Oldboys

The famous We Hate Ben Oldboys matches started in the summer of 2008, after the club had played in its third season of Aberystwyth Digs League football. Having lost a group of players from the previous two summers, the team was formed and played its first match against the 2008/09 We Hate Ben side who had finished fourth in the league that season, and tasted success in the Consolation Cup.

The Oldboys team has seen forty-two players turn out for the two WHB sides and that will grow each and every season. So far twenty-eight goals have been scored in three matches, averaging over nine goals a game. The record goalscorer is James Peate, adding five goals to his record goalscoring tally of 28 for WHB. The Oldboys Cup is presented to the winners by the manager of the opposition and both managers announce their man of the matches at the annual Awards Night which is usually held after the Oldboys match.

 

Paresh Bodalikar with the prestigious Oldboys Cup

The famous WHB Oldboys pre-match huddle

First Old Boys 2009

We Hate Ben 7-1 We Hate Ben Oldboys

The first match was played on the Aberystwyth University astro-turf on a warm sunny day in May 2009. The goals came from James Peate (4), Hywel Williams, Adam Edgerley and Matt Sermon. Paresh Bodalikar scored for the Oldboys. Man of the match awards were presented to Paresh Bodalikar and Matt Davies. The penalty shoot-out was won by WHB.

Match Report

(Oldboys, from left, Ben Court, Rich Cross, Sheridan Clarke (staff), Darrell Rees, John Warren, Jason Dodsworth, Steve Whittaker (front), James Naik, Lee Pemberton, Paresh Bodalikar, Michael Jones, Chris Townsend, Iain Giessler)

(We Hate Ben 2008/09, from left, James Peate, Stuart Fleming, Matt L'argent, Jack Thomas, Adam Edgerley, Liam Weaver, Hywel Williams, Matt Sermon, Alex MacDonald, Chris Webster, Nick McSmith, Ross Harvey, Danny Shaw, Matt Davies)

Second Oldboys 2010

We Hate Ben 6-3 We Hate Ben Oldboys

The return of the Oldboys huddle

The second Oldboys match was played at Llety Parc in torrential conditions in a traditional manner. We Hate Ben won the for second match in a row but didn't have it quite their own way this year. Hywel Williams scored two while Dave Turvill, Adam Edgerley, Matt L'argent and Darrell Rees who filled in for WHB despite playing for Oldboys the year before. James Naik, Lewis Wright and a late Lee Pemberton penalty were the goals for the Oldboys. Hywel Williams and Mike Adams won the man of the match awards that year. The penalty shoot-out was won by the Oldboys.

Match Report

WHB Oldboys waiting for the traditional penalty shoot-out

Third Oldboys 2011

We Hate Ben 6-5 We Hate Ben Oldboys

Oldboys huddle

The third Oldboys was a wonderful affair with eleven goals scored and some very entertaining play. The winning goal was scored in stoppage time by WHB to record their third victory on the bounce. Ross Pope scored the opening goal for Oldboys, before an equaliser from the penalty spot by Chris Webster. WHB went into the lead with goal from special guest player Alexander Fleming, Stuart's brother. James Peate scored his first for Oldboys to equalise before Webster scored a second to take the lead before half-time. James Naik scored a wonderful effort to equalise in the second-half before Darrell Rees scored a fantastic free-kick to go Oldboys 4-3. Matt Davies scored a fortutous effort after a mistake by Oldboys 'keeper Steve Whittaker, while Rees put Oldboys in the lead again with a second free-kick. Mark Healy scored to equaliser before Rhys Jones' dramatic winner. Matt Davies won a second man of the match with Jack Thomas awarded by Oldboys. The traditional penalty shootout was won by WHB.

