St Neots Town Vs Dunstable Town

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE £2.00

Southern League Premier Division V

Dunstable Town Issue 26

08 Posh Entertainment / Read the match report when we entertained Peterborough United in a recent friendly.

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View From The Dugout / Steve reviews recent performances

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Many happy returns! / Saints No.1 fan Ryan Bolton turns 21!

Where Are They Now? / Looking back at some famous names

Owner Mike Kearns

Club Secretary Gary Wilson

Sports Therapist Sam Palmer

Club Photographer Claire Howes

Pitchcare Working Turf

Chairman Mike Kearns

Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard

Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas

Design & Marketing Blue Prawn

Managing Director Lee Kearns

Life President John Walker

Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green

Print XL Press Limited

Director Iain Parr

Team Officials Darren Plowman (Goalkeeping Coach)

Football Manager David Batch Assistant Manager Steve Eastaugh

Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt

St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley Club Merchandise Linda Walters Programme Editor Mark Davies

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Programme Sales Charlie Green Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson

INSIDE

Issue 26 V Dunstable Town Southern League Premier Division

Also Inside 06 Action Replay 13 Mascot Feature 16 Chairmans’ Views 20 Read All About It

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22 The Beautiful Game 30 Pull-Out Poster 32 Greenies Greetings

MDs Views / It’s a matter of opinion this week

A Giant of Football / A ‘must read’ on Tommy Lawton

36 Away Days 48 Leagues Review 50 Match Report- Bideford 53 Season 2014/15 Fixtures Matrix 54 The Non-League Paper 56 Season 2014/15 Statistics

24 Todays’ Visitors / A warm welcome to the Duns!

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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58 Premier Division League Table 60 Home & Opposition Squads

Introducing Lee Clarke / Goalscoring midfielder - wears a beard Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time United Counties League Premier Division champions, 2 times Division One champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 2 times Metropolitan League Champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 1 time Professional Cup winners, 1 time South Midlands League Champions, 1 time

Huntingdonshire League Champions, 4 times Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Winners, 37 times Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners, 2 times

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 03

By Steve Eastaugh Good afternoon everyone and welcome to all that are Dunstable Town FC for todays fixture.

With David away on a short break that was arranged well before he took over the management reins means that I have had to take the team for their last Match against Bideford. Not that Dave was really absent as he was on the phone for hours from I would assume the top of some mountain whilst skiing.

So all was set up the usual way with just the couple of changes as we thought both Brett and Eby were very good against Peterborough United the previous Tuesday.

We try to watch each team we play as and when we can but there are some like Bideford of whom we had to rely on match reports and word of mouth. They were a team in form that’s for sure not letting in many goals lately and having a great away win at maybe Champions elect Poole Town. We did notice that they changed their playing formation against Poole favouring a 3-5-2 set up of which according to the reports was the beating of Poole.

GALE FORCE WIND A blistering gale force wind at Rowley Park blowing straight down the pitch also gave us some thought. So what was the Bideford formation going to be and how best we deal with the gale force wind.

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There was no way they would set up with a 3-5-2 formation against our game and they must have looked at videos of some of our previous matches, Videos being a victim of our quest to be the most professional club out there.

So we had a good idea of how they were going to play, next of course was the wind, if we won the toss what should we do, we decided to kick against the wind in the first half see what Bideford were made of and hopefully snatch a goal against the wind but priority was not to concede.

We would take our chances in the second half where we thought we could not only see Bideford play first hand but tactically be aware as to what was needed to win this match.

The match went just as we had planned with us putting big Matt Mitchel-King in the centre midfield role with instructions to attack every ball coming at us first

MATCH WINNER - LEWIS HILLIARD

half, matt did his job superbly and we really made Bideford look quite ordinary and had enough chances to win the match handsomely.

and finally third if we can and only maximum points of the remaining fixtures will give us a real chance of achieving that goal.

3 POINTS GAINED Three points is what we set out for and with all of the rest of the top eight teams with the exception of Poole Town who scored a very late penalty none of them won, so three points gained and at least another two points advantage to us.

That’s our aim of course but we never know just what will happen as did against Cambridge City where we were just not our usual selves, it wasn’t complacency because there was just too much at stake just a bad day at the office of which

can happen to any team even the very best as Bradford reminded our Chairman and his beloved Chelsea.

Anything can happen in football, so onto todays match and we will as usual give it our very best and in the end that’s all we can do.

This is football the best game in the world.

Steve

We have been told that in this league don’t be surprised by the results come ten to five on a Saturday evening as there will be many shocks every week, That week was no exception.

KEEP CLIMBING Our aim is of course cementing that fifth play off position and then fourth

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 05

OUR FIRST EASTER MONDAY MATCH IN THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE Evo-Stik Southern League Central Division (9/April/2012)

St Neots Town

1-2

Just two points out of their last nine in the final run in for promotion can hardly be seen as good form. So what has gone wrong? The most obvious answer lies in the ‘goals scored’ column.

Until recently St Neots were averaging almost three per match and now just one goal in three matches seems to point to the problem. So with Slough also having an end of season stutter St Neots retained the divisional leadership on goal difference but must now win all three remaining matches to guarantee the title. Shane Tolley has chosen a bad moment to be injured because he might have provided the variation and missing spark but despite being at the end of a very tiring season the challenge to produce one final determined push is obvious. Biggleswade desperate themselves for the points to achieve a play off place had to play for almost 70 minutes with ten men after Alaa Oujda was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in nine first half minutes but they persevered and deservedly won after managing to contain St Neots best efforts.

A late injury to defensive lynch pin Chris Hope looks like robbing St Neots of their ‘Mr Consistency’ for the next trip to Fleet but it will still be at the other end of the field where

Biggleswade Town the prime concern lies. Visiting keeper Anthony Elder broke St Neots hearts with three breathtaking saves in as many minutes as St Neots tried to make their extra man count and grab a point but in the final analysis on the day St Neots were not good enough. Biggleswade made a blistering start to the match with Alex O’Brien volleying narrowly over the bar in the first minutes before taking the lead just four minutes later.

A Brett Donnelly shot was deflected for a corner which was curled in under the crossbar at the near post and when Michael Duggan mishandled Donnelly pounced to volley home from close range. St Neots replied with Ben Mackey seeing his header cleared off the line by Nathan Field but St Neots defence looked uncharacteristically edgy letting in Craig Daniel for a free header from six yards that he skied over the bar after seven minutes.

However four minutes later he more than made up for his miss doubling the visitors’ lead with a stunning shot just under the bar from 25 yards that gave Duggan no chance. The dismissal of Oujda followed but St Neots never showed their one man advantage in the first half. Pearson Mwanyongo had one shot deflected and another saved and Ender saved bravely at the feet of Layne Eadie.

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Then after 38 minutes another Mwanyongo effort was blocked and the ball fell to Stefan Moore who claimed St Neots first goal in 224 minutes! The half ended with Duggan tipping a Daniel effort over the bar.

St Neots sent on Lewis Hilliard for Callum Stewart after the break and with a half hour left they pushed Dan Jacob up as an additional attacker with just three at the back. Konadu and Mackey had shots saved and with Rashid Kamara on for Eadie and Jordan Gent replacing the limping Hope St Neots made their final push in the last ten minutes. In one three minutes spell Ender made outstanding saves to deny Kamara, Gent and Jacob and that was it.

Biggleswade escaped with all three points and St Neots were left for the third successive match wondering what might have been.

St Neots: Duggan, Stewart, Jacob, Sear, Steer, Hope, Mwanyongo, Konadu, Moore, Mackey, Eadie.

Subs: Hilliard (for Stewart 46 mins), Gent (for Hope 72 mins), Kamara (for Eadie 72 mins) Webb & Greene.

Man of Match: Adrian Sear Attendance: 589

u,

ST NEOTS TOWN 2 PETERBOROUGH UNITED 4 Tuesday 24th March 2015 - Kick Off: 19.45 / Friendly Fixture / Attendance 371

Posh big signing Marcus Maddison scored two and made the other two as a very strong Peterborough United side beat the Saints in a hastily arranged friendly.

A match where both side were able to get players much needed match time.

Posh goalkeeper Dion Henry made the first save of the evening, beating away a downward header from Dean Cracknell before Christian Burgess planted a header wide at the other end after a decent delivery from Marcus Maddison.

and it was a fine individual effort from Maddison who chopped inside the full back and unleashed a fierce drive into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of Greygoose.

The Saints gaining confidence and had a great spell where they pushed their higher league opponents onto the back foot.

Maddison volleyed wide on his right-foot from 20-yards on eight minutes after a good link-up with David Norris. The Saints had the ball in the back of the net on 12 minutes through Ferrari but the effort was chalked off for offside.

Maddison was denied by the legs of saints goalkeeper Jamie Greygoose who deputized for saints regular keeper Paul Bastock and from the resulting corner, Burgess stabbed over the bar.

It was 2-0 to Posh on 25 minutes

Jonny Edwards replaced Vassell on 69 minutes as Posh made their first change of the evening. Saints made wholesale changes to give players game time but it was The Posh substitute Edwards making an instant impact as he was shoved to the ground inside the box and Maddision stepped up to slam home the penalty for his second of the night.

Posh made it 4-1 on 76 minutes as this time, Maddison claimed his second assist of the night as his glorious pass picked out Anderson and his deflected shot found the back of the net.

The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes and it was a simple header for Kyle Vassell who nodded home following a fine cross from Maddison on the left.

Oztumer fired wide from 25-yards moments later after finding a pocket of space in between the Saints midfield and the strikers.

lengthy treatment he was back on his feet.

Maddison the posh star of the night fired a free-kick into the side-netting on 84 minutes after Anderson was felled.

Just after the half-hour, the Saints got a return for this pressure and reduced the arrears as AdebayoRowling was penalised for a push in the box and Lewis Hilliard coolly dispatched the penalty.

Nathan Frater fired wide of the target from 20-yards on 42 minutes after linking well with Ferrari. A nasty clash of heads saw Burgess spend time on the deck on 51 minutes, but after

On 87 minutes, the Saints grabbed a deserved second goal as a corner kick was missed by Henry and Ryan Frater nodded home from close-range.

A great work out for both sides, a game of two halves of which the posh came out winners by the score of 2-1 in each of the 45 minutes.

