SOUTHAM UNITED SOUTHAM UNITED VS PERSHORE TOWN Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • 7:45pm • 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 Moreton Rangers 10 MATCH REPORT Kidlington Res 12 TODAY’S OPPOSITION Pershore Town 14 SOUTHAM UNITED Our History
HEAD COACH
A warm welcome to the players, staff and committee of tonight’s visitors, Pershore Town. Its yet another league game in what has been a frantic start.
After tonight’s game, and from Saturday, barring injuries, we should be able to call on a settled squad and, as mentioned before, settle into a routine of mostly Saturday-Saturday matchdays and training. Training the last couple of weeks has had a huge impact on recent results.
It’s even harder to watch from the sidelines at the best of times, but it’s been an emotional roller-coaster recently for everyone concerned with the club. We have effectively scored 9 goals in 30 minutes of football. 3-1 down with 25 to play against Moreton, we scored 5. Saturday we scored 3 in 10 minutes. Two of them coming in the 95th and 96th minutes in added time. It’s only what we deserved. It was a quality 90 minute away performance against a Kidlington Res team that had the luxury of bringing in a number of first team players.
RICHARD KAY
I’m starting to see really positive signs and progress. After a really dis-jointed preseason, and early part to the season, the players are looking much fitter and sharper with much better levels of match fitness. It’s been a frustrating process but one we inevitably had to suffer.
Tonight’s game is the acid test but one we have worked hard to be involved in over the last 3 years. How the fixtures have worked out its been an incredibly tough start to life back at Step 6. Probably pound for pound the toughest schedule of any team in the division, however, we are finding our feet and 7 points out of the last 12 is a good return and good Saturday’sprogress. game was bonkers. Like my dad said after the game, you need a pacemaker watching us at the minute.
The character and belief from management, supporters to the players was immense. We kept going and completely turned the game on its head. The celebrations for the winning goals were definitely in the top 5 moments since the re-launch of the club.
It’s our 8th game in just over 4 weeks, where we have played 6 of the top 8 and 5 of the top 6 on current standings. Pershore find themselves currently in the top 2 at this early stage and are the overwhelming favourites for the league title come May. Its another big test but one we go into buzzing with us recording back-to-back wins in the league for the first Back-to-backtime.wins in the league is huge at any level. We are now climbing the league and can now relax into the season knowing we can more than hold our own. I’ve seen enough over the weeks to know that we can be very competitive week-in and week-out and pick up results.
It continues to be a huge process on and off the pitch but we have come so far in such a short space of time. As a team on the pitch we know what we are. We have done for years since the re-launch. We are humble and hardworking. I’m starting to see our DNA and core values again, which is all I demand and ask for week-in, week-out. As a manager as long as you have an honest team with a fighting spirit and togetherness win, lose or draw, its all you can ask for. Enjoy the game and thank you for your continued support. Kay
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UTS Rich
CAPTAIN
Welcome back to Bobby Hancocks Park and our mid-week game against Pershore Town. We have had a roller-coaster of a ride in our last two matches against Moreton Rangers and Kidlington Res, by going behind in both games and pulling and fighting back to take all three points from the two teams, and to take us on a two-game winning Gamesstreak! are coming thick and fast at the moment. Saturday, to Wednesday, to Saturday! But all the lads embrace it and we, as a squad, move forward and take each game as it comes. We have had three new players come in to the squad for the Kidlington game. Callum Stewart, a young and upcoming talent at left-back, and someone who has been at Southam for all his childhood football, starting at mini soccer and progressing all the way to the first team! He also had a superb game at left back on Saturday against Kidlington and received Man of the Match on his debut!
