St Neots Town Vs Chesham United

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE £2.00

Southern League Premier Division V

Chesham United Issue 08

08 The Dolphins were all at sea last weekend / Read the match report on our superb 3 points at home to Poole Town.

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Managers Notes / Kingy reflects on solid recent results

Origins of Football on TV / An insight from the 1930s to present

Owner Mike Kearns

Club Secretary Gary Wilson

Physio Chris Budd

Chairman Mike Kearns

Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard

Managing Director Lee Kearns

Life President John Walker

Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Director Iain Parr

Team Officials Richard King (Goalkeeping Coach)

Football Manager Gary King Assistant Manager Liam George

Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt

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St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley Club Merchandise Linda Walters

Stews Views / A cracking read by Craig!

Assistant Photographer Paulo Soares Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green Programme Sales Charlie Green

Programme Editor Mark Davies

Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson

Club Photographer Claire Howes

Pitchcare Working Turf

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200 Club Stuart Walters Design & Marketing Blue Prawn Print XL Press Limited

INSIDE

Issue 08 V Chesham United Southern League Premier Division

Also Inside 06 Action Replay 12 Focus on Youth 16 The Chairmans’ Views

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20 Read All About It 22 The Beautiful Game 30 Pull-Out Poster 32 Greenies Greetings

The World’s Greatest Goalkeepers / The top 10 playing in the world today

Old Footie Programme Covers / From 2010 to the current season

36 Away Days 44 MD’s Views 48 Leagues Review 50 Match Report vs Royston Town 51 Season 2014/15 Fixtures Matrix 52 The Non-League Paper

24 Todays’ Visitors / A warm welcome to The Generals Founded 1879 The Cozy Stadium Rowley Park, Kester Way St Neots PE19 6SL Telephone 01480 470012 Email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Website www.stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Forum www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

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56 Season 2014/15 Statistics 58 Premier Division League Table 60 Home & Opposition Squads

Introducing Arthur Lee / A young talent, with an eye for goal Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time

Huntingdonshire League Champions, 4 times

United Counties League Premier Division champions, 2 times Division One champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 2 times

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Winners, 37 times

Metropolitan League Champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 1 time Professional Cup winners, 1 time

Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners, 2 times

South Midlands League Champions, 1 time

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 03

MANAGERS NOTES

GARY KING Good evening everybody and welcome to everyone from Chesham FC, I hope you enjoy your visit to Rowley park this evening.

These are my first notes since what was a fantastic Victory here against league leaders Poole town, followed by with a credible point away to Cirencester.

Of course, Poole were unbeaten before coming into last Saturdays game and I think it is fair to say that in front of more than 600 brilliant supporters over the 98 minutes that were played, we thoroughly deserved the win, with their keeper being by far the busier.

It was great to see such fantastic support on the day, I had asked for a twelfth man and we got one and it’s for that reason I was particularly pleased with the quality of our third goal, to send everyone home with that goal in their mind was fantastic.

After thinking about the Cirencester match on the coach, on reflection I felt the point at Cirencester was a good point. They were an in form team having gone down to Truro the previous Saturday and came away with a decisive win.

BLUSTERY On a blustery afternoon it was always going to be hard for us to get the ball down and play our game, And giving away probably the worst goal we have seen for a long time as early as the third minute put us on the back foot kicking against the wind.

Whilst we had chances to take all 3 points, a hard earned point on the road against the form side is never a bad point.

We went out of the Red Insure cup away at Royston after a penalty shoot out. We all enjoyed winning the cup last season and in doing so you will recall us having to endure long midweek trips away to Tiverton and Redditch in the process.

It was that in mind and the fact we have different ambitions this season that I wasn’t too disappointed, sometimes you have to prioritize your games and come March April time we will be able to fully focus on the league rather than the red Insure cup at a time when I’m

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hoping we will need to do just that Bruce Wilson and Nathan Frater will both hopefully be available from niggles again come this Saturday, we will know more about Arthur Lee after training Thursday after his impact injury.

ROAD TO RECOVERY Talking about that sort of injury we finally have Chris Dillon training again last Thursday Our medical staff have worked on his injury for some time now and to think Dills has only played for 50 minutes the whole season is a real shame.

A great centre forward who will give you 20 goals a season is a big lose but lets look on it another way we will be gaining a top class striker when he is fit and that alone will give the players and supporters a big lift.

Onwards and upwards Kingy.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 05

(from the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup seven years ago) Hunts Senior Cup Round 1 (Saturday 20 October 2007) Godmanchester Rovers

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St Neots averted a potential Senior Cup banana skin with a rather shallow victory over Godmanchester who, because of injury, were forced to play outfield player Stephen Hurst as an emergency goalkeeper.

St Neots settled down and had one good early spell when they could have scored twice. First Steve Kuhne brought a full length save from the stand in keeper with a header from a Mark Franklin free kick that was pushed for a corner and then from that set piece Mark Barry’s floated cross was hammed against a goal post by Gary Watts. However St Neots’ approach seemed far too casual whilst the Godmanchester side needed no encouragement.

However the victory came at a huge price because just past the half hour inspirational defender Tony Russell was helped off with a hamstring injury that could sideline him for at least month. However it was a day to remember for defender Gary Watts.

Named in the starting line up for the first time after his long lay off through a broken leg he scored his first goal since March 2006 and it proved to be sufficient to ease his side through to the second round of the Senior Cup. St Neots did not play well and the host side have only themselves to blame in defeat for they had the better possession throughout but failed to beat Jon Chatfield who kept his first clean sheet of the season.

Godmanchester started brightly winning three corners in succession and only a great recovery tackle

by Russell on Lee Boon robbed the striker who was clear on goal.

However the home side contributed to their own downfall by conceding too many free kicks – nine in the first 20 minutes compared to three by the visitors.

St Neots Town

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Hurst then pushed a stinging free kick by Chris Garwell for another corner but the loss of Russell after 31 minutes saw St Neots defence in temporary disarray. After 34 minutes Jon Brierley was booked when he deliberately tripped Franklin whose pace had taken him clear and just before the break the well placed Cameron cleared off the line from substitute Kevin Ashby.

There was no obvious difference in the pattern of play after the break.

Godmanchester created their best chance of the match breaking swiftly out of defence to outnumber St Neots four to two with Steve Thompson feeding the unmarked Paul Bass whose cross found Lee Boon but Chatfield blocked the close range shot with his feet.

Chatfield then saved from Bass but neither side looked decisive enough in front of goal. Then on 65 minutes the home defence failed to deal with a Mark Franklin corner and Gary Watts powered a header into the roof of the net. This should have given St Neots the confidence they had been lacking but only substitute Arin Fehmi looked like posing problems and when he was hacked down by Brierley it earned the Godmanchester his second yellow card and an early bath.

The home side created two more chances to send the match into extra time. First Boon had a close range header comfortably saved

by Chatfield but the keeper was unsighted when he produced the save of the match three minutes from time to push a Steve Thompson volley away.

St Neots might have had a second goal when a Ryan Francis effort was headed off the line by Rob Stamper but that would have given the visitors a flattering margin of victory they had not merited.

St Neots: Chatfield, Hoggett, Barry, Russell, Watts, Garwell, Deverall, Franklin, Francis, Kuhne, Belgrave.

Subs: Ashby, (for Russell 31 mins), Fehmi (for Franklin 68 mins), George, Moran, Finch.

MOM: Jon Chatfield.

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A SAFE PAIR OF HANDS

ST NEOTS TOWN 3 POOLE TOWN 2 11:10:2014 / Southern Premier Division / Att 619 / Referee: Shaun Barry (Northampton)

Second in the table St Neots entertained long time league leaders Poole Town in a classic ‘six pointer’ and sent them back to Dorset to muse on their first league defeat of the season.

It was a classic contest with both sides fully committed and St Neots best crowd of the season were highly entertained throughout with fortunes swinging first one way then the other.

The visiting defence that had only conceded four goals in twelve league games prior to this meeting were given a thorough testing whilst at the other end St Neots paraded recent signing Paul Bastock in goal and the veteran stopper had a fine debut.

St Neots had two early attempts on goal as Lewis Hilliard’s close range shot was deflected into the side netting and Drew Roberts shot wide. Then in Poole’s first attack after 11 minutes they took a grip on the game. Steve Devlin’s shot was deflected wide and from the corner the visiting central defenders made St Neots pay as Michael Walker headed back across goal and after a defensive deflection Jamie Whisken forced the ball home through a crowded six yards box.

