THE CITIZENS POST WCFC v Mangotsfield United FC Saturday 29th December 2018 Evo-Stik League South Division One South Thanks to Andy Corner for the Photography Winchester City Football Club is a committee run members club and as such is an unincorporated association. THE CITIZENS POST FROM THE BOARDROOM Good Afternoon All and welcome to the Simplyhealth City Ground for today’s Evo-Stik League South Division One South fixture between Winchester City FC and Mangotsfield United FC. We would like to issue a warm welcome to the Players, Officials and Supporters that have made the journey from the West Country and we hope you enjoy your afternoon with us and have a safe journey home. City were beaten last time out with a 3-0 home loss against Moneyfields. Despite playing well, the hosts were unable to find the target and Moneyfields took their chances well. Today is our last home game of what has been an exciting and successful 2018. Craig Davis’ side have produced some memorable performances in the last twelve months, not to mention the tremendous FA Cup earlier this season. City begin the new year with a trip to Blackfield and Langley on New Year’s Day, kick-off at 13:00 before a home game with Cinderford Town on Saturday 5th January. Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to seeing you back here at the Simplyhealth City Ground on Saturday 5th. Enjoy the game! #youcitizens THE CITIZENS POST DAVO’S DIARY Good afternoon and a warm welcome to Mangotsfield United for this afternoon’s last game of 2018. I wish their players, staff and supporters a pleasant stay with us and a safe trip home. Boxing Day was a really disappointing game for us all, there was no doubt we played some really good football and should have been comfortably ahead before they scored, from then on that pattern continued with us playing all the football and them playing long balls and physically out powering us, don’t get me wrong, we are not afraid of a physical encounter, but Moneyfields are on another level, credit to them by no means is it a criticism from me, however, it’s not how I would want to have my side playing week in week out, there are elements of it that I wish we had though! Player news we are without Rob Carr injured but hope to have Flooksy back which is a bonus as we have missed him. We also have doubts over several other players including Jamie Barron, we will see how they all shape up when they arrive. One final thing I wanted to say a huge thanks for all of the support over this year, we have had some very special days together and let’s hope that we can have plenty more in 2019! We have lost some major characters and special people this year in Terry Bone and Tina Elkins, they are sadly missed however we will never forget them, let’s hope we can have a great year next year in their honour. Enjoy the game! Up the citizens! Davo THE CITIZENS POST TODAY’S VISITORS – MANGOTSFIELD UNITED FC CLUB HISTORY The 2018/19 season is Mangotsfield’s 19th campaign as a Southern League club. This is their tenth season in the Evo-Stik League South - Division One South, previously finishing 9th in 2009/10, 3rd in 2010/11, (but losing the play-off semi-final, 1-3 to Frome Town), 14th in 2011/12, 13th in 2012/13, 11th in 2013/14, 10th in 2014/15, 14th in 2015/16, 8th in 2016/17, & 16th in 2017/18. The Board of Directors comprises, Mike Richardson as Chairman, & Pete Crowley as Director of Football Club Development. There has been football in the village since 1888 and four years later, Mangotsfield FC became a founder member of the Bristol & District League (later to become the Western Football League in 1895) but the club folded after 10 years. From 1898 until the 1950s, Mangotsfield FC was disbanded and subsequently reformed on several occasions. In January 1951, the parent club dispensed with the Reserve X1 for financial reasons leaving many local players without a team to play for. These players decided to form a new club in the village and at the start of the 1951-52 season, the newly-established Mangotsfield United FC was entered into the Bristol & District League, Division Vll. They achieved five successive promotions and gained entry to the Bristol & District Premier Combination in 1957. The club remained there until 1972-73, when it was accepted in to the Western League. The Club became established in the Western League during the 1970’s and despite being relegated to the first division in 1981-82, “The Field”, as they were affectionately known, bounced straight back the following season and under the guidance of the charismatic Ralph Miller, who as