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Wednesday 1st January 2020 3pm Kick Off BetVictor Southern Division One Central
Biggleswade FC v Yaxley FC BETVICTOR | SOUTHERN LEAGUE www.biggleswadefc.co.uk | BiggleswadeFC@outlook.com
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BIGGLESWADE FC Season 2019-20
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Home Kit & Main Sponsors:
Who’s Who? Chairman: Jeremy Reynolds Vice Chairman: Phil Gullefer Secretary: Lee Rusbridge Treasurer: Fay Northfield Vice-President: Nick Smith Terry Winter Management Team: 1st Team Managers: Head Coach: Goalkeeping Coach: Fitness Coach: Reserves Manager:
Dave Northfield Mark Inskip James Petty Conor Darrington Dave Bass Phil Smailes
Away Kit Sponsors:
Committee Members: Ruth Reynolds Mick Jarvis Hannah Reynolds Ben Weldon Charlotte Gullefer Ruth Gullefer Terry Curry
Cherry Lee Terry Howard Sarah King Sharon Inskip Wayne Roberts Paul O’Brien Reserve Team Kit Sponsor:
Associate Members: Jordan Inskip
Jackie Warren
Club Training Equipment Sponsors:
Biggleswade Football Club is a Members Club. All positions above are elected annually by committee members of the club at the Annual General Meeting which is held in June of each year.
www.biggleswadefc.co.uk | BiggleswadeFC@outlook.com
ual
CHAIRMAN’S NOTES | Welcome to Langford Road Biggleswade FC v Yaxley FC Good afternoon everyone and a Happy New Year 2020 welcome to Langford Road for our Southern League Central Division One match against Yaxley FC. This is our first home match since early November, so we are very keen to pick up some momentum and hopefully build on the excellent and stylish win on Saturday at Kempston Rovers, which was our first game of any kind in four weeks. Midseason winter breaks are often spoken about in the professional game, but our enforced break was not what any of us really wanted, albeit has given the opportunity for several players to get back from injury. We would like to extend a warm welcome to the players, management, officials and supporters of Yaxley FC, hope that they enjoy their time with us and have a safe journey home after the game. We have already had two good games against today’s visitors, who are close to us in the league table, so are looking forward to another competitive match today. Welcome also to our match officials please respect their role and the FA’ s Respect Campaign, so that the match is enjoyable for all. Many thanks to our main sponsors Raymond Smith, SVS Ltd, Streets Accountants & Mel Furr for their fresh support this season and for today’s matchday sponsor, Martin Humberstone. What a year 2019 was for our young club – promotion to Step 4 football in only our third season and, including the Reserves, a remarkable haul of 5 trophies won, including two league and cup doubles. When we secured promotion to step 4 of the English non-league pyramid we knew that, as a club, we would face new challenges both on and off the pitch and this is exactly what has happened. You only develop and improve
@BiggleswadeFC1
by being tested at a higher level and so much has already been taken onboard and learnt this season by our young side. Saturday’s performance was brilliant to see, with our trademark fluent, passing football complemented by a determined physicality and resilience to snuff out our opponents. Many of us watching remarked that it was not only our best display of the season so far, but also it was so reminiscent of our football from last season. This is an excellent platform on which to go into 2020 and we are both excited and confident about how we will do over the rest of the season. These are certainly very exciting times for FC. Off the pitch, as our operational costs increase, the club continues to ensure that we have a solid financial platform to enable us to play at the highest level. The success of both our recent FA Cup campaign and our fundraising Sportsman’s Dinner has given us the opportunity to be financially stable and more fundraising activities are planned to help maintain our position. Thank you for all of your wonderful ongoing support, which counts for so much. We are away at Welwyn Garden City on Saturday, with the Reserves at home on the same day against Caldecote, kick off 2pm. We are next at home on Saturday 11 January, against AFC Dunstable. Thanks for coming today and enjoy the game. A very Happy New Year to you all. Come on FC! Jeremy Reynolds Chairman, Biggleswade FC
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YAXLEY FOOTBALL CLUB Biggleswade FC v Yaxley FC The club was formed in
The 2002/03 season saw the Reserve and Youth teams
1900 with the forerunner of
win the lion’s share of league and cup silverware
today’s club, Yaxley Rovers,
whilst Jim Watson took over the management of
being members of the
the First Team making a magnificent charge from
first Peterborough League
the relegation zone of the United Counties League
campaign contested
Premiership to finish seventh with 67 points – the
during the 1902/03 season.
club’s highest ever finishing position. The same
History up until the Second
season saw plans unveiled for new facilities that are
World War is not well documented and the first
part of a five year objective to take the club into the
instance of a post-war championship came about in
Dr. Martens (or equivalent) league. Plans were also
1950/51 when the club won the Peterborough League
made to incorporate Yaxley Juniors and establish a
Division Two. Relegation was just around the corner
new Ladies team to assist in creating a community
though, and it was back in Division Three by the end
orientated football club. The ‘03/04, 04/05 and 05/06
of the 1950’s.
seasons have undoubtedly been the clubs most
The Club has always played either in or on the fringes of the highest levels of local leagues which, over the years have been sponsored and known by many names such as Eastern Counties, Jewson, and Peterborough League. The Cuckoo’s finished as runners-up three seasons in a row, the last of these being enough to see the club promoted to the Premier Division of the Peterborough League. The club’s first taste of Premier Division football came at the start of the 1975/76 season and once again they finished runners-up. The following season they went one better and won the Premier Division title.
