Club

Last March, First-Team Manager Lee Lashenko and Commercial Manager Tony Parsons travelled across Europe to the Poland-Ukraine border to provide humanitarian aid for soldiers and families that have been affected by the war.

Bristol Manor Farm, like the rest of the league, had a prolonged break before the beginning of the new season due to the curtailment of last season’s Southern Football League season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We are pleased to announce the winners for the Bristol Manor Farm 300 Club Raffle for April.

£40 – 271 – Rob Day
£30 – 95 – Steve Cross
£20 – 113 – Rose Holloway
£10 – 267 – Sean Matthews

Congratulations to Rob, Steve, Rose and Sean on your winnings! Speak to us at our next home match, or email Secretary@bristolmanorfarm.com to arrange a collection of your winnings.

Bristol Manor Farm suffered play-off heartbreak as they were beaten by a very good Winchester City side, writes Jack Davies.

The two sides both overcame difficult away semi-finals but it was the hosts who settled the earliest. Feeney almost created a goal within 10 seconds as his pass found Ollie Balmer, whose shot was saved by John.

Their good start was rewarded after seven minutes. Balmer’s shot was somehow cleared off the line by Farm captain Aron Robbins but the ball deflected perfectly to Warren Bentley, who swept home the rebound.

The hosts kept coming as Farm were slow to settle, Simba Mlambo was played in but he was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Steve Kingdon.

Farm picked up following that scare and had a few early chances themselves. Kye Simpson couldn’t quite sort his feet out as he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and then the forward was denied being played through by the sliding interception of McCormick.

Winchester would double their lead before the half-hour. Mlambo’s running led to Balmer’s saved effort and once again for the hosts, the ball dropped perfectly for the men in red. Craig Feeney lashing home at the far post.

Farm ended the first half strongly. Josh Ford was somehow booked despite him being dragged down in the box as Farm waited to take a free-kick before Jayden Neilsen’s clever flick fed Owen Howe, whose shot deflected just over.

A fired-up Farm settled much better to the second half. Mike Bryant linked well with Jake Gosling before the latter played the ball into Simpson. The striker just crowded out as he looked to find a yard in the area.

Despite Farm’s pressure, the hosts would all but ensure promotion on the hour. Balmer was again involved as he slipped the ball to Mlambo, who proved that everything seems to go your way on one of those days. He mishit his volley before watching the ball trickle over the line after it span onto the inside of John’s post.

Bristol Manor Farm would get a goal to celebrate late on. Top persistence by Simpson won him back possession in the Winchester area and unselfishly laid the ball to Gosling who buried his finish emphatically.

Farm pushed hard to get another back. Josh Ford volleyed wide under pressure, before his centre back partner Kingdon forced a smart save by home keeper Charlie Philpott.

Winchester would catch Farm on the counter in the final minute to add some gloss to their strong performance. Substitute Max Smith driving forward before finding the far corner.

On Friday morning the flags over The Creek were lowered to half-mast for you.

We’d all known for a while that the end was near but none of us in our wildest imaginations ever thought that you would be so cruelly taken from us just three days prior to the team’s promotion Play-Off Final.

It seems impossible that you won’t be around for the biggest game in the history of Bristol Manor Farm Football Club – the club that you totally dedicated your long life to and built in your own image.

On Friday evening, as the sun was setting and the flags hung sombre and limp, some of us – a tiny fraction of the countless number of people you’ve touched the lives of over the years – began gathering at The Creek to pay our respects. Amongst them was your dearest, closest friend of well over sixty years, “Snowy”, who kept us fascinated and humble with tales about the early origins of the club, your own playing days and the endless kindness and support shown to him personally by you and your own family over the years.

That kindness and support were at the very core of your being Geoff and, as Snowy warmly spoke, everyone around that table all had examples of their own begin playing through their minds. Just as everyone who ever came into your orbit over the decades would’ve done too.

You always made time for everyone and – a rare thing this – you genuinely took an interest in the lives and welfare of others around you.

But you also had a great competitive drive to succeed at whatever you were doing in life too. Whether it be the regional retail empire you created as a young man or the football club you played for and eventually took full stewardship of in the last few years of the 20th Century – you strove to succeed all the way. Even in the skittle alley – especially in the skittle alley!

With the Social Club too you were right across every detail of anything going on at The Creek – tirelessly committed to constantly improving things both on and off the pitch for Bristol Manor Farm Football Club and the surrounding local communities it still so proudly serves.

THANK YOU GEOFF – what a football club you gave us – such a magnificent gift to be cherished by this and future Bristol generations forever.

And here we stand, with the club on the very cusp of glory without you… Life couldn’t be more unfair.

All your hard work, all your dreams and your highest aspirations for the club are glowing so brightly right now, their completion so near to our grasp that WE KNOW – each and every one of us – all have a part to play on Monday in fulfilling your final wish.

We’re taking coach-loads, car-loads and mini-buses to Winchester on Monday with your memory in the hearts of all of us, your name in our fervent songs and the clubs proud name upon all our shirts and scarves. Oh, you’ll be with us alright in Hampshire, Geoff, and we’re going to do you proud.

We Love You, Rest In Peace.
Bristol Manor Farm FC

Just another 90 minutes of football stands between Bristol Manor Farm and their ambition of gaining promotion to the Southern League Premier South as Monday’s Play-off Final looms ever closer.

Kye Simpson and Owen Howe helped the Farmers secure a place in the 2021/22 Southern League play-offs, following a pulsating 2-2 draw against Winchester City F.C.