BRANTHAM Athletic opponents can be excused for seeing double when they play the village side in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL.Sam and Ben Newson are 18-year-old identical twins who are making a big name for themselves.

By Elvin King

BRANTHAM Athletic opponents can be excused for seeing double when they play the village side in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL.

Sam and Ben Newson are

18-year-old identical twins who are making a big name for themselves.

And they are used to reporters getting it wrong when one of them scores.

“It is something we have to contend with,” said Sam, who works as a football coach in the Essex area with his brother.

They both live in East Bergholt and played for Stanway Rovers last season before moving to Brantham during the summer.

“We have always played in the same team, and it must be confusing for our opponents,” says Sam.

“Brantham gave us both a new challenge and we were joining up with some friends from school.

“And it has proved a great move.

“We are handily placed in the table and any team that can put together a run of wins will shoot up the table.”

Frontrunner Sam has scored five goals this season and winger Ben, the older by a few minutes, three.

Their father Ricky played for Benhall, while sister Zoe, 14, is an avid follower of football and watches her brothers in action. Elder sister Lisa, 20, has little interest in the game.

The twins have got level one coaching badges and are

working on their level two.

“We both see our future in football and are coaching in the Essex area full-time,” added Sam.

The brothers also coach the Under-12 youth side at Brantham along with Nick Carrington who plays for the reserves.

Club chairman Peter Crowhurst says: “The Newson boys have been terrific since their arrival. They are wonderful sportsmen in every sense and their parents should be very, very proud of them both.

“They have gelled so well with youngsters we have groomed through our Ridgeons League Under-18 squad.”

When Brantham met Capel Plough last month the Newsons were not the only brothers on view.

James (Brantham) and Ryan Horsfall (Capel) and Jon (Brantham) and Mark Jorgensen (Capel) were in opposition in a game that Capel won 1-0.

The Horsfall's are the sons of former Stutton manager and Capel assistant manager Mark, while the Jorgensen's played for ten years together at East Bergholt.

The Jorgensens, who still play Sunday football together for Brantham Colts, were once rated first and second in the British and European BMX rankings and proud parents Christine and George watch them in football action whenever possible.