WINTERBOURNE UNITED NEWS

Bourne Apply To Swap Leagues - 18 May

Winterbourne United will have to wait until the end of the month to discover whether their application to join the Toolstation Western League Premier Division has been approved.

The Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West side are one of two clubs seeking to 'transfer' to an equivalent league next season. Winterbourne, who finished third in the Hellenic Division One West this campaign and play home games at the Gloucestershire FA's Almondsbury headquarters, are bidding to join the Toolstation's Premier Division.

Meanwhile, Warminster Town, who struggled in the Wessex League First Division this term, are hopeful of acceptance into the Toolstation First Division.

A Football Association committee is set to meet in the next fortnight to decide on a proposed restructuring of non-League football across the country. Toolstation League secretary Ken Clarke said: "When it comes to Winterbourne's and Warminster's applications we are in the hands of the FA, who will rule whether they can move across to us from their leagues when they've had their meeting at the end of this month. We currently have 18 and 19 teams respectively in our Premier and First Divisions and, ideally, we'd like to see 20 teams in each."

Unwanted Promotion Cost - 14 April

After last Mondays' exhilarating climax to Winterbourne United's season there is an unfortunate tale to tell.

Sam Vile (pictured) dislocated his ankle and suffered a double fracture to his fibia, it is terrible luck for Sam who will now miss out on two cup finals for his Sunday side Beaufort. Sam has played a massive part for Winterbourne again this year and is a true clubman.

Wnterbourne's Robin Maggs, gives his thoughts on the club's season. "Promotion will, hopefully, be confirmed after a final League inspection, but we have done all we can on the pitch, with James Mainstone's winner in the last thirty seconds of the final game to ensure finishing in a promotion position. The effort the players put in to galvanise our season is quite remarkable considering the really rocky start we had to the campaign. The first three months were an absolute nightmare, with so many missing through injury or illness meant we regularly fielded sides with 5/6 regulars on the side lines. This affected all sides as Martin Blake and Kevin Slade with the Reserves and A's were constantly robbed of their regulars but battled on regardless without first choice players."

He continues. "Things settled down in the New Year when Dave Wilson took on the reigns, Dave had been assistant to both Nick Tanner and Chris Marsh and has plenty of experience in the past playing for and then managing our Reserves, more recently he managed South Gloucester OB. Dave openly admitted he had no real knowledge of the level of football he was now at but knowing a few of the players gave him confidence to see the season out."

"During his settling in period some noses were put out of joint and players decided to leave blaming everyone but themselves. Early on in Dave's tenure we were delighted to welcome Jack Pitcher back to us, this proved to be a massive boost. Jack's ability clearly made a big difference to the side and as the changing room became a much happier place things turned around on the field accordingly."

Magg's feels the move of grounds this season has been a key factor. "I would also like to record that we should not under estimate the value of playing at Oaklands Park has been to us. There is no doubt that the clubs' profile has been lifted to another level irrespective of whether we go up or not. The fact is without Oaklands we would be going nowhere but back to the County League, so you could call it 'ironic justice' that we can now go up when coming third unlike when winning the league twice previously."

Promotion Hopes In Own Hands - 30 March

Winterbourne United chairman Robyn Maggs believes promotion is still within the grasp of the, Bristol based, Division One West side.

The club have three fixtures left, starting with a trip to play the Cirencester Town Development side tomorrow. Maggs said: "A win on Saturday would make the last two games easier and put the pressure on everyone else. Our hopes ultimately lie in our own hands."

Ben Dowdell is out through a ban tomorrow and Jack Watts will be missing with a dislocated elbow.

Out To Extend Run - 16 March

Winterbourne United will be out to extend a nine-game unbeaten run when they host Lydney Town.

They beat Wootton Bassett Town 3-0 on Wednesday and are expected to stick with the same side as they look to clinch a promotion place. "A couple more wins could do it for us," said chairman Robyn Maggs

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Local Spoils Against Division Leaders - 27 February

Winterbourne United cut Tytherington Rocks' lead at the top of Division One West to 14 points after Rocks crashed to a shock home defeat against their local rivals.

Second-placed Old Woodstock Town have three games in hand on Tytherington, but they laboured to beat bottom-of-the-table Trowbridge Town 1-0 at the weekend.

Winterbourne, who remain in fourth spot, have their eyes on finishing third with the hope that they may get a chance of promotion to the Premier Division at the end of this season, if Old Woodstock Town are unable to qualify through ground grading.

Winterbourne chairman, Robin Maggs, believes they have the ability to achieve their goal. "The arrival around Christmas time of Jack Pitcher, who started his career with us before moving to higher leagues with Mangotsfield United and Gloucester City, has made a huge difference to the side," he said. "He has already scored 11 goals and he also takes our Wednesday evening training sessions."

Players Out - 17 February

Winterbourne United will be without suspended duo Geraint Williams and Ben Hopson for tomorrow's home clash with Headington Amateurs.

Williams completes a two-game ban, while Hopson is starting a four-game spell on the sidelines incurred while with County League side Chipping Sodbury.

Central defender Mitch Davenport is added to the squad.

Promotion Hopeful - 3 February

Winterbourne United chairman Robyn Maggs still believes the club can achieve promotion from Division One (West) this season.

Last weekend's victory over Trowbridge Town moved United up to fourth place, and they take on Old Woodstock Town, the side directly above them, tomorrow.

