FIELD REVIEW - 1

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESKSo, for all of you stay-away Mango fans whodecided that watching England v Germanywas the better option, than the visit ofStratford Town, you really should havelearned by now! Another three points for ‘TheField’, momentarily at least, lifted the club tothe heady heights of 4th place in the table!!

JAMIE REID gave us a 6th minute lead andNEIL ARNDALE maintained his spot-kickrecord with a 22nd minute penalty to give us a2-0 interval lead. The later loss of REID toinjury seemed to upset our midfield balanceand STRATFORD came more into the pictureafter the break.

We still continued to create chances,although the threat from Stratford was alwaysvery real and whilst we were a little ‘nervy’ attimes, it was another clean sheet and it doeslook good to see our goal-difference on thecredit side.

On Saturday, we returned to WeyCourt,Meadrow, for the first time since the 95/96campaign. We then faced a Godalming &Guildford side in the FA Vase and won 5-2with ANDY PERRETT scoring all FIVEgoals.That club are now under the differentname of GODALMING TOWN.

The 3-0 victory was our 5th league win ‘on theroad’ this season, and 6th on the bounce.NEIL ARNDALE set us on the way withanother successful spot-kick, and furtherstrikes from LEWIS POWELL and RYANBATH keeps us in fourth place. It wasanother excellent all-round performance,although ‘The Gs’ showed that they weredangerous on the break.

There were a few occasions when they hadgood opportunities to score but KEVINSAWYER made several vital saves, at keymoments. It seems wrong to mentionindividuals when everyone played so well, butI think that the midfield pairing of ASHLEYWILLIAMS and JAMIE REID has been thebig difference this season.

We shall certainly need to be on our mettlethis evening against SHORTWOOD UNITED,who are having an eventful season. ‘TheWood’ were here twice last season and wonboth games………..

…and we know what to expect following theiramazing FA Cup run. That has held up theirprogress in the league, but on Saturday, theycrushed Guildford City 4-0 at Meadowbank.This follows their earlier 6-0 win at ThatchamTown.

Last season they had a late surge up thetable and were not far out on a play-off place,and with games to catch up on, don’t besurprised to see ‘The Wood’ making that latebid again. We extend a warm welcome to theclub and their fans, once more to the GlassConsultants UK Stadium.

On Saturday, we travel to THATCHAMTOWN, missing three players due tosuspension. SHAUN LAMB, CHARLIEHITCHINGS and MATT SYSUM have to sit-out that one game.

CINDERFORD TOWN are here on Tuesday3rd December and then on Saturday 7th, wehave the visit of ‘The Bluebells’!!!

The last month of the year will see visits toDIDCOT TOWN & CLEVEDON TOWN andthe hosting of MERTHYR TOWN & FLEETTOWN….if we can start 2014, still in 4th

place, we shall be more than happy!!

Thankyou all for your support, especially ‘TheUltras’ behind the dug-out. So, remember thecry…

“COME ON THE FIELD”

Or if you prefer…

COME ON THE MIGHTY MANGOS!!

EDITOR

For Life Insurance, Pensions and SavingsContact 0117 9596526 or 01225 904777

Roman Glass, 332, Two Mile Hill Road,Kingswood BristolMarcus Hudd, 0117 9615499

MANGOTSFIELD UNITEDSECONDARY SPONSORS

MUFC would like to thank the following for supportingOur 2013/14 Stadium Draw

CARLING L.P. GENIUSARMOUR SEALED UNITS CURTIS DREWBYSTRONIC AVON TRUCK & VANWHITTAKER, GREGORY & CO LTD G.J.C. COMMERCIALSBRISTOL TRADE COMMERCIALS TRADE WINDOWSSOVEREIGN PREMIER ARCHITECTURAL GLAZINGB.I.S. GLASS CONSULTANTS UK LTDPRINCIPAL MORTGAGES S.M.GAUGE COMPANYDESIGN SCAFFOLDING ANDERSONS WASTE MANAGEMENT LTDBRISTOL TILE COMPANY FREAK OR UNIQUE CUSTOM TATTOOSPOPLAR INSULATION LEVEL CUTSDYNAMIC SIGNS BALSON & CO LTDTHE THREE LIONS ASHTON GLASS LTDTHE LORD RAGLAN JELFSWAN MOTOR COMPANY J B GLASS & GLAZINGPARK CYCLES EXPRESS GLAZING & SONSLANCERSCOTT URBAN WINDOWSSOUTH GLOS TAXIS LTD JOHN GEORGE DECORATORSPARK INSURANCE WEST STREET GLAZINGR.H.WINDOWS MR. JOHN LAWRENCEROMAN GLASS COPSON & GRANDFIELDGLOUCESTER ROAD GEARBOXES P J M SCAFFOLDINGSMARTHUDSONBRISTOL DRAINS LTDDOUG HILLARD SPORTS

The Winner was --- Glass Consultants UK Ltd

Cossham Street is to be known as

THE GLASS CONSULTANTS UK STADIUM

FIELD REVIEW - 2

Tuesday 26th November 2013 Kick-off 7.45pmThe CALOR LEAGUE Division One South & West

Mangotsfield United v Shortwood United FC"The Field" - Maroon & Sky "The Wood" - Red / White / Black

SquadsKevin Sawyer Tom King

Neil Arndale Sam AveryShaun Lamb Mark Pritchett

Alex Kite James CoatesMatt Sysum Marc RichardsJamie Reid James Baldwin

Ben Hunt Jake Parrott (capt)Asley Williams Nick Hancock

Ryan Bath Adam MannLewis Powell Duncan Culley

Kyle Tooze Matt BennettAdnan Hiroli John Cant

Charlie Hitchings Ross LangworthyTom Parrinello Kevin Slack

Josh EganLuke Ballinger

Richard Thompson MANAGER John Evans &Lee Jefferies ASSISTANTS AND Alex SykesLee Barlass COACHES Andrew HoskinsDoug Pringle / Hayley Smith PHYSIO Natalie Clune

Today's officialsAssistant (Yellow Trim) REFEREE Assistant (Red Trim)

Ademola Olagunju Simon Shaw Damon McEllinBristol Bristol Bristol

TODAY'S MATCH SPONSORGLOUCESTER RD G/BOXES

MATCH-BALL SPONSORASHTON GLASS LTD

Next at Cossham Street - Tuesday 3rd December 2013 7.45pmThe Calor League - Division One South & West Cinderford TownProgramme No. 10

MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS

MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS

FIELD REVIEW - 3

“SPOTLIGHT”The start of the 2012/13 campaign saw ‘The Wood’ playing at the highest level in their history. Theyfinished in 8th place. This is their second season in the Southern League . Mangotsfield andShortwood met FIVE times last season. The Wood twice won at

Cossham Street, 3-0 and 3-1, whilst we had a 1-0victory at Meadowbank. Both FA Trophy matchesfinished goal-less and we went out on penalties.

SHORTWOOD UNITED AFC were formed in 1900and since that date have played at four differentgrounds – Nailsworth Playing Field, Table Land,Wallow Green and finally, the current ground,Meadowbank.

The club has been at Meadowbank since 1972, which includes an all-weather trainingarea opened by the late Ted Croker. Floodlights were installed in 1989, with a matchagainst Swindon Town commemorating their official launch. Gradual improvementsover the years culminated in a major enhancement in 2009, to meet ground gradingcritera for future promotions. This included refurbishment of the main stand, theerection of a new 50-seater stand opposite, new dug-outs and turnstiles and anoverhaul of the dressing rooms.

In 2010, a new pitch barrier was added giving Shortwood a ground to be proud of,befitting the level of football played by the club. The pitch has been improved over theyears, with new drainage recently added. The hard work achieved by the currentgroundsman, has seen the surface receive many accolades, including recognition bythe F.A. in 2009 & 2010.

During the 1970s, Shortwood were playing their football in the Stroud League andthey progressed through promotion to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior leagueand then the Gloucestershire County League, where they spent seven seasons. Theyfinished champions in 1981/82 and were promoted to the Hellenic Premier, but thatfirst season was disastrous and after finishing 15th/16th, they were relegated toDivision One.

However, they bounced straight back by finishing runners up in Division One. In 1983,they won the Division One Cup and the GFA Trophy and in 1984/85 were HellenicLeague champions. It was not until the 1991/92 campaign that they tasted successagain, but on this occasion they were treble winners of the League, GFA Trophy againand the Stroud Charity Cup.

They had three season of finishing in the leading places, but from 1995 through to themid 2000 seasons, they were either just below halfway or in the lower half of the table.

2007/08 saw a resurgence in the club’s fortunes, finishing 5th and defeating Ardley 4-2in the final of the Supplementary Cup. They pushed their success even further in in 08/09, having agood run in the FA Cup, being semi-finalists in the League Cup and pressing the eventualchampions Hungerford Town to the final day of the season. ‘The Wood’ were pipped to the title ongoal difference after amassing 99 pts and scoring 99 goals.

This fine form continued into 2009/10, when they again finished in a runners-up position, this time toAlmondsbury Town, and it was ‘The Almonds’ who also denied them success in the GFA Trophyfinal. They reached the final of the Floodlit Cup and enjoyed a good run in both the FA Cup and FAVase.

