Holker Street Newsletter 1306 - 20th April 2004

The chances of Barrow finishing second in the League and being promoted received a massive boost last night when second placed side Droylsden were held to a 0-0 draw by Lancaster. This was all the more remarkable after Lancaster were held-up on the way to Droylsden when their coach broke down and this led to the game starting 15 minutes late. If Barrow can now win against Alfreton Town tonight we'll only be one point behind Droylsden going into the final game of the season (ironically a similar position to that we were in on the final day of our Conference season when we 'avoided relegation on League position').

This makes tonight’s final home League game of the season against Alfreton an absolutely huge game that must be won at all costs. Of course our former captain Mark Hume is now at Alfreton and no doubt he'll have given them a report about us ahead of tonight’s game which should be intriguing to say the least. A defeat would mean we can't finish in second place while a draw would still leave us three points behind Droylsden. Either way we must win both of our final games. Let’s hope that we are on form and can take everything that Hume and Co. can throw at us. This is undoubtedly the biggest game of the season so far and anyone you can get to go along should come as well due to the fact that Barrow MUST win. Everyone who's a Barrow fan should do their best to get to Holker Street tonight and get behind the lads.

Another factor that people have been pointing to is the Conference statement in which John Moules said we could go up as runners-up if the FA agreed. This is somewhat of a climb-down from him after the Conference told us we couldn't go up in second place earlier in the season. Let’s get back to the Conference and show them they can't keep Barrow down. The first step to that is a win tonight, come on Barrow.

Don't forget that this is Barrow’s final home game of the season and after the game the Player of the Season awards will be presented in the Cross Bar.

There has been a question asked about when the Barrow u18's game against Morecambe in the Northern Alliance U18 Cup Final is due to be played, in the programme for the home match against Blyth Spartans, it was said the game was due to be played on 14 April, but the programme had already gone to press when it was realised the game was to be played on Thursday April 22, thanks to Russell Dodd for clearing that one up. Jon Balm has also been in touch about this game adding that “As coach and co manager of the team we are very optimistic about this game. The Barrow AFC youth development academy is flourishing from U10 to U18, so we are trying to breed home grown talent to break through into the first team. There is a bright future at present for the local talent.

Kev Miles, the Alfreton Town PRO and website manager has been in touch before the game tonight, saying that as he works for a newspaper, he won’t be able to attend the game at Holker Street, but points out that Alfreton Town are on an eleven games unbeaten streak at the moment.

John Kenneth Hall has been in touch with regards to Shaun Tooze’s decision not to continue with his match reports for the Newsletter and the website: “Nice work: Shaun Tooze, BAFC's most informed steward. His reports will be missed, even by those of us who are at the games he writes about. Note to the editors of the Evening Mail, Advertiser and the Westmorland Gazette: employ this man!”

Finally, there is a rumour circulating on the Harrogate Town web site message board, that both Neil Campbell and Simon Bishop will be at Harrogate Town next season, I have tried to establish whether there is any truth in this, but haven’t been able to confirm it one way or another, but we should bear in mind some of the rumours which surfaced earlier in the season which had a number of Barrow players signing for Harrogate Town: Maxfield, Hume, Campbell, etc, but in the end turned out to have no basis. Whether this one turns out to be the same, we shall have to wait and see.


DROYLSDEN v LANCASTER REPORTS
From Kieran

Just got back from the Butchers Arms and how Droylsden never won the game I don't know! They had chance after chance, especially in the second half. Hitting the post, two cleared off the line and numerous other chances including one for Leroy Chambers that seemed easier to score! Having said that, Lancaster had two or three decent chances of their own including a great 25 yard drive that the keeper did well to tip round the post. And they deserve some credit for the way they battled and for the effort they put in you could argue that they deserved the point. I wasn’t disappointed with the draw but I had hoped Lancaster would win it leaving us with promotion in our own hands. And a chance they had near the end where the keeper dropped a cross right at the feet of the Lancaster number 8 (who seemed half asleep) could have made the result even better for us!

