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: uclwendy@btconnect.com
web site: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=1625657
Newsline telephone 09066 555 885
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 1
George Whiting
The end of the 2014-15 season has been overshadowed by the sudden death of league vice
chairman George Whiting on Friday 8th May at the age of 69.
George had a lengthy involvement with UCL football at both club and league level. He was secretary
of Higham Town from 1975 to 1981 before moving on to Irthlingborough Diamonds where he built a
well deserved reputation as one of the league’s finest administrators in a twelve year spell as
secretary prior to the club’s merger with Rushden Town to form Rushden & Diamonds in 1993.
George first joined the league management committee in 1978 serving for three years. He returned
to the committee for a second spell in 1984, remaining involved until his untimely death.
His first spell as vice chairman lasted from 1991 to 1994 when he was right hand man to Terry Bates.
He returned to the role for a second spell in 2003, working alongside John Weeks.
Among George’s responsibilities as vice chairman was that of performing post match speeches and
introductions prior to end of season presentations and in the current campaign he had been
involved in such ceremonies for many of the season’s winners and runners-up. George was also
heavily involved in the organisation of the league’s cup finals. His last official UCL duties saw him
busy at Yaxley on the May Bank Holiday, firstly manning the main gate and then making the post
match speech and presentation of trophies and medals to the players and match officials.
George will be remembered as a valued friend and colleague by many people with an involvement in
UCL football.
Our condolences go to George’s widow Pam and daughters Sharon and Tracey at this sad time
.
A memorial service for George will take place on Thursday 4th June at St Mary’s Church, Higham
Ferrers. The service will commence at 2 p.m.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 2
Southern Central the Diamonds destination
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have been promoted to Division One Central of the Southern League for
season 2015-16 following their Premier Division championship success.
Diamonds wrapped up the league title on 14th April with a 4-1 win at Sileby. Two goals apiece from
Scott Joseph and Matt Gearing saw them to victory and in their closing games they extended their
unbeaten run to 17 matches, fourteen of them victories. In their final league match Diamonds
preserved their unbeaten home record with a 3-3 draw against Cogenhoe, Matt Gearing’s late strike
keeping the Dog & Duck record intact.
The race for second place proved closely contested between two of the competition’s newest
member clubs, with first season side Thurnby edging out a Wisbech side in their second season in
the league. Points dropped at home to Peterborough Northern Star and at Cogenhoe proved costly
for the Fenmen and Nirvana claimed the runners-up medals after rounding off their first UCL season
with a 3-1 last match win at Eynesbury with two free kicks from the division’s leading scorer Liam
Canavan and a late Pearson Mwanyongo clincher.
Long Buckby looked likely bottom markers for most of the season and finished nine points adrift
despite collecting seven points from their last three games. Harborough’s late season improvement
saw them beaten just once in their last eight matches, but they were unable to escape the second
relegation place. However, in the absence of a relegated club from step 4 joining the league they
were reprieved from the drop. Sileby’s late season recruit Michael Byrne’s goals inched the Fernie
Fields club to safety.
Spencer head back to the top flight
Northampton Spencer are on the way back to the Premier Division after three years in the lower
grade. The Millers clinched the Division One crown by beating local rivals ON Chenecks 2-0 at
Kingsthorpe Mill on Easter Monday. Ryan Lovell netted in each half to see Spencer over the line.
The race for the runners-up medals proved compelling with one point separating the clubs placed
second to fourth in the final table. Rothwell Corinthians sealed second in their penultimate match,
beating Irchester 3-0 at Sergeant’s Lawn with Chris Clarke, Ryan Goodband and Dom Page sharing
the goals. Potton had to settle for third place despite ending the season with an eleven match
unbeaten run, with Lutterworth Athletic, who topped the table for most of the first half of the
season, trailing the Royals on goal difference.
At the foot of the table Stewarts & Lloyds failed to break their duck with their 38 matches yielding
just a single point. Following a series of points deductions for rule breaches St Neots Saints occupied
the second re-election place.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 3
Bugbrooke win Reserve Division
An enthralling Reserve Division season ended with Bugbrooke crowned champions with a game to
spare.
The Badgers picked up 28 points from their last eleven games to take the title, which was secured on
18th April with a 4-0 home win over Potton. Danny Duggan, Charlie Hynam, Ty Clark and Dan Powell
were the marksmen as Chris Brown’s men claimed the crown.
With a game to go ON Chenecks were a point clear of fast finishing Northampton Spencer in the race
for runners-up, and Chenecks sealed second with a 3-0 win at Irchester while Spencer were being
held by Harborough. James Lister, Josh Dawson and Andy Ranft were on target in the Chenecks win
at Alfred Street.
Milton Keynes College the inaugural Under 21 champions
Milton Keynes College have become the first champions of the league’s new Under 21 Division. They
clinched the title on 18th April, beating nearest challengers Kettering 3-0 with Alfie Leadbetter, Kevin
Osei-Addo and Kyron Walsh sharing the goals.
The Poppies bounced back a week later, winning 5-2 at Histon to clinch the runners-up medals with
two goals from Silvano Obeng and one apiece from Branko Djujic, Adam Moussi and Ryan Archer.
Status prevails as Diamonds complete double
AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ final match as a United Counties League club saw them become the first
club since Rothwell Town in 1993 to complete the domestic double of Premier Division and League
Knockout Cup.
