EAGLE BITTER UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE NEWSLETTER NO. 191 AUGUST 2005 PAGE 1

Daventry adopt local policy

Relegated Daventry will begin their quest for a return to the top flight with a squad built around local players.

New manager Tony Perry will give several of his reserve side from last season an opportunity to play at the higher level in the months ahead. He has moved into the transfer market to snap up Ford Sports duo Leigh Roberts and Matty Cox, while goalkeeper Lee Morgan has switched from Cogenhoe.

Sileby set sights on repeat success

After opting out of promotion following their Division One championship success last season Sileby have seen a number of their title winning team move on to Premier Division clubs, while star man Glen Turner has joined Corby Town in the Southern League.

Manager Gary Petts has been busy strengthening his squad in the summer months bringing in a sprinkling of new faces to replace those who have moved on.

Defender Gary Minelly has stepped up from local football with Thorplands, while midfield captures are ex-Long Buckby man Michael Mullen and Daventry’s Simon Skipworth. Striking options are plentiful with the Cotton brothers Craig and Lee returning from Roade and Colin Cooper checking in from Ford Sports.

A further bonus is the return to action of midfielder Adam Slaymaker who spent the whole of last season on the sidelines through medial ligament problems.

Whitworths strengthen for honours bid

After missing out on the Division One championship on goal difference in 2004-05, Whitworths have set their sights on going one better under new manager Steve Medlin, promoted from reserve boss to replace Higham bound Mark Desborough.

Medlin has raided Premier neighbours Raunds to snap up defenders David Coales and Lee Dorrington and striker Danny Jackson, while other summer additions to the Flourmen’s squad are Sileby’s title winning skipper Lee Purser, Cogenhoe midfielder Stuart Goosey and proven marksman Scott Atkinson who finished last term with Thrapston. Goalkeeper Phil Turner has also switched from Chancery Lane.

New name and new management for Northern Star

After changing their name from Eye United, Peterborough Northern Star go into the new campaign with a new look management team. Ex-Deeping and Blackstones boss Mel Landin is in charge at Chestnut Avenue, and his backroom staff will include his former assistant at those clubs, Jim Shilling and Northampton Town academy coach Kristian Heames.

On field arrivals are two players who played for Landin at Blackstones, defender Andy Neal and striker Matt Farrington, both of whom finished last season with Alconbury. Also joining Star are Deeping youngster Scott Quinney, Steve Paling who returns from Ortonians and Mark Barry from Eye Sports & Social.

Few changes for Blisworth

Blisworth enjoyed a good season last time out, so it isn’t too surprising that they one of the most stable of clubs.

Former Courteenhall Road manager Simon Morrice, who spent most of last season as co-manager of Daventry, has rejoined the Railwaymen, while another arrival is former Rushden & Diamonds junior Keith Price from Silverstone. Youngster Sam Scarman has also joined Blisworth from Bugbrooke’s youth side.

Sleaford host league duo

Highlights of Sleaford’s build up to the new season were visits from two Coca Cola League clubs. Brian Rowland’s men beat a Boston United academy side 4-1 but lost 3-1 to a strong squad from Lincoln City in front of a 500 plus crowd at Boston Road.

New recruits at the Lincolnshire club are former Harrowby trio, defender Matt Phillips, front runner Pete Sutton and midfielder Jason Sedlan who joins brother Carl in the squad. Another signing is Miles Fish who previously played for St Andrews in the Anglian Combination while Jon Machin has rejoined Town from Billinghay.

Old faces return to Corinths colours

Rothwell Corinthians have had a very quiet close season with just a handful of new signings to report, two of whom have played for the club before.

Defender Ben Greasley has rejoined Corinths from Desborough while midfield man Paul Norton is back in the fold after a spell away at college. Also checking in at Sergeant’s Lawn is former Raunds player Phil Woolley who ended last season with Higham.

Romans in backroom reshuffle

After a successful season in charge of Irchester Steve Whitney has moved into a director of football role at Alfred Street in an eve of campaign move. Rejoining the Romans as ‘head coaches’ are John Dower and Bob Reed who led Irchester to their best ever Division One finish of third in 2002-03. The duo have spent the last two years in charge at Kempston.

Irchester have enjoyed a low key build up to the new campaign with just a handful of summer signings. Defender Lee Layton, formerly with Kempston, has joined the Romans while striker Darren Halfyard has returned to Alfred Street after missing the whole of last season through work commitments.

