ROYSTON TOWN vs ALVECHURCH - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2021

THE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION CENTRAL

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs ALVECHURCH FC Saturday 11th September 2021 Kick Off: 3.00pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome this afternoon’s opponents Alvechurch FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

We also welcome this afternoon’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

TODAY'S MATCH SPONSOR

https://www.jewson.co.uk/

Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary

Founded 1875 Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY

07772 086709

Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board

Webmaster Programme Editor Official Photographer

email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk Jeff Gill Angela Baulk Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery Steve Endacott Angela Baulk Kevin Richards

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager Reserve Team Manager U18 Team Managers Women's Team Manager Vets Team Manager

Steve Castle Chris Watters Lewis Endacott Dan Evans/Matt Campany Lewis Endacott Lee Wilkinson

Ground

Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204

Colours

First XI Reserves U18 Women's Vets

White/Black/White White/Black/White White/Black/Black White/Black/White White/Black/Black

Members of: The Hertfordshire Football Association Southern League Premier Division The Herts Senior County League Thurlow Nunn Youth League Eastern Region Women’s Football League The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League Royston Town Football Club is an unincorporated association controlled by its members under the Constitution of RTFC

CLUB HONOURS WINNERS Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73 Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977 South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979 South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980 Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989 Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990 South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993 South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999 Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005 KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007 South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009 KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010 BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011 BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011 Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011 South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012 South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012 Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014 Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013 Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15 Suburban Premier League 2015-16 Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16 Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17

RUNNERS UP South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979 Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009 South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982 North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983 South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990 Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993 North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994 South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996 Herts F.A. Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15 Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002 KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011 Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014 Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15 Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16

SO WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN? The history of Royston Town FC After some intensive research, the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford.

The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time.

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77.

In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking. Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980. The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

After a period in the doldrums that culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex-Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk 1st Team Coach in November 2007.

Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from the bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League.

The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best sets of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103.

The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with winning the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central.

In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years, it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table. Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position. In the very last game of the season a playoff was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87-minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost.

In our second season at this level, our steady progress to claim a place in the playoff zone was given a severe jolt when Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health at the beginning of November. The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process, the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town.

Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1.

As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town. From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the playoff places.

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play – offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season. That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the play- off semi final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers.

After an incident packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way.

We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club.However three games in succession proved our down fall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1.

Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh Castiglione extended runs in the first team.

However the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence.

Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0.

With cup football out of the way the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues.

Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club will be playing at its highest level in its 142 year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceeded all expectations in our first season at Step 3.

Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventually play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh place finish. The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals.A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties. We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup were we played Boreham Wood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1.

Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League.

Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a playoff spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances.

We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market.

Season 2019/20 will go down in the Club’s history as one of the most successful and exciting but ultimately one which ended in bitter disappointment.

Steve Castle was quick to ensure we had players who were proven goal scorers and the arrival of Matt Bateman, Brandon Adams and Claudio Ofosu did not disappoint. Perhaps the only sadness that our young and highly talented left wing-back Joe Newton had created so much interest from EFL Clubs that in the end, it was inevitable he would have to leave us and Joe was signed by Coventry City.

No Crows fans will ever forget the team's brilliant performances in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy and although our FA Cup run ended with defeat to the very talented Maldon and Tiptree in front of a record crowd for Garden Walk of 1152. The interest generated in the Crows both locally and beyond was immense and set the scene for what was to come in the FA Trophy. It all started with very comfortable wins against Brightlingsea Regent and Haywards Heath and then were drawn away at Step 2 table-topping Wealdstone which for many was one of the games of the season as Royston shot into a 2- 0 lead before Wealdstone hit back to pull the tie level 2-2. In spite of being under constant pressure, the Crows mounted a great counterattack down the left and the cross was despatched by Brandon Adams to give the Crow’s victory 3-2. What followed was truly historic with home wins against Step 2 teams Boreham Wood 2-0, Chester 3-0 and away at National League Ebbsfleet 2-0, to set up a quarter-final tie away at Concord Rangers. In the run-up to the game, the rain had been falling heavily but our opponents declared the pitch playable and the invasion of six coach loads of Royston supporters and a convoy of cars and mini-buses descended on Canvey Island. As we started arriving for the kick-off the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and with a sense of extreme disappointment and also a lot of anger we all returned home. The following Tuesday the game went ahead but it was not to be and we were defeated 2-1. There is no doubt the Clubs achievements in the FA Trophy marked a watershed in our history which will be remembered for a very long time.

Running alongside the cup success it was easy to forget that we had got ourselves in contention to win the League with a run of only two defeats in 20 league fixtures. With 3 games in hand and only 2 points behind Peterborough Sports and Tamworth and playing some of our best football, we looked nailed on to win the League. Then out of the blue, the Covid crisis hit all levels of football and with what many felt was indecent haste the League decided to null and void the whole season.

All our achievements were suddenly for nothing and the taste of bitter disappointment amongst all supporters of the Crows was very hard to swallow.

Season 2020/21: As the pandemic took hold it seemed like the chances of seeing a new season start were remote but by summer 2020 there had been a massive improvement and by July the lockdown ended albeit with a host of restrictions in place.

