Fun under Floodlights with Midweek Match!......29/04/2021

Many thanks to Andy Lambert for setting up this game. When he offered us the game there was no hesitation in accepting.

There was some talk and even a sweep stake on how many we would lose by.

Hadleigh after all are a quality side with very young a very fit players two of which are my Grandsons Jack Lambert and Harry Croft.

So you could be forgiven for thinking this was a lambs to the slaughter game. I even heard one of their players announce excitedly as he met his team mates in the car park saying “we are goner score some goals tonight. “

All of that aside it was a opportunity to play in a stadium under flood lights. We are a team of advancing years. Some of us had the pleasure of playing at this level in our youth and the feeling of running out onto a pitch like this never loses its thrill.

For some of us we probably thought we might never get an opportunity like this again. So sincere thanks to Andy for arranging this.

We had a decent side. A few selected players dropped out making the selection a little more difficult but everyone who played stepped up their game and stuck to the plan we set out from the first whistle.

As expected Hadleigh came at us hard and fast. But their efforts were restricted and anything that did get through was dealt with by Luke Wessels, Zack Archer, Dan Goddard and Bevan Burgess.

Sticks was very solid in goal pulling off some great saves to keep us in the game. Hadleigh took the lead midway through the first half when a header from the edge of the area caught us out and the ball looped over Sticks in goal.

We worked very hard. Alex Lowe and Darren Herridge worked hard to create opportunities. We went close near to half time when Dan Pasque half volleyed a headed clearance from 20 yards.The Hadleigh keeper made an incredible save.

We changed the team in defence and the forward line at halftime as it was always planned from the start. Everyone deserved to be part of the game. Keeping the midfield the same helped us keep our shape and all four players worked tirelessly.

Gary Pilkington, Dan Pasque, Tom Brooks and Grant Monaghan. Grant without doubt our man of the match.

The link up play with Jordan and Daren Stevens up front was exceptional. We had few chances in the second half although we did threaten on occasions.

With just ten minutes left Hadleigh’s superior fitness began to show and they scored two late goals.

Everyone was upbeat. We gave them a game I do not think they expected. If we played in this way within our league there would not be many teams who would be able to live with us.

The attitude and the teamwork was exceptional. This is what Taverners should be. 1st team and reserves are part of one squad. All you have to do is want to be part of that squad.

A Squad Photo for this match can be found HERE

A Photo of Mr April from the soon to be released Taverners Calendar 2021 can be found HERE

Team: Burrup, Wessels(Pearce), Goddard, Archer, Burgess(Pearson M.), Pasque(Hollinsworth), Brooks, Monaghan, Pilkington G., Lowe A.(Stevens), Herridge(Phillips)

End Of Cup Run = End Of Season!......18/04/2021

Pilky Plays 500th, But No Cup Joy!......11/04/2021

Pilky Played his 500th game and a picture of him receiving his little trophy can be seenHERE

Team: Davis, Pearce(Bellhouse), Brooks, Archer, Pilkington(Hillebrandt), Goddard, Lambert A(Burrup).,Strutt(Pearson), Riley, Stevens, Lambert J.
Goal: Lambert J.

Reserves - Junior Cup

The Margaret Catchpole 1, Taverners Res. 1
Pens 4-3

REPORT TO FOLLOW
Team: Siggers, Warner, Burrup, Pearson, Burgess, Pasque(Lowe A.), Jordan, Southgate, Monaghan(Wessels), Allen, Goodwin(Herridge).
Goal: Jordan.
Pens.Burgess, Southgate, Burrup

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 18th April

First Team- Sunday Shield Rnd3:

Occold FC (H)

Reserves Spank 5 Past Catchpole for Spanky's 500th!......20/12/2020

Goals: Burrup, Lowe A., Strutt(3).

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 3rd January(Hopefully!)

First Team:

East. Elec. Old Boys (H)

Reserves:

Northam Celtic (A)

First Team Defeated At Elmsett!......13/12//2020

I have played Sunday football since before most of you were born. The majority of places we played back then were village pitches. A pub would be right beside the pitch and you would get changed in the barn behind the pub. The players would all be local. The kits made from heavy cotton would be old and faded after being boil washed for years by one of the good ladies in the village.

