V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
Tring Athletic
Colours: Yellow / Green
1
Tom Wyant
1
Jack Hopwood
2
Liam Sweeney
2
Jack Seaton
3
Kane Farrell
3
Tommy Twelves
4
Martin Russell ©
4
Chris Mason
5
Jordan Wright
5
Lee Stobbs
6
Nick Elliot
6
George Brinkman
7
Gareth Hunt
7
Luke Dunstan
8
Matt Cooper
8
Sam Joliffe
9
David Iwediuno
9
Dan Steadman
10
Lusunga Ndovi
10
David O’Connor
11
Charlie Joy
11
Kieron Turner
12
Daryl Ngwala
12
Chris Vardy
14
Lee Bilcock
14
George Carbery
15
Antonio Mitri
15
Jamie Warne
16
Josh Sturniolo
16
Callum Gregory
GK
Reece Voller
17
Ryan Sturgess
17
Jaiden Irish
18
Ben Johnson
My Biggleswade
18
Paul Donald
19
Adam Scotcher
Saturday 17th December 2016 Match Programme
19
Kevin Owusu
20
Aaron Nash-Barker
Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Ian Richardson
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Josue Carrasco
Assistants: Colin Philips Coaches: Gary Looker Stuart Stedman
Physio: Ikera Williams
Physio: Hollie Conoln
Match Officials Referee: Mr Ian Stewart Assistants: Mr Bradley Hallybone and Mr Warren Northcott
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V Tring Athletic FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
BALAGUE ON BIGGLESWADE UNITED Our Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes this weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle
As always, it seems, there is a combination Off the pitch a new look web page is about of good news and bad news about life at to hit your computer screens, the result of Biggleswade United. months of work from a number of passionate volunteers without whose help I always thought that our trip to Southall in the club could not survive. the League Challenge Trophy was going to be much harder than it might have looked We are also now looking to get some of on paper and so it proved. Southall may the members of our younger sides well play a league below us but they are involved in the volunteering aspect of not in the last 32 of the FA Vase - the running a football club and I plan to be lowest ranked side still left in the writing to our Under 15 side to see if they tournament - for no reason. would like to help us to manage a match day as volunteers and see what is involved They were well deserving of their 3-0 win the other side of the whitewash. and so now we dust ourselves down and move on to the good news which is that two of our under 12 players have been We also have a business team and other called up for trials for Luton Town. volunteers eagerly looking to find new sponsorship for us at the club, not to This is wonderful news and while it's still mention those involved in pushing the early days for our academy, the signs are Biggleswade United name on all the usual that people are beginning to listen to us social network sites. and see what we are trying to build here at the club. We are always looking for new ideas and new ways of improving our product so we I have always maintained that our can attract more people to watch our strength, the difference that will games and grow with us. eventually bear fruit, is something that will manifest itself on the training ground with Back to football matters and tomorrow we the strength in depth we have with our welcome free scoring Tring Athletic who coaching staff. That is why we need to hit Leverstock Green for six in their last maintain a three days a week training league game and are also still flying the schedule unlike the two nights a week Spartan League flag in the last 32 of the practised by most clubs. It will in the FA Vase. It won't be easy, but should be medium to long term set us apart; it will fun. make us better.
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 Josue Carrasco. 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.
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 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 today’s Premier Division fixture. We extend a very warm welcome to the players, supporters and officials of TRING ATHLETIC FC and to our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. We have managed to put the Nightmare of November behind us with two consecutive League wins against Holmer Green (1-0) and Hadley (3-2) and will be looking to make it a happy Xmas with the hope of gaining points over the holiday period with games against Tring Athletic, Stotfold (27 Dec) and Leighton Town (2 Jan). On Wednesday night we went the same way as some of our fellow Premier Division clubs going down 3-0 at a strong Division One side, Southall in the League Cup. Being clinical in front of goal seems to be our Achilles heel at the moment and despite some impressive build up play, we just couldn’t find the finishing touch despite facing possibly the “bulkiest” keeper in the League. Southall have pulled together a group of players who have enjoyed success at clubs like Chalfont, Hanwell and the recently successful Harefield United, so it is not surprising that they are still enjoying a run in the FA Vase and on Wednesday night’s performance should be looking to a Premier Division place next season. And continuing in Vase mode, our visitors today will also have an eye on their Vase tie on 7th January when they travel to West Midlands League side, Sporting Khalsa on 7th January and make it through to the final 16 of the competition. We wish them all the very best. Tring Athletic are currently in 8th spot in the League and come to United on the back of a 6-1 victory over Leverstock Green last Saturday. In our previous encounter back in September the two sides gained a point apiece in a 1-1 draw with Sergio Urbano on the scoresheet for United. Our Under 23 squad increased their unbeaten run to seven games last Saturday with a 2-1 win at Colney Heath and they will be sitting in 4th spot for Xmas. As this is the last Programme of 2016 I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board, coaches and players to thank you for your support this year and wish you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!! Let’s hope for an enjoyable match today!! Tracey James (Club Secretary and Programme Editor)
FIXTURES SATURDAY 17th DECEMBER 2016
FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date
Berkhamsted
v
Hoddesdon Town
League
Biggleswade United
v
Tring Athletic
Comp.