Continued………….

FIELD REVIEW - 4

“SPOTLIGHT” - SHORTWOOD UNITEDcontinued…Having lost the away leg 0-3 to Reading Town, they produced one of the most excitingcomebacks and entertaining matches ever seen at Meadowbank. The score remained goal-lessuntil the 67th minute when finally, the deadlock was broken, andwith the game going into extra-time, Shortwood ended as 5-0winners.

By their own high standards, Shortwood’s league campaign was adisappointment, finishing 6th, but there was more silverware addedin the shape of the GFA Trophy, with a 1-0 final win against TuffleyRovers.

The season 2011/12, however, proved the most pivotal in theclub’s history! Not only did they reach the quarter-final of the FA Vase, they also reached the final ofthe Hellenic League Floodlit Cup and the GFA Trophy final, again. Most importantly however, wastheir league position, when they were runners-up once more, just a point behind Oxford CityNomads. With Nomads not applying for promotion and ‘The Wood’ filling all the relevant criteria, theclub took its place in The Evo-Stik League Southern, Division One South & West.

LOOKING BACKHELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER 1991-92

SHORTWOOD UNITED 34 25 4 5 83 44 79Cirencester Town 34 23 9 2 73 23 78Almondsbury Picksons 34 19 7 8 63 38 64Milton United 34 18 9 7 67 44 63Cinderford Town 34 16 9 9 57 41 57Abingdon United 34 17 5 12 54 40 56Didcot Town 34 16 6 12 70 48 54Swindon Athletic 34 15 9 10 61 44 54Bicester Town 34 12 12 10 44 42 48Banbury United 34 14 5 15 55 55 47Fairford Town 34 12 9 13 72 55 45Headington Amateurs 34 10 9 15 48 59 39Pegasus Juniors 34 11 5 18 66 68 38Kintbury Rangers 34 9 8 17 47 59 35Rayners Lane 34 9 8 17 50 75 35Moreton Town 34 7 4 23 38 100 25Carterton Town 34 6 6 22 32 74 24Bishops Cleeve 34 2 6 26 25 96 12

Manager JOHN EVANS has brought in ALEX SYKES, who was at Bishops Cleeve last term, asJoint Manager as the club look to improve on their 8th placing, as they hauled themselves up thetable in a late surge of form. They have made a reasonable start to the new campaign, but havesaved their best displays for the FA Cup. Perhaps that’s an understatement as they made nationaltelevision, through BT SPORT, when they hosted PORT VALE in The First Round Proper. Therewas to be no fairytale ending, of course, but they did themselves proud with an excellent displayand only two very late goals gave Vale a 4-0 win. They had already made the news with their 4th

qualifying success against ALDERSHOT TOWN, after holding them at Meadow bank and winningthe replay 2-1 at the Recreation Ground.

Their earlier FA Cup successes included a 2-1 home win over Egham Town, and three wins on theroad at Dorchester Town (1-0), Didcot Town (1-0) and Aylesbury (5-1).

FIELD REVIEW - 5

INTRODUCING ‘THE WOOD’Tom King (Goalkeeper) - Previously played for John Evans with Forest Green Youth and Reservesides. Returned to Shortwood after being at Cirencester, Swindon Supermarine and Bishops Cleeve.An experienced and talented keeper. Players player last season.

Matt Bennett (Defence) - A Shortwood lad through and through. Came up from the Under 18s,reserve side and now an established 1st team player. Equally at ease at left back, midfield or left wing.

Sam Avery (Defence) – Sam is an excellent recent addition to the Shortwood ranks and hasestablished himself at right back having started as centre back. Signed from Bishops Cleeve where hepicked up the clean sweep of player awards last season. Still only 23, Sam offers considerableexperience at this level in spite of his young age.

James Coates (Defence) – Another one club man joining at seventeen to play for the under 18s(whom he captained) and then briefly in the reserves. Has played for the first team ever since apartfrom a 2 year break following ankle surgery. Another member of the team who has played at HartpuryCollege and can play right back or centre back, good on the ball and can read the game from theback.

Mark Pritchett (Midfield) – “Pritch” is another signing from Bishops Cleeve. He is anuncompromising central defender who has good experience at this level but is still young enough todevelop further. Started his career with Gloucester City Youth, moving to Hardwicke FC where heenjoyed successive promotions before joining Bishops Cleeve. Supporters player last season.

Jake Parrott (Midfield) – A natural midfield player who has developed enormously over the past twoseasons. Former Cheltenham Town trainee and current Hartpury College player he recentlyrepresented GB in the 2013 World student games winning a silver medal. Managers Player lastseason

James Baldwin (Midfield) – Age 24. A skilful midfield player who often finds himself upfront. Joinedthe club as a teenager but left the club at the end of 2009 to join Forest Green Rovers and thenCinderford before returning in March 2011. Recently represented GB in the 2013 World studentgames winning a silver medal

Nick Hancock (midfield) - Joined the club this season and is a product of Hartpury college followinghis release from West Bromwich Albion. Represented his country after he was selected for theEngland Schools national team, where he went on to make a string of appearances and as a resultwas named captain of the national side the following year.

Adam Mann (midfield/forward) - A regular at Gloucester City he also represented EnglandUniversities. Left Gloucester City to spend to a year in America continuing his studies in sportscoaching after completing his degree at Hartpury College. Upon his return he signed for Shortwoodand immediately establish himself as a dynamic attacking midfielder and scored the vital goal thatknocked our Aldershot in the previous round.

Duncan Culley (Forward) – Age 25, a young striker whose previous clubs included Swindon Town,U.W.I.C, Pontypridd, Hartpury College and Wales University Team. Has been a prolific striker thisseason and has scored in every round of the competition.

Tim Haddock (Midfield) – Another player who has rejoined the wood after spells at Slimbridge,Cinderford and Bishops Cleeve. Tim brings character to the team and also weigh in with his fair shareof goals.

John Cant (Midfield) - Played for the Wood until 2008 when he moved to Hungerford Town and thenBishops Cleeve before returning to the club. A tricky player who adds pace to the right side ofmidfield.

FIELD REVIEW - 6

INTRODUCING ‘THE WOOD’Ross Langworthy (Forward)Joined from Gosport Borough having previously played at Slimbridge. A fast, energetic player equallyat home up front or behind the front two. Winner of most improved player last season.

Kevin Slack (Forward)Previously with Evesham and then Bishops Cleeve he joined the Wood a few seasons ago following aserious hip injury quickly establishing himself as a scorer of spectacular goals. An injury at the end oflast season has restricted his appearances to those from the bench as he seeks to regain a regularfirst team place. Lots of experience and once won FA recognition with five goals in an FA cup tie.

John Evans (Manager)After St Paul's College Cheltenham, John started in senior football as a player with Forest Green,followed by seven years at Gloucester City. Two years at Trowbridge in the Conference was followedby a season at Cheltenham Town. John played for the Rothman's Non League side in the CanaryIslands. He also represented the FA XI four times. He finished his playing career at Shortwoodwinning the Hellenic League. He started his management career at Brimscombe F.C. This wasfollowed by a first stint at Forest Green. A first stint as player coach at Shortwood United undermanager Pat Casey saw the Hellenic League and GFA trophy double achieved in 1992. A secondstint at FGR as coach under Casey followed. The last 15 years has seen John lead Shortwood Utdwith successful Cup Runs in the F.A. Vase, Trophy and Cup followed by promotion to the SouthernLeague in 2012. John was joined by Co-Manager Alex Sykes at the start of this season.

Alex Sykes (Manager)Previously a professional with Mansfield Town FC, an England Futsal International and well over 250

appearances for Forest Green Rovers which included two championships and an FA Trophyappearance at Wembley, Alex's previous clubs also include Nuneaton Borough, Bath City and latterlyover 150 games for Gloucester City. This included 27 goals in their promotion winning season toConference North. Alex then stepped into management as Assistant Player/Manager at BishopsCleeve FC then taking over as manager in the 2011/12 season, guiding them to their highest everleague position. Now Alex has joined us a Joint Manager to John Evans.

Andrew Hoskins (Coach)Former clubs include Brockworth, Tuffley Rovers, Forest Green Rovers, Cinderford Town, GloucesterCity (He still hold the post war record for the most goals scored in a season with 37 and won theDr.Martins Southern league Golden Boot in 2003-2004 ) and finally Shortwood Utd ( I was JohnEvans first signing after he became manager and was Captain for 5/6 years). I am now in my 10thyear at the club and have been part of the coaching/management team for the last 3 years )

Natalie Clune (Physio)A recent addition to the management team up at Shortwood. Graduated from The University of theWest of England (UWE) with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in addition to a Premier Training Diplomain Personal Training and Sports Massage Therapy. Previous experience has included working at 3rugby clubs as head therapist and pitch-side first aid and Sport specific physiotherapy experience witha variety of Elite Sports Athletes at the England Institute of Sport (EIS) and Team Bath, as well asrecently working alongside the head physiotherapist at Gloucestershire Cricket team during theCheltenham Festival this summer.

Congratulations to Shortwood United on their tremendous achievement of reaching the First RoundProper of the FA Cup and their impressive performance against Port Vale in front of a nationaltelevision audience. Not forgetting of course, their superb win at Aldershot Town following a draw atMeadowbank. No doubt the money earned from this adventure will stand them in good stead as theytry to make the next step in the non-league pyramid.

