Saints vs Biggleswade Town

The Official Matchday Magazine

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Tuesday 12th November 2013 Kick-Off 19.45pm

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WELCOME

Welcome to Rowley Park - The Cozy Stadium and to the latest edition of the Saints Matchday Magazine, enjoy great football, great hospitality and a great read.

Inside This Issue

Club Honours

03 Management Notes

27

Fan Feature

Southern Football League

04 Action Replay

28

Weird Football Stories

Division One champions, 1 time

05 Uhlsport Feature

30

Football Funnies

United Counties League

08/09 Match Reports

32

Game For A Laugh

10/11 Player Profile

33

Fixtures Matrix

12 Greenies Greetings

35

Fixtures Information

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

14 Greatest Matches Ever

37

The Non-League Paper

16 A Blast From The Past

38

League Focus

17 Chairmans’ Views

39

Non-League Club News

18/21 Opponent Feature

40/41

Season Statistics

22/23 Pull Out Poster

42

League Table

44

The Teams

24

The Beautiful Game

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Champions, 1 time League Cup winners, 1 time Professional Cup winners, 1 time South Midlands League Champions, 1 time Huntingdonshire League Champions, 4 times

Club Officials

02

Metropolitan League

Owner Mike Kearns Chairman Mike Kearns Managing Director Lee Kearns Director Iain Parr Joint First Team Managers Gary King / Zema Abbey Assistant First Team Manager Nathan Abbey Club Secretary Gary Wilson Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard Treasurer Keith Gotch Life President John Walker Life Vice-Presidents Ena Kester Jack Blyth

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Mel Hancock Ken Harris David Mackian Terry Reedman Stuart Walters Team Officials Ben Watts (Assistant Coach) Richard King (Goalkeeping Coach) Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt Physio Carol Holland St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley Club Merchandise Linda Walters Programme Editor Mark Davies Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas

Winners, 37 times

Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green

Winners, 2 times

Club Photographer Claire Howes Assistant Photographer Paulo Soares

Hinchingbrooke Cup

Club Information

Programme Sales Charlie Green

Founded 1879

Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson

Rowley Park, Kester Way St Neots PE19 6SL

Pitchcare Working Turf

01480 470012

200 Club Stuart Walters Design & Marketing Blueprawn Print XL Press Limited

The Cozy Stadium

Telephone Email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Website www.stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Forum www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

MANAGEMENT NOTES All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

A Different Challenge Gary King Good Evening Everybody and welcome to our opponents this evening Biggleswade Town FC and congratulations on your fine FA Cup run which, unfortunately, came to an end on Saturday.

It was great to have Ed return to fitness for Saturday’s game. Having players return to fitness is always

a boost to the squad. Every player is a valuable member of the squad and we miss whoever is unavailable.

I am hoping to have Searsie back in the next 7 to 10 days aswell as bringing in a fresh face or two in order to strengthen the squad. For us, our priority is getting a settled squad of 16 to 18 players and working with it week in week out, rotating it wherever required and to slowly, but surely, move up the table. The management team knows that it will be the squad, and not just an 11, that will get us out of trouble. Within the squad when we cross the white line we will fight for every inch because in the end we know that is the difference between

winning and losing. We have to be prepared to earn the right to win a game of football and then, as seen on Saturday, the football will shine through. I thought we played some great football on Saturday combined with a steely determination to not lose.

Thank you for the atmosphere you created on the day, your vocal support was appreciated and I hope you will carry that atmosphere into tonight’s game – it makes a difference. Get behind us and, hopefully, we can put two back to back wins together.

‘Kingy’

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Tonight’s game will be a completely different challenge. Unlike Hemel, Biggleswade will be very direct; they play percentage football and will crash balls in and around our defenders all night long. We will need to be prepared for a battle. Tonight’s three points are equally important to both teams and I envisage a game that will be hard fought and, hopefully, an exciting encounter with the right result.

All of the lads were willing listeners, worked hard and carried out the jobs asked of them.

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I felt Saturday’s team performance against Hemel was outstanding and a continuation of the performance given a week earlier at Matlock but this time with the right result. Indeed, in my notes before the Hemel game I was confident enough to state the game ‘was a game we could win’ so whilst I was aware few people saw it coming it came as no surprise to me. The whole team delivered an honest shift and got what they deserved. All of the lads were willing listeners, worked hard and carried out the jobs asked of them. I was pleased at how they stuck to the task and nullified Hemel’s main threats on the day. We had Hemel watched in their 10-0 demolition of Bashley the previous week and Zema and Nathan had already come up against them this season so the knowledge we had compiled on them was very important in ascertaining the right result. Of course, we shouldn’t get carried away; at the end of the day it was just three points and we are still in an area of the table we need to move away from.

03

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ACTION REPLAY

04

This week four years ago (with Niall on the bench) UCL Premier Division: 7th November 2009 St Neots Town 3

Northampton Spencer 0

St Neots had a score to settle having lost unexpectedly at the hands of Spencer in September and they achieved that objective with a victory even more convincing than the score line suggests.

In the first minute Jacobs was played clear but forced wide of goal and had to settle for a corner. Liam Harrold had three early headed attempts on goal putting the first wide and failing to extend visiting keeper Brendan Healey with the other two chances.

However after soaking up the early pressure Spencer went behind after 21 minutes when after a build up involving Michael Hyem and Jacobs it was Tony Scully who cut in from the right to score with a low left foot effort that seemed to catch the keeper unsighted. Three minutes later only a goal line clearance by Joe Merrill denied Jordan Gent a second St Neots goal but then Hughes was carried off to be replaced by Ben Colmer making his first senior appearance of the season.

For a while St Neots lost their rhythm and much of the play became scrappy and disjointed. Spencer produced their first direct shot at goal eight minutes before the break – a free kick from Phil Cassidy comfortably gathered by McShane and then St Neots rejuvenated and began to dominate again. Healey produced the save of the match to tip over a perfectly placed header

by Jacobs from a Scully cross and then the same players combined again with the keeper saving well from Jacobs. However the debutant was not to be denied and in first half added time he neatly finished off a cross from Scully after his first effort was parried.

Ben Colmer almost marked his senior debut with a goal five minutes after the restart but his low shot was cleared off the line by Merrill with his

keeper beaten. Just past the hour Jacobs was rested with Greg Usher making a third substitute appearance but apart from two efforts by Paul Garrett and Liam Harrold both off target St Neots seemed to go off the boil again. Spencer seemed to get frustrated by their inability to make headway against the tight St Neots defence and picked up three bookings and sent on all three substitutes to little avail. With Spencer creating little of noteworthy mention St Neots seemed happy to cruise along with their two goals lead but in the final ten minutes they once again moved up a gear with Usher and Garrett testing the visiting keeper. Three minutes from time A Paul Garrett corner dropped invitingly for Jordan Gent and he tucked away his second goal of the season to complete this comfortable victory.

St Neots: McShane, Hurst, Lodge, Hyem, Fuff, Gent, Scully, Hughes, Harrold, Jacobs, Garrett.

Subs: Colmer (for Hughes 28 mins), Usher (for Jacobs 62 mins), Kenneford (for Scully 75 mins), Rob Duckett & Conroy-Owen.

Man of the Match: Glen Fuff

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THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM (Left to Right: Nathan Abbey, Gary King, Zema Abbey)

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MATCH REPORT

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Calor League Premier Division Rowley Park - The Cozy Stadium (Att 436) Saturday 9th November 2013 - Kick Off 15:00 - Referee: Matt Smith (Barwell)

St Neots Town Adjei (33 mins), Hilliard (52 mins), Woolley (58 mins), Davies (88 mins) n Davies (44) n Ford (90+3) Conroy, Ann, Ford, Crowie, Deeney, Hoyte, Hilliard, Davies, Nolan, Woolley, Adjei Subs: Taylor (for Adjei 77 mins), Wilson (for Nolan 82 mins), Hurst (for Davies 90 + 4 mins), Lee and Longden.

4:1

Hemel Hempstead Town Mpi (52 mins) n Connelly (40) Walker, Parkes, Connelly, Carvalho, Murphy, Diarra, Talbot, Hutton, Pearce, Mackey, Hawkins Subs: Thorne (for Mackey 46 mins), Mpi (for Carvalho 46 mins), Opoku (for Hawkins 67 mins), Maissiat and Holmes.

‘Can’t we play you every week’ sang the jubilant St Neots Supporters as they celebrated their side’s first win in five league and cup games at the expense of high flying Hemel Hempstead.

