Winchester City V Swindon Supermarine 29/10/2022

THE CHARTERS COMMUNITY STADIUM

WINCHESTER CITY Football Club The Citizens Post Saturday October 29th 2022

Swindon Supermarine 3.00pm

Isuzu FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round

£2

The Citizens Post Spotlight: on – Jordi Valero If you weren’t at the Beaconsfield game on Monday night then you would have missed the save of the season so far, towards the end of the game at 1-0, Jordi Valero’s spectacular penalty save was vital to us getting three points on the road. Monday was only his fourth appearance for the first team, and with four wins, three clean sheets and some incredible saves under his belt, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Jordi at Winchester City. Whilst playing at the highest level of football is Jordi’s ambition, he has other strings to his bow and has been part of the Club for a while as goalkeeper, youth coach and junior manager. We thought it was an ideal time to catch up with him and learn a little more about our super Spanish keeper.

Brought up in the small village of Arbeca in Catalonia, approximately 45 mins from Barcelona, Jordi started playing football aged 8, preferring to score goals rather than save them at the start of his football journey. It wasn’t until his grandmother told him how prolific his grandfather had been as a goalkeeper that Jordi decided to follow in his footsteps. By the time he was ten, Jordi was playing for his county and a couple of years later was playing for the Lleida Esportiu academy. He was given the opportunity to play for Malaga aged 14 so upped sticks and moved there, however homesickness brought him back to the east coast after a short while. Aged only 16, Jordi moved to the UK to complete the Bournemouth Football programme at Sparshalt college under Neil Benson. Two years later he had a successful but Covid-interrupted season at Alresford Town who were in the running for promotion. Having had opportunities at several other Clubs since being in the UK, last year Jordi worked as a PE coach in schools for R&R coaching and started helping Winchester City Youth teams with their goal keeper coaching.

Aspiring to play and coach football at the highest level Jordi has been keen to get involved in the junior section of the Club. This year he is managing the U15 Blues, a team that had lost their way towards the end of last season. Jordi has reinvented and reinvigorated the team, installed a culture conducive to hard work, playing positive passing football, whilst developing each individual player to be the best they can be on the pitch. Unbeaten so far this season his dedication and tactics are already paying off.

Not to embed stereotypes, but rumour has it the life-long Barcelona supporter cooks a mean paella, and you can probably guess that Lionel Messi is amongst his football icons! We’re enjoying getting to know Jordi as he spends time at the Club, an absolute pleasure to have around: full of energy, ideas and enthusiasm we are privileged to have him involved.

Here’s hoping he continues to progress with his goals (excuse the pun) for the future.

joma-sport.com

The Citizens Post malcolms musings We welcome Swindon Supermarine to Winchester for today’s F A Trophy tie, having been due to play them in the league last week. These notes were written before the league game was played, but I assume by the time you read this the match will have been played. To reach this stage of the competition Swindon Suoermarine beat Cirencester Town, while we beat Poole Town to reach the first round proper of the competition for the first time in our history.

With our habit of drawing former champions of the Hellenic League in this competition kit is perhaps not expected that we were drawn to play either Swindon Supermarine or North Leigh (Bracknell Town previously played in the Hellenic League, but never won the title). However we will be keen to end our run of results against such teams having lost to Thame United (twice), Kidlington, Slimbridge and Highworth Town in the last five years, although only one of these defeats was on home territory, and that was as a result of a penalty shoot out, Last Saturday depending on the availability of trains should represent my first visit to Swindon Supermarine’s ground since the 1990’s when I visited twice with Eastleigh, once for a pre-season friendly which I helped arrange and once for a game in the F A Vase. However I have seen Swindon Supermarine play on this ground, in the seasons of 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18. The clubs have also met in the F A Cup in the seasons of 2013/14 and 2015/16 with Winchester winning both encounters.

Swindon Supernarine have reached the third round proper of this competition in 2008/09 and 2020/21 and in 2010/11 they reached the 2nd round proper of the F A Cup where they lost to Colchester United. This is their tenth season as a Southern League Premier Division team which has been spent in two spells, although two of these seasons have been truncated.

Swindon Supermarine is in fact a merger of Swindon Athletic (formerly Penhill) and Supermarine (formerly Vickers Armstrong and Vickers) with the merger taking place in 1992 following a season in which Supermarine had finished bottom of Hellenic League Division 1. Their current Assistant Manager is Charlie Griffin who many people remember as the manager of CirencesterTown.

In today’s first round ties there are three other all Southern League Premier Division ties with Beaconsfield playing Truro, Bracknell playing North Leigh and Harrow Borough playing Hayes and Yeading. Other teams from our division in F A Trophy action today are Chesham United, Hanwell Town, Weston Super Mare and Bracknell Town.

