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. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 1
League announce August ‘Groundhop’
The league has, in conjunction with the Peterborough & District League and Groundhop UK, announced its participation in an August ‘Groundhop’ over the first weekend of the month to start the 2014-15 season.
A provisional fixture schedule has already been drawn up and Deeping Rangers will start the event with an evening fixture on Friday 1st.
Yaxley and Peterborough Sports will stage matches on the Saturday along with Peterborough League pair Riverside and Netherton while Peterborough Northern Star will stage the first Sunday match before Peterborough League clubs Whittlesey United and Coates close the weekend.
Bumper Boxing Day gates
The Boxing Day programme saw best attendances recorded for the season in both the Premier and First Divisions.
The first league meeting of landlords Wellingborough Town and tenants AFC Rushden & Diamonds was watched by 851 spectators at the Dog & Duck as Diamonds ran out 4-1 winners. The season’s previous best top flight crowd was the 541 who watched Diamonds play Harborough on 5th October.
In Division One the historic first meeting of St Neots Saints and Eynesbury Rovers drew an attendance of 213 to the Cozy Stadium. This bettered the previous best attendance in the division, the 202 who watched Oadby take on Peterborough Sports at Freeways Park on 7th September.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 2
Spalding winning run halted by Diamonds
After setting a record seventeen match winning run from the start of a top flight season, Spalding’s sequence of victories came to an end in match number eighteen on 14th December as AFC Rushden & Diamonds won 2-1 at the Halley Stewart Field.
A Matt Gearing penalty and Richard Bunting effort ended the Tulips’ proud run with Jamie Stevens’ reply too late to be more than a consolation.
Wisbech’s record sequence of nineteen successive wins during the course of a season, set in 1949-50, remains in the record books.
Latest additions to the Spalding squad are Wisbech defender Jon Fairweather who made his Spalding debut in the League Knockout Cup win over Peterborough Northern Star, former Kings Lynn defender and skipper Ross Watson from Sudbury and 18 year old Lincoln City striker Jordan Thomas who joins the Tulips on a month long loan.
Over the holiday period the Tulips squad was pushed to the limits by the absences of Chris Hall and Sam Mullarkey through illness.
Byrne in holiday exit
Stewarts & Lloyds are looking for a new manager for the second time this season after Kevin Byrne stepped down from the post on Boxing Day. Byrne had only taken the reins in August a couple of weeks into the season, but had struggled to retain and attract players without a budget.
Reserve manager Sean Mason has been placed in caretaker charge at Occupation Road.
A recent addition to the squad is Thrapston front runner Ryan Gormley.
Changes aplenty for Sileby
Recently appointed Sileby manager Daren Young has been one of the league’s busiest managers in the closing weeks of 2013, bringing in a host of new faces at Fernie Fields to boost his side’s top flight survival prospects.
Young has recruited experienced Wellingborough midfielder Michael Boyle-Chong, ex-AFC Rushden & Diamonds duo, midfielder Elliott Dent and forward Lynval DaCosta and another ex-Diamond, front runner Lance Allen from Long Buckby.
Young has returned to former club Stewarts & Lloyds to snap up defender Danny Pownall, Newport Pagnell midfielder Sam Maude is another recent capture while Woodford front man Harry Beckley and the manager’s son Nicki, transferred from Deeping, complete the Rangers recruits.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 3
Harborough add experience
Harborough have made some significant additions to their squad in recent weeks as they look to climb off the foot of the Premier Division.
Best known signing is French born midfielder Patrick Noubissie. Capped by Cameroon at Under 23 and under 20 level, he has played in the Scottish Premier League for Hibernian and Dundee, and more recently was with Kettering.
Front runner Jon Mitchell enjoyed a scoring debut for the Bees after moving from Wellingborough, while defender Ben Williams was an ever present with Desborough last season.
Familiar faces rejoin Walnut Boys
AFC Kempston have brought a couple of familiar faces back to Hillgrounds in recent weeks.
Left back Jordan Jarrold has rejoined the Walnut Boys after signing for Bedford Town in the close season while wide man or forward Ash Farmer is back in the fold after a summer switch to the Eagles.
