Vanarama National League South
at Vauxhall Road
Hemel Hempstead Town (1) 1
Justin Amaluzor 30
Weston-super-Mare (1) 1
Dayle Grubb 22
Admission £12. Programme £2.50. Attendance 455
THE66POW Photo gallery click HERE
Apsley End FC were formed in 1885, but shortened their name to Apsley FC two years later and they kept that moniker until 1946, when they became Hemel Hempstead FC before adding Town to the equation in 1955.
In 1971 the club joined forces with Hemel Hempstead United of the South Midlands League and once again became Hemel Hempstead FC.
The newly merged club took Hemel Hempstead Town's place in Division Two of the Athenian League, but took over Hemel Hempstead United's Vauxhall Road ground as their home base.
The renamed club was renamed (yet again)as Hemel Hempstead Town FC in 1999.
So by rule of thumb, if you're planning to go to a game at this aesthetically lovely enclosure at some point over the next few seasons, don't be surprised if the home side has another new name when you get here.
There has been a collection of dwellings, of sorts, in the vicinity of Vauxhall Road since the eighth century and the olde Hertfordshire town, that stands approximately twenty four miles to the north west of London, was granted its charter by King Henry VIII, a legendary shagging machine of his time if ever their was one, in 1539. Hence the club nickname of the Tudors and the picture of the six time married monarch upon their crest.
Prior to the amalgamation with United in 1971, the club had played at a number of grounds; Apsley End initially played at Salmon Meadow, named after 'The Salmon' public house in Apsley, which the club used as changing room facility. And later, following the cessation of World War I, they relocated to Apsley Club & Institute, which had a solitary bijou stand.
Another (enforced) relocation in 1928, caused by the expansion of a neighbouring mill, saw the club move to Gee's Meadow in Bourne End, where they took the stand from the Institute ground with them ahead of the 1928–29 season.
But, after only a year they were on the move yet again to Crabtree Lane, which already had a large stand and was located in the town centre.
The club's record ever attendance was set at Crabtree Lane in January 1962, when over 3,500 spectators, saw them lose 3–1, against Tooting & Mitcham United in the first round of the FA Amateur Cup.
This old film footage from 1962, is almost as blurred as my photos from today, but it is good to see that there are still people out there who make the effort to research and chart their club's history.
The notes added beneath the footage it you actually watch it on YouTube itself, are full of historical fact too. Well played 'Tudors TV'.
In 1971 the club joined forces with Hemel Hempstead United of the South Midlands League and once again became Hemel Hempstead FC.
The newly merged club took Hemel Hempstead Town's place in Division Two of the Athenian League, but took over Hemel Hempstead United's Vauxhall Road ground as their home base.
The renamed club was renamed (yet again)as Hemel Hempstead Town FC in 1999.
So by rule of thumb, if you're planning to go to a game at this aesthetically lovely enclosure at some point over the next few seasons, don't be surprised if the home side has another new name when you get here.
Prior to the amalgamation with United in 1971, the club had played at a number of grounds; Apsley End initially played at Salmon Meadow, named after 'The Salmon' public house in Apsley, which the club used as changing room facility. And later, following the cessation of World War I, they relocated to Apsley Club & Institute, which had a solitary bijou stand.
But, after only a year they were on the move yet again to Crabtree Lane, which already had a large stand and was located in the town centre.
The club's record ever attendance was set at Crabtree Lane in January 1962, when over 3,500 spectators, saw them lose 3–1, against Tooting & Mitcham United in the first round of the FA Amateur Cup.
This old film footage from 1962, is almost as blurred as my photos from today, but it is good to see that there are still people out there who make the effort to research and chart their club's history.
The notes added beneath the footage it you actually watch it on YouTube itself, are full of historical fact too. Well played 'Tudors TV'.
Weston-super-Mare AFC were originally formed in 1887, but the club disbanded twice, for the duration of both World Wars; meaning that the current club came into being in 1948.
The 'Seagulls' claim to fame, is that they have never been relegated throughout their entire history, although in recent times, namely: 2007, 2008 and 2010, they have been reprieved from taking the drop by FA rulings and the misfortune and/or a change in circumstances elsewhere.
Farnborough Town were relegated because they went into liquidation at the same time as Hayes and Yeading merged together to become Hayes & Yeading United, leaving the Conference South one team short and 'Weston' were reprieved and given that place as their saving grace.
The 2007–08 season ended in similar fashion for the 'Seagulls' who had finished in twentieth place, a relegation placing, but Cambridge City failed a ground grading inspection and went down instead of the Somerset club.
The 2007–08 season ended in similar fashion for the 'Seagulls' who had finished in twentieth place, a relegation placing, but Cambridge City failed a ground grading inspection and went down instead of the Somerset club.
