The BADGER 2022/23 Issue 6 vs Histon

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.

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

NOTES

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

It’s been another very busy week at the Sett, busier than usual to be honest with today’s game being the sixth played on the main pitch in the last seven days!

The action got underway on Tuesday when we hosted MK Irish. In a frantic start to the game, we raced out of the traps taking a two goal lead thanks to two superbly taken goals from Will Glennon, the first a towering header

from a well delivered corner, the second a calm finish from just inside the box following an excellent team move.

Unfortunately, MK Irish proved to be a resolute opponent and we conceded twice in quick succession which pegged us back to 2 2 at Half Time which was how the game finished with all four goals being scored in the space of five first half minutes.

Whilst it was disappointing to have surrendered a two goal lead, on the balance of play the draw was probably a fair result.

Onto Wednesday and it was the turn of the ‘A’ Team who hosted Blisworth in the NTFA Gorrell Barnes Cup. In an entertaining game our lads were well worth a goalless draw before they went on to win the tie 4 3 on penalties. A fantastic result for Marius and his team against a very good side from a higher division.

Thursday saw the Under 18’s lose their FA Youth Cup tie against Hitchin Town, again it needed penalties which followed a great spectacle that ended two a piece. Whilst it was not the result that we wanted it did show us that the future of the club remains extremely bright.

Today we welcome Histon to Bugbrooke. Despite their current league position, we are expecting a stern test against a side who not so long ago (2008/09) knocked the mighty Leeds United out of the FA Cup.

Before signing off we need to mention the Ladies team who travel to Mansfield Town on Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup, good luck, enjoy your day and let's hope that you smash it!

As always thank you for your support, enjoy the game and we look forward to seeing you again next Saturday when Heather St. Johns are the visitors in the league knock out cup.

“Whilst it was disappointing to have surrendered a two goal lead, on the balance of play the draw was probably a fair result.”

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 hard working 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

Following three successive away fixtures MK Irish were the visitors to the Sett in what was the first of a four game sequence at home.

The Badgers made two changes to the starting eleven that had lost against 10 man Easington Sports 3 days earlier; Dalton Leon coming in for the injured Tom Smyth in defence and Will Jones returning from suspension to replace Bailey Weatherly in attack.

The game, which was played on a slick surface following an earlier downpour, started at a frantic pace with both sides looking lively in possession.

It was the Badgers who forced the early running, Will Jones going close on 10 minutes when his low effort from the corner of the box forcing a superb save from the visiting goalkeeper who got down well to push the ball wide with it looking destined for the far corner of the net.

Buoyed by this the Badgers pushed for an opener, and they didn’t have to wait long as on 17 minutes the deadlock was broken as following a short break in play to treat an injured MK Irish player, a corner from Simmons was powered high into the net via the head of Will Glennon

The Badgers were now rampant and within a minute the lead was doubled.

LINE-UP

Once again it was Simmons with the assist as his superb through ball was dummied into the path of Glennon who kept his cool to stroke his second of the evening past the on rushing goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for the Badgers that wasn’t the end of the goal rush as within a minute MK Irish pulled a goal back when a break down their left was duly finished into the net by Keelan Shand, 2 1 game on!

Amazingly it was four goals in five minutes when on 22 minutes MK Irish found themselves level when substitute George Shrieves scored low into the net via the aid of a deflection.

Having seen a two goal lead slip through their grasp the Badgers re grouped as the game flowed from end to end; in fact, they were indebted to a good save from Reeve to maintain parity as he spread himself close to the post to prevent a close range header finding the bottom corner.

As it was neither team could find another goal as a pulsating first half ended all square.

HALF TIME

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS: 2

MK IRISH: 2

The second half started with the teams cancelling each other out which meant goal mouth action and clear chances were at a premium.

On 65 minutes the visitors were reduced to ten men as Shaheim Ward was shown a second Yellow followed by a Red for a late sliding challenge, the visiting player could have few complaints.

Just like Saturday the Badgers were unable to capitalise on having a man advantage; in fact, it was the visitors who looked the most likely to score, hitting the outside of the post following a mazy run and seeing the ball fly across the face of goal on more than one occasion.

As the Badgers made changes in personnel, their play became disjointed with the frustration visible as they too were reduced to 10 men with substitute Freddie King sin binned for dissent.

