Saints vs Hitchin Town

The Official Matchday Magazine

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Saturday 15th March 2014 Kick-Off 3pm

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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.

Managing Directors’ Views

Management Notes

28

04

Action Replay

05

Uhlsport Feature

30 Wonderful Non-League Grounds

06

SNT News

32 Game For A Laugh

08/09

Match Reports

33 Fixtures Matrix

United Counties League

10/11

Player Profile

34 A Day In The Life Of...

12

Greenies Greetings

35 Away Days

14

Top Managers

37 The Non-League Paper

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

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A Blast From The Past

38 20 Best Football Stadiums

17

Chairmans’ Views

39 Non-League Club News

18/21

Opponent Feature

40/41 Season Statistics

22/23

Pull Out Poster

42 League Table

27

Bizarre Football Stories

44

The Teams

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Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time

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

Club Officials

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Club Honours

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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

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Design & Marketing Blueprawn Print XL Press Limited

The Cozy Stadium

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

Onwards and Upwards Gary King Good afternoon everybody and welcome to everyone from Hitchin Town FC, I hope you enjoy your visit to Rowley park today.

As we approach the run into the end of this season we will start talking to players regarding next season with a view to securing their services, players already within the squad have shown great character, and as mentioned above, the current form league table suggests much of what is needed to mount a genuine top 5 finish is already here, that combined with some shrewd additions and a full pre season, is a very exciting prospect for all of us.

When you consider all of this, and then look at our clubs infrastructure which quite frankly speaks for itself, what I would say to any aspiring non league footballer with ambition is “it doesn’t get any better than this, let’s go to work.......”

Onwards and Upwards

‘Kingy’

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

We are currently enjoying are best run of the season having lost only once in the last 15 in all competitions, unbeaten here at home since the 23rd November, and our resolve and will to win was certainly shown in our 3-2 victory away to Truro on Saturday. Thank you and well done to those of you who travelled to support us, that is

what I call commitment and I’m so pleased you had 3 points to travel home with. Of course we have the first leg of the league cup final to look forward to on Tuesday which will see us travelling long distance again, all the journeys seem to have come at once of course partly due to our own successes, but if driving to Devon again is what it takes to deliver silverware we will drive there every week.

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Over the years I have enjoyed participating in some very exciting encounters against Hitchin, and whilst the result in this game is unlikely to affect the outcome of either teams season, I am hopeful that the way in which both sides set up today will ensure an entertaining game of football. I recall Hitchin themselves had a great start to this seasons campaign and may at some stage have even topped the pack, I would imagine they will feel slightly disappointed in how their season has panned out, they will be mindful that a defeat today would see us climb to within touching distance of them in the league, something that maybe six weeks ago seemed unlikely, of which is testament to the huge steps forward we have made as a group here at St. Neots.

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ACTION REPLAY

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This Week Four Years Ago UCL Premier Division - 15th March 2010 St Neots Town 4

Holbeach 2

Two uncharacteristic errors

by St Neots goalkeeper Luke McShane gifted Holbeach two soft goals and took some of the gloss off St Neots’ sixth consecutive league victory.

Nonetheless it was three more valuable points in their quest for the league title and once again Stefan Moore played a major role with two more goals to take his personal tally to thirteen in his last seven matches. Holbeach competed well but created little and it was to St Neots credit that they stayed focused and patient when the goals failed to come in the opening forty minutes.

Theo Davis returned at full back in place of the unlucky Micky Hyem who had done little to suggest that he should lose his place and Dallas Moore was preferred to Will Fordham in defence. Kings Lynn also won away at Wellingborough so it is as you were at the top of the Premier Division.

There was a slow start to proceedings with Holbeach defending in numbers and St Neots not really incisive enough to break through. A curling Lewis Hilliard free kick was just the wrong side of a post with visiting goalkeeper Ricky Lovelace caught out of position and Lewis Webb just failed to reach a Kieran Davis cross in front of a yawning net. At the other end Luke Kennedy sent a shot way over the bar and

McShane saved well from Nick Brown. Dan Jacob looked to be the spark that was needed to inspire St Neots and he saw Lovelace pounce on a deflected cross, brought a good save from the keeper and then shot wide after neat play by Shane Tolley. Davies should have opened St Neots account when played clear by Stefan Moore but his shot was wide and then a Moore cross deflected to Tolley but his involuntary touch sent the ball the wrong side of a post. However patience did pay off four minutes before the break when defensive hesitation allowed Dan Jacob to roll the ball into the empty net despite being off balance as the ball fell to him.

In the second half St Neots looked more positive but both Lewis Webb and Stefan Moore were off target. Holbeach had a couple of players booked as they tried to slow St Neots approach with some over physical tackling but after 61 minutes a delightfully weighted pass over the visiting defence saw Stefan Moore use his pace to reach the ball and lob the advancing goalkeeper to double the lead. Luke Kennedy’s frustration at Junior Kanudu’s wizardry earned him only a yellow card when he aimed a late kick at the St Neots player – that could well have been a sending off. The pressure seemed to be off after 72 minutes when a goal

straight from the training pitch made it 3-0. Hilliard’s square free kick was flicked on to the unmarked Stefan Moore and he netted from an oblique angle.

However three minutes later Luke McShane spilled a Tommy Treacher free kick allowing Holbeach veteran substitute Shaun Keeble a simple finish and that spurred the visitors.

Omar Joof could easily have further reduced the arrears but unmarked he shot over the bar and it was left to Dan Jacob to calm the nerves with his second goal of the match created cleverly by Stefan Moore and Lewis Hilliard. A second McShane error a minute from time gifted Cameron Mawer an unexpected goal which meant little in the final analysis.

St Neots: McShane, Hilliard, Davis, Webb, Gayle, Moore (D) Davies, Kanudu, Moore (S), Tolley, Jacob.

Subs: Hyem (for Davies 74 mins), Montique, Fordham, Scully & Trebes.

Man of the Match: Dan Jacob

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CLUB NEWS

Official Club News Feed

Never miss a thing relating to St. Neots Town Football Club! For those of you who aren’t online much then the Saints Matchday Magazine will always bring you the latest news so that you are bang up-to-date.

St Neots Town Saints / Youth Development update A fantastic first season for our youth development We now have 21 full time apprentices at the club, and the Saints / Youth teams are all developing very well.

So far 4 of our youngsters have been offered places at professional clubs Academy’s for next season.

Congratulations to Iain Parr and all his team for the progression they have made in such a very short time.

ST. NEOTS TOWN F.C

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APPRENTICESHIP

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Shay Weston has been offered a place at Norwich City U9 academy next season.

Dean Western (Parent) I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone at st neots for everything they have done for Shay. In the last year he has come on so much, the training and support Stef and Bob give him has been amazing. Shay just loves to play football and at st neots he gets to play all the time with great facilities. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done. I would also like to say a big thank you to Norwich city for giving shay this opportunity.

Stef Edwards (U8 Saints Manager) We are all delighted that Shay has been given such a fantastic opportunity with Norwich City FC. Me and my coaching team will continue to create opportunities for our boys to progress, develop and enjoy their football. We would like to wish Shay all the best for the future, we are sure with he will reach his full potential in years to come.

Lewis King has been offered a place at Cambridge United U9 academy next season.

Jordan Brown has been offered a scholarship at Cambridge United next season.

Dion Sembe was earlier in the season offered a contract at Colchester United this season.