FIELD REVIEW - 7

LOOKING BACK – SHORTWOOD UTDGLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE 1981-82

SHORTWOOD UNITED 32 22 6 4 92 49 50-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Almondsbury Greenway 32 21 7 4 88 32 49Lydbrook Athletic 32 17 11 4 69 36 45Wilton Rovers 32 18 6 8 66 44 42Bristol St. George 32 19 5 8 75 42 41 -2Port of Bristol 32 16 6 10 70 53 38Old Georgians 32 16 6 10 56 39 38Hambrook 32 13 8 11 54 57 34Sharpness 32 11 10 11 60 49 32Oldland 32 10 9 13 44 57 29Hanham Athletic 32 6 15 11 41 50 27Yate Town 32 8 8 16 53 81 24Newent Town 32 7 9 16 29 54 23Matson Athletic 32 8 6 18 43 72 22Frampton 32 6 8 18 41 60 20Cadbury Heath (Bristol) 32 4 8 20 27 74 16Stonehouse 32 3 6 23 34 93 12

County League History…………In 1975/76 Cadbury Heath joined the Midland Combination and theGloucestershire County League also lost Forest Green Rovers to the Hellenic League. Thenewcomers more than compensated for these losses with Almondsbury Greenway andSHORTWOOD UNITED becoming the most successful clubs in the next seven seasons. Afterfinishing 2nd in 175/76, Almondsbury Greenway won a record FIVE successive championshipsbetween 1976-81. Almondsbury finished runners-up in 1981/82 before joining the Hellenic League,together with SHORTWOOD UNITED, who after finishing 2nd in successive seasons, won thechampionship in 1981/82 (as above)

HALF-TIME LAUGHTERADVERTISMENT IN A SHOPGuitar for sale…cheap…no strings attached.

ADVERT IN HOSPITAL WAITING ROOMSmoking helps your lose weight…….one lung at a time.

ON A BULLETIN BOARDSuccess is relativeThe more the success, the more the relatives.

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading!

My Grandfather is Eighty and still doen’t need glasses.He drinks straight out of the bottle.

SIGN IN DRIVING SCHOOLIf your wife wants to learn to drive…Don’t stand in her way.

Laugh And the world laughs with you…snore and you sleep alone.

FIELD REVIEW - 8

VILLAGE GOSSIP“SUPER SUNDAY” is running now, Every Sunday until Christmas and is an idea by the club toreward you fans by reducing the cost of your pint. CARLING, BLACKTHORN & NATCH will costjust £2 a pint between midday and 6pm. Live Premiership football will also be showing on the bigscreen. Sunday afternoon Sky Sports football shown on Sundays will feature, Sunderland vNewcastle, Chelsea v Manchester City, & Manchester United v Arsenal, and many many more. Agood chance to see some great football on the box, enjoy a cheap pint and give the social club avibrant atmosphere.

The second Jackpot in the Three-Match pool has been won recently when £600 was sharedbetween TERRY STEVENS and ALLEN A1 SPORTS, who get £300 each. They correctlypredicted three scores on the 16th November. Tranmere v Bristol City (1-1), Bristol Rovers v Bury(1-1) and Torquay United v Chesterfield (0-2).

All football followers in the region will be saddened to learn of the death of DOUG HAND, lastMonday 18th November, on the morning of Clevedon Town’s clash with Cirencester Town.No history of Clevedon Town would be complete without paying tribute to the Hand family, withoutwhom, the club would not exist today. H.G.HAND (Secretary 1895-1912) and A.W. HAND(Secretary 1918-1968) were followed by DOUG HAND, who retired as Club President at the end ofthe 1994/95 season after 50 years service to the club, much spent in the same way as his Fatherand Grandfather, as Club Secretary. Without their enthusiasm and hard work over the years, theclub would probably not be in the position it is now and it was only the wisdom of A.W. in buyingthe Teignmouth Road site, which laid the foundations for the present successful club. It was afitting tribute that the new ground is named THE HAND STADIUM after them and the families’service to the club has been recognised by the Football Association. Mangotsfield United FootballClub extends their sympathy to the Hand Family and everyone at Clevedon Town. Doug will begreatly missed.

The outstanding league fixture at HOME to Cinderford Town has now been arranged forTuesday3rd December 2013, at 7.45pm.

Good to see that LIAM MONELLE has made a good start to his 6th month contract with BRISTOLCITY. After scoring in the victory against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, he then played aprominent part in the Robins’ Academy win at Burgess Hill in midweek.

Our old mate DEAN BIRKBY was in the news this week, especially the BRISTOL POST when itwas announced that he has taken over the managerial role at ROMAN GLASS ST GEORGE.

Plenty of action in Saturday’s clash between Didcot Town & Merthyr Town. 5 goals in the second-half, A sending-off, A double leg-break with scuffles off the pitch. Merthyr Town won the match 4-3.

MORE HALF-TIME LAUGHTERThe Quote of the last 2000 years!

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced,the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreignlands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt.People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance”

Cicero, 55BC

So, evidently we’ve learnt bugger all over the last 2,068 years!!

MUFC – SECONDARY SPONSORS

MUFC - SECONDARY SPONSORS

FIELD REVIEW - 9

PHOTOCALL – MATT SYSUM

MATT SYSUM – CENTRAL DEFENDER – Sponsored by

Signed for ‘The Field’ in September 2013 from Evesham United. He can also play at right-backand he began his career at Gloucester City, coming through the Youth club ranks to make 46first-team appearances. He had loan spells at Hardwicke and Cirencester, making his move toThe Corinium permanent, and being part of their promotion-winning squad in 2009/10. Hebecame their captain and lost part of 2011 due to a cruciate injury. He left for Evesham United inNovember 2012.

FIELD REVIEW - 10

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY“I’M THINKING THAT ENGLAND CAN GO THERE AND WIN IT. I KNOW THAT THE GAFFERWILL WANT TO PLAY THINGS DOWN AND RIGHTLY SO, BUT IT EXCITES ME BECAUSE ITHINK THERE IS ENOUGH TALENT IN THE COUNTRY”. The self-explanatory words of WestHam’s Joe Cole, regarding England’s chances in Brazil next summer, as quoted on the BBC websiteon 18 October 2013.

Oh no, here we go again. Someone coming out & saying that England can win the World Cup! Itdidn’t take long, did it, with the Poland game just 3 days earlier. We’ve heard that hyped-uppredictable line so many times in the past, and ultimately, we’ve been let down big time so manytimes as well. This time, we’ve qualified on the back of 2 good performances v Montenegro & Poland,just when we needed some positive team & individual performances, and yes, there was a feel-goodfactor about England after those 2 games because younger talent is beginning to come through &make their name(s) in the team. Mind you, some of the knives were out again after some fringeplayers – and everyone else – disappointed us all in the 2-0 defeat to Chile at Wembley) & the 1-0home defeat v Germany Reserves,, but did we learn anything on those occasions that we didn’talready know? I doubt it.

Most England fans are realistic enough these days not to expect too much, (even more so as we areno longer seeded, which isn’t a bad thing, in my view) and would rather say, “Let’s just see what theteam can do”, without making any rash predictions about winning, or getting to the last 4, or whatever.Joe Cole even says in his quote that Roy Hodgson would want to play things down, and quite righttoo, so why come out & say “We can win it” in the first place?? Comments like that are the last thingwe should be hearing. No more false hopes please!

And a mate of mine summed it quite well, I thought, after the Germany game – “I actually think it wasa good result in one way, because it won’t raise expectations beyond our ability and we will simplyback the team come the time without belief but with hope instead”. So anything will be a bonus then!

“BRISTOL CITY LOOKED A CUT ABOVE THE DROP ZONE, BUT HAD TO SETTLE FOR ADRAW”. From the Daily Mirror match report on 18 November 2012, re City’s 1-1 draw at Tranmere.

It was another result that kept City fans believing that their side continues to turn the corner, but goback a month or so earlier, when the 20-match winless run was in full swing, comments like the oneabove didn’t exist!

“WE’LL HAVE TO BE MENTALLY STRONG TO WIN AT TAMWORTH IN THE CUP. IF YOU HADTO CONSTRUCT A NON-LEAGUE GROUND THAT WAS IDEAL TO STAGE AN UPSET IN THE FACUP, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAMWORTH. I PLAYED NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL AND ITIS A TIGHT PITCH THERE. TAMWORTH ARE A BIG PHYSICAL TEAM, SO WE KNOW WHAT TOEXPECT. YOU CAN SEE WHY THE TV COMPANIES WANTED THIS GAME FOR LIVECOVERAGE, EVERYONE WILL LOOK AT IT AND THINK THAT THERE COULD BE AN UPSET”.The words of Bristol City boss Sean O’Driscoll, as quoted in the Bristol Post on 20 November 2013,as the paper devoted a whole half page to this potential giant-killing FA Cup tie, the draw for whichhad been done about 2 weeks earlier.

Good article, but at the time, the Tamworth game was still almost 3 weeks away & most City fanswould have been more concerned at that precise moment with beating Sheffield United at AshtonGate in the league on the following Saturday!

