Pictured: United skipper, Ieaun Lewis receiving Team of the Month Award from League Official, Larry Corkrey.
Photo courtesy of Chris Thomas
OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME TUESDAY 22ND JANUARY 2019 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v COLNEY HEATH
What’s Inside • Welcome • The Players • Guillem Balague on Biggleswade United (as published Saturday 19th Jan.) • Current League Standings • Next Up at Second Meadow • Biggleswade United Under 23s • Biggleswade United Ladies FC • Our Forthcoming Fixtures • Our Club History • Colney Heath FC Club History • Venue for Hire
Welcome Welcome to Second Meadow Good evening and welcome to Second Meadow for tonight’s Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters from COLNEY HEATH 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 Two managers had already recorded victories on their respective inaugural outings in the United dugout this season and much like Jimmy Martin and Emilio Gutierrez, Alex Salvador’s reign began in an explosive manner. A brace from teenager Codi Spavins coupled with a strike from James Cooper saw the hosts accelerate into a 3-0 lead by halftime in Saturday’s derby clash with Stotfold and whilst they couldn’t embellish that scoreline in the second period, it was ultimately a comfortable 3-1 victory. A vibrant, attacking performance combined with a terrific result against an improving Stotfold side and Salvador’s second match in charge sees midweek action and the shimmering floodlights that accompany such an occasion return to Second Meadow after a month’s hiatus. Colney Heath are the opponents and they will be seeking to avenge a 3-2 reverse at the Recreation Ground just over a week ago and interestingly these two fixtures had a similarly swift turnaround last term with United prevailing on the road but succumbing to defeat on home turf- hopefully that’s not an ominous sign. Today’s opponents Colney Heath he Magpies have enjoyed a pretty impressive campaign and- following last year’s 11th place finish- sit 9th with ample games in hand on the several clubs above them. Colney have suffered consecutive league defeats for the first time this season, however, with the weekend’s 2-1 loss at Baldock Town preceded by the aforementioned 3-2 reversal against United where they had recovered from two goals down before conceding late on. Sandwiched between those two games was an important League Challenge Trophy triumph over Winslow United and they’ve proven this year that they can produce impressive results away from home with a notable 1-0 success at league leaders Hadley back in November. Up Next On Saturday we travel o EDGWARE TOWN. Kick Off 7.45pm. This is followed by the visit of HARPENDEN TOWN on Saturday 2nd February. If you can’t make it to Edgware why not come and cheer on the Under 23 team who play the second leg of the Development Division cup tie against Berkhamsted. Our Under 23s trail 2-1 from the first leg so all to play for.
The Players..
Picture courtesy of GUY WILLS PHOTOGRAPHY
Pictured: Jaiden Irish
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Biggleswade United Chairman, Guillem Balague, provides this weekly column for The Biggleswade Chronicle.
The news that we are to lose our head coach for the second time this season leaves all of us here at Biggleswade United with mixed feelings. After a short though extremely successful stint as first team coach since taking over from Jimmy Martin in early November, Emilio Millรกn will be leaving the club to take over as head coach at UD Tomares Under 18 side in Spain. UD Tomares are based just out of Seville and play in one of the highest leagues for its age group in the country playing in the same division as the same aged sides of Primera Liga clubs like Sevilla and Real Betis.
Those who do well there are invariably head hunted by professional clubs in Spain.
It was certainly an offer he could not refuse and Emilio leaves with our blessing and our thanks for what he has done for the club during his time with us. We are truly honoured to have helped to play a part, however small, in his development. It comes as no surprise to me that his progression as a coach should have come to the notice of bigger fish than ourselves and confirmation that in this technological age that we find ourselves, anything is possible and there truly are no frontiers in the world of football.
Personally, I always knew Emilio was It is a league regarded by everyone in destined for bigger things and I'm Spain as very much the proving sure that he will also feel his brief ground of both players and coaches though very timely stay with us has alike and an environment where helped set him on the path to success success both on and off the pitch and career fulfilment. invariably brings with it elevation to the higher echelon of Spanish football.
Continued Overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued That said I cannot pretend to be particularly enamoured with his new club who did not have the good grace to call us first to request permission to speak to Emilio. Small and modest we may be, but we are nonetheless old fashioned enough to believe that there is a correct way of doing things and making initial contact with us before contacting Emilio would have been little more than basic manners and a detail that would have been appreciated.
But we move on. Fortunately when you have a game plan, policy, ideology and look to continuity as we do at Biggleswade United then the next step is as easy as it is logical and so Alex Salvador (pictured) - currently assistant first team coach - moves up to number one, the same transition as when Emilio took over from Jimmy and the way we like to operate at this club. Alex is just 27 years old but is already a Pro Licence holder with a wealth of experience behind him.
I am convinced he will slot seamlessly into his new role where he will be aided by his new number two, Tom Farr, aged just 22, who will be combining his role as coach at Stevenage FC Academy to work with us.
And they will look to hit the floor running with two home games on the bounce starting today as we face a recently rejuvenated Stotfold and then Colney Heath on Tuesday night.
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION CUP 2ND LEG SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 V BERKHAMSTED FC
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V
HARPENDEN TOWN
Biggleswade United Under 23
Biggleswade United Ladies
BEDFORDSHIRE & HERTFORDSHIRE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3 SUNDAY 27TH JANUARY 2019 KICK OFF 2pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED LADIES V STOTFOLD LADIES
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 Colney Heath FC
Colney Heath (The Magpies) club was established in 1907 and initially played in the Hatfield District League. After World War I they joined the Mid Herts League, and their most successful period in the league came after World War II, with the club winning the Division One and Premier Division titles, as well as the Mid Herts Benevolent Shield (twice) and the Bingham Cox Cup. In 1953 the club moved up to Division Two of the Hertfordshire Senior County League, which they won at the first attempt to earn promotion to Division One. In 1955 the club were placed in Division One A as the league was reorganised; they went on to win the division in 1955–56 and were placed in the new Premier Division for the following season. In 1958–59 they were Premier Division champions, and the following season saw them win both the Aubrey Cup and the Hertfordshire Intermediate Cup. In 1965–66 Colney Heath finished second-from-bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated back to Division One. They were relegated again at the end of the 1968–69 season, returning to Division Two. Another relegation in 1975–76 saw them playing in Division Three. However, after finishing as runners-up in 1979–80 the club were promoted back to Division Two. A fourth-place finish in 1983–84 was enough to see them promoted to Division One, and after finishing third in Division One in 1985–86, they returned to the Premier Division. Their first season back in the Premier Division ended in relegation to Division One, but the club were Division One champions in 1988–89, earning promotion back to the Premier Division.] In 1995–96 they won the Hertfordshire Senior Centenary Trophy, which they retained the following season. The 1999–2000 season saw Colney Heath win the Premier Division of the Hertfordshire Senior County League, resulting in promotion to the Senior Division of the Spartan South Midlands League, which was renamed Division One in 2001. They were Division One champions in 2005-06, earning promotion to the Premier Division. In 2010–11 the club won the Premier Division Cup. They won the Hertfordshire Charity Shield in 2013–14, and again in 2017–18.
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
Picture courtesy of GUY WILLS PHOTOGRAPHY
Pictured: James Smith