Midlands Non League Monthly
May 2009 Issue 1
First Issue
The UK’s only non-league football magazine for the Midlands
Rushden and Diamonds’ star on multi-tasking
PLUS: Season roundup ● Credit crunch ● Worcestershire County FA
8 Lincoln Moses
Welcome to the first issue of Midlands Non League Monthly. Every month we will bring you exclusive interviews, previews of the big matches and thought-provoking features. This issue includes an intervew with Lincoln Moses MBE (left).
Images by Rosemarie Conway, Muna Ahmed and Karen Patel ©
3 4 6
Talking Point
Will a supporters’ trust solve Halesowen Town’s financial problems?
Andy Burgess Probably the most multitalented man in the Conference.
Ups and Downs
We review an eventful 08/09. Chasetown (below) are hoping for promotion via the playoffs.
CONTENTS
10
Cup Preview
11
Worcestershire FA
Evesham United face Kidderminster Harriers in the Worcestershire Senior Invitation Cup final.
Matt Jones from Worcestershire County FA (below) tells us about their schemes.
12
Q&A and Diary
We ask Stourbridge striker Linden Dovey 15 questions, and there is also a list of important May dates.
The ‘effects of the credit crunch’ are there for all to see across football, but non-league is being hit harder than most. Fans are now required to dig deep just to keep their club afloat. MNLM looks at the case of Halesowen Town.
Coming to the H
Images by Karen Patel ©
alesowen Town is the oldest football club in the West Midlands, and it is just one of the hundreds of clubs around the country falling victim to the ‘credit crunch’. Recently its demise has been well documented. The club has recently received an FA ban regarding unpaid wages to former players and transfer fees owed to two clubs. At the time of writing there are still lingering doubts over the club’s future. Preceding that, manager Morrell Maison received a ban from football after being found guilty by the FA for charges of serious misconduct, However Morrell is in the process of an appeal. The extent of the club’s debts has also been leaked this season - the estimated figure is around £15,000. The club’s troubles have resulted in the fans attempting to take matters into their own hands. The Halesowen Town Supporters Association have banded together to form a Supporters’ Trust, in an attempt to have more say in the general running of the club and try to alleviate its mounting troubles. With the help of the governmentbacked organisation Supporters Direct, the trust runs on an entirely non-profit basis and places more emphasis on forging links between the club and the
community. Group member Guy Simpson said: “We have unquantified debt, but we must remember many companies are currently in a similar situation to us. The trust will not erase debt, but it’s important that money is raised. We can donate money to the club in return for certain achievable aims, such as building more links with the community, and giving fans more involvement in the dayto-day running of the club.”
”Supporters’ trusts are a critical friend to football clubs”
Guy Simpson, the Yeltz Trust
The Yeltz trust does not seem capable, then, of erasing Halesowen’s debt. This seems to be the main problem with the club at the moment, so what is the point? Guy said: “the trust should be a critical friend to the football club, and the relationship has improved between Halesowen and its fans over the past few months, and it will continue to do so.” Hundreds of clubs now have supporters’ trusts, ranging from Manchester United where there is no communication between the club and
TALKING
Point
the trust, to AFC Telford United where the supporters’ trust practically saved the club from oblivion. Supporters’ trusts tend to run on a democratic basis, whereby a member of the group is elected to sit on the club board. James Mathie of Supporters Direct, an organisation that governs and assists the formation of supporters’ trusts, believes they can become critical to a club’s existence, if set up properly. He said: “Sustainability is key. With prolonged involvement with the club supporters’ trusts can be extremely beneficial. Some clubs have formed trusts that are concerned with one situation. they are more like a pressure group, and that’s not what supporters’ trusts are about.” Potentially, supporters’ trusts can be beneficial in the long term, but the temptation to rush into clearing debts can have an adverse effect. Bromsgrove Rovers had these problems with its trust initially, as former board member David Stephens explains: “Our trust was rushed into existence. We didn’t have many clear goals and aims, we simply handed money over to the club and the promises made to us weren’t kept. Eventually the chairman pulled out and things went a bit pear-shaped.” One Bromsgrove fan, Andy Parr, has learnt from this and hopes clubs such as Halesowen do not make the same mistake: “The way forward is for more involvement from supporters trusts working alongside people who know what they are doing in business. The Trust has a valuable part to play in raising money to sustain football at a decent level.” It seems the quick fix most non-league fans are wishing for is invariably a step onto the path of self-destruction. Whether the democracy and sustainability of a supporters’ trust is the ideal tonic for troubled clubs such as Halesowen, only time will tell.
