V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
London Colney
Colours: All Blue
1
Robbie Ponting
1
Joe Simmonds
2
James Smith
2
Robert Armstrong
3
Lee Bilcock Š
3
Kit Brown
4
Gareth Hunt
4
Chris Griffin
5
Jordan Wright
5
Zak Holding
6
James Cooper
6
Joshua Luther
7
Kane Farrell
7
Qlo Quadri
8
Matt Cooper
8
Joe Reynolds
9
Ioannis Varouxakis
9
Kambo Smith
10
Abraham Eze
10
Lawrence Vaughan
11
Jaiden Irish
11
Daniel Westmore
12
Charlie Black
12
Dwayne Clark
14
Nick Elliott
14
Louis Frederick
15
David Iwediuno
15
Christopher Shennan
16
Josh Howard-Dobson
16
John Armitt
GK
Tom Gowans
17
Promise Iwyeh-Nwabudike
18
Zachary Tyrrell
18
19
Richard Christie
19
20
Jay Turner
20
Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Ken Charlery
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Albert Martinez
Asst Manager: Coach: Stuart Crawford
Physio: Ikera Williams
Physio:
Match Officials Referee: Mr K Haywood Assistants: Mr B Hallybone and Mr C Ryan
Saturday 19th August 2017 Official Match Programme
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V London Colney FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
BALAGUE ON BIGGLESWADE UNITED Our Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes this weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle.
Four official games, a home replay defeat in the FA Cup to a team one division below us and losses in our first two league games. We have certainly managed to carry on where we left off last season, which is to say, badly. It's pretty fair to say that I am not amused. Nothing has changed with regards to the way we want to play but we all need to take a very good look into the mirror and ask ourselves some very serious questions. How can we explain such a poor end to our last campaign coupled with an equally dreadful start this time around?
What I can see are repeated, individual mistakes occurring primarily because players are not doing what they are more than capable of doing and have been told to do a hundred times or more. I know as a club we need to increase the competitive level at the club and we are constantly looking to achieve that but in the meantime it hurts me deeply to see our club underperform so dreadfully when facing sides that I know - the coaches, players, and fans know - we should do so much better against. What we were looking towards was a solid start to the season to help set us on the road and with just two league matches played we already find ourselves playing catch up. I am completely convinced we are going to turn this around but we need everyone - and let's not beat around the bush here - particularly the players to seriously address the inconsistencies in their level of performance and their level of commitment. My sources tell me that the first half against Stotfold was good, while the second half was totally dreadful. And it is inconsistencies like this that are so frustrating. Three out of the four goals that we have conceded in the league have come from set pieces and that occurs purely and simply because of poor concentration and an even poorer attitude. To date the sides we have played have shown quite simply that they have wanted it more than us and while there is no shame it being matched for skill there is simply no excuse for not having the same desire as your opponent. To see our side repeatedly make the same errors is inordinately frustrating and it is something we must - we will - address sooner rather than later. We will have discussions with the board and the coaching staff to see how we can arrest this mini slump but at the end of the day it is all about the pride and the desire demonstrated by the players on the pitch. Let's just think that the season starts from here.
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 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.
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 extend a very warm welcome to the players, supporters and officials of LONDON COLNEY FC and to our three match officials. We hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. They say a week is a long time in politics! Well, try a week in non-League football! If the opening day 2-0 defeat against Holmer Green wasn’t bad enough, we had to endure yet another 2-1 defeat to local rivals, Stotfold on Tuesday night. It was a painful evening and it had so much déjà vu that I thought I was in a Groundhog day scene as we looked comfortable with twenty minutes to go but then went in to a panic state – exactly the same as last season’s visit to Roker Park. Guillem’s article says it all really. We do have the best squad that I have seen at the club for many years but we just need to have that self belief and team spirit that takes us through a full 90 minutes. But today is a chance to get our season started. Our visitors have started well with two wins and seem to have overcome the close season turmoil at the club. Despite winning the League last season, London Colney chose not to accept promotion and handed it over to second placed Hertford Town. They are now rebuilding with new faces in the Committee room and new management team. Last season we took 4 points from the Champions with a 2-1 win here at Second Meadow and a 1-1 draw at their Cotlandswick ground.
