Club Officials

Peter Crowhurst (Chairman) - Peter is a real football man through and through. Peter was brought up on Foxash and from the age of 5 to 11 he would play football “till dusk with a stump for a goal at each end of the garden. Holidays were a luxury and the only way to get a break was to join the Scouts. Peter played in the legendary Scout team based at Lawford Playing field and at the age of 11 was in the team when they won the Scout cup.  Peter’s illustrious career continued when, at the age of 14, Lawford FC started their first ever junior team. At the age of 16 Peter joined near neighbours Mistley United under the “great” Bert Frost. Peter had 10 happy years at a wonderful Mistley club. Peter thinks he may have been able to play at a higher level, but played his entire career with the A team, no regrets as they were a fantastic team.  Peter said that Geoff Hurst said about “Nobby” Spencer that it was the first time he had seen someone coming on as a sub looking worse than the player going off!! Peter’s greatest accolade was to be named as the A team player of the year in 1985, voted for by the players themselves. Peter returned to football with coaching his son Tom and the Brantham under 7’s team.  Since then Peter has been one of the men instrumental in making the club what is now in 2011, his enthusiasm is limitless. Peter says “Brantham is a unique club across East Anglia. All of us are so lucky to have it. Let’s cherish it and make it special again. I am trying as Chairman my very best with a great Management team. So if you can help let me know”.

Alan Clarke (Vice Chairman and Ground supervisor) - Alan “The Godfather” Clarke moved to Brantham in 1979 and got involved with Brantham Football Club initially with Graham Mower in 1987. Alan spent a few years with Graham before commencing his involvement with the senior section in 1992, filling various positions. Alan’s playing career was initially with Bradfield Rovers, making his debut as a 16 year old in an Amoss Cup final, which they won, beating Clacton. Alan continued playing for Bradfield and then Great Oakley until a broken leg stopped him for playing for virtually a season. Alan returned with Bradfield Rovers and playing for the Sunday side against Clacton Police he broke his leg again, which effectively ended his playing career at the age of 26. Alan is the Vice Chairman of the club and also does a great job looking after the ground. So far Alan feels that we are doing well and looks forward to being involved with Brantham as they build on the great start they have had.  The club has a terrific, hard working committee and a management set up in control of the playing side many clubs would love to have.  Alan, along with Graham and Trot Ward, was involved in bringing Sunday football back to Brantham. Alan is a football man through and through and spends a lot of time being involved with the club and teams, and long may that continue.

Andy Powell (General Secretary, Ridgeons League teams secretary, Programme Editor and Club photographer) – Andy became involved with Brantham purely as a parent when his on Tom joined the under 11’s team back in 1999. Andy was a parent rep and joined the then junior teams committee in 2001 as secretary. When Tom finished playing Andy continued in an administrative level with the club and more than played his part in the amalgamation of the Senior and junior football clubs and teams. Andy helped to establish the under 18’s in the Ridgeons Youth league in 2005. Andy stepped into the breach when former senior secretary Graham Mower stepped down, and Andy has done a great job over the seasons by making sure that everything runs smoothly, and I am sure that Andy knows he is very much appreciated by everybody at Brantham.  Andy is also the club photographer and covers a lot of games with his trusty camera for us and 99% of the photos on this website are ones that Andy took (Andy Rouse, world wild life photographer eat your heart out!!).  Andy also produces a superb match day programme for first team games and how he has not won the “Programme of the year” is beyond us all. A very nice person is our Andy and without people like him football at our level would not function in the superb way that Andy does for us all here at Brantham.

Barry Felgate (General Manager, Press Officer, Website Administrator) – Barry played football early on but was sidelined with a broken leg. He was an ardent Ipswich Town fan during the late 60’s and early 70’s and he was involved with Sunday football with Case is Altered and Oxborrows Hotel as well as watching Ipswich Town. He went onto become  a referee at the top level but his referee career ended when, during a match, his studs caught on something and broke his leg and ankle which meant a three month spell in hospital (rumour  was that he could move quicker on crutches then we he used to referee!). He had officiated at Portman Road, Colchester United’s old ground, West Ham and he had the honour of refereeing the Canary Cup final at Carrow Road, Norwich three times, each time with an English team against a Continental one.  Later on he was involved with Saturday football as manager of Electric Supply for three seasons and Tattingstone Utd for two seasons. Barry also was involved, along with manager Stan Box, when Brantham were involved in the Ridgeons League in the late 80’s, doing the programme for home games. In 1993 he joined and worked for Suffolk County Football Association and the Football Association (based at Lancaster Gate, London in those days) for ten years. Health problems saw him take the road back to where he had started, in local football .

Philip Lawler (Football Development officer, Secretary –Brantham Leisure Centre) - Phil started his adult football playing for the Case is Altered, alongside brother Tony, in the Licensed Trades League under the management of Barry Felgate. He went onto play for Oxborrows Hotel, GRE (Saturdays and Sundays), Tattingstone United (again with Barry), The Royal London and Braintree Town before returning to the Royal London to see out his playing days. Phil managed the Royal London reserves, gaining two promotions in consecutive seasons. Phil went onto manage Foxash Juniors, winning the title unbeaten in the first season. At the request of Chairman Peter Crowhurst he joined Brantham and is the football development officer. Phil is also the secretary of the Brantham Leisure Centre and he has to fit all of that in alongside his work in the legal profession.

Jenny Kennell (Treasurer- not in picture) - Jenny has been treasurer of the football club for several years and what a great job she does as well. Jenny has to keep records and monies from all 23 teams, plus all incoming monies and outgoing monies for items that the club has to purchase. Jenny spends a lot of time making sure that everything is spot on and is very much appreciated by us all at Brantham. Jenny’s son Ben, who is also, has his own disco set up, plays for one of the Brantham teams.

Michelle Hammond (Youth team general secretary- not in picture) - Michelle has the hard task of being responsible for all of  the Youth teams administration, not an easy task by any chalk and Michelle has done a fantastic job for the club and is very much appreciated by  everyone. Michelle’s three sons all play in Brantham Youth teams while husband Paul was involved the Brantham Vets team.

Lynne Parker (Hospitality manager and Sponsorship  manager –not in picture) - Lynne has taken the hard task of Sponsorship Manager on behalf of  Brantham Athletic  and in a very short space of time Lynne has already managed to get some sponsors signed up for the 2011-2012 season.  Lynn can be contacted on 07861 732748. Lynne also is the Hospitality Manager for home games for the first team and at times the reserves, plus of course any special games that the Brantham Athletic club are staging. Lynne took over at the start of the New Year and already everybody has said what great food that has been available, all thanks to Lynne.