Holmer Green Football Club
Official Matchday Programme
Season 2024-25
Holmer Green FC v Penn & Tylers Green FC
Cherry Red Records
Combined Counties Football League Division One Saturday 29th March 2025 Kick Off 3pm
Club Information
Holmer Green Football Club
Founded 1908
Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association
Members of the
Combined Counties Football League
Hellenic Football League
Allied Counties Youth Football League
High Wycombe Sunday Football Combination
Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League
South Bucks Mini Soccer Conference
President
John Anderson
Life Members
John Anderson Mick Bowler Dave Brockwell Colin Buckle Roly Clarke Cliff Foster Frank Francies Nigel Mayor Rupe Perry Bill Scholes Paul Wareham Mark Williams
Rob Shed (Chairman) (M) 07539 267948 Email: shedcan@me.com
Rob Fitch (Treasurer) Email: info@holmergreenfc.co.uk
Samantha Lewin (Vice Chair & Welfare Officer) (M) 07919 095792 Email welfare@holmergreenfc.co.uk
Matt Brades (Club Secretary & Junior Section Representative) Email: bradesm@badgerway.plus.com
John Anderson (Programme Editor) (H) 01494 446128 Email: john.a.cressex@hotmail.co.uk
Club website www.holmergreenfc.co.uk
Ground Address
Watchet Lane, Holmer Green, High Wycombe, Bucks HP15 6UF
Welcome to Watchet Lane – Penn & Tylers Green FC
Third game of the week here, all against teams in the top five! We couldn’t have asked for a more difficult last three home league games really? We played well at French School Meadow, back in August. I suspect we will need to be just as good today if we are to repeat the win?
Five successive away league games to come now, including a difficult midweek trip to the Kingston By-pass. Hillingdon and Eversley seem to be on course to fight it out for the final play-off place. That would be at Westside. Today’s opponents are on course to host Belstone in the other Semi. But there are still a lot of points to play for? At least 5 games in all cases. Windsor & Eton still need seven points from six matches to make sure of top spot. They still have to go to Westside, as do Penn. Westside still have to visit Belstone at Radlett.
Now we have amassed over 60 points in a season for the first time in ten years, we do not want to let up? Questions to ponder before the 2025-26 NLS allocations are announced include these….
• Will Eversley & California get permission to delay moving the floodlight pylon from in front of the dug-outs?
• Will Colliers Wood United get into The Southern Combination with a Surrey club prepared to swop?
• Will Abingdon United be allowed to switch to the CCFL?
• Will The FA carry out their threats to demote clubs which don’t get the appropriate Ground Accreditation in time?
• Will Ardley United be allowed to stay in the CCFL or will they be switched to the United Couties League Premier South?
• Will the UHL go even further west?
Finally, and more immediately, don’t forget that our Cherry Red Records Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup Semi at Watchet Lane versus London Samurai Rovers has been put back from midweek until Easter Saturday, April 19th, 3pm.
