Silver Jubilee Park 2016-17

Hendon FC moved into their new home at Silver Jubilee Park, the former home of Kingsbury Town FC for the start of the 2016-17 season, where they shared the ground with Edgware Town FC.

As a local resident I had been attending Edgware games over the previous two seasons. When Hendon moved in it offered me and several friends an opportunity to watch some good quality football at affordable prices.

Everyone at Hendon, be it players, officials or long standing supporters have been most welcoming and new friendships have been built as we stand together at games, or socialise in the bar.

Silver Jubilee Park was leased by two local football coaches, Rob Morris and Antoni Manzi, with Tom Stockman managing the facility. Their hard work and friendships have made the venue even more appealing; especially as they started bringing in real ale on a match day.

This page features the matches at Silver Jubilee Park of what was certainly an interesting season!

To go to the main Hendon FC page, please click here. For Edgware Town click here.

Edgware Town 4 Potters Bar Town 4 (Monday 25th July 2016) Pre Season Friendly (att: 77)

I decided that it was time to get back into football once again after a very difficult time when I’d lost interest in doing anything at all, let alone watching football.

I was very pleased that I made the effort. I was joined by two increasingly good pals; Steve Barnes and Steve Speller and we saw a cracker as Wares held their own against higher opposition.

Hendon 3 Tooting & Mitcham United 0 (Monday 8th August 2016) Pre Season Friendly (att: approx. 80)

The scoreline for this fixture which offered free admission for all spectators was not as one sided as it appeared. Despite goals from Dale Binns, Andre De Costa and Kezie Ibe, Tooting gave as good as they got and played some nice football.

Sadly for a friendly game, a skirmish involving a lot of players from both sides took place, leading to Finbarr Robins being sent off with eleven minutes remaining.

Hendon 1 Burgess Hill Town 1 (Tuesday 23rd August 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 164)

Following a meeting in town I was ready for some relaxation. My non league and cricket watching mate Tony Foster met me at Preston Road and we went together down to Silver Jubilee Park.

Hendon didn’t put in a great performance, but their perseverance paid dividends when a low Robins cross was put in by Karl Oliyide with just a few minutes remaining. 

Hendon 1 Dulwich Hamlet 1 (Monday 29th August 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 335)

A Bank Holiday fixture on a lovely afternoon in front of a decent gate, which saw Dons boss the first half hour of the game and going 1-0 up with a Spencer McCall strike. Karl Oliyide terrified the Hamlet defence with his pace, before they put an extra man on him.

In the second half, Hamlet, who were cheered on by a decent away following, some of whom had travelled by bicycle and train, probably had the better of the second half.

I managed to drag Steve Speller and Steve Barnes to the game, and we continued our post match drinking in The Midland Hotel by Hendon station. The seated stand had been moved to the top end of Silver Jubilee Park owing to a complaint in the height of the structure from an awkward neighbour.

Hendon 2 Harlow Town 2 (Tuesday 20th September 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 202)

This match followed the first day of the vital Middlesex v Yorkshire County Championship decider. A beer festival was being held throughout the match at Lord’s, so both Steve Speller and I arrived in good form a few minutes into the game by taxi. I was keen to attend the game as I’d been to Champion Hill the previous Saturday to see Hendon knock Dulwich out of the FA Cup.

We had a good chat with Tom Stockman, the amiable manager of the Silver Jubilee Park ground about real ale at the ground as a physical Harlow side went 1-0 up at the interval.

Karl Oliyide equalised soon after the restart with a fine run and shot, before increased pressure saw a weak bending Chris Seeby shot deceived David Hughes in the Harlow net to trickle in off the post.

With six minutes remaining Alfie Young was stupidly sent off when he received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. Dons were maid to pay as Harlow grabbed an equaliser and nearly went on to take all three points.

Hendon 3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 (Saturday 1st October 2016) FA Cup Third Qualifying Round (att: 417)

This was a game me and the two Steve’s were really looking forward to; we love the FA Cup and Tom had texted me the good news that there would be a barrel of Portobello ale on the bar after the three of us had put up the cash to guarantee the ground would not lose cash.

