Royston Town vs Tamworth - Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Round - 081220

Buildbase FA Trophy: 1st Round Proper

Royston Town FC Vs Tamworth FC Tuesday 8th December 2020 Kick Off 7.30pm Royston Town FC would like to welcome this evening’s opponents Tamworth FC for their visit to Garden Walk for the Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Round Proper fixture.

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

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

Today’s Match

Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary

Founded 1875

Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY 07772 086709 email terry.mckinnell@talktalk.net

Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board

Angela Baulk Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod

Webmaster Programme Editor Official Photographer

Steve Endacott Angela Baulk Kevin Richards

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager Reserve Team Manager U18 Team Managers Womens 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 Ladies 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 Today’s Match Sponsor: 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

Royston Town FC Club History So when did it all begin? 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 which 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 as 1 st 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 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 set 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 the winning of 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 play-off 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 play off zone was given a severe jolt when, at the beginning of November, Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health. 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 play off 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

Phot

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 C 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 play-off 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.

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 after over five years of painstaking research and can be purchase via the Club on by visiting www.avbarlow.com.

Royston Town FC Player Pen Pics

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.

Gus Scott-Morriss (Defender) Full-back who made his Crows first-team debut in season 2014/15, Gus was a member of our successful Under 18s team that season and has gone on to establish himself as a First Team regular with over 200 appearances to date.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Rejoined the Crows last season after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading, Ed 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, Ed is a versatile defender who can anywhere across the back four.

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.

Daniel Brathwaite (Defender) Joined the Crows from Chesham United for the start of 2015/16, Daniel is an experienced defender whose former clubs include Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic.

Dan Newton (Defender) Joined us at the start of this season, Centre-Back Dan spent last season at Biggleswade FC after previously playing for Northwood.

Taylor Parr (Defender) Centre-Back who re-joined The Crows in February 2019 from St Neots Town. Taylor made 59 appearances for us between 20122014 and spent three seasons at St Neots Town, making 126 appearances for The Saints.

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.

Josh Castiglione (Midfield) Midfielder who was a member of our successful Under 18 team in season 2014/15 and made the step up to the First Team the following season, Josh is approaching 200 appearances & has chipped in with 30+ goals.

Scott Bridges (Midfield) Scott rejoined the Crows last season after spending last season at Hayes & Yeading, having previously been a Crow for four years, scoring 71 goals in 194 appearances. Originally he was with Aston Villa until 2007, Scott then played most of his football at Banbury United. Scott was made Club Captain in 2016.

Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile hard-working midfielder or defender, Spyros rejoined 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 impressed when called upon and chipped in with some useful goals from midfield.

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

Jonny Edwards (Forward) Joined the Crows at the beginning of this season and made an immediate impact with four goals in the first competitive game of the season. After leaving the Stevenage Academy Jonny impressed within the Peterborough United youth set-up to earn himself a professional contract, making his First Team debut in 2015. He then spent time at Accrington Stanley, Woking, Halifax Town and Maidstone United after leaving Peterborough.

Brandon Adams (Forward) Brandon 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 last season and bagged an impressive 23 league goals in 25 games.

Josh Williams (Forward) Signed for the Crows this season after spending last 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 this season. Whilst with The Canaries Isaac’s performances earned him an England ‘C’ call-up.

Duncan Culley (Forward) Duncan Culley has recently joined from Isthmian League South Central Division side Tooting & Mitcham United. Duncan is a proven goalscorer in non-league football as shown during his time with, amongst others, Bromley, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hayes & Yeading United – where he scored an impressive 37 in 59 games.

Tonight’s Opponents – Tamworth FC Club History

Over four score years ago, in the summer of 1933, a football team in Tamworth was just a dream for the lovers of the beautiful game who worked together to set up a new club in the town.

The demise of Tamworth Castle FC left the town with no senior level football club, but a campaign involving a town businessman and the local newspaper set the wheels in motion to form another club, and so Tamworth FC was born. The original ground on which the team played was next to the now demolished Jolly Sailor pub, and from 1934 onwards The Lamb became the club’s new home, where they remain to this day.

The club played its early football in the Birmingham Combination, switching to the Birmingham League (now known as the West Midlands League) in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the club achieved notable success with two league championships and numerous victories in the League Cup, Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup. The club also reached the First Round of the FA Cup on two occasions, and on the second of those occasions they progressed to the Second Round by virtue of a 2-1 victory over Torquay United at The Lamb.