As ever, please enjoy the game…
John Anderson
Today’s Players & Officials
Combined Counties Division One 29th March 2025
Kick Off: 3pm
Holmer Green Penn & Tylers Green FC
Colours: Green & White Colours:
Sam Bell(GK)
Callum Gray
Aaron Bryan
Theo Ransby
Liam Butters
Matt Wooster
Martin Lancaster ©
James Saxby
Harrison Holbrook
Jeffrey Fordjour
Lloyd Majaya
Deen Mirza
Tyler Sims
Dillon Hayns
Harry Loakes
James Jarrott
Oskar Esplund-Evans
Sammy Hill
Luca Clark
Joshua Peck
Ben Booker
Jensen Ellis (GK)
Manager: Keith Scott
Coach: Jez Hodges
Physio: Aarushe Singh/Anthony
Tyson
Colours: Blue & White
Sam Butcher
Ben Sturgess
Fabien Driffill
Alfie Branwhite
Tyler Gregory
James Essex
Kyle Dawes
Sam Coles
Brandon Eaton
David Pearce
Edward Lee
Jedidiah Layman
Charlie Losasso
Josh Pedley
Elijah Layman
Cory Hathaway
Michael Neary
Aaron Jewell
Josh Pedley
Felix Prudden
Alex Sethi
Chris Hurst
Joint Managers: John Sepede & James Pritchard
Physio: Imogen Sanders or John Grimsdell
Today’s Match Officials
Referee: Tom Lathey
Assistant Referees: Matt Downey & Steve Burgess
Player / Management Sponsorship
Why not sponsor one of the First Team Squad. Just £50 is all it takes. In return for that you will be credited on our website and in all of this seasons home programmes. To sponsor a player please contact Rob Shed (07539 267948)
Alexander
Ben Booker sponsored by Steve Powell
Jake Braim
Aaron Bryan sponsored by
Jo Powell
Alex Colverd sponsored by
John Anderson
Ellis
Christian Brown
Theo
Ruairidh Barnes
Sam Bell
Luca Clark
Harry Desbiens
Jensen
Oskar Esplund-Evans
Player / Management Sponsorship
Callum Gray Jacob Hearne
Sammy Hill Ben Hodges
Harrison Holbrook
James Jarrott
Pavel Kotwica
Martin Lancaster sponsord by The Statmen
Elias Lubbat
Lloyd Majaya sponsord by Di Shed
Connor McGinty Joshua Peck
Ewan Philpott
Theo Ransby
Player / Management Sponsorship
James Saxby Mason Scott
Tyler Sims
Mason Spring
Anthony Tyson Olly White
Luke Williams
Matt Wooster sponsored by Rob Shed
Matt Wooster sponsored by Rob Shed
Keith Scott (Manager)
Aarushe Singh (Physio)
League Table
Ground Locations
Combined Counties Grounds
Division One 2024-25
Match Report
Match Report, Saturday 22nd March 2025
Combined Counties Football League, Division One
Holmer Green 1 Eversley & California 2
The visitors definitely had the promotion places in their sights. With Hillingdon Borough still to play home and away, they would be able to overtake their Middlesex Stadium rivals with a win at Watchet Lane. At the final whistle they had narrowly done just that, showing more streetwise play and less defensive frailty than Holmer, who thus went down to just their fourth home league loss of the season. The lowest placed team to win at Holmer this season being Yateley United, who sit just above Holmer Green in the current league table. The Greens’ aim next season must be to have an away record like their home one this campaign. With Callum Gray, Theo Ransby, and James Saxby still not fully fit and considered for the starting XI, Josh Peck came back into the team. Playing as the most advanced forward, he worked hard and well for 90 minutes. Jeffrey Fordjour was often found in midfield, and even defensive positions at times. Peck actually had the ball in the Eversley net very early on, but there was an offside leading up to the final pass. Fordjour was to net his fourteenth goal of the season to give Holmer the lead briefly, but generally he was operating too far from the away goal to meaningfully assist Peck or feed off the tall striker’s tireless work against a very solid defence.
James Jarrott was making his 100th First XI appearance, and Matt Wooster may well make it to 150 by the season’s end, with just three more games required.
On 10 minutes Wooster got Tyler Sims away on the left. The cross was long, but returned well by Harrison Holbrook to the danger area. No Holmer player had been able to follow up decisively. The next 15 minutes brought four of five well placed corner-kicks from the visitors, but good work by Sam Bell and the defence in general meant that no chances were really offered to the visitors.
