The Bootiful Game Magazine

G E O R G E

M I L N E R

From Clipstone to Norwegian side Valdres FK

THE

BooTIFULGAME northern counties east league magazine Issue 8

dnesday & e W ld e ffi e h S , d n la g Ex-En nd...

Worksop Town Lege

CHRIS WADDLE

Also Inside...

HALLAM FC...

BEHIND THE SCENES & NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM

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EDITORIAL Tel 07540 439553 Email thebootifulgame@outlook.com Editor Craig Kendall Chief Editor Kelly Kendall Staff Writer Thomas Feaheny Proofing Matt Jones Thanks to Ian Thompson, Dom Taylor, Adie Richards, Tina Goodworth, David Parram, Craig Dinsdale, Rich Davies, Jools Oughtibridge, Darren Norton, Peter Fleming, Tony Greenall, Justin Parker, Keith Handley, Richard Crapper, Macauley Gibson, Ricky Skelton, Paul Allison, Paul Nelson, David Mann, Darren Shaw, Simon Paley, Will Snarf, Matt Murphy, Jonathan Lawson, Steve Holmes, Mark Bennett, David Reed (In Memory of son Adam Reed), Christopher Blackburn, Andy Saunders, Richard Hobson, Dean Gripton, Andrew McDonald.

Front Cover Craig Kendall Contributors Stretfordend.com, Steve Pennock, Dan Simmonite, @BackOfTheStand2, Lee Jenkins (@2ndTouchTackle), Liam Kent, Glenn Poulton, @HipHoppingYorks, Jason Harrison (@jasonpharrison), Rob Waite (@The66Pow), Andrew Green, Glenn Poulton.

Photographers Craig Kendall, Mark Swinden, Rob Barraclough, Craig Dinsdale, Lee Myers, Rob Waite, @HipHoppingYorks, Peter Goldstraw (Capture Photography), Mark Parsons.

ADVERTISING Te l 07889 549527 Email thebootifulgame@outlook.com Sales Director Craig Kendall Advertising Director Kelly Kendall “The Bootiful Game” cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited contributions. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express permission of the Editor.

Apologies are made for any errors. Facts are correct at time of print.

2 0 1 7 / 1 8 Season...

The new season is upon us and we at The Bootiful Game “Towers” are very excited. Not only are we now into our second season producing this magazine, but our online presence, especially the website (thebootifulgame.uk) is growing rapidly. We are currently on target to hitting 250,000 unique visitors for the first year, which is a huge number.

This issue includes some fantastic articles, blogs and photographs including an in-depth insight into Chris Waddle and his non-league thoughts, a look at Hallam FC’s new management team, an article on how NCEL clubs have historically faired in the FA Cup and plenty more.

If you ever have an idea for an article and would like to contribute, be that in written, photographic or statistical form then please do not hesitate to contact us directly or on one of our social media forums.

Thanks for your continued support!

Craig Kendall Editor YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE BOOTIFUL GAME: Stay informed of the latest Northern Counties news!

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Up to the minute scores, tables and breaking news from the NCEL! @TheBootifulGame 24/07/2017 21:23

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE

06

CHRIS WADDLE Ex-Sheffield Wednesday & Worksop Town

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FROM CLIPSTONE TO NORWAY! George Milner on his road to success

16 IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFC Mansfield Commercial Manager Brian Stokes

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20 24 26 BACK OF THE STAND! Hall Road Rangers Blog

NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE Turning the corner

SPECIAL OFFER! Grab it while you can!

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36 SIMON LAMB Worksop Town legend!

40

NCEL CLUBS IN THE FA CUP An insight into the history

32 46 HIP HOPPING YORKSHIRE Blog

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THE SUMMER ODYSSEY

By Peter Fleming

50 58 HALLAM FC Behind the scenes and new management

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! FC Bolsover, Swallownest and EY Carnegie

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FOOTBALLING LEGEND...

CHRIS WADDLE

Football legend Chris Waddle is probably best know for missing...scrap that, he’s probably best known for his mulle...scrap that, Chris Waddle is probably best know for his mazy runs, outrageous goals and having bags of ability.

Worksop Town back in the early 2000’s.

“It wasn’t a problem. I started out in non-league football at the age of 18 with Tow Law Town and I played Sunday morning pub football from 14. Most lads that played on a Sunday, played on a Saturday, unless they were contracted on stupid money, and people loved to play on a Sunday. So, it wasn’t a shock to me, I played 5 or 6 years local In June we managed football so to go to Worksop to catch up with the Town, it was never a shock. former England International and got “Ive always enjoyed nonhis thoughts initially league, I am a big fan, I like on adjusting to life Sunday mornings, I run my own when he decided to pub team, even though we j o i n N o n - L e a g u e haven’t got a pub but we are 06 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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“If Worksop Town was managed correctly off the field, they could well be a League Two club!”

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classed as a pub team so I have always liked grassroots football to be honest, so it’s no big deal for me when people say, “Why do you go here or there, or why do you watch this?”, I actually enjoy it.

The big link between Chris Waddle and Worksop Town last season was the fact that his son, Jack, was playing for the Tigers but he has recently left to go to Rainworth. “Listen, it wouldn’t matter if he was playing in London or Plymouth, I would try and get to watch him when I could like any father would. He had a great year last season, I went to quite a number of games but unfortunately Worksop did not reach the heights that they wanted to with a lot of problems off the field, so players leave, and we know at whatever level of football money talks.

Unfortunately Worksop had issues, had to play a lot of kids and lost players.

“From my lads point of view, he’s basically being open, he’s loved his time at Worksop, won 6 out of 7 awards and his intentions were to stay. It’s not a money reason why he left, he knows Craig Denton (Rainworth Miners Manager) well, has signed a few players that Jack knows, and he thought it was a good opportunity to go to Rainworth who are signing a lot of quality players.”

Will you still look out for Worksop’s results? “Oh yeah. I had two years at Worksop and I absolutely love it! I have loved going back there for the past couple of years with Jack playing there. And when I go back I am always made to feel welcome. The one thing with Worksop is that the support is fantastic and it always has been.

Photographs by Sarah Holland.

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“I always say, “If Worksop Town was managed correctly off the field, they could well be a League Two club and people say “no, no you couldn’t”, you could get 2 or maybe 3,000 supporters in, it’s a great catchment area and you get a lot of very loyal support, home and away, and I definitely think that they are in a false league and should be two or three leagues higher.

that I have some involvement with the fist team, but I don’t. I go and watch when I can. What happened was, three years ago I was starting a Sunday team up and Hallam said do you want to call it Hallam as they have never had a Sunday team in their history which is surprising and I said yeah why not, so we have got an affiliation with them. They are a good club Hallam, well run, and I do go watch them when I can but the real connection is that my Sunday team is called Hallam FC Sunday.”

Chris was then asked his opinion on the financial side of nonl e a g u e football.

get out of the leagues then money talks. Whatever level of football you’re at, that’s it. I do agree that money at the top end, the Premier League, does not get spread out enough and a lot of grassroots teams suffer because of it. I’m on about kids as much as anything else, but all levels of grassroots, you’re still pay subs, pitches are costing a fortune, I know from experience of our Sunday league side, paying for referees. You get the lads coughing up all the time, you need to sell things all the time, h a v e r a f fl e s , s p o r t s m a n ’s dinners, surely there should be a way for the money to filter down. But, unfortunately it never will.”

“ T h e finances in t h e Va n a r a m a “Whatever level, results talk, if N a t i o n you are top of the league then League are you will get healthy crowds, if you are say 15th then you will comparable get less than expected. That’s to some of football. those in L e a g u e “It’s a difficult league and you O n e / T w o . need players who will run the A n d distance. There’s a lot of Conference football, with the FA Vase, FA North/South Cup, League Cup, County sides have Cups, its a hard league! unbelievable wage bills all We then asked Chris around his t h e way involvement with Hallam FC d o w n and he had this to say, “The through the thing where Hallam comes from leagues. If is that my Sunday team is you want to called Hallam and people think 10 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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football but I think it is too much qualifications and certificates. I Chris was then asked, what he a b o u t am very much anti-certificates get’s up to nowadays and how and all that. I’ve never been that does he keep type of guy. To me, I enjoy my himself busy?

Sunday team, I think if I was to “It’s just like ever go everybody else I back into suppose. You get management offered work and do then it would have bits and bobs. I have to say to be at a non-league that I really enjoy the radio work team. that I do on Radio 5. I have been with them a lot of years “Brian Clough won a lot of now, it is a great team of trophies without having a commentators to work with, and badge. I think we have seen the background staff are brilliant throughout the years plenty of for me. I do many of these managers who have got there (talking about Sportsman’s badges, but it is just an easy Dinners) if I am honest, way for the FA to make money. I probably 4 or 5 a year if I am just think it is wrong. In other lucky, but yeah I keep involved countries, if you get a certain with football with my Sunday amount of caps then you get a team. If I am not working then I certain licence, though I would will go and watch non-league. never beg for anything but Don’t get me wrong, I do go experience of course, and watch Sheffield counts for a lot.

Wednesday on a few “Being in the occasions. changing Listen, I room for just tick t w e n t y over. In the years, you business know what we’re in m a k e s you don’t players tick, k n o w and want, w h a t ’ s and if you around the need a corner. Things certificate to come in, can go back into you do this, can management, you do that, some then no I wont be you think yes, some you doing. think no.

Lastly, we asked Chris if he would get back into management, after he spent a year or so as player-management at Burnley during the 97-98 season.

“I don’t think so, I do miss

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“There are a lot of good nonleague managers and players who will never get the opportunity to go any higher because they cannot get the badges because of cost or one thing or another and it is just wrong.”

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From clipstone to norway for george milner!

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George commented: “I’m loving it in Norway, the people here are really friendly and helpful, at first it was very cold when I got here which was March 28th.

Initially, I was very homesick, not least because I was told on Sunday that I needed to fly out o n Tu e s d a y m o r n i n g s o everything happened so quickly and I didn’t really have time for it all to sink in.”

Football writer Mark Asher has managed to catch up with former Clipstone F.C. player George Milner who recently signed for Valdres FK in Norway.

George’s blistering pace made him a big hit at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, having progressed through the ranks with Chesterfield F.C. He made an impact in the second half of the 2015-16 season making s i x appearances for Clipstone scoring two goals.

he re-signed with the Cobras in a two way deal with Buxton F.C. of the Evo-Stik League. Milner featured in 16 games scoring 6 goals and earning five Man of the match awards in the process and going on to sign a professional contract in March 2 0 1 7 w i t h Va l d r e s F K i n Norway.

“I live with three other lads, two from England and one from Sweden, so there is always something to do, if that is playing some golf, fishing, going on walks or bike rides, or just chilling out in our apartment watching TV and playing some FIFA. They are a good bunch of lads and they’re always making you laugh, which is nice.”

When asked about the standard of football and attendances in Norway George had this to say: “The standard is very good over here, I was surprised at how good the standard actually is, there are some quality players

Milner then became a major part of the 2016/17 season when

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in our team as well as other teams. Most of them could easily earn a professional contract in England. I would say it’s slightly better than the Evo-Stik level, which is a very good level in England.”

“The furthest travel to a game is about three and half hours away. Where I live there are around 4,500-5,000 people, so at our games we get a good attendance of 400 people watching, but we always get 75+ fans watching our away games which is superb. Depending on who we play in our league some of the better supported teams have

over 2,000 fans which is always nice to play against.”

I’m sure most of you will have seen one of his goals on social media when he scored a beautifully curled free kick into the top left of the goal, we also

asked George what else has been his standout moment?

“Thank you for liking the goal, I enjoyed it too! The other stand out moment for me, was making my debut for Valdres in the 1st game of the season against the title favourites Eidsvold TF, which we won 2-0, so that was a proud moment for me and my family. I hope there are many more moments like that to come in my career.”

We would like to wish George all the very best luck going forward and we will keep an eye on his progress.

(Photographs: AJS Productions, Interview: Mark Asher).

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH...

Former York City Mascot and Liberal Democrats campaigner Brian Stokes has recently taken up the role as commercial manager at NCEL Premier Division side AFC Mansfield and here he talks about taking the role up and his first couple of months in the job...

FACT FILE

BRIAN STOKES

Full Name Brian Stokes D.O.B 24.10.92 Place of birth York Occupation Commercial Manager at AFC Mansfield

Hi, my name is Brian, I’m 24 years old and have worked for a UK wide charity for the last two and a half years. I previously interned in the House of Lords, I am also volunteering for York Pride.

That’s an odd introduction for a football blog, but that was my life before getting an opportunity at AFC Mansfield, an opportunity I never expected, but then could never reject when it arrived. However, very few know how it emerged so here’s the story.

page; AFC Mansfield were looking for a Commercial Manager, other clubs were also advertising. I was perhaps a little bitter about not even getting an interview with Yeovil Town Ladies, but despite missing out on a full-time job I still wanted to fulfill my passion for the sport somewhere; so decided to put in a highly speculative CV and Cover Letter to AFC Mansfield, then never expected to hear from them ever again.

Mansfield Chairman asking me to call him.

I was suddenly shocked, but phoned him as soon as I left work. Half an hour later, I’ve been offered an opportunity with a football club. “Is this really happening” was my first thought.

Over the next few days I decide One night in early March I saw that this is a great opportunity, an advert on the Northern Two days later, I get an email accepted it and over the next Counties East League Twitter from Andy Saunders, AFC week resigned as Secretary of 16 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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I got roped into filming the game, I don’t think I did a terrible job, feel free to watch it.

Despite the result, I knew I was getting involved with an amazing project. Over the following weeks and months, I got to know all the backroom staff and even Rudi Funk the Manager. The last few games of the season ignoring results were amazing fun to go to.

Yo r k Pride knowing I wouldn’t have the time to commit to that position anymore. I felt sad but felt this was necessary as I could no longer commit and I plan to still be involved whenever I can be involved.

A week or two later the big day arrived, AFC Mansfield v s Barton Town O l d Boys, my first experience of the Forest To w n A r e n a .

Andy meets me for the first time at the station and then takes me to the ground, on arrival I get a tour of the ground and see all the facilities.

I’m instantly sold by A n d y -----------------------------------------and all the people I It’s been a couple of months met at the club were now since I joined AFC brilliant people to Mansfield and so far, I’ve meet. So now I just loved being involved. look forward to the The people behind game, should be an easy the scenes are win, right? fantastic and the players A F C were great to meet at the end of s e a s o n awards night.

To me, this ground looks awesome, I see the hospitality Mansfield room, the bar and lose 1–0 to a the pavilion (yes side in a relegation pavilion) where a lot of fans battle…. Oops (Well can stand in and I feel played Barton I was the naive impressed. one).

The set up at Forest Town is fantastic and despite not many results going our way at games I ’ v e watched (I’ll happily talk about Clipstone, but the less said about the Pickering Town game the better), I really believe some great things will come to the club over the next season and I really cannot wait for the football to begin again.

