STOWMARKET TOWN VS MICKLEOVER FC

CLUB IS SADDENED TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF LONG SERVING SUPPORTER, GEOFF SQUIRRELL. GEOFF WAS A REGULAR AT GREENS MEADOW, HAVING ALSO HELD NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER ROLES ON THE CLUBS COMMITTEE. IN 2020, GEOFF WAS RECOGNISED FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE CLUB, WITH ONE OF OUR STANDS BEING JOINTLY NAMED AFTER HIM.

FAMILY

THIS TIME

TOWN

is a key to a competitive squad. They are a to none. Che likes a fry up and shot on a and kept it going and without them there you.

than ever to keep singing, banging the drum clarity on.

WORDS FROM THE MANAGER

Welcome back to Greens Meadow everyone. A warm welcome to Mickleover Sports. This is a first for the club to be in the FA Trophy at this stage of the competition. We embrace the challenge against higher league opposition.

I must start my notes with expressing my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the dear Geoff Squirrell. Geoff has been fantastic over the years for the club. My personal connection with Geoff goes back to the minute I came to Stowmarket, we hit it off straight away. He was honest, blunt but extremely caring. Geoff had a wicked sense of humour and we had many laughs. His phone calls every Sunday I really enjoyed and I will miss him very much.

Todays game is off the back of an away win at Basildon. A strange game where I don’t think we played well due to the nature of a team that basically didn’t want to play but sit in and nullify us. We got the 3pts and we move on.

Selection headaches we have Natty Stewart out, Dylan Logan cup tied, Reggie Lambe away. There will be no excuses we must find a way of breaking the lines with pace. I am looking to bring another CF in.

We welcome Nathan Munson as our new goalkeeper coach. Munno has massive experience in the game and is a huge coupe for the club. He was one of the best keepers in non league for years. His experience will only add to our group and benefit us going forward.

Please continue to raise the noise levels with your great

Up the Stow Muzzy

RESULTS EGM

STOWMARKET TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

A couple of weeks ago Stowmarket Town Football Club and Stowmarket Sports and Social CLub CIC held and Extraordinary General Meeting in order to allow all Board Members and Club Members to have the opportunity to voice their opinions and have the chance to vote on who will take up certain roles within the club and how their club will be taken forward.

I am delighted to inform all of our members that I Kevin Blundell have been voted in unanimously as the new Club Chairperson.

I will be taking over from Neil Sharp who recently stepped down from the position. It is not going to be easy to replace Neil as he has been an integral part of the club for over 40 years but I hope to be able to move forward with the foundations he has placed. I must also take the opportunity to thank both Neil and Shiela for the work they have done for the club over the years, much of it behind the scenes and without which the club would not function. I would also like to thank both Micheal and Delwyn Prentice who have also recently stepped down from their positions at the club.

Some new faces were also voted in at the AGM as below:

Stephen Hobbs in the position as Financial Director

Paul Rudland in the position as Director of Operations and Clubhouse Manager

Doug French in the position as Commercial Director

Barry Roan in the position as Health and Safety Advisor

I am also delighted that Ian Moyes has agreed to continue as the Vice-Chairperson and Nigel Jarvis will also be remaining as the Director of Infrastructure and Projects.

Also discussed at the EGM was the future opportunity for the FANS FORUM group. This is to be organised by the fans and allow all fans to express their opinions, ideas and feedback. These will be taken to the FANS FORUM committee who will be able to bring these points directly to the board for discussion and action where required.

We are all looking forward to progressing the club and teams to the heights that we believe they should be at.

We are always looking for volunteers to help at the club in many different roles, if you have some free time then please get in contact with any of us and we will see where you can help.

CHAIRMAN: KEVIN BLUNDELL

TONY MORLEY & JAMES BAXTER

MICKLEOVER

THE SQUAD

MANAGER

1ST TEAM COACH

MILLS

COACH

JONES

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

GOODALL

COLLETT

HEDGE

BOWEN

WALKER

BENNETT

BUTLER

WATT

MANN

DOLAN

ROBINSON

PENNINGTON

HORLESTON

WARREN

ATWAL

WILSON

MILNER

CHETTLE ANDREW DALES

BATEMAN

BEAVON

MOORE

BARKER

MARSHALL

REEVES

DAVIDSON-MILLER

MBAKOP FANKWE

HISTORY OF MICKLEOVER FC

Mickleover Sports F.C. was founded in 1948 as Mickleover Old Boys playing in the Derby & District Senior League. For the next 44 years until their resignation in 1993, they were the longest serving club in the league.

