2022/23 - Issue Six - Spalding United

Saints

FromtheDugout

WithFirstTeamManagerPeterGill

"Good afternoon and welcome to the Premier Plus Stadium for today’s League game vs Spalding. We offer a warm welcome to our visitors and wish them well for the rest of the season."

Over the last few weeks, the team have had a difficult period with results not going our way. I know there have been some negative comments from within the club and around the club, but I believe we have a group here who will work hard to turn things around. After the Sutton Coldfield game we needed to see a reaction and change our way of playing. I was delighted with how the players responded last Saturday away at Gresley, which will prove a difficult place to get results this season, I am sure.

The players and I are under no illusion that one result will see us instantly right all the wrongs from the opening period of the season. However, with hard work, commitment and being more adaptable with how we play I believe we can pick up positive results in the coming months.

As mentioned in the opening notes, I understand the comments aimed at myself and the team. When you are not winning football matches, I fully expect the comments and it is our job to prove those wrong. I do ask that you continue to support the players as they continue to work their socks off to turn things around. Moving onto today’s game. We face one of the leagues big spenders who have assembled a really strong squad. They have 3 or 4 players who over the last 18 months or so I have tried to convince to join us, however we haven’t been able to compete finically. So, I know first hand how good their squad is and the dangers they threat. I do believe we are facing one of the best assembled squads in the league today so we know we’ll have to be at our very best . They have a dangerous attacking front line, supported by an excellent midfield with one or two of the league’s best. Their backline has a real mix of experience and sees some excellent ex professionals, so they are strong all over the pitch.

I am under no illusions this will be one of our toughest games of the season.

FromtheDugout

WithFirstTeamManagerPeterGill

I hope the players do themselves justice and a positive result this afternoon will go along way to show the improvements made over the last few weeks.

Lastly, an update on the injury front….(It doesn’t make pleasant reading!)

·Theo Sackey-Mensah – Theo returned to action with 45 against Gresley. He has been ill this week so we will have to monitor that situation.

·Declan Nche – Dec also returned vs Gresley and like Theo has had illness this week so will have to be monitored.

·Dan Barton – Barts limped off vs Sutton Coldfield and is currently undergoing rehab for an ankle injury. This is likely to take a few weeks.

·Andre Hasanally – Andre suffered a knock vs Gresley and at the time of writing we are waiting to see the damage before knowing how long he will be out.

·Charlie Stallard – Charlie took a tackle to the ankle vs Sporting Khalsa. It is not as bad as first feared but is still in a boot and will be out for the foreseeable future.

·Charlie Lewis – Charlie was named on the bench vs Sutton Coldfield but in name only. He is currently undergoing rehab but may be a few weeks away from returning.

·Brandon Njoku – Unfortunately Brandon’s rehab has stopped progressing and the exact cause of his pain is still somewhat unknown. The best case scenario at this stage still looks to be another 5-7 weeks however this may be longer depending on getting to the route cause of the problem

As always, please get behind the team today!

BoardroomGossip

BoardroomGossip

WithChairmanBarryCavilla

WithChairmanBarryCavilla

As is customary, I’d like to warmly welcome all involved with today’s opponents to St Neots Town FC and wish them a safe return to Lincolnshire after the game.

Last Saturdays much needed win away at Gresley Rovers was fully deserved and the lads showed what they are capable of doing, in terms of the quality of football they can produce. The win (and the 3 valuable points) was made even more impressive given the total commitment and energy the team gave right from the start. Like you all I’m hoping that we can build on that performance and pick up a few more wins in the coming games to help us to consolidate our place in the table and we’ll move away from any relegation concerns.

As mentioned in some of my previous programme notes, the support from our Sponsors and Supporters is vital if we are to continue to try and be competitive at this level of football. The support we have had so far to date is really good and we are very thankful for that, however, we still have a number of further sponsorship opportunities we need to fill if we are to continue to moving forward off the pitch. In particular, we are still looking for Match and Ball Sponsors for our up and coming games and would ask if any individuals or businesses with in our community like to support us, so if anyone you feel might be interested, please let us know and we can provide more information.

I wish to say a very BIG ‘Thank you’ to Rachel and her friendly colleagues at Urban & Civic for their community day helping hand support at the club recently, some much needed maintenance jobs were sorted and has helped keep our facilities in good shape for all the community to come and enjoy.

