V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
Holmer Green
Colours: Green / White
1
Tom Gowans
1
Sam Butcher
2
James Smith
2
Ben Bradley
3
Lee Bilcock Š
3
James Britnell Š
4
Gareth Hunt
4
Ryan Parsons
5
Jordan Wright
5
Dean Munday
6
Nick Elliot
6
Scott Mason
7
Kane Farrell
7
Gary Lines
8
Matt Cooper
8
Jonty Summersell
9
Ioannis Varouxakis
9
Curtis Stone
10
Abraham Eze
10
James Burrell
11
Jaiden Irish
11
Dean Powles
12
Charlie Black
12
Michael Davies
14
James Cooper
14
Adam Milligan
15
David Iwediuno
15
Matt Wooster
16
Josh Howard-Dobson
16
Anthony Tyson
GK
Robbie Ponting
17
JJ Jarrott
18
Matthew Richardson
18
Rikki Gilbert
19
Martin Russell
19
20
Jay Turner
20
Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Chris Allen
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Albert Martinez
Asst Manager: Kevin Stone Coach:
Physio: Ikera Williams
Physio: Chris Allen
Match Officials Referee: Mr I Stewart Assistants: Mr D Carney and Mr A Francioni
Saturday 12th August 2017 Official Match Programme Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V Holmer Green FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
BALAGUE ON BIGGLESWADE UNITED
BIGGLESWADE UNITED – OUR HISTORY (continued)
Our Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes this weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle.
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.
It was a huge disappointment to get knocked out of the FA Cup so early, particularly by a side - and I say this with the greatest of respect to Potton United - that I genuinely feel we should have beaten. We made mistakes that we need to be focusing on sooner rather than later if we are to be competitive this season. We need to understand how to cope with opponents better and how well we do this will demonstrate just how far we have progressed. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but perhaps at 1-1 we left ourselves far too open as we went for the win especially bearing in mind the fact we were playing against ten men. In the end we paid the price going down 1-2. That said, to put it into perspective, our main priority this season is the league and we must be in a position to compete for it. A lot of teams are investing very heavily - certainly for this level of football - because this time around there is the possibility of more than one side being promoted at the end of the season. But I never entered this level of football to take part in a money race, but rather to improve the level of coaching and it is interesting that many other clubs have followed suit. It's a challenge I welcome; bring it on. We now face two games in the league that should tell us a lot more, starting with our opening league fixture against Holmer Green tomorrow (Sat 3pm) before we travel to Stotfold on Tuesday (kick off 7.45pm) where our former coach, Mick Reardon is now in charge. It will be good to see him again.
Personally I think this is the best set of players we have had since my arrival at the club. That isn't to say, of course, that we aren't always looking at the possibility of improving it. Two hard, competitive games before we have so much as kicked a league ball should stand us in good stead, not least because they help highlight any things that need to be worked on but in truth, the proof of the pudding should be there for all to see within a month. As always we are trying to reinforce our Under 23 squad with a view to preparing for the same likelihood as occurred last year when we had five or six players come through the ranks into the first team. It is a rite of passage that we want to continue. Similarly we are always on the look out for financial backers that can help us improve the clubs infrastructure, the club crest has now been painted onto the club stand and looks sensational and we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of new Biggleswade United merchandise. Onwards and upwards starting today against Holmer Green.
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 the 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 this first Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture and the start of the 2017 2018 League campaign. Today we extend a very warm welcome to the players, supporters and officials of HOLMER GREEN FC and to our three match officials. We hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us.
Everyone at the club tasted the bitter disappointment of a last minute goal on Tuesday night as we went out of the FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary round for the first time since we joined the competition back in 2005 2006. We had battled so hard to get back on level terms after a first half goal from Potton United’s James Meredith and we had several second half chances to put the game to bed. When Charlie Black brought us level and Potton were reduced to ten, I and many others thought the tie was ours. But fate dealt a cruel blow when a foul on Gareth Hunt went unpunished in the Potton penalty area and our opponents were given a free run at goal to score the winner with just injury time left on the clock. But we were never in a million to one chance of ever going on to win the FA Cup so we now turn our attention to the bread and butter of League football. Our visitors, however, are one of only a few SML teams remaining in the FA Cup after a convincing 4-0 home win over AFC Hayes (formerly Brook House) on Saturday. Holmer will now travel to Cockfosters and so another SML side’s hopes of FA Cup progression will hit the changing room floor. Our next fixture is a short trip to local rivals Stotfold who literally and metaphorically crashed out of the FA with a 1-12 hammering by Berkhamsted – who look very strong this season. On Wednesday night our Under 18s are in cup action when they play host to Caldecote Reserves in the East Beds Charity Cup. Kick Off 7.45pm. Let’s hope for an enjoyable and entertaining game this afternoon. Tracey James (Club Secretary and Programme Editor)
Kick Off 3pm
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.