successful ever with the 1st, Reserve, Youth, Ladies and Junior teams all bringing home trophies including at senior level, the prestigious Hinchingbrooke Cup and the UCL League Cup in May 06. The club has maintained FA Charter Club status and was granted planning permission to redevelop the site, improving the facilities (e.g. new clubhouse and additional playing areas) to FA community standard. The project was severely delayed in 2005 resulting in significant commercial loses due to an access dispute halting the club’s entire development plan. The dispute was finally settled and the project restarted in August ’06. Season 2008-09 saw the move to more temporary
The 1983/84 season was a superb one with the first
accommodation. The last 3 seasons have been some
team winning the treble, the Peterborough Premier
of the toughest in the clubs history as against the
Division, the Peterborough Senior Cup and the
pundit’s opinions; Gary Clipston pulled survival from
Hunts Senior Cup, and the Reserves winning the
the jaws of relegation.
Peterborough Division One Championship. The Cuckoos left the Peterborough League at the end of the 1987/88 season and made the step up to the Eastern League at the start of the following season.
The 2012-13 season saw a total rebuild of the 1st team and players under the management of former Cuckoos player and Reserve Team manager Brett Whaley (assisted by Chris Lenton) and the
1993/94 saw the purchase of the new ground and the
reinstatement of the clubs Reserve Team acting
facilities to step up to the United Counties League
as a bridge between our flourishing U18’s and 1st
and the 1994/95 season was at that time, probably
Team. The 1st team finished mid-table and were
the most successful in its history. This was the
joint winners (along with Royston Town) of The
debut season of the ill-fated West Anglian League
Hinchingbrooke Cup, the reserve team were runners
(amalgamation of the Hunts & East Northants
up in the league and the league cup and the U18’s
Leagues) and the first team won promotion to
were league champions and league cup winners
the United Counties League after winning the
(comprehensively beating AFC Rushden & Diamonds).
championship. The Reserves also won Division One
All in all, not a bad season.
of the same competition thus emulating the feat of 1984/85. During the close season floodlights were erected and a stand was put up at the Leading Drove ground. The following season saw the Division One championship come to Leading Drove.
2013-14 saw the dismantling of the reserve side due to a lack of bodies to manage the team to an acceptable level and a brand new U18’s team coming up from U16’s football – a very tough season ahead. The 1st team finished 6th in the league table—a highly commendable result but the FA and League Cup competitions were massively disappointing although
we probably created a couple of new records in the
club but that was quickly forgotten. Brett brought
process.
back players and a great coaching team. In addition
2014-15 saw the Cuckoos enjoy a very good season with an excellent FA Vase run and a 4th position in the league but one of the worst disciplinary records in the
to an impressive 3rd place in the league we also won the UCL KO Cup beating Wisbech Town in a fiercely contested battle.
clubs history compounded by an embarrassing county
2017-18 saw our new Chairman Malcolm Clements
cup final display to round off a poor run-in to the end.
officially set the clubs target for promotion and
The surprise of the season was the “shock” departure
building on the success of last season, started what
of Brett Whaley to Wisbech Town having only days
we all hoped was the next forward step for the
before presented his plan and budget for the 2015-16
Cuckoos. Our local attendances began to swell and
to the clubs committee which was approved.
also got behind our reformed Reserves. Assistant
2015-16 A new brush and a new era with new manager Ian Benjamin, an ex-professional with massive experience in semi-pro and non-league and a track record of promotion at Step 4 and 5. The biggest change for the club was the new 3G pitch that the
manager Andy Furnell took over the 1st Team management as Brett Whaley once again left the club. Ferns led the club again to the league cup final (runners up) but more importantly to the league title and PROMOTION to the Evo-Stik SOUTHERN LEAGUE.
club and the community have already benefited from
2018-19 on the back of a tremendous season, the
enormously. The club would like to place on public
Cuckoos are looking to sustain their rise to step 4
record its deep and sincere appreciation to all those
retaining the complete squad from last year. And
silent partners who have made our dream for growth
bolstering in a couple of areas. The Reserve team led
and sustainability a reality. Ian Benjamin resigned at
by Lloyd Burton is looking to improve on a successful
the beginning of April and the position was filled by
last season having finished a solid 6th in the league
the return from Wisbech Town of Brett Whaley.
and UCL Reserves KO cup title. We are all looking
2016-17 Brett Whaley showed his intent to take the
forward to the challenge - COME ON YOU CUCKOOS!!
