Hellenic League Program 140320 Shrivenham FC

Easington Sports
Football Club
Season 2019/2020
Hellenic League Premier Division
Saturday 14 th March 2020
3:00pm Kick Off
Easington Sports FC v Shrivenham FC
www.easingtonsportsfc.com
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Visit: www.easingtonsportsfc.com - for the latest Fixtures, Results, News and much more!

Welcome to Addison Road
Good afternoon,
Welcome everyone to Addison Road and Easington Sports Football Club for the
fixture today. I would also like to wish Shrivenham FC a warm welcome this
afternoon.
Thank you for visiting Easington Sports Football Club today and have a safe journey
home.
Richard Meadows
Chairman
Visit: www.easingtonsportsfc.com - for the latest Fixtures, Results, News and much more!

Last Time Out…..
MOMENTS CHANGE MATCHES
ESFC 3 ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT TOWN FC 0
A stunning penalty save from Joe White followed up by a fine counter attacking goal finished off by Luke
Swann just seconds later turned this Hellenic Premier Division match in the favour of the home side. Bradley
Cox had already given Sports the lead in the first half but with the game still keenly contested, Swann’s crucial
goal proved decisive and knocked the stuffing out of the opposition putting the result of the match beyond
doubt. George Coombes finished off another excellent quick break away move late on in the game to seal
another three points for Sports.
In truth, the first half was one to forget with both teams really struggling to get any momentum in the game. As
expected, both sides defended well in a scrappy half and neither keeper had a shot of any note to save. Right on
the stroke of half time Easington did however take the lead from a corner. Ryan Markham whipped in an
inviting ball and Bradley Cox used the pace of the cross to head powerfully in at the near post.
The second half continued to be an end to end affair and both sides were more accurate with their passing as the
game seemed to be less frantic. Wootton Bassett came back into the game and were threatening to equalise.
With twenty minutes to go, it seemed the visitors were going to get their chance from the penalty spot. Mark
Francis stepped up and smashed the ball to Joe White’s right and towards the corner but White somehow
managed to get two hands to the ball and at full stretch tipped it onto the crossbar and away from the goal. With
the ball still in play, Sports defended well and scrambled the ball away and in a matter of seconds the Wootton
Bassett keeper Eddie Cavanagh was forced into a great stop of his own to parry a volley from Piers Walton.
The bouncing ball fell kindly for Luke Swann and before the keeper could reset himself Swann smashed an
unstoppable left foot half volley into the net to make it 2-0 putting the game out of sight.
The goal seemed to take the edge of the visitors’ performance who had worked hard to remain in the game up
to this point. Sports on the other hand relaxed and continued to pose a threat down either flank through Swann
and Eyre. George Coombes was on hand to put the icing on the cake for Sports in the 87th minute. Joe Eyre just
managed to beat a Bassett defender to the ball and raced down the left hand side. He curled a low ball across
the 6 yard box where Combes was on hand to calmly side foot back across the keeper into the far corner of the
net giving the keeper no chance.
3-0 final score.

Easington Sports Football Club History
The Club was formed in the immediate post-war period of 1945/46 to fulfill the
sporting and social needs of the young people of the Easington housing estate in
Banbury, many of who were returning from war service.
The Club, then known as ‘The Clan’, soon prospered, as there was an obvious need for
such a facility, and formed a cricket, tennis and a ladies section. Football was,
however, the main branch of the Club’s activity, and they began playing in the local
Junior Leagues as Easington Sports F.C.
The football was played on pastureland to the west of Wykham Lane, and for a few years endured the lack
of facilities enjoyed today by almost all clubs. (No water available on site, no real changing facilities to name
but two of the privations to be met on a cold winter’s afternoon).
Fortunately, this situation was soon to change, for as a result of tireless fund raising by all concerned and
some dedicated work by stalwarts such as Gordon Vivash, Tim Fountain and many other committed club
members, the prospect of a new ground owned by the Club became a reality.
The purchase of the Addison Road ground and the building of a clubroom, together with the Club’s entry to
the Oxfordshire Senior League was the beginning of senior football for Sports, and to their credit they proved
to be a formidable force at that level. (Becoming winners and finalists in the Senior Cup and heading the
Premier League table on two occasions in the early and mid-fifties).
In view of their success at county level the Club sought entry, and was accepted into the old Warwickshire
Combination, which at that time counted professional and semi-professional teams. (Aston Villa ‘A’, West
Bromwich Albion ‘B’ and teams which now grace the Conference as members).
Although having moderate success in this competition, as with many other amateur clubs; finance played its
part in the decision to return to the Oxfordshire Senior League, where the expenses, in particular travelling,
were much more in line with the club’s limited income. Looking to raise their standards once more, the Club
sought entry to the Hellenic League. Subject to certain ground improvements they were readily accepted,
and have remained as members of Division One ever since. With some ‘ups and downs’, Sport’s have almost
always been mid-table at the end of each season, which, considering their amateur status against mostly
professional or well-sponsored opponents has not been too bad a record.
The Club has always sought to give the youngsters of Banbury and district an opportunity to get into senior
football, and indeed beyond, and has continually run youth teams at various age levels. Wishing all those
whose ability took them to higher levels good luck, and feeling grateful that the club gave them the start/platform
to their careers. It has sometimes been said that Easington Sports have not been ambitious or forward
looking enough in their sixty years, but shrewd and cautious stewardship by series of committees over the
years have ensured that the club has never overreached itself financially, and has remained faithful to its
original ideals to provide football of a good standard for local youth.
In 2019 the club were awarded Community Charter Standard Status and currently have 26 affiliated teams, both boys
and girls, and once again have a development team looking to give local players a direct pathway from youth football
into Hellenic League football. However, our proudest moment came when a Craig Robinson goal secured victory for
Ben Milners team, ensuring promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division for the first time in the clubs history.

Visit: www.easingtonsportsfc.com - for the latest Fixtures, Results, News and much more!
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UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE
Hellenic League Premier Division
Saturday 14 th March 2020
r
Easington Sports FC
Shrivenham FC
JOE WHITE 1 CURTIS MEARE
JOE COLEMAN 2
MACCAULEY DODSON
LLOYD SABIN 3 SAM OCKWELL ©
BRADLEY COX 4 AARON DAINTON
JOSH ROSE 5 OLIVER REJEK
RYAN MARKHAM 6 NICK STANLEY
JOE EYRE 7 DAVID BAMPTON
LUKE SWANN 8 JACK ALLAN
JACK DUNMALL 9 ZAC SKINNER
PIERS WALTON 10 LUKE CORDERY
HENRY ROSE 11 RYAN STANNERS
TOM SMITH 12 GABRIEL FERNANDES
JOEY COWLISHAW 14 TOM BALLARD
REECE BAYLISS 15 JOSHUA GRACE-PARSONS
CHARLIE HILL 16 ANTONIO GERRIS
NAT LEWARS 17 TOMMY OULDRIDGE
Manager: Matt Giles
Assistants : Wally Hastie, Jake Butler,
Physio: Ali Whitrow
Manager : Gareth Davies
Assistant: Chris Robinson, Alex Stanley
Physio: Martyn Robinson

Visit: www.easingtonsportsfc.com - for the latest Fixtures, Results, News and much more!