SOUTHAM UNITED SOUTHAM UNITED VS BOURTON ROVERS Saturday, August 20, 2022 • 3:00pm • Bobby Hancocks Park OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
03 04 CONTENTS Management Head Coach Richard Kay Assistant Coach Lee Petch Assistant Coach Lee Walkinshaw Assistant Coach Ryan Champkins Goalkeeping Coach Alan Kinnear Southam United Committee Owner/Chairman Michael Davis Secretary Amanda Woolley Events Manager Rachel Anderson Media Rhian Tilley First Team Rep Richard Kay Member Alan Kinnear First Team Liaison Group Photographer Marie Price Hospitality Lisa Walkinshaw Hospitality Amy Dunkley Media Rhian Tilley Matchday Groundsman Paul Kay Member Alan Kinnear Match Day Programme Editor/Design Rhian Tilley 06 LETTER FROM THE MANAGER Richard Kay LETTER FROM THE CAPTAIN Simon Barby 08 MATCH REPORT Milton United 10 MATCH REPORT FC Stratford 14 BOURTON ROVERS Today’s opposition 18 SOUTHAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The history of our club
A warm welcome to the players, staff and committee of Bourton Rovers for today’s Hellenic Division 1 league game at Bobby Hancocks Park. Its another new club we are going up against and its great to go to new grounds or host new clubs Last Saturday at home to Milton we again started very well. We piled on the pressure with crosses in the box and then hit the crossbar. To then concede 3 goals again in a short period of time again due to decision making was hard to take. The reaction second half was very good, albeit with 10 men for 35 minutes. The players were disciplined and played with a resilience. No doubt our second half display against Milton gave us some positives going into Wednesday nights game at FC WednesdayStratford.the performance was superb. We looked like a Southam United team of the last few years. Everyone involved brought a passion and intensity that really sparked an excellent team performance. We were excellent defensively against high quality opposition that play a very well coached brand of football. We created numerous clear cut chances to take all 3 points
HEAD COACH
RICHARD KAY but all in all it’s a very good point away from home midweek. I feel everyone involved is now starting to understand what is required to be competitive at this level. Every game you have to be prepared to leave it all out on the pitch. I feel we have shown teams far too much respect. When we play like we did Wednesday; with a high tempo, covering the ground and bringing a huge physicality to the game, we are a very difficult team to play against. It’s what our recent success has been built on. Being humble, hardworking and very aggressive. We set the standards Wednesday. Now we have to build on them and be consistent. Enjoy the game Thank you for your continued support.
UTS
Rich Kay
“I FEEL EVERYONE INVOLVED IS NOW STARTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPETITIVE AT THIS LEVEL” 05
Welcome back to Bobby Hancocks Park, where we return for another home fixture, this time against Bourton Rovers. We would like to welcome the to the BHP ground!
SIMON BARBY
I also would like to say how great the supporters have been at getting behind the team, home and away. Especially when we have a home fixture, I see so many new and old Southam supporters which is so lovely to see. We have had a lot of games in the last couple of weeks playing Saturday, midweek, and the Saturday again. So the games are coming think and fast!
Its been a tough start for us, but I think we have settled down and will get to winning ways this Saturday versus Bourton Rovers. Coming off the back of an impressive performance against FC Stratford, even though we took a point each, its our first point on the table. But now we move on from that and we will start picking up points now that we have settled and are back to putting big performances on display. The desire for it is there around the squad!
Simon Barby
CAPTAIN
Its been a tough start for us, but i think we have settled down and will get to winning ways this saturday “ ”
The atmosphere in the squad is so great. We even had injured players coming and supporting us, and they had their say in the changing rooms. We are a great bunch of lads, on-and-off the field! How far BHP and the Southam team have come is brilliant. There is so much work thats gone into it and with the management team working close with the players its just got a big positive energy around the place. Thanks for your support!
