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| May 2007 | |
| Monday 21th May | |
| The FA Cup comes to Hinckley and Leicester Legends spend the summer coaching | |
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Football fans can get up to close to the most famous trophy in football on Saturday
June 2nd when the FA Cup comes to Hinckley United's Marston's Stadium. Sponsors EON have selected the site to come and showcase the trophy which was won by Chelsea at the weekend. Fans will have the chance to win some football memorabilia courtesy of sponsors EON and have a go on the huge "Shoot the O" inflatable target which has been seen in recent months on adverts for the FA Cup. In addition there will be some football coaching sessions being run throughout the day from 12noon and several other amusements for youngsters. The FA Cup trophy will be on display in Lacey’s Bar with the opportunity to have your photo taken on the day with the famous silverware. The fun starts at 12 noon with free admission. Hinckley United have made a double signing to boost their community football programme. Leicester City legends Matt Elliot and Gerry Taggart have linked up with Hinckley United to run a football school over the summer months. Former Foxes skipper Elliott who also played for Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town, Torquay United, Scunthorpe and Oxford United while also representing Scotland will be doing hands on coaching throughout the week along with ex-Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Northern Ireland hard man Taggart. The duo will be assisted by a team of FA qualified coaches. The course run in association with Soccer Dreams at the Marston's Stadium complex will run for two weeks from Monday July 16th to Friday July 20th and from Monday August 20th to Friday August 24th. The camp is open to both boys and girls from the ages of 6 to 16 with every participant getting a certificate and medal after a week of top class coaching, skill sessions, matches and competitions. Trophies will be handed out for fair play and merit throughout the week. The cost is just £60 for the week or £12 a day – with a specially discounted rate available to Hinckley United Juniors of £10 a day. Hinckley United's Commercial Manager Dave Riche said: "We’re delighted to have signed up Matt and Gerry to run the Football Schools this summer which we hope are the first of many ventures together. The pair of them are keen to get into coaching and we believe it is a major coup for the club and the area. We want this to be the biggest Soccer Camp in the region and the pair of them are keen to stress that they will be doing the coaching and getting involved hands on. Hinckley United in association with Soccer Dreams are keen for this to be a major community initiative and with the facilities we have here, we hope the first of many major new look junior coaching projects." For details of the course and to book your place please e-mail info@marstonstadium.co.uk. And for those too old to take part in the Soccer School, Elliott and Taggart will be hosting a Leicester Legends Night at the Marston's Stadium on Friday June 29th. The duo will be telling tales from their careers and answering questions from the floor while a comedian will also be entertaining the guests. Food is also included for the admission price of just £15 which includes a late bar until 1am. To reserve a place please e-mail info@marstonstadium.co.uk or call 01455 840088 |
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| Monday 14th May | |
| Hinckley press the self destruct in Play Off Final | |
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A manic last 10 minutes incorporating some schoolboy defending and a last minute
penalty resulted in Hinckley losing the Conference North Play Off final to Farsley
Celtic 4-3. Having been in the lead for most of the match, instead of seeing out
the game Hinckley let Farsley back into it, and then panicked conceding two goals
in 3 minutes right at the end. In front of 2000 Hinckley fans Neil Cartwright almost
gave us a perfect start when in the 3rd minute he received the ball from a cross
and his half volley beat Tom Morgan but bounced back off the inside of the post
and was scrambled away from safety. Yet despite this early succession of corners
it was Farsley who took the lead in the 15th minute. A cross from the right into
the area was missed by Michael Love and fell to the feet of Gareth Grant who
scored from close range. The lead didn't last long though as Hinckley hit back on
20 minutes. A Cartwright corner was played low into the box and Farsley couldn't
clear properly, the ball eventually being pushed to Sam Shilton on the edge of the
area who fired through the crowded area from 20 yards scoring the equaliser. Straight
from the restart Hinckley attacked and Andy Brown headed across goal to Neil Cartwright
in the centre who gave Hinckley a 2-1 lead from close in giving Tom Morgan no chance.
