A warm welcome to Arnall Drive to the players, spectators, and management team of this afternoon’s visitors Quedgeley Wanderers.

Last Saturday, the 1st team had a wonderful 2-0 away win in the Forest of Dean versus Ruardean Hill Rangers with Harvey Moran netting both goals. The management team are looking to introduce one or two new signings into the squad over the next few weeks in addition to 2-3 players who will be returning from long-term injuries so the next few weeks should see a few selection headaches for the management.

Please come and search me out or contact me through our website if you can help with sponsoring a match, player, or pitch side advertising board, or would just like to help and get involved with the running of the club.

We are always looking for more help with match days, pitch works, fundraising or just being part of an active committee.

Finally, please remember ‘we win

together, we lose together but

most importantly we

stick together’.

Kick Off 3pm (2pm Nov to Feb)

Kick Off 3pm (2pm Nov to Feb)

  GLOUCESTER COUNTY LEAGUE

TODAY'S MATCHES

Bromley Heath Utd v Frampton United

Chalford v Ruardean Hill Rangers

Henbury & Rockleaze v Quedgeley Wanderers

Sharpness v Filton Athletic

Stoke Gifford SGS Utd v Cribbs Reserves

Tewkkesbury Town v Hanham Athletic

Tytherington Rocks v Totterdown United

Wick v Broadwell Amateurs

QWFC was formed in 1994, with just one boy’s under 14's team. It was started by Dave Mulrain and Ron Capper, who took on the roles of Secretary and Treasurer, positions they went on to hold for a further ten years. Dave has since returned to the club as Chairman and is in his sixth season. They laid the foundations for the club to grow to the present day where we have over 400 members across 23 competitive teams of all ages, including girls sides, 2 adult teams, walking football and Veterans. Many hours have been dedicated to the club by a number of volunteers to get to the point we are at today. In July 2021, we installed floodlights due to gaining a grant from Crest Nicholson. They were installed by MUSCO lighting who have installed lights in many Premier league sides.

We continue this season with our Seniors Committee, with James Mulrain taking the vice chairman seat. Kelly Mulrain will continue in her role as Seniors Secretary. Dave Mulrain and James Mulrain will work alongside Andy Gutteridge in the Treasurer’s role Joining Quedgeley this season to take the reins of the first team is Beckem Foley. Beckem joins us from Cheltenham Saracens after successfully running their under 18s side and being part of coaching team for the Hellenic side. He brings knowledge and experience to help build a strong County League side. Tony Hawkins will continue to assist and coach the team. A mixture of old faces and many new faces will combine to make a thriving side in the League.

Our Reserve team are currently in Stroud League Division 3. Ash Pocock will be continuing as Manager, having taken up the role part way through last season. With some new faces, and a mixture of young and mature players, we have high hopes for Ash’s full season in charge.

This season we are proudly introducing our first ever under 18s side which will be competing in the Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League floodlit. We have a brilliant bunch of players/management both on and off the field and wish both teams the best of luck this season.

PLAYER PROFILES by Beckham Foley Manager

KIERAN DERBYSHIRE - Goalkeeper

"Delighted to bring Kieranback to the club,his first spell being as a 16 year old GK having his first taste of adult football with the club. He has been with a few more clubs since and improved as a player and person.He must now be 6ft 7m he willl be a big presence at the back for us,using his new Futsal skills ro help us build from the back when in posswssion"

OLI BARNETT - Defender

"It's a fantastic opportunity to keep Oli at the for another season! Working with him before during our time together at Cheltenham Saracens. He was one of the players I wanted to keep around and making him vice captain to help implement how we want the team and club to run. Oli is a fantastic defender strong on the ground and in the air and has good quality to help us play the football we want yo this year.

