ST NEOTS TOWN Cambridge City ISSUE 12: THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE £2.00 Red Insure Southern League Knockout Cup
INSIDE
Issue 12 V Cambridge City Red Insure Southern League Knockout Cup
Also Inside 06 Saints’ Record in Red Insure Cup 08 Match Report - Dunstable Town 10 Greenies Greetings 12 Chairman’s Views
18
20
14 Pull-Out Poster 16 Action Replay 26 Away Days - Poole Town
The Stars Who Got Us To Step 3 / This week we salute Tim Trebes
Todays’ Visitors / A warm welcome to The Lilywhites!
04
24
View From The Dugout / Batchy reviews recent performances
Non-League Paper / Showcasing the tales of Salford City and the ‘Class of 92’
Owner Mike Kearns
Fiest Team Coach John Beck
Chairman Mike Kearns
Club Secretary Gary Wilson
Managing Director Lee Kearns
Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard
Director Iain Parr
Life President John Walker
Football Manager David Batch
Team Officials Darren Plowman (Goalkeeping Coach)
Assistant Manager Steve Eastaugh
28 Home & Opposition Squads
Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt Physio Carol Holland Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley
Programme Editor Mark Davies Club Photographer Claire Howes Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green Programme Sales Charlie Green
Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson Pitchcare Working Turf Design & Marketing Blue Prawn Print XL Press Limited
Club Merchandise Linda Walters
WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 03
Hello to all from our near neighbours Cambridge City I hope you enjoy your evening with us. Well two clean sheets in a row against Bedworth in the FA Trophy and Dunstable in the league and both very different matches. Against Bedworth we really were in control for the full ninety minutes and restricted our opponents to just one chance in our last third in time added on by the referee. Compared to us achieving 47 opportunities in their last third scoring two goals that won the match. Not forgetting that we were playing a team from our own division makes that even more pleasing. We are trying to tweak our playing style a little due to the unavailability of players and as I said to the players in the team meeting we are giving you a couple more clubs in you bag (a golfing term) of course this will take time and players decisions on the ball will reflect that but as time goes on we will improve. Our win against Dunstable was again a clean sheet but a very different game to play in where for many parts of the game Dunstable dictated the tempo
and we had to defend very well to stop them scoring. Our opponents were on a run of being undefeated in their last eight league matches so were playing with confidence as all teams do when the go on a long undefeated sequence. We knew they would be hard to beat and we made a decision to play Lee who really should not have played but Lee as always declared himself fit and Ryan who also declared himself fit after an ankle injury. Ryan really was not 100% fit but we thought we would let him play and see how he went, as we would have 10 days to get him fit again for the FA trophy match against Hungerford if he had a relapse. Unfortunately that’s just what Ryan had and we had to take him off late in the game. We gave an outing to Drew on the bench but only in extreme circumstances would we have put him on the pitch, as another 10 days fitness training would serve him well moving forward. Wardy took a knock to his ankle and is yet another injury to add to the list hopefully he will be ready for selection for tonight’s match but we might just give him a little more time. Getting back to the Dunstable game and gaining a win with a clean sheet and our backs to the wall is sometimes not a bad thing as long of course you get that vital victory as it gives
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confidence to the defence and of course plenty of practice in defending, very satisfying for any defender to keep a clean sheet. Funny looking at Poole Town over the last nine months just how many times do they win by just the only goal of the game, too many for our liking but they also have that little piece of luck or maybe it isn’t in that they seem to gain quite a lot of penalties that win games. That’s now 3 games undefeated for us and tonight’s Red Insure cup match will be one we want to win but certainly not at any cost as we have a very important match this Saturday against a very strong Hungerford Town who we drew with in our away league encounter earlier in the season. Our confidence is growing our injured players are getting closer to fitness and if we win our league games in hand we will be right up there in the mix for promotion. Every team is vulnerable to losing and no more than Leaminton who lost at home to our opponents tonight in what was an outstanding win for City on the night. So keep the faith as its not over till its over and our season will undoubtedly go as it did last season right to the very end. Batchy
TOM WARD SCORES AGAINST BEDWORTH
RECORD IN RED INSURE CUP COMPETITION Season
Opponents
Round
Venue
Score
Scorers
2011/12
Bedford T.