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MATCH REPORT

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Calor Southern League Premier Division Rowley Park - The Cozy Stadium (Att 324) Saturday March 1st 2014 - Kick Off 15:00 Referee David Avent (Northampton)

St Neots Town Tolley (49 mins), Deeney (67 mins), Hilliard - pen (70 mins) Nolan n 83

3:0

Hungerford Town

Hughes n 66

Abbey, Deeney, Lee, Farrell, Frater, Hoyte, Woolley, Cracknell, Nolan, Tolley, Hilliard

Strudley, Stow, Legg, Boardman, Hughes, Rees, Clark, Webb, Brown, Draycott, O’Brien

Subs: Davies (for Tolley 70 mins), Ferrari (for Hilliard 80 mins), Ford (for Deeney 87 mins), Thomas and Swan.

Subs: Hopper (for Webb 62 mins), Goodger (for Draycott 67 mins), Burnell (for O’Brien 67 mins), and Horgan.

St Neots extended their unbeaten run at the Cozy Stadium to ten games – their best ever run in the Southern League – and avenged a narrow defeat at Hungerford earlier in the season.

It will have pleased Manager Gary King that this was their first home league clean sheet since before Christmas and that against a visiting side unbeaten in their last four outings. The squad rotation saw St Neots start the game with a 4-4-2 formation and with Ben Farrell and Dean Cracknell dominant in central midfield from the start St Neots always looked capable of another victory. However Hungerford are no mugs and they always looked dangerous on the break and that was when skipper Gavin Hoyte and Ryan Frater looked to be at their best. This could have been a Red Insure Cup Final rehearsal but the Berkshire visitors lost at Tiverton in midweek handing St Neots in a lengthy trip in the first leg of the Final in two weeks time.

In the opening fifteen minutes the sides probably showed each other too much respect for there were few openings. Then as the game opened up visiting keeper Paul Strudley was the busier of the two custodians saving well from Matt Nolan and Dave Deeney whilst leading Hungerford marksman Mark Draycott wasted both of his sides’ best first half chances. Dean Stow did well to clear a Lewis Hilliard cross off the line with Shane Tolley

waiting unmarked at the far post and then Tolley brought a full length save from Strudley. Dean Cracknell still looking for his first St Neots goal headed narrowly wide and the first half ended with both sides pushing forward but unable to find a significant final shot.

However what the first half had lacked in drama and memorable incident was all rectified in the first five minutes after the restart as St Neots took the game by the scruff of the neck. From a deep Nolan cross Tolley saw a header deflected for a corner after just 45 seconds and then two minutes later in the same attack Nolan beat the keeper but saw his effort rebound from the cross bar but only as far as Jake Woolley whose low shot rebounded from a post to safety. St Neots were not finished and after 49 minutes their pressure paid off as Arthur Lee’s low shot was pushed onto the

cross bar and Shane Tolley followed in to bundle the ball over the line – his tenth goal in eight starts since rejoining the club. Hunderford then contributed to their own downfall with some shoddy defending that produced free kicks two of which St Neots prospered from. After 67 minutes an outstanding free kick from a narrow angle by Dave Deeney that beat Strudley for accuracy and pace gave the St Neots defender his first league goal and three minutes later Dean Stow unnecessarily pushed Lee over at the far post to concede a penalty which Lewis Hilliard confidently despatched to make it 3-0. From that point on Hungerford looked dispirited and untidy in attack and St Neots were able to stroll to victory with substitute Lorenzo Ferrari almost extending the lead as he burst through to bring a good save from Strudley. The only downside was a late injury to Deeney who had to be assisted off and substituted.

MATCH REPORT

Treyew Road (Att 417) Saturday 8th March 2014 - Kick Off 15:00 Richard Corp (Frome)

Truro City Watson 2 (63 and 73 mins) None n n Chenoweth, Tully, White, Kendall, Pugh, Brokenshire, Green, Lowry, Watson, Afful, Cooke.

Subs: Eddy (for Afful 41 mins), Copp (for Cooke 86 mins), Ash (for Brokenshire 86 mins), Daw and Fisher.

2:3

St Neots Town Hilliard (17mins), Woolley (54 mins), Nolan (80 mins) None n n Abbey, Nkinga, Lee, Farrell, Frater, Hoyte, Hilliard, Cracknell, Nolan, Davies, Woolley Subs: Adjei (for Nkinga 73 mins), Tolley (for Davies 84 mins), Thomas (for Nolan 89 mins), Wilson and Ferrari.

The small handful of brave supporters who had made the club’s longest ever away trek for a league match was delighted with the performance and result and they now have just ten days rest before another trip to Devon in the Red Insure Cup Final (first leg) on Tuesday 18th March.

Truro came out clearly fired up after the break and Abbey was in action saving from Watson and Jamie Lowrie. Jake Woolley seemed to be involved in most of St Neots forward moves and he brought a good save from Chenoweth at the expense of a corner before volleying an easier looking chance high over the bar.

However it was he who made up for his disappointment after 54 minutes when Hilliard deftly swapped passes with Nolan before crossing to the far post for Woolley to joyfully crash home to extend the visitors’ lead.

St Neots looked comfortable at that point but after 63 minutes Truro mounted a spirited fight back and

as the St Neots defence dithered it allowed Ben Watson to curl the ball into the net with Abbey looking unsighted and ten minutes later the scores were levelled as a cross from substitute Liam Eddy was forced in at close range by Watson with the St Neots defence once again culpable. However it was to their great credit that they put this setback behind them and they began to repair the damage. With Ed Adjei on for the tiring Jordy Nkinga St Neots took the game to their hosts and were richly rewarded ten minutes from time when Adjei fed Hilliard on the left flank and his cross looked to be misjudged by the out of position home keeper allowing Matt Nolan to deflect the cross inside the far post for what proved to be the clinching goal. Truro made a last ditch effort to get some reward from the game and two minutes into added time a cross from the bye line by Lowry tested the tiring defence but Abbey produced the save of the match to knock the ball over the bar.

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Truro made the better start in the bright sunshine, Les Afful tested Abbey with a shot in the very first minute and six minutes later Olly Brokenshire was left unmarked at the far post and it required a brilliant reflex save from Abbey to keep his goal intact. St Neots then came to life and Ryan Frater went close with a header from a Jay Davies cross that only just cleared the cross bar.

But St Neots were on a forward move and after 17 minutes a lengthy clearance from Abbey found the head of Jay Davies who knocked the ball forward for Lewis Hilliard to run on a net with a low shot. Jake

Woolley then fired a free kick just beyond the far post but the game was flowing end to end and Abbey was relieved to see a 30 yards pile driver from Brokenshire pass wide of his goal. The hard working Matt Nolan saw a clever lob well saved by Ollie Chenoweth whilst Ben Watson flashed a shot wide at the other end.

The lively Les Affal then brought a back breaking save from Abbey at the expense of a corner but he then limped off to be substituted.

That brought to an end a first half that could have produced a greater number of goals that the single one that gave St Neots their narrow lead.

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St Neots returned from their 660 miles round trip to Cornwall with three valuable points thanks to a late winning goal from Matt Nolan after surrendering a two goals lead.

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Calor Southern League Premier Division

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PLAYER PROFILE

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Simon Thomas Simon, tall and very mobile has a work rate to match anyone.

Leads the line as the lone striker.

PLAYER PROFILE

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GREENIES GREETINGS

There is certainly a lot still to play for Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome back to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium, for today’s Calor League Premier Division game. followers travelled down on Friday Evening, stopping in a hotel in Exeter, before completing the journey to Truro the next morning after everyone enjoying a hearty breakfast to set them on their way. This preparation paid off as we headed towards home in the early evening with the three points and another game unbeaten.

