FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
The return of our three suspended players,
MATT SYSUM, CHARLIE HITCHINGS and
SHAUN LAMB for Tuesday’s clash with
CINDERFORD TOWN was welcome relief
following our below par performance at
Waterside Park.
The Bluebells have shown, however, that on
their day, they can be a handful and with the
Bristol Rovers connection of Lewis Haldane
scoring regularly, and Ross Staley also
amongst the goals, both games promise to
be quite lively.
Clashes with ‘The Foresters’ are always
hard-fought affairs and although we edged
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through 1-0 with a 76 minute LEWIS
POWELL strike, it was a game which could
have gone either way. Our first-half
performance was off the pace and we always
seemed second to the ball, but the game
opened up after the interval and there were
one or two near-misses at either end.
Next Saturday, we travel to DIDCOT TOWN
and there are still seats available on the team
coach. Contact Danny West should you wish
to travel.
One particular one-handed save by KEVIN
SAWYER seemed almost certain to be a goal
whilst at the other end, Alex Harris made a
similar reaction save from RYAN BATH. It
was a gritty three points, hard-earned and not
always pretty, but it does emphasise the fact
that we are a difficult side to beat, even when
not at our best, plus it was another wellmerited clean-sheet.
We extend a warm welcome to our local
rivals YATE TOWN, their fans and officials.
The first meeting of the season between us
comes at a time when both clubs are doing
well, and it does make a change that we are
not meeting on Boxing Day. Often, that date,
in the past, has ended with the game being
called off. Apart from their management of
Rob Cousins and Michael Meaker, and
Physio Steve Carter, of course, there are only
two players here today who have played for
Mangotsfield United in the past. MITCH
TIPPINS
and
Goalkeeper
MARTIN
HORSELL. Welcome back, to you both.
They always say that league ‘derbies’ are
much more important than County or League
Cup fixtures, but ‘The Bluebells’ will be back
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here on the 28 January 2014, in the
Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup. That
is a semi-final and I would expect both clubs
to give that some extra importance –
especially with us being the holders of the
Trophy!
st
When we host MERTHYR TOWN on the 21 ,
it’s been agreed that it will be a fun day and if
possible, we would like everyone to wear a
Christmas hat of sorts!! Go on, don’t be
bashful! It will be good to welcome the
Merthyr supporters, who always have a
decent following, and we can welcome back
GARY COLBORNE. The Martyrs are now
again playing at Penydarren Park, on a 3G
surface.
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Boxing Day, Thursday 26 , we travel to
Clevedon T own, and this will be a normal
3pm kick-off. A very unpredictable side this
season, but ‘The Seasiders’ as always, will
test us fully.
th
Saturday 28 , is also a 3pm kick-off when we
entertain FLEET TOWN FC and just so that
there is no confusion, when we host
promotion hopefuls PAULTON ROVERS, on
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Wednesday 1 January 2014, that too will
kick off at the normal time of 3pm.
Can this be the season when Rovers finally
achieve promotion? They are certainly firing
on all cylinders at the moment and are the
leading scorers in the division. Another tough
test for us.
Thankyou everyone for your support.
Christmas might not be far away, but firstly
we have to deal with ‘The Bluebells’ this
afternoon.
So, remember the cry…
“COME ON THE FIELD”
Or, if you prefer
I feel sure that THOMMO & LEE will be
feeling the same. It also certainly feels good
that we have now jumped into a possible
play-off place and we want to stay there.
FIELD REVIEW - 1
COME ON THE MIGHTY MANGOS
EDITOR
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Marcus Hudd, 0117 9615499
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED
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Saturday 7th December 2013
Kick-off
THE CALOR LEAGUE
Division One South & West
v
Mangotsfield United
"The Field" -
3.00pm
Maroon & Sky
Yate Town FC
"The Bluebells" - White & Navy
Squads
Kevin Sawyer
Neil Arndale (capt)
Shaun Lamb
Jacob Cox
Joe Chandler
Matt Sysum
Billy Fletcher
Jamie Reid
Brad Abraham
Kyle Tooze
Connor Clifford
Michael Bryant (capt)
Ryan Bath
Jordan Rogers
Lewis Powell
Lewis Haldane
Luke Ballinger
Charlie Hitchings
Tom Parrinello
Ross Staley
Jake Jackson
Danny Lane
Adnan Hiroli
Mitch Harrison
Josh Egan
Martin Lenihan
Ben Hunt
Michael Meaker
Dylan Bonella
Christy Gale
Richard Thompson
Lee Jefferies
Lee Barlass
Doug Pringle / Hayley Smith
Assistant (Yellow Trim)
Bristol
Mitch Tippins
Alex Kite
Ashley Williams
Mark Dadds
Martin Horsell
James Harmer
Tom Seery
MANAGER
ASSISTANTS AND
COACHES
PHYSIO
Today's officials
REFEREE
Adam Penwell
Weston-super-Mare
Rob Cousins
Michael Meaker
Steve Carter
Assistant (Red Trim)
Alan Somers
Bristol
TODAY'S MATCH SPONSOR
SOVEREIGN FINANCIAL
BALL SPONSOR
MANGOTSFIELD WINDOWS
Next at Cossham Street - Saturday 21st December 2013
The Calor League - Division One South & West
Programme No. 12
FIELD REVIEW - 2
3.00pm
MERTHYR TOWN FC
MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS
MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS
“SPOTLIGHT”
Everything looked on course for a possible play-off spot last season, as The Bluebells raced up the
table, but with six games remaining, a couple of unexpected defeats meant that they could only
th
finish 6 , and six points behind Paulton Rovers. Bluebell fans had been happy as the club’s FA
Cup exploits of 2012/13 exceeded everyone’s expectations and they reached the First Round
Proper.
The first shock came in the Preliminary Round when the highly-rated POOLE TOWN Dolphins
were crushed 5-0 at Lodge Road. The Bluebells then travelled to WINCHESTER CITY in the First
Qualifying Round and came away with a 2-1 victory. When the 2QR draw gave them a
home tie with Conference North OXFORD CITY , most people saw it as the end of the
adventure, but the Lodge Road boys had their tails up and Oxford were depatched 2-1.
Division rivals NORTH LEIGH were the next visitors to Lodge Road in
the 3QR, but they suffered a defeat of the same scoreline. NEWPORT
COUNTY were current leaders of the Conference when the draw for the
4thQR was made and by now, everyone were sitting up and taking
notice. Surely, this really was the end of the journey?
Incredibly, with five minutes remaining, The Bluebells were 3-1 ahead, but two dramatic
very late goals pulled the score to 3-3 and a replay in Wales was needed. A truly
incredible result happened ‘over the bridge’, as The Bluebells stunned everyone by
winning 3-1, after extra-time.
For the first time in their history, Yate T own made national headlines and featured in
national newspapers. They were in the draw for the First Round Proper and they were
off to CHELTENHAM TOWN. Despite the 0-3 scoreline, in front of 3,055, the players
did their club proud and The Robins survived a few anxious moments before their
fitness took its toll. Its was difficult to understand why then, their league form had been
so poor at the start of the campaign.
This is Manager ROB COUSINS’ third full season in charge at Lodge Road. He took
over in a caretaker capacity in February’11, from Dave Mogg and saw the club safely
complete 2011/12, just below halfway in the table. However, Rob and his Assistant,
MICHAEL MEAKER, have had a major rebuilding job in the summer as most of his
successful squad moved on.
The club began life as Yate Rovers in 1906 and in 1946, they were re-formed and were
known as Yate YMCA, playing in the Bristol & District League and the Avon Premier
Combination. Yate YMCA were amongst the founder members of the Gloucestershire
County League in 1968 and in the following year, they dropped that title in favour of the
name, Yate T own. A major step forward in the club’s progression occurred in 1983,
when they obtained membership of the Hellenic League, moving on to the first step of
the non-league pyramid system.
Promotion to the Premier Division was soon accomplished when at the conclusion of
the 1984/85 season, the club finished runners-up behind Pegasus Juniors in Division
One. They won the Hellenic Premier League, the following season, when they
remained unbeaten at home. That successful formula continued into the 1988/89
season when they retained the Championship crown, losing just one league game. They also won
the Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy.
In the quest for further football prestige, the club were granted election to the Southern Football
League (Southern Division), in 1989. Yate T own moved to their present ground in Lodge Road in
1984, having previously played at Yate Aerodrome (1950-54), Newmans Field (1954-60) and
Sunnyside Lane (1960-84) to prepare for the higher standard of football. Covered accommodation
was erected in 1987 and floodlighting came in 1988.
FIELD REVIEW - 3
“SPOTLIGHT”
continued……………………………….
The 1993/94 season was disappointing as The Bluebells finished second from bottom in the
Midland Division. Luckily, relegation was avoided but re-structuring of the Southern
League meant that the club was again switched back to the Southern
Division after just three seasons in the Midland. 1994/95 saw the club
make a terrible start to the campaign, which led to long-serving
manager, Pete Jackson, being relieved of his duties and the
appointment of former Bristol Rovers’ favourites, Ian Alexander and Phil
Purnell, brought about an immediate change in the club’s fortunes. They
enjoyed a good end to the season to finish 16th.