Chairman, undertook the task of improving the ground and its facilities, became a force in the Premier, mainly featuring in the leading positions. In 1991, the club, managed by Harold Jarman and assisted by Terry Rowles, achieved regional glory by taking the (then) Great Mills League Premier Division title, ahead of runners-up Torrington. Disappointingly, they were denied promotion to the Southern League as their ground failed to meet the grading requirements and there followed several lean seasons as the team disbanded. Under newly-elected Chairman Richard Davis, however, off the pitch, things were improving. Terry Rowles returned to manage the club himself in 1995 and kept them in the spotlight by consistently finishing in the top three/four in the Great Mills/Screwfix League and an appearance in the FA Vase semi-final (losing to Clitheroe), but their ambitions of promotion and Southern League football were always thwarted by the continual success of Taunton and Tiverton Town. It was considered very important to establish a sound working base, improve ground facilities and secure a long-term tenure on their Cossham Street ground. In earlier years, the Roger Pullin / Richard Davis partnership had seen many improvements take place, with the installation of Conference-style floodlights and at the end of the 2003/04 season, the Cossham Street end of the ground was covered, together with new toilet blocks and social club improvements. Ex player Andy Black returned to the club as Manager in 1999 and guided the club to promotion to the Dr. Martens Southern League and three successful campaigns. The 2003/04 campaign did not go too well and just before Christmas, Black was replaced by Martyn Grimshaw. Towards the end of the campaign, Nigel Webb came in as his Assistant, but the club could only finish in 13th place, which was not high enough for the planned re-structuring of the Pyramid. The Management duo made promotion their priority in 2004/05 and the club headed the table for most of the campaign, eventually taking the Division One West title with a 21 match unbeaten run. After 28 seasons at Western League level, the club had spent just five campaigns at Southern League level before reaching the Premier Division. The club have looked for financial stability in recent years, with the need to reach out to the community and attract a broader fan-base and local sponsorship. There has been some success in that area with the Cossham Street ground currently named The GJC Commercials Ltd Stadium. Sometimes now referred to as “The Mangos”, the 2018/19 campaign, began with the first complete season with Ollie Price at the helm together with Dean Pendry as Head Coach. They were in a caretaker capacity in the latter half of the 2017/18 campaign. Their immediate aim is to return to the Southern Football League, Premier Division, where they spent four seasons from 2005-2009, finishing 10th, 9th, 14th and 22nd. THE CITIZENS POST TODAY’S VISITORS – MANGOTSFIELD UNITED FC PLAYER PROFILES OLIVER (OLLIE) PRICE – MANAGER (DOB: 12-9-1982) Has taken on the Managerial post permanently for 2018/19, after acting as caretaker in the latter half of 2017/18. He returned to Cossham Street from Frome Town, at the start of 2017/18, after he played for three seasons for us (04/05-06/07) making 88(11) appearances and scoring 5 goals. He originally signed in May 2004 from Clevedon Town where he made 139 appearances, having signed for them from Exeter City in July 2001. He was at St. James Park as a YTS player before being surprisingly released. Formed a strong partnership with Gary Warren at Cossham Street, and has also played for Paulton Rovers, Yate & Larkhall. NEIL SIMONS – ASSISTANT MANAGER Has joined Mangotsfield Utd as Assistant Manager in December 2018. He was successful as Manager at Chipping Sodbury Town and has a good knowledge of Western League and all local football. He is professional in his approach and has a good understanding of the game. DEAN PENDRY – HEAD COACH (DOB: 2-4-81) 37 year old Dean originally joined the club in July 2000, having been released from YTS level at Bristol Rovers. He proved to be a more than useful acquisition for the club during our first five seasons in the Southern League, playing on the right side of midfield and threatening defences with his darting runs. Prior to arriving at Cossham Street, Dean made a number of appearances for Screwfix League side, Bitton. Suffered a badly broken leg during May’05 and missed the whole of the 2005/06 season. He then spent a season or two with Paulton Rovers and re-signed for The Field in early October 2009.