St Neots apparent lack of width saw them struggle to create openings although Jay Davies arriving late to a Hilliard cross was only inches from a spectacular strike. Debut goalkeeper Paul Bastock did well to keep out a wickedly inswinging corner from

Devlin and at the other end Nick Hutchings made a good save from Roberts. As the half drew to a close Nathan Frater had a stinging shot parried by Hutchings and the keeper then saved well from Hilliard.

Then on the stroke of half time Jay Davies split the visiting defence and Drew Roberts powered a shot into the roof of the net via the underside of the crossbar to level the scores.

St Neots looked much stronger and better organised after the break with Hilliard now operating in midfield and after 63 minutes they forged ahead when a Jay Davies shot was blocked and as it went wide of the goal St Neots defender Ryan Frater produced an acrobatic overhead kick that looked to be on target but ace goal poacher Drew Roberts applied the final touch from close range.

Now with their noses in front St Neots began to look more confident and apart from a lone Poole attack in which Max York produced a critical clearance, the home side were dominating. With nine minutes left Roberts turned provider with an unselfish sublime, first time through ball to release Lewis Hilliard who rode a tackle to make it 3-1.

St Neots then sent on Matt Nolan for Nathan Frater and within sixty seconds he should have made the game safe when he went clear on goal but delayed his finish and was robbed. Poole were throwing everything forward in a last ditch effort to save their unbeaten record and were rewarded in the 90th minute when substitute Luke Roberts netted following a Devlin corner to make it 3-2.

In a tense period of seven minutes of added time it was the visitors who were on top and four minutes into that period Steve Devlin produced a bullet effort from 25 yards that Bastock got enough of a touch on to push the ball onto the crossbar and this was a match saver for St Neots who thoroughly deserved their victory.

John Walker

St Neots Town

Poole Town

Bastock, York, Bickerstaff, Wilson, Frater (R), Hoyte, Davies, Spring, Frater (N), Roberts (D), Hilliard. Subs: Thorne (for Wilson 82), Nolan (for Frater (N) 86), Ford (for Hilliard (90 + 1), Peacock and Ferrari. Cards: Bickerstaff (Y – 51) Goals: Roberts (D) 2 (45 and 63 mins), Hilliard (81)

Hutchings, Tallack, Martin,Walker, Whisken, Pettefer, Burbidge, Devlin, Brooks, Preston, Jermyn. Subs: Gosney (for Preston 61), Roberts (L) (for Jermyn 64), Lindsay (for Martin 72), Munday and Manley Cards: Brooks

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( Y – 84) Goals: Whisken (11 mins), Roberts (L) (90 mins)

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 09

WELCOME BACK THEO

Focus on Youth...

St Neots Town U18’s The U18’s players have a busy schedule over the next couple of weeks in league a as representatives for the Hunts FA County Reps squad where we have no less than 6 of the squad participation in the Cup and League Fixtures.

A good win over St.Ives this past weekend sets up a home fixture against Godmanchester Rovers in Round 2 of the Hunts County Cup in December – match report below.

ST NEOTS TOWN U18 10 : ST IVES TOWN U18 1 Huntingdonshire U18 Youth (Gayton) Cup Round One St Neots cruised in to the second round of the County Youth (U18 Cup) at the expense of neighbours St Ives but as an important cup match it was regarded as unsatisfactory by both sides in that they were unable to field anything like their strongest team because of a Sunday date when many regulars are working. St Ives Secretary Marina Howlett plans to make representations to the County FA about allowing the matches in the competition to be played in midweek in line with normal league arrangements. St Ives was only able to field ten available players and when David Lapins was injured and unable to continue in the first half they were reduced to nine players for almost an hour.

St Neots looked more composed from the start and went into a two goals lead in the first eight minutes

with goals scored by Chris Lewis and Ollie Benham. St Ives tried hard to compete but was overrun in midfield because of their numerical deficit and after 27 minutes a defender turned a cross into his own net to increase St Neots’ lead. Two minutes later Cade Stephens-Abbey added a fourth goal and ten minutes before half time St Neots skipper Dan Mattin moved forward to score the pick of his sides’ ten goals – a drive from 35 yards that left overworked visiting keeper Luke Mason helpless.

St Ives were nothing but determined because a minute after the restart with the St Neots defence slumbering James Atherton was allowed an unimpeded run on goal and he beat Dan Huff with a low shot to notch a consolation goal for the visitors. Then the main focus switched to his opposite number as

Mason made four excellent saves in the next twenty minutes to frustrate St Neots better efforts. However after 65 minutes Chris Lewis scored his second goal of the match after a pacey solo run and two minutes later Charlie Lewis joined him on the score sheet to make the score 7-1after the unfortunate Mason had spilled a shot from Jordan Stewart. After 70 minutes Chris Lewis completed his first hat trick for St Neots with a crisp finish after good work by Stewart and then eight minutes from time Ollie Coleman was the architect of the ninth goal when his early cross was sliced into the net by Chris Lewis. The scoring was completed a minute from time when the Lewis’s combined for Charlie to claim his second goal.

John Walker

St Neots Town U18 Huff, Loader, Ball, Mattin, Stewart, Lewis (Charlie), Benham, Whittle, Stephens-Abbey, Coleman, Lewis (Chris) Sub used: Davis. Cards: None. Goals: (St Neots): Chris Lewis 3 (5, 65,70 & 82 mins), Charlie Lewis 2 (67 & 89 mins), Benham (8 mins), Stephens-Abbey (29 mins), Mattin (35 mins), Own Goal (27 mins)

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Mascot feature

The Saints Matchday Mascot Experience!

• Free entry for mascot and parents • Use of our hospitality room • Signed match day programme by your favourite player, which you will also appear in • Meet your favourite player and have your photo taken • Tour of the stadium • Have a kick about on the main pitch • Lead the Saints on to the pitch • Free portion of chips and drink for the mascot

To apply to be a Matchday Mascot contact Louise Spark on misslouises@yahoo.co.uk

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 13

p o T

n e T

We have had greatest players but a goalkeeper is never listed as a great player, proberbly the most important player in the team. We take a look at the worlds best goalkeepers playing today.

06. PETR CECH (CZECH REPUBLIC & CHELSEA) Since arriving at Chelsea from Rennes in 2004, Cech has been a model of consistency, rarely making errors and helping the club to three Premier League titles and a Champions League. He recovered from a fractured skull sustained in a controversial challenge by Reading’s Stephen Hunt in 2006. Cech instils confidence in what is a solid Chelsea defense, and although he may have fewer saves to make than many goalkeepers, it is a sign of his class and extreme concentration that he is rarely found wanting when called upon. A busier figure on the international stage.

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IN THE WORLD TODAY 05. VICTOR VALDES (Spain) There is a case for arguing that if the former Barcelona custodian was any other nationality, he would be his country’s number one. But Valdes has had the misfortune of being in his prime at the same time as Iker Casillas, who has held the Spain jersey for over a decade. Valdes is Barca’s most successful goalkeeper, having won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with the club. The former Tenerife youth player is terrific in one-on-one situations.

He left Barca in 2014.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 15

THE CHAIRMANS’ VIEWS

IT’S GOING WELL Welcome to the Officials, Players and Supporters of Chesham United for tonight’s fixture.

I remember the last meeting we had at Rowley Park against tonight’s opponents; on the night they were by far the best team we have ever played at our place since I become owner of the club. Some fantastic football and goals were scored by the Generals. Fortunately the main goal scoring predators are now playing for us so I’m a little more confident about tonight. I often say to Drew why is it that every time he played against the Saints he scored wonder goals, I really did not need to say that to him did I, he always seems to score wonder goals.

Because of the publishing deadlines for this programme I am writing these notes before we play Cirencester, l hope we got a decent result there.

Looking back to the last few weeks since I made the managerial changes I must congratulate Gary and his assistances Liam and Matt on turning things round so quickly three wins in three very tough fixtures with the Poole win the highlight.

FLATTERED All three fixtures threw up different qualities needed from the players and its very satisfying that they showed all the qualities needed to win each match. Looking back on the full video of the Poole match a few times, sad I know, I think that the final score line really flattered Poole.

A very good side but they do play a certain way and do not seem to have a plan “B” as they say, it will be very interesting if they are found out by other opponents. We certainly did

our homework on them and were in control for most of the match. Of course its just fourteen games into the season and a very long way to go and second in the table is more than we expected at the start of the season.

