The BADGER 2022/23 Issue 18 vs Cogenhoe United

THE

SEASON

22 23

ISSUE 18

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

vs COGENHOE UNITED UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH SATURDAY 8th APRIL 2023 I 3pm KICK OFF

Bugbrooke St Michaels FC The Badgers, founded 1929

CLUB COMMITTEE PRESIDENT - WILLY MARRIOTT CHAIRMAN - KEVIN GARDNER VICE-CHAIRMAN - NIGEL THOMAS CLUB SECRETARY - GRAHAM CONNEW YOUTH SECRETARY & TREASURER - NICK INWOOD FIXTURES SECRETARY - DAVE MELLOR GROUNDSMAN - DANNY POWELL

WELFARE OFFICER - BEN ROBINSON COMMITTEE – RICHARD GIBBON, STUART WYKES

MANAGEMENT / COACHING TEAM FIRST TEAM – DALE WALTON RESERVE TEAM - ROB JONES ‘A’ TEAM – JAMIE JOLLANDS

‘B’ TEAM - ANDY DEMIDOW LADIES TEAM – STUART WHITE UNDER 18s (NSYL) - LOUIE GALBRAITH UNDER 18s (NDYAL) - DEANO GOMES UNDER 16s - DARREN SMITH UNDER 15s - MARK LINNELL UNDER 14s - SIMON WHEELER UNDER 13s BLACK - CHRIS ASHTON UNDER 13s BLUE - NICK INWOOD UNDER 13s WHITE - RYAN NASH UNDER 11s BLACK - DANIEL BLAND / BEN SMITH UNDER 11s WHITE - TONY HILL UNDER 10s BLUE - IAN MARRIOTT UNDER 10s WHITE – MIKE BRINKLEY UNDER 8s – ANDREW JACKMAN

From the Chairman …

As Chairman of Bugbrooke St Michael’s Football Club I would like to offer you a warm welcome to The Sett and hope that you have an enjoyable visit.

Here at Bugbrooke St Michaels we are working hard to develop a club with a strong inclusive ethos, offering opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.

We are extremely proud of our youth development programme, supporting players from seven all the way up to eighteen. Many of our young players go on to have success with one of four adult teams, with some players going on to even bigger and better things!

There is a great wealth of local support for the club, everyone that helps does so on a voluntary basis and through everyone’s hard work and dedication we have been able to achieve and maintain FA Accredited status.

Whilst some clubs choose to reinvest their revenue into players wages, here at Bugbrooke we hold a different set of values. All of our profits go into upgrading our equipment and facilities, building a solid future-proof foundation that will be here for future generations to enjoy.

Whilst this can sometimes hold us back from gaining huge success on the pitch, we feel our excellent facilities, youth development programme and ethos on community set us apart from other clubs.

Success and progression starts from the beginnings.

Thank you for your support today, we hope that you enjoy the game, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Kev Kevin Gardner, Chairman Bugbrooke St Michaels Football Club would like to place on record our thanks to our team of volunteers, our advertisers and sponsors.

BSMFC

MANAGERS NOTES

Good afternoon. We’d like to start today’s Programme notes by extending a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Cogenhoe United who are the visitors to the Sett for today’s United Counties Premier Division South fixture.

Today’s opponents are no strangers to the Sett, their management team are all familiar faces, and their playing squad contains several former Badgers.

With the added spice that brings along with the fact that its a local derby, we hope to draw in a good crowd for what should be an entertaining game.

Looking back at last weekend we picked up the points thanks to a 2-1 win in what was a hard-fought game against a Long Buckby side, who under new management proved to be a tough opponent, this despite their lowly league position.

For the second successive week Aidan Webster was the match winner, which was great to see as to be successful at any level it is important that goals are scored from all over the pitch. This is maybe something that was missing from our game earlier in the season; Calvin Green had put us ahead with a trademark free kick.

The win was our sixth in our last seven league outings, 18 points from a possible 21 available which pushes us past the 40-point mark for the season.

A fantastic achievement although as we said last week, we’re not done yet and with 4 games remaining the objective is to finish the season on a high with a top half finish within our grasp.

Another positive last week was an appearance for young Johnny Carey; a regular in our Under 18’s Johnny stepped off the bench for his First Team debut. Great experience for a player who has a bright future and further proof to our young players that if they perform then they will get their rewards with opportunities at Step 5.

