The End, But Oh The Memories

In 1994 a young (and probably spotty) Jon Tivey was dropped at the bottom of The Angel, Notley Road car park by his Dad and was probably told, "Remember son, give 'em hell - no blood, no foul."

Jon (if he was indeed told those words) certainly took them on board and from that day on he gave the opponents he found in the Braintree & North Essex Sunday League hell. In 1994 he was meeting his Notley High School peers, who with some other unlikely individuals had formed Sporting Angels FC (shortened to Spangels by the local press in error). Some of the people likely to have greeted him in the car park that day were Dan Wilson, Chris Lynch, Matt Theobald, Craig Ramsay and Paul Whiteman.

Twelve years later an older, hairier and definitely rounder Jon Tivey limped to the side of the pitch at King George V playing fields, Braintree and took the linesman's flag for the start of the game. He was greeted by, amongst others, Dan Wilson, Chris Lynch, Matt Theobald, Craig Ramsay and Paul Whiteman. The limp was caused by a usually full-blooded tackle the previous week, which still failed to stop him appearing as a sub' for Spangels.

Unfortunately this was to be JT's last game for Spangels, as it was to be Spangels last game. How fitting then that it should be shared by so many others who were there at the beginning.

And what a legacy. Under various guises (Sporting Angels, Angel Casuals Reserves, Angel Casuals, Casuals, Casuals Reserves & Spangels) these lads had won several accolades...

However it wasn't the glory that kept them together. The companionship, regularity, even predictability of these Sunday morning jaunts were what ensured a long-term team relationship. Unfortunately, the cracks were appearing as Spangels entered season 2006/2007 but, rather than dwell on the fact that Spangels as a football team are no more, we should celebrate that which has past and I encourage thoughts to be posted here. A list of players over the years who have stood shoulder to shoulder with JT and the others may jog a few memories. This might not be a complete list, so again post any I have missed.

Tony Aitken (yes, he played once!)
Gareth Babet
Carl Bernard
Craig Bernard
Nick Bird
David Breen
Scott Brothwell
Phil Cade
Eamonn Carey
Alex Cassar
Lee Collis
Danny Corr
Alex Crow
Wayne Dowsett
Wayne Duncan
Wayne Dyson
Nick Hagan
Jason Hart
James Hayward
Simon Hewitt
Matthew Ings
John Irons
Simon Jefferson
David Kemp
Dean Lindsell
Gary Livermore
Terry Livermore
Daniel Lowe
Chris Lynch
Tom Marshall
Stephen Martin
Dale May
Jon May
Mark Morris
Bjorn Parker
Martyn Parrett
Ian Pritchard
Chris Putt
Craig Ramsay
Matt Reynolds
Neil Rivett
Daniel Sayer
Duncan Seymour
Dave Smith
Jasen Smith
Jack Stuckey
Mark Taylor
Darren Theobald
Matthew Theobald
Jon Tivey
James Todd
David Underdown
Rob Waldock
Stuart Waldock
Andy Weeks
Paul Weeks
Justin Wells
Paul Whiteman
Daniel Williams
Leighton Williams
Daniel Wilson
Richard Winsborough
Tim Woulfe

I would like to post some older photos here, so if you have any to share please let me know.

Crayzy

Spangels 0 Vipers 9

11-10-9-10-9. Not a secret code, nor a telephone number, but the number of players Spangels managed to keep on the pitch during todays farcical fixture.

Having won well the previous Sunday, confidence should have been high going into the match against league new-comers Vipers, another young side. However, the match started poorly for the home side, with a goal conceeded inside five minutes. The rest of the first twenty minutes was quite even, with Wilson missing two good chances and Whiteman hitting a post.

Things started to go wrong midway through the half, with Whiteman falling awkwardly and injuring a rib, meaning he had to depart. Vipers took advantage of Spangels lower numbers and surged to a 4-0 half-time lead.

At half-time 'keeper Kemp also threw in the towel with Ramsay taking up the gloves, although Tivey was able to join the fray and therefore keep Spangels at ten men. But, just ten minutes into the second half midfielder Lowe dislocated his shoulder and had to depart too.

Vipers piled on the agony, which was only stalled by a on-pitch brawl involving several players.

Team : Kemp (Tivey), Lynch, Ramsay, Pritchard, Theobald (C), Lowe, Winsborough, Underdown, Wilson, Whiteman, Weeks.

Spangels MOM : Paul Weeks

All In The Cause...

Some Spangels players regret their Sunday morning excursion a few days afterwards, but not midfield tough-man Jon Tivey. Despite waking up with this nice little grass burn on Monday morning and with it still weeping on Thursday, he was still keen to be available for selection for the Vipers match. Now that's commitment (or stupidity)...

Can Spangels Tame The Vipers?

That's the question on the lips of all Spangels-folk this Sunday, as the season gathers pace and having picked up their first points last week, Spangels will be keen to drive this momentum forward to their first home game.

The Spangels squad should start to look healthier too, with Ramsay, Wilson, Hagan and Sayer likely to return alongside all eleven involved in the 4-2 triumph over Tolleshunt Knights Eagles. Veteran Smith may still be struggling with knee trouble.