IN THE MIX It’s going to be a very long season so lets hope we are in the mix at the end. We played Royston Town in the first round of the Red Insure Cup last week of which we were the current holders of the trophy. Last season it was very important for us to be able to aim for something so we were competitive right up until the end of the season, the Red Insure Cup gave us that. However this season we are focused on the league and the two big cup competitions (I wont mention the FA Cup) and to that end the management made nine changes to the team that beat Poole Town the previous Saturday.

We did well in the second half but even though we lost on penalties (again) it’s like watching England and Chelsea at times, I just know we will lose a penalty shoot out, I must be the jinx, mind you Dave hitting the moon on his penalty told me it was not going to be our night (sorry Dave couldn’t resist that one). Having so many players on the pitch that night who had very little or no match time this season meant the game against a very determined Royston and quite rough team was always going to be

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difficult. Still the guys and girls behind the goal had some fun; I’m still singing the Bastock song.

Welcome to Paul, and Edd and Theo to the club, three very good players.

Paul he is a player I have waited for ever since I took the club over, all due respect to the other goalkeepers we have had but Paul’s experience especially as a goalkeeper is priceless. Edd always a very good player is back and Theo of whom I speak to and have encouraged all the way in his fight for fitness is a smashing lad with an enormous amount of talent.

CLEAR MESSAGE So things are going well, and at last many others and I are enjoying their football. Win lose or draw we all want to see the club play exciting attacking football and if we come of the pitch saying we tried our hardest but it was not our day or the opposition were just better than us then we should all be satisfied. That is the message I give to Gary, enjoy it otherwise what’s the point. Don’t forget we are in the highest position our club has ever been in over 130 years, we are playing in a real football league now and every team has its day lets just hope its not against us. We are also the “Top” non league club in our area.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL Mike

The Origins

of football on TV

We go back to the 1930s to the very first televised football match in the UK, and take us through to the present day.

Some interesting reading in this fascinating series of articles.

Coverage in North America In The USA where the game is ever increasingly growing at Greenwich mean time on Saturdays free-to-air on the main NBC network (12 noon American Eastern) you can watch live premier league games, yes when they kick off at 3-00pm UK time.

Other games are carried through game time-only channels known as “Premier League Extra Time”, and all games are carried through NBC Sports’ website and the “NBC Sports Live Extra” tablet/smartphone app with TV Everywhere authentication, with USA Network carrying matches in lieu of NBCSN during the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Survival Sunday coverage (under the banner Championship Sunday) will be carried on May 11, 2014 by ten NBCUniversal networks, along with Telemundo and mun2.

FOX will air the FA Cup Final the following Saturday, on May 17, 2014.

Starting in the 2013–14 season, the matches will be divided equally between Sportsnet and TSN, with selected matches telecast on the CTV Television Network, which is co-owned with TSN. CTV will also broadcast the FA Cup Final as part of TSN’s contract with the Premier League. On the weeks in which NBC does not air Premier League due to the PGA Tour, matches are cable-exclusive.

All Bell Media cable networks including TSN have exclusive coverage of Survival Sunday (like NBC, CTV devotes the afternoon of Survival Sunday to the Players Championship golf tournament.)

In Canada, Sportsnet owned the Premier League rights for three years from the 2010–11 season. Select games (particularly those aired by ESPN) were sub-licensed to TSN. In Australia, Fox Sports broadcasts all of the season’s 380 matches live,

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except for the final day, when only selected matches are shown. Foxtel uses its ‘Viewers Choice’ service to give subscribers the option of selecting which Saturday 3pm match to watch.

The Premier League is particularly popular in Asia, where it is the most widely distributed sports programme.

In India, the matches are broadcast live on ESPN and Star Sports.

In China, data from 2003 suggested that matches were attracting television audiences between 100 million and 360 million, more than any other foreign sport. In 2012, Chinese rights were awarded to Super Sports in a six year agreement that began in the 2013/14 season.

Due to its popularity in Asia, the league has held four pre-season tournaments there, the only Premier League affiliated tournaments ever to have been held outside England.

The Premier League Asia Trophy has been played in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China and involves three Premier League clubs playing against a prominent team from the host nation, often the national side.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 19

READ ALL ABOUT IT We take a look at what other non-league clubs are doing that’s making the news this week.

BEECH RELEASED BY CITY

Cambridge City have confirmed that Josh Beech has left the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club. Beech joined the Lilywhites in the summer of 2013, and was an ever-present in the squad that finished third in the table last year.

However, this season his form has dipped and was recently involved in an altercation with City striker Andrew Phillips at Banbury United.

City boss Gary Roberts (pictured) commented: “I have had a discussion with Josh Beech and it was felt that it was in the best interests of the club that we allowed him to leave. He was a key part of our team last year, but this season he has been unable to produce the same level of form. We thank him for his efforts and wish him well for the future.”

Dale, 18, signed his first professional contract with the Robins in the summer but has yet to feature competitively in 2014/15, although he has been name on the substitutes bench a number of times. Dale has a product of the Cheltenham academy and he made his professional debut as a substitute last season in a 3-1 loss to Plymouth Argyle.

The former Swindon Town, Chippenham Town and Frome Town man played a chunk of his football with Paulton last year during the Swedish close season, but missed out on their play-off success against Merthyr Town, which earned them promotion to the Southern Premier.

VETERAN BASTOCK JOINS SAINTS

He was a regular scorer during his years with the youth team and he has scored 5 goals in reserve action so far this season - 4 of which came in one game against Forest Green Rovers.

ROVERS RETURN FOR JEFFERIES

YOUNG ROBIN LOANED TO CIRENCESTER Evo-Stik League Southern League Premier Division club Cirencester Town have signed Bobbie Dale on a month`s loan from Sky Bet League One side Cheltenham Town.

player Darren Jefferies. The 20-yearold, who captained Rovers` under-18 side and made one appearance for the first-team in a two-year spell at the club, has been turning out for Swedish Division Four side BK Sport after signing for them in April 2013.

Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club Paulton Rovers have re-signed former Bristol Rovers

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Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club St Neots Town completed the transfer of goalkeeper Paul Bastock from Southern Division One Central side Royston Town in time for him to play in the win over leaders Poole Town on Saturday.

Bastock is very well known around non-League circles and has a wealth of experience in both League and non-League football.

Now 44, he played over 550 times in two spells with Boston United and has also served the likes of Fisher

Athletic, Kettering Town, St Albans City, where he also had two stints, Rushden & Diamonds and Worksop Town.

Saints manager Gary King said: “We needed another goalkeeper in our squad and experience was the key. Paul won promotion to the Conference South last season with St Albans City and was by far the best goalkeeper in the Southern League.”

DOUBLE BOOST FOR GENERALS

HIGHLY-RATED DEFENDER JOINS CITY

Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club Cambridge City have signed one of the most highly-rated players in the Thurlow Nunn League.

Defender Adam Murray joins City from Mildenhall Town, but is no stranger to the club after playing some pre-season matches in the build-up to last season.

Ryan Towner has returned to Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club Chesham United following a spell on trial with Sky Bet League One side Barnsley.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined the Generals from Stevenage FC’s academy during the summer, played for the Tykes under-21s side during his time at Oakwell, but was not offered terms. Towner, who played youth football under Chesham manager Andy Leese at Hoddesden, has made five starts for the Generals this season and come off the bench six times.

Previously with Ely City and Newmarket Town, there were several teams higher up the non-League Pyramid interested in him, but Mildenhall`s director of football Alan Alsop played a big part in persuading him to join last summer as he had managed him before.

MACKEY SIGNS FROM THE TUDORS

Dunstable Town have signed prolific goal scorer Ben Mackey on a 28 day loan from Conference South Hemel Hempstead. Mackey the clubs leading goal scorer in last seasons championship winning season has struggled with injury and fitness this season, having only played for the Tudors on a couple of occasions this season. Mackey came back from a serious injury to play for St Neots Town forming a dream partnership with Stefen Moore now at Southern North club Leamington.

STUTES BORROW MILLWALL KEEPER Brian Page (opposite), manager of Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division club Histon, has made more changes to his squad. Goalkeeper Denzel Gerrar has signed on an initial one month youth loan deal from Sky Bet Championship side Millwall. Page was pleased to secure the signature of the highly-rated stopper: “Denzel has been on the bench for Millwall in the Championship this season and for a lad of his age that’s quite an achievement. “He is very well thought of at Millwall so when the opportunity came to sign him I was keen to make it happen. “He brings quality to the side and will offer strong competition for the number one shirt.”

