Broad Chalke Bosses
Overview
| Full name | Broad Chalke Bosses Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Bosses | |||
| Founded | June 2020 | |||
| Ground | Bosses Park | |||
| Capacity | 2,000 | |||
| Manager | Caleb R | |||
| League | Vanarama National League South | |||
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Broad Chalke Bosses are a fictional football club, based in Wiltshire, England. They were founded in 2020 and currently play in the Vanarama National League South.
History
The Bosses were founded in June 2020, and entered the Vanarama National League South for the 2020/21 season. The side's first match was a 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal in a pre-season friendly, on 8 August 2020. Their first goal was scored by Elkan Cranston, with a 38th-minute goal away to Vauxhall, during a 2-1 victory on 14 August.
The club became unique in British football in that they decided to have a club policy of home-grown players only, preventing themselves from signing any players from other teams. They began with a squad of 26 players, all from the local area.
The club's first captain was 24-year-old midfielder Marvin Joyce.
2020/21 season
The club began the season in the Vanarama National League South, the 6th division of English football. Their first competitive game was a Vanarama National South game at home to Eastbourne Boro, which the Bosses won 5-1. By December, they were second in the league after 11 games, having won 7. They also won in the FA Trophy, a 2-1 extra-time victory at Kingstonian. However, their first FA Cup match ended in a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Chesham, after extra time.
The FA Trophy run continued, after a 1-0 home win against Corinthian-Casuals in round three, which set up a big tie away against National League side Yeovil. Their league form also continued into the new year, with the club in 3rd in early January. The club stunned Yeovil, with a 2-1 away win in the fourth round, and were finally defeated by fellow National South outfit Slough, in round 5. In February, they continued their great run in the league, and approaching halfway through the season, the Bosses were in third.
By early March, BCB had moved up to second, a point ahead of Dulwich Hamlet and 7 points behind leaders Ebbsfleet. They had also embarked on a 5 game unbeaten run. However, after some poor results, Broad Chalke slipped to fifth in the table, meaning automatic promotion was effectively out of their reach. With ten matches to go, Broad Chalke Bosses were in fourth, and looking good for a playoff place. And, come the end of the season, they finished in third, guaranteeing themselves a playoff place in their first campaign. They would take on fifth-placed Chelmsford in the playoff semi-final.
Anthony Church opened the scoring for Chelmsford after only 14 minutes, but just 5 minutes later, forward Wayne Edwards smashed in a long-range strike to equalise for BCB. Substitute Ezri Wyke had a goal disallowed in the 65th minute, to the dismay of the Bosses fans and players, and Wyke himself was immediately sent off by the referee, presumably for foul language. Bosses, though, did not give up and, in the 93rd minute, a long ball over the top was latched onto by Wayne Edwards, who slotted it past the goalkeeper to hand BCB a dramatic last-minute victory. It was effectively the last kick of the match, and an incredibly dramatic 2-1 win sent Broad Chalke to the final. In the playoff final, for a place in the National League, BCB would have to take on Hungerford.
On Saturday, 19 June 2021, Broad Chalke took on Hungerford in the Vanarama National League South playoff final. Ryan Seager opened the scoring for Hungerford in the 11th minute, but Jaden Callow equalised on 28 minutes, his 18th goal of the season. Callow had the ball in the net again a few minutes later, but was adjudged to have pushed the defender. On the brink of half-time, Elkan Cranston slid a lovely through ball in, and Callow ran through to slot past the goalkeeper and make it 2-1. However, in the second half, Hungerford stunned the Bosses with 2 goals in 5 minutes to take the lead. And, just when it seemed all hope was lost, Bosses pushed forward against a Hungerford reduced by Kyle Smith's late red card, and scrambled it into the net - the goal going to substitute Donnell Garner. After 4 minutes of added time, it was clear that an extra 30 minutes would be needed, with the score 3-3. A lovely move on 99 mins saw Donnell Garner get his second - a tap-in. Early in the second-half of extra time, Jaden Callow headed home for his hat-trick and to surely send the club up to the National League. Finally, the referee blew for full-time and Broad Chalke Bosses, after an incredible 5-3 win, were promoted to the National League.
Post-season awards
Jaden Callow, as well as being club top scorer with 20 goals, was the National League South top scorer too, with 19 league goals. He was also the club's top assist provider, with 13 assists. Aiden Byrom and Ethan Egbri were top appearance makers, each playing 47 times during the season. Meanwhile Jaden Callow became the first induction into the BCB Hall of Fame, after his playoff-winning hat-trick and brilliant goalscoring during the season. After the 2020/21 success, the board agreed to expand Bosses Park from 2,000 to 5,000 capacity.
For the club Player of the Season award, 3 players were shortlisted: forward Jaden Callow, midfielder Aidan Byrom and defender Ethan Egbri.
Honours
Vanarama National League South Playoff Winners 2020/21
Stadium
Broad Chalke Bosses began play in 2020 at Bosses Park, with a capacity of around 2,000. The four stands are known as the Sproutword End (due to sponsorship), the School End, the South Stand and the North Stand.
Kits
The club chairman and manager, Caleb Richter announced the club's first three kits in summer 2020. They opted for a "simple yet effective" red and white halved home kit, with red shorts and socks. The away kit would be green, with black stripes, plus black shorts and green and black socks. And the third kit was decided to be a simple yet striking all-orange strip, with white trim.
Sponsorship
The initial club and kit sponsors were tabletop game makers Sprout & Gherkin, and for the 2020-21 season the club advertised Sproutword (Sprout and Gherkin's original game) on their shirts.
Badge
The BCB badge was announced in August 2020, and would be a traditional and elegant red and white badge, with the words "Broad Chalke Bosses" in the centre in black, and "MMXX" below in red, referencing the year of the club's foundation.
Rivalries
Broad Chalke Bosses immediately had an automatic local rivalry with Salisbury FC, due to the close proximity geographically, although the two clubs were in different divisions.
Players and staff
Players
Current squad for the 2020/21 season
(squad here)
List of captains
| Player | Years |
|---|---|
| Marvin Joyce | 2020- |
Staff
| Role | Person | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Caleb Richter | 2020- |
| Assistant Manager | Terry Harris | 2020- |
| Coach | Paul Bryson | 2020- |
| Head Scout | ||
| Head Physio | Bethan Cooper | 2020- |
Club records
| Top Goalscorers | Top Assists | Most Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Jaden Callow, 20 | Jaden Callow, 13 | Aiden Byrom, 47 |
| Robert Ngalo, 12 | Andros Butterworth, 12 | Ethan Egbri, 47 |
| Ezri Wyke, 11 | Ezri Wyke, 8 | Tyler Lookman, 46 |
| Elkan Cranston, 10 | Sid Hammond, 6 | Elkan Cranston, 45 |
| Aiden Byrom, 9 | Elkan Cranston, 5 | Jaden Callow, 44 |
| Donnell Garner, 3 | Mickel Clarridge, 5 | Ezri Wyke, 44 |
| Frank Scott, 44 |
BCB Hall of Fame
- Jaden Callow, 2020
