Saints vs Hungerford Town by St Neots Town Football Club

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WELCOME

Welcome to Rowley Park - The Cozy Stadium and to the latest edition of the Saints Matchday Magazine, enjoy great football, great hospitality and a great read. 03 Management Notes

28 Wonderful Non-League Grounds

05 Uhlsport Feature

31 Memories From The Past

06 One Minute With

32 Game For A Laugh

08/09 Match Reports

33 Fixtures Matrix

United Counties League

10/11 Player Profile

34 A Day In The Life Of...

12 Greenies Greetings

35 Away Days

14 Crazy Managerial Reigns

37 The Non-League Paper

Premier Division champions, 2 times Division One champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 2 times

16 A Blast From The Past

38 20 Best Football Stadiums

17 Chairmansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Views

39 Non-League Club News

18/21 Opponent Feature

40/41 Season Statistics

22/23 Pull Out Poster

42 League Table 44

A Beautiful Game

Bizarre Football Stories

The Teams

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Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time

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

Club Officials

Club Honours

04 Action Replay

Owner Mike Kearns Chairman Mike Kearns Managing Director Lee Kearns Director Iain Parr Joint First Team Managers Gary King / Zema Abbey Assistant First Team Manager Nathan Abbey Club Secretary Gary Wilson Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard Treasurer Keith Gotch Life President John Walker Life Vice-Presidents Ena Kester Jack Blyth

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Mel Hancock Ken Harris David Mackian Terry Reedman Stuart Walters Team Officials Ben Watts (Assistant Coach) Richard King (Goalkeeping Coach) Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt Physio Carol Holland St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley Club Merchandise Linda Walters Programme Editor Mark Davies Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas

Winners, 37 times

Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green

Winners, 2 times

Club Photographer Claire Howes Assistant Photographer Paulo Soares

Hinchingbrooke Cup

Club Information

Programme Sales Charlie Green

Founded 1879

Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson

Rowley Park, Kester Way St Neots PE19 6SL

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MANAGEMENT NOTES All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Dedication To The Cause Gary King Good afternoon everybody and welcome to everyone from Hungerford Town FC I hope you enjoy your visit to Rowley Park today.

A supporter in the bar asked me after our victory on Monday night what we had said to the boys at half time to stimulate such a turnaround. He was insinuating we had given the boys a telling off. I explained to him we certainly had not! Both Zema and myself had discussed and agreed our game plan after the Totton game so at half time in the semi final at 1-0 down, Nathan, Zema and myself calmly expressed opinions as to what it would take to go on and win the game...this leads to my next point and the next group of people who deserve praise - the people that complete the circle, THE PLAYERS....

We have lost 1 game in the last 12. The players have really bought into what we are trying to implement and I would like to especially mention the senior players who were already at the club before we arrived. It is a credit to the club that it had assembled such fantastic footballers whose contributions have been enormous and these players combined with the players we have brought in have all made the difference, even if they did have the wind on their backs and a massive hill to play down in the second half on Monday!!! they know they were fantastic. So there it is, success at any level of football resolves around a huge circle of people working towards the same goal, all wanting to be winners and it’s on that note I’ll sign off and I hope as we move forward being at your wits end watching St Neots play in huge games that are nerve racking is something you are all going to have to get used to...

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Of course, credit must be given to Parry; it was under Parry’s management we played Hitchin and won 5 0 in the first round of the competition; without that win this would not have been possible. In later rounds we turned to some of the 21’s who came in to the first team and did not disappoint so credit to all of those lads and to Steve Khune who’s players were ready and were good enough to ensure our progress in the competition when called upon. Of course, Mike and Lee, who have quite simply made St.Neots the best run club at this level of football and the next; a club that players at this

level, in my opinion, should aspire to play for. Also, Mick Hunt, who from the second I came to the club has always been there to help and support me, as well as Carol who patches the boys up and sends them back out to do battle! And you the supporters, you really are top draw and I always take note of how many fans we have, ultimately giving you guys something to smile about is part of my motivation and myself, Zema and Nathan thank you all for your consistent help and support.

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I have decided to dedicate today’s notes to our fabulous achievement on Monday night in reaching the Red Insurance cup final. Over the last 5 or 6 seasons I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in some very big games at these levels and it seems that in each of those seasons there has been a big game to look forward to for everybody involved and I am so pleased for you all that this season will be no exception. What I have realized over the years is that for a football club to be successful it takes a lot of different people’s input and skills and I’d like to take this opportunity to mention but a few...

‘Kingy’

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ACTION REPLAY

This Week Seven Years Ago UCL Premier Division - 7th March 2007 Bourne Town 0

St Neots Town 4

On Wednesday at Bourne, St Neots recorded their biggest away league victory since October 2005 when they scored seven goals at Harrowby. It was an excellent all round performance that featured solid defending and delightful finishing and it will have been a real confidence booster despite the absence of several first choice players. Most recent signing Martin Williams scored on his debut and Cameron Facey also appeared on the score list for the second time after coming on as a second half substitute. However the most significant team change saw the return after injury of skipper Russell Lawes and he knitted the defence together meaning that goalkeeper Martyn Patching had a relatively comfortable evening. It was St Neotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fourth league victory in five outings and they now have a relatively comfortable gap of eleven points above the relegation places in the Premier Division. St Neots dominated the first twenty minutes of the match and made their possession count with two early goals. After an Ashley Deverall cross was just inches too high for John Coley St Neots took the lead after 12 minutes when a Craig Reynolds corner was not cleared and Martin Williams forced the ball in from close

range. Two minutes later the lead was doubled thanks to a brilliant through pass from Ryan Francis who received the ball with his back to goal but his flick found John Coley who scored with a well placed shot. Bourne managed their first shot at goal after 21 minutes when a cross from Tim Quy found James Baxter but his fierce volley was close enough to Patching to be parried away. St Neots had a let off after 26 minutes when following a corner a Miles Mason header was cleared off the line by Deverall but as the ball bobbled around the penalty area Tom Moran was judged to have handled and a harsh penalty awarded. Bourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prolific leading scorer Miles Mason struck the crossbar with his spot kick and the ball was scrambled clear. St Neots began the second half as they had the first creating more chances. An Ivan Finch volley from 30 yards was touched over the bar by Ben Derbyshire and Ashley Deverall was only a foot too high with a shot that had the keeper beaten. Bourne then moved up a gear and Baxter brought a good save from Patching and Mason was only denied by a late ditch well times tackle by Moran. With fifteen minutes left a great run from his own half by John Coley saw him leave the defence in his wake and when

the keeper blocked his first effort he followed up to claim his second goal of the match and put the result beyond doubt. Cameron Facey had replaced Francis up front and he tied up the rout collecting a Coley pass to outpace two defenders and score with a low shot.

