WEEKLY BULLETIN – 8TH DECEMBER

FIXTURES

• Saturday 9th December There is no fixture and the players will have a training session.
• Monday 11th December Home to Leiston League kick-off 7.45pm. Tickets must be purchased online.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

LEAMINGTON

Last week saw us suffer defeat at the hands of our old rivals Leamington, losing 2-1 on a very cold day. I would like to thank our volunteer ground staff for working tirelessly to make sure the pitch was playable and making sure the game went ahead and I am only sorry we couldn’t get any points for you.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get going in the first half and were off the pace as Leamington won both first and second balls. We did have some good passages of play but did not really test their keeper and we did suffer a blow when Finley Wilkinson got injured and had to be replaced.

They are a very good side, packed with players with a lot of experience at a high level of football and deserved their 1-0 lead at half-time.

We didn’t start the second half particularly well and suffered a couple more setbacks as we conceded a second goal and Kavan Cotter had to come off with an injury to his ankle.

Whether the second goal conceded acted as a wake-up call or the players just thought they had nothing to lose, I don’t know but we certainly raised our game and played some excellent football resulting in a goal to get us back in the match.

We dominated the play from this point onwards and nearly got out of jail with an equaliser, but it was a case of too little too late and we had to accept we had been beaten by the better team on the day.

There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves, we need a reaction starting on Monday.

ST ALBANS CITY

We exited the Herts County Charity cup on Tuesday when we lost 2-0l to a good St Albans City team. We gave a good account of ourselves against a team in the League above us and I was pleased with a lot of positives that came out of the match.

Jack Snelus started a match for the first time since October and completed 90 minutes, John Freeman, Arnie Matshazi, and Dan Emovon continued to get minutes under their belt as they approach full match fitness and finally it was a good experience for our youngsters Dempsey Thomas, Chris Khoo, Henry Silver and Joel Jolly to play in a competitive 1st team fixture.

LEISTON

On Monday we play Leiston who have had a slow start to the season in the League after their fantastic season last year which saw them reach the Play-off’s. However, they look as though they have turned a corner and are on the march up the table.

We will be looking to improve our form at home, having lost the last two fixtures against Stamford and Leamington and we really need to start on Monday to remain in the promotion mix and further away from the relegation zone.

I am hopeful that it will be an entertaining match as both teams try to play an attractive passing game, and everyone enjoys the evening.

I am looking forward to catching up with some of my old mates and ex Canaries at the game as Trevor ‘Nosey’ Parker visits Top Field from his home in the USA. Tony Luff, Ian Lindsay and Alan Cosby are all set to meet up with Nosey and reminisce over old times.

MARK BURKE

CHRISTMAS PARTY
Despite the disappointment of losing to Leamington, most of the squad and Management team were able to attend the Annual Christmas Party which saw us go the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park.

MERCHANDISE UPDATE BY PAUL SPRAGUE AND CHRIS NEWBOLD
The club shop will be open this Saturday (9th December) from 10.00-13.00 if you would like the chance to come down outside of our normal matchday opening hours. As well as our range of clothing items, such as replica shirts and hoodies, we also have a great range of stocking filler items including:

• Squad Magnets – choose your favourite player £4
• 2024 Calendars £10
• A2 Squad Posters £7.50

ONLINE SALES AND ORDERING
For those of you who may wish to purchase our range of merchandise online, please note that in order for us to be able to pack the orders and dispatch them from the Post Office by their deadline date for them to ensure delivery for Christmas, it is important that you order anything you need by Friday 15th December. Anything ordered after this date we will do our level best to pack and dispatch as soon as we possibly can, but there will be no guarantee that it will arrive in time for Christmas.

So please don’t delay and order as soon as you can.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Tuesday 5th December we had the following players involved in the first teams charity cup semi final away to step 2 St Albans City. Joel Jolly and Henry Silver both made their competitive debuts while Chris Khoo got some more minutes on top of the league action he has already played against Mickleover and Kettering.

Head coach Stephen Gleeson “We are delighted that our academy players are getting valuable experience with the first team. We are also pleased that Chris Khoo and Henry Silver have been getting minutes for Eynesbury Rovers at Step 5 when they are not involved with our first team, which is only going to help their development.”

On Wednesday 6th December we hosted Bedford Academy. The final score ended in a 5-2 victory with goals coming from Henry Silver, Jack Hare and a hatrick from Carter Fenn.

We have one more week left before we break up for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS QUIZ REPORT BY MICK DOCKING
As Thursday Night loomed, it was cold, damp and just the sort of evening that, I feared, could dissuade otherwise enthusiastic quizzers from venturing out. I was wrong and pleased that I was, since a healthy throng of contestants had soon filed into the hall. In particular it was great to see the entire First Team squad and Coaching Staff present themselves. Josh “Egghead” Bickerstaff had clearly been conducting tutorials at the Arena and was anticipating a top three finish from his charges.

The Players’ teams were supplemented by some of our ever presents – Top Banana, Green Side Up (the Ground staff) and newcomers from St Marks and the Save the Plough*, plus many more. All in all, a good turnout.

As well as having a bit of fun, the Quiz was focused on raising some funds for our chosen Charities and thanks to the efforts of everyone the evening raised around £ 465, which has now been added into this season’s charities fund.

Although the winners and losers are secondary, a mention must be made of the successful team from Ickleford who pipped one of the Ground staff teams in a tie break. Congratulations to all the winners.

The traditional wooden spoon award was won by the eponymous team “Is Brad Bell a PT?” Brad was delighted to receive his Santa mugs on behalf of his team, although the question raised by his team name remains unanswered.

The evening would have been impossible without the support of L & R Contracts who supplied the nibbles, our raffle sponsors – Keith Jones, Liams Butchers, The Three Moorhens, David Tudball, Pete Else and others. David Tudball did a great job selling the raffle tickets and Roy as ever was handling the cash and keeping the scores. Andy Denniss provided the music round and Pete Else the pictorial table rounds – thanks chaps. Most of all I thank everyone who turned up to support. THANKS.

Next Year, if we make it, it will be called the Anything but Xmas Quiz and I promise to make the questions easier for all those who thought it was hard and harder for all those who found it too easy.

Cheers
MICK

*The Plough Ley Green is the latest rural pub threatened by closure and re-development, in much the same way as The Windmill Charlton. If like me you are keen to preserve for future generations delightful, backwater pubs like this, why not join their campaign via SAVE THE PLOUGH@ KINGS WALDEN Facebook page.

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE TABLE
We are currently seventh in the average attendance league table. Many thanks for your continued support.

• 1 AFC Telford United 1,112
• 2 Halesowen Town 927
• 3 Stourbridge 829
• 4 Bromsgrove Sporting 700
• 5 Kettering Town 677
• 6 Stratford Town 537
• 7 Hitchin Town 530
• 8 Leamington 507
• 9 Nuneaton Borough 502
• 10 Stamford 483
• 11 Redditch United 449
• 12 Coalville Town 425
• 13 Mickleover 362
• 14 Royston Town 313
• 15 Barwell 303
• 16 Alvechurch 300
• 17 AFC Sudbury 296
• 18 Long Eaton United 274
• 19 St Ives Town 261
• 20 Needham Market 259
• 21 Berkhamsted 247
• 22 Leiston 197

BY ROY IZZARD