JUST A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE DROYLSDEN v LANCASTER CITY GAME
From Colin Moore

A well disciplined Lancaster side rode their luck a little tonight on Tameside but still deserved a hard earned point against an equally hardworking Droylsden side. Droylsden were unlucky not to score having a shot off the post and at least two shots tipped away by the busy Lancaster keeper. It was Lancaster though who up the pressure only to push on in the last few minutes of the game to nearly snatch a late winner with the Droylsden goal keeper having to tip a rasping shot over the bar. Both sides worked very hard and at times it was end to end stuff. I'm sure Lancaster will be very happy with a point but from the comments heard from the Droylsden fans I know they realise it's two vital points dropped. If Barrow win tomorrow at home to Alfreton Town, then we only need Droylsden to draw or lose and Barrow to win (or even a higher score draw than Droylsden) on Saturday to finish second. Roll on Alfreton...

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE DROYLSDEN GAME
From BAFC Timmy

Lancaster battled well tonight but didn’t really deserve the draw, Droylsden bombarded them with efforts on goal but just couldn’t find the net, thankfully, and that was with the dodgy Welsby in goal - Leroy Chambers missed a sitter from six yards and the Bloods hit the post around the 87th minute. Much praise has to go to Tony Sullivan of Lancaster who is getting at least five of the Barrow fans votes for man of the match, he never stopped all game and he and Droylsden’s Byrne had a good old tussle (remember Cammy and Aspin against Harrogate in the FA Trophy earlier this season?). Byrne was lucky to get away with not being shown at least a yellow card as he raised his arms and struck out at Sullivan. A much fitter Sullivan could have been a good addition to our squad! Well done, City - you did us a favour and made Droylsden drop some important points, just hope Whitby Town can do the same against Droylsden on Saturday, after we beat Alfreton. Here’s hoping!


FOOTYMAD'S ALFRETON TOWN MATCH PREVIEW
This week FootyMad's match preview focuses on the game between Barrow and Alfreton Town at 19.45 on Tuesday 20 April in the UniBond Premier.

History of the Barrow v Alfreton Town fixture: Barrow play host to Alfreton Town at Holker Street on Tuesday evening, aiming to preserve their record of never having lost at home to the visitors. The majority of those games have been won by the Bluebirds. The last time the two teams met at Barrow was back in November 1997, over five years ago, with Barrow running out comfortable 2-0 winners in a Northern Premier match.

Recent encounters between the teams:
2003/2004 Sat 8 Nov Alfreton Town 1-1 Barrow NPL
1997/1998 Sat 1 Nov Barrow 2-0 Alfreton Town NPL
1997/1998 Sat 27 Sep Alfreton Town 0-3 Barrow NPL
1996/1997 Sat 8 Mar Barrow 3-0 Alfreton Town NPL
1996/1997 Sat 22 Feb Alfreton Town 2-3 Barrow NPL
1969/1970 Mon 24 Nov Barrow 2-0 Alfreton Town FAC
1969/1970 Thu 20 Nov Alfreton Town 2-2 Barrow FAC

Barrow have lost just once in their last six home games, winning four and drawing the other one. A total of eight goals have been scored by the Bluebirds in those games, with two conceded. The Reds have had a decent run of form away from home recently, with three victories and just one loss from the last six. The Reds have a narrow positive goal difference over these games, with five goals for and four against. Barrow are just outside the promotion places, in third, having taken 79 points from 42 games.

FootyMad's prediction: Barrow may be coming up against a decent side in Alfreton Town, but I do believe that its going to result in a narrow home win for the Bluebirds. Home win.


NEWS IN GENERAL
Following Saturday’s excellent victory at Worksop, Barrow manager Lee Turnbull thinks that the battle for second place will go to the last match of the season. He felt that the players have performed really well not only in the last few weeks but during the season as a whole and to get the battle for second place to go this far is a great achievement and he hopes that the crowd will respond in a positive manner at the Alfreton game. The one downside for the Alfreton match is that Scott Maxfield is likely to miss the game due to a facial injury he received in Saturday’s match at Worksop. Regarding Mark Hume, manager Lee Turnbull did mention that he tried to get Alfreton to agree not to play him against us when Barrow sold him but they refused due to the fact that they paid a fee for him which Turnbull doesn't have a problem with.

