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FA Club Status Change - 6th January 2011
News from Highworth Town Secretary Fraser Haines that the club has achieved the FA award of Community Status. This has involved a lot of work by the club's Senior and Junior sections.
The 'Worthians' now run 28 junior teams which include 5 Girls teams plus the two Senior Mens teams who play in The Uhlsport Hellenic League .
The Wiltshire F.A have informed us there are only 3 clubs in the County of Wiltshire with this award. On Saturday 19th February 2011 a representitive from the F.A will be attending Highworth's Hellenic Premier Division fixture with Slimbridge to present the club with the Award. We are intending to invite all Teams, Players, Managers, Children and Supporters of our club to our fixture and the Presentation .
More news from Highworth Town who will be holding a Sporting Dinner on Thursday 3rd March 2011 at Blunsdon House Hotel. The guest Speaker will be Ex Liverpool and Republic of Ireland player Ronnie Whelan, also on that evening the Audience will be enternained by Comedian John Styles with compare Phil King.
The tickets are priced at £45 each, or, £400 for a table of 10, this includes a 3 course meal. Anyone interested please contact Tim Pedder 07872955550 or Fraser Haines 07939032451.
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Twice In A Row - 29th October
Highworth Town will take on Kidlington tomorrow for the second Saturday in a row at Yarnton Road.
Dave Webb’s side were 3-1 victors in Oxfordshire last weekend in the Challenge Cup but tomorrow will see the sides go head-to-head in league action. “We deserved our victory last week because we were the better team on the day,” said boss Webb in the Swindon Advertiser. “Kidlington have got to put that right, they aren’t used to losing many games and they have lost two in a week. They are stronger than they were last year, they have got better players and have made a good start in the league. But my players are playing well and have got good belief and hopefully that will be enough to carry them through.”
Stopper Ian Gill deputises between the sticks for Kurtis Sharkey, who is unavailable, while Richie Saunders is absent for the same reason. Ben Snook is still on holiday and Andy Minturn is injured.
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Bizarre - 8th October
 There is only one word to sum up the Hellenic League Premier Division thus far for Highworth Town manager Dave Webb, "bizarre".
Speaking ahead of his side's 10th game of the campaign at home to Old Woodstock Town tomorrow, said he has been amazed by the rafts of inconsistencies shown by teams up and down the division in the opening throes of the 2010/11 season. With those sides pushing up towards the top of the table still losing on a regular basis, Webb believes anyone who can put together even half a run of form could well find themselves the shock champions.
"It is a bizarre league this year, it is very strange," Webb told the Swindon Advertiser. "When you look at some of the results they are pretty hard to understand. Oxford City Nomads, for instance, seemed to be getting beat every week then they went and beat Shortwood, who were top. Carterton had a poor start and now they are picking up points. Usually in this league the winners would lose five or six games all season. This year I can see the winners potentially losing nine, which is unheard of. All someone needs to do is get a little bit of self-belief, a little bit of confidence and get on a roll."
Webb attributes the unpredictability of the division to financial constraints on certain clubs. By his own admission, there are a handful of outfits in the Hellenic Premier who are struggling despite being able to pay their players. "A lot of clubs can't give the players any financial reward, and because of that it is hard for them to commit," he said. "Especially during midweek, with away games, it is hard for the players to get time off work and this affects clubs and that's where the inconsistency comes from. It's asking a lot for players to commit as much as they need to and it takes a special type of character and a special type of person to do so. But even with teams who do have those financial rewards, they are struggling. It is strange."
The Worthians boss is hopeful his current crop can find the momentum to claw their way up the league structure, starting with tomorrow's match with Old Woodstock. Free-scoring Woodstock have been something of a surprise package this term, but Webb is targeting another three points before the fixture list takes a tricky turn in the latter part of the month.
"It will be a tough game, there is no doubt about it, but I believe in my players and it's another home game, so we're after three points," he said. "This is the third home game of four and after that we have some difficult matches away, so we want to stay unbeaten for them."
Webb has two absentees for tomorrow's clash. TJ Bohane serves the second game of his two-match ban tomorrow, whilst Johnny Aitkenhead is still at least a week away from recovering from a leg injury.
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Showpiece - 11th September
 Dave Webb believes Salisbury City’s visit to his Highworth Town side in the FA Cup is the showpiece tie of the first qualifying round.
