BetVictor Southern League Premier Division Central

Saturday 31 August 2019 Matchday programme £2

2

3

4

When Leiston played Felixstowe in the last

friendly of this pre-season, three Spaniards

took the field: our own Albert Serra

Parrondo and Sebas Pons Llado, plus

‘Fernando’, the opposition centre-back. It

took me back to ‘The Three Amigos’ of

Jesús Seba, Isidro Díaz and the better-

known Roberto Martínez who joined

Wigan Athletic somewhat incongruously in

1995.

Wigan Athletic was a club on the up.

Promoted into the Football League in the

1980s, they were now owned by ex-

professional footballer and successful local

sports retailer Dave Whelan. He was put

in touch with the three, who were plying

their trade at Real Zaragoza B, by the man

in charge of Whelan’s sports stores in that

city. The arrival of the three amigos piqued

local interest - though Díaz was later to

recall, ‘I remember turning to Roberto and

Jesús and asking why the fans were

wearing Mexican sombreros when we’re

Spanish’ - and they did much to raise

Wigan’s media profile as well as enhance

their success on the field.

Martínez went on to become a club

legend, managing the club in the latter half

of their unlikely nine-year stay in the

Premier League, adapting their style of

play to a more patient, passing approach

despite some hair-raising experiences

during that tactical transition, including an

infamous 1-9 defeat at Tottenham. Most

famously, Martínez led Wigan to an

improbable, yet joyous FA Cup win at the

expense of Roberto Mancini’s Manchester

City. Memorably, Martínez said before the

game that Wigan would have to be perfect

on the day to achieve their goal. Perfect,

they were. For ninety minutes, every

player gave his all, playing to well-drilled

instructions, but with no little skill. It was

an outstanding performance from players

whose collective discipline and endeavour

saw them overcome their considerably

Wigan Athletic’s three amigos: Jesús Seba, Roberto Martínez and Isidro Díaz.

Roberto Martínez with Wigan’s 2013b FA Cup-winning goalscorer Ben Watson.

All for one and one for all

5

more illustrious and prosperous local rivals.

Martínez had led an unfashionable club with a

middling supporter base to continued status

on the highest national stage, culminating in

indelible success in the nation’s flagship

knockout tournament.

After last Monday’s game at Needham Market,

many of the travelling Leiston supporters were

talking about how to arrest the early-season

series of disappointing results, and it struck me

that there are several parallels between

Leiston FC and that friendly, relatively small

yet pugnacious and proud north-western club:

not merely a former-player-turned manager

and the surprising addition of players from

Spain, but a stubborn attachment to club ethos

and principle; the bonding together of team

and supporters - in Leiston’s case, under the

banner of #weareaclub. These will be crucial

factors in confronting and overcoming the

trials that this season will inevitably continue

to present. Leiston FC have punched

impressively above their weight for some years

to be playing competitively at this level, and

the task has been made even harder with the

unforgiving fortnightly journeys into and

across the midlands, a factor that should not

be discounted when considering the pool of

players from which the club is able to recruit,

and a situation exacerbated by the new-found

purchasing power of certain noisy neighbours

to the west of the county.

Having enjoyed the successes of the past few

years, we are now in new territory. We all

need to get behind the team and management

and demonstrate that, as a club, we are more

than just the collective sum of our parts.

6

Leiston FC

Club Information:

Club Officials:

President: Robin Watson

Chairman: Andy Crisp

Vice Chairman: Peter Mayhew

Club Secretary: Trevor Elmy

Director of Football: Trevor Elmy

Fixtures Secretary: Steve Cooper

Welfare Officers: Peter Douglass , Alastair Browning

Safety Officer: Target Zero Safety Solutions

Team Management:

First Team Manager: Stuart Boardley

Reserves Manager: Ian Cornforth

Reserves Assistant Manager: Paul Stannard

U18 Manager: Rick Kerry

U18 Assistant Manager: Matt Morling

A Team Manager: Trevor Elmy

A Team Assistant Manager: Roger Hitchman

Club Goalkeeper Coach: Nigel Ling

Coach Development: Steve Foley

Physio: Sports-Med East

Head Groundsman: James Mayhew

Asst. Groundsman: Matt Murphy

Kit Manager: Trevor Harrison

Filming Tech: Peter Phillips

Financial Board Members:

Robin Watson, Andy Crisp, Peter Mayhew,

Steve Coulter, Peter Douglass, Trevor Elmy,

Alisdair Douglas

Matchday Committee:

Sue Tugwell Chris Barker, Steve Coulter

Gerald Bray, Kevin Smith, James Spink,

Roger Cowley, Stephen Barker,

Lance Freeman, Craig Cooper, Steve

Cooper

Hospitality: Kevin Smith

Press Officer: Craig Cooper

Match Reports: Craig Cooper

Programme Editor: Laurence Ball

Website Administrator: Peter Douglass

Marketing/Advertising: Jenny Cooper,

Leiston FC is an unincorporated association controlled by its members under the constitution of Leiston Football Club and the LTAA.

7

50/50 DRAW During our friendly against Felixstowe & Walton United, we sold 120 50/50 tickets

giving a prize fund of £60.00.

The draw mas made by Karen Cornforth of Total Football, and the winner was a

local gentleman who wishes to remain anonymous. He kindly donated his winnings

to club funds.

We thank him for his kindness and generosity, and thanks too to all those who take

part in the 50/50 draw and support our club.

Please help your club by participating in today’s 50/50 draw. Tickets will be on sale

around the ground during today’s first half. Good luck, everybody.

Don’t forget that new scarves are available in the club shop, too.

Steve Coulter

8

Today’s visitors

Lloyd Ransome – Goalkeeper DoB 27/07/96 Signed from Walsall Wood pre-season. Yet to make competitive debut due to injury. Joshua Bradley-Hurst – Goalkeeper DoB 10/01/02 Signed on Work Experience from Birmingham City and made clean sheet debut v Hitchin Town on 17/08/19. Previously with Celtic and Scottish U16 International. Josh Ezewele – Full Back DoB 21/01/97 Ex West Brom trainee who has joined from AFC Fylde. Sought after by several higher clubs and made his competitive debut v Kidderminster Harrier in WFA Senior Cup on 17/07/18. Jamie Willets – Defender DoB 02/08/92 Signed from Hereford, and a key figure in their double-winning season and trip to Wembley in the FA Vase. Made ‘Church debut v Coventry United on 29/10/16, where he scored a late winner. Natural leader and man mountain of a defender who leads by example. Kyle Morrison – Defender DoB 15/03/96 Returned to Church for second spell last season after joining from Halesowen Town. Can play central defence or full back. Pace and composure. John Atherton – Midfield DoB 30/06/97 Signed pre-season from Walsall Wood. Pacey winger with two good feet. Made competi-tive debut v Royston Town on 10/08/19. Kyle Rowley – Defender DoB 04/09/96 Signed from Walsall Wood pre-season. Made competitive debut v Royston Town on

9

Jordan Goddard – Midfield DoB 09/09/93 Signed pre-season from Highgate United. Composed skilful player. Babucar Sauane – Midfield DoB 04/02/95 ‘Baba’ returns for a second spell at Church after he left last season to play for Wolves Sporting. Bags of energy and a welcome return Stuart McNaught – Midfield DoB Experienced midfielder, joined from Walsall Wood pre-season. Jordan Smith-Williams - Defender DoB 08/12/95 Signed from Walsall Wood pre-season. Yet to make competitive debut. Peter Till - Midfield DoB 07/09/85 Experienced midfielder who was with Walsall Wood last season and is now part of the manage-ment staff at Church. Made competitive debut as sub v Barwell on 13/08/19 Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro – Midfield DoB 21/03/94 Joined from Walsall Wood. Previously with Rushall Olympic. Javia Roberts – Striker DoB 03/07/94 Joined from Walsall Wood pre-season and previously a former Church player. Ben Usher-Shipway – Striker DoB 24/08/98 Joined on loan from Solihull Moors. Developed at Boldmere St Michaels, where he played last sea-son. Pacey winger who can pick out a pass. Made competitive debut v Royston Town on 10/08/19.