Midfielder Andrew Moffatt has joined Irchester from Thorplands where he was Player of the Year last season.

The Irchester second string will have an emphasis on bringing through young players this year following the introduction of an under 18 side at Alfred Street.

The club’s new floodlights were used for the first time in a pre season friendly against Langford on 3rd August.

Desborough faces Lankies rebuilding job

New Higham manager Mark Desborough faces a rebuilding job in the months ahead after a number of last season’s Lankies regulars opted to move to pastures new during the close season.

Recruits so far are former Kettering youth team custodian Jack Pinnock and experienced central defender Stuart Abrahart who rejoins the club from Long Buckby.

Eynesbury win Cary White Memorial Cup

Eynesbury warmed up for the new campaign with success in the annual Cary White Memorial Cup tournament staged at Hall Road on July 30th. Rovers beat Peterborough League Crowland 4-1 on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw.

The build up to the new season has season Rovers lose two of their backroom staff. Lenny Morris has had to step down as assistant manager due to work commitments with long standing former player Steve White now working with manager Dean Shipp. Physio Anthony Gentle has joined Cambridge United with Karen Hill the replacement.

On the field Eynesbury show few changes with just a handful of new faces on board. Goalkeeper Ben Housego has signed from Eaton Socon, new midfielders are Simon Pearce, formerly with St Ives and Huntingdon, and ex-Godmanchester man Paul Morris, while former Rovers youth teamer Glen Eastoe has returned to Hall Road after playing for the Bedford Town second string last season.

Badgers in backroom reshuffle

Bugbrooke’s backroom staff has undergone a revamp over the summer. With assistant manager Kevin Osborne stepping down due to work commitments, Dean Eason will assist manager Danny Mackintosh in the months ahead. The reserves will have a new manager with club stalwart Matthew Golden taking the reins, assisted by Mark Fowler.

New on the field faces are Woodford midfielder Martin Fletcher, striker Hammi Siddek from Rugby Town, Josh Yasar from Cogenhoe, Chad Shakespeare from Roade, Sean Daly who played for Kettering’s second string last term and returning pair Jamie Thomson and Andy Chester.

Midfielder Gavin Richardson is now fit again after suffering a broken leg last pre-season while ace marksman Aidy Spruels also returns after a lengthy spell on the injured list last season.

Thrapston win tsunami trophy

Thrapston kick off the new campaign with some silverware already under their belts. The Northants Evening Telegraph put up a trophy to be contested to raise funds for the disaster appeal, and Lee Howard’s side came out on top in the seven a side competition staged on 9th July.

A bonus for Thrapston was the signing of striker Darrel Palmer after he impressed playing against them in the competition. Other new faces at Chancery Lane are Kettering Nomads full back Craig Abbott and Riseley front man Fraser Smith, while eve of season transfer activity saw Rothwell Corinthians goalkeeper Craig Patterson sign along with Duncan McNish, who switched from Stewarts & Lloyds.

Blackwell steps up at Huntingdon

With summer appointee Paul Telling moving to Germany to work for a year, Huntingdon have promoted newly appointed reserve team boss Dave Blackwell to run the senior side alongside Telling’s assistant Gary Ling. Blackwell was formerly reserve team manager at Godmanchester. Steve Newman and Darnell Dodds will run Town’s second string.

New recruits at Jubilee Park are a trio of ex-Godmanchester players, Jamie Blackwell, Tom Polis and Rob Stamper while St Neots youngster Tom Moran is another new face. Completing Huntingdon’s signings is Kyle Oxborrow from Suffolk football.

Town’s links with newly relegated Conference club Cambridge United are already paying off. Over 400 saw the Us run out 3-1 winners in a Jubilee Park friendly between the clubs on August 9th.

Three newcomers for Chenecks

ON Chenecks have enjoyed their customary quiet close season with little in the way of recruitment to report at Billing Road. Defender Lee Haines and midfielder Gary Marks have signed from Queen Eleanor while defender Jason Gray has returned from university.

Paul Tebbutt is back in the fold after an injury hit 2004-05 season while Declan Moore has joined the second string management team.

Kempston show changes galore

After the late season departure of managerial duo Bob Reed and John Dower it’s been a summer of changes at Hillgrounds as new manager Clive Black and assistant John Leeson rebuild their squad.

