Price: Price£1£1
Saturday 20th April 2019 3pm KO Hallmark Security League Division One 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 & winners 2018/19
MEDIA Website : http://www.sandbachunitedfc.co.uk Twitter : @SandbachUtd & @SandbachFC_1st Instagram: @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 : Mike Senior Programme Editor : Jack Beresford Head Steward : James Blears Manager : Andrew Hockenhull Assistant Manager: Junior Brown Coaches: Roy Lane, Tony Ledwards, Goalkeeper Coach: Andrew Kimber Executive Committee : Paul Reel, Oliver Byron Ian Dolman, Will Newton, Steve Thomas, Peter Colclough, Sandra Buckle
SANDBACH UNITED – 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 90’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 – 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 £2 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.
A decade @ Warrington Town The 99/00 season saw Town win the Second Division Trophy beating Tetley Walker 2-0 at Prescot Cables. In 2000/01 Warrington won the Second Division title to return to Division One of the North West Counties League. Town finished 16th in their second season back in Div 1 and Alan Blair stepped down, Glenn Walker & Derek Brownbill took over to see Town finish 5th in the league and gain promotion back into the UniBond Division One after the league restructuring process had taken place (Conference North was created). For the first five seasons in the UniBond (Northern Premier) League Town found life fairly difficult finishing each season in the bottom half of the table, which included a couple of close scrapes avoiding relegation. The period was not entirely without success though as we won the NPL Fair Play Award, numerous programme awards, youth team championships and cup wins for the reserves.
We also had a four figure home attendance against Liverpool in the Senior Cup and reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. A number of managers came and went in this time, namely Glenn Walker in sole control, Ian Street and Paul Moore. When the North South split came for Division One Town spent one season in the south in 2007/2008 before moving to the north. In season 2008/09 ex Town favourite Joey Dunn took over as team manager and gradually things started to improve. 2009/10 saw Town record their highest finish in the NPL since the mid 1990’s when ninth place was secured. Off the field the club continued to prosper under the leadership of a new board of directors headed by Gary Skentelbery and optimism was higher than for many years that better football times were not too far away as we sought further improve. The club had a positive air about it in all departments and optimism was high. 2010/11 showed that hope to have definite grounding as we spent most of the season on the fringe of a play-off position. However a disappointing last few games saw us drop away and even lose sixth place which had been occupied for the last three months of the season, apart from the final game, finally finishing ninth once more. In the close season superb new 3G five a side facilities were added in the open end behind the goal and the main pitch itself also had a make over as we sought to end the days of the Cantilever bobble once and for all.
A decade @ Warrington Town The 20011/12 season saw us threaten to take a play off position up until mid March when we slipped off the pace in a matter of one week. This resulted in the management team of Joey Dunn and Stuart Humphreys being replaced by Shaun Reid and former player Lee Smith. 2012/13 saw Shaun start to rebuild the squad and although success was hoped for it never really came to fruition and the season became a transitional one. A brief flirtation with a play off position did occur but with more games played than our rivals a mid table finish was the predictable outcome. 2013/14 saw a marked improvement in league form. Despite losing the two opening games Town then went on a long unbeaten run. A top five place was reached by the fourth Saturday of the season and from thereon was never relinquished. A good number of weeks were spent on top of the table but we eventually finished third, claiming a record number of wins (27) and points (87).
Sadly promotion was not to be after a 1-0 play-off semi final defeat at home to Bamber Bridge meant we would start 2014/2015 still in Evo-Stik Division One North. The 2014/15 season commenced with the adoption of a new club crest designed by Tom Greaves, it being chosen as a competition winner to replace the long standing old town coat of arms motif. Further improvement is now the target with a promotion place the ultimate aim. The club made huge steps forward in publicity terms in 2014 reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time in our history. We were rewarded with a home draw against Football League club Exeter City that was shown live on BBC2 across the nation. We served up a cracker of a match and one that epitomised everything we love about the FA Cup as Town amazingly defeated our Football League opponents 1-0, thanks to a Craig Robinson header after just seven minutes. What an amazing evening. We went on to play Gateshead in Round Two in what was our ninth match in the competition all told, this time live on BT Sports, but sadly the adventure ended there as we lost 2-0. Gateshead went on to play away to West Bromwich Albion.
A decade @ Warrington Town It had been a fantastic adventure that will live long in the memory. The cup success did have an effect on our league campaign as games in hand could not be turned into sufficient points and we finished the season in ninth. However the season was nicely rounded off with a Doodson Sports Cup Final win over Farsley at Stockport County’s ground. Twenty years after our first final appearance in this competition also saw the game decided on penalties, but this time we won, the score being 3-2 after the game had ended 0-0 after ninety minutes. It was the club’s first silverware in fifteen years and the highest ranking tournament we have ever won. Town started the 2015/16 slowly but it did not last long and we led the table on a couple of occasions before returning there early in 2016 and opening a gap on our only challengers Northwich Victoria. However on learning that his contract would not be renewed at the seasons end manager Shaun Reid decided to leave the club in February 2016. Assistants Stuart Mellish and Lee Smith took charge following Shaun’s departure. The good form was just as consistent and Town opened up a substantial lead firstly on Northwich and latterly on Spennymoor Town. The lead would not be relinquished and Town won the championship on 16 th April with two games still to play following a 6-1 thrashing of Prescot Cables in front of 1411 spectators and which took us up to 100 league points, a club record. The final two games were also won to see us finish on 106 points and score in every league game through the season. We also registered the most wins and goals scored in a season. It was without doubt the finest moment in the clubs history to date.