R1
(A)
(L) 1-3
Moore
2012/13
Hitchin T.
R1
(A)
(L) 0-2
-
2013/14
Hitchin T.
R1
(H)
(W) 5-0
Woolley (2), Hilliard, Deeney, N’Guessan
Corby T.
R2
(H)
(W) 3-0
Hilliard, Davies, Wilson
Dunstable T.
R3
(A)
(W) 3-0
Hilliard, Davies, Ford
Royston T.
Q/F
(H)
(W) 3-2
Hilliard, Davies, Nolan
Redditch
S/F
(A)
(W) 3-1
Hilliard (3)
Tiverton T.
Final 1
(A)
(D) 0-0
-
Tiverton T.
Final 2
(H)
(W) 1-0
Hilliard
2014/15
Royston T.
R1
(A)
(D) 2-2 (lost 2-4 on penalties)
Ferrari, Adjei
2015/16
St Ives T.
R1
(H)
(W) 2-1
Clarke, Hawkins
Cambridge City
R2
(H)
(Details compiled by John Walker, President, St Neots Town F.C.)
PAGE 06 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CAMBRIDGE CITY ISSUE 12
ST NEOTS TOWN 1 DUNSTABLE TOWN 0 Southern League Premier Division / 20.10.2015 / At: 197 / Referee: Andrew Aylott (Kempston)
St Neots picked up three valuable points as they knocked off one of their matches in hand moving up seven places in the league table to eleventh. The victory came courtesy of Tom Meechan’s eighteenth league and cup goal of the season and made some reparation for the defeat suffered at Dunstable just two weeks earlier. The Bedfordshire visitors were the form side in the Premier Division having put together an unbeaten run of eight league matches prior to their visit to the Premier Plus Stadium and they could well have extended that run if they had taken their second half chances. St Neots welcomed back to the starting lineup Ryan Hawkins after injury and Lee Clarke after surgery and there was an appearance on the bench for an almost match-fit Drew Roberts but his services were not utilised. However joining the queue outside the treatment room will be defender Tom Ward who had to limp off after just 21 minutes to be replaced by Adan Tann. Making his first return to St Neots in goal for the visitors was Paul Bastock and he was busy early on carefully watching Lee Clarke’s header past a post and then making a comfortable save from another header by the same player. At the other end Dunstable’s first real attack produced a dipping shot from David Keenleyside that zipped just wide of the far post. With the versatile Adam Tann coming on as a direct replacement for Tom Ward St Neots seemed unperturbed by
their enforced change and from a Ryan Hawkins cross Isaac Galliford shot across the face of goal. St Neots were making most of the running with skipper Matt MichelKing shooting wide and Bastock having to leave his line smartly to block Tom Meechan’s low shot. They were attacking with Meechan alone up front with Lee Clarke slotted in behind him but their goal came from a fairly familiar direct route as after 37 minutes Jamie Anton’s long ball forward was well controlled by Hawkins and Meechan turned quickly to slot home. It was no more than their positive approach deserved and two minutes later as Meechan burst through again he was brought down by Adam Pepera earning the defender a yellow card. Dunstable’s best first half chance came right on the break when Luke Pennell found some space from a Keenleyside corner but he headed tamely wide. Bastock set the tone for the Dunstable improvement four minutes after the restart when he did really well to get behind a firm shot from Hawkins through a packed penalty area. With Steve Wales their new signing from St Albans on as a substitute they began to look the better side and each time he got the ball wide player Victor Osobu looked capable of running the St Neots defence ragged.
Andy Wilton produced the save of the match at full stretch to foil Osobu and Connor Calcutt was clear but shot wide when scoring looked easier. When Wilton dropped a shot by Pennell, Shane Blackett was on hand to save his keeper’s blushes and as Dunstable maintained their attacking approach Blackett became the rock in an under pressure St Neots defence. The visitors were reduced to ten men a quarter of an hour from time when Pepera picked up a second yellow card for scything down Hawkins but this setback did not deter the visitors. St Neots were now concentrating on survival although Mitchel-King should have directed a header from a Galliford corner better than over the bar. The visitors’ final chance to salvage a point came as the match moved into added time when Steve Wales volleyed over the bar from a corner. St Neots now have a chance to repair the wounded with no Saturday match as scheduled opponents Chesham are still engaged in the FA Cup so they have a full week to prepare for the visit of neighbours Cambridge City in the next round of the Red Insure Cup.
