Friday, 22nd August 2008

News Archive

29th September 2007
Review Of The Week

Although Gateshead's narrow midweek win over Guiseley took them to the head of the Premier Division table Witton Albion resumed pole position on Saturday with success at Ashton United whilst the North East outfit were on FA Cup duty. Other highlights in the top tier were a home win at last for Ossett Town thanks to a stoppage time goal whilst North Ferriby United moved out of the relegation spots for the first time. Curzon Ashton came from behind at Rossendale United to keep their unbeaten record intact and move three points clear at the top of the First Division North whilst Retford United are a similar distance in front at the top of the First Division South. First Division clubs had an excellent day in the FA Cup with Bamber Bridge, Belper Town and Harrogate Railway all ousting Conference opposition as did Premier Division Matlock Town. In addition Nantwich Town drew at Harrogate Town whilst Radcliffe Borough were only denied a replay at Blyth Spartans by a stoppage time goal. Bradford Park Avenue completed an excellent eight days in which they scored eighteen goals without reply by knocking out top tier Whitby Town whilst Clitheroe hit eight against Spennymoor Town and Woodley Sports five without reply at Horden. In addition to Matlock, other top tier clubs to progress were Fleetwood Town, Kendal Town and Stamford whilst Hednesford Town took Conference club Alfreton Town to a replay. The one all Premier Division tie between Prescot Cables and Guiseley finished level.

UniBond "Club Of The Month" Awards

Gateshead took the Premier Division award for September despite losing their FA Cup tie at home to Vauxhall Motors today as their first seven games of the month had produced six wins and a draw. Bamber Bridge took the First Division North award in some style being undefeated in eight games winning seven of them whilst Nantwich Town scooped the First Division South award with six wins, one defeat and today's excellent FA Cup draw at Conference North outfit Harrogate Town.

Huge Success For Live UniBond TV

The midweek game between Gateshead and Guiseley was televised live via broadband with almost 1,000 viewers from as far a field as USA, China, Spain, Norway, Italy and Australia in addition to the UK. It didn't appear to affect the gate as the attendance of 454 was Gateshead's best of the campaign to date. Invision's John Warrington is confident that if such figures can be maintained then there should be a high expectancy that the service could become free to view. NPL TV was covering today's game at Chorley where FC United of Manchester were the visitors with the game available on the "Match of the Week" slot from Monday lunchtime.

New Chairman For Eastwood

Eastwood Town have announced that they have appointed local businessman Robert Yong as Club Chairman following Keith Smith's decision to step down to due to ill health. Smith, however, is staying on as Managing Director to oversee the day to day running of the club.

Goals Galore In The Challenge Cup

The First Round of the UniBond League Challenge Cup is now almost complete with just one tie between Shepshed Dynamo and Grantham Town still outstanding. There were goals galore in the ties that were completed during midweek with the nine games producing a staggering 49 goals.

The biggest score came at Sheffield FC where the visitors were Gresley Rovers with the ninety minute score finishing 5-5 before the home side went on to win 6-5 in extra-time. Not far behind were Clitheroe and Colwyn Bay who shared eight goals after extra-time before the Welsh side triumphed in a penalty shoot out which was rough justice on the home side who had fought back from three goals down to force the extra period of play. Skelmersdale United hit five without reply at home to Lancaster City whilst the two games on Wednesday saw the net found thirteen times! Rossendale United who were hit for nine by Bradford Park Avenue last Saturday recovered well to surprise Cammell Laird who have a 100% home record in the league with the Lancashire side enjoying their ride home from the Wirral after a 4-3 victory. In the other game on Wednesday Ossett Albion beat Harrogate Railway Athletic 4-2. There was also a notable victory on Tuesday for Spalding United who hadn't a league victory under their belts but were still too strong for Carlton Town with a 2-1 win.

The draw for the 2nd Round is as follows with ties scheduled to be played in the midweek commencing 15th October unless impacted by FA Cup replays or County Cup ties.

ALSAGER TOWN v CURZON ASHTON
KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC v SKELMERSDALE UNITED
BRIDLINGTON TOWN v BRIGG TOWN
NANTWICH TOWN v STOCKSBRIDGE
COLWYN BAY v BAMBER BRIDGE
NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR v BRADFORD PA
GARFORTH TOWN v OSSETT ALBION
RETFORD UNITED v QUORN
GOOLE AFC v SHEFFIELD FC
WARRINGTON TOWN v ROSSENDALE UTD
SPALDING UNITED v SHEPSHED DYNAMO or GRANTHAM TOWN

The eleven winners will be joined by the 21 Premier Division clubs in the Third Round scheduled to take place in November.

UniBond Clubs Progress In FA Youth Cup

There were some notable victories for UniBond clubs in the FA Youth Cup this week with Warrington Town, Sheffield FC and Woodley Sports knocking out Conference National sides Northwich Victoria, Halifax Town and Altrincham respectively whilst Curzon Ashton added the scalp of Southport. Also through to the next round are Prescot Cables, Marine, Retford United, Matlock Town, and Stamford whilst Ossett Town won the only all UniBond clash against North Ferriby United. Still to play their ties are Nantwich Town and Guiseley.

The draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round which is to be played in the week commencing 8th October has come up with two, and possibly three, all UniBond ties and is as follows -

MARINE v Atherton LR
WARRINGTON TOWN v CURZON ASHTON
WOODLEY SPORTS v Vauxhall Motors or NANTWICH TOWN
PRESCOT CABLES v Ashton Athletic
OSSETT TOWN v SHEFFIELD FC
Hall Road Rangers v Silsden or GUISELEY
Stapenhill v MATLOCK TOWN
Long Eaton United v RETFORD UNITED
STAMFORD v Oadby Town

NPL TV
Forthcoming Games

Sat 6th Oct Whitby Town v Kendal Town Match of the Week
Sat 13th Oct Ossett Town v Prescot Cables Match of the Week
Tue 16th Oct To be confirmed Live game
Sat 20th Oct No game due to FA Trophy
Sat 27th Oct Sheffield FC v Cammell Laird Match of the Week
Tue 30th Oct To be confirmed Live game

All games can be accessed through the banner link on www.unibondleague.com

Hubbard Goes At Spalding

Spalding United, bottom of the First Division South and without a league victory going in to today's fixture at Goole, parted company with manager Phil Hubbard on Monday. A string of poor results with just one point gleaned from the first seven games prompted Chairman Chris Toynton to relieve Hubbard of his duties after some eighteen months at the helm. Toynton said "It was a difficult decision to make as Phil is a great bloke and has been a gentleman throughout his time with the club. But we need points to get us up the table and to stimulate interest in other areas as well. We decided a change of leadership was the best and probably only route to take in order to achieve this".

The "Tulips" Director of Football Dominic Genovese, a former Peterborough United player and ex manager of Kettering Town, will step in to the hot seat for the immediate future but any applications, which should be forwarded to the Chairman at the club, for the job will be considered.

Stoker Steps Down At Wakefield

Wakefield player-manager Gareth Stoker took the number of UniBond League managerial changes already this season to six when he announced he was stepping down from his managerial duties to concentrate on the playing side as he was finding the burden of management too time consuming at this stage of his career. Wakefield were struggling last season until he came to the club and resurrected their fortunes.

Taking over is Ronnie Glavin under whom the club, then known as Emley, reached the 3rd Round of the FA Cup in 1997/8 giving West Ham United an almighty fright. They reached the 1st Round again the following season and also the last eight of the FA Trophy before losing to Cheltenham who won promotion to the Football League at the end of that campaign. In 2000/2001 season Emley amassed 101 points only to be beaten to promotion to the Conference by Stalybridge Celtic and they remain the only club to have gained a century of points and not win the title. Shortly afterwards Glavin left to take up full time employment in the Football League.

Hednesford Hit By Mullen Departure

Hednesford Town were rocked this week by the sudden departure of Assistant Manager Jimmy Mullen who has joined Walsall with immediate effect. Mullen was at training on Thursday evening when he received the call to join the Football League club and although Mullen had hoped to stay with Hednesford until after the weekend's FA Cup tie Walsall insisted he travelled with them to Hartlepool.

Street Names New Number Two

Warrington Town manager Ian Street has promoted first team coach Carl Measey to be his Assistant replacing Andy Nelson who resigned a fortnight ago due to work and family commitments.

Leek On The Look Out

Leek Town are advertising their managerial vacancy following Paul Ogden's recent departure on health grounds. Current caretaker boss Neil Brown who had been Ogden's Assistant will not, however, be applying for the job and has told the Board that today's game at Eastwood Town would be the last in charge for him. Meanwhile, Leek's leading goalscorer Louis Briscoe is to have a three day trial with Dagenham & Redbridge next week as the former Port Vale player attempts to get his Football League career back on track.

Inter Milan To Visit Sheffield FC

Italian giants Inter Milan are to play Sheffield FC as part of the UniBond League club's 150th Anniversary celebrations. The game will be staged at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on 8th November and Milan, who celebrate their own 100th Anniversary in 2008, are sending a strong squad of 26 players with coach Roberto Mancini and President Massimo Moratti also travelling.

Also as part of the celebrations Sheffield are playing Sheffield United who are set to field a strong team against the UniBond outfit on 10th October and an FA XI on 23rd October. Another highlight of their celebrations is a dinner on 24th October at which FIFA President Sepp Blatter will be in attendance.

Sheffield FC also recently raised £2,500 for the "Boots for Africa" charity which was augmented by the Royal Bank of Scotland with a further £1,000 through the bank's Community Award scheme.

Stakes Are High For Avenue

After scoring nine goals against Rossendale last Saturday and following up with another five at Bridlington on Tuesday both without reply Bradford Park Avenue could have been forgiven for thinking that things couldn't get much better.

However on Wednesday in a "winner take all" Texas Hold 'Em poker challenge match against near neighbours Farsley Celtic in which twenty players from each club took on their opposite numbers it was Avenue who lifted the prize to swell club coffers by the £1,000 prize put up by Gala Casinos who are Celtic's main sponsors as well as having sponsored five match balls at Avenue. The win was particularly impressive, as Celtic players have been playing the card game on their long away trips in the Conference National.

Styche Out

Hednesford Town's teenage striker Reece Styche is expected to be out of action for two months after breaking a metatarsal in his side's FA Cup replay win at Stratford Town. Despite missing the opening weeks of the season due to a suspension picked up in Sunday football he had scored six times in 240 minutes of action this term.

League Appoint Ogley

The League has appointed Mark Ogley to its list of Divisional Representatives. Ogley has a vast experience of the UniBond League having played with Stalybridge Celtic, Altrincham, Emley, Gainsborough Trinity, Leek Town and Frickley Athletic following a Football League career that took in Barnsley, Aldershot, York City and Carlisle United. He has also served in managerial or coaching positions with Belper Town, Frickley, Grantham Town and Stocksbridge.

Obituary

It was with great sadness that the UniBond League heard last weekend of the death of Harrogate Town stalwart Roy Dalby aged 86 after a long illness. He had been involved in Harrogate football for sixty years as a player and administrator and was a greatly respected figure. The League sends it condolences to Harrogate Town and to Roy's family.

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