The Hawks - Dare To Dream

MichaelBBack: Cheers man, nice to hear such comments! As I have said before though, I will be looking to continue this story for as long as possible, so don't worry

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The grueling fixture list threw up another difficult month for Havant in January with plenty of games ahead, in the space of the month. Another local derby would kick off the new year, but we would be looking more of the same, looking to repeat similar sort of form that took the Hawks all the way to the top of the league.



With 27 games now played in the Vanarama Conference South, we are clearly in the driving seat for the league title as we now hold a 10 point advantage over 2nd place side Maidenhead. Another positive is of course our superior goal difference having so far scored an incredible 83 goals, and surely plenty more to come.


JJ Hooper wins the ‘Player of the Month’ award for January, despite more Bradley Bubb master class. Bubb could have easily won all of the POTM awards this season, but instead I chose to acknowledge other player’s and this month it was Hooper’s performances which stood out. The young striker hit 8 goals in the 5 games he appeared in, giving me more problems over who should regularly line up alongside Bubb, in attack. Hooper’s pace and power was too much to handle, but he showed great composure too and finished his goals very well.


Wins, wins everywhere, in what was a great set of results for the Hawks. An unbeaten league run was a great sight, and we held our own against good opposition in Barnet, taking them to a replay before slightly unluckily going down 5-3. Our goal scoring prowess continued though, as again we hammered in goals for fun, the away victory against Hayes & Yeading in particular showing this. It must have been a cracking game for the supporters, but that has been a feature of our season – entertainment, with the results coming too.


• Prince William is reportedly interested in stepping into football management, but may have been put off by The Queen after she labelled him ‘clueless.’
• Also relating to Her Majesty, she is being kept in intense security after threats were made for her life by the Bolivian woman Pauker and sidekick Justice.
• Josh Slater has been put in charge of the team tasked with defending The Queen, after his successful work in shooting Sepp Blatter.

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Last Update: Season One: December
Next Update: The Insider - The Hawks

Just too easy, promotion is on the way! You should be in the Football League in no time

Still a lot of goals in your games Josh, but you're normally outscoring your opposition which is the positive

Feliks: That would be great, thanks!

Walter: Yeah, goal scoring wise we have been great, unfortunately I can't say the same about us keeping the ball out of our own goal. Cheers for the comment

ten points clear and absolutely amazing work in the league that is the way to do it!

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In the latest of our exclusive features on England’s non-league clubs, BBC Sport finds out what life is like at, currently table topping Vanarama Conference South side, Havant and Waterlooville F.C.



Havant and Waterlooville Football Club, nicknamed ‘The Hawks', were only formed in 1998. Havant Town and Waterloovillle merged to form the new club, which would play their home games at West Leigh Park, where they still play to this day. The stadium located in West Leigh, Havant holds 5,250 people, of which 526 are seated.

The club’s claim to fame, so to say, is their famous F.A. Cup run in 2008 which took them all the way to the 4th round and Anfield. They took on giants Liverpool, and twice lead too, with Richard Pacquette and Alfie Potter scoring, before the hosts eventually took control and won the game 5-2.

Havant have never played at a higher level than the Vanarama Conference South, which they currently find themselves in, but have had an excellent season to date and look on course to break this record. At the helm is Lee Bradbury, manager since 2012, with the ex-Portsmouth striker doing a splendid job in leading the team so far this campaign.




With ‘Clem’ of The Football League Show down to investigate, he first spoke to the chairman Derek Pope on the trials and tribulations of keeping in shape a club, of such low level.

Mark Clemmit: ”Nobody really seems to notice the work that goes on behind the scenes at non-league football teams, it can be quite a challenge can’t it?”

Derek Pope: ”Yeah it’s an enormously difficult task, but running this football club is something I love doing. With the league we are in, we really don’t get any help from the people above us, so it’s the fans that make everything possible. Getting them through the turnstiles is the main priority, as it’s the main income of cash, but if we are doing as well on the pitch as we are at the moment, it makes life a lot easier!”

Mark Clemmit: ”Has there ever been moments when you’ve been panicking, thinking you won’t have enough money, in a certain month?”

Derek Pope: ”Look, we always try to work within our means, and always keep to a strict budget but as I say being at this level makes things a struggle, at times. I’m just pleased we have a team to watch every Saturday, something local people can enjoy doing, and there is a great community feel here. This is what football is all about, making the community feel happy.”




‘Clem’ was now off to take part in a training session with the squad, talking to player Ben Swallow, even after he had embarrassed himself with his apparent football skills.

Mark Clemmit: ”I enjoyed that, but what are regular training sessions like at Havant? This isn’t your full time job, so for some of these players is it tough to get an understanding of what the manager tells them?”

