Hi Vernon
my name is Derek Neave i am a former Woodley Hammers player and was with the club for 19 years. I joined from local rivals Woodley wanderers and played under Dave Baugh at under 15s in the season 1984/85 that side went on to take over the men's team 2 years later. Dave ran the side up until 1990 when Mike Munday's side wanted to also join the men's reading league. it was decided that Dave would step down and mike take over. what a side we had we won the Tilehurst trophies league scoring over 130 goals and lost in the cup that year to a side a division above us. I scored 57 that year and my partner Alan white got over 30. with a few additions to the squad we went into the reading Sunday league we won division 6 & 5 the league was revamped and we went into division 4 which we also won. then we won division 3 and 2 these titles was all won in successive years. Sadly the side needed urgent younger bodies and began to break up until Phil Patterson's side asked a few of us to join and we took the club through the leagues again runners up in division 4 winning division 3 and cup division 2 and cup and reaching the final of the berks and bucks cup which we sadly lost. the club is the best organised and run in junior football and many good footballers have played for the hammers in the years I was at the club. Mike Munday and sadly the late terry Gillett was the brains and inspiration in the club in the 80s 90s and up until 2002. the club would not be where it was now if it was not for these two gentlemen who gave their time and energy to it. just one more thing I think I hold the record goals for the hammers as i must have scored near on 250 goals or over in my time at the club scoring over 57 in one season. Also the club changed from that horrible purple colour to royal blue/black in the year I joined 1984/5 but still used that colour as change of strip for another 2 years till we changed to red/black hope this helps history wise. please say hi to beefy and Diane and any one else who remembers me
regards
Derek Neave
Top: Left to right: Phil Mann, Dominic Judge, Pat Jennings, Dave Baugh (Manager), Steve Rapley, Andy bowyers, Kieth Avenall (Captain). Tony hewitson.
Bottom left to right: Dave Adams, Lee Bennet, James McKendrick, Paul Aust. Wayne Breadmore, Mickey Adams, Derek Neave.
