ROYSTON TOWN vs TAMWORTH - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 25th MARCH 2023

PITCHING IN SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION CENTRAL

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs TAMWORTH FC Saturday 25th March 2023 Kick Off: 3pm

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

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

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

TODAY'S MATCH IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY

!

W O R R O M TO

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 Editors 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, Neil MacLeod Kevin Richards

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager U23 Manager U18 Team Managers Women's Team Manager Vets Team Manager

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

Ground

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

Colours

First XI U23 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 Limited by Guarantee under the trading name of Royston Town FC Limited (Company Reg No. 14261163)

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 Southern League Challenge Cup 2021/22 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? Today's other fixtures SATURDAY 25th MARCH 2023 AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Leiston Alvechurch v Bedford Town Barwell v Hednesford Town Basford v Redditch United Bromsgrove Sporting v Mickleover Coalville Town v Kings Langley Hitchin Town v Stratford Town Needham Borough IlkestonMarket Town vv Nuneaton Needham Market Rushall Olympic v St Ives Town Stourbridge v Ilkeston Town

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

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

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77. In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking. Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980. The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February, we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance, we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play–offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season. That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the playoff 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 downfall 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 a 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 was playing at the highest level in its 142-year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceed 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 eventual 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 where we played Borehamwood 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 what was then 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.

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

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/southern-football-league-premier-central-division

WHAT'S NEW ON RTFCTV?

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS Dimi Kyriatzis (Goalkeeper) A recent addition to the Crows squad having joined us from Bedfont Sports. Dimi's previous clubs include Brentford and Inter Leipzig.

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.

Joel Nakatani-Brown (Defender) Joel is a 22 year old left-sided defender who has impressed during pre-season and joins the Crows for their 2022/23 Southern League Premier Central campaign. Joel’s previous clubs include Westfield, FC Romania, Cockfosters and Walthamstow.

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.

Jay Rolfe (Defender) Versatile defender who can play in a number of positions. Joined the Crows this Summer from Welwyn Garden City. Previous clubs include Cockfosters, Colney Heath and Hatfield Town 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.

Alfie Williams (Midfield) Joined the Crows on loan from Stevenage until the end of this season. Alfie joined the Stevenage academy after being released by Tottenham Hotspur and signed a professional contract with Stevenage in April 2021. Made his professional debut for Stevenage in a 1–0 victory at Scunthorpe United in May 2021, coming on as an 83rdminute substitute in the match. Alfie has spent time on loan at Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead Town and Hayes & Yeading United.

Mackye Townsend-West (Defender) Joined the Crows on loan from Stevenage until the end of this season. Mackye signed his first prof contract with Stevenage in October 2020. He made his professional debut in the Stevenage’s 3–2 EFL Trophy defeat against MK Dons in October 2020. Has previously been on loan at St Albans City.

Fernando Bell Toxtle (Midfield) Fernando started his career at Cambridge United and spent time on loan at St Neots Town. Following his release from Cambridge United, he joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2017. In November 2017 he moved to Basford United in order to pursue his university studies in Nottingham. He then rejoined AFC Rushden & Diamonds and was a key member of their squad last season 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.

Matt Bateman (Forward) Re-joined us last season from Hemel Hempstead, where he spent a 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.

Cole DaSilva (Defender) Recent acquisition, signed from Hemel Hempstead Town. 23-year-old defender joined the Tudors from Oxford City. Capped by Wales at under-15 level, for England at under-16s and then Wales again at under-17, 19, 20, and under-21 level. Bega at Luton Town’s academy before moving to Chelsea, making 2 appearances in the EFL Trophy in 2017.

He joined Brentford’s B team in 2018 and in 2020 spent time with Leicester City under23s. Signed for Croatian First League club HNK Sibenik in 2021, before joining the Oxford City at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Ky Marsh-Brown (Midfield) Joined the Crows in January from Peterborough Sports. Ky joined the Turbines from St Neots in February 2022 and helped them secure promotion to the National League North.

Previous clubs include Hemel Hempstead Town, Biggleswade Town and Whitehawk. A product of the Brentford Academy, Ky made his England C debut in 2018 Shomari Barnwell (Forward) Recent signing from Southern League Premier South side Hanwell Town. Sham is a towering 6′ 6″, 28-year-old striker who has previously played for Bowers & Pitsea, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bishops Stortford, Solihull Moors, Barking, Brentwood, Grays Athletic and Maldon & Tiptree.

Kian Harness (Forward) Exciting young striker who made his 1st team debut this season after impressing in PreSeason. Kian is a local lad who has come through the ranks of Royston Town Youth and our Under 18s.

