tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43803624715141356852023-11-16T03:04:30.412-08:00Under The Premunderthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.comBlogger18023125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-12832485283704223982016-01-12T07:39:00.001-08:002016-01-12T07:39:14.372-08:00CONTRIBUTION: TWO MEN IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAMEThe guys over at TWO MEN IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME gave us their thoughts on the recent Spartan South Midlands League 1 clash between Edgware Town and Ampthill Town!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Hello 2016, hello non stop rain, hello endless Tweets about postponed games. Thankfully our match has stuck two fingers up at Mother Nature and shouted in her face “you will not win!”, because Edgware Town FC (ET) have a 3G pitch. You could drop an ocean on it, and once you have swept all the starfish away, you would still be able to play, in the immortal words of Wayne Campbell “GAME ON!”</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Tom’s timing is immaculate, I notice a flat cap wearing figure appear from the gloom, at a bus stop en route. Once aboard it takes him a minute to realise that I'm sitting about a foot away, or he is ignoring me, we exchange pleasantries about how annoying our families were at Christmas, how much cheese we ate, and what PS4 game we received that allows us to waste endless hours collecting bobbins or fancy hair brushes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Off the bus, and a short walk later, a large green notice board at the entrance to a very soggy park lets us know we are on the right track. Not too far in the distance, past the waterlogged fields, and miserable looking dog walkers, four thin floodlights stretch up into the sky, too narrow to even cast a shadow, they are beacon in the ever worsening weather.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Not put off by the burnt out car just past the entrance, a homemade sign written in black marker pen, stretched across a fence next to an intriguing small red brick turnstile tells us we have arrived “Silver Jubilee Park”. I had seen it online abbreviated to SJP, I’m sure the club would like it made clear, as would I, that the abbreviation is in no way infringing on the copyright of ‘Sex In The City’ actress, and wife of Inspector Gadget, Sarah Jessica Parker. No-one wants a Victoria Beckham, Peterborough United FC situation on their hands.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">From Inside his cosy, dry turnstile, Chris greets us in his woolly hat. A first year club board member, and newly appointed women's team manager, he is more than happy to venture into the drizzle to excitedly point out works and developments underway, all across the ground.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I think it's fair to say the ground is a little sparse, for now, but you can see that is all about to change. The clubhouse and changing rooms are elevated along one side of the pitch, tacked on end is the main and only seating area. A small green covered terrace sits at the top of a slope behind one goal, with only a low hedge separating you from the surrounding park and picturesque tree covered green hill, that rolls off into the distance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The warmth of the clubhouse is much appreciated, and except for a few ET fans in their green and white scarves by the bar at one end of the Viking Longhall we are first to arrive. Two things are clearly king here: darts and dancing. There are six darts boards, four on one wall, two on another, and a large wooden dance floor, that takes up the majority of the floor space, and shines some light on the sign on the way in “dancers this way”. The Dundee derby is playing on a large screen at the opposite end of the room, as we take a seat on one of the tables covering the centre of the room, stopping Tom from breaking out a few moves he highlights the obvious “they like their darts”. We can hear the music playing in the changing rooms through the wall, like a neighbour having a party.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Happy New Year” says the man behind the bar, which is three quarters optics and beer pumps and one quarter tea room, snack bar and club shop. Mugs, scarves, programmes and old pictures fill every available inch of space. The bulging, cling film wrapped rolls take pride of place, stickers written in biro sit on top of them, letting you know what’s inside, it’s just a cup of tea for now, but I have a feeling that we will be back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Tom is on weather watch, every so often peering over my shoulder out the window behind me “still raining”. The ham salad rolls on the bar proved too tempting, and he is quick to grab us one each, producing a bag of crisps from his rucksack to go along with them. In hunt of a programme I nip back to the ET corner, and meet the club chairman, and former Port Vale FC player Daz.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">A tall Northerner, he is beyond modest when I compliment him on their fantastic season so far, “yeah doing alright” he says in a mannered Staffordshire accent. One loss in the league, three in all competitions, a goal difference of +45, score lines such as 6 - 3, 12 - 3 and 9 - 2 twice, I think can most definitely be described as a lot better than “alright”. Perhaps somewhat the perfectionist he tells me of their “100% away record” but he is a little perturbed when he talks about their home form “lost all our points here” he says, pointing outside. That is five points by the way, one draw and one defeat, hardly relegation form. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Back at our table, it’s not long before the inevitable, its raffle time. Curiously Tom gets involved, perhaps the chance of a bit of Kit Kat money has tempted him to the dark side. It’s not your usual set up, it’s a scratchcard the likes of which we have only seen once before at Wadham Lodge FC. Pick your team and if it appears under the silver panel, you’re the winner. Arsenal are taken much to Tom’s annoyance, so he opts for Wolves, Spurs are not even on it, so inspired buy the game on the TV, I go for Celtic.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Patiently waiting, while we deliberate what team to pick, is club committee member Geoffrey, who tells us that the raffle is a big help in raising funds. By his own admission he has never had any interest or “involvement” with football before, but as a recent retiree, he needed something to fill the void. Even though new to the ‘Beautiful Game’ he seems to have got to grips very quickly with the importance of grassroots football. He then encapsulates its necessity, in two effortless sentences, he sums it up so perfectly that I wonder if there is any need to go on, his words will probably be on t-shirts some day, children of the future will ask, when they are watching the PC World International Sky Plus Yellow Tie League One “why did we not listen to Geoffrey?!”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“It’s like a tree, you need the roots. If you don’t keep the roots going, the tree doesn't grow”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Daz joins us “what’s up?” he asks, I’m now armed with my notebook, and he is more than happy to tell us in more depth about a club with a dark recent past, but with a much, much brighter future. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">In 2008 due to the loss of their ground ET’s original incarnation went under, and was reformed in 2014, all due to what seemed to be a flippant comment between friends. “Why don’t we start our own club, so we don’t get fired” said Daz to the now owner, who happened to own the rights to the ET name. Always interested to know what drives people to start a club, it is a well documented headache, what is their plan? “Promotion back to the Ryman Premier and take the club back to where it was”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">£250,000 has been spent on the ground to get it up to a category C standard, which will eventually be big enough for nearly 2,000 spectators. A much higher standard than they require he admits, they get about an average turnout of 80, but they will be ground sharing with Hendon FC of the Ryman Premier League, it’s a perfect partnership. “God send, the 3G” he says as the rain continues, so many clubs at this level I’m sure are envious of it, many away games have been canceled, and a fixture backlog is growing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Hard work at this level, but it’s rewarding”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The local community, “lots of local schools use the pitches for free” and attracting new fans is high on the agenda. With a large catchment area, and not a huge amount of competition, only Barnet FC whose prices for a League Two side some might deem a little steep, what better than a local affordable club.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">He introduces us to the match day secretary “I do all the hard work, then he takes over so I can relax and have a few pints”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">There feels like a lot going on at ET this afternoon, and it’s not long until we we bump into a familiar face Deryll David the sharpest, youngest referee in the land, who recently made a video with our friends at Pitch Talk. Imagine a dash of James Bond, mixed with the cool kid from your secondary school, he looks well turned out in his suit, and is at ET because his game had been called off. Referees are a bit of a theme, and why the boardroom is out of bounds, the match officials are being assessed and as Daz put it, gesturing to the men in dark suits “we just leave them to it”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“It’s easing” says Tom, the rain has gone from cats and dogs to a downpour, as he returns to the noisy clubhouse after taking some pictures of the ground ,“some flags out” he tells me, hanging from the back of the covered terrace.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The low slung roof of the main stand and it’s pillars are reminiscent in a very small way of the back of the west stand at Highbury, and make for a slightly obscured view, but Tom is quite right when he says “we will stay dry unless the roof collapses”. Opposite us on the far touchline, someone is “really struggling with that tent” as Tom puts it. The removable roofs of the slightly squiffy dugouts, are getting caught in the wind, a two man job proving almost impossible for the poor soul who drew that short straw. Tom does wonder if something is afoot, you hear stories of clubs making the visiting team’s life as hard as possible, no hot water, smaller changing rooms or in this case a roof “do you think the away team get one?”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The visitors Ampthill Town FC (ATFC), are oblivious to the shenanigans, and are finishing their warm up just in front of us. The coach can maybe sense a bit of anxiety amongst the players “very quiet today, let’s get the talking going” he says, and attempts to inject a bit of confidence in them “no reason we can’t get 3 points”. One player slips off the edge of the pitch, looking angrily at where he lost his footing, clutching himself, wincing. The coach ushers the team inside “lets go, lets go, lets go” reminding the players there is no-one to clear up after them “make sure you take water bottles and tops in”..</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Ted, you will be able to give up work” shouts one fan over to the man who has just been told he has won the raffle, although not bitter, Tom is perhaps a little sore to say the least considering the winning team was Arsenal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The King starts to play as the team’s walk out, I love an eclectic choice of entrance music. One ET fan is still full of the New Year spirit and sings along making his way to his seat “it’s the wonder, the wonder of EDGWARE!”