Here is the information for the match with Aston Villa. It took a lot of thinking and a fair bit of discussion between myself and my old mate Steve T to arrive at the following plans. Please keep in mind that we wanted to involve as many of the current players as we could (25 in all), and that we wanted to reflect the spirit and togetherness that the Mathern Vagabonds team stands for. So here goes!

We plan to play two different sides to cover each half of the game. Neither side is any better than the other, and as far as possible we have tried to include; ball winners, talkers and good passers in both sides (feel free to decide for yourself which category you fit into). I have also made the decision that I will play in the first half, whilst Steve runs things from the sidelines, and then we'll switch roles for the second half of the match. I will detail below all players roles, as I want everyone to turn up on the day relaxed and fully informed. Much more important than the result to me is ensuring that everyone enjoys themselves and really bnefits from the experience.

We have 25 players, all keen to play, so there will inevitably be some who won't get a full half. I know finances aren't important when it comes to this match but in fairness anyone who doesn't play a full half will only need to pay £20, instead of the £30 previously discussed. Once you have discovered where and how much you'll play I would be grateful if you could approach me before the game with any outstanding match fee. If you look at the itinerary you will see, that whatever the cost, the day will be really memorbale for all concerned.

First Half Team

Mike Dowler (Capt), Pete Farmer, Jim Edwards, Ady Porter, Richard Hobbs, Anthony Jones, Simon Pickering, Stephen Winstone (Freddy),
Colin Jeffries (Leggit), Paul Stadden, Phil Tranter.

Second Half Team

Ady Lovett, Terry Woodward, Steve Taylor (Capt), Mike Blackaby, John Eastley, Ray Jeremiah, Steve Price, Paul Kelley, Alun Harris,
(Jason Pritchard), Gary Davies, (Paul Hopkinson, Andy Davies, Carl Smith).

Those in brackets will feature in two ways. They will all be subs during the first half in case of injury. They will all get some football in the second period. Paul, Hoppy and Carl will share the half and all get 15 minutes each. Pritch will get 22 minutes in place of one of the other midfield players.

We have a number of injuries and several players may well not make the full half (Ray, PK, Hobbsy and Leggit). It's likely therefore that one or more of the 4 players not currently getting a full half will feature further as a result.

All players should bring some kind of club top / warm up top if you have one

I'm not sure how the Villa lads will turn out but it would be embarrasing if they all turned up in some sort of club jacket and we were in scruffs. I would suggest therefore that we should wear a shirt and trousers and an optional tie. If you check out the itinerary there are times before and after the match when we will be in a formal setting, so perhaps for this one off ocassion we should make the effort.