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HISTON FC Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League

Tuesday 1st August, 2017

Kick off 7.45pm

Issue 01 £1

MATCHDAY

SPONSOR

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The Yachtsman Matchday Magazine 2017-18

Editor / Design: Lee Robson

Contributors: Adrian Gowling, Lee Robson, Tom Parke,

Chris Green

Photography: Adrian Gowling

Contents

4 Who’s Who at Wroxham

7 Chairman’s Welcome

8/9 Wroxham Club History

10/11 Wroxham Pen Pics

14 Managers’ Notes

16/17 Fixture / Results

18 League Table

19 Reserves

22 Youth Under 18s

24 Open Academy

27/28 Histon Pen Pics

31/33 Histon History

34 Today’s Teams

Wroxham Football Club

Trafford Park

Skinners Lane

Wroxham

Norfolk

NR12 8SJ

@The_Yachtsmen

Wroxham FC—The Yachtsmen

www.wroxhamfc.org

WHO’S WHO Chairman Lee Robson General Secretary Chris Green Vice Chairman Mark Wilkinson Director of Football Kevin Lawn Commercial Director Liam Brydon Finance Director Vacant Press and media officer Adrian Gowling Welfare Officer Lisa Hamilton Bars and Catering Manager Rachel Cole First Team Managers Tom Parkes Ross Porter First Team Coach Dom Jones GK Coach Martin Newson Physio Jane Kent Reserve Team Managers Jordan Southgate Jordan King U18s Mark Roe Paul Maxey Academy Leaders Matt Halliday Cedric Anselin Development Team Mark Wilkinson Martyn Lawes Richard Lincoln Club Captain Adam Smith President Pat Penn Committee Members Cynthia Feltham Alan Royall Keith Baker Sue Murray Terry Baxter Amanda Rosier

FA Vase Finalists 2009/10

Eastern Counties League.

Premier Division Champions: 1991-92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97,

1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07, 2010-11. Division One Champions: 1988

-89

League Cup Winners: 1993, 2000, 2003

Norfolk Senior Cup. Winners: 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004,

2008, 2015

Norfolk Junior Cup. Winners: 1975

Anglian Combination. Premier Division Champions: 1981-82, 1982-

83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1987-88

Good evening and welcome to tonight’s

game. I trust that all of our supporters

and those making the trip from Histon FC

will enjoy the game and make the most of

what the Norfolk Broads offer.

It’s a great opportunity for people to see

the start of a new chapter in our develop-

ment as a top quality Eastern Counties

football club with Tom and Ross’s first

game in charge. Their addition to the club,

along with mine, have been just a couple

of lots of new and exciting things we have

been getting on with since the last ball

was kicked in anger back in early May.

Liam Brydon joins us as Commercial Di-

rector along with Kevin Lawn who has

overall responsibility for footballing mat-

ters. Kevin in particular has worked ex-

tremely hard all summer getting a new

top team in and helping recruit a lot of

new faces on the playing side.

Some of those will be familiar to anyone

who attends games around Norfolk but I

would like to welcome everyone new to

the club and those who may be coming

back hoping to see a team and a club in

the ascendant. Its classic mix of youth

and experience as all of our newbies join a

very committed group of volunteers who

have seen the good times and of course

the not so good. The new era starts today

and though we can build on the successes

of the past we cannot dwell on them. We

all want the club to be part of the cutting

edge when it comes to development of

players, facilities and how we approach

the game itself.

We also welcome a new main partner in

Kingsley Care Homes who have agreed to

be our main partners for three seasons

and tonight's match sponsor LJS Joinery

Ltd who will be key partners for the sea-

son. More about our new partners later

but we still need more so...if you can

sponsor a player or a match please speak

to me during the game or afterwards in

the bar. Join our club tonight by asking at

the bar and you will receive frequent bul-

letins and news on offers throughout the

season. Even better...if you think you can

help on match days or in any other role

then please just have a natter when we

can sort something out. Enjoy tonight.

Ahoy The Yachtsmen!

C h a i r m a n ’s W e l c o m e

Wroxham FC were established in

1892 by GE Preston, a former captain

of the Norfolk County team, and ini-

tially played on Wroxham Park. The

club played friendly matches until

joining the East Norfolk League and

the Norwich City Junior League. In

1935 they joined the East Anglian

League, before dropping down to

the Norwich and District League in

the 1950s, a time during which they

suffered a record 24-0 defeat.

