Monthly Archives: August 2009

The new-style club ties are now in stock. Orders through Dave Homewood please. £10 each.

Both Green sides achieved useful results on Saturday with the firsts overcoming visitors MALGO to the tune of 4-1 and the reserves pulling off an excellent 6-3 victory at Headcorn. A feature of the game at the Swan Ground was the quality of the goals. Defenders Micky Davies and Tom Head (pictured) both strode forward to claim ‘assists’ as Ashley Webster (2), Mark Howells and new signing Alex Skipper netted the Green goals all in the first half. Credit to the Maidstone lads, who will be in Division Two East this term, for sticking to their task and gaining their consolation with a cracking strike from outside the box. Meanwhile at Grigg Lane the seconds stormed back from 3-1 down and showed great team spirit. Joe Mifsud hit a treble, Matt Wedge chipped in one and new capture Dan Allen notched a double on his debut.

Looking forward to the morning’s friendly matches, Keith Shabba is out injured but both teams have  an opportunity to look at new players. The firsts go to Headcorn (11 o’clock kick off) while the reserves welcome local side Ashford Dynamo.

* Firstly, happy 60th birthday to Johnny Williams (Gary’s dad) – remembered best as a mercurial winger in the 60s and 70s. Gary himself is still in Finland and his sister Vicky tells me he is thinking of going to University.

* A massive thanks to all our readers … since the revamp of the club’s website a few months back we are on the brink of achieving an astonishing 25,000 hits … I am informed that what people really like is that results and news are published as it happens and not several days later as with most clubs. Thanks again, and please do keep in touch with us … both with the compliments and ideas for the future.

*All the Green teams are in action this weekend. [For kick off times, please click on Fixtures tab]. The Saturday firsts, under deputy manager Steve Mailey, entertain MALGO who are always a well 0rganised outfit and the rumour mill has it that former New Romney and Bromley Green keeper Pete Wilson is with the Maidstone contingent. We’ll make sure the bar is stocked Pete! The Green will be without frontrunner Chris Holmes whose knee injury from last term is still causing grief. The reserves travel to Grigg Lane for a 4pm kick off against Headcorn seconds with more new lads being trialled by Ali Mehmet. On Sunday the firsts will be without new signing, 22-year-old Neil Cheesman (pictured left), a defender formerly of Fleet Leisure and Ashford Cavaliers, and Robbie Greenfield for the match at Headcorn . The reserves welcome local side Ashford Dynamo to the Swan Ground. Definite non-starters for the reserves are Martyn Dalby (Sunday), Sean Tong and Ryan Fitzgerald (both days).

The club sends its best wishes to Vice President Harry Hills who is to be married on Saturday. Harry came through the youth ranks and went on to win honours on both Saturdays and Sundays with the Green. In total, ‘H’ made 702 senior appearances and netted 82 goals during his long and distinguished playing career. Harry is pictured as part of the all-conquering 1984 Kent Amateur League title winning squad.

L to r back: Colin Brunger, Paul Kerr, John McQuillan, Carlton Wynter, Dave Andrews, Keith Rowe, Mark Valler, Chris Watson, Tommy Stafford; front: Paul Brenchley, Mark Waters Tony Rudd, Harry Hills, George Magri, Matt Stanley

Bromley Green Reserves 8 Prince Albert 0

The first practice match of the forthcoming season for the Sunday seconds saw some enterprising football with plenty of youth on show. As it was, the Green’s superior technical ability and fitness was too much for the visitors throughout and, apart from a fine save by debutant Chris Cloke (pictured) with his feet in the first half and a goal disallowed for offside, the traffic was largely one way. However, credit must go to the pub lads who kept going until the end. Leading the line well, Lee Bloxham once again demonstrated his knack for grabbing goals with a typical opportunist hat trick. Also notching were Dan Jackson, Steve Wilson, Matt Wedge, Daryl Hagger and Charlie Clark. Manager Phil Wedge was delighted with the performance of all the squad and praised young defenders Martyn Dalby, who made a tremendous last-ditch tackle during the second half to deny a certain goal, and Jamie Hurst who looked accomplished on the left. Promising improvement from Ryan Fitzgerald and Sean Tong plus solid work from Shaun Dadd (pictured), Sean Curry, Steve Wilson and Reece Hagger made for a pleasing all-round display. Green: C Cloke, R Milton, A Williams, M Dalby, R Hagger, S Dadd, S Curry, J Hurst, M Wedge, R Floyd, S Wilson, D Hagger, D Jackson, S Tong, R Fitzgerald, L Bloxham, C Clark

