Wythenshawe vs Campion AFC

CLUB PARTNERS

OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNERS

CONTENTS

SEASON 2023/24 ISSUE 02 vs CAMPION AFC

4 MANAGERS NOTES

Shane Goldrick gives his thoughts ahead of today’s game.

8 THE BIG INTERVIEW

An interview with Wythenshawe Women’s Manager James Mulvihill.

14 60 SECONDS

Bryan Ly takes on this week’s 60 seconds and tells us his karaoke song.

18 AWAY DAYS

Dan Hayden gives a review of Cheadle Town away.

24-

29 CAMPION AFC

An in-depth look at Campion AFC< and an interview with Aidan Kirby.

WE ARE WYTHENSHAWE

CLUB DIRECTORY

President: JohnWalker

14

Chair: SachaLord

ViceChair: CarlBarratt

Committee/Directors: PeterAndrews,John

Cotton,StephenHall, MartinHowe,NeilOwen, WaynePybus

Secretary: JohnCotton

26 33

ClubHeadWelfareOfficer: RebeccaAllison

wythenshaweafc@gmail.com

ClubDisciplineOfficer: ClaireBarratt admin@wythenshawe.com

Physio: AqalieaBanson

FirstTeamManager: ShaneGoldrick

AssistantManager: JakeDavies

FirstTeamCoach: Mike

Turner

THE AMMIES PROGRAMME EDITOR Dan Hayden

CONTRIBUTORS James Mulvihill, Rob Stewart, Aiden Beswick, Dan Hayden, Bryan Ly, Glenn Smith, Sheridann Dickerson, Aidan Kirby, Jake Williams, Paddy Gladman, Adam Willis, Hugh Hutton, Levi Bass

PHOTOGRAPHY Glenn Smith

Please note, the articles in this programme are not the views of Wythenshawe Football Club.

Club Entity: Wythenshawe AFC Limited, a Community Benefit Society, No. 7250.

Registered office: Hollyhedge, Community Stadium, Altrincham Road, Sharston, Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, M23 4US.

DirectorofFootball: RobBrown

KitMan: DeclanSutton

Women’sManager: JamesMulvihill

HeadofMedia/Media

Officer: AidenBeswick

MANAGER’S NOTES SHANE GOLDRICK

Good afternoon and welcome to the Hollyhedge Community Stadium for today’s Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round match against Campion. I was in the crowd a few years ago when the Club played their first ever match in the FA Cup against Shelley, but to be able to manage the Club in such an illustrious competition really is an exciting prospect, and I know the lads are all eager to secure the victory this afternoon and ensure our name is in the hat for thedraw for the nextround.

I would like to offer a warm welcome to James Bicknell, his management team, players and all of the supporters who have travelled over the Pennines for today’s game. Like ourselves Campion won the North East Counties First Division last season to secure promotion to the Premier Division.

The start to the season has been fantastic and I am delighted with the players’ application over the two league games we have played. The lads have taken on board everything we worked on during pre-season and have put it into practice in both games which is extremelypleasingtosee.

Our opening day fixture against Ramsbottom was a fantastic occasion, and I thought the lads were brilliantfromstarttofinish.

The opening goal was always going to be key and it came at the perfect time for us, with Chris giving us the lead just before the half time whistle. I was pleased with the ruthlessness shown by the lads to keep pressing Rasmbottom high up the pitch and this was rewarded withdebutgoalsforAdam

and Darrhyl and a great finish fromBryantosealthe victory.

We followed up Saturday’s win with a tough away match at Cheadle Town, a fixture we lost 3v2 last season. Again the lads were brilliant from the firstwhistle.

The quality we have had on the bench for the first two games is a sign of how strong a squad we have assembled, and with more players due to return from injury and holidays over the next week, Jake, Mike and I have some real selection headaches aheadofus.

Your support last week was outstanding and the lads fully appreciated your backing. I know we will have another large crowd behind us today, and we will need all of your support if we are to secure a placeinthenextround.

Shane

CHAIR COLUMN SACHA LORD

Hello, and welcome to the Hollyhedge Community Stadium for today’s match. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all players, officials and supporters who haveattendedthisafternoon.

What a startto theseason we have had both on and off the pitch. The performance and result last Saturday was fantastic and this was matched off the pitch by the fantastic crowd of 472. It was brilliant to see so many fans in attendance enjoying the facilities we have to offer. It

was also great to see so many younger fans present and they add to the fantastic atmosphere throughout the match.

I would also like to thank all of the bar staff and volunteers for all their help both before in the preparation of the ground and during the match to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible.

I would also like to thank Gabby for the catering provided, and I know that the menu on offer was a huge hit withallofthefans.

Saturday proved to be a double celebration, as our manager Shane Goldrick and his partner Leanne had become parents earlier in the day with the arrival of Ruari. On behalf of everyone at the club we pass on our massive congratulations to Shane and Leanne and we look forward to welcoming Ruari down to his first match in the near future. The summer has seen some massive changes at the club, and none more so than our announcement that the Women’s first team would be going semi professional for the first time in the club’s history, and this was coupled by the appointment of James Mulvihill as first team manager.

I was delighted to be able to secure James’ appointment given the success he has had at FC United, he was highly sought after. The early signs arethatheisputtingtogether an extremely talented squad which will challenge in all competitions this season, as demonstrated by their 5-2 victory over a Wrexham team that have ambitions to compete in the Champions league.

