Saturday, 11th October 2008

News Archive

4th September 2005
Although they lost their 100% record in a 1-1 draw at Farsley Celtic on Bank Holiday Monday Guiseley still set the pace at the top of the Premier Division after beating Prescot Cables on Friday.

They are one of only two unbeaten teams in the top tier with fourth place Frickley Athletic being the other. Sandwiched in between are newly promoted North Ferriby United and Wakefield-Emley with the latter having won all four games since their opening day defeat. At the opposite end Leek Town, Ilkeston Town, Runcorn FC Halton, Ashton United And Gateshead are all still searching for a first win although the latter have drawn four of their five matches. The performance of the day on Saturday came at AFC Telford United although unfortunately for the four figure crowd it was provided by the visitors Bradford Park Avenue who hit six past a Telford defence that was without Duane Courtney who moved to Burnley in midweek in exchange for £25,000.

In the First Division Colwyn Bay went top after ending Mossley's 100% record with an emphatic win and the Welsh club are two points clear of Kendal Town and newcomers Fleetwood Town having played a game more. In addition to Kendal and Fleetwood only two other clubs, Bridlington Town and Goole AFC, remain unbeaten. Still looking for a first league goal are bottom side Eastwood Town but another goalless team, Kidsgrove Athletic, ended their drought in style finding the net four times at Bamber Bridge.

BEAN JOINS WAKEFIELD-EMLEY

Former FA Compliance Officer Graham Bean, who now runs his own company "Football Factors" specialising in disciplinary matters and numbering the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Everton and Bolton Wanderers amongst his clients, has joined Wakefield-Emley as an advisor. He has also become a shareholder through a financial investment in the club. Chairman Peter Matthews said "We are pleased to have the benefit of Graham's experience which can only help in the development of the club. We regard this as major coup for a club of our size"

SKIPPER QUITS AT SPALDING

First Division Spalding United acting captain Graham Bowater quit the "Tulips" immediately after last Saturday's dismal FA Cup exit against Staveley. The 21 year old was last season's treble "Player of the Year" having been the pick of the management, fellow players and fans but manager Steve Welsh said "He has made it clear he isn't happy and I don't want to keep anyone who doesn't want to be here". Welsh, a Scot with over three hundred games in his full time career under his belt for the likes of Peterborough, Partick, Dunfermline, Ayr and Lincoln City, made the players go into the bar area after the defeat against Staveley and apologise to the fans for the performance.

UNIBOND "CLUB OF THE MONTH" AWARDS

The first UniBond "Club of the Month" awards of the season have gone to GUISELEY and MOSSLEY respectively. Guiseley had an excellent start to the campaign in August thanks to wins over Leek Town, Gateshead and Burscough with the only blot on their copybook a very satisfactory away point in the highly charged local "derby" game against last season's play-off contenders Farsley Celtic on Bank Holiday Monday.

Mossley are setting the pace in the First Division as the only side with maximum points. Despite having played only two league games in August they were also the only lower tier side to have reached double figures in the "goals for" column by the end of the month. Their 100% record was dented when they were held in the FA Cup by Sheffield last Saturday but they made amends on Tuesday evening with a 1-0 replay success.

ENDSLEIGH SPORTS INSURANCE "GOALSCORING" AWARDS

MOSSLEY made it a double by lifting the Endsleigh Sports Insurance Goalscoring awards when they found the back of the net thirteen times during August helped by their opening day blast of seven against Ossett Albion.

There was a clear winner also in the Premier Division where newly promoted NORTH FERRIBY UNITED struck a dozen times during the month despite firing a blank at Wakefield-Emley on Bank Holiday Monday.

MULLOCK STEPS IN AT LEEK

Leek Town have turned to British Universities international Tim Mullock as their latest goalkeeper. The 25 year old, who spent last season helping Hyde United to the UniBond title but has only recently recovered from a double hernia operation, was signed in time for the Bank Holiday Game against AFC Telford United after Rob Hackney had erred against Frickley 48 hours earlier. Hackney, in turn, had been signed to replace former Football League veteran Mark Cartwright who has had to retire on health grounds.