John Walker

St Neots Town

Peterborough United

Greygoose, Tann, Wilkinson, (Bickerstaff) Cracknell,(Mitchel-King) R. Frater, Ward, Hilliard, (Marango) Wilson, N. Frater, (Viera) Ferrari, Longden. Unused Subs: None

Henry, Adebayo-Rowling, Luto, Santos, Burgess (sub Marshall 78min), Beautyman, H. Anderson, Norris, Vassell (sub Edwards 69min), Oztumer (sub Friend 78min), Maddison. Unused Subs: Mclean, Maslen-Jones.

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 09

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Last Saturday saw Chelsea fan Johnathan Lovitt-Edwards (8) be Club Mascot for the day.

On a windy day he proudly walked the team out and celebrated his favourite player Lewis Hilliard scoring the only goal against Bideford!

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Mascot feature Mascot Fact File Name: Archie Shotter Age: 6 Favourite St Neots Player: Lewis Hilliard Who do you play for?

St Neots u7’s What position do you play in?

Midfield Who do you support? Millwall What do you want to be when older?

Footballer Favourite Food: Pizza Favourite Television Programme: Inspector Gadget Do you have any pets? Not yet

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

LORENZO FERRARI

THE CHAIRMANS’ VIEWS

We Are So Close Now! Good afternoon on this Bank Holiday Monday feast of football. A warm welcome to Dunstable Town their Officials, players and Supporters for todays fixture I hope you enjoy the day but go home pointless as we very much need the points.

Well who would have thought that the Easter period was here and we still had something to play for in the league this season. Because of printing deadlines I am writing these notes before our very tough fixture at Slough Town. A ground where we will have to play very well to take anything from.

Our previous fixture against todays opponents Dunstable last new years day was the first match under the management of Dave Batch and his team, coming out winners by three goals to one on the day, and really we have not looked back since that win. I remember we were just about to get docked six points because of Herefords demise which would put us back to tenth position in the league table.

Not a very nice present to start the new year with now considering we were the only club to lose sixe points it was a very hard pill to swallow, but that is in the past and we have made up the ground since then to push ourselves into firth place clear by three very valuable points.

So with just 5 games to go (Including the Slough match) we are in a very good position to gain a play off spot.

Finishing fifth should give us an away fixture against Corby Town I would think, not too far to travel and we have won there this season so not bad at all, however we are trying to achieve our next goal if you like and that is to finish in third position that would give us a home fixture in the semi final. We feel that we do have a real chance of that as only Redditch have a better goal difference than us, so it could all come down to the last day and our away fixture against an in form Frome team.

To be honest does it really matter just who we play in the play offs providing we get there? I certainly don’t mind anyone as I think we are the form side in this league and having strengthened the squad in the new year was money well spent.

At least we have a chance and our season is not dead until maybe the last day of the season.

Our last home fixture was against a Bideford team that had won their last four matches with the highlight an

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away victory against league favorites Poole Town just the previous week.

We gave them every respect as we do all teams but I just knew we would come out winners because this team just does not give anything away at the moment, clean sheets are now the call of the day where in the first half of the season it was we scored loads and they scored more against us.

On to today’s fixture and after this we are down to just the final three games to the end of the season.

What ever happened against Slough Town or today we are used to seeing some very surprising results in this league every Saturday so its not over as they say till the fat lady sings Our nerves are seriously on edge the tension is frightening we just want to get to the winning post if we can.

Who would have it any other way? Well I would like being nine points clear with two games to go would have been nice.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL Mike

WHERE

ARE THEY

NOW

?

We look back on some famous n what they are doing in their life

JIM WHITLEY Jim Whitley made his name as a busy midfielder with Manchester City and Wrexham, until a serious knee injury halted his career in 2006.

Yet far from allowing his world to implode, the 32-yearold has re-invented himself as an all-singing, all-dancing stage star; having made his bow at Christmas as Nat King Cole, Whitley can now be seen treading the boards as Sammy Davis Jr in tribute act The Rat Pack’s Back.

“While football has been my first love, the arts have followed in tandem; I went to the same school – Bryn Alyn in Wrexham – as Robbie Savage and while he was always playing football, I spent some of my time in the school choir and I played the flute. Inevitably I would get some stick, invariably from Sav, but as I grew up and football came to the fore, my singing was reserved for a drunken night in front of the karaoke machine. Yet it surfaced again last year when a local girl recorded a song about Wrexham and the players were invited to do backing vocals at a nearby studio.

I enjoyed being in such an environment, to the extent that I was invited back by the producer. I’d been listening to a lot of Sinatra at the time, so we laid down a couple of tracks and within a couple of weeks he had me performing Lady Is A Tramp, Fly Me To The Moon and Come Fly With Me in front of 40 at Rhyl Theatre. Through word of mouth, I found myself performing in clubs, weddings and, indeed, at Wrexham’s 130th anniversary celebrations. In those early performances the nerves were overwhelming – give me 30,000 fans at Maine Road any time!

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But my big break came through my brother-in-law, Dave Simpson, who works in theatre. His friend, Stephen Leatherland, owns Theatre Productions, who needed someone to play Nat King Cole for a show called Christmas Crooners. Dave put my name forward and having heard a sample CD, Stephen put me up for audition. I was handed the part – even if my American accent sounded more Glaswegian! Being thrown into the deep end was, in hindsight, the best approach. I tried to learn Nat’s mannerisms and style as much as possible, but the good thing about the show was that it was as much about the banter between songs as it was any individual performance, and that took the heat off me a little. We toured from Glenrothes to Torquay, followed by one in Ireland, and it was a fantastic, if hectic, experience. I grew into the role as we went along and was then handed the role of Sammy Davis Jr in The Rat Pack’s Back which I duly accepted.

This is a more diverse production; the show is choreographed, so there’s a lot of tap-dancing as well as singing and interaction with the crowd. My wife Helen can tap, so she’s helped in that respect, but again, it’s been a case of being thrown in the deep end and trying to immerse myself with the rest of the cast, many of whom were trained in the West End. As a corporate entity, we often perform in front of massive audiences – for instance, the other week we played at a Bar Mitzvah in front of 800 people – and it’s an on-going project so I will appear at different venues as Sammy Davis Jr throughout the year.

But I haven’t given up all hope of playing; I’m hoping to train with the kids at either Macclesfield or Stockport soon and that will give me a indication of where I stand. If it’s not possible to continue then it won’t be the end of the world – as one door closes, another has already begun to open.”

us names and see fe after football.

CARLTON PALMER As a telescopic-legged midfielder he was hot property in the early 1990’s, now after calling time on his playing and management career, Carlton Palmer is making the most of his lifelong passion for bricks and mortar with his internet estate agency.

I’ve always dabbled in property and when I broke into the West Brom side as an 18-year-old I bought my first house.

Everyone else was buying cars and wondered what the hell I was doing, but 18 months later I sold it and made a 40 grand profit.

Over the years I’ve built up a portfolio of property in the UK and abroad but when I tried to sell my house in England about 18 months I just couldn’t get my head around the costs involved and the service I was being offered. In the end the missus told me to stop moaning and do something about it so I set up an internet-based estate agency called ‘The Home Game’.

We’ve been going just over a year and we’re doing ok.

We’ve just moved into new offices and if I can get the concept to work in Sheffield I’ll franchise it across the country. The main battle is changing people’s perceptions.

Like anywhere, there’s a cartel in Sheffield with two major estate agents but we’re getting there. Bill Gates reckons that anyone who underestimates the power of the internet will be out of business within 20 years, and I agree with him.

WHERE

ARE THEY

NOW

?

The costs of moving a house these days are just outrageous and it’s always the people at the bottom that get clobbered so we’re trying to work with everyone, from first-time buyers to people selling houses at the top end of the market.

I’ve just been in Dubai where I was doing some work covering the Premiership for Showtime Television and coming back here does make you realise how expensive it has become to live in this country. I filled my car up this morning and it cost me 90 quid, I mean 90 bloody quid, it’s just ridiculous, so it’s not just property prices that have gone through the roof.

Football has gone the same way – if you look at the league tables at the end of the season, by and large the teams at the top will have the huge wage bills and those struggling at the bottom will be the ones who are lagging behind financially.

When I was boss at Stockport with Kevin Richardson we came in and the wage bill was astronomical. The club was in five million quid worth of debt and getting by on average attendances of less that 5000.

We came in reduced the wage bill to £1.1 million and with a bunch of kids managed to finish eight points off the play-offs. Then the club was taken over and after seven or eight games we were out on our ears. I fought for a year to get what I was owed – the League Managers Association told me to accept a month’s salary, I told them to clear off and I eventually got paid for the remainder of my contract.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / 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.

PAULTON ROVERS Nick Bunyard, manager of Paulton Rovers, has added experience and youth to his squad.

With the loss of Brandon Barnes and Mike Bryant to New Zealand, Darren Jefferies to Sweden and Dean Evans to Weymouth, coupled with suspensions and injuries the squad has become thin of late so manager Bunyard has secured two new signings. Danny Wring (pictured) joins from league rivals Bideford, having had a previous brief spell on loan with Rovers where his opportunities were very limited.

Wring was a former youngster with Bristol City and has also had spells with Torquay United, Team Bath, Mangotsfield United, Weston-superMare, Newport County, Chippenham Town, Yate Town, Clevedon Town and Bridgwater Town. His experience in midfield will be needed for the final run in. Zayn Alim also joins having impressed in training and looks a terrific prospect for the future. He has previously played this season for Cribbs and Hengrove Athletic in the Toolstation Western League.

CAMBRIDGE CITY Cambridge City and Southern Division One Central outfit St Ives Town have announced a

groundshare agreement that will see the Lilywhites play their home games at the Pro Edge Stadium for season 2015/16. The agreement sees City move from their current base at Histon FC to St Ives for initially one season whilst their new stadium at Sawston is built. The Southern League has approved the move and with City’s existing groundshare at Bridge Road ending on 31st May the club will then move into an upgraded Westwood Road stadium. City chairman Kevin Satchell said: “Our agreement with Histon allowed for us to negotiate an extended stay but we felt it wise to also pursue other options. “With St Ives having facilities already at a Southern League standard together with the town benefiting from excellent transport links for our supporters inclusive of being well served by the guided bus, it became apparent that any move there was certainly possible.” The move to the Pro Edge Stadium will see City have their second temporary home after planning permission for a housing development at their former historic Milton Road site was approved two years ago. The new stadium project at Sawston remains on schedule with City hoping to move into their new home at some point next summer.

DUNSTABLE TOWN Former Rushden & Diamonds and Chesham United midfielder Danny Talbot has been appointed as player/ assistant-manager Dunstable Town.