Ryan Nesbitt – Striker DoB 02/04/98 On loan from Solihull Moors. At Sutton Coldfield Town last season where he scored 23 goals. Previ-ously with Hednesford Town, Boldmere St Michaels and Chasetown. Natural goal scorer. Ben Cassidy – Striker DoB 08/07/02 Still only 17 and success product of our Academy U18s. Made it through to 1st team last season, making debut as substitute v Highgate United in Birmingham Senior Cup on 09/10/18. Miracle Okafor – Striket DoB 06/05/01 Previous clubs, Scunthorpe and Frickley Athletic. Made competitive debut v Royston Town on 10/08/19. Rahis Nabi – Midfield DoB 15/04/99 Ex WBA academy and Burnley FC player. Made debut as substitute at Lowestoft Town on 15/12/18. Attacking midfielder. Lewis Archer – Striker DoB 31/08/98 Signed from Dudley Town and previously with Hednesford Town. Pace to burn.

10

Alvechurch Football Club, with its

picturesque ground providing a grandstand

view of the rolling Worcestershire hills in the

Arrow Valley and its steadily-developing Lye

Meadow facilities presents a far different

picture from when the club was founded in

1929. Then, the team had to change in a pub

and walk over the road to the local playing

fields to contest their minor league matches.

The move to Lye Meadow in 1957 was the

turning point in the club's history and it

began to go from strength to strength.

It took a little while after the war for

Alvechurch Football Club to re-establish

itself. Several village lads, after

demobilisation, joined the factory football

team which was a successful club playing in

top class amateur football. When the village

team was revived it attracted a number of

these players. By 1948, a strong football

committee and supporters’ club were

formed under the chairmanship of Tom

Atkins. The club prospered from fund-raising

events, and few village clubs at the time

could own and use three different coloured

strips in a season, let alone have a

committee who ensured that the kit was

washed after each match. The level of

support for Alvechurch F.C. was such that for

a needle match against Feckenham, six

coach loads of supporters travelled from the

village.

During this successful period, matches were

still being played at the Meadows, but as this

venue belonged to the village, no admission

charge could be made. A box would be

passed round for donations, so the club

agreed to relocate to a new ground, a field

situated below the church, where it was

possible to make an admission charge.

However, when the land was required for

housebuilding, a further move was

necessary. The club was offered a field on

Redditch Road for £1,000. As a result of

determined fund-raising, this sum of £1000

was raised in five years, thus providing a

permanent home at Lye Meadow.

Following the move to Lye Meadow in 1957,

the club captured the imagination and

enthusiasm of the midlands with its giant-

killing runs in the FA Amateur Cup. In

1964/65, ‘Church reached the quarter-finals,

and then the semi-finals the following year,

where a defeat against Wealdstone at

Stamford Bridge denied the village club a

Wembley appearance.

In their second year in the FA Cup, ‘Church

reached the 1st Round proper in 1971/72

after an 11-hour, six- match marathon in the

4th Qualifying Round against Oxford City.

This tie is now recorded in the Guinness

Book of Records. However, Alvechurch, then,

went down 4-2 to Aldershot after a brave

struggle in a match that was the 12th in

three weeks for some of the team. In

1973/74 ‘Church reached the FA Cup 3rd

ALVECHURCH FC — A HISTORY

11

Round, going down 4-2 at Bradford City after

beating Exeter City at St James Park in the

First Round.

The 1981/82 season produced a see-saw

battle to retain the League Championship, but

Nuneaton finished the stronger to push

Alvechurch into the runners-up position.

During that season, Alan Smith gained

international honours when representing the

England Non-league team, and subsequently

joined Leicester City. He then joined Arsenal

for £800,000 where he gained full

international honours playing for England.

Financial speculators gained control of the

club in 1992 resulting in closure the following

November 1993. In 1994 a dedicated band of

supporters resurrected the club as Alvechurch

Villa, rebuilding the seated stand and

refurbishing the clubhouse to gain admission

to the Midland Combination Premier Division,

finishing in fifth position in the league and

beaten finalists in the Smedley Crook Cup. The

team went on to reach the League Cup Final

the following season

In 1996 the club reverted to its original name,

Alvechurch. The next few seasons were a

struggle, but 2002/03 witnessed ‘Church’s

best season in 20 years with the Combination

Premier League and Challenge Cup. At the end

of the season, Church were promoted into the

Midland Football Alliance.

