St Neots Town FC vs Weymouth FC

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE £2.00

Southern League Premier Division V

Weymouth Issue 01

50 All Smiles / New signing Nathan Frater is congratulated by Ben Ford after his goal away to Hereford last Saturday

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Management Team / Gary, Zema and Nathan look ahead

A Football History / An insight from its origin to now

Owner Mike Kearns

Club Secretary Gary Wilson

Chairman Mike Kearns

Fixture Secretary Marian Izzard

Managing Director Lee Kearns

Life President John Walker

Director Iain Parr

Team Officials Richard King (Goalkeeping Coach)

Football Managers Gary King Zema Abbey Assistant Manager Nathan Abbey

Youth Liaison & Development Mick Hunt

46 Stews Views / A cracking read by Craig!

Functions and Events Coordinator Louise Spark

Assistant Photographer Paulo Soares

St Neots Town TV Editor Adam Ridley

Site Manager Irmantas Sabaliauskas

Club Merchandise Linda Walters Programme Editor Mark Davies Club Photographer Claire Howes

Physio Chris Budd

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Chief Liaison Officer Mike Green Programme Sales Charlie Green Matchday Music / Scoreboard Simon Hutchinson Pitchcare Working Turf

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

INSIDE

Issue 01 V Weymouth FC Southern League Premier Division

Also Inside 06 Action Replay 08 Match Report vs Luton Town 12 The Scholars’ Review 16 The Chairmans’ Views

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20 Read All About It 22 The Beautiful Game 28 News From The Youth 30 Pull-Out Poster

The World’s Greatest Players Ever / We salute Eusébio and George Best

Old Footie Programme Covers / This issue we look at the 1930/40s

32 Greenies Greetings 36 Away Days 44 MD’s Views 48 Premier Division Review 51 Season 2014/15 Fixtures Matrix 52 The Non-League Paper 56 Season 2014/15 Statistics

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

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58 Premier Division League Table 60 Home & Opposition Squads

Introducing Lewis Hilliard / Focus on our longest serving player Southern Football League Division One champions, 1 time

Huntingdonshire League Champions, 4 times

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

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup Winners, 37 times

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

Hinchingbrooke Cup Winners, 2 times

South Midlands League Champions, 1 time

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 03

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

GARY / ZEMA / NATHAN Good afternoon everybody and welcome to our opponents today.

It’s great to be back and I hope you have all enjoyed your break!

I hope, like me, you have recharged your batteries and are looking forward to what hopefully will be a successful season. As ever, our preseason has given us the chance to prepare for the challenges ahead. It was always important for us to keep the nucleus of last season’s squad which finished strong. Of course, we have added to the team and I welcome all of the new additions, all of whom I will talk more about in future notes.

Our pre-season started way back on 3rd July and we chose to have the first two sessions in Barton-le-Clay, not because it is on my doorstop, but because over the years Zema, Nathan and myself have become familiar with this ‘ritual’ – there are some fantastic hills and off road routes for fitness and running and it is a wake up call for the boys lungs.

I’m happy to admit to doing the route on my bike whilst the lads run! This lead into pre season games and of course it is always a relief for the

players when the Footballs come out.

I have never been too bothered about the results in pre-season – it really is about making sure every player is ready come August the 9th when points are at stake. Getting off to a good start in this division is helpful and that is exactly what we will be hoping to do. Our whole pre season revolved around exactly that; ensuring that the boys have done enough but not too much and that they are simply in great condition and feeling good about themselves, ready to go.

Coming in midway through last season was ideal for the management team and it really gave us the opportunity to get to know everybody as well as each players strengths. I think that is a huge advantage that we are not starting from scratch and we are hoping to start this season from where we left off last season. In joining St Neots we inherited some fantastic footballers and some of the football we played last season was outstanding, underlined by some fantastic goals. I suppose it is fair to say that it is important to us that we play football in the right way, to be easy on the eye, but at the same time it is just as important to

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recognise that we must have a steely backbone, our shape, discipline and willingness to work hard for each other and the team combined with the flare we naturally have is in the end what will bring victories.

Of course, like every other season there will be highs and lows and like I always say it is important to not get too high after a win or too low after a defeat. As a management team we are focussed on the job ahead and our aim is to send as many people as possible home every week smiling.

Hopefully we can deliver and encourage even more supporters to come through the gates to join the fantastic support we already have.

You were top drawer last season and we will have more of the same please.

Unfortunately, I miss today’s game.

I book my holiday at the same time each year around the children’s school holidays and to fit in with being back in time for the first game but without warning the league brought the season forward one week (after I had already booked) which has caught me out.

See you all next week.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 05

(This week four years ago as Lewis Hilliard made his debut) UCL Premier Division ST NEOTS TOWN 6 Saints sent out a statement of intent for this season as they comfortably beat a hardworking Northampton Spencer side. Spencer played some neat football at times but could not cope in the end with Saints extra power and pace.

Spencer forced the first corner of the game before Junior Kanuda set up Rob Hughes for an early shot.

The same two combined on seven minutes to give Saints an early lead.

Turning in the box, Kanuda was fouled by a Spencer player and Hughes put the resultant penalty away emphatically.

Chillingworth then had a header saved from a corner before Phil Cassidy almost equalised with a dipping volley which beat Luke McShane in the Saints goal but came back off the crossbar. The home side then doubled their lead on 16 minutes with a quick break out which saw Chillingworth help the ball on to Lewis Hilliard. His first touch was excellent and he calmly lobbed the stranded Spencer keeper, Pete Smith, from 25 yards. Shortly afterwards, a fine run and cross by Hilliard found Chillingworth but he could get a clean shot in.

The striker, looking impressive on his UCL debut, was then wide with a scissor kick from a Hughes cross. Spencer tried to get forward

NORTHAMPTON SPENCER 0 whenever they could and caused the Saints defence a few problems without really troubling McShane.

Jacob had an effort parried by the keeper with Hilliard driving the rebound wide and Jacob then made a great run down the left before firing the ball across the face of the goal.

The third Saints goal arrived on 37 minutes with Kanuda feeding Chillingworth. His superb pass found Hilliard again and he took the ball into the penalty area before scoring right footed past Smith. There was no stopping the waves of Saints attacks as Chillingworth had a shot saved and Des Byrne chipped a shot just wide after he broke down the left.

Chillingworth then got the goal his play deserved on 41 minutes. Will Fordham brought the ball out of defence and hit a long diagonal cross. The Spencer defenders were caught out and, with the Smith in no man’s land, Chillingworth headed powerfully into the back of the net. There was still time before the interval for Jacob to blaze a shot over and Hughes to head over the bar after some fine play by Hilliard.

Spencer had the first effort of the second half with Moss having a shot deflected for a corner and the visitors had the better of the play for a while without really threatening.

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Saints, with a couple of substitutions and the scoreline, were not playing as fluently as before but burst into life with a firth goal on 65 minutes.

Spencer were unable to make anything of an indirect free kick in the Saints penalty and, as the ball ran free, Dan Jacob broke from inside his own half and finished with a fine shot across the goalkeeper. This saw Saints put together some more intricate passing moves.

Hughes had an effort kicked away after interplay between himself, Fordham, Hilliard and Bassett. The midfielder then just failed to get on the end of a Byrne pass before, on 85 minutes, sweeping a fine pass to Tony Scully. He, in turn, fed Byrne whose cross was tucked away for the sixth goal by Bassett coming in at the far post.

Hilliard then had two headers saved as he looked to score a hat trick before the final whistle, Saints: McShane, Haniver, Byrne, Webb, Fuff, Fordham, Hilliard, Hughes, Chillingworth, Kanuda, Jacob Subs: Scully (for Jacob), Hyem (for Kanuda), Jones, Bassett (for Chillingworth) and Harrold Goals: Hilliard (2), Jacob, Bassett, Chillingworth & Hughes.

