A warm welcome to Arnall Drive to the players, spectators, and management team of this evening’s visitors Filton Athletic and congratulations to them on their County League Runners Up achievement..

This evening is the last game of the season, a season which has been difficult for the team and the club due to an horrendous injury list and player availability issues in equal measure.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing management team of Pete, Lee, and Jason for their dedicated service over a number of years initially for Rockleaze Rangers and Henbury FC and for the last 2-years as Henbury Rockleaze FC. Pete in particular will be a tough act to follow for whoever the committee choose to replace him, his dedication, organisation and commitment to the club is second to none, however it’s not a goodbye, as we hope to see a lot more of all three of these guys in different guises across the club for many years to come. Thank you all.

Thank you also to Ray Bright who produces our superb online programme, your efforts are always appreciated, and I hope you ‘summer’ well.

Please come and search me out or contact me through our website if you can help with sponsoring a match, player, or pitch side advertising board, or would just like to help and get involved with the running of the club. We are always looking for more help with match days, pitch works, fundraising or just being part of an active committee.

That’s a wrap for 2025-26 season,

let’s get ready for 2026-27….!

Regards

Andrew

.

Kick Off 3pm (2pm Nov to Feb)

Filton Athletic FC are a long-standing amateur football club based in the North of Bristol. We started out as St. Andrews Meth back in the 1960's, then changed to Filton Athletic FC in 1986.

We are currently made up of two adult football teams who both play regularly on a Saturday afternoon

.

Our first team compete in the Marcliff Gloucestershire County Football League, having been promoted as Champions from the Bristol & Suburban Premier Division in 2023-24. They play their home games at Pen Park Sports Ground.

Our Reserve team compete in the Bristol & Suburban Senior Division, and they play their home games at Elm Park, having returned in 2023 after 2 years of development work at the ground.

In 2023 we established the Filton Athletic FC Youth Team, which consists of U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 and YDS.

Player Profiles

Tom Bradley – Goalkeeper

Tower joined us last season after two extremely successful seasons with Avonmouth, bringing experience at both Gloucester County League and Weston League levels. A huge presence on and off the pitch, match winner but a pathetic drinker.

Jack Cole (Captain) – Defender

Rolls Royce. Quick, aggressive, physical, fit, long range passing and a leader. Transitioned from Midfield last season and has been a revelation. Loves a moan.

Jack Willmor (vice-captain) - Defender

Cafu of the County league. Defending 1 on 1, can’t remember any winger going past him. Loves an overlap but wingers tend to look the other way because of his crossing. Close to GOTS last year with a wordie volley.

Chris Hillyer - Defender

New bloke not so new. The modern day centre half. Great on the ball, quick, strong, technically brilliant, free kick specialist and missis is fit.

Joe Mitchell - Defender

Mr consistent. Technically gifted with both feet. Can defend and attack. Brilliant attitude but unfortunately supports Villa.

Kieran Daniels - Defender/Midfielder

Another leftie. Football IQ outstanding, can play LB, CB, CM, LW. Strong, quick and outstanding delivery out wide. Now loved up with new bird.

Tom Fry - Defender

Should be playing 2 leagues higher but unfortunately for his sins he works in the public sector. Played for Mangotsfield with the gaffer many years ago, outstanding attitude, can do pretty much anything on the football pitch. Clas act.

Dan Matthews - Defender/Midfielder

Every opponents nightmare. Will not stop running, tough, strong, technically excellent. Can play all positions and loves a 50/50. Live wire on the pitch and just as mad off it.

PLAYER PROFILES continued

Callum Mitchell - Midfielder

Dynamic Midfield presence. Ball winner, loves a tackle and never backs down when it gets tough. Loves popping up with important goals, but unfortunately supports Villa like his brother.

Fraser Venables - Midfielder

Left foot wand and his right foot is just as good. Creativity, vision and awareness off the charts just unfortunate he can’t replicate on a night out. Can play in the 10 or either wing. Loves as assist as much as a goal.