They again reached the final of the Gloucestershire Senior Cup, losing on penalties,
after extra-time, to Cheltenham Town but their young squad finished in the top half of
the table. Golden Jubilee season was in 1996/97 and during the 1997/98 close season,
John Freeguard was appointed manager, but he resigned after two victories in
seventeen games and was replaced by Martin Durnell, who had been manager of the
Youth team. However, the club still finished in bottom place, but once again, were
saved from relegation, by further re-structuring. They returned to the Midland Division in
1999/2000, which was re-structured and re-named, but were relegated back to the
Hellenic League.
The Bluebells returned to the Southern league in 2002/03 and finished 16 th in the
Western Division in 2003/04 and won promotion to the Premier Division, along with
rivals Mangotsfield, at the end of 2004/05. Their four seasons at that level saw them
finish 6th, 14th, 10th and 21st. They won the Gloucestershire Senior Trophy twice during
that time, with victories over Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham Town. They won the trophy
again in 2010/11, winning 3-2, again against Cheltenham Town.
Their return to the Division One South & West One, saw them finish in 13th place, in
2009/10, whilst they finished 14th in 2010/11. They recovered from their poor start in
2011/12 and ended in 13th spot. As mentioned, they were 6th in 2012/13.
INTRODUCING ‘THE BLUEBELLS’
ROB COUSINS – PLAYER / MANAGER
Rob took on the role of Caretaker/Manager following the departure of Dave Mogg in
February’11 and accepted the post of Player/Manager permanently in mid April. His
spell with Mangotsfield United saw him make 61(2) appearances, after being released
by Tiverton. A former England semi-professional, he started his career with Bristol City
and signed for Bath City in 1989. He moved to Yeovil Town in 1996, when he won three
caps for the semi-pro side and then moved to FGR and Tiverton. He left Mangotsfield
for Paulton Rovers and whilst there, made his 1,000th senior appearance in football.
Nicknamed ‘Trigger’. D.O.B 09/01/71 Aged 42.
MICHAEL MEAKER –PLAYER/COACH
Michael had three spells at Cossham Street, before moving to Yate Town. Born 18th August 1971,
so now 42, he has played in the Hellenic league with Henley Town and was also a prominent goalscorer at Hounslow. Also appeared for Southall Town & Northwich Victoria. Born in Perivale, he
has a wealth of Football League experience with QPR, Reading, Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers
Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United. Whilst at QPR in the Premier League, his transfer fee to
Reading was for £550,000! Before his last Cossham Street spell, he helped Bitton to the Western
league title. His career at Mangotsfield saw him make 53(7) appearances and score 21 goals
FIELD REVIEW - 4
INTRODUCING ‘THE BLUEBELLS’
Brad Abraham
30/07/90, Bristol
Central midfield player who joined us during the close season from Cadbury Heath (Toolstation
Western League), having previously appeared for Bristol Manor Farm.
Michael Bryant
12/03/90, Berkeley
Joined us at the start of last season from Slimbridge (Hellenic League), and immediately became a
regular with us. Michael is a hard working midfield player who scored some important goals last
season, and is now our captain.
Joe Chandler
02/04/92, Bristol
Highly rated central defender who was captain of Cadbury Heath last season, when he was also their
supporters choice as “player of the season”
Connor Clifford
Full back who was transferred from Bideford FC in November 2013. Had been a regular member of
their team for 2-3 seasons, having previously played for Plymouth Argyle and Barnstaple Town.
Jacob Cox
11/04/89, Bristol
Rejoined the Club at the start of 2009-10 season, Jake is an industrious midfielder or full back with an
eye for goal, some of which have been truly memorable.
Billy Fletcher
31/07/91, Bristol
Highly regarded central defender who joined us from Cadbury Heath (Toolstation Western League) in
November.
Lewis Haldane
13/03/85, Trowbridge
Joined us in the close season, having previously had considerable Football League experience as a
winger with Bristol Rovers (15 goals in 147matches) and Port Vale (3 goals in 63 matches). Made one
appearance for Wales Under 21 in a 0-0 draw against Turkey in 2006. Earlier in his career he also
had loan spells at Weston Super Mare, Forest Green Rovers and later at Oxford Utd. His Football
League career was curtailed by an injury sustained at the start of the 2011-12 season.
James Harmer
22/04/94, Cardiff
Midfield player who first joined us in September 2012, and was an integral part of our squad until
leaving to join Llanwern FC in the Welsh League in January 2013, and has now rejoined us. Started
his career as a Youth team player at Newport County where he was capped for Wales Schools Under
18’s, and also made sporadic appearances in County’s Senior side.
Martin Horsell
10/12/86, Torbay
Goalkeeper who signed pro forms for Bristol Rovers in 2005 before moving to Torquay Utd where he
made 6 Football League appearances. First played for us on loan from Torquay in 2007-08 season,
when he played 33 games for us. Then had spells at Salisbury City, Dorchester Town, Tiverton Town
and Weymouth, as well as RRFC Montegnee in Belgium. Played for Bristol Academy last season after
recovering from injury. Also started in 2012/13 pre-season for Mangotsfield and played 3 Southern
League games for them.
FIELD REVIEW - 5
INTRODUCING ‘THE BLUEBELLS’
Jake Jackson
03/05/94, Bristol
A striker who played for our Youth team three seasons ago, before moving to Bristol Academy where
he represented English Colleges, and has now returned to Yate.
Danny Lane
14/06/86, Bristol
Midfield player who started his career at Almondsbury Town, before spending several seasons with
Taunton Town. Danny then joined Almondsbury UWE midway through the 2011-2012 season, and
has joined us in the close season.
Mitch Harrison
14/02/95, Bristol
New signing this season; a central defender who was a regular member of Bath City’s Under 21
development squad last season, when he also made his debut for their First team
Martin Lenihan
13/05/94
Another new signing, a midfield player who was a regular at Radstock Town (Toolstation Western
League) last season
Jordan Rogers
15/12/90, Bristol
A striker who joined us in the close season from Almondsbury UWE (Toolstation Western League)
Tom Seery
15/04/93, Bristol
Defender, who was transferred from Chippenham Town in November 2012, and immediately became
a regular in our team. Tom started his career with Bristol Rovers
Ross Staley
16/06/94, Bristol
Attacking wide midfield player with a sweet left foot, who was surprisingly released by Bristol Rovers
at the end of last season, but still hopes to make a career in League football.
Mitch Tippins
Transferred from Chippenham Town in September, having previously played for Mangotsfield Utd,
Bristol Manor Farm and Bitton FC. Mitch made 23 (11) appearances for ‘The Field’ in 2007/08 and
2008/09 and scored 3 goals.
Stephen Carter
Physiotherapist
An experienced and well qualified physio, Stephen joined us in the 2002-03 season, having previously
worked at Bath City and Yeovil Town. Stephen is married to Collette, herself a former member of our
Committee, and they have two children, Bethany and Thomas. When not in the Physio Room, you will
find Stephen in the Kit Room looking after our First and Reserve Team kits.
In the FA Cup this season, Yate Town started as though they might emulate last season’s success.
They defeated Cowes Sports 2-1, at Lodge Road, and then overcame Chippenham Town 3-2, in the
1st Qualifying Round, also at home. The draw was also kind to them in the 2nd Qualifying Round, again
at home, and this time Bideford AFC were beaten 2-1. Incredibly, they had another home draw
against Gloucester City in the 3rd Qualifying Round, which finished 2-2. Unfortunately, it all went
wrong in the replay as The Tigers won 7-0. A brave effort again though, by The Bluebells.
FIELD REVIEW - 6
LOOKING BACK – THE BLUEBELLS
GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE 1981-82
Shortwood United
Almondsbury Greenway
Lydbrook Athletic
Wilton Rovers
Bristol St. George
Port of Bristol
Old Georgians
Hambrook
Sharpness
Oldland
Hanham Athletic
YATE TOWN
Newent Town
Matson Athletic
Frampton
Cadbury Heath (Bristol)
Stonehouse
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
32
22
21
17
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19
16
16
13
11
10
6
8
7
8
6
4
3
6
7
11
6
5
6
6
8
10
9
15
8
9
6
8
8
6
4
4
4
8
8
10
10
11
11
13
11
16
16
18
18
20
23
92
88
69
66
75
70
56
54
60
44
41
53
29
43
41
27
34
49
32
36
44
42
53
39
57
49
57
50
81
54
72
60
74
93
50
49
45
42
41
38
38
34
32
29
27
24
23
22
20
16
12
-2
The Gloucestershire County league was formed in 1968. Prior to its formation, clubs in
the North & South of the County had their own competitions and had gone their
separate ways. The Founder-Members in 1968/69 were, Brimscombe, Bristol Rovers
‘A’, Bristol St. George, Cadbury Heath, Charlton Kings, Cinderford Town Reserves,
Cirencester Town, Forest Green Rovers, Gloucester City Reserves, Hanham Athletic,
Matson Athletic, Old Patchwegians, Sharpness, Stonehouse, Thornbury and Yate YMCA.
The first champions were Stonehouse.
Yate YMCA changed their name in 1969 and became YATE TOWN
HALF-TIME FUN
Jokes of the week
An Irishman goes into a pharmacy, reaches into his pocket and takes out a small Irish whiskey
bottle and a teaspoon. He pours some liquid onto the spoon and offers it to the chemist. “Could you
taste this for me please?”
The chemist takes the teaspoon, puts it in his mouth, swills the liquid around and swallows it.
