and went on to defeat Bradford Town in the Final. Bradford incidentally beat Laverstock & Ford 4-2 in the other semi-final on the same evening. The Amesbury starting eleven on the evening was Paddy Creese, Duncan Smith, Connor Millar (Kieran Stephens), Chris Ward, Connor Palmer, Allan McPhie, Cameron Roach (Tom Western), Matt Cox (Lee Hodgkinson), Nic Turpin, Eddie Perrett and Craig Wheeler, with substitutions made in brackets. All that remained was the fifty five mile journey home across the dark and lonely Salisbury Plain and the need to reach Overton before the Wagons were in their circle.
WANTED
Chris Tuck who runs @NonLgeProgs twitter site is looking to fill some gaps in his local football programme collection. He is after programmes from some Hampshire league teams, Southampton Senior and Hampshire Cup Finals, Hampshire representative programmes and Hampshire League programmes v Southampton ‘A’ side. Email [email protected] or DM him on twitter for more details.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
TWITTER LEAGUE CUP- THE STORY
ROUND MATCH HOME H % A AWAY VOTES 1st Round 1 Bournemouth 36.2 v 63.8 Brockenhurst 257 2 Tadley Calleva 47.7 v 52.3 Portland United 235 3 Horndean 37.4 v 62.6 Christchurch 219 4 AFC Portchester 62.7 v 37.3 Folland Sports 263 5 Alton 31.2 v 68.8 US Portsmouth 285 6 Fawley 56.5 v 43.5 Verwood Town 193 7 Andover Town 50.9 v 49.1 Newport IOW 271 2nd Round 8 Baffins Milton Rovers 70.2 v 29.8 Solent University FC 218 9 Bemerton Heath H’quins 46.7 v 53.3 Hythe & Dibden 291 10 Laverstock & Ford 56.8 v 43.2 Whitchurch United 139 11 Andover New Street 53.5 v 46.5 Romsey Town 172 12 East Cowes Victoria 43.6 v 56.4 Alresford Town 179 13 Andover Town 53.6 v 46.4 Fareham Town 280 14 New Milton Town 54.2 v 45.8 Cowes Sports 142 15 Ringwood Town 41.1 v 58.9 Hamworthy United 112 16 Downton 37.0 v 63.0 Lymington Town 230 17 Totton & Eling 45.7 v 54.3 AFC Stoneham 322 18 Bashley 45.2 v 54.8 US Portsmouth 301 19 Brockenhurst 71.5 v 28.5 Amesbury Town 172 20 Christchurch 71.3 v 28.7 Shaftesbury 157 21 Fleet Town 41.2 v 58.8 AFC Portchester 250 22 Portland United 61.4 v 38.6 Petersfield Town 145 23 Hamble Club 53.6 v 46.4 Fawley 168 3rd Round 24 Hamble Club 48.4 v 51.6 Baffins Milton Rovers 190 25 Andover Town 50.6 v 49.4 US Portsmouth 540 26 Hamworthy United 41.8 v 58.2 Lymington Town 146 27 AFC Stoneham 65.4 v 34.6 New Milton Town 156 28 Hythe & Dibden 42.5 v 57.5 Portland United 200 29 AFC Portchester 56.8 v 43.2 Laverstock & Ford 190 30 Brockenhurst 61.3 v 38.7 East Cowes Victoria 274 31 Andover New Street 42.4 v 57.6 Christchurch 245 Quarter Final 32 Portland United 53.8 v 46.2 Baffins Milton Rovers 264 33 AFC Stoneham 44.2 v 55.8 AFC Portchester 312 34 Brockenhurst 55.5 v 44.5 Lymington Town 326 35 Andover Town 58.6 v 41.4 Christchurch 418 Semi Final 36 Portland United 49.3 v 50.7 AFC Portchester 375 37 Andover Town 60.2 v 39.8 Brockenhurst 598 Final 38 AFC Portchester 40.9 v 59.1 Andover Town 678
Thanks to everyone who participated at this difficult time. Special thanks to MJM Sports who came in with a Voucher for £200.00 for the winners- Andover Town. Couple of stats from the tournament- the closest fought contest was the 3rd Round clash between Andover Town and US Portsmouth where the difference was just seven votes. Perhaps not surprisingly the Final attracted the biggest number of votes cast- 678, the best average per game also went to Andover Town with 261. Just a shame we couldn’t break the 10,000 mark, falling just 88 short.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
EMIRATES FA CUP REVIEW
All the results and all the scorers for our teams in the Competition in 2019/20. 91 goals in total were scored. 67 of those coming from our Premier Division sides.
Extra Preliminary Round- Emirates FA Cup 2019/20 AFC Portchester 2-2 Hythe & Dibden Alresford Town 0-0 Baffins Milton Rovers Amesbury Town 2-7 Christchurch Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3-3 Andover New Street Binfield 3-2 United Services Portsmouth Bournemouth 2-1 Frimley Green Brockenhurst 0-2 AFC Stoneham Cowes Sports 0-4 Lymington Town
Fleet Town 2-2 Farnham Town PREMIER DIVISION Hamworthy United 3-0 Bashley Fleet Town - 9 Horndean 5-3 Camberley Town Portland United - 9 Romsey Town 1-5 Hamble Club Christchurch - 8 Shaftesbury 1-4 Knaphill Hamworthy United - 6 Sholing 1-0 Tadley Calleva Horndean - 6 Solent University FC 0-3 Portland United Lymington Town - 6 Westbury United 0-1 Fareham Town Hamble Club - 5 Extra Preliminary Round Replay- AFC Portchester - 4 Andover New Street 3-2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins AFC Stoneham - 4 Baffins Milton Rovers 2-1 Alresford Town Amesbury Town - 2 Farnham Town 1-2 Fleet Town Baffins Milton Rovers - 2 Hythe & Dibden 3-2 AFC Portchester Bournemouth - 2 Preliminary Round- Fareham Town - 2 Binfield 3-2 Lymington Town Alresford Town - 1 Bournemouth 0-5 Bracknell Town Shaftesbury - 1 Christchurch 1-2 Badshot Lea Fleet Town 3-0 Baffins Milton Rovers DIVISION ONE Hamble Club 0-1 Sholing Hythe & Dibden - 9 Hythe & Dibden 2-1 Horndean Andover New Street - 7 Knaphill 0-1 Fareham Town Bemerton Heath Harlequins - 5 Portland United 4-3 Hamworthy United United Services Portsmouth - 2 Thatcham Town 7-1 Andover New Street Romsey Town - 1 Winchester City 1-1 AFC Stoneham Preliminary Round Replay- AFC Stoneham 1-3 Winchester City PRIZE FUND ALLOCATION st 1 Qualifying Round- Extra Preliminary Round winners (184) - £2,250 Chesham United 4-2 Fleet Town Extra Preliminary Round losers (184) - £750 Hythe & Dibden 2-4 Kidlington Preliminary Round winners (160) - £2,890 Longlevens 0-2 Portland United Preliminary Round losers (160) - £960 Weston super Mare 3-0 Fareham Town First Round Qualifying winners (116) - £4,500 nd 2 Qualifying Round- First Round Qualifying losers (116)M- £1,500 Portland United 0-1 Salisbury Second Round Qualifying winners (80) - £6,750 Second Round Qualifying losers (80) - £2,250
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