“I HAVE GREAT ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR ARSENE WENGER, FOR WHAT HE HASACHIEVED AT ARSENAL. I AM COMPLETELY IN AWE OF ARSENE WENGER!” The words ofSouthampton boss Mauricio Pochettino, as quoted in The Sun on 22 November 2013, as he lookedahead to his side’s away game at the Emirates that weekend.

Well, perhaps it wasn’t Pochettino’s own words as such; he still needs a translator, doesn’t he??!!

FIELD REVIEW - 11

DAVE’S DIARYGOOD EVENING EVERYONE & WELCOME TO THE GLASS CONSULTANTS UK STADIUM fortonight’s Calor League clash against our friends from SHORTWOOD UNITED. SUFC enjoyed theirMoment of Fame recently when their FA Cup tie v Port Vale was shown live on BT Sport & and theyhad some brilliant media exposure. Well done to all at SUFC for getting as far as they did & as Ihave often written on these pages, what with Clevedon, Yate & Paulton all having reached Round 1in recent years, OUR turn must SURELY come soon! Tonight, though, it’s all about 3 points &seeing as Shortwood bounced back from the PV game by winning 6-0 at Thatcham, we know we’rein for a tough one this evening. Please, then, give Our Boyz all your support tonight as we try topick up the 3 points on offer – COME ON THE FIELD!!

LET’S LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK’S 2 HOME GAMES. Firstly, there was the 4-2 win v a keenBISHOPS CLEEVE outfit. We took a while to get going against the visitors, who went close twice inthe first 5 minutes, but we finally settled with 2 goals late in the 1st half. BC got a goal back after thebreak with a penalty, but soon, we were 4-1 up & heading to victory, before a late goal direct from acorner made it 4-2. You don’t see goals scored directly from corners too often, so that was a one-off& probably wouldn’t happen again if the lad tried it 100 times! Still, that’s football & for neutrals, itwas (by & large) a good game to watch & we got the win (and scoring 4 goals in the process) withoutplaying particularly well. What was extremely frustrating, however, for anyone connected to MUFCwere all the late decisions that went against us, particularly the sending off of CHARLIE HITCHINGSfor what looked (from where I was) like a reasonable challenge & not even a foul, let alone anythingelse. Nonetheless, 3 points are 3 points & we’re pleased to have got them, so well done everyone!

IT WAS ALSO GOOD TO HEAR to hear that LIAM MONELLE began life with BRISTOL CITYbrilliantly with a goal for the Academy side v Sheffield Wednesday 10 days ago. His 6-monthprofessional contract at BCFC received a lot of publicity on Radio Bristol on the Friday evening,which also put the Club’s name on the airwaves more than once & I’m sure we’ll continue to hear ofthe progress he makes. It is every young player’s dream to make the grade at professional level & ifLiam can do that, then who knows where it will take him? All I know is that he came into our First XItowards the end of last term as a 16-year-old, following rave reviews in the Youth Team, and all of asudden, he’s scoring goals as well as looking as if he’d played in the First XI for ages! City managerSean O’Driscoll often talks about “performance & commitment” in his post-match interviews. I’m surethat City coach Brian Tinnion realises that Liam has plenty of both! Good luck Liam – you can do it!

OUR SECOND HOME GAME LAST WEEK saw us edge home 2-0 against a lively STRATFORDTOWN side making their 1st ever visit to Cossham Street. The visitors were always a threat, butthose 2 1st-half goals put us in the driving seat, although the 2nd half was often a little uncomfortableas the threat of a goal from the division’s 2nd highest scorers looked ominous, but in the end, we gotthe job done & moved up to the lofty heights of 4th in the table!! WELL DONE EVERYONE. It was abitterly cold night & the lure of England on the box didn’t help either, but we worked hard & stuck toour task when things got a little hairy here & there & we deserved the 3 points. Onwards & upwards!

SEASON 2013-14 HOME ATTENDANCES STATISTICS (up to & including v Stratford 19-11-13)TOTAL HOME CALOR LEAGUE ATTENDANCES (7 GAMES) = 789Average Home Calor League Attendance = 112TOTAL HOME FA CUP ATTENDANCE (1 GAME) = 142Average Home FA Cup Attendance = 142TOTAL HOME FA TROPHY ATTENDANCE (1 GAME) = 109Average Home FA Trophy Attendance = 109TOTAL HOME ATTENDANCES (ALL COMPETITIONS – 9 GAMES) = 1040Average Home Attendance (All competitions) = 115+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++THE OFFICIAL MANGOTSFIELD UNITED WEBSITE! Yes, if you have access to the Internet, whynot log on to one of the BEST websites in the entire Southern League? Courtesy of DANNY WEST,you can find the website on www.mufc-online.co.uk so check it out every day for all the latest news onyour favourite club! (And many of us do!) DAVE SMALE

FIELD REVIEW - 12

FIXTURES/RESULTS/SCORERS 2013/14THE CALOR LEAGUE – Div.1 South & West

17/08 GUILDFORD CITY TCL/1SW H 5-3 118 Hunt 2, Reid, Williams, Stone20/08 Merthyr Town TCL/1SW A 0-3 17524/08 Fleet Town TCL/1SW A 1-1 118 Stone26/08 CLEVEDON TOWN TCL/1SW H 1-1 138 Monelle31/08 BITTON AFC FAC –PR H 3-0 142 Reid, Egan, Lamb07/09 Cirencester Town TCL/1SW A 1-2 138 Reid11/09 BRISTOL ROVERS X1 FRIENDLY H 1-3 Hunt14/09 Winchester City FAC-1QR A 2-1 164 Arndale (pen), Stone21/09 SWINDON SUPERM’NE TCL/1SW H 1-0 108 Powell24/09 TAUNTON TOWN TCL/1SW H 1-2 116 Tooze28/09 Eastleigh FAC -2QR A 0-4 23801/10 Tiverton Town TCL/1SW A 3-2 132 Ballinger 2, Sysum05/10 THATCHAM TOWN FAT-PR H 3-1 109 Powell 2, Reid12/10 NORTH LEIGH TCL/1SW H 1-2 106 Bennett19/10 Shortwood United FAT-1QR A 2-0 145 Egan 226/10 Bridgwater Town TCL/1SW A 3-0 264 Hunt 2, Sysum29/10 Evesham United TCL/1SW A 3-0 173 Bath, Hunt, Egan02/11 Tiverton Town FAT-2QR A 1-3 237 Hitchings05/11 Bishops Cleeve GFAST -QF A 2-0 32 Ballinger, Powell09/11 Wimborne Town TCL/1SW A 1-0 259 Powell16/11 BISHOPS CLEEVE TCL/1SW H 4-2 116 Powell 2, Sysum, Reid19/11 STRATFORD TOWN TCL/1SW H 2-0 87 Reid, Arndale (pen)23/11 Godalming Town TCL/1SW A 3-0 135 Arndale (pen), Powell, Bath26/11 SHORTWOOD UNITED TCL/1SW H30/11 Thatcham Town TCL/1SW A03/12 CINDERFORD TOWN TCL/1SW H New Date…New Date07/12 YATE TOWN TCL/1SW H14/12 Didcot Town TCL/1SW A21/12 MERTHYR TOWN TCL/1SW H26/12 Clevedon Town TCL/1SW A28/12 FLEET TOWN TCL/1SW H01/01 PAULTON ROVERS TCL/1SW H04/01 Guildford City TCL/1SW A11/01 Swindon Supermarine TCL/1SW A18/01 TIVERTON TOWN TCL/1SW H25/01 Stratford Town TCL/1SW A01/02 EVESHAM UNITED TCL/1SW H08/02 North Leigh TCL/1SW A15/02 BRIDGWATER TOWN TCL/1SW H22/02 Cinderford Town TCL/1SW A01/03 WIMBORNE TOWN TCL/1SW H08/03 Bishops Cleeve TCL/1SW A15/03 GODALMING TOWN TCL/1SW H22/03 Shortwood United TCL/1SW A29/03 THATCHAM TOWN TCL/1SW H05/04 Yate Town TCL/1SW A12/04 Taunton Town TCL/1SW A19/04 CIRENCESTER TOWN TCL/1SW H21/04 Paulton Rovers TCL/1SW A26/04 DIDCOT TOWN TCL/1SW H