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Off the pitch, I’ll be honest I’m probably about a month behind where I want to be, this is mainly because Theresa May decided to call a General Election, and with the permission of Andy I could focus mainly on campaigning across Yorkshire for the Liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, none of the seats I campaigned in were particularly successful (and no I still haven’t got over the travesty of Nick Clegg losing his seat), however the end of the election has finally allowed me to focus purely on football.

and likable atmosphere, the only difference being the brilliant market in the town centre; I especially enjoyed listening to the live music that provided the background noise.

I also got a feel of how challenging my task will be, but I have gained contacts that I hope will help promote us and will remain in touch with the club. You may have noticed that Jango’s Indoor Play Centre have promoted the club on Facebook and I am hoping a few other local organisations will be joining them soon. Over the weekend, I enjoyed I v i s i t e d M a n s f i e l d f o r a journeying through Mansfield, weekend to see the atmosphere Mansfield Woodhouse and of the area, sense opportunities Forest Town. and get a feel of the town in general. As someone who is an Almost a week later the club ex-student of the University of experienced the excitement of Hull, certain parts of the town the FA Cup draw. I cannot had the same quirky liveliness explain my delight of the club

getting a home draw. With Mansfield Town away on the same day, we have an amazing opportunity to promote this match and the club in general across the town and nearby communities. Every football fan loves the Cup, and I hope to see many visitors to the Forest Town Arena on Saturday 5th August.

Lookout on our social media in the next few days for promotion of our FA Cup tie against Hall Road Rangers, and for more announcements about our new £90 matchday sponsorship package, ideal for any business or for a group of friends.

18 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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BEFORE

AFTER

Football boots customisation to meet your requirements. Sole conversions, Partial Blackouts, full Blackouts and minor repairs. /LouBoots Customisation Untitled-1 19

@LouBoots_ 24/07/2017 21:24

We’ve glanced across the ground before heading for the clubhouse. “Looking good” I say. “Looks very good” is the reply. Non League grounds in the close season. The voices from the dugout have faded away. A certain calm. The grass is just that bit longer. Just that bit greener.

“Any chance the pitch might be widened this year?” I ask.

“That’s one for the manager, not the chairman” is the response.

I t ’s d e l i v e r e d with a smile.

Darren Sunley is chairman of NCEL club Hall Road Rangers.

Finishing seventeenth two seasons running and flirting with exit from the league, he’s just seen his team finish as champions of the 1st division this season. A three way shoot out on the final day saw Rangers triumph away at Campion FC to clinch the title; cue bottles of champagne and scenes of celebration on the pitch.

“You know, that must have been one of the longest final 15

minutes I’ve ever experienced, it felt like an hour” he says, “I’d bought some champagne and left it on the bus, along with a banner of the club sponsor, East Park Chippy. All I could think of was when do I go for it?

On 87 minutes I thought, that’s it I’m going for it! I collected the bottles and the banner and walked back into the ground. I was greeted by some spectators who joked with me that it might be a bit premature, and I just went over near the dugout and waited for the final whistle.”

So, was it a game he enjoyed or was there too much at stake to enjoy it? Darren sits back in his chair. We’re sat round a table in the clubhouse now and like all good hosts the chairman has made the tea. “I must be honest when I woke up the morning of the Campion game I was pretty nervous about what was going to happen. And during the game itself I disappeared a bit and went for a few walks! It meant a lot to everyone at the club, players, managers, the committee and the supporters.

We’ve come a long way in the last 3 years, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well, and for me this is just the start.”

Darren takes a drink of tea, before standing up and heading behind the bar. Perhaps it’s not just tea. Champagne? I ask.

“None left I’m afraid mate” he says with a laugh, “but something better.” He returns, placing the league trophy and league winners medal on the

Promotion is just the start says darren sunley

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table. “A long season, but that makes it all worthwhile.” he says.

I’m interested to know whether during the course of that long season the end result was ever in doubt? Darren l a u g h s . “ H o n e s t l y, a t t h e beginning of the season did I think we’d win the league, no I didn’t. Did I want to win it, of course I did. I thought we were good enough for a top 4 and

that would have been a good place to be. The jump from last seasons seventeenth to league winners just seemed too much at the time. We’d nearly gone out of business at one point so from that to league winners seemed to just be too good to be true.

Before the season started I went through the fixtures to Christmas and wrote down whether I thought we’d win, lose

or draw. I kept the bit of paper and checked it as we turned the year, and you know, I was pretty accurate! I didn’t do that for the second half of the season, perhaps I should have, the run in might have felt a lot calmer!

We had one abandoned game where although I knew we would get the points they didn’t come through for a while. Plus because we had games in hand we tended to be just behind the Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 21

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leading two for a while. But in the end we deservedly came out on top, and as they say, the table doesn’t lie.”

So, I ask, what about next

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season? “Well, you’ll have seen in the press that Dave and Bill have signed new contracts, which is great news for the

club.” He’s referring of course to manager Dave Ricardo and assistant Bill Gill who joined the club at the start of the season and proceeded to rebuild the team, and transform the clubs fortunes on the pitch. “ I couldn’t ask for more” says Darren, “ I chose them because of how they came across. They knew what they wanted to achieve and they’ve done just that. I don’t interfere in the playing side. I know better than to do that” he says with a laugh. “But it’s more than that, there’s a great team now at the club

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and I’ve strengthened this recently with the appointment of Lee Myers as Vice Chairman.

When I started I said that one of my ambitions was to create a brand.

“That people would associate with the club, what it believes in, and what it’s trying to achieve. We’ve developed a good structure down here with teams at all levels. We’ve also put the club on the map through the facilities and the ground, and recently we’ve successfully hosted two boys league finals and the East Riding Senior Cup final between Bridlington Town and Hull City Academy.

“It’s great when people come down for the first time and say they hadn’t realised how good the facilities are down here.

These things take time to come together but we’re certainly getting there.”

Climbing the league pyramid though can bring its challenges, not only getting the right team on the pitch but meeting ground standards. Darren is confident that work undertaken to date puts the club in a good position. “As far as the ground goes we’ve done a lot of work on it since we moved here; pitch, hard standing, changing rooms and floodlights. We already meet the NCEL Premier Division standard for next season. We are looking at a further covered area near our new downstairs bar and we do need to add to our hard standing but we can do the that during the season”.

“On the playing side its really a matter for Dave.” says Darren, “He’s the manager and he’ll decide what’s needed. Last

year we changed 1-17 which was a radical shake up for the club. Personally I don’t see significant changes to the squad but as far as additions go if the right person comes along who could do us a job I’m sure we’d be interested, but again that’s not for me, it’s the managers call. What I do know is that as a club we are becoming attractive to players which can only be good.”

Without doubt the club have raised its profile significantly,

particularly in the world of social media. “I was able to bring in Neil Winsor this year on the media side” says Darren, “ and he does a tremendous amount of work publicising the club and being our man on the microphone on match days.

We’re slowly developing our media team and have a very active Facebook page and twitter account. And let’s not forget the match day programme which Lee Myers oversees, we’ve just won an award from The Bootiful Game

magazine for that and it’s nice that all that hard work is recognised. All of these are really important in driving the profile of the club.”

So the club has returned to the Premier league of the NCEL after a 4 year absence. Is that the end of the story? “ Absolutely not” says the chairman. “I said last year I thought we could get to the Evo Stick league within 5 years and that’s still something that’s possible. For me promotion is not just the end of last season, it’s the start of the next few seasons. In a way I feel I’m perhaps ahead of schedule but that’s not a reason to slow up. Next year will be a good test for us and we’ll be up for it.

“It may be quiet at the ground today but it won’t be long before the place is buzzing again with the players returning in June for pre season training.

We’ll be in both the FA Vase and the FA Cup this time as well so it’ll be a great season for players and supporters alike.”

It’s certainly an upbeat message from the chairman. And one I’m sure he’ll deliver at the end of season awards function in this very room on 3rd June. So, as the interview comes to a close I’m keen to find out where he thinks the team will finish next season. Have you done another one of those lists I enquire? He laughs. “No, not this time.” he says. Your prediction then? I ask. He pauses. This time he replies without a smile. “ Top 2.”

And I’ll tell you what, If he is right, then this time next year I’ll be hiding that kettle, and he can pour the champagne.

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corner

nostell miners are turning the

T h e past two seasons have proved very difficult for Nostell MW FC, an obvious statement after narrowly avoiding successive relegations with an “eleventh hour” reprieve and reinstatement into the NCEL after the winding-up of Ilkeston and Westella & Willerby’s dramatic u-turn in declining the NCEL’s offer in favour of rebuilding in the local Humberside leagues.

The past months have provided an opportunity to reflect on past failings, understanding how and why as a club we’ve NOT got to grips with the commercial side of

football, fund raising, engaging with business to generate support and much needed finance to push the football club forward.

The Club have made the conscious decision to revert back to the methods employed when the team enjoyed a considerable amount of success. Gaining promotion in the very first season in the NCEL, after spending several weeks at the top of Division 1, eventually finishing fourth (promoted because of a restructure to the Non-League Pyramid).

The following season saw the Welfare top of the pile in the Premier League for long periods of the season, finally fi ni s hi ng fi fth. Su cce ssf u l campaigns were enjoyed in the FA Cup and FA Vase. The pinnacle was beating Scarborough Athletic over two

legs, watched by over 1000 spectators, to lift the Presidents Cup. In those heady days the team and management were all Wakefield based lads and enjoyed considerable local support. Former player and last season’s second team manager Mark Booth, another ex- player Wayne Ball have joined former professional footballer Desmond Hazel to form a new management team with the remit to play as many local based players as possible. The Club have made this decision to try and re-kindle the excellent “Club ethos” and “spirit” enjoyed in the early NCEL days and for years before that in the West Yorkshire League.

What limited financial resources the Club have managed to acquire has always been reinvested in the facilities and we are proud to enjoy one of the better amenities in the NCEL. The playing surface has

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been particularly impressive following the £160,000 spent on drainage works carried out on the two senior pitches. There was a problem at the end of last season but the Club have again invested in the pitch to hopefully return it to the excellent condition it was in after the initial drainage works.

Most clubs who have come to Nostell over the past two seasons can’t quite believe the transformation of the main pitch and playing surface. From previously ankle deep in mud in the depth of winter to simply the most efficient draining pitch you have ever seen resulting in NOT A SINGLE GAME being called off in the past two seasons.

Teams come to us, they take a look at the pitch, their eyes light up cause if you can’t play football on our pitch you simply ain’t a decent footballer and suddenly we are playing a cup final every week.

The Club have struggled on the pitch for several season’s now and it would be easy to point the blame at the 7/8 Managers who have come and gone and lack of quality from the players they have brought into the club, however, we has a Club have made several mistakes. That is why the decision has been to return to a predominately local based management team and local players. If we don’t manage to make a success of it at least we will have tried to do what we

think is the right ethos.

In a previous addition of “The Bootiful Game” an article by former Nostell Manager Chris Ellerby included comments that were not 100% true and the Club have welcomed the opportunity to put the record s t r a i g h t . We h a v e s t a t e d previously that the Club have made mistakes and the appointment of Chris Ellerby was one of them. Regarding the article, there are a number of points to correct, the first being he did not leave of his own account, the Chairman called him in the week after the away defeat to Eccleshill and informed him of the Committee’s decision to relieve him of his duty as manager after a disastrous run of one league and one cup win in fifteen games and the club eight points adrift at the bottom of the NCEL Division One table.

To Chris’s credit he did volunteer to be available for the next home game against Yorkshire Amateurs to hand over the reins and ensure the players he had brought in turned up for the game, howev er, thi s opt io n w a s declined, the damage had already been done. The club needed to move on and quickly.

Another issue was players and apparent budgets. If you double, quadruple or even tenfold a budget of NOTHING what have you got ? NOTHING !! So we agreed with Chris to put in place an “incentive scheme” aimed at covering basic player expenses based on so much a point which initially was welcomed however, if you don’t win or draw games, how much is a player entitled to?

Again, NOTHING!!

Every Manager has a “wishlist” of players he would like to

sign, the list which the Club still has in writing supplied by Chris had initially 20 players, 10 of which were already signed for two clubs in the same NCEL Division One, one of which threatened action against Nostell for the approaches from Chris and quite rightly so. No matter how big a budget Chris had in his own mind, under league rules there was no way we could sign such players.

The Club have to move on and learn from the mistakes made in the past. At the time of writing this article we are half way through a busy pre season, not really helped with the change of direction because of the re-installment in the NCEL. The new management team are looking at the new recruits and hoping to build a successful squad. We think it is fair to say that we still need a few additions that can add experience but we are genuinely excited by the prospect of the new season.

The hope is we have learnt from our mistakes and experiences and better equipped to mount a successful 2017/18 campaign. Time will tell, however we are hoping the development of our juniors will bear some fruit with the motto of “you reap what you sow”.

Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 25

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been there, done that! ..........................................

Knaresborough Town

..........................................

Harrogate Railway Athletic

..........................................

Thackley

..........................................

Eccleshill United

..........................................

Campion

..........................................

Albion Sports

..........................................

Garforth Town

..........................................

Yorkshire Amateur

..........................................

Liversedge

..........................................

Selby Town

..........................................

Glasshoughton Welfare

..........................................

Nostell Miners Welfare

..........................................

Pontefract Collieries ..........................................

Hemsworth Miners Welfare

..........................................

AFC Emley

..........................................

Athersley Recreation ..........................................

Armthorpe Welfare

..........................................

Penistone Church

..........................................

Worsbrough Bridge Athletic ..........................................

Rossington Main

..........................................

Parkgate

..........................................

Maltby Main

..........................................

Hallam FC

..........................................

Swallownest

..........................................

DronďŹ eld Town

..........................................

Worksop Town

..........................................

Clipstone FC

..........................................

Staveley Miners Welfare ..........................................

Shirebrook Town ..........................................

AFC MansďŹ eld

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..........................................

Handsworth Parramore

..........................................

Retford United

..........................................

Ollerton Town ..........................................

FC Bolsover ..........................................

Rainworth Miners Welfare

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..........................................

Pickering Town

..........................................

Bridlington Town

..........................................

East Yorkshire Carnegie

..........................................

Winterton Rangers

..........................................

Hall Road Rangers

..........................................

Barton Town Old Boys

..........................................

Bottesford Town

..........................................

Brigg Town

..........................................

