OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME Tuesday 4th February 2020 The North Beds Charity Cup – Quarter Final BIGGLESWADE UNITED v STOTFOLD What’s Inside

• Welcome • The Chairman’s View – Guillem Balague • (published Friday 31ST January) • The Players • Match Report v Dunstable Town • Highlights from our recent games • Current Premier Division Standings • Current Division One Standings • Premier Division Results and Fixtures • First Team Results and Fixture Dates • Biggleswade United Under 23 • Biggleswade United Ladies FC • Next Up at Second Meadow • Our Club History • Stotfold FC – The History • First Team Appearances and Goals • Our Forthcoming Fixtures • Venue For Hire

Welcome

Welcome to Second Meadow Good evening and welcome to Second Meadow for tonight’s North Beds Charity Cup Quarter Final tie. We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of our visitors STOTFOLD FOOTBALL CLUB. We also welcome our three match officials and we hope that you enjoy your short stay with us.

Match Preview – Courtesy of Leon Waite @leonwaite98 Trying to type out updates on Twitter in the numbing, English weather without gloves is challenging but United and Dunstable Town were most accommodating on Saturday as they played out a rather uneventful, uninspiring 0-0 draw.

The uneven surface at Creasey Park combined with some ferocious winds made it a difficult afternoon for both sides, with United particularly struggling to progress the ball through the midfield as they usually do so effectively.

They created chances sparingly with Ryan Neufville coming closest to breaking the deadlock when his close-range shot clipped the crossbar as it went over but a stalemate was probably an accurate reflection of a disjointed afternoon’s football. It means United have taken just two points from a possible six against clubs in the lower reaches of the table - after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with North Greenford United - ahead of a tough clash with league leaders Colney Heath next Saturday.

Our Visitors Tonight – Stotfold FC The Eagles finished second bottom in the SSML Premier Division last term and were relegated on goal difference after finishing level on points with Cockfosters. In their bid to return to the top division they sit 6th in Division One, eight points off second-place Winslow United but with a game in hand that you’d expect them to win on current form. Since losing 4-3 at London Tigers at the start of November, they’ve won 11 consecutive matches in all competitions (12 if you include a walkover in the Hinchingbrooke Cup) and have scored a remarkable forty goals in that period. Yet it’s their defensive record in the league that stands out as their 21 goals conceded in as many matches represents the best in the competition and - aside from league leaders St Panteleimon - no other side comes compares with fifth-place Milton Keynes Robbins shipping 51, for example. United have won the previous three meetings between the clubs to halt a run of four straight defeats to The Eagles which included the infamous 2-0 loss in the 2017 North Beds Charity Cup final. The clubs face off once again in this competition tonight with either Potton United or Barton Rovers waiting in the next round,.

The Chairman’s View

Chairman Guillem Balague

Someone much wiser than me hit the nail Volunteering is also the perfect way to on the head when they said that, forge new friendships, meet new but "volunteers are not paid, not because similarly-minded people and build your they are worthless, but because they are links within the community. priceless." It needn't be all-consuming so it ends up Whatever it is that floats your boat, lights overtaking your life but something that is your candle or rocks your socks then the mutually beneficial to all parties. I read reality is that without the sterling efforts somewhere that research has shown that of volunteers the vast majority of clubs just two or three hours a week - or put and organisations across the length and another way, about 100 hours a year - can breadth of this magnificently altruistic be the ideal amount of time people can nation, would simply be unable to spend to mutually benefit both the cause function on a day to day basis. and the volunteeers themselves.

Here at Biggleswade United we are no different and are continually looking for And it is not just about gaining a foothold people who have some free time on their on the employment ladder but also much hands and would like to join our project. more about giving something to the community that we live in. In the words of People that are recently retired and are Winston Churchill, " We make a living by looking for ways to fill their days and who what we get, but we make a life by what could well have a particular skill or we give." attribute to offer, or at the other end of the age spectrum, younger people keen to gain life and/or work experience that If you think you can help us we would could help to prepare them better as they love to hear from you. Please email our set off along their career making road. club secretary [email protected] if you Elliott Brown and Jordan Rowsell gained think you would like to join us. valuable work experience working with us as media volunteers at the club, both went on to gain paid employment in that field working for Stevenage FC and West Ham United respectively and both were quick to pay tribute to the club for helping them along the way.