New faces in the Walnut Boys squad include goalkeeper Matt Jones (who confusingly replaces another Matt Jones, now with Wootton) and Darren Farrer from Meltis, defenders Richard Cook and James Fay and striker Gavin Batt from Bromham, Sam Dawe, a defensive prospect from the Rushden & Diamonds academy and widely travelled defender Tony Goodwin, formerly with Bedford United.

Matt Woolgar, a former Chelsea youth player who has also played for Baldock and Wootton, will provide experience in midfield, while Lewis Hook has been signed from Willen and Danny Marsh and Paul McKeaveney have joined from Three Horseshoes. Andy Smith is a proven marksman from Kempston Town while two Polish players with high level experience in their own country have also signed for the Walnut Boys, goalkeeper Piotr Karpiuk and Krzysztof Matvszkiewicz. Few changes for Olney

Despite a disappointing 2004-05 season last time out, Olney have had a quiet close season with just a sprinkling of new signings made in the build up to the new campaign.

Defender Nick Beevis, midfielder Jamie Harris and front man Danny Norris have all been snapped up from Spartan South Midlands side Loughton Orient, while Gary Janes has arrived from North Bucks football and Marc Page has been called up from the Nurserymen’s Sunday side. Striker Tom Collins also makes a welcome return to the fold after an injury hit couple if years.

Hopes high for Burton revival

After four years at the foot of Division One, the only way is up for Burton Park Wanderers, and a busy close season has seen them assemble a much stronger squad for the season ahead.

Topping the parade of new arrivals is defender Andy Greensmith, a top flight regular with Desborough last term. The demise of Cottingham has seen skipper Steve Brydon and fellow defender Carl Lambert switch to Latimer Park, while Dean Trowbridge from Olney should solve Burton’s goalkeeping problems.

Bugbrooke’s top scorer last season Paul Sloley should boost the Burton strikeforce while a trio of players from the Milton Keynes area, Matt Fraser and brothers Michael and Terry Pridmore, should add competition for places.

Doughboys prepare for new challenge

Division One newcomers Wellingborough Town 2004 are looking forward to the new challenge of Eagle Bitter UCL football in the months ahead.

The club revived as a youth set up in 2004-05 and members of the successful under 18 set up will be given their chance in senior football.

Manager Colin Ridgway has brought in a number of new faces to strengthen the squad. His most notable recruit is former Rothwell Town goalkeeper John Hughes who was first choice at Cecil Street for several seasons.

Other new faces in the Doughboys squad are Ian Symington from Rothwell Corinthians, Jamie Russell and Ross Thurlow from Raunds and Rothwell Town midfielder Tyron Hicks, while Tom Sharpe has switched from league rivals ON Chenecks. Kettering Nomads goal ace Rob Foster has also linked up with the Doughboys along with one time Nottingham Forest trialist Paul Haigh.

Ridgway has appointed Kelly Meagan as his assistant. Meagan had a spell at the Raunds reins last season and was also youth and reserve manager at Rothwell Town. The reserve side will be managed by ex-Whitworths second string boss Darren Coe and Mark Downing.

Transfer trail

Three more players have changed allegiance this week as the season swings into action. Men on the move are as follows:-

3. Mark Wilson Burton Park Wanderers to Harrowby United
4. Duncan McNish Stewarts & Lloyds Corby to Thrapston Town
5. Grant Neil Bourne Town to Harrowby United

Cups round-up

League Knockout Cup

Preliminary Round
Raunds v Eynesbury (13/9); Blackstones v Rothwell Corinthians (14/9); Deeping v Yaxley (13/9); Irchester v Peterborough Northern Star (13/9); Long Buckby v Ford Sports (14/9); Blisworth v Stotfold (10/9); Potton v Huntingdon (13/9); St Ives v Wellingborough (13/9).
First Round
Buckingham v Long Buckby/Ford Sports; Deeping/Yaxley v St Ives/Wellingborough; Potton/Huntingdon v Burton PW; Higham v St Neots (10/9); Woodford v Olney (20/9); Irchester/Peterborough Northern Star v ON Chenecks; Raunds/Eynesbury v Stewarts & Lloyds; Newport Pagnell v Bugbrooke (20/9); Cogenhoe v Blackstones/Rothwell Corinthians; Daventry v AFC Kempston (10/9); Boston Town v Holbeach (20/9); Harrowby v Sileby (10/9); Northampton Spencer v Whitworths (20/9); Wootton v Sleaford (10/9); Bourne v Blisworth/Stotfold; Thrapston v Desborough (1/10).

