Welcome to the latest instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this instalment, we travelled to the Forest of Dean for a taste of Hellenic League Premier Division action as Lydney Town took on Royal Wootton Bassett Town. The Lydney Recreation Ground played host, as both sides looked to consolidate their positions in the league.
It's All In The Name
The nickname for Lydney Town is The Town. This is in recognition of Lydney's town status. Lida-eg, meaning the island of the sailor in Old English became Lydney, though who the sailor was we don’t know.
Some Notable People From Lydney
Christopher Herbert- Bishop of St Albans
Herbert Howells- Composer
Stephen James- Cricketer
Sir William Winter- Vice Admiral Of Elizabeth I
The Viscount Bledisloe- Politician
The Lydney Murder
'The Lydney Murder,' a documentary about Lydney, aired. Here is the famous event's story:
When William Brittle, a heating engineer's salesman from Hook in Hampshire, ran a classified ad for a quick loan for an agricultural prospect. One respondent, Peter Thomas, said he was willing to lend him £2,000 at 12% interest for six months. Brittle, however, never paid back the loan. Six months later, Peter Thomas, who pretended to be poor in a run-down bungalow outside Lydney, mysteriously vanished.
His body was discovered in Bracknell Woods, 100 miles from Lydney. Despite the advanced state of decomposition, pathologist Professor Keith Simpson determined that the victim could have been struck across the throat by a karate chop. Brittle had once taken an unarmed combat course, it was discovered.
Brittle claimed that on June 16, 1964, he travelled to Lydney, repaid the loan in cash, and gave a ride to a hitchhiker on his way home. When a witness was found who claimed to have seen Thomas at a bus station on June 20th, the Crown decided not to charge him.
Brittle must have thought he'd gotten away with murder. But not entirely. A coroner's jury not only determined that Thomas was murdered, but also named Brittle as the perpetrator.
Professor Simpson's testimony was used against Brittle during his trial. He claimed that Thomas was murdered on June 16th because the state of decomposition of his body corresponded exactly with that date. Brittle was given the death penalty.
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Lydney Town was established in 1911 and spent the next four decades competing in local leagues before being elected to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. They were forced to disband in 1969 due to a lack of committee members, but they reformed two years later. During this time, the club moved from Bathurst Park to the Recreation Ground, using the Cricket Club's changing facilities. After finishing runner-up twice, they finally won the Senior League Division One Championship in 1979-80.
After unsuccessful applications to the County League, the club turned to the Hellenic League, where it held its own for four seasons before being forced to return to the Senior League due to the League's huge financial burden. In 1980, they won the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League for the first time.
They joined the Hellenic League before returning to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League a few years later. After many years of homing problems, the club finally got a club house in the 1990s. The club won both Division Two and the Forest Green Supporters Trophy in 1995, a feat they repeated in 1996-97. After winning the Gloucestershire County League in 2006, they returned to the Hellenic League. They won the Hellenic League Division One West for the third time in a row. Unfortunately, they were relegated a season later for failing to prepare their floodlights in time at their home following groundshares with Cinderford Town and Harrow Hill.
As the club from the Forest of Dean looks to the future, they are now in the Hellenic Premier Division.
Honours
🏆 Hellenic League Division One West (Champions: 2006–07)
🏆 Gloucestershire County League (Champions: 2005–06)
🏆 Gloucestershire Northern Senior League (Champions: 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979-80, 2004-05)
An Interview With Former Lydney Town Player and Manager, Wayne Jones:
GG: Could you compare Lydney Town to the other clubs in the league?
WJ: In the league that Lydney plays in (Hellenic Premier), they are capable of beating anyone if they have the full squad to choose from and the team is at the top of their game. Even at level 5, the top teams in the leagues have large budgets, with some spending thousands of pounds just to field a team each week. If one of their key players is injured, they simply replace him. They can also attract players from higher leagues who may not be able to play every week. They can either match the payment or guarantee that the player will play every week. The Lydney team is made up of local lads, the majority of whom came through the youth system, which is still very strong today. They have a few players who signed from other local clubs playing at lower levels and wanted to try their luck at the next level. Most managers' first thoughts during the season are to keep the league status, not to win it, but to have a good run in one of the big cups, such as the FA Cup or FA Vase. The club refuses to pay players because they prefer to develop them through youth programmes.
GG: Does the club have a star player, and if so, who is it?
WJ: They don't have any standout players, but Team Captain Jordi Sheen is probably their best performer. He signed with the team a few years ago after leaving Broadwell. He is extremely talented and well-liked in the club. Every season, many clubs with large budgets come in to try to sign him. So far, he has refused them. Sam Elliott is a one-club player from the area. He has never left Greece and has played over 500 first-team games in the Hellenic League. Rich Thomas, the goalkeeper, began his career at Bristol City, then moved on to other clubs before returning. Liam Sheppard, a midfielder, began his career at Cheltenham Town before moving on to the Welsh Leagues before joining Lydney.
