DESBRORUGH TOWN FC

1

THE DAVID WILSON HOMES GROUND 2023- 2024 SEASON

£2.00

SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2023 - Kick Off 14:00

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

@GoddyRoversFC

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27

FOUL LANGUAGE

26

Dan Gleeson Manager

Good Afternoon, please give a warm welcome to today’s visitors, Desborough Town F.C. their players, committee and supporters, we hope you enjoy your visit to the David Wilson Homes Ground.

Goddy currently field One Senior side (1st team taking part in the Uhlsport United counties Premier South League, and Under 18's in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League, Also playing under the Godmanchester Town FC banner sides with Junior sides (Under 7 to Under 17).

Your support today and through the season is appreciated by all at the club. Enjoy the game and a safe journey home to all C'mon you Rovers!

Vector Open Stock

To increase attendances at our grounds, the UHL Sport United Counties League, in conjunction with its clubs and its sponsor, KitmanUK & UHLSport , are promoting the need to turn matches into a more family-orientated entertainment in a family friendly environment.

The League understands that football is a game of intensity and passion. In the heat of the moment, frustrations grow, tempers can be lost and there is an urgent need to share your feelings with others.

The League also understands that, in that moment, you may use language that others may not feet is appropriate in a family setting.

Nothing will send parents and/or grandparents heading quickly for the exits with their youngsters, never to return, than a constant stream of foul Language. All we ask is that you keep it down for the kids.

THANK YOU @GoddyRoversFC

WHO’S WHO? Role

Staff Member

Life President

Keith Gabb & Karly Hurst

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25

Reserve Division POS Team

P

W

D

L

GD PTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

10 12 11 10 12 9 13 11 10 9 10 11 9 11

9 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 1 0

1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 0

0 3 3 2 4 2 6 5 5 4 5 8 8 11

45 21 19 17 9 7 -1 11 -10 2 -15 -20 -44 -41

Kempston Rovers Reserves Buckingham Development Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves Desborough Town Reserves Bourne Town Reserves Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves Harborough Town Reserves Rothwell Corinthians Reserves Irchester United Reserves Godmanchester Rovers Reserves Wellingborough Town Reserves Huntingdon Town U23s Raunds Town Reserves

28 23 22 22 22 19 17 16 13 11 11 7 1* 0

Directors

Richard Cosbey & Chris Allan

Chairman

Richard Cosbey

Vice Chairman

Dale Routledge

Finance

Chris Allan

Club Secretary

Tracy Cosbey

Fixture Secretary

Vacant

Committee Member

Tim Britt - Dan Edwards

Programme Editor

Steve Bengree

Functions Manager

Jon Pickford

Bar & Catering Team

Jon Pickford - Lindsey Allen - Jaz Allen - Lindsay Bowgett - Tracy Cosbey - Pat Thompson

Groundsman

Mark Aspinall

Media

Connor Aspinall

DATE HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

Gate Steward

Eloise France

19-Aug Godmanchester Rovers

Wellingborough Town Res

Reserve Division

5-4

W

Match Day Hospitality

Vacant

26-Aug Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

4-1

L

Child Welfare Officer

Richard Cosbey

09-Sep Godmanchester Rovers

Northampton ON Chenecks Reserve Division

1-3

L

Pitch Booking Manager

Richard Cosbey

16-Sep Harborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

5-1

L

23-Sep Bourne Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

1-1

D

30-Sep Godmanchester Rovers

Buckingham Development

UCL Res Div Cup

1-3

L

07-Oct Kempston Rovers

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

7-0

L

14-Oct Raunds Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

1-4

W

21-Oct Godmanchester Rovers

Buckingham Development

Reserve Division

0-5

L

First Team

Head Coach

Dan Gleeson

Assistant Coach

Paul France

Fitness Coach

Errol McGammon

Head Coach

Alex Thomas

Kit Man

Richard Cosbey

Physio

Mark Swan & Su Medlock

Goalkeeping Coach Ben Dunmore

Reserves

Manager

Anthony Tagg

Assistant Manager

Tim Britt

Under 18's

Manager

Dave Stevens

04-Nov Godmanchester Rovers

St Ives Town Reserves

Reserve Division

0-4

L

Assistant Manager

Luke Claxton

25-Nov Godmanchester Rovers

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserve Division

1-1

D

Head Coach

Steve Smith

02-Dec Desborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

09-Dec Wellingborough Whitworth Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

