GODMANCHESTER V NEWPORT PAGNELL

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THE DAVID WILSON HOMES GROUND 2023- 2024 SEASON

£2.00

SATURDAY 27th JANUARY 2024- Kick Off 14:00

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

@GoddyRoversFC

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Manager

Good Afternoon, please give a warm welcome to today’s visitors, Newport Pagnell 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!

@GoddyRoversFC

WHO’S WHO?

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Role

Staff Member

Life President

Keith Gabb & Karly Hurst

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

Gate Steward

Eloise France

Match Day Hospitality

Vacant

Child Welfare Officer

Richard Cosbey

Pitch Booking Manager

Richard Cosbey

First Team

Head Coach

Dan Gleeson

Assistant Coach

Gary Marheineke

Fitness Coach

Errol McGammon

Head Coach

Paul France

Kit Man

Richard Cosbey

Physio

Mark Swan

Reserves

Manager

Anthony Tagg

Assistant Manager

Tim Britt

Under 18's

Manager

Dave Stevens

Assistant Manager

Luke Claxton

Head Coach

Steve Smith

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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).

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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THE SWANS

From a few young people forming a team in 1963 because they wanted a regular game of football to winning the final of the FA Vase at Wembley in 2022, it has been an eventful and exciting journey!

Newport Pagnell Town Football Club was founded in 1963 as Newport Pagnell Wanderers, playing on Bury Field Common.

In 1964 they entered the North Bucks League and won Division 3 in their first season. Soon after that they won Division 2 and Division 1 in consecutive years. In the 1971-72 season they joined the South Midlands League, initially playing at the Youth Club.

In November 1971 the club moved to the new facilities at the Willen Road Sports Ground and changed its name to Newport Pagnell Town.

In the 1973-74 season Newport Pagnell Town joined Division 2 of

the United Counties League. Two years later they were promoted to Division 1. They won the Division 1 Championship in 1981-82 and were promoted to the Premier Division.

They were relegated in 1985-86, promoted back to the Premier Division in 1991-92 and then relegated again in 1996-97. The club won the Division 1 Championship in 2001-02 and remained in the Premier Division after that. They also won the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Trophy in 2001-02.

The best FA Cup achievement was reaching the Second Qualifying Round in 2008-09. In 2009-10 and in 2010-11 the club won the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy.

In 2016-17 the club reached the last 8 of the FA Vase before losing to a strong South Shields team (the eventual winners of the competition) on Tyneside. In recognition of this the club was presented with a Town Award by Newport Pagnell Town Council and

@GoddyRoversFC

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received the Team of the Year award in the Milton Keynes Sports Achiever of the Year awards.

For 2019-20 the FA moved the club into the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, but it was moved back into the United Counties League for 202122, finishing fifth in Premier Division South.

The highlight of 2021-22 was the major achievement of winning the Buildbase FA Vase. After a club record crowd of almost 1900 had watched the exciting semi-final victory over Hamworthy United at Willen

Road, there were 7000 Newport Pagnell Town supporters at Wembley to see their impressive 3-0 win over Littlehampton Town in the final.

In addition to its senior teams the club now has around 30 youth teams, including girls’ teams. Youth successes in 2021-22 included winning the Berks & Bucks U15 county cup and the U18 League and League Cup double in the Milton Keynes & District Development League.

The club have now been awarded 3 Star Accreditation from the FA.