Underdogs Potton, bidding to become the first Division One winners of the trophy since it went
‘open’ in 1981, competed well in the first half and were unfortunate to trail at the break as Matt
Gearing’s 44th minute corner from the left went straight in.
On resumption Diamonds took a stranglehold on the tie, doubling their advantage just 17 seconds
after the restart as Tom Lorraine steered home Gearing’s through ball via the foot of the post.
The outcome was settled two minutes before the hour mark, Scott Joseph netting from close range
after Lorraine’s header came back off keeper Craig Lewis.
The Royals had Joe Aris dismissed with just a minute remaining.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 4
Final anti-climax for Star
Peterborough Northern Star’s first Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup final ended in anti-climax as
they were beaten 4-1 at Sixfields by a Brackley side largely made up of development team players.
A hat trick from the Saints’ most experienced campaigner Will Green proved decisive on an evening
which saw Star create – and squander – chances aplenty.
Green’s 29th minute goal had Brackley ahead at the interval. Luke Avis, on as a substitute, scored a
spectacular 49th minute leveller for Star, but within a minute Green had regained the lead for the
Saints.
Green completed his hat trick with seven minutes remaining and Tom Kalugin had the last word
three minutes later.
Cuckoos well beaten in final
Yaxley’s season came to a low key end as they were beaten 3-0 by Godmanchester in the
Huntingdonshire Senior Cup final at Huntingdon. A hat trick by Tom Meecham after 5, 40 and 57
minutes gave Goddy revenge for their earlier Vase drubbing by the Cuckoos.
Bizarrely Yaxley had reached the final without kicking a ball after a quarter final bye and semi final
walkover after St Neots Town’s withdrawal from the competition.
Chenecks retain Junior Cup
The Northampton Spencer first team were unable to emulate their reserves by winning county
silverware as holders ON Chenecks ran out 1-0 Northants Junior Cup winners in front of a Sixfields
crowd around the seven hundred mark.
A 65th minute header past his own goalkeeper from Spencer defender Alex Lowery proved decisive
as Chenecks carried off the trophy for the second successive season.
Mixed cup final fortunes for Badgers
The Bugbrooke second string had mixed fortunes in their two late season cup finals.
After winning the Reserve Division title they completed a domestic double by beating ON Chenecks
3-1 in the Reserve Knockout Cup final at Cogenhoe. Ray Hackett’s 17th minute Badgers opener was
cancelled out seven minutes before the break by a leveller from Ryan Charles-Comery. On
resumption Bugbrooke regained the initiative through Pete Smith after 52 minutes and two minutes
later Hackett’s second sealed the win.
Northampton Spencer Reserves spoiled Bugbrooke’s bid for a treble as they beat them 5-4 on
penalties to win the Northamptonshire Lower Junior Cup final after a 1-1 Communications Park final
draw. Jordan Richards gave the Millers a 14th minute lead with Danny Duggan equalising for
Bugbrooke a minute before half time.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 5
Star take Hinchingbrooke Cup
Peterborough Northern Star bounced back from their county cup final defeat as they carried off the
Hinchingbrooke Cup, beating Premier Division rivals Deeping in the final at Huntingdon.
A goal in each half from Phil Stebbing gave Star their first silverware in five years, with a late Jordan
Avis goal a mere consolation for Rangers.
Nurserymen well beaten in Buckingham Charity Cup
Olney’s bid for glory in the Buckingham Charity Cup came to grief in the final on the May Bank
Holiday as hosts Buckingham Athletic ran out 6-2 winners on their own Stratford Fields ground.
After conceding twice in the opening quarter of an hour the Nurserymen fought back with goals
from Danny Webb and Aaron Murrell levelling before half time.
A nightmare second half saw Olney concede four more goals and go down to ten men when Jamie
Burrows was dismissed for a second caution.
End of season league awards
The league’s last management committee meeting of the season saw a number of the league’s
annual awards decided.
Fair play awards for the clubs with the best disciplinary records went to the Bugbrooke St Michaels
senior side and Harborough Town reserve side, with the Badgers awarded the £100 prize money for
the best overall record.
Hospitality winners were Oadby Town who topped the referee marks and Sileby Rangers who
received the best marks from clubs, with Potton United the recipients of the £100 cheque for the
best overall markings.
Potton United also receive the Respect Award based upon referee markings.
Whitworth were adjudged to have the best matchday programme from entries submitted for the
Programme of the Year competition.
The Baker Perkins Trophy awarded to the club with the Highest Aggregate of Goals went to
Northampton Spencer whose tally of 123 league goals was matched by Thurnby Nirvana, the Millers
achieving the total in two less matches.
After leading AFC Rushden & Diamonds to the double of Premier Division title and League Knockout
Cup, Andy Peaks was chosen as Manager of the Year.
Knockout Cup final referee Martyn Gospel from Daventry was named as Referee of the Year.
John Davies, chairman and secretary of Stewarts & Lloyds, was named as Administrator of the Year.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 6
Wright takes the Doughboys reins
Wellingborough have appointed Jamie Wright as manager to succeed the Steve Herring and Joe
Smyth partnership.
Wright started out as a Doughboys under 18 player and has previous involvement on the managerial
side as assistant to Craig Adams. He followed Adams to Bedford Town but returned to the Dog &
Duck as a player in November before being sidelined for the season by an injury suffered at Sleaford
just before Christmas.