By the time we had assembled a squad, we were without key players such as Matt Bateman who moved to Hemel Hempstead and Claudio Ofosu who joined Hartlepool and with a lot of the momentum and energy generated by the now-defunct season now dissipated we were finding it hard to get going again. In the League, we seemed to slip into the habit of conceding goals when in a winning position and a string of draws meant we languished in the lower half of the division.

The FA cup again promised to provide excitement with wins against Newmarket, Wroxham and AFC Stamford before losing to our old rivals Bishops Stortford. We won our first two ties in the FA Trophy against Hythe Town and Tamworth before going out 3-2 away at Brackley by which time the League season was yet again declared null and void as the second wave of Covid took its stranglehold.

A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 1875 - 2012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow following more than five years of painstaking research and can be purchased via the Club.

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS Joe Welch (Goalkeeper) Joined us from Chelmsford City in 2016/17, Joe started his career at Southend United before joining Histon where he played over 50 games and earned a loan deal at Stevenage. Joe’s other clubs include Ebbsfleet, Bromley and St Albans City.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Versatile defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading. Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team during the 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before moving to Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Adam Murray (Defender) Adam joined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons at Cambridge City where he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into the squad and has proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Ronnie Henry (Defender) Signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at Billericay Town. Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to play 502 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells either side of two seasons at Luton Town.

Daniel Brathwaite (Defender) Club skipper, Dan joined the Crows from Chesham United for the start of 2015/16.

He is an experienced defender whose former clubs include Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic.

Dan Newton (Defender) Joined the Crows early into season 2020/21, Centre-Back Dan's previous clubs were Biggleswade FC and Northwood. He is a calm and confident defender and cousin of former Crow Joe Newton.

James Brighton (Defender) Experienced full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where he had spent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City & Cambridge United.

Scott Bridges (Midfield) Scott re-joined the Crows in season 2020/21 after spending the previous season at Hayes & Yeading, having been a Crow for four years previously, scoring 71 goals in 194 appearances. Originally with Aston Villa until 2007, Scott then played most of his football at Banbury United.

Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile, hard-working and tough-tackling midfielder or defender, Spyros re-joined The Crows in 2018/19 after a season away at Hayes & Yeading, he previously played just under 100 games for us from 2013 during his first spell at Garden Walk.

Tom Newman (Midfield) Joined the Crows at the start of 2018/19, Tom has impressed when called upon and has chipped in with some useful goals from midfield.

Isa Rotimi (Midfield) Young midfielder who signed for the Crows at the beginning of season 2019/20, Isa previously spent two seasons at Colney Heath.

SUPPLIERS OF PRIZES FOR THE FAMOUS ROYSTON TOWN FC MEAT RAFFLE

Dan Green (Midfield) Joined us in December 2018 from Chesham United, Dan is an experienced midfielder whose other previous clubs include St Albans City and Dunstable Town.

Brandon Adams (Forward) Signed for the Crows in 2019, Brandon previously spent four years at Queens Park Rangers which included loan deals at Malaysian club Perlis and Linfield in Northern Ireland. After leaving the R’s in 2018 Brandon dropped into non-league hoping to catch the eye of pro clubs and has certainty impressed. After a short stint at Enfield Town he moved to Ware in 2018/19 and bagged an impressive 23 league goals in 25 games.

Josh Williams (Forward) Signed for the Crows at the start of last season after spending the previous season at Ware, where he scored 17 goals in 30 appearances, Josh previously played for FC Romania.

Isaac Galliford (Forward) Previously with Hitchin Town, St Neots Town & Hemel Hempstead after starting out with Luton Town. Isaac signed for us for the beginning of last season. Whilst with The Canaries Isaac’s performances earned him an England ‘C’ call-up.

Matt Bateman (Forward) Re-joined us for the start this season from Hemel Hempstead, where he spent last season after moving from the Crows. Matt signed for the Crows at the start of season 2019/20 and scored an impressive 24 goals in 41 games during that season to earn his move to Hemel. Previous to that Matt played a big part in Berkhamsted’s push for promotion in 2018/19 where he netted 43 times in 54 appearances for The Comrades.

Harry Draper (Forward) Signed for the Crows on loan from Stevenage at the start of this season. Harry has been with Stevenage from the age of eight, he signed his first professional deal at Boro’ in summer 2019 and then spent that season on loan at Hitchin Town.

Finlay Titchmarsh (Defender) Young defender who signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season, Finlay was originally with Barnet before having spells with Staines Town and Ware.

COME ON

YOU

CROWS!

THEY THINK IT'S HALL OVER...IT IS NOW! Mildenhall Town match report

by Duncan Easley ROYSTON TOWN 1 MILDENHALL TOWN 2 Saturday 4th September 2021

Royston were humbled by step 5 Mildenhall as they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

There was no hint of the shock to come as the Crows started well and were rewarded in the 13th minute, as Isaac Galliford rifled home, following up Matt Bateman’s shot that had been well saved by Josh Pope.

Rather than push on and kill the game off, the Crows retreated and Mildenhall were level 6 minutes later, as a well-flighted free-kick into the box by Scott Chaplin was headed home by Dan Brown.

Opportunities from then on were at a premium, as although having a lot of possession, Royston became fairly predictable playing long balls forward and into the box that were easily dealt with by Luke Butcher and Casey Phillips at the heart of the away defence.

What turned out to be the winning goal arrived in the 79th minute as Darryl Coakley’s deflected free-kick wrong-footed Joe Welch in the home goal, nestling in the far corner, much to the delight of the vocal travelling fans.

The Crows were handed a golden opportunity to take the tie to a replay, but Harry Draper’s 89th penalty was easily saved by Pope who was also alert to save the follow-up effort from Adam Murray.

The home side continued to press, as Butcher headed a James Brighton cross off the line and Makai Murray’s goalbound shot was deflected wide. The ensuing corner kick saw Adam Murray’s header saved by Pope, with the follow-up header from Spyros Mentis just clearing the crossbar, completing a miserable afternoon for the Crows.

Royston: 1-Welch, 7-Titchmarsh, 14-Brighton, 5-Murray A ©, 2-Asafu-Adjaye, 4-Bridges, 19-Mentis, 16Rotimi (12-Murray M 65), 9-Adams (17-Willams 70), 10-Bateman (8-Draper 61), 11-Galliford Unused: 3-Brathwaite, 15-Brown, 17-Towner, 20-Newton

TODAY'S OPPONENTS Alvechurch FC Club History Alvechurch - The Early Years The earliest mention of a Football Club in Alvechurch dates back to 1913 when a team called Alvechurch Juniors was recorded. By the 1920s, the team were known as Alvechurch Swifts and were playing football on Crown Meadow and using the Red Lion Inn as their HQ. 1926 brought the General Strike followed by the depression. The club folded until late in 1929 when a team of young players, resurrected the Alvechurch Juniors name but was disbanded following the outbreak of war.

It took a while after the war for Alvechurch Football Club to re-establish itself. The club became the hub of village life and matches were still being played at the Meadows, but as this venue belonged to the village no admission charge could be made. So, when the opportunity arose to move to a new ground at the Guants, situated below the Church, off Snake Lane, the club took it. But when the land was required for building houses a further move was necessary. Mr Philip Palmer sold the field adjoining his house on Redditch Road to the club for £1,000. As a result of determined fundraising, the club was able to raise this sum in five years, this providing a permanent home – Lye Meadow.

Lye Meadow - The Glory Years The move to Lye Meadow in 1957 was the turning point in the club’s history and it went from strength to strength. In 1961 under the guidance of Rhys Davies, they joined the Worcestershire Football (now Midland) Combination and claimed their first league title the following year. In twelve seasons they won the championship four times and were runners-up on five other occasions. They also claimed the League Challenge Cup five times and were runners-up twice in this period. The club captured the imagination and enthusiasm of the Midlands in the mid-sixties with the team’s giant-killing runs in the FA Amateur Cup. In the 1964/65 season, Alvechurch were the first side in the history of the Worcestershire FA to reach the quarter-finals, before losing 3-1 at home to Enfield before an estimated crowd of 16,000. The following season they were one step from Wembley, reaching the semi-final, played at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge before losing 1-0 to Wealdstone in front of a 14,225 gate.

In their second year in the FA Cup Church reached the 1st round proper in 1971/72 after the 11 hour, 6 match marathon in the Fourth Qualifying Round against Oxford City. This tie is now recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. However, Alvechurch then went down 4-2 to Aldershot in the first round proper, in a match that was the 12th in 3 weeks for some of the team.

1973/74 was the most successful season in the club’s history. Joining the West Midlands (Regional) League, the club won the Premier Division Championship, the League Challenge Cup, the Birmingham Senior Amateur Cup and the Worcestershire Senior Cup. In the FA Cup Church reached the Third Round Proper, going down 4-2 at Bradford City after beating Exeter City at St James Park in the First Round Proper.

The club gained entry into the Southern League for the 1978/79 season and as the only true village club playing in the league finished in a creditable third position. 1980/81 saw another milestone for Alvechurch with the winning of the Midland Division and the Championship of the Southern League having beaten Southern Division Champions Dartford in the two-legged final.

The 1981/82 season produced a seesaw battle to retain the League Championship but Nuneaton finished the stronger to push Alvechurch into the runners-up position. During that season Alan Smith gained international honours when representing the England Non-league team and subsequently joined Leicester City. He then joined Arsenal for £800,000 where he gained full international honours playing for England.

It was back to success in the 1982/83 season when having gained promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, the club won the Southern League Cup following a 7-2 aggregate win against Waterlooville. The club achieved its highest Southern Premier league finish in 1985/86, finishing 4th.

The Decline Following the demise of benefactor Philip Palmer and the president Alan Wiseman, the club was relegated to the Midland Division of the Southern League at the end of the 1989/90 season, and there began a gradual decline. Geoff Turton of the Rockin’ Berries pop group stepped in to keep the club alive aided by the sale of Andy Comyn to Aston Villa for a club-record fee of £30,000.

