Winchester City V Melksham Town 09/04/2022

WINCHESTER CITY Football Club The Citizens Post

Saturday April 9th 2022

Melksham Town 3.00pm

Division 1 THE CHARTERS COMMUNITY STADIUM

£1

The Citizens Post

from the boardroom Good Afternoon Welcome to the Charters Community Stadium for this afternoon's Pitching-In Southern League Division One South fixture between Winchester City and Melksham Town.

We would like to offer a warm welcome to the Players, Staff, Officials and supporters that have made the journey west across from Melksham this afternoon. We hope you have an enjoyable day with us and have a safe journey home after the game.

We now have just four league games remaining, including today, and the club are currently in the play-off positions. We have one final home game against Lymington Town the week after next before a trip to Bristol Manor Farm on the final day of the regular season on April 23rd.

We are very grateful for the fantastic support that we have received throughout the season, and please continue to provide that for the remaining few fixtures.

It was great to see Callum Chugg making his debut in a Winchester City shirt last weekend at Larkhall. Callum looked assured and solid and showed what an asset he will be to the side.

Further details regarding the semi-finals of the Southampton Senior Cup will be released in due course, after our remarkable win at Millbrook last season.

Enjoy the game and get behind the team this afternoon, as you always do!

Up The Winch! #youcitizens Matt Richbell

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The Citizens Post malcolms musings We welcome Melksham to Winchester for this afternoon’s game, which unless we qualify to play in a weekend home playoff fixture will be our last Saturday home fixture of the season. Melksham our visitors today are currently in the top half of the table having won more league games than they have lost, but I think it is safe to say that they have given themselves too much to do to achieve a playoff spot. They have however achieved some useful results this season, taking four points off Plymouth Parkway, achieving wins against Bristol Manor Farm (away) and Sholing (home) and drawing away to Frome.

They also knocked our local rivals Basingstoke Town out of the F A Trophy before losing to another local club Hartley Wintney in the next round. A couple of their forwards Kyle Tooze and Luke Ballimgrer are familiar opponents of ours.

To date we have played Melksham five times in the Southern League and have won three of the games and drawn the other two 2-2. However the two 2-2 draws have both seen us go 2-0 down early in the game, in the first of these in the 2018/19 season we conceded two goals in the first 15 minutes and in the second of these earlier in the season Melksham scored twice in the first 4 minutes before goals by Kieran Douglas and Simba Mlambo either side of the half time interval earned us a point, We really hope we start today’s game better than we started the return fixture, although in only one of our last home league games either ourselves or the opposition have established a 1-0 lead and gone on to win the game. Our wins at Melksham in the latter stages of the 2018/1 season and the start of the 2020/21 campaign have come at times when Melksham were not in the best of form, but under manager Richard Fey formerly of Street they seem a more solid outfit.

It was good to get a crowd of 424 for the home match with Mangotsfield, especially with the visitors not enjoying the best of seasons. No doubt free admission as a result of it being Non_League day and improved weather helped in this respect.

It was also good to see the Littleton Pan Disability forming the Guard of Honour at the game and being given the opportunity to showcase their skills at half time. Their team members have varying needs, but they have a passion for football and are supported by the Saints Foundation who assist their training sessions and do a lot of good work in the local community.

It was also good to see Dave Malone at the Mangotsfield match especially as Craig Davis has just celebrated five years as Winchester manager and I congratulate him on this achievement and he has acknowledged that Dave had a key role in him being recruited as manager.

We have recently made three new signings in striker Pat Cox and winger Rob Carr who return to the club and defender Callum Chugg who joins from Wimborne having previously played for AFC Totton and Blackfield and Langley,. As the season reaches its’ climax and we have two matches over the Easter period it is helpful to have a squad that gives the manager as many options as possible.

Although I have seen four of the five Southern League matches between Winchester and Melksham the first time I saw a Melksham team play was when they beat Eastleigh 3-0 in the 2000/01 F A Vase on their old ground. They in fact reached the quarter finals of the F A Vase in 2017/18 and since moving to their new ground have enjoyed excellent home attendances.

As this is the last home match before Easter I would like to wish you a very happy Easter and hope to see you on Easter Monday for the home match against Lymington Town.

Amongst their former players are Murray Fishlock, Andy Sandell, David Seal and Archie Stephens all of whom played in the football league.

Melksham is the fifth largest town in Wiltshire after Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham and Trowbridge and former Southampton defender Matt Bound who later played for Oxford United, Weymouth and Eastleigh was born in the town.

Records indicate that striker Gareth Lewis scored 72 goals in a single season for Melksham in the late 1960’s, which is clearly a great achievement.

For me the overlap between the football and cricket seasons is a busy time, although today sees the end of the cricket season as far as my involvement is concerned. However the Test series between England and Australia resumes next week.

In my programme notes for the AFC Totton programme I omitted Max Smith from the list of signings so welcome to the club Max and I also mentioned Connor Doswell without realising he has now left the club.