. The music is also a cue for the people still inside to make their way outside, there is now a noticeable amount of other football scarves on show Boreham Wood FC and Hendon FC whose games were abandoned.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Stop cuddling and get on with the game” shouts the singer “hate that huddle” he announces. The voice over the tannoy is a bit more genteel, “hope you all enjoy the game”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">ET get off to a flyer, scoring after four minutes, and don’t look back, “come on you wares” shouts a supporter. Tom thinks the celebration is a little muted, the players perhaps have a feeling they will be getting a hatfull. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Despite Tom’s slight objections, “the rains picked up” we move after the goal, in search of a better vantage point, and join the few who are braving the elements, standing behind the goal, only once we have squeezed past the club photographer under his humongous fishing umbrella, next to the stairs from the changing room down to the pitch. A few people with their own more sensibly sized brollies stand pitchside.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Toms mind is wandering, perhaps not fully recovered from his East End barrow boy themed New Years party “that pot noodle sounded nice”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Fifteen minutes gone, 2 - 0 the green machine keeps rolling on. One ATFC coach is understandably not best pleased “too easy” he bellows. For a moment, both our attentions are taken away from the celebrations, as what I can only describe as scene from ‘The Birds’ is playing out, a mass of gulls, and smaller darker birds clearly angered by the ATFC defending fill the sky. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">ATFC get their first shot on target after about twenty minutes, and even though it’s pretty tame, the fact it was allowed to happen does not best please what is a tough crowd to please round here, “come on Edgware” he says like a disappointed parent.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Just shy of thirty minutes gone ET get their third, a goal one player tells the scorer was “superb” another that it was “mustard”. “They might look like Brazil, but they don’t play like it” is Tom’s opinion on a pretty torrid thirty minutes for ATFC.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Come on Edgware”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“What you having at half time?” I ask Tom, “a pot noodle with a hot dog sticking out”. However, before he can get stuck into that, ET have a goal chalked off for offside, but they have no reason to worry, they are making chance after chance, it could be in double figures already. When they do get a fourth just before pot noodle time, Tom describes it perfectly “he went through everyone”, the player rounds the keeper and scores, it finishes off a dominant, rain soaked half.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Well done boys”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">A large Geoff Shreeves holds the attention of most people, as he shouts in that way he does, about what looks like a very dull first half in the Premiership. “I love a pot noodle” says Tom, the fiend, I'm not sure how you can it fucking stinks. It’s space age contents stew away and every so often he peels back its tinfoil lid, only to close it back up, because it's not quite ready.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The heads of the referee, followed by the players bob past the small window of a door next to big Geoff, and we make our way outside, the steward on the gate, that lets the players onto the pitch, shares a joke with one “you actually going to start playing?” This half we are joined by a lot more people, ET are attacking this end now, with the shelter it makes for a much more inviting proposition.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">More fans means more songs, and the group from Boreham Wood FC, who we recognise from our recent visit, join in a few “we’re green, we’re white, we’re bloody dynamite”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Rains back” says Tom, I’m not sure it ever went away, but it’s now difficult to see anything that is not illuminated by the floodlights, except for the Griswold’s house the other side of the park or a Temple, with its golden spires perched on the hill in the distance.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I’m not sure if one fan has been working on this song, slaving away like a creative type, surrounded by scrunched up balls of paper, or has come up with it on the hoof, nonetheless it’s quite impressive “we’re not Real Madrid, we’re not FC Barcelona, we’re Edgware Town and Matty is our owner”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">ET are in complete control, and the game has been a bit of a procession since half time, they make chances, but as one fan puts it “we’re just going through the motions”, like when a burst of pace down the right, results in a good ball across the box, there is not one ET player there to meet in, no player is really busting a gut, much to the annoyance of one screaming fan “why is no-one in the box!?!”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Got a bottle of Vodka in there” says a fan to the ATFC keeper while he takes a drink “4 - 0 at halftime, you need a drink son”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">A goal from ATFC, a great flicked back header, brings what just seems like a counting the minutes to home time exercise, to life. ET’s players are furious, and argue amongst themselves, as one fan puts it it’s only a “consolation goal”, but a clean sheet always makes for a better result.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Come on Edgware, come on Edgware”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Can you hear the Ampthill sing?” sing the group near us, and although there is no response, you can most definitely hear the green and white spirited horn one fan has produced from his bag, giving it a blast every time the ATFC keeper takes a goal kick.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“He comes from Italy, and wears Versace”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The home team players continue to grumble with each other they are being sloppy, “Jesus, boys” shouts one towards his teammates. On about thirty five minutes of the second half gone ET get their fifth goal, a shot from the edge of the box fizzes into the back of the net, and the referee might as well blow the whistle now. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Very little of note happens in the remaining minutes of the half. We do marvel at the fact four people are huddled under the mega umbrella, and I wonder if you have to pay Council Tax on it, it’s so huge. A mass exodus of two fans means they are serenaded by those who are staying for the final whistle “is there a fire drill, is there a fire drill”. There is a chance in extra time for the ET number 11 to make it six, only to hit the post from a yard out, leaving everyone, no more than him, a little baffled.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The saturated ET players are clapped off “come on you ‘wares” and Tom almost gets as muddy as them, as we make own way down the grass verge just in front of where we had been standing, and he almost go arse over tit, I’m fine however, thank God for Doctor Martins!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Things are looking very rosy for ET, so many pieces of the jigsaw seem to be falling into place, just at the right time and it’s quite remarkable so soon after its rebirth. If you fancy some darts, a dance, a pot noodle or some Elvis, ET is the place to be.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">- </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/listen-to-geoffrey-edgware-town-fc-vs.html</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">To read more from the guys head to their blog using the link above. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook as below;</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">https://twitter.com/BeautifulGame15</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulGame15</span></span>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-23720301215792149192016-01-12T07:33:00.000-08:002016-01-12T07:33:37.882-08:00MATCH PREVIEW: EASTLEIGH vs BOLTON WANDERERS [FA CUP]The hugely talented Gareth Ewing contributed a match-preview for the recent Eastleigh vs Bolton Wanderers FA Cup clash. Unfortunately our internet died at the crucial moment meaning we were unable to run this at the required time, however the piece was too good to leave out, so here you go;<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">That is the moment the Eastleigh hearts sank. Their FA Cup dreams potentially shattered. Every cup cliché came to the minds of all associated with the Spitfires. Banana skin. Giant killer. The last thing Eastleigh wanted was a cup tie against the so called underdogs that are Bolton Wanderers. A cup shock in the making. At least they were drawn at home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">Eastleigh v little old Bolton is a tie that epitomizes what the FA Cup is all about. For Bolton, it is an opportunity to relax and enjoy the day. There is no pressure for the Bolton team made up of, well, imposters . Lets face it, Bolton are not expected to take anything from the tie. If fact, Bolton fans have no expectation any longer. Of anything. Ever. With 1 win in 325 matches, a strike force that consists of Emile Heskey (injured) and Shola Ameobi (injured) at a combined age of 167 and financial troubles that made Woolworths look positively 'in the black', Bolton take their squad of underachievers (I would call them overpaid however they, well, are not actually being paid in full by the club just now!) to the Silverlake Stadium to simply make up the numbers and give their fans a right good day out...probably in the rain...and the cold.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">Now, for Eastleigh fans who are perhaps not fully up to speed with the recent shenanigans of The Trotters, let me give you a whistle-stop tour. We are skint. Proper skint. Not skint in a '4 days to pay day, we are eating beans on toast then it will all be ok' kind of skint. I mean skint as in nowt! We face a winding up order later in the month. We have employed the king of administrators to oversee our demise. Our only signing of the transfer window has been a chap whose sole job it is to oversee the departure of our playing assets. Our playing squad are awful. And I mean awful. We have no strikers (correction, we have Zak Clough who, at roughly 13 years of age, is our only hope). Our manager has, lets say, outside interests (allegedly) as you may have read in the Sunday Mirror recently. The only thing going for us is our away kit which is rather smart and far too stylish for some of the vagabonds and bounders that have been wearing it recently.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">But its the FA Cup, is it not. Anything can happen. When painters and decorators by day become heroes at the weekend. If only we had some of these tradesmen in our team, we may therefore show some willingness to work hard and fight for the cause. Some have said the pitch at Eastleigh could be a great leveler. No chance...we are rank rotten no matter what the surface is. Don't be fooled by that one. I actually feel quite sorry for Eastleigh. They are in a no win situation. Win...and it was just what was expected. Lose...and I can hear the Bolton fans singing something like 'my goodness me, we have beat you therefore you must be rather poor old chaps'. </span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">For those Eastleigh fans attending the match on Saturday, enjoy the romance of the cup. Spare a thoughts for the 1000 or so Bolton fans who are making the trip. Make them feel at home. They deserve some tender love and care because trust me, after a season watching Darren Pratley, Stephen Dobbie and Dorian Dervite, by Jesus they need it.