The
summer of 2007, contrary to previous years, was a relatively quiet one
for a Slough fan. A groundsharing
agreement with Beaconsfield SYCOB was agreed nice and early so there was
no worry as to where the Rebels would be playing, if they were to be
playing at all. On the field there were signs of real progress as
manager Darron Wilkinson welcomed back Jamie Jackson, Carl Dennison,
Iain Duncain, Mark Bartley, Adrian Browne, Jon Mills, Mark Hokan, Andy
Deaner, George Moleski, Danny Jefferies, Terry Davies and Matt Miller
from the previous years squad, as well as new recruits Leon Woodruffe,
Christian Metcalfe (both of whom were making their Rebels return), Dean
Harper, Glen Faricluth, Lucas Bizon and the highly experienced Nick
Roddis and Lee Charles for pre-season training. A real sense of optimism
and high hopes of an immediate return to the Ryman Premier Division was
abundant at the club. Things were further looking up for the Rebels with
news of a possible new ground at the Arbor Vale site in Slough.
Pre-season began with a short trip to
Holyport and despite a lengthy break a short way into the game to deal
with a broken leg for Holyport's Tom Dontai, the Rebels came away with a
satisfactory 2-0 win. However, this was where the pre-season optimism
quickly evaporated. as defeats to East Preston (2-1), Boreham Wood
(5-0), Guildford City (2-0), Dorking (1-0), Neasden Foundation (2-3),
and Canvey Island (3-1) meant that the Rebels entered the season proper
off the back of 6 straight pre-season defeats.
The
opening day at home to Taunton Town saw the surprise return of Clement
James (pictured left) to the Rebels squad as Darron Wilkinson looked to
up morale ahead of the new season, which didn't start to well as Slough
went behind after only 15 minutes courtesy of a penalty. Terry Davies
equalised during the second half, but in an all-to-familiar scenario,
the Rebels conceded a last minute goal following a poor backpass to lose
2-1 and pick up where they left off last season.
3 further away defeats followed (2-0
Thatcham, 2-0 Marlow, 3-1 Paulton Rovers), leaving the Rebels faithful
wondering when their pain and misery was ever going to end. Some saw
hope in the FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at home to Fleet Town on 1st
September, hoping that a bit of FA Cup magic was just what was needed to
kick-start the season. Rebels manager Darron Wilkinson donned the
'keepers gloves for this encounter, as loaned 'keeper Aaron France was
stuck in traffic. This failed to inspire the Rebels however, and the
fans were to be left disappointed as a 4-1 defeat saw the Rebels out of
the competition and morale at an all-time low. It also saw the last goal
and appearance of veteran Rebels forward Andy Deaner, and Mark Bartley,
who had left to join Bracknell Town who were now Slough's prime rivals
in the battle for survival from the drop.
So
into September, and the Rebels were out of the FA Cup, and the only side
still to pick up a point. September 8th however saw the Rebels first
league win since January 27th, as goals from Leon Woodruffe and Terry
Davies secured a 2-1 win at home to Andover, in what was Michael
Murphy's 3rd debut for the club. With three points finally under their
belts, the Rebels looked to build on their second competitive win of
2007. But luck was still not on Slough's side; despite a spirited
performance, a late goal saw the Rebels defeated 2-1 at home to Gosport
Borough the following week, in veteran 'keeper Richard Barnard's debut.
The remainder of September saw the Rebels dumped out of another cup
competition, this time 6-1 at AFC Hayes in the Errera League Cup, and
yet another league defeat, 3-0 at Abingdon United.
On
2nd October, the Rebels hosted local rivals Bracknell Town in what was
already been dubbed a relegation "six-pointer". Even though the Rebels
looked less-than-impressive throughout, they did what was needed to be
done as Lee Charles netted his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win.
Then came the FA Trophy Preliminary Round at home to Hillingdon Borough.
A Terry Davies penalty saw the Rebels a goal up, but in the end Slough
were lucky to escape with a replay as the Middlesex club looked the
better side throughout. The replay saw another 1-1 draw, and only a last
minute winner deep into extra time saw the Rebels defeated 2-1 AET.
