Pictured: James Cooper
OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME TUESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2018 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE UNITED v TRING ATHLETIC
Welcome Welcome to Second Meadow Good evening and welcome to Second Meadow for tonight’s Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture. We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters from TRING ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. On Saturday we returned home to Second Meadow after three away fixtures that saw us net six League points but exit the Premier Division Cup with a 2-0 defeat at Baldock Town. The return to home turf saw us win the East v West derby with a 3-0 victory over fellow Bedfordshire side, Leighton Town on Saturday with goals from Dave Parkinson, Taz Andrews and Tony Williams. There is no doubting that a victory tonight won’t come easy against a very much in-form Tring Athletic, but three points will see us close the gap on the top 5 as we have two or more games in hand on all of the teams above us. As mentioned earlier, our visitors are in top form and have set off the season at a blistering pace and having played 16 matches sit top of the pile with just the one defeat this term – a home 0-1 defeat to Hadley. Tring are also yet to drop a League point away from home and they will be looking to maintain that impressive record here at Second Meadow tonight. Our two meetings last season saw United take maximum points with -0 apiece and it was a disappointing season for Tring as they finished a disappointing 17th in the table. With an influx of new players it appears that our Hertfordshire opponents will be looking to emulate their near neighbours, Berkhamsted, in gaining promotion to the Southern League. But it is a long season and there are teams below them that will be biting at their heels – United included!! Up Next On Saturday we take a trip down the A1 to visit London Colney. Kick Off 3pm. We then have a Saturday off to recharge our batteries and return on Tuesday 4th December with the visit of Crawley Green. Kick Off 7.45pm. If you can’t make it to London Colney, be sure to head down to Second Meadow and give your support to our Under 23 side who have a juicy County Cup tie against Biggleswade FC Reserves. Kick Off 3pm. Let’s hope for an enjoyable and entertaining match this evening.
The Players..
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Biggleswade United Director of Football, Guillem Balague, provides this weekly column.
Can I say first and foremost what an honour and a privilege it is to have been asked to take on the role of chairman of Biggleswade United.
volunteer roles that need to be filled because of the rapid growth of our Academy.
There are always things to do and we will never turn away any Everyone at the club has my word number of welcome extra helping that I will do my very best to hands. ensure that we continue to make strides into becoming good As the new chairman I am representatives of the realising very quickly how Community that we are so proud important the wider picture is, to be a part of. something which includes much more than just the playing side Since my arrival at the club we but also the structure, financing have grown in leaps and bounds and marketing of the club. and continue to grow apace, something due in no small There is so much more to every part to the passion and aspect other than merely playing, commitment put into the club by and as pleasant as winning is for its ever growing band of willing all of our sides what we are volunteers. trying to build does not depend on winning a particular game or So fast are we growing in fact that on qualifying for a particular final last Monday we held an open but rather on the building of a meeting at the clubhouse where strong foundation that can we discussed the future, and also guarantee a long term future for set about apportioning new our club.
Continued Overleaf
Balague on Biggleswade United GUILLEM BALAGUE Continued And I can promise you that along the way I will listen to everyone and to all points of view before taking any decisions that will hopefully ensure that everyone feels like an important part of this club.
importantly in training. What is most impressive is their keeness to learn, to get better, and we are currently blessed with a group of players that are as capable as they are committed.
All of which means we are And speaking of winning our currently sixth in the table and unbeaten run of seven games (six will be looking to try to keep the wins, one draw) came to an end momentum going and aim higher on Wednesday night when we as we look forward to two home bowed out of the Premier league games in a row. Division Cup going down 2-0 at Baldock Town. First up today we welcome Leighton Town before we face a Nonetheless it has still been a very stern test that could well great start for our new show how far we have progressed management team of Emilio when we come up against current Gutierrez and Alex Salvador who, league leaders Tring Athletic on prior to Wednesday night's Tuesday night (ko7.45pm). reversal, had hit the floor running with two victories on the bounce.
Chapeau as well to the dedication and commitment being shown by all the first team squad who are giving everything, not just on match days, but also just as
Current League Standings
Results and Fixtures
Next Up at Second Meadow
BEDFORDSHIRE FA INTERMEDIATE CUP SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 V BIGGLESWADE FC RESERVES
SSMFL DEVELOPMENT DIVISION SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2018 KICK OFF 3pm
BIGGLESWADE UNITED UNDER 23 V HOLMER GREEN DEVELOPMENT
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.
Tring Athletic – The History The club was formed in 1958 by a group of local men, the land at Miswell Lane and changing rooms costing £2,000.
We have still retained our cup tradition and have won the Herts Charity Shield 3 times and the St. Mary's on six occasion.
During the 60's many trophies were won in The West Herts Leagues as an under 21 team, although they faced full adult sides. In 1971 whilst going through hard time the upper age limit was dropped and in 1987 and the side joined the South Midlands. The following year we undertook a ground share with Tring Town at Pendley. However we shortly returned to Miswell where the reserves had remained and gained promotion to the Senior Division.
Our teams have increased over the years and we now have 4 adult mens sides playing on Saturday's and a midweek youth side. All have had their successes and the Reserves now play at a high level in The Suburban Premier League.
Last season the First finished 5th their second highest ever position in The Spartan South Midland Premier Division. They won The St. Mary's Cup defeating Kings Langley in the final 1-0. They also reached The Herts 1997 saw our first major trophy when we Charity Shield Final losing in the last few won the St. Mary's Cup and just missed out minutes. on promotion as we repeated the following The reserves finished mid table in the two years. We did win the Senior Div. Cup Suburban Premier Division and reached The and The St.Mary's again Plate final. The A Team finished runners up in The West 1999/2000 proved to be a season to Herts Premier division and the B Team won remember. A new club extension of £50K Division 2 and also The Stanley Rous Trophy. was celebrated by winning the league and 2017/18,. Saw us set a club record in reaching 5 finals. We won 3 lost 1 and the reaching the last 16 of The FA Vase losing by last was unable to be completed. the odd goal to Melksham in front of a We went on to win 12 major trophies in 7 crowd over 1,200. The league position was years. dissappointing. Our A Team had a great season winning the 2004-We entered a ground share with Tring league and cup without losing a game. The Town and raised the funds required to build only game they did lose was the final of the the new facilities we enjoy now. Herts Junior Cup. We were then able to enter the National cups for the first time and have enjoyed success in these reaching the last 16 of the Vase this year.
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