Colin Cooper has arrived from Bugbrooke to assist Wright. He enjoyed great success as Cogenhoe
reserve manager winning back to back championships before his move to Birds Close last summer.
The club will field a side in the league’s under 21 division next season. Home matches will be played
at Bozeat with Steve Whitney and Steve Osler running the side.
Sambrook steps up at Cogenhoe
One of the most surprising of end of season managerial changes took place at Cogenhoe where Andy
Marks stepped down for personal reasons, having enjoyed a near five year stint at the Compton Park
helm since taking over from Darren Collins in July 2010.
The Cooks have promoted from within, with Anton Sambrook, who arrived last summer to replace
Paul Lamb in the management team, stepping up to the top job. He has previously been assistant
manager at Banbury and coach at Bedworth.
Sambrook wil be assisted by Nick Verity, who was a mid season addition to the Cooks’ management
team. He has previously managed Bugbrooke and Sileby and was assistant manager at
Wellingborough.
Poachers appoint Angel
Boston Town have appointed Mark Angel as manager after Lori Borbely opted to concentrate on
playing after a three month spell as caretaker boss at the end of the season.
39 year old Angel started his career with Sunderland but failed to make an appearance in the first
team. He subsequently played in the Football League for Oxford, West Bromwich and Boston United.
He is a UEFA A Licence coach and runs Arsenal soccer schools in North Cambridgeshire and South
Lincolnshire.
Angel will be assisted by Daryl Clare, who was a team mate in the Boston United side which won
promotion to the Football League. Clare has previously managed Louth in the Northern Counties
East League and has assisted both Nathan Collins and Borbely at the DWB Stadium.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 7
Genovese and Hayes confirmed as Star joint bosses
Peterborough Northern Star have confirmed Dom Genovese and Seb Hayes as joint managers for
next season. The duo had been in caretaker charge since Star parted company with Darren Jarvis and
Michael Goode in February.
Genovese, a former Peterborough United player, has managed both Holbeach and Blackstones in
the UCL and was briefly manager of Kettering in the Ryman League. He runs the Star academy and
has been the club’s director of football for the last couple of years. Hayes had held a number of
managerial roles in local football, most notably at Huntingdon, who he led to the Premier Division
runners-up medals and two cups last season. He left Jubilee Park in January this year.
Korkmaz calls time on second Deeping reign
Work commitments have seen Deeping manager Tuncay Korkmaz step down as Outgang Road chief
for a second time. Korkmaz initially took the Rangers reins in the summer of 2006 and enjoyed
instant success with Deeping winning their first Premier title in his first season in charge. His first
spell at the helm ended in 2009 but after a season with Stamford he returned to Outgang Road in
October 2010.
Taking charge at the Haydon Whitham Stadium is Michael Goode, who enjoyed a lengthy spell with
Deeping as a player, also taking on coaching duties as Rangers enjoyed title success in 2007. He comanaged Blackstones for two and a half years before moving on to a similar role at Peterborough
Northern Star which ended in February.
Former Star defender Jack Marsden will be Goode’s right hand man while coach Martin Bond
continues in the Rangers management team.
Sleaford legend Ward takes charge
Sleaford have appointed Greens legend Paul Ward as their new manager. The 49 year old make 519
appearances for the club between 1988 and 2012 and also had a spell as assistant to long serving
manager Brian Rowland.
Ward numbers Lincoln United, Grantham and Boston Town among other clubs played for in a career
which started as a junior with Lincoln City.
The club has arranged a fund raising match for former manager Kris Jones, who was hospitalised
with life threatening injuries in a road accident on the eve of the 2014-15 season. Kris has made
gradual progress on the road to recovery over the last ten months and it is anticipated that he will
be able to return home at the end of June.
On 4th July two teams comprising players who played with and for Kris will meet at Eslaforde Park.
Brian Rowland and Steve Garfoot will manage Kris’s select team against a UCL select managed by
well known local football personalities Darren Munton and Graham Drury, both of whom have given
Kris and the family great support through this difficult time. Kick off will be 1 p.m. and admission will
be by donation with all monies raised going to Kris and his family.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 8
Young in Sileby departure
Sileby are searching for a new manager following Daren Young’s decision to step down at Fernie
Fields. The widely travelled boss has decided to vacate his post after embarking on a new business
venture which will take up more of his time.
Young took the Fernie Fields reins from Scott Goodwin in November 2013 and has preserved the
club’s top flight status during each of the last two campaigns.
Bees duo to continue
Harborough Town’s managerial duo of Nick Pollard and Chris Church will continue at the Bees’ helm
in the 2015-16 season after generating an upturn in fortunes towards the end of the season.
The pair took the Harborough reins at the end of February and guided their young side to a run of
just one defeat in the season’s last eight games.
Backroom reshuffle for Cuckoos
Yaxley have had a change to their backroom staff with assistant manager and defender Andy
Coleman retiring from the game. Replacing him in the management team is another senior player in
locally based Andy Furnell. The one time Peterborough United starlet will be Brett Whaley’s right
hand man in the season ahead.
Yaxley had added a new physio to the staff at In2Itive Park with Pete Foskett making the move from
Peterborough Sports.
