ChromaSport & Trophies
United Counties Football League
Company Secretary: Wendy Newey, United Counties League, 4 Wulfric Square, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8RF
Telephone: 01733 330056 Fax: 01733 330067 E mail:
web site: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1625657
Newsline telephone 09066 555 885
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 1
Sports claim season’s first trophy
Peterborough Sports became the first winners of 2015-16 silverware when they clinched the Division One championship on Easter Monday.
Avelino Vieira’s 33rd goal of the season gave Jimmy Dean’s men a 1-0 home win over Thrapston which took Sports clear of their distant title rivals with five matches still to play.
Attention now switches to Sports’ trio of cup finals. They play Netherton in the Northants Junior Cup final at Peterborough United’s ABAX Stadium on 26th April, the League Knockout Cup final against Holbeach follows at Deeping on 2nd May with the third the Mick George sponsored Hinchingbrooke Cup final against either Deeping or Peterborough Northern Star which will take place at Huntingdon’s Jubilee Park ground on 11th May.
Sports have become the first club in competition secretary John Walker’s memory to reach the Hinchingbrooke Cup final in their first season playing in the competition.
A further trophy which could be on the way to Lincoln Road is the Baker Perkins Trophy for the Highest Aggregate of Goals. At the end of March Sports had plundered 121 league goals with five games remaining with the only realistic challenge for this item of silverware coming from Premier Division title contenders Leicester Nirvana, sixteen goals back on 105, but with eight matches to play.
An eve of deadline signing for Sports was Boston United defender Richard Jones who was a team mate of manager Jimmy Dean at Peterborough Northern Star a few seasons back.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 2
Spencer future in doubt
Northampton Spencer’s future is in doubt as the club seek to replace outgoing chairman Graham Wrighting and other long serving committee members who are standing down at the end of the season.
If replacements cannot be found the club will have no alternative but to fold at the conclusion of the current campaign.
The club was formed in 1936 and joined the UCL in 1968. They were Premier Division champions in 1992 and League Knockout Cup winners in 1989 and 1994. The Millers returned to the Premier Division this term after winning Division One last season, and have adjusted well to the higher grade, looking set for a mid table finish.
Any parties interested in taking on the chairman’s role or joining the club committee should contact Graham Wrighting on 07711 465485.
Whaley leaves Fenmen after less than a year
Wisbech manager Brett Whaley has resigned from his post at the Elgoods Fenland Stadium after less than a year at the Fenmen helm. He joined them in June after leaving Premier Division rivals Yaxley.
Whaley presided over a period of rebuilding at Wisbech with inconsistent league form preventing the side from fulfilling its potential. Cup form was better with the club reaching the final of the Cambs Invitation Cup and the last four of the League Knockout Cup.
Dick Creasey will take charge of the team for the remaining fixtures this term. He has managed the club before on three occasions with some success and was a Premier Division title winner with both Holbeach and Spalding.
Defender Paul Cousins has reached a club landmark recently, making his 250th appearance for the Fenmen.
A recent addition to the squad is young full back Lucas Panayi from Football CV Reds.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 3
Assistant Furnell steps up at Yaxley
Yaxley have placed assistant manager Andy Furnell in charge of the club’s end of season matches after Ian Benjamin’s resignation as manager after nine months at the In2Itive Park helm.
Former Peterborough and Northampton striker Benjamin joined the Cuckoos in the summer having previously managed Warboys, Corby, Wisbech and Soham, but presided over an inconsistent season for his club.
Furnell is a former Peterborough United professional who has seen service with many higher grade non league clubs, joining the Cuckoos as a player in the twilight of his career before taking up a role in the new look management team last summer.
Outgoing boss Benjamin’s last squad addition was midfielder Tom Carroll who joined the Cuckoos on work experience from Northampton Town.
Cuckoos club secretary Samantha Dunkley is currently in Papworth Hospital recovering from a recent heart attack. Our best wishes go to Sam for a speedy recovery.
Harriman in Oadby exit
Lee Harriman has stepped down as manager of Oadby Town. He left Freeways Park after the Poachers slipped into the bottom two with a 2-1 defeat at Sileby on 22nd March.