Jamie Symes Portland United 4 Ilyas Warshow Andover New Street 1 Billy Oram Fleet Town 3 Jack Chandler United Services Portsmouth 1 Filippos Terzidis Hythe & Dibden 3 Jack Maloney Horndean 1 Justin Bennett Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3 Jake Hammond Fleet Town 1 Kyle Graham Christchurch 3 Jamie Beasley Portland United 1 Nathan Lynch Hamble Club 3 Jason Parish Baffins Milton Rovers 1 Cain Prentice Hythe & Dibden 2 Jason Silver Andover New Street 1 Dom Falco Lymington Town 2 Jordan Matthews Amesbury Town 1 Eddie Hodge Hamworthy United 2 Jordan Ragguette Hamble Club 1 Ellis Martin AFC Portchester 2 Josh Kirkham Christchurch 1 James King Christchurch 2 Louis Coulson Bournemouth 1 Luke Hooper Andover New Street 2 Luke King Portland United 1 Matt Palmer AFC Stoneham 2 Mark Smith Horndean 1 Matt Scott Andover New Street 2 Matt Bainbridge AFC Stoneham 1 Matt Steer Hamworthy United 2 Matt Nicholls Bournemouth 1 Richard Bridle Hythe & Dibden 2 Max Buckler Portland United 1 Adam Costello Lymington Town 1 Miles Everett Horndean 1 Ali Zintany Shaftesbury 1 OG for Fleet Town 1 Ash Pope Hamworthy United 1 Ryan McKechnie Portland United 1 Bobby Scott Horndean 1 Sam House Lymington Town 1 Brad Passfield Fleet Town 1 Sam Ndlovu Hamble Club 1 Brad Wilson Fleet Town 1 Sam Woodward Hythe & Dibden 1 Brandon Miller Baffins Milton Rovers 1 Sammy Kessack Horndean 1 Callum Butler Christchurch 1 Simon Woods Fareham Town 1 Cameron Beard Hamworthy United 1 Steve Flynn Lymington Town 1 Chris Long Christchurch 1 Steve Ramsey AFC Portchester 1 Danny Finnigan Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1 Taylor Watts Fleet Town 1 Ed Bastick Portland United 1 Tim Stephenson Lymington Town 1 Eddie Perrett Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1 Tom Hogan AFC Stoneham 1 Efu Kazadi AFC Portchester 1 Tom Jeffes United Services Portsmouth 1 Enow Ojong Fleet Town 1 Tyler Brockway Amesbury Town 1 Fuzz Kanjanda Horndean 1 Will Harris Fareham Town 1 George Hallahan Alresford Town 1 Zac Mouland Romsey Town 1 Gunner Yates Andover New Street 1 Zac Willis Hythe & Dibden 1
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
TEAM EXTRA PREL PREL 1Q 2Q TOTAL Portland United £2,250.00 £2,890.00 £4,500.00 £2,250.00 £11,890.00 Fareham Town £2,250.00 £2,890.00 £1,500.00 - £6,640.00 Fleet Town £2,250.00 £2,890.00 £1,500.00 - £6,640.00 Hythe & Dibden £2,250.00 £2,890.00 £1,500.00 - £6,640.00 AFC Stoneham £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Andover New Street £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Baffins Milton Rovers £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Bournemouth £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Christchurch £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Hamble Club £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Hamworthy United £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Horndean £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 Lymington Town £2,250.00 £960.00 - - £3,210.00 AFC Portchester £750.00 - - - £750.00 Alresford Town £750.00 - - - £750.00 Amesbury Town £750.00 - - - £750.00 Bashley £750.00 - - - £750.00 Bemerton Heath Harlequins £750.00 - - - £750.00 Brockenhurst £750.00 - - - £750.00 Cowes Sports £750.00 - - - £750.00 Romsey Town £750.00 - - - £750.00 Shaftesbury £750.00 - - - £750.00 Solent University FC £750.00 - - - £750.00 Tadley Calleva £750.00 - - - £750.00 United Services Portsmouth £750.00 - - - £750.00 TOTAL £38,250.00 £20,200.00 £9,000.00 £2,250.00 £69,700.00
WESSEX WORDSEARCH #1
L L N O T G N I M Y L R O F S R A E B R O C K E N H U R S T E H A A C O R T A B C D S Y O P T P A G R I N T Y S R Y E N O U O M E U W E E D L O D L E R O R E F A E L B I I F E H H T M T S G N D O A M M S N S A C E L B M A H S F A R E H A M H N A U T E E L F R S R A B T E R N R C D P E I Y E L M F E S U D Y N N O R N P D A S L E T O D R Y R U B S E T F A H S E B G E C O W E S E W A C C H R T R E W H A M W O R T H Y A H H C R U H C T S I R H C D D
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
ALRESFORD CHRISTCHURCH HORNDEAN SHAFTESBURY AMESBURY COWES LEAGUE SOLENT BAFFINS FAREHAM LYMINGTON STONEHAM BASHLEY FLEET PORTCHESTER SYDENHAMS BOURNEMOUTH HAMBLE PORTLAND TADLEY BROCKENHURST HAMWORTHY PYRAMID
CLUB NEWS
We were sorry to hear of the passing last weekend of Dave Cox, loyal servant to Hamble Club over the years, on behalf of the League we extend our sincere condolences at this sad time to family and friends.
With the unfortunate cessation of the 2019/20 season, the Club of the Month and MJM Sports Kappa Respect awards have also ended- here is a reminder of who won what as at the end of February.
MONTH CLUB OF THE MONTH MONTH MJM SPORTS-KAPPA RESPECT AWARD Aug-19 Alresford Town Aug-19 Cowes Sports Sep-19 AFC Portchester Sep-19 AFC Portchester PREMIER Oct-19 Christchurch Oct-19 Solent University FC DIVISION Nov-19 Christchurch Nov-19 Hamworthy United Dec-19 AFC Stoneham Dec-19 Fleet Town Jan-20 AFC Stoneham Jan-20 Amesbury Town Feb-20 Christchurch Feb-20 Portland United
MONTH CLUB OF THE MONTH MONTH MJM SPORTS-KAPPA RESPECT AWARD Aug-19 Hythe & Dibden Aug-19 Ringwood Town Sep-19 Petersfield Town Sep-19 Whitchurch United DIVISION Oct-19 United Services Portsmouth Oct-19 Pewsey Vale ONE Nov-19 Alton Nov-19 New Milton Town Dec-19 Alton Dec-19 Alton Jan-20 Andover New Street Jan-20 Alton Feb-20 United Services Portsmouth Feb-20 Verwood Town
In a similar vein, the Programme of the Season awards will also not happen for 2019/20. Sorry to say that despite numerous requests only 13 clubs decided to compete, and this season would have been a difficult call to make- in both Premier and First. We’ll try again next season and hopefully more clubs will enter as and when requested. Following on from the Social Media update last week, the League Facebook account continues to grow and at time of writing has some 1,520 members, and also on Facebook we have seen the start of local football pages- “Bmth League Football Memories” and “Southampton Football League Memories” with over 1,400 and 1,700 members respectively. Well worth a look in these difficult times as there is plenty of reference to teams currently in our League as well as players who have graced the turf locally. The Sydenhams Wessex Football Show has 232 members on Facebook and 580 on Twitter. Finally in this section, we understand that New Milton Town have appointed their new Management team- at the helm is Paul Turner with Lee Middleton his Assistant. John McKay and Joe Barron complete the new team at the BBX Stadium.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
THE A TO Z OF THE WESSEX LEAGUE CLUBS IN MEMBERSHIP 1986-2020
Compiled by Gary Day and Mike Robins, it’s hoped you enjoy this series which will run whilst we await the resumption of our game and will conclude in pre-season if necessary. The ‘Tier’ system explained. The names of the divisions have changed over the
years. Tier 1 is the present day Premier Division. Tier 2 is the current Division One. FG Tier 3 lasted for just three seasons and was initially called Division 3 but had been renamed Division 2 in its final campaign.
