Leighton Town

[Rhodes 236]

AlwaysLeighton - Thanks, it would be interesting to know. What sort of crowd was there at Bell Close for the Boreham Wood FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie in 2007/08 when you beat them 3-1, that must have been a good afternoon although I recall there was some crowd trouble and Police backup had to be called for.

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

5 hours ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - Thanks, it would be interesting to know. What sort of crowd was there at Bell Close for the Boreham Wood FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie in 2007/08 when you beat them 3-1, that must have been a good afternoon although I recall there was some crowd trouble and Police backup had to be called for.

I have no idea, I would’ve been about 5 years old.

[Rhodes 236]

On 23/01/2021 at 07:19, AlwaysLeighton said:

Just to touch on this, both games are written into Leighton Town, well, Leighton Buzzard folklore really. Many times I’ve walked up the high street and heard people talk about the 2 fixtures or people have told me about them. If you’re a Leighton Town fan and you don’t know about the 2 games, are you really a Leighton Town fan?

AlwaysLeighton - I have found some very brief footage of Leighton Town's winning goal at Bell Close against Aldershot Town on Saturday 30 January 1993, it's exactly nine minutes into the YouTube video below and was a towering header from close range following a corner:

(331) Aldershot Town FC - Class Of 92 - Part 2 - YouTube

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

9 hours ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - I have found some very brief footage of Leighton Town's winning goal at Bell Close against Aldershot Town on Saturday 30 January 1993, it's exactly nine minutes into the YouTube video below and was a towering header from close range following a corner:

(331) Aldershot Town FC - Class Of 92 - Part 2 - YouTube

One day we’ll play them again. The FA Trophy final, because obviously, we won’t be in the Spartan for too much longer...  

[Rhodes 236]

On 26/01/2021 at 11:41, AlwaysLeighton said:

we won’t be in the Spartan for too much longer...  

Do you think you would have won the Championship this season, obviously only ten League games had been played with seven wins but I had the impression the team hadn't got out of first gear yet. Once Connor Calcutt had 'returned' from paternity leave there would have been no looking back particularly with Webby back from Hemel Hempstead Town although I'm not sure how long his loan spell was for, I'm sure Joe Sweeney would have negotiated with Lee Bircham to keep him at Bell Close for the season as, inexplicably, he wasn't getting a look in at Vauxhall Road was he.

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

2 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Do you think you would have won the Championship this season, obviously only ten League games had been played with seven wins but I had the impression the team hadn't got out of first gear yet. Once Connor Calcutt had 'returned' from paternity leave there would have been no looking back particularly with Webby back from Hemel Hempstead Town although I'm not sure how long his loan spell was for, I'm sure Joe Sweeney would have negotiated with Lee Bircham to keep him at Bell Close for the season as, inexplicably, he wasn't getting a look in at Vauxhall Road was he.

Yes, we would’ve have walked the league.

[Rhodes 236]

AlwaysLeighton - Do you think the Club could reach the heady heights they did in 2003/04 when winning the Isthmian League Division 2, I know that was only Step 5 equivalent however thereafter they finished in the top ten of the Southern League Division One in six of the following seven seasons before a gradual decline unfortunately started to set in and Managers came and went in a very short space of time such as Craig Wells, Craig Bicknell, Mark Eaton, Stuart Murray and Paul Burgess before saviour Scott Reynolds thankfully arrived and steadied the ship, a lot of this was before your time of course:

RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO - 2003/2004
 Pos  Name                            Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Leighton Town                    42   28    7    7  111   36   91
   2  Dorking                          42   27    8    7   87   47   89
   3  Hertford Town                    42   24    9    9   74   35   81
   4  Chertsey Town                    42   22    9   11   75   53   75
   5  Flackwell Heath                  42   22    5   15   71   53   71
   6  Witham Town                      42   20   10   12   75   54   70
   7  Kingsbury Town                   42   14   11   17   60   64   53
   8  Ware                             42   14   10   18   67   60   52
   9  Abingdon Town                    42   15    6   21   83   81   51
  10  Camberley Town                   42   15    6   21   51   71   51
  11  Wembley                          42   13    9   20   46   67   48
  12  Wokingham Town                   42   12    7   23   55   94   43
  13  Edgware Town                     42   12    6   24   62   88   42
  14  Chalfont St Peter                42   12    6   24   57   89   42
  15  Clapton                          42    8    5   29   47  129   29

