EUFC vs Barrow

Fleet

EBBSFLEET UNITED

V BARROW

2. |£

Tony Giles A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

50

Life

041

Saturday 3 September 2011 Kick-off 3.00pm

Season 2011/12 - Blue Square Bet Premier

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                                                                                        

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to all those who have made that long trip down from Barrow, including their joint managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan who have done a great job so far during their tenure.

Last bank holiday weekend we drew on Saturday at home to Forest Green and then travelled to Braintree – which is always a difficult place to go – and secured our first win of the season. The Forest Green performance seemed flat and in the end I was grateful for the point.

We definitely showed a more determined display against Braintree in a game that had plenty of talking points: three penalties, an injured referee, eight minutes overtime and a manager removed from technical area!! The players again showed great character in coming back from being behind twice and then going on to secure all three points away from home.

I’m sure we as a team will draw great confidence from getting that first win and I still feel we have players not quite up to full steam yet and who are still finding their feet in this league.

4

For example, Calum had a great game on Monday and put on a performance I had been waiting for since the start of the season. Calum is one who has played at this level before whereas a few of the lads haven’t so I’m hoping a they will follow in Calum’s footsteps.

I am writing these notes on the last day of transfer window and I, as yet, have not received any offers for any of the squad. I am hopeful though that I can pull a couple of favours in to try and bolster the squad which is paper thin right now.

Today will be an opportunity at home to build on last Monday but rest assured we will have our work cut out against Barrow, who have had a similar start to us and will no doubt be wanting to get a few more points on the board.

I’d like to show my appreciation for your support last weekend at both games, in particular I thought the following at Braintree was terrific and definitely helped the lads.

Please enjoy today.

Believe Liam fleet life

liam daish

issue 04

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CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER Good afternoon everyone and a very warm welcome to you all. I would like to thank everyone for making it to today’s Blue Square Bet Premier game against Barrow. I hope everyone, home and away fans, have a good afternoon and wish you all a safe journey home.

I know for the Chairman of Barrow the long journey is almost like coming home as he originates from Northfleet.

I’m writing these notes on the Tuesday evening after the excellent 3-2 bank holiday Monday victory at Braintree Town.

It is especially pleasing to get our first win under our belt as it will hopefully represent a springboard to further success. As a humble football fan, the games I’ve managed to see suggest that we have played fairly well and probably warranted a few more points on the board, but that is football.

It has been good to see the attendances hold up well and at a league average of 1,137 after three home games, we are slightly better than budget. This together with good quality pre-season games means we are a little ahead of the game in terms of the likely finances. I haven’t had chance to analyse season ticket sales but my feeling is that they seem to have held up well. I’m sure those of you who frequent the social club will have seen on the tables the notices pushing the mini-season tickets. It is a nice saving if you are able to purchase a mini 5 or mini 11 ticket as it effectively means you are only paying £12.50, instead of £15 per game at Stonebridge Road. Obviously, everyone around the club hopes the attendances will hold up and everyone has a good matchday experience. fleet life issue 04

// phil sonsara

The subject of match day pricing cropped up when I was talking recently to the Chairman of Tamworth. They have introduced match grading categories A, B and C where the adult terrace pricing is £14, £12 and £10 respectively. I would be interested to hear fans opinion on the subject. At the end of the day you are the paying customers and it would be nice to know what you guys think is the best way forward for YOUR club. Managing the finances is always a very difficult area and whilst we don’t want to over-charge fans, we also want to put out a decent football team for everyone to be proud of.

Luckily this season we still will be able to have a number of games that are not segregated. I would prefer the majority of games to be this way, as I see Ebbsfleet United as a family football club and we should be able to cope with non-segregation for most games. We were required to segregate the game against Newport County and with only 129 Newport County fans in attendance on the evening all the income from the away fans was not enough to cover the police bill. It is one of the problems we have to face with being in this league. I’m looking forward to the club travelling to places like Grimsby, Darlington, Lincoln, Luton and Mansfield again, because that is all part of the challenge of being in this league.

In the meantime, be positive, get behind the team and enjoy the day.

Phil Sonsara Chairman 7

Roaring on the Fleet!

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A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF THE FLEET Good afternoon Fleet fans! Two dramatic finishes, a call-up for an England C squad match that ended up being postponed (if not cancelled), and the first win of the season... so many things have happened at Stonebridge Road since the last programme.

The best news coming the Fleet’s way after the 1-1 draw against Newport County was the announcement that Michael West was called into England’s C squad to face India U23 on September 6.

West has arguably been the Fleet’s best player so far during this young season.

Tom Phipp also made the provisional squad. Unfortunately, the match was postponed indefinitely on Friday.

After the match against Newport County, Liam told BBC Kent that he thinks the team is gradually adjusting to the demands of Blue Square Premier. Clint Easton also told BBC Kent that they needed to tighten up their act if they are to stay up this season.

On Wednesday, Johnny Herd talked with The Gravesend Reporter and said he thought the league is going to be really tight this season. He also felt the team were getting closer and closer to their first win of the season, and, much like Alex Stavrinou a couple of weeks back, he also thanked the fans for helping Liam to keep him with the Fleet this season.

On Thursday, Ron Hillyard was named Gillingham’s new (part-time) goalkeeping coach. He will work with Gillingham just two days a week though, which will allow him to keep his job with the Fleet. Also on Thursday, while talking to The Gravesend Reporter, Liam urged his strikers to step fleet life issue 04

// carlos pressentin

up and follow Michael West’s example, as he needs them to ease the burn on the Fleet’s young midfielder.

Liam decided to make some changes to the starting XI for the match against Barrow – after some good appearances coming off the bench, Joe Howe got the nod over Craig Stone, while Tom Phipp returned from suspension, replacing Alex Stavrinou. Fleet did not have a good start and Liam decided to shake things up (no pun intended) replacing Fakinos with Ricky Shakes just 30 minutes into the match. It paid dividends when Shakes scored 5 minutes later, but Forest Green levelled in the second half and the Fleet collected their third point in three consecutive matches. Attendance was 889.

Well, if you thought you had enough drama for this week, the team proved you wrong while grabbing the first win of the season. Liam started Ricky Shakes over Fakinos and Joe Howe over the injured Michael West in midfield. The Fleet turned around a 1-2 disadvantage with just 3 minutes left of the game to win 3-2 at Braintree Town. Tom Phipp, Scotty Ginty and Calum Willock scored, and the Fleet headed back home outside of the bottom 4 (16th place right now) with 6 points.

Now that the gates are open, more wins will certainly head the Fleet’s way...

Up the Fleet!

Carlos You can keep up-to-date on everything Ebbsfleet United related on Carlos’ blog, www.upthefleet.com.

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AWAY DAY REVIEW

// thomas dixon

One of the more enjoyable aspects of last season was the short distance to away games, with there being little need to travel more than an hour from any junction of the M25. This season couldn’t be any more different, a few rough calculations and some time on Google Maps tells me that the total travel distance for this season is going to be about 8500 miles, essentially a third of the way around the globe or in money terms about a grands worth of petrol. Last Saturday was one of those few away days this year where getting up at 6am wasn’t a requirement, and a departure time of 12:30 for our trip to Braintree was one to be savoured.

On the downside the late start does also mean that the journey up to north Essex was relatively laid back, so disappointingly no opportunities for me to try to tattoo biro moustaches on my fellow travelling companions Ian, Paul or Jeff this week, with conversation boiling down to who saw Saturday morning’s soccerette from Woking (God bless Paul’s iPad).

We arrived at Cressing Road, or to give it its “correct” title The Amlin Stadium, at about 2 o’clock and promptly made our way into the ground. Well, to be more specific, into the bar. The bar at Cressing Road has what I can only assume in a time of digital and HD technology is now a rare feature: a league table on the wall which is updated manually with team names on pieces of wood that are moved depending on changes in the table. Now this may be the best feature of the town of Braintree let alone the football ground, fleet life issue 04

but as I haven’t seen all of Braintree I’ll reserve judgement on that part.

Now I may be being little harsh there, but Cressing Road is one of those grounds that I just don’t really get excited about visiting, though in all fairness to Braintree this is probably due to the fact I’ve been there 4 times in 3 years. To prove a point, does anyone really get excited about going to Bromley’s Hayes Lane anymore?

There’s nothing wrong with the ground as such, in fact it is a perfectly adequate non league stadium, but it’s this adequateness that leads to the feeling that once you’ve been there you’re not too disappointed if you don’t have to visit it for another few years.

Whereas grounds which have a certain uniqueness or charm about them, you never really tire of visiting. Apparently the burgers were nice though.

As for the game itself, that was far from boring and the 98 minutes played contained a little bit of everything. 3 penalties, 1 having to be retaken, a change of ref, some questionable decisions, Liam Daish being sent to stands for correctly pointing out the fact that the 4th official was getting the electronic board wrong and the spare balls were under inflated, and what resembled more of a goal mouth bundle than a scramble. Have I missed anything...? Oh yes 2 late goals to earn The Fleet a deserved first win of season!

