The BADGER 2021/22 Issue 6 vs Coventry United by BugbrookeStMichaels

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS vs

COVENTRY UNITED

THE BADGER

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2021 I 3pm KICK OFF

BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS FC in association with

2021/22 - ISSUE 6

Bugbrooke St Michaels FC The Badgers, founded 1929

WHOS WHO PRESIDENT - WILLY MARRIOTT CHAIRMAN - KEVIN GARDNER VICE-CHAIRMAN - NIGEL THOMAS CLUB SECRETARY - GRAHAM CONNEW YOUTH SECRETARY & TREASURER - NICK INWOOD FIXTURES SECRETARY - DAVE MELLOR GROUNDSMAN - DANNY POWELL WELFARE OFFICER - BEN ROBINSON

MANAGEMENT / COACHING TEAM FIRST TEAM - JAMIE FORREST RESERVE TEAM – DALE WALTON

‘A’ TEAM - MARIUS OBREJA ‘B’ TEAM - DAVE ASHWELL LADIES TEAM - CHARLOTTE GIBBS / STUART WHITE UNDER 18s - DANIEL POWELL UNDER 16s - PAUL LEWIS UNDER 15s - DARREN SMITH UNDER 14s BLACK - MARK LINNELL UNDER 13s WHITE – RYAN NASH UNDER 13s BLACK - SIMON WHEELER UNDER 12s BLUE - NICK INWOOD UNDER 12s BLACK - CHRIS ASHTON UNDER 10s WHITE – TONY HILL UNDER 10s BLACK - DANIEL BLAND

UNDER 9s - IAN MARRIOTT

THE GAFFER I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Coventry United who are the visitors to the Sett for todays United Counties Premier Division South fixture. Today’s game represents a step into the unknown as to the best of my knowledge the game represents the first ever meeting between the clubs. From what I have heard about today’s opposition we face another difficult challenge although again its one that the players should relish. League leaders Harborough Town were the visitors to the Sett on Tuesday. Unfortunately, we found ourselves on the wrong end of a 7-0 score line. Going in at half time just a goal down we were in the game however their power and pace told in the end. That said I was frustrated that we didn’t keep the ball better as our inability to do this enabled Harborough Town to build a head of steam resulting in concerted pressure that was telling in the end.

“From what I have heard about today’s visitors we face another difficult challenge although again one that the players should relish”

We need to remember that this is our first season back at Step 5, we are in the middle of a difficult run of fixtures therefore we shouldn’t be too downbeat. The season will be defined by what we do against the teams that are in and around us and to date we have turned in some good displays and picked up a useful number of points. Anyway, thank you for your support, enjoy the game, and I hope to see you at the Sett next Tuesday when we welcome Corby Town to the Sett for a Northants FA Hillier Senior Cup tie.

Jamie

Programme Contributions: Editor: Nick Inwood Photography: Finbarr Carroll

• • • • • • • • •

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MATCH REPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH TUESDAY 14th SEPTEMBER

0-7 BEN WILLIAMS (‘37), JAMES IRELAND (‘50), PAUL MALONE (‘57), JOSHUA WALSH (‘68), NAT ANSU (‘70), NATHAN BOBOWICZ (‘76), SCOTT MOONEY (‘78)

LINE-UP

BULL, WHALER, CALVIN GREEN, CATON (Capt.), BARNELL, A.WEBSTER, CHARLIE GREEN, PORTER, SNAITH, PAMPLIN SUBS: HARRISON, GLENNON, POWER, SPENCER (Not Used) With a 100% record going into the game and managed by former Badger Mitch Austin, league leaders Harborough Town were the latest visitors to the Sett in what was expected to be a tough assignment.

On reflection even with 10 men Harborough would probably have proved too strong with their pace and physicality causing problems all night; that said we will never know.

The starting eleven saw three changes to the team that took to the field on Saturday with Field, Freeman and skipper Joe Lewington missing out so in came Caton, Panter and Pamplin, the former taking the armband the latter in for the first time this season.

Bugbrooke were indebted to Bull for the fact that it remained goalless for as long as it did however with half time approaching the deadlock was finally broken when a corner was headed home from close range, from what looked like the head of a Bugbrooke defender, 1-0 down against a confident inform side and struggling to keep the ball or create chances of our own, we had a mountain to climb.

