RAYNERS LANE F C NEWS

Rayners Lane had a successful season with a 5th place finish, a League Challenge Cup Quarter Final place and a Middlesex Intermediate Cup win, but manager Mick Turtle and his assistant Daniel Butler are already working hard to improve next season. They already have their Pre Season schedule organised.
 
The Lane travel to Marsh Rangers on July 21st, Ruislip Manor on Tuesday 24th, CB Hounslow on July 28th and Bedfont Green on July 31st, before hosting Camberley Town on Saturday August 4th and finally Harrow Borough on Tuesday 7th August.
Manager Mick Turtle says "For my first full season at Rayners Lane I have to say that yes it has been a good season, although I still believe that we could and should have done better, we lost points when really we shouldn't have done, but that’s just the inexperience of some of the young lads I have down here. I am hoping to keep the entire squad together as well as add 1 or 2 new faces, getting Jamanhi Henry back for pre season will be like signing a new player. I am sure that we will be one of the favourites for the league next season and quite rightly so. But I certainly don’t think next season will be any easier and it’s a testament to the Hellenic League that every season the competition becomes stronger so we will have to have a very good start, a great Christmas period and an outstanding end. So bring it on"

Following the clubs win in the Middlesex Intermediate Cup Rayners Lane Reserves lifted the Slough Town Premier Challenge Cup on Good Friday beating Slough Heating in a penalty shoot-out. The match ended 2-2 with extra time being played but the boys from ‘the Lane’ kept their nerve to win the shoot-out 3-2 to add a second piece of silverware for the season.

Rayners Lane manager Mick Turtle praised his squad after last nights Middlesex Intermediate Cup victory over a very gallant Combined Counties Hanworth Villa.

The game itself was a credit to football with both teams going all out to win.

After the game Mick said "I would like to praise Hanworth for contributing to this game, it was a tough game which didn't deserve to see a loser, but someone has to win and someone has to lose, and I thank the gods that it was our turn tonight."

He went on to praise his squad "My players have been magnificent throughout the season and this is their just desserts, it was great to see all the injured players jumping around the pitch celebrating, I had some tough decisions to make, and their were some disappointed players but credit to them they all stood side by side, we are still in the Linaker Hellenic Challenge Cup and my aim of top 3 or 4 isn’t out of our grasp yet so we have still got a very tough 5 or 6 weeks ahead. I would also like to thank the club for the support they have given me throughout the season"

Sport Italia Hellenic League Division One East, Rayners Lane, were crowned champions of the Middlesex Intermediate Cup tonight, toughing out a hard fought final with Combined Counties outfit Hanworth Villa.

In front of a 220 crowd, Rayners were level pegging one all at the end of normal time. Jones and Hordem scored for their respective sides to see the match finish at 2-2 after extra time.

With penalties to decide, The Lane boys made it 100% Lane, 80% Hanwell and took the Cup.

Well done to Rayners Lane for bringing in the first silverware this season to them, and the league.

Rayners Lane are representing the Sport Italia Hellenic League on Wednesday evening when they take on Combined Counties side Hanworth Villa in the Middlesex Intermediate cup final at Hanwell Town FC.

'The Lane' have a strong squad to choose from with the only players missing are Andy Potter, Jamanhi Henry and Charlie Morrison. They come into this game on the back of two draws and a victory. Manager Mick Turtle says " I'm pleased with the squad I have for Wednesday Two weeks ago i was missing the three long term injured as well as top scorer Ian Jones, Club captain Graham Small and influential midfielder Lee Journet, gladly Jonah came off the bench to score on Saturday and Lee played 60 minutes whilst Rudi Graham played 90 for the reserves. I am looking forward to this game so much as it's my first final as a manager and I feel that if we win the cup on Wednesday it will take some pressure of the players for the remainder of the season."

Mick has recently signed Centre Half Glenn Donnelly from Uxbridge and he has fitted into the squad so comfortably, Mick said " I am so pleased that I have finally managed to get Glenn here he is a quality player and still only 20 years old, I am hoping to tempt him into staying next year"
 
Best of Luck to the ‘LANE’ in their challenge for silverware.