GAVIN HOYTE

ST NEOTS TOWN 0 LUTON TOWN 0 Wednesday 30th July 2014 / Pre-Season Friendly / Att 274

A Luton Town team gearing up for their return to the Football League fielded a starting line up that included around six of the players expected to feature in their first team in Division Two. However they were held to a scoreless draw by a St Neots line up that included most of their senior squad in a competitive encounter that produced lots of good football and chances at both ends but some indifferent finishing. St Neots Assistant Manager Nathan Abbey pronounced himself happy with the team performance and grateful that it had been a testing challenge for his side but there is still clearly a concern about the form in front of goal. Luton was twice denied by the woodwork but the occasions on which either goalkeeper was seriously tested could be counter on the fingers of one hand.

SOUND DEFENCES In the first quarter of an hour much of the play was in midfield with both defences looking sound and the attempts on goal restricted to lengthy shooting which saw Lewis Hilliard twice off target for the home side and Solomon Tawai volleying wide for Luton. The best early opening came from a pacey run down the St Neots right flank by Mason Spence and his cross found Chris Dillon whose close range

side footed effort was pushed away at full stretch by Craig King. With Spence looking lively two more St Neots efforts from Dillon and Spring were both off target and then three efforts from visiting players all went over the St Neots crossbar. St Neots seemed to want to play too much intricate approach play and have too many touches in front of goal whilst Luton’s more direct approach looked more likely to produce a positive result.

Three minutes before the break a Ricky Miller shot from 30 yards looped over Jamie Greygoose but rebounded from the crossbar and at the other end Dillon set up Jay Davies who was robbed by a last ditch tackle by Jonathan Smith.

FAIR RESULT Luton’s best spell in the match came in the first ten minutes of the second half when they pinned St Neots back in defence.

Twice Greygoose saved with his feet to keep his goal intact before being beaten by a header from Kyran George that rebounded from the bar. However having survived that period St Neots with the introduction of several experienced players settled to dominate for a spell and Matt Nolan headed narrowly wide after good work by Matt Spring and Drew Roberts. Towards the end the pace understandably dropped in the late evening heat and a draw was a fair result for both sides.

John Walker

St Neots Town FC

Luton Town FC

Greygoose, Spence (Bickerstaff), Lee, Spring, Frater, Hoyte, Hilliard (Nolan), Farrell. Dillon (Roberts), Davies (Ford), Ferrari (Powell).

Justham, Franks, McNulty, Wilkinson, Onyemah, Ruddock, Robinson, Whalley, Lafayette, Wall, Howells, Tyler, Connolly, McNulty Lacey, Griffiths, Stevenson, Rooney.

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 09

Ben Farrell

ST. NEOTS TOWN F.C

LE A R N I N G & S P O RT S AC A D EM Y

THE SCHOLARS’ REVIEW Keep up-to-date with news and views from our Academy Director Iain Parr 21 Apprentices kick off on a very exciting journey In our 1st year, St Neots Town FC Learning and Sports Academy offered 21 Apprentices an opportunity to become an important part of the football club. The lads have studied the BTEC and NVQ Sports Diploma and completed the FA Level 1 Coaching Qualification, this has run alongside a day-day training schedule, matches, working at the club on match days, functions, washing kit, sweeping changing rooms etc. The boys have ran local school tournaments, assisted with school sports days, school sports events, school PE lessons at Brampton, Huntingdon Primary, St Marys COE and Bushmead to name a few.

The academics are a key part of the programme, it’s important that all the students have every opportunity to gain further qualifications in the sports industry and develop as footballers and coaches of the future. Our goal is develop the Scholars and Apprentices into 1st team footballers but we are in the early stages of a long term plan and patience is key.

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE!!

Football Scholarship and Apprenticeship Opportunities with St Neots Town FC Learning and Sports Academy OPEN TO 16 YEAR OLD SCHOOL LEAVERS Please visit www.stneotswtownfc.co.uk and go to ‘downloads’ Email iain@stneotstownfc.co.uk or call 07970 851511

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ENGLAND GOALKEEPING LEGEND PETER SHILTON COMES TO ROWLEY PARK To provisionally book your tickets please email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk

Enjoy an evening in the company of England and Nottingham Forest legend Peter Shilton Date: Friday 3rd October Venue: St Neots Town FC, Rowley Park, Doors Open: 7pm

Ticket Price: (including Fish and Chips) £20 per head or Tables of 10 for £180

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 15

The World’s

!

EVER

10. GEORGE BEST (1963-1984) Like Maradona, Best enjoyed the luxuries that his profession afforded him, and it was his alcohol addiction that contributed to his death in 2005.

On the pitch he had a devastating combination of pace, skill and finishing that should have brought more than two league titles and one European Cup with Manchester United. Best played as a winger or attacking midfielder and had the able dribble past defenders as if they were not there. Like several other players on this list, Best also plied his trade in America in the 70s and 80s.

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9. EUSÉBIO (1958-1978) “The Black Panther” is considered Portugal’s greatest ever soccer player.

Scorer of nine goals at the 1966 World Cup finals, Eusébio possessed explosive pace and deceptive ability. The forward turned out for a host of teams, but his best years were spent with Benfica where he averaged more than a goal a game. Eusébio told World Soccer magazine in 2010 that he signs photographs of himself every night to give to children the following day.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 15

THE CHAIRMANS’ VIEWS

TEAM EFFORT Welcome to a brand new season and to our first home opponent’s. I hope you enjoy your time with us.

Well what an up and down season we have just had. From a relegation place to a very comfortable 16th place in the division with only one home defeat over the last 5 months of the season being the last home game of the season. As they say in football things can change very quickly and in our case many things changed.

Sometimes in business you have do what you think is right for the club moving for the future and our decision at the time to go with a youthful team and inexperienced management team at this level we thought was the right move. It is when things start to go wrong that you realize that those decisions just might have been the wrong ones. Nobody’s fault we all tried our hardest but it was not to be.

PLAN B The sign of any good business to see these things coming and be in a position to have plan B if you like.The danger of that is what if the second plan does not work, well fortunately we did our homework to try and ensure that did not happen and ended up having a very good last half of the season. The management saw us safe in the division and won 2 cups to

give us all something to talk about.

The Southern League cup is the most prestigious trophy we have ever won in our clubs history and I would like to congratulate all that were involved in this little piece of history.

Last season is now history and we look at what we have in store for this season, of which I will go into more detail in my second programme notes. The close season was very much different to other ones as we had plenty of activity going on with the Academy in nearly everyday making the club house and Astro Pitch look very busy.

Lee and Iain have been working tirelessly on the youth development programme of which takes up so much of their time, but it is worth it as it is our future.

WORKING HARD Lee and Louise have been working on all aspects of increasing the clubs financial position and Mick Hunt as usual has been doing what he does at the end of every season and that is giving his time and effort in keeping the stadium complex looking like new, I think Mick painted just about everything that was in front of him. I would like to thank Mick as always he does this without any fuss and just turns up and gets on with it.

Mark Davies and myself have been working on the website

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improvements of which we hope you are all enjoining, you must be as we are averaging over 4,000 visitors a day which is mind blowing, and that was “Out of season”.

More improvements to the web site are on going and it really will end up being the best in football.

Lastly the pitch, the worry of my life.

Why I don’t know as it always comes good but this close season has been a nightmare of a time trying to get the pitch right. The new turf went down great and knitted in perfectly, however there were some very bald patches that have never been there before and the new seed just did not grow whatever we did to it.