Finally I would like to thank today’s match sponsor, W.A Maher & Sons and Josh Maher.Josh isa bigsupporter of the club and has generously sponsored the team numerous times over the past seasons. On behalf of the board I would like to thank Josh for his continued support fortheclub and hope he and his guests enjoy today’smatch.

EnjoytheMatch

Sacha

JAMES MULVIHILL THE BIG INTERVIEW

James! Firstly, thank you so much for takingyour timeto talk to us for today's programme. You've been at the club for around a month now, how have you settled backintotheclub?

Thank you! I’m not going to lie, the first couple of weeks were rocky. We have settled into things now, winning our first two pre-season games has been crucial to build confidenceinthegroup.

You've already made your mark after a huge result last weekend thumping Wrexham Ladies, who won the Welsh First Division last season, 5-2. What are your expectations for the upcomingseason?

Beating Wrexham was a huge achievement. Wrexham are going to be competing to play intheChampionsLeaguenext season. For us to drag them into deep water at Hollyhedge was a dream cometrueforme.

The team only managed 18 goals all season in the league last year, we have managed to hit 19 goals in our first 2 preseason games this time around. I’m so proud of what thegirlshavedonesofar.

Could you give us a brief rundown of your matchday routine?

Early meet, music pumping. It’s all aboutthe environment on a match day for me. The team already know the game plan, they know what their tacticalresponsibilitiesare.

Matchday is for motivation, reminding the girls what our goals are. Loads of short, sharp football with minimal touches. Quick huddle, let’s getafterit!

Afterwinningtheleagueand plate double with FC United, would you saythat was your most memorable career moment?

Winningtheleaguelastyear

was the height for me. We had 3 games in hand in a four horse race for the title. We had to play top of the league, 3 games in a row. Beating Curzon Ashton, drawing with Cheadle Town and then we knocked Salford City off the top of the table in a 4-2 thriller.

We then secured the league beating Tranmere Rovers 3-1 the week after. That month was high pressure, but I loved everyminuteofit.

You've managed to secure the signing of Kirsty Chambers who scored a hat trick in the win over Wrexham last week. Just how important is it to have playerswhohaveplayedata higher level in the dressing room?

Its crucial! The young girls at the club need players like Kirsty to look up to. Kirsty has won it all from the Greater Manchesterleagues,through

to the North West Prem. In key moments we need players who know how to win titles in the ranks. Her experienceisinvaluable.

What is the last thing you do before stepping out onto the dugout? Do you have any superstitions?

Makesure someoneisputting a stopwatch on. I think I must ask the bench what minute weareon60timesagame.

The interest in women's football has been increasing over the past few years. What would you say to encouragethosewhohaven't

watched women's football before?

I think the stereotypes have started to fall away over the last few years. I’m a father of 3 girls, so it’s important for me for my girls to feel as though they can do whatever they put their minds too, withoutprejudice.

this year and really pull this club up the womens pyramid. We want as many people to witnessthataspossible!

If you could bring two Lionesses to Wythenshawe, who would you sign and why?

Jill Scott for certain. Huge fan of the way she played. A real leaderonandoffthefield.

The women’s game is growing, because society as a whole is shifting to become more accepting. Football is football, 22 people running around trying to better each other. We have a huge opportunitytogetpromotion

Then it would have to be Lauren James. She has carved her own path out, and managed to become one the most exciting players to watch in this current England squad.

SPONSORS

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LEAD IT CONSULTING LTD

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PAUL RILEY

JOSH TINKER

2023/24 PLAYER

DECLAN LAMB

DARRHYL

MASON

ADAM OWEN

SHANE GOLDRICK

ADAM DAVIES

EDDIE BROWN

J;NAI BUTTERFIELD -

STEEDE

JAKE DAVIES

LUKE WORTH

CHRIS HOWARD

KYLE HASLAM

=

CES WINDOWS

AVAILABLE TO SPONSOR

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SAM DICKOV

BRYAN LY

SAM GOODWIN

RYAN SHENTON

JOE BEVAN

SAUL HENDERSON

JARDEL DEPEIAZA

CRAIG COATES

JOHN COTTON

Report by Aiden Beswick, Pictures by Glenn Smiths

ThestarttolifeintheNorthWestCountiesFootballLeaguePremierDivisioncouldn’thave gonemuchbetterforWythenshaweFootballClub,astheAmmiesranout4-0winnersagainst recentlyrelegatedRamsbottomUnited.

TheAmmiesstartedtheafternoonwithpromise.SaulHendersonknockedtheballforwardto Mason,wholatchedontoit.Hetriedhisluck,buthisresultingshothitthesidenetting.

The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute. Howard charged down the right and whipped the ball toward the near post. His effort took a slight deflection from a Rams defender which causedtheirgoalkeepertoscrambletheballintothebackofthenet.

The hosts showed the same determination as they did in the first half. In the 49th minute, Mason tapped home Brown’s fantastic solo run and drilled effort, but the forward was ruled offside. The final 10 minutes of normal time and the six minutes of added time were eventful, especially for Goldrick’s men. They doubled their lead in the 85th minute through Davies. The NorthernIrishmanslottedhomeonhisdebutfollowingMason’spass.

It was three for the hosts in the 92nd minute. This time, Mason went from provider to scorer. Heran ontoLamb’spinpointpass,and fired theballinto thebottomrightcorner.TheAmmies weren’t done there. Two minutes later, Ly added a fourth of the match for Goldrick’s men. Mason received the ball from the middle, he flicked it over Ramsbottom’s backline to an on-runningLy,whocutinsideandslottedtheballintothebottomrightcorner.

SECONDS

WITH

BRYAN LY

Yourgotomealdeal?

