St Neots Town Vs Hungerford Town

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE £2.00

Southern League Premier Division V

Hungerford Town Issue 24

14 08 The Best Midfielders In The World Today / Continuing the countdown we showcase Schweinsteiger and Robben!

04

08

View From The Dugout / Batchy welcomes the new faces

Cirencester Match Report / 4 goals, seagulls and sunshine!

18 Where Are They Now? / Looking back at some famous names

Owner Mike Kearns

Club Secretary Gary Wilson

Sports Therapist Sam Palmer

Club Photographer Claire Howes

Pitchcare Working Turf

Chairman Mike Kearns

Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard

Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas

Design & Marketing Blue Prawn

Managing Director Lee Kearns

Life President John Walker

Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green

Print XL Press Limited

Director Iain Parr

Team Officials Darren Plowman (Goalkeeping Coach)

Football Manager David Batch Assistant Manager Steve Eastaugh

Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt

St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley Club Merchandise Linda Walters Programme Editor Mark Davies

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Programme Sales Charlie Green Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson

INSIDE

Issue 24 V Hungerford Town Southern League Premier Division

Also Inside 06 Action Replay 12 News From The Youth (U21s) 13 Mascot Feature 16 Chairmans’ Views

46 Stews Views / Uh oh! What’s the man planning?!

18 News From The Youth (U18s)

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20 Read All About It 22 The Beautiful Game 30 Pull-Out Poster

From The Other Side Of The Fence / Neil Warnock on Brian Clough

32 Greenies Greetings 36 Away Days 44 MD’s Views 45 News From The Youth (U7s) 48 Leagues Review 50 Groundhoppers Blog 53 Season 2014/15 Fixtures Matrix 54 The Non-League Paper

24 Todays’ Visitors / A warm welcome to the Crusaders!

Founded 1879 The Cozy Stadium Rowley Park, Kester Way St Neots PE19 6SL Telephone 01480 470012 Email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Website www.stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Forum www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

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56 Season 2014/15 Statistics 58 Premier Division League Table 60 Home & Opposition Squads

Introducing Mat Mitchel-King / A wealth of League experience Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time United Counties League Premier Division champions, 2 times Division One champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 2 times Metropolitan League Champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 1 time Professional Cup winners, 1 time South Midlands League Champions, 1 time

Huntingdonshire League Champions, 4 times Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Winners, 37 times Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners, 2 times

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 03

Welcome to the players, staff, officials and supporters of Hungerford Town, I hope you enjoy your day with us.

I am sure that like me you were delighted with the result last week, even though the performance wasn’t to the same intensity level that we have shown in recent matches. That said, it’s all about results at this time of the year and I would rather play below par and win, than play well yet feel unlucky.

There may be several reasons for that below par performance. Traffic problems affected preparation, the wind made a huge difference, the dry surface was tricky and let’s not forget Cirencester’s impact on the game who committed lots of fouls which stopped the flow of

the game at every opportunity. We are trying to develop a style of play which combines very high intensity pressing when out of possession, with a quick, aggressive attacking style when we have the ball. The consequence of lacking quality when we have the ball can mean a less aesthetic performance, (Saturday was an example of this), but when we do play with quality it can be devastatingly effective as we have already witnessed. All that said, we simply won’t play well in every game so need to ensure we have ‘other clubs in our bag’ which enable us to be competitive on the occasions that we do struggle with quality.

That’s certainly what happened on Saturday and not for the first time, Lee Clarke showed his quality in front of goal, Tom Ward got his reward for great team work on set plays and it was good to see Nathan Frater back playing and scoring, frightening defenders with his pace and strength.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING It was great to see Paul Bastock beating Peter Shilton’s record of senior appearances with a clean

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Paul Bastock sheet in his 1006th competitive match. Paul’s enthusiasm is still evident and his attitude is a great example to all players. I have seen many experienced players like Paul, who continue to play beyond their peers and all of them have the same trait of actually appreciating PLAYING. Believe it or not, some players can be moaners or try and avoid working hard where possible and all of them end up wishing they hadn’t - precisely when it’s too late for them to do anything about it.

I am pleased that we have a group who have a good work ethic and understand the dividend of investing effort into training and match preparation. We have already seen the emergence of some talent

Ebey Marango

Luis Viera

Steve Eastaugh

precisely because of how they’ve performed in training sessions - Luis Viera (above), Luke Hobbs and Ebey Marango spring immediately to mind and the habits and standards we have on the training pitch will be the ones we see when the chips are down in games, so they need to be EXCELLENT ones.

will over time enhance our chances of winning more often. We can’t have a good team on the pitch without a good team off it. Recent additions to the team behind the team include new Sports Therapist Sam Palmer, who joins from Godmanchester.

Sam is starting out on his career in football and also works at Peterborough United’s academy.

We have also recently appointed former Cambridge Utd, Preston and Lincoln City Manager John Beck to the club. John is one of the most successful Managers in professional football of all time, (7th according to a statistical study of percentage of wins in fact). John lives locally and is a coach educator for the Football Association, so will help coach

TEAM WITHIN A TEAM Both Assistant Manager Steve Eastaugh and GK coach Darren Plowman, are integral to maintaining these standards as we begin building a structure around the club with accountability for every task and a responsibility to find improvement in every area we can. These are things which don’t happen overnight, but

Darren Plowman development at all levels of the club, assist with recruitment of players, as we begin formalising our strategy for that, as well as doing what he’s best at - which is working with players on the training ground.

Finally, despite a below par performance last week you guys were again brilliant last week particularly second half. Your noise level and ability to entice the birds from the trees again didn’t go unnoticed and I hope that we give you something to cheer about today.

Batchy

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 05

A STEFAN MOORE HAT TRICK IN A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY THREE YEARS AGO Evo-Stik Southern League Central (13/March/2012) Rugby Town

2-4

St Neots Town

With Slough surprisingly beaten at home by North Greenford, St Neots’ victory at Rugby made it déjà-vu as they took over top spot again with a game in hand – the same position they had been in before the Slough defeat four days earlier.

The result was effectively wrapped up in the first ten minutes of the second half when St Neots came out to produce a blistering spell in which Stefan Moore scored twice to complete his sixth hat trick in a St Neots shirt. Significant though that individual contribution to the victory proved to be Moore’s performance was shaded by that of his strike partner Shane Tolley whose non-stop effort and overall contribution to the team performance was outstanding in only his third start in the last eleven league matches.There was also a debut appearance for St Neots latest signing defender Callum Stewart who was shipped in from Conference side Bishops Stortford.

St Neots began in impressive style and might have scored twice in the opening couple of minutes. In their first attack a slick move saw Tolley pick out Dan Jacob wide on the left and his early cross fed Lewis Hilliard who mistimed his run and headed over the bar. Sixty seconds later Hilliard almost made amends

as he went clear only for his shot to rebound off the advancing keep for a corner. However Rugby were also creating openings and Michael Duggan had to save a point blank shot from the dangerous Tyrone Fagan. The keeper also pushed a rising shot from Seb Hamilton away but after a quarter of an hour St Neots were ahead. Adrian Sear won a tackle in midfield and threaded a pass inside the last defender for Stefan Moore to shoot through the legs of home keeper Dave Bevan. St Neots then became over elaborate in midfield and seemed to temporarily lose the initiative and Hamilton should have levelled the scores after rounding Duggan but the angle was too tight and his shot hit the side netting. However a minute before the break St Neots conceded a sloppy goal as Rickie Allen corner was knocked on by Ed Booth and slack marking allowed Seb Hamilton to level the scores. The first twenty minutes after the restart saw St Neots at their best. Bevan produced a good save to deny Tolley and then Jacob saw a cross bounce off the crossbar to be cleared. After 51 minutes Ross Miller upended Adrian Sear and Stefan Moore calmly slotted home the penalty to put St Neots back in front. Three minutes later Moore’s 33rd goal of the season came when a fierce shot

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from Lewis Hilliard rebounded off a post and the striker rifled in. Rene Steer then set up Jacob but he shot wide but after 66 minutes he made amends netting a close range shot after brilliant linking play by skipper Lewis Webb to make the score 4-1 in favour of the visitors. Duggan produced another class save to push an Allen shot onto the cross bar but this seemed to inspire Rugby and with twenty minutes left they pulled a goal back as Seb Hamilton netted his second goal of the game from an Allen cross. Had Richard Blythe not sent a free shot against a post five minutes later the finish could have been closer but with a fresh pair of legs in substitute Ben Mackey on for Moore St Neots might have increased their lead but for the save of the match by Bevan. It was a victory earned by a creditable all round team display.

St Neots: Duggan, Webb, Steer, Sear, Gent, Stewart, Hilliard, Konadu, Moore, Tolley, Jacob.

Subs: Mackey (for Moore 68 mins), Henebery (for Konadu 86 mins), Greene, Hope & Kamara.

Man of the Match: Shane Tolley Attendance: 202

,

ST NEOTS TOWN 4 CIRENCESTER TOWN 0 07:03:2015 / Southern Premier Division / Att 428 / Referee: Josh Smith (Bedford)

These two aspiring play off challengers knew the importance of this match and it was hosts St Neots who rose to the occasion with a deserved victory and two late goals the bonus to boost their goal difference.

Both knew that if they are to move up to the play-off zone then consistency in results is vital and both have played most of the top sides so their destiny is in their own hands. Their earlier meeting at Cirencester had resulted in a stalemate with the sides sharing two goals and a point apiece and both knew that victory in this match would see them well placed.

Only goal difference is now keeping St Neots below the play offs in sixth place with next week’s visitors Hungerford immediately above them and fourth placed Truro just three points further ahead. St Neots welcomed back Jack Wilkinson after illness and drafted in Brett Longden for Bruce Wilson but the side is now beginning to show the benefit of fewer team changes.

It was a case of the sides playing cat and mouse after a delayed start due to chaotic road works with neither side dominating. Both seemed to pay the other great respect and the result was a disappointing opening phase with no attempts on goal.

Then after 14 minutes St Neots made a critical breakthrough as Drew Roberts outwitted his marker on the left and crossed to the near post where the sheer persistence and strength of Lee Clarke saw him hold

off two defenders to force a low shot past Glyn Garner.

Cirencester responded with a long ball approach and after 23 minutes Paul Bastock produced a fine full length save to push away a low shot from Jacob Davidge following an Ed Williams free kick into the box.

The keeper then made a second important save keeping out a shot from Brad Hooper whilst at the other end Roberts ran on to a lengthy free kick from Ryan Frater only to see his shot cannon off the advancing goalkeeper’s body for a corner. As the half wore on St Neots began to look more composed and on the counter attack Lewis Hilliard was played clear but shot across the face of goal.

A minute into time added at the end of the first half St Neots struck a second significant blow when a long cross into the box by Adam Tann found defender Tom Ward centrally positioned and he turned his marker to send a shot into the corner of the net to register his first St Neots goal.