TBA YATE TOWN GFAST-SF H

FIELD REVIEW - 13

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TODAY’S FIXTURES

Tuesday 26th November 2013

THE CALOR LEAGUE – DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WEST

Evesham United v Cinderford Town

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED v SHORTWOOD UNITED

Merthyr Town v Bishops Cleeve

North Leigh v Cirencester Town

Stratford Town v Yate Town

Thatcham Town v Godalming Town

Tiverton Town v Bridgwater Town

WHERE THEY PLAY………….2013/14The Calor League - Division One South & West

BISHOPS CLEEVE Grd Kayte Lane, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 3PDTel. 01242-676166 Col. Green shirts / Black / BlackBRIDGWATER TOWN Grd Fairfax Park, College Way, Bath Road, Bridgwater. TA6 4TZTel. 01278-446899 Col. Red & White Stripes / Black/ RedCINDERFORD TOWN Grd Causeway Ground, Edge Hills Rd, Hilldene, Cinderford GL14 2QHTel. 07896-887162 Col. White shirts / Black/ BlackCIRENCESTER TOWN Grd The Corinium Stdm, Kingshill Lane, Cirencester, Glos GL7 1HSTel. 01285-654543 Col. Red & Black / Black / RedCLEVEDON TOWN Grd The Hand Stadium, Davis Lane, Clevedon, North Som. BS21 6TGTel. 01275-871600 Col. Burgundy & Blue stripes / Burgundy / BurgundyDIDCOT TOWN Grd Loop Meadow Stadium, Bowmont Water, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7GATel.01235-813138 Col. Red & White / White / Red & WhiteEVESHAM UNITED Grd Jubilee Stadium, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, Worcs WR112LZTel.01386-442303 Col. Red & White stripes / White / RedFLEET TOWN Grd Calthorpe Park, Crookham Road, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 5FATel. 01252-623804 Col. All BlueGODALMING TOWN Grd Wey Court, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3JETel. 01483-417520 Col. Yellow / Green / YellowGUILDFORD CITY Grd The Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1UPTel. 01483-443322 Col. Red & White stripes / Black / BlackMERTHYR TOWN Grd Penydarren Park, Park Terrace, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8RFTel. 07980-363675 Col. White & Black / Black / BlackNORTH LEIGH Grd Eynsham Park, Woodstock Rd, North Leigh, Witney. OX29 6SLTel. 07583-399577 Col. Yellow/Black/YellowPAULTON ROVERS Grd Athletic Grnd, Winterfield Road, Paulton, Nr. Bristol BS39 7RFTel. 01761-412907 Col. All MaroonSHORTWOOD UNITED Grd. Meadowbank, Shortwood, Nailsworth, Stroud GL6 0SJTel.01453-833936 Col. Red & White stripes / Black / BlackSTRATFORD TOWN Grd DCS Stdm, Knights Lane,Tiddington, Stratford-u-Avon CV37 7BZTel.01789-269336 Col. All BlueSWINDON SUPERM'E Grd Webbs Wood Stdm, Supermarine Road, South Marston SN3 4BZTel.01793-828778 Col. All BlueTAUNTON TOWN Grd Wordsworth Drive, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2HGTel. 01823-254909 Col. Claret shirts / Sky Blue / Sky BlueTHATCHAM TOWN Grd Waterside Park, Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berks RG19 4PATel. 01635-862016 Col. Blue & White stripes/Blue/BlueTIVERTON TOWN Grd Ladysmead, Bolham Road, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6SGTel. 01884-252397 Col. Black & Gold stripes / Black / BlackWIMBORNE TOWN Grd The Cuthbury, Cowgrove Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 4ELTel. 01202-884821 Col. Black & White Stripes /Black /BlackYATE TOWN Grd Lodge Road, Yate, Nr. Bristol, South Gloucestershire BS37 7LETel. 01454-228103 Col. White/ Navy/ White

FIELD REVIEW -14

DIVISION ONE SOUTH & WESTUp to and including Sunday 24th Nov. 2013

Pos Team P W D L F A Pts GD Results

1 North Leigh 15 12 0 3 40 11 36 29 1-2 x

2 Cirencester Town 15 12 0 3 40 20 36 20 x 1-2

3 Paulton Rovers 15 10 2 3 47 23 32 24 x

4 MANGOTSFIELD UTD 15 9 2 4 30 18 29 12 x x x

5 Wimborne Town 17 8 4 5 40 22 28 18 x 1-0

6 Merthyr Town 13 9 1 3 32 24 28 8 x 0-3

7 Swindon Supermarine 16 7 5 4 30 22 26 8 1-0 x

8 Taunton Town 17 7 4 6 33 26 25 7 1-2 x

9 Tiverton Town 14 7 3 4 27 25 24 2 x 3-2

10 Bridgwater Town 14 6 5 3 24 16 23 8 x 3-0

11 Stratford Town 15 6 3 6 37 32 21 5 2-0 x

12 Yate Town 15 6 3 6 27 30 21 -3 x

13 Evesham United 16 4 6 6 24 31 18 -7 x 3-0

14 Thatcham Town 16 4 4 8 16 35 16 -19 x

15 Shortwood United 11 4 3 4 29 18 15 11 x

16 Bishops Cleeve 15 5 0 10 29 41 15 -12 4-2 x

17 Cinderford Town 15 3 5 7 21 27 14 -6 x

18 Clevedon Town 13 4 2 7 18 24 14 -6 1-1 x

19 Godalming Town 15 4 1 10 14 31 13 -17 x 3-0

20 Didcot Town 15 3 3 9 21 36 12 -15 x

21 Fleet Town 16 1 5 10 12 40 8 -28 x 1-1

22 Guildford City 15 2 1 12 17 56 7 -39 5-3 x

FIELD REVIEW - 15

THAT WAS THE MONTH THAT WAS!Time now for a nostalgic look back at a particular month in recent or not so-recent years & see howwe fared in that period. Today we look at APRIL 1997.

MUFC RESULTS IN APRIL 1997

05-04-97 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 4, BIDEFORD 2 SCREWFIX LGE08-04-97 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 3, TIVERTON TOWN 0 SCREWFIX LGE12-04-97 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 0, CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1 LES PHILLIPS CUP15-04-97 BRIDGWATER TOWN 0, MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 2 SCREWFIX LGE19-04-97 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 4, TORRINGTON 1 SCREWFIX LGE22-04-97 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 1, CALNE TOWN 3 SCREWFIX LGE24-04-97 BRISLINGTON 0, MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 1 SCREWFIX LGE

THE 1996-1997 SEASON OVERALL

This was the season that it was all meant to happen, but it never quite did. The previous campaign,1995-1996, put us on the map, thanks to manager TERRY ROWLES & some astute signings. Wereached the FA Vase Semi-Finals, only to lose 2-1 to Clitheroe over 2 legs & we finished 3rd in theGreat Mills League behind the Big Two of Taunton Town & Tiverton Town. Backed by another largeplaying budget, Tel again assembled a strong-looking squad in 1996-97, but a challenge for the GMLtitle never materialized, as the Big Two disappeared over the horizon long before Christmas. Therewas to be no real Vase run either & although we finished 3rd in the GML again, our “big money” dayswere soon to be over. We did win the GFA Trophy though, so the season wasn’t a complete failure!

THE GAMES IN QUESTION

The month began with a fairly comfortable 4-2 home win v BIDEFORD. MATT RAWLINS (3 & 24)soon put us 2-0 ahead, but Ellis Laight (later of Taunton Town fame) pulled one back on 34. Devon-based MARK LORAM made it 3-1 right on half time & a MATT RAWLINS penalty on 48 minutesmade it 4-1 & as the game was just about wrapped up, coinciding with a red card for Bideford’s JohnMcMullen. Not to be outdone, Biddy got one back for 4-2 (86) in front of a pitifully low gate of just 112.

Then came a superb 3-0 win v mighty TIVERTON TOWN, who had gone 28 league games withoutdefeat! The win came when, in the mid-90s, Tivvy were at their absolute peak, so the importance ofthis win could not be under-estimated. NIGEL GILLARD (20) & MARK LORAM (34 & 55) netted thegoals in a sparkling MUFC show & the Post report later said that CARL SAUNDERS had produced “asparkling performance as MUFC destroyed Tiverton’s 28-match unbeaten league record”.

The Les Phillips Cup Semi-Final came next, but CHIPPENHAM TOWN had already been beatenTHREE times in different competitions at Cossham St in that season & they were in no mood to makeit 4! With a Cup Final place at stake, that strengthened their resolve & they finally got it right againstus, winning 1-0 thanks to a Barry Flippance goal (53). For us, this game came much too quickly afterthe Tiverton match & clearly, we were still on Cloud 9 from the previous Tuesday night!

But we bounced back well 3 days later, winning 2-0 at BRIDGWATER TOWN, which always was adifficult place to win at. MATT RAWLINS (pen) & MARK LORAM found the target for us & then wesaw off TORRINGTON with a 4-1 home win. MATT RAWLINS (2) & RICHARD THOMPSON (27)set us on our way, but Dave Bath (40) netted a timely penalty for the Super Greens. The visitorsbattled well after the break, but we got back on track to wrap up the points with further goals fromPAUL CICHY (76) & ANDY PERRETT (81). Our euphoria didn’t last long, though, as mid-tableCALNE TOWN won 3-1 at Cossham St. Early strikes from Wayne Townsend (13) & Steve Davis (21)knocked us for 6, but although ANDY PERRETT eventually pulled one back on 62, Tony Hammersleythen rammed home Calne’s 3rd goal on 68 & that was that! The final game of the month came 2 dayslater & we were back on song again as MARK LORAM bagged the only goal of the game at nearbyBRISLINGTON with just 9 minutes to go. Meanwhile, there’ll be more from TWTMTW again soon.

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FIELD REVIEW - 16

THE WORLD OF SOCCERWELCOME ONCE AGAIN to “THE WORLD OF SOCCER”, the column that brings you news storiesfrom around the globe.