“Does that taste sweet to you?” asks Paddy
“Not at all” replies the chemist
“Oh that’s a relief” says Paddy, “The Doctor told me to come here and get my urine tested for
sugar”!!
**********
Paddy and Mick were walking along a London street when Paddy saw a sign in a shop window,
which said, “Suits £5.00 each, Shirts £2.00 each, trousers £2.50 per pair”
Paddy said to his pal, “Mick, look at the prices! We could buy a whole lot of ‘dem and when we get
back to Ireland, we could make a fortune.
When we go in, I’ll put on my best English accent. You stay quiet. Let me do all da talking, cause if
they hear our accents they will know we are from Ireland and they’ll try to rip us off.
Paddy says in his posh accent, “Hello my good man, I’ll take 50 suits at £5.00 each, 100 shirts at
£2.00 each and 50 pairs of trousers at £2.50 each. The owner of the shop said quietly, “You’re from
Ireland aren’t you?” “Well yes” said Paddy, “What gave it away”?
The owner replied………”We’re a dry-cleaners”!!!
FIELD REVIEW - 7
VILLAGE GOSSIP
“SUPER SUNDAY” is running now, Every Sunday until Christmas and is an idea by the club to
reward you fans by reducing the cost of your pint. CARLING, BLACKTHORN & NATCH will cost
just £2 a pint between midday and 6pm. Live Premiership football will also be showing on the big
screen. Sunday afternoon Sky Sports football shown on Sundays will feature, Sunderland v
Newcastle, Chelsea v Manchester City, & Manchester United v Arsenal, and many many more. A
good chance to see some great football on the box, enjoy a cheap pint and give the social club a
vibrant atmosphere.
ONCE AGAIN, MUFC are looking for a COMMERCIAL MANAGER. This follows on from Shaun
Honour leaving the club recently. Anyone who is interested in this post should contact either
Chairman Mike Richardson, or the Vice-Chairman, Bob Jenkins.
It was noticed when we recently entertained BISHOPS CLEEVE that their substitute Goalkeeper,
LOUIE BARNFATHER, came on as an outfield player. Not that strange, I suppose, others have
done it before, but Louie is beginning to make a name for himself. In their next home game against
Tiverton, he started and scored in their 3-0 win and then last Saturday, he bagged a DOUBLE in
the 2-0 win at Fleet T own. What an asset to have a keeper and a goalscoring forward in one
package!
Tuesday’s other results in our division saw GUILDFORD CITY win their first away match of the
campaign with a 2-0 success at BISHOPS CLEEVE, who have been showing some improved form
themselves lately. The clash between the top two sides, CIRENCESTER TOWN & PAULTON
ROVERS ended 2-2, before a poor crowd of 121. GODALMING TOWN edged a home win over
SHORTWOOD UNITED by 4-3, but the slump for BRIDGWATER TOWN continues as they were
beaten 3-0 by MERTHY TOWN at Penydarren Park. STRATFORD TOWN defeated CLEVEDON
TOWN 3-1.
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION has launched a supporter education campaign on pyrotechnics,
and this has been passed down from The Calor league to its member clubs. The use of
pyrotechnics has evidenced itself at all levels of the senior game. There is a poster campaign with
adverts parodying football chants available to all clubs. We have listed them below. YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED!!
Sing when you’re coughing…you only sing when you’re coughing…
Sufocating smoke from flares and smoke bombs, leave supporters fighting for breath.
Que sera sera whatever will be will be, we’re going to A & E……..
A burning flare can reach a temperature of 1600 degrees C – extreme enough to melt most metals.
Banned in the morning, you’re getting banned in the morning….
Bringing a flare or smoke bomb to a game could get you banned, AND a criminal record.
We are by far the greatest team, the world has never seen…..
Smoke from pyros could stop you from seeing the best goal your team will ever score.
We can’t see you sneaking out…..
Smoke bllowing across the pitch can affect play and cause a delay to the game.
Don’t go home in a St. John Ambulance…..
Injuries can be extreme from flares which may containing burning metal.
Is there a fire drill?.........
Smoke and flares can trigger panic in a tightly-packed crowd.
I fell into a burning ring of fire……….
Smoke and bombs are hot enough to injure and can still cause fires, long after they have gone out.
FIELD REVIEW - 8
MUFC – SECONDARY SPONSORS
MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS
PHOTOCALL – MRS HAZEL RALPH
ASHLEY WILLIAMS & LEWIS POWELL are sponsored by Mrs HAZEL RALPH and the club
wish to express their thanks to Hazel, who has followed both lads from their time at
Chippenham Town.
PHOTO by DAVE BLACKMORE
FIELD REVIEW - 9
THE WORLD OF SOCCER
Welcome once again to THE WORLD OF SOCCER, the column that brings you news stories from
around the globe.
Now police & security staff were certainly on the ball in HOLLAND last May as they did a pre-match
security check around the Willem II stadium in Tilburg prior to a local derby match v NAC Breda,
because they found that part of the fencing that would separate the two sets of fans had been
sabotaged. Clearly, some bolts & clasps securing some sections of fencing had been loosened in
anticipation of expected trouble between the fans. The Tilburg police had obtained strong evidence
before the match that Willem & NAC fans were planning a violent confrontation & the sabotage of the
fencing was to assist in the trouble happening, but it was unknown at first who broke in to damage
the fencing or even when it was done. Everything was quickly repaired before the game which NAC
were to win 1-0 & a while later, a Willem supporter was arrested for breaking into the stadium &
causing criminal damage.
Now isn’t it amazing how foresight can be a wonderful thing? Just go back to the 2010 World Cup in
South Africa & after GREECE has lost 2-0 to South Korea in their opening game, defender Vassilis
Torosidis told the Athens media, “If we play like that again, then we have got no chance at all”.
Records now prove that Greece DID play “like that” again in their other 2 group games & flopped big
time! But then again, England were c**p as well in the same tournament, weren’t we?
Football & war have, of course, always been an uneasy mix of subjects & stories combining both
have always been plentiful down the years, such as, for example, numerous English footballers
being killed in action in the trenches in World War One, or the Iraqi team being tortured by Saddam
Hussein’s son Uday – he was head of their FA, believe it or not – in the 1990s. One recent story of
this calibre saw LIBYA international players branding machine guns as they posed for the camera 3
years or so ago in an anti-Colonel Gaddafi rant. Yes, two of Libya’s best players, Owsama Abdul
Salam and goalkeeper Juma Gtat, posed with rebel machine guns to highlight the fact that no less
than 17 Libyan international players had officially joined the anti-Gaddafi forces.
Gtat told the media at the time. “I tell Gaddafi to leave the people alone to enjoy their life in new
Libya. Libya is for freedom”!! Coach Adel bin Issa, the man in charge of Tripoli’s top club Al – Ahly
FC, added, “I hope to wake up one morning to find that Gaddafi is no longer there, so that we can all
live in peace”. Fair comment & now that Gaddafi has gone, then Libya as a country is able to move
on & so, perhaps, can their football clubs! (Gaddafi was, of course, killed in October 2011.)
Now PORTUGAL were, of course, successful in their World Cup play-offs v Sweden, with a lot of it
down to Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals, but apparently, for the leg in Stockholm, there was a kind of
“sabotage” plot to try & unsettle the Portuguese players. Apparently, a Stockholm radio station tried
to give the visitors a headache by setting up camp outside their hotel & playing loud music & setting
off flares. Subtle perhaps, but not very original!
And staying in SWEDEN, it appears that their TV audiences are subjected to pretty much the same
sort of rubbish as we are here in Britain – X Factor and the like. Over there, it seems everything
stops for “Pop Idol” – don’t ask me why – and that includes their domestic football! One of their
current singing sensations just happens to be one Kevin Walker, who is Swedish-born, but is also of
Irish descent. He plays for 2nd Division side GIF Sundsvall, but football takes a back seat as live
shows of “Pop Idol” coincide with his club’s weekend matches, because Swedish Channel TV4 own
the rights to both the football & the “talent” show & recently, they insisted that Sundsvall’s match v
FC Assyriska be switched to avoid a clash with the TV show – and it was. At least that hasn’t
happened here yet – has it??.......
Finally, back in HOLLAND, what was significant about the MVV Maastricht v Ajax game played on 13
September 1964? Give up? Of course you do. MVV missed no less than THREE penalties. Ajax
keeper Ronnie Boomgaard saved the first two & the third one was blasted wide. They were 3 very
costly misses too, seeing as the game ended 2-2! More from the WOS again soon.
FIELD REVIEW - 10
DAVE’S DIARY
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE & WELCOME TO THE GLASS CONSULTANTS UK STADIUM
for today’s Calor League clash against our old friends & neighbours from YATE TOWN. Thank you
for your attendance today & for buying this programme – as well as giving the Christmas shopping a
miss! We extend a particularly warm welcome to the Bluebells’ managerial team of ROB COUSINS &
MICHAEL MEAKER, both ex-Mangos of course, as well as anyone else at Lodge Road who has also
been part of MUFC in the past. Welcome to you all! It’s local derby day & just like Liverpool v
Everton, Tottenham v Arsenal, Man Utd v Man City or even Bitton v Longwell Green (!), it is all about
bragging rights today, as much as the 3 points that are up for grabs & if you can get one of those
things, you tend to get the other as well. In games like this, the recent form of both clubs is irrelevant
& it is all about what happens on the day. Suffice to say, I know that the players on both sides will be
well up for it. We know that we’re in for a tough one, so please then, be like the Dug Out Side & give
Our Boyz all your support today as we try to pick up the 3 points on offer – COME ON THE FIELD!!
