NSL & MAA DO CHARITY AGAIN

After the success of last season’s game between the Uhlsport Notts Senior League and Midland Amateur Alliance, a repeat of the fixture will take place on Wednesday 29^th March at Woodview, home of Cotgrave CW United (7.30pm).

The first clash raised over £300 for the Tsunami appeal, with a similar amount raised earlier this season from a game between the Uhlsport and Notts Amateur Alliance leagues. The Blood Transfusion Service looks most likely to benefit from funds raised by the latest game to help them continue their good work in the community .

Commenting on the news, Uhlsport Secretary Darrell Parkes said ‘We are delighted that the MAA have once more agreed to work with us to support good causes. The game last season was an excellent one and we thank everyone giving of their time, particularly those associated with Cotgrave CW for their continued support’ .

CALVERTON TO PART COMPANY WITH NSL

Uhlsport NSL Vice Chairman Dick Durrant today praised ambitious Calverton MW after it was announced that the Hollinwood Lane outfit would be moving into the Central Midlands League from next season.

‘Calverton have been a delight to work with and I’d like to wish them all the very best for the future on behalf of the Management Committee of the NSL. Whilst we are obviously disappointed to lose one of our leading Clubs, there comes a time when moving on is the right thing to do, and I genuinely believe this to be the case with Calverton. They have invested massively in their facilities and have a ground that will, with time, be one of the best in The Midlands. On this basis, it is only right that they progress and, whilst they will do so without having won the NSL, I’m sure they will more than hold their own in the CML under new coach Darryl Claypole.

When we formed the NSL, the objective was to provide a decent standard of football, with good facilities for those Clubs wishing to play their football with Notts. Clubs such as Calverton with their ambitions should be encouraged to move on, rather than held back as has happened in the past, and we will do anything we can to smooth Calverton’s progress if needs be. As a league, we feel we are well on the way to achieving the first part of our plan. Calverton’s exit will provide an opportunity for one of the four Clubs on our shortlist to progress up the ladder and we will announce the successful applicant Club as soon as we have had a meeting to discuss things further. We are hoping Ruddington will have a Reserve side next season which will bring us to 17 teams in each league after Calverton have gone, so another Club with two teams will bring us up to strength. Hopefully we won’t get any other resignations, however we have Clubs waiting in the wings if we do’.

TRYING TO TURN THINGS AROUND

Little over two months ago, Managerial first timer, Andy Littlewood was given the unenviable task of trying to save Ruddington United Football Club when he was put in charge of their first team after the departure of former AC Bulwell Boss Tony Prior. Rudd, had lost their first twelve league games of the NSL Senior League campaign, conceding a massive 64 goals and scoring just five, rooted to the bottom of the table and struggling to field a side, the turn around since, has been dramatic, and one which bodes well for the future of the football club. In United's last eight games, Littlewood has won three matches and drew one, only losing to the current top three sides in the Division and Calverton MW who although losing heavily at home, they in turn beat 1-0 three weeks later at Hollinwood Lane, possibly their best result so far under Littlewood's guidance. So how has he managed to change a side getting beat sevens, eights and nines into a competing outfit once again? Littlewood told the website "The first thing was take Pete Shaw from Greenwood with me, Pete is a close friend and also a great motivator and leader of players. The second player I needed most was another close friend of mine Neil Curtis, Neil has captained Carlton Town in the NCE league and is in my opinion the best passer of a ball in the Division, as well as a great team player." Littlewood went on to suggest bringing back the basic happenings at the club, something which was severely lacking. "I introduced the system back to 4-4-2, keeping it as simple as possible for the players who were with me at the time. I also introduced an earlier meeting time and a deadline for players to call in and confirm there availability. This was to try and enforce discipline within the club which was lacking in the extreme when I first arrived. The club also did no midweek training, we now train once a week on Wednesdays, after that it was just a case of seeing which players had what it took to play at this level and also to introduce new signings as seamlessly as I could".

Littlewood has brought in plenty of fresh new faces to Ruddington and many with high calibre backgrounds, something which must have been difficult would have been attracting these players to the club, especially considering the sides position in the league. "The players the club have now, have on the whole played most their football in the Central Midlands or above." said Littlewood, "players like Daz Spencer, Phil McGinty and Nick Woodward don't come along to often and we need to hang on to these type of players for next year and beyond . As regards getting them to sign in the first place, most of the squad has played together at some time or another, they looked at it as a challenge and a chance to renew aquanticies with not just team mates but also friends".

