After the most successful season in Banbury’s 91-year history of becoming champions of the Southern League Premier Central, the club has now embarked on the dizzy heights of the Vanarama National League North. Banbury United are now performing at their highest ever level where the clubs are facing full-time teams alongside a range of Ex-football league sides.
Throughout the off-season, fans' boredom of not being able to watch Banbury ‘put on a show’ until Saturday 6th August at 3 pm meant fans were looking for other news. The Puritan Faithful had the pleasing announcement that Andy Whing had signed a new two-year deal alongside keeping the strong bulk of his centurions. Even though Banbury lost their top goal scorer Chris Wreh who netted 23 goals in 46 games to National league side Southend, the club made deals with two National League experienced players of Jak Hickman and Josh Smile, this meant Banbury can implement different systems which were seen in Pre-season with Morgan Roberts shifted into a forward position alongside Jack Stevens.
Along with the exciting announcements of the players resigning and the partnership agreement with Regs’ café, on Wednesday 6th July the eagerly anticipated fixtures were released. Every football fan looks to see who they begin the season against, Christmas fixtures and if there is a possibility for a weekend by the sea in the spring months (which there is roll on Scarborough away). The festive period has created the Tramway Army to have three Christmas days in the space of a week as we prepare for the mouth-watering clashes against Brackley Clowns... I mean Town... on both boxing day and New Year’s Day. However, back to August and it would seem to be a tough start on paper, with a trip to National League North mainstays Curzon Ashton, Money boys of AFC Fylde, three ex-football league sides of Boston United, Darlington and Hereford in addition to the Ricky Johnson derby against Leamington on Bank Holiday Monday.
The season began with a long trip to Manchester with around 90 fans from the red and gold army in attendance. All the fans travelled up with the same expectations for the season which is to stay up and not a single one of us cares how we do it as we all know it would be another famous season if we manage to stay above the drop come April. However, like every football fan optimism is in the air and with the players we have in the squad, their ability, attitude, and hunger to succeed, there is no reason why we can’t hope for a more comfortable season. With an injury in the warmup to 37-year-old Kelvin Langmead, a player 19 years his junior and signed two days prior to the season starting stepped up and embraced what Banbury was all about… Welcome Ben Radcliffe, Burton Albion’s Scholar of the year. It was an exciting start to the season with Banbury's new formation/personnel allowing us to be aggressive in the press with two very quick and skilful attackers in Stevens and Roberts and with Josh Smile in a deep midfield role allowed Babos and Gio to use their midfield nouse to freely able to join the attack. History was made a minute after halftime with some fans not even out of the bar with their pint of Madri, when Stevens latched onto a ball over the top and calmly slotted home, something we had seen from the Silky 14 a lot in the previous season. After Curzon Ashton came back in the game, Banbury was awarded the penalty in the 90th minute and after what seemed an agonisingly long wait, our captain Gio Rasulo dispatched the penalty to secure a 2-1 away win sending scenes amongst the travelling loyal supporters young and old.
A doubleheader at home was next and the bookie's 3/1 favourites for the league came to the Spencer Stadium. In 35-degree heat, Banbury was too hot to handle for AFC Fylde in a scorching display where if Banbury pressed the bookie's favourites any higher, they would have been halfway back to the seaside. Banbury really did put on a show for the 1003 spectators and the fans matched it with a sublime second-half atmosphere – many fans quoting the best performance they’ve ever seen from BUFC. 2 games two wins, Ben Radcliffe, and Alex Babos in the team of the day with Jack stevens nominated for player of the day. Up next on a thundery Tuesday evening came winless Boston United and the away team carried on with the winless start to the season as the promotion finalist could only draw against newly promoted Banbury who in my eyes the home team would have won the game if it wasn’t for the red card for Boston skipper Shiels as they resorted into a low block. Yet even though they're winless it was another fantastic point for Banbury as Boston's budget is at least 3 times ours, on top of a player pool of 20 solid national league north players to choose from.
More History was made when Banbury travelled to Darlington the furthest north BUFC has ever played (well for a few weeks). After an understandably slow start due to a 207-mile journey and more adversity when Banbury Named only 1 outfield sub on the bench in Oxford loanee Will Owens, due to Star striker Jack Stevens missing out through concussion and Charlie Williams another Burton loanee, paperwork wasn’t completed fully. The welcoming club of Darlington found themselves in the lead with a goal of the season contender from Lambert bending a sublime effort into Jack Harding’s top left-hand corner. However, Ben Acquaye and Morgan Roberts both know how to put on a show as they linked up for both goals resulting in Morgan Roberts being voted NLN Player of the week and Banbury beating a very strong Darlington.
Bank holiday weekend started with promising young forward Harry Parsons signing on loan till January from Swindon town. The feel-good factor carried on with a bumper crowd swarmed into the San Spencer against Hereford with many dubbing it the best atmosphere they’ve experienced at BUFC. The players matched the fans excitement by producing a scintillating display with fans acknowledging the players efforts with chants of “Just like watching Brazil” ringing round the Townend. Game Five and Banbury really did put on show…. AGAIN. Last game of the month, around 400+ of the tramway army travelled to local neighbours Leamington. Even though the result went the wrong way for us you would of never of known with a phenomenal support as the Fans cheered on Banbury United putting on a show on repeat 20 minutes after the final whistle.
This start to the season no one could of believed or hope for, 4 wins,1 draw, 1 defeat and 13 points, 2nd in the league from 6 games. This Fan owned club is really going places and with support like at leamington can only help the club in a positive light and it is amazing to be a part of. These sets of players deserve this support and all the success they can get in their careers as they truly are a special group.
Thank you for taking your time of reading Banbury putting on a show.
Spencer Reds
Comments