So, our last game our performance and work rate was superb, and we need that every game now. We can’t drop the standard. Even though we may have deserved 3 points, as we had some good chances in that Stratford match. We also had to jiggle about positions as we have had a few injuries now through the squad. So I hope all the lads have a speedy recovery and are back with us in no time.
Cheers!
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MILTON UNITED: Bloomfield, Cooper, Goddard (McCormack 29’), Joyce, Kennedy (Godfrey), Mungall, Organ, Sturgess, Thomas (Lee), West (Moore), Woodley (Woodall) of the net. Not long after, in the 16th minute, a Milton attacker was brought down in the box by right-back Sol Bloomer and the referee deemed it an offense worth a penalty. Milton’s Louis Joyce stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty without hesitation. 28 minutes into the match brought a blow for the
SOUTHAM UNITED: Hudson, Bloomer (Mauritson 77’), Green (Speed 68’), Neale, Locklin (Barby 28’), Yeates, Ellis Champkins, Ethan Champkins, Drummond (O’Brien 45’), Lawes, Dixon (Osborne 45’). subs not used: N/A
Even after a positive and competitive start, it still wasn’t meant to be for the Southam Saints against the visiting Milton United FC. The day promised to be a hot contest, not only with the sky-high temperatures, but with the home side welcoming a very in-form team in Milton. The side has yet to drop any points, and has yet to score less than 3 goals in a match.
REPORTMATCH
MATCH REPORT
However, Southam United started with some positive movements in and around the box, with multiple crosses find their way into dangerous spots. Forward Jay Lawes managed to get on the end of some positive play at the top of the box and unleashed a goal-bound shot, but it managed to just clip the crossbar, falling harmlessly for the opposition.Itdidn’ttake long for the visitors to bounce back from that chance, as they went down the other end within a minute and got their first goal of the match. Milton’s left side winger created a great chance through a cross along the ground and forward Harry Thomas got his foot on it to put it past an outstretched Lewis Hudson and into the back
Hellenic League Division 1, Bobby Hancocks Park, 13.08.22
SOUTHAM UNITED 0 MILTON UNITED 3 (Thomas 10’, Joyce 16’, Woodley 42’)
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Saints in returning addition, Kyle Locklin, needing medical treatment for an injury. He’s second debut for the club would be cut short after a problem with his calf from a runin with an opposing player left him unable to continue and he was replaced by Simon Barby.
“We started off really well, creating chances, Jay hitting the bar, and after the first 20 minutes we’re bang in the game, and then within a 10 or 15 minute period we’re bang out of the game because of bad decision making and sloppy“Don’tgoals.get me wrong, we knew Milton were a good side and it was going to be a tough game, but we were playing well with a lot of momentum, and then we’re out of the game.“The reaction though was good at half-time. We asked them can we at least get a result out of the second half, and the boys kept it at 3-0.
“In terms of squad rotation, it was important that we rested four or five as it was our third game in seven days. We always want to put out a settled side, however, with that many games in so few days its impossible to keep playing the same players. We’ve tried to get through the tricky period, especially without any injuries, and we managed to do that, and sometimes you have to bite the bullet and make some changes.”
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Southam are away next in a midweek match up at FC Stratford on Wednesday 17 August with kickoff at 7:45pm.
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After some great saves from keeper Lewis Hudson the visitors struck again just before the end of the half. Milton’s number 5, Matthew Woodley, converted a free-kick with a curling shot from the top of the box. Hudson got to the ball but it wasn’t enough to keep it out of the back of the net for Milton’s third of the day. The second half proved stronger for Southam in some ways, and more difficult in others. The Saints managed to shutout the ever-attacking Milton side for the second 45, but also saw forward Ethan Champkins and Assistant Coach Lee Petch pick up red cards for issues both on, and off, the Speakingpitch.after the match Head Coach Richard Kay mentioned it felt a bit like “groundhog day” from the previous matches.
“Obviously playing for 30 or 35 minutes with only 10 men wasn’t ideal, but what it did do was show that we can defend properly and be organised.
