"And Just Like That....The First Team are Treble Winners!!!.....21/05/23

Many of us have had some success in football. But I do not believe anyone has ever gone a whole season unbeaten. Was it really that easy? Absolutely not!!

Did I enjoy it all? Yes. Most of it. I am so happy to have been part of this history making season for Taverners.

You cannot play 27 games without problems. There is much more to managing the team than Football

I accept that every player believes he is good enough to be in the starting line up.

But I have always believed that one person is in charge and whatever decision he makes then as a player you must accept that.

I have very good reasons for my decisions and will not change them for anyone.

I am pleased to say that the majority of players did accept my decisions.

I believe strongly in loyalty and commitment. Without it, the success this season would never have happened.

Cup Finals are a different kind of game. Suddenly wives, friends, girlfriends and children are there watching. You are now without even thinking about it approaching the game differently. No matter how many times I say it and try to solve it we start slowly. The final on Sunday was no exception.

Playford were playing out of their skins and their goalkeeper was exceptional. We were at half pace for most of the game. With the exception of MOTM James Stozza Storey we were not at the top of our game.

It was an anxious hard watch from the side-lines. We made changes on the hour and we did push harder and did create more openings.

Time after time the Playford keeper got something in the way of a shot. It was a great relief when T Wandira picked up a superb pass from Jerome Primus on the edge of the 18 yard box. He went past his defender and then went round the keeper to score.

Although Playford continued to push they never actually got a shot on target in the second half. They only got one corner in the whole game.

So we completed the treble. Totally unbeaten all season. The records will not show and no one will remember all the trials and tribulations of the season.

The history books will just show that it was the most successful season in the history of Taverners FC. Now the target continues to get harder. We have to move forward. We need players with commitment and loyalty. New players and hopefully a new ground. Lessons learnt and looking forward to next season.

The Historic Team for the final can be seen here

A Jubilant Picture can be found here

Team: Burton, Brooks, Burrup(Ford(Pullen)), Lambert A., Monaghan, Fulker(Stevens), Primus, Grant, Storey, Wandira, Lambert Ja.(Griggs).

Goal: Wandira

They Did It! Played 16, Won 16! (In the League).....14/05/23

To their credit Shotley kept going for the first hour. They took advantage of some poor defending and took the lead early on in the game.

But from then on it was a story of missed chances. Although they were putting up a fight we should have been clear and out of sight before half time.

We changed formation after an hour and then Shotley faded leaving us with more and more chances. Our goals came from T Wandira 3, Jack Lambert, Ben Griggs and Will Pullen. It was a fitting end to an incredible league campaign.

I need more time to let the events sink in. So no big speeches. I know many of us have experienced Cup Finals and League titles. Some have told me of doing the double. But this is about Taverners. We are one game away from an incredible triple something I have never seen. But something Taverners can be forever proud of.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Burrup, Lambert A.(Ford), Monaghan, Fulker(Lambert Ja.), Primus, Grant, Storey(Pullen), Wandira, Griggs(Stevens).

Goals: Griggs, Lambert Ja., Pullen, Wandira(3)


**********LAST GAME:**********

Sunday 21st May - 10:30

First Team - ISFL Junior Cup Final - Playford Res. - Whitton Sports Centre

Reserves Finish With A Flourish.....14/05/23

At 1-0 the game was not safe so we had to step up for the second half. This we did. James Storey and T Wandira both scored to give us the breathing space we needed.

With just a few minutes to go Jimmy Fulker scored from an acute angle. We are still unbeaten and the pressure of that has made this season feel very long. We now have just one League game, and the League Junior Cup Final to go. It would be an incredible achievement to go a whole season unbeaten. But every game is as important as the last one. We cannot afford to lose concentration.

Suddenly everyone has a stronger opinion of how to move Taverners forward. So, let's just put that to rest.

The management committee are all very aware of the pitch situation. We know KGV are not providing what we need. We looked at options last year and this year.

We have been talking with Bourne Vale for some weeks now about finding the right way to move to them.

However, all the trash talk about how this could happen will not help. The solution has to be financially viable. We do not want to hear about "let’s get sponsorship" or "Let's raise money".

Taverners do not take moving lightly. The sponsors might not be there next year and raising money is hard work and not sustainable. We know this because we have been there before.

So, the only way for this to work is to talk to all our players.

We would have to introduce a signing on fee. Every single player has to become a member of Bourne Vale which is £15 yearly. Food is actually more expensive and not free as was originally put to us. The drinks are heavily discounted. The pitches are in very good condition. Only the first team would be allowed to play on the main pitch and use those dressing rooms. The reserves would be on the second pitch and would use the older original dressing rooms. However, both dressing rooms and both pitches are very good. The reserves would be sharing their pitch with Lattice Barn. So, when we as a committee have been through all the options we will talk to everyone.

Team: Burton, Ford(Storey), Burrup, Lambert A., Monaghan, Fulker, Primus, Grant, Lambert Ja., Wandira(Stevens), Griggs(Hollinsworth).

Goals: Fulker, Storey, Wandira(2)




Reserves- Div.3

Athletico Once 1, Taverners Res. 5

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Wessels, Pullen, Archer, Durrell, Burgess, Pasque, Jordan, Southgate(Hillebrandt), Strutt, Gleed B., Lowe A..

Goals: Hillebrandt(2), Lowe A.(2), OG.


**********REMAINING GAMES:**********

Tuesday 16th May 18:30

First Team - Division 2 - Shotley Rose(H) - KGV

Sunday 21st May 10:30

First Team - ISFL Junior Cup Final - Playford Res. - Whitton Sports Centre

Over The Top Taverners Eclipse Elite.....10/05/23

The pitches are now being left to grow and the opposition pretend to be resigned to their fate of not winning anything.

But we always know they all want to take our 100% record away from us. A midweek game made the situation even worse with people working or away. Midweek games can be so unpredictable. I used to love midweek back in the day under the floodlights. But sadly Whitton Sports is not the Priory so it is hard to get everyone enthused.

Injuries are another concern. We have players playing tired and injured but we are nearly there. Maybe we just have to manage the situation.

We had to set up a little differently with the players who were available and it did change our game. Ben Griggs and T Wandira up front gave us a new dimension. Elite were finding it difficult to contain them.

It was T who was fouled in the box to win our first penalty. Tom Brooks struck home the spot kick. We added another through T when he fired the ball home from an angle.

Then a lapse of concentration and Elite scored with a near post header which somehow crept in. It did rock us for a few minutes but another two goals before half time put us firmly back in the driving seat.

Our unbeaten was never really in doubt. Two more goals in the second half. Another penalty again scored by Tom Brooks and another well taken goal from T Wandira.

Team: Burton, Pullen, Burrup(Stevens D.), Lambert A., Southgate(Burgess), Fulker(Gleed B.), Primus, Brooks, Lambert Ja.(Monaghan), Wandira, Griggs.

Goals: Brooks(2), Griggs(2), Wandira(2)


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 14th May : 10:30am

First Team - Division 2 - Red Star UK (A) - KGV
Reserves - Division 3 - Athletico Once (A) - Claydon Rec.

Reserves Fire in Five.....07/05/23

Team: Burton, Fisk, Southgate, Durrell, Burgess, Pasque, Jordan, Southgate, Monaghan, Strutt, Gleed B., Lowe A..

Goals: Gleed B., Lowe A., Pasque(2), Southgate.


NEXT GAMES:

Wednesday 10th May 18:00

First Team - Division 2 - Ipswich Elite(A) - Whitton Sports Centre

Reserves Go Down Fighting Against Foxhall.....02/05/23

Team: Siggers, Durrell, Burton, Goddard, Ford, Pasque, Jordan, Southgate(Monaghan), Primus(Burrup), Strutt(Lowe A.), Larkins(Burgess).

Goal: Lowe A.

Both Teams Come from Behind to Win.....30/04/23

The game started well. We had good control and pressured Clapgate in their own half. We were rewarded early with a penalty. T Wandira stepped up and although the keeper got to his shot it was too powerful to hold. All seemed good. But maybe that was our mistake. It looked like we would go on to win this game easily. But on a break away Clapgate equalised and then shortly after they scored again to take the lead. It was a shock to our system and we did start to play again although things did get a little worse when Sticks Burrup was sin binned. Tom Brooks headed against the bar and T Wandira hit the post.

We were still behind at half time. Patience was needed. Continue to improve our own game and we will get back into this game and win.

All we needed was one breakthrough and this came when Jack Lambert put T Wandira through and he confidently slotted the ball passed the on coming keeper.

I would not say we were ever at the top of our game but we battled on. Players carrying injuries did not help. Strong performances from Jimmy Fulker, Jack Larkins and Tom Brooks. Two more goals gave us the win. Jack Lambert scored well with his left foot and Grant Monaghan got onto the end of a cross field ball to stab the ball home from close range.

Just three league games to go. It is the hard part of the season. We are digging deep and will have to work even harder to get to the end with our 100% record intact.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Lambert A., Burrup, Larkins, Pullen, Monaghan, Primus, Lambert Ja., Fulker, Wandira.
Goals: Lambert Ja., Monaghan, Wandira(2).




Reserves- Div.3

Taverners Res. 3, Wickham Wanderers 2

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Siggers, Fisk, Archer, King, Goddard, Pasque, Jordan, Southgate, Strutt, Gleed B.(Carey), Hillebrandt(Lowe A.).

Goals: Hillebrandt, Strutt(2).

Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy Winners!!!!!!!.....23/04/23

We all met for a coffee early morning. Contrary to weather reports it was a beautiful sunny morning. It was important not to rush the build-up. It was great just to get together in a relaxed atmosphere. We got to Needham Market nice and early so we could go through the squad and get out for a decent warm up. I needed to get the worst part of my day out of the way. Name the starting 11. Was I right? I am certain everyone would have an opinion. Would I change it now if I had the game today? No. But I totally understand and respect everyone and how they felt. Hindsight is no real help, because in the heat of the match your decisions have to be instant and in the moment. Right or wrong it cannot be changed. Like everyone I spent Monday absorbing what happened the day before. I questioned myself. I wondered how someone else might have handled the day. Everything was quiet. No one called me and I started to feel alone with the responsibility of the day. But here's the reason I have been at Taverners for all these years. And here's the reason I am still here. The people I respect and speak to for honest advice were not ignoring me. They were letting the day relax. When they all called on Monday evening I went through a few options I could have done. Did I get it right? The answer was yes from them all.

We were back in the dressing room and done in plenty of time to go through the team talk. This was all designed to give us the best start to the game. Did it really work. Well, it should have done. One of the biggest things we were facing was the artificial surface. A lot of the game we all know changes on this surface. The bounce of the ball. The speed of the ball and the game. The ball rarely goes fully out of play because of the surrounding cage. We talked about being ready for this. You have to get your shape immediately. We started slowly again and took a while to get the pace of the game. Our pre match warning did not help as Dragonfly took a very quick short corner and the resulting cross was headed home to take the lead. It was a setback which in reality actually helped as it woke us up. We began to play some great football. Dragonfly could not contain us and we equalised when after we all appealed for a hand ball. The referee did not give it but Dragonfly defence hesitated and Sticks was there to stab the ball home from close range. We had the lion share of possession and the game. Not everyone had found their rhythm. Corner after corner, chance after chance. We should have been clearly in front but somehow the shots did not hit the mark. It surely was just a matter of time. Finally, midway through the half we took the lead. Another corner from the right taken by T Wandira who found Tom Brooks and he headed the ball down firmly which beat a desperate lunge to clear off the line. We could have and should have added to the score line before the break. Dragonfly pushed forward on a few occasions but were met by our determined defence limiting them to a few half chances. Jack Larkins was outstanding at full back throughout the game and linked superbly with James Stozza Storey to cause endless problems on the left for Dragonfly.

