ISSUE 2 February 2018
t: 01376 348105 e: braintreeprintshop@gmail.com 20a Coggeshall Road Braintree CM7 9BY
@FsaBraintree
t: 07437 Are you looking013939 for a unique e: thememorabiliashopuk@gmail.com
gift for that someone special?
New to the town centre this winter 2017, as part of the Unique www.braintreefsa.co.uk braintreefsa Promos group, The Memorabilia Shop now offers the people of
Braintree and the surrounding areas of Essex with what is a unique opportunity: the chance to be able to buy high quality
more than just a
FOOTBALL CLUB... Braintree East is our manor and Crittall’s Sports Ground our patch for close on 100 years. A month into the new year, a special year being our 120th (1898 - 2017), the peaks and troughs of our fortunes on the field are tempered against the trials and tribulations off it. As the Club struggles to get to grips with the right balance and return to playing our football at the ‘highest sustainable level’, Brad, Ports, Barry B and the boys are doing a remarkable job in a competitive league. It’s no surprise that vultures continue to circle over Cressing Road in envy of some very talented young players, but given time, fingers crossed....the future’s bright! The future’s orange! Socially, it is our intention to mark our commemorative season by organising a Gala Dinner (possibly in July) in the company of a few familiar faces. It’s early days, but we will keep everyone in-the-loop with further details in due course. Also, we are proud to announce that our preferred charity partner for 2018, will be Great Ormond Street Hospital. A few satellite fundraisers are already in the pipeline, to be held in hostelries around town, with Shaun Picton’s ‘Welsh Princess’ in Rayne, first up on Saturday 31st March. Note it in your diary as this will be a good night out, in good company and a fantastic pub.
COYI....!
Friends and Supporters Association 2
FOOTBALL IS NOTHING WITHOUT FANS! IT WOULD be remiss of me to claim everyone conveyed their “seasonal best wishes” at the recent launch of FANZONE. However, on the plus side we have had more than enough encouragement from the people that matter - YOU the fans. We will do our best to report topical issues fairly within the Football Club, and will have no truck with fake news! HAPPY NEW YEAR. COYI
Secretary
Cover photo: Legend, Richard Nott in action recently at the Champions v Legends match.
The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy “They seek him here, they seek him there....” I very much doubt you can find him anywhere, at home games. Who is he? What does he look like? He doesn’t even merit a mention in the Club’s list of office - bearers in the retro matchday programme.....and HE IS THE EDITOR! Will the real Chris Williams stand up please? “That damned elusive Pimpernel”.
Silent Night
A lot of work and planning went into organising our Annual Floodlit Carol Service...but to no avail. We were beaten into submission by a Sunday morning ‘white-out’ and the event had to be cancelled. On behalf of Club Chaplain, Barry Cheeseman, and Alan Stuckey of Community Iron - thanks to all volunteers and foodbank donors. Friends and Supporters Association
3
There seems to be some confusion, memory loss or just plain denial of the facts.......
That is why minutes are kept of all our meetings THURSDAY 14TH APRIL 2016
THURSDAY 21ST APRIL 2016 (unscheduled meeting)
In attendance: Dave Green (Chair), Pete Tilbrook (v/Chair), Bobby Ritchie (Sec), Les Clear (Treas), Barry Shepherd, Alan O’Brien, Kev Christmas, Andy Gill, Steve Townsend, Matt Hawtin, Martin Green, Chris Lewis, Steve Bradd and Richard Nott.
In attendance: Dave Green (Chair), Pete Tilbrook (v/Chair), Bobby Ritchie (Sec), Les Clear (Treas), Barry Shepherd, Alan O’Brien, Kev Christmas, Andy Gill, Steve Townsend, Matt Hawtin, Martin Green, Chris Lewis, Steve Bradd and Richard Nott.
Agenda - Item 4: A request by team manager D. Cowley was accepted and put before the meeting. “Can the FSA fund an overnight stay at Holiday Inn, Wakefield, as preparation for our vital fixture vs Gateshead. An outlay of £500+ would be required.”
