SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48
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SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 Hello and welcome to the latest edition of your Newsletter, if you have anything to contribute, please do get in touch by email- newsletter.wessexleague@gmail.com You can keep up to date with all the news from around the League by following us on Twitter at - @Sydwessex You are more than welcome to use any material (excluding attributed photographs) but it would be appreciated if any material used is acknowledged. It is hoped you enjoy reading this each week. With readership quite widespread, not only within our own competition, but across the three counties and beyond- if ANY club has anything they’d like to have published in here, whether that be a request for helpers, promotion of forthcoming events, items required or available for sale please contact the Newsletter Editor. As a general reminder- Match Reports, player news and photos are always welcome- it is your Newsletter! Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 1 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 ARE YOU LISTENING ? Now broadcasting on Sunday 14:00 to 16:00 The Sydenhams Wessex Football League Show is the official podcast of the Sydenhams Wessex League. We’re on air live from the 103.9 Voice FM studios in Southampton from 14:00 to 16:00 every Sunday and you can also listen live on www.voicefmradio.co.uk from anywhere in the world. You can listen again afterwards, normally just one hour after the show has finished via the same website and there is also a Voice FM App you can download to your Phone I-Pad or Computer device. Our aim is to promote all local football but specifically the 41 teams of the Sydenhams Wessex League. So far, we have had managers, chairmen, players, press officers and secretaries joining us as studio guests and phone guests; from many Sydenhams Wessex League clubs, as well as guests from local teams both higher up and lower down the pyramid. This is your show and is a platform for your club to promote its events and raise its profile. If your club produces post-match interviews, please either email us a copy of the audio or give permission for us to play them on air straight from your website or social media sites, as we will aim to play them on the show. Please come and join us one Sunday, at the moment, no guests will be allowed in the Studio, but please email cliffpledge@hotmail.com or secretary@sholingfc.com for more information. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 2 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 WESSEX LEAGUE CUP 2021/22, THE DRAW Holders: Hamworthy United First Round Amesbury Town v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Ash United v Fleet Spurs East Cowes Victoria v Alton Fawley AFC v Verwood Town Folland Sports v Hythe & Dibden Horndean v Newport IOW New Milton Town v Totton & Eling Petersfield Town v Hamble Club United Services Portsmouth v Bournemouth Second Round AFC Portchester v Laverstock & Ford Andover Town v Bashley Ash United/Fleet Spurs v East Cowes Vics/Alton Baffins Milton Rovers v Infinity Blackfield & Langley v Moneyfields Cowes Sports v Andover New Street Downton v United Services Portsmouth/Bournemouth Fareham Town v Horndean/Newport IOW Folland Sports/Hythe & Dibden v Alresford Town Hamworthy United v Amesbury Town/Bemerton Heath Harlequins New Milton Town/Totton & Eling v Fawley AFC/Verwood Town Petersfield Town/Hamble Club v AFC Stoneham Portland United v Romsey Town Ringwood Town v Brockenhurst Shaftesbury v Millbrook Whitchurch United v Christchurch PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES It would be expected that this list will grow from week to week, so please do get in touch- contact me by email at newsletter.wessexleague@gmail.com to get your games added. The list is now around the century mark and still growing almost daily. As this season was extended into June due to start stop season and lack of football during lockdown, HAMPSHIRE County FA are happy that for this season only friendlies can take place in June but clubs involved still need permission from their member league. Presumably a similar relaxation of the restriction is in place elsewhere, but we would strongly advise clubs to enquire locally before making arrangements. Please contact us so we can promote your games and advise of clubs from outside our area looking for similar arrangements. Please do NOT forget that the HOST team also MUST obtain sanction from their County FA before the game is played. Games are subject to change at little or no notice. In the summary below, [*] indicates a neutral venue for this game. At time of writing we understand that the first games in the 2021/22 FA Cup will be on Saturday 7 August, so please also bear that in mind when booking games and allow for the fact that as in previous seasons, we may have a round of League fixtures prior to that week. Pre-season fixtures and tournaments are listed IN GOOD FAITH, but please note that the League have no control over the proposed schedules. Spectators are strongly recommended to check nearer the time if making a special journey. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 3 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 DAY DATE HOST v OPPONENT KO NOTES Friday 02-Jul Fawley v Hamble Club 19:45 - Saturday 03-Jul Alton v Ashford Town 15:00 Saturday 03-Jul Blackfield & Langley * Lymington Town 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Broadstone Seniors v New Milton Town 15:00 Saturday 03-Jul Exmouth Town v Verwood Town 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Fleetlands v Moneyfields 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Horndean v Havant & Waterlooville 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Hythe & Dibden v Eversleigh & California 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Paulsgrove v Baffins Milton Rovers 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Salisbury v AFC Portchester 15:00 - Saturday 03-Jul Winchester Castle v Amesbury Town 15:00 - Tuesday 06-Jul Andover New Street v Basingstoke Town 19:45 Tuesday 06-Jul Arundel v Baffins Milton Rovers 19:45 - Tuesday 06-Jul Folland Sports v Horndean 19:45 - Tuesday 06-Jul Millbrook v Blackfield & Langley 19:45 - Tuesday 06-Jul Petersfield Town v Amesbury Town 19:45 - Tuesday 06-Jul Stockbridge v AFC Stoneham 19:45 - Friday 09-Jul Fawley v AFC Stoneham 19:45 - Saturday 10-Jul AFC Stoneham v Crawley Down Gatwick 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Alresford Town v Cribbs 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Amesbury Town v Westbury United 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Colden Common v Fareham Town 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Gillingham Town v New Milton Town 15:00 Saturday 10-Jul Haywards Heath Town v Alton 15:00 Saturday 10-Jul Horndean v Hartley Wintney 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Hythe & Dibden v Broadbridge Heath 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Millbrook v Brockenhurst 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Newport IOW v Baffins Milton Rovers 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Paulsgrove v Moneyfields 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Ringwood Town v Wincanton Town 15:00 - Saturday 10-Jul Sherborne Town v Bournemouth 15:00 - Tuesday 13-Jul AFC Stoneham v AFC Totton 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Amesbury Town v Colden Common 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Andover New Street v Salisbury 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Baffins Milton Rovers v Portsmouth Academy 19:30 - Tuesday 13-Jul Blackfield & Langley * Poole Town 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Pagham v Alton 19:45 Tuesday 13-Jul Selsey v Horndean 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Steyning Town v Moneyfields 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Verwood Town v Wimborne Town 19:45 Steve Moore Cup Tuesday 13-Jul Whitchurch United v Winchester Castle 19:45 - Tuesday 13-Jul Wincanton Town v Shaftesbury 19:00 - Wednesday 14-Jul Blandford United v Bournemouth 19:45 - Wednesday 14-Jul Fawley v Bashley 19:45 - Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 4 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 Saturday 17-Jul AFC Stoneham v Knaphill 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Alton v Frimley Green 15:00 Saturday 17-Jul Bashley v Hartley Wintney 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Blackfield & Langley * Basingstoke Town 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Bournemouth Sports v Downton 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Cribbs v Amesbury Town 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul East Cowes Victoria v Brockenhurst 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul East Preston v Moneyfields 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Fleetlands v Baffins Milton Rovers 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Horndean v Chichester City 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Hythe & Dibden v Abingdon United 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul Millbrook v Bournemouth 15:00 - Saturday 17-Jul New Milton Town v Hamworthy United 15:00 Saturday 17-Jul Whitchurch United v Midhurst & Easebourne 15:00 - Tuesday 20-Jul Alton v Knaphill 19:45 Tuesday 20-Jul Baffins Milton Rovers v Worthing 19:45 - Tuesday 20-Jul