At Home With The Crows: by Jez Izod

Next Up: “The Rams” of Beaconsfield SYCOB FC.

Crows v Beaconsfield SYCOB FC

Kick Off: 3pm, Saturday 10th November 2012

Evo-Stik League Southern Central Division 1

At least we meet a team with a fairly decent nick-name with “The Rams” of Beaconsfield SYCOB FC. At least it’s not the SYCO’s of Beaconsfield, now that would get me worried and running a mile from this match.

With the Crows on a role, we come up against fellow promotion chasers, who are also trying to tear up this league (well they would, they are called the SYCO’s….. sorry SYCOBS!).

But anyhow, they come from the most loveliest of Chiltern towns of Beaconsfield, famous for the wood that made the furniture for that other lovely Chiltern town of Wycombe. I am in a lovely mood tonight, everything is lovely, must be something to do with the large glass of Vino that I hold whilst typing! LOVELY!

But I digress, apart from the furniture stuff, the Town is famous for its Film studios and for many famous “flicks” that were filmed in these parts. These include the James Bond film “Thunderball”, the Simon Pegg influenced “Hot Fuzz” and “Midsommer Murders”! Don’t be jealous fellow Crows, we’ve got the Oscar winning film “Full Metal Jacket” (Well Bassingbourn does, but it is a part of Royston though…..is it not?) so nah nah nah nah to Beaconsfield, 1-0 to Royston.

Famous people of this quaint town include, Dr Liam Fox and it’s now 2-0 to Royston! But a comeback is on with James Corden, Barry Gibb and a winner with Airey Neive of Colditz fame used to live here! So a fair draw then????

HISTORY

Originally formed in 1921 as Beaconsfield United FC, a nice traditional name, with no Syco’s or sycobs involved. They competed in several different local junior leagues until 1979. What a year! Sid Vicious was found dead, you know him of Sex Pistols fame and it snowed in the Sahara desert! Who said Global warming is a new experience hey!

On joining the London Spartan League in which that famous North London side Tottenham not so Hotspurs never won, they enjoyed moderate success.

Now a twist in this SYCO plot! Slough Youth Centre Old Boys FC of the Chiltonian league potted around until becoming runners up in 1994.

Due to ground regulations, SYCOB needed a ground share agreement with Beaconsfield United, but as United were as broke as Greece, Ireland and Spain put together it was felt that a merger would be the best way forward and so joined their names together and took United’s place in the Spartan League.

They won the South Midlands Spartan league twice but were rejected in their first application. Incidentally fellow Crows, they had one of their biggest victories in this league, beating us 7-1 in a result that for some reason has been wiped from most football databases! But I have great sources including a former player who scored the first of his two goals for the Crows….. Step forward Martin Ward. 5 appearances and two goals. Martin would also admit that “he was not very good!” We’ve had a few of those in the past have we not Crows!

In 2004 they secured another championship, but this time, with the correct grading met, they were promoted into the Southern League. Here they stayed until relegation from the South & West Division in 2007. They finished bottom with just 5 wins all season.

They immediately bounced back in 2008, winning the SSML Premier Division by 9 points from Chalfont St Peter.

In 2009 a fourth place finish was secured with a play-off berth. They were beaten 2-1by AFC Totton in the Semi-Final.

2010/11 saw a very disappointing campaign for “The Rams”, finishing bottom of the league with just 33 points and an FA Cup exit in the first preliminary round against Swindon Supermarine. They won the usual reprieve from relegation as Bedworth and Rugby were switched leagues.

Contrast of fortunes last year as they finished 4th and only just lost to Bedworth United FC in the play-off final by a score of 3-1.

This season they have started as one of the favourites in a very competitive league.

Their Season So Far

As favourites, they have been true to form and currently find themselves in 5th position just two points behind our beloved Crows. So this Saturday should present either a real ding dong (or in the words of that Lesley bloke actor, Diiing Dong darling) affair or a boring 0-0 draw. 9 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses so far for “The Rams” and they have not dropped a point in 7 games. More concerning for our defence is that “The Rams” have found the back of the net 18 times in this run, with only 1 conceded!

Ones to Watch

What is really apparent and must be pleasing for the Syco’s, sorry could not resist that, is that goals are spread throughout the team, but I will have to start with young forward Ryan Blake. Blakey has not wasted any time in finding the score sheet and has found the back of the onion bag 4 times so far including a perfect hat trick against beleaguered Woodford United.

Another Ryan in the side is Ryan Upward, currently the clubs young player of the year, he has had the scouts of Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers sniffing around on a regular basis. Tall midfielder, comfortable on the ball and excellent in the air, young Upward is seeing his career go, well, Upwards…get it, made you smile? Anyhow, he’s got 3 league goals and two cup goals so far this year.

Midfielder Dwane Lee brings bags of experience to this side, Dwano lists Aldershot, Exeter City, Kidderminster, that lot down the A1(m) who play at the Broadhall (incidentally we are due to hammer them on the 4th December in the County Cup!), Barnet and Maidenhead. Signed from Hayes and Yeading, he has got 5 goals so far this season!

The Gaffer

Manager, what manager, previous incumbent Byron Walton walked away from “The Rams” hot seat last month. At time of press there has not been a decision on the new gaffer. In the interim, Steve Baker has been placed in charge. He’s not doing a bad job either!

Have We Met Before?

So far I have uncovered 10 occasions that we have pitted our wits against each other. I might be wrong, so will stand corrected. We don’t have a very good record against them. In those 10 matches, we have won twice, drawn twice and lost six times. Hope we improve that record on Saturday.

Jez Izod