Issue 01: Nottingham FC (19th August 2023)

THE MANAGERS

GAV SALISBURY ADAM DOLMAN

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Cockshut Lane for the start of the new season against Nottingham FC. A lot has happened since the end of last season, and I’m pleased we can all be here today for this afternoon’s fixture.

This season sees us competing in a new league, after being crowned League Champions back in May. We will be coming up against tough opposition, but I have no doubts that Gav, Adam and the rest of the lads will be strong enough to compete.

We started the season really well, taking 3 points on the road against Holbrook St Michael’s in our opening fixture. Despite losing our net match to a strong Mickleover RBL side, we played some fantastic football and looked very convincing in large parts of the game.

Off the pitch, we have seen a few stadium developments starting to unfold. We have the new electronic scoreboard and fixture board currently being installed, plus the floodlight masts which we are looking to install once finances allow. All of these developments are building towards a bright future for our current and upcoming Dynamos.

As some of you may have seen, we’re also starting to increase our social media presence, in a bid to boost our profile and attract more sponsors to the club - something which we’re already starting to see!

As we look forward to this afternoon, I would like to extend a warm welcome to today’s opposition, and a thank you to everyone showing their support today.

Nottingham FC started life in 2015 by Chairman Janade Akhter playing at Junior & youth level at the Brian Wakefield Memorial ground in Lenton Lane.

The club then branched out and started a men’s team joining the CMFL season 2019/2020 starting in the Division 1 North of the Central Midlands League under the management of Anthony Spencer. The club finished the season in March due to COVID-19 with 9 wins from 14 finishing in 3 rd position. Anthony Spencer remained a club owner but went on to manage Clifton at step 6. Whilst Nottingham FC were then promoted the following season 2020/2021 into the Black Dragon Premier Division South under the management of Michael Walker & Stephen Fox who both still remain as managers.

The aim of the club is to get the youngsters integrated into men’s football with the hope of them developing to play at a higher level. This has proved successful as 6 of our players from last season are now playing at different clubs at step 6 & above.

We are grateful to the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Alliance League who have allowed our youngsters to play amongst a high level of competition. We are realist & know that we are not going to win the league but more so to survive in it where these youngsters are allowed to develop their game within men’s football.

HELP US, HELP YOU!

Our new Sponsorship Pack is now available for the 2023/24 season! We are at the start of an exciting journey, and we want YOU to be a part of it. If you want to promote your business, whilst supporting grassroots football, then get in touch today!

For more information, visit issuu.com/melbournedynamo/docs/mdfc_sponsorship_pack

Or scan the QR code below...

WHAT’S GOING ON…

SOCIAL MEDIA

We are now on even more forms of Social Media - thanks to our new Marketing Team, Evie Culligan at Invictus Comms. Find us on TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn, plus many more!

Keep an eye out for interviews, match highlights and competitions over the course of this season!

COACH WANTED - PAN DISABILITY FOOTBALL

As part of our commitment to offering football to all, we are looking to set up a Pan-Disability football team this season. To do so, we are on the search for volunteers to help make this happen. If you, or someone you know, may be interested - please get in touch!

On Sunday 23rd July, we held the second annual Thando Ndlovu Memorial Tournament at Melbourne Sporting Partnership. Two groups of 5 teams competed against each other in a bid to win the Thando Ndlovu Cup.

The winners of the two groups, Black Stars XI and Five Guys, went head-to-head in a goal-fest final, with Five Guys coming out on top to take home the coveted trophy.

There was also fun for the kids, with inflatables for them to enjoy! ITV News Central were also on-site, with interviews from Thando’s family and friends.

Thando, a much-loved member of our football club, tragically drowned in the River Trent in 2021, whilst out with friends.

Since then, Thando’s family have set up a charity - Thando

Aqua World CIC - to provide education and training to communities and individuals on water safety practices. The day was a great success, despite the heavy downpours, and a total of £375 was raised for the charity. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.thandoaquaworld.org.

A few words from Thando’s family...

“Weextendoursincerethanksforyourremarkablesupportand involvementintheThandoNdlovuMemorialTournament.Your presenceandcontributionshavehelpedusraiseawarenessabout watersafetywhilehonoringThando’slegacy.Specialappreciation toparticipantsandthewholecommunity,MelbourneDynamo, DerbyshireFireServices,generouscontributorsBobandKatrina andthededicatedeffortsofConor.Yourcombinedeffortshave leftapositiveimpactonourcommunity.”

MANAGERS

# STEPHEN FOX # ROBIN FREITAS

# STEPHEN GBADEYAN # JOSH GLOVER

# SOLOMON GOODWIN

# TYRELLE JAMARL BARTLEY

# ORLANDO MCDONALD ROBINSON

# LIAM MCPHILBIN

# BARTOSZ PATEREK

# TOBECHUKWU UZOMA

# KYE WADE

# DENZIL WELLINGTON

# LUKE WILLIAMSON

# DESTINY WOGNIN

# JOSHUA WYNN

OFFICIALS

REFEREE: PHIL CAMPBELL | ASSISTANTS: MICHAEL PARR & SAM PRIESTLY