Friday, 22nd August 2008

News Archive

25th February 2006
Review Of The Week

Long time Premier Division leaders North Ferriby United had their lead at the top cut to just a single point after they had to twice come from behind to even grab a point at home to Guiseley as nearest challengers Frickley Athletic continued to plunder points with an emphatic victory at Radcliffe Borough who drop to bottom rung as a consequence. That was Athletic's sixth victory on the bounce and they also have two games in hand on the leaders who are beginning to look vulnerable as the chasing pack closes in on them. Only three points behind Ferriby and also with two games in hand are Marine who won at Witton Albion in midweek but were foiled by the weather at the weekend when attempting to increase their unbeaten league run of 22 games. Also posing a threat are fourth place Blyth Spartans whose two wins in the week mean they have now won six of their last seven league outings to leave themselves six points adrift of the leaders but with three games in hand. Farsley Celtic, after beating a weakened Matlock Town side on Tuesday, hang on the final play-off spot despite losing at AFC Telford United today. That was a first win in ten games for Telford but they are also unbeaten at home in ten games and their home form keeps them just above the relegation spots where Leek Town's resurgence continued with victory at Wakefield-Emley. Leek vacate the bottom spot for the first time since the 1st October whilst Runcorn FC Halton's 4-0 home defeat as Matlock Town recovered from their midweek reverse leaves the "Linnets" third bottom and without a goal in five matches. However, all the bottom clubs can take heart from the turn round in form shown by both Leek and Ossett Town whose win at fellow strugglers Ilkeston Town was their fourth in five games but despite their climb to 13th place the Yorkshire club are still only eight points clear of the relegation slots in what will surely be a dogfight enveloping several clubs before the season is out.

In the First Division, second place Kendal Town failed to make inroads into Mossley's lead when they conceded a late equaliser on Tuesday evening to the leaders prior to being snowed off at the weekend. Mossley took full advantage with a win at struggling Ossett Albion to surge seven points clear albeit having played a game more. The only other winners in the top eight were Gresley Rovers whose win over bottom club Bishop Auckland pushed them back in to the play-off positions. Third placed Fleetwood Town only picked up a point in two games during the week whilst Colwyn Bay's dreadful run shows no abatement with a home defeat at the hands of Rossendale United who followed up last Saturday's five goals with another four and Chorley's abysmal home form continued with defeat by Eastwood Town for whom it was a third win on the bounce. One time leaders Clitheroe relieved the relegation pressure on themselves with a win against Goole who have now lost five of their last six matches and whilst Spalding United took a point in a goalless draw at home to Belper Town they are now four games without a goal.

Guiseley To Host Women's FA Cup Semi-Final

Guiseley have become the latest UniBond League club to be chosen by the FA to host a prestigious game. The Yorkshire club has been selected as the venue for the Women's FA Cup semi-final between Leeds United and Liverpool on Sunday, March 12th with a 3.00pm kick off. Admission is £3 adults and £1 concessions.

Guiseley Chairman Phil Rogerson said "Guiseley FC would like to think that the ground has been chosen as the venue for this match partly in recognition of the club's work with the local community, their recently acquired FA Community Club status and not least because of our support for the women's game in forming three teams this season including an open age side who are sitting proudly at the top of their Division".

Massie Turns Down American Offer

Prescot Cables' 21 year old former England Youth international Jason Massie has turned down an offer of a two year scholarship in the United States at the University of Rio Grande. Last week's Press Release reported that the University's management team had been at Prescot on a scouting mission searching for a suitable player to offer a scholarship to. They had never seen Massie play before but were immediately impressed. Massie, however, felt he couldn't take up the offer as he is currently on a college course and has secured a place at Salford University later in the year.

Rio Grande's second choice was Mark Duffy but he too felt unable to accept as he has just commenced a multi-skilled apprentice course with Knowsley Council working alongside Prescot manager Andy Gray. A third choice Dave McLoughlin was a year too young but despite drawing a blank on this occasion the Rio Grande managers said they will definitely be back next year so impressed were they with Prescot's youngsters.

Gray Signs Three Year Deal

Prescot Cables manager Andy Gray this week put pen to paper to sign a three year contract. Club Chairman Tony Zeverona said: "I'm very pleased that Andy has signed a three year deal as it will be the foundation stone on which the club can build. Andy and myself have some great ideas for developing the club and share the common goal of making this a community club. Gray added: "There was never any doubt in my mind that I would sign and a three year contract means that we can build on what we've started".

North Ferriby Play Host To Representative Sides

North Ferriby United played host this week to both the Football League Under 21's and their Italian counterparts from Serie "B" who met on Tuesday evening at Hull City's KC Stadium. The English side, who won a close fought encounter 1-0, were put through their paces on Sunday at Church Road by Hull City boss Peter Taylor whilst the Italians used Ferriby's facilities on Monday.

New Signings Make Mark In Avenue's Record Books

New signings Dan Jarvis and Achille Traore became the 200th and 201st players to appear for Bradford Park Avenue since the club was reformed when they played last Saturday against Whitby Town. Traore became the 100th goalscorer for Avenue over the same period of time.

Home, Sweet Home At Last For Leek

Tuesday evening's 3-0 success over Burscough was Leek Town's first home league victory for more than twelve months. The last occasion they picked up all three points at Harrison Park was 23 games ago on 5th February 2005 when they beat Bridlington Town 2-1. During that time Leek had drawn fourteen and lost eight as they succeeded in putting together the club's worst sequence of home results since its formation almost sixty years ago.