Maybe Cressing Road isn’t a bad day out after all.

11

MYFOOTBALLCLUB UPDATE From QuakeChurch with Love August 17th, an Irishman living in New Zealand groggily pulls himself out of bed, grabs a quick brekkie of tea and toast before heading out the door. The ground is covered in a couple of inches of snow left over from NZs biggest snowstorm in recent memory (they reckon a foot fell altogether beside the sea no less). As I slip and slide along the road I get to thinking; “Tamworth: will Willock be back in the side, will EnverMarum play alongside him OR will the maestro surprise us again?” Well the result speaks for itself unfortunately and the Irishman gets back to work!

And by work I mean checking the MyFootballClub LinkedIn.com page for any mail (that isn’t spam!).

Who am I you might ask? I’m a 30 year old Irishman who’s been a member of MyFootballClub for 4 years now (is it that long?). I left Ireland almost 3 years ago for some backpacking around Europe, then Australia and finally New Zealand. From here I leave on the 20th August, bound for a long holiday in Indonesia and Malaysia. I expect to be back in Ireland in November and can hopefully make more of an effort to get involved in the running of the society and help the club to maintain it’s position in the BSP.

// mrmurphster

in the last year I have really gotten into the club, the society and the people involved.

I’m a Liverpool fan but I reckon it’s fair to say that Ebbsfleet United has a fan for life in me.

When asked for an amazing fact about myself, the one that constantly comes up is Ebbsfleet United. Although to my knowledge I have only 2 new members of the society to show for it.

Here’s hoping the LinkedIn.com page can attract more members and gain a wider audience for the club.

I will make an appearance this year at Stonebridge Road and hope to see you there!

Up the Fleet, Mrmurphster, currently residing in Christchurch, New Zealand

While in the initial stages of MyFootballClub I followed the clubs fortunes and mishaps but I admit to not being that active; I guess due to the sheer number of people involved initially and all the travelling. However fleet life issue 04

13

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THOUGHTS OF A SILHOUETTE Transfer Deadline Day Wednesday 31 August 2011

be returning to Highbury as he can’t afford to buy a flat there.

0600: Oh the excitement of Transfer Deadline Day! Yet another Murdochinspired televisual shout-fest. Here we go...

1245: Joe Cole signs on-loan at Lille and asks “How much is a season ticket for Ebbsfleet?” report SSN.

0601: Twitter cranks itself up with ten thousand rumours within the first 60 seconds, almost all of them relating to Super Hario buying and selling 500+ players, or a deal every 2 minutes.

1248: SSN translation fail. Cole asked “How much is a season ticket from Ebbsfleet?”

0635: Fleet News report that Joe Cole has been spotted parking up in Car Park C. He’s quoted as saying “It’s always been my life-long dream to park at Ebbsfleet every day and catch the Eurostar to training”.

0745: Posh News report that Scott Ginty has been spotted in Peterborough. SSN are unable to confirm as they don’t really care about the Football League.

0825: Eurostar report emergency chord has been pulled on one of their trains heading to France. SSN report that Aston Villa have made a late move for Joe Cole.

0910: Joe Cole arrives back at Ebbsfleet and is heard to ask “What’s the quickest way to Birmingham?”

0945: Joe Cole arrives back at Ebbsfleet, asking “What time’s the next train to Lille?” whilst mumbling something derogatory about ginger hair under his breath.

1000: 92% of MyFC members vote to allow Liam to conduct all negotiations regarding buying/ selling players, while referring developments to the Board. Fingers crossed no one leaves...

1050: Isleworth News report that Jim White has broken 125 windows while rehearsing for his SSN slot.

1130: SSN report that Arsenal fan and ex-Gunner Tom Phipp will not

fleet life issue 04

1312: Lancashire Riviera Press report that Fl££twood Town have bid for the entire Blue Square Bet North division. SSN have no idea who or what the Blue Square Bet North actually is.

a Bentley rather than a Rolls Royce.

1750: SSN report that Arsenal are lining up a £10m bid for Everton’s Mikel Arteta.

1852: SSN sources indicate Chelsea have tabled a surprise £100m bid for Man Utd star Howard Webb.

1410: SSN report that Joe Welch Not Welsh’s move to Upton Park is off as he tweets “Pop! Bubble burst!” @w27chy.

1923: Scouse News report that Liverpool have signed David Bellamy as they want to strengthen their undergrowth.

1445: West Ham, fresh from selling Scott Parker, make a double bid to Lord Coe for Mandeville & Wenlock.

1928: BBC Sport report that Arsenal are no longer interested in Everton’s Mikel Arteta.

1510: SSN report that Arsenal have sent full-back Carl Jenkinson on a year-long loan to Sainsbury’s after his display at Old Trafford at the weekend.

2010: Owen Hargreaves’ legs arrive at the Etihad Stadium to be attached to the rest of him tomorrow morning, according to Cyborg Weekly.

1530: Liverpool’s Poulson moves to Buxton as reported by Mineral Water Monthly.

2112: Scouse News report Everton in meltdown as whole club is purchased for a tenner, a couple of crates of Blue Nun and a bag of mints by Vauxhall Motors FC.

1550: Fleet News report that Mr Ten Seconds - @Preston_Eddy - has clearly handed in a transfer request as he’s been complaining on Twitter about menswear being located on the first floor of clothing stores.

1622: SSN report that a giraffe carrier has been spotted hurtling up the M1 towards Stoke.

1702: Fleet News report that Peter Danzey has been spotted in WHSmith Gravesend buying fax toner.

1743: Newham Gazette report hearing shouting and screaming at Upton Park as Larger-Than-Life Sam realises he’s just bought

2159: What?! An hour to go and I need to submit this to print.

Oh good grief. Um, okay... I’m delighted/upset that Fleet kept all their players/lost a couple of players *delete as appropriate That was Transfer Deadline Day through the thoughts of a silhouette.

You ain’t seen me, right?!

CHALLENGE CHAS Simple this week...

snubbed at the eleventh hour 15

2 MINUTES WITH... TOM PHIPP

16

// #11

fleet life

Personal Full Name: D.O.B: Height:

Tom Phipp 03/08/92 (Age 19) 6’ 2�

Previous Clubs: Arsenal, Tottenham,

Crystal Palace Footballing Inspiration: Zinedine Zidane Favourite... ...food: ...film: ...team: ...music artist:

...place

Steak and chips Hangover/Bourne Trilogy Arsenal Chris Brown, Bobby V, Trey Songz Pyramids, Egypt

Best...

Height ...ground(s) played at: Highbury, Stamford

Bridge ...player played against: Jack Wilshere ...footballing moment: Taking a penalty against

Seaman at Highbury ...advice given to you: Stay positive ...attribute:

Either/Or iPhone or Blackberry? iPhone Comedy or horror?

Night in or night out?

Ski resort or beach?

Xbox or PS3?

In the Squad Best dressed?

Worst dressed?

Funniest?

Longest in the mirror?

Braniac? issue 04

Comedy Night out Beach Neither

Westy Stoney Clint Westy Cesc 17

FLEET TWEETS

// trending topics

It appears that this page of Fleet-related messages selected from the twittersphere is proving rather popular, so here’s the latest offerings from the land of 140 characters…

Wednesday 31 August Anton Button @Anton_button has led his Ebbsfleet team to npower League 2 title glory. #FM2011

Tuesday 30 August Dean Crawley @crawliano @h3rdy_11 will you sign my 6 foot “Johnny Herd Superstar” poster please? I want to hang it on my wall next to my Gary Flitcroft one.

Monday 29 August Peter Bayley @Retyree Braintree Town FC Beaten by Ebbsfleet. Weird, the way they played the whole game on one side of the pitch. Hilariously incompetent officials

Monday 29 August Tom Phipp @TomPhipp Would like to thank @liamenver_marum for bottling the penalty 2nd time round #goal bonus and @Gint_ST #theft for the 2nd peno!!

Monday 29 August Peter Price @thephantomsheep Big thanx to the Fleet for their never say die efforts today.

We have the 1st win now. Looking forward to the next one.

Monday 29 August Mick Militant @MMM_CB Going to bed, drunk & skint but happy. #EUFC bringing sunshine...

Monday 29 August Elaina Tomalin @lambshanklover Great BH Monday, Ebbsfleet gave us a great show against Braintree, heart in mouth stuff, well done boys #eufc

fleet life issue 04

19

BRITANNIA SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

BRITANNIA REFINED METALS

BOTANY ROAD, NORTHFLEET, KENT DA11 9BG TEL: 01474 538200

Graham Hines BVSc MRCVS

London Road • West Kingsdown • Kent • TN15 6EX

01474 852661 We offer a friendly, personal service to all pets and their guardians.

We have newly built, well equipped premesis in West Kingsdown with all modern operating and diagnostic facilities and fully trained caring staff with a new branch opening in Dartford in January 2012.

For more details and special offers visit www.pilgrimspets.co.uk

COMMERCIAL CORNER Welcome to Stonebridge Road on the now annual ‘Non League Day’.