Match Report
Match Report, Saturday 22nd March 2025
Combined Counties Football League, Division One
Holmer Green 1 Eversley & California 2
On 28 minutes Martin Lancaster was fouled crudely in midfield, with a tackle that would usually warrant a yellow card. The same player then went in on Bell just a few minutes later. But although lengthy treatment was required by the home ‘keeper, The Referee seemed determined to keep his disciplinary cards in his pocket. Aaron Bryan pulled the ball back from the left-wing on 34 minutes for Fordjour, but The Greens’ top scorer only produced a fairly tame shot on goal. HT 0-0
The visitors were the first to threaten in the second half on 48 minutes. A defensive lapse presented the ball nicely for a snap shot from twenty yards. But Bell’s dive fingertipped the ball onto the post and away. On 55 minutes at the clubhouse end, a Sims cross rebounded off a defender into Peck, but the involuntary touch took the ball over the crossbar from short range. Holmer did finally get in front on the hour. An accurate right-wing free-kick from Lancaster was beautifully placed between ‘keeper and defence. Fordjour judged the opportunity perfectly to stoop and head the ball past the exposed ‘keeper in front of goal. Almost immediately, Holmer seemed to have a chance to double the lead. Not for the first time Sims and Aaron Bryan combined well on the left. The cross appeared to be inch-perfect to the far post, But Holbrook arrived there just too late to force the ball in.
Game management in this position this season, has been a big improvement from last season. But 30 minutes minimum would have to be navigated. On this occasion that proved too long a period against good opponents. Ten minutes later a free-kick for accidental handball was correctly awarded 25 yards out. The ball was floated centrally where it just cleared two defenders and the forward it seemed to be destined for. But this may have been a ruse, and another attacker stole in - poorly tracked - to deftly head the equaliser.
Match Report
Match Report, Saturday 22nd March 2025
Combined Counties Football League, Division One
Holmer Green 1 Eversley & California 2
Holmer needed to go again, and be more careful at the back. The Veo footage of what happened just two short minutes after the setback will embarrass three of the four defenders concerned. First a ball down the right wing could have been put out of play. It was not, and an Eversley player was allowed to progress to the bye-line and get in a low cross. That cross did not find a colleague, but was not controlled beyond the far post when it could have been. The unfortunate Holmer defender was then turned inside out. This accurate low cross found two defenders sleeping when they at least one should have been getting between attacker and goal at the far post. A simple tap in while Bell was still necessarily covering his near post proved to be the winning goal of a tight game.
On 75 minutes Lancaster had a direct free-kick very well saved, and despite a couple of late substitutions to force the play Holmer were unable to force an equaliser,
Team: Bell, Jarrott, Bryan, Sammy Hill, Liam Butters, Wooster, Sims, Lancaster ©, Fordjour, Holbrook, Peck.
Substitutes Used: Lloyd Majaya, Oskar Esplund-Evans, & Luca Clark.
Substitutes Not Used: Saxby, & Harry Loakes.
First Team Results 2024-25
Match Report
Match Report, Tuesday 25th March 2025
Combined Counties Football League, Division One
Holmer Green 2 Windsor & Eton 0
The Greens made a few changes from Saturday, for what was the second game of three tough ones in eight days. Jensen Ellis was in goal, Ben Booker added to his handful of starts this season, and James Saxby came in after injury and missing five games.
After an even start Ellis was the first ‘keeper called into action as he cut out a free-kick which had been headed on, only to find that the offside flag had gone up anyway. He then pushed a low shot away for a corner. From that set piece, a half chance ended in a shot going well wide from an away defender who had come up. On 18 minutes Harry Loakes was felled by a tackle from behind. An unfortunate injury sustained in a generally well-fought but clean game, meant that he was replaced by Josh Peck.
Skipper Martin Lancaster had a free-kick well saved on 24 minutes for a corner. Aaron Bryan forced another soon after, with a run in along the by-line. Another couple of chances came and went for The Greens, before they thought they had taken the lead against the Championselect on 34 minutes. But it transpired that Bryan had gone forward just a little early, before setting up Saxby for a tap-in which would have been his eleventh of the season. But the opener soon came for the home side six minutes later. Lancaster forced a hurried clearance from a defender, which Jeffrey Fordjour picked up and ran at goal.
The unfortunate defender did get across to block Fordjour’s effort. But the ball ended up nicely for Harrison Holbrook or Lancaster. The latter took advantage of the ‘keeper’s involuntary position, to score comfortably in the unguarded portion of the goal.