Ben Swallow: “Yeah, virtually all of the other players have other jobs, but there is a great bond among all the lads so cohesion and chemistry isn’t a problem. Everyone works hard, puts in a shift and I certainly get a lot of enjoyment out of it too. We train twice a week, but I think that we can all still learn a lot and have enough time to know what we need to do on a match day.”

Mark Clemmit: ”Based on that, think I have any chance of making it into the game, with a late chance?

Ben Swallow: ”Haha, I don’t think so, mate.”




Now it was off to the match, with ‘Clem’ witnessing the Hawks pick up three points in a routine 4-0 win at home to St. Albans, sharing his thoughts with assistant manager Michael Owen following the full time whistle.

Mark Clemmit: ”Well, a great victory for the team today, but what happened earlier on in the day Michael before all of that was made possible?”

Michael Owen: ”The lads arrive at the ground ready for action about 2:00PM or so, and we go over a couple of things with them in the dressing room beforehand, words on the opponent and such. Then they take to the pitch, go through some basic drills and warmups before going back for a final few words. From there, we can do no more, and it’s down to the players to deliver a win.”

Mark Clemmit: ”There was a great feeling, and buzz around West Leigh Park today, what do you make of the match atmosphere in non-league football?”

Michael Owen: ”It’s a bit different from playing at the Bernabeu, haha! On a serious note, it’s got a great family and community attitude to it which is fantastic. The people that turn out make a great effort to keep this club running, and that applies to all non-league teams, without them it would be nothing. If we can put a smile on their faces with the football, everyone goes home delighted, that’s the players, staff and the board, as we’ve done our job right.”




Finally ‘Clem’ sat down with the boss Lee Bradbury, to talk about the current campaign and the direction of the club.

Mark Clemmit: ”Lee, it’s been going brilliant this season hasn’t it?

Lee Bradbury: ”I can’t argue with that, it has been going brilliant! The players have been truly magnificent, doing everything I have asked of them, putting in 100% week in, week out and showing some real quality as well. We were unlucky to miss out on the play-offs last season, but the players that have come in during the summer have really made a difference, settled into the squad, and things have been going perfectly to plan since then.”

Mark Clemmit: ”You look certain to go up, already, can you see the club going further?”

Lee Bradbury: ”The season is not yet finished and we need to make sure the player’s don’t get complacent, but I would expect us to go up now, yes. Looking into the future, we really do want to make the step up into league football and I don’t think it’s something out of our reach. I’ve said it, the players have shown such quality in their performances this season, and they have a lot of ability so I have every bit of confidence that they will do well in a higher division.”

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Last Update: Season One: January
Next Update: Season One: February

Really nice update. Very Football League Show-esque

No1VillaFan: Thanks Jason!

P-KIDDY: Cheers man, thought it was something a bit different

A great update, very enjoyable to read!

Great update once again Joshie! This story is amazing!

Justice: That's the aim!

Josh: Thanks a lot man

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There were no new arrivals at the club in the January transfer window, as I decided to stick faith in the current squad at my disposal, who have served so well in the season so far. With a big upper hand in the race for promotion, it would be down to these players to see out the job, and make sure there are no slip ups whatsoever.




The job is so nearly complete. 5 more games out of the way, and now the lead at the top of the league is even more commanding for Havant. 21 points separate us and second place Maidenhead, who we comfortably beat 2-0 in this month.


Rashid Yussuf is February’s winner of the ‘Player of the Month’ award even though Bradley Bubb was once again in fine form over the month. Central midfielder Yussuff bossed the middle of the park in recent games, showing some real quality with his passing skills and quick feet when dribbling. The headlines will say that he scored a sublime 30 yard goal, but he also been involved in some great passing play which the team has stridden to achieve.


One word to sum up the month – unstoppable. Our unbeaten streak, going all the way back to the 5-1 victory over Gosport on Boxing Day, continued and we showed our ability again. Certainly, we already have the quality to play in the Conference Premier, and teams in this league just can’t seem to handle us at the moment. The fans are loving every bit of this run we are having, and too right, these are the moments to savor for this club having never reached the dizzy heights of the 5th tier of English football yet in their history. Onwards and upwards now, there’s not long to go, before we are surely crowned champions.


• Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho came head to head again as their two teams faced off, with a horrific fight occurring which extended to the two sets of players joining in and being dragged off by armed police.
• The Bolivian woman Pauker and sidekick Justice are attempting to sneak into the country, with the inside source lwalter66 keeping us up to date.
• It has now been reported that lwalter66’s cover has been blown but it still remains unknown as to how this has happened.

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Last Update: The Insider - The Hawks
Next Update: Season One: March and April

Great month once more, I loved the detailed Football League show piece as well

I'm sure Arsene Wenger won that fight too Absolute goal fest v Eastbourne Boro. Seems to be quite a regular occurrence in FM15. Title getting closer, keep it up