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18th August 2007
It certainly wasn't a day for home teams in the Premier Division when the UniBond League programme got underway with just two of the ten sides enjoying home advantage making it count.

Hednesford Town saw off Frickley Athletic by three goals but it was a much closer affair at Lincoln United where last season's runners-up Witton Albion went down to a solitary goal.

The biggest win of the day came at North Ferriby United where Prescot Cables ran in four without reply. Relegated Worksop Town got off to a good start winning at last season's fourth place Marine whilst neither of the promoted sides could manage a win.

Eastwood Town went in front at home to Gateshead only to lose 3-1 but Buxton did better as they came from behind to earn a point at Whitby Town. Two of the fancied clubs this season, Fleetwood Town and Guiseley, both had narrow away wins with former England Youth international Cieran Donnelly scoring the only goal three minutes in to his debut for the former at Ossett Town whilst the latter won 3-2 at Stamford.

New signing Louis Briscoe has proved a revelation in pre-season and was on the mark again in Leek Town's 2-1 success at Kendal Town whilst in the one other top tier fixture neither Ashton United nor Ilkeston Town could muster a goal between them in the day's only goalless game.

In the First Division North all eyes were on FC United of Manchester who conquered all before them in the North West Counties League but they went down 2-1 at Lancaster City in their first UniBond fixture.

Doubling up Lancaster's joy was the attendance of well over 2,000. Indeed, it was a good day for home sides in this Division with not one losing although Bradford Park Avenue left it late to overturn Skelmersdale United who had led until eight minutes from time before conceding two late goals.

Another late goal helped new boys Newcastle Blue Star glean a point at Bamber Bridge whilst the other new kids on the block Garforth Town and Curzon Ashton both won their home debuts.

Relegated Radcliffe Borough twice took the lead at Wakefield only to succumb 4-2 and last season's bottom two Bridlington Town and Chorley battled out a 2-2 draw. In the other games Rossendale United edged out Harrogate Railway 1-0 as did Woodley Sports at home to Clitheroe.

In the South Division Nantwich Town attracted a crowd in excess of 600 for what was not only their UniBond debut but also the first competitive match at their new Weaver Stadium. Unfortunately Quorn had not read the script and spoiled the party with a 2-0 victory.

Another new side to enjoy a healthy attendance were Sheffield FC but they came away with all three points after going behind at home to Grantham Town and Retford United were another newcomer to win beating Gresley Rovers 2-0.

Carlton Town couldn't keep the run going, however, and they went down at home to Alsager Town. Last season's First Division runners-up Cammell Laird, who only failed to score in one game all campaign, got off to a good start with a 3-1 win against Stocksbridge.

Elsewhere Warrington Town came from two down to earn a point against Brigg Town and the same 2-2 scoreline applied to the game at Belper Town where Colwyn Bay were the visitors. Shepshed Dynamo and Goole also drew whilst the one other game went the way of Kidsgrove Athletic 4-2 at Spalding United.

Unibond League Cup Draws

The draws for the first two Rounds of the UniBond League Challenge Cup and the UniBond League President's Cup have been made and are as follows -

League Challenge Cup - 1st Round
(Ties to be played midweek commencing 24th September 2007)

Bamber Bridge v Chorley
Woodley Sports v Curzon Ashton
Cammell Laird v Rossendale United
Quorn v Belper Town
Clitheroe v Colwyn Bay
Sheffield FC v Gresley Rovers
Skelmersdale United v Lancaster City
Shepshed Dynamo v Grantham Town
FC United of Manchester v Alsager Town
Spalding United v Carlton Town
Nantwich Town v Radcliffe Borough
Goole AFC v Wakefield FC
Stocksbridge PS v Mossley
Ossett Albion v Harrogate Railway

Byes - Bradford Park Avenue, Bridlington Town, Brigg Town, Garforth Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Newcastle Blue Star, Retford United, Warrington Town.

2nd Round
(Ties to be played midweek commencing 15th October 2007)

Clitheroe or Colwyn Bay v Bamber Bridge or Chorley
FC United of Manchester or Alsager Town v Woodley Sports or Curzon Ashton
Kidsgrove Athletic v Skelmersdale Utd or Lancaster City
Nantwich Town or Radcliffe Borough v Stocksbridge PS or Mossley
Warrington Town v Cammell Laird or Rossendale United
Bridlington Town v Brigg Town
Garforth Town v Ossett Albion or Harrogate Railway Athletic
Goole AFC or Wakefield FC v Sheffield FC or Gresley Rovers
Newcastle Blue Star v Bradford Park Avenue
Retford United v Quorn or Belper Town
Spalding United or Carlton Town v Shepshed Dynamo or Grantham Town

President's First Division Cup - 1st Round
(Ties to be played midweek commencing 1st October 2007)

Lancaster City v Chorley
Kidsgrove Athletic v Radcliffe Borough
Quorn v Carlton Town
Garforth Town v Wakefield FC
Byes - all 28 remaining First Division clubs

2nd Round
(Ties to be played week commencing 29th October 2007)

Cammell Laird v Alsager Town
Belper Town v Gresley Rovers
Colwyn Bay v Woodley Sports
Bridlington Town v Ossett Albion
Curzon Ashton v Stocksbridge PS
Brigg Town v Quorn or Carlton T'n
FC United of Manchester v Bamber Bridge
Goole AFC v Spalding United
Kidsgrove Athletic or Radcliffe Boro' v Warrington Town
Harrogate Railway Athletic v Bradford Park Ave
Newcastle Blue Star v Garforth Town or Wakefield FC
Lancaster City or Chorley v Nantwich Town
Mossley v Skelmersdale United
Shepshed Dynamo v Retford United
Rossendale United v Clitheroe
Sheffield FC v Grantham Town

This season's UniBond League Chairman's Cup will not be played until the end of the campaign and will be competed for by the Champion clubs of the First Division North and First Division South.

