this issue/booklet is produced to provide a record for all age · 2020-08-03 · this issue/booklet...
TRANSCRIPT
This issue/booklet is produced to provide a record for all age
groups and the Club History, and to acknowledge the support of
the Programme and Team Sponsors we had for 2019-20. The
Corona Virus/Covid-19 pandemic has impacted all our lives.
Holmer are not letting the lockdown stop their preparations for next
season. Team Manager Matt Stowell has committed himself to the
Club for 2020-21. Having come through a tortuous initiation to the
Hellenic Premier he now knows who in the squad he wants for next
season and has identified those positions he still needs to
strengthen. He has been busy on the ‘phone speaking to players
and is confident that whenever the season starts we will have a
squad capable of competing with the best in the League. It looks
unlikely that we will run a Development Team in The Suburban
League next season, but there are other options being taken up.
Ian Lancaster will continue to oversee the Allied team but knows
that with renewed competition getting good players to join the Club
is going to need all his experience. There is another major initiative
that Holmer are in the process of finalising and this should help to
strengthen his squad.
Off the pitch we do have plans to improve the changing rooms
ready for the new season. Of course, with the longer close season
the pitch will be very well prepared and ready for the restart
whenever that is allowed.
Confidence remains high that the Club will be able to bounce back
next season, well supported by a committed group of volunteers.
Come on you Greens!
Rob Shed
Club Chairman
SPONSOR - A - MATCH Support HGFC and Sponsor a Home Match
Only £30 UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
MATCH Date SPONSORED BY
Royal Wootton Bassett 03-Aug Steve Powell
Shrivenham (FA Cup) 13-Aug Bill Scholes
Raunds Town 31-Aug Pinpoint Marketing
Virginia Water 03-Sep Paul Jarrott Decorating
Longlevens 21-Sep Ripley Developments Ltd
Newport Pagnell 08-Oct The Carrot & Coriander
Flackwell Heath 29-Oct George and Jim
Bishops Cleeve 02-Nov S Ellis Consulting Ltd
Tuffley Rovers 16-Nov Adams Garden Services
Lydney Town 07-Dec Holmer Green Double Glazing
Binfield 28-Dec Chris Allen
Brackley Town Saints 11-Jan Halls of Hazlemere
Burnham 08-Feb Sygnus Office Partnership
Easington Sports 03-Mar John Anderson
Windsor Harry & Kathy
Reading City LBS Electrical
Ardley United J Walsh Newsagents
Shrivenham
Brimscombe & Thrupp Derek and Martin
Fairford Town Malcolm & Alistair
WestfieldsContact Rob Shed 07539 267 948 or John Anderson [email protected]
Match Sponsorship entitles you to 2 free tickets to your sponsored match,
an advertisment in the Match Day programme, acknowledgement of your
sponsorship in every programme, and hospitality at half time.
Ironically as the season was suddenly “ended”, Holmer Green’s
Hellenic season had picked up. With 5 points gleaned in February,
as many as in the previous 6 months! The Match Reports of our
two league wins are reproduced in this issue. There was also the
possibility of no relegation anyway? As the season had been
played with only 19 clubs in the division instead of 20, and Brackley
Town Saints had already indicated that they would not be carrying
on into the next season. Our Development team had a strange first
season in the Suburban League. They had just played their first
away game of the season when the halt was called. An expected
tough season had, however, included the bonus of beating the
runaway league leaders in the League Cup.
Since all football was stopped in mid-March, we have been waiting
for top level football to start again even if it is behind closed doors.
Age-group football and lower non-league leagues were
abandoned early on, and gradually all but the top national leagues
in big footballing countries stopped. The English Football League
Division Two was ended fairly early on. On Tuesday June 8th
League One, which contains our local side Wycombe Wanderers,
followed suit. A decision has now been made to decide final
positions on a points-per-game played basis. Wanderers will play
Fleetwood in the play-offs to enter The Championship; at Step Two
of the English game for the first time in their history. By the end of
June Northampton Town had beaten Exeter City to clinch the third
promotion place into Division One. Wycombe start their play-off
journey on the first weekend in July (about the time of intended
publication of this issue, to coincide with the partial re-opening of
the HGSA). England’s Premiership restarted on Jun 17th.
Promotion and relegation throughout the top four tiers of English
football will take place. Barrow will be promoted from the National
League to Division Two. Almost 50 years after failing to be re-
elected to the then Football League in favour of Hereford United,
who had famously defeated Newcastle in The FA Cup. Continued
German Bundesliga games were first to resume on the weekend
16th/17th May, with some good matches. Inevitably at least two
goals were chalked off due to VAR, despite no actual protests from
the defences involved! Fixtures were completed by the end of
June. Bayern won again, and will be joined in The Champions’
League by Dortmund, Leipzig, and Hoffenheim. Paderborn and
Dusseldorf are relegated. Bremen and Heidenheim will play off for
the final Bundesliga place. The French, Belgian, and Dutch
leagues had already been terminated fairly early, with Scotland
following suit on May 18th. The French had decided that PSG were
Champions anyway. Toulouse and Amiens had gained a Court
Order to prevent their relegation. Lyons have likewise won a Court
case to prevent their possible exclusion from Champions League
participation. The French League were ordered to think again.
However on 23/6 The French League made the same decision
again, although citing new reasons! However, the 20 current top
tier clubs have since voted with a majority to keep the division at
20 clubs and not increase it. The French FA have “confirmed the
relegation” of the two objecting clubs. It is not known if they will
appeal further, perhaps eventually to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport which has had the final say on problematic situations in the
past. On July 1st the Lyons President, Jean-Michel Aulas, publicly
slated the French league for “a massive error” which showed “a
lack of leadership”. Clubs like his, along with PSG and Marseilles
will forfeit enormous sums of ticket and television money. Lyons
are in their twenty-third consecutive season of European
competition, and hold a 1-0 First Leg lead over Juventus in the still
to be completed last sixteen this season. Not participating next
season could mean a £63m pound reduction in income.
Continued
The Dutch declared the season null and void, the Government
there having banned football “until September”. Cambuur
Leeuwarden claiming it was “shameful” to deny them promotion to
the Eredivisie. Eventually a compensation scheme was reluctantly
imposed. Including Utrecht, Cup Finalists, getting £0.5m (no
European place), & Leeuwarden, Second Division Leaders,
(denied Promotion) £340,000.
In Belgium FC Brugge (Bruges) were confirmed as Champions
Waas-Beveren, bottom of the top tier, have gained a Court
Injunction to prevent their relegation. The Belgian League has
been ordered to “think again”.