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

2 hours ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - Do you think the Club could reach the heady heights they did in 2003/04 when winning the Isthmian League Division 2, I know that was only Step 5 equivalent however thereafter they finished in the top ten of the Southern League Division One in six of the following seven seasons before a gradual decline unfortunately started to set in and Managers came and went in a very short space of time such as Craig Wells, Craig Bicknell, Mark Eaton, Stuart Murray and Paul Burgess before saviour Scott Reynolds thankfully arrived and steadied the ship, a lot of this was before your time of course:

RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO - 2003/2004
 Pos  Name                            Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Leighton Town                    42   28    7    7  111   36   91
   2  Dorking                          42   27    8    7   87   47   89
   3  Hertford Town                    42   24    9    9   74   35   81
   4  Chertsey Town                    42   22    9   11   75   53   75
   5  Flackwell Heath                  42   22    5   15   71   53   71
   6  Witham Town                      42   20   10   12   75   54   70
   7  Kingsbury Town                   42   14   11   17   60   64   53
   8  Ware                             42   14   10   18   67   60   52
   9  Abingdon Town                    42   15    6   21   83   81   51
  10  Camberley Town                   42   15    6   21   51   71   51
  11  Wembley                          42   13    9   20   46   67   48
  12  Wokingham Town                   42   12    7   23   55   94   43
  13  Edgware Town                     42   12    6   24   62   88   42
  14  Chalfont St Peter                42   12    6   24   57   89   42
  15  Clapton                          42    8    5   29   47  129   29

Rhodes - I see no reason why not. At the minute, the infrastructure of the club is growing, the general consensus of the club is that we need to be at Step 4. With the squad we have at the minute, the overall support of the Town, the way the club is growing on, but more importantly, shows the ambition the people at the helm of the club have to take us forward. 

You’re right that the ‘10s’ was on the whole not a good decade for Leighton Town, however, 2018, 19 and 2020 were relatively good years on the park, but tremendous years off of it. 
 

I see no reason that once all of this is over, we will be in Step 4 very soon and I can only see us growing and climbing from there. Fingers crossed.

[Rhodes 236]

AlwaysLeighton - Do you think if Scott Reynolds had remained at Bell Close for the 2018/19 campaign, instead of moving to Aylesbury FC, Leighton Town would have won the Championship that season and got promoted back to the Southern League, instead you had to start over again having just finished fourth in the table and reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase under Scott. The following season would have been there for the taking as Biggleswade FC won the League with only 88 points, the lowest total since 2008/09, they were also occupied with winning the Premier Division Cup and reaching the FA Vase Quarter Finals, you drew twice with them and should have won both games. 

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - Do you think if Scott Reynolds had remained at Bell Close for the 2018/19 campaign, instead of moving to Aylesbury FC, Leighton Town would have won the Championship that season and got promoted back to the Southern League, instead you had to start over again having just finished fourth in the table and reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase under Scott. The following season would have been there for the taking as Biggleswade FC won the League with only 88 points, the lowest total since 2008/09, they were also occupied with winning the Premier Division Cup and reaching the FA Vase Quarter Finals, you drew twice with them and should have won both games. 

Rhodes - as I’ve said before, absolutely not. Scott was not a great manager, simple as that. We would not have won both games against Biggleswade FC at all, they were the better team in both fixtures. They were absolutely superb that season in my opinion, a very, very good side that deservedly took the title home. 

[Rhodes 236]

4 hours ago, AlwaysLeighton said:

Scott was not a great manager, simple as that

AlwaysLeighton - I don't know how you can say that, is it the same person we're talking about who took the Club to fourth in the table that season and the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase, masterminding those wins at Gorleston and especially at Wolverhampton Sporting Community to name just two of the ties. Had they beaten 1874 Northwich they could well have beaten Thatcham Town in the Semi Final over two legs and you would have had a day to remember at Wembley against Stockton Town.

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

8 hours ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - I don't know how you can say that, is it the same person we're talking about who took the Club to fourth in the table that season and the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase, masterminding those wins at Gorleston and especially at Wolverhampton Sporting Community to name just two of the ties. Had they beaten 1874 Northwich they could well have beaten Thatcham Town in the Semi Final over two legs and you would have had a day to remember at Wembley against Stockton Town.

Rhodes - I know exactly how I can say that. Can I ask how many games you saw of Scott’s? Or how many times you’ve spoken to Scott? 

