Dunstable Town v Tring Athletic - Sat 14th Mar by Dunstable Town

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF DUNSTABLE TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB 2019/2020

CREASEY NEWS

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TRING ATHLETIC

Saturday 14th March 2019 Kick Off 15:00 Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division

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OUR CLUB HONOURS LIST

Southern League Central Division Winners 2013-2014 Southern League Championship Trophy Winners 2013-2014 Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Winners: 2002–03, 2012-2013 Bedfordshire Senior Cup Winners (12): 1895–96, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09 Bedfordshire Premier Cup Winners (4): 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 2006–07, 2011-2012 Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup Winners: 1999–2000, 2008–09, 2018-19 Bedfordshire Floodlit Cup Winners: 2007–08 Eastern Junior Cup Winners: 2006–07 Colwyn Cup Winners: 2006–07, 2009–10

WHO’S WHO AT CREASEY PARK Playing Staff Gareth Jackson - First Team Manager Ryan Sturges - Assistant Manager Ivan Arapov - Coach Rory McMullen - Goalkeeper Coach Tasos Psarras - Sports Therapist Justin Lucas-Hill - Club Medical Consultant Colin Lauder - Development Team Manager Valentino Qoku - Assistant Manager

Non-Playing Staff

Neil Barker - Chairman Andrew Madaras - Club Secretary Dudley Peacham - Treasurer Kristy Lewington - Club Welfare Officer and FA Charter Standard Coordinator Stephen Lewington - Press Officer, Social Media, and Youth Engagement Officer Chris White - Social Media Manager and Club Photographer Katrina Peacham - Committee Clerk and Turnstile Manager Nikki Lauder - Events and fundraising Patrick MacKay - Match-day Merchandising Coordinator Peter Burrows - Community Engagement Officer Vince Dunnell - Youth Section Chairman and Assistant Youth Welfare Officer Adrian Dunne - Youth Section Vice Chairman and Events/Fundraising Kristy Lewington - Youth Section Secretary and Club Welfare Officer Christian Baxter - Youth Treasurer and Assistant Youth Welfare Officer Matt Carrington - Match day social media Tyler Dunnell - DTFC TV Brad Cawthorne - Match day camera man Jacqui Dunnell - Match day Hospitality Bradley Fields & Jon Keenan - Match day Volunteers

s a r a d a M w Andre

FROM THE BOARDROOM We’re now almost two thirds of the way through the season and I thought I’d take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful, loyal support. Our average home attendance of 120 is bettered only by Leighton Town & Newport Pagnell Town in our division and is higher than two Step 3 clubs and 29 Step 4 clubs. Having experienced the pain of two successive relegations it was not unreasonable to worry that last season’s average attendance of 125 might be drastically reduced, but that has not been the case. Your support, your passion for our team has been humbling to be part of and witness at close quarters. Our away support has matched the home support in terms of numbers at several grounds this season. We know how much the players and management staff value your vocal support, so a huge thank you from us all. Those of you who follow the non- league pyramid structure may well be aware that this is the last season of the FA’s restructuring programme. From next season there will be one more division created at Step 4 in the north, and two more divisions created at Step 5. This should then leave the non- league pyramid much more evenly balanced in terms of relegation and promotion matters. For this season all clubs that win their respective Step 5 leagues will be promoted to Step 4. Clubs who finish in 2nd & 3rd places in some of the midlands and northern Step 5 leagues will also be automatically promoted to Step 4.

Four clubs who finish 2nd in their respective Step 5 leagues will also be promoted on a points per game ratio. The next seven clubs with the highest points per game ratio will then play the bottom 7 clubs from the Step 4 leagues. The winner of each game either is promoted or keeps their place at Step 4. The ties will be arranged on a geographical proximity basis and be played at the home ground of the Step 4 club. Relegation from Step 5 next season will be for 12 clubs only (from 14 Step 5 leagues) and will be on a points per game ratio. As things stand at 5 pm on Saturday 7th March the following 12 teams face the relegation trapdoor. Points per game in brackets; Pinchbeck Utd (0.23) / Sawbridgeworth Town (0.29) / Amesbury Town (0.3) / Sleaford Town (0.31) / Loxwood (0.33) / Odd Down (0.36) / Holmer Green (0.38) / Wellington (0.41) / Cowes Sports (0.45) / Athersley Recreation (0.46) / London Colney (0.5) / Selston (0.52) While the make up of the divisions for next season is of course unknown at this stage it is conceivable that Dunstable Town will be playing several different teams in a very different looking league. The Club will keep you informed of changes as and when they are confirmed at the end of the season. Thank you again for your support. Let’s get behind Gareth & the boys and push on up the table. #COYB. One Club. One Family. Dunstable Town.