Midlands Non League Monthly May 2009
3
THE BIG
Interview
He plays for Rushden and Diamonds, writes a column for The Mirror, is a regular guest on the non-league chat show by Soccer X TV and is assistant manager at Nottingham Forest Ladies. Is there anything he can’t do? MNLM finds out how non-league’s jack-of-alltrades juggles his many, many interests.
4
May 2009 Midlands Non League Monthly
ost footballers have a few outside interests - golf, punditry, appearing in magazines with their WAGs - but few have as much on their plate as Rushden and Diamonds’ Andy Burgess. His CV is probably one of the most impressive amongst his peers; few can juggle management, journalism and semi-professional football. So how does he manage it? “I’m lucky really because we finish training at around half past twelve, and people say that’s not much but you can’t come into training everyday and run around for five hours, rest is just as important, even though I don’t really get a lot of time for rest. “We do get a lot of time on our hands after training in the afternoons and it leaves me time to do my bits and pieces. I’m not the kind of person to go home and just sit at home, I have to have other things going on and it helps me to switch off from Rushden.” Few current players have a regular column in a national newspaper, but Andy took it upon himself to brush up on his journalism skills and with a little luck and persistence he managed to get his break. “I was doing a foundation course in journalism and towards the end of it they told me to get some experience in a newspaper office, so I sent a couple of emails out to some national newspapers. The Mirror then came back to me asking if I could write a non-league football column for them because no one did that at the time. I snapped their arm off for it and that was three years ago now. It’s been fantastic for me.” Andy began his footballing career at Luton Town, spending four years in their School of Excellence, however when he was 16 he was turned down
for a YTS contract and instead moved to Rushden and Diamonds. He has remained there most of his career, apart from in 2006 when he had a brief spell at Oxford United but he returned to Nene Park 18 months later. When he was making those tentative steps into football ten years ago, Andy had no idea he would end up doing so much. “When I came into the (Rushden and Diamonds) youth team, I focused on getting into the first team, getting a pro contract, and trying to further my career. When you get to the age of 25 and you’re lucky enough get a longterm contract you can settle down and do other things.” With such an early retirement age, footballers face more pressure than most to decide what to do once they have hung their boots, and extra pressure is placed on those that don’t earn the big bucks of the professional players, such as Andy. He stresses how important it is for non-league players to have a contingency plan in place:
Andy Burgess
DOB: 10/08/1981 Height: 6ft 2in Position: Midfield (captain) Club Stats: Rushden and Diamonds 1999 - 2006 and 2007 - present Apps: 266 Goals: 30 Oxford United 2006 - 2007 Apps: 46 Goals: 7 England C 2007 - present Apps: 6 Goals: 2 He is currently in discussions with teammates regarding a book about Rushden and Diamonds from the view of the dressing room. “The book would be an interesting read I think, there’s going to be no holds barred. We will just talk about the players who have played here and the experience, because so much goes on here that the fans have never seen. “That’s all I’ve got going on at the moment, and I do sometimes get time to play football” he jokes. We’re surprised you get time to sleep Andy, never mind play football.