Oadby mourn president
There is some sad news to report from Oadby Town with the recent death of club president Ken
Farrant at the age of 63.
Ken had only recently been re-elected to the post of president. He had an 18 year involvement with
the Poachers holding the secretary’s role for many years and also serving as a committee man and
director.
Ken was a great sports enthusiast supporting Leicestershire County Cricket Club and enjoying tours
with the British & Irish Lions rugby team. He also hosted the media at Leicester Tigers press
conferences held at Freeways Park, just across the road from the Tigers’ training ground.
Ken’s funeral will take place at Gilroes Crematorium, Groby Road, Leicester on Friday 5th June at 1.30
p.m.
The Poachers have had a change of chairman with Mick Duffy stepping down to be replaced by Steve
Tetlow.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 9
End of an era for Thurnby
An era ended on 18th April when Thurnby Nirvana played their final match at Dakyn Road before
their switch to a new ground at Gleneagles Avenue.
The Leicestershire club signed off with a victory as a Matt Melbourne penalty and Will Gonga winner
saw off Deeping 2-1.
The final match on the ground was attended by the Lord Mayor of Leicester who made a
presentation to club co founder Pat Darby who is retiring from the club.
With the club moving away from Thurnby the club has applied to the Leicestershire FA to change
name to Leicester Nirvana for the 2015-16 campaign.
Nirvana midfielder and Premier Division leading scorer Liam Canavan had a trial period with Notts
County late in the season.
McIlwain takes the Cromwellians chair
Former mayor of Huntingdon Doug McIlwain has been unveiled as the new chairman of Huntingdon
Town. He is the uncle of one of the Cromwellians’ coaching staff Mark McIlwain.
Outgoing chairman Paul Hunt has left Jubilee Park after a four year spell in office which has seen the
club enjoy the most successful period in its history.
Tidswell takes dual role with Tigers
Andy Tidswell has taken a dual role with Holbeach for the season ahead. The striker, who was part of
the club’s 2012-13 championship winning team before helping neighbours Spalding United to the
crown twelve months later, has been handed a player coach role by Holbeach manager Darren
Jarvis.
Tidswell finished joint top of the Premier scorecharts in the 2013-14 campaign and rejoined the
Tigers in February.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 10
Stones hand Gadsby the reins
Phil Gadsby has been appointed the new manager of Blackstones following the end of season
resignation of Neil Cotton who failed to record a win in his 22 matches in charge after taking over
from Nick Andersen in November.
Gadsby, who at 29 will become one of the league’s youngest bosses, has spent the last two years at
the helm of Langtoft in the Peterborough League. In his first season in charge he guided them to
promotion from Division One and in his second secured a top seven finish in the Premier Division.
Talal Karama will assist Gadsby at Lincoln Road with Andy Sharp taking a coaching role.
Blackstones enjoyed a successful fund raising day on 17th May as over 200 spectators attended the
match at Lincoln Road between a Stones Select made up largely of past players and the Leicester
City Legends team.
Knockout Cup winning manager Mel Landin took charge of the Stones side which was skippered by
club appearance record holder Trevor Smith, while best known names in the Foxes side were Steve
Walsh, Julian Joachim and Ian Marshall. The Leicester side also included Rendall Munroe, the former
European and Commonwealth bantamweight boxing champion who is a reserve team player with
Thurnby Nirvana! The Stones side ran out 4-1 winners.
After the match Steve Walsh carried out a book signing while the raffle for a signed Leicester City
shirt raised over £180 for the Seb Goold trust which supports a local youngster who lost part of his
leg after falling from a bus.
Brown steps up for a second time at Bugbrooke
Chris Brown has swapped his second stint as Bugbrooke reserve team manager for his second spell
in charge of the senior side. He managed the first team from February to April 2014 before
embarking on a second and hugely successful spell as reserve manager last summer.
After leading the Badgers to the double of Reserve Division title and Reserve Knockout Cup he now
returns to the senior helm succeeding Wellingborough bound Colin Cooper.
Club stalwart Glen Moore will continue to assist Brown.
The reserve vacancy has been filled internally too with Under 18 management Steve Reeve and one
time first team chief Paul Field stepping up to take charge of the second string
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 11
Raunds make changes to management teams
Raunds have undergone a number of changes to their management teams for the 2015-16 season.
Scott Manning is stepping down as joint manager of the senior side but will continue as a player. His
exit from the dugout leaves Jim Le Masurier in sole charge and he will be assisted by Simon Stewart.
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham defender has previous managerial experience with
Spalding, Thrapston and Rushden & Higham. Also joining the first team set up is goalkeeper coach
Garry Halsey who has previous experience at AFC Wimbledon.
In the reserves Lee Dorrington will have a dual role as player and assistant to manager Jon Shanks.
Another new face at Kiln Park is groundsman Mark Panter who has previously worked on the ground
staff at Nene Park and Kenilworth Road.
New management appointed at Stewarts & Lloyds
2014-15 Division One bottom markers Stewarts & Lloyds have appointed a new management team
for next season.
Taking over at Occupation Road are Corby Eagles pair Harbans Basra and John Cairns who led Eagles
to the Northants Combination title in the season just ended.
Basra was instrumental in the founding of the Eagles club and has led them to spectacular success
winning a series of promotions from the bottom division of the Northants Combination to the
Premier. The club has won the Second, First and Premier Divisions in successive seasons.