The Footballs were full leather with laces and smelt of dubbin. The ball would become so much heavier on a wet day as it would soak in the water. In the early days there were still some players from the villages who wore boots with steel toe caps.

The pitches were often overgrown and the lines would be faded. The home team would put up the nets before the game.

Most of the locals would turn out to watch the game looking forward to going to the pub straight after the game to get involved in the banter. You would always feel like an outsider as you arrived but you were with your mates from the next village over. The games would be hard fought, tackles were fierce and often not punished by the referee.

There were some real characters. I played adult football from the age of 15. I learnt so much from football. My classroom was a large wooden dressing room with a massive bath big enough for 10 men in one corner the room smelt of horse liniment, the language was colourful, the stories sometimes far fetched. The banter was brutal but the laughter was loud. And I miss it everyday.

So on a damp Sunday morning in the village of Elmsett there are comparisons. But the pitch was worse than most I remember. The dressing rooms have no life or character. The whole village does not turn up for the game. No one lives in the village and no one goes to the pub.

So in years to come when you look back on your time playing Sunday football you will remember the odd games here and there. But the biggest thing you will remember is the people, the laughter and the friendship.

And you will miss it everyday

Elmsett are a good team. They move the ball well and cause problems. For much of the first half we were pinned back in our own half. Before half time we were already struggling with injuries to two players David Johnson in goal and Craig Risby.

With the squad depleted from call offs this was not good news. Elmsett were 2-0 up by half time.

The second half saw us work our way back into the game but luck went against us when a miss hit corner deflected passed our defence to go straight in. Then a well hit free kick just evaded the keeper for a 4-0 score line.

But then we just clicked into place and for 30 minutes we controlled the game totally scoring twice. The first from Tim Smith after some great work from Lee Riley on the left Tim gathered the ball inside the 18-yard box to score.

Jack Lambert scored our second in almost identical fashion. A Nathan Hilldebrandt through ball found Jack just inside the 18 yard and Jack finished the chance very well.

Sunday football is and will always be frustrating when you can’t field your best team for whatever reason. But always remember it’s not the game you will remember. It will be the team. Your friends.

Team: Johnson(Hollinsworth), Goddard, Risby(Hillebrandt), Archer, Beardwood, Riley, Brooks, Whiting, Smith, Lambert, Stevens D..

Goals: Lambert Ja., Smith.

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 20th December

Reserves v The Margaret Catchpole Res. (H)

Post-Lockdown Loss For Reserves!......06/12//2020

Goal: Allen

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 13th December

First v Elmsett Utd. (A)

Pre-Lockdown Loss for First Team!......01/11/2020

Why do we discuss the next game or league matters for hours on the phone? Why do we spend our Sunday afternoons washing the kit? Why do we get to games and training before anyone else to make sure everything is ready? Why do we have to try to drag subs out of everyone and if it's not there it is us who make up the difference?

Running a football club costs money.As payment for all of this we get players who do not respect our position or our decisions. I did not see any of them step forward to volunteer their services when we looked at this situation before the season started.

Players who do not consider the restraints put upon us by the league concerning who we can play.

Like many of you I have played football all my life. I have not always agreed with the manager's decisions. But I will say this. I always accepted the decision. If I did not agree then it was my job to prove him wrong and to change his mind.

If you do not enjoy playing then you have to question the reason you are a Sunday morning footballer.

I listen to everyone. I take their opinions on board and think about them. I ask myself the questions. But my conclusion leads me to this answer...

If we are not a good team then how can we start the game in total control for over twenty minutes. Rushmere could not live with us? We go close to scoring on three occasions. Then, for no apparent reason we just stopped playing.

Passes begin to fall short. Heads start to drop. Blame is handed about like you are not part of the problem. If you are part of the team then you are part of the blame.

The solution isn't to blame others or believe you are the only person playing for the team. The solution is to spot the problem. Listen to the words of wisdom at half time and go out in the second half with them in your mind.

Encourage, help and work hard. Don't give up. If something goes wrong then accept part of the blame and put it right. But put it right as a team not an individual.

Maybe at times we look back and believe our prime years playing football were better than what you younger guys have now.