The Players.. Dunstable Town 0 Biggleswade United 0 Report from Leon Waite

United laboured to a goalless draw at Then United had a guilt-edge chance of Dunstable Town on Saturday as the their own when Murphy Culkin’s shot combination of a bobbly pitch and blustery deflected up into the path of Ryan winds made for a difficult afternoon’s Neufville, who had charged into the viewing. penalty area from right-back but could only clip as his close-range shot went over. Chris Devane’s men needlessly dropped two points against North Greenford United With 25 minutes remaining, the home side last weekend and had new signing began to ramp up the pressure and flashed Jermaine Hall up top as they looked to a free-kick flashed just wide before the return to winning ways at Creasey Park. decisive appeared certain to have arrived.

However, neither the former AFC A low shot struck the inside of the post Dunstable striker or his attacking co-stars and trickled along the goalline as the could really achieve they would’ve hoped crowd held their breath before United for in their performance as the contest scrambled it clear. stumbled along. And there was one final opportunity for The first chance for the visitors came the away side to steal the victory when fifteen minutes in and it arrived from Charlie Clayton’s shot was stopped but nowhere when Dave Parkinson struck a found its way to Jack Thomas - up from loose ball on the edge of the box just wide. centre-back for the preceding corner - and he couldn’t get the power on the effort to Mahmut Caglar fired a free-kick narrowly force it home as the keeper gathered. over the top and he did the same from open play later on after Ashton Grant’s Consecutive draws against two clubs initial strike had caused some panic in the towards the bottom of the table aren’t Dunstable rearguard. ideal - particularly with league leaders Colney Heath to come next Saturday - but But the most presentable opportunity fell grinding out a point at Dunstable when the to the hosts as they failed to convert a performance levels weren’t there is decent cross from a few yards out. under the circumstances.

United goalkeeper Josh Mollison was relieved to gather the ball on that occasion and had to remain sharp in the second half to palm a free-kick away before the rebound was nearly turned home.

BIGGLESWADE UNITED TV With thanks to Chris Thomas – our intrepid cameraman

Dunstable Town v Biggleswade United

Biggleswade United v North Greenford United

Biggleswade United v Biggleswade Town

Broadfields United v Biggleswade United

Biggleswade United v Newport Pagnell Town

Newport Pagnell Town v Biggleswade United

Crawley Green v Biggleswade United

Biggleswade United v Potton United

Leighton Town v Biggleswade United

Biggleswade United v Leverstock Green

Harpenden Town v Biggleswade United

Biggleswade United v Dunstable Town.

Biggleswade United v Harpenden Town

Biggleswade United v Berkhamsted (friendly)

Biggleswade United v Wembley Our Current League Standing Stotfold’s Current League Standing Premier Division Results and Fixtures First Team Results and Fixtures Biggleswade United Under 23 Bedfordshire County League – Premier Division Biggleswade United Ladies Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Women’s League – Division 3

Pictured above: Biggleswade United Ladies FC with mascots from Biggleswade United Under10s Girls

Next Up At Second Meadow

SATURDAY 8th February 2020 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

BIGGLESWADE UNITED V COLNEY HEATH KICK OFF 3pm

SATURDAY 15th February 2020

BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

BIGGLESWADE UNITED U23

V CALDECOTE

KICK OFF 3pm

Our History 1959 - 1999

Biggleswade United Football Club was re-formed on the 16th July 1959. However, local history records indicate that there was a Biggleswade United side playing at Second Meadow as early as 1929. Our first season (1959/60) saw us competing in Division Three of the North Herts. League (NHL). After 10 successful years in the NHL the club made the step up to South Midlands League (SML) football. But towards the end of a 15-year association with the SML the club began to struggle and after three years of finishing in the bottom three of Division One we sought fresh fields. The club joined the Herts. Senior but club continued to find the going tough. In 1986 we elected to return to local League football, joining the Bedford and District Football League and began to build again.