Match Report
Match Report, Tuesday 25th March 2025
Combined Counties Football League, Division One
Holmer Green 2 Windsor & Eton 0
The second half began with a deflected Holbrook shot, looping gently to the Windsor custodian. But the visitors then went uncomfortably close twice, before making a double substitution before the hour. With Tyler Sims now on for Saxby, Holmer gained a penalty, awarded for a foul on Pack who kept the away defence busy all evening. Up stepped Fordjour, but his effort hit the right hand-post. Peck immediately put the Windsor defence on alert again, and it took one of four of their players to eventually get the ball off him. Holmer’s second and decisive goal came on 67 minutes. Liam Butters made good interception to prevent the away side getting into the Holmer half. He forced the ball forward to Lloyd Majaya, who sent Peck through. The ‘keeper made a half-save. Majaya was following up to beat three nearby defenders to the ball and score his fifth goal of the season.
There were still about 25 minutes to play, but when the visitors did get near the Holmer goal they either ran out off ideas, Holmer had the answer, or a weak long-range shot resulted. Peck would be my man of the match, and Booker excelled forming an effective duo with Butters in the absence of Theo Ransby or Sammy Hill. But all the Holmer players performed well on the night, meaning that Windsor & Eton will have to wait a little longer to clinch the automatic promotion place.
Team: Ellis, Oskar Esplund-Evans, Bryan, Booker, Butters, Lancaster ©, Majaya, Loakes, Fordjour, Holbrook & Saxby.
Substitutes Used: Peck, Sims, & Callum Gray.
Substitutes Not Used: Luca Clark, & James Jarrott.
Development Team League Table
Penn & Tylers Green FC – Club History
Our present club was formally established in 1905 when it is believed that it adopted its first formal constitution. It achieved its first great success in the 1911/ 12 season by winning the Wycombe League. This Championship side was captained by George Slade, of Slade’s Garages, who later achieved fame as a champion motor cyclist and side car competitor. Like many village clubs it lost a number of its playing staff during the Great and second world wars. Indeed, the Cricket Club pavilion is a listed building and a memorial in remembrance of the lives lost French School Meadows, the home ground, takes its name from the long since demolished 18th century School catering for orphans of the French Revolution. The pupils wore a blue uniform with white feathers in their hat s giving rise to the club’s blue and white strip and the club logo.
French School Meadows was purchased in 1949 (before then the team used to play on the back common) showers were installed in the 1960's, the brick building built in the 1980's and the extension developed in 2001. Prior to the building of the club house the HQ for the club was the Horse & Groom Public House. Penn & Tylers Green FC is not only one of the oldest clubs in the county, it is also one of the biggest village sides.
Every weekend some 400 children, youths and adult s pull on the blue and white stripes of Penn & Tylers Green Football Club. The age range spans from the “Fantastic Footballers” (Under-5) through every age group and all the way to youth and senior footballers including girls and ladies’ sections. Each team has a number of qualified, dedicated volunteers who ensure the continued success of the club. We are quite simply, the biggest organisation in the village providing vast numbers with the opportunity of participating in a marvellous team game.
The club owes a huge debt to previous committee members and volunteers who have worked tirelessly over many years to provide the excellent facilities that we all enjoy today. The function room and patio of the Sport and Social Club, provide an excellent set ting for a hazy lazy afternoon, watching Football in close proximity to an idyllic setting with views over the Chilterns and areas of outstanding natural beauty. With regular quiz nights and events, and not forgetting the famous beer festival, the club is the hub of community activity. The clubhouse is also available for hire and is ideal for meetings of local clubs, societies or just to throw a great party! Given the number of Penn & Tylers Green Football Teams playing each week, it is simply not possible to accommodate all of them at our home ground. That is why we remain grateful for all local schools and recreational grounds for their continued support of the Club. However, it remains the desire of the Football Committee to ensure that as many Penn & Tylers Green teams as possible can play at French School Meadows and truly call it “home”.
