V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
Oxhey Jets
Colours: Blue
1
Robbie Ponting
1
Ryan Keeley
2
Ross Taylor
2
Isaac Ebelebe
17
Kane Farrell
3
Tom Gibson
4
Martin Russell ©
4
Jack Halcombe
5
Jordan Wright
5
Ryan Keeley
6
Lee Bilcock
6
Jahobi Maher
7
Gareth Hunt
7
Jude Bell
8
Matt Cooper
8
Curtis Donaldson
9
Abraham Eze
9
Chris Blunden
10
Jaiden Irish
10
Vass Mandeville
11
Alhaji Kabba
11
Brandon Thompson
12
Jay Taylor
12
Emmanuel Ibhadon
14
Tariq Aliyan
14
Lewis Davis
15
Carlos Correia –Dias
15
Sim Armstrng
16
Ricky Christie
16
Elijah Seymour
GK
Ryan Haggerty
17
Abhushan Pant
19
David Parkinson
18
Anthony Ladyman
20
Gerard Martinez
19
Olawale Salamii
The legal name of the club is Biggleswade United 1959 Biggleswade United is a members club
Saturday 24th March 2018 Official Match Programme
20 Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Lee Stedman
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Conditioning Coach: Albert Martinez
Asst Manager : Kevin Lawrence Coach: Nick Brewer
Physio: Ikera Williams
Physio: John Elliott
Match Officials Referee: Mr M Stetakovic Assistants: Mr N Lawrence and Mr G Pop
The Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V Oxhey Jets FC Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
Biggleswade United Director of Football, Guillem Balague, writes the following weekly column for the Biggleswade Chronicle and our website. At the time of writing we don't know what the outcome of Thursday night's match against Potton United in the semi-final of the North Beds Charity Cup - but here's hoping. Despite being a level above our rivals we will have had to have played at our best to see off the challenge of our opponents who are currently enjoying a rich vein of form and sit in second place in the United Counties League first division. What is certain is that we will have needed to perform considerably better than we did against Welwyn Garden City last weekend where we looked a shadow of the side that had previously inflicted the only defeat of the season on a team that, although two points off top spot, have five games in hand and look destined to run away with the league this season. Conditions were far from perfect, although that's hardly an excuse because they were exactly the same for both sides. For a long time it didn't look like the game was going to take place but unfortunately, for us, it did and we ended up shipping six goals in an extremely poor display from everyone involved that saw us limp away following a 6-1 reversal. What it showed once again is that we have to try to create a team that can perform all the time at a consistent level. We - and by we - I mean all of us, including myself, need to be able to react better to what ever we are confronted with during the course of a season if we want to compete for top honours in this league. I don't know how long this will take us but our idea is to win this league and we will not be deflected from this aim. Meanwhile what hasn't changed is that, whether or not we won last night, we still have things to play for and targets to chase between now and the end of the season including as high a league finish and points tally as possible. We owe it to the fans, sponsors, volunteers but most of all, to ourselves. And it's not all doom and gloom. This Sunday at Langford FC (kick off 2.00pm) our Under 18 side go in search of a trophy when they face Biggleswade Town in the Beds County Cup Final. It will be a fantastic boost if we can put one over our town rival and bring the cup back to Second Meadow. Please come along to support our youngsters. It is sides like our Under 18s, a fantastic group of committed players with the right attitude and a united approach, alongside our ever growing Academy that show us just where the future of the club lies.We wish them well. Meanwhile it's back to league business for the first team who today welcome an Oxhey Jets side that will be doing the very best they possibly can to pull clear of the relegation areas and then on Tuesday (ko 7,45pm) we visit current league leaders Berkhamsted who have lost just once at home in the league this season.
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.
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 OXHEY JETS FC. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. Today’s match preview courtesy of Leon Waite. A timely home fixture for United this Saturday with Second Meadow almost guaranteeing an encouraging performance accompanied with a result to match in recent months and the need for some positivity is grave following a demoralising week. Cristian Colas’ troops travelled to Welwyn Garden City last weekend as the only side to beat the Citizens in the league this season but fell desperately short at Herns Lane as the hosts hammered them 6-1- although Kane Farrell’s consolation was probably the pick of the bunch. And Thursday night saw their North Beds Charity Cup chances dashed at the semi-final stage with Potton United advancing to the final as 2-0 winners to leave United solely focussing on the league now. Oxhey Jets The Jets are roughly where you would expect to find them in the league table- having placed fifteenth and seventeenth in the last two years- as they sit eighteenth with the potential to catch a few clubs whom they have games in hand on. However, they arrive in Bedfordshire in a wretched period of form that began with a 3-1 defeat at Welwyn before succumbing to consecutive 4-1 home losses against first, Leverstock Green and subsequently in the reverse fixture with the league leaders at the Boundary Stadium. St Margaretsbury and Leighton Town prevailed against them 2-1 and 2-0 respectively so there was a palpable relief when a ninety-seventhminute equaliser from Abhushan Pant earned them a point at London Tigers midweek to arrest a losing streak of five matches. The meetings between United and the Jets in the previous couple seasons have been interesting with the contests at Second Meadow both finishing 10- in United’s favour in 2016/17 and Oxhey’s in 2015/16. Meanwhile, the meetings in Watford were utter goal-fests as the Jets overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 back in April 2016 whilst United emerged 4-3 victors in January 2017. The game at the Boundary Stadium is still to come but it is Biggleswade United versus Oxhey Jets at Second Meadow today. Up next… On Tuesday night we make the travel to promotion chasing Berkhamsted. Kick Off 7.45pm then we make the very trip trip across town to Biggleswade FC on Saturday 31st March for the Easter derby. Kick Off 3pm. Our Under 23 side travel to Colney Heath today hoping to continue their winning form following a 3-0 home win over Welwyn GC in midweek.