We also have Brad Goddard who also came on for us Saturday and changed the game for the better to see us take all three points. And Ryan King, a very good goalkeeper and nice lad, who looked very sharp in training. You will see him pushing to get into the team very soon! I feel we have stepped everything up recently. Things like training, mentality going into games, and fitness to keep pushing late on in games where we have taken points off teams near the end of matches. My hope is that we keep pushing on and getting results and good performances. I always like to get points on the table. This season will be quite up-and-down, stop-and-start, but the squad’s depth and the spirit in camp is buzzing. And that’s what I want to see; everyone enjoying the matches, and smiling faces around Southam, with good performances and picking up wins and points! After this Wednesday’s match we go into our first cup match of the season, and we are excited to see how far we can get!
Thanks!on! Barby BARBY
Simon
Everyone loves a cup run! We appreciate all of your support and it is great to see all the new, and the usual, supporters down at BHP cheering the team
SIMON
That’s what i want to see; everyone enjoying the matches, and smiling faces around southam, with good performances and picking up wins and points! “ ” 07
SOUTHAM UNITED: Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Harris, Barby (c), Champkins, Yeates, Bloomer, Lawes, Osborne. subs: Dixon, O’Brien, Tennant. subs not used: Skidmore MORETON RANGERS: N/A the game winner putting the Saints ahead 4-3, and then substitute, Josh Dixon, added another to seal the victory. It wasn’t over yet, however, as defender Sam Dunn added a sixth on the day and a rare goal to his club tally. Southam will look to continue this run of form and move up the league table on the 3rd of September against Kidlington Reserves at BHP.
MATCH REPORT Hellenic League Division 1, Bobby Hancocks Park, 29.08.22 SOUTHAM UNITED 6 (Lawes x2, Harris, Osborne, Dixon, Dunn) MORETON RANGERS 3 REPORTMATCH
The Saints came into Saturday’s match looking for some much needed points, and not only did they pick up those points, but they gave the large, bank holiday crowd a show to remember. Going into the changing rooms at halftime 2-1 down to visiting Moreton felt like much of the same from the past few weeks. Jay Lawes’ first half goal was keeping Southam in the match, but more would be needed to get another positive result, building on the FC Stratford draw just over a weekMoretonprior. added to their tally not long after halftime and the Saints needed some inspiration after finding themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline. That inspiration came again through Jay Lawes, who has done the same so many times before and put the team in yellow within one of a draw. But a draw was not what Head Coach Rich Kay, his staff and his squad were playing for. After Ryan Harris tapped home the equaliser the goals started coming thick and fast. Shane Osborne added what would prove to be
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Hellenic League Division 1, Yarnton Road Stadium, 3.09.22
KIDLINGTON RES 1 (Aust 10’) REPORTMATCH
SOUTHAM UNITED 3 (Dixon 80’, Mauritson 95’, 96’)
MATCH REPORT
For the second time in a week, Southam United came from behind to snatch all three Hellenic League Division One points with a 3-1 win at Kidlington Reserves. On bank holiday Monday, in front of a crowd of 120, Southam had found themselves 2-1 down against Moreton Rangers at half time and went further behind after the break before scoring five to run out 6-3 winners, with player of the match Shane Osborne getting the final strike to bring up their first win of the season. They left it even later to mount the comeback against Kidlington on Saturday, scoring two in added time to clinch victory. A goal down at half time, scored by Joey Aust in the 10th minute, Josh Dixon had brought them level in the 80th minute and then Melvin Mauritson scored twice in added time, his second to put the match to bed coming on 96 minutes.Theplayer of the match award this time went to 16-year-old defender Callum Stewart on his first team debut.Prior to the week, Southam had just a point to show
SOUTHAM UNITED: Skidmore, Dunn, Stewart, Barby (c), Harris, Yeates, Champkins, O’Brien, Osborne, Mauritson, Dixon. subs: Bloomer, Goddard. subs not used: Drummond, King, Tennant
KIDLINGTON RES: Brock, Cox, Aust, Freeman, Griffiths, Lee, McCarthy, Morawski, Peart, Walton, Wells. subs: Baker, Bartley, Farah, Horwood, Moss. for their efforts this season, gained in a 0-0 draw at FC Stratford last month, but life is looking a little rosier now as Richard Kay’s side are starting to find their feet at step 6 level and climb the table. This Wednesday, Southam are at home to Pershore Town, kick-off at 7:45pm. by David Hucker
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Ahead of the 2022/23 season, Pershore Town absorbed much of Eckington Juniors to expand on The Plums Youth Setup: creating a pathway from Youth Football to Senior Football.