Grimsby Borough

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toolstation ncel division One champions by points per game Season

Team

Games Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points

Points/Game

1990/91

Sheffield FC

24

21

1

2

64

2.67

1997/98

Garforth Town

28

23

3

2

72

2.57

1994/95

Hatfield Main

30

25

2

3

77

2.57

2006/07

Parkgate

32

26

4

2

82

2.56

2008/09

Scarborough Athletic

36

29

5

2

92

2.56

2015/16

Hemsworth Miners Welfare

40

31

5

4

98

2.45

2007/08

Dinnington Town

32

24

6

2

78

2.44

2005/06

Carlton Town

30

23

4

3

73

2.43

1996/97

Eccleshill United

28

21

4

3

67

2.39

1999/00

Goole AFC

30

22

5

3

71

2.37

2002/03

Mickleover Sports

32

24

3

5

75

2.34

2000/01

Borrowash Victoria

30

22

4

4

70

2.33

2016/17

Hall Road Rangers

42

30

6

6

96

2.29

1987/88

York Railway Institute

30

22

2

6

68

2.27

1988/89

Sheffield FC

30

21

5

4

68

2.27

2001/02

Gedling Town

30

21

5

4

68

2.27

2004/05

Sutton Town

30

22

5

3

68

2.27

2014/15

Clipstone

42

30

3

9

93

2.21

2010/11

Staveley Miners Welfare

38

26

6

6

84

2.21

2012/13

Albion Sports

42

28

8

6

92

2.19

1989/90

Rowntree Mackintosh

28

18

7

3

61

2.18

1993/94

Arnold Town

28

20

1

7

61

2.18

2009/10

Tadcaster Albion

34

22

8

4

74

2.18

2013/14

Cleethorpes Town

42

28

7

7

91

2.17

2011/12

Handsworth

38

27

1

10

82

2.16

1992/93

Lincoln United

26

17

5

4

56

2.15

1998/99

Harrogate Railway Athletic

24

15

6

3

51

2.13

1995/96

Selby Town

30

19

6

5

63

2.10

2003/04

Shirebrook Town

34

22

5

7

71

2.09

1991/92

Stocksbridge Park Steels

30

19

5

6

62

2.07

1986/87

Ossett Albion

34

22

4

8

70

2.06

1985/86

North Ferriby United

30

18

5

7

59

1.97

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Formed in 1982 from the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland league, 32 clubs have won the NCEL Division One as the North and South NCEL leagues were merged in 1985/86. We take a look at all the winners and rank them by points per game.

Data taken from ncefl.org.uk.

Sheffield%FC% Garforth%Town% Ha[ield%Main% Parkgate% Scarborough%AthleIc% Hemsworth%Miners%Welfare% Dinnington%Town% Carlton%Town% Eccleshill%United% Goole%AFC% Mickleover%Sports% Borrowash%Victoria% Hall%Road%Rangers% Su<on%Town% Gedling%Town% Sheffield%FC% York%Railway%InsItute% Clipstone% Staveley%Miners%Welfare% Albion%Sports% Arnold%Town% Rowntree%Mackintosh% Tadcaster%Albion% Cleethorpes%Town% Handsworth% Lincoln%United% Harrogate%Railway%AthleIc% Selby%Town% Shirebrook%Town% Stocksbridge%Park%Steels% Osse<%Albion% North%Ferriby%United%

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2.67% 2.57% 2.57% 2.56% 2.56% 2.45% 2.44% 2.43% 2.39% 2.37% 2.34% 2.33% 2.29% 2.27% 2.27% 2.27% 2.27% 2.21% 2.21% 2.19% 2.18% 2.18% 2.18% 2.17% 2.16% 2.15% 2.13% 2.10% 2.09% 2.07% 2.06% 1.97%

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hip hopping yorkshire @HipHoppingYorks

glory. We made our way back through the car park and paid our entrance fee.

Park R o a d , Wo r s b r o u g h B r i d g e , Bar nsley.

14/03/17

Anyway, I loved Park Road, built down into a mini valley The ground was with stone steps leading you spectacular, many towards the main stand, much like Inky Road, Stocksbridge.

The main stand is something to die for, possibly the best I have seen so far.

The stand still bears the former name of the club, Worsbrough Bridge Miners Welfare and Athletic Club, it has a brick built back and beautiful facia. Two stanchions hold the roof up, both are draped in plastic Union Flags, possibly from the Queen’s Coronation. It is just magnificent.

Another day, another long day at work, another Gover nors meeting. We needed to choose a local game as this one was a full Governors and was likely to last most of the evening. We picked Worsbrough, we picked wisely.

I had to excuse myself early from the meeting as Ken was ready and waiting at seven to get us across South Yorkshire to Barnsley. We got there with time to spare but found the car park (in the words o f J e re m y C o r b y n ) ‘ r a m packed’. Ken edged the car through and into the ‘over-spill’, giving us a beautiful panoramic view of Park Road, in all its

the long haul, I my have fallen into it but it will take a lot to get me out of it!

positive things have emanated from the hip injury but one of my favourites is the discovery of hidden gems like Park Road. To a lot of people who have been on the non league scene for a while, Park Road may not be hidden, nor may it be a gem.

My non league adventure is still in its infancy but I’m here for

Over on the far touchline there is another covered terrace, no seats but housing a few hardcore fanatics who had made the game on this chilly Tuesday evening. Behind the far goal there was an expanse of space, it was too dark to see properly but I think that is the adjoining cricket field. A newly built clubhouse sits behind the near goal as we walk in.

A group of people gather around one of the floodlights on the far side, that area of the pitch is in darkness as the floody doesn’t appear to be working. A silver suited man strides over the pitch over to the light, flanked by a man and woman. Turns out the silver suit was the ref who was going over to ascertain what the problem

32 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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w a s . We w e re s w i f t l y approaching kick off, this was either going to be a late start or postponed due to floodlight failure.

Suddenly one of the lights flickered on, then another, one was still out but that didn’t stop the cheer from the handful of people in the stand. The light was hoisted up to its lofty position atop the metal pole.

Word got round to the players that kick off was postponed until 8:30, I could have finished the governors meeting after all.

The players and management were unhappy at the delayed kick off, “how long does it take the ref to get changed?” quipped one of the Glassy boys. I agreed, a late night wasn’t ideal but at least we had a game on. Two ladies sat behind us puffing on a cigarette, sat underneath the ‘Directors Only’ sign, not sure whether they were directors, they come in all shapes and sizes.

The Briggers had one game in February and lost 1-9 at home to Hallam, they had reacted well though, winning their next two games against Dronfield and Ollerton, putting seven points between themselves and second bottom Westella.

Another win this evening would open a ten point gap and even w i t h We s t e l l a w i t h games in hand and the chance to play Wo r s b ro u g h , t h e Briggers would be in a

strong position to keep their exclaimed that the Briggers status in the Northern Counties were “much better than when I East League. last saw them.” I think credit needs to be given to young The game was settled by a Worsbrough boss Josh Wright solitary goal, scored by Thomas who started this season as guest following a nice through interim player manager but was ball from Ryan Pleasants. A given the job on a full time couple of blokes sat next to us basis back in December.

Both teams tried to play football on what was a difficult pitch at times, Briggers holding on at times due to the pace of Nathan Keightley and presence of Ryan Poskitt up top. Worsbrough were no mugs though and fully deserved the three points that saw them ten points clear of the relegation places and closing in on Dronfield who were miles out only a couple of months ago. Three on the bounce for the Briggers then, meanwhile Glassy are ninth but a massive twelve points off the play off places.

Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 33

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Why non-league football...?

The English Premier League is the best league in the world, writes Lynn Moore.

Or so they tell us. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the richest, attracts the best players, the biggest sponsors, the most TV viewers, the largest attendances.

So why would anyone choose to go and watch a non-league game when there is such a wealth of talent available to watch in the ďŹ&#x201A;esh or on the telly?

them) but as I grew older real life got in the way of football, I married, had children, moved away and I no longer go to watch my team as often as I did.

But, I missed it. I missed going to the game on a Saturday, I missed the smell of Bovril and the banter between the fans. I missed the anticipation of walking to the game with others who are going to the same match. I missed eyeing up the

I grew up watching a team who are now a premiership club; we had season tickets and the whole family went every other week, religiously, to watch them win, lose or draw (mostly lose when I was watching 34 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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opposing team’s supporters as they were walking to the game.

I even missed the crushing disappointment when they’ve lost (again).

And then I discovered my local non-league club. We wandered down one Saturday a couple of weeks after moving in, and I was hooked. .

So what do I get when I pay a ridiculously small amount to watch them play? At our club they do a deal where for a tenner you get your admission into the ground, a drinks token, a meal token and a programme – pretty good value, I’d say, for a few hours’ entertainment.

I get to watch a good and exciting game of football: and hear it: we are close enough to the playing area that we can hear the players talking to each other (or shouting sometimes).

I get to wander in and out of the club house for more lager if I want it (I’m working on them to install some decent bitter or a nice real ale) and I get to wander outside with my pint and drink it while I’m watching the game.

I get to hear the banter and camaraderie between the fans – and even the coaching staff sometimes. I get to sit down if I want, but I prefer to stand and we don’t even have to worry about the “bring back safe standing” campaign. I get to meet friends, and acquaintances who will become friends as I see them every game. When it’s cold I can stay inside if I want (not that I do, but I could if I wanted). I get the disappointment when they lose (which they do often) and I get the joy when they win.

morning repeat), but it’s real, it’s gritty and it matters.

So now, instead of waiting for my team to be selected to be on Sky so I can wander over to the pub to watch them play, or listen to the game on the radio, or keep an eye on the scores via the app on my smart phone, like I did for years, I take a leisurely stroll through the town and hand over my tenner, get a pint of lager (I’m still hoping for that real ale though) get pie chips and mushy peas and watch my new team actually play, cheered on by a few other supporters who have done the My dad used to tell me that you same; there aren’t tens of can see which players have put thousands there - we’re lucky if a shift in by the colour of their we get into treble figures - but kit when they’re coming off the we all have a good afternoon pitch and this is certainly true and we can share the banter here, the pitch is kept well but it just like you would at any gets muddy and the players football game. We share the who have worked their socks off disappointment when they’ve are invariably covered in the lost and we share the joy when gooey stuff by the time the they win. whistle blows; and that’s football. That’s real football. It’s And the best bit… I get to walk not the sterilised and oh so home afterwards without being skillful game that you’ll watch stuck in traffic listening to on Match of the Day on a “Sports Report” while in a traffic Saturday night (or the Sunday jam.

I still love my original team and I will continue to watch them on Sky, or travel and watch them in the flesh once or twice a year as I have been doing; but I have grown to love my new team as well.

That’s my story. There are many other stories out there, but one thing they will all have in common is that nonleague is pretty great and if you haven’t tried it yet, you should.

Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 35

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take my hand. take my whole life too. because i can’t help, falling in love with you...

It's been exciting time for Worksop Town fans as not o n l y have they appointed muchloved Ryan Hindley as First Team Manager but have signed several players for the new season.

One supporter, Simon Lamb, who has been a loyal fan for nearly 30 years, in June donated £1,000 to the 1861 membership club which not o n l y g e t s h i m a season ticket but also puts money into the playing budget.

Simon was born with a heart condition which has worsened in the past few years and alongside a severe development of arthritis has made going to games difficult, however he wanted to show his support to the Tigers.

36 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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"I've been supporting Worksop for nearly 30 years now. My first game was at the old ground of Central Avenue when we played Mossley.

"Worksop are my home town club and i've been supporting them ever since my dad took me to that first game.

"The club has been through thick and thin over the

Untitled-1 37

years, dark times and good times but I've loved the club ever since i was a little boy, my home town club, and i feel very proud of being a part of it for all these years.

"I donated the money yesterday because i really want the good times to come back for the Tigers and with our fantastic fanbase i do truly believe we can get there again. £150 of that money was my membership for next season

and I told them that the rest can go to 5 more adult memberships and 4 junior memberships, just so that the people who love the game but can't come every week due to finances being tight have a chance to watch us all season, and hopefully the money will go a long way towards the playing budget for the coming season.

"I was born with a heart condition, a narrow aorta and a leaking heart valve, and have an irregular heart beat, and over the last 4-5 years I have developed arthritis in both knees, feet, wrists and hands, so now I have trouble walking anywhere, and spend most of my time bed bound, but i was determined to help out the football club I have loved for three decades in any shape or form I can, even though I doubt I will be able to get to any games this season."

24/07/2017 21:24

Photograph: A crunching challenge comes in on a Knaresborough Town player during Julyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendly against Tadcaster Albion. Credit: Craig Dinsdale.

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NCEL CLUBS in the FA CUp an insight into the worlds oldest cup competition!

by @FACupfactfile Untitled-1 40

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In the 35 years since the Football League. However, Counties League Division One N o r t h e r n C o u n t i e s E a s t despite a goal from Jenas, the side Burscough (after a 2-2 League was formed it has draw) in 1984-85 season, and been represented in the FA losing 1-0 at home to West Cup 937 times by its member Midlands (Regional) League clubs.

Premier Division club Gresley Rovers the The inaugural 1982-83 following season. season saw 26 clubs The Reds weren’t enter the famous the only NCEL competition, and representatives in the 3rd whilst the majority Qualifying of the clubs had Round those departed the FA two seasons, Cup by the being joined by middle of October Denaby United that season, two in 84/85 (lost were still going 1-0 at home to strong by the end NPL side of it.

Marine), and by Bridlington Trinity The now defunct in 85/86 (lost 3-2 at E a s t w o o d To w n Northern League reached the 3rd Division One side Qualifying Round that Bishop Auckland). season where they held Alliance Premier League (now Changes by the FA in terms of National League) side Telford U n i t e d t o a 2 - 2 d r a w a t Leicestershire based non- qualifying criteria for the FA Cup Coronation Park before bowing league side were overcome 5-1 came into play from the 1986/87 out of the competition 4-0 in the on the day thanks to a Steve season and this seriously replay.

Elliott brace and goals from depleted the number of NCEL A n d y M c A t e e r , G o r d o n clubs who would be able to However, another now defunct Coleman and John Kelly for compete in it. Just 19 were involved with three making it as side, Shepshed Charterhouse, their hosts. far as the 3rd Qualifying Round also made the 3rd Qualifying Round in the NCEL’s debut The following year saw two (Armthorpe Welfare, Eastwood season, and they won their tie fewer NCEL clubs compete in Town (again) and Emley).