ChickenCaesarwrap, pineapplechunksand

Lucozadesport

Youcanlistentoonealbum onrepeat.Whatdoyoupick?

LilBaby - MyTurnDeluxe

WhowouldbeinyouralltimeWythenshawe5-aside?

Kyle(GK),Worthy,Chris, Charlie,Bevan

TEAM MATES

Whoisthejoker?

JoeBevan

Whohastheworstbanter?

SaulHenderson

Yourgotokaraokesong?

DaddyCool - BoneyM

YourgotoMacciesorder?

SweetChilliWrap(no cucumbers)

Whatisyourmostused socialmediaplatform?

Instagram

Whoistheworstdancer?

DeclanLamb

Who has the worst fashion sense?

Azza

If the lads were all on Love Island,whowouldwin?

IssacGraham

Youwinthelottery,whatis thefirstthingyoubuy?

Amansionformyparents

Youcanonlyhaveone holidaydestinationforthe restofyourlife.Whereare youpicking?

Irelandtoseefamily

100mrace,whowins?

Jardel,definitely.

Whogetsfinedthemost?

Jardel

THE AMMIES TRIVIA

THE WARM UP

WhichPremierLeagueseasonare thesekitsfrom?

GET THE BADGE IN!

CanyounametheseNationalLeagueSouth teamswhohavelostpartoftheirbadge?

Answer:

A M - A G R A M

Answer:

WORDLE

Canyouworkoutthisweek’sWordle?

ANNE SHOULDERS

Canyoufindthe SEVEN Lionesses?

WhichAmmiesplayerhasbeenscrambled? Z E L E M J A M E S T O O N E E A R P S

Am-Agram - Saul Henderson

Shields, Peterborough Sports, Buxton. Wordle - Russo.

The Warm Up - 2003/04. Get The Badge In - South

- I hope you’re not cheating! This was made quite easy!

ANSWERS

AMMIES AWAY DAYS

WordsbyDanHayden

In anothernewfeature"Away Days", we will be giving you an insight to our away trips from the words of the media team.

night was Angelo Poretti, which does sound like an Aldi version of Birra Moretti; however, it was nice and pricedat “only” £5apint!

2023/24isunderway,and this was my first away trip with Wythenshawe. A local trip to Cheadle Town which was quite handy for me living in Handforth. Just a 4 minute train journey to Cheadle Hulme, and then a 30 minute walk. It would have been a 20 minute drive but I decided having a couple of drinks would be a better option.

After a 40 minute walk, I had arrived at the ground. Straight to the bar to get a £5 pint of Porretti and a flick through the matchday programme. A nice little well designed programme for £2 but not much in the way of content(youlotarespoilt!)

As kick off was approaching, I headedoutsideandsaidhello to Carl, and Martin before standing with Aiden and Alex who were well prepared for the game with a teamsheet and setting up for social mediaupdates.

This was my first visit to Cheadle Town, as they had also been promoted to the Premier Division last season, through the play-offs. The set up of the ground was pretty good, with one main stand and a nice little clubhouse. Wythenshawe were cruising in the first half, so it was time tolookatthefoodmenu.

gravy which might be quite surprising for someone who grew up down south - they don’t usually have gravy on chips! They had everything apart from the peas at Cheadle so we were off to a goodstart.

The second half was more one way traffic from Wythenshawe which was reflected in the final score: another 4-0 win, and Bury conceding meant the Ammies would end the night top of theleague!

A very good start to the 2023/24 season, and I am already looking forward to thenextone.Seeyouthere!

CHEADLE TOWN REVIEW

Please note: These are not the views of Wythenshawe Football Club

PROGRAMME

The programme was priced at £2.00 a copy, for 20 pages. A smart looking programme; however, not much in terms of content and I had finished flicking through within a couple ofminutes.

The usual history of both clubs, fixtures and results, and a couple of sponsor pages. Credit to any club that produces a printed programmetoo!

STADIUM HOSPITALITY

Thestadiumistuckedawayfromthemain roadbutafairlygoodlittleground.Thereare plentyofseatsinthemainstand,aswellas spacetostandaroundtheground.

Theclubhousewasprettysmarttoo,with plentyofspace.

SCORE: 7/10

FOOD & DRINK

The most important part of the away day reviews for me. This is the make or break for someawaydays.

On draught, there was only Shipyard Pale Ale orAngeloPorrettiand waspriced at £5which is a little steep. In terms of food, there was some “Greggs Sausage Rolls & Steak Bakes” available but the meat and potato pie, chips andgravywasprettydecent.

SCORE: 6/10

SCORE: 4/10

Ididn’tpersonallygettogoinhospitality; however,Ididaskthosewhodidgoinwhat itwaslike.

The response that I got was that it was average; the buffet was ok but nothing special.

SCORE: 6/10

JOURNEY

I love the fact that a lot of the away games are going to be local to me this season, and this one was a 4 minute train journey and £3.15 with a railcard which allowed me to haveacoupleofdrinksatthe game.

The only downside is that the ground is 40 minutesfromCheadleHulmestation.