At the end of the 2009–10 campaign, Weston-super-Mare finished in twenty first place in the league table, but another FA council decided that they would escape the drop again and demoted Salisbury City to the Southern league instead. In fact Salisbury took a two division drop, after missing a deadline to sort out their finances, which incurred sanctions.
I heard said, that whilst soaring the heights, these particular seagulls must have made a few useful acquaintances in high places... but it would seem to me that the combining factors that have preserved their status are good fortune and coincidence. But evidently, some people prefer to concoct conspiracy theories instead.
But rules are rules and it would be churlish for anybody to resent the club for being the beneficiaries of some huge slices of luck, when they have been keeping their own house in order while struggling on.
I'll endeavour to cover the history of today's visiting club in more detail before we take the trip down to the Bristol Channel coastal resort in the near future.
Right, that's enough history for one day, as fascinating a subject as it is, the here and now, is all about a Vanarama National League South game, between Hemel Hempstead Town, who play in an all red ensemble and Weston-super-Mare, who wore their rather fetching away kit of yellow and blue today.
Ebby Nelson-Addy found himself in possession deep inside 'Weston' territory inside the first minute, but was dispatched with an unsentimental and borderline fair shoulder charge by Nabby Dialo, who cleared the ball to safety, while the referee appeared to be letting the game flow.
Maybe he had bought a pocket of 'man up pills' with him too for the players who aren't adept at playing football as a contact sport. Either way it boded well for the remainder of the game and sent out the message that it was an afternoon for getting on with things, rather than watching grown men cry every time they got an innocuous knock or came second in an 'our ball!' shouting contest on the occasion of each and every throw in decision.
Maybe he had bought a pocket of 'man up pills' with him too for the players who aren't adept at playing football as a contact sport. Either way it boded well for the remainder of the game and sent out the message that it was an afternoon for getting on with things, rather than watching grown men cry every time they got an innocuous knock or came second in an 'our ball!' shouting contest on the occasion of each and every throw in decision.
Certainly, if Mr Matty Buonassisi, the diminutive in size but massive in presence match referee was adopting a laissez faire approach to officiating over this game, then Justin Amaluzor was certainly up for a bit of hustle and bustle as he smashed his frame past two attempted challenges, before laying the ball off sideways to Charlie Sheringham who steered it past the left hand post from six feet out, when it had looked harder to miss than to hit the target.
Because I know that you'll be wondering, I will spare you having to consult Wikipedia and confirm for you, that: Yes! It is that Charlie Sheringham, the one whose father Edward Paul Sheringham scored eleven goals in fifty one appearances for England, who netted a winning goal in a European Champions League Final for Manchester United, and played for a host of top flight clubs and eventually retired from football in this country after the Stevenage side he was managing at the time, got dicked by Mansfield Town last season. 'Teddy' now manages ATK (Previously known as Atlético de Kolkata), who are based in West Bengal and play in the Indian Super League.
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| "It's a goal!" Dayle Grubb opens the scoring for Weston. Left click for an ever so slightly larger image. |
The visitors captain Dayle Grubb, looked to be a cut above most players who turn out at this level and he released Gethyn Hill on the edge of the 'Hemel' area, but he didn't get enough purchase as he shot on the turn and Lawrie Walker gathered the ball quite easily.
However, Walker never got anywhere near the ball from the 'Seagulls' next attack, when Callum Driver tripped Archie Collins twenty five yards out from the 'Tudors' goal in the twenty second minute and Grubb opened the scoring from the resulting free kick with a precision strike that dipped over the 'Tudors' wall and nestled in the top right hand corner of the goal.
Sheringham took a knock out on the left wing but Driver's free kick didn't trouble Luke Purnell, the visitors keeper... and the same three players were involved again moments later, when Sheringham chested down Driver's cross but Purnell got a foot in to rescue the situation.
On the half hour mark, 'Weston' strung together fifteen consecutive passes on the right hand side of the pitch, with an impressive spell of possession orchestrated by Grubb and Ash Harper.
Hill had the opportunity to claim all three points for Weston, when he rose to meet Grubb's cross two yards out, but his powerful header skimmed the crossbar.
Both teams launched long balls forward to Hill and David Moyo respectively, but the two keepers reached the ball first.
A scramble broke out to the left of the 'Hemel' goal, but Walker picked his moment to plunge in and emerged holding the ball, as the referee looked on closely and continued to let the players get on with things. He certainly wasn't a whistle happy and overly picky type.
I've decided that I like Matty Buonassisi, even though I've probably spelt his name wrong a couple of times by now.
Two of the 'Weston' substitutes: Jarrad Welch and Irnti Rapai combined in front of the home side's goal late in the game,but the latter fired over from ten yards.
Purnell dealt with a free kick from Parkes, that lacked the required amount of power to match it's precision and right at the death, a offside flag went up moments before Hill squeezed the ball past Walker.