</span></span><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-85750251583532702132015-09-29T12:26:00.000-07:002015-09-29T12:30:49.134-07:00CONTRIBUTION: TWO MEN IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2594320872810178854" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; position: relative; width: 826px;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18.2px;">The guys gave us their take on the recent 1st qualifying round clash between Greenwich Borough & Slimbridge AFC.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Tall, wrought iron gates greet us, like the ones in front of Willy Wonka's factory, not long after getting off the bus. They are impressive to say the least, imposing is probably a better word, jet black, the hazy sun means you have to squint when you look at the top of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">We know we are in the right place, another ground share in fact, the name of the landlord is across the top of the gates “DARTFORD FC”, but this doesn't look like a football ground, not like any we have ever seen, the concrete and steel has been replaced by trees and grass, like the welcome centre at a nature reserve, we walk and gasp at quite how pretty, and quiet it all is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Admittedly we are here well before kick-off, but the usual noisy urban setting of your typical football club, has been replaced by an air of tranquillity, and on a barmy Sunday afternoon, it’s very pleasant indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Are you lost?” asks an old chap in a blazer, at what must look like two numptys walking around with their mouths open. Another man appears from the same double glass doors, his older counterpart had, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The second man smiling, walks towards us, holding out his hand asking “Now who is the Tottenham fan?” I smile and Tom points his finger at me, our reply sends the outstretched hand in Tom's direction first. I can only assume he is a sympathiser of the nomadic South London football club Tom supports.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Once again social media, matched by people's incredible generosity and passion for football, means we have been given the opportunity by Greenwich Borough FC (GBFC) to observe their preparations for todays FA Cup, 1st Qualifying Round match against AFC Slimbridge (AFCS).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The smiling hand shaker is in fact Geoff, the club's Webmaster and the man sporting the blazer is his father-in-law Norman, who is the club Secretary, somewhere in the ground is his wife who is the treasurer and turnstile operator, a real family affair. All four of us stand in the sunshine, and quickly start to chat about the day ahead, and the first topic of conversation is the remarkable venue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“It’s a little above our station” says Geoff, GBFC play in the Southern Counties East Football League but Princes Park, is the home of National League South side Dartford FC, a fair few steps higher, he is quick to point out though, “we pay enough to squat here”. In 2013 GBFC started the ground share, after leaving their home of over 70 years at the end of the 2008/09 season, and have been sofa surfing ever since.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">There has been some local press about the game today, so they are hopeful for a good turnout, a regular league game would have anywhere between 50 - 100 spectators, but a combination of the FA Cup, being a Sunday and a special price deal for Dartford fans, should mean numbers are higher than normal. Norman is banking on the ultimate fact, that “people just want to see a game” and quite right he is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“All that I know most surely about morality and obligations I owe to football.” the famous words of French Nobel prize winner and philosopher Albert Camus, are written above the door of the tunnel, as we </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">We are the first people in the ground, and stand pitchside taking it in, Princes Park continues to surprise us, and the more we see, the more I wonder that it must be a one of a kind. “Never seen a wooden stadium before” says Tom, marvelling at the beams holding up the roof. Home to Dartford FC since late 2006, it has been described as “one of the most ecologically sound ever built”. Some of it’s features are quite unique, like the fact the pitch has been sunk below ground level to prevent noise and light pollution, the grass we saw outside, growing on the roof, is not bad house keeping, but what is called a “living roof” to help with air purification, along with solar panels, it really is a marvel!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Considering no-one else is here, it would seem rude not to have a quick sit on the home bench, and get the players perspective, and as Tom wanders off, perhaps to get a close up picture of the roof tall wooden sculpture of a man, like an Ent from Lord Of The Rings, who is totally out of place, but then also completely in keeping with the apparent eco ethos of the club.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I take up a seat just to the side of the home dugout, and from my pitch side location, start to take some notes, only to be interrupted by someone walking across the pitch, occasionally treading down divots. A comment Tom made when we first walked in rattles around my head “something quite eerie about an empty stadium“, I can’t work out if eerie is the right word, but whatever it is, it feels very special sitting here in near silence, before all the mayhem of the game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Walking back down the tunnel, past the medics trolley, covered in all sorts of gadgets, we hear what sounds like a cult in ritual, instead it’s the home dressing room going a through a pre match exercise which involves a lot of clapping. With so few people about it’s hard not to take the chance to pose for a picture in front of the backdrop you see the managers being interviewed in front of on ‘Match Of The Day’, covered in the league and club sponsors.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">We bump into Geoff, who is kind enough to offer us a drink, and leads us to the bar, which he says will also be the “make shift boardroom for the day” the distinction between bar and board room is made by two folding screens, which look like they have been borrowed from someone’s house, stretched out across the room, dividing it in two. The referee and his team sit around a small table, still in their suits, quietly talking amongst themselves.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-OY25Z8TdBNh-Zz7NrV5YfDjyCr2ycKCZUWvNHGQ59-80hyphenhyphen6QwLn-xZUHcmRhTke4GvNajassp-pbGvTfh3bb9P36dkALrt5FzXT8QWtb7K0NVLiwXnppLfV80DeIHPFeUQskI-YY0s/s1600/football+528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-OY25Z8TdBNh-Zz7NrV5YfDjyCr2ycKCZUWvNHGQ59-80hyphenhyphen6QwLn-xZUHcmRhTke4GvNajassp-pbGvTfh3bb9P36dkALrt5FzXT8QWtb7K0NVLiwXnppLfV80DeIHPFeUQskI-YY0s/s320/football+528.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="212" /></a><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Considering what a nice afternoon it is, we break free of the corporate shackles of the top table, and sit outside, mulling over our plan of attack for the rest of the day. Once again Geoff appears bearing gifts, a match day programme, “they will be like gold dust now the coach (AFCS) has arrived, they have brought a good amount”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The quiet of our pre match drink, has now been shattered by the music coming from the home dressing room, but no one is in there to be deafened by it, the teams are now warming up.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“Everything we did on Tuesday night was for fucking today, don’t spunk it up the wall”, are the instructions of one of the two almost identical, stocky short wearing, every other word is a swear word coaches taking the GBFC squad through a high tempo possession game.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">AFCS on the other hand amble out the tunnel in dribs and drabs, not quite showing the same energy as GBFC, who are tearing around their small section of the pitch, trying to win the ball off each other, accompanied by the drill sergeant encouragement on offer from their coaches “hunt in packs”, “work your fucking tits off”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“Starting 11 with with me” shouts one of the coaches, quick to do what he says, they make their way over to him, leaving the remaining players to chat and kick a few balls around amongst themselves. While this is all going on AFCS on the other hand take a very relaxed warm up, a little more sedate if you like.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">To the side of one of the goals the GBFC keeper is put through his paces. He stands sideways, only turning face on when instructed by one of the two men taking shots at him. These are no normal shots, these are shots the immortal words of Alan Partridge could be attributed, “he has a foot like a traction engine”. The spectators standing just behind him, have their lives in their own hands, because when a stray shot flies into the stand, it pings off anything in its way, occasionally drawing a raised hand of apology from the keeper. One shot is so colossal, it destroys one of the the advertising boards, sending small bits of white plastic like shrapnel into the air.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Tom’s hangover from a friend's previous nights Birthday Party, means his need for football ground food is even more heightened than usual, “time for a pie”. His choice of flavour is Balti, he also has a present for me, a small piece of shrapnel, a keepsake from the day.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Geoff who has been non stop since we arrived, fills us in on a little bit of news about today's opponents, explaining that they have only brought 3 subs, even though the FA Cup allows 5, “low on numbers or did they not fancy the journey?”, and what a journey it is, over a 300 mile round trip.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">AFCS are clapped off the pitch by their fans “come on boys” and we follow them down the tunnel, with about 10 minutes to kick-off, waiting for both teams to re-emerge.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The home dressing room is a lot louder, music is playing, and we can hear through the door the occasional shout over the music “HELP EACH OTHER BOYS!”. Every so often the door is opened, and we see players hugging each other, geeing each other up. AFCS’s on the other hand is whisper quiet in.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">When we have been in similar situations at other games, the linesman have near had to kick the door down to get the teams out, as the players savour every second of the protection the changing room offers, before the game starts, but no battering ram needed here to get their attention. Just one assistant tamely knocking on the away dressing room door, and both teams appear almost simultaneously.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">GBFC look relaxed, as they are checked for jewellery, some of them even singing along with the music, still playing behind them, only their keeper who is a little slow, needs a nudge to hurry up.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“THIS IS PRINCES PARK” is written above where both teams line up in the tunnel. Its relatively dimly</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">lit, and there is a small slope leading upwards, it is very much a light at the end of the tunnel. The referee takes the lead, his assistants at the rear, and I’m a few steps behind. I feel we are very lucky to be given the chance to do the things we have done, I know its not walking out at Old Trafford or the Nou Camp, but it really is a great feeling following the players out, your eyes having to quickly adjust to the bright sun, and before you know it you are pitchside, and the players are lining up and shaking hands.