In 2013/14, the club reached the 3rd Round of

the FA Vase before going out 1-0 to

Westfields. 2015 saw Tividale’s management

team switch to Lye Meadow, bringing the bulk

of their Northern Premier League side to

Worcestershire. ‘Church pushed reformed

Hereford all the way, registering a record 101

points in claiming the runners-up spot.

Next season found ‘Church playing catch-up

to Westfields who established a commanding

points advantage alongside their impressive

FA Cup run. By the end of November, ‘Church

held top spot, and by the beginning of March,

Westfields’s challenge had faded. The title

was claimed with one game to spare in April.

A 2-1 win in the League Cup final at Walsall’s

Banks’s Stadium was followed a week later by

a 4-1 win over Wednesfield at Wolves’s

Molineux Stadium. Promotion was confirmed

with ‘Church’s acceptance into the Evostik

League South for the 2017/18 season,

heralding a return to this level exactly 25

years after leaving the Southern League in

1992.

In 2017/18, there were strong runs in the FA

Trophy and FA Cup, with higher league

opposition in the form of Grantham Town and

Cambridge City despatched along the way.

‘Church registered only seven league defeats

all season as they secured runners-up spot

and promotion to the Evostik South Premier

Central Division.

2018/19 saw ‘Church reach the play-offs in

the Southern League Premier Central Division.

The current season has seen a large turnover

in playing staff as several members of last

season’s playing and management teams

decamped to Stourbridge FC.

12

13

14

BVSCP SLC FAC FAT SPC TOTAL

Kyle Hammond 5 5

Jerry Kamanzi 5 5

Harry Knights 5 5

George Keys 3 3

Byron Lawrence 5 5

Joshua Hitter 3 (2) 3 (2)

Matt Blake 5 4

Rhys Henry 4 4

William Davies 2(1) 2(1)

Charlie Beckwith 3 3

Thomas Woerndl 4 4

Robert Eagle 3 (1) 3 (1)

Kyran Clements 3 (1) 3 (1)

Jake Jessup 2 2

Sebastia Pons Llado (2) (2)

Albert Serra Parrondo (3) (3)

Mason Sinclair (1) (1)

McKeown 2 2

Ryan Sharman 1 (1) 1 (1)

1st Team Appearances 2019/20

Barwell v Kings Langley

Bromsgrove Sporting v Banbury United

Hednesford Town v Needham Market

Hitchin Town v Tamworth

Leiston v Alvechurch

Nuneaton Borough v Lowestoft Town

Peterborough Sports v Stourbridge

Redditch United v AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Royston Town v Rushall Olympic

St Ives Town v Coalville Town

Stratford Town v Biggleswade Town

Today’s fixtures

15

BVSCP SLC FAC FAT SPC TOTAL

Matt Blake 1 1

William Davies 1 1

Rhys Henry 1 1

Goalscorers 2019/20

BetVictor Southern League Premier Division Central Premier

Pos. Team P HW HD HL HF HA AW AD AL AF AA +/- Pts

1 Rushall Olympic 5 3 0 0 13 2 1 1 0 3 2 12 13

2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 5 3 0 0 8 1 1 0 1 3 3 7 12