Now I’m pretty sure that this first item really is a bit of a first, because I don’t recall ever including astory from TAJIKISTAN in the 20-odd years we’ve been running this column – and in case you’rewondering the country is, well, it is just to the north-east of Afghanistan, but you probably knewroughly where it was anyway because all those countries that end in “Stan” are round theresomewhere! But as to the story itself, this one popped up in a recent issue of Metro. It turned outrecently that a striker out there in Tajikistan had his electricity switched off after scoring 2 goals whichknocked the local team out of a cup competition. Ahtam Hamroqulov of visiting side Regar TadAZ hita brace of goals to send FC Vakash crashing out of the Tajikistan FA Cup.

However, when the jubilant striker returned home, he discovered that engineers had shut off hispower supplies. The local mayor, in charge of such things in Vakash, said that he had ordered theutilities to be shut down because the player hadn’t paid his bills, something which the player laterdenied. Oddly enough, Hamroqulov’s power supplies remained switched off for 5 more days, bywhich time Regar TadAZ were themselves dumped out of the Tajikistan FA Cup in the next round,and all of a sudden, the player’s power supply was restored. Coincidence? Possibly, or was theMayor of Vakash just a sore loser?

Moving back into Europe, the next story comes from ITALY with the announcement that Italy’splayers will be banned from using Twitter, Facebook & other social networking at the World Cup nextsummer. Coach Cesare Prandelli told the Italian media, “We are looking at banning the use of socialnetworks, right from the start of the World Cup training camp.” The announcement came just daysafter Mario Balotelli (who else?) used his Twitter feed to distance himself from a suggestion that heshould be regarded as a role model in the fight against the Mafia!! Balotelli’s reply prompted aleading anti-Mafia campaigner to label him as an “imbecile”, which is nothing new really, given theway he acted over here at times when he was at Manchester City. But getting mixed up with theMafia?? Not advisable, unless you want to end up in a concrete overcoat at the bottom of the sea!

Now staying in ITALY, here’s a story that appeared in the Metro a week or two ago. Apparently, anItalian Division 3 match between Salernitana & Nocerina was abandoned after one of the teams,having allegedly received death threats from their own fans (!), were reduced to just SIX men afteronly 21 minutes play! Very suspicious indeed. Visitors Nocerina made 3 substitutions in the firstTWO MINUTES (!) before no less than 5 players left the field “injured”, leaving just 6 playersremaining & that is, of course, below the minimum needed to continue the game. Away fans hadalready been banned from the game anyway, but it appears the Nocerina players took the deaththreats seriously and just bricked it. Still, there’s always the next game, isn’t there……

Now fans of SWEDEN star Zlatan Ibrahimovic will soon be able to lick the back of his head when heis honoured in a new set of postage stamps. The PSG striker will be featured on 5 different Swedishstamps & he is believed to have taken an active role in the project. He told the local media, “It is agreat honour to be on a postage stamp. I usually receive many bills & they seldom have nice stampson them. Maybe that will change now?” Well, whatever his bills are, I’m sure he can easily afford topay them!

And let’s say welcome to the new team in world football – GIBRALTAR!! And because it’s English orBritish territory, despite Spain getting a little uppity about it all lately, then we’ll support them all theway! They began life in international football with a highly creditable 0-0 draw v Slovakia last week, sothere was no hint of a San Marino-style hammering which we might have expected. Barnsleydefender Scott Wiseman played for the new boys (his mother was born in Gibraltar) & said, “It wasgreat to be part of such a historic occasion & especially to pull off a result like that. There were acouple of police officers in the team, 2 surveyors – all sorts really. We know we’re going to be upagainst it from now on, but everyone loves an underdog!” Very true indeed, so let’s wish them all thebest in February’s draw for Euro 2016! Meanwhile, there’ll be more from the WOS again soon.

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FIELD REVIEW - 17

HOBNAIL BOOTS TO SLIPPERS!Graham Mills is based in St. Neots, Cambs. He produces the Eynesbury Rovers programme andpens articles for Bristol Rovers. He has very kindly passed on some very readable articles forthe FIELD REVIEW.

Did you know that the earliest recorded pair of football boots dates back to 1526? Apparently KingHenry VIII’s football boots were listed within the Great Wardrobe of 1526, a shopping list of the day.They were made by his personal shoemaker at a cost of 4 shillings (20p). Unfortunately little is knownabout them as they failed to survive!

In the 1800’s, before football became the organised game we know today, players would wear theirhard, leather, steel toe-capped work boots. These boots would have metal studs or tacks hammeredinto them for additional stability. As Laws became introduced studs were allowed but they had to berounded. These leather studs, known as cleats, were hammered into the early football boots. The shapeof the boot became more like a shoe but with thick, hard leather going up the ankle for added protection.From 1900 until the mid 1940’s boots remained relatively unchanged.

However, it was in this era that several well known companies began producing boots, Gola (1905),Valsport (1920) and Danish boot makers Hummel (1923). In 1925 a German company began producingfootball boots which had 6 or 7 replaceable nailed studs, which could be changed according to thecondition of the pitch.

After the Second World War the lighter, more flexible boot, being worn by South Americans, changedthe emphasis on manufacturing boots with the focus on controlling the ball rather than just protectingthe feet. In 1948 two German brothers fell out with one forming Adidas and the other forming Puma.Both companies are household names to this day. This lead to interchangeable screw in studs made ofplastic or rubber being produced reputedly by Puma in the early 1950’s but the honour is also claimedby Adidas. Football boots of this time were made of a mixture of leather and synthetic materials butwere still over the ankle.

The 1960’s saw the lower cut design introduced for the first time. Adidas emerged as the market leaderwith 75% of players in the 1966 World Cup Finals wearing their boots. The 1970’s saw boot sponsorshiptake off, where players were being paid to wear only one brand. It was around this time that bootsbecame lighter and were produced in a variety of colours, including the all-white football boot.

The biggest change in recent times in design and boot technology came in the 1980’s when formerLiverpool player Craig Johnston created the Predator football boot. This boot was designed to providegreater traction between the boot and the ball/ground. It also allowed for greater surface areas to comeinto contact with the ball when being hit by the boot, with a series of power and swerve zones allowingthe player to create greater power and swerve when hitting the ‘sweet spots’.

The Predator was eventually launched in 1994 by Adidas. It also replaced conventional studs with abladed design covering the sole. The 1990’s saw Reebok (1992) Uhlsport (1993) and Mizuno (1997),with other companies, joining the ever increasing and lucrative football boot market place. Nike, theworld’s biggest sportswear producers made an immediate impact in 1998 with its Nike Mercurial bootweighing in at just 200g.

Developments in the 21st century have seen Nomis Wet control technology producing the sticky boot(2002), the Craig Johnston Pig Boot (2003) and the Lotto Zhero Gravity laceless football boots (2006).However, there appears to be concern about how little protection these modern boots afford the wearer.

Metatarsal injuries appear almost common place nowadays and I can’t help thinking that today’s bootscannot help. I suggest that the next time you visit a sports shop pick up a pair.

I wear slippers that are heavier than a pair of modern football boots!

FIELD REVIEW - 18

YOUTH TEAM NEWS & STATS 2013/14SOMERSET FLOODLIGHT YOUTH LEAGUE 2013-14 - FIXTURES

04/09 WESTON-SUPER-MARE SFYL H 2-2 Monelle, Broughton12/09 KEYNSHAM TOWN RSMC-1` H 2-0 Rhys-Jones, Josh Bennett25/09 BRISTOL ACADEMY FAYC 1QR H 1-2 Justin Lee30/09 TAUNTON TOWN SFYL H 6-1 Broughton 2, Hemmings 2, Rhys-Jones,

Henry09/10 BRISLINGTON SFYL H 7-0 Hemmings 3, Henderson, Monelle, Rhys-Jones, Henry13/10 Gotherington GYFAS-R1 A 8-0 Monelle 3, Stevens 2, Broughton 2, White16/10 Ashton & Backwell SFYL A 6-1 Broughton 2 (1p), Henry, Lee, Dodimead,

Hemmings24/10 ASHTON & BACKWELL SFYL H 6-1 Lee 2, Broughton, Hemmings, Dodimead

Shamrock14/11 LYDNEY TOWN GYFAS-R2 H W/O19/11 Gillingham Town SFYL A 2-127/11 PAULTON ROVERS RSMC-QF H04/12 BRIDGWATER TOWN SFYL H09/12 Weston-super-Mare SFYL A18/12 ODD DOWN ATHLETIC SFYL H06/01 Taunton Town SFYL A15/01 TIVERTON TOWN SFYL H22/01 GILLINGHAM TOWN SFYL H04/02 Bridgwater Town SFYL A18/02 Tiverton Town SFYL A06/03 Odd Down Athletic SFYL A

TBA Brislington SFYL A

SFYL Table – Premier Division

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 6 5 1 0 29 6 16Bridgwater Town 5 3 1 1 10 7 10Weston-super-Mare 4 2 2 0 14 8 8Brislington 6 2 1 3 8 14 7Tiverton Town 3 2 0 1 10 1 6Gillingham Town 5 2 0 3 9 8 6Taunton Town 6 2 1 3 12 18 6 *Odd Down 5 2 0 3 5 14 6Ashton & Backwell 6 0 0 6 6 27 0

Point Deducted*

Our Gloucestershire Youth FA Shield tie at home to Lydney Town never happened. Because of Lydney Town’sinability to raise a team, Mangotsfield United were awarded a walkover. The date and opponents for the nextround has not yet been decided.