DATE HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

29-Jul March Town United

Newport Pagnell Town Premier South

01-Aug Newport Pagnell Town Wellingborough Town

05-Aug AFC Dunstable

COMPETITION Premier South

Newport Pagnell Town FA Cup Extra Prelim

RESULT 1-0

L

2-0

W

2-1

L

12-Aug Newport Pagnell Town Lutterworth Town

Premier South

2-1

W

15-Aug Newport Pagnell Town Easington Sports

Premier South

2-0

W

19-Aug Newport Pagnell Town Eynesbury Rovers

Premier South

3-2

W

26-Aug G.N.G Oadby Town

Newport Pagnell Town Premier South

0-6

W

28-Aug St Neots Town

Newport Pagnell Town Premier South

0-3

W

02-Sep Histon

Newport Pagnell Town Premier South

1-5

W

2-1

W

12-Sep Newport Pagnell Town Milton Keynes Irish First Berks & Bucks Senior Cup

1-3

L

16-Sep Newport Pagnell Town Leicester Nirvana

3-0

W

09-Sep Newport Pagnell Town Sandiacre Town

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

Cup_2023 - 2024 Premier South

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The United Counties League (also known after its sponsor as the Uhlsport United Counties League) is an English football league covering an area including the English counties of northern Bedfordshire, northern Buckinghamshire, most of Cambridgeshire, southern Derbyshire, southern Leicestershire, most of Lincolnshire, western Norfolk, Northamptonshire, southern Nottinghamshire, northern Oxfordshire, Rutland, eastern Staffordshire, eastern Warwickshire and eastern West Midlands. It has a total of five divisions, three for first teams and two for reserve teams, but the reserves' divisions were merged into a single division for the 2013–14 season and remains so at present.

Clubs in the Premier Divisions are eligible to enter the FA Cup in the preliminary round stages. The clubs in the league are eligible for the FA Vase, and there are knockout cups for the Premier/Division One clubs and for the Reserve Divisions clubs.

The United Counties League was formed in 1895 as the Northamptonshire Junior League, dropping the 'Junior' one year later. It took its current name in 1934 as teams from other counties had long since been a part of the league. Over the years the UCL has 'united' teams from Northamptonshire, Rutland and Bedfordshire with those from parts of Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and even Norfolk. Northampton Town joined the league in 1897 and became champions in their second season before moving up to the Southern League. They would become the league's first former member to reach the Football League in 1920.

In 1900 Bedford Queens became the first club from outside the county to join the league.

The Football Association announced on 12 April 2021 that United Counties League would administer a new Step 5 division since the 2021–22 season after the scheduled National League System restructure had a one-season postponement due to the COVID19 pandemic in England.

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Hunts Senior Challenge Cup Winners 2014/15 (Rovers 3 Yaxley 0) Winners 2018/19 (Rovers 6 - St Neots Town 0) Hunts Junior Cup Winners 1929/30 - Winners 1988/89 Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners 2018/2019 (Rovers 2 - Pinchbeck Unites 2 [4-2 Penalties]) Winners 2022/2023 (Rovers 1 Stotfold 0 ) Mayors Cup Winners 2019/2020 (Huntingdon Town 0 - Rovers 4) Eastern Counties Premier Division Highest Position

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)

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Manchester United are (notwithstanding their recent difficulties) one of the most successful football clubs in Europe, and one of the biggest sporting brands in the world. When the story of their success is written, certain obvious names leap off of the page. Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes.

This list goes on and on. But before all of them, and the man without whom Manchester United simply wouldn’t be what they are today, was an Italian immigrant who snuck in to watch Newton Heath. It was the beginning of a lifelong relationship.

Louis Rocca, born in 1882, was promised a beating for sneaking under the fence at his local football club, but instead was given the task of making tea for the players at half time. He dutifully and enthusiastically accepted his new position, and before long was also given the job of firstteam kitman, a coveted position that made him the envy of older children in the area. Before the end of the nineteenth century, he was the club’s first ever groundsman, but things were not rosy at Newton Heath.

By 1902 the club had racked up considerable debts and needed to raise funds to stay in existence.

Rocca and other volunteers toured Louis Rocca

around the city for four days soliciting donations, notably taking a dog with them with a moneybox strapped to its back. It was this dog who would ultimately save the club when he escaped, setting up a fortuitous meeting with John Henry Davies, who would step in and buy the club.

His vision for the team was grand, much grander than the small confines of Newton Heath. He proposed a name change, and while Manchester Celtic was considered, Rocca, just 19 at the time, is said (mostly by himself) to have suggested the name United. It stuck, and the club we know today was born.

