Official Match Programme: Biggleswade United v Leverstock Green

V

Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy

Leverstock Green

Colours: White / Green

1

Josh Mollison

1

Matt Evans

2

Ross Taylor

2

Caolin Doyle-Creamer

3

Kane Farrell

3

Reuben Rabstein

4

James Cooper

4

Brima Johnson

5

Lee Bilcock

5

Alex Marsh

6

Nick Elliot Š

6

Shane Wood

7

Gareth Hunt

7

Scott Bonner

8

Zak Guerfi

8

Jonathan Lacey

9

Abraham Eze

9

Ross Adams

10

Jaiden Irish

10

David Lawrence

11

Carlos Correia-Dias

11

Chris Marsh

12

Jay Taylor

12

Matt Bateman

14

Richard Christie

14

Curtis Donaldson

15

Dave Iwediuno

15

Liam McCrohan

16

Matt Cooper

16

Curtis Bird

17

Jordan Wright

17

Alex McCarthy

18

Emanuel Akinrinade

18

Reynaldo Carbon

19

Charisma Agyemang

19

Chris Gosling

20

Brodie Couzins

20

Luke Nugent

Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra

Manager: Scott Dash

Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Albert Martinez

Asst Manager : Mark Royal

Physio: Ikera Williams

Physio:

Match Officials Referee: Mr T Healy Assistants: Mr R Shacklock and Mr W Northcott

The legal name of the club is Biggleswade United 1959 Biggleswade United is a members club

Saturday 16th December 2017 Official Match Programme

KICK OFF 1.30pm

The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V Leverstock Green FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here

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 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. Today we welcome the players, supporters and officials of LEVERSTOCK GREEN FC. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us.

Today’s Match Preview – By Leon Waite A disrupted week of training and the postponement of Tuesday night’s fixture at St Margaretsbury were the consequences of inclement weather conditions in recent days. But the snow has cleared and having missed out on the opportunity to face a side languishing in the lower reaches of the league table midweek, United are now preparing to take on a rampant Leverstock Green outfit.

Last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hadley saw United overturn a first-half deficit to lead at the break but squandered that advantage in the second period in a match that could have swung either way. Unfortunately events didn’t transpire in the visitors’ favour and the current run of form now reads one win in eleven games across all competitions with a stern performance required if they are to claim anything against this week’s opponents.

Leverstock Green The Green have catapulted themselves into promotion contention with six consecutive wins and having finished twelfth last term now sit sixth in the table just seven points off the top two.

The last time they failed to record a win was a 2-2 draw at promotion favourites Welwyn Garden City with their only defeat in the previous thirteen matches coming in a surprising 5-1 loss at Hadley. And Scott Dash’s men’s current formidable form has included a 4-2 victory in the reverse fixture against Hadley, as well as an enthralling 5-3 success over fifth placed Biggleswade FC. The pattern of results between these two clubs in recent times has seen the home team prevail. United have won the last three meetings at Second Meadow 2-1, 4-0 and 3-2, whilst the Green have defeated them 5-0 and 2-1 in their previous two encounters at Pancake Lane.

Our next fixture is a another tough encounter when we entertain neighbours Biggleswade FC on Saturday. PLEASE NOTE THE KICK OFF IS 1.30pm..

Let’s hope for an enjoyable and entertaining game this afternoon.

Tracey James, (Secretary and Programme Editor)

BALAGUE ON BIGGLESWADE UNITED Our Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes this weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle.

I don't know who first uttered the immortal phrase, "Lord give me patience, but quickly"! although I, along with everyone at Biggleswade United know exactly how he or she felt.

Despite reports of incentives programmes, works in progress, all manner of promises and pledges towards grassroots football our ever growing academy here at the club is still having to turn youngsters away because of an appalling lack of facilities available to young people in our area.

I am reliably informed that the delay to the implementation of a 3G pitch is now entering its second decade. Biggleswade as a town is growing and we are continually being told to be patient; not to worry, it's on its way.

The money earmarked for a 3G project is in place but nothing seems to happening and it's probably about time that we started to ask where and when this promised and much needed facility is actually going to see the light of day.

The youth of Biggleswade deserve better for no reason greater than they are its future. A 3G pitch, sports centre, any improved sports facility needs to be looked at, not as the waste of money some may perceive it to be, but rather as an investment in the future of its people.

Fitter, healthier, children almost invariably become fitter, healthier adults. They become better balanced, more complete, greater contributors to their generation and the community that they will represent in the future.

They place a lesser burden on a magnificent but seriously under pressure NHS, and anyone that cannot see that it makes greater economic sense to prevent car crashes rather than knock the bumps once they have occurred, is either being disingenuous or just plain stupid.

Back to matters on the pitch and the weather has made it difficult for us to train as we would like so we have tried to look at doing something different which involves different training techniques that involve working as a team, building bonds between teammates that give you that edge and collective feeling when on the front line.

It is part of Jurgen Klopp's philosophy that earned him a couple of titles at Borussia Dortmund and It helps to remind us that this is a team game and it really is very much a case of 'all for one, and one for all.' that helps to create that spirit which can lead to success.

Of course it takes time. Every defeat is part of the learning process while each win tells us we are heading in the right direction.

Let's see if it had any effect when we play against Leverstock Green today.

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 Albert Martinez.

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.

Hadley Biggleswade United Report by Leon Waite

2 2

Despite overturning a first-half deficit, United conceded thirteen minutes from time via the penalty spot following goalkeeper Reece Voller’s foul that resulted in him being sent off to earn a 2-2 draw at Hadley.