SCORE: 5/10

Tues 08 Aug Burscough

Sat 12 Aug Irlam

Tues 15 Aug Prestwich Heys

Wed 23 Aug Pilkington

Sat 26 Aug Rossington Main (Vase)

Mon 28 Aug Barnoldswick Town

Sat 02 Sept Glossop North End

Tues 05 Sept Bury

Sat 09 Sept Charnock Richard

Sat 16 Sept Colne

Tues 19 Sept Padiham

Tues 26 Sept Chadderton

Sat 30 Sept FC Isle of Man

Tues 03 Oct West Didsbury & Chorlton

Sat 07 Oct Lower Breck

Sat 14 Oct Skelmersdale United

Sat 21 Oct Chadderton

Sat 28 Oct FC Isle of Man

Sat 04 Nov Irlam

Tues 14 Nov AFC Liverpool

Sat 18 Nov Bury

Sat 25 Nov Padiham Sat 02 Dec Kendal Town

Sat 09 Dec Glossop North End Sat

Dec West Didsbury & Chorlton Sat

Town

CAMPION AFC

The 2022/23 will go down as the clubs most successful season to date. The First division title was clinched 1 away victory at Armthorpe Welfare with 3

In 38 games Campion gained 98 points after only 4 defeats all season with a goal differenceof+102and had 3players in the top 10 league goal scorers.

In The WRCFA Senior Cup the club progressed to the final after defeating Pontefract Collieries (2-1) Ilkley Town (40) Brighouse Town (4-2) & Albion Sports (3-1) to face the previouswinnersLiversedge.

After going 1 down in the game played at Liversedge’s own ground,goalsfromPaddy Sykes an a wonder strike from Aidan Day saw the Cup return to Manningham Mills for the firsttimeintheclub’shistory.

Date:13thApril2017

Ground:ScotchmanRoad

Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

My ninth new ground of 2017 was on Thursday 13th April at Scotchman Road in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The match was Campion vs. Dronfield Town in Northern Counties East League Division One.

Scotchman Road is in the Manningham area of Bradford in the north-west of thecity.Theground bordersa primary school to the west and to the south there is another primary school as well as houses and a patch of allotments.

A TRIP TO

SCOTCHMAN ROAD

Words BY JON HAYES

There is more housing to the north of the ground and a cricket pitch to the east. The venue is 1.5 miles west of Frizinghallrailwaystation.

The western sidehas theonly stand in the ground - this consists of a slightly raised concrete platform which runs from near the southern end to just beyond the half-way line. Most of this is covered but the area by the half-way line has no roof. In this stand there are 31 seats on the raised concrete section and 22 seats in front of this giving a total of 53. The remaining half of this side is uncovered standing behind the barrier nexttothepitch.

Thenorthernandeastern side are both uncovered standing areas and due to the cricket pitch behind the eastern side has plenty of room behind the field to watch from. The southern end has a walkway behind the goal for spectators though this is thin due to the carparkbehind.

The community centre is just to the right of the goal and this contains dressing rooms on the lower level and a bar looking out over the pitch on the upper level. This gives a very good view of the action so plenty of people were watching the game from here.

The first half was bereft of chances as both sides cancelled each other out. The two were largely limited to speculative efforts which failed to trouble either goalkeeper with the only chance of note coming in the 10th minute when Campion's keeper came out on top of a one-on-one with a Dronfield attacker.

This all changed just 40 seconds into the 2nd half when Dronfield's Danny Wood picked up the ball 25 yards out, turned and unleashed a spectacular shot into top corner. Straight from the kick off the ball ended up

allowed the hosts a fantastic chance to level things up again.

and produced an excellent curled shot into the corner of thenetfrom15yards.

Jason Davis stepped up and smashed thepenalty lowpast the keeper. In the 70th minute Dronfield gifted Campion a goal when a mix-up saw two of their defenders go for the ball in theareaatthesametime.

They managed only to deflect the ball into the patch of Daniel Cunningham who shot low into the corner from 6 yards out. In the 76th minute Campion stretched their advantage when a throw-in on the right went to Ben

The scoring was rounded off in the 86th minute when Eli Hey picked up ball 30 yards from goal, ran to the edge of the box and shot low towards goal.

As it was going through it took a deflection and scooped past the helpless keeper into thebottomofthenet..

The game was very much one -way traffic in the final 20 minutes but the 4-1 scoreline was a little harsh on Dronfield who had matched Campion

SHERIDANN DICKERSON

Behind the scenes in the Commentary box

Can you give us a brief rundown of your matchday routine?Do you prefer home orawaygames?

As much as I love home games at Scotchman Road, I do prefer away games. There’s some absolutely top class facilities in the NCEL and especially when we travel in the FA Cup and Vase. It’s great to check out other clubs andadmiretheirhistory.

Hi Sheridann, thank you for taking your time to speak to us for our matchday programmefeature.

for just under twelve months now as Commercial & Media Manager and Committee Member.

How do you prepare your content for your social media platforms? Do you planahead?

Firstly, could you give us a brief rundown of how you got involved with Campion AFC?Whatisyourroleatthe club, and what encouraged you to get involved with non leaguefootball?

Thank you very much for havingme!Verymuchlooking forward to the game. I’ve beeninvolvedwithCampion

It wasn’t a bad first season at the club! I’ve been involved in non-league football since the age of sixteen as a player, managerandsecretary.

However, I’d been out of the game for 4 years before Campion made me rediscover my loveforthegame.

I’m always planning ahead! I like to plan two weeks in advance for games, ideally. But I’m always looking to improve the social media platforms and get the clubs nameoutthere!

What is your go to social media platform? Which clubs social media impresses you themostatthislevel?

Is are there any that inspire yourcontent?

I like to think Twitter is every mediaguys ‘go-to’ platformat this level. I like to be original and try create our own content, but when I first started in the role, I was looking at clubs in the NCEL Premier, such as Emley AFC andGarforth.

Programmes now. What makes a good programme to you? Any that have impressedyouatthislevel?