Match Report

Oldboys, from back row left, referee Adam Edgerley, James Peate, Ben Court, John Warren, James Naik, Danny Shaw, Alastair England, Hywel Williams, Rich Cross, Jack Thomas, middle row from left, Ross Pope, Lee Pemberton, Chris Townsend, Steve Whittaker, front, Darrell Rees

WHB 2010/11, from left, back row, Stuart Fleming, Jack Kelly, Matt Davies, Adam Grosvenor, James Amos, Andy Rhodes, Peter Thomas, Dan Johnson, Mark Healy, Adam Edgerley, Louis Robertson, front row from left, Rhys Jones (front), Joey Scutt (back), Chris Webster, Richard Boudier, David Turvill, Jay Walker.

Fourth Oldboys 2012

We Hate Ben 0-6 We Hate Ben Oldboys

The fourth Oldboys match

The fourth Oldboys match took place at Cae Baker, the ground of Welsh non-league side Penrhyncoch FC. The match produced six goals, all coming from Oldboys, who kept the first clean-sheet recorded in this fixture. Gareth Harvey made his first Oldboys appearance, while Matt L'argent, Matt Davies and Dave Turvill all made their first appearances for the Oldboys side, having played against them in recent years. The addition of Matt Davies, seemed to turn the game in favour of Oldboys, but with the majority of the team having been from the first season, the result was still somewhat of a surprise. Oldboys took the lead in the first-half through the impressive Davies, and Hywel Williams scored before the break to put them 2-0 up. After half-time Lee Pemberton turned in from a corner, Darrell Rees scored yet another free-kick to put the game beyond doubt. Williams scored his second and fifth of the competition to make him joint-top scorer, and Ross Pope added further glosss just before the end. We Hate Ben won the traditional penalty shootout. Davies won man of the match for Oldboys and James Phillips, the WHB goalkeeper won it for them.

Match Report

Fifth Oldboys 2013

We Hate Ben and Oldboys line up for the Fifth Annual Oldboys game

We Hate Ben 4-2 We Hate Ben Oldboys

The fifth Oldboys match again took place at Cae Baker, the ground of Cymru Alliance side Penrhyncoch FC. The match was again high-scoring, with six goals. We Hate Ben, who had recently won the clubs first major trophy managed to win the game 4-2 with a strong second-half performance despite being 0-1 down at half-time. Former 'newboys' who made their first appearances for Oldboys included Stuart Fleming, Chris Webster, Danny Shaw, Adam Edgerley and Adam Grosvenor. Ross Pope opened the scoring and Fleming had a good debut in goal. An early injury to the inspirational Matt L'argent and the missing Matt Davies didn't help the cause of the Oldboys as they looked to defend their trophy and despite a man of the match performance from Hywel Williams and another superb game from Chris Townsend, the second-half pressure told and WHB found themselves 4-1 down. Nathan Lang scored yet another goal to equalise, before James Everett, Jay Walker and Jordan Watkins all netted. Oldboys tried to get back in the game, but despite a pair of superb volleys from James Naik and Townsend, they couldn't get a goal until a dubious penalty was given. Darrell Rees slotted home a last-minute penalty. Williams was man of the match for Oldboys, while incoming WHB manager Aston Nicholls was given the award for WHB. Oldboys won the penalty shootout.

Match Report


Records

Most Appearances

We Hate Ben Oldboys (as sub)

1. L. Pemberton, J. Naik 5(0)
2. R. Pope, C. Townsend 5(1)
3. B. Court, J. Dodsworth 5(2)
4. R. Cross, J. Warren 5(4)
5. D. Rees* 4(0)
6. H. Williams* 3(0)
7. P. Bodalikar, M. Jones, S. Whittaker, J. Thomas*, M. Adams, M. L'argent* 2(0)
8. D. Shaw* 2(1)
9. I. Giessler, L. Wright, M. Thomas, J. Peate*, G. Harvey, M. Davies* (1989), S. Fleming*, C. Webster* 1(0)
10. A. England*, D. Turvill*, R. Jones*, A. Edgerley*, A. Grosvenor* 1(1)
*played for both

We Hate Ben (as sub)