The Blues recently appointed Tony

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Fontanelle as player-manager and he moved swiftly to bring in the 31-year-old son of former Arsenal and England midfielder Brian Talbot.

Formerly also with Cambridge City and Potters Bar Town, Talbot was highly influential in Hemel Hempstead Town’s Southern Premier Division championshipwinning campaign last year. He joined the Tudors from Chesham in the 2012/13 season and made 113 appearances for Hemel – thirty of them this season – before returning to his former employers. He returned to The Meadow last month, but his stint back with Chesham was shortlived, though, with Talbot named as assistant to Dunstable’s new manager Tony Fontenelle last week.

BURNAM FC Premier Division strugglers Burnham have signed goalkeeper Brendan Hazlett from Southern Division One Central side Beaconsfield SYCOB, with forward Charlie Losasso (pictured) moving in the opposite direction.Twenty-threeyear-old Hazlett had only recently signed for SYCOB after being on the books at Vanarama Conference South side Concord Rangers. He had moved to the Beachboys from

Ryman League Premier Division side Hendon in November, having been with the Greens since August 2014. He was previously with Loughborough University in the Midland Alliance and has also appeared for Midland League Division One sides Southam United and Atherstone United as well as Southern Division One South & West outfit Stratford Town. Losasso came through the ranks at Reading and had a loan spell with Salisbury City in the Conference during the 2011/12 season, playing three times for the Whites, and also spent time on loan with Whitehawk, then in the Ryman League, the following season. He then signed for AFC Bournemouth in September 2013 after being released by the Royals The 22-year-old was released by the Cherries last season and had a successful spell on loan with then Conference South rivals Dorchester Town last season.

ARLESEY TOWN Arlesey Town have signed young striker Saul Williams from neighbours Hitchin Town. Williams signed for the Canaries in November from Vanarama Conference South side Hayes & Yeading United. He is a tricky and pacey wide man who has made first-team appearances earlier in the season at Hayes & Yeading.

The 20-year-old was originally on the books at Tottenham Hotspur. He was released in

the summer of 2012 and signed for Conference side Forest Green Rovers. Whilst on Rovers` books, he had loan spells with Oxford City and Paulton Rovers before joining Hayes & Yeading on a permanent basis in August.

HISTON FC Brian Page, manager Histon, has added striker Geoff Mitchell to his squad ahead of Redditch United’s visit to The Glassworld Stadium tomorrow. Mitchell has signed from league rivals Arlesey Town and completed the move before the player registration deadline. Stutes` supporters will remember Mitchell from the recent game against Arlesey at The Glassworld Stadium and Page made his move for the 24-year-old soon after. “Geoff is a real handful for defenders as we know only too well,” said Page. “He’s 6`5” tall, powerful and strong and gets in there where it matters in the box. He hasn’t had many games recently so we need to work on his fitness but he has real pace as well to bring to the team and will give us a physical presence up front that we’ve been missing. He’s a great addition to the squad and I’m delighted to have got a deal done with him.” Mitchell had previous spells with Redbridge, Oxford City, St Albans City and Canvey Island before signing for Arlesey earlier this season. Meanwhile, Page confirmed

that skipper Stuart Wall could miss the rest of the season after fracturing a bone in his foot during Tuesday’s 6-5 win over Chesham United.

“We’re waiting on the results of a scan now but it doesn’t look too good at the moment. Stuart’s been superb for us this season so he will be a big loss and with Evan Key also likely to remain out for a while we are a little stretched at the back, but we have other options so we will have to reorganise and deal with it.” Page also confirmed that Lewis McDonald has signed for Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Godmanchester Rovers. “Macca wanted regular football and I can’t promise him that at the moment so we agreed that he sign with Matty Hanniver over at Godmanchester on dual registration. “He’s a good lad to have around and is 100% dedicated and professional, we all wish him every success.”

TRURO CITY Truro City have confirmed that left-back Danny Greenslade has been recalled back to his parent club, Vanarama Conference outfit Bristol Rovers. Greenslade appeared nineteen times for the White Tigers, scored one goal, made four assists and was awarded no less than three man of the match awards.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 21

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

FANS DO THE FUNNIEST THINGS “On the pitch, On the pitch, On the pitch”. No, not us, we’re not allowed, even if it was to celebrate a superb promotional campaign or remonstrate at being relegated.

We simply should not encroach onto the playing surface at any time.

Perhaps that’s why we use other items to put our message across to the players or the board, or the opposing fans. Most of us, at some point, have been guilty of throwing something onto the pitch, whether it’s in anger (your scrunched up meat pie foil) or in celebration (your scarf, hoping your favourite player will wear it around his neck).

There are, of course, some really bizarre items that make their way onto the greenery. The Blackpool fans, only the other day against Burnley made their feelings know with a shower of Tennis Balls and Tangerines. The Blackpool fans were angry at the club owner Karl Oyston’s lack of investment in the club. The inspiration for the tennis balls came from a previous protest by fans of Swiss teams Luzern and Basel Their fans had stopped play by lobbing tennis balls onto the pitch in protest against their kick-off time being moved so that TV coverage could be shown Roger Federer tennis game in 2010. However, looking back at the Tennis schedule

on the day Blackpool played Burnley, there was no evidence of any tennis game that day, so that’s a mystery to me as to why they used tennis balls!? The Tangerines is obvious though, Blackpool are nicknamed the Tangerines so that makes sense. Having said that, there were a few Satsuma’s and Clementines on the playing surface so perhaps a name change may be on the cards? Coincidentally, Hull City were embroiled in a name change fiasco this season and their fans have also been involved in the tennis ball pitch shower too. In the late 1990’s Hull were owned by David Lloyd (Ex-Tennis Pro) and he wanted to merge the club. The Tiger’s fans were having none of it and threw their tennis balls at Hulls away trip to Bolton to demonstrate their displeasure at Lloyd.

There have been some very strange things thrown onto football pitches over the years and no doubt others will follow. Some make sense, in the fact we can understand the message they attempt to convey, [not that it’s sensible to throw anything onto the pitch – it can be dangerous!] however, some items just make no sense at all sometimes and can be incredibly bizarre!

In 1988 after Paul Gascoine had left Newcastle to play for Tottenham, he was pelted with Mars Bars by the Newcastle fans on his return to

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St.James’ Park, the SportsDirect. com stadium, the Sports Direct Arena or whatever it’s called these days. Anyhow, what was the reason for the strange missiles? Gazza’s reasoning was that he said in an interview once ‘I love Mars Bars’.

The Newcastle fans reasoning was that he had put on a few pounds/ stones and accompanied the missiles with chants of “you fat b******”.

Other than a hand grenade being thrown onto the pitch at Millwall when they entertained Brentford in 1966, and the half a dead cat (yes, just half of it) being thrown over the Luton away stand during their game at Charlton in 1982, our incidents are quite calm! Compare them with things thrown onto the pitch abroad and they are normal! By far the funniest / strangest item to make it’s way to the pitch was a car door. This happened during a world cup warm-up game between New Zealand and Chile in 2002. It wasn’t thrown onto the pitch as such. A fan legged it onto the pitch carrying the car door – who knows why? What made it funnier was that at the end of the game the PA announcer gave a message to the Chilean fans ‘not to storm the pitch’ and ‘do not bring car parts onto the pitch’.

Enjoy the game today!

ADE

TODAY’S VISITORS

DUNSTABLE TOWN

After earning promotion as Central Division Champions in 2013/14 The Duns have struggled to establish themselves at Step Three.

Today we welcome to our visitors for our penultimate league engagement in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division this season. They are the players, Directors and supporters of Dunstable Town and we extend to them our usual warm welcome to the Cozy Stadium for the first time.

Our first meeting with Dunstable was on New Years Day and will be remembered with some pleasure

by St Neots Town. The result and performance marked a remarkably successful start for our new Manager David Batch just recruited from AFC Sudbury. Just 48 hours after his appointment he found himself selecting his first St Neots side – from the only twelve available first team players. Injury and illness had reduced the squad to the bare bones to the extent that three dual registered players had to be imported from the Saints to make up the bench for this match. With so little choice available the focus was on tactics and Mr Batch came up with a fairly innovative 4-3-3

line up for the first half when his side were battling a head wind and this settled the side into a comfortable routine that produced chances up front and a solid base at the back, and a 3-1 victory.

However now a little more about our visitors who arrive here sat in 14th place in the table prior to last Saturday’s round of matches.

They like us have had a change in management since the start of the season and look set to finish around mid-table which was what our lads achieved in their first season at Step Three. We now have Nathan Frater in our squad recruited from Dunstable and he scored against his former Club on our league meeting and will be looking to repeat that feat this afternoon. Finally do not forget our final home league fixture here on Saturday week when Chippenham Town will be our visitors.

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CLUB HISTORY It would appear that Dunstable Town first saw the light of day in October 1883. On 2nd January 1894, Mr. GH Barford of Luton Town wrote to all known clubs in the county, and invited them to a meeting in the Cowper Arms Coffee Tavern, Luton.

The meeting, held on January 16th 1894, was for the purpose of deciding if it were possible to form a County Association, which became necessary due to a recent FA stipulation. Nine clubs turned up, a Mr. White and a Mr. Bull representing Dunstable. A month later the County Association was formed, with Luton Town, Bedford Town, Markyate and Dunstable Town. Although detailed history is very sketchy for the next few years, the club was “re-awakened” in 1950 and Dunstable enjoyed a relatively safe first season in the Metropolitan League, finishing 11th in a league of 16 teams. With the ever-expanding Metropolitan League size, Dunstable’s end-of-season position got better

Year founded: 1883 Nickname: The Duns Chairman: John McLoughlin

Website: dunstabletownfc.org.uk Stadium: Creasey Park Capacity: 3,200

Previous Meetings: 2013/14 Dunstable 0-3 St Neots 2014/15 Dunstable 1-3 St Neots

and better. Whilst records are unclear as to the final position and results of the majority of games, the 1965-66 season saw Dunstable promoted to the Southern League. Dunstable were to remain in the Southern League, and climb into the Premier before long. The club was then shut down in the 1975-76 season. Dunstable Football Club was formed to take over the fixtures of Dunstable Town, and they finished 8th out of 22 in the 1975-76 season. Unfortunately, due to being a ‘new’ club, they had to begin the next season in Division 1 North, where they finished in the bottom three. The South Midlands Division One was stormed during the 1999-00 season with The Blues winning the title and going unbeaten through the entire season to gain promotion. The following season was again a promotion season, finishing 2nd to move into the South Midlands Premier. The first season in the South Midlands Premier saw a 7th place finish. and Dunstable Town then

stormed the league to be crowned Champions and earn promotion into the Ryman League Division 1 North and due to league restructuring, Dunstable were promoted into the Southern Premier for the 2004-05 season. This was to be one of the toughest seasons in Dunstable’s history. A 6-0 home defeat at the hands of Chippenham on the opening day of the season saw the start of a very tough battle. The Blues were eventually relegated to Division One West before 2005/06 saw another worrying point for the Blues. Following their first ever relegation, pre-season saw a large number of players leave to other local sides. 2010/2011. With the managers job in the hands of John Mcloughlin Dunstable finished 7th in South Midlands Premier division and runners up in the Beds Senior cup, but Darren Croft was already planning the future. 2011/2012 September saw the finish of the Development of Creasy Park and the 6 year wait for the new stadium

was over. The season was to be a good one for the Blues, but they lost out on the league in the last few weeks to Royston and were beaten in the Beds Senior Cup at Kenilworth Road by Luton in a thrilling game 5-4 after extra time. Dunstable and Luton were not finished yet as they had to contest the Beds premier Cup and this time Dunstable ran out the winners 1-0. 2012-2013 become a record breaking season for Dunstable when the SSMFL Premier League was won undefeated, with a record of 36 wins and 6 draws in 42 matches.

