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OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 2020/2021

Members of the Chroma Sports and Trophies United Counties League, Division One League KO Cup Winners 2002/04 Lincs Senior ‘A’ Cup Winners 1992/93, 2003/04 & 2007/08 Lincs Senior Trophy Winners 2010/11, Runners-Up 2015/16 SRSN Daniels Cup Winners 2015/2016, 2017/2018 Runners-Up 2016/17

VS BIRSTALL UNITED SOCIAL FC

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th 2020 @ 3pm

UHLSPORT UCL DIVISION ONE

Match Report

Long Buckby AFC 1 Blackstones FC 0

Saturday Blackstones FC took on Long Buckby AFC in this top against mid-table fixture where Stones were hoping to restart their season.

Stones started well, and on 3 minutes Peasgood signalled intent when breaking through from midfield, he was upended on the edge of the home team’s 18-yard box. From the free kick, Bird struck hard and low and the ball cracked off the upright and out for a goal kick. Stones set up to maintain a solid defence and break when the opportunity arose. This strategy frus- trated Long Buckby and presented the Stones’ attack with several chances on goal, but unfor- tunately these chances went begging.

The second half continued in the same fashion, Stones defending well, with Dalton making 2 fingertip saves to deny the home side who were resulting to long range shots. With 16 minutes remaining Long Buckby broke down the Stones’ left flank and centred the ball where it found a lone striker who shanked the ball into the net. Stones now pressed and pressed, Peasgood meeting a corner from Masnita in the dying embers of the game, to see his header flash wide, but the home side put up the shutters, defended well and held on for the 3 points.

Next Saturday, 24th October 2020, Stones are at home against Birstall United Social FC, hoping to reverse the current trend, in the next instalment of the UCL Div 1 Season, kick off 3pm. Then on Wednesday 28th October 2020, Stones are again at home to Town FC, kick off 7:45pm.

Blackstones FC: Simon Dalton, Denis Tomkins, Dan Wilson, Herbie Panting, Liam Rodden (Mark Baines), Harry Peasgood, Bogdan Masnita, Sam Wilson, Will Bird, Jake Brown (Daniel Gargan), Kieran Blanchard. Sub not used: Harry Fitzjohn. MAN of the MATCH MATCH SPONSOR: Man of the Match after the St Andrews Tony Windsor match was awarded to Sam Wilson Tony is a former Groundsman at the Club, both Football and Bowls. He is a long term supporter of BFC. The at- tached photo is of his old oak workbench we found in the workshop that Mitch has lovingly restored.