Special mentions must go to Lewis Hilliard who only passed a fitness test prior to kick off yet once again was instrumental in the win, scoring the opener and being highly involved in the other two goals, Jake Woolley and Matty Nolan for scoring the other two goals and of course, Nathan Abbey for producing a string of top drawer saves when called upon to keep our noses in front.

Today we extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and of course the supporters of Hitchin Town Football Club and we hope you enjoy your brief stay with us here in Cambridgeshire before heading back down the A1 ( or the London bound railway track) later this evening.

Well, who would have thought last November that we would currently be on a run of just one defeat in fifteen competitive games, a possible top 10 finish and be about to travel to contest the first leg of the Red Insure Cup Final, not to mention looking forward to playing in the Huntingdonshire Football Association Senior Cup Final here at Rowley Park. There is certainly a lot still to play for and the season definitely isn’t just going to fizzle out with meaningless games left to play so that in itself is a massive reason to drag your mates/family members and work colleagues up to the Cozy Stadium for our remaining games, even if it’s for them to sample the matchday experience for the first time as a taster for what promises to be a very exciting adventure next season. Our support has been nothing short of magnificent this season yet again but we can always

improve and filing in the gaps on the terraces behind the goals would be a major achievement off the pitch to marry up with hopefully what we will achieve on it.

Right, back to the on field matters and last weekend saw the Club make the marathon trek down Cornwall to take on the ‘White Tigers’ of Truro City. The playing squad, management and band of faithful

Next up for us, after today, is a trip down to Tiverton Town in Devon, on Tuesday (18th) evening for the Red Insure Cup Final First Leg. I’m pleased to say that the coach is fully booked and we will be well represented on the terraces and I’m sure our numbers will be swelled by more support driving down on the day. Don’t forget that the return leg will be played here on Tuesday April 8th. Next Saturday, we travel to Biggleswade Town, back in League action and once again, i’m sure we will be travelling in numbers like we did at Bedford Town earlier in the season.

Ok then, back to today. As has been documented before, your performance off the pitch is just as important as the lads’ on it so.........

MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE BOYS ‘Greenie’

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JORDY NKINGA

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Top 10

Managers of all time

10) Sir Matt Busby (SCO) It takes a great manager to build a great team. It takes an extraordinary manager to build two. Sir Matt Busby built three. He joined Manchester United in 1945 and, 24 years later, left having experienced the highest and lowest feelings in football.

09) Brian Clough (ENG) ”I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business, but I’m in the top one.” Sorry Cloughie, you’re going to have to make do with the top ten!

Widely regarded as the best manager England never had, Brian Clough did the seemingly impossible by taking provincial side Derby County to the First Division title.

His first great side won an FA Cup and league title, as well as finishing as runners-up in the league four more times. The ageing stars were then replaced by the best young players in the country, a team the media dubbed “The Busby Babes.” The players, including Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards, showed great potential before most of them were cruelly wiped out in the Munich Air Disaster of 1958.

What is even more amazing, however, is that he managed to repeat the feat with Nottingham Forest.

Questions remain as to Clough’s capabilities without Peter Taylor at his side, highlighted by his doomed stay of just 44 days as Leeds manager, but Clough was undoubtedly the main driving force in their highly successful relationship.

Ten years later and Busby had built another great team, including Charlton again. He also added the flair and skill of George Best and Denis Law. This team won the ‘68 European Cup, the trophy Busby had been chasing when the Munich disaster struck.

Clough won two First Division titles, four League Cups, and a Charity Shield, as well as the 1979 European Cup. A year later, he retained that trophy, a remarkable feat considering Nottingham Forest were virtually unheard of in Europe before.

All in all, Busby won five league titles, five Charity Shields, two FA Cups, and a European Cup.

DEENEY CELEBRATES AFTER A ‘WORLDIE’!

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

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Eusebio de Silva Ferreira Born 25/01/1942 Died 05/01/ 2014 Eusebio de Silva Ferreira is recognised worldwide as one of the greatest African players ever to have lived. His fame is marked by the fact that he is known by anyone with an interest in football simply by his first name. He has two main nicknames, neither of which would be readily taken up by the press now. They are the Black Panther and the Black Pearl, these references to his race stemming from him being the first famous African player to represent Portugal. He is the most successful player to have come from the nation and is one of the best strikers the world has seen.

Early Career Eusebio was born on January 25th 1942 in the then Portuguese territory Laurenco Marquez (now Mapatu in Mozambique). He began his career with the team Sporting Laurenco Marquez who were a feeder team for the Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon. He was spotted by scouts for Sporting Lisbon who brought him to Portugal in 1961. His talent had already been noted by other Portuguese teams, notably Benfica.

The team’s coach Bela Guttmann had already flown to see Eusebio, having been tipped off about him by the Sao Paulo coach at the hairdressers.

Guttmann paid £7,500 to Sporting Lisbon for Eusebio and he made an instant impact with Lisbon’s rivals Benfica. This move was not seen as particularly sporting on the side of Benfica. He was reported to have been effectively kidnapped and taken to a small fishing village in the Algarve

by Benfica while the deal was being negotiated.

Portuguese Football Career It did not take long for Eusebio to

make his mark in the Portuguese League. He scored a hat-trick in his début for the club and Benfica finished top in the league thanks to his impressive scoring record.

In 1962, his second season at the club, he led the team to victory in the European Cup. He scored two goals in the final against Real Madrid, both of which he created with little help from his team mates.

In the first decade since Eusebio joined the club, Benfica won the league every year except 1962, 1968 and 1970. Eusebio was the club’s top scorer seven times in this period of glory. The team followed up their European Cup title win by coming third in the competition in 1963, 1965 and 1968. Their record in the Portuguese Cup reflected their league dominance with them winning the competition in 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970 and 1972.

National Career Eusebio played for Portugal from the time he moved to the country. By the time of the 1966 World Cup he had established himself as the focus of the team’s strike force. It was in this tournament that he became recognised as a world-class player.

It was the first time that Portugal had ever qualified for the competition, but they ploughed through their early matches with determination and style. In the quarter finals Portugal were trailing to North Korea by three

goals to nil when Eusebio stepped up to win the match for Portugal.

He scored four blinding goals and Portugal managed to stay in the competition with a 5-3 win.

The four goals that he scored in the previous match were sadly only matched by four disallowed goals against England in the semi-finals.

It was a closely contested match but Eusebio scored the team’s only goal from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. Eusebio left the pitch in tears but had made such an impact that he was immortalised in wax in Madame Tussauds. Portugal managed to beat the Soviet Union in the 3rd place play-offs and Eusebio finished as the top goal scorer in the tournament. This was to be the high point of Portugal’s career with Eusebio up front. He only played in the qualifying stages of the following two World Cups. He still remained the top goal scorer for the team until 2005.

Final Years Having played for a few minor Portuguese teams, Eusebio moved across the Atlantic to play in the North American Soccer League.

Like many players of his generation who made this transition, it proved to be a far less successful move than people had hoped. By the mid seventies Eusebio was receiving continual medical attention for his knee injuries. These marred his performance for the most part while he played for both the Toronto Metros and Las Vegas Quiksilver. In 1976 he scored in the league final for the Metros, helping them to a 3-0 win. After a brief spell with a Mexican team, Eusebio moved to the second division New Jersey’s Americans. It was a sad end to his career with him playing few matches and scoring even fewer goals before his eventual retirement in 1978.

