By Dominic Bliss
Image: Scott White​

Feel-good stories tend to be thin on the ground at a team entrenched in a relegation battle, but there’s no doubt that some of the new additions to the squad have injected a sense of positivity and belief into the Corinthian-Casuals side this past week. 
Among the arrivals is Jared Myers, a 19-year-old winger who signed from Step 5 club Fleet Town last Monday after impressing Justin Fevrier and his coaching staff during a trial. 

The following day, he made his first appearance for Casuals as a substitute against Horsham, coming on just before the hour mark and offering a different kind of threat for us with his darting runs on the wing. He was rewarded for his hard work and persistence with a goal on debut, and looked dangerous once again when he came off the bench against Hastings United on Saturday. 

“It’s been good,” he says of his progress from trialist to first-team player. “There was a lot of boys on trial, so we had a trial game and obviously I impressed in that because the manager put me in the squad, and it was good to get a goal on my debut as well. I am a lively player, I like to get on the ball and drive, and dribble at players, try and take them on, just so I can get us going forward. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t start on Saturday because I fractured my finger, but it’s good to be playing games at a higher level and hopefully I can continue, push into the starting line-up and keep scoring and assisting.” 

Myers has been impressed by the club’s approach to the game, not to mention our footballing heritage, which he quickly read up on after he signed. 

“It’s a big club!” he says. “I was reading about the history and how it was the first football super-club, and I see there’s a good link with Brazil as well, so it’s really interesting.” 

He certainly has pedigree. His father, Andy, was a Premier League footballer, most notably for Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup in 1997 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following year. Those were exciting days at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola making the Blues one of the most watchable teams in Europe. Andy was a rapid defender in that side – stepping in at full-back or centre-back – as one of a handful of homegrown players who kept the local identity strong in a cosmopolitan team. More recently, he has coached Chelsea’s Under-23s and currently mentors the club’s players who are out on loan.  

“It’s very good to have someone like him to learn from,” says Jared. “He’s very harsh on me and my brothers because he wants us to do our best, and he keeps it real for us. Just to have someone coming from a prestigious football background, as a player and coach, is very helpful. Out of my brothers, I’d say I’m the one that’s inherited all the pace, so that’s a good thing!” 

Andy was stood behind the goal last Tuesday night, when Jared used that pace to score an 88th minute equaliser against Horsham on his debut, before being mobbed by the fans.  Casuals were a goal down with time running out, when Myers kept chasing what looked like a lost cause, pursuing a long ball that was bouncing through to Horsham goalkeeper, Taylor Seymour. When the former Casuals custodian let the ball squirm free under pressure, Myers was waiting to poke it round him and roll it into the net. 

“In football, you’ve always got to gamble,” he says. “I gambled on the keeper making a mistake, which he did, and it dropped to me in the right place at the right time.” 

That game ended in bitter disappointment for us when Horsham recovered to score a winner in the 93rd minute, but Myers injected energy into our game again when he came off the bench in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Hastings United. On this occasion, there was no goal, but Casuals created enough openings to get back in the game in the second half. 

“To be fair, we had a lot of chances that we should have taken and their keeper made some good saves,” says Myers, “but that’s the way football turns – sometimes you can be unlucky, and if we keep playing like that, hopefully we can get the win next time. 

“We saw big improvements from the last game, so I feel like the new boys just getting in – including myself – will gel together and create even more chances. Hopefully next time, we’ll take them.” 

That next game is tomorrow night, when Hornchurch come to Tolworth for our third home game in eight days. Despite the run Casuals are one right now, it feels like this team is very close to getting it right and a positive result against the league’s third-placed side would go a long way to giving them the belief that they can stay in this division. 

“It would be big,” says Myers. “I think all we need is the one result and then we’ll start picking up more from there, then keep moving on with the positives. The only way is up if we get a result in this game.” 
 