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3 STONES HISTORY

The first club with links with Blackstones was the Ironworks; the club’s headquarters were the Half Moon Inn while matches were played on Ryhall Road, Stamford. The first trace of the Ironworks was recorded in 1891, the local press reported them beating Stamford Town Reserves 1-0. By the 1892-93 season the Ironworks were the best team around, dislodging the longer established Town, but in the summer of 1894 the clubs merged. The Great War was almost over by the time the next Blackstones Club emerged, joining the League in 1918 winning the championship that season. However, the club’s success, indeed its life was short-lived withdrawing from league the following season. 1921 the club re-emerged under a new name Rutland Engineering Works. The Peterborough League of the twenties was formida- ble with the likes of Spalding, Bourne and Yaxley. The club opted for more local competitions, in 1929-30 they lined up in both the Stam- ford Amateur and Deepings Leagues. In 1929-30 they won the championship of both competitions. By 1933 the club again disappeared from the scene. In 1938 the club by now known as Blackstones returned to action, again playing in two leagues Peterborough and Stam- ford Amateur Leagues. Both leagues abandoned during the Second World War. In 1949 the club returned to the Peterborough League but in 1951 they re-joined the Stamford Amateur League. 1959 saw them re-join the Peterborough League and this was to last 25 years. 1960- 1961 was one of the club's most successful years winning promotion to Division Two and capturing four local cup competitions. Further success followed a year later when the Division Two title was won and promotion to Division One again followed. However, the following season saw them relegated again. 1969 once more saw the club gain promotion back into Division One. 1975-76 the clubs won Division One and along with the improving facilities at Lincoln Road were promoted to the . The eight seasons at that level saw a best finishing place of fourth in 1977-78. During 1978 they were accepted into the FA. Vase for the first time. In the seventies, the club had established a youth policy under the guidance of Pete Thomas and this was a great success. The best-known player to emerge from this policy was Alan Nelson who was signed by Newcastle United and later transferred to Southampton for a fee of £300,000. In1984 the club entered senior football by joining the United Counties League Division One. 1987 saw the Stones (as they were now nicknamed) promoted to the Premier Division, finishing runners-up to Spencer. 1987-88 had also seen Reserves join the UCL. By 1990 they completed the Double, winning the Reserve Division One title and Reserve Knockout Cup. In 1987 floodlights were installed. The following season the lights were officially opened with Aston Villa sending a strong side to open them, the result being a 2-2 draw. 1991-92 season saw the Stones have an exciting FA. Cup run, beating Bishops Stortford in a First Qualifying Round replay at Lin- coln Road 2-0. Stones made their exit in the next round losing by a single goal to Heybridge Swifts. 1992-93 saw the Stones land their first major trophy, the Lincs Senior Cup A. In a dramatic final against Bourne, Stones ran out 2-1 winners after extra time. Since entering the Premier Division our best finish in that time is 6th place. Since winning the Lincs Cup in 1993 we then reached two further Cup Finals, losing both! 1995 we lost 5-1 to Bedford Town in the Hinchingbrooke Cup Final at St Neots Town and then in 1997 we lost 3-1 to Glapwell in the Evans Halshaw Floodlit Cup Final at Ilkeston Town. The Stones have had six Chairmen since joining the United Counties League, Andy MacDonald, Bill Sewell, Darren Laughton, Kevin Boor, K.Doyle and Gary Peace. We have also had 12 Managers in that period, Ian Jarvie, Chris Corby, Steve Blades, Dominic Genovese, Vince Adams, Ian Jackson, Mel Landin, Kevin Flynn, Tony Lowther, D.Bird and Joint M. Goode and D. Jarvis, Dave Stratton, Gary Peace, Phil Gadsby and Andy Lodge. Season 2003-04 proved to be yet another successful one on the "Cup Front" for the Club. Four finals were reached, with the first team "winning" the County Senior 'A Cup for the second time but losing in the Hinchingbrooke Cup Final. Meanwhile the Reserves went one better in their League Knockout Cup, beating Spalding United in the final but losing in the final of the Ancaster Cup. Both sides im- proved their position in the League and off the field further improvements were made to Lincoln Road. 2003-2004, 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 seasons all ended with the senior team winning the Lincs Senior Trophy. Season 2012/13 Was dramatic. December 2013 saw managers Jarvis and Goode resign followed by 8 senior players, new manager Dave Strat- ton, due to financial restraints within the club, could not attract established UCL players with the result that Blackstone's finished in a relegation position. After 23 years in the Premier League Stones were relegated. Season 2013/14 Saw Stones struggling to adapt to Division 1 Football the early Season results were disappointing resulting in a change of Manager, in early September, Dave Stratton was replaced by Chairman Gary Peace. Results improved but not enough, finishing third from bottom. Season 2014/15, Gary stood aside for Phil Gadsby who brought in player and the season began to look better, but although reaching the final of the Lincs Trophy, losing on penalties to Winterton Rangers, and Winning the Daniels Cup against Stamford Lions, Stones finished 17th that year. The following season was yet another challenge struggling to string results together finishing mid table, then with results failing to materialise in the 2016/17 season and a poor Christmas period a managerial change took place and Andy Lodge took the reins. Now to see what Andy can achieve in the 2017/18 Season. Mid November Andy Lodge stood down from the posi- tion of manager and was succeeded by Dan French and Lee Clarke in a joint role. Season 2017/18 with Dan and Lee at the helm saw a mixed bag of results as the new management got to grips with the challenges of the UCL, finishing 8th in the league, and once more reaching the final of the Daniels cup and for the second time in 3 years lifted the trophy beating Cottesmore Amateurs 2-1 on the day. The 2018/19 season saw Stones competing in every area and securing a 5th place finish. The 2019/20 season started well, after losing the opening match they went on an eight-game winning streak, stumbled in November before winning the 3 games over Xmas and New Year. From then until mid-March Stones only picked up one win losing the rest before Covid-19 brought the season to an abrupt halt. It was then that Dan and Lee left to take up the reigns at Deeping Rangers and after socially distanced interviews Stones appointed Mark Baines as the new manager, lets see how Stones fare under his tenure.