To say "I remember when this game was fun. " Well you don't have to go back too far for an example of that.

Last season was cut short but it was fun. But yes of course you will always look to your prime playing years when your body moved as fast as your mind. Our experience is worth listening to!

The body may not react quickly but our minds do and we have knowledge that you can benefit from. Try listening.

Being part of a group of players who just love getting changed into the kit and walking out onto the pitch is an incredible feeling.

When you knew in your heart that at some point there would be a memorable moment in the game for you. A tackle, a pass, a save or a shot.

I saw special moments in today's game. Tackles from Oli Whiting, Jack Lambert, Mike Sneddon, Dan Goddard and Craig Risby. Passes from Lee Riley and Duncan Southgate.Unfortunately although we went close hitting the post twice, we only had one shot on target.

I never focused on the one I missed because I knew there would be another chance.

My best mate Paul Ryan always knew he could boss the midfield with hard work and hard tackles. He always knew his next through ball would find Paul Oakshot or me on the end of it. Andy Glover knew he would win the aerial battles in the middle of the park. Andy Spivey marshalled the defence and midfield with skill and precision.

So many players have played for Taverners with a smile on their faces and the club in their heart and they are not all from yesterday's teams. Trevor Smokey Hedges, Pat Elvin, Bob Bullamore, Tom Parker, Rob Parker, James Bullamore, Duncan Southgate, Tim Howard, Andy Lambert, Pele, Gary Pilkington, Bevan Burgess, Dippy Bowman, Paul Strutt, Matt Davis, Sticks, Ian Ward, Dan Goddard, Gary Cunningham, Mark Moore, Darren Warner, Daren Stevens, Grant Monaghan, Richard Fuller.

There are so many more players and I would strongly suggest looking through Taverners history to see the players behind these names. Faces you will see 50 years ago and can still see on the sidelines today.

What is the answer to our problems today? I don't profess to know the answers. I can only promise to do the best I can with the players I can play. This may not always be something you agree with. But it is an honest decision made by people who are Taverners through and through.

Team: Davis, Pearce(Lomas), Goddard, Archer, Beardwood(Hillebrandt), Lambert Ja.(Risby), Whiting, Riley, Sneddon, Southgate, Stevens(Hollinsworth).

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 6th December (Hopefully!)

First v Sizewell Argyle (H)

Reserves v Athletico Once (A)

A Bad Day at the Office All Round!......26/10/2020

Why in a goalmouth scramble does the ball never drop to one of our players so he can clear it? Why when our keeper comes out to a 50/50 tackle does the ball bounce off the opponents knee leaving him an open goal?

People often use the phrase "You make your own luck in this life." If that were true then with our experienced squad we should be experts at making our own luck.

The result is you don't make your own luck and bad luck does follow you. Making your own luck is born of working hard in a game.

Bad luck is much more difficult. It is not a mistake. A mistake is just a lack of experience, or talent, or concentration. Bad luck is when a disputed decision goes against you or the ball bounces inconceivably off the back of someone's head into the path of their striker.

This I can tell you. One day very soon the bad luck will not be against us. The split decisions will go our way and we will listen to the opposition moan that they did not deserve to lose by three goals.

So within just a few minutes we were behind when Matt Davis was forced into a 50/50 on the edge of our box. Raiders were clean through. Matt got his tackle in only for the ball to come off the opponents knee leaving him an open goal.

Raiders were very obviously a good side. But we picked ourselves up and got back into the game when their keeper came outside his area to head the ball clear only to head it straight to Mickey Sneddon. He headed straight onto the path of Lee Riley who scored.

The game was 50/50 at this point but again things did not go our way in a goalmouth scramble. The ball dropped to the feet of the opposition to score.

There was not much to adjust at half time. We were playing well enough, we just had to keep our shape and be patient. However this plan did not allow for a penalty decision against us at a time when we were trying to get back on terms. But at 3-1 down we really started to dominate the game.

We got back to 3-2 with a debut goal from Callum Allen after some great work from Jack Lambert and Mickey Sneddon. We were on top.

Then the bad luck hit us hard and Raiders controlled the remaining 15 minutes scoring twice. We worked hard but to no avail.