FULL TIME

BUBUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS: 2

MK IRISH: 2

MK Irish were a good side. A point would have been seen as a good one before kick off however having led 2 0 and having played with a man advantage for 20 minutes the game was there to be won.

Credit to both sides, a good game of football.

REEVE, NASH, SIMMONS, HALLMARK, WALTON (Captain), LEON, GLENNON, A.WEBSTER, OAKES, JONES, PANTER

SUBS: SPENCER, SHEHI KING (USED), COULSON, J.WEBSTER (NOT USED)

GLENNON (2)

SHAND, SHRIEVES

VISITORS

HISTON

Key DREW 2-2 vs Diss Town Lost (6-7 pens)

The club was formed in 1904 as Histon Institute FC and played for 44 years in the Cambridgeshire Football League. John Chivers, chairman of major Histon employer Chivers & Sons, helped to found the football club. The company donated a field then covered in roses for the club to play on, which is commemorated in the rose on Histon’s crest. From 1926 the club moved to its current location, where a grandstand was erected in 1934.

In 1948 the club became champions of the Cambs League and joined the Spartan League, winning promotion to its Premier Division in 1951. The “Institute” was dropped from the club’s name that season. The top forward in those days was Mo Thurston, who scored 63 goals in season 1949 50. In 1960 Histon entered the Delphian League, which became part of the Athenian League structure in 1963 but struggled at that level. The pitch was re sited at right angles to the old one in 1960 61, and a replacement stand opened in 1964 65.

In 1965 Histon switched to the Eastern Counties League, where they were to play for the next 35 years. When the ECL adopted a two division format in 1988, Histon were placed in the Premier Division. In the 1989 90 season, with Alan Doyle as manager, Histon won the ECL League Cup and sold players Lance Key and Shaun Sowden to Sheffield Wednesday and Giuliano Maiorana to Manchester United. The transfer fee rescued the club financially, and a Manchester United team played Histon on 19 May 1989.

Following administrative and financial difficulties in 1993, the club was relegated to ECL Division One in 1995 but were promoted back to the Premier Division two years later. The 1997 98 season saw Neil Kennedy establish a club record by scoring 46 senior goals in the season, and Histon finished 3rd. Finally in the 1999 2000 season Histon won the ECL Premier Division title under the management of former Cambridge United player Steve Fallon, appointed on 27 July 1999, and were promoted to the Southern League Eastern Division.

In the first three Southern League seasons Histon managed 4th spot twice and then a disappointing 10th, which momentarily halted the rise in fortunes experienced under Steve Fallon, but the 2003 04 season saw the club finish 2nd in the Eastern Division to claim promotion to the Premier Division. The following year Histon took on League Two side Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup 1st Round Proper, setting up a 2nd Round tie at home to Yeovil Town with a 2 0 victory. They lost to Yeovil but clinched the Southern League Premier Division title on the last day of the 2004 05 season and were promoted to the Conference South.

In their first Conference South season Histon finished 5th, enough to secure a place in the play offs for promotion to the Conference National. They won their first play off game away at Farnborough Town 3 0 but lost 2 0 in the final against St. Albans City. In the FA Cup they reached the second round proper. The team managed a draw away at Nuneaton Borough but were defeated in the replay at Bridge Road 2 1 before a crowd of 3,077. The season was also notable for a 5 0 win against local rivals Cambridge United in the FA Trophy.

On 14 April 2007 Histon, now popularly known as the Stutes, beat Welling United 1 0 at Bridge Road to go 19 points clear at the top of the Conference South in the final table. Two days previously, officials from the Conference had passed Bridge Road as fit for Conference National football, paving the way for promotion (the club’s fourth in 7 years) to the highest point in the non league pyramid. In the same season striker Neil Kennedy scored his 300th goal for the club with a hat trick against Havant & Waterlooville.

Histon’s 2007 08 season in the Conference National saw the Stutes play their first televised game, Setanta broadcasting the 1 0 home win against Oxford United. Later that season the club broke their record home attendance when a crowd of 3,721 saw Histon beat Cambridge United 1 0 on 1 January 2008. Histon finished the season 7th. The club’s record goal scorer, Neil Kennedy, played his last competitive game against Forest Green Rovers on the last day of the season in a substitute appearance.

The second season of Conference National football saw the Stutes finish third, qualifying for the play offs, where they were defeated 2 1 on aggregate by Torquay United in the semi final. In the FA Cup Histon reached the third round, losing 2 1 at home to Championship side Swansea City, after beating League One opposition in Swindon Town 1 0 at home in the first round, and Leeds United 1 0 at home in the second round, the first time Leeds had lost to a non league side. The Leeds United match was on national television, the attendance was 4,103, and the winning goal was scored by Matt Langston.