I ordered more turf and more seed and more sun.

The first 2 arrived but the main one hid behind clouds for most of the close season.

Hopefully all is well now, it could and will get better but I want it to be the best all of the time and will not rest until we achieve that.

Bit like the whole of our set up really.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL Mike

‘HILLY’ HEADS

A Football

History from its origin to now

There is no clear documentation stating the date and place of origination of today’s most popular sport - world football. However, most historians agree that some type of a ball game has been played for at least over 3000 years.

The origins of the game can be seen in games played in China, Japan, Egypt, Greece before our modern game developed in England. Here is a brief outline of some of the events that have shaped the game of soccer throughout history.

A Football Timeline (Part One)

5000-300 B.C.

1000 B.C.

50 B.C.

The Japanese version of ‘soccer’ is was called Kemari, a game much like modern hackysacks, played with two to twelve players, and played a larger ball stuffed with sawdust. There was also a field designated by four trees (cherry, maple, pine and willow).

There is evidence in China that military forces around 2nd and 3rd century BC (Han Dynasty) played a game, originally named “Tsu Chu”, that involved kicking a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game.

2500 B.C There was possibly a version of a type of ball game played by young women in Egypt during the age of Baqet III, as images of this sport were depicted on his tomb, though there is not much known of this sport except that it was played with a ball.

B.C.

In ancient Greece, they played a game called Episkyros, in which two equally numbered teams would try to throw the ball over the heads of the other team. There was a white line between the teams and another white line behind each team. Teams would change the ball often until one of the team is forced behind the line at their end.

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China’s Tsu Chu players and Japan’s Kemari players were the first to have an “International” game of their versions of soccer, believed to have occurred roughly 50 B.C.. There is a definite date of such a game occurring in 611 A.D.

600 - 1600 A.D. In Mexico & Central America the rubber ball was created, and used in a game on a recessed court 40-50 feet long shaped like a capital “I”.

In the middle of each wall, was a mounted stone or wooden ring and the object was to project the hard rubber ball through the ring.

700S The first Football games played in Britain was played by the locals of east of England, starting after a ‘legendary’ game that involved kicking around the severed head of a Danish prince that they have defeated in a war. These games were violent, where injury and death were not uncommon.

1331 Despite the violence of these games, they were still popular. This led King Edward III of England to pass laws in 1331 to stop the game.

1424 King James I of Scotland also passed a law banning the game.

1500 In Italy they played a game called “calcio” with teams of 27+ people. The game involved kicking, carrying or passing a ball across a goal line. In 1580, Giovanni Bardi published a set of rules of the game of calcio.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 19

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

CANARIES RETURN FOR DONNELLY

STEELMEN MOVE FOR WEIR-DALEY

Mark Burke, manager of Hitchin Town, has announced the re-signing of ....Brett Donnelly (pictured) from near-neighbours and league rivals Biggleswade Town.

Former Boston United striker Spencer Weir-Daley (pictured) has

HAYLES RETURNS TO WHITE TIGERS

Other recent signings for the canaries are Robbie Burns back from cambs city, Jonny Mcnamara from Arlesey and Matt Lench, Sam Barker and Lewis Rolfe all from Chesham.

DOUBLE BOOST FOR SIMKIN Phil Simkin (pictured), manager of Premier Division newcomers Dorchester Town, has announced that midfielder Sam Lanahan has put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal with the Magpies.

put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal with Corby Town.

Weir-Daley made 176 appearances for the Pilgrims, scoring 66 goals and winning four trophies since initially joining them back in 2009.

Defender Paul Malone has also returned to the Steelmen after putting pen-to-paper on a one-year contract at Steel Park.

LEESE STRENGTHENS CHESHAM SQUAD

Some forty players, including new signings Ben Joyce and Dan Cann, attended training as Simkin ran the rule over the current squad and a number of players hoping to impress the management team.

leese has been busy recruiting new players of whom Josh Cooper has returned to the club from Ryman Division noth club Cheshunt, and Ryan Blake whos previous clubs were Burnham and Beaconsfield.

Chesham United`s links with the professional game have strengthened with Darren Purse joining the management team. After a number of players leaving the club

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Veteran striker Barry Hayles (pictured) has agreed to return to Turo City for the 2014/15 season.

Hayles scored 34 goals in eightynine appearances during his last spell at Truro and was an integral part of the promotion-winning side of 2010/11. He left Truro for a season at Arlesey Town last year. Truro have also signed two from Tiverton Town goalkeeper Mike Searle and defender Chris Long.

DOLPHINS LOOK TO BENTLEY Tom Killick, manager of Poole Town, hopes to bolster his diminished attack with a swoop for Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Premier Division hot-shot Warren Bentley (pictured) after confirming the departure of striker Michael Charles.

WANNELL FOR WEYMOUTH

The dolphins have also lost Dan Cann to close rivals Dorchester Town. Better news for Poole is that right back Sam Clarke has agreed a one year deal with the club.

SLOUGH TOWN PIN HOPES ON LAST SEASONS PROMOTION WINNING SQUAD

Weymouth have signed Jacob Wannell after his release by Sky Bet League Two side Exeter City.

The versatile 20-year-old, who had temporary stints at Dorchester Town and Chippenham Town during the 2012/13 season whilst still on Exeter`s books, can play left-back or centre-half. Also signed are vastly experienced striker Tim Sills (pictured), whose contract with Conference South side Gosport Borough ended recently.

PAGE GETS BUSY

After a positive meeting with chairman Steve Easterbrook, Neil Baker and Jon Underwood, joint bosses of Slough Town, have spent the last few days speaking with the squad from last season and have announced that every player has committed to the Calor League Southern Premier Division new boys for next season. They have though added a couple of new players in Luke Knight from Barton Rovers and Reece Yorke (pictured) from Burnam.

Goalkeeper Enol Ordonez is the latest addition to Southern League Premier Division newcomers Histon`s 2014/15 squad. The 26-year-old Spaniard is no stranger to Bridge Road, having been with groundsharers Cambridge City

last season from where he had loan spells with St Ives Town, Godmanchester Rovers and Soham Town Rangers. Meanwhile, Eugene Libertucci and Salim Relizani have signed deals that commit them to the club for the 2014/15 season.

Midfielder Libertucci, 21, came through the scholarship at Bridge Road, graduating in the summer of 2012.

JOYCE CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN SQUAD Sean Joyce, manager of Bideford, has confirmed three new players.

The first is Ollie Brokenshire, an attacking midfielder who played for league rivals Truro City last season. The next is Ryan Richards (pictured), a striker who signed for Tiverton Town in the early part of 2014 after two successful seasons with Carlsberg South West Peninsula League side Plymouth Parkway.

The third is Lloyd Gardner, a pacey left winger from South West Peninsula Premier side Exmouth Town, and the last, but no means least, is the return of Biddy favourite Ben Wood.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 21

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy the game today!

ADE

ARTHUR LEE SCORES

TODAY’S VISITORS

WEYMOUTH FC

One of the trio of Dorset clubs in the Premier Division with stated ambition to move further up (or back up) the football pyramid.

A special welcome to Weymouth our visitors today who finished twelfth in the table last season – three places lower than the previous season so like us they underachieved on expectations. This is to be the third successive season that Weymouth have been August visitors to the Cozy Stadium and records show that each team has won one of the two previous meetings here.