John Walker
St Neots Town
Dunstable Town
Wilton, Anton, Hall, Beech, Ward, Blackett, Clarke, Mitchel-King, Meechan, Hawkins, Galliford. Subs: Tann (for Ward 21), Horne (for Beech 71), Ofosu (for Clarke 77), Roberts and Vieira. Cards: Mitchel-King (Y – 13), Beech (Y – 42), Horne (Y – 83) Goals: Meechan (37 mins)
Bastock, Reynolds, Pennell, Talbot, Kaloczi, Pepera, Watkins, Keenleyside, Calcutt, Gregory, Osobu. Subs: Wales (for Calvert 62 mins), Roache (for Osobu 77), Wharton (for Keenleyside 77), Vardy and Mackenzie-Lowe. Cards: Pepara (RED – 2xY 74), Watkins (Y – 90+2) Goals: None
PAGE 08 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CAMBRIDGE CITY ISSUE 12
WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 09
GREENIES GREETINGS
It won’t be long before SUPER DREW is back knocking in the goals again regularly Good evening everyone and welcome back to The Premier Plus Stadium, home of St Neots Town Football Club and The Mick George Academy, for tonight’s Red Insure Southern League Knockout Cup tie. Tonight we extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and of course the travelling supporters of our near neighbours Cambridge City and we hope you have an enjoyable evening with us here in St Neots. I don’t want to say this too loudly but maybe, just maybe, things are beginning to look up for us as the horrendous injury problems we have encountered so far this season look to be subsiding and performances are improving with the return of influential pieces in the team jigsaw. Tuesday saw us follow up Saturday’s FA Trophy win over Bedworth United with a very good, hard earned victory over Dunstable Town here at the PPS (Premier Plus Stadium). The visitors came riding high on the back of an eight game unbeaten run which included the recent three-nil
drubbing of ourselves a couple of weeks back and it was going to be a super strike by the Division’s top scorer, Tom Meechan, which was to secure the points for ourselves in a pulsating match which could easily have gone either way. The best sight of the evening, much to the delight of the home support and especially the vocal members of ‘The Corner’ who, for the first time, had infiltrated the ranks in the main stand, was the return to the First Team of Drew Roberts, who was included for the first time this season, taking his place among the substitutes and although he didn’t get to be involved in the action, it won’t be long before SUPER DREW is back knocking in the goals again regularly. Going back to the FA Trophy, we will face Hungerford Town here at the
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PPS next Saturday (14th November) in the Second Round Qualifying, kicking off at 15:00, so please, spread the word and lets get a decent crowd in to back the lads. Ok, back to tonight’s match. I apologise for the lack of any PA announcements in advance due to me being unable to change my shift and hope that this doesn’t detract too much from what should be a very entertaining game. Don’t forget, if the scores are level at the end of ninety minutes, we go straight to a penalty shoot-out, so get behind the team in the right manner and let’s ensure that we get the result at the end of the normal game. PUMP UP THE VOLUME GREENY
Welcome to the Officials, Players and Supporters of Cambridge City, I hope you enjoy your evening at the Premier Plus Stadium tonight. Cambridge City are of course managed by one of the longest serving Managers in non league football being Gary Roberts (below) who has been at the helm for over 13 years.
hopefully a little different and that we come out winners.
just how hard it is to beat any team in our league.
Mind you we did give them a roasting a few years back at their old home where we were quite unstoppable that day.
However it just did not give me that wow factor.
I think every time Gary’s team beats he says to himself “Take that”. Moving on to our last few results we have progressed in the FA Trophy by beating Bedworth and earned a home fixture against our league rivals Hungerford Town of which is maybe a tie neither of us wanted as both would want to test themselves against new opposition. Still that’s the luck of the draw as they say and lets hope we can progress next Saturday.