This enabled Dunstable to claim the title The Invincibles, previously only held by two clubs, Preston North End and Arsenal, the only teams to go unbeaten in the football pyramid.

Adding to the league trophy was the Beds Premier Cup with a 1-0 win against Luton Town, and the SSMFL Challenge Trophy completed a historic treble for the club. Dunstable were now back in the Southern league.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 25

WHO’S WHO

THE DUNS

MANAGEMENT DUO

CHARLIE HENRY

CHARLIE MAY GOALKEEPER Very recent signing from Hemel Hempstead Town and saved a penalty on his debut. Brother of defender Danny.

GARRY JONES DEFENDER Experienced player with a number of clubs, most recently Burnham, from whom he was signed.

STEVEN GREGORY DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER Experienced player who numbers Wycombe Wanderers, AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham among his clubs. Solid and reliable.

CHARLIE HENRY MIDFIELDER This vastly experienced is an England C international, and numbers Wycombe Wanderers, Cambridge City, Newport County and Team Wellington (NZ) among his clubs. Signed from Luton town at the beginning of the 2014/15 season. If he scores look out for the double somersault celebration.

ADAM WATKINS MIDFIELDER England C International, Adam was signed from Luton Town in the 2013/14 season and an ever present member of the championship

CHRIS MARSH

winning team, and has a strong local connection with the club.

LEE ROACHE STRIKER This whirling dervish of skill and talent became the record scorer for goals in a season, 56, thus overhauling the 52 scored by Kerry Dixon. A consistent member of two successive championship winning Dunstable teams, and has now scored 110 goals in his 144 appearances, before the start of this campaign. He was a former professional with Barnet and was signed for the Duns from Harlow Town.

CHRISTOPHER MARSH STRIKER / MIDFIELDER ‘Marshy’ is a great favourite at Creasey Park where he first played senior football. After periods at Aylesbury United and Arlesey Town, he returned to the great delight of the Regiment. He is gifted with moments of real inspirational play.

SHANE BLACKETT MIDFIELDER / DEFENDER Began his senior career at Creasey Park but was then signed by Luton Town. Re-signed for the Duns at the beginning of the 2104/15 season.

Tall and efficient.

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LEE ROACH

TONY FONTANELLE MIDFIELDER Another experienced utility player who has returned to the club where he first gained prominence. Really a player/ coach, ‘Yella’ can and has played in all positions except goalkeeper, but he would give that a go as well if asked. He is the dressing room comedian and a great motivator.

TONY BURNETT STRIKER Regularly causes havoc among opposing defenders with his pace and flank play, ‘TB’ has been regularly among the goals, often at crucial times in matches. Consistent and reliable whether he starts or comes on as a ‘super sub’. Member of the Championship winning side last season.

LUKE RUDDICK DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER Very recent signing from Sutton United, previously at Salisbury City – uncompromising and diligent.

DANIEL MAY DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER Another recent signing. Experienced and combative, Danny has seen service with a number of clubs and has become a regular in the team in recent games. Signed from Hemel Hempstead after spells at Enfield town and Northampton Town.

Jamale Mckenzie-Lowe (Striker) Signed for the Duns after a spell at Luton Town, this young striker has huge potential which was exhibited in the pre-season games. Tall and athletic and full of pace and intuition.

SHANE BLACKETT

TONY FONTENELLE

DAVID LYNN DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER A most recent signing from Banbury United, David recently made his debut and is in full contention for a regular place in the starting eleven ELLIOT BAILEY STRIKER Recent signing from St Albans City, scored on his debut and made a second. A vital mid-season signing.

BARTOLOMIJ PEDRYCZ GOALKEEPER Recent signing, has had spells at Hitchin Town. Made his debut recently.

DANNY TALBOT MIDFIELDER Signed from Chesham United as the right hand man for coach Tony Fontanelle. Has made a great difference with his coaching style and solid play on the pitch. He has also played for Hemel Hempstead Town.

DARREN CROFT / PAUL REEVES MANAGERS The return of this Dunstable ingrained duo has been a large part of the team’s success last season.

In their last term at the club the pair had overseen successive promotions to the Ryman League and the

Southern Premier League. Darren is also a former chairman of the club. Many consider that they have assembled the best Dunstable Town teams in recent seasons, and they steered the club to the runners-up spot of the 2011/12 Spartan Premier Division, the Spartan Premier League title 2012/13. They won back-to back promotions in securing the championship of the Southern League Central division title last season (2013/14) Both are former Dunstable Town players.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 27

Happy 21st Birthday to Ryan Bolton (The Saints’ no1 fan) Ryan has been a Saints fan ever since he was in a pram. He’s not only watched the Saints but played for them too. When he was younger he was the top goal scorer in his age group!

Ryan always has a positive word to say about the club and tries to get as many people to go to the games as he can, he always buys a programme and puts money back into the club as well.

Every home and away game, no matter the distance, you can probably guarantee you will see him there.

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Sponsored by Steve Ridley

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Extended Match Highlights Post-Match Analysis and Interviews All the Goals, Outtakes and Behind the Scenes Coverage Tune in to your club... www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

HE IS OFF

NATHAN LEAPS TO SCORE HE NETS THE WINNER

HE IS PAST THEM

IT’S THERE

GREENIES GREETINGS

ONE DEFEAT in FIFTEEN games tells the whole story Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium, for today’s Easter offering in the Evostick League Southern Premier Division.

Today we extend a warm welcome to our visitors, Dunstable and haven’t overdone it on the Town and we hope their players, officials and of course, the travelling supporters, have an enjoyable stay here at Rowley Park today.

Road, home of St Ives Town, again next season as they have announced that Cambridge City will be ground sharing with them for the forthcoming 2015/16 season.

Works will needed

Well I hope you all had an enjoyable day yesterday and haven’t overdone it on the chocolate eggs and there’s nothing better than a Bank Holiday Monday game of football.

These notes have been penned prior to our game at Slough Town on Saturday 4th April so I cant comment on that game however last Saturday saw us maintain our drive towards finishing as high as possible in the play-off positions with a hard earned one-nil victory over an in form Bideford side. Once again, the weather played a big part in proceedings with a strong swirling wind causing problems for both sides. A moment of pure class from Lewis Hilliard won the game for us as he fired home winner by cutting in from the left and dispatched a rocket into the far corner of the net with his trusty right foot. A quick word for poor old Drew, scuppered on numerous occasions on saturday and currently can’t buy a goal for love or money but boy, does this lad work hard for the team? I don’t think I’ve seen a striker cover so much ground whilst wearing a Saints shirt and we’ve had some bloody good forwards recently. Keep working hard

Drew, once you get one, they will start flowing again.

I see there have been a few grumbles in certain quarters on our social media lines about the way we are currently playing and our change in tactics. Please just look at the league table and our results since the first of January. ONE DEFEAT in FIFTEEN games tells the whole story. Add to this the fact that we have had eight clean sheet in this period too, I know what I would rather see, good solid defensive play and the basis for victories that’s for sure rather than us keep giving the ball away in dangerous areas and giving away stupid goals when we have worked hard to get our noises in front in games.

Elsewhere this past week, it looks like we will be visiting Westwood

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to be carried out to bring the Pro Edge ground up to standard for the Premier Division, including a new 100 seater stand, turnstile and covered terracing. Reading the article in the local papers, City’s Chairman thinks the club will benefit from increased support as they will be away from Histon. Time will tell.

Good luck to both clubs, I hope it goes well and they can fit all their games in on the notorious ‘wet’ pitch. Ok then, back to today’s game and three points are a must to keep the push going. Give your all for the lads today, they both deserve and need you’re support today.

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

I CAN TAKE THESE ALL DAY

AWAY DAYS

THE AVENUE STADIUM Our next away day is our very first visit to the Avenue Stadium the home of Dorchester Town.

The Magpies found their way into the Southern League Premier Division at the end of season 2013/14 having been relegated from the Conference South. A crazy game this season at Rowley Park ended up with the Saints winning the game 6-5, don’t really think that could happen again though. A very hard season for the “Magpies” both on and off the field.

A small bit of success over the last few seasons but financial troubles have seen the club struggle.

A regrouping season and consolidation for the club this season, but rest assured Dorchester are too big a club not to be looking at promotion in the coming seasons.

BY CAR FROM THE M5

Yeovil. Continue on through Yeovil on the A37, following signs for Dorchester. On the approach to Dorchester, follow signs for Park and Ride, turning right onto the bypass.

At the next roundabout take the second exit and continue to the next roundabout.

The ground is in front of you at this roundabout. To get to the car park, turn left and then right into the Tesco complex. At the roundabout inside the complex, turn right again past the entrance to the petrol station and take the left hand fork to the stadium parking area. Terrace entrances are situated adjacent to this, whilst the bar and stand entrances are on the opposite side of the ground.

Take Junction 23, and then the A39 towards Glastonbury. At Street, take the B3151 through Somerton to Ilchester and then the A37 into

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THE AVENUE STADIUM Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester Dorset, DT1 2RY Wheelchair Access: Yes Car Parking: Yes Matchday Magazine: £2 Capacity: 5,009 (710 seated Round Trip from (PE19 6SL): 360 Miles

INTRODUCING

LEE CLARKE Lee is an experienced goalscoring midfield player.