On Sunday, Barrow AFC Youth team won 5-0 against Ashton at Askam United’s Duddon Road ground. Barrow’s goals were scored by Kris Lancaster (2), Tom Grimes, Glen Sargent & Greg Metcalfe.


AWARD NOMINATIONS
From Micheal Wilson

Thanks to Micheal for getting in touch to say that his Player of the Season is Mark Salmon. Mike also has two other awards which are a Most Improved Player Award which he gives to Andy Hill whilst a Special Award goes to Reserve Team Manager Dave Staunton.


BARROW RESERVES 2 SOUTHPORT RESERVES 4
On Saturday, a weakened Barrow Reserves side suffered a 4-2 home defeat by Southport Reserves with goals from Mike Fidler and Chris Pritchard. There were a few choice comments made by Barrow fans about Saturday’s referee.

Peter Steel takes up the story: The referee who was from Cockermouth thought that the game was a 3pm kick-off when in fact it was a 2pm kick-off and turned up late. Worst decision of the match was in the last minute. Fidler beat four men, took the ball into the area with only the keeper to beat and the referee blew up for a foul just outside the box. Also sent off Rutherford (for a second yellow) for talking to a spectator in the crowd. He also sent off Southport player who then sat on the bench for at least five mins, until I told the linesman to flag for the offence!

SHAUN RE-WRITES THE RECORD BOOKS
Report of this match from the Southport site at www.southportfc.net

Last Saturday away at Barrow, sixteen-year-old Shaun Whalley bagged a hat-trick to become the youngest player to ever score three goals for Southport in a Lancashire League match. Shaun is the son of assistant manager Neil Whalley and he is showing great potential and looks a very exciting prospect for the future. Southport dominated the match against Barrow, and despite eventually running out winners by four goals to two had led four-nil after fifty seven minutes, Adam Roscoe bagging the Sandgrounder's other goal. Adam now has fourteen goals to his credit this season, the former PASE graduate looking likely to finish top-scorer.

In a physical match Southport fought bravely, but were disappointed to lose the services of their captain Craig Hughes after sixty-five minutes, Craig having received a second yellow card despite being constantly fouled himself throughout the game.


LANCASHIRE LEAGUE TABLE
As at 17 April

1 Morecambe Res 29 18 5 6 85 39 46 59
2 Accrington Stan Res 27 18 3 6 68 25 43 57
3 Northwich Vic Res 31 18 1 12 63 52 11 55
4 Vauxhall Motors A 29 17 3 9 58 42 16 54
5 Marine Res 29 16 6 7 58 46 12 54
6 Bamber Bridge Res 30 15 2 13 61 58 3 47
7 Southport Res 29 14 4 11 71 60 11 46
8 Burscough Res 29 14 3 12 57 47 10 45
9 Chester City Res 25 12 7 6 77 33 44 43
10 Lancaster City Res 29 11 3 15 66 58 8 36
11 BARROW Res 29 10 6 13 57 62 - 5 36
12 Ossett Town Res 29 11 2 16 51 70 - 19 35
13 Leigh RMI Res 30 9 6 15 56 72 - 16 33
14 Guiseley Res 27 10 3 14 52 95 - 43 33
15 Chorley Reserves 29 7 2 20 48 79 - 31 23
16 Workington Res 28 6 3 19 48 94 - 46 21
17 Bradford PA Res 25 3 7 15 32 76 - 44 16


MORE NEWS ON DVDs
From Richard Ingham

I’m glad to be able to report that more copies of the Barrow games against Leek Town at Wembley and the FA Cup match against Bolton have been ordered, and fresh copies of the DVDs will be in the Soccer Shop soon. On Saturday I passed on tapes of Oldham away (FA Cup) and the Colin Cowperthwaite testimonial against Manchester City to the chap who makes up the DVD for us, and these will be available in a few weeks, I'll post more details when I have them to hand.

Once again I am appealing for anyone with videos of Barrow games which exist to go and look in your lofts, garages, down the back of the sofa, then please get in touch.

