Hoddesdon Town V Kentish Town FAO Rhodes

[Jonno]

Well Rhodes, today is the day. Kentish are coming back to Lowfield for the return fixture and I am sure there will be many talking points this time tomorrow...

 

...HOWEVER....

 

Before all that, I have just had news of something rather peculiar and I wondered whether you could shed any light on it for me.

 

Rumour has it that you recently made contact with Jane with regards to todays fixture. As the story goes, you have an "African dignitary" (I kid you not folks) who will be attending the game at Lowfield. This fella is the sponsor of your new football academy and because of his kindness and generosity, you have asked if you can put down a red carpet from the main gate at Lowfield all the way down to the clubhouse for his arrival.

 

Anyway, with this in mind, my question is simply this....

 

"Are you havin a laugh!!??"

 

Mad as a box of frogs my old son but I gotta hand it to you, that's the best request we've ever had from a visiting team!!

 

On a seperate note, unfortunately I will miss most of the game as I am due at work about half 3. I'll be there before kick off though hopefully to recieve King Solomon and his entourage.

 

Oh and by the way, I know for a fact that we are out of draught lager and the brewery haven't delivered anything. Plenty of Bud in the fridge for ya though mate!

 

See ya in a few hours!

 

Jonno

 

P.S Do I have to bow or curtsy to this guy when he arrives? Is he like Royalty or something?

[HTFCew]

It's not April 1st yet is it?

[onekeown]

Hoddesdon don't own a carpet, so no chance...... The pitch is mainly red so maybe that will do

[Rhodes]

Folks - Just leaving home so no time to post at length I'm afraid but see you all at Lowfield, don't be shy to come over and introduce yourselves will you, I should be on the turnstile collecting your dosh and handing out programmes, it's a weighty tome today of some 84 pages.

[Horace]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Folks - Just leaving home so no time to post at length I'm afraid but see you all at Lowfield, don't be shy to come over and introduce yourselves will you, I should be on the turnstile collecting your dosh and handing out programmes, it's a weighty tome today of some 84 pages.

Leaving it a bit late aren't you Rhodes? Another Whitewebbs?

[Rhodes]

Horace - I got picked up from home at 1.00 and then it was just up the A10, we were there at 1.45 as Hoddesdon told me they weren't opening up the ground till 1.30. We were given the run of Lowfield lock stock and barrel and Roger told us to treat it like home, Hoddesdon did us proud and we took far more money on the gate than we would have had the game been played at Hendon or elsewhere. As for the game we were unfortunate to lose, a draw would have been a fairer result as we had a scratch side due to injuries and unavailability and weren't at our 'total football' best.

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

We were given the run of Lowfield lock stock and barrel and Roger told us to treat it like home

clip Rods, you're a bit early with this post. April Fools Day doesn't start until midnight!

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

As for the game we were unfortunate to lose, a draw would have been a fairer result as we had a scratch side due to injuries and unavailability and weren't at our 'total football' best.

clip Rods, you can use all the excuses you like but everyone knows that all that's happened at Kentish Town is that your form and results have returned to the expected norm over the last few months following an exceptionally freaky start to the season. In fact, some of the more astute amongst us predicted such a "loss" of form when the heavy pitches came into play.

[Rhodes]

Well firstly Roger was the perfect host today and a real gentleman, I can't understand why some Club's think he comes across as a little unfriendly. You can ask Mr Martin how we played today as he was there and his son scored the late winner so he was like a dog with two tails, I thought about giving him a programme to give you but why should I bother if you aren't going to appreciate the good will gesture and hand of friendship.

