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LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS FC V GRESLEY ROVERS
TODAYS OPPOSITION
GRELEY ROVERS
Gresley FC was formed in 2009 and enjoyed a successful first season in the East Midlands Counties League. New Directors joined the club looking to turn the dream of moving to a new stadium into a reality. Manager Gary Norton and his assistant Martin Rowe invited Martyn Rowntree to step up from the reserves to become first team coach. 2010-2011 Gresley’s second season saw another good FA Vase run which saw Gresley crowned as champions and promoted into the Midland Football Alliance. Season 2011-2012 saw another good run in the FA Vase reaching the last 16, achieving a remarkable back-to-back title success as they lifted the Midland Football Alliance title and promotion to the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South. At the end of the season joint manager Gary Norton stepped down with Martin Rowe named as manager. After losing their first two league fixtures of 2013-2014, Gresley managed to stabilise their performances and ended the season in a creditable 9th place. However, in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy Gresley had good runs, going out of the cup after forcing Conference South outfit Brackley Town to a replay. In September 2014 Martin
Rowe resigned with his assistant Wayne Thornhill appointed as first team manager.
with assistant Carl Slater and player/coach Jamie Barrett. Jamie Barrett and Russell Early in January 2019 Norton Peel, turned the season around stood down and Gavin Hurren finishing in a creditable fifth was appointed as manager. place, making the play-offs Unfortunately, at the end of the where they met Leek Town at season, Gresley were relegated Harrison Park. At the beginning from the Evo-Stik East to the of September, Wayne stepped Midland League. Hurren left down and Dave Langston was early in the new season to be appointed as caretaker manager. replaced by David McDermott. In October Scott Goodwin Gresley’s results failed to was appointed as manager improve and in February with Jamie Barrett and Gary McDermott was relieved of his Rickets as his assistants. After position. Former manager Gary a disappointing run of defeats Norton again stepped in to steer Scott was released and Gary the ship until the end of the Ricketts appointed as player/ season. manager assisted by Jamie During the summer of 2020, the Barrett and Dave Langston. The Gresley FC board met to discuss 2015-2016 ended with Gresley the possibility of re-naming in 16th position. Ricketts stood the club and a unanimous down as manager and former decision saw the Gresley Leicester Nirvana manager Rovers name return to nonDamion Beckford-Quailey league football. Manager Carl appointed in the close season. Abbott and assistant manager 2017-2018 ended in a Paul Thomlinson have now disappointing manner when the put together a strong squad manager, management team after the previous season was and most of the players left curtailed due to the Covid-19 the club with just four games pandemic and non-league remaining and the danger of football allowed to start again. being relegated. Gary Norton After the summer restepped in to steer the club to organisation of non-league the end of a trying season and Gresley were moved from managed to keep the club in step the Midland League Premier 4 finishing 17th. Norton agreed Division to the new United to take on the role of manager Counties Premier League North for season 2018-2019 along for the 2021-2022 season. Wayne, along with his assistants