John’s note: If you have any videos of any Barrow games then please get in touch with Richard who can be contacted by email at richardingham@hotmail.com

Copies of the Barrow v Rangers game and Barrow v Manchester City game on 21/7/93 (Billy McAdams’ testimonial match) will shortly be passed to Richard who'll check the quality to see if they are suitable for transferring to DVD.


WELCOMING OUR CUMBRIAN NEIGHBOURS TO NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL!
From Tom Pearce

On Saturday I took the opportunity to watch Carlisle in their plight to avoid the drop. This time the ghost of Jimmy Glass was laid to rest. Knowing York had been beaten but Rochdale had won and themselves being one nil down, in the 90th minute all the fans stood up in anticipation of salvaging a point. This time as the corner swang in, goalkeeper Matty Glennon was nowhere near the header and the ball came over the lot to the Lincoln full back Mark Bailey. He took one touch up the touch line, before unleashing the sweetest of 60 yard daisy cutters you will ever see, and the ball was in the empty net for two nil. As the fans made for the exits mumbling that’s it! May we welcome our Cumbrian neighbours to non-League soccer!


THE VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BLACKPOOL TOWER

This is from Shaun Crowe, a new addition to the Newsletter mailing list, John and I have spent some time digging out Barrow supporters around the world to receive the Newsletter and over the last few days have succeeded in adding 28 new subscribers, and the total stands at 653 supporters around the world. If you know of any friends or colleagues who follow the soccer and don’t receive the Newsletter, can you put them in touch with us and we’ll add them to the list.

Many thanks for your brilliant Newsletters, sadly though I do not have the time or the skill to put what you do to put a Newsletter together. I live in Blackpool and work shifts so I don’t get to many games as I did, but like you, I do share the love that is Barrow. All I can do is read all that is on the web site and the excellent Newsletter that you produce. My views for finishing second, my heart says yes we can do it, but I feel that Droylsden are too strong to let it slip, but you never know! It’s a funny old game. I also feel that we will always be in this position of behind the nearly men until such time that we get someone or somebody with the money and passion to push the team the extra mile. The last great game I went to was the last game of the season against Kidderminster and we had to win to stay in the Conference, which we did, but as we all know, it was in vain. We have a good side, and a good management team but we will never be in with a shout of playing in the big time until we get the right funding in place. Anyway I`ll get off my soap-box and go now, so please keep send your Newsletters and I’ll write further to let you know how I feel.


BARROW AFC BLUEBIRDS CASHLINE WEEKLY DRAW
Week 38 winners, thanks to Alex in the Soccer Shop

UKP350; C Beach, Holbeck Road, Barrow
UKP150; H Graham, Hartington Street, Barrow
UKP50; M Wilson, Clifford Street, Barrow

UKP10 winners: Mrs Harrild, Whitehead Close, Barrow; Mrs Chelton, Lightburn Avenue, Ulverston; C Poyntz, Windsor Street, Barrow; L McDonald, James Watt Terrace, Barrow; Mrs Camble, Lesh Lane, Barrow; R Repton, Gatacre Street, Walney; F Charnley, Butts Beck, Dalton; S McCleery, Kent Street, Barrow; Mr Elliot, Worcester Street, Barrow; G Drake, Westhills Drive, Ulverston.


UNIBOND PREMIER DIVISION
Bradford Park Avenue 1 Marine 1 (226), Droylsden 0 Lancaster City 0 (301).

P W D L F A Pts
1 Hucknall Town C 43 29 8 6 82 35 95
2 Droylsden 43 25 8 10 94 63 83
3 BARROW 42 22 13 7 79 48 79
4 Alfreton Town 42 22 9 11 71 41 75
5 Harrogate Town 42 23 5 14 74 56 74
6 Worksop Town 42 18 13 11 66 48 67
7 Southport 43 19 10 14 68 51 67
8 Lancaster City 43 19 9 15 60 49 66
9 Vauxhall Motors 43 18 10 15 77 75 64
10 Gainsborough Trinity 42 16 12 14 67 51 60
11 Stalybridge Celtic 42 17 9 16 67 63 60
12 Ashton United 43 17 8 18 56 75 59
13 Altrincham 42 14 15 13 63 50 57c
14 Runcorn FC Halton 41 14 13 14 58 58 55
15 Whitby Town 43 14 11 18 54 68 53
16 Marine 43 13 12 18 62 72 51
17 Bradford Park Ave. 42 12 13 17 48 60 49
18 Spennymoor United 43 14 6 23 54 90 48
19 Burscough 43 9 15 19 45 66 42
20 Radcliffe Borough 43 12 6 25 73 97 42
-------------------------------------------------
21 Frickley Athletic 43 11 7 25 50 80 40
22 Blyth Spartans 43 9 10 24 53 74 37
23 Wakefield & Emley 42 8 6 28 42 93 30

