Welcome to Second Meadow Good afternoon and welcome to Second Meadow for this afternoon’s Premier Division fixture. Today we welcome the players, officials and supporters from BALDOCK TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you enjoy your short stay with us. The past month has consisted of four cup fixtures and just a solitary league outing- a 1-0 success at London Tigers in mid-August- and United return to SSML action this weekend as they welcome newly-promoted Baldock Town. Following the initial postponement of the FA Vase First Round Qualifying tie with Wormley Rovers due to an unfortunate health scare, the two teams finally took to the field on Tuesday night and the lower-league side palpably close to forcing penalties in their home game away from home. Joe Hankins got the winner three minutes from time in extra time, however, to secure a 2-1 win and United’s progression into the next round to build on their 4-2 League Challenge Trophy triumph at Tring Corinthians AFC as they seek to translate that success into the league this week. Match Preview by Leon Waite Baldock Town Currently ground sharing at United’s neighbours Arlesey Town, the Reds achieved promotion with a 2nd place finish in the SSML Division One last term having placed 3rd in consecutive seasons beforehand. And under the stewardship of manager of Luke Gregson, Baldock have had an indifferent start to the campaign as they opened with a 2-0 loss at Tring Athletic and failed to score again in a 1-0 reverse at home to their landlords. Following that up with an impressive 5-0 demolition of Ipswich Wanderers in the FA Cup, they then came from behind to earn their first league win in a 2-1 victory against Wembley. Romford dumped them out of the FA Cup before wins against Oxhey Jets and Long Melford ensured their progression in the League Challenge Trophy and FA Vase respectively. The Reds last faced United in the 2016/17 season and they, in fact, met twice that year with both games held at Second Meadow. And the hosts prevailed on both occasions, earning a 2-1 FA Vase win in October 2016 and a 3-0 North Beds Charity Cup triumph in April 2017. Now, Baldock Town return to face United at Second Meadow for a league encounter on Saturday, KO 3pm. Up Next Our next fixture is the FA Vase Second Round Qualifying tie away at London Lions on Saturday 15th September followed by the visit of Step 4 side, Barton Rovers, in the North Beds Charity Cup on Tuesday 18th September. Kick Off 7.45pm.
Biggleswade United Football Club was re-formed on the 16th July 1959. However, local history records indicate that there was a Biggleswade United side playing at Second Meadow as early as 1929. Our first season (1959/60) saw us competing in Division Three of the North Herts. League (NHL). After 10 successful years in the NHL the club made the step up to South Midlands League (SML) football. But towards the end of a 15-year association with the SML the club began to struggle and after three years of finishing in the bottom three of Division One we sought fresh fields. The club joined the Herts. Senior but club continued to find the going tough. In 1986 we elected to return to local League football, joining the Bedford and District Football League and began to build again. The appointment of Brian Swords as first team manager in 87/88 proved to be the turning point in the club's fortunes. During the next ten years the club achieved a tremendous amount of success on and off the football pitch. Our record of League and Cup honours speak for themselves but aligned to this a great deal of work went on behind the scenes to match the on-field success. The club now boasts one of the best clubhouse and ground facilities in the Mid-Bedfordshire area. The success of the club has also attracted many new players as well as commanding a great deal of loyalty from those players who helped the club progress from Division Three of the Bedford and District League to County Senior Club status in just 15 years. The 1995/96 season was the most successful in the club's history - winning five major honours; the Beds Intermediate County Cup, Bedford and District League Championship, League Cup Championship and as the League's representatives the club won the Beds. FA Centenary Cup. Having won every major Bedford League honour the club felt it was time to move on and made the decision to make the step up once again and returned to Division One of the SML. In an exceptionally successful first season we celebrated a Division One "double" by winning the Championship and the Division One Cup. We also retained the Beds. FA Intermediate County Cup, only the second club in the competition's history to achieve this feat. To crown our success the club were awarded the SML Special Achievement Trophy in July 1997. In the season 1997/98 we finally achieved Senior status. This was achieved not only through the endeavours of the players on the field but ultimately as a result of an extremely hard working committee. With the help of the Biggleswade Town Council a new stand was erected and perimeter fencing installed. And two seasons later the club erected floodlights and on the evening of 26th October 1999 we played our first-ever floodlit game at Second Meadow, Ryman League side Leighton Town were the visitors in the Bedfordshire Premier Cup.