Charlie Peacock - Midfielder

Coming from the reserves last year, Char has been a breath of fresh air. Seriously talented Midfielder who can play anywhere. Not a great roomie on tour though

Liam Dorman - Midfielder

The Rat. Will not let opponents breath. Committed, explosive and thrives in a 50/50. Technically very good and loves a wordie. Important leader on and off the pitch.

Dylan Quick - Midfielder

New signing from our friends at DRG. Fits in perfect to the way we want to play this season, aggressive, quick, technically gifted, box to box midfielder. Pleased to get the ‘banning of the three brooks on a Friday night’ signed into the contract.

Matt Tovey – Midfield

New summer signing. Matt is recovering from a long knee injury. When fit ‘Tovey’ will be a serious player in the league. Both footed, amazing in the air and loves a challenge. Baller and the longest in the showers.

PLAYER PROFILES Continued

Yusuf Abdulrahman - Midfielder

Box to box midfielder. Doesn’t stop running from minute one, robotic like. Has all the attributes to be a top player when he manages to turn up on time.

Fabian Pereira - Forward

Skilful attacking player who can operate from both flanks. Technically very good and always makes an impact on the game.

Kieran Cooper - Forward

Big number 9. Aerial presence, back to goal, work rate, loves pinning defenders and is any opponents nightmare. Can be as loud on the pitch as off it. Great character to have in any team.

Said Hassan - Forward

Quick, skilful, agile and loves taking on defenders. Can play down both wings and as an attacking full back. Guaranteed at least 20 nutmegs this season.

Dan Payne – Forward

Another Summer Signing and another left footed wizard. ‘Payner’ has played leagues above in the past but unfortunately suffered a bad knee injury. Now fit and ready to go. Unfortunately can just about hack 4 Stella’s.

Trey Merrett - Forward

Goals, Goals, Goals. Direct, blistering pace and can shoot off his left and right. Can play down either wing or as a striker and will score. The best player to ever come out of Lawrence Weston.

By Jon Couch 22/12/25

FORTY-FOUR years on from his debut TV appearance on a BBC1 news report, Tony Incenzo is closing in on fulfilling a lifetime dream.

As a fresh-faced Queens Park Rangers superfan, it was a trip to local club Hendon which ignited the teenager’s love for the Non-League game.

Fast forward four decades and Tony’s fire burns fiercer than ever and a quite incredible feat draws near.

Tony’s teenage dream to watch a match at every Non-League ground in the country is now incredibly just SIX visits away from being completed – and 2026 is finally the year he intends to fulfil it.

With grounds on all four corners of the UK (and even beyond) all ticked off, the ultimate groundhopper – a bi-weekly columnist for The NLP - can now look forward to trip to Blyth Town, Elburton Villa, Ilminster Town, Fulwood Amateurs, Sunderland West End and Albion Sports/Route One Rovers (groundshare) to complete the card.

Tony’s aim is to visit all six grounds by April – at least until the promoted sides from Step 7 enter the National League System to add a few more to the tally. It really is a never-ending feat.

Last month, Tony completed another page of his giant log book where he has handwritten details of every one of the 5,780 football matches he has attended since his first admission in 1971.

In this week’s NLP, in the shops, and online, as usual this Sunday, Tony looks back on a myriad of amazing adventures watching 70 Non-League matches throughout 2025.

Having travelled from Dublin, down to Cornwall and all the way up to Northumberland, Tony reveals his top 10 highlights for the second half of 2025 in date order to follow on from his NLP column from May.

Tony tells of his visit to his native Ireland to watch the FA of Ireland Cup, the last Cornish ground off his checklist and a trip to the Fylde Coast in the Isuzu FA Vase with a vociferous welcome.

He also took in the UK’s first private football academy and a Midland Football League match abandoned in the first half due to high winds.

And find out also how Steven Gerrard managed a name check on his travels.

In 2026, The NLP will be there every step of the way as Tony looks to chalk off his last remaining six grounds, while the ever-popular Diary of a Groundhopper and our Hopping Poet, Chris Towers, will continue to give their own individual takes on the life of a Non-League football fan.

