31/12/2005
Inter-Club Match
BBFC 1st XI 7 - 3 BBFC 2nd XI
Despite the poor conditions, great entertainment was put on by both Battle Baptist sides and although the first team ran out comfortable winners, the seconds can take heart from their battling performance in their first ever game.
More details later, but match pictures from the encounter are already available here.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
31/12/2005
Sat Club Match
Today's Inter-Club match is GOING AHEAD as planned!
Meet at 11:30am for a 12:30 KO
I inspected the pitch at 9am this morning and there's no way we could play on it without trunks.
But the sloping area above our pitch is OK so we intend to set up a temporary pitch there.
It's not exactly the conditions we had hoped for but at least we'll have a good game of football.
Posted by: bbfcmanager
27/12/2005
Tuesday's Game
Today's Inter-Club match is OFF!
Myself and Gary are contacting people to let them know, but if you read this please try and inform someone else, especially Iain Henning, Stewart Calderwood and Sampson Harper, who I am unable to get hold of.
Training tomorrow evening is also cancelled.
We hope to play the fixture on Saturday instead (December 31st) at 12.30. Please either phone Gary or myself or email using the details in the 'Club Info' section to inform us of your availability.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
25/12/2005
--M E R R Y ----C H R I S T M A S-- !!
Merry Xmas to the players, supporters, committee members and the whole football family of Battle Baptist FC.
May God bless and keep each and every one of you until that glorious day when Jesus will return in victory!
Have a wonderful Christmas celebration.
Posted by: bbfcmanager
25/12/2005
Merry Christmas!
A Merry Christmas to all from the players, management and supporters of Battle Baptist FC.
At this special time of year, it is important to celebrate the true reason we have a club and for that we must give thanks. Enjoy yourselves!
Posted by: Steve Mumford
Thur 22/12/2005
Jan/Feb AVAILABILITY
I must know if you are NOT available for any Saturday game during January or February. Even if you have told me previously please tell me again by confirming the dates that you cannot play.
The best way to do this is by dropping me an email or by calling me at home. The worst way is to tell me at training or on a match day whan I have 101 other things to think about.
This is most important now because we are fast approaching the half-term holiday when there are many players away/unavailable. I want to plan opportunities for the replacements to have an appearance in the team before they are needed.
PLEASE DON'T IGNORE THIS MESSAGE! ACT NOW!!!
7th Jan (home) TRAVAUX (Div 4)
14th Jan (home) ICKLESHAM (Lower Div Cup 1/4 Final)
21st Jan (away) Punnetts Town (Div 4)
28th Jan (home) Victoria Baptists (Div 4)
4th Feb - Fixture Unknown
11th Feb - Fixture Unknown
18th Feb - Fixture Unknown
25th Feb - Fixture Unknown
If, for whatever reason you become unavailable during this period, let me know IMMEDIATELY.
Thanks.
Posted by: bbfc Manager
Thur 22/12/2005
CLUB MATCH - Tues 27th Dec 2005
Note the KO off time is 2pm. Meet at the Rec at 1pm.
I think we've contacted everyone now but if there's anyone who's been accidentally overlooked please contact Steve Mumford or myself. There's room for you to join us!
If the weather is bad and the pitch is doubtful we will inspect it in the morning before KO. We will only contact you if the match is off.
Here are the 2 squads.
1st team:Simon Cutler, Owen Davies, Doug Morris, Darrell Hartley, Paul Ford, Andy Mills, Dave Mills, Pat Mammone, Pete Cooper, Dominic Fowler, Luke Graham, Gary Walsh.
2nd team:Tim Nunn, Ian Nunn, Adam Johnson, Samson Harper, Ben Garlick, Stuart Calderwood, Matt Lee, Richard Ahsam, Loksan Harley, Iain Henning, Luke Miller, Steve Mumford, Any others.
Ref: Gary Wenham
Posted by: bbfc Manager
Sun 18/12/2005
BBFC Inter-Club Match
Just to make people aware, training for the match on Tuesday the 27th December (kick off 14.00) will take place on Battle Rec at mid-day this Tuesday (20th). Ian Nunn and Richard Ahsam will be putting the 2nds through their paces an all are welcome.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
Tue 20/12/2005
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANKYOU!!!
(Horray! My internet line is working once again!)