These were good times indeed for Tamworth FC, but it wasn’t to last. Despite gaining entry to the Southern League in 1972, the club’s fortunes went on a dramatic slide as the 1970s proved to be as cruel as the 1960s had been kind.

Attendances fell to record low levels; The Lamb fell into disrepair and it became a major effort just to keep the club alive.

In 1984, a consortium of local businessmen (including the current Chairman Bob Andrews) took the club over and set about restoring it to its former glory. The club returned to the West Midlands League and gradually found their feet again, eventually winning the Championship in 1988 and regaining their Southern League status after a four years hiatus.

The following season Tamworth progressed to even greater things reaching the final of the FA Vase, and, on May 6 th 1989 in front of a Wembley crowd of 26,487 (the record attendance for the Vase final at the ‘old’ Wembley), they played out a 1-1 draw with Sudbury Town and won the replay at Peterborough four days later 3-0 to give the club, and the town, possibly its finest moment ever.

The Vase triumph did not crystalise into further success though and manager Graham Smith left the club two years later while four managers in four seasons failed to springboard the club until February 1995 when former Birmingham City player Paul Hendrie with instant results. He turned another mediocre season around and guided the Lambs to within a point of promotion then secured the 1996/97 Southern League Midland Division Championship by a 26 point margin.

The next boost came in January 2001, when former European Cup winner Gary Mills was appointed manager and with the club staring relegation squarely in the face his impact was almost as instant as Smith’s. Firstly he guided the side away from the drop, and then masterminded a Championship challenge in the 2001/02 season, which ended in heartbreaking fashion on the final day at Folkstone. Mills left Tamworth, and the club swiftly appointed his assistant Darron Gee into the hot seat.

Gee and the club as a whole started the 2002/03 campaign with a renewed sense of purpose and were rewarded with the Southern League Champions with 3 weeks left of the season. It could have been even better but a storming run to the FA Trophy final, ended in disappointment at Villa Park with defeat to Burscough.

Mark Cooper was then appointed, and fans were rewarded with two fantastic FA Cup runs. The first against Stoke City in 20056 was halted by penalty kicks in a replay in the Third Round Proper and a live BBC TV fixture against Championship side Norwich City in 2006-7 ended in defeat. Lack of progress in the league saw ‘Coops’ leave and Mills return soon after and promotion to Conference National was achieved with a game to spare in 2008-09 .

When Mills departed former Nottingham Forest star Des Lyttle, took hold of the reins but with relegation a distinct possibility stepped down with four games to go and the then academy coaches including Vase winner Dale Belford stepped up to help and it went to the wire, but a nervy televised victory ensured survival with 14 minutes of the season remaining.

Prior to his sad passing in December 2011, long serving Club President Len Gendle predicted the FA Cup victory at Gateshead and The Lambs went on to be narrowly defeated by Premiership side Everton in a 3 rd Round match at Goodison Park as boss

Marcus Law rebuilt his squad but found the going increasingly tougher and in early January 2013 assistant Dale Belford was asked to step in as caretaker manager once again and rescue the club from the drop with the highest ever top flight points haul.

Belford continued as permanent boss into the 2013-14 season, although the side was ultimately relegated from the Conference Premier so the successful former Wrexham player manager Andy Morrell and assistant Mike Fowler came to the club, taking them on a World beating 12 game winning run whilst narrowly missing out on the playoffs in in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

During the summer break of 2016 Chairman Bob Andrews oversaw the multi-million pound replacement of The Lamb’s 80+ year old grass pitch with a state of the art artificial 3G surface, one of only a handful of similar surfaces in the top two tiers of the non league pyramid at the time.

It completely changed The Lamb from being a one team venue into a facility for the club’s burgeoning youth and academy sides as well as bringing the community into a popular hub for local football for all abilities across all ages.

Despite the progress being away from the first team, inconsistent results and performances conspired to relieve Morrell of his duties in February 2018. Following relegation to step 3 of the non league pyramid at the end of the season, assistant Fowler took the reins into 2018-19 as Head Coach alongside newly appointed Director of Football, Tim Harris, who had tasted success with home town club Gloucester City and promotion to the Football League with Newport County. However, after defeat in the FA Cup to local rivals Hednesford, Fowler stepped down and Harris steadied the ship for one game. Former Boston United and St Neots Town boss Dennis Greene was appointed in September 2018 but mustered only 7 wins in 28 games and was sacked in January 2019.