16-Dec Godmanchester Rovers

Kempston Rovers

Reserve Division

-

06-Jan Huntingdon Town U23s

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

13-Jan Godmanchester Rovers

Bourne Town

Reserve Division

-

20-Jan Godmanchester Rovers

Desborough Town

Reserve Division

-

27-Jan Rothwell Corinthians

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

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GODMANCHESTER ROVERS GROUND REGULATIONS 1. Instructions from any Club Official or Steward must be complied with at all times.

2. Spectators are not allowed on the pitch and its surrounds.

3. Spectators shall not climb on any building ,wall or fence.

4. Obscene, Racist or Indecent language at any player or official and usage of offensive gestures will not be tolerated.

5. Throwing of any objects (coins or other missiles) is forbidden.

6. Minors shall be the sole responsibility of the accompanying adult.

7. Entrance to the ground is granted with payment of the appropriate entry fee (or approved official pass).

Kubala

watch Kuksi in action, and he didn’t disappoint. Not just goals, but excitement was what he brought to the pitch. He was quick, agile, strong and tricky. Against Botafogo, with his shirt ripped from his body, he scored bare-chested. Helenio Herrera claimed Kubala was the first player to ever curl a free kick over a wall.

Unsurprisingly, Les Corts was too small to hold all of his adoring fans. In 1957, Barcelona had to move to the Camp Nou to accommodate them.

Despite Herrera’s admiration, the two did not get on when the Argentine arrived at Barcelona in 1958. He brought Sandor Kocsis, a more recent refugee, with him, and tried to impose a strict discipline. For the partying, drinking, womanising Kubala, this would not work. He was dropped to the bench, and the trophies dried up. Herrera was sacked in 1960. Kubala took his job.

The Hungarian turned out to not be as successful in the dugout as he was on the pitch, but that probably had much to do with his love of playing. He turned out sporadically for sides for another seven years, until he was forty, flipping between management and playing. But it didn’t matter in Barcelona, where he was already a legend. Of all the greats to have graced the Camp Nou, he may be the greatest.

Enjoy the game.

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

All spectators shall be given temporary membership to the clubhouse and its facilities at the discretion of the club.

Any drinks brought outside the clubhouse MUST be in plastic containers.

NO GLASSWARE OF ANY KIND TO BE TAKEN OUTSIDE PERMITTED AREAS. For FA Competitions additional special requirements may apply to comply with regulations and FA Rules.

Godmanchester Rovers FC accepts no responsibility for vehicles using the premises/car parks. Godmanchester Rovers FC accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to any articles on the clubs premises.

Any person in breach of these regulations will be refused admission/ removed from the premises.

The Club Committee Thanks You for your co operation - Enjoy the game

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Portugal. As he prepared to leave, however, Anna arrived, exhausted from her own escape, and Kubala turned down the invitation. The decision saved his life; on the return flight, Torino’s plane crashed into the Basilica di Superga. Everyone on board died.

The other side of Kubala’s fame was that the Hungarian authorities finally discovered where he was. They demanded FIFA punish him, and FIFA obliged by banning him for a year. This allowed first Real Madrid, and then Barcelona to come calling for his signature. How he ended up at the Blaugrana is disputed, but the most plausible story is that, when Kubala demanded that they also hire his boyhood coach, fellow refugee, and father in law Ferdinand Daucik as manager, Real Madrid refused, while their great rivals accepted his terms.