Sean Bowles kept Hinckley's lead intact when he dived full length to save a Farsley
free kick and then on 40 minutes Gareth Grant had another headed chance but directed
it straight at Bowles. Just before half time Tom Morgan dived well to save Colin
Marrison's shot, turning it around for a corner keeping the half time score 2-1 to
Hinckley. The second half was more of a midfield battle and chances were few. Roy
Stamer shot across the Hinckley goal and Neil Cartwright got round the back of the
Farsley defence, but wasted the opportunity. With the game heading towards a Hinckley
victory Farsley made a couple of substitutions and switched to 3 up front to try
and force an equaliser. This switch was enough to unsettle the Hinckley defence
and were caught out on 78 minutes when Ryan Crossley played the ball through for
Damien Reeves to go one on one with Bowles, calmly placing the ball underneath
Hinckley's keeper to make it 2-2. Again, Farsley's lead was short lived. In the
83rd minute Stuart Storer crossed deep from the right and Leon Jackson headed back
across goal for Neil Cartwright to head down and past Morgan, restoring Hinckley's
lead. this should've been it and Hinckley should've closed out the game, but with
minutes remaining, Hinckley failed to spring an offside trap and a free kick found
Ryan Crossley all alone to score a diving header, equalising the score and seemingly
forcing extra time. However in the final minute Grant took the ball into the area
and a tackle from behind that won the ball, but also took the man, was deemed a
penalty by the ref. Simeon Bambrook stepped up for the spot kick and even though
Bowles got a touch to it, it was not enough to stop it going in and this time there
was no coming back for Hinckley. Hinckley had been 7 minutes away from the top level
of non league football, and will now have to do it all over again next season. Dean Thomas said on the night: "There are no words to describe it. We have committed suicide by making four mistakes and giving them four goals. I don't know what to say. They have not had to work hard for the goals and that disappoints me. It's heart breaking. We have thrown the game away." However, Thomas also added: "The players have been brilliant. They have been brilliant all season and I am proud of them. It's a shame that so many fans have come and supported us and we couldn't give them what they deserve. But you ride your luck and you take your chance. We have to move on and take heart from what we have achieved." Click here for: Farsley match details |
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| Sunday 13th May | |
| Presentation Night Awards | |
| The Presentation night was held at the Sketchley Grange Hotel on friday night with members of the Youth, Reserve and First team in attendance. It was a special night for young defender Curtis Smith as not only did he receive the Youth Team Player of the Season, but also he won the Reserve Team Player of the Season to go along with his Midland Combination Reserve League Champions medal. When it came to the First team, the Players' Player of the Season was won by goalkeeper Sean Bowles. Dean Thomas agreed with this decision in such that Sean Bowles also won Manager's Player of the Season. The supporters vote was very close, and even though Bowles was highly rated in that poll, the winner of the Supporters Player of the Season was Neil Cartwright. Clubman of the Year was presented to Dave Radburn. | |
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| Tuesday 8th May | |
| Hinckley's young lads prove themselves in Leicestershire Final | |
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Hinckley United fielded a much changed side from the team that won at Workington
a couple of days ago. With Leon Kelly the only first team player in the team, it
was mostly made up of the young reserves that had won their League Championship
only the evening before, plus goalkeeper Danny Haystead and striker Jermaine
Palmer who have both finished their loans at Quorn and Halesowen. Hinckley had
the perfect start when Jermaine Palmer gave them them the lead in the second
minute. Curtis Smith crossed low along the goal line and Liam Castle didn't drop
on the ball in time to stop Palmer tapping into the net. Barwell were level 8 minutes
later from a cross on the right to Craig Noble in the centre who scored the equaliser.
Owen Story showed his pace on 15 minutes taking the ball past the Barwell defence
only for Martin Fox to bring him down, earning the former Hinckley midfield player
a yellow card. On 20 minutes Nicholas Pollard headed over for Barwell when well
placed, before the same player then scored Barwell's second. On 36 minutes the
ball was crossed in from the left and Pollard headed in to give Barwell the lead.
Just before half time Scott Clamp tried his luck from long range, but the ball
cannoned off the post to keep the score 1-2 to Barwell at half time. The second
half was largely uneventful until the final stages, Hinckley pushing forward but
creating few chances. Jermaine Palmer was guilty of missing a couple of easy
chances before Owen Story started the mad goal rush. In the 86th minute Palmer made
a run on the left, cut in and shot, with Liam Castle parrying the ball into the
path of Owen Story he tapped into the empty net to make it 2-2. Two minutes later
a corner on the right for Hinckley was crossed central and substitute Brian Woodall
volleyed from 15 yards to give Hinckley the lead. Right on time a long throw from
Barwell on the left reached the edge of the D and no one had picked up Kevin Charley,
he teed up his shot and equalised for Barwell from 20 yards. With the game heading
towards extra time, amazingly there was just enough injury time for one more goal.
