The BADGER 2023/24 Issue 14 vs Easington Sports

SEASON

THE BADGER

23 24

ISSUE 14

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

vs EASINGTON SPORTS UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH SATURDAY 26th DECEMBER 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 – HELEN GILLIGAN COMMITTEE – RICHARD GIBBON, STUART WYKES, RICHARD FAULKNER, STEPH NASH

MANAGEMENT / COACHING TEAM FIRST TEAM – DALE WALTON RESERVE TEAM - ROB JONES ‘B’ TEAM - ANDY DEMIDOW LADIES TEAM - STUART WHITE UNDER 18s BLACK (NSYL) - LOUIE GALBRAITH UNDER 18s WHITE (NSYL) - DARREN SMITH UNDER 18s (NDYAL) - DEANO GOMES UNDER 16s - MARK LINNELL UNDER 15s - SIMON WHEELER UNDER 14s - RYAN NASH UNDER 13s - CHRIS ASHTON UNDER 12s BLACK - DANIEL BLAND / BEN SMITH UNDER 12s WHITE - TONY HILL UNDER 11s BLUE - IAN MARRIOTT UNDER 11s WHITE - MIKE BRINKLEY UNDER 11s GIRLS - STEPH NASH UNDER 10s GIRLS - KERRY HOUGHTON UNDER 9s - ANDREW JACKMAN UNDER 8s - NEIL BYRNE / DARREN WILLIX

WELCOME TO THE SETT 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 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.

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MANAGERS NOTES We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Easington Sports who are the visitors to the Sett for todays United Counties Premier Division South Boxing Day fixture.

We hope that you had a great Christmas, managing to relax and celebrate with friends, family and loved ones.

We are writing these notes ahead of the trip to Eynesbury Rovers on Saturday, hopefully we are coming into today’s fixture with 3-points in the bag following what was a disappointing result in the local derby against Cogenhoe United.

Looking at today’s opponents and without knowing the resources available to any of the clubs in our Division we could hazard a guess that Easington Sports are like ourselves in terms of what they have available.

It is therefore no surprise to see them competing in mid-table, with aspirations of pushing on in the New Year to achieve a top-half finish come the end of the season.

They have proved to be something of a bogey side for us over recent times, completing the double against us last season with both fixtures ending in 1-0 reversals following two closely contested affairs.

Starting today let’s hope that we can turn the tables. First and foremost a good performance will be required and with that we hope it will be enough to come away with the points.

We have reached that point in the season where availability can become a challenge. Suspensions, knocks and niggles start taking their toll. That said we have lads who are waiting in the wings and chomping at the bit for an opportunity with the First Team, if called upon we know they won’t let us down.

Before signing off we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout the year, we have one final fixture at Coventry United on Saturday before we enjoy the celebrations that will welcome 2024, we hope that it is a prosperous one for all!

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

Dale & Daniel

“Starting today let’s hope that we can turn the tables. First and foremost a good performance will be required and with that we hope it will be enough to come away with the points”

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 4 adult sides, including a recently formed Ladies team as well as 15 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

‘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

TODAYS VISITORS

EASINGTON SPORTS The Club was formed in the immediate post-war period of 1945/46 to fulfil the sporting and social needs of the young people of the Easington housing estate in Banbury, many of who were returning from war service.

Full name:

Easington Sports

Nickname(s):

The Clan

Founded:

1946

Ground:

Addison Road

Capacity:

Unknown

Manager:

Andy Sharman

League:

United Counties Premier Division South

2022–23:

United Counties Premier Division South, 11th of 18

Current Position

13th- P18, W6, D3, L9, Pts 21

Last Time Out:

Lost 1-3 vs Leicester Nirvana

Form:

DLLLL

The Club, then known as ‘The Clan’, soon prospered, as there was an obvious need for such a facility, and formed a cricket, tennis and a ladies section. Football was, however, the main branch of the Club’s activity, and they began playing in the local Junior Leagues as Easington Sports F.C. The football was played on pastureland to the west of Wykham Lane, and for a few years endured the lack of facilities enjoyed today by almost all clubs. (No water available on site, no real changing facilities to name but two of the privations to be met on a cold winter’s afternoon).

