Ferndown Locomotive FC – The History… so far

Ferndown Locomotive FC: History

Ferndown Locomotive ‘T&D’ FC, started off as a 5-a-side team, which then developed into an 11-a-side outfit. Players were gathered through various sources, including the AFCB Internet Team, the team started out in the Hayward League Sunday Division Seven in 2002 with Chris Parker as Manager.

In 2003/04 season Loco under the management of Paul Phillips when the side remained unbeaten for long periods, the West Moors based side won the league title convincingly by nine points and promoted to Hayward League Sunday Division 5.

 

In 2005-06, the club was re-branded as Ferndown Locomotive FC. This was to reflect the natural roots of many squad players, and new home venue where we played – King George V Playing Fields, Ferndown. During the season, we not only held our own in the league, but we ended up getting promoted once again, for the second time in three seasons.

 

The 2006-07 season saw Locomotive competing in Hayward League Sunday Division Four. Once again, Locomotive had another fruitful season, at the end of the season Paul Phillips, who had been working tirelessly in the manager’s position at Loco for 5 seasons, was to step up as Chairman, in order to shake the team up a bit with a fresher faced manager. This position was taken up by current player Paul Cashmore.

 

Under Paul Cashmore’s management Loco progressed and in 2007-08 secured promotion to Hayward League Sunday Division 3. In the 2008 – 09 season Paul stepped down as manager and was replaced by then Club Secretary Alistair Carmichael.

 

With Ali’s stewardship the Ferndown club continued to improve as a club with the introduction of a gruelling preseason training schedule and weekly training sessions, helping the club climb the division three table, and Ali’s team were unfortunate not to be promoted in 2010-11 when Loco finished 4^th in Division 3.

 

Due to an expanding family Ali stepped down as Manager and Loco embarked on a new season in Division 3 without Mr Carmichael involved in the clubs running for the first time in 6 or so years. The recently formed committee moved quickly to appoint then club captain Jimmy Redford as new loco manager. After a successful preseason with new recruits added, Loco started the season well going 10 games unbeaten in league and cup, which has brought this Ferndown side to their first ever Semi Finals appearance in the clubs history.

 

Special mention in the Ferndown Locomotive FC history to:

Sean Barker – all-time Top Goal Scorer and Loco Legend

Ali Carmichael, Andy Smith and Sam Davis (joint) – All Time Appearances.
Rob Frank, Scott Mountfield, Chris Parker, Paul Moore, Sean ‘Salva’ Barker – Founding Fathers of Ferndown Locomotive T&D FC

Chris Parker, Paul Philips, Paul Cashmore, Alistair Carmichael, Jimmy Redford – Loco Managers

Andy Smith (Secretary), Dave Hall (Chairman), Ben Haines (Treasurer) Jonny Haines (Social Sec.) – Current Committee

 

Ferndown Locomotive FC would not be in existence today without the generous donations made by our sponsors in previous years.

However it is fair to say that current sponsor Koozai, a Southampton and London based Intelligent Digital Marketing Company, have provided the level of investment in the club not previously seen, which has secured the clubs future for this and many years to come. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Ben Norman (Managing Director of Koozai) for his continued support. www.koozai.com

Ferndown Locomotive FC (UK) twinned with FC Nelson Locomotive (NZ) ** www.locoboys.co.uk **

Title Contender Clash

Queens Park Reserves vs. Ferndown Locomotive, Chapel Gate, 15-01-2012

Today’s game was always an eagerly anticipated game for Loco’s footballing calendar and the game certainly didn’t disappoint with events. With Loco playing 4 games without a win it was really important to get back to winning ways and again the strength and depth of the squad came into play with arguably 6 first team starters not available for selection. WithQueensParksitting pretty at the top of the league and Loco looking to take advantage of their games in hand it potentially could have been a struggle with squad players needing to up their game to continue the fight for starting places and they certainly did just that.

With only 10 minutes to go before kick off Loco only had a bear 11 but thankfully Sean turned up sporting a rather Paddington bear style scarf swaying in the cross winds as he casually strolled over to the pitch and Jimmy then appeared followed shortly after by Pete ensuring we had a squad for the game ahead. A quick warm up from the militant Jacko and we were ready to commence. Jimmy decided to go with still the unproven 3-5-2 to try and go with a more attacking look as Loco had only managed 1 goal in the last 3 games. From the sidelines Queens looked up for this game as the Loco team gather a quick focus on the game ahead there was a short delay to game commencing as the referee that Queens were supposed to supply controversially didn’t show! With one of their supporters willing take the rains as referee the game was ready to commence 10 minutes late.

At a blustery cold; frost-free Chapel Gate – The game was certainly going to be dominated by the gusty wind that was never going away and was certainly there to be taken advantage of in the first half as well as the low sun. With only several minutes in Queens were already penning Loco in their own half with excellent use of the lofted long ball allowing the wind to their advantage they managed to go one nil up after Loco failed to clear a corner; their forward managed to lash a well taken strike in the penalty area destined for the back of the net; 1 nil Queens.