Finally we are keen to get your feedback on anything we can do to improve your match day experience. So please share any thoughts you have with any of the Board, Club Officials and Volunteers so we can continue to improving match days at the Saints and helping support this community club.

COME ON YOU SAINTS

Barry Barry Barry

"Welcome back to Premier Plus Stadium for this afternoon’s Northern Premier League Midland Division fixture against Spalding Utd."

BoardroomGossip

WithChairmanBarryCavilla

"Good afternoon and a warm welcome to the Premier Plus Stadium to our supporters, old and new, as well as the visiting fans, officials and players of Spalding United."

I have not been visible round the club in the past couple of weeks due to personal commitments but the hard work being carried out by myself and the team has been continuing. We have exciting prospects of a relaunched St Neots Sports Association with its inaugural meeting at the beginning of November. This also enables us to work with local business through the St Neots Initiative.

I also realise that we have been going through a tough time recently but please believe that we are taking the necessary steps to move forward. The board have a plan off the pitch, Pete and his team have a plan for on the pitch and these will all be made transparent to you all when they are set in stone.

Every conversation starts the same way, so hello come and have a chat.

“First you must believe you are the best, then make sure you are” - Bill Shankly Come on you Saints.

Daniel Daniel

WithCommercialDirectorDanielDodson

BLASTFROMTHEPAST

SouthernLeaguePremierDivision

STNEOTSTOWN 1 DORCHESTERTOWN 0

Last season the corresponding match to this had produced eleven goals – this match by contrast probably produced less than eleven clear chances and just one goal. However that was enough to deservedly give St Neots a clean sheet and all three points and take them to within three points of the play off places with two or three matches in hand of the clubs ahead of them.Once again their scorer was ace poacher Tom Meechan who now has sixteen goals in seventeen starts since moving up two steps in the football pyramidatthestartofthisseason. AlthoughStNeotsinjurylistisbeginningtoimprove withthreeseniorplayersduebackinthenextcoupleofweeksorsotherewerestilllittle genuine selection options for this match so the team was glad to welcome back Jamie Anton after suspension to replace the only partly fit Adam Tann who was on the substitutes bench. Dorchester seeking to win their way back to the National League after struggling last season looked a very compact and well organised side and had a good first half but faded as the game wore on. St Neots was well served in defence by acting skipper Tom Ward and the dependable Shane Blackett and there was another solid midfield display from Josh Beech and but for a couple of good second half saved by visitingkeeperShaneMurphytheymighthavewonbyabiggermargin.

The first half saw two very evenly match sides try to make an impression but clear chances at either end were at a premium with defences comfortably in control. Josh Beech filling the midfield holding role was twice in attacking action early on glancing a nearpostheaderoverthebaraftertenminutesandfiveminuteslaterheadingdownfor Isaac Galliford who blasted his effort high over the bar. Dorchester’s first two serious efforts on goal both finished up in the side netting from first Jonah Ayunga and then Bradley Tarbuck. However the visitors created the best two first half chances.After 34 minutes Charlie Davis and Lewis Morgan combined to set up Tarbuck and when Andy WiltondivedtoparryhisshotitfellkindlyforBenWatsonwhosefollow-upshotwaswell smothered by the goalkeeper. Five minutes later St Neots failed to clear and Jonah Ayunga sent Tarbuck clear on the right but his shot was deflected on to the cross bar by an outstretched defensive leg. Three minutes before the break St Neots were denied a clear penalty when Meechan was brought down but Referee Mark Wardell opted to play theadvantageruleonlyforGallifordthroughongoaltoshootoverthebaragain.

BLASTFROMTHEPAST

SATURDAY17THOCTOBER2015

CONTINUED

JamieAntonhadanearlysecondhalfshotcomfortablysavedbutStNeotsplayinga4-3-3 formation with Lee Clarke just behind the front two were quickly having the better of the game. From a Galliford corner visiting keeper Shane Murphy produced the save of thematch–afulllengthdivingsavefromMeechanattheexpenseofanothercornerand then Clarke shot wide. The all-important goal came after 69 minutes when Galliford seemingly hemmed in on the bye line by two defenders did really well to produce an accurate cross to find the head of Ryan Hawkins and he unselfishly nodded it down for Tom Meechan to drive into the net. Charlie Davis shot high over the bar in a swift Dorchester counter attack but St Neots looked well in control and Murphy under pressuredidwelltopushawayaHawkinsfreekick.Thevisitorstriedtofreshenuptheir attack by introducing two substitutes but St Neots defence was never seriously under threat and they twice broke clear – first for Clarke to fire over the bar and then for Meechantowrigglebetweendefenderandkeeperbutoffbalancehecouldonlylobonto the roof of the unguarded goal. It was not St Neots’ most convincing victory of the season but it was workmanlike and efficient and maintained their run of just one defeat intheirlastnineleaguematches.