In Scotland a very early decision to curtail all football was made,
like France, Belgium, and Holland. This has been very
controversial and damaging. Hearts have started legal action to
prevent their demotion from The Premier Division. Partick Thistle
likewise on their demotion from The Championship. Also the two
clubs are claiming £8m, and £2m, respectively, in compensation
from The SPFL. Stranraer, demoted to Division Two, decided that
they could not afford to embark on legal procedure. Non-League
contenders Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts have been denied the
chance of Promotion to Division Two, replacing Brechin City. An
initial hearing is being held in the Scottish Court of Session on
Wednesday 1st July.
In Northern Ireland the League only officially terminated in mid-
June. A decision on Champions, and relegation/promotion
between first and second tiers was announced (27/6) on current
league positions. Londonderry based Institute FC have appealed
their subsequent demotion. Due to be replaced by second tier
winners Portadown, Institute want an increase to a 14 team top
division (“based on the Danish Model”), which would reprieve
them.
Continued
Italy, and Spain, seem to have restarted OK at the top level.
EUFA Champions’ League and Europa League games have been
out on hold, but a plan is in place to complete the two competitions
later in the summer. As well as beginning the 2020-21 versions
with a revised date and match schedule.
Holmer Green FC will still count results, appearances, and goal-
scorers in their Club Records and History; but from the FA’s and
Hellenic/Suburban/Allied Counties Leagues’ etc., point of view our
season never happened. What repercussions this unique situation
has on each of our teams in fairly unpredictable? We may not run
a development team. Although the Academy which will be based
at Watchet Lane next season have expressed an interest in taking
on the fixtures. Possibly in the regionalised Hellenic league
Division Two, outside of the national pyramid. Chris Allen is
restarting an Old Boys team, probably in The Aylesbury League.
Will our younger players have decided that they did not miss their
football anyway, and will some of the younger age-groups have to
“buddy-up” to continue? Will the need to catch up on missed
schooling result in less time being available for our age-group
teams to train or play football? Similarly will our First Team, with
no Club Sponsor for several years, be able to compete on a more
even playing field? Because other previously well-sponsored
clubs may not have recourse to thriving local sponsors, in the wake
of the inevitable downturn in the economy. Bet Victor had already
announced that it is terminating its support for the Isthmian,
Northern Premier, & Southern Leagues, covering Steps 3 and 4 of
the English non-league pyramid. Unfortunately, due to the
Pandemic, the planned re-organisation of the Leagues at Holmer
Green’s Step Five has been put off until next year. Meaning that
our 1st XI is probably again faced with ridiculous journeys to
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, when football eventually
resumes with a new season.
President, & Programme Editor John Anderson
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Westfields 26 20 6 0 81 24 57 66
2 Binfield 22 17 2 3 55 23 32 53
3 Fairford Town 23 16 1 6 57 37 20 49
4 Shrivenham 27 13 4 10 53 52 1 43
5 Brackley Town Saints 27 12 2 13 49 46 3 38
6 Longlevens AFC 25 11 4 10 52 41 11 37
7 Burnham 27 12 1 14 42 42 0 37
8 Easington Sports 23 11 3 9 35 35 0 36
9 Flackwell Heath 24 9 6 9 41 40 1 33
10 Reading City 26 9 6 11 32 35 -3 33
11 Windsor 26 9 5 12 53 55 -2 32
12 Lydney Town 25 9 5 11 29 35 -6 32
13 Bishops Cleeve 21 9 4 8 48 32 16 31
14 Virginia Water 26 8 5 13 42 48 -6 29
15 Tuffley Rovers 21 7 7 7 47 50 -3 28
16 Royal Wootton Bassett Tn 27 8 4 15 50 65 -15 28
17 Brimscombe & Thrupp 24 6 9 9 36 49 -13 27
18 Ardley United 26 5 8 13 38 68 -30 23
19 Holmer Green 26 2 4 20 24 87 -63 10
Hellenic League - Premier 2019-20
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Abbey Rangers FC Dev XI 15 12 2 1 55 17 38 38
2 Thatcham Town FC Dev XI 14 6 4 4 36 30 6 22
3 Dunstable Town U21 12 6 4 2 21 16 5 22
4 Hartley Witney Reserves 11 5 1 5 27 25 2 16
5 Westfield FC Reserves 14 5 1 8 35 47 -12 16
6 Harefield United Reserves 10 4 2 4 20 16 4 14
7 Leverstock Green Reserves 10 4 1 5 20 22 -2 13
8 AFC Hayes Reserves 9 3 2 4 18 30 -12 11
9 Eversley & California Dev 8 1 1 6 11 23 -12 4
10 Holmer Green Dev XI U-25 11 0 4 7 21 38 -17 4
2019-20 Suburban Football League - Central Division
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Burnham 7 7 0 0 24 6 18 21
2 Holmer Green 8 6 0 2 19 8 11 18
3 Winslow United 7 5 1 1 23 10 13 16
4 Abingdon United 10 4 2 4 15 14 1 14
5 AFC Hayes 7 4 0 3 23 17 6 12
6 Buckingham Athletic 10 2 1 7 14 31 -17 7
7 Chalfont St Peter 6 2 0 4 7 11 -4 6
8 Thame United 7 2 0 5 8 17 -9 6
9 Flackwell Heath 10 2 0 8 6 25 -19 6
2019-20 Allied Counties Youth Football League - North Division (Under 18's)
*Chesham United & Holmer Green Ladies withdrew from League March 2020
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Holyport Ladies 9 6 1 2 39 26 13 19
2 Milton United Ladies 7 6 0 1 32 13 19 18
3 Oxford City Women U23 13 5 3 5 36 37 -1 18
4 North Leigh United Ladies 9 5 1 3 40 26 14 16
5 Hawley Ladies 8 4 0 4 31 30 1 12
6 Kennington Ath. Ladies 9 3 0 6 23 31 -8 9
7 Kingsclere Ladies 8 2 2 4 15 18 -3 8
8 Tower Hill Ladies 11 2 1 8 20 55 -35 7
Thames Valley Counties Women's Football League - Division 2
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Chinnor Youth 11 8 2 1 46 13 33 26
2 Pitstone & Ivinghoe Jun. 12 6 5 1 37 24 13 23
