THE CITIZENS POST WCFC v Paulton Rovers FC Saturday 15th September 2018 Evo-Stik League South Division One South 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 Everyone! Welcome to today’s Evo-Stik League South Division One South fixture between Winchester City FC and Paulton Rovers FC. We give a particularly warm welcome to the Players, Officials and Supporters that have come to Hampshire from Paulton today. We wish you an enjoyable afternoon with us and a safe journey home. We have just about recovered from the dramatic night on Tuesday that saw us make it through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, overcoming Frome Town after extra- time. And what a game it was! A winner in the second-half of extra-time having gone behind in the first-half. We hit the post twice. Both teams missed a penalty and Frome had a man sent off in stoppage time in extra time. And that’s before we mention the dramatic floodlight fire. Work is ongoing to repair to damaged light with an update due next week. As a result of the unforeseen circumstances, the Hampshire Senior Cup tie with Hartley Wintney has now been moved from Tuesday 18th September to Tuesday 2nd October. So after today’s game, we move on to the FA Youth Cup on Thursday 20th September, when we entertain Moneyfields. Just two days later, the Citizens travel to Merthyr Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Exciting times ahead! Up the Citizens! Matt Richbell, Club Secretary. #youcitizens THE CITIZENS POST DAVO’S DIARY Good afternoon and a warm welcome to Paulton Rovers for today’s league match. As always, we wish their players, staff and supporters a pleasant afternoon and safe trip home. Paulton were tough nuts to crack last season where we had 2 draws and a loss in the cup, so we know they will be tough opponents again and we will need to be at our best to get the result we hope to achieve. It’s been a massive week; 2 games against the same higher league opposition with very little to choose between either side which is a great credit to our team to be able to match and better a side from the league above. Firstly, a draw away from home where we showed some good skills and got ahead by Tyrell, they then equalised and we had to dig in to get a draw and bring them back home. On Tuesday, it was a case of trying to finish the job off. It didn’t start well as we went behind however, Ty pulled us level but then we missed a pen before half time. From then on it was end to end, they also missed a pen and extra time was required. We got ahead with a great header by Connor Cocklin but then came the drama of floodlight failure. This was rectified pretty quickly and we saw the last 8/9 minutes off very well for a momentous victory. Along with this win will come the prize money which will be huge for us as a club and the prize for the players will be the chance to go to Merthyr and test themselves against a top side at a decent ground and we look forward to that. Before any of that though we have today to contend with and this is a just as big a game for us, especially as we have started the season ever so well with 7 games unbeaten (only a loss on pens to Gosport) in all competitions but we have come from behind in 5 of those games so we will try and start a little better and keep the run going. Today will be tough as I have a lot of respect for Paulton as a side and as a club, we will need a very good display to get a positive result. Player wise; things don’t get much better with Oli Bailey struggling with an ankle injury, Barron a bruised foot, Rawkins shoulder, Gilbert’s ankle, Short’s groin and Carr still being unavailable. However, we have somehow contended with all of that along with most of the remaining team being held together by bits of string and tape! Sam Roberts will hopefully be fit enough to be back involved which is positive and the efforts the lads have gone to is incredible so we will keep doing what we can with no doubt the support of the fans which has pulled us through so far and we can only ask that you keep that going for us as it makes such a difference. Enjoy the game and fingers crossed for another great result! Up the citizens Davo THE CITIZENS POST TODAY’S VISITORS – PAULTON ROVERS FC CLUB HISTORY Paulton Rovers were formed in 1890 by the village’s vicar and a local businessman. The club joined the Western League in 1900 and the best ever position was runners up in 2003/4 securing promotion to the Southern League. They won the Somerset Senior Cup on twelve occasions, and the Somerset Senior League seven times, the last being in 1974, when they were re-admitted to the Western League after an absence of fourteen years. Their best attendance of 2,070 (deemed maximum capacity) was on 7 November 2009 reaching the FA Cup 1st Round for the first time. The match v Norwich City was live on ITV1 and to over 30 other countries. Prior to then a crowd believed estimated at over 2,000, saw them take on Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup 5th qualifying round in 1906. After playing at several venues in the village, Rovers moved to Winterfield Road in 1954. In 1967, an old RAF hut served as the club house with a licenced bar. Soon plans were drawn mortgage to build bigger premises including skittle alley. The pitch was turned 90 degrees, so the club house is built on the one penalty area’s. The social club is now the premier venue for many social occasions within the rapidly expanding local community. New changing room block was built behind the main stand 1972, and the Club was further extended. On promotion to the Southern League the premises and stadium have been improved with the addition of another stand, and covered terracing, training facilities also include an all-weather floodlit court used by Paulton Rovers FC netball teams. It was under the management team of Darren Perrin and Mike Kilgour that, Rovers secured promotion to the Southern League. Rovers finished just outside the play-offs in the following season and Darren left for Premier Division, Chippenham Town. In July 2005 Andy Jones stepped up from Reserve Manager. In 2006/7 the club finished runners up in Division 1 South & West Division One and narrowly missed out on the play offs the following year. His successful 5 year tenure was highlighted by reaching the 1st round of the FA Cup. “Joner’s” decided to move on in 2010 and former club captain, Mark Harrington took charge but he stood down after just one season to be replaced by former player, Nick Bunyard. Paul Milsom was assistant to all 3 managers during this time. However the season ended with Rovers winning the Somerset Premier Cup for the first time with a 3-1 win over Bridgwater Town. After losing out in the play off the previous year in 2013/14 Rovers finished 4th spot and defeated Tiverton Town 3-1 in the semi final when down to 9 men, “Bunny’s” men defied the odds to win the Play off Final at Merthyr Town in front of a crowd of 2,201 and thus gain promotion to Step 3 for the first time in their history. 2014/15 finished a more creditable 10th place in the Premier Division, during the close season Bunyard, resigned for personal reasons and the club appointed Richard Fey from Bridgwater Town, but after a disappointing start he resigned and former Bath City boss Tony Ricketts took charge at end of October. Unfortunately, the club finished bottom and relegated back to Division 1 South and West. Despite stabilising things Ricketts left at the end of 2016/17 and former Rovers keeper John Rendell was appointed bringing former players Gary Powell and Paul Tovey as his assistants. THE CITIZENS POST TODAY’S VISITORS – PAULTON ROVERS FC PLAYER PROFILES JOHN RENDELL Manager John was a goalkeeper and started his career as a professional at Cardiff City, during his playing days he went on to play for Paulton Rovers where he was involved in the 2004 promotion season into the Southern League, he then gained promotion in similar fashion with Bitton and has also had spells with Cinderford Town, Mangotsfield and Yate Town. John re-joined the club as Manager in June 2017. PAUL TOVEY Assistant Manager Ex Bristol Rovers player who enjoyed spells with Sligo Rovers, Bath City, Paulton Rovers and Yate Town. An experienced campaigner who’s footballing know-how will be very welcome around the club. GARY POWELL Assistant Manager/ Coach Another ex-Bristol Rovers graduate who went on to play for Bath City, Frome Town, Paulton Rovers and Yate Town. A methodical coach with a wealth of knowledge and professionalism. AMY WHEELER Sports Therapist Amy is in her fourth season with the club having obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honours in Sports Therapy from Coventry University.