HARRY FURNISS - Midfielder

Harry is  a brilliant assetto yhe club, another who I have worked with in  the past during our time at Cheltenham Saracens. Furniss already has a good understanding of how I like to do things which makes it easier when coming into a club with new ideas. Furniss is a tall, strong and combative player who always dhows great desire to improve and do his best"

DYLAN VENN - Midfielder

"Very excited to be working with Dylan this year, this being his 3rd season with the club, he shows a great desire to bring success to the club. i see Dylan as midfielder this season  though he can play other positions well, his calmness and ability to battle in midfield will help secure our ability to play consistently, his vision and knowledge of the game will help with his leadership on the pitch"

PLAYER PROFILES continued

HARRY REYNOLDS - Midfielder

"Very happy to be able to keep Reynolds at the club this season. He is going to be vital towards our creative success in midfield. His desire to work hard to win the ball and his vision and execution to go forward are some of the many reasons other clubs have shown interest in him. He shows good  knowledge and attitude to find ways to win and his physical presence in midfield will give us great advantages"

LOUIS PEYTON - Defender (C)

"One of my first messages after getting the job with the club was to Louis, it was important for me to bring Louis back to the club on a more permanent basis. Working with him at Cheltenham Saracens he shown me his professional standards that I kive and die by, fantastic leadership qualities and an unbelievable work ethic. He was a no brainer to have at the club and to have as our captain for the season"

BEN LANGWORTHY - Defender

"I have been fortunate enough to know Ben for several years now, coaching with him and playing against him at different clubs. When he mentioned he may be interested in coming down I snapped his hand off, his work rate, attitude towards the game and experiences in the game are vital for oour changing room to be used as an example and to develop and support others around him"

CHARLIE WILKES - Midfielder

"Since I met Charlie, I always wanted to coach him, his ability on thw ball, attitude off it and the character he has I always felt he would thrive in one of my teams during his U18s football. Unfortunately it didn't happen and he gained valuable experience with Longlevens and Stonehouse, this year I'm looking forward to being able to put those experiences to good use as well as continuing his development"

PLAYER PROFILES Continued

JOSH MORONEY - Midfielder

"Josh is a fantastic example of why there needs to be a pathway in a football club. Playing his youth football with the club without our pathway to the first team we could easily lose him. Josh at only 16 has already played a handful of County League games for the club, his ability yo play multiple positions well and fearlessness on and off the ball makes him a perfect to keep his opportunities with the first team"

REECE WELLS - Forward

"Looking forward to working with Reece this year, providing opportunities to young local talent is very important to the way I want this club to thrive. Reece is a strong, energetic winger that with more structure, coaching and professional standards can become a player to watch in the coming years. We look forward to seeing Reece make a big impact with the first team and U18s this year"

HENRY MILES - Midfielder

"I have been privileged to know and coach Henry since he was 10 years old, working together at Cheltenham Town and later playing for me at Cheltenham Saracens and being my caprain. His quality and character will be second to none at this standard and 2 steps above. I sm grateful to him that before he goes off to university, he has agreed to play for me again and I hope to use his abilities as best we can"

RILEY STOKES - Forward

"Happy to be working with Riley again this year! Coached him since U16s since he has spent some time playing in the States and played for Newent Town on his return. Riley's attitude to work hard for the cause put his body on the line and drive standards within the group with his quality will be a great asset for us this season as well as being able to play multiple positions to a very good standard.

SEBASTIAN KEITH - Forward

"The importance of providing pathways to young players that have a clear desire to play for their local club. Seb has played his youth football for Quedgeley and has shown throughout last season and pre season that he has what it takes to step into County League football. Seb shows quality, knowledge and work ehic beyond his years. I'm very happy to provide him his opportunity in football and support his development further"

ALFIE PLEDGER - Defender

"Delighted with the return of Pledge from his travels around the world! Pledge's ability on the ball, deesire to defend and overall character (not mentioning new teeth) will be a major addition to our defensive line this season. Pledge has returned with a new attitude towards his football with a return to a more professional approach to thinking acting and working helping him thrive through preseason.