At the end of the 1991/92 season, the club was relegated to the WMRL Premier Division. Financial speculators gained control of the club in 1992 resulting in closure the following November 1993.

The Resurrection In 1994 a dedicated band of supporters resurrected the club as Alvechurch Villa, rebuilding the seated stand and refurbishing the clubhouse to gain admission to the Midland Combination Premier Division, finishing in fifth position in the league. The team went onto reach the League Cup Final the following season, only to lose out to League Champions Bloxwich Town.

In 1996 the club reverted back to its original name and became simply, Alvechurch F.C. The next few seasons were a struggle but the 2000/01 season ended with the club's first trophy since being reformed when the Smedley Crook Cup was won.

Season 2001/02 introduced the management duo of Andy Hibbert and Neil Bryan, after a management and player exodus. The club struggled through the season, just escaping relegation finishing 20th. The board kept faith however and season 2002/03 witnessed Church’s best season in 20 years with the League and Cup double, winning the Midland Combination Premier League and Challenge Cup, a feat last completed in 1971/72. At the end of the season, 'Church were promoted into the Midland Football Alliance.

The MFA years In season 2003/04 the Worcestershire Senior Urn was won for the first time and then retained the following season. In season 2009/10 Church reached their highest league position since reforming by finishing 7th in the Midland Football Alliance. In the cup, the Worcestershire Senior Urn was won for the 4th time of asking and the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup was reached, falling to a stoppage-time winner against Nuneaton Town.

Season 2010/11 proved to be a tumultuous one – with three sets of managers running the first team throughout the campaign. Church’s lowest MFA finish resulted in a run of poor results leading up to the end of the season could have seen the club in relegation trouble – but just enough points had been secured in the first half of the campaign proved sufficient to maintain league status.

A new beginning - The MFL 2014/15 saw the Midland Football Alliance and Midland Combination Leagues merge into the newly formed, Midland Football League, with Alvechurch playing in the Premier Division. The club finished a disappointing 15th.

The Revival 2015/16 saw the start of the Church revival, with yet another new management team in place, with former Tividale, title-winning management team of Ian Long and his assistant, Richard Colwell taking charge and bringing most of their squad with them from Tividale. The club amassed a record of 101 points and 99 goals scored, finishing runners-up to phoenix club, Hereford F.C. The club also won the Worcester Senior Urn, beating Bromsgrove Sporting 3-0 in the final.

2016/17 saw the club finally win the Midland Football League Premier Division, beating Coleshill Town by six points with 92 points to gain promotion to step 4. They won the league and cup double by beating Hinckley AFC 2-1 in the Polymac Packaging League Cup Final at Walsall F.C. and completed a historic treble when they beat Wednesfield 4-1 in the final of the J.W. Hunt Cup at Molineux.

2017/18 saw the club promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South and achieve back to back promotions, finishing runners up to Basford United and gaining promotion to Step 3 at the first attempt.

2018/19 with the re-organisation of Non-league at steps 3-4, the club competed in the new Southern League Premier Division Central. After finishing 4th, they beat Stourbridge 2-1 in the play-off semifinal, before losing to Kings Lynn Town 3-0 in the final. They also beat Redditch United pre-season, to claim the Worcester Senior Cup for the first time since 1977.

The Covid Years 2019/20 started under new management with Darren Byfield taking over after Ian Long took his staff and the majority of the team to Stourbridge. Dean Holtham took over in November, but with only 4 league wins from 30 games, the team found themselves in deep relegation trouble, before Ian Long returned for 1 game in March. Covid-19 put a premature end to the season and saved Church from almost certain relegation.

2020/21 saw Church play only 9 league games before the season was again cut short due to the Covid pandemic.

2021/22 looks forward to getting back to normal and continuing our proud history

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WHO ARE YA? Alvechurch FC Player Pen Pics

Dan Jezeph – Goalkeeper DoB: 25/12/97 Place of Birth: Croydon Previous Clubs: Worcester City, Tamworth, Walsall Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Joined pre-season from Worcester City and has established himself quickly as #1 Ollie Taylor – Goalkeeper DoB: Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Competitive Church Debut: Profile:Injured pre-season and on road to recovery Joshua Ezewele – Full Back DoB: 21/01/97 Place of Birth: Birmingham Previous Clubs: Bromsgrove Sporting, Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Fylde, Kidderminster, Yeovil Town, WBA Competitive Church Debut: Kidderminster Harrier in WFA Senior Cup on 17/07/18.

Profile: Second spell at Church. Can play wing back or full back Jamie Ashmore – Full Back DoB: 12/01/96 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Halesowen Town, Barwell, Redditch, Alvechurch, Bedworth Competitive Church Debut: v Studley in WFA Senior Urn on 27/09/16 Profile: Returned to Church and made scoring debut at Lowestoft on 28/08/21 Ben Cassidy – Full Back DoB: 08/02/02 Place of Birth: Birmingham Previous Clubs: Competitive Church Debut: v Stratford Town on 16/10/18 Profile: Came through our youth team where he made his name as a striker, but has adapted to full/wing back role with ease

Ethan Sephton – Full Back DoB 14/05/00 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Derby County, Solihull, Alvechurch Competitive Church Debut: Kidderminster Harriers (FA Cup) on 03/10/20 Profile: Another product of our youth setup before leaving to join Solihull and then Derby County Academy.

Joe Hull – Centre Back DoB 18/12/91 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Bromsgrove Sporting, Rushall Olympic, Stourbridge, Kidderminster Harriers, Redditch United, Halesowen Town Competitive Church Debut: Lowestoft Town on 07/12/19 Profile: Mr Dependable. Experienced centre back Jamie Willets – Centre Back DoB 02/08/92 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Hereford, Stourport Swifts Competitive Church Debut: Coventry United on 29/10/16 Profile: Skip is one of the first names on your teamsheet, Leads by example Ethan Patterson – Centre Back DoB: 12/11/00 Place of Birth: Redditch Previous Clubs: Aston Villa, Throttur Vogum Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Ex Aston Villa academy captain. Bright future ahead for this lad.

Ash Carter – Centre Back DoB: 12/09/95 Place of Birth: Birmingham Previous Clubs: Halesowen Town, Stourbridge, Nuneaton, Alvechurch, Kidderminster, Tamworth, Chesterfield, Wolves Competitive Church Debut: v Leek Town on 12/08/17 Profile: Another to return to the Church after leaving. Peach of a left foot.

Dave Bellis – Midfield DoB 05/01/91 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Tividale Competitive Church Debut: AFC Wulfrunians on 08/08/15 Profile: Another Mr Dependable who is one of the first on your team sheet. An experienced midfielder whom you notice more when he’s not playing Tom Turton – Midfield DoB 04/01/94 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Worcester City, Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Sutton C, Romulus, WBA Competitive Church Debut: v Haughmond in FA Cup on 06/08/16 Profile: ‘Teckers’ is a great passer of the ball. Left the club and rejoined Peter Taylor – Midfield DoB 01/09/00 Place of Birth: Birmingham Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, WBA Competitive Church Debut: Profile: Bad injury has ruled him out so far but on road to a return

Dylan Barkers – Midfield DoB 04/06/00 Place of Birth: Rotterdam Previous Clubs: Guiseley, Solihull Moors (currently on loan from Cheltenham) Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Signed his first pro contract with Cheltenham Town and is currently on loan Nick Kanina – Midfield DoB: Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Birmingham City Competitive Church Debut: 30/08/21 v Redditch United Profile: Ex Blues academy who impressed pre-season, before picking up injury Sam McLintock – Midfield/Striker DoB 14/07/00 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Coleshill Town Competitive Church Debut: Needham Market on 24/10/20 Profile: Gifted baller with an eye for goal. Talent should take him further in the game Zak Brown – Midfield DoB: 26/09/00 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: WBA Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Released by WBA in the summer and looking to make his way back into the pro game Danny Waldron – Striker DoB: 11/05/96 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Leamington, Rushall Olympic, Halesowen Town Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Signed from Leamington. Quick and powerful with an eye for goal Tristan Dunkley – Striker DoB: 04/10/92 Place of Birth: Wolverhampton Previous Clubs: Barwell, Alvechurch, Tamworth, Rushall, Solihull Moors, Hednesford, Halesowen, Worcester City, Loughborough Competitive Church Debut: Profile: Returns to Church after doing the rounds. Quick and strong Anthony Dwyer – Striker DoB: 13/12/96 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Walsall Wood, Rushall Olympic, Hednesford, Stourbridge, Tamworth, Barwell, Leamington, Telford, Matlock, Stafford, Mansfield Competitive Church Debut: 28/08/21 v Lowestoft Town Profile: Started pre-season, but left to join Rushall, before returning to Church Luke Yates – Striker DoB: 05/07/99 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Halesowen Town, Redditch, Alvechurch, Wednesfield Competitive Church Debut: v Leek Town on 12/08/17 Profile: Returns for his second spell after leaving. Great feet and an eye for goal

Charlie Dowd – Winger

DoB: 10/09/00 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Bromsgrove Sporting, Burton Albion Competitive Church Debut: St Ives Town on 14/08/21 Profile: Started at Burton before joining Bromsgrove, where he always looked a danger playing against us. Loves taking people on.

Colin Smith – Striker

DoB: 02/11/96 Place of Birth: Previous Clubs: Competitive Church Debut: Bromsgrove Sporting on 17/08/21 Profile: Strong old fashion centre forward who is looking to make his mark

Ian Long – Manager

DoB: 05/11/75 Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Tividale Joined Church: 2015 & 2020 Profile: Second spell at Church after leaving to join Stourbridge. Did wonders here the first time, including back to back promotions to take Church to where they are now. A passionate manager who is only interested in winning.

Richard Colwell – Assistant Manager

DoB: 14/08/80 Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Tividale Joined Church: 2015 & 2020 Profile: Peewee’s able assistant, who has been with the manager here, and followed him to Stourbridge, before returning.

Chris Walwyn – Goalkeeper Coach

DoB: 13/10/71 Previous Clubs: Stourbridge, Alvechurch, Tividale Joined Church: 2015 & 2020 Profile: The 3rd member of the holy trinity that joined in 2015 and took Church to Step 3, before leaving and then returning. Great goalkeeping coach

Matt Kirby – Coach

DoB: Previous Clubs: Cadbury Athletic Joined Church:2020 Profile: Worked as assistant to Dean Holtham and previously with Cadbury Athletic as manager, learning his trade

Matt Evans – Sports Therapist

DoB: Previous Clubs: Joined Church: 2020 Profile: Matt was with us last season but has now stepped up to Head Sports Therapist

WHO'S GOT WHO? Today's other fixtures SATURDAY 11th September 2021 Banbury United v Needham Market Bromsgrove Sporting v Hitchin Town Coalville Town v Stourbridge Hednesford Town v Barwell Lowestoft Town v Rushall Olympic Nuneaton Borough v AFC Rushden & Diamonds Peterborough Sports v Leiston Redditch United v Biggleswade Town St Ives Town v Tamworth

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SCORES ON THE DOORS! LEAGUE TABLE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

CROWS WEEKLY DRAW ROLLOVER CURRENTLY STANDS AT

£2795!

The Crows Weekly Draw (previously known as the Royston Town FC Development Fund) was set up many years ago as a way of providing a regular source of income to help the Club improve facilities both on and off the pitch.

Recently the funds generated have helped pay for new clubhouse furniture, admissions hut/turnstiles, pitch weed killing and fertiliser and renovation of the boardroom including a new boiler.

It only costs £1 per week to join.

As the name suggests, the draw takes place on a weekly basis. The holder of the winning number will receive £25 with £10 being added to the “Rollover Fund” each week. The “Rollover Fund” will be won when the Blue Ball is drawn,with the next number taking the accumulated prize.

You can become a member & have a chance of winning a weekly prize or the Rollover – you must pay for at least 26 weeks (i.e. £26) upfront to be eligible for the Rollover Prize.

Why not join today – simply download the standing order form by downloading from the Royston Town FC Website – listed under Crows Weekly Draw and return it to our fund organiser Trevor Burrows or leave it at the club – or contact Trevor and he will register you as a member.

Trevor’s Contact Details: Telephone: 07813 327786 Email:burrowsbuildingservice@hotmail.co.uk

Latest Prize Winners – each winning £25 D Cooper K Vickers W Hannigan G Pinner A Barlow R Davey A Martin

TRAVELLERS TALES

By Brian Buck

19th game of the season. (Match 13,400) Thursday 29th July 2021.

Stotfold 1 Eynesbury Rovers 3 (Friendly Match) att 97.

We arrived here far too early really, but it was just as well that we did because the car park was nearly full. This was partly because some players were training on the back pitches, but mainly because Anglian Water had snapped up a lot of it so they could carry out their works right outside the ground.

Kind of them to wait until the season starts when they had a couple of months of inactivity to do it in the summer. Having been here quite a few times now, I am getting quite used to it and as much as the character the original Roker Park had, I now prefer this ground, especially as it offers such good viewing. Maybe not tonight for a while though, as the setting evening sun got in the way. Anyway, it was nice that the jovial tannoy announcer apologised for this inconvenience! It was also good to bump into a couple of young lads, just starting their Groundhopping career. They are lucky. At their age, my records show that my mother refused to allow me out for evening games! As for the match, both sides claimed not to be at full strength, a claim that I have heard made at just about every pre-season friendly game I’ve been to this season. At the start of this match, Rovers looked good. They took the lead from the spot on 6 minutes following the type of tackle you shouldn’t be attempting inside the box. Then two minutes later they went further ahead with a header from a chipped shot that came back off the woodwork. After this, although they remained the better side Stotfold came into the game more. The second half was far more even and perhaps Stotfold could make claims to becoming the better side, especially after they brought on some of their more experienced players. Indeed, they managed to pull a goal back on 71 minutes when the keeper was lobbed from 30 yards out and the ball went in off the crossbar. Suddenly, as Stotfold looked for the equaliser, the game became competitive and on 78 minutes Rovers found the winner when an attacker and keeper collided just outside the area leaving the ball to roll into a now unguarded net. Overall, a decent game.

20. (13,401) Friday 30th July 2021.

Enfield 2 Clapton 0 (Essex Senior League) (Played at Bishop’s Stortford) att 259.

These days I go to Bishop’s Stortford via the M11, a slightly longer route, but less taxing on the brain!

Tonight, it was free admission and surprisingly there was a free programme as well. Consequently, there were plenty of people around and this generated a great atmosphere. In the good old days, when Enfield played their games at the now-defunct Southbury Road, these two sides used to meet regularly in the Isthmian League and in those days there was only one division, so clubs didn’t get moved from league to league at the end of each season. So, the last time I saw an Enfield v Clapton game occurred on Tuesday 16th September 1975 when the hosts won 8-0 (Les Eason (3) Peter (I think) McGillicuddy (2) Keith Searle, Wilson & an own goal). Sadly for Clapton, they were often the whipping boys in those days as much as Enfield were invariably League Champions. Moving on to tonight, this was quite a feisty game and one which the ref struggled with in the first half, but he got to grips with things after the break. Clapton created a number of scoring chances early on, but Enfield gradually got the measure of them. There were some strong tackles going on and after one of them, on 27 minutes there was a ‘coming together’ of the players. On the stroke of halftime, Enfield took the lead when a cross from the left seemed to be chested over the line from close range. The second half saw less goalmouth activity, but more yellow cards. Enfield now seemed to be largely in control, but only just. Then, on 62 minutes they got what would be the defining goal of the game when a header came down off the crossbar and was deemed to have crossed the lino. But the grandson of the Russian lino in the 1966 World Cup Final must have been officiating, as not everyone was convinced that it did! By the end, with their solid performance throughout, Enfield deserved their win. Clapton didn’t look bad either and on this showing, a top-half finish for both clubs seems likely.