LAST SATURDAY’S 1-1 DRAW AT THATCHAM TOWN proved to be a disappointing result allround, performance-wise & of course, our winning run came to an end, but we still picked up a point
& we’re still in a handy position in the league. Nonetheless, we welcomed Hereford United Youth
loanee DYLAN BONELLA into the side last week & we hope that his spell at MUFC will be a
successful one – WELCOME TO COSSHAM STREET, DYLAN!
TUESDAY’S HOME CLASH WITH CINDERFORD gave us another 3 points as we edged home with
a 1-0 win thanks to LEWIS POWELL’s 76th minute goal. We didn’t enjoy a great first half, as the
Foresters were quick on the ball & lively all over the pitch & we couldn’t get any real rhythm going.
At the break, we were fortunate that it was still 0-0, due, in the main, to KEVIN SAWYER being in
good form. It was a different story in the 2nd half though, as we finally got things going & the goal
was reward for all the hard work that everyone was putting in. Eventually, the 3 points came our way
& it was just what we needed ahead of not only today’s game, but the hectic December period.
Cinderford played well & quite possibly were worth a point, but football doesn’t always bring you the
reward you think you deserve, does it? BUT WELL DONE EVERYONE – and that goes to the DUG
OUT SIDE BOYS as well, whose vocal support was top notch & much appreciated by all the players!
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT FEW GAMES, it’s a mixed bag of all sorts, but they will all be
hard. Next Saturday (14th), it is DIDCOT TOWN away & while they have struggled this season,
they’re a tough nut to crack on their own pitch. Then comes MERTHYR TOWN at home (21st) &
Merthyr sides usually do well here, so we’ll need to be at our best. Boxing Day sees us travel to
CLEVEDON TOWN, perhaps the most unpredictable side in our league, as they are capable of
beating everyone in our league….. and losing to them too. Hampshire’s FLEET TOWN are here on
the 28th & they will be battling hard to try & stay at this level & then New Year’s Day sees us entertain
old pals PAULTON ROVERS, who have been scoring goals for fun recently & that should prove to
be a great way to start 2014. Your support will therefore be welcome at any or all of these matches.
SEASON 2013-14 HOME ATTENDANCES STATISTICS (up to & including v Cinderford 3-12-13)
TOTAL HOME CALOR LEAGUE ATTENDANCES (9 GAMES)
=
1049
Average Home Calor League Attendance
=
116
TOTAL HOME FA CUP ATTENDANCE (1 GAME)
=
142
Average Home FA Cup Attendance
=
142
TOTAL HOME FA TROPHY ATTENDANCE (1 GAME)
=
109
Average Home FA Trophy Attendance
=
109
TOTAL HOME ATTENDANCES (ALL COMPETITIONS – 11 GAMES)
=
1300
Average Home Attendance (All competitions)
=
118
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE OFFICIAL MANGOTSFIELD UNITED WEBSITE! Yes, if you have access to the Internet, why
not log on to one of the BEST websites in the entire Southern League? Courtesy of DANNY WEST,
you can find the website on www.mufc-online.co.uk so check it out every day for all the latest news on
your favourite club! (And many of us do!)
DAVE SMALE
FIELD REVIEW - 11
FIXTURES/RESULTS/SCORERS
2013/14
THE CALOR LEAGUE – Div.1 South & West
17/08
20/08
24/08
26/08
31/08
07/09
11/09
14/09
21/09
24/09
28/09
01/10
05/10
12/10
19/10
26/10
29/10
02/11
05/11
09/11
16/11
19/11
23/11
26/11
30/11
03/12
07/12
14/12
21/12
26/12
28/12
01/01
04/01
11/01
18/01
25/01
28/01
01/02
08/02
15/02
22/02
01/03
08/03
15/03
22/03
29/03
05/04
12/04
19/04
21/04
26/04
GUILDFORD CITY
Merthyr Town
Fleet Town
CLEVEDON TOWN
BITTON AFC
Cirencester Town
BRISTOL ROVERS X1
Winchester City
SWINDON SUPERM’NE
TAUNTON TOWN
Eastleigh
Tiverton Town
THATCHAM TOWN
NORTH LEIGH
Shortwood United
Bridgwater Town
Evesham United
Tiverton Town
Bishops Cleeve
Wimborne Town
BISHOPS CLEEVE
STRATFORD TOWN
Godalming Town
SHORTWOOD UNITED
Thatcham Town
CINDERFORD TOWN
YATE TOWN
Didcot Town
MERTHYR TOWN
Clevedon Town
FLEET TOWN
PAULTON ROVERS
Guildford City
Swindon Supermarine
TIVERTON TOWN
Stratford Town
YATE TOWN
EVESHAM UNITED
North Leigh
BRIDGWATER TOWN
Cinderford Town
WIMBORNE TOWN
Bishops Cleeve
GODALMING TOWN
Shortwood United
THATCHAM TOWN
Yate Town
Taunton Town
CIRENCESTER TOWN
Paulton Rovers
DIDCOT TOWN
FIELD REVIEW - 12
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
FAC –PR H
TCL/1SW A
FRIENDLY H
FAC-1QR A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW H
FAC -2QR A
TCL/1SW A
FAT-PR
H
TCL/1SW H
FAT-1QR A
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW A
FAT-2QR A
GFAST -QF A
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
GFAST-SF H
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
TCL/1SW A
TCL/1SW H
5-3
0-3
1-1
1-1
3-0
1-2
1-3
2-1
1-0
1-2
0-4
3-2
3-1
1-2
2-0
3-0
3-0
1-3
2-0
1-0
4-2
2-0
3-0
1-0
1-1
1-0
118
175
118
138
142
138
164
108
116
238
132
109
106
145
264
173
237
32
259
116
87
135
118
73
142
3.00pm
3.00pm
Hunt 2, Reid, Williams, Stone
Stone
Monelle
Reid, Egan, Lamb
Reid
Hunt
Arndale (pen), Stone
Powell
Tooze
Ballinger 2, Sysum
Powell 2, Reid
Bennett
Egan 2
Hunt 2, Sysum
Bath, Hunt, Egan
Hitchings
Ballinger, Powell
Powell
Powell 2, Sysum, Reid
Reid, Arndale (pen)
Arndale (pen), Powell, Bath
Bath
Bath
Powell
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
Saturday 7th December 2013
THE CALOR LEAGUE – DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST
Bishops Cleeve
Bridgwater Town
Cinderford Town
Clevedon Town
Didcot Town
Godalming Town
v
v
v
v
v
v
Cirencester Town
Guildford City
Shortwood United
Taunton Town
Paulton Rovers
Evesham United
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED
v
YATE TOWN
Stratford Town
Swindon Supermarine
Tiverton Town
Wimborne Town
v
v
v
v
Merthyr Town
Thatcham Town
North Leigh
Fleet Town
FIELD REVIEW - 13
WHERE THEY PLAY………….2013/14
The Calor League - Division One South & West
BISHOPS CLEEVE
Grd
Kayte Lane, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Glos
Tel. 01242-676166
Col. Green shirts / Black / Black
BRIDGWATER TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01278-446899
Col. Red & White Stripes / Black/ Red
CINDERFORD TOWN
Grd
Tel. 07896-887162
Col. White shirts / Black/ Black
CIRENCESTER TOWN
Tel. 01285-654543
Grd The Corinium Stdm, Kingshill Lane, Cirencester, Glos
Col. Red & Black / Black / Red
GL7 1HS
CLEVEDON TOWN
Grd
BS21 6TG
Tel. 01275-871600
Col. Burgundy & Blue stripes / Burgundy / Burgundy
DIDCOT TOWN
Tel.01235-813138
Grd Loop Meadow Stadium, Bowmont Water, Didcot, Oxon
Col. Red & White / White / Red & White
OX11 7GA
EVESHAM UNITED
Tel.01386-442303
Grd Jubilee Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, Worcs
Col. Red & White stripes / White / Red
WR112LZ
FLEET TOWN
Grd
GU51 5FA
Tel. 01252-623804
Col. All Blue
GODALMING TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01483-417520
Col. Yellow / Green / Yellow
GUILDFORD CITY
Grd
Tel. 01483-443322
Col. Red & White stripes / Black / Black
MERTHYR TOWN
Grd
Tel. 07980-363675
Col. White & Black / Black / Black
NORTH LEIGH
Grd
Tel. 07583-399577
Col. Yellow/Black/Yellow
PAULTON ROVERS
Grd
Tel. 01761-412907
Col. All Maroon
Fairfax Park, College Way, Bath Road, Bridgwater.
Causeway Ground, Edge Hills Rd, Hilldene, Cinderford
The Hand Stadium, Davis Lane, Clevedon, North Som.
Calthorpe Park, Crookham Road, Fleet, Hampshire
Wey Court, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey
The Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford, Surrey
Penydarren Park, Park Terrace, Merthyr Tydfil
Eynsham Park, Woodstock Rd, North Leigh, Witney.