Knowing Gary for many years now and I must say mostly on the back of a win by city over us is in my opinion one of the very best managers around. Of course it is not easy to persuade players to join a club with no home ground and having to ground share as city have done for the last three seasons and for the immediate future, but Gary seems to pull it together every season and puts together a very capable side so THE MACK IS BACK! I expect tonight’s match to be
Our recent FA Trophy Match against Bedworth was in my opinion a little bit of a bore win, sorry to say that but it really did not excite me in the way that our Hunts senior cup win against Yaxley did. In saying that Bedworth play in the same division as us and we all know
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Then after speaking to David I realised that we not only won a cup tie by two goals but we kept a clean sheet and had 47 opportunities in the last third of the pitch where Bedworth had only one opportunity and that was in the last minutes of the game. So I suppose I was wrong in my view and looking back it must have been an entertaining match after all. The lesson for me to learn from that moment is that sometimes my view on what I see maybe clouded by for instance my mood, as I was not feeling very well that afternoon. Or maybe I just did not concentrate on the game as a whole. Looking back now, who wouldn’t take a win and a clean sheet in any cup match, which just goes to show sometimes our take on what we think we watched is not what actually happened and our judgment is sometimes clouded by other things. We then went on to play our return league fixture against Dunstable and no my judgment of our last performance in the away fixture at Dunstable was not clouded, lets say to be kind to ourselves we were not very good that night.
TOM MEECHAM ON THE ATTACK AGAINST DUNSTABLE TOWN
Well what a difference a few weeks make where we came away with a very gritty win against Dunstable Town to move us from 17th position to 11th position in the league. Last Saturdays league match away to Chesham had to be postponed due to Chesham’s progress in the FA Cup which left us with a
that match right now. Full circle over only three weeks, funny how football works and how often when you play a team in the cup you have to play them very soon after in the league.
But lets hope its not like my last time away when we had the Tilbury FA Cup fiasco and also the wheels on the bus stopped turning with a puncture on the way to Worthing.
As for me I will be absent without leave from tonight’s match and the next couple of fixtures as I’m having a break in Dubai, yes I know always away but come on I am the owner of non league football club and believe me the stress that brings I need as
And also my wife informed me that the break before that was one of something going wrong as well. So maybe I should not go away in the future, well I have had a ten second thought about that and said to my self what would you all do. So see you all in a couple of weeks.
“The lesson for me to learn from that moment is that sometimes my view on what I see maybe clouded by for instance my mood, as I was not feeling very well that afternoon.” blank Saturday of which in normal circumstances would be a bit of a disappointment, but not at this moment, its gives us more time to get our injured players nearer to full fitness also tonight’s red insure cup match will also help with that process. Yet another game in hand so again we need to win games in hand and we will be right up there.
many breaks as I can get as the tension drives me mad.
Next Saturday is FA Trophy day and the following Saturday we play in the league at home to our friends from Bedworth again. I would take a two goal win and a clean sheet for
I have ensured I have Wi-Fi connection when I’m out in Dubai so I can keep up with all the matches I am missing, please keep the twitter match feed going for me.