Like Tony and the rest, we’re Hopping Mad for the Non-League and remain  committed to bringing you unrivalled coverage again in 2026.

Happy New Year to you all.

AS NO ARTICLE PRODUCED THIS WEEK, THE ABOVE ARTICLE, WAS ONE PROVIDED ON 22/12/25

Sharpness were confirmed champions last Monday and were presented with the cup yesterday. Filton Athletic are runners up with Tewkesbury Town in third place. Hanham are relegated as are Cribbs Reserves, unless an unlikely result occurs in Totterdown’s last game.

Sharpness came into this game on the back of securing the league title last Monday and were given a guard of honour by visitors Wick. The game started slowly with little or no goalmouth action but the visitors did look the brighter of the two teams. Wick took the lead midway through the half when Rudge latched on to a loose ball and drove across the edge of the box and unleashed a curling effort into the top corner. Sharpness nearly got on level terms but Hemmings saw his header well saved. Wick doubled their lead from a corner just before the half ended when an unmarked Sayers headed the ball down and it bounced up into the far corner of the net over the top of Thomas’ head who was on the post. The second half was much of the same with little goalmouth action but Will Tainton had a glorious chance to halve the deficit but he couldn’t finish his brothers cross from a couple of yards out. Wick thoroughly deserved their victory and are the only team that The Sharks have failed to beat this season. Sharpness were then presented with the Dennis Barrett trophy by Chairman Peter Langley and Rob Orchard of sponsors Marcliff and the celebrations ensued.

CONTINUED >

At Elm Park Filton Athletic played their final home game of the season against Tewkesbury Town and they did start the brighter of the two sides as Trey Merrett cut in from the left but was just wide with his shot and then saw his direct free kick go wide of the same post. But it was Tewkesbury who took the lead after a mistake by Jack Cole left Joe Peachy alone in the box to score past Tom Evans. The rest of the half was fairly even with Fraser Venables’ shot well saved by Joe Poole. Filton made a few changes at half time and Liam Dorman tried his luck from range but was just over the top. Tewkesbury scored again when the ball was cut back to Scott Nicholls after a knock down and he finished well from the edge of the box. Things got worse for Filton when Kieran Cooper was dismissed for a 2nd yellow and Tewkesbury had a couple of chances to extend their lead when Jamie Goodwin beat Chris Hillyer but was denied by Carson Ainger-West and then Ainger-West spilled a high ball but Goodwin headed past the post. This was the last action of a low action end of season game, 2-0 to Tewkesbury.

Sunny day at the Hawthorns, with a good attendance to see the last game of the season as Broadwell Amateurs welcomed Bromley Heath United. With Phil “Big Ern” Delaney's swan song before hanging up his boots after 36 consecutive seasons at “The Well” A bright start to the First half for Broadwell with the first goal coming after 10 minutes with Harry Knight clipping one in behind down the channel with a fired cross turned into their own net by Heath, the second goal coming not long after with a flowing move, with a Jamie Creed flickung on to Ben Fishwick and a pass into Jamie Belfitt to score his first after it looked like the chance had gone.

The third goal coming with Jamie Belfitt getting his second and starting the move with a set back to Harry Malcolm in their own half, a threaded ball to Jamie Creed and a perfectly weighted pass through to Jamie Belfitt who rounded the keeper, got clipped but stayed on his feet to tuck it away for 3-0. Bromley came back into the game being a constant threat from set pieces. In the Second half with Bromley the brighter of the two teams, getting their rewards with 1 back after a long throw not dealt with and turned in by Joel Mitchellmore for 3-1. Broadwell struck back for 4-1, following good closing down from Jamie Creed, Rhys MacPherson and Harry Malcolm, Malcolm pinching the ball that fell to MacPherson who slotted through for Jamie Creed 1 on 1 with keeper, rounded the keeper who got a slight touch and took the ball into Jamie Belfitt to slot into the empty net for his Hat-trick.

ACTUAL LINE UPS WILL BE

PUBLISHED 15 MINS PE KICK OFF

REFRESH SCREEN