Athletic Grnd, Winterfield Road, Paulton, Nr. Bristol
SHORTWOOD UNITED Grd. Meadowbank, Shortwood, Nailsworth, Stroud
Tel.01453-833936
Col. Red & White stripes / Black / Black
STRATFORD TOWN
Grd
Tel.01789-269336
Col. All Blue
SWINDON SUPERM'E
Grd
Tel.01793-828778
Col. All Blue
TAUNTON TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01823-254909
Col. Claret shirts / Sky Blue / Sky Blue
THATCHAM TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01635-862016
Col. Blue & White stripes/Blue/Blue
TIVERTON TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01884-252397
Col. Black & Gold stripes / Black / Black
WIMBORNE TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01202-884821
Col. Black & White Stripes /Black /Black
YATE TOWN
Grd
Tel. 01454-228103
Col. White/ Navy/ White
DCS Stdm, Knights Lane,Tiddington, Stratford-u-Avon
Webbs Wood Stdm, Supermarine Road, South Marston
Wordsworth Drive, Taunton, Somerset,
Waterside Park, Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berks
Ladysmead, Bolham Road, Tiverton, Devon
The Cuthbury, Cowgrove Road, Wimborne, Dorset
Lodge Road, Yate, Nr. Bristol, South Gloucestershire
GL52 3PD
TA6 4TZ
GL14 2QH
GU7 3JE
GU1 1UP
CF47 8RF
OX29 6SL
BS39 7RF
GL6 0SJ
CV37 7BZ
SN3 4BZ
TA1 2HG
RG19 4PA
EX16 6SG
BH21 4EL
BS37 7LE
DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST
Up to and including Friday 6th Dec. 2013
Pos Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
GD
Results
1
Cirencester Town
18 14
1
3
46
23
43
23
x 1-2
2
Paulton Rovers
18 12
3
3
63
26
39
37
x
3
North Leigh
17 13
0
4
41
12
39
29 1-2 x
4
5
Merthyr Town
MANGOTSFIELD UTD
16 12
18 11
1
3
3
4
41
33
24
19
37
36
17
14
6
Wimborne Town
18
8
4
6
40
29
28
11
7
Taunton Town
18
8
4
6
35
27
28
8 1-2 x
8
Tiverton Town
16
8
4
4
31
27
28
4
9
Swindon Supermarine
17
7
5
5
30
23
26
7 1-0 x
10
Stratford Town
18
7
4
7
44
38
25
6 2-0 x
11
YATE TOWN
17
7
4
6
32
34
25
-2
12
Bridgwater Town
17
6
5
6
26
24
23
2
13
Cinderford Town
18
5
5
8
27
29
20
14
Evesham United
18
4
7
7
25
35
19
-10
x 3-0
15
Godalming Town
18
6
1 11
20
39
19
-19
x 3-0
16
Bishops Cleeve
18
6
0 12
31
44
18
-13 4-2 x
17
Clevedon Town
16
5
2
9
21
34
17
-13 1-1 x
18
Thatcham Town
18
4
5
9
17
38
17
-21
19
Shortwood United
14
4
3
7
32
24
15
8
1-0 x
20
Didcot Town
17
4
3 10
24
40
15
-16
x
21
Guildford City
18
3
1 14
21
61
10
-40 5-3 x
22
Fleet Town
17
1
5 11
12
42
8
FIELD REVIEW - 14
x 0-3
x
x
x
x 1-0
x 3-2
x
x 3-0
-2 1-0 x
-30
x 1-1
x 1-1
THAT WAS THE MONTH THAT WAS!
Time now for a nostalgic look back at a particular month in recent or not-so-recent years & see how
we fared in that period. Today we look at AUGUST 1999.
MUFC RESULTS IN AUGUST 1999:
14-08-99
21-08-99
28-08-99
YEOVIL TOWN RESERVES 0, MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 6
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 3, HUNGERFORD TOWN 0
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 4, BISHOP SUTTON 0
SCREWFIX LGE
FA CUP P. RND
SCREWFIX LGE
THE 1999-2000 SEASON OVERALL
At the time, this was to prove to be the most successful season in our history as we ended the
campaign as runners-up to champions Taunton Town in the Screwfix Direct League Premier Division
& were duly promoted to the Dr Martens League, & ahead of Taunton Town as well! Manager ANDY
BLACK breezed back into the Club during the summer of 1999 & the gloom lifted straight away as
we were always in one of the top places as the season gained momentum. It was a double
celebration for MUFC as we also lifted the GFA Trophy, beating Patchway Town 2-0 at Oaklands
Park, but aside from that, 1999-2000 was all about the return of ANDY BLACK to MUFC & he
delivered promotion to the Southern League at the first available opportunity!
THE GAMES IN QUESTION
Following a good pre-season, the serious stuff of the month began with an awesome 6-0 away win at
the (fairly) new Huish Park home of YEOVIL TOWN, whose Reserves were a Screwfix League side
in those days & whose manager was also one certain TERRY ROWLES, who took MUFC to the FA
Vase Semi-Finals in 1995-96. I remember the game well, as it was always likely to be the best
ground we’d visit all season & the plush surroundings of Huish Park, fitted green carpets all over the
place, were to prove to be even more memorable as we chalked up an unexpectedly huge away win!
Currently with Gloucester City, DARREN EDWARDS, still eligible for our Youth side a couple of
months earlier, netted after just 2 minutes & a strong 1st half saw us go in 4-0 up at the break, with
MARTIN BOYLE (13), DAVE ELSEY (16 pen) & NATHAN RUDGE (35) adding to Darren’s opener.
MARTIN BOYLE made it 5-0 (63) & NOEL O’SULLIVAN (81) completed the rout. Yeovil, whose side
contained one or two future MUFC players in Tony Malessa & Arthur Appleton, were totally shellshocked by the end of the game (as we were too!) & we wondered, as we drove back up from Yeovil,
whether this was to be the start of a truly special season at MUFC, following a win like that!
TEAM: TONY COURT, GARY THOMAS, DANNY HALLETT, LEE BARLASS, DAVE ELSEY,
GARETH LOYDON, NEIL ROSSLEE, NATHAN RUDGE, MARTIN BOYLE, DARREN EDWARDS &
KEVIN COLES. Subs who played: GARY DAVIS, NOEL O’SULLIVAN & NICK WILSON.
One week on & our first home game of 1999-2000 saw us defeat HUNGERFORD TOWN by 3-0 in
an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie. Hungerford are, of course, a Calor League Premier Division side
these days, but back in 1999, they played in the Ryman Isthmian League Division 2, alongside other
familiar names such as Bedford Town, Hemel Hempstead, Bracknell Town and Windsor & Eton –
who we have all met in recent seasons. The game eventually proved to be another comfortable win
for us, with DARREN EDWARDS (48), MARTIN BOYLE (49) & NOEL O’SULLIVAN (53) netting the
goals. The Hungerford side also contained 2 names who were to prove familiar to us in later years –
Alan Churchward & Gary Horgan.
The month ended with a 4-0 home demolition of BISHOP SUTTON, with NOEL O’SULLIVAN (4),
MARTIN BOYLE (34), DARREN EDWARDS (66) & DAVE ELSEY (75 pen) doing the damage. It
could have been 5-0, but DAVE ELSEY then missed a 2nd penalty on 89 minutes. Never mind, we
forgave him for that one, but what a month August ‘99 had been! More from “TWTMTW” again soon.
FIELD REVIEW - 15
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WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
“WE HAVE TO BE STRONG AND STAY TOGETHER”. The words of Torquay United boss Alan
Knill, as quoted in The Sun on 25 November 2013, following the Gulls’ 2-1 defeat at fast-improving
Accrington Stanley, where the gate was a mere 1,279. Compare that to the 6,000+ crowds they get
at Luton Town in the Conference! The reports suggest that Torquay were a little unlucky on the day,
but that’s football. It doesn’t help, I suppose, that their manager’s name is Knill – or should that be
“NIL”……
“I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS QUESTION (about having lost 4 games in a row) IS BEING
ASKED. WE ARE 16 GAMES INTO THE NEW SEASON. THIS JOB IS GOING TO TAKE TIME”.
The words of Portsmouth boss Guy Whittingham, following Pompey’s 2-1 home loss v Scunthorpe
United, in front of a gate of 14,550, the likes of which clubs like Scunny or Accrington, or most other
League 2 sides, can only dream about.
Time?? Time waits for no one, as the Rolling Stones once sang. Pompey sacked Whittingham just
48 hours later & remember, he only lost FOUR games in a row. Sean O’Driscoll went TWENTY
games at Bristol City without a win & he still kept his job – for a while longer…….
“WE CAN GIVE A VERY GOOD ACCOUNT OF OURSELVES IN BRAZIL NEXT YEAR”. The words
of England manager Roy Hodgson, as quoted in the Metro on 18 November 2013, as he looked
ahead to next summer……but he did say this before the 1-0 home defeat v Germany Reserves! But
as for his quote, well, we live in hope, but I don’t think anyone’s going to expect too much from us
this time around. Whoever we get in the group stages – and the draw was due to be made
yesterday – then we’ll do well to qualify from there & see what happens then……
“I DON’T SEE ENGLAND BEING ON THE SAME LEVEL AS GERMANY OR SPAIN”. The words of
former Germany captain & Chelsea star Michael Ballack, as quoted in that same issue of the Metro
as Roy Hodgson.
Neither do we, Michael, neither do we…….
“IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR UTOPIA, THEN THAT FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE WAS
PROBABLY IT. ALL FIVE FIRST-HALF GOALS WERE BREATHTAKING & THE PERFORMANCE
WAS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN IN MY TIME AS MANAGER. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY,
“IT IS ONLY HEARTS”, BUT WE WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING”. The words of Celtic manager
Neil Lennon, as quoted in The Sun on 2 December 2013, as he looked back on his side’s 7-0 win at
Hearts two days earlier.
Yes, well done Neil, for winning 7-0 in a one-horse league where you have absolutely NO
OPPOSITION across the entire season. Yes, you’ll have the occasional hiccup here & there (usually
v Inverness) on your way to the title yet again (don’t you get bored?), and you could probably put
your reserves out in most league games & still pick up the 3 points. Of course, where you are c**p is
in Europe, as usual (though you do raise your game a little v Barcelona now & again), & this season
was worse than usual in that respect, where you got out of Europe completely by the end of
November, when the season is not even half over. Not even the Europa League to look forward to
either, dear oh dear. And then you have the arrogance to come out & say, “it was only Hearts”, or
rather, you pretend that others might have said it. Then again, perhaps AC Milan said something like
that the other week after easily winning 3-0 in Glasgow – “it was only Celtic”. Still, by insulting
Hearts, at least you have given them something to pin up in their dressing room the next time you
play them & if that doesn’t spur them on to raise their own game against you, then nothing will.
“I DON’T LIKE THE RESULT, BUT I THOUGHT THE TEAM PERFORMANCE WAS A GOOD ONE”.
The words of Plymouth Argyle boss John Sheridan, as quoted in The Sun on 2 December 2013, as
he looked back on the Pilgrims’ 1-0 home defeat by Burton Albion.
Hhmm, that quote sounds like something Sean O’Driscoll would say & look what happened to him!
FIELD REVIEW - 16
Blaine Nolan, Unit 27A, 71, Whitchurch Lane,
Bishopsworth
Bristol BS13 7TE. Tel: 0117 9643388
Dave Salter, Bristol Tile Co,
543-551 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol
BS16 3AF
0117 965 8000
WHEN WEST AUCKLAND RULED THE WORLD
Graham Mills is based in St. Neots, Cambs. He produces the Eynesbury Rovers programme and
pens articles for Bristol Rovers. He has very kindly passed on some very readable articles for
the FIELD REVIEW.
Now if you are asked who won the first World Cup you would probably say Uruguay in 1930. However
long before then an earlier attempt was made to establish a World tournament and the inaugural
winners were West Auckland FC, an amateur side from County Durham!
The competition came about when Sir Thomas Lipton, a millionaire, philanthropist and enthusiastic
sportsman, was awarded the Grand Order of the Crown of Italy. He responded by presenting a trophy
for world competition between the countries playing the rapidly developing game of football. The
competition was held in Turin in 1909 with club teams from Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Great
Britain being invited to take part.
The original invitation was offered to the English FA, who were asked to nominate a team, but they
declined. Sir Thomas insisted that Great Britain was represented but how West Auckland, an amateur
colliery team, were chosen is not quite clear. It is thought that an employee of Thomas Lipton was a
referee in the Northern League and he was instrumental in finding a team, i.e. West Auckland.
The team, which was predominantly made up of coal miners, struggled to raise the money necessary
for the trip to Italy, and some even pawned their possessions in order to do so. Incredibly they beat
Stuttgart of Germany 2-0 before beating FC Winterhour, of Switzerland 2-0 in the final at the Turin
Stadium on April 12th 1909. So the first ‘World Cup’ had been won by a team of unknown amateurs who
had to finance the trip themselves.
Two years later West Auckland returned to Italy to defend the trophy. They beat Red Star of Switzerland
2-0 on the way to the final, where they beat Juventus of Italy 6-1 on April 17th 1911. As Sir Thomas
Lipton had stipulated that a team winning the trophy in consecutive tournaments would be entitled to
keep it, West Auckland FC had their name etched in football history as the first outright winners of the
“Football World Cup”.
Unfortunately the cost of the tournament had put the club in debt and they had to find £40 quickly. As
their only asset was the trophy, an arrangement was made with Mrs. Lancaster, the landlady of the
“Wheatsheaf Hotel” which served as the club’s headquarters. Mrs. Lancaster loaned the club £40 but
retained the trophy as security until the club could pay her back. It remained in her possession for nearly
50 years when, in 1960, officials of the club managed to track her down at her Liverpool home. She
handed over the trophy but not before she negotiated a £100 fee!
The trophy was put on display in the “Eden Arms” public house, the home of Syd Douthwaite, the Club
Secretary. However, when the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in 1966 Mr. Douthwaite decided to lock it
away.
By January 1994 the trophy was being held at the West Auckland Working-men’s Club, from where it
was stolen. Despite the offer of a substantial reward the trophy was never recovered. Fortunately the
trophy was insured and the manufacture of a replica was possible. A Sheffield Silversmith, working only
from photographs and videos, managed to produce a near copy of the original and it is now kept in a
secure cabinet back at the Working-men’s Club.
In 1981 Tyne Tees Television made a film of the story. It was called “A Captain’s Tale” and starred actor
Dennis Waterman as Bob Jones, the club captain, and Tim Healy as “Dirty Hoggy”. It was filmed on
location in the North East of England and in Italy.
I’m sure you will agree that this is a remarkable story!
FIELD REVIEW - 17
YOUTH TEAM NEWS & STATS
2013/14
SOMERSET FLOODLIGHT YOUTH LEAGUE 2013-14 - FIXTURES
04/09
12/09
25/09
30/09
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
KEYNSHAM TOWN
BRISTOL ACADEMY
TAUNTON TOWN
SFYL
RSMC-1`
FAYC 1QR
SFYL
H
H
H
H
2-2
2-0
1-2
6-1
09/10 BRISLINGTON
SFYL
H
7-0
13/10 Gotherington
16/10 Ashton & Backwell
GYFAS-R1 A
SFYL
A
8-0
6-1
24/10 ASHTON & BACKWELL
SFYL
H
6-1
14/11
19/11
27/11
01/12
04/12
09/12
18/12
06/01
15/01
22/01
04/02
18/02
06/03
TBA
GYFAS-R2
SFYL
RSMC-QF
GYFAS-R3
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
SFYL
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
A
A
A
W/O
2-1
2-1
3-1
3-2
Broughton, Dodimead
Dodimead, Josh Bennett
Dodimead 2, Rhys-Jones
7
7
4
6
5
7
7
5
8
1
1
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
2
1
3
1
4
4
3
7
32
15
14
11
15
9
12
5
9
LYDNEY TOWN
Gillingham Town
PAULTON ROVERS
Cinderford Town
BRIDGWATER TOWN
Weston-super-Mare
ODD DOWN ATHLETIC
Taunton Town
TIVERTON TOWN
GILLINGHAM TOWN
Bridgwater Town
Tiverton Town
Odd Down Athletic
Brislington
Monelle, Broughton
Rhys-Jones, Josh Bennett
Justin Lee
Broughton 2, Hemmings 2,Rhys-Jones,
Henry
Hemmings 3, Henderson, Monelle, Rhys-Jone
Henry
Monelle 3, Stevens 2, Broughton 2, White
Broughton 2 (1p), Henry, Lee, Dodimead,
Hemmings
Lee 2, Broughton, Hemmings, Dodimead
Shamrock
SFYL Table – Premier Division
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED
Bridgwater Town
Tiverton Town
Gillingham Town
Weston-super-Mare
Brislington
Taunton Town
Odd Down
Ashton & Backwell
6
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
8
10
2
9
10
16
21
14
32
19
13
9
9
8
7
6*
6
3
Point Deducted*
The lads won 3-1 at Cinderford Town on Sunday, which puts them into the last eight of the
Gloucestershire FA Youth Shield. With the lads also leading the SFYLeague and in the last four of the
Roger Stone Memorial Cup, there is a real chance of a treble!
Recently, the youngsters won 3-2 at home to Bridgwater Town, extending their lead at the top to
six points. Goals by Danny Dodimead & Josh Bennett, gave us a 2-1 victory over Paulton Rovers
and puts us in the semi-finals of the Roger Stone Memorial Cup.
Recent League results saw Gillingham Town beat Brislington 2-1, and Tiverton Town defeat Ashton &
Backwell by 4-1
http://full-time.thefa.com – This is the website for all the information you need. Go to the letter
S and click on the SOMERSET FLOODLIGHT YOUTH LEAGUE.
FIELD REVIEW - 18
es
MANGOTSFIELD UTD SUPPORTERS CLUB
(2009)
Fundraising
2013/14
************************************************************************************
If there are any supporters who would like an away programme from any of our matches on the
road, or even a badge for trheir collection, and cannot travel, then please see us in the CLUB
SHOP and we will get you one to order, if possible. We need to know in advance of the game.
The 2013/14 Season’s 50 Club draw, (for October) was held after the game against Bishops Cleeve.
The winners were:
£100
£50
£25
18
16
17
JANE WILCOX
GARY MARKS
MIKE RICHARDSON
The Player of the month for October was MATT SYSUM, and he in turn drew the numbers for the above
draw. The November draws will take place after TODAY’S home game with Yate Town.