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 21

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

WEDDED BLISS? Some football fans really take things to the extreme don’t they?

Everything they do revolves around their favourite team and the game itself. I’m no different in some respects. Social events which don’t relate to football are planned and organised around the fixture list, and even shifts at work are swapped and changed to some extent if they clash with a mid-week game!

I recently spotted a news article on the internet featuring a couple in Kenya who, on their wedding day, had a Manchester United themed day. The bride still wore a white dress and appeared to be less than keen on the theme at all. The groom however, was having a fabulous time. He wore the new Man United shirt throughout the ceremony, cut into a Man United Cake and even drove off after the ceremony in a car with a Giant Man United flag draped over it. The guy obviously loves Manchester United. I doubt he’s ever been to Old Trafford (like most Man Utd ‘fans’) but the fella just adores the club, probably more than he does his new bride. It didn’t say where they were taking their honeymoon but I’m sure he dreamt of a honeymoon in Manchester! Ironically, I wonder

how many marriages took place in and around Manchester where the couples honeymooned in Kenya?

Perhaps the Kenyan couple and the Manchester couple could’ve house swapped for a week or two?

We’re probably all aware of a fan here, or at another club who has re-arranged wedding plans to avoid a clash with a match or even utilised their club in some way for the reception. In 1984, one unlucky couple had their wedding plans scuppered by a football loving vicar!

They chose their local church and the date and the time for their special day prior to the release of the fixture list. The vicar had to chuck a spanner in the works and declare that he’d be at the match on their chosen afternoon supporting Derby County! Although they appealed to the Bishop of Derby and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the vicar wouldn’t budge and the couple had to choose an alternative church.

Even clubs have to reschedule themselves sometimes due to wedding plans. Stoke City officials were left red faced in July 2000 when they arranged a pre-season friendly game against Liverpool for a 3pm Kick-Off. The game had to have the kick off brought forward when a local couple reminded the club that they had booked the Britannia Stadium for their wedding reception for the same time on that very day!

If you think that’s slightly embarrassing, then imagine how Alan Sugar [chairman of Spurs at

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the time] felt when the fixtures were released prior to the 1999/2000.

Spurs were given a home fixture on the same day that his son was due to be married. He simply changed the day of the match to the following day so that he could attend the wedding.

Is it really as simple as that? If only it was, we’d all be able to arrange the games for when it suited us.

At one game featuring two of the aforementioned clubs, one lucky/ unlucky couple had their wedding featured on the TV programme ‘Don’t tell the Bride’. In last seasons’ Stoke City v Tottenham Premiership game, massive Stoke fan Levi Stone surprised his bride by secretly arranging for their wedding to take place at the ground, and on the TV show. His bride Jade Barker claimed to have thoroughly enjoyed her wedding day even though she had to swap her wedding day high heels for football boots, have her wedding vows filmed in front of 28,000 football fans and then had to do a lap of honour around the pitch whilst chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ rang out from the stands – poor lass! As for the groom, his beloved Stoke lost the game 2-1, a bitter-sweet wedding day for him then! Personally, I got married during the month of February after reviewing the fixture list early on, my wife understood. What she still doesn’t understand after 25 years of marriage is that she has to share my love with 11 men!! Enjoy today’s escapade.

ADE

TODAY’S VISITORS

CHESHAM UNITED

Perennial play off competitors Chesham have made a slow start to the current campaign after unsuccessfully contesting the play offs in each of the past three seasons.

A very special welcome to Chesham United our visitors this evening who are making their third visit to the Cozy Stadium for our next Southern League Premier Division engagement. For our lads last season’s meeting is one to forget with Chesham strolling to a 5-0 victory here – our worst ever home reversal since joining Step Three. Chesham’s record over the past three seasons is second to none. Finishing 4th, 3rd and 2nd in successive seasons they have contested the play offs each season but failed to maintain their form and results at the vital time and so are still at Step Three. However with near neighbours Hemel Hempstead and St Albans both promoted to Conference South at the end of last season they have every incentive

to go one better and join them at the higher level. There was further disappointment for our visitors this season when they lost to new boys Dunstable Town in an FA Cup replay and like us must wait for next season for further National Cup glory and the financial rewards that accompany success in that competition. Last week both Chesham and ourselves made a start on the Red Insure Cup this season with matches against Midland Division opponents. Let us hope that both of us will feature in the second round.

CLUB HISTORY The story of Chesham United has many highs and many lows. It was formed in 1917 following the merger of Chesham Town FC (who were founder members of the Southern

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League in 1894 when still known as just Chesham FC) and Chesham Generals (who took their name from the General Baptist Church in Chesham Broadway). Relative success in the following years paled into insignificance following the FA Amateur Cup run of 1967/68 when, against all the odds, little Chesham United went all the way from the Preliminary Round to the final of the FA Amateur Cup, finally losing 1-0 to Leytonstone in front of a 54,000 Wembley crowd. At a time when the population of Chesham was just 18,000 people, the club sold 22,000 tickets for this game. In January 1991, promotion and the Isthmian League Division One title were secured. In its inaugural season, the Loctite Final was reached but the match was lost to Bishops Stortford

Year founded: 1917 Nickname: The Generals Chairman: Brian McCarthy

Website: www.cheshamunited.co.uk Stadium: The Meadow (5000 Capacity)

Previous Meetings: Chesham 3-3 St Neots (14/15) Chesham 3-0 St Neots (13/14)

on penalties. In October 1992, the Club went to the very top of the Isthmian league after a famous win at Enfield, where they remained until the end of the season, being crowned Champions on the last day of the season following a 4-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet. Witnessed by an average home gate of just short of 1,000, the season also saw the arrival of ex-Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson. Promotion to the National Conference depended on ground improvements that could not be afforded. So, the season ended in disappointment after so much hard work. In the early 2000s the club again had an eye on promotion to the Conference as Bob Dowie led a strong Chesham side to 6th in the Ryman Premier, possibly an under achievement when considering

the resources at his disposable.

The team that year included Wayne Andrews and Fitz Hall, both players having progressed to enjoy professional careers in the higher echelons of football. Two years later and the club were once again relegated back to Division One. United’s first year in the Southern League was certainly adventurous.

At times they looked title contenders, and then they flirted with relegation and in the end were happy to finish in mid-table. The following summer the true price of years of over-achieving came to light. Nearly two decades of wealthy Chairmen helping to fund the club was over and it was time for The Generals to stand on their own feet, a task that proved too much. The 2010/2011 season marked the start of a new

era for Chesham United. For some time the club’s Supporters’ Trust has been the largest shareholder and in June 2010 the other two majority shareholders, including the club Chairman, relinquished control of the club and handed over their voting rights to the fans’ representatives ahead of the Trust securing sufficient funds to purchase shares for outright ownership. So, we went into the new season as a truly supporters’ run football club looking forward to the challenge of re-establishing ourselves at Southern League Premier Division level after a four year absence. In 2011/12 Chesham finished fourth in the Premier Division to earn a place in the play-offs but lost by the odd goal in five to third placed Totton in the semi-final.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 25

WHO’S WHO

THE GENERALS

ANDY LEESE

ANDY LEESE (MANAGER) A UEFA B Pro-Licence Coach who is currently working towards his A Licence. Andy was appointed Chesham manager in the summer of 2007 from Potters Bar Town.

In Andy’s first season Chesham recovered from a slow start but missed out on the play-offs on goal difference, and won the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup beating Wycombe Wanderers 3-0 in the final.

SHANE GORE (GOALKEEPER) Shane signed for Chesham in the summer of 2010, following his release from Luton Town.

Shane has also played for Havant & Waterlooville, Barnet and Maidenhead United. Is also twice a winner of the Fans’ Player of the Season Award at Chesham United. In the summer of 2013, Shane signed a new two-year deal with the club and is the current club captain.

LAURIE STEWART (DEFENDER) Centre half who joined Chesham from Hitchin Town in the summer of 2013. Was Hitchin Town’s Player of the Season for the 2011/12 season, having joined from Harlow Town the previous summer. Laurie has also played for Ware, Cambridge City and Bishops Stortford.

