As the ‘Whitehouse Evolution’ continues to build momentum, and dare we say perhaps the prime goal of Premier North Survival hove’s into view, let’s have a bit of a retrospective of something from our recent history:

It is possible we may have seen the last of two of the most pre-eminent servants the club has ever known from the playing staff, certainly in the ‘Wokingham and Emmbrook,’ incarnation of our historic institution.

Luke Scope and Nick Bateman. Both local lads, each poetically with links to each side of the Wokingham Town and Emmbrook Sports merger and twinned now forever with the club’s history as giants of a tumultuous time.

Nick, a combative midfielder with a cultured touch and excellent vision; a lynchpin of the side for many years bought into the first team set up under Wayne Wanklyn. Always ‘spikey,’ and imbued with self-belief his journey with the club has seen him develop season upon season. His talent unquestionable he was often the ‘fulcrum of the fight,’ scrapping away to ensure the Orange machine was rarely second best. Noticeably in recent years as boy became man and maturity beckoned he became the general he was always purported to be; the temper lessened and canny game management came ceaselessly to the fore. Evermore complete he cajoled and directed, runs were less frequent but better timed, he encouraged where once frustration loomed. Let’s hope his current injury predicament isn’t the full stop to a distinguished footballing career it threatens to be.

Then there is the ‘Great Orange Warrior,’ himself, the ‘Colossus of the Road,’, if this season proves to be his swansong; Luke Scope, it has been our pleasure and our privilege to watch you play football and have you as ‘one of our own.’. Surely no player has ever worked so hard so often for the shirt. Perpetual motion, shear physicality that has frightened defender after defender half to death over more years than anyone cares to remember. The words of a Step 3 stopper still ring in the ears after a particular pre-season friendly ‘I don’t think I’ll have a harder game than that all season….’ he muttered, clinging to a pint and rubbing various bruises. It says it all about that which Luke has given our club. In the worst of times Luke gave us hope and in the best he was our gladiator. We salute you and pray we see more. If that can’t be our thanks as fans is eternal.

Mr. Williams if ever there is a case for a testimonial; a Scope XI v a Bateman XI, one managed by Mr Eggleston, the other by the esteemed Bateman Senior here it is.

Always Orange, always Sumas.