St Neots: Martyn Patching, Jason Darvall (Stuart Richardson 86 mins), Jimmy Dillnut, Tom Moran, Russell Lawes, Ivan Finch, Ashley Deverall (David Daniels 77 mins), Martin Williams, John Coley, Ryan Francis (Cameron Facey 63 mins), Craig Reynolds.

Subs Not Used: Mark Franklin & Ryan Hunt

Goals: John Coley (2) 14 & 75 mins, Martin Williams 12 mins, Cameron Facey 79 mins.

Man of the Match: Martin Williams

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CLUB NEWS

Official Club News Feed

Never miss a thing relating to St. Neots Town Football Club! For those of you who aren’t online much then the Saints Matchday Magazine will always bring you the latest news so that you are bang up-to-date.

Cup Finals Galore For Our Young Stars Of The Future St Neots Town Saints / Youth and Grassroots teams have been doing rather well this season with the U14s and U13s reaching no less than 2 Cup Finals and 2 Cup Semi Finals already and its still only February. • The U14s have reached the County Cup Final. • The U13s Development team have made the Cambs League Cup Final • The U13s Grassroots team have made the Semi Finals of both the Hunts County and league cups (despite they being a “B” league team.

“A Great Performance from our young guns well done from all that is St Neots Town FC keep the good work up you are all the stars of our future”

Newmarket Town 1 St Neots Town U13s A 3 St Neots continued their recent good run with an away win at Newmarket. The Saints took the lead when Harry Perry got on the end of a Joshua Jarvis through ball to force the keeper into a good save, but Billy Mobbs followed in to sweep home the rebound. The visitors doubled their lead through a goal of the season contender from Owen Dunnett. The home defence partially cleared a free kick, but it fell to Dunnett who smashed home an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards. However Newmarket got back into the game when they scrambled home a goal from a corner right on halftime. The Saints defended well in the second period to restrict the home side to only a couple of half chances and Mobbs killed the game off with the third when he poked home from close range. Team Devan Armiger, Charlie Roberston, Joe Harrison, Owen Dunnett, Alfie, Edwards, Ben Churms, Bailey Armiger, George Clark, Joshua Jarvis, Billy, Mobbs, Harry Perry. Sub: James Parker

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MATCH REPORT

Calor Southern League Premier Division Rowley Park - The Cozy Stadium (Att 252) Tuesday 18th February 2014 - Kick Off 19:45 Referee Paul Evans (Northampton)

St Neots Town Tolley (49 mins), Woolley 71 mins), Hilliard (73 mins)

3:1

Arlesey Town Hayles (27 mins) Powell n 63 Hayles n 75

Cracknell n 32 Farrell n 86 Abbey, Deeney, Adjei, Farrell, Frater, Hoyte, Hilliard, Cracknell, Thomas, Tolley, Ferrari.

Grant, Carey-Morrell, Powell, Taverner, Maltay, M’Bala, McNamara, McGovern, Hayles, Farrell, Shaw

Subs: Woolley (for Ferrari 64 mins), Nolan (for Thomas 86 mins), Wilson, Ford and Swan.

Subs: Basmel (for Farrell 64 mins), Madina (for CareyMorrell 62 mins), Foster (for Hayles 85 mins) Willett and Mouke-Nsue.

St Neots put a bogey firmly to bed as they came from behind to beat Arlesey Town for only the second time in twelve league and cup meetings. For Manager Gary King playing against his former club for the first time this must also have been a victory that gave extreme satisfaction although the evening had started badly when two of his regular players – Jay Davies and Arthur Lee – were forced to cry off suffering from food poisoning. However the victory is in many ways a tribute to the strength of squad that King has assembled because the changes never upset the rhythm or belief of the side of the as they extended their home record – unbeaten at the Cozy Stadium since 23rd November. Once again ace marksman Shane Tolley featured on the score sheet just two days after his birthday. The first half was very evenly fought with little to choose between the two sides. Twice in as many minutes visiting goalkeeper Aidan Grant on loan from Aston Villa produced classy saves to deny Simon Thomas and Dean Cracknell but it was the visitors who took the lead as former Fulham striker Barry Hayles displayed his Premiership pedigree as he collected a through ball from Liam McGovern as he shimmied past his marker and calmly rounded Nathan Abbey to plant the ball in the empty net. If this bothered St Neots it did not show as Lewis Hilliard sent

a 30 yards screaming shot just the wrong side of a post with Grant well beaten. Arlesey’s second real chance in the first 45 minutes fell to the impressive Jonny McNamara who brought a great save from Abbey at the expense of a corner. At a set piece at the other end Gavin Hoyte netted with a low shot but a colleague had strayed offside and the effort was ruled out. So St Neots went to half time a goal behind but after a few words of half time wisdom from Gary King the pattern of the match swung drastically in St Neots favour. Within four minutes of the restart the scores were levelled as Hilliard cleverly pulled a corner back to the edge of the box where Dave Deeney’s low shot was flicked in by the irrepressible Shane Tolley for his eighth goal in just six starts since rejoining the club. Again Grant stood between St Neots and more

goals as he produced two more world class saves to deny Hoyte and Hilliard. However the tide towards the Arlesey was unstoppable and two goals in as many minutes starting in the 71st minute put St Neots well in control. The first saw Tolley and Hilliard combine to set up substitute Jake Woolley for a crisp finish and then when a Woolley shot was blocked by a defender Hilliard pounced for a clinical finish to put St Neots 3-1 ahead. Any hopes that Arlesey could come back to get any reward from the game were dashed when their most dangerous player Jonny McNamara was stretchered off with a leg injury and from that point their resistance seemed only notional. St Neots coasted to victory and look poised now to make a determined assault on the safety of mi-table in the next few weeks.

