WINCHESTER City will be turning back the clock on Sunday (July 14) when their 2004 FA Vase glory boys make a special comeback appearance at the Denplan City Ground.
Neil Hards and Steve Moss, the manager and coach on that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon in Birmingham nine years ago, are expected to return to the dugout to lead Winchester’s greatest ever side into action against Graham Kemp’s newly assembled class of 2013.
The match is the highlight of a Family Fun Day (12 noon to 5pm) being run in conjunction with the Joe Glover Trust, a charity set up after eight-year-old Joe lost his brave battle with cancer in August 2006.
The Trust has since raised a huge sum of money to support local families with children affected by cancer and has helped establish an IT suite in the children’s ward at Southampton General Hospital.
Prior to the main game, there will be a match between a Joe Glover XI, made up of many of Joe’s old school friends, and a Winchester City under- 16 team, kicking off at 2pm.
Centre stage The Vase heroes take centre stage at approximately 3.15pm and, with a lit tle prompting from former club secretary Ray Murphy, the majority of the side - captained by Danny Smith - that famously beat AFC Sudbury 2-0 at St Andrews will be turning out.
Sunday’s Vase-winning side will be selected from: Simon Arthur, Shaun Dyke, Mark Blake, Toby Redwood, Dave Goss, Matt Bicknell, Danny Smith, Gary Green, Lloyd Webber, Ian Mancey, Andy Forbes, Steve Tate, Kevin Brewster, Stewart Lang, Ollie Rastall, Liam Green, Adam Rogers, Kieron Hall.
Things have not always run smoothly for City since that FA Vase high and, when a troubled 2012/13 campaign drew to a close, it was touch and go whether they would make it through the summer.
But with Dave Malone now back at the helm as director of football and ex- Eastleigh man Paul Murray as chairman, City have re-established themselves as a members’ club in preparation for their return to the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division.
Former Christchurch boss Kemp has already made his mark with a host of summer signings including returning City old boys Leigh Mills, Lloyd Webber and Liam Green and ex- Christchurch trio Ben Osborne, Karl Yelland and Dan Thompson.
An invitation has also been extended on Sunday to any former Winchester players to celebrate the dawn of an exciting, new era at the Denplan City Ground.
As well as the football, there will be a host of things to keep the kids amused, including a fire engine, boun cy castle, face painting – plus plenty of food and drink. Admission is just £5 for adults and/or a family including up to four children.
For more information contact Dave Malone on 07798 792628 or at dmjm@btinternet.com
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