Career Appearances: 347 Goals: 342 International Caps: 64 Goals: 41 Career Highlight: FIFA World Player of the Year 1965 and 1966

CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS

Mike Kearns Welcome to the Officials, Players and Supporters of Hitchin Town FC.

Focus on

QUALITY

Well the last third of the season just gets better and better. Two Cup finals to look forward to and we are right up at the top of the current form league table.

As I mentioned in my last programme notes to enable us to achieve those ambitions we do need to increase our attendances.

Please, please help us to get these gates up to over 500 for each game.

All of which will give us a great platform for a serious assault on a promotion position for next season.

There are many things that have impressed me with our management team and squad of late and that is the togetherness of everyone. It is hard for a player to be left out of the team at times and with the thought that goes into how we line up for each match is so very professional.

Rotation of players to suit each game is the way of the modern game

but very few at this level of football actually have the squad to do that.

I for one now understand how important it is to have eighteen top quality players to enable us to achieve what we want in each game.

Our Players seem to understand this rotation system even though they are all desperate to play in every game.

This is a good example of what management is all about and in Gary, Zema and Nathan we really do have the very best in management.

I feel that our club is complete as a business both on and off the field and that we have the infrastructure and personnel to take us a little further up the leagues.

Many clubs pass the magic 500 gate on a regular basis and with all due respects to all of those clubs none of them have what we have. We do have the very best of everything.

We played Hungerford for the first time at Rowley Park the other week and their Directors really were “Gob Smacked” by our facilities saying they have never seen anything like it. They said the pitch was the best they have ever played on and we have already had over 70 games on it.

Thankfully our team was also the very best on that day.

It was mentioned to me that clubs can only dream of what we have and I replied as I always do with “yes we really do have the very best, but the very best also costs the most”.

So it is so important that we have more supporters through the turnstiles.

I know we can do it with your help of course, we will try and give you all a winning team in return maybe you can give us an average gate of over 500 for each game.

Is that a deal or no deal?

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Our fixed overheads are by far the highest of any club at our level, and that is before we even get anywhere near the playing budget.

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The Quality we have in both Management and Players really is one of a play off position team. We know now what it will take and the addition of a few more quality players to the squad for next season will give us a great chance of achieving our ambition for next season.

It might happen in a couple of seasons or could take a little longer but I am comfortable that we can now push on.

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We Need The Magic 500

All for one and one for all.

Mike

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OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

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Hitchin Town

The Canaries

Hitchin are comfortably placed in mid table (14th when these notes were written) – a pattern maintained since they were promoted to the Premier Division.

Previous meeting of our clubs 2013/14 Season: Hitchin

4-0

St Neots

St Neots

5-0

Hitchin

Year Founded: 1865 Chairman: Terry Barrett Club Website: www.hitchintownfc.co.uk

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

Welcome to our visitors this afternoon for our next engagement in the Calor Southern League Premier Division. They are the players, Directors and supporters of Hitchin Town and we extend to them our usual warm Cozy Stadium welcome.

Hitchin are comfortably placed in mid-table (14th when these notes were written) – a pattern maintained since they were promoted to the Premier Division in the 2011/12 season. Our lads will be trying to reverse a trend this evening because this is the sixth Southern League meeting of our two clubs and at present Hitchin have not been

Photo courtesy of Hitchin Town

beaten in a league encounter. The closest we came to winning was on 28th January last year when a Ben Mackey double earned us a point in a 2-2 draw at Hitchin. However we did record an outstanding 5-0 victory over our visitors here last October to avenge a Red Insure Cup defeat the previous season thanks to goals from Jake Woolley (2), Lewis Hilliard, Dave Deeney and Joseph N’Guessan. That victory of course propelled us on our journey towards the two legged Red Insure Cup Final the first leg of which is to be played at Tiverton next Tuesday. Put a note in your diary that the second leg will

be here three weeks on Tuesday (8th April). After this afternoon we have only three more home league fixtures to complete but with a prospect of two Cup Finals here (Tiverton and St Ives in the Hunts Senior Cup Final) this will be a season to remember after a disappointing start.

Club History It was not until 1928 that Hitchin Town FC was formed, and it was at this point that the nickname, “The Canaries”, was established. The club colours of yellow and at that time, blue, were also agreed upon. Prior to

OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Adult:

£10

Concession: Under 16 yrs:

£6

£2

Top Field Capacity:

4,000

Disabled Access:

Yes

The 1930s were halcyon days for Hitchin Town. Promotion to the Spartan Premier was won in 1931, but it was the FA Amateur Cup and AFA Senior Cup that captured the imagination of the Hitchin public..

Two years later, a crowd of 7,878 watched Hitchin beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 in the competition, but the club failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals again.

The Canaries reached the FA Cup competition proper four times – in 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77 and 1978-79, although a giant-killing eluded them. In 1973-74, nonleague Boston beat Hitchin 1-0 in the second round, depriving

However the following season Hitchin beat Slough and Daventry in the play-offs to claim the second promotion spot. In their first season back in the Premier, Hitchin enjoyed some bright moments, notably beating eventual champions Brackley and promotion chasing AFC Totton and Cambridge City. The final placing of 14th was considered satisfactory and the club go into 2012-13 looking to improve on that showing.

Hitchin Town can trace its roots back to 1865 when Hitchin FC was formed. The club took part in the first FA Cup in 1871-72, and reached the quarter finals of the competition, losing to eventual finalists Royal Engineers.

Did you know?..

Hitchin Towns ground has often been referred to as the “Plywood” stadium for obvious reasons.

Did you know?..

Season 2010/11 saw the club promoted by way of the play offs to the Premier Division of the Southern League. On the final day of the season Hitchin lost to Arlesey Town on what was to be a title decider after Arlesey were deducted nine points in a contentious issue giving Hitchin the chance to win and be champions.

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

The club won the AFA Senior Cup in 1932, beating Derbyshire Amateurs in the final and in 1935, won the Spartan League Premier Division.

The club entered the Athenian League in 1939 returning to that league after the war. In 1953-54, the runners-up spot in the Athenian League was secured and the club reached the last eight of the FA Amateur Cup, losing 10-1 to the mighty Crook Town.

After 40 years in the Isthmian League Hitchin moved to the Southern League in 2004/05 and have had six of the eight years since then in the Premier Division. After a poor start to the 2008-09 season the club was relegated at the end of the campaign. Hitchin enjoyed a successful 2009-10, winning 31 of 42 league games but had to enter the play-offs for the second promotion place. Sadly, the young Canaries ran out of steam and lost the play-off semi-final to Slough, a team that finished 23 points behind Hitchin!

Did you know?..

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that, the old club played in white and magenta.

them of a lucrative tie with Derby County. Cambridge beat Hitchin in the first round a year later, and in 1976, Swindon finally saw off Hitchin 3-1 after a 1-1 draw at Top Field in the second round. In 1978, Bournemouth beat Hitchin 2-1 in the first round. By the end of the decade, though, the club was in decline and the 1980s was a dismal decade in which finances were limited and the emphasis was on youth.

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

Admission Prices

19

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WHO’S WHO

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Who calls the shots?...

Mark Burke Mark is celebrating 25 years with Hitchin Town this season. He first arrived in the summer of 1985 as a youngster, following a professional career with QPR and Luton Town. He went on to become one of Hitchin’s finest players, captaining the team from central defence. He led the club to FA Cup giant-killign success against Hereford and Bristol Rovers and played over 700 games for the Canaries.

Was appointed assistant to Carl Williams in May 2010.