His ban ran through most of the 195051 season, and when it finally came to an end the league was already over.

The cup reKubala Vasas mained, however, and Kubala got to work. In seven games, he scored six goals, and helped bring a trophy to Les Corts, Barcelona’s ground at the time. It was a telling intro-

duction.

In his first full season as a Barcelona player, Kubala played 19 games, and scored 26 goals. The Catalan side romped to the league title, but in a show of exceptional dominance also brought all three domestic cups home with them. The cherry on top was winning the Latin Cup, the forerunner to the European Cup. Five trophies, the Hungarian influence was undeniable.

Kubala missed most of the following season with tuberculosis, but was able to return in time for another league and cup double. Daucik was nomadic by nature, and with his impressive CV moved on to Athletic Club, where he won the cup twice, and then a number of other Spanish clubs over the next two decades. But Kubala stayed, and continued building his legend.

More than goals and trophies, Kubala ignited a footballing passion in the people of his adopted city. Thousands of extra fans started turning out to

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Kubala Barca

Outside the impressive spectacle that is the Camp Nou there is a statue. It is dedicated to the player chosen, in 1999, as Barcelona’s greatest of the twentieth century. In full flight, with the ball at his feet, he looks ready to take a shot, one more that would no doubt nestle into the corner of the net. Obvious candidates leap out of the history books for this accolade.

Diego Maradona, Johann Cruyff, Romario, Ronaldo. Some of the greatest players of all time, playing some of the most exciting football the world has ever seen. So it is something of a surprise, then, that the player voted Barca’s greatest, is Laszlo Kubala.

Kubala was one of a golden generation of players. Under different circumstances, he probably would have formed part of the Magical Magyars side that, statistically, is the greatest

of all time. But the postwar politics of Eastern Europe were complicated.

Kubala started his career at Ferencvaros, playing alongside the legendary Sandor Kocsis, but did not agree to the military service that was required of all Hungarian men. He fled to Czechoslovakia, then back to Hungary, before the Soviet Union occupied his country and he made a permanent exit. Agreeing a plan with his wife, he joined a group of refugees headed for Austria, and then made for Italy. Anna would swim across the Danube, with their infant son in tow, and join him later.

In Italy, Kubala initially joined Serie A side Pro Patria, playing a handful of games but impressing fans with his trickery. Becoming a bit of a celebrity, he was invited to join the great Grande Torino side for a testimonial in

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IN FORM TEAMS

AR TARN, BLUES

Last six league matches Desborough Town have a remarkable history since it was formed in 1896 and joined the Northants League which is now known as the United Counties League. It has been a continual member of that combination apart from Season 1945/46 when the club had not been reformed following the break for the second world war.

The club was first affiliated to the Northants Football Association in 1896 with the Secretary being Mr A.L Mobbs the landlord of the Swan Inn which used to stand in Lower Street. The club has always played its home matches at the Waterworks Field and in the early days used to change in the outbuildings at the back of the Swan Inn before marching up the Braybrooke Road to the ground. The second season saw the Formation of Northampton Town and the Cobblers first ever League game was played at the Waterworks Field on 25th September 1897 with Ar Tarn triumphing by two clear goals

It was at this period that Desborough inherited the nicknames that are not forgotten with the passing of time. ‘Ar Tarn’ the local dialect meaning our town has probable survived the longest ‘The Buckets’ is a reference to the adjacent waterworks and was used by the local newspaper’s licensed crank in his reports on the Desborough matches at the time. The most infamous of them all was ‘Dirty Desborough’ which had no reference to the team at all and were remarks made by a visiting medical officer referring to the town’s poor sanitation.