Recently, the youngsters won 2-1 at Gillingham Town, extending their lead at the top to six points. Theyare at home tomorrow evening to Paulton Rovers in the Roger Stone Memorial Cup.Recent League results saw Odd Down beat Brislington 2-1, Bridgwater won 3-1 at Taunton Town andWeston-super Mare whipped Ashton & Backwell 5-0 at Woodspring Stadium.

http://full-time.thefa.com – This is the website for all the information you need. Go to the letter S andclick on the SOMERSET FLOODLIGHT YOUTH LEAGUE.

FIELD REVIEW -19

MANGOTSFIELD UTD SUPPORTERS CLUB(2009)Fundraising

2013/14

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Thankyou everyone who are supporting our events and fund-raising this season. It is a great help to theclub and also helps the Supporters Club, who will be helping the Football club, in many ways, oncemore.

The 2013/14 Season’s 50 Club draw, (for October) was held after the game against Bishops Cleeve.The winners were:

£100 18 JANE WILCOX£50 16 GARY MARKS£25 17 MIKE RICHARDSON

The Player of the month for October was MATT SYSUM, and he in turn drew the numbers for the abovedraw. The November draws will take place after the December 7th home game with Yate Town. The re-arranged home game with Cinderford Town has been slotted in for Tuesday 3rd December.

The CLUB SHOP are re-stocking this season. Already, we have received some replica shirts and wecan order more. Just ask if you need one. Also Polo shirts have been delivered and we can obtaintraining tops and track-suit tops. Supporters Club members of 10% can be applied. We are also hopingto have the new scarves delivered very soon. Dave Wilcox has ordered them for us, especially nowthat Autumn is here! We also have a selection of last season’s training tops and track-suit bottomswhich will be sold cheaply. We have just acquired some fleeces – just the thing for the comingmonths, and priced at just £25. WE NOW HAVE SOME WOOLLY HATS IN MAROON. £10 or £9 forsupporter Club members.

Our next away game when a coach will be running, could possibly be the trip to DIDCOT TOWN onSaturday 14th December. This is still to be confirmed . As usual, it will be on a ‘first come’ first served’basis and bookings can be made with DANNY WEST on 07766118384. Supporters Club members £10,non-members, £12.50.

A NIGHT at SWINDON DOGS is at the planning stage for Saturday 11th January 2014, following ourgame at Supermarine and we would appreciate any feedback. If there is enough demand, a coach orminibus will be booked for the evening.

A RACE NIGHT has been agreed for Saturday 7th December following the local ‘derby’ against YateTown. I imagine that MUSC will be looking to SHAUN LECRASS to carry out his usual excellentarrangements for this. First race will go off at 5.45pm. Committee members will be looking forsponsorship and selling horses.

A reminder to one or two fans who have STILL not yet renewed their membership for the 2013/14campaign. Come on, there’s a fridge magnet, or a badge, waiting for you! We hope that the fans willsupport our events planned for the season. It all helps the coffers and then we can give the football clubeven more money.!

If any of the supporters have any ideas or proposals that they think would help MUSC, then please seea Committee member so that they can discuss this at their next monthly meeting. They are, DaveWilcox, Gary Marks, James Packwood, Tracy Lecrass, Terry Stevens, John Packwood & Ollie Marks.The next Monthly Committee Meeting is scheduled for, Monday 16th November 2013.

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A STEP BACK IN TIMECARL SAUNDERSCarl Saunders proved to be one of Bristol Rovers’ best goal-scorers in modern times. He was a goodpositional striker who could create goal-scoring opportunities from nothing. Nicknamed ‘Billy Ocean’

due to his similarity to the pop singer of that name, Saunders was areal crowd favourite. He joined Rovers at a time when they werepushing for promotion and won a Third Division Championship medalin that first season. He also played at Wembley in the Leyland DAFCup Final and was voted Man of the Match for that particularperformance, despite being on the losing side. Carl’s FOUR goals inthe FA Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle were a personal highlight andalso the two goals he scored against Liverpool. The strike at Anfield inthe Cup replay will always be thought of as one of the best seen, by aRovers player. Saunders was voted Player of the Season in 1992, butinjury problems and a change in management restricted hisopportunities. He turned down the offer of a further one-year contractat the club and after his release, surprisingly found difficulty gettingfixed up with another league club. For Stoke City, Carl 23 goals in 130(34) league appearances and for Oxford and Walsall just the odd oneor two appearances. In August 1994, he went to Malta to play forSliema Wanderers. On the 17th August 1996, travelling Mangotsfieldfans were surprised to see Carl Saunders make his debut at Elmore.He scored a hat-trick that day, in the 12th, 38th and 54th minutes but so

easily should have doubled his tally. He made 25 (9) appearances for The Field, scoring 11 goals !

WAYNE POWELLWas briefly a Mangotsfield United player in 1984, but he did not stay long and moved onto Minehead,before going to Paulton Rovers. Born in 1956 in Caerphilly, Wayne made his debut for Bristol Roverson the 4th October 1975, as a substitute against Nottingham Forest.In May 1977, Wayne headed a last-minute goal to complete his hat-trick in Rovers 3-1 Second Division victory over Sheffield United.The young Welshman had scored on his league debut in that 4-2win over Forest, after Peter Aitken had broken his leg. Powell scoredsome timely goals in his career, including the winning goal a weekbefore his hat-trick, as Rovers came back from two down at Carlisle,to win 3-2. He was a member of the Welsh Youth squad which wentto the UEFA Youth Cup Finals in 1974 and he had scored threetimes in Rovers’ reserves remarkable 6-5 victory over Crystal Palacereserves in August 1975.

Despite being sent off against Norwich City reserves in October1976, he was just making the centre-forward position his own when,Rovers signed a young striker named Paul Randall. Powell went onloan to Halifax and he played for Hereford United AGAINST Roversin both legs of a league cup first round tie in August 1978. He firstplayed for Minehead (then a Southern League side) atKidderminster in December 1980, scoring 41 goals in 151 (4)appearances in all competitions.

When he was sold briefly to Merthyr Tydfil, because of a lack of goals, he apparently scored FOURtimes on his debut in a friendly and appeared in 14 (2) Southern League games for the club. In thelate 1980’s he was playing in local football for Hanham Athletic.Wayne’s son LEWIS is, of course, back with ‘The Field’ this season.

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ATHENIAN REMEMBERED (1)The Athenian League was formed in 1912 at a meeting at Norwich House, Holborn. The Foundermembers were Barnet & Alston, Catford Southend, Chelmsford, Chesham Town, Enfield, Finchley,Grays Athletic, Romford Town and Tufnell Park. Catford Southend were the first Champions in the1912-13 season and the following season, membership was increased to twelve clubs with theinclusion of Hastings and St.Leonards, Luton Clarence and Metrogas. The following campaignTownley Park created a record for brevity of membership of any league. They were elected membersof the Athenian League on 5th June 1914 and resigned on 15th June 1914. Hampstead Town, laterknown as Hendon, took their place.

The League closed down between 1914-19 as a result of the First World War, but when it resumed in1919-20, it still had twelve clubs in membership. However, Bromley, Cheshunt, Kingstonian, Southall,Summerstown, Uxbridge and Wimbledon, had replaced Catford Southend, Chesham Town, Enfield,Finchley, Grays Athletic, Hastings and St.Leonards, Romford Town and Tufnell Park. At the end ofthe 1919-20 season, Cheshunt and Uxbridge were replaced by St. Albans City and West London OldBoys. However, West London Old Boys only lasted one season. In 1921-22, Wimbledon became thefirst of many Athenian League clubs to accept an invitation to play in the Isthmian League, but withthe return of Cheshunt and Enfield and the addition of Guildford and Sutton United, the league nowhad fourteen clubs in membership.

Windsor & Eton joined the league in 1922-23 but Chelmsford and Metrogas left. St. Albans City joinedthe Isthmian League in 1923-24 and Guildford also left. These clubs were replaced by Barking andRedhill from The London League. Uxbridge returned to the Athenian League in 1924-25 and WestNorwood also competed, but Luton Clarence left the league. London League club Leyton, the FAAmateur Cup holders, joined in 1927-28 in place of West Norwood. Wealdstone replacedSummerstown in 1928-29, whilst Kingstonian joined the Isthmian League in 1929-30. Windsor & Etontransferred to the Spartan League at the same time, with Finchley being the only replacement.However, Finchley were forced to resign after only one season because of ground difficulties andwere replaced by Hayes.

Romford replaced Cheshunt for the 1931-32 season. There were no further changes until 1937 whenUxbridge Town left to join the Spartan League. Tooting & Mitcham United joined the Athenian Leaguein 1938-39. The Second World War brought the league to a close in 1939 and upon resumption in1945-46, Romford & Walthamstow Avenue accepted invitations to join the Isthmian League. Theirplaces were taken by Finchley and Hitchin Town, thus retaining the 14 club membership. For the firsttime, in 1950-51, this increased to 16 with the election of Cambridge City and Walton & Hersham.During that season, Leyton were forced to play all their games on their opponents’ grounds as theirown pitch was declared unsuitable. They finished bottom of the Athenian League that season !!

