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<strong>EDITORIAL</strong><br />

GODALMING TOWN vs AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS<br />

SATURDAY 14 TH NOVEMBER, 3pm<br />

EVO-STIK LEAGUE<br />

SOUTHERN CENTRAL DIVISION<br />

£2


<strong>EDITORIAL</strong><br />

THE STRONGEST<br />

<strong>EDITORIAL</strong><br />

ADHESIVE<br />

YOU CAN BUY!<br />

Club Officials<br />

Club President: Bill Kyte<br />

Chairman: Kevin Young<br />

Vice-Chairman: Ian Curtis<br />

Treasurer: Peter Vickerman<br />

Football Secretary: Ross Mose<br />

Club Secretary: Jane Phillips<br />

Youth Team Secretary: Peter Hirons<br />

Catering Manager: Jane Phillips<br />

Press Officer: Ed Stubbs<br />

Groundsmen: Bill Kyte, Kevin Shepherd<br />

Commercial Manager: Kevin Marshall<br />

Programme Editor: Nick Mitchell<br />

Website Manager: Nick Mitchell<br />

Minutes Secretary: Ross Mose<br />

Child Welfare Officer: Peter Hirons<br />

Safety Officer: Ian Curtis<br />

Committee Member: Colin Mitchell<br />

Committee member: Sarah Mitchell<br />

Honours<br />

Concours Challenge Trophy<br />

winners 1982/83<br />

Southern Combination Challenge winners<br />

1997/98<br />

Reserve Section League<br />

Champions 1995/96, 1996/97<br />

Reserve Section Challenge Shield winners<br />

1996/07<br />

Combined Counties League<br />

Champions 1983/84, 2005/06<br />

Combined Counties League Cup<br />

winners 2005/06<br />

Surrey Senior Cup<br />

winners 2009/10, 2012/13<br />

Good afternoon<br />

and welcome<br />

to Wey Court<br />

for this Evo-Stik<br />

League Southern<br />

Central Divison match<br />

against AFC Rushden<br />

& Diamonds. A warm<br />

welcome is extended<br />

to our visitors and the<br />

match officials this<br />

evening.<br />

Tuesday night saw us<br />

defeat Guildford City in<br />

the Surrey Senior Cup<br />

in front of a fantastic<br />

crowd of 296. A Darren<br />

Wheeler goal proved<br />

to be enough, but on<br />

the balance of play it<br />

should have been more<br />

comfortable than it was.<br />

Today sees our first<br />

ever meeting with AFC<br />

Rushden & DIamonds.<br />

The club were formed in<br />

2011 by supporters, after<br />

Rushden & Diamonds<br />

were expelled from the<br />

Football Conference and<br />

liquidated.<br />

After winning the United<br />

Counties Premier League<br />

last season, AFC Rushden<br />

& Diamonds have wasted<br />

no time adjusting to life at<br />

step 4, currently unbeaten<br />

and sitting in 5th place,<br />

but with games in hand<br />

thanks to their good FA<br />

Cup run.<br />

Tuesday night sees us<br />

travel to the in-form<br />

Egham Town in the<br />

Red Insure Cup, before<br />

another tough away game<br />

at Aylesbury. Following<br />

that we have back to<br />

back home games<br />

against Hanwell Town and<br />

Leighton Town.<br />

Enjoy the game.<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

3


“They also have<br />

a fantastic away<br />

record so we<br />

will need to be<br />

at our very best<br />

to get anything<br />

today.”<br />

ANDY<br />

<strong>EDITORIAL</strong><br />

HUNT<br />

FROM THE DUGOUT<br />

Good afternoon and<br />

welcome to Wey Court<br />

for today’s Evo-Stick<br />

Southern Central League<br />

fixture against AFC<br />

Rushden & Diamonds<br />

FC. I hope everyone<br />

visiting us today will<br />

enjoy a good game and<br />

have a safe journey<br />

home.<br />

What a fantastic test we face<br />

today. Newly promoted and<br />

a huge club, this is easily our<br />

biggest game of the season.<br />

An old football league<br />

club that unfortunately had<br />

financial difficulties and<br />

reformed in 2011. They<br />

also have a fantastic away<br />

record so we will need to<br />

be at our very best to get<br />

anything today. I really love<br />

these challenges when you<br />

face such a tough game<br />

but I know we’ll be ready<br />

and capable of putting in a<br />

performance that will make<br />

all G’s fans happy and<br />

proud of the team.<br />

Tuesday evening was a<br />

fantastic cup game against<br />

our local rivals Guildford<br />

City. The Surrey Senior<br />

Cup 2nd round saw a<br />

large crowd of 296 attend<br />

the derby match, where<br />

winning was everything to<br />

both clubs. With their new<br />

manager bringing more<br />

local interest after his recent<br />

appointment, it was really<br />

set up for a great game<br />

and it didn’t let us down. I<br />

thought we played very well<br />

on the night, it’s never easy<br />

playing against lower level<br />

sides and that has always<br />

been a problem for us but<br />

on Tuesday I thought we<br />

were very professional. We<br />

dominated and controlled<br />

the game from start to finish.<br />

Wheeler was causing a<br />

constant threat down the<br />

left and looking back to his<br />

best, which was great to see<br />

after a tough few weeks.<br />

Louis was making some<br />

wonderful passes to stretch<br />

their defence and get us on<br />

the attack too. We scored<br />

a really well worked goal<br />

early into the second half,<br />

with Adam Cornell making a<br />

great run to beat the offside<br />

trap and then had the<br />

composure to get his head<br />

up and square it to Darren<br />

for a simple tap in. We had<br />

other chances but couldn’t<br />

extent our lead, we hit the<br />

post twice and missed the<br />

target on a few occasions<br />

so the score stayed at 1-0.<br />

City did have a late chance<br />

as they threw everything at<br />

us but we held strong Ozzie<br />

made a good save to give<br />

us a vital and well-deserved<br />

victory.<br />

In our next few games<br />

we face the hardest and<br />

toughest of opponents,<br />

Rushden today then Egham<br />

away in the league cup<br />

and Aylesbury away next<br />

Saturday. We will need your<br />

very best support as always<br />

and the players are excited<br />

about the challenge. We<br />

feel as the management<br />

team that we are starting<br />

to have the desired affect<br />

on the squad now in how<br />

we want to set up and play.<br />

I’m working very hard in a<br />

search for improving the<br />

squad and we will get the<br />

right people in.<br />

Enjoy the game and support<br />

the G’s<br />

COYG<br />

Andy Hunt<br />

4<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK


LEAGUE TABLE<br />

Commercial Insurance specialists<br />

serving the local community<br />

since 1982<br />

Contact us for a free, no obligation quote<br />

FREEPHONE 08000 280380<br />

www.tradedirectinsurance.co.uk<br />

Trade Direct House, Ockford Road,<br />

Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1RH<br />

Trade Direct Insurance Services Ltd is<br />

authorised and regulated by the<br />

Financial Services Authority<br />

P W D L F A +/- Pts<br />

1 St Ives Town 15 8 5 2 26 14 +12 29<br />

2 Royston Town 15 9 1 5 34 16 +18 28<br />

3 Chalfont St Peter 15 9 1 5 35 23 +12 28<br />

4 Egham Town 14 9 0 5 32 10 +22 27<br />

5 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 11 8 3 0 26 12 +14 27<br />