St Neots Town: Wilton, Anton, Wilkinson, Beech, Ward, Blackett, Clarke, Longden, Meechan,Hawkins,Galliford

Dorchester Town:

Walker, Dillon, Davis, Morgan,

JWMatchlookingahead SpaldingUnited

TODAY IS A REUNION OF A SORT BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST LEAGUE MEETING OF OUR TWO CLUBSATSTNEOTSSINCE15/NOVEMBER/2003

A special welcome to our visitors for this afternoon’s Premier Division game in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. They are the players, officials and supporters of SPALDING UNITED FC who are appearing at Rowley Park for the first time since 15th November 2003 when we drew 1-1 with Steve Kuhne our marksman. Spalding wentonthatseasontowintheUCLChampionshipandpromotionbacktoStepFour. We had met on five occasions at our former ground just down the road (details below) so thiswillbeSpalding’sfirstvisittothePremierPlusStadium. Ourvisitorshaveledafairly nomadic existence switching between steps five and four since the millennium and this season they look to be making a determined effort to achieve Step Three status as prior to last Saturday they sat proudly in third place in the league table unbeaten so far in eight completed league matches when these notes were penned. Last Saturday they hosted Stafford Rangers in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy having beaten league leaders Halesowen Town 3-0 on their last league outing. Unfortunately for them thiswasasteptoofarandtheywerebeatenathomebytheoddgoalinthree. However, they will continue to protect that unbeaten record as the season progresses.Our league meetings at home to Spalding since our reformation in 1994 shows one, win, one draw andthreedefeatssoourladswillbekeentoimprovethatrecordthisafternoon. Spalding’s best league performance came more than thirty years ago when they finished 6th in the Southern League Midlands Division in 1989/90. That year also saw them reach the quarter final of the FA Vase – an achievement equalled in 1996.97. They have also reached the FA Cup first round proper on two occasions in 1957/58 and again in 1964/65. ThisseasontheybowedoutoftheFACupinthePreliminaryRoundlosing1-0athometo Lincolnshire neighbours Stamford having beaten Deeping Rangers in the Extra PreliminaryRound.

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StNeotsTown 2 SportingKhalsa 4

A fourth goal for the visiting side four minutes into added time gave a false impression of this contest after St Neots had fought back from two goals down andmissedasecondhalfpenaltykick. Withapatched-upside,theyhadfought back after the break to get a foothold in the contest after being outplayed for long spells in the first half, but a late goal deep into added time gave the visitors an impressive victory by a two goals margin that was more complimentary than they deserved. However, it should also be noted that goalkeeper Jamie Greygoose gave a fine performance in the St Neots goal and that the visitors’ finishing was very wayward or the victory might have been even greater. St Neots injury list had lengthened again forcing Manager Pete Gill into further changes that stretched his squad to the limit. Toib Adeyemi, Dan Barton and Declan Nche joined Charlie Lewis, Theo Sackey-Mensah and Brandon Njoku on the injured list and Harvey Beckett had departed after just seven impressive performances this season leaving Jaydyn Lott as his replacementloanfromCambridgeUnited.

Jamie Greygoose was in early action saving a close-range effort from Josh McKenzie and then forced to go full length to push away a well-placed effort from James McGrady for a corner. From that cross he was again in action tipping an effort from Liam Armstrong for another corner. When St Neots did break out Andre Hasanally saw his effort blocked but the pressure on the St Neots goal was relentless as new boy Jaydyn Lott did well to block another effortbyArmstrong. Thenafter24minutesacrossfromSeanWilliamswasnot cleared and Armstrong clipped a shot through a crowded defence to open the scoring. Looking well offside Miracle Okafor went clear of the defence but Greygoose spread himself to block with his legs and on the stroke of half time the visitors extended their lead as Okafor set up by Josh McKenzie added their second goal. St Neots defiantly kept going in time added and Saleem Akanbi turnedintheareatopullagoalbacktogivehissidesecondhalfhope.

