The Kingfishers’ Top Scorer in the 2013/14 & 2014/15 Seasons, and Has Represented Many Clubs Across the Region Including Marlow, Slough Town and Oxford City
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T H E K I N G F I S H E R T H A T C H A M T O W N F O O T B A L L C L U B ' S O F F I C I A L M A T C H D A Y M A G A Z I N E S E A S O N 2 0 2 0 / 2 1 # 0 2 - P A U L T O N R O V E R S T H E B I G M A T C H THATCHAM TOWN v PAULTON ROVERS Saturday 19th September 2020 Pitching In Southern Football League Division 1 South Last weekend, while Thatcham were eliminated from the Emirates FA Cup by AFC Dunstable, Paulton suffered a surprise defeat at Saltash Town. The Cornish team, who play in the South West Peninsular League won 1-0. When the Southern League was terminated last season, Paulton sat in seventh place and had a fair chance of reaching the play-offs. At the end of August Thatcham won 2-1 at Winterfield Road, with Joe Selman and Jordan Williams scoring after David Sims-Burgess put Rovers ahead. The return fixture at the Stacatruc Stadium was not played. In the 2018/19 season Town completed the double over Paulton, winning both games 1-0. Adam Kelly scored an injury time winner here, while Kyle Tooze netted in Somerset. The previous meetings between the club came during 2013/14 when Paulton won 3-0 in Berkshire, then 4-0 at home, on their way to winning promotion via the play-offs. In midweek, Thatcham face a difficult trip to Cirencester, while Paulton host Bideford. MATCH SPONSORS To sponsor a match, the match ball, or be the mascot for a Thatcham Town home game, please speak with the club's Commercial Manager, Ben Harte. T H E M A N A G E R ' S N O T E S Good afternoon and welcome to today's Pitching In Southern Football League D1 South fixture. I would like to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Paulton Rovers and wish you all a safe journey home this evening. I would also like to welcome today's match officials, who are Mr Perry, Mr Malyon, Mr Turner and Mr Ford. There’s nothing more exciting than the first league game of the season and that’s how we feel today. We start our league campaign with optimism, no fear, and ready to face what lies ahead. Let's be under no illusions - it will be a tough season for us all as we go into it with a new group, but what we ask is that as a club we all stick together, keep believing in the team, and remaining as positive as we can throughout. We win together, we lose together! We aim to surprise a few people and we’re confident that we will do exactly that. Last weekend's game saw us on the end of a disappointing result. Having started the game well, to give away a very soft goal from a corner and then a second on the stroke of half time was very naïve. The third goal, which arguably was offside, sucked the life out of the team which was the most disappointing thing for us on the day, and the last two goals were inevitable as our energy and desire waivered. Whilst with the ball we looked competent, we felt we were too easy to score against. We won’t make any excuses, the performance was below what we expect from this group, the boys have been reminded of our standards and we have worked hard this week to correct some of the issues which were very much of our own doing. We have an honest group of lads who recognise this and they will be back today giving everything to fight for the points. We won’t stand still and are working to improve the squad as it is evident we do need to add some experience. As I write these notes we are 50/50 in hoping to get a signing over the line for Paulton. We continue to trust these lads, and as said before just ask you to get behind each and every one of them. Today sees us take on Paulton Rovers. They were a top 6 side last year so will provide a difficult test. We’re ready for the challenge and hope it’s an enjoyable game. Thank for you for your support, Jamie T H A T C H A M ' S M A N A G E M E N T Jamie Leacock (Manager) A former Kingfishers captain, who was the club's right-back in its early Southern League days. Moved to Hungerford Town where he won promotion to the Conference South and gained his first coaching experience. Jamie served as Assistant Manager with Wealdstone and Manager of Northwood before returning to Thatcham in May 2020. Yashwa Romeo (Assistant Manager) Returned to Thatcham as Jamie Leacock’s Assistant, having previously spent 3 seasons with the club as a