In 1982 they, along with other members of the club, embarked on an ambitious campaign to develop their own football and cricket facilities on meadow land at the end of Station Road in Mickleover.

During the next ten years dedicated club members led a serious fund raising drive, raising over £30,000 and work on the new ground finally began early in 1992, with the facilities formally being opened later that year. Following development of the new facilities the ambitions of Mickleover Sports F.C. were increased and an application was made to join the Central Midlands Football League. This was successful and in 1993 Sports officially entered the non-league Pyramid for the first time. They drafted in an entire new management team led by Tony Shaw which resulted in both teams finishing 6th in their respective divisions.

Season 1994/95 saw Sports gain promotion to the CMFL Supreme Division and reach the semi-final of the League Cup on the way. In 1996/97 Mark Kelsey took up the managerial reins and Sports finished a creditable 6th in the Supreme Division. Meanwhile, off the field Mickleover were learning to manage the new facilities. There was some limited on-going expenditure in the railing off of the pitch, laying of slabs to provide hard standing and erection of a small stand, but with the general ground maintenance as well, there was little money for anything else. However in order to progress (or even retain their CMFL status) the club needed to erect floodlights. A concerted fund raising effort was made and in 1997, at a capital cost of over £30,000, our ambition was finally realised. The next development was aimed at providing

With the help of a National Lottery grant it involved taking one of the adjacent fields, to turn into a junior pitch. In addition to this, we built new changing rooms, referee’s room, toilets and showers, put in sewerage and re-built car park.

Back on the pitch, season 1997/98 saw Sports gain a third place finish in the CMFL Supreme Division and just 12 months later further improvement saw them crowned as the 1998/99 CMFL Champions. This season also saw Sports first venture into the Carlsberg FA Vase, where they embarked on an exhilarating cup run. After beating several teams from ‘higher’ leagues they were eliminated at the 3rd stage in controversial circumstances. Winning 3-0 at eventual finalists Bedlington Terriers and with only 14 minutes remaining, the home side’s floodlights suspiciously failed. After an FA enquiry Sports lost the replay 2-0.

So, the club was assured promotion to the Northern Counties East League and season 1999/2000 saw Sports playing for the first time at level 5. After challenging hard they finished in 4th place in Division One. They also reached the semi-final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup and for the 2nd year running they fell in the 3rd round of the FA Vase.

Mark Kelsey was replaced by ex Belper Town manager Martin Rowe who led Sports to the NCEL Division One Championship in his first season in charge. For good measure Sports also won the Division 1 Cup (Wilkinson Sword Trophy) and reached the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the first time in their history. Once again they reached the 3rd round of the FA Vase, where they eventually lost by the odd goal in nine, after 240 minutes of football, to eventual semi-finalists Oadby Town.

So, Mickleover were once again in a position to move up the non-league pyramid to the

HISTORY OF MICKLEOVER FC

NCEL Premier Division, we did however have to erect a 280 seat stand first.

After 3 seasons of ‘consolidation’ at their new level, season 2006/2007 was arguably Mickleover’s most successful season to date. Despite early exits from both the FA Cup and the FA Vase and the subsequent departure of manager Martin Rowe. New manager Dick Pratley led Sports to their highest ever position in nonleague football, 7th place in the NCE Premier Division, and Sports also won NCEL League Cup along the way beating Garforth Town.

The following year was disappointing as for the first time in recent history, Sports finished lower than the previous season. However it was to be no less than a minor ‘blip’ as the following season Sports eventually won the league by 7 points. The step up to Unibond level was significant and we were expecting a tough season. Unlike some other clubs, we will not jeopardise Sports future by paying players more than we can afford, but the development of several key U19 Academy players plus some astute signings by manager Dick Pratley, gave Sports confidence. Life in Unibond Division One South started well at Butt Hole Lane home of Shepshed Dynamo with 4-0 win. After 17 games Sports record was mid table W7 D4 L6. Then a record run of 16 consecutive wins catapulted Sports to the top of the table. Sports were never to look back and won the league by 7pts. They went on to win the Chairman’s cup by beating FC Halifax Town at The Shay. Then lost the Peter Swales Trophy on penalties to Guiseley.

2010-11 was another step up for Sports into the Northern Premier League now sponsored by Evo Stik. The season did not start well with Sports gifting points to opposition. Their first win came away at local rivals Matlock Town with a tremendous display (also doing the double over them).  But still Sports were gifting points

especially the never to be forgotten 6-6 home draw against Nantwich Town. Sports were 6-3 up with 6 minutes to go. In the end Sports ended in 14th position and were safe with 4 games to go.