Bashley v Sholing 19:45 - Tuesday 20-Jul Bournemouth v Sholing 19:45 - Tuesday 20-Jul Horndean v Gosport Borough 19:45 - Tuesday 20-Jul Ringwood Town v AFC Stoneham 19:45 - Tuesday 20-Jul Totton & Eling v Brockenhurst 19:45 - Wednesday 21-Jul Amesbury Town v Andover New Street 19:45 - Wednesday 21-Jul Sherborne Town v Laverstock & Ford 19:45 - Friday 23-Jul Fawley v Alresford Town 19:45 - Saturday 24-Jul AFC Stoneham v Ascot United 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Amesbury Town v Verwood Town 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Baffins Milton Rovers v Chichester City 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Bashley v Winchester City 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Blackfield & Langley v Sholing 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Bournemouth v Downton 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul East Cowes Victoria v Colden Common 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Eversley & California v Alton 15:00 Saturday 24-Jul Fareham Town v Salisbury 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Horndean v Bognor Regis Town 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Hythe & Dibden v Sholing 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul New Milton Town v Milton United 15:00 Saturday 24-Jul Westfields v Moneyfields 15:00 - Saturday 24-Jul Whitchurch United v Brockenhurst 15:00 - Tuesday 27-Jul AFC Stoneham v Bemerton Heath Harlequins 19:45 - Tuesday 27-Jul Baffins Milton Rovers v Dorking Wanderers 19:45 - Tuesday 27-Jul Blackfield & Langley v Liphook United 19:45 - Tuesday 27-Jul Bournemouth v Infinity 19:45 - Tuesday 27-Jul Calne Town v Amesbury Town 19:45 - Tuesday 27-Jul Sturminster Newton United v Verwood Town 18:30 - Tuesday 27-Jul Westfield v Moneyfields 19:45 - Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 5 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 Friday 30-Jul Merley Cobham Sports v Verwood Town 18:30 - Saturday 31-Jul Baffins Milton Rovers v Winchester City 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Bournemouth Sports v Ringwood Town 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Hythe & Dibden v Fleetlands 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Millbrook v Shrewton United 15:00 Saturday 31-Jul New Milton Town v Brockenhurst 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Shaftesbury v Gillingham Town 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Sherborne Town v Amesbury Town 15:00 - Saturday 31-Jul Stockbridge v Fawley 15:00 - LEAGUE NEWS The date of the AGM has been moved to and confirmed as to Sunday 13th June commencing at 10:30, clubs have been supplied with instructions as regards connecting to the meeting on line. Subject to confirmation by the AGM, the League season will start with a Premier Division fixture list during the midweek commencing Monday August 2nd. The first Division One fixture list will be on Saturday August 7th but, for Division One clubs playing F.A. Cup matches on that day, will have their fixtures brought forward into the prior midweek. LOOKING AT – AND WELCOME TO – ASH UNITED Ash United Football Club was founded in 1911 and played in the Surrey Intermediate League until 1968, winning the Title on four occasions writes John Gorman. They then switched to the Surrey Senior League but had to withdraw after three seasons when they lost the use of their Ash Common ground. They relocated to their present ground and re-joined the League in 1976 and in the space of the following two seasons the League name changed to the Home Counties League and then the Combined Counties. In those seasons Ash finished seventh and then second twice before winning the Title for the first time in 1981/82 when the League was split in to East and West Divisions, with Ash taking the latter crown. In doing so they finished ahead of such as Alton who were second, Hartley Wintney and Cove. They were to win the Title again in both 1987 and 1999 whilst they also won the prestigious Aldershot Senior Cup in 1999 and 2002; beating Fleet Town 2-0 in the former and 3 RSME Regiment by the same score three years later. In 2003 the League was split in to a Premier Division and Division One with Ash playing in the Premier where they stayed until being relegated to Division One at the end of the 2013/14 season, having achieved their highest finish of third in 2005/06. They have remained in Division One until this day and have now completed some forty years in the Combined Counties League. Ash have entered the FA Cup since the mid nineteen nineties but like most Clubs at this level have repeatedly struggled to get past the Preliminary Rounds with their most recent “success” being in 2009/10 when they reached the First Qualifying Round