H/A
KO
League
Ccokfosters
v
Leighton Town
TRING ATHLETIC
League
H
3.00pm
League
Crawley Green
v
FC Broxbourne Boro
STOTFOLD
League
A
3.00pm
League
Edgware Town
v
Welwyn Garden City
Mon 2 Jan
LEIGHTON TOWN
League
H
3.00pm
League
Holmer Green
v
London Colney
League
London Tigers
v
Leverstock Green
Sat 7 Jan
OXHEY JETS
League
A
3.00pm
League
Oxhey Jets
v
Hadley
Sat 14 Jan
COLNEY HEATH
League
H
3.00pm
League
St Margaretsbury
v
Wembley
Sat 21 Jan
CRAWLEY GREEN
League
H
3.00pm
League
Stotfold
v
Hertford Town
STMARGARETSBURY
League
H
7.45pm
League
Sun Sports
v
Colney Heath
BERKHAMSTED
League
A
3.00pm
LONDON COLNEY
League
A
7.45pm
Sat 17 Dec Tues 27 Dec
Tues 24 Jan Sat 28 Jan Tues 31 Jan Sat 4 Feb
Opponents
League
FC BROXBRNE BORO
League
H
3.00pm
UNDER 23 FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Sat 7 Jan
OXHEY JETS
Sat 14 Jan
NO GAME AS YET
Sat 21 Jan
ST MARGARETSBURY
League
A
3.00pm
Sat 28 Jan
HERTFORD TOWN
League
H
3.00pm
ST MARGARETSBURY
League
H
7.45pm
Tues 31 Jan
League
H
3.00pm
RESULTS SATURDAY 10th DECEMBER League
Berkhamsted
2-2
Stotfold
League
FC Broxbourne Boro
4-6
Wembley
League
Hadley
2-3
Biggleswade United
League
Hertford Town
0-2
Cockfosters
League
Hoddesdon Town
2-6
Crawley Green
League
Leverstock Green
1-6
Tring Athletic
League
London Colney
4-0
St Margaretsbury
League
Oxhey Jets
2-2
Edgware Town
League
Sun Sports
2-3
London Tigers
League
Welwyn Garden City
5-2
Leighton Town
MIDWEEK RESULTS
ALL OF THE ABOVE FIXTURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK WITH OUR WEBSITE AND TWITTER FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION AT www.biggleswadeunited.com and @biggleswadeutd
League
Hertford Town
3-0
London Colney
Lge Cup
Arlesey Town Res
0-3
Hadley
Lge Cup
Chesham Utd Res
0-3
Wembley
Lge Cup
Southall
3-0
Biggleswade United
Sun Sports
4-0
Welwyn Garden City
Prem Cup
Kick Off 3.00pm
JOIN US FOR THE BANK HOLIDAY AND SEE IN THE NEW YEAR!!
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE DELETE THAT EXPLETIVE! 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. Cheer your team, enjoy the day, but keep those swear words far away.
Stay with us after our matches on Saturdays to watch Premier League football. All BT SPORT 1 matches will be shown in the clubhouse after our match.
