Lesser spotted Poppies

[DJ]

Remarkably, although they are a Midlands club, Saturday will be the first competitive game between the Yeltz and Kettering since the 1949-1950 Birmingham & District League season. We skilfully dodged meeting them on the two occasions they dropped into the Southern League in 2001 (by getting ourselves relegated that season) and in 2012 (by being transferred to the North).

As mentioned on another thread there was a mid-season friendly at Kettering on Wednesday, 12th December 2007, won 2-0 by Kettering with a goal in each half from Mark Rawle and Ryan Collis. The attendance was just 63.

But there was also a 3-3 pre-season friendly at the start of the 2008-09 season at the Grove (probably the only time most might have seen the Poppies before?):

Tuesday, 29th July 2008
Halesowen Town 3 Kettering Town 3

Halesowen Town: Sheils; Smith (McGibbon 70), Cowley, Bryant (Deen 72), Briscoe, Denny, Brennan, Danks, Palmer (Makasi 65), Rowe (Abbey 68), Cornwall. Subs: Abraham, Hamilton.

Kettering Town: Harper; Eaden, Jazcusan, Wrack, Branston, Geohaghan, Taylor, Solkhon, Beardsley, Seddon, Galbraith. Subs: Spencer, Hanna, Lee, Kemp, Graham.

Referee: M. Howes (Solihull) Attendance: 251

Another promising display of attractive football saw Halesowen deservedly lead Blue Square Premier newcomers Kettering for a long spell before eventually being pegged back for a draw.

After an even opening, Halesowen goalkeeper Mark Sheils punched clear David Galbraith’s 20th minute corner. Two minutes later, a chip into the visiting penalty area from Dean Brennan almost found Justin Rowe. Darren Wrack drove past the Yeltz goal after 24 minutes and Sheils collected at the second attempt from Gareth Seddon on the half-hour.

Halesowen took the lead with Dean BRENNAN firing home from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Rowe was impeded by Tommy Jazcusan. Kettering’s Exodus Geohaghan headed another 36th minute corner from Galbraith high over the bar before visiting goalkeeper Lee Harper punched clear after Jay Denny’s cross was turned away for a 41st minute corner.

Mark Danks made it 2-0 with a superb 25-yard strike just three minutes after the interval. DANKS dropped his shoulder to side-step two defenders before thumping the ball past Harper after receiving a threaded pass from Aaron Cornwall.

Gareth SEDDON pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 61st minute when Dean Smith tripped Galbraith on his run down the left. Following the disruption of several home substitutions, SEDDON then levelled the score-line at 2-2 by turning to shoot into the bottom corner on 72 minutes. CORNWALL put Halesowen back in front by starting and finishing a fine move when he played the ball out left and rushed into the penalty area to turn home the goal-line cross from substitute Michael Makasi. But the Poppies were allowed to equalise again when goalkeeper Sheils failed to collect a deep cross and centre-forward Chris BEARDSLEY gained a faint touch as the ball crept into the net.

[Westyeltz]

Needless to say the ubiquitous Exodus G was included for Kettering.
Gets bloody everywhere!

I wonder how many teams he's played for against 5he Mighty Yeltz?

Chas?

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

I've no idea