OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME SATURDAY 22nd DECEMBER 2018 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v BIGGLESWADE FC
Welcome Welcome to Second Meadow Good afternoon and welcome to Second Meadow for today’s Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters from BIGGLESWADE FOOTBALL CLUB. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. Match preview – Courtesy of Leon Waite @leonwaite98 United made it eight consecutive league victories last weekend as a brace from Joe Hankins helped inspire them to a 4-0 win over London Tigers to prolong this phenomenal run stretching back to a 2-2 draw with Edgware Town in late October. Emilio Gutierrez’s record in the league since taking the managerial reins one match into this sequence of results remains flawless and he has presided over a period of form that has seen the club surge up to 4th in the table with 3rd firmly in their sights and 2nd looming tantalisingly. Challenging top spot will prove more difficult as that space is occupied by this week’s opponent, who pose a tremendous threat to United’s run, local rivals and league leaders Biggleswade FC. Today’s opponents - Biggleswade FC FC remain a club in its infancy but have made remarkable progress in such a short space of time and having placed 5th following promotion to this level last term, they have the title firmly in the sights with a two-point advantage at the top and two games in hand to extend that lead. They have won fifteen of their seventeen league matches with a surprising early defeat at home to Bedfordshire neighbours Potton United and- like United- a 2-2 draw with Edgware the only occasions where the 2016/17 SSML Division One champions have failed to collect three points. Most recently they travelled to 3rd place Hadley and departed Brickfield Lane with four unanswered goals that contribute to an incredible tally of fifty-six from their seventeen games- a figure unrivalled in the division. United made an important psychological breakthrough as they knocked FC out of the Beds Senior Cup in October as the previous three meetings between the clubs had ended in home wins for FCincluding a 4-1 triumph back in August- and a 1-1 draw last season. Up Next We have another potential Christmas Crackers coming up for you. On FRIDAY night (28th) we make the short trip to Potton United for a Friday night crowd pleaser. This is followed by the visit of Oxhey Jets on Saturday 5th January.
FINALLY: On behalf of the Board members of Biggleswade United FC, I would like to wish all our players, coaches, supporters, sponsors, Biggleswade FC and today’s match officials a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!!
The Players..
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Biggleswade United Chairman, Guillem Balague, provides this weekly column for The Biggleswade Chronicle.
Apart from that defeat to Potton the Thumping 4-0 wins for both us and FC only other points they have dropped Biggleswade set the scene perfectly came more than two months ago for this Spartan League form clash at when they drew 2-2 at Edgware Town Second Meadow today. on October 10.
While we saw off the challenge of London Tigers, FC were comprehensively bettering Hadley by the same scoreline. Something's going to have to give.
And ironically, it was Edgware Town that were the last team to take any league points off us as well, again following a 2-2 draw on October 27.
We are under no illusions that it is There is much to admire about the going to be a tough game and there is way our neighbours have gone about no doubt that we go into it as the their business this season. They are underdogs. playing really good football and have been beaten just once in the league, and that was way back on August 21 But that's a long way from saying that when they lost at home to Potton (1- we won't be approaching the match 3). with our confidence sky high, fourth in the table and unbeaten in the To date they have dropped just five league since October 6 after a run points - a defeat and a draw - all that has seen us take 28 points from a season on their way to amassing 46 possible 30. points from a possible 51, including 15 wins.
Continued Overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued We are a different side to the one that was well beaten 4-1 in the corresponding away fixture way back in August in only the second game of the season and much more like the one that beat FC Bigglewade by two goal to one on October 23 in the Bedfordshire Senior Cup.
Whatever the outcome, the one thing I am sure of is that it should be a wonderful game of football, fiercely contested by two sides, both of whom are committed to playing the game the right way.
I can't wait.
We are better prepared for just about anything that the opposition can throw at us and far more more comfortable and confident all over the pitch thanks largely to a superb team spirit and a squad that has developed and blossomed primarily because of their willingness to listen, learn and work tirelessly for one another.
