Tuesday, 7th October 2008

News Archive

27th October 2007
Review Of The Week

First Division North Harrogate Railway Athletic were the toast of the UniBond League on Saturday as they reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup by defeating neighbours Harrogate Town 2-1 to earn another home tie against Conference National side Droylsden.

Not such good news for the other UniBond sides in FA Cup action, however, with both Bradford Park Avenue and Bamber Bridge conceding four goals apiece but Kendal Town put up a brave show against Conference side Altrincham before bowing out to the only goal of the game.

Witton Albion went eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division as nearest rivals Gateshead were held to a 2-2 draw at relegation threatened Leek Town.

It could have been a lot worse for the North East side as they were two down inside eleven minutes whilst Albion were being held at half-time at Whitby Town before a scorching second period saw them run out 6-1 winners.

Guiseley had a stoppage time penalty to thank for their home win over next to bottom North Ferriby United to keep pace with Gateshead in second spot with Marine in fourth after they made it six wins in seven games with victory at Lincoln United. Holding on to the final play-off place are Fleetwood Town who came from 3-1 down at Ilkeston Town to earn a point.

The top two in the First Division South, Retford United and Cammell Laird, both lost enabling Laird's conquerors Sheffield to close the gap on them to two points whilst Grantham Town are unbeaten since the opening day and occupying fourth after beating Stocksbridge PS. Goole's win against Retford was their fourth on the trot and along with Nantwich Town who beat neighbours Kidsgrove Athletic 4-1 and Gresley Rovers who secured their first away points of the season when overcoming Spalding United are only one point behind Warrington Town for the final play-off place with games in hand.

First Division North leaders Curzon Ashton retained their unbeaten tag in emphatic style with a 6-1 win over Woodley Sports whilst FC United of Manchester slipped quietly in to second when beating Ossett Albion. At the other end of the table Clitheroe climbed out of the bottom two for the first time to be replaced by Chorley who they had demolished 5-1.

International Call Up For Brownhill

Witton Albion defender Liam Brownhill has been selected for the England "C" team (the non-league game's International side) in the first defence of their International Challenge Trophy which they won last May.

It is a great achievement for a UniBond League player to break through to the international team and he will be travelling to face Finland at the Finnair Stadium, home of HJK Helsinki, for the England's first group match on 14th November. Also in the England's group are Wales and Italy.

Brownhill started off in the game with Stockport County before moving in to the League of Wales in the summer of 2005 to play for both Bangor City and Connah's Quay Nomads. He joined Witton in December 2005.

FA Trophy Draw

The draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy has thrown up some intriguing all Unibond ties with no fewer than eight of the twelve ties involving UniBond clubs pairing First Division sides against Premier Division clubs.

Making it even more interesting is that in six of those eight games the First Division club has been drawn at home with only First Division South title chasers Retford United and Colwyn Bay on their travels.

Retford visit Fleetwood Town who themselves are hopeful of promotion whilst the Welsh side visit the top tier's bottom side Frickley Athletic.

Elsewhere Stocksbridge, Curzon Ashton, Warrington Town, Bamber Bridge, Wakefield and Sheffield receive Witton Albion, Ilkeston Town, Ossett Town, Marine, Buxton and Kendal Town respectively.

There are two all Premier Division ties with Hednesford Town at home to Guiseley whilst Matlock Town host Gateshead. The two UniBond clubs to be drawn against outside opposition were both drawn away with Clitheroe having to go to Rushall Olympic whilst Radcliffe Borough visit Chasetown.

Nogan Becomes Number Eight

Whitby Town announced this week that they have parted company with manager Lee Nogan after a disappointing start to the season. The Welsh international had been in charge since the summer of 2006 guiding the "Seasiders" to eleventh spot last season, down five places from the previous campaign.

Taking over in a caretaker capacity is 32-year-old defender Phil Brumwell who has been with Whitby for several seasons following a Football League career with Sunderland and Darlington making over 150 appearances for the latter.

Leek's Poor FA Trophy Record Continues

Leek Town's appalling record in the FA Trophy continued last Saturday when they lost at Buxton. Leek won eight games to reach the Wembley Final of the Trophy in 1990 since when they have only managed a further seven wins in the competition during the ensuing seventeen years and none at all away from Harrison Park!

Belper Appoint Full Time Commercial Manager

Belper Town have appointed Robin Eaves on a full time basis as Commercial Manager after he moved in to the area recently from Telford.