Gary King and his new management team could hardly have faced a more challenging start to their reign for Hemel had knocked in nineteen goals in their last two matches and had been beaten just once in twelve league outings this season conceding only seven goals prior to this match. An almost imperceptible shuffle with just two team changes and no new signings King obviously felt able to work with the squad he had inherited but there was just one significant change in St Neots’ tactical approach for they started with and persisted throughout with a 4-4-2 formation. Hemel are not a bad side with just this one defeat but they were unable to respond significantly to a St Neots side determined to put behind them a string of disappointing results and show what they are really capable of.

Their response to losing their first half single goal advantage was to wrestle back the lead just 35 seconds after conceding and that spoke volumes for the tenacious spirit of a group of players who knew they had underperformed in recent outings.

There was little to suggest a convincing result to the match in the first 45 minutes. Both sides took some time to settle and find any real rhythm or continuity and Hemel made the first two real openings but

former Saint Ben Mackey headed a Daniel Talbot cross into the chest of Niall Conroy and the keeper then got down well to push a Dave Pearce shot for a corner. St Neots were guilty of squandering their best openings with poor final passes after bright approach play but they were sharing possession and Jay Davies saw his shot fumbled by visiting goalkeeper Laurie Walker. Then after 33 minutes an inspired long diagonal cross field pass by Jay Davies found Ed Adjei who took one touch before firing a low shot past the surprised Walker. It was no less than St Neots deserved and two minutes later Matt Nolan at the far post could have added a second from an Alasan Ann cross but off balance he skied the ball wide. St Neots now looked more confident as Lewis Hilliard shot over from a narrow angle and skipper Gavin Hoyte saw his header from a Davies corner deflected for another corner. However Hemel finished the half well with Moussa DIarra seeing his effort deflected and the unmarked Ben Mackey sending a header the wrong side of a post in added time.

Having suffered a knock Mackey was to play no further part replaced by another former Saint Ollie Thorne.

Hemel made a really positive start after half time and after 52 minutes

another substitute Charlie Mpi took full advantage of Niall Conroy being slow off his line to lob the keeper to level the scores. Parity lasted just 35 seconds for play moved straight to the other end where Lewis Hilliard restored St Neots’ lead despite Walker getting a hand to his angled close range shot. Six minutes later St Neots took control with their third goal as a deep cross from the right

by Hilliard found the excellent Jake Woolley at the far post and he netted from a narrow angle. Six minutes later Walker denied Woolley with a reaction save to a close range effort and now Hemel were being restricted to breakaway efforts. The speedy Mpi shot into the side netting and Connelly clipped the top of the crossbar with a surprise effort from 35 yards but the visitors did try to raise their efforts as time ticked away and they were caught short in defence two minutes from time when Jay Davies won the ball inside his own half and sprinted clear to keep his cool and fire past the advancing Walker to complete a much needed but very well deserved victory. Still in the relegation zone St Neots must now retain this confidence boost and put together some consistent results starting midweek with the visit of near neighbours Biggleswade Town.

John Walker

MATCH REPORT

Fans View

52 Minutes

Everyone!

The Rabble

There were many moments watching this game but the real moment must be at the start of the second half.

Hemel scored early on to level the score but the saints went straight down the other end and restore the lead in just 35 seconds

Can there be a man of the match after a team performance like that, no of course not. Everyone connected to our club were people of the match, management, players, Supporters well done to everyone. But a special mention to the Big man Gavin Hoyte a real giant at the back.

Wow, What a game, what a win, what a team, what great support.

A fantastic day, this was no lucky victory we walloped Hemel who had only lost one game in the league all season and that was on the opening day, only let in seven league goals all season, scoring a mountain of goals but it was that same as last seasons home win. We just out played them and won convincingly.

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Moment of the Match Man of the Match

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PLAYER PROFILE

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Jake Woolley Jake is a natural goalscorer with an eye for goal. On loan from Luton Town, Jake has already proven to be a real asset to the Saints, getting amongst the goals and putting in ‘man of the match’ performances.

PLAYER PROFILE

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GREENIES GREETINGS

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Exemplary Conduct Mike Green Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium for tonight’s Calor League Premier Division game.

had finished in The Gregory Suite but thankfully, none of which involved our guys. Also, well done to our volunteer stewards who reacted to the events as they unravelled and the way they conducted themselves.

Saturday was to be Bobby-Joe Taylor’s last appearance for the Club and he has returned to parent club, Cambridge United, so BobbyJoe, thank you for your efforts during your time here and I’m sure everyone connected with the club will be keeping tabs on your future development. As one player leaves, another two have joined the ranks with Arthur Lee rejoining on dual registration from Concorde Rangers and full back Brett Longdon arrives on loan from Luton Town, so it’s a big Saintly welcome to you two lads.

We really couldn’t have asked for a better way for the King/Abbey/Abbey era to have begun but really, the hard work begins now because the players have really set the bar for future performances going forward.

This evening we extend a very warm welcome to our very near neighbours Biggleswade Town and we hope the Players, Officials and Supporters of the Club enjoy their brief stay with us before heading back down the A1 later this evening.

Well, what can I say about Saturday?

Is there anybody here who could have predicted that result or would have seriously backed that score line. As much as my heart would have said yeah, we are going to steamroller them like we did last season the old grey matter would soon have put a stop to the wallet coming out. We really couldn’t have asked for a better way for the King/ Abbey/Abbey era to have begun but really, the hard work begins now

because the players have really set the bar for future performances going forward. Having spoken to Zema and Nathan prior to and during the game, they are really nice, approachable guys and will no doubt form a formidable management team along with Gary (King) and fit the kind of persona the Club have been looking for.

As may be repeated elsewhere in this issue, and rightly so should be, I’d just like to thank all our wonderful supporters for their exemplary conduct and vocal support throughout the full ninety minutes and after the game on Saturday.

There were a few unsavoury incidents behind Niall’s goal during the second half and after the game

We travel to Poole Town on Saturday and as always, there will be a coach running so if you are interested in travelling, please leave your expression of interest on our Official Forum on the thread under Forthcoming Matches, seats costing £10 / £5 for adults / Children.

A quick mention for our visitors who sadly exited the FA Cup at Stourbridge on Saturday, you and our fellow clubs who were still in the competition have done the Calor League proud and now it’s up to Stourbridge to fly the flag in the Second Round Proper as they travel to League One side Stevenage Borough. Defeat may have been painful but be very proud of what you have achieved.

Ok then, on with the action and let’s get behind the boys like we did on Saturday. Is it coincidental that the result reflected the vocal support?

Only one way to find out.....

PUMP UP THE VOLUME ‘Greenie’

CLUB MERCHANDISE All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

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Show Your True Colours A cracking range of merchandise is available to purchase on match days and online from our web store.

Visit www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/club-shop

Official Club Polo Shirt £20.00

Sweat Training Top £30.00

1/4 Zip Top £30.00

Rain Jacket £30.00

Managers / Coach Jacket £60.00

Track Suit Bottoms £22.00

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Home Shorts 2012/13 £12.00

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Home Shirt 2012/13 £25.00

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france 1 brazil 1

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(France 4-3 on pens)

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#06 GREATEST FOOTBALL MATCHES EVER PLAYED! Voted for by over 1,000 supporters. Each programme we will run from 10 right down to the greatest ever football match played.

World Cup Quarter-Final, Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara, June 21, 1986 Such an epic match did not deserve to be settled by penalties. But after a compelling 120 minutes, during which tournament favourites Brazil and France, the European champions, had traded attack upon attack, that was what had to happen.

Brazil took the lead after Muller set up Careca following some neat footwork from Junior.

Careca turned provider for Muller in the 32nd minute, but his shot hit a post. A lucky escape for France, who equalised 10 minutes later through Michel Platini, on his 31st birthday. Alain Giresse sent Dominique Rocheteau away on the right and his low cross was tapped in by the captain.

an open goal. French substitute Bruno Bellone was through on goal on 117 minutes, but was denied as keeper Carlos clearly fouled him outside the area.

Romanian referee Ioan Igna ignored the incident.

After half-time and into extratime the game was fast and furious, but the quality of the football shone throughout.

Socrates was a commanding figure in Brazil’s midfield, spraying passes forward to Muller and Careca.

So, to the shoot-out, in which Socrates and Platini both missed their kicks. When Brazil’s Julio Cesar put his shot against a post, it was left to Luis Fernandez to convert his penalty and send France into the semi-finals.

