Loughborough Students FC Programme Issue 5 by Loughborough University

FOOTBALL LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS

GRESLEY ROVERS

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE SAT 2 OCT 2021 KO 15:00

ESTABLISHED 1919

WHERE HISTORY BEGINS ISSUE 5

£2

CONTENTS 4

WELCOME FORM RICHARD ALLEN

TODAYS TEAMS

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

TODAYS OPPOSITION

HOME FIXTURES

11 THE TEAM 12 SQUAD LIST 14 A BRIEF HISTORY 16 FIXTURES AND RESULTS 18 UPCOMING FIXTURES

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

RICHARD ALLEN

DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to the Loughborough University Stadium for our United Counties Premier Division fixture versus Gresley Rovers. Seems a while ago we had a home fixture so after a few games on the road its good to be back at the Loughborough University Stadium. Last week saw us progress in the FA Vase with a close 3-2 win away at Oadby. Even though we were 2-1 down with 20 minutes to go I felt we had enough to get back into the game but have to say we had just decided on our penalty takers when we won a penalty with a minute of normal time to play! The previous Saturday we were probably flattered by our 2 – 0 score line away at Skegness. Possibly one of our longest journey of the season and could have conceded early on. Goals from George Ward and Tope Fadahunsi saw us through in the 2nd half. Gresley have started the season well and have also progressed in the Vase as well as sitting in 2nd place in the League after a 4-2 win against Heather St Johns on Tuesday night. We know it’s going to be a tough and competitive game tonight. We are pleased to welcome the players, supporters and directors of Gresley and look forward to what we hope will be an exciting and entertaining game. Richard Allen Director of Football

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

TODAYS TEAMS LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC BEN WHITING (GK)

SAM SMITH (GK)

TOBY LARSEN (GK)

MATTY BOWMAN

KIERAN SMITH

THEO SACKEY-MENSAH

DAMI AGBOOLA

GRESLEY ROVERS 01

ASHLEY BROWN

LEE BUTLER

REFEREE: KARL BAINBRIDGE

GEORGE CLARK

RILEY CRAWLEY

AR ANDY COLLINS

BRAD DALY

LEWIS FENNEY (GK)

AR LINTON WOOD

MASON FRIZELLE

FINN BRENNAN

JACK GALLAGHER

OLLIE PARSONS

LUCAS HARRISON

BEN LE ROUGETEL

STEVE HART

CHARLIE ALEXIOU

DANNY HOLMES

GEORGE WARD

BILLY HOWARD

PAUL FIELD

KEVIN KASONGO

MAX SMALLCOMBE

ALBY LANSDOWNE

BILLY MYCROFT-EDWARDS

CHARLIE LEAKE (GK)

SID KERR

KANE LEE

ETHAN O’TOOLE

ALEX MORRIS

TOM IACIOFANO

DANNY MUNDAY

JOE LLOYD

BEN PRINCE

LUKE MARTIN

RYAN SEAL

GEORGE WILSON

CONNOR WARD

DYLAN EDWARDS

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

TOPE FADAHANSI

CAM MOORE

EOIN MCEWAN

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

Despite a win in the league cup, and initially a strong start to the season, our last three league games have produced performances below the standard we collectively expect. But, what we do have is a squad of players eager to develop, learn and implement changes to improve performances and results. Their desire we cannot fault. Upcoming 8 days sees 4 fixtures across the programme for the squad; Burnley away, a first University BUCS fixture against Edinburgh for our students on the Wednesday, Thursday night under the lights against Derby, and a huge game against Middlesbrough on the Sunday. Heavy schedule, but we have great depth to our squad this season; ready to pull together to produce some performances to be proud of. by Issy Martin

H: MATC ’s NEXT October v rd 3 ) y y a a Sund nley (Aw Bur :00 KO 14

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

TODAYS OPPOSITION

GRESLEY ROVERS

Gresley FC was formed in 2009 and enjoyed a successful first season in the East Midlands Counties League. New Directors joined the club looking to turn the dream of moving to a new stadium into a reality. Manager Gary Norton and his assistant Martin Rowe invited Martyn Rowntree to step up from the reserves to become first team coach. 2010-2011 Gresley’s second season saw another good FA Vase run which saw Gresley crowned as champions and promoted into the Midland Football Alliance. Season 2011-2012 saw another good run in the FA Vase reaching the last 16, achieving a remarkable back-to-back title success as they lifted the Midland Football Alliance title and promotion to the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South. At the end of the season joint manager Gary Norton stepped down with Martin Rowe named as manager. After losing their first two league fixtures of 2013-2014, Gresley managed to stabilise their performances and ended the season in a creditable 9th place. However, in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy Gresley had good runs, going out of the cup after forcing Conference South outfit Brackley Town to a replay. In September 2014 Martin