MATCH REPORT

The Valley Stadium (Att 153) Tuesday 25th February 2014 - Kick Off 19:45 Referee Ben Cooke (Tamworth)

Redditch United Hylton (22 mins)

1:3

St Neots Town Hilliard 3 (49, 51 and 85 mins)

Flanagan n 45 Recci n 89

Hilliard n 33 Abbey n 82 Nolan n 90 +1

Catlow, Recci, Flanagan, Oshungbure, Jackson, Mutton, James, Youngs, Headley, Hylton, Ahenkorah.

Abbey, Deeney, Lee, Ford, Frater, Hoyte, Hilliard, Cracknell, Nolan, Davies, Adjei.

Subs: Williams (for Ahenkorah 78 mins), Loveridge, Brigwater, Caines and Hornby.

Subs: Farrell (for Ford 67 mins), Woolley (for Adjei 90 mins), Tolley, Thomas and Swan.

It was Hilliardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second three goals haul of the season and the side will now play a two legged midweek final against either Hungerford of the Premier Division or Tiverton (South and West Division). On a very heavy pitch that did not allow the ball to run evenly St Neots struggled to put their usual slick game into operation and the reorganised line up never got to grips with the slope. It was a half time team talk and sheer determination that brought about the significant second half improvement and in the end the final score line did not flatter the winners.

It did not take long for the game to change course after the restart. After six minutes the visitors had scored twice to overturn the lead and from that point on St Neots were in control. Ironically they should have equalised in their first second half attack but a superb cross from Arthur Lee found Davies unmarked at the far post but off balance he volleyed tamely over the bar. Then Hilliard took over. After 49 minutes

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The match started with neither side looking as if they wanted to grasp the initiative. St Neots playing a 4-41-1 formation with Jay Davies tucked in behind the hardworking Matt Nolan and there was only two direct shots at goal in the first quarter of an hour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both from distance by St Neots. Ben Ford starting in midfield for only the second time in eight matches fired over the bar and Jay Davies brought home keeper Bradley Catlow into action with a low shot. Nathan Abbey had to leave his line to save at the feet of Jermaine Hylton and then after 22 minutes Redditch went ahead with a soft goal as Hylton hit an opportunist shot from 25 yards that seemed to deceive

Abbey. That was the trigger for the home side to begin to play and five minutes later Edwin Ahenkorah was guilty of a bad miss when a Hylton cross found him unmarked at the far post but he scuffed his shot wide. Sam Youngs also squandered another chance for the home side whilst St Neots best openings saw Jay Davies twice shoot high and wide. Lewis Hilliard quiet for him earned a booking for a badly times tackle and the sides went to the break after a very low key first half.

Catlow spilled a shot from Dean Cracknell and Hilliard pounced to level from a narrow angle and two minutes later he picked up a clearance by Gavin Hoyte and cut in to net from almost 30 yards. St Neots then sent on Ben Farrell for Ford and the only significant chance Redditch created in the second half saw Harvey Headley pick up a through pass to net but St Neots were relieved when his effort was ruled out by an offside flag. St Neots settled down to playing patient football starving their opponents of possession and they became frustrated unable to make any progress against a resolute St Neots defence. With five minutes left the match was settled with a typical Lewis Hilliard goal as he picked up a clearance on the right flank and cut inside before beating Catlow with a left foot shot that was a very appropriate match winning goal.

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A second half Lewis Hilliard hat trick piloted St Neots through to their first ever Red Insure (Southern League) cup final at Redditch on Monday evening.

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Red Insure Cup Semi Final

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PLAYER PROFILE

Ben Farrell Ben Farrell joined us from Cambridge City. The 27-year-old former Cambridge United midfielder lists Arlesey Town, Bedford Town and Histon as his former Clubs.

PLAYER PROFILE

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GREENIES GREETINGS

What an achievement in only our 3rd year in the Southern League Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to RowleyPark – The Cozy Stadium, for today’s Calor League Premier Division Match. whilst being behind the camera, now that’s what I call going above and beyond her duties, so if you happen to bump into her this afternoon, please do thank her. If you are not yet aware, we play at Tiverton Town in the first leg of the final on Tuesday 18th March (kick off 19:30) and here at the Cozy Stadium in the second leg on Tuesday 8th April (kick off 19:45), so we hope to see as many of you here as possible that evening. Remember, “Bring a Mate, Double the Gate”, it really is that simple to help create an atmosphere worthy of a Cup Final to all our remaining home games.

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 enjoy your brief stay with us here in Cambridgeshire on what I believe is your first ever visit. Congratulations to Gary, Zema, Nathan, all the playing Squad and backroom staff, the board of Directors, Chairman and all our fantastic Supporters on reaching the Red Insure (Southern League) Cup Final. What an achievement to reach the final in only our third season competing in the Southern League and is a true testament to the dramatic change in fortunes the team has enjoyed under the experienced leadership of the guys in the hot seat. For those who travelled to Redditch, I’m sure it didn’t look like the game was going to pan out the way it eventually did at the break, going in a goal behind. However, playing down the slope and a few tactical tweaks during the half time interval, the lads once again turned in an improved second forty-five minutes and with the clinical finishing of Hat-trick Hero Lewis Hilliard (who has scored in every round of the competition,

netting seven times in five games), the rest is history as they say. I’d just like to thank Club Snapper Claire Howes, who kept everyone at home, work or just unable to attend, bang up to date with events by tweeting

Just two days earlier, on Saturday, we were in action at basement club AFC Totton and I don’t think I would be over critical if I were to say that our performance on the day, as a whole, wasn’t really up to our usual high standard. When I mentioned to Nathan that it was still a point away from home, he replied “three months ago we’d have happily taken a point from this game however we now feel it’s two points dropped.” This shows how far we have progressed in a short space of time and how the bar has been set performance wise. Have you seen our new ‘AWAY’ Polo shirts? Available in Red/Black carrying the Club Badge, this fresh new line is available in all sizes, at just £20.00, from our Merchandise kiosk and shortly, online in our Online Store on our great new-look website. Ok, Three points today would be most welcome but we need you to do your bit as our Twelfth Man on the sidelines. Rabble, Make Some Noise............. BE LOUD, BE PROUD, BE A SAINT ‘Greenie’

