Sandbach United v Alsager Town by Sandbach United FC

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2018/19 SEASON

Price Â£1

Saturday 8th December 2018 KO 3pm

Hallmark Security League Division 1 South

CLUB DETAILS Club Name : Sandbach United Football Club Legal Entity : Unincorporated Ground : Sandbach Community Football Centre Address : Hind Heath Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 3LZ Telephone : 01270 768389 County Affiliation : Cheshire FA Year Formed : 2004 Record Attendance : 1400 v Crewe Alexandra Legends (2014/15) Previous Leagues : Staffordshire County Senior League, Cheshire League Honours : Crewe & District Cup winners 2015/16, NWCFL Division 1 (Reusch Cup) Finalists 2016/17

MEDIA Website : http://www.sandbachunitedfc.co.uk Twitter : @SandbachUtd & @SandbachFC_1st Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Sandbachutd

CLUB COLOURS Home colours : Blue/White shirts, Blue shorts and stockings Home goalkeeper colours : Green shirt, Black shorts and stockings Alternative Colours : Maroon shirts, shorts and stockings Alternative goalkeeper colours : Yellow shirt, Black shorts and stockings

CLUB CONTACTS Club Chairman : Paul Reel Club Secretary : Will Newton 1st Team Secretary : John Clayton Programme Editor : Jack Beresford Head Steward : Roy Lane Manager : Andrew Hockenhull Assistant Manager: Junior Brown Coaches: Roy Lane, Tony Ledwards Goalkeeper Coach: Andrew Kimber Executive Committee : Paul Reel, Mike Senior, Ian Dolman, Will Newton, Darren Williams, Peter Colclough, Sandra Buckle

SANDBACH UNITED â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CLUB HISTORY Sandbach United Football Club was established in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers joined forces in their quest to improve the football facilities in Sandbach. Hence the R & A on the club badge. In January 2004, the membership of Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers voted in favour of amalgamation, with the aim of playing as a single club from the start of the 2004/5 season. Sandbach Albion was formerly known as Hays Junior Football Club and was founded in 1994, playing on the pitches of what was then Albion Chemicals. As health and safety issues became more prevalent in the 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, they left that site and for 5 years the senior home ground was at Sandbach Cricket Club. The younger sides played their games at junior schools throughout Sandbach. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was formed in 1995 to provide access to schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach. Of course there had been a Ramblers team in the town before, Sandbach Ramblers were initially formed over 100 years ago, playing in the Cheshire County League and winning the Cheshire FA Senior Cup in 1914, before folding in 1975 reforming in 1979 and disbanding in the late 1980s.

SANDBACH UNITED â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CLUB HISTORY In 2006 Sandbach United formed the adult team, which initially competed in the Crewe and District League before moving to the Staffordshire Senior League First Division and then being promoted to the Premier Division for the 2008/9 season. In 2011, the club was awarded grants by the Football Foundation and the local council of over ÂŁ2 million to build a 3G pitch and 9 grass pitches, together with changing rooms and an education facility. The Sandbach Community Football Centre was opened early in the 2011/12 season. United switched to the Cheshire League in 2011 and won promotion to the Premier Division for the 2013/14 season before moving to The Hallmark Security League for the 2016/17 season. The clubs first season in the Hallmark Security League was better than they could have dreamt, winning the Macron Club of the Month in December, finishing in 6th place and the playoffs in Division 1 as well as being Reusch First Division Challenge Cup Runners up. Their goal keeper, Ryan Moss also collected two Reusch Keeper of the Month awards. In another first for the club, the 2017/18 season saw the club enter The FA Vase with a home 2nd Qualifying Round fixture against AFC Emley. The club has over 600 players and 40+ teams that operate from its Hind Heath Road base. United have teams playing in the Mid-Cheshire Youth League, and the Cheshire Girls League among others, and the age range covers adults and veterans teams right down to Soccer School for Reception and Year 1 children.