GAFFER’S NOTES Good Afternoon and a warm welcome to Creasey Park, especially to Chris, James, all the staff and players and supporters of Tring Athletic. I hope you have a pleasant afternoon with us and a safe journey home. Our previous game this season was an exciting encounter. I am sure this, will be another tight and hard fought game. I remember fondly of my spell as a coach for Tring, working with Julian and Ian. It was during this time that I met Ryan. Many good football people and I wish them all well. I would like to start my manager’s notes by taking the opportunity to wish our loyal fan/regiment member Aaron Bateman a very speedy recovery From his recent illness that has seen him undergo a period of hospitalisation. From all the staff and players we hope to see and hear you cheer us on again soon. I think it is fair to say that the inclement weather over recent weeks has caused the most frustration for clubs and fans alike across the country, and we haven’t escaped our fair share of postponed matches either. I write this following our match away to North Greenford United on Saturday being postponed through a waterlogged pitch, then Tuesday’s game at home to Harefield suffering the same fate. This therefore means that we have 13 fixtures to complete in 6 weeks. A challenge that we accept and have the depth in our squad to meet head on, so

we can keep building every game and finish this season as strong and successful as we can. I hope to see you all on the journey with us. Last Tuesday saw our last game, at home to Eynesbury Rovers. I was very pleased with both the result and performance against a strong team, made up of a number of experienced and quality players. We all know that experience in this game can not be fast tracked. A player must work the hard yards and face success and failure in all aspects of the game to learn, grow and become experienced. This is also true of teams. It became apparent to me that the experience that we, as a group, have learned only this season so far was very instrumental in coming away with the 3 points on Tuesday. This is something I know the lads can and will use again to get over the line in future games. Positivity is key! So let’s hope the weather stays fair, the wind doesn’t spoil the game and that we can get to play some football! As always sing loud and proud for the lads, your support means everything!

ues l B u o y n Come o Gareth

TRING ATHLETIC HISTORY Tring Athletic Youth FC was formed in March 1958 by a group of local men who contributed towards the purchase of 3.4 acres at Miswell Lane. The cost of providing changing rooms, fencing, equipment and ownership of the ground was approximately £2,000, a lot of money in those days. Committee members, players and friends carried out most of the work, including the building of the changing rooms and during the early days the team had to play on another pitch in Tring. Originally the Club was formed to provide football for youngsters aged under 21 and despite playing against adult teams they won many trophies in the West Herts Saturday League during the early 1960’s including the Division 1 title 3 times in 5 years. They then went through a lean spell and in 1971 decided to scrap the upper age limit and drop youth from our name. Many former players returned and they had another successful period during the early 1970’s. Over the years many fine players appeared in our shirts and many went on to play for professional/senior clubs. In the mid-seventies the Miswell Lane ground was sold to the Council and they had a bad time and but for the efforts of a few loyal members would have certainly folded. The Reserves were disbanded and the First Team dropped down to Division 3. They decided to turn to youth again and gradually forced our way back up through the league and by 1986 they were competing in the Premier Division and running a Reserve side again. In 1988 they joined the South Midlands and as a result gained senior status with the

