Welcome to the Stadium , home of

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 SILBEY RANGERS FC

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th 2020 @ 3pm

UHLSPORT UCL DIVISION ONE

Match Report

Blackstones FC 1 Harrowby United 1

Blackstones FC hosted Harrowby United on 23-Sep-20 for another mid-week fixture and following a mixture of results, conjured an enthralling performance out of the hat. In a game that could have been marred by frustrating crucial official decisions, both teams knuckled down to produce a thrilling game for spectators of both denominations who had ventured out on this wet Wednesday night. Stones opened the scoring on 18-minutes when Bird's low centre was palmed away by visiting keeper. With the defence unable to fully clear their lines it fell to Bird whose second cross was flicked on by Rodden for Tomkins to sweep home from close range. Stones now played some aggressive and quick passing football and pegged Harrowby back in their half. Felt that they should have been awarded a penalty shortly afterward when Fitzjohn blazed through several challenges into the box only to have his ankle taken away before he could find the net. Smith then saw an acrobatic effort safely gathered by the visiting keeper. Harrowby looked strong and organised when they broke forward and when called upon, Dalton, had to deal with a stinging shot from distance. Harrowby equalised after 23 minutes, Stones felt, once more that they were at the wrong side of a de- cision, but, failing to react to the danger allowed the visitors to exploit the space and head home to level the scores for half time. Stones started the second half with a point to prove and they dominated the early exchanges but were unable to break the deadlock with the visiting keeper certainly on form. At the home end, Rodden and Panting were called upon to provide a couple of last-ditch challenges to deny Harrowby, and Dalton had to be alert stop them grabbing all three points.

Blackstones FC: Simon Dalton, Bogdan Masnita, Denis Tomkins, Herbie Panting, Liam Rod- den, Harry Fitzjohn, Jake Brown (Gargan), Sam Wilson, Will Bird, Craig Smith, Kieran Blanchard (Robbie Ellis). Subs not used: Bradlee Page, Mark Baines.

MAN of the MATCH TODAYS MATCH Man of the Match after the Harrowby SPONSOR: United match was awarded to Herbie Panting Kev Boor & seen here with Holly Bird (Left) Family in and Paul Downs (Right). memory of Phil (Jim) Jesson

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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 Northampton 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

Will Bird is Sponsored by Tony Laughton

Liam Rodden is Sponsored by Paul Downs

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6 Northampton Sileby Rangers FC — Brief History

The club was founded in 1968 as the works team of the Sileby Engineering Company, whose main office was originally in Sileby, . Rangers initially played as a Sunday club and made rapid progress through the Sunday Alliance divisions, becoming one of the county's leading clubs. Sileby won the Northants FA Sunday Cup in 1975 and were beaten finalists in 1973, 1979, 1983 and 1993. The club branched into Saturday football in the mid eighties joining the Northampton Town League. They won back to back cham- pionships in 1989 and 1990 and were runners up in 1991 and 1993, by which time the club had changed its name to Vanaid as part of a sponsorship arrangement. The club also won the Gorell Barnes Cup and reached the Northants FA Junior Cup final in 1987, losing to the Diamonds’ second string. The introduction of the UCL Pyramid paved the way for the club to progress, and a site at Fernie Fields in Moulton was obtained and developed into a UCL standard ground. Second place in the Town League in 1993 earned Vanaid a Division One place as they became the first club to graduate from the junior pyramid. Under the management of former Cobblers’ chairman Dick Underwood, Vanaid made a huge impact in the UCL, winning the Division One title and adding the Northants FA Junior Cup for the first time, beating ON Chenecks by the only goal at the County Ground. Vanaid also reached the Benevolent Cup final and claimed two Premier Division scalps in the Knockout Cup, but with planning permission for floodlights denied they were unable to move up to the top flight. Vanaid won the NFA Junior Cup for a second time in 1997. Three years later the club reverted to the Sileby Rangers name, but on the field fortunes plummeted as they finished next to bottom. That downturn was a blip as, under manager Nick Verity, Sileby beat Roth- well Corinthians in successive Junior Cup finals in 2002 and 2003, winning the Division One title for a second time in the latter campaign. The club's long running floodlight saga finally ended in 2004 with the facility installed over the summer along with a new ground entrance. Rangers went on to win their third Division One title in manager Gary Petts’ first season in charge, heading Whitworths on goal difference.