It didn't take long for the first moment of controversy as on 2 minutes pacy striker Nat Ansu raced cleared of the Bugbroooke back-line to find himself in a foot race against the on-rushing Jake Bull. Bull got to the ball first and cleared the danger however the momentum of Ansu took him into Bull who needed lengthy treatment before he was able to continue. Ansu picked up a Yellow Card for his troubles although some might argue that he was out of control and as such was lucky to escape with only a caution; that said a split second earlier and he probably would have scored. Maybe the fact that it was so early in the game went in his favour, regardless Bugbrooke aren't getting the rub of the green at this present time.

On the stroke of half time Dan Porter came agonislingly close to an equaliser as his lofted shot from outside the area beat the keeper however crashed back off the crossbar.

HALF TIME BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS - 0 HARBOROUGH TOWN - 1 With Harborough Town in the ascendency, it was crucial for the Badgers to remain in the game however within 5 minutes of the re-start the lead was doubled when a shot from outside the box took a slight deflection and found its way into the bottom corner, 0-2.

From this point on it was relentless, goals were scored at regular intervals, some superbly finished others avoidable. Regardless the tiring Bugbrooke rearguard had no answer to their now rampant visitors. Thank you to Harborough Town for sweeping out the Changing Rooms to leave them clean and tidy and for coming into the bar for a drink after the game, very much appreciated. All the best for the remainder of the season. The game was now on a knife edge and with the Badgers at sixes and sevens they needed to re-group which they did albeit they were indebted to a good save from Bull on his debut to maintain parity.

FULL TIME BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS - 0 HARBOROUGH TOWN - 7

MOM JAKE BULL

Despite the score line he made some fantastic saves especially in the first half

LEAGUE TABLE

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Harborough Town FC

Coventry Sphinx FC

Lutterworth Town FC

Eynesbury Rovers FC

Newport Pagnell Town FC

Coventry United FC

Hinckley LRFC

Wellingborough Town FC

Rugby Town FC

Bugbrooke St.Michaels FC

-5

Long Buckby AFC

-3

Desborough Town FC

Godmanchester Rovers FC

-2

Cogenhoe United FC

-8

Potton United FC

-4

Rothwell Corinthians FC

-10

G.N.G Oadby Town FC

-2

Easington Sports FC

-7

Peterborough Northern Star FC

-11

Northampton O.N.Chenecks FC

-24

Biggleswade United FC

-48

FORM GUIDE

DWWLL 21/09 vs Corby Town (Home) – NFA Hillier Senior Cup

NEXT UP

25/09 vs Hillingdon Borough (Away) – FA Vase 02/10 vs Desborough Town (Away)

PLAYER DATE

OPPOSITION

VENUE RESULT SCORE STARTING LINE-UP

03.08.21 Rothwell Corinthians

Home

Won

4-2

ROHAN

WHALER

FIELD

CALVIN GREEN

CATON

J.LEWINGTON

CHARLIE GREEN

07.08.21 March Town United (FA Cup) Home

Won

4-2

ROHAN

NASH (1)

FIELD

CALVIN GREEN

CATON (1)

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN

10.08.21 Coventry Sphinx

Away

Lost

0-1

ROHAN

NASH

FIELD

CALVIN GREEN

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

FREEMAN

14.08.21 Eynesbury Rovers

Away

Lost

1-2

ROHAN

WHALER

J.WEBSTER

CALVIN GREEN

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

OAKES

21.08.21 Arlesey Town (FA Cup)

Away

N/A

V-V

24.08.21 Leicester Road

Home

Lost

0-4

LANDERS

WHALER

J.WEBSTER

CALVIN GREEN

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN

28.08.21 GNG Oadby Town

Home

Draw

3-3

LANDERS

WHALER

FIELD (1)

CALVIN GREEN

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

CATON

01.09.21 Northampton ON Chenecks

Away

Won

2-0

LANDERS

WHALER

SNAITH

CALVIN GREEN

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN

04.09.21 Peterborough Northern Star

Away

Won

5-0

LANDERS

WHALER

SNAITH

CALVIN GREEN (1)

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN (1)

11.09.21 Wellingborough Town

Home

Lost

1-2

BULL

WHALER

FIELD

CALVIN GREEN (1)