Pershore Town FC was established in 1988 by the merger of three clubs: Pershore United, Pershore Rec Rovers and Pershore Bullets..
After the club’s title win, Pershore Town were among the founding members of the newly formed Midland Football Alliance, where a six-year stay would be ended in relegation back to the Midland Combination.
Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Pershore had applied to join the Hellenic Football League but the application was unsuccessful, and the club was placed in the West Midland Regional League instead.
Beating Bromsgrove Sporting and Redditch United, placed three leagues above Pershore Town, along the way Pershore’s name was on the lips of many football fans in Worcestershire.AddingtotheWorcestershire
Senior Cup, The Plums were to go on and to be named Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup winners following a 1-0 win over Malvern Town.
OPPOSITIONTODAY’S
Following a managerial change in November 2021, Pershore Town secured three cups by the end of 2020/21.
Elsewhere a demolition job was completed on Roman Glass St George of the Hellenic Premier League to secure the Supplementary League Cup at Bishops Cleeve.
PERSHORE TOWN
The newly formed club joined the Midland Football Combination in 1989, initially in Division Two, where we were crowned champions at the first attempt. The following season saw The Plums promoted again, this time to the Premier Division.
In 1998, Pershore Town absorbed Worcester Athletico.
In the 1993/94 season, Pershore Town were crowned Midland Combination Premier Division champions whilst also reaching the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, featuring on the BBC before a 3-1 loss at home to Yeading.
For the very first time in the club’s history, Pershore Town lifted the Worcestershire Senior Cup in front of over 1,000 at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground following a penalty shoot out victory over Worcester City.
That said, at the end of 2020/21 season, Pershore Town were transferred to Division One of the Hellenic League.
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.
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.
SOUTHAM UNITED FC
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.
Southam United are also fully committed to supporting it’s volunteer coaches and developing homegrown officials.
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.
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. 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.
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
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.
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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
L 0-3 Hudson, Bloomer, Green, Neale, Locklin, Yeates, El Champkins, D 0-0 Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Barby, Yeates, El Champkins, O’Brien, L 1-3 Hudson, Dunn, Green, Neale, Barby*, Yeates, O’Brien, Osborne, W 6-3 Hudson, Dunn*, Green, Neale, Harris*, Barby, Chamkins, Yeates, W 3-1 Skidmore, Dunn, Stewart, Barby, Harris, Yeates, Champkins, O’Brien, 14
Et Champkins, Drummond, Lawes, Dixon Dunn, Speed, Osborne, Muaritson, Bary, O O’Brien, Mauritson, Osborne, Et Champkins Dixon (sub), Bloomer (sub), Drummnond, Boe, Feasey Mauritson, Lawes, Dixon Bloomer (sub), Drummond (sub), Boe (sub), Fitzmaurice Yeates, Bloomer, Lawes**, Osborne* Dixon* (sub), O’Brien (sub), Tennant (sub), Skidmore O’Brien, Osborne, Mauritson, Dixon Goddard (sub), Bloomer (sub), King, Drummond, Tennant 15
SOUTHAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB First Team Manager: Richard KAY Simon BARBY (c) Solomon BLOOMER Mitch BOE Ellis BenCallumAflieAlexShanePatrickAdamMelvinKyleJayRyanLewisRyanBradleyCharlieCharlieSamTheoJoshEthanChampkinsChampkinsDIXONDRUMMONDDUNNFITZMAURICEGREENGODDARDHARRISHUDSONKINGLAWESLOCKLINMAURITSONNEALEO’BRIENOSBORNESKIDMORESPEEDSTEWARTTENNANT 16
