Holker Street Newsletter 804 - 7th May 2001

Barrow lost their final League game of the season away to Colwyn Bay and with it finished sixth in the UniBond Premier League, all in all an excellent performance, but if Barrow had won, we could have finished fifth, above Worksop, which would have been wonderful, but it was not to be. One consequence of losing to Colwyn Bay is that the Welsh club avoided relegation, as did Frickley, but it all meant that our friends from Staffordshire, Leek Town were relegated to the UniBond First Division.

Thanks to Peter Caldwell, Geoff Northin, Bryan Kelland, Steve Norris, Alex Hosking, Old Barrovian, Tony Kempster, John Little, Flag Man, Ron Duxbury, Stephen Mulrine, Dave Thompson, Neil Cook, Christopher Roddie, John Little and Terry Kendall for their help with today’s edition.

JONES CAN JOIN PRO RANKS: LOWE
AFC boss predicts bright future for young striker
By Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail, Friday 4 May

Dalton United’s ace marksman Gareth Jones has been tipped for a future in the professional game by Barrow manager Kenny Lowe. Jones’ scintillating form in the Lancashire League Premier vision hasn’t gone unnoticed and he was thrown his Bluebirds debut earlier this season, and to underline his growing reputation he netted in his first start as Jones’ man-of-the-match display helped Barrow to a 3-2 win over Gretna in the UniBond League Cup. Since then he has made just six more appearances, scoring twice, but Lowe has seen enough to suggest he is destined for bigger things. Lowe, who has Jones on his summer shopping list, said yesterday: "I see Gareth just going straight into the (Barrow) first team to he honest and it would be interesting if we have got Gareth, Nick (Peverell) and Grant (Holt). I can see Gareth moving onto a pro club. My feeling is, and we have got to speak to Gareth and Dalton to see what he wants to do, is if he did show an interest in the club and he came into the first team, he would eventually move to a pro club." Jones’ signature would be a massive plus for Lowe as he and his assistant Lee Turnbull look to strengthen their squad for next season. The AFC management team are keen to retain their current playing staff, but they have identified areas that need to be improved. An approach has already been made to an unnamed semi-pro international, while reinforcements will also be sought in midfield. Lowe added: "It goes without saying that we are speaking to players, we have been doing that for the last six months to be truthful and we are always looking at people. We are looking to get a forward in and that might be Grant Holt, but we don’t know what he’s doing at Halifax yet. We are possibly looking for a right back. Someone like Scott Maxfield, someone who can get up and down with good energy. We have got someone in mind, an England semi-pro international and we have spoken to him. I think we might need a couple of midfield players, someone maybe to play on the left side. We don’t seem to get enough goals from midfield, Housham will score but we still don’t get enough."

As the season is drawing to a close on the pitch, the work off it is also reaching a climax with Lowe busy sorting out the future of his players. Negotiations are complete in his eyes and by the end of tomorrow’s UniBond Premier League game at Colwyn Bay, Lowe hopes to know one way or another who will be staying put. Wayne Bullimore will definitely remain at Holker Street, while Mark Hume, Steve Housham, Lee Warren and Scott Maxfield are close to agreeing deals, but a question mark still hangs over top scorer Nicky Peverell, who has been courted by a number of other clubs, although Lowe is 90 per cent certain he will stay. Lowe also accepts that he may face a fight to hang onto his assistant Turnbull, who has been with him in the dugout through thick and thin this season. He added: "Is Lee Turnbull going to stay? I’m sure people have been interested in him managing clubs at this level. Look at Gainsborough, they haven’t got a manager yet and Lee lives near there. What if Lee goes to Gainsborough and he takes some of the players with him?"

