Josh Hawker & Jamie Molyneux | Stratford Town

Stratford Town midfielder Josh Hawker and forward Jamie Molyneux both celebrated their 100th appearances for the club in the last three weeks, Hawker against Stamford, and Molyneux against Biggleswade.

Josh Hawker (Left) & Jamie Molyneux (Right)📷 Stratford Town

The pair both featured as the Bards earnt a crucial point on Saturday against play-off rivals Stamford. The duo will no doubt have a big part to play in the remaining three games, as Stratford currently sit just two points off the top 5.

Josh Hawker has scored six times since joining the club at the start of the 2022/23 campaign. The ex Halesowen Town, Solihull Moors and Leamington player has featured 38 times this season, and only four Bards players have featured more. I spoke with the Stratford midfielder to get his thoughts on the highs and low during his time at the club. As well as his hopes for the remainder of the campaign, and his message to the fans.

"When I look back on my time at the club, the first season was a challenge. At the start of the 2022/23 season we had a whole new squad when I joined. We fought against relegation, and at one point was 10 points adrift from the rest. We changed a few things, and finally found some rhythm during the remainder of that season. We got the best out of the lads at the club at the time, and managed to survive comfortably.

"That season was the most challenging period at the club for me personally. We knew we had a good dressing room and comoraddary around the team, but things just did not work out for a large period of time. My best moment at Stratford was no doubt the first time my daughter was able to watch me play. It was a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life, and nothing will ever beat it.

"Another moment but from a club perspective was the game of Cody Fisher's memorial. It was such a sad time for everyone involved, but it was a beautiful moment and tribute to the lad, which meant so much to us all. For the rest of the season, I do not have any personal aims with the end being so near. The sole focus for the team is to finish one better than we did last season and clinch a play-off spot. The goal for any side is to finish the season on a high, and better than the previous year.

"From an off the field point of view, I think the club is thriving, and it is only right the matters on the pitch follow suit. For me and my teammates, a place in the play-offs would be sensational and make up for the heartbreak of missing out narrowly last year. Once you get into the play-offs anything can happen, and from there it is just a lottery. In terms of the fans, I thank them for the amazing support since I joined. It must be a pleasure for them to see the club going in the right direction on and off the pitch. I hope we can repay their loyalty by giving them something to remember before the season ends."

Jamie Molyneux, also joined the club at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, but also spent time at the club as a teenager in 2013 and 2014. The ex Halesowen Town, Bromsgrove Sporting and Bedworth United forward, started his third spell as a first team player at Stratford in November 2023. Molyneux did not feature this season till late January due to injury, where he has since played in seven games. I also spoke to Molyneux to get the high and lows on his spell at the club, as well as his aims for the season and beyond and his message to the supporters.

"I have enjoyed every single minute of my time here in Stratford. I have met some great people at the club, not just on the pitch, but also off it. I would have to say my hardest period at the club was just this season. I tore my groin on the last pre-season game, and it was a hugely frustrating moment, as I felt like I was progressing before the setback. I was fit and ready for the start of the season to make a big impact, but unfortunately my injury halted my progress. I had to spend seven months in the stands, but the lads made that period so much easier for me because they were class to watch on the pitch. They are a credit to the club, as they have been terrific for nine months and have been up and around the top throughout.

"My best time at the club I would have to say was my debut just over a decade ago. It was a surreal moment to step up to the first team when your still just a kid. In my full debut for the side, I managed to score a brace in the first half, and at the time I was just 17. My aim for the rest of the season is too get fully fit and back to where I was for the pre-season just gone. I put a lot of work in last summer, and felt like I noticed the benefits just before my injury. I just hope I can do the same this summer, and will be fit and raring to go in August for the new campaign.

"A message to the Stratford fans from me, is just for them to continue their loyalty and fantastic support in numbers. I do not think they realise how much it means to the boys on the pitch when they are in full voice singing our names and cheering us on. Everytime I hear someone say "come on Moly", it really does give me that extra boost to perform. My debut was over 10 years ago now, and too see how the crowd numbers have grown since has been amazing. It was a pleasure to see the progression over time, and long may it continue! Up The Bards."

Stratford's Season In Numbers

1️⃣5️⃣ | Only Banbury United (17) have kept more clean sheets this season in the league than Stratford's 15. The side have also kept 9 clean sheets at home, and ony Banbury can better that (12).

1️⃣9️⃣ | No other side in the league have conceded fewer second half goals this season than Stratford' 19 season, tied with Alvechurch.

4️⃣ | No other side in the league have conceded fewer goals in the 15 minute plus stoppage time period before full-time this season than Stratford's four.

6️⃣ | No other side in the league have dropped fewer points from winning positions in the league this season than Stratford's six.