Hellenic League Division 1, Arden Garage Stadium, 17.08.22
MATCH REPORT
Forward Melvin Mauritson had a few more chances late on in the half, but the whistle was blown with both sides even at the break.
SOUTHAM UNITED: Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Barby (c), Yeates, Ellis Champkins, O’Brien, Mauritson, Osborne, Ethan Champkins. subs: Dixon, Bloomer not used: Drummond, Boe, Feasey FC STRATFORD: Cashmore, Hodson, Cook (Fischer45’), Isichei (Aspinall-Smyth 51’), Everard (Kroner 80’), Hamer (c), Sykes (Sone 65’), Poulson, Collins, Johnston (Kiley 80’), Chaundy side of the ball.
REPORTMATCH
The second half started as the first had ended, and with the match opening up it became very end-to-end football.
The Saints were back in action under the lights as they traveled to FC Stratford in a Hellenic League Division 1 midweek match up. Coming off three losses on the bounce it was imperative for the away side to start putting some results together and pick up valuable points. No one in the Southam camp was under any illusion, however, that this young and skillful FC Stratford side was always going to be a difficult task andAschallenge.theyhave done many times so far this season, the Saints started strong, with a flurry of opportunities, particularly coming off the head of Adam Neale after several crosses and corners were put into dangerous areas.Then FC Stratford started taking their chances on the other end and forced a few saves from the ever-present keeper, Lewis Hudson. The young team showed off their technical ability and came close a few times, but the team in white showed how they’ve improved on the defensive
SOUTHAM UNITED 0 FC STRATFORD 0
At one point Stratford’s number 10 had the ball in the back of the net, but it was called back for offsides and play continued. Many on the Stratford bench called for a penalty when Hudson came out to meet a through pass and came together with the Stratford forward before retreating back to the goal and making a finger-tip save, but the referee was sure in his decision not to give the spot-kick and the home team were forced to continue with the match.
HealthyFeetClinic.co.uk Mauritson had a few more chances and Lewis Hudson showed his worth with some fantastic saves.
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“So going away from home on a midweek night is one of the toughest tests in non-league football, but the preparation was spot on before the match. We had a fantastic warm-up and the mindset and attitude was top notch.“The lads went into the game with a lot of positivity after the second-half against Milton. We had some chances that one an other day we would have taken and we could have been 2-0 up after an hour. Two clear chances. “We need to just keep working hard and keep being organised. In terms of breaking the games down, thats four clean sheets we’ve kept in a half of football, so defensively we’ve been pretty good aside from the odd 10 or 15 minutes were we’ve conceded soft goals, and goals in two’s or three’s.
“Its all steps we want to be taking. We obviously want to be hard to beat and be better defensively and keep clean sheets. We’ve got to take our chances when they come around. We’re not talking half chances, but the one or two real chances we get. “It should give the lads good confidence moving forward, that result against a very well organised Stratford side.”
“We looked very fresh”, said Head Coach Richard Kay after the 0-0 draw. “It was by far our best performance throughout the preseason and first few games of the season. We were organised and looked very, very fit on the night, and we had to be against a very young, athletic, FC Stratford team who are very well coached. Most of them playing full-time in the academy with a few in and around the first team.
In the end both sides had a slew of chances, but were unable to convert them. The ref blew the final whistle with the match still at 0-0 and both teams picking up a point. The point proved to be Southam’s first on the season and one that they hope will kick-start a better run of form in the matches to come.
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The team are back in action on Saturday 20 August at BHP for a 3pm kickoff •
“[even though its a local cup] its always a nice feeling, especially doing so with all your mates” He’ll be hoping to help Southam continue lifting the silverware this season and hopefully many seasons to come. In fact, it was a fresh start and being a part of a well-run club that convinced Green to move to Southam after his injury last season. Knowing many of the already established players on the squad made his decision that much easier.