“I’m not the kind of
person to just sit at home after training” “At about 25 you have to start thinking about what you’re going to do after football. If I didn’t have any clue I’d be a bit worried because you never know, all it takes is one late tackle and that could be the end of your career, so you have to have something to fall back on. This makes it important for me to get other things in place for when I do finish.” Andy has already decided that he would like to pursue a career in management when he retires, rather than continue journalism. “If you had asked me four years ago I would have said journalism,” he said. “But being involved with Forest ladies as a manager has definitely given me a taste for management in the men’s game.” You would think playing football, managing a ladies’ team, writing a column and hosting a web chat show would be enough, but not for Andy.
Visit www.soccerx.co.uk to see Andy’s chat show every Wednesday. You can read Andy’s column ‘View From the Bottom’ every Monday in The Mirror.
Images by Rosemarie Conway and Karen Patel ©
M
Factfile
Ups
PROMOTION
Relegation
The end of the season is upon us already, and with only playoffs, cup finals and a few more fixtures left in some divisions, MNLM rounds up the winners and losers from an eventful 2008/2009. We also spotlight the teams yet to learn their fate, and the clubs involved in restructuring.
Chasetown Chasetown secured their playoff position before the last day of the season, finishing third and eight points ahead of fourthplaced Chesham United. Manager Charlie Blakemore (left) is exercising caution ahead of the playoffs. He said: “it’s going to be difficult, all four sides are there on merit. We’ve put ourselves in the frame though, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.” If The Scholars do get promoted, there is a chance they will move into the Northern League as part of more restructuring. Charlie believes that restructuring can make things difficult: “you get to know sides in the local area, and the expenses of travel is also a problem. But there will never be a right answer with restructuring and you can’t please everybody.”
Images by Karen Patel and Muna Ahmed ©
Relegated sides: •
Hucknall Town have been relegated to the Southern League after finishing bottom of the Blue Square North. They finished on just 28 points, conceding 84 goals and scoring just 39.
•
Banbury United have been relegated from the Southern League Premier Division after losing 5-0 away to Corby Town on the final day of the season. They were just two points away from safety but they failed to capitalise on Clevedon Town’s defeat to Oxford City. Banbury occupied the final relegation spot, with Hitchin Town, Yate Town and Mangotsfield United also relegated from the division.
•
6
Woodford United have joined Malvern Town in the Midland Alliance next season, finishing second from bottom in the Southern League Division One Midlands after drawing 1-1 at home to Soham Town on the final day of the season, whilst third from bottom Rothwell managed to win their crucial game against Stourport Swifts to ensure survival. May 2009 Midlands Non League Monthly
?
an
“We’ve put ourse in the frame for promotion and w give it everything we’ve got ”
Chasetown manager Ch
Down
s
After a lengthy application and several ground inspections Market Drayton Town (in the red kit, below left) have been successful in their promotion to the Unibond Division One South league. Manager Simon Line has been involved with the Midland Alliance club for five years and feels the step up is well deserved. “Getting the approval for the ground gave everyone a huge lift here and it was an incentive to go on and win the title” he said. “I’ve got a very good squad of players here and I’m confident they’ll do well in the league above next year.”
Market Drayton Town
?
nd
Other promoted sides: •
Burton Albion are champions of the Blue Square Premier and will be playing in Football League Two next season. They finished on 88 points despite losing to playoff hopefuls Torquay United on the final day.
•
Tamworth finished champions of the Blue Square North with 85 points, five ahead of second-placed Gateshead and will be playing in the Conference next season.
•
Corby finished champions of the Southern League Premier Division and will join the Blue Square North. They clinched the championship with an emphatic 5-0 win over Banbury United on the final day of the season.
•
Leamington finished champions of the Southern League Division One Midlands with an impressive 101 points. They will join the Southern League Premier next season.
•
Oldbury Athletic and Southam United are fighting it out for promotion from the Midland Combination League, after leaders Loughborough University pulled out due to their university status.
Playoffs and restructuring: •
Kidderminster Harriers narrowly missed out on a playoff place in the Blue Square Premier after losing 1-0 to Kettering on the final day. Torquay United grabbed the final spot.
•
AFC Telford United and Alfreton Town will fight it out in the Blue Square North playoff semis for an elusive place in the final on May 8. The first leg at Telford will take place on April 29, the second leg on May 3.
