2 Enjoy expert HR and health & safety support to get you back to business Whether you need to manage furlough, stay COVID secure, or make tough HR choices for your business, Peninsula’s here to keep you safe and successful, whatever challenge you face: • HR & Employment Law • Staff Wellbeing • Health & Safety • Payroll Advice Get 10 % off any of the PENINSULA services 0808 145 3388 Quote: peninsula-uk.comSalford City vs Harrogate Town www.salfordcityfc.co.ukSALFORD01 3 HONOURS Eccles & District League Division 2 1955-56, 1959-60 Eccles & District League Division 3 1958-59 Manchester League Division 1 1968-69 Manchester League Premier Division 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79 Northern Premier League Division 1 North 2014-15 Northern Premier League Play-Off Winners 2015-16 National League North 2017-18 National League Play-Off Winners 2018-19 Lancashire FA Amateur Cup 1971, 1973, 1975 Manchester FA Challenge Trophy 1975, 1976 Manchester FA Intermediate Cup 1977, 1979 Di’Shon Bernard was voted as the PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans’ NWCFL Challenge Cup 2006 Player of the Month for December! 14. Salford City vs Harrogate Town CLUB ROLL President Dave Russell Chairman Karen Baird 5 9 Secretary Andy Giblin WELLENS Richie REPORTS Match Committee Pete Byram, Ged Carter, Barbara Gaskill, Terry Gaskill, Ian Malone, Frank McCauley, Paul Raven, George Russell, Bill Taylor, Alan Tomlinson, Dave Wilson Shop Manager Tony Sheldon Media Zarah Connolly, Ryan Deane, Will Moorcroft Photography Charlotte Tattersall, Howard Harrison 17 27 First Team Manager Richie Wellens VISITORS The NEW SIGNINGS Introducing... GK Coach Carlo Nash Kit Manager Paul Rushton Physio Dave Rhodes Club Doctor Dr. Mubin Ibrahim Sport Science Youl Mawene Performance Analysis Ross Duncan Director of Football Chris Casper Programme printed by MatchDay Creative WATCH TODAY’S MATCH here 4 We’ve been voted ‘Uswitch Most Popular Broadband Provider of the Year’ for the second year running. Salford City vs Harrogate Town www.salfordcityfc.co.uk 5 Richie Wellens “They are a driven group of players who want to achieve the best, and they are certainly more than capable of that.” It’s good to be back at home after what feels I was glad to be back around this week having like a very long run of away games because of missed last weekend, but I watched from home and postponed fixtures and re-arranged games from was in constant communication with the bench. A earlier in the season. point is never bad, although I felt we could have won all three in the circumstances. We’ve had some mixed results since Boxing Day, and I feel we probably could have picked up a few We were also at the reserves’ game at Scunthorpe more than we have but now we are back at The on Tuesday afternoon, and it was good to see Peninsula Stadium it’s an opportunity to focus and Richie Towell get some minutes as well as some register some more points on the board. encouraging performances from some of the younger players who are aspiring to break through. Four of our next five games are at home, and there’s a local away game at Oldham Athletic so Tonight’s visitors Harrogate have brought in some with less travelling required I expect an increase in new faces, and come here with a good away energy and application from the players. record. I would like to extend a welcome to Simon Weaver, his players and staff, and have a safe trip They are a driven group of players who want to home after the game. achieve the best, and they are certainly more than capable of that. However we have added to the Thank you to the supporters too for your continued squad in the last week with the arrivals of Robbie support! Stay safe and hopefully we’ll see you and Tom on loan, and they will give us a bit more back here sooner rather than later... competition and quality in the squad that will hopefully get us to where we want to be. Come on Salford! We’ve been voted ‘Uswitch Most Popular Broadband Provider of the Year’ for the second year running. 