Berkhamsted Raiders

[Rhodes]

I have heard of things going bump in the night but not at 3.00pm on a Saturday afternoon which was very much the case for Berkhamsted Raiders on Saturday (5 September) as they came back down to earth with a bump at Creasey Park following the encouraging 3-1 win at Stotfold Development last week. Boss Lee Groves will have been disappointed that Dunstable Town took the lead on just three minutes when the defence was all at sea and allowed Leonardo Pedro to dance through their stationary ranks, disaster struck again on 26 minutes when the ball wasn't properly cleared as it should have been and Khyreece Smith-Reid made it 2-0. The visitors seemed to wake up from their slumbers and pulled a goal back on 36 minutes through Emmanual Agyeman however five minutes later it was 3-1 when Dylan Fitzpatrick finished clinically following good ground work from Chris Day. I'm not sure if tea cups were sent flying by Lee Groves at the interval however Berkhamsted Raiders began the second period well and just after hitting the woodwork Joel Agyeman made it 3-2 on 59 minutes, unfortunately their good work was undone six minutes later when more defensive hesitancy allowed in Cedric Ibarra to make it 4-2. After that it was pretty much all the home side who could have extended their lead on a number of occasions prior to the final whistle sounding.

[Rhodes]

I wonder how Berkhamsted Raiders are feeling at the moment about North Berkhamsted based Sunday League Club Gossums End winning £32,000 in funding from the 'Harry's Football Other Guys' competition which gives grassroots Football Club's Nationwide the opportunity to win a full changing room makeover, team sponsorship and playing equipment. Berkhamsted Raiders will no doubt feel they are fully entitled to a slice of the pie but this time they have missed out, it's about time other Club's in Berkhamsted and the surrounding area got a look in and a piece of the action rather that Berkhamsted Raiders winning award after award, such as Herts FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year on numerous occasions, Greater London FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year, National FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year and the prestigious Silver Award for UEFA European Grassroots Club of the Year:

 

Edited September 13, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Berkhamsted Raiders have started their SSML Division Two campaign in positive fashion albeit with only two games played thus far, beating the 61 FC (Luton) 7-1 in the opener at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium followed by a 2-2 stalemate at Icknield Way against Tring Corinthians AFC (see match report) where the wind spoiled the fixture as a spectacle, the impressive Alfie Boswell scored both goals but only after the hosts had taken a 2-0 interval lead with Berkhamsted Raiders making life difficult for themselves. Last Saturday (3 October) the scheduled fixture with Pitstone & Ivinghoe was unsurprisingly postponed with the poor weather however, as was very much the case last season, the Club's landlords Kings Langley are so over protective of the playing surface at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium with Watford Ladies plying their trade there at a high level in the Women's National League Southern Premier Division and paying a handsome sum to do so. Tomorrow there is a visit to New Bradwell St Peter who have started their campaign poorly with two defeats under new supremo Jamie Green, Lee Groves men then entertain Buckingham United on 17 October who have recently had a change of leadership so six points should not be beyond the realms of possibility:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/tringcorinthiansfc/teams/204841/match-centre/1-6379215/report

Edited October 9, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

There's a thread on another Forum entitled 'Step 6 Applicants 2020/21', I am assuming that Berkhamsted Raiders still have their hat in the ring from last season and that the rules remain the same for this season, whereby a SSML Division Two Club have to finish in the top five in Division Two in order to be considered for promotion. That's certainly not a foregone conclusion and cut and dried is it with a lot of Club's more than capable of finishing in the top five such as Codicote, Old Bradwell United, MK Gallacticos, Bovingdon, Sarratt, Aston Clinton, Pitstone & Ivinghoe and, of course, not to mention Berkhamsted Raiders 'foes' Berkhamsted Comrades who have started their campaign slowly albeit after only three matches:

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/step-6-applicants-2020-21.2827/

[Rhodes]

On 09/10/2020 at 09:45, Rhodes said:

Tomorrow there is a visit to New Bradwell St Peter who have started their campaign poorly with two defeats under new supremo Jamie Green

What on earth happened to Berkhamsted Raiders yesterday afternoon, losing 4-1 at New Bradwell St Peter who were pointless prior to the fixture, having lost their first two League games under new boss Jamie Green. New Bradwell St Peter raced into an early 2-0 lead before Berkhamsted Raiders pulled a goal back just before the interval indicating that they would simply receive a stern talking to from boss Lee Groves before coming out with a spring in their step to easily turn the game around in the second period however that wasn't to be and the hosts soon made it 3-1 from the penalty spot before hammering a final name into the subjugated visitors coffin late on. You have to ask where Lee Groves goes from here, next Saturday (17 October) his side host Buckingham United who had a good win yesterday under new supremo John Walton and then they entertain Sarratt who can be dogged on their day however anything less then six points from those two home fixtures will be unacceptable with a blank week to follow and then difficult looking trips to Codicote and Aston Clinton to come. 

