We have a bit of extra time on our hands at the moment, with football having been suspended for the foreseeable future, so we thought that we would look back through the photographs of the current season before it was so suddenly terminated.

We aim to feature one of the Club’s players from time to time. This time we feature Ollie Knowles.

We hope that these articles will go some way to make up for the lack of pitch action and whet your appetite for its return, whenever that will be.

1

Ollie joined the Whites in August and made his home debut in an ill-tempered game against Gosport Borough on 13th (unlucky for some!). He will say he was unlucky to get a booking after only two minutes, (a record?) but in that match, which the Whites shaded by the only goal, the referee rightly or wrongly – on balance wrongly – showed another five cards between the sides. He was involved in all but two following games before we entertained Met Police on 14 September, but despite his best efforts Salisbury went down 3-1.

2

He was obviously proud to be playing for The Whites and showed it after the 2-1 victory over Taunton on 15 October. Most supporters were proud that their team had finally overcome one of their bogey sides, even though all three goals came from the Peacocks. They all count!

3

Rising high – Ollie in action against Dorchester Town in the FA Trophy match on 26 October, and as with Toby Holmes, the Magpies were about to get to know him a lot better – to their cost.

4

Where’s the ball gone? Dorchester resort to some interesting tactics during the exciting 3-3 draw in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round at the Ray Mac in October, when it took Toby Holmes’ added time equaliser to take it to a replay. …. and in that replay he really made his mark, scoring with a sizzling drive just before the whistle as the Whites cruised into the next round by a less than flattering 3-0.

5

He didn’t get the same result, and nor did Salisbury, as his shot on goal couldn’t break the deadlock as the November meeting ended goalless.

6

Ollie goes flying … he often takes to the air, as will be seen later … but this was self-preservation against a Will Spetch lunge! Ex-Salisbury player, Marvin Brooks (right), looks on as the tackle goes in during feisty encounter. Salisbury went on to beat Poole Town 2-1 to start a run of 5 wins over the Christmas period.

7

Both Bay and Shaq were on target again during the 3-1 Boxing Day victory against Wimborne Town – here Ollie shows his left foot to be as useful as his right, which did some damage at Dorchester.

8

His next contribution to the scoring record came on 4 January. Here he celebrates scoring Salisbury’s first goal and setting up a 3-2 win over Chesham who went on to be serious promotion contenders.

9

After having come through a Trophy replay against Eastbourne a difficult game at Chelmsford followed a few days later on 11 January, but the Conference side ended Salisbury’s interest fairly easily, 4-0. Maybe one of the few highlights was Ollie’s sportsmanship … Can you not hear him saying “Hands up – I admit it! I was thinking of fouling you …but didn’t think that would be right”. No, probably not!

10

Riding the tackles, and there were quite a few, against Swindon Supermarine on 18 January was all to no avail as home fans
witnessed a disappointing 2-0 reverse…

11

…but here he is, head to head, and holding his own in aerial combat in the same match. And after that kind of contest, thankfully “holding his own” refers to the battle, and not an outcome involving the trainer!

12

Celebrating again! Ollie scored The Whites’ second goal in their demolition of Dorchester by 5-0 on 25 January, and this one was almost a carbon copy of his goal there back in October. Fans who saw both games will remember the ball being cleared just outside the box, where our man leathered it back, each time a low howitzer leaving the home keeper rooted in admiration. During the season, Ollie scored four goals, but those against the Magpies were different class. Maybe he would like to play on plastic every week!

13

A well-timed tackle on a bright, sunny day – against Tiverton Town at the Ray Mac, and as the season was drawing to an unexpected and unknown early close, at least the Whites had, over the course of two meetings, shared the spoils with another of their nemesis teams.

14

There was even the chance to go pirouetting through the midfield in the same game …

15

… before taking aim against Tiverton …

16

… and in it goes – Ollie slots home The Whites’ second goal to level the scores. Not quite as sensational a finish, but with the same result.

17

Take off (is he really trying to punch a floodlight?) – that’s what it feels like to score an important goal with minutes to go before the final whistle! One small step in the season, but a giant leap for fan-kind!

18

Ollie muscles his way past the equally muscular opposition in The Whites’ 2-0 win against Hendon on 22 February. Jake Wannell and Toby Holmes scored Salisbury’s goals.

19

Trying to break the deadlock. Ollie did his best once more but no-one succeeded in preventing 0-0 draw at Gosport on a cold night three days later.
Ollie played in the two remaining games, helping his side to a narrow 2-1 win at home to Merthyr Town, and then, like everyone else, battling against Harrow, (or more accurately, the elements), as the ‘season that wasn’t’ came to an end!

All images are reproduced by kind permission of our photographers, Michael Berkeley and Roger Elliott and are copyright, so they should not be reproduced. Please seek agreement should you wish to do so, by contacting our Press Officer Alec Hayter on [email protected] or on 07884 477168 when any requests can be forwarded. The Club would like to thank Michael and Roger for the images, Alec for some of the words, and Ian Pearson for his website expertise, as part of the effort to alleviate football withdrawal symptoms! Roll on next kick off!

Ian Pearson
March 29, 2020

Ian Pearson

Media & Website Manager