Ruddington's targets maybe simple for this year, but for next season and beyond, Littlewood hopes to be challenging for honours. "The remainder of this season is about not finishing bottom, and to carry on the good work done by the committee and management. This season was always going to be about rebuilding and setting standards for seasons to come, but we have had good results recently and will see how many points we can get come the end of it." Littlewood further stated "Next year with further signings planned and a few tweaks in terms of the management structure, we would hope to be challenging for honours, but talk is cheap and first the players have to show the commitment, effort and team spirit to confirm these hopes for next year and beyond."

As for the Reserves, Littlewood suggested that their will definitely be a second string next season, and with the club currently interviewing candidates, anyone interested is urged to contact club secretary Ernie Gadsby by phone on 0115 9211204 or mobile 07785 726408. A club hopefully heading in the right direction.

CALVERTON APPOINT NEW MANAGER

Calverton Miners Welfare are delighted to announce the appointment of Carlton Town Academy Director and Reserve Team Manager Darryl Claypole as Senior Team Manager with immediate effect. This appointment is the cumulation of a protracted advertising and interviewing process which has spanned the Christmas period.

Calverton Chairman Colin Hodgson explained, "We placed a series of adverts at the end of November and left them running for around three weeks to allow plenty of time for perspective applicants to see them and respond. The quality of the applications received was very high with a number still involved with other clubs. It has been necessary to respect the confidence of all those which put themselves forward". "We were looking for someone who has the vision, drive and attributes to build on the foundations that have been laid over the past few seasons".

So Wollaton end the year as they started it back in January, sitting on top of the Senior Division in between clinching the 2004/05 title and winning the League’s Senior knockout Cup competition. But although the obvious signs suggest dominance for a side beaten only four times by NSL clubs in 2005, major on field improvements from some of their challengers over the last twelve months suggest the future may be closer, as the pack try and bridge the gap on the leagues undoubted best team. Arnold Southbank went in to January off the back of three straight defeats, but Mark Connors side didn’t look back as they were easily the form side of the 04/05 season’s second half as they stayed unbeaten in all competitions until May, a run which took them to two cup finals and fourth in the league. With the title over by Easter, attention took to the battle for second place between Calverton MW who for much of the season occupied that spot and Linby CW, who although having two points deducted for failing to fulfil a fixture, leapfrogged their rivals in the final weeks after Calverton failed to win any of their last four fixtures. An improved year from an ever learning Boots Athletic side seen them climb to sixth place in the final table, level on points with Notts Police who despite only five league wins in fifteen since the turn of the year, were positioned above the chemists on goal difference. Two more sides improving on 2004 were Clifton and Attenborough, both challenging for top honours by the end of the year, Clifton losing only six games in the calendar year, Boro seven, both beating Wollaton on their way to comfortable mid-table positions by the end of May.

At the other end of the table, a disastrous run of form by Ruddington United saw them drop to second from bottom, but despite only one win from their final fifteen games they finished four points above table proppers Sandhurst, the North Notts club coming a long way though in a short space of time, will be proud of the fact that they took points off opponents in more than a quarter of their games played until May.

In the County Cup Boots went out gallantly in the Senior Section Quarter Finals to NCEL hotshots Gedling Town, Boots doing enough to qualify as a seeded team in the 05/06 competition. The Intermediate trophy was dominated by NSL clubs, Arnold Southbank seeing off a brave Bestwood MW after extra time in a thrilling final that gave a good example of what the league had to offer. Southbank, unable to make it two cup final wins in the year when they came up against already Senior Division Champions Wollaton in the League Cup, Wollaton eventually coming out on top 3-1, to cement themselves in league history as first ever double winners in the NSL’s debut season. The Reserves Section Cup saw Attenbough see off ten men Calverton MW in extra time, Striker Jon Eaton’s late winner giving the slight underdogs on the day, the trophy.

The 2004/05 Division One League trophy was won in fine form by Boots Athletic Reserves, despite a mini blip in April, which seen Boots draw before being beaten for the only time of the campaign against Wollaton, The chemists clinched the title in mid-April when they beat second placed Cotgrave CW United Res 2-1. Cotgrave, despite stumbling home eventually clinched on to the runners up spot, at the expense of Wollaton Reserves who with the fine attack of Markowski and Fragola, contributed to 62 of the clubs 109-league goals in the season.