Penn & Tylers Green FC – Club History
We continue to demonstrate our commitment in providing mini football to the children of the local area, they are our future. The club is the holder of the prestigious FA Community Charter Status and is so proud of its illustrious past but we are making enormous strides into the future. Enormous investment into the infrastructure of the club off the pitch by the way of the best pitch in the area and newly installed state of the art floodlight s is now being realised on the pitch with our new senior team pathway, a Ladies team and coaches that are the envy of clubs around us. The future is very bright in Penn?
We are proud, of course, that the First Team won the Hellenic League – Division One (East) title in Season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 and the Reserves winning the Hellenic League – Division Two (East) title in 2015/2016. The Reserves also won the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup in Seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. In Season 2020/2021 the Ladies Team won the Division Three title of the Thames Valley Counties Women's Football League and gained promotion to Division One.
This was surpassed when the Ladies won the Berks & Bucks Women’s Trophy in Season 2021/2022. The men’s First Team added to the club’s trophy collection by winning the Combined Counties Football League Division Challenge Cup in Season 2022/2023.
Match Report
Here is the Match Report from the corresponding away league fixture between today’s two clubs.
Match Report, Tuesday 27th August 2024
Penn & Tylers Green 0 Holmer Green 2
Since Holmer escaped the clutches of the Chiltonian League in 1995, these two clubs have played each only about half a dozen times. Three of those times in less than 4 weeks in one of the interminable UHL Cups during the curtailed 2020-21 season. The aggregate score in those meetings was 9-1, and not in Holmer’s favour! In all of the other meetings over almost the last 30 years, Holmer have ended up second best despite having a supposedly superior status in the Non-League System. Last season with both clubs in the same league and division again at last, Holmer shipped seven goals without reply in the two meetings. Holmer’s current defensive record did not give much cause for optimism, either. Fourteen goals conceded in six competitive games, already this season. No clean sheets in these games, and in fact you have to go back to two games versus Hillingdon Borough in April and November last season to find another shut out. Just two such matches in the last 33 games! This season Penn have recovered from an opening day loss to league leaders Windsor & Eton, winning six games on the bounce. Scoring freely in that time. Not much doubt therefore, as to which team started the evening as favourites.
Holmer changed the team formation in an attempt to reverse the current defensive frailties. Aided by a lack of individual mistakes, and solid performances individually and collectively from the entire squad, the visitors were good value for the three points.
There was no place for Ruairidh Barnes at the back, starting places went to Luke Williams and Matt Wooster in midfield. The strike force was yet again headed by Alex Colverd and Jeffrey Fordjour. By the end of the evening The Greens would have no less than 3 players on four goals already this season, just one behind the total that saw Ryan Hennessy win the “Golden Boot” in the last campaign.
A competitive game started at a frantic pace, which rarely let up all evening. As early as the second minute Colverd put Fordjour through, but the goalkeeper’s foot came to Penn’s rescue. On 8 minutes the home side blocked a couple of Holmer chances close to their goal, but Penn were having their moments too, and Jensen Ellis had to be on good form or watch closely as a couple of efforts on his goal were only just off target. On 15 minutes Theo Alexander suffered the same fate as Fordjour as he broke through the Penn ranks on the break.
Match Report
Here is the Match Report from the corresponding away league fixture between today’s two clubs.