FT: Hemel Hempstead Town 1 v Weston-super-Mare 1
Upon leaving the ground, away from the shelter of the stands, it became evident just how much the wind had worsened over the course of the afternoon, which had obviously made things difficult for both teams in the second half, so maybe I didn't ought to be too critical of the way that the game deteriorated late on in the final analysis.
These modern day lightweight balls have a mind of their own on afternoon's like this y'know.
However, Walker never got anywhere near the ball from the 'Seagulls' next attack, when Callum Driver tripped Archie Collins twenty five yards out from the 'Tudors' goal in the twenty second minute and Grubb opened the scoring from the resulting free kick with a precision strike that dipped over the 'Tudors' wall and nestled in the top right hand corner of the goal.
Sheringham took a knock out on the left wing but Driver's free kick didn't trouble Luke Purnell, the visitors keeper... and the same three players were involved again moments later, when Sheringham chested down Driver's cross but Purnell got a foot in to rescue the situation.
On the half hour mark, 'Weston' strung together fifteen consecutive passes on the right hand side of the pitch, with an impressive spell of possession orchestrated by Grubb and Ash Harper.
And the visitors eye catching 'pass and move' dominance soon led to another goal, but the end result (and indeed the final result) didn't quite go to plan, as 'Hemel' intercepted the one stray pass and launched a long ball forward to Amaluzor, who accelerated through the 'Weston' defence, like a robo-striker switched to human battering ram mode and 'dinked' the ball over the advancing Purnell to level things up.
"Goals win games, not tippy tappy fanny football!" offered a local in response to Amaluzor's strike, the outspoken 'comedian' had been full of such pearls of wisdom for the last half a hour and so loud and keen to share his knowledge and humour with everyone within earshot, that I decided to relocate elsewhere to watch the remainder of the game. Such is the liberating spirit of freedom of movement within noon league grounds. I sincerely hope that he is sat next to Jamie Vardy the next time he feels the urge to chat shit.
Jordan Parkes, the 'Hemel' captain who was today''s honorary programme centrefold, shot from long range, and it was a good job that the club shop door was closed, because he would've scared the staff to death with his powerful delivery and inaccuracy combination otherwise.
'Weston' won a free kick out to the left hand side of the 'Hemel' area, but this time, with the wind picking up diagonally across the pitch, his curling delivery dropped beyond the far post and amounted to nothing, in fact I scribbled down in my notes: a real 'Bend it like (Victoria) Beckham moment.
The visitors built up a head of steam towards half time, putting the 'Hemel' defence under pressure from a succession of corners, with Hill looking especially sharp in front of goal and Jake Lee heading wide (he actually started the game instead of Jake Reid after the team sheets had been printed).
The Seagulls went close when Greenslade’s cross picked out Archie Collins at the back post, but his volley was well saved by Walker.
HT: Tudors 1 v Seagulls 1
The first half had been a lively enough and (just about) entertaining affair, but after the break, with the wind picking up steadily (which at least kept the impending rain at bay), the game became a bit of a stalemate, with a lot of the play going sideways across the pitch rather than from end to end and with all due respect, although you could see that neither side were in any danger of slipping into the relegation zone any time soon, it was also fairly apparent, that in all probability they won't be causing a stir at the promotion and play off end of the table either.
Nelson-Addy was trying to get 'Hemel' going on the left, but more often than not found himself surrounded by a flock of 'Seagulls' players with little or no support to speak of.
Amaluzor and Sheringham were finding Jason Pope and Harvey Smith to be a formidable defensive barrier and though Grubb and Hill continued to be the visitors main supply chain, the chances weren't coming as thick and fast after the interval, for either side.
It was almost as if somebody had left the lid of this previously sparkling game during the half time interval... and it had gone flat.
'Hemel' forced a left wing corner, Parkes picked out Phil Walsh at the back stick, beyond a crowd of bodies, but he planted his header wide.
Grubb shot wide after Pope had nodded Greenslade's corner back across the face of goal, but clear cut chances were by now becoming something of a rarity.
As is often the way, any kind of flow the game had by now, was disrupted as both teams introduced a queue of substitutes, who entered the fray in a steady trickle.
Both teams launched long balls forward to Hill and David Moyo respectively, but the two keepers reached the ball first.
A scramble broke out to the left of the 'Hemel' goal, but Walker picked his moment to plunge in and emerged holding the ball, as the referee looked on closely and continued to let the players get on with things. He certainly wasn't a whistle happy and overly picky type.
I've decided that I like Matty Buonassisi, even though I've probably spelt his name wrong a couple of times by now.
Purnell dealt with a free kick from Parkes, that lacked the required amount of power to match it's precision and right at the death, a offside flag went up moments before Hill squeezed the ball past Walker.
FT: Hemel Hempstead Town 1 v Weston-super-Mare 1
These modern day lightweight balls have a mind of their own on afternoon's like this y'know.