The appointment of Brian Swords as first team manager in 87/88 proved to be the turning point in the club's fortunes. During the next ten years the club achieved a tremendous amount of success on and off the football pitch. Our record of League and Cup honours speak for themselves but aligned to this a great deal of work went on behind the scenes to match the on-field success. The club now boasts one of the best clubhouse and ground facilities in the Mid-Bedfordshire area. The success of the club has also attracted many new players as well as commanding a great deal of loyalty from those players who helped the club progress from Division Three of the Bedford and District League to County Senior Club status in just 15 years.

The 1995/96 season was the most successful in the club's history - winning five major honours; the Beds Intermediate County Cup, Bedford and District League Championship, League Cup Championship and as the League's representatives the club won the Beds. FA Centenary Cup. Having won every major Bedford League honour the club felt it was time to move on and made the decision to make the step up once again and returned to Division One of the SML. In an exceptionally successful first season we celebrated a Division One "double" by winning the Championship and the Division One Cup. We also retained the Beds. FA Intermediate County Cup, only the second club in the competition's history to achieve this feat. To crown our success the club were awarded the SML Special Achievement Trophy in July 1997.

In the season 1997/98 we finally achieved Senior status. This was achieved not only through the endeavours of the players on the field but ultimately as a result of an extremely hard working committee. With the help of the Biggleswade Town Council a new stand was erected and perimeter fencing installed. And two seasons later the club erected floodlights and on the evening of 26th October 1999 we played our first-ever floodlit game at Second Meadow, Ryman League side Leighton Town were the visitors in the Bedfordshire Premier Cup. Our History 2000- 2019 The next eleven years saw the first team led by Steve "Snowy" Wright and under his management the club continued to enjoy a very high level of League and Cup success ultimately achieving promotion to the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and with it the opportunity to compete in the FA Cup. And under Snowy the club made three Beds FA Senior Challenge Cup final appearances, winning two of the three with victories over Stotfold (4-1) and Leighton Town (1-0) but missed out in 2006/07 going down 2-0 to Dunstable Town. Snowy's other cup successes came in the form of the Hunts Premier Cup, North Beds Charity Cup, Hinchingbrooke Cup, the SML Division One Cup and the SML Special Achievement Award once again. The end of the 2006 2007 saw Snowy step down as manager with his assistant, Nick Burton taking over the first team reins. January 5th 2009 saw the club embark on further ambitious ground improvements. With financial backing from Biggleswade Town Council, Mid Beds District Council and the Football Foundation we installed a 260-seater stand, fully enclosed the ground with a double turnstile entrance and players' secure walkway, which raised the ground to Grade E status.

After several years of stability in terms of first team managers the next six years saw a regular turnover of first team and reserve team managers with Nick Burton, Dave Elkin and Phil Childs all taking over the first team reins for a time. At the start of the 2013-2014 season we appointed Mick Reardon and Mark Royal as first team managers both of whom had enjoyed success as coaches at the higher levels of football. Their disciplined approach was quickly adhered to and responded to by the players and under their stewardship we achieved the highest Premier Division position in nine years and first silverware in seven years winning the North Beds Charity Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