before losing 4-3 at home to Southern League Uxbridge. They have twice faced Wessex opposition, defeating Portsmouth Royal Navy 4-1 in Portsmouth in 2000/01 and losing 4-1 at Downton in 2012/13 but they have either not entered or qualified for the Competition since 2014/15. Again, like most Clubs, they have enjoyed better fortune in the FA Vase twice reaching the Fourth Round. In 1998/99 they defeated Three Bridges, Southwick, Tunbridge Wells and Melksham – the last three away from home – before going down 5-1 at home to Tiverton from the West Country, who went on to lift the trophy following a 1-0 win over Bedlington Terriers. Three years later, with a First Qualifying Round, they had to get through five matches to reach the Fourth Round Proper which they did with victories over Erith & Belvedere, Met Police, Leatherhead (7-2), Falmouth Town (fortunately at home) and Stotfold. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 6 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 The Fourth Round draw sent Tow Law Town from County Durham (around 12 miles west of the city of the same name) to Surrey – a mere 300 miles each way - and in a game I think watched by our worthy Newsletter Editor the North East side proved too strong, scoring three goals without reply. Ash have had slightly more contact with the Wessex League in the Vase compared to the FA Cup with three meetings. In 1983/84 they defeated Portsmouth Royal Navy 2-0 at home before going down 3-0 at BAT Sports twenty years later. The third game was this season when Bashley visited Shawfield Road and returned home with a 6-2 win to their name. ASH UNITED - HISTORY IN THE FA VASE 1978-79 1st Round Proper Shoreham Home 4-0 2nd Round Proper Worthing Away 2-4 1979-80 Preliminary Round Newport IOW Away 0-1 1980-81 Preliminary Round Southall Away 1-3 1981-82 Preliminary Round Littlehampton Town Home 5-5 Preliminary Round Replay Littlehampton Town Away 4-2 1st Round Proper Chichester City Away 1-1 1st Round Proper Replay Chichester City Home 3-1 2nd Round Proper Three Bridges Away 1-4 1982-83 Preliminary Round Eastbourne Town Home 1-0 1st Round Proper Dorking Away 1-0 2nd Round Proper Three Bridges Home 2-3 1983-84 Preliminary Round Portsmouth Royal Navy Home 2-0 1st Round Proper Old Salesians Away 2-1 2nd Round Proper Tunbridge Wells Away 1-2 1984-85 Preliminary Round Banstead Athletic Away 2-4 1985-86 Preliminary Round Arundel Away 3-1 1st Round Proper Merstham Away 2-3 1986-87 Preliminary Round Darenth Heathside Away 3-0 1st Round Proper Corinthian Away 1-4 1987-88 Extra Preliminary Round Merstham Away 2-2 Extra Preliminary Round Replay Merstham Home 0-2 1988-89 Extra Preliminary Round Southwark Borough Home 1-4 1989-90 Extra Preliminary Round Greenwich Borough Away 0-4 1990-91 Extra Preliminary Round Slade Green Home 0-4 1991-92 Extra Preliminary Round Cobham Away 1-5 1992-93 Extra Preliminary Round Broadbridge Heath Home 4-3 Preliminary Round Sheppey United Home 1-0 1st Round Proper Beckenham Town Away 3-2 2nd Round Proper Littlehampton Town Home 0-0 2nd Round Proper Replay Littlehampton Town Away 0-4 1993-94 Extra Preliminary Round Folkestone Invicta Away 2-3 1994-95 Preliminary Round Langney Sports Away 0-3 1995-96 2nd Round Qualifying Shoreham Home 0-6 1996-97 1st Round Qualifying Chipstead Away 1-2 1997-98 2nd Round Qualifying Sheppey United Away 3-4 1998-99 2nd Round Qualifying Three Bridges Home 2-1 1st Round Proper Southwick Away 4-2 2nd Round Proper Tunbridge Wells Away 6-2 3rd Round Proper Melksham Town Away 2-1 4th Round Proper Tiverton Town Home 1-5 Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 7 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 1999-00 2nd Round Qualifying Shoreham Home 5-1 1st Round Proper Epsom & Ewell Home 2-5 2000-01 1st Round Qualifying Windsor & Eton Away 2-3 2001-02 1st Round Qualifying Erith Town Away 5-0 2nd Round Qualifying Metropolitan Police Away 3-2 1st Round Proper Leatherhead Home 7-2 2nd Round Proper Falmouth Town Home 4-0 3rd Round Proper Stotfold Home 3-1 4th Round Proper Tow Law Town Home 0-3 2002-03 2nd Round Proper Kingsbury Town Home 4-1 3rd Round Proper Buckingham Town Away 2-4 2003-04 2nd Round Qualifying Greenwich Borough Away 2-1 1st Round Proper BAT Sports Away 0-3 2004-05 2nd Round Qualifying Sandhurst Town Away 0-2 2005-06 1st Round Qualifying Bedfont Green Away 1-1 1st Round Qualifying Replay Bedfont Green Home 4-0 2nd Round Qualifying Hassocks Away 1-3 2006-07 1st Round Proper Chipstead Away 1-0 2nd Round Proper Whitehawk Away 0-3 2007-08 1st Round Proper Hassocks Away 0-2 2008-09 2nd Round Qualifying Sevenoaks Town Home 1-0 1st Round Proper Tunbridge Wells Away 1-4 2009-10 1st Round Qualifying East Preston Away 3-1 2nd Round Qualifying Tunbridge Wells Home 3-1 1st Round Proper Badshot Lea Home 