I think the more insight to the clubs involved on the day, the better. It’s always good for both home and away fans to get to know both the clubs andtheplayers.

Can you give us a brief overview of Campions preseason? What are your expectations for the season ahead?

Pre-season went really well. We played some top class sides such as Bradford Park Avenue and Brighouse Town and came away victorious in both those games and the rest. The expectations for the season areto finish ashigh up theleagueaspossible.

I honestly think we have the squad to challenge for the league, but it’s going to be hard to beat the success and achievement of last season!

This will be an exciting cup tie for both clubs. How does it feel to be part of the historic competition?

Excluding the Premier League clubs, which club wouldyoulovetofaceifyou hadthechance?

This is the first time I’ve been a part of a club that is participatingintheFACup,so it’s a massive honour and I can’t wait for the game. I’d have to say Bradford City, what a localderby that would be!! Keeping all fingers and toes crossed, but like yourselves, we’re aiming to go as far as we can possibly go!

Could you give us your all timeCampion5asideteam?

Having only been at the club a year, it’s going to be made up of last seasons players, buttheyaren’ttoobad!

BradEmmerson

SamBradley

AidanDay

AidanKirby MarcusDay

Which grounds are you looking forward to visiting this season? Are there any standouts?

I’m definitely looking forward to visiting historic grounds in our league such as Emley and Tadcaster.

After being crowned championsofNCELDivision1 last year, do you feel you've got enough to stay up, and push further up the Premier Division?

We100%haveenoughtostay in the division, and it would be naive of me to say we’re going to win the league, but that is the ambition and the aim. There are going to be at least5or6teamschallenging, but I wouldn’t swap our lads for anyone else, they’re the best group I’ve ever been a partof!

Predictionforthegame?

2-1toCampion!

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CAMPION CAPTAIN Aidan kirby

Aidan! Thank you for taking your time out to speak to us ahead of today's FA Cup clash.

Firstly, could you start by giving us a quick overview of your career so far? How manyyearshaveyoubeenat Campion AFC, and where haveyouplayedbefore?

Frome Town, Clitheroe, Brighouse Town, Silsden, and I’m currently in my 4th year withCampion.

The 2023/24 season is underway, and after promotion last season as champions, are you relishing the challenges ahead for this season? What are your personal targets, and what are the expectations for the club?

Campion’s aim is always to win the league, and that’s the same from ever player at the club, we believe we’re good enough to do so and that’s what we’re pushing for this season.

as for personal goals, I don’t really set myself them anymore, as long as the team win and I play well and help towards that, that’ll do for me.

What is your matchday routine?Doyoupreferhome orawaygames?Doyouhave anymatchdaysuperstitions?

I’m always up at around 8am, get the dog out for a morning walk,haveamorningcoffee

andabitofTV.Then setoffto the game at around 12:30 for home games. My match superstitions is that I always have a litre of flavored water and an energy drink on the waytothegame.

The FA Cup is possibly the most historic domestic competitionintheworld.Howdo you prepare yourself for gamesliketoday?

I love the FA cup games, there’s always a buzz around it with teams thinking they could go on a run and it’s something all non league fans love to see, as for the game itself, personally you don’t really have to get yourself up for it as you’re already buzzing to be playing in this competition.

Who has been the toughest opposition, and player you havecomeupagainst?

Hard to think of specific teams and players over the years, but I’d probably say Harrogate Railway was our hardest game last year and they had good defenders in that side that made it tough foryou.

Your all time Campion 5 a side?

Brad Net ,IlloHarper,AidanD Crawf,MarcusDay

As club captain, how do you get the lads prepared for games?Whatisthelastthing you do before leaving the changingroom?

To be fair we have a lot of experienced leaders in the changing room, so there’s plenty of voices in the changingroomsgeeingeachother

up for the game. We have our laugh and joke but when we set up for the warm up theteamsbeen together long enough to know it’s time to focusandgetourheadson.

Becoming champions last season, how did you make sure the lads kept the focus on the pitch throughout the backendoftheseason? We took it one game at a time last year and didn’ ahead of ourselves, we put a really good run together at the start of the year going 17 games unbeaten I think, so we just kept doing what we was doing and it got us in a reallygoodposition.

Ifthetiewasgotopenalties, would you put yourself forward to take one? How do you prepare yourself beforesteppingup? Of course I’m never one to shy away from a pen, and I was always taught as a kid to pick a spot and don’t change your mind and that’s pretty muchwhatItrytodo.

A massive thank you to Aidan for taking his time to speak to us, giving us an insight into Campion AFC.

TEAM MATES

Worstdressed? Danillo Clubjoker? BradEmmerson

Worstbanter? DannyKeane 100mrace,whowins?

MarcusHarper

Most likely to win Love Island?

MikeyOB

Worsttasteinmusic?

PaddySykes

Mostintelligent?

Mikeyorillo

Mostfined?

Ethancrossley

regaining football league status came true. It was a campaign of true dominance, and although matched by Notts County the whole way through, the Welsh side ended their 15-year EFL drought and won the National Leaguetitle.

Records were broken along the way, the main one being the most points ever in not only a National League season, but any season in the top five divisions of English football, with The Red Dragons accumulating a whopping111points.

It seemed inevitable that this would be the season, and the squad they assembled was leaps and bounds above the competition. If promotion didn’thappen,itwouldhave

Having owners like Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney certainly has its perks. Wages, as everyone knows, are lucrative, sponsorship deals with big companies (such as TikTok and United Airlines) are far easier to come by, and instead of having a Welsh fanbase, the club now has supporters worldwide due to both the popularity of the owners and also the Disney+ documentary. Of course, at League Two and National League level, it catapults the club above those who surround them, and has allowed them to make the signings they have.

