Felixstowe & Walton United FC. First Team Programme Information Updated: 18/02/2019

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1 Felixstowe & Walton United FC First Team Programme Information Updated: 18/02/2019

2 History Felixstowe & Walton United Football Club aka The Seasiders were formed in 2000 from two football clubs who were independent in their own right although they had merged briefly just prior to the Second World War to be called Felixstowe United (not to be confused with the present day Felixstowe United (Now Felixstowe Harpers United) who play in The Suffolk & Ipswich League) The joining lasted until 1952 when the clubs went their separate ways. Formed in 1895, Walton United played at The Recreation ground in Recreation Way Walton while Felixstowe Town, formed five years earlier played at The Town Ground, Dellwood Avenue. The second amalgamation in 2000 looked a good marriage for the right reasons. Walton United had just won the Suffolk Senior Cup and were on the up but with nowhere to go as the Recreation ground at Walton could not accommodate Eastern Counties League standard facilities. Felixstowe Town had been renamed Felixstowe Port & Town due to their sponsorship by the Port, but when that was withdrawn in 1999/2000 it left the Town club struggling to recover and maintain Eastern Counties League football. It looked and proved to be a good decision by both clubs that they therefore merged with Dellwood Avenue becoming their home Venue. It was a struggle in the early years after the merger with relegation coming in 2002, but it offered the chance for the club to regroup and focus on the future with a growing youth set up and getting the basics right off the pitch and the club regained Premier Division status in 2006 when they finished runners up in Division One. Tied by what can be done at their present home the club always found it difficult to compete with the top sides in the Premier Division with what was the unique task of raising and lowering of the floodlights before and after games and the restrictions placed on the club by the local authorities. The Seasiders remained positive throughout and now have the lights permanently erected during the football season and have an excellent youth set up including junior non-competitive youngsters at under 8 plus four girls sides and provide sporting facilities on The Peninsula from six through to adulthood. At the end of the 2016/17 season a new clubhouse opened up pitchside to replace the old one which has transformed the club and by the end of the 2017/18 season, the Seasiders gained promotion to the Isthmian Bostik North Division at Step 4 for the first time in the clubs history. At the end of the 2016/17 season a new clubhouse opened up pitchside to replace the old one which has transformed the club and by the end of the 2017/18 season, the Seasiders gained promotion to the Isthmian Bostik North Division at Step 4 for the first time in the clubs history.

3 FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED The Seasiders KIT: RED & WHITE MANAGER IAN WATSON ASSISTANT MANAGER DANNY BLOOMFIELD SQUAD The Goldstar Ground Dellwood Avenue Felixstowe IP11 9HT (GK) JACK SPURLING CALLUM BENNETT STUART AINSLEY ETHAN CLARKE RHYS BARBER DANIEL DAVIS JOSEPH FRANCIS JACK AINSLEY CALLUM BENNETT LIAM HILLYARD MILES POWELL RHYS HENRY JORDAN MATTHEWS JOSH KERRIDGE DARCY DE ATH JAMAL WIGGINS JOE BLOOMFIELD KYE RUEL DARREN MILLS RORY PORTER (GK) GARY HAMMOND EVAN BOLT BEN FROST KYLE JOPLING

4 Ian Watson - Manager Ian joined the Seasiders from Suffolk & Ipswich League Premier Division side Felixstowe Harpers United, where he had been the manager for several seasons. He is married to Jo and they have three daughters and a son, the latter now with the Needham Market U16 EJA side. Ian began playing men's football at the age of 16 for the then Ipswich & District League side Nicholians, before moving across town to Ransomes where he made his senior debut against Billericay Town in the FA Vase. His first involvement with the club (then Walton United) came when he was 21 playing for nine seasons before moving to Grundisburgh, but just five games into his time at the village club he joined Bury Town, then playing in the Jewson League and managed by Keith Vince. Ian rejoined the 'new' Seasiders when the clubs merged to become Felixstowe & Walton United, playing under Steve Bloomfield & George Ainsley and then Paul Adams, before a difference of opinion between them ended with Ian moving to Felixstowe United & playing junior football in the SIL Division One. He took on the role of Player Manager and together with Dave McCarthy managed to achieve promotion to Senior Football in their second season in charge. Ian considered retiring at the tender age of 36 but an approach from Grundisburgh renewed his enthusiasm, and in three seasons he managed to win the Suffolk Senior Cup and every piece of silverware available in the Suffolk & Ipswich League. He continues in his third Managerial spell, this time working jointly with Kevin O Donnell. Danny Bloomfield - Assistant Manager and Coach Danny Bloomfield joined Felixstowe & Walton as a teenager and left to go to Norwich City back in A circuitous journey has twice led Danny back to The Goldstar Ground, first as assistant to Kevin O Donnell back in 2014 and now as assistant to Ian Watson. Away from Felixstowe, Danny, who comes from a strong footballing family including Matt at Wycombe Wanderers and Joe, already here at Felixstowe, brings plenty of experience with him having spent time at King s Lynn, Lowestoft, Histon, Needham Market and AFC Sudbury. Danny s father, Steve is a former manager of Walton United prior to the merger with Felixstowe where he joined George Ainsley, father to Stuart and Jack, as the first managerial pairing of Felixstowe & Walton United back in 2001/02. In his previous spell at the club, Danny made 11 appearances when Assistant Manager to O Donnell back in 2014.