TAHJ BELL: Bermudan International goalkeeper who came to the club’s attention last season whilst on trial at Barnet. Had a good pre-season this summer.

DANIEL WEBB: Defender who joined the club in 2012 / 13 from local team Shillington. He proved to be a steady and versatile player since making his debut in 2012.

LUKE GREGSON: Luke (30) has had three spells with Hitchin. A solid, combative central midfielder whose previous clubs include Stotfold, Arlesey and Boreham Wood.

Currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles suffered against Bedworth Utd at the end of the season and is helping with the coaching.

CALLUM DONNELLY: Callum (24) has been a revelation since arriving at Hitchin in 2010 from Stotfold. He has developed into one of the key fixtures in the Canaries’ midfield.

Callum comes from a long line of Hitchin players – grandfather, father and brothers have all turned out for the club. Has also played for Boreham Wood.

SIMON MARTIN: Simon (34) arrived from St Albans City in the Summer and has previously played for Cambridge City, Thurrock and Slough. A strong and experienced striker that has a good strike rate.

MICHAEL NOONE: Michael (23) joined the club on loan in January 2013 from Eastbourne Borough. A left footed central midfield playmaker

he has also turned out for Dover Athletic and Wealdstone.

LEWIS ROLFE: Twenty-one year old Lewis arrived at the club in the summer from Chesham United and has impressed in the preseason games. A versatile player he can play in numerous positions but has established himself in the right back position.

JOSH BICKERSTAFF: Josh (22) is a local lad and the son of Gordon Bickerstaff, a familiar figure in local footballing circles. Josh has fought back from injury towards the end of last season to claim the left back position as his own.

MATTHEW LENCH: Matt (20) joined the club in the summer from Chesham Utd. A young exciting talent Matt likes to dribble and run at defenders from a midfield position but can also operate at full back.

SAM BARKER: A holding Central Midfield player with a good range of passing, Sam (21) signed for the canaries in the summer from Chesham Utd. Originally came through the successful youth system at Luton Town FC. MICHAEL KING: Michael (19) signed from Kettering in March 2013 and is a midfield player that can also play as a striker. He was formerly with Colchester and Northampton.

STUART PEARSON: Stuart (26) relocated to the area from the West Country and impressed in pre-season training. Comfortable as either a Central Defender or Full Back Stuart is a hard-working and competitive player that has previously played for Swindon Supermarine and Paulton Rovers.

KIM FORSYTHE: Kim joined Hitchin from Arlesey in November. He plays either left side midfield or upfront.

LUCAS KIRKPATRICK: Lucas (19) is a hungry combative young Midfielder who is a product of the Club’s Scholarship Scheme based at The Arena and has shown a lot of promise during the pre-season.

GARRY JONES: Left sided player who was recruited from Harrow Borough in November 2013.

Previous clubs Wealdstone, Potters Bar Town and Hatfield.

CHARLIE SMITH: Recent loanee from Luton, Charlie is an attacking midfielder. Last season’s U18 skipper for the Hatters.

MITCHELL BRYANT. Loan signing from Royston Town – previous clubs include Cambridge City.Mitchell plays up front.

CRACKERS THE POWERHOUSE

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FEATURE ADVERTISING

26

FOOTBALL FUNNIES

You must be alvin a laugh!

We pity local side Ebeltoft, who were robbed of a deserved draw when playing Norager in the domestic competition. Norager were leading 4-3 with seconds remaining when Ebeltoft went on the attack. As they pressed forward, however, referee Henning Erikstrup went to blow the final whistle.

Only problem was that his false teeth fell out as he went to blow the whistle—meaning that no noise came out and play continued as normal. Ebeltoft scored to make it 4-4 by the time that Erikstrup found his false teeth and put them back into his mouth.

So, 4-4 right? Mmmm. Not so much.

Final score: Norager 4, Ebeltoft 3.

In West Ham’s 8-1 home win against Newcastle United in April 1986, Martin scored three goals against three different goalkeepers—making him the only player to score his hat-trick in such a fashion.

The defender netted his first goal against Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Thomas, who was then replaced by Chris Hedworth due to injury.

Martin scored against the substitute keeper, who was then replaced by Peter Beardsley toward the end of the match, whom he promptly scored against to complete his unusual but remarkable feat. According to the BBC, no other player has ever scored a hat-trick like this.

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Erikstrup disallowed the goal and blew the final whistle, handing Norager a 4-3 win. Ebeltoft protested the match immediately following the loss and took the result to the equivalent of what is the Football Association in Denmark, but their protests were denied.

Many players have scored hat-tricks (three goals in the same match) during their lifetime, but few have the claim to fame that West Ham and England defender Alvin Martin has regarding hat-tricks.

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Time for some Danish football...

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

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!

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MANAGING DIRECTOR’S VIEWS

Our Season It’s All Go Go Go Lee Kearns Fourteenth in the league, two legged final against Tiverton (Red Insurance Cup) and the Hunts Senior cup final against St Ives plus three more league home games after Hitchin. Six under 21’s home fixtures a number of U18’s home fixtures, the U14’s cup final, U15’s cup final (Saints have reached both these finals) and two other senior cup finals, three EJA cup finals all played on the same day, Several Colts games and EJA league games plus an end of season 6 aside tournament (St Neots Town Youth and Saints) over two days (3rd and 4th May) oh and we have apprenticeship games and pre-trials mid April, plus vets games and a charity game all to be staged at Rowley Park over the next 8 weeks.

have completed their youth modules and a Refereeing course (we take coaching badges very seriously and I would like to thank Alan Poulain at the Hunts FA for his help with this) All apprentices will be allocated a school to help assist in PE lessons once a week from the first week in April which again will illustrate our determination to do things in the correct and proper manner and support local football development and grassroots football whenever and wherever we can.

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We are already planning for preseason friendlies so please keep an eye out for any news.

Saturday 29th March against Bideford will be our School Voucher day with five schools to date expressing an interest.

2014-2019 Projections I was asked where I see our club in five years time and below what I emailed over as a basic outline: 1. First team to be playing National Conference

28

Norwich City FC Ltd has been served three months notice (this was done in January) and we have been very proactive looking to finalise a new deal with a Pro-club that will serve both our needs far better.

2. St Neots Town Youth FC to expand grassroots teams to include Girls and disability teams with expected numbers to be around 700 kids 3. Ladies Team introduced under the St Neots Town Saints FC banner 4. St Neots Town Saints U21’s to gain promotion to step 4

We’ve also moved forward in our quest to find new partners to support the apprenticeship programme and expect a new influx of around 25-30 lads come September to add the 22 that will move into year two. All apprentices going into year two will have done their level one coaching badges and by the end of year two they will all be level 2 coaches and

5. St Neots Town Saints development squads to expand (dependant on quality available) 6. Tie in with a league club (this will hopefully be live for next season) 7. A scholarship programme introduced to work

alongside the apprenticeship programme with projected numbers to be around 80-100

by Sept 2015 8. Continued expansion of our partnership agreement with the two local comprehensive schools that will allow us to become part of the school curriculum including a football development/support program from Under 11’s upwards all based at the schools 9. Continued expansion of business partners, commercial income and opportunities 10. Continued expansion of function sales 11. Gates to double by 2015 season (currently around 350)

All the above is achievable but we need help. Please Please bring a mate and double the gate because without your efforts we are never going to achieve what we all want.

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

Wonderful non-league

grounds There are many great new stadiums in Non League football, ours is one of them. But what about those lovely old grounds with those beautiful old stands. We take a look at them up and down the country.