But the most important thing is the football and the results, becausethat’swhatthefans

Wrexham’s pre-season has been different to any other club in their league. For starters, they’ve been playing in the United States, meaning they haven’t had a game at The Racecourse Ground. But more importantly, the opposition they’ve been facing is unlike anything they’ll be facing over the next nine months.

Their first game was against Chelsea, which saw the likes of Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, Conor Gallagher, Ben Chilwell and more all get a run out for The Blues. Wrexham also gave the entirety of their bench a run out, and the match finished 5-0 to the Premier League outfit.

Next was a game against LA Galaxy II, which saw Wrexham come away as triumphant winners with a 4-0 victory, after a goalless first half. The club competes in the third tier of the soccer league system, a league made up entirely of affiliates of MLS clubs, meaning it’s safe to say that it was quite the contrast to the game they’d played justafewdaysbefore.

Then back to Premier League opposition they went, this time facing Manchester United. However, this Manchester United team wasn’t one that you’d see feature in the top flight, with the side being made up entirely of youngsters (plus Jonny Evans). The majority of the players that featured will likely feature for the youth teams, or be sent out on loan tolowerleagueclubs.

The main talking point of this game was the injury to Paul Mullin, who suffered a punctured lung after a nasty collision with United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. However, Wrexham did end upwinningthegame3-1.

Their final game saw them move back to playing MLS affiliate opposition, this time against Philadelphia Union II. Unlike the Galaxy game, it didn’t end in victory, and finished a 1-1 draw, which cappedofftheirpre-season

touroftheUSA.

So, two wins, a draw and a defeat. Not bad going for Phil Parkinson and his side. But the question is, have these games actually been good preparation for the team? Of course, any football is going to be, to an extent, good preparation. After all, players can do all the training in the world, but gametime is what you need to get up to match fitness.

However, playing the teams they have, in particular Chelsea and Manchester United, wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the owners. Is it all just a popularity thing? Have they actually thought about whether it’s going to get them used to the teams they’ll be facing all campaign?

Take Stockport, for example. They're a team in League Two, and will also be looking to challenge at the top of the table after playoff heartbreak last season. Their pre-season saw them face Lincoln, Altrincham, Chester, Blackburn and Preston. That’s two Championship teams, a League One team, a National League team and a National Leaguenorthteam.

Playing English teams, in a mixture of league’s around them in the pyramid, and importantly having games in front of home fans. Yes Wrexham played a couple of English teams, but while Premier League opposition is a good test,isitreallytherighttest? Even the youngsters at these top level clubs will have been taught every little detail of a far more elegant style of football, something that teams further down the pyramid simply won’t play. Yes, the Wrexham players will already be used to the higher physical presence, but has the opposition they’ve played properly prepared them for that in terms of the upcoming season?

Striker Ollie Palmer was quoted saying: “Promotion is definitely happening. We’re definitely getting promoted next season.” He has a right to say this, with the team being the bookies favorites to win League Two, but it still takesa lot ofconfidenceto be quoted saying this, especially ifitdoesn’thappen.

While it’s not opposition directly in their league, most would still class this as far betterpreparation.

Only time will tell in terms of whether the preparation was positive, and it wouldn’t be a shock if they were to earn back-to-back promotions. But it’s certainly going to be tough, competitive, and another excellent season of football.

HUGH HUTTON MEDIA DIARIES

Hugh! Thank you so much for your time in doing this short Q&A for our programme feature"MediaDiaries".

Firstly could you give us a rundown of your role at both Swindon Town and Blyth Spartans? How did you get involved with both clubs considering the distance betweenthem?

Alot oftheworkIdowith these clubs is remotely due to work commitments with Sunderland AFC, where I work as a Scoreboard Operator and Broadcast Camera Man for their streaming service SAFCLIVE. But I got my initial role as a Graphic Designer at Blyth Spartans almost a year ago, before getting the role of a programme editorafewmonthsago.

I design every page in the 32page issue of ‘Spartans’ and write content to go inside. I done my first programme the other day against the club I support, Hartlepool United. I was buzzing seeing the response from both the Spartans and Pools supporters, they saidmyprogrammewasgreat.

I also design the match day programme for Northern League Division Two side Newcastle Blue Star. They’re an upcoming football club in the North East looking to follow in the foot steps of National League North club South Shields FC, keep an eyeoutforthem!

With Swindon Town, they had an advert wanting volunteers to join the media team. I thought I would try my luck, and see if I coulddographicdesignwork

for the club remotely - with living in the North East. I got straight in and the my loved some of the work I done, which was great for me! My work being posted by a Football League club, especially a massive club like Swindon.

In terms of work load, Swindon is something I can pick and chose when to get involved with, especially with their being three other graphic designers part of the team - it spreads the work load.

However, Blyth is a lot of work load with the programme and graphics, but I’vemanaged to pre-makethe graphics for the media lads to edit themselves so it saves me making a new graphic everyweek.

Blue Star I do a lot of paid work for being a designer for the club where I’ve made banners, menu’s and basically any commercial adverts they needI’vedesigned.

As a fellow programme editor, how do you prepare your content for each matchday?

What makes a good programmetoyou?Anythat have impressed you at this level?

In terms of preparing during the week for a programme, I write everything down so I know which page is going where.