Formerly of Peterborough Utd, Lee moved to St Albans where he was top scorer in the Conference South for two seasons, gaining promotion to National Conference level. He was recognised internationally at this stage, earning 5 caps for Northern Ireland Under 21’s. Converting to a midfield role, he became captain at Welling, leading them to the Conference South title in 2012/13.

Lee started this season at St Albans City again, but has recently been playing locally for Spalding before joining the Saints.

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 39

A TRUE LEGEND OF THE GAME

TOMMY LAWTON A must read about one of the greatest if not the greatest center forward England has produced, it is a real eye-opener to what can happen when a footballers career ends.

A GIANT OF FOOTBALL

By Barrie Williams My years of editor of the Nottingham evening Post brought me into contact with some true sporting giants and they don’t come bigger than Brian Cough and Tommy Lawton.

And my story of a memorable night when they were both center stage is best prefaced with a beautiful incite into the man regarded by many as the best center forward ever to play for England.

The schoolteacher in charge of the kid’s team was sprinting up and down the touchline like a demented greyhound.

‘Run, run, run’, he was bellowing at his young charges, “move, move, move!”

An elderly man watching this pantomime could stand no more.

He walked up to the teacher. ‘Look mate’ he said, never mind all this run, run, run. Get them to dwell on the ball, to play the ball, to love the ball, to think.’ ‘Oh Yeah’. the teacher replied, ‘and who the bloody hell are you?’ ‘Nobody son’

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said the man softly ‘nobody at all.’ The “Nobody” was Tommy Lawton the greatest center forward England had ever had and he despaired at the way these lads were being “Taught” to play football.

Tommy told me that story among countless others, in many an hour I spent with him enjoying a pint and talking football.

I never saw the great man play; he was from my dads era. But

“AS THE BALL WENT LIKE A BULLET, THE SWISH AND RIPPLE OF THE SOAKING NET MADE A SOUND THAT FRIGHTENED ME. “PICK THAT ONE OUT,” SAID LAWTON AND IT WAS LIKE A KNIFE GOING THROUGH ME”. coming, as I do, from a family with strong Liverpool connections (Everton supporters, all of them) I had heard endless stories about Tommy’s days at Goodson Park.

I had seen many pictures of him in 1950s football albums, the slick Brylcreemed hair that looked like an half-inch parting, the descriptions of the giant, fearless, strong, brilliant archetypal old style center forward. I had read about his incredible playing record – a career spanning 20 years with Burnley, Everton, Chelsea, Brentford, Arsenal, and Nott’s County.

231 goals in 390 league games, 22 goals for England in 23 appearances, 24 goals in unofficial war time international matches and an astonishing wartime record of 337 goals.

I had heard old boys in pubs drooling about Tommy heading a ball harder than most players could kick it. I had read Bill Shankleys account of how Tommy headed the winning goal in the England V Scotland match played at a packed Hampden Park in 1939.

as hard as nails and built like the proverbial brick outhouse he was never once sent of or ever booked a career that ended in 1955.

Then, In Nottingham in 1984, I went looking for him. At that time Tommy was a man sadly and badly disillusioned with football.

The game had used and abused him, picked him up in his teens and dropped him cruelly from a great height in his 40s.

When Tommy finished his career he managed Nott’s County for a while, they sacked him.

He kept a pub, which failed, due in no small measure to “hangers on” who knew that he was a soft touch Tommy was for free drinks and open ended loans.

Bill said, “As the ball went like a bullet, the swish and ripple of the soaking net made a sound that frightened me. “Pick that one out,” said Lawton and it was like a knife going through me”.

I knew that Tommy made Burnleys First team at the age of just 16 years, and that only 25 games later he was transferred to Everton for £6,500 (that’s millions in todays money) to replace the great Dixie Dean, that he became leading goal scorer in the land while still in his teens, that even though he was

Hopelessly in debt, he took to selling insurance, got tempted into fraud and in a clumsy bid to end his money worries and ended up behind bars.

The mighty had fallen as far as it was possible to drop. He was ashamed to open his front door.

The Hangers on disappeared.

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People who owed him large sums of money crossed the road to avoid him. The erstwhile super hero of English football was broken and virtually penniless.

Tommy had in some respects been his own worst enemy. He had, in many ways been the George Best of his day. Jack the lad around town, particularly when he was at Chelsea, he lived as hard as he played. He had always been generous to a foolish fault and, if all those who had borrowed money from him had paid up, he would have been a very rich man.

As it was, the International superstar who had graced the worlds biggest soccer stages, sailed on yachts with millionaires, had an audience with the Pope and appeared in films with Lupino Lane and Diana Dors, stood hunched and alone in the pouring rain at a bus stop in Nottingham, that famous feared head bowed, those great shoulders stopped, unrecognized or shunned and disowned by people who had once lined up in Sycophantic file to shake his hand and plead for his autograph. My own interest in Tommy Lawton at this time was purely and unashamedly Journalistic. This was a great story. I tracked him down in order

to let my newspaper publish his story. At first he was sullen, uncommunicative and deeply suspicious of me and who could blame him? Many journalists could be counted among those who dumped him in the gutter.

Eventually, but still reluctant he agreed. Then, with every meeting that followed, he became more relaxed and the real, cheeky, confident, funny and plain talking Tommy began to emerge. My newspaper duly told his incredible story and I then signed him up to become a soccer columnist.

Tommy Lawton was back.

Throughout the years that followed Tommy was one of my dearest friends. Tommy Lawton was a gentle man and a gentleman and I consider it an honor to have been granted his friendship.

Writing the soccer column for my paper really put Tommy back at the top. Not long after taking him on, I took him as my guest to a “do” at forests Jubilee club where Cloughie was speaking.

Cloughie had the audience in the palm of his hand- nothing unusual about that.

But what moved me and the rest of the audience to the brink of tears was what came next.

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Cloughie said, ‘Hey, I was a bloody good center forward was I not?’

Up went the cheers and acknowledgements for the man who was unexpectedly about to move out of the spotlight.

‘But, I tell you what. There’s a bloke here tonight who was a bloody darn sight better than me…

The great Tommy Lawton.’

Tommy adored Brian. He had a board smile as he took up his invitation to go on stage and when he got there he raised Brians arm like a referee would in a boxing ring. Cloughie planted a huge kiss on his Cheek. “You were the best” he said, “You were the best.”

It was a wonderful occasion and as Tom walked back to our table suddenly the rainy days at the bus stops seemed a million miles away. There was almost a swagger about him. He looked ten feet tall again, and it was all down to Brian Clough, the second greatest English center forward.

Tommy died on 6th November 1996 aged 77 years old. A true great of world football.

Thank you to Ex Editor Barrie Williams, for sharing this very moving story.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 43

MD’S VIEWS

NEVER A DULL MOMENT I’ve been reading a few articles about social media (the faceless side of communicative interaction) and I have to say I find it somewhat strange so say the least.

Personally I very rarely respond to anything on facebook or twitter other than giving over information that is relevant to the questions being asked. I find it somewhat bizarre that people who voice an opinion on any form of social media that is deemed as criticism are then upset by the fact that there is a response.Yes there is an argument with all supporters from all football clubs that you should not respond and should in fact just let someone have their say however and I do in part agree with this but where do you draw the line?

What is deemed acceptable to protect your business, if you post something that could be classified as direct and career threatening (or could have a direct and lasting impact on your business) is that targeted individual (or business) l within their rights to seek defamatory compensation?

Send an email to any local business stating that one of their employees is responsible for this that and everything else and you will get you arse kicked but put it on social media and you are “put out” if you get a response. So is it OK to say the team played shit? Yes.

Is it Ok to say the management are clueless? Yes. Is it Ok to state that an individual is responsible for something like taking a business to the wall? No and if you believe that this is classified as “just my opinion” I suggest you do some research because you are publishing information on a publically accessible form of media.

So how long will it take before social media is classified in the same light as a new paper article or an email?

Please do not take this as me saying you shouldn’t post criticism on the clubs social media because it’s not and truth be known I for one believe that a good juicy argument or difference of opinion is actually very good for us, it’s life and life would be a pretty boring place if we all thought and acted the same way.

Anyway if you are interested on what goes on behind the scenes and what we have achieved in the last four years by all means grab me and we’ll have a chat and if by the end of the chat you like what you hear great if not no problem we’ll just smile and move on knowing that at least two of us think differently.

LEE

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STEWS VIEWS HOW THIS CHANGING OF A RULE COULD AFFECT ENGLAND’S TOP PREMIERSHIP CLUBS? I don’t know how many of you would have picked up on the following story, but there was a change in one of the eligibility rules that could have a dramatic impact on the game in our country at the highest level.

On March 24th 2015 the FA updated the rule on home grown players in the BPL. As you all probably already know, a rule was introduced in 2010 where you needed at least eight players which were registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday.

Under this new rule, that mark of 21 years was reduced to 18 so some clubs might be pressured to lose players that they underuse, to make room for home grown players which are a necessity. This means that out of 25 players which are registered for the season, at least eight need to be registered domestically when they were 15, and some clubs might have issues with that. I will try and analyse these clubs and which nonhome grown players I feel should be dropped from their squads.

So the rules that were updated are stated here: 1) Players will have to be with their club since the age of 15 to be qualified as home-grown 2) Non-home grown players in each squad is to be reduced from 17 to 13 3) At least two of eight players registered as home-grown must be club trained

Under these rules, right now four clubs would have to release foreign players and they are: Manchester City (six players), Arsenal (four), Tottenham Hotspur (four) and Chelsea (three). With reference to their squads, I will try and see which players are most likely to be sold in the summer so the quota of 13 foreign players could be matched by the start of 2015-’16 campaign.

Manchester City – Six players to be released or sold Players available to be sold: Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony, Willy Caballero, Martin Demichelis, Edin Dzeko, Fernando, Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Aleksandar Kolarov, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas, Bacary Sagna, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Gael Clichy, Dedryck Boyata and Pablo Zabaleta.

Players I think will be sold: Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic, Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov, Dedryck Boyata and Bacary Sagna.

