Midweek Challenge - 12th March

With no game this Saturday Headington face a huge challenge next Wednesday with a visit to Cheltenham Saracens,the current league leaders and leading scorers in One West, who have so far notched up 77 goals in their 24 league matches.

Having won their last three the A's feel they are right back in the title race but could find themselves nine points adrift if Saracens win at Lydney on Saturday, albeit with games in hand.

An incidental 'challenge' will be arriving in good time as for the second time in three seasons a visit to Cheltenham clashes with 'Race Festival Week'. 'Meeting and departure' times will be calculated accordingly!

Cuff To Reject Bicester Approach - 5th March

Home Win Hope -25th February

After securing their first win in five last week Headington will hope to continue in the same frame this week as they entertain lowly Cirencester, their first home fixture for eleven weeks.

Despite a poor run the A's are still in touch with the top four, nine points behind leaders Cheltenham with games in hand. Player manager Shaun Pearce, Klaus Buckle, James Brown, and Liam Morbey should all be available as Pearce hopes to choose from a full squad.
 
From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Cirilo, Ashley.

Amateur's Looking to Arrest Defeats At Sports - 19th February

Headington's poor run of results has seen them knocked out of both cup competitions and slip eleven points behind the leaders in One West.

On the face of it a short trip to bottom club Launton should be the place to start a recovery. However, they will be well aware that Sports picked up their first point of the season last week under new management. Liam Morbey is on holiday & centre back Klaus Buckle a doubt with a calf injury. James Brown should be available again after work commitments saw him miss out last week.

From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Cirilo, Ashley.

Another 'Goal Fest' Ahead! - 5th February

After sharing eighteen goals with their opponents in their last two outings Headington Amateur's will be hoping for something like a 'normal game' as they visit West Oxfordshire neighbours Clanfield this Saturday.

However, the last meeting between the clubs, a County Cup tie last November, produced six goals with Headington somewhat flattered by a 4 - 2 score line in their favour. More fireworks on the cards? Headington have no injury problems and select from a full squad.

From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Cirilo, Ashley.

A's Face League Leaders - 29th January

After returning to action last week and suffering the disappointment of penalty shoot-out defeat in their much postponed County Cup tie with Easington Sports, Headington must regroup quickly as they face a visit to league leaders Purton this Saturday.

Taking the positives from an extraordinary match that saw ten goals shared over 120 minutes Headington will know that, having shaken off the inevitable 'ring rust', their attacking play was at times of the highest quality against Sports. The downside of course was the defensive howlers, allied to a terrific fighting performance from the Banbury side. Having already shared the points with Purton in the reverse fixture in September of last year - a late equaliser from Purton! - the A's will be well aware of the need for defensive discipline if they are to maintain their league challenge in to the second half of the season. Centre back Klaus Buckle should return after missing out last week.

From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Cirilo, Ashley.

One West Form Teams Meet - 25th November

After the drama of the last three weeks, with League wins over Slimbridge and Letcombe, plus a County Cup victory against Clanfield, all of which were secured only in the last ten minutes of each game. On Saturday The 'A's' now host Wootton Bassett, currently fifth, to Amateurs third in the table, but with games in hand on all above them.

Given both teams’ current unbeaten league runs, Headington seven wins and two draws in their last nine, with Wootton six and two in their last eight, add in the goals that both have been scoring of late and another classic could be on the cards.

Headington are well aware of their visitors firepower, going down 1 – 6 at their place in August, a defeat every bit as comprehensive as the score suggests, but will be confident in their improvement since then. With no injury worries manager Shaun Pearce will select from a full squad.

From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Ashley.

"A's" Bouyant - 12th November

Last week's fine win over Slimbridge extended the Headington Amateurs current run to six wins and two draws from their last eight league matches.

However, the "A's" will need to be at their best again this Saturday as they entertain a similarly in form Letcombe, who have recorded five wins and a draw from their last six. As the sides' currently sit third and fourth in the table another tight match should ensue. Headington will select from the same squad as last week:

Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Ashley.

The Big Test - 4th November

The "A's" look forward to their biggest test of the season on Saturday, when they entertain long time Division One East league leaders Slimbridge.