After brainstorming and coming up with ideas I begin to write the content, this being Manager / player notes listening to a couple interviews they’ve done recently, match preview and arranging any interviews I needforsomecontent.

I like to have a lot of the pages already pre-made so it’s only the case of copying and pasting text in and out and replacing images. Unfortunately,a lotofthetimeitisn’t assimpleasthat!

I’m massive on design. So for me, a good programme it has toutiliseasmuchofthespace available as possible. So when I see large gaps in places on the page, it frustrates me a little!

At low league level, a club I previously worked for called Durham Corinthians (now known as Durham FC Corinthians)haveareallygood

programme. They play in the Wearside League Premier Division, step 12 of the English Football pyramid. At that level,theclub don’t need to have a programme. The fact they provide one, with the quality of paper they use, it’s easily 2-3 leagues above their own, which is impressive!

As graphic designer for Swindon Town, what has been your favourite graphic to make so far? How long does it take to make each graphic?

My favourite Graphic Design projects so far have been for Swindon Town where I was told Jonny Williams was retiring, they wanted a graphicmadeforthem.

I watch Williams play for Sunderland so this was something I was excited to make. The graphic was well liked by the club and they posted the image with over 100k people seeingmygraphic.

I didn’t send the graphic over that morning because Spartans needed to win by over three goals and even then, other results needed to go their way for any chance of survival… So, I wasn’t in anyrushtosendit!

And of course, as football goes, results went our way! In causal Spartans fashion, the Green and White Army won 5-0 at their home Croft Park.

So, while working the Scoreboard at Sunderland in their massive play-off semi-final first leg match against Luton Town, I had to quickly send overthegraphic!

Sunderland havealwayshad a good programme. But Hartlepool’s a few years ago hadafantasticprogramme!

They won National League programme of the year. I think these two clubs inspired me the most to get into programmes, the whole novelty of a match day programme you just can’t beat!

For the match day experience, programmes are vital in my opinion. Not just a collectors item, but a staple ofthewholematchdayitself.

Another graphic I enjoyed making was for Blyth Spartans, I pre-made a “Staying Up” graphic with a collection of players from the seasoncelebrating.

To top it off, over 500k people viewed the post with Hollywood celebrity and Wrexham AFC owner Ryan Reynolds commenting on the post, RYAN REYNOLDS SEEN MY WORK! I couldn’t believe it. From watching him on the big screen as Deadpool to seeing my work, it’s something I bring up at any chanceIcan!

Which clubs do you use for inspiration for your programmes,andgraphics?

Having a pint or eating some pie and chips while reading through the pages of a programme or trying to keep the programme dry while not trying to crumple the pages up is what made my match day experience growing up andnow!

To be involved in the process of creating the programme and give supports this experience I am grateful and proudof.

ANGE POSTECOGLOU REVOLUTIONISING SPURS’ FUTURE

Words by Adam Willis

The appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur has sent ripples of excitement and anticipation throughthefootballingworld.

With his innovative approach and successful track record, Postecoglou brings a fresh perspective that could transform the club's fortunes. In this article, we explore what the Australian manager can bring to Tottenham Hotspur and why his arrival has ignited a sense of optimism among the fans.

TACTICAL INNOVATION

Ange Postecoglou is renowned for his tactical acumen and innovative playing style. Throughout his career, he has displayed a commitment to attacking football and a belief in highintensitypressing.

His philosophy focuses on possession-based play, quick transitions, and fluid movement off the ball. Such an approach could inject newfound dynamism into Tottenham's gameplay, fostering an exciting brand of football that fans crave.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Postecoglou has a remarkable ability to nurture young talent and develop players to their full potential. His experience as the head coach of the Australian national team and his successful stints at various clubs have highlighted his commitment to building a strong foundationforlong-termsuccess.

At Tottenham Hotspur, Postecoglou's emphasis on youth development could see theemergenceofexciting

prospects and the revitalization of established players, fostering a cohesive and ambitioussquad.

MAN MANAGEMENT

A manager's ability to motivate and connect with players on a personal level is crucial.

Postecoglou's reputation as a great man-manager precedes him. He has an innate ability to forge strong bonds with his players, creating an environment of trust and unity. By instilling a winning mentality and nurturing a positive team culture, Postecoglou could unite the Tottenham squad and bring out the best in each individual, unlocking their truepotential.

EXPERIENCE ON THE BIG STAGE

Postecoglou's experience in managing on the international stage, including guiding the Australian national team to success in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, has honed his ability to handle pressure and make toughdecisions.

This invaluable experience equips him with the tools to navigate the rigors of topflight football and guide Tottenham Hotspur through crucial matches, both domestically and in European competitions. Postecoglou's calm demeanor and tactical astuteness under pressure could prove instrumental in achieving success at the highest level.

CULTURAL IMPACT:

Postecoglou's appointment brings a diverse cultural perspective to the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur. His presence as the first Australian manager in the league represents an excitingopportunity to bridge gaps, inspire a wider global audience, and foster internationalconnections. His multicultural background and inclusive approach can cultivate a stronger sense of unity among players, staff, and fans, transcending boundaries and celebrating diversity.

Ange Postecoglou's arrival at Tottenham Hotspur signifies a new era filled with promise and ambition. With his tactical innovation, player development expertise, man-management skills, experience on the big stage, and cultural impact, he has the potential to revolutionize theclub'sfortunes.

As fans eagerly await the upcoming season, they are hopeful that Postecoglou's unique vision will propel Tottenham Hotspur to new heights, inspiring a brand of football that captivates and excitesinequalmeasure.

