OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME Tuesday 26th February 2019 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v HARPENDEN TOWN
What’s Inside • The Players • Guillem Balague on Biggleswade United (as published Friday 22nd Feb.) • Current League Standings • Next Up at Second Meadow • Biggleswade United Under 23s • Biggleswade United Ladies FC • Our Forthcoming Fixtures • Our Club History • Harpenden Town FC Club History • Venue for Hire • Premier Division Round Up • Player Profiles • Team Photo
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.
A 3-1 defeat at Leighton Town was a bad day at the office for the first team but compensated in no small part by an excellent performance from our under 23 side and a highly commendable cup win for our ladies.
Meanwhile our Under 23 side signalled their intent to battle for, sadly, probably the last ever Under 25 Spartan League Development Division title, with a thumping 4-0 win over Harpenden Town that puts them in joint second place in the table with Ladies first, and a superb 3-2 victory Berkhamsted, three points behind the over Evergreen Ladies who play a leaders Kempston Rovers, but with division above us in the Bedfordshire two games in hand. and Hertfordshire Women's Football League means we now face Hitchin The league is perfect for the Town ladies in the quarter finals of development of young players and the Chris Renshaw Cup on March 3. ending it is, in my opinion, a backward step. The progress made by our A fine first half display that saw us youngsters in this division has been take a two goal lead was followed by one of the real highlights of our a nervy second period which allowed season so far and is a tribute to our opponents back into the contest everyone involved, not least coach although thankfully we held on to Nyasha Segwete who is bringing the record what was probably one of the very best from his young players. finest victories so far for our ladies side. It also augurs well for the future of Our next opponents in the the first team, a side that so many of competition are currently pushing for the players under Nyash's charge, promotion into Division One and will quite rightly, aspire to play for. almost certainly represent even more of a challenge than that posed by Evergreen Ladies.
Continued Overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued Our philosophy at the club has always been that it is all part of a process and to that end we are constantly looking to increase the number of teams that play under the Biggleswade United umbrella
In addition to the Wildcat sessions, running alongside this will be training for under seven year old boys as we look to try to find youngsters that can help us to start a side in that age group.
The re-commencement of the hugely popular Wildcats football - an FA initiative that provides a platform for girls aged between five and 11 to come along and play - will hopefully help us to find the youngsters that can help us add to our ever growing portfolio of sides.
The first team will now be looking to get back to winning ways with two home matches over the next few days, beginning today when Hadley currently top of the table - call in, before Harpenden Town visit Second Meadow on Tuesday night (Ko 7.45pm). The reserves meanwhile It is from this that we developed our visit Harpenden Town' tomorrow (Sat current under 9 girls side and it would ko 3pm) when they face their be wonderful if we could once again development side for the second time find the young talented players to fill in eight days. in the gaps in some of the age groups up to and including under 12s. See you there We are the only club in Biggleswade linked to the scheme which gets underway again at Stratton Way on Saturday March 2 from 1 - 2.15. The cost is ÂŁ3 a session and more details can be obtained from Matt Burgess on 07809 604541.