Before signing off we wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate our players that won the NFA Sunday Cup with Hackleton last weekend, well done to Ports, Calvin, Eddie and the Glennon’s (Will AND Lloyd albeit the latter wasn’t playing!).

As always thank you for your support, enjoy the game and we look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday when Lutterworth Town are the visitors to the Sett for what is our final game under the lights this season.

Dale & Daniel

“The win was our sixth in our last seven league outings, 18 points from a possible 21 available which pushes us past the 40-point mark for the season”

Exceptional

Leadership

Development

Telephone: 0121 651 1200 Email: info@fuellearning.com

BSMFC

OUR HISTORY

Formed in 1929, Bugbrooke St. Michael’s Football Club took over from Bugbrooke United who folded in 1928 after being in existence since 1910.

The club, which is named after the local St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, initially took its place in the Northants Central Village League and had immediate success, winning the league title from 1931 to 1937.

The club closed for the Second World War before reforming in 1947 and were once again successful winning the CVL title from 1947 to 1950 and were Northants Lower Junior Cup runners-up in 1949, a feat repeated in 1954.

We finally won the N.F.A. Lower Junior Cup in 1956 and followed this in 1957 by winning the prestigious Daventry Charity Cup. The club had its most successful years from 1966 to 1972 when we won the Northants Central Combination Premier title and again from 1976 to 1979 with 1977 also seeing us win the N.F.A. Lower Junior Cup again.

The club continued to succeed in the Northants Combination until 1987 when the we took the decision to join the United Counties League.

At this time, we decided to run two teams in the U.C.L. and two teams in the C.N.C. We also began our youth section and have continued this ever since. Today we run 5 adult sides, including a recently formed Ladies team as well as 13 youth teams.

The club has had continued to enjoy success across all age groups over those 30 years, the most notable being N.F.A. Junior Cup winners in 1992, N.F.A Lower Junior Cup in 1993 and U.C.L. Division One winners in 2001.

The reputation for producing successful youth teams has increased over those years and 4 of our youth players (under 16) have been signed by professional league clubs.

The achievements of the club on the field have always been supported by a hardworking committee whose chief officers are recorded on a roll in the clubhouse foyer.

They along with supporters of the club have built up the excellent changing rooms and clubhouse since 1980.

We hope that you enjoy the facilities that they have provided over those years, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future

TODAYS VISITORS

COGENHOE UNITED MANAGER: SCOTT CARLIN

LAST TIME OUT:

LEAGUE POS: 12th – P30 W8 D7 L15 Pts 31

FORM GUIDE: LWLLW

WON 3-2 vs DESBOROUGH TOWN

After playing friendly matches, the club joined the Central Village League and were Division Two champions in 1951–52.

However, they folded in the late 1950s or early 1960s, before being re-established in 1967, when they joined Division Two of the Central Northamptonshire Combination.

They won the Premier Division Knock-Out Cup in 1995–96 and 1999–2000 and finished as Premier Division runners-up in 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

They were promoted to Division One in the early 1970s, and a fourth-place finish in Division One in 1977–78 saw them promoted to the Premier Division.

GROUND - The club played on several pitches around the village before settling at the Playing Fields in 1950, with the first match played against Northampton Yeomanry. However, in order to gain promotion to the United Counties League, the club were required to build a new ground.

A period of success in the early 1980s saw them win the Premier Division title in 1980– 81 and finish as runners-up the following season. They went on to win back-to-back titles in 1982–83 and 1983–84.

After finishing third in the Premier Division in 1984–85, Cogenhoe joined Division One of the United Counties League.

After finishing second-from-bottom in their first season in the league and being forced to apply for re-election, the 1986– 87 season saw them finish second in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

In 2004–05 the club won the Premier Division.

A site was leased from the Marquis of Northampton, on which Compton Park was established. The first competitive match played at Compton Park was the club's final match in the Northamptonshire Central Combination before moving up to the United Counties League, with Cogenhoe beating ourselves 1–0.

An official opening match was arranged with Manchester United.

Floodlights were installed in 1992. The ground currently has a capacity of 5,000, of which 100 is seated and 200 covered.