St Neots began well after the break and Hasanally had a shot well saved by Samuel Arnold before after 64 minutes, visiting defender Tesfa Robinson handled in the area, but the usually reliable Trey Charles saw his spot kick pushed away by the goalkeeper. After the visiting custodian had saved well from Akanbi, the visitors reinstated their two goals advantage when Miracle Okaforwasplayedclearofthedefenceandthistime,hemadenomistakewith justthekeepertobeat.However,fiveminuteslaterTreyCharles atoned for his penalty miss when he linked

run by Aaron Smith to reduce the deficit to a single

their efforts in search of a late equaliser but deep into

St

Kieran Whittaker converted after a shot by Lewis

by a defender. It was hard on a StNeotssidethathadfoughtbackafterapallidfirsthalfdisplay.

St Neots Town:

Lott, Stallard, Osei,

SuttonColdfieldTown 6 StNeotsTown 0

St Neots third away trip to the Birmingham area in as many weeks ended in a disappointing heavy defeat although the final score line did not accurately reflect the contest. For half an hour in each half St Neots were more than equal to their hosts but curiously conceded three quick goals in that last quarter of an hour of each half. Their hosts who had famously dumped league leaders Halesowen out of the FA Trophy in their last home game were sharper and produced a display of exceptional finishing to record this comprehensive victory. St Neots were without two central defenders due to injury and unavailability and so had to resort to moving striker Robbie Mason back to centre half – an experiment that did not come off. The defence conceded two carelessgoalsjustbeforethebreakandalthoughtheyrecoveredwellthatfinal onslaught with two home substitutes adding the three late goals was something to reflect on in the long midweek trip back home. Dan Barton returned to the side after injury replacing the injured Charlie Stallard in the reshaped line-up, but a recurrence of that injury forced him off early in the secondhalf.

Although St Neots defended quite well in the very early stages repelling efforts by Ceesay Dampha, Rhys Hiton and Trea Bertie with visiting keeper Jamie Greygoose in constant action. They then settled with Trey Charles sending an Andre Hasanally free kick over the bar and Charles set up Saleem Akanbi who forced home keeper Jonathan Brown to dive bravely at his feet to smother the shot. However, after 31 minutes the home side took the lead with a slick move as Cameron Collins played Rhys Hilton clear and he made no mistake. Two minutes later poor defending let in James Spruce for a second goal from a Hiltoncross.StNeotstriedtorespondasCharleshadashotblockedbutakiller goalaminutebeforethebreaksetupSuttonColdfieldforaninevitablevictory. With no danger in sight Hasanally was too easily dispossessed in midfield by CollinswhosetupTreaBernieforasimplefinishanda3-0halftimeleadforhis side.

St Neots came out after the break in a much more determined frame of mind. Jaydyn Lott headed narrowly over the bar from a corner and then with substitute Jack Brewer on for the limping Dan Barton they took the game to their hosts.Hasanally had a net bound shot blocked by a defender and Charles shot wide after good approach play by Aaron Smith.Akanbi tested the home keeper as St Neots were clearly looking to repair that late first half damage. However, a brace of substitutions by the home side saw them regain their attacking mojo. Within a couple of minutes after their introduction Stuart Hendrie set up fellow substitute Sam Ellis for a finish that seemed to shatter St Neots confidence after 79 minutes and then the third home change brought on Fortune Maphosa and he set up Hendrie for a fifth home goal with almost his first touch. Home keeper Brown then denied Akanbi a late consolation goal for the visitors and Hendrie thenclaimedhissecondgoaltwominutesfromtimetocompletetherout.

St Neots Town: Greygoose, Tarpey, Smith, Anderson, Mason, Lott, Barton, Hasanally, Charles,Osei,Akanbi.

Subs: Brewer (for Barton 51 mins), Badiani (for Hasanally 79 mins), Lewis and Sackey Mensah.

Cards:Hasanally(Y-58mins),Tarpey(Y–63mins)

Goals:none

SuttonColdfieldTown:Brown,Sawyer,Armitage,Todd,Beresford,Mills,Dampha,Collins, Bertie,Hilton,Spruce,

Subs: Ellis (for Mills 66 mins), Hendrie (for Collins 78 mins), Maphosa (for Todd 82 mins), MansfieldandHart.