Several disappointing league seasons followed, although in 2009/10 they narrowly lost in the Northants FA Junior Cup final, beaten 1-0 by ON Chenecks. With an eye on future promotion, the club installed an impressive new stand and terracing for the 2010/11 season.

The 2011/12 season started in a disappointing manner, the club withdrawing their Reserve team from UCL Reserve Division One and the successful Under 18s side from the Northants Senior Youth League. The remainder of the 2011/12 season proved little better, with Sileby finishing next to bottom in Division One and ending with Gary Petts’ resignation as manager.

After a title-winning season with Long Buckby in the Premier Division, the management team of Glenn Botterill and and Matthew Green joined the club, and they managed to secure promotion to the Premier Division for Sileby in their first season. Sileby claimed the Division One championship with a 3-1 away win in their final match, pipping newcomers AFC Rushden & Diamonds to the title by just two points.

However, the start to the club’s Premier Division status suffered a setback straight away, with the resignation of Glenn Botterill and his team less than three weeks before the start of the season. Scott Goodwin was appointed as his replacement but, after a promising period in September, the club was forced was part company with the new manager after only just over 3 months in charge. Daren Young took over at the beginning of December with the unenviable task of building another new squad and avoiding the threat of relegation, and managed to do so with only just over a week to spare.

2014/15 again saw Sileby at the wrong end of the UCL Premier Division for most of the season, but a third consecutive season at Step 5 was secured just one game before the end of the season. The start of the 2015/16 season saw Daren Young step down, for person- al reasons, and succeeded by Lee Duffy, who acted as his assistant for much of the previous campaign. Lee’s first season in charge was again dominated by a struggle to stay clear of the relegation positions, but a strong finish in the final couple of months again ensured survival.

The 2016/17 season was by far Sileby’s best in the UCL Premier Division, with the club being the last unbeaten side in the League, and for much of the season looking as if a top three finish was possible. A run of poor results towards the end of the season saw the club finish 8th, but overall an excellent achievement.

With Lee Duffy resigning in the close season, 2017/18 the season started with experienced player Andrew Hall taking charge, assisted by former player Nathan Marsh. However, after a string of poor results, Hill resigned after a few weeks, leaving Marsh in sole charge. With little improvement in results, the club parted company with Marsh in October, appointing the experienced Matt Clarke and Paul Brackwell. The change failed to pay dividends, with the pair failing to pick up a single win in over 5 months, leaving the club bottom of the table and relegated to Division One.

The 2018/19 season started with a new management team of Mitchell Austin, assisted by Craig Mander and Jim Freeman, with most of the previous season’s squad having been replaced. However, the resignation in February of the management team, and subse- quent departure of all but one of the players, left the club with the unenviable task of finding a new management team and a full squad of players less than three months from the end of the season. Former players Marc Ansell and Marc Fisher stepped in at short notice and steered the club to safety, and they continue in charge into the new season.

Major development work at Fernie Fields, that has been taking place over the last few months of the season and over the close season, is scheduled to be completed early in the 2019/20 campaign. The work will see larger changing rooms for the players, officials and female officials, an extension to the clubhouse to allow indoor bowling, enhanced kitchen facilities, and a separate clubhouse for the small- sided and disabled sports hosted on site.

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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). Wednesday evening, we entertained Har- rowby and must say what a great advert for UCL Division One great game and a very good performance from our lads. The whole team worked extremely hard and the lads were disappointed to come off the pitch with a point. But we move on to another tough game today. Northampton Sileby Rangers have made a very good start to the season hav- ing beaten Lutterworth Athletic and Holwell Sports in the first four league games. We certainly need to be on it from the start. Enjoy the game

UP THE STONES!!!!! GARY PEACE

Afternoon all hope everyone took plenty of posi- tives from Wednesdays performance thought the lads gave everything and think we can all agree the ref had a shocker and definitely cost us the win. However the job now is to find the consisten- cy and get a run going looking at results could be a very compact league this season so a mini run could really put us up there and let’s hope off the back of weds perfor- mance we can now push on and find our feet in this league and start moving up

Thank you for your continued support and hopefully we can deliver the 3 points today

Mark Baines 1st Team Gaffa

10 Table

Fixtures

11 Matchday Gallery

Craig Smith

Jake Brown

Bogdan Masnita 12

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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 Saturday 3rd October 2020, at home to St Andrews FC in the ULHSPORT UCL Division 1, Kick off 3pm

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