J.LEWINGTON

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN

14.09.21 Harborough Town

Home

Lost

0-7

BULL

WHALER

SNAITH

CALVIN GREEN

CATON

BARNELL

CHARLIE GREEN

18.09.21 Coventry United

Home

21.09.21 Corby Town (NFA Cup)

Home

25.10.21 Hillingdon Borough (FA Vase) Away 02.10.21 Desborough Town

Away

05.10.21 Lutterworth Town

Away

09.10.21 Cogenhoe United

Home

12.10.21 Coventry Sphinx

Home

16.10.21 Godmanchester Rovers

Away

19.10.21 Easington Sports

Away

30.10.21 Newport Pagnell Town

Home

13.11.21 Biggleswade United

Home

20.11.21 Rugby Town

Home

27.11.21 Potton United

Away

04.12.21 Wellingborough Town

Away

11.12.21 Potton United

Home

18.12.21 Rothwell Corinthians

Away

21.12.21 Long Buckby AFC

Away

03.01.22 Lutterworth Town

Home

08.01.22 Desborough Town

Home

15.01.22 Leicester Road

Away

22.01.22 Coventry United

Away

29.01.22 Easington Sports

Home

05.02.22 Rugby Town

Away

12.02.22 Godmanchester Rovers

Home

05.03.22 Cogenhoe United

Away

12.03.22 Harborough Town

Away

19.03.22 Eynesbury Rovers

Home

26.03.22 GNG Oadby Town

Away

02.04.22 Newport Pagnell Town

Away

09.04.22 Northampton ON Chenecks Home 16.04.22 Peterborough Northern Star Home 19.04.22 Long Buckby AFC

Home

23.04.22 Biggleswade United

Away

ANTONIO AGUILAR-ROHAN

4 Apps

BEN DRINKWATER 0 (3) Apps

CHARLIE GREEN 7 Apps / 1 Goal

JAKE BULL 2 Apps

DAN FIELD 5 (1) Apps / 1 Goal

CAMERON HARRISON 2 (6) Apps

GEORGE BARNELL 9 (1) Apps

LEVI FREEMAN 6 (1) Apps / 3 Goals

LEWIS LANDERS 4 Apps

NATHAN BURROWS 5 (1) Apps / 1 Goal

WILL GLENNON 0 (4) Apps

JASON LEE 0 (1) App

TOM CATON 4 Apps / 1 Goal

CALVIN GREEN 10 Apps / 2 Goals

JOE LEWINGTON 8 Apps

STATISTICS SUBS QUIGLEY (1)

FREEMAN (2)

PORTER

LING (1)

HARRISON

BARNELL

BURROWS

A.WEBSTER

OGDEN

A.WEBSTER

BURROWS (1)

PORTER (1)

LING

J.WEBSTER

WEATHERLY

OGDEN

LEE

LANDERS

A.WEBSTER

BURROWS

PORTER

LING

HARRISON

LEE

DRINKWATER

J.WEBSTER

OGDEN

HARRISON

BURROWS

PORTER

LING (1)

SPENCER

WEATHERLY

DRINKWATER

CATON

HARRISON

BURROWS

PORTER

A.WEBSTER

FREEMAN

WEATHERLY

GLENNON

CATON

SNAITH

SNAITH (1)

BURROWS

PORTER (1)

FREEMAN

OAKES

PANTER

POWER

J.WEBSTER

A.WEBSTER

PANTER

PORTER (2)

FREEMAN

HARRISON

FIELD

OAKES

CATON

A.WEBSTER

PANTER

PORTER (2)

FREEMAN (1)

HARRISON

POWER

GLENNON

LEE

FIELD

A.WEBSTER

SNAITH

PORTER

FREEMAN

HARRISON

GLENNON

DRINKWATER

CATON

POWER

A.WEBSTER

PANTER

PORTER

PAMPLIN

HARRISON

GLENNON

POWER

SPENCER

GREG LING 4 Apps / 2 Goals

DAN PORTER 10 Apps / 6 Goals

KIEREN SPENCER 0 (1) App

RYAN NASH 2 Apps / 1 Goal

JOE POWER 0 (3) Apps

BAILEY WEATHERLEY 0 (3) Apps

TRENT OAKES 1 (2) Apps

DAN QUIGLEY 1 App / 1 Goal

AIDAN WEBSTER 7 Apps

ASHLEY OGDEN 0 (1) App

RYAN PAMPLIN 1 App

JAKE WEBSTER 2 (1) Apps

EDDIE PANTER 3 (1) Apps

BILLY SNAITH 5 Apps / 1 Goal

JOSH WHALER 8 Apps

POWER

AROUND THE UCL Premier Division South

Premier Division North

Harborough Town stretched their lead at the top to 9 points courtesy of a comfortable win over Bugbrooke St Michaels.