Mick Turtle manager of Rayners Lane, who are presently 5th in Division One EAST of the Sport Italia Hellenic League is having to make full use of his big squad as the second half of the league season is now underway.

Turtle commented; “It was just as well that the weather forced Saturday’s game to be called off as all my full backs were injured”. Mick says " It is an extremely stressful time at the moment as we had Grant Ambridge (hamstring), Charlie Morrison (dislocated elbow), Lee Webber (hamstring) and Dave Collins (Septic foot) all injured for Saturday and Paul Mitchell still on Festive Holidays, together with Junior Smith (minor op) Darren Gardiner (lung infection) and even goal scorer Ian Jones struggling with an ankle injury. I have had to use my full resources and whilst you cannot look for excuses these are certainly contributing factors as to our dip in form, but we will keep working and fighting and try to turn our fortunes around.

Rayners Lane manager Mick Turtle is looking forward to his sides visit to Finchampstead on Saturday. ‘The Lane’ aim to make it 5 league wins on the bounce on Saturday after beating a one dimensional Headington at the 'Farm' last weekend.
Mick says "I am looking forward to the trip to Finch as it is always a most welcoming place to visit and there is a mutual respect between myself and Steve McClurg.

I think Finch has been a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ team this season and I want revenge for the draw at our place when we were by far the better side. The partnership of Jones and Henry is fast proving to be one of the most explosive in the League".

Rayners have no injury worries with the competition for places getting better all the time

Sport Italia One East Rayners Lane manager Mick Turtle says that his team have got to get greater consistency to achieve success this season. After the weekends game at Kintbury, in which they ended the form team's unbeaten start to the season, the players were told that performances like that have to be attained every week. The inconsistency this season has seen Rayners fall down the table, after just 3 wins in 7 and 3 defeats against teams that should be getting beaten.

Turtle states " I have had to change the defence around on a number of occasions due to poor form and injuries to some players but we have a big, strong squad with quality throughout, so it really is disappointing at the moment. Every team at some stage of a season have bad times, I just hope after the weekend’s result we have ours behind us now and are able to focus on putting pressure on Badshot Lea at the top."

Rayners are in Middlesex cup action on Saturday 18th November and then entertain Premier Division Thame in the Linaker – Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup the following week, before returning to league action against Binfield in early December

The away fixture against SPORT ITALIA Hellenic One East side Oxford Quarry Nomads saw Michael Mair reach 100 appearances for the first team. He must be one of the youngest to achieve this feat as he is still only 20 years old. Michael is now starting his fourth season with the club having progressed from the Rayners Lane youth team through to the Sunday team and it was not long before he attracted the attention of Danny Mills and he became a regular fixture in the first team squad.

He has a great pair of lungs and this has probably prevented him scoring more than the 21 goals he has notched so far. He often spends many games playing wing back and chasing back in a defensive position, whereas he appears happier this season playing as a wide man in a front three.

When he scores he entertains the crowd with his attempt at emulating the ‘Robbie Keane celebration’ which is often very well appreciated because the majority of the crowd are made up of his extended family, which turns up in all weathers to support Michael.

Here’s to the next 100 appearances and many congratulations!

Rayners Lane manager Mick Turtle isn't the one surprised by his team’s explosive start to the new season in the SPORT ITALIA Hellenic ONE EAST. A very tough pre season programme which saw them beat a strong Hillingdon Borough side and Camberley Town as well as defeat’s against Ryman Premier sides Harrow Borough and Hendon, have seemed to pay dividends.
Turtle signed a number of new players over the summer including midfield lynch-pin Steve Potter from Hounslow Borough, and prolific goal scorer Ian Jones from new Southern League side Brook House, he also tempted back Kevin Lambert from Kingsbury who has been magnificent at the heart of the defence. Mick, with the help of his assistant Danny Butler has assembled a strong squad, with club captain Graham Small and team captain Simon Hordern still to return to the side having been on holiday and injured. The future certainly looks bright from North West London.