MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Hallen V Calne
CLUB OFFICIALS
Chairman: Lee Fairman
Vice Chairman: Andy Hicks
General Secretary: Deb Burns
Football Secretary: Richard Stokes
Treasurer: Mark Snook
Committee: Will Bolshaw, Liam Bright, Tom Collett, Francis Fairman, Nick Haigh, Graham
Joint, Ben Price, Adam Snook and Tony Wyebrow
Programme Editor: Liam Bright
President: Barrie Phillips
Vice-Presidents: Terry Henderson, Francis Fairman, Mark Snook and Tony Wyebrow
Groundsman: Francis Fairman
1st Team:
Manager: Karl Baggaley
Assistants: Jason Goodfield / Andy Hawkins
Coach: Mark Read
Physio: Pat Delaney
Reserve Team:
Manager: Andy Parry
Assistant: Andre Kirby
A’Team:
Manager: Craig Tottle
Assistant: Ben Price
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CHAIRMAN'S NOTES
Today we welcome Calne Town to the MB frames stadium to play us in the Jewson Western league. This is a highly anticipated game by all as both teams currently sit first and second Let’s hope we get a really good enjoyable game
This week saw us win 3-1 on Tuesday night at home in the semi-final of the GFA Challenge Trophy and make our way to the final. This is a fantastic achievement in what has already been a very good year. my congratulations to Karl and all the lads.
Our u18s narrowly missed out on their final as they lost 3-2 last weekend but with our reserves already in a Cup Final it has been a great club season so far cup wise.
I hope everyone associated with Calne Town have an enjoyable visit to Hallen and they enjoy our hospitality like we enjoyed theirs at the beginning of the season when we travelled to them in the league
After today’s game we then have another Home fixture when we host Wells City on Tuesday at the MB Frames stadium in the league, in another clash with a team riding high in the league.
I hope to see you all there for all your support.
See you all in the bar
UTH
OUR HISTORY
The Armadillos
The club was formed by members of a new community living at Lawrence Weston on the outskirts of Bristol, which had been developed shortly after World War Two
The club was named Lawrence Weston Athletic and played in the Bristol & District League, and it has moved forward steadily since moving to the village of Hallen in 1979, to conform with League Ground grading Much of the credit for the progress of this club can be accredited to the late Frank Fairman and his family His son Francis, and grandson Lee continue the link with the club In fact Lee played a major part in our fight for survival during the summer of 2015, when the club was in danger of losing its home So it was no surprise when long serving Chairman Barrie Phillips nominated Lee to take over the chair from himself, at the next AGM
The club became known as Lawrence Weston Hallen when it moved to Moorhouse Lane, joining the Gloucestershire County League in 1982, and under that title were runners up 198788, and Champions 1988- 89, after which the club dropped Lawrence Weston from its title to become known as simply Hallen
The club completed the double in 199293, when winning the Gloucestershire Challenge Trophy and the League title Promotion was achieved, joining the Hellenic League Division One, and after further improvements to the facilities (particularly the erection of floodlights and a 200-seater stand), a runner-up position in 1996–97 led to another step up, to the Hellenic League Premier Division
The club had always considered the Western League as its goal, as this League was more familiar with Bristolians than the Hellenic League. Their wish to transfer over was granted at the second time of asking but it was insisted that the club join the First Division for season 2000-01
HellenicLeague
DivisionOnechampions1996–97 WesternLeague
DivisionOnechampions2003–04
LesPhillipsCupwinners2009–10
GloucestershireCountyLeague Champions1988–89,1992–93
GloucestershireChallengeTrophy Winners1989–90,1992–93,2013–14
GloucestershireJuniorCup Winners1968–69[2]
The club finished fourth in its first season in the Western League and reached the last sixteen of the F.A.Vase losing to Brigg Town 6-5 in extra time Further progress was made when new manager Gary Damone led the team to the Division One title in Season 2003-4, and fourth place in the Premier Division at the first attempt. The club also reached the final of the GFA Trophy and were denied a place in the first round of the F A Cup when losing to Nationwide Conference side Canvey Island in the fourth and final qualifying round This success saw Southern League side Taunton Town tempt Gary Damone to try his hand at a higher level, which in turn saw Hallen have a dip in form, as players were also tempted away. It is however well known that a high percentage of players are happy to return to Hallen, and for season 2009-10 the club welcomed back Gary Damone as manager and many former players too The club finished in a disappointing twelth position in 200910, but a crop of long term injuries did not help The club however were to lift the Western League (Les Phillips) Cup for the first time The club had experienced a bad start to the 2010-11 season, which saw the departure of manager Gary Damone who chose to take charge of his own town club Wellington
OUR HISTORY
The Armadillos
