Steve's challenge for Acorns
Steve Barker, aged 43, husband of
League Admin Assistant Amanda, will be taking part
in the gruelling Alpe d'Huez triathlon in France next
Wednesday to raise money for Worcester children’s
charity Acorns. Steve is aiming to raise about £5,000
taking part in the event, which consists of a 2.2km
open water swim, a 115km ride finishing with the climb
of d'Huez – 13.8km with 21 switchbacks and an
average gradient of 8.1 per cent – and then
a half-marathon of 21km to finish. Alpe d’Huez
is one of the legendary climbs on the Tour de France.
The challenge should take him around nine hours to
complete.
“It is going to be a long and
difficult day but, hopefully, I will survive it. I
used to do triathalons in my 20s and have done various
bits and pieces since but I have always hankered after
going on one of the big climbs and the opportunity
arose so I thought ‘let’s do it. I have
been training since Christmas, about six times a week
in some form or another,” he said.
Steve, who is a fitness fanatic,
said he chose to do the event for Acorn’s Children’s
Hospice.“I am very lucky to be the proud dad
of four healthy children, Amy, Joe, Sam and Alice,
but it is something I take for granted too often.
There are parents who don’t have healthy children,
so I want to help in some way,” he said.
He said his friends and family think
he is ‘mad’. “I think their reactions
vary between worried and a little bit crazy. But I
am really looking forward to it.”
He will take on the challenge during
his family’s holiday in France. So far, he has
raised £750. Anyone wishing to sponsor him should
visit www.justgiving.com/SteveBarker-Alpedhuez
Club News
Bromsgrove Rovers -
The club is looking for opponents for a pre-Season
friendly fixture, preferably at home, on Saturday
7 August. Any club interested please contact Secretary
Brian Hewings.
Chesham United -
Following the untimely passing last month of former
secretary David Stanley, Chesham United Football Club
will be dedicating their Community Open Day on Saturday
7th August to his memory.
The Generals host Hendon in a pre-season
friendly at 3pm which will mark the inaugural contest
for the David Stanley Memorial Shield. This is set
to become an annual competition amongst clubs with
which David was associated. As one of the best-known
figures in the local football scene, David was also
chairman of the Suburban League and had held positions
at many clubs including Hendon, Barnet, Berkhamsted
Town and Hemel Hempstead Town. Chesham United chairman,
Alan Calder, hopes that as many of David’s friends
and colleagues as possible will be able to attend:
“David had an amazing passion for football at
all levels and worked tirelessly on behalf of so many
clubs to help them continue playing the sport he so
loved. His knowledge of the game at this level is
second to none. It is fitting on a day when we will
be opening our club up to the local community that
he should be remembered and honoured.”
The match will be free of charge
and will provide the centre piece for the annual Open
Day at Chesham United where a wide range of community
organisations are invited to come along as guests
of the club to set up stalls alongside a host of other
attractions on the day. Gates open from 1pm.
Didcot Town - The
Club have announced one of the more unlikely sponsorship
deals of the summer – their official website
is being supported by Black Swan Lane, a US/UK rock
band with seemingly no connection whatsoever with
the town or interest in football in the UK.
Didcot’s press officer Steve
Clare explained how the sponsorship came about: “I
am a big fan of Black Swan Lane and during some exchange
of emails between myself and the band’s founder
member and lead singer, Jack Sobel, he explained his
frustrations at not being able to market their new
album in this country. The band are receiving great
reviews but unable to tell anyone about it over here.”
Although based in Atlanta in the
US, Black Swan Lane is made up of a number of UK musicians
too including Mark Burgess, former frontman of the
Chameleons, who were highly influential on bands like
Oasis and the Stone Roses in the 1980s and 90s. Another
English-based musician who has collaborated regularly
with the band is actor Andy Moore (real name Andy
Whitaker), who plays PC Mike Swirling in ITV soap
opera Emmerdale.
It’s not the first time a rock
or popular music act has got involved in football
sponsorship: Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) used his local
club Brighton & Hove Albion to advertise his ‘Palookaville’
album in 2004 and Wet Wet Wet famously sponsored their
local club Clydebank. In non-league football Margate
were once sponsored by Bad Manners, Goldie Lookin
Chain were involved with Newport County and indie-band
Mega City Four supported Farnborough Town in the 1990’s.
But the link between Black Swan Lane and Didcot Town
is particularly unusual since all the other deals
involved acts that were supporting their hometown
clubs.
Clare continued: “It’s
possibly unique for a US-based band to get involved
in a relatively small club like Didcot Town but not
so daft when you think about it. The football club
have a popular official website and it’s a great
outlet for Jack to publicise his band’s new
album ‘Things You Know and Love’ while
supporting us at the same time. I’m not sure
how I would describe their music, it has a unique
sound; but anyone who likes the Smiths, Echo &
the Bunnymen, Joy Division or even the Beatles I’m
sure will hear something on the album they like.”
Didcot, who host newly promoted Oxford
United in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday 13th July
2010, kick-off their second season in the Zamaretto
Premier Division in mid-August hoping to emulate the
encouraging mid-table finish of last season. “It’s
not going to be easy for us, finances are tighter
than ever and each pound is important to us right
now. So we are grateful to Black Swan Lane for their
valuable support and remain quietly confident about
our chances of maintaining our Premier Division status
this season.”
Frome Town - The
sun shone brightly as Frome Town launched its new
youth section with a mini-soccer tournament at the
Aldersmith Stadium. Sponsored by the Jhalmuri restaurant
the event saw 28 teams aged from 7-11 playing in a
series of mini-leagues. The games were played in a
great spirit and everyone had an enjoyable day. Gary
Collinson, chairman of the youth section said, “It
was great to see so many local footballers playing
with such skill and sportsmanship. The day has been
a great success and the help and support we’ve
had from the senior club, parents and local businesses
has been fantastic.”