6 Aylesbury 15 8 3 4 28 16 +12 27<br />

7 Ware 16 8 3 5 23 23 0 27<br />

8 Beaconsfield SYCOB 16 8 2 6 32 21 +11 26<br />

9 Kings Langley 13 8 1 4 25 14 +11 25<br />

10 Northwood 14 8 1 5 26 20 +6 25<br />

11 Potters Bar Town 14 6 2 6 20 24 -4 20<br />

12 Uxbridge 15 6 2 7 22 27 -5 20<br />

13 Bedford Town 15 5 3 7 20 22 -2 18<br />

14 Barton Rovers 14 4 5 5 22 24 -2 17<br />

15 Petersfield Town 13 4 4 5 22 26 -4 16<br />

16 Arlesey Town 15 5 1 9 17 33 -16 16<br />

17 Godalming Town 14 4 3 7 15 20 -5 15<br />

18 Hanwell Town 15 4 3 8 14 22 -8 15<br />

19 Fleet Town 14 3 3 8 18 34 -16 12<br />

20 Leighton Town 14 3 2 9 12 30 -18 11<br />

21 Aylesbury United 15 3 2 10 19 38 -19 11<br />

22 North Greenford United 14 2 2 10 19 38 -19 8<br />

Results<br />

Tuesday 10th November<br />

Royston Town 3-1 Bedford Town 143<br />

St Ives Town 1-0 Hanwell Town 242<br />

Uxbridge 3-0 Leighton Town 81<br />

Fixtures<br />

Saturday 14th November<br />

Arlesey Town<br />

Aylesbury<br />

Aylesbury United<br />

Egham Town<br />

Godalming Town<br />

Kings Langley<br />

Leighton Town<br />

Potters Bar Town<br />

St Ives Town<br />

v Fleet Town<br />

v Northwood<br />

v Uxbridge<br />

v Beaconsfield SYCOB<br />

v AFC Rushden & Diamonds<br />

v Petersfield Town<br />

v Chalfont St Peter<br />

v Barton Rovers<br />

v North Greenford United<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

7


Godalming Town<br />

kept up their recent<br />

unbeaten record<br />

against rivals<br />

Guildford City as a<br />

second half Darren<br />

Wheeler goal saw the<br />

Gs progress to the 3rd<br />

round of the Surrey<br />

Senior Cup in front of<br />

a bumper Wey Court<br />

derby-day crowd.<br />

Since City’s reformation<br />

in 1996 Godalming have<br />

lost just once to their<br />

biggest rivals, back in<br />

2005, and some felt<br />

a resurgent Guildford<br />

under new, local<br />

manager Dean Thomas<br />

had their best shot at<br />

ending that run against<br />

an out-of-form Gs side.<br />

However, the hosts<br />

were always on top in a<br />

tie low on chances and<br />

did enough to get their<br />

name in the hat for the<br />

next round.<br />

GODALMING TOWN 1<br />

GUILDFORD CITY 0<br />

Tuesday 10th November<br />

The visitors were<br />

without striker Matt<br />

Anton, prolific at step 8<br />

Godalming & Farncombe<br />

Athletic before following<br />

his old manager to<br />

City in September, and<br />

recently courted by Gs<br />

boss Andy Hunt, but<br />

they went close after just<br />

4 minutes when former<br />

Chelsea trainee Adam<br />

Nditi bent a free kick just<br />

wide. Johnny Gray was<br />

playing a more advanced<br />

role in holding midfield<br />

as Nick Hutchings<br />

returned to his place at<br />

full-back, and the former<br />

shot over before City<br />

‘keeper Liam Beach<br />

smothered a Wheeler<br />

free-kick after an initial<br />

spill.<br />

Gray saw another effort<br />

fizz off target before,<br />

in the 34th minute, the<br />

hosts created the best<br />

opening of the half when<br />

Louis Hutton played<br />

a short free-kick to<br />

Wheeler who skinned<br />

Tom Booth before<br />

crossing to George Frith,<br />

and his knockdown<br />

found Tom Willment, but<br />

his effort rebounded<br />

back off the post.<br />

The tie seemed to be<br />

lacking that bit of quality,<br />

particularly in the final<br />

third, with neither side<br />

looking particularly<br />

penetrative. However,<br />

a moment of class from<br />

Adam Cornell just 4<br />

minutes after the break<br />

presented a golden<br />

chance for Wheeler,<br />

and the winger wasn’t<br />

about to waste such an<br />

opportunity. Chris Wales<br />

played the ball forward<br />

and Cornell did superbly<br />

to turn, leaving Bradley<br />

Pegg for dead, and he<br />

rolled the ball across<br />

the 6-yard box where<br />

Wheeler was on hand to<br />

side foot home in front<br />

of the Shed End, his<br />

8th goal of an already<br />

productive season for<br />

him.<br />

The lead should have<br />

been doubled on the<br />

hour mark, and this<br />

time Cornell on the<br />

score sheet, as Sealand<br />

international Booth<br />

played a back pass too<br />

short and the striker was<br />

onto it in a flash. His first,<br />

placed effort hit the post<br />

and came back to him<br />

for a second attempt,<br />

and he opted for power,<br />

but the shot flew well<br />

over Beach’s bar.<br />

As the tie wore on the<br />

visitors began to probe<br />

slightly more, and former<br />

Gs midfielder Andy<br />

Ottley forced Richard<br />

Ossai into his first<br />

meaningful save of the<br />

night with 16 minutes<br />

to go, his 25-yard shot<br />

well stopped by the Gs<br />

number one. Guildford’s<br />

golden chance to take<br />

the tie to penalties came<br />

in stoppage time when a<br />

free-kick fell to substitute<br />

Josh Everand, who did<br />

well to create the space,<br />

but Ossai was on hand<br />

to thwart him from close<br />

range.<br />

Certainly not a classic,<br />

but the Gs will be<br />

pleased to progress in<br />

a cup competition, and<br />

make it back to back<br />

wins at Wey Court.<br />

Next up is a visit from<br />

unbeaten AFC Rushden<br />

& Diamonds on Saturday<br />

before Andy Hunts side<br />

visit Egham Town in the<br />

League Cup.<br />

Attendance: 296<br />

Goals: Wheeler 48’<br />

XI: Ossai; Wales,<br />

Hutchings, Willment,<br />

Musgrove; Frith,<br />

Wheeler, Gray (Laidler<br />

66’), Hutton; Cornell<br />

(Lewington 78’), Purdy.<br />

Not used: Edwards,<br />

Lloyd, McGarry<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

8 9


10


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The end of the 2010/11 football<br />