His management cost us the quarter final game with an absolutely woeful squad selection.

His overall management, his general demeanour amongst other things was poor. I’m glad he went at the end of the season. Rubbish. 

[Rhodes 236]

3 hours ago, AlwaysLeighton said:

Rubbish

AlwaysLeighton - I didn't see any of the games and have never met Scott however I followed reports and analysis closely and I think you are being rather harsh, you seem to have developed a dislike for him somewhere along the line or hold a grudge for the way he, perhaps unwisely, left Bell Close for Haywood Way at the end of that 2017/18 campaign. It did appear that the FA Vase defeat to 1874 Northwich unfortunately cost the Club promotion in runners up spot instead of Berkhamsted as up until that point they had won nine League matches on the spin and momentum was suddenly lost, there were a lot of dropped points after that including a 1-0 home defeat to bottom of the table Stotfold however you still only finished seven points behind Berkhamsted:

SSML Premier Division - 2017/2018
 Pos  Name                            Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Welwyn Garden City               40   32    4    4  100   33  100
   2  Berkhamsted                      40   26   10    4  113   54   88
   3  Harpenden Town                   40   27    5    8   97   55   86
   4  Leighton Town                    40   24    9    7   88   52   81
   5  Biggleswade                      40   22    7   11   96   61   73
   6  Hadley                           40   19    9   12   76   67   66
   7  Leverstock Green                 40   17    8   15   84   83   59
   8  Biggleswade United               40   16    9   15   69   57   57
   9  Wembley                          40   15    8   17   76   68   53
  10  Edgware Town                     40   14    9   17   63   67   51
  11  Colney Heath                     40   14    8   18   54   69   50
  12  Hoddesdon Town                   40   14    6   20   64   72   48
  13  London Colney                    40   14    6   20   55   72   48
  14  Holmer Green                     40   11   13   16   53   75   46
  15  London Tigers                    40   14    4   22   53   75   46
  16  St Margaretsbury                 40   12    7   21   54   84   43
  17  Tring Athletic                   40   11    9   20   59   71   42
  18  Crawley Green Sports             40   10    6   24   59   90   36
  19  Oxhey Jets                       40    8   11   21   56   89   35
  20  Cockfosters                      40    9    8   23   52   85   35
  21  Stotfold                         40    9    8   23   51   93   35
      Sun Sports                       Record expunged

Edited January 29 by Rhodes

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

9 hours ago, Rhodes said:

AlwaysLeighton - I didn't see any of the games and have never met Scott however I followed reports and analysis closely and I think you are being rather harsh, you seem to have developed a dislike for him somewhere along the line or hold a grudge for the way he, perhaps unwisely, left Bell Close for Haywood Way at the end of that 2017/18 campaign. It did appear that the FA Vase defeat to 1874 Northwich unfortunately cost the Club promotion in runners up spot instead of Berkhamsted as up until that point they had won nine League matches on the spin and momentum was suddenly lost, there were a lot of dropped points after that including a 1-0 home defeat to bottom of the table Stotfold however you still only finished seven points behind Berkhamsted:

SSML Premier Division - 2017/2018
 Pos  Name                            Pld    W    D    L   GF   GA  Pts
   1  Welwyn Garden City               40   32    4    4  100   33  100
   2  Berkhamsted                      40   26   10    4  113   54   88
   3  Harpenden Town                   40   27    5    8   97   55   86
   4  Leighton Town                    40   24    9    7   88   52   81
   5  Biggleswade                      40   22    7   11   96   61   73
   6  Hadley                           40   19    9   12   76   67   66
   7  Leverstock Green                 40   17    8   15   84   83   59
   8  Biggleswade United               40   16    9   15   69   57   57
   9  Wembley                          40   15    8   17   76   68   53
  10  Edgware Town                     40   14    9   17   63   67   51
  11  Colney Heath                     40   14    8   18   54   69   50
  12  Hoddesdon Town                   40   14    6   20   64   72   48
  13  London Colney                    40   14    6   20   55   72   48
  14  Holmer Green                     40   11   13   16   53   75   46
  15  London Tigers                    40   14    4   22   53   75   46
  16  St Margaretsbury                 40   12    7   21   54   84   43
  17  Tring Athletic                   40   11    9   20   59   71   42
  18  Crawley Green Sports             40   10    6   24   59   90   36
  19  Oxhey Jets                       40    8   11   21   56   89   35
  20  Cockfosters                      40    9    8   23   52   85   35
  21  Stotfold                         40    9    8   23   51   93   35
      Sun Sports                       Record expunged

Rhodes - I can wholeheartedly guarantee you, that I am not being harsh. We would not have won promotion on Scott, I can tell you that for a fact. Berko still would have gone up regardless of our Vase run or not. 