MATTY NOLAN WORKING HARD

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CRAZY

MANAGERIAL REIGNS

We count down the top ten bizarre stories that fall off the Managerial Roundabout that leaves us all scratching our bonses every season. 2) Brian Clough (Leeds) July 1974-September 1974

1) Paolo Di Canio (Sunderland) March 2013-September 2013

Clough’s 44-day tenure at Elland Road in 1974 has been amply told and re-told in books and on film as a match forged in hell, the pricking of a colossal ego. Announcing his arrival, Clough told Johnny Giles, Norman Hunter, Billy Bremner and the like to chuck all their trophies and medals in the bin as they’d been won through cheating. It was obviously a sore point as Clough had previously called for Don Revie’s Leeds to be demoted to the second division on account of their disciplinary record. Still, they were the defending champions and results had to be as striking on the field as remarks off it. That was the trouble - as Clough failed to gain the respect of the dressing room, he won just one in six, leaving Leeds fourth from bottom. It was reason enough to bring to a close one of the most disastrous and ill-advised managerial spells in history.

Bringing us bang up to date, maybe the maddest manager of them all. Paolo Di Canio’s appointment on March 31 this year was bound to be controversial, but nobody expected it to be so brief. As a self-proclaimed fascist, Di Canio was never going to be popular in the coal-mining heartland of Wearside but he won many fans over through his passion as Sunderland avoided relegation from the Premier League. His wild touchline celebrations as fierce rivals Newcastle were beaten 3-0 on their own patch the abiding memory of his time at the club. Brash, opinionated and volatile, Di Canio’s first full season in charge was going to go one of two ways. Having staked his reputation on an entirely new team, a dreadful start to the season culminated in a dressing room bust-up and his marching orders following a dismal 3-0 loss at West Brom. Quite who would take a gamble on such an unpredictable man and manager now remains to be seen.

DEENEY GOES AIRBORNE

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Sir Thomas Finney Born 5 April 1922; Died 14 February 2014 Tom Finney, who has died aged 91, was perhaps the most complete British footballer of all time, yet he failed to win a single major honour for either club or country. Blessed with exquisite balance, skill and tactical intelligence, he played the game with a grace – or indeed good grace – given to very few: he was never booked, sent off or even ticked off by referees. Stanley Matthews may have been the public’s favourite, but to purists Finney was the greater all-rounder. In the era of the maximum wage and before players enjoyed freedom of contract, there were many singleclub players. So integral did Finney become to Preston North End, staying there from the age of 14 until retirement at 38, that when he went the club virtually went with him, relegated to the second division, never to return. His brilliance inspired and often carried the team. Bill Shankly, an established right-half for Preston

when Finney joined (and later manager of Liverpool), said of his friend: “Tom Finney would have been great in any team, in any match and in any age … even if he had been wearing an overcoat.” It was classic Shankly hyperbole, though few who saw Finney play would disagree with the sentiment. Finney had a glittering career, but little silverware

to show for it – the price he paid for loyalty. The only medals he collected were for the 1941 Wartime cup (not regarded as a full football honour), when Preston beat Arsenal 2-1, and the 1951 Second Division championship. He even remained loyal to Preston when the Italian prince Roberto Lanza di Trabia made him an unimaginable offer to play for his team, Palermo, in Sicily. The prince had seen Finney play for England while they were touring Italy in 1952, and was so impressed he offered him a £10,000 signing-on fee, wages of £130 a month plus a bonus of up to £100 a game, a Mediterranean villa, a sports car and unlimited travel to and from Italy for his family. At the time, Finney was earning £14 a week with Preston (reduced to £12 in the summer close-season) plus a bonus of £2 for a win and £1 for a draw. To top up his wages, England’s best footballer ran a plumbing business on the side. The club refused the transfer outright, even when a £30,000 fee was offered as compensation. Its desperation to hold on to Finney became apparent just a year after he retired. Deprived of its most inspirational figure, this historic small-town club – founder members of the Football League in 1888 and its first-ever champions – went into long-term decline Finney was born a street away from Deepdale, the

home of the club he would come to embody. He was a slight, sickly boy, hampered by an infected gland in his neck. It was removed when he was 14, and shortly afterwards he gained a trial with Preston. Despite standing just 4ft 9in and weighing less than 5 stone, he was offered a contract to join the ground staff, but his father insisted that he learn a trade. So he signed instead as an amateur parttimer, and became an apprentice plumber – an occupation that would run parallel with (and outlast) his football career and lead to his nickname, the Preston Plumber.

Finneys craeer was held up because of the war but he made his longdelayed league debut for Preston at the age of 24 against Leeds United on 31 August 1946, the opening day of the first postwar season. It was the first of 473 competitive appearances for the club, in which he scored 210 goals. Many comparisons were made between Finney and Matthews, whom he initially displaced on England’s right wing. Matthews was a showman, dubbed “the wizard of the dribble”, an out-and-out winger who would hug the touchline. Finney was more versatile, playing in all five forward positions over the course of his career, and could score as well as create goals.

Career Appearances: 473 Goals: 210 International Caps: 76 Goals: 30 Career Highlight: Knighted in 1998

CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

We Can All Play A Part Mike Kearns Welcome to the Officials, Players and supporters of Hungerford Town for todays match. Our previous encounter earlier in the season ended with a single goal victory for our guests today. A close game of which could have gone either way. Since then of course we have had a major reconstruction of management and players so trying to predict todays game will not be easy at all.

We need a lot more supporters through the turnstiles and I know that I always come back to that but if we all want to be successful it really is an “All for one and one for all” situation.

Hopefully sooner rather than later because I know that they want to look at a few of our fringe players and give them an extended run in the team before the end of the season.

Give us 500 plus gates and we can have a very good shot as they say at moving up a couple of divisions. Yes St Neots Town FC in the football Conference.

With the squad we have now we have nothing to fear from any team in this league of which will put us in good stead for next season where I am sure with a few more additions we will be pressing for a promotion place.

Achievable of course, too much to ask maybe, no I don’t think so.

I think that the club with our new management team and the infrastructure below that is headed up by Iain Parr is just about ready to become a non-league force to be reckoned with. Of course there is still those horrible words “Finance” and “Balance the Books” to contend with and I would ask everyone connected with the club and of course that includes all of our supporters to look to next season and help us to really have a go in this league next season.