•
Gloucester City face Cambridge City in the Southern League Premier playoffs on April 28. The winners will face either Farnborough or Hemel Hempstead in the final on May 2.
•
Chasetown are away to Atherstone Town in the Southern League Division One Midlands Playoff semi on April 28. The winners of that tie will play either Nuneaton Town or Chesham United in the final on May 2.
•
If Nuneaton are promoted they will move into the Southern League Premier.
•
If Atherstone or Chasetown are promoted they could move into the Unibond (Northern) Premier League, as opposed to the Southern Premier (to be confirmed).
elves
we’ll g
harlie Blakemore
ns
“I’ve got a good squad of players and i’m confident they’ll do well in the league above next year” Market Drayton manager Simon Line
Malvern Town Malvern Town finished the season with just 15 points from 42 games. Their torrid time in the Southern League Division One Midlands began with an 8-0 thrashing away to Leamington, and this set the tone for the rest of the campaign. In total they have conceded 118 goals – the worst across all three Southern Leagues. Malvern also have the worst scoring record, only managing to find the net 26 times. The league they have been relegated to is yet to be confirmed however it is highly likely to be the Midland Alliance, the league they were promoted from in 2006. Midlands Non League Monthly May 2009
7
MNLM
Exclusive
All over the country there are football schemes designed to take children off the streets. However, few have done it quite like Lincoln Moses MBE. From racism in the army to receiving an honour from the Queen, MNLM exclusively reveals his story.
“Football is the vehicle for change” A
Images by Rosemarie Conway ©
round 30 years ago, a teenager by the name of Lincoln Moses trudged into the boxing ring. He looked up at the man standing opposite him, a fearsome serviceman more than double his age and twice the size, his hateful eyes burning through his young opponent. The fight began, the serviceman pounding the teenager, venting his anger and channelling his fury into every punch. The young Lincoln simply took it, and waited for his moment to strike back. Just when the serviceman thought he had taught the boy a lesson, he felt a crushing blow to his head. Lincoln had kicked him. However, instead of being commended for his tenacity and fighting spirit, the teenager spent a day in a police cell. That was when Lincoln Moses decided to leave the army for good, and pursue his love of football and leading people. What was a terrifying experience at the time turned out to be a pivotal point in his life, at a time when options were limited for young black boys like himself.
Lincoln’s office is laden with memorabilia
8
“The only options for boys like me back then were either a low paid and unskilled job, college, or drugs. “At 16 I decided to join the Army because of these lack of opportunities. There was so much racism though; some of the sergeants and commanding officers despised me, but I took any
“We have
been helping kids find jobs since the 1980s” punishments in my stride such as the fight against the serviceman. They just did that to test my character, but after that I knew it was time to leave”. After the army he started to play football, and whilst working at a brass company he discovered his passion for leading others and making a difference. “I was on several trade union committees, and despite the racism I learnt to stick at it, because people were starting to realise my potential”. Racism hindered Lincoln throughout his early career, especially when he helped to form the country’s first allblack football team, Continental Star, n 1973. The club was prevented from joining any leagues however simply because of the colour of its players.
May 2009 Midlands Non League Monthly
In 1975 it was eventually invited into the Birmingham Works League, and that was when Lincoln, now General Manager, began to build the club into a social enterprise. After much success during the eighties the first team were moved to the Midland Combination League in 1993, which is where they remain today. Whilst football is still a top priority - the club boast football teams ranging from Under 7’s to Over 35’s and a women’s team – the social aspect of the club is what makes it so unique. Lincoln said: “There is no cut-off point for joining Continental Star, we take in people of all ages. We have a women’s group for unemployed and single mothers. We arrange a lot of
after-school activities such as homework clubs where kids get one-to-one help. We also take them on trips and provide free food.” Part of Lincoln’s motivation for setting up Continental Star was the amount of gang warfare and crime within Birmingham, and though little has changed, Lincoln feels he has helped many disadvantaged people build new lives for themselves. “Gangs have always been going on, but nowadays I think the influence of television and music has made it more widespread. Drugs and the stranglehold it has on people have resulted in the gangs we see today. “Drugs and gangs will always be there, but I think football is the vehicle for change. As a football club and a social enterprise, we have been helping kids get off the streets and find jobs since the 1980s.” His determination to help the underprivileged in Birmingham, and his ethos of promoting a healthy lifestyle and good education was what led him to recognition in this year’s Queen’s Honours List. All of this is achieved with little funding. So why doesn’t every non-league club do what Continental Star have, and use football as a platform for change? Lincoln thinks it is asking a bit too much, especially given the current economic climate. “Other non-league clubs haven’t got the capacity, but I understand where they are coming from. At the moment it is hard for these clubs to stay afloat.”