I'm sure that everyone who went to the Christmas Dinner on Saturday would want to join me in saying a MASSIVE 'thank you' to the team of people who organised, prepared and served up such a wonderful spread of fare. Several players have have asked me to pass on their complements...it was what truely an amazingly awesome meal...the full Christmas meal ...not missing a single trimming that you could possibly ever imagine...and with plenty of second helpings too.
What a great idea, not to go to a commercial venue but to do it ourselves. We must recognise how very blessed we are to have the people in our football family who are willing to serve us in this amazing way.
I especially want to thank Margaret and Clive for all the time they devoted to preparing for and organising the evening (I have no idea how they managed to be at the game on Saturday afternoon as well), and also to Ian and Joanna who also dedicated their prescious time to prepare food and help with setting up the room.
Of course as soon as you start to mention names you are sure to forget someone but these four were wonderfully helped by an extended team of volunteers who all helped to make the night a fantastic experience. "Thank You" to you all!!!
For me personally, it was the best day yet in the life of our club because the blessings of our Lord Jesus were apparent throughout the whole day, both on the football pitch where we endured persecution and came out victorious, and also at the table where the Spirit of the Lord was present.
Posted by: bbfc Manager
Sun 18/12/2005
BBFC Inter-Club Match
Just to make people aware, training for the match on Tuesday the 27th December (kick off 13.00) will take place on Battle Rec at mid-day this Tuesday (20th). Ian Nunn and Richard Ahsam will be putting the 2nds through their paces an all are welcome.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
Sat 17/12/2005
BBFC Site Update
Following the fantastic win against Hastings Rangers, the site has been updated and a report on the game can be found here.
Follow the link or go through the pictures section to see pictures from the game. Click Here.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
Thur 15/12/2005
Team To Play HASTINGS RANGERS - Sat 17th Dec. - Away- KO 2pm
MEET at the church at 12:30pm - Don't be late !!!!
Alternatively be at Bulverhythe on Bexhill Road(Murco Petrol Station/Combe Haven end) by 1pm at the latest.
1.Simon Cutler
2.Owen Davies, 5.Gary Williams, 4.Doug Morris, 3.Paul Ford
11.Dave Mills, 6.Adrian Gaylon, 7.Andy Mills(c), 8.Pete Cooper
9.Gary Walsh, 10.Tom Frere-Smith
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Mon 12/12/2005
SQUAD TO PLAY HASTINGS RANGERS - Sat 17TH Dec. - AWAY KO 2pm
Simon Cutler, Owen Davies, Gary Williams, Doug Morris, Gary Wenham, Steve Chapman, Paul Ford, Darrell Hartley, Pete Cooper, Ollie Jeffs, Adrian Gaylon, Richard Ahsam, Andy Mills, Dave Mills, Loksan Harley, Pat Mammone, Gary Walsh, Tom Frere-Smith, Dominic Fowler, Iain Henning, Chris Mammone, Luke Graham, Steve Mumford.
The final squad will be posted by Thursday night, following training on Wednesday.
A mammoth squad again this week sees the return of Tom from University and the nature of this fixture means that he is certain to start the game.
Potentially this could be a controvertial decision but there are several reasons why this makes perfect sense to me.
For a start, no-one can deny that Tom is (and always has been) a fully committed member of our football club.
This game against Rangers will be one of the toughest encounters of the season. Rangers are scoring freely week in week out. With Battle Rangers, Punnetts Town et al showing steady improvement at the bottom of the Division, our position is still still not safe. Any point we earn on Saturday will get us closer to the safety line and the sooner we reach it the more relaxed we can play.
Tom's presence on the field will attract attention enabling every other BBFC player to play better.
Tom scores goals and we need plenty this week.
Also declaring themselves fit this week are Darrell and Gary Wenham.
Last Saturday we played a valient game aginst Herstmonceux. There were many positives that we can take away from this game, and there are also lessons that we can reflect on.
Herstmonceux played the ball into the attacker's feet, even though he was closely marked by Doug. The attacker held the ball strongly at his feet with his back to goal, and waited for support which came from his midfield. This tactic forced our own midfield backwards into defensive positions and we didn't get our wide midfielders as far forward as we would have wanted them.
When we are under the cosh, we must put greater value on possession of the ball. This takes the pressure off our defenders (who are playing terrifically at the moment). There will always be periods of a game when working hard to keep hold of the ball is more important than making big efforts to score.