Moreover the overall record of matches between our teams shows two victories each in four meetings so there is a significant advantage available to either at 4.45 pm this afternoon. This is our first league match at home this season following scheduled trips to Hereford and Chesham (results not known when

these notes prepared) but our fans have had a very entertaining preseason here at The Cozy with visits from four Football League clubs (Peterborough United, Milton Keynes Dons, Luton Town and Cambridge United). Results as expected have been mixed but the sides’ preparation has been high on quality and entertainment. Finally may I welcome to the club any players making their home League debut this afternoon. We all wish you a long and successful career with St Neots Town FC. CLUB HISTORY Formed as a junior club in 1890 Weymouth won the dorset junior cup for three consecutive years. In 1893 the club was reclassified as a

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senior club, won the dorset senior cup and entered the fa cup for the first time. In 1909 the developing club became semi-professional and in 1921 joined the western league winning the league title the following season. Two years later the club applied successfully to join the Southern League for the first time but after four seasons reverted to the western league because of ‘financial difficulties’ remaining there until the outbreak of the second war.

The post war period brought fame in the FA Cup. In 1949/50 back in the Southern League Weymouth reached the third round proper of the FA Cup drawn away at Manchester United where they were beaten. The club was runners-up in the Southern

Year founded: 1890 Nickname: The Terras Chairman: Nigel Biddlecombe

Website: wwwtheterras.co.uk Stadium: Bob Lucas Stadium Capacity: 6,600

Previous Meetings: 2013/14 St Neots 0-2 Weymouth 2013/14 Weymouth 1-2 St Neots

League three times in four seasons between 1951 and 1955 and in 1961/62 was back on the FA Cup trail again losing at Preston North End in the Fourth Round. Southern League champions in 1964/65 and again the following season the fortunes of the club seemed on the up and Southern League Cup success followed with the runners up medals in 1970/71 and the trophy itself twp years later.

relegated from the Conference to the Beazer Homes Southern League.

For the next fifteen seasons they remained at that level and a second placed finish in 2003/04 propelled the club back to the Conference South. The championship was won in 2005/06 and the club then had four seasons at Conference level prior to a return to the Southern League.

Changes at both Managerial level and in the Boardroom have seen progress limited and the aim this season will be an improvement on last season’s finish of 12th.

placed Leamington. They also had the highest league attendance that season when in their opening game of the season at home to Kettering Town they attracted a crowd of 901.

Will that be bettered this season?

In 1979/80 the club became members of the Alliance Premier League five times recording top ten finishes and in 1987/88 the club moved to the Wessex Stadium (now called the Bob Lucas Stadium in honour of the Club President) but the following season the club was

Weymouth could however boast to be the best supported club in the Premier Division two seasons ago with an average home crowd of 549 – 42 more than second

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 25

WHO’S WHO

THE TERRAS

MARK FORD

LEWIS BLACKMORE - A young wing back who was with AFC Bournemouth as a trainee - playing on loan with Winchester City - before joining Bashley for the 2013-14 season. He signed for the Terras at the start of this season. Lewis will be available to the club when he is in England on leave from his scholarship in the USA. He has represented Wales at U16 level.

STEVE COLWELL - A midfield player who joined the club in February 2014 on dual registration terms from Plymouth Parkway and has elected to make the Terras his home this term. He has also played for Bodmin Town and - in the USA - for Brooklyn Knights.

JORDAN COPP - A player who can play in midfield or defence, Copp was a member of Plymouth Argyle’s School of Excellence before signing a pro contract in 2012. Sadly he made just one appearance for the Pilgrims before being released. He has since played for Frome Town, Truro City and Saltash United before signing for the Terras at the start of this season.

MARK FORD - A striker who made his Weymouth debut in July 2012.

He had stepped up from the Dorset

GEORGE RIGG

JAMIE LAIRD

Premier League where he had been playing for Blandford United. He has an injury interrupted season last year, but is fit again and determined to make a starting place his own.

CONOR JEAVON - A striker who came to Weymouth last season from Poole Borough, he was also registered with Dorchester Town. A regular in our reserves who is looking to make the step up into the senior side this year.

ADAM KELLY - A midfield player who has had plenty of experience with Tiverton Town, Winchester City, Bashley, Salisbury City and Truro City. He came to the club in January 2014, following his second spell at Tiverton and promptly made a starting place his own.

SHANE KRAC - A midfield player, Shane joined the club from Tiverton Town at the start of this season.

He had previously played for Bodmin Town, where he was Player of the Season during their treble winning year, 2011-12, and Plymouth Parkway.

JAMIE LAIRD - A central defender who came to the club this season from Weston Super Mare where he was skipper. Has experience with Plymouth Argyle as well as with Ange

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CONNOR JEVON

IS (Sweden) and Steinkjer (Norway) and will look to pass that on to our younger players.

JASON MATTHEWS - The club’s goalkeeper and player-manager.

Jason returned to the Terras at the start 2013-14 and became playermanager in December 2013. In his career he has played for Bristol Rovers (youth), Nuneaton Borough, Exeter City, Aberystwyth, Clevedon Town, Weymouth (first spell 2002-08) Eastleigh, Bath City and Dorchester Town. In his second spell with the club he has made over 300 appearances and managed a goal in a Football Conference match with Southport in March 2007. Named in the Non-League Paper’s squad of the year for 2013-14.

CHRIS MCPHEE - A utility player who began as a trainee with Brighton before signing a pro contract in August 1999 - he also played for Aldershot Town and Swindon Town on loan. Leaving the Sussex club he joined Torquay United before playing for Ebbsfleet United, Weymouth (July 2008 - Feb 2009) Kidderminster Harriers, Torquay United (again) and Salisbury City.

ED PALMER - A central defender who is in his 3rd spell with the Terras.

Beware of The Yettie!

Club Captain Stewart Yetton is a striker who started his career with Plymouth Argyle before playing for Tiverton Town and joining Truro City, where he was the club’s leading goal scorer before joining Weymouth for the 2013-14 season. He made himself an instant fans favourite as he scored a total of 41 goals in all competitions last term.

STEWART YETTON

Originally with Torquay United, from whom he came on loan in 2010-11.

Ed played - on loan - for Tiverton Town and Truro City before he was released by the Gulls when he signed for Kettering Town. However he returned to the Terras in September 2012 when he moved to play for FC Clifton Hill in Australia. Returning to the UK he spent 2013-14 with Tiverton Town before resigning for Weymouth in July 2014.

RYAN PARK - A goalkeeper, Ryan is a regular with the reserves having joined the club from Hamworthy Recreation of the Dorset Premier League. He will be looking to take advantage of any senior chances that come his way.

SAM POOLE - A central defender who has been with the club for several years, working his way through the youth and reserve teams to earn his first contract in 2012.

He will be looking to continue his development this season and is a player who the club think has a good future in the game.

GEORGE RIGG - A midfielder who worked his way through the ranks at Bristol City before spending a year in Stoke City’s development squad. On his release in 2013 he joined Bristol

TIM SILLS

JODAN COPP

Rovers, before moving to Exeter City.

He joined the Terras in January 2014 and quickly made his presence felt.

CHRIS SHEPHERD - A wing back who made a number of appearances for Exeter City, who he joined in 2005 - working his way through the youth set up. Leaving the Grecians when they were relegated from the Football League in 2012 he joined Eastbourne Borough. After two seasons in Sussex he signed for the Terras in July 2014.

TIM SILLS - A vastly experienced striker who joined the club at the beginning of this season. Having been with Millwall, as a youth, he has played for a number of teams, most recently Gosport Borough (with who he appeared in last season’s FA Trophy final) and - notably Aldershot Town, Torquay United, Oxford United and Basingstoke.

JAKE WANNELL - A full back who came to the club at the start of this season from Exeter City where he progressed through the Grecian’s youth set up. Had a spell on loan with Chippenham Town during the 2013-14 season.

ASHLEY WELLS - Ash is a local boy and can play anywhere across

JASON MATTHEWS

the back line, a skilful defender with plenty of pace and enthusiasm. This is his fourth season with the club, having signed from Portland United in February 2012.