CHARLIE GREEN
After a successful 2021/22 season in the OSL Prem, and a promotion to step 6 football, Head Coach Richard Kay made it no secret that he was out to find players to bring the squad to the next level and compete in the new league. An extensive off-season and preseason allowed Kay and his staff to look at a number of new players interested in joining the club, and by the time the first match rolled around on August 3rd, he has made his selection. Today we highlight 3 more of those new players he has brought in to bolster an already young and exciting club.
When discussing the honours he’s come across in his playing career the new Southam recruit fondly remembers winning a the cup with his Hillmorton side last year.
THEO DRUMMOND Usually most of the players joining Southam have extensive non-league experience and come to the club from other local clubs. However, not only has Head Coach Rich Kay found a fantastic new player in Theo Drummond, but he also comes in young enough to just be getting his start at this
The young left-back came to Southam United from local club Rugby Borough after a season-ending injury put him on the sidelines. He has also featured for Crick FC, Hillmorton FC The Stag. If you are to watch Green play in his preferred position at left-back it is easy to see that not only is that where he is most comfortable, but also where he’s most confident. “I’ve always been a left-back, and so was my dad, so that’s probably where its come from”.
When he’s not on the pitch Charlie enjoys nights out, music and the beer garden on a hot day. Welcome Charlie!
WELCOME TO SOUTHAM UNITED
13 level of non-league football.
It is easy to see that Drummond is a natural forward/ striker, but he hasn’t always played in that position. Always being a very versatile player he played positions anywhere from centre-mid to centre-back, but then always gradually moving forward on the pitch as he got older.
In fact, Dixon has already seen numerous honours in his playing career to this point, and says that on of the biggest was playing for the Coventry academy as a youth player, as well as winning the youngest player award in a men’s team in the MFL at the age of only 18.
“As I was one of the faster players on the squad I started playing up front where I had a good first season, scoring nearly 30 goals in around 20 games, and have since cemented my position as a striker/winger and right-back”.
Even with as short a non-league career as he’s had, Theo has built up a few fond memories so far and cites his first goal in men’s football, playing for Southam in the Bobby Hancocks Cup, as one of them. He was also very honoured by the accolades he picked up at Rugby Town FC, winning the Manager’s Player, Player’s Player and Club’s Player of the Year, all in one season. After obvious success at the youth football level it was important for the young forward to get his start in men’s football, and Southam United seemed the perfect opportunity to do so.
Ambition and experience were among the reasons that the young winger made the move to Southam United as well as the ongoing growth of the club, on-and-off the pitch.
“Southam is the first men’s club I have been a part of. I have previously played youth football at clubs like Rugby Borough, Rugby Town and Hillmorton up to U18s”.
The striker turned winger developed into a versatile left or right sided player and has featured for Kay and his staff in both positions, as well as up top so far this season. No matter where he is on the pitch it is easy to see that attacking is in his blood and he will bring much needed pace and technical ability to the match day squad this season.
“Southam is a rapidly growing club, and I knew Lewis Hudson through work experience so I had asked if I could join the team as I was looking to make the step to men’s football before I turn 18. I feel like playing for Southam will help me develop as a player and hopefully start a potential career for me as a Outsidefootballer”.offootball
Theo likes to listen to music, play Playstation, play football with mates and will also be starting Year 13 in school this September. Welcome Theo! JOSH DIXON Our next, and final, highlighted addition to the 2022/23 squad is forward Josh Dixon. Josh comes to the team from Coventrians and is a very exciting, young player to watch.
“I could see [Southam] were a young side moving up the football leagues, and are only getting stronger. It was definitely a goal of mine to play at this level. Southam are an exciting team who try and play good football. There is a strong build around the club as well at the moment, and as a player, its nice to be a part of”.
Its easy to see that the growth of the club and the ambitions of all the players, Dixon included, will be a catalyst for the continued successes and improvements at Southam going forward. Players like Josh coming in will help to meet those goals and continue to create a draw for the club. When not playing football Dixon enjoys going to the gym, playing even more football and chilling with friends and family. Welcome Josh! t this level.