Herts FA. In 1989 they entered into a 3 year ground sharing arrangement with Isthmian League side Tring Town moving back to Miswell Lane in 1992 where the Reserves had continued to play. They established ourselves in the South Midlands by gaining promotion to the newly formed Senior Division in 1993. In 1994/95 the First Team reached the final of the Senior Division Cup whilst the Reserves were finalists in the Apsley Junior Cup for the second year running. In 1996/97 they led the Senior Division throughout the season and looked favourites to win the title. However, some unlucky defeats in the last few games saw us drop down to 3rd place. In addition to our impressive league form they also had some terrific cup runs during that season, reaching the semi-final of the Herts Charity Shield and winning the prestigious St. Marys Cup, the first time they had ever achieved such heights. In 1997/98 they just missed out on the Senior Division title by the narrowest of margins to New Bradwell St Peter - a goal difference of just 2! They finished the season in fine style, suffering just 1 defeat in our last 21 league games which included a terrific run of 14 straight wins for which they won a special award from the League. In 1998/99 they picked up our first major South Midlands trophy when they won the Senior Division Cup. They also won the St Marys Cup for the 2nd time in 3 years. In the league a terrific run of just 1 defeat in our last 28 games saw us finish in 3rd place, 4 points behind champions Holmer Green. During this magnificent run they went 15 hours without

TRING ATHLETIC HISTORY conceding a goal. The 1999/2000 season proved to be one to remember. During the summer they spent over £50k on building new changing rooms and extending the social and bar area. That meant a total of over £90k had been spent on improving the facilities at Miswell Lane since 1993. To mark the opening of the new changing rooms they played a Watford XI in front of a huge crowd of about 1,000 people. The game was Refereed by Graham Poll and Graham Barber. They also expanded on the playing side with a third team being set up to particularly attract young players, a veterans side for ex-players and a Ladies side. The season turned out to be the most successful in the Club’s history. In addition to winning the Senior Division title by 11 points they also reached 5 finals. They won the Herts Charity Shield (beating Potters Bar Town 2-1), Herts Senior Centenary Trophy (Wormley Rovers 2-0) and the Cherry Red Books Trophy in its inaugural year (Bedmond Sports & Social on penalties after a 1-1 draw). They were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Letchworth in the Senior Division Cup and although they also reached the St Marys Cup final it was never played because of the backlog of fixtures. Our achievements were recognised by the South Midlands who awarded us the Houghton Regis Cup for achievements in outside competitions and Mick Eldridge, Ray Brimson and Richard Vincent were voted Managers of the Season. In 60 games in all competitions they lost on only 6 occasions, a remarkable achievement. After finishing the old millennium in style they continued our success into the new one (2000/01) by retaining the Herts Senior

Centenary Trophy (again beating Wormley Rovers 2-0) and the Cherry Red Books Trophy (Virginia Water 1-0). The Reserves won the League title and a newly formed B Team claimed the runners-up spot. The following season (2001/02) they won the Herts Charity Shield for the 2nd time beating Letchworth 4-1. More success followed as they capture the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy for the 3rd time, to become the first club to do so. They finished 3rd in the table and won the League Cup for the 2nd time, to make 12 major trophies in 7 years. They were also finalists in the Cherry Red Books Trophy. For the 3rd year running Darrel Bodimeade won an award for the best playing surface, which is just reward for the tremendous job he does for the club. Following our failure to secure floodlights at Miswell Lane they entered into an historic alliance with Tring Town to play our first and reserve team football in season 2004/05 at Pendley where lights are already in place. The main focus was to be to raise the funds needed to build a new Clubhouse, the previous building burnt down in March 2003. New season at a new ground in a new division with fantastic facilities. First team finished 6th in the Premier Division and also won the St Mary’s Cup for the 3rd time defeating Hemel Hempstead in the Final. They were also Runners Up in the South Midlands Floodlit Cup Final losing on penalties to Oxhey Jets. Played in the F A Vase for the first time.

TAKE FIVE TRING ATHLETIC LAST FIVE SEASONS SEASON LEAGUE

P W D L F A P POS

2014-15 SSML-P

42 21 7 14 78 53 70

10/22

2015-16 SSML-P

42 17 12 13 66 56 63

12/22

2016-17 SSML-P

42 23 6 13 78 54 75

5/22

2017-18 SSML-P

40 11 9 20 59 71 42

17/21

2018-19 SSML-P

38 26 5 7 94 43 83

2/20

LAST FIVE RESULTS Tue 10 March