Hot on their heels are Heather St Johns who picked up a 4-2 win against Selston who remain in the bottom two.

Looking at the table Newport Pagnell and Coventry United would appear the most likely challengers, both teams winning in mid-week, 2-1 at Easington Sports and 3-0 against ON Chenecks respectively.

The shock result came at Deeping where Leicester Nirvana picked up their first win of the season at the sixth time of asking thanks for a 3-1 win over their mid-table hosts.

The shock result in mid-week came at Rugby where visitors Cogenhoe United came away with a hardearned point courtesy of a 2-2 draw against big spending Rugby Town, they could have had more as Rugby’s equalizer came in the 93rd minute.

At the foot of the table Biggleswade’s struggles continued going down 9-2 against Eynesbury.

GOALSCORER

TENDAI DAIRE – LUTTERWORTH TOWN

Long Eaton are the new leaders in the North Division despite dropping their first points of the season as a result of a 2-2 draw against Loughborough Students.

GOALSCORER

HARRY LIMB – BOSTON TOWN

Reserve Division Just three matches in mid-week with Wellingborough Town the main

beneficiaries as their 4-3 away win against Huntingdon Town saw them move up to second in the league, just 3 points behind Bugbrooke St Michaels. The result of the day came at Daventry where the hosts picked up their first win of the season as they surprisingly beat Desborough Town, 4-2 the score. In the only other game, Bourne Town, under new management picked up another useful point following a 2-2 draw with Rothwell Corinthians

GOALSCORER

BRIAN FARRELL – DESBOROUGH TOWN

FIRST TEAM PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

MANAGER JAMIE FORREST

LEWIS LANDERS

JOSH WHALER

DAN FIELD

TOM CATON

CURTIS AVERY

JOE LEWINGTON

CALVIN GREEN

CHARLIE GREEN

PLEASE SPEAK TO A COMMITTEE MEMBER

GREG LING

CAMERON HARRISON

BILLY SNAITH

JOE POWER

EDDIE PANTER

DAN PORTER

AIDAN WEBSTER

BEN DRINKWATER

LEVI FREEMAN

LEAGUE TABLE

RESERVE DIVISION as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Bugbrooke St.Michaels Reserves

Wellingborough Town Reserves

Newport Pagnell Town Reserves

Kempston Rovers Reserves

Harborough Town FC Reserves

Desborough Town Reserves

G.N.G Oadby Town FC Reserves

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves

-1

Wellingborough Whitworth Reserves

-1

Rothwell Corinthians Reserves

-12

Huntingdon Town Reserves

Yaxley FC Reserves

-6

Cogenhoe United Reserves

-15

Bourne Town Reserves

-17

Northampton O.N.Chenecks F.C. Reserves

-1

Daventry Town FC Reserves

-8

Raunds Town Reserves

-16

Irchester United Reserves

-18

FORM GUIDE NEXT UP GOALSCORER

WWWWW 25/09 vs GNG Oadby Town (Home) 28/09 vs Cogenhoe United (Away)

RYAN PAMPLIN - 8

TODAY’S VISITORS Back in 2013, four lifelong friends resolved to find a football club to run and develop and soon completed a takeover of Coventry Spartans, inheriting the first Coventry United Manager, Edwin Greaves, and Secretary Graham Wood along the way. Jason Kay, Jason Timms, Marcus Green and Pete Schofield promised Edwin and Graham that they would be promoted three times in the first five years. United achieved this with two years to spare. Since then, the club has consolidated in the Midland Football League Premier Division. For the 2021/22 season United Counties League Premier South. In October 2020 there was a change of ownership for the men’s team, and the new Chariman is Joey Haggarty. Our senior side play at Butts Park Arena – the home of Coventry Rugby, and our home since the start of the 2017-18 season.

MANAGER: Terry Anderson

2013 • Coventry United formed. Start playing at The Alan Higgs Centre, colloquially known as ‘The Cage’.

