15th October - Legends triumphant at Trust launch

Crawley Town FC Legends 9 Nomad Online 2

The sun shone on the official launch of the Devils Trust as the Crawley Town Legends side rose to the occasion with a 9-2 victory over Nomad Online.

Tony Vessey and Ian Simpemba at the back, Cliff Cant patrolling the centre circle allowing Danny Carroll and Simon Wormull to create the chances for Joff Vansittart up front – that's not the day dreams of a long-time Reds fan working on his fantasy team – that was the wonderful reality at Oakwood on Sunday October 15 as the Legends line-up – featuring four former managers and a host of captains in the starting eleven alone – took to the field.

Manager Ted Shepherd relished the role of guiding the all-star line-up, the star of which proved to be the only player who never started a first-team game for Crawley – former managing director Steve Duly.

The Legends line up for a team photo before the game.
Click the photo for a larger version

The Reds started out with a powerful central defensive pairing of Vessey and Simpemba, with Dave Shepherd and Gary Richards the full-backs. Carroll, Cant, Wormull and Viv Jeffery in midfield and Vansittart alongside the club's most successful manager, Francis Vines, up front.

On a warm afternoon, the legendary Reds soon settled into their task and were 1-0 up after ten minutes, Wormull turning to fire in a left-footed drive. The second goal came 11 minutes later as Vansittart slotted past the Nomad keeper and a further 15 minutes on his strike partner Vines poked home before gratefully becoming on of the first players substituted.
Wormull added a peach of a long-range volley to make it 4-0 by half-time and the Reds dressing room was unsurprisingly buzzing at the interval.

Subs were being liberally used – much to the relief of some, with players like Paul Adam and Dave Shepherd, for example, not having played at all for several years.

Adam, Umberto Oliva, Lee Turner, Ali West, Steve Breach and Mark Ford, fresh from a 30-yard left-foot volley for his Saturday side (so he says) all saw action for the Reds, who also had the luxury of being able to bring on treble-winning captain Kevin Hemsley.

The lead stretched to 6-0 within six minutes of the restart, Carroll reviving memories of his midfield goal-getting by lifting the ball over the keeper after 50 minutes and Vansittart, another coming back after a long break from the game, rounded the keeper to make it six a minute later.

Vines returned to the fray to finish off a chance created Oliva with 15 minutes left but Bertie wasn't to be denied and made it 8-0 by chipping home after 80 minutes.

The scoreline would have been much less one-sided but for a string of excellent saves from Duly – including a flying fingertip effort - but SD the MD was finally beaten after 82 minutes when Ricky Mitchell gave him no chance.

Vines made it a hat-trick of goals when taking the tally to 9-1 after 84 minutes and a harsh flag from Trust linesman Sam Jordan cost Oliva the chance to make it double figures!

Nomad had the final say, Mark Wright scoring the 11th goal of an excellent match after 87 minutes.

Guest of honour, Laura Moffatt MP – a newly-signed Trust member - presented champagne to the winning skipper Tony Vessey, and man-of-the-match Steve Duly before a raffle draw, auction and disco in the clubhouse.

Spirits were high and with the victorious vets demanding the chance to get together again, it looks like the trust will have more organising to do!

CTFC Legends starting line-up: Duly; Shepherd, Simpemba, Vessey (capt), Richards; Carroll, Wormull, Cant, Jeffery; Vansittart, Vines.
Subs used: Hemsley, Oliva, Adam, Turner, West, Breach, Ford.
Man of the match: Steve Duly.

- The Devils Trust would like to thank everyone who helped make their launch day the wonderful occasion it was, in particular David Bauckham and the Nomad Online team, Alan Gould and all the staff at Oakwood FC, Russell Milton of The Milton Clinic, PA announcer Joe Bailey, the 4th Worth Scouts, Laura Moffatt MP, the Crawley & District Football League and officials Malcolm Kane, Michael Williams and Sam Jordan, our programme advertisers and player sponsors, those who kindly donated auction and raffle prizes and everyone who came along to support the event.

A report of the game from the oppositions perspective can be found on Nomad Online.