Fortunately, this situation was soon to change, for as a result of tireless fund raising by all concerned and some dedicated work by stalwarts such as Gordon Vivash, Tim Fountain and many other committed club members, the prospect of a new ground owned by the Club became a reality.

The purchase of the Addison Road ground and the building of a clubroom, together with the Club’s entry to the Oxfordshire Senior League was the beginning of senior football for Sports, and to their credit they proved to be a formidable force at that level. (Becoming winners and finalists in the Senior Cup and heading the Premier League table on two occasions in the early and mid-fifties).

In view of their success at county level the Club sought entry, and was accepted into the old Warwickshire Combination, which at that time counted professional and semi-professional teams.

(Aston Villa ‘A’, West Bromwich Albion ‘B’ and teams which now grace the Conference as members).

Although having moderate success in this competition, as with many other amateur clubs; finance played its part in the decision to return to the Oxfordshire Senior League, where the expenses, in particular travelling, were much more in line with the club’s limited income.

Looking to raise their standards once more, the Club sought entry to the Hellenic League. Subject to certain ground improvements they were readily accepted and remained as members until 2021. In 2018/19 Ben Milner and squad won promotion to the Premier League being crowned Champions.

Covid then affected the following two seasons.

A review of the NLS saw Sports moved into the United Counties League South. In our first season in the UCLS, Matt Giles managed the squad to 14th with impressive wins including those against Coventry United and Rugby Town.

In 2021/2022 Andy Sharman managed the Development squad to the UHL Division 2 title and OFA Intermediate Cup Final. With Matt Giles stepping down, Andy Sharman was appointed managed with Tommy Kinch and Mark Boyland assisting. Sharman will once again focus on using local Banbury based talent to compete in the UCL, giving a chance to many from the Dev and Clan squads.

In 2022/23 the club were awarded Level 3 FA Accreditation, with 38 affiliated teams. Our youth teams include boys and girls and our open age section now includes three male, two female, a pan disability squad and over 50’s football.

We also work in partnership with Oxford United in the Community and offer Women Wellbeing Sessions, Premier League Kick sessions and Primary Stars. Relocation remains a priority for the committee and trustees to ensure that our facilities match the growth and needs of the club.

We remain committed to providing those in the local community with a pathway into football with over 600 registered players.

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS DATE

OPPOSITION

VENUE RESULT SCORE STARTING LINE-UP

29.07.22 St Neots Town

Away

Lost

0-3

REEVE

CALVER

SHEHI

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

01.08.22 Racing Club Warwick

Home

Lost

0-3

REEVE

SPENCER

BAZELEY

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

05.08.22 Hinckley LRFC - FA Cup

Home

Lost

2-3

REEVE

MALKIN

BAZELEY

SMYTH

POWELL

12.08.23 Aylestone Park

Home

Lost

2-5

REEVE

MALKIN

BAZELEY

SMYTH

POWELL

15.08.23 Cogenhoe United

Away

Won

4-0

REEVE

MALKIN

SHEHI

1

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

19.08.23 Lutterworth Town

Home

Won

4-1

REEVE

MALKIN

SHEHI

1

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

29.08.23 Wellingborough Town

Away

Lost

2-5

REEVE

MALKIN

02.09.23 Desborough Town

Home

Lost

1-5

REEVE

MALKIN

09.09.23 Leicester Nirvana

Away

Won

4-0

REEVE

MALKIN

16.09.23 Yaxley

Away

Lost

3-4

REEVE

MALKIN

19.09.23 Desborough Town - NFA Cup

Away

Lost

2-2

W.PANTER

23.09.23 Raunds Town – FA Vase

Away

Won

2-0

26.09.23 Newport Pagnell Town

Home

Won

30.09.23 G.N.G Oadby Town

Home

Draw

03.10.23 Wellingborough Town - KO Cup

Away

Lost

1

WALTON 1

WALTON

SHEHI

SMYTH

P RICKETT-REED

WALTON

SURACE

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

1

SHEHI

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

1

SIMMONS

SMYTH

POWELL

WALTON

P RICKETT-REED

SIMMONS

BINDER

PRICE

WALTON

REEVE

MALKIN

SIMMONS

SMYTH

PRICE

WALTON

4-0

REEVE

MALKIN

SIMMONS

POWELL

PRICE

WALTON

4-4

REEVE

MALKIN

SIMMONS

POWELL

PRICE

WALTON

2-2

W.PANTER

MALKIN

SIMMONS

SMYTH

PRICE

SHEHI

CAREY

PRICE

WALTON

1

( 5- 6 PENS)