Finally a very happy 21st birthday
to Claire Holloway our birthday girl who bangs that big drum at every game we play, and of course with her partner Ryan are two of our most avid supporters. Sorry I could not make the party and hope you all have a great time. I will toast your milestone birthday with a nice drink around the pool at 38 degrees in Dubai. All for one and one for all Mike
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 13
SHANE GETS A HEADER IN
HE NETS THE WINNER
IT’S THERE
From four years ago – our first ever match in the Red Insure Cup Evo-Stik Southern League (Red Insure) Cup – Round One (1October/2011)
BEDFORD TOWN 3 - 1 ST NEOTS TOWN St Neots bowed out of the Southern League Cup at the first hurdle beaten by their Premier Division near neighbours Bedford Town. However they gave a good account of themselves and a third goal for the host side in time added on after 90 minutes gave them a flattering level of victory. The defining moment came just past the hour a minute after Bedford had taken the lead. Skipper Lewis Webb found himself unmarked eight yards from an open net but he looped his free header over the crossbar. Had he scored it would have been game on but Bedford prospered from this let off and settled down to control much of the last 20 minutes. This miss was symptomatic of St Neots play at present - they create enough chances to win games but they fail to convert them. Back in the fold and preferred up front to Shane Tolley, Dan Jacob looked lively in the opening twenty minutes linking well with Stefan Moore. It was Moore who had the first chance beating a defender to the ball to collect an Adrian Sear forward pass but his chip over the advancing keeper was wide. However after 13 minutes another through pass split
the home defence and this time Stefan Moore netted with a crisp low finish. Jacob then crossed for Mwanyongo to volley into the side netting and it was 19 minutes before Bedford created a serious opening and then James Faulkner headed over from a corner. However three minutes later the scored were levelled as Gareth Price slipped a short pass to leading Bedford scorer Drew Roberts and he neatly sidestepped a defender to beat Duggan from twelve yards. Duggan then made a good save to deny Ollie Thorne and with twelve minutes to go before the break home skipper Gavin Hoyte was led off with a cut head not returning until nine minutes later. During that time Stefan Moore had two chances chipping wide after clever work by Jacob and then firing over the bar. Hoyte did not reappear after the break replaced by Manny Richardson and Drew Robertson almost put the hosts ahead after showing fine skill but his shot was just wide. Chris Hope joined the attack for a corner bringing a fine save from Michael Kavanagh and Paul Cooper cleared off the line from Jordan Gent
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following another corner. Then after 62 minutes Gareth Price dummied a Jamie Cole through pass allowing James Faulkner to put Bedford ahead. Webb’s headed miss prompted a change of St Neots tactics with Shane Tolley and Neil Mackenzie on for Hilliard and Mwanyongo but Bedford were looking the more comfortable and Duggan had to produce the save of the match to deny Roberts and keep St Neots slim hopes alive. This was in vain because two minutes into added time a Roberts free kick was blocked but it fell to Jamie Cole who smashed the ball past the unsighted Duggan.
St Neots: Duggan, Deeney, Steer, Webb, Gent, Hope, Hilliard, Sear, Moore, Jacob, Mwanyongo Subs: Tolley (for Mwanyongo 64 mins), Mackenzie (for Hilliard 64 mins), Konadu (for Deeney 81 mins), Avory & Greene. Man of Match: Adrian Sear Report: John Walker
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TIM TREBES PAGE 18 /
ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CAMBRIDGE CITY ISSUE 12
THE STARS WHO GOT US TO STEP THREE Tim was a reliable goalkeeper who played second fiddle for much of our UCL championship season to Luke McShane. He made his debut in our 6-0 away thrashing of neighbours Eynesbury Rovers in the league KO Cup and went on to make 25 appearances. When we joined the Southern League he was again understudy to Michael Duggan and made just one Southern League appearance at home to Bedworth when Duggan was serving a one match suspension. Unable to displace Duggan he moved on, Tim eventually found his way to St Ives Town FC where he represented them in our recent Red Insure Cup Fixture.
Career Record MATCHES PLAYED 26 GOALS SCORED Nil APPEARANCES IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE ERA 1 GOALS SCORED (2011/12 ONWARDS) Nil
WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 19
TODAY’S VISITORS
CAMBRIDGE CITY
Still nomadic after losing their Milton Road ground, City are now ‘lodging’ at St Ives awaiting the development og their new facilities A very special welcome for our next Southern League Premier Division engagement with our near neighbours Cambridge City our visitors this evening for a second round tie in the Red Insure Cup. We still have our two league meetings to follow later in the season but tonight is all about winning a place in the last sixteen of the Southern League Cup competition. For our lads it is only our second appearance at this stage of the competition in our five seasons of involvement. Our previous appearance at this stage was two seasons ago when we went all the way to lift the Trophy here in the second leg of the Final against Tiverton Town. On the three other occasions we suffered first round defeats – all away from home. This season we progressed to this match via a 2-1 home victory over St Ives Town – the landlords of tonight’s visitors, whilst City accounted for Dunstable Town at Creasey Park where we suffered our most recent away league defeat.