It was very clear that this game would be decided by us. If we continued to push forward then Dragonfly would not be able to respond. But we spent the second half not finding that extra gear. Although they rarely troubled us we were not at the top of our game. We were tiring fast. The pace of the game had drained our legs. Then our worst nightmare. Late in the game. A clearance scuffed landed in the path of their captain who scored from 25 yards out. It was gut wrenching. Although they now had a belief we pushed them back. Chances were desperately cleared time and again by Dragonfly. A massive penalty shout when their keeper completely floored Grant Monaghan was waved away by the referee. We got a free kick on the 18 yard line. Danny Tatum stepped and, on the refs, whistle he curled a shot around the wall into the far post. As we celebrated the linesmen were flagging. The referee after discussion ruled that the free kick had to be taken again because Dragonfly's physio was on the field tending to a player at the other end of the pitch. It was confusing because the referee had not given permission for the physio to come on. So, with the goal disallowed we just needed one more clear chance but time ran out and the final whistle blew. For the third time in this cup run we were facing a penalty shoot-out.

We selected our five penalty takers. The tension on the side lines was unbearable as the shootout began. Enter Brandon Burton. With incredible agility Brandon saved the first three penalties. We scored twice through Tom Brookes and T Wandira but missed our third. With two penalties left we just had to score once. Dragonfly scored their fourth even though Brandon got a good hand to the ball. So, it was fitting that after all these years at Taverners our next penalty taker was Duncan Southgate. With confidence Duncan placed the ball firmly into the bottom left corner giving the keeper no chance at all.

The emotion was incredible. The celebrations awesome. To now have achieved a league and cup double was unbelievable and we still have the chance of making that the treble with another cup final on 21st May. A very proud day for everyone at Taverners. Bob, Frank and Pat and the support from old and current players was incredible. Far too many to mention them all but it was said that Gary Pilkington could be heard throughout the whole game spurring us on. It was incredible to see John Steward, Julian Holmes, Marcus Webb and Paul Ryan there. Gary Cunningham and Bevan Burgess were there helping and supporting from the start right the way through to the end. And finally, the support from family and friends was beyond belief. Thank you to everyone involved. The season is not over. Four league games to go and another cup final. We need to win them all.

A Jubilant Picture can be found here

Team: Burton, Ford, Lambert A., Burrup(Pullen), Larkins, Brooks, Monaghan, Primus(Tatum), Storey(Southgate), Lambert Ja.(Grant), Wandira,
Goals: Brooks, Burrup.


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 30th April

First Team - Division 2 - Clapgate Lane(A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre
Reserves - Division 3 - Wickham Wanderers(H) - KGV

Another Sunday- Another Cup Semi - Same Outcome!.....16/04/23

We started the game well , moving the ball and creating chances but some good saves and last ditch tackles along with missed chances and over-playing meant it took longer than expected to take the lead. A low corner (well rehearsed) and several step overs allowed Tommy Brooks to sweep the ball home.

We continued to play well and when we won a penalty all eyes were on Grant - more because Trev has banned him from pens. Grant came up with the idea so that Trev didn't see he'd missed a pen in the stats that he'd miss the pen but score the rebound so it goes down as a "proper" goal.

We then gave the ball away on the edge of their box and a few passes later we'd given a free kick away near our box. They shot and then swept the ball home for 2-1. This lifted them for a while and we went in at that score.

D and Spanky pressed home the point to keep playing / move the ball and be patient and goals will come.

We did just that - and again created good chances. Martlesham had a brief 15mins where they had the ball but Brando was rarely troubled other than coming to punch a dangerous cross.

Danny chipped in with a goal from a corner and then further goals from Granty again and Will made it 5-1.

It's a pleasure to play in a team and witness some of the football we play , the movement and today the workrate and desire to press the ball and win it back was top notch.

Some players respond differently to certain situations- some need an arm around them , others react to a shout but we ALL want the same outcome.

I don't believe people calling out mistakes- those that make them know what's happened and cannot feel worse than they already do - today our attitude was spot on.

Proud of EVERYONE today from starting 11 , Subs and those that turn up to help and support.

League Champs and x2 FInals in a Season.

You know what we need to do .......

Team: Burton, Brooks, Lambert A., Burrup, Larkins, Tatum(Pullen), Monaghan, Primus, Storey(Lambert Ja.), Fulker(Ford), Wandira(Stevens D.),
Goals: Brooks, Monaghan(2), Pullen, Tatum.




Reserves- Div.3

Taverners Res. 0, Eye Saints 10

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Siggers(Gleed A.), Burgess, Archer, King, Lloyd, Pasque, Fisk, Hillebrandt(Lowe A.), Strutt, Gleed B.(Anderson), Griggs

NEXT GAME:

Sunday 23rd April

First Team - Suffolk F.A. Sunday Trophy Final - AFC Dragonfly - Needham Market FC Res. Pitch (3G) -Bloomfields, Quinton Rd, Needham Market, Ipswich IP6 8DA - What3Words ///guru.region.streamers

Entry by ticket only. Tickets available here

Eggcellent First Team Performance!.....09/04/23

Once everyone eventually arrived we set out to keep our 100% record going , this week with the disadvantage of playing 2 teams in Rushmere & Diamonds.

Few changes to the side following last week's Cup Semi-Final win but still a strong squad.

As seems to be the way now we started very slow , giving the ball away , over-playing at times and lazy off the ball. This all then played to Rushmeres advantage when a break-away goal left to a deflected cross causing an own goal and giving Rushmere a 1-0 lead. The worry then was who was going to tell Trev ???

We then gradually increased our game and by half time going in 3-1 up ( pick of first half goals was a headed goal from Tee following a great ball in by Josh)

We spoke at HT about the need to move the ball quicker , play with less touches , create width but more importantly if you lose the ball that desire to win it back and not just rely on someone else to do it for you.

Ben Griggs then came on to play uptop and Tee went wide. Within minutes he scored his first Tavs goal.

Second half saw an improvement and some of the football we played was very good. Further goals came and a few chances were missed ( weren't they Vin ?)

We ended up running out winners 11-1.

Maybe I'm always ultra critical and I take comments on board such as 1/ The pitch is awful 2/ They were a poor side and go their level

In any game I've ever played or managed there are things that I believe are a given If YOU lose the ball you work your balls off to win it back - hands on hips or rolling is not acceptable. The other is no matter WHO or WHAT the score you play with the same tempo and same attitude. If you go through on goal still finish as if it was 0-0 and the goal is vital or defending even at 11-1 we still throw ourselves into blocks or put your head on the line.

There's a reason top teams win by big scorelines because they only play one way .

I know I'm a grumpy old sod and most of you will think he moans and doesn't know what he's on about. That's fair enough.

If players buy into this there is no reason we cant win every game and 2 cups, but those who think it's enough to have a laugh in the warm up - play at 50% and still make the line up may see some shocks.

Rant over .... This is one of the BEST teams I've had the pleasure to play alongside and some of you I wouldn't hesitate to say are among the best I've played with , I moan because I can see the potential and how good you boys can be.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Ford, Southgate(Pullen), Larkins(Lambert), Fulker(Stevens), Monaghan, Primus, Grant, Tatum(Griggs), Wandira,
Goals: Fulker, Griggs(2), Monaghan(3), Wandira(4), O.G.


NEXT GAME:

Sunday 16th April

First Team - Martlesham Old Boys J/C 1/2 Final(N) - Gainsborough Sports Centre

Reserves - Eye Saints (H) - KGV

Double Bubble Weekend.....02/04/23

Trev is away with work and following a week of texts and calls the squad and team was picked and ready to play in our first of two semi-finals this month.

After a last minute call to Trev on route we arrived (mostly on time) to play against a decent young side from Bury.

A last minute call off from Josh meant a bit of a re-shuffle but we were good to go.

We started slow - passes were sloppy and we looked slow and nervous a mix of giving the ball away cheaply or playing long hopeful balls.

We went 1-0 down after a ball through found the Wolves striker who's shot/come cross looped up and deceived Sticks and the ball bounced over the line.

A wake up call ????

Few minutes later its was 2-0 Wolves a similar ball through - same player - same result - this time a calm finish and we'd certainly found ourselves up against it.

Some "choice" words between the players and the need to step up seemed to work and we then settled down playing at times some good football.

Jerome and Grant started to get on the ball more and we as a side we started to grow into the game.

Then a bouncing ball in the center circle was missed by me to allow the striker (who already had 2 ) to run clean through only to be denied by the first of many top saves by our debut keeper Sticks.

Then after some play down the right Grant found Tee who could and should of had a penalty slotted home with the help of a deflection to get us back in the game.

Then straight from center Tee won the ball and Grant with a ball through for Stozza to calmly finish and pull us level at 2-2.

We had further chances to go in at HT in front with Grant smashing the bar from a great team move and Tee slotting wide when through .

Sticks also made his first worldy save of the day from tipping ascot onto the post and saving the rebound.

Second saw a re- shuffle - Brooksy to right back and Dan Pasque on.

We played a lot better in the second half creating chances- their keeper making some saves / brooksy hit the bar and we missed a couple of sitters but in my opinion they're only looked like 1 winner but then - disaster .

A challenge in the our box from me resulted in a pen being awarded ( I still say and I know I nicked the ball) however many of my own players / supporters and more importantly the ref and lino thought otherwise and the after a brief disagreement with the officials I was sin-binned for remainder of the match. I was gutted and felt that I had let everyone down.

Luckily my old mate Sticks bailed me out - AGAIN.

The lad who was on a hat-trick and has 40 goals to his name this season stepped up dragged his pen onto the post and as it went across goal Sticks got hands on it - and then duly stuck out a long leg to block the rebound.

So to pens .... Again

Sticks was the first to save one and after successful pens from Brooksy and Tee , Granty decided to do his clever run up and chipped the ball into the keepers hands.

Spanky then scored so sudden death with both teams having 1 left.

The skipper of Wolves stepped up and Sticks leapt like a gazelle to save it.

Advantage Tavs! Sticks dusted himself down - faced the half way line then turned and caressed the ball into the net to send Tavs through.

Wild scenes both on the pitch and in the changing rooms after and on facetime with Trev.

Wolves were a decent side and as said at Half time not many sides at 2-0 down would come back to win that game.

I'm a strong believer in Desire and Work-Rate are vital to any team and we showed that today - we have players who show that and re-act the way they do because of that passion to win everything.

For me personally some stand out performances.

Jimmy got through a lot of work despite looking like he'd just run a marathon before we even started.

Jerome / Granty in midfield both got more on the ball.

Brooksy - especially at right back.

Tee - lot if work up top on his own.

But my MOTM has to go to (sorry vin) Sticks!

Not just the pen saves but overall calmness throughout and sweeping up the balls over the top.

Massive thanks to all the squad ( apologise to those that didn't get on, or only played a few seconds ) all those that came to watch and helped.