GG: What is your favourite aspect of being a football fan, and why?
WJ: As a former Lydney player, captain, and manager (one season), I enjoy getting together with friends to watch local games. These days, it's more about the social aspect than the game. I enjoy it when we beat a team on a tight budget, which we have done a few times.
GG: Can you recall your first football game and tell us a little bit about it?
WJ: My first game, when I was 14, was for the local village side Aylburton. We faced a Whitecroft team comprised mostly of older men. I scored twice, and one of the players threatened to break my legs. This was an excellent introduction to Forest football. As I am from North Wales, my first professional games were in Wrexham. We used to take the train with school friends.
GG: Who would you sign if you could sign any player in the world to play for Lydney Town for one game?
WJ: George Best was a legend.
GG: Can you tell us about your favourite Lydney Town moment?
WJ: Defeating Flackwell Heath in the Floodlit Cup at Kidlington Town's ground. I believe the game ended 3-3 after extra time, and we won on penalties. Keeper Richard Thomas scored his kick before saving their final one. For a fan, the scenes were fantastic.
GG: Can you tell us about your favourite footballer of all time and why?
WJ: From the ones I've seen live, my favourite footballer has to be George Best. When he was on the ball, there was an incredible sense of anticipation. He never failed to deliver. It's a shame how things turned out for him.
GG: What are the club's goals?
WJ: Lydney's goals remain consistent year after year. Maintain a reasonable level (5) providing a good sight for locals to see. However, the main goal is to continue producing young players who will eventually make the first team. All without breaking the bank for the club.
GG: Who, in your opinion, is the greatest manager of all time?
WJ: Alex Ferguson for me, but Brian Clough must have come close with his teams back in the day.
GG: What should visitors to Lydney Town expect when they arrive?
WJ: A warm welcome, with some good banter from the fans. A nice clubhouse with satellite TV showing live games. During the game, there is hot food and decent stands if it is raining.
Matchday: Lydney Town 1-2 Royal Wootton Bassett Town
We travelled to Lydney on a cold, Saturday afternoon. We headed for Lydney Harbour as we wanted to have a look around the town centre and the harbour was close by. We had a quick walk around the area, seeing some gorgeous scenery in the process, including some gorgeous boats and the Severn Bridge, then headed over to the ground.
We arrived at the ground in good time, although it wasn't easy to find. The ground is directly next door to a rugby ground, so it is easy to get the two mixed up. We then entered the stadium. It has to be said that a better system could be used to get payment for entry. People could easily walk in and avoid having to pay, so I feel that a wristband or something of that ilk would be beneficial.
We went straight in the clubhouse to avoid standing in the cold. There is a bar and a big screen playing the early kickoff- which was Manchester City vs Newcastle United for those keeping score. We then ordered our drinks and pin badges before I had the shock of my life. Those pin badges cost a fiver. FIVE QUID. No excuses really, that's far too much.
There is a small hut that offers a variety of hot food including burgers, hotdogs and chips. I went for the cheeseburger and chips for £4.50 which wasn't bad value. One slight complaint I would have is the lack of veggie options. Other than soup and chips, there wasn't really much on offer. A veggie burger (or two) wouldn't go amiss.
The people at the club were generally really friendly and very helpful. People were really engaging and happy to have a chat. There were a select few who came across as a bit blunt, but nothing we can't handle. The most important thing was that the supporters got behind their team from start to finish, which was great to see.
Teamsheet
Lydney Town
Manager: James Morse
Richard Thomas
Tom Baldwin
Tristan Murphy
Sam Elliott
Dan Morgan
Billy Guest
Ross Lindsay
Harry Clark
Charlie Powell
Jaheim Allen ⚽️
Lewis Thompson
Substitutes
Jamie Addis
Jordan Voss
James Morse
Steve Jones
Steve Clark
Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Manager: Sam Collier
Matt Crowther
Jowan Partridge
Louis Spalding
Kai Robinson
Harry Walters
David Bampton
Alfie Presley ⚽️
Bailey Gallagher
Scott Chilcott ⚽️
Jack Hobson-McVeigh
Matt Jones
Substitutes
Alan Griffin
Flynn Walters
Steve Bowen
Sam Collier
Josh Timbrell
The game started off in a positive manner for Royal Wootton Bassett, whos quick play was too much for Lydney in the opening stages. Scott Chilcott scored inside the first quarter-hour, producing a fine finish as he fired in at the far post. He then played a key role in Bassett's decisive second goal, crossing for Alfie Presley to head home just minutes after giving the visitors the lead. Royal Wootton Bassett had been excellent in the first half hour, but allowed Lydney back into the game in the 15 minutes before halftime, which resulted in a Jaheim Allen goal to make it 2-1. That's how it stayed in a narrow win for Royal Wootton Bassett, as they look to finish the season on a high.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 2.5/10
Food and Drink: 7/10
Stadium: 3.5/10
Welcome: 6/10
Overall Experience: 6/10
GG
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