3 Hednesford Town 5 2 0 0 5 1 2 0 1 5 2 7 12

4 Stourbridge 5 2 0 1 5 5 2 0 0 4 1 3 12

5 Royston Town 5 1 1 0 4 1 2 0 1 6 2 7 10

6 Coalville Town 5 2 1 0 9 6 0 2 0 2 2 3 9

7 Kings Langley 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 10 6 4 8

8 Redditch United 5 1 1 0 5 3 1 1 1 5 5 2 8

9 Banbury United 5 2 1 1 6 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 8

10 Tamworth 5 1 0 2 4 5 1 1 0 3 2 0 7

11 Stratford Town 5 2 1 0 8 5 0 0 2 2 7 -2 7

12 Lowestoft Town 5 2 0 1 4 3 0 0 2 4 7 -2 6

13 Bromsgrove Sporting 4 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 6 5 1 5

14 Needham Market 5 1 2 0 6 3 0 0 2 1 3 1 5

15 Peterborough Sports 4 0 2 0 3 3 1 0 1 4 3 1 5

16 Barwell 5 1 0 1 3 3 0 1 2 5 7 -2 4

17 Alvechurch 5 1 1 1 7 4 0 0 2 0 6 -3 4

18 Nuneaton Borough 5 1 0 1 1 3 0 1 2 4 8 -6 4

19 Biggleswade Town 5 1 0 2 2 8 0 1 1 2 4 -8 4

20 St Ives Town 5 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 3 0 4 -6 1

21 Hitchin Town 4 0 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 1 6 -7 1

22 Leiston 5 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 3 1 14 -14 1

16

17

Age - 24 Previous clubs - Cambridge academy, West Ham academy, Southend academy, St Neots, Soham, Cambridge City Place of birth – Cambridge, and live there still Position - striker/no.10 What are your playing strengths? - hold up play, heading, passing, shooting, movement. What brought you to the club? - gaffer really wanted me, good reputation at the club, higher level, new challenge. Which team are you most looking forward to playing this season? - Biggleswade - up against a centre half who is a good friend of mine Which club, apart from Leiston, do you support? - Liverpool Best and worst footballing memory/experience? (as a player or a supporter) - as a player on a tour in Japan with West Ham playing in the final of a tournament at the Ecopa Stadium (55,000 capacity - 2002 World Cup stadium where Ronaldinho scored against England) - as a supporter watching Liverpool win the FA cup against West Ham. Who’s your best friend at the club? - everyone, but has to be car school: Byron and Blakey What’s your job outside football? - operations manager at Premier (teaching company) What’s your favourite tv programme and film? Why? - TV programme Only Fools and Horses (also dad’s favourite) and film is any of the Marvel films (love a superhero movie) What’s your favourite type of music? - all genres Best holiday you’ve ever had or favourite place in the world and why? - New York - unreal place would love to live there one day What interests do you have outside of football? - all sport, cinema (love a film), travelling the world Who is your favourite footballer of all time? Why? - Steven Gerrard - idol growing up - best English midfielder of all time Any advice for aspiring footballers? - work hard, listen to your coaches, dream big Who has the worst dress sense at the club? - Blakey - doesn’t own a Rolex Who is the best player you have ever played with / against? - with - Luke Chadwick - ex pro at Man Utd with premier league medal (can’t get the ball off him) Against - Glen Little (Ex pro, also can’t get the ball off him) Who is the biggest joker in the group / who makes you laugh the most? - Blakey/Byron, good laughs in the car Who is the hardest/most technically gifted/dedicated player in the squad? - hardest - me and Blakey

, technically gifted - Byron/Hitter, dedicated - Hammo (skipper) Who spends most time in front of the mirror? - Blakey doing his make up for the Ming outfit Who is the most cultured and clever player in the squad? - Byron Finally – What is your favourite aspect about playing for Leiston Football Club? - new challenge, young squad but hungry with good team spirit, great club with big potential, also a higher level for myself and looking forward to doing well and giving my all for the club.

Ryan Sharman

18

19

20

Opponents Score Att. 1 3 4 Date 2 5

Aug.

Sat. 10 Coalville Town 1—1 218 Beckwith Woerndl Kamanzi Hammond Knights

Tues 13 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1—5 446 Beckwith Woerndl Kamanzi Hammond Knights

Sat. 17 Rushall Olympic 0—6 186 Jessup Eagle Clements Hammond Knights

Sat. 24 Tamworth 1—2 242 Jessup Woerndl* Kamanzi Hammond Knights Clements

Mon. 26 Needham Market 0—3 474 Beckwith Woerndl* Kamanzi*** Hammond Knights Clements

Sat. 31 Alvechurch

Sept.

Sat. 7 FA Cup

Sat. 14 Stourbridge

Tues. 17 Biggleswade Town

Sat. 21 FA Cup

Sat. 28 Peterborough Sports

Oct.

