Monday, 13th October 2008

News Archive

5th January 2008
Review Of The Day

No change at the top of the Premier Division table with all four leading sides in cup action but BUXTON consolidated their play-off spot position with a 5-1 win over next to bottom LINCOLN UNITED whilst STAMFORD moved in to sixth with a 3-2 win against OSSETT TOWN.

It was a similar story in the First Division North where none of the top five were in league action but BAMBER BRIDGE got their show back on the road with victory at MOSSLEY. There was plenty of interest, however, at the other end of the table where BRIDLINGTON TOWN, after scoring just twice in their previous eight games, hit four without reply against CLITHEROE, bottom club RADCLIFFE BOROUGH made it six games without defeat with a home draw against HARROGATE RAILWAY whilst WOODLEY SPORTS ended a run of nine games without success with a 4-0 win at GARFORTH TOWN all of which saw CHORLEY slip back in to the bottom two after losing at LANCASTER CITY who haven't conceded in their last five games.

South section leaders RETFORD UNITED increased their lead to six points when edging out WARRINGTON TOWN who had led and GRESLEY ROVERS maintained their fine recent form with a win over QUORN who have conceded 19 goals in their last six games but play-off hopefuls GRANTHAM TOWN keep slipping up this time going down at home to ALSAGER TOWN for whom former England youth international Dorryl Proffitt was twice on the mark.

Bottom club SPALDING UNITED gave themselves a lifeline when they won at next to bottom SHEPSHED DYNAMO who have now lost their last seven games.

The biggest shock in the domestic cup competitions saw BRIGG TOWN undo BRADFORD PARK AVENUE in the President's Cup whilst First Division SKELMERSDALE UNITED beat top tier LEEK TOWN in the Challenge Cup.

UniBond "Fair Play" Awards

The UniBond "Fair Play" awards for December have gone to HEDNESFORD TOWN, NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR and GRANTHAM TOWN respectively. Whilst Newcastle were capturing the prize for the second time in three months since Tommy Cassidy took over (his Workington team also has a fine disciplinary record when the Cumbrian club was in the League) it is the first time that either Hednesford or Grantham had picked up the award during their time in the League.

Hednesford took the Premier Division award when they went through the month without picking up a single caution and their efforts take them up to second place in the season to date table behind Ilkeston Town and just in front of Witton Albion.

Newcastle are fourth in the First Division North season to date table but are some way behind leaders Chorley in the race for the £1,000 first prize come next May. The First Division South saw Colwyn Bay close the gap on Quorn in the season to date tables which appear elsewhere in this release.

Macron "Safe Hands" Awards

The Macron "Safe Hands" awards for December have been won by Fleetwood Town's Mike Hale (Witton's Jon Kennedy had the best record in the top flight but has already won a pair of gloves and is ineligible to win a second pair), Ryan McMahon (Skelmersdale United) took the First Division North prize whilst the First Division South award went to Grantham Town's Mario Ziccardi.

First Managerial Casualty Of New Year

The first managerial casualty of the New Year didn't take long to arrive with Ashley Berry being relieved of his duties after Bridlington Town's goalless home draw against Harrogate Railway Athletic on New Year's Day. Chairman Peter Smurthwaite said: "During his time in charge Bridlington had taken only 30 points from 42 games and had achieved only three home wins from 21 matches so we felt we needed a change".

Berry's assistant Paul Stoneman has also finished but Mr Smurthwaite is hopeful that Stoneman will stay as a player only. Berry's departure takes the number of UniBond League managerial changes so far this season to sixteen.

The Chairman himself is taking over in a caretaker capacity helped by Hull based Mark Lever who has just had to finish his playing career with a knee injury. Lever made more than 450 appearances in a full time career with Grimsby Town, Bristol City and Mansfield Town including twice appearing at Wembley with Grimsby. He has also played in the UniBond League with Ilkeston Town and Ossett Town. The club is accepting applications for the position which should be made direct to the Chairman.

UniBond Clubs Increase Their Share Of FA Prize Money

With the exit of both Gateshead and Guiseley just prior to Christmas from the FA Trophy UniBond participation in this season's FA Cup and FA Trophy has ended but the good news is that the member clubs increased their share of the prize money on offer from a total of £187,550 last season to £247,250 in the current campaign.

Given the increase in the number of member clubs this season a rise in prize money won was to be expected but the encouraging part is that the average prize money per club is up by more than £250 from £4,077 to £4,337. Unibond clubs won £164,750 (ave £2,890 per club) in the FA Cup against £126,250 (ave £2,744) in 2006/7 and £82,500 (ave £1,447) in the FA Trophy against last season's £61,300 (ave £1,332).