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The voice over the tannoy reverberates around the stand, in fact he shouts so loud, the speakers slightly distort, COME ON THE BORO!” A small group of travelling fans reply, “come on the swans” but the man with the microphone has the upper hand.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">There is a step difference the two teams, so when GBFC get off to a flyer, the chance of a bit of an upset seems on the cards. First when they hit the post 3 minutes in, and then the same player grabs the first goal of the match. Fists are pumped heartily on the home bench, and the away manager has to get to work on his team, “let’s wake up boys!”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Standing in the mouth of the tunnel I get to see some of the dark arts of football at play. When a clearance goes over the stand, the GBFC manager looks around the dugout for a ball, and kicks one on the pitch. “They can’t play with that”, says one of his assistants. “I know, it’s a bit of time wasting” replies the Gaffa.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">AFCS manager in no uncertain terms let's his team know what’s what, their performance so far is very poor, they are just not in the game, “we need to get going”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">25 minutes in and totally against the run of play AFCS get back in the game, after an own goal. They had not had a sniff up to that point, and understandably the home manager is annoyed his team have let the opposition back in the match.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The own goal has transformed AFCS, they are like a team reborn, and grab two goals in quick succession, taking them from one goal behind to three ahead in what seems like a heartbeat. AFCS’s manager offers the same advice almost every time the team get the ball anywhere near the box, without fail he says a single word “deliver”, and until now they had failed to do so, but this time a sweet cross is met flush on the head, and it sails past the GBFC keeper, lovely goal.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">GBFC’s coaches hands are now permanently glued to his head, the place is in shock, after the perfect start, it’s quickly gone south, heads are dropping “let’s regroup lads”. His opposite number must be relieved beyond belief, and wants his team to keep this up “more workman now”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Between AFCS 2nd and 3rd goals GBFC are given a golden chance to grab a second, the freest of free headers, is put wide at the back post, the bench are astonished, but try and keep positive, “next one”.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The first half collapse of GBFC and the resurrection of AFCS is complete when a daft tackle in the box, results in a penalty, the home manager is rubbing the bridge of his nose, as the referee points to the spot.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Despite a late rally from the home team, they can’t grab a goal, and their coach is not happy, “it’s just hit and hope”, “IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">I get myself back down the tunnel as both teams make their way back in for a orange segment, they are soon followed by a couple of away supporters, who I think speak for almost everyone in attendance “the way that started, I didn’t see that happening”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Geoff remains chipper, and hits the nail on the head “first 20 minutes you didn't know what step each team was from, but the own goal changed the whole thing”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">GBFC’s manager and coaches are out early, he must have done his talking, and left them to think about it, they are followed out by AFCS players. One of the linesman, walks at normal pace to the edge of the pitch, and all of sudden goes into full T1000 mode, running at full pelt to the other side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Once again the man with the microphone tries his best to lift what has been quite a muted crowd. There are a fair few people here, scattered around, but never really making much of a noise “let’s get behind the boro this second half, COME ON THE BORO” he shouts so loud, it brings the previous night into focus for Tom, “my headaches back”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Up front for GBFC they have what you might call a “unit” not quite a “beast”, but almost. He is strong,</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">not very mobile, what some might call an “old fashioned English centre forward”, but holds up the ball expertly, wins every ball in the air pumped in his direction, and has a mean, hard shot. His name is Gary Alexander, who once played for Millwall, West Ham and AFC Wimbledon to name a few , and not long after the break scores a wonderful free kick to get GBFC back in the game, after starting the half much like the first, on the front foot and in control.</span></div>
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__w_5ObVzLUWDVvHD-4kwgrHkDOx63se6uPUIZHnvvn-hUlb-42fgU53iazLTT3CmsmLorkMzpBv3yZ4oWSwSIcyEhjCbWShVT-clZniFgyyA9d064-J8vCFkJqdzQ1L1uM0oaXvJsyE/s1600/football+821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #4d469c; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__w_5ObVzLUWDVvHD-4kwgrHkDOx63se6uPUIZHnvvn-hUlb-42fgU53iazLTT3CmsmLorkMzpBv3yZ4oWSwSIcyEhjCbWShVT-clZniFgyyA9d064-J8vCFkJqdzQ1L1uM0oaXvJsyE/s320/football+821.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The free kick is not a curler, as Tom puts it “it’s a great angle” for a hammered shot that bypasses the wall, and leaves the AFCS keeper at 6’s and 7’s unable to deal with the sheer ferociousness of it. He had tipped a similar effort around the post before, but this one was unstoppable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“Get the fucking ball” screams someone from the bench, no time for celebrating.</span></div>
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJf3sYrIDtiflTH6X5107259BHruWMjmW2dS5ufei6YpiVwtnvwR27NoK-ji2HQw8hs2uHGoP3Xt59iJmRjsqWoh-MCAZruNMljpnHJhQ69F90lbaDwFK_lzFJqqKWbC-R6t6pR6OvEY/s1600/football+824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #4d469c; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJf3sYrIDtiflTH6X5107259BHruWMjmW2dS5ufei6YpiVwtnvwR27NoK-ji2HQw8hs2uHGoP3Xt59iJmRjsqWoh-MCAZruNMljpnHJhQ69F90lbaDwFK_lzFJqqKWbC-R6t6pR6OvEY/s320/football+824.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">For the next 30 mins or so the underdogs go hammer and tongs at AFCS, trying to get the equalizer, and this wakes the crowd up “COME ON BORO”. The coach perhaps asking a bit of his team, suggests a “back heel would of scored”, when a player with his back to goal can’t turn to shoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“Unlucky boys, we go again”.</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">And that they do, a curling shot is just saved and another free header from 2 yards out can’t be converted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“It’s coming”.</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">The early steam since the goal has started to disappear, and with 10 minutes to go, there are a few tired legs out there, and the pace has slowed down considerably.</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">In Alexander they have a player who is perhaps in the twilight of his career, but clearly still cares. This was displayed perfectly in the last few moments of the game, when he has a chance almost identical to the free kick he has already scored. He places the ball on the ground, turns, says a few words to himself, looking to the heavens, grabbing at the club badge on his shirt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">It’s another fine effort, but no glory for him today, no story for the grandkids, the AFCS keeper gets his fingers to a real rocket of a shot, and tips it over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">“Everything boys!” is the the request of the GBFC coach, like an officer in the final throws of a battle.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">There are a few half chances, and what seems like a considerable amount of extra time, AFCS are doing a good job of running into the corners. The two home coaches stand side by side, hands locked and resting on the top of their heads, and despite all the will in the world from the sidelines “come on lads, big winner” it’s not meant to be this year, and the away team will progress to the next round.</span></div>
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPmzk4C3QNyKJlgNzNMqdPjY3UXmgx-E6xtqRnDR0KitTzcyd-sZBG7OoCIhoMIIDYi_r1WQ7sk2ZiVICamWXIOEht7_J44qWvbf3soNm8zNSkLFJ0NF9ZE3lz2QoSTnZ6xdyzd38Jlo/s1600/football+857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #4d469c; float: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPmzk4C3QNyKJlgNzNMqdPjY3UXmgx-E6xtqRnDR0KitTzcyd-sZBG7OoCIhoMIIDYi_r1WQ7sk2ZiVICamWXIOEht7_J44qWvbf3soNm8zNSkLFJ0NF9ZE3lz2QoSTnZ6xdyzd38Jlo/s320/football+857.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The small band of travelling fans, make the most noise of the day, hugging each other, then hugging and applauding the players who come over to celebrate with them, their long trip here was not in vain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">In the boardroom its sandwiches and sausage rolls galore, someone even produces a bottle of champagne. Speaking to the AFCS President, as he tucks into a few things on a paper plate, he is clear the FA Cup is all about the adventure and hard graft “we know we will never win, but you get to see new places, set ups like this”, “we are about the battle, and that’s what we did today”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">GBFC Chairman, Perry, is gracious in defeat, but I can tell he thinks it's an opportunity missed today “that 15 minutes in the first half was suicidal”, but his sentiment is the same as the other clubs we have visited in the competition so far “pick up the money and see how far we can go”. In fact the previous season's cup run turned into something he called their “nemesis” after the fixture congestion put them 7 or 8 games behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Sitting on the train home, well I was sitting, Tom was lying, his exploits of the birthday party, had finally won, and after a person flashed me the top of his cock and pubes. I mulled over the day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">It must be awful being forced to play away from the area your club is associated with, the place its history is formed. In the hands of Perry, it sounds like there is a long term plan in place, a world away from the “right here, right now” attitude of so many clubs and owners. He spoke of “no pressure” on the management, which must be music to the ears of the fans, as stability is key, instead of playing manager musical chairs. “5 year plan to be in the conference, to be independent. The facilities are great here, but we should be back in the borough soon”.</span></div>
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVgM_ZfNNY5gBdl9uJ8GBOKvQpj-Juwwz5Y8APElTBXbFCsXxIXJnJhY5Zit4m3LpqolO42CIY_lrp7100kLUrxsxfMtpsKW1dgomBjzMY2qzvCA3Vlym_lJvucmOtGpVQpQx9tOWp7Y/s1600/football+917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #4d469c; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVgM_ZfNNY5gBdl9uJ8GBOKvQpj-Juwwz5Y8APElTBXbFCsXxIXJnJhY5Zit4m3LpqolO42CIY_lrp7100kLUrxsxfMtpsKW1dgomBjzMY2qzvCA3Vlym_lJvucmOtGpVQpQx9tOWp7Y/s320/football+917.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Congratulations to the Swans who march on to the next round, commiserations to our fantastic hosts, you put up a great fight. If you get a chance to to visit Princes Park to see GBFC or Dartford I would highly recommend it, I’m not sure you would not have seen anything quite like it before.</span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><b>You can read more of the guy's offerings by following the links below;</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><a href="http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk/">http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/BeautifulGame15">https://twitter.com/BeautifulGame15</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulGame15/timeline/">https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulGame15/timeline/</a></span></div>