Cuckoos to a higher level of football by strengthening the squad with some impressive experience whilst retaining the vast majority of last season’s players. Last season was a disappointing one for the whole
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MATCH REPORT
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Kempston Rovers FC 2 - 4 Biggleswade FC
A brace from skipper Tom Coles, a stunning free-kick from Joe Leslie and a late goal from substitute Tom Cookman gave Biggleswade FC their first league victory since 2nd November as they won 4-2 at Kempston Rovers on Saturday. Considering both clubs started the day in the bottom four, they served up a really entertaining game on an impressive playing surface for the time of year at Hillgrounds. For FC, despite not playing a competitive fixture for exactly four weeks, they built on an encouraging showing at Thame United last time out and this time they were able to get the goals their performance warranted. Whilst the weather has disrupted their fixture programme, it has at least enabled FC to get some key players back to fitness. Adam Hunt started a game for the first time since 3rd September and played like he hadn’t been away. Matt Richardson and Tom Cookman were back after just over two months out, whilst it was also encouraging to see Lee Northfield and Pat McCafferty involved in the warm-up. The teams came into this local derby locked on 16 points apiece, but with Kempston having played three games more and with an inferior goal difference. You did wonder how the four-week lay off may affect the visitors and impressive away victories at title-chasing Corby Town and Berkhamsted for The Walnut Boys, must’ve given them confidence coming into this one. The answers came in a pretty solid opening 20 minutes for FC whereby they dominated the ball and looked something like the side that won the Spartan Premier title last term, stroking the ball around with gusto and purpose. Hunt in particular, who has been a huge miss for FC, was providing a willing outlet up the right flank. The visitors may well have enjoyed the lions share of possession, but to this point they hadn’t been able to turn it into decent scoring opportunities. Scott Joseph looped an effort over the top and half-volleyed another shot wide, whilst Tom Coles also had an effort from range that was largely comfortable for Carl Knox. The Walnut Boys slowly began to find their feet and the pace of Ben Baker was keeping Michael Simpson’s hands full up the other flank, but FC were largely able to deal with any balls into the penalty area. The closest the hosts came to a goal was a speculative effort from Harry Stratton who sent a sweet left-foot drive flashing wide of the upright. Just when it looked like Rovers were beginning to build a head of steam, FC broke the deadlock on 24 minutes. It was no surprise that Hunt was involved once more. He picked
up the ball on the right midway inside the Rovers half. He crossed early and Joe Leslie was unlucky not to get more on his diving header. It worked out well though as the loose ball was retrieved on the left by Ryan Inskip. FC’s number 11 checked back on to his right foot and sent over a pinpoint cross for the towering Tom Coles, who guided a fine header past the wrong-footed Knox. FC now had their tails up and further efforts from Michael Fisher and Joe Leslie followed as they looked to take firm control of proceedings. The lead lasted all of four minutes though and Rovers were able to get back into the game in fortuitous circumstances. Michael Fisher, whose stock in that midfield engine room role continues to rise by the game with some impressive all-action performances, was adjudged to have committed a foul for what looked nothing other than an excellent tackle. Whilst the free-kick wasn’t exactly in a dangerous position [near the halfway line], it allowed Rovers to load the box and send a testing set-piece into FC territory. The deep free-kick caused a bit of initial head tennis before Rovers skipper Robbie Goodman marked his 200th appearance for the club with a fine volley into the corner of the net. An injustice it may well have been, but it was the visitors turn to benefit from another highly-debatable free-kick award four minutes later. Joe Leslie’s low centre of gravity and willing running saw him come in for some rough treatment at times, but when he went down under a challenge just outside the Rovers penalty area, the free-kick award did appear a touch on the soft side. The vocal home support certainly felt so and made their feelings known. The 19-year-old Stevenage loanee was having to take some slightly over-excessive abuse from the sidelines as he sized up the resulting free-kick and he answered the critics in the best way possible. From just over 20 yards he curled a special free-kick over the wall and into the net via the underside of the bar for his first league goal for the club much to the delight of the travelling support. During the euphoria of Leslie’s free-kick, Rovers keeper Carl Knox picked up an injury and was unable to continue, so understudy Michael Hudson took the gloves for the remainder of the afternoon. With the half drawing to a conclusion FC grabbed a third goal and what a move it was. Dan Newton surged into the Rovers half and played the ball inside towards Tom Coles. Almost like watching Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in their Man United pomp, Coles stepped over the ball and
14 continued his run with Scott Joseph picking him out to perfection with the diagonal low pass into the box. FC’s skipper lashed his shot past the exposed Hudson for his second of the day and doubled his tally for the season. It could’ve got even better for the visitors moments later when Joe Leslie was played in behind. Hudson anticipated it and came charging from his goal. Leslie was always favourite to get there and tried to prod it past the onrushing substitute keeper. Hudson managed to block it with some part of his anatomy and despite appeals for handball, protests were waived away. FC’s management team would’ve been delighted with the first half display, but such was the openness of the game it must have been a quandary for them as to whether to “stick or twist”. Two-goal leads are obviously always welcome, but one goal can quite easily change the complexion on things and Rovers would certainly have felt if they could get one, an unlikely comeback would be on - especially as they’d achieved a similar feat at home to AFC Dunstable last month. A early penalty appeal and a brave header off the line by Tom Coles threatened to do just that for Rovers early in the second period. With the quality on the counter-attack of Joe Leslie and Ryan Inskip though, you always felt FC could nick another one with the hosts now taking chances defensively. Both Inskip and Coles went close in quick succession, but Hudson did well to deny them on each occasion.