Zico, Muller’s replacement, had a chance to win the game in the 73rd minute, but his poorly directed penalty was saved

by Joel Bats. The keeper also saved a Zico header from close range, while Rocheteau missed

Line-ups France Bats - Battiston, Amoros, Bossis, Tusseau Giresse (Ferreri 84), Tigana, Platini, Fernandez - Stopyra, Rocheteau (Bellone 101).

Goals: Platini 42 Brazil: Carlos - Josimar, Julio Cesar, Edinho, Branco - Alemao, Socrates, Junior (Silas 91), Elzo - Muller (Zico 72), Careca.

Goals: Careca 18.

Penalty Shootout: Socrates (miss), Stopyra; Alemao, Amoros; Zico, Bellone; Branco, Platini (miss); Julio Cesar (miss), Fernandez.

Referee: Igna (Romania).

Att: 65,000.

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

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Diego Maradona Full name: Diego Armando Maradona Date of birth: 30/10/1960 From the streets to the stadiums Diego Armando Maradona sounds like a stage name to us now but to those in the shantytowns on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Diego was one boy in thousands, using football as an escape from poverty. It wasn’t long before he was spotted at his local club and he was asked to play for junior team, Argentinos Juniors, when he was only 12. He remained at this club for five years, before being snapped up by the biggest club in Argentina, Boca Juniors, for the princely sum, at the time, of £1 million. He helped them to become league winners and was starting to attract the attention of the rest of the world.

He was quick, he was strong and he was more skilful than anyone in the whole league. His height wasn’t that great but he made it work to his advantage. It meant he could stop and start with sudden bursts of strength and speed. He was a nightmare for defenders at such a young age and with very little topflight experience, he was a rapidly growing talent.

Europe called and Diego answered Barcelona waved a record-breaking £5 million in Boca’s direction and the Argentines released Diego in 1982.

Although he helped Barcelona to win their national cup competition, he didn’t get on too well there and repeating bouts of sickness meant it was time to move on again and sooner than expected.

In 1984, southern Italian club Napoli made Barcelona an offer they couldn’t refuse. It was another record breaker: £6.9 million for the star, but he was worth every single penny. With Maradona leading the

charge, Napoli finally over-took their northern rivals and were crowned Serie A league winners twice, Coppa Italia winners once and UEFA and Italian Supercup winners. However, Maradona started to fall from grace during the late eighties in Naples, and it would sadly become the beginning of the end for the legend.

His beloved Argentina Maradona is much more famous for playing for his country than for a club team. He made Argentina one of the greatest teams ever, during the 1980s and no team looked forward to playing against the likes of Diego. He began his international playing career at only 18 and made an immediate impression during the Football World Youth Championships.

When he was 22, he played in all of the World Cup matches, showing the world what he was capable of, even though one of those things was being sent off.

The next World Cup in 1986 was to be Maradona’s defining moment though. He captained his country in every minute of every game and finally they defeated West Germany

in the final. Maradona scored five goals in the campaign. His two most famous moments ever, came against England in their 2-1 win in the quarter-finals. Maradona’s two goals couldn’t have been more different. They perfectly represent the man’s entire career. The first was that famous ‘Hand of God’, where he seemed to head the ball into the net using his hand. The second was a masterpiece of football and was voted Best Goal of the Century in 2002 by Fifa. Here is the first one and here is the second.

In the next World Cup in 1990, Maradona was by no means at his best. He was carrying an ankle injury, yet he rallied his team and they still made it to the final, but lost to their previous finalists West Germany.

Although Maradona did play in World Cup 94 in USA, he was kicked out of the tournament after playing in two games, for failing a drugs test.

He professed his innocence but the world knew by now that the legend was dependent on drugs.

His retirement beckoned.

Career Appearances: 490 Goals: 311 International Caps: 91 Goals: 34 Career Highlight: Cheating England out of a world cup semi final.

CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS

Mike Kearns Welcome to the Officials, Players and Supporters of our close neighbours Biggleswade Town.

Welcome to Maurice and Chris and congratulations on your exploits in this seasons FA Cup on reaching the first round proper.

We add Zema and Nathan to Gary’s management team and make only one change to Iain’s team of last week.

Confidence, motivation, work ethic all come to mind and in football when players start to feel down because of results then all of these factors come into play and the longer it goes on the harder it is to get players to give you that response.

Of course we were ready for Hemel and Gary did have them watched last Tuesday and Zema and Nathan had also played against them earlier in the season so between them they knew how to stop Hemel and hopefully pick something out of the game. Well they certainly did that all right. Methodical planning knowing the oppositions strengths, weakness, a knowledge of players at this level from years of experience.

Well done to everyone, we are on the move and as Gary has said there will be both highs and lows we hope we have many highs and not so many lows but in time as I have always said it will come good for our club both on and off the field.

Last Saturday Chippenham who recently lost by nine goals at home to Stourbridge beat Cambridge City

by the only goal of the game. What was the difference I ask? I know they changed their manager and this result was the new managers first game in charge.

It’s a Mad Mad Mad world this football Business.

On a last note I had many enquires for the manager’s position even though we did not advertise it. I spoke to a very experienced manager who said to me and yes he really did. We managers often talk all things football and of all the clubs to manage St Neots Town is the top job to have because they tick all the boxes for any manager.

I really was what you call “Gob Smacked” and said thank you for those kind words, we know the management team we want and will try our hardest to convince them to come to our club. That management Team was Gary King, Zema and Nathan Abbey who are now the management team at St Neots Town FC. All for one and one for all.

Mike

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Well what can I say Hemel flying high and we go out there and give them a real hiding. As we all say football always brings up some very odd results and this one just about opened everyones eyes. We have a talented squad of players who were put together by Iain, and really have had no luck this season at all. We lost last week in a very close match in the FA Trophy against a very strong Matlock team and we really were worthy of at least a draw.

As with so many clubs a change of management gives that signal to players “your all on trial” and yes they all respond and start to play for there places in the team. A situation that can never be explained and how many times has that happened when clubs bring in a new management team.

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A Mad Mad Mad World

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC 17

Biggleswade Town

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The Waders

Promoted to step three for the first time this season via the play offs, Biggleswade have drawn attention to themselves in the FA Cup as they battled their way through to the first round proper where they played Stourbridge last Saturday.

Previous meetings of our clubs 2011/12 Season: St Neots 1- 2 Biggleswade Town

Biggleswade Town 1- 3 St Neots Town

Year Founded: 1874 Chairman: Maurice Dorrington Club Website: www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk

Welcome to our visitors this evening for our next engagement in the Calor Southern League Premier Division..

They are the players, Directors and supporters of our near neighbours Biggleswade Town FC and we extend to them our usual warm Cozy Stadium welcome. Our two sides have met on numerous occasions in both league and cup but this is our first ever meeting at Step Three – the highest ever placing for both our Clubs. Our original match with the Waders was postponed because they had an FA Cup engagement

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OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Photo courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk/sport

with Canvey Island (could have been us!) which they won to progress to last Saturday’s meeting with Stourbridge. They have made a very satisfactory start to life in the Premier Division having lost only three of their first eleven league matches. However along with fellow newcomers Burnham and Bideford they hold the joint title of draw specialists with five of their matches so far having finished all square. In the FA Trophy

Biggleswade were beaten at home by league pace setters Chesham United.

Club History Biggleswade Town was formed in 1874 as ‘Biggleswade FC’ and were founder members of the Biggleswade and District League winning the championship at the first attempt in 1902/03. They also

OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Adult:

Concession: Under 16:

£10 £6 Free

Carlsberg Stadium Capacity: 3,000 Disabled Access: Yes

Moving up to date in 2008/09 the Waders moved to their brand new Carlsberg Stadium and made it a memorable season by clinching

The Board appointed Chris Nunn as manager in November 2006, Chris or ‘Nunny’ as most know him by is still the manager.

Did you know?..

promotion to the Zamaretto League Central Division as Champions of the South Midlands League Premier Division. During that season they enjoyed a memorable FA Vase run beating Wivenhoe, Croydon and Market Drayton Town before having to travel to Whitley Bay in the quarter final. That is where they met their Waterloo against a side destined to go on to win the trophy at Wembley Stadium. However promotion was won and a place in the Zamaretto Central Division which was a testing experience but they survived a torrid start to finish twelfth in the final table.

That was an excellent learning curve on which they built season.