Sat. 5 Hitchin Town

Sat. 12 Barwell

Tues. 15 St Ives Town

Sat. 19 Hednesford Town

Tues. 22 Kings Langley

Sat. 26 FAT

Nov.

Sat. 2 Bromsgrove Sporting

Sat. 9 Royston Town

Sat. 16 Banbury United

Sat. 23 Stratford Town

Sat. 30 Nuneaton Borough

Dec.

Sat. 7 Redditch United

Sat. 14 Peterborough Sports

Sat. 21 Hitchin Town

Thurs. 26 Lowestoft Town

Jan .

Weds. 1 Needham Market

Sat. 4 Coalville Town

Sat. 11 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Sat. 18 Tamworth

Sat. 25 Rushall Olympic

Feb.

Sat. 1 Alvechurch

Sat. 8 Stourbridge

Sat. 15 St Ives Town

Sat. 22 Barwell

Sat. 29 Hednesford Town

Mar.

Sat.. 7 Kings Langley

Say. 14 Royston Town

Sat. 21 Bromsgrove Sporting

Sat. 28 Stratford Town

Apr..

Sat. 4 Banbury United

Sat. 11 Biggleswade Town

Mon. 13 Lowestoft Town

Sat. 18 Nuneaton Borough

Sat. 25 Redditch United

21

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16

Keys Lawrence Hitter Blake Henry Davies Gaffer Eagle Sinclair Clements

Keys Lawrence Hitter** Blake Henry* Davies Gaffer Eagle** Sinclair*** Clements*

Keys Lawrence Kamanzi Blake*** Henry** Hitter* Parrondo** Davies* Llado*** Woerndl

Clements Lawrence Eagle Blake* Henry** McKeown Hitter*** Ppns Llado Serra P** Sharman*

Clements Lawrence Eagle Sharman* Henry McKeown Keys Hitter* Llado** Parrondo***

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Fixtures Match Sponsor Ball Sponsor

Aug

Sat 10th 15.00 Coalville Town SLC Haven Logistics

Sat 24th 15.00 Tamworth SLCGodbold

Properties Mr Barry Spall

Sat 31st 15.00 Alvechurch SLC

Sept

Sat 7th 15.00 Tie to be announced FAC Brooks & Wood

Tue 17th 19.45 Biggleswade Town SLC Mr Barry Spall

Sat 21st 15.00 Venue TBC FAC

Oct

Sat 5th 15.00 Hitchin Town SLC

Tue 15th 19.45 St Ives Town SLC The Douglass Family

Sat 19th 15.00 Hednesford Town SLC Mr Barry Spall

Sat 26th 15.00 Tie to be announced FAT

Nov

Sat 2nd 15.00 Bromsgrove Sporting SLC

Sat 16th 15.00 Banbury United SLC

Dec

Sat 30th 15.00 Nuneaton Borough SLC Mr Barry Spall

Sat14th 15.00 Peterborough Sports SLC

Jan

Sat 1st 15.00 Needham Market SLC Tim Jacobs

& Alan Crane Tracey Bacon

Associates

Sat 11th 15.00 Rushden & Diamonds SLC

Sat 25th 15.00 Rushall Olympic SLC

Feb

Sat 8th 15.00 Stourbridge SLC Sue Tugwell & Steve Coulter

Sat 22nd 15.00 Barwell SLC

Mar

Sat 7th 15.00 Kings Langley SLC

Sat 14th 15.00 Royston Town SLC

Sat 28th 15.00 Stratford Town SLC Tracey Bacon Trop-

ic Skincare

Apr

Mon 13th 15.00 Lowestoft Town SLC Brooks & Wood

Sat 25th 15.00 Redditch United SLC

Season 2019/2020

29

Match and Ball Sponsorship If you would like to be a match or a ball sponsor please contact Andy Crisp (acrisp5@aol.com) or Peter Douglass (pdolfc@gmail.com). Match Sponsors receive 6 tickets & programmes, access to the boardroom for hospitality pre-match, at half time and post-match. They choose and present the Man of the Match. Ball Sponsors receive 2 tickets & programmes, access to the boardroom for hospitality pre-match, at half time and post-match. All sponsors will be acknowledged on social media and the website in the lead up to the game and after the game. On the matchday, sponsors will be acknowledged in the programme, on the stadium tannoy and on official teamsheets.