3-0 at home against Northern t h e F A C u p a n d i t w a s P r e m i e r L e a g u e s i d e Eastwood Town this time that The number of NCEL entrants Gainsborough Trinity. Another came closest to making the 1st in the FA Cup were diminished v i c t o r y a t t h e S h e p s h e d Round ‘Proper’ losing 2-1 to still further for the 1987/88 Stadium in the 4th Qualifying I s t h m i a n L e a g u e P r e m i e r season, down to just 13 clubs, Round, 2-1 against another D i v i s i o n s i d e W y c o m b e but Brigg Town came ever so NPL side King’s Lynn, saw Wanderers at Loakes Park after close to making the 1st Round Charterhouse become the first they’d held them to a 2-2 draw ‘Proper’ losing 4-1 at Sincil Bank to Lincoln City who had NCEL club to make the 1st at home. become the first Football Round ‘Proper’ of the FA Cup. Alfreton Town were the best League club to suffer automatic The reward for winning through performing NCEL club in the FA relegation to the Football five rounds was a trip to Cup over the next couple of Conference and would return to Deepdale to take on Preston s e a s o n s m a k i n g t h e 3 r d League football at the end of North End, twice FA Cup Qualifying Round in both years, the season. w i n n e r s , b u t a t t h e t i m e losing 3-2 after extra time at competing in the third tier of the home to North West Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 41

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24/07/2017 21:24

1988/89 season saw an all-time low number of NCEL clubs compete in the FA Cup, just a dozen, with the original Bridlington Town and Emley both making the 3rd Qualifying Round to be named joint best NCEL clubs in the Cup that year. The following season saw a return to 13 clubs and new NCEL members North Shields reached the 4th Qualifying Round just missing out on ‘Proper’ Round action by losing 2-1 at Northern League Division One opponents Billingham Synthonia.

The number of NCEL entries in the FA Cup was beginning to rise again, as was the standard of the clubs’ performances. For the first time in 1990/91 there were two NCEL clubs one round away from potentially facing a Football League club. New League members Harrogate Railway Athletic were stopped in their tracks when going down 3-1 at Northern Premier League Premier Division side Chorley (greater things were to come for The Rail whilst

Untitled-1 42

members of the NCEL).

diminished culminating in an alltime low when only one of 29 clubs who entered in the 1995/96 season even made it as far as the 2nd Qualifying Round. (There was no Extra Preliminary Round that season).

The last NCEL team standing that year was Denaby United and they lost 2-1 at home to NPL Premier Division side Hyde United.

Fellow new League members Spennymoor United had also won through to the 4th Qualifying Round where they were drawn to visit Drill Field, home of Football Conference side Northwich Victoria. A tight 1-1 draw took the sides to the Brewery Field where the Moors won another tight encounter 2-1 after extra time to become only the second NCEL club to make Following that nadir came a the 1st Round ‘Proper’ of the period of strong growth in FA Cup. performances in FA Cup by NCEL clubs culminating in the The Moors made a better fist of best ever season just seven their opportunity than Shepshed years after this low point. The had done eight years earlier, FA changed the rules of entry a l b e i t a g a i n s t F o u r t h t i e r again at the turn of the 21st opposition, going down by the Century, opening up the door to odd goal in five at Chesterfield lower level clubs that had not with goals from Peattie and been the case for nearly 50 Boagey. years, and the NCEL saw an associated rise, too.

Whilst the number of NCEL FA Cup entrants increased back to North Ferriby United in 1997/98 and beyond the levels in the ( l o s i n g 2 - 0 t o F o o t b a l l fi r s t f o u r s e a s o n s o f t h e Conference side Southport at League’s history, the success of Haig Avenue) and the World’s member clubs in the FA Cup

24/07/2017 21:24

run.

Brigg Town 2001-02 Record It was to Round Versus Result be third time Extra Preliminary Great Harwood Town Drew 2-2 lucky for Round (H) Harrogate Extra Preliminary Great Harwood Town Won 1-0 Railway Round Replay (A) Athletic Preliminary Round Morpeth Town (H) Won 3-1 t h e 1st Qualifying Round Shildon (A) Won 8-2 following Replay year as 2nd Qualifying Round Gretna (A) Drew 3-3 records for 2nd Qualifying Round NCEL clubs in the FA Gretna (H) Won 2-1 Replay Cup tumbled. The 2002/03 3rd Qualifying Round Farsley Celtic (A) Drew 2-2 season saw three NCEL clubs 3rd Qualifying Round in the 4th Qualifying Round for Farsley Celtic (H) Won 4-3 Replay the first, and so far, only time.

4th Qualifying Round Boston United (A) Won 1-0 Arnold Town (2-0 losers at 1st Round Proper Tranmere Rovers (A) Lost 3-1 home to Conference side o l d e s t c l u b , S h e f fi e l d , i n Round ‘Proper’ for the first and Scarborough) 2000/01 (losing 5-1 to another only time, the win being the and the current Bridlington Town Conference side Northwich sixth the club had in the FA Cup (4-1 losers to fellow Conference side Southport) were the two Victoria in a match played at that year. unlucky clubs not to make it Bramall Lane) both returned NCEL to the 4th Qualifying The Zebras’ reward was a trip to through.

Round, but the next couple of Prenton Park to face third tier The Rail faced NPL Premier years would see the NCEL Tranmere Rovers who had Division opposition Marine and heyday in the competition. made the Quarter Finals of triumphed 4-2 to join local the FA Cup in each of r i v a l s , a n d f o r m e r N C E L The 2001/02 the previous two members, Harrogate Town in season saw seasons. In the the 1st Round ‘Proper’, both two NCEL end it was a clubs making it there for the first clubs make comfortable time ever. Unfortunately for The the 4th 4 - 1 f o r Rail they weren’t drawn to face Qualifying Tranmere, League opposition. Fortunately Round for but James for The Rail it was an eminently only the L e e c h winnable match having to travel second s c o r e d a to Slough Town from Isthmian time in the ‘worldy’ to League Division One North. And League’s add to the so it proved to be. history. As memories of with the a terrific Cup p r e v i o u s Harrogate Railway 2002-03 Record o c c a s i o n Round Versus Result Harrogate Railway Preliminary Round Whitley Bay (A) Drew 2-2 Athletic were the club who failed Preliminary Round to progress, going down 3-2 to Whitley Bay (H) Won 5-4 Replay Conference side Morecambe at Station View. However, Brigg 1st Qualifying Round Esh Winning (A) Won 2-1 To w n p u t t h e i r 8 7 / 8 8 2nd Qualifying Chester-Le-Street (A) Drew 5-5 disappointment behind them by 2nd Qualifying Round Chester-Le-Street (H) Won 7-2 winning 1-0 at Conference side Replay Boston United who would go on 3rd Qualifying Round Workington (H) Won 4-0 to win that League that season. 4th Qualifying Round Marine (H) Won 4-2 Simon Roach scored the goal 1st Round Proper Slough Town (A) Won 2-1 that took Brigg into the 1st 2nd Round Proper Bristol City (H) Lost 3-1 Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 43

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Town and may have felt confident of progressing, but the clubs produced a stalemate at The Clayborn Ground and Coalville went on to win the replay 2-0.

The past 12 years have seen just seven NCEL clubs reach the 3rd Qualifying Round and on several occasions the League’s members have equalled the lowest performing year with just one representative in the 2nd Qualifying Round, but the beauty of the FA Cup is that history is no ABOVE! Brody Robertson scores Cleethorpes Town’s first ever FA predictor of the future and Cup goal against Borrowash Victoria in 2014.

NCEL clubs could once The Rail ran out 2-1 winners Qualifying Round. Buxton went again soon be gracing the that day at Wexham Park down 6-0 at Conference side ‘ P r o p e r ’ R o u n d s o f t h e thanks to goals from Smith and Burton Albion whilst Ossett competition again.

Steve Davey, to become the Albion lost 0-1 at home NPL first and so far only NCEL club Premier club Stalybridge Celtic. And who knows, there may very to make the 2nd Round of the well be a first ever Football FA Cup. And they were given The following season saw the League scalp on the horizon, the best tie possible, hosting appearance of an NCEL club in too. third tier Bristol City, at the time the 4th Qualifying Round for the the highest ranked team of the last time so far. Liversedge 2 n d R o u n d . S t e v e D a v e y were drawn at home to Midland scored again, but it was a step Football Alliance side Coalville too far and City won the match 3-1.

BELOW! A fan raising money for pancreatic cancer by following teams from the qualifying round to the finals.

The Rail would go on to make the 2nd Round again five years later, but by then they were members of the Northern Premier League.

NCEL clubs are yet to experience ‘Proper’ Round football again since those exploits. They’ve come close a couple of times but only in the years immediately following The Rail’s terrific run.

The 2003/04 season would see a record number of NCEL clubs partake in the FA Cup (36) and for the fourth time at least two clubs made the 4th 44 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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(Twitter @FACupFactfile)

All 737 FA Cup Entrants 2017-18 by @FACupFactfile

the summer odyssey by peter fleming

The NCEL season ended for me on a high with Hall Road Rangers winning the Division I title at Campion on the 22nd April. The greater football season continued for another month and ended with Hull City’s relegation from the Premier League and a 1-7 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 21st May 2017. So within a month I had experienced both the highs and the lows of the game.

" Time for the summer break; a chance to both reflect and look forward with anticipation to the shiny new season ahead. All great in theory but this is a summer with no World Cup or European Championship other than at the junior ages and the women’s game. I caught some of these games on the TV and even resorted to watching Brazilian league football but these did not really satisfy me.

By mid June I was eagerly awaiting the fixtures

publications, FA Cup draw and getting desperate for a live match, any match. " The first friendly fixture was due on 1 July and so my Summer Odyssey was to begin.

This Odyssey had fewer heroic deeds than Homer’s (although finding a couple of grounds down narrow alleys was no mean feat) but a whole lot more football. " The first game is always a bit special with a clean slate and anything possible for the

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season ahead. A chance to catch up with friends you haven’t see for what seems ages but is barely a couple of months. I took in local side Hall Road Rangers against Goole AFC who narrowly escaped relegation to the NCEL Premier Division due to Ilkeston FC folding. A tough early test, but there being fewer summer changes than the previous season, Rangers seemed to quickly assume their form of the spring and ended up winning 2-1. " " The second game presented a problem for me. I decided to have a look at East Yorkshire Carnegie who had just been promoted to the NCEL Division 1 from the Humber Premier League. They play at Dene Park, previously occupied by Hull United and before that Hall Road Rangers, which also is local to me but a ground I had not been to. Despite ‘local knowledge’ I managed to drive past it four times before determining the correct country lane to negotiate and being alone had no navigator to blame!

The game against Frickley Athletic Academy was an easy 7-1 victory, literally men against boys but should put both in good stead for games ahead. " Back to Haworth Park for game three when Hall Road Rangers played a much changed North Ferriby United following their relegation from the National League. It is dangerous to place too much emphasis on friendly results but a deserved 3-0 victory represents a significant improvement on last year’s 0-5 defeat. North Ferriby United were left clearly having much to do as I would see in the coming days.

" The second Saturday meant game four and a trip ‘over the water’ to see Immingham Town take on Barton Town at Keelby Sports Ground. This is a nice multi sports area with cricket square and pavilion, bowling greens and football pitch lovely on a summer’s day but I suspect less so in winter. It was good to see Immingham Town, who reformed last year and play in a NCEL feeder league, acquit themselves so well in a hard fought 2-2 draw. I will try to get over again during the season when they are playing on their own ground. " The following week was hectic with games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and two on Saturday. The Wednesday game (no.6) represented a ‘ground tick’ for me being Parkgate against National League North side Harrogate Town. Parkgate did well to keep the score down to 0-1 due largely to a second half goal keeping performance combining both skill and a fair share of luck, shades of Jan To m a s z e w s k i w h o w a s famously called a clown by Brian Clough(one for the older reader there!) I found Parkgate a surprisingly picturesque ground with the hedge running down one complete touchline and it must be mere coincidence that my friend Paul and I should question at the same time at how many players had been shoved into it over the years. " Two more visits to see East Yorkshire Carnegie at home, trips to North Ferriby against Hull City U23 and Barton followed. It’s always nice to visit Barton, one of my favourite grounds and I had been asked to keep an eye on a potential signing. Keep that up and I’ll be

adding non-league football scout to my Twitter Bio. " This week as brought my third visit to Haworth Park (no.

10) and last night a ‘scouting’ trip to Selby Town v Armthorpe Welfare mainly to see how the latter fared, following their relegation from the NCEL Premier Division, before the friendly against Hall Road this Saturday. The answer to that question being pretty well as they won comfortably 1-3 on the night in a game in which both sides seemed intent on kicking the ball out of shape. Selby is another ground I like and I would go so far as to say it’s the best football ground next to a car breakers yard I have been to (so far!) " As I write the trips are still being planned, Hall Road Rangers against Armthorpe Welfare has already been decided but that being an 11:00 am kick off means a second match can be squeezed in at 15:00. Then the novelty of Hull City at Hull Kingston Rovers rugby ground against Nantes followed by a trip to Grimsby to catch up on Hall Road Rangers again (which by my reckoning will be game 15 of pre-season.) " Realistically I won’t be able to keep this pace over the season proper but at least the football itch has been well and truly scratched and I can look forward to the first game proper – FA Cup qualification round at AFC Mansfield. I guess I better get looking to see if I can fit in a trip to Mansfield before then. " Video highlights of the games attended so far can be found on my YouTube channel h t t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / c h a n n e l / UCyNL_fLpDWS89WBdipJgVT gFootball never ends!

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play fair? think again mr. Elleray

by mark saggers talksport kick off presenter Hello, and forgive me for cutting corner should actually be turned become so urgent all of a to the chase. into the start of a mazy dribble? sudden?

Although the ideas advanced by IFAB and their technical director David Elleray MBE are widely available and laid bare online at http://www.theifab.com/home it was still tempting to simply repeat the headline proposals, of which there are at least a dozen, one after the other on here and put good or bad idea next to each.

From the outside at least, these appear to be shock tactics, and while everyone is in favour of banning the mobbing of referees and time-wasting, neither will result from an approach such as this.

Graham Poll once told me how he was advised to add “no more than a minute or two” by those on high in But instead I feel a far stronger FIFA, “because we impulse to tell Mr Elleray to don't want it getting leave well alone, in no uncertain out of hand”. terms.

N o w, I p e r s o n a l l y Has the Harrow headmaster watched David Elleray been in too many conversations referee many, many with rich foreign investors? I times, too, so why was mean, who have you ever heard he happy to add the seriously claim that 90 minutes u s u a l t w o - t h r e e is too long, for example, that a minutes back then as goal should be awarded instead opposed to addressing of a penalty in the case of l a r g e - s c a l e t i m e hands on the goal line, or that a wasting, which has

To be honest, I'm in two minds on this one because, like most people, I abhor time-wasting, but hang on, David: you had all the chance in the world to intervene out there in the middle with your own stopwatch 20 years ago, and did you take it?

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There's a proposal about kicking the ball to yourself in this sorry selection... so how does that affect the 10-metre rule at free kicks? If advantage is played properly then there is no need to tamper with setpieces, full-stop. Just because the tweak to the kick-off has worked out OK, there’s no need to go expanding along similar lines just for the sake of it.

Then you’ve an “unsuccessful penalty” automatically resulting in a goal-kick, thereby denying the defending team the right to exploit the miss or save and launch a decisive, well-drilled counter attack. What a mess!

It would be a far better idea to get rid of encroachment as an offence altogether if we are trying to even up the odds, surely?