Therefore if either Truro or ourselves progress we will have to travel to Truro on a Tuesday which would mean our three longest league journeys of the season will be undertaken in midweek. With midweek fixtures against North Leigh, Plymouth Parkway and Weston Super Mare also to accommodate it is probably a relief there are no F A Trophy replays or league cup this campaign.

After today we have two home league matches with Bracknell and Tiverton our visitors. Congratulations to Bracknell on reaching the 1st round proper of the F A Cup by beating a Banbury United side who are performing well in the National League North. Merthyr Town also from our league progressed with a win against Folkestone Invicta. Having obtained a win and two draws from our last three home games it is important that we maintain our home form in the league.

It was good to read of the work with one of our junior coaches Jonny Bennett. Our junior teams are an important part of this football club and we have teams at every age group from under 7 upwards at many levels we have more than one team. Another man who is doing some important work in junior football is our former striker Oli Bailey and it was good ti see him at the ground for our home game with Chesham United.

One thing that is of concern in the game of football is the number of former players who suffer dementia in later life.

The Sporting Memories Foundation is a charity that has been set up to tackle this and has many clubs dotted around the country and uses the power of remembering and talking about sport as well as physical activity to help combat this. I do weekly research into previous sporting events to help with this initiative and people may be aware that Ray Wilson, Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton and Martin Peters all of whom were members of England’s world cup winning team of 1966 died having suffered from dementia in later life and a fifth in Bobby Charlton is also currently suffering from the disease. The list of former players who feel the effects of this illness in their latter years is too numerous to name here.

Todays Visitors swindon supermarine The football club was founded in 1992 from the amalgamation of two established Hellenic League clubs - Swindon Athletic and Supermarine. After the merger Swindon Supermarine regularly finished in the top eight in the Hellenic Premier Division.

In 1994/95 under managers Alan Dyton and Leo Colucci we entered the Wiltshire Premier Shield for the first time and went all the way to the final only to lose out to Trowbridge Town. That all changed in the 1996/97 season when we won our first trophies since the club's merger when we defeated Devizes Town in the final of the Wiltshire Premier Shield and a successful season came to a close when we won the Hellenic Premier Division Challenge Cup with a win over Kintbury Rangers. Under the guidance of John Fisher and former Swindon Town stalwart Don Rogers in the 1997/98 season the team won their last two fixtures to secure our first Hellenic Premier Division Championship.

In the 2000/01 season the team won the Hellenic League Premier Division championship title and the retention of the Floodlight Cup. With the championship secured the application to join the Southern League (sponsored by Dr Martens) was accepted. To secure promotion several ground improvements were successfully undertaken to meet the league's guidelines.

Manager Alan Dyton informed the club of his decision to step down from his role because of work commitments so in July 2001 the club appointed Swindon Town's community officer Clive Maguire as first team manager and equally pleasing was that Alan decided to assist Clive that season. Unfortunately, Clive resigned his managerial post at the end of October and after acting as caretaker manager for three games Alan also left the club.

Clive's resignation came after a disastrous start to the season with twelve defeats from thirteen games. The club then secured the services of the vastly experienced John Murphy. John had managed Cinderford Town, Witney Town, Trowbridge Town and Cheltenham Town and had achieved a few successes in the Southern League.

With John at the helm the team staged a tremendous come back in the league to ensure Southern League survival.

The following 2002/03 season was unfortunately far worse than our first season in the Southern League and at the end of September 2002 John Murphy decided to relinquish his managerial position with the club rooted at the bottom of the league.

The committee promoted the club's Academy Director, Tom Jones, to the manager’s

Todays Visitors swindon supermarine position but just a month later he resigned following eight defeats. A few days later former Cirencester manager Ray Baverstock accepted the manager’s position and the difficult task of saving the club from relegation. Ray began the daunting task of keeping the club in the Southern League which he duly obliged with a record seven wins from the last eight league.

The 2003/04 season started so differently from our first two seasons in the Southern League. With Ray and his team at the helm the team started very well with 18 points and a mid-table position by the end of October 2003. So, it was a complete shock to everyone at the club when Ray decided to step down at this time due to personal commitments.

Although Ray returned briefly after reconsidering his position he was gone again within a couple of games. Tommy Saunders' footballing exile ended with the former Chippenham Town boss being unveiled as the man to take over at Swindon Supermarine shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, Saunders' reign only lasted a couple of months as he resigned.

His Assistant, Mark Collier took over the job for the following game against Stourport Swifts and duly led the side to their first victory in seven games. Following that win Mark was offered the position as manager which he accepted and took us to safety with a 17th place finish in the Western Division and Southern League football for the 2004/05 season.

For a fifth consecutive season we started the 2005/06 league campaign in the Southern League, with Mark Collier in his first full season as manager and Ian Howell as his assistant and the club had its most successful season to date with a fifth place finish and a place in the end of season play-off's. Unfortunately, the side lost in the playoffs to a strong Hemel Hempstead Town who went on to secure promotion to the Premier Division.

