THAME UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB Official Programme www.thamefootball.co.uk Facebook: @thameunitedfc The Buildbase FA Trophy First Round Proper Tuesday 08 December 2020 Thame United V Bognor Regis Town OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME SPONSOR WWW.REDKITERADIO.COM, TUNE IN AT 107.2 FM, facebook.com/redkiteradio WELCOME Good evening and welcome to the ASM Today we welcome a Bognor Regis Town Stadium for this Buildbase FA Trophy First side who currently site 10th in the Isthmian Round Proper fixture between Thame United League Premier Division (Step 3) and who and Bognor Regis Town. A warm welcome to come in to the match having defeated all the players, officials and supporters from Tooting and Mitcham United (2-0) in the Bognor Regis and we wish them all an previous round. enjoyable stay and a safe journey home. It has been a number of years since we last There has been a lot written over recent days played ‘The Rocks’, albeit some 15-20 years in connection with the decision of the ago it was a regular fixture when we both Alliance Leagues (Steps 3 and 4) to suspend competed in the Ryman League. league fixtures pending future reviews of the ‘Tier’ system and/or funding allocations. The We have met twice before in the FA decision, that reflected the view of the Trophy, although both will be occasions to majority of Member Clubs, was undertaken forget. In the 1997-98 season we lost 4-0 primarily in the interests of integrity, equality away in the first round qualifying, before and fairness across the respective being beaten 5-1 at home in the second competitions. Indeed, the Southern League round qualifying in 2001-02 – so we will be has Clubs in Tiers 1, 2 and 3, each with hoping for something a bit different this differing operational controls, and it was time. important that Member Clubs acted responsibly and collectively to ensure that A reminder that the game will be played to those Clubs in Tier 3 – with the greatest level of a finish this evening. If the match is level operational limitations - were not ‘cut adrift’ after 90 minutes there will be no extra time, by the decisions that, perhaps, would not rather the match will go straight to reflect that wider collective. penalties. For whoever is the victor, the next round of the Competition will take place We do, of course, understand the desire to be next Tuesday (15th December) able to play and watch football – and the social, physical and mental health benefits Enjoy the match. that brings – and we await the outcome over the coming weeks of future reviews in the Jake Collinge (Chairman) hope that we will return to that position in the near future. FROM THE MANAGEMENT Good Evening and a warm but equally chilly welcome back to the ASM Stadium for tonight’s FA Trophy game against Bognor Regis Town. We hope Jack Pearce his management team, players, supporters and officials have a safe journey home later. Both sides come into tonight’s game having had an enforced break due to the national lockdown and the suspension of league games. No doubt, you will have seen the statements from the leagues at Step 3 & 4 and the decision to continue with the suspension of football at this level, disappointing for us all but a decision we respect. Let us hope for some positive news later this month and we are able to restart competitive football in the near future. Tonight’s game should be full of energy with players from both sides making the most of the opportunity playing again and desperate to progress into the next round. The month off has enabled us to recover from one or two knocks so we come into tonight’s game with a full squad giving us selection dilemma’s which is nice problem! The winner of tonight’s game will play the next round a week today after the draw tomorrow night, we will be doing everything we can for that to be us and extend another week of football! As we said earlier we expect a tough game tonight against a very good Bognor side who play at Step 3 and have made a good start to their league campaign. We will have to produce a top performance tonight, limit our mistakes and capitalise on any opportunities we get which we are very capable of. Let’s hope for a good entertaining game of football tonight. If tonight doesn’t go our way then it just leaves us all to wish you a very merry Christmas and lets all hope for a happy and healthy 2021. The Management Team. THAME UNITED BOGNOR REGIS TOWN Chris Rackley 1 Amadu Tangara Harry Mepham 2 