3 Gerrards Cross & Fulmer 14 5 4 5 42 37 5 19
4 Ruislip Rangers Clarets 11 5 3 3 30 27 3 18
5 Penn & Tylers Green 10 5 2 3 28 21 7 17
6 Langley Green Athletic 11 5 2 4 28 22 6 17
7 Holmer Green Rangers 13 4 4 5 42 47 -5 16
8 Risborough Rangers 8 3 0 5 14 27 -13 9
9 Naphill 14 1 4 9 19 47 -28 7
10 St Peters Iver Corinthians 8 1 0 7 9 30 -21 3
2019-20 South Bucks Youth League - Division 2 (U18's)
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Risborough Rangers Jun. 11 8 1 2 0 0 0 25
2 Marlow Royals 11 7 2 2 0 0 0 23
3 Holmer Green Minors 9 7 1 1 0 0 0 22
4 Wendover Juniors Youth 15 6 1 8 0 0 0 19
5 Delaford Colts Blue 12 5 3 4 0 0 0 18
6 Gerrards Cross & Fulmer 12 4 2 6 0 0 0 14
7 Thame Boys 13 3 3 7 0 0 0 12
8 Chalfont Saints 11 3 2 6 0 0 0 11
9 Explorers Reds 5 3 1 1 0 0 0 10
10 Bourne End JSC 8 2 1 5 0 0 0 7
11 Chalfont St Peter 11 2 1 8 0 0 0 7
2019-20 Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League - U13 Division 3
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Delaford Colts Blue 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 24
2 Chalfont Saints Cobra 10 8 0 2 0 0 0 24
3 Singh Sabha 14 7 1 6 0 0 0 22
4 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 11 7 0 4 0 0 0 21
5 Taplow Utd Youth 10 5 1 4 0 0 0 16
6 Berkhamsted Raiders Yth 9 5 0 4 0 0 0 15
7 Ruislip Rangers Clarets 13 5 0 8 0 0 0 15
8 Marlow Youth 8 4 0 4 0 0 0 12
9 Holmer Green Minors 12 2 0 10 0 0 0 6
10 Flackwell Heath Minors 13 2 0 11 0 0 0 6
2019-20 Wycombe & South Bucks Minor Football League - U12 Division 1
Team Sponsors 2019-20
Under 13 Minors – Westlake Motor Services
Under 12 Minors –
Holmer Green Service Centre
& OW (Owen White Solicitors)
Under 12 Colts –
Holmer Green Service Centre
& OW (Owen White Solicitors)
& Azteq
Under 11 Minors – Pile Designs
& Instron
Under 10 Minors – LBS
Under 9 Minors – SFE
Under 8 Minors – L Carro
Under 7 Minors –
EWA (Entertainment Wrestling Association)
DATE
UHLSPORT HELLENIC
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION 2019-20 F-A Att Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 SUB #1 SUB #2 SUB #3 OG
Sat 3 Aug H Royal Wootton Bassett Town 3-3 57 8 P Pykett Britton Lancaster Parsons Booker Lynch p Holbrook Griffin I Pykett Wooster Rice Page Riley White
Tue 6 Aug A Flackwell Heath 0-2 98 14 Corden Booker Lancaster Parsons Bestley Lynch Holbrook Griffin Anguzu Wooster Rice Britton MacDonald White
Sat 10 Aug A Shrivenham FA Cup Ex Prel Rd 1-1 38 14 I Pykett Ryll Lancaster Booker Parsons Bestley Holbrook Wooster Lynch Griffin Rice Riley MacDonald
Tue 13 Aug H Shrivenham FA Cup Replay 1-1 78 14 I Pykett Williams Lancaster Booker Parsons Bestley White Wooster Lynch Holbrook Rice Riley Griffin MacDonald
Tue 20 Aug A Windsor 1-5 106 17 Landon Ryll Lancaster Booker Parsons Bestley Wooster Blackman Lynch Rice Williams Warland White Griffin
Mon 26 Aug A Ardley United 0-0 66 16 Bryant Jarrott Kerry Booker Bestley Wooster Paynter Lynch B Gray White Blackman Ryll Warland Rice
Sat 31 Aug H Raunds Town FA Vase 1st Q Rd 0-1 41 17 Bryant Warland Jarrott Ryll Booker Paynter Wooster Lynch Riley Rice Keeble Holbrook Hurley
Tue 3 Sep H Virginia Water 2-1 58 13 Bryant Warland Kerry Bestley Booker Wooster Rice Lynch Riley Page Lancaster Colverd Holbrook Paynter
Sat 7 Sep A Lydney Town 0-2 67 15 Bryant Mbevi Page Booker Vaughan Bestley Wooster Rice Colverd Paynter Warland Aston
Tue 10 Sep A Abingdon Town BL Floodlit Cup 2-3 30 15 Bryant Page Kerry Bestley Vaughan Wooster Keeble Hurley B Gray Lynch Lancaster Din Dandridge
Tue 17 Sep A Abingdon United League Cup 0-2 nd 15 Bryant E-Evans Lancaster Wooster Page Booker Rice Hodges Kotwica Colverd Riley Holbrook Hatt Morgan
Sat 21 Sep H Longlevens 0-2 35 15 Bryant E-Evans Hatt Wooster Booker Page Holbrook Tyler Colverd Gibbons Jarrott Aston Morgan Vaughan
Wed 25 Sep A Brackley Town Saints 0-7 67 17 Bryant Harrison Hatt Booker Heady Tyler Holbrook Todd Kotwica Paynter Aston Morgan Vaughan
Tue 1 Oct H Penn & Tylers Green BSSC R1 0-1 110 17 Hall Stables Bryan Page Booker Smith Wooster Tyler Kotwica Osei Holbrook C Gray Hatt Morgan
Sat 5 Oct A Fairford Town 1-4 57 17 Hall Mbevi Bryan McIntosh Tyler Page Wooster Odumoso Kotwica Hatt Todd Morgan Vaughan
Tue 8 Oct H Newport Pagnell Town BBSC R1 1-5 26 17 Hall Mbevi Bryan Page Booker McIntosh Wooster Todd Kotwica Hatt Odumosu Holbrook Tyler Heady
Sat 12 Oct A Tuffley Rovers 1-2 88 18 Hall Stables Fernandes Wooster Page Greenslade Heady McIntosh Hatt Holbrook Morgan Todd Mbevi
Tue 29 Oct H Flackwell Heath 0-2 85 18 Hall Page McIntosh Greenslade Booker Pepelyarski Wooster Holbrook Kotwica Colverd Odumosu Tyler Morgan Hatt
Sat 2 Nov H Bishops Cleeve 0-4 46 18 Hall Page McIntosh Wooster Greenslade Muzinga McCarron Pepelyarski Kotwica Odumosu Osei Holbrook Hatt Tyler
Sat 9 Nov A Westfields 0-6 nd 18 Hall McIntosh Lancaster Femiola Page Muzinga Wooster Pepelyarski Hatt Odumosu Osei Morgan Kotwica Mbevi
Sat 16 Nov H Tuffley Rovers 3-4 53 18 Latter Page McIntosh Muzinga Tyler Wooster Femiola Pepelyarski Workman Odumosu Hatt Kotwica Paynter Stables
Mon 18 Nov A Reading City 0-3 nd 18 Latter Page Stables Tyler Muzinga Wooster Femiola Pepelyarski McIntosh Hatt Dimitrzjevic Morgan
Sat 23 Nov A Shrivenham A-A 32 19 Hall Page McIntosh Stables Tyler Greenslade Morgan Pepelyarski Workman Colverd Hatt Paynter
Sat 30 Nov A Royal Wootton Bassett Town 3-7 67 19 Latter Page Jeffers Kambasha Muzinga Pepelyarski Femiola Todd Workman Kotwica Wright Morgan Hepute
Sat 7 Dec H Lydney Town 1-3 37 19 Hall Page Stables Tyler C-Martin Wright Wooster McIntosh Workman Kotwica Holbrook Pepelyarski Morgan Hatt
Sat 21 Dec A Burnham 0-3 68 19 Latter Jarrott Lancaster Muzinga Tyler Wright Femiola McIntosh Britton Workman Hatt Joseph E-Evans Odumosu