I honestly could not be more genuine in imploring Mr Elleray to change course and use all of his educational credentials to get the likes of Bath and Loughborough on board, where so much good work is done, and whose resources could vastly help us with development.

This would be a more practical and less egotistical foundation, and I speak as the son of a PE teacher whose own vocation was immeasurably enhanced by having been taught how to deal with sportsmen and women properly.

more traditional options taken by those without a playing career to fall back on.

I want the elevation of refereeing and I want it now! I'm completely in tune with my TalkSPORT colleague Stuart Pearce, who, when asked by a young relative about prospects within the game, predicted top referees will be pulling in a halfmillion pound salary before long... and that this would be a brighter prospect than some

I may work for a commercial broadcaster myself and bills have to be paid, but once we start down the 30-minute-halves path, how long before we go from a 60-minute game to a 30minute version purely at the behest of Sky, or one of their more influential advertisers?

David, if you are trying to reach out à la golf and T20 to somehow miniaturise the game for some new audience, forget it, you could not be further from I'm also far more concerned the mark. with both stopping the cheating in its tracks and elevating the By all means let's clamp down referees to the status they on time-wasting, but we have to deserve. Combine the valuable d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n r u l e experience we have in our changes and the length of any recently-retired referee pool game, in any sport. Most of with the full embrace of VARs to w h a t h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d get the job of refereeing taken amount to pointless changes more seriously. and that is being about as constructive as you can be in Surely these priorities come the circumstances. They can before a set of changes which only lead to a more stop-start in turn will not be taken as spectacle than we currently seriously as they might... have, leaving the whole Play because they come from a Fair! initiative looking entirely former referee! counter-productive.

The fight is already on, if you ask me, to avoid in-play ads being inserted during VAR deliberations, for example.

And playing time, I insist, should remain sacrosanct.

I'm afraid the way these gimmicks have been mooted speaks volumes not only for how out of touch Mr Elleray's lot are, but also for the weakness of the Football Association themselves. I'd be delighted to hear what you think, too.

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT...

Once the last ball has been kicked and the last fan exits the turnstile, what exactly goes on during the summer at a football ground? Writer and Hallam Committee Member Glenn Poulton finds out.

I soon found out this summer when Hallam FC Chairman Steve Basford took me up on my offer of helping out at the club. Soon after the disappointment of another playoff loss we agreed to meet with a handful of other Hallam FC volunteers to come up with a plan in preparation for the new season (and a few beers!)

My expertise being painting and decorating and the worlds oldest football ground needing just that, it was my pleasure. It's the first time it's had a facelift since the club was rebuilt back in 2012 after a posthumous donation left by life long fan, Roger Bell in his will. I must

also add I did rope in my work partner Mark Armitage to help, plus fellow Countryman Mark Redfern to do the roofing and general maintenance. Between the 3 of us we clocked up over 100+ hours before the players were back for the 2017/18 season. I must also add Geoff Christopherson's hard work this summer never mind the past 24 years he's been here.

It was also strange being at Sandygate Road and not seeing Ann Holland, who is ever present on match days, volunteering for over 60 years!

During this time it surprised me the amount of people that still pass over the threshold and 1 main feature being the Hallam Cricket Club, they had agreed to use the football clubs side of our shared home for the first ever time this summer. Much to the confusion of 1 gentleman I explained this to who had

travelled from Ingoldstadt, Germany for a groundhop. I maybe new to this volunteering game but I'm now adding tour and information guide to my list as well!

The summer evenings at Sheffield 10 are also the ideal place for hosting party's with the club house bar being booked more then ever thanks to the likes of Jane Basford working her magic as well as Neil Adgie keeping the health and safety up to the high standard we aim for. The list of volunteers at Hallam FC is almost endless with cleaners, joiners, stewards etc.... All giving up their spare time for the love of the club, game, community.

All of these little things add up and keeps the club ticking over while the Chairman and off field team search through the candidate list of potential new managers since Ryan Hindley

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took up the post at NCEL seasons have been great in premier side Worksop Town, welcoming the new bunch into which I'm sure you will have all the club. read about in the last issue!

How did the opportunity Over 20 candidates put their come about? I've known Scott name forward to be the new for over 25 years and it was him boss with Scott Bates, Dean w h o r a n g m e a b o u t t h e B a m f o r t h a n d S t e p h e n possibility and asked if I'd be Whitehead being named the interested. I've also known joint trio to take Hallam FC into Stephen for the past couple of the 2017/18 season. years through football. My lad Harry had a 4 month loan spell Stephen has been the assistant with Hallam FC last season and manager here for the last few he only had good things to say seasons and Scott is also in his about the people and the club.

2nd spell as a striker here at Also having spent the last few Hallam FC, which he will still be years working with what I doing next season as and when consider the largest youth team he is needed too. Dean comes in South Yorkshire, I think this is from Handsworth Parramore, the next step up for me career having worked with the youth wise. teams for over 10 years, last season he was promoted to Your role in the 3; To start with work with the first team for the Ive been doing the recruiting, I'll last 15 games and then became be bringing 6 players with me joint manager for the final 6 from Handsworth Parramore. games, where the season Scott is more organisation and ended on a high. tactics, while Stephen is taking training with the players so it's The next feather in my cap is to the perfect blend and a shared get the pen and paper out as I load to make things easier for had the pleasure of interviewing all of us.

Dean on the 1st of July. The day H a l l a m F C w o u l d b e Is their any added pressure or announcing the 10 (TEN) new excitement managing at the signings! 9 have departed, so it w o r l d s o l d e s t f o o t b a l l will be almost a fresh new team ground? Certainly excitement! but Dean was eager to point out I've managed here before that the players who have against Hallam FC at youth remained loyal from the past level. We also want to take the club to the next level and break that 200 average crowd on match days.

I t ' s something we know w o n ' t happen over night but if we get the

performances right, the results will follow and hopefully the fans do too. We'd like to tap into the people at the other sides of the city because Sheffield is such a big place and a proper footballing city.

Aim for the 2017/18 season; We'd be foolish to put a target out there now so I'm going to sit on the fence a little and see how things go game by game and make an assessment around Christmas time. All 10 players that have agreed to sign have had offers from teams paying more money and in higher leagues, it's exciting that we have a proper bunch of quality lads who are here for the right reasons. I also know that not 1 player from the u21's made an appearance in the 1st team here last season so that is a gap I want to bridge together.

Preparation for the season ahead; we have 6 or 7 friendlies pencilled in which is a great start for us to test ourselves against teams at different levels. We also have friends at Wednesday, Sheffield United, Stocksbridge PS, Handsworth Parramore and Sheffield Club who are all in higher divisions and have said about helping us out if we need it. Wether that will be a player on loan or a pre-season game, it all comes in useful and is much appreciated. It isn't going to be easy to get all the new players and the trio management team right straight away so the hard work starts now.

Up The Countrymen!

Glenn Poulton (@PoultonOwl).

Submitted Pics.

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is sunday league football really a good idea?

As their thoughts turn to a new football season, players at our level of the game are faced with familiar and annual questions which they must answer. Which club will they sign for? Will they put themselves through extra training or book that holiday for the last week in June? Will they play on Sundays as well as Saturdays? Gareth Coates finds out!

This is a vexed question for many players and managers.

Players are likely to find themselves in demand on a Sunday if they have a strong reputation from the Saturday game, yet playing might irritate the manager of their Saturday side.

During the ‘golden age’ of Sunday football, which might be defined as running from the late 1960s until the late 1990s, many outstanding amateur and semi-professional footballers played on both days of the weekend. Yet the number of teams playing on Sundays has shrunk dramatically on a national level and the standards of play and facilities in Sunday football are regularly disparaged by the media and by people within the game. All of which begs another question: why would a serious non-league player even bother to turn out on a Sunday after playing in the NCEL the day before?

the country are littered with teams who have sailed through the divisions, winning numerous cups and other titles, then disbanding once the thrill of victory wore off or age caught up with the squad.

If a Sunday side folds because the players have become too old, or too many of them have non-football commitments that stop them playing, that might be a clue that the squad was essentially a group of friends who have put aside the rivalries forged in Saturday football to play amongst themselves the following day. We all know at least one player who turns out for a local non-league or One possible answer is that Sunday team and displays they might simply be ‘pot- extravagant skill levels but hunting’. The histories of chose not to test themselves at Sunday Leagues up and down

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a higher level in favour of ‘playing with their mates’.

Another issue that Can these players commit m u s t themselves successfully to life considered in the National League System? w h e n Quite apart from the travelling d e c i d i n g and commitment to training whether or required to succeed in the not to play Northern Counties East League, i n S u n d a y there are other pitfalls to playing f o o t b a l l i s on Sundays. Until recently, the risk of suspensions incurred in the injury, and r e c r e a t i o n a l g a m e w e r e not just from obvious sources measured in days, rather than such as a mistimed tackle. The games and ruled players out of v a s t m a j o r i t y o f S u n d a y all matches until the ban had matches take place in public expired. This meant that being parks, owned by councils sent off for violent conduct on a whose budgets have been cut Sunday could lead to a 35-day massively over the last 10 suspension; picking up a ban years. Faced with a choice of like that at a busy time of the paying for rubbish collections or season could see a player maintaining open spaces, most missing 10 matches across their local authorities have had no two clubs! Although The FA has option but to let their sports amended their rules in recent facilities decline. This can have years – applying match-based s e r i o u s r a m i fi c a t i o n s f o r suspensions and separating footballers who could be playing Saturday football from Sunday on a pitch that would be football for yellow and red cards deemed unplayable for senior – more serious incidents of football due to the condition of misconduct still carry bans from the surface. Although all clubs “all football”, meaning that a r e n o w o b l i g e d t o h a v e losing his rag on a Sunday insurance in place that would morning might put a player on support a player in the event of the sidelines for a number of serious injury, many of the Saturdays. available policies have high

ect of having EL player feels the eff BELOW! A former NC time then turned ht nig gone out on the played on a Saturday, game! for a Sunday League

excesses or require a long period of incapacity before paying out.

And yet, ask anyone involved in football whether they would rather play or train and almost nobody would choose a training session over a match.

Additionally, there is a common argument that many great players gained an edge from playing informally in street games. So, by that logic, surely any player wanting to push themselves should be playing as much as they can, including in Sunday football?

Not according to Winterton Rangers manager Paul Grimes (Pictured above right), who during his playing career played for Brigg Town in what is now the Evo-Stik League whilst also turning out on Sundays. Whilst accepting that his current view might be considered hypocritical when compared with his past actions, Grimes told us that he has “an expectation from me that players don't play on a Sunday, particularly if we have a midweek game. Some perhaps do, and if it doesn't affect anything when they are with us, it probably doesn't get talked about.”

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lucky in the respect that I never picked up any serious injuries that made me unavailable for a Saturday games. In hindsight though, it probably did hamper my progress as a player a little bit. There is no way you can recover quite as well and stay completely free of niggles. Once I stopped playing on Sundays I felt fresher and valued the recovery time after games more.” The Rangers boss was clear as to what he would say to any player who asked his advice: “If players have ambitions of playing a higher level, in front of more people, for more money at bigger clubs, they should give themselves the best chance -by not playing Sunday league football."

The joint managers of Grimsby Borough (Pictured below Nathan Collins left and Daniel Barrett right) also told us that they felt that players needed to commit totally to Saturday football to succeed. Nathan Collins remarked that “In my opinion, if a player is playing semi-professional football he shouldn’t play Sunday league.

The two main reasons for me is that most s e m i professional leagues play a lot of midweek games so if a player has played on Saturday and Sunday he definitely won’t be 100% on the Tu e s d a y n i g h t .

Another issue is that you are doubling the chance of getting injured.”

Daniel Barrett added “As soon as players are technically earning money from it - and I don't mean paying for a takeaway and a bag of cans on the way home - then I would question them playing on a Sunday and risking an injury.

That said, if a player has had a nightmare on a Saturday and his next game is a Tuesday then potentially playing on a Sunday to regain confidence could be beneficial. It all boils down to the individual. As a manager, I have to be realistic; would I stop anyone in my squad from playing?

No, because we don't pay e n o u g h .

Would I like them to not play?

Of course."

Rainworth MW’s Shomari Doyle, only plays Saturday football as he feels that players “should be focussed on one club at a certain level”.

And Bottesford's Town striker Chris Funnell (Pictured top right), who has just signed for the club, told us, “From a personal perspective I think it depends on what your manager is happy with. If lads are taking home good money on a Saturday and then playing Sunday whilst the club paying him aren't particularly keen on it, I don't agree with it. If the club are fine with it, then it's a different story but I've not met a manager who reacts well to giving a lad £60 on a Saturday, game on the Tuesday and then receiving a phone call Sunday evening saying I'm injured. I've played both but it's always been agreed with the manger. I've used Sundays as a chance to get minutes in the bank, especially if I've had a period on The o n e the bench. player who spoke to us “At Lincoln United as a young about Sunday p l a y e r c o m i n g t h r o u g h I football,

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regularly played Sunday football. When I broke in the team and the manager asked me not to, I didn't. I suppose it comes down to what you take more seriously and enjoy more as an individual. As a player I think 3 games in the space of 72 hours (Saturday, Sunday & Tuesday), regularly across the season has a negative effect on performance and isn't something I do now, nor would I.” Hemsworth MW manager Wayne Benn (Pictured below) was less strident on the issue. "I don't have a massive problem with players playing on Sunday.

Don’t get me wrong, I'd rather players didn’t but unless players are contracted I don't think clubs at our level can insist that they don't. I did it myself so I'm not going to be a hypocrite and tell players they can't.

“I suppose as a manager we have to trust them and hope they are sensible as to when they do play. They have to understand that in the middle of a heavy schedule of Saturday and midweek games it's probably not wise to play on the Sunday as well.

“They also need to understand that they have a responsibility to their Saturday team. Where it gets annoying is when a player

turns up injured from a Sunday game. It's frustrating and it's avoidable but the only person they hurt by doing it is themselves when they lose their place in the team."

Hall Road Rangers manager David Ricardo was the one person who contributed to the discussion who felt that the decline in Sunday football was having a negative impact.

“When I started playing 22 years ago, the Sunday league in the Hull area was reputed to be the largest competition of its kind in Europe with 22 divisions running every Sunday. This meant that up until 8-10 years ago the majority of the best semi-professional players played two games a weekend. I believe that due to changes in

work and shift patterns it has meant that there are more pressures on players leading to them working on a weekend.

That has killed the Sunday leagues somewhat which is a massive shame. I have no problems with any of my players playing two games a weekend as long as they don’t get injured.”

The decline of Ricardo’s local Sunday league is mirrored around the country, although the reasons for this are complex.