Diamonds had a decent sized away following but they would head back to Northamptonshire a thoroughly defeated side.

Karl Oliyide smashed a shot against the crossbar, but it was the pacy front man who put the Greens ahead ten minutes before the break after Casey Maclaren had a goal chalked off having being adjudged to be offside.

Rushden were not without creating opportunities of their own, but Berkley Laurencin had a decent day in the home net. Spencer McCall made it 2-0 after an hour before the game was settled by Niko Muir with ten minutes to go.

Diamonds large centre back Liam Dolman was puffing and blowing most of the game before being mercifully replaced during the second half.

Hendon 1 Kingstonian 4 (Tuesday 1st November 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 185)

The new Ken Batten Stand, named after the Edgware Town President, with a few steps of terrace had been erected behind the Park End goal, meaning that Silver Jubilee Park now had cover on all four sides.

This was an absolute shocker of a performance from Hendon, against a quicker and better K's side who fully deserved their margin of victory. There was excellent vocal support up from SW London.

Kingstonian wore an absolutely shocking all grey kit, but there was no excuses about Dons players not spotting their opponents. They scored all four goals in a mad ten minute spell in the first half, thanks in part to some woeful defending and goalkeeping.

The Dons consolation in an evenly balanced second half was an excellent tight knit passing move which was finished off by Niko Muir. To round things off we were limited to bottled beer in the bar!

Hendon 1 Havant & Waterlooville 1 (Saturday 5th November 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 239)

This was a cold and windy afternoon at SJP, with pre match entertainment being offered by way of a game of seniors walking football & a juniors match, showing once again the benefit at this level of a 4G pitch.

Havant dominated the first half and probably should have gone in more than 1-0 up at the break but Dons defended and put in a proper shift of damage limitation as our little crowd of cricket and football fans was growing by the match.

In Fairness Hendon put up an extremely spirited second half display, forcing an equaliser with ten minutes to go as Arthur Hill forced the ball home at the far post.

We were hopeful that this would be the start of a little run following the previous Tuesday's capitulation.

It was a nice afternoon in the increasingly sociable clubhouse, helped by a couple of fine pins from the Portobello Brewery.

Edgware Town 1 Staines Town 1 – Edgware won 3-2 on penalties (Wednesday 9th November 2016) Middlesex Senior Cup Round Two (att: 59)

Staines Town sent their second string to Silver Jubilee Park for this cup clash, but their youngsters put on a fine show. It really was a compelling tie, which please me as I’d managed to talk some more drinking pals down for their first experience at the refurbished ground.

There was plenty of good football on display but no goals until seven minutes from the end when Kane Haysman scored for Staines. Not to be deterred Wares fought back and equalised with Neiko James first goal for the club.

Stan had spent most of the second half in the bar watching some top quality local super league darts before emerging for the penalty shoot out. Cain Davies in the Wares net was the hero as he saved three kicks before Jay Molloy slotted home the decisive kick to send Edgware through to the next round.

Hendon 0 Canvey Island 0 (Tuesday 22 November 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (Att: 131)

A tetchy encounter thanks in no small part to the continual whinging and verbals of the Canvey Island side who were worse than the Aussie cricket team.

Both sides had efforts cleared off the line and the officials failed to give Hendon a stone wall penalty ten minutes from time, so the visitors will no doubt feel their harassment worthwhile.

With both sides having a bit of a rough trot, we expected that both would have been happy enough with a point. Hendon's new signings showed signs that fortunes may have been improving sooner rather than later. This was their first clean sheet of the season.

Fine ale in the bar in the shape of Portobello Star, with the promise of a selection against Enfield ten days later!

Hendon 1 Enfield Town 1 (Saturday 3^rd December 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 256)

There was a smashing atmosphere pre match in the busy clubhouse with elders watching the WWE contest between Manchester City and Chelsea from Eastlands on TV, while the young players of Hendon and Princes Park ran amok after their game out on the 4G.