Harriman was in his second spell as Oadby manager having returned to the club in October 2014. He steered them to Premier Division safety last season but the club has found itself in another survival battle this time round after failing to build on the promise of an impressive FA Cup run early in the campaign.
Assistant Owen Wright and coach Phil Wadsworth have been placed in charge for the rest of the season.
Mazzarella takes Star reins
Peterborough Northern Star have appointed Raff Mazzarella as first team manager. Initially it was planned that he would take over from Seb Hayes at the end of the season, but with the incumbent boss unavailable for several of the club’s end of season games an immediate handover was agreed.
Mazzarella enjoyed a successful season as reserve team manager of the club in the 2013-14 campaign, leading the second string to Reserve Knockout Cup success and second place in the Reserve Division. He then moved on to Division One Bourne, leading the Wakes to a top ten finish last term. He left the Abbey Lawn in September.
Mazzarella returned to the Branch Brothers Stadium in February to assist Hayes.
Ian Jackson has left the management team after half a season with the club
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NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 4
Kempston set new record
AFC Kempston set a top flight best unbeaten record with a 3-0 win over Desborough at Hillgrounds on 12th March. Josh Crawley, Jamaine Ivy and Gary Ridgway were the marksmen in the historic victory as the Walnut Boys made it thirty games unbeaten from the start of the campaign. A draw with Northampton Spencer and win in the return at Desborough took the new record to a remarkable 32 matches before Eynesbury struck two late goals to inflict a first reverse on the Walnut Boys on 26th March.
The Walnut Boys’ quest for promotion to step 4 received a major boost on 21st March when they were awarded the necessary ground grading to make the step up.
Cooks sign Diamonds trio
Cogenhoe have strengthened their squad for the run in with three players joining on dual registration from Southern League AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Defender Ollie Wilkinson is a familiar face at Compton Park while other arrivals are two youngsters, midfielder Joe Ackroyd and front runner Matt Pinder.
An eve of deadline recruit was Daventry front runner Kieran Fitzgerald.
Rangers add cover signings
Deeping have added three new faces to their squad as cover for the rest of the season. Arriving on dual registration from Peterborough League clubs are central defender Jonny Clay from Moulton Harrox and Netherton forward Lee Clementson, while former Loughborough and Spalding goalkeeper Alex Pycock has been transferred from Peterborough Sports.
Defender Luke Hunnings should return to action shortly after being sidelined with an ankle injury but fellow centre back Jack Cotton’s fractured toe will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.
Wellingborough clubhouse set to reopen
Wellingborough’s clubhouse will be back in use on 2nd April, four and a half months after the building was damaged in an arson attack at the Dog & Duck.
On the field the Doughboys face an anxious few weeks as they battle for Premier Division survival. Joining the fight are striker Alfie Taylor from Loughborough and Raunds midfield man Dan Bendon.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 5
Sileby add new faces
March saw Sileby accumulate ten points in their bid to secure their Premier Division future, with recent recruit Karlos Augustine and Brian Farrell both among the goals.
Manager Lee Duffy has added to his squad, particularly in defensive areas. Former Raunds and Desborough goalkeeper Michael Evans has checked in at Fernie Fields while a potentially influential signing is Delroy Gordon, a defender with a career behind him at higher levels with the likes of Kettering, Stamford, Nuneaton, Corby, Leamington and this season AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Easter Monday publicity for Sleaford
Sleaford received great publicity on social media on Easter Monday as a result of their twitter feed. Greens veteran Jamie Shaw usually provides the updates but in his absence working the task was handed to youngster Harrison Allen who had been included in the squad as a substitute for the match at Boston Town.
Harrison posted regular tweets as his side opened up a 3-1 lead, but the tweets were halted after the player entered the fray as a replacement for Harry Millard.
An apologetic tweet followed at the end of the game as Harrison explained the reason for the lack of tweets as Boston fought back to draw the derby contest 3-3.
