MOOR TALK | Solihull Moors vs Oldham Athletic | Digital Programme by SolihullMoors

CLUBDIRECTORY

Solihull Moors Football Club CIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solihull Moors Holdings CIC which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ultimate parent company, Solihull Moors Group Limited, Darryl Eales, Timothy Murphy and Calvin Barnett are the largest shareholders whose individual shareholdings exceed 10%.

Key Information

Founded: 2007

Ground: Damson Park

Telephone: 0121 705 6770

Full Members of The Football Association of The National League Affiliated to: Birmingham Football Association

Club Colours: Yellow & Blue Away Colours: White & Red

Main Sponsor: LivingWell/VEXT

PLAYERSPONSORS FIRST TEAM 2024/25

Laurie Walker Aaron Flahavan Alex Whitmore

James Clarke

Kade Craig

JordanTunnicliffe

Joel Shambrook

Kyle Morrison

Finn Howell

Joe Newton

Olly Tipton

STUARTMAYO

Tyler Bruck

chairman notes

Welcome to today’s game against Oldham Athletic. It’s a great pleasure to host their travelling fans, players and officials.

The main talking point this week has been the (somewhat!) belated launch of the National League campaign for 3 up.

This is an undoubtedly welcome development and has our wholehearted support but, in my view, doesn’t go far enough and certainly not quickly enough!

Overall, the National League is a real success story which needs promotion more proactively

Most clubs are well run and, due to the low level of central funding distributions - c£100k - are self funded, relying in most cases on local owners. By contrast League 2 clubs receive central funding in excess of £1 5m!

Since the introduction of 2 up in 2002/03, it has been a remarkable success story for the promoted clubs.

Over this period, around 75% of promoted teams have retained their league status, and over 40% have achieved promotion to League 1 or higher.

Correspondingly, of the teams relegated from League 2, only around 40% have subsequently regained their EFL status with c60% remaining in the National League or lower.

relegated teams from League 2 have remained in the National League or lower. This is surely compelling evidence of the strength of the National League and the absolute necessity for and equity of 3 teams being promoted from the National League I constantly hear that League 2 will not vote for this as it would be turkeys voting for Christmas!

Maybe so, but all the Chairs of promoted clubs from the National League have said to me that they will support 3 up, 3 down because it is the right decision for the football pyramid. Now is the time to test this. Perhaps I’m too sentimental! My view is that fans around the country should lobby loudly for this change and supporters should put pressure on their local EFL clubs to publicise their position on this issue.

The above is outwith the debate on whether the National League is really League 3, the urgent need for a fairer distribution of central funding and the more controversial discussion about whether League 2 and the National League should be merged and regionalised There are also too many governing bodies but that’s another issue.

Please be vocal on this issue as it will serve the whole game well and will shine a light on whether there really is such a thing as the football family!

Back to today, Oldham will provide another tough challenge and it should be an exciting game. Get behind Matt and the team and enjoy your afternoon

The picture over the last decade has exacerbated this performance gap with nearly 90% of promoted teams retaining their league status and over two thirds of

ACTION SHOTS

The best of the action with Richard King

Wilko going over after unusually being out muscled, a Stones defender, Connor more often than not bursts through the defence, but on this occasion he fell to t floor and his protestations for a free kick were waved away by the officials.

Ozzy is about to be brought down whilst running down the flank, unsurprising that he is the “most fouled player” in the National League, he did get the free kick on this occasion though.

I don’t think you can beat a good goalmouth melee; the tangle of bodies in this one does it for me, I learn’t from the Wealdstone photographer that their goalkeeper was playing only his second game on loan from Spurs, I’m not usually able to give Moors keeper much love unless Tom is in attendance, so I like to appreciate the oppositions keeper.

Jack Stevens coming down after being in a challenge to head the ball, not sure he will thank me for highlighting this picture as his hair is out of place, he didn’t post it on his socials, a nice body position makes this a nice picture.

Clarkey delivering a cross in from the Moors right, the picture is rather dark, as the lighting down there wasn’t the best, it was the 1st time I’d been on duty down there under the lights as we ’ ve usually played them earlier or later in the season or Tom had covered it.