I was a bit disappointed that Hot Shot Hamish hadn't travelled with the visiting youth squad; one for readers of Tiger comic there! It was also good to see a good number of away fans enjoying themselves, with the three barrels of Portobello ales being appreciated.

The game was a proper tough encounter refereed brilliantly by a youngster destined for the top in my humble opinion. Chances were at a premium, with the home side not helped with the defection of forward Niko Muir, who obviously has a fetish for long slow car journeys, to Leiston on the previous Thursday.

Both goals came from the penalty spot. Sam Murphy scored for the Dons ten minutes after half time, with the equaliser converted by Billy Crook with twelve minutes remaining. The Towners pushed on and could have won all three points, if not for determination from the Hendon collective. It was a game that they'd have definitely lost three or four weeks earlier.

There had been a swift bout of chaos before kick off when the programmes arrived in the bar. They sold about ten when a visiting fan announced that they were selling the wrong issue as the Folkestone team were listed on the back. Order was soon resumed when someone pointed out that it was a joint issue for the following Tuesday's game.

It had been encouraging to read in the said programme that Hendon's gates were up 40% on last season.

Hendon 3 Folkestone Invicta 3 (Tuesday 7^th December 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (Att: 147)

Wow. That was good entertainment. Hendon missed their customary sitter in the first few minutes, also following the pattern of a good start before letting their opponents in. Consequently a decent Invicta went in 2-0 up at the break. The consensus in the bar was that Hendon were not completely out of it, but Kezie Ibe needed support up front.

Sure enough the Greens got back into it with a strong Casey Maclaren header, before the defence once again took part in a mannequin challenge to allow the visitors to extend their lead once more. Home boss Gary McCann used his subs wisely and when the ever lively Karl Oliyide was brought down in the box, Sam Murphy reduced the deficit from the spot. With ten minutes remaining Ibe, who had put in a herculean shift finished after the keeper spilled a shot from Oliver Sprague.

Hendon nearly snatched a late winner, which would have been rough justice, although it has to be said that Invicta had a plethora of shots that either went very close or hit the woodwork as the normally reliable keeper Behcet stood motionless. 

It was suggested that someone was controlling him on a rod from behind the goal, Subbuteo style? I'm sure it was just a bad night at the office, and God knows I've had plenty of them myself!

Despite the low crowd there was some terrific one on one banter between both two sets of fans, located behind either goal. Perhaps it was the relief of finishing seven night shifts, the company, the beer or the match but I loved every minute, and many more back at Moon's in Kingsbury.

Hendon 0 Grays Athletic 4 (Tuesday 13^th December 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (Att: 126)

Mmmm. These were worrying times for Hendon fans at SJP. It was a relatively even game, but Grays were faster around goal and did the important things correctly when needed. It may have been a different outcome when at 0-2 Hendon had a Sam Murphy penalty saved and then a header ruled out incorrectly in my opinion for offside.

Once again there was excellent away support at SJP. Hopefully Grays were now on the upturn and would be destined to return home in the next couple of years. Their fans certainly deserved a break.

The poor old Hendon management looked mortified after the game.

I enjoyed the evening regardless of the result as I introduced a debutant and his two Aussie nephews to SJP. I think they enjoyed it?

Unfortunately I enjoyed the fine ale a little too much, forgetting to set my alarm and missing my early morning flight to Munich, meaning a later flight to Zurich from Luton and then the highly recommended DB bus service to Munich through the valleys, alongside lakes and through The Alps for just €24. The day cost me plenty of cash but it was certainly an experience!

Hendon 4 Harrow Borough 5 (Monday 26^th December 2016) Isthmian League Premier Division (Att: 308)

If Alan Hansen and Match of the Day had covered this one, the programme would have ended in the early hours of the following morning. It saw some astonishingly bad defending from Hendon inspired by a weak goalkeeping performance from another youngster between the sticks; Andrew McCorkell

The afternoon began for me in Moons at Kingsbury where I met up with John and Jeff Cards who were heading down to the derby with me. We arrived to very bu8sy clubhouse around 2.15.