FAREHAM TOWN Year Formed 1947 Total Wessex Seasons 21 Joined Wessex From Southern League Tier One (currently Premier) 21 Duration in Wessex 1998 to date Tier Two (2004 - date) 0 Current Member Premier Division Tier Three (2004-2007) 0
League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 98/99 T1 38 11 12 15 58 67 -9 45 13th 99/00 T1 40 14 14 12 72 71 1 56 11th 00/01 T1 44 12 10 22 48 74 -26 46 15th 01/02 T1 44 21 13 10 72 54 18 76 10th 02/03 T1 42 22 10 10 78 47 31 76 5th 03/04 T1 42 24 6 12 71 38 33 78 7th 04/05 T1 42 13 9 20 50 63 -13 48 16th 05/06 T1 42 19 10 13 74 61 13 67 9th 06/07 T1 38 18 12 8 95 57 38 65* 8th 07/08 T1 44 22 9 13 87 65 22 75 8th 08/09 T1 42 16 13 13 64 53 11 61 10th 09/10 T1 42 23 7 12 72 53 19 76 6th 10/11 T1 42 19 10 13 76 69 7 67 8th 11/12 T1 42 14 14 14 77 68 9 56 12th 12/13 T1 40 19 5 16 77 72 5 62 9th 13/14 T1 42 18 8 16 78 81 -3 62 10th 14/15 T1 40 7 11 22 50 92 -42 32 19th 15/16 T1 40 14 9 17 64 71 -7 51 12th 16/17 T1 42 16 8 18 78 81 -3 56 12th 17/18 T1 42 15 5 22 77 92 -15 50 16th 18/19 T1 38 12 10 16 51 78 -27 46 17th Total 868 349 205 314 1469 1407 62 1251* * denotes points adjustment
One from Gary’s archives back in the days when Fareham Town were in the Southern League Premier Division.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
Date: 28/03/1984 Southern League – Premier Division At: Cams Alders Sports Centre
FAREHAM TOWN (1) 3 CORBY TOWN (2) 2
Fareham Town: Grant; Davies, Watt; Tindal, Bye, Wilkes; Bartlett, Leworthy, Todd, Tuck (sub: Wheatcroft 82), Hallett.
Notes: It was a very wet day and the pitch was heavily sanded for this 7.30pm kick-off on a Wednesday evening. Fareham took time to find their feet, in fact they were two goals down against Corby inside the first five minutes. Gordon Hall put the Steelmen in front with an excellent shot into the top corner and that was quickly followed by a low Dean Smith shot that deflected off a defender’s boot and went low into the corner. The Creeksiders, in amongst the relegation strugglers but behind most of their rivals on games played, couldn’t have got off to a worse start. But they stormed back and created chances and by the 15-minute mark they could have had four goals but still trailed. Town did get one back on 27 minutes when Kenny Todd was in the right place to crash the ball home from close range after it had been blocked on the line by a defender. Corby held onto their lead at the break.
Corby lost their way in the second half, getting frustrated with the officials, their opponents and amongst themselves. Todd got the equaliser when he chased a through ball and just squeezed his shot in before the advancing keeper with 64 minutes played. It was the home side’s turn to rue a decision as David Leworthy swept past Corby keeper Kevin Johnson and was hauled down but recovered to score; however, Bournemouth official Mr Collick had already blown his whistle and given a penalty. Leworthy took it himself but was denied by a Johnson save. The game continued to be exciting and then came a thrilling last minute winning goal for Fareham when Malcolm Wilkes stuck out his boot to a cross in the hope of getting something on it and the ball looped over Johnson and dropped just under the crossbar. Fareham, well adrift at 7.35 had won it by 9.15 and one of the best matches the writer had seen at Cams both started and finished with great drama (it wasn’t bad in between too!).
FARNBOROUGH NORTH END Year Formed 1967 (see note below) Total Wessex Seasons 6 Joined Wessex From Hampshire League Tier One (currently Premier) 0 Duration in Wessex 2004 – 2010 Tier Two (2004 - date) 5 Moved to (League) Combined Counties Tier Three (2004-2007) 1 Note: Club formed as Farnborough Covenantors and subsequently changed their name to Covies. League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 04/05 T3 38 26 7 5 111 38 73 85 3rd 05/06 T2 42 19 6 17 93 76 17 63 11th 06/07 T2 36 11 13 12 40 56 -16 46 11th 07/08 T2 40 26 9 5 101 30 71 87 3rd 08/09 T2 40 18 12 10 66 49 17 66 8th 09/10 T2 40 9 12 19 63 76 -13 39 18th Total 236 109 59 68 474 325 149 386
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
One from the 2000/01 campaign when we are reminded of a ‘crisis’ season. Gary’s archives show an important ‘away’ win for Farnborough North End against the now defunct Hedge End FC:
Date: 26/04/2001 Hampshire League – Division 2 At: By-Pass Ground, Romsey
HEDGE END 0 FARNBOROUGH NORTH END (4) 5
Farnborough North End: Gray; Tulip, Harkness; Percy, Heath, Warnock (sub: Woods 68); Stevens, Xiberras, Miles, Griffiths, Maunder. Subs (not used): Tippins and Marchment
Notes: Season 2000/01 had its challenges! There was a brief fuel strike in September and that was followed by an outbreak of foot-and mouth disease which particularly affected the north and south-west areas, bordering on this region. Add to that the incessant everyday wet weather and, as the late great Frankie Laine once sang “Noah, didn’t it rain”! The rains led to local cup competitions, such as the Russell-Cotes and the cups from both Wessex and Hampshire Leagues, being abandoned. This match was moved to Romsey Town’s ground for some reason possibly to enable a later start under floodlights, but I am not sure. Farnborough North End were chasing a promotion place along with Fareham Sacred Heart, Alresford Town and Laverstock & Ford. The players came onto the field having to dip their boots in a tray of disinfectant. A Hedge End player jokingly said to the referee: “You’ve already got foot-and-mouth, haven’t you Geoff?”. Note that further information is diplomatically withheld! FNE took only 71 seconds to stamp their superiority on this game. A long Justin Gray drop-kick and on the end of it was Paul Griffiths who flicked the ball over the keeper and in. Further chances came the visitors way and the inevitable second goal occurred ten minutes prior to the break. Home keeper Stuart Newman did very well to make a save but the ball fell to Shaun Percy to score from close range. FNE were now well in charge and added a couple more before the break when a Griffiths knock down set up Chris Maunder to score and, within no time, Chris Miles sent a half- volley over the keeper and it dipped home. Now, I’ve helped out on a few football related things in my time (such as announcing, put out the kit, produce articles for programmes, hand in team sheets, be the face of half-time hospitality when a club I attend regularly was short-handed and even the task of washing the match ball) but never had I delivered trays of half-time teas to the dressing rooms before! Eventually, I receive my own. Into the second half and there was little action to speak of, although Miles did notch his second goal of the evening from the right to complete a five-goal North End victory. In the end FNE did win the title and I attended their Ringwood Road ground to watch their final match with Bishopstoke Social a couple of weeks later. A league representative was present too and everyone from the home side were changed, warmed-up and ready and waiting but Social decided not to travel, a most unsatisfactory way to end a successful campaign. So, there we have it! An unprecedented season and surely there would never be another to compare with it; but we now know there is, of course. But to end this account on a more whimsical note, I have to ask the question of why I have just one cup of tea at home and spill it; yet carry a tray of 15 or so and not lose a single drop?! Now, that’s one of life’s mysteries!