Cards:Collins(Y–76mins),Hendrie(Y–90+4mins)

Goals: Hendrie 2 (82 & 88 mins), Hilton (31 mins), Spruce (33 mins), Bertie (45+1 min), Ellis (79mins)

Attendance:126 Referee:AlanCox(Coventry)

JohnWalker

JWMatchReport

GresleyRovers 1 StNeotsTown 2

A first victory in six league and cup matches came as a relief to St Neots who had dropped into the relegation zone of the league table prior to this match. An own goal and a well taken second just after the break gave them the platform for this victory that lifted them up three places in the table, but they had to absorb a late period of pressure to return home with the points. Manager Pete Gill decided to reshape his side playing an extra defender in a 53-2formationandwithonlyonegoalconceded–thatfromacorner,hisgamble certainly paid dividends. His changes saw leading scorer Trey Charles start on the bench along with Andre Hasanally and with Dan Barton injured again, the three players that came into the side were Toib Adeyemi, Declan Nche fit after injury,andnewsigningfullbackPatrickCampbell.

The contest began in dramatic fashion when after just four minutes in the first significant attacking action of the match St Neots won a corner. Aaron Smith’s searching cross appeared to clear the players at the near post and went in off the home goalkeeper’s legs for a strange opening goal. That seemed to settle the visitors’ nerves, although their revised line-up allowed the home side territorialpossessioninmidfield.FromanAlbieLansdownfreekickEllisEverard had a close range shot blocked and Adam Garmson should have done better than shoot wide after a good move by the home side. St Neots were always threateningfromlongthrowsbyAaronSmithintothepenaltyareaandSaleem Akanbi had a shot blocked after neat work by Declan Nche. Then after half an hour debutant defender Patrick Campbell brough down Ellis Evans as he raced into the area and a penalty kick was awarded. Evans himself took the kick but visiting keeper Jamie Greygoose guessed right to save the kick. Alex Morris was sent clear on goal, but he sent his finish wide and then Manny Osei was fouled, and he seemed to retaliate but the Referee smoothed things over without resorting to his notebook. He did however book Toib Adeyemi on the stroke of half time for a tackle when the St Neots defender appeared to have won the ballfairly.

Each side made a change at half time and with three minutes St Neots had extended their lead. Nche won a corner which was not cleared by the home defence and through a packed penalty area Robbie Mason struck a hard low shot past the unsighted home keeper to claim his first goal of the campaign. That signalled a determined counter-offensive by the home side and after 58 minutesfromaKaneLeecorner,AlbyLansdownbeatthevisitingkeeperwitha well-struck shot to level the scores. St Neots sent on top scorer Trey Charles in a bid to boost their attack and he was quickly in action testing Lewis Fenny inn thehomegoal.Thenafter72minutesGreygoosehadtoproducethesaveofthe match full length to keep out a low effort from Lee. Home skipper Kieran Wells squandered his sides’ best chance of an equaliser heading over the bar from close range and Charles twice had chances to confirm St Neots victory but the second time he was hauled down earning a red card for home defender Levi Read. A result for St Neots

replicated a 2010 FA Vase result on the same ground.

St Neots Town:

Mason, Adeyemi, Tarpey,

OpponentSpotlight

SPALDINGUNITED FC

SSPALDING UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB – HISTORY 2022/23

For decades it has been documented that Spalding United was formed in 1921, but research into club history has revealed that in fact, its existence goes back much earlier.

A chance sighting of an early team photograph on social media prompted some Investigation and evidence gained shows that the club was formed back in 1905 following the amalgamation of the Fulney Institute and Victorias clubs was confirmed at a meeting in a local hostelry when it was decided that the name should be Spalding United. A committee was formed and the home ground as to be the Low Grounds, but references were also made of games being played on Pinchbeck Road (Black Swan Field) which is now known as The Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.

In the early days the club, fielding A and B teams, played in the Boston League and progressed to the Spalding and District League and to the Peterborough League winning a number of trophies and were runner-up to Boston in the Lincolnshire FA competition before a crowd of 4,000 fans. Their first honours, however, came in 1933 when they won the Lincolnshire Junior Cup. The feat was repeated in 1938 and they progressed to senior level and won the Lincolnshire Senior B Cup in 1951. In 1952 the Tulips recorded their ground record attendance when playing Peterborough United, then a Midland League side, in a qualifying round of the FA Cup. A crowd of 6,973 packed into the ground and saw Spalding leading 2-0 with ten minutes to play but Posh fought back to equalise and went on to win the replay 3-0. Further progress followed with success in the Lincolnshire Senior A Cup in 1953.

