KEMPSTON ROVERS FC OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME The Evo-Stik League South Division One Central www.kempstonrovers.org Welcome Good afternoon and welcome to Hillgrounds for this Southern League Division One Central fixture We would like to extend our welcome to the players, officials and supporters of our visitors today, Welwyn Garden City. We hope you have a pleasant stay in Kempston and a safe journey home. Welwyn enjoyed a great season last year, winning the Spartan South Midlands League quite comfortably in the end. They have made a decent start to life at Step 4 and enjoyed their evening with us when the two sides met in the League Cup last month. This is the first home league game under the new management of Tony Joyce and Stuart Mellon, hopefully all at the club can get behind them and the team today and for the rest of the season. Enjoy today’s game Kempston Rovers FC is a Community Football Club Limited (Community Benefit Society Registration 7753) CLUB STATEMENT Kempston Rovers is delighted to confirm that Tony Joyce has agreed to continue as manager for the foreseeable future following last weekend’s announcement of the resignations of Jimmy Stoyles and Gary Flinn. Joyce has been part of the Kempston coaching staff since 2016, joining after the club’s promotion to the Southern League. His playing career has seen him representing clubs such as QPR, Aldershot and Woking, before eventually hanging up his boots for a life in the dugout. Joyce began his managerial career at Thame United, before a spell at Buckingham Town. He is listed as the second longest serving manager in Aylesbury United history and led them to promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League in 2013. He stepped down in 2016 before joining Rovers backroom team. Speaking after the game at Didcot, Joyce said “The club asked me to help them out in the interim and get them through this week, and I’ve done that. We’ve spoken about (the job) and I was asked if I wanted to take the it on permanently. I had reservations, because of my personal friendship with (Gary) Flinn. After speaking with all the players, I’ve said yes. If a lot of players had wanted to leave, then I would have stepped away and said someone new needs to come in, but that’s not the case.” When asked about the rest of the season, Joyce commented that he wanted to “win as many games as we can, finish as high as we can and see where it takes us.” First team coach Stuart Mellon will continue alongside Joyce in the dugout as will physio Jardaine Patel-Joseph. The Club would like to acknowledge the significant interest from other parties in the manager’s role this week, despite the post not being officially advertised. Match Preview On The Home Front Next up at Hillgrounds… Opponent Welwyn Garden City Competition Southern League Division One Central City’s Current League position 7/20 Last Time They Were Here… Rovers won an FA Vase tie in 2009 by a single goal, scored by Josh Bamford City’s Current League Form (six games) LLWDDW Did you know… In 1919, Sir Ebeneezer Howard arranged for the purchase of land in Hertfordshire that had al-ready been identified as a suitable site. On 29 April 1920 a company, Welwyn Garden City Limited, was formed to plan and build the garden city, chaired by Sir Theodore Chambers. Louis de Soissons was appointed as architect and town planner, C.B Purdom as finance director and Frederic Osborn as secretary. The first house was occupied just before Christmas 1920. In the bar Sheffield United vs Leeds is the early kick off on Sky Sports, or there is Halifax vs AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on BT Sport After the game, there is Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa on Sky while Southampton take on Manchester United on BT The late game at 8pm is Wrexham vs Newport from the FA Cup, live on BT On this day in Rovers history… The earliest recorded result on this day is from 1900, when Rovers met Marston Rovers, winning 6-2. The venue and competition for this game have not been recorded. In 1928, Kempston hosted Aylesbury United in the “Divisional Final” of the FA Amateur Cup, the was the fourth round of the competition. Most recently, in 2015, on the way to promotion, Kempston played host to Northampton Sileby Rangers, winning 3-1. The goals that day were scored by Ieuan Riley, Shane Bush and Ash Fuller This is Rovers first home league game under the charge of Tony Joyce. All at Kempston are hoping for success and to get our home record looking a little rosier that at present. In recent seasons, Kempston have a good record at home against sides promoted from the Spartan League, with wins over 15-16 champions AFC Dunstable in their first visit after promotion. And earlier this season when Berkhamsted, last years’ runners up, were beaten three nil here. Estate Agents and Valuers For all your