With a few fierce challenges flying in, deliberate trips, pushing and shoving  it was already looking like “one-of-those” games with the referee seemingly ignoring off the ball incidents it looked like a scrappy game ahead. Loco looking like they could get into the game when they got the ball down and played football with Keith and Dave looking to try and got a hold of the ball and with Jacko’s massive manhood swinging in the wind he was still able to play the ball into the space. Loco’s first half play seem to go all down the right hand for Loco’s long-legged smithy who was trying to make some surging runs from his unfamiliar role of right wing back but the ball just kept coming back and the defence, especially Mike Franklin who was doing a good job to keep the strong pacey forward quiet so far.

With some good play down the middle, a quick one-two between Matty and Simon allowed Matty to get in to a great position down the wing picking out Ali with a quick short cross with what just looked like a simple half volley tap in needed but an awkward bounce meant it he wasn’t able to make clean contact with the ball scrapping his studs allowing the keeper to get a decent save pushing it out for a corner.

Against the run of play Queens Park got the ball down and played a quick counter attack and again using the wind to full advantage they swung the ball from right to left and before Loco knew it was 3 on 3 and the Queen’s forward on the edge of box from the left hand side cut in and struck a fantastic left footed shot beating stand in Keeper Dan Carr at his near post, 2 nil.

After 35 mins Queens Park were getting the upper hand and a long range effort from one of their midfielder’s again taking advantage of the wind just sailed over the cross bar. In the last few minutes Loco again showed signs of their old winning way football with some neat touches and clever passes, Loco worked their way to the home team’s penalty box and after a deflected shot came back out to Si Ward he was able to closely control the ball and the twinkle toed forward managed to get a left shot struck neatly with power into the corner of goal, 2-1.

Quickly after Queen’s kick-off Loco’s 11 unsurprisingly looked more confident and they were looking to press the home team but unfortunately for Loco the half time whistle came to the delight ofQueensParkwho were really under pressure in the final 10 minutes.  Jimmy decided to make a change at half time and took himself off and headed for the showers with Pete Kunzi his replacement, Smithy slotted in at the back and Pete filling in at right wing back.

Queens kick off the second half and straight from the off Loco forced an error from the home team and with the ball being stroked to Ali, he takes a delicate touch forward lining up a shot just inside the area and he drills a shot into the top corner leaving the net bulging so much so; the ball wraps itself inside the netting leaving the goalkeeper to literately pick it out of the net, 2 -2.

The game looked destined for Loco to grab 3 points with Kieran now seeing a lot more of the ball as the ghastly wind taking any lofted ball to the left of the pitch. With Loco playing more give and go football they certainly looked the more dominant and pushing theQueensdefence deeper and deeper into their own half. Kieran with a couple of cross come / shots and also Si took a free kick that he had been practising before the game failed to test the keeper in the second half and we really needed to take full advantage of any chances as the make fit referee seemingly ignored obvious fouls and off sides given by Adam causing the Loco players to get on the referees back. He actually became aggressive and swore at caretaker manager Johnny “Harry Redknapp” Haines after he asked why he had given a free kick on what only seemed a (unusually) fair challenge by Groves using the reply of and I quote “I don’t give a f@*%, stop moaning you p#~*k” – nice charming old chap, not!

With still 2 subs left it was just simply too close to make any changes for the moment and Adam was doing a fantastically ignored-by-the-ref job of linesman and Jim “Joe Jordan” Legg was acting as Haines’ number 2. A brief scare occurred when what looked like a leg breaking challenge from the Queens left forward on Pete “the rash” Kunzi but he managed to bravely shake it off and to no surprise the referee disappointedly again choose to say nothing to the forward and reluctantly gave a free kick.

Another close shave as Queens pressed well working the ball into the area and “Van Da Carr” did well to get down low to stop a shot and then almost immediately after that another shot was cleared off the line by the impressive Smithy and a sigh of relief could be seen on the touch line with all Loco’s hard work nearly lost in the final 10 minutes. With 4 mins to go (we know this as we asked the referee how long was left) a tactical change was made with Ali coming off for Jim.Queensquickly had a corner within 30 seconds of the substitution being made which was quickly cleared away, to the centre of the park and a quick pass played to Matty who then turned the centre back like a cement mixer was suddenly through on goal. With Jim to his left but with the penalty area almost entered and only the rushing out keeper to beat to try and steal all 3 points unfortunately the only stealing that occurred must have been the salesman that sold the referee his watch! We were convinced that the 43 and 44 minutes symbol must be missing from it as he blew for fulltime even though there was at least two minutes left until full time.

Although we shall never know if Matty would of scored; this type of act was ungentlemanly and  unsporting – this was clearly demonstrated by the Loco players at the end of the game; especially Smithy who almost needed an injunction put on him by the referee as he understandably expressed his frustration and disappointment with almost clenched fists but he was the bigger man and had to walk away as the referee disregarded anything we had to say with a smug dirty smile knowing full well what he had done.

With a much needed point Loco continue their march for silverware determined to win against Queens for the return leg at “The George”. An all-important Semi-final on the horizon but the importance is to focus on next week’s game and look to secure our first win in four games by winning next week. Well done guys though; a well fought frustrating game and a noticeable uplifting feeling today even if we didn’t have the best of starts to the game today; it’s important to take the positives from the game knowing we can beat them at home and with the reality of being in the mix for the league title trophy come the end of the season lets get back to our winning ways.

 

Jim Legg

15-01-2012