Life in the Premier Division brought mixed fortunes and inconsistency led to the management duo of Stuart Mellish & Lee Smith leaving the club by mutual consent in mid-October. Paul Carden was appointed as manager at the end of October with former player Mark Beesley as coach and Craig Robinson as assistant manager. The side settled down well after new year and a very consistent run saw us climb into a play off place. We were in with a chance right up until the final couple of games but finished on a run of draws to end in tenth position. The Reserves were promoted to the Cheshire League Premier Division and won the League 1 & 2 Cup.
A decade @ Warrington Town 2017/18 proved to a busy season for Town if ultimately without silverware. A consistent league campaign saw us occupy a play off place for all bar two Saturday’s throughout the season. The runners-up position was ours from17th February through to the final match when unfortunately we were pipped by Ashton United on goal difference and ended in third place. Still our best ever finish. Sadly we would lose our play-off semi-final at home to Grantham Town. The FA Trophy saw us play in ten matches all told, eventually being highly unlucky to exit in round three away to Wealdstone, having defeated National League Ebbsfleet United in the previous round.
2018/19 proved a memorable season for Town and although in any other season we would have gained promotion that reward was denied at the last. Having performed consistently all season, and the opening two weeks aside, occupying at least a play-off position all season, including topping the table on three different occasions we had to settle for third place in the end. Playoff wins at home to Nantwich Town (4-1) and at South Shields (2-1) set up a Super Play-off Final at home to Kings Lynn Town. We led 2-1 with five minutes to go but conceded a penalty which was converted. In extra time Kings Lyn got the winner again with five minutes remaining. The game attracted a season best attendance of 2200. Town also made the draw for the FA Cup First Round Proper again but unfortunately lost out in a 4Q replay at FC Halifax Town
Wythenshawe Amateurs 0 Sandbach United 2 How they lined up: WAFC: Haslam, Howard, Bradshaw, Worth, Parr, Lillie, Wright, Hevingham, Aikenhead, White, Boyles SUFC: Booth, Walker, Clayton, O’Riordan, Evans, Rowntree, Thompson, Moscrop, Garner-Knapper, Baker, Wlliams First team coach Jason Doggett praised his sides “excellent performance, and said his players played with pride, passion and fight” as they ran out 2-0 winners away at Wythenshawe Amateurs. The teams met on Tuesday for first of two games in five days against one another, The Ammies ran out 3-1 winners thanks to two quick goals in the second half. So, this time Sandbach were on the hunt for revenge.
United we’re forced to field a very Young’s side due to injuries, unavailability and various players leaving the club. In fact 11 of the 14 squad members were under 19 years old. The game began with the hosts having the upper hand, and they had the first opportunity of the game after just seven minutes. The pace of Travis Boyles hurt Sandbach on Tuesday and it looked as though it was going to be case again on Saturday as he got in behind following a long ball over the top. As he got into the box down the right he shot but didn’t connect properly. This made harder for Booth who had to readjust before saving well down to his left. Sandbach’s young lads had real pace and looked dangerous going forward. Harry Walker and Lucas Baker linked up well down the right side before Walker flashed a low cross across the face of the goal, however unfortunately for Sandbach the outstretched Tom Williams couldn’t quite reach it at the back post.
Sandbach had come into the game in the last few minutes and when they took the lead it was no shock to anyone. When a low ball in from the left side fizzing in, Lucas Baker was on hand to tap home into the empty net and give his side the lead on the eve of his birthday. Going a goal ahead was huge for United as it gave them a platform to build on. They now had a lead to protect and they could afford to get bodies behind the ball. The home side we’re trying to exploit the pace of Travis Boyles but their long balls were holding up in the wind making them relatively ineffective. As the first half came to an end it was safe to say that it was far from a classic but the only thing that mattered was that Sandbach were ahead and they were looking solid at the back. Sandbach started the second 45 very positively. Kieran Garner-Knapper had two good early opportunities. The first was a low cross that flashes across the face of goal and just evaded the outstretched toe of Sean Moscrop. His second opportunity was one that he will be disappointed with as he went through on goal but blazed well over from just inside the box. With half an hour of the game to go the home side we’re pushing for an equaliser as Sandbach we’re sitting deep to stop the long ball over the top. Wythenshawe were able to come forward and try their look out wide. When a cross came in from the left it went over the head of Adam Clayton at the back post and well nicely for Briody who sliced his volley well wide of the goal from the right side of the box. The home side we’re throwing everything at Sandbach, which meant that when Sandbach won the ball they could break, and with the pace United had they looked a real threat. When Moscrop got in behind and raced towards goal he really should have scored, however he fired his shot straight at the keeper to keep the game very much in the balance. In fairness to Sandbach’s very young defence they were holding firm, throwing their bodies on the line and dealing with everything that Wythenshawe had thrown at them.