The 2006/07 season was a successful one as the team scrapped into a play-off place and duly went through to win 2-0 in the play-off final win over Taunton Town to take us into the Southern League Premier Division for 2007/08 season. The team were also successful in winning the Wiltshire Premier Shield with a 2-1 victory over Swindon Town in the final.

The following 2007/08 season, the first season in the Southern league Premier Division the side finished a very creditable 12th place and had something to build on.

Todays Visitors swindon supermarine The 2008/09 season saw the team in the top six in January and they had an excellent FA Trophy run only losing in the last sixteen at Conference side Ebbsfleet. The cup meant the side having to play three games a week in the last month or so and dropped out of contention for a play-off place and finished the campaign in mid-table.

The 2009/10 season saw the team struggle for most of the campaign and it was only in March 2010 that they moved out of the relegation places with a run of good results and finished in fifteenth position, seven points away from relegation.

During the summer of 2010, the Executive Committee released a statement indicating that the team was likely to be disbanded and be disbanded from the Southern League due to a lack of funding. They informed manager Mark Collier that they could not give him the necessary assurances to finance another season in the Southern League and appealed for the friends and supporters of the club to help with a survival plan.

To continue playing in the Southern League a new Executive Committee was urgently required, with new members and an increase in numbers who would commit to finding the required finance. The old Executive Committee and a few enthusiastic supporters met each week over a six-week period then in the second week of June 2010 a new committee was formed to take the club into the new season and in the Southern League!

A commitment to financing a playing budget was made by the new committee and Mark Collier accepted the position of continuing as club manager and began the task of recruiting a playing squad for the 2010/11 season and by August 2010 Collier was confident he had a squad of players that could compete with the remaining twenty-one clubs and maintain a place in the Premier Division come May 2011.

The 2010/11 season saw the club maintain its Southern League Premier Division status with a very creditable 10th place finish, but besides the solid league performance the team had an exceptional FA Cup run when they went further than ever before as they reached the Second Round and only lost 1-0 away to NPower League 1 side Colchester United. A memorable day for all connected to SSFC and its supporters.

A short while after this FA cup run the club accepted the resignation of Manager Mark Collier and Assistant Tom Jones in February 2011 due to personal reasons.

Todays Visitors swindon supermarine Experienced players Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson took over in a caretaker role and rallied the players to perform extremely well and finish the season on a high with three consecutive wins.

The 2011/12 season ended in disappointment for the whole club when the team were relegated from the Southern Premier Division to the Division One South & West after finishing in 22nd place, although only losing our position in the Premier Division for the 2012/13 season on goal difference.

Shortly after the 2011/12 season ended and after long discussions with Gary and Matt the outcome was that a new manager would be appointed for the 2012/13 season in the South & West Division One. Within a matter of days Highworth Town manager Dave Webb was approached by the club committee with a view of taking over the managerial position at the Webb's Wood Stadium.

Dave Webb accepted the offer and along with his assistant at Highworth Lee Spalding, they were duly appointed Manager and Assistant Manager in May 2012 and quickly began the job of building a side ready and prepared for the tough season ahead in 2012/13 and beyond.

In Dave Webb’s first two seasons he managed to lead them to two playoff finishes and two semi-final defeats defeat’s, both at the hands of Merthyr Town, the first on penalties. Last season was something of a non-event as the squad struggled with some devastating injuries that were the main reason for a fourteenth-place finish and a much better season was expected in this 2015/16 season.

The 2015/16 season saw a couple of wins in the FA Cup and FA Trophy that helped the club’s funds. The team finished the season in a playoff position and just as they did in 2012 and 2013, they unfortunately lost at the semi-final stage once more. On this occasion it came from a 2-1 defeat at Taunton Town but overall although a disappointing end the players did themselves proud and were unlucky to lose a game they dominated.

The 2016/17 season saw a team shake up at the beginning with a few experienced players being released and a group of youngsters set to make their mark on the team and the Southern League. The players worked hard all season and all but for a late slip we could have made the playoffs as the team finished in sixth place, just one position outside the playoffs. In the Cups we had a couple of games in each of the major competitions, the FA Cup and FA Trophy, but was successful in winning the

Todays Visitors swindon supermarine Wiltshire Senior Cup, beating neighbours Highworth Town 2-1 in the final.

In mid-January the following season, 2017/18, manager Dave Webb departed the club and his assistant, Lee Spalding, took on the role of Caretake Manager until the end of the season. Come the end of the season Lee and his team finished in fifth place and a playoff position with a Semi-Final at Evesham United. After drawing 1-1 after extra time Marine went through 5-4 on penalties and a playoff final at third placed Wimborne Town. In another tight game, which ended 0-0 after extra time, Marine won 4-3 on penalties and won promotion back to the Evo-Stik South Premier Division and what will be the Premier South Division for season 2018/19.