SHANE GORE

DANIEL BRATHWAITE

DANIEL BRATHWAITE (DEFENDER): A versatile defender who re-joined the club for his third spell in the summer of 2013. Previously signed for Chesham in March 2003, and played 11 games for the club before leaving that summer. Played for Boreham Wood, Enfield, Ashford Town (Mx) and Dover Athletic before re-joining Chesham in the summer of 2012. Daniel played 17 times for the club before joining Hayes and Yeading in December 2012.

ALEX BROWN (DEFENDER): At 6 foot 6, offers an imposing presence in any backline, and joined Chesham from Slough Town in the summer of 2013. A Watford-born centre-half, Alex joined Slough from Walton Casuals ahead of the 2011/12 season, and was immediately a hit with the Slough faithful and also received the manager’s player of the season award. Previous clubs include Harefield United.

DARREN PURSE (DEFENDER) 36-year-old experienced centreback who joined Chesham United in January 2014, following a short spell at IFK Mariehamn in Finland. Darren is a well-known figure having made 556 league appearances from 1996 to 2013. Darren is best known for his spells at Birmingham City, West

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ALEX BROWN

Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, and commanded transfer fees of around £2.5m across his playing career.

JEANMAL PROSPER (DEFENDER) A promising young defender who joined Chesham United in January 2014 from Arlesey Town, where he had been a regular in their side, having joined then in the summer of 2012. Previously, Jeanmal had played for Aylesbury FC. Jeanmal is able to play in a variety of roles, having played at both right back and centre back.

TOMMY FLETCHER (DEFENDER) A young defender who joined Chesham on loan from Wycombe Wanderers in the summer of 2014, and is able to operate at both centre back and right back. He joined Wycombe as an 18-year-old in the summer of 2013, following a successful trial period. Tommy began his career at Cheshunt in the Ryman League.

ASHLEY SMITH (DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER) Ashley is a utility player who joined from Burnham in 2014. Ashley is able to play in a range of positions, including right back and right midfield. Ashley also has experience of playing in Conference South with

Ryan Blake (Forward) A 23-year-old pacy and lively forward or wide player who joined Chesham having been at Burnham last season where he featured on the Premier Division top scorers list. His previous club was Beaconsfield where he scored 23 goals.

DARREN PURSE

JEANMAL PROSPER

Maidenhead United, having played in that league from 2007 to 2011.

Previous clubs include Hampton & Richmond Borough and Flackwell Heath.

ANDY BALLARD (DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER) Andy also joined Chesham United in the summer of 2014, this time from Oxford City, winning promotion from the Southern Premier in 2012. Andy had been club captain at Oxford City, where he has had two spells with the club. In between those spells, Andy has played for Slough Town, Abingdon United and Eastbourne Borough.

DAVID LYNN (DEFENDER) A 19-year-old left back who joined Chesham in the summer of 2014, having previously played for Oxford United, and had been in their first team squad for the 2013-14 season.

JACK MACE (MIDFIELDER) An 18-year-old midfielder who joined Chesham in 2014 having been in both the Tottenham and the Torquay United youth system. Played for Andy in youth football.

RYAN TOWNER (MIDFIELDER) Joined in the summer, having been in the Stevenage academy. Played for Andy in youth football.

DAVE FOTHERINGHAM

DAVE FOTHERINGHAM (MIDFIELDER) A former Chesham United youth player, Fotheringham has notched up over 400 appearances for the club.

Dave made his debut in 2002, but left in 2005 for Hemel Hempstead Town then Maidenhead United.

Returned in the summer of 2007 and is a favourite with the Chesham supporters for his inexhaustible work rate and is the current vice-captain.

STEPHAN HAMILTON-FORBES (MIDFIELDER) A young midfielder who joined Chesham United in November 2013, having trialled elsewhere having been with the club in pre-season.

Stephan came up through the ranks at Watford, including being offered a professional contract for the 2012/13 season, however was released in 2013.

RICHARD GRAHAM (MIDFIELDER) A well-travelled attacking midfielder who can also play in wider areas.

Richard is another player who is in his second spell at the club, having initially played for the club in the 2001/02 season. Richard came through the youth system at Queens Park Rangers, making 2 appearances for their first team. Richard then went back into the professional game in

MARK BELL

2004, playing for Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge and Kettering Town.

MARK BELL (MIDFIELDER) Mark is another summer signing, who had been playing for Nuneaton Town in the Skrill Premier. Mark started off playing for Oxford City, where he scored 19 goals in the 2011/12 season when Oxford City won promotion. In the 2012/13 season, Mark went to play for Bedford Town, prior to his Nuneaton move.

JOSH COOPER (MIDFIELD) Josh is an attacking midfield player who joined Chesham in the summer of 2014, having had a successful 2013-14 season at Cheshunt in Ryman Division One North scoring 18 goals. This is Josh’s third spell at the club, having previously played in the 2008-09 season, as well as coming back at the end of the 201112 season.

INIH EFFIONG (FORWARD) A strong and powerful forward, who signed an 18-month contract with Chesham United in December 2012, having scored 7 goals in 7 games in a successful loan spell at the Meadow towards the end of the 2011/12 season. Wood for the 2009/10 season then went back to St Albans City for the 2010/11 season.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 27

EDD IS BACK!

PAGE 28 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

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DREW SCORES THE FIRST AGAINST THE DOLPHINS

GREENIES GREETINGS

ABSOLUTELY DAMNED BLOODY PERFECT !!!

Good evening everyone and welcome to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium, for tonight’s Evostik League Southern Premier Division match.

Tonight we extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters (and any drums/ drummers) of Chesham United and we hope you enjoy your brief stay with us here at the Cozy Stadium.

I’m sitting writing these notes before I venture off to work on Thursday morning and I’m looking at the weather forecast in readiness for Saturday’s trek into Gloucestershire as we travel to Cirencester Town.

‘Light Rain’ it says......hmmm, I just hope Michael Fish isn’t now in charge of online weather forecasting at the BBC. I’ve now got all my fingers and toes crossed that the game goes ahead and we can keep up the head of steam we’ve built up over the past few games.

sloppy goals and making life that little bit more difficult for ourselves.

A brilliant turn out from you guys, with over 500 of you coming out to support the lads in a season’s high attendance of 619. The turnstiles coped well with minimal queuing and plenty of change available allowing speedy entry. We sold out of programmes too which is always nice as a lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into producing each issue so to see Charlie closing the kiosk before kick off is a welcome sight.

I must say I think it was the best atmosphere we’ve had at the ground for a very long time and it really does make such a difference when the away team brings some support with them and this of course allows our fans to raise their game too, not wanting to be outsung on our own patch. It makes me wonder why our visitors this evening do not allow any musical instruments into the Meadow? Do they not like atmosphere? Well that night in early

How do I sum up last Saturday from both a supporter/official of the Club’s point of view? Near on absolutely damned bloody perfect.

The result was spot on, although I do wish we could stop giving teams

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August when we performed a second half miracle, we certainly made some noise (minus the timpani section) and it again went to prove that the lads really do get a buzz from your backing as we somehow managed to come from three down to grab a point.

Tuesday saw us fall at the first hurdle in this season’s Red Insure Cup as we succumbed to another penalty shootout defeat, this time at Division One Central side Royston Town.

The tie was primarily used to give the whole squad the opportunity of game time and it was brilliant to see Theo Davis, David Deeney and Dean Cracknell all return from injury and of course the return to the fold of Ed Adjei, who marked his return with a goal, along with Lorenzo Ferrari, as we came from 2-0 down to finish 2-2 at the end of the ninety minutes.

No extra time so we went straight to penalties and the rest, as they say, is history.

Ok then, please play your part once again tonight and make sure you bring one additional supporter with you to Saturday’s re arranged game with Hereford United here at the Cozy. The lads deserve your support as we look to keep the pressure on Poole.

BE LOUD...BE PROUD...BE A SAINT GREENY

LEWIS HILLIARD FIRES IN THE 3RD AGAINST POOLE TOWN

AWAY DAYS

THE VALLEY STADIUM We visit the Valley Stadium the home of Redditch United on Monday 27th October 2014 for our second return fixture of the season. three goals to one. For some reason as last season we have to visit The Valley Stadium on a midweek Monday night fixture. Having started off like a runaway horse Redditich have now seemed pull in the reins and at the time of writing are a very creditable 9th position of the Southern League Premier Division.

Of course the home fixture earlier in the season saw a very good young Reddith side come out 3-0 winners at Rowley Park, a very well deserved victory by the Reds.

