Taking in some cricket before kick-off May 1993. Ace of Base were top of the charts with All That She Wants. Manchester United won the Premier League title, Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Final. AFC Wimbledon and Oldham Athletic were still top flight sides, and I was planning a Wembley trip to watch West Brom beat Port Vale 3-0 in the Second Division play-off final. This was also the year that Stewkley were last crowned champions of the North Bucks Premier League. In fact, as far as I can see, the only time they have won the league.
Fast forward 32 years. May 17th, 2025. Stewkley are at home to Willen in the final game of the North Bucks Premier season. The situation was that they were a point behind MK United at the top, with an inferior goal difference. Only a win would be enough for them to win the league.
The problem (and I didn't post this before the match) was today's opponents. Willen started the day in fifth spot and eighteen points behind their hosts, but had already beaten Stewkley 2-0 this season and, a little research showed, were something of a bogey team for The Stewks. The last six meetings, a cup game and five in the league, including the one this term, have all gone the way of Willen. The visitors also had the league's top scorer in their ranks. Toby Herman-Smith began the day with 31 goals from 20 appearances. Having said that, current form was in favour of Stewkley, who had also only dropped five points at home all season.
Fast forward 32 years. May 17th, 2025. Stewkley are at home to Willen in the final game of the North Bucks Premier season. The situation was that they were a point behind MK United at the top, with an inferior goal difference. Only a win would be enough for them to win the league.
The problem (and I didn't post this before the match) was today's opponents. Willen started the day in fifth spot and eighteen points behind their hosts, but had already beaten Stewkley 2-0 this season and, a little research showed, were something of a bogey team for The Stewks. The last six meetings, a cup game and five in the league, including the one this term, have all gone the way of Willen. The visitors also had the league's top scorer in their ranks. Toby Herman-Smith began the day with 31 goals from 20 appearances. Having said that, current form was in favour of Stewkley, who had also only dropped five points at home all season.
The last few weeks of the North Bucks Premier campaign had been fascinating. At the time of my first visit to Stewkley Recreation Ground on April 5th, Stewkley were top of the table after beating Twyford United 1-0 (Three Points Closer). The title race was effectively down to three teams, Stewkley, last season's champions MK United and Great Horwood. Ten days later I was at a very wet and chilly Middleton Pavilion to see MK United miss the chance to go top after being held to a 3-3 draw by AFC Carpathians in what was a fantastically entertaining game of football (Wolves Put United In A Stew). Great Horwood then dropped out of the running after defeat at Willen, and a 3-0 home reversal to Stewkley. That left MK United and Stewkley to battle it out. The victory over Great Horwood had left The Stewks two clear of United with a game in hand and only three left to play. This made the game on May 6th even more important, as Stewkley travelled to MK United for a showdown. Victory for Stewkley would have sealed the title and, when they went a goal up after just 4 minutes, it looked to be on. However, United hit back to win the game 2-1 and set up a grandstand finish (Hanging Around). Both teams then won their next games, Stewkley beating Milton Keynes City 4-0 and MK winning 2-1 at Wing Village. That set up today's game. MK had completed their games and led the table by a point and a two goal difference. Stewks needed all three points to snatch the title, whilst MK were playing Old Bradwell United Devs in the Premier Challenge Trophy over at Buckingham FC.
Thanks to the match officials Ron James, Kyle Wells and Harry Newsham for sharing the team sheets with me (and a few other interested parties) prior to kick-off. As always, greatly appreciated.
Thanks to the match officials Ron James, Kyle Wells and Harry Newsham for sharing the team sheets with me (and a few other interested parties) prior to kick-off. As always, greatly appreciated.
Willen threatened in the 1st half There was a bumper crowd at The Recreation Ground, the majority of whom were there to see their local team hopefully win the league, and they must have been encouraged by the start that Stewkley made. There didn't appear to be too many nerves in the opening encounters and the yellows were quickly on the attack. Captain Sam Budgen led the way, shooting over after 7 minutes. Four minutes later Sam Waldrum was unfortunate to see his effort come back off the Willen woodwork. However, despite the good start, the settling goal didn't come and, after ten minutes the home side appeared to start getting more edgy. Trying to force the issue, passes started going astray, giving Willen some encouragement. That could easily have been converted into an unexpected away lead when, just on the quarter hour, Mason Luya's corner deceived everyone and cannoned of Will Essex's post. It was a warning for Stewkley. The balance of play had evened out after the first 10 minutes and the home aside couldn't afford to allow Willen to settle.
Many of the home side's early forays had come down the left, where Tom Carter was having plenty of joy, and this was the source of the all-important opening goal after 26 minutes. Carter made enough room for a cross which was met by the head of Sam Waldrum, who guided the ball expertly past Lewis Baker. 1-0.
The goal probably should have opened the floodgates. However, even though the yellow shirts continued to press forward, they were met by resilient defending. Carter shot over just past the half-hour mark and then found Patrick Okole in the centre after 37 minutes, but his shot was blocked well by the ranks of blue shirts. Just before the break, Okole was in again and looked odds on to get a shot away before being well closed down by Joe Eva.
HT Stewkley 1 Willen 0. As it stood, Stewkley were heading for the title. However, a single goal lead, when only a win would do, was not enough. Willen had shown that they could create chances and it only took one to go in for Stewkley to be back to square one.
Many of the home side's early forays had come down the left, where Tom Carter was having plenty of joy, and this was the source of the all-important opening goal after 26 minutes. Carter made enough room for a cross which was met by the head of Sam Waldrum, who guided the ball expertly past Lewis Baker. 1-0.
