Thursday, 20th November 2008

News Archive

Stanhope Broken Leg Blow For Tulips

Spalding United Player/Assistant Manager Andy Stanhope will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his leg in the closing minutes of last Saturday's game against Brigg Town. Hospital treatment revealed a broken left fibula and a severely dislocated ankle.

On a brighter note Spalding's home game against Clitheroe today was scheduled to be the 250th appearance for the "Tulips" captain Lee Sowerby before the match became the only game to fall victim to the weather. His achievement spanning four seasons is bettered by only one other player, Nick Keeble, who clocked up approaching 500 appearances. The "Tulips" are to make a presentation to Sowerby with club official Ray Tucker saying "Lee has been, and continues to be, a great ambassador for the club. He is a clubman through and through and his award is fully deserved".

Telford To Stage International Fixture

AFC Telford United's New Buck's Head stadium is once again to play host to an international fixture. After the club's successful staging of two Women's Under 19's UEFA group games last season along with the Friendship International between English Colleges and the Italian Amateur Under 19's the New Buck's Head is to host another English Colleges international this time against Australia Schools this coming Monday, 30th January.

All Time FA Cup Greats

Press Release 21 gave details of the FA's competition to select the all time best non-league players and manager and four UniBond League clubs with great FA Cup traditions, Bishop Auckland, Blyth Spartans, Chorley and Runcorn FC Halton were invited to submit a name for each of the positions of goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker and manager.

Chorley's selections include two people from their famous FA Cup side of 1986/7 who have been very involved on the UniBond scene in recent times. Their nomination for manager is current Club Chairman Ken Wright who masterminded the "Magpies" famous victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers that season whilst the goalkeeper in that run was Ian Senior who went on to play for numerous UniBond sides until very recently. Chorley's other selections are also from that side who also held Preston North End before bowing out in a replay and they are Defender - Wayne Roberts, Midfielder Phil Marsden and striker Paul Moss.

Runcorn's selections are Manager John Williams (who also guided the club to the Northern Premier League title in 1980/81), 'keeper Brian Pendlebury, defender Bobby Frazer, midfielder Ossie Smith and forward Jack Search.

Not surprisingly Blyth Spartans' selections all come from their 1977/8 team that almost made the last eight of the great competition only losing 2-1 against Wrexham in a 5th Round replay after beating other Football League opposition in Chesterfield and Stoke City along the way. Spartans, having started out in the 1st Qualifying Round played eleven games in that never to be forgotten run scoring twenty goals and conceding just six (five of which were in the three games against Stoke and Wrexham). Brian Slane was the manager of a side that had Dave Clarke between the sticks, Terry Johnson up front, Tommy Dixon at the back and Eddie Alder as the midfield dynamo.

Bishop Auckland's selections contain some household names with the 'keeper being the incomparable England amateur international Harry Sharratt who played throughout Bishops' legendary era. As well as being an outstanding custodian his antics, such as building a snowman when his side were well on top in game at Shildon, are the stuff of legend. Such was his fame that when he died in 2002 The Times ran a half page obituary. The midfield selection is one of the greatest amateur internationals of all time and such was Bob Hardisty's ability that Manchester United signed him to help out in the aftermath of Munich. Defender Dave Marshall was, like Sharratt and Hardisty, a vital cog in Bishop's great fifties side whilst the forward role goes to Jackie Major who scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace and was also on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win over Ipswich Town during a great FA Cup run in 1954/5. Not many players score a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Football League opposition so he gets the nod over other strong contenders such as another fifties player Warren Bradley who won eleven England amateur caps with Bishops before he became another to go to Old Trafford post Munich after which he went on to score on his full England debut along with team-mate Bobby Charlton against Italy in a 2-2 draw. As for the manager there could only be one nomination - Lawrie McMeneny!

France Adds Another To His Squad

Having already added four new faces to his table topping squad since the turn of the year North Ferriby United manager Brian France has this week again signalled his intention of keeping the "Villagers" in contention for the title by signing 19 year old midfielder Rob Smith following the player's release from Scunthorpe United. France said "Rob was recommended to me by former Hull City and Scunthorpe defender Russ Wilcox and we stepped in

Eastwood Looking To Welcome Back Long Term Absentees

Two of Eastwood Town's long term absentees appear to be on the brink of returning with former Lincoln City and Notts County midfielder/striker Niall McNamara likely to be the first in action after being sidelined for almost five months with a broken leg. He has had two reserve team outings and is now in contention for first team selection. Long serving central defender and club captain Paul Gould had been an ever-present for so long that he was considered to be indestructible but a serious knee injury this season has limited his appearances to just four games. However, a recent scan has revealed that a long period of rest seems to have paid off and physio' Fred Kirk is confident he can get the 34 year old back within the next few weeks.

Not such good news, however, for James Hutchinson who has made a couple of aborted come back attempts following a broken leg sustained in late 2004. "Hutch", who was with both Derby County and Mansfield Town and capped at various age levels for Northern Ireland, has taken specialist advice and it looks as though further surgery is required.

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Blenko's Goal Grabs A Point For Rovers

Reserves Game Postponed

Player Announcement

At home to:
Stocksbridge Park Steels

Saturday 22nd November, 3.00pm

View previous encounters with Stocksbridge Park Steels

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