Thanks to our Boot Fair chaps: a big thankyou to Steve Mailey and Martyn Dalby for their efforts with the Boot Fair stall today

1.8.2009 Bromley Green Reserves 3 Riverside Inn 2

This keenly contested pre-season opener proved a useful run-out for both sides at the Swan Ground this afternoon. An end-to-end affair saw the home side emerge narrow victors with the returning Keith Shabba (2) and Joseph Mifsud from the penalty spot on target. Full report from the manager is below and on the Match Reports tab.

For next week’s testing match away to Headcorn, will players please meet 2.30 for 2.45 leave from the Swan Ground. Kick off at Headcorn is 4 o’clock. Ryan Fitzgerald and Sean Tong are unavailable. Anyone else who cannot play, please inform Ali at training on Tuesday or give him a ring [click on Contacts tab for phone number]. New signings Chris Cloke, Paul Barron and Chris Gillam could all feature next Saturday and there is the possibility of a return by Gavin Janes.

Report from Saturday Res team manager Ali Mehmet

In our first pre-season friendly, my expectations weren’t too high with several players making their Bromley Green debuts. As it so turned out, this game will go down very much as a “dusting the cobwebs away” match.
The opening 20 minutes were very even with the Riverside Inn inspired by the prospect of beating their illustrious neighbours and the Green full of debutants keen to impress.
Bromley Green took the lead through Keith Shabba (left) who had a truly outstanding game. Keith rolled back the years with his efforts, blistering pace and direct running which was always a problem for the resolute Riverside defence. The first goal came as Keith raced onto a well placed through ball to fire hard and low past the impressive Riverside Keeper.
Riverside equalised after a fine run down the left by ex-Green player Guy Farmer, who rode three challenges and drew the keeper before lifting the ball over debutant Jamie Slann.
Riverside took the lead just before half time with a goalmouth scramble leading to a chip into the top corner. Sid Beale and Ade Williams had very good first halves. Reece Hagger and Shawn Dadd are forming a very good defensive partnership and I expect great things from these two.
With a few tactical adjustments at half time Bromley Green dominated the second half.
Joe Mifsud (pictured) on his return to action, played very well, his drive and determination inspired the others around him. Mark Hazel, Bromley Green captain, had a great game in the middle, prompting and encouraging his new team mates.
Matt Wedge was introduced for the second half and his strong, steely tackles provided great cover to allow others the freedom to attack.
The equalizer came after fine work from Darryl Hagger who very cleverly clipped the ball in for Keith Shabba to burst through, round the keeper and cool as you like slot in for his second goal of the game.
At this stage it was wave after wave of attacks, Joe Mifsud could and should have had a hat-trick but a combination of fine saves and the woodwork denied him, however, in the 72nd minute the Green were awarded a penalty when a cross from Sean Tong struck an unfortunate defender on the arm. Penalty awarded. Joe Mifsud was determined to take the penalty and fired the ball into the net although the keeper got a strong hand to the ball the venom in the shot made sure it went in.
Virtually straight from the restart Riverside were awarded a direct free kick 25yrds from goal and the free kick was a pile driver, a rocket bound for the net. Jamie Slann threw himself full length to the left to tip around the post. Breathtaking save!!
With that save you could see the fight draining from Riverside. They seemed tired as we seemed to grow stronger and stronger, the reward for the pre-season training lads!!
All in all, it was a good first game, a lot of effort, the game played in the right spirit and the lads all supporting each other, especially at 2-1 down.
It is very hard to nominate a man of the match as all contributed in a positive manner.
Chris Cryer, Jamie Slann, Ryan Fitzgerald, Tom Head, Sean Tong, all had good steady games.
Special mention though to the Hagger boys, Ade, Sid, Shawn, Mark, Joe and my MoM, Keith Shabba.