Last season we were beaten in the competition away at Royston Town in a dramatic sudden death penalty shoot-out whilst City also suffered a first round KO by two goals to one away at Biggleswade Town. A quick glance at a recent league table shows that our two teams have made a similar start to the league campaign. After completing 13 league matches City had 21 points and our lads 20 – both with games in hand of all of the clubs ahead of them in the table so this evening promises to be a closely fought affair. CLUB HISTORY Cambridge City re-joined the Southern League in 2008/009 after an absence of five seasons. Previously, City had played there for 46 seasons from 1958/59 until a last day victory in 2003/04 confirmed the Club’s elevation to the newly formed Conference South Division. City’s enforced demotion from Conference South at the end of 2007/08 was due
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to its ground failing an FA grading, rather than the team finishing in the relegation zone. This decision ended 22 consecutive seasons in the 2nd tier of non-league football and is only the 3rd relegation in the Club’s history. It was also scant reward for City spending time and resources taking High Court action to preserve the use of its ground. A judgement delivered in September 2007 found that City had been the victims of bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation in a deal done by outgoing directors to sell its Milton Road ground. The Court restored the Club’s previous lease, which runs until 2010, and its right to half of future development profits. That City actually made it to their centenary year of 2008 is an achievement for the Club and its supporters. In the dark days of early 2006, the previous Board announced plans to have City absorbed into Cambridge United. The plan was to sell Milton Road, scrap the first team and turn City’s youth
Year founded: 1908 Nickname: The Lilywhites Chairman: Kevin Satchell
Website: www.cambridgecityfc.com Stadium: Westwood Rd (St Ives)
Previous Meetings: 2013/14 St Neots 1-2 Cambridge 2013/14 Cambridge 3-2 St Neots
team into a United feeder side. A fans’ campaign forced Directors to resign, to be replaced by members of the Cambridge City Supporters’ Trust. The new Board kept the club alive and discovered the evidence which led to the successful High Court action.
1962/63, again edging out United in an enthralling title race. The absence of a pyramid system and automatic promotion put a lid on City’s ambitions. Nevertheless, City were regular challengers for the title and had the highest attendances in nonleague football up until the mid-1960s. But City lost their way and were relegated to Southern League Division 1 in 1967-68. Promotion back to the Premier Division followed in 1969/70, but this was the same season Cambridge United was elected to the Football League. City were left to reflect that, in 12 Southern League seasons together, they had finished above United in 8 of them. City went on to finish Southern League runners up in 1970/71.
ignore the views of City supporters. Protests forced out most of the Board and the club remained in the Southern League.
The club was formed in 1908 as Cambridge Town, winning several titles and cups in its early years. Cambridge moved on to the Spartan League, winning three league titles between 1945-50. When Cambridge was granted City status in 1951, Town and Eastern Counties League neighbours Abbey United both applied to change their name to Cambridge City. Town’s application was first to arrive at the Cambs FA and was accepted, leaving Abbey United to change their name to Cambridge United. City finally left the amateur game in 1958 and joined the Southern League, gaining promotion in their first season at the expense of Cambridge United and going on to win the Premier Division in
The period from 1975-1985 was dreadful. Relegation in 1975/76 was followed by dwindling crowds and a Board decision in 1977 to return to amateur status by joining the Isthmian League. However, as in 2006, Directors were to find they could not
City improved and a new generation of fans mobbed their heroes after the 1985/86 Southern League South championship was won on the last day of the season. City have reached the 1st round of the FA Cup five times and the 2nd round once since 1993 - this is a far better record than achieved by the more illustrious City sides of the 1960s. Manager Gary Roberts has stayed loyal to the club through its recent uncertainties and is now in his 8th season as manager. The enthusiastic fans of the ‘Shed’ made Milton Road one of the noisier grounds in Conference South. However at the start of the 2013/14 season they were made homeless and entered in to ground share arrangement with former Conference neighbours Histon.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 25
WHO’S WHO
THE LILYWHITES
GARY ROBERTS
ZACHARY BARRETT
GARY ROBERTS Gary was appointed manager in January 2003. He previously took St.Albans from a relegation situation to promotion candidates and before that the same with Baldock Town. His playing career included over 200 games for Brentford and spells with Barnet, Maidstone and Welling in the Conference. In the early ‘90s he enjoyed a short time as a player at City . NEIL MIDGLEY In summer 2013 Neil was appointed as first team coach. Neil is a product of Ipswich Town’s Academy but he made his name at Barnet where he scored freely. He moved on to Kettering Town via Canvey Island. Neil had a three month loan spell with City in 2006 before returning to Kettering for three weeks when he made the move to City permanent. Neil has made over 200 appearances for City. ZACHARY BARRETT Zac is a goalkeeper who joined Luton Town at the age of 11 and progressed through their colts teams into their Academy. He earned a 3 year contract and was a regular in the reserve team through season 2006/07 but injury curtailed his appearances. He was released from his contract on financial grounds and signed for City in September 2008
TOM PEPPER
CHARLIE DAY
and has been ever present since then until last season when he missed most of the season through injury.