Also to D who tool a days holiday off work to come and help - Top man.

Being a "Tav" is like a family we ALL play and stick up for each other - we fall out at times / swear at each other but ultimately have each others backs and work hard for each other .

Enjoy these moments as I'm sure some of the "senior Tavs" will tell you they remember games with 8 or 9 players and getting spanked week in week out .

Oh and lastly ........ We only went and won the League aswell !!!! CHAMPIONAAAAYYYYS #cupfinalanyone #championsanyone #invincibles?anyone #uptheTavs

Team: Burrup, Pullen(Pasque), Ford, Lambert A., Larkins(Southgate), Primus, Brooks, Storey, Monaghan, Fulker, Wandira.
Goals: Storey, Wandira


NEXT GAME:

Sunday 9th April

First Team - Rushmere & Diamonds Res. (A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre

Nervy Ninety For First Team, but Run Continues.....19/03/23

I cannot even begin to explain how hard being the manager is sometimes. It is hard to please everyone. I know only too well how you feel as players. But I get disappointed when I realise that players do not trust me and have not listened to me.

I need you all to listen and trust me.

You guys take the mickey if I mention back in the day. I get that. It really dosen't bother me. It's all part of our team spirit.

But most of you seem to have missed the fact that I truly believe the whole squad is important.

What does starting as sub actually mean. From a squad of 15 this week 8 players did not play the full 90 minutes. Starting as sub has a stigma attached to it that is false. I know this now as the manager but just like most of you as a player I too hated being told I was sub. I was actually dropped to sub for three Cup Finals. The last of these was for Copelston. Do I really remember being named as sub? No.

What I remember is that we won the final 2-1 and I scored the winning goal.

However, I do need to apologise for Sunday. When I named the squad I could have explained why I decided to start this way. Was it a cop out? No. It was a genuine belief that this was correct for the team in this game. I should have said that. I was caught by surprise and I did not answer correctly.

I thought for a long while about how I wanted to start the game against Brickies. In the end I decided that I wanted us to start strong defensively. To do that meant changing things from the previous week. Not fair on some players? I never dropped anyone. I just used players in a different way.

We are on the edge of achieving something amazing this season. That will only happen if we are all part of it and you all buy into what I believe is right. I am certain you all have opinions on right or wrong. Even though many of you joke about other people having influence on selecting the team that is not the case and although I listen I have my own thoughts and beliefs on our success and so far I haven't been proved wrong. Changes will happen but my squad stays as much as possible, the same. Why have players got their place back in the team after being away. Simple. It's what was needed that week.

Was the game actually as close as the score suggests? No. But we did skate pretty close to the edge in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Was it a good day? Every win is a good day.

I do not think anyone who was there would dispute that we should have buried them in the first half. Throughout the game we had enough chances to get four or five goals. We took a deserved lead after Tom Brooks headed forward from the midfield. His header cleared the last defender and T Wandira ran through to lob over the head of the on coming keeper.

Although we dominated the game we could not find another goal. Apart not actually taking our chances we were not doing anything wrong. I always access where we are with players. I think about the next game and I look at where we can use all of our squad to maintain or improve how we are playing.

Tom Brooks was struggling after going down injured in the first half so our first change was to rearrange the midfield and to introduce James (Stozza) Storey. Fresh legs make a difference and Stozza confirmed this by causing new problems to the Brickies defence in a wide position. And it was Stozza who set up our second goal with a superb cross from the right to the far post which was met by the head of Grant Monaghan to head strongly home.

It has to be said that we did drop off a little after this and people did begin to look tired. So more fresh legs were added with Duncan Southgate and Will Pullen. We had control again but when we failed to clear in our own 18 yard Brickies took advantage to score. This gave them the belief that they could get back on terms with us but although there were a couple of half chances one of which Brandon Burton dealt with by saving twice at the feet of the attacker.

We introduced Daren Stevens up front to hold up the play giving us more time to regain our shape and we ran out winners by just one goal even though it definitely should have been more and therefore easier.

Team: Burton, Brooks(Storey), Burrup, Lambert A., Larkins, Primus, Grant, Ford(Pullen), Monaghan, Fulker(Southgate), Wandira(Stevens).
Goals: Monaghan, Wandira


NEXT GAME:

Sunday 26th March

********REMEMBER - CLOCKS GO FORWARD 1 HOUR SUNDAY MORNING 1AM GMT (BECOMES 2AM BST) *********

First Team - West Suffolk Wolves ST 1/2 Final(H) - KGV

Reserves - Foxhall Utd Div3. (H) - KGV

********REMEMBER - CLOCKS GO FORWARD 1 HOUR SUNDAY MORNING 1AM GMT (BECOMES 2AM BST)*********

First Team Into Junior Cup Semi After Wandiraful Win!.....12/03/23

The rules that we set out before the game were quite simple. We do not get involved in any nonsense and arguments. We accept the referees word on all decisions and from the first whistle we play our game. We did just that.

Unlike the previous week where we started slowly from the first whistle we went Straight at the Panthers defence and they could not cope. Within 35 minutes we had already scored seven goals. Jack Larkins and Tom Brooks tortured Panthers in wide positions. Jerome Primus orchestrated the play bringing in Jimmy Fulker, James Storey. Grant Monaghan and Josh Grant totally controlled the central midfield. Andy Lambert and Sticks Burrup dealt with all and everything in central defence.

Again as it is with all of our games, this was a complete team effort, a squad of 15 and 11 men on the field, who just wanted to play football, enjoy their football for all the right reasons.

Within just 20 minutes Tawanda Wandira had already completed his hat-trick. They had no answer for his speed and ability to maintain possession of the ball in dangerous areas.

Other goals were added. James Stozza Storey scored. And then Grant Monaghan scored from just inside the 18 yard box. We scored twice more before half time.

Over to our on the spot reporter Tom Brooks.

"My first goal was a cross to the far post from the left by Jack Larkins. I arrived at the back post to lash in a half volley." We were totally dominant. Some incredible football and we went further ahead before half time. Over to Jimmy Fulker. "Just before half time the ball dropped to me 35 yards out. I lashed the ball into the top right hand corner leaving the keeper no chance."

Half time was a pleasant affair. We needed to maintain pressure.

However very early in second half a small dent in our armour when we failed to deal with a loose ball let the striker get off a shot which then took a ricochet which then took the ball past Brandon Burton. A little wake up call but from then on we established our dominance again.

We added fresh legs with Danny Tatum, Will Pullen and a debut for Callum Pollard.

Tawanda added another two goals to bring has tally to an incredible five on the day and Tom Brookes added his second. Over to Tom "Sticks took a corner and I powered a header in at the far post."

It was a comprehensive win which proved that the gap between these two divisions is wider than we thought. Panthers are unbeaten in Div 3 but they were no competition for Taverners first team. We remain truly unbeaten.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Burrup, Lambert A., Larkins, Primus(Pullen), Storey(Stevens D.), Fulker(Pollard), Monaghan, Grant(Tatum), Wandira.
Goals: Brooks(2), Fulker, Monaghan, Storey, Wandira(5)


NEXT GAME:

Sunday 19th March

First Team - The Brickmakers Arms(H) - KGV

First Team Continue with Wins, Pasque Hat-trick seals win for Reserves .....05/03/23

I am nervous every week. No matter who we play. I know how easy it would be to slip up. How bad would any of you feel if we lost our unbeaten record to a team like Martlesham. So when we struggle with availability we have to adapt. We have to play in a different line up.

St Audry's Melton is a totally new venue for me. It was not the worst ground we have played on this year. But from the first half performance it looked that maybe this line up may be one step too far. People tell me we should sign this player and that player. Our team is not built on individual players. There is more to us than 11 good players on the field. We showed that against Bedfield. People still wonder how we beat them. I know how we beat them and I knew players would come through. The penalties should never have happened. That was a mistake which, with the help of Brandon, T and Sticks we came through.

The first half was not going well. Martlesham never really gave us any major problems but we were not causing them any problems either. Just a handful of half chances. Our final pass was woeful. It was a frustrating 45 minutes. But it has to be said they were playing at the top of their game where we had another 2 levels to go to. We were losing out if the ball broke from an attack. We were always two or three yards in the wrong place. Positional play is so important. High level Coaches, managers and especially my Dad would talk to me all the time about how to be in the right place at the right time. It is experience and knowledge. Learn from your teammates. I could write a long list of all the players that helped me from famous to unknown. Be patient and the rewards will come. Trust your instinct. Commit to the tackle or the shot. If you don't believe it then it will not happen. Paul Mariner told me he used to visualise scoring goals before the game. It made some of the things he did during the game look effortless because they were already in his memory he didn't have to think. (if you don't know him ask Bob or Pat)

We needed a goal to set us on our way and this came when Vinny Ford hit a cross field pass to Jack Larkins who then put a great cross into James Storey (Stozza) who scored from 8 yards. We needed to change a few things, so we put in Daren Stevens up front and from this point control was ours. Players stepped up their games, notably Jack Larkins, James Storey and Grant Monaghan. Andy Lambert and Christian (Sticks) Burrup were pretty solid thoughout the game and Vinny Ford was very strong. It was Vinny who sent in a hard hit pass to Tawanda Wandira who controlled, turned and scored past the keeper. The fact that we have had a good season so far you tend to forget the luxury of having a goalkeeper like Brandon Burton as our last line of defence. He did not have too much to deal with during this game but has proved himself time and time again this season pulling off some incredible saves.

We completed the scoreline when Grant Monaghan twisted and turned on the edge of the 18 yards box confusing two of their players. He found Tawanda in the box who again turned and fired passed the goalkeeper for his second of the day. We had a few more chances a great effort from Daren Stevens went close with a 20 yard shot in the last few seconds of the game. Once we played our game the result was never in doubt. But we have to start better. We have to get to games in good time. We have to commit to everything.

Team: Burton, King(Stevens), Burrup, Ford, Larkins, Primus, Storey, Pullen, Monaghan, Lambert A., Wandira.
Goals: Storey, Wandira(2)




Reserves- Div.3

Taverners Res. 3, Northam Celtic Res. 1

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Siggers(Gleed A.), Fisk, Archer, Goddard, Burgess, Pasque, Jordan W., Strutt, Southgate, Gleed B.(Lloyd), Herridge(Lowe A.)

Goals: Pasque(3)

NEXT GAME:

Sunday 12th March

First Team - Junior Cup 1/4Final- The Panthers(H) - KGV

Reserves In Rare Sunday Scoreless Stalemate .....19/02/23

Team: Siggers, King, Burton, Southgate(Jackaman), Burgess(Herridge), Pasque, Grant, Strutt(Gleed), Mongahan, Fisk(Gunn), Wandira

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 5th March

First Team: Div. 2 - Martlesham Old Boys (A) - St Audry's Club

Reserves: Div. 3 - Northam Celtic Res. (H) - KGV

First Team into Semi final of County Sunday Trophy .....12/02/23

One day when you have long retired from playing football I hope that you will look back on some great memories of your playing days. You will see just how important memories like today really are and I know you will enjoy telling your children and grandchildren about back in the day and all about the 2022/23 season.

The Treble is still on and the memory can grow bigger and greater. For this to happen it comes down to us and our commitment to the team and our friends. The secret of our success is as much due to the dressing room before and after the game as it is on the pitch itself.