So City, no surprise, has the biggest number of foreign players currently and they will have to offload six of them, probably by selling them or even releasing them if there are no buyers. Edin Dzeko is my first

PAGE 46 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

choice as the Bosnian player has not performed this year, scoring just four goals. Even if he starts playing good football now when the season is closing, a part of the season where he usually excels, I don’t see him making the cut next to Sergio Kun Aguero and the new Ivory Coast signing Wilfried Bony. Same goes for Montenegrin Stevan Jovetic who is very injury prone which has ruined his City career. Martin Demichelis is a very experienced player who was good this season when he got the chance, but he is too old and there are younger and better players in front of him who are just waiting for the chance. Aleksandar Kolarov is also getting up there in age and I do not believe he is of enough quality for a team with championlike aspirations. Boyata and Sagna are two right back who cannot catch a game next to the workhorse Argentinian Pablo Zabaleta and I believe that they will be seen as players who will be expendable for the Manchester side. However, my choice is more of a “who is left after the very important players are put aside” and these six players, along with another possible choice Willy Caballero, are the most likely to be sold by City in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur – Four players to be released or sold Players available to be sold: Emmanuel Adebayor, Etienne Capoue, Cristian Ceballos, Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiriches, Moussa Dembele, Christian Eriksen, Federico Fazio, Brad Friedel, Younes Kaboul, Erik Lamela, Hugo Lloris, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Benjamin Stambouli, Jan Vertonghen and Michel Vorm.

Players I think will be sold: Brad Friedel, Emmanuel Adebayor, Cristian Ceballos and Vlad Chiriches.

Spurs need to sell/release four players and I think that obvious choices are the four players listed above. Others serve a bigger purpose in the squad so if there was a do-or-die decision where you needed to release them, I believe that these four players would not stay on the roster.

Starting with Brad Friedel he is approaching 44 and he is currently the third goalkeeper behind Lloris and Vorm. Emmanuel Adebayor in my opinion is way past his prime, so this Togolese striker will probably be sold to a smaller club in search of an experienced striker. Cristian Ceballos is a former Barcelona youth player but this player who is currently on loan in Portuguese club Arouca, will not make the cut. He is an exciting prospect but the wait for his potential to fulfil is probably not worth cutting someone who has an important role right now in the squad. Romanian centre-back Vlad Chiriches did not find his game in North London as speculation rose even before this rule was being enforced that his time in Spurs is just about done. Again, three very obvious choices with the last one, Cristian Ceballos being someone Spurs fans have not seen yet in action to the fullest and it is a shame that he could be leaving the club even before getting his chance to shine.

Arsenal FC – Four players to be released or sold Players available to be sold: Mikel Arteta, Santi

Cazorla, Mathieu Debuchy, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini, Gabriel, Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, David Ospina, Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez, Wojciech Szczsny, Francis Coquelin and Damian Martinez.

Players I think could be sold: Abou Diaby, Damian Martinez, Mathieu Debuchy and Mathieu Flamini Arsenal have bought a lot of English players in the last couple of years, as if they knew that this kind of rule would be implemented, however their core set of players is still made up of foreigners. However, the four players above most likely will not be in Arsene Wenger’s squad next year.

Abou Diaby is one of the saddest stories in the BPL. This central midfielder had everything necessary to be better than players like Yaya Toure but constant injuries kept him off the field, as he announced his retirement from professional football this year. He will most likely be given a position in Arsenal, but nothing is official yet. Damian Martinez left no significant trace in North London and this 22-year-old Argentinian goalkeeper will not be staying in the team he has no realistic chance of playing in. Mathieu Debuchy just came from Newcastle this season but has had two huge injuries slidelining him for multiple months, along with his age this could make Arsenal sell him. Also there is huge competition for his spot with the likes of Chambers, Bellerin and Jenkinson who will be back from loan. The second Mathieu in the squad, Flamini, has not enjoyed the best of times in Arsenal this year and in a packed midfield with the likes of Ozil, Cazorla, Arteta, Coquelin and such, he is always seen as someone who will be left out, unfortunately for him. I think these are reasonable picks with reference to their age and overall impact they made on the field for the Gunners.

Chelsea – Three players to be released or sold Players available to be sold: Cesar Azpilicueta, Petr Cech, Diego Costa,

Thibaut Courtois, Juan Cuadrado, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic, Filipe Luis, Nemanja Matic, John Obi Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Loic Remy, Willian and Cesc Fabregas Players I think will be sold: Petr Cech, Didier Drogba and Filipe Luis Now for this group of players I actually had a dilemma of who to predict will be cut from the squad.

Although John Obi Mikel has not proven much this season I believe that Cech and Luis are really unhappy having had no playing time behind Courtois and Azpilicueta respectively, so their future at CFC is really questionable. For the last player I had a choice between either Drogba or Mikel and although what I said about Mikel stands, Drogba is really up there in age and he could even consider retirement. While the nine year younger defensive midfielder still has something to give Mourinho we all know that the special one likes a good and strong defensive mid who can destroy opponents’ plays and with Matic and Mikel he as an excellent pairing there. Unfortunately Drogba has given all he has to football and it is maybe time for him to leave the sport in which he will be considered one of the best strikers of all time.

Now these picks are what I believe could be done realistically, but there is also chance of some transfers happening. Arsenal could cash in on Santi Cazorla’s amazing season, Chelsea could cash in on Hazard if the offer is good enough and Spurs might do what Spurs do and sell one of their best players, someone like Eriksen if the offer is good enough.

I have eliminated those possibilities from this analysis since there is a lot of time until the summer and a lot of things could change, so I did not want to speculate about some big sales by these four clubs.

Do you agree with my picks, or don’t agree?

Yours Aye Craig

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 47

Scorelines..

A brief round up of the recent results from the teams that matter Midweek Premier Division (w/c 24th March)

Corby Town held on to top spot when, after going behind in the eleventh minute at Slough Town, they converted a penalty in first half stoppage Town before completing a 2-1 victory with a goal seven minutes from time while Poole Town remain a point behind, with three games in hand, after scoring a goal in each half to win 2-0 at third from bottom Arlesey Town. The night’s other match produced a remarkable eleven goals which saw Histon, despite trailing no fewer than four times, running out 6-5 winners over visiting Chesham United.

Weekend Premier Division (28th March)

Poole Town, behind to a second minute own goal but a goal up at the break, conceded a penalty twenty minutes from time but went back to the top of the table when they scored from to spot a minute from time to secure a 3-2 home win over Cambridge City but second placed Corby Town, leading from a third minute strike, conceded two goals in the final fifteen minutes and needed a penalty in time added on to snatch a 2-2 home draw with Dorchester Town while third in the table Truro City were held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Dunstable Town while Weymouth, having taken a third minute lead which was wiped out

four minutes later, went ahead again thee minutes from time but needed a strike in the fourth minute of time added on to snatch a home 3-3 draw after bottom of the table Burnham had scored twice in the opening three minutes of stoppage time.

St Neots Town struck seventeen minutes after the break to secure a 1-0 home success against Bideford but Hungerford Town, behind after ten minutes, drew 1-1 at home with Biggleswade Town when they equalised fifteen minutes later and Redditch United, ahead ten minutes into the second half, also had to settle for a 1-1 draw when hosts Histon levelled twelve minutes from the end while Cirencester Town, behind after eleven minutes, took a point from their clash with third from bottom Arlesey Town when they scored two minutes before the interval to record a 1-1 home draw.

Hitchin Town struck three times in the first half to set up a comfortable 5-2 home victory over Slough Town while Paulton Rovers left it until four minutes from time to score the goal which gave them a 1-0 win at second from bottom Banbury United but Chesham United conceded three second half goals to crash to a 3-0 home defeat by Chippenham Town.

Weekend Division 1 Central (28th March)

Kettering Town were held to a 0-0 draw at St Ives Town but still

PAGE 48 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

increased their lead at the top of the table as second placed Aylesbury conceded a goal nine minutes from the break to go down 1-0 at Barton Rovers, who moved up to fourth, while Royston Town rose to third when they scored three times in the first half to win 3-1 at Beaconsfield SYCOB, whose only response was a penalty midway through the half.

Rugby Town scored twenty minutes from the interval to cancel out North Greenford’s opener and draw 1-1 with their bottom of the table hosts but Hanwell Town, ahead after twenty minutes, scored three more after the break to complete a comfortable 4-1 home success over Egham Town and Godalming Town struck in the eighth minute at Potters Bar Town and completed a 3-1 victory with two second half goals while Aylesbury United scored a goal in each half to win 2-0 at second from bottom AFC Hayes.

Marlow scored twice in the first half but were pegged back by two goals in three minutes soon after the break before securing a 3-2 win at Uxbridge with a strike four minutes after the hour mark and Bedford Town scored just before the midway point of the second half to record a 1-0 home win against Chalfont St Peter while Leighton Town scored two in two minutes during the opening quarter of an hour to set up a 2-1 home victory over Daventry Town.

NASTY

ST NEOTS TOWN 1 BIDEFORD AFC 0 28:03:2015 / Southern Premier Division / Att 409 / Referee: Ellis Clark (Kettering)

For the second time in six weeks a single strike from Lewis Hilliard was sufficient to earn St Neots all three points and cement their place in the play offs with several of the leading contenders dropping points.

However a ninth clean sheet in fourteen matches since the turn of the year will do no harm to confidence as the team approaches its final five critical matches this season and in these last few matches results are far more important than performances.

St Neots now continue their chase of Weymouth who are three points ahead of them and Truro (five points) as they bid for the possible prize of a home play off fixture end of season.

Visitors Bideford who had beaten divisional leaders Poole Town seven days earlier contributed to their own downfall having midfielder Nick Milton red carded leaving his side to play the last hour with ten men.

The other winner on the day was the weather with the strong blustery wind making good football almost impossible and the overall quality of the game was poor. St Neots had an enforced change with Matt Spring nursing a heel injury so teenager Ebey Marango was handed only his second start and in an interesting team shuffle Brett Longden was moved to his favoured full back berth with skipper Adam Tann sharing central defensive duties with Tom Ward who begins a two match ban next weekend.

Ironically it was the confident visiting side with the wind at their backs that created the first two early chances.

After eleven minutes a corner from the right found the head of defender Matt Villis and his perfectly guided header just under the bar brought a fine tip over the bar from Paul Bastock. The ball was not cleared from that resultant corner and full back Ian Sampson curled a shot over the defence and just inside the far post but again the goalkeeper got across to save. St Neots then settled and were disappointed not to be awarded a penalty when what looked like a clear handball offence occurred in the Bideford penalty area. Nathan Frater shot wide and then when Tom Ward collided with visiting keeper Steve Oliver there was a second shout for a penalty but the Referee awarded the free kick to the visitors.

The critical moment came after 32 minutes when Nick Milton brought down Brett Longden with a very dangerous challenge and the Referee after calming down the players issued a straight red card for that challenge. It was the first and almost the last bad tackle in the match but it gave St Neots the numerical advantage. Lewis Hilliard sent the resultant free kick into the side netting with Oliver beaten and shortly afterwards Drew Roberts sent his effort high over the bar.