Alsager Town – CLUB HISTORY The merger of Alsager Institute and Alsager United led to the formation of ALSAGER AFC in 1965, the merger arising due to lack of pitches in the village. They acquired Wood Park in 1967, the pitch seeded in time for the following season, and the club made their bow in 1968/69. Floodlighting was erected in August 2001 and then the addition of a new stand by the end of the season saw Alsager in prime position to challenge for promotion. During the summer of 2001 it was decided to change the name of the club back to Alsager Town and to run a side in the Springbank Vending League under the name of Alsager AFC. A runners up spot in the 2001/02 season was enough to see Alsager Town FC promoted to the NWCFL Division 1. During the close season resurfacing of the pitch, decoration of the club house and changing rooms and a new toilet block and tea bar gave Alsager Town an air of aristocracy as they aimed for success in the NWCFL. The club remained in NWCFL until the end of the 2005/06 season when they finished in third place, and due to the changes being made by the FA to the non-league pyramid system, Alsager were invited to step up to the Northern Premier League Division One. The club’s first season saw them finish in a creditable 14th place. With further changes to the Northern Premier League, Alsager Town were placed in to the Unibond League Division One South. Another 14th place finish was the outcome but the club fell foul to the ground grading regulations and with required work not completed in the required time given by the League they were relegated back to the North West Counties League Premier Division. Due this set back the management team resigned, and former chairman Peter Clegg stepped in to take control of the club. Former Witton Albion reserves coach Neil Gill was appointed as manager and for two seasons Neil kept Alsager Town in the NWCFL Premier Division, but in early 2011 with finances tight the players’ expenses budget was cut and then later stopped completely. This was followed by the news that there were to be major changes at the club at the end of the season. Neil Gill, his assistant, the players and the Committee all resigned.

Alsager Town – CLUB HISTORY Acting Chairman Mike Cross acted very quickly and the remaining Committee members voted for change. Terry Greer the former Chairman of Biddulph Victoria was elected to become the new Chairman of Alsager Town F.C. Terry’s first job was to appoint a new management team, and Damian Grocott and Andy O’Connor stepped into the position, they signed a new squad of players and began the job of securing Alsager Town’s place in the NWCFL Premier Division. They worked hard to secure the status of the club, and achieved their goal with three games of the season remaining. For the 2011/12 season the club looked to move forward run by a new Committee which was installed at the AGM in the May their aim being to improve the club in all aspects both on and off the pitch. The changing rooms and showers were upgraded, some of the club house had been re-decorated and the ground in general had been given a face lift. On the night of the Monday 11th July 2011, a catastrophic fire destroyed the office and part of the dressing rooms and club house. The whole building had to be demolished due its asbestos construction and the electricity was cut off due to the damage caused to the switch boxes and other equipment. Following the disaster, the Committee worked very hard to get things in to place so that football could return to Wood Park. The Committee of the NWCFL provided much needed support, switching fixtures for The Bullets and 99% of their games were played away from home until the November. A rebuilding programme immediately got underway and things went well, both on and off the pitch. Massive help from BAE Systems and their contractors followed and they had helped to rebuild the changing rooms so that football could return. A new manager—former coach John Brown—was appointed to take the team forward. At the end of the season John Brown resigned, as did the Reserve Team manager. Chairman Terry Greer soon had replacements, with former Tottenham Hotspur player Andy Turner taking over the reins of the first team, and Andy Ratcliffe, Congleton Town’s former Reserves Manager, taking over the Bullets reserves who had just been promoted by invitation to the Staffs County Senior League Premier Division.