COULD IT BE A

BREAKOUT SEASON

FOR THESE U23’s?

MYKHAILO MUDRYK

Levi Bass gives his thoughts on which 3 Premier League U23’s could be ready to break throughthisseason.

Despitehavinga tough start tolifein English football, Mykhailo Mudryk isan excitingprospect to follow heading into the new campaign. The Ukrainian was recruited by Chelsea from ShakhtarDonetskinJanuaryforafeeof 88.5MillionPounds,andoperatesontheleft wing.He is known for his rapid pace and explosiveness in the final third. Mudryk has reportedly put on huge amounts of muscle mass during preseason in order to cope with the tough physicality levels of the Premier League. Following the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea boss, Mudryk could thrive in the Argentine's system which requires plenty of running and quick tempo football from his players. Although he has to compete with Raheem Sterling for a spotin thestartinglineup,thiscould undoubtedly betheseason that Mudryk showstheworld hiscapabilitiesandsilenceshiscritics.

KOBBIE MAINOO

An injury sustained in preseason has ruled Mainoo out for the first few months of the season but once he is fully fit he certainly will have a role to play in this Manchester United side. The Red Devils Academy graduate has proven his ability to Erik Ten Hag, which has lead to the Dutch manager to denying all possible loan moves for the English wonderkid. At such a young age Mainoo plays with such excellent maturity. He is a midfielder who can either operate as a 6 or an 8, meaning he is comfortable in deeper positions as well as going forward. Mainoo's composure on and off the ball and passing is far beyond his years, and with Manchester United aiming to compete for silverware this season, the talented youngster could be called upontoplayinimportantmatchesforhisside.

JAMES TRAFFORD

Following an exceptional U21 Euro Campaign from Trafford where his did not concede a single goal throughout the tournament, many fans are looking forward to see the 20-year-old play between the sticks in the Premier League. The gigantic goalkeeper stands at a whopping 197 centimeters tall. However, Trafford does not let his height limit his shot-stopping ability. He has just been snapped up by Burnley from Manchester City for 19 Million Pounds as he pens down a 4-year-dealwith theClarets.VincentKompany clearly seesTrafford'stalentand aftera successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers last season, it looks like he is ready for the next step in hiscareer.Burnley willlook to keep theirastonishingformgoinginto thenewcampaign and Traffordcouldplayahugepartintheclub'supcomingseason.

PREMIER

LEAGUE SUMMER SERIES THE BEGINNING OF THE END?

Words by Paddy Gladman

This pre-season, we saw six Premier League sides take part in the inaugural ‘Premier League SummerSeries’.

The Summer Series consisted of each side playing three matches across a variety of American states; allowing fans from across The United States to watch PL starsintheflesh.

Chelsea won the tournament after: beating; Brighton in Philadelphia, drawing with Newcastle in Atlanta (Georgia) and beating Fulham in Maryland, as new signings Nicolas Jackson andChristopherNkunkustarred!

Rather than being played at the usual slow, sluggish manner in which many pre-season games canbecontestedat,thesegames were played at a competitive, high tempo; preparing squads adequately for the upcoming season. This reflected in the 35 goals scoredacrossjustninematches.

Sounds great, right? I’m not so sure …

This tournament didn’t include any American sides whatsoever, beingcomprisedsolelyofEnglish teams whose fans’ loyalty appeared inconsequential. Pre-season friendlies used to be anopportunityforfansto attend matches at more affordable prices, perhaps a chance to take yourwholefamily.

This isn’t possible now. Distant and expensive locations, partnered with inaccessible kickoff times; has seen the dismissal offans,insomecasesforcingthe ardent to stay up beyond midnight - due to early hour kick offs.

We already see regular NFL matches played in England in front of British audiences … could we see similar happen with Premier League games potentially being played in The States?

This simply cannot happen. During lockdown, we saw how vital supporters are to matches and how important attending matches can be for the mental health of fans, many of whom rely on football as an escape from the realityofaworkingweek.

Shutting out the regular, loyal supporters who have watched their sides for years - through thick and thin by taking their game across the pond would be the end of Premier League footballaswe know it.Areweonthe brink of losing our beautiful game?

Many understand the sentiment in opening the door to other audiences in other countries, however the loyal local fans cannotbeforgotten.Clubsareatthe heart of local communities. Taking them away from these communities - where they have such strong connections with local people would be a travesty for PremierLeaguefootball.

MANAGER: Shane Goldrick MANAGER: James Bicknell & Lee Ashforth

Kyle HASLAM

Chris HOWARD

Ryan SHENTON

Bryan LY

Joel AIKENHEAD

Joe BEVAN

Eddie BROWN

Sam ADAWEUSI

Saul HENDERSON

Luke WORTH

Paul RILEY

Aaron HEAVINGHAM

Declan LAMB

JNai BUTTERFIELD-STEEDE

Craig COATES

Jardel DEPEIAZA

Frazer GOODWIN

Isaac GRAHAM

Adam OWEN

Joshua TINKER

Bradley EMMERSON

Nicky BOSHELL

Samuel BRADLEY

Junayd CASSIUS-GILL

Joseph COLLEY

Stephen CRAWFORD

Ethan CROSSLEY

Aidan DAY

Marcus DAY

Karl FITZGERALD

THE SQUADS Campion afc

Robbie GRAHAM

Marcus HARPER

Daniel ILLINGWORTH

Danny KEANE

Aidan KIRBY

Michael O’BRIEN

Luke RHODES

Keiran SUDDARDS

Patrick SYKES