The History of Holmer Green Originally founded in 1908, Holmer played initially in The Chesham and District League. Matches were played at Campbell’s Meadow, (now the Rosetti Estate), close to a tennis racket factory. Sometime before 1934 the Club moved to Holmer Green Common and set up headquarters in The Bat and Ball. In 1934 the Club switched to The Wycombe Combination League. The first known trophy to be won by Holmer Green was The Chesham Charity Cup in 1939, the first of 27 Cups and Championships won thus far by the 1st XI. The early 70’s saw the start of a very successful thirty years in the Club’s history. Holmer Green moved to their present ground, Watchet Lane, in 1975 when the new Holmer Green Sports Association pavilion was fully ready. Holmer won The Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup in 1976-77. Senior Status was thus achieved and since then the Club has striven to play at the highest level possible for a strictly amateur club. The Club, through current President John Anderson, was heavily involved in the moves that set up The Chiltonian League in 1984. That League embraced clubs from no less than six different counties, before being swallowed up by The Hellenic. Holmer had been very successful in the Chiltonian, and believed that a move to a better run league, where the clubs were encouraged to improve facilities, should be the next step. The Chiltonian, only naturally, were reluctant to lose their “flagship” club and tried to stop the move to the The South Midlands League. Not until August 17th 1995 did Holmer Green finally exhaust the FA’s appeal system, successfully, being allowed to switch Leagues. This move gave Holmer Green the impetus to finally erect a Stand, now called The Don Want Stand in honour of their former longserving groundsman who still helps out with
his time and expertise, on a regular basis. . Don was recently presented with some momentos to mark his 50 years with the Football Club. Over the following years huge strides were taken which made possible the erection of floodlights, thanks to the fund-raising, grants, and a loan from ex- player Mark Williams. Premier Division status was achieved in 1999 after winning the Senior Division twice in four seasons, being 2nd and 4th in between. A financial crisis arose some 10 or more years ago, after more ground improvements, Mick Bowler came in to help steady the ship, with great financial assistance from former player John Walters. Centenary events started with a visit from a full Wycombe Wanderers team in July 2007 when the ground record of over 800 was recorded. In 2008 the Senior Club formally merged with Holmer Green Minors FC to become “One Club” and this occasion coincided with the new Club as a whole being named “ Club of the Year 2008” by Bucks & Milton Keynes Sports Partnership. Season 2008-09 was Holmer’s 10th successive one in the Premier Division. After an unexpectedly long stay in the Premier Division, Holmer Green was demoted to Division One for season 2009-10, despite avoiding the two relegation positions. Work immediately began to regain the “F” Grading required for Step 5 football to return to Watchet Lane. With Manager Jason Weinrabe, who had twice led the Club to avoid the relegation positions in difficult circumstances, going to work in Australia, the Club promoted Coach Chris Allen to the Manager’s job. Chris was assisted by Gareth Williams and Matt Pollard. The 1st XI won the First Division by three points in 2009-10 losing only 3 of 40 games. The coveted “F” Grading was achieved in 2011.