Bourton Rovers Football Club is a football club based in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire.
The club have played at the Rissington Road ground since 1894. The ground was given to the club by local benefactor George Moore.
Affiliated to the Gloucestershire County Football Association, the club are currently members of the Hellenic Football League and play at Rissington Road. Their nickname is theTheRovers.clubwas established in 1894. The club played in the local leagues in the area playing in the Cheltenham Football League, then moving up to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League before moving to the Witney and District League. After finishing runners-up in the Witney and District Premier division at the end of the 2015-16 season, the club moved to the Hellenic Football League for the 2016-17 season.Theclub won Division 2 west in its first season, but were denied promotion as their ground was not up to the requirements for Division 1 football. After coming 5th in the 2018-19 campaign the club was promoted to Division one west along with the league champions Moreton Rangers.
OPPOSITIONTODAY’S BOURTON ROVERS
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L 0-3 Hudson, Bloomer, Green, Neale, Locklin, Yeates, El Champkins, D 0-0 Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Barby, Yeates, El Champkins, O’Brien,
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Et Champkins, Drummond, Lawes, Dixon Dunn, Speed, Osborne, Muaritson, Bary, O
O’Brien, Mauritson, Osborne, Et Champkins Dixon (sub), Bloomer (sub), Drummnond, Boe, Feasey
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First Team results from 1998 to 2004 were largely disappointing. A sixth placed MidComb Premier Division finish in 2004/05 augured well for the future but could not be improved upon in season 2005/06 thanks to inconsistent league form. There was, however, some comparative success in Cup competitions, including an appearance in the first ever Cup Final at the Ricoh Arena, when Saints finished as Runners Up to Coundon Court in The Coventry Charity Cup. Cup success was achieved in 2008/09 as the Club lifted the BCFA Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup with a convincing 3 - 1 victory over Darlaston Town and again in 2010/11 with victory in the Telegraph Challenge Cup Final at The Ricoh Arena. Runners Up spot in the Premier Division was achieved in 2011/12 when the team fell away with the finishing line in sight.Inboth 2012/13 and 2013/14 the Club were runners up in the BCFA Midweek Floodlit Cup; and in 2014/15 were beaten finalists in the Les James Cup at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium and the Coventry Charity Cup at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena.
Saints moved into the Midland Combination in 1980/81 and immediately won the Division 3 title and completed the double by winning the Vase Final with a 3-1 victory over Kingsbury United. When the League was reorganised in 1983/84, United were invited into the Premier Division but after struggling for several seasons they were downgraded to Division 1 when it was discovered that their pitch was now too short owing to the construction of a bowling green next to it. It took until 1995/96 for United to get back into Premier Division football. In 1997/98 Saints enjoyed their most successful season in the Midland Combination finishing as Premier Division Runners Up and winning the Birmingham County FA Vase with a convincing 3-0 victory over Shirley Town. All time leading goalscorer (over 1,000 goals) and record appearance holder is Bob Hancocks who served the Club loyally in virtually every capacity. In 2002 Bob and his wife Anne received a presentation from the Club to mark their over 50 years of loyal service to Southam United and their contributions to the game were finally recognised by the FA Long Service Award in June 2012. In 2001 the Club merged with Southam Town FC, a progressive junior club formed in 1972 which, amongst other things, has pioneered Ladies and Girls football in Warwickshire. Long-term development plans have now been put into place to strengthen the football base in Southam both on and off the field. The Club is an FA Charter Standard Community Club. Currently, the Club’s range of junior teams runs from the Mini Soccer School (boys and girls of 5 years upwards) being introduced to the game in a fun and safe environment through the junior age groups up to the Under 16’s with some 250 players participating in coaching sessions and games throughout the season. The club also maintains a successful Wildcats and Girls section, encouraging more girls into the game and hoping to retain them for the future. This is with a view to eventually growing our own Ladies team.