We have all witnessed a rather dull season compared to our previous successes and it hasn’t been much fun really has it. A lot of pressure on all of us at the wrong end of the league table and I for one would all like that pressure at the top of the table next season. It can be achieved and we can all play our part in helping us to get

there. So please and it has been said before “bring a mate and double the gate” is it that hard to bring just “one” friend and introduce that friend to the club and have a great Saturday afternoon watching football. Would you like your club to be promoted next season, of course you would. But it cannot be achieved unless we all play our part. Now there’s a challenge and I know that our club does love a challenge. Let’s get it on. Stop Press, St Neots Town Reach the final of the Red Insure cup, yes we have and a wonderful bonus for everyone to be able to have a couple of cup finals to look forward to. The second leg against Tiverton is at home so lets get a really big crowd behind us on the night and make it a night to remember. Right less of my call for the troops to stand up and be counted on to todays match and hopefully a good performance and 3 points.

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The 3 games we lost were by just the single goal so all in all a great improvement. It looks like we are safe from relegation but not mathematically as yet and I am sure that the management will rest until that target is achieved.

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Looking back at our last 17 competitive games of which is about one third of the season our record is quite impressive having won 9 drawn 5 and lost only 3 of those games.

All for one and one for all. Mike

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OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Hungerford Town

The Crusaders

This last week (like us) Hungerford were striving to reach the Final of the Red Insure Cup for the first time. Previous meeting of our clubs 2013/14 Season: Hungerford 1-0 St Neots Town Year Founded: 1886 Chairman: Steve Skipworth Club Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordtownfc

Welcome to our visitors this afternoon for our next engagement in the Calor Southern League Premier Division. They are the players, Directors and supporters of Hungerford Town and we extend to them our usual warm Cozy Stadium welcome. Hungerford are relatively recent newcomers to the Southern League having joined on promotion in 2009. Their first season they narrowly avoided relegation finishing just one place above the two relegated clubs but in 2010/11 they finished 7th – four points off the play offs. The following season they made the play offs but lost to Poole who in turn was beaten by Gosport. Last season they moved up to Step Three and the Premier Division of

the Southern League successfully winning their way through the play off system beating Paulton Rovers and Merthyr Town to join champions Poole Town at this level. Currently twelfth in the Division but with matches in hand they will be pleased with their inaugural season and they also enjoyed a very successful FA Trophy run only losing in the quarter finals to Skrill South outfit Gosport Borough. In our first ever meeting at the War Memorial Ground our lads were beaten by an early first half goal scored by Mark Draycott.

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 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

Photo courtesy of Hungerford Town

OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Adult:

ÂŁ10

Concession: Under 16 yrs:

ÂŁ5

Free

War Memorial Ground Capacity:

2,500

Disabled Access:

Yes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you know?.. In 1981 Hungerford Town was invited to compete in the Anglo Italian Semi-Pro tournament.

Did you know?.. 1997/98 The club appointed former Swindon Town legend Don Rogers as manager and the club reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Did you know?.. This season the club celebrates 125 years of football and the thought of good times ahead both on and off the pitch.

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

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.

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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.

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Admission Prices

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WHO’S WHO

Who calls the shots?... Bobby Wilkinson A young manager with a wealth of experience having worked under Scotland’s assistant manager Mark McGhee as a player; he was also involved with current Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers and Leeds manager Brian McDermott. He was part of the Reading backroom staff that went to the Wembley play-offs. In his third season as a manager Bobby won the Basingstoke Senior Cup and made history for the club when he won the play – off final against Merthyr Town taking Hungerford to the Southern League Premier Division the highest level they have ever played at. Ben Ashby - Assistant Manager

Elliott Legg – Defender

Scott Rees – Midfield

Has a wealth of coaching experience,including working for Wycombe Wanderers running their 16-19 Education Academy and is currently involved in the Reading FC Academy. Ben won the Spartan South Midland Reserve League Division 2 in 2007/2008 with Holmer Green, and was brought to Hungerford by Wilkinson to utilise his coaching experience in August 2010.

Age 18 – Elliott joined the side in November from the John Madejski Academy and was previously at Hayes and Yeading United.

Age 24 – Scott is a competitive midfielder who joined the side in August 2012 from Thatcham Town.

Gary Horgan – Defender / Midfield

Age 23 – James joined the side in December 2012 from Didcot Town and was previously at Thatcham Town and Reading Town.

Lea Barkus – Assistant

Dean Stow – Defender / Midfield

Lea joined the management team in March 2013.He was a professional with both Reading and Fulham, before injuries ended his career.

Age 26 – Dean returned to the club in December 2011 after a short spell with Gosport Borough, and was previously at Thatcham Town and Basingstoke Town.

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Paul Strudley – Goalkeeper

Age 30 – Struds joined us in August 2012 having spent the vast majority of his career with Thatcham Town. Rated as one of the most consistent keepers in the League. Jon Boardman – Defender Age 32 – Jon joined the club in August 2010 from Kingstonian and is a fans favourite, having won the Supporters Player of the Year for the last three seasons. He has football league experience with Rochdale and Dagenham & Redbridge. Mattie Day – Defender Age 26 - Rejoined the club in March 2010 after a short spell at Eastleigh and was previously at both Portsmouth,Oxford United and Oxford City. Mark Hughes – Defender Age 29 – Mark joined the side in August 2012 from Abingdon United having played at Thatcham and Reading Town before that.

Age 36 – Gary is an experienced player who returned to Hungerford last August having played here in the late 90’s, and was player manager of Swindon Supermarine the season before.

Luke Brewer – Midfield Age 28 – Luke is the clubs longest serving player, having joined in August 2004 and adds energy to the middle of the park with his tireless running. Ryan Crockford – Midfield Age 26 – Crocks returned to the club in January 2012 having left in the Summer of 2011 for a spell in the Blue Square Conference with Hayes and Yeading United. Ian Herring – Midfield Age 29 – Spud joined the side last summer from Eastleigh and was previously at Chippenham Town.Has league experience with Swindon Town. Nick Stanley – Midfield Age 27 – Nick joined the side from Oxford City in the summer and was previously at Swindon Supermarine.