Deep into the 4 minutes of injury time, a free kick on the left was played long and
central making it's way through the packed penalty area to the feet of Owen Story,
who turned and fired home the winner from 8 yards out. Aptly it was Owen Story,
captain for the night and scorer of two goals, who was presented with the
Leicestershire Challenge Cup. Click here for: Barwell match details |
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| Sunday 6th May | |
| Play Off Final and Coach details | |
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Hinckley United have announced details of club coaches travelling to the Play Off
Final at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on the evening of Monday 14th May. The match will not be all ticket, but will be segregated. It will be pay on the gate on the night with the League setting prices at: The football club will be running coaches on the night and the cost will be: Bookings for the coach will be taken this week between 9am-5pm at the reception area in the Main Stand at the Marston Stadium. Payment is to be made at the time of booking, and NO bookings will be taken after 5pm on Friday 11th May. In addition Dave Radburn will be also be available on wednesday night between 7pm-9pm to take bookings. Any questions or issues then you can ring Dave Radburn on: 07971564432 The coaches will leave the Marston Stadium at 5.45pm next Monday 14th May. The usual pick up points of the Central Club and Sketchley Hill DO NOT apply and everyone will therefore leave from the Marston Stadium only. A time for the return from the Pirelli Stadium has not yet been confirmed but will be in due course. |
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| Saturday 5th May | |
| Hinckley beat Reds to the play off final | |
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Hinckley United made the long trip north to West Cumbria, but ultimately the journey
was worth it. Workington were beaten 1-2 at Borough Park in the second leg of the
Conference North play of Semi Final, meaning Hinckley progress through to the Final
against Farsley Celtic at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on Monday 14th May. With
both sides keeping almost the same line ups from the first leg, the only change being
Hinckley's Chris Nurse returning after suspension, the opening stages were pretty
much the same as the first leg, though on an excellent surface Hinckley exploited
the width better than the home side. The first chance came in the 12th minute as
Neil Cartwright, used that width to put in a cross from the left to the centre and
Andy Brown unmarked missed a great chance putting his header over the bar. 5 minutes
later Chris Nurse found himself on the edge of the area and Adam Collins off his
line. Hinckley's midfielder tried a speculative chip and the Workington keeper did
enough to tip the ball onto the crossbar and over for a corner. On 23 minutes
Workington forced a succession of corners from which Sean Bowles punched and caught
well, appearing to be fouled in the process. A bizarre incident followed as the
vociferous Stuart Storer let the ref know his feelings on the subject and was
subsequently booked for it, and then keeper Sean Bowles was also booked, yet a
goal kick for Hinckley restarted the game. The game turned a little nasty after
this and on the half hour Andy Brown recieved the ball through the middle and lifted
it over Darren Edmondson, but as Brown ran past him the Reds defender simply pulled
him down on the edge of the area. Edmondson and Colin Marrison got involved in a
needless scuffle with both players receiving yellow cards. The free kick came to
nothing and was a wasted opportunity in a half of few chances. Workington were
moving forward in numbers but were thwarted by Hinckley's solid defence in the last
third, so much so that on 40 minutes Craig Johnstone elected to shoot from 30 yards
instead of cross into the area to better placed players, the ball went straight to
Sean Bowles who was behind it all the way. The first goal was always going to be
very important and Hinckley scored it in the 42nd minute. Workington were asleep
to a Hinckley short corner on the right and Stuart Storer cross to the back post
for Colin Marrison to neatly head back into the centre for the unmarked Leon
Jackson to head home from close range giving Hinckley the lead. Leon Jackson was
the hero again a minute later, Workington attacked straight from the restart and
a cross from the left was headed on target by Workington only for Bowles to turn
it away for a corner. The corner came in from the right and a rising shot by Craig
Johnstone from 15 yards beat Bowles, but Leon Jackson standing on the goal line
headed the ball away to safety, keeping a tight game 0-1 to Hinckley at half time.