BARROW AIM TO GO OUT ON A HIGH
Evening Mail, Friday 4 May

Barrow aim to go out in style tomorrow when they travel to north Wales for an end of season clash with relegation threatened Colwyn Bay. It’s been a long, hard slog for Kenny Lowe’s Bluebirds this term with plenty of highs and lows and he wants to finish off with three points at Llanelian Road. Lowe’s team are already assured of a top six finish, but if Barrow win and Worksop, who beat Bamber Bridge 2-1 last night, lose against Accrington Stanley they could move up to fifth. Only Neil Doherty is missing because of a knee injury so with a full strength squad to choose from the AFC boss is looking to go out with a bang. He said today: "I just want to finish off the season with a win. We will play the best side we can. Doc’s got a problem with his knee and there’s no chance of him playing so I’ll probably give him the day off, unless he wants to come down. I think the rest of them are okay. Housh (Steve Housham) seems to be all right and Bully (Wayne Bullimore) the same. Humey (Mark Hume) comes back in so that’s a plus and he will definitely play alongside Anthony Hall at the back."

Barrow: Bishop, Warren, Hume, Rogers, Maxfield, Hall, Anthony, Housham, Ellison, Peverell, Bullimore, Holt, Roberts, Ainsley, Hill, McKechnie, Gill.


UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 5 MAY
Bamber Bridge 0 Spennymoor United 0, Blyth Spartans 0 Hyde United 0, Colwyn Bay 2 Barrow 0, Droylsden 1 Emley 3, Hucknall Town 1 Altrincham 3, Lancaster City 0 Frickley Athletic 1, Leek Town 3 Bishop Auckland 1, Marine 2 Gainsborough Trinity 2, Runcorn 1 Gateshead 2, Stalybridge Celtic 0 Burscough 2, Worksop Town 0 Accrington Stanley 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Stalybridge Celtic........44 31 9 4 96-32 102 (C)
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Emley.....................44 31 8 5 87-42 101
Bishop Auckland...........44 26 7 11 88-53 85
Lancaster City............44 24 9 11 84-60 81
Worksop Town..............44 20 13 11 102-60 73
Barrow....................44 21 9 14 83-63 72
Altrincham................44 20 10 14 80-58 70
Gainsborough Trinity......44 17 14 13 59-56 65
Accrington Stanley........44 18 10 16 72-67 64
Hucknall Town.............44 17 12 15 57-63 63
Gateshead.................44 16 12 16 68-61 60
Bamber Bridge.............44 17 8 19 63-65 59
Runcorn...................44 15 10 19 56-70 55
Blyth Spartans............44 15 9 20 61-64 54
Burscough.................44 14 10 20 59-68 52
Hyde United...............44 13 12 19 72-79 51
Whitby Town...............44 13 11 20 60-76 50
Marine....................44 12 13 19 62-78 49
Colwyn Bay................44 12 10 22 68-102 46
Frickley Athletic.........44 10 15 19 50-79 45
Droylsden.................44 13 6 25 50-80 45
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Leek Town.................44 12 8 24 45-70 44 (R)
Spennymoor United.........44 4 5 35 32-108 16 (R)
Spennymoor United: 1 point deducted


FROM THE TRUSTY TRANNY AND THE MOBILE PHONE
From Jim Whitton

A performance rated by the Soccerline as one of the worst of the season saw Barrow slip to their second successive defeat against relegation contenders. Barrow were shocked in the first minute when a through ball virtually from the kick off caught Hall, Hume and Bishop in indecisive mood and McIlvogue nipped in to beat Bishop. In the fifth minute, Limbert put McIlvogue through again and he put Bay two up. He almost had a third on 10 minutes but Hall intercepted his shot. Barrow's only chance of the half came on 22, when an Anthony shot beat the keeper but went just wide. Roberts replaced Peverell in the second half but Barrow made no impression on the committed Welsh side. Hume, returning from suspension, started his new collection of yellow cards but he did have one surging run forward near the end which might have ended with a wonder goal on a better day.

So Barrow's end of season day out to the seaside ended in distress whilst the home side grabbed the life raft of UniBond survival. (Beat that, Evening Mail!) Still, it's been a good season and, as Kenny said in his pre-match interview, the club has made progress on and off the field. Enjoy the summer.