CURRENT LEAGUE POS:

2014 • Record win to date; 28-0 vs. Polesworth. • Promotion from Midland Football League Division Three, finishing 2nd. • Challenge Vase Runners Up

P6 W5 D0 L1 Pts 15

2015 • Presidents Cup Winners and Champions of Midland Football League Division Two • Takeover of Coventry City Ladies Football Club, re-branding the F.A. Ladies’ Premier League side as Coventry United. • Launch of the boys academy. 2016 • Champions of Midland Football League Division One, gaining promotion to the Midland Football League Premier Division. • Formation of U21’s. • Club of the Year” at the Coventry & Warwickshire Sports Awards. Runners up in “Team of the Year” category.

6th

FORM GUIDE: WLWLW LAST TIME OUT:

WON 3-0 vs ON CHENECKS

2017 • Under 21’s League and Cup double. • The Club announce they will be playing home games at Butts Park Arena 2019 • Coventry United Ladies are crowned Champions of the F.A. Women’s National League (South) • Coventry United Ladies awarded licence to play in the F.A. Women’s Championship (tier 2)

www.Coventryunited.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @covunited

UNDER 18s SOUTH DIVISION as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Bugbrooke St.Michael U18

Wellingborough Whitworth U18 Red

Cranfield United U18

-5

Biggleswade Town Youth U18 (NSYL)

-1

Kempston Rovers Academy u18

-3

Bedford Town FC (Youth Development) U18

-4

Harpole U18 Elite

Northampton O.N. Chenecks Youth U18

Cogenhoe United U18

-1

Irchester United U18

-4

LAST TIME

WON 7-1

vs Cogenhoe United – FA Youth Cup

FORM GUIDE

WWWW

NEXT UP

BEDFORD TOWN (A) 23rd SEPTEMBER 2021

GOALSCORER

EDDIE PANTER – 8 GOALS

LADIES FOOTBALL DIVISION 1 as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Kettering FC Youth Ladies

Newport Pagnell Town Women

AFC Rushden & Diamonds Whites

Bugbrooke St.Michael Ladies

Crick Athletic Ladies

Desborough Ladies FC Ladies

Long Buckby AFC Ladies

Brackley Town FC Ladies

LAST TIME

DREW 4-4

(WON 5-4 on penalties) vs Rugby Town – Bella Knight (3), Mel Smith

FORM GUIDE

NEXT UP

AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS (H)

GOALSCORER

BELLA KNIGHT – 3 GOALS

19th SEPTEMBER 2021

YOUTH FOOTBALL Week 2 of the NDYAL saw all ten of our youths teams in action………. The action got underway on Saturday with both the 9s and 10s White at the Sett whilst the 10s Black made the trip to Daventry Town. Onto Sunday and on the back of a 4-0 mid-week success over Kingsthorpe Jets the 12s Black suffered a slender 3-2 defeat against FFA Gold, a result that leaves the team in mid-table. In the 12s ‘B’ League our Blues followed up their opening day success at Thorplands with a 7-2 win over Towcester Saints, Haz Morgan scoring a hattrick which included his 100th NDYAL goal; a result that leaves the team with the only 100% record going into round three of fixtures.

Having moved from the ‘C’ League to the ‘A’ League the Under 13s White suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Earls Barton whilst the Blacks made it two wins from two in the ‘C’ league thanks for a 3-2 away win against Bilton Ajax Reddings. It was back to back defeats for the 14s Black who went down 4-1 against ON Chenecks; it’s a marathon not a sprint! The 15s opened their account for the season with a goalless draw against Briixworth at the Sett whilst the 16s made it back to back wins with another comprehensive win, this time 4-0 against Brixworth. Looking ahead to the weekend, all ten teams are once again in action, good luck to all of our players, we welcome your support!