Despite their position Bideford maintained an attacking format after half time but St Neots were now beginning to dominate. A Nathan Frater flick freed Roberts but he shot across the face of goal but then brought the save of the match from Oliver after good work by Hilliard.

Hilliard also set up Lee Clarke whose header was wide and in a rare breakaway attack Mickey Parcell shot wide at the other end. A minute after replacing Marango with Lorenzo Ferrari St Neots scored what proved to be the important winning goal.

Brett Longden clearly enjoying his full back role won the ball just inside the visitors half and set up Lewis Hilliard who went around the outside of his marker with pace to beat Oliver with a crisp low shot. Bideford needed to respond but found the lack of that extra midfield player restrictive to their efforts. They did have one half chance when substitute Dan Tapp chased down a through ball but Bastock anticipated the danger and left his line to clear well outside his area. Late in the game leading scorer Drew Roberts had two good chances to seal the result but he first brought a good save from Oliver before curling a shot narrowly over the crossbar to the relief of the goalkeeper.

John Walker

St Neots Town

Bideford AFC

Bastock, Longden, Wilkinson, Mitchel-King, Tann, Ward, Marango, Clarke, Frater (N), Roberts, Hilliard. Subs: Ferrari (for Marango 57), Vieira (for Frater (N) 85), Frater (R), Bickerstaff and Wilson.

Cards: None Goals: Hilliard (62 mins)

Oliver, Sampson, Reed, Milton, Villis, Harrison, Veal, Parcell, Squire, Tucker, Swain. Subs: Tapp (for Squire 73), Wilson (for Tucker 87) and Barker. Cards: Milton (RED - 32) Goals: None

PAGE 50 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 51

HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN?

0 -- 0

04-Apr

6 -- 1

25-Apr

1 -- 5

2 -- 1

3 -- 0

06-Apr

0 -- 4

1 -- 1

1 -- 3

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

3 -- 2

3 -- 1

Bideford

Biggleswade Town

Burnham

Cambridge City

Chesham United

Chippenham Town

Cirencester Town

Corby Town

Dorchester Town

3 -- 0

2 -- 0

06-Apr

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

4 -- 1

1 --0

2 -- 0

tba

6 -- 2

3 -- 1

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

18-Apr

3 -- 0

Histon

Hitchin Town

Hungerford Town

Paulton Rovers

Poole Town

Redditch United

Slough Town

St Neots Town

Truro City

Weymouth

2 -- 3

Frome Town

3 -- 2

tba

0 -- 0

4 -- 0

4 -- 2

5 -- 1

2 -- 3

Dunstable Town

3 -- 1

3 -- 0

tba

2 -- 2

0 -- 2

Banbury United

Arlesey Town

2 -- 2

Banbury United

Arlesey Town

Bideford

2 -- 1

5 -- 0

1 -- 0

4 -- 1

7 -- 2

1 -- 2

06-Apr

2 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 1

3 -- 3

tba

6 -- 2

25-Apr

4 -- 2

18-Apr

5 -- 1

3 -- 0

2 -- 3

0 -- 1

Biggleswade Town

3 -- 2

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

18-Apr

1 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

1 -- 2

1 -- 0

0 -- 1

2 -- 0

tba

1 -- 1

3 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 1

11-Apr

2 -- 2

2 -- 1

Burnham 3 -- 3

2 -- 1

3 -- 1

2 -- 2

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

1 -- 0

18-Apr

2 -- 1

1 -- 2

4 -- 2

1 -- 0

3 -- 1

25-Apr

3 -- 1

06-Apr

3 -- 0

1 -- 0

4 -- 2

0 -- 2

2 -- 1

Cambridge City 1 -- 0

1 -- 0

0 -- 1

0 -- 4

2 -- 4

3 -- 2

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

06-Apr

1 -- 1

2 -- 1

25-Apr

2 -- 2

3 -- 1

4 -- 0

11-Apr

4 -- 4

1 -- 2

1 -- 4

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

Chesham United 2 -- 1

0 -- 3

2 -- 3

0 -- 3

2 -- 2

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

11-Apr

4 -- 1

6 -- 5

1 -- 1

04-Apr

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

0 -- 2

1 -- 3

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

0 -- 3

Chippenham Town 0 -- 1

2 -- 0

18-Apr

2 -- 2

2 -- 1

3 -- 1

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

1 -- 3

06-Apr

5 -- 1

0 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

0 -- 3

1 -- 1

tba

0 -- 2

5 -- 0

0 -- 2

0 -- 0

Cirencester Town 2 -- 0

1 -- 4

4 -- 0

1 -- 2

tba

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

0 -- 0

11-Apr

0 -- 1

0 -- 3

0 -- 1

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

0 -- 3

1 -- 3

0 --1

04-Apr

0 -- 2

0 -- 5

1 -- 2

Corby Town tba 18-Apr

2 -- 0

2 -- 1

6 -- 5

2 -- 1

1 -- 2 2 -- 4

3 -- 0

0 -- 0

18-Apr

0 -- 2

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

1 -- 3

3 -- 5

2 -- 2

6 -- 1

2 -- 1

3 -- 2

04-Apr

1 -- 5

4 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

Dorchester Town

0 -- 1

25-Apr

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

tba

06-Apr

1 -- 2

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

0 -- 2

0 -- 1

2 -- 2

0 -- 3

3 -- 2

04-Apr

0 -- 5

1 -- 2

Dunstable Town 2 -- 2

0 -- 0

06-Apr

0 -- 3

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 2

0 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

tba

1 -- 2

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 2

Frome Town 4 -- 2

tba

3 -- 1

18-Apr

2 -- 0

7 -- 0

tba

1 -- 1

tba

1 -- 2

0 -- 4

1 -- 1

3 -- 0

3 -- 1

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

2 -- 2

3 -- 1

1 -- 2

4 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

Histon 3 -- 0

7 -- 2

4 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

2 -- 0

04-Apr

1 -- 0

0 -- 0

4 -- 2

1 -- 3

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

2 -- 0

1 -- 0

2 -- 1

6 -- 0

1 -- 3

1 -- 1

2 -- 0

18-Apr

2 -- 1

Hitchin Town 2 -- 2

3 -- 0

6 -- 2

2 -- 1

0 -- 0

11-Apr

3 -- 0

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

04-Apr

2 -- 1

2 -- 1

2 -- 0

2 -- 3

2 -- 3

0 -- 1

2 -- 4

0 -- 0

3 -- 7

2 -- 1

0 -- 3

0 -- 2

Hungerford Town 3 -- 1

2 -- 1

1 -- 1

1 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 0

2 -- 3

0 -- 2

2 -- 1

1 -- 0

2 -- 6

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

18-Apr

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

2 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 0

1 -- 2

04-Apr

Paulton Rovers 2 -- 4

2 -- 0

1 -- 1

4 -- 2

0 -- 2

1 -- 0

25-Apr

1 -- 0

tba

2 -- 0

0 -- 2

3 -- 4

4 -- 1

0 -- 1

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 0

2 -- 3

1 -- 0

3 -- 0

0 -- 1

11-Apr

Poole Town tba

2 -- 2

3 -- 2

0 -- 4

0 -- 1

4 -- 5

0 -- 0

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

0 -- 1

0 -- 2

06-Apr

1 -- 0

tba

04-Apr

18-Apr

0 -- 2

1 -- 3

1 -- 2

0 -- 6

0 -- 1

0 -- 2

Redditch United 1 -- 1

3 -- 2

0 -- 3

1 -- 7

0 -- 1

1 -- 0

1 -- 1

4 -- 0

1 -- 1

0 -- 4

2 -- 1

0 -- 1

0 -- 0

3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 1

0 -- 2

11-Apr

2 -- 5

1 -- 1

0 -- 0

25-Apr

Slough Town 3 -- 2

1 -- 2

0 -- 3

4 -- 0

2 -- 1

2 -- 2

06-Apr

5 -- 2

0 -- 0

1 -- 1

11-Apr

25-Apr

1 -- 2

3 -- 5

2 -- 0

0 -- 0

3 -- 3

0 -- 2

3 -- 3

2 -- 0

tba

1 -- 0

St Neots Town 1 -- 0

2 -- 3

04-Apr

2 -- 0

0 -- 0

0 -- 0

0 -- 0

3 -- 4

0 -- 0

25-Apr

1 -- 3

11-Apr

1 -- 3

1 -- 1

0 -- 1

3 -- 3

0 -- 0

0 -- 1

2 -- 2

1 -- 1

1 -- 1

1 -- 3

Truro City 1 -- 0

0 -- 2

1 -- 2

04-Apr

3 -- 0

1 -- 2

2 -- 0

1 -- 2

25-Apr

1 -- 0

1 -- 2

1 -- 2

1 -- 0

2 -- 0

1 -- 2

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

2 -- 2

3 -- 2

1 -- 3

1 -- 2

2 -- 3

06-Apr

2 -- 0

3 -- 0

1 -- 1

tba

1 -- 0

2 -- 0

0 -- 3

3 -- 0

3 -- 1

1 -- 3

0 -- 3

5 -- 1

0 -- 3

2 -- 3

7 -- 2

0 -- 1

1 -- 2

25-Apr

tba

11-Apr

0 -- 1

Weymouth

How do you define grass-roots? And what do you consider to be the lower leagues? The Premier League say they will share £1bn of the record £5.13bn UK TV deal to those areas of the game.

What, where and who they actually mean remains to be seen and is still to be announced.

The problem comes with a misunderstanding of what NonLeague football actually is – and a large chunk of it currently falls in no man’s land.

It’s not a case of doling money out to clubs so they can go off and give £800-a-week to a top Non-League striker.

But the cash could help clubs fund more community schemes and programmes. Conference clubs are already able to apply for grants thanks to the Premier League’s payments. What about the rest?

Football Conference clubs receive solidarity payments from the Premier League – £6.9m is being sent down over three seasons. Which is good.

Could it be more? Probably. But below that clubs don’t receive a penny in the same way.

As Harris says: “If there is £1m made available to each of our three leagues, that might create opportunities for every club to access a bursary to start a community programme or employ a full-time Football in the Community officer.

In last week’s NLP Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris called on the three leagues at Steps 3 and 4 to put on a united front and show why they need some help themselves.

“The biggest challenge faced by all clubs at our level is the lack of volunteers. Clubs having the ability to create their own programme and people to do it would transform our level of the game.