The Walnut Boys continued to apply the pressure with Luke Oswick - particularly impressive on his first start at centrehalf - blocking bravely on the line after the initial effort was diverted past Tyler Josephs. Whilst their opponents were enjoying better spells in the second half, it was end-to-end stuff. Michael Simpson forced a reflex save from Hudson and Scott Joseph glanced a Joe Leslie free-kick just over the bar. The excellent Coles was denied a hat-trick by the outstretched leg of Hudson before FC finally wrapped up the three points three minutes from time. Some good work on the FC left saw the ball switched to the far side where Ryan Inskip cushioned the ball delightfully into the path of substitute Cookman, who marked his return to the side with a well-taken finish into the corner. That wasn’t the end of the drama though as the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts for an alleged handball on the line within a minute. Jake Newman stepped up to make it 4-2 to continue his decent goalscoring run of late. It proved nothing more than a consolation though as FC finished 2019 as they started it - with a victory. This result, FC’s fifth league win of the season, sees them climb one place to 16th. They can climb another on New Years Day if they can beat 15th place Yaxley at Langford Road. The weather forecast looks favourable, so wrap up and get yourself along as we play our first home game since 9th November.
BIGGLESWADE FC V YAXLEY FC Wednesday 1st January 2020 3pm ESWAD GGL E BI
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Tyler Josephs (GK) Dan Child (GK) Zak Galatis (GK) Dan Newton David Lenton Adam Hunt Michael Simpson Luke Oswick Michael Fisher Nathan George Lawrie Marsh Pat McCafferty Tom Coles (c) Tom Cookman Lee Northfield Ryan Inskip Scott Joseph Jack Moriarty Adam Drakulic Joe Leslie Matt Richardson Sean McMonagle Kye Andrews Henry Langley Matt Reynolds
Aaron Butcher James Blake John-Paul Duncliffe Frazer Garner Ross Watson Dalton Bettles Scott Waumsley Liam Hook Kyle Nolan Dan Cotton Joel Earps Phil Stebbing Joe Butterworth Tom Waumsley Thembelani Nkala Bradley Page Rio Douglas
Today’s Officials: Jack Bloxham, Thomas Burns, Mario Stetakovic
TODAY’S MATCH SPONSOR MARTIN HUMBERSTONE ESWAD GGL E BI
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MANAGERS: Dave Northfield & Mark Inskip COACH: James Petty
MANAGER: Andy Furnell ASST MANAGER: Scott Bogusz
PHYSIO: Amy Radford
COACH: Dan Dobson, Harry Hogg, Luke Hipwell, Louis Fitzgerald
GK COACH: Conor Darrington
PHYSIO: Lauren Wood
COLOURS: Green Shirts Green Shorts Green Socks
Navy/Orange Shirt
COLOURS: Navy/Orange Shorts Navy/Orange Socks
(GK) Red
(GK) Yellow
FIXTURES BetVictor Southern Division One Central Wednesday 1st January 2020 3pm
Barton Rovers
v
AFC Dunstable
3pm
Berkhamsted
v
Welwyn Garden City
3pm
Biggleswade v Yaxley
3pm
Corby Town
v
Bedford Town
3pm
Didcot Town
v
Aylesbury United
3pm
Halesowen Town
v
Bedworth United
3pm
St Neots Town
v
Kempston Rovers
3pm
Thame United
v
Kidlington
3pm
Wantage Town
v
North Leigh
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BIGGLESWADE FC The Squad - Player Sponsorship
Thank you to all our sponsors who have supported the players below for the coming season. If you would like to sponsor a player please get in touch. Surname First name Sponsor Newton Daniel CHRIS & SALLY HARDWICKE Child Daniel Coles Tom NORTHFIELD BESPOKE FITTED FURNITURE LTD Connell James BRICKS & BLOX Cookman Tom WILLOW THE WADER Bradbury Joe Fisher Michael HBC LOGISTICS Galatis Zak JUST4KEEPERS George Nathan SHANE ALLSOP LANDSCAPING Drakulic Adam KSL DECORATING Holmes Josh KITCHEN ERGONOMICS Hunt Adam BEDFORDSHIRE PRO BATHROOMS & TILING Inskip Ryan DXN PROFESSIONAL TILING Josephs Tyler BRICKS & BLOX Joy Charlie COMFORT PLUS PRODUCTS Kelly Sam TERRY CURRY Lenton David WE ARE SAMEDAY.COM Moriarty Jack FAIRVIEW CARPENTRY Marsh Lawrie FAIRVIEW CARPENTRY McCafferty Pat LUTON TIGERS McMonagle Sean PHIL MELBOURNE Mitchell Cian Bond Daniel Northfield Lee HBC LOGISTICS Oswick Luke TREESCAPES GARDEN SERVICES Reynolds Matt IMAGINATION ARTS Richardson Matt HBC LOGISTICS Simpson Michael TERESA BRIGHT Adeyemi Michael Joseph Scott TONY COLE ELITE MORTGAGE ADVICE Bannister Jonny JOHN HENRY LTD Beall Daniel Boness Ash PCS PLUMBING & HEATING LTD Chijota Takulla Coles Kian Green Jacob Harris Cameron Jeffrey Kyle Khedjari Karim Langley Henry JOHN HENRY LTD Lee Oliver PCS PLUMBING & HEATING LTD Machin Oliver Miller Lewis Mitchell Cian Riley George Roberts Harry Smith Oscar Veal John
OUR OPPONENTS YAXLEY FC
Aaron Butcher: - Goalkeeper great attitude and strong all round game. James Blake: - Promising young keeper with a great attitude.
Joe Butterworth: - A young tenacious and hard-working midfielder who grows with every game Tom Waumsley: - A powerful front man that loves to take on defenders.