That late first half goal made it imperative for the visitors to adopt a more attacking approach and this they did but they made little headway in the face of the well organised St Neots back line. The

home side sent on Nathan Frater up front withdrawing Lee Clarke into his favoured midfield role but the visitors were now enjoying their best spell of possession in the match as Bastock had to push away a Gethin Jones cross under pressure and then substitute Nat Jarvis was played clear but Bastock managed to get a touch on his shot for the ball to deflect it just wide.

It was St Neots final determined ten minutes that confirmed the comfortable nature of the final score line. Skipper Adam Tann crossed to find the head of Roberts but his effort was just the wrong side of a post and then Roberts once again performed to role of provider as he pulled away on the right from the final defender to send in an inch perfect cross for Tom Ward to power a well placed header into the net to make it 3-0.

Wilkinson was close with a shot that fizzed wide but a minute into injury time with the visitors visibly tiring a careless back pass allowed Nathan Frater to waltz around Garner to score a fourth goal to give a final score line that probably flattered the host side.

John Walker

St Neots Town

Cirencester Town

Bastock, Tann, Wilkinson, Mitchel-King, Frater (R), Ward, Hilliard, Spring, Clarke, Roberts, Longden Subs: Frater (N) (for Spring 61), Bickerstaff (for Longden 82), Wilson (for Clarke 89), Ferrari and Harty.

Cards: Frater (R) (Y – 56), Longden (Y – 76) Goals: Ward 2 (45 +1 & 86 mins), Lee Clarke (14 mins), Frater (N) (90 + 1 min)

Garner, Jones, Herring, Pritchett, Liddiard, Henry, Hooper, Mortimer-Jones, Davidge, Bennett, Williams Subs: Jarvis (for Davidge 59), Wells (for Hooper 77), Knight (for Mortimer-Jones 87), and Ricketts Cards: Henry (Y – 79) Goals: None

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 09

BRETT FOCUSED

News from the Youth...

This was a match full of incident and drama and it got off to an explosive start after just three minutes when visiting goalkeeper Liam Fox was sent off for deliberately bringing down Ebey Marango just outside the penalty area as the youngster attempted to dribble around his clumsy challenge.

ST NEOTS SAINTS / U21S 3 : THRAPSTON TOWN 3 United Counties League Division One So eighth in the table Thrapston had to play for 87 minutes with ten men and outfield player Jed Whiteman in goal. The visitors went on to lead twice at 2-1 and 3-2 but another refereeing decision by Sarah Grundy four minutes from time that was hotly disputed by the visitors gave the Saints a late penalty that allowed them to salvage a point.

Saints had failed to score in their last three outings so this result will have done a power of good for their confidence against a side themselves averaging two and a half goals per game this season.

The sending off was the first significant action in the match but the resultant free kick was ballooned high over the bar and at the other end a free kick in a similar position was also despatched wide of its target by Dan Grainger. However after 13 minutes Saints looked to have taken advantage of their

superior numbers when Ebey Marango broke down the left and crossed to Dean Cracknell at the far post and he cleverly set up Dan Hobbs to score from ten yards.

A goalkeeping error let in Jason Taylor but he failed to capitalise and then the lively Hobbs went past two defenders to bring a good save from the substitute goalkeeper. After 34 minutes Thrapston were back in the game when Taylor produced a smart finish to a right wing cross from Dan Bucciero and a minute later the visitors were ahead as Bucciero beat Evan Jeckells at his near post with a well placed low shot. Right on half time Jeckells denied the same player a second goal making a full length save at the expense of a corner.

Jack Wisniewski should have increased Thrapston’s lead four minutes after half time when played clear but Jeckells spread himself to save with his legs. Grainger then

saw a net bound shot deflected as Thrapston increased the pressure but Saints hit back and after 62 minutes Whiteman spilled a Marango cross and Dean Cracknell netted from close range to level the scores.

Three minutes later Marango had the ball in the net but was ruled offside and after 71 minutes Thrapston seemed to have restored their grip on the game when Jack Wisniewski netted from a very narrow angle to put them ahead once more. Saints rallied and made several chances but when all looked lost with just four minutes remaining Sean Barker was bundled over in the area and there were mass protests from Thrapston when a penalty was awarded. Kane Gilbert kept his cool and rapped in the spot kick to earn the point for his side.

John Walker

ST NEOTS SAINTS / U21s Evan Jeckells, Dom Poli. Jordan Jones, Goran Smilkov, Kelton Stringer, Kane Gilbert, Jordan Fife, Dean Cracknell, Ebey Marango, Dan Hobbs, Sean Barker Subs: Reuben White (for Smilkov 79 mins), Bruce-Rae (for Marango 85 mins) and Lawrence Harper-Scott Cards: Smilkov (Y – 26) Goals: Hobbs (13 mins), Cracknell (62 mins), Gilbert 86 mins – pen) Referee: Sarah Grundy

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Last Saturday saw Alfie Lee Fitzgibbon (4) and Lilly Kiernan-Prior (7) share Mascot duties for the day.They proudly lead the teams out in the sunshine before watching the Saints beat Cirencester Town 4-0!

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 13

WORLD’S BEST MIDFIELDERS 04. BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER The Bayern Munich star is one of the best all round players in world football.

Capable of setting the tempo of a game with his impressive passing repertoire, he can also shoot from distance and is considered one of the leaders in the Bayern dressing room. It is not a coincidence that this youth product has survived many managerial sackings and regular squad clear outs to establish himself as a key man at the Allianz Arena.

B. Schweinsteiger Height

1.83 m

Weight

79 kg

Age

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30

Date of Birth

01.08.1984

Place of Birth

Germany

Strikers may score most of the goals, but many of the game’s real artisans reside in midfield. Here are 10 of the best of the very best in the world today.

03. ARJEN ROBBEN Robben has that deadly combination of pace and skill that frightens defences.

He also has end product, with an impressive goalscoring record over the years. Injuries have undermined him, but when on song, there are few better wide players in the world game.

A. Robben Height

1.80 m

Weight

80 kg

Age

31

Date of Birth

23.01.1984

Place of Birth

Holland

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 15

THE CHAIRMANS’ VIEWS

IT’S IN OUR HANDS NOW Good afternoon and welcome to the officials, players and supporters of Hungerford Town for today’s fixture, I hope you enjoy your day with us.

A very well earned point when we played todays opponents at their place just a few weeks ago.

Hungerford is a very tough ground to get anything from and a point would have been welcome before the match, however we saw a team performance from our lads that was worth all three points. I believe that the Hungerford keeper was awarded the “man of the match” that night.

And what a good keeper he was that night, I took time to stand behind the goal with the ‘Rabble’ that evening and we gave him some lighthearted banter of which we think he enjoyed by some of his comments. He still kept a clean sheet though, suppose we will have to try harder today.

play for at this time of the season, in fact following Redditich dropping two points in their midweek fixture means that ‘IF’ and it may be a big if, we win every match till the end of the season then we will gain promotion.

Not sure any team in this league can achieve that but at least as they say “it’s in our hands” now as just a week ago we were relying on other results. A great 2015 for us so far with only the one defeat away to Weymouth after a very long journey

The season is now drawing to its completion with under ten games to go, how nice it is to see that we still have so much to

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down to The Bob Lucas stadium. A single goal in a match that maybe if we had not had so many injuries at that time the result might just have been different. As we can see every week there are what they call shocks in this league where results are odd to say the least and we all must try and keep our composure and I say “ALL” as this is very much a team effort to the end of the season.

Points will be dropped by every team I have no doubt about that us included but I am sure we will be in the mix right to the last day of the season. In fact I doubt if any of the play off teams will fancy playing us on our current form. So the momentum is with us and I also think we have the desire, mentality and quality to go all the way this season.

If we fail it certainly will not be lack of everything I have mentioned above but just a little bit of bad luck. As I have already said at least we do not have to rely on other teams winning for us. It’s in our own hands now.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL Mike

WHERE

ARE THEY

NOW

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We look back on some famous n what they are doing in their life

BRUCE GROBBELAAR: LIVERPOOL “I came to this country with £10. I ended up with £1, but what a life on that nine quid...”.

It could have been so different for the most decorated goalkeeper in English football. Thirteen medals in a 13-year spell at Liverpool should have left him revered.

But, as FourFourTwo found out back in June 2007, he was left in personal and professional ruin. It was 1994 when business partner Chris Vincent told The Sun that Grobbelaar was involved in match-fixing. In a bugged hotel room, the then-Southampton keeper spoke about throwing games, admitted receiving £40,000 for a Liverpool-Newcastle game in 1993 and was filmed accepting £2,000 as part-payment for throwing matches.

In a 1997 court case alongside Hans Segers, John Fashanu and Malaysian businessman Heng Suan Lim, Grobbelaar claimed he was obtaining evidence against Vincent. The jury failed to reach a verdict. After retrial, all four were acquitted. In 1999 he won £85,000 in libel against The Sun, only for the Court of Appeal to rule this a miscarriage of justice. The House of Lords reinstated the original verdict, but cut his damages to £1 and told him to pay The Sun’s £500,000 legal costs. Unable to, he was declared bankrupt. “Despite me walking from court an innocent man, The Sun got what they wanted in the end,” he says. “What sticks in my throat was the way it was done. I never knew the system; they did. They had the resources to break me. My highest wage was £2,800 a week at Southampton, I had put my daughters through

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private school and my houses were not in my name [a court case is pending with his ex-wife]. Bankruptcy was the only option.” Yet Grobbelaar is a fighter; from his days as a frontline soldier in Rhodesia, through his criticised eccentricities at Anfield, he’s always stayed tough. Now he’s re-surfaced in South Africa as a top-flight coach. “I initially went back to coach kids,” he says. “That’s how I was earning a little bit of money, plus I had my pension from my Liverpool days – without it I would have been at rock bottom.” In five years, Grobbelaar has coached SuperSport United, Seven Stars, Hellenic, Manning Rangers and Umtata Bushbucks. “I saved every team from relegation,” he insists. “I also left a legacy at SuperSport, putting a coaching system in place, now they are no lower than fourth in the league. I’ll return to coaching but I need my badges. It would be a dream to manage Liverpool one day; mind you they’re not doing too badly!” Having returned to Blighty, Grobbelaar is a member of the former Liverpool players’ association, playing golf and exhibition matches around Europe for “older players who’ve fallen on hard times”. He doesn’t include himself in that bracket but while he’s bankrupt, he can’t accumulate any money. He is hoping the impasse will end soon. Besides playing golf for children’s charity Sparks, he’s following appearances on Sky One’s The Match by playing for Northern Counties side Glasshoughton Welfare in August. “I still get a buzz from playing. The Match was great and it makes me laugh when these wannabes think they can beat us,” he grins. “I’m looking forward to playing for Glasshouse, who have fallen on their own hard times. The old Grobbleaar magic is still there.“

ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

us names and see fe after football.