Sat 28 Dec H Binfield 3-6 82 19 Hall Riley Lancaster Britton Tyler Wright Williams Ryll Workman 2 Rice Holbrook Harrison E-Evans Hatt
Sat 4 Jan A Virginia Water 0-4 nd 19 Latter E-Evans Lancaster Williams Tyler C-Martin Holbrook Riley Workman Britton Hatt Wright Wooster Parsons
Sat 11 Jan H Brackley Town Saints 0-7 54 19 Latter E-Evans Jarrott Parsons Tyler Sullivan Wright McIntosh Workman Hatt Riley Williams C-Martin Kotwica
Sat 25 Jan A Binfield 1-2 103 19 Stallard Harrison Evans Tyler Parsons Sullivan McIntosh Penemo Workman Hatt Pepelyarski Odumosu Wright
Sat 1 Feb A Brimscombe & Thrupp 2-2 55 19 Latter Harrison Evans Warburton Sullivan Wright McIntosh Dimitrzjtevic Hatt Pepelyarski Odumosu 2 Adams Morgan
Sat 8 Feb H Burnham 2-0 102 19 Latter Page Harrison Parsons Warburton Sullivan Dimitrzjevic Penemo Odumosu Pepelyarski Hatt Tyler McIntosh Workman
Tue 11 Feb A Thame Rangers WSC QF POSTPONED
Tue 18 Feb H Reading City A-A 30 19 Axworthy Harrison Tyler Warburton Parsons Sullivan Barry Penemo Workman Pepelyarski Hatt
Sat 29 Feb H Brimscombe & Thrupp POSTPONED
Tue 3 Mar H Easington Sports 0-0 63 19 Axworthy Harrison Bryan Parsons Warburton Sullivan Penemo Dimitrzjevic Workman Pepelyarski Hatt Odumosu Tyler Burnett
Sat 7 Mar A Bishops Cleeve 1-6 42 19 Axworthy Harrison Bryan Parsons Warburton Sullivan Dimitrzjevic Wright Odumosu Pepelyarski Hatt McIntosh C-Martin Kotwica
Tue 10 Mar H Windsor POSTPONED Pepelyarski 4, Lynch 3, Kotwica 3, Workman 3, Lancaster 2, Odumosu 2, Hatt 2,
Tue 17 Mar H Reading City POSTPONED Parsons, Rice, Booker, Wooster, Keeble, McIntosh, Holbrook, Morgan, Tyler, & Riley, 1 each.
Sat 21 Mar H Ardley United POSTPONED
Tue 24 Mar A Easington Sports Season Terminated due to Coronavirus Pandemic
Sat 28 Mar H Shrivenham
Sat 4 Apr H Fairford Town The FA Council ratifies decision to end season with NO PROMOTION OR RELEGATION
Sat 11 Apr A Shrivenham
Sat 18 Apr A Longlevens
Sat 25 Apr H Westfields Players name in bold indicates scorer Players name in shaded box indicates 1st XI debut
FOND RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD BANKER By Bill Scholes (Life Member)
For a long time dyed in the wool non-league football aficionado, the last
few months have been painful. Timing could not have been worse as
apart from lock-down and no football. We were in the throes of moving
from our rental in Farnham, to our new bungalow in Four Marks,
Hampshire. Try getting removal men during lockdown!!
With no live footie to follow I found myself reflecting on the highs and
lows of the last 30 years or so of the changing face of Holmer Green
football up at Watchet Lane. My love affair with HGFC began towards
the end of the 1980’s and has continued to this day, encompassing
various roles as roles as Secretary, Chairman and Match Secretary.
At the time I was Referees Secretary on The Old Boys’ League (the
largest league in the world with over 450 clubs!) and was on the look -
out for new referees. An evening match up at Holmer Green seemed a
good opportunity to nosy around and I got into conversation with John
Anderson, who was at the time lining on the Spartan League.
We struck a deal - John would join our panel of referees and I would
become Secretary of HGFC!
The catalyst for changing from one of the best village clubs around, – good local players, good ground with almost certainly the best playing surface in Bucks - to becoming the Step 5 club that it is now, was probably the appointment of Barry Hedly as Manager at the beginning of the 1990’s. Barry had just returned from coaching in the USA, and was a vastly experienced coach with ex-Football League club Southport. John Anderson heard that Barry had been unsuccessful with an application at Henley Town and tipped off then-Chairman Rupe Perry. Barry produced 2 letters of recommendation at his interview – one from Phil Thompson (ex-Liverpool and England) and one from Eric Harrison, the now legendary coach of Man Utd’s A and B teams at that time. Barry brought with him a degree of professionalism which rather shocked a few of the older committee members. Dress code for matches, ties to be worn by Committee members, water cooler at training sessions! His advice to some of the younger lads was invaluable e.g. teaching Larty (Shaun
Continued
Martin) how to anticipate and ride the agricultural challenges he received at the hands (or should I say from the legs) of Coopers’ full backs! Jez Hodges returned from Burnham FC and Ian Shiell joined from Maidenhead Town, having moved house to Widmer End. Barry’s contacts also enabled the club to enjoy a pre -season trip on 8th August 1992 up to the north-west to take on Man Utd Juniors. The result of the match, which we lost 2-0, is printed in the Man Utd 1993 Official Yearbook, as is the team details as follows: Pilkington, O’Kane, Riley, Casper, Neville G, Rawlinson, Gillespie, Beckham, Johnson, Savage, Scholes. Goal-scorers were Johnson and Savage. 8 of that team went on to play for Utd’s first team. We also played a Preston North End XI at Bamber Bridge FC. The following year, we returned up north to play an Everton youth team. Drawing 2-2 at their Bellfield training facility. The 1990’s were certainly a good time to be involved with HGFC,
whether as a player, committee member or a supporter. Looking back
on it, the decade was split into two distinct halves – the early part
concerned our time in the Chiltonian League, with the latter half taking
in our formative years in the South Midlands League. Having been a
founder member of the Chiltonian League (see Club History in
Programme), we were becoming increasingly frustrated.