The brainchild of James Doe, ‘Non League Day’ is a special promotion of grassroots football and this year is supported by Macmillan Cancer Support, Premier Sports, and Pitchero alongside penalty legend Chris Waddle.

I’m delighted that we’re at home on this special day and I hope that we have a bumper crowd to play our part in this national day of celebration of non-league football.

Match Sponsor I’m delighted to welcome Tony Giles as today’s Match Sponsor. Tony is a familiar face around Stonebridge Road at first team and reserve matches, and also known across the airwaves and the internet as co-commentator on BBC Radio Kent with Lord Chas. A very warm Fleet Lounge welcome to you Tony, and to your family and friends, as you celebrate a rather significant day. Have a good time mate!

Emily was a guest in the Fleet Lounge against Forest Green, thanks to husband Patrick, to celebrate her birthday and, as a special gift, Joe Howe presented her with a signed football.

fleet life issue 04

// phil moss

Trophy Tour The club is currently finalising the details of a Trophy Tour around local pubs to promote the Fleet. The club, together with Steve East and Alan Mitchell, have targeted over 20 pubs where we’re hoping to hold a Fleet evening where fans can have their photo taken with the play-off trophy as well as potentially meeting one or two players and have the opportunity to chat all things Ebbsfleet United. Watch this space, as well as the website and forum, for details.

Play-Off Final DVD Don’t forget that the whole drama and excitement of that May day in Farnborough has been captured for you to watch again and again thanks to MyFC cameraman Laurence Hughes. The initial production run sold out very quickly and more have been ordered to cope with the demand. If you haven’t got your copy yet, make sure you set aside £11 to avoid disappointment.

Man of the match Jessica McQueen generously sponsored the game against Forest Green in order to invite the families of Scott Ginty, Tom Phipp and Michael West to enjoy the hospitality in the Fleet Lounge. And so it fell to the three fathers to select the MotM. John Herd came very close but the deserved winner of the bottle was Joe Howe, pictured with Emily Connolly.

21

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WE’VE MET BEFORE

// with paul harrison

Like ourselves, Barrow are founder members of this league along with two other clubs in this season’s competition – Bath and Kettering. We got off to an excellent start in that 1979/80 season, whipping them 5-1 in early September on the way to our highest ever place of 5th.

Barrow got their own back the following season completing a double and then when we needed to win at Holker Street in the last game of the following season, a 3-1 defeat consigned us to a 20-year exile from the top division of non league.

Although we completed a double over them on their return after their own long exile in 2008/9, the tables were turned again the following season when they completed a double over us with the 4-1 home defeat particularly damaging and unexpected as we were in a good run of form. We were also in a bid to avoid relegation after a nightmare start to the season, though of course this ultimately proved fruitless.

Overall our records are very similar and a close game should be expected today based on our head to head record.

Memory match: Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Barrow, 15 November 2008 Fleet ended a worrying run of five successive defeats with a last gasp victory. Sacha Opinel overlapped on the left, getting to the by-line and crossing for Neil Barrett to slam the ball home at the far post to score the only goal and bag the three points.

In truth it had been an unconvincing performance with a lack of thrust from the front men, and it looked likely that Barrow – despite being on the back foot for most of the game – would escape with a point until that last minute intervention.

Team: Cronin, Ricketts (Slatter 83), Smith, Charles, Opinel, Murray, Barrett, Stone (Long 55), Purcell, Gash (Ibe 73), Moore.

Home 1979/80

W

5-1

1980/81

L

0-2

1981/82

W

3-1

2008/09

W

2009/10

L

Jacks (2), Stonebridge, Osbourne, Gregory

Away D

1-1

Stonebridge

L

3-1

Hart

Pugh, Burrett, Dudman

L

3-1

Idle

1-0

Barrett

W

0-3

Gash (2), Moore

1-4

Ashikodi

L

2-0

P: 17, W: 7, D: 6, L: 4, F: 24, A: 15

fleet life issue 04

23

DATE

24

COMP. OPPOSITION

SCORE

ATT.

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

AUDIT .

Sat

13 Aug

BSBP

York City

H

1-2

1,522

Welch

Stone

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Tue

16 Aug

BSBP

Tamworth

A

1-0

921

Welch

Stone

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Sha

Sat

20 Aug

BSBP

Stockport County

A

1-1

3,674

Edwards

Stone

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Faki

Tue

23 Aug

BSBP

Newport County

H

1-1

992

Edwards

Stone

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Faki

Sat

27 Aug

BSBP

Forest Green Rovers

H

1-1

889

Edwards

Howe

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Phip

Mon 29 Aug

BSBP

Braintree Town

A

2-3

697

Edwards

Stone

Simpemba

Easton

Herd

Phip

Sat

3

Sep

BSBP

Barrow

H

Sat

10 Sep

BSBP

Kidderminster Harriers

A

Sat

17 Sep

BSBP

Fleetwood Town

H

Tue

20 Sep

BSBP

Cambridge United

A

Sat

24 Sep

BSBP

Alfreton Town

A

Tue

27 Sep

BSBP

Bath City

H

Sat

1

Oct

BSBP

Wrexham

A

Sat

8

Oct

BSBP

Gateshead

H

Tue

11 Oct

BSBP

Luton Town

H

Sat

15 Oct

BSBP

AFC Telford United

A

Tue

18 Oct

BSBP

Grimsby Town

H

Sat

22 Oct

BSBP

Kettering Town

A

Sat

29 Oct

FAC4Q TBA

Sat

5

Nov

BSBP

Newport County

Sat

12 Nov

FAC1

TBA

Sat

19 Nov

BSBP

Darlington

H

Sat

26 Nov

BSBP

Lincoln City

A

Tue

29 Nov

BSBP

Kidderminster Harriers

H

Sat

3

Dec

BSBP

Barrow

A

Tue

6

Dec

BSBP

Cambridge United

H

Sat

10 Dec

FAT1

TBA

Sat

Phip

A

17 Dec

BSBP

Grimsby Town

A

Mon 26 Dec

BSBP

Hayes & Yeading United

H

Sun

1

Jan

BSBP

Hayes & Yeading United

A

Sat

7

Jan

BSBP

Wrexham

H

Sat

14 Jan

FAT2

TBA

Sat

21 Jan

BSBP

York City

A

Tue

24 Jan

BSBP

Tamworth

H

Sat

28 Jan

BSBP

Mansfield Town

H

Sat

4

Feb

BSBP

Fleetwood Town

A

Sat

11 Feb

BSBP

Alfreton Town

H

Sat

18 Feb

BSBP

Bath City

A

Sat

25 Feb

BSBP

Southport

H

Sat

3

Mar

BSBP

Gateshead

A

Tue

6

Mar

BSBP

Stockport County

H

Sat

10 Mar

BSBP

Luton Town

A

Sat

17 Mar

BSBP

Darlington

A

Sat

24 Mar

BSBP

Kettering Town

H

Sat

31 Mar

BSBP

Mansfield Town

A

Sat

7

Apr

BSBP

Forest Green Rovers

A

Mon 9

Apr

BSBP

Braintree Town

H

Sat

14 Apr

BSBP

AFC Telford United

H

Sat

21 Apr

BSBP

Southport

A

Sat

28 Apr

BSBP

Lincoln City

H

fleet life

TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

pp

Fakinos

Marwa

West

Shakes

E-Marum

Edwards

Willock

Howe

Azeez

Stavrinou

akes

Stavrinou

Marwa

West

Willock

E-Marum

Edwards

Fakinos

Howe

Azeez

Williams

inos

Stavrinou

Marwa

West

Willock

E-Marum

Shakes

Ginty

Howe

Welch

Azeez

inos

Stavrinou

Marwa

West

Willock

E-Marum

Shakes

Ginty

Howe

Welch

Azeez

pp

Fakinos

Marwa

West

Willock

E-Marum

Stone

Shakes

Ginty

Welch

Stavrinou

pp

Howe

Marwa

Shakes

Willock

E-Marum

Fakinos

Ginty

Welch

Azeez

Stavrinou

A U D I T . TA X . A D V I S O R Y

FLEET AGAINST DISCRIMINATION • • • • •

We do not tolerate discrimination of any sort at the club, on the pitch or in the stands If you experience any form of discrimination, help us to eliminate it from football by reporting it Contact us on 01474 533796/info@eufc.co.uk Your co-operation in helping make Stonebridge Road a safe and enjoyable environment for all is greatly appreciated We would like to remind all supporters that swearing is not permitted at Stonebridge Road.