There were a few negative doubts about who we were facing on Sunday during the week. At least I knew we were not going to be complacent.

We knew very little about Bedfield. They are unbeaten in their league and we expected them to be well organised and a decent side. In my mind it was a challenge. All that worried me was our attitude, our desire and our belief.

For a major game like this we had 11 players so we had to make a visit to the reserves dressing room to take at least one player. Rob Fisk stepped up and joined our squad. I knew our team was strong enough and good enough to beat anyone on our day. But this was a test we haven't met before in this season.

Bedfield lived up to what we expected. They are a very good side. They were not afraid to be fully committed. But I do not think they were fully prepared for just how committed we are.

The 90 minutes of football that followed were exactly why we play football.

Everything that we asked of our squad they gave us from the first whistle to the last.

The first half was hard fought. Both teams had chances although we did limit them mainly to a few long range efforts thanks to some incredible defending. The only one that really caused any concern was dealt with by Brandon Burton in our goal. The game was fully committed and the tackles were strong, luckily, we had a strong referee.

The game never seemed to decrease in pace and half time was a welcome break.

We talked about maintaining our concentration. Neither team was going to run away with this result. The first goal was probably going to win the game. So we needed to give them no time on the ball. I would like to name players but then I would name all eleven. We celebrated tackles like we had scored. No one gave up the chase. We knew as the game wore on tiredness would be a problem. But the desire to not let this game go kept every player moving. We had a really good spell pushing Bedfield back.

The breakthrough came when T Wandira controlled the ball from a cross. He shielded and turned the defenders inside the 18 yard box. The ball ran free to the feet of Jack Lambert and he placed the ball home. We had to protect our lead. Bedfield pushed us hard. They had four free kicks in quick succession. All were very badly executed. We were defending well and it looked like they would not break us down. We were still making openings and chances but the game was definitely 50/50 at this time. With just 6 minutes to go we failed to clear a loose ball in the six yard box and Bedfield scored. Although we tried to get forward neither team had any chances in the remainder of the game.

So to penalties. For the neutral I know this is a good spectacle to watch. To be involved was a nightmare.

Our first three penalties were either missed or saved. Bedfield had their first saved but they scored their second penalty.

I feared the worst after our third miss. But Brandon saved their third penalty.

We could not afford to miss again. T Wandira stepped up and fired his penalty home. But we still needed Bedfield to miss again to draw level.

Bob Bullamore called it saying "He will put it over the bar". So it was a beautiful sight to see their next penalty go straight over the bar.

We were now level again at 1-1

Sticks stepped forward and confidently blasted the ball into the top left corner of the goal to give us a 2-1 lead.

Now all the pressure was on Bedfield. It's not easy to face taking a penalty like this and it does not matter at what level you are playing. They had to score. But they failed.

The celebrations were incredible. Penalty shootouts that end this way are excellent. Brandon Burton in goal was incredible throughout the game and in the shoot out.

Every player has a claim to man of the match so it would be wrong to single anyone out.

UppaTavs we march forward to the Semi Final 26th March.

Team: Burton, Pullen, Burrup, Ford, Larkins, Lambert Ja., Storey, Tatum, Monaghan, Fulker, Wandira.
Goals: Lambert Ja.




Reserves- Junior Cup Rnd 2

Taverners Res. 2, Playford Res. 2 (Playford Res. win 5-4 on pens.)

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Davis, King, Wessels, Goddard, Burgess, Pasque, Jordan W., Strutt, Durrell, Southgate(Siggers), Lowe A.(Cunningham)

Goals: Pasque(2)

NEXT GAME:

Sunday 19th Feb

Reserves - Div 3 - Playford Res. - KGV

Both Teams Score 4, First Team Win whilst Reserves Draw .....05/02/23

This is where we as a club get through every week. The Shotley manager put our success down to having a reserve side. A bank of players we can call on when needed. If only he knew the truth some weeks as we struggle to put out two teams.

Weakening the reserves squad by taking players is something we try to avoid. The reserves had a seriously hard week losing 11 players. But because we have a bank of good club players we get through. A massive thank you to those players, Darren Warner, Daren Stevens and Gary Pilkington all out of retirement for the games.

The 1st team had lost four players from the previous week. All players are important and all are valued. We are lucky that for the whole season so far, we have always had a strong 11. This again was the case on Sunday. With probably the oldest subs bench in history of 118 years we set out against Shotley.

They are not a bad side and we have to start well. It has been the case for some time now that teams come at us hard for the first 20 minutes. We try to prepare for that. It is important that we also do not pick up unnecessary injuries and bookings. This can be difficult as teams do come at us hard. The tackles can be very strong. We compete for everything and can match the opposition and better them for strength in a tackle.

We competed well through this 20 minute spell and both teams had a few chances which did not result in a goal. We had not settled into our normal rhythm. But gradually we started to take hold and more chances came our way.

A cross from Jack Lambert was met by Jerome Primus to head home. And just 10 minutes later another cross from Jack caused confusion in Shotley defence and the ball came out to Jimmy Fulker and he placed the ball past the keeper from 18 yards.

We continued through the game with the lion share of the play. T Wandira and Jack Lambert worked tirelessly through the whole game and Shotley had no option but to continually foul the pair. Every player did well and our domination paid off further when their keeper ran straight into our player to concede a penalty which was confidently converted again by Grant Monaghan.

With just minutes to go Daren Stevens went close to scoring and almost immediately after we broke again wide through Will Pullen. His pin point cross was met at the far post by Jack Lambert to score.

I am certain other teams in the league look at us and think this is easy for us. The truth is that every week Gary and I work hard to get two strong teams onto the field. Sunday was a difficult one which makes the two results even better. The success comes down to the one thing every other team faces. Availability.

This season and every season is up to us as a squad. If we are all available then we can continue this unbeaten run. 15 games now and the only reason that will stop is if one week we get complacent and think we do not have to put 100 per cent into this squad.

Team: Burton, Pullen, Burrup, Ford, Larkins(Stevens D.), Lambert Ja., Storey, Primus, Monaghan, Fulker, Wandira.
Goals: Fulker, Lambert Ja., Monaghan, Primus




Reserves- Division 3

Taverners Res. 4, Phoenix 4

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Davis, Warner D.(Cunningham), Wessels, Goddard, Burgess, Gleed, Jordan W., Strutt, Tatum, Pilkington G., Herridge(Lowe A).

Goals: Burgess, Jordan, Strutt(2)

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 12th Feb

First Team - SFA ST 1/4 Final - Bedfield - KGV

Reserves - JC2 - Playford Res. - KGV

Strutty Notches his 100th in Six Point Sunday .....29/01/23

The opening speech is well rehearsed. We all know it but we all need reminding every week.

"We have no right to expect to win this game today. We are the architects of our own destiny. We have the ability to beat anyone in front of us, but we have to approach every game like it is the first time we have played them. " It has not been easy since November with long breaks between games. Keeping our momentum is difficult. The away pitches have been extremely bad making it difficult to play our normal game.

So it was good to be at home. The pitch may not be the very best but it is flat and we get to play football. Our squad is good at the moment. Apart from one lost to long term injury we are all available. It does make selection a headache sometimes. I have reasons for my decisions. I do not expect everyone to agree. Football is all about personal opinions.

We have all watched many thousands of hours of football and therefore we are all experts and believe we could manage the national team better the Southgate. I have also driven a car for many thousands of miles but I am not Lewis Hamilton. I do not believe I am always right but at the time I believe in my decision.

I will always listen to other points of view and I will happily change my mind if I accept the view point.

Real Suffolk are one of the better sides in our division so we knew they would be a decent test. We settled through the first 10 to 15 minutes. The game took a few turns with no one holding back on the tackles. A game like this needs a strong person policing the game to insure it does not become a farce. So, it is with some credit to both teams that in spite of this, the game did stay on track.

We had the lion share of possession but needed that break through which came when Sticks sent an incredible through ball into their 18 yard box for Tawanda Wandira to run onto and he finished by chipping the ball over the oncoming keeper to score.

Real had a shot on target, which was well saved by Brandon Burton after his clearance, was miss hit. And they equalised a few minutes later after a corner went through to the far post and the player lobbed the ball back over our defenders and keeper to score.

Apart from these two Real never actually got a shot on goal for the rest of the game.

We took the lead again when Tom Brooks again got into a superb position from the full back position to meet a cross on the far post to score.

At no point did I feel we would lose this game but then in an insane 5 minute spell Tom Brooks was sent off for violent conduct. However the opposing player received no punishment at all even though he punched and kicked out.

We had to re-group. There was still 25 minutes to go. We reverted to two banks of four and added fresh legs from the bench. In fact we should have increased our lead. We had three opportunities in the last 20 minutes. All three were clear-cut chances but sadly we did not convert.

Although Real Suffolk tried to force their advantage, as a team we held firm and dealt with everything they had and left them with not a single chance.

Some superb performances on a difficult day. It has to be said that the whole team worked hard with a lot of quality through the full 90 minutes.

This is the team spirit we need to carry our form through to the very end of the season. Before, during and after the game. It's a pleasure to be involved with this squad.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Burrup, Lambert A., Larkins(Pullen), Lambert Ja., Grant, Primus, Monaghan(Fulker), Ford(Askew), Wandira(Storey).
Goals: Brooks, Wandira.




Reserves- Division 3

Taverners Res. 3, Trinity FC 2

The Res entertained Trinity at KGV this week looking to win 3 games on the bounce and redress what was a scathing result at the hands of our opponents earlier in the season.

With a strong squad, we were confident we could get a good result and this was evidenced by our dominance of the opposition from kick-off and for the vast majority of the first half. Despite this, Trinity opened the scoring from a retaken corner when Siggers was unfairly impeded allowing their player a free header at the far post. We quickly equalised however with the lively Strutt being fouled in the area and saw Southgate coolie despatch the resulting penalty. We continued to dominate and created a number of good chances. The mild disappointment of going in 1-1 at halftime became a major disappointment when 20 seconds of madness saw Trinity convert one of their few chances to make the score 1-2 just before halftime.

The halftime team talk was quite difficult but whilst I made my disappointment clear at the two errors which led to Trinity scoring their goals I had to be full of praise for the way we were playing and express my absolute optimism that we could win the game. The second half saw us continue to control the midfield, possibly even more so than we had in the first. The defence was effective in snuffing out most of Trinity's attacks, although Siggers had made up for his late first-half error by pulling off a couple of smart saves.

We deservedly equalised when Strutt latched onto a cross from the marauding Dan Pasque to finish smartly with a volley from close range. This marked a watershed moment for Paul scoring his one-hundredth goal for Taverners – welcome to the big leagues Mr Strutt. Not long after this another smart finish this time from Pasque gave us a deserved lead. With the opposition making changes and pressing for an equalizer we created numerous chances to put the game to bed. Both Lowe who had come on for Herridge and Riley who had replaced Gleed saw chances saved by the keeper.

Dan P won the award for the most humorous moment in the game or indeed any other I can remember when he outpaced the Trinity defence for the umpteenth time and with just the goalkeeper to beat, proceeded to kick the biggest divot ever seen and face-plant spectacularly. Potential injury aside, never not funny.

As the final whistle went queue celebration, mainly from me, for a thoroughly brilliant result. I genuinely feel that the performance would have been enough to beat any team in our league. Every player today did exactly what was asked of them individually but everyone played for the team.