3-4 2010-11 2nd Round Qualifying Corinthian Home 1-5 2011-12 1st Round Qualifying Fisher Away 0-4 2012-13 1st Round Qualifying Knaphill Home 2-1 2nd Round Qualifying Banstead Athletic Home 4-1 1st Round Proper Sevenoaks Town Away 4-2 2nd Round Proper South Park Home 0-2 2013-14 1st Round Qualifying Holyport Home 0-1 2014-15 1st Round Qualifying Flackwell Heath Away 2-3 2015-16 1st Round Qualifying Windsor Home 0-2 2016-17 1st Round Qualifying Tytherington Rocks Home 2-1 2nd Round Qualifying Milton United Home 3-1 1st Round Proper Chichester City Home 0-4 2017-18 1st Round Qualifying Swanage Town & Herston Away 3-4 2018-19 1st Round Qualifying Brimscombe & Thrupp Away 1-5 2019-20 1st Round Qualifying Badshot Lea Home 1-2 2020-21 2nd Round Qualifying Bashley Home 2-6 I also saw Andover play there in 1997, and win, in the Southern Counties Cup but have no idea as to how the Competition then progressed other than perhaps Guildford and Godalming were the winners The Combined Counties League Division One, in which Ash played last season, has been greatly altered in the recent restructure with Clubs being moved laterally and according to the League’s weekend Bulletin a number have appealed to the FA against the decision. As to whether this includes Ash is unknown but such appeals are very difficult to win – and that is probably an understatement. We wish them well but also look forward to welcoming them to the League should that be the end result. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 8 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 Finally, an apology. In last week’s Newsletter I stated that Ash was in Hampshire whereas it is in Surrey; given that I lived around ten miles from there for some thirty years and frequently visited the Ground it was an inexcusable error – unless of course they have since adjusted the County Boundary! SALISBURY HOSPITALS CUP- UPDATE As suggested last week, this Competition is to be played throughout July with the Clubs responsible for arranging the fixtures and this may, or probably will, mean alterations to Friendlies already scheduled. In each group the Clubs play each other once with the top team in each group qualifying for the Final which will be at Laverstock & Ford on a date to be arranged, the matches are as follows Group 1 Group 2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Shaftesbury Andover Town v Amesbury Town Downton v Shrewton United Laverstock & Ford v Salisbury Development Shaftesbury v Downton Amesbury Town v Laverstock & Ford Shrewton United v Bemerton Heath Harlequins Salisbury Development v Andover Town Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Downton Andover Town v Laverstock & Ford Shaftesbury v Shrewton United Amesbury Town v Salisbury Development NEW TWO YEAR DEAL WITH MJM SPORTS MJM Sports have achieved a truly impressive deal with the Wessex Football League; a 2-year extension to our existing deal which has been running since 2017. This new agreement will now run until 2025. This is a fantastic result for us and a tremendous endorsement of the quality and consistency of service that we have been able to offer all our customers, including the prestigious Wessex Football League. They appreciate that MJM will continue to perform at the same level for them over the coming years. Despite the difficulties presented by the Covid 19 pandemic and Brexit, MJM have continued to operate throughout all the ups and downs of the last year and we are now looking forward to greater stability in the economy as life gradually returns to some degree of normality. MJM Sports will continue to be bench wear sponsors for the Wessex Football League together with Kappa, ball provider with Uhlsport and subs boards with MJM Sports. The Wessex Football League was the first to benefit from this type of sponsorship and Chairman of the League, Nick Spencer said “I am delighted that the league’s relationship with MJM has been extended until 2025. The support the league and our clubs receive from MJM and Kappa for The Respect programme is much valued. The excellent sponsorship of bench wear from MJM has given the league a more professional appearance, the significant financial benefit to our clubs is very much appreciated by them”. Terry Schofield Managing Director of MJM commented ‘It started with Kappa Respect 4 years ago and has gained respect, so much to say that the whole sponsorship from Respect to Balls to sub boards to Benchwear has been a natural progression and the clubs are as much of this as we are . I must say a few words about our team design, decoration and dispatch all help with the success of this deal, here’s to the next chapter’ Dave Bandell UK sales Manager commented “Kappa in conjunction with MJM sports are delighted to extend our relationship with the Wessex league. The new extension to 2025 on bench wear product highlights Kappa’s commitment and also proves what a great job MJM Sports have done implementing the deal. We look forward to working with both parties and continuing to build on an already successful partnership” MJM are Barnstaple based and are now the largest independent supplier of team kits in the Southwest. We have been trading for over 20 years and offer a comprehensive service for all sports, including soccer clubs, where we offer everything from bench wear to full team strips, training wear, to balls and boards and much more. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 9 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 We have outstanding facilities at our new premises, where we offer a design service for those clubs that need it, together with, embroidery for club logo etc and printing player details on shirts. To find out more about the quality of service we can offer your club, contact: Terry Schofield – MJM Sports M: 07501 253796 e: info@mjm-sports.co.uk END OF AN ERA After 18 years of sponsorship from Sydenhams Ltd., the agreement has come to an end writes Nick Spencer. There is no doubt in my mind that the League and its clubs, past and present have been extremely fortunate in enjoying the excellent support received during that time. The Wessex League family are very grateful to Ray Pride for his valued support throughout those 18 years. I am not aware of another league that offers member clubs ‘free football’. Using the term ‘free football’ does cause confusion for some; I will qualify it by stating that in addition to the prize money awarded, clubs have not had to pay annual subscription, membership or cup entry fees. The League’s Development Officer, Alex Pike, is working very hard to find a new sponsor, not any easy task in the current economic climate. THANK YOU SYDENHAMS CLUB NEWS There’s a new Manager at Hythe & Dibden- Louie Bell has been appointed at Clayfields. There’s also a number of other similar changes across our clubs. Following Glenn Turnbull’s much publicised move to Moneyfields Tom Grice is the new Manager at United Services Portsmouth where he will be assisted by Tom Jeffes in a Player-Assistant Manager role with Henry Millington acting as Director of Football. Whilst we are at Burnaby Road, James Franklyn made his 100th appearance for the club in the recent League Cup Final, capping the achievement with a 19th goal for the season. In the north of our patch John Smith and Jamie Coleman have been appointed as joint managers at Andover New Street. There’s an international call up for one of our players, Brandon Chebby- who has played for Hamble Club this season. The 20 year old recently moved to AFC Portchester to play in their under-23 side and has been called up for the upcoming CECAFA Cup to represent Burundi under-23s. Sandwiched in central Africa between Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations run competition is said to be the oldest such competition in Africa. Chebby has already featured in the Senior side and we wish him well in the campaign, which looks to be being hosted in the Ethiopian town of Bahir Dar between July 3-18th. After a couple of years sharing with East Cowes Vics at Beatrice Avenue it looks like an arrangement has been reached between Newport IOW, Ryde Saints FC and Island Speedway (the main leaseholders of the site) to play their Wessex League home fixtures at Smallbrook Stadium, whilst their own plans for a new facility near the Racecourse at Whippingham remain ongoing. Newport will fund the upgrading of the floodlights to meet the FA requirements- the League have arranged a Grading visit in the next few days. It may also boost Ryde Saints’ ambition of competing in Wessex football themselves in the future. Bush Hill (shortly to become Millbrook) rounded off their season with a 2-1 win over Locks Heath in the L4 Teamwear Challenge Trophy, played at Havant & Waterlooville today, a fitting end to their season and their time as Bush Hill. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 10 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 RESULTS ROUNDUP Tuesday 25 May Hampshire Senior Invitational Supplementary Cup Semi Final Brockenhurst 3-2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins Silvano Obeng 20, 27 George Bennett 13 pen James Shorey 75 Ronan Clancy 39 Friday 28 May Hampshire Senior Invitational Supplementary Cup Final Brockenhurst 4-2 Ringwood Town Silvano Obeng 10, 16, 44 Ryan Hamm 52, 62 Adam Grange 55 MATCH REPORTS TUESDAY 25 MAY HAMPSHIRE SENIOR INVITATIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY CUP SEMI FINAL BROCKENHURST 3-2 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS An open and very entertaining first half