The first season back in the Southern League Premier Division in 2018/19 was a good season. With the team growing in confidence as the season progressed, we put in some excellent performances against the top sides, but unfortunately dropping too many points against the teams lower down the table. But for that we could have finished somewhere near the playoff positions rather than the 11th place finish we achieved. All in all, though, it was a good achievement to finish midtable in our first season back at this level.

As everyone is aware last season the club, along with all other clubs from Step 3 to 7, had their season ended prematurely when the Covid-19 virus struck. All football at our level was cancelled and declared null and void come April 2020. It was a huge disappointment as the team were settled in fourth place in what was an extremely successful season up to then and a playoff game to potentially looking forward to, but we will never know!

Season 2020/21 started late in September 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic and we saw less league fixtures than the previous season as we only played seven games before we went into lockdown in the last week of October. We did play four further games in the FA Trophy before losing 4-0 to Bath City in the Third Round Proper in Bath.

In January 2021 the FA and Southern League concluded that the 2020/21 season should be null and void and along with everyone we are now hopeful that we would complete the 2021/22 season which we did with a fairly good start to our league campaign we then dipped in the middle and come good at the end of the season when we only lost one in our final eight league games and ended the 2021/22 season in 12th place. It was disappointing in both FA Cup and Trophy with early exits at Poole Town in the FA Cup and on penalties at Tiverton Town in the Trophy.

Fixtures Isuzu FA Trophy - First Round Proper Winners receive £3,000, losers £775 Saturday 29th October Basford United v Marine Carshalton Athletic v Kings Langley Chasetown v Marske United Chesham United v Lewes Colne v Warrington Rylands Dunston v Coalville Town Folkestone Invicta v Horsham Grays Athletic v Stowmarket Town Haringey Borough v Billericay Town Harlow Town v Bishop's Stortford Hastings United v Burgess Hill Town

Lancaster City Leek Town Leiston Liversedge Macclesfield Matlock Town Royston Town Runcorn Linnets Tavistock Uxbridge Warrington Town Weston-super-Mare

v Gainsborough Trinity v Worksop Town v Wroxham v Tamworth v Guiseley v Stafford Rangers v Heybridge Swifts v Belper Town v Binfield v Wingate & Finchley v South Shields v Bognor Regis Town

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The Citizens Post

DAVOs diary

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to you all for this afternoon’s FA Trophy match against Swindon Supermarine. We wish their players, staff and supporters a pleasant afternoon and safe trip home afterwards.

Swindon are a very good side who are now well established in the Southern Prem and very much a top 10 side who have a great chance of pushing for play offs. Lee Spalding has done a great job there in getting them promoted and then making them a very good step 3 side, they are a very good club with lovely facilities, we managed to get a victory over them last weekend but we saw for ourselves that they are a very good side, having said that we deserved a lot of credit for a good performance where I felt we fully deserved the victory, we had to rely on some good defending and goalkeeping as all sides need to in this league to get wins! I have no doubt today will be just as hard if not harder as they will be looking to exact some revenge on us, so we will need to be bang at it and ready for yet another massive challenge!

Not only did we have a great win last weekend, we backed that up on Monday night with a very hard fought 1-0 win away to beaconsfield, we had to hang on in there early on but then grew into the game, second half we had more of the game and went ahead with Chuggy scoring his first for the club, then Jordi saved a penalty and we hung in there for a brilliant 3 points, this win was in spite of missing a whole host of players for various reasons, a truly fantastic result for us.

Player news, we are carrying a lot of missing players, Luke King still long term, Torns is needing another 23s game before he can be considered, Baughany is hopefully on the mend after missing Monday, Wazza also missed Monday pulling out in the warm up so hopefully he will be back, Danny King is still out with a ribs issue, Griggsy will be back after 2 weeks away on a family trip that was agreed before he joined us, so hopefully we will have a few more players available compared to Monday! It’s been a hard time, week after week of midweek fixtures and it’s been hard to maintain fitness in the players however we are digging in there and 7 points from 9 in 3 away games in 10 days is first class and unbeaten in 6, the boys are really pulling out all the stops and I am very proud of the way they are pushing each other in what is an extremely tough league, we just have to keep going! Only another 29 games to go lol.

Enjoy the game, please keep roaring us on and keeping the lads going, the support has been exceptional this year and I am so pleased to have rewarded you with some great days already this year and hopefully we can have plenty more.

Up the winch!

Davo=

Match Report

By Malcolm Clarke

WINCHESTER CITY 1 - 1 CHESHAM UNITED For the fourth time this season Winchester drew 1-1 after fighting back after going a goal behind, with all of these draws coming against teams from the London/Home Counties \area. Winchester and Chesham had only previously met in the league in the 2006/07 season when both games were won by the home team.