HOME & AWAY SHIRTS ON SALE

Hello and a warm welcome to all home and visiting Oldham fans to today’s game from the Solihull Moors Supporters Association We would also like to welcome our new manager Matt Taylor and wish him and the team well for the rest of the season on behalf of the SMSA and all Solihull Moors Supporters.

Matchday Activities

The SMSA has a full suite of matchday activities planned on Saturday including:

Star of the Day Interview- a member of the supporter association will interview one of the players or a key member of matchday staff for about 5-10 minutes in the Trevor Stevens Suite SMSA 50/50 raffle- it’s £2 a go or 3 for £5 with the winning ticket receiving half the money collected SMSA Man of the Match Interview- in the Trevor Stevens Suite after full time

Please do join us in the Trevor Stevens Suite before the game, at half time and after the game to get involved

Upcoming Away Travel

We have coach travel available for our upcoming away fixtures. Details can be found below:

Saturday 15th February- Barnet

Wednesday 19th February – Woking: (this coach is going ahead as we have reached the required amount of bookings)

Tuesday 25th February- Aldershot (for this coach to go ahead we require 20 coach bookings before 17th February)

Spaces on all the coaches are available on the club website: https://solihullmoorsfc.ticketco.events/uk/en or you can call the away travel number 07988 579 408 or speak to any SMSA Committee Member for further details

If you have any questions or want to contact the supporters association please email: yoursmsa@gmail.com or speak to any member of the SMSA Committee on matchday’s

1-0

0-5 2-1 1-1

2-0

Watch highlights from our last match against Oldham Athletic where goals from Jack Stevens, Marcel Oakley and James Gale wrapped up three points at Boundary Park.

LAST TIME OUT

DELIGHT AT BOUNDARY PARK

Marcel Oakley scored the winning goal on his debut for Solihull Moors to earn three valuable points at Boundary Park against Oldham Athletic. Moors took the lead with Jack Stevens scoring in consecutive away games. After Stevens had flicked the ball into Stevenson’s path, he ran with the ball until he got into the penalty area. Stevenson’s shot was blocked but fortunately fell into the path of Stevens, who placed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 0-1.

Flahavan, Oakley, Gale, Labadie, Howell, Holmes, Ryley

Moors retook the lead through substitute James Gale. Gale received the ball and shrugged off an Oldham defender before placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Moors scored a third goal with Marcel Oakley opening his account on his debut. A beautiful pass from James Clarke spilt the Oldham defence, with Oakley only having the goalkeeper to beat. From there, he tucked the ball underneath Hudson and give the Moors a two-goal cushion.

MATCH ACTION

SAT 01 FEBRUARY 2025

NATIONAL LEAGUE

WEALDSTONE 1

1 SOLIHULL MOORS

STARTING XI

Barrett

Clarke

Newton

Osborne

Whitmore

Morrison

Stevens

Wilkinson

Oakley

Tipton

Holman

SUBS

Walker, Tunnicliffe, Bostock, Bowen, Fish, Bruck, Stevenson

Alex Whitmore's late first-half equaliser was not enough for the Moors, as they would draw 1-1 against Wealdstone in the National League - picking up the first point under Matt Taylor.

In the fourth minute, the hosts took the lead through Alex Reid scoring against his former club. A long ball over the top of the Moors defence was chased by Reid, who had only Killian Barrett to beat. Reid placed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

In the final minute of the half, the Moors equalised through Alex Whitmore scoring his third goal of the campaign. A Jamey Osborne freekick was sent towards the far-post where Whitmore beat his marker, dived in and made it 1-1 before the break.

MOORS HELD AT THE VALE

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1

2 RCWARWICK

First Years slip to defeat against Racing Club Warwick despite dominant first-half.

he away side started on the front foot with an early attack down the left. Their winger beat Harrison Bassford before delivering a cross into the box, but no Warwick player was able to poke the ball home

Moors responded well with an attack through Ethan Bracher, whose looping cross towards the back post found Charlie Footes. Footes returned the ball to Bracher, but his shot was blocked by the Warwick defence.