In 2019/20: A revived Farnborough North End are playing in Aldershot & District League – Division 1 (second tier).
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
FAWLEY AFC Year Formed 1923 – as AGWI United Total Wessex Seasons 15 Joined Wessex From Hampshire League Tier One (currently Premier) 7 Duration in Wessex 2004 to date Tier Two (2004 - date) 8 Current Member Division 1 Tier Three (2004-2007) 0
One from Gary’s archives and a Boxing Day local derby down on the Waterside in the days of Fawley being known as Esso and their pitch at the ground was in a different location than it is nowadays.
Date: 26/12/1995 Hampshire League – Division 2 At: Long Lane, Hardley
ESSO (FAWLEY) (2) 6 HYTHE & DIBDEN (0) 1
Esso (Fawley): Hughes; Donovan, Westfoot; Maton, Matthews, Barrow (sub: Morris 66); Jones, Feeney, Dawtry, Hicks (sub: Kennedy 64), Kerr. Sub (not used): Keen.
Notes: I went to a game at Hythe on the previous Saturday and their programme stated: “Oh come all ye faithful to Esso on Tuesday 11am”. Well, to continue with the next line of that paraphrased hymn, “Joyful and Triumphant” proved far from the case! A sign of the changing times from that day was the referee Mr A Cane using a mobile phone before the game in an attempt to find out how far away one of his linesman was; he didn’t arrive and an Esso official ran the line instead.
The pitch was very hard as a heavy overnight frost was evident for this local derby. Some of the Hythe players didn’t look too keen but the Esso lads, a more experienced combination, got on with it and boy, didn’t they get on with it too!
Martin Donovan shot Esso ahead on 13 minutes and almost symmetrically Donovan did it again 13 minutes later with a close-range lunging header. Esso dominated it but the score remained 2-0 at the break and it was the view of some that the game shouldn’t have gone ahead, but in my view, the ground was a tad hard under foot but in a playable state.
Esso continued to take the game to Hythe in the second half and Tony Feeney made it 3-0 when he volleyed home at the far post from a George Kerr cross. A slick move down the left produced number four as Kevin Dawtry received an Adie Hicks touch to run on and shoot firm and low into the far corner. Feeney added his second goal of the day and his team’s fifth in the 70th minute, one of those speculative ‘get something on it’ efforts that went in. Paul Jordan pulled a goal back for Hythe, receiving a free kick, he teed it up, turned and placed well into goal for a fine effort. The final goal was a real class act as there were at least eight passes, the ball moving from one part of the field to the other and was completed when sub Steve Kennedy crossed where Dawtry headed home at the far post. This left three Fawley players on hat-tricks for the final eight minutes but there were no further goals.
Footnote: This proved to be the only Hampshire League game to survive the frozen conditions.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 04/05 T2 42 9 4 29 54 111 -57 31 21st 05/06 T2 42 20 9 13 76 53 23 69 7th 06/07 T2 36 18 7 11 78 57 21 61 5th 07/08 T2 40 22 5 13 94 44 50 71 6th 08/09 T2 40 18 8 14 84 59 25 62 9th 09/10 T2 40 25 7 8 125 63 62 82 2nd 10/11 T1 42 10 4 28 45 112 -67 34 20th 11/12 T1 42 10 7 25 56 81 -25 37 19th 12/13 T1 40 12 5 23 62 91 -29 41 17th 13/14 T1 42 7 9 26 49 108 -59 30 20th 14/15 T1 40 10 8 22 44 81 -37 38 17th 15/16 T1 40 6 13 21 53 85 -32 31 19th 16/17 T1 42 11 4 27 61 124 -63 37 20th 17/18 T2 34 16 3 15 53 56 -3 51 9th 18/19 T2 36 14 5 17 55 63 -8 44* 11th Total 598 208 98 292 989 1188 -199 719* * denotes points adjustment
FLEET SPURS Year Formed 1951 Total Wessex Seasons 13 Joined Wessex From Hampshire League Tier One (currently Premier) 0 Duration in Wessex 2004 - 2017 Tier Two (2004 - date) 10 Moved to (League) Combined Counties Tier Three (2004-2007) 3
League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 04/05 T3 38 6 11 21 59 98 -39 29 17th 05/06 T3 30 8 3 19 60 75 -15 27 14th 06/07 T3 30 10 5 15 55 58 -3 35 11th 07/08 T2 40 12 6 22 64 95 -31 42 15th 08/09 T2 40 3 6 31 36 123 -87 15 21st 09/10 T2 40 24 4 12 102 63 39 76 3rd 10/11 T2 36 15 3 18 82 85 -3 48 10th 11/12 T2 34 14 7 13 45 46 -1 49 7th 12/13 T2 30 10 3 17 49 55 -6 33 10th 13/14 T2 30 8 3 19 50 79 -29 27 12th 14/15 T2 28 11 5 12 50 63 -13 38 9th 15/16 T2 34 12 8 14 70 82 -12 44 12th 16/17 T2 40 10 6 24 81 127 -46 36 16th Total 450 143 70 237 803 1049 -246 499
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
One from Gary’s archives when Spurs hit double figures. Date: 09/09/1998 Hampshire League – Division 1 At: Kennels Lane
FLEET SPURS (4) 10 BISHOPSTOKE SOCIAL 0
Fleet Spurs: Walker; Jolly, Winning (sub: Steiner 54); Rochford, Burke, Ritchie; Warren, Steadman, Andrews, Middleton, Cottrell. Sub (not used): Kerr.
Notes: This was my first visit to Fleet Spurs’ Kennels Lane ground, having seen them play at two other home venues in the past.
It wasn’t the size of the victory that made me pick this game so much (one-sided games are often not too appealing for the neutral observer) but a most unusual occurrence. Fleet turned around at half-time four goals in front and visitors Bishopstoke had the kick-off for the second half. Now, don’t forget, a kick-off had to be passed in a forward direction back then and the ball was immediately given to Lee Andrews of Spurs who chased through the exposed middle of the pitch and netted within seven seconds of that restart. Not bad considering his side started the half without the ball!
The rest of the game was pretty much a procession as referee Andy Laver allowed the game to start no more than five minutes later than the scheduled 6pm kick-off time irrespective of whether players were ready or not. Social started with eight players but made the numbers up to ten within three minutes of the start (but note – they had only ten players and faced a tough evening).