14.10.23 Godmanchester Rovers

Away

Won

3-1

REEVE

NASH

SIMMONS

21.10.23 Lincoln United - FA Vase

Away

Lost

1-4

REEVE

MALKIN

SIMMONS

CAREY

POWELL

WALTON

24.10.23 Daventry Town

Home

Lost

1-2

REEVE

MALKIN

MEMOLI

MAKEKERA

POWELL

WALTON

28.10.23 March Town United

Away

Lost

1-2

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

GIBBON

PRICE

SHEHI

31.10.23 Coventry United

Home

Won

1-0

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

SHEHI

PRICE

WALTON

11.11.23 Yaxley

Home

Won

2-1

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

STEWART

PRICE

WALTON

18.11.23 Aylestone Park

Away

Lost

1-2

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

ALHASSAN

PRICE

25.11.23 Histon

Home

Won

3-0

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

STEWART

1

PRICE

02.12.23 Rugby Borough

Away

Draw

4-4

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

EMERY

2

PRICE

WALTON

09.12.23 RC Warwick

Away

Lost

2-8

REEVE

SMYTH

SIMMONS

POWELL

PRICE

WALTON

16.12.23 Cogenhoe United

Home

Lost

1-2

REEVE

MEMOLI

SIMMONS

POWELL

PRICE

WALTON

23.12.23 Eynesbury Rovers

Away

26.12.23 Easington Sports

Home

30.12.23 Coventry United

Away

06.01.24 Lutterworth Town

Away

13.01.24 Leicester Nirvana

Home

20.01.24 Daventry Town

Away

27.01.24 Rugby Borough

Home

03.02.24 Eynesbury Rovers

Home

10.02.24 March Town United

Home

17.02.24 G.N.G Oadby Town

Away

24.02.24 Newport Pagnell Town

Away

02.03.24 Histon

Away

16.03.24 Desborough Town

Away

23.03.24 St Neots Town

Home

01.04.24 Easington Sports

Away

06.04.24 Godmanchester Rovers

Home

13.04.24 Wellingborough Town

Home

1

WALTON 1

WALTON 1

2023/24 RESULTS & APPEARANCES SUBS A.WEBSTER

ALHASSAN

PANTER

PORTER

MALKIN

SPENCER

REZA

BINDER

HALLMARK

J.WEBSTER

A.WEBSTER

ALHASSAN

PANTER

PORTER

REZA

SHEHI

CALVER

BINDER

MALKIN

J.WEBSTER

A.WEBSTER

ALHASSAN

PANTER

PORTER

REZA

GREEN

SURACE

BINDER

1

1

GREEN

ALHASSAN

1

PANTER

PORTER

REZA

SHEHI

SURACE

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

PANTER

PORTER

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SURACE

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

3

SURACE

PORTER

BINDER

ALHASSAN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

REZA

PORTER

BINDER

ALHASSAN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

ALHASSAN

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

PRICE

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

2

ALHASSAN

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

PANTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

PANTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

1

PANTER

2

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

1

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

2

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

1

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

A.WEBSTER

GREEN

PANTER

CAREY

GREEN

EMERY

OAKES

GREEN

PANTER

PANTER

1

1

1

J.WEBSTER

CAREY

MAY

REZA

SPENCER

CAREY

MAY

SURACE

SPENCER

CAREY

GIBBON

CAREY

SHEHI

SIMMONS

UNDERWOOD

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SIMMONS

UNDERWOOD

CAREY

CAREY

SHEHI

SPENCER

BINDER

PANTER

PORTER

CAREY

ALHASSAN

STEWART

PORTER

BINDER

SHEHI

STEWART

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

SMYTH

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

SMYTH

BINDER

ALHASSAN

CAREY

BINDER

POWELL

MAKEKERA

PORTER

BINDER

SHEHI

MAKEKERA

OBENG

1

1

PANTER

PORTER

BINDER

1

PANTER

ANKRAH

BINDER

PANTER

STEWART

BINDER

1

ALHASSAN

PORTER

BINDER

1

PORTER

1

PORTER PORTER STEWART

1

A.WEBSTER

BINDER

PORTER

2

1

1

BINDER BAZELEY

1

1

1

1

PANTER

UNDERWOOD

SHEHI

