Pictured: Jaiden Irish OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2018 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v NORTH GREENFORD UNITED FC
Welcome 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 NORTH GREENFORD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB who make their first ever visit to Biggleswade United. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. Our visitors are newcomers to the Spartan South Midlands League having been moved sideways from the Cherry Red Combined Counties League at the start of the season in the FA’s shake up of Step 5 football. They currently sit in 12th spot and are level on points with United but like most teams in the Division have played more games than us (3). NGU come to Second Meadow looking to turn around their current poor run of form that has seen them unable to secure a win in their last six outings. Their last win came in a 5-1 away win at bottom of the table, Stotfold and on Tuesday night they made their exit from the League Cup in a seven goal thriller that finished 4-3 to Division One outfit Buckingham Town. On Tuesday we secured passage through to the third round of the League Cup with a hard fought 1-0 win against in-form Hadley. A “worldy” strike from Kane Farrell was the only major highlight of a cup tie that looked to be heading for a penalty shoot out until a 77 th minute strike from 30 yards out broke the deadlock. The win will now see us travel to Bovingdon on Saturday 1st December as the Hemel side do not have a floodlit ground. Our Under 23 side are without a fixture this afternoon but will be at home next Saturday (10th) when local rivals Stotfold Under 25 come to Second Meadow. Kick Off 3pm Up Next On Wednesday night we make the short trip to Arlesey Town’s ground on WEDNESDAY 7th November where will play BALDOCK TOWN. Kick Off 7.45pm. This is followed by a trip to Harpenden Town on Saturday 10th November.
The Players..
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Biggleswade United Director of Football, Guillem Balague, provides this weekly column.
A scrappy, but hard fought and very welcome 1-0 win against Hadley keeps our League Challenge trophy hopes alive and we now look forward to a third round match against Bovington from the Hemel Hempstead area early in December. But everything comes at a price with success in cup competitions causing an inevitable fixture backlog, which means that in November we will - weather permitting - play no fewer than seven games throughout the month comprising six league fixtures as well as a Premier Division Cup tie against Baldock Town.
Of course life would be much easier and we would not be so reliant on the vagaries of the English climate if we could enjoy the luxury of all weather and 3G pitches like some of our competitors can but that's another story altogether and certainly one we will be returning to again, probably sooner rather than later. For the time being we have to make the best with what we have and certainly we are exceedingly grateful to those organisations that do help us with the loan of their facilities.
It is against all the odds that our Academy has grown and continues to After nine league games we are do so and is a tribute to all of those currently lying in mid table with who work tirelessly behind the scenes between two and five games in hand to ensure that it functions. It has on the nine sides above us and really happened because there is a need, a need the weather to be kind to us to clamour, for what clubs like ours can guarantee we don't fall further behind offer youngsters in our area and has with our fixtures. mushroomed not because of the governing authorities, but despite them.
Continued Overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued Back in the 2015-16 season our new Academy was running just three sides. The following season it was seven, then 12 and this season we have 13 teams, over 140 youngsters aged between six and 16 and around 20 coaches.
And they do so for scant reward.
As an example, last week there was a half term, four day, football camp held at Second Meadow and enjoyed by youngsters from the Academy aged between five and 11 who might otherwise have Our coaches work tirelessly on been stuck at home in front of such things as the setting up and televisions or computer screens, carrying out of training sessions, or perhaps kicking their heels putting out the cones, collecting wondering what to do, where to and pumping up footballs, raising go. funds with such events as the quiz that was held recently at the club, looking for sponsors, And on the subject of where to transporting youngsters to and go, our long list of November from games and by constantly fixtures start today when North looking for new ways to help Greenford United call into Second them with the learning of the Meadow and then on Wednesday game. night we travel to local rivals Baldock Town (ko 7.45pm).
