WEALDSTONE v TRURO CITY WHERE ARE THEY NOW? I played in the last game at Lower Mead but at the time I didn’t appreciate the history and emotion of the occasion.Now I know what an honour it was to be involved SAYS WAYNE ROACH Nothing in the handle the ‘job-share’? UK! Prior to join- It was all good from my side, ing Wealdstone I’d David was a good guy and we played for Auckland got on very well. based teams in New He had spent quite a number Zealand, and I returned of seasons at Wimbledon FC BY ROGER SLATER home when I left the Stones. as a full time pro in his youth Once again I played for local so I tried to learn off him. He sides in the National and Re- suffered a very bad facial injury ew Zealander Wayne gional leagues over here, finally in one of the first games he Roach joined Wealdstone hanging up the gloves in 2000. played for Wealdstone I recall (his only UK club) at the WHAT brought you to and I think that knocked his Nstart of the 1990-91 season Wealdstone and did you know confidence a lot. remaining with the club for two anyone at the club when you LOOKING back on those two years, making 59 starts and joined? seasons, imagine you are three substitute appearances I had always wanted to go back in the dressing room….. in all competitions. He is the overseas to play football, a who are the players that founder member I suppose of coach of mine in NZ knew one stand out and why? the Wealdstone New Zealand of the Wealdstone Reserve team I honestly I think we had some Supporters Club (soon coaches so it was arranged from very talented players then but followed by Andy Hedge and there. week in week out they didn’t more recently Chris Zoricich) But it was a time of change perform to their potential. The and he still follows the results and turmoil at the club and quite two players that stand out most today from his homeland. different to what I was use to in are Neil Cordice and Tiv Lowe. He’s been married twice and NZ. Some things were good and Neil for his attitude, condition- has three children and he lives some not so good as I suppose ing and will to win whereas Tiv now in Pukekohe, just south of you find at every club, but it was a very clever player and Auckland, working in Inter- wasn’t too hard to fit in. I just technically very good. national Sea and Air Freight. wanted to play! STONES fans are known Wayne answers our probing WE seemed to use a great for “sharing their opinions” questions... number of goalkeepers during – how aware where you of YOU joined Wealdstone in that spell, though you and that personally or when it August 1990, leaving at the end David Hudson shared the job was aimed at team-mates? of 1992. What was the career in the main replacing Chris How did you handle that as before and after? Vagg – How did you and he player? WEALDSTONE v TRURO CITY WHERE ARE THEY NOW? good mates Dave Boughton (as met some fantastic people and Manager) and Miles Milton. I still want to see the Club do DO you get back to the UK well. The fans were (and I imagine still at all? Would you take in a Anything else you want to are) fantastic! From my perspec- match? I only went back to tell us? A good friend of mine tive most times they were fairly England once and that was in who I played a lot of football spot on. The criticisms were well 1998. Unfortunately time didn’t with since we were eight deserved and I was a pretty harsh permit me to take in a game, but years old ended up playing for critic of my performances anyway maybe one day I’ll get another Wealdstone around 2005. so it never bothered me. chance. Next time I’ll definitely I thought that was a great co- YOU actually played in the last take in a match….I hope The incidence and pretty cool. His two games at Lower Mead – Stones are at home! name? Chris Zoricich. When I against Cambridge in a ground You mentioned that you follow played at Wealdstone I use to charged with emotion, and ten the results on the internet - go watch him playing at Leyton days later in a Capital League does Wealdstone get in your Orient…. match. What do you remember blood or is that just some- of those days? Thanks Wayne, You are thing for the fans? close to Hedgie and Zoro I remember the last Cambridge For me I became a fan, I really – perhaps get together and game. I guess at the time I didn’t enjoyed my time at Wealdstone, watch us on Match of The appreciate the history and Day sometime…. emotion involved for all the loyal and long-serving fans as I was just a new kid in town. Looking back now it was a real honour being involved in the match. FROM Lower Mead to Vicarage Road – what did you and the players make of the change? Was it hard to adjust? The facilities (in particular the changing rooms, floodlight- ing & playing surface) at Vicarage were fantastic…… only problem was that the opposing teams really liked it too and lifted their game accordingly! It made it hard to get results and we’d lost the