with Glen Fuff and latterly Dave Theobald. Lee is also the teams emergency goalkeeper .
TOM PEPPER Tom is essentially a rightback but can also play on the left. He is now in his third spell at City having initially being signed from Hitchin Town. He returned to Hitchin in 2012 before coming back to City and had a brief spell at Royston Town before returning to City.
DAN GLEESON Dan was signed by Cambridge United Academy from Cambridge City Academy as an under 14. He went on to earn a contract at United and played for their first team over 100 times. He then had spells with Mansfield Town and Luton Town before signing for Lowestoft Town in 2012. Dan has also earned seven England C caps.
CHARLIE DAY Charlie is a product of Histon’s Scholarship programme and made his 1st team debut at the age of 17 and has gone one to make over 50 appearances at leftback or midfield. He signed for City in summer 2014. DURAN REYNOLDS Duran can play either leftback or centreback or midfield and is a product of Histon’s Academy. He has previously played for Barrow, Dagenham & Redbridge and Boston United . LEE CHAFFEY Lee is a centreback/leftback signed by City after being released by Ipswich Town after five years in the Portman Road Academy. Lee, now in his twelfth season at City, played initially at leftback before forming a formidable central partnership initially
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ADAM MURRAY Adam is a centrehalf signed from Mildenhall Town early last season. He was widely regarded as the best centrehalf in The Thurlow Nunn League at the time .and soon justified that status with strong performances for City. BUSTER HARRADINE Buster joined City in the summer of 2014 after two successful seasons with Soham Town Rangers where he scored freely. Buster plays on either wing or centre midfield and prior to his spell at Soham, he plied his trade with several county league clubs. Buster was voted supporters player of the year last season.
Michael Malcolm (Striker) Michael is a striker who at the age of 14 was transferred from Wycombe Wanderers to Tottenham Hotspur. In 2000 he signed a contract with Stockport County and whilst there he attracted the interest of Werder Bremen. Since his time at Stockport he has playd for various (then ) Conference clubs including Weymouth, Kettering and Rushden & Diamonds. He signed for City on the eve of this season.
BUSTER HARRADINE ALEX SERRANO Spanish born Alejandro was previously with AD Colmenar Viejo in the Spanish league. Alex plays in centre or right midfield and showed great promise in his summer trial at City. DANNY KELLY Danny signed for City in August 2011 having previously played for Eastbourne Boro, Dover Athletic and Barnet. Danny scored freely in this spell including two hattricks in consecutive matches. Unfortunately for City, Danny decided to give life a chance in Australia. On his return to England in March 2014, he had no hesitation in rejoining City and helped the team to a playoff place the following season..
DANNY KELLY
IEUAN LEWIS
IEUAN LEWIS Ieuan was signed from Hitchin Town in October 2012 after making 200 appearances for the Hertfordshire club. He is equally at home on right or left of midfield and has played many times at rightback for City. Ieuan played for Arlesey Town and Stevenage Town before Hitchin. JOSH DAWKIN Josh is English born but has represented Wales at under 17 and under 19. He is a product of Norwich City’s Academy and had spells with Braintree and Lowestoft Town before joining City in the summer of 2013. Josh featured in all but one league game two seasons ago ,finishing as second leading goalscorer from left wing.