Alsager Town – CLUB HISTORY The season went quite well for the new management, the team finishing in 15th place with 50 points, and provided strong foundations on which it was hoped to build. A number of key players remained at the club, and a host of new players arrived, but things didn’t go as hoped, and Andy Turner unexpectedly resigned in the New Year. Former Nantwich Town player Phil Parkinson stepped into the breach bringing in his own team, and they managed to evade relegation by winning the last three games of the season. Prior to the start of the 2014/15 season Parky stepped down and his two assistants Danny Griggs and Craig Dove were entrusted to take the team forward. Towards the end of the campaign, both Griggs and Dove left the club, and Chairman Terry Greer and coach Callum Carey took charge of the team on a caretaker basis. As the 2014/15 season was drawing to a close, a new management team of Will Ryder and Steve Harper were appointed. At the end of the season Will began the big job of trying to improve the Alsager squad in readiness for his first full season in charge. After a disappointing start to the 2015/16 campaign, the Bullets parted company with Will and Steve towards the end of October, with NWCFL Premier Division title winner Scott Dundas stepping into the breach. After a difficult start to his time at Wood Park, Scott steadied the ship and brought in a number of experienced players, which led to a great improvement in results. Indeed, during the final months of the campaign, the Bullets were one of the Premier Division’s form teams. However, it was not enough, and we were relegated on the final day of the season as the club paid the price for their disastrous start to the season. Wayne Brotherton took the reins at the end of the 2015/16 campaign and quickly set about rebuilding in readiness for a first season in the First Division. The 2016/17 season started very well for the Bullets as we quickly established ourselves at the top end of the table. However, a disastrous end to the season saw us tumble down the table and miss out on the play-offs. Off the pitch, the club continues to explore the potential of securing new or improved facilities, which we hope will secure the long-term future of the club should we be successful.

Last time we met: Alsager Town 0 Sandbach United 2

Jack Beresford reports

Sandbach travelled to Wood Park for the second time this season, this time it was in the third round of the 1st Division Cup. Sandbach were dealt a blow in the week after top scorer James Kirby completed his move to Northern Premier league side Atherton Collieries, however Sandbach were quick to bring in a replacement as they announced the signing of Yaw Osei Opoku-Berchie, a player who has played for teams like Reading and Raith Rovers. Kirby has scored the majority of the goals for Sandbach, but Tuesdays result against St Martins shows that they can score goals without his presence, as Kieran Garner-Knapper scored a hat trick, however he was helped by the creativeness of Jordan Davies. Davies came closed to putting United into the lead after just nine minutes on Saturday as winger Aidan Haughton showed a good turn of pace of pace to get to the by line before cutting in onto his right foot and crossing towards the back post to Davies. The Welshman met the ball with a powerful header, but the keeper acrobatically tipped It over the bar. The first half was a difficult watch for all, the game lacked chances and the pitch wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t helping Sandbach as the surface was preventing them from passing the ball around, they were resorting to playing the ball over the top and allowing the pace of their front men to run onto it. With 15 minutes of the half left this style of play seemed to work for Sandbach as Davies latched onto a long ball and looked to send in a cross from the right, however the cross was blocked but it fell into the path of Pearson who was inside the box, he then got to the by-line and sent in a low cross right across the face of goal which was met by Haughton at the near post who fired the ball into the top right corner giving Sandbach a deserved lead.

At half time Sandbach had the lead but the game was all to play for in the second half. Eight minutes into the second half Sandbach came very close to doubling the lead as Davies drove into to the box before unleashing a shot that was heading for the top right corner but Rhys Bills in the Alsager goal stuck out a hand and superbly pushed it around the post. Sandbach were piling on the pressure and they came close once more after sixty minutes when a cross from the right was met by a stooping header from Haughton, but it was yet again saved superbly by the goalkeeper. Sandbach were looking to put the game beyond doubt and they came very close once again as a misspaced pass from centre back Kris Stockton found Jordan Davies who then muscled his way into the box before shooting towards the near post, but unfortunately it hit the right post and then rolled across the face of the goal before being cleared away. Somehow it was still 1-0, and Sandbach really couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find the goal to double their lead, with 15 minutes to go they had their best chance of the game as Davies sprayed the ball out to the right side to Knapper who sent in a deep cross towards Dean Twigg at the back post but he fired his shot from six yards out into the ground and over the bar, he really should have put the game beyond doubt for his team. The game was fizzling out, Alsager had the odd counter attack but they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do enough to trouble Ryan Moss in the Sandbach goal. Just as the game was reaching its climax, Sandbach put the game beyond doubt. Sandbach won a freekick in the opposition half and it was taken quickly by captain Josh Lane, he found Opoku-Berchie inside the box who looked to bend the ball towards the far post with his right foot, however it was saved by the keeper but the rebound feel to Garner-Knapper who was on hand to continue his fine goalscoring form as he tapped the ball home, into the empty net sending Sandbach into the next round.