TEAM SPONSORS

THANK YOU

THE ‘A’ TEAM NORTHANTS COMBINATION – DIVISION 1 as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Wootton St George

Bugbrooke St.Michael A

Corby Locos

Medbourne

-5

Duston Dynamo

Northampton O.N.Chenecks A

Finedon Volta

Corby Strip Mills

Higham Town

-3

West Haddon Albion

-2

Northampton Spartak

-4

Roade Reserves

-9

Future Elite Sports

-5

Milton

-10

Weldon United

-14

LAST TIME

WON 6-1 vs MEDBOURNE

FORM GUIDE

WWWLW

NEXT UP

MILTON (Home)

18th SEPTEMBER 2021, 2:30pm KICK OFF

GOALSCORER

FLORIN LAZAR / DANIEL VARGA / MARIO PARASCHIV 3 GOALS

THE ‘B’ TEAM NORTHANTS COMBINATION – DIVISION 2 as at 17/09/21

POS

PTS

Wollaston Victoria Reserves

Thrapston Venturas FC

Earls Barton United Reserves

Corby FC Siam

Bugbrooke St.Michael B

AFC Woodford Wolves

-1

Moulton Reserves

-2

Brixworth All Saints

-3

Blisworth Reserves

Northampton F.C. Eagles United

-4

Harpole Reserves

-4

Kettering Nomads Reserves

-4

Weldon United Reserves

-3

Stanwick Rovers

-6

Woodford United Reserves

-10

LAST TIME

WON 4-1

vs AFC WOODFORD WOLVES

FORM GUIDE

LWW

NEXT UP

EARLS BARTON UNITED RES (Away) 18th SEPTEMBER 2021, 2:30pm KICK OFF

GOALSCORER

LIAM ISAAC 4 GOALS

THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN STALLIONS Italy have broken the record for the longest unbeaten run-in international football. It has been an incredible run since their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with their last defeat coming against Portugal in September of that year, a record-breaking run of clean sheets, and, as we are all too aware, the winning of a major trophy. A goalless draw against Switzerland seems an anticlimactic way of celebrating the achievement, but it will stand in the record books, for a while at least. What makes the achievement even more spectacular is the scrutiny, the pressure, and the expectation of the whole of Italy that this team carried with them. But what if the pressure wasn’t from society? What if it came from above? What if your boss's boss, the big cheese that expected nothing but perfection, was a murderous dictator who didn’t tolerate failure? That was what Vittorio Pozzo faced the last time Italy had a streak like this, in the 1930s, under Benito Mussolini. When Il Duce came to power in 1922, football was growing in popularity but not in quality. Much was borrowed from Austria and Hungary, who had been early innovators in the game, and despite some attempt to improve Italian players, with the introduction of an Italians-only league to run alongside the regular one, it just caused confusion and disorganisation. Mussolini, though, knew the power football could have to unite the nation and propel it on the international stage. “We have made Italy, now we must make Italians”, Prime Minister Massimo d’Azeglio said upon Italy’s unification in the second half of the nineteenth century. Mussolini may as well have added “and then, Italian footballers.” In 1926, he appointed Lando Ferretti to the head of the FIGC, and he began the process of professionalisation, as well as implementing a limit on foreign players. But the goal was the national team, and success first at the Olympics in 1928, and then at the World Cup, which was being mooted. International success would project the power of Fascism and was a relatively easy way to unite the people behind the flag. But when they were beaten by Uruguay in the Olympic final, changes had to be made. Ferretti, fearing for his own head, turned to Pozzo, the tactical innovator who worked for Pirelli and as a journalist in Turin, as well as having been appointed head of the Italian selection commission twice, coaching Torino for a decade, and, during the 1928 Olympics, leading AC Milan. A man of that kind of work ethic was exactly what Fascism expected in its national representatives. Only a handful of European teams chose to travel to South America for the 1930 World Cup, despite Uruguay’s deal with FIFA to pay the travelling team’s expenses. Perhaps recognising the risk of playing the Olympic Champions, in a home tournament, thousands of miles from home, Italy decided to instead play in the Central European Championship. Pozzo was put to work. First was a move away from the English style, which focused on athleticism and power, to something more recognisably continental. Pozzo’s Metodo system would be familiar even today to the likes of Man City or Barcelona, with attacking full-backs, a deep lying playmaker, two Mezzalas – drifting, central midfielders who moved out to the wing - and inside forwards either side of a lone striker. It focussed on short passing and possession-based football, unlike the WM or even the innovations in Hungary at the time, which were much more concerned with getting the ball forward and creating as many chances as possible. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that Italy dominated the Central European Championship. Despite being created by Austrian Hugo Meisl to showcase the talents of his team, Italy, with an inspired Giuseppe Meazza, finished top of the table in 1930 (the competition had begun in 1927), and went into the second edition of the tournament in 1933 is similarly dominant fashion. They would retain it as the tournament ran through to 1935, but right in the middle was the small matter of the 1934 World Cup, which Italy hosted despite, or because of, some dubious communications with FIFA. The 1934 competition had no group stages, lurching straight into the Round of 16. Not that it mattered to Pozzo, who watched his side destroy the United States 7-1, with a hat trick from Angelo Schiavio, a late recall after being dropped the previous year. The quarter final was much tougher though, against a Spain side who had seen of Brazil, and were themselves on the verge of a fascist takeover. Real Madrid’s Luis Regueiro opened the scoring on 30 minutes, but Italy equalised before the break. In an era of goals galore, neither side could make the breakthrough in the second half or extra time, and the game went to a replay. FIFA regulations stipulated that it was to be played the next day, and an exhausted Italy slipped through after Meazza scored early against a much-changed Spain, who were without seven of the previous day’s side.