Club stalwart Paul Owen was given the task of steering the team to safety With just one win prior to taking over in November, he and his assistant John Tierney changed fortunes around and we were safe from relegation with six games left Paul Owen's first full season as manager saw the club challenging for the title, but a dip in form saw the club slip to fourth Off the field, the club had ensured promotion would not be denied, had the club won the title by obtaining the ground grading for Southern League football Season 2012-13 saw no repeat of a challenge for promotion, but the season was kept alive by reaching the final of the Les Phillips League Cup for a second time In the final Willand Rovers won 1-0 before a crowd of 400 at Cribbs Friends Life FC As Paul Owen had already decided to step down at the end of the campaign, it was unfortunate that he could not see his side lift the cup By mid May the club announced that Hengrove Athletic manager Jamie Hillman was to take over as manager, He had been at the helm for eight years at Hengrove, and had just guided them to the Premier Division as runners up in April The 2013-14 season under Jamie and his assistant Grantley Dicks, was a mixture of highs and lows The highs being success in lifting the GFA Trophy for a third time and reaching the fifth round of the FA Vase losing away to West Auckland Town In contrast we finished the League campaign without a win in fifteen games. Manager Jamie Hillman announced that he would be leaving, and previous manager Paul Owen agreed to return for the 2014-15 season By November the League form was yet again cause for concern and Paul decided it would be best to bring in a new face, rather than wait to the end of the season
Steve Winter a former Walsall and Torquay player was appointed with a view, of him settling in, prior to the coming season He was to resign in December 2015, and long serving player Tom Collett took on the role as player manager assisted by Rayan Wilson for the 2016-17 season Following another poor run of results,Tom Collett made way for former player Ben Willshire to return as the new manager. Ben guided the club away from relegation, but when fortunes did not change in the next campaign, it was decided his assistant Rob Sage should take over the helm prior to Christmas 2017, with Ben remaining as a player. The resignation of Rob Sage forced the club to seek another manager in February Former manager Gary Damone returned as interim manager, whilst the club decided on a replacement from a record number of applicants. The successful candidate being former player Ray Johnstone, who had guided Odd Down to the title in 2016 Ray recruited another former Hallen player Tony Davis as his assistant for the 2018-19 season, unfortunately Tony had to step down during the course of the season It was a season which saw a more settled side, finishing in twelfth place the best for several years. Further progress was made during the 2019-20 season, with Ray being assisted by Dean Horseman, before it was brought to an abrupt end due to the coronavirus pandemic Ray’s departure early in the season 2020-21, saw Dean takeover as Manager in what turned out to be another pandemic disrupted season A poor run of results at the start of 2021-22 resulted in Dean and his new Assistant Tony Beecham departing the club. Stuart Jones and his trusty Director of Football Andy Hawkins took over, but unfortunately
OUR HISTORY
The Armadillos
they could not magic a way out of the situation the team had been left in and we were relegated to step 6, which saw us back in The Western League, due to The FA’s lateral movement. Early on in season 2023-24 we saw Stuart step down from the managerial role, and replaced by Karl Baggaley, who added some new faces to the squad and ended the season just outside the play off positions Hopefully with a few more signings this season we can push even further up the league?!
GOOD AFTERNOON Managers notes
Good afternoon and welcome to all associated with Calne Town football club, hope you enjoy your stay with us.
So after a good performance Tuesday we now have a cup final to play which is fully deserved for the lads and another chance of maybe some silverware.
Today is a juicy encounter with Calne who have beaten us already in a tight game earlier in the season so I'm sure the lads will be fired up for this one. We have pretty much a full squad with some of our travellers back this week also which will help in the run in.
Many more twists and turns in deciding promotion and play off spaces but we will be giving everything to make sure we are included.
Enjoy the game and see you in the bar.
Karl Baggaley Karl Baggaley Karl Baggaley
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1886 A significant moment in history, the story begins, Calne Town FC are born and start playing friendlies. Home is the town centre Recreation Ground.
1891/92 1st competitive game in the Wilts Cup – the roller coaster ride it begins!
1912/13 trophy case needed winners Wiltshire Senior Cup… 1st of many is hope!
1920’s sees a marriage with the famous bacon factory works team, Calne & Harris United. 1960’s the club relocates to its current ground, Bremhill View and drops the bacon, back to plain old Calne Town FC … cheap bacon quickly disappears from the club house.
1979/1980 …champions Wiltshire County Division 2…nice one!
1984/85 the trophy cupboard grows, winners in the Wiltshire Senior Cup and the Ghia Senior KO Cup…. really getting a taste for Victory!
1985/86 a new committee was formed with the objective of bringing a higher standard of football to Bremhill View, seen as visionaries of their time!
1986/87 100 years old! and a birthday present received. The big time is here, our application to join the Great Mills Western League Division 2 is rubber stamped.
