 |
|
|
Because of the growing connections and emphasis on youth
within the Cheshunt area, the Club decided in 1989, after
almost 20 years in the Enfield Alliance League, to join the
McMullens League. In their first season they won the
Division 3 title and the League Cup. They were promptly
promoted to Division 1 and became champions in that season
1984/5. Somersett also achieved great success in the County
Cup, reaching the final. Despite their quick rise into the
Premier Division they established themselves as a forceful
premier league side.
In 1991, Ambury FC, a premier division team from the Sunday
Brooke Waltham League, joined forces with Somersett to
become Somersett Ambury V & E FC, then known locally as SAVE
FC. In 1993 the club joined the Herts. Senior League as a
division one team. Within two seasons they won promotion to
the premier league. After finishing as ‘runners-up’ in the
Herts. Senior premier league in1997/8 the Club applied for
and was accepted into the Spartan South Midlands League
Premier Division. This was by far the clubs most ambitious
challenge and one the club board members and players looked
forward to. 1998/99 season saw the club coming of age as we
gained Senior status in the Spartan South Midlands League.
It was an eye opener, playing competitive games twice a week
with a small squad soon proved an uphill task. Still we
weathered the storm with an experienced manager in the form
of Dave STEADMAN. We finished 18th in the league and looked
to improve in the 1999/2000 season. In the closed season we
had a change of manager manager welcoming Kevin ROWARK to
the club. Again we found the squad light of experienced
players and had a languid time through out, never leaving
the lower section of the league. By March the club was in
serious threat of relegation so the responsibility of
manager passed to long serving player Paul ROBBINS. His hard
endeavour together with the determination of the squad saw
us survive by the skin of our teeth.
In February 2000 SAVE made a few changes to the committee
and introduced a full time bar steward/groundsman, Wayne
MORRIS a player and member of the club since the early
8092s. Those decisions lead to a dramatic upturn in the
clubs finances and we were able for the first time to plan
ahead with some degree of certainty. By the autumn Lyn
BENDING an experienced Licencee took over the bar, improving
the Social side of the club still further. The summer saw
improvements to the pitch, alterations to the bar, resiting
of the kitchen and redecoration of both changing rooms.
However by far the most important change came in the form of
new manager Andy LEESE and his staff of Tony MILLS and Mark
STANDEN. All came from Potters Bar bringing with them a
squad of young and enthusiastic players. The change in
training and the numbers involved through July and August
was very encouraging and with solid wins against Ryman sides
Berkhampstead and Leyton Penant all beared well for the new
season.
The season began with a loss at Potters Bar in the Herts.
Charity Shield but this did not daunt this new side for
SAVE. As was to be seen throughout the following eight
months every player gave their all and when they were down,
they were at their most dangerous, frequently turning a
deficit at half-time into a win. Despite the bad weather,
which began in October, the side battled through and by
Christmas were an acknowledged side to be reckoned with.
Narrowly beaten in the FA Vase by Jewson side Maiden Town
they bounced back with a deserved win at Letchworth in the
Challenge Trophy on a windy wet night. Mid table was the aim
but by February anything less than sixth place would have
been a disappointment. Sticking to the task the players did
all Andy LEESE required of them - the reward being fifth in
the league a feat far exceeding the clubs wildest dreams.
Further reward was to come in the Roy Bailey Cup with a fine
win at Hertford and a methodical workman like performance at
Ryman Divison 2 club Cheshunt. This led to a final against
Hoddesdon Town. A hard season was rounded off with a
deserved win. Again the character of the side shone through
and it was their determination and belief that won the day.
The 2001/2 season brought rich reward to the club. In the
F.A. Vase we went to Bury Town F.C. beating them 5 - 4.
A pulsating match that with twenty minutes to go we were
loosing by three goals. This was all overturned, with SAVE
scoring four in that short time. The following round we went
out narrowly to Ryman Two side Barton Rovers. In the F.A.
Cup in our inaugural year we beat Clapton from Ryman Three,
and Stewarts and Lloyds from the Midlands. Finally we met
Canvey Island then leaders of the Premier Division of the
Rymans League. Yes we were well beaten by a semiprofessional
club but we made many friends and now look forward to these
competitions in the coming year. In the league we finished
mid table, maybe a slight disappointment, however it
established us as a team to be reckoned with capable of
beating any team on the day. In cup competitions we faired
better reaching but loosing in the semi-finals of the Roy
Bailey trophy and the Spartans South Midlands Floodlight
Cup. There are major changes ahead for the new season, not
least a name change. It was felt that the name Somersett
Ambury gave no clue as to our location, indeed few people in
the area appreciated that we were their local club. So,
after much discussion we unanimously agree to be registered
as Broxbourne Borough V & E F.C.
The V & E being retained to maintain our charity status. Our
youth section expanded thanks to Broxbourne Saints youth
section joining the club giving us an additional nine sides,
as we welcome them and hope the move is a success for all.
In the Senior football we lost first team manager Andy Leese
who has taken up the vacant position at Ryman club Cheshunt.
We wish him every success in this new venture . This left us
the problem of finding a successor, no mean feat giving the
achievements Andy made in two seasons. W e felt that we did
not need to look far and gave the job to Andy’s assistant,
David CRAIG. With a small squad and key players gone it was
going to be a difficult time yet he achieved 13th place and
but for an error by the club secretary would have made 11th
spot.
The football remained entertaining and many notable games
were won against stronger opposition. It was a shame that
David couldn't continue this season however family
commitments have prevented this. 2003/04 season saw the
arrival of old player, new Manager Martin WADE, who lived
locally and who could find enough local players to continue
the success of the club. His assistants were John WARD a
former manager at the club and a long serving player in the
Ryman League, and another Ryman player Matt BARLOW. Martin
found the going tough particularly when he realised he
didn’t have enough quality players. The club were not in a
position to assist financially so it is to his credit and
his players that they achieved 16th spot and at no time did
they look as though they would be relegation candidates. In
the closed season Peter THEO arrived from Royston Town - he
not only became Manager of the first team but also through
the setting up of a new company took over the running of the
club.
His direction in the first twelve months has led to a
transformation of the clubhouse and pitch with seating for
150 people and a new stand due for completion in Autumn
2005. On the field he has produced a team that reached 9th
in the league table and but for a poor run over the
Christmas and New Year could have achieved a top three
position. 2004/05 started with a mixture of the old and new,
so it was difficult initially to reach a decent standard of
football to worry the leading sides although we did become a
thorn in the side of leading club Hanwell Town who we beat
both home and away. The side ended on a settled note in the
latter stages of the season and ran up a series of wins that
showed we were on the right road.
So as season 2005/06 approaches with training underway from
June and with some new significant signings the future does
look interesting. The aim is to finish in the top three. In
fact Peter Theo insists, that is non negotiable which with
the likelihood of three teams being promoted at the end of
the season is heartening news. For this reason Broxbourne
have set out to reach the next ground grading by Christmas
to ensure that given the opportunity we WANT promotion. With
the new lease about to be negotiated these are exiting time
for the club. |
|
