Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Town 2008-2018 - Part 2 Contents Page No. 2013-2014 ....................................................................................... 199 2014-2015 ....................................................................................... 236 2015-2016 ....................................................................................... 274 2016-2017 ....................................................................................... 309 2017-2018 ....................................................................................... 347 Acknowledgements ........................................................................ 395 Nuneaton Town 2008-2018 - Part 2 Billy Atkinson Dies initial block to score the opener for the home side in only the Former Nuneaton Borough forward Billy Atkinson has sixth minute. However, any thoughts of Nuneaton getting a passed away following a long illness, aged 68. The former foothold in the game soon evaporated when Callum Wilson, Birmingham City player joined Boro from Torquay United in who started up front with another untried teenager Ben 1965. Billy was the first player to score under floodlights at Maund, was played in on the left and finished neatly from an Manor Park, beating a young Peter Shilton in a 3-1 victory. acute angle with 14 minutes on the clock. City proceeded to enjoy plenty of possession with John Fleck Taylor And Pearson Join Boro pinging the ball about in midfield but had very little to show Boro have made a double signing, having netted former for their efforts until the second half when they really bossed Burton Albion striker Greg Pearson, who joins the club after the game, so much so that returning goalkeeper Lee Burge – being released by Grimsby Town. Also on his way to Liberty who had helped Boro avoid the drop during his late season Way is Connor Taylor who joins from Walsall on a one-year loan spell – never had a single save to make during his 45 deal. The youngster was with Boro on loan last year, but a minute shift. Spearhead striker Leon Clarke was one of nine broken arm cut short his time with the club. changes and quickly made his presence felt as a lone centre- forward, finding the back of the net with a well-placed header Boro Announce More Signings from a Cyrus Christie cross eight minutes into the re-start. Kevin Wilkin has secured the services of 19-year-old Amari’i City stroked the ball about well, got it wide and back in to the Bell, who joins on loan from Birmingham City until January box with several players looking sharp and lively, including and Phil Trainer, the ex-Oxford United and AFC Telford United the likes of midfielder Billy Daniels who forced trialist Boro player. keeper Laurie Walker to tip wide at full-stretch. But the former Leamington and Kettering stopper could do nothing Forsdick Out For Season to stop Clarke who thumped home his second from the Nuneaton Town have lost the services of Simon Forsdick for penalty spot after the impressive Franck Moussa was tripped the entire season after it was revealed that he would require by another trialist, Danny Andrew, for the first of two late surgery to repair a torn cruciate knee ligamant. In other news, goals in as many minutes when Moussa turned smartly in the the club have signed Mark Bell, a winger, from Oxford City. box to wrap things up with a neat finish in the 86th minute. 2013-2014 Boro Sign Bulgarian U-21 International Nuneaton Town v Coventry City 13-07-2013 Nuneaton Town have secured the signature of Bulgarian Under-21 international goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov, who Boro: L. Walker, McNamee (Blakely 46), Dean (Gordon 46), Streete joins Boro on loan from Nottingham Forest for 93 days. (Ashton 46), Bell (Andrew 46), York (Taylor 46), Armson (Adams 46), Trainer (Sleath 46), Bellamy (A. Walker 46), Pearson (Newton 46), Moult (Nyoni 53). Subs: Recki, Ivey Ward, I. Christie. Nuneaton Town v Burton Albion 16-07-2013 Coventry: Murphy (Burge 46), Phillips (C. Christie 46), Finch, J. Clarke, Boro: Evtimov (L. Walker), Cowan, Dean, Armson, Adams, Brown, York, Adams (Haynes 46), Fleck (Daniels 46), Barton (Thomas 46), Baker Pearson, Trainer, Andrew, Omar. (Lobjoit 46), Bako (Garner 46), Wilson (Daniels 46), Maund (L. Clarke). Burton: Jensen, Edwards (Slade, 46), Hussey (Phillips, 46), Diamond (Sharps, 62), Weir (Harness, 62), MacDonald (Dyer, 46), McCrory Boro welcomed Coventry City to Liberty Way to play a pre- (Holness, 46), Knowles, Palmer (Bell, 46), Symes (Kee, 46), Rowe- season friendly game. Turner. Subs: Lyness, Sharps, Holness, Bell, Dyer, Phillips, Kee, Slade, Harness, Doyle, Currie. Coventry City finally got back to action after a summer of discontent. There were fears that the temperature, the fans’ Boro welcomed Burton Albion to Liberty Way to