Five years later, Rocca made the move that would shape the soul of the club, rather than just the name above the door.

He was appointed as Chief Scout, and created an extensive and inexpensive scouting network throughout Manchester, enlisting the help of priests and schoolteachers and other volunteers to report back to him any exciting youngsters found in school and youth teams. He also had the local newspapers from each Saturday night brought to him every week, and poured through the local match reports. Any name that cropped up repeatedly, he would go to watch in person. If they impressed him, he would invite the to join Manchester United. The new system, along with Davies’ investment, led United to their first major trophies, the First Division title in 1908 and 1911, with the FA Cup in 1909.

Rocca dreamed of a team made up of local players, who represented the people on the terraces. A couple of decades of building followed before, in the early 1930s, United were bought out of more financial difficulty by James Gibson. The

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1948 FA Cup Final side new owner shared Rocca’s dream, and allowed him (and new addition Walter Crickmer) to set up the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club, what would now be understood as an academy. The system was a great success in finding and developing local players, but war in 1939 limited how the system translated into the senior team. It wasn’t until after the war that the fruits of Rocca’s labour could really be seen.

As the war concluded, Man United needed a new manager, and Gibson and Rocca thought they knew just the man. They had to act quickly though, as he had been offered a position in Liverpool’s staff. Rocca reached out to one of his old friends quite cryptically, not wanting Liverpool to intercept the letter, and invited him to Old Trafford. That friend was Matt Busby. Busby hired Jimmy Murphy as his assistant, and Rocca watched as his friend led a team – full of the Junior Athletic Club’s protégés – to the 1948 FA Cup. Rocca passed away in 1950, unable to see the fruits of his work in all their glory as

first the Busby Babes, and later Busby’s rebuilt side after the Munich Disaster, changed the face of English football forever. But make no mistake, those sides, and the legacy of Manchester United, could not have existed without the Italian. As Matt Busby wrote some four decades after Rocca’s death, “he was a tremendous help to me in every way.”

Enjoy the game.

Martyn Green, The Untold Game

Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media, @TheUntoldGame

Rocca's Brigade

GODMANCHESTER ROVERS Manager: Assistant Paul France Fitness Coach: Errol Mcgammon Head Coach: Alex Thomas Physio Mark Swan & Su Medlock Goalkeeping Coach: Ben Dunmore Ben Newton (GK) Charlie Nicolson (GK) Alfie-Ray Turner Ruari O’Boyle Owen Wallis Ryan Henry Ben Arnold

SEASON

HOME TEAM

AWAY T

2011-2012 Newport Pagnell Town

Godman

2018-2019 Godmanchester Rovers Newpor

2021-2022 Godmanchester Rovers Newpor 2021-2022 Newport Pagnell Town

2022-2023 Godmanchester Rovers Newpor 2022-2023 Newport Pagnell Town

Matt Green (CAPTIAN) 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

Godman

@GoddyRoversFc

Godman

NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN F.C. Referee - Andrew Halladay Assistant Referee - Stewart Horn Assistant Referee - Jacob Nunn

TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

nchester Rovers FA Vase

3-1

L

rt Pagnell Town

FA Cup

2-0

W

rt Pagnell Town

Premier South

0-3

L

nchester Rovers Premier South

4-1

L

rt Pagnell Town

Premier South

1-4

L

nchester Rovers Premier South

5-0

L

@nptfc

Manager: Arron Parkinson Assistants: Matt Finlay Coach: Jim Scott Goalkeeping Coach: George Mcllelen Physio: Bianca Hewer

James Martin Adam Pryke Josh Swan Christian Smail Jarvis Wilson Jack Ashton Kieren Barnes Ben Shepherd Jack Bowen Nat Gosnal-Tyler Ben Ford Dan Willett Joel Nketia Kyal McNulty Lewis Taylor Lucas Bailey Luke Emery Dan Walker Louis Patching Bleu Mcneil

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Dan Gleeson – Manager Dan has re-joined us and this time steps into the number 1 seat, Dan is an ex-pro with Luton Town & Cambridge United who brings a lot of experience with him to the club. Dan will work well with the young squad we have for this season and has built a good back-room staff to join him.