Harrow went one up as a saveable free kick from Joshua Webb, son of former England international Neil, was helped in by McCorkell, before Dave Diedhiou powerfully headed home the equaliser from a corner.

Harrow went straight up the other end to regain the lead before Reis Stanislaus was brought down in the area for Sam Murphy top make it 2-2 from the spot after just seventeen minutes. My QPR supporting guests said they’d already seen more entertainment than at Loftus Road all season.

Just after the half hour mark, Hendon’s defending was found wanting once again as Boro made it 3-2. The third equaliser a minute later was an absolute thunderbolt as Casey Maclaren smashed a shot home from twenty five yards.

Hendon would go in 4-3 up at the break as Stanislaus curled a beauty over visiting keeper Luke Williams. There was certainly a buzz in the bar at the break.

Boro dominated the second half after drawing level from the penalty spot pretty much immediately after the break. With fifteen minutes to go Sahr Kabba scored as the home defenders decided to play statues.

Hendon tried to rally without any real potency. Harrow deserved to take the spoils. In fairness the game could easily ended up 4-8.

This was my first 4-5 since November 1984, when Hull City came from 4-1 down with 20 minutes remaining at Brisbane Road against Orient.

The great company continued, enjoying cracking beer and watching Hull City v Manchester City on TV with a good atmosphere in the increasingly popular SJP bar followed by more shenanigans in the Midland Hotel. It was exactly how a good Bank Holiday should be amongst pals.

Edgware Town 3 Wembley 3 (Monday 27th December 2016) Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division (Att; 120)

It was back to the theatre of goals; AKA Silver Jubilee Park after the Hendon 4 Harrow Borough 5 match the previous day, for another thriller that would have given the respective managers nightmares.

An excellent attendance turned out, with many using the offer of £1 admission with a ticket from Boxing Day’s game. I joined Steve Barnes and Mick Devereaux after going to the morning kick off between Bedfont & Feltham and CB Hounslow United.

Eliott Braithwaite played for Wares, as a dual registered signing from Hendon to try and gain fitness, and it was his towering header that was forced home by Paul Marks after a couple of minutes. Within sixty seconds the Lions were level from the penalty spot through Yassine Fehmi-Gil.

Now those in attendance the previous day were in agreement that Casey Maclaren's strike for Hendon was a big contender for goal of the season, but we saw an even better one when a superb long range cross field pass from Braithwaite bounced perfectly for Alfie Hill to smash it home into the far top corner on the half volley from around twenty five yards. 

A minute later it was 2-2 as Joe Wright netted at the near post! Wembley looked the more likely in the second half once Braithwaite had retired to the bench, despite their own keeper, Craig McCreeth looking vulnerable, especially in the air. 

Indeed, a pass wide sent the away sides left winger, Calvin Kasirye racing away, and he finished in style to the joy of the twenty or so away fans.

Wares pushed forward with McCreeth somehow keeping out a couple of efforts on goal. Just when it looked like it wasn't to be their day, Jay Molloy smashed home in stoppage time following sustained pressure.

It was an excellent game that could have easily ended 5-5 or 6-6.

It had been dry day for me alcohol wise as I began my spell of night shifts later. You know when you've had a good Christmas when you buy a raffle ticket but pray that you don't win the bottle of wine!

I declared my personal tally at 27 goals in the previous four games over Christmas!

Hendon 1 AFC Sudbury 2 – abandoned after 90 minutes (Saturday 21^st January 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 208)

Hendon went into the game with confidence after finally breaking their SJP League duck a fortnight earlier against Mertsham while I was at work, and an excellent victory away to Enfield Town in the Middlesex Senior Cup the previous Tuesday.

New goalkeeper Tom Lovelock was making all the difference. However, he’d picked up a terrible gash against Tonbridge Angels, which had recurred during the county cup win. It meant a recall for Berkeley Laurencin.