James Clark – Midfield / Forward

Bradley Gray – Midfield / Forward Age 23 – Brads signed for the club in August 2012 from Swindon Supermarine, and was previously at Leyton Orient,Forest Green Rovers and Salisbury City. Stefan Brown – Forward Age 24 – Stefan joined the side in the summer from Basingstoke Town and was previously at AFC Totton and Thatcham Town. Mark Draycott – Forward Age 28 – Experienced forward who has been top scorer for the last two 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. Harry Goodger – Forward Age 27 – Harry is a robust forward who joined the side in August 2011 from Newbury FC, having previously played in the Kent area. Alan O’Brien – Forward Age 28 – Alan joined the club in August 2012 and is an experience wide player who has football league experience with Newcastle and Swindon Town and Yeovil Town.

SIMON THOMAS HOLDS THEM OFF

Back Row Malcolm Prior, Carol Holland, Richard King, Nathan Abbey, Matt Nolan, Niall Conroy, Dan Swan, Gavin Hoyte, Arthur Lee, Lorenzo Ferrari, Ben Farrell, Jay Davies, Dean Cracknell, Zema Abbey Front Row Lewis Wilson, Simon Thomas, Lewis Hilliard, Theo Davis, Ben Ford, Edd Adjei, Shane Tolley, Dave Deeney, Jake Woolley.

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THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

In the Inn or Staying In? Ade Roberts There’s nothing better than actually being at the match is there? Watching the game on Television may be a little more comfortable, a lot cheaper and more convenient but you just can’t beat sitting in the cold, having spent a fair few quid plus the added bonus of the penguin-style shuffle out of the ground at the final whistle. Why do we do it? It’s simple. There’s no substitute for physically being here in the stadium. Let’s be havin’ you! Norwich City Director Delia Smith rallies the crowd!

Sadly, for the majority of us, we’ll have to settle for the TV viewing when it comes to the World Cup tournament in Brazil this summer. It must be absolutely amazing mustn’t it to actually be there to see the matches, but incredibly hard on the wallet though! With the England games taking place at 5pm, 8pm and 11pm, it comes as no surprise that the pubs want to open later to take advantage of the later kick-offs for the opening and closing games of the tournament. Great news for fans that enjoy the atmosphere of the pub (if we win); however, being in the pub for the match can also amplify the disappointment if the result goes against us! At least then you get the opportunity to share that disappointment with a pub full of other fans. If you’re watching at home you can vent your frustrations in your own space. It’s a difficult choice. It’s great to be in the pub watching the game if we win, celebrating with friends and sometimes complete strangers hugging you following a goal. However, if the game is lost, watching at home is probably the best option.

amongst the Aberdeen fans. Then of course, there was the drunken fan that rang the police asking to speak to Alex Ferguson recently after Man United lost to Sunderland.

Obviously, the combination of alcohol and passion for the beautiful game sometimes has its adverse effects. During the 2010 world cup in South Africa, following Germany’s win over Ghana, a drunken German supporter set about hitting a policeman around the head with his vuvuzela. Remember those irritating contraptions? Hopefully, there’s nothing like them at the Brazil tournament. If anything, it’ll be Samba whistles but let’s hope not. The poor copper on this occasion in 2010 was only directing the traffic leaving the stadium, minding his own business and then set upon by the drunken German! A recent survey in America showed that 1 in 10 supporters at Baseball and American football games leave the stadium over the legal drink limit. They have their fair share of aggro at games too. Neil Lennon recently felt the brunt of intoxicated football fans at their game against St. Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup Semi Final. He was pelted with coins and spat at whilst spectating in the main stand

It’s not just the fans that make the headlines though is it after a little tipple? Norwich City director Delia Smith well known for her (alleged) drunken rant in 2005 during a half-time break after relinquishing a 2-0 against Manchester City. Even though she took some stick for that little outburst, a few years later whilst addressing a 40,000 crowd and celebrating Norwich City’s promotion, Delia began chanting, giggling, swearing and then mispronounced the club manager’s name. What a legendary performance that was [Delia’s, not Norwich’s] Wherever you choose to spend the evenings watching the England games this summer, take it easy on the sherbet. Use it to celebrate a great result or to dampen a defeat but drink responsibly [only if you’re old enough though] As for todays’ proceedings…..let’s hope we can be celebrating later after a thoroughly entertaining and convincing victory!

Ade

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FEATURE ADVERTISING

FOOTBALL FUNNIES

Don’t Dream It’s Over

With barely any of the home crowd remaining having all left when their team was down 5-1 with 10 men, visiting Huddersfield drew level again at six-all with five minutes to play before a final-second header by Ryan gave Charlton a remarkable 7-6 victory. From 5-1 down with 27 minutes remaining and already down to 10 men, Charlton had fought their way back into the

Any player that scores four goals in the same match would normally be thrilled with his achievements. But not Aston Villa defender Chris Nicholl who scored four goals on March 20, 1976—only problem being that he scored two own goals for Leicester City, with the match finishing in a 2-2 draw. Nicholl gave Leicester the opening goal before equalizing for Villa just before half time. He would then go on to give Leicester the lead again with a great goal in the second half before drawing level once more for Villa late in the match—creating one of the greatest game reviews in the history of the game. The defender recalls the afternoon well and laughs about the moment—saying that his biggest frustration about it all was that he didn’t even get the game ball that day. The third goal, Leicester’s second, was a cracker. Best goal I ever scored. A diving header. No goalkeeper would have saved that. Fortunately my fourth equalized for [Aston] Villa, so that was a relief. So after scoring those four goals in that 2-2 draw, I asked the referee if I could have the ball. “No,” the ref said, “this is my last match and I am keeping the ball”. Just my luck, I suppose. My first hat-trick in a Villa shirt and I don’t even get the ball...

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Played in December 1957, Charlton were reduced to 10 men after 27 minutes after captain Derek Ulton had to be taken to hospital due to a dislocated shoulder. Substitutions were not allowed at the time, and almost immediately, Huddersfield took a 1-0 lead through Les Massie. Huddersfield would continue to build on their lead with two goals to Alex Bain, one to Bill McGarry and one to Bob Ledger—holding a commanding 5-1 lead over the home side with 27 minutes remaining in the match before something truly remarkable happened. Johnny Summers and Johnny “Buck” Ryan scored a goal apiece for Charlton in the space of two minutes to reduce the margin to 5-3. Summers then scored at the 73rd and 78th minute—tying the game at five goals all before netting his fifth goal of the night in the 81st minute to give Charlton a 6-5 lead.