Harris rightly points out that grass-roots and Non-League wrongly gets lumped together. Grass-roots football – youth development etc – receives funding. Whether it receives enough funding is another debate.

“We are the meat in the sandwich. All we’re asking for is a bit more meat in that sandwich.”

Harris describes the NPL League, Southern League and the Isthmian League as the meat in the sandwich.

There isn’t much meat.

It’s hard to argue. Just like proposed cuts to the FA Trophy prize money, it is this level of the game to suffer.

There’s an attitude of: They will cope and muddle along, they always do.

PAGE 54 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

Whenever a club starts struggling, someone will inevitably bring up the Premier League footballer’s weeklywage argument. Unfortunately it’s a flawed one. It’s not Wayne Rooney’s fault club X have overspent on their wage budget and now might go bust.

But it is important to recognise what Non-League does for football in this country. You are only as strong as your foundations.

Let’s hope we see that addressed when the Premier League reveal where they will be sending this money. And if lower leagues also includes the bulk of Non-League, rather than just boosting parachute payments for clubs higher up the food chain.

Matt Badcock Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper

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

141

SLP

1-1

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Thorne

Tue 21 Oct

CHESHAM UNITED

233

SLP

2-3

2

Bastock

YORK

Bickerstaff

Thorne

Sat 25 Oct

HEREFORD UNITED

329

SLP

1-0

2

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Wilson

Mon 27 Oct

Redditch United

141

SLP

0-2

3

Bastock

York

Lee

Cracknell

Sat 01 Nov

ILKESTON TOWN

330

FAT

2-1

-

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Ford

Sat 08 Nov

TRURO CITY

299

SLP

0-2

3

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Ford

Sat 15 Nov

DARLINGTON 1883

715

FAT

3-1

-

Bastock

Deeney

York

Ford

Tue 18 Nov

CAMBRIDGE CITY

322

SLP

0-1

3

Bastock

Deeney

York

Ford

Sat 22 Nov

Bideford

199

SLP

1-1

4

Bastock

Deeney

Adjei

Ford

Sat 29 Nov

AFC SUDBURY

431

FAT

1-1

-

Bastock

York

Adjei

Ford

Tue 02 Dec

AFC Sudbury

229

FAT (R)

0-1

-

Bastock

York

Adjei

Ford

Sat 06 Dec

DORCHESTER TOWN

292

SLP

6-5

4

Bastock

Deeney

York

Hutton

Tue 09 Dec

SLOUGH TOWN

299

SLP

0-3

5

Bastock

Deeney

Wilson

Hutton

Sat 13 Dec

Chippenham Town

285

SLP

1-0

4

Bastock

York

Ford

Wilson

Sat 20 Dec

FROME TOWN

307

SLP

3-1

5

Bastock

YORK

Davis

Cracknell

Fri 26 Dec

CORBY TOWN

462

SLP

2-4

8

Bastock

York

Ford

Cracknell

Thu 01 Jan

Dunstable Town

205

SLP

3-1

7

Bastock

York

Plowright

Ford

Sat 10 Jan

Paulton Rovers

167

SLP

0-0

8

Bastock

York

Wilkinson

Tann

Sat 17 Jan

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

491

SLP

2-1

8

Bastock

York

Davis

Tann

Tue 20 Jan

Weymouth

409

SLP

0-1

8

Bastock

York

Plowright

Tann

Sat 24 Jan

Histon

386

SLP

0-0

9

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Hutton

Sat 31 Jan

BANBURY UNITED

319

SLP

2-1

8

Bastock

York

Bickerstaff

Mitchel-King

Sat 07 Feb

ARLESEY TOWN

372

SLP

3-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

CLARKE

MITC

Tue 10 Feb

Hungerford Town

100

SLP

0-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 14 Feb

Burnham

116

SLP

1-0

7

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 21 Feb

HITCHIN TOWN

547

SLP

6-2

6

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Wilson

Mi

Sat 28 Feb

Poole Town

387

SLP

0-0

6

Bastock

Tann

Bickerstaff

Mitchel-King

Sat 07 Mar

CIRENCESTER TOWN

428

SLP

4-0

6

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Mitchel-King

Sat 14 Mar

HUNGERFORD TOWN

366

SLP

1-1

6

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 21 Mar

Cambridge City

431

SLP

0-0

5

Bastock

Tann

Wilkinson

Clarke

Mi

Sat 28 Mar

BIDEFORD

409

SLP

1-0

5

Bastock

Longden

Wilkinson

Mitchel-King

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 DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

F

T

B

F

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

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

Roberts

HILLIARD

Ferrari

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

DAVIES

Spring

Nolan

Roberts

Hilliard

Cracknell

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Nolan

ROBERTS

Hilliard

Frater N

Cracknell

Lee

Bickerstaff

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

Roberts

Ford

Farrell

Hilliard

Ferrari

Deeney

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

FRATER N

Roberts

HILLIARD

Ferrari

Deeney

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Dillon

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Frater N

ROBERTS

HILLIARD 2

Cracknell

Dillon

Frater

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Ferrari

Nolan

Frater

Ward

Davies

CRACKNELL

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Frater

Ward

Davies

SPRING

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Ferrari

Nolan

Frater

Ward

Cracknell

Spring

Mackey

Roberts

Ferrari

Hoyte

Hilliard

Davies

Ferrari

Hoyte

Ward

Davies

Spring

DILLON

ROBERTS 3

HILLIARD

Wilson

MACKEY

Cracknell

Ward

Hoyte

Davies

Spring

Dillon

Roberts

Hilliard

Mackey

Cracknell

Frater (N)

Deeney

Ward

Cracknell

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

Hutton

Plowright

Frater (N)

Hilliard

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

HUTTON

Davies

Plowright

Frater N Ferrari

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Frater N

Mackey

ROBERTS 2

Hutton

Davis

Davies

FRATER

Ward

Ferrari

Wilson

FRATER N

ROBERTS

Hutton

Vieira

Davis

Frater

Ward

Hutton

Ford

Frater N

Roberts

Plowright

Adjei

Mackey

Frater

Ward

HILLIARD

Wilkinson

Frater N

Roberts

Adjei

Plowright

Hutton

FORD

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Wilkinson

Frater N

Roberts

Ford

Adjei

Ferrari

Davis

Tann

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Mackey

Roberts

Wilkinson

Vieira

Adjei

Ford

Tann

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

Mackey

ROBERTS

Wilkinson

Vieira

Harty

Ferrari

MITCHEL-KING

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Ferrari

ROBERTS

Marango

Harty

Vieira

Ford

Mitchel-King

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Frater (N)

Roberts

Ferrari

Harty

Mitchel-King

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

Ferrari

Roberts

Frater (N)

Marango

Frater (R)

Harty

Mitchel-King

Ward

HILLIARD

Spring

CLARKE 3

ROBERTS 2

Longden

Harty

Bickerstaff

Vieira

Frater

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Clarke

Roberts

Wilson

Longden

Cracknell

Hobbs

Frater

WARD 2

Hilliard

Spring

CLARKE

Roberts

Longden

FRATER (N)

Wilson

Bickerstaff

Mitchel-King

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

FRATER (N)

Roberts

Longden

Ferarri

Mitchel-King

Ward

Hilliard

Spring

Frater (N)

Roberts

Longden

Harty

Frater (R)

Ferrari

Tann

Ward

Marango

Clarke

Frater (N)

Roberts

HILLIARD

Ferarri

Vieira

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 57

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION / 02.04.15

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

01

Poole Town

36

26

5

5

72

23

+49

83

02

Corby Town

39

25

7

7

76

41

+35

82

03

Truro City

39

23

5

11

71

53

+18

74

04

Weymouth

39

22

6

11

69

61

+8

72

05

St Neots Town

39

19

12

8

71

50

+21

69

06

Hungerford Town

39

18

12

9

54

32

+22

66

07

Redditch United

39

18

11

10

66

38

+28

65

08

Cirencester Town

39

18

10

11

71

49

+22

64

09

Hitchin Town

40

17

9

14

67

60

+7

60

10

Paulton Rovers

38

16

9

13

60

54

+6

57

11

Chippenham Town

39

15

10

14

51

49

+2

55

12

Chesham United

39

14

12

13

73

64

+9

54

13

Bideford

39

16

6

17

63

77

-14

54

14

Dunstable Town

40

15

7

18

62

68

-6

52

15

Cambridge City

39

12

13

14

64

58

+6

49

16

Slough Town

38

12

10

16

57

74

-17

46

17

Histon

39

11

9

19

45

66

-21

42

18

Dorchester Town

39

11

7

21

55

67

-12

40

19

Frome Town

39

10

8

21

47

74

-27

38

20

Biggleswade Town

39

8

12

19

51

71

-20

36

21

Arlesey Town

39

9

5

25

38

75

-37

32

22

Banbury United

37

5

9

23

39

82

-43

24

R

Burnham (-3)

39

5

8

26

41

77

-36

20

PAGE 58 /

ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V DUNSTABLE TOWN ISSUE 26

Showcasing an incredible limited edition collection

by JJ Adams - the biggest selling artist in the UK!

www.ilovemywalls.co.uk

Manager: David Batch Assistant Manager: Steve Eastaugh Goalkeeping Coach: Darren Plowman

Manager: Tony Fontanelle Assistant Manager: Gary Levy Physiotherapist: John Bell

Goalkeepers

Bartolomij Pedrycz

Paul Bastock

Charlie May

Jamie Greygoose

Garry Jones

Defenders

Charlie Smith

Josh Bickerstaff

David-Longe-King

Sam Harty

Shane Blackett

Adam Tann

Danny Talbot

Ryan Frater

Adam Watkins

Tom Ward

Charlie Henry

Jack Wilkinson

Jamale Mckenzie-Lowe

Theo Davis

Terry Dixon

Brett Longden

Christopher Marsh

Midfielders

Elliot Bailey

Dean Cracknell

David Lynn

Lee Clarke

Danny May

Ebey Marango

Kai Gardner

Matt Spring Lorenzo Ferrari Lewis Hilliard Mat Mitchel-King Forwards Bruce Wilson Chris Dillon Nathan Frater Matt Nolan Drew Roberts Luis Vieira Dan Hobbs Colours Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours Red & Black Shirts, Red Shorts & Socks

The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Referee: James Turner Assistants: Michael Wheeler / Ireneos Christodoulou Next Home Game: St Neots Town v Chippenham Town Southern League Premier Division / Saturday 18th April / 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.