Cairns played for Rothwell Corinthians, Cottingham, Bourne and Corby Town before joining Eagles as
a player. After retiring with a knee injury he joined Basra in the management team three seasons
ago.
Sports announce managerial reshuffle
Peterborough Sports have announced a managerial reshuffle for the 2015-16 season.
Chris Plummer, in charge since February 2014, is stepping down as co-manager due to business
commitments, but will take up the role of assistant manager. Jimmy Dean, a mid season arrival as
co-boss, will now be in charge and also plans to revive his playing career.
Completing the new look management team at Lincoln Road is Dan Ruscillo, who will have a dual
role as coach and physio, having held the latter position at St Ives.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 12
Munton in managerial return
Bourne co-chairman Darren Munton is making a comeback in the dugout by taking the reserve team
reins for the 2015-16 campaign following the departure of John Ball and Dave Panton after two
years at the helm.
It will be the Bourne legend’s fourth spell in management at the Abbey Lawn, his previous spell at
the reserve helm sandwiched by two stints as first team boss.
Burton’s immediate Latimer Park future secured
Burton Park Wanderers and ground sharers Kettering Town have recently issued a joint statement
concerning their futures at Latimer Park.
Kettering Town have reached an agreement with the head lease holder of Latimer Park to secure use
of the site for both clubs for the forthcoming season. This will allow for negotiations for a longer
term solution for both clubs to remain at Latimer Park to continue.
The limited company set up by Burton Park to run and manage the clubhouse will cease to trade on
31st May 2015. This has no impact on any of the teams playing under the Burton Park Wanderers
banner but does impact on the management of the site. Kettering Town will take up the
management of the facility enabling both clubs to focus on preparing for the upcoming season.
Beaman steps down at Irchester
Dan Beaman has stepped down as manager of the Irchester second string.
He has run the Romans reserve side for five years, stepping into the role after his predecessor Paul
Hamblin was promoted to first team manager.
Senior players Rob Smith and Mark Walker will take the reserve reins next term.
The club’s new dressing rooms were used for the last two home matches of the 2014-15 campaign,
reserve encounters against Harborough and ON Chenecks.
Abbott takes Lankies role
Wayne Abbott has been appointed reserve team manager at Rushden & Higham.
Abbott has played for the Lankies and also both the two pre merger clubs Higham Town and
Rushden Rangers. He has appointed James Spendlove as his assistant.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 13
Thrapston enjoy Malta trip
There was an end of season taste of European football for Thrapston as a party from the club took a
trip to Malta to play local club Marsaskala on 16 May.
A double strike from Jack Wisniewski gave Town a 2-2 draw against hosts who finished sixth in the
Maltese Third Division in the season just concluded.
Welcome Oakham United
The Football Association has placed Peterborough & District League champions Oakham United in
Division One of the ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties League for the 2015-16 season.
United is a young club, formed by the merger of Peterborough League outfit Rutland Rangers and
Leicester & District League club Oakham Imperial as recently as 2011.
Oakham have just completed the most memorable season in their short history, winning the
Peterborough League Premier Division title with a haul of 76 points from 32 matches, following up
with a 5-0 win over Netherton in the final of the League Cup.
The Tractor Boys are managed by Wayne Oldaker who has previously been part of the backroom
staff at Blackstones and Peterborough Northern Star. He is assisted by Andy Bailey who was at one
time reserve boss at Deeping. Several of the Oakham squad also have previous UCL experience.
Oakham will become the first club from England’s smallest county Rutland to play in the league in its
120 year history!
Snippets
AFC Kempston are upgrading their floodlights over the summer and also expanding their portfolio of
teams, bringing Kempston Colts under their wing and adding an under 17 side….Under 18s boss John
Gregory will take charge of Desborough’s new under 21 team….Jason Lee has been named as
chairman of Harrowby as his predecessor Ian Weatherstone will spend much of his time in the
United States on business….Coach Lee Constable is leaving Long Buckby due to other
commitments….Wisbech mascot Fenny the Fenman participated in the Mascot Gold Cup at
Wetherby on 26th April, helping set a world record for the number of mascots taking part in such an
event.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 14
Under 21 Division set for expansion
The second season of Under 21 football in the UCL will see a significant expansion in the number of
teams with entries already received for eight new teams for 2015-16.
Inaugural members Kettering Town and Milton Keynes College have entered a second team apiece
for the new campaign while Desborough and Eynesbury have replaced their reserve teams with
Under 21 sides.
Premier Division clubs Wellingborough and Yaxley are also entering sides along with former member
clubs Daventry Town and Stamford.
The format of the Under 21 Division for 2015-16 will be finalised nearer the AGM as applications will
be taken up until 23rd June.
Just fourteen ever presents
A mere fourteen players ended the 2014-15 season with ever present appearance records for their
clubs in League and League Knockout Cup football.
The Premier Division produced only three maximum men in Yaxley goalkeeper Aaron Butcher (44
appearances), Cogenhoe multiple player of the year winner Damon Herbert (43) and Newport
Pagnell goal ace Dom Lawless (41).
Ever present players were more plentiful in Division One with eight playing every match. Knockout
Cup finalists Potton were the only club with a pair of ever presents, goalkeeper Craig Lewis and wide
man Jamie Berryman featuring in all 44 Royals matches.
