Monday, 8th September 2008

News Archive

16th December 2006
First Division leaders Buxton increased their lead to eight points with a 5-0 win at struggling Bridlington Town whilst nearest challengers Stocksbridge PS were going down at home to the in form Alsager Town who are now seven games unbeaten after losing their previous five!

Stocksbridge at the moment appear to have lost their way to goal as they failed to find the net for the third game in succession. Eastwood Town stay third after overcoming bottom club Chorley with the only goal of the game but Colwyn Bay dropped out of the play positions when they were held at home by Kidsgrove Athletic. Taking full advantage of the Welsh club's lapse were Cammell Laird with their first win in five and Bradford Park Avenue who beat Belper Town leaving the "Nailers" seven games since their last win. Beginning to threaten the play-off hopefuls are Rossendale United who have won six of their last seven home games after seeing off Warrington Town 4-2 whilst Gresley Rovers are another side beginning to climb the table after a slow start. They have now won five of their last six after coming from behind to win at Skelmersdale United. In the FA Trophy Witton Albion are the League's sole survivors after they won 3-1 at Woodley Sports.

England Call Up For Welsh 'Keeper

England Futsal manager Graeme Dell has again called up Colwyn Bay 'keeper Farai Jackson for his squad to take on France next Tuesday and Wednesday at the impressive £24 million English Institute of Sport based in Sheffield. Jackson, who has been capped eleven times for the Futsal team, is currently being kept out of the Bay side by Ryan Brookfield who has Football League experience with Chester City, a situation noted by League of Wales club Rhyl who have issued a seven day notice of approach.

Another player with UniBond connections has also been selected for the fourteen man squad with Mickey Lyons, who is registered with Gresley Rovers as a non-contract player, also having made the squad. Lyons has been capped seven times at Futsal level and was a Gresley regular until moving down South.

The two warm up games are being used by Dell to assess his players before setting out on pre-qualification for UEFA's Futsal Championships to be held in Portugal. After these matches England travel to Deva in Rumania during January to play in a four team group that also includes the host nation, Latvia and Bulgaria. The winners then go in to February's Qualification stage whilst the runners-up will also have a chance of moving on as the two best runners-up from the three pre-qualification groups will take part in the Qualifying stage along with the group winners.

UniBond Clubs In Christmas Spirit

UniBond clubs Marine, Colwyn Bay and league newcomers Cammell Laird have entered in to the spirit of Christmas with various offers to fans. First up today were Marine who had their inaugural Christmas Community Day inviting over 2,000 children from 25 local schools to watch the game with Radcliffe Borough for free providing they were accompanied by a paying adult. But to ensure an even greater Christmas feel to events there was free admission for any adult dressed as Santa Claus.

Next to get in to the festive spirit are Colwyn Bay who, conscious of the traditional difficulty in attracting spectators for pre-Christmas games, are also encouraging youngsters with a competition to draw their favourite player. The winning design will be used as the cover for their game next Saturday against Woodley Sports with the prizewinner also acting as mascot for the match. But the older fans are not left out as Father Christmas will be arriving early with supporters able to enjoy a £1 a pint Christmas Special offer in the club house!

Colwyn Bay also feature when Cammell Laird help get supporters in festive mood as they are the visitors to Laird's Kirklands ground on Boxing Day when fans will only have to pay £2 admission if they have been to one of the two clubs' pre-Christmas fixtures. Lairds and the Bay are both giving out vouchers to supporters who attend one of their respective home games preceding what could prove to be a vital clash between two clubs who could, at the very least, be play-off contenders.

Lairds Press Secretary Paul McLoughlin said: "We specifically asked the UniBond League for this fixture on Boxing Day, we are the Welsh club's local derby game and they are managed by one of our former players Peter Davenport who went from us to play for Nottingham Forest. This is the first time Peter has been back to Lairds in a competitive game and we wanted to do something a little special". Colwyn Bay Vice Chairman Andy Owens said: "We welcome this initiative from Lairds and we are more than happy to help promote it. Hopefully it will encourage more of our supporters to make the short journey and thus create a great atmosphere for what could prove to be a crucial game for both teams come next May".

Clitheroe Name Reynolds And Smith

Clitheroe have named Neil Reynolds and Peter Smith as their third management team of the season following the recent departure of Chris Stammers who himself had taken over the managerial reins of the Lancashire club earlier in the campaign when Mark Smitheringale sensationally quit on the eve of the opening day.

Reynolds played five seasons with Clitheroe before leaving at the end of last season to further his playing career at Bamber Bridge but the former Clitheroe skipper recently returned to Shawbridge and is studying for his UEFA coaching badges. The Preston based Smith, meanwhile, spent four years as part of the management team at Kendal Town and has around twenty years playing experience in the UniBond League with a variety of clubs.

Cup Tie Jinxed

The UniBond League Challenge Cup 2nd Round tie between Matlock Town and Gresley Rovers appears to be jinxed. The tie couldn't be played when first scheduled on 21st November due to both clubs being on Derbyshire Senior Cup duty. It then fell foul of the weather on both 28th November and 5th December. Last Tuesday evening it did get underway only for one of the floodlight pylons to develop a fault causing the game to be abandoned at half-time. With both clubs scheduled to be playing in the Derbyshire Senior Cup again next week followed by Christmas and New Year the tie has now been rescheduled for Saturday 6th January when the rest of the surviving teams play their 3rd Round ties. Meanwhile Kidsgrove Athletic who have already played fourteen cup-ties this season wait patiently in the wings for the winners.

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