Reserve Knockout Cup

First Round
Desborough v Yaxley (13/9); Deeping v Rothwell Corinthians (20/9); Burton PW v Cogenhoe (3/9); Holbeach v Eynesbury (3/9); ON Chenecks v Whitworths (10/9); Higham v Irchester (17/9); Bourne v Newport Pagnell (10/9); Olney v Spalding (3/9); Stewarts & Lloyds v Thrapston (14/9); Raunds v Rothwell Town (20/9); Bugbrooke v Daventry (13/9); Ford Sports v Woodford (21/9); Wellingborough v Long Buckby (20/9); Sileby v Stotfold (24/9); Northampton Spencer v Blackstones (13/9). Bye: Huntingdon.

F.A. Cup

Extra Preliminary Round (20/8)
Borrowash v FORD SPORTS; Chalfont St Peter v BUCKINGHAM; Wembley v ST NEOTS; Soham v YAXLEY; Fakenham v LONG BUCKBY; Bowers & Pitsea v STOTFOLD; St Margaretsbury v ST IVES; WOOTTON v DESBOROUGH; Southend Manor v WOODFORD.
Preliminary Round (27/8)
Willenhall v BLACKSTONES; Bromsgrove v BOURNE; Long Eaton/Quorn v BOSTON TOWN; Coalville v Borrowash/FORD SPORTS; DEEPING v Norton/Alvechurch; HOLBEACH v Boldmere; WOOTTON/DESBOROUGH v Barton Rovers; Ware/Sporting Bengal v NORTHAMPTON SPENCER; AFC Hornchurch v Chalfont St Peter/BUCKINGHAM; Harlow v NEWPORT PAGNELL; Tiptree v POTTON; Wembley/ST NEOTS v Hemel Hempstead; Fakenham/LONG BUCKBY v Waltham Forest; Bowers & Pitsea/STOTFOLD v Clapton; Barking & East Ham v St Margaretsbury/ST IVES; Soham/YAXLEY v Enfield Town; COGENHOE v Hanwell; RAUNDS v Beaconsfield; Southend Manor/WOODFORD v Hullbridge/Wisbech.

Cups round-up – continued

F.A. Vase

First Qualifying Round (17/9)
BOSTON TOWN v Nuneaton Griff; DEEPING v Stapenhill; BOURNE v Shirebrook; BLACKSTONES v Dunkirk; Tring Athletic v STOTFOLD; Sawbridgeworth v LONG BUCKBY; BUCKINGHAM v Barkingside; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v Cranfield; HUNTINGDON v St Margaretsbury; London Colney v EYNESBURY; Hoddesdon v YAXLEY; Ware v NEWPORT PAGNELL; Godmanchester v ST NEOTS; WOOTTON v Stansted.
Second Qualifying Round (1/10)
Sutton Town v BOSTON TOWN/Nuneaton Griff; BLACKSTONES/Dunkirk v Racing Warwick/Eccleshall; FORD SPORTS v Atherstone/Ludlow; Rainworth v DEEPING/Stapenhill; Blackwell MW v BOURNE/Shirebrook; DAVENTRY v Wellington; Godmanchester/ST NEOTS v Harefield/Witham; Tring Athletic/STOTFOLD v Flackwell Heath/Gorleston; Woodbridge/Harwich v RAUNDS; Thetford v WOOTTON/Stansted; ST IVES v WOODFORD; Bicester v BUCKINGHAM/Barkingside; Fakenham v Ware/NEWPORT PAGNELL; ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS v Haverhill/Welwyn GC; Sawbridgeworth/LONG BUCKBY v Chalfont St Peter; Broxbourne v HUNTINGDON/St Margaretsbury; BUGBROOKE v Long Melford; Southall/Wroxham v Hoddesdon/YAXLEY; AFC KEMPSTON v Colney Heath; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER/Cranfield v Ipswich Wanderers/Bowers & Pitsea; London Colney/EYNESBURY v Hadleigh.

Exempt to Round 1: COGENHOE, HOLBEACH
Exempt to Round 2: DESBOROUGH, POTTON

Bedfordshire Senior Cup

First Round (w/c 10/10)
Bedford Town v STOTFOLD; WOOTTON v Leighton.
Quarter finals (w/c 16/1)
Arlesey v POTTON; WOOTTON/Leighton v Barton Rovers; Biggleswade United/Biggleswade Town v Bedford Town v STOTFOLD.

