Sudbury Court FC: A Journey

A former Chelsea academy player has signed on the dotted line at Sudbury Court, becoming Olly James’ fourth acquisition as manager at Vale Farm.

Predominantly a right winger, Tom Howard is another versatile player who can also play across the midfield line. Thought to have a high potential in the game, Howard joins the club from Merstham, where he spent two years after leaving Chelsea’s academy side in 2013 after a three year scholarship.

The midfielder had a successful time at the top flight club, scoring four times in thirty nine appearances for the academy teams. Although the 21 year old arrives with a clean bill of health, his time in the Chelsea youth teams were dogged with persistent growth spurts, limiting the player to just two appearances in his maiden season.

Sudbury Court and Netley Central Sports had to battle both the elements and each other as they battled to a 1-1 draw at Vale Farm.

Sudbury Court manager Olly James picked a somewhat rotated squad for the visit of Netley, with Connor Smith, Rob Budd and Macauley Keating starting in place of Louis Baucutt, Louis Bragg and Anthony Guppy and keen to catch manager James’ eye before competitive matches begin in earnest on the 27th August.

The game began in the midst of what could only be described as monsoon conditions at Vale Farm, and it was the home side who adapted best early on with striker Aaron Opoku almost hitting his third in three games as he rushed on to a hopeful ball into the box, although his powerful effort from a tight angle could only hit the side netting.

Sudbury Court came in to this game on a good run of form having scored six goals in two friendlies, and the team began this game in similar fashion. Elvis Hammond, who scored a brace last time out against Bolney Rovers, was unlucky to see his powerful header tipped over by keeper Richie Fleming early on.

Despite Sudbury Court having the better of the early exchanges, it was the Hampshire Premier League side who drew the first blood through Simon Christopher. The striker showed a deft touch to poke a hopeful cross past Rob Budd in the home goal, after Opoku saw his 18 yard effort smartly saved by Fleming in the home goal.

Half time score: 0-1

The second half began with a quadruple substitution by Sudbury, with Vences Bola replacing the disappointing Hammond in the most high profile change, though it was the away side who looked the most convincing early on as substitute striker Darius Ellesley hit a curling shot that looped just over Budd’s crossbar.

As the second half wore on, it was clear the deteriorating conditions were affecting both sides’ performances. Aaron Opoku went close again on 66 minutes after a slick passing move, though this was a rare moment of quality in a difficult game.

Despite the conditions, Sudbury Court found their way rather fortuitously back into the game in the dying minutes, as former Brentford youngster Anthony Guppy found the Netley goal via the post and substitute keeper Martin Bridges’ back in a goal that wouldn’t look out of place on a blooper reel.

Full time score: 1-1

Brent Council has today released details of the Community Football Initiative (CFI) grant made to Sudbury Court FC as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of Brent residents.

We are delighted to be able to support the community by offering £5,000 of locally generated funds to cover training and matchday costs. With the help of Brent Council, we have been able to secure the following for Sudbury Court players and staff:

- Free access to the Vale Farm Sports Centre, including off-peak gym membership
- Consent to the club to improve the pitch & surrounding areas
- Funds available to renovate the clubhouse & bar
- Funds available to the club for future youth coaching*

We hope for a long and successful partnership between Brent Council and Sudbury Court, and will continue to offer our full support to the club where appropriate to do so.

*Brent Council envisions Sudbury Court developing a youth team for the start of the 2017-18 season, and will allocate further funds for this.

Sudbury Court FC have been given consent to improve and upgrade the pitchside facilities at Vale Farm, following Brent Council’s announcement finalising and allocating the £5,000 grant made to the community club.

Exact details of the improvement works will be released at the club’s monthly meeting on Sunday 31st June prior to Monday’s final pre-season friendly game at home against Petworth, and work will likely commence in the three week break before the start of their Middlesex County Combination opener on August 27th.

The clubhouse and facilities will remain open throughout the work.

