Biggleswade FC Season 2018-19 Match Ball Sponsor: The Cock in Broom
Biggleswade FC v Wembley Saturday 13th April 2019 3.00pm Kick Off Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Who’s Who? Chairman – Jeremy Reynolds Vice Chairman – Phil Gullefer Secretary – Lee Rusbridge Treasurer – Fay Northfield Management Team: 1st Team Managers: Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip Head Coach: James Petty Goalkeeping Coach: Conor Darrington Fitness Coach: Dave Bass Reserves Manager: Phil Smailes Vice-President: Nick Smith
Committee Members: Ruth Reynolds Cherry Lee Mick Jarvis Terry Howard Hannah Reynolds Sarah King Sophie Northfield Sharon Inskip Associate Members: Jordan Inskip Jackie Warren Away Kit & Sweatshirt Sponsor:
Home Kit & Main Sponsor:
Club Tracksuit Sponsor:
Club Training Kit Sponsor: Reserve Team Kit Sponsor:
Biggleswade Football Club Member of the Spartan South Midlands Football League Web: www.biggleswadefc.co.uk Email: BiggleswadeFC@outlook.com
CHAIRMAN’S NOTES | Welcome to Langford Road Biggleswade FC v Wembley Good afternoon and welcome to Langford Road for our last SSMFL Premier Division home fixture of the season, against Wembley FC. A series of tough matches over an intensive last few weeks has seen us catch up on our backlog of games and everyone has risen brilliantly to this challenge. Tuesday’s tight but ultimately thrilling win against Tring brought us a priceless 3 points but we need to regroup today and go again against our visitors who are a good footballing side and have had a number of recent impressive wins. As always, I have every confidence in the lads, who as they did midweek, combine an incredible work rate and effort with their natural talent and skill, guided by our superb and enviable management and coaching team who today I would like to thank for all their great work over this season. A warm welcome to the players, management, supporters and committee of Wembley who have made the journey today and we hope that they enjoy their time with us and have a safe journey home afterwards. Welcome also to our match officials - please respect their role and the FA’s Respect and League’s Mind Your Language Campaigns, so that the match is enjoyable for all. Many thanks to our main sponsor Raymond Smith, for his renewed support this season and also for today’s match sponsor, “The Cock in Broom” Finally a huge thank you to all our many sponsors and backers over the 2018-19 season and a personal thank you to all my fellow committee members who have put in so much effort at every home game this season.
With 4 games of the season still to go after today, it is premature to conclude anything about specific outcomes and the achievements of our young team. However as this is our last home game, I would like to thank all of you who have followed us and attended so many matches, giving the team such fantastic support. It really has made a difference and we are so appreciative of your efforts. As on the pitch, we have raised the bar and increased our levels of expectation and three figures crowds here are now routine – 13 of the last 15 home games have had attendances of 100 + and there have been four 200 + crowds in all competitions, with the highest being 557 in the FA Vase tie against Windsor. In total, 29 home games in all competitions have yielded 4,075 supporters, making an overall average of 140 per game. What magnificent support and what performances you have all seen. As a thank you, we would like to invite supporters to an Open Afternoon here at Langford Road on Saturday May 11th at 4pm, followed by a fund raising Race Night. Do come along, meet the players and celebrate the club’s achievements. We do hope you have enjoyed being part of the thrilling journey that Biggleswade FC has been on. See you next season! We have 3 away games next week – London Tigers on Tuesday, Harpenden on Thursday and Stotfold on Saturday. Come and help see the lads over the line and likewise our Reserves, who are fast closing in on the top in their league – they play at Cranfield United next Wednesday evening. Please check our website for details of all these and other matches. Thanks for coming today and enjoy the game.
Jeremy Reynolds | Chairman | Biggleswade FC
CLUB HISTORY | Wembley Football Club WEMBLEY FOOTBALL CLUB was formed in 1946 following an amalgamation of various junior clubs, predominantly Sudbury Ratepayers Association and Sudbury Rangers. Nicknamed the 'Lions', (the symbol of the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1924/25, the emblem was also used by the local speedway and ice-hockey teams), they found a home at Vale Farm and have remained there ever since, developing a roped-off pitch into a respectable nonLeague football ground. In season 1955/56 they reached the finals of both the London Senior Cup and Middlesex Senior Cup and also finished runners-up in the Delphian League. In recognition of these achievements they were invited to join the Corinthian League and subsequently vastly improved the facilities at Vale Farm.