Uppa Tavs. We go again.

Team: Siggers, King, Southgate(Burgess), Goddard, Durrell, Pasque, Jordan W., Strutt, Tatum, Gleed(Lloyd), Herridge(Lowe A).

Goals: Southgate, Strutt, Pasque.

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 29th January

First Team - J/C2 - Shotley Rose(H) - KGV

Reserves - Div3 - Phoenix(H) - KGV

Both Teams Progress In Junior Cup .....15/01/23

It did not start too well with four players either injured or away. Ash Holmes, Jimmy Fulker, James Storey and Josh Grant. We have a strong squad of players so we can adapt but it is not the greatest news after the Christmas break.

I could not even count on drawing from the reserves as they were short of squad numbers.

Brickies are second in the league although their form has taken a dip. There is no plus point when people say "Well it's only the cup." As the season moves on and we remain unbeaten we move closer and closer to the perfect season.

We have played and beaten every team from the games in front of us apart from one which is Bedfield in the Sunday Trophy. Should they worry us? No. We should worry them.

So, it is up to us. It is up to every individual player to support this squad through till the very end of the season. We are the biggest target for other teams to aim at. They all want to be the team that finally brings us down.

On Sunday Brickies did not step up to the challenge. The weather and the pitch helped them with a very strong cross wind and a pitch that seriously needs attention.

It helped them because it limited the football we could play. It was almost impossible to adapt to the conditions because the wind changed every few minutes.

We should look at Brickies and learn. They started the season unbeaten until they met us. From that point their squad has lost momentum and the so-called good players find easy excuses to be unavailable.

The first time they played us they had 15 to 20 people on the line watching. But Sunday the manager was a lonely figure.

Having said that, the players they had worked hard and contained us in the first half. We needed to just keep battling the elements and work on building opportunities. We needed to stay calm.

I told our strikers at half time that the first goal would not be a "worldy". It wasn't. A Tom Brooks miss hit looped up into the air and the keeper did not deal with it. Jack Lambert was there to volley the ball over the line from a yard.

It was exactly what we needed to be able to relax on the ball. Jerome Primus was controlling the midfield. We added another just a few minutes later when Tawanda Wandira got control of the ball in the 18 yard box.

He beat two players and went around the keeper to score.

The result was never in doubt from this point onwards although we were guilty of over playing a couple of times in defensive area's which gave us a few scares. One in the dying minutes which Sticks dealt with putting his body in the way of two shots.

Back to the league next week where hopefully the pitch and conditions will be better suited to our play.

Team: Burton, Brooks(Pullen), Ford, Lambert A., Larkins, Lambert Ja., Askew, Primus, Monaghan, Burrup, Wandira.
Goals: Lambert Ja., Wandira.




Reserves- Junior Cup Rnd1

Wickham Wanderers 1, Taverners Res. 2

We won again! This time in the cup!


Team: Siggers, Jackaman(King), Southgate, Durrell, Burgess, Pasque, Jordan W., Strutt, Fisk, Gleed(Lloyd), Lowe A.(Herridge).

Goals: Pasque(2).

NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 5th Feb

First Team - Div2 - Real Suffolk(H) - KGV

Reserves - Div3 - Trinity(H) - KGV

Reserves Start New Year with Win .....08/01/23

Sunday 15th January

First Team - Junior Cup 1 - The Brickmakers Arms(A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre

Reserves - Junior Cup 1 - Wickham Wanderers(A) - Wickham Market Playing Field

Reserves Start New Year with Win .....08/01/23

Slim Win for First Team .....04/12/23

So did we deserve to win? If I was Shotley manager I would have been disappointed. If things had gone their way it could have been a different result. When we failed to clear in our 18 yard box a shot hit Andy Lambert under the arms. They scored from the rebound but the referee said he had already blown his whistle for the penalty. The penalty was then superbly saved by Brandon Burton. So you can see why Shotley felt hard done by.

However they never really got a shot on target for the rest of the game. They did fight hard and they did pressure but our back four held firm. Tom Brookes, Jack Larkins, Andy Lambert, Vinny Ford and Sticks in the second half.

We did not play at our best. The wet and muddy conditions are not suiting our style of play but a few players were below normal standards. It was no surprise to get to half time at 0 – 0.

We knew we had to improve. We needed a gritty performance and that is what we did.

It did not help losing new signing Ash Holmes with a long term injury before half time. We are hoping the long christmas break will see him fit again in January. The same goes for James Stozza Storey who broke his arm some weeks ago at training.

It has always been a fact that we would need our whole squad to get through the season. I have been preaching for weeks that everyone is important and everyone will play a big part in whatever happens this season. So players commitment is majorly important. After this coming weekend we will not play again until January. So there is plenty of time for celebration through the christmas period.

We took the lead when a through ball from Jim Fulker found T Wandira and he beat the on coming keeper easily to score.

Did we deserve to win? Most definitely yes.

We should have scored another 3 or 4 times. We didn't so we had to dig in and Shotley pushed everything forward to try to get an equaliser.

This was a great result and one which proves we can win games even when not everything is going right. As an attacking force there is no team better. With Jack Lambert and T Wandira we always have a threat and we add goals from midfield and defence in just the last few weeks Grant Monaghan, Stozza Storey, Jim Fulker, Vinny Ford, Tom Brookes and Jerome Primas have all added goals to our game.

We are in good shape. We are into the Quarter finals of this cup and 11 points clear at the top of our division. But commitment is the key. Now is not the time to be complacent. Results can change. It is up to us as individuals to insure we do not let that happen.

Team: Burton, Brooks(Pullen), Ford, Lambert A., Larkins, Primus, Monaghan, Lambert Ja., Grant(Fulker), Holmes(Burrup), Wandira

Goal: Wandira.

First Team Remain Unbeaten .....27/11/22

On a very muddy pitch Red Star chased everything. We had no time at all on the ball and along with the conditions it upset our style of play. They got their reward just a few minutes in taking the lead.

My worry was that they would then sit back, try to frustrate us and work on a breakaway. This did not happen and they began to slow down.

We got more time on the ball and our game started to come together. The conditions were extremely bad. The centre of the pitch was no place for holding the ball.

We drew level through a very rare shot from Jerome Primus when he caught their keeper off his line and he chipped him from 25 yards.

We took the lead when Grant Monaghan scored from close range. By now we had some control although Red Star were still causing some problems on the breakaway. A few last-ditch tackles and two fine saves from Brandon Burton kept us on top.

Although conditions were bad we had started to adjust. It would be fair to say on a better pitch we would have had more control of the game.

Tom Brooks and Jack Larkins had been causing Red Star problems throughout the half breaking forward to support and it was this combination that brought us the third goal. A cross to the far post from Jack was met by Tom to score with a towering header.

Red Star did still cause us some problems and they won a free kick on the edge of our box which they scored from.

We just needed to settle down, work hard and keep shape. This we did through the send half. We always use our squad in the game and it was good to welcome Ash Holmes as our latest signing.

In introducing fresh legs to the game, we did limit Red Star to very few opportunities. To complete the score line Vinny Ford scored when his cross to the far post beat the keeper. A very welcome goal and very popular with the team.

The results continue to go our way because we dig in and fight for each other. The football played at times is unbelievable. We do still have to work on the fact that everyone wants to beat us now and we have to be prepared to weather the initial storm. We also need to encourage more. Sometimes if mistakes are made we are too quick to appoint blame. We are a TEAM and we are nothing without the teammate standing beside us.

Team: Burton, Fulker(Holmes), Burrup, Monaghan, Lambert A.(Ford), Primus, Larkins, Lambert Ja., Askew (Grant), Brooks, Wandira.
Goals: Brooks, Ford, Monaghan, Primus.




Reserves - Division 3

Taverners Res. 1, The Panthers 7

A spirited performance under difficult circumstances. . . . .

This was always going to be a difficult game for us even had we not been affected by so many players being unavailable. We set ourselves up to be difficult to break down and we were successful in frustrating the opposition whilst still creating a small threat on the break through the fantastic hard work put in by Alex as our lone striker. Indeed at halftime, we were somewhat unlucky to be 2-1 down after Ben had pounced on a goalkeeping error to bring us level.

In the second half, however, we somewhat ran out of steam and the opposition capitalised on our lack of stamina and again, unfortunately, individual errors – something that has plagued us all season so far. Whilst, on the one hand, we could say that the score line flattered the opposition we were grateful to several brilliant saves from Geoff which kept the score line from being an embarrassing one.

Whilst I have a well know and barely disguised dislike of our opposition today, they are a strong and very improved team. The biggest plus I can personally take from the game is that they are likely to beat pretty much everyone in our league and therefore I will not have the dis(pleasure) of having to converse with their managers next season!

As Pat very correctly stated after the game everyone who played should be proud of the fact that they kept going right to the end. My thanks to Will for agreeing to drop down from the first team to help us out.

Team: Davis, Warner D, Pullen, Pearson, Burgess, Fisk, Siggers, Strutt, Lloyd (Cunningham), Gleed, Lowe A.
Goal: Gleed.


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 4th December

First Team - Sunday Trophy Rnd3. - Shotley Rose (H) - KGV

First Team March On .....20/11/22

Team: Burton, Fulker(Storey), Burrup, Monaghan, Lambert A.(Ford), Primus, Larkins, Lambert Ja., Pullen(Askew), Brooks, Wandira.
Goals: Fulker, Monaghan, Storey, Wandira(2)




Reserves - Division 3

Foxhall Utd. 9, Taverners Res. 0

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Team: Siggers, Jackaman, Archer, Pearson, Burgess, Fisk(Lowe A.), Jordan W., Southgate(Warner), Pollard, Pasque(Gleed), Strutt.



NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 28th November

First Team - Div.2 - Red Star UK (H) - KGV

Reserves - Div.3 - The Panthers (H) - KGV

First Six Point Sunday of the Season .....13/11/22

It was not enough to get everyone ready and sadly this was very evident for the first 15 to 20 minutes.

We just did not start at all and it is something we need to address.

The truth is that if Brickmakers had anyone who could finish we would have been in deep trouble in the first 15 minutes.

They scored within just 5 minutes of the start. They then had four chances. One which Brandon Burton saved well. They hit the bar and an amazing miss with an open goal in front of the striker.

We started to pull ourselves together. Josh Grant in midfield was again exceptional. The plus point in our favour was that the hype we had heard about Brickies was very exaggerated.

Their defence and goalkeeper were not as good as their results have suggested.

We equalised through T Wandira with a hotly disputed goal that the opposition believed was offside. In fact although T was in an offside position the pass to him was not from our player but from one of their defence. T went round the keeper to score.

We continued to make ground. The pitch was in awful condition and very small. We needed to be patient, keep our shape and increase possession. T was causing them major problems and chances came thick and fast.

On 35 minutes T again turned their defence and went through the middle of two defenders who scissor tackled him for a penalty. The decision was again hotly disputed. So much so that one of their players was sin binned.

Grant Monaghan stepped up to convert the penalty with ease. Once we took the lead we started to organise ourselves better. Our midfield. Jerome, Grant, Duncan, Jimmy and Josh worked hard to maintain control.

The second half saw us continue to get stronger. A superb cross from Jack Larkins was met by Tom Brooks to head home and he scored again a few minutes later when from a corner, Grant Monaghan did his trademark stepover at the front post which finally worked and was met by Tom Brooks at the far post to score.