30

31

32

The 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup being a club target, we look at our prospective opponents as we enter the competition at the 1st Round Qualifying stage. On 7 September, we travel to either FC Romania or Ware FC:

FC Romania FC Romania were founded in August 2006 by a group of Romanian workers in England who wanted to play football in their spare time. Ion Vintila entered the team into the Sunday London Weekend League playing their games on Hackney Marshes. FC Romania won their Division in the first -season and finishing runners-up in the next. In 2008, FC Romania switched to Saturday football and joined the Essex Business House Football League, playing at Low Hall Recreational ground in Walthamstow, north-east London. In 2010, the club moved to the Middlesex County Football League Division One, playing at Leyton Sports Centre, and finished runners up in the first season gaining promotion. The following season in the Premier league FC Romania finished runners-up but were denied promotion to senior football due to ground regulations.

2012 FC Romania started their ground-sharing relationship with Ryman League outfit, Cheshunt FC in Hertfordshire. They played another season in the Middlesex

County Football League and again finished runners-up. Also in this season FC Romania won the Middlesex County Senior Open Cup, beating Brantham 3-1 in the final at Uxbridge FC. The club applied for promotion to the Essex Senior League and played their first season in the ESL in 2013-14 finishing 5th. The following year FC Romania slipped one place to 6th

In 2012 -13 season the club entered the FA Vase for the first time only getting past the 1st round. In 2014-15, the club entered the FA cup reaching the 2nd qualifying round just losing out to Sutton United 3-2, after beating Haverhill Rovers, Heybridge Swifts and AFC Sudbury on the way.

The club has gained a lot of attention in its short life from various media outlets in England, abroad and, of course, in Romania. The club and the manager have appeared in sports newspapers and magazines, including BBC Sport, Gazzetta dello Sport, L’equipe, and FourFourTwo magazine, to name but a few, and on television in the UK on BBC, on Japanese TV with NHK, and on Romanian TV stations Pro TV and Digi Sport. The club has developed into a focal point for the Romanian community, but has also attracted many local and English fans as well.

The club has ambition to progress through the leagues and reach higher standards of football while developing the club further. The aim is to eventually have our own home and become a respected and establish part of English football encompassing all the good things about England and Romania and being successful in everything we do.

33

Ware FC

The club was founded in 1892 and was instrumental in founding the East Herts League, winning it on two occasions. The club moved on to the North Middlesex League in 1907 and then to the Herts County League in 1908.

After the First World War, the club gained a league and cup double with a second Herts County League Championship and a fourth Herts Senior Cup win in 1922. The local paper reported that "Large crowds awaited the return of the special train to Ware, everybody being in high spirits. The Cup was marched through the town in front of a cheering throng." It was later recalled that the cup was taken through the town on subsequent nights and that stops were made outside public houses where it was charged with beer before being drained by the crowd.

Shortly after, Ware joined the Spartan League in which they were to enjoy several successes, winning the Division 2(B) Championship in 1926, Division 1 in 1951 with the highest "goals for" total ever, and the Premier Division in 1952. In these later years, the club also made significant progress in the old Amateur Cup meeting many famous sides on the way. One of these was Hendon, against whom Ware drew their largest attendance of 3,800 in the first round in January 1957.

Ware enjoyed another successful period in the

Delphian and Athernian Leagues. Two promotions, two league cup wins and two reserve championships paved the way for progress in the FA Cup. In this, Ware reached the first round proper for the first time in 1968 when they travelled to Luton Town. The opposition had a 100%, home record but the game was scoreless with 30 minutes to go before a judicious substitution broke the stalemate and left Ware beaten 6–1 at the final whistle.

In these successful circumstances, it was not surprising that Ware pressed for entry to the expanding Isthmian League. This was achieved for season 1975–76, and they have maintained their place in the league ever since. This is thanks most recently to their Division 2 championship season of 2005–06 which carried them into Division 1 just before Division 2 was disbanded. Another FA Cup 1st round appearance in 2007 has added further distinction with a narrow home defeat against Kidderminster Harriers being watched by 2,123 people, a record for the current ground at Wodson Park.