Redditch under the management of Liam Mcdonald had a great season in 2013/14 finishing in 10th position of the Southern League Premier Division. The club also reached the semi final of the Southern League Cup, losing at home to the saints by

Besides beating the Saints their biggest win thus so far this season was an incredible away victory at slough Town just a couple of weeks ago by an amazing score line of 1-7.

The clubs stats so far is as follows: P13 W6 D2 L5 F21 A16 PTS 20 DIRECTIONS TO THE GROUND

BY ROAD Exit junction 2 off M42. 1st exit onto A441 for 2 miles. At roundabout 1st exit onto Birmingham Road (A441) for 1.2 miles. At roundabout 3rd exit

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onto Middlehouse Lane (B4184) for 0.3 miles. At traffic lights (next to fire station) turn left into Birmingham Road 0.2miles. At garage on corner (on right) turn right into Clive Road for 0.3 miles. At roundabout take 1st exit onto Hewell Road for 0.2 miles.

At T junction turn right onto Windsor Street for 0.1 miles. Continue over traffic lights into Bromsgrove Road.

Ground on right at brow of hill.

THE VALLEY STADIUM Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 4RN Adults = £10 Concessions = £6 (Over 60 and Students on production of a valid Student Card) Children under 16 = £2 Capacity: 5000 Wheelchair Access: Yes

OLD ‘FOOTIE’ PROGRAMMES

2010 - Now

PAGE 38 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 39

INTRODUCING

ARTHUR LEE A full back or centre half Arthur excels in either position, Arthur is another player who came through the Peterborough scholarship scheme.

He moved on to Concord Rangers who were at the time playing in the Ryman league Premier Division.

A Saints pre-season friendly against Concord showed us what a very good player Arthur was and after discussions with both Arthur and Concord a transfer was agreed and Arthur became a Saints player at the start of the 2012 season where he played nearly every match at either centre half or left back.

Arthur rejoined the Saints in November 2013 and played just about every game to the end of the season.

He is a regular this season making the left back position his own.

Another young player, Arthur has just turned 22 years of age.

The season saw Arthur start off at again at Concord Rangers who had just gained promotion to the National Conference South division. Arthur found it a little difficult to break into the team and was loaned out a few times before the new management team at the Saints stepped in to bring him back to the club

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 41

GAVIN SHOOTS, OUCH!

MD’S VIEWS

WHAT’S THE POINT? I’ll be honest, I’ve just about given up trying to make sense of the FA. Nothing seems to make much sense when it comes to directives they send through to me that we then have to execute and complete. It may be me, I agree, however I’ve also taken the view that the best way to ensure that the industry you work within is as stable, buoyant and fruitful as possible is to talk to those on the shop floor. If these guys see a future then everything above this level has a chance to succeed.

is that if we use our 3G for youth games then we have to get it tested (By someone they recommend!). So even though I have no space to hire because generally we have two/three games on both a Saturday and a Sunday we still have to get it tested in order to carry on giving the use of the 3G free to the kids to play their games. Is this right? Yes and your going to have to pay £1300 just to get it tested.

‘TESTING’ MY PATIENCE I’ll give you an example. I was sent information telling me that because there was such a backlog of games last year the FA have asked that all 3G pitches be tested so that an accreditation can be issued and this in turn will allow us (St Neots) to go onto an FA register. The idea being that the money we have spent on the test can be recuperated in hire fees. However if you do not get the test done you cannot go onto the register therefor you cannot stage any FA affiliated games on your 3G pitch. Right, so what your telling me

So they had me over a barrel so I got the test done and it failed. The FA have now told me that I have to get some work done to it that will cost around £3500 or in three month’s time the kids that play EJA/Nerf and colts games will have to play on the local fields.

And they want to encourage grassroots and development football.

LIFEBLOOD Non-League and youth football is supposed to be the lifeblood that drives football in this country, cause and effect play a significant role in

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how football is going to be taken forward and yet I feel (as an outside looking in) that the people in charge either don’t care or are unable to see beyond the end of their noses.

All non-league football clubs are up ship stream without a paddle, every single one so why don’t the FA send out a confidential questionnaire to all non-league clubs playing at step 4 and above so that they can get at least some understanding.

Every single penny that is generated by a nonleague clubs (Plus money that is put into the club to prop it up) goes out of the game.

Salary caps and Submission of payroll.

LEE

STEWS VIEWS

NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL. A GOOD STANDARD? Almost every computer-literate football fan has seen Chelmsford City’s ‘worst free-kick ever’ against Hayes and Yeading. If you haven’t seen it, you should watch it?

Chelmsford’s Sam Corcoran goes to take a free-kick in the opposition half but slips horribly, allowing his opponents to break at pace and score. The video clip has since done the social media rounds and become a source of widespread amusement. Coincidentally, this wasn’t Chelmsford’s first 15 minutes of fame of that season.

The Blue Square Bet South side upset League One Colchester in the FA Cup First Round at the start of November 2012— a result that was greeted with amazement and patronising comments in equal measure. How could a lowly nonleague side of players with normal jobs beat a team of professionals? It had to be the mystical ‘magic of the Cup‘ — a suspension of all football logic in the face of an external force.

The majority of the football-loving public only comes into contact with non-league football once or twice a year — the early stages of the FA Cup with its inevitable shocks and an incident like poor Corcoran’s aberration. As such, many people know very little about the realities of the non-league game and seem to mistake the world of the Bet Square,

Ryman and EvoStik leagues for their Sunday League sides.

Football has developed a lot over the last 20 years and the standard of non-league football is higher than ever. Those involved at that level find the portrayal of nonleaguers — as ‘have-a-go heroes’ at best and clownish novices at worst — mystifying and frustrating.

“Non-league football is on a par with League football — there’s not a great difference in terms of talent, but the players also have to go to work from nine to five,”

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Using Chelmsford City defender Mark Haines (pictured below) explanation of a particular match.

“That game against Hayes and Yeading was an away match, so I drove from work to their ground.

We lost 3-0 and then I drove home.

By the time I got back it was 1 a.m. and I knew I had to be up again at 7:30 a.m. for work the next day. It becomes your life.”

Haines was released by Northampton Town after completing their Youth Training Scheme, leaving him with a tough decision to make.

“I sat down and thought ‘can I keep going on with football?’’’ he recalls.

“It’s tough because suddenly you have to face up to getting a job and playing part- time — it feels like moving away from what you dreamed of doing.” However, Haines was pleased with the standard he found in the Bet Square Bet South and feels the gulf in class between the Conference South and League Two simply doesn’t exist. “People just don’t know how good some players are at non-league level,” he insists. “There’s this idea that you just turn up and play, but there’s a

Hugo Langton, who coaches Ryman League South side Herne Bay, points out another common misconception about non-league football. “Armchair football fans will tell you that nonleague football is all kick and rush, but how do they know that? Maybe they should try going to watch a game,” he tells The Positive. “I reckon 85 percent of teams at nonleague level that I’ve seen play good passing football.” In recent years, many League sides have chosen to shop closer to home rather than looking abroad, and Langton strongly believes that there is a wealth of

“JUST BECAUSE PLAYERS ALSO WORK JOBS, IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY AREN’T FIT OR FOCUSED” lot more stress than that — when we aren’t training as a team you also have to stay in shape on your own, which is hard when your job involves sitting all day.”

talent in non-league football. “There just isn’t money outside the Premier League and the Championship and so the pressure is on to find players from non-league teams,” he explains.

“And there are so many examples of players like Charlie Austin and DJ

Campbell who have gone from nonleague to League teams and been brilliant.”

Langton, who also runs the North Kent Football Academy Scouting Network, has been working with non-league players for more than a decade and feels they aren’t given enough respect. “These players commit 45 weeks a year,” he points out. “They train hard, they listen to their coaches and they give everything despite having a job, which is often high-pressured.” “Just because players also work jobs, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t fit or focused. Tonbridge Angels had their FA Trophy game away to Merthyr Tydfil on a weeknight (a round-trip of over 300 miles). But they were all there on that coach raring to go.

That’s real commitment from real footballers” So good for thought on whether or not Non League football is good standard? In the next home programme I’ll be looking at the best ever players to progress from non league to the bright lights of professional football.

Yours Aye Craig

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 47

Scorelines..

12 October 2014 FA Cup Third Round Qualifying A goal on the stroke of half time gave Weymouth a 1-0 victory at Isthmian League Billericay Town and Dorchester Town also went through 1-0 against Isthmian opposition with a strike just after the hour mark defeating visiting Hendon while Evesham United recovered from going behind after just six minutes to win 4-1 at home against Chalfont St Peter.