Footes controlled a long kick from Cian Quinn before splitting the defence with a through ball for Bracher, who narrowly missed the target as Richard Stearman’s side pressed for the opener.

Warwick came close to taking the lead when their forward rounded Quinn in the Moors goal, but Holden was well positioned to make a crucial block on the line, easing the pressure on the visitors.

A long ball forward from Quinn found Bracher in space down the left, and his cross picked out Lucas Bailey, whose header was parried away by the goalkeeper.

In the dying seconds, Ben Weaver tried his luck from range, smashing his shot off the crossbar. SOLIHULLMOORSELITE

Warwick equalised on the stroke of half-time with a magnificent strike following a free-kick on the edge of the Moors penalty area. Shortly after the restart, the visitors took the lead with a header from a deep corner.

Tane Lucre was the next to go close, rattling the Warwick crossbar with a powerful shot from inside the penalty area

Moors eventually broke the deadlock when Bailey converted at the near post after some dazzling footwork by Bracher, who delivered the decisive cross

The search continued when substitute Diego Brown advanced on goal but was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. However, Solihull were unable to capitalise on the resulting setpiece.

Moors pushed for an equaliser as Footes played a short corner with Bracher before carrying the ball inside the box, where his low-driven shot was saved, earning another corner

SOLIHULLMOORS

LOUGHBOROUGHLIGHTNING 2

Yesterday saw Solihull Moors Women defeated at home by Loughborough Lightning.

Both teams came out looking to make an impression on the game, however, it was Loughborough who created the first opportunity with Jade Arber coming close with a free kick hitting off the bar.

It wasn’t long before an opportunity opened up the other end, with a free kick taken by Alex Liddiard, soaring over the bar.

As the half drew to a close, a corner fired into the box by Loughborough found the head of Lauren Purchase at the back post and bounced into the back of the net, giving Loughborough the lead at half-time

HT: Solihull Moors 0-1 Loughborough Lightning

As the second half opened up, a huge save from Zoe Millington denied the visitors of their second.

Loughborough doubled their lead in the 51st minute with a ball that was whipped to the back post, finding Jade Arber who tapped it over the line.

Moors continued to work incredibly hard, as Millington made a low save refusing the visitors of their third, and a few minutes later Floss Chambers, with a perfectly timed block denied the opposition once again

Despite the fantastic efforts of everyone wearing yellow and blue, Moors left the game defeated at home.

FT: Solihull Moors 0-2 Loughborough Lightning

Evie Quinn was brought off after a collision which left her in considerable discomfort with her knee We will assess Evie’s condition and provide updates as and when appropriate but we wish her a speedy recovery.

Next Fixture: Sunday 9th February - Lincoln City (H)

SOLIHULLMOORS COMMERCIAl

TODAY’S SPONSORS

Our Match Sponsors on Saturday when we welcome Oldham Athletic to Damson Park are the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Fans will get a chance to find out more about the incredible work they do with a special Pod at the ground, and staff inside the stadium will be on hand have a chat as well as collect donations

You can find out more about the Midland’s Air Ambulance here https://www.midlandsairambulance.com/

Sadly, more than 80 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every single day

We are delighted to welcome Nigel, a cardiac arrest survivor on Saturday who was helped by Midlands Air Ambulance.

Nigel’s story was featured on ‘Ambulance Code Red’ on Channel 5 Looking back, Nigel said: “It was really hard watching it, but I thought it was important to show the public what Midlands Air Ambulance Charity does to help people who are in cardiac arrest, like me ”

MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY

The prestigious Jerroms Vice-Presidents Suite, located within the newly refurbished Damson Homes stand, has recently undergone a rather extensive makeover.

Distinguished guests have access to a private balcony where they will enjoy the game in premium seating on the halfway line.

The suite remains a first-class dining affair offering a high-quality three-course meal courtesy of The Forest Hotel

Guests will be greeted by our maître d' who will be at your service during your whole experience with us.

You will enjoy the company of the chairman and home & away directors. Bar and table service is available throughout your time with us serving a selection of premium wines, beers, spirits, and soft drinks.

Guests are encouraged to wear smart casual attire (no football shirts).

The match-by-match JVPS hospitality price will range from £75-£125 + VAT