4 Player & Sponsors Sam Wilson is Sponsored by Kevin & Pam Boor Harry Fitzjohn is Sponsored by Gary Peace

Stones Keeper Simon Dalton is Sponsored by Rodney Sadd

Tom Edwards is Sponsored by Len & Val Warrington

Will Bird is Sponsored by Tony Laughton

Liam Rodden is Sponsored by Paul Downs

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6 Birstall United Social FC — Brief History

Birstall United Football Club were formed in 1961. Initially playing Sunday football in the Leicester and District League where they enjoyed great success, taking three League championships and also the FA Sunday Intermediate Cup.

After their Sunday success the club switched to Saturday football, joining the Leicester Mutual League. Again it is success all the way with Divisions 5, 4 and 3 being won in successive seasons while the Leicestershire FA Sunday Senior cup was also won while the club operated on both days of the weekend.

1972/73 proved a memorable campaign with the club winning the Leicester Mutual League Division One for the first time, a year later United repeated the feat and added the Leicester FA Junior Cup South by beating Qadby ‘67 by four goals to nil in the final. Birstall en- joyed a third Mutual League Championship in 1976 when the time came to make the logical progression up the ladder to the Leicester- shire Senior league, Birstall being accepted into Division two for the 1976/77 season.

Birstall enjoyed two thrilling battles with Hillcroft for supremacy in their initial senior league campaign, finishing topof the league by a single point with Hillcroft second and adding the Tebbutt Brown Cup with a 3-0 win in the replayed final after the two clubs had drawn the initial match -1 1. Thus 1977 saw Birstall in the top flight of the Senior League where they have remained to this day.

So far Birstall have not won the Senior League Championship, nevertheless, have usually been amongst the leading clubs. Their best season being 1981/82 when they finished as runner-up to Anstey Nomads, but did have some consolation by beating Nomads 1-0 in the Tebbutt Brown Cup Final.

Twelve months later and another final for Birstall, this time it was the Leicestershire FA Senior cup when the lost to Hinckley Athletic by two clear goals. The 1984/85 campaign saw the Tebbutt Brown Cup won for the third time with Anstey Nomads again being beaten in the final this time the score line was 3-2.

Two seasons later and the final of the Leicestershire FA Cup was reached only for Birstall to go down 1-4 to the now defunct Leicester United. A forth Tebbutt Brown cup final came Birstall’s way in the 1988/89 season but this time the silverware went to Stapenhill who won the match 4-0, Birstall lost 2-1 after extra time in the Senior Cup Final to Friar Lane.

1994 saw Birstall win the first Beacon Bitter floodlight cup.

Birstall finally won the Senior Cup beating Oadby Town 1-0 in 1996. In 1998 at the beginning of the season the club won the Battle of Britton Charity Cup beating Oadby Town 1-0 in the final. At the end of the season Birstall beat Ibstock Welfare in a penalty shoot out to regain the Senior Cup, and completed the treble the year after beating Oadby after penalties.