The explanation went viral as the Sport Bible picked up the tweet as did the BBC Sport website! Harrison’s tweet was retweeted more than 3,500 times in the following days.
Harrison back on Arrows staff
Former Harrowby manager Jason Harrison has rejoined the Lincolnshire club in a coaching capacity. A long standing player with the club he took charge initially in 2005-06 before the Arrows dropped out of the league after finishing at the bottom of the Premier Division.
Harrison was one of the people instrumental in the reforming of the club in 2012, managing in partnership with Mark Fardell. The pair led the Arrows to promotion from Division One in 2013-14, but Harrison left his managerial post early last season.
The club has experienced a high turnover of players since the turn of the year with recent arrivals including Army trio Liam Jaques, Ben Rose and Liam Laidler, former Lincoln City youth team striker Matt Clarke and Jack Stafford from Lincoln Moorlands Railway.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 6
Impressive scalp for Eynesbury
Eynesbury succeeded where all comers had previously failed when they defeated title contenders AFC Kempston on 26th March. Late goals from Ben Hickling and Matt Bannister gave Eynesbury a 2-1 win over a Walnut Boys side unbeaten in its previous 32 Premier Division matches.
Eve of deadline arrivals at Hall Road are young goalkeeper Lance Potter from Southern League Evesham and striker Tom Cookman from Biggleswade United.
Physio suffers broken arm in post match accident
Holbeach physio Harry Ralph suffered a broken arm after his car was involved in an accident within sight of the Newport Pagnell ground after the Tigers’ 3-1 defeat at Willen Road on 26th March. Player Jordan Thomas received cuts and grazes in the accident.
An addition to the Tigers squad for a hectic run in to the season is Bottesford defender or midfielder Oli Donald.
Kirby injury list easing
Kirby Muxloe’s lengthy injured list is showing signs of easing as the season moves into its final month. Defender John Tature, striker Dan Sheahan and utility man Dan Agar are all set to return to action although defender Sam Wilson will miss the remainder of the season with knee ligament damage.
The Ratby Lane club have added Shepshed midfielder Liam Pescott to their squad for the run in to the campaign.
Upturn in fortunes for Boston
New manager Jason Callaby has presided over an upturn in Boston Town fortunes since taking the reins from Mark Angel.
A run of just one defeat in six games has prevented the Poachers from getting sucked into the Premier Division relegation battle.
The new manager has returned to his old club Alford to sign goalkeeper Andy White and midfielder Tom Lempard and has also added young Boston United midfielder Harry Vince and Wyberton’s Jamie Elston to his squad.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 308 APRIL 2016 PAGE 7
Brown in Bugbrooke exit
Bugbrooke parted company with manager Chris Brown in mid March. He was in his second spell as first team boss at Birds Close having stepped up most recently after enjoying phenomenal success with the Badgers second string last season, leading them to a Reserve Division and Reserve Knockout Cup double and narrowly missing out on a third trophy as Northants Lower Junior Cup runners-up.
Senior player Gavin Nullatamby took charge for Bugbrooke’s defeat by Blackstones on 19th March before under 18 manager Jon Inwood was handed the reins for the rest of the season.
Inwood was a prominent striker around the league in the 1990s and he has also managed the Northamptonshire FA Under 18 side for the last three years. He also briefly managed Woodford in their last season in the Southern League.
An eve of deadline recruit for the Badgers was Sileby utility man Joe Handley.
Potton assistant departs
Assistant manager Rob Steele has left Potton due to family commitments leaving manager Darren Staniforth without a right hand man for now.
Injuries to key players have left the Royals struggling to keep the promotion chasers in their sights, while striker George Kiely has also been absent while completing a four match suspension.
Burton Park chairman to step down
Burton Park chairman Stewart Glendenning is to step down from his post at the end of the season. He returned for a second spell in the role in the summer of 2014 but has now been forced to step aside following a change of employment.
On the field recent additions to the Burton squad are two former Rothwell Corinthians players, midfielder Jake Bindley and striker Ian Hay, while another midfielder Joe Baldwin has arrived at Latimer Park from Harborough.