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE NEWSLETTER NUMBER 1 Written by Bill Scholes Here we go again ….the start of another season. Time to put away the whites and dig out the mouldy jock straps, cracked shin pads and smelly socks .What ever happened to the idea of a close season – I don’t think we actually had one, in fact we were a bit like the famous Windmill Theatre… we never close. Apologies to our younger readers, if you don’t remember the War it won’t mean anything to you! Firstly I would like to welcome all the new clubs to the League – 6 in total if you include London Colney, who we welcome back after they left us for a brief spell before deciding that promotion was not for them. However, they are to all intents and purposes a new club with a new committee, a new manager and new players. In Division One, we also welcome back London Lions who opted to go back to the County league for a couple of years whilst they regrouped and brought their ground up to at least Premier Division standard. After 3 years of trying, Rayners Lane finally secured their move from the Hellenic League over to us and I know they will be a great asset to the League. Division Two will be shining brighter with the addition of 3 new clubs, AFC Southgate, Berkhamsted Raiders and Park View, all of whom have floodlights and covered seating accommodation for at least 100 people.
On the debit side, we have lost 7 clubs from last season due to varying reasons. Last season’s Premier Division runners up Hertford Town have gladly accepted promotion to the Ryman (sorry Bostick) League in place of London Colney and they go with our best wishes. In Division One, Chesham Reserves and Arlesey Reserves both withdrew as they were left without a ground, and Hadley Wood and Wingate folded after just the one season. Kensington Boro have left us to join the Combined Counties League after securing a new ground share arrangement with Bedfont and Feltham. Sadly we learnt only a couple of weeks ago that New Bradwell had folded after being promoted from Division Two – what is it about promotion? Apparently the manager, committee and all the players left, leaving them with no choice. We have also lost Thame Rangers, Division Two champions, who were promoted to Hellenic Div One East. They have also lost their manager and most of their players – see above! Finally, Woodford Town, who took a year’s sabbatical as their ground at Brimsdown was not deemed acceptable, have taken over Haringey and Waltham FC, changed the name to Woodford Town 2017 and taken their place in the Essex Senior League.
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.
TODAY’S MATCH PREVIEW by Leon Waite : @leonwaite98
Holmer Green There was little to separate the Forget the return of the Premier teams in their two meetings last League, this weekend marks the season with United prevailing 1start of another enthralling 0 at Second Meadow back in season in the Spartan South December and The Greens the Midlands Football League. right side of a 2-0 scoreline at United begin their campaign at Watchet Lane in April. However, home to Holmer Green on there was a marked difference in Saturday and will be eager to the number of points accrued as consign Tuesday night’s FA Cup United finished nineteen points replay defeat at the hands of above this weekend’s’ visitors. Potton United into distant In truth it was a disappointing memory. year for Holmer as seventy points and a seventh placed Despite that setback, pre-season finish in the 2015/16 season preparations have been appeared a good platform to relatively good and there is launch a title tilt the following certainly cause of optimism that year potentially, or at least the team can continue to excel consolidate their position in the having achieved record finishes upper echelons of the league. in consecutive years. Last season That never materialised and The represented a one point and a Greens concluded the campaign one place improvement on the in 14th place so United should previous one which show signs feel confident of securing a of progress and consolidation in positive result on opening day. the top half, but Head Coach But at this level where the Cristian Colas and his team will margins are so narrow and feel that development can be squads can undergo drastic accelerated to see United overhauls during the summer, competing with the real top it’ll be interesting to see the kind sides in this division. of quality the visitors now possess when they arrive at Second Meadow today.
FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date
Opponents
Comp.
H/A
KO
Sat. 12 Aug
HOLMER GREEN
League
H
3pm
Tues 15 Aug
STOTFOLD
League
A
7.45pm
LONDON COLNEY
League
H
3.pm
Prem Cup
H
7.45pm
Sat 19 Aug Tues 29 Aug
ST MARG’BURY
Sat 2 Sept
SUN SPORTS
League
H
3pm
Sat 9 Sep
DOWNHAM TOWN
FA Vase
A
3pm
ST MARG’BURY
League
H
7.45pm
TRING ATHLETIC
League
A
3pm
Tues 12 Sep Sat 16 Sep
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE – MANAGERIAL CHANGES By Bill Scholes Premier Division: Ken Charlery is the new manager of London Colney. He is a former St Lucian international footballer, who has played club football in England with Birmingham City and for Basildon United, Watford, Peterborough United, Boston United and Barnet, among others. Cockfosters FC are delighted to confirm the appointment of Leigh Wooldridge as their First Team Manager. Leigh lives locally in Potters Bar, he holds a UEFA B coaching Licence and has both played and managed at a high level. Last season he was manager of Beaconsfield Sycob in Division One Central of the Evo-Stik Southern League. Edgware have a new man in charge this season and it is the old warhorse Fergus Moore, stepping up from running the defence to running the team and he will be assisted by Julian Robinson. Mick Reardon has been appointed as 1st team manager at Stotfold. Mick holds a UEFA B licence and brings extensive experience having managed at Biggleswade United, Haverhill, Braintree and Stanway Rovers. Division One: Paul Alleyne, the ex Hale Leys manager, has been appointed as the new Winslow manager, whilst Roy Coleman takes over from Ian Crane at Hillingdon Boro. Also new to the hot seat is Alan Dedman at Ampthill Town. Langford appointed last season’s Stotfold manager, Rob Bates as their new manager, assisted by Paul Donelly, Jack Knight will be 1st Team Coach and Stuart Howard Goalkeeper Coach.