Success on the field came quickly to the Desborough Town team and in season 1900/01 they captured the Northants League title for the very first time. There was a double celebration in the town as the club also captured the Northants Junior Cup beating Northampton Town Reserves in the Final Desborough’s first glory in the F.A Cup came in season 1910/11 when they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round of the competition before losing to Midland League

@GoddyRoversFC

POS TEAM

F

A

GD Pts

1 Wellingborough Town

14

4

10 16 W

W

W

W

W

D

2 Racing Club Warwick

15

5

10 16 W

D

W

W

W

W

3 Aylestone Park

17 10

7

13

L

D

W

W

W

W

4 Daventry Town

17 11

6

13 W

W

W

L

D

W

5 G.N.G Oadby Town

15 11

4

13 W

W

W

W

D

L

6 Easington Sports

13 10

3

10

L

W

W

W

L

D

7 Bugbrooke St.Michaels

9

7

2

9

L

L

W

W

L

W

8 Newport Pagnell Town

14 14

0

9

W

L

L

W

W

L

9 St Neots Town

11 10

1

8

W

W

L

L

D

D

10 March Town United

10 11

-1

8

D

W

L

L

D

W

11 Histon

10 12

-2

7

L

D

W

W

L

L

12 Lutterworth Town

7

12

-5

7

L

W

L

D

L

W

13 Cogenhoe United

7

15

-8

7

L

L

W

L

D

W

14 Eynesbury Rovers

10 15

-5

6

L

L

L

W

W

L

15 Godmanchester Rovers

6

9

-3

4

L

W

L

D

L

L

16 Yaxley

11 15

-4

4

L

L

L

W

L

D

17 Desborough Town

7

17 -10

3

L

L

L

L

W

L

18 Rugby Borough

9

22 -13

3

D

D

L

L

L

D

19 Coventry United

6

10

-4

2

L

L

L

L

D

D

20 Leicester Nirvana

7

13

-6

2

D

D

L

L

L

L

@GoddyRoversFC

< - - - Old New - - - >

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POS Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1 Wellingborough Town 2 Racing Club Warwick 3 March Town United 4 Daventry Town 5 Aylestone Park 6 Newport Pagnell Town 7 St Neots Town 8 Yaxley 9 G.N.G Oadby Town 10 Bugbrooke St.Michaels 11 Lutterworth Town 12 Easington Sports 13 Cogenhoe United 14 Rugby Borough 15 Eynesbury Rovers 16 Godmanchester Rovers 17 Coventry United 18 Histon 19 Desborough Town 20 Leicester Nirvana

19 19 19 20 18 17 18 17 21 18 18 16 18 19 17 18 17 18 19 18

14 14 13 12 12 12 11 9 9 8 7 6 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 1

4 2 2 1 1 0 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3

1 3 4 7 5 5 4 5 9 9 10 7 9 11 11 12 10 11 13 14

29 29 21 19 18 20 18 12 -17 3 -6 3 -14 -17 -16 -18 -9 -16 -24 -35

46 44 41 37 37 36 36 30 30 25 22 21 21 18 16 16 15 15 12 6

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Champions Chesterfield at the Waterworks Field before a crowd of over 2000 spectators. Chesterfield went on to beat Rotherham and Bolton before eventually losing to Chelsea. Desborough’s best run in the competition was reserved for season 1926/27 when they reached the first round proper of the competition and were drawn at home to Doncaster Rovers.

The joy which swept the town was short lived however when the committee decided that the gate would be severely reduced by the fact that Kettering were playing Coventry City in another tie just six miles away and the game was switched to Doncaster’s Belle Vue ground. This proved to be a disastrous decision as many of the towns spectators claimed they had been robbed of the greatest game ever to be staged at the Waterworks Field and deserted the club.

As a result the club soon found itself with financial problems and the glory years of the twenties were not to be repeated. As for the game itself Desborough were drawing with just eight minutes remaining when the match was abandoned through fog and in the midweek replay they went down by three clear goals.