property requirements “Hassett House”, Hassett Street,Bedford MK40 1HA 01234 326444 www.taylorbrightwell.co.uk MANY THANKS TO TAYLOR BRIGHTWELL FOR 1ST TEAM SHIRT SPONSORSHIP. Around the club After their 5-2 win against Stotfold last weekend, the Development Team have a short break in their fixtures. Their next game is scheduled for the 15th December, at Berkhamsted. They are currently second in the league table. The Devs’ Evan Beldon was a substitute in the first team’s county cup game against Luton Town and becomes the first player since Munashe Sundire to break through from the Devs into the first team. Tomorrow, the Girls & Ladies senior side host Watton Ladies in the Chris Renshaw Cup first round. The game is listed as a 13:30 kick off. All support is more than welcome at Hillgrounds for the girls. The U16 Lions made progress in their County Cup fixture away at Athletico Europa, winning 6-2. Joshua Davey scoring four of the goals. Membership forms are available behind the bar to join the Community Benefit Society, which has been set up this season. Membership entitles you to a single share in the club and voting rights at meetings, like the AGM and EGM as well as access to the members’ prices at the bar. Kempston Rovers 135 years of Football History Kempston Rovers were formed in 1884 and entered the Bedford & District League. Rover’s first league championship was won in 1908 and twelve months later Rover’s retained the title while also carrying off the Bedfordshire Senior Cup and North Beds Charity Cup. The Walnut Boys, the club’s official nickname, comes from the large walnut orchard in Kempston around the time of foundation. This identity is carried forward by one of the main supporters’ groups at the club, “The Nuts on Tour”. 1973 saw the start of a new era as Kempston relocated to a new ground further down Hillgrounds Road. A magnificent season saw the Walnut Boys storm to the Premier title losing only once in 32 games. A golden period in the club's history saw League Cup successes in 1975 and 1977; the Beds Senior Cup was again captured in 1977 while the Walnut Boys reached the last 16 of the FA Vase in 1975. In 1986, the club moved again, this time to the current ground, their third in the same road. Kempston last won the county’s highest honour, the Beds. Senior Cup, in 1992, the fourth time the trophy has come to Hillgrounds. In 2002 Kempston Rovers and Kempston Colts began an alliance to pool resources/personnel under the name AFC Kempston. The youth teams at Rovers still go by the name “Colts”, keeping the history of youth football in the town alive. The beginning of 2005 saw the start of major re-developments at Hillgrounds Road with the building of new changing facilities and the building of an artificial training pitch, which is available to book all year round for training sessions, small sided games or just a kick around with friends. The new ground facilities were completed in 2006 and along with a new stand; on-going ground improvements and the existing clubhouse refurbished and ready to hire for functions and events, Kempston now have some of the best facilities in the area for non-league football. Midway through the 2013-14 season James Stoyles and Gary Flinn took over the 1st Team managerial duties before, in 2015-16, Rovers won the United Counties Football League Premier Division, with a thrilling final win on the last day of the season, a campaign in which they only lost one league game. This resulted in promotion and saw us move into the Southern League Division One which represents the highest level we have attained within the FA pyramid system so far. Since promotion, the club has twice narrowly missed out on a place in the end of season promotion play offs. On both occasions, finishing above some of the more established sides in the division. The club currently operates one of the largest youth systems in the county, with over thirty sides at various age groups and a senior development side. There is a supporters’ club that holds various functions throughout the season to support the first team. Kempston Rovers, 135 years in the making and we’re not done yet. Kempston Rovers Football Club Club Cup Honours Beds County Cup Winners: 1908-09 Beds Premier Cup Finalists: 1991-92 Beds Senior Cup Winners: 1937-38, 1976-77, 1991-92 Finalists: 1926-27, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1992-93 Beds Senior Trophy Finalist: 2008-09 Beds County under 18 Floodlight challenge Cup Winners: 2008-09 Beds Intermediate Cup Winners: 1976-77, Finalists: 1977-78 Beds County Hospital Cup Winners: 1930-31, 1932-33, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1938-39 North Beds Charity Cup Winners: 1908-09, 1934-35, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2015-16, Finalists: 1910-11, 1935-36 Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners: 1926-27, 1928-29, 2010-11, Finalists: