ROYSTON TOWN vs BANBURY UNITED - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - TUESDAY 26th OCTOBER 2021

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs BANBURY UNITED FC Tuesday 26th October 2021 Kick Off: 7.45pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome tonight's opponents Banbury United 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 evening and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

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

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

WHO'S GOT WHO? Tonight's other fixtures TUESDAY 26th October 2021 Biggleswade Town v Leiston Nuneaton Borough v Alvechurch Stratford Town v AFC Rushden & Diamonds Tamworth v Hitchin Town

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

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.

SUPPLIERS OF PRIZES FOR THE FAMOUS ROYSTON TOWN FC MEAT RAFFLE

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.

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!

TODAY'S OPPONENTS Banbury United FC Club History Banbury United’s genesis is to be found in Spencer Villa, a works club formed in 1931. Friendly matches were played on a ground on the town’s Middleton Road. The club joined the Banbury Junior League for the 1933-34 season and won the championship at their first attempt. They changed their name to Banbury Spencer in 1934 and moved to their current ground for the start of the 1934-35 season in which they competed in the Oxfordshire Senior League. This too they won at their first attempt. During the season they were elected to the Birmingham Combination for the start of the 1935-36 season.

After the war, Banbury resumed in the Birmingham Combination and turned professional for the 1946-47 season.

In 1947-48, with attendances averaging 3,500, they finished runners-up in the league and reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 2-1 at Colchester United, at that time a Southern League club. The next season the ground attendance record was broken when 7,160 turned up to see Banbury lose to Oxford City in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. The same season also saw Banbury reach the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup, losing 2-1 to Nuneaton Borough. Banbury’s manager at this time was Jimmy Cringan, who had joined them in 1936 and was to remain ‘The Boss’ for no less than 25 years until his retirement in 1961.

The status of the Birmingham Combination began to decline in the early 1950s. At the end of the 1953-54 season the league disbanded and, along with most of its remaining clubs, Banbury joined the Birmingham League. In 1959-60 they reached the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup for the second time, again losing to Nuneaton, this time 1-0. In 1961-62, Banbury reached the first round of the FA Cup for the second time, travelling to Third Division Shrewsbury Town and losing 7-1.

The Birmingham League continued to expand and became the West Midlands League in 1962. This coincided with the effective independence of the football club, the Spencer company having all but ended its association. The club name remained unchanged, however, until April 1965 when, with the club’s finances suffering – attendances had fallen to a historical low – a group of local businessmen bought the club. Banbury Spencer became Banbury United.

The new owners were ambitious and were looking to a higher grade of football. Former Chelsea, West Ham, Arsenal and England player Len Goulden was installed as manager. During the summer of 1966 Banbury were elected to the Southern League. Significant improvements were made to the ground. Floodlights were installed and the famous old railway coaches that had been used as changing rooms were removed and replaced by a new clubhouse.

United then embarked on an unbroken 24-season run as members of the Southern League. They came close to league honours in 1967-68 when they finished in seventh place in the First Division, just two points and three places behind Rugby Town who were promoted to the Premier Division. The first round of the FA Cup was reached twice more; in 1972-73, United lost 2-0 at home to Barnet, then a Southern League club, and the following season, after a 0-0 draw at home, they lost 3-2 away to Fourth Division Northampton Town in a replay. United twice reached the last sixteen of the FA Trophy, losing 1-0 in a replay to Hereford United in 1970-71 and, in 1973 74, by the same score in a second replay to eventual Southern League champions Dartford.

From the late 1970s United’s fortunes declined sharply as debts mounted. The ownership of the ground was given up as security against the club’s debts. On the field the team was also struggling, finishing in the top half of the table just twice in twelve seasons after 1978. In 1990, United finished 21st of 22 and were relegated for the first time in their history, starting season 1990-91 in the Hellenic League.

Those fans who expected a quick return to the Southern League were to be disappointed. Only in 1993-94, when they finished third, did United make look like making a serious promotion challenge. However, from 1997 onwards a revived and expanded committee brought about such an improvement in financial circumstances that the club was ready to aim for promotion. Former Oxford, Newcastle and QPR player Kevin Brock was appointed first team manager for the 1999-2000 campaign.

United’s form up to Christmas of 1999 was good but they entered the New Year no fewer than nineteen points behind leaders Highworth Town. In only eight weeks they overhauled their rivals with a run of 13 consecutive victories and remained unbeaten for the rest of the season. A 3-1 victory at Wantage Town clinched the Hellenic League championship with two games remaining and Banbury United were back in the Southern League.

United took a couple of seasons to find their feet in the Eastern division, finishing 13th and 15th. Eighth place in 2003 was their best in the Southern League in 25 years. That was equalled the following season, enough to qualify for a play-off for a place in a reformed Premier division in the restructured non-League pyramid. Banbury beat Sutton Coldfield Town of the Western division, coming from behind to win in stoppage time in extra-time.

A difficult first season in the Premier division (2004-05) was followed by a much better second. Seventh place in season 2005-06 was an improvement of ten places (United spent nine weeks in the play-off places) but thirteenth in 2006-07 was a big disappointment. However, it was troubles off the field that made the headlines. Club accounts showed a large deficit and big cuts were made to the playing budget. Shortly after the season ended, manager Kevin Brock resigned, citing the cuts as his reason for leaving after eight years. His departure was the first of six changes of manager in the next eight years as United went into another decline.

Relegation was avoided in 2009 as the annual bout of resignations and demotions elsewhere in the Pyramid resulted in a reprieve. In 2012 a last-day victory ensured safety. Season 2013-14 began well enough – United were eighth in the table in early February – but more drastic budget cuts were applied. Another player exodus resulted; there followed the most embarrassing run of defeats in the club’s history as the team plummeted to 19th, conceding 43 goals in nine games. The dismal form continued into the 2014-15 season and the inevitable occurred. After 11 years in the Premier division level the club was relegated for only the second time in its history and was placed in the South & West division for the 2015-16 season.

Change, however, was on its way. For a year fans had been discreetly working on a takeover. Advised by Supporters Direct, the umbrella organisation for supporters trusts, the supporters club launched its bid towards the end of the season. Agreement was reached with the existing board and a joint committee ran the club during the spring and summer until the takeover was formally completed in the first week of the new season, four months after the 50th anniversary of Spencer becoming United.

In May that committee had appointed a new team manager, ex-Oxford United player and Brackley Town and Oxford City manager Mike Ford. He had to assemble a new squad from scratch. Early form was moderate with only four wins from the first 12 games but the team hit form to win 24 of the next 30 and finish runners-up to Cinderford. A nervy victory in the play-off semi-final against Winchester set up a final showdown with third-placed Taunton. In front of more than 1,200 spectators, the club’s biggest attendance for more than 21 years, United won 2-0 to regain their place in the Premier Division at the first attempt, a remarkable achievement for a club that had been on its knees a year earlier.

Those supporters who had thought that after relegation and the takeover a season of consolidation was a realistic target saw their expectations exceeded but even the most optimistic followers might not have anticipated that upon their return to the Premier Division United would enter the last month of season 2016/17 challenging for a place in the play-offs. Only over the Easter weekend did their hopes disappear but a final position of sixth was the club’s best in the post-2004 Pyramid. Though this was followed by a creditable ninth place finish in season 2017/18, the next season was rather a disappointment, albeit never in serious danger of relegation, with the club finishing down in 17th place.

In May 2020, the club appointed a new team manager/coach when Andy Whing took over in charge, but what turned out to be a baptism of fire with the resultant Covid-19 problems curtailing the season over halfway through, the Club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in 48 seasons, but the biggest disappointment was that with the raging pandemic, the Supporters were denied their moment of glory when the first round proper game had to be played behind closed doors.

However, with the supporter’s run Club being very well operated by the committee, the new season shows lots of promise, and with brand new floodlights replacing the 55 year old version, the club are absolutely guaranteed a brighter future (sorry!!!)

WHO ARE YA? Banbury United FC Player Pen Pics Andy Whing (Manager) Made 346 Football League appearances, playing for Coventry City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chesterfield, Leyton Orient and Oxford United where he won the Supporters’ Player of the Season award in 2012 and was a popular figure with fans until retirement in 2015. He had coached at Oxford United, Kidderminster Harriers and Hereford before being appointed Banbury United manager in May 2020.

Jack Harding 29 year-old goalkeeper who came through the Banbury United youth side and would progress to be a regular in the reserve side, also making five first-team appearances before spells with Hellenic League sides Hook Norton and Ardley United. Returned to Banbury in the summer of 2015 and has made almost 250 appearances for the club.

Sam Brown 28 year-old left back who was originally with the now defunct Rushden & Diamonds before joining AFC Kempston Rovers in 2009. Moved to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2012, playing in their first ever senior match in the United Counties League. He was a regular for the Northamptonshire side for eight seasons, as the club climbed through the non-league pyramid to Southern League Premier Division status, making for them over 300 appearances. Joined Banbury in August 2020.

Kelvin Langmead 36 year-old central defender who began his career as a striker with Preston North End, having loan spells whilst at Deepdale with Carlisle United, Kidderminster Harriers and Shrewsbury Town. Joined Shrewsbury permanently in 2004 and after making more than 80 appearances for them as a striker was converted to a central defender. Spells with Peterborough United and Northampton Town followed before, after making a career total of 375 Football League appearances, he dropped down to non-league playing for Ebbsfleet United, Kidderminster Harriers, Nuneaton Town, Harrogate Town and Brackley Town prior to joining Banbury in August 2020.

Connor Roberts 25 year-old central defender who joined the Puritans in the summer of 2019, having returned to the area after spending four years at the University of Bath and for that period playing for Southern League Frome Town. Was originally a product of the Northampton Town academy before earning a professional contract with them, having a spell on loan with Biggleswade Town before being released in January 2015. Conor then had a short spell with St Albans City before signing for Biggleswade permanently until joining Frome in October 2015.

Giorgio Rasulo 24 year-old midfielder who came through the MK Dons academy, making his first team debut at the age of just 15 in an FA Cup tie against Cambridge City. Made his Football League debut, aged just 16, in the final game of the 2012/13 season. Whilst at MK Dons he had loan spells with Oxford United, Aldershot Town and Oldham Athletic.

He was released by MK Dons at the end of season 2017/18 and joined Banbury in September 2018.

Jack Westbrook 26-year-old midfielder, who can also play in central defence, originally joined Banbury United at the start of season 2014/15 after spending three years with South Midlands League side Mursley United. After making 48 appearances for the Puritans he moved to Redditch United in the summer of 2015 but opted to return to Banbury just three months later in October 2015. Jack’s second spell with the Puritans saw him make another 108 appearances before leaving in November 2017 to join AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Re-joined Banbury for his third spell in the summer of 2019 and has now made over 200 appearances for the club.

Henry Landers 21-year-old striker who joined the club in the summer of 2020. Played for Oxford City at youth level before moving to North Leigh, his 24 goals for them in 2018/19 was a key factor in them retaining their Southern League status. His goalscoring exploits earned him a move to National League Maidenhead United for season 2019/20, having a loan spell with Cheshunt before opting to move back to North Leigh in November 2019.

Jack Finch 25 year-old midfielder who progressed through the Coventry City academy to sign professional forms with them at the end of season 2013/14, making 16 Football League appearances before being released at the end of season 2016/17. After a short spell with Kidderminster Harriers he joined Banbury United in November 2017. Jack would make 46 appearances for the Puritans before spending season 2019/20 with Daventry Town. Re-joined Banbury at the start of last season.

Morgan Roberts 20 year-old winger who joined the Northampton Town academy at the age of 10. Made his Northampton Town first-team debut against Oldham Athletic in the final game of the 2017/18 season, signing a three-year professional contract a few weeks later. In his time at Northampton, Morgan made 17 first-team appearances and had loan spells with AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Banbury United and Brackley Town. Joined Banbury permanently in July 2021. Is the younger brother of Banbury defender Connor.

Charlie Pattison 20-year-old midfielder who joined the MK Dons academy at under 9 level and progressed through the age groups to earn a scholarship and captain their U18 side. Made his first-team debut for Dons in September 2018 in a home game against Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy. Gained non-league experience on loan to Welwyn Garden City before being rewarded with a professional contract on completion of his scholarship in the summer of 2019.

Season 2019/20 would see Charlie have short loan spells with Kings Langley and Biggleswade Town. Joined Banbury in July 2021.

Brandon Patterson 17 year-old midfielder who signed for the club in July 2021 after impressing in pre-season games. Had been playing for Coventry Alliance side Dunlop FC. Ethan Johnston 19 year-old striker who came through the Northampton Town academy to earn a professional contract with the club in February 2020. A prolific goalscorer at youth level, he would make his first-team debut for the club in a Carabao Cup game away to Bristol City in September 2020. Last season saw Ethan gain experience of non-league football when joining Redditch United on loan. This was followed by a short loan spell with National League North side Kettering Town. Joined Banbury in July 2021.

Ben Acquaye 21 year-old attacking midfielder who came through the Buckingham Athletic youth side, progressing to make 52 first-team appearances for the South Midlands League side, scoring 24 goals. Moved up to a higher level of football in February 2018, joining Southern League Kempston Rovers, his performances earning him a move to Southern League Premier Central side AFC Rushden & Diamonds in December 2018, establishing himself in the Diamonds side the following season, making 35 appearances and scoring six goals. Last season, Ben joined Kettering Town and made his National League North debut towards the end of October against Bradford Park Avenue.

Chris Wreh 24 year-old striker who was with Northampton Town as a youngster and then spent a year at the Arsenal academy before playing men’s football at Stony Stratford Town, Barton Rovers, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Aylesbury FC, Newport Pagnell Town and MK Galacticos. Joined Dunstable Town in the summer of 2018 before moving up a level to play for Stratford Town and Rushall Olympic in season 2019/20. At the start of last season. he returned for a second spell with AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Joined Banbury this past summer. Chris is the son of former Arsenal, AS Monaco and Liberian international striker Christopher Wreh.