Gary Marheineke - Assistant Manager Gary is a pro-A licence coach who works for the local FA, brings lots of coaching talent to the training ground and to the pitch on match day, one of the most liked people in non-league football and has some England caps to his name as England's number 1 between the sticks. Gary is a great person to have in and around the club.

Paul France – Assistant Mr Calm in the dug-out passionate as anybody about Godmanchester Rovers Fc, Paul is constantly looking for ways in which he can support the progress of the club, on and off the field. Very popular in the dressing room, the place wouldn’t be the same without him.

Errol McGammon - Fitness Coach Errol is the beast of the engine room within the dressing room, combining his understanding of sports fitness with his understanding of the game. Errol has been around the non-league game for years and brings a wealth of knowledge to the coaching team.

Richard Cosbey – Kit Man Rich is exactly the sort of person who makes a non-league club run. If there is a job that Rich hasn’t done, we are yet to find it (and if we do, he will no doubt have a go). A top bloke and someone you want fighting for you not against you! Will not be in the dug-out next season as he steps up to his new role within the club.

Ben Newton (GK) New to Godmanchester this season after we have tried a couple of people to fill this number 1 spot, Ben is just what we have been looking for and we wish we have found him sooner. Ben has immediately showed his quality. we wish Ben all the best for the season and look forwarded to working with over the coming seasons.

Charlie Nicolson (GK) Charlie joins us from our U18 squad, he has already stepped in and played 90 mins for the first team at only the age of 16 years old. Charlie has been part of our youth set up since he was 13 years old and has worked his way through to our U18 squad, Reserves squad and now steps up as the backup keeper to Ben. Alfie-Ray Turner Alfie was part of our youth set up and at only 16 years old is a full-time member of the first team squad this season, he is young fearless and a rock of a de-

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fender for someone of his age. Alfie is keen to learn more and is always the first on the training ground and taking information in.

Ruari O'Boyle Rauri joined us in October from Coventry United, Ruari is a solid left back and a key member to our squad for this season. Ruari is calm on the ball and has a wicked left peg and places a lovely cross from set pieces and corners, we wish Ruari a warm welcome and hope we see him here for a long time.

Tom Spark Another who played in a variety of positions last season but will be aiming to make a central role his own for the coming season. Sparky has great quality in possession and an ability to glide past players at speed. Will be looking to add more goals and assists to his game.

Owen Wallis Owen joins us from Sweden in October and after taking 9 weeks for international clearance is was a pleasure to see him grace the field, hardworking centre back who can play some lovely football, won't shy away from a challenge and is a real leader on the pitch. We look forward to having Owen with us for a long time and become a legend of Godmanchester.

Ryan Henry Very talented young attacking centre midfielder can play out wide also if

needed, Ryan has come from the Royston Town U18 set up last season and has made the jump up into senior football for this season. Ryan is a great lad to have in the squad and is still learning his trade but will be one to watch in the future.

Ben Arnold Ben has joined us from just up the A1 and Yaxley Fc, Ben can play either centre back or holding midfield and is a very talented footballer, Ben does not mind a tackle and likes to get stuck in.

He is a great talker throughout the game and is great to support the young guns of the squad.

Matt Green (Captain) Matt is the most experienced player in our squad this season and is the club captain, Matt is a solid player and can play centre back or holding midfield.

Matt is very good with the younger ones and is a real leader on and off the pitch. we look forward to seeing Matt lead our team this season and many more to come.

Ben Tait we chased and chased for Ben's signature last season, but he was loyal to his previous club Ely City Fc (which is good, great guy) Ben is a young centre attacking midfielder who has a great engine to get around the pitch. Ben is a key member of this squad, and he is a very talented young guy. His quick feet and the drop of the shoulder leaves most

Delivering quality Homes

players on the pitch for dust. Ben oversees the tunes for the dressing room.