BSMFC

LEAGUE TABLE

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH as at 05/04/23

POS

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Coventry Sphinx

30

24

2

4

69

74

2

Rugby Town

29

22

4

3

58

70

3

Wellingborough Town

30

20

4

6

29

64

4

Newport Pagnell Town

27

17

7

3

37

58

5

Milton Keynes Irish

29

16

7

6

22

55

6

Histon

29

16

3

10

20

51

7

Coventry United

29

15

2

12

6

47

8

March Town United

30

12

7

11

10

43

9

Desborough Town

30

11

7

12

-9

40

10

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

30

12

4

14

-15

40

11

Easington Sports

30

10

5

15

-7

35

12

Cogenhoe United

30

8

7

15

-8

31

13

Eynesbury Rovers

29

8

3

18

-23

27

14

G.N.G Oadby Town

29

8

3

18

-30

27

15

Godmanchester Rovers

27

6

8

13

-20

26

16

Lutterworth Town

30

7

4

19

-46

25

17

Rothwell Corinthians

29

5

5

19

-32

20

18

Long Buckby AFC

29

3

4

22

-61

13

FORM GUIDE

WLWWW 11/04 vs Lutterworth Town (Home)

NEXT UP

15/04 vs Rothwell Corinthians (Away) 22/04 vs Easington Sports (Home)