Sudbury Court FC revealed plans for ground improvements in last night’s monthly meeting involving players, fans and the club’s management after Brent Council gave their consent for the club to oversee non-intrusive work at the facility.

The club, funded in part by a grant from the council, will undertake various work around the pitch in the three week gap in between tomorrow’s friendly match against Petworth and the Middlesex County Combination opener against Harrow Bhoys at the end of the month.

The work will mainly be around minor landscaping and cosmetic work in order to comply with Middlesex County FA regulations, which will help the club with any future promotion attempts up the divisions. Club manager Olly James last night spoke of his 'enthusiasm' about the positivity around the club, adding:

"With the help of Brent Council, we can leap in to action with our plan to create a better club for local residents. These improvements will help this club become the focal point of the local community, and I would like to thank the council for their enthusiasm and positivity in helping us to get this off the ground"

The work will begin in earnest on August 2nd, and will include:
- Landscaping to allow a fully segregated pitch as per FA guidelines
- Installation of a pitchside covered spectator area
- Installation of fencing behind both goals
- Improvements to home & away dugouts
- New pitchside equipment (corner flags, referees’ equipment)

The improvements have been costed at around £4,500 in total, and details of the exact amounts will be released upon the project’s completion towards the end of August.

Sudbury Court made it four friendly games unbeaten in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over West Sussex Premier side Petworth in their final pre-season fixture at Vale Farm earlier this evening.

The home side went in to the match on an impressive run of three unbeaten friendlies, and the home side continued their sparkling form with a close range Vences Bola strike with just two minutes played. The forward finished with aplomb after an error from Mark Hooper, who allowed Michael Kalu’s speculative cross to bounce to the feet of the powerful poacher.

Olly James’ side were largely disappointing in their efforts last week against Netley Central Sports, but in drastically improved weather conditions Sudbury Court quickly regained the form that saw them put four past Bolney Rovers earlier in the pre-season campaign. Winger Michael Kalu hit their second from just inside the penalty area in the twelfth minute after Tom Howard’s corner was only half cleared by the away defence.

As with previous matches, Sudbury Court found themselves dictating the tempo of the game, as Petworth’s defence struggled to cope with the pace of the strike force of Aaron Opoku and Vences Bola. Opoku should have found the scoresheet shortly later, however the target man attempted to unselfishly play in Bola when he could have had an effort on goal himself.

Chances for Petworth were few and far between in the first half, however if they were going to score the only player who looked likely to trouble Louis Bragg was lone frontman Alex Shelmerdine. The striker looks to be struggling against a solid home defence yet still forced Bragg into making an uncomfortable looking save as the half time whistle loomed.

Half time score: 2-0

The second half began with Sudbury Court looking to close out the game, and the central defensive pairing of Obaye-Daley and Baucutt looked strong in the opening stages, limiting Petworth to just a few half chances as they pulled the defensive strings effectively.

Second halves have not been traditionally high scoring affairs in any of Sudbury Court’s three previous friendlies and this game proved to be no different. The handful of spectators had to wait until past the 70 minute mark to see the first real goalmouth action of the second period, however Kashif Siddiqi was on hand to deflect Petworth substitute Nick Humphreys’ goalbound effort.

The match was not all plain sailing for Sudbury Court however, as substitute Anthony Guppy was forced off with just a few minutes to spare with a suspected pulled hamstring. Despite this, there was just time for James’ side to cement their unbeaten run, as poacher Vences Bola hit his second of the game late on to give Sudbury Court an excellent platform to build their inaugural league season with.

Full time score: 3-0

As there are no fixtures scheduled until August 27th, all players are invited to an optional Sunday afternoon training session which will run at 3pm on Sunday 7th, 14th and 21st of this month.

Sudbury Court have released photos of the ongoing work at the Sudbury Court Sports & Social Club, Vale Farm. After a week of hard work, the new prefab dugouts have been installed and the fencing around the supporters’ area is nearing completion. Elsewhere, the new fencing behind the goals should be finished in the coming days in preparation for the first home fixture of the upcoming season.