Shortwood United took a first half lead at Bath City and took the lead for a second time ten minutes before the end before the Conference South side forced a 2-2 draw with just three minutes remaining and Frome Town, ahead after thirteen minutes and again on the stroke of half time, were taken to a replay when Conference South visitors Boreham Wood made it 2-2 five minutes after the interval.

Barton Rovers went out 1-0 at home when Isthmian Premier Canvey Island scored just after the half hour mark and Biggleswade Town conceded two goals in the closing fifteen minutes to lose 2-0 at home to Maidstone United but Chippenham Town, two down at half time, crashed out 5-0 at home when Conference North Hemel Hempstead Town added three more after the break.

Premier Division Despite taking a twelfth minute lead, top of the table Poole Town found themselves two goals behind with eight minutes remaining, and fell to their first defeat of the season when second placed St Neots Town secured a 3-2 home victory and moved to within three points of the visitors while Dunstable Town, who recovered from going behind in the eighth minute, conceded an equaliser twelve minutes from time to draw 2-2 at Corby Town who moved up a place to fourth but Hungerford Town lost ground when a goal on the half hour condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at Bideford.

Truro City took a fifth minute lead but went down to a 4-1 home defeat when Cirencester Town struck four times in nineteen second half minutes and Slough Town levelled on the half hour five minutes after going behind but conceded a second just before the break and went on to suffer a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of visiting Redditch United while Hereford United scored a goal in each half to record a 2-0 home win against Cambridge City.

Paulton Rovers, a goal up at the interval, completed a 3-0 home

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victory over Burnham and Arlesey Town moved out of the bottom three when a goal in each half gave them a 2-0 success at second from last Banbury United.

Division One Central Leaders Kettering Town lost their one hundred percent home record when they conceded a goal a minute before the interval to lose 1-0 against Uxbridge but second placed Potters Bar Town, two ahead in the opening twenty minutes, secured a 4-2 home win over bottom of the table Beaconsfield SYCOB and Hanwell Town, a goal up at the break, completed a 4-1 home success over Royston Town while Bedworth United scored twice in each half to inflict a 4-0 defeat on visiting Aylesbury United.

Godalming Town struck two goals in each half to win 4-0 at Leighton Town and Egham Town completed a 3-0 win at Marlow after scoring twice in the first half but Northwood, having been two goals ahead, had to settle for a 2-2 draw at AFC Hayes and Rugby Town, twice in the lead, were held 2-2 at home

by St Ives Town while Bedford Town, two up at the break, moved out of the bottom three when they secured an emphatic 5-1 success at Aylesbury.

A FLYING RED FERARRI!

ROYSTON TOWN 2 ST NEOTS TOWN 2 (Royston win 4 – 2 on penalties)

14:10:2014 / Red Insure Cup 1st Round / Att 121 / (Harlow) After their historic achievements last season, Saints defence of the Red Insure Cup ended as Royston became the second team this season to eliminate them from a cup competition on penalties.

Saints made nine changes to the starting line-up that had defeated Poole on Saturday and struggled to find any fluency in their play in the first half. Their hosts took the lead after seven minutes with the first meaningful attack of the match as Ryan Ingrey headed home from a left wing cross by Kane Adams.

Captain for the night, Dave Deaney, had blocked an early effort from Jack Bradshaw it was St Neots who took the game to their hosts and dominated for long periods.

And it was Adams again who created the chance that gave Royston their second goal on seventeen minutes, this time being allowed far too much time before he chipped the ball in to the box for Reece Dobson to double the lead.

St Neots failed to test Royston keeper before half time and the closest they came to a goal was a Lorenzo Ferrari shot that hit the side netting, whilst Royston continued to create the better chances.

Greygoose had to be alert to save from Dobson and then just before the break an audacious effort from a full 35 yards by full back Lewis Endacott hit the cross bar.

The second half was a totally different match, and after Saints

Lorenzo Ferrari pulled a goal back after fifty three minutes, cutting in from the right hand side and placing a shot in to the bottom corner of the goal and just seven minutes later Saints were level.

Ed Adjei scored from close range following a cross from Matt Nolan, despite Saints second half dominance, Royston still looked dangerous on the break and Jamie Greygoose saved well from substitute Kaan Fehmi to keep the scores level.

As the half progressed, Ben Ford had a twenty five yard drive saved by keeper Dominic Russo, and then saw a tremendous volley from thirty yards fizz just wide of the post, and it was Royston keeper Russo who remained the busier of the two keepers denying both Jay Davies and Lorenzo Ferrari as Saints pushed for the winner, whilst a shot from distance by Saints substitute Liam George dipped just over the bar.

Royston had one further chance themselves but Ryan Ingrey saw his shot come back off the post.The final whistle meant that for the second time in four weeks it was penalty kicks that decided the outcome of a cup match and, once more, Saints fell at the last hurdle. Josh Bickerstaff and Dean Cracknell both converted their spot kicks but Dave Deaney put Saints second penalty over the bar and keeper Dominic Russo saved low to his left to deny Lorenzo Ferrari, allowing Reece Dobson to score Royston’s fourth penalty and secure victory for the home side.

John Walker

Royston Town

St Neots Town

Russo, Endacott, Adams, Scott Bridges, Bradshaw, Wharton, Lockett, Mentis, Hart, Dobson, Ingrey. Subs: Stuart Bridges (for Mentis 38), Fehmi (for Hart 46), Powell (for Scott Bridges 61), Hammond, Watters. Cautions: Mentis, Scott Bridges, Fehmi, Dobson

Greygoose, Farrell, Davis, Cracknell, Deaney, Bickerstaff, Adjei, Ford, Nolan, Davies, Ferrari. Subs: George (for Adjei 76), Spring, Ryan Frater, Lee, York. Cautions: None

PAGE 50 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 51

MATTHEW SPRING - THE COACH

No doubt a lot of Non-League footballers woke up with a spring in their step on the other week.

After seeing Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy terrorise Manchester United on Sunday lunchtime, who could blame them?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll know Vardy was a still a Non-League player just over two years ago. Until he got his move to the then-Championship Foxes, he’d never kicked a ball in the Football League. Released by his boyhood Sheffield Wednesday as a kid, the 27-year-old’s route to the top has taken him from Stocksbridge Park Steels’ reserves, into their first team before FC Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town. For many, seeing Vardy nonchalantly roll the ball past David De Gea to give Leicester a 4-3 lead on Sunday was a familiar sight. Watching him give teams the runaround was too.

We’d have regular chats in The NLP’s office about what we’d seen him do in games we’d been at. He just made it look so easy. My colleague Stuart Hammonds raved about a performance for Fleetwood at Luton where he ran riot, beating players one-on-one without even needing to touch the ball but purely with the movement of his body.

I’ll always remember one of the coolest finishes I’ve ever seen at Bath City. His star had been rising

long before he played in NonLeague’s top flight as he helped FC Halifax to promotion from the Northern Premier League Premier division. Vardy was box office. A player you would genuinely look forward to watching play. It didn’t take a genius to work out he was going to go at least into the League.

But many within the game knew he was destined for the top. Some even

He’s done it the hard way, he’s grown up and he’s overcome the issues – he had to wear a tag after an assault charge after he got into a fight defending his mate – that maybe delayed his progress. Stocksbridge, FC Halifax and Fleetwood can be rightly proud of everything they did on Vardy’s way to the top. Even before he scored on Sunday, twitter was awash with proud messages.

Clearly Vardy is a special case. But let’s hope his story shows how good players in the lower levels can be, if they’re given a platform.

mentioned England. Yes, even back then. Vardy won Player of the Season at our National Game Awards in 2012 and attended the bash at Stamford Bridge just days after he became Non-League’s first £1m player.

He knew he had a lot of hard work ahead of him. In his first season in the Championship he struggled to make a big impact but last year he became integral.

Sunday’s performance against the mighty Manchester United, his first Premier League start, is hopefully on the beginning of the latest chapter in his career.

PAGE 54 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

The £850m spent by Premier League clubs in the most recent transfer is insane. Marcos Rojo played in the World Cup final for Argentina and cost United £16m. Vardy breezed past him like he was still playing in Sheffield’s County Senior League.