LUCCA HORROCKS - Defender

"Looking forward ro working with Lucas again this season following on from our work together at Cheltenham Saracens. Luca is a brilliant young full back that shows great quality on the ball and desire to put his body on the line to win the ball, he was a vital part of my team at Saracens to bring us league cup success. I'm glad to be able to provide Luca with the opportunity to step into men's football this year"

SAM JACKSON - Defender

"Very happy to be bringing Jacko to the club this year, having county league experience with Cheltenham Civil Service and working together at Cheltenham Saracens before that Jacko understands the standard before him and what is required to play under me. Jacko is an engine in the team his ability to run with be an example for the entire group, his attitude to compete will be vital for us this season"

BILLY OSABUCHEIN - Forward

"Anotherr great asset for the club this season in Billy! Blessed with so much potantial with his pace and power to shrug off and leave defenders in his dust. Billy has shown his talents when playing for Cheltenham Saracens and Newent Town so it's great for us to be able to utilise him within our forward line this year. We are hoping Billy can use his good preseason to start the season off strong"

LEAGUE RESULTS

Season 2025-26

Sharpness continue their fine form at the top but in the chasing pack Tewkesbury Town rather surprisingly walloped Quedgeley Wanderers 5-1, not so much the fact of the win but the margin. Hanham Athletic continue to struggle with a narrow home defeat and Totterdown’s misfortunes must be drawing concern. The last two Les James League Cup round two matches took place with wins for Tytherington Rocks and Frampton United (on penalties).

Sharpness maintained their form and left Bishops Cleeves Development’s Kayte Lane with three points in an entertaining game in which the scoreline perhaps didn’t reflect the balance of the game. The game started at a quick pace and Sharpness scored after six minutes with Alfie Jones scoring after a spill from keeper Sunter. It was however Cleeve in the ascendancy, carving open their opponents with New and Cuzner missing chances. The home side did get a reward for their play with Monty New scoring after a good sweeping move from keeper to forwards. With a flowing game and chances for both sides it was Sharpness who scored again following a free kick on the edge of the box. They added a third just before the break with Jones scoring after a turnover in possession. The second half was very similar to the first however it was Cleeve on top, Toby Moss was unfortunate when his shot seemingly went over the line only for him to be denied, but Sharpness countered and scored their fourth with Jones heading past Sunter. Despite the scoreline Cleeve continued to create chances with both Osinuga and Ellerton missing in front of goal. So, 4-1 it ended and Sharpness are certainly the ones to catch.

At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers faced their first defeat in November against a very good Tewkesbury Town side unbeaten in seven. It was the Quedgeley who were the much better side in the first ten minutes dominating the ball which paid off for them when Sebastian Keith smashed the 

ball home for a sixth minute lead. Tewkesbury clawed their way back into the game and we rewarded after 16 minutes for 1-1. Town went in front on 21 minutes. The game settled down with both teams having chances to score with a big one going to Town with a two on one which somehow came to nothing. Fin Jenner had a good chance for QW but Issac Parry made a big save for Town. The visitors stayed composed and Cam Anderson made it 3-1 right on half time. Quedgeley had it all to do in the second half and came out with intent, but it was Town who put the game to bed Scott Jordan scoring their fourth and when Jamie Goodwin scored the fifth it was well and truly out of QW’s reach. A 5-1 win for Tewkesbury and an impressive eight game unbeaten run.

At the Hallett Construction Pavilion Hanham Athletic were looking for a change in fortune up against Stoke Gifford SGS United , and they had two good early chances with Mikey Golding shooting over when well placed, then Paul Coles had the ball in the net but was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of Jack Sheppard’s hands. Golding then should have really scored but somehow missed from ten yards with the goal at his mercy. Hanham had an even better chance on 47 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for which Louis Wyatt got sent off for bringing Coles down. Unfortunately, Coles put his shot wide of the post. Stoke Gifford made Hanham pay for their series of missed chances when minutes from time a ball over the top was taken on by Natalio Stella and he brilliantly finished past Taylor for a 1-0 Gifford win.