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Match Report

By Malcolm Clarke

LARKHILL 0 - 2 WINCHESTER CITY Winchester continued their habit of atoning for dropping points at home to lower placed clubs by winning the away fixture, with the win at Larkhall following the pattern set by their wins at Bideford, Highworth and Willand. The 2-0 result combined with AFC Totton's failure to beat Paulton Rovers has pushed Winchester back into fifth place. Winchester's hopes of catching the top two of Frome and Plymouth Parkway look remote, but they remain very much in the thick of the race for a top five place which with Sholing suffering successive losses effectively now involves just six teams.

Larkhall are currently in mid-table, but earlier in the season they looked a very good side in winning 4-2 at Winchester earlier in the season and enjoyed an excellent run in the F A Trophy reaching the last 32 of the competition before losing to National League leaders Stockport County. There has been some changing of personnel since then and Daniel Demkiv who scored twice in the return fixture was ruled out with injury, but Brad Norris who also scored twice in that fixture was in their team. Larkhall's ground is a picturesque one on the top of the hill and the journey up and down the hill to reach the ground is an exercise in itself.

Winchester themselves made two changes to the starting line-up from the previous Saturday with new signing Callum Chugg coming into the side and partnering Dan Walster at the heart of the defence with Pip Nolan moving into midfield.

Ollie Balmer was recalled to the starting line-up having earned his recall as a result of scoring six goals in his last two hours of football in a Winchester shirt. Simba Mlambo who did not feature in the Millbrook match was on the bench along with Max Smith who took a knock in that game, Kieran Douglas who was making a welcome return from injury, Ollie Griggs and Liam Callaghan.

Larkhall if anything looked the more dangerous team in the first half with Norris looking particularly lively as Larkhall who had drawn more games in the division than any other team and had only scored one goal in their previous six games were determined the match on the front foot. Norris has one shot that was just wide and put in one cross that no-one could get a decisive touch to. Harry Simons had a shot saved by Charlie Philpott and for the home team full back Joe Hillard was overlapping to good effect and just before half time he shot over For Winchester the pace of Oli Bailey and Craig Feeney was always a threat and on one occasion Bailey was denied at the expense of a corner. Warren Bentley also headed just wide for Winchester in what was a relatively quiet first half.

However in the opening minute of the second half with many people still returning to the action from the clubhouse Winchester took the lead with an excellently worked goal with Josh McCormick going on a good run after receiving the ball from Jamie Barron and setting up ,Craig Feeney to score the opener. Winchester had on occasions this season despite being the leading goalscorers in the division have this season had games where they had lost points through their inability to take chances one sensed that a game where they were able to score almost against the run of play would work out well for them.

Larkhall made some positional changes in the second half, but Winchester were looking very solid now and Oli Bailey came close to adding a second. Winchester had two goals disallowed, although in both cases the infringement was signalled well before the ball entered the net.

Despite having very much more of the second half than they had of the first half Winchester were taking no chances and they replaced a forward Warren Bentley with a midfielder in Ollie Griggs. Simba Mlambo also replaced Oli Bailey.

Winchester scored their second in the 85th minute when much to the delight of the the Winchester fans who formed a considerable part of the 118 crowd Ollie Balmer scored with a low shot after being set up by Josh McCormick. It was in fact Balmer's first league start since his three match suspension following his red card at Cirencester in early February. While Mlambo, Bailey and Feeney offer pace and the ability to take players on, Bentley offers experience and guile, but Balmer who plays deeper and supports the attack well certainly offers something different.

Before the end Kieran Douglas made a welcome return to action, while Charlie Philpott made a good save from Joe Hillard which ended Larkhall's hopes of getting back in the game. Winchester obtained three very valuable points with new signing Callum Chugg playing an important role in ensuring they kept a clean sheet in doing so.

Winchester are at home to Melksham on Saturday.

Larkhall offer good hospitality and provide excellent quality cheese rolls.

Match Report

By Malcolm Clarke

WINCHESTER CITY 2 - 1 MANGOTSFIELD On a day when the combination of Non-League Day with free entry as part of the package on a day when there was no Premier League or Championship football plus the sunnier weather helping to swell the crowd to 424 Winchester came from behind to beat Mangotsfield 2-1. However with only the top two of the other six clubs chasing a top five finish failing to win Winchester remain in sixth position. The victory though was their sixth consecutive victory against Mangotsfield in the Southern League.

Mangotsfield are having a difficult season and are currently second from bottom of the table ans after their victory against Evesham bottom club Barnstaple are now only two points behind them. Mangotsfield are in their 22nd season as a Southern League club and have spent four of these seasons as a Premier Division club. They have a good youth policy with their youth team having beaten both Bath City and Eastleigh in this season's F A youth cup before losing to Plymouth Argyle. Many of their younger players have graduated to their first team and when their attempts to recruit their former manager Phil Bater as boss fell through at the last minute they appointed Glyn Ashton who has a track record with working with the club's younger players instead. Despite their lowly position Mangotsfield's last six away league games going into this fixture had included a victory against Slimbridge and draws against Cirencester and Melksham.

Despite the acquisition of striker Pat Cox, winger Rob Carr and defender Callum Chugg with the first two returning to the club Winchester announced an unchanged starting line-up and bench from the previous Saturday when they were unluckily beaten

by Plymouth Parkway. However with the quarter final of the Southampton Senior Cup on Tuesday it certainly gives Winchester more options for the remainder of the season as they try and balance league and cup priorities.