Also checking in at Hillgrounds are Newport Pagnell front runner Joel McCormick and midfielder Sam Johnson, a former Norwich City youngster who has also played for Gorleston, while defender Alex Stoyles has recently returned to action after recovering from a knee operation.
Moreman in Deeping exit
Goalscoring wide man Josh Moreman has left Deeping to join Southern League Kettering Town. He had scored thirteen goals in fifteen matches in the league since his early season return from Corby Town.
Kev Gilbert will be missing from the Rangers squad while attending training courses for the next three months while work commitments will restrict Lewis Stone’s availability and he will play at a lower level for Whittlesey on Saturdays.
Defender Stacy Cartwright is out with hamstring trouble while midfielder Harry Deane has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.
Simon Ashton made his return to action in the Boxing Day defeat at Spalding after a lengthy absence with a collapsed lung, while Mitch Griffiths has returned to the squad after a hamstring problem but now faces a ban after his dismissal at Spalding on Boxing Day.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 4
Henderson links up with Diamonds
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have snapped up former Coventry City defender or midfielder Joe Henderson who has been playing for Daventry in the Southern League this season. Henderson made one first team appearance for the Sky Blues.
Midfield man Richard Bunting has been sidelined by a calf strain suffered on his second appearance for Diamonds at Spalding.
Three new faces for Swans
Newport Pagnell have introduced some more new faces to their squad as they battle for Premier Division survival.
The Swans have brought in Bedford Town defender Paul Lyon and Cogenhoe front runner Darren Frost while a familiar face has returned to Willen Road, midfielder or forward Matt Broomes, who missed the first four months of the season with work commitments.
Two more captures for Poachers
Boston Town continue to strengthen their squad as they move closer to Premier Division safety.
The Poachers have now received international clearance for young striker Robbie Bryant. The former Grimsby Town man has an impressive goalscoring record in youth and reserve football with the Mariners and has been playing in Sweden for Sandvikens IF.
Also joining the Town squad is Brigg goalkeeper Rob Zander who made his debut at Cogenhoe in the final match of 2013.
Poachers midfielder Lori Borbely recently made his 300th appearance for the club in their win over AFC Rushden & Diamonds on 21st December.
Four new faces for Star
Peterborough Northern Star have added a sprinkling of new faces to their squad in recent weeks.
Left back Joe Hopewell has returned to Chestnut Avenue after a spell with Shepshed in the Midland Alliance, and has been joined by his brother Dean who has also been playing for the Leicestershire club.
Midfielder Derwayne Stupple, a member of last season’s title winning Holbeach side, has switched from Stotfold while young midfielder Salim Relazani has been recruited on dual registration from Conference North side Histon.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 5
Managerial change for Badgers
Bugbrooke have undergone a recent change of manager with Paul Field stepping down after the Badgers’ 5-0 home defeat by Bourne on December 14th – Bugbrooke’s 14th match without a win.
Field had taken the first team reins in the summer of 2012 after a successful spell at the reserve team helm.
Rejoining the club to take charge is Pete Smith, who was Field’s assistant at Birds Close last season. He has briefly been with Cogenhoe as a player in the current campaign.
Chris Brown, who spent most of the current season as Badgers’ reserve team boss, has returned to the fold to assist Smith with the seniors.
On field squad additions are Moulton front runner Ryan Ansell and another forward Niall Duffy who returns from a brief spell with Woodford.
The Badgers halted their losing run in Smith’s second game at the helm on Boxing Day, a spectacular strike from Olly Garafalo giving them a 2-1 verdict against Irchester.
Townsend takes the Reds’ reins
The latest man to take on the challenge of reviving Woodford’s fortunes is Marcus Townsend. The one time United goalkeeper takes over from Paul Adams and Uly Ashan who will continue in the backroom staff after taking charge of a couple of matches since Mitch Austin’s departure.
Townsend has been goalkeeper coach with Redditch and was first team coach at Southern Premier side Banbury last season.