In 2010/11 in a very tight fought finish they finished fourth and reached the play offs but were beaten by third placed Daventry Town who themselves were beaten in the play off final by Hitchin Town.

The next season they finished eighth after being close to a play off place at Easter and then last season they improved to a fourth placed finished before battling their way to promotion via the play offs.

Biggleswade Town were originally formed as Biggleswade F.C. in 1874 and began by playing friendlies. They became one of the founder members of the Biggleswade and District League in 1902/03.

The ‘Waders’, as the club are known, first entered the FA Cup in 1904.

Did you know?...

In 2008 a new home for the waders the Carlsberg Stadium was ready for occupation and all the seasons in the ‘wilderness of ground sharing’ were over. For the first time in the clubs 134 year history, it finally had a home of its very own.

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

1991/92 saw them win the SML Premier Division Cup and of course floodlighting had been added in 1989. 1992/93 proved to be their record year for although they lost the Beds Premier Cup over two legs to Luton Town they finished up with four trophies - the SML Challenge Trophy, the Hinchingbrooke Cup, the Hunts Premier Cup and the Jesse Piggott Trophy. However when the merger of the Spartan and South Midland Leagues took place they found themselves in the Senior Division and they finished fifth in their first season.

Did you know?...

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won the Bedfordshire Senior Cup that season for the first of eight occasions. They were in the FA Cup as early as 1904 losing to Watford and later in the FA Cup they reached the fourth qualifying round on three occasions - in 1907/08, 1929/30 and again in 1936/37. After a lengthy spell in either the Biggleswade and District League or the Bedford League the Club joined the UCL (then called the Northants League) in 1920/21.

Their best finish in that league was 3rd in 1935. After the War they had five seasons in the Spartan League before rejoining the UCL and had ten years in the Eastern Counties League before reverting once again to the UCL. They also had a spell in the old South Midlands League where they became well established.

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Admission Prices

19

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WHO’S WHO

Who calls the shots?...

Chris Nunn First Team Manager When Chris arrived at the club in November 2006 it looked certain that the club were heading towards relegation. Chris steadied the ship by bringing in new ideas and players and the results started to go the right way. 2012-13 saw a successful campaign to achieve promotion into the Calor Premier League.

Ian Brown Goalkeeper A massive signing for the Waders, a keeper with nearly 400 games in this division, also known to play of golf (bandit comes to mind) Previous Club Bedford Town Hemel Hempstead.

Alexander Taylor Goalkeeper Our young keeper only 17, a strong confident player. Extremely brave with great potential learning his trade as a keeper.

Previous Club Crystal Palace.

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Max York

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Defence Max joined last season securing the right back position, played a key role in securing success for the Waders last season.

Previous Clubs Rushden & Diamonds Kettering Histon Bedford Town.

Mark Coulson Defence Mark returns to the Waders, a cultured left back who loves to get forward.

Previous Clubs Bury Town Hemel Hempstead Histon and Peterborough.

England Youth International.

Previous Clubs Watford, Weymouth, Grays.

Steven Gentle Defence Club Captain Steven originally arrived as a forward but it soon became necessary for him to fill in as a defender, a role he had at Bedford Town. Certainly shows his passion and commitment both on and off the field. Skilful centre half who likes to go up for corners.

Previous clubs: Cambridge City and Bedford Town.

Andrew Iwediuno Defence Andrew is one of our identical twins.

Played a big part in the Waders success last season, especially running the length of the pitch v Rugby Town (Play-off Final) to cross for the winning goal.

Lee Allinson Midfield Lee is a fully qualified coach and loves to play passing football from central midfield. Likes to get a goal now and then from open play. Proven winner with a Central Champions medal in his cupboard.

Previous clubs: Borehamwood, Arlesey Town.

Craig Daniel Midfield Player provides for goal scoring opportunities and scores very special goals himself. Wader’s Player of the Season, a firm favourite at the Carlsberg.

Previous club – Bedford Town.

Alex Witham Midfield

Previous Club – Barton Rovers.

New Wader signing, Alex joins with experience at only 20. Economic on the ball, score goals.

Ross Dedman

Previous Clubs Derby County, Arsenal Youth.

Defence Ross suffered a severe knee injury before the season started last year.

Hard work has brought him back to the Waders, will fight all the way for that shirt. Only 20!!

Previous Clubs St Albans Leyton Orient Stevenage

Cameron Mawer

Daniel Harper

Defence

Defence

Vastly experienced Centre Half joining the Waders , hold an FA Trophy winners medal . Former

Hard working sixteen year old, big hearted centre half stepping up to senior level.

Callum Lewis Midfield Callum joins the Waders this season.

A ball winning midfield player now looking to earn the Waders shirt.

Previous Club Bedford Town.

Jonathan Woolf Midfield Jonathan joined the Waders from Bedford Town and had a good first season with the Waders, unfortunately injury kept him from

WHO’S WHO

Brett Donelly Striker Brett has a history of scoring goals at whatever club he has played for and has in the past scored a few against the Waders.

A good strong forward and someone we hope will cause other teams a few problems. A very passionate footballers gives and expects 110% effort.

Previous Clubs; Stotfold and Potton United.

Lee Reed

and experience forward, that will excite the Green Army.

Previous Clubs; Bedford Town, Hitchin Town.

Previous Club Queens Park Rangers.

George Smith

David Iwediuno

Midfield

Forward

A great signing for the Waders, his pre-season form has altered many supporters with his positive contribution.

New signing David the other half of our twins. Strongly built player who likes to drive forward, as defenders literally bounce off him.

Previous Clubs Southend United Dundalk, and represented Republic of Ireland.

Previous Club Caldecote.

A great signing from Barton Rovers and one that has excited the Green Army with his eye for goal.

Harry Orr

Craig Rydeheard

Forward

Coach

Tall and growing !! Forward who scores very important goals for Waders Youth. Selected for Beds FA Under 18 squad.

Former experienced midfielder contributing to the Waders success last season encouraging a high tempo play whilst promoting a strong work ethic.

Evan Key Midfield Evan a young player joined this season, tall and capable of making a contribution to the Waders campaign.

George Bates Midfield

Sam Reed Forward A player that has attracted attention for the Waders for some time.

Signed to play this season, a goal scorer himself as well as provider for others. His pace will unsettle many defenders.

Previous Club Bury Town.

Shabazz Baidoo

Brother of Sam – can play either up from or midfield. Tireless runner who knows instinctively where his team mates are without looking for them.

Nathaniel Peacock Forward

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Product of Waders Youth team development, strong player with goals in his boots. Selected for Beds FA Under 18 squad.

Midfield/Forward

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making as many appearances as he would have liked last season.

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One to watch...

Forward Shabazz an exciting signing, tricky

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THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

24

Beauty and the Beast Ade Roberts Don’t they say that love is the universal language? Without saying a word to each other, in whatever language, two people can feel a sense of shared interest and an understanding of each other without communicating verbally.

I dare say that the same could be said of the game of football. As a kid, I used to live on an estate where Spanish and French kids came over in Summer as foreign exchange students. We didn’t understand a word they were saying but when we played football in the evenings, we understood each other perfectly and that’s without exchanging spoken words, we exchanged inch-perfect passes and crosses [well….sometimes].

That’s the beauty of football I guess, its simplicity and the fact that you can ‘understand’ the other players, either within your team or the opposition.

Friendships can be forged on the football field when playing the beautiful game; however, there is the ugly side of playing against foreign opposition. This has been apparent with recent events during Manchester City’s Champions League win at CSKA Moscow. City’s Yaya Toure claimed that he was racially abused by the Russian fans. CSKA deny any such chants but even the referee mentioned the abuse in his report to UEFA. This is totally unacceptable at every level of football. It’s really disappointing that after all the hard work over the last couple of decades with various campaigns against racism, we still have incidents like this. Sadly, the knock-on from this is that some black players are now threatening to boycott the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Personally, I’d rather see full participation of all players and if needs be, change the host country. Why Russia anyway?

What contribution have they made

Front page news - Andros Townsend the subject of recent controversy to World football…..perhaps a little more than Qatar!!

Just prior to the CSKA game, we had the England manager slated in the press for his ‘space monkey’ half-time gag with Andros Townsend.