[Rhodes]

Seeing how there is now a thread for today's game, curtesy of Jonno, I thought I would post our programme notes here for all to see as our own Forum is still down for maintenance against the perverts who seem to delight in frequenting it:

 

SATURDAY 31st MARCH 2007 3.00pm Issue 15 of 2006/2007

 

KENTISH TOWN v HODDESDON TOWN

(Molten Spartan South Midlands League Division 1)

Today, it is our great pleasure to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Hoddesdon Town Football Club to our temporary home for the afternoon, namely their very own Lowfield which has incredibly been their ‘place of worship’ since 1899. The same sentiments are, of course, extended to Match Referee Mr Chris Scott from Letchworth and his two Assistants, Mr Richard Dorrington also from the delights of Letchworth and Mr Frank Grosso from Rickmansworth, whatever the outcome of the contest we hope that they enjoy their brief stay in Hoddesdon and have a safe journey home. Our players will have, as always, been instructed to respect Mr Scott’s decisions at all times and make his job as easy as possible, any not doing so will be harshly dealt with by the Club.

By coincidence Mr Scott was also in charge of the proceedings when the two sides met at Lowfield on 23 December for what was Hoddesdon’s home fixture and he handled the game in immaculate fashion although we would say that as we ran out 3-0 victors on the day in what was our most impressive display of the season so far. We must also give a special mention to Frank Grosso who we believe has been officiating now for some thirty years and this dedication to the beautiful game that we all love is something to be greatly admired.

This afternoon’s eagerly awaited Division 1 clash was switched from our own temporary home of Claremont Road due to the famous old ground being once again unavailable to us, sadly the groundshare arrangement we have with Hendon Football Club, which has always been somewhat of a hit and miss affair this season anyway, now appears to be dead in the water despite us still having two home fixtures remaining after today against Ampthill Town and Stony Stratford Town. We are therefore extremely indebted to Hoddesdon Town for hosting us this afternoon, as well as to the Spartan South Midlands League for sanctioning both the switch of date and the venue. Our kind hosts are a Club who should not find themselves in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 and it will hopefully not be too long before they are back amongst the Premier Division elite where they belong following relegation at the end of the 2004/2005 season.

As well as having facilities to be proud of they are also a Club who do everything right and by the book and have a dedicated backroom staff and Committee who will stop at nothing to progress their Club and take it to the promised land. Kentish Town can only aspire to this particularly without a place to call home at the present time however on 23 December we were fortunate enough to come here in a rich vein of form and triumphed 3-0 leaving the Lowfield faithful open mouthed and shaking their heads in disbelief particularly when Lee Scott opened the scoring very much against the run of play on the half hour mark with a truly clinical trademark finish of Marco van Basten proportions.

On Wednesday evening Town travelled to Bedford Valerio United for a Division 1 fixture very much under strength and arriving at McMullen Park just half an hour before kick off, a draw was the best we could hope for against a big strapping Bedford side who had just held high flying Brimsdown Rovers to a draw however against all our expectations we triumphed 5-2 in what was an outstanding display.

Last Saturday we were all left twiddling our thumbs due to having no fixture however this actually played into our hands as we were able to settle down in front of our television screens at 6.30 to watch our very own Clement Temile’s son Toto run out in Israel colours against England in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Tel Aviv. Clement must have been as proud as a peacock watching his son in action against the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry however he didn’t bat an eyelid and that sums up Clement who is modest, unassuming and 110% dedicated to football. Prior to the encounter in Tel Aviv the World’s press were hounding him virtually twenty four hours a day yet he took it all in his stride, The Times and Daily Mirror were two Nationals he was featured in with the Mirror carrying a centre page spread on the day of the game with Kentish Town prominent, these articles can be viewed inside today’s programme as well as a feature on Clement and the Club in cult football magazine When Saturday Comes (WSC).

It all seems to be happening for Kentish Town at present both on and off the field of play and long may it continue however we are a little disappointed that our league position has suffered of late through circumstances beyond our control, even if we win our remaining five fixtures we will still be reliant on other teams such as Stony Stratford Town, Cockfosters and Brimsdown Rovers falling by the wayside.

Lastly we would just like to welcome special guest Mr Bunmi Omotade to Lowfield this afternoon, Bunmi will be working with us on our innovative Academy project next season which everyone at the Club is looking forward to immensely.

Enjoy today’s game and may the best team win.

 

 

[Football Man]

clip Rods, what is the point?

[Jonno]

I have always said that it is just as important to be gracious in victory as it is to be gracious in defeat.