SMYTH

POWELL

ALHASSAN

SURACE

CAREY 1

2

PORTER

CAREY

STEWART

SURACE

GIBBON

J.WEBSTER

MEMOLI

GIBBON

STEWART

ANKRAH

SPENCER

J.WEBSTER J.WEBSTER

SHEHI

CAREY

STEWART

SPENCER

ALHASSAN

MAKEKERA

STEWART

OAKES

1

POWELL

MAKEKERA

PORTER

MALKIN

GIBBON

1

SHEHI

CAREY

GIBBON

J.WEBSTER

ANKRAH

BINDER

SHEHI

STEWART

POWELL

OAKES

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

CAREY

OAKES

GIBBON

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

CAREY

OAKES

POWELL

BINDER

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

MEMOLI

J.WEBSTER

STEWART

ALHASSAN

SHEHI

MAKEKERA

MALKIN

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LEAGUE TABLE - FIRST TEAM

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH as at 22/12/23

POS

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Racing Club Warwick

22

16

2

4

34

50

2

Wellingborough Town

20

15

4

1

32

49

3

Aylestone Park

20

14

1

5

22

43

4

Newport Pagnell Town

19

14

0

5

23

42

5

March Town United

20

13

3

4

21

42

6

St Neots Town

19

12

3

4

21

39

7

Daventry Town

21

12

1

8

16

37

8

G.N.G Oadby Town

23

10

4

9

-16

34

9

Yaxley FC

19

10

3

6

14

33

10

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

21

8

2

11

-4

26

11

Cogenhoe United

19

7

3

9

-13

24

12

Lutterworth Town

19

7

1

11

-7

22

13

Easington Sports

18

6

3

9

-1

21

14

Rugby Borough

21

5

5

11

-17

20

15

Coventry United

20

5

4

11

-7

19

16

Histon FC

19

4

4

11

-16

16

17

Godmanchester Rovers

19

5

1

13

-21

16

18

Eynesbury Rovers

19

5

1

13

-23

16

19

Desborough Town

20

3

3

14

-25

12

20

Leicester Nirvana

20

2

4

14

-33

10

FORM GUIDE

LWDLL 30/12 vs Coventry United (Away)

NEXT UP

06/01 vs Lutterworth Town (Away) 13/01 vs Leicester Nirvana (Home)

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LEAGUE TABLE - RESERVES

RESERVE DIVISION as at 22/12/23

POS

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1

Kempston Rovers Reserves

10

9

1

0

45

28

2

Bourne Town Reserves

13

8

1

4

10

25

3

Buckingham Development

13

7

2

4

19

23

4

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves

12

7

1

4

18

22

5

Desborough Town Reserves

11

7

1

3

16

22

6

Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves

10

7

1

2

9

22

7

Harborough Town Reserves

13

6

2

5

12

20

8

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves

14

6

2

6

2

20

9

Rothwell Corinthians Reserves

11

5

1

5

-5

16

10

Irchester United Reserves

10

4

2

4

4

14

11

Godmanchester Rovers Reserves

10

3

2

5

-15

11

12

Wellingborough Town Reserves

12

2

1

9

-22

7

13

Raunds Town Reserves

13

0

1

12

-46

1

14

Huntingdon Town U23s

10

1

0

9

-47

1*

FORM GUIDE

LDWWL 06/01 vs Wellingborough Town (Away)

NEXT UP

13/01 vs Raunds Town (Away) 20/01 vs ON Chenecks (Home)

TODAYS FIXTURES

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH

Eynesbury Rovers

Vs

St Neots Town

Lutterworth Town

Vs

Aylestone Park

Wellingborough Town

Vs

Desborough Town

Histon FC

Vs

Godmanchester Rovers

Newport Pagnell Town

Vs

Cogenhoe United

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Vs

Easington Sports

Daventry Town

Vs

Rugby Borough

March Town United

Vs

Yaxley FC

Racing Club Warwick

Vs

Coventry United

Tel: 07568 087449 Email: RichFaulknerElectrical@outlook.com

” The Original Buffon” Gianluigi Buffon is one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever seen. A precocious teenager so talented that when he broke into Parma’s first team at 16, he was told he would be his country’s number one by the time he was twenty. ‘Why would I wait that long?’ was his confident reply.