Witton Keep Warlow

Witton Albion have signed 20 year old Adam Warlow on contract after his release from Crewe Alexandra. He spent the whole of last season on a long term loan with Albion from Crewe and his 30 goals played a big part in Witton's title challenge which only faltered on the final day.

Worksop Sign Robinson

One of the most experienced full time players to drop in to the UniBond League this season is 32 year old Steve Robinson who has signed for Worksop Town. The midfielder began his career with Birmingham City and went on to make more than eighty appearances for the St Andrews side before being transferred to Swindon Town for a fee of £50,000 in 2001. He played around 150 games at Swindon in his four and a half seasons with them before signing for Lincoln City in 2005.

Brothers In Arms

The Laight brothers, Ryan and Craig, certainly won't be brothers in arms should they face one another in a UniBond fixture this season after signing for Matlock Town and Frickley Athletic respectively. 21 year old Ryan was snapped up by Matlock on his release from Barnsley where he had first team experience whilst nineteen year old Craig signed for Frickley when Scunthorpe United let him go.

England Youth International Signs For Fleetwood

Fleetwood Town have signed 23 year old Ciaran Donnelly on his release from Blackpool. The midfielder started his career at Blackburn Rovers and gained England Youth international honours before signing for Blackpool where he made his full time debut and went to make around fifty appearances for the Seasiders.

Nantwich Kick Off In New Stadium

Newcomers Nantwich Town have double cause to celebrate this season for not only is it the club's first at UniBond level but they also have a brand new £4m stadium. The keys to the new Weaver Stadium were handed over in a ceremony on 2nd August after ten years hard work finally came to fruition. It was back in June 1997 that the club formulated the idea they had to move from their Jackson Avenue ground which had been their home for more than a century if they were to be able to progress.

Obituaries

The summer months saw the passing of four stalwart supporters of the UniBond League scene. Bernard Manning's death was well covered nationally, of course, but what the national TV and press didn't mention was his sterling work in his support of Radcliffe Borough where his son Bernard Manning Jnr is Chairman. Bernard Snr will be badly missed by everybody at Borough.

North Ferriby United were left reeling in August by the sudden death of their charismatic Press Officer / Programme Editor Dave Simmons who died from a heart attack whilst visiting his family in his home city of Liverpool. Club Chairman Les Hare said "Dave was a true character of the game. His colourful use of the English language and dry "scouse" sense of humour will be sorely missed".

Others from the UniBond scene to pass away in August were Bridlington Town's long serving match-day steward Alan White and Guiseley's Phyllis Stocks who was in her nineties. Phyllis had devoted sixty years of her life to the Guiseley cause and was still serving on the sweet stall at the club when she was 90. Her son Michael was a prolific goalscorer for the club. Alan's passing will be marked by fans who are raising money for a plaque in his memory to be placed on "Alan's gate" and they raised £143 in a bucket collection at the recent friendly against Frickley Athletic.

Bradford Celebrate Centenary

Bradford Park Avenue celebrate their Centenary this season having started life in the Southern League before becoming a Division Two side in the Football League. In that time there have been highs and lows with the major high being when they were promoted to the old First Division. The biggest low, however, was going in to liquidation in 1974 but the name was kept going by registering the Park Avenue name and playing in local leagues before being able to progress to regional football and then the Northern Premier UniBond League.

New owners have taken over this season bringing in a host of new players including many from Witton Albion where manager Benny Phillips was Assistant to Jim Vince. It promises to be an exciting campaign for Avenue who will certainly be noticed when visiting away grounds - in order to celebrate their Centenary they have reverted to their old Football League strip of Red, Amber and Black hoops for their away kit whilst in home matches they will play in the Green and White hoops that they first sported in 1911.

Avenue's latest signing is 30 year old defender Graham Allen from Chester City who put pen to paper on the eve of the new campaign. He gained England youth honours whilst with Everton and made half a dozen Premiership appearances for them before signing for Tranmere Rovers in 1998. He played over two hundred games for Rovers before further moves to Rushden & Diamonds and Chester.

Blue Star Attract 3,600 To First Home Game

Newcomers Newcastle Blue Star attracted a gate of over 3,600 last Monday evening to their first ever home game at Kingston Park. The fans came out in force to watch Blue Star very much hold their own against a Newcastle United side in which Michael Owen made his much awaited comeback. Also in the "Magpies" side were stars such as Kieran Dyer, Lua Lua and Shola Ameobi with the latter scoring both goals in a 2-0 win. The game also served as an introduction to English football for Brazilian import Cladio Cacapa.

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