With
the Rebels already out of 3 cups, league form really needed to make a
quick recovery but this was not to happen as yet more defeats followed;
5-0 at title-hopefuls Farnborough and 0-2 at home to Bridgwater Town
before Slough were dumped out of their final cup competition, going down
5-1 at Didcot in the Berks and Bucks Senior cup. Ahead of another
relegation "six-pointer", Darron Wilkinson signed Chris Robinson from
Staines Town on a dual-registration basis before the Rebels entertained
basement side Newport I.O.W.. Again the Rebels looked ordinary, but they
did the job required of them and came away with a 2-0 win. Yet again the
Rebels failed to build on this as a 3-1 defeat at local rivals Burnham
immediately followed.
Going
into November, with the Rebels hanging very dangerously above the
bottom two and out of every cup competition at the first hurdle, the
Rebels entertained Didcot Town, hoping to avenge the Berks & Bucks cup
defeat. This was not to be as Slough were soundly beaten 6-3. The
following 2-1 defeat at Uxbridge saw the return of another former Rebel
to the team in Lee Riddell. Despite the scoreline, the Rebels were very
unlucky not to come away with all three points as Slough dominated large
parts of the game. With inconsistency in our performances being a major
talking point on the terraces, the Rebels couldn't make it two good
performances in a row, as two trips into Oxfordshire resulted in two
more defeats; 5-0 at Oxford City and 2-0 at Didcot Town.
The
latter game was to mark the end of Darron Wilkinson's (pictured above
left) time in the hot seat at Slough
Town FC after 11 months. Following him through the exit door was his
assistant Nick Roddis (pictured right) and Leon Woodruffe. Roddis and
Wilkinson tendered their resignations early in the morning of 27th
November, leaving in-term manager Mark Betts precious little time to
prepare for our home game against Hillingdon Borough later than evening.
A 3-1 defeat not only meant the Rebels 14th league defeat in 17 games,
but also the end of Michael Murphy's, Christian Metcalfe's and Matt
Millers time with the Rebels.
Into December and the Rebels were
bolstered by a fresh approach from acting manager Mark Betts, with
Richard Barnard as his assistant. New signings in Mark Janes, Lee
Rendell; Meddie Nsubuga (brother of Abby, who had also made his Rebels
return in October), Jermaine Gumbs, Tom Windsor, Kyle Jeffery, Donnell
Allen, Chima Eberendu and Luke Van Spall, and a new coach in Calvin Maye amongst others saw a new look
Rebels outfit take on Abingdon United at home in Mark Betts' first
proper game in temporary charge of the team. A outstanding team effort
saw the Rebels romp home by the slightly flattering scoreline of 4-1,
with debutants Tom Windsor and Jermaine Gumbs both getting on the
scoresheet. But, in a spectacular return to form, the Rebels then
travelled to Hillingdon Borough and were beaten by the same scoreline.
Another highly experienced ex-Rebel returned for our 2-2 draw at home to
Winchester City. Brian Connor made his return after 13 years, having
previously been with the squad during our Diadora title winning season
of 1994/95, and our Isthmian title winning season of 1989/90 before
that.
With
4 wins from 20 games, all 4 at home, the Rebels
were well overdue for an away win, having not experienced one since
January 27th when we beat Heybridge Swifts 3-2 in what turned out to be
our final win of the 2006/07 season. The wait of almost 11 months came
to an end on 15th December as Jermaine Gumb's goal secured a 1-0 win at
Taunton Town, in a game that also saw the debut of defender Laurence
Brown (pictured left).
With a sudden change of manager resulting
in 7 points from 12 available, Mark Betts and Richard Barnard were
appointed manager and assistant manager respectively. Things really
starting to look as though they've changed for the better after all this
time, the feeling of optimism that had been abundant towards the
beginning of pre-season was back at the Rebels camp ahead of the festive
period. Our local derbies against Marlow, Windsor & Eton and Thatcham
Town were all deemed winnable and, with a reasonable points return from
the 3, would propel the Rebels well away from the drop zone and
(hopefully) onto greater things. But, just as the previous feeling of
hope had been spectacularly burst, this new feeling didn't wait long to
follow suit as 3 defeats (0-2 Marlow, 2-1 Windsor and 1-2 Thatcham) left
the Rebels nervously looking over their shoulders at chasing Bracknell
Town going into 2008.
Slough's 2-1 defeat at home to Thatcham
Town on new years day made our trip to fellow strugglers Andover all the
more important. Much to the relief of the travelling Rebels support,
goals from Dean Harper and Abby Nsubuga meant that Slough returned home
victorious ahead of another trip to Hampshire the following week.