Match Report, Tuesday 27th August 2024
Penn & Tylers Green 0 Holmer Green 2
On 28 minutes as Holmer were at last getting to grips with the Penn attack, a Martin Lancaster corner led to the first goal. The initial effort on goal was blocked, but the ball broke to Fordjour who quickly hooked the ball into the goal from an angle. Holmer’s penchant for giving the opposition a quick way back into the game was evident yet again, as within two minutes a mid-field give away was quickly turned into a shot on goal. Ellis parried the first effort, and then gathered the ball safely. Penn sensed that Holmer were nervous when fresh in the lead and Williams took one for the team, earning a caution from the excellent Referee. The Greens gradually reasserted their quick passing game and half time came with no further score. The Penn defence being the more stretched over the 46+ minutes. HT 0-1
As early as the 52nd minute, Holmer had two more shots on the Penn goal blocked in quick possession. With the current goals against record being so awful, the visiting supporters would always be fearful of another lapse or a goal out of the blue. On the hour Penn picked up the only other caution of the evening, and on 67 minutes the home ‘keeper had to tip a Fordjour shot over the crossbar at full stretch. Tyler Sims came on for Williams, who received a good ovation for an excellent 70 minutes work. Sims quickly put Oskar EsplundEvans in behind the defence, and the pull back found Alexander. But his firm shot went just wide. Sims was next to break through, but although his effort beat the ‘keeper it went agonisingly wide. Penn were not to be discounted though, and a weak header out was almost punished from 30 yards. On 77 minutes Fordjour seemed to have got round the home left flank, but an excellent last-ditch tackle resulted in a corner. Lancaster’s pinpoint kick was headed in at the far post. Fordjour outjumping a clutch of players from both sides to score his second. At this stage the numerous away supporters present could at last think of eventual victory. On 81 minutes a dangerous low Penn free-kick evaded everyone except Ellis, who tipped the ball around the post. On 89 minutes young Liam Barrowcliff came on for Colverd on his first team debut, becoming the tenth new boy of the season so far. Although not on the scoresheet, the hard-working Colverd gained applause similar to that afforded Williams. Another unused substitute, Zachary Thornton will have to wait for his debut. Despite almost 7 minutes of stoppage time, The Greens only had to survive one accurate long shot, which Ellis was able to beat away. There was even time for Lloyd Majaya to head just past the Penn post. A great away team performance, with the added bonus of a full 90 minutes from Matt Wooster.
Team: Ellis, Esplund-Evans, Aaron Bryan, Liam Butters, Willams, Wooster, Lancaster ©, Alexander, Colverd, Fordjour, Majaya.
Substitutes Used; Sims, & Barrowcliff. Substitutes Not Used: Thornton, Jake Braim, & Ben Hodges.
Holmer Green – Club History
Originally founded in 1908, Holmer played initially in The Chesham and District League. Matches were played at Campbell’s Meadow, (now the Rosetti Estate), close to a tennis racket factory. Sometime before 1934 the Club moved to Holmer Green Common and set up headquarters in The Bat and Ball. In 1934 the Club switched to The Wycombe Combination League. The first trophy won by Holmer Green was The Chesham Charity Cup in 1939, the first of 28 Cups and Championships won thus far by the 1st XI.
The early 70’s saw the start of a very successful thirty years in the Club’s history. Holmer Green moved to their present ground, Watchet Lane, in 1975 when the new Holmer Green Sports Association pavilion was fully ready. Holmer won The Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup in 1976-77. Senior Status was thus achieved and since then the Club has striven to play at the highest level possible for a strictly amateur club.
The Club, through current President John Anderson, was heavily involved in the moves that set up The Chiltonian League in 1984. That League embraced clubs from no less than six different counties. Holmer had been very successful in the Chiltonian, and believed that a move to a better run league, where the clubs were encouraged to improve facilities, should be the next step. The Chiltonian were reluctant to lose their “flagship” club and tried to stop the move to the The South Midlands League. Not until August 1995 did Holmer Green, through the FA’s appeal system, successfully, switch Leagues.
This move gave Holmer Green the impetus to finally erect a Stand, now called The Don Want Stand in honour of the late former long-serving Groundsman, President, and Chairman. In 2014 Don was presented with some mementos to mark his 50 years with the Football Club. He passed away in 2022.
Premier Division status was achieved in 1999 after winning the Senior Division twice in four seasons, being 2nd and 4th in between. Floodlights were erected. Centenary events started with a visit from a full Wycombe Wanderers team in July 2007 when the ground record of over 800 was recorded.
In 2008 the Senior Club formally merged with Holmer Green Minors FC to become “One Club” and this occasion coincided with the new Club as a whole being named “Club of the Year 2008” by Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership.