As we felt our ambitions to progress were not matched by the Chiltonian
who were replacing clubs who left with those with inferior playing and
facility standards. We decided to set 2 objectives: 1. Increase level of
fund raising so we could improve facilities and secure a sound base for
the future. 2. To win the League again, which would allow us right of
promotion.
The work of Commercial Manager Mike Hughes mainly, and others
such as Mick Short and Ron Ryan allowed us to achieve the first
objective. The second was achieved in May 1994 when we won the
league yet again. Because we were a clearly ambitious club, we were
not the Chiltonian’s favourite members and that became evident the
day we clinched the title. Not a League Officer in sight to present the
Trophy etc., despite the Chairman living just down the road in
Prestwood. I nipped round to his house in an attempt to pick up the
Continued
Trophy. He refused to give it to me, saying our win was not yet official.
The following week, the Secretary turned up at the HGSA, with the
Trophy and medals in a Tesco bag, which he dumped in the clubhouse
and left without a word!! And some people wondered why we wanted to
leave.
Winners of the Chiltonian, since our initial successes, Peppard, Eton
Wick and Reading Town, had progressed to the Parasol (Combined
Counties) League, but despite a very positive inspection, they were not
keen on our geographical location. Unfortunately, the other two options
(Spartan League and South Midlands League) both required floodlights
for promotion to their Premier Divisions. The South Midland League
were however very happy to accept us into the newly formed Senior
Division (without lights) but because it was, in theory, the same level we
were playing at already, the Chiltonian would have had to give their
permission for us to move across. The Chiltonian, of course, refused!
The future was now clear – the Chiltonian were never going to release
us of their own volition so we either needed floodlights (not possible in
the short term) or we had to resign from the League at end of season
and opt out of the system. We had another try, asking for permission to
move - this was again rejected. We then resigned from the League and
went to an Appeal with The County FA. With the Chairman and Secretary
of the Chiltonian on the Appeal Board, the odds were stacked against us
and we lost.
It was now July 1995 and we began making preparations for a season
of friendlies, but we had one more avenue to try, which was to go to an
FA Tribunal comprising the full FA Board, some 20 odd members. This
took place on 2 August 1995 at FA Headquarters at Lancaster Gate. I
produced a 30 page Submission, (with laminated cover!) and Jez, Ian
and myself rocked up resplendent in white shirts, blue blazers and green
and white striped ties – purchased the day before from Sock Shop in
High Wycombe ! Shortly afterwards we heard that we had been
successful in our appeal, and we were free to join the Senior Division of
the South Midlands. Cue jubilation and celebration.
We had already obtained planning permission for a covered stand so
had to move “smartish” in order to get it in place. Local builder Martin
Shaw worked wonders and we were ready to roll. The first four years
Continued
that we were in the Senior Division were the most enjoyable, for various
reasons. We were overjoyed to have finally broken the shackles of the
Chiltonian League, and we found ourselves in an extremely friendly and
hospitable League – talk about chalk and cheese.
Player management was in the very capable hands of initially Ian Shiell,
and then Jez Hodges with his trusty assistant Andy Duncan. Every week
was a new challenge – either entertaining a new club at Watchet Lane
or visiting a totally new ground, where the facilities were at least as good
as ours, if not, in some cases, better. I still can recall our very first game
in the SML – it was a League Challenge Trophy match away at Premier
Division Buckingham Athletic. A number of the Old Bankers made the
trip and were amazed to be offered drinks, both on arrival and after the
match by the Athletic Chairman. It was a good game, and we ran out 4-
3 winners, including a veritable 35-yard screamer from Phil (Golders)
Golding. Another eye opener was the Referee Karl Cousins – the
youngest referee we had seen for many a year and an excellent one to
boot, and the more we moved into the season we realised t he was not
an exception. Goals were not in short supply as we clocked up a total of
357 in the four seasons, mainly due to our lethal strike force of Shakey
Richard Dryden, the aforesaid Larty and Damo (Damian Roscoe).
Unrivalled in the Division – in the year that we gained promotion to the
Premier they accounted for just over 100 goals between the three of
them.
In our four seasons in the Senior Division, we finished 1st, 2nd, 4th and 1st,
winning the Senior Division Cup twice and reaching the final of the
League Challenge Trophy – the first non-Premier Division club to do so.
It was now 1999 and winning the Senior Division entitled us to
automatic promotion to the Premier. For that to take place, we needed
floodlights and the race was on have them erected by start of season.
Despite the doomsters predictions, and because we went for
retractable lights, we had obtained planning permission straight away.
All we needed now was the money, and thanks to our earlier
fundraising activities, plus generous financial assistance from ex-
players like Mark Williams and Dave Brockwell, the lights were finally
erected in September 1999. A proud time as HGFC had arrived on
Continued
the floodlit football scene and could stand alongside the likes of Flackwell
Heath, Burnham and Chalfont St. Peter, locally. The lights also enabled
us to enter national competitions – firstly the FA Vase and then the FA
Cup. Some very memorable occasions - our first Vase match away to
Carterton – a coach trip of course – a midweek replay up to Norfolk to
play Watton using the Wycombe Wanderers coach, complete with
video, card tables and toilet.
Our very first entrée into the FA Cup was only a local trip to Uxbridge,
but we had a coach thanks to Paul Cook’s generosity. I remember the
surname of Holmer’s first ever goal scorer in the FA Cup as it was the
same as mine! Another away draw, I think the following year, saw us visit
Hemel Hempstead. We lost 4-1 but had to play 89 and a half minutes
with only 10 men due to our keeper Richard Lockey being sent off in the
first few seconds. As we kicked off a couple of minutes earlier than the
agreed 3.00pm, this may qualify as the quickest ever sending off in an
FA Cup match! Later we had another trip up to Norfolk, this time to Great
Yarmouth. It was August, holiday time, so we of course stayed overnight
and sampled the delights of the Disco on the Pier.!
The new Millennium saw Holmer Green playing in a senior league,
encompassing midweek floodlit games which basically meant playing
twice a week rather than just Saturdays. This was a novelty for the first
couple of years and we more than held our own in the higher
stratosphere, but gradually the strain began to tell and a few players
began to drift away – not to other clubs but more likely family pressures.
