...and Marshfield Nelson Football Club came to pass!
Marshfield Nelson Football Club was formed in the Summer of 1978 following a meeting between the landlord of the Nelson at that time, Frank Woods, Alan (Owjie) Hughes, Merv' (the swerve) Spirrell and several other interested parties.
It was a typical pub football discussion which eventually reached the depths of past village football teams when the question was asked, "Could the Nelson customers form a Sunday football team?"
Well some hours and many pints later, the decision was made to create that monster that we now know as "Marshfield Nelson Football Club".
An urgent application was made to join the Bath Sunday League and Frank set about arranging a couple of friendlies with Courage's Brewery where he worked during the day to gain some idea of the strength of the newly formed team. Oh and talking about that team, well Merv' knew of a goalkeeper from Colerne by the name of Dilly Sumsion and he became the first of quite a few Colerne lads who came across the "Doncombe Devide" to play for Marshfield Nelson. Trevor Greenhill was another to pull on the famous green shirt of the Nelson no 1 at that time. The centre of the defence was filled with no nonsense tackling of Doug Gray and Pat Conway with Owjie Hughes at left back and Bertie Andrews on the other flank.
In midfield there was a youthful Bob Ashton, Glen Permial, Andy Witts and, of course Mervyn. But it was in attack the Nellie excelled with two prolific goalscorers who terrorised defences. The late Tony Beazer scored hat-tricks for fun, he had a gift for being in the right place at the right time and should have played at a much higher level.
Alongside Tone was Tom Hurley, another natural, Tom was originally a Northern lad but had moved down to work at Ashwicke School. Tom was sadly coming to the end of his career when he played for the Nelson but it didn't stop him scoring a stack of goals in those early days.
Owjie was elected as Nelson skipper however there was no manager at that time and teams were selected by a committee which consisted of the above instigators and later on they were joined by staunch supporter Tom Andrews.
Anyway, that Autumn Marshfield Nelson Football Club were accepted into the Bath Sunday League and in their first season they won the Fourth Division Championship.
Club History
Sunday 22ndJuly 2007
GARY CAMPBELL MEMORIAL MATCH RAISES £6925!!!
Marshfield Nelson FC thanks the players of the Bristol City legends, Geoff Twentyman our match referee, all those who donated auction items, bought raffle tickets and helped on the day. Thanks for making a special day for a special man.
MARSHFIELD NELSON 4 BRISTOL CITY LEGENDS 3
Gary Campbell Memorial Match 22/7/2007: back row left to right: Gerry Harrison, Geoff Twentyman, Alun Davis, Pete Flower, Richard Thompson, Jeff Meacham, Rich Oldfield, Eddy Shaw, Tom Gwyther, Gary Owers, Colston Gwyther, Bobby Jenkins, Nick Davis, Ross Andrews, Andy Jefferies, Gary Hodder, Mike Phillpott, Scott Windle. Front row left to right: Chris Honour, Liam George, Andy Llewellyn, Tony Cook, Max Campbell, Shane Andrews,
Matt Windle, Ian McPherson, Tom Brown, Sam Johnston, Luke Lock, Paul King, Emile Wratten, George Ball, Ben Leslie. Rob Edwards, Nathan Rudge not in picture.
Bill presents Shane with the Gary Campbell memorial trophy, the kitchen staff take a well earned break! Emma Campbell thanks the crowd and Pete Flower takes a breather from prentending to be sheriff!