In 1963 the club became founder

members of the Anglian Combina-

tion. A successful spell during the

mid-1970s saw the club rise through

the divisions. In 1975 the club won its

first major trophy, the Norfolk Junior

Cup. The following season they won

Division Two, and the season after,

Division One. In 1981 the club won

the Knock-Out Cup, and in 1981-82

they won the Premier Division, re-

taining the title in 1982-83, 1983-84

and 1984-85, also winning the knock

-out cup in 1983 and 1985. They did

another league and cup double in

1986-87

In 1988 the club joined the newly-

formed Division One of the Eastern

Counties League. They won the divi-

sion in their first season, beating

Halstead Town to the title on goal

difference. After finishing twelfth in

their first season in the Premier Divi-

sion, the club have never finished

lower than eighth. They won the title

with a record 99 points in 1991-92,

before beating their own record with

C L U B H I S T O R Y

100 points and another title the fol-

lowing season, the club’s centenary,

in which they also won the League

Cup and the Norfolk Senior Cup. In

1993-94 they won a third consecu-

tive title. After a gap of two seasons,

the club won the Premier Division

again with 109 points in 1996-97,

also winning the Senior Cup again.

They retained the title and the Sen-

ior Cup in 1997-98, before winning

the league for a third time in a row

in 1998-99.

They won the Senior Cup again in

2000, 2002, 2004, the Premier Divi-

sion in 2006-07, and the Norfolk

Senior Cup in 2008. In 2009-10 the

club reached the final of the FA Vase,

but lost 6-1 to holders Whitley Bay.

In 2015, in a thrilling Norfolk Senior

Cup Final, they beat local rivals Dere-

ham Town 3-2 after extra time.

Since the club was formed, Wroxham

F.C. have played several venues. The

first was just off Norwich Road and

subsequent grounds were at The

Avenue and Keys Hill. The Avenue

ground has now reverted back to ag-

ricultural use, whilst the others have

been built upon.

Around the time of World War II,

Wroxham moved to their current

ground, Trafford Park, a field close to

the railway line in Skinners Lane. The

club took with them an old timber

pavilion that was erected and used

as a primitive clubhouse. Fifteen

years later this was replaced by pre-

fabricated buildings, which were

themselves flattened to make way

for a new permanent clubhouse that

was opened in 1994.

The current main stand, the Les King

Stand, was built in 1990, replacing an

earlier structure that had stood on

the same site for around 10 years.

The capacity at Trafford Park is 2,000

but the record attendance to date is

1,262 for the FA Vase semi-final

against Whitehawk in 2010.

Next Home Games at

Trafford Park.

Tuesday 8th August

v Great Yarmouth

7.45 ko

Saturday 19th August

v Stanway Rovers

3.00 ko

Tuesday 29th August

v Walsham le Willows

7.45 ko

Will Viner . Goalkeeper. Signed from Ha-

ringey Borough. A goalkeeper previously

at Barnet and shaping up to be a big in-

fluence on the team and club as it pro-

gresses.

George MacRae. Goalkeeper who will look

to challenge Will Viner for the number 1

jersey. Arrived from Diss Town and is a

good shot stopper. Will grow in confi-

dence.

Adam Smith. Midfield. Signed from Dere-

ham Town having spent 9 seasons at the

club. Has been described as the most ex-

perienced and gifted in the County. The

former Norwich City man has great touch

vision and awareness and no little aggres-

sion. Will be key to progress this season.

Club Captain. Sponsored by Chris Green

Tom Matthews. 19. Defender. Signed from

The New Saints (TNS) in Wales. Played for

NCFC academy, QPR Youth team where as

captain kept a certain Marcus Rashford

quiet in an FA Youth Cup tie. Has experi-

enced the Champions League whilst at

TNS. A player with passion, commitment

and leadership who represents the club’s

bigger goal.

Joe Manning. Diss captain who moved

with the Manager. A former Youth County

Cup winner with Norfolk FA. Plays as a

Defensive Midfielder.

Harley Black. 19. Midfield. New signing

from Dereham Town. Great range of pass-

ing and fond of a trick or two. Formerly

with NCFC Academy. And Cambridge

United.