The twenties were certainly the glory years for Desborough Town as they captured trophy after trophy and on only two occasions in 1949 and 1967 have they been able to top the league chart since. However whilst they may not have had so much success on the field the progress behind the scenes has certainly been tremendous. They have purchased the freehold of the ground allowing them a secure future, they have erected the best floodlighting system in the league and more recently have erected a first class social club following the destruction of their original premises through fire in 2009 and in 2014 the club rebuilt the changing facilities. The transfer of the cricket club to a new ground has now seen the club in total control of their premises with full training facilities next to the main pitch.

Table as at 29/112023 - full-time.thefa.com—Premier South

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

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United Counties Football League RECENT RESULTS DATE

HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

18-Nov

Aylestone Park

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Premier South

2-1

18-Nov

Daventry Town

Cogenhoe United

Premier South

3-3

18-Nov

Desborough Town

Rugby Borough

Premier South

5-1

18-Nov

Lutterworth Town

Eynesbury Rovers

Premier South

0-2

18-Nov

Newport Pagnell Town Godmanchester Rovers Premier South

2-0

18-Nov

Racing Club Warwick

Histon

Premier South

2-1

18-Nov

St Neots Town

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier South

2-2

18-Nov

Wellingborough Town

Coventry United

Premier South

1-1

25-Nov

Lutterworth Town

Newport Pagnell Town

Premier South

4-3

25-Nov

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Histon

Premier South

3-0

25-Nov

Cogenhoe United

Leicester Nirvana

Premier South

2-1

25-Nov

Coventry United

Rugby Borough

Premier South

3-3

25-Nov

Eynesbury Rovers

Aylestone Park

Premier South

0-3

25-Nov

G.N.G Oadby Town

Daventry Town

Premier South

2-3

25-Nov

March Town United

Desborough Town

Premier South

1-0

League manager either.

25-Nov

Racing Club Warwick

Godmanchester Rovers Premier South

3-1

The events surrounding Bergara’s time at Doncaster are well documented. A few years after owner Ken Richardson was charged with arson, or attempting to burn down Doncaster’s stadium, and still awaiting his trial, the team was in disarray. Training had become voluntary, because players wages couldn’t be guaranteed. Youth players were filling in for seniors who left for a more secure paycheque.

Heavy defeats were commonplace.

And, behind the scenes, was Bergara.

Doing everything from first team manager to youth team scout. Doncaster were relegated from the Football

25-Nov

Yaxley

St Neots Town

Premier South

2-2

28-Nov

Leicester Nirvana

Aylestone Park

Premier Division

-

Danny Bergara

‘I believe, and I honestly believe, that I am one of the best coaches in this country, and parts of the world anywhere. I’ve been around the world, I’ve got more experience than anybody else.’ If you’re unfamiliar with Danny Bergara, this introduction to the man might come as a shock. It is downright ludicrous, when you realise that this was his belief as he led Doncaster Rovers to the worst season in the history of the Football League, in 1998. But Danny Bergara was a character. A Uruguayan youth international who made England his home, and while the level of confidence was perhaps misplaced, he doesn’t deserve to be remembered as the worst Football

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CUP RESULTS DATE HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

11-Nov Eynesbury Rovers

Walsham Le Willows

Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Rnd

0-4

11-Nov Fakenham Town

Newport Pagnell Town

Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Rnd

2-1

14-Nov Racing Club Warwick

Solihull Moors

Birmingham Senior Cup

2-0

15-Nov Coventry United

Birmingham City

Birmingham Senior Cup

0-4

21-Nov North Leigh

Easington Sports

Oxfordshire Senior Cup

2-1

21-Nov March Town United

Whittlesey Athletic First

Hinchingbrooke Cup

2-1

25-Nov Ashby Ivanhoe

Easington Sports

UCL Cup 2023 - 2024

4-0

28-Nov Desborough Town

Peterborough United U21

Northamp' Hillier Cup

0-2

Northamp' Hillier Cup

1-4

28-Nov Wellingborough Town Peterborough Sports

United Counties Football League Upcoming matches DATE

TIME DAY HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

02-Dec 14:00

Sat Godmanchester Rovers Desborough Town

Premier Division

02-Dec 14:00

Sat Histon FC

Cogenhoe United

Premier Division

02-Dec 14:00

Sat Lutterworth Town

Wellingborough Town Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat Aylestone Park

Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat Daventry Town

Leicester Nirvana

Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat Easington Sports

Newport Pagnell Town Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat G.N.G Oadby Town

Coventry United

02-Dec 15:00

Sat Rugby Borough

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat St Neots Town

March Town United

Premier Division

02-Dec 15:00

Sat Yaxley FC

Eynesbury Rovers

Premier Division

09-Dec 14:00

Sat Cogenhoe United

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier Division

09-Dec 14:00

Sat Histon FC

Lutterworth Town

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Aylestone Park

Daventry Town

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Coventry United

Leicester Nirvana

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Desborough Town

St Neots Town

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Eynesbury Rovers

Rugby Borough

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Godmanchester Rovers Easington Sports

Premier Division

09-Dec 15:00

Sat March Town United

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Newport Pagnell Town Yaxley FC

09-Dec 15:00

Sat Racing Club Warwick

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Premier Division

16-Dec 14:00

Sat Lutterworth Town

Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

Wellingborough Town Premier Division Premier Division Premier Division

CUP MATCHES DATE

TIME DAY HOME TEAM

28-Nov 19:45 Tue Desborough Town

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

Peterborough United U21 Northamp’Hillier Cup

28-Nov 19:45 Tue Wellingborough Town Peterborough Sports

Northamp’Hillier Cup

05-Dec 19:45 Tue Histon FC

March Town United

Cambs’Invitation Cup

12-Dec 19:45 Tue Biggleswade United

Yaxley FC

Hinchingbrooke Cup

20-Dec 19:45 Wed G.N.G Oadby Town

Loughborough Students

Leicester & Rutland Cup

23-Jan 19:45 Tue Eynesbury Rovers

St Ives Town

Hunts Senior Cup

23-Jan 19:45 Tue St Neots Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Hunts Senior Cup

18

11

League, with the worst record in its history.

But, long before Bergara turned up at Belle Vue, he was a star in Spain. He had started his career at 16 with local Montevideo side Racing Club, and earned himself a few youth call ups before Real Mallorca took notice.

They took the then 20 year old to Spain, where he looked good. He scored nearly a hundred goals in the Iberian peninsula, across spells at Mallorca, Sevilla and Tenerife. Barcelona even came sniffing around, more than once, but nothing ever came of the interest. In 1972, with his goalscoring, and his legs, slowing, he retired. He moved with his English wife to St. Albans, but he couldn’t keep himself out of the game for long.

Bergara was an amiable personality in the local area, and made friends with, among others, Paddy Sowden, who happened to be chief scout at Luton Town. After being shown some newspaper clippings of Bergara’s time in Spain, he approached the Uruguayan first as a player, and when he was turned down, as a coach. Bergara took charge of the youth side.

He was ahead of his time, in many ways, in the 1970s. Sessions focused heavily on technical quality, and the different style saw first team players coming to watch, to see what they could learn from the Uruguayan. It was no surprise that his services became so in demand. First, he moved to Sheffield United to help with their youngsters, in 1978, before he earned

another international call-up in 1980.

This time it was from Ron Greenwood, and Bergara was brought into the England youth setup. He was described as a ‘revelation’ by similarly pioneering Technical Director Charles Hughes, and oversaw the development of the likes of Danny Wallance and Neil Webb. With so many accolades, one would have thought a managerial role was in the near future, but instead Bergara found himself unemployed by 1983, a victim of Sheffield United’s relegation to the fourth tier. His nationality was widely regarded as significant.

