LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING

Good afternoon and welcome to the men’s final home game of the 21/22 season. It has been a tough week for the football programme after the Men’s Team were defeated by Littlehampton in the Semi-Final of the FA Vase as well as the Loughborough Lightning Team suffering a 4-2 defeat to Stoke. I know the men’s team will be disappointed however, they should be immensely proud for what they have achieved this season and the cup run they have been on. As for Loughborough Lightning, the defeat to Stoke now mean’s it is vital we pick up a few extra points towards the end of the season to ensure Tier 3 football for next season. We have 5 games to go and are just 2 points clear of the relegation zone therefore, it really will come down to the wire. The team have been fantastic in recent weeks and I have complete confidence that they will not let this knock them and will bounce back as we face Burnley at home at the weekend. It would be great to see some of you there supporting the girls in what will be no doubt a competitive game. NEXT MATCH: Sunday 10 April v’s Burnley, Home KO 14.00

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TODAYS OPPOSITION PINCHBECK UNITED FC

1930’s - History suggests that there was a football team in Pinchbeck as early as the 1930s. 1950’s - We joined the Premier Division of the Peterborough & District League in 1958. We won the Lincolnshire County Cup in 1957/58 and the picture of that triumph is still displayed at Knight Street.

1980’s - We were Premier Division Champions in 1989/90, retaining the title the following season. This was under the stewardship of Dave Arnold. 2011 (2012) - We were Champions again in 2011/12 and won the PFA Senior cup at Peterborough United’s Ground to complete the Double. This was Ian Dunn’s first spell at the club.

2015 (2016) - Dunn was to re-join the club in the 2015/16 season with Allan Ross and together they forged a formidable team. After a poor start to the league campaign, we went on a great run to finish 3rd that term and won the Presidents Shield.

2016 (2017) - We retained the Presidents Shield in the 2016/17 season, and we gave ourselves a nickname. “The Knights” were born and we went on to gain promotion to the United Counties League. The nickname was born from the home of Pinchbeck United in Knight Street, however with the ground unable to meet United Counties League Standards we were forced to leave our home and rent the Sir Halley Stewart Field in Spalding. 2017 (2018) - The 2017/18 season was the first time at Step 6 and we rose to the challenge winning the United Counties League Division 1 title with games to spare. 2018 (2019) - In 2018/19 we were in the United Counties Premier League and finished a creditable 4th in the League and reached the Hinchingbrooke Cup Final.

2019 - 2021 - The 2019/20 & 2020/21 seasons were difficult time for the club on and off the field not registering any wins in the disrupted and ultimately expunged seasons due to Coronavirus. 2021-2022 – Under new management with Lewis Thorogood and his backroom staff as well as a new look squad the club is once again excited to see what the future brings in step 5 football.