Sammy Fisher-Diaz Another signed for this season who can play left full back, young and pacey who likes to get forward when he can, Sammy is keen to learn and always first to training and last to leave. Showed a great attitude during preseason, takes responsibility defensively and comfortable in possession.

Sam Tagg Another signed from this seasons U18's, young centre midfielder who impressed in pre-season and has been called up to the senior squad, has a great left foot.

Lewis Lembikisa Lewis joined us this season after spending pre-season with higher level St Ives Town Fc, Lewis is a great left back / left wing back. Lewis has impressed the management team since he has been with us and has a rapid turn of pace when he wants to use it.

Dom Butkus Dom joined us from Newmarket Town in pre-season where he had been playing in their U18 set up, Dom is a young striker who is keen to learn his trade. Dom works very had in training and in matches and fits well into this young squad for this season.

Luke Lindsay

Luke is a big strong centre forward 18 who re-joins us after spending a couple of seasons away at Histon Fc. Luke is big and powerful who can hold the ball up well and wins 99% of his headers. we are very pleased to have Luke back at Godmanchester Rovers Fc. Hashim Bakar Hashim is new to the squad for this season and is a striker who can play anywhere across the front three, Hashim is very quiet and keeps himself to himself but out on the pitch he comes alive. Hashim is strong and powerful and likes to run at the defence line of any squad he is facing.

Louis Aftersmith Louis is from our last season U16 and now in our U18 set up, he is a young strong centre back and has already had 5 run outs in the first team squad.

Louis will only get better and better while training and playing with the senior squad. We are super proud to have brought so many of the U18's into the senior side.

Jessie Manu Jessie is another young gun from our U18 set up. Jessie is a striker who likes to get in and around the defence of any team we are playing against. Jessie is learning every time he steps onto the pitch and is becoming a key member of the senior squad.

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ROVERS FIXTURES & RESULTS

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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 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

15-Aug Tue 19:45 Yaxley FC

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

2-0

L

26-Aug Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers Wisbech Town

FA Vase 1st Rnd Qual 0 - 3

L

28-Aug Mon 15:00 March Town United

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

5-0

L

02-Sep Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Coventry United

Premier Division

0-2

L

09-Sep Sat 15:00 Rugby Borough

Godmanchester Rovers UCL Cup

3-0

L

16-Sep Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Aylestone Park

Premier Division

4-3 W

19-Sep Tue 19:45 Eynesbury Rovers

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

2-0

L

26-Sep Tue 19:45 Wellingborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier Division

3-0

L

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

L

0-3 W

DATE 21

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

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

3-1

L

16-Dec

Sat 15:00 St Neots Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

4-1

L

26-Dec

Tue 13:00 Histon FC

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

2-1

L

30-Dec

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Eynesbury Rovers

1-1 D

13-Jan

Sat 15:00 Aylestone Park

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

5-1

L

20-Jan

Sat 14:00 Rugby Borough

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

3-0

L

23-Jan

Tue 19:45 St Neots Town

Godmanchester Rovers Hunts Senior Cup

3-0

L

Premier Division

Premier Division

27-Jan

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Newport Pagnell Town Premier Division

-

03-Feb

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Easington Sports

Premier Division

-

10-Feb

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier Division

-

17-Feb

Sat 14:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Wellingborough Town

Premier Division

-

24-Feb

Sat 14:00 Lutterworth Town

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

27-Feb

Tue 19:45 Godmanchester Rovers

Yaxley FC

Premier Division

-

02-Mar

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Daventry Town

Premier Division

-

09-Mar

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

-

16-Mar

Sat 15:00 Leicester Nirvana

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

23-Mar

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Leicester Nirvana

Premier Division

-

30-Mar

Sat 15:00 Coventry United

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

01-Apr Mon 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Histon FC

Premier Division

-

06-Apr

Sat 15:00 Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Godmanchester Rovers Premier Division