Michael Sommerfield – A dominant De-

fender who played for Sheringham and

Dereham last season. Is well-known at

Trafford Park having represented the club

in the Ryman League the season before

last. Played football in USA and another

who will go where it hurts. Free kick spe-

cialist.

Payton Swatman. 22. Defender. A player

that needs no introduction at Trafford

Park. Started last season at the club but

moved over to Yarmouth around Christ-

mas time. Also turned out for Dereham

Town and is reported to be the life of the

changing room.

Connor Laskey – A striker that has repre-

sented Norfolk at Under 18 level. Joins the

club from Poringland.

Adam Plumstead. 26. Defender. Formerly

with Gorleston and Wymondham Town.

Aggressive centre back with good range

of passing.

Matt Cook. 19. Ex Dereham Town and

made the English School national squad.

Left footed hard working midfielder to-

tally aware of team needs.

Craig Bussens,. 27. Midfield. Former NCFC

youth captain and Cambridge United pro-

fessional. Serial winner with Dereham

Town, Lowestoft and others; and it shows

in the way he plays. Drive commitment

and never say die!

Robbie Sweeney. 20. Attacking midfield.

Formerly with Norwich City and Steve-

nage Town. Will bring pace, tempo, excite-

ment assists goals and a few penalties.

W r o x h a m F C

Another who will drive the Yachtsmen on

this season.

Ben Fowkes, Joined at the start of the sea-

son, following a dual registration with

Diss Town & Lowestoft. Scored for Diss af-

ter 30 seconds on his debut against Stow-

market, so hoping he will soon find the

net for Wroxham.

Shaun Taylor - Midfield – last season’s Re-

serve Captain and Player of the season.

Looking to step up to the next level. Skil-

ful player who scores goals as an attack-

ing midfielder.

Lewis Meecham. 19. Forward. Ex Shering-

ham, Norwich City Academy and Easton

College.

Ross Gilfedder. Forward. Signed from

Kirkley & Pakefield, Strong player who has

scored regularly with all his previous

clubs. Wroxham’s top scorer last season

with 10 goals;

Pete Wiltshire. 19. Forward. – Previously

with NCFC Academy. And Dereham Town,

leads the line well, good with both feet

and great movement. Great eye for goal

and takes responsibility as good striker

should. Should develop over the season as

one of the players for the Yachtsmen.

Sponsored by Lee Robson

Ollie Ebbage – Defender. Ollie developed

through the club reserve side and filled in

last season when he returned from Leeds

University. Now taking a year out from

studies on work experience locally but

hopes to be available regularly. Solid de-

fender.

Ross Potter – Joint Manager. Former Nor-

folk County U18 Manager with Tom Parke.

Gained experience with Long Stratton in

Anglian Combination Premier Division be-

fore joining Diss Town in the Eastern

Counties League and just missing out on

promotion last season.

Tom Parke – Joint Manager. Found his

niche as a youth team coach gaining a

UEFA A Licence through the Northern Ire-

land FA scheme. A teacher and coach with

DESA, Dereham Town’s Academy. But now

taking his skills and enthusiasm into adult

football.

Jane Kent. Physio Previously physio for

Diss Town and Norfolk Under 18’s. Jane

brings a wealth of experience to assist the

management team in getting their best

players on the pitch week.

SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE

PLAYER

Just £50 per season.

Visit www.wroxhamfc.org and

pay with pay pal or credit card

via our club shop.

M a n a g e r s ’ N o t e s

Good evening and welcome to tonight’s

game from both Ross and myself and also

from Dom, Jane and Mark who join us to

complete the new senior management

team at the Yachtsmen. I think I can speak

for all of us plus the two Jordans in charge

of the reserves when I say we’ve been

made very welcome by everyone at the

club and thank Kevin (Lawn) for getting us

to consider the opportunities we can

make and take here at Trafford Park.

We’re all really excited to be able to start

afresh and build something new and last-

ing which is why we’ve made real attempt

to get eth best younger players around to

complement some real experience in

Smudger (Adam Smith), Will Viner and

Sommers. Together we can create that

right mix of youth experience, hard work

and creativity we know we need to thrive

at this level of the pyramid.