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Hastings United – The Pilot Field

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(Ryman League Premier Division) The Pilot Field, Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2AX

Brimscombe & Thrupp – The Meadow (Hellenic League Division One West) The Meadow, London Road, Brimscombe, Gloucestershire GL5 2SH One of the many picture postcard grounds that grace the Gloucestershire countryside. Opened in 1946, The Meadow was levelled off to form a useable playing surface and much of the earth was compacted to form a sizeable bank on the London Road side of the ground. A wooden cover was erected into a cutting in the bank and although appearing somewhat precarious, provides a marvellous view of the match. The pitch is set off by a smart white post and rail fence. Looking past the stand and bank, the overall picture is complete by extensive woodland rising sharply in the distance. Brimscombe and Thrupp, a modest club with a pretty little home.

Update: This picturesque stand was replaced during the summer of 2013 by a modern kit build stand at the request of the Hellenic League.

The Pilot Field and “the upper ground” known as The Firs, formerly the home of St.Leonards and Stamco, have had a quite remarkable and at times torrid history. Hastings Town were formed in 1894 and had three separate spells playing at the top pitch. However, the club played at The Pilot Field between 1923 and 1948. The council had opened both grounds in 1921 at a cost of £32,000. In 1923 the present vast main stand at the Pilot Field was opened at an additional cost of £8,000. In 1948 a professional club, Hastings United, were formed and Town returned to the smaller ground at The Firs. Speedway had come to the Pilot Field in 1948 and some of the old track still remains today. However after one season racing was banned by the council after complaints of noise from neighbours.

The 1950’s saw some huge crowds at the Pilot Field, the largest being 12,727 for the visit in an FA Cup tie of Norwich City in January 1954. However by 1985 Hastings United had folded following bankruptcy. Town seized the opportunity to return to the Pilot Field and took United’s place in the Southern League. The club remain in this vast venue despite modest support, and to complicate the story still further Hastings Town opted to change its name during the summer of 2002 to… Hastings United!

JAKE WOOLLEY FIRES ONE IN

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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!

Alex McLeish “We want to win the match in 90 minutes, even if we have to go to extra time to do it”

Bobby Gould

Ian Abrahams “Victor Obinna could barely hit a cow’s backside with a barn door”

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

”I want to see the stats for how many crosses there have been; it’s been incredulous”

“The money players are on these days is immoral, but you can’t knock it”

Jamie Redknapp “David Silva literally floats around the pitch”

Steve Claridge “When you lose a goal so early, you’ve always got an uphill mountain”

James Cooper

Paul Lambert

Alan McInally

“Dave Jones got to the final last year and lost in the semi-final this year, so progress has definitely been made”

“That was never a penalty in a million planets”

Paul Merson

“I can’t really pin my colours to which mast I am supporting”

“What a decision from the woman linesman”

Ian Darke

“Aston Villa are four points below the drop zone”

“Landon Donovan is four from four from the penalty spot this season.

In other words, he’s scored all of them”

Steve Kean

Ruud Gullit

“No disrespect to Arsenal, but we gave them too much respect”

“Man City needed something and when Johnson did something, something happened”

Darren Gough

“Dzeko was accused of throwing his bathwater out of the pram”

Richard Langley

Iain Dowie

“If Taraabt isn’t on the game, QPR can struggle”

“It’s end to end stuff... all West Brom”

Micky Quinn

Alan Brazil “I’m not going to single individuals out but Yakubu has missed loads of great chances”

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

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Image credit: TalkFootball

FIXTURES MATRIX

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

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and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

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Mike Green Chief Liason Officer brother-in-law for a couple of games when Jon Taylor decided to leave for Arlesey Town leaving the Club short of players and obviously a manager.

Hi, my name is Mike Green and my main match-day duty is Stadium PA Announcer, but you may be asking yourselves, just who is the man behind the microphone? Ok, let me shed a little light onto who I am and my association with St. Neots Town Football Club.

I am 44 years old and have been married for almost 25 years this September to my wonderful (and also very patient and understanding) wife, Teresa, who without her own love of the game and the Club in particular, my duties for the Saints would almost certainly be almost non existant.

We have three fantastic sons, Ricky, Jamie and Charlie, who have all either played for, worked or are still working at the Club on Matchdays, so, already you can see that St Neots Town FC really is in the Green family blood.

My love affair with The Saints began back in the late 1990’s and I eventually became a Committee member in the summer of 2002 and I went on to hold the position of Membership Secretary down at the ‘old’ ground. I even got to help ‘manage’ the First Team along with the then Chairman and my

Since we have moved to our wonderful new home on Kester Way, named after our loveable groundsman Les Kester, who sadly passed away before we made the move up the hill, the Committee was disbanded as such as the new facilities deemed that more paid staff were needed on match days to run the catering side, bar, turnstiles etc but I have remained as an official of the Club and have fulfilled a number of roles on match days ever since. For the first couple of seasons, I was ‘Meet and Greet’ on the players’ entrance to the ground, making sure that only the people that needed to be coming in there were doing so and I also assisted Maz Izzard (who, apart from John Walker is currently the only serving official of the Club with more years of service than myself) with her duties at the playing end of the building. Sadly for myself, an enforced change in vocation meant that I had to cease this role as my work patterns were to keep me away from my beloved team regularly and I handed the reigns over to Mick Hunt, who has continued the job superbly ever since.

Another change in job more recently meant that I could devote more time back to The Saints and when it

became apparent that we didn’t have a PA Announcer to compliment our brand new scoreboard, I suggested to the Chairman that I would give it a go and the rest, as they say, is history.

My current title at the Club is CHIEF LIASON OFFICER, a grand title I hear you say. Basically, all it entails is being the first port of call for any of our supporters who may have a request or questions which need dealing with or answering, booking seats onto our away travel or in fact, just making sure everyone has the best Matchday experience the can and that they go home happy and hopefully wanting to come back.

Once the game is over, my duties then turn to the digital side of things as I help maintain the Club’s website and forum so as soon as the results are in, I endeavour to update the Match Centre etc to keep everyone up to date. I usually then start writing my programme notes for the next home game and update the Stats page, Matrix and League Tables too.

I also help run our Facebook and Twitter accounts along with Rowan and Adam so I am partly responsible for keeping everyone up to date with proceedings when we are away from home so, all in all, my duties can last seven days a week, all for the love of this great Club.

Everything you need for the next two away fixtures

Red Insure Cup Final 1st Leg

Calor League Premier Division

Tiverton Town v St Neots Town

Biggleswade Town v St Neots Town

Tuesday 18th March 2014 – K.O. 19:30pm

Saturday 22nd March 2014 – K.O. 15:00pm

Away Ticket Prices: No information available

Away Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £6, Kids under 16 free with a paying adult Opponent Website: www.biggleswadetownfc.co.uk

Team Coach Departs: 13.00PM Sat Nav Postcode Reference: EX16 6SG

Team Coach will not be running

Round Trip (from St Neots): 465 miles

Sat Nav Postcode Reference: SG18 9JT Round Trip (from St Neots): 22 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 18.03.14 Calor League Premier Division

22.03.14 Calor League Premier Division

AFC Totton

v Burnham

19:45

AFC Totton

v Corby Town

15:00

Bashley

v Weymouth

19:45

Bashley

v St Albans City

15:00

Hungerford Town

v Chippenham Town 19:45

Bedford Town

v Frome Town

Stourbridge

v Biggleswade Town 19:45

Biggleswade Town v St Neots Town

15:00

Burnham

v Weymouth

15:00

Chesham United

v Chippenham Town 15:00

15:00

Cambridge City

v Bideford

19:45

Hitchin Town

v Redditch United

15:00

Corby Town

v Poole Town

19:45

Hungerford Town

v Arlesey Town

15:00

Poole Town

v H. Hempstead Town 15:00

Stourbridge

v Cambridge City

15:00

Truro City

v Banbury United

15:00

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

19.03.14 Calor League Premier Division

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

Opponent Website: www.tivertontownfc.com

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

Away Days

35

ARTHUR LEE BRINGS OUT FROM DEFENCE

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

YOU didn’t really expect the subject to disappear quietly off into the night, did you?

