Thursday, 16th October 2008

News Archive

29th April 2006
Review Of The Week

Blyth Spartans continued their fine form in to the final week of the campaign with three straight wins on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to take the title after winning seven and drawing one of their last eight games. Frickley Athletic, who in recent seasons have played the final days of the season to avoid relegation, have certainly been the surprise package and despite slipping up at Whitby Town on Wednesday evening finished runners-up and will be at home in the play-offs to fifth placed North Ferriby United who lost at AFC Telford United where the crowd was in excess of 2,000. Marine took third place on the final day off Farsley Celtic who were held to a draw at Prescot Cables and the "Celts" will now have to travel to the "Mariners" on Bank Holiday Monday in the other play-off. At the other end of the table Radcliffe Borough left it until the last minute of the season to escape relegation with Steve Foster's last gasp goal condemning victims Bradford Park Avenue and Wakefield-Emley to relegation along with the already relegated Runcorn FC Halton. Full marks, however, to the latter and to manager Steve Carragher and Secretary Alan Jones who between them managed to see the beleagured club complete their fixtures.

Although Mossley eventually secured the First Division title and a second promotion in three seasons on the final day of the campaign they had squandered the opportunity to land it in style in front of their own supporters on Monday evening when they let slip a two goal lead against Shepshed Dynamo who proved to be real party poopers. A win for Kendal Town the following evening at Stocksbridge PS kept the matter on hold until Saturday when, with Mossley suffering another defeat this time at Gresley Rovers, it left Kendal Town only needing to win at home to take the title. But Shepshed Dynamo once again hadn't read the script and their win at Kendal not only left the Lake District side without the title but dumped them in to the play-offs! Taking the second automatic place are Fleetwood Town whose 5-1 win against Brigg Town was enough by one goal to nudge out Kendal and give themselves a second consecutive promotion. The remaining play-off places went the way of Woodley Sports, Gresley Rovers and Stocksbridge PS. After a season long fight against relegation Warrington Town made it to safety on Tuesday night with a narrow one goal success at home to Clitheroe and Spalding United continued their excellent late run with a 2-0 win at already relegated Bishop Auckland on Thursday and a goalless draw at Eastwood Town on Saturday. That left Goole AFC relegated despite scoring three times in the last ten minutes at Kidsgrove Athletic on the final day to rescue a point. Bishops leave the UniBond League after 18 continuous seasons during which time they finished runners-up to the record breaking 1988/9 First Division champions Colne Dynamo before going on to take runners-up spot in the top tier to Leek Town in 1996/7. They also appeared in two League Challenge Cup Finals losing out to Bamber Bridge in 1994/5 and Lancaster City in 2000/1. We wish them well.

Play-Offs Go Ahead As Planned

Frickley Athletic have lodged an appeal with the FA against the decision of the Conference not to accept the club in to the Conference North should they win the UniBond League play-offs because Athletic's ground does not meet the required standard. In view of the appeal, which the UniBond League fully supports, the decision has been taken that the play-offs will go ahead as scheduled. In the event of Frickley Athletic winning the play-offs they would be eligible for promotion until such time as their appeal was heard but if the appeal was subsequently unsuccessful then the League would recognise the club that Frickley had beaten in the play-off Final as the winner of the play-offs and therefore qualify for the second promotion spot.

International Clearance Quagmire

The quagmire that currently surrounds the question of International Clearance following the deduction of eighteen points from Conference club Altrincham reared its ugly head again this week. An anonymous letter had been circulated to relegation threatened UniBond League Premier Division clubs alleging an international clearance irregularity regarding a Leek Town player Ryan Brown. Immediately after the announcement of the Altrincham decision a formal complaint was lodged with the League by Radcliffe Borough which could have resulted in Leek Town losing thirteen points. The case was heard on Thursday evening when, after all the facts were considered, the decision was that Mr Brown's registration as a bona fide player of Leek Town had not breached League rules and that the matter had already been appropriately dealt with by the Football Association under FIFA regulations. The situation, however, again highlighted the need for a review of procedures relevant to International Clearance and an improvement in the communication process to all relevant parties.

Thackwray Completes Daunting Challenge

Guiseley midfielder Ben Thackwray completed the daunting 150 mile Marathon des Sables across the Sahara desert earlier this month but his wonderful achievement coincided with the worst conditions the race has ever experienced in its 21 year history. The 750 runners faced not only violent sandstorms and windstorms in scorching heat but also the highest humidity the race has ever been run in. A total of 146 competitors fell out of the race at various points with some having to be airlifted to hospital. Despite suffering from losing five toe nails during the gruelling epic Thackwray managed to finish a very creditable 105th against rivals who were much more used to the conditions than the 25 year old Englishman.

Thackwray was running for the charity "Facing Africa" which is devoted to the treatment and prevention of Noma - a horrific disease in which the face is ravaged by gangrene and leaves its victims, who are mainly children, either dead or very badly disfigured. Having taken the season off from football to prepare for his endurance test Thackwray hopes to return to the game next term and challenge for his position back in the Guiseley midfield.

Telford Stage Benefit Match With Fellow Fans Club FC United

AFC Telford United stage a benefit match against fellow fans club FC United of Manchester next Saturday in aid of the fund set up to help Manchester United supporter Jamie Turner who suffered appalling head injuries in an unprovoked attack on his way to a game at Southampton a year ago. Jamie, who also attends Telford fixtures, is still awaiting an operation to repair his skull and fans have set up an on-line petition to urge the Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust to bring forward the operation which should have been done last year.

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