At The Hawthorns Broadwell Amateurs who have been quite inconsistent of late took on a Chalford side who have been showing good form. It was Chalford who made a strong start and but for some poor finishing should have been two up in the first ten, and against the run of play Billy Guest broke up play in the Chalford half and found Nathan Davies who played a reverse pass in behind for the well-timed run of Jamie Belfitt to finish low past Portlock for 1-0 to Broadwell. But chances still fell to Chalford and again they weren’t taken and Broadwell punished them with a second goal; Kian Skidmore’s low and hard free kick avoided everyone and fell to Guest at the far post. Broadwell used the two-goal cushion to move the ball well in the second half and it should have been 3-0 with Belfitt getting blocked out. However, the third soon came and this time a Jack Knight long throw avoided everyone and Belfitt used the bounce to turn his marker and finished under Portlock. Chalford still created chances and with a goal-line clearance and a couple of saves by Jack Watkins the score remained at 3-0. It perhaps should have been four, with Burnard, back after a long layoff, missing the goal from 18 yards with the keeper well out of position. So, the formbook rather turned on its head with a 3-0 Broadwell win.

The weather and pitch were great with very little wind and good conditions for a game of football at the Bristol Barbarians RFC for Totterdown United against Bromley Heath United. The match began rather cagily with both teams seeming to take a rather direct approach and Totterdown had the best chance of the first half when Charlie Ames headed wide of the post from a corner, and Toby Carter also had one chalked off for offside from a brilliant Ollie Lovell cross. The second half saw both teams taking a few more risks in their approach and a lot more football was being played.

Around the hour mark Totts keeper Jamie Marr unfortunately pulled a quad and was replaced in goal by midfielder Jack Thorley. Around the 80th minute Bromley took the lead through Ollie Hanham who capitalised on to a through ball. Totterdown hit back instantly when a great through ball by Connor Flicker found Toby Carter who squared for Ollie Lovell to tap in for 1-1. Totterdown really went for it from here and missed two brilliant chances for the lead with the best being from Lovell, but the ball took an unfortunate bounce as he was setting himself up to finish. Totterdown were, once again, punished for not taking their chances with Jack Millward getting the winner when perhaps a natural goalkeeper may have dealt with things better. A good game, played in good spirit with the Referee letting the game flow and a 2-1 win for Bromley Heath.

At the Recreation Ground, Ruardean Hill Rangers took on Henbury & Rockleaze and early chances fell to Hill when Ollie Mason drove the ball across the face of the goal with nobody there to apply the finishing touch and on 17 minutes a carbon copy move saw Clark’s effort saved by Jordan Dunning before he hit the rebound wide. Both teams were battling hard and chances at a premium. On 39 minutes H&R created their first chance of the game when Danny Webb jinked and turned and fired a shot just wide of the far post. H&R took a 47th minute lead when Harvey Moran’s strike from outside the box deceived Underwood in the Hill goal. Both teams continued to push but again, but there were few clear chances until the 80th minute when H&R got their second, Hill failed to deal with a long ball and Moran got his second lobbing a stranded Underwood. H&R should have got a third five minutes from time after Tommy Collins took the ball around Underwood, but Sladen cleared off the line

In the Les James League Cup, quarter-final action took place at the Hardwicke Playing Fields with Tytherington Rocks on the back of a poor run of form playing an in-form Filton Athletic. Tytherington started well and put pressure on Filton and in the thirteenth minute a perfectly placed Stuart Nelson free kick was met by the head of Connor Davey who powered it beyond the towering Thomas Bradley. Tytherington continued to build on their good start but couldn’t find a second goal. Debutant Rocks keeper Jordan Schofield made a brilliant save by tipping the ball over from an attempted lob, and then Filton had the ball off the post from a header. The second half continued in the same vein but no further goals came and it is Tytherington Rocks who progress to the semis 1-0.