In the early stages Winchester dominated possession with full back Josh McCormick overlapping well, but Mangotsfield were getting men behind the ball well and getting in some important blocks to deny Winchester clear cut chances. It was against the run of play when Mangotsfield scored with their first attack of the game when Jadyn Crosbie set up fellow striker Isaac Flynn who scored with an excellently struck shot from outside the penalty area. However a minute later Winchester were level when Max Smith showed great persistence on the right hand side to enable him to put a cross into the path of Oli Bailey who scored with a powerfully struck shot from close range.

For the remainder of the half Winchester continued to have more of the game and had claims for a penalty turned down following a challenge on Warren Bentley, but Mangotsfield continued to work hard at closing them down and were playing with energy and were dangerous on the break and Charlie Philpott in the Winchester goal was twice tested, on the first occasion by Jadyn Crosbie.

Winchester continued to press in the second half with the pace of Simba Mlambo and Oli Bailey always a threat. Max Smith forced a save from Marko Radovanovic in the Mangotsfield goal, Oli Bailey also coming close and a Jamie Barron corner being tipped onto the bar. However despite this Mangotsfield continued to play with a lot of resilience and still posed a threat on the break.

Winchester used all three substitutes during the second half and the visitors also used all three substitutes with Ollie Balmer, Joe Hayward and Henry Brooks the Winchester players being introduced and it was Balmer who scored the all important second goal in the 77th minute when a through ball found him and his low shot was paced wide of Radovanovic's outstretched hand. After this there was no further goals despite several minutes of stoppage time being played in the second half as Winchester made sure they held their lead while still posing an attacking threat.

It was also good to see the Littleton Pan Disability forming the Guard of Honour at the game and being given the opportunity to showcase their skills at half time. Their team members have varying needs, but they have a passion for football and are supported by the Saints Foundation who assist their training sessions and do a lot of good work in the local community.

Congratulations to manager Craig Davis on achieving five years as Winchester boss and he has certainly managed the club far longer in the Southern League than every other previous Winchester boss, and this is the fourth successive season the club has mounted a strong challenge for a top five finish, even if two of these campaigns could not be completed.

Winchester are away to Larkhall Athletic on Saturday. The club's under 23 team beat their Andover counterparts with Tyrell Mitford putting Winchester 2-0 ahead with two goals in a minute of the second half and Andover scoring a late consolation goal.

Match Report

By Malcolm Clarke

MILLBROOK 0 - 11 WINCHESTER CITY On an evening where their under 23 team also won 4-0 at Clanfield (Hampshire) Winchester City reached the semi final of the Southampton Senior Cup where they will play away to either Hamble Club or AFC Totton who play on Tuesday 5th April. They beat Millbrook 11-0 at Test Park with Ollie Balmer who scored the winning goal on Saturday continuing his return to the team by scoring five goals and making another two. It is hard to think of a more convincing victory in recent times and one loyal club servant of 23 years standing said he had not previously witnessed a victory of this magnitude, In their Hampshire League days in 2002/03 Winchester managed to reach double figures in three league games on the way to winning the title.

Millbrook are a Wessex League Division 1 club managed by Eugene McManus whom some people might also know as the landlord of the Saints pub in Millbrook. They are currently 11th in the table with 12 wins from 32 games.

Millbrook play at Test Park, the former home of team Solent, while Eugene's brother Pat is manager of Brockenhurst.

To reach this stage of the competition Millbrook beat QK Southampton 3-1 and Sway 7-0, while Winchester recorded victories against Downton, Sholing and Romsey.

Winchester gave starting berths to Ollie Griggs, Joe Hayward, Ollie Balmer, Liam Callaghan and Henry Brooks who had been substitutes in the two previous matches with Jamie Barron, Danny King, Craig Feeney and Oli Bailey dropping to the bench and Simba Mlambo not in the squad. In addition Ryan Pryce replaced Charlie Philpott in goal and Connal Bark was also on the substitutes bench.

Early on Josh McCormick hit the side netting, but Winchester were still able though to score four goals in the opening quarter of a hour firstly through Warren Bentley who scored from close range after being set up by Balmer, with then Liam Callaghan scoring twice after being put through, with on the first occasion the home goalkeeper coming out of his goal. It was then Joe Hayward who made it 4-0 with a header after his initial ,effort was well saved by the goalkeeper. Also in the first 15 minutes Warren Bentley who captained the side in the absence of Barron had a shot well saved and Ollie Balmer also had a goal disallowed.