In November 2014 the club took a further positive step to realise our ambitions with the appointment of Sky Sports Presenter and renowned author, Guillem Balague as Biggleswade United’s Director of Football. Following Mick and Mark’s decision to step down at the end 2014 2015, Guillem was quick to act and recruited a new Head Coach in Cristian Colas Beccera. Cristian was assisted by former professional player, Stuart Bimson, and under their guidance the team finished in eighth spot in the Premier Division in 2017 2018 - the highest position in the club’s history. Having built a strong reputation for their outstanding coaching ability and playing philosophy Cristian and Stuart moved up to Step 3 level club, Staines Town, for the start of the 2018 2019 season. Guillem was again in search for a high quality coach and Jimmy Martin came highly recommended by his predecessor, Colas, who worked with Jimmy at Stevenage FC Academy. Jimmy was appointed Manager in May 2018 but he tendered his resignation in October 2018 having been offered a “hard to refuse” opportunity to take up a coaching role at Premier Division club Watford. Despite the setback the first team went on to record their highest ever League placing – a fourth spot in the Premier Division. The club start the 2019-2020 season with a completely overhauled squad and have brought in experienced coach Chris Devane. Chris will be assisted by Trishnan Patel and Spanish Conditioning Coach, Bernat Puig-Vall. The club has certainly come a long way in relatively few years but we could not have done it without the help of a very supportive Town and District Council who clearly understand the benefits of having a community based club in Biggleswade. Our success is also very much down to a very hard working committee who throughout the year - not just the football season - continue to volunteer their time and commitment to the club, to help it continue to thrive and be a source of enjoyment for our supporters and the Biggleswade community.

Stotfold FC – The History

The first recorded football in Stotfold occurred in 1904 although it is certain

[1] the game was played in the town for a number of years before that. In the early 1900s, Stotfold sides played in the Biggleswade and District League.[1] This was followed by a spell of nearly 30 years in North Herts football.[1] The first record of a trophy being won was 1911 when Potton were beaten 1–0 in the Biggleswade and District Championship.[1] Stotfold FC was officially founded, with proper financing, stewardship and record-keeping, in 1946.[1] The club played for many years at the Hitchin Road Recreation Ground before moving into the newly-developed Roker Park ground in 1965.[1] This ground was just a meadow named "Roker" when it was first used by Stotfold Athletic in 1911.[1] In 1951 the club joined the South Midlands League Division Two, finishing 2nd to gain immediate promotion to Division One.[1][2] They were Division One champions in 1953–54 and were promoted to the Premier Division, where they remained for thirty years.[2] Stotfold won the South Midlands League Premier Division for the first time in the 1980–81 season under the management team of Brian Parker, Peter Godden, and Geoff Heard.[2] They were also runners-up seven times.[2] In 1984, the Eagles were transferred to the United Counties League.[2] They were admitted straight into the Premier Division, where they stayed until 2010.[2] Through the 1990s, the club generally finished high in the top ten.[2] After several changes of manager, the club re-appointed former Arsenal man Ian Allinson as manager for 2007–08, and he rewarded them by leading the club to their most successful season, including the UCL championship for the first time. He subsequently left to join Boreham Wood. The championship was clinched in dramatic fashion; starting the second half 0–4 down to closest challengers Long Buckby, Stotfold managed to equalise in the 90th minute for the point needed to clinch the title. Stotfold transferred to the Spartan South Midlands League for the 2010–11 season.[2] They remained in the Premier Division before being relegated to Division One on the last day of the 2018–19 campaign.[2][3]

Acknowledgement to Wikipedia

North Beds Charity Cup Draw 2019 2020

1st Round: To be completed by 30th November 2019

A. Langford 1 - 2 Biggleswade FC B. Bedford FC 3 - 0 Ampthill Town C. Biggleswade Utd v Stotfold D. Barton Rovers v Potton Utd

Semi Final: To be completed by 31st March 2020

1. Winner B v Winner A 2. Winner C v Winner D

Final: Winner 1 v Winner 2 Our First Team Forthcoming Fixtures

Day Date Comp. Opposition H/A KO

Saturday 8th League Colney Heath H 3pm February

Saturday 15th League Baldock Town A 3pm February

Tuesday 18th League Colney Heath A 7.45pm February

Saturday 22nd League Edgware Town H 3pm February

Tuesday 25th League Harefield United A 7.45pm February

Saturday 29th League Arlesey Town H 3pm February

Saturday 10th March League Eynesbury Rovers A 3pm Biggleswade United FC Clubhouse is available to hire for every occasion – Birthdays*, Children’s parties, wedding parties, christenings, naming ceremonies and lots more…

The clubhouse can accommodate up to 100.

Hire charges are from £25 to £100.

For more information contact Petula Hunt on 07779 411579

* We are unable to accommodate 18th birthday parties