JULIAN DICKS: WEST HAM UNITED One of football’s finest hard men, former West Ham and Liverpool left-back Julian Dicks was nicknamed ‘The Terminator’ because of his no-nonsense approach to tackling.

Dicks captained West Ham to promotion in 1993, picking up three red cards along the way. “I didn’t choose to retire, the decision was made for me by West Ham. They got the hump when my knee went. They wanted to pay me off and kick me out but I refused because I wanted to play on. I had the surgery and when I recovered, I played 12 more games before Harry Redknapp picked me as left wing-back against Charlton. I’d never played that position before in my life and he knew it. I realised then the writing was on the wall. When I quit West Ham I had enough money in the bank to never work again. Then, in 2001, I got divorced and my wife took it all. We’d set up professional kennels and were looking after other people’s dogs. That was great because I love animals, especially English Bull Terriers. Some people find them threatening but it depends on how you bring them up. I had 13 of them at one time and two young girls and there was never any problem. When the wife left she took the dogs too.

So I decided to become a professional golfer. I’d been playing since I first injured my knee when I was 22, the doctor had told me that all the walking would be good

WHERE

ARE THEY

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for it. By the time I was 27 I was playing off scratch and had the same coach as Colin Montgomery. I even shot a couple of holes-in-one - which can be an expensive habit when you’re playing with 20 other people and have to buy them all a drink. Golf’s meant to be a gentleman’s sport but I tended to lose my rag when I fluffed a shot. I ended up smashing loads of my clubs. That’s me though - I like to do things properly and I can get frustrated if things aren’t working out. Anyway, my knee eventually ended that career as well. It started swelling up so much I couldn’t play more than nine or 10 holes. I was only 29 when I retired from football so I always felt cheated that I didn’t have more time playing. In November 2001 my agent contacted the Canvey Island manager Jeff King, who I’d known for a few years, to see if he was interested in taking me on. He was, so I signed for the rest of the season and in my first game, against Sutton, I felt a lot more like my old self. I launched into a few, had a row with the ref, the linesmen and the crowd - yeah, I really enjoyed it. But after the twelfth game, my body let me know that it was going to have to be my last. I was in too much pain to carry on.

So I bought a pub; the Shepherd and Dog in Langham near Colchester. The secret to a good pint is easy; always clean your pipes once a week and the beer will alway tastes fresh. The pub’s more food orientated than beer though. Our grub is excellent – nothing’s frozen or processed and we do more than 1000 meals a week. I’m no good at cooking myself. I always said I wanted to learn but we’re always too busy, so I work behind the bar most days. The knee still bothers me because I’m on my feet all day, but I’ll have a couple of glasses of red wine and a couple of glasses of whisky and then it’s fine.”

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 19

READ ALL ABOUT IT We take a look at what other non-league clubs are doing that’s making the news this week.

HITCHIN TOWN Hitchin Town have signed former Watford player Austin Eaton. The midfielder, who is from Hitchin, has just returned from Spain following a spell at Córdoba FC. Eaton, now 20, was scouted whilst playing for Knebworth FC`s youth team and joined the Watford academy where he was a promising player through the Centre of Excellence and looked to have a great future at the club. Unfortunately he was released when the Italians arrived at the club and brought a large influx of overseas players with them and funding for the academy was also cut leaving Eaton with no prospects. Some players may have given up at that stage, but he lived away from home at the tender age of 16 travelling overseas to Chile as well as trialling at Derby County for a while. Although things didn’t quite work out at Derby, he persisted and moved to Spain where he started off with Cadiz. But he had a lucky break when an old acquaintance from his youth days - Cristian MarquezSanchez - recognized him and got him a trial at Cordoba where he signed his first professional contract last summer.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN Experienced striker Charlie Griffin has departed Vanarama Conference North club Gloucester City to re-join

Chippenham Town. Griffin started his career with Bristol Rovers, but was released at the age of 18 and played part–time football with Chippenham.He began his League career with Swindon Town in February 1999, only starting eight games for the Robins though he stepped down to the Conference with Woking for £15,000 having enjoyed a fruitful loan spell. In the summer of 2004 Griffin moved to Forest Green Rovers, a first of three spells - but was given another shot at League football with Wycombe Wanderers. He signed for Newport County, during his time in South Wales they twice narrowly missed out on the promotion play-offs, winning the 2008 final.

Griffin, 35, signed for Stevenage on a free transfer and helped them secure promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history.

He played a total of thirty-two times in his debut season with the Hertfordshire side, scoring 15 times.

He subsequently started in the club’s first ever Football League fixture against Macclesfield Town, assisting before scoring the equalising goal for Stevenage in the 89th minute.

He signed for Bath City in 2012 and made a promising start for finishing the season as the club’s top scorer.

Following his release from Bath, Griffin joined Conference North side

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Brackley Town in June 2013 and switched to Gloucester in January 2014 where he had a storming start and ended as joint top scorer in his first season. He leaves having made a dozen starts and three substitute appearances this season, scoring 9 goals.

PAULTON ROVERS Paulton Rovers Presented a cake and cards from supporters to Brandon Barnes (pictured) and Mike Bryant.

The two attacking midfielder depart this week to take up playing and coaching roles in New Zealand with Auckland City. Their departure follows the recent moves of Darren Jefferies to Swedish side BK Sport and Dean Evans to Southern Premier Division title-chasers Weymouth.

Manager Nick Bunyard will be looking to strengthen the side in the coming weeks in order to try and continue the team’s exceptional run of form.

SLOUGH TOWN Slough Town have re-signed striker Dan Read from Southern Division One Central side Egham Town. Read joined the Sarnies in the summer from league rivals Godalming Town, where he had scored 6 times in thirty-one

games in 2013/14. Read returned to Godalming from Slough Town a year ago. He had joined the Gs from Fleet Town in 2011, and was the club`s top scorer in his first season, notching 23 goals. Prior to switching to the Rebels, Read has 11 goals in twentyfive matches for Egham.

BANBURY UNITED Banbury United have confirmed that the paperwork has been completed to sign 18-yearold midfielders Aaron Weston (above) and Jacob Daffern on `work experience` terms from Sky Bet League One side MK Dons. Both are second year scholars with the Buckinghamshire side and both have been signed in time to be part of the squad to the end of the season.

DUNSTABLE TOWN Dunstable Town have announced the signing of midfielder Charlie Smith on a month`s loan from Sky Bet League Two neighbours Luton Town. The 19-year-old has already been with Southern Premier rivals Hitchin Town earlier this season before having the first of two loan spells with Vanarama Conference South outfit Clarence Park, ironically featuring for Luton in their penalty shoot-out win over Dunstable in

the Beds Senior Cup. He made five appearances for the Saints in his first stint on loan, scoring on his debut in the 1-0 win at Basingstoke Town on November 15th, and a further five in his second stint, also netting once.

DORCHESTER TOWN Dorchester Town have confirmed the signings of attacking duo Lewis Horsburgh (pictured) and Mark Irvine. Irvine joins the Magpies on an initial one-month `work experience` loan deal from Barclays Premier League side Southampton, while ex-Portsmouth striker Horsburgh has agreed non-contract terms at the Avenue.

First-team coach Stuart Heath said: “We are always looking for players like them to build themselves up in the non-League game, have the hunger and desire to improve, and make a name for themselves.

“Mark was recommended to us by Southampton and they are keen for him to get some senior football under his belt. We are glad to have him because we are always happy to help out clubs with the pedigree of Southampton and we always look to forge good links with clubs like that. I thought he trained very well in the session we had this week and manager Mark Jermyn is looking to get him into the squad and see how he adapts to senior football at this level.”

On Horsburgh, he added: “Lewis is very good friends with Bradley Tarbuck and has been around for a good three or four weeks now.

“He has looked good in training and grown in confidence with us. It is just a case of integrating him in training and putting him into the first-team squad when it’s right.”

CORBY TOWN Central defender Brad-Lee Gascoigne has re-joined Corby Town.

Twenty-year-old Gascoigne started the 2014/15 season at Hereford United, where he was club captain. However, following the Bulls’ demise he has spent time at Sutton United, Stalybridge Celtic and Rushall Olympic. The former Birmingham City trainee will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Red Insure Cup match against North Leigh. Corby manager Tommy Wright said: “I am absolutely delighted to get him back in to the club, he has been at Rushall recently and has been trialling at a number of Conference North clubs. He will bring us some much needed height and is a versatile player who can play either centre-half or as a holding midfielder. Brad was a player that I was disappointed to lose last season and I think with a run of games he could be a big player for us during the run in.”

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 21

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

GAFFER GRIEF It’s probably one of the best jobs you could possibly have, if things are going well.

In contrast to that, when things are not going to plan, it must be a chore to get some sleep at night and a real constant worry. Of course, I’m referring to the job of the football manager. As a fan, you couldn’t want for a better job than being involved in the day-to-day running of the football club you hold close to your heart and being paid for your services would be an added bonus. It’s when times are tough, both on and off the field that panic would set in – wondering if you’ll still have that job in a month or so.

The job of football manager may have its appeal but when things get ugly, it’s probably one of the loneliest jobs in the world. Not only are the board putting the pressure on you, but the fans [who last season cheered your name] now want your head on a silver platter and a replacement for you ASAP. The head on a platter could well have been the case for the Bulgarian side Levski Sofia’s new boss Ivaylo Petev recently when the Levski fans took it upon themselves to give a public display of their contempt for their clubs’ choice of new boss.

During the first press conference involving the new gaffa, the fans humiliated their new coach in front of the cameras by removing the team shirt from his back in defiance of his appointment. They then escorted him out of the press conference, probably with a few choice swear words along the way – and why? – because the Levski fans believed Petev to be a fan of their arch rivals CSKA Sofia! He should have known better really shouldn’t he? Petev, as you imagine, has since left the club.

That’s probably the shortest reign for

any football manager ever! However, Leroy Rosenior’s reign as Torquay United’s boss back in 2007 was quite short-lived. He held the post for a matter of minutes as the club was in the process of being taken over by a consortium. The chairman gave him the job initially but the new owners didn’t want Rosenior as gaffa so he was subsequently fired within minutes of taking over due to the take-over! It’s a tough job and broad shoulders should be one of the criteria required if that’s the path you choose in life. The Harry Rednapp comments about Roy Hodgson’s suitability as England manager provided great fodder for the media to make a meal of. We’ve also recently seen the controversial Gus Poyet return to management at Sunderland following his ‘grey cloud’ Brighton sacking previously.

Who ultimately decides the fate of the football manager? The Chairmen,

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the board, and sometimes the fans play a part? However, it does seem that the media are the key players in the demise of the top clubs’ bosses.