In fact, it took until 1988 for Bergara to finally get a top job, via stints in Brunei and at Middlesbrough. Taking up the reins at Rochdale, he became the first foreign-speaking coach in the Football League, a real pioneer given the prevalence of foreign coaches today. He didn’t hang around long though, moving to close rivals Stockport a few months later. Finally, Danny Bergara was somewhere he could show off his talents.

In his first season at Edgeley Park, with the season coming to a close, he was able to stave off relegation out of the Football League. But that summer, with a full pre-season of his ideas behind them things started to change.

Bergara’s side played exciting, continental football, and reached the playoffs where they lost to Chesterfield. Confidence was never a problem for Bergara though, and it rubbed off on his team. The following season, they finished second, losing the title

by a single point. They made the playoffs in the third tier, at the first time of asking. He also became the first overseas manager to lead an English side at Wembley, losing in both the playoffs and the Football League trophy. Wembley would prove to be an unhappy place for Bergara, losing finals over the next couple of years and unable to put the seal on a remarkable rise at Stockport.

12

17DATE

DAY TIME

HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

08-Nov Wed 19:45 Whittlesey Athletic First Godmanchester Rovers Hinchingbrooke Cup

4-3

11-Nov

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Lutterworth Town

0-0 D

18-Nov

Sat 15:00 Newport Pagnell Town Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

2-0

L

25-Nov

Sat 15:00 Racing Club Warwick

3-1

L

02-Dec

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Desborough Town

Premier Division

-

09-Dec

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Easington Sports

Premier Division

-

16-Dec

Sat 15:00 St Neots Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

23-Dec

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

Premier Division

-

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

26-Dec

Tue 13:00 Histon FC

In 1995, he parted company with the club after falling out with the chairman (there were reports of him throwing a punch), and took charge at Rotherham, before finding another home at the ailing Doncaster Rovers.

In later years, he scouted for Sunderland.

30-Dec

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Eynesbury Rovers

Premier Division

-

06-Jan

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Yaxley FC

Premier Division

-

13-Jan

Sat 15:00 Aylestone Park

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

20-Jan

Sat 14:00 Rugby Borough

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

23-Jan

Tue 19:45 St Neots Town

Godmanchester Rovers Hunts Senior Cup

-

27-Jan

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Newport Pagnell Town Premier Division

-

10-Feb

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier Division

-

When he passed away in 2007, Stockport arranged a ‘Danny Day’ friendly against Cardiff City. In 2012, they announced the naming of one stand after him, and still fly the Uruguayan flag at every home match.

17-Feb

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers Wellingborough Town

Premier Division

-

02-Mar

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Daventry Town

Premier Division

-

16-Mar

Sat 15:00 Leicester Nirvana

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

Enjoy the game.

23-Mar

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Leicester Nirvana

Martyn Green The Untold Game

30-Mar

Sat 15:00 Coventry United

Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or online, @TheUntoldGame

01-Apr Mon 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Histon FC

Bergara player

Premier Division

-

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

Premier Division

-

06-Apr

Sat 15:00 Bugbrooke St.Michaels Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

13-Apr

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Cogenhoe United

-

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

Premier Division

L

ROVERS FIXTURES & RESULTS

16

13

DATE DAY TIME HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

29-Jul Sat 15:00 G.N.G Oadby Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier South

1-5 W

01-Aug Tue 19:45 Godmanchester Rovers

St Neots Town

Premier Division

1-3

L

05-Aug Sat 15:00 Lakenheath

Godmanchester Rovers FA Cup Extra Prelim

2-2

D

Hunts Senior Challenge Cup

L

08-Aug Tue 19:45 Godmanchester Rovers Lakenheath

FA Cup Replay

3-5

12-Aug Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Rugby Borough

Premier Division

3-0 W

Winners 2014/15 (Rovers 3 Yaxley 0) Winners 2018/19 (Rovers 6 - St Neots Town 0)