Potton United Biggleswade United
2 0
For the second time this season United exited a cup competition at the hands of Potton United with second-half goals from Danny Webb and Hadley Boughton proving sufficient on Thursday night to earn the Royals a place in the North Beds Charity Cup final at their visitors’ expense. Head Coach Cristian Colas sought to galvanise the players and supporters alike in the build-up to this fixture and his side’s determination to reach the final of this tournament in consecutive years was reflected in a bright opening that yielded a shot inside the first minute. And continuing to exhibit similar purpose, another strike on goal was created as Lee Bilcock’s interception preceded a lay-off into Kane Farrell who fired narrowly over from twentyfive yards out. Numerous attacks followed in a spritely offensive display in the first period and the most tantalising opportunity to break deadlock came from twelve yards when Jordan Wright was upended in the penalty area. However, David Parkinson failed to convert as he struck the post before Gareth Hunt sent the rebound over the bar from close range.
The first half drew to a close with a Bilcock volley drifting just wide as United departed the field with mixed emotions: pleasure at an encouraging performance but frustration at not being to post something more tangible on the scoreboard. Their frustration would mutate into exasperation when five minutes after the interval Potton were awarded a penalty for handball which was met with indignation from the away bench but Webb didn’t flinch as he succeeded where Parkinson had faltered to move his side ahead. Colas made a palpably attacking change with top scorer Abraham Eze replacing Bilcock as he sought to wrestle the momentum back that had been lost with that penalty decision. Inevitably, as the contest went on United began to apply more pressure with Potton less inclined to commit men forward the longer the clocked ticked by and the away side launched several attacks that amounted to little due to the absence of quality in the final pass. And as they pushed for a late equaliser, the Royals secured the tie and clinched their place in the final with Boughton’s deflected strike in the dying stages. Now focus shifts solely on the league campaign with the prospect of a topseven finish within grasp and the next appointment is a meeting with Oxhey Jets.
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE NEWSLETTER BY BILL SCHOLES Saturday 17th March 2018 PREMIER DIVISION Welwyn Garden City used the powers of social media to call on an army of volunteers to ensure their home game with Biggleswade United got the go ahead. Just a few hours later they were rewarded for their hard work after The Citizens won 6-1. Ben Spaul broke the deadlock in the 38th before Jon Clements scored twice either side of the interval. Nick Elliott then made it four before Ash Kersey scored twice late on. Biggleswade United’s, Kane Farrell, however, scored the best of the day with a 30 yard strike. It’s a win that keeps Welwyn two points behind leaders Berkhamsted with five games in hand. The reason Berkhamsted are still top is they won 3-1 at Wembley. Ashton Campbell’s deflected 11th minute goat set the tone for the afternoon with Ash Morissey and Dan Jones also among the goals It’s a win that keeps Welwyn two points behind leaders Berkhamsted with five games in hand. Third placed Leighton Town returned to winning ways as they beat Oxhey Jets 2-0 and Harpenden Town make up the top four after they won 2-0 at home to Hadley with James Ewington scoring his 31st goal and 32nd goals of the season. Cockfosters ended their goal drought with an exciting 4-3 win away at Leverstock Green. Trailing 2-1 at the half time break, Cockfosters hit back with a three goal burst before the Green scored a third in the closing minutes. At the foot of the table, Stotfold remain bottom despite drawing 2-2 at Colney Heath, with Terry Billy and Russell Clarke both on target. Joe Newton scored both of Colney’s goals .Holmer Green secured a valuable point in their bid to climb out of the bottom two after they also drew 2-2 away, in their case at Edgware Town for whom Omololu Onabolu was once again on target, scoring both goals, whilst player manager Fergus Moore saw red on the stroke of half time. Holmer’s goals came from Ryan Parsons and Thomas Peddle-James.
FIRST TEAM FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Date
Comp.
H/A
KO
OXHEY JETS
League
H
3pm
BERKHAMSTED
League
A
7.45
Sat 31 Mar
BIGGLESWADE FC
League
A
3pm
Tues 3 Apr
LEIGHTON TOWN
League
H
7.45
Sat 7 Apr
ST MARGARETSBURY
League
H
3pm
Sat 14 Apr
HODDESDON TOWN
League
H
3pm
Sat 21 Apr
OXHEY JETS
League
A
3pm
Sat 28 Apr
COCKFOSTERS
League
H
3pm
Sat 24 Mar Tues 27 Mar
Opponents
UNDER 23 FORTHCOMING FIXTURES Sat 24 Mar
COLNEY HEATH
League
A
3.00pm
Mon 2 Apr
BERKHAMSTED
League
H
3.00pm
Sat 7 Apr
HOLMER GREEN
League
A
3.00pm
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.
BARNET FC
KICK OFF 3pm