1. S. Fleming, C. Webster 4(0)
2. P. Thomas 4(2)
3. J. Walker, J. Scutt 3(1)
4. J. Amos 3(2)
5. M. L'argent*, H. Williams*, A. Edgerley, M. Sermon, M. Davies*, D. Turvill*, R. Jones 2(0)
6. D. Johnson 3(3)
7. J. Phillips, M. Davies (1990), H, Oliver 2(0)
8. A. Rhodes, J. Watkins, R. Muir 2(1)
9. J. Kelly, D. Johnson, D. Shaw* 2(2)
10. L. Weaver, A. MacDonald, J. Thomas*, J. Peate*, D. Norbury*, A. Baverstock, D. Rees*, A. Fleming**, A. Muscroft, J. Everett, N. Lang, M. Lewis, R. Hughes 1(0)
11. N. McSmith, A. England*, R. Harvey, A. Grosvenor, L. Robertson, M. Healy, T. Svendsen, W. McIlhiney, S. Wilson 1(1)


Total Appearances (as sub)

1. L. Pemberton 5(0)
1. J. Naik 5(0)
1. S. Fleming 5(0)
1. D. Rees* 5(0)
1. H. Williams* 5(0)

7. C. Webster 5(1)
7. C. Townsend 5(1)
7. R. Pope 5(1)

8. J. Warren 5(2)
8. B. Court 5(2)

10. R. Cross 5(3)

11. M. L'argent* 4(0)

12. J. Dodsworth 4(1)

13. D. Shaw* 4(4)

14. M. Davies* (born 1989) 3(0)
14. J. Thomas* 3(0)

16. D. Turvill* 3(1)
16. R. Jones 3(1)
16. J. Walker 3(1)
16. A. Edgerley 3(1)
16. J. Scutt 3(1)

21. P. Thomas 3(2)
21. J. Amos 3(2)

23. D. Johnson 3(3)

24. P. Bodalikar 2(0)
24. M. Jones 2(0)
24. S. Whittaker 2(0)
24. M. Sermon 2(0)
24. J. Peate* 2(0)
24. M. Adams 2(0)
24. J. Phillips 2(0)
24. M. Davies (born 1990) 2(0)
24. H. Oliver 2(0)

33. D. Fellows 2(1)
33. S. Wilson 2(1)
33. A. Rhodes 2(1)
33. R. Muir 2(1)
33. J. Watkins 2(1)

38. J. Kelly 2(2)
38. A. England* 2(2)
38. A. Grosvenor 2(2)

41. I. Giessler 1(0)
41. L. Wright 1(0)
41. M. Thomas 1(0)
41. L. Weaver 1(0)
41. A. MacDonald 1(0)
41. D. Norbury 1(0)
41. A. Baverstock 1(0)
41. A. Fleming** 1(0)
41. G. Harvey 1(0)
41. A. Muscroft 1(0)
41. J. Everett 1(0)
41. A. Nicholls 1(0)
41. R. Hughes 1(0)
41. N. Lang 1(0)

55. T. Svendsen 1(1)
55. W. McIlhiney 1(1)
55. N. McSmith 1(1)
55. R. Harvey 1(1)
55. L. Robertson 1(1)
55. M. Healy 1(1)


Top Goalscorers

1. J. Peate*, H. Williams* 5
2. D. Rees* 5
4. R. Pope 3
5. A. Edgerley*, J. Naik, C. Webster*, L. Pemberton, M. Davies* (born 1989) 2
6. D. Turvill*, L. Wright, P. Bodalikar, M. L'argent*, M. Sermon, M. Healy, R. Jones*, A. Fleming**, J. Watkins, J. Walker, N. Lang, J. Everett 1

* has played for both
** guest player

Man of the matches

1. M. Davies (born 1989) (WHB twice, Oldboys 1) 3
2. H. Williams (one WHB, one Oldboys) 2
3. J. Phillips, A. Nicholls (WHB), P. Bodalikar, M. Adams, J. Thomas (Oldboys) 1