Table correct as at 01/09/11

issue 04

W

GD

Points

Away

Played

Home

1

Wrexham

6

2

1

0

6

1

3

0

0

8

2

11

16

2

Gateshead

6

2

1

0

5

1

3

0

0

8

4

8

16

3

Kidderminster Harriers

6

1

1

1

5

4

3

0

0

6

2

5

13

4

Darlington

6

2

1

0

5

2

1

1

1

2

2

3

11

5

Tamworth

6

2

1

0

4

2

1

1

1

3

4

1

11

6

York City

6

1

0

2

3

3

2

1

0

7

2

5

10

7

Forest Green Rovers

6

1

1

1

4

3

1

2

0

8

3

6

9

8

Luton Town

5

2

1

0

9

3

0

2

0

3

3

6

9

9

Mansfield Town

6

1

2

0

5

2

1

1

1

2

4

1

9

10

Cambridge United

6

2

0

1

4

3

0

2

1

2

3

0

8

11

Fleetwood Town

6

1

2

0

1

0

1

0

2

2

6

-3

8

12

Braintree Town

6

1

1

1

8

4

1

0

2

3

4

3

7

13

Barrow

6

1

1

1

6

3

1

0

2

3

5

1

7

14

AFC Telford United

5

1

0

1

3

3

1

1

1

3

3

0

7

15

Stockport County

6

1

1

1

2

2

0

3

0

3

3

0

7

16

Ebbsfleet United

6

0

2

1

3

4

1

1

1

4

4

-1

6

17

Newport County

6

1

1

1

5

3

0

1

2

4

6

0

5

18

Lincoln City

6

0

1

2

2

4

1

1

1

5

6

-3

5

19

Hayes & Yeading United

6

1

2

0

6

4

0

0

3

1

7

-4

5

20

Southport

6

1

1

1

5

6

0

1

2

1

7

-7

5

21

Kettering Town

6

1

1

1

4

7

0

1

2

1

5

-7

5

22

Alfreton Town

6

0

1

2

2

10

1

1

1

3

4

-9

5

23

Grimsby Town

6

1

0

2

3

5

0

1

2

0

6

-8

4

24

Bath City

6

0

0

3

0

5

0

2

1

2

5

-8

2

D

L

F

A

W

D

L

F

A

25

Hello and welcome to Stonebridge Road for our game today against Barrow.

Now what’s that phrase about waiting for a bus…? In my last notes I wrote about how rare it has been recently for us to score late on, well of course as these things happen we scored not one but two late goals on Monday (according to the stats anyway, if you were at the game you’ll know there were 8 more minutes after Calum scored but we’ll disregard that minor bit of information…) and to the joy of everyone connected with the club we have our first three points on the board.

Once again it was a very bizarre game and the events are well documented in this programme, but at least us punters cannot complain with the value for money we seem to be getting!

Monday signalled the end of a rush of games which really started at the beginning of the season, and thankfully the upcoming games now have a bit more breathing space between them allowing us to run a more stable ship – particularly from my point of view anyway!

When you look at the middle pages and realise that we played 6 games in just one half of the month during August when we are playing 6

Ebbsfleet United Football Club Stonebridge Road,Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9GN T: 01474 533796, F: 01474 324754 E: info@eufc.co.uk www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk www.myfootballclub.co.uk Chairman: Phil Sonsara Club Secretary: Peter Danzey Matchday Secretary: Peter Danzey* Director: Jessica McQueen General Manager: Cheryl Wanless Office Assistant: Hannah Saunders Safety Officer: Duncan Cole* Programme Editor: Ian Dickety Bar & Catering Manager: Jo Wilson

// ian dickety, editor games throughout the whole of September it does make you scratch your head, but as I say it does make you appreciate the extra time you get and allows me to properly move into my new place which I haven’t really been able to do as of yet!

So I am finishing this programme on Wednesday night and while doing it I have been trying to follow all the goings-ons in the world of football (while I’m on the subject, if you haven’t already, see page 15 for a very funny alternative take on the day’s events…). Obviously the media like to make a lot out of this little transfer window closing event – perhaps a bit too much – though it is quite interesting following it all.

The whole imaginary countdown clock is quite a captivating concept, especially now we are potentially involved with it once again after our ‘transfer window exile’ last season due to it not applying in the lower league. Unless there are any announcements being left until the morning I don’t believe we have signed anyone or indeed had anyone signed from us but I think that’s what the majority of us were realistically expecting anyway.

Up the Fleet Ian

Caretaker: Colin Stevens Groundsman: Peter Norton Club Photographer: Dave Plumb Webmaster: Ed Miller 50/50: Harry Houckham Tannoy: Graham McQueen Programme Printing: Bishops Printers Head Steward: Duncan Cole Vice Presidents: Roly Edwards, Jason Botley, Adrian Felstead, Mick Ward, Duncan Holt, Mark Lindop, Phil Sonsara, Charles Webster, David Holden, Peter Hammond, Gary Russell, Steve Sullivan, Alan Roberts, Alan Parker, Carol Parker, Barry Stevens, David Rutnam, Brian Kilcullen

1st Team Manager: Liam Daish 1st Team Assistant Manager: Paul McCarthy Goalkeeping Coach: Ron Hillyard Head Sports Therapist: Stuart Phazey Club Doctor: Dr Langley Kit Manager: Rob Mucci Reserves Manager: Paul McCarthy Academy: Ian Docker/Mick Chatwin Youth Section Chairman: Ray Tuffield

Club Directory 2011/12

THE HALF WAY POINT

*acting

fleet life issue 04

27

MEET THE ENEMY

// phil yelland

Name: Phil Yelland Age: 53 Role and length of affiliation with Barrow: I am the national press officer at Barrow and have followed the club since the mid 1960s when I saw them beaten 5-0 on TV and felt sorry for them. I actually live in Edinburgh.

Q: This will be Barrow’s fourth successive season back at this level.

How do you envisage it going, where are you expecting or hoping to finish?

A: Survival in this league will always be success for us but we want to try to push on to a mid-table finish as a platform for further improvement.

Q: Have there been many incomings and outgoings at Holker Street this summer? What do you think of the new players Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan have acquired in the transfer window to date?

A: The reality is that the managers are again working to a tight budget but they have brought in a host of new faces – goalkeeper Danny Hurst has already won

the fans over and former Gretna defender Gavin Skelton fills the left back role. Adam Quinn is on loan from Darlington and has bags of experience at this level whilst Andy Ferrell did a great job on loan for us last season and we are hoping for the same again. Young Louis Almond is in his second loan spell from Blackpool but it looks as if the catch of the summer may be striker Adam Boyes – four goals in six games has culminated in a call up for the England “C” squad.

Q: Talking of the two gaffers, would you say the club is better off employing two managers? It seems to have worked well up to now. Obviously you don’t see it an awful lot in football – the only other instances I can think of are the infamous Evans and Houllier and the new management duo at Grimsby who have always managed together. Is this the case with DB and DS? A: Daz and Dave are a remarkable success story. They came into the job as caretaker managers along with Paul Jones following Phil Wilson’s departure in November 2007 and took the club to promotion through the play-offs. They have worked very well together; both have vast experience of the game and are passionate.

Q: You won the FA Trophy the year before last becoming the first club to win it at both the old and new Wembley after previously winning it in 1990. How did this rank in your all time best moments? Were you around to savour Barrow back in their league days?

28

fleet life

A: I saw Barrow play once in the Football League in 1970, losing at home to Crewe Alexandra. I have been on both visits to Wembley – the 1990 triumph was fantastic as it was the first time we had won a national completion and we had a number of Barrow based players involved but on the day we were expected to beat Leek. In 2010, we were massive underdogs and we won because we worked well as a team and kept going to the end.

Q: What were your best and worst moments of last season? Was avoiding relegation on the last day of the season against Hayes and Yeading the best?

A: Winning the Hayes game was a relief but we should never have been in that position. The 5-0 win over Kettering in early April was a high point as was the first away win at Forest Green in March.

The low points came in October when we went out of the FA Cup to FC United of Manchester and were then thrashed 5-0 at Rushden & Diamonds within six days of each other.

Q: What are you most looking forward to this season? Do you get to many away games and travel a bit or do you look forward to some of English football’s fallen giants visiting Holker Street?

A: Living in Edinburgh I don’t get to that many games – home or away – a game at Gateshead or Darlington is almost home. I think a lot of fans will be looking forward to the visit of Stockport on Boxing Day whilst the visits of Wrexham, Luton and Lincoln will also attract a lot of interest.

issue 04

Q: What do you think of your start to this season? The 4-0 win over highlyfancied Fleetwood Town certainly caught my eye.

A: I wasn’t at the Fleetwood game but from what I have been told it is the most complete team performance many fans have seen in years with all eleven players have great games. However on Monday we lost at Southport which is the sort of game we should be looking to win. We will be inconsistent I fear but if you had said that at the end of the first six games we would have seven points most fans would have been OK with that. Against the same opposition last year we took five points so we are moving in the right direction.

Q: I know it’s hard to guess right now – especially as the season has just started – but who do you think will be in the mix at both ends of the table come the end of the season?

A: A lot of this is about money. I think that Luton, Wrexham (if they resolve all of their off field problems), York and Darlington will be in the mix. For the money they have spent Fleetwood will expect to be in the mix and as outsiders Steve Burr’s Kidderminster may be the best bet. At the wrong end of the table I suspect Hayes & Yeading will be there and I think there is a feeling that Southport will also have trouble. However it seems as if it might be a very even league which means there might be some surprise strugglers.