MATCH REPORT FROM CHRISTOPHER RODDIE

A very disappointing display from Barrow at the end of a season that, on reflection, hasn't been too bad. Sixth place in the League, and a trophy may not sound too great, but considering the position that the club remains in, this is not such a bad end.

Barrow never looked interested in a "must win" match for Bay. Within twelve seconds, Bay were in front. Straight from the kick off, the ball was played out to the right, a couple of neat passes, then the ball played into the path of the Bay number 10 who calmly slotted past the helpless Bishop. Barrow were still in the dressing room, the many travelling supporters still taking their place. Seven minutes later, the same player put Bay 2-0 up, again, some sloppy defending allowed the ball into the Barrow area, and a second clinical finish.

Colwyn Bay clearly wanted (and needed) to win this game, and Barrow simply rolled over and handed it to them. Second to most balls for the entire game, the most disappointing fact of the match was that none of the Barrow players seemed to want to give a rousing end of season display to so many fans that had travelled to this sunny corner of North Wales. The Barrow midfield simply did not exist, which provided the forwards with little ammunition to fire at the Bay keeper, who quite frankly, must have been fairly bored for the afternoon.

By half time, it was difficult to see which team was to finish in the top six, and the which team were League basement fodder. Many of the Barrow fans expected their team to come out for second half like an express train after a half time rollicking from Kenny Lowe. If the tea cups had been flying in the dressing room, it made no difference. The second half performance was nearly as woeful as the first. At least Barrow did look a bit more interested, but so many times gave the ball away too easily, when in recent weeks would have torn the opposition apart with incisive passing. Roberts came on to bolster the attack, and it looked like someone had swapped his feet around as he was unable to control the ball cleanly enough when in striking opportunities on at least three occasions.

Hume began to get forward more in a bid to add some fire, and should have won a penalty with 15 minutes to go after been wrestled to the ground by the Bay no. 8, who was immediately substituted. Too many times did Barrow try and walk the ball into the net, rather than shooting from distance. The pitch was hard and bobbly, and this would have given the keeper a few more problems. Bay were not a good side. The two tall centre halves were big, but clumsy. Quality players such as Peverell and Bullimore could easily have made them look every bit the donkeys they were. The one Barrow player to come out of this game with any credit was Bishop, who made at least three first class saves to keep the score respectable, and was given no chance with the two goals.

A message to the players : Have a rest. You've had a good season, and in recent weeks have shown the quality and determination of a title winning side, but for God's sake, don't repeat this performance next term.

By the way, I don't think I was the only person in the ground to be mystified by the presentation of the "team of the month" award to Colwyn Bay. All I can say is that there must be some serious prejudice against Barrow in this League.


SOME THOUGHTS ON THE COLWYN BAY GAME
From John Little

We lost at Colwyn Bay with the home team scoring after just 10 seconds. I timed it from the highlights which were on S4C (the Welsh Channel). It only showed the goals and mentioned something I couldn't understand about Bryn Jones and Alan Banks (their manager and secretary who are leaving after many years of service). It was a really sunny day and Barrow probably had about 150 fans there, as it was the last game of the season and Colwyn stayed up it was one big party after the game with both sets of supporters singing amongst themselves. Richard Ingham and I didn't leave their clubhouse until 6.45pm. The following was placed on the Barrow forum by Seagull about the Barrow fans at Colwyn Bay.

Just a quick word to commend the Barrow fans who made the long trip to Llanelian Road on Saturday. You’re a great bunch and a credit to your club, and were one of the best visitors to Colwyn Bay throughout the season. Great atmosphere at the game, with both sets of fans doing their bit on quite an afternoon. I'm pleased we will be able to welcome you to North Wales next season. Best wishes for the future.


HAVE A LOOK AT SOME PHOTOS
The Colwyn Bay website at has some photos of this weekend’s game.