season saw the sudden and<br />

cruel demise of Rushden &<br />

Diamonds football club. After<br />

nineteen years of numerous<br />

highs and lows since the<br />

club was formed by the<br />

merger of Rushden Town &<br />

Irthlingborough Diamonds,<br />

a small group of the club’s<br />

supporters decided to take it<br />

upon themselves to try and<br />

ensure that those memories<br />

survived, that the friendships<br />

built up during that period<br />

could continue and prosper,<br />

and that the name Rushden<br />

& Diamonds would not be<br />

condemned to the footballing<br />

annals of yesteryear. The result<br />

was the birth of AFC Rushden<br />

& Diamonds.<br />

A huge amount of work had<br />

already begun behind the<br />

scenes, but the inauguration of<br />

the ‘Phoenix’ club really took<br />

place on July 1st 2011 following<br />

a meeting of approximately<br />

170 supporters at the<br />

Pemberton Centre in Rushden.<br />

Those in attendance voted<br />

overwhelmingly in favour<br />

of creating a new club, and<br />

decided upon the name AFC<br />

Rushden & Diamonds.<br />

The ethos right from the outset<br />

was to create a community<br />

club controlled by the fans, for<br />

the fans, with no one person<br />

having a definitive say in how it<br />

is run. Hence the slogan “One<br />

fan, one vote, one community,<br />

one club.”<br />

The creation of AFC R&D<br />

THE OPPOSITION<br />

HISTORY<br />

came too late to feasibly put<br />

together a senior side for<br />

the 2011/12 season, so it was<br />

decided that the club would<br />

run only an under 18s side for<br />

the first year of its existence.<br />

The aim would then be to<br />

assemble a senior side for the<br />

2012/13 season with a view<br />

to competing in the United<br />

Counties League. The club<br />

successfully applied to enter<br />

the Northants Senior Youth<br />

League Western Division for<br />

2011/12, and another open<br />

fans’ meeting decided that<br />

the club would play its home<br />

games at Kiln Park, home of<br />

Raunds Town FC.<br />

On July 18th 2011, less than<br />

three weeks on since the<br />

inception of AFC Rushden &<br />

Diamonds, the club announced<br />

a major coup with the<br />

appointment of Mark Starmer<br />

as manager for the club’s<br />

inaugural season. Starmer<br />

brought with him a terrific<br />

pedigree in youth football,<br />

having just led the Rushden<br />

& Diamonds U18s side to a<br />

league and cup double.<br />

It was a great desire of<br />

everyone involved in the<br />

formation of AFC R&D that<br />

something be done to honour<br />

the memory of Dale Roberts,<br />

the popular Rushden &<br />

Diamonds goalkeeper who<br />

tragically passed away in<br />

December 2010. A memorial<br />

cup was arranged in his name<br />

and will be played every year<br />

between AFC R&D U18s and<br />

Cleveland Juniors, Dale’s first<br />

club. Cleveland Juniors won<br />

the first ever game 3-2, but<br />

the result was immaterial as<br />

around £3000 was raised for<br />

the Dale Roberts Memorial<br />

Fund. As a further tribute<br />

to Dale, the number 1 shirt<br />

was retired indefinitely and<br />

presented to his parents,<br />

George and Isabel Roberts,<br />

prior to the game.<br />

By the time the new club<br />

played their first competitive<br />

game on August 25th 2011,<br />

around 40 enthusiastic<br />

volunteers were assisting the<br />

Acting Committee run the<br />

club. The NYSL game against<br />

Daventry Town was attended<br />

by 470 supporters, a record<br />

attendance for the league.<br />

As things began to come<br />

together on the pitch, the<br />

hard work continued behind<br />

the scenes. With the help of<br />

Supporters’ Direct, a Club<br />

constitution was drafted and<br />

the club became a Community<br />

Benefit Society. A membership<br />

scheme was then launched,<br />

with members receiving one<br />

ordinary share in the club and<br />

giving each member one vote<br />

in future club decisions, and<br />

is referenced in the club’s<br />

Mission Statement.<br />

The commercial side of the<br />

club was now developing as<br />

sponsors were sought and<br />

acquired in good numbers.<br />

Locally, fundraising events<br />

were planned and held,<br />

helping the club to engage<br />

with the community. Links<br />

were formed with other<br />

local football clubs and<br />

businesses. The development<br />

as a Community Club was<br />

now progressing quicker than<br />

expected; the club agreeing to<br />

closely cooperate with South<br />

Rushden Junior Football Club.<br />

This significant step ensures<br />

a clear pathway for young<br />

players from age 5 through to<br />

senior level.<br />

During that first season the<br />

U18 side entertained and<br />

surprised most supporters<br />

by their increasing maturity<br />

and development. After a<br />

slow start the team reached<br />

the Northants Senior Youth<br />

League Knockout Cup Final,<br />

against AFC Kempston Rovers<br />

at the neutral venue of Corby<br />

FC which they won 4-1 in front<br />

of almost 500 fans.<br />

After enjoying the midweek<br />

hospitality at Kiln Park, home<br />

of Raunds Town FC for the<br />

youth team games during 2011-<br />

12, there was a need to find a<br />

ground where games could<br />

be played at the weekend,<br />

and after a fans vote on the<br />

options they overwhelmingly<br />

supported a partnership<br />

with Wellingborough Town<br />

which meant AFC Rushden &<br />

Diamonds would play at the<br />

Dog and Duck from the 2012-<br />

13 season onwards.<br />

In May 2012 the FA League<br />

Committee gave approval for<br />

the AFC Rushden & Diamonds<br />

Senior team to play in Division<br />

One of the United Counties<br />

League in the 2012-13 season<br />

(Step 6 of the Non-League<br />

Pyramid). By this time the club<br />

had appointed Mark Starmer<br />

as the manager of their senior<br />

team, and he had brought in<br />

Andy Peaks as his assistant<br />

(who brought extensive nonleague<br />

experience as well<br />

as being a former player at<br />

R&DFC). He then added Scott<br />

(Biff) Carlin as first team coach.<br />

The club also announced to<br />

formation of a ladies team, a<br />

multi-disability team, and the<br />

continuation of the Under-18<br />

team in the Northants Senior<br />

Youth League for the 2012-13<br />

season, with Mark Walsh as<br />

their manager.<br />

Work over the summer by the<br />

Diamonds team of volunteers,<br />

in partnership with the efforts<br />

of Wellingborough Town<br />

volunteers helped to upgrade<br />

a number of facilities at the<br />

Dog and Duck, including the<br />

introduction of an additional<br />

matchday bar, known as Dale’s<br />

Bar in memory of Dale Roberts.<br />

On Saturday 18th August 2012<br />

AFC Rushden & Diamonds<br />

played their first ever senior<br />

fixture when a crowd of 784<br />

saw them defeat Thrapston<br />

Town 3-0 at the Dog & Duck.<br />

That inaugural 2012-13 season<br />

saw the Diamonds only<br />

lose two league games as<br />

they achieved promotion by<br />

finishing as runners-up in the<br />

League. They also had a good<br />

run in the FA Vase, reaching<br />

the third round proper before<br />

losing to Ashington FC.<br />

As well as the Senior Team<br />

achieving success in their first<br />

season, the AFC R&D Ladies<br />

team won their league in 2012-<br />

13, the Northants Women’s<br />

Football League Division 2,<br />

and they also won the NWFL<br />

KO Cup Plate.<br />

The Diamonds Under-18 team<br />

continued their good record,<br />

with Mark Walsh leading the<br />

team to the Northants Senior<br />

Youth League West Division<br />

title in 2012/13, although they<br />

were unable to defend their<br />

League KO Cup crown as<br />

the poor weather meant the<br />

competition was not held in<br />

2012/13.<br />

The 2013-14 season started<br />

with a meeting of the<br />

Diamonds members, where<br />

it was agreed that a top six<br />

finish in the UCL Premier as<br />

well as a good run in the FA<br />

Cup and FA Vase were the<br />

targets for the season. These<br />

targets were delivered, as the<br />

side finished third in their first<br />

season at non-league Step<br />

5, as well as having excellent<br />

runs in both cup competitions.<br />

In the FA Vase they won five<br />

ties to reach the fourth round<br />

proper. In their debut season<br />

in the premier Cup competition<br />

they won four ties to reach the<br />

third qualifying round of the FA<br />