Lutterworth Athletic front man Sam Young (42) and Olney winger Danny Webb (41) were next in
line, there were 40 appearances apiece for Bugbrooke top scorer Ryan Ansell and Whitworth
midfielder Jonny Hazell while Bourne skipper Aaron Jesson and champions Northampton Spencer
midfielder Luke Stone were also ever presents in their sides’ 39 match campaigns.
There were no ever present players in the Reserve Division but the new Under 21 Division had a trio
of ever present players, all with the first champions Milton Keynes College. Tom Bradbury, Alex
Dixon and Munashie Sundire all lined up in all 20 matches for the students.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 15
Thirty nine clubs seek FA places
The league could enjoy a best ever representation in Football Association competitions next season
with 39 of the current membership seeking places in the FA Cup and/or Vase.
In 2014-15 21 clubs competed in the FA Cup, twenty from the Premier Division, including now
promoted AFC Rushden & Diamonds, and Northampton Spencer from Division One. Only Eynesbury
from the top flight missed out, they are seeking a return for 2015-16 while additional Division One
clubs applying this time are Rothwell Corinthians, Potton, Lutterworth Athletic, Peterborough Sports,
Whitworth, Thrapston, Raunds, Bugbrooke, Rushden & Higham and Burton Park.
With places restricted for step 6 clubs some of the Division One aspirants will miss out on FA Cup
action next season.
Seven clubs have applied for places in the Vase only – Blackstones, Bourne, Buckingham, Irchester,
ON Chenecks, St Neots Saints and Woodford - while new addition to the lower grade Oakham are
also seeking a Vase place for the first time.
Only two Division One clubs have not applied for Vase entry, Olney and Stewarts & Lloyds.
Peaks and English take the final Manager of the Month accolades
The season’s last Manager of the Month awards, covering April and May, were won by Andy Peaks
of AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the Premier Division and Mick English of Lutterworth Athletic in
Division One.
Peaks was chosen for his second successive award after leading his side to two trophies. 13 points
from five matches saw Diamonds to the Premier Division title with eleven points to spare and they
rounded off the season by beating Potton 3-0 to lift the League Knockout Cup.
In Division One, Lutterworth just missed out on promotion despite collecting 13 points from five
unbeaten April matches, form which earned English his first award in UCL football.
Promotion for four referees
Four referees on the list for the East Midlands Pool which appoints to the Premier Division of the
UCL and the top flight of the Cambridgeshire League have been promoted to the national
contributory list for the 2015-16 campaign.
Our congratulations go to Wayne Bright, Robert Evans, Josh Few and Darren Knox on their moves up
the ladder.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
Player of the Year winners
AFC Kempston: Shane Bush (P), Martin Conway (S), Tom Guiney (M)
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Jack Ashton (P & S), Liam Dolman (M)
Cogenhoe: Damon Herbert (M, P & S)
Deeping: Danny Bircham (M), Dan Flack (P), Tom Smith (S)
Eynesbury: Alex Marsh (M), Jordan Nicholson (P & S)
Harborough: Glen Giles (P), Ben Williams (M)
Holbeach: Jamie Clarke (S & Social club), Gary King (P), Matt Warfield (M)
Long Buckby: Ryan Merrey (M), Michael Yeates (P & S)
Newport Pagnell: Dom Lawless (P), Adam Pryke (M)
Oadby: Mason Hirst (M), Elliott Taylor (joint S), Sam Taylor (P & joint S)
Sleaford: Seb Firman (P), Terry Fleming (S), Adam Underwood-Harley (M)
Thurnby: Liam Canavan (M & P)
Wellingborough: Jake Newman (P & S), Adam Randall (M)
Wisbech: Scott Johnson (M), Adam Millson (P & S)
Bourne: Henry Dunn (M & P), Aaron Jesson (S)
Buckingham: Mitch Brent (Committee & M), Dan Dyer (P)
Bugbrooke: Ryan Ansell (P), Danny Mortimer (M)
Burton PW: Liam Hanley (M & P), Mick Tolton (Board)
Irchester: Martin Brown (P), Lee Kew (M)
Lutterworth: Alec Hill (P), Josh Rapley (M)
Northampton Spencer: Ryan Dove (M), Ryan Lovell (S), Luke Stone (P)
Potton: Gary Ansell-Carter (M), Craig Lewis (P & S)
Raunds: Matty Harris (P), Karl King (M)
Rushden & Higham: Aaron Campion (M), Lewis O’Dell (P)
St Neots Saints: Dan Hobbs (Club)
Thrapston: Dan Bucciero (M & P), Jack Wisniewski (website)
Whitworth: Ryan Baxter (M), Deven Ellwood (P), Jonny Hazell (S)
Woodford: Dan Childs (M), Adam Creaney (P)
Key: M = manager’s; P = players’; S = supporters’
Cups round-up
League Knockout Cup
FINAL (at Yaxley)
Potton 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 3.
Reserve Knockout Cup
FINAL (at Cogenhoe)
ON Chenecks 1 Bugbrooke 3.
PAGE 16
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 17
Cups round-up - continued
Huntingdonshire Senior Cup
FINAL (at Huntingdon)
Godmanchester 3 YAXLEY 0.
Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup
FINAL (at Northampton Town)
Brackley 4 PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR 1.