TODAY'S OPPONENTS TAMWORTH FC Club History

TODAY'S OPPONENTS TAMWORTH FC Club History contd

WATCHING Gareth Southgate lead England out for a European Championship qualifier can only mean one of two things - either it's time to prepare for more international tournament heartache, or it's Non-League Day. Naturally, at NLP Towers we much prefer the latter we have a saying that every day is Non-League Day and for that we are truly grateful. But for those supporters of Premier League and Championship clubs, it’s an opportunity to see how the other half live – and maybe even enjoy a VAR-free weekend of football in its purity.

Set up as social media experiment by James Doe in 2010, Non-League Day was inspired by preseason trip to watch Queens Park Rangers play at Tavistock. So now, on an international weekend when the elite clubs sit it out, it’s the chance for your local clubs to take centre stage and show the community just what they have to offer.

It’s a concept that suits all. While football fans across the country get the chance to explore a new environment closer to their front doors, it also provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of more affordable volunteer-led community football.

This is a world, remember, where kick offs are predominantly at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and will always be guaranteed a warm welcome by people who run their clubs for a love of the game. Supporters also come along in the knowledge the money taken at the turnstiles does not line the pockets of the multi-billionaire owners who run Premier League clubs of today, but often funds thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community.

Backed by Premier League and Football League clubs, MPs, celebrities, media organisations, charities, Non-League Day has now grown to become an integral part of the domestic football calendar and has been extremely well received by fans with attendances soaring to record high numbers in many cases.

This week, ahead of England’s Euro 2024 qualifying double header with Italy and Ukraine, we caught up with James, an old friend of The NLP, and he revealed something quite incredible. Just as he was preparing for this weekend’s latest instalment, James received a LinkedIn message from the new directors of Spanish La Liga giants Athletic Bilbao!

They told him just how much they liked the concept of Non-League Day and want to do something like this in the Basque Country to help re-engage with their community and highlight grass-roots football in the region. In January, James and his team flew out to Spain to meet them and received the five-star treatment on a tour of their training ground before visiting their stunning headquarters and a game in the evening.

In support of Non-League Day here today, a group of them are coming over to attend Dulwich Hamlet’s game against Oxford City – and they even arranged travel packages for supporters to make the trip with them from Bilbao.

“When I first came up with the idea of Non-League Day, I didn’t expect it to go beyond my circle of friends,” Doe told us. “To be national would have been a miracle, let alone further afield. NonLeague Day itself is not the thing – it’s all about the clubs, the players, the teams. That’s what is most important. Non-League Day is a celebration of that. Our t-shirts and badges are flying off the shelves. We’ve had to get more printed!”

Indeed, today is arguably the busiest day of the year for this ever expanding entity. NLD organisers are once again working with Prostate Cancer UK and Kick it Out once again, as well as Francis Duku’s Our Game, a service which helps players and clubs in the event of serious injury.

BT Sport are also on board with two live games with Slough Town’s visit of Ebbsfleet United kicking off at 12.30pm before Wealdstone host north-west London rivals Barnet at 3pm.

All in all, it promises to be another great celebration of the Non-League game. Enjoy your day and here’s to the next Non-League Day.

WHO ARE YA? TAMWORTH FC Player Pen Pics MANAGER: Andy PEAKS Andy joined Tamworth as first team manager on 15 February 2022 on an 18 month contract, with the task to ensure The Lambs survival in the Southern League Premier Division. He turned his new clubs fortunes around with an unbeaten run of 14 games before the season ended and with a host of new faces rebuilt his squad with the aim of a successful 2022-23 campaign.

Andy started his career at Northampton Town before going on to make over 200 appearances with Rushden Town, who then became Rushden and Diamonds. He then featured for Raunds Town, Wealdstone and then enjoyed a five year spell at Stamford and after obtaining his coaching badges he joined Long Bucky and Daventry Town as assistant manager before taking the main role at Northampton Spencer. Andy was coach at the Diamonds Academy until it’s closure in 2011 and then became assistant manager at AFC Rushden and Diamonds. The first season brought promotion and he took on the role of leading the side to UCL promotion in 2015 and a further promotion to the Southern League Premier Central in the 2018-19 season.

He guided the Diamonds into a Southern League Premier Central playoff position just over half way into 2021-22 before his move to The Lamb.

ASSISTANT MANAGER: Neil CHAMPELOVIER Neil has linked up with Andy Peaks again after working alongside him at AFC Rushden and Diamonds as first team head coach since August 2019. Has heldd assistant manager roles at Cogenhoe United and Daventry Town. Playing career included Northampton Town, Brackley Town, Banbury United, Oxford City, Aylesbury United, Daventry Town and Woodford United.

