Andre Burgoyne is a great clubman at Milford United and in the last 20 years has served as a player, manager, and assistant manager.

He coached the first team to the Division Two title in the 2004/05 season, and remains heavily involved in the running of the club now.

However, he did admit he struggled to do this task alone, so sought assistance from two others who have played a big part in the club in the past 20 years, Ashley Britton and Joff Lennon.

We have even agreed to his request to name an extra substitute, somewhat dubiously citing the extra allowance the Premier League have been given due to Covid-19……..

“It was tough to leave some people out,” Burgoyne admitted.

“I kept thinking of good players who could and should have been in there, in fact I could have given you another 10 names who were deserving.”

GOALKEEPER – REECE CROWTHER

Australian keeper who arrived with great pedigree. Before he came to us people said to google him and we found out he was once on QPR’s books. He was 6 foot 5 and extremely reliable – did everything right and was rock solid. Only had two seasons with us but fitted in really well and helped get us promoted back to Division 1 in the 2014/15 season.

RIGHT BACK - EWAN FINDLAY

Came through a good under 16s side and played in the Welsh League for us. Was a bit part of my Division Two winning team when we ended up 16 points clear.  I called him napoleon as he was a little general for us. I was still playing when he started out in senior football and he was a great communicator with teammates. Had a very good footballing brain and could slot into any position in the back four.

CENTRE BACK – STEVE KENYON

Arrived with Welsh League pedigree and lived up to it. I first came across him playing 5-a-side and knew then he was a cracking player. The real strong point of his game was his heading. Wherever he went he won the ball in the air – at both ends of the field! Had such a lot of experience behind him, read the game well, and was as hard as nails. Having said that, he wasn’t a nasty player but you’d always bet on him in 50-50s.

CENTRE BACK - WILLIAM GOODALL

Been with us since he was a junior. Dominant in the air, and I remember a game away at Narberth when he scored with two far post headers and that summed up his danger at set pieces. A good defensive midfield player as well and over the years we have even thrown him up front when we after a late goal. A whole-hearted player.

LEFT BACK – TOM CARRINGTON

Could play many different roles.  A great engine and the biggest compliment I can play is that other teams never liked playing against him. He would get under the skin of the opposition and another great communicator – if someone was out of position he let them know in a nice way. Capable of bombing forward and pulling the strings in attack too.

RIGHT MIDFIELD – JAMES STANMORE

When I managed the side I had benefit of picking up the under 16s who came through with Bruce Goodall and Paul Thompson. James was the first I pulled in to play senior football. In training it was difficult to ever get the ball off him and he had such a good, low centre of gravity. I would liked to have seen him play more in centre midfield and a player who could maybe have gone further.

CENTRE MIDFIELD – JOFF LENNON

Another from that Division two winning side. Was the fulcrum of the team and everything revolved around him – he liked to put his foot on the ball and dictate play. Give him the ball and he’d look after it. We were both so passionate about football and I knew what a good player he was so I tried to squeeze every last drop out of him which he didn’t always appreciate. We were great friends and still are – but we used to fall out every week!

CENTRE MIDFIELD – ASHLEY MATHIAS

Wand of a left foot, brilliant in the air, and a set piece specialist who has always been great on penalties and free kicks. Another who came through the under 16s at Marble Hall.

LEFT MIDFIELD – RYAN WILSON

As a youngster was a dynamo in the middle on the mark but could play out wide as well. Very good going forward but has always had a great defensive mentality as well. Gives you everything and with he and Tom both on the left, you’d have two players great at going forward.

STRIKER – NICKY WOODROW

When we won the league I think Nicky scored 48 goals in that season, and we’d only recently converted him to a centre forward. After we went up he had another 36 goals in Division One and would score them from everywhere. A real threat, great pace, and such a tireless worker – there haven’t been many as dedicated as him. Often he would play on a Saturday and then meet again on a Sunday with me and one of our keepers to practice penalties or free kicks. That summed him up, he always wanted to improve.

STRIKER – LEIGHTON EDWARDS

I came back to the club in 1998 and Leighton was established by then – and it didn’t take long in pre-season to see how quick he was. My old man (Brian) would run training drills and Leighton was always first with the pace he had. Also a really nice lad and knew where the goal was – but as well as being a fox in the box was usually top of the list for assists as well. He had a few injuries but even now is still a livewire.

SUBSTITUTES

TERRY BEVAN

A big favourite of mine as I played in midfield with him, but he was a very good full back as well. Not a big boy but won most challenges in the air and everything on the floor. Deceptively quick and a good passer. He was very committed and as soon as my old man saw him play he said he would be a future captain. Relished marking good players and always up for the fight.

NEIL MATHIAS

Even last season when we were struggling for players we could play him anywhere. Does a sound job as holding midfielder, but can also slot in at centre half or full back. And even though he’s lost a bit of pace now you still does everything right when playing out wide. A very underrated player for the club.

SCOTT GRIFFITHS

Plays with his heart on his sleeve at centre back and wins so much ball on the floor and in the air. Likes to pop up at the near post for headers from set pieces as well. Current captain and a great leader who brings young players on in the right way. Unfortunately has had to adapt to a different partner in defence every other week in recent times but is still a rock for us and has been so consistent in the last three seasons.

CHRIS DAVIES

Another brilliant captain for the club and a great player for us at Marble Hall. When we on the first ever Joe Lennon trophy (2011) he was skipper and the man of the match. Could play centre half, right back, or left back and was Mr consistency.

Andrew also named a host of other players who were on the brink of selection. The decision on the manager and assistant was left to Joff Lennon, who selected Andrew with his influential late dad Brian as No 2. Modestly however, Andrew has insisted on that combination switching roles for the final submitted squad.

MANAGER – BRIAN BURGOYNE (WITH ANDREW AS ASSISTANT)

Anything I learnt from football came from my dad. He was so experienced and knowledgeable. Again, going back to that Division Two winning team technically it was me as manager with my dad as assistant – but he was the brains behind it all.