SOME THOUGHTS ON THE COLWYN BAY GAME
From Phil Yelland

We began the season with a defeat by two goals and finished the season the same way. I understand that there was a tremendous travelling support at Llanelian Road but any who were late missed the home side's electric start. Jim McIlvogue put the home side within 30 seconds with the Barrow defence caught flat footed and another long ball on six minutes saw McIlvogue net again. Sadly, whilst we had a full strength side with the exception of Neil Doherty but they struggled and looked a tired side. At the end of the game, Colwyn celebrated the great escape at Leek were consigned to Division One.

Team: Bishop; Rogers, Hall, Hume, Maxfield; Housham, Bullimore, Warren, Anthony; Peverell, Holt. Subs: Roberts for Anthony - 45 mins; Gill for Housham later; Ellison - unused.

And so ends what I think has been a good season in all the circumstances; inevitably some of our favourites will not be back next season. Thanks to them all and to the board who have performed a minor miracle to keep it all running. Here's to next season.



BRYN RETIRES HAPPY AS JAMES WINS IT
Colwyn Bay 2 Barrow 0 by Michael McEvoy, from The Non-League Paper

Colwyn Bay’s player of the season James McIlvogue grabbed two early goals to give his side what proved to he a vital victory. With Leek Town and Frickley Athletic also winning, anything less than three points for the Seagulls would have meant relegation from the Premier Division. McIlvogue was on target after just 30 seconds as he latched onto Mark Limbert’s knockdown to squeeze the ball into the corner of the net from the tightest of angles. Five minutes later, McIlvogue sent the crowd into raptures as he beat the offside trap to chase another pass from Limbert and steer the ball past keeper Simon Bishop for his fourth goal in three games.

Colwyn were in complete command and McIlvogue was denied his hat-hick by Hall’s goal-line clearance in the 10th minute. Eight minutes later, McIlvogue, chested Jonathan Cross's free-kick wide of the post before Barrow created their first chance in the 22nd-minute. Barrow showed more determination after the break and Wayne Bullimore shot wide from 20 yards, but Colwyn regained control and might have increased their tally. Alun Evans, Graham Roberts, and Limbert all went close but those two golden goals were enough to give Colwyn the spoils in manager Bryn Jones’ final game in charge after 22 years at the club.


CAN YOU HELP THIS CHAP?

Steve Norris, a Birmingham City supporter living in Bromsgrove has been in touch to ask if any Barrow supporters could help him complete his set of Birmingham City programmes.

He is only two programmes away from completing a League and Cup set for Birmingham City from 1955/56 through to 1974/75 (why he stopped collecting them in 1975 is a long story apparently, but he advises me it is something to do with a last minute goal in extra time of a FA Cup Semi-Final Replay against Fulham), and one of the programmes he is missing is for the Barrow v Birmingham City game in the Third Round of the Football League Cup played on 15 October 1962 (Birmingham went on to win the League Cup that season, Birmingham’s only major honour in 126 years of trying!).

So can you help? Steve is willing to pay a reasonable amount for a good quality copy. His email is .


NO POINTS FOR TIGERS AT BARROW
From the site, 3 May

Worksop Town went down to their third successive 2-1 defeat in five days when they visited Barrow last Saturday. As in the previous two games the Tigers produced a performance of the highest calibre but came away with nothing from a game littered with chances at both ends. There was a nightmare start for the Tigers with Chris Waddle unavailable and Chris Bettney not arriving. They then lost Gary Townsend in the first minute of the game. There were just 28 seconds on the clock when the ball hit him full in the face from point blank range, knocking him out. After lengthy treatment he was stretchered from the field and was taken to hospital for an X-ray on his cheek bone. Thankfully, he later returned to the ground with a clean bill of health. Substitute Ryan Hindley was soon in the action setting up a chance for Phil Stafford which was saved by the keeper. Play swung to the other end and a last ditch tackle from Krystof Kotylo stopped Steve Housham in full flight. Efforts from Hindley and Andy Gray were thwarted before Worksop took the lead on 22 minutes. Kotylo won the ball in midfield and put it through to Steve Johnson, who took it forward and passed to Stafford on the edge of the box. He laid it off first time to Andy Gray who ran into the box and fired home from 15 yards for an excellent goal. The lead lasted just eight minutes. The home side got back into the game after a brilliant run and cross on the left by Neil Doherty found the head of Steve Housham and he gave Jamie Holmshaw no chance. The rest of the first half was full of flowing end to end football.