It’s one area where The FA can’t be blamed for over-regulation; in addition to making the disciplinary sanctions similar to those used at the professional level, they have created player registration rules that open Sunday leagues up to all players aged 16+, unless they are already under contract with a club. However, as clubs and leagues all over England pull down the shutters, a lack of commitment from players is often cited as a factor in their demise. It therefore seems possible that those managers who would ask their players to commit to playing once in a weekend might well be getting their wish.

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glarvey has high ambitions with rossington Prior to their 3-1 pre-season victory against AFC Mansfield, Dan Breslin went and spoke to Rossington Main boss, Chris Glarvey about his career and his future ambitions.

that to this day and that’s why I run my own football academy on a Friday night for kids that are aged 4-12”. He then remained a part of their youth system until the age of 16 when he was given a ‘YTS’, which is a Youth Training Scheme that he The former Doncaster Rovers was involved in with the Blades U14 coach, began his career in until the age of 19 where he football at Sheffield United just didn’t make the cut into the first at the age of 9. When he first team. United’s neighbours then discovered that he had got this signed Glarvey on a six-month offer from Sheffield United he deal where he made several said that he can remember his appearances for the reserve dad taking him into his room team, but didn’t get the big and saying, “Chris, you’ve got a break into the professional side. trial at Sheffield United” Glarvey From that date onwards Chris went on to say, “I still remember dove into the non-league

football life becoming a bit of journey man by playing for the likes of: Ilkeston, Lincoln United, Corby, Worksop, Stocksbridge, Frickley and Goole.

After taking non-league by storm as a player, Chris most recently returned to non-league - after four years as a youth coach at Doncaster Rovers followed by a year at Sheffield United – to manage Rossington Main F.C. When chairmen, Carl Stokes, first contacted him about the vacant job he said he was “buzzing when I got the call”. This was in November 2016, and eight months later

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Chris reflects, “Don’t get me wrong, when I got the job I didn’t realise how hard it was going to be, it’s a massive transition from being a coach to manager, massive.”, before adding “it hit me like a ton of bricks at first. Still hard now, still difficult now. [I’ve] just gotten used to it.” It’s safe to say, however Chris is doing an amazing job as he approaches his first full season in football management.

On the topic of where Rossington are aiming for, ABOVE! Rossington Main Chairman Carl Stokes always plays an Chris had the following to active role around the club, both on and before matchday's. say, “We’ve got a low budget so it’s always going something you can see is had trouble getting his A-licence to be really, really difficult blooming at Rossington with the coach after not receiving much against teams that are throwing work rate that the players have help from the FA, but he’s money about.”, but does say he put in at the beginning of prewilling to invest the money and doesn’t think money is the full season so far. time into earning that contributor to how successful qualification.

Rossington can be as he states, When discussing his personal “As long as you as you’ve got ambitions Chris had the In the footballing world, there players that want to do well, following to say, “Obviously [I] are some huge personalities, want to run for you and be want to manage as high [up] as and one in particular is one that successful, it’s early doors, but I possible. I want to be an AChris looks up to. Manchester do think that we’ve got that licence coach, that’s my City’s manager, Pep Guardiola. here.”, and that is certainly ambition.” Chris has previously He has said that he has read BELOW! Rossington Main fans gather before a recent game at the Welfare Ground.

Guardiola’s book and stated that his ideas are “exceptional”, before going on to say that, “but everybody has their own ideas it doesn’t matter whether you’re at top or bottom.”

Closer to home, Glarvey pin-pointed three managers to whom he looks up to in non-league and one of them is Goole’s, Carl Rose, who Rossington will be hosting shortly in a preseason friendly, so it will be a nice reunion for Chris as he gets to meet his non-league idol.

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!

historical look at... fc bolsover!

FC Bolsover was initially meant to have set up in 2013 under Cliff Thomas (Pictured below left). They applied to play in the Central Midlands Football League. They eventually were denied entry

because of ground requirements. This was a setback for Cliff Thomas and he had to abandon all plans he had of putting together a semi professional football t e a m f o r t h e To w n o f Bolsover. " T h r e e years later Cliff saw a n o t h e r opportunity to put together a team for the town of Bolsover. It wasn't going to be easy

though. Without a ground in the Bolsover region suitable enough to meet the standards required.

Cliff had to find a temporary home so that he could field a team in the CMFL. " Cliff eventually had it agreed that Bolsover could play their

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! home games on a 3G academy pitch. This wasn't ideal but it bought the club time to find a better and more suitable home.

FC Bolsover started their season campaign 2016/17 playing at Shirebrook's academy school (Pictured below left on previous page). " Bolsover gained notoriety after getting off to a good start to the season. " A few months later, there had been contact between Shirebrook Town and Chairman of FC Bolsover Cliff Thomas.

They had come to a groundshare agreement which meant that Bolsover could finally play their football in a stadium..... back on the grass!

" During the back end of the season Cliff Thomas was offered the chairmanship of Shirebrook Town. After giving it some thought and having had lots of conversations. Cliff Thomas would only agree to such a move if his eldest son Benjamin Thomas (Below Right) agreed to take over the Chairmanship of FC Bolsover.

Benjamin was grateful of the opportunity and of course, got to work straight away! " So Cliff moved over to Shirebrook Town and Benjamin took the reigns at Bolsover. " There was to be another twist in the tale. FC Bolsover's management team resigned from the club with 3 games left to go trailing Clay Cross Town FC the league leaders by 7 points who had only 2 games left to play.

So Cliff had it agreed by the league that he could step in as manager for those last 3 games of the season. Cliff instilled belief and the players dusted themselves

off. Bolsover went on to win all 3 of their last games. Beating Clay Cross 5-1 at a packed out Langwith Road. Then it went down to the wire on the final game of the season. " Bolsover had to win and Claycross had to lose or draw.

Bolsover won their game 14-0 against Phoenix FC. Now they just had to wait to hear what happened in the other game.

Clay Cross were away at Collingham FC. Clay Cross had just gone 3-4 up the boys had heard. There was only 4 minutes left of the game. Then the news filtered through that Collingham had gone straight down the other end and equalised! 4 all! Then to secure the title for FC Bolsover Collingham then went and scored a 5th! " FC Bolsover had created history. No team had won the CMFL within their first year of setting up. They were also the first Bolsover side to be promoted into the NCEL. " Cliff Thomas achieved what he set out to do and wishes his son and everybody at Bolsover all the best now that he has moved over to Shirebrook Town. " Benjamin is working hard, settling into the The famous Bolsover castle role and learning sites proudly over the town. everyday. He is as ambitious as his father and plans to improve on last seasons winning campaign. " It is going to be an eventful day when Bolsover take on Shirebrook at Langwith Road as both teams now play their football in the NCEL Division one.

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!

SWALLownest manager lee needham!

We were lucky enough to chat to their 32-year old manager Lee Needham the day after it was announced that Swallownest was to be accepted into the NCEL and we started by asking Lee about his involvement with the Sheffield based club.

"I joined Swallownest for the last 5 games of the 2015/2016 season and started properly 2016/2017 season we assembled a team that we thought would do well in the league we were in and that was proven right as we won the league, cup and charity cup making it a treble winning season.

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"The club itself has now outgrown the county senior league and is now for the test that's comes with being in the NCEL.

"I personally have played at Rotherham until I was 16 then joined Staveley for 5 years and then moved onto Maltby Main for a further 3 years.

"I started working as a manager with Alfreton u19s then moved on to Staveley reserves, moving on to Teversal to be assistant manager of the first team and then on the first team coaching staff for a brief spell at Heanor Town and returning to Staveley to be assistant manager of the first team and then currently at Swallownest.”

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!

Veteran phil jackman fully behind east yorkshire carnegie’s ethos!

Phil Jackman has just been appointed East Yorkshire Carnegie's new first team coach and we asked about his role at one of the NCEL’s newest clubs.

ll Park EY Carnegie’s Dunswe Darren it: ed Cr p. ma d un gro Thompson

"I've known Jamie Waltham (Chairman/Manager) and Anthony Bowsley (Assistant Manager) for a while now and when I spoke to both of them I realised it was a fantastic opportunity to get involved in a project that would help develop football players in the way I think football should be played.

"The whole ethos of the club resonated with me, getting the local community involved and developing young players from Hull.

"I played non league in London, moved to Hull in 2003 and played locally with Westella and Easington. Jamie saw me play and recommend me

to Raz Clayton at Bottesford where I went for 3 1/2 years and I did well there.

Then I went to Brigg for 4 years with a stop at North Ferriby United in between.

"You should expect good football first of all from the club, and players given the chance to express themselves within a defined ethos of the management.

"Also young players developing and learning as the season goes on, lots of goals, excitement and hopefully success on and off the pitch.

"I'm 14 months out from a Achilles rupture at the moment so I'm just playing vets for now but I won't rule it out completely even if I'm 40!"

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Maltby main vs frickley athletic by Saturday 15th July 2017 at Muglet Lane, Maltby Pre Season Friendly Maltby Main (1) 2 Alex Lill 27, 88 Frickley Athletic (1) 4 Tom Dugdale 13, Jacob Hazel 51, Gavin Allott 74, Jameel Ible 86 Admission £3. Attendance 138 Maltby Main: Jack Hood. Jordan Edridge.

Jack Hutchinson, Craig Mitchell.

Tom Robley, Marc Peacock.

Callum Littlejohn. Josh Aitkin, Alex Lill. Jack Wilson, Ryan Hall.

Subs - Sam Bartram, Curtis Birchall, Tom Goodison, Jack Greeves, Ollie Lawrence, Wes Ryder, Jordan Jones, Jake Ballinger.

Frickley Athletic: Seb Malkowski, Nicky Darker, Adam Saxton, Danny Patterson, Jameel Ibel, Richard Patterson, Chris Fairclough, Jacob Hazel, Steve Hopewell, Gavin Allott, Tom Dugdale Known subs - Danny Rusling, John Cyrus, John Stancliffe (I only had Frickley's starting line up) These two sides met last year in a pre-season game, with Frickley taking the honours that

afternoon, by the odd goal in edge of the abyss for more five, courtesy of a last minute years than their pragmatic and winner scored by Tom Guest; perpetually in turmoil fan base after the Miners had led 2-0 at cared to count, save for a half time. seventh placed finish at the end " Any game between these of the 2015-16 season, all two sides would ever be things being relative, being anticipated as one for the faint mathematically safe before the hearted, but there was a further final day of the season was element of spice in the mix looked upon as some kind of today, because just a couple of a c h i e v e m e n t a m o n g t h e months ago, two of the visitors dwindling numbers of the management team who were faithful, who not so many present today, namely: Spencer moons ago had relished in the Fearn and John Stancliffe... and fact that their team, still called half of their team, were still at Frickley Colliery, were a force to Muglet Lane, relishing in the be reckoned with in the Gola optimism that had been inspired League, which of course, as by a post Xmas turn in fortunes more recently been named the on the field of play, that made Conference and is currently the flirtations with the BELOW! Maltby Main former manager relegation places in and new Frickley Athletic gaffer Spencer the first half of the Fearn, with the only cup he’ll win this season seem like a season! distant memory. " The rest is history... last season the South Elmsall based side were relegated to the EvoStik Northern Premier League North and were subsequently switched to the South division in a reshuffle to equalise the number of teams in both leagues. " The Blues had been teetering dangerously close to

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known as the National League, y'know, that one a single step below Division 4/League 2 of the Football League. " There are those among the top end, age wise, of the Frickley faithful, who have suggested that being relegated is actually the best way for their team to turn the corner and rebuild, rather than slipping irreversibly into the psychological malaise and mindset that a soul crushing existence of annually struggling to avoid the drop inevitably ingrains into the psyche of the people who genuinely still care, a lot, about this 107 year old club, based at the top of a hill overlooking the very tight knit community that it represents.

Malty Main, as a club, are very similar to Frickley in many respects and have in common: the long history, local pride and camaraderie and an 'all in it together' spirit, that is the envy of a number of so called bigger teams, who purport to have that same regional togetherness, but fall some way short in truth.

Because these are the foundations that the two clubs are built on and you can't imitate that kind of thing,

regardless of how much money you spend, trying to convince yourself that it an be recreated and replicated. " Neither club is affluent, so don't believe any of the hype you might have heard to that end; but they are both steeped in the sort of riches that money can't buy. " As yours truly read out the teams in my dulcet BBC annunciation tones, that had the professional air of a much younger James Alexander Gordon about them, it became evident that the home side were missing three or four pivotal players, but these are the crosses that you have to bear on an almost week to week basis in non-league football, but in spite of these absences, none of those who represented the blood red shirts (or the fluorescent green one) were found wanting. " Thankfully, this was just the token home friendly against a non-league side from a division higher and not either of the games against Football League opposition, namely Scunthorpe United and Chesterfield, that this warm up game was sandwiched in between.

Frickley nearly took the lead as early as the first minute, but young Jack Hood did well to turn Jacob Hazel's angled shot around the post. " A long throw from Nicky Darker, get used to seeing more of those you Frickley fans, found Gavin Allott, but the big number ten placed his header wide of the goal after Hood had moved instinctively to minimise the space that the prolific striker had to aim at. " Jameel Ible looked dangerous out wide for the visitors, but both Hazel and Rich Patterson both missed sitters as Hood forced them into rushing their efforts with his presence. " Hazel threaded a pass into the path of Allott, but Craig Mitchell, who put in a great shift for Maltby today, was on hand to thwart the visitors attack with a firm and almost fair challenge. " Jack Wilson fed the ball in front of Alex Lill, whose darting run left the Frickley defence stood around like a row of haphazardly arranged figurines, but Seb Malkowski was out quickly to intercept the danger.

Tom Dugdale, who I'd seen excel in the presence of Danny Buttle and Connor Smythe for Handsworth Parramore last season, looked very sharp and it was he who opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute, adding the finishing touch to a move where Fearn's side had strung six passes together before Allott created Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 63

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first by Malkowski and then Richard Patterson off the rebound. " Just before the interval, Maltby were playing the ball out of defence, via some aesthetically lovely quick passing moves, when one of the 'Maltby Massive' in the stand boomed: "Bloody hit the thing! Playing it on the floor at the back is for bloody girls!"

the chance with a diagonal knock to Dugdale's feet. " Another player who caught the eye in the visitors ranks was Chris Fairclough, who was on trial, with a view to signing for the EvoStik League club from County Senior League Club, Denaby Main. On this afternoon's showing, the Westfield Lane club are on the verge of snatching a gem from under the noses of any number of other local clubs. " The experienced Allott went down in installments over a challenge from Tom Robley, but fell convincingly enough to hoodwink the referee. However, Dugdale's free kick flew inches wide of the top right hand stanchion, so justice was done and the need to ritually sacrifice yet another misguided match official behind the stand was narrowly avoided. " Adam Saxton pushed Josh Aitkin in the back as Maltby built up a head of steam, but Frickley scrambled the ball away to safety from Ryan Hall's free kick into the mix. " Jordan Edridge, playing at right back in the reshuffled Maltby pack, was establishing himself in the game and organising his team mates well as the home side started to

impose themselves on the game more. " Alex Lill chased a through ball into the Frickley area and despite colliding head on, literally, with the last defender, he managed to steer it past the advancing Malkowski, to level the game up. " Even in pre-season, Lill has already hit a rich vein of goal scoring form since arriving from Parkgate in the Summer. My advice to the lad is this: keep your head down, keep doing what you're doing and block that bloody Spencer Fearn's phone number! " Having recovered from his knock, Lill broke forward at speed once again on the left and played the ball sideways to Callum Littlejohn, who was unlucky to see two efforts on goal blocked

Ah, I've missed these guys during the past few weeks since last season ended. " It's a good job that I turned the microphone off between announcements or the neighbourhood might have thought that we were staging a Tourette's Syndrome convention at the tastefully appointed Muglet Lane arena, that doesn't half look grand since it's closed season makeover.

