Sudbury Court FC: A Journey

Sudbury Court have today announced that non-league legend Wayne Shaw has joined the club on a non-contract basis to act as goalkeeping coach.

The former stopper brings with him a wealth of lower league experience and an impressive CV spanning over 30 years in the game, and will no doubt be a larger than life ambassador for the club in the local community. He joins Olly James' current coaching team of Ben Lewis and Shaun Allaway

The man once dubbed the Roly Poly Goalie has today announced he will be joining the coaching team at Sudbury Court, after his sudden resignation from Sutton United earlier this month.

The 45 year old former goalkeeper called time on his Sutton early last month after rumoured personal differences with long serving manager Paul Doswell stemming from an incident at Gander Green Lane earlier in the season. Although the veteran player has officially hung up his gloves, he has not fully ruled out the possibility of deputising for Rob Budd & Louis Bragg, should the situation arise.

The larger than life character has always been a big part of the game, with a 26 year career spanning clubs ranging from Bournemouth to Basingstoke and from Southampton to Sutton, where he remained a central figure at the club for 6 years spanning 3 tenures. He is well known for his enthusiasm and character; however is not short of controversy. Once, in a particularly bad-tempered Surrey Senior Cup tie at Kingstonian the keeper vaulted the hoardings and headbutted an abusive fan, earning himself a red card and a sacking from the club in the process.

Sudbury Court fans, however, will hope to look past this, and many see their man as a dedicated and vibrant member of the footballing community. He will join the coaching team for Sudbury Court’s initial pre-season game against DCK Maidenbower on Saturday July 9th and will no doubt be a huge presence in the Vale Farm ranks.

Who ate all the pies!? Who ate all the pies!? – it’s a chant synonymous with the non-athleticism of lower league football, but for some it’s become a way of life! Following his move to join Sudbury Court FC of the lower leagues, the non-league Daily caught up with the legend himself for an exclusive insight into the mind of a man who is (by his own admission) 100% football mad:
NL - So, Wayne, you join us here at the Sudbury Court Sports & Social Club. Is it fair to say that this is a bit of a step down for you?
WS - No not at all! The lower leagues are where all the best action is. Give me a pie, pint and a steel bar to lean on over a flatpack stadium any day of the week!

NL – Fair point well made! So it’s fair to say you’re a huge fan of the grassroots game?
WS – Oh yeah, one hundred and ten percent. Down here is where all the raw passion is. Forget all the Prem this, Europe that. Give me one better feeling than a pre-season jog with the lads through muddy fields and industrial estates!? You certainly wouldn’t get that at the Emirates!

NL – I hear what you’re saying mate. So of all the weird and wonderful clubs the South has to offer, why this one?
WS – Well I’d heard about what they were trying to achieve here with the grant and the community involvement when I was at Sutton, who themselves are a pretty tight knit bunch with the fans, and when someone gives you the opportunity to be a part of that it’s not something that can easily be refused. I’ve always been a big fan of football putting something back into the community and this club looks like it’s going to go some way towards that end, so it was a huge no brainer for me.

NL – And this will just be a coaching role here? No end-of-season cameos planned?
WS – To be honest, calling it a day has been on my mind for some time but I just can’t leave the beautiful game for good. Right now I’m happy doing what I’m doing and just being a part of the club. If needs be in the future I’d be happy to step in and do my bit but my main focus at this time is helping to build something that everyone here can be proud of. Being part of the coaching team is the best way for me to do that at this stage and I’m more than happy where I am now.

NL – Wayne, thankyou for your time and I wish you all the best for the future
WS – Cheers mate!

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Pre-season training will start this evening at 19:00 at the Sudbury Court Sports & Social Club, Vale Farm, and should end no later than 21:30. This year, training sessions will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 19:00 and 22:00, and players are kindly reminded they must attend a minimum of two sessions per week to be eligible for inclusion in the matchday squad. Any players who are unable to attend a session should contact Olly James or Ben Lewis to confirm this.

Former Watford youngster Kunle Otudeko has today boosted Sudbury Court’s dreams of a successful opening season by signing on with the fledgling club for the 2016-17 season. The 19 year old central midfielder was formerly on the books of Watford’s Academy side; however never made a first team appearance.

