Noel Ponty - 9th November

A sad day for Headington Amateurs on Saturday. Late on Friday night Noel ‘Dinky’ Ponty passed away after a sudden and brief illness at the age of just 56.

Dinky was one the best young Oxfordshire goalkeepers of his generation and part of the all-conquering Headington Amateurs Youth team of the late 1960’s. That side formed the basis of the Headington team that dominated Oxfordshire Senior League football for the next decade.

Many of them, including Dinky, also went on to other things including Southern & Hellenic football but almost all retained their link with the Amateurs and many still do.

Dinky was a peerless shot stopper with astonishing reflexes and a bravery that bordered on the reckless. Many an oncoming forward was seen to hesitate in the face of an advancing Dink. He played for other clubs that included Wantage Town, Abingdon United and Oxford City, he represented Oxfordshire at various age levels plus Oxford Boys whilst at school.

A Wood Farm boy through and through, and a devoted family man, Dink is survived by his wife Chris, daughters Hayley, Sonia, Danielle, his grandchildren and his brothers. Our thoughts are with them.

Whilst Amateurs mourn his passing we celebrate an extraordinary but sadly curtailed life; all who knew him enriched by the experience.

Footballer Punches Spectator - 7th October

Reports have been published in both the Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire local media regarding the alleged assault of a spectator by a Headington Amateurs player, at Hardwicke AFC on Saturday.

(As reported in the Oxford Mail)

A footballer from Oxford was arrested after assaulting an opposition team's supporter at an away game. Headington Amateurs of the Hellenic League Division One West were involved in a match against Hardwicke AFC in Gloucester on Saturday when the incident happened. A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesman said a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault after he hit a spectator, causing a swollen nose and cheek and black eye.

Hellenic League General Manager Brian King said he had received the referee's match report, which said that the player was escorted off the pitch 15 minutes into the second half following an player/spectator confrontation late in the first half subsequent to the sending off of Amateur’s player Adam Simmonds for violent conduct. The arrested player was later given a caution by police, who refused to identify him.

Mr King said: "The first thing I will be doing is talking to the Oxfordshire FA about the report and then we will go through the due processes. How that will resolve itself, I'm not in a position to say."

Don Light, who is chairman of Headington Amateurs, based at Barton Village Road, in Barton, said: "I wasn't actually at the game, so I'm still making enquiries about what happened. We have got a training session on Wednesday night and I will want to get to the bottom of this. After that, we will see what disciplinary action needs to be taken." Headington eventually lost the game 6-0.

Web Note: The Oxford Mail mention in their article the name of Headington player Adam Simmonds, being sent off for violent conduct. Though he is the only player identified by name, it is not implied that Mr. Simmonds was the player involved in the alleged assault incident.

Amateur's Head to Unbeaten Hardwicke! - 2nd October

Following last weekend's heavy defeat at Flackwell Heath in the SBJ Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup, Headington now face another difficult task with a trip to unbeaten FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West leaders Hardwicke.

Shaun Pearce, Amateur's player/manager, is without four players for his team selection. Robert Parsons, Matthew Phillips and Neil Drewett are unavailable for personal reasons. Whilst Jay Hill is out with a hamstring injury.

However on the positive side both Geoff and Adam Simmonds are available again after serving one match suspensions.

Team from: G. Simmonds, Brown, Pearce, Hafiz, A. Simmonds, S. Skyrme, B. Cuff, M. Johnson, N. Johnson, Jacobs, Woodward, L. Cuff, Lockhart, Dean, Oliver, Williams.

Light on the Up & UP for Amateur's- 7th July

Further to the recent announcement regarding the management team of FTL Futbol Hellenic One West side Headington Amateur's Secretary Steve Giles advises that Chairman Donald Light will be taking up the role of Club General Manager overseeing the development of the manager’s of both teams once he gets out of hospital, having had his second hip replacement operation on Saturday.

Despite having the operation on Saturday morning Donald was on the phone to Steve Giles on the Saturday afternoon asking why the latest Club News wasn't on the web site and also saying he might even become General PLAYER Manager now that he will be able to walk properly again.

Team Management Structure In Place - 4th July

Headington Amateurs have now finalised their management team for 2008-2009 in the FTL Futbol Hellenic One West.

Last season's manager Dave Southam has stepped down for personal reasons allowing the partnership of Player/Manager Shaun Pearce & Mark Roper, who have run their very successful Reserves over the last two seasons to step up to take charge of the first team. The Reserves will be run by John Taylor, and Tony Craft who is stepping up from Youth Football. Recent discussions have taken place to bring a Level 2 qualified coach on board resulting in Steve Goddard being appointed to this post.

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