Issue Eleven
The Official Programme For Romulus F.C. w w w. R O M U L U S F C . c o m
Romulus F.C. v Lichfield City F.C. Monday 22nd January 2024 - 19:45 MFL Premier Division
Programme Disclaimer Romulus Football Club and the editor of this programme have taken the greatest of care to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this programme, but cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, or errors in respect of the information provided within this programme. The views expressed in this programme are of the responsibility of the respective authors, and do not represent the views of the editor or those of Romulus Football Club.
Ashley Jackson Cameron Lee Dan Okojie Daniel O'Sullivan Dean Morris Finley Douglas Georgie Manning Harry Dixon Harry Goode Isai Marselia Jack Sang James Bowen Joe Phillips Jordan Francis Khalil Harrison Lewis Gwilliams Louie O'Connor Louis Lake Mason Stevens Moussa Koita Petref Barjamaj Philip Male Remie Birch Robert Hanna Ryan Inman Ryan Nesbitt Stephen Palmer
Alex Ryder Alfie Clarke Cameron Dunn Daniel Lomas Daniel Smith Dominic Lewis Jack Edwards James Beeson Jamie Elkes Jonathan Gould Jordan Clement Joseph Haines Joshua Wykes Jude Taylor Kieran Francis Kyle Baxter Kyle Patterson Leighton McMenemy Lewi Burnside Liam Kirton Louis Baker Luke Childs Ronnie Holt
Shirt: Red/White Shorts: Red/White Socks: Red Goalkeeper: Green
Shirt: Orange Shorts: Black Socks: Orange Goalkeeper: Pink
Referee: Simon King Assistant Referee: Mark Chester Assistant Referee: Robert Brown
A Message From Club Chairman Richard Evans Welcome to this Monday night Midland Football League match at home to Lichfield City F.C. This piece was written before the Whitchurch away match on Saturday, so hopefully we will have won our third match in a row before tonight’s fixture. We have turned the corner I hope and started getting wins under our belt again, after good away wins at Stone and Stapenhill, so let’s hope we can carry on our form tonight. Lichfield have beaten us twice this season, so we should be really fired up for this match and I’m hoping the players match the managements hunger to win and get the 3 points that are at stake today.
We do need a string of wins to get into the play offs which was our minimum aim again this season and I feel confident Neil and the lads will have the tenacity and confidence to do this for us all at the club. Next up for the Roms at home is Highgate United on the 10th February at 15:00 and we hope to see you all there. Up the Roms and many thanks for all your help. UTR
Richard
Romulus F.C. Who’s Who
Chairman & Club Owner: Richard Evans Vice Chairman: George Evans Club Founder & Vice President Emeritus: Roger Evans Vice President: Paul Dockerill Club Secretary: Justin Holt Treasurer: Peter Morgan Committee Members Richard Evans, Roger Evans, George Evans, Richard Clarke, Paul Dockerill, Adam Holt, Justin Holt, Gary Davis, Jodie Horsfall Head of Matchday Operations: Justin Holt Matchday Secretary: Justin Holt Matchday Programme & Team Sheet Production & Design: Justin Holt Stadium Announcer: Justin Holt Official Club Photographer: Richard “Trickie” Clarke Gateman: Gary Davis Hospitality/Raffle: Susan Davis First Team Manager: Neil Tooth Assistant Manager: Phil Male Coach: Royston Richardson, Joe Ballinger, Andy Ling. Physio: Emily Wallbanks The Romulus F.C. College Chairman: Richard Evans Academy Manager: Luke Rowe Welfare Officer: Richard Evans Romulus Sunday Manager: George Evans Under 15s Team Manager: Luke Rowe Under 8s Team Manager: Adam Awan Media & Marketing Manager: Justin Holt Chief Club Journalist: Adam Holt Website & Mobile App Architect/Designer: Justin Holt Club Archivist, Historian & Statistician: Justin Holt
www.RomulusFC.com
Now I'm not claiming to be the Martin Lewis money expert of football, but last week with Romulus it once again dawned on me that non-league football can provide entertainment at a fraction of the cost of the professional game. Last week the Roms were on their travels playing in the league and cup with both games providing plenty of talking points and some great football on view. After witnessing both matches and assessing without Romulus tinted glasses it was fair to say each of those games provided enjoyable football that was well worth the admission fee. Compared to what you may pay higher up the pyramid it was bargain football with plenty of thrills. Okay Roms won both games so yes makes it more appealing to our fans, but that's football at whatever level. All teams had great spells in the games and results could have gone anywhere in those last two encounters for Roms which gave the matches the excitement in both contests. Anyway, all this made me think about the current climate and the ongoing cost of living crisis which still seems well and truly with us at this moment in time. Add in the cost of Christmas to a lot of families and I am sure plenty are looking at ways to save the pounds this coming year. Well, I cannot calculate energy price caps or the current interest rates for the banks, but you do not need to be an economics expert to work out that plenty of money can be saved if you want a day out at football still, with Premiere and EFL prices being possibly too much on the wallet. The answer is quite simple: affordable football can be found up and down the country at local non-league clubs. For less than £10 a parent can watch Romulus play with a kid and buy a club badge still getting a quid change. Okay Premiership football is probably at this time the greatest football league in the world, but the cheapest tickets on average are around £60 going up to nearly a grand to be entertained by the beautiful game. Even in the EFL Division 2 tickets hover around the £30 mark. Well, if you are looking at ways this year to curb your spending and still need a football fix then maybe the solution is give non-league football a try instead. For a few pounds you might be pleasantly surprised at what you get for your buck and hopefully today's game might just sway you to following your local grassroots team and of course goes without saying from me that Romulus Football Club would love to see you around this season. Up the ROMS,
T rickie
Roger Evans Club President Emeritus What a month for our football club. The weather really turned us upside down, and for Neil and his management team it must be so frustrating, as it must be for our players, I'm sure they must get really mad at not being able to get some game time. I really can't wait to get to Coles Lane. As a club we have many good memories and achievements gained there. It is a shame that Castle Vale hasn't worked out how we thought it would, but as they say, "that's football." The one thing I'm very pleased about is to see our academy is actually reviving back to where we were, must congratulate our academy manager Luke for his really competent work and a very pleasing thing is to see our first team manager in attendance at academy games, all who represent Roms are certainly being looked at and helped to become better footballers and also improve their academic abilities.