COACH: Tim DUDDING Tim, has linked up with Andy Peaks again, having previously been at Rushden & Diamonds.

Tim has a wealth of experience as a UEFA ‘A’ Licensed coach and is the Head of Football at Moulton College in Northamptonshire. He holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching Science and is currently studying for a Ph.D. in Coach Development at the University of Worcester.

GOALKEEPING COACH: Gary PRICE Former goalkeeper coach at Rushall Olympic Gary joined Tamworth in June 2019.

Ben BAILEY Experienced central defender signed from Hednesford Town in January 2022 and continued into the 2022-23 season. Ben is The Pitmen’s all-time leading appearance holder, having played over 400 games having made his way through the ranks until his senior debut in 2008.

He left briefly to have spells at Newtown in the Welsh Premier League and AFC Telford, before re-joining Hednesford in 2018 and was club captain before where he linked up with The Lambs. Let The Lamb in September 2022 to return to Hednesford Town.

Alex BRADLEY Midfielder Alex was with WBA from 7 years old. He went on loan to Havant and Waterlooville and Burton Albion in 2018-19 before signing for Lincoln City in 2019, spending time on loan at Harrogate and, from November 2020, Yeovil Town. He signed for The Glovers in January 2021 for 18 months and moved back to the Midlands to The Lamb in the summer of 2022.

George CATER Previously with the WBA academy. He had been with Kidderminster Harriers in 2015, moving on to Stafford Rangers and signed for Tamworth in the summer of 2022 having previously been with Hednesford Town and Chasetown for three seasons.

Jordan CLEMENT Former Wolves youth team player, Jordan made the move out of the Lambs U21 side early in the 2018-19 season and became a regular name on the team sheet towards the end of the season. He joined Alvechurch in the summer of 2020 and then moved to Redditch United , before returning to Tamworth a week before the start of the 2021-22 season.

TAMWORTH FC Player Pen Pics contd.

Callum COCKERILL-MOLLETT Joined The Lambs in October 2021 having previously been on the books of Walsall. After progressing through the youth system at Bescot, Callum signed a professional contract in the summer of 2016 and a successful Development Squad season was rewarded with call ups to the Republic of Ireland U18 in 2017. After time on loan at Telford and Chasetown he was released by The Saddlers and signed for The Lambs in the summer of 2022.

Alex COLLARD Alex is a centre-back who joined signed in the summer of 2022 having previously been with Andy Peaks at AFC Rushden and Diamonds since the end of November 2018 having left Kempston Rovers FC. He had previously played in the Aylesbury area, including appearances for Aylesbury United FC, and Chichester City FC whilst he was a student.

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 and joined The Lambs in June 2019 for an undisclosed fee netting 16 goals before the season was curtailed. He bagged 18 in the 2021-22 season and signed his first Lambs contract in the summer of 2022.

Matt CURLEY Matt signed for The Lambs from Buxton in the summer of 2022 having previously also been with Chasetown, Sutton Coldfield Town, Rugby Town and Hednesford Town. It is his second spell with Tamworth having first been with the club in the 2017-18 season.

Ty DEACON Formerly with Aylesbury United and has also played for Buckingham Athletic, Leighton Town, Kempston Rovers and Aylesbury FC. He signed for AFC Rushden and Diamonds in November 2021 and followed Andy Peaks to The Lamb in the summer of 2022.

Liam DOLMAN Defender Liam started his Youth career with home-town club Northampton Town in 1999 and signed for the Cobblers in 2005. In 2009 he moved to Kidderminster Harriers and after spending time on loan with Corby Town joined the Steelmen in 2010-11. The following season Liam was with Banbury United, then spent two seasons at Daventry Town before spending 8 seasons with Andy Peaks at Rushden and Diamonds, travelling to The Lamb with the new Tamworth boss in the summer of 2022.

Luke FAIRLAMB Luke played college football in the USA for Saint Peter’s College, NJ, also the Corby Town youth set up in 2011-12 and Northampton Sileby Rangers and Bedford Town before signing for AFC Rushden and Diamonds in 2015. He spent time at Brackley and Stratford Town and St Ives Town before joining Tamworth in the summer of 2022.

Kyle FINN Returned to The Lamb for his second spell in the summer of 2022 having been on loan with us while at Coventry City at the start of the 2018/19 season. He moved to Hereford and then Halesowen Town in the 2021-22 season, before leaving The Yeltz for Tamworth.

Cameron HOWKINS Cameron originally joined The Lambs in December 2019 having previously been with Kidderminster Harriers and returned to Tamworth in September 2020, signing up the 2021-22 season and after a spell on loan at Sporting Khalsa returned with impact

TAMWORTH FC Player Pen Pics contd.