The many auction items donated to raise funds for charity
Sunday 13th May 2007
TOM MORGAN CUP FINAL
Marshfield Nelson: 1 Julian Shipp 2 Emile Wratten 5 Shane Andrews 6 Matthew Windle 3 Ross Andrews 7 Ben Leslie 4 Dan Watson 8 Paul King 10 Ian McPherson 9 Andy Jefferies 11 Bobby Jenkins Subs: David Jenkins Richard Oldfield Mike Phillpott
Sunday 6th May 2007
STAN MILSOM CUP FINAL 2006-2007
Marshfield: 1 Julian Shipp 2 Ian McPherson 5 Shane Andrews 6 Richard Oldfield 3 Luke Lock 7 Ben Leslie 4 Dan Watson 8 Nick Davis 10 Ross Andrews 9 Andy Jefferies 11 Bobby Jenkins. Subs: Matt Windle, Emile Wratten and Andy Elliott
Sunday 29th April 2007
Nelson Clinch Championship!! - GT Sports 0 Nelson 6
Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at ten minutes past twelve referee Dave Mott blew his whistle and Marshfield Nelson were crowned Bath & District Division 1 Champions for the first ever time. A 6-0 victory away to G T Sports at Newton Memorial gave Nelson the three points that were needed to see off nearest rivals and former Champions Horseshoe Sports.
Marshfield were in no mood to let this game slip away and were three goals up after only fifteen minutes. The rout started as early as the fourth minute when a Rich Oldfield free kick was headed on by Matt Windle into the path of Andy Jefferies who rifled the ball into the corner much to the joy of the Nelson players and supporters. Minutes later and it was two when Rich Oldfield sent a scorcher into the far corner of the net from lets say 25 yards! Shortly after this a corner on the left by Ross Andrews fell kindly to Nick Davis who steered a shot through a ruck of players for Nelson's third. The game at this stage was becoming a demolition job but a depleted G T side fought back and went close to scoring on a couple of occasions before the break.
But after the interval normal service resumed when Ross Andrews fed Bobby Jenkins who smashed home Nellie's fourth beating stand in keeper Ross Beaverstock at his near post. And after 65 minutes Beaverstock was picking the fifth out of his net after letting a Ross Andrews free kick from wide on the left slip through his hands. Then with ten minutes remaining Nick Davis set Andy Jefferies free and he slotted his shot past the despondent Beaverstock for number six!
Cue Celebrations, get them bottles open!
Who's paying for these the Treasurer was heard to say!
10th March 1988 - Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup Final
MARSHFIELD NELSON 4 HAWKESBURY 1
Marshfield Nelson cruised to victory in the final of the 1988 Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup held at Tormarton. The Nelson were roared on by a large village support which even had a sprinkling of Colerne amonst them.
On a glorious sunny morning, Marshfield kicked off and it wasn't long before they were in front. Just seven minutes had gone when a Bob Ashton corner was headed down by Pete Jefferson for Smiler Pullin to turn the ball in at the far post.
Nelson continued to dominate and Timmy Cutter nearly added a second with a twenty yard drive which went narrowly over. More chances followed but it wasn't until two minutes before half time that Marshfield increased their lead. A free kick thirty yards out was taken short by Pete Jefferson to Smiler Pullin who's miss hit shot fell kindly for Mark Pagett to steer the ball home from ten yards.
In the second half, Hawkesbury tried desperately to get back into the match but Nelson were still creating the better chances. The most spectacular of these was a thirty five yard free kick from Smiler Pullin which crashed against the bar before being cleared for a corner.
Just after the hour mark the game changed when Greg Witts was left helpless by a twenty yard shot out of the blue which made the score 2-1. Moments later, Bob Ashton was on hand to clear a corner off the line and that was as close as Hawkesbury came to scoring an equaliser. With twelve minutes remaining Marshfield made the game safe when Andy Glendenning robbed a poor throw in by Hawks, neatly sidestepped the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net. Four minutes later it was 4-1 when Louie Holder chased another hopeless ball into the corner, won possession and crossed to the ball to the far post for Andy Glendenning to grab his second.
There was still time for substitute Dilly Sumsion to act as peacemaker when Smiler Pullin was involved one of those frustration skirmishes near the finish.
Much celebration took place in Marshfield after the game but that's another story.
The Team.
1 Greg Witts 2 Phil Pearce 3 Bob Ashton 4 Pete Jefferson ( Captain) 5 Mike Pagett 6 Gerry Pearce 7 Mark Pagett 8 Timmy Cutter 9 Graham Pullin 10 Andy Glendenning 11 Louie Holder Sub Dilly Sumsion