The early signs in pre season have been

very good with players taking on board

pretty much everything we ‘ve had to say

and trying to take the lessons from the

training ground to the playing pitch. So

far so good. But it has all been in pre-

season friendlies so the real test is to-

night. We are up against a team with

some great FA cup history and indeed

league pedigree who like us suffered the

ignominy of relegation last time out. Like

us they too will want to put that behind

them and on reputation alone I expect

Histon to be in there or thereabouts come

April next year. Will we be close to them?

Who knows?

The Chairman, who again is new to the

club, has been great to work with so far

and although he has spelled out his ex-

pectation of a promotion or two we’re

also on the same page when it comes to

the reality of our situation and that it is

better to create a improving sustainable

football team (and club) over a longer pe-

riod than to try and shoot for the stars

too early. ‘Work in progress’ is what the

sign outside the door would say. So long

as we can see the progress on and off the

pitch then everyone is in for a very enjoy-

able experience not just tonight but over

the next few years.

Enjoy the game. See you in the bar after-

wards.

Tom & Ross.

W r o x h a m F C

It’s been steadily developing pre season

for the Potter/Parke Project.

The first pre-season game ended

in defeat as The Yachtsmen went down to

a well-organised Hellesdon side in the

mid-day sun at the FDC at Open on July

8th.

The first half saw Wroxham go in at the

break 1-0 to the good with Pete Wiltshire

scoring the goal. Unfortunately, the sec-

ond half didn’t go to plan for Ross Potter

and Tom Parkes as Hellesdon scored

three without reply.

Potter and Parkes were philosophical

about the result which is more about

playing minutes at this stage of the sea-

son and looking at as many players as

they can before the season begins with a

home league game against Histon FC.

A draw against CEYMS another Anglian

Combination team saw a little more pro-

gress before Wroxham ran out 5-1 win-

ners in their latest pre-season friendly on

the 4g pitch at Easton & Otley College

against Anglian Combination side Mul-

barton. Going into the half-time interval

2-1 ahead, the Yachtsmen scored 3 more

goals in the second half to gain a com-

prehensive victory. Goalscorers for Wrox-

ham were Bryant (2), Swatman (2) and

Bussey

A lovely committed performance against

Downham earned a 3—0 win and the

\yachtsmen were starting to show some

pedigree. This was tested again in a visit

to league rivals Essex based Coggleshall

Town home to Olly Murs. Whoever he is.

Goals from Lewis Meecham and Ross Gil-

feddar in the first half saw The Yachtsmen

return home with another victory in their

pre-season schedule. Coggeshall’s goal

came by virtue of a second-half penalty.

Crackers game v Mundford ended 5—4

to the Stags.