Today’s contest represents a formidable task for Webb’s Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division outfit, as they take on an team that were last season playing four divisions above them. Well-documented financial problems caused Salisbury to drop down to the Southern League Premier Division this term, but Webb acknowledges the club’s recent success higher up the league ladder makes this clash an enticing affair. “It’s the biggest game in the whole round with the smallest team against the biggest team,” said the Worthians boss. “It’s massive and it’s what it’s all about, normally you go two or three rounds to get a game like this. We’ve lost our last three games and no one will expect anything from us, so we know we’ll have to improve to compete but there’s always a chance. From the club’s perspective it’s the biggest game they have had in a while, and we want to put on a good show for those who come and watch us.”
Rob Deane will miss out as he is suspended while Johnny Aitkenhead is injured and Ian Gill will not play in goal as Chippenham do not want him to be cup-tied. Kurtis Sharkey dons the gloves in Gill’s absence, while Phil Fisher should be fit and Tony Joyce returns to the squad.
Salisbury assistant manager Mikey Harris said: “ The FA Cup is a chance for teams below us to come and have a real go at us. Highworth are on their home patch and we will not be taking this game lightly.”
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A Win Means Salisbury - 27th August
Dave Webb is targeting a plum FA Cup tie against Salisbury City as his Highworth side prepare for their Preliminary Round clash with Wessex League Premier Division leaders Bournemouth tomorrow.
Progression at Victoria Park would see Highworth rewarded with a home draw against a side who only recently were playing one division below the Football League, and Webb admits that is a prospect that gets the mouth watering.
“It limits your opportunity to progress I suppose, but it would be fantastic,” said Webb. “I might slip it into the team talk but the players are all aware of it anyway because we’ve made them aware of it. Salisbury have only just come out of the Conference and the fact the next round is at home will give you a good crowd and a good day.”
Tomorrow’s game against the Poppies will see the two outfits renew hostilities in the FA Cup following Highworth’s 2-1 extra preliminary round win in Dorset last year. “We know how difficult Saturday is going to be having played them last season,” added Webb. “We’ve had a reasonable record against Wessex League sides so hopefully we can go there in a one-off game, relax and get the win.”
Right-back Phil Fisher is very doubtful with a groin injury while central defender Craig Curtis is unavailable due to work commitments.
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Back With A Bang - 23rd August
 Tom Dingle put injury hell and a year on the sidelines firmly behind him to inspire Highworth Town to their first league win of the season with a 2-0 victory away at Ascot United.
The striker (pictured) made his first start since returning from a 12-month lay off with a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained last pre-season, and promptly did what he does best – finding the back of the net. Dingle put the finishing touch on a neat team move to open the scoring, before James Guthrie added goal number two for Highworth as they picked up an important three points.
Manager Dave Webb was delighted to see the front man back in action after doubts he would ever turn out for the club again. “It was great to see Tom back and he took his goal very well,” explained Webb to the Swindon Advertiser. “After a year out with a bad injury his fitness is coming now. It was great for him to get a start and he fully deserved his goal. He was our top scorer the season before he got injured but has been working hard throughout pre-season. When you get a bad injury like that you always doubt in your mind whether you can get back, but he came on against Ardley in the week and threw himself into a 50-50 challenge. Once you’ve done that and come out of it fine then you know you’re going to be okay.”
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Take Responsibility - 21st August
Dave Webb has urged his players to take responsibility as Highworth Town aim to get their Hellenic League Premier Division campaign up and running.
The Elms side have lost both of their opening league matches and travel to Ascot United this afternoon to take on an outfit that has won three out of three so far this term.
Webb said in The Swindon Advertiser: “It’s not been the best of starts which is disappointing. We’ve not managed to win a fixture in the league yet and that has taken me by surprise a bit. There’s not a lot more me and my staff can do so it’s down to the players to go to Ascot and show we can compete, and we hope the quality we have got at the club will come through. We’ve not performed to the level we expected them to perform at, especially on Tuesday when we were well-beaten by a very well organised Ardley United side. I’m sure they will come through it, but it’s up to the players to get that result that we need. They have got to do it for themselves.”
Danny Hilder is doubtful as he has a slight calf strain and has been struggling with flu. Elsewhere, Ben Snook returns from suspension. |
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