Topics

31

The B-Ark / Kevin Blackwell - new boss of Bury

« on: September 27, 2012, 06:32:18 AM »

Story here ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19714917

32

The B-Ark / Chelmsford City Match Thread

« on: August 11, 2012, 09:08:19 PM »

Not sure there'll be many replies to this thread, as I reckon we only had 6-8 supporters at the game - reflecting the fact that this was probably a bit too far away for most people when it comes to pre-season friendlies. It wasn't a great watch either, but that was more borne out by the presence of an athletics track around the perimeter of the pitch. You never get much of an atmosphere in that type of stadium. The five hour return journey (not to mention the price of petrol) would have been more worthwhile if the facilities at Chelmsford had been better.

Line-up today was surprising. With it being the last friendly I'd expected us to go with our strongest side, but this wasn't it. Gareth Jelleyman and Ian Ross have already been named as captain and vice captain for the current season, but both began the game on the bench. As did leading scorer and player-of-the-year Marc Newsham. All three must surely start at Droylsden?

Conor Marshall played right back and Gary Silk moved across to the left. I thought Silk was perhaps a little bit wrong footed in that position. I'd expect Silk to be back on the right come next week, with Jelleyman on the left and Marshall probably on the bench.

Nathan Stainsfield was captain for the day and, not for the first time this pre-season, was probably our best player. The loan signing Matt Wilson also had a decent game, but perhaps gave away a few too many free kicks for mistimed tackles. That might improve as he gets more game time.

Mark Jones partnered Korey Dyer-Stewart up front. Next week I'd expect the front line to be Weir-Daley and Newsham. The manager now has to make a decision on Dyer-Stewart. He didn't have his best game today and limped off injured, but on the evidence of the full pre-season, I think he offers something a little bit different to our other forwards; if he fits within our budget and remembering that he's only eighteen, then I think he's worth a chance.

Overall I thought the two sides were fairly evenly matched until Chelmsford scored. Their goalscorer was Anthony Cook, who appeared on the TV Series Football Icon a couple of years ago and almost earned a professional contract with Chelsea. It was a well taken strike from the edge of the area, and Haystead didn't have a chance. Second goal came from a header and the scoreline probably then flattered Chelmsford. The home side also had one or two other ex-League players from Orient, Cambridge and Dagenham & Redbridge.

One other gripe. Why do referees insist on calling time on precisely 45 minutes in pre season friendlies? By my stop-watch the referee blew the half-time whistle after playing 4 seconds of overtime, and the full-time whistle after eight seconds. The layout of Chelmsford was such that the ball often took an eternity to be returned into play. There were two or three occasions for example when Ben Milnes had to personally retrieve the ball from behind the shot put area before he could take a corner. (There were ball boys at the side of the pitch but not behind the goals). There were two or three occasions when the physios came onto the pitch and the nature of the occasion also meant there were plenty of substitutions. All told, I reckon we saw no more than 80 minutes worth of football today. From a player match time point of view and from a spectator value-for-money point of view, the ref was wrong to call time when he did.

33

The B-Ark / Ex-Pilgrim joins Halifax

« on: July 03, 2012, 09:31:54 PM »

Ben Futcher will be lining up against us next season, having joined FC Halifax Town on a season-long loan from Bury...

http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/shaymen-make-big-signing-14336/

If he's on a season-long loan deal from Bury, does that mean he has at least two years left on his contract at Gigg Lane? And I thought finances in the lower leagues were tight!

34

The B-Ark / Pre-season friendly at Chelmsford

« on: June 08, 2012, 08:50:20 PM »

Nothing on our site, but take a look at this .....

http://www.chelmsfordcityfootballclub.co.uk/news/1206/clarets-entertain-boston-united-august

Views?

This match will undoubtedly involve coach hire on account of the distance involved. With money tight, aren't they sides more locally we should be looking to play in pre-season friendlies?

Still, it'll be an opportunity to visit a ground that Boston fans probably haven't been to before. And at least it isn't a Tuesday night!

35

The B-Ark / Transfer Activity at Ilkeston FC

« on: June 07, 2012, 05:45:14 PM »

Article here that might be of interest to Pilgrims fans from a couple of angles ....

http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/wilson-brings-in-clarke-13684/

(1) Ex-Pilgrim striker Jamie Clarke moving on from Loughborough Dynamo to Ilkeston. Scored a lot of goals last season for Loughborough and no doubt deserves a chance to play again at a higher level.

and

(2) Midfielder Matt Richards yet to agree terms at Ilkeston. They've offered him terms, but he has indicated that he wants to play at a higher level. Looking at Ilkeston's forum, their fans want him to stay with them. A quick google search shows that he lives in Nottingham and previously played for Derby County and Notts County. If he wants to play at a higher level than Ilkeston then his next move might be into Blue Square North. I wonder if any Nottingham-based managers of Blue Square North clubs might be looking at him?