But goalkeeping was in Buffon’s genes. Some three decades before Gianluigi arrived in the world, and half a century before he sat atop it, his grandfather’s cousin was making his debut for Portogruaro. It wasn’t long before he was on the move to Italian giants Milan, where Lorenzo Buffon would become a legend.

Lorenzo’s career started in the chaos of post-war Italian football. The first national championships had been created under facism, and with the financial struggles of football following the war, that required a restructure.

Despite a mid-table finish, Portogruaro were dropped into the vast, regional, amateur fourth tier, and turned to their academy for an immediate return to Serie C. Buffon would probably not have been given such an early start in a higher division, but at that level, he was given the gloves. And so nearly, he achieved immediate success. Portogruaro struggled to score goals, but Buffon’s performance in goal kept them in the title race right to the end of the season. In the end, they were massively outscored by San Dona, who took the single promotion place, but the young goalkeeper had done enough to grab the attention of at the top of the tree.

Milan were in a period of rebuilding that would define them for a decade. Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm joined their Swedish compatriot Gunnar Nordahl in the famous Gre-No-Li attacking line, which meant the signing of a backup goalkeeper happened without much fanfare at all.

Content to warm the bench as a profession, Buffon had to wait until January of 1950 to make his debut for the Rossoneri. He stood out in a 5-1 win, and was given a second game, then a third, a game against Juventus which was the first Serie A game to be televised live.

Milan destroyed their opponents, winning 7-1, and while the super Swedes took the headlines, Buffon was now un-droppable.

Despite their win, Milan failed to take the Scudetto away from Turin until the following season, when they were so dominant that they failed to win any of their final five games, and still secured the title. The power was shifting to the city and Inter made their own claim on the Italian title, bolstered by their own young goalkeeper Giorgio Ghezzi. He and Buffon developed a rivalry both on and off the pitch.

Ghezzi went to the World Cup in 1954 as first choice, owing to Inter’s back-to-back titles, but a poor showing soon had the Azzurri turning to Buffon.

Ghezzi suffered a double blow. Edy Campagnoli was a catwalk model and tv star, and Ghezzi’s girlfriend. But when he was dropped by the national team, she dropped him as well. In a move that could have come straight from her tv shows, she ended up in Buffon’s arms. They married in 1958, and Ghezzi reportedly never recovered from the rejection.

MIlan returned to title-winning form following the World Cup and qualified for the European Cup. He saw them to another title in 1957, and Milan made the European Cup final in 1958, but without an injured Buffon in goal they conceded 3 and lost in injury time to Real Madrid.

In fact, injuries would prove to be his downfall.

Following that European Cup defeat, the Milan board started to question Buffon’s injury record and looking for a replacement. He played one more season for the Rossoneri before another soap-opera twist.

Ghezzi, following his heartbreak, had left the city of Milan on the eve of Buffon and Campagnoli’s wedding and spent a year at Genoa. Milan made their move and brought him in. Buffon went the other way, and was unable to prevent his new side’s relegation, because once again he’d spent most of the season on the injury table. But Inter had struggled to replace Ghezzi, and saw an opportunity. He joined the Nerazurri, and resumed his rivalry with Ghezzi.

Juventus won the 1961 title, but all attention was on the Milan rivalry. Buffon and Inter won the first tie, before Ghezzi and Milan won the return. But it was less about results, and more about who would get that coveted number 1 jersey at the 1962 World Cup. Buffon suffered a blow in 1962, conceding the title to Milan and Ghezzi, but he had conceded the fewest goals.

The call came, and he was off to Chile. He had won once again.

Sadly, after keeping a clean sheet in the first game, he got injured once more. Italy crashed out of the World Cup, and neither Buffon or Ghezzi would play for them again. Buffon won the Scudetto the following year, but his time was coming to an end. He retired in 1965 after short spells at Fiorentina and Ivera

His cousin’s grandson would eventually go on to surpass him, but Lorenzo will always be the original Buffon.

Enjoy the game!

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

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