The semi-final, played just two days after those two bruising Mediterranean encounters, saw Italy against close rivals Austria, who played a similar passing game under the tactical genius of Hugo Meisl. Torrential rain turned the San Siro pitch into a quagmire, which hampered both teams dramatically, and after a goalkeeping error Enrique Guaita gave the hosts the lead inside 20 minutes. That, it turned out, was just about as long as it took for Meisl to adapt his tactics to the Milanese weather, and Austria then dominated. Chances fell to Josef Bican and Anton Schall, but Matthias Sindelar was the danger man. Sindelar, tragically, would die (probably murdered) after refusing to play for Nazi Germany, but in 1934 he was perhaps the most dangerous forward in the world, the sharp end of what was known as the Austrian Whirlpool, and he found himself through on goal over and over again. This time, though, it was Gianpiero Combi who would be the hero, stopping the Austrian each and every time, and booking Italy a place in the final. The final against the Czech Republic was set against the backdrop of an Italy side that, by this stage, was running on fumes. Setting the standard for 80 years of Italian football, they relied on their defensive quality to get them over the line, although when Antonin Puc finally broke the deadlock with a looping shot in the 71st minute, Pozzo had to switch things up. Under Il Duce’s watchful eye, Raimundo Orsi found space in the box to level things up. Italy again were forced into extra time, and on 95 minutes Schiavio turned his man in the box to fire, left-footed, into the bottom corner. Tough tackles and few rough challenges followed, and Italy were World Champions. Celebrations went long into the night, but for Pozzo it was straight back to work. The following year Italy won the Central European Championship again, but this time their goal was to make the first successful defence of the World Cup. When France were named as hosts of the 1938 edition, Uruguay boycotted their second successive World Cup, and this time Argentina followed suit, leaving the draw theoretically open for Italy to be successful. They saw off Norway in the first round thanks to goals from Pietro Ferraris and Serie A’s still leading goalscorer Silvio Piola. Their quarter final was against the hosts, and Piola got two as France were beaten 3-1. The semi-final, though, was against Brazil, who had come through an encounter with Czechoslovakia so brutal it was nicknamed the Battle of Bordeaux. Gino Colaussi scored the first before Meazza, by this stage a senior pro, doubled the lead from the spot. Brazil returned to violence, and it rewarded them with a late goal to spark some hope, but Italy held on for the final. Mussolini, determined to show Italy’s strength with war in the offing, supposedly sent a telegram to Pozzi and his team before the final, with perhaps the most extreme footballing ultimatum ever in just three words: “Win, or die”. There would be no close shaves this time, no amount of exhaustion would get in the way. Colaussi opened the scoring on 6 minutes, volleying in a floated cross, before Pal Tikos levelled it up for Hungary, driving in at the far post. Italy hit the post and forced the goalkeeper into a couple of great saves trying to restore their lead, before Piola found the net after an over-complicated passing move that looked as though it had lost the chance. And all that before a quarter of an hour had passed. Colaussi got his second on 35, placing the ball into the bottom corner from close range, and despite Hungary halving the deficit in the second half, Piola got his second after a lovely cut back to seal the game. Italy had retained the trophy, and more importantly, their lives. War broke out the following year, and Pozzo’s all-conquering Italian side came to an end, but not before extending their unbeaten run to 30 in 1939.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn Green The Untold Game Find us at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media @TheUntoldGame

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