6 Every business needs a Champion Against a backdrop of COVID-19, your accountant should go beyond just compliance to deliver a complete advisory role. At Champion, we are one of our clients’ greatest assets, supporting individuals, businesses and their teams in a collaborative partnership. Speak to one of our 0161 703 2500 experts today. www.linkedin.com/company/ Offices in Manchester (HQ), Chester, champion-accountants Blackpool and Preston @ChampionAccount [email protected] www.championgroup.co.uk Salford City vs Harrogate Town www.salfordcityfc.co.uk 7 Frankly Speaking... My Frankly programme musings for the postponed Colchester United game began as follows: Nobody can say we’re not consistent at Salford! Two seasons in the Sky Bet League Two and we’ve lost the first match of each new year away from home by the only goal of the game. Last season it was Grimsby, this time Leyton hospital admissions rising daily the conversation, Every business Orient. We’ve also lost our second game each like the Virus, is already out there - will, can the January by a 2-1 score line – last time home to football season survive to the final fixtures? Walsall and this year away at Mansfield Town. needs a Last Saturday the virus was the reason behind So, as the delayed 2020-21 season reaches the another four postponements in the EFL. That halfway point we, belatedly tonight, face our first brought the total across the season (including the Champion game of 2021 at the Peninsula Stadium finding Premier League) to over 60 matches. There are ourselves sitting in fifth spot in the table with 37 bound to be some more as, apart from the virus, it points to our name. How, you are wondering to is to be expected that the winter weather will have yourself, does that compare to our situation and to some influence on the state of playing surfaces that of the Division in general this time last season? across the League (as we well know from the I shall tell you. Colchester United postponement). Against a backdrop of COVID-19, your accountant The top three clubs were Swindon Town, Exeter For a number of weeks there has been a murmur City and Crewe Alexandra. Northampton Town calling for a pause or ‘circuit break’ in the season should go beyond just compliance to deliver a were in sixth position. Now fast forward to 7th with an extension, hopefully, to follow. At the March and our home victory over Bradford City – moment the Ammies have 10 viable mid-week our last fixture before the first ‘lockdown’ brought dates available to mop up any postponements. complete advisory role. the regular season to a premature halt. By then we were in 10th place on 50 points, the top three A plus is that players in the EFL are now being were Crewe, Swindon and Plymouth Argyle and tested twice weekly through the PFA, estimated Northampton were in seventh spot (the four teams by some sources to have a likely cost of £5million. At Champion, we are one of our clients’ greatest who were promoted). And based on last season’s calculations we are currently in a better position if the League should assets, supporting individuals, businesses and So, compared to this time last season (when more conclude the season prematurely. games had been played) we find ourself better off their teams in a collaborative partnership. by two points but more importantly, I believe, we A quick thought to finish. It was announced are sitting in fifth position in the table compared to last week that Ticketmaster has confirmed that 13th place this time last year. refunds will be automatically given to Salford and Portsmouth supporters for the postponed EFL I say our League placing is crucial because, Trophy Final against Portsmouth at Wembley. Does unfortunately, there is that big cloud looming on this suggest chances of this game taking place are the horizon. That light at the end of the Covid-19 receding? That being the case would that make Speak to one of our Tunnel, ignited by the arrival of the vaccines, Salford joint holders of the Trophy with Portsmouth? 0161 703 2500 has certainly dimmed very quickly. Under the experts today. new ‘lockdown’ rules ‘elite’ football is allowed to After all the competition was played, it would just www.linkedin.com/company/ continue but like everything else that could change. be the final that didn’t happen. Imagine! Our first Offices in Manchester (HQ), Chester, champion-accountants piece of silverware in our first season in the EFL!! Blackpool and Preston With positive cases having risen alarmingly and @ChampionAccount [email protected] www.championgroup.co.uk 8 Salford City vs Harrogate Town www.salfordcityfc.co.uk 9 Newport County - 0 Salford City - 0 Rodney Parade 16/01/2021 Sky Bet League Two Possession 44% 56% Newport County Salford City Shots 1. Tom King 1. Vaclav Hladky 4 8 3. Ryan Haynes 3. Ibou Touray (Baker 17’) 4. Jason Lowe Shots On Target 4. Joss Labadie (c) 6. Tom Clarke (c) 8. Matty Dolan 9. Tom Elliott 10. Josh Sheehan (Wilson 65’) 2 0 15. David Longe-King 10. Ash Hunter 17. Scot Bennett 12. Di’Shon Bernard Corners 27. Jake Scrimshaw 16. Jordan Turnbull (Ellison 70’) 18. Oscar Threlkeld 5 8 28. Mickey Demetriou 24. Robbie Gotts 29. Ryan Taylor (Thomas-Asante 79’) Fouls Committed (Abrahams 70’) 40.