BSMFC DATE

2022/23 RESULTS & APPEARANCES

OPPOSITION

VENUE RESULT SCORE STARTING LINE-UP

12.07.22 Kettering Town (NFA Cup)

Home

Lost

2-3

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

WALTON

30.07.22 March Town United

Home

Lost

0-4

REEVE

WHALER

SHEHI

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

02.08.22 Cogenhoe United

Away

Won

1-0

REEVE

MPAMBI

SHEHI

1 HALLMARK

GLENNON

06.08.22 Long Buckby AFC - FA Cup

Home

Won

3-0

REEVE

WHALER

SHEHI

HALLMARK

GLENNON

13.08.22 Rugby Town

Away

Lost

0-2

REEVE

MPAMBI

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

LEON

20.08.22 Lichfield City - FA Cup

Away

Lost

0-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

SHEHI

GLENNON

LEON

23.08.22 GNG Oadby Town

Home

Won

4-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

LEON

27.08.22 Wellingborough Town - FA Vase

Away

Lost

1-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

LEON

03.09.22 Godmanchester Rovers

Home

Lost

0-3

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

13.09.22 Desborough Town

Away

Draw

1-1

REEVE

NASH

MPAMBI

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

17.09.22 Newport Pagnell Town

Away

Won

2-1

REEVE

NASH

SHEHI

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

24.09.22 Easington Sports

Away

Lost

0-1

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

27.09.22 Milton Keynes Irish

Home

Draw

2-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

01.10.22 Histon FC

Home

Lost

1-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

08.10.22 Heather St. Johns - UCL Cup

Home

Won

4-2

REEVE

MPAMBI

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

15.10.22 Coventry United

Home

Lost

1-3

REEVE

NASH

SHEHI

HALLMARK

GLENNON

22.10.22 Eynesbury Rovers

Away

Won

4-3

REEVE

SPENCER

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

29.10.22 March Town United - UCL Cup

Away

Lost

1-3

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

J.WEBSTER

GLENNON

05.11.22 Coventry Sphinx

Home

Lost

0-4

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

19.11.22 Long Buckby AFC

Away

Won

4-0

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

2

WALTON

26.11.22 Milton Keynes Irish

Away

Lost

1-2

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

1

WALTON

03.12.22 Wellingborough Town

Home

Draw

0-0

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

SMYTH

07.01.23 Desborough Town

Home

Draw

1-1

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

WALTON

18.01.23 Coventry United

Away

Lost

1-2

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

28.01.23 March Town United

Away

Won

3-1

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

31.01.23 Coventry Sphinx

Away

Lost

0-3

REEVE

SPENCER

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

WALTON

04.02.23 Histon FC

Away

Lost

0-3

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

WALTON

11.02.23 Rugby Town

Home

Lost

2-6

REEVE

GARWOOD

SHEHI

SPENCER

GLENNON

WALTON

18.02.23 Newport Pagnell Town

Home

Lost

0-3

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

25.02.23 Rothwell Corinthians

Home

Won

2-1

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

1 HALLMARK

GLENNON

28.02.23 Godmanchester Rovers

Away

Won

3-0

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

1

WALTON

04.03.23 Eynesbury Rovers

Home

Won

3-2

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

2

WALTON

11.03.23 Lutterworth Town

Away

Lost

0-2

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

HALLMARK

GLENNON

WALTON

18.03.23 Wellingborough Town

Away

Won

1-0

REEVE

GARWOOD 1

SIMMONS

SMYTH

GLENNON

WALTON

25.03.23 G.N.G Oadby Town

Away

Won

1-0

REEVE

GARWOOD

SIMMONS

SMYTH

HALLMARK

WALTON

01.04.23 Long Buckby AFC

Home

Won

2-1

REEVE

GARWOOD

SHEHI

SMYTH

HALLMARK

WALTON

08.04.22 Cogenhoe United

Home

11.04.23 Lutterworth Town

Home

15.04.23 Rothwell Corinthians

Away

22.04.22 Easington Sports

Home

1

WALTON 2

WALTON

WALTON 2

WALTON WALTON

3

WALTON WALTON

1

WALTON WALTON WALTON

WALTON 3

WALTON

WALTON

SUBS A.WEBSTER

OAKES

A.WEBSTER

1

JONES

J.WEBSTER

BINDER

WEATHERLY

COULSON

HALLMARK

SPENCER

BONIFAS

OAKES

JONES

J.WEBSTER

KING

SPENCER

MPAMBI

LEON

BUCKINGHAM

DOHERTY

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

J.WEBSTER

KING

SPENCER

COULSON

LEON

HARRISON

TICHAWONA

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

SPENCER

KING

E.PANTER

MPAMBI

LEON

COULSON

HARRISON

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

SHEHI

KING

SPENCER

COULSON

NASH

HALL

TICHAWONA

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

COULSON

1

JONES

COULSON

KING

SPENCER

E.PANTER

TRKULJA

MPAMBI

WALTON

JONES

3

E.PANTER

SHEHI

SPENCER

COULSON

KING

MPAMBI

WALTON

OAKES

JONES

1

E.PANTER

SHEHI

SPENCER

MPAMBI

KING

-

WALTON

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

SPENCER

SHEHI

COULSON

KING

MPAMBI

DALTON

SMYTH

OAKES

WEATHERLY

SPENCER

KING

COULSON

BAZELEY

TRKULJA

BONIFAS

DOHERTY

SMYTH

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

COULSON

LASALIRE

MPAMBI

BINDER

SMYTH

OAKES

WEATHERLY

E.PANTER

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

COULSON

LASALIRE

MPAMBI

J.WEBSTER

LEON

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

SHEHI

KING

COULSON

J.WEBSTER

LEON

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

1

SPENCER

COULSON

SMYTH

KING

MPAMBI

SHEHI

COULSON

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

1

KING

SHEHI

SPENCER

A.WEBSTER

HALLMARK

NASH

SMYTH

COULSON

JONES

E.PANTER

1 A.WEBSTER

OAKES

SPENCER

KING

SIMMONS

MPAMBI

E.PANTER

2 A.WEBSTER

NASH

COULSON

J.WEBSTER

KING

SHEHI

E.PANTER

1

KING

SHEHI

SPENCER

WEATHERLY

HALLMARK

DALTON

J.WEBSTER

SHEHI

COULSON

MPAMBI

DOHERTY

HYNAM

DALTON

E.PANTER