Do I leave a game and just forget about it? No.

I question everything. My selection, my tactics. I look at every player and make an honest assessment of their performance. It is my opinion. Right or wrong I am the manager and therefore the buck stops here.

Can we be better? Yes. Can we be more affective? Yes Does that mean changes? No. We are a squad of players and we have to find the right combination of players to make the team perform.

I know what that is but it is controlled by the availability of players. So I must find a few combinations of that team.

Sadly some players do not believe in this or the squad. But I will not let that distract me from trying to find these combinations. I want Taverners as a whole to be successful. I want the reserves to have the strongest team available. But we are one football club. One squad.

Team: Davis, Pearce, Stevens, Archer, Croft, Hillebrandt(Allen), Riley, Beardwood(Lomas), Whiting, Lambert Ja., Sneddon(Hollinsworth)
Goals: Allen, Riley. .




Reserves - Division 4

Taverners Res. 2, Panthers FC 8



The Wheels Come Off. . . . . . . .

Sunday saw the reserve entertain Panthers at home and despite several enforced changes we were optimistic that we could continue our fine start to the season. However the optimism before the game proved premature as a lacklustre performance saw us soundly and deservedly beaten 8-2, our two goals coming courtesy of Josh Goodwin.

I think the only positive to be taken from the game is that at the end there were unanimous agreement that the team as a whole and pretty much all of us as individuals had a collective responsibility for what happened – we owned it and agreed that we will need to do much much better next time and going forward.

I could write an essay expounding my personal disappointment and even embarrassment – straight after the game - but that won’t do us any good at all. What I will say again is that we all need to try and find our levels of personal fitness.

We have a large age range in the squad and I do not expect everyone to be equally fit however I think that we can gain incremental advantage by not only being a good footballing team but by being a fitter team.

On those rare occasions where we can not find our groove being a fitter team will hopefully still give us the edge or as would have been the case yesterday will at least make us more competitive.

Hopefully everyone feels as I do that I can’t wait for our next game to put things right. Up the Tavs !

Team: Siggers, Warner, Fisk, Southgate, Burgess, Lowe T.(Lowe A.), Jordan, Strutt, Hudnell, Pilkington(Cunningham), Goodwin.
Goals: Goodwin(2)

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 1st Novermber

First v Rushmere & Diamonds (H)

First Team Progress in Sunday Shield.....18/10/2020

Of coarse good players are needed but every player we have signed on is good.

It is not all about having the best players. It is about having a team of players who believe in each other. Players who trust and want each other to succeed.

Some of the football at times was poor and we lost possession far too times many in dangerous areas. But today we had players ready to regain possession.

Then we would suddenly step up a gear. The football at these times was a pleasure to watch. We passed our way around the pitch with ease. Dan Goddard, Lee Riley, Mike Sneddon, Jack Lambert, Grant Monaghan and Duncan Southgate all played their part in these moves.

We had to work hard throughout the game but especially in the first half to gain a foothold.

We went behind early in the second half when a mix up between Liam Siggers and Zack Archer led to the opponents having an easy tap in from 12 yards.

It was not a deserved score line and we knew we just had to be patient and play our game.

Although our possession and creativity led us into good areas we were not getting shots on goal. But from our first corner of the game the ball dropped in the six-yard box. Old Boys struggled to clear and could only stab the ball out towards the penalty spot only to find Grant Monaghan there and his fierce shot cut through everyone to score the equaliser.

With time running out we were still pressing. The last substitution was to introduce Nathan Hillebrandt. His instruction was to chase every lost ball. Never let anyone settle. With just minutes to go Nathan chased the ball heading easily towards their keeper but Nathans presence unnerved the keeper and he dropped the ball at Nathans feet for him to score his first Taverners goal.

So we move onto the next round of the cup. Now we just need to take this form into the league to establish ourselves in our rightful place in the league.

Team: Siggers, Durrell, Archer, Goddard, Monaghan, Lambert Ja., Riley, Goodwin(Beardwood), Whiting(Southgate), Sneddon, Stevens D.(Hillebrandt)
Goals: Hillebrandt, Monaghan. .