player, then the 2017/18 FA Vase & Hellenic League winning season as a Coach. Yash was the Kingfishers’ top scorer in the 2013/14 & 2014/15 seasons, and has represented many clubs across the region including Marlow, Slough Town and Oxford City. Shaun Allaway (Coach) Joined Thatcham as a Coach following the managerial appointment of Jamie Leacock in May 2020. Shaun is a former England Youth international goalkeeper, who joined Leeds United from Reading for £300k in 2000, before moving into non-league for regular first team football with Slough Town and Staines Town. Ghaffar Ghoddusi (Coach) Moved across to West Berkshire in June 2020 to become a Coach in the new management team, having performed a similar role with Hellenic League Premier Division outfit Reading City. ‘G’ works for Reading FC in their Community Department and is a UEFA B coaching licence candidate. Declan Dowling (Physio) Joined Thatcham Town as Physio in August 2018 as the Kingfishers re- entered the Southern League. Declan works as a Sports Therapist, and has previously performed the role of Physio for several clubs in his native Ireland, including most recently Sligo Rovers. T H A T C H A M ' S P L A Y E R S Curtis Meare (Goalkeeper) Returns to Thatcham having originally spent a short spell with the club at the start of the 2016/17 campaign. Curtis is an experienced shot-stopper who has previously played for Wantage Town, Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Shrivenham Town. George Legg (Goalkeeper) A 6 foot 5 stopper who started with Reading FC where he featured in the Checkatrade Trophy and was on the bench for some Championship games. George has played in the Football League with Barnet, and has enjoyed loan spells with Hendon, Hungerford Town and Boreham Wood. Joshua Edwards (Defender) A powerful centre-half who previously played for Thatcham’s Youth Team, making a handful of first team appearances in the Hellenic League during the 2014/15 season. After playing for Flackwell Heath, Josh has returned to Thatcham from our near neighbours Basingstoke Town. Kallum Thomas (Defender) A left-back who has joined the club from Fairford Town who were third in the Hellenic Premier Division last season when Coronavirus struck. Kallum has previously played for Hungerford Town where he won their Young Player of the Season award. Tinashe Gwavava (Defender) An athletic right-back who is another former Youth Team player to return to the club. Since leaving Waterside Park he has played for the Hungerford Town Academy, then gained experience of first team football with Royal Wootton Bassett Town, then Tadley Calleva in the Wessex League Premier. Michael Miller (Defender & Captain) The club’s longest serving player, having joined in 2016/17 from Winchester City. Michael has made over 100 appearances for the club, mostly at right-back and central defence, and was part of the FA Vase & Hellenic League Premier winning squad. Had a loan spell with Royal Wootton Bassett Town last season to maintain fitness. T H A T C H A M ' S P L A Y E R S Aaron Voller (Defender) Aaron is a former youth team player who broke into the club’s first team in the 2014/15 season, making 20 appearances at right-back and centre- back, winning the club’s Young Player of the Season award. He has returned following a few years studying at Nottingham Trent University, where he regularly played for the university’s football team. Nathan White (Defender) A left sided defender who plays with controlled aggression and is comfortable on the ball. Nathan has most recently represented Bedfont Sports and Spelthorne Sports, and has previously played in the Southern League Premier for our local rivals Basingstoke Town. Conall Bark (Defender) Conall is a right sided defender who is equally comfortable playing at right or centre back. The 22-year-old signed for Thatcham in September '20 having spent the last couple of seasons playing for Wessex League Premier side Alresford Town. Lamar Koroma (Midfielder) Lamar joined the club at the start of the 2020/21 season having previously played for Fleet Town, Winchester City and Bedfont Sports. He is a central midfielder and his aggression and physical presence will prove valuable within the Kingfishers’ young squad. Jack Amitaga (Midfielder) Jack is a skilful ball-playing midfielder who has played for the club’s Youth Team, and last season was part of our Development Team squad and on the fringes of a first team call-up.