He was more bothered about looking good on a post match interview than he was about coaching his squad of players. It comes as absolutely no surprise to me to have seen him fail at Aylesbury and to now see him at Bucks Ath. 
 

The best thing that could’ve happened, happened at the end of 17/18 season. He left! Yes, 18/19 was rather boring to say the very least of a season, but, that was fine, Danny Nics didn’t work out, but now we’ve got Joe & Coppo and we’re flying.

He gave us a good season, a great cup run, a decent league finish. But the way that season ended and his shocking selection for a Vase quarter final, showed what a poor manager he is.

Remember you aren’t seeing what he’s like behind the scenes either...

[Rhodes 236]

Leighton Town Under 18's reached the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup in 2013/14 and drew Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, here are some photographs. It was a great occasion for the lads despite going down 3-0 with the very strong Luton Town side progressing to the Third Round proper, losing 3-1 at Huddersfield Town after extra time:

Edited February 2 by Rhodes

[Rhodes 236]

An interesting article from today's on-line Leighton Buzzard Observer:

Leighton expecting the season to be declared null and void

Leighton Town acting chairman Steve Harris believes the 2020/21 season will end up being declared null and void.

The early stages of the season had suggested a promising time ahead for Leighton with seven wins from their first 10 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division matches while they had also reached the fourth round of the Buildbase FA Vase before things came to a halt.

But, with matches seemingly no closer to resuming at the current time, there appears to be an acceptance that a second campaign in a row will be ended with no records of it to be kept.

Clubs from Step 3 and below were recently asked to fill in a Football Association survey so the governing body could come to a decision.

However, it remains unclear as to when that decision will actually be made.

Harris, who has been in the role of acting chairman since Alan Penman stepped down in September, said: “I think it’s inevitable in view of the number of games that have been played.

We have only played 10 league games but we would happily be promoted on points per game because we would be top from that perspective! But we are behind on that because we are still in the FA Vase.

I think it will end up being null and void but it also depends on what the Football Association wants to do because I know there is some restructuring they want to do.

There has been the survey but we are probably a bit cynical in that the FA will decide what to do, almost irrespective of what the clubs think.

But have had absolutely nothing in terms of a timescale of when this will all be resolved.

I have had some supporters texting me and asking what’s going on but they all know as much as I do.

The lack of football hasn’t done a great deal for non-League clubs across the country with many, no doubt, feeling the pinch in terms of finances.

Clubs between Steps 3 and 6 have been given the chance to apply for government grants to help see them through the winter but Harris is comfortable with how things are at Bell Close.

We have just had quite a lot of work done in the clubhouse, during the previous lockdown and that is all done,” he added.

"So, as a club, we are all keyed up and ready to go again.

There is now another grant out there for us to apply for but financially, I am not worrying unduly. I am not desperate to put a Crowdfunding page out there.

The club hit the buffers around five years ago but since then it has been turned around and we have done a couple of hundred pounds worth of ground improvements and we’re quite financially stable. We are pleased with where we’re at.”

Leighton expecting the season to be declared null and void | Leighton Buzzard Observer (leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk)

Edited February 9 by Rhodes

[Rhodes 236]

Bell Close fairly recently, Karen would have no doubt had many postponed fixtures to deal with during January and February and have to re-arrange however that is obviously no consolation:

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

8 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Bell Close fairly recently, Karen would have no doubt had many postponed fixtures to deal with during January and February and have to re-arrange however that is obviously no consolation:

Great photo by yours truly 

[Rhodes 236]

'Criminally' Danny Webb hadn't featured at all for Hemel Hempstead Town since an FA Trophy tie at Bromley on 19 December (see below) prior to this evening's (Tuesday) National League South fixture against Havant & Waterlooville at Vauxhall Road however, wait for it, Danny wasn't brought on by Lee Bircham until the 88th minute with Hemel Hempstead Town leading 2-0 having sat on the bench all evening in sub zero temperatures: 

[Rhodes 236]