NEXT GAMES

Sunday 18th October

First v Eastern Electricity Old Boys (Sunday Shield 2) (A)

Reserves Fire Five Past Phoenix......11/10/2020

We went behind in the first half. Feathers had one attack and scored. It was our own fault. We did not track back with the opponent leaving him totally unmarked to score a tap in. But overall we did well in the first half. Tom Brooks went close and Michael Sneddon hit the bar.

The second half saw us dominate the play. However the final ball was always lacking and Feathers stopped our attacks time after time.

We drew level midway through the half when Michael Sneddon picked up the ball wide left. He beat two defenders as he cut inside. His shot from 20 yards was a bullet into the top right hand corner.

The game was turning our way. We were awarded a penalty which was then ruled out for offside. We continued to press and were awarded another penalty when the goalkeeper rugby tackled Michael Sneddon. The keeper was not sent off. At this point the game turned. Tom Brooks missed the penalty and within minutes they scored.

The game was going against us. Zack Archer was then sin binned and our game was over.

Feathers scored twice more and were rightly happy with the result. It does not change the fact that we did not deserve this result.

If we had a 2-1 lead after the penalty we would have held this result without a doubt. If we had a little more strength in our squad then we maybe could have made changes to insure the result.

I know we have a good squad. I know we can beat both teams we have already played. We just need a little kick start. That will happen next week.

Team: Davis, Durrell, Brooks, Archer, Goddard, Hillebrandt(Hollinsworth), Riley, Beardwood, Whiting, Stevens, Sneddon
Goals: Sneddon. .




Reserves - Division 4

Phoenix FC 2, Taverners Res. 5



REPORT TO FOLLOW.

Team: Siggers, Pearce(Warner), Risby, Burrup, Burgess, Pasque(Fisk), Southgate, Mongahan, Jay(Lowe T.), Goodwin, Lowe A.(Cunningham).
Goals: Fisk, Goodwin(3), Pasque.

NEXT GAMES

Sunday 18th October

First v Eastern Electricity Old Boys (Sunday Shield 2) (A)

First Team Open Season With Draw Whilst Reserves Hit Seven Past Cherrytree......05/10/2020

So never sit there in judgement of another player because next week it will be you whose mistake is punished. Having said that we can limit the amount of mistakes.

Lack of concentration is one of the biggest causes. The second is not listening to your Coach. Do not overplay a situation. Possession is a good thing but it will not win you the game.

The long ball is not a wasted ball. If you are being pressured in our half then sometimes the long ball into the corner is the right and safest option. After a very good 1st half where both teams had their share of the play.

We went very close when Daren Stevens headed the ball across the six yard only to hit the post. Our first punished mistake came early in the second half. We were overplaying just inside our half and one pass did not make the mark resulting in a break away and the first goal.

We went further behind just a few minutes later when Matt Davis did not hold the ball and it fell at the feet of their centre forward. Matt I know is devastated by this mistake and being the last line of defence a mistake is rarely rectified.

But Matt had a very good game. Some exceptional saves throughout the 90 minutes kept us in the game.

We pressed hard and began to make some headway. We scored after excellent work on the edge of their box. Paul Strutt picked up the ball 20 yards out. He cleverly cut right and shot into the far corner of the goal.

EE Old Boys were frustrated and this showed as they had one player sin binned and one sent off for abusive language. This allowed us to press even harder.

With time running out the Old Boys were trying to delay and waste time. The goalkeeper pushed this too far which resulted in a free kick. Tom Brooks gently tapped the ball to Lee Riley and he superbly chipped over all the players in front of him to score.

With just a few minutes left we dominated. Players with passion for the game will go over the result of any game. Mistakes and missed opportunities in the last ten minutes can often haunt the next few days.

Did we deserve this result ? Should we have won ? Should Old Boys have won? Was a draw a fair result ?

Football has the final say. We drew 2-2 and that is the only fact that will be there at the end of the season. They made mistakes, we made mistakes. They missed opportunities and so did we. In the end it was a game we could have both won. But 2-2 was the result which we accept and move onto the next opponent.

The mistakes are lessons. They make us a little better next time.

We played well as a team. Our confidence is good and this is an excellent result to start the season.