The early signs were positive from the visitors with dangerous frontman Abraham Eze coming close with a shot across the goal line that was eventually scrambled clear for a corner.

United were on top but a Hadley effort sent narrowly over the bar served as a warning to the away side and it was they failed to heed as the hosts took the lead shortly after- Kerkstun Macpherson pouncing on a loose back pass before neatly lobbing the onrushing Voller.

Unfazed by that setback, United maintained control of the contest with some decent build-up play that threatened to pay off.

And when Jaiden Irish’s flick sent Eze through there was little doubt amongst those who had made the journey to North London that he would find the bottom corner- slotting home with his left foot for his eighth of the campaign.

It got even better swiftly as Nick Elliot surged into space towards the right of the penalty area before firing past the keeper at his near post with tremendous precision to complete United’s comeback prior to halftime.

United created a number of openings in the second period without being able to get their shots off as Hadley continued to intervene at the crucial moment.

They applied pressure relentlessly at times but the goal that would likely clinch a much-needed victory evaded them.

And Hadley seized their opportunity when an initially innocuous ball in behind culminated in Zaine Gangadeen rounding Voller and as he prepared to finish into an empty net the United keeper sacrificed his participation in the match by upending the striker, conceding a penalty and receiving his marching orders.

Substitute Dan Boughton was tasked with saving the spot-kick but was rendered powerless by Gangadeen, who found the top left-hand corner emphatically.

The game swung on a pendulum in the closing stages with United competing well in spite of their numerical disadvantage and certainly had the best chance to steal the three points when Elliot’s delivery was met by Jay Taylor, who somehow looped his shot up from a few yards out allowing the keeper to claim the ball as the points were shared.

There wasn’t much between two the clubs sat in similar positions in the table with both having arguments that they could have secured the win but United enjoyed sustained periods of pressure without capitalising and their search for a win

FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date

Opponents

Comp.

H/A

KO

Sat 23 Dec

BIGGLESWADE

League

H

1.30

Sat 30 Dec

LEIGHTON TOWN

League

A

3pm

Sat 06 Jan

CRAWLEY GREEN

League

A

3pm

Sat 13 Jan

WEMBLEY

League

H

3pm

Sat 20 Jan

TRING ATHLETIC

League

H

3pm

Sat 27 Jan

COCKFOSTERS

League

A

3pm

Sat 3 Feb

HOLMER GREEN

League

A

3pm

Sat 10 Feb

HADLEY

League

H

3pm

UNDER 23 FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Sat 16 Dec

AFC DUNSTABLE

League

A

3pm

Wed 20 Dec

AMPTHILL TOWN

League

A

7.45

Tues 2 Jan

LEIGHTON TOWN

League

H

7.45

Sat 6 Jan

AFC DUNSTABLE

League

H

3pm

Sat 27 Jan

WINSLOW UTD

League

H

3pm

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION NEWSLETTER

PREMIER DIVISION Only three Premier Division matches managed to beat the freezing conditions but there was still plenty of action and talking points. Our mad Scot Bill Hamilton witnessed a good old fashioned end-to-end tussle. Hadley and Biggleswade United shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw, with the highlights caught on three separate video cameras at the highly impressive Hadley Sports Ground in Arkley. United now have a substantial following on Facebook and Twitter and followers from all over the country can even watch live streaming of their home games while the coaching staff and players are often to be seen being interviewed at the end of away fixtures like this one. It all happens because the club has given opportunities to students from UCFB Wembley, the only university in the world offering degrees in the football industry. They’ve provided the club with young talent keen to make a name for themselves by maintaining the club’s social media channels on match days and putting together financial projections for the tightly-run budget. Highly innovative and most impressive. Kerkstun Macpherson shot Hadley ahead after 18 minutes and for a long spell the home side looked to be taking control of the match before they were hit by two goals in the space of three minutes by the visitors, the first from Abraham Eze followed by a fine solo effort from Nick Elliot. The second half was a tightly fought affair. Hadley drew level when goalkeeper Reece Voller was sent off for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Dan Boughton took over in goal but was unable to save the resultant penalty by Zane Gangadeen. A game to warm the cockles of the spectators’ hearts on a bitterly cold afternoon. Not that Biggleswade United are the only innovators. At Hadley, they’ve come up with a great idea to make a few bob at half time.

Forget scratch cards or raffle tickets. Instead we have the throw the tennis ball competition in which spectators pay £1 a time to hurl a ball on to the pitch from the terraces. The one that lands nearest the centre spot walks off with half the takings. In this case, a young man with a particularly powerful arm, Steve Wheldon, was only 4 centimetres off the spot. Maybe, they should book him on the first plane to Australia! The idea came from a trip two Hadley fans, Tom and Chris, made to the Faroe Islands. Attending a top league game there, they were treated to this exciting half time enterprise whilst sucking their Jaffas. So if you’re looking for a rather different type of challenge, maybe a trip to Hadley is on the cards! Hoddesdon Town missed out on the chance to move within a point of third place after they lost 1-0 at Edgware Town. Tommy Walsh scored the only goal of the game, converting from a 15th minute free kick. In the days other game, Holmer Green left it late before securing a 1-1 draw at Colney Heath. Spencer Clarke-Mardell reacted quickest from a 52nd minute corner to put the hosts ahead but with just two minutes to play, James Britnell headed home a Gary Lines corner to earn Green a point.

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.