Q: What’s your prediction for today?

A: I would settle for a point but it would be lovely to repeat the result of our last visit to Stonebridge Road – a good win.

29

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HALF TIME TEASERS

// by paul jarvis

1. What was significant about the Fleet’s game away at Barrow in May 1982?

2. What two Football Leagues were Barrow founder members of?

3. What did Barrow introduce around the Holker Street pitch in 1972?

4. Which FA Cup giant killing club replaced Barrow when they failed to win re-election the same year?

6. What league were the Fleet founder members of, along with Barrow in 1979?

7. Which former Northfleet United player went on to play for and manage Spurs?

8. Which former Fleet striker signed for MK Dons recently, scoring on his debut?

9. Barrow have reached the FA Cup 3rd round 11 times, this is the furthest they have got in the competition. Which club have they played at that stage who the Fleet also played when they got to their furthest stage?

Answers on page 33

5. How many times have Barrow won the FA Trophy?

10. When was the first ever game at the Fleet’s home, Stonebridge Road?

11. Which manager once locked his players in the dressing room for 5 hours on transfer deadline day?

12. Which two clubs, whose combined Premier League record is the same length as the Premier League itself, have never played each other in a Premier League match?

13. When did Liam Daish play at Wembley twice in the same season?

14. Apart from last Sunday’s game against Man United who inflicted Arsenal’s previous worst defeat?

15. Which Premier League player shares his name with a capital city?

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

// ed miller

Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is at most six steps away from any other person or place on Earth. We discover what links today’s teams’ flair players, Fleet’s Michael West and Barrow’s Adam Boyes...

fleet life issue 04

Michael West...

...whose current incarnation is Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith...

...scored his first and last goals of the 2010-11 season at Farnborough...

...who played youth football for Leicester City and Nottingham Forest...

...where Weakest Link presenter Anne Robinson attended school...

...both former clubs of Gary Mills, currently manager of York City...

...who once voiced a robot version of herself - Anne Droid - in Doctor Who...

...the club where Adam Boyes began his career and made his name.

31

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ALAN PARKER Hello everyone and welcome to nonleague day 2011 for today’s match against Barrow.

It was great to get that first win under our belt at Braintree on Monday and whether you expected it or not there have been some very surprising results already this season. A prime example is York City losing at home to Alfreton on Monday, which goes to show there are certainly no easy games in this league.

I think there will be a major battle in the Blue Square South this season. I fancy Woking to win the league but Welling and Dartford will be in contention and all have got off to good starts.

I was going to ask what Fabregas, Nasri, Modric, Tevez and Adebayor have in common but I suppose I can answer my own question in that they have all bored the rest of us to tears with their constant whinging.

They seem happy to accept the security of a 5 or 6 year lucrative contract and then a year or two later want a move because there’s more money somewhere else, and then they tell the world how hard done by they are. It must be a struggle having to survive on only £90,000 a week…

Anyway, back to our club. Have your renewed your Fleet Trust membership yet? The Trust does a lot of good work for the club and you can join them or renew for just £10 at the club shop.

The more members there are the better it is for the long term future of the club.

Let’s have lots of vocal support today and hopefully three more points will be ours.

Up the Fleet Alan Parker

This page is sponsored by Billy Snowdrop Promotions

HALF TIME TEASERS ANSWERS 1. It was the Fleet’s last game in the top flight of non-league for 20 years, 2. Division Three North and Division Four, 3. A speedway track, 4. Hereford United, 5. Twice, 6. Alliance Premier, 7. Bill Nicholson, 8. Charlie MacDonald, 9. Sunderland, 10. 2nd of September 1905 (Happy Birthday Stonebridge Road!), 11. Barry Fry, 12. Leeds United – founder members from 1992 and relegated in 2004 and Wigan Athletic promoted in 2004 and never relegated, 13. 1994-1995 Auto Windscreen Shield Final and Division Two, now League One, play-off winners, 14. Loughborough Town, 15. Younes Kaboul. fleet life issue 04

33

BARROW AFC Founded in September 1901, the club began playing competitive football in the Lancashire League at its first home ground ‘The Strawberry’. They then moved to a new ground at Ainslie Street in the town. A further move to Little Park, Roose saw the club enjoy their first success, winning promotion to Division One of the Lancashire Combination in 1908. The following year saw the club move to its current home, Holker Street , and the first game saw a 5-2 success over Eccles Borough. There was no major success before the outbreak of the First World War apart from an F.A. Cup run which ended at the hands of then Football League Division Two outfit, Bradford Park Avenue.

The club won Division A of the Lancashire Combination for the 1920-21 season and was duly elected to the Third Division North of the Football League.

Their League career began with six straight defeats which were representative of many of the struggles to come. Over the seasons up to the Second World War, the club’s best finish in the Division Three North was eighth in the 1933-34 season. On the final day of that season, the club recorded its highest ever League victory with Jimmy Shankly scoring five of the goals in a 12-1 win. That season also saw the club score over 100 League goals with 78 of those coming in just 21 home games.

Little changed immediately after the Second World War although in January 1954 when an F.A. Cup 3rd Round tie with Swansea Town attracted a record crowd of 16,874 to Holker Street. The Town side included a number of

34

// club history Welsh internationals; the game finished 2-2. When the League was reorganised in 1958, the club found itself placed in Division Four. In January 1959, the eyes of the football world turned to Holker Street as the club entertained the mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers in an F.A. Cup 3rd Round tie. On a frozen pitch, a crowd of 16,340 saw the team put up a tremendous performance; and fianl score of 4-2 to Wolves very much falttered the West Midlands team.

The club continued to struggle in Division Four. In 1963, the club erected floodlights and the official opening saw Scottish First Division outfit Dunfermline Athletic visit. Fortunes slowly improved and in 1967, with Don McEvoy in charge and a side including such well known names as goalkeeper Fred Else, defender Brian Arrowsmith who holds the club record for Football League appearances and striker Jim Mulholland finished third in the Division to win promotion to Division Three. McEvoy was immediately replaced as manager

by Colin Appleton who led the team to eighth place in Division Three the following season. Ill health saw him step down in January 1969 and the club slid back to the bottom of Division Four in just over two years. At the end of the 1971-72 season, the club finished third bottom of Division Four and required to make its eleventh re-election application.

In June 1972, they were faced in the ballot by Southern League Hereford United who had come to the nation’s attention after a spectacular F.A. Cup success over First Division Newcastle

United. The first ballot saw the votes tied at 26 each. The second ballot saw United collect 29 votes to Barrow’s 20 and, after 51 years we had lost our much prized Football League status.

The club joined the Northern Premier League in August 1972 and found life at the lower level a struggle with resources scarce and a distinct lack of success.

In 1976, the club reached the F.A.Cup 1st Round Proper for the first time since losing League status but, the side led by former Scotland international and Liverpool star Ron Yeats lost 2-0 at home to fellow NPL outfit Goole Town. The crowd of 3,255 showed that the town still wanted football success. In 1979, despite a lack of playing success, the club joined the Alliance Premier League (now the Nationwide Conference) and the opening home game saw a crowd of 2,027 as the team defeated Yeovil Town 2-0. In April 1981, the club won its first Trophy since losing League status as manager Mickey Taylor led the side to a 2-1 ATS Trophy success over Chorley at Wigan. However, two years later, the club was relegated back to the NPL. Former Sunderland star Vic Halom was appointed as player/ manger in the summer of 1983 and he took the club to the NPL title at the first attempt. However, his talents were noted in the Football League and one year after his arrival, he departed, along with top scorer Barry Diamond to join Rochdale. Over the next two seasons, the club had a succession of managers, including Brian Kidd before being relegated again.

fleet life

Just before relegation was confirmed, in March 1986, Ray Wilkie was appointed as manager and the next five and a half years saw the club enjoy unparalleled success. The 1987-88 season saw the club reach the F.A. Trophy semifinals where the club lost to Enfield. However, the following two seasons saw the NPL title captured and with it promotion to the Conference. Then, in May 1990, the club captured the F.A. Trophy with a 3-0 win over Leek Town at Wembley thanks to two goals from Kenny Gordon and one from club appearance and goalscoring record holder Colin Cowperthwaite. Two other members of that side enjoyed further recognition with Glenn Skivington going on to win five England semi-professional caps whilst midfielder Kenny Lowe was to earn a transfer to Barnet for a club record fee.

The club failed to build on that success and the club lost the services of Ray Wilkie as manager in November 1991 when he was taken seriously ill and, six months later the club was relegated. The club failed to make an immediate impact in the NPL. In the spring of 1995, Liverpool based businessman Stephen Vaughan joined the Board and took over as chairman. The 1997-98 season saw a side, managed by Liverpool based Owen Brown win the NPL title and reach the F.A. Trophy Quarter Finals. Within months of joining the Conference, Mr Vaughan had departed, Brown was sacked and a liquidator was appointed because of the club’s debts. Despite finishing out of the relegation zone at the end of the 1998-99 season, the club’s circumstances saw it ‘relegated’

issue 04

and accepted back into the membership of NPL (now the Evo-Stick North League).