Millbrook then had their best spell of the game hitting the woodwork and forcing a save from Ryan Pryce from the follow up. However after half an hour of goalless action Winchester scored three goals in the final minute of the half with Joe Hayward netting a second from close range. Balmer scores his first of the night following a Balmer corner, Ollie Balmer then scores his first goal when Warren Bentley turns goal provider and puts a cross into the box and Balmer heads home. Winchester add their seventh when Max Smith produced an excellent through ball and youngster Henry Brooks continues his good goalscoring record with the first team by putting the ball away, These three late first half goals completely end any very minimal chance Millbrook of getting back in the game which is now for them now just a matter of salvaging some pride for the remainder of the game, In the second half Ollie Balmer scored four further goals to complete the 11-0 victory. In the second half Oli Bailey and Craig Feeney came on as substitutes as Winchester completed a decisive victory in which ollie Balmer followed up his winning goal on Saturday by scoring five times in less than 50 minutes of play, At the interval Winchester bring on Connal Bark for Patrick Nolan and early in the second half Balmer scores his second when following a good team move the ball goes in off the post. Henry Brooks shoots just wide and Winchester make their final two substitutions of the evening when Craig Feeney and Oli Bailey replace Liam Callaghan and Max Smith. However we have another 20 minutes of goalless action during which Millbrook keep going despite being eight goals down. However Balmer then scores two goals in eight minutes, completing his hat-trick by rounding the goalkeeper and lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to bring the scoring into double figures.

In between these goals Balmer has a n effort cleared off the line. Balmer though still has time to score his fifth and Winchester's eleventh of the evening.

The Citizens Post

DAVOs diary Good afternoon to everyone for todays eagerly anticipated league match and an especially warm welcome to Melksham Town, their players, staff and supporters, we wish them a pleasant afternoon and safe trip home afterwards.

Melksham are a very good side and a club I have the utmost respect for, their chairman Darren Perrin is a proper football man and does things right, great facilities and an excellent manager in Richard Fey a bloke I have a lot of respect for as well! They have had a good season and just fallen slightly short but the run they are on recently could have snuck them in there if it started a bit sooner as they have been flying! Today will be a very hard game, they gave us a good game at their place and the 2-2 draw after a blistering start from them 2 up early we pegged back and could have won it in the end but a draw was right, we will need to be at our very best to get the result we need to try and keep the dream alive of play offs and a chance to go up which would be monumental for a club like ours.

Last weekend was a seriously hard game away at Larkhall, they are one seriously big side and having to defend so many long balls and free kicks into the box is hard, however credit the lads who did it ever so well and then cut loose well in the 2nd half after a few tweaks to how we played and came away with a very good 2-0 win, that lifted us up into 5th and it’s in our hands with 4 games left and that’s all you could really hope for, we just have to take it a game at a time and see where it takes us, we are all enjoying it regardless!

We have been royally stitched up by the Southampton senior cup committee this week, despite several requests for us to play our semi final on a Tuesday rather than Wednesday next week (this was before any of the other semi finalists had won through so any changes were very possible) they refused point blank, this leaves us now having to play Wednesday, Saturday, Monday with all that we have at stake, for obvious reasons we are now going to have to somewhat sacrifice that semi final that we have worked hard to get to, for a committee of men to go and do that and completely devalue the competition and us as a football club is nothing short of a disgrace and I find it utterly appalling, not only that a threat of sanctioning for pulling out as well, it was the same in the Hampshire cup recently for Farnborough who are vying for promotion to the conference south treated equally badly, some of these people on these committees need to get out of the clouds, they have no sense of realism and appreciation of what these young lads go through, to get to this stage of the season and be forced to play 3 games in the space of 5 days for absolutely no rhyme or reason when they could have given an extra day is disgusting and I defy anyone to give a reason that couldn’t have been altered!!!

Anyway enough of the blokes in their blazers! Back to the people that matter you supporters, we will keep doing all we can, we are battered and bruised but will keep going and I hope you can stay as proud as I know you all have been of this group, keep shouting and roaring us on and we need a few more hard pushes to get us to the end now!

Enjoy the game, up the citizens!

Davo

Todays Visitors melksham fc The club was established as Melksham Football Club in 1876. In 1894 we were founder members of the Wiltshire League. We were Division One champions in 1903–04 and won the Wiltshire Senior Cup the following season. In 1920 the club was renamed Melksham & Avon United as a result of their new ground being owned by Avon Rubber, before reverting to our original name in the 1926–27 season. They were runners-up in the league in 1924–25, 1929–30 and 1936–37. In 1951 the club adopted our current name and went on to finish as runners-up in Division One in 1959–60 and 1971–72, also winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup again in 1969–70.

We moved up to the Western League in 1974. After finishing third-from bottom of the league in 1975–76, we were demoted to the new Division One as the league expanded to two divisions.

We won the Wiltshire Senior Cup again in 1977–78 and were Division One champions in 1979–80, earning promotion to the Premier Division. Their first season in the Premier Division saw us win the Wiltshire Premier Shield, a trophy they retained the following season and won again in 1984–85 and 1985–86. However, we were relegated to Division One again at the end of the 1987–88 season.

In 1992–93, we finished bottom of Division One and were relegated to the Premier Division of the Wiltshire Football League. We won the Premier Division and the Senior Knock-Out Cup the following season, and were promoted back to the Western League at the first attempt. In 1996–97 we were Division One champions and were promoted to the Premier Division. Wining the Wiltshire Premier Shield the following season, and again in 1999–2000, before winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup in 2002–03 and 2007–08. Although we were relegated to Division One in 2009–10, we were Division One runners-up in 2010–11, earning promotion back to the Premier Division.