I can only thank Richard for all of his hard work for this club that many people don't see. Without his input, we would definitely be still in the backwoods and lower levels. Our volunteers are amazing, l can only give them my heartfelt thanks for everything that they do. Gary, Sue and kids do so many things, Mr Redditch Tricky is never far from a camera and fund raising in some way, and l haven't forgotten Mr Everything, better known as Justin Holt, who is accompanied by son Adam. No question all are definitely appreciated so much, and l haven't forgotten Jodie and Tannoy Tom. Romulus has progressed and will do so more with all these people on board. Up The Roms, Roger
WWW.ROMULUSFC.COM
Romulus Sunday By George Evans Romulus Sunday was founded in 2020, originally playing in division 3 of the Sutton district league. After being promoted 3 divisions in 3 years, we will this season be competing in the premier division and are hopeful that we can continue to impress and compete in any league. There is no doubt that the competition we will face this year will be the hardest yet, but with crop of lads that we have, and the environment we have created over the years, we all know that we are more than capable of competing against any Sunday side on our day. Knowing what you can do and actually doing it are two very different things. With arguably the youngest side in the league, consistency is going to be our biggest challenge this year and that’s exactly what will be demanded from everyone involved. We pride ourselves on giving young lads the opportunity to get valuable experience in men’s football and attempt to create a genuine pathway into first team football for them, wherever that may be. But first and foremost, we make sure that we have a set up in place that allows everyone to enjoy their football. That’s what it will always come down to. If you’d like to learn more about our Sunday side or register your interest in becoming a part of it, in whatever capacity, please contact georgeevans@romulusacademy.co.uk. Looking forward to this season, big challenge ahead. UTRs!
George
Trickie Talk - Reddi-Roms Revival Back in 2009 a unique link was created and forged a strange but wonderful link between North Birmingham Roms and Redditch new town. Since then, there has been a number of Redditch folk watching Romulus Football Club and recently we have seen the numbers start to come back to watch Roms from the town just south of the second city. The back story started with journalist Andrew Mitchell and a group of disgruntled Redditch United fans back in the 2008/09 season. Before I go any further, I would like to highlight that in the end Redditch did eventually turn it around with off field activities. Anyway, Mitchell was a budding journo who along with a small band of Reds fans decided to make a pact not to follow their hometown when turmoil looked like it may destroy the club. Andy himself needed the work experience as press officer to carry on to get into Uni to further his career and found himself assigned Romulus Football Club where he began covering the Roms from match reports to other press releases. Mr. Mitchell knew I was a former professional photographer and had also agreed to stop working and supporting United. After several phone calls I was recently informed I agreed to take in some games with my camera at Coles Lane where we will return next season to the home of Sutton Coldfield and back then where Romulus played in the Northern Premier League.
I was always in my head just going to a few games and that would be it, but for me a love affair with the club soon blossomed. From the ethos of the Roms through to the people I began to work alongside it soon became my club and with that over the early times a small band of Redditch mates joined me in watching the mighty Roms. For the first few seasons quiet, an array have come over, but in recent times only Matt Larkins has been my sidekick helping out the club he too has found an affection for. Well fast forward to this season and we have seen a resurgence of football fans from the new town start to follow the Roms again. A couple of young school lads from back at the start who now all grown up decided to drive to a few games recently and started to watch and take an interest again. Some new faces also have got hooked and it seems that now we are witnessing more Redditch folk taking in the odd games here and there with Romulus Football Club. Tonight, no doubt a minority in the crowd will surely be from the town of Worcestershire Redditch making this small unique fanbase a little part of Roms great history. Well, whether you're from Birmingham or Redditch please sit back for some cup action under the lights and let's entertain you all. UTR,
T rickie.
Trickie Talk Reddi-Roms Revival
Everyone at Romulus F.C. would like to thank Cube Contracts, our away shirt main sponsor, for their valued and appreciated support. Cube Contracts deliver construction & refurbishment projects to the Education, Shopfitting, Commercial, Industrial, Pharmaceutical & Aerospace Sectors. Cube Contracts are based in Birmingham but operate all over the UK. The company director and all our staff and suppliers have worked within these sectors for many years. We have formed Strong relationships with all our suppliers over these years meaning we can provide you with the quality and trusted services that you Require and deserve. We can operate as main contractor, so you give us your plans and we take control and bring in all trades that are required to complete your project. We can also work alongside nominated contractors. By suppling our clients with High standards, we as a company set. Cube contracts are continuing to see return business from clients we have worked with for many years and also clients who we have just started to work with since the formation of Cube contracts. Please get in touch for a no obligation chat or arrange a meeting to see how we can work together and improve your spaces. We look forward to working with you also.
Cube Contracts Enterprise Centre 1 Hedingham Grove Birmingham B37 7TP 0121 769 0875 hello@cubecontracts.co.uk
What a time to join the Romulus Football Education Programme for 16-19 year olds! This is a post education programme for year 11s leaving school + people have left school within the past year or 2 years! Call 07552 232 783 to register your interests for the next Open Trial Day!