Histon’s fortunes declined after the high spots of the 2008 09 season, as the money ran out. In November 2009 Gareth Baldwin ended his 17 year tenure as chairman of the club, and in January 2010 Steve Fallon’s highly successful ten years as Histon manager came to an end. The club finished 18th in the Conference National in season 2009/10 and bottom in 2010/11. Alan Lewer, John Beck, and David Livermore served successively as managers. Histon finished their first Conference North season in 16th place and David Livermore left the club at the end of that season. Dennis Greene took over but left the Club in December 2012, to be replaced by former player Nacer Relizani assisted by the club’s youth team coach Brian Page. The duo led the team to Conference North safety on the last day of the 2012/13 season before Relizani stepped down and Page took over the top job.

Histon were now playing with a very young side largely drawn from the club’s youth structure. The 2013/14 season saw them relegated from the Conference North to the Southern Premier League. Brian Page kept them at that level in season 2014/15, securing an 18th place finish, but even the return of Steve Fallon in October 2015 could not prevent further relegation to the Southern League Division 1 Central at the end of season 2015 16. In October 2016 Fallon became Director of Football, with Lance Key returning to the club (again) this time as manager. Season 2016/17 however saw yet another relegation, back to the Eastern Counties League where it all started in the 1990’s.

After a season of adjustment in 2017 18 at the end of which the team finished 6th in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, 2018 19 saw the club heading in the right direction again as Key lead the side to promotion claiming the league title with an impressive 14 point margin.

On returning to Step 4, the club was unexpectedly allocated a place in the Isthmian League for the first time in it’s 115 year history. After spending much of the 2019/20 season in the top half of the league’s North division, a mid table finish looked to be on the cards before the season was curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The end of the season also saw the club Chairman John Hall step down after four years in which the focus had been upon restoring community links, simplifying the ownership structure, repaying debts, cutting costs and introducing Ladies teams. Under John’s leadership, youth development continued to feature high on the club’s priorities list with a clear pathway from Academy through Scholarship and into the First Team for our young players. John was succeeded by Richard Barlow, an existing Board member and long term supporter of the club.

After the 2020/21 season was curtailed Histon FC was moved into the new Northern Premier League Midlands Division and following the on and on field disruption caused by that move was relegated to Step 5 at the end of the 2021/22, being placed in the United Counties League Premier Division South for 2022/23. Richard Barlow had stepped down as Chairman in late 2021 and the club continued temporarily without a named Chairman until June 2022 when John Hall resumed in that role and the club welcomed several new directors to the board, uniting to move the club forward on and off the pitch.

DATE OPPOSITION

VENUE RESULT SCORE STARTINGLINE-UP

KetteringTown(NFACup) Home Lost 2-3 REEVE NASH SIMMONS 1 SMYTH GLENNON WALTON 30.07.22

12.07.22

MarchTownUnited Home Lost 0-4 REEVE WHALER SHEHI HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 02.08.22

CogenhoeUnited Away Won 1-0 REEVE MPAMBI SHEHI 1 HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 06.08.22

Home Won 3-0 REEVE WHALER SHEHI HALLMARK GLENNON 2 WALTON 13.08.22

LongBuckbyAFC-FACup

RugbyTown

Away Lost 0-2 REEVE MPAMBI SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON LEON 20.08.22

Away Lost 0-2 REEVE NASH SIMMONS SHEHI GLENNON LEON 23.08.22

LichfieldCity-FACup

GNGOadbyTown

Home Won 4-2 REEVE NASH SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON LEON 27.08.22

WellingboroughTown-FAVase Away Lost 1-2 REEVE NASH SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON LEON 03.09.22

GodmanchesterRovers Home Lost 0-3 REEVE NASH SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 13.09.22 DesboroughTown

Away Draw 1-1 REEVE NASH MPAMBI HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 17.09.22

NewportPagnellTown Away Won 2-1 REEVE NASH SHEHI HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 24.09.22 EasingtonSports Away Lost 0-1 REEVE NASH SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON WALTON 27.09.22

MiltonKeynesIrish Home Draw 2-2 REEVE NASH SIMMONS HALLMARK GLENNON 2 WALTON 01.10.22

