MONTPELIER VILLA FC CLUB SHOP
Coaches Notes
Of course I’ve thought about it
Being part of Montpelier Villa when they play in the FA Cup final on Sunday 18th May 2025 I’ve thought about who would be in charge of allocating our complimentary tickets, I’ve thought about where we would stay in the lead-up to the game, I’ve thought about the interviews I would do and the ones I would turn down, I’ve thought about which of our players would do interviews and also the route to the stadium on the day, I’ve thought about the way my voice would wobble and how I would start to well up when I tell the team this is just another football match and the most important thing is to enjoy themselves
I also have the privilege of coaching the year 9 girls team where I work and recently I set them the target of reaching the national cup final which last year was played at Stoke City’s home ground.
This unsurprisingly wasn’t good enough as players wanted to aim higher and play at Wembley, The Emirates and the Amex but none of this was said with the apprehension of an adult but the clear focus and determination that is coupled with youth They have accepted they will get to the national cup final this year and put their dreams of Wembley etc until they are old
I know Three Bridges have thought about it, I know our players have thought about it, I know every single person who steps on the pitch this weekend to represent their club in the FA Cup has thought about it and so they should, I was told once by an international footballer that scoring a goal in a packed out stadium felt exactly the same as ones he had scored in front of no-one and I think football is at its most magical when there is a shared experience that connects us all. So what if I’ve thought about it this is just another football match and the most important thing is we enjoy ourselves
SKIP KELLY WOMENS HEAD COACH
Villa Squad Three Bridges Squad
S A D I E A S H B Y
L E A H A T A L I O T I S
B R I O N Y B A N K S
T A R A B A R R A T T
G E O R G I A C O L L I E R
K A T H E R I N E D A V Y S O N
A B B Y D A W S O N
G E O R G I A E G N E R
L A U R A H U I S H
E U G E N I A L O P E Z A L V A R E Z
A M Y M A R S H A L L
E L I S E C A T H E R I N E M C I N N E S
S E R E N A N A P P I
S C A R L E T T N E W T O N
T E G A N N I C H O L S
E L L A S A L U S B U R Y
E L O I S E S A U N D E R S
C H A R L O T T E S M Y R K
F R A N C E S C A S W A L E S
S A S K I A T A Y L O R - D O Y L E
L O U T I N D A L L
R U B Y W A R D E N
N I C O L E W H I T E
C O R R I N E W I L S O N
C H A R L E Y B O U L T
B R O O K E B O W E R M A N
I S S Y - M A Y C O N N O R
A N A I S E S C A L O N A
A N N A H A R B I S O N
G R A C E H I L L
R O H A N N I E I G N A C I O
P A I G E K E R S E Y
J E M M A L I N D F I E L D
E M M A M A R L O W
H A N N A M A Y R O B E R T S
P A M E L A M C D O N N E L L
J A C E Y M C N A B O E
J A D E P A G E
K E I R A P A R K E R
R I S H A N N S C O T T
K A T I E S M Y T H
F A Y E T R I N I D A D
K Y R S T Y W H I T E
C E R Y S W I L L I A M S
P I A W I L L I A M S
L U C I E W Y N N
Wecan Wecan Wecan
& wewill wewill wewill
Interview with coach Bruno
What have you enjoyed so far in your time here?
I’ve enjoyed the energy, skills and commitment I’ve seen from the team. The dedication in training sessions, the eagerness to improve, and the camaraderie among the players have stood out Watching the team develop together and seeing individuals step up with confidence has been rewarding What I’ve enjoyed most is the progress we ’ ve made both on and off the pitch and how each player has embraced the challenge to push themselves It’s inspiring to be part of a group focused on improving daily and supporting each other
Can you tell us about your playing and coaching journey so far?
I'm from Brazil, and I've been playing for as long as I can remember. I played in academies from the age of 9 until the age of 16. My uncles and father were involved in grassroots football as players and then as coaches So, from a very young age, I was on the sidelines I played for Nautico, Sport Recife, and Inter Milan Academy, which they had in Recife But I wasn't good enough to make it into a pro.