At 4-1 we looked unbeatable but Brickies rallied and began to create a few half chances one of which was not dealt with when it should have been easily cleared and they scored. It gave them some hope and there were a few nervous moments before the final whistle.

It is an incredible result. Brickmakers are not the best team we have played this season but until now they were unbeaten. And we march on with a lesson learnt.

We could have slipped up here through nothing more than our own faults. We have to be ready from the first whistle.

That means getting to the game on time. We have to understand that every game is a new beginning for our opponents.

We want to be unbeaten which is a difficult thing to do and we have to think about every game in the season ahead.

Our opponents just want to win this game. They will up their game and hit us hard in the first 20 minutes.

This is the second time this season that we have gone behind early on. The warning signs are there. If we lose it will be totally our own fault.

A few players did not play to their normal standard today. They never recovered from the bad start. The positive is that enough of our team did recover and got us the win we needed.

We must. Take each game as seriously as the last. Be on time and warmed up ready to start and to cope with whatever the opposition throw at us. It does not matter that we beat them before. It's a new day and a whole new game.

Team: Burton, Fulker(Stevens), Burrup, Monaghan, Grant, Primus, Larkins, Southgate, Pullen, Brooks, Wandira.
Goals: Brooks(2), Monaghan, Wandira




Reserves - Division 3

Taverners Res. 6, Athletico Once 0

On a roll. . . . . .

Whilst the previous week's game being called off was disappointing, it was fortuitous given numbers were tight. This week, it was our opposition who had difficulty with the availability of their players, due to the league's strange decision to delay kick for the customary minute's silence.

We kicked off the game with a one-man advantage and were soon ahead when a great pass from Daren warner allowed Dan Pasque to finish well. The reserves dominated possession for the rest of the half but often our final ball or decision was wasteful. It was well into injury time and after Athletico had lost another player to injury in the first half, that a ball from Mike Durrell to Dan again saw him finish well to make the score 2-0.

The second half was much the same with the reserves dominating position even more. The third goal was never in doubt and was duly provided by Paul Strutt finishing coolly from a Ben Gleed cross. Midway through the half, Paul grabbed his second courtesy of Dan.

Goals numbers 5 and 6 came in the latter stages first for Dan to mark his hat trick and then for Strutt to reach his. Before and post these two goals the reserves created several clear-cut and half chances. On another day we might have been a little disappointed but such an emphatic win has again lifted spirits and confidence. Thanks to all the players (and supporters) for staying behind and having a drink in the bar - long may that continue. Special thanks to 'Geoff' for stepping in and keeping goal.

Team: Davis, Warner(Burgess), Archer, Pearson, Durrell, Gleed(Herridge), Jordan W., Fisk, Pearce(Lowe A.), Pasque, Strutt.
Goals: Pasque(3),Strutt(3).


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 20th November

First Team - Div.2 - Shotley Rose (A) - Rose Playing Field, Shotley. What3Words Address ///kilowatt.jigging.props

Reserves - Div.3 - Foxhall Utd (A) - Timperleys Playing Field, Hintlesham. What3Words Address estimate.edge.baseballs

First Team March On with Sprat-Trick! .....06/11/22

I consider many possibilities during the week. We very often have to play players out of position. So I thought that we need to be more versatile. We need a formation that puts players in the right position when we need too. Not to change the system but add to our options.

I knew our line up by Tuesday this week. So I had time to look at the squad and consider how we can prepare.

A 3-5-2 gives you considerable power in both defensive duties and offensive pressing. It also meant that we could play every player we had available in their best position. All we had to do was make it work.

This was put together to give us another option for when we needed it. I was so disappointed with the reaction.

I am not just the guy who picks up the kit and pumps up the balls. If I was then to be honest. I would rather just stop. If I cannot affect the game then I may as well leave it to someone else.

The 3-5-2 was never going to work simply because the negative thoughts were now running through the team. So we are back to being a one trick pony with players having to fit our one system no matter what the opposition throw at us.

Within just five minutes for the first time this season we were 1-0 down. Sadly at no point did any player think the mistakes made by individuals were to blame. Three mistakes all of them by three different players led to this goal.

I had already instructed Andy Lambert on the changes we needed to make if it was not working. So it changed immediately to stop the negativity. Unfortunately it did not change our fortunes and we struggled to find a way forward. Slowly the influence of the core players began to filter through. Andy Lambert, Josh Grant and Jerome Primus were outstanding in putting the positive back into the game. We were pressing and Martlesham were defending hard to keep us out. Jimmy Fulker and Jack Larkins got through some incredible work.

Eventually we did get the break through when Jack Lambert latched onto a loose ball from six yards to fire home. Although we continued to press and go close to taking the lead we got to half time at 1-1.

Some choice words at half time put things straight. The second half saw us get more into our rhythm. Possession is the key and we began controlling the midfield. Jerome Primus, Jack Lambert, Josh Grant and Grant Monaghan had the central midfield sewn up. We then took the lead through Jack Lambert and went further ahead when Jack Larkins ran onto a short clearance scoring just under the bar with a fine shot.

Martlesham never actually stopped playing and they pulled a goal back from a corner. It was a shock when we thought we have got the game under control.

But by now we knew we were creating enough chances to finish this game off.

Jerome Primus scored from close range and Jack Lambert completed his hatrick .

At 5-2 the game was won but there was still another twist. Our defence had control but a rare move into our 18 yard box saw the referee award a penalty which confused everyone including the opposing bench. But an incredible one armed save from Brandon Burton stopped the penalty and Jack Larkins ran in to block the rebound to keep the score at 5-2.

We could have and should have scored more. Both Jack Lambert and T Wandira had clear chances to add to the score line.

This was a great result simply because we had to fight harder for it. We started slow and grew stronger and stronger.

Also inspiring words from Bob Bullamore on Monday evening. I was not aware we were anywhere near a club record. This season is up to us. We are responsible for our own destiny this season. It all comes down to how we approach each game. I know we are capable and it is a good feeling to know club legends Bob and Frank believe in us too.

Team: Burton, Brooks, Lambert A.(Pullen), Burrup, Larkins, Lambert Ja., Primus, Grant, Monaghan, Fulker(Southgate), Wandira
Goals: Lambert Ja.(3), Larkins, Primus.


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 13th November

First Team - Div.2 - The Brickmakers Arms (A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre.
Reserves - Div.3 - Athletico Once (H) - KGV.

First Team Remain Unbeaten! .....30/10/22

Today we heard how Elite believed they would beat us convincingly. I cannot blame them for thinking that. In their place I would always believe we could beat anyone on our day. I have spent over 10 years believing this and apart from a few triumphs and years of great friends and banter we under achieved season after season.

But last season I started to see the beginnings of a good squad. It seemed that in previous years every time we began to build a few quality players someone would leave or get injured long term.

In making plans last season again I was hit by disappointments. I was hoping to sign a few players who had spent time with us training but it did not all go our way.

This season we have avoided injuries in the main and we got all the players we needed to start building the squad properly. It is going very well. But after 10 years chasing this squad I know it is up to every individual player to commit to this. And every game is taken as seriously as the last.

We had to change a little again today. Sadly James Stozza Storey broke his arm at training on Thursday and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

We have strength in the squad. Everyone who has come in has done an incredible job. Today was no exception.

Everything Elite thought they could do against us disappeared very quickly and within the first ten minutes we scored when we tried to work a shooting opportunity in the 18 yard box. The ball was played out to the edge of the box for Will Pullen to fire home with considerable power.

Although Elite never really troubled us we did slow a bit. We needed to make our dominance pay and before half time we had a deserved 3-0 lead. T Wandira scored when he took possession in the 18 yard box and made space to shoot and score. Jack Lambert then scored when he broke free 25 yards out to go through and beat the on coming keeper.

Half time gave us the opportunity to sort through a few minor points. It is so good to hear everyone talking through the first half. Helping each other. Half time team talks can often be a lonely place. But not anymore. Everyone is involved, listening and commenting. Advice is listened too and taken on board. We have incredible experience within the club. Daren Stevens, Andy Lambert, Bob Bullamore, Pat Elvin and Gary Cunningham. So we were well prepared for the second half.

Our game is all about possession and I find it very hard to fault anyone.

Certain players make our system easy to play. It is not one individual player. But special mention of Josh Grant and Jerome Primus who maintain control through any situation in the middle of the park.

We increased our lead with two penalties, both taken by Grant Monaghan leaving the keeper no chance with either. The score line was complete when T Wandira scored his second of the game to take his tally so far to 8 goals in 5 games.

There is so much to be happy about. But there is a long way to go. The season will have it's twists and turns. Everything is up to us as individuals and as a squad. We fight for each other and commit to the season ahead. I have so many difficult decisions with players becoming available for selection. I select 14 players every Sunday and I will do my best with the help of Daren and senior players to insure the selection is good and fair. Every player in the 14 will play a significant part in the game.

Team: Burton, Pullen(Askew), Lambert A., Burrup, Archer, Lambert Ja., Primus, Grant, Monaghan(Strutt), Fulker(Brooks), Wandira
Goals: Lambert Ja., Monaghan(2), Pullen, Wandira(2)


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 6th November

First Team - Div.2 - Martlesham Old Boys (H) - KGV.
Reserves - Div.3 - Northam Celtic Res. (A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre.

First Win of the Season for Reserves .....23/10/22

This felt like a tough fixture against a team towards the top of the league and a team who undoubtedly gain some advantage from playing at Kesgrave school week in and week out.

We started the game well and were causing our opponents some difficulty with the twin threat of pace coming from Dan and Tawanda upfront.

Whilst our opponents had the lion's share of possession in midfield, other than a chance that hit the bar and one or two comfortable saves for our keeper, we looked much more threatening.

Thus it was that we took a deserved lead with a great through ball to T seeing him place the ball confidently passed Playford's keeper.

The halftime talk for once was easy keep going, keep playing football, and be careful in possession. Unsurprisingly Playford came out after the half and really pressed however with Grant marshalling the defence alongside Zack we rarely looked really threatened.

Indeed the whole defence including Siggers played really, really well and looked really, really comfortable. Bevan Burgess coming on as a sub for his 800 appearances for Taverners also slotted in seamlessly.

A second goal was really needed and those of us watching could be forgiven for thinking it might not be our day for a win (we were never going to lose) as we witnessed T hit the bar twice and either post. However, we dug in and got the result in the end.

I was reliably informed that the opposition commended us on having by far the best defence they have played against so far this season.

On such a wretched morning, at times, weather-wise, it was a real feel-good feeling in the changing room afterwards the game – which echoes a real feel-good atmosphere in the club overall. I sincerely hope in the reserves we can have that feeling many more times this season and as a club as a whole going forward.


Pictures from the Match can be found here.


Team: Siggers, Jackaman, Archer, Monaghan, Durrell(Burgess), Pasque, Jordan W., Southgate, Strutt(Fisk), Herridge(Gleed), Wandira.
Goal: Wandira

NEXT GAME:

Sunday 30th October

First Team - Div.2 - Ipswich Elite (H) - KGV.

First Team Progress In Sunday Trophy .....16/10/22

Extreme times mean extreme actions so I text every single player in our squad. The replies were sadly disappointing. Although I totally understand it was very last minute. But only a handful of people replied. So it was not a great Saturday evening.

Every cloud as they say.