John-Paul Duncliffe: - A defender with lots of enthusiasm, pace and ability. Thembelani Nkala; - Quick wide player who likes to attack full backs, signed from St Neots Frazer Garner: - Ex Peterborough Town. Utd defender, strong and quick, one to watch. Bradley Page: - Exiting young player with a big future. Ross Watson: - Another very experienced & forthright central defender delivering strength and Rio Douglas; - Ex Peterborough reliability. Utd, exciting right sided player with bags of potential. Dalton Bettles: - Young tenacious defender with step 4 experience. Andy Furnell: - Player / Manager An experienced centre forward who holds the ball up well. Scott Waumsley: - Young quick Scott Bogusz: - Player / Assistant left sided player, Always gives Manager experienced player 100%. who can play numerous positions. Liam Hook: - A skilful hard working midfielder who always Dan Dobson: - Coach. Reliable, wants the ball. and brings great coaching skills to the 1st and reserve team squads Kyle Nolan: - Hard working midfielder who can play. Very Harry Hogg: - Very keen young unselfish player. up and coming coach... Luke Hipwell: - Coach who is new to the set up this year. Dan Cotton: - Fast, attacking versatile player. Louis Fitzgerald: - Fitness coach and sports therapist. Lauren Wood: - Head Physio - an Joel Earps; - Athletic midfielder physio who really works with an eye for goal, signed from amazing hard with the squad and is much Wisbech town. respected. Phil Stebbing: - A hard working centre forward who knows where the back of the net is. Mr 200%.
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#WeAreFC News
Sponsored by HBC Logistics
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Biggleswade FC are please to annouce their support for the Kick It Out campaign. FC are now offically an Kick It Out Equality Chartered Club. Aims and Objectives Kick It Out is primarily a campaigning organisation which enables, facilitates and works with the football authorities, professional clubs, players, fans and communities to tackle all forms of discrimination. The campaign has been pivotal in persuading and supporting the game’s stakeholders to take their equality responsibilities seriously. visit www.kickitout.org for more information
HBC Logistics Ltd 01462 410004 www.hbclogistics.co.uk
www.biggleswadefc.co.uk | BiggleswadeFC@outlook.com
25TH APRIL 2020
FOOD, DRINKS, LAUGHS, AUCTIONS & MUCH MORE!
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FUTURE FIXTURES All Competitions Saturday 4th January 2020 (League)
Welwyn Garden City FC
v
Biggleswade FC
Saturday 11th January 2020 (League) Biggleswade FC
v
AFC Dunstable
Saturday 18th January 2020 (League)
Aylesbury United FC
v
Biggleswade FC
LEAGUE TABLE BetVictor Southern Division One Central
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BIGGLESWADE FC RESERVES
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**NOW AVAILABLE** To try and keep watching Biggleswade FC as affordable as possible, we have taken the decision to introduce a Season Ticket for the first time, which will all but give you Step 4 football at last season’s Step 5 prices: PART SEASON AVAILABLE £85 Adult season ticket £55 Concessionary season ticket Note: All season tickets will be valid for our 19 BetVictor Southern League Division One Central fixtures ONLY. www.biggleswadefc.co.uk/news/2019-2020 -admission-prices-and-season-tickets
Update
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PHIL’S QUESTION TIME Sponsored by Phillips Digital
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1. Name the first British Football club to carry a sponsorship logo on their shirts (not the shirt manufacturer’s logo) 2. In 1968, which player won a European Cup winner’s medal and reappeared at Wembley eight days later for his England debut? 3. If the Australian International Football team are known as “The Socceroos”, what is the nickname of the women’s team? 4. How many times have West Ham United won the English FA Cup? 5. Which club won the European Cup in the “Summer of Love”? Answers can be found next week on our website:
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14
NON-LEAGUE NEWS By David Richardson
to-player.”
The court ruling that has seen Ossett United ordered to pay £135,000 will have given Non-League clubs plenty of food for thought about how they approach the issue of player-to-player insurance. The BetVictor Northern Premier League North West club have been sued by Rees Welsh, who broke his ankle in a tackle while playing for Radcliffe Borough against Ossett Town in April 2015. Just over £19,000 in damages were awarded to the full-back, making his debut, with the club also having to pay out £115,000 in costs and legal fees. Ossett’s insurance, which included a public liability policy offered by the Northern Premier League and the minimum requirement as set out by the FA, did not cover player-to-player incidents and only covered their own legal fees should they lose a claim. The club is now considering selling their ground in order to pay off the hefty bill. NPL chairman Mark Harris told The NLP: “We make it clear within all the communications – and it’s in the third line of the first paragraph of the communication that goes out to clubs – that it does not include player-toplayer cover. “We will continue to recommend the policy we have for public liability and personal accident. If anything this is to remind clubs it doesn’t include player-
Whether the ruling will spark a wave of cases remains to be seen. It remains true that these incidents are very hard to prove, but there is no doubting it will leave much of the Non-League game very uncomfortable. As it stands, the FA don’t have playerto-player insurance as mandatory. Clubs are – or at least should be – aware of what they are covered for and that there is a potential risk of what has happened to Ossett happening to them. Harris believes clubs don’t have an appetite for that level of cover to be mandatory and the FA say their rules are reflecting what the game wants. It is only right the authorities reflects on this case, takes the views of clubs and experts and then decides the best course of action. Will this also put additional pressure on referees? As the sole independent party in these types of cases, a lot will be put on their reports and evidence. It is quite the position to be in. We must also not forget about Welsh. It can’t have been an easy route to go down and, however you feel about the ruling, he has suffered a major injury that will have affected not only his footballing career, but also his day-today life. The impact of any injury to any player can’t be underestimated.