JOSH DAWKIN
JON KAYE Jon is a local lad who had a short spell with City 3 seasons ago before going off to Bath University. He rejoined City last season initially for the reserves but soon found himself in the first team squad. Jon is a rightsided midfielder or rightback. JOEL NORRIS Joel has been a prolific scorer in lower leagues, scoring 76 goals in 84 matches for Welwyn Garden City before signing for Bedford town and continueing his form in the early stages of this season.
WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 27
IF you watched the first part of the Salford City documentary on the BBC last Thursday, you probably know more about striker Gareth Seddon than you ever wanted or wished. For anyone who has been wrapped up in the latest TV box set, the Evo-Stik NPL Premier club are owned by the Class of ’92 – Neville brothers Gary and Phil, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
The club throws the doors open to everything. We even eavesdrop on the conversation between the famous five that sealed the fate of former manager Phil Power. Gary Neville is clearly at the forefront, keen to know everything that’s going on – the conversation with chairman Karen Baird about the club’s illegal Sky box a particularly amusing snippet. Could their involvement be a sign of things to come? Lots of Premier League footballers are earning lots of money. Whereas in the past many would need to get a proper job or move into coaching and
What shone through the programme, however, was the dedication and commitment from the volunteers. Take turnstile operator Jim, who also built the new toilet block, or Babs running the snack bar. That’s what football is all about at this level, away from the Premier League bubble and the over-inflated egos and prices. You can have all the backing in the world, but at this level you still need the heart and love of people prepared to give up their time for nothing. Burgers don’t flip themselves and weeds don’t just disappear from the terraces. This very programme you’re reading now was no doubt put together with the help of volunteers and free contributions.
Their arrival last summer received the predictable mixed reaction. Some say good for the game, others wondering when the circus would leave town. As well as Seddon, a model by day, on the toilet and dancing around in his pants, the documentary – Class of ’92: Out of their League – showed how committed the Manchester United greats are.
in their first season and an FA Cup first round proper appearance this weekend.
The harsh reality of Non-League football is volunteers are on the decline. In the modern world, time is at a premium and, for some, there are better things to be doing. management to keep bringing home the bacon, the retiring footballers of today probably have more time on their hands and more disposable income. It’s a great way to give something back to the game. Take on a local club, help blood young talent and contribute to grass-roots. Of course the Class of ’92 have already been rewarded for their troubles. Promotion from Step 4
PAGE 24 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CAMBRIDGE CITY ISSUE 12
As a consequence committees are slimming down and the remaining stalwarts are taking on more jobs just to keep clubs going. With it, I fear, we’ll see more clubs just slip away. So, if you’ve got some spare time put your hand up and become a Non-League hero. Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper @SteveConey_NLP
PAGE 26 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V CAMBRIDGE CITY ISSUE 12
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Manager: David Batch Assistant Manager: Steve Eastaugh First Team Coach: John Beck Goalkeeping Coach: Darren Plowman
Manager: Gary Roberts Player Coach: Neil Midgley
Goalkeepers
Line Up From:
Andrew Wilton
01: Zac Barrett
Ollie Sutton
02: Tom Pepper 03: Charlie Day
Defenders
04: Duran Reynolds
Brett Longden
05: Dan Gleeson
Jack Wilkinson
06: Buster Harradine (Captain)
Adam Tann (Captain)
07: Ieuan Lewis
Tom Ward
08: Jon Kaye
Connor Hall
09: Michael Malcolm
Jamie Anton
10: Danny Kelly
Sam Harty
11: Josh Dawkin
Shane Blackett 12: Joel Norris Midfielders
14: Alex Serrano
Ryan Hawkins
15: Fernando Garcia
Lee Clarke
16: Adam Murray
Mat Mitchel-King
17: Neil Midgley
Guy Mailamcol Remy Gordon Josh Beech Forwards Drew Roberts Tom Meechan Nathan Frater
Colours Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks
Colours White Shirts, Black Shorts & Black/White Socks
The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Referee: Richard Hart Assistant 1: Ian Wilson Assistant 2: George Younger
Next Home Game: Hungerford Town FA Trophy Saturday 14th November / KO 15:00
As a Club we support Grass Roots Football and stand firm against racism within football, visit www.thefa.com for more information on playing your part.