Cup, including a victory over<br />

step 3 side Cambridge City.<br />

Diamonds player Russ Dunkley<br />

won the FA Player of the round<br />

award for the first qualifying<br />

round.<br />

Despite all of these<br />

achievements Diamonds’<br />

Manager Mark Starmer<br />

resigned in March 2014, with<br />

his assistant Andy Peaks being<br />

appointed to replace him<br />

shortly afterwards.<br />

The 2014-15 Season was the<br />

club’s most successful to date.<br />

The club clinched the United<br />

Counties Premier Division<br />

title and promotion to Step 4<br />

football, with an unbeaten run<br />

of 17 league games at the end<br />

of the campaign ensuring they<br />

kept ahead of their rivals.<br />

The unbeaten run was<br />

stretched to 20 games in all<br />

competitions as the Diamonds<br />

clinched the UCL League and<br />

Cup double in early May 2015<br />

with a 3-0 victory over Potton<br />

United in the UCL Knock-Out<br />

Cup.<br />

Further success came from<br />

the newly formed partnership<br />

at U18 level, as the link with<br />

the Malcolm Arnold Academy<br />

brought the English Colleges<br />

Football Association East<br />

Midlands Category 2B League<br />

Title for the 2014/15 season.<br />

The scholars also reached the<br />

final of the NFA David Joyce<br />

U18 Cup.<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

14 15


Goalkeepers<br />

Matt Finlay joined the club<br />

from Cogenhoe United at<br />

the end of January 2014. The<br />

35-year-old goalkeeper joined<br />

the Cooks in August 2013 after<br />

playing in the Northern Premier<br />

League Division One South to<br />

help Stamford win promotion<br />

to step 3 in the 2012-13<br />

season, joining the Daniels<br />

from Banbury United. He had<br />

previously played for Woodford<br />

United, helping the Reds win<br />

the UCL Premier Division title<br />

and then playing for them<br />

in the Southern League. He<br />

has also played for Raunds<br />

Town, Bedford Town, Daventry<br />

Town, Brackley Town, St Neots<br />

Town, Wellingborough Town<br />

and Oxford City. He made 13<br />

appearances for the Diamonds<br />

in 2013/14, but became a<br />

mainstay of the side as they<br />

won the League and Cup<br />

double in 2014/15, appearing<br />

46 times.<br />

Defenders<br />

Delroy Gordon is a 31-year-old<br />

defender who joined the club<br />

in July 2015. After starting his<br />

career as a junior with Rushden<br />

& Diamonds FC, Delroy has<br />

played at the highest levels<br />

of non-league football,<br />

including spells in the Football<br />

Conference for Kettering Town<br />

and Nuneaton Town. After<br />

starting the 2014-15 season<br />

with Nuneaton he moved to<br />

play for Leamington FC in the<br />

Conference North. He has<br />

also spent time at Corby Town,<br />

Stamford, Oxford City, Banbury<br />

United and Rugby Town.<br />

THE OPPOSITION<br />

PLAYER PROFILES<br />

Liam Dolman is a 28-year-old<br />

defender, who joined the club<br />

from Daventry Town during<br />

June 2014. Liam can either play<br />

at centre back or full back and<br />

was club captain at Daventry,<br />

as well as being named<br />

Supporters’ Player of the<br />

Season in 2013/14. He is from<br />

Northamptonshire, and started<br />

his career with Northampton<br />

Town, progressing from youth<br />

level to the first team, making<br />

his league debut at the end<br />

of the 2006/07 season and<br />

making over 50 appearances<br />

in League and FA Cup games<br />

for the Cobblers in the next<br />

two seasons. He then had a<br />

short spell playing Conference<br />

Football for Kidderminster<br />

Harriers in 2009/10 before<br />

joining Banbury United. He<br />

then moved to Daventry<br />

Town where played at Step 4<br />

level in the Southern League<br />

Division One Central. He had<br />

a successful first campaign<br />

with the club, picking up the<br />

Manager’s Player of the Season<br />

award in 2014/15, as well as a<br />

Player of the Month award for<br />

February 2015 when he scored<br />

6 goals from 4 games from his<br />

centre-back role. His goal at<br />

Long Buckby was also chosen<br />

as goal of the season.<br />

Ollie Wilkinson is a 27-year-old<br />

defender who joined the club in<br />

June 2015 from Bedford Town,<br />

where he was club captain<br />

during the 2014-15 season after<br />

rejoining them from Daventry<br />

Town, where he had played<br />

alongside several members of<br />

the Diamonds squad. He has<br />

played at Step 3 level with both<br />

Bedford and Corby Town. He<br />

also played for Long Buckby<br />

alongside Bunting during their<br />

UCL title winning season in<br />

2011-12. He had spent some<br />

time with Rushden & Diamonds<br />

during his teenage years.<br />

Jack Ashton is a 25-year old<br />

defender, who joined the<br />

Diamonds on a dual registration<br />

basis with Stamford AFC in<br />

March 2014. He joined the<br />

Daniels in 2013 from Banbury<br />

United, with whom he had two<br />

spells either side of playing<br />

for Oxford City. He originally<br />

joined Banbury from Cogenhoe<br />

United, having previously had<br />

a spell at Long Buckby. He<br />

appeared in the final six games<br />

of the season in 2013-14, and<br />

won the April 2014 Player of<br />

the Month award. He picked<br />

up two further Player of the<br />

Month Awards in 2014/15, and<br />

also won the Fans Player of the<br />

Season award as well as the<br />

Players’ Player of the Season<br />

trophy.<br />

Sam Brown is a 23-year-old<br />

defender who was a junior at<br />

the Centre of Excellence at<br />

Rushden & Diamonds FC. He<br />

joined AFC Kempston Rovers<br />

in 2009, aged 16, and helped<br />

them to reach the UCL Premier<br />

in 2010. Sam made 35(1)<br />

appearances during 2012-13,<br />

scoring two goals towards<br />

the end of the season, and<br />

winning the club Player of<br />

the Month award in January<br />

and April 2013. He also won<br />

the Manager’s Player of the<br />

Season award in 2012-13. He<br />

made 48 appearances for the<br />

Diamonds in 2013/14. In 2014/15<br />

he reached his century of<br />

appearances for the Diamonds.<br />

Charlie Butt is a 20-year-old<br />

right back / midfielder who<br />

joined the club in October 2014.<br />

Although most recently signed<br />

with Corby Town, he started<br />

out with the Peterborough<br />

United Academy before moving<br />

to Kings Lynn Town, and has<br />

also had short spells at Lincoln<br />

United and Wisbech Town.<br />

After starting as a fringe player<br />

he began to get more gametime<br />

as the season progressed,<br />

and went on to make 21<br />

appearances in 2014/15.<br />

Midfielders<br />

Richard Bunting is a 34-yearold<br />

midfielder who joined the<br />

club from Kings Lynn Town<br />

in November 2013. He had<br />

captained the Linnets to the<br />

Northern Premier League<br />

Division One South title in the<br />

2012-13 season. In the previous<br />

season he was captain for<br />

Long Buckby when they won<br />

the United Counties Premier<br />

League title. He played for<br />

Cogenhoe United, Raunds<br />

Town and Brackley earlier<br />

in his career. He made 14(4)<br />

appearances for the Diamonds<br />

in 2013/14 with his goal at<br />

Newport Pagnell picking up the<br />

goal of the season award. He<br />

became club captain in 2014/15<br />

helping the Diamonds pick up<br />

the League and Cup double in<br />

the UCL.<br />

Andy Hall is a 29-year-old<br />

midfielder who joined the club<br />

from Stamford AFC in October<br />

2015. Andy is best known as a<br />

winger, but can also play in a<br />

more central role, and he has<br />

had recent success with both<br />

Stamford and Kettering Town,<br />

helping both clubs achieve<br />

promotion from Step 4 to Step<br />

3. As well as two spells with<br />

both of those clubs he has also<br />

featured for Corby Town, Kings<br />

Lynn Town, Hinckley United and<br />

Nuneaton after starting out as a<br />

junior with Coventry City.<br />

Dan Quigley is a 25-year-old<br />

midfielder who joined the club<br />

in June 2015 from Kings Lynn<br />

Town where he played for them<br />

at Step 3 level, having played<br />

alongside Richard Bunting to<br />

help the Linnets win promotion<br />

from Step 4. He played for Long<br />

Buckby during their UCL title<br />

winning season in 2011-12.<br />

Brad Harris is a 25-year old<br />

midfielder who joined the<br />

club from Desborough Town<br />

in December 2012. He can<br />

play in central midfield or at<br />