Sudbury arrived full of clever tricks in frustrating Hendon, who unfortunately fell for the bait. The referee was an experienced official who had impressed on previous visits. He loved to talk to the players; perhaps a bit too much?

The Dons defence allowed a free header from a corner as they went 1-0 down midway through the first half despite once again dominating the early exchanges. The lead was soon doubled thanks to more shocking defending.

A shocking challenge on returning centre back Elliott Brathwaite caused a flare up that was not properly dealt with. This would come back to haunt the referee later.

After the break Hendon, supplemented by a couple of substitutions went on the offensive. Challenges from both sides were going in thick and fast and the verbal’s were becoming more intense.

Dons pulled a goal back when Elliott Charles finished off a fine move as he converted a pinpoint Reis Stanislaus cross. The pressure was increased although the visitors used all their experience to take the sting out of the game.

Just after the referee indicated that there was to be five minutes minimum stoppage time, a huge scrummage took part in the far corner following another silly away team challenge and attempt at time wasting.

Players of both sides, as well as both benches became involved. The referee sent off the already substituted Kevin Maclaren for throwing a punch in the melee as well as a home side coach. Before the game could restart, the pushing and shoving escalated once more on the half way line. The referee abandoned the match.

The atmosphere in the bar was quite sullen after the match. The Sudbury fans weren’t very happy and neither the match officials nor away team came in for their customary hospitality.

It was all really sad, especially as the Dons squad were going out for the evening on a pre arranged team bonding exercise. We soon cheered up as the club hosted Steve and Theresa Speller’s 30th Wedding Anniversary Party!

Hendon 2 Billericay Town 0 – abandoned after 35 minutes (Tuesday 24^th January 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: hard to tell!)

It was always going to be an interesting evening at SJP following the previous Saturday’s fracas. The club and Kevin Maclaren had had come to a mutual agreement that his time with the club should come to an end, which was really sad. I really liked Kevin as a player and he was always friendly and approachable off the pitch.

Our usual assemble gathered to finish off the beer from the party, with a fear of fog being forecasted later in the evening.

Hendon came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders, putting in a high pressure and fluent performance as the gloom gathered. They went 1-0 ahead when hard work won possession in their own half. Matt Ball played a fantastic wide ball to Marcel Barrington who laid in Reis Stanislaus with an excellent pass, for the front man to fire into the top corner.

The following twenty minutes were dominated by the Dons as the visitors bench were going barmy with their side in between screaming to the referee that they couldn’t see across the pitch.

Arthur Lee made it 2-0 with a powerful header from a corner, but just five minutes later the referee correctly took the players off for ten minutes to see if the conditions improved.

Sadly for Hendon, there was no option but to abandon the game. We did our bit by hanging around and finishing off any beer that may not have lasted until the next game!

Hendon 2 Leiston 1 (Saturday 4^th March 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 145)

The Dons secured a vital three points in an entertaining match. I returned from another German adventure to meet Steve Barnes rather later than intended in the Midland Hotel before heading to Silver Jubilee Park.

My Scarborough Athletic pal Ian Anderson had also ventured south from his Northampton home. A few supporters had made the journey from Suffolk to support their badly out of form side.

The match was an extremely tight affair until the Hendon defence momentarily turned off for the impressive Matt Blake to slot home past Tom Locklove in the Hendon goal. Lovelock would then produce a save of world class proportions from a header to keep his side in the game.

Just before the interval, the strength of Reis Stanislaus set up Keagan Cole to score with a classy finish to send the teams in level at the break.

Shortly into the second half Stanislaus put Hendon ahead when he finished off a fine move including fine work from Kezie Ibe. It was then backs to wall stuff for the hosts, especially once Arthur Lee was dismissed with fifteen minutes remaining.

Lovelock pulled off a few more outstanding saves, while the Leiston forwards also helped Hendon out with some wild finishing. There was real jubilation when the referee blew his whistle for full time, with the celebrations amongst our crowd lasting several hours!

