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Mick Robbins
The Club and the Football Section are saddened to report that Mick passed away last Thursday following a long illness.

In his playing days Mick (The Reverend) captained several of the Club sides as he dropped down the sides. Always willing to help, always a smile and a parting shot of "See you when you're older". He will be sadly missed, but it was a pleasure to have known him.

Our thoughts are with his daughters, Janet and Sue and their families at this sad time.

The funeral will take place at Enfield Crematorium, Gt. Cambridge Road, Enfield on Friday 4th June at 11 am and afterwards at Winchmore Hill C.C.

Welcome to the football pages of Winchmore Hill's website. 

Winchmore Hill Football Club is affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance and play in the Southern Amateur League. For season 2007/08 the Club will field ten Saturday teams, two Veterans sides playing 'friendly' matches on Sundays, as well as a flourishing youth section with nine teams.

For more information click on the links on the left hand side of this page.

If you are interested in joining the football section, call the main club number in the first instance: 020 8360 1271 or email us at whcc@lineone.net

Review of Season 2009-2010
It’s often said that cups are for the fans and leagues are for the players.  So at the end of another season the 1’s fans are happy and the players are left with a sense of what might have been.  Ultimately the odd goal and a single point were the dividing line between a good season and a legendary one.  

A strong start to the season saw us get to the cup interlude having played 8 games, won 5, drawn 1 and lost 2, a good start that laid down an early marker of our serious intentions in the league.  The next month saw us go out of the Middlesex Cup away on a true leveller of a pitch in West London but advance untroubled in the AFA Senior Cup.  Following the six week lay off due to the inclement weather our next AFA cup match took us to Birmingham to play Wake Green.  The pitch the longest and narrowest I’ve played and very icy in parts but a great 1-0 performance coupled with the oppo self-destructing with 15 minutes to go and having 3 men sent off saw us safely through.  The following weeks saw us struggle a bit dropping points at home in a 1-1 draw with Actonians (in truth it was a point nicked because we didn’t play well) and a loss at the hands of Nottsborough (the significance of which is only felt in hindsight!).  Shrugging off these disappointments the team turned in a fantastic performance to win a one-sided semi-final against Owens 1-0 and again make it through to the AFA Senior Cup Final to be played at the Paulin Ground (or not as the league’s committee decided).  The month leading up to the final saw us win and lose against Wickham and shade a very tight and dour game against Salesians one of our main challenges For the league. 

Our 3-0 AFA Cup final win over Nottborough, if this can ever be the case, was a slight anti-climax such was our dominance from the first whistle till the last.  And so to the run in, four games to play all away (technically two were at home but neither was played at the Paulin Ground).  A terrible, if unlucky, loss to Owens, meant the last 3 games all needed to be won.  A regulation win at Poly and a nervier win at Weirside set up nicely the final game against Broomfield.  Alas it wasn’t to be, whoever scores first in these games more often than not goes on to win.  Rather controversially we conceded a penalty and then a good second goal and despite scoring one in return ultimately it was all in vain.      

The notable games in a notable season were the 4-3 away win to Owens with all manner of nonsense going on; 3-3 away draw to Civil on a goose-muck covered pitch after being 2-0 down; 3-2 away win at Actonian after being 2-0 down with 30 minutes left (a game that also saw Andy Barrell play up top for the first time); and a 2-1 at home against  Wickham (the first win against them for a while and one made all the better for coming back from 1-0 down after 2 minutes).

Let’s turn to the players.  Our team over the years has been very much about units and this season was no different.  The back four saw Dan Putt (always been a right back) take the vacant right back slot and very quickly make it his own.  His reading and anticipation of the game improved dramatically during the season and there are high hopes for him within the Club.   On the opposite side Mattie Knights (please someone tell me why he hasn’t already got a bucket load of AFA caps) was his usual energetic, committed and excellent self.  His defending and attacking on the left side, and even the odd goal, are extremely important for the side and he is a first team captain in waiting (maybe for not much longer!!).  The centre backs for most the season comprised Peter ‘Gylo’ Gyles (within two seasons he has established himself amongst the very best centre halves in the league) and Joe Hackworthy (a long-time bridesmaid and finally the bride and deservedly so!).  Both were excellent in a side that unlike previous campaigns committed itself to a more open style of football which placed a greater emphasis on them. 

Into midfield and the permutations were many.  For the much of the season Chris ‘Davo’ Davison, was accompanied by Stuart Broad (who had his best season for the 1s by far).  At the business end of the season Stuart’s performances became increasingly significant not least when the team had to bear the loss of Davo.  Davo, despite missing 6 weeks of the season, was as he was last year the vital cog in the side.  His reading of the game, his ability to break up play and his lung capacity gave licence to those players around him to break forward.  The third member of the central midfield unit was on many occasions Martin (Branners) Brannigan.  It’s not his best or most natural position but reflecting his willingness to put the team’s needs above his own he did an admirable job and in some games he actually resembled a ball playing midfielder. The fourth member of the central midfield unit was Rod Beya, who began up front in his customary position but after coming back from injury settled into midfield.  His talent is never in doubt but this season it was combined with application and an appreciation of the team’s needs and as a result he had his best season to date.      

Out wide Abi Seymour was always a handful for the oppo and on occasions was truly brilliant.  He scored several vital and superb goals and only his self-confidence limits his ability to dominate and decide the outcome of matches.  Much is expected of him next season.  Our right side was manned by a combination of the recently graduated and the latest talent off the Redbridge conveyor belt – Surya Templar, Hugo Dejesus (best hair and name in the club), Ben Head, and Courtney Chin (not a bad name either).  All played their part and in many games were the leading performers.  Next year with more experience and know-how their contribution to the team will undoubtedly grow. 

Last but not least the ‘fat arsed’ goal machine Andy Barrell. He didn’t play up top until the seventh game and still scored 26 goals in the season.  Last year’s review stated that he was the best finisher in the club and throughout the season he more than confirmed this statement.  Right foot, left foot and with his head he scored all sorts of goals and single handed on many occasions he left the league’s best centre halves on their backsides as he swept the ball home.    

Other notable contributions during the season came from Paul Strouts, Danny Brennan (an AFA cup winner), Cooky (until his back went), Steve and later on in the season via our international exchange programme Hiro and Massa.  All came in and performed excellently in sometimes difficult games.           

Change is a constant in football and each team will have its own story to tell.  Ours is one of losing key individuals – Chris Davison, Peter Gyles, Joe Hackworthy, Martin Brannigan, Abi Seymour – at different points in the season.  It is a great reflection of the culture and character of the team, those that played and those that stepped in, that this was never once offered or accepted as an excuse.  

Once again I have to finish my team round-up by making special mention of Andy Russell, the gaffer.  His enthusiasm is infectious, his commitment is unwavering and his contribution to the 1s and the wider club is immeasurable.  Another stalwart and Hill legend once complained that “if you cut him open he doesn’t bleed purple” this is certainly not an accusation that can be laid at the gaffer’s door.  He deserves to win the league and it is in the gift of this squad to give it to him.

Finally, a reflection on club priorities.  I remain convinced that if we had been able to play one of our two last home games at the Paulin ground rather than somewhere else then the club would now be basking in the glory of being Double winners; SAL Division 1 champions and AFA Senior Cup Champions.  Sometimes in the pursuit of important goals not just for the football section but for the Club, the rules and regulations need to be applied flexibly and sensibly not rigidly and dogmatically.  Onwards and upwards.

Andrew Carter