Leek have also become the latest UniBond club to appoint a female sports therapist with the appointment of Ann-Marie Jones. She takes over from Dave Massey who has left to take up a post at Nottingham General Hospital. The Handforth based Jones is certainly no stranger to semi-professional football having worked in the same position with Altrincham, Stalybridge Celtic and Kidsgrove Athletic.

BLYTH FANS PAY TRIBUTE TO MANAGER

Blyth Spartans fans paid tribute to the club's manager Harry Dunn on his return to his former club Whitby Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Or rather, they saluted his moustache which is renowned throughout North East semi-professional football by donning self-adhesive moustaches until the end of the game when they were ceremoniously thrown in the air after an excellent 4-0 win over Dunn's former side.

NAILERS SIGN CHESTERFIELD DUO

Belper Town have signed 20 year olds Michael Fox and Anthony Jubb on loan from Chesterfield. Fox made his Football League debut in the final game of last season coming on as a substitute at Swindon Town in a 1-1 draw.

BRIDLINGTON YOUNGSTER CALLED UP FOR ENGLAND TRIALS

Although Bridlington Town have two experienced 'keepers on their books in ex Hull City and Bristol Rovers shot stopper Gavin Kelly and former Manchester United and Hull number one Nicky Baxter they didn't hesitate to sign 17 year old Ricky Ossai during the close season. The youngster, who has been receiving coaching from Kelly, was called up in to the England schools Under 18's squad for training at Keele University where he was hoping to impress enough to make it through to the final selection.

ODDS STACKED AGAINST ROSSENDALE AT HOME

They may have been at home last Saturday in the FA Cup but Rossendale United must have felt as if the odds were stacked against them when they entertained Sunderland Nissan in the Preliminary Round. Glen Service Centre, a local Nissan repair garage, sponsored the game whilst the referee was Japanese and at least half the vehicles in the car park were Nissans. Glen Service boss Asif Patel was torn between which side he wanted to progress - his local team or the side sponsored by his business partners. He said "Fortunately honours were even".

FA CUP TIE DELAYED

Tuesday evening's Preliminary Round FA Cup replay at Stocksbridge Park Steels was postponed when the coach transporting their opponents Washington was involved in a crash on the motorway. The incident was serious enough to cause injury to several players. The tie will now take place next Tuesday, 6th September.

Of the eight other UniBond clubs in replay action only Bridlington Town went out leaving the First Division with 14 winners in the 21 ties so far decided against outside opposition earning £14,000 in prize money.

In the First Qualifying Round of the competition due to take place next Saturday, 10th September there are two all First Division clashes (Chorley v Bishop Auckland and Goole AFC v Clitheroe) but should Stocksbridge be successful against Washington on Tuesday there will be five First Division outfits facing Premier Division opposition. There are just two all Premier Division meetings with Wakefield-Emley playing host to Blyth Spartans and Ashton United travelling to Burscough. In the remaining nineteen ties UniBond League clubs meet outside opposition.

No fewer than three of the ties involving UniBond League clubs see home advantage conceded. Instead of travelling to Corby Town, First Division Shepshed Dynamo will meet their opponents at Kettering Town on Sunday 11th October whilst Whitby Town are the beneficiaries of Newcastle Blue Star being unable to host their tie. The game is switched to Whitby with any replay taking place at Billingham Synthonia's ground. Although drawn at home after beating Glasshoughton Welfare away in the Preliminary Round Woodley Sports are not allowed by the FA to stage the game on their new articificial surface. Consequently their tie against Premier Division Prescot Cables will now be played at Hyde United.

"A" GRADE FOR GOULDING

With the nation gripped by GCSE results fever it was perhaps appropriate that this week Burscough FC announced manager Derek Goulding has been awarded the highest UEFA Coaching badge currently open to him. He is now the proud owner of the UEFA "A" badge whilst his Assistant Chris Stammers is also working towards the same achievement.

Click here for a printer friendly version

Discuss this story on the Fans Forum.

Rovers' Dismal Run Continues

Lincoln Pre-match News

Away to:
Lincoln United

This afternoon, 3.00pm
Directions here

View previous encounters with Lincoln United