atmosphere of Lower Mead…. WHAT are the best and worse memories of your time at the club? The worst memories were the results during that period and last injury I had which led to the club letting me go and I returned to NZ soon after. Graham Sharpe’s report of the I took so many good last game at Lower Mead... a memories away from the bit of a damp squib as a match, club to name them all… but as an occasion it’s right up but to name a few would there. The final paragraph is a be friendships made that I quote from chairman Alan still have, becoming a fan Clifton: ‘Lower Mead is dead, of Wealdstone, playing Long live the Stones’ which the last game at Lower was pretty rich coming from a Mead, helping win the man who subsequently did his Suburban League with the best to administer the last rites Reserves in 1990 with my MATCH SPONSORS What better way to celebrate an occasion or advertise your company’s support of Wealdstone? Our comprehensive match day sponsorship involves you or your company in every aspect of the match. To find out more, contact club president Paul Rumens [email protected], (07710 929692) or Peter Worby (07967 698370). Specific requests can be negotiated, and prices start from £295 +VAT for four guests. Matchday partner packages are available from £59 per person, and tailor-made packages from five up to 30 persons are available on request. MATCH Sponsors FULHAM VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH In Memory of Karl Schmitt Saturday, 8th July CONCORD RANGERS VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Ray Corner & Pete Carter Saturday, 5th August HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Wealdstone FC Supporters Club Monday, 14th August CHELMSFORD CITY In memory of VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Miriam Goodman Saturday, 19th August John Jones HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Half Way Line Tea Bar Monday, 28th August BOGNOR REGIS TOWN Martin & In memory of VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 9th September Syl Allen Derek Reader POOLE TOWN Your Name Your Name Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Monday, 11th September Here? Here? Here? FAVERSHAM TOWN FA CUP 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND Dominic Whyley Saturday, 16th September WHITEHAWK VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Douglas John West Saturday, 7th October TRURO CITY VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH David Leigh Saturday, 21st October HUNGERFORD TOWN In Memory of Naomi Peter Smallwood VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 11th November Benveniste & Jack Foran BRAINTREE TOWN VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Ian Stapleton Saturday, 2nd December HERE’S WHAT MATCH SPONSORS GET: • 4 admission tickets, each with a seat in the directors’ area of the main stand • 4 match day programmes • Full hospitality prior, during (half time) and after the match in the board room • You or your organisation’s name featured prominently here in the programme • You or your organisation’s name announced over the PA to the crowd • You or your organisation’s name featuring prominently on the club website leading up to the game • A meeting with the manager post match • A memento of your special day. • Your nomination of the ‘man of the match’ announced over the PA at full time. • Your picture taken in the boardroom with your chosen man of the match. MATCH Sponsors ST ALBANS CITY Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Tony Platt Sentinel7 Saturday, 23rd December Here? HAMPTON & RICHMOND Your Name Your Name Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Monday, 1st January Here? Here? Here? GLOUCESTER CITY Your Name Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Sentinel7 Saturday, 13th January Here? Here? WESTON-SUPER-MARE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH In Memory of Steve Pegg Saturday, 27th January WELLING UNITED VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Wealdstone Ladies Team Saturday, 3rd February DARTFORD Your Name Your Name Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 17th February Here? Here? Here? OXFORD CITY VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Martin Seacombe Saturday, 3rd March EASTBOURNE BOROUGH VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Preston Manor Century Boys Saturday, 17th March EAST THURROCK UNITED Your Name Your Name Your Name VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Saturday, 31st March Here? Here? Here? BATH CITY Mark Lloyd – in VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH ProKit UK Saturday, 7th April memory of Ian Spicer CHIPPENHAM TOWN VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Torben Prestwich – For all the volunteers at WFC Saturday, 21st April WORLD of BALL The column for Wealdstone fans to air their views on the wonderful world of football.