This made the front page of The Sun newspaper even though Townsend himself took no offense to Hodgson’s words. The clubs, their players and their officials have done so much to help kick racism out of the game and then a daily newspaper does it’s best to undo all that hard work with a ridiculous headline, simply to sell more papers that day. The media need to act more responsibly instead of creating such a fuss. The legend John Barnes, who himself was the focus of lots of racial abuse during his playing days, said of racism, “The most ¬important thing is the element of intention. Does the person mean to say something that could be prejudicial, racist or discriminatory and would the person it is directed at be offended?” Hodgson’s comments were not intended to offend Townsend, and Townsend himself said they didn’t so why do the papers make such a meal of it, other

than to stir-up emotion [and sell more papers] Prior to all this, we had the issue of Spurs fans using the word ‘Yid’ in their terrace chants which the FA described as derogatory and offensive. The Spurs fans used the word to describe themselves in their chants. They weren’t calling the players or the opposing fans, just labeling themselves but were still asked to refrain from using the chant by the FA. As fans, our terrace chants can sometimes be ‘tongue in cheek’ and occasionally offensive, especially to the opposing fans. Nowadays, it’s more about the ‘friendly’ banter than trying to offend or insult anyone. Who would have thought that most of the terrace chants we have are based on religious Hymns, spiritual or folk songs? I’m pretty sure the lyrics have been changed somewhere along the way??

Let’s keep the chants clean today and back the lads for the full ninety minutes.

Ade

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FEATURE ADVERTISING

26

FAN FEATURE

Steve Almond Welcome to our new feature “one minute with” you our supporters.

A simple question and answer to give us all a chance to get to know each other. Put a name to a face, and get that face “yours” into our match day magazine. For full details see below.

Take Part!

If you would like to take part in this feature then contact Louise Sales on misslouisesales@yahoo.co.uk

Do you have a nick name?

What’s your favourite colour?

Don’t really have one but have been called “Nutty” in the past.

Red & Blue (Utd & Saints)

How long have you followed the Saints?

Has to be real ale What changes would you make?

Heaters please in the Fridge End for the cold winter nights ahead.

Have you passed out through drinking too much alcohol?

Can’t recall but then i am a bit of a light weight and find it difficult to keep up with the pace.

I like to think i do but my wife would argue all day with me on this one i would then have to admit that she did just for peace.

Fish and chips or curry?

Can’t beat a good ruby & a few pints to wash it all down Are you scared of anything?

Has to be death and leaving my boys behind Where do you see us in the next three years?

Many thanks to Mike Kearns and all the fans for making both myself and my dad feel so welcome from day one.

Do you have a favourite film?

Do you have a favourite player?

FA Cup SQR replay vs Canvey Island 01/10/13

I am quite realistic and would be happy with a couple more seasons of consolidation and then push on for conference football.

Do you have any favourite pets?

Your catchphrase?

Max our Labrador Retriever

Do i have to do all the thinking for everyone in this house!!

Lewis Hilliard What is your occupation?

Part time PA to my Autistic sons & house husband.

Shawshank Redemption Most memorable goal?

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

At the start of season 2011/12 after the demise of Rushden & Diamonds FC where i was a season ticket holder for 11 seasons and experienced many highs and lows and ultimately lost the football club i loved with a passion.

Wine or beer?

Who wears the trousers in your house Steve?

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

I am married to Jayne with two young men, Thomas & Jacob who have been persuaded to take in the odd game or two of late. You will see me at most home games with my Dad or otherwise known as Freddie and I also try to take in as many away games as my wife will allow me to. To be fair she is fantastic and very understanding when it comes to the Saints.

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One Minute With...

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WEIRD FOOTBALL STORIES

28

For Steve Ogrizovic’s Eyes Only Anyone in doubt of Oggy’s popularity among Coventry City supporters was quickly set straight when a whopping total of just under 300 people flocked to sign the petition calling on Kazakhstan to release their hero, a number that, in the intervening nine years, has mushroomed to more than 700.

With its moles, sleeper agents, intelligence, counterintelligence, top-secret files protected by impenetrable encryption codes and electronic surveillance, the clandestine world of espionage is not one you would readily associate with famous footballers.

Despite Ryan Giggs’s urbane sophistication, rugged good looks and smouldering sex appeal, he is unlikely ever to be considered as a replacement for James Bond should the MI6 agent decide to hang up his Walther PPK. The Manchester United midfielder’s well-documented attempt to keep a secret couldn’t have been less successful if he’d personally called every house in the UK and told the occupants exactly what it was he didn’t want them to know.

Of course it’s a sweeping generalisation to suggest that, just because one might not necessarily trust West Ham’s striker Andy Carroll to successfully pull off a clichéd park-bench briefcase swap with a Russian counterpart, it is inconceivable a professional footballer might one day be considered to work for the secret service. However, one can’t help but feel that if the current head of MI6, Sir Robert Sawers, was looking to recruit somebody from the professional ranks to investigate a shadowy crime syndicate run by an evil cat-stroking megalomaniac, the former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic would hardly be the first port of call, even if he was a notoriously safe pair of hands.

Younger readers may not be familiar with the man they call Oggy, an aesthetically challenged former policeman and FA Cup-winning Coventry legend who had a famously crooked nose, made 507 appearances between the sticks for the Sky Blues between 1984 and 2000 and most recently made

“Please free Steve as he’s a bent-nosed hero to millions,” implored one signatory. “He’s obviously innocent and this is no way for a rubbish goalkeeper to have to spend his time,” wrote another.

headlines when he was forced to confirm that, contrary to speculation that he’d been thrown in jail by the Kazakhstani government on suspicion of spying, he was in fact safe and well on the sovereign soil of his native England.

According to a petition posted on www.petitiononline.com in 2003, Ogrizovic had been travelling the world using only public transport in an attempt to raise money for a charity called Over The Bar, which was devoted to helping young goalkeepers develop their skills as athletes. On his way through Kazakhstan, the petition informed readers, the unfortunate Ogrizovic had accidentally trespassed on to private military land, resulting in the hapless tourist’s incarceration. “The British embassy has contacted the Kazakhstani government but nothing has come of this,” wrote the author of the Free Steve Ogrizovic appeal.

“Here is our petition to Tony Blair and the Kazakhstani government demanding the release of footballing legend Steve Ogrizovic and protesting his innocence.”

A reporter from the Coventry Evening Telegraph, detecting the whiff of rodent in the air, becoming suspicious of the story of Ogrizovic’s internment and using the kind of dogged investigative techniques for which the names of the Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have long been synonymous, eventually managed to discover that the then academy director wasn’t in fact languishing in a Kazakhstani cooler, by going to the club’s Ryton training ground … and asking him.

“This is a complete hoax,” said a slightly surprised Ogrizovic, upon being told of his plight. “I haven’t a clue where it has come from. I haven’t made any trips to Kazakhstan lately – nor am I planning to. I can only assume that with the well-documented breakthroughs in science of late, I have obviously been cloned.” While Oggy’s good humour in the face of such a bizarre and potentially upsetting story is to be commended, it is perhaps worth noting that although he emphatically denied ever having set foot in Kazakhstan, to this day he has never said he isn’t a spy.

Barry Glendenning

EDD GETS THE FIRST GOAL

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FOOTBALL FUNNIES

30

ITS A FUNNY

OLD GAME!

There’s never a dull moment supporting your favourite team, the beautiful game has been kicking around for years but will always throw up some lunacy! Check these beauties out!

Medical School A medical professor had just finished a lecture on the subject of mental health and started to give an oral quiz to the first years. Speaking specifically about manic depression, the senior doctor asked, ‘How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?’

A young man in the rear of the room raised his hand and answered, ‘A Premiership football coach?’

Lovely Generous Gesture from Birmingham City’s Star Soccer Player French international footballer, Olivier Kapo gave an apprentice player his car to thank him for polishing his boots throughout the season Will and Guy have discovered.

The Birmingham City player gave the lad, James McPike, his Mercedes worth £30,000 [almost $60,000 Image credit: Medical Art

USD] as an end-of-season present.

He also agreed to pay for a year’s insurance when James, 20, said he was unable to afford it The French midfielder, who is originally from the Ivory Coast in Africa, earns almost £1.5million [$3million USD] a year.

We heard that all James had asked for was Olivier’s boots as a souvenir but he ended up with his car. What a magnificent present.

Football History First Football Story Dr Maria Hayward, an expert at Southampton University, has discovered that Henry VIII - the Tudor King who had six wives, owned a pair of football boots.

These shoes, costing four shillings [approximately £100 in today’s money] were made by his personal shoemaker, Cornelius Johnson, in 1525. Dr Hayward found them in a list of the king’s clothes made when he died in 1547.