We won the Wiltshire Senior Cup in 2012–13 and 2013–14, before winning the Western League Premier Division title in 2014–15. However, delays to making ground improvements meant that we were denied promotion. The following season saw us win the Senior Cup again. The club were runners-up in the Premier Division in 2017–18, earning promotion to Division One West of the Southern League.

Our stadium We played at Challymead Common until moving to the Old Bear Field in 1883. Relocating to the Conigre in 1920; the ground was part of the Melksham House estate, centrally sited in the town, which had been purchased in the same year by Avon Rubber, with the house turned into a social club. A wooden stand was erected on one side of the pitch and wooden fencing installed around the ground. During the 1960s covered stands were built behind the Rugby Club End and on the other side of the pitch and floodlights were installed in 1986. The wooden stand was demolished in the early 1990s and replaced by a modern metal stand in 1994.

In 2017, in preparation for redevelopment at the Melksham House site, the club moved to Oakfields, a new £7.3 million facility shared with Melksham Rugby Club on the eastern edge of the town. The first match at the new ground was played on 14 January 2017 against Bristol Manor Farm in the FA Vase, with the visitors winning 5–3 in front of a crowd of 1,215.

Results Division 1 Saturday 9th April Bideford

Plymouth Parkway 4 - 1 Lymington Town 0 - 2 Cinderford Town

Bristol Manor Farm 1 - 0 Evesham United

0-1

Willand Rovers

1-2

Frome Town

Sholing Melksham Town

Tuesday 5th April 2022

Highworth Town

0-0

Slimbridge

Cinderford Town

1-0

Bideford

Larkhall Athletic

0-2

Winchester City

Melksham Town

0-0

Larkhall Athletic

Mangotsfield Utd

1 - 5 Cirencester Town

Paulton Rovers

0-0

AFC Totton

Division 1 Table

Plymouth Parkway 2 - 0 Evesham United

Fixtures

Division 1

Saturday 9th April AFC Totton

v

Saturday 16th April Evesham United

Bideford

v

Cirencester Town

Barnstaple Town

v

Highworth Town

Bristol Manor Farm v

Larkhall Athletic

Cinderford Town

v

Sholing

Evesham United

v

WCFC

Cirencester Town v

Plymouth Parkway

Highworth Town

v

AFC Totton

Frome Town

Bristol Manor Far

Lymington Town

v

Cinderford Town

v

v

Larkhall Athletic

v

Bideford

Melksham Town

Paulton Rovers

v

Mangotsfield Utd

Plymouth Parkway v

Barnstaple Town Mangotsfield Utd

Willand Rovers

v

Lymington Town

Sholing

v

Willand Rovers

WCFC

v

Melksham Town

Slimbridge

v

Frome Town

Tuesday 12th April Plymouth Parkway v

Highworth Town

Slimbridge

Sholing

v

Wednesday 13th April Larkhall Athletic

v

Mangotsfield Utd

THE LEAGUE ON YOUTUBE My Life in Football The Pitching In Southern Football League’s YouTube channel is showing the second in its series of `My Life in Football`.

And the latest to chat to presenter David Square is the league’s President Keith Allen.

Keith discusses his long and distinguished career in non-League football administration with the likes of Nuneaton Borough, Atherstone Town and Wycombe Wanderers and, of course, his time with the Southern Football League.

You can tune in at 7pm on Tuesday evening and please remember to hit the `subscribe` button

TOP SCORERS

ByMatt Badcock

WHEN I think back to those slightly strange March 2020 days where we knew Covid was about to have a large impact on our every day lives, let alone Non-League football, for some reason The NLP’s National Game Awards stick in the mind.

We were all set to launch the build-up for the 2019-20 season but, in that ever-changing world, decided at the last minute to press the pause button. Let’s see what happens, we thought, and hopefully it won’t be long before we can kick it off. It soon became apparent we wouldn’t be holding the annual event!

Eventually we did a virtual awards, while last season we decided not to at all. Although Step 1 completed a season - mostly behind closed doors - of course the majority of Non-League hadn’t played much past October. But, after two disrupted seasons, the finish line is in sight for all. Titles are being won, promotions being decided, and we’re delighted to launch our NGAs again.

And we need you! The awards are what they are because of the loyal support of our readers across the country. So, please, let us know who you think deserves to be honoured in our categories.

Although date and venue are yet to be confirmed (keep you eyes peeled shortly), we can announce that Buildbase are once again our title sponsor this year, adding The NGAs to their current sponsorship of the FA Vase and FA Trophy. We’re hugely grateful for their support and we’re working closely with Buildbase for our much-loved Unsung Hero Award.

Pitching In, title sponsors of the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues, are backing our Step 3-4 Player of the Year, while Our Game Football will honour our Player of the Year.

Huck Nets have once again put their name to the Goal of the Season accolade, while Reusch are also back — they couldn’t miss the chance to crown the season’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

S&C Slatter return as well and they will once again present the Manager of the Year award while The Acerbis Cup Run of the year is always a hotly contested award.