HistonFC Home 08.10.22 HeatherSt.Johns-UCLCup Home 08.10.22 EynesburyRovers Away 15.10.22

CoventryUnited Home 29.10.22 LongBuckbyAFC Away 05.11.22

CoventrySphinx Home 12.11.22 CoventryUnited Away 19.11.22 RothwellCorinthians Home 26.11.22 MiltonKeynesIrish Away 03.12.22 WellingboroughTown Home 10.12.22 RothwellCorinthians Away 17.12.22 GodmanchesterRovers Away 07.01.22 DesboroughTown Home 14.01.22 CoventrySphinx Away 21.01.22 LutterworthTown Home 28.01.22 NewportPagnellTown Home 04.02.22 HistonFC Away 11.02.22 RugbyTown Home 18.02.22 MarchTownUnited Away 04.03.22

EynesburyRovers Home 18.03.22 WellingboroughTown Away 25.03.22 G.N.GOadbyTown Away 08.04.22 CogenhoeUnited Home 11.04.22 LutterworthTown Away 15.04.22 LongBuckbyAFC Home 22.04.22

EasingtonSports Home

A.WEBSTER OAKES 1 JONES J.WEBSTER BINDER WEATHERLY COULSON HALLMARK SPENCER BONIFAS A.WEBSTER 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 1 SPENCER KING E.PANTER MPAMBI LEON COULSON HARRISON

A.WEBSTER OAKES JONES SHEHI KING SPENCER COULSON NASH HALL TICHAWONA

A.WEBSTER OAKES JONES COULSON KING SPENCER E.PANTER TRKULJA MPAMBI WALTON

A.WEBSTER OAKES 1 JONES 3 E.PANTER SHEHI SPENCER COULSON KING MPAMBI WALTON COULSON 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 1 BAZELEY TRKULJA BONIFAS DOHERTY SMYTH OAKES JONES E.PANTER A.WEBSTER SPENCER COULSON LASALIRE 1 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

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Vs Histon FC

Coventry Sphinx Vs Long Buckby AFC

Easington Sports Vs Cogenhoe United

Godmanchester Rovers Vs Desborough Town

Lutterworth Town Vs Milton Keynes Irish March Town United Vs Rugby Town

Newport Pagnell Town Vs G.N.G Oadby Town Rothwell Corinthians Vs Eynesbury Rovers

Wellingborough Town Vs Coventry United

RESERVE DIVISION

Cogenhoe United Reserves VS Godmanchester Rovers Reserves

Raunds Town Reserves VS Rothwell Corinthians Reserves

Daventry Town Reserves VS Newport Pagnell Town Reserves Desborough Town Reserves VS Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves

Huntingdon Town Reserves VS Wellingborough Town Reserves Kempston Rovers Reserves VS G.N.G Oadby Town Reserves

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves VS Bourne Town Reserves Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves VS Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves

LUKE REEVE KEEPZ GK

RYAN NASH AVAILABLE

MANU MPAMBI AVAILABLE

WILL GLENNON AVAILABLE

TOM WALTON AVAILABLE

TOM SMYTH AVAILABLE

BRANDON HALLMARK AVAILABLE BEN DIMOND AVAILABLE

RONNIE GIBBON AVAILABLE

TOM SIMMONS AVAILABLE

JAKE WEBSTER AVAILABLE

KIERAN SPENCER AVAILABLE

CAM HARRISON AVAILABLE

AIDAN WEBSTER AVAILABLE

TOM BINDER AVAILABLE

TRENT OAKES

CHARLIE PEARSON AVAILABLE

KEV SHEHI AVAILABLE

RYAN

BAILEY

EDDIE

‘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

• Throwing objects onto the pitch

• Drug use within the football ground

• Discriminatory behaviour

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.

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

#LoveFootball #ProtectTheGame

The Colombian Connection”

In recent years, we have seen players at the end of their careers make big money moves to the more distant reaches of the footballing landscape. China, the USA, and the Middle East have all proven alluring temptations for celebrated heroes (who, let’s be honest, have already made a fortune) to finish off with one giant pay packet. But rarely has this move been made at the pinnacle of a player’s ability. This hasn’t always been the case.