SANDBACH UNITED 1ST TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK

Last time out: Stockport Town 1 Sandbach United 2

Jack Beresford reports

Shots

7 5 2 1

On Target

Corners

5 Yellow Cards

Sandbach conceded after four minutes in Saturday, however this time they went one better and conceded after three minutes! Elliot Ledwards was dispossessed in his own half by Callum Dolan, who was then allowed to drive through the middle of the midfield on his way into the box, he then curled a left footed shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, past Ryan Moss who was at full stretch but couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get near it. Sandbach have been guilty of conceding some poor and needless goals in recent weeks, so to concede in the fashion that they did would have frustrated Sandbach manager Andy Hockenhull who must be sick of seeing his side concede early goals.

Callum Dolan was causing the Sandbach defence some real concern. The former Man United scholar almost helped his team double their lead as he got to the by-line down the left wing and sent in a low cross towards the back post, the ball cannoned off Ledwards and somehow went over the bar and out for a corner. United were very lucky to only be one down, Dolan came close again as he looked to find the far right corner with his right foot, but Ryan Moss was on hand to tip the ball around the post and out for a corner. Sandbach were really struggling to find their feet in the first half, but eventually they had their first shot on target with just 5 minutes of the half to go as Billy Buckley who was making his return to the starting eleven played a superb ball in behind to Jordan Davies who found himself in on goal, he got into the box and looked to find the bottom right corner of the goal from the left side of the box but it was brilliantly saved by the keeper who palmed it away to safety.

At half time Sandbach found themselves a goal down with It all to play for in the second half. The second half began, and both sides knew that the next goal would be vital, for Stockport it would double their lead and give Sandbach a mountain to climb, but if Sandbach were to score they would be level and then theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have the momentum to go on and score another. With half an hour of the game to go it was Sandbach who scored the allimportant second goal for the game as Aaron Knight glided through the Stockport midfield before shooting towards the bottom right corner, however Andrei Stinca made a save but he parried it into the path of Davies who was on hand to tap home the rebound, levelling the scores for his side. With a third of the match still to go the game was very much in the balance, however five minutes later Sandbach had ever-reliable keeper Ryan Moss to thank for keeping the scores level as Skeltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deflected pass fell into the path of Mottram who found himself in a lot of space on the edge of the box, he got into the box and looked to place the ball into the bottom right corner but somehow Moss managed to deflect the ball onto the bar and away to safety, it was a stunning save from the Sandbach keeper. Sandbach were pushing to find the winner and they came agonisingly close in the 77th minute as a deep free kick was sent into the box and met by Davies who saw his header loop over the keeper, but it bounced off the bar and eventually went out for a goal kick. The away side finally made their pressure count as they took the lead with ten minutes to go as good work down the left from Knight allowed him to send in an in-swinging cross towards Davies at the back post who got in front of his man and managed to poke the ball past the keeper and into the bottom the left corner. The Stockport defence were adamant that Davies had come from an offside position but the referee ignored their appeals and allowed the goal to stand. Sandbach managed to hold on for the last ten minutes to earn themselves a valuable three points against a very good Stockport side.

SANDBACH UNITED 2018/19 STAFF ANDY HOCKENHULL Manager

DONNY BROWN Assistant Manager

ANDY KIMBER Goalkeeper Coach

ROY LANE Coach

TONY LEDWARDS Coach

CHRIS CADMAN Match Announcer

JACK BERESFORD Media

SANDBACH UNITED 2018/19 SQUAD RYAN MOSS Sponsored by Syd Thompson

BEN CADMAN

ELLIOT LANE

RYAN ALLCOCK

HARRISON BOSTOCK

BILLY BUCKLEY

JAKE CHADWICK

ADAM CLAYTON

BRAD COOPER

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SANDBACH UNITED 2018/19 SQUAD KIERAN GARNERKNAPPER

AIDAN HAUGHTON

JAMES KIRBY

JOSH LANE