On Wednesday night I saw our new look Under 18s side play their first competitive fixture and their first ever match against an adult side. They won through 2-0 with an impressive performance against Caldecote Reserves in the East Beds Charity Cup and will now face Biggleswade FC Reserves in the next round. If you enjoy Sunday football then I would recommend visiting us to watch the next generation of United players as they start their third season in the Eastern Junior Alliance League which starts in September. We do not have a midweek fixture and will then travel to London Tigers on Saturday 26th August. This will be followed by a Premier Division Cup tie at Second Meadow on Tuesday 29th August when St Margaretsbury are our visitors. Let’s hope for an enjoyable and entertaining game this afternoon. Tracey James (Club Secretary and Programme Editor)
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE NEWSLETTER NUMBER 2 Written by Bill Scholes
The visitors were not helped when they were reduced to ten players after Craig King was sent off .
PREMIER DIVISION It’s early days yet, so nothing to gauge anything on. London Colney’s new season at Cotlandswick kicked off on Saturday against Leverstock Green with only one player left in the squad from last season's Championship winning team but it didn't take long for the new Blueboys to get going. On four minutes Kembo Smith made a run into the box from the left wing and the ball ran kindly for Kit Brown to latch onto and net from close range. Pressure from Leverstock was rewared on 15 minutes when Sam Nair raced clear to equalise.
After seeing Colney Heath a few weeks ago in the Herts Charity Cup I was rather surprised they lost at home to Hoddesdon Town. After a mixed preseason of results Leighton Town - whose ground is currently shut due I believe to asbestos - got off well by winning 2-1 at London Tigers. Berko continued their early season form with a 3-1 win over fancied Cockfosters. Holmer also won well 2 nil at surprisingly poor starters Biggleswade United. There were wins also for Oxhey Jets, Edgware Town, Harpenden with an excellent 3 - 2 away win, , Sun Sports, Welwyn G C, and finally Biggleswade FC.
Colney’s Kembo Smith caused problems down the left wing with his direct running at goal and managing to get three good efforts on goal which Philip Daniels did well to keep out and keep the scores level at the break. In the 76th minute the deadlock was broken when Dewayne Carke sped down the left wing and crossed the ball into the box for Kembo Smith to fire low inside the near post. Leverstock Green did not sit back and Joe Simmonds had to make two very good saves to prevent them equalising, firstly Dave Lawrence had a firm effort on goal and then it was the turn of Sam Nair and who was also thwarted by the Blueboys custodian. Into injury time Dewayne Clarke should have made it 3-1 when a clever free kick from Joe Reynolds found him clear but with only Daniels to beat he blasted his effort wide of the far post.
After the midweek matches, there are 5 clubs at the top of the table with 100% records. Berkhamsted won 3-0 at Holmer Green, WGC beat St. Margaretsbury 4-0 away, Oxhey Jets triumphed 4-1 at London Tigers, newly promoted Biggleswade FC beat Leighton Town 3-1 and probably the surprise result was London Colney’s 4-1 victory away at Colney Heath. Four clubs have yet to taste the fruits of victory – Biggleswade Utd, London Tigers, Colney Heath and St.Margaretsbury.
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.
Kick Off 7.45pm
Neil Carr Memorial Match The Neil Carr Memorial match will take place at Biggleswade United tomorrow Kick Off 11.30am. Neil passed away on 30th July 2015 caused by Bronchopneumonia which had enlarged his heart & proved fatal. Neil was fit and healthy and loved football. He played youth football for Stotfold Juniors & progressed into men’s football at Letchworth Bridger before moving over to Biggleswade United on Saturdays where he won the county cup. He was part of the most successful Hitchin Sunday League team winning the quadruple in the 2008 – 2009 season. Neil was one of only two players to play every minute of each cup final, also notable was that the team consisted of four sets of brothers where Neil played with his brother Gavin who also played in goal for Biggleswade United.
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.