 

Having said that.....

 

2-1 TO THE LILLYWHITES! 2-1 TO THE LILLYWHITES!

 

Ahem...

 

Anyway, nice meeting you today Rhodes. Shame I couldn't hang around. Enjoyed your programme. I hear the game was a tight affair.

 

I'm glad you felt at home today and had a good gate. You can buy me that beer next season! (thats if we haven't run out again!!!!)

 

Jonno

[Rhodes]

Jonno - Yes likewise, it's a shame you couldn't hang around but it wasn't the best of games, unlike the game in December when we gave you that exhibition in 'total football'. I'm glad you liked our programme, let me know when you finish reading it, here are our Chairman's notes just for the record:

 

GREGG HAZELGROVE - YOUR CHAIRMAN

 

I start my programme notes this afternoon by congratulating the team on a marvellous performance at Bedford Valerio United on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately I was not able to be present but I understand from my reliable sources that it was one of our best displays of the campaign with a weak side due to injuries and unavailability. To go to a place like McMullen Park and come away with all three points is not something to be sniffed at but to travel back down the A1 with a 5-2 victory under our belts is remarkable and I had to ask Manager Frank Zanre to repeat the score when I eventually got speak to him with my finger nails bitten down to the quick.

Secondly I must also congratulate our Head Coach Clement Temile on his son’s brilliant display for Israel against England in Tel Aviv last Saturday and for also bringing such huge recognition to our Club. We were all of the Daily Mirror like a rash and talked favourably about in The Times earlier that week, in addition we have been covered in the cult When Saturday Comes (WSC) magazine for April and were also mentioned by Martin Tyler on Sky Sports in his live commentary of the Israel v England encounter. Clement must have been like a dog with two tails watching events unfold in Tel Aviv, his son was by far and away man of the match in my book running the England defence ragged and almost scoring on a number of occasions. I have young sons myself and cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like for one or both of them to play at the very highest level of the World game however Kentish Town’s Head Coach can boast that in no uncertain terms and it reflects on our Club that we can attract somebody of that calibre.

I would just like to end my brief notes today by thanking our opponents Hoddesdon Town Football Club for allowing us to use their wonderful Lowfield facilities for the afternoon and for helping us in our hour of need. Our ill fated groundshare with Hendon Football Club has been well documented and for Club’s such as Hoddesdon to take pity on us sums up the camaraderie of the Spartan South Midlands League.

I very much hope that you enjoy this afternoon’s encounter.

 

 

 

[Jonno]

Exhibition of total football? Quit living on past glories!

 

There's an old saying Rhodes, that says you are only as good as your last game.

 

[Horace]

No wonder your chairman doesn't show his face at your games when you attribute crap like that to him in your 84 page programme! I see that your claims about Toto's performance against England have grown and grown , from "Should have scored the winner" .. through "Had two or three chances to score" to now claiming "almost scoring on a number of occasions" ! They way you are going, history books wil have to be written to show that he DID score the winner . . and then that he actually got a hat-trick!.. and then that it was a "perfect" hat-trick, a la Peter Crouch yesterday (and Hertford's Ryan Redford earlier this season).

[PB!]

Jonno did the big wig turn up??? Or did he refuse to enter as there was no red carpet laid out for him??

 

What a kent!!!!!

[Jonno]

I didnt see anybody turn up but I had to leave at 5 past 3 cos I had to go to work! But Rhodes hasnt shed any light on the situation either! And there certainly wasnt a red carpet laid out by the time we kicked off!

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Horace

No wonder your chairman doesn't show his face at your games when you attribute crap like that to him in your 84 page programme!

Lato - I made our Chairman's programme notes spot on yesterday, Toto was man of the match against England, it was a frightening performance for one so young. Okay he still has one or two rough edges but those will soon be sand papered down when he is at Stamford Bridge, Ashburton Grove or White Hart Lane next season.

[Lato]

wasn't me that said that clip rods..lkook at the quote you lifted. Any chance of an apology!!

[SteveR]

I doubt it.