You only have to read the papers to see the book makers’ odds appearing on the sports pages on “who goes next”. It’s the nature of the job I guess but leading managers should take a look further down the pyramid and put themselves in the shoes of Dorchester Town boss Phil Simkin, who at the age of 60, previously considered registering himself as a player in their game against Dover because of the club’s cash problems and their need to put the entire team up for sale in order to reduce the wage bill by 50%.

Let’s give it 100% today and get behind the Gaffa and the boys so that we can enjoy the results of their labour.

Ade

TODAY’S VISITORS

HUNGERFORD TOWN

Having just missed out by two points on the play offs last year the Crusaders are hoping to go one better this time around.

Today we welcome to our visitors for our next engagement in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.

They are the players, Directors and supporters of Hungerford Town and we extend to them our usual warm welcome to the Cozy Stadium.

Our two sides met just over a month ago at Hungerford in a rearranged fixture and that proved to be a very even encounter finishing goalless.

Since then our visitors have lost just once and that was last weekend when they were beaten by a goal to nil at Frome – a side we have to visit on the last day of the season. Like us Hungerford are relative newcomers to Step Three and last season they went very close to reaching the play offs at the first attempt finishing just one place and two points short of their objective. This season they have blazed a trail after a slow start achieving a place in the top five in January and currently occupying the final play off place ahead of our lads

on goal difference. However we have a game in hand and that could prove vital come the end of April. Next Saturday Hungerford have a ‘free’ day when they were due to be playing Hereford United and a glance at their remaining six fixtures shows that they have only to face Chesham (at home) and Cirencester (away) from the top ten clubs in the table so like us they seem to have their fate in their own hands. Earlier this season they lost to Chalfont St Peter in the FA Cup and East Thurrock United in the FA Trophy but they have a proud record in National competition with no fewer than three semi-final appearances in the FA Vase.

Last season’s match here proved to be our only victory over Hungerford in three meetings when goals from Shane Tolley, Lewis Hilliard and Dave Deeney gave us a 3-0 final score line but it was a tight match especially in the goalless first half.

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CLUB HISTORY Hungerford Town Football Club has come a long way since its formation in 1886.The club first played on Hungerford Marsh field but soon moved to the present ground at Bulpit Lane. Initially playing at Intermediate level (Newbury & District League and also the Swindon & District League), Senior status was consolidated in the ranks of the Hellenic League in 1958 and in 1961 the club won the Hellenic League Benevolent Cup. After a period of team rebuilding in the 1960’s Hungerford won the Division 1 League and Cup double in the 1970/71 season. The 1978/79 season,Hungerford’s first season in the Isthmian League,ended with a twelfth place finish in Division 2 and another Berks & Bucks Senior Cup final visit (the third in 4 years - this time it was the mighty Wycombe Wanderers who narrowly won after a replay). In the next two seasons the club narrowly missed out on promotion finishing in 3rd place each

Year founded: 1886 Nickname: The Crusaders Chairman: Steve Skipworth

Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ hungerfordtownfc Stadium: Bulpit Lane

Capacity: 2,500

time,though some consolation was gained in 1981 when Hungerford Town was invited to compete in the Anglo Italian Semi-Pro tournament.1988/89 saw a return to prominence under joint managers Gary Goodwin and David Dodds who guided the club to sixth place in the table and a third FA Vase Semi Final appearance.This time it was Sudbury Town who denied Hungerford its much deserved trip to Wembley.

1996/97 brought the club its highest finish for several seasons and a Quarter Final Associate Members Cup appearance though in the following year the club narrowly escaped relegation again. The following year former Swindon Town player Don Rogers was appointed as manager and although the club reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, the league form was disappointing - Rogers resigned just after the start of the 1999/2000 season. Despite achieving a respectable fifth place

finish in the league on top of a great FA Cup run into the third qualifying round, the decision was taken,for the long term benefits to the club, to rejoin the Hellenic League for the 2003/04 season, they finished the season in a creditable sixth place and winning the Hungerford Cup defeating AFC Newbury 2-0. With the pieces in place, the 2006/2007 season began with high expectations and a marvellous F.A.Cup run to the 4th qualifying round,which included victories against Weston Super Mare (Conference South) and Bashley (Southern League South champions) before a 0-3 defeat against Conference league side Weymouth. The 2007/2008 season began with high hopes for success in the league and with some great league and cup performances, they entered March still chasing trophies on three fronts. Unfortunately a home defeat in the FA Vase quarter final against Whitley Bay proved

costly. Consolation was once again achieved by retaining the Challenge Cup by beating Almondsbury Town 2-1. The 2008/2009 season began with the election of a new chairman, Nigel Warrick a local businessman who stated he wanted to improve the club both on and off the pitch. He immediately set about a refurbishment program for the club including both bars.

Previous Meeting: 2014/15 Hungerford 0-0 St Neots

On the pitch despite a sticky start in the league and a disappointing early exit in the FA Cup, the club went on a 22 match unbeaten run which earned the Hellenic League championship on goal difference and promotion to the Southern League. 2009/2010 saw the team promoted to the Zamaretto League Division One South & West and after an early spell where the team was challenging for a play-off spot, the second part of the season was not so good and the team ended in the bottom third of the league.

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WHO’S WHO

THE CRUSADERS

BOBBY WILKINSON PAUL STRUDLEY Age 32, Goalkeeper Struds joined us in August 2012 having spent the vast majority of his career with Thatcham Town.

He adapted to life in the Southern Premier well, keeping 24 clean sheets over the season.

DIAK JOHN Left Back Diak returned to Hungerford in March having left in the Summer for Burnham.He has previously been at Hayes & Yeading United.

JON BOARDMAN Age 34, Centre Back Jon joined the club in August 2010 from Kingstonian and is a fans

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LEA BARKUS

PAUL STRUDLEY

favourite, having won the Supporters Player of the Year for three out of the last four seasons seasons. He has football league experience with Rochdale and Dagenham & Redbridge.

MATT DAY Age 27, Centre Back Rejoined the club in March 2010 after a short spell at Eastleigh and was previously at both Portsmouth,Oxford United and Oxford City.He was voted as part of the Southern League team of the year by the Non-League paper.

GARY HORGAN Age 37, Defender Gary is an experienced player who

ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

DIAK JOHN

returned to Hungerford in August 2012 having played here in the late 90’s, and was player manager of Swindon Supermarine the season before.

JAMES RUSBY Defender James joined the side in the summer from Marlow and was previously at Binfield.

SCOTT REES Age 25, Midfield Scott is a competitive midfielder who joined the side in August 2012 from Thatcham Town.

ALAN O’BRIEN Age 30, Wide Midfield Alan joined the club in August 2012

Mark Draycott (Striker) Experienced forward who has been top scorer for the last three seasons and joined the club in August 2011 from Swindon Supermarine. Previously at Newport County, Cirencester Town and Didcot Town. Has also played abroad in Australia and America.

ALAN O’BRIEN and is an experience wide player who has football league experience with Newcastle United, Swindon Town and Yeovil Town.

JAMES PILLING Central Midfield James joined the side from Bridgwater Town in July 2014.

LEE SMITH Age 31, Attacking Midfield Lee joined the side in the summer having been top goalscorer at Cirencester Town last season.

MARK DRAYCOTT Age 30, Striker Experienced forward who has been top scorer for the last three seasons and joined the club in August 2011 from Swindon Supermarine.

Previously at Newport County, Cirencester Town and Didcot Town.

Has also played abroad in Australia and America.

JAMES PILLING

CHARLIE MPI

GARY HORGAN

HARRY GOODGER Age 29, Striker Harry is a robust forward who joined the side in August 2011 from Newbury FC, having previously played in the Kent area. Despite limited appearances last season, he still managed to score some vital goals for the club

1 side winning the league gaining promotion to the Championship, he was loaned to Wrexham, but left Swansea in August 2010. He has since played for Haverfordwest County, Neath, Aberystwyth Town & Carmarthen and Mangotsfield United. He has represented Wales at U17s, U19s, and U21 level.

MATTHEW COLLINS Midfield 28 year old born in Merthyr Tydfil has signed in August 2014 from Carmarthen Town. Started his career with Swindon Town and signed for Fulham for ÂŁ250,000. After recurring hamstring problems he joined Swansea and was part of the league

DEAN STOW Midfield Dean returned to the club in December 2011 after a short spell with Gosport Borough, and was previously at Thatcham Town and Basingstoke Town.

JAMES CLARK Striker James joined the side in December 2012 from Didcot Town and was previously at Thatcham Town and Reading Town.

CHARLIE MPI Striker Charlie joined the side in August having been part of the championship winning side at Hemel Hempstead Town.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 27

Focus on Youth...

St Neots Town U18’s Gayton Cup holders Eynesbury Rovers won local bragging rights and deservedly won their way to the Final to defend the trophy with a closely fought victory over neighbours St Neots.

EYNESBURY ROVERS U18 2 : ST NEOTS TOWN U18 1 Huntingdonshire U18 Youth (Gayton) Cup Semi-Final They had defeated the Saints in the first round of the competition last season and although they had to come from behind in this match they always looked the likely winners.

St Neots looked strangely below their best and although they competed well they created very few chances against a very solid home defence.

St Neots could hardly have had a better start because after just four minutes leading scorer Chris Lewis gave them the lead with a crisp shot from 20 yards that beat home keeper Louis Cook.

However Rovers were quickly back in the game and after 19 minutes Ryan Vale was fouled

in the area and he got to his feet to rap home the penalty kick to level the scores. The remainder of the first half was keenly contested with Rovers just shading the possession but there were no further goals.

There was an early second half chance when Vale wriggled clear of the visiting defence but Dan Huff was quickly off his line to gather the ball and as the players collided Vale was injured and retired to take no further part in the match.

His replacement Dominic Smith looked very lively and he might have done better than shoot across the face of goal after a good move after 66 minutes.

However three minutes later he created what was to prove the winning goal when he made a fine run through the St Neots defence only for the ball to run loose to Rhys Thorpe who netted from ten yards. St Neots rallied and Dan Hobbs sent a free kick in a promising position high over the bar before bringing the save of the match from Cook fourteen minutes from time.

St Neots final chance to force extra time came in the final minute but Cameron Crisp headed over the bar.

John Walker

St Neots Town U18 Huff, Crisp, Stewart, Whittle, Saywell, Hayward, Hobbs, Taylor, Chris Lewis, Davis, Coleman Subs used: Mattin, Charlie Lewis, Luff, Nkala and Fleming Goals (St Neots): Chris Lewis

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Sponsored by Steve Ridley

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Extended Match Highlights Post-Match Analysis and Interviews All the Goals, Outtakes and Behind the Scenes Coverage Tune in to your club... www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

GOAL, TOM RISES TO THE OCCASION

GREENIES GREETINGS

OUR HOME SUPPORT IS GROWING NICE AND STEADILY Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium, for today’s Evostik League Southern Premier Division game.