</span></div>
underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-12052530426461869062015-09-22T05:42:00.000-07:002015-09-22T05:52:09.869-07:00CONTRIBUTION: TWO MEN IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOZPCpXWR1qlOQEVn27genCwMqxkSBzvh9Js8Uvs6wUMSCQvjRy7fyGKHwTmEJH75HvhsEV9rpmQgNhDDHLG17JSE8ww7GoHFv3w8_J4O-JvPWiYotJ2hwBT0C3lkVKvcBOzNYVLiB8E/s1600/P1100477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOZPCpXWR1qlOQEVn27genCwMqxkSBzvh9Js8Uvs6wUMSCQvjRy7fyGKHwTmEJH75HvhsEV9rpmQgNhDDHLG17JSE8ww7GoHFv3w8_J4O-JvPWiYotJ2hwBT0C3lkVKvcBOzNYVLiB8E/s320/P1100477.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The guys over at TWO MEN IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME were kind enough to allow us to share this recent article on AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC & FISHER FC from their blog;</span><br />
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After a yomp up Streatham High Street in search of a cash machine, seeing a woman spit on another woman <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">pushing a pram, finally finding a cash point, but then being held up in traffic because of the police dealing with the pre mentioned gobbing, and then seeing two cash points next to the train station we got off at in the first place, this evening has been quite eventful already, but it’s a perfect night for a game, clear and crisp, so all is quickly forgotten as we sit on the top deck of the bus, on our way to a new ground.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">As with most games, we hop off the bus in another nondescript suburb, solely relying on Google maps to take us the right way, with no obvious sign of a football club, just kids bombing up and down the streets on bikes, enjoying the last hours of daylight.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">It’s not until we see a brown sign pointing down a un-tarmaced, unlit road, that we vaguely think we are in the right neck of the woods. The “road” also seems to be the local point for the eco conscious fly tippers, so we weave past old mattresses, computers and some things it is probably just better not asking what it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Next to a paddock with horses in, we finally come across a sign, like something from a horror movie, pointing the innocent college summer breakers to “Camp: going to cut your head off” finally affirming we are where we are meant to be, and relieving Toms notion I had done some duff research, “WELCOME TO CROYDON ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The sign has seen better days, but the long thin arrow points us further up the path, in for a penny in for a pound I say, so on we go.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The ground itself is somewhat secluded, surrounded by high trees, so we hear the players warming up before we see anything. Past the Ryman League signs, alluding to the club's lofty past, and through the turnstile, “The Charlie Bennett Gate”, which itself is a simple breeze block construction, but the mechanism is clearly much older, the chap on the gate, seems to think they had come from Southampton, we get our first look at the Mayfield Stadium, and bare witness to the formidable glare of the floodlights, they are dazzling bright, this is the home of AFC Croydon Athletic (AFC), “The Rams”, of the Southern Counties East Football League.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">First impressions are very good, in what is a compact ground, certainly one of the better standard ones we have visited, although perhaps needing a little lick of paint, it feels like a good setting for the night ahead. Our first port of call is to find the clubs Chairman, Paul who has kindly agreed to impart some of his considerable knowledge on the club upon us, and after asking the man at the gate the best place to find him he suggests the clubhouse.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Around the back of the main all seater stand, painted from top to bottom in the maroon of the clubs colours, past a metal staircase, that looks like a fire escape, is in fact what leads to a slightly unceremonious looking door with a “Director's Box” sign on it, Tom’s spider senses kick into action “I can smell onions!”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The clubhouse is the beating heart of any club, and AFC is no different, a well stocked bar decorated with pennants from previous cup fixtures, and taking pride of place dead centre is a large silver cup. Each table has a linen tablecloth and a small dance floor, for when the room is used for someone’s 12th birthday or 60th wedding anniversary. Paul is behind the bar, in shirt and club tie, and welcomes us with a big handshake. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Having arrived at the game a little later than we had wanted, we don’t have much of a chance to chat with Paul about the club, as we are both interested to hear about the club’s history, considering the club was only formed in 2012, by far the youngest club we have seen in action, and it’s not until I received a considerable email a few days later that I realise quite what a soap opera the life of this young club has been. Tom though has had time to scout out the food on offer, and is impressed “hot dogs, that’s a new one”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">When an email starts with “Prison... Cricket... News of the World... Suicide... Danish Takeover/collapse... Prison”, you know you are in for an interesting read, and I was not wrong. What unfolded over the next couple of pages had more scandals, and intrigue than Jackie Collins novel. Perhaps most intriguingly the involvement of one of the main protagonists in the Pakistani cricket betting scandal revealed by the News Of the Word. As well as the clubhouse being burnt to the ground, and the land amongst other things being used as a traveller encampment. The fact there is a club and team to come and see at all is remarkable. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Paul also points out that “on 6th February 2012 a gathering of supporters that I chaired decided to form a new club, AFC Croydon Athletic (2012) Limited. It is a company limited by guarantee. The old club remained in existence and therefore the new club is not a reformation of the old and has no link with the old other than the supporters themselves. The new club's history began on 6th February 2012.”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2Y7fBgyLrzc48KBNFtrnhJ6b3E2OPWz0cMqJWom2eUzaV_EpWmN4xzwAPq7SXBMu3KlzCNkDxXGczwFIDgS5wUauvH6ro_m64tbmxN4msM6EnG24R1VW246r8SM3wPB0OudrHSqAiCQ/s1600/football+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #4d469c; float: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2Y7fBgyLrzc48KBNFtrnhJ6b3E2OPWz0cMqJWom2eUzaV_EpWmN4xzwAPq7SXBMu3KlzCNkDxXGczwFIDgS5wUauvH6ro_m64tbmxN4msM6EnG24R1VW246r8SM3wPB0OudrHSqAiCQ/s320/football+110.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">We take a seat in the front row of the stand, not long after a player clutching his kitbag races past us and into the changing rooms, a little late to say the least, considering both teams are on the pitch. Tonight’s opposition are Fisher FC (FFC) of Bermondsey. AFC’s warm up is disrupted by an injury to a player, and after making sure he is ok, talk quickly turns to changing the starting line up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Once the players make their way into the changing room, connected to the clubhouse behind us in the stand, the turnaround is quick, and in no time at all both teams line up, ready to go, AFC in an all maroon number, FFC in a fetching black and white striped jersey. Players from each side occasionally offering their own advice to their teams mates, “lively, guys”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">FFC are clapped on by a small but noisy contingent of fans, noticeably by two tall chaps dressed all in black who have the look of undertakers about them “Come on Fisher”. One of them, sounding like a broken record, occasionally just says “come on the fish” not particularly loudly, or aimed at anyone in particular, just happy in his own little world. An equally sized, but not so noisy group of AFC fans reply, “come on you Rams”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The undertakers and their chums make their way around the pitch, and take up position opposite us, not far from the dugouts, which resemble Anderson Shelters. They are quick to make what is a considerable turnout aware of their presence, “Fisher, fisher, fisher, fisher, fisher”, banging on the metal roof of the standing terrace.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Shortly after kick-off a man carrying a Quality Street tin, and wearing a club scarf entices us with the chance of a “£25 prize” if we buy a ticket for the 50/50 raffle, and once we buy one, he is quick to pounce on people just arriving, with the same alluring offer.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“We all follow the fisher, over land and sea” “there is only one fishers FC”. FFC’s early non stop support, is accompanied by their teams early dominance, noticeably the searing pace of their forward players. An early good save from the AFC keeper keeps FFC at bay for now, as a goal seems likely from every attack.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pl7dn1jB2JYBOBicUF3ASF_kmqGlPSI26bqEDlV2KTge_i6OQdULQzzWf9UqsovooXlEnx3f-gHckCjcxMXMPmhh0QGJ2FpS_GQVHthZg0Xq9sT8Z_-_AKExFtmrSH7338Jvh-B9ofY/s1600/football+262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #4d469c; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Pl7dn1jB2JYBOBicUF3ASF_kmqGlPSI26bqEDlV2KTge_i6OQdULQzzWf9UqsovooXlEnx3f-gHckCjcxMXMPmhh0QGJ2FpS_GQVHthZg0Xq9sT8Z_-_AKExFtmrSH7338Jvh-B9ofY/s320/football+262.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The silver haired lady from the food hatch, has popped out for a ciggie, a chance to watch the game, still wearing her apron, and is more than happy to offer her opinion on proceedings “handball, ref!”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“It’s only a matter of time” says Tom as the FFC onslaught continues, and the home fans behind us feel their teams display is only helping FFC “we are giving them too much time on the ball”. It’s been one way traffic from the get go, and with 20 minutes on the clock, AFC have not even registered a shot on goal. Although it’s one of the largest turnout for a mid week match, it’s not the loudest, the FFC fans however are doing enough singing for everyone, occasionally the small group of home fans behind the goal FFC are attacking will every so often let out a shout “come on Croydon”, to be fair so far their team has not given them much to shout about.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Something you quickly notice at non-league grounds, is the dilemma a hefty, high clearance, can cause. As the stands are not as big, the Mayfield Stadium is only surrounded by a low wall, with some tatty nets at each end of the pitch, which have seen better days, and are ineffectual against a Peter Kay type “have it” clearance. It is therefore down to someone to go and retrieve the ball, tonight it is the responsibility of the 3 or 4 youth players sitting behind us. When the first said clearance occurs, the group behind get into a “it’s not me” back and forth, until one gives in, and goes in search of the lost ball.