S u m m e r 2 0 1 7

P r e s e a s o n f r i e n d l i e s

f i x t u r e s / r e s u l t s

P R E M I E R D I V I S I O N

1st AUG ECL Histon FC H LJS JOINERY

5th FAC Southend Manor A

08 19:45 ECL Great Yarmouth H

12 ECL Wivenhoe Town A Broad Lane

19 ECL Stanway Rovers H

26 ECL Long Melford A Stoneylands

29 19:45. ECL Walsham le Willows H

02 SEP ECL Saffron W’ldn Town H

05 19:45 ECL Stowmarket Town A Greens Meadow

09 ECL Newmarket Town A Town Ground

15 19:45 ECL Thetford Town H

20 19:45 ECL Walsham le Willows A Summer Road

30 ECL FC Clacton A Rush Green Bowl

06 OCT

19:45

ECL Great Yarmouth

Town

A The Wellesley

14 ECL Haverhill Borough A

21 ECL Coggeshall Town H

24 19:45 ECL Gorleston H

28 ECL Saffron Walden A Catons Lane

31 19:45 LCC Diss Town A Brewers Green Lane

04 NOV ECL Brantham Athletic. H

07 19:45 ECL Thetford Town A Mundford Road

11 ECL Stanway Rovers A Hawthorns

18 ECL Fakenham Town H

25 ECL Stowmarket Town H

02 DEC ECL Ipswich Wanderers A Humber Doucy Lane

09 ECL Haverhill Rovers A The New Croft

16 ECL Haverhill Borough H

23 ECL Ely City A The Unwin Ground

26 11:00 ECL Kirkley & Pakefield A Walmer Road

30 ECL Long Melford. H

06 JAN ECL Godmanchester Rovers A Bearscroft Farm

13 ECL FC Clacton. H

20 ECL Hadleigh United. H

27 ECL Felixstowe & Walton Utd A Goldstar Ground

03 FEB ECL Wivenhoe Town. H

10 ECL Coggeshall Town A West Street

17 ECL Ely City H

24 ECL Histon. H

03 MAR ECL Haverhill Rovers. H

10 ECL Brantham Athletic A Brantham LC

17 ECL Ipswich Wanderers H

24 ECL .Fakenham Town A Clipbush Park

30 19:45 LCC Gorleston A Emerald Park

02 APR ECL Kirkley & Pakefield. H

07 ECL Felixstowe & Walton Utd H

14 ECL Newmarket Town. H

28 ECL Hadleigh United A Millfield

05 MAY ECL Godmanchester R’vs. H

SPONSOR A MATCH DAY OR BALL

Just £150 or £50 for match ball.

Visit our club shop on www.wroxhamfc.org and pay with credit card or pay

pal. Simple.

P RE MI E R D IV I S I ON

1 Brantham Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 Coggeshall Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 Ely City 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 FC Clacton 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 Fakenham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 Felixstowe & W’lton Utd 0 0 0 0 0 0

7 Godmanchester Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 Gorleston 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 Great Yarmouth Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 Hadleigh United 0 0 0 0 0 0

11 Haverhill Borough 0 0 0 0 0 0

12 Haverhill Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 Histon 0 0 0 0 0 0

14 Ipswich Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0

15 Kirkley & Pakefield 0 0 0 0 0 0

16 Long Melford 0 0 0 0 0 0

17 Newmarket Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

18 Saffron Walden Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

19 Stanway Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0

20 Stowmarket Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

21 Thetford Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

22 Walsham le Willows 0 0 0 0 0 0

23 Wivenhoe Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

24 Wroxham 0 0 0 0 0 0

R E S E R V E S

Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination

P R E M I E R D I V I S I O N

15/08 18:30 Lge Stalham Town A Rivers Park

19/08 Lge Harleston Town A Harleston Recr

02/09 Lge Long Stratton A Stratton Playing Field

09/09 Cup UEA A UEA #1

P W D L GD PTS

1 Acle United 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 Beccles Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 Blofield United 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 Bradenham Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 Caister 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 Harleston Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

7 Hellesdon 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 Long Stratton 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 Mattishall 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 Mulbarton Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0

11 Norwich CEYMS 0 0 0 0 0 0

12 Reepham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 St Andrews 0 0 0 0 0 0

14 Stalham Town 0 0 0 0 0 0

15 Waveney 0 0 0 0 0 0

16 Wroxham Res 0 0 0 0 0 0

SPONSOR A RESERVE TEAM GAME AND MATCH BALL

JUST £75

AUG UNDER 18s

24th Th TNYL AFC Royals A

30th W TNYL Beccles Town A

MEN’S Category 1 group 5

13/09 Lge Simon Balle BHPP Academy H

20/09 Lge Easton & Otley College A

27/09 Lge Tresham College H

04/10 Lge Milton Keynes College A

11/10 Lge West Suffolk College H

18/10 Lge Moulton College Men's 1 A

01/11 Lge Dereham Education A

08/11 Lge Dereham Education H

29/11 Lge Simon Balle BHPP Academy A

13/12 Lge Easton & Otley College H

10/01 Lge Tresham College A

17/01 Lge Milton Keynes College H

31/01 Lge West Suffolk College A

07/02 Lge Moulton College H

H i s t o n F C

Ayden Duffy. Aged 30

Experienced ‘keeper who signed

for Histon in February 2017 mak-

ing his debut against Chalfont St

Peter later that month.

Max York . Age 25

Max returned to Bridge Road for

the fourth time in summer 2016

having move to Biggleswade

Town during last season. Made

his first team debut in 2009/10

and can name Rushden and Dia-

monds, Kettering Town amongst

former clubs. Club Captain.

Evan Key. Age 22

Evan was with Bury Town as

youngster before moving to Big-

gleswade, then to Histon and

back to the Waders before set-

tling at Bridge Road in February

2017.

Pat Bexfield. Age 28

Midfielder who came through Nor-

wich City Academy and made the

first team bench in 2007. Released in

2008 and joined Wisbech Town be-

fore spells with Needham Market,

Cambridge City. St Ives Town and

Soham Rangers. Finally arrived at

Histon in Feb 2016.