The talented young midfielder is available for Saturday’s pre-season opener against DCK Maidenbower, and joins up with fellow Hornets graduate Choi Il-Myeong at the Vale Farm outfit. Sudbury Court manager Olly James will hope the two players can rekindle the same form that helped Watford qualify for the Youth Alliance Merit League One in their final season of scholarship.

The management of Sudbury Court FC last night announced their plans for the initial spending of the £6,500 grant given to the club to facilitate its early development in the first of a monthly series of meetings involving the management, community stakeholders and fans.

Manager Olly James announced the purchase of just over £1,500 worth of training & match day equipment in line with the Football Foundation grant specifications, which stipulate that the grant must be used in order to directly improve the development of the club.

The kit includes new balls, cones, bibs and agility equipment and even includes a set of full size and junior goalposts which the club hopes to be able to lend out to local youth and community groups to use when the training ground is not occupied by the first team; an idea well received by all present at the meeting.

In line with the club’s community vision, details of the costs involved have been made available to Sudbury Court residents, and have been published below:

Sudbury Court FC would like to remind all fans that tomorrow’s friendly fixture against DCK Maidenbower will be a family fun day event including a beat-the-keeper with non-league legend Wayne Shaw, bouncy castle, barbecue and fully licenced bar.

The club will be open from 11am until 10pm and will be free to enter for old and young fans alike.

Sudbury Court kicked off their pre-season campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory at home to DCK Maidenbower of the Mid-Sussex Football League.

The hosts were by far the more aggressive team early on and should have been ahead in the 8th minute when target man Aaron Opoku saw his close range effort smartly saved by Maidenbower goalkeeper and captain Ethan James.

Sudbury Court remained on the front foot throughout the first quarter of the game and had a flurry of half-chances before the half hour mark; however both Danny Emmanuel and Anthony Guppy in the Sudbury Court midfield saw speculative long range efforts pass wide of the Maidenbower post.

The away side rallied round just before half time and registered their first shot on target through Calvin McLaughlin, who forced Louis Bragg into a reflex save to palm his dipping effort over the bar. The resulting corner proved to be little challenge for the young stopper, whos athletic leap to claim the ball will surely stand him in good stead in his battle with Rob Budd for the number 1 jersey.

It could be argued that half time came at the wrong time for both sets of players, as the referee’s whistle blew just as the game started to ebb and flow, with both sides creating half-chances towards the end of what was an overall tepid first 45 minutes.

Half time score: 0-0

Sudbury Court manager Olly James made a couple of half time changes in his first fixture in charge, bringing on Macauley Keating and Connor Smith for Anthony Guppy and Louis Baucutt respectively, yet the second half began in a similar fashion to the first with both teams looking somewhat nervous. Danny Emmanuel had the pick of the early chances for Sudbury Court, but the impressive James was able to watch the home winger’s free kick fly safely wide of his left hand post.

Despite their relative stranglehold over the game, Sudbury Court were unable to find the net until the 60th minute as Michael Kalu fired in a 25 yard free kick which deflected fortuitously off the wall and looped beyond James in the Maidenbower goal. The opening goal delighted the bumper home contingent, and not least of all Kalu himself, who will go down in Sudbury Court history for his (rather fortunate) efforts.

The initial goal was all it took to spur on Sudbury Court, and the fledgling club added their second not long after as Aaron Opoku opened his account following some neat build-up play between Emmanuel, substitute Elvis Hammond and Opoku; the striker finishing with aplomb into the bottom right hand corner of James’ goal.

As the game began to peter out, there was just enough time for Bragg to round off his impressive debut with a solid save from substitute Billy Askew’s attempt from just inside the box. The Sudbury Court keeper looked calm and composed throughout before being substituted for Rob Budd in the dying moments.

Full time score: 2-0

Oluseyi Obaye-Daley has become the latest player to sign up to the Sudbury Court ranks ahead of the upcoming Middlesex County Combination opener in late August.