JAMIE WEST - Another local player who was in the AFC Bournemouth youth set up until being released at the end of the 2013-14 season. He comes to the Terras as a highly rated full back and will look to use the club as a vehicle to prove the Cherries wrong and earn himself another crack in the professional game.

LUKE WINSPER - Luke has been around the club for several years during which time he worked his way through the Youth and reserve side before he broke into the senior side (on a regular basis) last season.

Sadly his season ended early last term, but he has regained his fitness and now looks to make a midfield spot his own.

CRAIG LAIRD - Assistant manager/ Coach who spent 4 years with Bridgwater Town before joining Weston Super Mare in 2010.

Following a decision to slash the budget at Weston he resigned in May 2014 and agreed to come to the Terras to help Jason at the start of this season.

WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 27

News from the Youth...

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our visitors today As a youth set-up we continue to grow following our successful first season merging both St Neots Town Youth with St Neots Town Saints and providing the all important ‘sport for all’, with grassroots teams feeding into some of our development teams.

The focus this season remains the same with teams across every age group from Under 7s to Under 21s with coaches at the club to focusing on long term player development, facilitating the transition from mini through youth to senior games made easier. We want to breed a senior squad from the youth within the town; with some home grown talent.

We finished the season with success stories throughout, teams getting to finals and winning, teams winning leagues but nothing makes us more proud that the final ceremony - our presentation day for all age groups.

The presentation day starts early, as you would expect, with age group following age group, all receiving their personal squad award and then the special awards are awarded including managers’ player, clubman, supporter’s player and player’s player.

The pledge is for St Neots Town Youth & Saints FC is to create a

simple route with grassroots and development teams eventually at every age group providing the chance for players to progress to their full ability.

This season we have also started Girls teams at Under 8, 9 and 10s and 18s, with the intention again to fill this at every age group.

As with the majority of youth football clubs we have a limited budget and rely on player registrations and parental support with fundraising events, something which we must focus on if we are to grow.

The club held their first Tournament in May which proved a great success and the children really did enjoy playing local teams within the stadium as you can see from the photos. We have already plans in action for next years.

We have entered teams in a variety of leagues this year to suit abilities and these include Hunts Mini and Youth, Royston Crow, Cambs, Eastern Junior Alliance, Nerf Premier and of course our Under 21s in the United Counties Leagues and we wish them every success for the following year.

The Under 21s will continue to play within the Cozy Stadium this year thanks to our continued ground share agreement with St Neots Town FC, under our new management team of Andy Davies

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and Mark Duckett. Fixtures will be published on the website and we welcome your support.

As mentioned earlier we seek funding if we are to grow and cover increased expenditure on league registrations, affiliation, insurances, pitch hire, equipment before we even kick a ball! With this in mind we seek a very large company sponsor for the youth and anyone interested in assisting should contact me through the club.

We wish the first team and their opposition today every success for the following season.

The Committee St Neots Town Youth & Saints FC

Sponsored by Steve Ridley

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Official TV Channel

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

Chris Dillon Challenges

GREENIES GREETINGS

WISHING THE TIME AWAY UNTIL AUGUST Hello everybody and a big welcome back to Rowley Park – The Cozy Stadium, as we begin our home fixtures for season 2013/14 in the Southern League Premier Division.

Well, here we go again with what we hope will be another successful season full of entertainment and hopefully, a lot more highs than lows.

Is it me or does the summer break appear to get shorter every year? Not that I’m complaining of course, the less time spent during the summer wishing the time away til August the better in my opinion. Obviously having the World Cup to soak up some of the summer boredom probably made the time go quicker although my interest only fully lasted about two weeks as we as a nation limped home with our tail between our legs after crashing out at the group stages. Anyway, enough of that subject, I’m sure there will be much talk of our failure over the next few months and I’ll leave that to the experts.

I’d like to welcome today’s opposition to The Cozy Stadium for this Southern League Premier Division game and hope their Players, Officials and Supporters have an enjoyable, if brief stay with us here in Cambridgeshire before safely travelling home later today.

These notes have been penned early due to the holiday season and as I’m typing, we are still awaiting the new fixtures to be released and also, The

Southern League at this moment, are still awaiting a new sponsor as Calor have decided not to renew their package for the new season.

The usual, more personal welcome to all our visitors will of course return once the fixtures are out and I return from my break in Gran Canaria (where I could actually be right now as you are reading these notes). As you may have noticed, the content in this magazine has increased largely

this season so a decision was taken to make sure we could copy from all contributors in good time, working around holidays etc, for this first home game of the new season.

NEW FACES There has been a lot of work put into building the squad over the summer and currently we welcome

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Drew Roberts, Chris Dillon and Bruce Wilson (Chesham United), Josh Bickerstaff (Hitchin Town), Jordan Ivey-Ward and Martell Powell (Arlesey Town) to the Club and we hope you all have a long and enjoyable stay with The Saints and on the flip side, we have seen the departure of Jake Woolley, Lewis Wilson, Simon Thomas and last but not least, Saints Legend Shane Tolley, who has emigrated with his partner Hannah, to Dubai, so it’s a big ‘Thank You Guys’ for all your efforts last season and we hope you are all successful in your futures.

Cozy’s Executive Coach Travel will once again be supplying coach travel for the First Team, Officials and Supporters this season and supporters wishing to travel on the Team Coach will be able to reserve seats as per last season, Via the Club Forum or by contacting me directly (my number will appear on the forum).

Ok then, back to the game and let’s get behind the lads from the off as we look to get off to a flyer and begin another long unbeaten home run.

BE LOUD... BE PROUD... BE A SAINT GREENIE

A STANDING OVATION FROM THE RABBLE

AWAY DAYS

TREYEW ROAD On Saturday 28th August we set off on the long journey down to Truro City c.3500 Capacity; c.1675 seated. Two covered stands. Large licensed bar overlooking the pitch. Entrance fee £11 adult, £8.00 for Concessions, £3.00 for 12 to 16 years. Under 12’s free when accompanied by an adult.

Fully licensed bar is available at the Treyew Road ground. Bar is open on match days only from 12 noon on Saturday and 6pm on evening games. Choice of food on match day includes a cullinary array of burgers, sausage rolls, pasties and chips etc.

On special occasions, a hog roast is available. The general ground facilities have improved hugely under the new management and are still ongoing now.

Parking is free at the ground and is usually accessible, though an overspill car park exists at the County Hall, 500 m west from the ground. Truro mainline railway station is a maximum 10 minute walk to the ground, with gradient. Away from the ground, refreshments can be found within the bustling city centre; A2B taxi (01872 272989) is recommended from the city to the ground, or take

the 15 minute walk (virtually all uphill). Recommended hostelries for Away and Home fans include the popular Bunters Bar in Little Castle Street, the White Hart in New Bridge Street and the Old Ale House in Green Street, all within a few minutes walk of each other. Local real ale abounds in all local pubs. The largest sports bar in town is Bunters in Little Castle Street. Simultaneous multigame Sky-TV viewing is shown. No food is served here though you can bring/consume your own.

Cornish favourite brews are Skinners (brewed in Truro), Doom Bar (Sharpe’s of Rock) and Tribute (St. Austell Brewery). Several ciders are also available. Cornish pasties and saffron buns are the local Cornish delicacies. Several bakeries claim

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their pasties are the best, but this is open to debate. Rowe’s pasties though are considered one of the best. For those staying over on Saturday night, accommodation is somewhat limited within the City.

The County Arms (St Austell Brewery owned) has brand new rooms and the location is only 5 minutes walk from the ground. The Donnington B and B opposite the ground includes a generous cooked breakfast.