I had forgotten that Leighton Town had met Leiston previously in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, under Craig Bicknell's stewardship, during the 2014/15 campaign and when a Southern League Division One Central Club. Following a 2-2 draw at Leiston, with goals from Phil Draycott and Tyrone Taylor, where they really should have won the tie having lead 2-0 at the break, Craig's men were then very disappointingly beaten 5-2 at Bell Close in the replay despite taking an early lead through Danny Watson who scored again from the spot late on, see match reports from both Club's: 

Match Report: Leiston FC 2 - 2 Leighton Town F C : First Team

Match Report: Leiston 2 - 2 Leigton Town : 1st Team (leistonfc.co.uk)

Match Report: Leighton Town F C 2 - 5 Leiston FC : First Team

Match Report: Leigton Town 2 - 5 Leiston : 1st Team (leistonfc.co.uk)

Edited February 10 by Rhodes

[Rhodes 236]

Sorry folks, I'm struggling at the moment and wish more members would post. This is what people are sadly missing out on at present at Bell Close, home made chocolate cake which is presumably on sale in the Clubhouse on match days, the Club must make a killing and they also seem very generous portions. I wonder whether Leighton Town would have been in the FA Vase Quarter Final last Saturday (6 February), I'm pretty certain they would have taken care of Walton & Hersham or Guildford City in the Fourth Round and received a favourable Fifth Round draw:

Edited February 11 by Rhodes

[AlwaysLeighton 13]

7 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Sorry folks, I'm struggling at the moment and wish more members would post. This is what people are sadly missing out on at present at Bell Close, home made chocolate cake which is presumably on sale in the Clubhouse on match days, the Club must make a killing and they also seem very generous portions. I wonder whether Leighton Town would have been in the FA Vase Quarter Final last Saturday (6 February), I'm pretty certain they would have taken care of Walton & Hersham or Guildford City in the Fourth Round and received a favourable Fifth Round draw:

We have a Tea Bar/Hot Food Hut, that is run by a woman called Jackie and her husband. Not in the clubhouse. 

All their pies, pasties, sausage rolls, chicken curry, fajita wraps, chips are all homemade and they serve burgers, bacon and sausages too. As well as the homemade cakes and other snacks. 
 

Best food in the Spartan (with Arlesey/Baldock coming close).

[Savagebee 316]

On 10/02/2021 at 01:40, Rhodes said:

'Criminally' Danny Webb hadn't featured at all for Hemel Hempstead Town since an FA Trophy tie at Bromley on 19 December (see below) prior to this evening's (Tuesday) National League South fixture against Havant & Waterlooville at Vauxhall Road however, wait for it, Danny wasn't brought on by Lee Bircham until the 88th minute with Hemel Hempstead Town leading 2-0 having sat on the bench all evening in sub zero temperatures: 

Ryan Kinnane aka Stretch 😀 is ex Hanwell Town, Berkhamstead, Hayes & Yeading, Harefield United and he is a top guy and a decent player 👍 I didn't know that he now played for Hemel.

Bircham? On the bench?

[Rhodes 236]

On 11/02/2021 at 22:29, AlwaysLeighton said:

We have a Tea Bar/Hot Food Hut, that is run by a woman called Jackie and her husband. Not in the clubhouse. All their pies, pasties, sausage rolls, chicken curry, fajita wraps, chips are all homemade and they serve burgers, bacon and sausages too. As well as the homemade cakes and other snacks.

AlwaysLeighton - So Jackie makes exceedingly good cakes then, sorry I couldn't resist although you are probably too young to remember the Mr Kippling adverts. One thing I noticed was the generous portion of the cake in the photograph, half that would suffice wouldn't it. I don't know if anyone remembers Mrs Haynes at New Bradwell St Peter back in the day, the first thing Division One Club's did each season was check when they played away to New Bradwell St Peter, and everyone else prayed they drew them away in the Challenge Trophy, as her cakes were so good although at that time the fixtures were only issued one month to six weeks ahead by Karen's predecessor HTFCew who used to post on here too.

Edited February 14 by Rhodes

[Rhodes 236]

No doubt our friend AlwaysLeighton took this photograph too with the heading on Twitter 'Bell Close is an absolute fortress', that sounds like him all over. One thing about Bell Close though is that it is a groundhoppers dream with all the clear signage for photographic purposes both inside the ground and outside:

Edited February 14 by Rhodes