Vardy hasn’t only done his own career wonders – he’s also an inspiration for all young Non-League players who dream big Matt Badcock Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper @SamElliott_NLP @Stuhammonds_NLP

Opposition in CAPS denotes home fixture. Player name in BOLD CAPS denotes goal scorer.

Date

ATT

COMP

R

Pos

2

3

4

Sat 09 Aug

Opposition Hereford United

568

SLP

2-0

7

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Ford

F

Tue 12 Aug

Chesham United

331

SLP

3-3

5

Abbey

Spence

LEE

Spring

F

Sat 16 Aug

WEYMOUTH

312

SLP

2-0

2

Abbey

Powell

LEE

Bickerstaff

F

Tue 19 Aug

REDDITCH UNITED

310

SLP

0-3

9

Abbey

Powell

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 23 Aug

Truro City

503

SLP

3-2

8

Abbey

Spence

LEE

Bickerstaff

Mon 25 Aug

Corby Town

518

SLP

3-1

6

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 30 Aug

PAULTON ROVERS

298

SLP

1-1

7

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Bickerstaff

Sat 06 Sep

Biggleswade Town

301

SLP

2-2

6

Abbey

Spence

Wilson

Bickerstaff

Tue 09 Sep

HISTON

401

SLP

4-0

4

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Farrell

Sat 13 Sep

DEREHAM TOWN

312

FAC

1-1

-

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Spring

Sat 20 Sep

Banbury United

281

SLP

1-1

5

Greygoose

Spence

Lee

Farrell

Tue 30 Sep

Arlesey Town

217

SLP

3-1

2

Greygoose

Spence

Bickerstaff

Hilliard

Sat 04 Oct

BURNHAM

282

SLP

3-1

3

Greygoose

York

Lee

Wilson

Mon 06 Oct

Hitchin Town

291

SLP

4-3

2

Greygoose

York

Lee

Wilson

Sat 11 Oct

POOLE TOWN

619

SLP

3-2

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Wilson

Sat 18 Oct

Cirencester Town

SLP

Tue 21 Oct

CHESHAM UNITED

SLP

Sat 25 Oct

Weymouth

SLP

Mon 27 Oct

Redditch United

SLP

Sat 01 Nov

ILKESTON TOWN

FAT

Sat 08 Nov

Truro City

SLP

Sat 15 Nov

Hungerford Town

SLP

Tue 18 Nov

CAMBRIDGE CITY

SLP

Sat 22 Nov

Bideford

SLP

Sat 29 Nov

SLOUGH TOWN

SLP

Sat 06 Dec

DORCHESTER TOWN

SLP

Sat 13 Dec

Chippenham Town

SLP

Sat 20 Dec

FROME TOWN

SLP

Fri 26 Dec

CORBY TOWN

SLP

Thu 01 Jan

Dunstable Town

SLP

Sat 03 Jan

HEREFORD UNITED

SLP

Sat 10 Jan

Paulton Rovers

SLP

Sat 17 Jan

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

SLP

Sat 24 Jan

Histon

SLP

Sat 31 Jan

BANBURY UNITED

SLP

Sat 07 Feb

ARLESEY TOWN

SLP

Sat 14 Feb

Burnham

SLP

Sat 21 Feb

HITCHIN TOWN

SLP

Sat 28 Feb

Poole Town

SLP

Sat 07 Mar

CIRENCESTER TOWN

SLP

Sat 14 Mar

HUNGERFORD TOWN

SLP

Sat 21 Mar

Cambridge City

SLP

Sat 28 Mar

BIDEFORD

SLP

Sat 04 Apr

Slough Town

SLP

Mon 06 Apr

DUNSTABLE TOWN

SLP

Sat 11 Apr

Dorchester Town

SLP

Sat 18 Apr

CHIPPENHAM TOWN

SLP

Sat 25 Apr

Frome Town

SLP

PAGE 56 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

F

T

Player name in these colours denotes substitute

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

Frater (R)

Hoyte

Spring

Davies

Dillon

Hilliard

Powell

NOLAN

FRATER (N)

15

Frater (R)

Hoyte

DAVIES

Ford

Nolan

Hilliard

Powell

FRATER (N)

Frater (R)

Hoyte

DAVIES

Spring

Nolan

Ford

Frater (N)

Spence

Hilliard

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

Frater (N)

Ford

Roberts

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER (N) 2

Ford

Powell

Roberts

Ferrari

Farrell

Frater

Hoyte

Ford

Spring

Frater (N)

ROBERTS 2

Farrell

FERRARI

Davies

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

ROBERTS

Farrell

Ford

Ferrari

Wilson

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Powell

Deeney

Nolan

Farrell

FRATER

Hoyte

DAVIES

Powell

Nolan

ROBERTS 2

Hilliard

Wilson

Ferrari

Bickerstaff

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Wilson

NOLAN

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Farrell

Powell

Frater

Hoyte

DAVIES

Wilson

Nolan

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

THORNE

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Wilson

Ferrari

Spring

Nolan

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS 3

Hilliard

Thorne

Nolan

Peacock

THORNE

Hoyte

Farrell

Spring

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Hilliard

Ford

NOLAN

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS 2

HILLIARD

Ford

Nolan

Thorne

Ferrari

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 57

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION / 18.10.14

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

01

Poole Town

14

11

2

1

28

7

+21

35

02

St Neots Town

15

9

5

1

35

21

+14

32

03

Corby Town

15

9

3

3

26

17

+9

30

04

Weymouth

13

9

2

2

27

17

+10

29

05

Dunstable Town

15

8

4

3

32

21

+11

28

06

Hungerford Town

15

7

4

4

20

11

+9

25

07

Redditch United

14

7

2

5

28

18

+10

23

08

Truro City

16

7

2

7

27

28

-1

23

09

Cirencester Town

15

5

7

3

31

17

+14

22

10

Hitchin Town

13

6

2

5

21

17

+4

20

11

Chippenham Town

13

6

2

5

20

17

+3

20

12

Slough Town

15

5

5

5

25

29

-4

20

13

Chesham United

13

5

4

4

22

14

+8

19

14

Cambridge City

15

5

4

6

24

22

+2

19

15

Biggleswade Town

13

5

4

4

17

15

+2

19

16

Hereford United

16

4

5

7

18

26

-8

17

17

Paulton Rovers

14

3

5

6

17

20

-3

14

18

Dorchester Town

14

4

2

8

19

25

-6

14

19

Bideford

15

4

2

9

30

44

-14

14

20

Arlesey Town

14

4

2

8

14

28

-14

14

21

Burnham

14

3

2

9

22

34

-12

11

22

Frome Town

13

3

2

8

16

33

-17

11

23

Banbury United

15

3

1

11

14

36

-22

10

24

Histon

13

1

3

9

10

26

-16

6

PAGE 58 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CHESHAM UNITED ISSUE 08

Showcasing an incredible limited edition collection

by Katie Jade Dobson - available to buy online.

www.ilovemywalls.co.uk

Manager: Gary King Assistant Managers: Liam George & Matt Spring

Manager: Andy Lease Assistant Manager: John Meakes

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers

Paul Bastock

Shane Gore

Jamie Greygoose

Haydn Dodge

Defenders

Defenders

Josh Bickerstaff

Laurie Stewart

Ryan Frater

Daniel Brathwaite

Gavin Hoyte (C)

Alex Brown

Jordan Ivey-Ward

Darren Purse

Arthur Lee

Jeanmal Prosper

Max York

Tommy Fletcher

Midfielders

David Lynn

Ollie Thorne

Midfielders

Dean Cracknell

Ashley Smith

Jay Davies

Andy Ballard

Matt Spring

Jack Mace

Ben Farrell

Ryan Towner

Lorenzo Ferrari

Dave Fotheringham

Ben Ford

Stephan Hamilton-Forbes

Lewis Hilliard

Richard Graham

Edd Adjei

Mark Bell

Forwards

Josh Cooper

Bruce Wilson

Forwards

Chris Dillon

Inih Effiong

Nathan Frater

Simon Thomas

Matt Nolan

Ryan Blake

Drew Roberts

Mark Nwokeji

Nat Peacock

Eman Melford-Rowe

Colours Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours Burgundy Shirts, Shorts, Socks

The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Referee: John Steel Assistants: Daniel O’Sullivan / Paul McVey Next Home Game: St Neots Town v Ilkeston FC F.A Trophy 1st Round Qualifying / Saturday 1st November / KO 15:00

As a Club we support Grass Roots Football and stand firm against racism within football, visit www.thefa.com for more information on playing your part.