The goal probably should have opened the floodgates. However, even though the yellow shirts continued to press forward, they were met by resilient defending. Carter shot over just past the half-hour mark and then found Patrick Okole in the centre after 37 minutes, but his shot was blocked well by the ranks of blue shirts. Just before the break, Okole was in again and looked odds on to get a shot away before being well closed down by Joe Eva.
HT Stewkley 1 Willen 0. As it stood, Stewkley were heading for the title. However, a single goal lead, when only a win would do, was not enough. Willen had shown that they could create chances and it only took one to go in for Stewkley to be back to square one.
Tom Carter could have made it 3-0 It probably doesn't take a tactical genius to work out that the Stewkley coaching team would have emphasised the need for another goal during the half-time chat, and they didn't have long to wait for that to become reality. Less than a minute into the second half, Patrick Okole rose to glance a header past Baker and send the locals into raptures. 2-0. Two minutes later they almost made it three when Rory Scrivener's corner got caught by a gust of wind and was only inches from swerving in under the bar.
Even though there were 40 minutes remaining, the champagne was already being put on ice. Willen weren't quite a spent force, but the chance of them scoring three from this point was very slim. They were also beginning to tire themselves and, having nothing left to paly for, it must have been very hard for them to muster the resolve to stay in the game. Stewkley were starting to enjoy the game now, none more so than Jamie Hardings who, as they game wore on, seemed to increase in energy where everyone else was decreasing. Just past the hour he had a golden opportunity to seal the game when sent clean through, He struck his shot cleanly enough but was a an inch or so off aim, seeing his effort crash off the underside of the bar and away from danger.
However, on 67 minutes, Stewkley did put the game beyond doubt, and it was a delightful goal that did it. A passing move that started on the left, saw the ball fed across the pitch towards the right flank. Hardings got the call to step over the pass, which he did, allowing Albie Whittemore to run onto the pass, take a touch and then smash an unstoppable drive past Baker. 3-0 and the celebrations were now really starting.
It was one-way traffic at this point. Willen were done. Tom Carter got on the end of a sweeping ball from the right, lifting what was a difficult chance over the bar. With 15 minutes remaining, captain Budgen was denied by a great save from Lewis Baker, before Carter saw his strike come back off the post, with Baker again saving, this time from Roadnight.
It mattered little. Three was more than enough.
FT Stewkley 3 Willen 0. The early goal in the second half turned what could have been a nervy game into and exhibition towards the end. A great title race draws to a close with Stewkley ending the season two pints clear, claiming their first title for 32 years. Many congratulations to everyone at the club. Commiserations to last season's winners MK United, who took the race to the wire. They can be consoled with the fact that they won their Trophy Final 2-0.
Stewkley: Essex, Whittemore, Scrivener, Budgen(c), Iannelli, Wagner, McKenna, Hardings, Okolie, Waldrum, Carter. Subs: Alligan, Cristofoli, Reeves, Bailey, Roadnight
Willen: Baker, Eva, Smith(c), Slater, Luya, Herdman-Smith, Field, Latarche, Brewer, Yemo, Tierney. Subs: Leslie-Dell, Trunkfield
Ground Number: Re-visit
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Even though there were 40 minutes remaining, the champagne was already being put on ice. Willen weren't quite a spent force, but the chance of them scoring three from this point was very slim. They were also beginning to tire themselves and, having nothing left to paly for, it must have been very hard for them to muster the resolve to stay in the game. Stewkley were starting to enjoy the game now, none more so than Jamie Hardings who, as they game wore on, seemed to increase in energy where everyone else was decreasing. Just past the hour he had a golden opportunity to seal the game when sent clean through, He struck his shot cleanly enough but was a an inch or so off aim, seeing his effort crash off the underside of the bar and away from danger.
However, on 67 minutes, Stewkley did put the game beyond doubt, and it was a delightful goal that did it. A passing move that started on the left, saw the ball fed across the pitch towards the right flank. Hardings got the call to step over the pass, which he did, allowing Albie Whittemore to run onto the pass, take a touch and then smash an unstoppable drive past Baker. 3-0 and the celebrations were now really starting.
It was one-way traffic at this point. Willen were done. Tom Carter got on the end of a sweeping ball from the right, lifting what was a difficult chance over the bar. With 15 minutes remaining, captain Budgen was denied by a great save from Lewis Baker, before Carter saw his strike come back off the post, with Baker again saving, this time from Roadnight.
It mattered little. Three was more than enough.
FT Stewkley 3 Willen 0. The early goal in the second half turned what could have been a nervy game into and exhibition towards the end. A great title race draws to a close with Stewkley ending the season two pints clear, claiming their first title for 32 years. Many congratulations to everyone at the club. Commiserations to last season's winners MK United, who took the race to the wire. They can be consoled with the fact that they won their Trophy Final 2-0.
Stewkley: Essex, Whittemore, Scrivener, Budgen(c), Iannelli, Wagner, McKenna, Hardings, Okolie, Waldrum, Carter. Subs: Alligan, Cristofoli, Reeves, Bailey, Roadnight
Willen: Baker, Eva, Smith(c), Slater, Luya, Herdman-Smith, Field, Latarche, Brewer, Yemo, Tierney. Subs: Leslie-Dell, Trunkfield
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance:
Programme:
Kieran Roadnight challenges for a cross
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