Messages

1

The B-Ark / Re: NL Squad

« on: May 16, 2024, 02:21:11 PM »

Going to need a left back, 3 midfielders and a striker.

Byrne left Kidderminister and Sotona transfer listed by Doncaster worth considering.  A Cully favourite Adam Marriott released by Bromley.

One issue with Byrne is his fitness record.
One comment on the Kidderminster fans forum said that he only played 57 games out of the 102 Kiddy played in his two seasons with them.

And Sotona would certainly need to have the histrionics coached out of him. He showed that side of his game so many times last season, with his antics at Warrington being an embarrassment.

2

The B-Ark / Re: Former players

« on: May 15, 2024, 12:51:56 PM »

I popped along to the Etihad Stadium last Friday night to see one of our ex-players in his head coach / manager role.

Ben Wilkinson - son of Howard - had a brief spell with us in 2011, and nowadays manages the Manchester City Youth Team.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13401071/Man-City-coach-Ben-Wilkinson-grew-awe-dad-Howard-Leeds-English-manager-win-title-Yorkshire-stand-way-FA-Youth-Cup-glory.html

The game on Friday night was the FA Youth Cup Final : Manchester City v. Leeds United.

A very enjoyable game with both teams playing some excellent football. It was 0-0 at half-time, but City finally ran out 4-0 winners. One of the City goals – scored by Jaden Heskey (son of Emile) – wouldn’t have been out of place if scored by the first team. There’s a brief shot of Ben Wilkinson at the end of this short video of that goal.

https://x.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1789015566545539547

The referee was Dean Whitestone, who refereed our FA Cup 2nd Rd match at Rochdale in 2019.

The attendance was reported as 20,000, with Leeds United selling out their 6,500 ticket allocation. It was, though, a long way off the record attendance for an FA Youth Cup Final. I was at the 2022 FA Youth Cup Final between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford which attracted a record attendance of 67,492!!

And, finally, on the subject of those FA Cup matches v. Rochdale, the Rochdale manager at that time - Brian Barry-Murphy - is now the head coach/manager of the Manchester City Under23s.

3

The B-Ark / Re: Brackley Town Play-Off Final ticket allocation

« on: May 04, 2024, 10:51:50 AM »

The match has been limited to a 3300 maximum capacity

And they still haven't sold the 2,400 'home tickets'!!

On-line sales remain open until 12noon.

4

The B-Ark / Brackley Town Play-Off Final ticket allocation

« on: April 29, 2024, 10:46:57 AM »

Let’s hope that there is a sensible ticket allocation for BUFC supporters for the Play-Off Final.

Chorley were allocated 1,000 for the semi-final, but took just a rather paltry 387.

I hope that the powers-that-be recognise that Boston United supporters travel in much larger numbers, and they take note of the following at both Alfreton and Scunthorpe.

You’d hope that we would be allocated at least the same 1,000, but given that the ground is shown as having a capacity of 3,500 – and the overall attendance yesterday was 1,889 – you’d think there ought be some way of accommodating more visiting supporters.

1,502 home fans turned out on Saturday – and the overall attendance would only have been 2,502 had Chorley sold-out, so you’d think there ought to be scope to allow the gate to be nearer 3,500 on Saturday.

It will all depend, of course, how the Brackley ground can be configured for segregation to allow for a higher away allocation, and any 'political decision' being made to try and make sure the home support is not outnumbered by the away support in a match being broadcast live on TV.

5

The B-Ark / Re: Prediction League - Alfreton Town vs Boston United in the Playoffs

« on: April 23, 2024, 05:03:33 PM »

Alfreton 0 Boston 1111
Ralph says Alfreton 1 Boston 2 1256

Alfreton 0 Boston 1111
Not sure even Jimmy & Kelsey can score a goal every 5 seconds!!

6

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: April 09, 2024, 10:08:18 PM »

David Noble sacked as Wealdstone manager

7

The B-Ark / Re: Spennymoor

« on: April 09, 2024, 09:21:10 PM »

Game off tonight, flooding again, amazing how much rain they get up there!! So they will play Banbury next Thursday surprisingly 2 days after we play them, and or course they will know exactly what they have to do. I'll leave everyone to draw their own conclusions from this. I know what mine are

According to their website, Spennymoor are playing Banbury this Thursday (11th).

8

The B-Ark / Re: Rushall Olympic

« on: April 03, 2024, 11:28:20 AM »

Let`s not forget that Rusholme have beaten Chorley and Brackley earlier in the season as well as beating us at home. I hope that our supporters can make themselves heard in the remaining games. It will let the team know we are fully behind them in the remaining matches.

Flippin auto-correct eh?
There are areas of Manchester and environs that have football teams playing at a decent level, but not yet Rusholme.