Recognising these periods requires wise players to understand risk and to play safe football. Alan Hansen calls it 'playing percentages'.
This may sound critical but I was very pleased with our endeavour and application. We are still a developing side and if we are to improve (as individuals and as a team) we must be critically reflective on our performances.
We'll find out this Saturday if we can make these adjustments - Rangers have the players to crush us if we can't keep hold of the ball.
The Herstmonceux experience couldn't have been better timed.
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Sat 11/12/2005
BBFC Site Update
Following the match against Herstmonceux, the site has been updated and a report on the game can be found here.
Follow the link or go through the pictures section to see pictures from our game against Herstmonceux. Click Here.
Also, Simon Cutler now has his own section in the Player Stats area.
Posted by: Steve Mumford
Thur 08/12/2005
Team To Play HERSTMONCEUX - Sat 10th Dec. - Home - KO 1:30pm
1.Simon Cutler
2.Owen Davies, 5.Gary Williams, 4.Doug Morris, 3.Paul Ford
11.Dave Mills, 6.Adrian Gaylon, 7.Andy Mills(c), 8.Pete Cooper
9.Gary Walsh, 10.Dominic Fowler,
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Sun 04/12/2005
SQUAD TO PLAY HERSTMONCEUX - Sat 10TH Dec. - HOME KO 1:30pm
Simon Cutler, Owen Davies, Gary Williams, Doug Morris, Steve Chapman, Paul Ford, Pete Cooper, Ollie Jeffs, Adrian Gaylon, Richard Ahsam, Andy Mills, Dave Mills, Loksan Harley, Pat Mammone, Gary Walsh, Mike Gould, Dominic Fowler, Stuart Calderwood, Iain Henning, Chris Mammone, Luke Graham, Steve Mumford.
The final squad will be posted by Thursday night, following training on Wednesday.
WHILST some were disappointed that Saturday's game was called off, others were celebrating.
Dave Mills, for example, rejoiced at the news that he would not miss a game because of his ankle injury.
This week, we are blessed with a 22-man squad. (Compare this with Red Lion who on the best weeks only have 16 players to select from). That's enough to field 2 teams...fitting then isn't it, that tomorrow (Monday), the Management Committee are due to discuss the prospect of a second team at their monthly meeting. Keep your ears peeled for further news. Prayers for this project would be very much appreciated.
This Saturday, we play the first of our quarter finals against Herstmonceux. Having won 5 drawn 5 and lost only 2, their record tells us that they are worth their 3rd position in Div 3...but then, they have played several games more than their rivals.
To our credit, we have a strong squad to choose from and we have home advantage (get your friends out for us). We know just how to play the Recreational Ground. Winning this one will take the pressure off the next quarter final which we play after Christmas and it will give us just the boost we need to go into the away fixture at Hastings Rangers.
REMINDER: Get your money ready! It's only 2 weeks now to the Christmas Dinner and Disco on the 17th. Tickets will be on sale at training and at the match on Saturday. Please buy early.
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Sun 04/12/2005
WATERLOGGED
At 10:30am yesterday (Sat) I went down to the Rec to find it covered with seagulls. No doubt they had come in land because of the stormy weather on the coast, and the pitch at Battle satisfied their search for water.
Walking from the pavillion end, desperately optimistic that the surface would be playable, I shooed off the birds to find my wellies sinking into the soft ground. 'This is OK' I thought, telling myself it would certainly be an interesting and fun afternoon of football.
With blinkers on I gingerly tiptoed my way down the pitch, carefully ignoring the patch near the half way line where, even on a normally damp day, it's like a bog, and I reached the the far 18 yard box. That's when the penny dropped, the thick layer of grass disguising the blatently obvious. At the base of every blade was a continuous pool. The whole penalty area was underwater.
My tears of disappointment were not helping and as I called Gary Wenham to pass on the news, the beautiful skies clouded over and the drying wind was replaced by a belting shower. 'No way could we play today!!!'
Posted by: bbfcmanager
Thur 01/12/2005
Team To Play ST. HELENS - Sat 3rd Dec. - Home - KO 2pm
1.Simon Cutler
2.Owen Davies, 5.Gary Williams, 6.Steve Chapman, 3.Paul Ford
11.Pete Cooper, 4.Adrian Gaylon, 7.Andy Mills(c), 8.Loksan Harley
9.Gary Walsh, 10.Dominic Fowler,
Posted by: bbfcmanager