Our friends at Sportsbeat sign up once again – they didn’t need asking twice to support the Young Player of the Year. We love the William Hill Fan of the Year category and again we need your help with this one, while the SK Kits Team of the Year award honours one side for their herculean efforts this season.

The FA are supporting the Community Club of the Year, while The NLP Lifetime Achievement award is one of our personal favourites. Football Supporters’ Association Away Day Experience of the year recognises the efforts clubs make to cater for travelling fans.

Keep an eye on The NLP over the coming weeks as we bring you award-by-award guides as well as all the information you need to ensure the decanters end up in the right hands!

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2021/- 2022

CHARLIE PHILPOTT Young Goalkeeper who has made the number one berth his own in a second season at the club, dual-registered from National League side, Eastleigh. A Wales Futsal International 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.

JOE HAYWARD Defender who joined us having previously been with Eastleigh FC, unfortunately broke his leg early in his City career but returned quickly and showed what great potential he has. Joe scored a memorable goal, City’s spot kick, in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup away to Torquay United in the 2018-19 campaign.

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.

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 fifth 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. A dynamic Midfielder that we have high hopes for in the season ahead.

KIERAN DOUGLAS - Young Defender signed from the Wessex leagues’ Christchurch FC, where he had been Captain for two successful seasons. A tall, strong and composed player who has settled in very well at the club already and we only see good things for the future. Kieran re-joined Christchurch on dual-registered forms for their FA Vase run in the 2020-21 season but he is now back at City once again.

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2021/- 2022

back at City once again.

OLLY BALMER 21-year-old Forward who has signed from Poole Town, having played for them at the Conference South level. Olly is technically skilled with an eye for the goal, so we are looking forward to him flourishing with the Citizens this year. Balmer has turned in many influential displays for City, including scoring a memorable last-minute free-kick at Cirencester Town which made him a fans favourite.

OLLIE GRIGGS Combative Midfielder who we are pleased to be signing permanently for the Citizens this season having played with the club on two occasions in the past whilst at Southern Premier club, Dorchester Town. Griggsy has played for both City and Dorchester in recent years and has now signed for City once again for the 2021-22 season.

NICK HARVEY Young Goalkeeper, Nick Harvey, has signed first-team forms for City this season. Harvey played for City’s Under-23s last season whilst dual-registered with Ringwood Town. An agile young Goalkeeper, with a bright future ahead.

LIAM CALLAGHAN A tricky former AFC Totton winger that has signed forms a second consecutive season for City. Callaghan featured heavily for City’s Under-23s at the end of last season once their title winning campaign restarted and was a constant threat for opposition defences.

LEX VAUGHAN Lex burst onto the scene by performing outstandingly in Jamie Ricketts' successful Under-16s side. Lex was promoted directly to the Under-23s where he impressed last season, so much so that he too has signed first-team forms for the 2021-22 season.

TYRELL MITFORD City’s FA Cup hero has re-signed for the club once again. Mitford will be hoping to emulate his recent goalscoring exploits. An excellent finisher who lists Ramsgate, Kings Langley, Beaconsfield and Team Solent amongst his former sides.

WINCHESTER CITY FC PLAYER PROFILES

2021/- 2022

OLI BAILEY A club legend that has moved back to the area and re-signed from Gresley Rovers. Bailey had several prolific seasons at the club before re-locating but he is now back in the area and back at City. A former Gosport Borough forward.

JOSH McCORMICK ‘Macca’ has signed first-team forms once again City. A former City youth team player that went on to play first team football elsewhere, including at Bognor Regis Town. Josh is now converted to a full-back and has been a regular in Davo’s plans since returning to the club.

WARREN BENTLEY 'Wazza' has returned 'home', 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.

PIP NOLAN 'Pip', Patrick Nolan, is another returning Citizen. Nolan is a central defender that has stepped-in with Kieran Douglas gaining an injury in November. Nolan joined City from AFC Stoneham and has also recently served Brockenhurst and Team Solent in the Wessex League.

DAN WALSTER A talented central defender that has dual-registered with City from National Premier League side, Aldershot Town. Walster started out at AFC Bournemouth Academy before he then switched to Aldershot's Academy. Dan most recently played first-team football at Chichester City and has now become a regular in the heart of the City defence.

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. A key part of the matchday squad now.

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

2021/- 2022

ROB CARR A hero and true club great, the tricky winger, based in East Hampshire, has been playing closer to home this campaign for Sydenhams Wessex Premier League side, Alton. Carr joined City from Fleet Town and previously played for Chertsey Town and Woking.

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.

SEAN BIRCHNALL Assistant Manager now in his third season with the club. Sean is an experienced coach who has managed the Army football team as well. Struggles with availability at times due to work commitments but a huge asset to Craig’s backroom staff when available.

CRAIG MARTIN First Team Coach. Craig has been at the club for several season 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 6th season now at Winchester as Sports therapist, this is her 2nd 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.