21. (13,402) Saturday 31st July 2021.

Renhold 5 Ickwell & Old Warden 2 (Friendly Match) att 10 approx.

Although there were some competitive matches I could have watched today, I preferred to stay local and this game, which showed up on the radar late morning satisfied our needs. However, the irony of my choice was that on the previous Saturday, we went to Kempston Rovers, so we could get under cover because we thought that it might rain, whereas today we didn’t think that it would rain and we got soaked! Apart from that it was good to bump into local ref Steve Feiger once more. He is one of the most colourful characters on the Beds County League circuit, even if some of the teams don’t always agree with some of his decisions. But he usually wins out because he talks longer and louder than those arguing with him. So, for my money, he is one of the best refs around at this level and

quite often you get a better game when he is reffing. It’s almost as if he inspires the teams to try harder. Furthermore, you always know when he has had a good game because he tells you that he has! By virtue of the fact that Renhold play one division lower than Ickwell, an away win seemed likely here, but it was not to be on the day. Renhold took the lead on 21 minutes, doubling it five minutes later. By now we were on the way back to the car to put on our waterproofs, as we could see that it was soon going to rain. Then it did and boy did it rain and we got absolutely soaked, especially in the footwear department as we just couldn’t get out of the torrential rain. While it was absolutely tipping it down Renhold scored again on 30 and 36 minutes with Ickwell popping in a goal in between. Steve told us that he played a brilliant advantage for one of the goals but we were too wet to see this. We’d have preferred it had he instigated an ‘out of the water’ break! At half time the rain ceased, the sun came out and it became very warm. The goals largely dried up as well and instead of ‘raining’ goals we were limited to just two more, for Ickwell on 64 minutes and Renhold twenty minutes later. An interesting afternoon.

22. (13,403) Tuesday 3rd August 2021.

Potton United 5 Wellingborough Town 3 (Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division South) att 112.

After spending two years away in the SSML, which they didn’t mind once they got used to it, Potton United now find themselves back in the UCL, where they have spent most of their existence.

Additionally, despite having to visit mostly new clubs (for them), most of the players have stayed on from last season. So, with the pitch once again looking in great shape, it was time to renew acquaintances with one of their old rivals tonight and soon it seemed like they had never been away.

An added bonus was the attendance, which was high for a non-local game. Wellingborough had the better of the opening minutes, but then on 10 minutes, Potton took the lead with a shot from the edge of the area with went in just inside the post. But on 17 minutes the visitors were level from the spot when one of their players was bundled over. The well-seasoned home fans didn’t argue with this, but at this stage, they did have doubts about the final outcome of the game. But these eased when on 25 minutes Potton re-took the lead with a 20 yards effort after the scorer received the ball from a short square pass. Two minutes later the score became 3-1 following a keeper error as he tried to cover for his AWOL defenders. Then on 31 minutes, Potton scored yet again, this time via a header from a corner. At this point, the visitors were in total disarray and it seemed that Potton would score whenever they attacked. But things were a bit different after the break. On 47 minutes Potton were denied what looked like an obvious spot-kick and then three minutes later Wellingborough, playing with renewed energy now, pulled a goal back to make it 4-2. In fact, it was nearly 4-3 a minute later. Potton needed the fifth goal and that came on 93 minutes and it was a wonderful goal. From 30 yards out the shot went in off the far post and it was one not many keepers could stop. Then on 79 minutes Town pulled another goal back to bring to a close a great night for Potton and one which Wellingborough would have taken something from as well. Welcome back to the UCL! 23rd game of the season. (Match 13,404) Wednesday 4th August 2021.

Chatteris Town 0 Stevenage X1 11 (Friendly Match) att 180 approx.