[Rhodes]

On 11/10/2020 at 21:10, Rhodes said:

You have to ask where Lee Groves goes from here

Mystery surrounds the sudden resignation, and with immediate effect, of Berkhamsted Raiders Manager Lee Groves after many years with the Club, the writing was perhaps on the wall following the disappointing 4-1 defeat at New Bradwell St Peter last Saturday however the timing certainly isn't ideal so soon into a new campaign and just before the visit of Buckingham United later today who will be rubbing their hands on hearing the news of the turmoil at the Club:

It is with regret, that we announce the resignation of 1st team manager Lee Groves, with immediate effect. We thank Lee for his commitment and desire over the first 3 years of this project. Youth Section Head Coach Steve McHugh will take charge tomorrow.

[Rhodes]

16 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Mystery surrounds the sudden resignation, and with immediate effect, of Berkhamsted Raiders Manager Lee Groves after many years with the Club, the writing was perhaps on the wall following the disappointing 4-1 defeat at New Bradwell St Peter last Saturday however the timing certainly isn't ideal so soon into a new campaign and just before the visit of Buckingham United later today who will be rubbing their hands on hearing the news of the turmoil at the Club:

As anticiapated, Buckingham United and their wily new boss John Walton took full advantage of the current turmoil at Berkhamsted Raiders this afternoon with a comprehensive 5-0 victory at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium, it was very much men against boys with goals on 12, 22, 66, 70 and 87 minutes and the Club's biggest away win since 22 September 2018 when winning at Stony Stratford Town by the same scoreline when still a North Bucks and District League Club. I understand that Director of Coaching Steve McHugh, who has been with the Club for almost twelve years, has been appointed as Lee Groves successor and has a CV as long as your arm however it's not exactly an ispiring start for him and Sarratt, who beat New Bradwell St Peter today, must already be licking their lips at the prospect of returning to the Orbital Fasteners Stadium next Saturday where they won 2-0 last season:

https://www.sportsshots.org.uk/2020/10/17/ssmfld2-berkhamsted-raiders-0-buckingham-united-5/

Edited October 17, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Some photographs from a 2018/19 SSML Division Two fixture between MK Gallacticos and Berkhamsted Raiders, at the North Furzton Sports Ground on Saturday 2 March 2019, Berkhamsted Raiders won 3-0 with goals from Cameron Brooks and a brace from Cedric Ibarra:

 

[Rhodes]

Berkhamsted Raiders got back to winning ways yesterday, albeit surprisingly, beating a disappointing Sarratt side 5-0 at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium with goals from Joseph Clark, Thomas Shaw, Kyal Williams and a brace from Alfie Boswell including a second half spot kick. Sarratt boss Martin Loakes won't have been best pleased and no doubt tea cups cascaded against the away dressing room at half time with his men 2-0 in arrears and also at full time which may raise complaints from pernickety landlords Kings Langley. Berkhamsted Raiders aren't in action next Saturday and travel to Codicote on Saturday 7 November, new boss Steve McHugh will be a relieved man with the three points yesterday as another defeat would have left the Club languishing third from bottom in the table with little or no hope of reaching the Promised Land of Step 6 football next season.

Edited October 25, 2020 by Rhodes

[Winslow Boy]

Just checking that this epic thread is still open. Rhodes’ War and Peace right here. 

[Rhodes]

You can tell lockdown has started for Winslow Boy to be twiddling his thumbs today, I was planning to update this thread following today's SSML Division Two fixture at Codicote but that has obviously been postponed, Berkhamsted Raiders were not in action last Saturday following their 5-0 win over a disappointing Sarratt side at the Orbital Fasteners Stadium the week before who didn't lay a glove on Steve McHugh's men all afternoon. Berkhamsted Raiders will hopefully return to action after the lockdown period on Saturday 5 December when they are scheduled to entertain Tring Corinthians AFC followed by another home fixture against Totternhoe the week after (12 December).