Northamptonshire Junior Cup
FINAL (at Northampton Town)
NORTHAMPTON SPENCER 0 ON CHENECKS 1.
Northamptonshire Lower Junior Cup
FINAL (at Daventry)
NORTHAMPTON SPENCER RESERVES 1 BUGBROOKE RESERVES 1, Northampton Spencer won 5-4 on
penalties.
Buckingham Charity Cup
Semi Final
1st leg: OLNEY 1 BUCKINGHAM 2; 2nd leg: BUCKINGHAM 1 OLNEY 6. Olney won 7-3 on aggregate.
FINAL
Buckingham Athletic 6 OLNEY 2.
Hinchingbrooke Cup
Semi Final
PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR 2 YAXLEY 0.
FINAL (at Huntingdon)
DEEPING 1 PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR 2.
Ancaster Cup
Quarter Final
BOURNE RESERVES 1 Ryhall 7.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 18
Leading goalscorers
Premier Division
38 – Liam Canavan (Thurnby)
36 – Jake Newman (Wellingborough – including 2 for Oadby)
34 – Michael Byrne (Sileby – including 20 for Desborough), Dom Lawless (Newport Pagnell)
26 – Jordan Nicholson (Eynesbury)
25 – Jezz Goldson-Williams (Deeping – including 9 for Bourne)
24 – Lee Bassett (Eynesbury)
23 – Danny Beaumont (Wisbech), Matt Melbourne (Thurnby)
22 – Dan Cotton (Yaxley), Declan Rogers (AFC Rushden & Diamonds – including 14 for Huntingdon)
21 – Josh Ford (Wisbech), Lee Shaw (Harrowby), Tommy Treacher (Wisbech – including 3 for
Holbeach)
20 – Scott Coupland (Sleaford), Livo Dube (Holbeach)
19 – Ash Day (Thurnby), Phil Stebbing (Peterborough Northern Star)
18 – Tom Lorraine (AFC Rushden & Diamonds)
17 – Jason Crawley (Newport Pagnell)
16 – Jamie Clarke (Holbeach), Scott Joseph (AFC Rushden & Diamonds – including 3 for AFC
Kempston), Adam Scotcher (Deeping – including 14 for Blackstones)
15 – Shane Bush (AFC Kempston), Luke Emery (Cogenhoe), Ash Fuller (AFC Kempston – including 5
for Holbeach), Avelino Vieira (Peterborough Northern Star)
Division One
35 – Ryan Lovell (Northampton Spencer – including 7 for Irchester)
31 – Gary Ansell-Carter (Potton)
27 – Cavell Jarvis (Whitworth)
26 – Ryan Ansell (Bugbrooke), Deven Ellwood (Whitworth)
24 – Jordan Henson (Rothwell Corinthians), Danny Laywood (Lutterworth Athletic)
21 – Karl King (Raunds)
20 – Adam Hancock (ON Chenecks)
19 – Brad Janes (Bugbrooke), Jack Wisniewski (Thrapston), Sam Young (Lutterworth Athletic)
18 – Remy Brittain (Whitworth), Cameron Starsmore (Rothwell Corinthians)
17 – Dave Townsend (Raunds)
16 – Paul Pickering, Luke Stone (Northampton Spencer)
15 – Jamie Burrows (Olney), Leigh Chapman (Thrapston – including 3 for Burton PW), Dan Clements
(Peterborough Sports)
Reserve Division
26 – Jake Mason (Bourne)
24 – Pete Smith (Bugbrooke)
23 – Steve Rayner (Thrapston)
22 – Josh Dawson (ON Chenecks), Matt Old (Olney)
21 – Jack Nolan (Harborough)
20 – Morgan Littlejohn (Northampton Spencer)
17 – Franco Reina (ON Chenecks), Jordan Richards (Northampton Spencer)
16 – Ryan Charles-Comery, Andy Ranft (ON Chenecks), Zack Mills (Raunds)
15 – Conor Heaps (Eynesbury)
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 19
Leading goalscorers – continued
Under 21 Division
25 – Alex Dixon (MK College)
14 – Silvano Obeng (Kettering)
13 – Sean Coughlan (Football CV Reds)
12 – Nathaniel Ansu (AFC Rushden & Diamonds), Dom Morgillo (MK College)
10 – Alfie Leadbetter (MK College)
Byrne takes season’s final Goalscorer award
The winner of the 2014-15 season’s final Goalscorer of the Month award, covering April and May, is
Sileby front runner Michael Byrne.
Byrne, recruited from Desborough in February, enhanced his reputation as one of the league’s
leading marksmen with a haul of 14 goals in 13 games to help Rangers beat the drop. He plundered
eight goals in six matches in April, five of them on back to back Saturdays against high riding
Holbeach. He scored twice in a 3-1 home win on Easter Saturday and followed up with a point saving
hat trick at Carters Park seven days later. Byrne then closed the month with a double strike in a vital
3-1 win over Harrowby and a final game goal in a defeat by Wisbech.
Attendances review
The end of season attendances chart is again dominated by AFC Rushden & Diamonds who recorded
the highest average crowds of their three year stay in the league, 550. Diamonds are reported by the
Non League Matters website as the best supported club playing at step five during the 2014-15
season, and 50th best supported in the non-league game nationally.