To the delight of the travelling fans Workington had a mountain to climb in the
47th minute, with Hinckley extending their lead to two goals. A through ball looked
to be easily defended by Darren Edmondson, but the defender somehow couldn't control
the ball and the opportunistic Colin Marrison took the ball away from him and was
one-on-one with the keeper. As Adam Collin came out at Marrison, the Sheffield United
loanee calmly nutmegged the keeper giving Hinckley a 0-2 lead. As you'd expect
Workington now threw everything forward, and forced Hinckley to defend for long
periods. The reds forced a number of corners and did their best to keep the ball
in the Hinckley area, with the Hinckley defence holding firm. David Hewson went
closest for Workington on 78 minutes when he fired a shot across the area left to
right, but saw it go wide of goal, and then on 80 minutes he fired another shot
over the bar. Dave Hewson then gave Workington a glimmer of hope in the 83rd minute.
From another corner on the right on, the ball came to Hewson on the edge of the
area and his first time low volley was straight at goal and beyond Sean Bowles
outstretched hand. A renewed Workington lifted themselves for one last attempt at
forcing extra time, but Hinckley's defence held out for the reminder of normal time
and 4 minutes injury time, to send Hinckley into the Conference North play off final. Click here for: Workington match details |
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| Monday 2nd May | |
| All square in opening game | |
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Hinckley United and Workington drew 0-0 in a tense and physical game at the Marston
Stadium. Both sides were very evenly matched, as league records would suggest, and
there wasn't a lot to separate them on the night. Workington, who many Hinckley fans
had agreed looked the best footballing side at the Marston's this season, this time
decided to play a very physical, long ball game. Hinckley were up to the challenge
which made for an entertaining game, if not a very good quality match. Sometimes
Workington were too physical and will count themselves lucky to finish with 11
men, even with 6 of their players receiving yellow cards. Workington had the first
goal chance forcing Sean Bowles to make an excellent one handed save from a corner
in the 12th minute. Mark Cooper then had the chance to put Hinckley in the lead in
the 19th minute, when Adam Collin mis-kicked a back pass and it fell to Cooper
30 yards out. The midfielder hit the ball on target along the floor, but Collin
recovered to smother his shot. immediately after this Mark Cooper was challenging
for the ball in the middle, when he was hit by the arm of Graham Anthony. Whether
intentional or not it was right in front of the referee, but he deemed that it was
only a yellow card offence. On the half hour Neil Cartwright combined well with
Stuart Storer, for the experienced defender to take the ball past Kyle May, only
for the Workington player to bring him down on the edge of the area. Cartwright's
resultant free kick was cleared from danger. 5 minutes before half time Workington
crossed deep from the left to the unmarked Craig Johstone who directed his header
wide of the goal. Just before half time Cooper was again on the end of a bad
challenge on the edge of the area, but Marrison's free kick was also wasted, leaving
the half time score 0-0. Hinckley stepped up the pressure for the second half, with
Leon Jackson having two headers deflected for corners in the opening 10 minutes of
the second period. Andy Brown then had a close range shot charged down by the defence
and Leon Jackson was in a good position to shoot but a last ditch tackle cleared
the ball. Workington were defending for long periods but were still very capable
on the break as they twice broke down the right on 67 and 73 minutes both times
resulting in a deep cross only for no Workington attacker in position to have a
shot, then Craig Johnstone was free on the right and shot from an angle seeing
the ball scrape the outside of the right post and into the side netting. In the
closing stages Mark Cooper had a cross/shot headed away for a corner from under
the bar having beaten Collin. The game finished 0-0 and sets it up for a winner
take all on Saturday at Borough Park. Click here for: Workington match details |
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| Tuesday 1st May | |
| Kelly's Heroes, not any more... | |
| Leon Kelly has suffered the punishment of being fined two weeks wages along with him receiving a 5 match ban, following his sending off in the final match of the season at Blyth. It is the third time he has been sent of this past season and he can really have no complaints over the punishment handed out by Dean Thomas. The 5 match suspension begins after Saturday 5th, so should Hinckley win through to the Play Off final then we will be without our leading scorer. Thomas said: "He will be ruled out of the final now if we get there and that could significantly affect our chances of getting into the Conference. It is the third time he has been sent off now and what more can I do?" | |
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