5 Dan Davis Returned to the squad at the start of August 2016 after almost 18 months on the sidelines with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury picked up at the end of the 2014/15 season. A powerful centre back with a no nonsense approach to the game, 'Denzil' had been missed both on the field and in the dressing room, slotting back into the heart of the defence, while at the forefront of the dressing room banter. A very popular member of the squad, 'Denzil' likes to give money to worthy causes and has selected the County FA as one of his more popular ones to help in recent seasons. Ethan Clarke Another Arsenal supporter, Ethan Clarke is a versatile player who re-joined Felixstowe early in the 2017/2018 season having previously left to join Stowmarket. Local to the area Ethan also played for Ipswich based Whitton United and considers his best moments in football as winning the double with Whitton United and gaining promotion from The Thurlow Nunn league at step 5 to the Bostik North at Step 4 with Felixstowe and Walton. Jack Ainsley Jack started his career at Ipswich Town and following loan spells at Histon and Chelmsford he joined Lowestoft in 2013 where he spent 3 years. Between 2016 and 2018 Jack was with Leiston FC. In his early years he was a prolific goalscorer and won made four appearances for England U17s scoring three times against Sweden, Denmark and Norway in The Nordic Cup. Signed for Felixstowe & Walton during the pre-season of 2018/19 teaming up with brother Stuart who he played alongside at Lowestoft Town a few years earlier. Jack Spurling Jack started his youth at Woodbridge Town following a trial at Colchester United. He made his first team appearance at 16 for Woodbridge, he has also played for Ipswich Wanderers, Brantham Athletic and Leiston. He supports his local team Ipswich Town! Best player Jack has played with and was coached through his youth was ex Colchester United goalkeeper Aidan Davidson. His best moment in football is when he stunned Canvey Island at the Doucy for Ipswich Wanderers in the FA Cup to win 1-0 with a fine display of saves throughout but some last minute reactive saves that left the Doucy wondering how! Jamal Wiggins Jamal came to senior non-league football relatively late, having spent several seasons playing in the SIL with Felixstowe Harpers United, but when Ian Watson joined the management at the Goldstar, he was quick to recruit Jamma to the first team squad. It took the lanky midfielder time to adjust to the higher level of football, but he worked hard and is now an integral part of the first team squad.having now had a full season in the first team picture, he will be looking to add goals to his game. Joe Francis The highly rated, left sided player can operate as a front man or in midfield, and joined the Seasiders after four seasons at Leiston where he made 107 appearances, scoring 26 goals and was an integral part of the Blues squad that won promotion to the Ryman Premier Division. Francis joined Kings Lynn in June 2007 from Woodbridge Town and spent two seasons at the Walks, winning the Southern League title and spending a season with them in the Conference North. Joe moved to fellow Conference (North) side Corby Town in March 2009 before joining Lowestoft Town in December of the same year when the Trawler Boys were in the Ryman Division One North and helped them gain promotion to the Premier Division at the first attempt, spending three seasons with the Blues before signing for Leiston in June Joe considers the highlight of his career (so far) as winning the Southern League Premier Division and being named as Player of the season in that campaign, he describes former Villa right back Alan Wright as his most difficult opponent, or as Joe puts it he spent the whole of the game in Wright's pocket, the back one! An Arsenal supporter Joe considers Scott Mitchell, when he was fit, the best player he has played with.