The club has reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup on two occasions. In 1957/58 they lost 3-1 to Durham City and in 1964/65 they played Football League opposition for the first time, being beaten 5-3 in a thrilling encounter at Newport County. Spalding became United Counties League champions for the first time in 1955, having been runners up in 1951, 1952 and 1953. They joined the Eastern Counties League but were without success and joined the Central Alliance League. They stayed just one season before transferring to the re formed Midland League in 1961. In 1968 they re joined the United Counties League and won the title for a second time in 1975.

Spalding changed competitions once more in 1982, joining the Northern Counties East League. They were champions in 1984 but again returned to the United Counties League in 1986. A third title was won in 1988, a season which also saw them lift the Lincolnshire Senior A Cup. This time their success earned promotion to the Southern League and their first two seasons in the Midland Division saw them finish eighth and sixth in the table.

OpponentSpotlight SPALDINGUNITED FC

In 1989/90 Spalding enjoyed an excellent run in the FA Vase, progressing to a home Quarter-Final tie with Guiseley, who included former Leicester City and England striker Frank Worthington in their side. A crowd of 2,020 saw Guiseley win 3-1 in extra-time, having equalised in stoppage time. Things took a down turn with relegation back to the United Counties League the following season. The club went into decline, but recovery came in 1995 when Spalding won the League Knockout Cup and in 1997 they were runners-up in the league, as well as reaching the last-16 of the FA Vase when they were defeated by Taunton Town.

In 1998 they finished third in the league and again reached the Quarter Final stage of the FA Vase, losing 2 1 at home to eventual winners Tiverton Town in front of 2,038 spectators. In 1998/99 the club won the United Counties League championship, the Lincolnshire A Cup and the Hinchingbrooke Cup. As UCL champions Spalding regained membership of the Southern League and competed in the Eastern Division for season 1999/2000. They finished in a creditable 15th position.

The next three seasons proved less successful and despite narrowly avoiding relegation they eventually returned to the UCL. Season 2003/04 saw a revival in fortunes, winning the UCL championship and the East Anglian Cup for the first time, beating Aveley 3-1. 2004/05 was the club’s debut in the Northern Premier League, and despite only finishing 18th they managed to retain the East Anglian cup, beating Lowestoft 4-2 in the Final.

The following season proved less successful, and it wasn’t until the 2006/07 season that saw the Tulips return to the Southern League for a third time. But in the final phase of FA restructuring the club was relocated back to the NPL for the 2007/08 season, competing in Division One (South). The club then experienced a number of difficult seasons trying to maintain their status at Step 4.

2011/12 started on a high with a partnership deal with top local junior club Spalding Athletic JFC, putting us in contact with age group football from under 7 to under 18. Sadly the season ended in relegation but despite this set back they aimed at a return to Step 4. In 2012/13 they narrowly missed winning promotion by one point but won the UCL Knockout Cup, beating promoted St Ives Town 4 0 in the final.

The UCL championship trophy, however, was brought back to town in convincing style in 2013/14 season with the title secured with four matches of the season remaining. Looking to build on the success of winning promotion to Step 4, the “Boardroom” was strengthened by the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer in local businessman and former player, Malcolm Gray.

OpponentSpotlight

FC

With the formation of a reserve side and a commitment to strengthen the club as part of the local community, the club look forward to the challenge of establishing itself at Step 4. A return to the NPL for the 2014/15 season was highly successful with the team always placed in the leading group and eventually finished in a very respectful seventh position in Division One South. The season also saw the introduction of an under-18 team.

The end of season brought changes off the field with chairman and director Chris Toynton stepping down and a consortium of local investors taking up the reins with the aim and challenge of taking the club forward. Andrew Gay was appointed as the new chairman. The 2016/17 campaign evolved as their best, finishing in their highest ever placing in the modern Football Pyramid. The Tulips finished in third position in NPL First Division South, just missing out on promotion when losing by the odd goal in three away to second placed Witton Albion. The Tulips had, in fact, never been outside the top three all season. In addition, the club had three players – Nathan Stainfield (for the third time), Michael Duggan and Bradley Wells named in the South Division team of the year.