The CLUB SHOP are re-stocking this season. Already, we have received some replica shirts and we
can order more. Just ask if you need one. Also Polo shirts have been delivered and we can obtain
training tops and track-suit tops. Supporters Club members of 10% can be applied. We are also hoping
to have the new scarves delivered very soon. Dave Wilcox has ordered them for us, especially now
that Autumn is here! We also have a selection of last season’s training tops and track-suit bottoms
which will be sold cheaply. We have just acquired some fleeces – priced at just £25. WE NOW
HAVE SOME WOOLLY HATS IN MAROON. £10 or £9 for supporter Club members.
Our next away game when a coach will be running, will be the trip to DIDCOT TOWN on Saturday 14th
December. As usual, it will be on a ‘first come’ first served’ basis and bookings can be made with
DANNY WEST on 07766118384. Supporters Club members £10, non-members, £12.50.
A NIGHT at SWINDON DOGS is at the planning stage for Saturday 11 th January 2014, following our
game at Supermarine and we would appreciate any feedback. If there is enough demand, a coach or
minibus will be booked for the evening.
A RACE NIGHT will follow today’s game. MUSC will be looking to SHAUN LECRASS to carry out his
usual excellent arrangements for this. First race will go off at 5.45pm. Committee members will be
looking for sponsorship and selling horses.
A reminder to one or two fans who have STILL not yet renewed their membership for the 2013/14
campaign. Come on, there’s a fridge magnet, or a badge, waiting for you! We hope that the fans will
support our events planned for the season. It all helps the coffers and then we can give the football club
even more money.!
If any of the supporters have any ideas or proposals that they think would help MUSC, then please see
a Committee member so that they can discuss this at their next monthly meeting. They are, Dave
Wilcox, Gary Marks, James Packwood, Tracy Lecrass, Terry Stevens, John Packwood & Ollie Marks.
The next Monthly Committee Meeting was scheduled for last night, Monday 2nd December 2013.
The CLUB SHOP have agreed to sponsor the kit for MATT SYSUM and The SUPPORTERS CLUB will
do likewise for ADNAN HIROLI. Thankyou everyone.
FIELD REVIEW -19
MOMENTS IN FOOTBALL
This article contains rare archive photographs from the Press Association, many unseen for
decades. They have been taken from the book 100 Years of Football, by ROBIN McKELVIE &
JENNY McELVIE and we duly acknowledge their work and thank them for allowing their use.
When WIGAN ATHLETIC won the 2013 FA Cup Final, with a late goal against favourites
Manchester City, they created history by winning the trophy AND suffering relegation from the
Premier Division in the same season. For Wigan’s Chairman DAVE WHELAN, it closed a chapter
dating back from 1960, when Dave, then playing for Blackburn Rovers, broke his leg in a Wembley
FA Cup Final defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the era between 1950-60, there were
several serious injuries
suffered on the ‘hallowed’
turf, and the ‘Wembley
Hoodoo’ became known.
There
were
several
theories about this, but no
conclusion
was
ever
reached. Following his leg
break, Whelan was sold
to
Crewe
Alexandra,
playing there for several
years, before retiring to
concentrate fully on his
supermarket
chain,
Whelan’s
Discount
Stores, which were sold
to Ken Morrison for over a
£1,000,000.
Whelan acquired Wigan Fishing & Sports store JJBradburns (even though JJB are the initials of
previous owner John Jarvis Broughton) in 1977. He re-named the company JJB Sports and
focused purely on sports goods. By 1980, JJB had become a chain of 7 stores and went on to
expand throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It became the UK’s second biggest sports retailer.
Whelan bought Wigan Athletic in February 1995, when they were a Division Three team. He
announced that he would get the club into the Premier League, a promise he fulfilled in 2005. This
began with the Division Three title in 1996/97, Division Two title in 2002/03, and promotion to the
Premiership, as Championship runners-up in 2004/05. He funded the £30million construction of the
club’s new JJB Stadium, which opened in 1999 and on its completion became one of the largest
stadiums outside of the Premier League.
th
Not only did they manage to stay up in their first season, they finished in 10 place and reached
the final of the Football League Cup. In 2005, Whelan threatened to quit the club unless the price
of policing games was reduced and in 2007, he called for the relegation of West Ham United as
punishment for their incorrect registration of Carlos T evez and Javier Mascherano. An arbitration
committee met to consider the affair and ruled in favour of the Premier League.
Wigan stayed in the Premier league for 8 years, which is quite incredible considering where the
club had come from. Whelan always felt that he had missed out when he suffered that broken leg
back in 1960, and when his Athletic were matched up against the might of Manchester City in May
2013, he felt that a win would ‘put things right’
Against the odds, in a game of many missed chances by both sides, it came down to a dramatic
ending with Ben Watson powering home a header with 91 minutes on the clock. It was the club’s
first major trophy in their Premier league history and gave Whelan that opportunity to lift the FA
Cup 53 years after that injury. Three days later, a 1-4 defeat to Arsenal condemned Wigan to
relegation to the Championship. Will they ever return?
FIELD REVIEW - 20
ATHENIAN REMEMBERED (3)
1973 saw the start of the decline of The Athenian League. The Isthmian decided to form a Second
Division for 1973/74 and, quite naturally looked to the Athenian to provide the new clubs. Eight clubs
from the Premier Division, Six from Division One and Hampton from Division Two left the Athenian for
the Isthmian at the end of the 1972/73 season. In addition, Epsom & Ewell were not re-elected and
spent the next two seasons in the Surrey Senior League. The Athenian did elect Feltham Town and
Molesey from the Spartan League, Faversham Town from the Metropolitan and Alton Town from the
Hampshire League. The Athenian continued with two divisions until 1977.
SEASON 1976-77 FIRST DIVISION TABLE
Leyton-Wingate
Letchworth G.City
Addlestone
Lewes
Cheshunt
Epping
Alton Town
Rainham
Egham
Epsom & Ewell
Redhill
Haringey
Worthing
Hounslow
Erith & Belvedere
Grays Athletic
Marlow
Ruislip Manor
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
22
21
19
18
18
17
14
12
14
12
12
11
9
10
4
6
5
4
6
6
10
8
8
8
10
13
7
9
9
8
9
7
14
10
8
5
6
7
5
8
8
9
10
9
13
13
13
15
16
17
16
18
21
25
65
66
58
63
57
54
46
63
46
46
43
42
47
37
27
38
42
33
26
33
24
43
39
37
39
56
45
42
43
47
59
56
44
63
90
87
50
49
48
44
44
42
38
37
35
33
33
30
27
27
22
22
18
13
Clubs continued to leave the Athenian for the Isthmian League. Boreham Wood and Croydon in 1974,
Harrow Borough, Hornchurch, Ware Town and Wembley in 1975. In addition, the Division Two club
Aylesbury United joined the Southern League in 1976/77. Previously some clubs had returned to their
County leagues in order to reduce costs. Herne Bay and Faversham Town joined the Kent League in
1974/75 and 1975/76 respectively and Eastbourne Town joined the Sussex County League in
1976/77. Wingate amalgamated with Leyton in 1976. As replacements for these losses, the Athenian
League accepted Camberley Town, Chalfont St. Peter, Chertsey Town, Egham Town, Epping Town,
Epsom & Ewell, after their spell in the Surrey Senior League, Farnborough Town, Harefield United,
Kingsbury Town, Tring Town and Willesden.
At the end of the 1976/77 season, the Athenian League lost 15 clubs to the Isthmian, when that
league formed a third division. At the same time, Addlestone and Hounslow Town joined the Southern
League. Consequently, from 1977/78, the Athenian League operated with just one division. Billericay
Town, Burnham and Hoddesdon Town were admitted to the Athenian for 1977/78 leaving the league
with 18 clubs in membership. Erith & Belvedere joined the Kent League and Kingsbury Town, the
London-Spartan League for 1978/79 with Dorking Town, Fleet Town and Welling United being the
newcomers to the Athenian League.
After winning the Athenian Championship in each of their two seasons in the league, (1977-79)
Billericay Town joined the Isthmian League. Banstead Athletic and Woodford Town were admitted for
1979/80 bringing the membership up to 20 clubs. Basildon Town replaced Dorking Town for 1980/81
before moving on to the Isthmian with Windsor & Eton after only one season. Welling United joined
the Southern League and Alton Town the Combined Counties League for 1981/82, with LondonSpartan League clubs, Horley, Kingsbury Town and Whyteleafe being accepted into the Athenian as
replacements.
