Wallingford Town
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Wallingford
W
Town Amateur FOOTBALL CLUB
allingford Town AFC is a fine example of a thriving open age football club that currently competes in the North Berks Football League . Football Focus Magazine recently caught up with Club Representative Simon Cowlard to find out more about the set up they have in place .
He told us , “ I have been at the club for three seasons and came in when Martyn Whell took the job as reserve team manager . I came in as a player at 39 and soon took the role as player assistant manager . I guess I came to Wallingford off the back of conversations with Martyn , however being a local lad I remember seeing this club in the dizzy heights and playing the likes of of AFC Wimbledon in front of just over 3,000 in the Combined Counties League . It made the decision very easy .
“ However that was 2004 and the club have slipped down the league pyramid . The set up and facilities are 1st class at the level we now compete and I saw this opportunity to join Wallingford , a sleeping giant and help move them back in the right direction .
“ After a year with Martyn I retired from playing after a great season as we won the league cup and were runners up in Division 5 . I now am assistant manager to Duncan Mitchell in the 1st team . I am involved on the committee and run the social media facebook page .
“ This year I have been involved in helping run a fantastic race night plus the very popular sportsman ’ s dinner where we had Paul Merson at the club . In the summer of this year I organised and set up a club shop with Macron , players now order there training and leisure wear from the site . This has been very successful .
“ The most challenging part of the role is keeping everyone happy ! This covers the players but also our families as we spend a lot of time at the ground or on the phone getting things right . But when we do if its 3 points on a Saturday or seeing a club function full to the rafters then it is all worth it . Football is in the blood .
“ The mood at the club is the best I have ever seen it . The numbers we have to run three teams is incredible and most weeks we are turning 4 / 5 players down as we
32 Issue 67