U21s boss and Lambs Legend Gary Smith and former Mansfield and Guiseley coach Andy Danylyszyn took the reins, turned results around and with the additional experience of Thomas Baillie, rebuilt the squad to their own liking for the 2019-20 season.

The side performed superbly, making a fine run in the FA Cup and achieved one of the highest points per goal tally’s in the club’s history, sitting in second place a game behind top spot with promotion looking odds on, and were in second place, but in front on PPG when the season was ended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Smith, Danylyszyn and Baillie pledged, alongside many of the squad and a number of impressive new signings, to try again in the same vein in the 2020-21 season and while the club and country react as required to the ongoing pandemic, all hope that similar (if not better) performances and results are forthcoming this time around.

Tonight’s Opponents – Tamworth FC Player Pen Pics Andrew DANYLYSZYN Andrew initially worked with the youth setup at The Lamb having previously been with Gainsborough Trinity and West Bromwich Albion before joining up with Gary Smith. Andrew continues to work with the up and coming new Lambs.

Gary SMITH Gary is a former Tamworth playing legend. He featured in the World Cup for St Kitts and Nevis during his time at The Lamb in the mid 1990s.He returned to The Lamb for the start of the 2018-19 as joint manager of the U21 team before linking up with Andrew Danylyszyn..

When Smith and Danylyszyn took control of the first team in January 2019 it was initially on a caretaker basis, and following a run of impressive results both were given the permanent, joint, job and this continued into the 2019-20 season. Last season was necessarily cut short but it looked odds on that The Lambs would secure promotion with Tamworth recording one of the most impressive points per goals ratios in the whole of English football and sitting in second place in the table at the time and have rebuilt with the aim of continuing in the same vein in 2020-21.

Thomas BAILLIE Thomas is a former manager of both Kettering Town and Stratford Town and spent time working with Norwich City’s School of Excellence. He joined Tamworth in June 2019 as Head of Senior Football working closely with Smith and Danylyszyn.

Gary PRICE Formerly the goalkeeper coach at Rushall Olympic Gary joined Tamworth in June 2019 in the same capacity.

Ryan BESWICK Ryan began his career with MK Dons youth academy, before joining Leicester City’s youth academy with a spell on loan at Redditch United during the period. He then joined Kettering Town and had a loan spell at King’s Lynn, before five years at Solihull Moors in which he scored the clubs first National League goal. He spent the 2017-18 season as captain at local rivals Nuneaton Borough, joining Tamworth in July 2018. Ryan is the clubs captain and was voted player of the season in 2019-20.

Dan CREANEY Dan began his career with Atherstone Town and played for Bedworth United before moving to Coalville Town where he had loan spells with Basford United. During the 2018-19 season he was at Stratford Town under Thomas Baillie and joined The Lambs in June 2019 for an undisclosed fee, re-signing for the club in the summer of 2020.

Jordan CULLINANE-LIBURD Jordan started out as a youth team player at Leamington and then made his move into adult football with Redditch Utd before moving on to Stratford Town in 2016. Another short spell at Redditch followed before he attracted the attention of National League outfit Solihull Moors. A move to Rushall Olympic followed in November ‘17 before the Bulls of Hereford moved to sign him in January 2018, where he was a key member of their squad that won promotion to the National League North. Jordan made 34 appearances in the 2019-20 season, including against The Lambs in the epic FA Cup ties, and scored one goal.

Aaron FORDE A graduate of the Walsall youth team Aaron was part of the first team in 2010-11, but never made an appearance. He has also played for Stratford Town, Bedworth United, Halesowen Town, Sutton Coldfield Town, Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge, where he was voted ‘Supporters Player of the Year’ in 2018-19. He joined The Lambs in June 2019 and resigned for 2020-21.

Jaanai GORDON Gordon started his career with Peterborough United in 2009 as a Youth player and made the step up in 2011.

In 2014 Jaanai moved to West Ham and spent time on loan at Chelmsford City, Nuneaton Town, Sligo Rovers and Newport County.

After a season at Cheltenham Town he joined Tamworth in late 2018-2019 for the first time before moving to Banbury United and then Oxford City and he re-joined The Lambs in time for the opening day of the 2020-21 season.