Just when it seemed the mass discussion and seemingly endless debate about 3G pitches – or the

I’m pretty sure you’ll have a view on this one. And it will either be ‘football must be played on grass’ I’m afraid fence-sitting when it comes to artificial surfaces is a pastime nobody partakes in.

So a refresher. Maidstone United, the plastic-playing Ryman Premier promotion-chasers, can’t go up to the Conference South if they manage to get there. Unsurprisingly, they aren’t too happy about it.

It looked like a stalemate. Well that was until Tuesday, when the Football Association decided to take the lead.

Chairman Greg Dyke chaired a 12-person committee meeting where it was unanimously decided to do-away with the current stance of purely grass-only pitches in the professional English game.

A vote was taken at the Conference AGM in January and although confusing, the long and short of it is that the member clubs don’t want synthetic surfaces in the competition. The Stones say they were left with no alternative but to go down the legal route – with Conference chairman Brian Lee refusing to be “blackmailed” into over-riding the outcome of that vote.

The change of policy is a big development with the governing body officially embracing 3G for the first time.

Does this change things in regards to plastic pitches in the Conference?

It’s a long-winded answer but not directly, and not instantly. But, and it’s a big but, the league were very vocal about the FA showing their teeth and showing leadership if a

Now the FA have put their name to it, the goalposts have been moved – or wheeled into place like they are on those 3G pitches.

It’s a big victory for Maidstone and all those in favour of the all-weather surfaces becoming a part of the game’s future further up the Pyramid.

The debate that won’t stop rumbling has found another twist and another turn.

Sam Elliot Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

As early as next season, Premier League and Football League clubs could have no option but to play games on plastic with the FA Cup set to remove all restrictions and rewrite their rulebook to rubber stamp the rubber crumb.

change was going to happen.

Now clubs have the guidance and a further vote could be placed on an up-coming Conference meeting agenda.

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Marmite topic as we call it – had died down, it came back kicking and screaming this week.

@SamElliott_NLP @Stuhammonds_NLP @MattBadcock_NLP

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Find your voice on the official club forum at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/forum Become a Member today at www.stneotstownfc.co.uk 38

Top 20 Football Stadiums

in the world To help decide just which are the very best stadiums in world football we have taken into consideration, size of the stadium, atmosphere and visual appeal to rank them in order. Here we Go.

12. Estadio Centenario (Montevideo, Uruguay) Notable fixtures: 1930 World Cup final Uruguay’s national stadium played host to the first World Cup final and is listed by FIFA as one of the world’s classic stadiums, along with the Maracana, Wembley Stadium, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Estadio Azteca and the Santiago Bernabéu.

In 1983 it was honoured by FIFA as the only historical monument in world football—the only stadium to be given such an accolade.

11. Anfield (Liverpool, England) Though not a huge stadium in terms of capacity by any means, the legendary atmosphere at Anfield known throughout the world makes the home of Liverpool one of the great stadiums.

Home to the Reds, who have won five European Cup titles, Anfield is always a treat for members of any visiting team, though it continues to instil fear into any opposition. From the famous “This Is Anfield” sign hanging in the tunnel, to the passionate home fans singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Anfield will forever be a favourite amongst players and fans alike.

Tenants: The Uruguayan National Team

Tenants: Liverpool

Opened: 1930

Opened: 1884

Capacity: 65,235

Capacity: 45,276

Non-League Club News

We take a look at what other non-league clubs are doing that’s making the news Corby Town ADMINISTRATION FEARS FOR STEELMEN Corby Town has commenced legal proceedings against the Borough Council after a financial fall out which could force the club into Administration. The club has recently run into cash flow difficulties after Corby Borough Council cut funding of £90,000 per year which was a Service Level Agreement in exchange for Corby Town managing the Rockingham Triangle Community Sports Facility for at least 10 years.

Tiverton Town ROTATION INEVITABLE John Clarkson, manager of Tiverton Town, admits squad rotation is inevitable as he prepares his side for a run of three games every five days. The Tivvy manager says he will rotate to keep his squad fresh, but he is also contemplating bringing in players from outside the squad to cover them for this hectic period.

“If the Tuesday and Thursday games do go ahead, we will have to play everyone in the squad – we won’t have any choice,” Clarkson said.

Bashley BUDGET GOES AT BASHLEY

Bedford Town EAGLES CHAIRMAN OFFERS TO STEP DOWN David Howell, chairman of strugglers Bedford Town, has spoken out against a section of supporters calling for him to stand down. Howell said: “Our season so far has been extremely disappointing and, despite the change in management team, our results have failed to improve and we now look destined to be relegated unless we get a reprieve.

“Whilst I believe we could have done better with the group of players at our disposal, my decision not to subsidise the club to the extent that I have in the past meant that it was always going to be a struggle. I spent £70,000 of my own money in each of the last two seasons to achieve a mid-table finish and that just isn’t good enough. I will still have to subsidise the club’s finances this season to the tune of over £20,000 just to keep us afloat but this situation is untenable.”

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Paul Gazzard, manager of Bashley, is confident of keeping together his squad, despite the decision to operate without a playing budget for the rest of the season. Gazzard revealed the crisis club would only pay travel expenses after it was announced a motion to fold at the end of the current campaign had been put to members on Tuesday. Chairman Mike Cranidge – who admitted the club were “approximately” five weeks behind on their payments to players but said the backlog would be cleared through gate receipts before the end of the season – confirmed the cost-cutting measure would be implemented with immediate effect.

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

A row has now erupted after the council spent the entire budget on the Steel Park Football Stadium.

The council also cut its funding to the football club leaving it £143,500 in arrears to date and leaving an anticipated shortfall of £405,000 on the Service Level Agreement funding to 2017/8.

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

Read all about it!