Malcolm Allison (1962-1963) and Allen Batsford (1964 -1965) were both employed as coaches by the Lions during this period, although their respective spells were brief. Both gentlemen went on to have distinguished careers elsewhere and who knows where the Club might be today had either one of them remained at Vale Farm. Wembley did manage to gain promotion to the Premier Division in 1967/68. To anticipate further progress floodlights were installed, a new clubhouse and dressing-room complex were built and eventually admission to the expanding Isthmian League was granted in 1975. Despite failing to achieve promotion, Wembley obtained some minor compensation by recording various cup successes during this period. In 1980/81 they reached the First Round Proper of the F.A. Cup for the one and only time, losing 0-3 to Enfield at Southbury Road.
Both finals were lost although the disappointment was tempered by beating Brentford at Griffin Park in the semi-final of the Middlesex Charity Cup, and having the final played at Wembley Stadium. Wembley last won some silverware in 1994/95 with a 2-0 victory over Hampton in the final of the Middlesex Charity Cup. The Lions also went on to reach the second round proper of the F.A. Trophy in 1995/96 (their best run in the old F.A. Amateur Cup was also ended at the second round proper stage 1966/67 and 1968/69). Wembley were forced to leave the Isthmian League set-up at the end of the 2005/06 season following the disbanding of the second division. They joined the Combined Counties League. A sterling effort was made to win promotion during their first season (2006/07)), but ran out of steam to end the term in the third place. Apart from that, they failed to make a real impact, although they did reach the final of the Combined Counties League Cup in 2010/11, but lost to Sandhurst Town, 0-1, at Farnborough. However, after their participation in the following season's F.A. Cup, (their Extra-Preliminary Round tie with Ascot United was covered live on Facebook) the competition sponsors, Budweiser, offered the Lions a much -publicised deal which they could not refuse. This included the signing of several retired professionals to help the Lions progress as far as possible in the 2012/13 F.A. Cup under the guidance of Terry Venables. Unfortunately, Wembley only played three games in the competition before bowing out. After eight years, Wembley's membership of the Combined Counties League was ended by a lateral move across Step Five of the non-League pyramid, Last season they celebrated their 70th year in existence by commencing their third term in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division after joining in 2014/15, finishing the campaign in ninth place.
MATCH REPORT | Biggleswade FC 1-0 Tring Athletic A dramatic 93rd minute winner from Ryan Inskip snatched all three points from league leaders Tring Athletic and with it propelled FC to the summit following a tense encounter at Langford Road on Tuesday evening. The fact FC could've finished the night top with a victory or in fourth should they have lost meant this was always going to be a cagey match and so it proved as a crowd of 209 witnessed a battle between two evenly matched sides. Managers Northfield and Inskip restored both Pat McCafferty and Tom Cookman to the starting XI with them continuing to nurse some knocks at the weekend. This meant Justin Leavers dropping back down to the bench despite scoring twice against London Colney, Michael Simpson missed out altogether through illness and Nathan George made his 100th appearance for FC at centre-half. The opening ten minutes of this potentially pivotal game were low-key and similar to a boxing match whereby two heavyweights felt each other out and waited for an opportunity to seize the initiative. Jon Clements, who scored on his previous visit to Langford Road in the recent Premier Division Cup SemiFinal, looked menacing again early-on with some good movement but his couple of pot-shots failed to trouble Ross Tompkins. It took FC thirteen minutes to fashion anything of note. An intricate build-up involving Ryan Inskip and then Alex Marsh saw the ball helped on for Lee Northfield just inside the penalty area, but his hasty shot was pulled well wide of the left hand post. The home side were dealt a blow 18 minutes in when Adam Hunt was forced to leave the field with a suspected hamstring injury as he attempted to sprint up the right hand side. Sam Kelly replaced him with Lawrie Marsh moving to right back. Whilst FC were