Brackley v County: Match Thread (02/12/2017)

Here, too, is my piece for COWS about our Heavenly-hosting 'Saints'  :

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TAKE FIVE… Brackley Town

By Hatter in Macc

1. So, next up: Brackley away. Time for our one league jaunt south of the Watford Gap!

It is - although interestingly, and excepting County’s defeat there in the FA Trophy last term, the 280-mile round-trip has not tended to faze us. In four National League North visits to St James Park (no apostrophe after the ’s’ - as in Exeter’s, as opposed to Newcastle’s, ground name), the Hatters have neither conceded a goal nor been beaten - and on the last three occasions have travelled back to SK3 with all three points. (Somewhat better than our record against the ‘Saints’ at Edgeley Park, where we have lost twice and won only once!)

2. Our hosts have been waiting a while to become the NLN’s southernmost club, though?

Indeed so. They were actually more northerly than three others following their promotion, without a hint of irony as Southern League Champions, to non-league’s second tier in 2012 - when the NLN also contained Bishop’s Stortford, Gloucester and Oxford City. All members of that trio have since moved across to the National League South - with Gloucester’s transfer this summer leaving Brackley as the sole representatives located within the lower half of the map.

3. Our paths never crossed before playing in the NLN. Where had theirs taken them earlier?

To a number of places where County’s feet have never trod. Following their formation in 1890, the Saints started off in the Oxfordshire Senior League, where they remained until the First World War - before dividing their time for more than half a century, until 1977, between leagues covering Banbury and North Buckinghamshire and their respective districts. Spells in the higher-level Hellenic and United Counties Leagues followed - including Hellenic campaigns that saw them crowned champions for 1997 and 2004 - and for 10 of the 15 seasons preceding promotion to their current level five years ago, they were members of the Southern League. Brackley are also the only current NLN outfit to have won the Northamptonshire Senior Cup - a trophy they have lifted three times, all within the last seven seasons and most recently in 2014/15.

But even before the club’s National League North days, Brackley might well have felt in need of a geographical identity. While plying their trade in the Southern League’s second tier, inside just five seasons, the Saints found themselves transferred between the Midlands, the Southern and (following SL restructuring) the Western Divisions! This nomadic existence did, however, see them rub shoulders with the likes of Corby, Oxford City and Solihull Moors forerunners Solihull Borough and Moor Green - all of whom would subsequently reappear at various times with them as part of a southerly-northern vanguard two levels higher.

4. What if you find yourself in Brackley, and like sport but don’t fancy the football?

To be fair, it isn’t a place one is likely to land in at random - and certainly not if travelling by train, as the town no longer has a station to call its own, following the closures of the 1960s that saw both Brackley Central and footballing-station-namesake Brackley Town shut their doors to freight and passengers.

But, for sporting petrol-heads, the home of British Motor Sport, Silverstone, is under 10 miles away. And for those lucky enough to be able to access a time machine, setting its controls to the final decade of the 12th Century would find, in Brackley, one of five sites once named for jousting tournaments by King Richard the First (and ‘Lionheart’), in an attempt to prevent local wars.

5. Surely to God, given our locations and only a recent shared history, no Hatters have played for the Saints as well?!

You might quite reasonably have imagined so - as did I - but, Heavens above, one has! Not only that - but he is midfielder Simon Travis (at County from 1997-99), ’The Man Who’ (see what I did there… again) also saved this part of the column when we visited Leamington back in August (although our loanee-winger from last term, Kaine Felix, has started playing there since - thereby doubling the ex-Hatters’ roll-call at the New Windmill)!

And, of course, we cannot end this particular Take Five without a respectful nod in the direction of our beloved centurion George Haigh, a pre-war Hatter, now 102, who arrived at Edgeley Park in 1936. Although he never turned out for Brackley, the world’s oldest surviving former professional footballer has still been getting along from his Oxfordshire home to watch County at St James Park in recent years. Let us hope, if George is there this weekend, he keeps up his (and we our) unbeaten league record…

I don't know why but I just don't have any good feelings about this one? Can't see us coming away with anything unfortunately, hope i'm wrong but usually I am mint at all this guessing lark so will have to say we'll lose this one......FACT!!

Not had chance to listen to it yet but here's this week's interview:


soundcloud.com/user-415776765/back-from-southport-brackley-bound

Equally frustrating is seeing a so-called 'Life President' criticising the manager on Marionsboard - AGAIN.

What the f**k? I think it's time he had that title revoked, a person in his position should not be commenting on this subject.

Cheers for the match summary, Yorks. I hope you can enjoy the rest of your evening after that mammoth trek!

a mate that i've been down there with on previous occasions text at half time to say the same. very disappointing outcome, but obviously a close game against a decent side.

Eventful day yesterday - left early to go to Oxford and then on to Brackley. Got stuck in a huge tailback between Lymm and Knutsford - 2 lanes blocked in a 50 zone --- I ask you what kind of idiot drivers cause this. That added 45 minutes on to the journey.

As to the match fro the first goal we couldnt string a pass together for the first goal - nothing short of sunday league stuff and so poor it was unbelievable. I think Ball was partly involved.

There players were quick on the break moving wide and into space. Too many times they had unmarked players in too much space.

Warburton was on fire and gave 100% but could have done better with a couple of chances. Shame Jason as taken off and their goalie make a brilliant save from a shot from Stephenson late on.

At the end of the day we weren't too far behind them but we gifted them the 3 points.

The follow through on Warburton after the foul was outrageous and their player should have walked.

Good to see George Haigh at the ground. I wonder what he makes of this current team.