Today we extend a very warm welcome to the players, officials and of course, the travelling supporters of Hungerford Town Football Club and we hope you have a pleasant stay with us here this afternoon.

Well there wasn’t a lot more you could have asked for from last Saturday’s game here against fellow Play-Off hopefuls Cirencester Town.

We ended up with three points, four goals (which took our goal difference back up to plus twenty) and the added bonus of yet another clean sheet, which was the seventh since the arrival of ‘Batchy’ and his new look defensive ‘Brick Wall’, a great habit to be currently be embracing.

Four cracking goals they were too, each one good for different reasons; persistence, positioning, power and sharpness. It was great to see Clarkie battle for the ball and work himself some space to dispatch the first goal into the far corner. Fantastic for Wardy to open his account for the Club too, with not one but two strike, the first poking home after Mat Mitchel King’s diving header was partially cleared to him and the second, an absolute thumping header into the far corner and lastly.

Substitute Nathan Frater picking up on a poor back pass and the rest, as they would say, is history. What a great way to announce your return to fitness eh? The performance on the

pitch was matched by the efforts of you guys on the touchlines too, with the noise levels growing as the game grew older. A crowd of 428 was quite respectable, even more so when you consider that our visitors didn’t actually number any greater than the twenty eight so it looks like our home support is growing nice and steadily as we approach the business end of the season.

The half term holidays are fast approaching and this will be a busy time for the Club as we hold another Open Trial Day for potential scholars for September’s intake on Tuesday April 7th, registration at 10:45 in Reedmans and our Development Centre team are holding a three day football course, aimed at children aged 4-14 years from Wednesday 8th –Friday 11th April. The days will run from 10.30 - 15:00 each day and the children will be expected to bring a suitable packed lunch. First Team goalkeeping coach Darren Plowman will be doing a dedicated keepers session on the Thursday. Full details and a downloadable booking form can be found on our website, www. stneotstownfc.co.uk and also on our Facebook page.

Right then, back to today’s crucial game. A win would see us back in the playoff positions so lets get behind the team from the off.

SING LOUD and SING PROUD GREENY

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LEE PUTS IT AWAY

AWAY DAYS

GLASSWORKS STADIUM Our next away day is to the home of Cambridge City, who play their football at the glassworks stadium the home of Histon FC. The Lillywhites seem to be a bit of a bogy side to us as we have only beaten them once since we were promoted to the Premier division, however that was one of the best performances we have ever given winning 5-0 away from home. This season city took our scalp once again by beating us 1-0 at Rowley park earlier in the season. Settling 16th in the table City will be just as formidable as they have always been and we need to be at our very best to come away with anything. Last season city under the guidance of Gary Roberts who has been manager of the club for some 12 seasons finished season 2113/14 a creditable 3rd in the Southern League premier division. A play off place was secured for the third consecutive season, unfortunately the Lillywhites stumbled at the semi final stage again for the third season running.

The club having had to move out of the ground they have played at for so long because of the lease on the ground had expired had to move just down the road for season 2013/14 to ground share with tenants Histon.

The club hopefully will achieve their dream of a brand new stadium in the near future.

DIRECTIONS The Glass World Stadium is situated to the east of the B1049, just over half a mile north of Junction 32 of the A14, and as such is easily accessed from all directions.From the East: take the A14 and exit at Junction 32 turning right onto the B1049.

From the West: take the A428 which becomes the A14 (at Junction 31) and exit at Junction 32 turning left onto the B1049.

From the South: take the M11 and leave at Junction 14 to take the A14 Eastbound (Newmarket, Ipswich) leave the A14 at Junction 32 turning left onto the B104

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GROUND SHARE WITH HISTON FC Glass World Stadium, Bridge Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9PH Wheelchair Access: Yes Car Parking: Yes Matchday Magazine: ÂŁ2 Capacity: 4,300 (1,700 seated) Round Trip from (PE19 6SL): 34 Miles

FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE

BRIAN CLOUGH Some great stories about the people who knew and worked under the great man My Hero Soccer Boss NEIL WARNOCK

He took me out to lunch a couple of times and they were some of the most captivating afternoons of my life.

How could you not fail to be mesmerized by a man who achieved what he did in the game? He was fascinating to talk to and the knowledge that he could pass on was just immense.

You can’t help but learn from just listening to people like Brian or Sir Alex.

I’m quite often asked who is my all time footballing hero and its not even close for me…. The one and only Brian Clough.

I was in charge at Notts County for a few years during his time at Forest. The two clubs are separated only by the river Trent and the joke was that Cloughie didn’t need the bridge to get across.

Just being across the Trent from the great man at the same time was like winning the pools.

I think the move to get managers to pass coaching badges is a great thing, but it does beg the question of what would have happened to some of our greatest ever managers if those rules had been in force years ago. Cloughie, Shankly and Sir Alex don’t have the required coaching badges.

I can remember, as it was yesterday, the look on Brian’s face when he used to stroll past me at County training sessions.

County used to train on a ground that was the size of a postage stamp and Cloughie would walk past with his faithful golden retriever on his way to Forest’s 16-acre bowling green!

So there we were the lot of us on an absolute mud heap kicking

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the s*** out of each other and he would stop and take a look. Then he would see me looking over because I had noticed him and he would just shake his head and move off on his way. Brilliant!

The managers I respect are the ones who don’t need a coaching manual and strings of badges.

Give me the real man-managers like Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson and Martin O’Neill. A few years ago there was a trend where chairmen were signing young ex-pros with famous names. It was all the rage.

The whipper snappers were everywhere.

And it just didn’t work. The wheel turned full circle and they went back to us old guys. But how did we get our experience? Because when we were younger, we were allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.

I don’t know Martin O’Neill well, but I have huge respect for him. For sure, he was a famous ex-international who had won European Cups and titles but he

THE MANAGERS I RESPECT ARE THE ONES WHO DON’T NEED A COACHING MANUAL AND STRINGS OF BADGES. GIVE ME THE REAL MAN-MANAGERS LIKE CLOUGH, SIR ALEX FERGUSON AND MARTIN O’NEILL.

did his managerial apprenticeship at Grantham, Shepshed and Wycombe.

He learned how to handle all the problems that would crop up later in his career. The first time I ever encountered him was a Wycombe, when I was boss at Huddersfield.

I though I was straight out of “One flew over the cuckoo’s nests” but he was 10 times worse, giving the ref an absolute coating in the tunnel.

I though ‘if he gets away with this, he must have friends in some really high places’.

Then again, he is one of Cloughie’s old boys …..

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INTRODUCING

MAT MITCHEL-KING Mat with a wealth experience at league level brings that little extra to the club In the last few seasons he has been Captain at both Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon in the Football League, after being spotted starring for Histon in their meteoric rise from Step 4 Football to Conference Play Offs. This year he has played most of the games for Dartford, who play at National Conference level.

It won’t be the first time he has played for Saints Manager David Batch. Mat’s first club was Cambridge Utd, where he was a schoolboy player while Saints Manager David Batch was Youth Team before joining as a full time Scholar at Cambridge City when David became Manager.

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ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

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DREW GOES VERY CLOSE

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MD’S VIEWS

MIDDLE GROUND FRUSTRATION Skiing was great, I pulled a groin, Shelly twisted her knee and Dave broke his back (he’s still in Italy).

There were only 5 couples so we managed to get through the weekend with a 30% injury rate, which on reflection is pretty good, going. I also discovered that my 4G signal only works when I’m propped up against a bar drinking Grappa, as I explained to my wife there is a chemical in Grappa that helps to increase the signal so it was vitally important that this was the drink of choice. I tried Lager, Red wine, White wine, Gin, Jack Daniels and something that was green and made my teeth feel slightly odd but all to no avail, It had to be Grappa.

So I’m back and was relieved that we had gained a convincing win against Cirencester. Now on to more important news, the pitch is not in a particularly good state at the moment, we have had constant issues with poor aeration which in turn causes the soil to be less willing to allow the grass to grow.

We have aerated the pitch every month from the start of the year and have monitored the depth of the water table. Every week we take a core sample (up to 8 inches down) to determine the colour and texture of the soil and thus far (fingers Crossed) things seem to be improving. I say the pitch is poor but it’s still one of

the best around at this time of year and if you ignore the monstrosity that is the middle I believe it’s better than the same time last season. Weather permitting we will start to work on the pitch before the season finishes with the main focus being the afore mentioned monstrosity. To answer a question that we frequently get asked as to why the middle is and why we did the work in the first place. The middle had sunk by around 4 inches over the course of its short life, this was why it was constantly wet and as a result of this the soil underneath the area was poor, this is why the grass seed did not take (the goal areas are in the same boat however to camber this area was not an option). The idea

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was to lift turf, aerate, put provisions in for better drainage and then cover with hardwearing turf and to leave as a slight Camber that will over the next few seasons drop. All went well until we discovered that the turf we had been sold was not fit for the purpose. Months of arguing with the supplier has resulted in free turf being delivered at the end of April.

The goal areas will be redone (again) however the middle will be treated with topsoil and seeded in line with the rest of the pitch. All rather boring. So onto todays match and I’d like to welcome all supporters, officials and players from Hungerford for today’s match.

LEE

News from the Youth...

St Neots Town Youth & Saints U7s hosted a Leicester City FC Elite Academy game on Tuesday night.

Saints had two teams, playing 2 games of 5v5 on the main pitch under the flood lights. Very exciting for the young players and their parents!

The LCFC team had some very skilled and talented young players but the team work of the Saints teams made the games very

competitive. Both games with very close score lines, 3-3 draw in the first and 3-1 win in the second.

Leicester City officials were very complementary on the standards shown both on and off the pitch and very interested in making this fixture a regular event. It was a great experience for the Saints players,

giving them a future insight into achieving dreams of becoming a senior player and playing on St Neot’s pitch every week.

A great advert for the club in building association with Premiership Clubs, exposing our youngsters to new opportunities and developments.

Well done Saints!!

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STEWS VIEWS

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN As usual I have been looking forward to today’s home match and hoping for another three points against another of the play off hopefuls, Hungerford Town FC.

Just a few weeks back we played today’s opponents, in a rescheduled mid week game, which was quite a tight affair, culminating in a very entertaining 0-0 draw. That evening Hungerford’s goalkeeper was their man of the match. They were a very physical side, but met their match against a very imposing full strength St Neots team.

It’s fair to say three points today, would be a massive step towards a play off spot, which before the end of January, looked extremely unlikely. The turnaround of results since the appointment of the new management team has been nothing short of remarkable. Looking at the recent form of clubs in our league, we currently sit in 3rd position over the last 8 games played, with only

Paulton Rovers FC and Poole Town FC with better records over the same number of games. I do however expect today’s opponents, to give us a sterner test than both Cirencester and Hitchin did recently! They have conceded way fewer goals this season than both, who we beat comfortably in the last few weeks.