Chesham went into this match in third place in the table and the previous weekend had beaten Enfield Town 4-0 away from home in the F A Trophy. They are a well-established club who have previously reached the final of the F A Amateur Cup, the 3rd round proper of the F A Cup and have spent 24 of the last 31 seasons in the Premier Division of either the Southern or Isthmian Leagues. Their goalkeeper Sam Beasant who is the son of former Wimbledon, Newcastle, Chelsea, Southampton goalkeeper and has played in the football league for Cambridge United and Stevenage.

Winchester announced two changes to the starting line-up from the match against Hartley Wintney, with Ollie Griggs being unavailable and replaced by Dan Neild, while Callum Chugg was injured and replaced by Mark Jamison. I K Hill was a welcome sight on the Winchester substitutes bench.

Winchester made a poor start to the game when Karl Oliyde scored in the 3rd minute when a corner was not cleared. Chesham were a threat from set pieces all afternoon and one free kick was cleverly played wide by Frankie Sutherland, which led to the ball being played into the box and Charlie Philpott making an excellent double save. Philpott also made further saves from Zak Joseph and Kyle Brooks who had been set up by Joseph.

However, with driving rain very much a feature of the first half Winchester came very much back in the game and Simba Mlambo broke clear of the Chesham defence, but his effort was just off target. Warren Bentley also headed just wide from a cross by Josh Bertie. However, Winchester did draw level in the 35th minute when having been set up by Dan Neild Simba Mlambo's shot took a deflection past Chesham goalkeeper Sam Beasant. The goal was initially credited to Bentley, but it was Mlambo's goal.

Before half time Charlie Philpott was the busier of the two goalkeepers, even if the majority of shots he had to deal with were straight at him, but Winchester defended well and gave a very disciplined performance and had good spells of possession. Simba Mlambo had an effort blocked, substitute Claudio Herbert has a header cleared off the line and Josh Bertie came close with a free kick. Another substitute Silvano Obeng would have an excellent chance, but he was not able to control his balance in the slippery conditions.

However, it is also fair to say that Obeng was a good attacking threat after coming on.

I K Hill was the third Winchester substitute to come on with Henry Brooks, Dan Neild and Simba Mlambo the players going off. The nearest we came to a further goal, came when in an added-on time Karl Oliyide hit the underside of the bar, but it was a good point for Winchester in which they competed well against a decent side.

Winchester are away to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday and on the following Monday are away to Beaconsfield Town.

The Winchester under 23 team seem to be imitating the first team's habit of coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Dan Jones scoring the leveller in a 1-1 draw with Sholing. Jones after his 70th minute goal hit the crossbar and had another effort that went just wide.

Match Report

By Malcolm Clarke

YATE 3 - 3 WINCHESTER CITY Winchester travelled to Yate for a rearranged fixture that was initially postponed due to the nation being in mourning due to the death of Queen Elizabeth 2nd. They continued their habit of coming from behind to obtain valuable points, on this occasion coming from 1-0 and 3-1 behind to earn 3-3 draw in added on time. Winchester have now drawn three of their last five league games at Yate's ground.

Yate who are in their second spell as a Southern League club, are now in their 20th season of continuous membership of that league and have made an inconsistent start to the season and are just below Winchester in the table, but recently recorded a splendid 4-0 home victory against Plymouth Parkway This is their ninth season in the Premier Division of this league.

The Yate manager is Peter Beadle who played over 350 football league games and later managed Newport in the National League South and took Hereford to mthe National League North with three successive promotions.

Winchester made one change to the starting line-up from Saturday with I K Hill making his first start since the opening day of the season, and he replaced Simba Mlambo. Ryan Pryce and Dan Jones were amongst the substitutes which did not include Alex MacAllister.

Yate took the lead in the 4th minute through Craig Dinsley who volleyed home following a corner taken

by Brandon Smalley, but in the 19th minute Winchester drew level through Warren Bentley, following a good move in which I K Hill puts a cross, and the ball eventually found Warren Bentley who scored from close range, Following the goal Winchester had a good spell of play and certainly forced the opponents on the back foot. Henry Brooks 8h a good cross which the Yate goalkeeper was only able to get his fingertips to the ball, but fortunately for the home side a Yate defender was first able to pick up the loose ball and was able to clear. Towards the end of the half which finished 1-1 a member of the Yate bench was sent off following an altercation between the two benches, but both goalkeepers were tested before the end of the hslf.

At half time Winchester bought on Silvano Obeng for I K Hill. and early in the half Obeng sets up Dan Neild who shoots just wide. However, Yate regain the lead in the 58th minute when another Brandon Smalley corner sees Peirce Mitchell head across goal and Olly Mehew score at close range. It becomes 3-1 when Charlie Philpott rushes from his area and does well to make a block, but the goal becomes open and although 40 yard out Brandon Smalley wax able to find the net.