play a pre- continuing fury at the thought of playing at Northampton season friendly game. and a beer festival next door in the grounds of the rugby club would produce the perfect storm. But, in reality, it all passed Boro frustrated the Brewers as both sides had chances to off peacefully apart from a couple of early pitch invaders. score in a lively encounter but goalkeepers came out on top with both attacks frustrated. Albion asked all the early Disappointingly, Boro came up short this year as the away questions most notably down the left flank where Chris fans were treated to three second-half goals that rounded Hussey and Damien McCrory were together for the first time. off an impressive first outing of the pre-season for the City manager’s threadbare squad that remains at least half a Gavin Cowan headed Dominic Knowles’ centre over the top dozen players light due to the on-going transfer embargo. after ten minutes before some industrious work through the But both sides acquitted themselves admirably after dusting centre eventually worked an opportunity for Wes York to send themselves down. The visitors conceded an early goal after a cross to the far post that was met with a firm volley by Phil a stray pass from Carl Baker allowed Louis Moult to glide Trainer who could only watch as his effort flew just wide. past the youngster and take a second stab from Clarke’s Burton had a goal disallowed for offside but came back 199 Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Town 2008-2018 - Part 2 strongly and Knowles was able to work a chance for himself have a shot to save until the hour mark when Glover failed to on the edge of the area on 23 minutes but his shot lacked convert after defender Gavin Cowan allowed the ball to drop power. Albion were close to opening the scoring on 41 over his head and into the striker’s path. Cowan was among minutes when Chris Hussey’s cross in from the right hand a number of players Boro brought on in the second period side was headed back across goal by Alex MacDonald only for as the hosts tried to up the ante. First-team regulars Louis skipper Gareth Dean to clear the ball off the goal line. All in all Moult and Simon Forsdick were also introduced and they it was a relatively quiet half for Jensen and Rowe-Turner as immediately combined well in attack. they looked to impress although there had been one or two But Worcester refused to buckle and they should have nervy moments on crosses that Albion got away with. snatched it in the final few minutes. Thorley burst into the box Second-half substitute Kee almost immediately set up a before knocking the ball inside for Glover, who sliced wide. chance for Knowles but his pass carried a little too much and Nuneaton Griff v Nuneaton Town 16-07-2013 Evtimov was out smartly to reach the ball before the Albion striker as he tried to latch onto it. Kee then worked a chance Nuneaton Griff hosted a home game at Liberty Way when for himself from the edge of the area which failed to trouble they played a pre-season friendly game against Boro. the Boro keeper. Jensen was certainly being asked more Aman Verna came on as a second-half substitute to score a questions in this half and he responded by getting behind hat-trick in 15 minutes as Boro finally eased to victory over several long range efforts and coming off his line well to cut their Midland Combination neighbours. It was goalless at out a couple of testing crosses. half-time but that all changed when Adam Walker scored Jensen was forced to make an excellent save low to his left from 22 yards in the 53rd minute. on 71 minutes. A teasing cross was met by a firm header The lead was doubled when Phil Trainer thumped an from Andy Brown but it was pushed to safety by the big unstoppable 30-yard volley past Dave Watson. Griff were stopper just when it looked like he might be beaten. Burton three down a minute later when Danny Newton’s cross from weathered some pressure and then almost caught Nuneaton the left was turned in off the post by Greg Pearson. Verna with a swift counter. Dominic Knowles broke the offside trap came on after the third goal and got a fourth from the spot. and laid a pass off to Jimmy Phillips and his curling effort had His second came ten minutes later and a third seven minutes the substitute Nuneaton keeper scrambling and grateful to from time. see the ball bounce wide of the upright. Laurie Walker produced an excellent save late on to deny Cambridge City v Nuneaton Town 27-07-2013 Knowles. Some neat passing in and around the edge of the Cambridge: Barrett, Smith (Ramm), Brighton, Lawton, Chaffey, Farrell penalty area eventually enabled Kee to find his fellow striker (Abbs), Beech (Midgley), Ieuan Lewis (Sparrow), Beasant (Darling), and as the young ex-Burnley man tried to lift the ball over the Marriott (Pitharas), Dawkins (Allen).