Rhodes

Links to both the National Non League Show https://audioboom.com/channel/thenonleagueshow and the excellent one on BBC Three Counties Radio with presenter Ollie Bayliss that features our Club's within Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07k2mv8 The National Show on 13 September featured New Salamis and the great man, namely George Georgiou, was in the BBC Studio, ironically shortly before his unceremonious dismissal from the Club: 13th September 2019 - FA Vase, New Salamis, Stockport Town, Fort William and Non League Paper round-up The Non League Football Show Listen on Apple Podcasts It's the second round qualifying round of the FA Vase and whilst the competition is exciting, Tim Fuell delves deeper into the clubs looking for glory this weekend, building non league communities and football clubs. First up, manager at New Salamis, George Georgiou, leading a club that only a few years ago was a Sunday football side formed by fans of a Cypriot Pro clubs English fans. Next, Alan Lord Head of Management at Stockport Town who look to continue their FA Vase this weekend. His is a muli-faceted role however as his day job is working as Director of Youth Development at neighbours Stockport County alongside Jim Gannon. If you've not yet watched the BBC Scotland documentary available on BBC iPlayer you may not know the story of Fort William FC. Make sure you watch it but first listen to Secretary turned Manager Russell MacMorran who this week led his side to their first league win in two years. It's more than just a first team however in one of the most picturesque settings for football in the UK. Matt Badcock Editor at Large helps round off the show with what you can expect to read in this weekend's Non League Paper.

Munchkin - The pitch seemed to play a part, Sarratt say that it was heavy and 'treacherous' whatever that means, did you have a lot of rain before kick off, was the game in danger of being called off

A report on this one, the result appears to flatter Old Bradwell United a bit: https://www.sarrattfc.co.uk/teams/225923/match-centre/0-4712211/report

The North Bedfordshire Charity Cup gets under way this evening with Langford hosting holders Biggleswade FC at Forde Park. Biggleswade FC lifted the trophy last season (see report) beating Ampthill Town 5-1 at McMullen Park having beaten Bedford 5-0 and Biggleswade United 3-0 in previous rounds so clearly they take this competition seriously and will be keen to retain it this term: https://www.biggleswadefc.co.uk/Matchreport.aspx?id=247651

The Middlesex FA Premier Cup gets off the ground tomorrow (Wednesday) with CB Hounslow United Reserves hosting Hillingdon Borough, Karen has the game being played at Tentelow Lane in Southall however I have it on good authority that it is at the Cater Bank Hounslow Sports Club in Green Lane. I gather the Second Round draw has yet to be made: http://www.middlesexfa.com/cups-and-competitions/cups/2019-20/premier-cup/fixtures

The remaining Second Round tie involving Aston Clinton and Bedford was frustratingly called off on Saturday and will now take place on Saturday 30 November, kick off 1.45pm. Arlesey Town won't be having any sleepless nights about hosting the winners at Hitchin Road in the Third Round and should comfortably progress to the Quarter Finals.

Following Totternhoe's somewhat surprise win at Green Lane on Saturday and Old Bradwell United's comfortable win over Sarratt, that completes the Quarter Final draw: Division Two Cup First Round Bovingdon 1 Totternhoe 2 Old Bradwell United 3 Sarratt 0 https://www.sarrattfc.co.uk/teams/225923/match-centre/0-4712211/report Quarter Final draw Old Bradwell United v MK Gallacticos (Sat 7 Dec, 1.45pm) Buckingham United v Tring Corinthians AFC (Sat 14 Dec, 1.45pm) Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Berkhamsted Raiders (Sat 7 Dec, 1.45pm) Totternhoe v Unite MK (Sat 14 Dec, 1.45pm)

Some Division One match reports from Saturday: Division One Amersham Town 0 Hillingdon Borough 2 https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/amershamtownfc2/teams/212727/match-centre/1-4642458/report FC Broxbourne Borough 1 London Lions 2 Langford 0 St Panteleimon 1 http://www.parikiaki.com/2019/11/sweet-16-unbeaten-for-st-panteleimon/ Milton Keynes Robins 4 Brimsdown 3 Park View 0 Stotfold 3 Shefford Town & Campton 0 New Salamis 1 http://www.parikiaki.com/2019/11/new-salamis-keep-chasing/ Winslow United 2 London Tigers 1 http://sportsshots.org.uk/?p=49066