In the opening five minutes of the second half, Stafford had two headers, one went just wide while Barrow keeper Simon Bishop made a fine save from the second. Barrow themselves then had a couple of chances that came to nothing. A far post corner on 53 minutes from Richard Mason saw Steve Johnson’s header cleared off the line by Scott Maxfield. Adam Muller then hit the crossbar, before Holmshaw made a brilliant save from Gareth Jones. With 20 minutes to go Johnson had another header cleared off the line from a Gray cross. Hindley also had an effort blocked, Gray shot wide from a good position and Bishop made a miraculous save to deny a Kotylo rocket from 25 yards. The game ended in torrential rain with the Tigers still looking for the winner. A corner on 88 minutes proved to be their downfall. It fell to Lee Ellison on the edge of his own box. He broke away at pace creating a two on two situation, played the ball to Graham Anthony who placed a right foot shot into the bottom corner for the winning goal.

The 1216 crowd gave both sides a standing ovation at the end for what had been a tremendously entertaining game of football.


TEARFUL TAYLOR BACK WITH SMILE
From The Non-League Paper

Bernard Taylor has promised to finish the job he started after returning to manage Altrincham after I8 months. Taylor quit in tears as Altrincham struggled to come to terms with Conference football and he watched from the sidelines as the Robins were eventually relegated. But he admits his decision was too hasty and has grabbed a second chance - along with coach Graham Heathcote - to bring the glory days back to Moss Lane after his two month caretaker role was made permanent. Taylor said: I felt as it I had let the fans down last time, Perhaps I should have been a bit stronger. Well, this is a second chance."

Ellison, (sic) the one-time night club owner and joiner who has built the club bar and carries out odd jobs around Moss Lane, is ready to unearth the next Paul Ellender and Kevin Elison for the club. He added: “I know it’s going to be hard. We haven't got the money I had when I was first here. But there are a couple of players at the club who could play in the League and it’s my job to find a couple more. Graham and I have won a lot together -and we are desperate to win this club promotion."


FRICKLEY SPONSORSHIP
A couple of editions ago of the Newsletter, I carried a piece about how a group of Barrow supporters had clubbed together and sponsored the Barrow v Frickley game, I credited the article to Neil Cook, I shouldn’t have done, it came from the keyboard of Dave Thompson.


UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION
Thursday 3 May: Harrogate Town 2 Radcliffe Borough 2, North Ferriby United 1 Ashton United 3
Saturday 5 May: Ashton United 2 Vauxhall Motors 0, Belper Town 2 Workington 0, Chorley 1 Guiseley 1, Congleton Town 0 Lincoln United 0, Eastwood Town 1 Witton Albion 2, Gretna 2 Matlock Town 0, Harrogate Town 2 Winsford United 2, North Ferriby United 2 Farsley Celtic 1, Radcliffe Borough 1 Bradford Park Avenue 2, Trafford 2 Kendal Town 2.