Sadly we don’t know what the football boots looked like so we cannot compare them with those worn by David Beckham or Ronaldo.

However, it is not likely they were anything like the boots worn today.

Historians think they were probably heavier than the normal shoes of the time and made of especially strong leather. They needed to be strong because football during the 16th century, when Henry VIII was king, was a very tough game. ‘Football in Tudor times was a very vicious game, with no teams and no rules, so it was not a game for gentlemen, ‘comments Dr Hayward. According to a Tudor writer called Sir Thomas Elyot, it was a game of ‘beastly fury and extreme violence’.

It is known that it was especially popular on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and Henry VIII even tried to ban the game because it so often led to riots and violence.

Behaviour generally, it appears, has improved over the ages

MATT NOLAN - YES!

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GAME FOR A LAUGH

ES!

COMMENTATORS FOOTBALL GAFF

You can always rely on the good old football commentator to come out with a classic during the big match! Here are a few howlers!

LEE DIXON “He’s sort of facing the goal with his chest”

PAUL MERSON “There’s only one person gets you sacked and that’s the fans”

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ALAN BRAZIL “Scotland v Wales will be like a Cup tie”

JAMIE REDKNAPP “Most goals are scored between the posts”

“The half-time whistle blows and I have one word for you: Absolutely brilliant” SAM MATTERFACE

CLIVE TYLDESLEY

JOHN MOTSON

“Didier Drogba’s just a big loveable lump. Graham Norton seemed to get inside him last night”

“Arsene Wenger has got to unlock the purse strings”

GARETH SOUTHGATE “England are dangerous black horses”

MICKY QUINN

ALAN SMITH “Suarez’s hunger for the game seems unquenchable”

ADRIAN CHILES

JONATHAN PEARCE

“He’s 23 years of old”

“It’s pouring down and the ref is enjoying his moment in the sun”

“Where do you sit on young players, Martin Keown?”

RAY HOUGHTON

SHANE LONG

“Ji-Sung Park is probably not as young as he was when he arrived at Old Trafford all those years ago”

“We have this mentality of going into every game just thinking about the next game”

STAN COLLYMORE

LEAM RICHARDSON

“Sheikh Mansour is putting his money and his mouth where his

“To concede so late is a bit of a pill to swallow”

ALVIN MARTIN “The proverbial is hitting the flan at the moment”

GRAHAM BEECROFT “Martin Kelly has been booked for a foul on everything”

mouth is”

JOHN MOTSON “Defoe was level and anyone who says otherwise is picking hairs”

Heard a howler? Pass it on and we will look to feature it in a future issue. Email saintsmag@stneotstownfc.co.uk

32

Image credit: TalkFootball

FIXTURES MATRIX

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and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

33

JAKE GETS THE THIRD GOAL

FIXTURES & TICKET INFORMATION

Calor League Premier Division

Calor League Premier Division

Poole Town v St Neots Town

Banbury United v St Neots Town

Saturday 16th November 2013 – K.O. 15:00pm

Saturday 30th November 2013 – K.O. 15:00pm

Away Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7, Children under 16 £3

Away Ticket Prices: Adults £9, Concessions £5, Children under 16 £1

Opponent Website: www.pooletownfc.co.uk

Opponent Website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/banburyunitedfootballclub

Team Coach Departs: TBC

Team Coach Departs: TBC

Round Trip (from St Neots): 320 miles

Sat Nav Postcode Reference: OX16 5AB Round Trip (from St Neots): 130 miles

Travel in style on the Team Coach for only £10pp return Advance bookings (recommended) can be made at the Club Bars, email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk for more information and to check availabilty. Don’t leave it late as spaces are limited to 25 for each game.

Upcoming Fixtures - Visit www.stneotstownfc.co.uk for the latest updates 2.11.13 Calor League Premier Division

16.11.13 Calor League Premier Division

AFC Totton

v Frome Town

19:45

St Neots Town

v Biggleswade Town 19:45

Cambridge City

v Stourbridge

19:45

v Hitchin Town

15:00

Arlesey Town

v Banbury United

15:00

Bashley

v Hungerford Town

15:00

Bedford Town

v Burnham

15:00

Biggleswade Town v Chesham United

15:00

Cambridge City

v Redditch United

15:00

Corby Town

v Weymouth

15:00

Hemel H’std Town

v Bideford

15:00

Poole Town

v St Neots Town 15:00

St Albans City

v Chippenham Town 15:00

Stourbridge

v Truro City

15:00

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

13.11.13 Calor League Premier Division

AFC Totton

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

Sat Nav Postcode Reference: BH15 1AU

All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Saints Away Games - Everything you need for the next 2 away fixtures

35

THE NLP

Ellington, still only 32, started last season in the Championship with Ipswich Town before moving to Crewe and finding himself without a club in the summer.

The former West Brom man, who was signed by the Baggies for £3m and has plenty of Premier League experience, started his career at Tooting & Mitcham and then Walton & Hersham before the start of a fruitful professional career with Bristol Rovers.

For many professionals, the lesser demands of Non-League football,

Most footballers will tell you they retired because they had to, rather than through their own personal choice. Non-League gives players the chance to extend their careers and give them chance to begin forging a life after football.

“There’s so much more free time at this level of football which I can spend with my family and of course on my coaching,” said former Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Coventry City man Dele Adebola who is now plying his trade at Rushall Olympic.

“It was all about enjoying football again. I just love playing and if it had come down to me having to play parks football on a Sunday, I would have.”

There are plenty of others like Ellington. Look no further than Sussex County side Lingfield, managed by the appropriately

named Dixie Dean.

Dean admits his way of running a club – which includes absolutely no midweek training – is a benefit when trying to convince veterans to contribute.

It seems to have worked with Lingfield boasting a forward line consisting of former Brentford, Reading and Brighton man Nicky Forster, who started out at Horley Town, and ex-Bradford City stalwart Jamie Lawrence, who kicked off his career at Cowes Sports.

And it’s not just players who come back. Braintree boss Alan Devonshire is doing a great job with the unfancied Iron following a glittering playing career, which started at Southall, including a 1980 FA Cup winner’s medal with West Ham. For those who have flown the nest and returned to Non-League, it’s also a sign that their careers are coming to an end but their enthusiasm can’t be challenged.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming back because I haven’t played Non-League for a while, but it’s great to see players here with some good ability and I’m glad to be back.”

Steve Coney Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper @SamElliott_NLP

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

“I thought to myself shortly after signing that it felt like I had gone full circle,” said striker Ellington after arriving at Haig Avenue.

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If you read The Non-League Paper, you’ll have seen a couple of weeks ago that striker Nathan Ellington had signed for Skrill Premier Southport.

especially with part-time sides, is an attractive proposition.

All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

MORE and more Football League clubs are turning to Non-League for the next big star – and it’s also becoming increasingly attractive for players wanting that last fix, many who started out in the semi-professional game.

@Stuhammonds_NLP @MattBadcock_NLP

37

LEAGUE & CUP FOCUS

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A brief round up of the weekly results from the teams that matter.

FA Cup Second Round Proper Draw Stourbridge, who beat fellow Premier Division Biggleswade Town in the First Round, were last out of the ‘hat’ in the draw for the Second Round and must travel to face Stevenage, currently placed 19th in League One and the club that brought an end to the Glassboys’ dream at the same stage two seasons ago. Meanwhile Shortwood United, who face Port Vale in their televised First Round tie on Monday evening, were drawn out much earlier and, if they can defeat the League One side, will be at home to Salisbury City, who lie 5th in the Conference Premier.

FA Cup First Round Proper Weekend Action Division One Central Daventry Town lost 2-0 at Chesterfield after pushing the League Two side all the way but Premier Division St Albans City, who took an eighth minute lead before letting in two in three minutes just before the interval, conceded six in the final twenty minutes to crash out 8-1 at home to League Two Mansfield Town while Corby Town, goalless at half time, lost 2-1 at home to Conference South Dover Athletic leaving Stourbridge, who won 4-1 at home against Premier Division colleagues Biggleswade Town, as the League’s only winners on the day.

Premier Division Weekend Action Top of the table Chesham United took the lead with twenty minutes remaining but had to settle for an away point when Truro City made it 1-1 five minutes later but second placed Hemel Hempstead Town, a

goal behind at the interval, crashed to a 4-1 defeat at St Neots Town enabling the hosts to move out of the bottom two, while Bideford maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-2 victory at Bedford Town which took them into third place replacing Cambridge City who went down 1-0 at Chippenham Town to bring an end to the home side’s run of five successive defeats. Banbury United scored on the stroke of half time and completed a 2-0 home win over Redditch United with a goal soon after the break while Hungerford Town recovered from going behind after nine minutes to lead at half time and go on to secure a 3-1 victory at Weymouth and Frome Town, a goal ahead at the interval, won 2-1 at Arlesey Town.