Confirmation that Paul Blackman has sadly stepped down at Ampthill Park, here are statements from both Paul and Club Chairman Gary Maidment: http://sportsshots.org.uk/?p=49148

Savagebee - The fans haven't seen a lot of goals lately though have they at the Boundary Stadium, 0-0 with Broadfields United on Saturday, a 1-0 win against Colney Heath albeit a great result for them and another 0-0 against Newport Pagnell Town

Some Premier Division match reports so far: Premier Division Arlesey Town 1 London Colney 0 Dunstable Town 0 Crawley Green 0 Edgware Town 3 Wembley 1 Harefield United 2 Harpenden Town 1 https://www.harefieldunited.com/news/match-report-harefield-united-21-harpenden-town--2487486.html Leverstock Green 0 Colney Heath 3 http://levgreenfc.co.uk/event/191116f/ ; https://www.colneyheathfc.co.uk/Matchreport.aspx?id=262612 Newport Pagnell Town 2 Baldock Town 2 North Greenford United P Aylesbury Vale Dynamos Oxhey Jets 0 Broadfields United 0 https://www.oxheyjets.com/ Tring Athletic 1 Leighton Town 2 https://www.tafc.co.uk/report-r.php?fixture_id=3579#photos https://www.leightontownfc.co.uk/teams/11587/match-centre/0-4590048/report

I see that Berkhamsted Raiders only won with the last kick, or should I say header, of the game on Saturday in the 92nd minute, they led 2-0 through two early penalties before Buckingham United netted either side of the break and had opportunities to go ahead. I wonder what has gone so horribly wrong for Berkhamstead Raiders since they started the campaign like a house on fire winning their first five league fixtures before the wheels came off at Totternhoe followed by defeats to Old Bradwell United and MK Gallacticos: http://sportsshots.org.uk/?p=49144

Colney Heath could be top of the table after play at Vale Farm tomorrow night: Tuesday 19 November (kick off 7.45pm unless stated) Premier Division Biggleswade United v Aylesbury Vale Dynamos Leighton Town v Eynesbury Rovers London Colney v North Greenford United Oxhey Jets v Harefield United (kick off 7.30pm) Potton United v Baldock Town Wembley v Colney Heath Division One Ampthill Town v Milton Keynes Robins Enfield Borough v FC Broxbourne Borough Division One Cup Second Round Bedford v London Lions Hincingbrooke Cup First Round Stotfold P Pinchbeck United (Stotfold walkover) Hinchingbrooke Cup Quarter Final Arlesey Town v Parson Drove North Bedfordshire Charity Cup Quarter Final Langford v Biggleswade FC Wednesday 20 November – (kick off 7.45pm) Dudley Latham Memorial Premier Division Cup Second Round Tring Athletic v Newport Pagnell Town Division One Park View v Winslow United Middlesex FA Premier Cup First Round CB Hounslow United Reserves v Hillingdon Borough

A groundhopper from another Forum was at this one on Saturday, results don't seem to have been affected too much by George Georgiou's departure do they although it has still left a very sour taste in the mouth: Shefford Town & Campton 0 - 1 New Salamis SSML Div 1 Admission £5; prog free An interesting looking fixture with both sides starting the season well after moving up a level. A nice new(ish) facility here. Shame about the hundreds of pot holes that litter the access road and car park.... Admission was paid from the car on entering the car park which was quite large. Certainly saw some neat football from both sides, but with little real attacking threat or goalmouth excitement. Salamis probably had the best of the first half, and went ahead right on half time. HT 0-1 The second half followed a similar pattern. Towards the end, Salamis tried to play time out to some extent, and almost paid for that. Town stepped up a gear and got their golden chance with 5 mins or so to go, the player clean through did nearly everything right, beating the keeper with the outside of his foot, but the ball struck the outside of the post. Another effort was put into the net but disallowed for offside. So Salamis just held out to take the points.

I see there was an article in yesterday's Guardian about the magazine being in trouble, it's so sad isn't it that all the old fashioned football values have pretty much disappeared now and the introduction of VAR has totally ruined the game. Not a weekend goes by now without anti-VAR chants from the stands amid agonising delays over prolonged reviews that leave players and fans alike totally in the dark ahead of decisions that leave you wondering if there is much point in watching any more. Take the Tottenham v Sheffield United game last week, it took four minutes to decide that John Lundstram was offside, had he been wearing a boot size smaller he would have been level with play, that's not the beautiful game we know and love is it: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/16/when-saturday-comes-everyone-who-cares-about-football