J.WEBSTER

COULSON

SHEHI

WEATHERLY

DOHERTY

1

1

1

1

SMYTH

OAKES

JONES

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

COULSON

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

WEATHERLY

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

JONES

A.WEBSTER

COULSON

JONES

WEATHERLY

J.WEBSTER

PORTER

MPAMBI

KING

GARWOOD

SMYTH

A.WEBSTER

PORTER

JONES

E.PANTER

J.WEBSTER

WEATHERLY

SPENCER

NASH

COULSON

OAKES

A.WEBSTER

PORTER

JONES

E.PANTER

GREEN

1

OAKES

MPAMBI

J.WEBSTER

COULSON

SHEHI

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

GREEN

1

SHEHI

J.WEBSTER

HALLMARK

GIBBON

POWELL

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

JONES

E.PANTER

GREEN

SHEHI

J.WEBSTER

SMYTH

POWELL

A.WEBSTER

J.WEBSTER

SHEHI

E.PANTER

GREEN

DIMOND

BAZELEY

DOHERTY

GIBBON

A.WEBSTER

OAKES

KING

J.WEBSTER

GREEN

SHEHI

SPENCER

BINDER

POWELL

A.WEBSTER

J.WEBSTER

KING

PORTER

GREEN

SMYTH

SPENCER

SHEHI

AMIDI

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

SPENCER

DRINKWATER

MALKIN

SHEHI

E.PANTER

MALKIN

SHEHI

JONES

E.PANTER

GREEN

MALKIN

SPENCER

JONES

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

J.WEBSTER

JONES

A.WEBSTER 1

J.WEBSTER

A.WEBSTER 1

SPENCER

2

1

AMIDI

SMYTH

SIMMONS

BONIFAS

MALKIN

JONES

J.WEBSTER

PEARSON

GIBBON

MALKIN

GREEN

SHEHI

J.WEBSTER

SMYTH

MALKIN

GREEN

SPENCER

J.WEBSTER

PORTER

DRINKWATER

HALLMARK

SPENCER

J.WEBSTER

HALLMARK

C.OAKES

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

J.WEBSTER

SMYTH

DOHERTY

POWELL

DRINKWATER

GREEN

SPENCER

MALKIN

REZA

SURACE

HALLMARK

JONES

DRINKWATER

GREEN

SPENCER

MALKIN

SHEHI

POWELL

JONES

E.PANTER

GREEN

CAREY

J.WEBSTER

REZA

POWELL

JONES 1

JONES

1

1

1

1

1

- DOMESTIC – COMMERCIAL – CONTRACT MAINTENANCE

TEL: 01604 832285 MOB: 07766 404604 www.adlandscapesmaintenance.co.uk 11 Georges Close, Bugbrooke, Northampton, NN7 3PR

Proud sponsors of Bugbrooke St Michaels Under 13s Blue

BSMFC

TODAYS FIXTURES

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Vs

Cogenhoe United

Desborough Town

Vs

Newport Pagnell Town

Easington Sports

Vs

Coventry Sphinx

Eynesbury Rovers

Vs

Godmanchester Rovers

G.N.G Oadby Town

Vs

March Town United

Histon

Vs

Coventry United

Long Buckby AFC

Vs

Lutterworth Town

Rothwell Corinthians

Vs

Rugby Town

Wellingborough Town

Vs

Milton Keynes Irish

RESERVE DIVISION Cogenhoe United Reserves

Vs

G.N.G Oadby Town Reserves

Daventry Town Reserves

Vs

Wellingborough Town Reserves

Godmanchester Rovers Reserves

Vs

Raunds Town Reserves

Bourne Town Reserves

Vs

Rothwell Corinthians Reserves

Kempston Rovers Reserves

Vs

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves

Vs

Harborough Town Reserves

Newport Pagnell Town Reserves

Vs

Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves

Vs

Desborough Town Reserves

BUGBROOKE

ST

MICHAELS

April Fixtures

SATURDAY

TUESDAY

SATURDAY 8th April

Home

Home

#BADGERS

1st April

11th April

Home

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

15th April

22nd April

Away

Home

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS FC proudly sponsored by

‘LOVE FOOTBALL. PROTECT THE GAME.’ A message from Bugbrooke St Michaels Football Club about antisocial and criminal behaviour As we commence the new season we want to make you aware of new measures being taken across all of football, and the NLS, to ensure everyone can have a safe and enjoyable experience.

We are supporting strong action from the FA, and across the NLS to tackle antisocial and criminal behaviours that put all of us at risk.

Please remember the following activities are illegal, dangerous, have serious consequences and have no place in our game: • Carrying or using smoke bombs or pyros • Invading the pitch or entering the pitch without permission

For everyone’s safety, we will report anyone carrying out these offences to the police, which can result in a criminal record.

Anyone who enters the pitch without permission and those carrying or using smoke bombs or pyros will now receive an automatic club ban. These measures could also now apply to the parents or guardians of children involved in these activities.

This reflects the seriousness of the risks to fans and staff – pyros can burn at 2000 degrees Celsius and cause life changing injuries, while entering the pitch endangers players, managers and match officials. It also impacts the hard working volunteers, who ensure that our special part of the game continues to run.

• Drug use within the football ground

We know those who commit these illegal acts do not represent the majority of supporters. Please work with us to call out the risks.

• Discriminatory behaviour

#LoveFootball #ProtectTheGame

• Throwing objects onto the pitch

BSMFC

RESERVE TEAM

RESERVE DIVISION as at 05/04/23

POS

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Harborough Town Reserves

25

21

2

2

83

65

2

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves

27

18

4

5

33

58

3

Newport Pagnell Town Reserves

24

17

2

5

46

53

4

Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves

27

14

8

5

41

50

5

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves

25

15

2

8

55

47

6

Desborough Town Reserves

25

11

7

7

6

40

7

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves

27

11

5

11

-23

38

8

Kempston Rovers Reserves

23

11

3

9

19

36

9

Wellingborough Town Reserves

25

10

5

10

-14

35

10

Daventry Town Reserves

25

10

3

12

-19

33

11

Cogenhoe United Reserves

23

7

6

10

0

27

12

Bourne Town Reserves

25

6

6

13

-14

24

13

G.N.G Oadby Town Reserves

26

6

4

16

-37

22

14

Rothwell Corinthians Reserves

27

6

3

18

-63

21

15

Godmanchester Rovers Reserves

23

5

2

16

-42

15 *

16

Raunds Town Reserves

25

0

4

21

-71

1*

FORM GUIDE NEXT UP GOALSCORER

WWWLL 08/04 vs Kempston Rovers (Away)