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The player injured in the warm up, emerges, hopping with only one shoe on, its awkward to watch him move around without a crutch, and to add insult to injury his phone pops out of his pocket and crashes to the ground, it’s not his day today. He also makes his life harder than it has to be, hopping all the way to other end of the stand, the opposite end of the changing room, to sit down</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Come on you Rams”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“I’m going on a walkabout, then its burgers and chips time” are the immortal words of my co blogger, as he fetches his other lense from his camera bag, and disappears into the night. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Thanks to a touch of good luck, and when I say the goal is so against the run of play, the expression has never been so relevant in the history of football, AFC go 1 - 0 up. A not very good corner arrives at the foot of an AFC player near the front post, who hooks a “shot” towards the back post, the tameness of it means the FFC defender should not have an issue clearing it, but he misjudges the ball, it bounces in front of him, hits him on the thigh and into the back of the net, own goal, he almost stamps his feet like a toddler, beyond annoyed at what happened. AFC dont care, they are somehow ahead, and run off towards the bench in celebration. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBUx0Lb7XQBGO1bMDM48DjWfv-1E5whrDsjcDrT67m4FOBgAsZjWFfaJFjQcDtCiY6VVOKmqE7ydXe3g4ofCJRLzNa-78oizcAb9xyZvsPykBTI4XULSHC2IPErkLcQLvOOAJKeU5kiA/s1600/football+333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #4d469c; float: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBUx0Lb7XQBGO1bMDM48DjWfv-1E5whrDsjcDrT67m4FOBgAsZjWFfaJFjQcDtCiY6VVOKmqE7ydXe3g4ofCJRLzNa-78oizcAb9xyZvsPykBTI4XULSHC2IPErkLcQLvOOAJKeU5kiA/s320/football+333.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“We are Croydon, super Croydon, no one likes us”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Since the goal, it’s like a new team have miraculously appeared, AFC go in search of a 2nd, a good shot from outside the box, is just pushed wide by the FFC keeper. Their search for a second is not a long one as they score again in slightly dubious circumstances. Not an own goal this time, but what looks like some help from the linesman. The goal results from another high looping hooked shot from the outside of the box, and looks like only ending up in the FFC keepers hands, only for a FFC player who looks miles offside, standing alone in the box, to nod it over the keeper, 2 - 0. Paul who has forgone his bar duties to catch some of the game, is sitting next to me and can’t believe it was given “he had to be offside”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I think it’s fair to say the home supporters, are surprised to say the least they are 2 - 0 ahead. The small group of AFC fans are happy, and break into song again “2 - 0 to the Croydon boys” And that is how the half ends, much to the annoyance of the FFC players and staff who look pissed off as they leave the pitch.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Along with what has been an engrossing game on the pitch, perhaps more interestingly has been the person in the AFC tracksuit, perhaps an injured player, leaning against the railing a few feet away from us. He has lived out every kick, header and pass as the game has unfolded. Annoyed at a stray pass and ecstatic at the goal, as if he was playing in the game himself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Most of the stand make their way to the clubhouse at half time, Tom like every good Arsenal fan, beats the rush and goes slightly before the final whistle to get in line for the food. By the time I get in there the queue is considerable, and the choice of music has me slightly confused, the slow ballads of Elton John would not be my pick for half time entertainment.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Another raffle, another occasion lady luck is not on my side, “648, the winning ticket is 648”. The noise of the rattling sweet tin had me glued to the draw, but when I knew the £25 was not ours, my dreams were dashed for another evening.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Tom seems to have been standing in the same place in the queue, not moving an inch, and by the time he does make it over to our table, grasping a burger with a different size top to bottom, he is slightly exasperated “she will be there all night, doing one burger at a time”. He does though tell me about the chip situation that he was advised about, which leads to another sentence for the non-league gem pile “I wasn’t going to do chips tonight, the girl who does the chips isn't here!”.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">FFC are out well early, are in a team huddle which goes on for an eternity, and once two of their coaches tip toe across the pitch with a cup of tea in hand, the second half in under way.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The small group of AFC fans have stayed put, now behind the goal they are attacking, the FFC fans have moved, now both at opposing ends of the pitch. And although they are behind, they continue to out sing the the home side.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq1qDeEFQQQvqzAB27oBx0Ga8KVF36OoI5PboaRJHVwMucDjlpeuNTzZ1z9kLJ6s5T28zAi3GlqmWBWFTb0lKuP_dk2C70hCBQhvkfPlUi2-GydQrOPAjt8gTGFxGR9c0t6rpaSbCpX4/s1600/football+263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #4d469c; float: left; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq1qDeEFQQQvqzAB27oBx0Ga8KVF36OoI5PboaRJHVwMucDjlpeuNTzZ1z9kLJ6s5T28zAi3GlqmWBWFTb0lKuP_dk2C70hCBQhvkfPlUi2-GydQrOPAjt8gTGFxGR9c0t6rpaSbCpX4/s320/football+263.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="212" /></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The visitors take off in the 2nd half from where they started in the 1st. It’s a credit to them, you would not know they are behind, and are quick to push AFC all the way back into their own half. A succession of 3 or 4 songs in a row come from the unwaivable FFC support, still banging the roof of the stand “Can you hear the Croydon sing”, “it’s just like 7 oaks” “shall we sing a song for you”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“Well they’re having a nice time” says Tom.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“I’ve got skinny jeans on” proclaims one of the youth players, who have returned to their seats well into the half, with yellow polystyrene trays full of food. Restricted by his fashion choice, he is unable to climb over the seats, and has to go the long way round. Tracksuit man, has not moved, and continues to flinch and move with every pass and cross, becoming increasingly twitchy as AFC are forced further and further back, and 15 minutes into the half they have not had a shot.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">AFC fans finally get a short song going, only for the FFC to sarcastically applaud their first effort of the half.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">An optimistic shout goes out from one AFC player to the rest “come on boys let’s have a winner”, and finally a great solo run from a team mate looks like grabbing the 3rd, only for a tame shot, not doing justice to his previous efforts.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Is danger money included or at the very least are his chips free? is the question I ask myself, as the same youth player goes off in search of a lost ball, this time leaving his friends doubled up in laughter, as he scales a ladder leaning against the roof of one of the terraces, and like a well trained circus performer, he performs a daredevil walk across the roof, arms stretched out wide for balance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">AFC are riding their luck with 10 minutes to go, it looks well within the realm of possibility if FFC get a goal, they could go on to win it. They hit the post, and a free kick from the edge of the box is just pushed wide, but the footballing Gods are smiling on AFC tonight, as they manage to grab a 3rd in the last minutes of the half. A high aimless ball in the general direction of the FFC box, after a ineffectual AFC corner, is flicked on and finds a FFC player perfectly placed on the edge of the area as the FFC defence rush the opposite way leaving him all alone to control the ball, take advantage of the indecisive FFC keeper, who doesn't know if he is coming or going, and coolly lob it over him for 3 - 0.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">“ARE YOU MILLWALL IN DISGUISE” is probably the loudest cheer from the home fans, directed at the visitors, as the final whistle goes. Regardless of defeat the FFC fans are happy to continue singing “We love you fisher we do”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Although they won, the AFC number 2 who has not had the best day at the office, marches off the pitch alone, followed by the rest of the team, who are in much better spirits and are happy to pose for a couple of pics for us.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The FFC team are getting the full Phil Brown service, heads are low as they sit on the pitch getting a talking to, and once they start making their way back inside I overhear one of them say to another “we are going to get hammered!”</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Tom goes on the pitch, to grab a few pictures of the stragglers, and a member of the FFC staff comments that he is amazed he can, considering the lights. It would seem that it is not only us who have noticed how strong they are, but in fact more at one end than the other, there is a dark and bright end if you like.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">I pop back into the clubhouse to thank Paul, who is back behind the bar, and get another monster handshake. I ask if AFC will be playing in the upcoming FA Cup fixtures, “sadly not, we went out first round, probably our worst performance of the season, along with this one”.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJYGYuzNbFbBajz61vL-VOM-3j856Hir8aB0auJRuXI5qVavBqBZb4hrMgwVyrWNExnRtSN3xB0Q_l1RrsBKrwHEzQ_KeQwMp75ra24vovoD6mOwhvPsVLiKm66bxrbelBgn1ky3szA/s1600/football+430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #4d469c; float: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJYGYuzNbFbBajz61vL-VOM-3j856Hir8aB0auJRuXI5qVavBqBZb4hrMgwVyrWNExnRtSN3xB0Q_l1RrsBKrwHEzQ_KeQwMp75ra24vovoD6mOwhvPsVLiKm66bxrbelBgn1ky3szA/s320/football+430.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">The now pitch black lane back to the main road, is a completely different animal, with only the headlights of a few cars creeping along it, to light the way. We order an Uber who arrives at the opposite end, doesn't fancy driving down, and cancels on us, thankfully the next attempt to book one, is successful and he gets us to the station sharpish.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">AFC are another fine example of a fan owned club who powered by their own passion have resurrected their team, not allowing the miss-dealings of others to ruin what is important to them. If you are going to a night game take a torch and some sun glasses, that would be my only advice, other than that make sure you get down to The Mayfield Stadium, it is well worth the visit.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>To access more excellent pieces from Daniel & Tom check out their blog by following the link below;</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk/">http://beautifulgame2015.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></span></span>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-20935093920459831072015-09-09T12:28:00.001-07:002015-09-09T12:28:25.412-07:00INTERVIEW: Nick Leek (PART-TIME)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUplkTFiPHFdWhwKfBJBaSBqzclOmzyzPq_O1ZA6466wa69IhSFKHXYNcSsEd5ksGsw-8SkEnSvpyCTlCpP2j7NqtB2sTkQ7gJdyLW5FC9WMxa5DNRrkmG-5OrPrwGaAcAShRiN8lm3kvT/s1600/1661914_454527128040087_6822506786802821273_n+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUplkTFiPHFdWhwKfBJBaSBqzclOmzyzPq_O1ZA6466wa69IhSFKHXYNcSsEd5ksGsw-8SkEnSvpyCTlCpP2j7NqtB2sTkQ7gJdyLW5FC9WMxa5DNRrkmG-5OrPrwGaAcAShRiN8lm3kvT/s320/1661914_454527128040087_6822506786802821273_n+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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A documentary following Leamington FC during the back-end of the 2014/15 campaign was screened on television last night (don't worry if you missed it, repeat details are below). It documented how players juggled their footballing careers with lives outside of the beautiful game and was a pleasure to watch.