FOOTBALL FACTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN!! • John Terry has scored more goals (39) than Iniesta (34). • In the 1992 / 93 season Norwich City finished 3rd after 42 games but had a goal difference of -4. • Manchester United have featured a youth team squad player in every League game since October 1937 – over 3,750 games. • The first British player to win a Champions League medal since its reformation in 1997 was Paul Lambert for Borussia Dortmund. • Flamini never lost a Premier League game at the Emirates
Division Two: Emanuel Asare, who was in charge of Chesham Reserves last season, has moved just down the road to manage Amersham Town. Anthony Lands has taken over as player manager at Mursley Utd and Scott Philbey has moved into the hot seat at Tring Corinthians. Lee Groves, who managed Tring Corry last season, has become the new manager of Berkhamsted Raiders. Newcomers AFC Southgate have appointed Rakatahar Hudson as their gaffer - Rak has previous SSMFL experience with both Haringey Boro and Kentish Town. Grendon Rangers have appointed Stuart Leonard as their new manager, with Nathan Perna named as his assistant. Leonard has previously skippered Rangers and been a defensive stalwart for a number of years.
UNITED EXIT WITH LAST MINUTE SUCKER PUNCH A premature end to United’s participation in the FA Cup this year, as Courtney Boughton’s stoppage time strike was enough to secure Potton United their first win in this competition since 2007.The teams were evenly matched for long periods, but perhaps the hosts just over-committed slightly following the visitors’ red card and were punished on the counter. Being a step higher than their opponents will inevitably leave a sense of frustration amongst the United ranks, but after failing to utilise home advantage in the first match at The Hollow last Friday Potton certainly delivered at Second Meadow on Tuesday evening. The Royals enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening stages with United having to select their opportunities to counter. It was a corner that almost proved their undoing when the ball came in from the right and required a superb goalline clearance to avert the danger.
It was the home side who seized the initiative after that and Ioannis Varouxakis was almost rewarded for his effort in pressing and retrieving the ball from the full back, but his shot cannoned back of the crossbar. Minutes later last season’s top scorer Nick Elliot could have added another to his collection had the ball not narrowly escaped him in the Potton area. The match was being played at a fierce intensity with both sides looking dangerous at times. It was The Royals who struck first when James Meredith drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after United failed to clear. Aiden McClean came close just to doubling their lead just before the break but it remained 0-1.
The fast-paced nature of the contest continued into the second period with United just lacking a bit of care in the final third, despite some neat build-up play. It took almost half an hour into the new half for the home side to find that crucial goal but it eventually came through Charlie Black, as he converted at the second attempt after latching onto Matt Cooper’s delivery. A red card was perhaps inevitable in a match played with such ferocity and it came on eighty-three minutes when Royals’ keeper Will Cook impeded Varouxakis as he headed towards goal. Substitute keeper David Salmon was swiftly called into action, tipping the resulting free-kick onto the bar to deny Kane Farrell. The sucker punch came moments later as Potton countered and despite the best efforts of United stopper Thomas Gowans in saving Aaron Murell’s initial shot, he was powerless to prevent Boughton slotting the ball inside the post to clinch a memorable victory.
Pictured: Charlie Black voted United’s Man of the Match on Tuesday night v Potton United by Alex Carter of Carter Recruitment.