In the period following the Second World War, England, along with most other footballing nations, had strict pay restrictions that limited their players income to a level broadly similar to the fans in the stand. Halcyon days, some might think, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported half a million a week. But while £20/week (the maximumwage) was only slightly higher than the average at the time, in the few nations that did not impose a pay cap, there was the potential of vast fortunes to be made. One of those nations was Colombia, and one of their clubs Independiente Santa Fe used this to their advantage.

When Charlie Mitten joined Manchester United on a tour of South America, it dawned on him that the club were making significant money out of his ability, and he questioned whether he should be getting more. The club, of course, didn’t pay much attention to this, so Luis Robledo saw his chance. The Cambridge educated businessman believed that football could bring to an end his country’s civil war, and would pay any sum to try to achieve it. Mitten was offered £40/week, double the English maximum wage, and a signing bonus of £5,000. Obviously, he accepted.

Robledo wasn’t finished there, however. He made use of his connections back in Britain to approach two players plying their trade for Stoke City. One, George Mountford, was a talented winger, but the other, Neil Franklin, was perhaps the best defender of his generation. Strong in the tackle, good in the air, and as Stanley Matthews put it, “all the guile and intelligence of the most cerebral of inside forwards”.

He declined participation in the 1950 World Cup to move to Bogota and link up with Mountford and Mitten, a World Cup in which England were humiliated by the United States. What might have been.

Unfortunately, the South American gamble proved much more like El Dorado than they had imagined. In that it didn’t really exist. The civil war made it difficult to settle, and a 6:30 curfew meant there was no social life to speak of, where players could have spent their fortune. But then, they didn’t receive much of a fortune anyway. Payments were erratic and, once the players had moved their whole lives to South America, the money seemed to dry up. Signing on fees were not paid, Franklin reportedly only received one week’s pay, and their performances (when they played), though acceptable, were not the legendary displays everybody had been expecting. Franklin left after six games. Mountford managed a few months. Mitten, the pioneer, managed a little longer, before turning down a move to Real Madrid with Alfredo di Stefano to come back to England. None were rich, and all were disgraced.

All of the players received suspensions, and Mitten was fined six months’ wages by Sir Matt Busby. It was made clear that Franklin was not welcome back at Stoke, or any other topflight club, so he dropped a division to play for Hull (who had tried to make him the most expensiveplayer in the world before his Colombian adventure). He didn’t get the opportunity to return to national team duties either. He is one of the great English what might have beens

Columbia, also, were sanctioned by FIFA for poaching players. Alongside Santa Fe, other clubs had poached from other areas of the world. Millionaros, for example, had attracted the aforementioned di Stefano, a move that saw the great man turn out for the Colombian national side. But the FIFA punishment for their disregard of footballing orthodoxy was a ban from international competition, so his caps never counted. He switched nationality from Argentina to Spain a few years later, just to confuse things even more.

Franklin would later admit that the whole affair was, obviously, a mistake. His still became the most expensive defender in the world, but injuries at Hull prevented him from ever fulfilling the potential he had shown as a young player. It would be hard not to regret everything about it. He finished his career at Crewe in the late 1950s, around the same time as Colombia had their ban overturned and had the honour of taking part at the 1958 World Cup, and former team mate Stanley Matthew was being lauded as one of the best players in the world.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn Green

The Untold Game

Find us at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media

@TheUntoldGame

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS

Manager: Dale Walton

Colours: White / Black / Black

FROM: Luke Reeve Billy Panter William Glennon Brandon Hallmark Emmanuel Mpambi Ryan Nash Tom Simmons Tom Smyth Tom Walton Joshua Whaler Tom Binder Mackenzie Coulson Cameron Harrison Charlie Pearson Dalton Leon Trent Oakes Kieran Spencer Aidan Webster Jake Webster George Bonifas Will Jones Freddie King Eddie Panter Kevin Shehi Bailey Weatherly

HISTON Manager: Lance Key

Colours: Blue / Blue / Blue

FROM:

Andreu Camacho Patrick Bexfield Oliver Brookes Daniel Brown Babacar Camara Bahador Chizari Marcus Cole Samuel Collison Luke Crisp Mar Lee Fisher Christopher Gough Evan Key Luke Lindsay Roman Lott Canning James Marsh Isaac Maynard Kieran McGinty Harry Meats Robert Mizon Tafari Passley David Ramjee Sam Roach Alexander Stevens Lee Rhys Thorpe Dexter Todd Ryan Towner Charlie Tunnell Max York

MATCH OFFICIALS

Daniel Haywood Clinton Ormshaw Paul Kimbrey