On 14 minutes, John Cottrell headed a cross off the bar and Paul Winning was there to head it in. Three minutes later Winning was there again, a lunging mid-goal header from Andy Jolly’s cross. Cottrell then set up Andrews to bag his first of a five-goal haul, sweeping past the visitors’ keeper and slotting home. Cottrell then added a fourth Spurs goal close to half-time.
Into the second half and that Andrews goal. Next, Richie Warren knocked it past Social keeper Ryan Bartlett and unselfishly laid it to Cottrell to add number six. Andrews made it 7-0 just after the hour mark when a Tom Steiner cross was not cleared, and he punished them for sloppy defensive play. Andrews then flicked the ball past the luckless keeper after a Cottrell shot had been blocked. Andrews then bagged his fifth goal of the evening, a stooping header from Chris Steadman’s cross. The final goal was netted by Steiner who got past the keeper and fired just under the bar. Nine minutes remained which must have seemed at least twice as long for Bishopstoke, but they avoided further concession.
In 2019/20: Fleet Spurs played in the Combined Counties League – Division 1 (tier 2).
FLEET TOWN Year Formed 1890 – Fleet FC Total Wessex Seasons 8 Joined Wessex From Chiltonian League Tier One (currently Premier) 8 Duration in Wessex 1989-95; 2000-02; 2019 - date Tier Two (2004 - date) 0 Current Member Premier Division Tier Three (2004-2007) 0
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League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 89/90 T1 36 5 5 26 22 86 -64 20 18th 90/91 T1 38 17 6 15 64 57 7 57 10th 91/92 T1 36 13 10 13 59 55 4 49 11th 92/93 T1 40 17 10 13 79 51 28 61 8th 93/94 T1 42 21 9 12 82 48 34 72 6th 94/95 T1 42 32 4 6 116 43 73 100 1st 00/01 T1 44 29 3 12 91 56 35 90 4th 01/02 T1 44 29 9 6 107 59 48 96 2nd Total 322 163 56 103 620 455 165 545
NB: Fleet Town joined the Southern League in 1995 and returned from that league in 2000. They went back to the Southern League in 2002 and subsequently had some seasons in the Isthmian League before returning again to the Wessex League in 2019.
One from Gary’s archives from the 2008/09 season when Fleet were not complaining about having to play a lot of games: Date: 13/05/2009 Aldershot DFA Senior Cup - Final At: Military Stadium, Aldershot
FLEET TOWN (3) 4 ALTON TOWN (1) 2
Fleet Town: Smalley; Salmon, Bird; McClurg (sub: Hemmings 51), Noakes (sub: White 80), Patterson; Smart, Douglas, Anderson, Read, Asante (sub Norris 68). Subs (n/u): Harkness, Sinton
Notes: The 2008/09 season was a momentous one for Fleet Town. At the culmination of this campaign they slipped up in the Isthmian League play-offs with a home semi-final defeat against the Metropolitan Police at the end of April. But they still had three cup finals to look forward to thereafter and won the Hampshire Senior and Russell-Cotes Cups (finals versus VT FC and Hayling United respectively). This featured game was another cup final – the Aldershot Senior Cup – this being Fleet’s seventy third and last match of the campaign when they met Alton Town at the Military Stadium. Fleet opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Dan Read headed the ball goalwards, it was saved by Town keeper Marc Cole and fell invitingly to Bernard Asante to fire home from close range. A fine volley by James McClurg put Fleet further ahead but Alton pulled one back from the penalty spot when Simba Mlambo’s cross struck a Fleet defender at close quarters; the decision was a tad harsh but Richard McCann reduced the arrears. Fleet added a third before the break when, following good work by Tom Bird and Nathan Smart, it was Read who was credited with the deft final touch.
Fleet added a fourth goal on 62 minutes when a cross got through players in the middle and Steve Hemmings fired home. Fleet were bossing the game and hit the goalframe on two occasions. Mlambo pulled one back with an impressive strike for Alton in the final minutes but there was still time for Fleet’s Mark Anderson to shoot over when scoring looked simpler but this cup was already on its way to join those others in the Calthorpe Park trophy cabinet.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
FLEETLANDS Year Formed 1947 Total Wessex Seasons 3 Joined Wessex From Hampshire League Tier One (currently Premier) 0 Duration in Wessex 2004 to 2007 Tier Two (2004 - date) 0 Moved to (League) Hampshire Premier Tier Three (2004-2007) 3
League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 04/05 T3 38 23 6 9 115 42 73 75 4th 05/06 T3 30 15 7 8 59 36 23 52 6th 06/07 T3 30 25 2 3 101 18 83 77 1st Total 98 63 15 20 275 96 179 204
One from Gary’s archives when Fleetlands had returned to the Hampshire League.
Date: 12/11/1988 Hampshire League – Division 2 At: Green Lane, Elson
FLEETLANDS (2) 2 NETLEY ATHLETIC VICTORIA (0) 1
Fleetlands: Healy; Hoolihan, Fisher; Taviner, Lloyd, Fitzgerald; Mumford, S Wallis, Pinder (sub: Trenchard 67), Searle, G Wallis. Sub (not used): Marks.
Notes: Fleetlands had made a return to Hampshire League football in this season following a 25-year absence. The Fleetlands team took the field in red and black check patterned shirts which was quite fashionable back then. I suppose if the game was called off late then the players could always get the chess pieces out! Fleetlands (in second place in the table) took on Netley Athletic Victoria (third) and they built up a two-goal lead by the break. This commenced with a sixth minute goal when Gary Wallis took a corner which went to the far post where Arthur Lloyd headed home. Netley almost levelled when the ball bounced down off the bar, but referee Keith Bell was well placed to adjudicate that it had not crossed the line. The home side’s second goal came midway through the half when John Mumford, with an excellently timed run, got clear of the Netley defence and crossed low where Gary Wallis cleverly flicked it past Gates in the visitors’ goal. It was a dominant first half display by Fleetlands but there were no further goals. Things were not quite so easy for Fleetlands in the second half as Netley stormed back but they created little. Netley felt they should have had a penalty when an untidy challenge left a visiting player on the floor, but play went on. The visitors did get a goal back and a cracking effort it was too when Lee Bowers cut into the box and struck it firmly past the home keeper. Fleetlands comfortably saw out the final fourteen minutes to retain their lead.
The ground was an alternative venue as Fleetlands’ usual ground at Lederle Lane was not ready for use. This ground was a large open space with more than one pitch and, although I have limited knowledge of the Gosport area, I gather it was part of the HMS Centurion shore establishment as Naval buildings were noted. A check on a website street search suggests this large open space now appears to be a housing area.