Winchester had bought on Claudio Herbert for Dan Neild in an attempt to get back in the game, and they almost pull a goal back when Bentley heads just wide after being well placed. However, with 15 minutes left Bentley put Henry Brooks through and the young winger put the ball away.

In the 2nd of six additional minutes Henry Brooks puts in a cross and the ball feel to Archie Willcox who scored his first competitive goal for the clin to earn Wuinchester a point. Manager Craig Davis was pleased with the resilience of his team but did not think it rated among Winchester's best performances of the season.

By Matthew Badcock

YOU NEVER forget your first time! Wembley had that same impact on me as it has, and does, for many others. Mine was an FA Vase final between Guisley and Gresley Rovers in 1991. My main memories are being slightly late and running up the steps inside as the national anthems were playing! Mainly it was seeing that famous patch of grass – and how green it looked. It wasn’t an ordinary pitch. There was something about it. The goals were different too, the famous tunnel way behind the goal all capturing my imagination.

Of course, the game probably helped. A 4-4 thriller between the two sides – in those days the final went to a replay – but the six-year-old me was hooked in. Over the years I was lucky enough to see many more FA Vase finals at the famous ground. Diss Town winning in 1994, Tiverton Town’s back-to-back success a few years later.

Since working at the paper I’ve only missed one – Newport Pagnell Town’s most recent win with a decent excuse of having a five-day old baby. From the Northern League domination and the evolution to the fixture becoming part of Non-League Finals Day, the only real low point was watching Hebburn and Consett play their game out in front of an empty stadium because of Covid.

It was right, however, the players got their chance to play on that pristine surface.

For me, the FA Vase is a hidden gem in out footballing calendar. At the moment it’s early days, but as the rounds tick on over the coming weeks and months, the dreams and aspiration will begin to grow.

There’s a rawness about the competition. In the latter stages teams from the other end of the country are drawn against each other – modern technology means scouting has become easier and there are always contacts for managers to draw on for information.

But quite often it is football in its purest form, two teams who know very little about each other trying to win a game of football on a given day and aiming to take another step on the road to Wembley.

The FA deserve credit for how Non-League Day already has that feel of an important date in the annual fixture list. Attendances have been huge over the years – some big teams have made it there of course – and the next challenge will be to increase the neutral support on the day.

So why not this year? The FA Vase final is usually an action-packed spectacle. Even if you’re side aren’t in the competition, try and get along. Especially if you haven’t been before..

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2022/- 2023

CHARLIE PHILPOTT – Young Goalkeeper who has made the number one berth his own in his third season at the club, on loan from National League side, Eastleigh. A Wales Futsal International with a bright future ahead of him.

JORDI VALERO - Jordi is a Young Goalkeeper who is also dual-registered with Blackfield and Langley. Jordi has featured heavily for our Under 23s and also played at Romsey Town last season. A good, young goalkeeper with a bright future ahead of him.

DANNY KING - Left sided defender, the clubs longest-serving player currently and a real fans favourite. A teacher by trade, he has played for Chelsea and Southampton in his youth. Danny reached his testimonial year last season and had his testimonial at the end of the 2017-18 campaign. ‘Kinger’ also skippers the side in the absence of Jamie Barron.

JAMIE BARRON – Re-signed from Gosport Borough Jamie has played for Salisbury, Andover, Sholing and Folland Sports. A winner of a Schools National Cup medal. Appointed Captain for another season and a really important player for us. ‘Baz’ has remained loyal to City despite interest from elsewhere and was integral in the club securing promotion last season.

SIMBA MLAMBO – Also signed from Davis’ former club, Fleet Town. Mlambo has spent some time in North Hampshire and was an Alton Town player before this. Can play wide or up front and a player with immense speed and power in the air. Another playing starting his sixth season with City. Simba works tirelessly for the cause and scores important goals as well.

MAX SMITH - Max Smith - Max has previous experience at Moneyfields and most recently and, Alton Town, before joining City ahead of the 2019-20 season. He started his career at the Portsmouth FC academy. Max scored some vital goals last season, including the fourth and final goal in the play-off final against Bristol Manor Farm. A dynamic Midfielder that we have high hopes for in the season ahead.

WARREN BENTLEY - 'Wazza' returned 'home' last season, after scoring over 100 goals during his last spell at The City Ground. Bentley left in 2016 to join Gosport Borough and has since played for Hungerford, Poole Town, Weymouth, Salisbury and most recently has a second spell at National League South side, Hungerford Town. A prolific striker and a firm fans favourite.

Bentley netted a penalty in a pre-season victory at neighbours and rivals, AFC Totton.