Agenda - only item for discussion: The Finance Director has informed team manager D. Cowley, that the club cannot fund an overnight stay in Stoke on Friday 22nd April 2016. A request by team manager D. Cowley was accepted and put before the meeting. “Can the FSA fund an overnight stay at Stoke as preparation for our vital fixture vs Wrexham. An outlay of £500+ would be required.”
A vote in favour of the motion (13 for, 1 abstention) was carried.
A vote in favour of the motion (14-0) was carried. Q. Would BTFC have taken 6 valuable points from those 2 difficult away fixtures by travelling on the day of the game (leaving at 7.00am or earlier for a 3.00pm kick off)? DC clearly didn’t think so! A. Who knows, but the rest is history. On the back of those victories, the club directly benefited to the tune of £70,000 in subsequent games against Altrincham (televised) and Grimsby (televised).
Q. What is contentious about the FACTS? Match programme vs Altrincham: “Iron defy the odds!......to do what we have done, particularly in the recent hectic schedule of games, and being part-time, has been remarkable.” Danny Cowley
Match programme vs Grimsby (a): “It was surmised that Braintree would have to win four games to have any chance of making the play-offs. They did that.”
Friends and Supporters Association
PS. If the FSA is accused of blowing it’s own trumpet, then we are unashamedly guilty, the Club sure as hell won’t blow it for us! IRONMONGERY DIRECT STADIUM CLOCKHOUSE WAY BRAINTREE @FsaBraintree www.braintreefsa.co.uk braintreefsa
4
rom A word f in the man ! e e the str t
STATEMENT - FOR THE RECORD! On behalf of the FSA, I wish to confirm that on Thursday 22nd June, 2017, in the Clubhouse (meeting 15), Kev Christmas and Steve Townsend were unanimously elected (16-0) as Reserve Team Reps to monitor our sponsorship obligations on match days. They carry our full support!
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT’S DUE... At 1.45pm on Saturday 20th January, referee Wayne Cartmel gave our home match against Hemel Hempstead Town the go-ahead. But for the efforts of volunteers on Friday afternoon, evening and Saturday morning, right up until the match referee made his decision, the game was in serious doubt. As usual, Steve Townsend led from the front, but sadly, that repeatedly counts for nothing by ‘those in high places’ who continually rubbish his contribution. Now it’s common knowledge that our Steve has an opinion on most subjects, especially within the Club, and headhunters have had him in their sights on more than one occasion, but those with thin skins need to ‘grow a pair’... he’s one of our own, eh!
Secretary FRIENDS and SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION
Hon President: Barry Shepherd Hon Vice-President: Gordon Humphries Chairman: Peter Tilbrook Secretary: Bobby Ritchie Treasurer: Les Clear Reserve Team Reps: Kev Christmas, Steve Townsend Media Team: Gareth Davis, Daniel Cook, Tom Lacey, Liam Hill, Jason Thomson 5
<<<BACK Extract from an article in IRON LIFE & TIMES on September 12th 2015:
There is no duplication or conflict of interest in what we do and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fact we all get on well together anyway. Outside forces were instrumental in driving a wedge between us, but today we are wiser. COYI.
Today, has anything changed?.... of course not! I think the time has come for both supportersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; groups at the Club to come together and unite.
6
TO THE
FUTURE>>>
<<<BACK
TO THE
FUTURE...2
Q. 20 years on from this article, can today’s Iron afford to play at it’s current level? (Taken from the Daily Telegraph 7th April 1998) From the heady heights of being the country’s leading part-time club only 2 years ago in 2016 and within touching distance of a Wembley play-off final, circumstances have changed at Cressing Road. Don’t get me wrong, we still play at a respectable level in the non-league pyramid, but a review of the word ‘sustainable’ may be required. Consequently, other issues such as the Club’s perennial pursuit of a new ground may be less of a priority than re-establishing the Club itself both on and off the pitch. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
NON-LEAGUE
What the THE PAPER ‘Papers’ say....