-

13-Apr

Sat 15:00 Godmanchester Rovers

Cogenhoe United

-

Premier Division

L

United Counties Football League RECENT RESULTS DATE

HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

Wellingborough Town

Premier South

1-1

30-Dec Godmanchester Rovers Eynesbury Rovers

Premier South

1-1

30-Dec Rugby Borough

Lutterworth Town

Premier South

4-0

30-Dec Aylestone Park

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier South

3-1

30-Dec Coventry United

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Premier South

2-2

30-Dec Desborough Town

March Town United

Premier South

1-2

30-Dec St Neots Town

Histon

Premier South

3-2

30-Dec Yaxley

Newport Pagnell Town

Premier South

1-3

06-Jan Coventry United

Newport Pagnell Town

Premier South

3-2

06-Jan Daventry Town

Wellingborough Town

Premier South

0-5

06-Jan Desborough Town

Easington Sports

Premier South

1-1

06-Jan G.N.G Oadby Town

Histon

Premier South

0-0

06-Jan Lutterworth Town

Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Premier South

4-2

06-Jan Racing Club Warwick

Eynesbury Rovers

Premier South

4-1

06-Jan Rugby Borough

March Town United

Premier South

4-2

06-Jan St Neots Town

Leicester Nirvana

Premier South

3-0

13-Jan Cogenhoe United

Rugby Borough

Premier South

2-1

13-Jan Histon

Racing Club Warwick

Premier South

1-1

13-Jan Lutterworth Town

Yaxley

Premier South

4-1

13-Jan Aylestone Park

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier South

5-1

13-Jan Bugbrooke St.Michaels Leicester Nirvana

Premier South

3-0

13-Jan Coventry United

St Neots Town

Premier South

0-6

13-Jan Easington Sports

Desborough Town

Premier South

0-0

13-Jan Eynesbury Rovers

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier South

1-2

13-Jan March Town United

Daventry Town

Premier South

5-3

13-Jan Wellingborough Town Newport Pagnell Town

Premier South

3-1

20-Jan Rugby Borough

Godmanchester Rovers

Premier South

3-0

20-Jan Coventry United

Eynesbury Rovers

Premier South

4-2

20-Jan Racing Club Warwick

Yaxley

Premier South

3-1

30-Dec Cogenhoe United

@GoddyRoversFC

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United Counties Football League Upcoming matches