Today’s Match Preview By Leon Waite United continued what has been a pretty fruitful season in the cup competitions thus far on Tuesday night as they edged past Hadley 1-0 at Second Meadow in the League Challenge Trophy. The difference between the two teams proved to be an astonishing long-range effort from Kane Farrell that clipped the underside of the crossbar as it flew past the powerless goalkeeper- another in a long list of strikes superior to Mohamed Salah’s Puskas winning goal. The result acted somewhat as revenge for the 2-1 reverse United suffered in the league at Hadley in early October and having secured a 2-2 draw at home to Edgware Town last time out in that competition, Jimmy Martin’s side seek to return to winning ways against SSML newcomers North Greenford United this weekend. North Greenford United The Blues enjoyed a six-year stay at Step 4 in the Southern League Division One Central before being relegated two years ago. They were placed in the Combined Counties League and placed 13th last term prior to their transferral to the SSML. And after twelve matches they sit 12th with the same number of points as United- although they have played three games less. Paul Palmer’s men are, however, winless in their last six outings across all competitions with Hadley thumping them 4-1 in their last league fixture and Buckingham Town knocking them out of the League Challenge Trophy midweek. They were victorious in the reverse meeting with Hadley and demonstrated their attacking capabilities in a 5-1 triumph at Stotfold last month so United will need to be concentrated if they are secure a win at Second Meadow today.
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 V STOTFOLD UNDER 25
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED V LEIGHTON TOWN
Biggleswade United Under 23
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.
North Greenford – The History The club was founded in September 1944 as a youth team. The following season saw the formation of a senior side with the club entering the Harrow League and later the Middlesex County League. In 1983 the club was promoted to the Spartan League but in 1994 it resigned to rejoin the Middlesex League. Keen to regain Senior Status, ground improvements were undertaken, including the installation of floodlights, and in 2002 the club was elected to the Combined Counties League.
Despite having a difficult first season at the higher level the First Team succeeded in retaining its Step 4 status. However, despite notable cup successes, the first half of season 2011/12 saw the club struggling in the league. Steve Ringrose was replaced by Neil Shipperley in December 2011 and Shipps managed to successfully steer the side away from the threat of relegation. Experiencing an even more difficult time at the start of season 2012/13, Neil Shipperley was re-appointed for a second In 2003/04, managed by Steve Hawkins, term replacing Jon-Barrie Bates as First the club were runners up in the Premier Team Manager. However, the team Challenge Cup losing 4-1 to AFC continued to struggle and, having lost 14 Wimbledon in front of a crowd of over league matches on the trot, our only 5,000 at Woking FC. In 2004/05 the club consolation was that Woodford United finished League runners-up and in the had still failed to notch up a single point. following year reached the League Cup Our campaign that year was saved by an semi-final. In 2006/07 the team, under amazing end-of-season run which saw the Mick Harvey, went one better, but team finish 19th – above the relegation unfortunately lost 4-1 to Merstham in the places. final. Steve Ringrose took over the Manager’s We were hoping to continue where we job at the beginning of season 2008/09. left off at the start of the following season In his first season Steve led the team to but, again after excellent cup runs, we second place in the Premier League with struggled in the league and narrowly the club finishing Runners-up to Bedfont escaped the drop after crucial wins Green. Season 2009/10 proved the most against our two fellow relegation successful in the club’s history when the contenders, Chertsey and Ashford Town First Team became Combined Counties (Middx). Reserve Team Manager Paul Champions, earning promotion to the Palmer, supported by Don Bennett, newly-formed Southern Football League replaced Shipps following Neil’s Division One Central, as well as winning resignation midway through the season. the MFA Charity Cup beating Enfield Town 1-0 at Hampton & Richmond’s ground in Continued Overleaf front of a large crowd.