with a multitude of chances gave way to a more cautious second that only sprang into life in the last quarter hour writes Roger Allen. The first chance came just before the 10 minute mark when Brockenhurst broke out in numbers from a Bemerton corner. James Shorey fed Will Tickle who in turn passed to Christie Ward but his shot rebounded into play off a post. Bemerton took the lead in the 13th minute when Ronan Clancy was taken down in the penalty area by Ronan Moore. George BENNETT dispatched the kick. However Brock were level 7 minutes later with one of those moments where referees turn from villain to hero within seconds. Brock were not slow to take Mr Redman to task for not applying advantage by pulling back Silvano Obeng who rode a tackle. Tickle took the free kick and OBENG planted a firm header past Paddy Creese in the Bemerton goal. OBENG continued to trouble the Bemerton defence and he gave Brock the lead on 27 minutes. Receiving a pass from Shorey firing a low shot into the corner of the net. It was then the turn of Bemerton's main striker Justin Bennett to take centre stage as he sent a free kick over the bar and then had a strong shot beaten away. Bemerton were back on level terms after 38 minutes as a loose pass from the back by Brock was picked up by Justin Bennett who gave CLANCY a clear run on goal to score past James Mayo. HT 2-2 Now the game became much tighter. The nearest either side came to scoring was when Mayo was called into action to save from Cameron Roach. A word here about the young Brock goalkeeper, James Mayo, whose handling on the night was very impressive. What proved to be the winning goal came in the 75th minute. Obeng fed SHOREY 25 yards out and he cut inside to send a curling shot across Creese and into the net. Obeng then sent a shot from distance which crashed back into play from the underside of the bar. The final chance of the game fell to Bemerton's Josh Moore whose shot hit the outside of a post. FT 3-2 FRIDAY 28 MAY HAMPSHIRE SENIOR INVITATIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY CUP FINAL BROCKENHURST 4-2 RINGWOOD TOWN Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 11 of 12
SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS 2020/21 EDITION NUMBER 48 [Photos reproduced courtesy of Les Chase] With a crowd of 247 in, it was the majority who went home happy, with some silverware ending up in the Grigg Lane cabinet to make it two in two seasons, following a strange season to say the least, with a 4-2 win over First Division rivals Ringwood Town in tonight’s Final writes Mike Robins. The game was effectively over as a contest with the half time whistle, as the Badgers romped into a commanding 3-0 lead. The ninth minute saw the opening goal arrive when Silvano OBENG found time to control the ball turn and slot the ball home from close to the penalty spot. It was just seven minutes later and OBENG made it two. The Ringwood keeper and defence couldn’t deal with a corner and the ball fell kindly for the striker who couldn’t really miss from barely a yard out. Ringwood’s Joe Petty was brought down near the edge of the penalty area but Tom Hughes’ free kick curled away from the target as we approached midpoint of the first half, shortly after James Shorey drew a good save from Harris and he again was on hand to deal with a run and delivery from Connor Ings. But with time in the first half almost up, it was 3-0; a long ball saw OBENG latch on to it and lift it over the advancing keeper. HT 3-0 Seven minutes after the restart Ringwood got back into the game, a run from halfway by Ryan HAMM saw the ball end up in the net, beyond the advancing James Mayo. Any thoughts of a revival were quashed within a couple of minutes though. This time Obeng was the provider. A simply superb 40 yard pass from close to the Changing Room doors across to Adam GRANGE who fired home after a run into the penalty area to make it 4-1 and surely out of Ringwood’s reach? But, HAMM had not read the script and just after the hour mark pulled his side back into the contest again. James Matthews had hit the crossbar and the striker was on hand to slide the ball under Mayo to make it 4-2. Chances followed at both ends but no further goals and the curtain came down on 2020/21 for (all) our member clubs. FT 4-2 THE LAST WORD With the games in the last few days now complete, this is effectively the last “real” Newsletter of the season, it will however continue to be published across June and the forthcoming season. Content will depend on your support as well, so please do send in stories and articles for inclusion. To all our readers, have a good summer, and it’s just over 30 days until we start all over again. Saturday, 29 May 2021 Page 12 of 12
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