There are a few other B&B’s dotted around but hotels are surprisingly thin on the ground (and expensive).

The city centre is vibrant with plenty of pubs and very cosmopolitan eateries. Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Nepalese, Italian, English, French, Egyptian, Turkish, Geordie and even a new dedicated Greek restaurant are available. Fans from other visiting clubs tend to stay overnight in either Newquay (15miles away) or Falmouth (9 miles). Both towns have ample accommodation and arguably a more vibrant nightlife, though Truro can certainly pack a punch.

JAY DAVIES

OLD ‘FOOTIE’ PROGRAMMES 1930s & 1940s

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WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 39

INTRODUCING

LEWIS HILLIARD Lewis Hilliard is the longest serving player with the club being with us since our very first Championship season.

Lewis started his carer as a scholar at Rushden and Diamonds when they were in the National Conference league. He was loaned out to give him some playing time at Ware and Hemel Hempstead. Before joining St Neots Town in July 1010 still only 23 years of age Lewis has matured into an excellent player.

Starting off with the club in his favoured position of right mid field Lewis quickly became a crowds favourite a fast winger with a cannon shot in either foot he has always come in with his ratio of goals for the Club each season.

Lewis has had his best ever season in 1013 / 14 and becoming the clubs top scorer for the season with 23 goals. A wonderful feat coming from a mid field player. Playing most of his time with the Saints at right midfield

Lewis is our man for all occasions having on occasions playing at right back, centre midfield and centre forward.

One of Lewis best ever performances came on 2 occasions when he took over in goal for the saints once through injury where he kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win and the other time in our very first league game in the southern league premier division when our goal keeper was sent off after 30 minutes.

Lewis took the gloves and even though we lost that game to a very strong Chesham side 2-1 Lewis was by far man of the match. A very good emergency goalkeeper but its further up the field that Lewis is at his best, a real handful for any opposition.

A quality footballer at any level.

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WWW.STNEOTSTOWNFC.CO.UK / PAGE 41

MARTEL POWELL

MD’S VIEWS

WORLD CUP FEVER Putting all the alledged corruption, backhanders, brown envelopes full of money, buying of votes, blackmail, Money laundering, Death of stadium workers and a general apathy towards the poor of Brazil to one side, I think the world cup has been great! of the money that is charged to take your badges goes straight into the FA’s coffers. How many schools spend the vast amount of money they get to deliver sports on getting teachers qualified not just as football coaches but as netball coaches etc.

Clearly I’ve put the feeling of utter despair at the fact that England couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo when it came to the part of the game that you have to be at least reasonably competent at in order to beat the opposition. Or the fact that we have no players that you could possibly call “world Class” or the fact that our manager couldn’t inspire the team to achieve more than the sum of its parts even if his life depended on it. I don’t buy into the fact that we played well but lost, I don’t buy into the fact that we have exciting young players that bodes well for the future, France 98 we saw the emergence of Michael Owen 18 years old, David Beckham 23 years old, Rio Ferdinand 19 years old, Sol Campbell 23 years old, Paul Scholes 23 years old etc etc. USA 2002 oh yes the less said about that the better. In 2004 we had the emergence of Wayne Rooney who played great, broke his foot and has never shown up again. It’s all about opinion clearly and I suppose it does

make for a good debate.

I’d be interested to know what the percentage of academy/year one and two scholars at premiership clubs are British. I’d like know what percentage of that figure ever play for the first team.

Is it a lack of structured football at school or a lack of qualified coaches at grassroots level that has a detrimental effect on developing and identifying naturally talented individuals?

I don’t pretend to have anything other than an opinion on the subject (the same as everyone else) but I would ask that you google a few things. How many Uefa B and A licence coaches are there in the UK compared with the rest of Europe and how much does it cost an individual to get to this level in their respective countries? How much

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I’ll give you an example of how things appear to work. A primary school close to us was given (the same as them all) funding for sports development, they asked the pupils what they should spend this funding on and a vote was taken. Three table tennis tables where purchased together with paddles and balls before someone asked if they had a teacher that can play (let alone teach) table tennis. They don’t.

We are in the process of expanding our brand of development into after school clubs and curriculum support with great success, to date we have 4 committed primary schools.

Hopefully it won’t take long for us to be looking after and teaching your son or daughter how to

play football,

cricket, rounders, athletics etc etc.

LEE

STEWS VIEWS

PRE-SEASON 2014/15 Hello and welcome to my column, which aims to give a slightly different slant and off beat view, towards everything on field and in the terraces here at St Neots Town FC.

My aim this season, is to give a supporters view of the teams home and away day performances, with input from various supporters being added to my own skewed and sometimes unusual views.

From time to time Ill be quizzing our own fans on how they felt the team performed, as well as discussing other clubs facilities and there welcome towards us, as travelling fans. These views will hopefully find there way into this column on a regular basis. So watch out, the answer you give to that innocent sounding question from me, might well end up in print!

PROGRESSION Last season our progression from Southern League new boys, to a solid and competitive team, took shape. Many others have commented on the ins and outs and the rights and wrongs, so it seems pointless going back there again. One thing I would like to say however is that had we started the season how we finished it, our league position could of seen us very near playoff places, such was our performances in the second half of the season.

Not only has the team improved, but the supporters now seem to appreciate, that a point away from home in this league, is not to be sniffed at! And that some of the free flowing football seen week in week out, can leave us open at the back, susceptible to the counter attack.

Our current on field management team, counter this with a defensive ethos when needed, which as an example was seen in games, such as Tiverton away, in the 1st leg of the Red Insure Cup Final last season.

It goes without saying really that generally the best players (and the most expensive) in the league are the forwards and most of the teams in this league have at least one player, capable of changing the course of a

game. It’s real grown up football here ladies and gentlemen!

PUSH ON I enjoyed watching the club evolve last season and hope we can push on this term. Highlights of the season for me, included success in the previously mentioned Red Insure Cup, the journey home from the 1st leg, being epic in itself! One because of the speed in which a certain supporters car was driven at (Warp Factor Nine) and two, because I appeared to know my way around Bristol, better than his crazy sat nav did!

Rene Steers FA Cup goal, was a sight behold as was our first ever senior victory away to Bedford Town.

NOT ONLY HAS THE TEAM IMPROVED, BUT THE SUPPORTERS NOW SEEM TO APPRECIATE, THAT A POINT AWAY FROM HOME IN THIS LEAGUE, IS NOT TO BE SNIFFED AT!

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It was also great to welcome the ever popular Shane Tolley back to St Neots, his goals being vital in the teams turn around of poor results, including both in the Bedford away game. I’d like to personally wish Shane all the best in Dubai, having witnessed nearly all of the 85 or so goals he scored in his two spells with us, a fantastic, underrated player at our level.

MAULING Other highlights included a mauling of eventual champions Hemel Hempstead at home, the return to form of Jay Davies who pitched in with important goals himself on the run in, the consistent good play of Lewis Hilliard, surely one player that would automatically be selected in a Southern league best 11. Hey when you think back, it wasn’t a bad season, one in fact that the club probably had to go through, to appreciate and learn the intricacies of the league and how to negate their way out of it at some point.

CREDIT WHERE DUE Much of the improvements made last season must go down to the managers and coaches at the club.

Their professional approach to

AFC Tottons’ keeper grabbed an early pint with the Rabble after his early bath games, there for all to see. I’m sure at some point I’ll get the chance to congratulate them on the job they are doing and grill them a little on the tactics employed for certain games after they have taken place obviously!

Lastly I’d like to say thanks to our wonderful set of supporters who followed the teams ups and downs through a season. We had so many laughs through some uncertain times last season, just imagine what it will be like challenging for a place in the conference, yes Conference! Divisions?