36

The B-Ark / Austin McCann and Andy Kirk

« on: May 07, 2012, 08:26:18 PM »

Both are currently playing for Dunfermline against Hibernian live on ESPN. Dunfermline need to win the match to avoid relegation from the SPL, but are already 3-0 down in the first half.

Austin McCann is captain of the side. He is playing in the centre of defence and was at outjumped for the first goal and gave away a penalty for the third. He was also booked for giving away the penalty. Good full back, but never a centre half!

Andy Kirk hasn't had any service at all. Oddly enough his strike partner is called Martin Hardy.

37

The B-Ark / Graham Drury leaves Corby / Our vacancy for an assistant manager

« on: May 01, 2012, 06:18:46 PM »

http://www.corbytownfc.co.uk/news/2012/drury-leaves-the-steelmen/

I wonder what his next career move will be? He has previously managed Stamford and, as I understand it, lives in Grantham, and so certainly has ties in the right area. If he's out of work, would he be interested in becoming Jason Lee's new number two?

My guess is that Lawrie Dudfield may yet return to York Street as the new assistant manager - on the basis of his connections with the club and his close working relationship with Jason Lee. But Lawrie's record as manager of Quorn wasn't convincing and, having signed the likes of Jordan Fairclough, Adam Millson, Ricky Drury, Tony Edwards and Craig Armstrong during last season, I think Dudfield and Lee probably share the same book of contacts. Drury wouldn't come cheap, but would he be an option?

Or is there anyone else out there who is in the frame?

38

The B-Ark / Going Green

« on: March 29, 2012, 08:39:44 PM »

For anyone interested, there were two ex-Pilgrims who switched clubs on Transfer Deadline Day in the EvoStik League:-

• Jamie Green from Brigg Town to Bradford Park Avenue. He played for us on loan from Rotherham last year.
• Franny Green (no relation   ) has moved from Eastwood Town to Ilkeston Town. I believe that was the club where he started his career.
  

I don't want to restart the debate about signing ex-players, but does anyone else think both of these could still do a job at a higher level than where they have ended up?

EDIT: Full list of transfers here:-
http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/registrations-to-deadline-29th-march-8441/

39

The B-Ark / Lincolnshire County Cup Competitions 2012-13

« on: March 15, 2012, 05:58:55 PM »

The draws have been published today. Fixtures include:

Lincolnshire Senior Cup

• Scunthorpe United versus Grimsby Town
• Lincoln City receive a bye

Linconshire Senior Shield

• Lincoln United versus Boston United
• Gainsborough trinity receive a bye

The Lincolnshire Senior Cup is for sides at Conference National Level and above, whilst the Senior Shield is for those below that level. Given current league positions there's a strong likelihood that at least one of the clubs listed above could have changed divisions by the time 2012/13 comes around, and therefore could technically become ineligible for the competition it has been entered into. Isn't it nonsense that the Lincolnshire FA make this draw so early?

And given the dependencies on "byes", isn't it time for a revamp and to look to have the two competitions merged into one?

40

The B-Ark / Simon Rusk

« on: March 07, 2012, 07:01:29 AM »

Has left Crawley Town and been appointed youth team coach at Brighton & Hove Albion ...

http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2634948,00.html

41

The B-Ark / Vauxhall Motors Match Thread

« on: February 21, 2012, 10:39:57 PM »

Good solid performance in the first half, and 4-0 at half-time was a fair reflection on the game at that point. The front three of Newsham, Weir-Daley and Fairclough were constantly on the move and caused the Vauxhall defence all sorts of problems. Stainfield and Ward were solid at the back, and Sleath, Milnes and Ross had control of the midfield.

There's no point in getting carried away with the result, as Vauxhall Motors are undoubtedly a poor side. A lot of the Liverpool sides we've played down the years have been much of a muchness - Runcorn, Marine, Vauxhall Motors, etc., all have suffered from poor crowds and poor facilities, but generally they have survived and punched above their weight through being well-organised and tactically aware. That wasn't the case with the Vauxhall Motors team of tonight. In the first half for instance we forced a number of corners and they had all eleven men defending inside their penalty area, giving them no outlet ball whatsoever. They looked one of the worse sides we have played. But you can only beat what is put in front of you, and tonight you have to say "Job Well Done."