Team: Davis, Durrell(Beardwood), Brooks, Archer, Pearce, Strutt(Hollinsworth), Riley, Jordan, Whiting(Fisk), Stevens, Goodwin
Goals: Riley, Strutt. .




Reserves - Division 4

Cherrytree FC 2, Taverners Res. 7



‘Seventh Heaven’ – (unless you’re a Liverpool fan that is)

Sunday saw the Rezzies kick of their 20/21 campaign proper with an away trip to our second home, Gainsborough, to take on Cherrytree. Conditions were less than pleasant with a strong wind and that miserable rain that isn’t hard but soaks you through.

In all honesty the first few minutes reflected the day - pretty damn awful - and it saw us concede a sloppy but nonetheless well taken goal from ‘the Cherries’.

We responded well getting to grips with conditions and the midfield which saw us quickly equalizer with a header from Pilks ‘Calvert-Lewin’ (PCL) followed shortly thereafter by an early contender for goal of the season. Alex flicking on a clearance for PCL to volley home from outside the area.

PCL completed his first half hat trick with another smart finish. In all honesty the Rezzies could have been at least 7-1 up if we had taken our chances and been smarter in some of our decision making.

The second half continued the way of the first with almost complete domination and further goals from Keesey (2), Darren Warner (1) executing a very clever cross that defeated the despairing CT goalkeeper and PCL getting his 4th goal fairly late on.

In between and around a consolation goal from the cherries - again thanks to very sloppy play - spoilt the party somewhat. Even with 4 goals in the half we had numerous opportunities to add to our lead.

Personally I was most disappointed to see Jake Jay’s perfectly good goal chalked off by another very dubious linesman’s decision and not seeing Keesey complete his hat trick (entirely his own fault though).

These were still minor disappointments on an otherwise almost perfect performance. I think we have something to learn about game management which I expressed to the boys afterwards BUT I could scarcely have been happier.

I am sure not many games this season will be as easy as this but hey we can’t play against Liverpool every week!

Team: Siggers, Warner D.(Lowe T.), Risby, Burrup, Burgess, Pasque, Southgate, Mongahan, Hudnell, Pilkington G, Lowe A.(Jay).
Goals: Hudnell (2), Pilkington (4), Warner D.

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 11th October

First v The Feathers(H)

Reserves v Phoenix FC (A)

Reserves' Season Starts With Close Encounter With Elite......20/09/2020

Team: Siggers, Pearce, Burrup(Monaghan), Risby, Burgess(Wessels), Pasque, Southgate, Jordan, Fisk, Hudnell, Strutt(Lowe A.)
Goals: Lowe A., Pasque. .

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 4th October

First v Eastern Elec. Old Boys (A)

Reserves v Cherrytree FC (A)

Season 2020/21 Fixtures!

		First Team					Reserves

Sep 20		Greshams (S/S1)		(A) A-W		Ipswich Elite (S/T1)	(A) 3-2				         
     27          	
		
Oct  4		Eastern Elec Old Boys	(A) 2-2		Cherrytree FC		(A) 2-7			
    11		The Feathers FC		(H) 1-4		Phoenix FC		(A) 2-5	
    18		Est.Elec.Old Boys (S/S2)(A) 1-2			        
    25		Trimley Raiders		(A) 5-2		The Panthers FC		(H) 2-8			

Nov  1		Rushmere & Diamonds	(H) 0-4		
     8				
    15          
    22	        	
    29		
	
Dec  6		Sizewell Argyle FC	(H) P-P		Athletico Once		(A) 4-1	
    13		Elmsett Utd.		(A) 5-2
    20							The Margaret Catch. Res.(H) 5-1
    27
           

Jan  3								
    10							
    17							
    24		
    31		

Feb  7				
    14			
    21		
    28		

Mar  7										
    14		 					
    21						
    28			
    
Apr  4        				INTER-SQUAD FRIENDLY
    11		Est.Elec.Old Boys(S/C)(A) 3-1		The Margaret Catchpole(J/C) (A) 1-1 (4-3Pens)					
    18		Occold FC(S/S3)	      (H) 2-5										
    29						Hadleigh Town Res. - Friendly	      (A) 3-0						

May  2		
     9
    16
    23
    30