Former favourite Kenny Lowe took over as player/manager in August 1999. In his four seasons in charge, he led the club to the F.A. Cup First Round Proper on three separate occasions as well as securing the UniBond Chairman’s Cup in the 2000-01 season and the President’s Cup twelve months later. He also steered the club to the Final of the Marsden Trophy in the 2002-03 season. Progress in the League was steady resulting in the club finishing runners up to Accrington Stanley at the end of the 200203 season. At the end of the 2003-04 season Kenny Lowe stood down as manager and his assistant Lee Turnbull took charge and took the club to third place in the UniBond Premier Division as well as winning the President’s Cup for the second time in three seasons.

The club joined what is now Blue Square North when it was formed in 2004-05 but apart from two F.A. Cup First Round appearances against Bristol Rovers and AFC Bournemouth, there was no tangible success until the end of last season when the club won its way back to Blue square premier after an absence of ten years by defeating Stalybridge Celtic 1-0 in the Play Off Final at Burton Albion. It was a remarkable success following the appointment of Darren Sheridan and Dave Bayliss initially as joint managers on a caretaker basis in November 2007. They took charge permanently in December and masterminded a 20 match unbeaten run that ended in promotion.

The 200809 season saw the club maintain its place in Blue Square Premier and enjoyed a run to the Third Rounds proper of the F.A. Cup. The trip to Middlesbrough of the Premiership saw 7,000 fans make the trip to Tees-side for a wonderful day out where the team emerged with considerable credit at the end of a 2-1 defeat.

In the season before last, the club’s performance surpassed expectations – after further consolidating their place in Blue Square Premier, the team reached the F.A. Cup 3rd Round Proper again – the first time there had been two successive appearances at this stage of the competition since the Football League days and again the team performed creditably in the 3-0 defeat at Premiership Sunderland.

However the season was topped off with a trip to Wembley and 20 years after first lifting the F.A. Trophy the team repeated the feat by defeating Blue Square Premier champions Stevenage Borough 2-1 after extra time with goals form Lee McEvilly and Jason Walker.

Last season saw the club struggle – they exited all three cup competitions in which they were involved at the first stage and the team secured their Blue Square Bet Premier place on the final day of the season. In addition the club sold striker Jason Walker for an undisclosed fee in January to Luton Town. Everyone is hoping for a better season this time around.

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Born in Liverpool, David joined Rochdale as a trainee and progressed through the ranks making his first Football League appearance in the 1994-95 season. He went on to make 186 League appearances for the Spotland side, scoring nine times before joining Luton Town during the 2001-02 season. He spent four seasons at Kenilworth Road making 37 league appearances without scoring and was released in the summer of 2005 He spent the 2005-06 season with Wrexham in League Two making 22 League appearances and he also had a four game loan spell back at his first club Rochdale.

In the summer of 2006, he joined Lancaster City but left the Giant Axe at the start of November to join Barrow. He made his debut in the home win over Leigh RMI. He was appointed caretaker manager along with Darren Sheridan and club captain Paul Jones in November 2007 following Phil Wilson’s departure and he was appointed on a permanent basis with Darren Sheridan one month later. His and Sheridan’s team were defeated just twice in 29 League games from the time of taking over, taking them into the Blue Square North play-offs where they won the final and with it promotion to Blue Square Premier.

The 2008-09 season along with Darren he helped the club achieve their goal of maintaining Blue Square Premier status and reaching the F.A. Cup Third Round Proper beating a Football League club for the first time in over 40 years.

The following season the duo did even better, culminating on probably the club’s best ever non-league season – in addition to consolidating a place Blue Square Premier, for the second year in succession the club reached the F.A. Cup Third Round Proper before bowing out to Premiership opposition. In addition the club won the F.A. Trophy for the first time in 20 years, defeating Stevenage Borough in the Wembley Final after extra time.

36

darren sheridan

// player profiles

david bayliss

BARROW AFC

Born in Manchester, Darren began his career as a trainee with Leeds United and was released in the summer of 1986. He then played soccer in the Manchester amateur leagues before joining Maine Road in the North West Counties League before signing for Winsford United in the summer of 1992 in the HFS Loans League Premier.

After an outstanding season, he was snapped up by Barnsley and stayed at Oakwell for six years, making 197 appearances for the Tykes and scoring seven goals. That included playing in the Premiership.

In the summer of 1999 he joined Wigan Athletic and in two seasons with the Latics he made 71 appearances scoring four times.

In the summer of 2001, he made the short trip to Oldham Athletic where in three seasons he played 110 games scoring three times. He was released in the summer of 2004 and headed north to join Clyde in the Scottish First Division.

In his only season at Broadwood he made 36 appearances scoring twice. He joined another Scottish First Division, side St Johnstone in the summer of 2005 and Wa was released at the end of December 2006 having played 55 games for the saints without scoring but winning numerous player of the season accolades.

He joined Barrow in January 2007 and made his debut against Gainsborough Trinity at Holker Street. He scored his first goal for the club in April 2007 in the 1-0 home win over Hinckley United that secured the club’s Nationwide North place for next season. The goal won the club’s “Goal of the Season” award. He was appointed joint caretaker manager with Dave Bayliss and club skipper Paul Jones in November 2007 and was appointed on a permanent basis with Dave Bayliss the following month.

He continues to feature occasionally as a player. Last season in addition to carrying out his managerial duties, Darren appeared regularly in midfield in the second half of the season.

fleet life

#1 Danny HURST Goalkeeper Age 30. Born in Manchester, Danny began his career as a junior with Bolton wanderers and also had a brief spell with Stockport County before joining Radcliffe Borough in 2000.; He quickly established himself as first choice keeper and was a regular in the first team until 2005 when he joined Fleetwood Town. Again he quickly became first choice and was a regular as they worked their way through the then UniBond League, into Blue Square Bet North and then Blue Square Bet Premier making 163 appearances for them in total.

He was released at the end of the 2010-11 season and joined Barrow in July 2011. He made his debut on the opening day of the season against Tamworth. #21 Shaun PEARSON Goalkeeper Age 20. Born in Bangor, Shaun has played in the Cymru Alliance for Llangefni Town and joined Barrow in the summer of 2010, having featured in pre-season games in both 2009 and 2010. He is the brother of defender Mike. He made his first team debut in the game at Bath City in early September 2010. Sean has also featured for the Welsh semi-professional international squad last season. #5 Phil BOLLAND Defender Age 34. Born in Liverpool, Phil began his senior career with Altrincham and had spells with Salford City, Trafford and the now defunct Knowlsey United before joining Southport in 1997. He quickly became a first team regular and over four years made 97 appearances for the Sandgrounders, scoring nine times which included featuring in the F.A. Trophy Final.

In 2001 he joined Oxford United but made just 20 appearances for them, scoring once, before returning north and signing for Chester City. He remained at the Deva Stadium until 2006 making 139 appearances and scoring 7 times as City regained their League status in that time. In early 2006, he followed former City boss Mark Wright to Peterborough United but after just 17 appearances for Posh he turned to Chester City. He made a further 28 appearances for City, scoring once before being released in early 2008 and joining Wrexham for whom he made 18 appearances. In the summer of 2008, he joined Cambridge United and featured 38 times as they finished Blue Square Premier runners up and lost out in the play off Final. He was released after that and joined Barrow in July 2009 and made his debut as a substitute in the first home game of the season against Altrincham. A member of the 2009-10 F.A. Trophy winning squad. #19 Kelvin LOMAX Defender Age 24. Born in Bury, Kelvin began his career with

issue 04

Oldham in 2004 and over a seven year spell at Boundary Park he made 82 League appearances without scoring.

During that time he had two spells out on loan – in 2007, he had a ten game stint with neighbours Rochdale whilst last season he spent four games on loan at Chesterfield. He was released by the Latics in January 2011 and joined Shrewsbury Town for whom he featured just once before being released in the summer. He joined Barrow in August 2011, making his debut on the opening day of the season at home to Tamworth. #4 Andy NICHOLAS Defender Age 26. Born in Liverpool, Andy began his career as a trainee with Liverpool but was release side without making a first team appearance in the summer of 2003 and joined Swindon Town. Over the following five years he made 141 League and Cup appearances for the Robins scoring six times and in 2005 he had a brief five game loan spell with Chester City. He was released in the summer of 2008 and joined Rotherham United where he made 26 appearances over two seasons before being released in July 2010. He also had a spell on loan with Mansfield Town in 2010 where he played 24 games, scoring once. He joined Barrow in August 2010 and made his debut in the opening day defeat at Histon.