Caretaker boss Mark Cartwright has brought in former Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City and Wigan Athletic midfielder Tony Kelly to help out on the coaching side. The 41 year old is currently employed coaching the Wigan Academy but will help out when his duties at Wigan permit. He made more than four hundred Football League appearances whilst the number of clubs for whom he played was in double figures. Since Cartwright took over in his caretaker role Leek had won three and lost only two of eight games going in to today's fixture at Wakefield-Emley

Clitheroe Back On Their Feet

Clitheroe appear to be getting back on their feet under Acting Chairman Carl Garner following the recent upheaval at the Lancashire club. Having released numerous players to cut the budget the club are, according to Mr Garner "In a much healthier climate than we were but we're still not out of the woods yet. It is our responsibility to give the fans the best we can afford with the word "afford" being the important factor. Everything has been done for the right reasons. The decisions haven't all been popular but they have all been made for the right reasons". The club's next move is to attempt to get a local business to sponsor the stadium and already they have had several enquiries.

Dickinson Makes His Mark

Woodley Sports striker Liam Dickenson who moved to Stockport County early in the New Year has certainly made his mark at the higher level. Rock bottom at the time of his arrival County now have a good chance of avoiding the drop in to the Conference and the recent run of improved results coincided with Dickenson's arrival. He has banged in five goals from the three starts and five substitute appearances but is now in the news for different reasons as County manager Jim Gannon is reported to have submitted photographic evidence to the FA urging the game's governing body to take action over 20 year old Dickenson being bitten in the face!

Dickenson is expected to face former Woodley team-mate Simon Hackney when County host Carlisle United on the final day of the campaign. Winger Hackney has proved to be very popular with the Brunton Park fans since his move twelve months ago. The success of the two youngsters in making the step up to the full time professional ranks mirrors the rise of Woodley Sports themselves who have made remarkable progress through the semi-pro ranks in the last few years.

Snippets

Runcorn FC Halton have linked up with Overseas Property Service and will receive referral fees for all fans who use the company's services.... Eastwood Town youngster Adie Francis is to have a week's trial with Lincoln City. The 20 year old was rejected by the "Imps" three years ago but is a much stronger player now....

Players Rally Round For Kit-Man

Players have generally earned themselves a reputation of being very mercenary these days but a nice tale emerged this week from Rossendale United showing not all of them are of that ilk. Rossy's Assistant Kit Manager, a youngster by the name of Luke Hobson whose father and mother Steve and Marilyn are Directors of the club, has recently undergone a very serious back operation but was well enough to attend his first match back last Saturday when Bridlington were the visitors to Dark Lane. After the game Manager Derek Egan presented Luke with £90 which the players had collected to buy Luke computer games to help pass the time whilst he convalesces.

Not quite as useful was the contribution made by former manager Mark Molyneux when he visited the youngster in hospital. Well known for his sense of humour "Molly" took Luke an empty bottle of bud and a half eaten banana which put a big smile on the patient's face at a tough time!

Radcliffe Sign £250,000 Player

Radcliffe Borough have attempted to boost their goalpower by signing Neil Tolson from Hyde United. The 33 year old was instrumental in taking Hyde to two promotions in successive seasons with almost sixty goals but has found it difficult to break in to the Hyde side following injury due to the form of Matty McNeil and Dale Johnson. However, in eleven starts this term he has still weighed in with five goals. Tolson began his career with Walsall but quickly moved to Oldham Athletic, who were at that point in the Premiership, for £250,000 when aged just seventeen. He later switched to Bradford City before an £85,000 transfer to York City and eventually Southend United before being forced to retire from the full time game. Borough are also expected to bring in another former Football League player next week in Chris Cornelly. The Ashton United player was sold to Lincoln City three seasons ago but made only sixteen Football League appearances before being injured and he returned to the Hurst Cross club at the start of this season.

Hubbard Turns To Hone

New Spalding manager Phil Hubbard has turned to former England semi-pro international Mark Hone to build his defence around. Now aged 37 Hone began his career at Crystal Palace but dropped in to the semi-pro game after just three appearances. His form for Welling United saw him capped by England at semi-pro level where he was a regular between 1990 and 1994 and his form eventually earned him a transfer to Southend United where he went on to make over a century of appearances for the "Shrimpers" before signing for Lincoln City.

Reynolds Shock For Telford

AFC Telford United's battle for Premier Division survival was not helped this week by the departure of leading goalscorer Luke Reynolds. The 26 year old met the club's newly installed management team and informed them he had not been happy at the club for some time. Telford officials, however, left that meeting under the impression that Reynolds would play another couple of games to give the club time to find a replacement but were then shocked to find that the striker had played for Market Drayton Town - the club from whom Telford signed the player last summer. A statement issued by AFC Telford United said: "We were very surprised and very disappointed that we received no indication of Luke's intention to play for Market Drayton either from the player or the club. It appears obvious that Luke has made his decision with regards to his footballing future and AFC Telford United wish him every success with his move". Two players, however, have returned to the club with Lee Vaughan signing from Walsall after a loan spell earlier in the campaign whilst Steve Palmer is back after playing for Hucknall Town and Redditch. Another new face is James Turner who arrives on loan from Tamworth.

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