Calvin Davis David Lynn 3 Tom Cooney Harry Tucker 4 Harvey Whyte Callum Mapley 5 Joe Cook Jenson Wright 6 Ethan Robb Greg Hackett 7 Sam Dowridge Ben Sturgess 8 Jake Flannigan Lynton Goss 9 Jordy Mongoy Dan West 10 Tommy Leigh Ryan Blake 11 Bradley Lethbridge Joe Wylie 12 Keaton Wood Jack Tutton 14 Ashton Leigh Tom Ashworth 15 Alfie Lis Liam Tack 16 Jason Parish Matt Peake-Pijnen 17 Kayne Friedrick-Roberts Mark West Manager Jack Pearce Stuart Blaik Assistant Ben Johnson Coach Robbie Blake MATCH OFFICIALS (Ref) J Perry (Asst 1) E Turner (Asst 2) D Evans THAME UNITED HISTORY Thame United were formed in 1883 making it one of a clause in the tenancy agreement and evicted the club Oxfordshires' oldest clubs. The early years were spent in from Windmill Road. However, shortly thereafter Thame various Oxfordshire Leagues and in 1906, 1909 and 1910 United reached a formal agreement with the new Thame won the Oxfordshire Senior Cup and the Senior owners of Windmill Road that secured £1.7 million to League in 1907,1908, 1910, 1930 and 1931. A switch to enable a new facility to be constructed in the town and, the Hellenic League then brought further success after several options had been explored and found to be culminating in the Hellenic League title in 1961-62 and available, settled on Church Farm on the northern edge 1969-70, as well as being runners up in 1960-61, 1976-77 of the town. Whilst the Club progressed procurement of and 1980-81. The Oxfordshire Senior Cup was won in both the new site, and the necessary planning permission, a 1976 and 1981 but a poor spell in the mid eighties ground share agreement was reached with neighbours preceded a crossing of the pyramid in 1988-89 to join the Aylesbury United and, with the side struggling at the foot South Midlands League. The Club finished runners up in of the Southern League Division 1 West, Tony Joyce both 1988-89 and 1989-90 before eventually winning the resigned in December 2005, with a new joint managerial title in 1990-91. partnership of Richard Searl and Alan Thorne appointed. Relegation to the Hellenic League was confirmed later in Thame received the green light to join the Diadora League the season. A ground share agreement was reached with in 1991/92. 1994-95 saw the Club win the Division 2 AFC Wallingford for the 2006/07 season. Mark West Championship with 93 points - an 11 point margin. In returned to the Club mid-way through the season but 1995/96 the Club reached the 3rd Round Qualifying in the could not save the Club from relegation to the Hellenic FA Cup and the FA Trophy. In the league we finished a League Division 1 East. The 2007/08 season provided creditable 13th in our first ever season in the Isthmian greater stability for the Club, with Mark West and new League Division One. Andy Sinnott was appointed first assistant, Frank Thompson, looking after first team team manager in June 1997 and, with a dramatically affairs. A mid-table finish resulted, which was followed reduced operating budget, the side were relegated into by a ninth placed finish in 2008/09. 2009/10 saw the Ryman Division Two. The Club bounced straight back into Club win the Division 1 East title by six points and Ryman Division One and reached the semi-finals of the FA reclaim their place in the Premier Division. Vase. 1999/2000 saw the Club come within two points of achieving promotion to the Premier Division. The 2010/11 season was the most significant in the Club’s recent history. With work on a new £3.1m ground 2000/2001 season the team lead the way for most of the at Meadow View Park commencing in March 2010, season, putting together a club record of 12 consecutive United returned to Thame at the ASM Stadium on 11 league wins but a slump in form in the latter part of the December 2010, just over five years after their enforced season resulted in a 5th place finish. A mid-table finish eviction from the town. Boasting eight pitches, a floodlit followed in 2001/2002 season but the Oxfordshire Senior 3G training pitch and 8000sqft clubhouse, United now Cup was retained. Mark West was appointed have one of the best sporting facilities in the County. The player/manager when Andy left United during the official opening against Oxford United on 18th January Summer of 2003. In October 2003 the Club reached the 2011 set a record crowd of 1,382. 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in its history, before being beaten 1-2 by Conference side Season 2016-17 was one of the most successful in the Farnborough Town.