The turn of the century saw the club go through mixed fortunes both on and off the field. Although the 2nd team regularly competed for honours, the first team struggled to keep track on the leading clubs and if truth be told, the standard of the ground and club facilities declined. In 2010 however, the club was taken over by a group of members who transformed the inside of our dated clubhouse and gave us a venue to be proud of again.

In 2012 the club applied for, and successfully accrued funding from the Olympic legacy fund which kick started our ambitions to bring the club back to life. Improvements on the ground started with new changing facilities, followed by re- rendering of the club, hard standing around the pitch and a 54 seater stand. During the past four years the committee have embraced the challenge of rebuilding our club, which in turn produced a massive upturn in the fortunes of the club on the field. Old stalwarts came back, recognising the efforts that had been made to improve the facilities and after narrowly missing out on promotion in 2015, the club finally achieved promotion to the East Midland counties league last season. This was achieved by winning the Everards Brewery senior league. A feat we are all very proud of.

Now in our 5th decade of being the largest football club in the village, the committee are relishing this new challenge that stands before us and look forward to the next 50 years.

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Club Advertising Opportunities

Blackstones football club would like to announce the follow- ing:

Advertising boards available for 2020/21 season. Sizes:

1200mm x 1500mm.

1200mm x 3000mm.

Email [email protected] for prices. 8

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Good afternoon and welcome to the LINCOLN ROAD STADIUM TORNEY LTD for this UCL Division one match. Firstly, I would like to welcome our visitors today Bir- stall United. Our results lately have not been great due to the amount of injuries we have had, but throughout the season it’s something you have to put up with, but unfortunately for us we had them all come at the same time. Bainsey has been working hard to bring some new faces in, and I am pleased to welcome back to Blackstones HARRY PEASGOOD and LEWIS LECKIE with also BOGDAN MASNITA joining permanently from Netherton. I believe with these additions to our squad good times are just around the cor- ner. Reminder Wednesday we are at home again to Huntingdon Town FC, kick-off 7.45. We need your support.

UP THE STONES!!!!! GARY PEACE

Hello all I wish we were meeting again with us in bet- ter form but unfortunately last few results haven't gone our way, having said that I took a lot from last sat game at Buckby and feel we are now collectively on the right path. We definitely deserved at least a point last week even though they had a lot of the ball I would say their centre half and right back touched it the most so it shows how well we shaped up and definitely had the better chances, we just need to start taking them now, maybe today is the day.

Hopefully with 2 homes games in next few days and get 6 points on the board and make our way back up the table

Thanks for continued support

Mark Baines 1st Team Gaffa

10 Table

Fixtures

11 Matchday Gallery

Will Bird Dan Wilson Simon Dalton

Harry Peasgood Bogdan Kieran Blanchard Masnita

Liam Rodden

Herbie Panting

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President - TBC Vice Presidents - B Sewell, M Wallace, K Boor, C Cramp, A Dawson, D Hall, D Laughton, B Daff, P Mitchell. Chairman – Gary Peace Vice Chairman –Tony Laughton Secretary – Ian MacGillivray Treasurer – Arthur Manners Fixtures Secretary - Gary Peace Press and Programmes – Martin Davies Commercial Manager - Paul Downs Committee– Shaun Arthur, Ian Baxter, Darren Wiggins, Simon Bell. First Team Manager - Mark Baines Assistant First Team Manager - Lloyd Burton

18 Blackstones FC Team

19 MATCHDAY LINE UPS

Stones are next in action on Wednesday 28th October 2020, at home to Huntingdon Town FC in the ULHSPORT UCL Division 1, Kick off 7:45pm. (Please note that COVID 19 restrictions are in force with use and access to the bar. No Alcohol allowed pitch side.)

Programme Produced and Printed by M Davies. 20 Any views or comments expressed are personal and may not reflect the official stance of the FA or BlackstonesFC