I feel we will need to play well to win, but with Nathan Frater and Lorenzo Ferrari both returning after recent injuries, options are plentiful again going forward. I’m also right in thinking that after this game, we won’t be playing any of the teams currently hoping for a play off spot themselves?

But we do have to go to Frome on the last Saturday of the regular

PAGE 46 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

season.They may still be fighting for a place in the division, which automatically makes them dangerous opponents, for a completely different reason!

I’m no mystic meg and certainly results earlier in the season were very unpredictable, right across the league.

STEWS PREDICTION AFTER 44 GAMES! How does this compare to how you see it?

Get involved on social media and the official forum!

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION / 25.04.15

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

01

Poole Town

44

30

9

5

81

22

+59

99

02

Corby Town

44

26

10

8

80

49

+31

88

03

St Neots Town

44

24

12

8

83

55

+28

84

04

Redditch United

44

24

11

9

72

36

+36

83

05

Hungerford Town

44

23

11

10

59

33

+26

80

What I have done this week is come up with a prediction of what the table may look like after we have completed our 44 games.

Most of you will have your own ideas on this, just as a bit of fun why don’t you see how your compare to mine?

Being totally mindful of the fact we have been comprehensively beaten twice by Redditch already this season, with David Batch’s squad on display, I’d expect us to be too strong for them at home in front of a large partisan crowd. I’d also expect Corby to beat Hungerford so my prediction is therefore is Corby v St Neots in the playoff final.

Wouldn’t this be a great occasion?

As it’s just up the road and loads

would travel. It may also be a bit if wishful thinking on my behalf!

Tell you what, I’ll make a promise now in print, that if that does happen, I’ll wear my kilt for the occasion. That way if doesn’t go our way on the day, I might get out of the town alive afterwards!

Here’s to three points today and another good result away to Cambridge City next week. It’s certainly hotting up both weather and football wise!

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 47

Scorelines..

A brief round up of the recent results from the teams that matter Midweek Premier Division (w/c 2nd March)

Redditch United scored twice in the opening half hour to secure a 2-0 victory at Cambridge City.

Weekend Premier Division (7th March)

With Poole Town not playing, Corby Town moved to the top of the table although had to overturn an interval deficit to record a 3-1 home win over bottom of the table Burnham while third placed Weymouth were held to a 2-2 home draw after being two ahead at half time against Dunstable Town but Truro City, who went behind just before the hour mark, won 2-1 at home against Biggleswade Town and moved up to fourth replacing Hungerford Town who lost 1-0 to a goal five minutes from time at Frome Town. St Neots Town went two ahead on the stroke of half time and added two late goals to complete an emphatic 4-0 home win over Cirencester Town but Redditch United, trailing at the interval, scored on the hour to secure a 1-1 draw at Bideford and Chesham United, ahead at half time, conceded a goal fourteen minutes from time to also draw 1-1 at Paulton Rovers, who have now gone nine games unbeaten, while Hitchin Town were held to a 0-0 home draw by Dorchester Town. Chippenham Town scored three times before the interval to set up a 4-2 victory at second from bottom Banbury United but Slough Town, a goal down at the

break, conceded three goals in the second half to crash to a 4-0 home defeat by Cambridge City while Histon scored in the third minute of time added on to win 1-0 at home against third from bottom Arlesey Town.

Midweek Division 1 Central (w/c 2nd March)

Kettering Town scored a penalty four minutes before the interval and doubled their lead twelve minutes into the second half to set up a 3-2 home win over Leighton Town which took them eight points clear as second placed Bedworth United, ahead after ten minutes but trailing at half time, slipped to a 3-2 home defeat by sixth in the table Hanwell Town while Aylesbury moved back into third when a goal on the stroke of half time gave them a 1- 0 victory at second from bottom AFC Hayes.

Royston Town took the lead eight minutes after the break and scored twice more in the following thirteen minutes to secure a 3-0 home success over Bedford Town while bottom of the table North Greenford United, trailing at the break but ahead twelve minutes into the second half, went behind again in the second minute of time added on but struck back two minutes later to snatch a point from a 3-3 home draw with Godalming Town.

Weekend Division 1 Central (7th March)

Kettering Town were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Marlow but

PAGE 48 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

increased their lead at the top to nine points after second placed Bedworth United slipped to a 1-0 home defeat when Godalming Town scored ten minutes before the interval but Aylesbury consolidated their third place when, despite having lost a two goal advantage, they secured a 3-2 home win over Chalfont St Peter with a penalty ten minutes from time while fourth in the table Rugby Town, ahead at the break, went down 2-1 at Potters Bar with the home side hitting the winner with just six minutes remaining. Royston Town converted a second half penalty to record a 1-0 home win over Egham Town but Hanwell Town conceded a goal in each half to go down 2-0 at home to Daventry Town while Barton Rovers, a goal up at the interval, scored in time added on to secure a 2-0 home win against Leighton Town.

St Ives Town, two up at the break, benefited from an own goal midway through the second half to win 3-0 at Aylesbury United while Northwood, behind after twenty minutes but level at the interval, secured a 2-1 home win over second from bottom AFC Hayes with a goal in time added on and Uxbridge, two up at half time, scored a penalty nine minutes into the second half to complete a 3-0 home win over the bottom club, North Greenford United but Bedford Town, having taken the lead after thirteen minutes, had to settle for a 1-1 home craw when Beaconsfield SYCOB equalised eleven minutes before the changeover.

DEDICATION

“We all stand together” A Ground Hoppers take on last Saturdays fixture with Cirencester as told via the “We all stand together”. The club thank you for your visit and hoped you enjoyed your day with us.

Two goals in each half from St Neots clinical finishing allowed the Cambridgeshire side to secure all three points in their onward push for a play off spot against a disappointing Cirencester side who so often lacked with the quality of the final ball letting them down.

For the second week running the blog was not heading to Wales and this time it headed south for only the second time this season, having taken a look at Rugby earlier this season St Neots had been on the ‘to do list’ for a while and today was the day.

With rail works at Grantham it was a round about journey with a change at Nottingham and then an unusual non stopping train to Peterborough via Melton Mowbray, mmm pies, and Stamford before changing for our final train to St Neots.

Last weeks Cleethorpes trip featured some of the most uninspiring views from the train this week was so different with small towns, churches and interesting scenery all the way.

Non more so than one farmer who had a whole field full of solar panels!

On arrival at the station a quick dash was made to visit the town for the first time and it can be added

to Widnes and Rugby in the club of stations miles away from their town centres.

In fairness its about 1.5 miles away but it was a swift walk and it turned out to be a little bit of a let down, it not being the quaint town I had envisaged.

So after a quick circular tour of the town the blog made its way back past the station entrance road and under the east coast rail line and then left onto the new housing development that is Loves Farm.

Following a small walk along the part building site a small shopping arcade, with a little ‘T’s’, at the far end was the curvaceous entrance to St Neots Town FC which runs parallel to the rail line.

There are some impressive modern style houses around the ground along side the ground are their 3G pitches and upon arrival we took a few pictures of the main entrance it was then that we were met by what proved to be a warm greeting of an afternoon.

The club official on the door came out to welcome us and enquire where we were visiting from he

PAGE 50 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

informed us about the club and the ground, as ever it has to be said clubs you need people like this to make visitors feel welcome and following our entrance to the ground this welcome continued.

Programmes and 50/50 tickets purchased we got into a small conversation with the three sellers who also offered a warm welcome.

With a delayed start set for 3.15pm due to Cirencester being stuck on the A1 there was time for a circuit of the ground before popping along to ‘Dianes Snack Court’. As a northerner I must find the correct definition for a chip ‘cob’ the latter always being the problem anyway chips and cob [bap, roll, balm] was secured and it has to be said again via a very pleasant and well run snack bar.

So to the ground upon entry via the only turnstiles open today you are greeted with a superb glass sided sloping cover which I guess is for disabled supporters.

The ground has a narrow walkway all around with a smart perimeter green meshed fencing behind both goals are small covered terraced areas.

The far side is uncovered and houses a TV boxed gantry enclosure which his positioned high on the banking and is used by the “excellent” SNTV check out the clubs website for quality highlights, the dug outs are also housed on this side of the ground. In the far corner there is also an impressive electronic scoreboard.

The opposite side and the side we entered on features the changing

room, modern stand with PA box and at the top end two bar/function rooms the larger of which has a very large TV screen today showing the FA Cup game at Bradford City.

The only downside appeared to be a lack of a merchandise stall especially today with a fairly large crowd, it does amaze me how clubs don’t have items on display for sale most hoppers are souvenir purchasers too.

Before the game we managed to get a quick picture of St Neots well known, ex Boston utd, keeper Paul Bastock who is still going strong at 44 years young.

A few weeks ago Paul secured 1,000 games and today he made it 1,006 beating Peter Shiltons 1,005

appearances. He may be a bit more bruised the next morning but his enthusiasm, pre match warm up and match performance belied any age doubts.

The first half saw St Neots take a two nil half time lead Lee Clarke squeezed a cross goal shot in and then on the stroke of half time Tom Ward fired home his first goal for the club from 12 yards out into the bottom left hand corner.

The half featured an interesting participation exercise from the home supporters who flirted a chip onto the edge of the six yard box for the local seagull population to come down and claim their prize this happened on a few occasions and it created a bit of fun as sail seagull swooped to claim the food item.

Ward added his second with a downward header on 87 minutes before a poor back pass let in substitute Nathan Frater who calmly rounded the Cirencester keeper Glyn Garner before slotting into the empty net.

It had appeared St Neots were happy to drift away to a 2-0 victory before the late goals but Cirencester had plenty of possession but their final ball this afternoon was really poor and let them down when with a better supply they would probably have pushed

St Neots further. Following the delayed start the game finally came to a conclusion at just after 5.10pm and on referee Smiths final whistle St Neots were now only out of the play off zone on goal difference and they appear to be on the march with an excellent crowd of 428 at todays game.

As a day though it was an enjoyable one with a new ground you often don’t get character but this Handily upon exit the station is accessible from of Loves Farm and within 5 minutes you can get to your required platform from the railway station bridge.

While waiting for the slightly delayed train two East Coast non stopping services, one south and one north, flew through the station and I mean flew! The station itself does not have many attributes and looks very much like a commuter build with little in the way of facilities accept for its close proximity to the football ground.

Arrival back to base was delayed due to all three trains boarded being late the last one nearly half an hour.

As a day though it was an enjoyable one with a new ground you often don’t get character but this I don’t think applies to St Neots.

The ground is developing character, the supporters and officials were welcoming and the club seem to have so many things right from good pa system to good food bar, from a well proportioned ground to off the field media sites.

With that said its a “MUST” for a visit if you have not been along check out the fixture list for a visit.