Kevin Stone, manager of Worton and
Chevrell commented, “All at Frome Town should
be congratulated on delivering such a well run and
thoroughly enjoyable event. The day was great fun
for the all the parents and players – thank
you”
The players were thrilled to see
Frome legend Mark Salter, who was on hand to present
the trophies to the winning sides. The under-7s and
under-8s played a festival of football with all players
receiving medals. The Referee’s Fair Play awards
were presented to Frome Town under-7s and Worton and
Chevrell under-8s. The under-9s league was a tight
affair with the winners only being decided in the
last minute of the last game when a fantastic 20 yard
goal gave Wells City a narrow victory over Holcombe.
Nicholas Wanderers needed a victory in their final
match to win the under-10s league. Despite a heroic
effort they just could not do enough and the trophy
went to Chew Valley by just one point. The most exciting
group was the u-11s where four teams, Frome Town,
Frome Collegians, Chew Valley and Norton Dragons all
finished with the same number of points. Even goal
difference couldn’t split the teams and the
trophy went to Norton Dragons by virtue of their having
scored more goals than the others.
The Youth Section would like to thank
the age group sponsors, The Venue and Sports Batr,
Trojan Construction, Pink Planet and VIP-IT Solutions
for their support. The main tournament sponsors were
the Jhalmuri Bengali, Nepalese and Indian Restaurant
whose support was invaluable in helping the Club to
set up and run the tournament.
Leamington - Leamington’s
local independent builders’ merchants Building
& Plumbing Supplies (BPS) has maintained its long-term
partnership with Leamington Football Club by renewing
and signing an increased three-year sponsorship deal
with the Brakes. BPS – who last year celebrated
its 75th anniversary by adding to its building and
plumbing, timber, Kudos bathrooms and Gardenforce
landscaping business with a fifth depot in Shipston-on-Stour
– has agreed to continue its proud support of
Leamington FC. BPS are ‘front of shirt’
sponsors of both the home and away strips and will
have an increased presence at the New Windmill Ground
with ‘double’ advertising boards behind
either goal plus new advertising coverage on the Harbury
Lane End Stand. The deal also sees BPS supporting
the club’s Community Development Scheme as sponsors
of one of the Leamington Brakes FC boys’ teams
and also a Leamington Lions Girls FC team.
Emma Dibble, Marketing Director of
BPS, said: “We are delighted and proud to continue
our support of Leamington Football Club as they clearly
have an exciting future ahead of them. It gives us
great pleasure to assist their progress both on the
field of play and within the community. The club has
come a long way in its first ten years and we firmly
believe that the partnership will help benefit the
club and the local community.”
Jim Scott, Chairman of the Club,
added: “This is wonderful news for the club
and fits with our aim to build long-term partnerships
with local businesses. BPS has been a strong supporter
of the club for a significant number of years and
we are delighted to see this continue for a further
three years. The company’s support for the club
and the community is substantial and helps provide
a solid financial base within which the club can develop.”
Former Shrewsbury Town trainee Danny
Edwards has agreed terms with Leamington
manager Paul Holleran to join the Brakes for the forthcoming
season. Left sided midfielder Edwards has plenty of
Conference North experience with Stafford Rangers,
Redditch United and AFC Telford. The 27 year old joined
AFC Telford in November 2008 from Redditch United
and, although offered a deal by new Telford manager
Andy Sinton for season 2010-11, he has made the decision
to opt for a fresh challenge at the Zamaretto Premier
Division outfit. Edwards' first involvement with the
Brakes will be in their pre-season friendly at Rushall
Olympic FC on Saturday 24th July.
Manager Paul Holleran said, 'I am delighted to have
acquired Danny's services. He has been on my radar
for some time. Hopefully he will settle in quite quickly
at the club as he already knows a number of the lads
here. Good left-sided players are difficult to find
and Danny will give us good balance and competition
within the squad'.
Stourbridge - Stourbridge
are delighted to announce that the club's current
reverse shirt sponsors Baldwins Accountants have agreed
to extend this sponsorship for the next 2 seasons.
The leading Midlands firm of accountants, founded
in 1971 with offices in Stourbridge, Ashby, Leamington,
Nottingham, Nuneaton, Tamworth & Walsall and with
over 125 staff, became reverse shirt sponsors for
the Walsall FA Cup tie last November and then extended
their support to the end of the season.They have now
committed to supporting the Glassboys for the next
two seasons and are also members of the Glassboys
Business Club at the football club.
Mark Craddock is the local Partner
of the firm who runs the Stourbridge office and is
regularly seen at home games and was in fact a decent
non-league footballer himself. Mark said today of
the extended deal: "I am delighted that Baldwins
can support our local community football club and
we are proud to be associated with the Glassboys with
this two season deal. We had excellent publicity last
year with the FA Cup exposure and there is no better
local advertising medium for local businesses to promote
their services than Stourbridge FC. The firm are committed
to providing long term support to the Glassboys as
they grow and develop both at first team level and
with their recently-formed Football in the Community
Programme and I know exciting times lie ahead both
for Baldwins and Stourbridge FC."
Commercial Manager, Jonathan Martin,
said of the deal: "Baldwins first became associated
with the football club when they joined the Glassboys
Business Club shortly after their move to their existing
premises in the town centre. It was very clear from
the outset that Mark and the firm wanted to support
the club further as they saw our development and plans
for a genuine Community football club and I am delighted
and very grateful that they have extended their existing
reverse shirt deal for the next two seasons. I am
sure Baldwins and Stourbridge FC will continue to
enjoy a long and successful relationship."