He returned to the club in January 2010 after a three month loan with Vauxhall Motors. #2 Mike PEARSON Defender Age 23. Born in Bangor, Mike began his career as a scholar with Oldham Athletic and made his way into the first team for the first time during the 2006-07 season. During last season he had a spell on loan with Farsley Celtic in Blue Square Premier. He was released by Oldham in the summer of 2008 and joined Barrow in July 2008, making his debut in the opening home win over Oxford United in Blue Square Premier. Mike broke his leg in the F.A. Cup defeat at Middlesbrough in January 2009 but returned to first team action as a substitute on the opening day of the season. A member of the 2009-10 F.A. Trophy winning squad. Mike has also played with the Welsh Semi Professional international squad making his debut in the 2009-10 season. #17 Adam QUINN Defender Age 29. Born in Shefield, Adam made his debut for Halifax Town in 2002 and went on to make just under 200 League and Cup appearances for them,

37

BARROW AFC

// player profiles

scoring nine times before joining Crawley Town in the summer of 2008. He was a regular with the Sussex club clocking up 76 appearances, netting seven goals before he was loaned out to Forest Green Rovers in October 2010. He made seven appearances for Rovers, scoring once. He joined Darlington on a permanent basis in January 2011 and made 14 appearances for them over the remainder of the season. He joined Barrow on a three month loan in August 2011 and made his debut on the opening day of the season at home to Tamworth. #3 Gavin SKELTON Defender Age 30. Born in Carlisle, Gavin began his career with Carlisle United and made 8 League appearances for them before being released in 2000. He joined Workington and spent two seasons at Borough Park before joining Gretna then in the UniBond league.

He stayed with the Scottish club when then joined the Scottish League and was a regular as they climbed the three Scottish Divisions and into the Premier Division. He was a member of the side that lost the 2005-06 Scottish Cup Final and then played in Europe the following season in the EUFA Cup. Gavin remained with the club until their demise in May 2008 and scored the winning goal in their final game at home to Hearts. He made 200 appearances for the club scoring twenty nine times. He then joined Kilmarnock and spent two years at Rugby Park scoring once in 47 appearances for them over two seasons. Last season he played with Hamilton Academicals and made sixteen first appearances without scoring before being released. He joined Barrow in July 2011 and made his debut on the opening day of the season at home to Tamworth.

#8 Richie BAKER Midfielder Age 23. Born in Burnley, Richie spent time with Manchester United’s academy before joining Preston North End as a trainee in 2005. In the summer of 2006 he was released and joined Bury for whom he played 129 times in all competitions over the following four years scoring eight goals. In the summer of 2010 he was released and joined Oxford United for whom he played eight times before his deal expired in January 2011. He joined Barrow in February 2011 and made his debut in the home draw with Mansfield Town. #10 Andy FERRELL Midfielder Age 27. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Andy began his career with Newcastle United but was released in the summer of 2004 when he joined Watford. He spent a season with the Hornets where he made two first team appearances, scoring once before

38

being released and he then joined Hereford United.

He spent two seasons at Edgar Street during which time he helped the Bulls regain their Football League status. He made a total of 65 first team appearances for them, scoring three times. In the summer of 2007 he joined Kidderminster Harriers, having had a brief spell on loan at Aggborough earlier in the year.

He played for Harriers for two seasons, making 78 appearances for them, scoring twice. In the summer of 2009 he joined York City, making 29 appearances for them, scoring twice before in February 2010 he moved to Gateshead for an undisclosed fee. He made 33 appearances for the Tynesiders, scoring once before he joined Barrow on loan in March 2011 making his debut in the home draw with York City. He returned to Gateshead at the end of the initial month on loan although the club had been keen to extend the deal. Andy was released in the summer by the Tynesiders and joined Barrow on a one year deal. #6 Robin HULBERT Midfielder Age 31. Born in Plymouth, Robin began his career with Swindon Town as a trainee and played his first League football with the Robins. He made 35 appearances for them before joining Bristol City in 2000. In 1998, he had d short loan spell with Newcastle United but did not make any first team appearances for them. He spent three years at Ashton Gate making 52 appearances and in the early part of 2003 he had a seven game loan spell with Shrewsbury Town. Later in 2003 he joined Telford United in the Conference and he made 27 appearances for them scoring twice in the remainder of the 2003-04 season. In the summer of 2004, he joined Port Vale and in four years at Vale Park made 72 appearances, scoring once. In the summer of 2008 he joined Darlington and last season he made 33 appearances for them, scoring twice. He was released in the summer and joined Barrow at the end of June, making his debut in the opening day of the season win at Cambridge United. Robin enjoyed an excellent season and collected four “Player of the Year” awards – the Independent Supporters Club, the Fans, the Evening Mail and Programme Star man.

He was a member of the 2009-10 F.A. Trophy Final winning squad. Robin has also recently been awarded the title of “North West Non League Player of the Year” 2009-10 following an on line poll. #16 Jack MACKRETH Midfielder Age 19. Born in Liverpool, Jack began his career with Tranmere Rovers and worked this way through the youth and reserve team systems. He has loan spells in 2008-09 with three clubs in the Evo-stik League – Burscough, Colwyn Bay and Cammell Laird and last

fleet life

season had a spell on loan in Blue square Bet North with Hyde. He was released by Rovers in the summer without making a first team appearance and joined Barrow in August 2011 and made his debut as a substitute at home to Tamworth on the opening day of the season. #12 James OWEN Midfielder Age 20. Born in Caernarfon, James began his career with Chester City as a scholar and made his Football League debut for them during the 2008-09 season.

He remained with them until January 2010 when he was released. He joined Barrow at the start of March.

He made his debut against Salisbury City in the final home game of that season. #7 Paul RUTHERFORD Midfielder Age 23. Born in Moreton on the Wirral Paul was with the Liverpool academy as a youngster before he joined the youth set up, at Chester City. He turned professional in the summer of 2005 and made 38 appearances League and Cup appearances for City, scoring once before being released in the summer of 2009. He joined Barrow in July 2009 after featuring in several pre-season friendlies and made his debut on the opening day of the season in the win at Cambridge United. A member of the 2009-10 F.A. Trophy Final winning squad, last season saw Paul enjoy his best season for the club which included scoring his first hat trick and collecting three awards – Players “Player of the Year”, Programme Starman and North West Evening Mail “Player of the Year”. #15 Paul SMITH Midfielder Age 19. Born in Liverpool, Paul joined Chester City as a youngster in 2008 and made five appearances for City before leaving in the summer of 2009. He then joined Rhyl in the League of Wales for whom he played seven times, scoring once. He was released and joined Droylsden for whom he played in Blue Square Bet North. He has recently been playing in the Liverpool Premier League with Aigbirth Peoples Hall and joined Barrow in March 2011 making his debut in the game at Luton Town. #18 Louis ALMOND Striker Age 19. Born in Blackburn, Louis began his career with the Blackburn Rovers Academy before joining Blackpool where he quickly established himself in the Reserve team and made his debut for the Tangerines in their Carling Cup tie at Crewe in August 2009.

He spent a four game spell on loan to Cheltenham Town of League Two in the spring of 2010. He joined Barrow on a one month loan in late December 2010 and made his debut in the New Year’s Day draw with

issue 04

Southport as a substitute. He returned to Blackpool at the start of April having completed the maximum 93 day loan period with the club. He signed a new deal with Blackpool in the summer of 2011 and joined Barrow again on a six month loan deal at the start of August 2011. #11 Adam BOYES Striker Born in Lingdale, North Yorkshire, Adam joined York City in 2008 and quickly made an impact in the first team. He won an England “C” cap as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Malta in February 2009 and was a member of the City squad that played in the F.A. Trophy Final that year. He made a total of 38 first team appearances for City, scoring three times before in the summer of 2009 joining Scunthorpe United, then in the Championship for a reported six figure fee.

The following season he was loaned back to York City for a month and played four games; he had a similar four game loan spell with Kidderminster Harriers in March 2010. He made his Scunthorpe United debut in the League Cup in August 2010 but was released without making a further first team appearance in January 2011. He then joined Boston United in Blue Square Bet North and scored six times for them in nineteen games over the remainder of the 2010-11 season. He joined Barrow in July 2011. He scored on his debut against Tamworth on the opening day of the season #9 Andy COOK Striker Age 19. Born in Bishop Auckland, Andy joined Carlisle United a s a scholar and was awarded a full contract in January 2009. He spent the latter part of the 2008-09 season on loan to Workington in Blue Square North and also had a spell with them on loan at the start of the last campaign. He joined Barrow on loan in early October 2009, initially for a month.

He made his debut as a substitute in the home win against Ebbsfleet United and scored within a minute of coming on. After scoring five goals in five games he returned to Carlisle United in early November but returned to the club on a further loan deal within days.

However he broke his foot against AFC Wimbledon almost immediately after rejoining the club and had to return to Carlisle United. He returned to Barrow on loan in August 2010. He returned to Brunton Park in October. He was released by Carlisle United in January 2011 and signed for Barrow on a permanent basis.

39

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issue 04

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1 0 - 1 2 W R O T H A M R O A D , G R AV E S E N D , K E N T, D A 11 0 P E

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Ben Dawson Fitness Coach

MATCH RECALL Fleet desperately needed the win that their efforts have deserved up until now – and they got it in a dramatic and tense finale at Cressing Road on Monday afternoon, coming from behind twice to bag the three points.