Bedfordshire Senior Trophy

First Round (5/11)
Bedford United v AFC KEMPSTON.

Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup

Second Round (12/11)
Campton/Corinthians in Sport v STOTFOLD RESERVES.

Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy

Second Round (by 11/11)
Reading Town v NEWPORT PAGNELL: Milton United v BUCKINGHAM.

Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup

First Round (8/10)
Haddenham v OLNEY; Aston Park v NEWPORT PAGNELL RESERVES.
EAGLE BITTER UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Berks & Bucks Junior Cup

First Round (15/10)
OLNEY RESERVES v St Johns.

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup

Second Round (26/11)
ST IVES v EYNESBURY; ST NEOTS v YAXLEY; HUNTINGDON v Brampton.

Huntingdonshire Scott-Gatty Cup

First Round (24/9)
HUNTINGDON RESERVES v Great Paxton Reserves; YAXLEY RESERVES v Ortonians Reserves.
Second Round (5/11)
Buckden v EYNESBURY RESERVES; Godmanchester Reserves v HUNTINGDON RESERVES/Great Paxton Reserves; YAXLEY RESERVES/Ortonians Reserves v Huntingdon United GRE/St Ives Rangers.

Huntingdonshire Benevolent Cup

First Round (8/10)
YAXLEY RESERVES v Huntingdon United GRE; EYNESBURY RESERVES v Ramsey Reserves; St Ives Reserves v HUNTINGDON RESERVES.

Lincolnshire Senior Cup ‘A’

First Round (1/10)
HARROWBY v BOSTON TOWN.
Lincolnshire Senior Cup ‘B’

First Round (24/9)
Caistor v SLEAFORD

Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup

First Round (w/c 3/10)
FORD SPORTS v RAUNDS; COGENHOE v Kettering; STEWARTS & LLOYDS v Brackley; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v WOODFORD.

Northamptonshire Junior Cup

First Round (24/9)
THRAPSTON v Priors Marston; SILEBY v COGENHOE RESERVES; WELLINGBOROUGH v Harpole; Wicken Sports v PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR; Northampton Broadmead Saints v DAVENTRY; ROTHWELL RESERVES v Oundle; WHITWORTHS v Corby Caledonian Strip Mills; BURTON PW v STEWARTS & LLOYDS RESERVES; FORD SPORTS RESERVES v Rushden Rangers; BUGBROOKE v ON CHENECKS; RAUNDS RESERVES v Northampton Airflow; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER RESERVES v Milton.

East Anglian Cup

First Round
EYNESBURY v Spalding.

Hinchingbrooke Cup

Preliminary Round
YAXLEY v Cranfield; WOOTTON v ST NEOTS; EYNESBURY v ST IVES; AFC KEMPSTON v ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS; BLACKSTONES v STOTFOLD; DEEPING v Barton Rovers; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v BOURNE.
First Round
Somersham v EYNESBURY/ST IVES; YAXLEY/Cranfield v WOOTTON/ST NEOTS; Biggleswade United v HUNTINGDON; Godmanchester v BLACKSTONES/STOTFOLD; AFC KEMPSTON/ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS v DEEPING/Barton Rovers; Biggleswade Town v POTTON; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER/BOURNE v WELLINGBOROUGH.

Buckingham Charity Cup

First Round (by 12/10)
Bicester v BUCKINGHAM; BEWPORT PAGNELL v Aylesbury Vale; Cranfield v OLNEY; WOODFORD v FORD SPORTS.

North Beds Charity Cup

First Round
STOTFOLD v Biggleswade United; Biggleswade Town v WOOTTON; Cranfield v POTTON.

Leading goalscorers

Premier Division (to 17/8)
4 – G. Bull (Boston Town), D. Frost (Northampton Spencer)
3 – S. Coleman (Northampton Spencer), G. Ogbonna (Buckingham)
2 – S. Blackwood (Long Buckby), M. Collins (Northampton Spencer), C. Drew (Stotfold), L. Ellison, M.
Lovelace (Deeping), T. Hill (Newport Pagnell), L. Kennett (St Ives), M. Nuttell (Boston Town), M.
Paul (Yaxley), R. Tanner (Raunds)