Chris Nicholl’s Big Day out

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From one incredible finish to another, Charlton Athletic’s 1957/58 clash against Huddersfield Town in the Football League Second Division will surely go down as one of the most remarkable matches ever and one that must be looked at here.

winners’ circle and had recorded arguably the greatest comeback in history in the process— leaving then Huddersfield manager Bill Shankly speechless. Arsenal’s recent comeback against Reading pales in comparison to this.

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There’s never a dull moment supporting your favourite team, the beautiful game has been kicking around for years but will always throw up some lunacy! Check these beauties out!

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Wonderful

non-league

grounds There are many great new stadiums in Non League football, ours is one of them. But what about those lovely old grounds with those beautiful old stands. We take a look at them up and down the country.

Bexhill United – The Polegrove

Bodmin Town – Priory Park

(Sussex League Division Two) The Polegrove, Brockley Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 3EX

(South West Peninsula League Premier Division) Priory Park, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 2AE

Bexhill United have only ever played at The Polegrove since their formation in 1926. The superb mock Tudor brick and timber built grandstand was opened in 1929. The spectacular stand houses the teams changing rooms and a smaller officials room. Adjacent to the stand on the seafront side of the ground is the clubhouse which was completed in 1987. The club has spent recent years in the lower reaches of the Sussex County League, but are rightly proud of their grandstand, one of the most attractive in the country. In the summer of 2002 the old Bexhill Town club merged with Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club to be renamed as Bexhill United.

As you arrive in Bodmin on the A389 the huge site that is Priory Park lies in the shallow valley to the left and its photogenic stand looks great from the roadside. Adjacent to the ground is Athelston House and behind it the valley banks up sharply and the superb vista is completed by the distant focal point of Gilbert’s Monument. The stunning pitched roof stand was opened in September 1958 some ten years after the club started leasing the site from Bodmin Council. At the time the stand cost some £2,500 to construct but was worth every penny as it remains one of the best in the area. However, the club have lofty aspirations and either a move or substantial redevelopment remains a possibility. For stadium purists these plans are sacrilegious.

THEO DAVIS IN THE AWAY COLOURS NEW POLO SHIRT

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From 1863 to the Present Day Football has come a long way since its first laws were drawn up in London in 1863.

Gradual changes

From that date a single person with powers to send players off as well as give penalties and freekicks without listening to appeals became a permanent fixture in the game. The two umpires became linesmen, or ‘assistant referees’ as they are called today. Also during that meeting in Scotland, the goal net was accepted into the laws, completing the make-up of the goal after the introduction of the crossbar to replace tape 16 years previously. With the introduction of rules, the features of the football pitch as we know it slowly began to appear. The kick-off required a centre spot; keeping players ten yards from the ball at kick-off, brought the centre circle. It is interesting to note that when the penalty came in 1891, it was not taken from a spot but anywhere along a 12-yard line before 1902. The 1902 decision to award penalties for fouls committed in an area 18 yards from the goal line and 44 yards wide, created both the penalty box and penalty spot. Another box ‘goal area’, commonly called the ‘sixyard-box’, six yards long and 20 wide, replaced a semi circle in the goalmouth. However it was not for another 35 years that the final piece of the jigsaw, the ‘D’ shape at the edge of the penalty area,

Rous rewrites the Laws

By the late 1930s it was felt that the Laws of the Game, now totalling 17, required a makeover. The original Laws had been penned in the language of Victorian England and since then, there had been more than half a century of changes and amendments. Hence the task given to Stanley Rous, a member of the IFAB and the official who first employed the diagonal system of refereeing, to clean the cobwebs and draft the Laws in a rational order. Despite football’s phenomenal popularity, there was a general agreement in the late 1980s that the Laws of the Game should be fine-tuned in the face of defensive tactics. If fan violence was a serious off-the-pitch problem during that period, then on it the increasingly high stakes meant a real risk of defensive tactics gaining the upper hand. Hence a series of amendments, often referred to as for the ‘Good of the Game’, which were designed to help promote attacking football. They began with the offside law in 1990. The advantage was now given to the attacking team. If the attacker was in line with the penultimate defender, he was now onside. In the same year, the ‘professional foul’ - denying an opponent a clear goal-scoring opportunity - became a sendingoff offence.

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In those early years, the game gradually assumed the features we take for granted today. Goal-kicks were introduced in 1869 and corner-kicks in 1872. In 1878 a referee used a whistle for the first time. Yet there was no such thing as a penalty up until 1891. In the public schools where modern football originated, there was an assumption that a gentleman would never deliberately commit a foul. Amid the increased competitiveness, however, the penalty, or as it was originally called ‘the kick of death’, was introduced as one of a number of dramatic changes to the Laws of the Game in 1891. Penalties, of course,

Referees introduced

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That historic meeting at the Freemasons’ Tavern led not only to the foundation of the Football Association but, moreover, to the game’s inaugural set of common rules.Although undergraduates at Cambridge had made an earlier attempt to achieve a uniform standard in the late 1840s - albeit still allowing the ball to be caught - it was not until 1863 that football, a sport played down the centuries in often-violent village contests and then embraced in the early 1800s by the English public schools, had a fixed rulebook. Under the charge of one Ebenezer Cobb Morley, 14 laws were soon penned for a game that would, in the following century, become the most played, watched and talked about activity on the planet.

had to be awarded by someone and following a proposal from the Irish Association, the referee was allowed on to the field of play. True to its gentlemanly beginnings, disputes were originally settled by the two team captains, but, as the stakes grew, so did the number of complaints.

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GAME FOR A LAUGH

ES!

