V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
London Tigers
Colours: Orange / Black
1
Robbie Ponting
1
Meritan Dorzas
2
James Cooper
2
Marius Chiolescu
3
Matt Cooper
3
Isias Rocha
4
Ross Taylor
4
Cristiano Neto
5
Joe Gorman
5
Hernany Mercado
6
Nick Elliot Š
6
Yuness En-Nouru
7
Gareth Hunt
7
Ashkan Abbasi
8
Kane Farrell
8
Ardalan Ghamkhar
9
Abraham Eze
9
Sebastian Philogene
10
Charlie Black
10
Alexander Alves
11
Jaiden Irish
11
Joel Ramos
12
Lee Bilcock
12
Naim Berisha
14
Brodie Couzins
14
Dheejay Ramphul
15
Richard Christie
15
Abhushan Pant
16
Dave Iwediuno
16
Samyar Pangi
GK
Reece Voller
17
Kojo Agyeman
18
Jay Taylor
18
Mark Ansell- Carter
19
19
20
20
Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Naim Berisha
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Albert Martinez
Asst Manager : Imer Nishefci
Physio: Ikera Williams
Physio: Kledis Ramas
Match Officials Referee: Mr A Fricker Assistants: Mr S Crowhurst and Mr B Hallybone
The legal name of the club is Biggleswade United 1959 Biggleswade United is a members club
Saturday 11th November 2017 Official Match Programme The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V London Tigers FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
BIGGLESWADE UNITED – OUR HISTORY (1) 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 15year 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 the 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.
Welcome to Second Meadow…. Good afternoon and welcome to Second Meadow for this Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. Today we welcome the players, supporters and officials of LONDON TIGERS FC. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. To say we were all bitterly disappointed with Tuesday night’s defeat at home to Colney Heath would be an understatement coming especially as it did in the final minute of the game. Our current record does not make for easy reading with just two points gained from a possible twelve. It’s hard to fathom how we managed to win 8 matches so convincingly just a month ago and now find ourselves struggling to get that all important win. Our form book, with so many peaks and troughs, looks like the Big One at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach. And with some tough fixtures looming we need to get our heads on and get back into that winning mode. We’re all behind the players and coaches and know we have the squad to get us back on track. Our visitors today have also hit a purple patch and come to United on the back of a run of four League defeats, most recently a 3-0 defeat at Leverstock Green last weekend. Tigers are currently in 15th spot. The two sides met back in August and played out a 0-0 draw at their North Greenford United home. Our Under 23s are without a game today but if you want a football fix tomorrow why not come and watch the Under 18s who entertain Canvey Island in the Easter Junior Alliance League Cup. Kick Off 1.30pm. Our next fixture is on Saturday when we play host to League leaders, Berkahamsted FC. Kick Off 3pm. Can I remind everyone that we will observe a minute’s silence before kick off today to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. Let’s hope for an enjoyable and entertaining game this afternoon. . Tracey James, (Secretary and Programme Editor)
BALAGUE ON BIGGLESWADE UNITED Our Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes this weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle.
After a great run, our last five games have seen us take just two league points out of a possible 12 and get eliminated from this year's FA Vase. And it isn't good enough, not because we may have lost, or dropped points but rather because of the way we have allowed this situation to come about, how we have created this rod for our own backs. In three out of the four league games - Harpenden apart - we have been in total control, taken the lead through some excellent goals, failed to kill the game off, and then inexplicably allowed our opponents back into the game. We all fully understand and expect to be outplayed, outskilled and outclassed by certain opponents on certain days and in certain conditions. That is part of the journey, part of the process and can in the medium to long term give you a better understanding and help to make you better, stronger. You can coach tactics, skills, set plays, plans, manoeuvres et al, but what you can't teach is heart, courage and the ability to pick yourself after a reversal of fortune. We all make mistakes and we must all be prepared to roll our sleeves up and do whatever we can to get back on track. It isn't about mistakes, bad luck, poor decisions or any of the other vagaries that can damage your prospects of victory on any given day but rather how you deal with them when they occur that marks you as a side. At the moment our reaction to adversity is to drop our heads, stare down at our boots and effectively hold our hands up. While we may well be beaten by a better side, being outfought, out-battled, out-hearted by opponents who - with the greatest of respect to them - I think we should be beating, is not an option We need to be brave, not panic, dig in and show some resolve if we are to turn the corner and start to climb up the table which is where I believe we belong. We have two more home games now that will hopefully put us back on track starting with London Tigers tomorrow (Sat ko 3pm) and then the following Saturday unbeaten league leaders, Berkhamsted call in.