The next eleven years saw the first team led by Steve "Snowy" Wright and under his management the club continued to enjoy a very high level of League and Cup success ultimately achieving promotion to the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and with it the opportunity to compete in the FA Cup. And under Snowy the club made three Beds FA Senior Challenge Cup final appearances, winning two of the three with victories over Stotfold (4-1) and Leighton Town (1-0) but missed out in 2006/07 going down 2-0 to Dunstable Town. Snowy's other cup successes came in the form of the Hunts Premier Cup, North Beds Charity Cup, Hinchingbrooke Cup, the SML Division One Cup and the SML Special Achievement Award once again. The end of the 2006 2007 saw Snowy step down as manager with his assistant, Nick Burton taking over the first team reins. January 5th 2009 saw the club embark on further ambitious ground improvements. With financial backing from Biggleswade Town Council, Mid Beds District Council and the Football Foundation we installed a 260-seater stand, fully enclosed the ground with a double turnstile entrance and players' secure walkway, which raised the ground to Grade E status. After several years of stability in terms of first team managers the next six years saw a regular turnover of first team and reserve team managers with Nick Burton, Dave Elkin and Phil Childs all taking over the first team reins for a time. At the start of the 2013-2014 season we appointed Mick Reardon and Mark Royal as first team managers both of whom had enjoyed success as coaches at the higher levels of football. Their disciplined approach was quickly adhered to and responded to by the players and under their stewardship we achieved the highest Premier Division position in nine years and first silverware in seven years winning the North Beds Charity Cup for the first time in the club’s history. In November 2014 the club took a further positive step to realise our ambitions with the appointment of Sky Sports Presenter and renowned author, Guillem Balague as Biggleswade United’s Director of Football. Following Mick and Mark’s decision to step down at the end 2014 2015, Guillem was quick to act and recruited a new Head Coach in Cristian Colas Beccera. Cristian was assisted by former professional player, Stuart Bimson, and under their guidance the team finished in eighth spot in the Premier Division in 2017 2018 - the highest position in the club’s history. Having built a strong reputation for their outstanding coaching ability and playing philosophy Cristian and Stuart moved up to Step 3 level club, Staines Town, for the start of the 2018 2019 season. Guillem was again in search for a high quality coach and Jimmy Martin came highly recommended by his predecessor, Colas, who worked with Jimmy at Stevenage FC Academy. Jimmy was appointed Manager in May 2018 and will be assisted by a former United playing legend and well respected character in SML football, Dean Bull. Also on the coaching staff is Spanish coach Emilio Gutierrez. The club has certainly come a long way in relatively few years but we could not have done it without the help of a very supportive Town and District Council who clearly understands the benefits of having a community based club in Biggleswade. Our success is also very much down to a very hard working committee who throughout the year - not just the football season - continue to volunteer their time and commitment to the club, to help it continue to thrive and be a source of enjoyment for our supporters and the Biggleswade community.
Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. Let me start by saying a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Baldock Town. It’s great to have another local derby to play in the league. Derby games always bring much more excitement and intensity so I’ve been looking forward to this fixture when it was announced. A warm welcome also to todays officials, Russell Jones, Spencer Brewer and Neil Lawrence. A thankless job and one I couldn’t do and we need to remember that without them we have no football. It is that simple. That still won’t stop me giving them a gentle shout from the sides if we don’t get the decisions (lol) The season is well and truly upon us now and I for one am happy with the way we have started. Performances may not have been great but we need to remember this is a new management team with a new set of lads, learning different ways so it’s going to take a little time before start to click properly. The game against Wormley is a classic example. At times we looked poor, at times our passing and movement when attacking was exceptional. The team dig deep and got the result which is all that matters. Some supporters said to me after that we’d have lost that game last season in extra time so that supports my own belief the team has a good fighting spirit and is moving in the right direction. At the time of writing this we sit 11th with 6 points. 2 games in hand over leaders Biggleswade FC which if we win leaps us right up there. It’s an open league and up for grabs and one I know Jimmy and the boys are push hard for in training. The club expects a lot of its players, we train 3 times a week if we don’t have a Tuesday game and Jimmy pushes them hard all the time to improve and better themselves. Exciting times ahead on the field I’m sure. Finally a big thanks to U23s manager Keith Castle Who has decided to leave the club this week. The work he has done with the boys has been fantastic and hopefully we will see some of those lads pushing for a first team spot this season. Wherever Keith ends up next I have no doubt he will be a success Enjoy the game Gareth
Good afternoon and welcome to Second Meadow for this local derby against Baldock Town which should be an exciting affair! First of all I would like to thank everyone at the club for the welcome I have received since walking in the door. In particular the chairman Gareth Davies who has been extremely supportive of all my ideas and Tracey James who I pester day and night for confirmation on everything! Moving onto footballing matter, I should start with mine and the clubs disappointment at losing our FA Cup fixture against Wellingborough Town. There is no going away from the fact we should have put that game to bed at our first meeting but it wasn’t to be. The only positive to come out of this was the reaction that I have had from my squad. That result and performance hurt, since then I feel that we have really pulled together and are now stronger. We have an extremely driven, ambitious group of men who have high expectations of themselves which I will endeavor for them to hit. We have since gone onto win 3 games back to back and even though I feel we didn’t play anywhere near our full potential we have come out with a positive result. I am extremely pleased with the squad that we have, either retained from last season or recruited during the summer. The players attitude and work ethic is has been top draw. We ask a lot from our layers in regard to commitment, they train Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and play on a Saturday. I don’t know of too many clubs at our level doing this. Since my first day I have not had less than 20 players attend a senior training session, that to me demonstrates the hunger and happiness of the squad I have and ling may that continue as we will strive for excellence. I would like to personally thank you for the continued support, it is greatly appreciated by everyone at the club. I hope you enjoy the game! Jimmy Martin
Summer is over, Autumn has officially begun and it’s time to look forward to the new football season. My own season began in typically dramatic fashion at an event in Monaco last week where I hosted a presentation with Ronaldo. No, not Cristiano, the Brazilian legend.
Later in the day I crossed paths with David Beckham and we exchanged pleasantries. As you may know David has an interest in American soccer team MLS Miami so I was happy to give him a few tips on running a football club. In jest he mentioned that he was thinking of returning to playing football. For just a second there I toyed with signing him for Biggleswade United!
Academy training has begun and our coaches are looking forward to the new season, mindful of the great responsibility of maintaining the ethos of our Club, training young people to play good football but, perhaps more importantly, teaching them the life skills that will benefit them in the future; team work, communication, courtesy and a sense of fair play.
We welcome back all our children, and a particular welcome to new members who have oined us this season. Congratulations too to our coaches for continuing to enhance their skills by acquiring new professional badges. The Academy has grown considerably in the past two years and we now have some 145 children proudly wearing the BUFC strip. Fran Constancio, head of the Academy has some exciting plans for the coming season, but more of that in a future article. Suffice to say it’s going to be a very enjoyable season for the Academy and the Club as a whole.
The First Team season kicks off on Saturday with a home game against Baldock Town. KO at 3.00pm at Second Meadow. Our Ladies’ team play their first game against Kempston Town on Sunday at Kempston Rovers Ladies. (MK 42 8SZ 2.00pm kick off.)
Sadly our FA Vase game last Friday was postponed due to one of the players becoming ill, but the reconvened game was played on Tuesday. We made life harder for ourselves than it should have been. We lacked a bit of discipline with the ball and depth but in extra time we showed so much collective quality that suggest we are going the right way. We play the next round away at London Lions on 15th September.
KICK OFF 11am Free Admission
Biggleswade United Under 23