It was the Aylesbury Derby on New Years Day when Aylesbury United hosted Aylesbury FC in the Evo Stik Southern League Division One Centrla. It's also known as the 'El Quackico' by many local fans in a nod to United's nickname of The Ducks and the association of the Aylesbury Duck to the Buckinghamshire Town. The downside to this game is that it was played at The Meadow, Chesham United's ground, which is approximately 14 miles away from The Duck's spiritual home of Buckingham Road which had not been used since 2006 when the lease ran out. The ground sadly still stands in a derelict state and it looks like The Beautiful Game will never be played there ever again. United have ground-shared since at Chesham United, Leighton Town and Thame United before moving back to The Meadow last season.
The loss of their ground coincided with a drop down two levels from the Southern League Premier Division into the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in 2010. Replacing them in the Southern League were the 09/10 SSMFL Premier Division champions Aylesbury FC who had been known as Aylesbury Vale from 2005 to 2009, prior to that Haywood United from 2000 and Stocklake before the year 2000.
United had a three season stay in the SSMFL before a second placed finish saw them move back up to the Southern League where the rivalry with The Moles began.
As it stands Aylesbury FC as some their fans sang ("One team in Aylesbury") are the only senior football side with a home ground in the town with United still unfortunately without a ground to call their own over a decade since the loss of Buckingham Road.
Their may be some light at the end of a very long tunnel though with FC Chairman Tony Masella tweeting after the game 'as long as both clubs are on the same page, there is no reason it cannot happen for the good of the town' in relation to a new ground in the town with a community facilities and a 3G pitch. He also stated 'Before I die I want to see both clubs paying in the town, fighting for the right to be number 1. And an El Quackico derby with 1000 spectators and not a poxy 230, and most of them were Chesham fans who couldn't be bothered to travel away. It's wrong'. I'm sure despite the rivalry every United fan will 100% agree with his comments.
There are two fantastic examples nearby of rival clubs sharing grounds that has seen success both on and off the field - AFC Dunstable and Dunstable Town share a redeveloped Creasey Park with Thame United who ground shared at Buckingham Road in 2006 following the loss of the Windmill Road ground due to severe financial difficulties. They moved to their new ground at Meadow View Park in 2011 where they ground share with Thame Rangers who currently play in the Hellenic League Division One East and are in second place. United are in fourth place of United and FC'S Evo Stik Soutern League Division One Central under the management of former Wycombe Wanderers and Slough Town player Mark West.
If you are fan of old school terracing then The Meadow is a ground for you to visit as there are lots of it here as the pictures shown below.
RED DENOTES AYLESBURY FC WIN
BLACK DENOTES DRAW
GREEN DENOTES UNITED WIN
Going into the game both clubs had struggled for any sort of form with The Moles on four wins from nineteen league games played and The Ducks a little better on seven from nineteen games. In their previous game FC had got a good 1-1 draw against play-off chasing Coleshill Town with United also drawing 2-2 against Kempston Rovers for whom former MK Dons, Barnet, Crawley Town, Yeovil Town, Notts County and Charlton Athletic stiker Izale McLeod has scored.
United are currently managed by Ben Williams who took over in the hot-seat in January 2018. He was Assistant Manager prior to his appointment and had a playing career with Risborough Rangers, Tring Athletic and Haywood United (the previous incarnation of Aylesbury FC).
FC have Paul Bonham in charge who was part of Scott Reynold's coaching team who had joined the club in the summer after a successful spell with Leighton Town. Reynolds had left the club in mid October with Bonham (a former coach with Oxford United's academy) stepping up.
United featured a number of former Aylesbury FC players in their squad including seventeen year old goalkeeper Archie Davis who made two appearances for The Moles under 18s earlier in the season including an FA Youth Cup match against Burnham. Anthony Ball who was making his home debut for United who played 36 times for FC during the 17/18 season. Ollie Hogg who came through the youth ranks at FC and made 33 appearances for them from 2013 to 2015. Greg Williams who is a United legend and always gives 100%, who played 66 times for FC from 2009 to 2012. Also on their bench was goalkeeper Ashley Jenkins who made 36 appearances for FC last season. Striker Benjy Adhadiuno, who is only 18 years old, was also a substitute for United - He was born in Enfield and is currently on loan from Vanarama National side Barnet. He has been on loan with Hillingdon Borough where he scored four goals in his only appearance for them along with Northwood and Haringey Borough earlier this season. He made one start in the football league for The Bees last season against Grimsby Town.
Like United The Moles had some ex United players in their starting XI. Goalkeeper Nick Bennion played three times for The Ducks in the 09/10 season with Midfielder Jordon Frederick who played sixty-three times for United in two previous spells with the club. On their bench Bruno Brito played 65 times for United scoring 18 goal for them.
Jordan Frederick got some friendly banter from the home fans throughout the game. The first half was a bit of a non event with neither goalkeeper really troubled. United included Max Hercules in their midfield who is the son of their legend and record appearance maker Cliff Hercules. Max, aged 18, signed for the club in the summer after two successful seasons in the SSMFL Premier Division with Tring Athletic and is now a firm fixture in The Ducks staring XI.
The second half was better with the home side taking the lead on 51 minutes via a great finish from Ollie Hogg on the edge of the box. Minutes later Ryan Young found himself through on goal for FC and with only Davis to beat his shot agonisingly went inches wide of the post. It was 2-0 on 58 minutes when Tre Mitford scored drilling home a shot from just inside the box after breaking free of the FC defence. This was to the delight of the United fans who sang "He's big, he's green, he's Aylesbury's goal machine, Tre Mitford, Tre Mitford"
From then on the three points looked safe for the home side with Hogg and Williams in midfield looking very impressive. Williams dynamic and positive forward run right at the end of the game to slide tackle Bennion in the FC goal and nearly create a chance was brilliant especially when you read he's 41 years old and was making his 400th start for the club in the game.
When the final whistle was blown his celebrations were extremely well received by the United faithful as he banged his chest and shouted "who are they?" pointing towards the away fans. His passion and desire to win and do well at an age when most players have their feet up and have long since given up shows what a player and person he is. No wonder he is known as 'The Leader' by United fans.
Aylesbury FC's next game comes at their Haywood Way home ground against Welwyn Garden City with United on their travels to Barton Rovers. Both games are scheduled for Saturday 5th January.
The return 'El Quackico' is scheduled to be played on Bank Holiday Monday 22nd April at Haywood Way. It would be fantastic to see yesterday's a crowd much bigger than that of the 232 people yesterday.
For a town with a population of around 70,000 just below that of nearby Stevenage (est around 80,000) who have a League Two football club I think it's imperative for both clubs and the local council to sit down and work out a plan for some much needed new and modern footballing facilities which will be of benefit to everyone in the town which schools, youth football clubs and ladies teams could use.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
* THE MINI HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIEWED OVER 3000 TIMES ON TWITTER
MINI-HIGHLIGHTS (2 MINS)
LONGER HIGHLIGHTS (7 MINS)
GROUND PICTURES
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