Sport down the years

SPORT has always been convered in the NWN down the years. We look at the unforgettable moments from 50, 25 and 10 years ago

August 2 2011

Smillie’s plan

THATCHAM Town are hoping that Arsenal will find a way to bring Jack Smillie back to fitness after the midfielder suffered potentially worrying ankle ligament damage in the midweek friendly win over Aldershot.

Summer signing Smillie went down with the injury and attempted to continue playing before having to go off and to hospital.

The injury looked bad, but now Smillie has arranged a visit to see Arsenal’s physiotherapy staff in the hope that they can diagnose and treat the injury to get the player back into action.

“Jack thinks he could be back in three weeks,” said Thatcham manager Gary Ackling, “but I think that is being optimistic.

“But maybe Arsenal can look at it and make a difference.” Thatcham’s cause was not the only thing to be affected by Smillie’s injury. He was due to take part in Sunday’s London Triathlon and was promised £5,000 in sponsorship for charity.

Without Smillie, Thatcham won at Totton and Eling, AFC Totton and at home to Basingstoke to leave Ackling satisfied with the build-up to his side’s delayed league kick off on August 17.

In fact, Ackling would almost be happy with a failure when his side rounds off the pre-season campaign at home to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.

“In a way, I wouldn’t mind losing on Saturday,” he said, “just to bring everyone down to a bit of reality.

“Last season with Colin Millard, we were unbeaten in pre-season and won the first league game 5-0 and then it started to go wrong! “But I think we’ve added a bit more quality. The new players have come in and done well, and the team spirit and work rate are still there.

”If we are lacking anything, it is perhaps a bit of pace with Charlie Mpi gone, and if we need anything else, that is it.”