[BerkoRaiders]

Some info here that may correct some of the misinformation/misconceptions that have appeared under the Raiders topic - Berkhamsted Raiders working to halt the decline in adult grassroots football. 

https://www.berkhamstedraiders.com/senior-team-development/

[Rhodes]

On 09/11/2020 at 17:39, BerkoRaiders said:

misinformation/misconceptions

I wasn't aware there was any misinformation or misconceptions about Berkhamsted Raiders excellent work within the Local Community, I believe the criticism of the Club originated from the clumsy handling of the proposed takeover of Broadwater and their so called Berkhamsted Community Stadium (BCS) project:

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Rhodes

[tringarmy]

The Broadwater issue may be resurfacing ?

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, tringarmy said:

The Broadwater issue may be resurfacing ?

This thread may go the distance then!

[Rhodes]

Berkhamsted Raiders are only interested in pulling the rug from under Berkhamsted FC and riding roughshod over them in order to obtain Broadwater for themselves so it's easy to see why their Chairman Steve Smith doesn't want to know. There's nobody more reasonable or down to earth than Mr Smith who was born and bred in Berkhamsted and has been involved with the Club for well over fifty years, his Father George played for them back in the day at the old Lower Kings Road ground so had Berkhamsted Raiders played their cards right and been open and above board from the outset regarding their intentions, rather than going to the Berkhamsted Sports Grounds Charitable Association (BSGCA) and Dacorum Borough Council behind Mr Smith's back, he may well have listened to what they had to say:

https://www.berkhamstedraiders.com/plans-berkhamsted-community-stadium-move-forward/

https://www.berkhamstedraiders.com/update-on-the-berkhamsted-community-stadium-project/

[BerkoRaiders]

• "My understanding is that Raiders tried to take over Berko's lease at Broadwater this summer."
• "Berkhamsted Raiders are only interested in pulling the rug from under Berkhamsted FC and riding roughshod over them in order to obtain Broadwater for themselves|"

This is the kind of misinformation and uninformed comment that was referred to earlier.

FACTS:

1. Raiders has never tried to take on the Broadwater lease.
2. When BFC went bust, Raiders was approached by the BSGCA to see whether Raiders wished to take on the lease. Raiders declined.
3. There was a project initiated by the national and county FA (not by Raiders) to redevelop Broadwater as a Community Stadium with a 3G pitch, operated by a Community Sports Trust (not by Raiders). Raiders saw this as a positive move. BFC did not. 
4. Raiders does not wish to take on the Broadwater lease

It appears that only a handful of people actually use this forum. However, such misinformation may be read by others and should be corrected. 

 

[Rhodes]

3 hours ago, BerkoRaiders said:

such misinformation may be read by others and should be corrected

BerkoRaiders - It looks as if you have done that, thanks for clearing the matter up. Would you know why Lee Groves suddenly jumped ship so early into the new season with immediate effect and giving no notice which left the Club scrabbling around to find a replacement, that's not the Berkhamsted Raiders way is it as everything seems so structured and organised.

[BerkoRaiders]

2 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Would you know why Lee Groves suddenly jumped ship so early into the new season with immediate effect and giving no notice which left the Club scrabbling around to find a replacement, that's not the Berkhamsted Raiders way is it as everything seems so structured and organised

It wasn't a case of him jumping ship or Raiders scrabbling for a replacement. The Raiders Senior team is run with a different philosophy to many other Senior teams. The Club doesn't have any grand ambitions of promotion or moving up the Steps.  The Senior team is seen as a development pathway for our U17/U18s and for other players who may have left U18s, or who have gone to Uni and returned to the town. So, it makes sense that our longstanding Head Coach, Steve McHugh, oversees the team to maintain consistency of approach. Moving from U18 to senior football can be a bit of a culture shock. Some make that move, and leave football after one year. The Club wants them to continue playing at the Raiders Senior level, of if they have ambitions, they can move on to higher graded clubs such as the ground share partner, Kings Langley, or elsewhere.

The commitment to develop players into senior football is part of the Club's 5 year plan - https://knowhow.berkhamstedraiders.com/knowledge-base/raiders-strategic-plan/

[Rhodes]

15 hours ago, BerkoRaiders said:

The Club doesn't have any grand ambitions of promotion or moving up the Steps. 