centre-back. He started his<br />

career at Rugby Town, and<br />

played at Daventry Town and<br />

Long Buckby before joining<br />

Northampton Spencer where<br />

he played under Diamonds<br />

Manager Andy Peaks. After<br />

joining the Diamonds he<br />

made 19(3) appearances in<br />

the remainder of the 2012-<br />

13 season. He made 33(9)<br />

appearances for the Diamonds<br />

in 2013/14, picking up the<br />

Player of the Month award<br />

in March 2014. In 2014/15<br />

he reached his century of<br />

appearances for the Diamonds,<br />

scoring some memorable goals<br />

which helped him earn two<br />

further Player of the Month<br />

awards.<br />

Claudiu Hoban is a Romanianborn<br />

23 year-old midfield<br />

player (also known as Claudio),<br />

who often plays wide-left, but<br />

he can also play centrally or on<br />

the right. He joined the club in<br />

August 2015, and previously<br />

had two spells with Corby<br />

Town, including at the end of<br />

the 2014-15 season. He was a<br />

junior with Leicester City, and<br />

after an injury problem led to<br />

him being released he went<br />

to Rugby Town and then on<br />

to Daventry Town and Histon.<br />

During this period he was a<br />

finalist in the Samsung “Win<br />

A Pro Contract” competition.<br />

Since then he has been with<br />

Sutton United and Tamworth<br />

before a spell with Kettering<br />

Town and then rejoining the<br />

Steelmen.<br />

Elliott Lamb-Johnson joined the<br />

club from Cogenhoe United at<br />

the end of May 2014, Now aged<br />

20, he can play on either wing,<br />

as well as in a more central<br />

role. He made 28 appearances<br />

for Cogenhoe in the UCL,<br />

scoring 5 goals and scooping<br />

the “Young Player of the Year”<br />

prize at the end of season<br />

awards. He played in 34 games<br />

for the Diamonds in 2014/15,<br />

scoring 6 goals and picking up<br />

16 assists.<br />

Joe Ackroyd was a member<br />

of the Diamonds U18 and U21<br />

setups when he made his<br />

first-team debut in the UCL KO<br />

Cup quarter final in May 2015.<br />

having recently turned 17. He<br />

had graduated through two<br />

junior levels of the AFC R&D<br />

Academy before joining the<br />

AFC R&D / MAA setup. He is a<br />

versatile player who has played<br />

as sweeper for the U21 side,<br />

and in midfield for the U18 side.<br />

Still aged 17 he then appeared<br />

for the first team as a substitute<br />

in their FA Cup Third Qualifying<br />

Round victory in October 2015.<br />

Strikers<br />

Steve Spriggs joined the club<br />

in early August 2015 from<br />

Kings Lynn. The 27 year-old<br />

winger / striker had a number<br />

of spells at The Walks, playing<br />

at Step 3 level for them in the<br />

2014-15 season, and he was<br />

the all-time top scorer for the<br />

reformed club, scoring 80<br />

times in 216 appearances. He<br />

started his senior career with<br />

Ely City, after being with the<br />

Cambridge United Academy,<br />

before making his debut for<br />

Kings Lynn in 2007. Between<br />

his various spells at The Walks<br />

he has had significant spells<br />

with Mildenhall Town, Wroxham<br />

(where he appeared for them at<br />

Wembley in the FA Vase final)<br />

and AFC Sudbury.<br />

Scott Joseph is a 27-year-old<br />

striker who has had two spells<br />

with the club. He originally<br />

joined from AFC Kempston<br />

Rovers at the end of March<br />

2014, and scored 5 goals for<br />

the club in the remainder of<br />

that season before moving<br />

back to Kempston. He rejoined<br />

the Diamonds in October<br />

2014. He scored 14 goals in 25<br />

appearances during the 2014-<br />

15 season, picking up the final<br />

Player of the Month award for<br />

that season.<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

16 17


FIXTURES & RESULTS<br />

Key: Sub on: Sub off: Yellow Card: Red Card: Goalscorer: <br />

FA Trophy: (FAT) FA Cup: (FAC) League Cup: (LC) Surrey Senior Cup: (SSC)<br />

Date Opposition V Score Att. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17<br />

Sat 8th Aug Leighton Town A D 0-0 122 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Rushe Willment Frith W.Hutton Purdy L.Hutton Wheeler Cornell Roberts Mazzone Musgrove<br />

Tue 11th Aug Uxbridge H D 2-2 111 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Musgrove Willment Frith W.Hutton Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Mazzone Roberts Wales<br />

Sat 15th Aug Bedford Town H W 2-1 161 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Rushe Willment Frith W.Hutton Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Mazzone Roberts Musgrove Lunn<br />

Tues 18th Aug Hanwell Town A W 2-1 127 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Rushe Willment Frith W.Hutton Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Mazzone Roberts Musgrove Lunn<br />

Sat 22nd Aug Potters Bar Town H L 1-0 117 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Rushe Willment Mazzone W.Hutton Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Roberts Wales Musgrove Lunn<br />

Sat 29th Aug Marlow (FAC) A D 1-1 116 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Rushe Willment Roberts W.Hutton Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Mazzone Wales Powell Lunn<br />

Tue 1st Sept Marlow (FAC Replay) H W 2-1 aet 139 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Willment Roberts W.Hutton Purdy Wheeler Frith Cornell Mazzone Powell Lunn<br />

Sat 5th Sept Beaconsfield SYCOB H W 2-0 117 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Willment Frith W.Hutton Mazzone Wheeler L.Hutton Cornell Powell Rushe Musgrove Lunn<br />

Sat 12th Sept Kidlington (FAC) H L 1-0 152 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Willment Frith W.Hutton Mazzone Wheeler L.Hutton Cornell Purdy Roberts Musgrove Lunn<br />

Sat 19th Sept St Ives Town A D 1-1 290 Ossai Beswick Hutchings Laidler Wales Rushe Frith L. Hutton Purdy Wheeler Cornell Mazzone Lunn W.Hutton Powell<br />

Sat 26th Sept Arlesey Town H L 2-0 129 Lunn C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Rushe Frith L.Hutton Purdy Wheeler Cornell Mazzone Roberts Beswick Powell<br />

Tue 29th Sept North Greenford United A L 2-1 65 Ossai C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Willment Frith L. Hutton Purdy Mazzone Roberts Wheeler Lunn W.Hutton Cornell Beswick<br />

Sat 3rd Oct Taunton Town (FAT) A L 4-1 215 Blackmore C.Hutton Hutchings Laidler Wales Willment Frith L.Hutton Cornell Wheeler Roberts Purdy W.Hutton McGarry Mazzone <br />

Sat 10th Oct Ware A L 2-1 77 Blackmore Wales Hutchings Frith McGarry Willment W.Hutton Laidler Cornell L.Hutton Wheeler Purdy Roberts Mazzone C.Hutton<br />

Tue 13th Oct Burnham (LC) H W 6-0 67 Ossai McGarry Hutchings Roberts Rushe Willment W.Hutton L.Hutton Purdy x2 Mazzone x3 Wheeler Musgrove Powell Beswick Laidler Frith<br />

Sat 17th Oct Barton Rovers H L 2-1 126 Ossai W.Hutton Hutchings Roberts Rushe Willment Laidler L.Hutton Purdy Mazzone Wheeler Cornell Frith McGarry Wales<br />

Sat 24th Oct Royston Town H W 1-0 148 St Louis-Hamilton McGarry Hutchings L.Hutton Lloyd Musgrove Frith Laidler Purdy Wheeler Roberts Beswick Lewington Powell Edwards<br />

Tue 27th Oct Chalfont St Peter A L 4-1 56 St Louis-Hamilton McGarry Hutchings L.Hutton Lloyd Musgrove Frith McClurg Purdy Wheeler Roberts Cornell Lewington WIllment Edwards<br />

Tue 3rd Nov Fleet Town A L 2-1 145 Ossai Musgrove Gray Roberts Lloyd Willment Frith Laidler Purdy L.Hutton Wheeler Hutchings Lewington Powell McGarry <br />

Tue 10th Nov Guildford City (SSC) H W 1-0 296 Ossai Wales Hutchings Gray Musgrove Willment Frith L.Hutton Purdy Wheeler Cornell Laidler Lewington Lloyd McGarry Edwards<br />

Sat 14th Nov AFC Rushden & Diamonds H<br />

Sat 21st Nov Aylesbury A<br />

Tue 24th Nov Hanwell Town H<br />

Sat 28th Nov Leighton Town H<br />

Tue 1st Dec Uxbridge A<br />

Sat 5th Dec Aylesbury United A<br />

Sat 12th Dec Egham Town H<br />

Sat 19th Dec Potters Bar Town A<br />

Sat 26th Dec Fleet Town H<br />

Sat 2nd Jan Petersfield Town A<br />

Sat 9th Jan Kings Langley H<br />

Sat 16th Jan Beaconsfield SYCOB A<br />

Sat 23rd Jan St Ives Town H<br />

Sat 30th Jan Aylesbury H<br />

Sat 6th Feb Bedford Town A<br />

Sat 13th Feb Arlesey Town A<br />

Sat 20th Feb North Greenford United H<br />

Sat 27th Feb Barton Rovers A<br />

Sat 5th Mar Ware H<br />

Sat 12th Mar Aylesbury United H<br />

Sat 19th Mar Egham Town A<br />

Sat 26th Mar Kings Langley A<br />

Mon 28th Mar Petersfield Town H<br />

Sat 2nd Apr Chalfont St Peter H<br />

Sat 9th Apr Royston Town A<br />

Sat 16th Apr Northwood H<br />

Sat 23rd Apr AFC Rushden & Diamonds A<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