regrouping, Tring had the best chance of the first half. FC uncharacteristically gave the ball away in their own half and the through ball from Luke Dunstan cut the home defence wide open. Clements was on to it in a flash and with his goal record in recent seasons at this level most in the ground would've been expecting the net to bulge, but despite firing beyond Tompkins the ball cannoned off the base of the left hand post and went to safety. Biggleswade improved as the half wore on with Marsh, Northfield and Tom Coles all registering attempts at goal, but keeper Connor Sansom remained largely untroubled but for a nervy moment on the edge of his box when he spilled the ball under pressure from Cookman, but the hosts were unable to make anything of it. Top scorer Alex Marsh cut a frustrated figure in the first half as nothing seemed to be coming off for him, but his work-rate from the off in the second period was absolutely first-class and his efforts were nearly rewarded early on when Lee Northfield forced a mistake from a Tring player in his own half. The ball was quickly slotted through to Marsh who now had a clear sight of goal, but Connor Sansom did brilliantly to get a firm hand to it and parry the shot to safety. The game finally began to open up a little and both teams began to trade opportunities. An overhit cross from Tom Coles had Sansom scrambling and he had to tip it over the bar and at the other end George Ironton pulled a shot wide when well-placed inside the FC penalty area. As the clock ticked into the final twenty minutes both teams got a little untidy in possession as neither set of players wanted to be the one to make that mistake that could ultimately prove decisive. Tring's leading marksman Ashton Campbell had once again been kept quiet by the solid FC backline, but he gave the hosts one moment of concern when he was able to use his pace after being picked out by Clements on the counter. He got himself into a reasonable position for the shot, but like so many of both teams goal attempts on the night, he sent it wide of the upright and off target. The visitors began to apply more pressure as the minutes ticked away. They clearly felt a need to win rather than take a point and substitute James Verney was thrown on in the closing stages for Campbell and it very nearly paid immediate dividends when he was afforded an opportunity to shoot just right of centre behind the FC defence, but the shot was again pulled wide of the target.
Tring were getting lots of free-kicks in dangerous positions, but they just couldn't make one of them count despite a rare error from Tompkins who fumbled another high ball into the area. For the most part though, his handling and authority under pressure was excellent and FC's defending, so often their achilles heel last season, resolute. The tireless Alex Marsh won his side a free-kick right on the edge of the Tring penalty area as stoppage time approached. Was this going to be the moment!? Unfortunately not as the attempt hit the wall. As the last knockings of injury-time played out, everyone had almost resigned themselves to another stalemate but there was to be one final sting in the tail. A long ball forward from Ross Tompkins looked to be heading through to his counterpart Sansom at the other end. However, the Tring keeper seem to get caught underneath the ball as it bounced higher than expected towards him. Ryan Inskip had gambled on what looked like a lost cause and he must've thought Christmas had come early as he saw the ball slip beyond the finger tips of the full-stretch Sansom. He kept his head and guided the loose ball into the back of the net to cue wild celebrations from all the players, management and home supporters. Whilst the goal proved a significant one for our title ambitions, it was hard not to feel for the keeper who had had a solid evening but for that one moment. All five meetings between these two sides this season have been decided on fine margins and this will have been arguably the most difficult one for our opponents to take. Going into the game with North Greenford United on 30th March, FC were nine points behind Tring albeit with three games in hand and in just ten days they've wiped out the deficit with four successive clean sheets for the first time in their short history and still have two games in hand following victories over title rivals. It just goes to show how quickly things can change and should act as a warning for FC as they bid to successfully close out a memorable season.