P W D L F A GD Pts
Bradford PA 42 28 5 9 83 40 43 89
Vauxhall Motors 42 23 10 9 95 50 45 79
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Ashton United 42 23 9 10 91 49 42 78
Stocksbridge PS 42 19 13 10 80 60 20 70
Trafford 42 20 9 13 70 62 8 68
Belper Town 42 18 11 13 71 62 9 65
Witton Albion 42 15 16 11 51 50 1 61
Ossett Town 42 16 12 14 66 58 8 60
Radcliffe Borough 42 17 8 17 72 71 1 59
Chorley 42 15 14 13 71 70 1 59
Harrogate Town 42 15 10 17 60 70 -10 55
Matlock Town 42 14 10 18 70 74 -4 52
North Ferriby United 42 14 10 18 64 73 -9 52
Workington 42 13 12 17 53 60 -7 51
Lincoln United 42 13 12 17 60 75 -15 51
Gretna 42 12 12 18 72 82 -10 48
Guiseley 42 11 15 16 37 50 -13 48
Kendal Town 42 12 12 18 60 69 -9 47
Farsley Celtic 42 12 11 19 53 71 -18 47
Eastwood Town 42 13 8 21 40 63 -23 47
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Winsford United 42 13 11 18 61 70 -9 44 (R)
Congleton Town 42 8 6 28 43 94 -51 30 (R)

Winsford United are relegated because they had six points deducted by the League


TIME FOR A JAMBOREE
Each year, a Barrow Jamboree is held in Spring Water Conservation area between Aylmer and St Thomas in Canada, and this year’s falls on the weekend of July 1, Roy Jay has started a website showing photographs, etc and this can be found at , and his email address is .


HOLKER, HOLD YOUR HEADS UP HIGH
Letters to the Editor, The Evening Mail, 3 May

I was one who travelled with a lot of other people to support the Holker Old Boys team in the Final of the Lancashire FA under-18 competition at Leyland, and although John Taylor's match report for the Evening Mail was an accurate one, it was obvious to me that the East Villa team had played a lot more matches together as a team than the young Holker team (Villa won 5-1). So it was a good achievement to reach the Final of this prestigious competition, and reflects great credit on the Holker manager Mike Coward and coach Ken Higginson. They have done well to keep all these lads together for the last five seasons and put them into competitions outside the area in the hope of improving the players. But the cost of travelling is a big worry. I was also impressed with the way all the Holker players turned up for the match, clean cut and smartly dressed. The way they conducted themselves during and after the match, which was commented on by Lancashire FA officials, again reflects credit on the Holker manager.

I hope the Holker club do enter a team in these competitions next season because this is the only way young players will improve.

Gordon Duff, Harrogate Street, Barrow.


CARLISLE UNITED
I had read somewhere that this weekend’s fixtures were the first time since Noah was a lad that Carlisle United had gone into the final game of the season trying to avoid relegation, something that would have pleased all like minded Cumbrian football supporters, so I was somewhat apprehensive to read the following:

BBC TV last night reported that Carlisle had a surprise visit from an FA investigation squad. They are investigating Michael Knighton's continued involvement in the affairs of the club, as Mr Knighton is debarred for five years from being a company director following allegations of mismanagement at a private school run by him and his wife. The FA investigation will take two months.


A QUICK AND WORTHWHILE EXERCISE
Thames Water have pledged UKP100,000 to Water Aid if they get 250,000 clicks on their web page over the next 10 weeks, every six minutes a child dies due to disease related to untreated water so if you would like to help, go to: .


UPS AND DOWNS
From Tony Kempster

These have been updated to incorporate Saturday's results. The 2001/02 League lineups are on my site at , there are three statuses - confirmed, almost certain and probable.

Ralph’s note: As always there are a couple of quirks that will keep people amused for a while yet, notably the ongoing saga of Chesterfield, they were originally docked nine points, but some Football League clubs have declared this is unfair and appealed this judgement, with the recommendation that the club have their points deducted, and as such are relegated to the Conference. On top of this there is the saga of the proposed merger between QPR and Wimbledon, and the recently announced FA investigation into Carlisle. Added to this the usual problems with finances and clubs going into liquidation, the close season promises to be as fraught as ever. And that’s just the Football League, there are other things going on which affect the non-League pyramid as well.