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FOLLAND SPORTS Year Formed 1938 – Folland Aircraft Total Wessex Seasons 32 Joined Wessex From Hampshire League Tier One (currently Premier) 28 Duration in Wessex 1987 to date Tier Two (2004 - date) 4 Current Member Division 1 Tier Three (2004-2007) 0
League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 87/88 T1 36 13 7 16 42 48 -6 46 13th 88/89 T1 32 10 10 12 46 42 4 40 10th 89/90 T1 36 13 6 17 42 47 -5 45 12th 90/91(a) T1 38 11 6 21 32 62 -30 39 16th 91/92(a) T1 36 18 5 13 59 40 19 59 9th 92/93(a) T1 40 13 14 13 55 57 -2 53 12th 93/94(a) T1 42 11 6 25 41 84 -43 39 19th 94/95(a) T1 42 12 10 20 60 77 -17 46 17th 95/96(a) T1 40 9 10 21 41 71 -30 37 18th 96/97(a) T1 40 13 9 18 45 66 -21 48 12th 97/98(a) T1 38 9 10 19 50 77 -27 37 16th 98/99(b) T1 38 6 9 23 37 68 -31 27 17th 99/00(b) T1 40 7 11 22 44 89 -45 32 16th 00/01(b) T1 44 10 14 20 39 70 -31 44 18th 01/02(b) T1 44 4 4 36 33 119 -86 16 22nd 02/03(b) T1 42 13 12 17 58 60 -2 51 16th 03/04(b) T1 42 16 7 19 51 76 -25 55 13th 04/05(b) T1 42 6 7 29 36 121 -85 25 21st 05/06(b) T1 42 14 7 21 50 56 -6 49 15th 06/07(b) T1 38 5 3 30 24 105 -81 18 20th 07/08(b) T1 44 11 14 19 47 72 -25 47 17th 08/09(b) T1 42 5 6 31 30 121 -91 21 21st 09/10(b) T2 40 26 7 7 102 43 59 85 1st 10/11(b) T1 42 16 8 18 91 75 16 56 12th 11/12(c) T1 42 27 3 12 90 53 37 84 5th 12/13(c) T1 40 19 9 12 87 73 14 66 7th 13/14 T1 42 27 7 8 100 48 52 85* 3rd 14/15 T1 40 20 5 15 74 74 0 65 8th 15/16 T1 40 5 3 32 48 112 -64 18 21st 16/17 T2 40 8 6 26 60 120 -60 30 17th 17/18 T2 34 5 5 24 42 107 -65 17* 18th 18/19 T2 36 9 4 23 53 109 -56 31 16th Total 1274 391 244 639 1709 2442 -733 1411*
* denotes points adjustment. Previous club names are in the ‘season’ column: (a) denotes as Aerostructures S&S; (b) denotes as Hamble ASSC; (c) denotes as GE Hamble. The seasons without a letter shown denote as Folland Sports FC which is the current name and was also the title when the club first joined the Wessex League. Like Christchurch, Follands have been members of the Wessex League since the second season onwards. Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 18 of 24
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
One from Gary’s archives when Folland Sports played their own reserve team to determine who would win the Southampton FA end-of-season Reg Mathieson Trophy:
Date: 15/05/1985 Reg Mathieson Trophy At: Folland Park, Hamble
FOLLAND SPORTS (0) 1 FOLLAND SPORTS RESERVES 0
Folland Sports: C Rafferty; Lyons, Vinton; P Bundy, Diaper, Mallon (sub: Doncom 67); Pratt, Mucci, J Bundy, Riley, Richmond. Sub (not used): White. Folland Sports Reserves: P Rafferty; Cambers, Middleton; Campbell, Bartlett, Hibberd; Smith, Jennings (sub: Deardon 63), Cluett, Warren, Eyres.
Notes: The Reg Mathieson Trophy was a one-off game between the winners of the Southampton Senior Cup and the Senior League Premier Division and the Follands firsts scooped the cup and the seconds the league title to provide a ‘cosy looking’ internal match up at, not surprisingly, Folland Park! One thing was certain, Folland Sports were going to win it, but which team? The first team boss Ron Shaw suggested the reserve team players probably took the game more seriously than his side!
This was my second game of the day as I’d watched Portsmouth Reserves play in a Football Combination game (on roughly what is now the ground of Baffins Milton Rovers) in the afternoon and, travelling by train, this was the only game I could get back to. Yes, I was unsure how it would go, but any fears in that respect were soon dispelled as it was a fair but competitive encounter.
The goal that divided the teams was a bit of a family affair too. When Ray Eyres, from the ressies handled on the line it was a penalty (but no red cards shown for that offence then) and Ron Shaw called up his goalkeeper Colin Rafferty to take it. He was up against his brother Pat and sent him the wrong way. Once the firsts netted that 77th minute strike there was little doubt they were going to hold onto it as the Reserves (who were still waiting to find out if they’d been accepted into the Hampshire League) were gradually running out of steam. Tony Mucci caused a few problems up front for the firsts whilst full-back Tim Middleton had a good game for the seconds.
The goal was a most unusual scenario but, in my view, Colin Rafferty was one of the best kickers of a football from the goalkeeper position I’d ever seen at local level as he was able to pick out a team mate from many yards away and find him with absolute precision. No one better then to ask to strike a penalty from 12 yards as it would be on target for sure!
Footnote: The Reg Mathieson Trophy, which occasionally spilled over into the following pre- season, is no longer played.
GE Hamble – can be found under Folland Sports
GOSPORT BOROUGH Year Formed 1944 - Gosport Borough Athletic Total Wessex Seasons 15 Joined Wessex From Southern League Tier One (currently Premier) 15 Duration in Wessex 1992 to 2007 Tier Two (2004 - date) 0 Moved to (League) Southern League Tier Three (2004-2007) 0 Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 19 of 24
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League Record: Season Tier Played Won Drew Lost G For G Ag G Diff Points Pos. 92/93 T1 40 20 12 8 83 48 35 72 5th 93/94 T1 42 23 10 9 87 55 32 79 5th 94/95 T1 42 17 6 19 83 66 17 57 10th 95/96 T1 40 16 9 15 59 58 1 57 11th 96/97 T1 40 15 5 20 56 66 -10 50 11th 97/98 T1 38 9 10 19 48 65 -17 37 15th 98/99 T1 38 11 11 16 66 71 -5 44 14th 99/00 T1 40 8 12 20 40 70 -30 36 14th 00/01 T1 44 23 8 13 74 44 30 77 8th 01/02 T1 44 26 11 7 101 41 60 89 4th 02/03 T1 42 27 7 8 94 43 51 88 2nd 03/04 T1 42 29 5 8 96 40 56 92 3rd 04/05 T1 42 25 9 8 75 49 26 84 4th 05/06 T1 42 23 10 9 85 44 41 79 5th 06/07 T1 38 27 8 3 87 27 60 89 1st Total 614 299 133 182 1134 787 347 1030
One from Gary’s archives and a Sunday FA Cup victory for Borough:
Date: 15/09/1988 FA Cup – 1st Qualifying Round, second replay At: Privett Park GOSPORT BOROUGH (1) 4 BRISTOL MANOR FARM (0) 3
Gosport Borough: Stares; Juryeff, Wiltshire; Lowman (sub: Callahan 64), Mahoney, Winning; Lewsley, Lappage, Unitt, Pope, Hawes Notes: Back to the days when FA Cup ties would be decided no matter how many replays it took and Borough battled out a close win against Western League side Bristol Manor Farm. The previous games were 1-1 (in Bristol) and 2-2 (at Gosport) and it took this third encounter on a Sunday afternoon to decide it. The name Ally Unitt will be one that would trigger a few memories with Borough followers as he was an ‘old fashioned’ sort of forward and a serial goal-getter down there and he didn’t disappoint in this encounter. Unitt put Borough ahead when he hit an awkward bouncing ball on the half-volley and kept it down well in the 34th minute. It was a rare exciting moment in a rather dull first half. The second half was a different story. The eagle-eyed referee spotted a shove on Unitt in the box and this gave penalty expert Gary Juryeff an opportunity to make it 2-0 and he buried it well away from the keeper and into the corner on 55 minutes. Farm got a goal back when Ian Carr’s mishit effort snuck just inside the far post. The scores were tied when a shot came down off the bar and Dean Newman was there to strike it home. When a cross from the left came into the Farm box, it appeared to strike a visiting player which the ref considered was deliberate handball and Juryeff netted with a carbon copy penalty from earlier. Farm kept battling and it was only in the 87th minute that Unitt made it 4-2 with a stylish goal, taking it past a defender then neatly side-stepping a crude attempt to haul him down, coolly took it to the keeper, got past him and rolled it into an empty net – pure Unitt class! Borough’s Lewsley was carried off and with Gosport down to ten men (still back in the days of one substitute permitted), Steve Garrett prodded the ball home for Farm’s third goal but it proved too late for his side.