Hendon 2 Needham Market 1 (Saturday 18^th March 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 139)

My colleague Andy Robertson kindly took me off early from my shift at Uxbridge so I could travel by tube and then bus to Silver Jubilee Park in time for a pre match pint. This was a vital game in Hendon’s battle against relegation.

A strong wind blew across the ground and it led to the Dons taking the lead when a Matt Ball corner evaded Danny Gay in the Market net and going straight in. Gay kept his side in the game for the remainder of the half until Keagan Cole doubled the lead with a low shot just before the interval.

There was still time for the referee to award the visitors a penalty before the half time whistle. The weak kick was kept out by Tom Lovelock.

The head official had an earlier disagreement with the home bench and he continued to niggle them for the rest of the game with a string of strange decisions penalising them. Khale Da Costa had a shot saved and then Sam Murphy hit the post before the Marketmen pulled a goal back with eleven minutes remaining.

The rest of the match was extremely nervy for Dons fans as their side was put under pressure with deep defending and the aid of the ref. He somehow found seven minutes of injury time, despite just one brief interlude by either trainer.

There was a crescendo of cheers when he finally blew the whistle before he received some candid feedback as he left the field.

Hendon 1 Staines Town 1 (Saturday 22^nd April 2017) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 420)

What a way to end a season! I was really looking forward to the match following night shift and then a sleep. Hendon had been on a tremendous run of form including wins over the previous Easter weekend against Metropolitan Police and Harrow Borough. It meant that there fate was in their own hands as the final games of the league season kicked off.

The bar was busy as the regulars were joined by many parents of youth and junior teams at the club as well as extra fans attracted by the match with a healthy following of Staines supporters.

Graham Etchell, the Hendon club secretary of twenty five years was retiring after the game, but he was to have a very busy day. At 2.50pm he announced that the game was highly likely to kick off late.

We had another pint and watched the TV as Jeff Stelling told us of goals up and down the country. At half time there was still news of our kick off time. Eventually we found out that the linesmen had been held up behind a fatal accident on the A406 at Neasden.

The referee told both managers that the linesmen would be more or less ready to go within ten minutes of getting changed, once they’d warmed up. He was as good as his word with the game eventually kicking off at 4.20pm.

Of course, the talk was of how upset other clubs embroiled in the relegation battle would be with their games into the second half. One wag suggested that ground manager Rob Morris had arranged a late kick off to get rid of all the beer in the bar!

As Hendon kicked off it looked like they would require a draw to stay up as results stood, so there were a few deep breaths when the visiting Swans went one up when Mohamed Bettamer smashed home a shot on four minutes which beat the excellent Dons keeper Tom Lovelock.

The keeper did well to stop the same player doubling the lead before Hendon got a foothold in the game forcing several corners and having shots on target. On the half hour mark Casey Maclaren smashed a shot from the edge of the box against the inside of the post.

As half time approached Merstham equalised in their game at Burgess Hill; a result that would mean that Hendon would stay up, regardless of the full time score at SJP. However, Burgess Hill scored deep into stoppage time to secure their safety and mean that the Dons had to secure a point to be safe and relegate Harrow.

The clubhouse was extremely nervy at half time to say the least. So nervy that many took their eye off the ball. The referee wasn’t hanging around with the half time break; no doubt wary of the FA Cup semi-final being played a couple of miles away and the need for those travelling to get away before Wembley kicked out.

Therefore it was a shock as we headed to the door to hear cheers and see Casey Maclaren being mobbed after he had headed home a cross more or less straight from the kick off. The goal immediately settled down the home sides performance.

Hendon were generally in control but there was always a fear of Staines breaking away. Possession was the key, with the occasional attempt on goal. With ten minutes remaining substitute Marcel Barrington forced his way down the line and into the box to provide Khale Da Costa, whose effort hit the outside of the woodwork.

The visitors had two late free kicks near to the Dons goal. The first was comfortably saved by Lovelock; the second went wide. After five minutes of stoppage time the referee Jonathan Creswick blew his full time whistle and Hendon secured their top flight Isthmian League status for the fifty fifth consecutive season.