Holmer Green – Club History
Season 2008-09 was Holmer’s 10th successive one in the Premier Division. After an unexpectedly long stay in the Premier Division, Holmer Green was demoted to Division One for season 2009-10, despite avoiding the two relegation positions.
Work immediately began to regain the “F” Grading required for Step 5 football to return to Watchet Lane. The 1st XI won the First Division by three points in 2009-10 losing only 3 of 40 games. The coveted “F” Grading was achieved again in 2011.
Manager Chris Allen, who was appointed in 2009, kept the regained Step 5 status for another incredible nine seasons before stepping down in May 2019, with Holmer having gained enough points by early March. By this time the Club had been moved, most unwillingly, into the geographically ridiculous Hellenic League. Chris’ successor, Dave Lynch, resigned after a poor start in August and September 2019. Matt Stowell succeeded Lynch, and results turned before the season was ended due to Covid-19. Matt continued to rebuild for 2020-21 with a seventh place when the season was again terminated early. The club were very happily returned to The Spartan South Midlands League in Summer 2021, with Matt continuing in charge. But a series of poor results including three or four very heavy defeats lead to Matt’s resignation in early December 2021. Assistant Manager, and then Physio, Tom Bryant took over in the meantime, with assistance from experienced ex-Player and ex-Manager Jez Hodges.
This return “home” meant local games with Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Tring Athletic, Risborough Rangers, Harefield United, Leighton Town, Leverstock Green, Oxhey Jets, and Dunstable Town. And more importantly, no away trips over an hour long! Unfortunately, Holmer slipped into the relegation position on the last day of the season and another long stint at Step 5 came to an end. Worse news was to follow as the FA’s push to “perfect” the non-league pyramid at Steps 4-6 has created a situation where some Step 5&6 leagues have more travelling in their lower division. Quite the opposite of what was intended, and indeed promised.
The Greens now faced games as far away as Lutterworth in Leicestershire, and Rugby in Warwickshire, as well as a handful of games in Northamptonshire. Tom Bryant was appointed Manager on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022, but left Holmer Green in the August after a series of poor results.
Holmer Green – Club History
Jez Hodges again took up the reins on an interim basis, before ex-player Paul Batchelor was appointed Manager in late November 2022. His remit was to avoid a second successive relegation, this was achieved with a game to spare. The First XI also reached the Final of The SSMFL Division One Cup.
In the annual reshuffle of the Non-League Pyramid by The FA in 2023 The Greens were transferred to The Combined Counties League where they reunited with many former SSMFL opponents.
Paul Batchelor left the club to operate at a higher level of football, and Tranell Richardson was appointed in his place. But his tenure was brief, as nine of the first ten league games ended in defeat. Keith Scott took over at the end of September 2023. The Squad gradually improved and eventually finished 20th of 22 teams to preserve their Step 6 status. The 2024-25 season started with a much more encouraging pre-season set of results in friendlies, and a much better season is in prospect.
The Development XI will continue in The Hellenic League and the U-18 XI stays in The Allied Counties Youth League. The Club currently has junior teams and squads all the way from the U-6’s to the U-16’s. With the older teams in The Junior Section now showing a pleasing trend of being in higher divisions of their respective leagues than was formerly the case.
The next phase of continuing improvement sees The Club waiting for a date to start the installation of a floodlit 3G facility alongside the current main grass pitch. All Funds and Grants required are already in place, and this new facility should greatly benefit all the local community as well as providing a new income stream to drive The Club further forward.
The new season 2024-25, sees Division One of the CCL with 23 teams, including four newly promoted sides from Step 7.