A few weeks ago, Beds County League chairman (and not so closet Stevenage fan Peter Francis) were invited over to West Road to watch this match by the Chatteris Town manager Laurence Revell, brother of the Stevenage manager Alex, hence the connection. On our arrival it was also good to bump into Jorden Gibson, part of the Stevenage management team and part referee when time permits. He was to ref the Royston Town v Millwall U23 game on the following Friday. Chatteris was the first-ever Eastern Counties (Thurlow Nunn) ground I ever visited, back in 1971 and so it is always a pleasure to return here. However, in the past, it has usually been for youth team games and what I won’t recall with any pleasure were their young followers, who used to turn up on Monday nights and create all sorts of problems in the now closed, for safety reasons, main stand. One of them once threw an empty coke tin at me which bounced off my head! On the other hand, their secretary used to be called Joan Collins, who considered herself more adorable than the original one! Tonight was a hive of activity, partly because Football League side Stevenage were in town and partly to raise money for the Kayla Rainbow Appeal, which raised around £1,000. Stevenage complimented Chatteris by fielding a slightly stronger side than expected and some of their players had been given sniffs of first-team football. So, this was going to be a difficult night for the hosts. Interestingly the visitor's subs were allowed to take chairs to the dugouts whilst Chatteris made do without. Unsurprisingly the game was largely one-way traffic and generally, the miked-up match officials had so little to do that I nearly asked one of them to order me some fish & chips on his radio link. However, in the first half comments

were made about the accuracy of the offside decisions made by the lino on the far side. But in truth, neither ourselves nor the Stevenage bench were in a position to see clearly. Stevenage only managed three goals before the break and really, given the amount of possession they had it could have been argued that they could have been more creative. The second half was different though. It took then just 14 seconds to make it 4-0 and by the 58th minute the score had gone up to 7-0. Then three minutes later Chatteris were given a spot-kick following a foul. But the delay before it was taken, due to an injury, gave the taker too much time to think. His shot was saved as was his follow up from the rebound. Then Stevenage gradually added their final four goals before close of play. Despite being a one-sided match, as always, there were learning points for both sides to think about on this enjoyable return to the Fens.

24. (13,405) Thursday 5th August 2021.

Cambridge United Women 1 Northampton Town Women 1 (Friendly Match) (Played at St Neots Town) att 90 approx.

On my arrival here I was surprised to see my Scottish friend Duncan, who had flown in from Glasgow that afternoon. He was here for the weekend, busy mixing football with ticking off pubs! The game wasn’t especially exciting to watch, mainly because the sides were evenly matched and they cancelled each other out. In these games, the players look so young, especially as these days they all have ponytails whereas in the past it used to be short-cropped hair. Both sides had some skilful players and it was the Cobblers who opened the scoring on 10 minutes following a push, which was well spotted by the ref. For a while they shaded proceedings but United had as much or even slightly more possession. Much of the second half was played out in pouring rain, but fortunately, it stopped just before the game ended. The second half saw United work hard to get back on level terms and on 50 minutes they succeeded when a Cobblers player mis-controlled a difficult ball and was dispossessed by a United player who ran on unchallenged for about 40 yards before beating the keeper from just inside the area. Could Harry Kane do this?

25. (13,406) Friday 6th August 2021.

Royston Town 1 Millwall U23 2 (Friendly Match) att 264.

It was good to be back at Garden Walk on this lovely evening for football where I bumped into a few of the long-serving regulars I have got to know over the years. As with many other grounds I have visited this season, the pitch looked immaculate. The unusually long length of time to get them ready has given the respective groundsmen plenty of leeway to work on their hallowed turf. As for the game, it was difficult to make an assessment of Royston’s prospects for the season. When you face an opposition’s U23 side, you don’t always know what you are going to get. Sometimes they are very young and sometimes they look like proper adults. The later scenario applied tonight. Millwall were physically strong, fit and athletic looking and possibly a bit ahead of the Crows in their pre-season build-up. The first 25 minutes or so of this match were very frantic and it was clear that neither side could sustain this for too long. Millwall took the lead on 24 minutes when the scorer and another player were up against just one outfield player and he scored with ease. At this point, Royston couldn’t get into the match, but they did eventually and the returning Matt Bateman levelled for them on 41 minutes. The second half was more even. But after Millwall regained the lead on 60 minutes Royston saw lots more of the ball and amidst lots of substitutions, they dominated the closing stages, thus pleasing the home fans.

SQUADS Saturday 11th September 2021 Kick Off: 3PM

MATCH SPONSOR:

TODAYS OFFICIALS REFEREE: Ryan Dix ASSISTANTS: Laurentiu Hantea / TBA

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Joe Welch Ed Asafu-Adjaye Daniel Brathwaite Scott Bridges Adam Murray Ronnie Henry Finley Titchmarsh Harry Draper Brandon Adams Matt Bateman Isaac Galliford Tom Newman James Brighton Fred Brown Isa Rotimi Josh Williams Dan Green Spyros Mentis Dan Newton Ryan Towner Elliot Kettle Louis Matthews

Steve Castle / Chris Watters Scott Taylor / Amber Murray

MANAGERS SPORTS THERAPISTS

Dan Jezeph (GK) 1 Josh Ezewele 2 Ethan Sephton 3 Tom Turton 4 Joe Hull 5 Ash Carter (c) 6 Dave Bellis 7 Sam McLintock 8 Anthony Dwyer 9 Luke Yates 10 Danny Waldron 11 Colin Smith 12 Leon Phillips (GK) 13 Jamie Ashmore 14 Tristan Dunkley 15 Charlie Dowd 16 Zak Brown 17 Ben Cassidy 18 Nick Kinina 19 Ethan Patterson 20 Peter Taylor 21 Jamie Willets 22

Ian Long / Richie Colwell Matt Brown / Eve O'Sullivan