Remember, none of our players were getting paid, unlike the majority
of the opponents we faced, some of whose budgets defied the laws of
gravity. Jez and Andy eventually stood down and the club went through
a number of different managers, - some of whom were a bit strange.
One exception was Tony Thompson, who had experience of running
Aylesbury and Chesham Youth teams, but unfortunately only lasted a
year. It was however a good year, and once the team understood what
was required, they embarked on an unbeaten run of 12 /13 games
which saw us climb up to the dizzy heights of 3rd in the table – the
highest the club has ever been in the non-league pyramid. Off the field
the relationship with the HGSA was becoming
Continued
strained, and I relinquished the FC’s Chairman’s role in 2005. I stayed
on for another year as Match Secretary, but eventually joined the Board
of the Spartan South Midlands League. Continuing to follow H.G.’s
fortunes from afar, but visiting when I could. A couple more managers
followed Thompson before relegation due to ground grading. Chris Allen
arrived from Penn & TG to bring stability - a stay that lasted for 10 years,
almost certainly the longest reign of any HG manager. A true reflection
of Chris’ success was keeping Holmer in the Premier Division,
sometimes against all odds. HG did drop down (demoted NOT
relegated) to Division One as he took over in 2009, but that was due to
the ground grading not meeting the required standard.
The Club bounced back immediately by winning the Division under Chris
in his first season in sole charge, pulling clear of the pack containing
eight other teams in the second half of the season.
Off the field, I believe the Club is now in good and safe hands under
Chairman Rob Shed, backed up by the experienced John Ostinelli, and
I understand work is continuing at a pace both on and off the field. Over
the last couple of years I have been able to help raise a bit of money via
Match Sponsorship. Talking to potential sponsors, I get the feeling that
the future is bright and the good times will soon be back. Particularly
once we find ourselves in a League much better suited to our
geographical position.
C’MON HOLMER, LET’S BE HAVING YOU
H O L M E R G R E E N F O O T B A L L C L U B Founded 1908
H O N O U R S B O A R D
1908 - 1934 CHESHAM & DISTRICT LEAGUE
1934 - 1984 WYCOMBE COMBINATION & WYCOMBE LEAGUE
1984 - 1995 CHILTONIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
1995 - 1999 SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
1999 - 2018 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
2018 - today HELLENIC FOOTBALL LEAGUE
1ST XI
BERKS & BUCKS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALISTS 1981
BERKS & BUCKS SENIOR TROPHY RUNNERS UP 1999
BERKS & BUCKS SENIOR TROPHY SEMI-FINALISTS 1996, 2000, 2001, & 2016
BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP WINNERS 1977
BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI-FINALISTS 1991
BERKS & BUCKS JUNIOR CUP WINNERS 1953 & 1965
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS DIVISION LEAGUE - DIVISION ONE WINNERS 2010
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - SENIOR DIVISION WINNERS 1996 & 1999
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - SENIOR DIVISION RUNNERS UP 1997
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - SENIOR DIVISION CUP WINNERS 1997 & 1998
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - CHALLENGE TROPHY RUNNERS UP 1999
WYCOMBE SENIOR CUP WINNERS 1975, 1982, 1992, 1994 & 2001
WYCOMBE SENIOR CUP RUNNERS UP 1976, 1979, 1991, 2000, 2006, & 2019
CHILTONIAN LEAGUE WINNERS 1985, 1986 & 1994
CHILTONIAN LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 1995
CHILTONIAN LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALISTS 1986 & 1991
WYCOMBE LEAGUE WINNERS 1972, 1974, 1977 & 1981
WYCOMBE LEAGUE RUNNERS UP 1973, 1976 & 1978
WYCOMBE LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 1981
WYCOMBE LEAGUE CUP RUNNERS UP 1983
CHESHAM CHARITY CUP WINNERS 1939, 1949, 1953, 1962, 1964 & 1965
RESERVES
BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI-FINALISTS 1993
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - RESERVE DIVISION TWO WEST WINNERS 2002
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - RESERVE DIVISION TWO WEST WINNERS 2008
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - RESERVE DIVISION N&W WINNERS 2016
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - RESERVE DIVISION TWO RUNNERS UP 1998
SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE - RESERVE DIVISION THREE RUNNERS UP 1996
CHILTONIAN RESERVE SECTION WINNERS 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993 & 1995
CHILTONIAN RESERVE LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 1987, 1989 & 1993
CHILTONIAN RESERVE LEAGUE CUP RUNNERS UP 1995
WYCOMBE JUNIOR CUP WINNERS 1987, 1993 & 1995
READING JUNIOR CUP WINNERS 1987
U-18 YOUTH TEAM
ALLIED COUNTIES YOUTH LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 2013, FINALISTS 2016
ALLIED COUNTIES YOUTH LEAGUE EAST DIVISION WINNERS 2013
RUNNERS-UP 2016, 2018
'A' TEAM
REG WILKS CUP WINNERS 1990 & 1991
READING JUBILEE CUP RUNNERS-UP 1980
OLD BOYS
BERKS & BUCKS JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINALISTS 1999
WYCOMBE & DISTRICT LEAGUE - SENIOR DIVISION RUNNERS-UP 2008
WYCOMBE & DISTRICT LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS 1998, 2000 & 2007
MAIDENHEAD & NORFOLKIAN JUNIOR CUP RUNNERS UP 1996 & 2000
WYCOMBE JUNIOR CUP Winners 2007, RUNNERS UP 1997 & 2005
CHALFONT & GERRARDS CROSS CUP WINNERS 2004
* Season uncompleted due to Covid-19 Pandemic
HOLMER GREEN FOOTBALL CLUB
PLAYING RECORD from 1984/85
CHILTONIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Position
1984/85 32 22 5 5 62 22 71 1st
1985/86 18 15 1 2 56 21 46 1st
1986/87 20 8 5 7 32 32 29 5th
1987/88 28 10 5 13 47 52 35 6th
1988/89 28 8 6 14 37 56 30 11th
1989/90 28 12 5 11 44 42 41 6th
1990/91 26 10 4 12 51 53 34 8th
1991/92 26 15 7 4 54 32 52 3rd
1992/93 24 11 3 10 45 47 36 5th
1993/94 26 17 7 2 65 20 58 1st
1994/95 24 17 2 5 70 38 53 2nd
SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE - SENIOR DIVISION
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Position
1995/96 26 19 5 2 71 31 62 1st
1996/97 26 18 1 7 71 21 55 2nd
1997/98 30 20 3 7 94 41 63 4th
1998/99 42 30 6 6 121 42 96 1st
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Position
1999/00 40 12 10 18 56 92 46 15th
2000/01 36 18 2 16 58 58 56 6th
2001/02 38 12 6 20 59 98 42 15th
2002/03 36 5 3 28 40 108 18 19th
2003/04 36 5 4 28 41 106 19 19th
2004/05 38 14 7 17 47 58 49 13th
2005/06 38 18 7 13 69 59 61 7th
2006/07 40 9 9 22 49 91 36 19th
2007/08 42 8 9 25 49 99 33 20th
2008/09 40 6 10 24 36 80 28 20th
2010/11 44 14 11 19 74 75 53 17th
2011/12 42 9 8 25 66 106 35 20th
2012/13 42 5 5 32 55 155 20 22nd
2013/14 42 16 8 18 85 87 56 12th