FIELD REVIEW - 21
More soon from the Athenian Remembered……
Many Thanks to the following Companies and Individuals
PLAYER
NEIL ARNDALE
RYAN BATH
-S P O N S O R SLIZ & MIKE HAMILTON
B. I. S.
MARCUS DUHARTY
JOSH EGAN
ADNAN HIROLI
CHARLIE HITCHINGS
BEN HUNT
ALEX KITE
GLEAMING CLEAN
THE SUPPORTERS CLUB (MUSC)
MIKE CHESKIN
FRAN JENKINS
PAT McKEOWN
SHAUN LAMB
GO - PAK UK
MATT SYSUM
THE CLUB SHOP
LIAM MONELLE
TOM PARRINELLO
K & N OFFICE SUPPLIES
MYRA GIBBS
LEWIS POWELL
MRS HAZEL RALPH
JAMIE REID
JOHN HANCOCK
KEVIN SAWYER
THE BRODIE PARTNERSHIP
KYLE THOMAS
KYLE TOOZE
THE SPOTTED COW
ASHLEY WILLIAMS
MRS HAZEL RALPH
LUKE BALLINGER
BOB JENKINS
RICHARD THOMPSON
LEE BARLASS
DOUG PRINGLE
JOHN HOUSE
CAMERON BUILDING SERVICES
DAVE BLACKMORE
THE BUTCHERS ARMS
R G VEHICLE MOVEMENT
Full Kit Sponsorship includes all training / warm-up and kit bag
Contact MIKE HAMILTON on
OR E-Mail Mike at --
FIELD REVIEW - 22
07955 - 687 - 180
[email protected]
KIT £.100
GLOUCESTER ROAD GEARBOXES
0117 295 9727……www.grgb.org.uk
Andersons Waste Treatment Centre Ltd
Unit 6 Hydro Estate, St. Andrews Road,
Avonmouth
Bristol BS11 9HS. Tel: 0117 9829675
MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS
MAIN SPONSOR
AND ANOTHER THING!! -1
Loads to chat about today, as usual, so let’s crack on without further ado:
FIRST BATCH OF QUICKIES: First off, let’s say good luck to Arsenal stalwart Pat Rice, who
announced last week that he is battling cancer. Best wishes, Pat…..And staying with Arsenal, it is
quite incredible that, despite having 12 points from their 5 x CL games, they still might not qualify for
the next stage, depending on if they lose 3-0 at Napoli in that final group game. 12 points is usually
enough to see most teams through...…Meanwhile, let’s give credit to Man Utd for their 5-0 CL away
win at Bayer Leverkusen the other week. We all know that German clubs are highly rated, just like
their national team, & United have stuttered so far a bit this season, but that was one heck of a win &
deserves every credit…….as was Ajax’s 2-1 win v Barcelona at the Amsterdam Arena! OK,
Barcelona have already qualified & Messi was injured; even so, the rest of them are still a good side,
despite all the tippy-tappy football, but Ajax were on top form on the night & brought back some great
memories of some of those early 70s European nights when Total Football ruled…..And staying in
Europe, Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos is a damned good player, but 17 (!) red cards in his career
is pretty poor! All those suspensions don’t help his team, do they?
SECOND BATCH OF QUICKIES: Now did anyone notice that in Carlisle United’s recent 2-1
win v Crewe, the 2 Carlisle goals both came in the 45th minute & the Crewe goal happened in the
90th minute, so anyone who missed the end of each half to go & get a pie or leave early to “beat the
traffic” would have missed all 3 goals – and I’ll bet there was at least one person…… So, how can
you be 3-1 down, but come back to win 2-0?? That’s what happened to Charlton, who trailed 3-1
to Doncaster when the match was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch some weeks back, and
then they won the re-run 2-0. I’ll bet Doncaster weren’t too happy about that…….And so much for
Chelsea, beaten for the 2nd time this season by Swiss side Basel – their performance was
almost enough to make Jose lose his hair…..oh hang on, he already had lost his hair, when he give
himself a haircut, by borrowing Fernando Torres’ clippers, in order to “save a few quid”….huh??
WELL, THE WORLD CUP DRAW WAS DUE TO BE HELD YESTERDAY, so we’ll know now who
England will face in Brazil next summer. Interestingly, there was a rumour going around a week or
so ago that FIFA, who, as we know, are a shifty & crooked bunch at the best of times, had actually
already “done” the draw in advance & had fixed it so that England were placed in a “Group of Death”
with Brazil, France & Mexico! Now OK, no one trusts FIFA as far as anyone could throw them &
there are probably more “brown envelopes” passed around FIFA’s offices than you’ll find in a
postman’s mail bag, but I don’t think even FIFA would try to rig the draw 7 days before it’s supposed
to happen. Besides, why put England into a “Group of Death”? After our showings v Chile &
Germany, we might have a job to qualify out of a “Group of Anything”!!
THIRD BATCH OF QUICKIES: So, Sean O’Driscoll finally exited Bristol City at long, long last. I
think it was the manner of the very poor Sheffield United defeat that caused the penny to finally drop
for the Board, regardless of the point earned v Leyton Orient 3 days later, but I think most City fans
were amazed that it didn’t happen weeks ago anyway, when the club endured a nightmare, recordbreaking 20-match win-less run. I’m struggling to think of another club who kept their manager that
long in similar circumstances, when most clubs these days usually act even before TEN winless
games…… And staying with City, I see that the gate v Leyton Orient was 10,659, which is very
good considering their position. Regulars I know, however, claimed that the figure looked much less
than that…..Meanwhile, Accrington Stanley’s mini-revival of later continued last week with a 2-0
home win v high-flying Fleetwood. You have to give them their due, Stanley are making a fight of it,
against all the odds…….And on the same night in League 2, no less than 4 successive games – in
alphabetical order – all finished 0-0, so hard luck to all those who went to Cheltenham, Chesterfield,
Morecambe & Oxford, hoping to see a goal or two……Now former Liverpool & Forest striker Stan
Collymore, a radio presenter these days, has been invited to attend an FA commission this month on
how England – and English football in general – can improve in terms of world status. Sounds OK to
me. He’s had his demons in the past, of course, but on the radio, he talks a lot of sense in my view,
so this invitation is no real surprise!....... and with some fans always trying to “beat the traffic”, did
anyone miss the 3 Blackpool red cards at Yeovil this week, all in the last few minutes???!! (Cont)
FIELD REVIEW - 23
AND ANOTHER THING!! - 2
IT’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL!! 3 things today:
(1)
(2)
(3)
IT’S ALL IN A NAME! I don’t know if you ever read the births & deaths page in the Bristol
Post, but I do & I saw that one recent young addition to Bristol’s population had been
named “Spartacus” by his loving parents. SPARTACUS??!! Poor lad. Are his mum & dad
Kirk Douglas fans? Do they not realise that when their boy is older, perhaps in junior
school & certainly in senior school, when it comes to class register time, all his mates will
be standing up saying, “I’m Spartacus! I’m Spartacus, I’m Spartacus” Dear oh dear…..
NOW DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST CD pressed in the USA in the 1980s was Bruce
Springsteen’s “Born To Run”?? Back then, we began to say goodbye to vinyl & cassettes
(though they are still around) & now here we are, 30 years on & even CDs are slowly
beginning to disappear into the background as downloads take over……
AND DID YOU ALSO KNOW THAT, APPARENTLY, it has been proven that you burn off
more calories by sleeping rather than watching TV?? I can believe it. When you’re
watching TV, you’re also comfort-eating or nibbling half the time as well & so you add
calories that way. There are other reasons too, but the doubters might also say, “what
about those who sleepwalk & raid the fridge in their sleep??”
FOURTH BATCH OF QUICKIES: Now I’m always one for football trivia, but I must admit I can’t
take the credit for spotting this clash earlier in the FA Vase – Brimscombe & Thrupp v Ashton &
Backwell United (which ended 3-1 in case you ask). It’s not often, is it, that two sides with double
barrel names like that end up playing each other…….And in case any long-standing MUFC fans
are wondering where you’ve heard the name of Brimscombe & Thrupp before, then yes, we
once played them in the late 80s here at Cossham Street in the GFA Trophy & we won 11-0 – I will
dig the programme out soon & see who scored…….Interesting to see that Martin Jol (Fulham),
Owen Coyle (Wigan), David Flitcroft (Barnsley) & Dave Jones (Sheff Wed) were all sacked last
weekend. Immediately when I wrote this page last Sunday, I thought, I wonder, any of them in line
for Bristol City maybe?? The latter perhaps, but things may have moved on since then……
NOW HERE’S AN INTERESTING TALE I HEARD FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE recently & I’ve no
reason to doubt it. Back in the late 80s/early 90s, Gillingham had a keeper called Harvey Lim.
During one particular match – and I don’t know who the Gills were playing – the only goal of the
game came from a direct free-kick which found a tiny gap through the defensive wall & into the back
of the Gills net past keeper Lim. The local paper’s headline on the Monday was “CHINK IN GILLS’
DEFENCE COSTS MATCH” or something very close to that. Gillingham objected to that headline &
I gather they banned the paper’s reporters from the ground for a while until differences were
resolved. Now at the time, I might have wondered what all the fuss was about, to be honest, but
then again, I wasn’t a Gillingham fan, otherwise I might have known that one of Harvey Lim’s parents
was Chinese…….
FOREIGN OWNERS AGAIN!! Now Hull City owner Assem Allam, who wants to change the club’s
name to Hull Tigers, will not make any friends from the “City Till I Die” campaign group, or any other
Hull fan for that matter, when he said last week that, “they can die as soon as they want”. OK, the
bloke has put £70m into Hull City & they’d have probably been in a mess without that money, but you
just cannot say things like that about people who support his club & have done so passionately for
DECADES & not just for the 3 years that he has been there. Yet another foreign owner who tries to
ride roughshod over everything & everyone. Yes, at Hull, they need his investment & yes, that gives
him a lot of power, but can someone teach this bloke something about heritage & so on, because his
actions are creating an unnecessary atmosphere at the club, who are, & always will be, Hull City.
AND FINALLY, last season, most neutral fans felt that the Championship was a crazy league with
everyone capable of beating everyone else & there were so many shock results – and it seems to be
happening again this season! Tuesday saw all 3 bottom sides win & two of them were manager-less
as well! The trouble is, both Bristol clubs are a million miles from it all right now, but I wonder how
long it will be before a Bristol team graces the Championship again????? THE FIELD MARSHALL
FIELD REVIEW - 24
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