HT: Miners 1 v Blues 1 At half time, whilst the visiting team took advantage of the lush greenery of the recently renovated pitch (great work Jim!), to conduct an outdoor team talk, the hordes descended on the newly opened and well stocked club shop to marvel at the vast array of goodies on offer, with new stock arriving all the time.

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" Maltby Main already have sixteen players sponsored for the forthcoming season, but there are still ten more available at just £20 a throw. An absolute bargain for any company wishing to advertise themselves via the club programme, website and social media channels and inexpensive way for any of the clubs loyal fans to register their support.

Right, that brings this commercial break to a close.

Check back soon, for a plug for the Centenary Club, Race Night, Bonus Ball and pitch side advertising fundraising efforts that are a vital lifeblood for this LITTLE CLUB WITH A BIG HEART. " Happy that the club's public address system was working loud and clear on it's trial run, and knowing that both teams would be making approximately two hundred substitutions apiece after the interval, with players leaving the fray only to return to the field of play ten minutes later, we put the all new hi-tech sound system away under lock and key at half time.

One of the visitors second half additions, John Cyrus, made a telling contribution and his presence was probably the difference between the two sides, he's a big unit and no 64 @TheBootifulGame Issue 08

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mistake and his combination of power, pace and skill, mark him out as one of the better players at Fearn's disposal. " But it was Jake Hazel who punctured the Maltby defence with a headed goal in the fifty first minute, that Hood got his outstretched hand to, but couldn't keep it out. " Fair play to young Hood who had been thrown in at the deep end this afternoon and couldn't be held at fault for any of the visitors goals. " Lill advanced forward again and found himself in a one against one race for the ball with the Frickley keeper, sliced his clearance but managed to recover before Lill could take advantage. " Allott drilled a shot on the turn towards the Maltby goal, but Hood got down well behind it. " But in the seventy fourth minute Allott did find the net again, when he converted an easy chance from close range, after Adam Saxton had diverted Dugdale's right wing corner kickback across the face of the goal from the back stick. " Maltby had the chance to chip away at the two goal deficit, when Lill skipped past Saxton in the visitors area, but was grounded by a crunching

tackle by the same player as he took aim. " Sam Bartrum delivered a right wing corner, to meet the timely run of Jack Greeves, but Ible got his head to the ball and cleared a good goal scoring opportunity, Former Maltby keeper Danny Rusling had replaced Malkowski in the net for Frickley and he made an excellent save down to his left to keep Lill's well struck penalty out... if there is such a beast as a good penalty save against Maltby.

I used to like you Danny! " Jameel Ible found a glaring space in the Maltby defence and planted a free header into the top right hand corner from Fairclough's right wing corner. " The Miners were down, but not out and Ollie Lawrence broke free on the right flank and Rusling did well to block Jordan Edridge's close range header and the two saves that he made on his homecoming proved to be crucial, as Alex Lill helped himself to a late goal, to give the final score a more realistic look.

FT: Maltby Main 2 v Frickley Athletic 4 " Frickley have recruited well, both on and off the pitch, whatever you might read elsewhere... and the strong side that they fielded today will be a match for many a team further up the food chain than Maltby over the coming season. " But the Miners did well on an afternoon that was a big test for them and, just as importantly, as regards the new initiatives and facilities around the club, everyone involved deserved a pat on the back for the way that everything ran so smoothly and without any kind of hitch too.

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*8$5$17(('

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13th June Ranking Change 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 1 -1 0 1 -1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Old Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 18 21 20 22 24 23 26 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

New Twitter Name Team Rank 1 @worksoptownfc Worksop 2 @AFC_Emley AFC Emley 3 @THERAILFC Harrogate RA 4 @BridTownAFC Bridlington 5 @FcHallamfc Hallam 6 @HandsworthPFC Handsworth 7 @Grimsby_Borough Grimsby B 8 @Retfordunitedfc Retford 9 @PickeringTownFC Pickering 10 @StaveleyMWFC Staveley 11 @Hmwfc Hemsworth 12 @TheGarforthTown Garforth 13 @HRRFC Hall Road R 14 @AthersleyRec Athersley 15 @thewelfare Armthorpe 16 @ThackleyAFC Thackley 17 @ParkgateFC Parkgate 18 @ShirebrookTwnFC Shirebrook 19 @RainworthMWFC Rainworth 20 @WorsbroughBFC Worsbrough 21 @DronfieldTownFC Dronfield 22 @PonteCollsFC Pontefract 23 @WintertonRFC Winterton 24 @Liversedge_FC Liversedge 25 @AFCMansfield AFC Mansfld 26 @BottesfordTown Bottesford 27 @BartonTownOB Barton Tn OB 28 @KnareboroughFC Knaresborough 29 @Glassywelfare Glasshghton 30 @Ollertontown_fc Ollerton Town 31 @CampionAFC Campion 32 @pcfc1906 Penistone 33 @AlbionSportsAFC Albion Spts 34 @Selby_FC Selby 35 @MainMaltby Maltby Main 36 @NostellMWFC Nostell 37 @yorkammas Yorks Amtr 38 @ClipstoneFC1 Clipstone 39 @OfficialBrigg Brigg Town 40 @RMFC1919 Rossington 41 @EccleshillUtdFC Eccleshill 42 @FCBOLSOVER FC Bolsover 43 @SwallowNestMWFC Swallownest 44 @EYCarnegie EY Carnegie

Number of League Followers Prem 7741 Div 1 7665 Prem 6520 Prem 5712 Div 1 5452 Prem 4776 Div 1 4136 Div 1 4062 Prem 3765 Prem 3677 Prem 3400 Prem 3434 Prem 3298 Prem 3265 Div 1 3127 Prem 3073 Prem 2968 Div 1 2823 Prem 2826 Div 1 2768 Div 1 2788 Prem 2651 Div 1 2605 Prem 2638 Prem 2450 Prem 2461 Prem 2276 Div 1 2137 Div 1 2007 Div 1 1905 Div 1 1809 Prem 1793 Prem 1707 Div 1 1413 Prem 1335 Div 1 1217 Div 1 1191 Prem 1170 Div 1 1065 Div 1 988 Div 1 875 Div 1 677 Div 1 524 Div 1 358 Total

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124528

23rd July Number of % Change Followers Change 7838 97 1.25% 7757 92 1.20% 6661 141 2.16% 5819 107 1.87% 5554 102 1.87% 4848 72 1.51% 4234 98 2.37% 4067 5 0.12% 3831 66 1.75% 3752 75 2.04% 3716 316 9.29% 3501 67 1.95% 3373 75 2.27% 3344 79 2.42% 3245 118 3.77% 3148 75 2.44% 3044 76 2.56% 2923 100 3.54% 2888 62 2.19% 2838 70 2.53% 2834 46 1.65% 2761 110 4.15% 2716 111 4.26% 2708 70 2.65% 2500 50 2.04% 2498 37 1.50% 2337 61 2.68% 2197 60 2.81% 2065 58 2.89% 1947 42 2.20% 1866 57 3.15% 1866 73 4.07% 1782 75 4.39% 1479 66 4.67% 1424 89 6.67% 1271 54 4.44% 1269 78 6.55% 1244 74 6.32% 1152 87 8.17% 1050 62 6.28% 998 123 14.06% 779 102 15.07% 576 52 9.92% 413 55 15.36% 128113

3585

2.80%

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collier and viggars sign contracts at hemsworth!

Hemsworth Miners Welfare boss Wayne Benn says it is a boost for himself and the team to see Richard Collier (above left middle) and Harry Viggars (above right, credit: Pete Murden) sign contracts with the club for the 2017/18 season, writes Thomas F e a h e n y (@ThomeasFeaheny).

Last season Hemsworth finished the campaign 9th in the table with 65 points and Benn is hopeful they can build on that with these two key players

a g r e e i n g t o s t a y f o r t h e Benn also picked out Collier campaign, he said. signing his new deal as a boost, due to the potential that he has "I'm pleased to have retained and how he can continue to m o s t o f l a s t s e a s o n s develop and help the club squad,which was always my a c h i e v e t h e i r a i m s g o i n g priority and we are particularly forward. pleased to have secured Richard Collier and Harry "With Richard its a reward for a Viggars on contracts. Harry was fantastic 1st season with us and the clubs 1st ever contracted the lad can only improve player last season and whilst he further.We have had to fight had an average season by his very hard to get Richard sorted own high standards,we really as their as been lots of interest believe in the lad and think that in him from higher divisions but he has lots of potential. the great thing was that Richard really wanted to stay,which says

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a lot about our football club and and i can guarantee there's no we are trying to achieve. fans around like these guys.

Pure class!"

Speaking of Collier he was Benn went onto talk about other pleased to get the deal signed members of his squad who even though as he admitted have just joined for the new there were other team looking s e a s o n a n d s a i d h e w a s at him. pleased to be signing individuals wanted by clubs "It feels very good. I had a lot of from higher leagues. offers in the off season but I always wanted to stay with "With Chris Ovington we have Hemsworth. Bennos put a lot of had to fight off Evostik clubs to trust into me. And everyone will secure his signature and we are see me repay that during the delighted to have Chris on season. board. He is a great addition to

the squad and he brings lots of Collier admits that while signing experience of playing at a a new deal means a lot to him, higher level. as it is a big commitment for a club to make it would not have "We have also secured the mattered if he had stayed on signing on a permanent basis of non-contract terms as he just youngster Lloyd Henderson wants to help the club. who joined us briefly for a few games at the end of last season "In my eyes it doesn't differ from Doncaster Rovers. between being on or not on a contract. I'll perform no matter "Whilst it might seem like it's what I earn, weather it's a been a quiet summer for contract or not, but obviously it's Hemsworth MWFC it has been nice to know that I'm well anything but. Our priority has thought of. been to retain last seasons

squad and apart from Nick While the proverbial 12th man Guest and Brice Tieni and a makes all the difference for question mark over one other players and clubs, Collier w e h a v e m a n a g e d t o d o picked out the fans and said that,which I'm very pleased they were unique and a big about! positive of the club.

The team have also been "Hemsworth is a great place to boosted with be around

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two players coming back to fitness ahead of the 2017/18 season getting underway.

"We also have the added bonus of Danny Critchlow working back to fitness and Dom Blair who missed a large chunk of last season and they are almost like having 2 new signings in place and we have missed their quality.

Benn admitted the summer has seen the club have to show restraint and not get anxious when it comes to new signings and making sure they were able to keep their squad mainly intact, but with their work now nearly complete, he is pleased with how they are doing.

"We have had to be patient this summer and it may be that a couple of things will happen fairly late in pre season but we are happy with the way the squad is shaping up!"

Hemsworth know it will be tough to go up due to the one promotion place but with the work they have already got done and the impressive names that have joined the club, they know they may just have a chance of getting into the EvoStik leagues, if they can go on a good run and have a bit of luck along the way.

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hemsworth miners chairman richard norman!

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The Bootiful Game has caught up with Richard Norman who has recently taken on the Chairman’s role at NCEL Premier Division Side, Hemsworth Miners Welfare, having previously been Co-Chairman at Goole FC. Having taken on the role in March and having had time to settle in, we caught up with Richard to see how his work at the club is going, written

by Gary Langley. " We started by asking how the role came about, “I was looking for a role at another club and Wayne (Benn) had asked me to come down to take a look and I fell in love with the club straight away. Myself and my family were made to feel very welcome but most importantly it’s the potential that the club has got, not just on the pitch by way of getting it up to Evo-Stik League standard but by developing into a true community football club. " “My football playing experience is largely Sunday League level, but off the field I have been Chairman of Goole twice, once in the Northern Counties East League and also for a time when we were in the Unibond League – as was. It was a mixed time for me, the first time I took over as Chairman in mid-season from my father who had passed away from cancer.

That campaign we went on to win the league and the cup at the same time so it was very emotional for me but I loved doing it. " So, moving forward, what are the overall aims for the club? “Well I have just mentioned the Evo-Stik being an aim, with the reconstruction taking place at Step four this presents a possible extra opportunity to

go up either by a second place points per game or play-off structure or of course by winning the league which is very, very hard in this league. It has been put to me that some clubs have bigger budgets, however that means nothing, I have seen clubs at Evo-Stik level with large budgets just about make the top six.

“In Wayne Benn we have one of the top managers at this standard by a good way, and he is certainly capable of managing at a lot higher standard and at the same time we have a great group of lads who want to play for the club which makes a big difference as well. Many of these lads have an emotional tie to the club, they’re not just playing for money. " “We have a group of supporters who are second to none at this level and when we get the community behind us our aim has to be to reach the Evo-Stik Premier Division within five or six years. The community being on board is the absolute basis of this club and is the most important thing for me. Over the last 25 years I have worked with many youth and community groups,

including working with disadvantaged kids and opening a Youth Club. My work within the community was one of the reasons I was approached to get involved here at the club and without the community being involved the club won’t be sustainable and we have fantastic facilities that should be used 24hrs a day, seven days a week.

“We are reaching out to get involved with the local schools, charities and local clubs as well and welcoming everybody to the ground, making that community club environment where families are welcome at every game. " “The first thing I did when I walked through the door was set up the Legacy Community Programme, and that’s all about making sure the club is financially stable, developing the community facilities but also about making sure that everyone within the local area will want to feel at home here and use the club as much as possible. We have three pitches here and I want to get them in use all of the time, the bar full and develop a Youth system here to be proud of.