The uhlsport Nottinghamshire Senior League take on the Notts Amateur Alliance in a charity representative game to raise funds to help the Lord Mayors Appeal for the victims of the Asian Tsunami which devastated a year ago this month. The match is to be played at Calverton MW this coming Tuesday night (13th December 2005) with a 7:30pm kick off. Both leagues join force and hope to raise something similar to the amount raised earlier this year when the NSL played against the Midlands Amateur Alliance raising around £300. sides from:

NSL (green shirts, green shorts): Matt Worster (Attenborough), Carl Spibey (Linby CW), Richard Antcliff (Boots Athletic), Dave Savidge (Wollaton), Lee Collison (Keyworth United), Dave Walker (Wollaton), Jonty Bradshaw (Linby CW), Jonathon Dakers (Calverton MW), Dave Marlow (Calverton MW), Scott Smalley (Wollaton), Robbie May (Kimberley MW), Tom Simpson (Wollaton), Nathan Robinson (Arnold Southbank), Winston Brown (Caribbean Cavaliers), Ryan Perkins (Wollaton), Chris Wilson (Kimberley MW), Wayne Miles (Boots Athletic), Kyle McDermott (Bestwood MW), Danny Chaplin (Kimberley MW), Pete McCann (Clifton), Lee Penley (Cotgrave CW United). Manager: Chris Munroe (Wollaton). Asst: Mark Connors (Arnold Southbank).

NSL ASK PLAYERS TO 'GO FOR PINT'

The uhlsport Notts Senior League has made history by becoming the first football competition in the country to support the activities of the National Blood Service.

The 18-strong league, whose member clubs include the Nottinghamshire Police, Caribbean Cavaliers, Boots Athletic and Siemens, have embarked on a campaign to encourage people from all ethnic backgrounds to become blood donors and, where possible, to join its bone marrow register.

League secretary, Darrell Parkes explained: “The idea to approach the National Blood Service came from within the Notts Senior League and although footballers are probably more associated with pints of a very different nature, we’re delighted to become the first football competition in the country to work with the organisation in this way.

“Our member clubs will be taking the ‘Give Blood’ message out into their local communities and through the workplace,” continued Parkes. “Our aim over the initial 12 months is to recruit as many new blood and bone marrow donors as possible. There will also be an alternative league table measuring how each team performs, with the club that introduces the highest number of new donors receiving £1,000 worth of football equipment from our sponsors, uhlsport UK.”

Following another in a long line of injuries, there is a strong possibility that veteran Boots Athletic defender Paul Williams will finally bring down the curtain on one of the most illustrious and decorated careers in the local game

The 46 year old rejoined The Chemists from Pelican in 1993 and has since played over 350 games in his second spell at Lady Bay . Once a prolific striker, who formed a formidable partnership with Richard May at Pelican, Williams was converted to a central defender on his return to Boots and was a key part of their back to back Notts Alliance winning sides under Dave Sands in 1996 and 1997, having previously got an Alliance winner’s medal from his time with Pelican

Williams has suffered an astonishing EIGHT broken legs during his career, but has battled back every time- due in no small part to his dedication in keeping himself fit despite his sometimes wayward lifestyle! At the start of last season he fell on a post hole in training and had over 50 stitches in his knee but still came back to be a cornerstone of Boots Reserves Uhlsport First Division title winning side, however his current knee problem looks like having a twelve week rehabilitation period with no guarantee of success and it is likely he will call it a day

Commenting on Wiliams’ career Boots General Manager Dick Durrant said ‘There are few players who have played as much part as Willy in Boots success over the last 15 years and it will truly be the end of an era when he stops playing. From a manager’s point of view, he has been a delight to work with despite his headstrong temperament! I hear managers saying they don’t have favorites, but this is utter rubbish in my opinion! Your favorites are the players who train regularly, turn up prepared and on time and most importantly do the business for you on the pitch and Willy has all these qualities in abundance. In the last fifteen years, there has not, in my opinion, been a defender who can touch Paul in terms of his overall contribution both on and off the field and it will be a sad day for Boots and for the local game if he quits. On behalf of everyone associated with Boots Athletic, I would like to wish Paul all the best for the future and thank him for the magnificent contribution he has made to the success of Boots Athletic. The word legend is over used in my view- but it certainly applies here! In these days when I hear of ten a penny local players asking for money to play the game it makes me laugh as these players aren’t fit to lace the boots of players such as Paul- neither do they appreciate the value of loyalty as shown by Paul over the years- there are many local ‘stars’ who could do much worse than take example from great players and clubmen such as Williams, Trev G arner, Kev and G av Rees, Pete Bucknall, Dale Edwards, Mick Chilton, Keith Penhale and their peers!’

This week Nottingham Evening Post's Ray Yeomans asked NSL Vice Chairman & Press Officer Dick Durrant on the leagues ambitions, and on whether the league will eventually follow a similar suit to that of the counties cricket structure, Durrant replied with the following statement:

We are shortly going to get together with other leagues to discuss a way forward on this. We have seen the success that local cricket has had in bringing together a number of independent leagues and moulding them into one structure The initial objective of the UHLSPORT was to provide local players with a competitive standard of football within Nottinghamshire and I feel we are well on the way to doing this, however we may need to work with other leagues to ultimately achieve this objective.

