UCL Review 2014-2015

2014-15 DIARY

June: Oadby appoint Steve Walker as manager….. Deeping groundsman Dave Holmes is nominated for the annual FA Groundsman of the Year award….St Neots Town Saints are to be renamed St Neots Town Youth & Saints . July: The release of the FA competition draws sees Harrowby included in the FA Cup for the first time while Peterborough Sports and St Neots Saints are set for their FA Vase bows….Former Cogenhoe and Long Buckby striker Dan Holman signs for League One Colchester…. Bourne stalwarts Darren Munton and Steve Elger take up the roles of co-chairmen at the Abbey Lawn…. AFC Rushden & Diamonds lift a couple of items of pre-season silverware, beating Rushden & Higham 2-0 in the Chris Ruff Memorial Cup and Hinckley AFC in the Supporters Direct Shield….Joe Smyth resigns as manager of Burton Park who hand Jimmy Simpson the vacancy….A charity match between Eynesbury veterans and the Arsenal celebrity team is watched by almost a thousand people and raises over £6,000 for local good causes….Five times world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan agrees to sponsor one of Deeping ’s junior sides…. Cogenhoe hold Northampton Town to a goalless draw in a pre-season friendly but Wellingborough fare less well going down 6-0 to the Cobblers who also beat Sileby 9-0…. Yaxley win the Mildenhall tournament beating Sawston and the host club in 50 minute matches…. Stewarts & Lloyds lose to Corby Town in the Bob Cumming Memorial Cup match…. Holbeach are beaten by Grantham on penalties in the Ted Drury Memorial Cup….AFC Rushden & Diamonds appoint Andy Keen as Under 21 manager. August: The earliest ever start to a league season sees Deeping beat Harborough 3-0 in the first match of the groundhop….Further matches follow at Yaxley , Peterborough Sports and Peterborough Northern Star over the opening weekend of the month…..1,153 spectators watch the four matches…. Bourne lose 8-2 to Stamford in the Wilf Notley Memorial Cup match…. AFC Rushden & Diamonds Under 21 s beat Buckingham 5-4 to win the James Victory Cup…. Sleaford ’s first match against AFC Rushden & Diamonds is postponed after manager Kris Jones suffers life threatening injuries in a road accident. Terry Fleming steps into the breach as caretaker manager….The first full day of the new season sees Premier newcomers Thurnby lose 3-1 at home to Cogenhoe but there are wins for promoted pair Eynesbury and Harrowby …..FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round action brings victories for AFC Kempston , AFC Rushden & Diamonds , Holbeach , Peterborough Northern Star , Sileby , Thurnby and Wisbech while there are replay successes for Boston Town and Cogenhoe …..Preliminary Round ties bring further wins for AFC Kempston , Boston Town and Wisbech …. Boston Town announce plans to mark their 50 th anniversary by setting up a ‘Hall of Fame’ to honour fifty of their best ever players….Jay Harrison is axed as Harrowby co-manager leaving Mark Fardell in sole control…. Wellingborough also make an early change with Ben Watts dismissed and replaced by a co-manager partnership of Joe Smyth and Steve Herring….Monthly managerial awards go to Holbeach co-bosses John Chand and Graham Drury and Peterborough Sports chief Chris Plummer….The season’s first Goalscorer of the Month award is shared by Jezz Goldson-Williams of Bourne and Drew Mitten of Buckingham …. Deeping groundsman Dave Holmes finishes third in the step 5 and 6 Groundsman of the Year award….Former UCL referee Stuart Burt is on the line for the European Super Cup final at Cardiff. September: AFC Rushden & Diamonds beat Bedford Town in their FA Cup Preliminary Round replay….. AFC Kempston are removed from the competition for playing an ineligible player with Sileby reinstated….First Qualifying Round ties see AFC Rushden & Diamonds bow out at Hendon, Boston Town suffer a heavy reverse at Kings Lynn and Wisbech lose at Norwich United while last survivors Sileby fail to make the most of their reprieve, exiting to North Greenford in their delayed tie….The FA Vase kicks off with the First Qualifying Round and there are victories for AFC Kempston , Newport Pagnell , Thurnby, Yaxley , Burton Park , Northampton Spencer , Potton and Woodford …. Irchester are beaten in their replay at Staines Lammas but are awarded the tie as their conquerors field an ineligible player…. Olney win at higher grade Wellingborough in the first Knockout Cup surprise of the season. ..Reserve Knockout Cup holders Peterborough Northern Star are beaten at Thrapston in their first defence…The new Under 21 Division kicks off with 14 goals in two matches…. Deeping honour two stalwarts who passed away in the summer naming their ground after Haydon Whitham and their stand after Norman Fowler….Nathan Collins resigns as Boston Town boss to be replaced by Dan Barrett…..Barry Britton leaves Stewarts & Lloyds with Alex Cross taking over at Occupation Road….Ed Wheatley announces he is to leave Olney ….. Oadby part company with summer appointee Steve Walker….Managerial awards go to Brett Whaley of Yaxley and Darren Staniforth of Potton ….Adam Scotcher of Blackstones is the month’s top marksman.

4