4
BIGGLESWADE FC STATS
DATE VENUE OPPOSITION SCORE RESULT GK DF DF DF DF AUGUST Sat 3 Away Chalfont St Peter Friendly 1-2 L Tues 6 Home Hitchin Town Friendly 2-1 W Sat 10 Home Mildenhall Town FA Cup 4-1 W J Connell M Simpson L Marsh(a) (g) D Newton M Fisher Sat 17 Away AFC Dunstable League 2-0 L J Connell M Simpson(71’) L Marsh D Newton M Fisher (R) Tues 20 Home Welwyn Garden City League 1-3 L J Connell M Simpson(78’) A Hunt(61’) D Newton M Fisher Sat 24 Home Yaxley FA Cup 4-0 W J Connell M Simpson A Hunt(78’)(a) D Newton D Lenton Mon 26 Away Yaxley League 2-2 D J Connell M Simpson A Hunt D Newton (78’) M Fisher(70’) Sat 31 Home Coleshill Town League 2-0 W T Josephs M Simpson A Hunt D Newton N Geogre(90’ SEPTEMBER Tues 3 Away Bedford Town League 1-1 D T Josephs M Simpson A Hunt (83’) D Newton M Fisher Sat 7 Home Tilbury FA Cup 2-1 W T Josephs M Simpson J Holmes (67’) D Newton M Fisher Tues 10 Home Kings Langley Cup 0-1 L J Connell N Geogre S Kelly D Lenton L Oswick Sat 14 Away Kidlington League 1-1 D T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick (80’) D Newton M Fisher Sun 22 Home Chertsey Town FA Cup 1-3 L T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Sat 28 Home Bedford Town FA Trophy 2-2 R T Josephs M Simpson L Marsh D Newton N Geogre(2x g OCTOBER Tues 1 Away Bedford Town FA Trophy 0-1 (AET) L T Josephs M Simpson (91’) L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Sat 5 Away Corby Town League 0-2 L T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Sat 12 Away Daventry Town League 0-2 W T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre(a) Tues 15 Home Crawley Green Cup 1-1 (Pens) L J Connell M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Sat 19 Home Halesowen Town League 0-1 L T Josephs M Simpson (79’) L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Wed 23 Home St Neots Town League 0-0 D T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Tues 29 Home Aylesbury United League 2-1 W T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre NOVEMBER Sat 2 Away Wantage Town League 1-4 W T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick D Newton N Geogre Sat 9 Home Berkhamsted League 0-5 L T Josephs M Simpson (56’) L Oswick D Lenton N Geogre Sat 16 Away Didcot Town League 1-0 L T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick (83’) D Newton N Geogre Tues 19 Away Langford Cup 1-2 W T Josephs M Fisher S Kelly D Newton N Geogre Sat 30 Away Thame United League 2-1 L T Josephs M Simpson L Oswick (78’) D Newton N Geogre(g) DECEMBER Sat 7 Home Barton Rovers League P-P Sat 21 Home Bedworth United League P-P Thurs 26 Away Kempston Rovers League 2-4 W JANUARY Wed 1 Home Yaxley League Sat 4 Away Welwyn Garden City League Sat 11 Home AFC Dunstable League Sat 18 Away Aylesbury United League Sat 25 Home Kidlington League FEBRUARY Sat 1 Away St Neots Town League Sat 8 Home Corby Town League Sat 15 Away Halesowen Town League Sat 22 Home Wantage Town League Sat 29 Away Berkhamsted League MARCH Sat 7 Home Didcot Town League Sat 14 Away North Leigh League Sat 21 Home Thame United League Sat 28 Away Coleshill Town League APRIL Sat 4 Home Bedford Town League Sat 11 Away Bedworth United League Mon 13 Home Kempston Rovers League Sat 18 Home Daventry Town League Sat 25 Away Barton Rovers League
DF
MID
M Fisher
M Fisher (R) M Fisher
A Ghamkhar(68’)
T Coles (c)
R Inskip
M Richardson
T Coles (c)
R Inskip
L Northfield(76’)
S McMonagle(74’)
R Inskip
L Northfield
T Coles (c) (g)
M Richardson(83’) A Ghamkhar
D Lenton
M Richardson
Fisher(70’)
M Richardson
Geogre(90’)
(c) = Captain | (g) = Goal | (a) = Assist | (00’) = sub | (R)= Red Card | (Y) = Yellow Card AM AM AM ST SUB SUB SUB SUB SUB
MID
L Northfield (44’) (g)
K Barnes(83’) (x2a)
A Marsh (a) (g)
S Kelly (68’)
C Joy (83’)
A Hunt (71’)
C Joy
S McMonagle
D Lenton (78’)
C Joy (83’)
A Marsh
L Marsh(g)
R Inskip(84’)(a)
L Northfield(70’)
A Marsh(2 x g)
S McMonagle
J Holmes (78’)
L Marsh(a)
R Inskip(g)
L Northfield (35’)
A Marsh(g)
S McMonagle
N Geogre (70’)
C Joy (78’)
T Cookeman(77’)
A Marsh(g)(a)
S McMonagle
M Fisher (90’)
T Coles(77’)
M Richardson
L Marsh(g)
R Inskip
M Reynolds (84’)
D Lenton (74’)
J Holmes (61’)
C Joy
124
S Kelly
102
J Holmes
S Kelly
102
S Kelly
283
A Drakulic
L Marsh(a)
T Coles (c)
A Marsh
L Marsh
R Inskip(g) (94’)
T Coles (c)
A Marsh(g)
L Oswick
C Joy (66’)
L Marsh
A Marsh
T Coles (c)
T Cookman (52’) A Drakulic (78’)
M Fisher
M Richardson
L Marsh(g)
R Inskip(80’)
T Cookman(70’)
A Marsh(a)
S McMonagle
D Lenton (80’)
A Drakulic(70’)