 It would be good to think that one day the top UHLSPORT side could feed into the NCEL if their ambitions and facilities were suitable. Also, a structure within Notts within which Clubs new exactly what level they were at would be preferable in my opinion.

We do, however need to protect the interests of our member Clubs and this is a very important point for us. When the UHLSPORT was formed, it was to ensure that facilities were up to a certain level- indeed this was one of the selection criteria. It would be counter- productive therefore to agree to anything that would see UHLSPORT sides playing on parks pitches because we know this isn't what they want.

The Uhlsport NSL host the representative side of the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League at Calverton MW on Wednesday 26^th October (7.45pm). This is the first meeting of the leagues and it is hoped that it will become a regular occurrence. Admission will be £3 including a programme, with hot and cold food plus a licensed bar available.

The teams will be selected from:

Uhlsport NSL: Spibey (Linby CW), Rog ers (Calverton), Savidge (Wollaton), O’Dowd (Kimberley MW), Antcliff (Boots), May (Kimberley MW), Bradshaw (Linby CW), G adsby (Wollaton), Perkins (Wollaton), McArdle (Calverton MW), Marlow (Calverton MW), McDermott (Bestwood MW), Smalley (Wollaton), Dakers (Calverton MW), Miles (Boots), Povey (Boots), G rinion (Wollaton), Clowery (ASB) .

REP SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT

CALVERTON BEST IN COUNTRY

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM FA HQ

A Nottingham football club has won a national award from The Football Association for its hard work and dedication to the game. Calverton Miners Welfare FC has been named The FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year ahead of thousands of other clubs from around the country, to win one of only six national FA Charter Standard awards. The club will be presented with its award at the England World Cup Qualifying game against Austria at Old Trafford on October 8, where club representatives will be honoured at half time on the pitch. Calverton Miners Welfare FC is committed to developing opportunities for football in the community. It maintains an excellently run club for the 17 boys, girls, junior and adult teams that play league football and recreational five a side football for its older members or those who don’t wish to play in a league.

Calverton Miners Welfare FC’s outstanding contribution to grassroots football in the community includes running coaching and nutrition courses, fundraising, developing school club links and hosting tournaments to name but a few. Calverton Miners Welfare FC’s General Secretary John Daniel said the club is honoured to be receiving the Charter Standard award. “Our club is extremely proud to have won this national award and realise it is a magnificent achievement for what is essentially a village football club. We are fortunate to have a strong band of extremely willing, enthusiastic and hard working volunteers with a wide mix of skills and talent and this award is a great credit to all of them. “With the help of Football Foundation funding, our club now boasts some of the best facilities in Nottinghamshire and is now becoming a recognised centre for County FA courses as well as the ‘hub’ of the village. We will not become complacent though, and funding has already been secured to carry out a feasibility study for our next project, an extension to the indoor facilities to provide an additional dedicated training and conferencing suite..”

The Management Committee of the UHLSPORT NSL would like to go on record in thanking the players and management of Siemens EWS and Calverton MW for getting their game at Calverton played on Bank Holiday Monday. Due to an unfortunate breakdown in communication, Siemens turned up at Hollinwood Lane at 11am to kick off at 12 noon, however Calverton were geared up to kick off at 3pm.

The Siemens party, with time to kill them headed off for some lunch and returned later to play the game. Whatever they had for lunch clearly did them good because they played out a magnificent 5 - 5 draw with Calverton which was a credit to both sides and the NSL. This commitment to getting games played is exactly the kind of thing we are looking for and all involved- Siemens, Calverton and the match officials are to be applauded for the example they have set to others in being flexible and prepared to get on with things rather than looking for excuses not to play!

Changes to the first team management at UHLSPORT NSL outfit have seen Graham Miller take over the reigns at Hollinwood Lane from his namesake (but no relation) Andy, who has resigned as he was unable to give the job the time it deserves due to work commitments. His assistant, former Kimberley MW boss George Hulley, has also left to be replaced by Dave Atkin.

Welfare, who finished a creditable third in the first season of the NSL believe the new structure gives them a solid platform to move forward. ‘Graham played a big part in or success last season, taking a major part in our team selection and is particularly good at developing changing room morale’ said Secretary Pete Edson, who was also full of praise for the departing manager’s contribution ‘Andy played a big part in our success and on behalf of everyone at Calverton, I’d like to thank him sincerely and wish him all the best for the future’.