2014/15 42 10 4 28 64 121 34 20th
2015/16 42 22 4 16 86 82 70 7th
2016/17 42 13 10 19 56 60 49 14th
2017/18 40 11 13 16 53 75 46 14th
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE - DIVISION ONE
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Position
2009/10 42 28 9 3 95 31 93 1st
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Position
2018-19 36 14 6 16 47 65 48 12th
2019-20* 26 2 4 20 24 87 10 19th
Don Want came to Holmer Green Don Want came to Holmer Green on Friday November 13th 1964. On his first full day in the village he heard shouting and yelling coming from The Common, and decided to investigate. Thus begun a 53-year, so far, stint of being totally immersed in village life for the benefit of so many people. Don hadn’t played football for about three or four years, but the excitement he found on The Common that November afternoon in 1964 made an impression. He didn’t become a regular player but was persuaded to join the Football Club Committee. Within a matter of weeks he was both Secretary and Treasurer. Over the past years he has also been Chairman and eventually President until 2000 with a break of only four years. He has never missed a Saturday other than two days of illness, holidays and the odd family wedding. Don was really positive when it was announced that a piece of ground on the outskirts of the village was to be made available for sport. He recognised that this was the way forward. When on the 14th February 1968, The Holmer Green Sports Association was formed, he volunteered to sit on the Committee. At the first Committee Meeting the new Secretary did not turn up and Don took on the job temporarily. Over the next 18 years he served on the Committee without a break, including terms as Chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee, and as Membership Secretary. He drew up the Membership Rules which form the basis of today’s criteria. For his services to the HGSA, he was made their first Life Vice-President. Don took over the role of Groundsman some 30 or so years ago and continued until Neil Gardner began. On the two occasions he intimated that he was retiring, Don was persuaded to carry on. The grounds with the four football pitches, cricket pitch, and training area, cover nineteen acres. The surrounding hedge has also to be maintained. Don kept all this under control despite being severely hampered by lack of funds at most times. He begged and borrowed equipment, maintaining it himself. Considering the paucity of the machinery available to him, Don kept the grounds looking great. He was also honoured with an Award from the Berks and Bucks Football Association in their “Groundsman of the Year” competition in recognition of his upkeep of the main football pitch, which was the envy all sporting opponents. Don’s place in the village’s sporting history was recognised when the main stand at Watchet Lane was named in his honour about 15 years ago. Today, his cheerful face can be seen manning the pay box week in and week out.
A brief history of Holmer Green FC
Originally founded in 1908, Holmer played initially in The Chesham and District League.
Matches were played at Campbell’s Meadow, (now the Rosetti Estate), close to a tennis racket
factory. Sometime before 1934 the Club moved to Holmer Green Common and set up
headquarters in The Bat and Ball. In 1934 the Club switched to The Wycombe Combination
League. The first known trophy to be won by Holmer Green was The Chesham Charity Cup
in 1939, the first of 28 Cups and Championships won thus far by the 1st XI. Foremost among
these, pre-1975, were the successes in winning the Berks and Bucks Junior Cup in both 1953
and 1965.
The early 70’s saw the start of a very successful thirty years in the Club’s history. Holmer
Green moved to their present ground, Watchet Lane, in 1975 when the new Holmer Green
Sports Association pavilion at Watchet Lane was fully ready. Holmer won The Berks & Bucks
Intermediate Cup in 1976-77. Senior Status was thus achieved, and since then the Club has
striven to play at the highest level possible for a strictly amateur club.
The Club, through current President John Anderson, was heavily involved in the moves that
set up The Chiltonian League in 1984. That League embraced clubs from no less than six
different counties, before being swallowed up by The Hellenic. Holmer had been very
successful in the Chiltonian, and believed that a move to a better run league, where the clubs
were encouraged to improve facilities, should be the next step. The Chiltonian, only naturally,
were reluctant to lose their “flagship” club and tried to stop the move to the The South Midlands
League. Not until August 17th 1995 did Holmer Green finally exhaust the FA’s appeal system,
successfully, being allowed to switch Leagues.
This move gave Holmer Green the impetus to finally erect a Stand, now called The Don Want
Stand in honour of their former long-serving Groundsman who still helps out with his time and
expertise, on a regular basis. Don was presented with some mementos in November 2014 to
mark his 50 years with the Football Club.
Over the following years huge strides were taken which made possible the erection of
floodlights, thanks to the fund-raising, grants, and a loan from ex- player Mark Williams.
Premier Division status was achieved in 1999 after winning the Senior Division twice in four
seasons, being 2nd and 4th in between. A financial crisis arose some 15 or so years ago, after
more ground improvements, Mick Bowler came in to help steady the ship, with great financial
assistance from former player John Walters. Centenary events started with a visit from a full
Wycombe Wanderers team in July 2007 when the ground record of over 800 was recorded.
In 2008 the Senior Club formally merged with Holmer Green Minors FC to become “One Club”
and this occasion coincided with the new Club as a whole being named “ Club of the Year
2008” by Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership.
Season 2008-09 was Holmer’s 10th successive one in the Premier Division. After an
unexpectedly long stay in the Premier Division Holmer Green was demoted to Division One
for season 2009-10 due to Ground Grading, despite avoiding the two relegation positions.
Work immediately began to regain the “F” Grading required for Step 5 football to return to
Watchet Lane. With Manager Jason Weinrabe, who had twice led the Club to avoid the
relegation positions in difficult circumstances, going to work in Australia, the Club promoted
Coach Chris Allen to the Manager’s job. The 1st XI won the First Division by three points in
2009-10 losing only 3 of 40 games. The coveted “F” Grading was achieved again in 2011.
Premier Division status was maintained until and including season 2017-18, when Holmer
Green FC was transferred laterally across the FA’s Non-League Pyramid to The Hellenic
League.