M Richardson
L Marsh(g)
R Inskip(83’)
T Cookman(53)
T Coles (c)
S McMonagle
K Barnes(53’)
A Drakulic(70’)
R Inskip
T Cookman(66’)
T Coles (c)
S McMonagle
L Oswick(66’)
A Drakulic(77’)
N Geogre
Geogre(2x g) M Richardson(77) K Barnes (77)
N Geogre
M Richardson
K Barnes
R Inskip
T Cookman(46’)
N Geogre
M Richardson
K Barnes(46’)
R Inskip(86’)
L Marsh (78’)
N Geogre(a)
M Fisher
K Barnes(g)(84’)
R Inskip(g)
N Geogre
M Fisher (79’)
K Barnes
R Inskip
N Geogre
M Richardson
L Marsh
R Inskip(58’)
T Coles (c)
N Geogre
M Richardson (17’)
L Marsh
R Inskip
T Coles (c)
N Geogre
D Payne
L Marsh
R Inskip (g)
N Geogre
M Fisher (43’)
L Marsh
N Geogre
M Fisher (43’)
L Marsh
S McMonagle (78’)
T Coles (c)
J Moriarty (74’)
R Inskip
T Coles (c) (46’)
J Moriarty (76’) J Moriarty (74’)
N Geogre
J Leslie
L Marsh
R Inskip
T Coles (c)
J Leslie(g)
L Marsh
A Drakulic
T Coles (c,g)
N Geogre(g)
J Leslie (85’)
L Marsh
R Inskip (74’)
T Coles (c)
S Kelly (84’)
J Connell
S Kelly
T Josephs
D Payne (60’)
S Kelly (79’)
S McMonagle (58’)
J Connell
C Joy(84’)
T Cookman (67)
J Moriarty(67’) M Fisher(86’)
S Kelly(83’)
S Joseph (g) (74’)
S Joseph (g x 3)
S Joseph
S Joseph
S Joseph S Joseph
M Fisher
S Kelly
M Fisher(77’)
C Joy(71’)
D Bond M Fisher (74’)
N Geogre
T Cookman (79’)
T Cookman (84’)
164 118
S McMonagle (60’)
R Inskip
K Barnes(80’)
S Kelly
S McMonagle
C Joy (g)
A Marsh (46’)
O Smith (52’)
M Fisher(78’)
T Cookman (71’)
K Barnes (86’)
D Lenton
A Drakulic(89’)
T Coles (c)
J Moriarty (76’)
J Holmes
C Joy (67’)
A Hunt(91’)
T Coles (c)
T Coles (c) (83’)
A Drakulic
S Kelly (78’)
A Marsh
K Barnes
T Coles(77’) A Drakulic(89’)
M Fisher (46’)
T Coles (c)
N Geogre
T Coles (c) (91’)
M Fisher (90’) N Geogre (94’)
AK Barnes (78’)
169
J Holmes
M Richardson
H Roberts(66’)
146
M Reynolds
A Ghamkhar
M Richardson
S McMonagle (89’)
A Drakulic
119
A Drakulic
A Drakulic (70’)
S McMonagle (g)
J Holmes
N Geogre A Ghamkhar(76’)
A Drakulic (35’)
M Fisher
M Fisher
R Inskip
S McMonagle(44’) (g)
ATT
S McMonagle S McMonagle (74’)
94 272 219
P McCafferty
169
S McMonagle
396
J Connell
169
J Connell J Connell
75
D Payne
131
D Payne (17’) 144 D Lenton (76’) 118
A Drakulic(79’) 45 145 S Kelly(83’) D Bond (74’) 440 R Inskip(62’) K Andrews(78’) H Langley (85’) S McMonagle (74’) 113 S Kelly(43’)
D Payne (46’)
D Bond (54’)
S McMonagle
D Bond (76’)
J Leslie (56’)
J Connell
LEAGUE TEAMS
BetVictor Southern Central Division
Below is a table of our opponents in the BetVictor Southern League Division One Central this season and their respective distances. The distances are based on our departure point of Langford Road to each away ground one-way. We will travel 1,866 miles in total (return) compared to last season’s 1,046. OPPOSITION A.F.C. Dunstable Aylesbury United Barton Rovers Bedford Town Bedworth United Berkhamsted Coleshill Town Corby Town Daventry Town Didcot Town Halesowen Town Kempston Rovers Kidlington North Leigh St. Neots Town Thame United Wantage Town Welwyn Garden City Yaxley
AWAY GAME 17th Aug 18th Jan 25th Apr 3rd Sept 11th Apr 29th Feb 28th Mar 5th Oct 14th Dec 16th Nov 15th Feb 26th Dec 14th Sept 14th Mar 1st Feb 30th Nov 2nd Nov 4th Jan 26th Aug
COACH No No No No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No No
MILEAGE 22 49 14 10 75 47 88 47 53 79 111 14 59 69 14 46 78 24 34
POST CODE SPONSORS LU6 1BB ALL CLEAN HP5 1NE PARK LANE MK45 4LQ TERRY WINTER MK44 3LW RICHARD CHARLES CV12 8NN THE COCK & BROOM HP4 2AL FAY’S DOG GROOMING B46 3JE MICK JARVIS NN17 2FB INNOVATION ON SITE NN11 4NS TOM JARVIS OX11 7GA B63 3TB NORMAN WARD MK42 8SZ ROB D. KITCHENER OX5 1AT SHELLY FINE FOODS OX29 6SL ROB BUTCHER PE19 6SN LONDON WALKS OX9 3RN DAVID ALBONE OX12 8DW JOHN EVANS AL7 1TA JIM WOODWARD PE7 3NA MARTIN HUMBERSTONE
Our average return journey will be 98 miles compared to last season’s 55 miles. After the success of last season’s away FA Vase trip to Canterbury and the significant increase in mileage to some of our league opponents, we will be looking to run a coach to seven of the away league games listed above. If there are any you are interested in joining us for, please email the club - BiggleswadeFC@outlook.com to provisionally book your seats. Seats will be £10.00 each unless otherwise specified. This season is an exciting journey into the unknown for all here at Biggleswade FC and we’d love our supporters to experience it with us, so please follow the lads home and away wherever you can.
201 Fairview Road Stevenage, Herts SG1 2NA Tel: 07932 800641
info@fairviewcarpentry.co.uk fairviewcarpentry.co.uk