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DATE

TIME DAY HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

27-Jan

14:00 Sat Cogenhoe United

Desborough Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

14:00 Sat Godmanchester Rovers

Newport Pagnell Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

14:00 Sat Histon FC

Daventry Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Aylestone Park

St Neots Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Rugby Borough

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Eynesbury Rovers

Coventry United

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat March Town United

Leicester Nirvana

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Racing Club Warwick

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Wellingborough Town

Lutterworth Town

Premier Division

27-Jan

15:00 Sat Yaxley FC

Easington Sports

Premier Division

31-Jan

19:30 Wed Easington Sports

Daventry Town

Premier Division

03-Feb

14:00 Sat Cogenhoe United

St Neots Town

Premier Division

03-Feb

14:00 Sat Lutterworth Town

Histon FC

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat Bugbrooke St.Michaels

Eynesbury Rovers

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat Coventry United

Yaxley FC

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat Daventry Town

Leicester Nirvana

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat G.N.G Oadby Town

Aylestone Park

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat Godmanchester Rovers

Easington Sports

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat March Town United

Wellingborough Town

Premier Division

03-Feb

15:00 Sat Newport Pagnell Town

Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

10-Feb

14:00 Sat Godmanchester Rovers

G.N.G Oadby Town

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Aylestone Park

Wellingborough Town

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Bugbrooke St.Michaels

March Town United

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Coventry United

Histon FC

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Daventry Town

St Neots Town

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Desborough Town

Racing Club Warwick

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Eynesbury Rovers

Cogenhoe United

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Leicester Nirvana

Newport Pagnell Town

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Lutterworth Town

Easington Sports

Premier Division

10-Feb

15:00 Sat Yaxley FC

Rugby Borough

Premier Division

godmanchesterroversfc.co.uk

24

POS Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1 Racing Club Warwick

26

19

3

4

40

60

2 Wellingborough Town

25

18

5

2

37

59

3 St Neots Town

24

16

4

4

32

52

4 March Town United

25

16

4

5

23

52

5 Aylestone Park

24

16

3

5

28

51

6 Newport Pagnell Town

24

16

0

8

21

48

7 Daventry Town

25

14

1

10

13

43

8 G.N.G Oadby Town

27

12

5

10

-16

41

9 Yaxley

24

10

4

10

6

34

10 Bugbrooke St.Michaels

26

10

3

13

-6

33

11 Cogenhoe United

23

9

4

10

-12

31

12 Lutterworth Town

24

9

2

13

-7

29

13 Coventry United

26

8

5

13

-8

29

14 Rugby Borough

27

8

5

14

-11

29

15 Easington Sports

22

7

5

10

2

26

16 Histon

24

6

6

12

-14

24

17 Godmanchester Rovers

23

5

2

16

-29

17

18 Eynesbury Rovers

25

5

3

17

-30

17

19 Desborough Town 20 Leicester Nirvana

25 23

3 2

5 5

17 16

-30 -39

14 11

Table as at 25/01/2024 - full-time.thefa.com—Premier South

IN FORM TEAMS Last six league matches POS TEAM

F

A

GD Pts

< —- OLD

1 St Neots Town

17

3

14

16

W

W

D

W

W

W

2 Racing Club Warwick

21

8

13

16

W

W

W

W

D

W

3 Aylestone Park

15

5

10

14

W

W

D

D

W

W

4 Wellingborough Town

13

5

8

13

W

L

W

D

W

W

5 Cogenhoe United

11

8

3

13

W

W

W

L

D

W

6 March Town United

13

11

2

11

D

D

W

W

L

W

7 G.N.G Oadby Town

10

9

1

11

W

D

W

L

D

W

8 Coventry United

14

15

-1

10

W

L

D

W

L

W

9 Rugby Borough

15

9

6

9

L

L

W

W

L

W

10 Histon

9

7

2

9

D

W

W

L

D

D

11 Newport Pagnell Town

11

12

-1

9

W

L

W

W

L

L

12 Daventry Town

12

17

-5

9

W

L

W

W

L

L

13 Lutterworth Town

10

11

-1

7

L

L

D

L

W

W

14 Bugbrooke St.Michaels

11

14

-3

7

L

W

L

D

L

W

15 Easington Sports

6

7

-1

5

L

L

L

W

D

D

16 Leicester Nirvana

9

16

-7

5

L

D

W

D

L

L

17 Desborough Town

2

8

-6

2

L

L

L

L

D

D

18 Eynesbury Rovers

7

14

-7

2

L

D

D

L

L

L

19 Yaxley

6

16 -10

1

L

D

L

L

L

L

20 Godmanchester Rovers 5

18 -13

1

L

L

L

D

L

L

@GoddyRoversFC

NEW —->

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27

Most people are aware of the Catenaccio. Helenio Herrera’s creation, an exceptional defensive system, came to dominate European football in the 1960s, and defined Italian football for half a century.

But, as with all great ideas, Herrera was building on what came before. While everyone from World Cup winners Brazil to the Hungarian Golden Team - statistically the greatest team to have ever played the game - were trying to find a way to score more goals, Karl Rappan was working out a way to prevent them.

The Austian’s impact on the game can still be felt, nearly ninety years after he invented the Verrou.

Rappan was born in Vienna in 1905, and given an impeccable football upbringing.

A promising forward, he initially signed for Wacker Vienna in 1924, where he stayed for four years, before joining Autria Wien. The team, still implementing the principles laid down by the legendary Hugo Meisl, was a perfect breeding ground for tactical innovation.

When Rappan was called up to the national side, managed by Meisl himself, Karl Rappan (1969)

that footballing brain just grew bigger. In 1930, he crossed the Alps into Switzerland, to take the reins as player-manager at Servette. As Meisl had done at Austria Wien, Rappan had found his petri dish, and his tactical experiments were greedily eaten up by an eager Swiss audience.