NEW WEBSITE You will be impressed!! Our new website was launched during the week and we think it is one of the best in the League. It still needs a few tweeks and in the next few weeks up to date photos, player profiles etc. will be added. Go to: www.biggleswadeunited.com
Hadley 2 Biggleswade United 3 United returned from their first ever trip to Hadley’s new Brickfield Lane ground in Arkley with another three points in an evenly contested match that was high on quality and included five goals for the hardy, rain soaked crowd to coo about. It also saw United claim their first League double of the season as Cristian Colas’ side took maximum points in the 2-0 home victory in the season opener at Second Meadow. Their hosts have had a pick and mix first half to the season. An excellent FA Cup run saw them reach the third round qualifying eventually going out in a replay to National League side Eastbourne Borough. However, they seem to be suffering a rather prolonged FA Cup hangover as League form tells a different story. Currently residing in the bottom third and without a home League win, they have yet to celebrate a house warming party nor bring cheer to their new found group of supporters. However, on Saturday’s performance it is only time before their illustrious manager, former Spurs and Chelsea striker Micky Hazard, initiates the turnaround in the North London club’s fortunes. United set out their stall as early as the very first minute when Matt Cooper burst forward and hit a 25 yard strike that just inched past the post and five minutes later Cooper again was denied
by the glove of Hadley’s Charlie Mann. Slowly getting in to their stride, Hadley managed to weather their guests’ early onslaught and a ten minute spell saw pressure applied at the other end of the pitch with United’s Martin Russell and Jordan Wright needing to take a firm grip on a Hadley strike duo of Hesham Benmansour and Ivan Machedo that has netted 21 goals this season.
The second period was only four minutes old when United failed to deal with a second consecutive corner and they were punished when Sam Lyon picked up the loose ball and stabbed home the equaliser past a justifiably frustrated Wyant.
the striker turned and volleyed past Mann from 20 yards out with one local supporter claiming it was the best goal seen at Brickfield Lane this season. But the story didn’t end there. Hadley came back strongly and set United nerves jangling in the 85th minute. Unchallenged in the middle of the park, The goal seemed to spur the home side Mulholland was able to cut through the on and United looked decidedly edgy for United pack and took his chance from a ten minute spell with skipper Russell distance. This time it was a United boot However, it was United’s self- styled needing to take shake up his back line to that caught Wyant out as it ricocheted Frank Lampard in Nick Elliot (pictured) prevent Hadley getting a second. away from his reach to make it 2-3. An that broke the deadlock in the 23rd under fire United held out for the minute scoring his ninth goal of the The introduction of substitute , Charlie remaining five minutes to secure the season from midfield. But it was United Joy, to replace the tiring Sturniolo points and leave Hadley wondering how striker Dave Iwediuno’s tenacity that seemed to give United the extra legs to they rid themselves of the home ground earned the praise as he chased down a take the game to their hosts and in the voodoo. seemingly lost cause to pull the ball back 58th minute a long pass from Joy found from the touchline to Elliot who beat Lusunga Ndovi on the opposite flank. two defenders and finished by tucking Nodovi cut in past his marker and sent the ball in to the net for 0-1. over a perfect cross to Iwediuno but the United number nine headed in to The remainder of the half saw play Mann’s arms. swing from end to end with slick, controlled passing football that was a Three further efforts fell to United but it joy to watch for the spectators. was Elliot again, somewhat fortuitously United’s Tom Wyant maintained that struck for his and United’s second United’s lead with a reflex save from a of the day in the 75th minute. Collecting Tyrone Mulholland header and his from Joy on the edge of the box he fired counterpart was called upon to deny a low left foot strike that hit a Hadley Kane Farrell a goal from his free kick and boot sending Mann the wrong way and Josh Sturniolo saw his effort turned the ball in to the net for 1-2. around for a corner as the half time whistle blew. Four minutes later and having been on for only three minutes, Daryl Ngwala scored his first in a United shirt to make it 1-3. A Farrell free kick was chested down by Ngwala and in one movement
A TEAM FROM THE 60s
Development Division Results Saturday 10th December League
Cockfosters
0-4
Hertford Town
League
Colney Heath
1-2
Biggleswade United U23
League
Harpenden Town
2-1
Hoddesdon Town
League
Holmer Green
8-0
Stotfold
Midweek League
Stotfold
0-0
Hertford Town
TODAY’S FIXTURES League
Colney Heath
v
Buckingham Athletic
League
Hadley
v
Harpenden Town
League
Hertford Town
v
Winslow United
League
Risborough Rangers
v
Stotfold
League
Welwyn GC
v
St Margaretsbury
League
Wodson Park
v
Cockfosters
This great team photo was taken either during the 1960-61 or 61-62 football season and shows the players for Biggleswade United. Now 55 years old, it was owned by ex-player Noel Murphy. In the back row are Robert Cooper, Noel Murphy, Alan Smith, Kenneth Sermons, James Philbrook and Kenneth Gale. In the front row are Colin Pepper, Robert Course, Alan Bartram, Brian Albone and Celestine Roberts. Alan worked for Elphick’s Printers in Shortmead Street who published the Biggleswade Chronicle. “The team colours were claret and blue” explains Noel whose father supplied their kit from the family’s sports shop W Murphy & Son, also in Shortmead Street.