On The Road With The Crows…
Next Up: The “G’s” Of Godalming Town FC
Crows at Godalming Town FC
Kick Off: 3pm, Saturday 30th March 2013
The Weycourt, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3JE
Evo-Stik League Southern: Division One Central
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So after an enforced break, we are back in action (hopefully) against the Gods of Godalming.
Unfortunately we won’t be able to see our new(ish) strike force in action due to suspensions clocked up months ago. Damned English Weather! Who would have thought that this time last year I was watching the Crows in a vest top and shorts! How ya doin’ ladies? I’d imagine that this will be very different on Saturday.
Speaking of Saturday, we now enter a run of games that I am sure will stamp where we shall eventually finish in our first sojourn into this league.
But what can I tell you about Godalming?
Well, the town is in deepest darkest Surrey, not far from Guildford and for all those history buff Crows fans, the town pre-dates Saxon times. Alfred the Great, yep that one, called himself “Godhelms Ingus”, which translates itself to Lords of the Manor. Ahh Now you all know!
The Town has recently been voted the fourth best place to live in the UK! So the pubs must be pretty good and they do attract the likes of Alan Hansen, Chris Evans, Anthea Turner and Roger Black. I wonder if they ever attend any “G’s” games, I doubt it!
Julius Caesar was also born here. You don’t believe me do you? Well I am sort of right, the Cricketer by that name was born in deepest, darkest Godalming!
HISTORY
With a history as confusing as Aylesbury FC, it may take me a while to explain, so get the kettle on Crows fans, are you sitting comfortably and now I’ll begin….
Known as the “G’s”, not the Mings or the Gods (him upstairs would have something to say about that one!) the club was formed in 1950 by pupils of Godalming Grammar School and named Godalming United FC, very chique, very easy to remember, you’d have thought they would keep it this way, but no. In 1970, they took the place of Farncombe FC in the Surrey Senior league, paying off substantial debts and taking over the world, sorry their Meadrow ground. The Club became Godalming & Farncombe FC and changed the name of the ground to Weycourt. Bet you did not see that one coming!
In 1979 the club were accepted into the Combined Counties league and changed their name to Godalming Town FC, yay, I hear you all say, that was easy, but no, a curveball was thrown in and I shall explain shortly. In 1984 they won the league by 3 points from Maldon Town FC. After this, years of stagnation followed with relegation a possibility on several occasions. In 1985 another local club, Addlestone & Weybridge Town FC, folded and, before their ground at Liberty Lane was demolished, Godalming purchased the stand and perimeter fence, re-erecting the stand at Weycourt with seating and a fascia added. This was done for the bargain price of just £500!
With the club suffering financially, in 1992 the Guildford Foot Appeal donated money towards the cost of installing floodlights to the ground. The deal was to change the name (again) to Godalming & Guildford FC, there is your curveball Crows fans. The club achieved little success under this new guise and eventually reverted back to Godalming Town FC in 2005.
Success followed very shortly with the Combined Counties League captured in 2006 and promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South, another mouthful for those greatly understated tannoy announcers. In 2010 they reached the play-off final, losing to Folkestone Invicta, but the Surrey Senior Cup was captured with a
huge 2-1 win against Sutton United. A 17th place finish was secured the following year and in 2011-12 season, the club went on its most successful run in the FA Cup. Wins against Wimbourne, Moneyfields, Worcester City and Bodmin Town were achieved before bowing out to Maidenhead United in the fourth qualifying round, losing 5-0 at the Weycourt Ground.
This season they have transferred across to the Southern League and are one of the favourites for promotion.
Their Season So Far
Started the season as one of the favourites and they are not disappointing. In my eyes, I still fancy them for the automatic spot so Saturday will present a very tough ask from our young team. Looking forward to the game and catching up with some friends made at our home game. Pint please Kev!
Currently sitting in 3rd place in the league, 6 points behind Burnham but with two games in hand. Their stats for the season read, 22 wins, 6 draws and only 4 defeats.
The net has been busted on 75 occasions and they boast the meanest defence in the league as they have been breached only 29 times.
Their last trip away saw the “G’s” demolish Aylesbury by 5 goals to nil and at home Chalfont St Peter were thrashed 4-0.
Ones to Watch
With a very mean goals conceded column of just one, we’ll have to start at the back with the man between the sticks, Jake Somerville and he is of no relation to Jimmy, arh the Communards and don’t leave me this way. Do you know fellow Crows, up until a few years ago, I thought it was a lass singing that classic! Anyhow, Jake signed for the club from Farnborough in 2011 after making 12 appearances.
A signing from Egham, Adam Foulser has excelled in the back. A leader of troops, very vocal and strong but fair in the tackle.
Also at the back we find Wes Harrison, a tough tackling defender, Wes returned in 2001 following stints at Fleet, Corinthian Casuals (won't get in at SG8 with trainers on) and those Lippy ones from Leatherhead.
On the wing we will face the pacy and skilful Warren Harris, a signing from Staines Town, Wes has found the net 17 times this season.
Another winger of some repute (at least we know where their danger is from) is Darren Wheeler, our Daz, as he is known by no-one but me, has played at a much higher level with Eastleigh, Weymouth and Farnborough FC. Daz was also the RLD1S player of the season last year and with two goals this season, a real and present danger. Was that just a fantastic film!
So I’ll finish with one of their strikers and the other Harris in the squad. Scott Harris has 18 goals to his name, this follows his 21 last season. Jack joined the club in 2011 from Ashford Town Middlesex and not the one from Kent. I had a friend once who went to watch Ashford Town, he never made it you know, last I heard he was still driving around Kent!
The Gaffer(s)
Again we face another joint management set up, I suppose two heads are better than one?
First part of the partnership is 31 year old Neil Baker. “Bakes” started out playing for the Wanderers of Wycombe under John Gregory before transferring across to Farnborough for a 100 game spell. Sojurns to Aldershot Town (poor guy), Borehamwood, Sutton United, Leatherhead and Bracknell town were to follow. Neil joined the club from Fleet Spurs (They are actually better than those other Spurs!)
A thoroughly decent chap, spent ages chatting to me after our home game earlier this season, but he did chastise me on why I had not mentioned the other integral part to the dynamic duo, so here I go!
Joining from Sandhurst Town, Jon Underwood played with young “Bakes” in a strong Farnborough side. At 35, “Unders” brings bags of experience after playing for the likes of Aylesbury, Staines Town and Bracknell Town!
I have done it now Mr Baker, am I forgiven?
Have We Met Before?
Just the once at that came in September last year. The Crows lost 3-1 with Jack Bradshaw scoring a worldy! If I remember rightly, the “G’s” had two men sent off? Anyhow a healthy crowd of 172 watched the days proceedings.
Match Day Infoirmation.
Directions to Wey Court by car:
Take the M25, then A3 to Guildford, then A3100 from Guildford, pass the Manor Inn on the left and then the petrol station on the right. Wey Court is 50 yards further along the road on the right hand side.
A3100 from Godalming, pass the Three Lions pub on the left and then turn left into Wey Court immediately after the Leathern Bottle pub.
Parking: Please note that the club car park is for players and officials only. Spectators are asked to use the pay & display public car park next door to the ground.
Entrance:
Adults: £8.00
Concessions: £4.00
Juniors U16: £1.00
Other Stuff:
Programme: £1.50
Burger: £2.50
Chips: £1.20
Tea: £1.00
Jez Izod