1991/92 further development work at the ground with the expansion of the social club to provide lounge and bar facilities – fans very appreciative…hic !
1992/93 Manager Graham Fell at the helm we are Division 2 runners up and promoted. 1993/1994 Turbulent times, 3 managers in quick succession but surprise appointment of a 22 year old Tommy Saunders keeps us in the top rung. His knack for 'finding' quality players means we enjoy a successful run of top half finishes.
1997/98 An excellent FA Cup run, victorious over Fleet Town, Welton Rovers and Clevedon Town, but hearts finally broken in the last minutes of a home replay against Basingstoke. 1998 Tommy’s destiny for higher things catches up; he is off to Chippenham Town. Assistant Colin Bush, supported by ex-Calne player Lester Foxhall fills his very large boots. Despite the turmoil our highest ever finish in the Top rung, 6th place no less.
1998/99 a traumatic season! Tommy’s legacy fades as many key players desert to higher footballing echelons. New manager Mel Gingell’s hastily assembled young squad cannot compete. Mid-season Mel is dismissed, replaced by John Fisher ex. Swindon Supermarine & Wollen Sports. Too little too late, unable to deliver, relegated to Division 2… a bitter pill is swallowed!
1999/2000 new millennium brings former Calne stalwart Graham Learmonth as manager, assisted admirably by Sean Hughes and Ian Monnery. Ship steadied, the young side produced glimmers of excellence and restores some pride
2000/01 thump!?@!, we finish bottom and Graham short reign ends, lady luck though is on our side, relegation is avoided by bureaucracy as the league is reconstructed. Phew! 2001/02 brings optimism with newly appointed management team Steve Hale and Paul Rankin. Steve resigns soon after the start leaving Paul and assistant Mark Jefferies. 2003/4 new players added and the team complete some memorable performances, FA cup success still eludes. Season ends couple of places short of promotion. Proposals for new ground resurrected but short lived; yes we will stay at Bremhill!
2004/5 one of the most successful seasons in our clubshistory. Automatic promotion as runners up, secured by victory in the last game of the season…get in there! The bar gets some stick and we are all off to the heady heights of the Premiership. To cap it all an appearance in the League Cup final… but football is a cruel mistress, The Double is not to be, a painful loss on the lottery of penalties to Bridgwater. Kelvin CV shining resigns to take over at Melksham. 2005/6 builds on success; new management in Robbie Lardner and Simon Hillier and loyal players ensure the season ends in our highest league position in our 120 year history 2006/7 sees our longest FA Vase run for some time, losing eventually by a slim margin to Slimbridge. In the league, early promise whimpers out and the team finish mid-table 2008/9 fast out of the blocks winning most matches before Xmas. Maybe too much turkey as the 2nd half of the season is downhill slipping to 16th place. Not all doom and gloom as we finish runners-up to in the Les Phillips Cup Final losing 2 - 1 in last minute to Oldland Abbotonians. As season ends Manager Robbie and Assistant Simon call it a day. 2009/10 Mark Barrett announced as new Chairman and Kelvin Highmore returns as manager assisted by Paul Thompson…. who promptly leaves for Devizes Town and is replaced by Tommy Dryden. Winners of the Wiltshire FA Senior Cup, defeating Laverstock and Ford at Salisbury City stadium gives some celebration, but no such luck in the league, poor results means relegation back to Division 1 and the swift resignation of the management team.
2010/11 New management team in Jeff Roberts, Nick Vitale and Drew Youngsam 2011/12 Jeff and Drew stay in place supported by Anthony “Browner” Brown. We finish our successful campaign a creditable 4th … our best position for many a season.
2012/13 the Jeff and Drew combination remain, riding their luck until it is obvious promotion is not beckoning, they leave and Browner steps up and seeing out the season as manager. 2013/14 struggling for players following the mercenary exodus of 99% of 1st team players over wage cuts the reserve team step up after winning their Wiltshire Premier League race the previous season. Browner is replaced at the top by Simon Gardner following his success as Captain and motivator with the squad in the previous season and a mid-table finished is secured.
2014/15 change all around. In the summer break, Simon steps up as Chairman and Neurin Jones our solid team captain is confirmed as our new Player (for a while at least!) Manager. 2015/16 Neurin learns the ropes with a young team of local talent supported by influx of Chippenham players - finish 15th in Toolstation Western league Division 1.
2016/17 Early in the season poor results leads to player commitment issues – Neurin steps down as manager to be replaced with Dave Ferris. Not enough and finish 2nd bottom! 2017/18 Committee makes tough decisions, Dave exits in the summer and new local talent Clive McDaid and Ben Redford offered managers role
2018/19 Ben and Clive bring in a handful of new signings and finish the season in a respectable 8th place. At the end of the season Clive steps down as joint manager and is replaced by the experienced Trevor Rawlings. 2019/20 20/21 Season’s ended by the covid pandemic.