In the day’s other game bottom of the table Bashley took the lead just before the half hour but conceded two goals in the opening eight minutes of the second half to lose 2-1 at home to Burnham.

Division One Central Weekend Action Rugby Town closed the gap at the top to two points with two games in hand when they scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure a 3-1 home win over Uxbridge and Royston Town, a goal up at the interval, moved into third place when a goal in time added on secured a 2-0 victory at Ashford Town (Middx) while Slough Town, three goals behind in the opening half hour, struck twice before the interval and scored two more in the final twenty minutes to complete a 4-3 home win over Potters Bar Town. Northwood, two ahead at the interval, scored from a penalty four minutes from time to secure a 3-0 home win against St Ives Town while Kettering Town scored after ten minutes to

win 1-0 at home against Egham Town and Beaconsfield SYCOB won 2-1 at bottom of the table Chertsey Town with all the goals coming in the opening half hour. Aylesbury, who had taken the lead but were pegged back a minute before the break, conceded two second half goals to go down 3-1 at home to Chalfont St Peter while a goal nine minutes before the interval gave Marlow a 1-0 victory at Aylesbury United.

Division One South & West Weekend Action Cirencester Town, a goal behind three minutes before the break, scored four second half goals to win 4-1 at home against fourth placed Merthyr Town and move to within three points of the leaders with a game in hand but Paulton Rovers dropped to third when, after being two goals up at half time, they lost 3-2 at home to Taunton Town while Tiverton Town, after going behind to a penalty, drew 1-1 at Yate Town and Wimborne Town lost 1-0 at home when Mangotsfield United completed their third successive win with a goal fourteen minutes from time. Bridgwater Town took a first half lead but had to settle for a 1-1 home draw when Evesham United equalised in the final minute and Cinderford Town scored six minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw with visiting Thatcham Town. Stratford Town scored in the first minute and, despite conceding twice, led by two goals at the break before going on to complete a resounding 7-2 victory at second from bottom Fleet Town while Didcot Town recovered from going behind in the third minute to lead at half time and go on to complete a comprehensive 6-2 home win over Clevedon Town which saw them move above their visitors and out of the bottom three.

For more information visit www.southern-football-league.co.uk/news 38

NON-LEAGUE CLUB NEWS

Banbury United PURITANS SIGN BIG ROMANIAN Calor League Southern Premier Division club Banbury United have confirmed the signing of 25-year-old, 6`4” Romanian centre-half Claudiu Vilcu. Vilcu started out his career in his native country with the Brasov youth team prior to playing in the second and third tiers of Romanian football with Unirea Tarlungeni, Minerul Lupeni, Juventus Bucuresti and Dinamo II Bucuresti. He was part of Juventus Bucuresti’s Liga 3 Championship-winning team of season 2009/10.

Royston Town ATTFIELD STEPS DOWN AT ROYSTON After careful consideration, Calor League Southern Division One Central club Royston Town has accepted the resignation of Paul Attfield as first-team manager. Attfield has been struggling with a serious illness for some time now and, despite taking a rest from all activities last season, has continued to find it difficult to maintain the high standards and demands that he sets himself.

CHELMSFORD PART COMPANY WITH HOLDSWORTH With immediate effect Dean Holdsworth has agreed to stand down as manager of Skrill South club Chelmsford City and agreement has been amicably reached for the full and final settlement of his contract Holdsworth stated “With the amount of change in personnel during the summer due to significant budget constraints on the club, we have had to make many changes.”

St Neots Town SAINTS BORROW HATTERS YOUNGSTER Calor League Southern Premier Division club St Neots Town`s new management team of Gart King and Zema Abbey, have signed young defender Brett Longden on a month’s loan from Skrill Premier side Luton Town. The right-back, who was handed his first professional contract last season, has yet to feature for Town’s first-team this season, although he did play in the FA Trophy last year, and recently spent time at Conference South outfit Boreham Wood.

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

Chelmsford City

All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

We take a look at what other non-league clubs are doing that’s making the news

Kettering Town POPPIES RECEIVE COURT CONFIRMATION

A statement from the club reads: “The club`s Directors would like to say a massive thank you to chairman Ritchie Jeune and his company Evolution and their shareholders, along with the Kettering Town (Poppies) Supporters` Trust, and football fans from all over the world who donated funds to help bring about this successful conclusion.

“In particular we are grateful to our own loyal supporters, who have stuck with us, and continue to support the club in their hundreds at our home matches.

“There is still work to do, both on and off the pitch, and the club can now look forward with confidence for the future.”

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Calor League Southern Division One Central club Kettering Town has now had confirmation from the Clerk of Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London that the winding up petition originally brought by HM Revenue & Customs and taken over by Rushden & Diamonds 2008 Limited, has been dismissed following full payment having been made.

39

SEASON STATISTICS 2013/14

Become a Member today at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Find your voice on the official club forum at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

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

40

ATT

COMP

R

Pos

1

2

3

4

Sat 17 Aug

H Weymouth

354

CLPD

0-2

22

Heath

Rodgers

Adjei

Sear

Tue 20 Aug

A Stourbridge

447

CLPD

1-2

22

Heath

Rodgers

Steer

Sear

N

Sat 24 Aug

A Bashley

209

CLPD

3-1

15

Heath

Rodgers

Steer

Sear

Sh

Mon 26 Aug

H Cambridge City

451

CLPD

1-2

18

Heath

Rodgers

Adjei

SEAR

Sat 31 Aug

H Redditch United

231

CLPD

2-3

21

Heath

Rodgers

Steer

SEAR

H

Wed 04 Sep

A Corby Town

317

CLPD

0-1

22

Conroy

Nkinga

Steer

Davies

C

Sat 07 Sep

A Hemel Hempstead

669

CLPD

0-2

22

Conroy

Nkinga

Steer

Sear

C

Sat 14 Sep

H (Wroxham)

