Author: Craig Davenport

  • Jack W. Smith: Slimbridge’s Newest Hat-Trick Hero (and Occasional Menace to Goalkeepers)

    Jack W. Smith: Slimbridge’s Newest Hat-Trick Hero (and Occasional Menace to Goalkeepers)

    Every once in a while, football gifts you a story that writes itself. On this occasion, it came in the form of Jack W. Smith, who decided one goal simply wasn’t enough and went home with the match ball tucked under his arm. Yes, folks, we’re talking about his first ever hat-trick for Slimbridge in the Hellenic Premier League.

    The first? Textbook stuff. Slimbridge strung together a move so neat it should be on display in the Tate Modern, and Smith finished it off like he’d been doing it all his life. 1-0, thank you very much.

    The second? Pure chaos. Smith turned into Slimbridge’s very own vacuum cleaner, hoovering up a loose pass, racing through like his boots were on fast-forward, and rolling it past the goalkeeper before anyone else had realised what had happened.

    And the third? That was the moment. The 76th minute, edge of the box, Smith wound up and smacked it like he was trying to send the ball back to Slimbridge High Street. It flew in, the crowd went up, and suddenly Jack W. Smith was that guy, the hat-trick hero.

    The opposition defence will probably be having nightmares. The Slimbridge fans? They’ll be dining out on this one for a while. And Jack? Well, he’s probably already rehearsing how he’s going to casually drop “oh yeah, when I got my hat-trick” into every conversation for the next month.

    Well Done Jack. Enjoy the football proudly sponsored by uhlsport

  • 🔥 Jordan “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” Williamson On Fire! 🔥

    Attached is a beaming Jordan Williamson, just look at that smile!!, he’s clutching the match ball after his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hat-trick performance in Monday’s clash between Westfields and Hereford Pegasus. What a game this was! The chatter on “X” after Dan Moons Westfields were taken apart has been wild!

    And when we say quick, we mean quick. Three goals in five minutes. That’s right, the 35th, 37th, and 40th minute. By the time most fans had nipped off for a pie and a pint, which we are reliably informed is top notch at Westfields!, Jordan had already rewritten the scoreboard.

    Not satisfied with just three, he popped up again in the 78th minute to bag his fourth of the day, rounding off a 5–2 win away at the neighbours.

    Final word: Four goals, one match ball, one very smug goalscorer and why shouldn’t he be!! Well Done Jordan. Hope the ball runs well and more goals come from you!

  • ⚽ Dylan “Oops I Did It Again” Hart Show! ⚽

    Attached you’ll find Newent Town’s very own hat-trick hero (well, hat-trick-plus-one if we’re being picky), Dylan Hart, proudly clutching the match ball after Newent Town’s 7–2 demolition of Carterton earlier this month.

    In the first photo, Dylan is all smiles, holding up 3 fingers the now classic hat-trick pose. In the second photo, He’s still smiling, but now holding up 4 fingers, because, let’s be honest, maths wasn’t his strong point in the heat of the moment and he actually scored FOUR, forgetting the pose was for his hat-trick.

    The game itself started like a proper contest. For the opening half hour, Carterton were shading it, and we were beginning to wonder if anyone had remembered to put the nets up at our end. But then, former Worcester City man Dylan Hart decided enough was enough, strapped on his shooting boots, and turned into a one-man highlight reel.

    Goal. Goal. Goal. (Pause for dramatic effect.) Goal.

    By the 70th minute he’d done enough damage to Carterton’s goal difference (and probably their confidence), so we hauled him off to give them a breather.

    Final score: Newent Town 7 – 2 Carterton.

    Final verdict: Dylan Hart loves goals almost as much as he loves posing with footballs.

    All joking aside, well done Dylan. Keep going and enjoy scoring we hope more goals.

  • Referees Shine in Hellenic League

    The Hellenic League has been abuzz with excitement in recent weeks, with thrilling matches and standout performances from players across the region. However, amidst the spotlight shining brightly on the athletes, there’s another group of individuals who deserve our appreciation and recognition to the referees.

    These unsung heroes work tirelessly behind the scenes, making split-second decisions that can make all the difference in the outcome of a game. They face intense scrutiny, abuse, and pressure, yet they continue to show up week in and week out, ensuring the integrity of the beautiful game.

    A special shoutout goes to the referees in the Hellenic League, who have been doing an outstanding job in keeping the games flowing smoothly. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to fair play are the backbone of the league, and their hard work often goes unnoticed.

    Let’s take a moment to appreciate the men and women in black, who are some of the most hard working people of the Hellenic League. Their passion for the sport is evident in every decision they make, and their love for the game is what drives them to continue giving back to the community.

    If you’re interested in seeing more photos of the Hellenic League in action, be sure to check out Pete Kinsella’s picture library: LINK Pete’s lens captures the intensity, drama, and excitement of the games, and his photos are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and of course the referees.