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were lucky enough to get the chance to ask film maker Nick Leek a few questions about the film;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Has media production always been a hobby of yours?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I wouldn't say always, but from 16/17 onwards, I developed a keen interest with it and </span><span style="color: #222222;">I've</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> just continued with it since.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did you get into filming for Leamington FC?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was told about it by my friend, who also films the home matches with me at Leamington. It was initially a work experience type of thing, which tied into our university studies at the time. It was mainly just something to add to our CV's and portfolios, but we really began to enjoy it so we simply just continued with it.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did the documentary come about?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously with non-league football clubs and players, you hear about them having to work day-jobs, earning much less money than professional players etc. I was aware of this prior to filming at Leamington, but there was a Tuesday evening fixture last year where I had overheard a few Leamington players discussing being at work all day, being tired and having to play their match that night. From then on, I knew what film I wanted to make and how it would go.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you come out of it with a new found respect for players & staff at that level?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Definitely. Most non-league clubs are Part-Time, so most will have to work outside of their football commitments. This is obviously something professional players and clubs do not have to worry about. That in itself is something everybody can respect about the non-league game.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the most eye-opening thing you learnt during the project?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably just how difficult it must be for the management and players to get things right on a Saturday, when they only train twice a week and work everyday. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you always had a passion for non-league football?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Honestly, not really. I have only really been following it since I started filming the Leamington matches in January 2014. Since then though, I've obviously I've developed an interest in it. Non-league football is very under-rated, you do see some good players at this level and some cracking games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A huge thank you to Nick for doing this. If you missed out on the first showing of Part Time you can catch it on the Community Channel <span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; line-height: 18.0009px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Freeview: Channel 63, Sky: Channel 539. Virgin Media: Channel 233, Freesat: Channel 951) </span>on the following dates;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; line-height: 18.0009px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday 17th September @ 9:30pm
Friday 25th September @ 9:30pm
Tuesday 29th September @ 9:30pm</span></span></div>
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<br />underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-86876158534051543772015-08-19T10:09:00.000-07:002015-08-19T10:09:06.917-07:00MK DONS FC: POYET JOINS ON LOAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazjLwpCuFJ7YUspFL4QJXMuQtIfXx9FA2miAGgQpFOSAnc5ThJIBYzrY0HunirtD4jNLYnvc5Rgrka1LNpORxOzDdwcnSNLienU4yyFrZ9WaNQF4PaSmVDPSVG6pReo1xJiZFW03jBq0-/s1600/MK+Dons.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazjLwpCuFJ7YUspFL4QJXMuQtIfXx9FA2miAGgQpFOSAnc5ThJIBYzrY0HunirtD4jNLYnvc5Rgrka1LNpORxOzDdwcnSNLienU4yyFrZ9WaNQF4PaSmVDPSVG6pReo1xJiZFW03jBq0-/s200/MK+Dons.png" width="100" /></a></div>
West Ham United's Diego Poyet has linked up with Championship side MK Dons on loan for the remainder of the season.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mkdons.co.uk/">http://www.mkdons.co.uk/</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-37364118274449623512015-08-19T10:07:00.004-07:002015-08-19T10:07:47.079-07:00NEWPORT COUNTY FC: JOSH SIGNS ON LOAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Newport County have taken Brentford midfielder Josh Laurent on loan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/county-sign-josh-laurent-on-loan-2632361.aspx">http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/county-sign-josh-laurent-on-loan-2632361.aspx</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-78322098282030004102015-08-19T10:06:00.000-07:002015-08-19T10:06:50.440-07:00OXFORD UNITED FC: CARROLL AGREES PRO DEAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoIEyxgzijB-4mEQUJPhd55rrJsZNyy5f4juin7jGyvJ8PvRcMeZFsY3UBjpvni-mG2osqGXY2XeeoXn2et8OsgZj3FSgaShvSruk4PaVzrbXpOxP1mL9kmfIvTg8KUrkl2ZyoWX1eLrY/s1600/Oxford+United+FC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoIEyxgzijB-4mEQUJPhd55rrJsZNyy5f4juin7jGyvJ8PvRcMeZFsY3UBjpvni-mG2osqGXY2XeeoXn2et8OsgZj3FSgaShvSruk4PaVzrbXpOxP1mL9kmfIvTg8KUrkl2ZyoWX1eLrY/s200/Oxford+United+FC.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Canice Carroll has penned his first professional contract with Oxford United.<br />
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<a href="http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-canice-carroll-2631726.aspx">http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-canice-carroll-2631726.aspx</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-23883046052990263522015-08-19T10:04:00.000-07:002015-08-19T10:04:04.478-07:00BRADFORD CITY FC: INJURY UPDATE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bradford City striker Billy Clarke looks set to miss up to three months of action for the League One side after injuring his knee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/parkinson-confirms-clarke-injury-news-2632143.aspx">http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/parkinson-confirms-clarke-injury-news-2632143.aspx</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-22160007327563358562015-08-19T10:02:00.002-07:002015-08-19T10:02:23.789-07:00BARNET FC: MCLEAN SIGNS ON <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Barnet have secured the signing of former Peterborough United striker Aaron McLean on a short-term deal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/aaron-mclean-signs-for-barnet-2632334.aspx">http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/aaron-mclean-signs-for-barnet-2632334.aspx</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-84962608588131484102015-08-19T10:01:00.001-07:002015-08-19T10:01:09.599-07:00CARDIFF CITY FC: LOAN DEAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cardiff City's Filip Kiss has joined FK Haugesund on a twelve month loan deal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/loan-deal-kiss-to-sk-haugesund-2632632.aspx">http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/article/loan-deal-kiss-to-sk-haugesund-2632632.aspx</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-78425335338927628372015-08-19T09:59:00.004-07:002015-08-19T09:59:46.273-07:00GRAYS ATHLETIC FC: TWO MORE SIGN ON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayYfLXJ7Ij8E_j_XLYykEaTH0YurL4-XgfyIHBjpUaw5nqUN6ixZScFGGY0vrElLz52Dzof41Athc654z-Rh8ctekdyWFaykratm80tnKm3dKCIZZ2j_f2Lb54tSHjkWgH9lSs7reH8u8/s1600/GRAYSATHLETIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayYfLXJ7Ij8E_j_XLYykEaTH0YurL4-XgfyIHBjpUaw5nqUN6ixZScFGGY0vrElLz52Dzof41Athc654z-Rh8ctekdyWFaykratm80tnKm3dKCIZZ2j_f2Lb54tSHjkWgH9lSs7reH8u8/s200/GRAYSATHLETIC.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>
Harry Agombar and Perry Tamburini have both re-joined Grays Athletic.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/two-more-former-players-sign-on-for-the-blues-1475719.html">http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/two-more-former-players-sign-on-for-the-blues-1475719.html</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-63258703034221093792015-08-18T07:14:00.000-07:002015-08-18T07:14:09.486-07:00MATCH PREVIEW: LINCOLN CITY vs MACCLESFIELD TOWN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0_UHn7Hb3i5NlLKRXoN6y3f6uasX_KlTHKZmSr-82Bdi3B5KJj4aczXX7bKpVocPEDlEhQGToo6UG6hCvu4LuGMspO3gWABsrX-K9F54WJE5S0P5LXqVO6a-lkicHkJGwtBlUkNEMOVm/s1600/LINCOLN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0_UHn7Hb3i5NlLKRXoN6y3f6uasX_KlTHKZmSr-82Bdi3B5KJj4aczXX7bKpVocPEDlEhQGToo6UG6hCvu4LuGMspO3gWABsrX-K9F54WJE5S0P5LXqVO6a-lkicHkJGwtBlUkNEMOVm/s200/LINCOLN.png" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAFuEITL4VAUAcat8CyZ-USBth7_H5R_PNmqe8ZSMaSk0S12RCvWSg2ZfTYyrlrNihu3DTz_ioYBSTpwHIGADdpMBTEhNiMahv2StV36qLW5sn4Hb4VzNoILPhq0F9eb-jhjvRVv4QpQZ/s1600/Macclesfield+Town+FC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAFuEITL4VAUAcat8CyZ-USBth7_H5R_PNmqe8ZSMaSk0S12RCvWSg2ZfTYyrlrNihu3DTz_ioYBSTpwHIGADdpMBTEhNiMahv2StV36qLW5sn4Hb4VzNoILPhq0F9eb-jhjvRVv4QpQZ/s200/Macclesfield+Town+FC.png" width="199" /></a></div>
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<b><u><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Lincoln City Vs Macclesfield Town
Match Preview.</u></b></div>
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<b><u>Tuesday 18<sup>th</sup> August 2015.</u></b></div>
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Lincoln and Macclesfield go into this encounter on Tuesday
evening looking to improve on their
mixed starts to the season, both clubs have had a worrying time over the
summer regarding the finances and have done well to get competitive teams.</div>
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Lincoln have played 2 of the expected promotion challengers
, Eastleigh and Cheltenham where they
held their own by drawing them both 1- 1 , they won at Braintree 1 - 3. </div>
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Macclesfield lost the 1<sup>st</sup> game of the season 1-0
when they played Torquay United away from home, they drew the 2<sup>nd</sup>
game 0-0 at home to Southport and have beaten Welling 2-1 this weekend </div>
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Lincoln made around 10 new signings in the close season,
including former Macclesfield loanee Luke Waterfall. Luke spent 3 months at the
Moss Rose at the beginning of last season and formed a great partnership with
George Pilkington. Other signings at Lincoln include Matt Rhead who was
released by Mansfield, Matthew Sparrow from Scunthorpe, Craig Stanley from
Eastleigh, Jack Muldoon from Rochdale, and Lee Beevers from Mansfield.</div>
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Macclesfield managed to keep the majority of the team
together after a successful season last term, they lost three key players in
the form of Scott Barrow and Rhys Taylor to Newport County and Adriano Moke to
Wrexham. The Silkmen signed goalkeeper Shwan Jalai who was a free agent, Curtis
Haynes-Brown from Lowestoft, Neil Byrne from AFC Telford also Theo
Bailey-Jones, John Marsden, Jack Sampson and Kristian Dennis.</div>
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The two team’s last season encounters were very competitive,
Lincoln won their home game and Macclesfield won the return game. The first