Jordan GOUGH An experienced left sided defender, Jordan’s previous clubs include Gresley FC, Solihull Moors - where he won the National North in 2016, Brackley Town, AFC Telford United, Chester FC and Boston United. He joined The Pilgrims in June 2018, but quickly moved to The Lamb to link up with new boss Dennis Greene. When Greene departed he became a near permanent fixture in the side under Smith and Danylyzsyn, resigning for the club in July 2020.

Jordan GRAHAM Jordan began his career with the Leicester City academy then joined Oxford United in 2015 and moved to Mansfield Town in 2017 where he spent time out on loan at Hednesford Town before his contract ended.

He featured Tamworth during the 2020-21 pre-season and scored a brace on his full debut in the FA Cup against Stourbridge to help send The Lambs through to the next round.

Joe MAGUNDA A former Leicester City defender in his youth, Joe signed for the Lambs in October 2018 while still retaining his registration at Leamington where he had been since 2012. He re-signed for the 2019-20 season permanently with Tamworth and remained with The Lambs for 2020-21. Joe has also previously been with Woking, King’s Lynn and Brackley Town.

Gerry McDONAGH Gerry started his career with Notting Forest academy and spent time out on loan with Wrexham, Cambridge, and Tranmere before moving to Barnsley in 2018. A loan spell at Aldershot resulted in a permanent move in January 2019 and Gerry signed for Tamworth in February 2020 making his debut days before the season ended, and re-signed for the 2020-21 season.

Shaquille McDONALD After starting his footballing career with Birmingham City’s Youth system he joined Peterborough United in 2012 after impressing in Chasetown’s scholarship scheme.

Shaquille moved to York City and Derby County before signing for Nuneaton Town in June 2016. Further moves through the non league pyramid saw him at Bromsgrove Sporting in 2019-20 and he signed for The Lambs in the summer of 2020.

Lindon MEIKLE Meikle started his carer with Eastwood Town and made his debut as a 16 year old in the 2004-05 season and moved with manager Paul Cox to Mansfield Town in 2011-12. He moved to York City in 2014-15, signed for Macclesfield Town in November 2015 and joined Alfreton Town in December of the same year.

At the end of the 2015-16 season Lindon joined Barrow, reuniting with Cox again, and then headed to Aggborough spending three seasons with Kidderminster Harriers. He helped Harriers secure promotion in the 2018-19 season and made the move to The Lamb in the summer of 2020.

Aaron O’CONNOR Aaron signed for The Lambs in the summer of 2020. He started his career at Ilkeston Town and signed for Third Division Scunthorpe in December 2002 before moving back to Ilkeston. From 2004 he spent two and a half seasons at Gresley Rovers, scoring 80 goals in 127 appearances and moved to Grays Athletic in the Conference National then signed for Mansfield Town in 2008-09. After two seasons at Rushden and Diamonds, where he was made club captain, Aaron featured for Luton Town in 2011-12.

The next three seasons were at Newport County and were rewarded with a play-off final goal at Wembley to send the club into the Football League before securing a contract at League Two Stevenage.

Aaron moved on to Kettering in 2016 and made over 100 appearances for the Poppies, being voted their player of the season in 2017-18 from where he joined The Lambs Lathaniel ROWE-TURNER Lathaniel signed for Tamworth in June 2019 and renewed his contract in the summer of 2020. A former Leicester City youth player, who played in the Football League with Torquay United and Luton Town Lathaniel has also played for Alfreton Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Nuneaton Town, Chester and Kettering Town winning the Southern Premier Division Central title in 2018-19 season.

Jas SINGH Previously with Shrewsbury Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Solihull Moors, Gloucester City and AFC Telford United, well known and well-respected goalkeeper Jas was a long-term target for The Lambs and first came to club during the summer of 2018 so is now in his third season between the posts.

Kyron STABANA Right back Kyron returned to The Lamb in the summer of 2020 after featuring for the club in a two month loan spell from AFC Wimbledon in 2018-19. He started his career with Derby County as a youngster before making the love to Wimbledon. He made his debut for the London club in 2019 in the Football League Trophy and was on loan at Cork City in early 2020 before linking back up with Tamworth.

Ryan TAIT The 17 year old midfielder caught the eye of the first team management in the 2019-20 season and signed for the first team in the summer of 2020. Completing his second season with the Lambs he has represented the 16s, 18s and 21s and development team.