 

Oxford UAFC 1-2 Corinthian-Casuals Schools XI 

As the Corinthian-Casuals Football Club Schools XI arrived at the legendary Oxford University Association Football Club Iffley Road stadium on Saturday (scene of the Roger Bannister 4 minute mile), they knew all too well that it had been five years since their only victory, in the inaugural Brian Wakefield Trophy match of 2018.

Named and played in celebration of the Schools XI’s former manager of forty years (1977 - 2017) - who had represented both the University and the Casuals in the 1950s, before losing his place having gone to the 1960 Olympics as the Team GB goalkeeper! - It’s a special event in the hearts of the club's touring squad, who were desperate to finally reclaim the silverware.

Such is the life of the Schools XI management - they can never be quite sure who will play a part from week to week. With a squad that includes close to 60 names, numbers can vary wildly from week to week - but Chris Dormer and Mark Read must have been delighted to see such a healthy turn out on what was a perfect day for football in such a historic setting.

With the trophy sitting proudly beside the pitch, the game began at a ferocious pace. With Marcus Bell playing at centre forward and Rich Austin and Chris Watney supporting him down the wings, with Ahmed Hussain tucked in just behind the three - Casuals posed the immediate threat. For the first twenty minutes, the Casuals didn’t relent as they created chance after chance - but were continually frustrated by a combination of wayward finishing, the linesman’s flag or the Oxford keepers brilliance.

Marcus held the ball up fantastically, often releasing the wingers, sometimes laying it off for the midfielders, Hussain, Tomlinson and Lank. Mike Tomlinson was a constant threat from Ahmed Hussein’s corners, Lank saw a 30 yard shot fizz wide… the Casuals were dominant in the early exchanges. When Watneys volley from the edge of the box was somehow tipped over the bar, when it seemed destined to nestle in the top corner - you feared it could be one of those days.

And the save seemed to bring about a swing in the game's momentum. Suddenly the younger than usual Oxford side, complimented this year by several current students, began to find their stride and were able to build some attacks of their own. Whereas in the first twenty minutes the Casuals full backs, Will Shackleton and Jamie Burgess were mainly tasked with supporting their wingers, foraging deep in the Oxford half - now they were on the back foot a little, having to defend.

And sure enough, Oxford were now the ones who created a couple of gilt edged chances before the break and the Casuals couldn’t have complained had the referee awarded the former University blues a penalty late in the half. From a free kick on the left hand side, the ball was switched to their number 9 on the right. Managing to control the ball and beat his man, he now found himself one on one with Dan Smith, the Casuals keeper, who was rushing out to shut him down. The ensuing crash between the players didn’t seem to see the ball be successfully claimed by the keeper… and yet the referee, to the relief of the men in pink and brown, waved play on - as the Oxford man remained lying in agony, groaning on the ground and holding his face. It was a more than lucky escape.

Half time, 0-0.

With sunlight fading, Mark Read and Chris Dormer made changes at half time, shuffling their pack, keeping legs as fresh as possible. Dormer having to retire to the sideline through an injury to his hip, Read still nursing a broken bone in his foot - fortunately they had a squad of real depth to play with this week.

Gavin Hall moved into midfield, Rich Hall came on in defence alongside Chris Ferdinand and Paul Mitchell whilst the Spaniard, Aleix Ingles - who can list the Barcelona academy amongst his former clubs (!) - took up a position on the left wing.

The frenetic pace of the game dropped in the second half, with a few more chances coming for each side as the match became increasingly stretched. The Oxford number 10 - who earlier had also played for the Oxford 2nd XI - showed real composure and with a lovely left foot, carved out some great opportunities for the home side.