TODAY’S FIXTURES Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Baldock Town Biggleswade FC Colney Heath Crawley Green Edgware Town Leighton Town North Greenford United Oxhey Jets Potton United Stotfold
v v v v v v v v v v
London Tigers Wembley Cockfosters Leverstock Green Tring Athletic Hadley Arlesey Town Biggleswade United Harpenden Town London Colney
Spartan South Midlands Football League
Saturday 13th April 2019 BIGGLESWADE FC v WEMBLEY Today’s Officials - Referee: James Keane, Assistants: Paul-Valentin Mihalache & Jonathan Crook
TEAMS TO BE SELECTED FROM Ross Tompkins Daniel Child Benat Pena David Lenton Adam Hunt Michael Carroll Sam Kelly Tom Coles © Nathan George Michael Simpson Pat McCafferty Conor Inskip Matt Richardson Adam Drakulic Ryan Inskip Lawrie Marsh Joe Bradbury Alex Marsh Lee Northfield Abraham Eze Tom Cookman Justin Leavers Dave Northfield Mark Inskip James Petty India Bunnage Conor Darrington
Green Green Green
Raheem Belgrave Ethan Tyrer Jonathan Iley Angelo D’Alessio Ilyas Mohamed Charlie Weir Saaed Yusuf Stephan Ebonine Yassine Fehmi-Gil© Rhys Lendore-Martin Femi Ogunsola Calvin Osborne Washington Filho Sekou Diarra Hani Berchiche Oussama Er-Racheq Roberto Ratti Leandro Ribeiro Mateus Jaiden Babalola
Manager Manager / Asst. M Coach Physio Goalkeeper Coach COLOURS SHIRTS SHORTS SOCKS
Ian Bates Paul Faulkner Batista Lopez Valadao
White White White
Today’s Match Sponsor The Cock in Broom 01767 – 314411 23 High Street, Broom, SG18 9NA Future Fixtures Date
Opposition
C
V
Time
Tues 16th Apr
London Tigers
L
Away
7.45pm
Thu 18th Apr
Harpenden Town
L
Away
7.45pm
Sat 20th Apr
Stotfold
L
Away
3.00pm
Wed 24th Apr
Baldock Town (Premier Cup Final)
Cup
N
7.45pm
Sat 27th Apr
Arlesey Town
L
Away
3.00pm
Tue 30th Apr
Ampthill Town (North Beds Charity Cup Final)
Cup
N
7.45pm
Phil’s Question Time Answers can be found next week on our website… www.biggleswadefc.co.uk 1. Which football ground would the postman be going to if he was delivering items “traditional prepared smoked haddock to DD11 1QB? 2. Which current English Football League club was first known as New Brompton? 3. Which club can you identify from the anagram “Catcalls repay”? 4. Which triple Champions League winner with Real Madrid became the manager of Middlesbrough in 2013? 5. Who became the first Mexican to play in the English Premier League when he signed for Bolton Wanderers in 2005?
From “The Captain’s and Players” of Biggleswade FC Firstly, and most importantly from our point of view, the players all want to say a massive thank you to everyone that gives up their time to support us. That includes all the sponsors, supporters and committee members. The club has a brilliant ‘family’ feel about it which is driven from the Chairman, the committee and management team, but most importantly from individuals like yourself, who throughout the season have shown the support and commitment to the club that really helps drive our success. We speak for all the lads in saying that we feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this growing community club.
As we head in to the last few games, you could view it as a period that will define our season, and to a certain extent it will. However, regardless of what happens over the next few weeks the club should be very proud of what has been achieved so far this season. League performance has built on where we were last season, an amazing Vase run, where the support on that Sunday in Canterbury in defeat reflects the positivity surrounding our club and with two cup finals to look forward to really shows that as a team and a club we are moving in the right direction. That being said, the lads are all focused on the next few weeks and are determined on trying to turn a good season into a great season, by giving back to the fantastic committee and supporters with some silverware to celebrate! Looking to next season we want to continue to build on our style of play that Dave, Skippy and James continue to promote. Our improvements in defence, where we have conceded 32 league goals this year compared to the 61 last year show we are always looking to perform at a higher level and therefore wherever we find ourselves playing next season, we will ensure our principles as a club continue to shine through and hopefully build on our short, successful history and continue to play attractive football that you guys in the stand enjoy. However as mentioned, our focus is on the now and what is potentially on offer at the end of this season, so we thank you for your constant support throughout the season and we look forward to seeing you at the important fixtures to come. On behalf of the team, we again thank everyone for their support and please do enjoy the last home game of the season (where we have heard Dave Northfield will be buying everyone a drink at the bar!).