Tom TONKS Central midfielder Tom, signed in the summer of 2020 having previously been at Stourbridge.

He joined Halesowen in March 2013 after previously playing for Brocton and Tipton Town and originally joined Stourbridge in June 2015. He then moved to AFC Telford in December 2015 before returning in March 2016 and in the summer of 2017 he signed for Solihull Moors. He returned to Stourbridge in September 2017 and left to join Alvechurch in 2019 before returning to the Glassboys again, from where he linked up with The Lambs.

Tyrell WAITE Tyrell started as a youth at Ilkeston and signed for Tamworth in the summer of 2018 after impressing in the pre-season friendlies where he showed his prowess as a striker. He previously plied his trade at Notts County, Nuneaton Town, Skelleftea (Sweden), Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United, Matlock Town and Stafford Rangers.

Dexter WALTERS A winger with lightning pace Dexter first signed for the Lambs from Romulus in Aug 2017 and played the majority of his games for the Lambs in the club’s U19s and U21s sides making four first team appearances. He signed up for the 2018-19 season and signed for Coventry City on a 2 years contract in Aug 2018 after impressing in The Lambs pre-season. A regular in City’s U23 side and made his full debut in the EFL Trophy. He spent a period on loan at Leamington last season making 14 appearances and Coventry City released him at the end of his contract heralding a return to The Lamb.

Henri WILDER Henri began his early career playing for Brighton & Hove Albion for five years before being spotted at Mansfield Town where he played in the under 18 team that won the league title in 2017-18. Henri enjoyed loan spells with Lewes and Basford United during his time at Mansfield Town and joined Tamworth in August 2019 after some very impressive displays preseason where he played across the whole back line.

Bilal YAFAI Bilal began his career in the academy at Solihull Moors, before moving to Chasetown then had a spell with Hereford United which led to trials at Cardiff City and Birmingham City. Further spells with Leamington, Nuneaton Town, Rushall Olympic, Bedford Town and Stourbridge followed, and he signed for Tamworth in July 2019 following a successful pre-season trial.

Player Sponsorship 2020/21

Player: Dan Brathwaite Sponsored by: Katherine Thompson

Player: Ed Asafu-Adjaye Sponsored by: Jake Easley

Player: Adam Murray Sponsored by: Jeff Gil

Player: Josh Castiglione Sponsored by: Scott, Ryan-Lewis, Jacob, Lillie-Rose, Stanley Clowery, Lexie Tuck & Timothy Hutchinson

Player: Joe Welch Sponsored by: Ryan Easley

Player: Taylor Parr Sponsored by: Cambs Roofing

Player: Gus Scott-Morriss Sponsored: Luke Easley

Player: Jonny Edwards Sponsored by: Billy Baulk

Player: Spyros Mentis Sponsored by: Graham Hagger

Player: Isaac Galliford Sponsored by: Graham Hagger

Brandon Adams Sponsored by: Matt Clowery

Anyone interested in sponsoring a player please contact Alan Barlow on matchdays. ÂŁ150 per player

ROYSTON TOWN FC RESERVES - 2020/21

ROYSTON TOWN FC U18’S – 2020/21

ROYSTON TOWN FC WOMENS – 2020/21

ROYSTON TOWN FC VETS – 2020/21

Royston Town Fixtures & Results 2020/21 Date

Kick Off

Opponents

Competition

12th September 2020

3.00

Newmarket Town

19th September 2020 22nd September 2020 26th September 2020 29th September 2020 4th October 2020

3.00 7.45 3.00 7.45 3.00

Banbury United Wroxham Alvechurch Needham Market Stamford AFC

Emirates FA Cup: Preliminary Round League Emirates FA Cup: 1st Qual Round League League Emirates FA Cup: 2nd Qual Round

6th October 2020 10th October 2020 14th October 2020 17th October 2020 24th October 2020 27th October 2020 31st October 2020

7.30 3.00 7.45 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00

Biggleswade Town Stourbridge Bishops Stortford Tamworth Hednesford Town Hitchin Town Hythe Town

8th December 2020 12th December 2020 19th December 2020 26th December 2020 2nd January 2021 9th January 2021 16th January 2021 23rd January 2021 30th January 2021 6th February 2021 13th February 2021 20th February 2021 27th February 2021 2nd March 2021 6th March 2021