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION
Gateshead 2 Workington 3 (198).

P W D L F A Pts
1 Hyde United 41 23 8 10 75 49 77
-------------------------------------------------
2 Matlock Town 41 23 6 12 78 51 75
3 Farsley Celtic 40 19 14 7 74 51 71
4 Lincoln United 40 19 11 10 66 49 68
5 Workington 41 17 11 13 70 53 62
6 Leek Town 40 16 13 11 53 42 61
7 Bamber Bridge 41 16 12 13 64 51 60
8 Witton Albion 41 16 12 13 59 56 60
9 Gateshead *(4) 41 20 4 17 63 68 60
10 Prescot Cables 41 16 10 15 61 62 58
11 Guiseley 40 15 11 14 64 54 56
12 Bridlington Town 40 15 9 16 66 65 54
13 Bishop Auckland 40 13 13 14 57 60 52
-------------------------------------------------
14 Colwyn Bay 41 14 8 19 55 81 50
15 Ossett Town *(3) 41 14 10 17 60 72 49
16 Chorley 40 13 9 18 52 67 48
17 North Ferriby United 40 12 11 17 61 66 47
18 Rossendale United 40 12 11 17 49 60 47
19 Stocksbridge PS 40 11 11 18 54 67 44
20 Belper Town 40 9 14 17 44 55 41
21 Kidsgrove Athletic 41 10 9 22 45 65 39
22 Kendal Town 40 11 5 24 52 78 38
* points deducted for breach of League rules


NEW UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION RECORD
From the official UniBond League site at www.unibondleague.com

Should either Matlock Town or Hyde United win the First Division championship this season they will create a new record for the Division which was formed in 1987. The previous highest number of defeats suffered by a First Division Championship winning side was nine by Bradford Park Avenue in 2000/2001.


CLEAR AS MUD
From www.nonleaguedaily.co.uk

The set-up of the newly-formed Conference North and South Divisions for the start of next season is far from settled - even given the fact that play-offs will determine the final places.

With only a handful of fixtures remaining, the Conference North has only 13 definite members, and one of those, Barrow, could still, mathematically, make it to the Conference proper, while it's even worse 'down south' where as of Monday, April 19, only nine clubs have already qualified. There is no doubt that the restructuring has added a great deal of added excitement to the end of the season, and hardly any Division of the three main feeder Leagues are anywhere near being 'finalised'.

The Dr Martens League Premier Division is by far the most complicated and the only situations definite at present are that Crawley Town will be plying their trade in the Conference proper for the first time ever and that Weymouth, Stafford Rangers, Worcester City, Nuneaton Borough and Hinckley United will be members of the Conference North or South. The remaining places for the new Conference Divisions are very much up for grabs, as is the play-off spots and relegation - and this with only three of four games of the season to go! It is a little more clearer in the UniBond Premier, although there are still, effectively, six clubs still in with a chance of automatic elevation to the Conference North, eight for a play-off spot and one relegation place still not yet settled. The Ryman Premier has eight definites for the Conference South with five more battling it out for the other four places, nine for a play-off spot and only one certain for relegation, although it would take a couple of extraordinary results for Braintree Town to 'get out of jail'.

Conference North (definites)
Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria, Stafford Rangers, Worcester City *, Nuneaton Borough, Hinckley United, Droylsden, Barrow **, Alfreton Town, Harrogate Town, Worksop Town, Southport, Lancaster City.
* Worcester could placed in Conference South
** Barrow could still be promoted and if so, Farnborough Town would take a place in the Conference South

Conference South (definites)
Weymouth, Hendon, Sutton United, Grays Athletic, Carshalton Athletic, Thurrock, Hornchurch, Hayes, Bishop's Stortford.

