Wormley Rovers FC vs. Ampthill Town FC

Gladwish Challenge Trophy

Date: 15 October 2024

Kickoff: 19:45

View from the chair

Welcome everyone to The Lane for tonight’s cup game vs Ampthill Town.

A particular warm welcome to the players officials and supporters of Ampthill Town who we play for the first time in our history today and welcome to our shiny new clubhouse following the refurbishments.

It’s been a real test for the players coming into the SSML but one they are relishing and this is our first game at home in four weeks after two tough away days at Arlesley where we won 1-0 and at MK Irish where we lost 3-0 in a game we were in throughout but some excellent goalkeeping & last ditch defending saw us unable to score and credit to our hosts they know how to win games once they are in front.

I get to see how incredibly hard Ryan and his team are working to improve the squad, to improve players both individually and as a unit and there is something incredibly pleasing about watching young players develop and thrive in an environment where we want them to improve. . There is certainly a togetherness amongst the whole squad that has carried over from last year that is something very special.

I have sympathy for Ryan and his management team as he hasn’t been able to put anywhere near the same side out in consecutive games due to injuries, but tonight is an opportunity to get back to winning ways hopefully in what will be another tough test.

Please enjoy the game

#COYW

Welcome to our opponents

Ampthill Town recent history – Ampthill Town are one of the oldest clubs in Bedfordshire and date back to the 1880s. They joined the South Midlands league in 1960 after playing in the Beds. League and were placed in the Premier Division which they won in 1962 and were runners up a year later.

After finishing bottom of the Premier Division in 1965 the club went into Division 2 of the United Counties League. They were promoted to Division 1 despite finishing sixth . in 1991 they returned to the South Midlands and joined Division 1.

Following a sequence of ups and downs they stayed in the Senior Division from 2001 to 2011 when they were promoted as runners up. They finished fifth in 2013 and went to the Premier and were runners up in 2014 when they also reached he last eight of the Vase before losing at Eastbourne. But in the next year the club were relegated after finishing bottom..

The club has consolidated in recent years and three seasons ago they reached the Division 1 play offs and lost at home to Whitworths. The Amps have finished just outside the play off places in the last two terms and were hampered by a run of ten games in April; last season. They won more away games than at home , securing eleven wins on their travels while home form at Easter cost them dear with one point from three games.

The club reached the last four of the Challenge Trophy last year losing at London Lions after beating Premier clubs Stansted and Aylesbury Vale on the way. They lost at home on penalties to Rothwell in the Div cup while Leverstock Green put them out of the Vase early on and Caldecote ended their county cup hopes at the last eight stage.

This year they won at Oxhey Jets in the Vase first prelim round but then lost at home to British Airways. Chris Harvey begins his second year in charge and has been joined by Colin Lauder. Sam Holmes top scored with 25 goals last year.

Match Day Squads

Wormley Rovers FC

Keeper: All Green or All Purple

Red Shirts | Black Shorts | Black Socks

Joshua Asiedu
Reece Barrett
George Beattie
Lee Brennan
Cormac Clark
Zion Dos Santos Sinclair
Bradley Empson
Danny Haigh
Archie Hammond
Adam Hart
Charles Hill
Prince Will Madu
Luke Marshall
Kaidyn Michael
Reece Mosanya
Tom Mulqueen
Louis Offer
Connor Scully
Carlos Simeon
Ryan Stevenson
Craig Tolley
Ryan Wade
Reiss Webber