Munton calls time on Wakes tenure
Darren Munton has called time on his second spell as Bourne manager, stepping down over the holiday period, although he will continue to take charge of the team on matchdays pending the appointment of his successor, and is expected to continue his involvement with the club behind the scenes.
Munton had taken charge at the Abbey Lawn for a second time in June 2010, replacing Martyn Lakin after the club’s demotion to Division One.
A committee meeting on 6th January will decide upon the suitability of applicants for interview.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 6
Flynn joins Stones backroom staff
Tommy Flynn has joined the Blackstones backroom staff. He was assistant manager of Peterborough Sports last season when they won promotion from the Peterborough League.
Stones’ eight match unbeaten run came to an end in their final match of 2013, a last minute penalty condemning them to a defeat at Raunds. With strike pair Addie Staffieri and Adam Scotcher plundering goals galore Stones had climbed well clear of the relegation battle.
Additions to the Stones squad are Netherton midfielder Luke Smith and defenders Mike Nolan from Thorney and Jason Dunn from Stilton, while goalkeeper Lee Crockett has returned from Peterborough Northern Star.
Buckingham busy
Buckingham manager Neil Griffiths has revamped his squad after some recent departures left his playing staff depleted.
Star capture at Manor Fields is former Scotland youth cap Lewis Hallford. The former Elgin City wide man joins from Cogenhoe after a brief spell at Compton Park. Another signing with a background in the pro game is former MK Dons midfielder Awadh Ahmed.
Also linking up with the Robins are AFC Kempston goalkeeper Joe Burdiak, Potton left back Luke Redhead, ex-Cranfield full back Maxwell Dunwell and Stony Stratford midfielder Jack Wing.
Oadby welcome back familiar faces
Division One title favourites Oadby have welcomed two familiar faces back into their squad in recent weeks.
Left sided defender or midfielder Callum Earls has returned to Freeways Park from a spell with Quorn in the Midland Alliance, while also back in the fold is goalkeeper Warren Butlin, who started last season as the Poachers’ first choice only to lose his place with a cruciate injury.
Also checking in at Freeways Park is Friar Lane & Epworth defender Kieron Neat.
New faces for Saints
St Neots Saints have added a couple of new faces to their squad in recent weeks.
UCL graduate Lewis Wilson, a former Newport Pagnell front runner who moved up to the pro game with Northampton Town, and later played for Kettering, has signed as has wide man Lovejoy Mafini who has been with Kidderminster.
Kye Andrews is back with the club after a trial period in Cyprus, while top scorer Kaine Felix has declined offers to move elsewhere in recent weeks.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 283 JANUARY 2014 PAGE 7
Lutterworth fly Division One flag
Recent action in the League Knockout Cup has seen league newcomers Lutterworth Athletic claim the scalp of higher grade Cogenhoe to reach the quarter finals of the competition. Athletic goalkeeper Ryan Tilley was his side’s hero, saving three shootout penalties to give his side a 3-2 spot kick win at Compton Park after the match proper finished 1-1, Liam Barrett cancelling out an early Courtney Herbert opener for the Cooks.
In the last eight Athletic will entertain Wellingborough who avoided a potential banana skin with a 2-1 home win over Northampton Spencer. Jason Turner’s double strike took the Doughboys through.
Holders Spalding are a round behind but were in fine form as they demolished Peterborough Northern Star at the Halley Stewart Field to set up a Second Round derby at home to Boston Town. Two Andy Tidswell goals and a Luke Hunnings own goal had the contest all but settled within seventeen minutes of the start and second half efforts from Sam Mullarkey and Dan Cotton completed a Tulips’ nap hand.
Diamonds and Fenmen prolong Vase interest
The league’s FA Vase interest will continue into the new year after AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Wisbech made Third Round progress on the national stage.
Diamonds improved on their run in their first venture last term, beating Graham St Prims 2-0 with Matt Gearing and Deven Ellwood scoring at the end of each half. The Fenmen went through 1-0 at Walsall Wood with Tom James scoring the vital goal a minute from the end.
Huntingdon’s best ever Vase run was halted in Cheshire though as they exited 2-1 at Congleton after taking a first half lead through a Ben Seymour-Shove strike from distance.