Ahead of the 2015-16 season, following Clevedon Town's demotion from the Southern Football League, Ware were transferred from the Isthmian League Division One North to the Southern League Division One Central[1] but following further reorganisation by the FA Leagues Committee, 2016–17 saw them return to the Isthmian League.

34

35

36

37

Good afternoon, everyone, & welcome to the

Watson & Hillhouse Stadium Victory Road for

more Betvictor Southern League Premier

Division Central action (I know, hardly rolls

off the tongue does it?) I think if we're all

brutally honest, the start of the season has

been fairly disappointing, with last Saturdays

2-1 home reverse to Tamworth a case in

point. Just like the Coalville game on the

opening day, we played OK & took the lead;

Rhys Henry took his first goal since his return

to the club really well, following up after the

keeper had made a great save to deny Byron

Lawrence. However, once the Lambs

equalised with half an hour to go you could

clearly see the nerves set in as we started to

drop deeper & deeper & we started to look

more & more vulnerable, & although we

probably deserved a draw, the heartbreak of

watching the Blues concede a 93rd minute

goal was hard to take. It was such a

straightforward goal to concede as well;

headed home from close range after we

failed to clear a corner. A couple of positives:

firstly it was great to see a crowd of over 240

in attendance, if not enjoying the result then

certainly the glorious sunshine, & also the

performance of new signing Rory McKeown

who is with us on a short term deal, I believe.

The left-sided player clearly has something

about him & is going to be asset in his time

with us, I feel! Welcome to the club, Rory.

Nonetheless, our third defeat on the bounce

left us rock bottom of the league with just a

solitary point.

The Lambs fans I spoke to as they came in

through the turnstiles were really friendly &

top people & represented their club in a

really positive way, & I would certainly wish

them all the best for the rest of the season.

However, I was slightly disappointed by the

conduct of one of their bench whose

aggressive & provocative reaction to their

late winner was both unnecessary & certainly

unwelcome, but there you go.

To cap a truly miserable afternoon, the

Reserves went down 5-2 at Haverhill Borough

to continue their poor start to the season

while Ipswich Town somehow went top of

League One after crushing Bolton Under 11s.

If Carlsberg made Saturdays, they certainly

wouldn't look much like that I can tell you. At

least the Sky Blues won!

Anyway, todays opponents Alvechurch arrive

in Suffolk on the back of a 3-0 loss at

Hednesford Town last Saturday, so they too

will be looking to bounce back this afternoon.

We are clearly going to have to scrap & fight

for every crucial point the season.

Fingers crossed there'll be some good news

from the Bank Holiday Monday fixture over

at Bloomfields as both Leiston & Needham

Market were looking to kick start their

seasons & move away from the lower end of

the table. Again, here's hoping...........

Enjoy this afternoon’s game, everyone.

38

39

40

Leiston FC Alvechurch FC Blue shirts, white sleeves Green shirts

Blue shorts Green shorts

Blue socks Green socks

Stuart Boardley Manager Darren Byfield

Nigel Ling Asst. Manager Peter Till

Jake JESSUP 1 Josh BRADLEY-HURST

Kyle HAMMOND (C) 2 Kyle MORRISON

Tom WOERNDL 3 Kyle ROWLEY

Jerry KAMANZI 4 Stuart McNAUGHT

Harry KNIGHTS 5 Jamie WiILLETS

George KEYS 6 Kevin DA VEIGA MONTEIRO

Byron LAWRENCE 7 Joshua EZEWELE

Josh HITTER 8 Ben USHER-SHIPWAY

Matt BLAKE 9 Ryan NESBITT

Rhys HENRY 10 Javia ROBERTS

Will DAVIES 11 John ATHERTON

Ryan SHARMAN 12 Miracle OKAFOR

Albert SERRA PARRONDO 14 Lloyd RANSOME

Charlie BECKWITH 15 Jordan GODDARD

Sebastia PONS LLADO 16 Peter TILL

Robert EAGLE 17 Jordan SMITH-WILLIAMS

Referee: Joshua Crofts

Asst. referees: Ahmed Mohamed, Nathan Walker