Read the blog online at weallstandtogether.blogspot.co.uk WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 51

GOAL! NATHAN ROUNDS THE KEEPER

21-Mar

04-Apr

6 -- 1

25-Apr

1 -- 5

14-Mar

3 -- 0

06-Apr

0 -- 4

1 -- 1

21-Mar

3 -- 0

28-Mar

3 -- 2

3 -- 1

Bideford

Biggleswade Town

Burnham

Cambridge City

Chesham United

Chippenham Town

Cirencester Town

Corby Town

Dorchester Town

3 -- 0

2 -- 0

06-Apr

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

4 -- 1

1 --0

2 -- 0

tba

6 -- 2

3 -- 1

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

18-Apr

3 -- 0

Histon

Hitchin Town

Hungerford Town

Paulton Rovers

Poole Town

Redditch United

Slough Town

St Neots Town

Truro City

Weymouth

2 -- 3

Frome Town

3 -- 2

tba

0 -- 0

4 -- 0

4 -- 2

5 -- 1

2 -- 3

Dunstable Town

3 -- 1

3 -- 0

tba

2 -- 2

0 -- 2

Banbury United

Arlesey Town

2 -- 2

Banbury United

Arlesey Town

Bideford

2 -- 1

5 -- 0

28-Mar

4 -- 1

7 -- 2

21-Mar

06-Apr

2 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 1

3 -- 3

tba

6 -- 2

25-Apr

4 -- 2

18-Apr

5 -- 1

3 -- 0

2 -- 3

0 -- 1

Biggleswade Town

3 -- 2

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

18-Apr

1 -- 0

3 -- 2

28-Mar

14-Mar

3 -- 0

1 -- 2

1 -- 0

0 -- 1

2 -- 0

tba

1 -- 1

3 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 1

11-Apr

2 -- 2

2 -- 1

Burnham

28-Mar

2 -- 1

3 -- 1

2 -- 2

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

1 -- 0

18-Apr

2 -- 1

1 -- 2

4 -- 2

1 -- 0

3 -- 1

25-Apr

14-Mar

06-Apr

3 -- 0

1 -- 0

4 -- 2

0 -- 2

2 -- 1

Cambridge City 1 -- 0

1 -- 0

0 -- 1

0 -- 4

2 -- 4

28-Mar

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

06-Apr

1 -- 1

2 -- 1

25-Apr

2 -- 2

3 -- 1

4 -- 0

11-Apr

4 -- 4

1 -- 2

tba

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

Chesham United 2 -- 1

0 -- 3

2 -- 3

0 -- 3

2 -- 2

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

11-Apr

4 -- 1

tba

1 -- 1

04-Apr

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

0 -- 2

1 -- 3

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

0 -- 3

Chippenham Town 0 -- 1

2 -- 0

18-Apr

2 -- 2

2 -- 1

3 -- 1

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

1 -- 3

06-Apr

5 -- 1

0 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

28-Mar

1 -- 1

tba

0 -- 2

5 -- 0

0 -- 2

0 -- 0

Cirencester Town 2 -- 0

1 -- 4

4 -- 0

1 -- 2

tba

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

0 -- 0

11-Apr

14-Mar

0 -- 3

0 -- 1

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

0 -- 3

1 -- 3

0 --1

04-Apr

0 -- 2

0 -- 5

1 -- 2

Corby Town tba 18-Apr

2 -- 0

2 -- 1

6 -- 5

2 -- 1

tba 2 -- 4

3 -- 0

0 -- 0

18-Apr

0 -- 2

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

1 -- 3

3 -- 5

28-Mar

6 -- 1

2 -- 1

3 -- 2

04-Apr

1 -- 5

4 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

Dorchester Town

21-Mar

25-Apr

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

tba

06-Apr

1 -- 2

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

0 -- 2

0 -- 1

2 -- 2

0 -- 3

3 -- 2

04-Apr

0 -- 5

1 -- 2

Dunstable Town 2 -- 2

28-Mar

06-Apr

0 -- 3

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 2

0 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

tba

1 -- 2

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 2

Frome Town 4 -- 2

tba

3 -- 1

18-Apr

2 -- 0

7 -- 0

tba

1 -- 1

tba

1 -- 2

0 -- 4

21-Mar

3 -- 0

3 -- 1

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

tba

3 -- 1

1 -- 2

4 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

Histon 3 -- 0

7 -- 2

4 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

2 -- 0

04-Apr

1 -- 0

tba

4 -- 2

1 -- 3

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

2 -- 1

6 -- 0

21-Mar

1 -- 1

14-Mar

18-Apr

2 -- 1

Hitchin Town 2 -- 2

3 -- 0

6 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

11-Apr

3 -- 0

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

04-Apr

21-Mar

2 -- 1

2 -- 0

2 -- 3

2 -- 3

0 -- 1

2 -- 4

0 -- 0

3 -- 7

2 -- 1

0 -- 3

0 -- 2

Hungerford Town 3 -- 1

2 -- 1

14-Mar

1 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 0

2 -- 3

0 -- 2

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 6

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

18-Apr

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

1 -- 2

04-Apr

Paulton Rovers 2 -- 4

2 -- 0

1 -- 1

4 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 0

25-Apr

1 -- 0

tba

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

3 -- 4

4 -- 1

0 -- 1

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

14-Mar

2 -- 3

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

28-Mar

11-Apr

Poole Town tba

2 -- 2

3 -- 2

0 -- 4

0 -- 1

4 -- 5

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

0 -- 1

14-Mar

06-Apr

1 -- 0

tba

04-Apr

18-Apr

0 -- 2

1 -- 3

1 -- 2

0 -- 6

0 -- 1

tba

Redditch United 1 -- 1

3 -- 2

0 -- 3

1 -- 7

0 -- 1

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

4 -- 0

28-Mar

0 -- 4

2 -- 1

14-Mar

0 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 1

0 -- 2

11-Apr

2 -- 5

1 -- 1

0 -- 0

25-Apr

Slough Town 3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 3

4 -- 0

2 -- 1

2 -- 2

06-Apr

28-Mar

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

11-Apr

25-Apr

1 -- 2

21-Mar

2 -- 0

0 -- 0

3 -- 3

0 -- 2

3 -- 3

2 -- 0

tba

1 -- 0

St Neots Town 1 -- 0

2 -- 3

04-Apr

2 -- 0

0 -- 0

0 -- 0

0 -- 0

3 -- 4

0 -- 0

25-Apr

1 -- 3

11-Apr

1 -- 3

1 -- 1

0 -- 1

3 -- 3

21-Mar

0 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 1

1 -- 3

Truro City

1 -- 1

tba

21-Mar

2 -- 0

0 -- 3

3 -- 0

3 -- 1

1 -- 3

0 -- 3

5 -- 1

0 -- 3

2 -- 3

7 -- 2

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

25-Apr

tba

11-Apr

14-Mar

1 -- 0

0 -- 2

06-Apr

2 -- 0

14-Mar 3 -- 0

04-Apr

3 -- 0

1 -- 2

2 -- 0

1 -- 2

25-Apr

1 -- 0

1 -- 2

1 -- 2

1 -- 0

2 -- 0

21-Mar

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

3 -- 2

1 -- 3

1 -- 2

2 -- 3

Weymouth

With the FA Trophy and FA Vase competitions nearing their finale, we should all be looking forward to a couple of days out to watch some Non-League football at the national stadium.

Instead, the Non-League community are once again asking ‘what have we done wrong?’ after more damaging news for our game came out last week. It’s fair to say you won’t hear many good words being said about FA chairman Greg Dyke at NonLeague grounds around the country.

After his highly controversial League Three and B Team ideas, Dyke has turned his attention to our cup competitions.

Firstly it must be said that it’s good news that the FA want to introduce 35 new coach educators across the grass-roots and professional game.

To find the £2.7m to pay for them, however, he has looked in entirely the wrong place. The prize money on offer for both the Trophy and Vase are set to be cut 15 per cent to help cover the shortfall. That may not seem too bad but when you factor in that the prize money is already, in my opinion, extremely modest, there are problems. Let’s not forget that both finals will be televised on BT Sport and while it’s great exposure, none of the four competing clubs will receive a penny.

I spoke to Mike Amos, chairman of the Vase-loving Northern League, last week and he was understandably disappointed and worried. First prize money has been cut but what’s next? Will the Wembley finals be taken off us as well? Amos made a great point in saying: “The most worrying thing about it is that it shows the top brass at the FA don’t really appreciate how important the Vase, and Trophy, are to clubs.”

And he’s completely right. Both competitions allow our clubs the chance of fulfilling a lifelong dream to walk down Wembley Way as well as provide them with a bit of extra cash. While the FA Cup will always be the jewel in the crown, the Trophy and Vase hold a very important place in our game. Surely some other parts of the FA budget could have been cut? I also chatted to last year’s Vase winning manager Dave Diaper following reports of the proposed plans. After deducting costs, Sholing won very little on their way to Wembley. They received £25,000 for winning the final, with

PAGE 54 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

the Trophy winner picking up double that amount – still not a life-changing fee. “We won the Vase last year but after taking away all of the expenses, we made around £2,500 from it,” Diaper said. “We also had a trip to Dereham this season in the Trophy and the prize money for winning that didn’t cover the travelling. Some clubs budget for Cup runs, as silly as that is, and these cuts could really affect them.”

The FA chose not to comment when asked about Dyke’s plans although national game chairman Roger Burden has reportedly written to FA councillors to inform them of the concern about the lack of consultation and fears of what the cut might do to Non-League clubs.

Let’s just hope they see sense and realise that these plans could have a very unwelcome impact on clubs below the Football League. But even if they do, this charade has once again shown us that the Non-League game is just an afterthought – to the bigwigs at the FA at least.

Steven Coney

Opposition in CAPS denotes home fixture. Player name in BOLD CAPS denotes goal scorer.