Steve
Daly's last minute free-kick earned Slough a precious 2-2 draw at
Gosport Borough in what turned out to
be Lee Charles's (pictured right) final appearance for the club. Another
trip, this time to a resurgent Bracknell Town followed. With the Rebels
new-found ability to pick up points and our Berkshire rivals showing
recent signs of recovery, this was to be another "six-pointer" at the
bottom end of the table. Unfortunately, the Rebels failed to deliver on
the day and despite Terry Davies' second-half equaliser, the Rebels
gifted Bracknell 2 goals, and therefore the three points in a 3-1
defeat. It was a defeat that would cost the Rebels dearly come the end
of the season.
The need for consistency in results was
now greater than ever as Slough themselves only 2 points above the
bottom 2 following the defeat to Bracknell Town. The team did manage to
pick themselves up to gain a credible 1-1 draw at home to Uxbridge, but
them followed that up with yet more defeats. Losing 3-2 at home to
Farnborough doesn't tell the full story, as the Rebels led twice and
lost only to a last minute goal. A 3-0 home defeat to AFC Hayes however,
does tell the full story, as the Rebels were completely outplayed from
start to finish in a vital match. However, mixed fortunes were to end
February, with the Rebels 2-0 defeat at Winchester City preceding
a second-half fightback at home to league leaders Fleet Town, as the
Rebels turned the league table upside down to win 2-1.
It was a deserved victory that, like so
many others during the season, was to bring false hope upon the
long-suffering Rebels faithful. A 2-0 defeat at Godalming followed, and
Mark Betts and Richard Barnard's 3 months in charge of the team came to
an end with a 2-1 home defeat to Paulton Rovers on 22nd March, both
tendering their resignations following the abandonment of the Bridgwater
game the following week.
Experienced
manager Derek Sweetman (pictured left) was immediately bought in from
local rivals Burnham in time to face his first opponents in charge of
the Rebels which, ironically, was against Burnham. The appointment was
one of many steps been taken off the field to secure the future of the
club, with the formation of a management committee and the election of a
new Chairman, Steve Easterbrook, also taking place in the recent weeks.
Sweetman immediately went about bringing
emergency loan signings, having declared that the Rebels had "eight cup
finals" in order to avoid relegation. Steve Roberts was bought in as Assistant Manager. Experienced goalkeeper
Lee Carroll and midfielder James Pritchard were bought in in time to
face Burnham, with the Rebels losing 3-0 to get Sweetman's tenure as
Slough manager off to a losing start.
Windsor
& Eton completed the double over Slough as a goal from ex-Rebel Matt
Seedel (pictured right) meant that the Royalists came away from
Holloways Park with a 1-0 win. Usif Bangura made his debut in our
subsequent goalless draw at AFC Hayes, and Roy Gumbs a week later in our
2-1 home defeat to Oxford City; a result which saw the Rebels
effectively relegated with 4 games remaining. Goalkeeper Jamie Jackson
returned for his 3rd spell with the club as the Rebels won 3-2 at home
to Godalming Town, but with Bracknell Town winning, the Rebels took yet
another step towards relegation. A 3-1 win at already relegated Newport
I.O.W. saw Slough win consecutive games for the first time since October
2006. A goalless draw at Bridgwater Town left the Rebels fate out of
their hands going into the final game of the season at Fleet Town.
At half-time it looked as good as over
for Slough with Bracknell beating Taunton Town, meaning that the 0-0
scoreline at Fleet wasn't good enough. News of a Taunton equaliser
bought hope to the Slough fans, but with Fleet then taking the lead, the
Rebels had to all to do. Try as they might, their efforts were in vain
as Fleet held out for the 1-0 win to secure 2nd place in the table,
condemning Slough to successive relegations.
And
so ended a whirlwind season, at least as far as the Rebels squad was
concerned. Only 3 of the team that
lined up to face Taunton on the opening day were still with the club
come the final day at Fleet (Steve Daly, Dean Harper, Terry Davies),
with Terry Davies leaving to join Fleet, only to return 3 months later.
The season saw the use of no fewer than 8 goalkeepers (Aaron France,
Darron Wilkinson, Richard Barnard, Alex Tuttle, Simon Dean, Carl
Dennison, Jamie Jackson, Lee Carroll), with several players (Billy
Sentance, Aston Ventura, Julian Dale, Bill Fishenden, Richard Orlu)
signing but never playing. Even then there was still hope; hope that for
a change turned out to be well founded as news of Halifax Town's demise
and subsequent expulsion from the Blue Square Premier Division meant
that, on 18th June 2008, Slough Town FC received confirmation of a
relegation reprieve. |