SEASON 1931-32 TABLE

Barnet 26 17 5 4 90 56 39Hayes 26 16 4 6 74 50 36Leyton 26 15 4 7 74 46 34Hampstead 26 14 4 8 72 52 32Barking Town 26 13 6 7 71 54 32Wealdstone 26 12 3 11 65 70 27Enfield 26 12 2 12 81 65 26Romford 26 10 6 10 64 61 26Sutton United 26 9 7 10 65 56 25Walthamstow Av. 26 10 5 11 57 65 25Southall 26 8 4 14 52 72 20Redhill 26 7 3 16 59 83 19Bromley 26 7 2 17 65 91 16Uxbridge Town 26 4 1 21 29 97 9

More soon from Athenian Remembered….

FIELD REVIEW - 22

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FIELD REVIEW - 23

AND ANOTHER THING!! -1Plenty to chat about today, as usual, so let’s crack on without further ado:

FIRST BATCH OF QUICKIES: Well, following the mid-October international break, we had noless than EIGHT Premier League matches on the Saturday, and just the one on the Sunday. That’sgot to be a record of some sort……. The long overdue 2-0 home win by Bristol City v a very poorCrawley Town side (quickly followed by the 3-0 FA Cup home win v Dagenham & Redbridge) liftedeveryone at Ashton Gate – just a little. That was City’s first home win for EIGHT MONTHS. Onejoke doing the rounds before that game (and aired on TalkSport as well) was that some babies inBristol had been conceived & born since City’s previous home win last March!!..........Mind you,despite that City win v Crawley, a mate of mine found himself driving past the City ground just asthe fans emerged after the game. He said they all looked as if they’d lost again! No one was smilingor cheering, they were all looking gloomy! I said perhaps it was because they were in a state ofshock after seeing something that is even rarer than a snowflake in July – a Bristol City homewin!!......And staying with Bristol City, many fans there have never been convinced by SeanO’Driscoll & his ways, but it seems to have passed many people by that another former City managerwho was never rated too highly, Keith Millen, has recently been in temporary charge at CrystalPalace following the Ian Holloway departure. Keith Millen in the Premier League – who’d havethought it?....... And it’s an old chestnut, I know, but Manchester City never fielded a single Englishplayer in their 5-2 CL win v CSKA Moscow…..whilst over at Norwich City, they definitely hadcause for concern after the Canaries were stuffed 7-0 at Man City the previous weekend. That wasNorwich’s 10th game of the season & at that point, according to the stats, their recognised strikershad only mustered SIX shots on target ALL SEASON! One can only imagine what the combinedweekly wage of the Norwich strikers is & they hardly ever shoot, let alone score!

NOW THE APPOINTMENT OF MARTIN O’NEILL AND ROY KEANE as the new Republic of Irelandmanagement team is an odd one, given past history & so on. Keane is a man who looks permanentlyangry at the best of times & as a TV pundit, you are always waiting for him to explode on screen &start ranting & raving, but he always somehow managed to stay just behind his line. One mediapundit recently came up with an odd explanation in trying to explain how the new Irish managementduo would gel, and it was something along these lines, almost word for word:

“Imagine you’re walking along the road & suddenly a fire starts in your pocket. All you have with youis a very tiny water pistol & you try to put the fire out with that. Trouble is, it only fires a tiny jet ofwater & that makes no difference whatsoever to the fire, which then starts to get bigger & hotter, andin the end, you have to stop & take your trousers off to stop yourself from being badly burned & thenstamp on the burning trousers to put the fire out”.

Well, that all sounds very Eric Cantona, seagulls & trawlers to me, but I guess what it really means isthat Martin O’Neill might well have a job on keeping Roy Keane in check!

SECOND BATCH OF QUICKIES: Well, I hear it all kicked off at Cadbury Heath v RadstockTown last week, with a player from both sides sent off near the end & then some fisticuffs in thedressing rooms afterwards. Mind you, I did like the comment on the Heath website afterwards, whichsaid, “And if anyone has a spare away team dressing room door, we would appreciate it” …….SoWales are now saying that they might not play Gareth Bale in international friendlies in future inorder to “protect him” – ye gods, if Wales are EVER to qualify for a tournament, they need their bestplayers ALL THE TIME & that includes friendlies, otherwise they’re going to end up with anotherRyan Giggs situation all over again, as HE only ever seemed to play for Wales when he (or Sir Alex)felt like it…….Meanwhile, down in Cornwall, WELL DONE to Peninsula League Division 1 Westside Foxhole Stars for bagging their first win last week since February 2012 (!!!!!) when theydefeated Vospers Oak Villa by 4-3……And much has been debated here & there about our gateof 87 last week v Stratford, and yes, it was pretty cold & England v Germany was on the box aswell, but I note than none of the 4 local Toolstation League matches that night had a gate higher than51 & even Thatcham, in our own division, could only manage 52 v Bridgwater, so it’s not just us whoare wondering where everyone is! Sign of the times, of course, but what’s the answer? PTO

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AND ANOTHER THING!! - 2IT’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL!! 3 things today:

(1) NOW WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID in the FIELD REVIEW that we should never talk aboutpolitics, but I’m going to break that unwritten rule today, just for once, so let me try and putit this way: How is it possible that ANOTHER country that receives a lot of monetary aidfrom THIS country has recently been able to send a SPACE ROCKET to Mars??!! Unlessit’s similar to the one in Wallace & Gromit, made out of bits of old wood & metal??!!

(2) NOW YOU HAVE TO LAUGH AT THIS STORY spotted in the press recently – a lorrycarrying BRANSTON PICKLE crashed the other week & shed its load near CHEDDAR.Cheese? Pickle? Oh, please yourselves!

(3) SOMEONE WROTE TO THE SUN THE OTHER WEEK & said that they watch the JeremyKyle Show every day & were amazed at the amount of young people on the programmewho have broken, missing or very bad teeth. Now I’m just amazed that someone admittedto watching the JKS every single day! I don’t know about the dental state of some of thepeople who do go on there, but I do know that most of those characters are all from theFamily From Hell & should be avoided at all costs!

NOW HOW ABOUT THIS STORY THAT APPEARED IN THE METRO THE OTHER WEEK?“Tottenham Hotspur have forced an amateur team to change its badge, saying it looked too muchlike theirs. The club threatened to sue Hampshire side Fleet Spurs unless they altered their cockerillmotif. Bosses said that they would not have sought damages had the case come to court, butneeded to assert their “legal rights” over their crest – a cockerill standing on a ball. Fleet Spurs,actually founded by Tottenham fans (!), now face a £3,000 bill to alter their logo, which is a cockerillkicking a ball”.

Well, all I can say is – Tottenham, you are PATHETIC if you seriously believe Fleet Spurs, a WessexLeague club in in Hampshire, are a threat to your legal rights. What a load of Northampton Towns– but hey, let’s be fair, on that basis, I can’t use the word that one would normally use at the end ofthat phrase, just in case NTFC try to sue me for using their nickname in vain – as if! But thisTottenham business really is a joke, but then, without Gareth Bale, so are they & they know it. FleetSpurs were founded in 1948, so they have been around for some time already. They did not comeup with their name or badge 5 minutes ago. Do the powers-that-be at Tottenham seriously believethat people MIGHT mistake the Fleet Town badge for the Tottenham one??? Tottenham, do thedecent thing – apologise to Fleet Spurs for all the hassle over this matter, give them a few grand fortheir trouble, (as well as a pre-season friendly) let them keep their badge, and then wipe all the eggoff your Premier League faces because this story makes you look REALLY STUPID.

THIRD BATCH OF QUICKIES: Fair play to any Oxford Utd fans who went to Gateshead lastWednesday, only for the game to be called off at the 11th hour; that is one heck of a long journeyhome in midweek when you haven’t even seen a ball kicked whatsoever!......And having watchedthe England v Germany highlights, I think there are perhaps 2 ways to look at the way Englandare at present – (1) “OK, we lost to Chile & Germany, but hey, so what, it’s only friendlies, we’ll learnfrom them & we’ll be OK for Brazil next summer; and (2), Well, we’ve been found out BIG TIME byChile and Germany’s Reserves & I really fear for us next summer. Can’t even see us getting out ofthe group stages! Why are we even going?” My views, basically, are a bit of both, in all honesty, butdeep down, we all know (and fear) that we’ll fail somewhere along the way, won’t we? But if I had todescribe last week’s Germany game – from the highlights I saw – in historical terms, then I’d say thatEngland were definitely shades of Neville Chamberlain waving a piece of paper around in 1938,thinking that “everything was going to be OK”, whilst Germany, in football terms, certainly had a bit ofBlitzkrieg about them, by sending in some of their second strings first to mop up the opposition,whilst keeping a lot of their elite on stand-by…..And finally, what are we supposed to think whenReferees’ Chief Mike Riley telephoned WBA last week to say that referee Andre Marriner got itWRONG to award Chelsea that penalty after The Cheat Known As Ramires FELL OVER in the boxin the most blatant of ways? OK, the apology doesn’t change the score, but it does confirm thatRamires is a cheat, so come on now, FA, punish the player! THE FIELD MARSHALL

FIELD REVIEW -

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