9

The B-Ark / Re: Craig Elliott

« on: April 03, 2024, 11:22:49 AM »

Guiseley

the Guiseley manager has left his post with a caretaker manager named until the end of the season….

 

https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/club-statement-andy-welsh/

Your crystal ball may well be right then TTT!!

10

The B-Ark / Re: Oh so tight

« on: February 18, 2024, 12:37:38 PM »

And will any of the teams that eventually make it to the playoffs ‘do a Kidderminster’ from last season?

Getting to the Playoffs will be tough enough, but then it's very much on the day ‘of course’.

Look at our two most recent playoff campaigns:-

We lost at home to Gateshead 0-3 in the league and then beat them 5-3 in the Playoff Semi-Final at York Street. We then go on to lose the Playoff Final at York Street 0-1 to Altrincham, having scored 5 against in the home league match.

We lost the Playoff Final at York City having done the double over them in the league matches. We had beaten both Kidderminster and AFC Fylde away in the Elimination match and Semi-Final respectively – despite both of them having done the double over us in the league.

Having been at the Curzon Ashton v Warrington Town match yesterday, you could see what a difference a week makes.

Even before they had a man sent off against us last week, Warrington hadn’t really given us too much to get concerned about going forward. They had a little spell just after halftime when Aaron Chapman had to make a few saves, but it was far from a busy afternoon for him.

Well, going forward yesterday, Warrington were a complete contrast to how we handled them last week. The normally resolute Curzon defence simply couldn’t handle the Warrington forwards in the first half and Curzon’s forwards created nothing. It was virtually one-way traffic from the first whistle and Warrington ought to have been more than 2-0 in the lead at halftime. It was a more even second half in the driving rain, but I heard two Curzon fans talking on the way out saying to each other that Warrington’s 3-0 win actually flattered Curzon. And I agree with them.

Maybe, then, if both of these reach the Playoffs, and based on our recent Playoff results, Curzon will hope to have a home game against Warrington?

11

The B-Ark / Re: Sam McLintock departs

« on: February 18, 2024, 10:27:57 AM »

I can't for one moment believe David Newton would have allowed him to continue playing for Boston United.
There's no way back from that sort of behaviour.

You'd think so, but we do have a player in our current squad who was given a jail sentence for being involved in this:-
 "12 men sentenced for role in 'appalling' violence after Sheffield football derby".

12

The B-Ark / Re: Warrington

« on: February 11, 2024, 11:17:02 PM »

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/24112214.warrington-town-chairman-updates-ground-improvements/

....... and the latest on Warrington's ground improvements.

They need to have these completed before Easter in order to retain their National League North status for next season.

13

The B-Ark / Re: Warrington

« on: February 11, 2024, 03:02:56 PM »

A good away point gained.
A point closer to 7th than we were at the start of the day.
A clean sheet.
Earlier in the season we’d have taken any 1 of those.
Lots of positives.

The most positive post re: yesterday's game.

Whilst it was clear to those who see many more games than I do that we weren't up to the level of recent performances, you do have to give some credit to Warrington.

Obviously, having scouted the way we've been playing recently, they set out not to let us spray the ball around. They put huge pressure on the ball and harassed our player in possession for the entire match. I thought they might fall away from this towards the end of the game, and moreso because they'd gone down to 10 men, but they didn't.

Having said that, it was disappointing that with the extra man we couldn't find the time and space to open them up. They did drop back a little in that last half hour or so and were content to let us pass the ball from side-to-side across the halfway line but, as soon as the ball was played forward, they snapped into a tackle.

They also made the odd break themselves and, had their star forward Isaac Buckley-Ricketts (the son of a former work colleague of mine!!) connected better with the header towards the end, we could have come home with a loss.

14

The B-Ark / Re: Warrington

« on: February 11, 2024, 02:41:27 PM »

We looked very lightweight up front.  I hope this can be addressed this week with a loan player.  I do not want the 16+ hours of a forward not scoring like in early season. Yesterday we never had a shot on target.

Have to agree that we looked very lightweight upfront.

We did, though, actually have one very good chance on target in the second half by Keziah Martin. It wasn't the best connection and it was straight at the 'keeper.

Agree, too, re: trying to get someone in. Chester have just brought in another forward, Ben Tollitt, on-loan from Oldham. He previously played 50 or games for AFC Fylde.

15

The B-Ark / Re: Chorley FC : the next football club for celebrity investment?

« on: February 09, 2024, 03:58:31 PM »

Our local BBC North West news has been featuring this story since it broke, but they've been somewhat 'lazy' with the facts:-
'Members of Boyzone will be in attendance at Victory Park for this weekend's home match v. Solihull in the National League North'.