Lee Smith. Age: 29

Joined Histon as a youngster before

moving on to Bury Town in 2011,

then to Lowestoft, Bigglewade and

again Lowestoft. Re-joined Histon in

2015 before moving again to Kings

Lynn but returned in February 2017

Shaun Jenkins. Age 28

Signed on dual registration forms

from Fulbourn in November 2016.

Danny Gould. Age 19

Versatile right sided midfielder

who can operate at full back.

Youth product graduating from

the academy and made his break-

through after impressing in the

U21s

Simon Unwin. Age 25

Histon Scholar signed from God-

manchester Rovers in 2016. Good

footballing brain and can operate

centrally as a playmaker or in a

more advanced role.

James Carman. Age 28

Goal scorer with experience at a

number of different clubs, most re-

cently Sawston United from whom

he signed in December 2016. Imme-

diately showed he make the step up

in levels with goals in each of his first

two games.

Tommy Wright. Age 24

Attacking midfielder returned to

the club in December from

Cambridge City. A Histon

scholar from the class of 2011.

Jos Gwynne. Age 19

Forward who signed first team

forms in summer of 2016 after

completing his scholarship.

Scored a stunning goal within

seconds of kick off v Marlow but

rest of the season blighted by

injury. Looking to establish him-

self second time around.

H i s t o n F C

A club histor y

The club was formed in 1904 as Histon In-

stitute FC and played for many years in

the Cambridgeshire Football League. John

Chivers, the chairman of the major em-

ployer in Histon & Impington, the jam

company Chivers, helped to found the

Histon Institute in 1903 from where the

football club has its origins. The company

donated a field then covered in roses for

the club to play on, which is commemo-

rated in the rose on Histon’s crest.

In 1960 the club (which by now had dropped the

“Institute” from their name) joined the Delphian

League but just three years later this league dis-

banded and Histon, along with most of the other

member clubs, joined the Athenian League. In

1966 they switched to the Eastern Counties

League where they were to play for nearly twenty

-five years. When the ECL adopted a two-division

format in 1988, Histon were placed in the Premier

Division. In the 1989/90 season Histon won the

Jewson League Cup but lost players Lance Key

and Shaun Sowden to Sheffield Wednesday and

Giuliano Maiorana to Manchester United.

In 1993 a new club committee was formed. The

club was relegated to Division One in 1995 but

were promoted back up two years later. During

this time manager Graham Daniels departed for

Cambridge City and this meant the arrival of

Simon Allen and he guided the first team back to

the Premier Division. The 1997/98 season saw

Neil Kennedy establish a club record by scoring

46 senior goals in the season, winning the golden

boot for the League, and Histon finished 3rd. The

club also won the Fair Play award for the third

season running. In the same season Sean Audley

also established a club record by scoring the

most goals recorded to date in one season. He

scored a record 79 goals in the reserve side and

by doing so he earned himself the golden boot

for the League’s top scorer. The following season

produced another manager in Trevor Collins who

took over the role and took the team to 4th in

the league. In the 1999/2000 season they won the

Premier Division title under the management of

another manager, former Cambridge United

player Steve Fallon, and were promoted to the

Southern Football League. The title was won on

the last day of the season with a 2-1 defeat of

Gorleston.

The start of the 21st century was slow and in the

first three seasons Histon managed 4th spot

twice and a disappointing 10th, which momentar-

ily halted the rise they had experienced with

Steve Fallon. The 2003/04 season saw us finish

2nd in the Southern League’s Eastern Division to

claim promotion to the Premier Division. The fol-

lowing year Histon took on League Two side

Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup 1st Round

Proper, setting up a 2nd Round tie at home to

Yeovil Town with a 2-0 victory. They lost to Ye-

ovil in the 2nd Round but it did not affect their

league performances as they clinched the South-

ern League Premier Division title on the last day

of the season and with it promotion to Confer-

ence South, the highest level at which the club

had ever played.

In their first season at this level Histon finished in

5th place, enough to secure a place in the play-

offs for promotion to the Conference National.

They won their first game away at Farnborough

Town 3-0, but lost 2-0 in the play-off final at

Broadhall Way against St. Albans City.