With just minutes to go Sandbach once again we’re able to counter-attack, Sean Moscrop races towards goal before finding Garner-Knapper on the edge of the box, he then squared to Williams who was in the box and unmarked. Williams shot past the onrushing keeper and as his strike came off the underside of the bar it looked to have crossed the line. However, the referee thought otherwise and waved away the Sandbach protests. The referee added four minutes of injury time. Which was plenty of time for the game to see another game. With Sandbach players suffering from a lack f match fitness it was really a case now of backs to the wall, old fashioned defending, which in fairness had worked for them all game. The hosts were giving all the had to try and snatch an equaliser late on. In the second minute of Injury time Sandbach make the game safe and added a second goal very much against the run of play. Adam Clayton Brilliantly won the ball on halfway before finding Goal scorer Lucas Baker who this time was the provider as he found Garner-Knapper in the box who kept a composed head and spotted past the keeper to send the bench, players and fans into absolute delirium. Moments later the game ended Sandbach had earned a valuable three points. The fight and passion that they showed for the full 90 minutes was incredible and left everyone involved with the club with a beaming smile on their faces. After the game Doggett said “Today meant something to the boys our club should be proud of them. Thanks to everyone that supported us & to all the volunteers working hard behind the scenes”
SANDBACH UNITED 1ST TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK
SANDBACH UNITED 2019/20 STAFF ANDY HOCKENHULL Manager
DONNY BROWN Assistant Manager
ANDY KIMBER Goalkeeper Coach
ROY LANE Coach
TONY LEDWARDS Coach
Jack BERESFORD Media
Steve Bould Coach
MIKE SENIOR Secretary
STEVE THOMAS Treasurer
SANDBACH UNITED 2019/20 SQUAD SAM BOOTH Goalkeeper
ALEX ATTON Goalkeeper
MATT ELLSON Goalkeeper
ADAM CLAYTON Defender
RYAN ALLCOCK
Kieran GARNERKNAPPER
Midfielder
Forward
DECLAN O’RIORDAN Defender
MATTHEW PEARSON Defender
SANDBACH UNITED 2019/20 SQUAD JACK HART Midfielder
LUCAS BAKER Midfielder
LYNDON CAMPBELL Midfielder
CALLUM EVANS Midfielder
CHRIS ROWNTREE Midfielder
SANDBACH UNITED 2018/19 SQUAD OLI JEPSON Defender
Upcoming fixtures
Player sponsor If you’re interested in sponsoring on of our players just let us know, either ask a volunteer or message us on our socials and we’ll be sure to provide more information
DEAN TWIGG Midfielder
The Cheshire Senior Cup The competition features some very strong sides from both the professional game and the higher reaches of the National League System. Names such as Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers and Macclesfield Town feature prominently on the roll of honour which also includes Runcorn FC. Since the formation of the NWCFL in 1982, member clubs have consistently played in this competition, however no NWCFL club has won the trophy (yet) although have been several close calls. The 2019 final was contested by Cammell Laird 1907 who met Nantwich Town in the final courtesy of Runcorn Linnets being excluded for playing an ineligible player. Other round two ties Warrington Town v Sandbach United Northwich Victoria v Stockport County Chester v Stockport Town Nantwich Town v Cammell Laird 1907 Crewe Alexandra v Tranmere Rovers 1874 Northwich v Cheadle Heath Nomads Winsford United v Hyde United Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors
Matt ELLSON
Marcus BURGESS
Ryan ALLCOCK
Sian KANU
Sam BOOTH
Adam CARDEN
Thomas MCGRAIL
Scott SEPHTON
Connor HOOK
Mitchell DUGGAN
Adam CLAYTON
Elliot RICHARDS
Oliver JEPSON
Tyrone DUFFUS
Lucas BAKER
Louis SHARP
Robbie HATTON
Bohan DIXON
Kieran KNAPPER
Jack BANNISTER
Jack HART
Jewad JEBRIN
Joe THOMPSON
Abdi MOHAMMED
Harry WALKER
Harry CASSIDY
Alex ATTON
Lewis YEATES
Declan O’RIORDAN
David RAVEN
Matt PEARSON
Tony MCMILLAN
Chris ROWNTREE
Tom WARREN
Sean MOSCROP
Scott BROWN
Dean TWIGG
Mark ROBERTS
Tom WILLIAMS
Cards
Goals
Cards
Goals
Manager Andy Hockenhull Assistant Manager Junior Brown