15-Aug Tue 19:45 Yaxley FC

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

2-0

L

Hunts Junior Cup

26-Aug Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Wisbech Town

FA Vase 1st Rnd Qual 0 - 3

L

Winners 1929/30 - Winners 1988/89

28-Aug Mon 15:00 March Town United

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

5-0

L

Hinchingbrooke Cup

02-Sep Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Coventry United

Premier Division

0-2

L

Winners 2018/2019 (Rovers 2 - Pinchbeck Unites 2 [4-2 Penalties])

09-Sep Sat 15:00 Rugby Borough

Godmanchester Rovers UCL Cup

3-0

L

Winners 2022/2023 (Rovers 1 Stotfold 0 )

16-Sep Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Aylestone Park

Premier Division

4-3 W

Mayors Cup

19-Sep Tue 19:45 Eynesbury Rovers

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

2-0

L

Winners 2019/2020 (Huntingdon Town 0 - Rovers 4)

26-Sep Tue 19:45 Wellingborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

3-0

L

Eastern Counties Premier Division Highest Position

30-Sep Sat 15:00 Easington Sports

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

5-0

L

07-Oct Sat 15:00 Daventry Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

1-2 W

10-Oct Tue 19:45 Godmanchester Rovers

March Town United

Premier Division

0-3

L

14-Oct Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Premier Division

1-3

L

21-Oct Sat 15:00 Desborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

0-4 W

28-Oct Sat 15:00 Cogenhoe United

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

1-0

31-Oct Tue 19:45 Yaxley FC

Godmanchester Rovers Hunts Senior Cup

0-3 W

04-Nov Sat 15:00 Leicester Nirvana

Godmanchester Rovers

P-P

Premier Division

L

Premier Division Runners Up 2014/15 Eastern Counties Division One Highest Position Division One Champions 2011/12

Eastern Counties Premier Division League Cup Winners 2013/14 Eastern Counties Division One Knockout Cup Winners 2011/12 Cambridgeshire League

League Cup Winners 1994/5, 1995/6, 1996/97 Furthest FA Cup Round First Qualifying Round 2009/10 Furthest FA Vase Round Fourth Round 2018/2019

Highest Recorded Cup Attendance 252 vs Sporting Khalsa, FA Vase Fourth round, 5 January 2019 Highest Recorded League Attendance

170 vs Thetford Town (Saturday 18th April 2012) @GoddyRoversFC

DESBOROUGH TOWN F.C.

GODMANCHESTER ROVERS Manager: Dan Gleeson Assistant Gary Marheineke Fitness Coach: Errol Mcgammon Head Coach: Paul France Physio Mark Swan Kit Man: Richard Cosbey

Referee - Oliver Hollyoak Assistant Referee - Neil Arthur Assistant Referee - Aaron Revell

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

2021-2022 Godmanchester Rovers

Desborough Town

Premier South

1-1

D

Alfie-Ray Turner

2021-2022 Desborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier South

0-2

W

Ruari O’Boyle

2022-2023 Godmanchester Rovers

Desborough Town

Premier South

1-1

D

Owen Wallis

2022-2023 Desborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier South

2-0

L

2023-2024 Desborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

0-4

W

Ben Newton (GK) Charlie Nicolson (GK)

Ryan Henry Ben Arnold Matt Green (CAPTIAN)

SEASON

HOME TEAM

Tom Spark Lewis Lembikisa Sam Tagg Dom Butkus Sammy Fisher-Diaz

Ben Tait Hashim Bakar Linus Kusi

Luke Lindsay Louis Aftersmith AJ Myles Jessie Manu

@GoddyRoversFc

@desboroughfc

Manager: Neil Healey Assistant Manager: John Sturgess Physio: Carl Mallett

Adam Honour Jamie Pickford Oliver Anderson Brady Stratford Aaron Davies Adam Randall Rico Duggan Dom Ledgeway Kai Magee Filip Kulinowski Jeremiah Adams Liam Boath David Peplinski Tarafi Passley Ben Stokes Faruq Usman