Vipers are another young new side for Spangels to deal with and they drew their first game one-a-piece with last weeks opponents (TK Eagles). But the home side will still need to be at their best in this confrontation, which is expected to be played in showery conditions.

Tolleshunt Knights Eagles 2 Spangels 4

It didn't look good for the eleven man Spangels team that arrived at Tolleshunt Knights Eagles home pitch. Admittedly their late arrival due to "direction problems" was not an issue as the Eagles had failed to arrange a referee for the fixture and were frantically scrambling around for a replacement. This set kick-off back to almost 11.30am. What was a concern to the 30-something Spangels' players was the obvious youth of their opposition. However, as it turned out it was the less fit, slower and in most cases fatter team had it where it counted. Between their ears.

The game got off to a reasonable start for the away side, with Eagles resorting to playing the ball in behind the Spangels defence. They created little and indeed it was Spangels that looked the more likely to score as the half wore on. Whiteman and Weeks on another occasion would have buried two one-on-ones in the first twenty minutes. A Weeks effort crashed off the cross-bar on the half-hour mark and Whiteman hit a post from distance some 30 seconds later.

Pritchard had a close range left-footed effort well saved and it looked as though the sides would go in level, but following an excellent Weeks ball into the box an Eagles defender raised his hand to the ball to prevent Whiteman burying what would have been an easy header. A penalty was duly awarded and Whiteman smashed it into the roof of the net. The half-time whistle sounded immediately and the one goal lead was no more than Spangels deserved.

The second half saw a less composed performance from Spangels, but they still moved into a comfortable lead. 15 minutes in, Weeks latched on to a Whiteman through ball and neatly tucked his effort past the home 'keeper. Whiteman added a third and his second with a well taken effort. And Weeks completed the away sides scoring with 15 minutes left after an excellent passing move involving six Spangels players, with Lowe slotting him in. Pritchard, Carey and Tivey also could have notched during the second half.

Eagles managed two consolation efforts in the final five minutes, with identical moves down Spangels left seeing Kemp beaten via the far corner, although he had had little to do in this match.

A good win then, which was bore out of an excellent team ethic.

Team : Kemp, Lynch, Winsborough, Pritchard, Theobald (C), Lowe, Tivey, Underdown, Whiteman (2), Weeks (2), Carey.

Spangels MOM : Daniel Lowe

Long Drive For Spangels

Spangels second game of the season sees a long (for Sunday mornings anyway!) drive out to Tolleshunt Knights to play the Eagles in BNESL Division Three.

The away side should see Tivey, Winsborough & Weeks return to the squad, although Wilson & Ramsay are away and goalscorer Smith has failed to recover from a muscle strain. It will be important for Spangels to put on a better display than against AFC Foxco and Pritchard will be looking to restore a more familiar look to the side.

Kemp, after last weeks excellent display, will continue in goal, with Tivey likely to start in the midfield with Lowe. Winsborough could also come straight into the starting line-up. Weeks is also a likely member of the 11, hopefully partnering Whiteman up front.

AFC Foxco 6 Spangels 1

BNESL Division Three

It was not the start to the season Spangels hoped for today as they were easily overcome by a gleeful AFC Foxco, although it has to be said that several key players were absent.

Indeed, at kick-off Spangels had barely ten players on the pitch, with Wilson still pulling on his boots as captain Theobald tossed-up (!) in the middle. Whiteman did make it into the pitch after ten minutes, by which time Spangels were already on the back foot. Pritchard conceeded a penalty after only ten minutes, which was duly dispatched and Foxco created many other opportunities to extend their lead. They managed this after 20 minutes, when following a Spangels move breaking down on the half-way line, several Foxco players surged forward to move themselves 2-0 up.

Half-time saw the introduction of Sayer, following his late arrival, for an injured Lynch. This failed to stem the tide and Foxco continued to move forward and it was only the heroics of Kemp which kept the score respectable. However, he couldn't do this on his own and a further two goals were shipped.

A Lowe free-kick on the half-way line gave veteran Smith the opportunity to move forward and the excellent ball which floated in to the box saw him side-foot this home, giving Spangels something to work from.

But with Smith eventually succumbing to cramp and with several others carrying knocks it was inevitable Foxco would add to their tally.

Team : Kemp, Lynch (Sayer), Wilson, Theobald (C), Smith (1), Lowe, Whiteman, Underdown, Hagan, Carey, Pritchard.

Spangels MOM : David Kemp

The Big Kick-Off!!

The BNESL returns to the pitches of North Essex on Sunday, with the start of the 2006/2007 season upon us.

Spangels venture into this new campaign as holders of the Division Three Cup and proud third place finishers. With a slightly revised squad, it will be interesting to see how they fair. Gone are Putt, Crow, Rivett, Todd and the Livermore brothers. But, in their place Weeks, Smith and Kemp are all welcome squad additions. Other additions are sure to follow to ensure healthy numbers.

And Spangels first game of the season will be against a side well know to them, with AFC Foxco providing the opposition. Pritchard is expected to make a few changes to last year's line-up, with Whiteman likely to start in a midfield position. Kemp should make his debut in goal and veteran Smith will feature.