WOE FOR UNITED IN OPENER
FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date Sat 19 Aug Tues 29 Aug
Opponents LONDON COLNEY ST MARG’BURY
Comp.
H/A
KO
League
H
3.pm
Prem Cup
H
7.45pm
Sat 2 Sept
SUN SPORTS
League
H
3pm
Sat 9 Sep
DOWNHAM TOWN
FA Vase
A
3pm
Tues 12 Sep
ST MARG’BURY
League
H
7.45pm
Sat 16 Sep
TRING ATHLETIC
League
A
3pm
Sat 23 Sep
FA VASE??
Sat 30 Sep
LONDON COLNEY
League
A
3pm
Sat 7 Oct
CRAWLEY GREEN
League
H
3pm
STOTFOLD
League
H
7.45pm
COLNEY HEATH
League
A
3pm
Tues 10 Oct Sat 14 Oct
UNITED HOLMER GREEN
0 2
A year on from United’s 0-2 defeat at home to Edgware Town, it was another side donning a green strip who arrived to spoil the opening day celebrations at Second Meadow as Holmer Green who emerged victorious. In spite of their FA Cup exit in midweek, there was a tangible sense of optimism ahead of the start of a new league campaign and had it not been for their profligacy in front of goal United could have converted their territorial dominance into a winning display.
The offside flag prevented Gareth Hunt from opening the scoring when his free-kick travelled all the way through into the net, prior to the home side constructing one the finest moves of the match. Varouxakis and Jaiden Irish linked up well down the right hand side before the latter found Matt Cooper, who completed the shift from right to left by laying on Farrell to strike fiercely towards goal forcing the keeper into a save and then missing the rebound with a tamer effort.
The visitors headed over from a corner once more before halftime, in between United’s collection of two yellow cards; Iwediuno was booked A disjointed beginning to the contest for dissent and Hunt cautioned for eventually settled down into long spells of United possession that failed halting a counter-attack with a tactical to yield any real chances. Greek striker shirt-pull. Ioannis Varouxakis threatened when Noticeably reinvigorated during the he burst in behind The Green’s backline only to fail to find a blue and interval, The Green came out for the second period with renewed energy red shirt with his cutback as the and aggression and were rewarded keeper claimed the ball. when Jonty Summerell side-stepped his defender and fired across United Holmer were dangerous from set stopper Robbie Ponting to give his pieces all afternoon and came close side the lead. They almost doubled when a corner from the right hand side was headed over the bar. United their advantage when United cleared a header off the line and watched the were almost on target with a header of their own as Kane Farrell’s delivery second attempt go wide of the post as was guided into the keeper’s arms by another Holmer corner proved unnerving for the hosts. imposing forward David Iwediuno. (Continued overleaf)
(Continued) Cooper saw his menacing cross from the left elude all his teammates in the box before Farrell’s free-kick was turned over by Josh Howard-Dobson, as United assumed control of the game again but struggled to dispatch the opportunities that came their way. Their frustrations were summed up by Varouxakis who was dubiously booked for diving as he advanced on goal and was then left exasperated having shot wide of an empty net from around twenty-five yards out after the keeper vacated his position.
Finally, in a moment which encapsulated United’s attacking woes, Eze powered his way into the area it came to Charlie Black whose initial shot was parried and the rebound eventually gathered by the keeper amongst a sea of bodies as the crowd were left baffled as to how the ball stayed out.
Ideally you would want to secure a win on the opening weekend to set the tone for the remainder of the season, but there was enough on show to suggest results will improve. There was some neat build-up and solid individual performances, and once the prolific It was game, set and match in the 71st Varouxakis gets off the mark the goals minute, as Dean Munday steered will surely start to flow. home at the back post from yet another troublesome corner for United Match report by Leon Waite to bolster The Green’s lead. A low drive stung the palms of Ponting as Holmer sought to inflict further damage on their opponents. United remained on top but it was becoming increasingly clear it wasn’t going to be their afternoon. Substitute Abraham Eze did made a positive impact, however, teeing up fellow sub James Cooper at the back stick who miscued his volley wide. Varouxakis (pictured) then headed wide from Eze’s clipped cross.