We owe it to our fans to show them what we are made of and if we can win both of these games and particularly if we can inflict a first league defeat of the season on current leaders, Berkhamsted, I know we can kick start our season once again. And there was also a little bit of history made during our midweek game against Colney Heath when our newly formed media team broadcast the second half live on our YouTube channel and plan to do the same for the whole game on Saturday.
BIGGLESWADE UNITED – OUR HISTORY (continued) 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 who at the age of just 23 gained his UEFA Level 3 Pro License and went on to become assistant coach at CD Masnou and later C.E. Europa both of who play in the Spanish 3rd division the equivalent of the English League Division Two. He then moved to Finland where he worked for Finnish third division side PK.K-U as head coach and with the club’s academy. This season Cristian will be assisted by Stuart Bimson and Conditioning Coach Albert Martinez. 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 understand 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 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.
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE DELETE THAT EXPLETIVE! Kick Off 3pm
Our club is fully supportive of the League’s “Mind Your Language” initiative, to eradicate offensive behaviour within our ground. It is our wish for everybody to feel comfortable here and to encourage everyone, especially younger people, to enjoy their time with us. This won’t happen if they are listening to constant foul and offensive language.
Spartan South Midlands League th Newsletter – Saturday 4 November PREMIER DIVISION Both the top two dropped points this weekend as Welwyn Garden City lost their unbeaten run as they lost 1-0 at Biggleswade FC. In front of the day’s largest crowd (144), the game started poorly for the Citizens with an 8th minute red card for John McGrandles and matters got immediately worse as George Riley scored the game’s only goal just a minute later. In contrast, the spectators numbered just 32 at Sharpenhoe Road for the visit of league leaders Berkhamsted, who dominated the game at Crawley Green but only drew 1-1 after conceding a goal from substitute Terry Billy in the very last minute. Jon Munday rewarded the visitors early dominance but try as they might, Berkhamsted could not add to their tally. Leverstock Green produced one of the performances of the day as they beat London Tigers, 3-0. Ross Adams well worked early goal was added to by strikes from both Matt Bateman and Jonathan Lacey.
Oxhey Jets battled back from twice being behind as they salvaged a point from their 2-2 draw away at Hoddesdon Town. Harry Bushell and Loius Rose gave the Lilywhites the lead on two occasions but first Lloyd James-Lindo and then Dan Taylor, in the 4th minute of added on time, saved the day. Elsewhere, Abraham Eze scored for Biggleswade United as they drew 11 at home to Edgware Town and two goals from Harry Hunt and one from Thomas Collin enabled Harpenden to keep in touch with the leaders after beating Stotfold 3-1. Fourth in the table beat fifth as Leighton Town finally overcame visiting Wembley 2-1, all 3 goals coming from the penalty spot, which perhaps gives an indication of the type of match that it was. Elliot Goward scored both Tring Athletic’s goals in their 2-0 win against whilst Holmer Green’s home game against London Colney was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Biggleswade United 1 Colney Heath 2 Report by Leon Waite United surrendered a halftime lead to go down 2-1 at home to Colney Heath on a wintry night at Second Meadow. Cristian Colas’ side’s last victory came at Tuesday’s opponents several weeks ago and they couldn’t replicate that result to end a four-game winless run. The hosts did start on the front foot, however, with a speedy break down the left inside the opening the minute that ultimately amounted to nothing but did show their intent early on. Building on that initial promise proved difficult as the contest settled down and it became rather fractious with neither team gaining a rhythm to their play. The chances began to flow for United when Nick Elliot’s delivery was flicked on by Charlie Black and saved by the goalkeeper Steven Cunningham. Dammy Nickels-Benson then pounced on a defensive error to drive an effort low and hard past the left-hand post. And soon after the first goal arrived as the ball was worked across the box before Black fed Farrell, (pictured) whose bobbling shot found the far corner. A scramble inside the penalty area could have yielded something positive for United prior to the interval as the teams remained separated by the single goal at the break.