Jamie JELLIS Jamie initially joined The Lambs on loan from Kings Langley for a month in November 2022. He was previously with Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Aylesbury United following his release by League Two side Stevenage. Jamie rejoined Andy Peaks’ squad at the start of February 2023 on loan until the end of the season.

Alex JONES Striker Alex signed in early November 2021 having plied most of his trade in the Football League. A local lad, he started his career at WBA and signed a professional contract in 2014. Birmingham City then snapped him up and he spent spells on loan with Grimsby Town and Port Vale before he left to sign for Bradford City. He went out on loan to Cambridge Utd and Partick Thistle before the pandemic and linked up with Northampton Town in March 2021 having made nearly 100 professional appearances.

Eoin McKEOWN Eoin joined The Lambs in January 2022 from Braintree Town. He started his career playing with Hoddeson Town before joining Colchester United in 2015, making his professional debut in the 2017-18 season. He joined Maldon and Tiptree, Wealdstone and Welwyn Garden City on loan before moving around a number of non-league clubs prior to linking up National League South side Braintree ahead of joining Tamworth.

Lindon MEIKLE Started his career with Eastwood Town and made his debut in the 2004-05 season before moving 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, , and then headed to Kidderminster Harriers. He helped Harriers secure promotion in the 2018-19 season and made the move to The Lamb in the summer of 2020. From Tamworth he moved to Buxton and helped them win the Promotion from the NPL, linking up with The Lambs again on loan until the end of the 2022-23 season in February 2023.

Ben MILNES Signed for The Lambs in the summer of 2022. He started his career at Leicester City before moving on to Boston United, Corby Town and Kettering Town, where he was part of the their Championship winning side, before moving to Buxton for the 2021-22 season.

Gift MUSSA Started out at Coventry Copsewood before moving to Coventry United. He then tried his hand at a higher level after impressing Leamington in July 2019 and Bromsgrove Sporting took him to the Victoria Ground where he remained until July 2021. Moved to Nuneaton Borough before becoming Andy Peaks' first signing, at the end of February 2022.

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 came to club during the summer of 2018 so is now in his fourth season between the posts. Jas was named as Player’s Player of the 2021-22 season.

Jamie WILLETS Jamie signed in the start of February 2023 from Alvechurch. He had been with the Worcestershire club since joining from Stourbridge in March 2020 and previously featured for Stourport Swifts and Lye. In between the latter two clubs, Jamie went to Wembley with Hereford in the 2015-16 FA Vase Final and also helped them secure promotion as they rose up the pyramid again.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

Dimi Kyriatzis Cooper McKinnell

Kian Harness

Roy Smith & Simone Robinson

Ed James Brighton Asafu-Adjaye Kelshall Jake Easley Plastics

Ronnie Henry David Gray

Jay Rolfe

Isa Rotimi

Adam Murray

Phil Thompson

AVAILABLE

Jeff Gill

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

Matt Bateman DFM Matt Clowery

Fernando Bell-Toxtle AVAILABLE

Spyros Mentis Mick & Enid Toovey

Shomari Barnwell AVAILABLE Spyros Mentis

Ky Marsh-Brown AVAILABLE

Cole Dasilva AVAILABLE

Joel Nakatani-Brown AVAILABLE

Steve Castle Kelshall Plastics

SQUADS Saturday 25th March Kick Off: 3PM TODAY'S MATCH IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY

TODAY'S OFFICIALS REFEREE: Morgan Conn ASSISTANTS: Dwayne Uylet Benjamin Kelly

13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Dimi Kyriatzis (GK) Ed Asafu-Adjaye Joel Nakatani-Brown Will Hall Adam Murray (c) Ronnie Henry Kian Harness George Hoddle Matt Bateman Ky Marsh-Brown James Brighton Fernando Bell Toxtle Isa Rotimi Cole DaSilva Matt Crowther Shomari Barnwell Harry Forde Spyros Mentis Charlie Castle

Steve Castle / Chris Watters Scott Taylor / James Smith

Jas Singh (GK) 1 Matt Curley 2 Callum Cockerill-Mollett 3 Lindon Meikle 4 Jamie Willets 5 Liam Dolman 6 Kyle Finn 7 Ben Milnes (c) 8 Jamie Jellis 9 Dan Creaney 10 Eoin McKeown 11 Alex Jones 12 George Cater 13 Ty Deacon 14 Gift Mussa 15 Alex Collard 16 Luke Fairlamb 17 Alex Bradley 18 Ben Bailey 19 Jordan Clement 20

MANAGERS SPORTS THERAPISTS

Andy Peaks / Neil Champelovier Manzu Cain