Guillem
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V
WEMBLEY
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 23RD MARCH 2019 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V
LONDON COLNEY
Biggleswade United Under 23
Biggleswade United Ladies
BEDFORDSHIRE & HERTFORDSHIRE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP SUNDAY 10TH MARCH2019 KICK OFF 2pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED LADIES V
KEMPSTON ROVERS 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 Harpenden Town FC Harpenden Town enjoyed their 125 years anniversary last season and celebrated the milestone by winning promotion to the Spartan South Midlands premier League. It was the culmination of three magnificent years under manager Danny Plumb with the guidance of chairman Roman Motyczak. In season 2014/15 the Harps finished sixth in the SSML Div.1 but raised £110,000 to totally refurbish the clubhouse so the facilities matched the players ambitions. In 2015/16 Harpenden qualified for the FA Vase for the first time in many years and finished fourth in the league. But last season, the anniversary year, Harpenden won their first tie in the FA Cup for 14 years and despite being 2nd from bottom in September clawed their way up the table with a run of 11 wins on the bounce, leading the table over Christmas. Manager Plumb was haunted by the fact that every game for the rest of the season was a MUST WIN but the lads pulled it off and ended second with promotion. Over the last 4 years attendances have increased with over 200 fans attending the final home game of the 2016-17 season which has traditionally been used to raise funds for charities such as Prostate Cancer and Crohn’s & Colitis UK. Other recent milestones included striker Harry Hunt passing 100 goals for the club, Stephen Hartnup's development squad bringing on young stars from Harpenden Colts, new Assistant Manager Michael Jones who works for Watford FC Academy Trust injecting fresh talent which integrated really well and old stalwarts like Jack Cartwright, Tony Golder and Matt Sutton holding it all together at the back. So it all started in 1891 with Harpenden FC playing in the Mid-Herts League and winning it on numerous occasions. Town was added to the name in 1908. Town climbed into the South Midlands League in 1957 winning the Premier Division in 1962 and 1965 and in 1968 winning the Herts Charity Shield and South Midlands League Shield. Season 1990-91 saw a big investment in the club with the Centenary Stand and floodlights both going up. The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1998. As always with success there were also turbulent times and Harpenden were relegated from the Premier League in 2000 and again in 2005. In 2006-07 a new committee was in place and they gained the FA Charter Standard Accreditation putting the right structures in place. Success followed a year later when the club was named Herts FA Chartered Standard club of the year thanks to community work, an anti-racism event, adult seven-a-side comp, free coaching for juniors and nurturing women's football. A new committee and management team led by Roman and Danny joined in the Summer of 2013 with key aims of refurbishing the clubhouse, making HTFC the focus for football in Harpenden and winning promotion. Those who don't like change please note Wynn Owens, who has been connected with the club since 1988, continues as President.
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
Premier Division Round Up – Saturday 23rd February By Karen Browne – League Fixtures Officer PREMIER DIVISION Hadley remain at the top of the table and now lead the chasing pack by five points after winning 2-0 at Biggleswade United. Potton United are up to fifth after defeating visiting North Greenford United FC. At the bottom Stotfold won by a solitary goal at Leverstock Green while Cockfosters shared the points with a 2-2 home draw against London Colney. London Tigers also picked up a vital point with a 1-1 draw with visiting Crawley Green. Elsewhere Leighton Town recorded a solitary goal home success against Colney Heath while it was honours even between Oxhey Jets and Baldock Town & Arlesey Town and Harpenden Town, both games finishing 1-1. 1-1 Arlesey Town v Harpenden Town (Smith [pen]) / (A McClelland) Attendance: 75 0-2 Biggleswade United v Hadley (Camara, Edwards) Attendance: 89 2-2 Cockfosters v London Colney (Beattie [2]) / (Brown, Quadri) Attendance: 52 1-0 Leighton Town v Colney Heath (Foulger) Attendance: 113 0-1 Leverstock Green v Stotfold (McEvoy) Attendance: 56 1-1 London Tigers v Crawley Green (Unknown) / (P Draycott) Attendance: Unknown 1-1 Oxhey Jets v Baldock Town (Turner) / (Barnes [pen]) Attendance: 68 2-0 Potton United v North Greenford United FC (Don, Burnside) Attendance: 76 THE BUILDABASE FA VASE Quarter Final The run in the Buildabase FA Vase is over for Biggleswade FC, the Bedfordshire club falling at the quarter-final stage on Sunday but can draw comfort from the fact that this season’s campaign has brought about the furthest the club has reached along with also recording their best win in the competition. Sunday’s tie at Canterbury City saw a massive following with no less than three coaches heading to Kent. The SSML club got off to a perfect start when Tom Cookman put them ahead after just 7 minutes and at that stage they looked set to progress. However the game turned in the closing minutes of the first period and the opening minutes of the second period when the Southern Counties East Football League side struck twice. 2-1 Canterbury City v Biggleswade FC (Saunders, Grant) / (Cookman) Attendance: 602
Picture courtesy of GUY WILLS PHOTOGRAPHY
Pictured: James Smith
BIGGLESWADE UNITED PLAYER PROFILES Ollie Leslie – Goalkeeper Highly respected goalkeeper in the SML, Ollie joined United at the start of the season. Great shot stopper whose height adds to the all round ingredients needed for United’s number 1. James Cooper – Defender. Joined United in 2015 as a striker from local side Gamlingay United. “Coops” has made almost 150 appearances for the club. Extremely fit player who combines the defensive full back / attacking wing back position to great effect. Kane Farrell – Defender Former player with Southend United Centre of Excellence who joined United in 2015. Kane has made almost 200 appearances. Highly committed player who rarely misses a training session. High technical ability and a complete allrounder who chips in with some stunning goals. Charlie Briggs – Defender Joined United in June 2018 having previously played at Stotfold. Impressed as an opponent and was very much on the United wanted list. A young, solid, no nonsense centre half who is growing in stature in every game he plays.