With the help of two players playing even though they were injured and 4 other members of the squad we got a squad of 14 together. So I am very grateful to Jimmy, Vinny, Wayne, Bevan., Tom and Ben for stepping up.

Trying to maintain a winning squad when I had lost 6 players from the previous week is not an easy task. So I was very nervous. Elite are unbeaten in the league.

All these fears were unfounded. From the very first minute we took control. We had players playing out of position but they all set to the task. We asked that we all talk. If you lose possession then it is your job to get it back.

We scored early when Tawanda Wandira caused panic in the 18-yard box. His shot could only be parried away and James Stozza Storey was there to drive the ball home.

T added two more goals before half time. The second beating the on coming keeper from the edge of the 18-yard box.

We needed to just talk about maintaining our commitment to the team at half time. We knew that fitness was going to become an issue. But because this was a Suffolk cup game it was roll on roll off subs. This helped us a lot and we were able to rest players and then reintroduce them later in the game.

The second half did see Elite have a little more success at getting forward but they never seriously troubled our solid back four. Elite did score but it would be wrong to say they deserved it and it was our mistake rather than their skill.

We continued to make changes and this kept us one step ahead of Elite. We scored again when from a corner Jack Lambert got a flick on the ball, which was cleared, off the line. Wayne Jordan sent the ball back towards goal and with the help of a deflection we scored.

The game was all but over with Elite not causing any further problems. Its impossible to single out any specific players. Everyone can take credit. ALL 14.


Team: Burton, Pullen(Pearce), Burrup, Lambert A., Larkins Ja., Jordan W.(Burgess), Lambert Ja.(Gleed), Ford, Archer(Fulker), Storey, Wandira.
Goals: Jordan, Storey, Wandira(2)

NEXT GAME:

Sunday 23rd October

Reserves - Division 3 - Playford Res.(A)- Kesgrave high School (3G).

First Team Sparkle Against Diamonds .....09/10/22

Every season I have been involved in we have seen new players sign on. I have seen major improvements over the past two or three seasons. But every year something would happen. Injuries, unavailability. A few bad results and the season would be beyond our reach.

So I cannot deny I am nervous. We can cope with changes. And we have a group who genuinely care about each other.

I understand the importance of keeping our feet firmly rooted to the floor. We have faults which need improving. After a strong start to every game this season we have switched off for periods of the game. We still need to improve our final ball and everyone needs to take advantage of opportunities in and around the 18 yard box.

But this is knit picking. We will have bigger challenges this season so it is important to look at these areas. But the reality is that teams are finding it very hard to live with us. We always have another gear.

I had spent the week talking with Daren and a few others. Selection was difficult. What is the right thing to do? A player has the week off. Other players become available. New signings come into play. So everyone is available.

The week before we have won the game. A couple of players were slightly below par. Do I keep faith with them knowing the player that they are. Do I bring back the players who were not available last week and drop players who do not deserve to be dropped. I cannot describe the dilemma. Every player is important to the squad. So some difficult decisions.

I want everyone to enjoy being part of this season. I have said before that my subs are a major part of the game. We have to be happy to be part of the squad and know that you have a part to play in every game.

So a beautiful sunny morning did not start as planned. One player was a no show, another lost his car keys so could not get to the game. Another was ill and unable to play. So we had to adjust.

We started the game strong playing with a 4-5-1 and took the lead early on when Jimmy Fulker pressured their defence into touching the ball into his own net. Jimmy then scored himself just a few minutes later.

Rushmere had no real answer to anything we threw at them. Jack Lambert and T Wandira were enjoying a lot of freedom and this combination created the third goal when a superb through ball from Jack Lambert split the defence to find T Wandira on the edge of the 18 yard box and he went through to score beating the on coming keeper.

We quickly added a fourth when James Storey latched onto a free ball from close range to score.

We seemed to drop off a little for the remaining 10 minutes of the first half but Rushmere did not take any advantage.

The second half became a bit frustrating because we did drop off enough for Rushmere to push forward but they were stopped and limited to just a handful of half chances.

We began to press and we took total control again. Jimmy Fulker worked well on the right and found a lot of space. We had many chances just missing the target or saved by a desperate saving dive in front of the shot.

We needed a goal to settle the game properly. Jimmy Fulker provided that when he shot from inside the 18 yard box beating the keeper into the far corner of the goal.

It is a great feeling winning and watching some great football. Long may it continue. But that I believe that is up to us as a SQUAD.

Team: Burton, Fulker, Burrup, Monaghan, Grant, Primus, Larkins, Pullen(Warner D.), Storey, Lambert Ja., Wandira.
Goals: Fulker(2), Storey, Wandira




Reserves - Division 3

Phoenix 5, Taverners Res. 2

Better. . . . .

Once again we were on our travels, all be it just at Gainsborough, to play a Phoenix side who are always difficult opponents. I won't go into too much detail regarding our cause not being helped by the opponents' manager having to referee the game - as it was really only at one crucial moment that it made a difference.

There were other reasons for this result, defensive frailties, individual errors and a couple of early missed chances which ultimately dictated the result.

There was however some better football being played than we have done so far this season and also for lengthy parts of the game, much better discipline in our shape.

Ultimately however we ended up losing to the better team on the day.

We were just 3-1 down at halftime, however, this extended to 4-1 before we scored a consolation goal at the end.

It was nice to welcome some new faces to the squid with James ‘Bernie' Burnett finally being able to make his debut after his London Marathon heroics and Jason ‘JJ' Jackaman also making his debut at right back. Welcome both.

Team: Siggers, Jackaman, Goddard, Pearson M(Chard), Durrell, Pasque, Jordan W., Southgate, Burnett(Lowe A.(Burgess)), Gleed(Herridge), Strutt.
Goals: Pasque,Strutt.


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 16th October

First Team - Sunday Trophy Rnd2 - Ipswich Elite(A)- Whitton Sports Centre.

First Team Continue Fine Form with Five against Chantry Phoenix.....02/10/22

As a player you often play on instinct. You do not need to explain it, you just do it but when you have to stand on the sideline as the Coach/Manager you have to try to convert your instinct into words.

Harder than that is to change the way someone plays to insure the team is a success.

So before the start of the game it was important to make the squad believe that we do not have a divine right to win each game.

We are doing well. We are playing well. When it goes well then it is easy. But we have to know that the season will bring us harder challenges. There are many different reasons why we could lose a game. A suspension that does not even exist leaving us short of players. Overconfidence, a mistake, a referee, an injury, a fluke shot, sickness, a missed chance and just plain bad luck. I am a believer in that the harder you work the more luck comes your way.

So important words. We all love possession football. It is how you win games. But you have to do it well. You have to know how far you can go and how important it is to get the next pass right.

We started strong and within just a few minutes went ahead when a great corner from Jerome Primus found Jimmy Fulker just beyond the keepers reach and he scored with a fine header. But then all my worst fears came true. We did not keep possession well in dangerous areas and mistakes were letting Pheonix back into the game.

They equalized and we looked shaken by it. Our football was visibly more desperate. We were not making the right decisions. This led to us conceding a penalty when we should have just forced a player wide.

2-1 down and we were not showing enough composure to turn the game around.

It was very obvious that we were the better side but our final pass was not good enough to create opportunities. We needed to stop and gather ourselves so half time was a welcome break.

We were not going to lose this game on football alone. I knew we were good enough. I knew we were not in top gear. Pheonix were in top gear and had nowhere to go.

Our problem now was how long it would take us to get back on top. We started the second half well. We just needed that break through. This came in a ten minute spell through Jimmy Fulker scoring from close range and Grant Monaghan from the penalty spot.

But then totally against the run of play we let Pheonix run the ball into our 18 yard box unopposed to score.

To our credit this time we continued to push. We took the lead again through Grant Monaghan who scored with a fierce shot from inside the 18 yard and finally showed our dominance when on his debut Jack Green scored with an unstoppable shot after forcing his way in the edge of the 18 yard box.

Bringing on all our subs to freshen the legs of the team we ran out the game with Pheonix causing us no more problems. A great result considering we came from 2-1 down and one which now we can use to move forward to the next game.


Team: Burton, Fulker(Lloyd), Ford, Burrup, Green, Grant(Pearce), Primus, Monaghan, Storey(Hollinsworth), Lambert Ja., Pullen.
Goals: Fulker(2), Green, Monaghan(2)




Reserves - Division 3

Trinity 6, Taverners Res. 1

It didn't ...!

We could feel that this match turned on our period of dominance where we had chances to close the gap on our opponents – a close effort from outside of the area from Daren Herridge, a saved penalty from Paul Strutt and a reasonably straightforward header not converted from yours truly.

However, the score line really reflects the Reserves' general play so far this season. Far, far too many individual errors are being made. We currently have a general inability to defend effectively or cohesively and also poor game management.

Pat Elvin summed it up after the final whistle pointing out that as a team we were wrongly chasing the game, in the wrong moments. At 4-1 down you don't go gung-ho, and not keep your shape or run back!

At the start of the game part of the message is always the same, be difficult to beat, be organised and make the opposition earn their goals.

In this week's game, we directly gifted the opposition 5 of the 6 goals through either not clearing the ball, giving possession, away not marking or not talking.

At 3-0 down at halftime, it was always going to be a struggle however for 25 mins of the second half we were the better team and the casual observer may well have asked which team was winning.

A good-headed goal from Paul Strutt was no more than we deserved however for the rest of the game and indeed the first half. . . . see paragraph one above.

I don't normally like to single anyone out for special mention, be it criticism or praise however I think in a game where as a team we were far below the level I know we can attain, special mention to Zack for helping out the reserve and with a performance at the back which probably kept the score down, Mikey Durrell for an energetic performance in midfield and Strutty who rolled back the years by leading the line and then put in a battling performance when dropped to midfield.

There is a footnote to this report which is that at 8.00 pm on Saturday the Res had 16 players to choose from and by kickoff, we had 12, and thirteen with me. Now some of that reduction was unavoidable however the opposition (like Eye a few weeks ago) made 5 substitutions in the second half. Numbers, age and fitness not just ability makes all the difference at our level.

Team: Siggers, Warner D., Archer, Pearson M, Pilkington G.(Cunningham), Pasque, Durrell, Southgate(Burgess), Gleed, Strutt, Herridge.
Goal: Strutt


NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 2nd October

First Team - Div2 - Rushmere & Diamonds Res. (H) - KGV

Reserves - Div3 - Phoenix (A) - Gainsborough SC

First Team Continue Good Start To Season.....25/09/22

The difference for me now is that I cannot affect the game on the pitch as I used too. But now I have players who I trust to do that for me.

People tell me I have a good squad and have the luxury of having even more to call on once people are available. That to me is the most daunting thing.

Do all our players really understand the benefit of being part of the squad? Do they all understand that in my mind I select 13 or 14 players each week to help us achieve success during the game?

I do not only think about the 11 to start the game.

I spend more time thinking about how I can affect the game with players from the bench than I do the starting 11. I look at every position. I think about the player I have put in each position and their strengths and weakness.

If I need to make a change I need to know how to do that in a way that will maintain or drive the game forward in the right direction.

So, the most important people to me once the game has started are the players I have on the bench. Every player has to trust me and the management team at Taverners.

If you want to be part of the squad then be part of Taverners. Leave your ego at the door and just join in. Training starts again on 4th October.