North Greenford – The History Continued Following an indifferent start to the 2014/15 campaign it was decided to part company with Paul and ask Don to take over. Results though did not improve and in December 2014 Don tendered his resignation. Reserve Manager Barry Morris took over assisted by coaches George Bouhet and Fitzroy McLeod. After an initial struggle another impressive end-of-season run saw the team finish four points clear of bottom club AFC Hayes, and we were granted a reprieve by the FA. Barry and his team were re-appointed for the forthcoming campaign, but in September Barry resigned and George took over. Unfortunately poor results again left the club rooted at the bottom of the table, and in November 2015 the committee appointed two ex-Greenford players – Ricky Pither and Danny Bennell – as joint First Team managers to replace George. Despite some promising performances, results still did not improve and four wins and six draws were not enough to secure the points needed to avoid the drop. On this occasion there was to be no chance of another reprieve. We were offered a place in the Combined Counties Premier Division after successfully appealing against an FA decision to place the club in the Hellenic League and, with their wide knowledge of local clubs and players, Ricky and Danny’s team were invited to continue in their roles, with Mark Chandler taking over as joint manager following Danny’s resignation. Unfortunately, due to poor league results which left the club languishing at the foot of the CCL Premier Division table, the NGU committee reluctantly decided to part company with Ricky and Mark at the beginning of October 2016. The experienced management team of Danny Vincent and Colin Murphy were offered and accepted the position, and were duly appointed in time to take charge of the Chertsey Town home game on 11th October. After the poor start the club eventually finished the 2016/17 season in a creditable 13th position on 58 points, and with Danny and Colin still in charge, assisted by Terry Schofield who had joined the First XI management team, we were looking for a higher finish last season.
After the poor start the club eventually finished the 2016/17 season in a creditable 13th position on 58 points. With Danny and Colin still in charge, assisted by Terry Schofield who joined the First XI management team, we were looking for a much higher finish last season. Unfortunately, after an excellent start with a fine FA Cup away win against Welwyn Garden City, during the earlier part of the 2017/18 campaign we became the league’s draw specialists dropping points in games we should have won. From the turn of the year the season will be most remembered for some of the worst weather conditions in living memory with the season extended to the second week in May 2018. Despite ending the campaign on a high with four wins on the spin, overall this had been a disappointing season with the team again finishing 13th but with fewer points than the previous year. Two major changes were then forced on the club during the close season. First last season’s management team unexpectedly resigned and this was followed by an FA decision to move us from the Combined Counties to the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division. On the management side we were quick to appoint Paul Palmer and Matt Penfold who had just won promotion from the SSMFL Division One with Southall. Neither Paul nor Matt were new to the club. Matt served here for two terms under Neil Shipperley and Paul took over from Shipps after his resignation in February 2014. Once again, with the experienced squad they are building at the club, we have high expectations at the start of this season’s campaign in the SSMFL.
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Midweek League Round - Up Produced by SSML Fixtures Officer – Karen Browne LEAGUE CHALLENGE TROPHY First Round What a difference two months can make in football, back in September Premier Division Leverstock Green dished out a 10-0 thumping over Division Two side Unite MK in the FA Vase. On Wednesday night the Milton Keynes side produced a moment of pure giant-killing when the sides meet again this time at Unite MK in the League Challenge Trophy. A goal down the hosts hit back after the break to claim the scalp of their Hertfordshire visitors by the odd goal in three. LEAGUE CHALLENGE TROPHY Second Round Cup shocks were in evidence at Ampthill Town, Buckingham Town, Cockfosters, Enfield Borough and Wodson Park where the lower ranked sides overcame higher opposition to book their places in the Third Round. Ampthill Town edging out London Tigers by the odd goal in three, Buckingham Town
and North Greenford United FC served up a seven goal thriller with the hosts finally winning 43. Premier Division Cockfosters fell to Division Two side Sarratt by a solitary goal while Division One Enfield Borough bounced back from Saturday’s heavy league defeat to knock out Premier Division side Arlesey Town. Division Two club MK Gallacticos won 5-3 at managerless Division One side Wodson Park. Elsewhere Biggleswade FC where made to work hard before seeing off Division Two side New Bradwell St Peter FC 41, a scoreline that was somewhat harsh on the battling visitors. Crawley Green came from 0-2 down to defeat Amersham Town 7-3 while there were also wins for Biggleswade United, Leighton Town, Tring Athletic, Winslow United and Potton United.