Joe Gauge – Defender 18 Year old Joe is having an amazing start to senior football and is already one of the fans’ favourites. Eager to learn and showing a great maturity in every game. Is certainly one to watch for the future. Is part of the Stevenage Elite Development Progarmme. James Smith – Defender “Snoops” joined United in 2017 and became an instant hit with the United fans with his never say die attitude. Beset by injury last season, he managed only 14 games but this season has already notched up 24 appearances and fingers crossed he’ll make it to 50 this season. Matt Clark – Defender Former Watford Academy player, Matt has bided his time as captain of the Development side but has recently broken in to the first team reckoning where his growing from game to game. Strong player who is quickly adapting to the United style of play.
BIGGLESWADE UNITED PLAYER PROFILES Jaiden Irish – Midfield United’s midfield powerhouse who recently made his 100th appearance for the club since joining in 2016. Don’t let his shy persona fool you, he is a terrier in the middle of the park and uses his high quality technical ability to great effect. Dylan Logan – Midfield Another young player who joined United from Stevenage at the start of the season. Highly skilfull player who has the ability to wreak havoc on unsuspecting defenders .
Liam Andrews – Midfield A player who has impressed since the very start of the season and is adapting superbly well in the midfield and in his first full season at senior level having spent his youth years at Stevenage. Excellent technical ability and superb engine. Rafe Goodman – Midfield – Another young player who was previously at Stevenage. Started the season with United but ventured in to Step 4 football with AFC Dunstable returning to United in January. A long pass technician who has also chipped in with the goals. Taz Andrews – Midfield – Began his playing career at United in the Under 11s before moving to the Stevenage Academy. Another technically gifted player who looks comfortable on the ball and despite his small stature proves difficult to shake off the ball. Ricky Christie – Midfield – Joined United at the start of last season having spent his young playing days in his native Scotland. Gritty hardworking player who takes no prisoners.
Ieaun Lewis – Midfield / Striker / Captain – Vastly experienced and highly respected player who has played at Step 3 and Step 4 with the likes of Hitchin Town and St Neots Town. Has been the Academy coach at Stevenage for many years and he is passing on his knowledge and experience to the younger players. A leader on and off the pitch.
BIGGLESWADE UNITED PLAYER PROFILES Dave Parkinson – Midfield / Striker Highly popular player within the League, “Bullet” is a renowned goal machine and probably the fastest frontman in the Premier Division. Currently the club’s leading goalscorer. Sam Holmes – Striker – Prolific goal scorer who was previously with Division One side Ampthill Town where he was leading goal scorer with 35 goals from 43 appearances. Hot on the heels of his United strike partners for the golden boot. Joe Hankins – Striker – Previously with Royston Town, Joe joined United in September and is a key player in United’s forward line. A creative wide man he has assisted in many of United’s goals this season. Will be looking to take his goal tally to double figures by the end of the season. Codi Spavins – Striker – Definitely a young player to watch out for, Codi enjoyed a highly successful season with the Under 18s last season and made the transition to senior football with regular appearances for the Under 23 and I November justifiably took his place in the first team squad. George Brinkman Striker. A likeable rogue and the changing room joker, George is well known in football circles having played for many clubs at the higher level including Hitchin Town, Barton Rovers and Bedford Town. Sadly a broken ankle has sidelined him for most of the season but he tells us he will come back with a vengeance. Beware!!