COMMENTATORS FOOTBALL GAFF

You can always rely on the good old football commentator to come out with a classic during the big match! Here are a few howlers! ALEX McLEISH “I look forward to hearing from the silent majority”

ARSENE WENGER “I haven’t seen it, but it looks generous”

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ALAN BRAZIL “Paolo Di Canio is one picnic short of a hamper”

“Reading won’t have the confidence to be confident” Paul Merson

MARK NOBLE

CLAYTON BLACKMORE

“Not to win is guttering”

“It’s never over until somebody sings”

DANNY KELLY “One win doesn’t make a swallow”

RAY WILKINS

STEVE CLARIDGE

PHIL NEILL

“That’s exactly how you head a ball... you use your head”

“They can push the bat a little bit more than others at that level”

“Whoever you support, you’ve got that blood in your veins”

CLARK CARLISLE

ANDY TOWNSEND

JOHN SCALES

“In the end, Rosicky initially did well”

“That’s put a strain on his lefthand knee”

ROY KEANE

TONY CASCARINO

“He’s been like a fresh of breath air”

“He’s a good footballer, as in technical-wise”

STAN COLLYMORE

JASON McATEER

“Alex Ferguson is speaking about Liverpool in an intimate way”

“Jordan Henderson is a player who likes to do his business in the middle of the park”

“It’s an unprecedented precedent”

ANDY GRAY “Darren Fletcher is the type of player who would walk over hot coals to play for his country, and he has done”

PHIL BROWN “If you closed your eyes, you couldn’t tell the difference between the two sides”

Heard a howler? Pass it on and we will look to feature it in a future issue. Email saintsmag@stneotstownfc.co.uk

Image credit: TalkFootball

FIXTURES MATRIX

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Find your voice on the official club forum at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum Become a Member today at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk 34

Carol Holland

Club Physio I’ve got him well trained!! Gav used to be the first one in my room before every match, until, I announced that I had qualified in medical acupuncture, since that day he very rarely graces me with his presence as he has a needle phobia!!! The usual suspects appear into the physio room, but generally they just come in for a chat first. The physio room seems to have become the “meeting point” for the lads.

During the week I can be found at the club on training nights seeing Youth players for physio treatment before the First team come in for training. I find the youth players of St Neots Town Youth and Saints are very proactive and committed when it comes to completing whatever I have advised them to do, and they are coming back into training in record time. You can also find me chained to my laptop during the week writing out rehab plans for the injured players. Often books also surround me, reading about the latest rehab and exercise advice so that I can put together interesting exercises for the injured players to perform as they tend to have the attention span of a gnat and need lots of interesting things to do, or else they get bored! You will also find me putting together “Fat busting” workouts for the players that have toppled the scales on weigh in nights! Match days consist of the following routine: I arrive at the ground and await the stream of visitors into the physio room. Gary the secretary is the first in my room with a cup of tea for me….

The lads that need treatment start to take to the couch. I start with the guys that need strappings for the occasional ankle injury. Lewis Hilliard likes to have his pre-match back massage and so does Ed. Ed generally lies on the couch reading the match day programme whilst I’m massaging his back! Lorenzo and Ben Farrell come in for leg massages and then Nathan comes in for the full body works! Dave Deeney comes in for a groin massage. I decided last week that he’s had too much of my tender touch just recently so I got the electric “Thumper massager” onto him. He’s rather ticklish in that region and spent the next 5 minutes writhing on the couch not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Then I caught him admiring the picture of my daughter on the windowsill and he gets told again that I am not introducing her to him!! Anyone who needs a fitness test has it at 1-30pm. This consists of me getting the player to perform a variety of exercises from jogging through to plyometric work and football functional movements. If they pass the range of activities then I will sign them off either fit to play or fit to recommence training. Once I’ve got the lads out of the room I get on with sorting out my pitch side bag. I top it up with medical supplies and water and then it’s a trip

down to the cellar to fill the icebox up. I get the fracture pack, neck brace and first aid bag ready and Malcolm takes these over to the dugout ready for the game. Any players that are injured come in once the lads are outside warming up. During this time I do massage, ultrasound, medical acupuncture and any strength and stretch exercises that they require to help with their rehabilitation. The match day mascots are brought into the physio room and they have a chat with me and I tell them what I do and let them look around my room and sit on the physio couch. By this time Maz is in and she brings me another cup of tea before the match (I am so well looked after!) Then I give Nathan a last hamstring stretch, Ben Ford and Gav have their fingers in the Vicks and Lewis Hilliard has his wrist strapped (that seems to have become his lucky mascot!) Then, the buzzer goes and its coat on, bag in hand and off to the dugout. I also run my own business where I see private clients for sports rehabilitation. I am also a qualified hula-hoop instructor and I am hoping to start classes at the ground in the foreseeable future. I also teach Ballroom dancing, and again, I am hoping to bring some “Strictly come dancing” classes to the club as well. I would like to thank my dedicated volunteer stretcher bearers who are a credit to the club, and, should I require their services on a match day, are quick and professional when they are called into action. And, on a final note, I would also like to thank the fans that have welcomed me so warmly since my arrival at the club last season.

Everything you need for the next two away fixtures

Calor League Premier Division

Redditch United v St Neots Town

Truro City v St Neots Town

Monday 03rd March 2014 – K.O. 19:45pm

Saturday 08th March 2014 – K.O. 15:00pm

Away Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £6, Under 16 Yrs £2

Away Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £6, Under 16 Yrs £3 Under 12 (accompanied by adult) Free Opponent Website: www.redditchutdfc.co.uk

Team Coach Departs: TBC Sat Nav Postcode Reference: B97 4RN

Team Coach Departs: TBC

Round Trip (from St Neots): 198 miles

Sat Nav Postcode Reference: TR1 2TH Round Trip (from St Neots): 665 miles

Travel in style on the Team Coach for only £10pp return Advance bookings (recommended) can be made at the Club Bars, email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk for more information and to check availabilty. Don’t leave it late as spaces are limited to 25 for each game.

Upcoming Fixtures - Visit www.stneotstownfc.co.uk for the latest updates 02.03.14 Calor League Premier Division Cambridge City

v Bedford Town

08.03.14 Calor League Premier Division AFC Totton

v Cambridge City

03.03.14 Calor League Premier Division

15:00

Bedford Town

v Chippenham Town 15:00

Redditch United

Bideford

v Arlesey Town

v St Neots Town 19:45

Arlesey Town

v Chippenham Town 19:45

Bashley

v AFC Totton

19:45

Hungerford Town

v Cambridge City

19:45

Poole Town

v H Hempstead Town 19:45

Weymouth

v Chesham United

19:45

05.03.14 Calor League Premier Division Corby Town

v St Albans City

19:45