Moving to Brighton, I played for the Brighton Uni football and Futsal teams I started my coaching there Then, studying psychology to PhD level enabled me to understand better sports performance and well-being, which I seek to apply to my coaching I've earned an EUFA license, and I strive to do a few more as a growth mindset is important. We coaches can seek to develop and improve to support our players better
What professional teams and players inspire you?
Including in the women ’ s game? The Brazil teams of 94 (the first Men's World Cup I remember watching) and 02 Players wise: Formiga, Marta, Romario and Maradona (Side note: My sister wasn't too bad, you know, a great centre-back who played for uni team etc)
What do you think the team can achieve this season?
We have a great and skilled group of players, so we can go very far
If you were an animal, what would you be? I'm an animal. Can't you tell? Homo Sapiens. Aside from that, a canary
ACTION
Founded in 1901, Three Bridges’ early years were based around local football in Crawley and subsequently in Mid Sussex and West Sussex Leagues. They won the Sussex Junior Cup during the 1930’s and became an Intermediate side before their first taste of Senior football as founder members of the new Second Division of the Sussex County Football League in 1952/53.
As Three Bridges United, they won the Second Division title in 1954/55, but theirs was a bit of a yo yo existence for a while before gaining promotion as Division Two runners up in 1968/69. By this time they had a managerial structure with the likes of George Spurgeon and former Walthamstow Avenue striker Eric Hughes at the helm. They had also tapped in to local side Bridges Boys for some of the top younger talent in the town.
But they were relegated again soon after but bounced back as runners up again in 1973/74.
Another relegation soon followed but the appointment of former Crystal Palace striker Harry Easton for the 1979/80 season promised much. It hardly started well but the second half of that campaign saw them drop just one point, that against eventual Champions Hastings Town, in their last twelve games. They also lost to Hastings in the League Cup Final, but ironically it was Hastings who provided the opposition in the final game of the season at the Jubilee Field.
Only a win would do for Bridges to pip Hailsham Town on goal difference for second place. It was still 0-0 with two minutes remaining, but Bridges were then awarded a penalty. Alan Bell, who would later serve as Club Chairman for twenty years, stepped up and scored from the spot to spark wild celebrations in the home camp.
Harry Easton guided Bridges to the Fifth Round of the F.A.Vase in 1981/82 (basically the last eight before losing to Molesey, and his Assistant Alan Knight the took over and took Bridges to a six a side competition in Walsall run by Thorn EMI. Although they were well beaten in the final, their opponents Shepshed Charterhouse negotiated a deal that ended with Bridges actually winning a set of floodlights. Star of the show that day was former Chelsea, Plymouth Argyle, Crystal Palace and Reading midfielder Brian Bason, who also played for England Youth on fifteen occasions.
The 1982/83 season also saw Bridges win the Sussex RUR Charity Cup for the first time, Bobby Nash captaining the team as they beat his old side Hastings Town 3-2. The 80’s proved to be a reasonably successful time for Bridges, although they had to settle for Division One runners up spot three times in four seasons in 1985/86, 1987/88 and 1988/89. But they did win the RUR Cup again in 1987/88, beating Hailsham Town 2-1.
Bobby Nash and Steve Breach were amongst Player Managers as the club tried to move to the next stage, but relegation came again before another Division Two runners up spot brought them up again in 1998/99, and there they remained for the next fourteen seasons.
Brian ‘Sammy’ Donnelly had a great reputation around Sussex with a number of clubs, but apart from reaching the RUR Cup Final in 2003/04 (a disastrous 0-4 loss against East Grinstead Town), he had only minor success as Bridges Manager.
Paul Faili meanwhile had been Manager of the club’s Youth teams from Under 7’s all the way through to Under 18’s, and after helping with the Reserve Team, he unexpectedly found himself in charge of the front side.
A 4-0 win against Selsey in the 2007/08 RUR Cup Final was the start of a gradual season upon season improvement in League terms. A League Cup success in 2010/11 was followed by the same a year later, although this time Bridges also won the Sussex County League Championship for the first time in their history and were promoted to the Ryman Isthmian League.
A seventh place was the best they could manage in their first five seasons at this much higher standard of football, and relegation followed in 2016/17. But Paul Faili brought the side back up again at the first time of asking.