Iron THE
“An hour and a half is long enough to win a football match. The ref, the pitch, the wind and rain, the ifs and buts.....bloody dross!” Brian Clough (Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly) “A million wouldn’t buy him......and I’ll be one of them!” Bill Shankly (Liverpool Echo) “People who run clubs (certainly if they are limited companies) have a legal responsibility to run them in accordance with company law” Mad Max (BTFC programme) 7
WHAT’S ON...
ON THE PITCH JANUARY 2018
Saturday 27th RESERVES
FRAMLINGHAM
FEBRUARY 2018
Saturday 3rd RESERVES
WISBECH ST MARY
Saturday 10th 1ST TEAM
BATH CITY
Saturday 17th RESERVES
NORWICH UTD RESERVES Saturday 24th 1ST TEAM
POOLE TOWN MARCH 2018
OFF THE PITCH Down at the Club.....8pm til late FEBRUARY 2018
Friday 9th
GENTLEMEN’S EVENING
Our IRON 12TH MAN group have a Gentlemen’s Evening planned for Friday 9th February in the BTFC Clubhouse. Tickets for this special evening will be £20 and will include a meal. For more information speak to Jerry Carter or contact him via email: sales@braintreetownfc. org.uk
Saturday 10th 1ST TEAM
Saturday 17th
Saturday 17th 1ST TEAM
8pm Live music from this popular covers band. 60’s to the present.
WEALDSTONE WHITEHAWK
RESURRECTED
IRONMONGERY DIRECT STADIUM CLOCKHOUSE WAY BRAINTREE @FsaBraintree www.braintreefsa.co.uk braintreefsa 8
Yet another Cheque-Point! At a recent and hastily arranged fans forum, Les Clear presented the ‘core business’ with a further cheque (£2,000). To date this season the FSA have given the Club £11,000 directly and contributed £3,500 indirectly. Club ‘92
Please can all participants do your best to keep your subs up-to-date. (It’s only £2.50 per week, less than the cost of a pint!). See Les Clear in the Clubhouse on matchdays.
Follow the IRON... Wherever you are! @FsaBraintree
braintreefsa
The Friends and Supporters Association run active Twitter and Facebook pages. It gives you the opportunity to keep up with all the news, latest events, match comments and a platform for your thoughts too!
FOLLOW THE IRON....
online FANZONE is also published online by our magazine designer, Mike Parker Here’s the link to view: https://issuu.com/mpdesign8/docs/fanzone_issue_2
IRONMONGERY DIRECT STADIUM CLOCKHOUSE WAY BRAINTREE @FsaBraintree www.braintreefsa.co.uk braintreefsa email: ironfanzone@gmail.com 9
RED LINES “We remain sensibly ambitious, committed to playing our football at the highest sustainable level”. Board of Directors (August 2016).
Was this our finest hour!
“The key of course is not to spend what you haven’t got in the first place!”. David Ward, Essex Chronicle. “The latest set of accounts logged with Companies House would suggest the Club made a loss of £50k in the year to July 2016. This appears to go against the concept of living within our means”. Always Yellow (March 2017).
IRON 12TH MAN
£2,750 into Brad’s playing budget.
‘Deano’ opens the scoring at Kennilworth Road FANZONE is pleased to announce that our charity partner for 2018 will be Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“A new idea from the Club to help Brad A raffle held at our successful Christmas Disco gave us an aggregate total to date and the lads push on this season”. of £350. Grateful thanks to Mark Samson, Penny and Carol for their efforts on the All funds raised will go towards night. strengthening and improving the playing budget NOW! Well £2,750 Our next GOSH event will be held at The was raised and the Iron 12th Man Welsh Princess in Rayne, hosted by Shaun committee deserves praise for their Picton. RACE NIGHT - Saturday 31st March efforts.....well done! at 7.30pm - details later.
ions
ulat Congrat
10
Congratulations to MP for Braintree, James Cleverly, who has been promoted to Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. Mr Cleverly recently visited us at BTFC to take custody of our on-line petition administered by Daniel Cook. He listened intently to our views and future plans and was positive in his response.