A welcome break in the weather greeted Frampton United to the Nest to face Wick in what proved to be a competitive Les James League cup game. The opening exchanges saw both teams test each other as the game swung from end to end. However, neither keeper was called into action until the 20th minute when a goal bound shot from Wick’s Bayley Rudge was brilliantly saved by Tom Kaye diving high to his top left corner. The game continued with both teams committed to the challenge and each looking for the elusive opening. On 30 minutes a perfectly delivered Frampton free kick was met by a head which bounced off the Wick post and safely into the hands of Mason Hawkins. As the half came to an end Wick’s Cory Langdon had his break extended with a ten-minute sin bin. Wick saw the sin bin period out without incident and on 65 minutes great play from Wick put George Lloyd through on goal and with just Kaye to beat he was caught in two minds and fired tamely at him. Frampton enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to get past a dogged defence. As the game neared its end a great snap shot by Wick’s Tommy Lacy was again well saved by Kaye and goalless the game finished. And so, onto penalties which saw Frampton ease past Wick 4-3 as they look to retain possession of the Les James Cup.

By Matt Badcock Editor, The Non-League Paper

THERE are eras and then there are Eras with a capital E.

Alan Devonshire’s Maidenhead United reign certainly falls into the latter. After 913 games, the legendary West Ham United FA Cup winner called time on his Magpies Era last weekend.

The 69-year-old has managed close to 1,500 matches across his career in the dug-out that started at Maidenhead where they won promotion to the Isthmian Premier in 2000, before eight years at Hampton & Richmond, who he guided from Isthmian South to the Conference South play-offs.

Four years at Braintree Town – fresh from promotion to Non-League’s top flight – followed and his Iron defied the odds to survive and upset the big boys.

In May 2015 the ex-England star made the trip back to York Road and, as underdogs again, took them to National League South title glory where they too made their mark at the top table.

Sean Marks, who played for Devonshire at Braintree and Maidenhead, can picture his former boss stood on the side of training before a big game, cup of tea in one hand, chocolate digestive in the other.

“We could be playing a really top, top professional team – a Stockport County, a Luton or any other big team – and you can imagine him looking at the boys thinking, ‘It’s alright, we’ve got this covered on Saturday’,” he told The NLP. “It was that mentality. Knowing the team he’s got will do the business and he had every trust in his team to do it.

“I think that sums him up about right. Old school, with a great sense of humour and winning in the new form of football.”

Dave Tarpey is another player who knows Devonshire very well and benefited from his methods.

The 1980 FA Cup winner gave him his big chance at Hampton & Richmond Borough, with the pair later reunited at Maidenhead after Tarpey had initially joined the Magpies in 2014.

In three years under Devonshire, Tarpey netted 87 goals in 124 appearances for the Magpies, including a league and club record 44 goals to help Maidenhead to promotion in the 2016-17 season.

“I remember a number of trips away on coaches where he will say he’ll get you some protein food before the match and then he’d go and get us protein pizzas as a pre-match meal,” Tarpey said.

“I remember a few away journeys as well where we had to stop at a certain restaurant because he wanted his ham, egg and chips before the game!”

Sam Barratt was at Maidenhead when Devonshire re-joined and has signed for him two more times since.

Fittingly, he scored the final goal of Dev’s reign in their win over Chippenham, borrowed a flat cap from a fan in the crowd and saluted the boss.

“He’s been very loyal to me and that can be rare in football,” Barratt said. “It comes from honesty from both sides. He’s repaid it with a lot of loyalty and I respect that a lot.

“Seeing where Maidenhead was as a club when I signed aged 18 to where it is now, it’s almost unrecognisable – a lot of that is due to him – as well as the community side expanding. That comes hand-in-hand with the club growing, being promoted and sustaining their time in the National League.”

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