7.45 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.45 3.00

Tamworth AFC Rushden & Diamonds Rushall Olympic Kings Langley Lowestoft Town Tamworth Stourbridge Hitchin Town Hednesford Town Stratford Town St Ives Town Bromsgrove Sporting Peterborough Sports Needham Market Banbury United

League League Emirates FA Cup: 3rd Qual Round League League League Buildbase FA Trophy: 3rd Qual Round Buildbase FA Trophy: 1st Round League League League League League League League League League League League League League League

Venue

Result

Score

Royston Scorers

Home

Won

6-0

Edwards (4), Galliford, Mentis

Home Home Away Away Home

Drew Won Drew Lost Won

Castiglione, Adams Edwards, Galliford Adams (2) Edwards Adams (2)

Home Home Away Away Home Away Home

Drew Drew Lost Drew Won Won Won

2-2 2-0 2-2 3-1 4-2 (aft Pens) 1-1 1-1 3-0 1-1 2-1 0-2 2-0

Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Away Home Home Away

Watkins Edwards Adams Williams, Edwards (Pen) Adams, Rotimi Adams (2)

Date

Kick Off

Opponents

Competition

13th March 2021 20th March 2021 27th March 2021 3rd April 2021 5th April 2021 10th April 2021 17th April 2021 24th April 2021 1st May 2021 3rd May 2021 8th May 2021

3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

Alvechurch AFC Rushden & Diamonds Rushall Olympic Coalville Town Kings Langley Leiston Nuneaton Borough Redditch United Barwell Lowestoft Town Coalville Town

League League League League League League League League League League League

Venue Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away

Result

Score

Royston Scorers

KNIBBS BUTCHERS SUPPLIERS OF THE FAMOUS ROYSTON TOWN FC MEAT RAFFLE

SELF ASSESSMENT

32

www.roystontownfc.co.uk

CROWS WEEKLY DRAW

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 Rollover stands at £2295 as at 19th October 2020

Latest Prize Winners – each winning £25 Stuart Jackson Angela Baulk Cheryl Jackson Dave Cooper Nigel Willimer Graham Ingrey Charlie Pinner J R Scott Kevin Richards.

TRAVELLERS TALES 9

By Brian Buck 33rd game of the season (Match 13,292) Wednesday 16th September 2020. Enfield 0 Stansted 1 (Essex Senior League) (Played at Bishop’s Stortford) (7.45pm kick off) att 270. Although there were closer games to home, I chose this one, partially because it was a nice night and partially because, for whatever reason, it was free admission. However, they were collecting money for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity and they had buckets out for donations. The crowd was made up mainly of visiting fans and very few home fans. Perhaps it was the lure of ex-Football League player, Jamie Cureton that helped to swell the crowd. I believe that he is now the player manager of Enfield. Anyway, as the teams came out the announcer welcomed both sides, but there was a muted response when Enfield’s name was mentioned. “Don’t cheer too hard!” was the response by the man on the mike. Before the game kicked off the players and officials gathered in the centre circle and there was a round of applause, which lasted for about twenty seconds, but I don’t know who it was for. The first half was low key, but physical and in this period, Enfield picked up three bookings. On 24 minutes Stansted scored the only goal of the match when from a direct free kick, the keeper spilled the ball to allow a follow up from close range. The goal was the first of few goal scoring chances in the game, but after the break things did liven up. Cureton, who saw little of the ball throughout, did have a good scoring chance late on but he blasted it over the bar. Overall a good result for Stansted, but the fact that they couldn’t kill off the game will be a concern.

Enfield will be hoping that there are a lot worse teams in the league than them. Despite it being a poor game I shall remember the evening for the enthusiasm of the crowd who between them generated a good atmosphere here tonight.

34. (13,293) Thursday 17th September 2020. Eynesbury Rovers 3 Wellingborough Town 3 (Northants Senior Youth League South Division) att 105 approx. Since the late resumption of football because of the coronavirus, attendances seemed to have rocketed, in a similar way, I imagine, to how they did when football resumed after the Second World War and so tonight’s encounter was similarly well attended. My viewing companions tonight were the long serving Wellingbrough Town secretary Mick Walden and also the equally long serving, John Walker, President of St Neots Town, renowned for writing match reports for over 50 years for various organisations. He tells me that he is also the holder of one particular trophy, given to him for being the worst ever player to play for St Neots Town! Both of these gentlemen were in good form tonight and I enjoyed their company immensely. The game was a very lively one.