Football League Division Three: Relegated - Barnet
Conference: Promoted - Rushden & Diamonds
Conference: Relegated - Hednesford, Kingstonian and Kettering

Ryman Premier: Promoted - Farnborough
Ryman Premier: Relegated - Dulwich, Carshalton and Slough
Ryman Division One: Promoted - Boreham Wood, Bedford and Braintree
Ryman Division One: Relegated - Barton, Romford, Leatherhead
Ryman Division Two: Promoted - Tooting & Mitcham, Barking and Windsor & Eton
Ryman Division Two: Relegated - Wokingham, Leighton & Edgware
Ryman Division Three: Promoted - Arlesey, Lewes and Ashford

Dr Martens Premier: Promoted - Margate
Dr Martens Premier: Relegated - Clevedon, Fisher, Halesowen, Dorchester
Dr Martens Eastern: Promoted - Newport (IoW), Chelmsford
Dr Martens Eastern: Relegated - Spalding (to UCL) and Sittingbourne (to Kent League)
SLW: Promoted - Hinckley and Tiverton
SLW: Relegated - Paget and Bromsgrove (to MA)

UniBond Premier: Promoted - Stalybridge
UniBond Premier: Relegated - Spennymoor and Leek
NPL1: Promoted - Bradford PA and Vauxhall Motors
NPL1: Relegated - Congleton (to North West Counties) and Eastwood (to NCE)

Ralph’s note: This I believe is wrong, it will be Winsford who go down, not Eastwood, but where Winsford will go, I am uncertain

Promoted from level 8 to the UniBond League:
Northern League: No clubs have applied.
NCEL: Ossett Albion as runners-up
NWCL: Rossendale

Promoted from level 8 to Ryman League:
Any four of the following (only one from any League, champions or runners-up): Andover (Wessex League), Rushall, Barwell, Stourport (MA), Sudbury/Gorleston (Eastern Counties League), Swindon Supermarine (HL), Chatham (Kent League), Chippenham (Western League)


NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 5 MAY
Boston United 5 Hereford United 3, Chester City 1 Rushden & Diamonds 2, Doncaster Rovers 1 Telford United 2, Dover Athletic 1 Stevenage Borough 0, Hednesford Town 1 Hayes 3, Kettering Town 2 Woking 0, Kingstonian 0 Forest Green Rovers 1, Morecambe 1 Leigh RMI 2, Northwich Victoria 2 Nuneaton Borough 2, Southport 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Yeovil Town 0 Scarborough 1.

P W D L F-A Pts
Rushden & Diamonds........42 25 11 6 78-36 86
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Yeovil Town...............42 24 8 10 73-50 80
Dagenham & Redbridge......42 23 8 11 71-54 77
Southport.................42 20 9 13 58-46 69
Leigh RMI.................42 19 11 12 63-57 68
Telford United............42 19 8 15 51-51 65
Stevenage Borough.........42 15 18 9 71-61 63
Chester City..............42 16 14 12 49-43 62
Doncaster Rovers..........42 15 13 14 47-43 58
Scarborough...............42 14 16 12 56-54 58
Hereford United...........42 14 15 13 60-46 57
Boston United.............42 13 17 12 74-63 56
Nuneaton Borough..........42 13 15 14 60-60 54
Woking....................42 13 15 14 52-57 54
Dover Athletic............42 14 11 17 54-56 53
Forest Green Rovers.......42 11 15 16 43-54 48
Northwich Victoria........42 11 13 18 49-67 46
Hayes.....................42 12 10 20 44-71 46
Morecambe.................42 11 12 19 64-66 45
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Kettering Town............42 11 10 21 46-62 43
Kingstonian...............42 8 10 24 47-73 34
Hednesford Town...........42 5 13 24 46-86 28

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 4-5 MAY
4 May: Canvey Island 5 Croydon 0, Hendon 0 Aldershot Town 5.
5 May: Basingstoke Town 4 Gravesend & Northfleet 0, Canvey Island 2 Hitchin Town 2, Carshalton Athletic 4 Croydon 2, Chesham United 2 Slough Town 0, Dulwich Hamlet 0 Hendon 3, Enfield 2 Sutton United 2, Farnborough Town 1 Hampton & Richmond 1, Grays Athletic 2 Billericay Town 3, Harrow Borough 1 Purfleet 2, Heybridge Swifts 2 Aldershot Town 1, Maidenhead United 1 St Albans City 0.