As a team and a squad everyone has to learn to get into that frame of mind. If you are named as sub that doesn't mean you are not good enough. That means you are a very important part of my team and my thoughts. You will be part of the game. You will play an important role as much as the starting 11!

Real Suffolk are a decent side and will win a lot of games this season. But we were not prepared to let them get into any sort of rhythm.

Not a single player on Sunday was prepared to give up possession without a fight. If we lost possession everyone fought back.

We had the better of possession but Real Suffolk were causing us a few problems in the centre of midfield but we strengthened the area through Grant Monaghan, Jimmy Fulker and Stozza Storey to combat this.

They were still holding us out. That is until T Wandira picked up the ball on the far left. Moving forward at pace to the edge of the 18 yard box he hit a shot that from the moment it left his foot was unstoppable scoring in the top right of the goal.

We added another within 10 minutes after some good work from Jack Lambert and he found T in the 18 yard box to again score.

We were controlling the game from this point. Playing good possession football from the back to the front line. Andy Lambert, Sticks Burrup, Jerome Primus and Vinny Ford gave us stability in our possession. Stozza and Jack Larkins constant attacks on the wide left were causing untold problems for Real Suffolk.

We went 3-0 up after T was fouled in the area just as he was about to shoot. Grant Monaghan stepped up to take the penalty and scored to the keepers left.

The second half saw us drop a little. We were still in control but two incredible saves from Brandon Burton kept us with a clean sheet.

We did lose that clean sheet however when a mix up saw what seemed like a safe cross field ball clip the far post of our goal and go in. It was disappointing.

We were affected for a few minutes but regained our composure to see the game out. With no exaggeration we created so many chances in the second half that we could have trebled the score.

T and Jack terrify the opposition and they were only kept at bay with some heroic last ditch blocking.

Our job now is to maintain this progress. Adding players and strength to the squad as they become available. But they have to be patient and wait for their moment and their chance.

Action photos from the match can be found here


Team: Burton, Falker, Ford(Pullen), Burrup, Lambert A., Larkins, Primus, Monaghan(Hollinsworth), Storey, Lambert Ja., Wandira.
Goals: Monaghan, Wandira(2)




Reserves - Division 3

Wickham Wanderers 6, Taverners Res. 0

Lightening really doesn't strike twice. . . . .

After a chastening result at Eye in the first game of the season, we were all looking forward to trying to put things right with a visit to Wickham. I certainly felt reasonably confident as we had been their bogey team last season winning home and away with two memorably battling performances.

Despite again being low on numbers (special mention to big D for coming out of retirement to help the reserves out) I was comfortable we had a strong 11 and we would compete. However again our defensive frailties were laid bare for all to see.

The opposition looked very dangerous every time they approached our goal and seemed to be able to score almost at will. With the score 4-0 at half-time and Tavs not looking threatening in any way, it was a game that was already beyond us and one to just try to salvage the positives from in the second half.

This we did do with periods of ball retention and patient build-up play. However, in and around this, we were undone with the opposition scoring twice more to make the final score line.

That the goals were a result of individual actions goes without saying. Our next game is Trinity – a much-improved team it would appear - so a stronger defensive performance from the whole team will be needed. Hopefully not having to travel will help.

Team: Siggers, Warner D., Goddard, Pearson M, Burgess, Fisk(Gleed), Jordan W., Southgate, Pilkington G., Riley, Strutt, Stevens D..



NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 2nd October

First Team - Div2 - Chantry Phoenix (H) - KGV

Reserves - Div3 - Trinity FC (A) - Gainsborough SC

First Team Start With Impressive Win!.....04/09/22

With all our history it is hard to break free from the feeling that something will go wrong when we are in control. Today we were head and shoulders above Clapgate but we did not score in the first 40 minutes. It was a nervous time. We went close on numerous occasions. Jack Lambert, Stozza and Tee Wandira all had chances. We played some incredible football. Possession and superb passing football we were in almost total control so it was a surprise how we finally broke the deadlock. Two minutes from half time. A massive long ball from Brandon Burton. Jerome Primus challenged for the header in front of the centre half. Neither player made contact and Tee Wandira was set free for a one on one with the oncoming keeper. Tee beat the keeper easily.

The second half was more of the same. We added to the score line when Tee got his second chipping the oncoming keeper and Stozza scored with a powerful shot from just inside the 18-yard box. The weather was hot and the pitch very dry. It's getting to that time where you have to consider the subject of substitutions. The argument has been raging for decades on when, how and why to use subs. Manager's careers has been ruined or saved by a substitute. It is believed that after 3 years in charge Alex Ferguson was just one game away from being sacked by Manchester United. That game was in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest. It was not going well and time was running out. He brought on Mark Robins who scored the only goal to win the game. Ferguson was saved. He went on to win the FA Cup that year against Crystal Palace and win the Cup Winners Cup the following year against Barcelona.

I learnt a massive lesson about substitutes many years ago. My first season playing at Sudbury Town was spent almost totally on the subs bench. I was certain that I was better than the player in my preferred position. All I could do was to try to make a difference every time I got an opportunity. I finished that year as second top goal scorer of the season. Nothing I did got me a starting place. We won the league that year. The manager was a man called Don James who later took Sudbury to Wembley in the FA Vase. At the presentation night Don was on stage calling each player forward to present their medal. When he called my name he introduced me as the most important player in his squad. I spoke to him later in the evening and asked him why if he thought I was that good. Why was I always the sub. He said "Once the game starts my power to affect the game diminishes. I can shout and scream orders. I can reorganise at half time. But the most important weapon I have is my substitute. He needs to understand my tactics. He needs to be able to join the game at pace, he needs to be able to play anywhere I need, and he needs to have the ability to change the game. You were always better than Gardiner but he could not change the game from the bench."

So if you find yourself named, as a substitute be aware of how important that is to the team. On Sunday we had an experienced subs bench. Paul Strutt was one of our best players last season and Gary Pilkington. One of the most dependable players at Taverners. So with players beginning to fatigue and Clapgate enjoying a good spell we introduced all three subs. The change saw us take control again and to score again when Tee latched onto a chipped through pass he was fouled in the area to win a penalty. Tee stepped up to take the spot kick and after the keeper saved the kick Tee was first to the rebound and calmly stroked the ball past the keeper to score. Team: Burton, Durrell, Ford, Burrup, Larkins, Primus(Hollinsworth), Monaghan(Pilkington G.), Grant, Storey(Strutt), Lambert, Wandira.
Goals: Storey, Wandira(3)




Reserves - Division 3

Eye Saints 7, Taverners Res. 0

It was actually watching Liverpool last night and the way that they played which prompted (or rather reminded) me of my promise to write a match report on Sunday's game. Both encounters showed one team miles off the pace and the other being totally dominant - all be it the respective halves of dominance were opposite in each game.

Although absences and first-team ‘promotions' meant a slightly changed line-up I felt that with the addition of experienced players at the back we would be able to make a good account of ourselves. The opposition are new to our league so we had no idea what to expect. The first idea came when we found ourselves 1-0 down almost from the kick-off. A failure to cope with the condition of the pitch which caused Eye no real problems at all (especially in the second half), gaps in midfield and slow reactions at the back gave Eye a chance which they took. We did however grow into the game through the half and showed some bright spells.

This is why the second-half capitulation felt so raw. The 6 goals we conceded were all preventable and came from individual errors, a lack of concentration, lack of shape and people not taking responsibility to win their personal battles, tackles or be cohesive.

We need to put all those things right in our next game and make it a habit for the season. A bit like Liverpool need to!

Team: Siggers, Warner D., Goddard, Pearce, Pullen, Pasque, Southgate, Fisk, Riley, Lowe A.(Burgess), Gleed.



NEXT GAMES:

Sunday 11th SEptember

First Team - Div2 - Northam Celtic (A) - Gainsborough Sports Centre

Reserves - Div3 - Wincanton (H) - KGV

		First Team					Reserves
		Division 2					Division 3


Sep   	4	Clapgate Lane			(H) 4-0 W	Eye Saints		(A) 7-0 L 			
       11	Northam Celtic			(A) PP		Wincanton FC		(H) PP
       18	(ST1)					
       25	Real Suffolk			(A) 1-3 W	Wickham Wanderers	(A) 6-0 L
      	
		
Oct  	2	Chantry Phoenix			(H) 5-3 W(EX)	Trinity FC		(A) 6-1 L			
       09	Rushmere & Diamonds Res.	(H) 5-0 W	Phoenix			(A) 5-2 L	
       16	Ipswich Elite(ST2)		(A) 1-4 W									        
       23							Playford Res.		(A) 0-1 W
       30	Ipswich Elite			(H) 6-0 W						

Nov  	6 	Martlesham Old Boys		(H) 5-2 W	Northam Celtic Res.	(A) P-P						
       13	The Brickmakers Arms		(A) 2-4 W	Athletico Once		(H) 6-0 W						
       20       Shotley Rose			(A) 0-5 W	Foxhall Utd.            (A) 9-0
       27	Red Star UK		        (H) 4-2 W	The Panthers		(H) 1-7 L
       
Dec  	4	Shotley Rose (ST3)		(H) 1-0 W									
       11	Clapgate Lane			(A) P-P		Eye Saints		(H) P-P
       18												
       25
           
Jan   	1
	8							Wincanton FC		(A) 2-4 W
       15	The Brickamkers Arms (J/C)      (A) 0-2 W	Wickham Wanderers (J/C) (A) 1-2 W					
       22	Chantry Phoenix			(A) P-P		Wickham Wanderers	(H) P-P
       29	Real Suffolk			(H) 2-1 W	Trinity FC		(H) 2-1 W				

Feb   	5	Shotley Rose (J/C2)		(H) 4-0 W	Phoenix			(H) 4-4 D
       12	Bedfield (S/T 1/4Final)		(H) 1-1 W(2-1p)	Playford Res.(J/C2)	(H) 2-2 L(4-5p)
       19							Playford Res.		(H) 0-0 D
       26			

Mar     5	Martlesham Old Boys		(A) 0-3 W	Northam Celtic Res.	(H) 3-1 W
       12	The Panthers J/C 1/4 Final	(H) 10-1 W						
       19	The Brickmakers Arms		(A) 1-2 W		
       26	West Suffolk Wolves(ST1/2Final) (N) P-P		Foxhall Utd.		(H) P-P

Apr     2	West Suffolk Wolves(ST1/2Fl) 	(N) 2-2 W(4-3p)	The Panthers		(A) H-W 3-0
       09	Rushmere & Diamonds Res.	(A) 1-11 W
       16	Martlesham Old Boys (J/C 1/2F)  (N) 5-1 W	Eye Saints		(H) 0-10 L	
       23	AFC Dragonfly (S/T FINAL)	(N) 2-2 W(3-1p)		
       30	Clapgate Lane			(A) 2-4 W	Wickham Wanderers	(H) 3-2 W

May     2(TUE)							Foxhall Utd. (18:00)	(H) 1-2 L
	7							Wincanton FC		(H) 5-2 W
       10(WED)	Ipswich Elite (18:00)		(A) 1-6 W
       14	Red Star UK			(A) 0-4	W	Athletico Once		(A) 1-5 W		
       16(TUE)	Shotley Rose FC (18:30)		(H) 6-1 W
       21	Playford Res. J/C FINAL		(N) 0-1 W