HENRY BROOKS – Young midfielder that made his senior debut for the club away at Mangotsfield United in December 2021. Brooks came off the bench that day, got an assist and a goal and has never looked back. At the end of his breakthrough season, Brooks signed a contract and has once again impressed throughout season as he gears up for his first full season at in the first-team.

PAT COX - Cox has returned for a third-spell at the Charters Community Stadium having previously been registered with Camberley Town this season. 'Coxy', a target man, is a popular character amongst the City supporters. He lists Fleet Town, Farnborough, Staines Town, Basingstoke, Salisbury and Hayes and Yeading United amongst his former sides after starting out at Reading U18s.

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2022/- 2023

RYAN PRYCE – The former AFC Bournemouth Goalkeeper has registered once again for another season. ‘Prycey’ who also lists Fleet Town amongst his former sides, along with the Cherries, has spent many seasons at City now and is a First-Team Coach as well as being Manager of the U23s and he is back-up goalkeeper for Philpott.

CONNALL BARK – Connall joined the club several seasons ago having previously played at Alresford Town. He has been a key part of the squad and started the final game of the league season at Bristol Manor Farm last campaign and has once again featured throughout pre-season.

JACK TORNIAINEN – Jack joined the club this summer having left Eastleigh, where he had been part of the Development Squad. He started out as a youngster at AFC Bournemouth, where he served Dorchester Town on loan before switching permanently to Eastleigh. 20-year-old right back with a bright future ahead of him.

ARCHIE WILLCOX – Archie joined City this summer from Wessex Premier League side, Fareham Town. Willcox has also had brief spells with AFC Portchester and Gosport Borough last summer before returning for Fareham for a second spell, where he had a successful campaign, scoring lots of goals from central defence. Another young player with a bright future expected in the game.

CLAUDIO HERBERT – A tricky, pacy, wide player that excites and entertains. Herbert joins City from National League South side, Hungerford Town. Claudio’s career has seen him turn out for Salisbury, Poole Town, Fleet Town, Frome Town, Andover Town, Hartley Wintney, Basingstoke and Sholing.

DAN NEILD – Young midfielder that has joined the club this summer having receiving several accolades last campaign whilst playing for Weymouth U23s. Exciting prospect that has looked lively during pre-season.

JOSH BERTIE – Josh is a highly-sought after talent that joined City this summer from Andover Town. He did sign for Dorchester Town last season, but his campaign was hampered by injury. A versatile player that can play in several different positions and is a powerful presence. Hails from the British Virgin Islands.

ALEX MACALLISTER – Alex has signed for City on loan from Aldershot Town. MacAllister had an impressive campaign previously for the Shots U23s and is highly regarded at the North Hampshire club. Scored an impressive goal at Corsham Town in pre-season and set up two goals in a pre-season victory at Baffins Milton Rovers.

SILVANO OBENG – Silvano is a powerful centre forward that joined City in the summer from Brockenhurst. Formerly at AFC Totton and Kettering Town, Obeng has impressed in pre-season and scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Baffins Milton Rovers. Another player with an exciting future.

IK HILL – IK is a fans’ favourite that has returned to the club following a spell away at Westfield FC. IK is a pacy, skilful wide player that excites supporters and scored an impressive solo effort at AFC Totton in pre-season.

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2022/- 2023

OLLIE GRIGGS - Combative Midfielder who we are pleased have re-signed. Griggsy has played for both City and Dorchester in recent years and has now signed for City once again for the remainder of the 2022-23 season having started the season, once again, at the Avenue Stadium. Integral in City’s promotion winning campaign last season.

CALLUM CHUGG - ‘Chuggy’ re-signed for City in October 2022 from Wessex Premier League side, Hythe & Dibden. Callum is a local lad who played an integral role in City’s promotion winning campaign, in central defence. Lists Wimborne Town & AFC Totton amongst former sides. Aged 24.

DAN WALSTER - Central defender who also returned to the club recently, in late September 2022, from Gosport Borough. Dan was involved in City’s promotion winning squad last season, dual-registering from Aldershot Town U23s. A former AFC Bournemouth Academy defender.

STAFF PROFILES CRAIG DAVIS – Player-Manager who came to City from Fleet Town after relinquishing his position as Manager. Took over as Interim Manager until the end of the 2016-17 season before taking over the reins permanently. His playing career started off as a pro at Cardiff City before spells at Bashley, Salisbury, Gosport Borough and AFC Totton. Has won both the Southern League South and West and Premier as a player. ‘Davo’ has had several opportunities to move on from City, including an opportunity at a higher level, but he has shown his commitment and loyalty to City and we are delighted to have him at the helm.

LUKE MIDDLEWICK – Luke joined the club this summer, with Sean Birchnall moving on to take charge at Farnham Town. Luke was Assistant Manager at Wessex Premier League side, Brockenhurst, and is a knowledgeable coach that will be a valuable asset and a key part of Craig’s coaching staff.