The second period took a while to get going with neither side seizing the initiative until the Magpies struck shortly after the hour mark- Robbie Ponting’s poor punch allowing David Parkinson to equalise. The visitors weren’t prepared to go all out for the win as they reverted to a counter-attacking tactic by sitting deep and absorbing United’s pressure. And having had a goal disallowed for offside earlier on, their approach was rewarded with the winning goal two minutes from time when Reece Cameron converted a ball across the box with a tap in beyond Ponting. For the third game in a row United have led 1-0 at halftime and failed to go on to win with the intensity of their performance dwindling as matches transpire.
FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date
Opponents
Comp.
H/A
KO
Sat 11 Nov
LONDON TIGERS
League
H
3pm
Sat 18 Nov
BERKHAMSTED
League
H
3pm
Tues 21 Nov
HODDESDON TOWN
League
A
7.45p
Sat 25 Nov
HARPENDEN TOWN
League
H
3pm
Sat 2 Dec
WELWYN GC
League
H
3pm
Beds Cup
A
7.45
Tues 5 Dec
BEDFORD TOWN
Sat 9 Dec
HADLEY
League
A
3pm
Sat 16 Dec
LEVERSTOCK GREEN
League
H
3pm
Sat 23 Dec
BIGGLESWADE
League
H
1.30
Sat 30 Dec
LEIGHTON TOWN
League
A
3pm
UNDER 23 FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Sat 18 Nov
HILLINGDON BORO
League
A
3pm
Sat 25 Nov
WINSLOW UNITED
League
A
3pm
Sat 2 Dec
HODDESDON TOWN
League
A
3pm
Sat 9 Dec
HERTFORD TOWN
League
H
3pm
Sat 16 Dec
AFC DUNSTABLE
League
A
3pm
Meet the New Boys Last Saturday we introduced two new faces to the starting line up. Dublin born centre half, Joe Gorman (left) has made the move south of the border having played for Scottish side Airedrieonians FC last season. Joining him in the back line was 19 year old, Ross Taylor who joins from Mildenhall Town and last season was at Arlesey Town. We are also hoping to have completed the signing of Dave’s twin brother, Andrew Iwediuno, from St Ives Town FC.
Photos courtesy of Matt Burling Photography.
Match Preview: London Tigers (H) – League By Leon Waite – @leonwaite98 The need for victory elevated to levels parallel to those at the start of the campaign after another winless encounter on Tuesday night. It took United seven matches to secure their first win back in August and their latest defeat at the hands of Colney Heath extended their latest barren spell to five games. And perhaps the more alarming aspect of the poor sequence of results is the fact that Cristian Colas’ men have led at halftime in the previous three matches. They would go on to claim a respectable point at Wembley, an underwhelming draw at home Edgware Town before the desperate 2-1 reverse against Colney Heath midweek. So a win in their next fixture with London Tigers- who they claimed their first league point of the season against- is now imperative in order to arrest this brief decline that fortunately hasn’t resulted in too far a slip down the table. London Tigers The Tigers sit fifteenth in the table with fourteen points from their fourteen matches but their league position doesn’t illustrate their enigmatic form. Whilst they have succumbed to two losses against Hoddesdon Town where they have shipped four goals on both occasions, they have taken points off four of the top six in the division. The Greenford-based club thumped fourth-place Harpenden Town 4-0, drew 0-0 with second-place Welwyn Garden City, beat third-place Biggleswade FC 3-1 and won 1-0 at sixth-place Wembley. Even unbeaten leaders Berkhamsted could only edge past them 2-1 so the Tigers certainly have a knack for causing an upset and United will need to be clinical early on if they are to find a first win in six.