Liam Daish returned Ricky Shakes and Craig Stone to the starting line-up, with Giannoulis Fakinos dropping to the bench and Michael West failing a fitness test after he had been taken off early on Saturday.

And it was the referee who provided the first talking points in this tussle of the best of last season’s Blue Square South, booking Iron skipper Kenny Davis for a foul on Ram Marwa after only four minutes and almost immediately cautioning Marwa after he returned the favour and felled Davis – his fourth yellow of the season already.

Braintree were a little quicker out of the blocks, Fleet looking much the same as they had early on in the Forest Green match, but neither side mustered any openings worthy of mention, offtarget shots from Jai Reason at one end and the energetic Joe Howe at the other the only highlights.

But the home side went ahead on 16 minutes when the Fleet midfield were slow to close down Ryan Peters and his long ball up to Sean Marks was missed by Clint Easton who then brought Marks down in the process. It was a mere formality as Jai Reason, a sure shot at the best of times, crashed home the penalty to make it 1-0.

Braintree continued to press with the tall Ben Wright twice getting sight of goal, though Fleet were almost back on level terms on 25 minutes when Calum Willock hit a low ball along the six-

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yard line and the stretching Shakes was just short of making contact. Fleet stepped things up a gear and a speculative Tom Phipp effort sailed wide, while Liam Enver-Marum fired over and Willock turned an effort just inches wide of the post.

At the other end, Marks rose highest to power a header just over the crossbar before Fleet closed out the half with another excellent chance, a dangerous mid-height cross holding up invitingly for Shakes at the far post but his nod fell into the arms of Nathan McDonald.

Fleet certainly looked the more ambitious of the two sides but most of their efforts had been off target and Daish must have impressed on his players to make their pressure tell. His side began to establish themselves in the second-half, with Howe, Phipp and Marwa increasingly getting to grips with midfield, the bustling figure of EnverMarum stretching the play wide and the Fleet defence giving Marks little room to manoeuvre, though Shakes was struggling to make his presence felt out on the left flank.

And on the hour mark, Fleet got a lifeline… or rather, two lifelines. Willock’s surge into the box was checked unfairly by Adam Bailey-Dennis and the referee awarded a spot-kick which EnverMarum hit low to the keeper’s right but McDonald was equal to it. However, much to the disgust of the home fans, the referee blew for encroachment and Phipp this time seized the ball for the re-take and struck it sweetly past McDonald.

Fleet enjoyed parity for little more than 10 minutes, however, as Wright surged into space on the right edge of the penalty area and got the better of Easton to hit a sweet shot that struck the post and rebounded into the path of Reason who buried it

BRAINTREE TOWN 2

past Preston Edwards to give his side the lead. At that stage, Braintree looked unlikely to buckle and substitute Chibuzor Chilaka missed a great chance before Edwards was forced to punch Reason’s shot clear from a packed penalty area.

Meanwhile, the referee – who had not appeared to be injured – had swapped roles with the fourth official and was soon involved in a touchline row with Daish after failing to operate the board properly when Shakes was replaced by Scott Ginty. The Fleet boss continued to press home his point until the stand-in referee was alerted and he promptly sent Daish to the dressing room.

But that low point for the manager soon turned into a high as he watched from his vantage point behind the goa. Three minutes from time it was yet another penalty when Matt Paine clipped EnverMarum. This time, Ginty assumed the responsibility and he blazed a perfect kick down the middle and looked to have given the Fleet a fourth draw in a row.

But, like Fleet’s last August Bank Holiday win in the BSP – at Eastbourne – they saved the best for last. In the final minute of normal time, Willock was upended by Pat O’Connor with his back to goal.

Phipp curled in a looping free-kick and Willock climbed high to send a powerful header into the back of the net.

With eight minutes of time added on, Fleet kept the home side at bay, though Marks went down in a goalmouth melee as Braintree appealed for a penalty but it was to no avail and the visitors secured a vital three points in a remarkable game which more or less had it all.

3 EBBSFLEET UNITED

Reason (pen) 15’

Phipp (pen) 61’

Reason 69’

Ginty (pen) 87’ Willock 90’

issue 04

Monday 29 August S Bratt & J Steel 697 45

AWAY DAY GUIDE

// aggborough, kidderminster

Match Details: Kidderminster Harriers v Ebbsfleet United, Saturday 10 September 2011, 3pm.

What’s it like? Aggborough Stadium is a modern, smart stadium that has been totally redeveloped since Harriers begun playing there in 1955. For a large part of this time a cycling track surrounded the pitch though this was eventually removed in 1989 to make way for the covering of the two terraces which are situated behind either goal. 1995 saw the main stand completely rebuilt after being denied promotion to the Football League the previous season, despite winning the Conference. This change granted them the correct grading and Harriers then took their place in the Football League, winning promotion again six years later. In 2003 the final phase of the ground redevelopment was undertaken with the construction of the £1.1m East Stand.

In my opinion it is great to see a modern ground with good facilities that still holds a good amount of character due to the progression it has seen over time. The two standing areas go no-end in helping in this area as does the fact that the main stand is relatively small and “nonleague-ish”.

Segregation: On all of our previous visits to Aggborough we have been situated in the South Stand terrace and been allocated a small amount of the large seated East Stand.

Birmingham New Street.

From here walk to Moor Street and then a train to Kidderminster is about 50 minutes. To get from the station to the ground, come straight out of the station and go past the Severn Valley Railway station on your left. Go down the hill and turn left into Hoo Road and the ground is up this road on the left.

Directions: Head clockwise on the M25 and come off at junction 16, signposted for Oxford and Birmingham. Continue for the best part of 100 miles, merging into the M42 and come off at junction 1 shortly before it merges with the M5. Take a left at the roundabout onto the A38 before half a mile later taking a right onto Birmingham Road/A448. Pass Bromsgrove Sporting’s (formerly Rovers) ground on your right and bear right at the mini roundabout. Continue on this road for about 5 miles, taking you into the heart of Kidderminster and take a left into Hoo Road (opposite the Tesco Express on your right) shortly after the rail station, where the ground is located at the top of. Travel time: 3 hours 5 mins. Postcode: DY10 1NB. Parking: There are good sized car parks behind both of the end terrace stands though you’re best off trying to find somewhere else if you need to get a speedy getaway after the game…

Admission: Adult: £14, OAP: £8, Under 16: £5. £3 extra for seating (£6 extra for U16s!)

Last time here: 02/03/2010 – Fleet gained a good point in an exciting 2-2 draw where they went one down early on. Fleet got back into the game and took a 2-1 lead, Moses Ashikodi levelling with a volley before Scott Ginty broke through the Harriers defence to finish neatly in the bottom corner with 20 minutes to go. The Fleet could not hold on though, Brian Smikle levelling with 10 to go and ex-Fleet McPhee could have won our opponents three points with the last kick of the game.

Trains: Gravesend to Kidderminster takes roughly three-and-a-half hours and four changes. Get to Euston and head to

fleet life issue 04

46

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Ebbsfleet United

Barrow

Colours: Red & White

Colours: White & Blue

M. Liam DAISH AM. Paul McCARTHY

M. David BAYLISS M. Darren SHERIDAN

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Preston EDWARDS (GK) Craig STONE John HERD Giannoulis FAKINOS Clint EASTON Paul LORRAINE (C) Michael WEST Ranbir MARWA Calum WILLOCK Ricky SHAKES Tom PHIPP Scott GINTY Joe HOWE Liam ENVER-MARUM Ian SIMPEMBA Joe WELCH (GK) Lanre AZEEZ Adam WILLIAMS Alex STAVRINOU

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Danny HURST (GK) Mike PEARSON Gavin SKELTON Andy NICHOLAS Phil BOLLAND Robin HULBERT Paul RUTHERFORD (C) Richie BAKER Andy COOK Andy FERRELL Adam BOYES James OWEN Darren SHERIDEN Paul SMITH Jack MACKRETH Adam QUINN Louis ALMOND Kelvin LOMAX Shaun PEARSON (GK)

Last Out v Braintree Town (2-3)

Last Out v Southport (2-1)

Edwards, Stone, Simpemba, Easton, Herd, Fakinos, Howe, Marwa, Phipp, Enver-Marum, Willock, Shakes.

Hurst, Smith, Quinn, M Pearson, Skelton, Rutherford, Ferrell, Hulbert, Mackreth, Boyes, Cook.

THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES Stockport County v Luton Town (Fri) Darlington v Mansfield Town Forest Green Rovers v Grimsby Town Gateshead v Alfreton Town Kettering Town v Fleetwood Town

Referee Kevin JOHNSON

(Weston S-M)

Newport County v Cambridge United Southport v AFC Telford United Wrexham v Kidderminster Harriers Braintree Town v Lincoln City (7pm) Hayes & Yeading United v Tamworth (Sun)

Assistant Referee

Assistant Referee

Fourth Official

Constantine HATZIDAKIS

Alex NEIL

Andy MEAD

(Sutton)

(Orpington)