Wellingborough Town have, in my time of watching youth team football, always put out a decent side and have never struggled. Rovers hadn’t started the season well and came into this match on a back of two defeats, 4-1 and 8-0 in the FA Youth Cup in the previous week.

So, an away win was to be expected. But in what turned out to be the best game I’d seen so far this season, things didn’t pan out that way. In a physical encounter, Rovers took the lead on 5 minutes. Soon we had the first of three skirmishes, the last of those happening right in front of us in the main stand. But sadly, your scribe and the three match officials didn’t see clearly all that had happened and the guilty parties were just booked. By now Town had equalised with a well hit shot on 21 minutes. But on 33 minutes Rovers regained the lead after the Town keeper fumbled an effort which came down to him off the crossbar and the ball was stabbed home. But Town equalised again on the stroke of half time. The second half was quieter in terms of energy expounded as both sides had given so much in the first period, but they were still up for it. On 50 minutes Rovers were awarded a spot kick, given for handball, which was saved. Then on 61 minutes the unpopular ref sent off someone deemed by him as being a club official, when he was heard to verbally abuse the Town keeper, from behind the goal, while he was retrieving a match ball. So, there was a break in play while he waited for him to complete his ‘walk of shame’ to the dressing rooms. On 78 minutes Rovers took the lead for the third time and it looked like they might win it, but they didn’t because five minutes

later Wellingborough equalised again with a brilliant bullet header from about 12 yards out from their Keiron Trippier lookalike. A great night’s football and one enjoyed by all.

35. (13,294) Friday 18th September 2020. Brimsdown 1 North Greenford United 0 (FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round) (Played at Ware) att 40 approx. This wasn’t one of the more pleasant evenings I’ve spent watching the beautiful game. Brimsdown were based at Ware last season and now they are at Tilbury, but they paid up front for all their games, but had a few games ‘owing’ to them when the virus kicked in, so they used one of them up by playing here tonight. Compared with other grounds I’ve been to this season, this one was in something of a time warp and there were no ‘track & trace’ methods in operation. Although I paid to get in through the turnstiles I could have just as easily walked a few yards further on and got in via the bar for nothing! There was even a board outside telling you where the entrance was. Anyway, that apart the evening was largely made up of a load of moaning, mainly off the pitch by the visiting ‘supporters’. They didn’t like it at all when any decision didn’t go their way. There was no problem for the first 20 minutes when they were the better side.

But they didn’t score and Brimsdown worked their way into the game. By now the ref and his senior lino were being severely tested, but between them they didn’t manage the game very well and too often they bowed to the protestations of the visitors. This led to some unwarranted bookings for the home side. At one point in the second half a Greenford player threw himself to the floor in order to get the game stopped, egged on by his mates in the stand. “Where’s the sniper?” asked someone with a similar voice to mine, who had noted that 10 seconds earlier he had covered about 50 yards in about 5 seconds! The response was predictable and came complete with swearwords, one from a man holding a baby! Anyway on 77 minutes and with Brimsdown now competing quite well, they scored the only goal of the game. In the poor light at that end of the ground it was difficult to be clear what happened, but the Greenford keeper reacted slowly as the ball crept in by the post. Greenford had an additional 12 minutes of added on time to equalise, but it was all over bar their shouting!

36. (13,295) (3,651st ‘new’ ground) Saturday 19th September 2020. Cropredy 2 Yarnton 2 (Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division) att 30 approx. Today, after a slow drive I arrived in Cropredy about two hours later. This is a clean and pleasant village a view miles north of Banbury and not too far from ‘Midsummer Murders’ land. No dead bodies here though.

Nonetheless Cropredy is famous as it’s where Fairport Convention live. They are apparently a rock band and as such they play one concert a year (but not this year) at the sports complex, which houses two cricket pitches and a football pitch. It seems that they all do rather well out of their concert hire fee. There are two pavilions, one is for one of the cricket pitches and is built on stilts and the other is part cricket and part football, but not open today until the football had finished. They also have two stands, of sorts, both three seaters, or double that if you are prepared to sit on the narrow foot rest. They are really the former portable mobile dugouts. So, I plonked myself in one of these and true to form my view was soon blocked by three men who although they could have stood anywhere, decided to stand in front of where I was sitting. This was a warm sunny day and the ‘crowd’ socially distanced around the pitch, railed off on two sides and wooden fenced off on the other two sides. The hosts looked to be a useful, but aging side and they went a goal down on 9 minutes. But they then equalised immediately. Yarnton regained the lead on 24 minutes before the hosts scored what would be the final goal on 60 minutes, to eventually bring to a close a friction free relaxing afternoon, both on and off the pitch.