10,992 spectators watched Diamonds’ home games at the Dog & Duck with the season’s biggest top
flight crowd the 930 who attended the showdown with title rivals Wisbech on 21st March.
Diamonds were the most popular Premier visitors drawing season’s best crowds to eighteen of their
rivals, only Boston Town and Peterborough Northern Star bucking the trend with highest
attendances drawn by the visits of Holbeach, the latter on the groundhop weekend.
Bizarrely Division One club Stewarts & Lloyds attracted the season’s highest and lowest
attendances. Their match against Rothwell Corinthians on 29th October was attended by 1,080 as the
Foundrymen paid tribute to ten year old junior player Thomas McNamee who had passed away a
few days previously. Non League Crowds twitter reports this as the season’s biggest step 6
attendance nationally during the season. An earlier S&L match against ON Chenecks had been
watched by just five spectators, the only single figure attendance in the league over the season.
65,052 people watched step 5 and 6 UCL action during the campaign, an average of 81.32. These
figures compare favourably with 2013-14 when 64,072 spectators watched at an average of 79.69
per game. The divisional breakdown was 46,534 in the Premier, an average of 111, and 18,518 in
Division One, an average of 49.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 298
MAY 2015
PAGE 20
Attendance statistics
Premier Division
AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Wisbech Town
Oadby Town
Holbeach United
Wellingborough Town
Newport Pagnell Town
Deeping Rangers
Yaxley
Peterborough Northern Star
Eynesbury Rovers
Sleaford Town
Desborough Town
AFC Kempston Rovers
Harborough Town
Northampton Sileby Rangers
Total
10,992
3,419
2,902
2,691
2,464
2,172
2,124
1,938
1,805
1,706
1,591
1,498
1,421
1,380
1,342
Ave 13-4
550 471
171 195
145 136
135 126
123 140
109 104
106 108
97
91
90
92
85
69
80 103
75
74
71
65
69
57
67
65
Highest
930 v Wisbech
341 v AFC Rushden & D.
389 v AFC Rushden & D.
490 v AFC Rushden & D.
649 v AFC Rushden & D.
316 v AFC Rushden & D.
310 v AFC Rushden & D.
280 v AFC Rushden & D.
357 v Holbeach
450 v AFC Rushden & D.
188 v AFC Rushden & D.
333 v AFC Rushden & D.
323 v AFC Rushden & D.
299 v AFC Rushden & D.
586 v AFC Rushden & D.
Lowest
311 v Harborough
100 v Sleaford
67 v L. Buckby/Wellingboro.
58 v Newport Pagnell
58 v Eynesbury
65 v Sileby
55 v Boston/Harrowby
50 v Sleaford
35 v Cogenhoe
34 v Newport Pagnell
50 v Cogenhoe/Yaxley
42 v Thurnby
43 v Desborough
32 v Deeping
24 v Boston/Harrowby/
Peterborough NS
Cogenhoe United
Huntingdon Town
Boston Town
1,292
1,270
1,244
65
64
62
82
84
78
320 v AFC Rushden & D.
329 v AFC Rushden & D.
140 v Holbeach
37 v Sileby
30 v Boston
Harrowby United
Thurnby Nirvana
Long Buckby
1,181
1,054
1,048
59
53
52
54
40
63
230 v AFC Rushden & D.
185 v AFC Rushden & D.
233 v AFC Rushden & D.
20 v Long Buckby
21 v Harborough
24 v Harrowby
Division One
Stewarts & Lloyds Corby
Rothwell Corinthians
Lutterworth Athletic
Peterborough Sports
Bourne Town
Olney Town
Northampton Spencer
Raunds Town
Potton United
Buckingham Town
Rushden & Higham United
Bugbrooke St Michaels
1,364
1,252
1,199
1,146
1.059
1,050
1,023
982
947
944
893
891
72
66
63
60
56
55
54
52
50
50
47
47
37
36
60
53
69
40
45
57
42
55
49
49
1,080 v Rothwell Cor.
212 v Irchester
110 v Blackstones
283 v Bugbrooke
90 v Blackstones
96 v Bourne
123 v ON Chenecks
105 v Thrapston
76 v Buckingham
76 v Stewarts & Lloyds
84 v Whitworth
88 v Woodford
5 v ON Chenecks
26 v Woodford
42 v Burton/Whitworth
30 v S&L/Woodford
32 v St Neots Saints
36 v Irchester
32 v Raunds
24 v Potton
27 v ON Chenecks
31 v Irchester
21 v Bugbrooke
799
792
765
761
717
693
666
575
42
42
40
40
38
36
35
30
42
32
44
42
62
35
64
31
200 v Lutterworth
163 v Raunds
97 v N’ton Spencer
62 v St Neots Saints
83 v Whitworth
72 v Whitworth
61 v Raunds
43 v Lutterworth
19 v Raunds
19 v Lutterworth
23 v Rushden & Higham
22 v Whitworth
16 v ON Chenecks
20 v Lutterworth
12 v ON Chenecks
19 v Olney
Wellingborough Whitworth
Thrapston Town
Northampton ON Chenecks
Blackstones
Burton Park Wanderers
Irchester United
St Neots Town Youth & Saints
Woodford United
40 v Desborough/Eynesbury/
Oadby/Sileby
30 v Burton/Potton/St
Neots Saints/Whitworth