Colesy & Marshy
Below is a table of the Spartan South Midlands Premier league teams we will be travelling to this season. Based on our departure point of Langford Road, we will travel 1,046 miles in total (return) compared to last season’s 1,305. The miles section below is ground to ground. Our average return journey will be 55 miles compared to last season’s 65 miles. Team
Postcode
Miles
Match Day Sponsor
Arlesey Town
SG15 6RS
8
John Evans
Baldock Town
SG15 6RS
8
John Worsley – All Clean
Biggleswade Utd
SG18 0AA
2
H B C Logistics
Cockfosters
EN4 9JG
37
Shelly Swales Fine Foods
Colney Heath
AL4 0NP
29
Tony Wren – Innovation on Site
Crawley Green
LU2 9AG
18
Tom Jarvis
Edgware Town
NW9 7NE
42
Tony Wren – Innovation on Site
Hadley
EN5 3LD
36
David Albone
Harpenden Town
AL5 2EF
27
HL Ground & Garden Maintenance
Leighton Town
LU7 1RX
26
Gullefer – London Walks
Leverstock Green
HP2 4NQ
37
Mick Jarvis
London Colney
AL2 1DW
30
Fay’s Furry Friends Dog Grooming
London Tigers
HA6 1HR
47
Tony Wren – Innovation on Site
North Greenford Utd
UB6 0NX
44
Rob Butcher
Oxhey Jets
WD19 6FW
43
Kevin Webb
Potton United
SG19 2LX
5
Joseph Sneap
Stotfold
SG5 4AN
7
Richard Charles
Tring Athletic
HP23 5NT
34
Nick & Michelle – The Cock
Wembley
HA0 3HG
43
Nick & Michelle – The Cock
FROM THE DUGOUT | Biggleswade FC Reserves It is a privilege to be asked to review the Reserves’ season this year, and truth be told, I could write a full programmes worth of memories. As stated previously, last year was a disappointment. Many below par performances, no cup successes and a poor league finish showing. However, as we currently stand, if we win all of our remaining games this year, it will see us crowned the Bedfordshire Division 1 Champions and Centenary Cup Champions. The beginning of the season started fairly similar to last year. A mixture of results saw us sitting mid table, but little did we know, this was only the first gear of what this team has to offer. We started to pick up results slowly, and along with the results came performances to match. A steady rise in the league has put us in the driving seat for the title. I’ve been asked by a couple of people this year as to what we would attribute our fortunes to. Personally, I think there are a few things we can put it down to.
Firstly, I cannot go any longer without mentioning the truly fantastic job that Phil and Karl have done with us. After last year, it was difficult to predict what would happen this year, but both Phil and Karl have put in more effort than anyone could have asked from them. Week in week out they have the impossible decision of picking a squad, and I don’t envy them for having this responsibility. The quality that we have turn up to training week after week makes it seem like a thankless task, but they do it so well, and they keep everyone motivated and determined to better themselves every time we cross the line, and on behalf of the lads in the squad, we thank them both so much for their time and effort this year. In terms of players, I wouldn’t say there has been anyone in particular who has been a key difference. I would say a key difference is the belief in ourselves and the feeling of unity within the squad that has driven us on so much this year. However, there are a few players that are worth mentioning due to their efforts this year. Games get difficult at times, and sometimes you need someone to step up and take an opportunity when one presents itself, and John Veal has done just that this year. He is chasing the Golden Boot for the division, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of it. Oz Smith, Kian Coles, Harry Roberts, Jonny Bannister and Cian Mitchell have also been outstanding servants all year, and I wish there was enough space to give a testimony to every single player who has pulled a shirt on for us this season. We go into the final few weeks with some big games left to play. To name a few, we have Shefford and Campton, Wixams and Cranfield, the latter of which will almost certainly decide the teams that will finish top two this year. All we know is that we have to win every single one of our games to be sure of the success we deserve this year. As it stands, we are the most in form team in the division, and we do not intend on letting up until we have won the title. Hopefully when I next check in with you in the programme, I can tell you all some fantastic stories of our preparation for the Premier Division with this squad. I believe we already have the quality to compete in the Premier Division, and I feel that a lot of this young squad could go on to benefit Dave , Mark and James in the first team. Please wish us the best of luck for the rest of the season, and feel free to come and support us in any of our remaining fixtures, including the Centenary Cup Final on Monday 6th May 2019 at Kempston Rovers. Finally, thank you to Dave, Mark, James and all of the committee and supporters who have got behind us this year, I know it sounds cliché, but we really couldn’t have done it without any of you.
Ashley Boness
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