P W D L F-A Pts
Farnborough Town..........42 31 6 5 86-27 99
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Canvey Island.............42 27 8 7 79-41 89
Basingstoke Town..........42 22 13 7 73-40 79
Aldershot Town............41 21 11 9 73-39 74
Chesham United............42 22 6 14 78-52 72
Gravesend & Northfleet....42 22 5 15 63-46 71
Heybridge Swifts..........42 18 13 11 74-60 67
Billericay Town...........41 18 13 10 62-54 67
Hampton & Richmond........42 18 12 12 73-60 66
Hitchin Town..............42 18 5 19 72-69 59
Purfleet..................42 14 13 15 55-55 55
Hendon....................40 16 6 18 62-62 54
Sutton United.............41 14 11 16 74-70 53
St Albans City............42 15 5 22 50-69 50
Grays Athletic............42 14 8 20 49-68 50
Maidenhead United.........42 15 2 25 47-63 47
Croydon...................42 12 10 20 55-77 46
Enfield...................42 12 9 21 48-74 45
Harrow Borough............41 10 11 20 62-91 41
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Slough Town...............42 10 9 23 40-62 39
Carshalton Athletic.......42 10 6 26 40-85 36
Dulwich Hamlet............42 4 10 28 33-84 22

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 5 MAY
Burton Albion 2 Margate 0, Clevedon Town 2 Ilkeston Town 3, Crawley Town 1 Newport County 2, Folkestone Invicta 0 Stafford Rangers 3, Halesowen Town 2 Bath City 0, Havant & Waterlooville 2 Worcester City 0, King's Lynn 0 Fisher Athletic 1, Moor Green 3 Dorchester Town 1, Salisbury City 2 Cambridge City 1, Welling United 1 Merthyr Tydfil 0, Weymouth 0 Tamworth 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Margate...................42 28 7 7 75-27 91
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Burton Albion.............42 25 13 4 76-36 88
King's Lynn...............42 18 11 13 67-58 65
Welling United............42 17 13 12 59-55 64
Weymouth..................42 17 12 13 69-51 63
Havant & Waterlooville....42 18 9 15 66-54 63
Stafford Rangers..........42 18 9 15 70-59 63
Worcester City............42 18 8 16 52-53 62
Moor Green................42 18 8 16 50-53 62
Newport County............42 17 10 15 70-61 61
Crawley Town..............42 17 10 15 61-54 61
Tamworth..................42 17 8 17 58-55 59
Salisbury City............42 17 8 17 64-69 59
Ilkeston Town.............42 16 11 15 51-61 59
Bath City.................42 15 13 14 67-68 55
Cambridge City............42 13 11 18 56-59 50
Folkestone Invicta........42 14 6 22 49-74 48
Merthyr Tydfil............42 11 13 18 49-62 46
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Clevedon Town.............42 11 7 24 61-74 40
Fisher Athletic...........42 12 6 24 51-85 39
Dorchester Town...........42 10 8 24 40-71 38
Halesowen Town............42 8 13 21 47-69 37
Bath City: 3 points deducted
Fisher Athletic: 3 points deducted

LOOK BACK AT THE 1975-76 NPL SEASON
From Terry Kendall

February 21 1976, Boston United 1 Barrow 0 (aet), NPL Cup Quarter-Final Replay.
Boston: Stewart, Moyes, Taylor, Coxon, Madden, Adamson, Gallery, Bolland, Symm, Kabia, Wilkinson. Sub. Reid.
Barrow: Duffin, Stevens, Gisbourne, Large, Yeats, Arrowsmith, Wilson, Balm, McDonald, Gill, Cook. Sub. Fairer.
Goal: Jimmy Kabia 112.
Ref. A. Jenkins (Scunthorpe). Half-time: 0-0. Att: 1250