First Team Record from 1984-85
Honours Board
HOLMER GREEN FOOT BALL CLUB
Founded1908 HO NO URS BO ARD
1908- 1934 CHESHAM &DISTRICTLEAGUE
1934- 1984 WYCOMBECOMBINATION&WYCOMBELEAGUE
1984- 1995 CHILTONIANFOOTBALLLEAGUE
1995- 1999 SOUTHMIDLANDSFOOTBALLLEAGUE
1999- 2018 SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSFOOTBALLLEAGUE
2018- 2021 HELLENICFOOTBALLLEAGUE
2021- 2023 SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSFOOTBALLLEAGUE 2023- todate COMBINEDCOUNTIESFOOTBALLLEAGUE
1ST XI
BERKS&BUCKSSENIORCUPQUARTER-FINALISTS1981
BERKS&BUCKSSENIORTROPHY RUNNERSUP1999
BERKS&BUCKSSENIORTROPHY SEMI-FINALISTS1996, 2000, 2001, &2016
BERKS&BUCKSINTERMEDIATECUPWINNERS1977
BERKS&BUCKSINTERMEDIATECUPSEMI-FINALISTS1991
BERKS&BUCKSJUNIORCUPWINNERS1953&1965
SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- DIVISIONONEWINNERS2010
SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- DIVISIONONECUPFINALISTS2023
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- SENIORDIVISIONWINNERS1996&1999
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- SENIORDIVISIONRUNNERSUP1997
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- SENIORDIVISIONCUPWINNERS1997&1998
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- CHALLENGETROPHY RUNNERSUP1999
WYCOMBESENIORCUPWINNERS1975, 1982, 1992, 1994&2001
WYCOMBESENIORCUPRUNNERSUP1976, 1979, 1991, 2000, 2006, &2019
CHILTONIANLEAGUEWINNERS1985, 1986&1994
CHILTONIANLEAGUECUPWINNERS1995
CHILTONIANLEAGUECUPSEMI-FINALISTS1986&1991
WYCOMBELEAGUEWINNERS1972, 1974, 1977&1981
WYCOMBELEAGUERUNNERSUP1973, 1976&1978
WYCOMBELEAGUECUPWINNERS1981
WYCOMBELEAGUECUPRUNNERSUP1983
CHESHAM CHARITY CUPWINNERS1939, 1949, 1953, 1962, 1964&1965
RESERVES
BERKS&BUCKSINTERMEDIATECUPSEMI-FINALISTS1993
SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- RESERVEDIVISIONTWO WESTWINNERS2002
SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- RESERVEDIVISIONTWO WESTWINNERS2008
SPARTANSOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- RESERVEDIVISIONN&WWINNERS2016
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- RESERVEDIVISIONTWO RUNNERSUP1998
SOUTHMIDLANDSLEAGUE- RESERVEDIVISIONTHREERUNNERSUP1996
CHILTONIANRESERVESECTIONWINNERS1985, 1986, 1987, 1993&1995
CHILTONIANRESERVELEAGUECUPWINNERS1987, 1989&1993
CHILTONIANRESERVELEAGUECUPRUNNERSUP1995
WYCOMBEJUNIORCUPWINNERS1987, 1993&1995
READING JUNIORCUPWINNERS1987 U-18YOUTHTEAM
ALLIEDCOUNTIESYOUTHLEAGUEEASTDIVISIONWINNERS2013 RUNNERS-UP2016, 2018 A'TEAM
REG WILKSCUPWINNERS1990&1991
READING JUBILEECUPRUNNERS-UP1980 OLDBOYS
BERKS&BUCKSJUNIORCUPSEMI-FINALISTS1999
WYCOMBE&DISTRICTLEAGUE- SENIORDIVISIONRUNNERS-UP2008
WYCOMBE&DISTRICTLEAGUE- PREMIERDIVISIONWINNERS1998, 2000&2007
MAIDENHEAD&NORFOLKIANJUNIORCUPRUNNERSUP1996&2000
WYCOMBEJUNIORCUPWINNERS2007, RUNNERSUP1997&2005
CHALFONT&GERRARDSCROSSCUPWINNERS2004
It is an offence under the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999 to
• Throw any object within the Ground
• Enter the playing area
It is an offence under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 to
• Attempt to get into the ground or be inside the ground when drunk