Footnote: Borough exited 2-1 at Oxford City at the next stage. Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 20 of 24
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PIPPED AT THE POST
The above is usually regarded as horse racing terminology but very much applies to the outcome of the Premier Division Title race in 2017/18 when Andover Town and Blackfield & Langley conjured up a very dramatic finish to a season that embraced forty two League matches for each. A look now as to how it panned out month by month. AUGUST With so many League matches to play it was a busier than usual start to the season with the two Clubs playing eleven matches between them during the month and both scoring freely throughout. After a single goal win over Amesbury on the Waterside, Blackfield scored four without reply at Bournemouth (Jamie White 3) and then demonstrated their credentials with a ten goal hammering of Petersfield at Gang Warily. Best of five goal wins over Shaftesbury (away) and Fareham (home) and a 2-1 defeat of Bashley completed a very successful start to the season. Andover in turn began with two impressive home wins; 6-1 over near neighbours Bemerton and 3-1 over perpetual Title challengers Sholing before taking to the road, and sea, for wins at Team Solent 3-1 and Newport 4-0 and then finishing with a two goal defeat of Amesbury to ensure a one hundred per cent record for both Clubs PL W D L F A Pts Blackfield 6 6 0 0 23 5 18 Andover Town 5 5 0 0 18 3 15 SEPTEMBER More goals, more wins and more points. Blackfield won their first five games, three at home and two away, before dropping their first points of the season. Sholing, Bemerton and Horndean were beaten at home – the latter 6-0 with a second hat trick for Liam Robinson (he claimed three against Petersfield the previous month) whilst their travels saw them score two at Team Solent and one at Cowes Sports without reply before Hamble Club held them to a one all draw at Gang Warily to end their one hundred per cent record. Andover had just one match at The Portway – a five one defeat of Bashley – and won 5-3 at Cowes and by the odd goal in three at Lymington before, in turn, losing their one hundred per cent record in a one all draw at Portland. PL W D L F A Pts Blackfield 12 11 1 0 38 7 34 Andover Town 9 8 1 0 31 9 25 OCTOBER The number of games played swung very much in Andover’s favour with Blackfield playing only three with just one win. Team Solent were beaten 3-0 at home and there was a goalless draw at Alresford before their visit to the Portway ended in a 5-3 defeat. If one is allowed to interject a personal observation, I saw 72 matches over the course of the season and that game at the Portway was by far the best. Superb football, eight goals and a credit to all involved. Prior to the win over their rivals Andover had beaten Portchester at home and Shaftesbury at Cockrams before a superb second half display saw Hamble Club defeated 6-1 in a game that, as with the visit of Blackfield, attracted an attendance around the 250 mark. A successful month finished with wins over Bournemouth at home and Fareham at Cams Alders and saw them heading Blackfield In the table for the first time. PL W D L F A Pts Andover Town 15 14 1 0 53 18 43 Blackfield 15 12 2 1 44 12 38 NOVEMBER Less games played and a defeat for both Clubs. Andover had four consecutive away fixtures that saw wins at Baffins, Petersfield and Brockenhurst and a 3-0 defeat at Alresford, their first of the season and deserved on the day, The only home game saw three points gained at the expense of Cowes, courtesy of a victory by the odd goal in three. Two home, two away for Blackfield with Portland winning 3-2 at Gang Warily and Baffins going down 2-0 while a goalless draw on the Island at Newport was followed by a hard fought two goal win at Portchester. Thursday, 09 April 2020 Page 21 of 24
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PL W D L F A Pts Andover Town 20 18 1 1 63 24 55 Blackfield 19 14 3 2 50 15 45 DECEMBER A highly successful end to the year for Blackfield with five League matches, four wins and a draw all without conceding a goal. At home they scored six and three against Brockenhurst and Bournemouth respectively (Sam Griffin 3 in the latter). Away from the Waterside Hamworthy were beaten 2-0, there was a goalless draw at Horndean and a 4-0 win at Hamble Club on New Year’s Eve. Andover lost at home for the first time when Hamworthy won by the odd goal in three but Shaftesbury were beaten 2-0 and the double completed over Bemerton with a 3-1 win at Western Way, They too enjoyed New Year’s Eve with a 5-2 win over Alresford . PL W D L F A Pts Andover Town 24 21 1 2 74 29 64 Blackfield 24 18 5 2 67 17 59 JANUARY The turn of the year and a five point lead for Andover with equal games played but a surfeit of Cup matches meant that Blackfield only played one League match in the month, drawing two each with Cowes in a game in which some “strange” refereeing left the two sides almost frightened to tackle each other amidst an absolute proliferation of yellow cards. Andover shared the points in a two all draw at Hamble Club but collected maximum points from their three home games. Brockenhurst and Horndean were beaten 3-0 and 2-0 respectively and in a highly entertaining game, Petersfield succumbed 5-3. One of the Andover goals, a ferocious 30 yard free kick from Mike Gosney , was probably their goal of the season. PL W D L F A Pts Andover Town 28 24 2 2 86 34 74 Blackfield 25 18 5 2 67 17 59 FEBRUARY Cups, and possibly the weather, meant the sides played only six matches between them. Andover beat Newport 2-0 at home and scored the only goal of the game at Portchester while Blackfield beat Shaftesbury at home and lost to Alresford as well as going down 2-1 to Bashley in the Forest. They did however possibly, and deservedly, win the game that mattered most; 3-1 as Andover visited Gang Warily - but with two months to go the points difference was now nine and Andover seemingly very much in pole position. PL W D L F A Pts Andover Town 31 25 2 4 85 38 77 Blackfield 29 21 5 3 76 20 68 MARCH Two months remaining and Blackfield still had 13 League matches left but Cup fixtures meant that only three were played and all resulted in victories with no goals conceded. A 3-0 home win over Portchester was followed by two successful trips to Wiltshire. Liam Robinson scored another hat trick as Bemerton were beaten 8-0 in front of just 39 spectators and two goals secured the points at Amesbury. Andover played double the number of games and kept their hopes high with 15 points. Portland and Lymington were beaten at home and Manny Soetan scored a hat trick in the final ten minutes to ensure a win at Hamworthy. Two more goals from the same player were enough at Bournemouth and Bashley were beaten 2-1 in the Forest but there was something of a reality check at the Portway when a very impressive display by Baffins saw them gain a 3-1 victory leaving the position with one month remaining as follows:- PL W S L F A Pts Andover Town 37 30 2 5 99 45 92 Blackfield 32 24 5 3 89 20 77 APRIL The age old conundrum – games in hand or points in the bank? One would be proved correct. By the 14th of the month Blackfield had played six League matches in twelve days and won five of them. Newport and Lymington were beaten at home – three for Lerone Plummer against the Islanders - and four consecutive
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away matches yielded wins over Sholing (4-2), Portland (5-1), Petersfield (4-0) and a goalless draw in the return at Lymington. In the same period Andover gained four points at home – Solent (3-3) and Fareham (4-3) but lost by the odd goal in five at Horndean. So midway through the month and the points difference had narrowed to three and Blackfield still had two games in hand. Blackfield lost 4-2 at Baffins but scored four without reply at Fareham while Andover finished their programme with a two goal defeat at Sholing and a 4-0 victory at Amesbury leaving the Waterside Club needing four points from two games though, given their much superior goal difference three would be enough. These were duly achieved with a single goal defeat of Hamworthy at Gang Warily before in something of an anti-climax their final game at Brockenhurst was called off by the match referee – a decision far from universally agreed or popular. The game was played in early May and the one all draw enabled Blackfield to finish one point clear of their long tome rivals. PL W D L F A Pts Blackfield 42 31 7 4 118 28 100 Andover Town 42 32 3 7 116 56 99
It was an astonishing final month for Blackfield and a tribute to the commitment shown by all at the club while Andover, after leading for so long, were caught in the finishing straight but immense credit to both clubs who then very much went their different ways. Blackfield took promotion and have gone on to the Southern League Premier Division while Andover, for reasons that have never been made fully clear, rewarded all those who had worked so hard all season by opting to drop down a Division. In the end it was Blackfield’s year and in these troubled times the last word goes to their ever cheerful Secretary; SLAINTE MHATH.