The situation below is as clear as mud! The constitutions for the new Premier Divisions won't be determined until the situation on 'promotion' to the Conference North and South is settled, and below that it is even worse! There are at least 23 places available for clubs to be promoted from the 15 current Level four Leagues and that could even stretch to 25 places. Very few of the feeder Leagues currently have clubs who have indicated that they wish to move up in a qualifying position, although I understand that in some cases third-placed teams in the feeder Leagues who meet the criteria may be taken to fill vacancies. It may also be a case that few, if any, of the clubs currently occupying a relegation spot in the UniBond, Dr Martens or Ryman Leagues will go down.

The North West Counties League's top four clubs have all applied for promotion, so it is one of the few Leagues that is pretty settled, and the UniBond may yet take all of Mossley, Fleetwood Town, Clitheroe and Woodley Sports. This seems more likely especially as it looks as though, once again, no club from the Albany Northern League will go up as only Jarrow Roofing applied and they can finish no higher than fifth. The current situation in the Northern Counties East League could also see at least two, if not three, of its applicants gain a UniBond spot as Ossett Albion, Eastwood Town, Brigg Town, Sheffield, Buxton could all finish in the top three at the very least. The UniBond League also looks the likely destination for Rocester should they finish in a qualifying place or, indeed, Quorn.

Should Stratford Town, Willenhall Town or Studley pip either of the two above for a top two place then they will take their place in the new Dr Martens Western Division. It is a similar situation in the Eagle Bitter United Counties League where Spalding United, should they finish in a qualifying spot which looks likely, could be placed in the UniBond but Buckingham Town and St Neots Town, the two other applicants, would be Dr Martens Eastern or Western bound. In the Ridgeons League, title-favourites AFC Sudbury haven't applied for promotion, leaving only Maldon Town and Diss Town to battle it out for a top two place. Both are well placed to do so, and should they manage it they would be placed in the Eastern Division.

Three of the current top four in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League have applied for promotion, so we could see either or all of Slimbridge, Brackley Town and Didcot Town plying their trade in the Western Division next season. Paulton Rovers have already assured themselves of a place in the Western Division, even though Bideford may yet pip them for the Screwfix Direct Western League title, but Darren Perrin's side are the only applicants. In the Sydenhams Wessex League, champions Winchester City look as though they have managed to persuade the Dr Martens League to accept their Hillier Way ground after all, but with runners-up Wimborne Town not an applicant, unless there is room for potential third-placed Gosport Borough, it looks as though just one will be going up.

The Matthew Clark Sussex County League doesn't look as though it will be providing any new clubs as Three Bridges were the only one suitable and they are back in fifth spot, and whilst not yet out of the hunt for second spot, it would take a lot of strange results for them to finish runners-up. The already small Go Travel Kent League have both of its current top three, VCD Athletic, Thamesmead Town and title-favourites Cray Wanderers, as applicants and they could lose all three, especially if the Wessex and Sussex Leagues are short of promotees. The Ryman League loses its Division Two next season and will have just one 22-club Division One below its Premier Division with a number of clubs switching to the Eastern or Western Divisions. AFC Wimbledon and Beaconsfield SYCOB have secured their respective Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties (CCL) and Minerva Spartan South Midlands League (SSML) championships, so should gain promotion. AFC Wallingford could join them from the CCL, probably as a Western Division side, while Brook House, as potential runners-up in the SSML, could be in the Ryman. In the Eastway Essex Senior League, only Enfield Town and Ilford of the top four look likely to be able to finish in a qualifying place, and with Enfield's final game being against current second-placed Sawbridgeworth Town and Ilford's last two matches being against bottom two Hullbridge Sports and London ASPA, the ball looks very much in the latter's court, but where either would end up is anyone's guess!