CRAIG MARTIN – First Team Coach. Craig has been at the club for several seasons now. He played with Davo at Fleet Town and is based locally.

MARC COLE – Goalkeeping Coach. ‘Coler’ has been an ever-present on matchdays for the First Team since his arrival at the club from Alresford Town.

JO BROCKSOM - Jo is in her 7th season now at Winchester as Sports therapist, this is her 3rd season taking a leading role though, has been integral in keeping our players on the pitch and delighted to have her with the club again this season.

MIKE CARTER – Mike was formerly Club Secretary and is now part of Craig’s First-Team staff and he is also Assistant Manager of the clubs’ U23s.

Ground Regulations Welcome to the Charters City Ground.

Please respect the staff and the facilities: ◊

Please do not enter the field of play before, during or after the game.

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Ball games are not permitted around the ground whilst matches are in progress

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Please do not use rude, obscene, racial or abusive language or gestures that are likely to cause offence.

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Please do not take glasses outside. Alcohol may now be consumed outside, but in plastic glasses only (in accordance with new Hampshire FA ruling).

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Please do not climb floodlights, pylons, fences, stands and other club structures.

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Please do not stand in the hatched areas around the pitch.

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No offensive objects are permitted (including bottles, cans, glasses, smoke bombs, flares etc.) or throwing any objects on the field of play.

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Please note that all vehicles parked on the club premises are at owners/driver's risk.

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The club accepts no responsibility for any damage to vehicles.

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Any supporter who encroached on to the playing area will be arrested.

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Comments or items in the programme do not necessarily represent those of Winchester City FC.

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The club reserves the right to refuse admission, eject from the ground, or prosecute any person in breach of the rules

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WCFC STAFF BEHIND THE SCENES CHAIRMAN – KEN RAISBECK JUNIOR CHAIRMAN - STEVE CARTER DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL – ELLIOTT TRODD CLUB SECRETARY – JOHN MCLAREN TREASURER – PHIL GOUGH PRESIDENT – JOHN MOODY

CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

@wincityfc

Winchester City is a member's owned club.

The Board of Directors are the members

Winchester City FC

DIRECTORS KEN RAISBECK ELLIOTT TRODD JOHN MCLAREN ALI HENDERSON STEVE RAINBIRD PHIL GOUGH SIMON HARMER

winchestercityfc Winchester City Football Club on YouTube for Interviews The Charters City Ground, Hillier Way, Abbots Barton, Winchester, 07825 828918

ON THE PITCH FIRST TEAM MANAGER – CRAIG DAVIS ASSISTANT MANAGER FIRST TEAM COACHES – RYAN PRYCE, CRAIG MARTIN SCOUT – PETE MILLARD BACKROOM STAFF – MIKE CARTER, JAMIE GOUGH SPORTS THERAPIST – JO BROCKSOM BSC (HONS) U23S MANAGER – RYAN PRYCE U23S ASSISTANT MANAGER – MIKE CARTER HEAD OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT – JAMIE RICKETTS CLUB WELFARE OFFICER - ALI HENDERSON PROGRAMME/SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR MATT RICHBELL MATCHDAY STAFF WAYNE ELKINS, SALLY STATHAM, GEMMA PERCIVAL, JUDY MALONE, STEVE RAINBIRD, MARGARET MOODY, DAVE GREEN.

ticket prices Adult

£11

Concessions (65+ & Armed Forces–with id) £8 Students and U18 (Yr 12 and 13)

£5

U16 (Yr 8-11)

£3

U12 (Yr 7 and below)

Free

PITCH PARTNERS

SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR: SYNTHETIC SPORTS SURFACES

WWW.PSTSPORT.COM

Ever thought of volunteering to help your local football club?

There are many di erent volunteer roles in non-league football and Southern League football clubs need your help with them.

The Trident Leagues and Pitching In have recently launched a new online Volunteer Hub where you can nd opportunities and contact your local football club.

Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to nd out more

TODAYS SQUADS

Jordi Valero Claudio Herbert Josh Bertie Max Smith Archie Willcox Callum Chugg Henry Brooks Jamie Barron (c) Silvano Obeng Warren Bentley IK Hill Alex MacAllister Callum Baughan Danny King Mark Jamison Dan Neild Charlie Philpott Ollie Griggs Dan Walster

Jadyn Mundle Josh Gould Mat Liddiard Sam Turl Lewis Hall Tyrone Duffus Leon Morrison Louis Spalding Brad Hooper Jamie Edge Henry Spalding Ryan Campbell George Dowling Tom Sharpe Joe Tumelty Harry Williams James Harding Conor Mcdonagh Zack Kotwica Sal Abubakar

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