December 2004

Our Essex Thameside Trophy second round match away to Eton Manor (to be played at Tilbury FC) has been confirmed for Wednesday January 26th.

Ebow Mensah missed the game at Waltham Forest due to his ankle injury.

Chairman Peter Webster has asked that his message from Saturday's programme be repeated here:-

I am very conscious that the Club has a potentially significant role to play in the local community and I am committed to developing closer working relationships with Barking & Dagenham Council, local schools and community groups as well as providing sporting opportunities for a wide range of age groups including those with disabilities and from ethnic minorities.

At the present time, the Club has a well established ladies football section with teams from the very young to adults. Men's football is currently centered around the first and reserve teams and our successful Under 18 team. With the kind help of our sponsors Property Facilities Group plc, we now have plans next  year to establish an Under 16 team as well as providing coaching and training for younger age groups with the ultimate intention of establishing teams at all levels.

Our efforts have been recognised by the Government's Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme for Sport and Physical Recreation by way of a Sportsmatch award of £4,000 which will ensure our programmes can be progressed to the required standard, without delay as well as fully involving the local community. As a result of this award, the local Member of Parliament, Margaret Hodge will be visiting the Club shortly to meet Dennis and myself in order to discuss our future plans including our role within the community.

Local schools are a key area for us to develop ongoing relationships and whilst this will certainly include sporting links, we have also made a financial commitment to support the Kidsafe project within a number of schools. The project provides support and advice for children in areas such as stranger danger, vandalism and crime prevention, racism, bullying, drugs and road safety. I will let you know more about this scheme as our involvement progresses.

Whilst we are primarily a football club, I do not overlook that our community contacts extend to our Members Club where children are welcome and the use of our halls for groups as diverse as karate (both for children and adults), aerobics, weight watchers, the pigeon and disabled anglers groups, big band practice and religious organisations. Details of membership of any of these groups can be provided on request.

We have a very long way to go to achieve my aim of making an important contribution to the community which has been so supportive of the Club of over the years but I believe we have made worthwhile progress in the six months since I became Chairman and I look forward to the challenges which lie ahead.

If you would like to discuss any aspects of our community programme or wish to become directly involved, please feel free to contact me at the Club, at any time.

Best wishes

Peter Webster 

John Morgan missed the Tilbury game due to illness from which he should have recovered in time to be available for selection for the post- Christmas games.

Ebow Mensah is still incapacitated by his ankle injury but hopes to be fit and available for selection for the post-Christmas games.

Assistant Manager Jay Devereux hobbled off with a painful leg injury after suffering a heavy tackle in the Tilbury game and we do not yet know how serious the injury is. Typically Jay, despite the pain, battled on long enough to score an excellent equaliser before accepting the inevitable.

Michael Gorman has completed his three match suspension.

Good news of Under 18 goalkeeper Mark Parker, who has had his plaster removed from his broken arm and will train this week

John O’Sullivan made his 175th appearance for us on Saturday and looked as fresh as on his pony tailed debut as a 19 year old during Manager Dennis Elliott’s previous tenure.

Other recent appearance landmarks were Billy Read’s 150th appearance (45 goals), Ashley Marsh’s 180th, Ben Willis’s 125th, Gary Waters’s 60th and Robin Ruston’s 50th.

The winners of tomorrow nights London Senior Cup third round tie versus Bromley will have to wait until at least January 11th for the identity of their fourth round (last sixteen) away opponents as that is the scheduled date for Thamesmead Town to play Waltham Abbey. The winners of that have an attractive home quarter final draw against Tooting & Mitcham United

Success against Concord Rangers Reserves in the Essex Premier Cup would give our Reserves an away quarter final at Takeley or White Ensign on February 12th. If we beat Chelmsford City Reserves in the Fred Budden Trophy we will have a seaside trip to look forward to in the semi final as Concord Rangers Reserves won the penalty competition 6-5 to eliminate East Thurrock United Reserves after a 1-1 draw.

Our Under 18s have an interesting Essex FA Pelly Cup fourth round (last sixteen) tie away to Campus Wanderers or Redbridge United, which is a different club from Redbridge FC, who are also still in the competition. 

Ashley Marsh and Jay Devereux are available again following their one game suspensions but Michael Gorman is still suspended for Saturday’s fixture against Tilbury.

Ebow Mensah sustained a badly swollen ankle at Boreham Wood but it is not yet known whether he will be fit for Saturday.

Mark Parker, our Under 18’s Goalkeeper who is suffering from a broken arm, will have his plaster removed next Thursday. Subsequent progress will depend on what the Doctor finds following this removal.