Shaun Pearce is aware of the task ahead as they face a side that has lost one game in fifteen and conceded just six goals. Headington’s own form has seen them climb to third place, whilst Pearce will afford Slimbridge proper respec, het is confident in his team’s ability to meet the challenge. Pearce will hope to be at full strength with centre back Klaus Buckle returning from holiday, although playmaker Shaun Jacobs remains doubtful with a persistent knee injury.

Team from: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Morbey, Zaja, Simmonds, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira, Ashley.

Headington Amateurs v Harrow Hill - 8th October

Three wins and two draws in their last five have seen Headington climb to fourth in Division One West.

Harrow Hill are the visitors this Saturday and manager Shaun Pearce must do without Charlie Bough (pictured) who has signed for Oxon Senior League side Rover Cowley.

On the plus side Luke Cuff, Shaun Jacobs & Harry Jenkins should all return to the squad. Ramos Pereira, a goalkeeper who has been training with the club for the last month is also included for the first time.

From: Jenkins, Brown, B.Cuff, Buckle, Pearce, Simmonds, Morbey, Hill, Williams, Hafiz, Jacobs, Barrett, Lockhart, L.Cuff, Pereira.

Headington v Tytherington - 17th September

The Amateurs face a Rocks side with an identical playing record to themselves in One West this Saturday, though goal difference sees the visitors one place above in the league table.

Taking last season’s matches in to account, 1 – 1 at Tytherington and 0 – 1 at home a tight game would appear to be on the cards. Liam Morbey should return after injury as should goalkeeper Harry Jenkins - time off for the arrival of a baby boy.

After standing in in goal against Purton last week Adam Simmonds will be able to resume midfield duties. Last seasons leading scorer in Reserve Division One, Neil Lockhart, should also be available for the first time this term, whilst James Brown misses out (ankle).
Team from: Jenkins, Pearce, B.Cuff, Allen, Morbey, Hill, Simmonds, Hafiz, Bough, Jacobs, Zaja, Williams, Barrett, L.Cuff, Lockhart, Whalley.

Wheels Back On Amat's Wagon? - 28th August

Three wins in a row took Amateurs to the heady heights of third in the league, Headington were then brought crashing back to earth in a midweek 1 - 6 mauling at Wootton Bassett.

However, with a run of four home matches to come, Cheltenham Saracens this Saturday August 29th followed by Clanfield on Monday the double header over the Bank Holiday, manager Shaun Pearce is confident that his side can continue what has been a relatively good start to the season. Liam Morbey and Ollie Zaja should return after both were unavailable at Wootton Bassett.

Team From: Jenkins, B. Cuff, Pearce, Allen, Morbey, Whalley, Hafiz, Simmonds, Hill, Brown, Zaja, L. Cuff, Jacobs, James, Ridge, Ashley, Williams.

Preparation Almost Complete - 8th August

After a somewhat protracted, not to say dramatic close season, Headington’s preparations for the new season are almost complete.

Following the momentous decision not to field a reserve side this year, Steve Giles confirmed that he would be stepping down as Secretary after twenty five years in the job encompassing three Hellenic clubs. For the first time since the 1950’s the Amateurs will not run a reserve team, a decision taken after much soul and heart searching but almost inevitable on economic grounds alone. Chairman Don Light takes over from Steve Giles as Acting Secretary – any aspiring administrators out there, contact the club through the website or by phone! – whilst the management structure remains similar to last term.
 
Three pre-season games have seen a draw and narrow defeat against Hellenic opposition in Old Woodstock Town and Kidlington respectively. Plus a win against Oxon Senior League side Bardwell. Performances have been good as Manager Shaun Pearce has used almost all of a squad totalling twenty players. With most of last year’s first team retained, youngsters Shane Whalley and Liam Morbey (formerly of Cheltenham Saracens where he was attending college) supplement the squad, now comprised almost entirely of local youth. Veterans Pearce and the evergreen Junior Ashley notwithstanding.
 
Steve Giles remains as a committee member and will continue as Secretary of the Phoenix Sports Association, the parent body at the Amateurs ground, where he will oversee the proposed development of the site. Oxford City Council has engaged Sports Solutions GB to construct a development plan for the site and meetings have been held over the summer with all parties. A draft plan has now been formulated and waits finalising before being presented.