Match Report, Tuesday 3rd September 2019
Holmer Green 2 Virginia Water 1
The Greens chalked up their first win of the league season at the
fifth attempt. In the process reversing the score of last season, in
which they were unfortunate to lose to say the least. With returns
to studies impending, Luke Ryll and James Jarrott were replaced
by Kyle Bestley and Brian Kerry. There was no such luxury
available up front. Where Adam Riley’s pace and aggression was
complemented by Alex Rice’s trickery, and Martin Lancaster’s
work rate in an unfamiliar forward position. Bailey Page returned
in midfield, but Matt Wooster would again be looked towards for
inspiration. He didn’t disappoint, despite some heavy treatment in
a match which saw both sides give the ball away too easily.
On 34 minutes Holmer got their noses in front. Rice tricked his
way along the goal-line on the left. He pulled the ball back for
Riley, who moved it on to the unmarked Lancaster at the far post.
The ball was swiftly passed into the net. But Holmer was unable
to hold out until half-time. On 42 minutes a long throw into their
penalty-area was headed on. Although Tom Bryant made a very
good save from the initial effort, the ball fell kindly for McNamara
to put home.
HT 1-1
On 62 minutes, Alex Colver came on for Page. Four minutes
later, Rice again tormented the visitors’ defence. From the right,
his pass was intercepted by a desperate lunge. The ball however
was now out of the defence’s control. Wooster followed up to
steer the ball inside the post from ten yards, before ‘keeper or
colleagues could intervene. With over 30 more minutes of actual
play remaining, this time the home side made a better fist of
keeping Virginia Water out. There were alarms, but these were at
both ends. The closest to another goal again involved Rice as
architect. His eventual left wing cross found substitute Alex
Colver at the far post. But in heading the ball down instead of
Continued
trying to bury it, the pace was taken off the ball and the ‘keeper
tipped the rising ball over.
Team: Bryant, Warland, Kerry, Bestley, Ben Booker, Wooster ©,
Rice, Ollie Lynch, Riley, Page, Lancaster.
Substitutes Used: Colver, Harrison Holbrook, and George
Paynter. Substitutes Not Used: Luke Hurley, and Ollie White.
Report by John Anderson
Match Report, Saturday 8th February 2020
Holmer Green 2 Burnham 0
The dark days of 21 successive defeats may eventually define
The Greens’ season; but the improvement in performances, in
the five games since we played the same opponents away just
before Christmas, was graphically displayed here.
With James Evans unavailable, Holmer welcomed back Ryan
Parsons, Josh Penemo, and Bailey Page. But an injury to Page
meant Liam Tyler replaced him at right-back for the second half;
and a limping Denis Pepelyarski was substituted on 50 minutes,
Khedive McIntosh coming on. There were impressive
performances all round, but especially young Jack Warburton in
only his second appearance, and Dom Sullivan in just his fourth
start. Oscar Harrison successfully switched full-back positions,
and Ryan Parsons has quickly regained his customary coolness
at the back following long-term injury.
On a blustery day, the early exchanges were even. The home
side took the lead on 17 minutes, when the sort of good fortune
that seems to have been missing all season went in their favour
for a change. A promising home attack was halted by a blatant
foul just outside the Burnham penalty-area. Pepelyarski stepped
up and his firm attempt was deflected past Williams. But The
Greens’ propensity for conceding just after battling ahead almost
repeated itself three minutes later, Slack marking all over the Continued
defensive shape allowed the visitors a clear chance to convert a
low cross. But the possibility was spurned with a scuffed shot
past the post.
This let-off seemed to inspire Holmer to press on with their fine
display, and they got better throughout the afternoon. On 34
minutes Jethro Odumosu was put in on goal, but saw his shot
come back off the angle of post and bar. The lack of a second
goal nearly cost Holmer just before the break, but Ryan Latter
athletically tipped over a speculative long range shot.
HT 1-0
With the two early second half changes being seamlessly
accommodated, The Greens had two distant opportunities to go
further ahead on 57 and 63 minutes. First McIntosh played
Odumosu in, but the advancing ‘keeper beat the effort away.
Then Odumosu was sent through by Alex Dimitrzjevic, shooting
against the foot of the post. The rebound appeared to sit up
kindly and centrally for McIntosh, but his shot did not find the
target. The Dimitrzjevic set up Matt Hatt, who was denied by last-
ditch tackle. The visitors tried to reverse the growing Holmer
dominance with a double substitution, but Holmer’s defence was
in defiant mood. Lewis Workman came on for Odumosu who had
kept the Burnham defence on their toes all afternoon. But his
initial enthusiasm was curbed when he clattered the ‘keeper in an
excessively hopeful chase for the ball. With The Greens looking
progressively comfortable at the back, the game was deservedly
wrapped up in stoppage time. Hatt ran onto a headed flick-on of
a long ball, comfortably outpaced the defence and steered the
ball under Williams.
Team: Latter, Page, Harrison, Parsons ©, Warburton, Sullivan,
Dimitrzjevic, Penemo, Odumosu, Pepelyarski, Hatt.
Substitutes Used: Tyler, McIntosh, & Workman.
Substitutes Not Used: Greg Wright, & Matt Wooster.
Report by John Anderson
STOP PRESS Werder Bremen and Heidenheim drew 0-0 at The Weser Stadium
in the first leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-off on Thursday
2nd July. The second leg in Southern Germany on Monday 6th
July ended in an exciting 2-2. Bremen escaped relegation by virtue
of the “away goals” rule.
The German Cup (“Pokal”) Final was played on Saturday evening
5th July in Berlin, Bayern Munich beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-1.
Napoli had already beaten Juventus in The Coppa Italia Final.
They needed penalties to beat the Turin side, who appear well on
course to win the “Scudetto” (Italian League Title).
Hearts and Partick Thistle have been told by Scottish Court of
Session to go to arbitration with the SPFL first, before they go to
the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But the Clubs have won the right
to see details of the SPFL’s actions in the original vote in which
Dundee appeared to have cast a vote against the League plans,
only for it to be recorded as a vote in favour later!
Portsmouth and Oxford United drew 1-1 at Fratton Park in the first
leg of their EFL Division One play-off semi-final. The second leg
ended in a similar score at The Kassam Stadium and United
prevailed 5-4 on penalties.
Fleetwood Town entertained Wycombe in the other semi-final first
leg. Wanderers ran our 4-1 winners, aided by the home side
having a player sent off in each half. The return Wycombe v
Fleetwood game at Adams Park saw the Lancashire visitors
outplay Wanderers. But although having almost 80% of
possession, gaining 10 corners to Wycombe’s 1, and with 21 goal
attempts to the home side’s 7, Fleetwood could only manage a 2-
2 draw.
The Final at Wembley (behind closed doors) on Monday 13/7
finished Oxford United 1 Wycombe.Wanderers 2.
