OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME TUESDAY 4th DECEMBER 2018 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v CRAWLEY GREEN
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 CRAWLEY GREEN FOOTBALL CLUB. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. MATCH PREVIEW – BY LEON WAITE Ten days off have given United the opportunity to reflect on what has been a sensational period of form that has occurred in spite of the sudden departure of former boss Jimmy Martin almost a month ago, whose successor Emilio Gutierrez has seamlessly continued the progress he had instigated. Since being held 2-2 by Edgware Town at the end of October, the Bedfordshire side have recorded six consecutive league wins- the latter five coming under the stewardship of Gutierrez- with their defence only being breached in two of those matches. A 2-0 defeat at Baldock Town in the Premier Division Cup 3 weeks ago is the only blemish on an otherwise spotless copybook of late and you have to go back to the start of October for their last loss in the league. Such exceptional form has an inevitable end in sight but with the team just six victories short of their total for last year this season it promises to be a truly lucrative campaign. Crawley Green The Luton-based outfit finished 18th last term but have performed at a far more consistent level this season and currently sit 8th. They head into this fixture on a run of one defeat in seven league outings with their most recent match ending in an impressive 2-1 triumph over 3rd placed Hadley, providing the perfect response following a crushing 5-0 reverse at Potton United. Since gaining promotion to the SSML Premier Division in 2016, Crawley have faced United on five occasions and they secured their first win in that sequence back in January as they prevailed 3-2 at Barton Rovers’ Sharpenhoe Road. Previously, United had picked up three straight wins against this week’s opponents after their initial matchup ended 1-1. A seventh straight league victory looms tantalisingly but United will need to overcome a robust Crawley Green side in order to achieve that feat.
UP NEXT On Saturday we make our first ever visit to Division Two side BOVINGDON in the Quarter Final stage of the Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy. This is followed on Tuesday night with another Quarter Final tie in the Bedfordshire FA Senior Challenge Cup when BEDFORD TOWN visit Second Meadow. Kick Off 7.45pm.
The Players..
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Biggleswade United Director of Football, Guillem Balague, provides this weekly column.
When I decided to get involved with Biggleswade United I asked my good friend and former coach at Valencia, Pako Ayestaran, if he knew of a young coach with vision that would be interested in joining us in our new project.. One of his assistants recommended Fran Constancio who was in Birmingham at the time taking some time off after nearly a decade of football involvement at Valencia and was looking to try to build himself a new life in the UK.
What we have in place now - despite a constant battle for better facilities - is due testament to his tireless efforts that have produced an Academy with coaches completely committed to the job in hand and one that is married to a style that is in evidence throughout all of our sides here at Biggleswade United.
In truth we have got one more year out of Fran than I felt we would. I have sensed for a while that he was looking to move on because he was getting restless. As the Academy grew he was finding it harder to do He knew nothing about me or the club but I everything that was necessary to keep it convinced him to come over, first as a going but he stayed on out of respect for me member of the first team coaching crew and also because he did not want to be although it wasn't long before I realised that thought to be letting down the youngsters where his real strength lay would be with in his charge. the running of a new Academy that we were planning at the club. He leaves an amazing legacy at the club and after a short break will almost certainly try He totally embraced the notion of trying to to find himself an opening within the ranks build something from scratch, from the of a professional club's academy. ground level. At the start we had just a first team and a reserves side and he leaves the club just some three and a half seasons later We will all miss his judgement and with 13 sides in its Academy catering for astuteness. Personally I will miss his wise more than 150 youngsters aged from seven counsel on all matters football, but over and to 16 as well as a Wildcat Soccer Club for above that I will miss his friendship, loyalty girls aged from 5-11. and understanding.
Continued overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued We will, of course, struggle to replace him but replace him we will. Meanwhile as a parting gift to the club he has already started to help us to put volunteers in place at the Academy many of whom will be responsible for performing any number of the various and profoundly vital jobs that he was carrying out to ensure the Academy could continue to function
everything he has done to take this club along this amazing journey that it continues to travel on, and to wish him every success for the future. I know that everyone will give him the sending off he deserves at the Academy's Christmas Party. My only regret is that personal reasons will make it impossible for me to attend.
We will soon be explaining how we will set the Academy up post- Gracias Fran!! Fran although it will run in much the same way as it does now. But for now it is time to say our goodbyes, offer our thanks for
Pictured: Fran Constancio
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION SATURDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 V LEIGHTON TOWN DEVELOPMENT
BEDFORDSHIRE FA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER FINAL TIE TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 7.45pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V BEDFORD TOWN
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.
Crawley Green – The History Crawley Green Sports & Social Club was formed in November 1989 after arsonists caused the virtual destruction of the present building. Members of Stopsley Harriers, The Wyvern and Ramridge Rangers Sunday Football Clubs amalgamated to form the present club and were successful in securing a 99 year lease from the Council. The New Club house was formally open on 19th June, 1992 by then Luton Town manager, David Pleat. The badge incorporates all the elements of the three founding clubs but also local history. The club badge was adopted in 1996 after many years of discussion. Maroon was the colour of the largest single club Ramridge Rangers and it was adopted as the club colour. It is incorporated in the Club badge as the bar across the middle. Stopsley Harriers were well known for their red and blue quarters, whilst Wyvern Members were predominantly blue since their foundation. Both these colours are reflected in the badge. Crawley Green FC Saturday side was formed in 1993 after another local team, Somerset Tavern came under the Crawley Green umbrella. The club colour of maroon was adopted by the team. In 2018 Luton Town FC and Crawley Green FC further enhanced their club partnership with the announcement that Crawley Green FC will play their home games at The Brache training ground from season 2018-2019. Crawley Green, who are the only Luton based team to play at step 5 or above of the National League System, have been trying since 2008 to get permission to build a suitable stadium. Unfortunately in that time they have failed to receive the support needed from Luton Borough Council, despite there being no cost involved for the Council. This decision has meant that they have had to ground share with Barton Rovers FC for 11 years now, to enable the team to continue to play at that level.
Just £60 ADULTS £40 Concessions