Rowe resigned with his assistant Wayne Thornhill appointed as first team manager. Wayne, along with his assistants Jamie Barrett and Russell Peel, turned the season around finishing in a creditable fifth place, making the play-offs where they met Leek Town at Harrison Park. At the beginning of September, Wayne stepped down and Dave Langston was appointed as caretaker manager. In October Scott Goodwin was appointed as manager with Jamie Barrett and Gary Rickets as his assistants. After a disappointing run of defeats Scott was released and Gary Ricketts appointed as player/ manager assisted by Jamie Barrett and Dave Langston. The 2015-2016 ended with Gresley in 16th position. Ricketts stood down as manager and former Leicester Nirvana manager Damion Beckford-Quailey appointed in the close season.

with assistant Carl Slater and player/coach Jamie Barrett. Early in January 2019 Norton stood down and Gavin Hurren was appointed as manager. Unfortunately, at the end of the season, Gresley were relegated from the Evo-Stik East to the Midland League. Hurren left early in the new season to be replaced by David McDermott. Gresley’s results failed to improve and in February McDermott was relieved of his position. Former manager Gary Norton again stepped in to steer the ship until the end of the season.

During the summer of 2020, the Gresley FC board met to discuss the possibility of re-naming the club and a unanimous decision saw the Gresley Rovers name return to nonleague football. Manager Carl Abbott and assistant manager 2017-2018 ended in a Paul Thomlinson have now disappointing manner when the put together a strong squad manager, management team after the previous season was and most of the players left curtailed due to the Covid-19 the club with just four games pandemic and non-league remaining and the danger of football allowed to start again. being relegated. Gary Norton After the summer restepped in to steer the club to organisation of non-league the end of a trying season and Gresley were moved from managed to keep the club in step the Midland League Premier 4 finishing 17th. Norton agreed Division to the new United to take on the role of manager Counties Premier League North for season 2018-2019 along for the 2021-2022 season.

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC 2021/2022 SEASON

HOME FIXTURES

DATE

TIME

OPPONENTS

RESULTS

TUE 03/08/2021

KO 19:45

MELTON TOWN

2-1 LOSS

SAT 14/08/2021

KO 15:00

NEWARK

7-0 WIN

SAT 21/08/2021

KO 15:00

NEWARK

3-2 WIN

FRI 10/09/2021

KO 19:45

SLEAFORD TOWN

2-0 WIN

SAT 02/10/2021

KO 15:00

GRESLEY ROVERS

SAT 06/11/2021

KO 15:00

DEEPING RANGERS

SAT 20/11/2021

KO 15:00

SELSTON

SAT 04/12/2021

KO 15:00

LONG EATON UNITED

SAT 11/12/2021

KO 15:00

EASTWOOD C.F.C.

TUE 21/12/2021

KO 19:45

HEATHER ST. JOHN’S

TUE 04/01/2022

KO 19:45

LEICESTER NIRVANA

SAT 15/01/2022

KO 15:00

HOLBEACH UNITED

SAT 22/01/2022

KO 15:00

SKEGNESS TOWN A.F.C.

SAT 29/01/2022

KO 15:00

HEANOR TOWN

SAT 05/02/2022

KO 15:00

QUORN

SAT 05/03/2022

KO 15:00

ANSTEY NOMADS

SAT 26/03/2022

KO 15:00

BOSTON TOWN

SAT 02/04/2022

KO 15:00

PINCHBECK UNITED

BE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE HANDS FACE SPACE It is a Loughborough University policy that a facemask must be worn when entering and moving around University facilities. Please respect this and wear a facemask to keep yourself and others safe.

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC

THE TEAM

RICHARD ALLEN Director of Football

JAMIE CLAPHAM Head Coach

MARGARET FOLWELL Secretary

HARRIET SIMES

Programme Manager Media & Press enquiries h.h.simes@lboro.ac.uk

SPORT SCIENCE

CALLUM FOSTER MEDICAL TEAM

ELLA HUDSON PERFORMANCE ANALYST

OLIVER FAIRS VICE PRESIDENTS

ALAN GOODLEY GRAHAM HERRING GORDON WATSON PETE SIMMONS SHIRLEY HORNER ALEX ACKERLEY MATT STOCK LAURA DALES

TARA PHETHEAN

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC

SQUAD LIST GOALKEEPERS

TOBY LARSEN

BEN WHITING

SAM SMITH

DEFENDERS

DAMI AGBOOLA

CHARLIE ALEXIOU

PAUL FIELD

MATTY BOWMAN

BEN LE ROUGETEL

FINN BRENNAN

OLLIE PARSONS

DEFENDERS

THEO SACKEYMENSAH

KIERAN SMITH

GEORGE WARD

MIDFIELDERS

TOM IACIOFANO

SID KERR

LUKE MARTIN

JOE LLOYD

BILLY MYCROFTEDWARDS

ETHAN O’TOOLE

MAX SMALLCOMBE

GEORGE WILSON

FORWARDS

DYLAN EDWARDS

TOPE FADAHANSI

CAM MOORE

EOIN MCEWAN

LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC

A BRIEF HISTORY 1919-20 Earliest records of Loughborough Men’s football date-back to 191920 side, under the name of Loughborough Technical Institute and guidance of Principal Herbert Schofield. In 1920 it became a college of Technology, with the football side winning its first silverware on record in the Northern Junior Cup in 1922.