15/04 vs MK Irish (Home)

AKRAM LASALIRE - 11 GOALS

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” The Death of East German Football” Union Berlin’s recent achievements should not be underestimated. After making it to the Bundesliga, the community club have consolidated their position and this season, made an unexpected title bid before falling away from Bayern and Dortmund. It is increasingly likely, however, that they will be in the Champions League next season.

It is a far cry from their near demise, begging supporters to come and build their stadium for them. And it is a long-awaited return to competitiveness for East German football, which was swept away with communism when the Berlin Wall fell.

The collapse of the wall changed the lives of millions in Germany, and billions around the world, signaling the beginning of the end of the Cold War. It was a year earlier, however, that East Germany had opened its borders to its Western brothers. It was a victory for democracy and started the process of reunification that had been desired by so many for so long. But it also allowed the heart of East German football to be ripped out, and realistically, Union aside, it has never recovered. RB Leipzig, the Red Bull commercial project, formed less than two decades ago, are not representative of the former DDR. When the wall came down, West German football fans flocked east, on a footballing pilgrimage to stadia that had previously been off limits. What they found was a footballing infrastructure that mirrored the collapsing society. Dilapidated, wooden firetraps and crumbling stands. DDR clubs and fans had, unsurprisingly, found more important uses for their time and investment than football through such a difficult time. And while West German fans lamented and commiserated the decline, West German owners saw an opportunity.

Reiner Calmund, the ambitious sporting director for Bayer Leverkusen, was the first to make a move. He headed east with a bag of cash and a bag of toys, with one specific target in mind. Bayer already had a history with former DDR players, having signed Falko Gotz and Dirk Schegel, who had fled the bitter reprisals of East German socialism almost a decade before. And to them, Calmund was determined to add Andreas Thom.

Thom was the best player, and leading goal scorer, of BFC Dynamo. Who had so dominated East German football in the 1980s that they had won ten titles in a row. At only 24 when the borders opened, he was in his prime and had a young family to support, something that was growing increasingly difficult even for the most beloved and famous in the DDR. His children were bribed with the bag of toys Calmund brought with him from the west, and Thom was suitably impressed by the numbers he talked about. Calmund went on to make a bid of 3.6 million German marks to BFC Dynamo, a record at the time.

Cash starved and facing extinction, the East German club gratefully accepted, and Thom took his family west to their new home.

Thom was the first, but there was no shortage of exceptional talent in the east that saw the riches on offer. Thomas Doll, Ulf Kirsten and Matthias Sammer followed in the summer of 1990. BFC Dynamo, newly monied but for the first time without the support of repressive security services (Dynamo, in a German context, usually means they were linked to the police and the Stasi), replaced Thom with Heiko Schulz, who left Lok Leipzig for the East German champions for a record fee within the former DDR, 1 million marks.

Calmund took him to Leverkusen as well, a couple of years later. Hansa Rostock would win the final East German title before reunification in 1991, after a season marred by violence.

Hansa were duly placed in the Bundesliga when the two countries’ footballing setups were merged, and established themselves. They were the only ones to do so. FC Berlin, formerly BFC Dynamo, suffered financial collapse and were eventually expelled from the Bundesliga (the top two divisions) altogether, settling in the third tier. The former Lok Leipzig played a single disastrous season in the top flight before sinking through five divisions and never returning. FSV Zwickau, FC Magdeburg, and Sachsen Leipzig, all powerhouses before reunification, went out of business. Zwickau and Magdeburg have since reformed.

In many ways, East German football continues to mirror the former DDR. Despite efforts over the last three decades to bring society up to the level of for former West, it lags behind in most metrics. And East German football, similarly, has never fully recovered. At least in Union Berlin, there is finally something to celebrate.

Enjoy the game!

Martyn Green The Untold Game Find us at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media @TheUntoldGame

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