Well it's good to get an insight into the Club so thanks for clearing all of that up as well as regarding 'pulling the rug' from under Berkhamsted FC at Broadwater, as you rightly said such misinformation should be corrected. You say that the Club 'doesn't have any grand ambitions of moving up the Steps' however wasn't that largely the reason you got into bed with Kings Langley so you could meet the ground grading requirement for Step 6, I take it your application for promotion remains firmly in place for this season (see below) so long as you finish in the top five of Division Two and are able to continue playing at Kings Langley, surely that must be highly expensive for the Club:

https://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=8333

Where a Club applied for promotion during the 2019-20 Season, the clubs application and fee will be carried forward to this process. The Club do not need to take any further action. If a Club wishes to withdraw its application, it should do so in writing to NLS@thefa.com by December 31^st.

Edited November 19, 2020 by Rhodes

[Arsenal fan]

4 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Well it's good to get an insight into the Club so thanks for clearing all of that up as well as regarding 'pulling the rug' from under Berkhamsted FC at Broadwater, as you rightly said such misinformation should be corrected. You say that the Club 'doesn't have any grand ambitions of moving up the Steps' however wasn't that largely the reason you got into bed with Kings Langley so you could meet the ground grading requirement for Step 6, I take it your application for promotion remains firmly in place for this season (see below) so long as you finish in the top five of Division Two and are able to continue playing at Kings Langley, surely that must be highly expensive for the Club:

https://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=8333

Where a Club applied for promotion during the 2019-20 Season, the clubs application and fee will be carried forward to this process. The Club do not need to take any further action. If a Club wishes to withdraw its application, it should do so in writing to NLS@thefa.com by December 31^st.

FACTS

1. Raiders were in a beauty contest for the Broadwater lease and they lost.

2. Their consolation prize was Sunday use at Broadwater. They lost that to Watford Ladies when Raiders pulled their under 18s out of the Eastern Junior Alliance.

3. Counties and the FA do not foist 3G pitches onto clubs-they wait for invites from clubs like Raiders.

4 Raiders do not want a lease of Broadwater. They want it sold for housing and strangely feel entitled to a big slice of the proceeds.

OPINION

Lee Groves was sacked on philosophical grounds!

[BerkoRaiders]

“however wasn't that largely the reason you got into bed with Kings Langley so you could meet the ground grading requirement for Step 6”

Quite simply, the Club doesn’t have access to sufficient full size 11 a side pitches.

“I take it your application for promotion remains firmly in place for this season”

That will be a decision for the Charity Trustees. The Charity is constrained in terms of subsidising the costs of senior football from the income generated from youth football.

CORRECTIONS

“1. Raiders were in a beauty contest for the Broadwater lease and they lost.”

Raiders have NEVER sought a lease on Broadwater. What is the source of this misrepresentation?

“3. Counties and the FA do not foist 3G pitches onto clubs-they wait for invites from clubs like Raiders.”

The national FA has a strategy to create community stadiums and community football hubs around 3G pitches. The Football Foundation would invest £500k plus of grant funding into a stadium that is community focused and embrace 3G. So, the FA seeks opportunities to make this happen.

“4 Raiders do not want a lease of Broadwater. They want it sold for housing and strangely feel entitled to a big slice of the proceeds.”

Broadwater is owned by a Charitable Association whose charitable objectives are about sport and recreation in the local community, not about football or any particular sport. The future of Broadwater is down to the Trustees of that Association, not to any one club or sport.

[Rhodes]

This is turning into an interesting thread and I really don't know what or who to believe now with Arsenal Fan's sudden intervention and contribution, he appears to be contradicting BerkoRaiders who has so far, in his four posts, come across as very authentic, genuine and articulate in his explanation of the Club's aims and objectives.

Edited November 19, 2020 by Rhodes

[tringarmy]

4 hours ago, BerkoRaiders said:

Raiders have NEVER sought a lease on Broadwater. What is the source of this misrepresentation?

https://www.berkhamstedraiders.com/update-on-the-berkhamsted-community-stadium-project/

“Berkhamsted Raiders CFC is driving a project to create a “Berkhamsted Community Stadium” (BCS) on the existing stadium site at Broadwater Stadium.”

Raiders wanted it to be demolished & rebuilt with a 3G, Berko FC didn’t. I’d be surprised if Raiders could access £500k+ funding if they weren’t a party on the new agreement. 

[Daily Dose]

?. The silence is almost deafening