Southern Premier League Central Club Directory Club

Address

Postcode

Phone

Return Mileage

Hayden Road Sports Ground, Hayden Road, Rushden

NN10 0HX

01933 359206

91

53 Redditch Road, Alvechurch

B48 7RS

0121 445 2929

227

The Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, Station Approach, Banbury

OX16 5AD

01295 263354

140

Kirkby Road Sports Ground, Kirkby Road, Barwell, Leicester

LE9 8FQ

01455 843067

184

Langford Road, Biggleswade, Beds

SG18 9JT

01767 318802

30

The Victoria Ground, Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs

B61 0DR

01527 876949

244

Coalville Town

Owen St Sports Ground, Owen Street, Coalville, Leics

LE67 3DA

07496 792650

197

Hednesford Town

Keys Park, Keys Park Road, Hednesford Cannock, Staffordshire

WS12 2DZ

01543 422870

240

Hitchin Town

Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin

SG5 1NU

01462 459028

34

Kings Langley

Gaywood Park, Hempstead Road, Kings Langley, Herts

WD4 8BS

07730 410330

72

Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk

IP16 4DQ

01728 830308

167

Crown Meadow (Amber Dew Events Stadium), Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk

NR32 2PA

01502 573818

205

Needham Market

Bloomfields, Quinton Road, Needham Market, Suffolk

IP6 8DA

01449 721000

117

Nuneaton Borough

Liberty Way, Nuneaton, Warwicks

CV11 6BB

02476 349690

178

The Bee Arena, Peterborough Sports & Leisure, 651 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, Cambs

PE1 3HA

01733 567835

94

Redditch United

The Trico Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch

B97 4RN

01527 67450

228

Rushall Olympic

Dales Lane, Rushall, Walsall, West Midlands

WS4 1LJ

07909 560407

226

St Ives Town

Pro Edge Stadium, Westwood Road, St Ives

PE27 6DT

01480 463207

46

Stourbridge

War Memorial Athletic Ground, High Street, Amblecote, Stourbridge, W Mids

DY8 4HN

01384 394040

250

The DCS Stadium, Knights Lane, Tiddington, Stratford-Upon-Avon

CV37 7BZ

01789 261037

194

The Lamb Ground, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, Staffs

B77 1AA

01827 65798

217

AFC Rushden & Diamonds Alvechurch Banbury United Barwell Biggleswade Town Bromsgrove Sporting

Leiston Lowestoft Town

Peterborough Sports

Stratford Town Tamworth

Photo courtesy of Royston Crow

From £150 to incl bar staff Photo

Tuesday 8th December 2020 7.30pm Kick off

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 17 19 20 22

Royston Town FC

Today’s Match Officials:

White & Shirts Black Shorts White Socks Goalkeeper: All Blue

Referee: Jorden Gibson Assistant Referees: Darren Knox/Gary Connell

Brandon ADAMS Johnny EDWARDS Isaac GALLIFORD James BRIGHTON Josh WILLIAMS Spyros MENTIS Dan NEWTON Gus SCOTT-MORRISS Ron YATES Tom NEWMAN Duncan CULLEY

Scott Taylor/ Arron Benstead

Green Shirts Green Shorts Green Socks

Jas SINGH Ryan BESWICK Dan CREANEY Jordan CULLINANE-LIBURD Aaron FORDE Jaanai GORDON Jordan GOUGH Jordan GRAHAM Joseph MAGUNDA Gerry McDONAGH Shaquile McDONALD Lindon MEIKLE Aaron O’CONNOR Lathanial ROWE-TURNER Kyron STABANA Ryan TAIT Thomas TONKS Tyrell WAITE Dexter WALTERS Henri WILDER Bilal YAFAI

Joe WELCH (GK) Ed ASAFU-ADJAYE Dan BRATHWAITE (C) Scott BRIDGES Adam MURRAY Taylor PARR Josh CASTIGLIONE

Steve Castle/Chris Watters

Tamworth FC

Managers/Coaches

Sports Therapist(s)

Andrew Danylyszyn/Gary Smith/Thomas Baillie/Gary Price Manzu Cain

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