Evesham United face Kidderminster Harriers in this year’s Worcestershire FA Senior Invitation Cup Final. MNLM speaks to Evesham manager Paul West about a match that could make a good season into great one for The Robins. don’t have our own ground and we don’t have any extra income. Our gates are probably the worst in this league, so from the football club’s point of view it’s really tough. “Despite that, we’ve stuck together and in terms of atmosphere its absolutely fantastic simply because we have come in with one of the lowest playing budgets in this league. Other clubs have players that don’t turn up for pocket money, and that’s what we’re up against so I can’t praise my players enough for what they have achieved.” Kidderminster Harriers are currently chasing promotion into the Football wo years ago, Evesham United won League so the cup final will their first trophy in 13 years – the not be their highest priority, however Worcestershire Senior Invitation Cup. Paul still believes his side have a This year they are in the final again tough game ahead of them. but they are truly the “I’m sure if Kiddy underdogs; they are up [Kidderminster] put “Even if against Conference side out their reserve Kidderminster Harriers. Kidderminster put team, they’ll still Manager Paul West have some good out their reserves, (above) has engineered a quality players. they will still have magnificent first season I’m really quite in the Southern League some quality fortunate though Premier for The Robins compared to players” after they were promoted other managers, last year. As well as the I haven’t had cup final, they reached the first round of to worry about relegation this the FA Cup and they were also close to year so this cup final gives us being promoted again, only to miss out something to look forward narrowly on the playoffs. to. It would be nice to have Paul puts the success of this season something to show for our down to the togetherness at the club. He season’s efforts.” said: “It was always difficult because we
Images by Karen Patel and Muna Ahmed ©
T
10
May 2009 Midlands Non League Monthly
Ones to watch:
Returning striker Jermaine Clarke (above) is a constant goal threat, and midfielder Danny Lennon (below) has scored five goals in 23 appearances for The Robins this season.
Matt Jones (right) is the Football Development Officer at Worcestershire County FA. In this exclusive interview, he tells MNLM about the various schemes the FA have to offer, the FA’s ‘Get Into Football’ campaign, and also why football can be a shining light for everyone.