18 19


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LADIES TEAM<br />

YOUTH TEAM<br />

P W D L GD PTS<br />

1 Victoire Ladies 7 6 0 1 23 18<br />

2 Crystal Palace Development Reserves 8 5 3 0 12 18<br />

3 Clapham United Reserves 9 5 3 1 5 18<br />

4 Surrey Eagles 5 4 1 0 17 13<br />

5 Godalming Town 7 3 2 2 5 11<br />

6 Colne Valley Reserves 6 3 2 1 3 11<br />

7 AFC Phoenix Reserves 8 2 2 4 -2 8<br />

P W D L F A PTS<br />

1 Guildford Saints United 5 4 0 1 22 4 12<br />

2 Cranleigh Youth 4 3 1 0 14 4 10<br />

3 Horsley Youth Crusaders 5 2 2 1 9 6 8<br />

4 Ashtead Colts 4 2 1 1 12 9 7<br />

5 Badshot Lea Y&C Rays 4 1 0 3 8 15 3<br />

6 Godalming Town 5 1 0 4 8 18 3<br />

7 Claygate Royals Swans 5 1 0 4 6 23 3<br />

8 Carshalton Athletic Reserves 7 2 1 4 -18 7<br />

9 Balham Panthers 8 1 2 5 -21 5<br />

10 Denham United Development 7 0 1 6 -11 1<br />

11 Greenhouse Sports FC 8 0 1 7 -13 1<br />

Date Time Opposition Venue Score Competition<br />

Sun 30th Aug 2pm Orpington A W 4-1 Cup<br />

Sun 6th Sept 2pm Greenhouse Sports FC A D 2-2 League<br />

Sun 13th Sept 2pm Victoire Ladies A L 3-2 League<br />

Sun 20th Sept 2pm Clapham United Reserves H L 3-1 League<br />

Sun 27th Sept 2pm Carshalton Athletic Reserves A W 5-0 League<br />

Sun 4th Oct 2pm AFC Phoenix Reserves H W 4-3 League<br />

Sun 11th Oct 2pm Denham United Development A W 3-1 League<br />

Sun 18th Oct 1.30pm Greenhouse Sports FC H W 6-1 Russell Cup<br />

Sun 1st Nov 2pm Luton Town Development H L 2-1 Memorial Trophy<br />

Sun 8th Nov 2pm Crystal Palace Development Reserves H D 1-1 League<br />

Sun 22nd Nov 2pm Balham Panthers A League<br />

Date Time Opposition Venue Score Competition<br />

Sun 13th Sept 10am Cranleigh Youth H L 6-1 League<br />

Sun 27th Sept 10am Claygate Royals Swans A W 5-1 League<br />

Sun 4th Oct 10am Guildford Saints United H L 5-0 League<br />

Sun 11th Oct 10am Ashtead Colts A L 4-1 League<br />

Sun 18th Oct 10am Badshot Lea Y&C Rays H L 2-1 League<br />

Sun 8th Nov 10am Curley Park Rangers A L 2-2<br />

(2-4<br />

pens)<br />

County Cup<br />

Sun 15th Nov 10am Oxshott H League Cup<br />

Sun 22nd Nov 10am Cranleigh Youth A League<br />

Sun 6th Dec 10am Claygate Royals Swans H League<br />

Sun 13th Dec 10am Guildford Saints United A League<br />

Curley Park Rangers 2-2 Godalming Town Youth (4-2 on penalties)<br />

On a poor pitch at Lightwater the teams involved in this game put on a great spectacle for the supporters.<br />

It was however the home side whom took early hold on game to go quickly into a 2 goal lead after<br />

15 minutes. To the credit of all the Godalming Town squad no one gave up and started to play some nice<br />

football which lead to a fine looping header from Rory Cole to reduce the deficit to 2 -1. Will Edwards<br />

making his debut for Godalming made some excellent saves and with Godalming coming back into<br />

game went in at half time losing 2-1. The second half was pretty even but Godalming had the better<br />

chances apart from a couple of efforts which were saved well again by Will. The pressure by Godalming<br />

paid off with 20 minutes to go when Shaun Harper slid in to get a well deserved equaliser.<br />

The game finished level at 2-2 and went straight to penalties. Curley Park winning the shoot out 4 -2.<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