Southam United was founded in 1905 following the amalgamation of two village teams. Southam United, or “Saints” as they are known, has a long and distinguished history From 1947 to 1956 the club won most of the titles in the then prestigious Coventry and North Warwickshire League culminating in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup.
Following a period of transition for the First Team and an absence of several seasons, the First Team successfully returned in 2018/19 playing in the Hellenic league and managed by Rich Kay. Since this time, and despite the challenge of COVID, the team have gone from strength to strength, gaining promotion and in the 2021/22 season are playing in the Oxford Senior League Premier. After one season in the OSL Prem the team was promoted to the UHL Hellenic League Division 1 at step 6 football, where they are looking to springboard to the next level.
SOUTHAM UNITED FC
Southam United are also fully committed to supporting it’s volunteer coaches and developing homegrown officials. All managers and coaches are supported in following their ambitions to complete FA coaching courses and as of the 21/22 season, the club has supported 3 of its former junior players to undertake their referee qualifications. With more to follow - subject to courses being available.
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Position:BARBYSIMONMidfield DOB: 11.12.1989 Position:HARRISRYANDefense DOB: 21.05.1996 Position:SPEEDALFIEDefense DOB: 03.10.1999 FITZMAURICECHARLIEPosition: Defense DOB: 10.09.1998 Position:LAWESJAYForward DOB: 02.07.2000 SOLOMONBLOOMERPosition: Forward DOB: 06.07.1999 Position:NEALEADAMDefense DOB: 24.04.1998 MEET THE 2022/23 TEAMPATRICKO’BRIENPosition: Midfield DOB: 12.08.1992 FirstRICHARDKAYTeamManager FirstPETCHLEETeamAssistant WALKINSHAWLEEFirstTeamAssistant CHAMPKINSRYANFirstTeamCoach Position:LOCKLINKYLE Defense GoalkeeperKINNEARALANDOB:Coach
CHAMPKINSETHANPosition: Forward DOB: 28.09.2000 Position:YEATESANDYMidfield DOB: 02.01.1991 Position:DUNNSAMDefense DOB: 12.01.1997 Position:OSBORNESHANE Forward DOB: 26.06.1995 SUFC 2022/23 TEAM MAURITSONMELVINPosition: Forward DOB: 24.06.2002 Position:CHARLIEGREEN Defense DOB: 02.08.2000 Position:HUDSONLEWISGoalkeeper DOB: 01.08.2000 Position:SKIDMOREALEX Goalkeeper DOB: 10.09.2002 Position:MITCHBOEDefense DOB: 12.07.1995 CHAMPKINSELLISPosition: Midfield DOB: 01.09.2002 DRUMMONDTHEOPosition: Forward DOB: 18.10.2004 Position:DIXONJOSHForward DOB: 16.11.1999
SOUTHAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB BOURTON ROVERS FOOTBALL CLUB First Team Manager: Richard KAY First Team Manager: Connor-Jake PRICE Simon BARBY (c) Solomon BLOOMER Mitch BOE Ellis AndyAflieAlexShanePatrickAdamMelvinKyleJayLewisRyanCharlieCharlieSamTheoJoshEthanChampkinsChampkinsDIXONDRUMMONDDUNNFITZMAURICEGREENHARRISHUDSONLAWESLOCKLINMAURITSONNEALEO’BRIENOSBORNESKIDMORESPEEDYEATES Alfie MohamedCharlieGeorgeRileyJoeBOLGERBOOTEBUTTCALLINANIestynFARLEYSimonFLOWERJackGALPINJoshLONGMAUDSLEYJordanMITCHELLJackMORTONDanO’TOOLEJakeROBOTHAMDanSMITHSOLIMANConnorTEAGUECallumTROTT Charlie VINTON-BATTERSBYLukeWALSHDannyWAY(c)