However, around the 60 minute mark, it was the Casuals who made the initial breakthrough. Joe Parker - the Oxford manager and himself a Casuals stalwart of the past 15 years had come on at centre back for the former blues. A majestic passer of the ball, able to hit Hollywood passes for fun in his pomp - at last hit a dud. As he looked to switch the play, he mistakenly found the Casuals winger Ingles who pounced on the opportunity. Bringing it down, taking in his options, he then released Rich Austin, sliding the striker in as he ran through a gap in the Oxford back line. One on one with the Oxford keeper - who had minutes earlier brilliantly denied Bell in an identical chance - the prolific Austin who’s been dogged with injuries all season, managed to slot the ball into the corner of the net with aplomb. Casuals 1-0. It was a lovely moment for Austin who’s been all too missed this season for the Casuals.

Now ahead, the Casuals pressed on, looking to put the game to bed. Marcus Bell continued to cause havoc for the Oxford backline. Now running from deeper in midfield, with Watney instead leading the line, Bell thought he’d won a penalty when fouled in the box, only for the referee to contentiously pull it back to where he thought the initial contact was made, on the very edge of the area.
At just 1-0, Dan Smith also performed some heroics in goal as Oxford tried to get themselves back in the game. The Oxford number 10 again found himself free in the box, on the left-hand-side and rather than squaring the ball, surprised Smith by firing at what little he could see of the keepers near post. Expecting a cross, Smith's reactions were incredible as he seemed to change direction in the air, managing to flick the ball with his right hand up and over the bar as it was heading for the roof of his net. It was a remarkable save and one that kept the Casuals in front.

Shortly after, at the other end, Watney was then released down the right-hand-side. Controlling the ball by the byline, he looked up to see Aleix Ingles sprinting into the Oxford box, screaming for the ball. With a flick of his right foot, Watney spun the ball between the defenders and into Ingles’ path only to then be upended by the flailing defender who was chasing the Casuals winger into the area… Penalty! The referee finally pointed to the spot. The Spaniard Ingles picked himself up and with real confidence and with his trusted left foot, he smashed the spot kick into the roof of the net. 2-0!

With ten minutes left on the clock, Oxford stepped up their efforts, desperate not to lose their trophy without a fight. When the ball dropped to the talented number 10 thirty yards from goal, there didn’t appear to be much on - only for the cultured playmaker to swing his left foot and hit a clean half volley directly into Dan Smiths top corner - it was a beautiful strike - setting up a grandstand finish. 2-1.

Having waited 5 years to reclaim the cup, a visibly tiring Casuals had to nervously scrap their way over the line and to victory in the closing minutes as the younger and fitter Oxford side dominated the final exchanges. Dan Smith was called into action again and again… As Oxford saw chance after chance go begging, they’ll surely rue their finishing in those late stages. Many a chance went high or wide or was brilliantly blocked by a determined Casuals defence. One such challenge by the debutant Jamie Burgess was outstanding.

By the final whistle, everyone in the days squad, including the injured Mark Read and the seasoned campaigner, Fred Pennel, felt as if they’d played their part in a fine victory which at last crowned the Casuals as victors again for the first time since 2018.

Full Time, 2-1.

As Chris Dormer was presented the trophy, under the squad photo of Oxford University’s famous side of the 1890s - many of whom went on to create so much history as Corinthians - we celebrated the two clubs' great shared traditions, of which this Trophy has now become another wonderful part of. And it was also a game where fittingly, considering Brian Wakefield himself was a keeper, both Goalies had outstanding matches and the Corinthian Spirit award was awarded to the Oxford stopper whilst Dan Smith in the Casuals net was arguably man of the match.

As the celebrations continued long in to the night.. And as a smattering of players from both sides emerged from Oxfords historic “Vinnys” sportsman’s bar close to midnight - friendly rivalries were already being exchanged ahead of next year. The trophy’s become a great fixture in both these clubs calendars, and the Casuals were delighted to bring the cup home again after far too long. Well played to everyone involved on both sides.

Squad: Smith, Shackleton, Dormer, Ferdinand, Burgess, Tomlinson, Lank, Hussain, Watney, Austin (1), Bell, R. Hall, G. Hall, Ingles (1), Pennel, Mitchell, Read.
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The sides next match is away to the historic Charterhouse School on Saturday 25th of February.