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

306

CLPD

3-4

21

Conroy

Ann

Ford

Crowie

H

Sat 16 Nov

A Poole Town

402

CLPD

0-2

21

Conroy

Crowie

Lee

Frater

H

Tue 19 Nov

H Corby Town

93

RIC

3-0

–

Conroy

Longden

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 23 Nov

H St Albans City

364

CLPD

2-3

21

Abbey

Longden

Lee

Deeney

F

Tue 26 Nov

H Bedford Town

281

CLPD

2-2

21

Abbey

Longden

Lee

Deeney

FR

Sat 30 Nov

A Banbury United

271

CLPD

1-0

21

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 07 Dec

H Frome Town

252

CLPD

3-1

20

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 14 Dec

A Burnham

124

CLPD

0-1

20

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 21 Dec

H AFC Totton

293

CLPD

6-0

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Thu 26 Dec

A Cambridge City

371

CLPD

2-3

20

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 28 Dec

H Stourbridge

356

CLPD

1-1

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Tue 07 Jan

A Dunstable Town

71

RIC

3-0

–

Swan

Deeney

Lee

FORD

F

Sat 11 Jan

H Poole Town

375

CLPD

1-1

20

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

Sat 18 Jan

A St Albans City

812

CLPD

1-1

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Hibbert

Sat 25 Jan

A Bedford Town

512

CLPD

2-1

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Cracknell

Tue 28 Jan

A Chippenham Town

209

CLPD

1-2

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

Sat 01 Feb

H Banbury United

374

CLPD

3-1

19

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Farrell

Tue 11 Feb

H Royston Town

137

RIC

3-2

–

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Farrell

Cr

Sat 15 Feb

H Burnham

262

CLPD

4-2

18

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Farrell

Cr

Tue 18 Feb

H Arlesey Town

252

CLPD

3-1

18

Abbey

Deeney

Adjei

Farrell

F

Sat 22 Feb

A AFC Totton

286

CLPD

2-2

18

Abbey

Deeney

Adjei

Farrell

F

Tue 25 Feb

A Redditch Utd

153

RIC

3-1

–

Abbey

Deeney

Lee

Ford

F

Sat 01 Mar

H Hungerford Town

324

CLPD

3-0

18

Abbey

DEENEY

Lee

Farrell

F

Mon 03 Mar

A Redditch Utd

105

CLPD

0-0

16

Abbey

Nkinga

Lee

Farrell

F

Sat 08 Mar

A Truro City

417

CLPD

3-2

14

Abbey

Nkinga

Lee

Farrell

F

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

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

Hoyte

Deeney

HILLIARD 3

Davies

Nolan

Woolley

Adjei

Hurst

Wilson

Hurst

Hoyte

Deeney

Hilliard

Davies

Nolan

Woolley

Ford

Adjei

Wilson

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Sharman

WILSON

DAVIES

Adjei

Crowie

Felix

Wood

Frater

Hoyte

Hilliard

Sharman

Woolley

DAVIES

Adjei

NOLAN

Frew

Wilson

RATER

Hoyte

Frew

DAVIES

Nolan

Woolley

Hilliard

Ford

Wilson

Ann

Frater

Hoyte

Frew

Farrell

Nolan

DAVIES

Hilliard

Wilson

Woolley

Hibbert

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

Farrell

NOLAN 2

Wilson

Frew

THOMAS

Hibbert

Wood

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

Farrell

Nolan

Thomas

Frew

Hilliard

Felix

Wilson

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD

DAVIES

NOLAN 2

Thomas

WOOLLEY

TOLLEY

Hibbert

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Hilliard

DAVIES

Nolan

Thomas

Woolley

TOLLEY

Sear

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

DAVIES

Tolley

Thomas

Ferrari

Nolan

Wilson

Hilliard

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Farrell

Thomas

DAVIES

Ferrari

Tolley

Lewis

Cracknell

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

Farrell

Thomas

Davies

HILLIARD

Tolley

Adjei

Cracknell

Frater

Hoyte

Hilliard

Davies

Nolan

THOMAS

Ferrari

Ford

Cracknell

Woolley

Frater

Hoyte

Hilliard

Davies

TOLLEY 2

Thomas

Ferrari

Ford

Nolan

Woolley

Frater

Hoyte

Hilliard

Farrell

TOLLEY

Nolan

Ferrari

Davies

Thomas

Woolley Nolan

Sharman

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Davies

Thomas

Tolley

FERRARI

WOOLLEY

Cracknell

Frater

Woolley

DAVIES

NOLAN

Wilson

Ferrari

HILLIARD

Ford

Adjei

racknell

HOYTE

Hilliard

Davies

Nolan

TOLLEY 2

Adjei

THOMAS

Ford

Wilson

Nolan

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Cracknell

Thomas

TOLLEY

Ferrari

WOOLLEY

Frater

Hoyte

WOOLLEY

Cracknell

Thomas

TOLLEY

Hilliard

Ferrari

Nolan

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD 3

Cracknell

Nolan

Davies

Adjei

Farrell

Woolley

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

Cracknell

Nolan

TOLLEY

HILLIARD

Ferrari

Ford

Frater

Hoyte

Woolley

Cracknell

Thomas

Davies

Adjei

Tolley

Nolan

Ferrari

Frater

Hoyte

HILLIARD

Cracknell

NOLAN

Davies

WOOLLEY

Adjei

Tolley

Thomas

Davies

Davies

and on Twitter @StNeotsTownFC

Frater

racknell

Follow the Saints on Facebook /StNeotsTownFC

Steer

Hoyte

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

5

Crowie

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 (11.03.14)

42

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

Hemel Hempstead Town

35

26

4

5

109

27

82

82

Chesham United

35

24

4

7

88

40

48

76

St Albans City

36

20

8

8

74

43

31

68

Cambridge City

33

20

6

7

70

40

30

66

Stourbridge

34

18

5

11

88

42

46

59

Bideford

36

16

11

9

62

45

17

59

Poole Town

27

15

9

3

50

27

23

51

Corby Town

32

15

6

11

51

45

6

51

Hungerford Town

31

15

5

11

52

34

18

50

Arlesey Town

36

13

8

15

55

60

-5

47

Hitchin Town

33

13

7

13

53

40

13

46

Redditch United

34

14

3

17

47

70

-23

45

Biggleswade Town

31

10

13

8

52

40

12

43

Weymouth

32

13

4

15

49

65

-16

43

St Neots Town

35

12

6

17

58

60

-2

42

Burnham

34

11

8

15

48

64

-16

41

Frome Town

34

11

7

16

43

59

-16

40

Banbury United

33

12

4

17

51

74

-23

40

Truro City

34

10

9

15

48

69

-21

39

Chippenham Town

34

11

5

18

45

67

-22

38

AFC Totton

33

6

4

23

43

100

-57

22

Bashley

31

4

3

24

27

85

-58

15

Bedford Town

35

3

5

27

37

104

-67

14

Don’t succumb to just putting up a bookshelf, show your walls some love!

Wall Art

Wallpaper

Wall Stickers

We are so proud of our Gallery, we have taken an eternity to source and plump for a cracking collection and we will continue to add new pieces and ranges, thou shalt not stand still!

Excited? Off you go then... Go browse our Gallery at www.ilovemywalls.co.uk

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

44

ST. NEOTS TOWN

V

HITCHIN TOWN

Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours

Yellow Shirts, Green Shorts & Socks

Gary King & Zema Abbey

Manager

Mark Burke

Nathan Abbey

Assistant Manager

Adam Parker

Carol Holland

Club Physio

Reiss Fitts

LINE UP

Rating Goals Rating

LINE UP

1. Nathan Abbey (GK)

1. Tahj Bell (GK)

2. Dave Deeney

2. Lewis Rolfe

3. Arthur Lee

3. Josh Bickerstaff

4. Dean Cracknell

4. Sam Barker

5. Ryan Frater

5. Garry Jones

6. Gavin Hoyte (C)

6. Stuart Pearson

7. Lewis Hilliard

7. Matt Lench

8. Jay Davies

8. Charlie Smith

9. Simon Thomas

9. Simon Martin

10. Shane Tolley

10. Mitchell Bryant

11. Lorenzo Ferrari

11. Michael King

12. Jake Woolley

12. Garry Wharton

14. Ben Farrell

14. Michael Noone

15. Matt Nolan

15. Nick Burtenshaw

16. Lewis Wilson

16. Luke Gregson

17. Jordy Nkinga

17. Dan Webb

Any team changes will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Officials: Referee: Lee Forrester Assistant 1: Ali Shaaban Assistant 2: Timothy Doe 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 Calor League Premier Division St Neots Town v Bideford AFC Saturday 29th March - 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.

Officials Rating