CONT’d 33

In the FA Cup they reached the second round

proper after beating Hednesford Town in the first

round. The team managed a draw away at

Nuneaton Borough but were defeated in the re-

play at Bridge Road 2-1 and would have played

Premier League club Middlesbrough if they had

won. The second round replay saw 3,077 people

at Bridge Road, the highest attendance of the

whole season. The season was also notable for a

5-0 win against local rivals Cambridge United in

the FA Trophy.

On 14 April 2007 the Stutes beat Welling United 1

-0 at Bridge Road to secure promotion to the

Conference National for the first time in their his-

tory, Adrian Cambridge scoring the winner in the

89th minute. Two days previously, officials from

the Conference had passed Bridge Road as fit for

Conference football, paving the way for promo-

tion (the club’s fourth in 7 years) to the highest

point in the football league pyramid reached in

the club’s history. In the same season striker Neil

Kennedy got his 300th goal for the club with a

hat-trick against Havant & Waterlooville.

In Histon’s first season in the Conference Na-

tional the Stutes played their first televised game,

Setanta broadcasting their 1-0 home win against

Oxford United. Later in the season the club broke

their record home attendance when a crowd of

3,721 saw Histon beat local rivals Cambridge

United 1-0 on 1 January 2008. Histon finished the

season in 7th, two places and 9 points away from

the play-offs and bade farewell to the club’s re-

cord goalscorer, Neil Kennedy. He played his last

competitive game against Forest Green Rovers

on the last day of the season in a substitute ap-

pearance.

Histon’s second season of Conference football

started well and the Stutes were top of the divi-

sion during November. They finished third that

season, qualifying for the play-offs, where they

were defeated 2-1 on aggregate by Torquay

United in the semi-final. In the FA Cup Histon

reached the third round for the first time after

beating Football League opposition in Swindon

Town 1-0 at home in the First Round, and Leeds

United 1-0 at home in the Second Round, the first

time Leeds had lost to a non-league side. They

lost 2-1 to Swansea City at home in the third

round.

In November 2009 Gareth Baldwin ended his 17-

year tenure as chairman of the club when he was

replaced by Tony Roach, citing “ill-health and

stress” as the reason he was standing down. In

January 2010 Steve Fallon was sacked as Histon

manager and replaced by Alan Lewer who left

the club at the end of that season. John Beck’s

brief stint as Manager ended after two months

and he was replaced by former Millwall Captain

David Livermore. During that season the club

were fined £5,000 and docked 5 league points

after pleading guilty to “submitting misleading

financial information”, finishing the season bot-

tom of the league and relegated to the Confer-

ence North for 2011-12. Histon finished their first

Conference North season in 16th place and man-

ager Livermore left the club at the end of that

season, returning to Millwall as a Coach. Dennis

Greene took over but left the Club in December

2012 following a poor start to the season, to be

replaced by former Reserve Team Manager and

Histon player Nacer Relizani who was assisted by

the Club’s Youth Team Coach Brian Page. The

duo led the team to Conference North safety on

the last day of the season before Relizani

stepped down and Page took over the top job.

2013-14 started brightly with the team in the top

half of the table until September but ultimately a

very young Stutes side couldn't maintain Confer-

ence football and relegation to the Southern

League followed.

The first season back in the Southern League Pre-

mier Division ended with a comfortable 18th

place finish, securing Step 3 football for another

season. Under Page’s management the club fo-

cuses on youth development and has established

a clear pathway from Academy through Scholar-

ship and into the First Team for our young play-

ers, building a growing reputation for finding

and developing young players good enough to

move up into the professional game.

Today’s teams (from)

Will Viner

Mark Shadrack

Myron Abodunde

Olly Ebbage

Tom Matthews

Joe Manning

Matt Cook

Harley Black

Adam Smith

Shaun Taylor

Sam Bryant

Craig Bussens

Payton Swatman

Robbie Sweeney

Ben Fowkes

Ross Gilfedder

Pete Wiltshire

Ryan Fuller

George Macrae

Wroxham FC Histon FC

Today’s Matchday Officials:

Referee - Adrian Sannerude

Assistant - Bartosz Potrawski

Assistant - Bradley Mingay LJS Joinery Ltd

Today’s Matchday

Sponsor

Ayden Duffy

Max York

Evan Key

Danny Gould

Lee Smith

Shaun Jenkins

Simon Unwin

Pat Becksfield

Brendan Lees

Charlie Brown

James Carman

Ed Rolfe

Tommy Wright

Jos Gwynne