Thousands of players have passed through St Albans City Youth with some going on to success for the club’s first team. Terry Edwards’ latest look back into history has one of those players in scoring action.
Simon Martin made his debut for St Albans City’s first-team in March 1996 in an Eastern Floodlight Cup clash with Chelmsford City and he scored his first goal on his Isthmian League Premier Division bow one month later, a 1-0 win at home to Molesey.
He would go on to score 90 goals for the club and make 305 appearances in four different spells but back in the first week of 1991 he was on target twice for the U12 East as they thumped Garston 8-0 in the County Cup.
Stephen McKeown was top scorer that day with four though while Matthew Phillips and David Upjohn were the other scorers.
The good results continued with the U14 North earning local bragging rights with a comprehensive 6-1 win at London Colney in the league. Giovanni Russo and Mark Redford got doubles here with Tom Pearman and Craig Chapman chipping in with singles.
The rest of the squad that day was Tucker, Owen, Warriner, Day, W. Page, Wescott, Veasey, Mazzeo and Newton.
There were plenty of goals for both teams as the U11B travelled away to Woodhall Wanderers.
But it was the City side who triumphed, winning 5-3 with goals from Philip Turner, two of them and both from the penalty spot, Matthew Scaysbrook, Martin Thompson and Piers Carruthers.
Chris Black got the only goal as the U13 South continued their good league form with a 1-0 home win over Peckwater Strikers.
The star individual of the day came with a never to be forgotten performance from Jose Moreno.
He was making his debut for the U15s and scored both goals in a 2-1 win away to Sellotape in the Fawcett Trophy.
Phil Franklin had a brilliant game in goal and they were joined on the field by Edwards, Fletcher, Gill, Smith, Field, Twigg, Miller, Shaw and Carter.
Not enjoying themselves so much in the Fawcett Trophy was the U16 East who lost 7-2 at home to Princes Park. Philip Hayton and Ian Stapleton got the goals for the young Saints.
Another cup exit came in a 5-2 defeat for the U17s in the Benevolent Shield. It was still a decent display but goals from Lee Irvine and Jason Bailey proved mere consolations.
There was better news for the U10s as they drew 1-1 at home with Harpenden Colts, Roland James getting the St Albans goal.
Their squad also contained Dawe, Fellowes, Markham, Pallett, Seeby, Godfrey, Goom, Hamilton, P.Morgan, Jenkins, Martin and Woodley.
Lee Miles and Simon Dean were also on the scoresheet this week but their U11A and U13 North sides both lost.
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