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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Winchester City FC CLUB HISTORY

The Winchester Football Club was founded in 1884 as a result of the endeavours of two residents of the city – Oxford graduate and former England Rugby cap Charles Sylvester Wooldridge and Huntingdon-born all-round sportsman (and, incidentally, inventor of ice hockey!) Arnold Tebbutt. The football club, which had strong links with Winchester College, made quite an impact in the early years of association football in Hampshire, reaching the final of the inaugural Hampshire Senior Cup competition in 1888 and providing a number of players to represent Hampshire in county-based competitions. However financial difficulties, combined with the indifference of Winchester residents, led to the 1884 club folding in 1893.

The decline of the city’s most high-profile club left a void that was subsequently to be filled by the Winchester Swallows FC. Formed in 1891, the Swallows were less socially exclusive than the 1884 club and had a membership more reflective of that of Winchester as a whole. The club changed its name to Winchester FC at the start of the start of the 1894/95 season, and again in 1907 when it became Winchester City FC. Like the 1884 club, the Swallows appeared in a dark blue and white strip and played their home games at Bar End, before moving in 1896 to a field adjoining the Old Red Deer pub in Stockbridge Road, and relocating again to the Roebuck Inn in 1902.

The club first played in a league-based competition in 1896/97 when it entered the newly-formed South Hampshire League. Winchester FC won the title in this first season, and repeated that feat in the each of the following three years. The club joined the Hampshire League in 1898/99 where, after struggling during their first few seasons, they remained unbeaten throughout the 1904/05 season and won the League’s Northern Section. The club also enrolled to the Southampton and District League in 1908/09, but with no notable success.

Like a number of other football clubs, Winchester City FC effectively disbanded at the start of the First World War in 1914, and didn’t reappear until 1920.

The rebirth of the club signalled two significant changes. Firstly, the club had moved again, this time playing its home fixtures at the Fair Field at Bar End (now the site of the Bar End Industrial Estate), a site where it was to stay until the Second World War. Secondly, it adopted a new strip, discarding its navy-blue colours in favour of red and white stripes.

The late 20s and early 30s proved to be a purple patch in City’s fortunes. The 1929/30 season saw the side again win the Northern Section of the Hampshire League, and achieve its most successful FA Cup run to date. That year saw City reach the fourth qualifying round of the tournament where a 3-0 defeat by Thames FC at the 120,000 capacity West Ham Stadium deprived them of an away trip to Fulham in the First-Round proper. Any disappointment at this would have been forgotten two years later in 1931 when City lifted the Hampshire Senior Cup for the first time after defeating Andover at The Dell.

One of the key members of the team in that era was the teenage Ted Drake. A local gas meter-reader at the time of joining City, Drake went on to enjoy a successful career with Southampton before joining Arsenal and also collecting five England caps. The highlight of his subsequent managerial career saw him steer Chelsea to their first (and, until 2005, their only) league title in 1955.

Play was again interrupted by war in 1939, although the club did continue to play and took advantage of the presence of a number of enlisted players that passed through the city. The end of hostilities saw City move yet again, this time taking up a lease of the Army’s playing field at Airlie Road, Stanmore.

The 1950s saw a second notable period of success at Winchester City. The side were runners up in the Hampshire League in 1949/50 and, in the same season, won their first Southampton Senior Cup final, an achievement which was repeated in 1951/52. The Russell Cotes Cup was also won for the first time in 1954/55. Success on the field was mirrored off the pitch as the club enjoyed some of its largest gates with crowds that regularly topped 1,000 filing into the Airlie Road stands.

CLUB HISTORY It was during this period that the young Terry Paine ran out for his hometown club. His prodigious talent led to his being signed in 1956 by Southampton with whom he made a record number of appearances (713 over 17 seasons). Paine also made 19 appearances for England, the last of which was against Mexico in the 1966 World Cup finals for which he (belatedly) received a winner’s medal in 2009.

Prior to the 1970s City had played virtually all of its competitive football, with the exceptions of the Amateur and FA Cups, within the confines of the Hampshire county border. However, after the club’s Russell Cotes Cup victory and a creditable second spot in the Hampshire League in 1970/71 the club’s Board decided to make the step up and enter the Southern League for the first time. City survived for just two seasons at that higher level, achieving disappointing final positions of 12th out of 16 (1971/72) and 21st out of 22 (1972/73), before electing to return to the Hampshire League.

For the remainder of the 1970s City yoyo’d between the top two divisions of the Hampshire League before a potentially fatal blow hit the club in 1981. In that year the lease agreement with the Army for Airlie Road expired and was not renewed. Briefly homeless, the club eventually moved to its current ground, a pitch leased from the City Council at Hillier Way. The ground needed a considerable amount of work to get it up to scratch, as did the team which had tumbled into the Hampshire League’s third division by 1982/83. The ignominy of this decline was made all the greater by the success of local rivals Winchester Castle in the first division – City could no longer claim to be Winchester’s premier club.

The continuing existence of Winchester City FC throughout the 1980s owed much to the work of Geoff Cox who at various times acted as Chairman, Manager, Coach and Groundsman at the club. Under his guidance the club was eventually to return to the Hampshire League’s top division in 1993/94.

The new millennium ushered in a period of unprecedented success for Winchester City. Prompted in part by the arrival of new and ambitious members to the Board, the club merged with Winchester Castle and began a rapid rise through the local league structure. Promotion to the Hampshire Premier League was achieved in 2000/01, and followed two years later by promotion to the Wessex League. The Wessex League title was secured at the first attempt.