match was played at Sincil Bank in September with goals from Tom Miller and Ben
Tomlinson in a 2-0 victory, Macclesfield got there revenge at the Moss Rose
with goals from Denny Johnstone, Paul Lewis and Matthew Barnes-Homer in a 3-0
victory.</div>
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<b><u>Team News</u><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Lincoln are expected to go into the game with an unchanged
team from the one that drew with Eastleigh on Saturday. Macclesfield hope to welcome back Andy Halls after his 1
game suspension, and also will be without left back Tony Diange. Diagne is
unavailable because he’s on a season long loan from Lincoln. Damani Holness
could start on the Macclesfield bench after signing non-contract forms on
Monday afternoon.</div>
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- Christopher Hulme </div>
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<br />underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-40190175070867513862015-08-17T09:20:00.000-07:002015-08-17T09:20:04.807-07:00CHELMSFORD CITY FC: YOUNGSTER JOINS ON LOAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8RsQg_jhnQhYpOiCSv534xd9lp1-wdPrSXQwZpmdsFGfz0TOOJg8u_c-HUGnEkpF2RFAyN1OLzKlWoToOF58Lnbc4wVNqW2342VLSZA7X_9ZQl3TLc_hjIkRIEXmUhF_PUSw68kEDLsO/s1600/CHELMSFORD.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8RsQg_jhnQhYpOiCSv534xd9lp1-wdPrSXQwZpmdsFGfz0TOOJg8u_c-HUGnEkpF2RFAyN1OLzKlWoToOF58Lnbc4wVNqW2342VLSZA7X_9ZQl3TLc_hjIkRIEXmUhF_PUSw68kEDLsO/s200/CHELMSFORD.png" width="100" /></a></div>
Chelmsford City have taken West Ham United's Moses Makasi on loan for a month.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/hammers-youngster-joins-clarets-on-loan-1473480.html">http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/hammers-youngster-joins-clarets-on-loan-1473480.html</a>underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-46234009923185885812015-08-17T09:19:00.001-07:002015-08-17T09:19:28.693-07:00GILLINGHAM FC: DAVIES JOINS BROMLEY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgZSklWbNGhThE_MjhilV94pTbSJ4j8R2fdhJOvwwKAFHBWOqsxPpyC3dSZctzll70Af0dTf5m0Sc_nBJ3nDPYUiCqtTGW4nYw1NFGv_vEAZOnbLwu7G3B5rOGW9jCmxLl94wRnzB3hpR/s1600/GILLINGHAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgZSklWbNGhThE_MjhilV94pTbSJ4j8R2fdhJOvwwKAFHBWOqsxPpyC3dSZctzll70Af0dTf5m0Sc_nBJ3nDPYUiCqtTGW4nYw1NFGv_vEAZOnbLwu7G3B5rOGW9jCmxLl94wRnzB3hpR/s200/GILLINGHAM.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Gillingham's defender Callum Davies has joined Bromley on loan for a month.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/callum-davies-has-joined-bromley-on-a-one-month-loan-deal-2620190.aspx">http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/callum-davies-has-joined-bromley-on-a-one-month-loan-deal-2620190.aspx</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-50635199453974534982015-08-17T09:18:00.004-07:002015-08-17T09:18:44.894-07:00BRADFORD CITY AFC: JONES JOINS BANTAMS <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPmrSeVPfXeoFd9dUJR2yVtmPrHXt7os5wjsGZ_csnDCosxLPuwCB8UglVN6JfMZ5z2113_H7D_rC5b1AU1tue7LPhEYuI31FAg9fVz-SeDfy0QegDTgaJuf7NYLWtLk0SckYJhB0izUc/s1600/Bradford+City+FC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPmrSeVPfXeoFd9dUJR2yVtmPrHXt7os5wjsGZ_csnDCosxLPuwCB8UglVN6JfMZ5z2113_H7D_rC5b1AU1tue7LPhEYuI31FAg9fVz-SeDfy0QegDTgaJuf7NYLWtLk0SckYJhB0izUc/s200/Bradford+City+FC.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Bradford City have confirmed the signing of former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones on a twelve month deal.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/jones-joins-the-bantams-2625681.aspx">http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/jones-joins-the-bantams-2625681.aspx</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-38139421895823728722015-08-17T09:18:00.000-07:002015-08-17T09:18:00.872-07:00RAMSBOTTOM UNITED FC: PAYNE RETIRES <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7A6gTiF9q-QLQ418ZxQUqETtFe1_Prd7Yk_E-1nwB-VKOSO4T1_MzW43MZGSsUBM4QFHE0nCa8uxYf0axWy0fpxmJ3xnH-pga-lUR73ea9cRArVbVP72JimtEDkmVsM3fJufEWod0G_E/s1600/RAMSBOTTOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7A6gTiF9q-QLQ418ZxQUqETtFe1_Prd7Yk_E-1nwB-VKOSO4T1_MzW43MZGSsUBM4QFHE0nCa8uxYf0axWy0fpxmJ3xnH-pga-lUR73ea9cRArVbVP72JimtEDkmVsM3fJufEWod0G_E/s200/RAMSBOTTOM.jpg" width="99" /></a></div>
Ramsbottom United have announced that striker Shelton Payne has retired from football.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rammyunited.co.uk/index.php/news/466-rams-sign-striker-from-salford">http://www.rammyunited.co.uk/index.php/news/466-rams-sign-striker-from-salford</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-29434322898522834802015-08-17T09:17:00.001-07:002015-08-17T09:17:19.239-07:00HALESOWEN TOWN FC: MCGEE MAKES MOVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplGnE-er0IOmN3cR-erpGSzeCd6p8f2e2rMpSme3mhblsfsA4UYc1tEYCK8fWrhkC0cfEsUZKmCR4citPFwd6kLNzTONIpchsU_V-0bGB_U02dEBV2D_MZ_djw4Weszlj3Ig_Kw8j4oVs/s1600/HALESOWEN.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplGnE-er0IOmN3cR-erpGSzeCd6p8f2e2rMpSme3mhblsfsA4UYc1tEYCK8fWrhkC0cfEsUZKmCR4citPFwd6kLNzTONIpchsU_V-0bGB_U02dEBV2D_MZ_djw4Weszlj3Ig_Kw8j4oVs/s200/HALESOWEN.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Striker George McGee, formerly with Birmingham City, has penned a deal at Halesowen Town.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ht-fc.com/index.php/news/76-george-mcgee-make-yeltz-switch">http://www.ht-fc.com/index.php/news/76-george-mcgee-make-yeltz-switch</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-74364704511324741902015-08-17T09:16:00.000-07:002015-08-17T09:16:04.027-07:00CHESTERFIELD FC: SPIREITES LAND MIDFIELDER <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2Aq11FPDYr0dEWax5NcYnFA2oQr30mEoBmJ5FqBhNtfChEJ0epm_VENqrzViAL7N13yUwNSMJ9xG0lcqOb3KD1Sdmfw8RBdNTOzXEDLJ8flO0SEk-O1LXeN5ti9zH2nTseRVZAEcwCMo/s1600/Chesterfield+FC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2Aq11FPDYr0dEWax5NcYnFA2oQr30mEoBmJ5FqBhNtfChEJ0epm_VENqrzViAL7N13yUwNSMJ9xG0lcqOb3KD1Sdmfw8RBdNTOzXEDLJ8flO0SEk-O1LXeN5ti9zH2nTseRVZAEcwCMo/s200/Chesterfield+FC.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Spaniard Angel Martinez has linked up with League One side Chesterfield on a two year deal.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/spireites-land-spanish-midfielder-2624114.aspx">http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/spireites-land-spanish-midfielder-2624114.aspx</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-33677307957628678462015-08-17T09:15:00.000-07:002015-08-17T09:15:01.321-07:00AFC TELFORD UNITED: PLAYER NEWS <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgkz8osACRgOW84CAK13fbFadHG4QjJ66rTTwCJwWyl56Rsr9Ig2DW65qvhS4ZziekGkMFPfa9Nx6VlYmcTdC_Rc97SmgkNZH_PVP0exdHwFjcU1ORc5fZBFyhVqQqDI5nMKtNWAD2GNC/s1600/Telford_United.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgkz8osACRgOW84CAK13fbFadHG4QjJ66rTTwCJwWyl56Rsr9Ig2DW65qvhS4ZziekGkMFPfa9Nx6VlYmcTdC_Rc97SmgkNZH_PVP0exdHwFjcU1ORc5fZBFyhVqQqDI5nMKtNWAD2GNC/s200/Telford_United.png" width="90" /></a></div>
Former Torquay United midfielder James McQuilken has joined AFC Telford United.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1300611154"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.telfordunited.com/News.aspx?ID=616">http://www.telfordunited.com/News.aspx?ID=616</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-90068287664390037622015-08-17T09:14:00.001-07:002015-08-17T09:14:18.033-07:00LLANDUDNO FC: DEFENDER MAKES MOVE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUFtTewhvXF4ETT97pGyAhrWlvgn2bov4mM__2gqRoniuGhw4zrAfxoEmEJb7hkgX0LvBEHnjMvC_ewFevP5227kwum6FITDyZfPheSJqZYWBr4XhwU8rl4falQq_FBn2R4Pcx17n9re-/s1600/Gv2g8fWg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUFtTewhvXF4ETT97pGyAhrWlvgn2bov4mM__2gqRoniuGhw4zrAfxoEmEJb7hkgX0LvBEHnjMvC_ewFevP5227kwum6FITDyZfPheSJqZYWBr4XhwU8rl4falQq_FBn2R4Pcx17n9re-/s200/Gv2g8fWg.jpeg" width="100" /></a></div>
Llandudno have confirmed the signing of Airbus UK Broughton defender Jonny Spittle on a twelve month loan deal.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/llandudno/news/seasiders-swoop-for-wingmakers-defender-jonny-spit-1474791.html">http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/llandudno/news/seasiders-swoop-for-wingmakers-defender-jonny-spit-1474791.html</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-14720995737379775612015-08-17T09:13:00.003-07:002015-08-17T09:13:41.785-07:00ST ALBAN'S CITY FC: PLAYER NEWS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8n6zQEjeQd6d6v_OEFPEsULqgTgr9M4DXj6AgUp08SM_fsO9d9oa6xhVOAUyZt1-NrMloACE1tuRKrBVGZ3yv3VjldF5zCFtndEqq8tqPBvsf5j3PP5Fk_i9NRR4sYmrTjigYtWtvYpcw/s1600/St+Albans+FC.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8n6zQEjeQd6d6v_OEFPEsULqgTgr9M4DXj6AgUp08SM_fsO9d9oa6xhVOAUyZt1-NrMloACE1tuRKrBVGZ3yv3VjldF5zCFtndEqq8tqPBvsf5j3PP5Fk_i9NRR4sYmrTjigYtWtvYpcw/s200/St+Albans+FC.png" width="100" /></a></div>
Former Farnborough midfielder Ghassimu Sow has joined St Alban's City.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1300611144"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.stalbanscityfc.com/saints-add-to-squad/">http://www.stalbanscityfc.com/saints-add-to-squad/</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-46351209645873290132015-08-17T09:12:00.005-07:002015-08-17T09:12:50.927-07:00BRISTOL CITY FC: ANTON LEAVES <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeZeGCdX5jzeUOha41D5a7uwXYc5BrSlpOIPV8JCSmY4aGUYk65dY3sp58nqhhRy2eZVEtW9qaI7Jc9N3ArqXOTx7XZHNZvJmAUVMQuJqTCFCk7bvRq-JZJzpkfQkMEWIPhPGxUTKDkqk/s1600/Bristol+City+FC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeZeGCdX5jzeUOha41D5a7uwXYc5BrSlpOIPV8JCSmY4aGUYk65dY3sp58nqhhRy2eZVEtW9qaI7Jc9N3ArqXOTx7XZHNZvJmAUVMQuJqTCFCk7bvRq-JZJzpkfQkMEWIPhPGxUTKDkqk/s200/Bristol+City+FC.jpg" width="90" /></a></div>
Bristol Ciy's academy coach Carlos Anton has left the club by mutual consent.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/anton-leaves-by-mutual-consent-2625866.aspx">http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/anton-leaves-by-mutual-consent-2625866.aspx</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-20670570626668814372015-08-17T09:12:00.001-07:002015-08-17T09:12:17.473-07:00AFC FYLDE: INTERNATIONAL SIGNS UP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBm_BAX7H-vh_jZavhyphenhyphenM8MZX9G_NK8zOj4VD3RUmg1Cq6WshV9FNCaXPgOPxUVNPbEflhUFP2yX2qPulqJGV-k09szga-DUGOM4g03ZFcFCorGw5JPREMly3MTq4CzV9P3RadE1EzpUbz/s1600/afcfylde.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBm_BAX7H-vh_jZavhyphenhyphenM8MZX9G_NK8zOj4VD3RUmg1Cq6WshV9FNCaXPgOPxUVNPbEflhUFP2yX2qPulqJGV-k09szga-DUGOM4g03ZFcFCorGw5JPREMly3MTq4CzV9P3RadE1EzpUbz/s200/afcfylde.png" width="100" /></a></div>
AFC Fylde have secured winger Jason St Juste, formerly with North Ferriby.<br />
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<a href="http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/international-signs-up/">http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/international-signs-up/</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4380362471514135685.post-81001307782817428542015-08-17T09:11:00.001-07:002015-08-17T09:11:25.683-07:00GRAYS ATHLETIC FC: KEEPER RE-JOINS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayYfLXJ7Ij8E_j_XLYykEaTH0YurL4-XgfyIHBjpUaw5nqUN6ixZScFGGY0vrElLz52Dzof41Athc654z-Rh8ctekdyWFaykratm80tnKm3dKCIZZ2j_f2Lb54tSHjkWgH9lSs7reH8u8/s1600/GRAYSATHLETIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayYfLXJ7Ij8E_j_XLYykEaTH0YurL4-XgfyIHBjpUaw5nqUN6ixZScFGGY0vrElLz52Dzof41Athc654z-Rh8ctekdyWFaykratm80tnKm3dKCIZZ2j_f2Lb54tSHjkWgH9lSs7reH8u8/s200/GRAYSATHLETIC.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>
Goalkeeper George Kamurasi has re-joined Grays Athletic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/popular-keeper-rejoins-the-blues-1474808.html">http://www.graysathletic.co.uk/news/popular-keeper-rejoins-the-blues-1474808.html</a><br />
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underthepremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14724566371170620751noreply@blogger.com0