We will certainly afford our opponents all the respect that their performances this season clearly demonstrate they merit, but that is a long way from saying that we will fear them and I know we will have been planning all this week on how to achieve the victory that will pull us ever closer to the top of the table.
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V OXHEY JETS FC SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 19th JANUARY 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V STOTFOLD FC
Biggleswade United Under 23
Our Forthcoming Fixtures
Our History 1959 - 1999 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.
Our History 2000- 2018 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.
The History of Biggleswade FC Biggleswade Football Club was formed in May 2016 from the very successful Biggleswade Town Under 18s side that competed in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League.
At the end of the 2015 2016 season and with no further pathway at Biggleswade Town available, the decision was taken to form a new club. After a ground share agreement was put in place with Biggleswade Town at their fantastic facility on Langford Road Biggleswade FC was born. The Club applied to enter the Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One at Step 6 of the Non-League System. After two meetings and a successful appeal with The FA at Wembley, on 7th June 2016, Biggleswade FC were awarded their place at Step 6. In their very first season in senior football, Biggleswade FC’s squad of young, talented players won the SSMFL Division One title. They finished with 99 points, six clear of Harpenden Town in second place and were duly promoted to the Premier Division totally vindicating the decision to start off at Step 6 football. The 2017 2018 league campaign on the whole was a successful one, finishing in 5th place in our first season at the ninth tier of English Football. Six wins and a draw from the opening seven games - including a 7-2 rout at Holmer Green - had FC setting the pace early on, but ultimately inconsistency and dropping points against sides in the bottom half of the table saw them fall away in the final couple of months. Having been able to keep hold of the majority of the playing squad over the Summer, Managers Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip are hopeful their young squad can challenge for further honours in 2018/19.
Biggleswade United FC Clubhouse is available to hire for every occasion – Birthdays*, Children’s parties, wedding parties, christenings, naming ceremonies and lots more… The clubhouse can accommodate up to 100. Hire charges are from £25 to £100. For more information contact Tracey James on 07714 661827 or 01767 316270
* We are unable to accommodate 18th birthday parties
Match Programmes – a Statement As club secretary I have been producing a match day programme for almost all Biggleswade United first team matches since 1987 – even when we competed in the Bedfordshire County League at Step 7 when there was no obligation to do so. The programmes were produced at no cost to the club and no charges were made for a programme to the spectator. Until very recently – when the quality of the covers and inserts were of a higher quality than my home printer would allow - all costs incurred were paid for by myself.
To date, our digital programme has been read by almost 2,800 people with almost 19,000 viewing it at least once. Compare this to the last hard copy match programme I produced which was purchased by just three people for £1.00 (£3.00) at a cost to the club of £45. It just doesn’t make financial or promotional sense.
I fully accept that there are individuals who like to purchase a match programme as a collector’s item or as memento of their visit to the match / ground. And so far this season, I have received This continued for the next 30 years - 20 / 40 / 50 just two complaints that a programme was not match programmes almost every other week of available and on each occasion I have taken the the season and taking anything from 3 hours to 5 time and trouble to print off a copy and send by hours to compile, print, sort and staple. mail to the spectator after the match. I am happy to meet such requests. However, I hope our In recent years the demand for a match day supporters, opposition supporters and programme has reduced significantly. Access to programme collectors understand that times are instant and up to date information through changing rapidly – who remembers daily various social media and internet sites has, in my newspapers? – and the financial and time opinion, rendered the match day programme a constraints that Non League clubs are faced with thing of the past. It was also very disheartening to require us to look at alternative and more modern take the time to produce 50 programmes on a methods of producing match day information. Friday evening, only to find them scattered across changing rooms, left in Boardrooms untouched or As a club, we have agreed to review the situation left as debris in the spectators stands. at the end of the season but in the meantime we will continue to produce our match day It was for this reason – as well as one of cost and programme in digital format only. time saving – that I recommended to the Biggleswade United FC board the option for Tracey James producing a match programme through a digital Programme Editor format. This enabled a global opportunity to promote our club through the availability of a match programme for the live streaming of our matches whereas the printed version was only available to those who came through our turnstiles.