CURZON ASHTON FC AGREE GROUND SHARE
From The NWCL Newsletter

Curzon Ashton FC will have use of the facilities of Tameside neighbours Stalybridge Celtic next season after officials of both clubs came to an agreement at a meeting on Thursday evening (15 April). Curzon chief executive Harry Twamley said "We are grateful to the directors at Stalybridge for being kind enough to make their marvellous facilities available to us. They couldn't have been more accommodating or understanding of our situation and it's certainly a weight off our minds to know that we shall have the use of their ground next season. This will certainly set us up nicely as we prepare to move into our new home at the Tameside Stadium next year." Curzon said goodbye to National Park on Saturday with a 3 -2 win over Warrington Town in a game watched by a number of ex-Curzon officials and players. One, who couldn't stay for the game, still managed to make time to call in for a pint before kick-off. As he put it "I just wanted to call in for one more before it closed and to say my goodbyes to the place."


FARNBOROUGH HOPE FOR SURVIVAL
From www.pyramidfootball.co.uk

Farnborough Town boss Vic Searle has set his players the target of finishing third from bottom in the hope his side can still avoid relegation. Monday's 2-0 defeat to Gravesend & Northfleet ensured the club can no longer finish outside of the bottom three, which is the recognised drop zone in the League. However, with strict guidelines in place about ground standards in the Conference, there is a possibility less than three clubs will be promoted and Searle is now pinning his club's survival hopes on finishing 20th. "There is a chance only Barrow will come up from the UniBond League, and that means possibly we're not relegated." Searle explained. "We really think we can survive and now we just have to make sure we finish third from bottom."


ALFRETON TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB: A BRIEF HISTORY
From the site at www.alfretontownfc.com

The present Alfreton Town Football club was formed in 1959 following the merger of Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United football clubs. The newly constituted club, playing on a new ground on North Street provided by the local council, was admitted directly to the Central Alliance Division One (North) and progressed sufficiently in the first two seasons to gain entry to the re-formed Midland Counties League. The record attendance at North Street of 5023 was recorded for the visit of Matlock Town in 1960. After holding the wooden spoon in 1961/62, Alfreton seldom looked back and took the Midland League title in 1969/70 after several near misses. The triumph was repeated three years later and again in 1976/77. Alfreton won the Midland League Cup in three successive seasons in the 1970s and the trophy was presented to the club as a permanent memento of the feat. Further success came in the Northern Counties East League following the merger of the Midland and Yorkshire Leagues in 1982. They won the League Cup in season 1984/85 and were champions in 1986/87 before accepting a place in the newly formed First Division of the Northern Premier League for season 1987/88. Early seasons in the new League were not very successful and Alfreton finished bottom of the League in 1990/91. Re-organisation of non-League football in Wales meant a number of clubs left the NPL and Alfreton were saved from relegation. In the 1994/95 season, after leading the table for most of the season, they missed out on promotion as they contrived to lose three of their last four matches. This disappointment was forgotten the following season when they finished runners-up to Lancaster City and were promoted to the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League for the first time ever. A two-year tenure proved difficult and after escaping a return to UniBond Division One in the 1996/97 campaign, a downward spiral struck and successive relegations saw the club slip back into the Northern Counties (East) League at the end of the 1998/99 season. After a slow start, a great run of results at the turn of the year saw the Reds still in with an outside chance of promotion but they eventually finished fifth. The following season, a poor first half of the season again cost the club dearly and despite winning 19 out of 25 League matches played since the turn of the year they had to settle for a final position of third place. The same campaign saw the club enter the FA Vase for the first time and they reached the last 16 of the competition before bowing out 1-0 at Mossley of the North West Counties League, after extra time. The club were also proud to receive the prestigious FIFA Fair Play Award - the first non-League club to be awarded it.