Wilson Joins Ferriby As 'Keeping Coach

Former Hull City goalkeeper Steve Wilson has joined his former team-mate Neil Allison who is now manager of North Ferriby United as goalkeeping coach. Allison said "I was with Steve in the early stages of our careers at Hull City and as well as having loads of experience he is also a fantastic person.

He will be of great experience to us not only working with Antoni Pecora in the first team but at every level within the club". Wilson spent eleven seasons at Hull making almost two hundred appearances before leaving for a four year stint at Macclesfield Town and then finally linking up again with former Hull boss Brian Little at Tranmere Rovers to finish his career with 324 games under his belt.

UniBond Clubs Help Fight Crime

Two UniBond League clubs, Rossendale United and Spalding United, are doing their bit to fight crime and anti-social behaviour amongst the youth of their respective localities. Rossendale have already played their part donating land to build a youth shelter in August 2006 and the venture has resulted in almost halving the incidents of youth related crime and anti-social behaviour in the area during 2007.

Spalding, meanwhile, are about to embark on a sports related diversionary scheme aimed at steering young people away from alcohol and anti-social behaviour in conjunction with their Local Authority.

Fans Support Board Decision

The fans appeared to wholeheartedly support the Board's decision to return to a full fixture list on New Year's Day with both the Premier Division and the First Division South recording their highest gates of the campaign to date with over eight hundred turning out at Buxton and 664 at Nantwich Town.

In addition to Buxton and Nantwich, six other clubs, Frickley Athletic, Ilkeston Town, Kendal Town, Retford United, Stocksbridge and Shepshed Dynamo all enjoyed their best attendances of the season and Brigg Town had their second highest turn out of the campaign whilst many other clubs had gates featuring in their top three.

In the First Division North Skelmersdale United and Clitheroe both had their best attendances apart from the visits of FC United of Manchester.

Fleetwood Announce Major Redevelopment Of Ground

Following the construction of the Percy Ronson Stand earlier this year Fleetwood Town have announced a major ground development to be completed in two phases over the next two years.

Phase One will involve the construction of two new stands, one at the Park End and one on the west side of the ground which will replace the scratching shed and existing main stand, although the main stand will remain in situ at least until Phase Two is completed.

The Park End Stand will be a covered terrace spanning the full width of the pitch. This will be a larger construction than the Percy Ronson Stand and will contain a bar and other facilities for the benefit of spectators.

The projected capacity of the new Park End Stand will be around 2000. The new West Stand will initially be seated, containing around 550 seats and running from the corner flag at the north west corner of the ground to the Highbury Social club.

Phase One also includes a brand new floodlighting system with the existing 8 pylons being replaced by four new corner pylons and the bulbs will light the pitch to Football league standard. Work will commence immediately after the final game of the current season and should be completed in time for the start of next season.

Phase Two involves the construction of a new main stand containing 1100 seats and a range of state of the art facilities within the stand. Once this is completed, the new West Stand will revert to terracing.

Phase Two is scheduled to begin in May 2009 with a projected completion date of February 2010.

Funding for Phase One is in place and whilst formal planning consent won't be granted until January 2008, as club officials have worked closely with Wyre Borough Council's planners throughout, the club doesn't anticipate any issues arising which would delay the proposed start date.

Lloyd Flies The Flag For Rossy In Sri Lanka

Former Lancashire and England left hand opening batsmen David Lloyd flew the flag for UniBond First Division North side Rossendale United just prior to Christmas when he was seen on the Sky TV coverage of the Test series in Sri Lanka out on the wicket before the last Test doing a pitch inspection wearing his Rossendale United scarf!

His son Ben has featured fairly regularly this season on the left wing for the Dark Lane club following in his father's footsteps. Lloyd Snr made nine appearances for Rossendale in 1964 scoring three times playing alongside the club's legendary leading goalscorer Bob Scott.

UniBond League Television

Forthcoming Games

Sat 12th Jan Newcastle BS v Bradford Park Ave Match of the Week
Sat 19th Jan Witton Alb v Leek Town Live Game 12:45
Sat 26th Jan Retford Utd v Belper Town Match of the Week
Sat 2nd Feb Woodley Sports v Clitheroe Match of the Week
Sat 9th Feb League Cup Quarter Finals Possible Live Game *
Tue 13th Feb Live Game TBA Live Game

* If not live then Match of the Week.

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

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Rovers Make A Point On The Road

Lincoln Pre-match News

At home to:
Willenhall Town (UniBond President's Cup 2nd Round)

Tuesday 14th October, 7.45pm

View previous encounters with Willenhall Town