T
here is more to the Football Association than disciplining clubs and players, regulating football and running cup competitions and leagues. The emphasis it places on development is rarely publicised and one of its pioneers is Worcestershire County FA, just one of the many county branches of the governing body. Matt Jones, Football Development Officer at Worcestershire, considers football development a key aspect of the FA’s work: “It’s ensuring that everyone has access to the beautiful game regardless of age,
MNLM
Spotlight
gender, disability or ethnicity. Furthermore, it’s supporting people to access the beautiful game in the way they would like too whether it be as a player, a coach, a manager, a referee or a young leader, or indeed the unsung hero of grassroots football, an administrator.” The Worcestershire FA carry out development work in may areas of the game. ”In relation to player development we work on not only the physical and technical aspects of young players, but also their psychological and social development. This is called the ‘four corner’ model and it
The FA’s Vision Goal 1: Growth & Retention Goal 2: Raising Standards Goal 3: Better Players
The key elements to achieving these goals are: • Workforce Development • Facilities & Marketing • Promotion
Midlands Non League Monthly May 2009
11
Images by Karen Patel and Muna Ahmed ©
Goal 4: Running the Game
helps youngsters to grow as people, not just footballers. “We support the Tesco skills programme for five to eleven year olds, there are Player Development Centres for more talented youngsters aged 11 and over, and we also support Kidderminster Harriers FITC to deliver their Girls Centre of Excellence programme. Even if young players apply to these centres and don’t make it past the assessments, we have Player Workshops for any age and skill level. At the moment we are also piloting the FA Youth Award, we’re the only county to do it so it’s really put Worcestershire on the map.” A lot of emphasis is placed on youngsters, but Matt insists his work stretches much further than that: “football is a
tool that can be used to bring people together, and we do this by prioritising areas in the county that are particularly deprived, and placing emphasis on equality. Furthermore, the environment in which we all enjoy grassroots football is managed through the promotion of both the FA Charter Standard Scheme and the RESPECT Programme, both of which are national initiatives”. The FA also have a new campaign called ‘Get Into Football’. Matt is just one of the 270 Football Development Officers in the country responsible for providing opportunities for people to get involved in sport. “My job is so rewarding” Matt said. ““I’m involved in football because I want to make a difference and get the best out of players. “It’s inspiring to work every day with volunteers and people who share my passion for football.”
Each month MNLM asks a player 15 questions, usually about football. For the first issue we picked on
Stourbridge FC’s Linden
Dovey .
Which position do you play? Striker. Which team do you support? Wolves. Describe the best goal you have scored? When I was playing for Shifnal Town against rivals Bridgnorth Town. I scored a 35 yard strike to equalise which would then help us to a 5-2 victory. Best game you have played in? At Bescot Stadium last year for Shifnal town against Coalsville. I scored a penalty in the 2nd half to win the game for us and also received man of the match. Best player you have played with? When I was at Aston Villa as a schoolboy I played with Luke Moore who’s currently at WBA and Gary Cahill who’s now playing for Bolton Wanderers.
“In my opinion Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world at the moment” Favourite boots? Nike Vapors.
Best player you have played against? I played against Jody Craddock and Matt Jarvis In the Birmingham Senior Cup this season for Stourbridge Town. Best game you have ever watched? Wolves getting promoted with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United in the 2003 play-off final.
Best away ground you have played in? Walsall’s Bescott Stadium, Burton Albion’s Pirelli stadium and of course Wolves Molineux.
Favourite all-time player? Paul Gascoigne.
Best ground you have visited? (as a fan or player) I visited old Trafford many years ago.
What is your earliest memory of football? Michael Owen’s wonder goal against Argentina in the 98 world cup.
Diary
May
1st
Blue Square Premier Playoff Semi Finals 1st leg
2nd
Who do you think is the best player in the world right now? Cristiano Ronaldo in my opinion is the best player in the world at the moment, closely followed by Messi and Kaka.
Which team do you hate the most? Obviously West Bromwich Albion.
Image by James Marsh © http://jamesmarshphotography.co.uk
From boots to boyhood heroes, we grill the Glassboy on the things that really matter.
Finally...the best dressing room prank you have seen (or done?) At Shifnal Town a couple of players took everyone’s shoes while we were all on the pitch, then tied them all together and hid them.
Southern League Premier, Division One Midlands and Division One South West Playoff Finals Blue Square South Playoff Semi Finals 2nd leg Challenge Vase Final Shirley Town v Worcester City Academy at Pilkington XXX FC
3rd
Blue Square North Playoff Semi Finals 2nd leg
4th
Blue Square Premier Playoff Semi Finals 2nd leg Endsleigh Challenge Cup Final Cadbury Athletic v Castle Vale at Solihull Moors FC
5th
Blue Square Premier Playoff Semi Finals 2nd leg Polymac Services League Cup Final Boldmere St Michaels v Market Drayton Town
7th
Blue Square South Playoff Final
8th
Blue Square North Playoff Final
17th
Blue Square Premier Playoff Final