Welcome to Second Meadow Good afternoon and welcome to Second Meadow for today’s Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters from LEVERSTOCK 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 Last weekend’s triumphant performance at Wembley that saw United prevail 3-2 (sadly without the video highlights to prove it) elevated Jimmy Martin’s side up to 8th in the early league standings with numerous games in hand on the clubs above them- this week’s opponents Leverstock Green are the only team to have played fewer matches in the division. It’s three wins and one draw from their five matches with the only blotch on the copybook coming in the shape of a humbling 4-1 defeat at local rivals Biggleswade FC, who currently sit at the league’s summit, and there were even some positives from an offensive aspect in that game. The result at Wembley also stretched United’s unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches where they have won six since an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round replay defeat to Wellingborough Town in mid-August so little has gone wrong as Martin continues to adapt to the managerial hot seat. Up Next Our next fixture sees us venture southbound on the A1 to Hadley for a Premier Division fixture followed by cup action with Wembley the visitors in the Premier Division Cup. Our table topping Under 23 side are in County Cup action today visiting Cople Sports. The Under 23s will be at home next Saturday with Berkhamsted the visitors.
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.
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.
Today’s Visitors: Leverstock Green by Leon Waite The Green have only played four league games and as a result sit 17th in the table having placed an impressive 7th last term. They started their league campaign with a 2-0 loss at London Colney before managing a 1-1 draw at Tring Athletic and beginning their FA Cup journey in a 1-0 success at Southall. A league draw with Colney Heath followed prior to securing three wins in three different competitions, beating Harpenden Town 6-0 in the FA Cup, Unite MK 10-0 in the FA Vase and cruising past Cockfosters 4-0 in their most recent league outing on September 4th. After drawing 0-0 at home to Hadley in the subsequent round of the FA Cup, they claimed a 1-0 success at Brickfield Lane in the replay and then thumped Raunds Town 4-0 in the FA Vase. A 6-1 reverse at SSML Champions Welwyn Garden City saw them dumped out of the Herts Charity Shield and last weekend they just came up short against Dorking Wanderers in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round as they succumbed to a 4-2 defeat. A running theme in meetings between United and Leverstock is the home team win which is a pattern both sides have helped form over the past three seasons. When facing United at Pancake Lane in that time, The Green have emerged 3-1, 2-1 and 5-0 winners but lost 5-2, 3-2 and 4-0 on their travels- as well as a 2-1 extra time loss in the FA Vase in 2015.
Our Wembley game was vitally important for so many reasons. From a footballing point Wembley were always going to be a tricky opponent on an excellent playing surface which would always allow us to play. But in truth the build up to the game left a bad taste in the mouth and there was an unwelcome edge to the game following an email we received from the club telling us we couldn’t film the match for our YouTube channel.
t later transpired that we could have filmed there but only if we paid the club for the privilege. In conversations with a club official we were told that everything was up for negotiation and as we were a “rich club” – something that came as news to all of us – we could afford it.
At this point might I remind everyone that this is the same Wembley FC that around nine months ago appealed for support in a trademark battle over their club badge and the FA who thought the registering of said badge might work in conflict to their interests abroad.
The same members that kissed the badge, issued a call to arms, made all sorts of noises about unity, all brothers together, the little man ploughing a lone furrow in his battle against the Draconian jackboot of the corporate giant.
The same group that launched a petition that urged all members of the non-league family to sign, now performing a volte face and demanding that a member of the self same alleged ‘family’ whose support they had previously asked for, should have to shell out some of the precious little ‘wonga’ they have, to allow one of their volunteers to film at their ground.
Needless to say we declined their offer.
We are trying to promote non-league football and to put it out there in the most favourable light that we can and we make not a sou, not a brass farthing, from our YouTube channel.
The gate at Wembley was, I am reliably informed, around the 70 mark. At least ten times as many people would have tuned in to see highlights of the match. How on earth are we going to get the non-league message out there with this kind of approach. The attempts of Wembley FC to make a few quid out of it at our expense have not helped us, themselves and least of all the promotion of non-league football. I am not mpressed. Wembley should be ashamed of themselves.
But we answered them in the best way possible taking the points with a 3-2 win and, in the process extending our undefeated run to seven games in all competitions, a run that we can hopefully extend today when Leverstock Green call into Second Meadow.
BIGGLESWADE UNITED FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date
Opponents
Comp.