22 23


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24


from inbedwithmaradona.com<br />

BLOOD IN THE WATER<br />

Sport is defined by its<br />

iconic and unforgettable<br />

moments and within<br />

those moments are<br />

the photographs which<br />

encapsulate them.<br />

Water Polo has its<br />

iconic moment too. In<br />

the photography a man<br />

stands by the side of<br />

a swimming pool with<br />

blood pouring down<br />

the right hand side of<br />

his face, looking hazily<br />

into the distance having<br />

been punched by an<br />

opponent.<br />

Next year will be the<br />

sixtieth anniversary of<br />

both the summer Olympics<br />

in Melbourne and the<br />

Hungarian uprising against<br />

Soviet rule, and the two<br />

events are inextricably<br />

linked. As Budapest became<br />

a battleground between<br />

idealised Hungarians and<br />

their Soviet oppressors, the<br />

two countries prepared to<br />

face each other in a grudge<br />

match where there was<br />

much more at stake than<br />

the final score.<br />

Six months before both the<br />

uprising and the Olympics<br />

the two sides played each<br />

other in Moscow. The match<br />

ended in dressing room<br />

violence and accusations<br />

of biased officialdom - the<br />

referee was a Muscovite. At<br />

another fixture, in Hungary,<br />

fans turned their backs on<br />

the Soviet team as they<br />

were led out into the arena<br />

and heckled the national<br />

anthem. It was clear that<br />

on a personal level that<br />

the two sides did not like<br />

each other but there was<br />

professional respect, at<br />

least from the Soviets.<br />

Hungary’s water polo<br />

pedigree at Olympic level<br />

dated back to the 1932<br />

Los Angeles Games. Viktor<br />

Ageyev, a member of<br />

the Soviet team in 1956<br />

acknowledged, “They<br />

were our idols, they were<br />

significantly better than<br />

us.” Hungary’s Istvan Hevesi<br />

concurred that, “They<br />

copied down everything<br />

that we did. The next day<br />

they did the same thing.”<br />

Nevertheless, despite<br />

the respect afforded by<br />

the Soviet team to the<br />

Hungarians, this rivalry was<br />

going to be brought to a<br />

head by external political<br />

events. Following the end of<br />

World War II the Hungarian<br />

people elected a coalition<br />

government under the<br />

leadership of Zoltan Tildy<br />

which was increasingly<br />

undermined by the<br />

Communists who held sway<br />

over the state police. Soon<br />

afterwards the Communists<br />

took full control of the<br />

country and the repression<br />

began. Thousands were<br />

arrested, tortured, executed<br />

or deported to the USSR.<br />

The educational system<br />

was overturned in favour of<br />

a programme of compulsory<br />

Russian language tuition<br />

and Communist political<br />

study. Hungary suffered<br />

from hyperinflation, war<br />

reparations and unrealistic<br />

growth forecasts.<br />

A fall in living standards<br />

and an increase in food<br />

shortages meant that<br />

there was fertile ground<br />

for anybody wanting to<br />

express resistance to the<br />

harsh regime and those<br />

who were caught doing so<br />

faced those most draconian<br />

of punishments, yet there<br />

was opposition to the<br />

Communist rule. Students<br />

became emboldened and<br />

violence finally erupted on<br />

23rd October 1956 outside<br />

the Radio Budapest building<br />

as the secret police opened<br />

fire on protestors.<br />

By 3rd November Soviet<br />

tanks surrounded Budapest<br />

and they entered the<br />

city in the early hours of<br />

the following morning.<br />

Resistance against the<br />

Red Army was fruitless<br />

and by 11th November the<br />

uprising was over. 2,500<br />

Hungarians were dead<br />

and 20,000 wounded.<br />

Vengeance in the aftermath<br />

of the uprising was harsh.<br />

Tens of thousands were<br />

arrested and sentenced<br />

to prison, with hundreds<br />

more executed or sent to<br />

labour camps in the USSR.<br />

It was also estimated that<br />

200,000 refugees fled<br />

Hungary.<br />

The Hungarian water<br />

polo team, who were<br />

at a training camp in<br />

the mountains outside<br />

Budapest, were aware that<br />

something had occurred<br />

but not exactly what. They<br />

could hear gunfire and<br />

see smoke rising in the<br />

distance, but, shut away<br />

in their mountain retreat,<br />

they were isolated from any<br />

news.<br />

It took the team three<br />

weeks to make the journey<br />

to Australia and it was<br />

only upon arrival that they<br />

began to fully appreciate<br />

what had happened back<br />

home in Budapest. Miklos<br />

Martin began to translate<br />

from newspapers to his<br />

teammates huddled around<br />

him in the airport. Fellow<br />

player Ervin Zador stated<br />

that it was whilst he was in<br />

the airport restaurant that<br />

he fully appreciated what<br />

had occurred and made a


startling proclamation to<br />

his colleagues. “I stood up<br />

with a glass of water or<br />

whatever I was drinking and<br />

announced I was not going<br />

home.”<br />

Zador knew he was taking<br />

an enormous risk by coming<br />

out with such a forthright<br />

statement but Hungarian<br />

officials travelling with the<br />

teams were themselves<br />

unsure of the political<br />

situation back home. Zador<br />

was fairly sure that he<br />

wasn’t alone with such<br />

thoughts and felt it was a<br />

risk worth taking.<br />

Once the tournament began<br />

the Hungarian players<br />

progressed in a professional<br />

manner through the group<br />

stages despite uncertainties<br />

over both their own futures<br />

and the current welfare<br />

of their families. Victories<br />

against Great Britain, USA,<br />

Italy and a united German<br />

team saw Hungary face off<br />

in the semi-finals against<br />

the Soviet Union and the<br />

showdown that the players<br />

had been waiting for. The<br />

stage was set for 6th<br />

December and no quarter<br />

was to be given nor asked.<br />

For Hevesi the match was<br />

about revenge. “The fire<br />

inside us was beating so<br />

strongly.”<br />

The crowd was boisterously<br />

partisan, filled with<br />

Hungarian ex-pats living<br />

in Australia, and the team<br />

knew that they had to<br />

take advantage of the<br />

atmosphere. Zador later<br />

said that, “The Hungarians<br />

[in the crowd] were so<br />

charged…all these people<br />

in Australia just went<br />

absolutely berserk.” The<br />

captains from both sides<br />

refused the pre-match<br />

handshake and the<br />

Hungarians decided that,<br />

instead of using physical<br />

violence, they would sledge<br />

their opponents. Russian<br />

was a compulsory language<br />

taught in Hungarian<br />

schools so the team had<br />

no problems in verbally<br />

abusing their opponents.<br />

The simple theory behind<br />

the ploy was that the more<br />

they wound the Soviets<br />

up, the more that their<br />

opponents would want to<br />

start a fight. This would<br />

cause the Soviet team to<br />

lose their discipline and be<br />

open to counter attacks.<br />

This “verbal agitation” - as<br />

Zador playfully called it -<br />

brought about immediate<br />

results as three Soviet<br />

players were sin-binned<br />

along with two Hungarians.<br />

There were acts of violence<br />

both above and below water<br />

and the sledging continued.<br />

“We were yelling at them<br />

‘you dirty bastards, you<br />

come over here and bomb<br />

our country’ and they were<br />

calling us traitors,” Zador<br />

later recalled.<br />

The game’s defining<br />

moment occurred when<br />

Hungary were winning 4-0<br />

with only two minutes<br />

left to play. Zador was<br />

asked to mark Valentin<br />

Prokopov, possibly the<br />

Soviets’ finest player. Zador<br />

felt the request would be<br />

no problem for him. “I’ll<br />

tell him he’s a sorry assed<br />

loser and his mother’s<br />

a loser.” Zador, though,<br />

became distracted by the<br />

referee blowing his whistle<br />

and when he realised his<br />

mistake it was too late. “I<br />

saw that arm coming in my<br />

face and I heard the crack,<br />

suddenly I saw I think 48<br />

stars.” Blood began to pour<br />

from Zador’s face and cloud<br />

the pool. Many Hungarian<br />

fans began to rush down<br />

form their seats in a bid<br />

to attack the Soviet team.<br />

The referee finished the<br />

match and the Soviets were<br />

given a police escort from<br />

poolside.<br />

Hungary progressed to<br />

the final where they beat<br />

Yugoslavia 2-1 without<br />

Zador, who couldn’t play<br />

due to the injury he suffered<br />

whilst being punched; his<br />

wound had required eight<br />

stitches. He did manage to<br />

stand with his team-mates<br />

as they received their gold<br />

medals.<br />

After the match Zador stuck<br />

to his word and defected<br />

to the West, as did others<br />

involved in the team.<br />

Settling in San Francisco,<br />

his participation in water<br />

polo declined and he<br />

instead turned to swimming<br />

and began coaching; one<br />

of his protégés was the<br />

legendary Mark Spitz.<br />

His parents and brother<br />

eventually joined him<br />

in America and his two<br />

children both played water<br />

polo at college level. Zador<br />

never regretted his decision<br />

to defect. “Freedom is<br />

like breathing. Breathing<br />

openly.” He died on April<br />

28th 2012 in Linden,<br />

California.<br />

The match was made into a<br />

film documentary entitled<br />

Freedom’s, released in<br />

2006. Director Megan<br />

Raney stated that the<br />

former players had no<br />

qualms about meeting their<br />

opponents after 50 years.<br />

Time essentially healed the<br />

rift between the thirteen<br />

surviving players and that<br />

the reunion which took<br />

place in 2002 was poignant.<br />

Zador, perhaps most<br />

appropriately, has the final<br />

word. He believed that the<br />

Hungarian players were<br />

playing for far more than<br />

just themselves and their<br />

personal medal collection,<br />

and that even the Soviets<br />

didn’t realise how high the<br />

stakes were. “We felt that<br />

we were playing for not just<br />

for ourselves,” he said. “But<br />

for our whole country.”


KIT SPONSORSHIP<br />

Individual player kit sponorship is available for the 2015/16 season. The cost for<br />

full kit sponsorship is £50, shirt £30, shorts £20 and socks £10. Your name will<br />

appear next to a photo of the player in the matchday programme and on the<br />

website.<br />

Andy Hunt<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

The Hutton Family<br />

Mark Anderson<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

The Hutton Family<br />

Paul Dale<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Osbornes Estate Agents<br />

Luke Mose (kitman)<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Dave Jenner<br />

Chris Wales<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Graham & Andrew Harris<br />

Steve Laidler<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Beeline Cars<br />

Will Hutton<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Matthew Clay & Jo Fox<br />

Louis Hutton<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Matthew Clay & Jo Fox<br />

Richard Ossai<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Club President<br />

Kallum Lunn<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

The Hirons Family<br />

Tom Willment<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

John & Christine Payne<br />

Chris Musgrove<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Bill Hayhurst<br />

Liam Roberts<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Graham & Andrew Harris<br />

George Frith<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

R.A.O.B. club Addlestone<br />

Darren Wheeler<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Dave & Lin Allen<br />

Adam Cornell<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Chris Jones<br />

Nick Hutchings<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

SSLAZIO<br />

Lee Rushe<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Luke & Ross Mose<br />

Charlie Hutton<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

David Woolford<br />

Ashley Lloyd<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

AS Roma<br />

Jack Mazzone<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

Jane Phillips<br />

Graeme Purdy<br />

Kit Sponsored by<br />

KP Building<br />

30<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

31


TRAVELLERS TALES<br />

MIKE LATHAM - SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2015 - GRANGE 4-3 BOLTON-LE-SANDS;<br />

BAINES BAGGULEY PENHALE NORTH LANCASHIRE& DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2;<br />