2021/22 Club promoted to Hellenic Prem, but were relegated at the end of the season. 2022/23 The club finish in 6th place in Div 1, Ben Redford steps down as joint Manager. 2023/24 A month into the season Trev steps up as Director of football. Dan Badman comes in as manager assisted by Alex Blake. Club finish the season in 8th place.
2024/25 The club return to the Western league. New Manager in ex player Craig Kent assisted by Stuart Windsor and Head Coach Chris Baxter take the reins
FIXTURE LIST
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LEAGUE TABLE
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Karl Baggaley
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AVONMOUTH
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BRADFORD TOWN
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How
to find us
ADDRESS
The Hallen Centre, Moorhouse Ln Hallen
Bristol
BS10 7RU
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IN Cheltenham week, it’s not just the jump jockeys looking for one final push towards the winning post.
Macclesfield manager Robbie Savage is one of a number of Non-League managers with victory already in their sights – and this with six weeks of the season still left to play! Savage, the former Leicester City, Birmingham and Blackburn midfielder, who has also enjoyed a successful career as a pundit, swapped his sporting director duties for the manager’s dugout at Moss Rose last June following the departure of Michael Clegg. And in his first season in charge, the Welshman is closing in on a maiden title almost at a canter with the Silkmen a massive 20 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League, Premier Division table ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Morpeth Town. With eight matches left to play, it means, a four-point swing over second-place Worksop Town will see Macc become the first club in the National League System pyramid to clinch the title in 2024-25.
Another club with champagne on ice is Quorn FC.
The Leicestershire side are also 20 points clear at the top of the NPL Midlands title, but with Corby Town having played a game less, it means Ryan Beswick’s men will have to wait a bit longer before reaching for the corkscrew.
The Reds, or The Methodists as they are also called, are lining up a second straight promotion having thrashed Great Wakering Rovers 5-0 in Step 4/5 Promotion Play-Off last season.
Another club chasing back-to-back promotions are Farnham Town, in Isthmian South Central.
The ambitious Surrey club are 12 points clear under boss Paul Johnson, scoring 86 goals from their 31 games with a goal difference of +60. Surely, it’s only a matter of time before they get over the line?
Talking of goals, Isthmian South East leaders Ramsgate racked up a century in their 4-0 win over Eastbourne Town on Saturday
In any other season, their 90-point total will have all but secured the title but with secondplace Sittingbourne suffering only a second defeat of the season at Three Bridges last week, there’s still some work to do yet
Elsewhere, it also appears the National League is preparing to salute a (not-so) new champion with Barnet seemingly cruising towards a record-extending fourth Conference championship.
A month or so ago, the Bees were locked in a three-way race for the title, with York City and Forest Green Rovers, but thanks to six straight wins and 32 points from a possible 36, Dean Brennan’s men now lead the table by 11 clear points ahead of their trip to Woking this afternoon.
The question is who can stop the north Londoners enjoying a very happy Easter in a few weeks’ time?
Fortunately, for the purists, both National League North and South title races are wide open and look certain to go down to the wire with a number of clubs still in with realistic chances of booking their place on Non-League’s top table for 2025-26.
Merthyr Town are flying the flag for Wales, 11 points clear of the rest in Southern Premier South – they’ve been magnificent this season under manager Paul Michael –while, In Southern Premier Central, four clubs are separated by just two points before this afternoon’s round of fixtures
Big guns Billericay Town and Dartford are going head-to-head in the Isthmian Premier, but in-form Horsham are ready to pounce.
And it’s a similar story in the Isthmian North with Brentwood Town, Felixstowe & Walton United and Bury Town all in the hunt and separated by just three points. One team whose race is run is City of Liverpool, who became the first team to see their fate decided after their relegation from NPL West was confirmed on Saturday. At the top, Widnes are eight points clear of Vauxhall Motors and well placed for a first ever foray in Step 3 next season
Similarly, Cleethorpes Town are in the driving seat in NPL East, seven points clear of nearest rivals Emley AFC – the same gap enjoyed by Yate Town in Southern Division One South What a season the Bluebells have had under manager Darren Mullings
Step 5 is equally as tight, none more so than in the North West Counties League where leading trio Bury, Lower Breck and Ramsbottom United all still on track to rack up 100 points.
Bury, chasing a historic second promotion back up the pyramid, have already scored 115 goals ahead of this afternoon’s trip to FC St Helens and lead the way by nine clear points with six matches left to play.
Traditionally, on-pitch promotion celebrations are synonymous with the sunshine. But with the weather as unpredictable of any pre-season trophy destination, and these teams seemingly in a hurry to get the job done, the biggest decision to make over the next couple of weeks will be whether to wave your club scarf in celebration or keep it wrapped it around you.
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