Fish Jones ‘n’ Nash
Iron FANTASY
There’s no ‘I’ in TEAM! Since the start of the season, we have sadly been the target of a defamatory line of ‘fake news’ in the columns of our retro matchday programme. Although it has been brought to the attention of the Board of Directors a few weeks ago, and they are in a position to stop it in it’s tracks, the perpetrator seems to get some gratification from it’s inclusion.
No... not that plastic Tribute Band doing the rounds as a 1970’s supergroup, but the driving force behind our own YOUNG IRON. After 3 years on the road at Long Melford, the rezillo’s returned to the green, green grass of home last August and Iron(s) maiden season so far has proved a big hit with more than one young prodigy in their ranks. It’s said the cream always rises to the top and the only survivor from our 1st season at Stoneylands, Matt Baxter, has forced his way into Brad’s squad. A good move for Matt! But Derek Dick Paul and Graham were also great front men, back in the day.......for Who?
THINK ABOUT IT!
After all, it’s our very own supporters who are under attack, the same supporters whom we humbly represent. Such a pathetic and pointless display of one-upmanship can only harm the Club we all love. Match Programme v East Thurrock Utd
SUPPORTING THE CLUB
Donations, gifts and sponsorship play a pivotal part in the running of any football club and Braintree Town are no different. So far this season (from July 1st) the Club has benefited from the following donations, whom we thank for their support. Anonymous Benefactors BTFC Ind Supporters Club Mr Barry Shepherd IRON 12th MAN Friends & Supporters Assoc (See page 9 for true figures!)
£28,100 £3,738* £3,000 £2,750 £2,200
Mr David Green Mr Martin Green
£200 £2!
*Including £2,000 committed towards the cofunding with the parent club of a refurbishment of the Club End male toilets and the provision of new disabled toilets in the New Year.
THANK YOU ALL! 11
14 RICHARD ‘THE Cheers LEGEND’ NOTT
CLUB SHOP Mr
£50
Kit Room
Steve Townsend Ken Finlay
Melvyn Hicks
Bobby Ritchie
Dawn Hicks John Pegram
Chelmsford Indoor Market
Ladies Darts ‘B’ Team .
34
ThorogoodDecor 01376 322111
43
Joshua Clarke
Elizabeth Shepherd
Alan Robson
29
Daniel Cook
Jeff & Julie Young
Clare Shepherd
38
Ladies Darts ‘A’ Team
Stan Ryman
Shady Townsend
AWAY TOILETS £50
Pam Clarke
Peter Tilbrook
63
64
Ross Shepherd 01376 343261 www.amostravel.co.uk
62
Alan Stuckey
Jane Gilbert
Charlie Cooper
74
Chris Lewis
Isabelle Cooper
Luke Nash
Tom Lacey
79
Alan Stuckey
Les Clear
Philip Shepherd
84
Ellie Cooper
86
Ann Clear
Alan Stuckey
91
Katie Cooper
Christine Creation
94
Kit Room
Peter Foster
102
MEDIA TEAM
Kevin Cooper 07776 General Builder 250624
106
The Ram “28”
Hat City Chelmsford Indoor Market
GLASS SOLUTIONS 07584 431990
Braintree Town Youth & Girls FC
THE SHED £75
‘The Hornet’
Denver, Colorado
AWAY DUGOUT £25
Neil
Matt Hawtin
Stacie Gilbert
Iron Fist
Manor Works
Penny Durgan
Diane Shepherd
01376 334028
Braintree Town ‘U12 HORNETS’
KW Glass Ltd
Braintree Town Reserves
Barry Shepherd
Scott Shepherd
Ram’s TAXI 07988887871
Chelmsford Indoor Market
Mr Cheers 07958 317314
OZBRIT
Jeff’s Carpets & Foam
Hat City
Bobby Ritchie
CLUB SHOP £50
FSA
Harry Drew
THEAWAY LUNCH LODGE BURGER BAR 07958£50 317314 Terms and condition apply. See Bobby Ritchie or Les Clear for details. For perimiter Squares see Bobby Ritchie to confirm availability. Requested squares cannot be guaranteed! Squares will be allocated once payment has been received. Fanzone logo and magazine © 2018 by Mike Parker (07846 207925). All rights reserved.