Sports started the 2014-15 season in positive mood, and but for good runs in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy would have topped the table almost from the start. Postponements to league games because of the cup competitions meant that they were always playing catch up, but even so they still managed to rise to pole position with games in hand. Their home record was excellent, and results on the road also impressive, so much so that they ended the season having scored in excess of 100 goals and the only disappointment was that the last day draw at home to Sheffield FC denied them the record of most points gained in an individual Evostik Division One South season.

2014-15 Sports also won the inagural EvoStik NPL Academy League.

Sports started 2015-16 well getting to 8th. But having an unsettled side with a lot of movements in and out saw them in the relegation spots. Sports had a very disappointing season in the Cups and went out at the first time of asking in all competitions. Back in the League, Sports picked up with 11 games to go when forced to have a settled side due to the close of the Transfer window. Sports survived with a game to go, and that last game at already relegated Stamford joint managers Kirkwood and Hopkins resigned. Sports were quick in approaching Captain and Academy Manager John McGrath to take over. Sports also went on to win the EvoStik NPL Academy League again

2016-17 Sports finished the season with most points they have gained in the NPL Premier division. Again early exits from the major FA Cup competitions was a disappointment.

HISTORY OF MICKLEOVER FC

Sports blooded a lot of the their Academy players with Lewis Belgrave becoming the first NPL Academy player to Captain any 1st team. Again Sports won the Academy league again.

2017-18 Sports finished in their highest ever position – 12th as John Mcgrath continued to give Youth their chance to shine with 6 teenage debuts. One of these – Morgan Williams developed throughout the season and eventually was snapped up by Coventry City for a fee of £12000 plus add-ons. Sports competed well against all the top teams but were too inconsistent against lower placed teams and this, along with a poor disciplinary record, meant a play off position was out of reach.

The loss of top scorer Andy Dales to Scunthorpe United for a fee of £10,000 plus add-ons badly affected Sports 2018/19

season as their lack of goals meant a continual struggle throughout the season. They competed will against several of the top sides but only a good finish to the season and a last day win saw them survive the drop. An appearance in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final at Pride Park was the highlight of the season and although they put in a good performance they lost out to Alfreton Town by 2-1. 2 shortened seasons followed and the long awaited return of football in 2021 also saw the club install a 3G playing surface and undertake significant stadium changes. A mixed season followed with Sports eventually finishing a respectable 12th before finding out we were to be laterally shifted to the Southern Football League for 2022/23.

JAMES

TEVAN

WILKINSON

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THE RESERVES

WORDS FROM THE MANAGER CRAIG BROWN

• Hi everyone it’s been a difficult start for the reserves this season, player unavailability, injury’s all playing a part. We have played 4 league games now managing to beat a strong Long Melford 3-0 at home. We have lost to Hadleigh Cornard and last Saturday we let slip a 1-0 lead to lose to Walsham Res 2-1. We will continue to work hard to turn the results around on the training ground as we expect another tough game this coming Saturday. We are away to Wivenhoe Reserves who have started the campaign 3 wins out of 3, we need to be on our game from the start to get anything out of this game for sure. Finally I would like to send my thoughts to Geoff Squirrels family at this sad time, Geoff has supported me as a player and manger over many years and won’t be the same without him. I will continue to try make him proud also good luck to muzzy and the team today one club up the stow

Stowmarket Community Sports & Social Club CIC was formed in 2009 with the aim to create a community club, driven by football, that builds better facilities for the good of Stowmarket.

mission statement

Community

Equality

Participants

Trust and Respect Integrity

Play

CIC’s aim is to bring the community to Greens Meadow. To achieve this,

Improve the clubhouse

Improve

Change the age demographic

local

VENUE HIRE

FIRST TEAM

SAT

SAT

SAT

TUES

SAT

TUES

MICKOVER FC

MALDON & TIPTREE

GREAT WAKERING

GRAYS ATHLETIC

COGGESHALL TOWN

WITHAM TOWN

BRENTWOOD TOWN

TILBURY

BURY TOWN

NEW SALAMIS

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS

AFC SUDBURY

WROXHAM

FELIXSTOWE

HULLBRIDGE SPORTS

LOWESTOFT TOWN

COGGESHALL TOWN

BRENTWOOD TOWN

TILBURY

GRAYS ATHLETIC

GORLESTON

WITHAM TOWN

BASILDON UNITED

EAST THURROCK

MALDON & TIPTREE

GREAT WAKERING

HASHTAG UNITED AFC SUDBURY

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS

FELIXSTOWE

NEW SALAMIS

BURY TOWN

FA TROPHY 3RD RD

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“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero-tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly, any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.” (The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162).The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and

all members of the community.”