ESWAD GGL E BI
EST
2016
SECRETARY CORNER by Lee Rusbridge
FO
UB OT BALL CL
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Langford Road for this BetVictor Southern League Division One Central encounter between Biggleswade FC and our friends from up the A1 - Yaxley.
Firstly, I want to take the opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you for coming out today. Hopefully you didn’t go too mad on the alcohol last night and that the lads can serve you up a decent game to take your mind off that hangover if you did over-indulge! This will be the third time we’ve locked horns with The Cuckoos this term having never previously met before then. The first two encounters were very keenly contested - the first a victory for us here in the FA Cup, whilst we were forced to come from 2-0 behind in the away league fixture just two days later on August Bank Holiday Monday to snatch a 2-2 draw late on which gave us our first-ever Southern League point. Neither side has been able to get on the kind of run capable of getting in amongst things in the top half of the table thus far, but both have enough points on the board to make that a possibility if they can find a bit of consistency as the campaign heads into its business end. As another year closes, we can reflect on a truly memorable 2019 here at Biggleswade FC. The last 12 months have provided so many fantastic memories not only for myself personally, but also the club as a whole.
Athletic - not only completing a league double over them, but the home game being won in the dying moments when it looked all set to end goalless. We also beat them in the Semi-Final of the league cup, not to mention the FA Vase too before Christmas. It wasn’t all plain sailing though. Back-to-back draws with Leverstock Green and Leighton Town coupled with defeat at home to Colney Heath in late March gave the feeling that the league was getting away from us. Champions are made of stern stuff though and not even a last-gasp Wembley equaliser in midApril could stop FC from winning the title in beautiful sunshine at Stotfold’s Roker Park. The Reserves winning their title on the same afternoon made it an extra-special celebration. Jeremy giving a rousing speech and Dave dancing and singing on a table outside the clubhouse was again something that will live long in the memory. Two more trophies followed in the shape of the SSML Premier Division Cup and the North Beds Charity Cup to cap a 2018/19 season that may not ever be bettered in terms of silverware. The biggest prize for all of us though was a place at Step 4 for the first time. The wins haven’t been as frequent this season, but they were never going to be. It was an opportunity for us to rub shoulders with some stellar names in the non-league game and the adventure hasn’t disappointed. We’ve had some tough afternoons along the way as we still continue to find our feet, but playing in front of 400+ crowds at Corby Town and Didcot Town, pushing a big-spending Bedford Town side all the way on three occasions and taking coaches to countless new grounds / opponents have meant that the positives have far outweighed any negatives and we look forward to further challenges that lay ahead.
Winning trophies are always special and to win three in a season doesn’t happen very often. There has been so much more to this year than just the silverware though. Hosting home FA Vase ties against both Stowmarket Town and Windsor with 500+ attendances and winning the former very late on, scoring some special goals in a club-record 9-0 rout of Cockfosters, going down to Canterbury in the Quarter-Final of the FA Vase with a crowd of 600+ and the players and management being sung to and cheered off the field like heroes at the end.
I said at the conclusion of last season that it was quite possibly my most enjoyable season involved in football and that says a lot having enjoyed my fair share of success as a player. I’ve seen on social media this week club’s talking about their Team’s of the Decade. It seems scarcily believable that we’ve only been going since 2016! I’ve only been here just over two years and the journey has been nothing short of incredible. 2020 certainly has a lot to live up to!
Holding our nerve against long-time title rivals Tring
Enjoy the game
Gin bar Draught Beers BT & Sky Sports Beer Garden Live Music Friday Nights Food starting in September Under new management Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8BE 07850 140518