He has a wealth of experience in the field for, as well as having to give up a similar position with Stourbridge Rugby Union club on moving to Derbyshire, he had also had very successful stints with Conference clubs Telford United and Forest Green Rovers both of whom enjoyed significant success during his time with them.

Mr Eaves said: "I had a number of offers but once I saw the set up at Belper it was a relatively simple choice. Belper is a club with a terrific forward thinking Board of Directors and well thought out plans for the future plus some of the best facilities I have seen on the non-league circuit".

UniBond League Television
Forthcoming Games

Sat 3rd Nov Bridlington Town v FC United of Manchester Match of the Week
W/c 5th Nov Live Game tbc
Sat 10th Nov Warrington Town v Belper Town Match of the Week
Sat 17th Feb North Ferriby Utd v Fleetwood Town Match of the Week
Tue 20th Nov Nantwich Town v Cammell Laird Live Game
Sat 24th Nov Leek T v Ilkeston T [subject to FAT] Match of the Week

All games can be accessed through the banner link on www.unibondleague.com and are subject to change.

Blatter Hails Sheffield FC As "Home Of Football"

FIFA President Sepp Blatter this week hailed UniBond First Division club Sheffield FC as the "home of football" when speaking at an event to mark the 150th Anniversary of the oldest club in the world. Blatter, along with FA Chairman Geoff Thompson, former Sports Minister Richard Caborn and a host of famous names including former Spain manager and Inter Milan legend Luis Suarez, Sir Tom Finney, Gordon Banks, Mark Bright, Derek Dooley and Bryan Robson along with Sheffield's two current world ranked boxers Clinton Woods and Junior Witter, attended a special Thanksgiving Service to football at Sheffield Cathedral and a gala dinner afterwards.

Blatter said "I have been with FIFA for 33 years and in all that time I have never seen football given an homage in church to give thanks to our beautiful game that we all love". Prime Minister Gordon Brown also sent a message of support and Sheffield FC Chairman Richard Tims received a commemorative plaque from FIFA in recognition of the club's historic achievement. The club also raised the not insignificant amount of £40,000 for their "Boots for Africa" campaign from an auction on the evening.

Ashton United Seek Manager

Ashton United are seeking a manager but for one game only. Robins' boss Danny Johnson will step down from his position in the dug out and allow the highest bidder for his job to run the team during a benefit match for Ashton United player Gareth Richards but anybody interested will have to beat Johnson's opening bid of £100 to retain his job!

Striker Richards only joined Ashton in the summer from North West Counties League side Maine Road but proved an instant hit with the fans before suffering a bad fall whilst at a friend's wedding in Slovenia that left him in a coma for a fortnight. He is now back to full consciousness and should be able to attend the Benefit Match organised for him on 6th November when his former side Maine Road will be the opponents.

Obituary

The League sends its condolences to the family and friends of Kenny Beaumont, a Cammell Laird supporter who collapsed and died at their game against Alsager Town last Friday evening.

Laird's spokesman Paul McLoughlin paid special tribute to Alsager Town's 'physio Kenny Matthews who tried to no avail to save Mr Beaumont. Mr McLoughlin added: "I have been touched by the many messages of condolence that the club has received with Prescot Cables, Alsager, Shepshed Dynamo, Stocksbridge, Buxton and Colwyn Bay being just a few".

FA Youth Cup

The UniBond League will have at least three representatives in the First Round Proper of this season's FA Youth Cup and two of them have drawn Football League opposition with Curzon Ashton hosting Chesterfield and Marine at home to Chester City.

The other side definitely through, Retford United, will play Stourbridge who beat Stone Dynamoes on penalties - that tie could be a close affair as Retford themselves are making a habit of going to penalty shoot outs with their win over Mickleover Sports this week being their second successive win from the spot in the competition.

Woodley Sports missed out on a home tie against Crewe Alexnadra when losing to Ashton Town whilst Stamford would have visited Mansfield Town had they overcome Alfreton Town.

The Unibond League could have a fourth club through if Sheffield FC can beat Silsden this coming midweek. They have every incentive to do so as the winners are drawn against Football League opposition in Bury.

Goals Guaranteed At Ossett

It seems as though fans are guaranteed at least one goal when Ossett Albion play. They went past the century mark last Saturday without a goalless game when they lost at home to Garforth Town. The last time Albion were involved in a goalless match was on Bonfire Night 2005 against Bamber Bridge - no fireworks there then !

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