Following an indifferent start to the 2018/19 season manager Chris Rawlinson and chairman Andy Gay mutually agreed to part company. Assistant manager Matt Easton was put in temporary charge of the team but formally took over the reins towards the end of September.The season, however, was largely disappointing with the team languishing in the lower regions almost throughout and ultimately just avoiding relegation.

The end of October 2019 heralded a new era with new ownership of the club with an influx of new shareholders and directors in a complete restructure of the company and board. The new emphasis being putting the community of Spalding at the heart of everything the club envisaged.

Existing shareholders Rod Quinton and Graham Chappell welcoming local businessman and solicitor Paul Turnell as a new shareholder. The three were joined by shareholder/director positions for Andrew Gay, Jennifer Gay, Eddie Reeve and Phil Brennan. Successful businessman Iain Crawford was also welcomed onto the ‘board’. Andy Gay would continue as chairman with wife Jennifer as cub treasurer.

In early December manager Matt Easton rocked the club by unexpectedly resigning. His assistant Lewis Thorogood stepped up to fill the breach on a temporary basis as the season was forced to a premature end due to the Covid 19 virus epidemic, he was handed the position on a permanent basis. However, following a good start to the 2020 season with two wins, three successive defeats led to him stepping down into a new role within the club.

OpponentSpotlight

FC

A new era for the club began on August 19, 2020, when it was announced that pending FA and League approval, with AK Holdings agreeing the purchase of Spalding United Football Club. Andrew Killingsworth owner of AK Holdings would be the new and proud owner of SUFC with Leigh Porter installed as the new CEO. Former chairman Andrew Gay will remain at the club as vice-chairman.

For Season 2021/22 high hopes were expected with ex-Peterborough Star Gabby Zakuani in charge however results were disappointing and Zakuani left the role in December to be replaced by ex-Wisbech Town man Brett Whaley. The Tulips maintained a mid-table position despite some excellent results against high flying Halesowen Town, B

e

Manager Manager -PeterGill-PeterGill

Assistant Assistant -SeanGreygoose-SeanGreygoose

Coach Coach -MarcAbbott-MarcAbbott

GKCoachGK -GaryDean-GaryDean

Physios Physios -CraigLambert&SamRoblett-CraigLambert&SamRoblett

Kitman Kitman -MickHunt-Mick SquadListSquadList

JamieGreygoose(GK)JamieGreygoose(GK) DarrylReid(GK)DarrylReid(GK) AlexBent(GK)AlexBent(GK)

TheoSackey-MensahTheoSackey-Mensah AaronSmithAaronSmith

ToibAdeyemiToibAdeyemi CharlieLewisCharlieLewis JaydynLottJaydynLott

JoeTarpeyJoe DeclanNcheDeclanNche

CallumAndersonCallumAnderson MannyOseiMannyOsei SaleemAkambiSaleemAkambi DanielBartonDanielBarton AndreHassanallyAndreHassanally BrandonNjokuBrandonNjoku RobbieMasonRobbieMason TremayneCharlesTremayneCharles

Colours Colours

Manager Manager –– BrettWhaleyBrettWhaley

Assistant Assistant-- BrunoPorfirioBrunoPorfirio

GKCoachGKCoach-- BenDerbyshireBenDerbyshire

Physio-Physio- SamPalmerSam

SquadListSquadList

MichaelDugganMichaelDuggan DanGeorgeDanGeorge ScottFloydScottFloyd JackLynchJackLynch

AaronHartAaronHart

GianlucaBucciGianlucaBucci NathanStainsfieldNathan SamCartwrightSamCartwright JackWithers.JackWithers. DannyDraperDannyDraper MattSparrowMattSparrow

JamesCliftonJamesClifton ArchieJonesArchieJones BradleyRoltBradleyRolt ElliotSandyElliotSandy TobyHilliardTobyHilliard

DylanEdgeDylanEdge BenSeymour-ShoveBenSeymour-Shove SamSpencerSamSpencer JoshMoremanJoshMoreman

JordanO’BrienJordanO’Brien

Navy/LightBlueQuarters

Navy/LightBlueQuarters DarkBlueShortsDarkBlue LightBlueSocksLightBlueSocks

StefanBroccoliStefanBroccoli LiamMarshallLiamMarshall

Colours

YellowShirts

BlueShorts YellowSocks