The 21 year old defender was formerly on the books at Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon on academy terms before dropping out of football at the end of the 2013-14 season to pursue other interests. Sudbury Court marks a return to football for the versatile defender, who can comfortably play anywhere across the back line and, at an impressive six feet and two inches, adds a degree of height and athleticism to the Sudbury Court defence.

Although the defender is adept on either flank his best position is as a defensive centre-back; a position which he is likely to contend for with both Luke Olley and Louis Baucutt who both impressed manager Olly James with a clean sheet in Saturday’s friendly fixture against DCK Maidenbower:

”Saturday’s defensive performance from Luke and Louis was very pleasing stuff indeed, however I am mindful of the fact that we have very little defensive cover available. As Seyi is versatile across the back four he will immediately offer a lot to the team, and I’m delighted he has chosen to buy in to our philosophy here. I have no doubts that Seyi will excel at this level”

The young defender will be available for next Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Bolney Rovers, which will kick off at 12:00 noon on Saturday the 16th of July.

The management of Sudbury Court FC would like to extend their thanks to all participants in the club’s family fun day held last Saturday.

The club managed to raise £467.83 which will be put towards improvement of the facilities at Vale Farm, including repainting the clubhouse and improvements to the changing rooms for both home and away teams.

The event coincided with the first team’s 2-0 friendly victory against DCK Maidenbower, and the club would like to thank both home and away clubs for their support on the day.

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Sudbury Court made it two friendly wins out of two as they saw off a beleaguered Bolney Rovers side struggling defensively after a 6-1 friendly loss away at Old Hastonians.

The friendly match saw new signing Seyi Obaye-Daley play alongside defensive partner Louis Baucutt for the first time, though it was Sudbury Court left-back Luke Mathias who impressed early on, thwarting pacy winger Ricky Forbes as he took an early burst at the home defence.

Sudbury Court played exceptionally well in their previous friendly against DCK Maidenbower, though it was the level 12 side who almost drew first blood through captain Jack Byrne; his flick on from a James Watt cross flew tantalisingly close to Louis Bragg’s right hand post.

Bolney Rovers had the best of the early play yet, with their first attack on goal, Sudbury Court earned the lead through a close range Elvis Hammond header from Kashif Siddiqi’s pinpoint cross from the right. The 35 year old Ghanaian rolled back the years to leap and power the ball past Adam Ruby in the Rovers goal just 8 minutes into the game.

Despite a crushing 6-1 loss in their opening friendly fixture, Bolney Rovers were back on level terms just after the half hour mark courtesy of a mesmerically dipping 30 yard strike from Watt which left the impressive Bragg in the home goal with no chance.

The teams were not on level terms for long, however, as Hammond added his second of the first half just five minutes later following a defensive mix up between Ruby and his central defender Jim Troke. Hammond capitalised on Rovers’ misfortune to round the keeper and give manager Olly James a real selection headache going in to the Middlesex County Combination campaign.

The home side could have been home and dry by half time as striker Vences Bola got involved with the action. The striker first missed a gilt-edged chance after beating the Rovers’ defence for pace after a ball over the top by Obaye-Daley, before atoning for his error by scoring low into the bottom right corner after another burst through the middle.

The Rovers were not out of the game yet however, as just before the half time whistle striker Dan Lucas pulled one back for the away side. The striker managed to get a touch on an inviting cross from the left side of the pitch to set the game up for a battling second half.

Half time score: 3-2

Both managers must have calmed down their respective sides at half time, as while the first half ended in dramatic fashion the beginning of the second was anything but. Elvis Hammond had the chance of a hat-trick just after the hour mark however he was just beaten to a loose ball in the Rovers box by the onrushing Ruby.

Sudbury Court settled into a second half rhythm, and after a wave of substitutions Aaron Opoku came on to score their fourth goal with just under twenty minutes left to play. Hammond turned from striker to provider to lay off the target man to score his second goal in two games.

This proved to be the decisive blow in the game as James’ side then sat back to defend and maintain their two goal advantage. Substitute keeper Rob Budd had just one save to make in his five minutes from a Stephen Le Tissier free kick deep into the one added minute and, although he couldn’t complete his hat-trick, Elvis Hammond ensured his manager would have something to think about before the club’s league campaign begins in earnest late in August.

Full time score: 4-2