Issue 08 @TheBootifulGame 73

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A-Z Directory of NCEL Clubs AFC EMLEY Founded: 2005 Kit Colours: Home: Claret & Sky Blue/Sky Blue/Claret Away: Green/Black/Black Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.afcemley.co.uk Email: office@afcemley.co.uk Twitter: @afc_emley Ground Name and Address: Fantastic Media Welfare Ground: Off Upper Lane, Emley, Huddersfield, HD8 9RE. Tel: 01924 849392 AFC MANSFIELD Founded: 2012 Kit Colours: Home: All Red Away: Yellow/Blue/Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.afcmansfield.net Email: afcmansfield@virginmedia.com Twitter: @afcmansfield Ground Name and Address: Forest Town Arena: Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield, NG19 0EE. Tel: 07973 491739

Email: secretary@bridtownafc.com Twitter: @BRIDTOWNAFC Ground Name and Address: Neil Hudgell Solicitors Stadium: Address: Queensgate, Bridlington, YO16 7LN. Tel: 01262 606879.

BRIGG TOWN Founded: 1864 Kit Colours: Home: Black & White/Black/Red Away: Pink/Navy/Pink Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.briggtownfc.info Email: uksoccersafe@gmail.com Twitter: @BriggFC Ground Name and Address: The Hawthorns: Hawthorn Avenue, Brigg, DN20 8PG. Tel: 01652 409137.

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ALBION SPORTS Founded: 1974 Kit Colours: Home: Yellow/Royal Blue/Royal Blue Away: All Red Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.albionsports.co.uk Email: info@albionsports.co.uk Twitter: @AlbionSportsAFC Ground Name and Address: Throstle Nest Stadium: Newlands, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5BE. Tel: 0113 255 7292.

ARMTHORPE WELFARE Founded: 1926 Kit Colours: Home: All Blue Away: All Red Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/armthorpewelfare Email: armthorpe.welfare@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @thewelfare Ground Name and Address: The Welfare Ground: Church Street, Armthorpe, DN3 3AG. ATHERSLEY RECREATION Founded: 1979 Kit Colours: Home: White & Black/Black/Black Away: All Orange Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ athersleyrecreation/ Email: petegoodlad@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @AthersleyRec Ground Name and Address: Sheerien Park: Ollerton Road, Athersley North, Barnsley, S71 3DP. Tel: 07910 121070.

BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS Founded: 1995 Kit Colours: Home: Sky Blue/Navy Blue/Sky Blue Away: Orange/Black/Orange Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.bartontownoldboysfc.co.uk Email: bartontown@gmail.com Twitter: @BartonTownOB Ground Name and Address: The Euronics Ground: Marsh Lane, Barton-upon-Humber, DN18 5JD. Tel: 01652 661809.

BOTTESFORD TOWN Founded: 1974 Kit Colours: Home: Blue & Yellow/Blue & Yellow/Blue & Yellow Away: Green & Black/Black/Black & Green Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/bottesfordtown Email: anthony.reeve3@ntlworld.com Twitter: @bottesfordtown Ground Name & Address: Birch Park: Ontario Road, Scunthorpe, DN17 2TQ. Tel: 01724 871883 BRIDLINGTON TOWN Founded: 1994 Kit Colours: Home: All Red Away: All White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.bridtownafc.com

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CAMPION Founded: 1963 Kit Colours: Home: Red & Black/Black/Red Alternate: All Royal Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.campionafc.co.uk Email: kegsy@sky.com Twitter: @CampionAFC Ground Name and Ground Address: The sportsbulk.co.uk Stadium @ Manningham Mills Sports Association: Scotchman Road, Bradford, BD9 5AT. Tel: 01274 491919.

CLIPSTONE Founded: 1928 Kit Colours: Home: Black & White/Black/Black Away: All Red Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/clipstonefc Email: Clipstonefc2013@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @ClipstoneFC1 Ground Name and Address: Worksop Van Hire Stadium Address: Clipstone Road East, Clipstone Village, Mansfield, NG21 9AB. Tel: 01623 627262 or 07937 143685.

DRONFIELD TOWN Founded: 1998 Kit Colours: Home: Red & Black/Black with Red/Red & Black Away: Yellow/Royal Blue/Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/dronfieldtownfc/ Email: dronfieldtownfc@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @dronfieldtownfc Ground Name and Address Stonelow Road: Stonelow Road, Dronfield, S18 2DA. Tel: 07971 238678.

EAST YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE Founded: 2016 Kit Colours: Home: Black/White Stripes Away: Red/White Stripes Midweek: Tuesday Website: http://www.eastyorkshirecarnegie.com Email: Not known at time of print Twitter: @EYCarnegie Ground Name and Address: Dene Park Sports Club Dunswell, HU6 0AA. ECCLESHILL UNITED Founded: 1948 Kit Colours: Home: All Blue & White Away: All Red & White Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/eccleshillunitedfc Email: adrian.benson@btinternet.com Twitter: @EccleshillUtdFC Ground Name and Address: Mitton Group Stadium: Kingsway, Wrose, Bradford, BD2 1PN. Tel: 01274 615739.

FC BOLSOVER Founded: 2016 Kit Colours: Home: Yellow/Blue/White Away: Blue/White/Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: http://www.fcbolsover.co.uk/ Email: fcbolsover@gmail.com Twitter: @FCBOLSOVER Ground Name and Address: Ground Name and Address: The Langwith Road Ground: Langwith

Road, Shirebrook, Mansfield, NG20 8TF. Tel: 01623 742535.

GARFORTH TOWN Founded: 1964 Kit Colours: Home: Yellow/Blue/Blue Away: Blue/Yellow/Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.garforthtown.net Email: enquiries@garforthtown.net Twitter: @thegarforthtown Ground Name and Address: J S White & Co Community Stadium: Cedar Ridge, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 2PF. Tel: 0113 287 7567.

GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE Founded: 1964 Kit Colours: Home: Blue & White/Blue/Blue Away: Green & White/White/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ glasshoughtonwelfare/ Email: frank.maclachlan@btinternet.com Twitter: @GlassyWelfare Ground Name and Address: Glasshoughton Centre Address: Leeds Road, Glasshoughton, Castleford, WF10 4PF. Tel: 01977 511234.

GRIMSBY BOROUGH Founded: 2003 Kit Colours: Home: All Red Away: White/Black/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.grimsbyboroughfc.co.uk Email: nigelfanthorpe@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @Grimsby_Borough Ground Name and Ground Address: Bradley Football Development Centre: Bradley Road, Grimsby, DN37 0AG. Tel: 01472 325300.

HALL ROAD RANGERS Founded: 1959 Kit Colours: Home: Blue & White/Blue & White/Blue Away: Yellow & Blue/Yellow & Blue/Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hallroadrangers/ Email: hallroadrangers@live.co.uk Twitter: @HRRFC Ground Name and Address: Haworth Park: Dawson Drive, Hull, HU6 7AB. Tel: 07815 629497.

HALLAM FC Founded: 1860 Kit Colours: Home: Blue/Blue & White/Blue & White Away: Yellow/Black/Black & Yellow Midweek: Wednesday (Tuesday in August, September) Website: www.hallamfc.co.uk Email: theclub@hallamfc.co.uk Twitter: @FcHallamfc Ground Name and Address: Sandygate Address: Sandygate Road, Sheffield, S10 5SE. Tel: 0114 230 9484.

HANDSWORTH PARRAMORE Founded: 1936 Kit Colours: Home: Amber/Black/Black Away: All Red Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/ Email: maxross@blueyonder.co.uk Twitter: @handsworthpfc Ground Name and Address: The Windsor Foodservice Stadium: Sandy Lane, Worksop, S80 1UJ. Tel: 01909 479955 HARROGATE RAILWAY Founded: 1935 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Green/Red Alternate: All Blue Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ harrogatereailwayathletic/ Email: shep@therailfc.com Twitter: @TheRailFC Ground Name and Address: Station View: Station View, Harrogate, HG2 7JA. Tel: 01423 883144 HEMSWORTH MINERS WELFARE Founded: 1981

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A-Z Directory of NCEL Clubs Kit Colours: Home: Cyan Blue/Navy Blue/Navy Blue Away: White & Purple/White/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hemsworthmwfc/ Email: beefy1986@hotmail.co.uk or netsi1@sky.com Twitter: @Hmwfc Ground Name and Address: MDC Sports Stadium: Wakefield Road, Fitzwilliam, Pontefract, WF9 5AJ. Tel: 01977 614997.

KNARESBOROUGH TOWN Founded: 1902 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Black/Red Away: Yellow/Black/Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.knaresboroughtown.com Email: knaresboroughtownafc@gmail.com Twitter: @KnaresboroughFC Ground Name and Address: Manse Lane: Manse Lane, Knaresborough, HG5 8LF. Tel: 07702 678320.

LIVERSEDGE Founded: 1910 Status: West Riding FA Kit Colours: Home: Sky Blue & Navy/Navy/Navy Away: All Red Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/liversedge/ Email: bryan@bryanoakes.orangehome.co.uk Twitter: @Liversedge_FC Ground Name and Address: Clayborn Stadium: Quaker Lane, Liversedge, WF15 3RJ. Tel: 01274 862108.

PICKERING TOWN Founded: 1888 Status: North Riding FA Kit Colours: Home: All Blue Away: All Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/pickeringtown/ Email: usheros8@btinternet.com Twitter: @PickeringTownFC Ground Name and Address: Recreation Ground: Mill Lane, Pickering, YO18 7DB. Tel: 01751 473317

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MALTBY MAIN Founded: 1916 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Black/Black Away: All Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.maltbymainfc.f9.co.uk Email: john_mills_@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @MainMaltby Ground Name and Address: Muglet Lane: Muglet Lane, Maltby, Rotherham, S66 7JQ. Tel: 07795 693683.

NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE Founded: 1928 Kit Colours: Home: Yellow/Black/Black Away: All Blue Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ nostellminerswelfare/ Email: nostellmwfc@hotmail.com Twitter: @nostellminers Ground Name and Address: The Welfare Ground: Crofton Community Centre, Middle Lane, New Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1LB. Tel: 01924 866010.

OLLERTON TOWN Founded: 1988 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Black/Red Alternate: All Navy Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ollertontownfc/ Email: j-winter2@sky.com Twitter: @Ollertontown_fc Ground Name and Address: The Lane: Walesby Lane, Ollerton, NG22 9UT. Tel: 07751 659838.

PARKGATE Founded: 1969 Kit Colours: Home: All Red & White Away: All Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.parkgatefc.co.uk Email: brucebickerdike@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @parkgatefc Ground Name and Address: Roundwood Pavilion: Green Lane, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S62 6LA. Tel: 01709 826600.

PENISTONE CHURCH Founded: 1906 Kit Colours: Home: Black & White/Black/Black Away: All Light Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/penistonechurch/ Email: penistonechurchfc@gmail.com Twitter: @pcfc1906

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Ground Name and Address: Memorial Ground: Church View Road, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6AT. Tel: 01226 370095.

PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES Founded: 1958 Kit Colours: Home: All Royal Blue & White Away: Claret & Sky Blue/Claret & Sky Blue/Sky Blue Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ pontefractcollieriesfc/ Email: trevor@pontecolls.co.uk Twitter: @PonteCollsFC Ground Name and Address: The Harratts Nissan Stadium: Beechnut Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4QE. Tel: 01977 600818.

RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE Founded: 1922 Kit Colours: Home: All White Away: All Royal Blue Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/rainworthmwfc/ Email: leslie.lee7@ntlworld.com Twitter: @rainworthmwfc Ground Name and Address: Kirklington Road: Kirklington Road, Mansfield, NG21 0JY. Tel: 01623 792495 RETFORD UNITED Founded: 1987 Kit Colours: Home: Black & White/Black/Black Away: All Yellow Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/retfordunited/ Email: wayne@apexci.co.uk Twitter: @Retfordunitedfc Ground Name and Address: Cannon Park: Leverton Road, Retford, DN22 6QF. Tel: 07980 824469.

ROSSINGTON MAIN Founded: 1919 Kit Colours: Home: All Blue Away: All Red Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/rossingtonmain/ Email: g-parsons2@sky.com Twitter: @RossingtonMain Ground Name and Address: Welfare Ground: Oxford Street, Rossington, Doncaster, DN11 0TE. Tel: 01302 864870.

SELBY TOWN Founded: 1919 Kit Colours: Home: All Red Away: All Green Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/selbytown/ Email: toonarkley@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @Selby_Fc Ground Name and Address: The Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium: Richard Street, Selby, YO8 4BN. Tel: 01757 210900.

SHIREBROOK TOWN Founded: 1985 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Black/Black Away: All Green Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.shirebrooktownfc.com Email: aimeeradford@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @ShirebrookTwnFC Ground Name and Address: The Langwith Road Ground: Langwith Road, Shirebrook, Mansfield, NG20 8TF. Tel: 01623 742535.

Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.staveleyfc.co.uk Email: staveleyed@hotmail.co.uk Twitter: @staveleymwfc Ground Name and Address: Inkersall Road: Inkersall Road, Staveley, S43 3JL. Tel: 01246 471441.

SWALLOWNEST MINERS WELFARE Founded: 2006 Kit Colours: Home: All royal blue Away: Orange/White/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: https://www.clubwebsite.com/swallownest Email: glennwatts57@gmail.com Twitter: @SwallowNestMWFC Ground Name and Address: Rotherham Road, Sheffield, S26 4UR. Tel: (0114) 287 2510 THACKLEY Founded: 1930 Kit Colours: Home: Red/White/Red Away: White/Black/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/thackley Email: stuwillingham@hotmail.com Twitter: @ThackleyAFC Ground Name and Address: Dennyfield: Ainsbury Avenue, Thackley, Bradford, BD10 0TL. Tel: 01274 615571.

WINTERTON RANGERS Founded: 1930 Kit Colours: Home: All Blue Away: All Red Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.wintertonrangers.co.uk Email: wrfc@talktalk.net Twitter: @WintertonRFC Ground Name and Address: West Street: West Street, Winterton, Scunthorpe, DN15 9QF. Tel: 01724 732628 WORKSOP TOWN Founded: 1861 Kit Colours: Home: Orange with Black/Black/Orange Away: White with Black/White/White Midweek: Wednesday Website: www.worksoptownfc.co.uk Email: wtfcsecretary@gmail.com Twitter: @worksoptownfc Ground Name and Address: The Windsor Foodservice Stadium: Sandy Lane, Worksop, S80 1UJ. Tel: 01909 479955 WORSBROUGH BRIDGE ATHLETIC Founded: 1947 Kit Colours: Home: Red/Red/White Away: Blue/Blue/White Midweek: Tuesday Website: www.worsbroughbridgefc.com Email: mark.booth@capita.co.uk Twitter: @WorsbroughBFC Ground Name and Address: Park Road: Park Road, Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley, S70 5LJ. Tel: 01226 284452.

YORKSHIRE AMATEUR Founded: 1918 Kit Colours: Home: White/Navy Blue/Red Away: All Royal Blue Midweek: Tuesday Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ yorkshireamateur Email: sy.charley@gmail.com Twitter: @yorksammas Ground Name and Address: Bracken Edge: Roxholme Road, Leeds, LS8 4DZ. Tel: 0113 262 4093.

STAVELEY MINERS WELFARE Founded: 1989 Kit Colours: Home: Blue & White/White/White Away: All Orange

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