1930-1970 Loughborough Men won their first University Championship in the 1938/39 season and the Leicestershire Senior League in 1940, after the war they returned to winning ways in the University competition (UAU) from 1947 – 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959-1963, 1965, 1966 and 1969. In 1966 Loughborough became a University and also competed in the Leicestershire Senior League Division Two until 1972. The 1970s was an extremely important decade for the Club. Three more University titles followed and former student and then lecturer, Mike Holliday, took up the reigns of Head Coach, a role he would continue into the mid-90s. Early signs of

Mike’s rein included an away victory over a Manchester United XI.

THE 35 YEAR WAIT The side waited 35 years for a return to non-league football, entering the Midland Combination for the first time in 2007-08. After silverware in their first season in the shape of the Midlands League Cup, in 2009 Loughborough won promotion as champions to the Midland Football Alliance. 2011/12 Stuart McLaren’s first term ended with a 5th place finish in the Midland Football Alliance and victory in the League Cup, the club’s highest ever honour so far. The League Cup was retained in 2012/13 as the side equalled their highest ever league finishing position in the MFA of 4th. In May 2012 the Loughborough University Stadium was opened with a showcase game against a Spurs Academy team. Many Loughborough Football graduates and staff also started to carve extremely successful Coaching roles in the Professional Game – a trend that continues to this day.

Former players include Bob Wilson (former Scotland & Arsenal), Bradley Pritchard (Former Charlton & Leyton Orient), Robbie Simpson (Cheltenham City former Coventry City, Exeter City, MK Dons), Leon McSweeney (Former Northampton Town & Leyton Orient), George Williams (Mk Dons & Former Barnsley). Other former players and staff are littered throughout the Premiership and EFL, in a coaching and support staff capacity including Kieran McKenna & Eric Ramsay (Manchester United), Sam Erith (England & Manchester City), Nathan Gardiner (formerly Spurs, Fulham), Matthew Prestridge (formerly Sheffield United), Matt Reeves (Leicester City). In 2014 Loughborough University joined the Midland Football League in its inaugural year. The 2016/17 saw the Scholars have one of their most positive starts to the MFL season in a number of years. However, a disappointing run in from December saw the 16/17 season fall away with the club finishing in 18th out of 22. The 17/18 season also saw the appointment of Richard Allen as Director of Football,

LOOKING FORWARD

in January 2018. Richard joined from the FA where he was head of Talent ID. He has extensive knowledge of academy football with previous roles as Head of Academy at QPR and Head of Recruitment at Tottenham.

PROGRESSING Progressing onto the 2018/19 season Alex Ackerley was appointed Head Coach continuing to work alongside Jamie Hawthorne, who has since moved in 2019/20 to work as an Academy Coach at Southampton FC. 2018/19 season ended in a County Cup Final appearance against Coalville Town, with the Ravens, who play at Step 3, winning the game 4 – 1 at Holmes Park. The 2019/20 season saw the Scholars celebrate their Centenary as well as a new

challenge having been moved laterally during the off season into the Uhlsport United Counties Football League. The scholars were sitting in 4th place in mid March when the 19/20 season was deemed null and void due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Yet again the 2020/21 season was affected by the Covid19 virus and Alex Ackerley and his student coaches, Joel Bonner, Callum Crockard and Ben Day saw the season curtailed in January 2021, whilst sitting at the top of the league. Joel moved to Liverpool’s academy during December 2020 to work with the U16s and Ben to Burton Albion shortly after at the turn of the year. Callum will start 2021/22 on his course placement at Southampton, where he will be working in their academy.

The 2021/22 season sees the club return to using the Loughborough Students name across all the teams, both in the leagues and BUCS competitions, with the addition of a reserve team playing in the Leicester Senior League, the U21s will continue in MFL U21s East. This is a new chapter for the Scholars, with experienced, former professional player and pro-licence coach, Jamie Clapham arriving in the preseason as the new University Men’s Head Coach, together with the appointment of a new University Football Programme Manager, Harriet Simes, joining from Birmingham City Women, following the departure of Mat Stock to Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy and Alex Ackerley to pastures new. As always with Loughborough Students FC, you will see some new faces, not necessarily new students, but players who have worked their way through the programme from U21s to earn their place in the performance squad. Everyone is looking forward to the new season, continuing to build on the foundations that Mat and Alex have put in place.

MELTON TOWN

2-1 LOSS

SAT 07/08/2021