ALL SQUARE BETWEEN CROWS AND RAVENS! Coalville Town match report

by Duncan Easley ROYSTON TOWN FC 2 COALVILLE TOWN FC 2 Saturday 23rd October 2021 An entertaining game at Garden Walk ultimately ended in a stalemate as both sides had to settle for a hard-earned point.

Coalville entered the game on a seven-game winning streak in the league, whilst Royston were off the back of 2 defeats. The Crows manager Steve Castle sprang the first surprise of the day, with captain Adam Murray starting upfront, as opposed to in his customary centre half role.

With Murray upfront the home side played in a direct fashion, with Murray and fellow striker Matt Bateman certainly asserting themselves physically. Despite winning plenty of aerial duels it was the away side who were claiming the second ball and thus nullifying the threat.

The first opening of the game came in the 18th minute as Isaac Galliford stood up a cross for Ronnie Henry, whose downward header was well saved by Tomasz Bukowski in the Ravens goal. Almost immediately Coalville were on the attack with Thomas McGlinchey picking up a loose ball in midfield and driving at the Crows backline. Evading a couple of tackles the space opened up for him through the middle and he calmly finished past Joe Welch to give Coalville a 20th-minute lead.

With Luke Shaw on the Coalville left-hand side becoming an increasing influence on the game, the away side started to take control of proceedings as he fired in a dangerous low cross that evaded everyone and then saw an effort go just the wrong side of the post.

With the home side on the back foot, it took a determined piece of play from Spyros Mentis to drag them level, as his strong run ended in a through pass to Galliford, who was able to fire past Bukowski to draw Royston level.

Things got even better for the Crows right on the stroke of halftime, as Mentis’ endeavour this time released Josh Williams on the left-hand side. His speculative cross to the back post looped over the goalkeeper and fortuitously fell inside the far post to give Royston the halftime lead.

The second half saw Coalville start on the front foot and Welch had to be alert to deny Timothy Berridge.

Away skipper Stephen Towers then headed wide, before the Crows responded with low shots from Galliford and Williams both going fractionally wide. The equaliser that the Ravens deserved arrived in the 66th minute as McGlinchey turned inside full-back James Brighton before rifling a low shot into the corner.

From here on in Royston were indebted to goalkeeper Welch, who produced a number of fine saves to keep the scores level. In the 74th minute, he produced a superb reflex save as Mentis nearly turned a flicked-on corner into his own net. 2 minutes later he was on hand to deny McGlinchey a hat trick as he saved a close-range effort. Then in stoppage time, he denied Berridge at his near post, before twice clawing away dangerous in-swinging corners from underneath his crossbar.

After the match, home side manager Steve Castle was full of praise for keeper Welch “Joe’s performance in the second half earned us the draw, having been on top in the first half we were unable to reach the same levels in the second period and it was thanks to Joe that we were able to earn a point” Royston: 1-Welch, 2-Henry 76, 3-Brighton, 4-Asafu-Adjaye, 5-Murray A ©, 6-Newton, 7-Williams (17Murray M 78), 8-Bridges, 9-Bateman (16-Draper 66), 10-Mentis, 11-Galliford Unused: 14-Titchmarsh, 15-Keely, 18-Brown MOM – Joe Welch

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

Joe Welch

Ryan Easley

Ed James Brighton Asafu-Adjaye

Kelshall Jake Easley Plastics

Ronnie Henry

David Grey

Daniel Brathwaite Katherine Thompson

Scott Bridges

Luke Easley

Adam Murray

Jeff Gill

Isa Rotimi

Martin Pendrick

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

Matt Bateman Brandon Adams Spyros Mentis

Martin Pendrick DFM Mick & Enid Royston Matt Clowery Toovey Plastering

Dan Newton

Graham Haggar

Josh Williams Tom Newman

Trevor & Alison Clive Deards Middlemass

Isaac Galliford

Steve Tuck

Steve Castle

Garrett Pennery

SQUADS Tuesday 26th October 2021 Kick Off: 7.45PM

TODAYS OFFICIALS REFEREE: Jack Willmore ASSISTANTS: Christopher Severino / Jack Coupar

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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

Steve Castle / Chris Watters Scott Taylor / Amber Murray

Jack Harding Sam Brown Kelvin Langmead Connor Roberts Giorgio Rasulo Jack Westbrook Henry Landers Jack Finch Morgan Roberts Charlie Pattison Brandon Patterson Ethan Johnston Ben Acquaye Chris Wreh

MANAGERS SPORTS THERAPISTS

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Andy Whing / Matt Haycocks