WEEK 37 - THE LAST WORD
Here's the thoughts of Laurence Jones, The FA's Head of the National League System... “Today, (Thursday 9 April 2020) the FA Council ratified the decisions made by the committee and league representatives to end the 2019-20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game. This ratification was an endorsement that the correct decision was taken across those Leagues subject to the decision. The result of today’s vote from Council members was overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying the decisions. We know that it is impossible to reach decisions that will please everybody. We entirely sympathise with the teams that oppose the decision affecting their leagues, some of which have perfectly understandable reasons for wanting to see the 2019-20 league season continue. But it is important to emphasise that the decisions they took were made in the best interests of all the Leagues, as a collective, and in consultation with key stakeholders across English football. Decision making - Steps 1-4 are represented through the Alliance Committee, while the Leagues Committee represents Steps 5-7. In this case, the FA Board also considered the decisions and were supportive. The relevant committees presented their collective decisions to the FA Council for ratification. The FA Council comprises 118 Council members with representatives across every level of English football. 16 of the Council members are non-voting, which means that 102 members were eligible to vote on this decision. The threshold for approval and ratification is a simple majority, which was calculated as a percentage of all those who voting for and against the decision. Ending the season - The overriding and understandable message from across the leagues was that clubs wanted and needed a quick decision on how the 2019-20 season can be most appropriately concluded. The current reality is that there is uncertainty regarding when the ongoing and necessary social distancing measures can be removed to the point where football can safely resume at this level. The overwhelming feeling across the Leagues and the FA was that temporarily postponing the 2019-20 season, and resuming at a later date, would create great uncertainty on a number of issues which include: player contracts and squads; scheduling of the 2020-21 season; and the ongoing financial impact on clubs.
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2019/20 EDITION NUMBER 41
In some leagues, clubs have as many as 16 matches left to play. On the basis that a club was able to play up to two matches per week, this would require at least eight weeks to play out those fixtures. This is before consideration is given to time needed for players to become match fit and for play-off matches to take place prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Notwithstanding the fact that it may not be possible at this level, practically or logistically, for clubs to play up to two matches per week. With any restart highly unlikely before 1 June 2020, the situation regarding the expiration of many players’ contracts and registrations would also add uncertainty for many clubs, and it may not be possible for players to play more frequently due to the requirements of their primary jobs. All these situations pose significant operational challenges in managing the scheduling of the remaining fixtures across these Leagues and, as a result, consideration had to be given to any consequential promotion or relegation at the end of the 2019-20 season. With these challenges in mind, the consensus reached by the FA through relevant committees comprised of league representatives, was to bring the 2019-20 season to an immediate end with no promotion or relegation. It means clubs, players, volunteers and supporters are provided with certainty and allows focus to turn to preparing for the 2020-21 season. Points Per Match vs expunging results - I understand that this decision has inevitably caused some clubs, players and supporters to feel a sense of injustice and those feelings are entirely understandable. This is not an easy time for anyone in football and we understand that there is no decision that will suit everyone. We sympathise with those clubs that are currently occupying promotion spots – or those hopeful of securing promotion. Some believe that it would be better to opt for a Points Per Match [PPM] model to conclude the remainder of the season, as oppose to expunging results. Both options, and the potential implications of each, were considered at length by all involved. The truth is that the consequence of clubs being promoted is that others will need to be relegated. The application of a PPM model would result in certain clubs that currently sit above the relegation zone falling into those places. Equally, there would be certain clubs that currently sit in a play-off position that would not qualify as a result of the PPM Model. The PPM model also doesn’t address the issue of how to deal with play-off matches and how to identify a winner who would consequently benefit from promotion. In addition, most of the clubs facing relegation will be of the view that they stood a chance of avoiding it due to the number of games remaining in the season and they may consider it to be unfair for them to be denied the opportunity to secure safety through sporting merit. It is impossible to find a solution that works for everybody, so the decision was based on two main factors. Firstly, the potential financial impact on clubs during this uncertain period, and secondly, the fairest method on how to decide the sporting outcomes for the season, with the integrity of the leagues in mind. Some have referenced the fact the PPM model has been used to determine promotion and relegation in the past, which is correct, but only in cases where clubs are compared across different leagues, with the season having been completed and all clubs having played their fixtures. Next steps - This has been a robust and thorough process that has seen the FA and leagues across all Steps consider each viable option in light of COVID-19. We always keep the integrity of competitions at the forefront of our minds in making the decision. The constitutions for Steps 3-7 will remain the same next season, and we will continue to reposition Step 7 as Regional NLS Feeder Leagues. We’re also continuing to undertake a review of the ground-grading process, having recently extended our deadline to 31 July 2020 to give clubs more time to complete any works. We know that at this level of the game, the biggest challenge facing clubs is finance. We continue to work closely with Government to ensure that the financial impact on clubs, many of whom play a crucial role in their local communities, is highlighted and that clubs have the same opportunities to access financial relief support that the Government has put in place for COVID-19. I personally want to thank the football community for working towards a solution during this hugely challenging period. Our thoughts remain with those affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 and I look forward to a time when we can enjoy the game again, together.”
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