Yours Aye Craig WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 47

Scorelines..

A brief round up of the weekly results from the teams that matter Southern Premier Division Weekend Action Chesham United made the long journey to Truro City and, after taking a first half lead, completed a 3-0 victory with a goal in time added on while Cambridge City recovered from being two behind at the break to win 4-2 at Redditch United and Weymouth scored twice in the final twenty minutes to overcome visiting Hungerford Town 3-1. Three of the promoted clubs got off to the perfect start with Slough Town scoring twice in the second half to win 2-0 at Burnham while Dunstable Town, having led at the break, scored fifteen minutes from time to make the long trip to Bideford worthwhile with a 2-1 victory and Paulton Rovers, level at the interval, scored four minutes into the second half to inflict a 2-1 home defeat on fellow promotees Cirencester Town.

Meanwhile the three relegated clubs did not fare so well with Dorchester Town losing 1-0 to a goal thirteen minutes from time at Arlesey Town, Histon, having taken the lead soon after the hour mark, conceded two goals, including a penalty, inside four minutes to go down 2-1 at home to Frome Town, and Hereford United were defeated 2-0 at home when St Neots Town scored

twice after the break. Chippenham Town scored a goal in each half to record a 2-0 win at Biggleswade Town and Poole Town scored a second half penalty to win 1-0 at Banbury United while Corby Town, having taken the lead from the spot on the hour mark, recorded a 2-0 home win over Hitchin Town.

Southern Premier Division Midweek Action On Monday Redditch United scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour to set up a 2-1 home win over Chippenham Town who replied three minutes before the end. On Tuesday Weymouth, who had taken an eleventh minute lead, conceded a penalty three minutes before the break but went on to complete a 4-2 home victory over Frome Town while Cambridge City scored twice before the interval to secure a 2-1win at Arlesey Town and Corby Town, who went behind in the first minute, equalised from the spot just before half time and scored again six minutes after the break to become the third team to take maximum points from the opening two games with a 2-1 victory at Dunstable Town. Hitchin Town, two ahead at the interval, inflicted

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a 3-0 home defeat on Banbury United while Dorchester Town scored three times in the opening eight minutes to set up a resounding 5-1 success at Burnham and Cirencester Town, trailing to a fourth minute penalty, went in front on the stroke of half time and went on to record an emphatic 6-2 home victory over Bideford but Paulton Rovers, who had equalised from the spot four minutes before the break, lost 2-1 at home when Truro City struck in time added on at the end of the half.

Chesham United raced into a three goal lead just after the half hour but conceded three times in the second half, including two in the final twelve minutes, and had to settle for a point from a 3-3 home draw and Biggleswade Town, leading at the interval, but were held 1-1 at home when Histon converted a penalty thirteen minutes from time while Hereford United picked up their first point when, having gone behind in the first minute and again with fifteen minutes remaining, they secured a 2-1 home draw with Slough Town with a goal in time added on. In the evening’s other game Hungerford played out a 0-0 draw with visiting Poole Town.

Ben Ford

HEREFORD UNITED 0 ST NEOTS TOWN 2 Saturday 9th August 2014 / Southern Premier Division / Att 568 St Neots Town got off to a great start away to the first of the ‘unknown quantities’ picking up a quick 3 points on their travels.

Despite there being almost as many protesting Hereford fans outside the ground as those inside, the match attendance was the second highest in the league on the day but unfazed by the commotion around them St Neots served up a solid if rather unspectacular performance to pick up three points on the opening day of the season. Hereford relegated two steps down from the Conference for financial irregularities were an unknown quantity but featured a mix of youth and experience and gave the visitors a fairly stern test. The feature of the victory was that St Neots two second half substitutes each scored a goal to earn their victory for a side whose starting line up included just three new faces.

Injury and suspension had robbed the Manager of Ben Farrell and Drew Roberts so there is more to come as St Neots embark on their third season at Step Three.

The opening phase of the match was a little scrappy with neither side looking positive enough in the final third but St Neots dominated early possession without really looking positive enough to threaten the home defence. A Lewis Hilliard shot was blocked and debutant striker

Chris Dillon forced a reflex save from home keeper Luke Williams before sending a second effort wide.

At the other end Deqwon Eubanks saw a header comfortably gathered

by Nathan Abbey and then Hilliard playing in a forward role alongside Dillon shot wide and then sent a far post header over the bar. Defensively St Neots looked very sound although Bilal Yafai did get around Arthur Lee to set up Salvador Ramirez but his shot was well wide. The competitive nature of the match saw bookings for Samuel Akinde (Hereford) and Dillon but St Neots best first half chance fell to Gavin Hoyte from a Lee corner but he headed the ball narrowly over the bar. The lively Jay Davies twice shot over the bar but neither goalkeeper was really tested in a first half that was accurately reflected in the goalless score line at the break.

MORE POSITIVE After their half time team talk St Neots immediately looked more positive and three minutes after the restart Hilliard had the ball in the net from a Davies through pass but was ruled marginally offside. However a change shortly afterwards saw the introduction of Matt Nolan for Dillon

and he energised the attack. He set up Hilliard whose low shot was blocked by a defender and he then sent an angled shot that beat the keeper but passed just the wrong side of the far post. However after 61 minutes he timed his run past the last defender to perfection to pick up a Jay Davies pass to shoot under the diving body of Williams to score St Neots first goal of the new league season. It was no more than they deserved and it settled them down to produce some neat possession football although there were few clear chances created. Then two minutes from time an inspired second substitution by St Neots sealed the result and all three points. Nathan Frater came on for his quite sensational league debut to replace the tiring Hilliard and with his first touch he went past Joshua Oyibo and was brought down from behind. The resultant penalty kick saw Jay Davies’ effort well parried

by Williams but Frater was perfectly placed on the edge of the area to rap in the rebound to wrap up the two goals’ victory.

John Walker

Hereford United

St Neots Town

Williams, Knott, Roberts, O’Neill, Morrison, Gregory, Ramirez, Yafai, Eubanks, Akinde, Lewars. Subs: Oyibo (for Knott 49 mins), Gilroy (for Yafai 74 mins) Cards: Akinde (Y – 25), Ramirez (Y – 74), Morrison (Y – 79)

Abbey, Spence, Lee, Spring, Frater (R), Hoyte, Davies, Ford, Dillon, Hilliard, Powell. Subs: Nolan (for Dillon 49 mins), Frater (N) (for Hilliard 88 mins), Ferrari, Ivey-Ward and Greygoose.

Cards: Dillon (Y – 39) Goals: Nolan (61 mins), Frater (N) (90+1 mins)

PAGE 50 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V WEYMOUTH FC ISSUE 01

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 51

JOSH BICKERSTAFF

So, here we go again. After a summer of more international let down and what seems like an even longer pre-season than the last really long pre-season, real football is back.

At this time of the year, everyone is going to have a good season. August is the month of hope before the denial of September and the reality of late October.

In last week’s NLP we canvassed the opinions of fans of the 24 Vanarama Conference clubs – who would be their star of the season and, most importantly, how would they get on?

Not one said their club will go down.

Even those who thought they might struggle a little bit spoke about midtable safety, if not a top ten finish.

Because, as football fans, the ‘You-never-know-what-can-happenfootball-is-a-funny-old-game’ mantra is ingrained into us. We just can’t help it.

Everything is ahead and all to play for. At the moment we can all still dream knowing within a few minutes of the first ball being kicked, it could all be shattered.

For no reason other than I saw them win a game at QPR when I was seven, I support Sheffield Wednesday – and that’s why I love this part of the season. Nothing has gone wrong yet.