H / A
KO
Sat 29 Sept Sat 6 Oct Tues 9 Oct Sat 13 Oct Sat 20 Oct Tues 23 Oct Sat 27 Oct Tues 30 Oct Sat 3 Nov Wed 7 Nov Sat 10 Nov
LEVERSTOCK GREEN HADLEY WEMBLEY HOLBEACH UNITED STOTFOLD BIGGLESWADE FC EDGWARE TOWN HADLEY NORTH GREENFORD UTD BALDOCK TOWN HARPENDEN TOWN
LEAGUE LEAGUE PREM. DIV. CUP FA VASE LEAGUE BEDS SENIOR CUP LEAGUE LEAGUE CUP LEAGUE LEAGUE LEAGUE
H A H H A H H H H A A
3pm 3pm 7.45pm 3pm 3pm 7.45pm 3pm 7.45pm 3pm 7.45pm 3pm
A H A A
2.30pm 3pm 3pm 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Sat 29 Sept Sat 6 Oct Sat 20 Oct Sat 27 Oct
COPLE BEDFORD SA BERKHAMSTED HOLMER GREEN HARPENDEN TOWN
BEDS FA CUP LEAGUE LEAGUE CUP LEAGUE
ALL FIXTURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PLEASE CHECK THE CLUB’S WEBPAGE OR TWITTER FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION. www.biggleswadeunited.com or @biggleswadeutd
Eastern Junior Alliance League Cup
KICK OFF 3pm Admission FREE
Biggleswade United Under 23
Wembley 2 Biggleswade United 3 United inflicted further pain on a struggling Wembley side as they came from behind to emerge victorious from Vale Farm 3-2 on Saturday afternoon, with a late strike by Rafe Goodman enough to separate the two teams. The visitors had taken the lead early in the first half through Sam Holmes but surrendered that advantage inside a couple minutes and found themselves behind with halftime approaching. Fortunately, the response to slipping into a losing position from Jimmy Martin’s men was as swift as it had proved to be for Wembley and United were back level prior to the interval before securing the win in the second period. Wembley’s dismal start to the campaign had left them perilously close to the bottom of the league table ahead of kick-off so United needed to unsettle them early and accomplished that when Joe Hankins had the presence of mind to slide the ball into the path of Holmes to sweep the ball home after the forward’s initial shot was saved. The Lions weren’t disheartened, however, as they responded immediately with Kerkstun Macpherson breaking clear and being upended by goalkeeper Dean Bull for a penalty-kick- Yassine Femi-Gil stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner. It was fairly even for the remainder of the half with United coming closest to restoring their lead as Kane Farrell struck the inside of the post but it was the home side who did find the target and Calvin Osborne’s stunning strike from distance rendered Bull helpless as it sailed into the top corner. Wembley wasted no time seeking an equaliser earlier and United adopted the same approach as in a flash there was parity once again in the contest as Charlie Briggs picked out Dave Parkinson, who controlled well and finished neatly into the bottom corner. He could have had another and in the process complete a sensational turnaround before the break but his curling effort struck the post as the woodwork denied United for a second time. And it was a similar story in the second half as the framework of the goal stoically resisted United’s attempts to breach it as Hankins headed Farrell’s delivery onto the bar and Holmes glanced Parkinson’s cross onto the post. The away side asserted themselves more in the second half and as they began to command the game they were gradually committing more bodies forward with the intent to claim all three points. Fittingly, when the winning goal did arrive it came via the woodwork as Goodman’s low strike from range rebounded off the post, hit goalkeeper Dario Zavagno and made its way over the line. One of Wembley’s center-halves were dismissed close to full-time for bringing down Aaron McArdle as he ran through on goal to compound things for the hosts as the points weren’t back up north to Bedfordshire.
Biggleswade United vs Leverstock Green SSMFL Premier Division| Saturday 29th September 2018
Biggleswade United Ollie Leslie. James Cooper Kane Farrell Ieuan Lewis James Smith Liam Andrews Jaiden Irish Š Rafe Goodman Dave Parkinson Josh Howard-Dobson Sam Holmes Charlie Briggs Taz Andrews Joe Gauge George Brinkman Joe Hankins Bill Plumpton Taylor Rhiney Dean Bull
Leverstock Green Arvydas Kacinkevicius Brima Johnson Shane Wood Jude Bell Alex Condon Luke Preedy Mark Smith Elliot Dobbs Jonathan Lacey Alex Witham Chris Blunden Seldyn Grant Luke Nugent Sam Nair Reynaldo Carbon Casey Linsell Alexander Yearwood Jordan Goode
Referee: Mr Neil Fyfield Assistant: Mr Tom Burns, Assistant: Mr Callum Parrish