That same season witnessed the club’s greatest ever triumph. May 2004 saw City face Suffolk side AFC Sudbury in the final of FA Vase at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s ground. Few that were there will forget the spine-jangling moment when club captain Danny Smith lifted the trophy after the 2-0 victory.

Further successes were recorded in the seasons that followed – 2004/05 saw City win the Hampshire Senior Cup for the second time, beating Aldershot 2-1 at Bournemouth’s Dean Court ground, whilst 2005/06 witnessed the club regain the Wessex League championship and win promotion to the Southern League for a second spell.

City’s return to the Southern League lasted three seasons. Financial problems, followed by a final day points deduction saw City return to the Wessex League for the 2009/10 campaign. Despite a concerted push to gain promotion back to the Southern League which ultimately proved successful in 2011/12, the resources required to sustain the club’s position at that level proved elusive. Winchester City FC finished the 2012/13 season at the foot of the Southern league and facing an uncertain future. The late spring of 2013 saw a takeover at the club and, with a new Committee structure and financial backers in place, the 2013/14 season heralds the start of a new chapter in the history of Winchester City FC. 2013-2014 saw a season of re-organisation and team building, with City retaining a place in the Sydenhams Wessex League.

2015-2016 – City made a valiant attempt to take the Wessex title but just fell short to a very successful Peters field Town side who were rightly promoted to the Southern League. City under the Managership of Paul Masters then set about strengthening the squad to win the title next season when out of the blue they were offered a place in the Southern League due to a withdrawal. The Club were given 24 hours to pay their fees and attend the AGM in Torquay. A frantic drive by Director of Football Dave Malone saw him arrive just in time with the relevant papers and bank draft! As a result, our neighbours, Peters field Town, were moved out of Division 1 South and West to accommodate City and placed in the Central Division!

CLUB HISTORY City's first season back in the Southern League was a success with them reaching the play-offs final losing to Banbury United in the quarter finals, who were promoted and coming within minutes of winning the Hampshire Senior Cup losing on penalties to Havant and Waterlooville. City's preparation for this season were disrupted by the unexpected resignation of Manager Paul Masters in the middle or pre-season friendlies. The Club quickly filled the vacancy by appointing Petersfield Town's Manager Ian Saunders to the post.

The club started the season brightly and made it to the fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, beating US Portsmouth, Street and Truro City before finally succumbing to Harrow Borough. The club also had a successful run in the FA Trophy, thanks to wins against Petersfield Town, Fleet Town and Phoenix Sports before getting knocked out narrowly by Dulwich Hamlet. Craig Feeney and Howard Neighbour forced a strong strike partnership, added to that the midfield flair of Captain Stuart Green and winger, Andy Jenkinson, City recovered from a difficult spell before Christmas to mount a play-off push in the early stages of the New Year. Manager, Ian Saunders, went away with the military, and during this time, Mick Catlin stepped in to take over the running of the First-Team. When Saunders returned, form deteriorated and Saunders subsequently left the club and was replaced by Interim Manager, Craig Davis, who joined the club from Fleet Town. Davis took control of the club until the end of the season, when it was announced that he would officially be becoming Permanent First Team Manager.

‘Davo’ finished 11th with City in his first full season in charge, a season that saw a successful run, resulting in a Hampshire Senior Cup Semi-Final where City eventually lost to Blackfield & Langley. The Citizens also hosted Southampton FC in the Southampton Senior Cup and achieved memorable league victories against Didcot Town, Evesham United, Swindon Supermarine and Wimborne Town as well as impressive away draws at both Swindon Supermarine and Salisbury, the latter seeing City come from 2-0 down to salvage a point at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.

In the 2018-19, City had an impressive pre-season including victories over Dorchester Town and Eastleigh. City started strongly in the league too. This went hand-in-hand with a cup run that saw the Citizens make it through to the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, following victories against Bournemouth Poppies, Frome Town, Merthyr Town and Cirencester Town before eventually losing 4-1 away at Torquay United. City’s league form dipped slightly during this period but a strong finish to the season meant that City missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season. City needed three points away at Cinderford Town, but the game finished 0-0 meaning it was in fact Cinderford that finished in the final play-off berth.

Tyrell Mitford, Joe Cook and Josh Harfield left the club during the 2019-20 pre-season and into the club have come Kieran Douglas, Keith Emmerson, Olly Balmer and Dan Williamson has returned to City. City performed well during the 2019-20 campaign and were 4th in the league with a play-off berth looking likely when the season was curtailed due to Covid-19. City made the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup before losing to Taunton Town but impressive cup runs in the local competitions took place once again. City were also League Cup semi-finalists, securing £1000 prize money for doing so.

A belated pre-season campaign took place in August 2020 with away wins at Bedfont Sports, Hartley Wintney and Marlow FC. Tyrell Mitford has returned to the club along with Josh McCormick and new faces Graeme Purdy, Jack Wilson, Felix Davies, Charlie Philpott, Josh Davies and Kel Akpobire have all joined the club.

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