Date

ATT

COMP

R

Pos

2

3

4

Sat 09 Aug

Opposition Hereford United

568

SLP

2-0

7

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Ford

F

Tue 12 Aug

Chesham United

331

SLP

3-3

5

Abbey

Spence

LEE

Spring

F

Sat 16 Aug

WEYMOUTH

312

SLP

2-0

2

Abbey

Powell

LEE

Bickerstaff

F

Tue 19 Aug

REDDITCH UNITED

310

SLP

0-3

9

Abbey

Powell

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 23 Aug

Truro City

503

SLP

3-2

8

Abbey

Spence

LEE

Bickerstaff

Mon 25 Aug

Corby Town

518

SLP

3-1

6

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 30 Aug

PAULTON ROVERS

298

SLP

1-1

7

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 06 Sep

Biggleswade Town

301

SLP

2-2

6

Abbey

Spence

Wilson

Bickerstaff

Tue 09 Sep

HISTON

401

SLP

4-0

4

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Farrell

Sat 13 Sep

DEREHAM TOWN

312

FAC

1-1

-

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Spring

Sat 20 Sep

Banbury United

281

SLP

1-1

5

Greygoose

Spence

Lee

Farrell

Tue 30 Sep

Arlesey Town

217

SLP

3-1

2

Greygoose

Spence

Bickerstaff

Hilliard

Sat 04 Oct

BURNHAM

282

SLP

3-1

3

Greygoose

York

Lee

Wilson

Mon 06 Oct

Hitchin Town

291

SLP

4-3

2

Greygoose

York

Lee

Wilson

Sat 11 Oct

POOLE TOWN

619

SLP

3-2

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Wilson

Sat 18 Oct

Cirencester Town

141

SLP

1-1

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Thorne

Tue 21 Oct

CHESHAM UNITED

233

SLP

2-3

2

Bastock

YORK

Bickerstaff

Thorne

Sat 25 Oct

HEREFORD UNITED

329

SLP

1-0

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Wilson

Mon 27 Oct

Redditch United

141

SLP

0-2

3

Bastock

York

Lee

Cracknell

Sat 01 Nov

ILKESTON TOWN

330

FAT

2-1

-

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Ford

Sat 08 Nov

TRURO CITY

299

SLP

0-2

3

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Ford

Sat 15 Nov

DARLINGTON 1883

715

FAT

3-1

-

Bastock

Deeney

York

Ford

Tue 18 Nov

CAMBRIDGE CITY

322

SLP

0-1

3

Bastock

Deeney

York

Ford

Sat 22 Nov

Bideford

199

SLP

1-1

4

Bastock

Deeney

Adjei

Ford

Sat 29 Nov

AFC SUDBURY

431

FAT

1-1

-

Bastock

York

Adjei

Ford

Tue 02 Dec

AFC Sudbury

229

FAT (R)

0-1

-

Bastock

York

Adjei

Ford

Sat 06 Dec

DORCHESTER TOWN

292

SLP

6-5

4

Bastock

Deeney

York

Hutton

Tue 09 Dec

SLOUGH TOWN

299

SLP

0-3

5

Bastock

Deeney

Wilson

Hutton

Sat 13 Dec

Chippenham Town

285

SLP

1-0

4

Bastock

York

Ford

Wilson

Sat 20 Dec

FROME TOWN

307

SLP

3-1

5

Bastock

YORK

Davis

Cracknell

Fri 26 Dec

CORBY TOWN

462

SLP

2-4

8

Bastock

York

Ford

Cracknell

Thu 01 Jan

Dunstable Town

205

SLP

3-1

7

Bastock

York

Plowright

Ford

Sat 10 Jan

Paulton Rovers

167

SLP

0-0

8

Bastock

York

Wilkinson

Tann

Sat 17 Jan

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

491

SLP

2-1

8

Bastock

York

Davis

Tann

Tue 20 Jan

Weymouth

409

SLP

0-1

8

Bastock

York

Plowright

Tann

Sat 24 Jan

Histon

386

SLP

0-0

9

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Hutton

Sat 31 Jan

BANBURY UNITED

319

SLP

2-1

8

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Mitchel-King

Sat 07 Feb

ARLESEY TOWN

372

SLP

3-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

CLARKE

MITC

Tue 10 Feb

Hungerford Town

100

SLP

0-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 14 Feb

Burnham

116

SLP

1-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 21 Feb

HITCHIN TOWN

547

SLP

6-2

6

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Wilson

Mi

Sat 28 Feb

Poole Town

387

SLP

0-0

6

Bastock

Tann

Bickerstaff

Mitchel-King

Sat 07 Mar

CIRENCESTER TOWN

428

SLP

4-0

6

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Mitchel-King

Sat 14 Mar

HUNGERFORD TOWN

SLP

Sat 21 Mar

Cambridge City

SLP

Sat 28 Mar

BIDEFORD

SLP

Sat 04 Apr

Slough Town

SLP

Mon 06 Apr

DUNSTABLE TOWN

SLP

Sat 11 Apr

Dorchester Town

SLP

Sat 18 Apr

CHIPPENHAM TOWN

SLP

Sat 25 Apr

Frome Town

SLP

PAGE 56 /

ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

F

T

B

F

Player name in these colours denotes substitute

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

Frater (R)

Hoyte

Spring

Davies

Dillon

Hilliard

Powell

NOLAN

FRATER (N)

15

Frater (R)

Hoyte

DAVIES

Ford

Nolan

Hilliard

Powell

FRATER (N)

Frater (R)

Hoyte

DAVIES

Spring

Nolan

Ford

Frater (N)

Spence

Hilliard

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

Frater (N)

Ford

Roberts

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER (N) 2

Ford

Powell

Roberts

Ferrari

Farrell

Frater

Hoyte

Ford

Spring

Frater (N)

ROBERTS 2

Farrell

FERRARI

Davies

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

ROBERTS

Farrell

Ford

Ferrari

Wilson

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Powell

Deeney

Nolan

Farrell

FRATER

Hoyte

DAVIES

Powell

Nolan

ROBERTS 2

Hilliard

Wilson

Ferrari

Bickerstaff

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Wilson

NOLAN

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Farrell

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

DAVIES

Wilson

Nolan

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

THORNE

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Wilson

Ferrari

Spring

Nolan

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS 3

Hilliard

Thorne

Nolan

Peacock

THORNE

Hoyte

Farrell

Spring

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Hilliard

Ford

NOLAN

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS 2

HILLIARD

Ford

Nolan

Thorne

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

Roberts

HILLIARD

Ferrari

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

DAVIES

Spring

Nolan

Roberts

Hilliard

Cracknell

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

ROBERTS

Hilliard

Frater N

Cracknell

Lee

Bickerstaff

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

Roberts

Ford

Farrell

Hilliard

Ferrari

Deeney

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER N

Roberts

HILLIARD

Ferrari

Deeney

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Dillon

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS

HILLIARD 2

Cracknell

Dillon

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Nolan

Frater

Ward

Davies

CRACKNELL

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Frater

Ward

Davies

SPRING

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Ferrari

Nolan

Frater

Ward

Cracknell

Spring

Mackey

Roberts

Ferrari

Hoyte

Hilliard

Davies

Ferrari

Hoyte

Ward

Davies

Spring

DILLON

ROBERTS 3

HILLIARD

Wilson

MACKEY

Cracknell

Ward

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Cracknell

Frater (N)

Deeney

Ward

Cracknell

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

Hutton

Plowright

Frater (N)

Hilliard

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

HUTTON

Davies

Plowright

Frater N Ferrari

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Frater N

Mackey

ROBERTS 2

Hutton

Davis

Davies

FRATER

Ward

Ferrari

Wilson

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Hutton

Vieira

Davis

Frater

Ward

Hutton

Ford

Frater N

Roberts

Plowright

Adjei

Mackey

Frater

Ward

HILLIARD

Wilkinson

Frater N

Roberts

Adjei

Plowright

Hutton

FORD

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Wilkinson

Frater N

Roberts

Ford

Adjei

Ferrari

Davis

Tann

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Mackey

Roberts

Wilkinson

Vieira

Adjei

Ford

Tann

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

Wilkinson

Vieira

Harty

Ferrari

MITCHEL-KING

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Ferrari

ROBERTS

Marango

Harty

Vieira

Ford

Mitchel-King

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Frater (N)

Roberts

Ferrari

Harty

Mitchel-King

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

Ferrari

Roberts

Frater (N)

Marango

Frater (R)

Harty

Mitchel-King

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

CLARKE 3

ROBERTS 2

Longden

Harty

Bickerstaff

Vieira

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Clarke

Roberts

Wilson

Longden

Cracknell

Hobbs

Frater

WARD 2

Hilliard

Spring

CLARKE

Roberts

Longden

FRATER (N)

Wilson

Bickerstaff

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 57

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION / 12.03.15

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

01

Poole Town

32

23

5

4

64

19

+45

74

02

Corby Town

35

22

6

7

69

37

+32

72

03

Weymouth

36

21

5

10

65

57

+8

68

04

Truro City

36

21

4

11

67

51

+16

67

05

Hungerford Town

37

18

10

9

52

30

+22

64

06

St Neots Town

36

18

10

8

69

49

+20

64

07

Redditch United

36

17

10

9

64

36

+28

61

08

Cirencester Town

36

17

9

10

66

43

+23

60

09

Chesham United

36

14

12

10

67

52

+15

54

10

Hitchin Town

36

15

8

13

60

56

+4

53

11

Paulton Rovers

35

14

9

12

58

53

+5

51

12

Chippenham Town

36

13

10

13

44

46

-2

49

13

Dunstable Town

37

14

6

17

60

65

-5

48

14

Bideford

36

14

6

16

59

75

-16

48

15

Slough Town

34

11

10

13

48

62

-14

43

16

Cambridge City

34

10

11

13

55

52

+3

41

17

Dorchester Town

36

11

5

20

52

63

-11

38

18

Frome Town

36

10

6

20

44

70

-26

36

19

Biggleswade Town

35

8

10

17

49

65

-16

34

20

Histon

34

9

7

18

35

57

-22

34

21

Arlesey Town

35

8

4

23

34

70

-36

28

22

Banbury United

34

5

8

21

38

79

-41

23

23

Burnham (-3)

36

5

7

24

36

68

-32

19

PAGE 58 /

ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V HUNGERFORD TOWN ISSUE 24

Don’t succumb to just putting up a bookshelf, show your walls some love!

Wall Art

Wallpaper

Wall Stickers

www.ilovemywalls.co.uk

Manager: David Batch Assistant Manager: Steve Eastaugh Goalkeeping Coach: Darren Plowman

Manager: Bobby Wilkinson Assistant Manager: Lea Barkus Goalkeeping Coach: Ian Hobbs

Goalkeepers

Paul Strudley

Paul Bastock

Gary Horgan

Jamie Greygoose

Diak John

Defenders

James Rusby

Josh Bickerstaff

Matt Day

Sam Harty

Scott Rees

Adam Tann

James Clark

Ryan Frater

James Pilling

Tom Ward

Stefan Brown

Jack Wilkinson

Mark Draycott

Theo Davis

Alan O’Brien

Brett Longden

Harry Goodger

Midfielders

Charlie Mpi

Dean Cracknell

Sam Wilson

Lee Clarke

Isaac Osei-Tutu

Ebey Marango

Jon Boardman

Matt Spring

Matt Collins

Lorenzo Ferrari

Dean Stow

Lewis Hilliard Mat Mitchel-King Forwards Bruce Wilson Chris Dillon Nathan Frater Matt Nolan Drew Roberts Luis Vieira Dan Hobbs Colours Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours White Shirts, White Shorts & Socks

The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Referee: Jonathan Burridge Assistants: Ali Shaaban / Ashley List Next Home Game: St Neots Town v Bideford AFC Southern League Premier Division / Saturday 28th March / KO 15:00

As a Club we support Grass Roots Football and stand firm against racism within football, visit www.thefa.com for more information on playing your part.