    So, the next time you’re at a Hellenic League match, take a moment to appreciate the referees. They might not always get the glory, but they’re the ones who keep the game running smoothly, and they’re an integral part of what makes the league so special.

    Let’s give it up for our hardworking referees!

    Credit Pete Kinsella

  • First Match Ball Awarded of the 2025/26 Season – Proudly Sponsored by uhlsport

    First Match Ball Awarded of the 2025/26 Season – Proudly Sponsored by uhlsport

    Usually found in defence, Callum Blackford swapped his full-back role for the number ten shirt and delivered a dazzling performance to claim the first match ball of the new campaign.

    In just six blistering minutes of the first half, Blackford struck a sensational hat-trick – two thunderous 20-yard finishes, both supplied by Jake Love, followed by a cool far-post finish from a right-wing cross.

    The drama didn’t end there. FC Stratford fought back brilliantly to level the contest at 3-3 by the 52nd minute, but in the dying moments it was Blackford again at the heart of the action, this time turning provider for James Piatek, who slotted home the 95th-minute winner.

    All of this unfolded at the home of Shakespeare. As the Bard himself wrote in The Tempest:

    “O brave new world, that hath such people in’t!”

    Well Done Callum!

  • Hellenic League – Saturday 9 August Results & Highlights

    Hellenic League – Saturday 9 August Results & Highlights

    Here’s your Hellenic League Saturday 9 August Round-up, now with the top scorers of the day rolled in:

    Premier Division

    Cinderford Town 1–1 Roman Glass St George – Even contest, points shared. Corsham Town 2–0 Longlevens AFC – Solid home win and a clean sheet. Highworth Town 0–0 Cribbs – Defences rule the day. Lydney Town 2–0 Worcester Raiders – Clinical finishing from Lydney. Mangotsfield United 4–0 Westfields – One of the day’s top scorers, Mangotsfield were ruthless. Royal Wootton Bassett Town 1–1 Cirencester Town – Local honours even. Slimbridge 2–1 Hallen – Slimbridge edge a competitive clash. Thornbury Town 2–3 Droitwich Spa – Droitwich grab a narrow away win in a five-goal thriller. Tuffley Rovers 3–1 Fairford Town – Confident home display from Tuffley.

    Division One

    Bewdley Town 3–1 Shortwood United – Strong showing from the hosts. Chipping Sodbury Town 0–0 FC Stratford – No breakthrough for either side. Ludlow Town 3–2 Thame United Reserves – Ludlow edge an end-to-end encounter. Malmesbury Victoria 1–1 Alcester Town – Balanced game, fair result. Newent Town 7–2 Carterton – Top scorers of the day, Newent hit seven in a dominant performance. Redditch Borough 2–1 Clanfield 85 – Redditch secure the win with a narrow margin. Stonehouse Town 3–0 Brimscombe & Thrupp – Comfortable home victory. Wellington 2–2 Wantage Town – Four goals shared in a lively draw. Woodford United 0–4 Cheltenham Saracens – Joint-second top scorers, Saracens cruise to a big away win.

    🎯 Top Scoring Teams – Today’s Standouts

    1️⃣ Newent Town – 7 goals (7–2 vs Carterton)

    2️⃣ Mangotsfield United – 4 goals (4–0 vs Westfields)

    2️⃣ Cheltenham Saracens – 4 goals (4–0 vs Woodford United)

    Honourable Mentions (3 Goals) – Tuffley Rovers, Bewdley Town, Ludlow Town, Stonehouse Town.

    Picture credit: Pete Kinsella

  • Presentations!!

    Presentations!!

    At the recent Vets AGM, Windsor & Eton were present the Div 1 E Trophy. Well done to all at the club. The trophy was present by the league Chair.

    We’re looking forward to an exciting vets season in the very near future and always shows how competitive the game can be!

  • Awards Presented!

    Our operations manager has been out and about presenting awards to our clubs. These awards are for season 24/25 and are well deserved by the clubs.

    Presented the respect and fair play award to Carterton FC

    And presenting the Div One champions plaque to Droitwich Spa

  • Presentations Alert!!

    Presentations Alert!!

    Our chair has been out and about busy presenting awards this time to Hartpury University!

    Presenting the Hungerford Cup and the Premier Division Respect & Fair play award to Chris Knowles of Hartpury University

    Well Done Hartpury Uni!

  • Step 6 Fixture release!!

    Step 6 Fixture release!!

    And here they are your step 6 fixtures for the season!!

    Lots of exciting fixtures from now till April 2026.

    Who’s your favourite to take the crown in 2026? Nee teams, newly rebuilt teams and of course lots and lots of action!!

    We can’t wait!!

    Click here for the full listing

    https://fulltime.thefa.com/fixtures.html?league=646734134&selectedSeason=139054201&selectedDivision=858859087&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_671589236