The Hawks - Dare To Dream

Adebayo Akinfenwa. Nuff said

Josh: Thanks pal, you'd think that wouldn't you but it could happen, you never know..

Pauker: Agreed..

Whahat a season so far! Maybe I was wrong, when I predicted a mid-table place for Havant, maybe your going into promotion this Season already! That would be an amazing achievement!

Great managing pompey!

TaroMisaki: Cheers man, thanks for all your support. We'll just have to wait and see what happens though, promotion would be truly amazing, as you say!

Bradley Bubb Bubb Bubb, Bradley Bubb Bubb Bubb.

Chant from his Shots days!

Tallery: Bradley Bubb <3

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Havant and Waterlooville striker Bradley Bubb sat down with Sky Sports’ ‘The Fantasty Football Club’ to discuss and pick his favourite eleven players he has played with, in his career.

29 year old Bubb has forged a name for himself in the lower leagues as a clinical striker, even more so since joining The Hawks. At West Leigh Park he has established himself as an icon among supporters, helping them to two consecutive promotions, as well as the FA Trophy, and since has been appointed captain. In November he even managed to score his 100th goal for the club, in an F.A. Cup tie against Hartlepool United.

The former Grenadian international chose to go with a 4-4-2 formation, and here’s who made the cut...

Goalkeeper


Lawrence Vigouroux, a fantastic young goalkeeper, signed for Havant in the summer which makes this decision a lot trickier but I am going to have to go with Mikhael after being such an important player last season. He made some great saves, and really established himself as the division’s best goalkeeper, so it’s a shame he has now been forced into becoming our No.2 stopper.

Right Back


Another player who Havant have signed in the summer is Liam, and he’s made a big impact already, slotting into the right back position. He’s still only young, yet is physically strong and quick, an exceptionally hard worker and can get forwards as well as defend. From what I’ve already seen of him, he can become a key player for the club and maybe even move onto even bigger things.

Left Back


Anthony’s the perfect modern full back, at least, at a lower league level. I’ve known him for quite a while now, and have played with him at Aldershot and we have turned out for Grenada together. He’s a different player to Liam though, with a lot more pace up his sleeve and a great directness about him, explaining why he can play in a more advanced role as well. To be fair though he’s definitely one of the best left backs I’ve played with.

Central Defenders


Two young center halves make my lineup, but both formed an excellent partnership at the heart of the Havant and Waterlooville defence, and have been crucial since signing. At only 22, they can both read the game exceptionally well and are absolute rocks at the back as a pair. Daniel Pappoe is more no-nonsense of the two, while Strugnell is more comfortable on the ball, able to bring it up the pitch when needed. Their styles of play give a really good balance.

Right Midfielder


This one is a bit more surprising to be honest, Scott gets in on the merit that he has wondeful technique, and we get on really well off the field too. He’s someone else who I have played with for two different teams, Aldershot and Havant, when I saw him play for the first time though I was shocked he wasn’t playing higher up the league ladder. His free kick ability is fantastic and as I say, if he had a bit more consistency and put in a bit more effort on the pitch, then there is no doubt he would have played for a much bigger side.

Left Midfielder


Jermaine is a completely different winger to the man on the opposite side, in many respects has a similar style to left back Straker, with exception to the defensive work. He’s pacey, loves to run at players, and has that bit of flair to get fans off their seats. He could score every now and again, but was always creating.

Central Midfielders


Peter and Therry are two quality midfield players and it’s no surprise they have played at a higher level. Peter was such a creative player always laying on opportunities, and could beat players with ease, when playing in League 2. Therry is another who has fantastic ball control, great vision and can get from box to box, excellently. It’s shame Therry is ageing now, but Havant wouldn’t have had a chance of signing him if he was younger, I suppose!

Strikers


Obviously Bayo is my current strike partner, and Danny is someone who I played with at Aldershot, and was there best player at the time. I don’t really need to say much about Bayo if I am honest, he’s a great lad and more importantly scores goals for fun. For his size, his touch is great and he really surprises people with the amount of goals he does score. We have developed a great link, and his clever knock downs are really beneficial for me. Meanwhile, Danny is a lot quicker and can really hurt teams when getting in behind the defence. Akinfenwa is probably the best player I have ever played with though, he’s an absolute machine.

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Last Update: Season Three: October and November
Next Update: Bradbury turns down three offers

Akinfenwa is love, Akinfenwa is life.

Justice: Ermahgerd a Justice comment... seriously though, I agree with you. Akinfenwa is love, Akinfenwa is life.

How on earth.... you are stealing Aldershot players.... its Havant and Waterlooville and former Aldershot FC.

Tallery: lol, what? Currently we have 3 former Aldershot players in our squad; Bradley Bubb, Joe Oastler and Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

2015-01-15 19:03#206189 pompeyblue : Tallery: lol, what? Currently we have 3 former Aldershot players in our squad; Bradley Bubb, Joe Oastler and Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

Think I read it wrong :P, careless

and congrats on 400!

Tallery: Never mind, *sigh*, we all make mistakes. Admittedly some more than others... oh and thanks

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Walsall, MK Dons and Chesterfield have all offered their vacant managerial role to Havant and Waterlooville boss Lee Bradbury, but have been rebuffed in their efforts to take him away from West Leigh Park, by the man himself.

The Hawks boss has worked wonders at the club since taking over, especially making great progress in the past three seasons, so it’s no surprise to see other teams approaching him.

Walsall, currently struggling in League One, are in the search of a new manager after sacking Mark Venus. Chesterfield are middle of the pack in League Two, but decided to remove Richard Money from his position, thus opening up a job. While MK Dons, title favorites at the start of the seaon, are in real trouble and their miserable form cost Gianfranco Zola his job. The Dons currently find themselves 21st in the 4th division table, but are in serious danger of dropping into the relegation zone.They had all lined up Bradbury as their replacement, but a move wasn’t to be, in the end.

Having been sacked from his first management role at Bournemouth earlier on in the year, he has been in charge of Havant since October of the 2012/13 campaign. That season ended in a 10th place finish in the Conference South, with this being built on for a play-off charge, the following season. That they did, but were unfortunately unsuccessful, narrowly missing out in 6th.

From then onwards, things really kicked into life for Bradbury’s team. New signings really pushed Havant up a notch, Bradley Bubb particularly proving to be a masterclass of an addition. The eventual ‘Player of the Season’ scored an incredible 46 goals as Havant romped to the league title –entering the Conference Premier for the first time in the club’s history.

Once again, the former Portsmouth and Manchester City player, masterminded more success for The Hawks. Arrivals such as Adebayo Akinfenwa on a free transfer boosted the quality within the squad, and helped them to a memorable FA Trophy Final success, as well as promotion via the play-offs.

A further squad overhaul has aided them in adjusting to life in the Football League, at a quick pace, already among the promotion challengers. 19 games in and they’re currently placed in 6th position, inside the play-off spots, and suddenly another promotion is looking a lot more of a realistic proposition.

With this in mind, Bradbury had no hesitation in rejecting offers from elsewhere, citing ‘unfinished business at Havant’ as one of his main reasons for not departing. The manager is by far the biggest asset at the club, or the most important, so the supporters can breathe a big sigh of relief from the news that the popular figure is staying.

But with more success, the caliber of club interested is only going to increase and so it will surely be soon when a Championship club decides to take the risk on him. That’s not to worry about for now though.

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Last Update: #One2Eleven: Bradley Bubb
Next Update: Season Three: December and January

Would you leave for a Champ club?