Deep down I know we probably

haven’t recruited well enough to mount a promotion push and get back to the Premier League.

But I’ve got the same nagging question as I do every other year: What if? I should know better.

Take the first day of the 2000-01 season. We’d just been relegated from the Premier League and we needed a good start away at Wolves.

Thirteen (that’s THIRTEEEN) seconds in keeper Kevin Pressman (pictured) came racing out of his box to make a block, was adjudged to handle the ball and was sent-off.

Take the opening day of the 2007-08 season. We’d just signed Francis Jeffers and some of our best youngsters were yet to be poached.

Less than two minutes in we gave away a penalty, conceded and

PAGE 54 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V WEYMOUTH FC ISSUE 01

ended up getting smashed 4-1. Yes I know it’s a marathon not a sprint, and Kidderminster Harriers showed a couple of years ago that you can get your first three points 11 games in and still finish runners-up.

It might not mean anything – see Forest Green hammering Hyde 8-0 on the opening day last year – but it’s so nice to get off to a good start.

And that’s what everyone will be hoping for as the big kick-off arrives – until 3.01pm at least.

Matt Badcock Follow us on twitter: @NonLeguePaper @SamElliott_NLP @Stuhammonds_NLP @MattBadcock_NLP

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

Date

ATT

COMP

R

Pos

2

3

4

Sat 09 Aug

Opposition Hereford United

568

SLP

2-0

7

Abbey

Spence

Lee

Ford

Tue 12 Aug

Chesham United

331

SLP

3-3

5

Abbey

Spence

LEE

Spring

Sat 16 Aug

WEYMOUTH

SLP

Tue 19 Aug

REDDITCH UNITED

SLP

Sat 23 Aug

Truro City

SLP

Mon 25 Aug

Corby Town

SLP

Sat 30 Aug

PAULTON ROVERS

SLP

Sat 06 Sep

Biggleswade Town

SLP

Tue 09 Sep

HISTON

SLP

Sat 13 Sep

DEREHAM/ST.IVES

FAC

Sat 20 Sep

Banbury United

SLP

Tue 30 Sep

Arlesey Town

SLP

Sat 04 Oct

BURNHAM

SLP

Mon 06 Oct

Hitchin Town

SLP

Sat 11 Oct

POOLE TOWN

SLP

Sat 18 Oct

Cirencester Town

SLP

Tue 21 Oct

CHESHAM UNITED

SLP

Sat 25 Oct

Weymouth

SLP

Mon 27 Oct

Redditch United

SLP

Sat 01 Nov

ILKESTON TOWN

FAT

Sat 08 Nov

Truro City

SLP

Sat 15 Nov

Hungerford Town

SLP

Tue 18 Nov

CAMBRIDGE CITY

SLP

Sat 22 Nov

Bideford

SLP

Sat 29 Nov

SLOUGH TOWN

SLP

Sat 06 Dec

DORCHESTER TOWN

SLP

Sat 13 Dec

Chippenham Town

SLP

Sat 20 Dec

FROME TOWN

SLP

Fri 26 Dec

CORBY TOWN

SLP

Thu 01 Jan

Dunstable Town

SLP

Sat 03 Jan

HEREFORD UNITED

SLP

Sat 10 Jan

Paulton Rovers

SLP

Sat 17 Jan

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

SLP

Sat 24 Jan

Histon

SLP

Sat 31 Jan

BANBURY UNITED

SLP

Sat 07 Feb

ARLESEY TOWN

SLP

Sat 14 Feb

Burnham

SLP

Sat 21 Feb

HITCHIN TOWN

SLP

Sat 28 Feb

Poole Town

SLP

Sat 07 Mar

CIRENCESTER TOWN

SLP

Sat 14 Mar

HUNGERFORD TOWN

SLP

Sat 21 Mar

Cambridge City

SLP

Sat 28 Mar

BIDEFORD

SLP

Sat 04 Apr

Slough Town

SLP

Mon 06 Apr

DUNSTABLE TOWN

SLP

Sat 11 Apr

Dorchester Town

SLP

Sat 18 Apr

CHIPPENHAM TOWN

SLP

Sat 25 Apr

Frome Town

SLP

PAGE 56 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V WEYMOUTH FC ISSUE 01

Player name in these colours denotes substitute

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

14

Frater

Hoyte

Spring

Davies

Dillon

Hilliard

Powell

NOLAN

FRATER (N)

Frater

Hoyte

DAVIES

Ford

Nolan

Hilliard

Powell

FRATER (N)

15

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STNEOTSTOWNFC / PAGE 57

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION / 12.08.14

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

+/-

Pts

01

Weymouth

2

2

0

0

7

3

+4

6

02

Cambridge City

2

2

0

0

6

2

+4

6

03

Corby Town

2

2

0

0

4

1

+3

6

04

Chesham United

2

1

1

0

6

3

+3

4

05

St Neots Town

2

1

1

0

5

3

+2

4

06

Slough Town

2

1

1

0

4

2

+2

4

07

Poole Town

2

1

1

0

1

0

+1

4

08

Cirencester Town

2

1

0

1

7

4

+3

3

09

Dorchester Town

2

1

0

1

5

2

+3

3

10

Chippenham Town

2

1

0

1

3

2

+1

3

11

Hitchin Town

2

1

0

1

3

2

+1

3

12

Dunstable Town

2

1

0

1

3

3

0

3

13

Paulton Rovers

2

1

0

1

3

3

0

3

14

Frome Town

2

1

0

1

4

5

-1

3

15

Redditch United

2

1

0

1

4

5

-1

3

16

Arlesey Town

2

1

0

1

1

2

-1

3

17

Truro City

2

1

0

1

2

4

-2

3

18

Histon

2

0

1

1

2

3

-1

1

19

Hereford United

2

0

1

1

2

4

-2

1

20

Biggleswade Town

2

0

1

1

1

3

-2

1

21

Hungerford Town

2

0

1

1

1

3

-2

1

22

Banbury United

2

0

0

2

0

4

-4

0

23

Bideford

2

0

0

2

3

8

-5

0

24

Burnham

2

0

0

2

1

7

-6

0

PAGE 58 / ST NEOTS TOWN F.C. V WEYMOUTH FC ISSUE 01

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

Wall Art

Wallpaper

Wall Stickers

www.ilovemywalls.co.uk

Manager: Gary King / Zema Abbey Assistant Manager: Nathan Abbey

Manager: Jason Matthews Assistant Manager: Craig Laird

Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers

Nathan Abbey

Jason Matthews

Jamie Greygoose

Ryan Park

Defenders

Defenders

Josh Bickerstaff

Lewis Blackmore

Ryan Frater

Jordan Copp

Gavin Hoyte

Jamie Laird

Jordan Ivey-Ward

Ed Palmer

Arthur Lee

Sam Poole

Midfielders

Chris Shepherd

Dean Cracknell

Jake Wannell

Jay Davies

Ashley Wells

Matt Spring

Midfielders

Ben Farrell

Steve Colwell

Lorenzo Ferrari

Adam Kelly

Ben Ford

Shane Krac

Lewis Hilliard

Chris Mcphee

Martel Powell

George Rigg

Forwards

Luke Winsper

Bruce Wilson

Forwards

Chris Dillon

Stewart Yetton

Nathan Frater

Mark Ford

Matt Nolan

Conor Jeavon

Drew Roberts

Tim Sills

Colours Dark Blue Shirts, Shorts & Socks

Colours Burgundy Shirts, Shorts & Socks

The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Referee: Rob Smith Assistants: David Jewell / Richard Pace Next Home Game: St Neots Town v Redditch United Southern League Premier Division / Tuesday 19th August / KO 19:45

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.