6 Jordy Matthews A rare event these days when asking established players their previous clubs and you get the reply, none! Jordan has been a one club man and a manager s dream, a play anywhere footballer, equally happy in midfield or up front in the No10 shirt, a regular winner of the Players Player and Supporters Player of the year award, the supporters know that when he pulls on the Seasiders shirt, they are going to see 110% commitment from him. Jordan weighs in with his fair share of goals and tackles. Josh Kerridge Josh joined the club two seasons ago from AFC Sudbury and quickly became an integral part of the side, an undoubted match winner on his day, he scores his fair share of goals from midfield and creates a lot of the play when the side is going forward, but is equally at home when defending. Josh s previous clubs are Melton & Grundisburgh of the Suffolk & Ipswich League, Framlingham Town (Now Thurlow Nunn Division One), Leiston and AFC Sudbury. A Liverpool supporter, Josh names winning the First Division Cup and lifting it as skipper of the AFC Sudbury Under 21 side as one high point, but also describes our FA Cup win over National League Bishop s Stortford as another. When asked who are the best players you have played with and against? he says he has not played against any Big names but interestingly, names the best player he has played with as our own Jordy Matthews! Miles Powell Miles spent the 2014/15 season with Whitton United before returning to the Seaside where he learnt his trade. He immediately hit the scoring charts and was the club s leading scorer going into the Christmas holiday period. A versatile player who can operate in a variety of positions, deceptively quick Miles is looking to re-establish himself after overcoming a serious injury that kept him out of action for the second half of last season. Rhys Barber At 30, Rhys is now in his prime as a player and it is not surprising that he twice lifted the Player of the Year award since joining the Seasiders for a second spell in An Arsenal supporter, his football idol is Ian Wright; he considers the best player he has played against as Gavin Williams, while the best player played with he names as Kevin Horlock. Rhys joined the Seasiders at the start of the 2011/12 season but re-joined Needham Market in October He was released by the Marketmen at the end of season 2012/13 and manager Kevin O'Donnell was quick to snap up his signature. Named Club Captain in the summer of 2015, Rhys is a vastly experienced, natural left sided player. He is an accomplished defender who can operate anywhere in the back four, although he sometimes appears to have hankerings to show his midfield prowess. His initial aim when taking over the captain s armband was to lead the side to a top 5 finish and have a good run in the FA Vase. He has ticked all the boxes to date. Rhys Henry The club secured the services of attacking midfielder Rhys Henry from Maldon and Tiptree during the 2018/19 pre-season. Rhys is a local lad from Ipswich who has also played at Needham Market FC, Leiston and AFC Sudbury. He clearly has lots of experience at a good level of non league Football and it s from his time at Needham Market that the link with joint manager Kevin O Donnell exists. Stuart Ainsley A member of a footballing family with father George moving to Suffolk as a youngster with Ipswich Town, although never quite making the big time George played Non-League football to a good level and both his sons followed his footsteps into the Ipswich Town youth set up. Stuart joined the club for his second spell in the summer of 2014 from Lowestoft Town following their promotion to the Football Conference, stepping down to level 5 due to work commitments. Former clubs are Ipswich Town, Canvey Island, Chelmsford City, AFC Sudbury and Lowestoft Town. A naturally left footed player, his primary position is left back, although he does like to venture into a central midfield role when able.

7 Joe Bloomfield Joe is Felixstowe born and bred and grew up together with Jack Ainsley where they know each other also from their Ipswich days. After he was released by Ipswich, where he also played alongside now England goalkeeper Nick Pope, Joe spent 2 years playing full-time at Felixstowe and whilst at University in Warwick studying Business he also played for The Seasiders outside of term time. Most recently Joe has been playing at Ipswich Wanderers having now moved back to the area. Joe is a midfielder but considers himself a versatile player. Darcy D eath Darcy joined the Seasiders as a right back, centre back or defensive midfielder at the start of the 2018/19 season. This is his second spell at the club having also played as a youngster at Woodbridge and then having also spent time with Bury Town. A Manchester United supporter Darcy used to teach football skills to youngsters at football camps in the past. Sam Ford. Born in Ipswich, Sam joined Ipswich Town FC as an under 16 signing a two year scholarship in 2014 before joining West Ham in After a short spell on loan with Bishops Stortford, Sam signed for Felixstowe & Walton United in November A lively and busy forward Sam tends to operate in the middle. Kye Ruel Fans favourite Kye is highly versatile with an eye for goal who brings with him bags of experience having plied his trade at East Thurrock United as well as Aveley,Maldon &Tiptree and Leiston. Gary Hammond Gary joined Felixstowe & Walton as goalkeeping coach in the summer of 2018 having played in goal for Walton United in the double winning side back in 1999/2000. He comes with a wealth of experience having spent time with Ipswich Wanderers, Stowmarket and Woodbridge. Rory Porter Young Rory has worked his way through the ranks, having been at the club around 8 years and made his debut from the bench in the 2017/18 season. His favourite position sees him as an attacking midfield who is also happy to play wide if necessary. Although a local lad, Rory confesses to being a Chelsea supporter. Evan Bolt Young Evan, made his debut this season (2018/19)as a 16 year old coming on as a substitute away at Dereham Town. Since then he has made two further appearances from the bench for The Seasiders. Evan s favourite position is in midfield. Although new to the first team, Evan has played at every age group for Felixstowe and has now been at the club for some 12 years. Callum Bennett Callum is in his second spell at the club having re-joined in late An attacking full back, Callum has plenty of experience from his time at Ipswich U18s, Stoke City U21s and Notts County. More recently he has spent some time at Brantham Athletic. Liam Hillyard Liam is in his second spell at the club, having famously scored the 90 th minute winner against Bishop s Stortford in The FA Cup a few years ago. Liam joins his brother, Luke, who is Reserve Team boss and joins The Seasiders following a successful spell at Achilles FC Darren Mills Darren, a strong front man, joined Felixstowe & Walton in September of 2018 from Lesiton FC and unfortunately picked up an injury in his debut away at Heybridge swifts keeping him out of the team for around 3 months.. Darren brings with him lots of experience having also plied his trade at Bury Town FC, Coggeshall and Maldon & Tiptree.