Second half we could afford to take our foot of the gas a bit, as the match was already won. Vauxhall made some changes at the start of the second half and their substitutes stiffened them up a bit. Number fifteen certainly didn't shirk any challenges and I'm not sure how he avoided a booking for barging Fairclough into the advertising boards. Overall the second half was a lot more even. But the game was already won by that point.

42

The B-Ark / Should football introduce a winter break?

« on: February 11, 2012, 03:32:57 PM »

Following on from two Saturday postponements this seems like a logical debate to have. Plenty of international managers have blamed England's poor performance in tournaments on the fact that we play throughout the season.

I'm not sure how you would timetable any break. Last season, for instance, the cold snap was in December and I think the only fixture we played during that month was an FA Trophy tie at York (which was touch and go in itself due to snow). This time around, we're into February before we've seen the weather at its worst. So how would the footballing authorities know when to timetable any break period?

The more sensible suggestion is to try and limit travel distances between November and February. That way, fans and players aren't having to travel long distances to fixtures that are more likely to be at risk, and any games that do need to be rearranged into midweek will at least involve relatively short journeys.

Any views - either for or against the winter break idea?

43

The B-Ark / Northwich Victoria

« on: January 19, 2012, 08:22:16 PM »

Another club on the verge of extinction after being evicted from their ground ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2088474/Northwich-Victoria-served-eviction-notice.html

In their day Northwich were one of the biggest clubs in the Conference, and the Drill Field had plenty of character. I remember going there when Ken Charlery scored a debut goal inside the first four or five minutes.  I believe the Drill Field was the oldest stadium in the country at that time. We had some good tussles with them in the league and the FA Trophy. If I remember rightly, I drove back from Northwich one year whilst listening to radio commentary of England beating Germany 5-1. I think I remember one game there as well when there was snow on the ground and we had to use the orange ball.

I don't think Boston ever visited them at their new ground, which is on an industrial estate very close to Witton Albion's ground. (Due to a practical joke involving signposts being moved, I did pull into Northwich's car park in error the last time we played at Witton and I know other Boston fans followed suit). Northwich did briefly play at Witton's ground during previous troubles, and there is a post on the Witton forum entitled "Should we bail them out again?"

Whatever happens, hope this can be resolved. It'd be a shame to lost such a traditional and long-established club from the footballing fixture lists.

44

The B-Ark / Joachim leaves Coalville

« on: January 11, 2012, 10:47:05 PM »

Not much of a story here, but the Coalville website is showing that Julian Joachim left the club earlier this week. He played a total of five matches for Coalville but didn't score for them. His last appearance came in October against Lincoln United. I watched Coalville versus Loughborough Dynamo on 2nd January, and don't think Joachim was even in the ground.

At 37, is this the end of his playing days?

If he can't force his way into EvoStik South football, then with the benefit of hindsight it seems even stranger that our management duo thought he was capable of doing a job in Blue Square North this campaign. We played Joachim in several of our pre-season matches, but it seems a shame now that we didn't take a look at one or two other strikers as potential signings; if we'd been able to unearth another goalscorer, our season might have panned out a bit better.

45

The B-Ark / What are the rules on clashes of kit?

« on: January 03, 2012, 07:14:47 PM »

Does anybody know the rules in respect of when an away team must change its colours? On New Year's Day, for example, Boston played in amber shorts. At the time I just assumed that we weren't allowed to wear our traditional black shorts because Eastwood's were that colour:-



But then I watched Match of the Day.

Here is some action from Blackburn Rovers versus Stoke City. Blackburn are the team in the white shorts. As are Stoke City. Shouldn't Stoke have been asked to wear red shorts? Or black shorts? Or shorts of any other colour except white?



And here is a picture of QPR's Joey Barton about to get sent off for a headbutt on Norwich's Bradley Johnson. Both teams are in white shorts. Shouldn't Norwich have been all green?



And while we're on the subject of clashes of kit, why was the referee able to wear black shorts at Eastwood whilst Boston had to change?

All in all, this isn't a huge issue. But it'd still be interesting to know how these decisions are reached. It seems a bit unfair that we have to have a set of shorts in change colours when other teams (with a lot more money than us) can wear whatever colours they choose.