The 2001/02 campaign saw Jason Maybury replaced as player/manager in late October by Chris Wilder and unprecedented success followed as the Reds landed four trophies - the Northern Counties (East) League Premier Division championship, League Cup, President's Cup and Derbyshire Senior Cup. Wilder departed to manage former club Halifax Town in the summer of 2002 but, in his first full season in charge, manager Dave Lloyd and assistant Charlie Williamson guided the Reds to a second successive championship when they lifted the 2002/03 UniBond League First Division title and made it a double by retaining the Derbyshire Senior Cup with a 7-1 aggregate success over Mickleover Sports. The season contained many highs as the side set new club records of 17 straight victories in all competitions, and went 26 games unbeaten. After a three-year absence from the competition, they also reached the FA Trophy Fourth Round for the first time - only bowing out after a replay to eventual competition winners Burscough. Showing the strength in depth of the club, the Reserves won the Midlands Regional Alliance Premier Division and were League Cup runners-up while the Under-19s won the English Non-League Northern U19s Football Alliance Spring Mini Cup and were runners-up in the League Cup. Impressive stadium re-development has continued hand-in-hand with success on the pitch and North Street now boasts 1650 seats, a recently added sponsors lounge, new ‘Reds Bar' on the ground and a host of other improvements including safety gates and press lounge this summer. The stadium also has several wheelchair access ramps to vantage viewing areas for the disabled and operates a massive Football in the Community coaching scheme in partnership with Derbyshire County Council with around 1600 children receiving fully qualified tuition each year. Now the highest ranking non-League club in the county, Alfreton Town are back at the highest level they have competed at - the UniBond League Premier Division and have ambitions to be a part of the second level of Conference Football for the 2004/05 season - the newly-set up Alliance North.


REMAINING UNIBOND FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON

Tuesday 20 April
Premier Division: Altrincham v Worksop Town, Barrow v Alfreton Town, Hucknall Town v Stalybridge Celtic.
First Division: Belper Town v North Ferriby United, Bridlington Town v Leek Town, Guiseley v Stocksbridge Park Steels, Kendal Town v Chorley, Rossendale United v Lincoln United.
Derbyshire Senior Cup Final Second Leg, Matlock Town (3) v Ilkeston Town (0).

Wednesday 21 April
Premier Division: Bradford Park Avenue v Gainsborough Trinity.
First Division: Bishop Auckland v Farsley Celtic.

Thursday 22 April
Premier Division: Runcorn FC Halton v Wakefield & Emley.

Saturday 24 April
Premier Division: Altrincham v Runcorn FC Halton, Ashton United v Harrogate Town, Blyth Spartans v Alfreton Town, Bradford Park Avenue v Lancaster City, Gainsborough Trinity v Spennymoor United, Marine v Worksop Town, Radcliffe Borough v Burscough, Southport v Frickley Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic v Barrow, Wakefield & Emley v Vauxhall Motors, Whitby Town v Droylsden.

First Division: Bamber Bridge v Gateshead, Belper Town v Rossendale United, Chorley v Ossett Town, Colwyn Bay v Bridlington Town, Guiseley v Kidsgrove Athletic, Hyde United v North Ferriby United, Leek Town v Farsley Celtic, Matlock Town v Kendal Town, Prescot Cables v Stocksbridge Park Steels, Witton Albion v Bishop Auckland, Workington v Lincoln United.


LOOK BACK AT SEASON 1980-81
From Terry Kendall

April 28 1981, Wealdstone 2 Barrow 0
First defeat in nine.
Wealdstone: Cranstone, Hardman, Pearce, Barwick, Byatt, Perkins, Sweetzer, Wainwright, N. Cordice, A. Cordice, Bowgett. Sub: Forde.
Barrow: Thomas, Richmond, Knowles (McDonald 67), Gordon, Brooks, Taylor, Whittle, Jackson, Cowperthwaite, Moore, Worswick.
Goals: Stuart Pearce 43, Jimmy Sweetzer 67 (pen).
Ref: A. Gunn (Sussex). H/t: 1-0. Att: 627.


ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 20 April
1929 D3N Crewe Alexandra (A) L 1-3
1935 D3N York City (H) L 0-3
1936 D3N Walsall (H) W 1-0
1954 D3N Accrington Stanley (H) W 4-3
1957 D3N Stockport County (A) L 1-2
1962 D4 Rochdale (H) L 0-1
1968 D3 Stockport County (H) W 3-0
1991 CONF Fisher Athletic (A) W 2-1
1992 CONF Stafford Rangers (A) D 0-0
1993 NPL Goole Town (H) W 4-1
1996 NPL Buxton (H) W 1-0
2002 NPL Worksop Town (H) W 1-0 (att 829)