Michael Brown Trust Fund

We now have details of the Trust Fund set up for Michael Brown's five young children for anyone wishing to make a contribution: 

"Menzies LLP client a/c Children of M J Brown"

Sort code 60 24 20

Account number 03700682

Ref: Children of M J Brown

Match Date Confirmed!!!!! – Sunday 14th June

We can now confirm that the Michael Brown Memorial Cup match will take place on Sunday 14th June at Weston Green Sports Club, Longmead Road, Thames Ditton KT7 0JF. Click here for a map. 

As it is a memorial game, the people at Weston Green have also very kindly offered us the pitch for free, as long as we do good business at the bar (which I explained shouldn't be a problem).

A full bar plus snacks such as burgers, bacon rolls etc will also be available on the day. An exact kick-off time has yet to be agreed but the festivities will commence at 12.15pm, so please tell friends family and anyone else you can think of.

More details will follow shortly.

Broomfield On The Lash!!

Several of the Broomfield massive hit the streets of Esher on Friday to celebrate Nicko Coode's 40th birthday by drinking vast quantities and irritating bouncers and passing women in equal measures. Along with Nicko were El Supremo, Bozzer, H, Nigel Gardner, Rob Matthews, Jim Reynolds and JFK (aka Richard Brown) together with bitter Southborough rivals Jon Pryce, Andrew Gardner and Dicky Condon. Occasional Woodentop Simon Macara was also in attendance plus Nicko's friends the Rt Hon. Charlie Green-Smythe and Mr David Roof.

After spending the day at Sandown Park races, where Nicko was whipped by some busty young lovelies selling raffle tickets, the group moved on to The Wheatsheaf in the futile hope of witnessing Nigel Gardner actually buy a round of drinks. Next stop was The Albert Arms, but for some reason, the bouncers decided that 20 tired and emotional middle-aged gentlemen were not suitable for their establishment and entry was refused.

The party reconvened over the road at The Bear where all seemed to be going smoothly until a group headed by Rambo was asked to leave after the bouncers maliciously suggested that there had been some untoward activity occurring in the gentlemen's toilets. Fortunately, displaying a deftness of foot rarely seen on the football pitch, several of the party managed to sneak back into the Albert. Nicko, Rambo, Bozzer, El Supremo and Richard Brown then went on to enjoy several more gallons of alcohol before Nicko was sadly ejected on account of him being unable to speak or stand up. 

The final stragglers (Boz and the Boss) were last seen enjoying a lock-in at a nearby hostelry.

Warning!!!

This man has recently been in contact with the club and unless somebody can find us a referee we run the risk of him officiating our game in June. You have been warned.

Main Website Updates

The main website now has pages from the 1986 Eddie Potter Cup Final programme and the 1993 and 1995 club dinner brochures. Click here to see them. We have also added more pictures from the 1994 dinner which can be viewed here.

More player profiles have been updated and these should be all completed by the end of the month.

Remembering Michael Brown

On Wednesday 22nd April, family, friends and former Broomfield players packed out Reigate Park Church to say goodbye to Michael Brown.

Despite being a sad occasion, it was also a chance to remember Sponge's many exploits – good, bad, indifferent and the downright unrepeatable.

A trust fund is being created to provide for Michael's five young children. Many will wish to contribute to this individually but we will also be making a contribution on behalf of the club. Please let me know if you would like to make a contribution either in your own right or via the club.

Also, our reunion match in June will now be contested for the Michael Brown Memorial Cup. It will be an event for all players past and present together with all their friends and family – and will be contested every June in memory of Michael. I am hoping to be able to confirm an exact date by this coming Friday.

Where Are They Now? No. 5

The years have been less than friendly to some of the club's most legendary figures. Hidden in this picture, taken at a recent wife-swapping event in Surbiton, are a notorious Woodentop, a former captain, a former manager, a one-time Young Player of the Year and the club's new Turkish Chief Scout. Can you identify them?

Michael Brown

It is with terrible sadness that we learnt of the passing of Michael Brown over the Easter weekend.

Few, if any, can claim to be as synonymous with what it was to be a Broomfield player as 'Sponge' and he was an example to us all over the past few difficult years.

We pass on our very sincerest sympathies to Michael's wife Nuala, their five children and all his family and friends.

Have You Seen These Men?

All Starpoint Pics Now On Main Website

Offical Club Badge

Equipment and help

Following a generous donation of £5 from myself, the club bank account is now approximately £5 in credit. However, we will require some kit and equipment for our big game. So does anyone have any access to the following?:

• Two sets of shirts (as big as possible)

• Some balls

• Some players

• A referee and whistle

If we had some money, we could possibly purchase a set of cheapo shirts which would eventually be used as our second kit. But that will still cost us £100+ in the end-of-season sales and as I am still waiting to be paid for work I did last year, I am fairly cash-not-rich at the moment.

All suggestions, donations, gratefully received.

NEW GROUND

The Old Cranleighans plan has finally been booted into touch – after all, who wants to play at a ground where Chelsea play? However, the good news is that we are very confident of securing a pitch next door at what used to be the old Wandgas ground, now called Weston Green Sports Club. 

This is particularly appropriate, given that the club was focused around Weston Green during it's so-called glory years, both at The Cricketers and The Lamb and Star. The club has a bar and a café that serves bacon sarnies etc.

Some of you, though, won't remember where the ground is. On one notorious occasion, a car full of players and driven by Leggy failed to negotiate the hazardous and complicated journey from The Star to the ground (a distance of about 400 yards) and never made it to the game against Surrey Electric. As a result, a scratch team, including Marc Kent in goal, was sent into battle. It was a bruising encounter which saw Kent carried off (thankfully ending his career) and The Boss inspiring his 10-man side from the position of libero.

Anyway, I'm talking to the geezer there at the weekend – to book a pitch for the reunion game, to discuss friendly games for the summer and for next season, and to plan for the 2010–2011 season. We may also enter a summer league there. Pitch prices are about £70 which is pretty good for this day and age.

There are a few people keen to play who are away in May, so we are now looking at the 14th or 28th June for the reunion match. The date will hopefully be confirmed by Monday.

Where Are They Now? No. 4

The Mitchell brothers turn up for Peggy's wedding.