232

FAC

3-1

–

Conroy

Wood

Steer

Davies

N

Tue 17 Sep

H Hinckley United

208

CLPD

3-0

19

Conroy

Nkinga

Steer

DAVIES

C

Sat 21 Sep

H Truro City

307

CLPD

2-0

16

Conroy

Nkinga

Steer

Davies

C

Sat 28 Sep

A Canvey Island

256

FAC

2-2

–

Conroy

Crowie

Steer

Sharman

H

Tue 01 Oct

H Canvey Island

289

FAC R

1-2

–

Conroy

Hurst

STEER

Sear

C

Sat 05 Oct

A Hungerford Town

105

CLPD

0-1

19

Conroy

Hurst

Steer

Davies

Mon 07 Oct

A Hitchin Town

309

CLPD

0-4

21

Conroy

Goss

Steer

Hurst

C

Tue 15 Oct

H Hitchin Town

96

RIC

5-0

–

Conroy

DEENEY

Dhillon

Ford

C

Sat 19 Oct

A Halesowen Town

273

FAT

3-0

–

Conroy

DEENEY

Dhillon

Ann

H

Tue 22 Oct

H Chesham United

223

CLPD

0-5

21

Conroy

Deeney

Dhillon

Hibbert

Sat 26 Oct

A Bideford

238

CLPD

2-3

22

Conroy

Deeney

Duckett

Hibbert

Tue 29 Oct

H Corby Town

261

CLPD

0-3

22

Conroy

Deeney

Dhillon

Hibbert

C

Sat 02 Nov

A Matlock Town

244

FAT

0-2

–

Conroy

Ann

Ford

Crowie

H

Sat 09 Nov

H Hemel Hempstead

436

CLPD

4-1

21

Conroy

Ann

Ford

Crowie

H

Tue 12 Nov

H Biggleswade Town

CLPD

Sat 16 Nov

A Poole Town

CLPD

Tue 19 Nov

H Corby Town

Sat 23 Nov

H St Albans City

CLPD

Tue 26 Nov

H Bedford Town

CLPD

Sat 30 Nov

A Banbury United

CLPD

Sat 07 Dec

H Frome Town

CLPD

Sat 14 Dec

A Burnham

CLPD

Sat 21 Dec

H AFC Totton

CLPD

Thu 26 Dec

A Cambridge City

CLPD

Sat 28 Dec

H Stourbridge

CLPD

Wed 01 Jan

H Arlesey Town

CLPD

Sat 04 Jan

A Chippenham Town

CLPD

Sat 11 Jan

H Poole Town

CLPD

Sat 18 Jan

A St Albans City

CLPD

Sat 25 Jan

A Bedford Town

CLPD

Sat 01 Feb

H Banbury United

CLPD

Sat 08 Feb

A Frome Town

CLPD

Sat 15 Feb

H Burnham

CLPD

Sat 22 Feb

A AFC Totton

CLPD

Sat 01 Mar

H Hungerford Town

CLPD

Sat 08 Mar

A Truro City

CLPD

Sat 15 Mar

H Hitchin Town

CLPD

Sat 22 Mar

A Biggleswade Town

CLPD

Sat 29 Mar

H Bideford

CLPD

Sat 05 Apr

A Chesham United

CLPD

Sat 12 Apr

A Weymouth

CLPD

Sat 19 Apr

H Bashley

CLPD

Mon 21 Apr

A Arlesey Town

CLPD

Sat 26 Apr

H Chippenham Town

CLPD

Date

Opposition

RIC

C

SEASON STATISTICS 2013/14 Player name in these colours denotes substitute.

6 Steer

Nkinga

7

8

Hilliard

Taylor

9

10

11

Benjamin

Sogbanmu

Fuller

12 Sharman

Crowie

Hilliard

SHARMAN

Benjamin

Adjei

Taylor

Safee

harman

Crowie

HILLIARD

Fuller

BENJAMIN 2

Adjei

Taylor

Sembie-Ferris

14

15

Safee

Palmer

Crowie

Hilliard

Sharman

Benjamin

Davies

Taylor

Nkinga

Fuller

Crowie

Hilliard

Davies

Benjamin

Palmer

Adjei

SAFEE

Sembie-Ferris

Taylor

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Sharman

Sogbanmu

Sear

Taylor

Adjei

Joseph

Safee

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Davies

Sogbanmu

Sharman

Adjei

Nkinga

Hoyte

HILLIARD

HURST

Safee

SEAR

Adjei

Taylor

Joseph

Sharman

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Sear

Hurst

ANN

Adjei

TAYLOR

Joseph

Sharman

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Sear

HURST

Ann

Adjei

SAFEE

Sembie-Ferris

Sharman

Hibbert

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Davies

Ann

Hurst

Adjei

SAFEE

Taylor

Wood

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Hibbert

Adjei

Davies

Taylor

Safee

Felix

Ann

Ann

Crowie

Goss

Sharman

Hilliard

Safee

Adjei

Felix

Wood

Palmer

Crowie

Hoyte

Hilliard

Hibbert

Ann

Ford

Davies

Taylor

Felix

Wood

Crowie

Ann

HILLIARD

Davies

Nolan

WOOLLEY 2

Adjei

N’GUESSAN

Sharman

Duckett

Hoyte

Hibbert

Hilliard

Sear

WOOLLEY

ADJEI

Davies

N’Guessan

Ford

Hurst

Ann

Hoyte

Hilliard

Sear

Woolley

Davies

Adjei

Taylor

Hurst

Ford

Ann

Hoyte

Woolley

Sear

Nolan

Hurst

Taylor

WILSON

DAVIES

Crowie

Crowie

Hoyte

Wilson

Ford

Nolan

Davies

Woolley

Taylor

Hilliard

N’Guessan

Hoyte

Deeney

Hilliard

Hurst

Woolley

Davies

Taylor

Wilson

N’Guessan

Hoyte

Deeney

HILLIARD

DAVIES

Nolan

WOOLLEY

ADJEI

Taylor

Wilson

Hurst

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

Steer

Hoyte

All the latest news at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

5

Crowie

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC 41

LEAGUE TABLE

Become a Member today at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Find your voice on the official club forum at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

First Team - Calor League Premier Division (09.11.13)

42

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

Chesham United

16

12

2

2

40

14

26

38

Hemel Hempstead Town

14

11

1

2

50

11

39

34

Bideford

13

8

5

0

32

14

18

29

Cambridge City

14

8

3

3

20

11

9

27

Stourbridge

12

8

0

4

34

14

20

24

Banbury United

13

8

0

5

25

21

4

24

Poole Town

11

6

4

1

22

17

5

22

St Albans City

13

6

3

4

27

19

8

21

Hungerford Town

12

7

0

5

19

12

7

21

Arlesey Town

14

5

4

5

22

22

0

19

Redditch United

16

6

1

9

22

40

-18

19

Weymouth

11

5

2

4

16

14

2

17

Burnham

14

4

5

5

20

22

-2

17

Truro City

15

4

4

7

22

33

-11

16

Frome Town

12

4

3

5

14

21

-7

15

Chippenham Town

15

5

0

10

18

35

-17

15

Biggleswade Town

11

3

5

3

17

13

4

14

Corby Town

11

4

2

5

13

20

-7

14

Hitchin Town

13

3

4

6

17

17

0

13

Bedford Town

14

3

3

8

22

41

-19

12

St Neots Town

14

3

0

11

15

30

-15

9

AFC Totton

13

2

1

10

18

35

-17

7

Bashley

13

0

2

11

11

40

-29

2

www.ilovemywalls.com Launching Soon!

I love my who?... I love my what?!

Launching later this November will be a stunning online gallery showcasing a hefty range of art for sale in a range of finishes that caters for all tastes and décor as well as the ability for you to upload and print your photos and purchase gift vouchers!

We didn’t want to just join the vast number of online art websites and become one of the same, we wanted to give the customer something different.

Take advantage of our in-house ability to customise and fine tune pieces of art that you find in our gallery and enjoy an end result that is really quite something.

Keep up-to-date by following us on Twitter

@ilovemywalls

/ireallylovemywalls

Change it!

Unlike these high street stores that offer ‘one colour take it or leave it’ prints, we can customise a lot of the art in our gallery so that it matches your colour scheme perfectly.

Commission it!

Sometimes you just can’t seem to find exactly what you are looking for, don’t settle for second best, commission us to create a bespoke piece of art that matches what’s in your head!

Command it!

I want does get! If you are struggling to find a particular photo to grace your wall then for Pete’s sake tell us and we willtry and track it down! Oh and guess what, we won‘t charge you a penny for the trouble.

Print It! Personalised photos make great gifts or simply keep that memory right there in front of you, so dust them down and show them off! We offer a wide range of sizes and product options to help you transform your photos.

Become a Member today at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Find your voice on the official club forum at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum

THE TEAMS

ST. NEOTS TOWN

V

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours

White Shirts, Green Shorts & Socks

Gary King & Zema Abbey

Manager

Chris Nunn

Nathan Abbey

Assistant Manager

Craig Rydeheard

Carol Holland

Club Physio

Peter Prince

SQUAD NUMBERS

Rating Goals Rating

SQUAD NUMBERS

1. Niall Conroy (GK)

1. Ian Brown (GK)

2. Dave Deeney

2. Max York

3. Edd Adjei

3. Mark Coulson

4. Adrian Sear

4. Cameron Mawer

5. Dan Crowie

5. Steve Gentle (C)

6. Gavin Hoyte (C)

6. Lee Allinson

7. Lewis Hilliard

7. Craig Daniel

8. Jay Davies

8. Evan Key

9. Matt Nolan 10. Alasan Ann 11. Lewis Wilson

9. Am Reed 10. Callum Lewis 11. Lee Reed

12. Dion Sembe-Ferris

12. Brett Donnelly

14. Ryan Sharman

14. Andrew Iwediuno

15. Karl Saffee

15. Nathaniel Peacock

16. Kaine Felix

16. Alex Witham

17. Tom Wood

17. George Smith

18. Jordy Nkinga 19. Jack Sellick 20. Andy Palmer 21. Ben Ford

18. Jon Woolf 19. Sharbazz Baidoo

22. Liam Hurst 23. Bobby-Joe Taylor 24. Leon Hibbert 25. Jhai Dhillon 26. Joseph N’guesson Teams will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Your Man of the Match

Attendance

Match Rating

Opposition Support Rating

Ratings: Albeit just for fun - why not give your rating from 1 to 10 with 10 being perfect!

Next Home Game: We value your continued support, thank you Red Insure Cup Second Round St Neots Town v Corby Town Tuesday 19th November - KO 19:45pm 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.

44

Officials Rating