ATTENDANCE: 45 (H/C)<br />

With heavy rain decimating<br />

much of the programme the<br />

search was on for a game at<br />

a new ground, not the easiest<br />

of tasks. Fortunately the<br />

North Lancashire League<br />

website came up trumps<br />

and the game at Division 2<br />

leaders Grange was confirmed<br />

as one of a handful to<br />

survive the deluge.<br />

I’d tried to visit Grange on several<br />

occasions in the past only<br />

to be denied by postponements<br />

so it was a relief to see the Yew<br />

Tree Road playing field full of<br />

activity on arrival despite the<br />

heavy rain showers sweeping in<br />

from Morecambe Bay.<br />

Grange-over-Sands is a genteel<br />

town with an ageing population,<br />

superbly situated on the Bay.<br />

It’s the sort of place an elderly<br />

Bishop may visit for his summer<br />

holidays to stay at one of the<br />

several splendidly appointed<br />

hotels in the resort. Historically<br />

part of Lancashire, Grangeover-Sands<br />

is now part of South<br />

Lakeland District Council and<br />

lies just off the A590 road that<br />

links Kendal and J36 of the M6<br />

to Barrow-in-Furness, and it<br />

close to Cartmel with its famous<br />

racecourse and sticky toffee<br />

pudding<br />

The town developed in the Victorian<br />

era and was transformed<br />

from a small fishing village into<br />

a popular seaside resort. The<br />

coming of the railway in the late<br />

1850s was instrumental to its<br />

transformation and the railway<br />

line runs adjacent to the football<br />

ground along the sea shore.<br />

If you’ve never been on the<br />

railway trip from Lancaster to<br />

Barrow then I’d recommend it,<br />

it must be one of the loveliest in<br />

England.<br />

There’s a long promenade looking<br />

out to sands and mudflats<br />

with dangerous quick-sands<br />

and a notorious sweeping tide.<br />

But though dangers lurk amidst<br />

the tranquillity of the stunning<br />

views, Grange is a genteel<br />

place and a relaxing location<br />

away from the hustle and bustle<br />

and stress of everyday life.<br />

Tourists came and still come to<br />

sample the bracing air and take<br />

the waters and a stroll down the<br />

main street with its varied number<br />

of private shops or around<br />

the gardens by the coast and<br />

its a great base to explore the<br />

South Lakes.<br />

Usually that is, but not on a<br />

day when the menacing and<br />

scudding dark clouds brought<br />

constant showers across the<br />

Bay and briefly the glorious<br />

views virtually disappeared until<br />

sunshine and blue skies briefly<br />

interrupted the rain.<br />

Grange FC are having a good<br />

season and went into the<br />

‘Sands derby’ against the<br />

visitors from across the Bay top<br />

of Division Two, the third tier<br />

of a well organised and highly<br />

competitive league.<br />

The estimable Lawrie Postlethwaite<br />

has been Secretary of the<br />

League for as long as anyone<br />

can remember, a bedrock<br />

of the local amateur football<br />

scene and the sort of person<br />

who should be recognised<br />

with a national award for all he<br />

has contributed to grassroots<br />

football. Lawrie, happily, has<br />

some good help, not least from<br />

Peter Boardman who oversees<br />

an excellent league website<br />

that keeps the league running<br />

smoothly.<br />

Around 40-50 spectators<br />

braved the conditions to<br />

witness a game typical of the<br />

league- competitive, hard<br />

fought but generally played in<br />

good spirit. The ground is a<br />

recreational ground on Yew<br />

Tree Road, to the left off Kents<br />

Bank Road just after the fire<br />

station on the Allinthwaite road<br />

leading out of Grange. There’s<br />

a changing pavilion, a tennis<br />

courts and a decent banking to<br />

get a good view not only of the<br />

game but the views across the<br />

Bay. But on a wet day there is<br />

precious little shelter from the<br />

elements. Inland the Cartmel<br />

Grange Care Home, built a<br />

century ago as a convalescence<br />

home for miners dominates the<br />

sky-line amidst some beautifully<br />

designed private houses.<br />

Grange kept their good run<br />

going, shading an entertaining<br />

game that was watched by a<br />

decent crowd. It was a relief<br />

to get in a new ground with so<br />

many postponements around<br />

and a thoroughly good afternoon<br />

despite the weather.<br />

WWW.GODALMINGTOWNFC.CO.UK<br />

32 33


WE<br />

NEED<br />

YOUR<br />

HELP<br />

Godalming Town FC relies on a small army of volunteers with nobody behind the<br />

scenes taking a penny from the club. There is always a lot to do and as the club<br />

gets more successful the workload continues to increase.<br />

We are therefore seeking individuals with some time (no matter how little) to come<br />

and volunteer with us.<br />

Volunteering is a great way to develop and gain all kinds of transferable skills that<br />

can be added to your C.V, and looks great to potential employers.<br />

Your contribution will also directly impact the on-field success of our First Team,<br />

Ladies Team and Youth Team.<br />

How To Get Involved<br />

Drop an email to info@godalmingtownfc.co.uk if you’re interested in helping out, or<br />

would like some more information.<br />

Alternatively, speak to any club official on a matchday.<br />

HALF TIME<br />

QUIZ<br />

1. Who was Millwall’s player-manager against Manchester<br />

United in the 2004 FA Cup Final?<br />

2. Floodlights have progressed from the days when they were<br />

stuck at the top of a pylon in each corner of the ground. This<br />

is a picture of a floodlight at which ground?<br />

3. Which club did Bradford City defeat in the two-legged<br />

semi-finals of the Capital One Cup (League Cup) in 2012/13?<br />

4. After scoring a Premier League goal against Southampton<br />

on Boxing Day 2012 who took off his shirt to reveal a message<br />

written on his t-shirt ‘Keep Calm and Pass Me The Ball.’<br />

5. In February 2013 two ex-Portsmouth players, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari, scored the<br />

goals when which club beat Barcelona 2-0 in a Champions League Last 16 first leg tie?<br />

6. His former clubs included Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Everton, Chelsea and Blackburn with ‘The Last<br />

Fancy Dan’ being the title of his autobiography. Who?<br />

7. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum roughly translates as nothing but the best is good enough. Which club has<br />

the Latin phrase as part of its badge?<br />

8. The newspaper headlines were all along the lines of ‘What a divot!’ when goalkeeper Paul Robinson<br />

failed to connect with a Gary Neville back-pass which ended up in the back of the net. Who were<br />

England’s opponents on that evening in October 2006?<br />

9. Which “famous” club has its postal address as 748 High Road?<br />

10. Back in 1892 before a Lancashire Cup-tie against stronger opposition the Chairman of which club<br />

said ‘We shall shake ‘em’, those words giving the club the nickname they have had ever since?<br />

ANSWERS<br />

1. Dennis WIse 2. Bolton’s Macron Stadium 3. Aston Villa 4. Fulham’s Dimitar Berbatov 5. AC Milan 6.<br />

Duncan McKenzie 7. Everton 8. Croatia 9. Spurs 10. Bury are The Shakers<br />

34


GODALMING TOWN<br />

MANAGER: ANDY HUNT<br />

RICHARD OSSAI<br />

CHRIS MUSGROVE<br />

ASHLEY LLOYD<br />

TOM MCGARRY<br />

JOHNNY GRAY<br />

NICK HUTCHINGS<br />

TOM WILLMENT<br />

CHRIS WALES<br />

JAMIE MCCLURG<br />

LOUIS HUTTON<br />

GEORGE FRITH<br />

STEVE LAIDLER<br />

LIAM ROBERTS<br />

BRANDON LEWINGTON<br />

DARREN WHEELER<br />

ADAM CORNELL<br />

GRAEME PURDY<br />

AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS<br />

MANAGER: ANDY PEAKS<br />

MATT FINLAY<br />

OLLIE WILKINSON<br />

SAM BROWN<br />

DELROY GORDON<br />

LIAM DOLMAN<br />

DAN QUIGLEY<br />

ANDY HALL<br />

RICHARD BUNTING (C)<br />

TOM LORRAINE<br />

TOMMY BERWICK<br />

CLAUDIU HOBAN<br />

BRAD HARRIS<br />

ALEX VITUE<br />

SCOTT JOSEPH<br />

CHARLIE BUTT<br />

TOM LIVERSEDGE<br />

NEXT UP | HOME<br />

HANWELL TOWN<br />

TUESDAY 24 TH NOVEMBER, 7.45pm<br />

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CENTRAL<br />

REFEREE:<br />

JAMES VALLANCE<br />

ASSISTANTS:<br />

SHELBY ELSON<br />

MARK HOUNSELL<br />

<br />

@GodalmingTown<br />

g o d a l m i n g t o w n<br />

w w w . g o d a l m i n g t o w n f c . c o . u k

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