The early 1930s saw an explosion in technical ability across European football.

Jimmy Hogan, and then Meisl, had introduced close ball control and high quality passing, and Herbert Chapman had given the world a system that was predicated on attack. For Rappan, this wouldn’t do.

What had come before was reliant upon individual talent, and as a relatively young, and amateur, footballing nation, Switzerland lagged behind in that respect. The Austrian realised that instead he would have to make his team greater than the sum of its parts, and that to do that, he would have to design a system that, rather than scoring as many goals as possible, prevented the opposition from finding the back of the net.

Rappan started by withdrawing his wing halves into a more defensive role, focused on stopping the opposition wingers, either side of a single centre half.

The verrou, or bolt, in the system, named after a door bolt, was in the use of a player behind the defensive line, who could mop up any attacks and with the freedom to move into the midfield when his side had the ball. In seeking a collective system for the prevention of goals, Rappan had invented the Libero.

The Verrou would serve Rappan well, leading Servette to two league titles under his leadership before he moved on to

Grasshopper Zurich, where he won five more.

Alongside this, he was invited to take change of the Swiss national team, who had spent most of the 1930s getting Karl Rappan Servette Player soundly beaten by their more professional counterparts, and were looking for a way to become competitive. Rappan would lead them, first, into the 1938 World Cup. Austria, as a separate entity, withdrew from the World Cup after Anschluss with Nazi Germany. All nationals were by that stage part of a ‘Greater Germany’, and expected to play under the Swastika, without Hugo Meisl. For Rappan, it was perhaps fate that the opening round for the Swiss would be against a German side who, with the inclusion of elements of the Austrian Wunderteam, were expected to go far. The Verrou stifled the German opposition, and despite falling behind Switzerland were able to hold them to a creditable draw. In the replay five days later, a powerhouse second half display dispatched the black-shirted German side 4-2. Switzerland would lose the following round to Hungary, but the Verrout had been announced on the biggest stage.

Rappan’s World Cup was not quite over, however. Under the new German rules,

he was now considered a German nation- 28 al who had embarrassed his country, and was ordered by the authorities to report to Munich. When he refused, he was ordered to take charge of the national side instead. The Austrian took the opportunity to get out of there, and made his way back to Switzerland, where he would stay throughout the war, and for most of his career.

Rappan took charge of Switzerland three more times over the following thirty years, as well as going back to both Grasshoppers and Servette. His legacy would be his system, however. First, at the 1950 World Cup, where a rampant Brazil were held to a 2-2 draw by the Swiss, implementing the Verrou. Witnessing this, Uruguay copied the system, and overcame the hosts in the final. The shock of this led to a national trauma in Brazil, with suicides, a change of kit colour, and a revolution of tactical understanding that led to their three World Cup successes. Following that, Herrero’s catenaccio would become the Bolt’s more famous descendant.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn Green, The Untold Game.

Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media, @TheUntoldGame

Karl Rappan Tactics board

29

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

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

P 11 14 16 14 13 12 15 11 12 12 11 13 14 12

W 10 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 6 4 3 2 0 1

D 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 0

L 0 4 5 4 4 3 6 3 5 6 6 10 13 11

GD PTS 48 31 17 28 16 27 22 26 21 25 16 23 4 23 7 22 -2 19 0 14 -22 11 -25 7 -49 1 -53 6*

RESERVES FIXTURES & RESULTS DATE

HOME TEAM

AWAY TEAM

COMPETITION

RESULT

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

04-Nov Godmanchester Rovers

St Ives Town Reserves

Reserve Division

0-4 L

25-Nov Godmanchester Rovers

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserve Division

1-1 D

13-Jan Godmanchester Rovers

Bourne Town

Reserve Division

0-7 L

27-Jan Rothwell Corinthians

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

03-Feb Wellingborough Whitworth Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

10-Feb Wellingborough Town

Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

17-Feb Northampton ON Chenecks Godmanchester Rovers

Reserve Division

-

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