"We might still get third place, but even finishing fourth could still be enough to see us go up because we are the only club in the top four with floodlights," said Maggs.

Winterbourne will be without the banned Ben Hopson and Geraint Williams. Matt Plant and Alex Hill come in.

Two Back In Contention - 27 January

Sam Vile and Ben Dowdell back from suspension for Winterbourne's trip to Trowbridge Town in Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West.

But they will be without Geraint Williams tomorrow, who misses the clash against the bottom-of-the-table side as he starts a two-match ban.

With just one defeat in their last five games, United head into the game as firm favourites. But chairman Robyn Maggs warned: "Although form might make it look like a banker for us, Trowbridge's pitch is boggy and anything could happen. We have to make sure we do the job."

Bright Start For Wilson - 6 January 2012

Dave Wilson has had a positive start to his managerial career at Winterbourne with six points out of a possible nine over the Festive period.

Wilson has the manager’s job until the end of the season at least. He took over when Chris Marsh departed the Hellenic Division One West football club just before the congested festive fixture list, after finding it difficult to commit to the job. After starting with a defeat at Lydney, Wilson has led Winterbourne to two wins on the bounce over Headington Amateurs and Purton.

Wilson played for Winterbourne and managed the reserve side before enjoying a successful spell in charge of South Glos Old Boys. He returned to the club at the start of the season as a first team coach, initially under Nick Tanner, who resigned following a poor start to the season before Marsh transformed their fortunes.

Winterbourne chairman Robyn Maggs said: “Chris was unable to put the commitment in. He started off really well, but home commitments didn’t give him enough time to dedicate to football. Dave has got good players at his disposal and we’re well placed to have a push for the top five.”

Jack Pitcher has certainly given the side a boost since his return to the club where he started his career. The former Almondsbury Town and Mangotsfield United striker left Southern League side Chippenham last month and scored on his second Winterbourne debut in the defeat against Lydney and he followed that up with another strike in the 4-2 win at Headington on Saturday.

Liam Morbey scored two goals early on for Headington before a reply from Geraint Williams. The second half saw Winterbourne add three further goals through Pitcher, Greg Stutt and an own goal. Winterbourne came from behind once again to beat Purton 2-1 on Monday at Oaklands Park. After trailing to a tenth minute goal, Sam Vile equalised on the stroke of half-time and Ben Dowdell hit the winner ten minutes from time.

Wilson Takes Bourne Helm Tomorrow - 30 December

Dave Wilson takes charge of Winterbourne United at Headington Amateurs tomorrow after manager Chris Marsh departed from the club.

Marsh took over the management role three months ago. Initially stepping into the breech on a temporary basis at the end of August, after then manager Nick Tanner resigned folowing a poor start to the season.

"Chris was finding it hard to commit the time needed for the job because of work demands," said club chairman Robyn Maggs.

Liverpool Legends Sparkle - 1 August

A crowd in excess of 1500 turned up in bright sunshine to witness Winterbourne United's big day.

The Legends, to a man, were fantastic they were very approachable all day signing countless autographs.

They all came back to venue of our presentation evening where Alan Kennedy acted as MC inviting talks from Jan Molby, Jimmy Case, John Wark and Craig Hignett.

He then handed out trophies to James Mainstone who won the players' player of the year, for the second season running while Sam Vile scooped managers' player. On his Hellenic debut season Ashley Knight picked up the golden boot from Jimmy Potts who has decreed to regain it. Physio Kenny Purnell won Clubman of the Year for all his hard work with the wounded.

It is also good to report that the club were complimented by Alan Pearce, a director of the GFA on the way the day went including the presentaion evening which he attended.

Winterbourne United v 'Liverpool Legends XI' - 14 July

Centenary Celebration match on Saturday the 23rd July at Oaklands Park, Almondsbury, Bristol 3pm kick off.

Winterbourne United Under 13s are playing Cardiff Academy at 11-30 on the morning of the match,so the gates will be open around 11AM should anyone want to come and support. There are various food and drink outlets on site so everyone should be catered for and we suggest people get there as early as possible to ease congestion near kick off time please.

Anyone wishing to come and see the likes of Phil Neal, Jimmy Case, Jan Molby,John Wark,Gary Gillespie, Bristolian Julian Dicks and many others are welcome to attend. See squad advice below.

Tickets are available,or people can now pay on the day, prices are: @£10 adults, £5 U16's, U10's go free while accompanied by an adult. For ticket information please contact Winterbourne United Chairman ROBYN MAGGS on 07976 255666 or e-mail to robynmaggs@hotmail.com

There is limited parking at Oaklands Park, however more is available at North Bristol Rugby Club situated on the same site @ £2 per car. A raffle and a collection will be organised at the game in aid of The Jessie May Trust. The Trust is a charitable organisation that helped our own Scott Cameron and partner Sarah through their ordeal of losing baby Theo.

Liverpool squad as advised:

Bob Boulder:  Liverpool paid out £125,000 in 1983, to bring Bob to Anfield as understudy to Brucie before he moved on to seek first team football at Charlton and, later, Sunderland.

Julian Dicks.has the honour of being the last Liverpool player to score in front of the standing Spion Kop in a 1–0 win against Ipswich Town near the end of the 1993–94 and went on to make 23 appearances scoring 3 goals.

.Phil Neal:  Nearly 700 games for Liverpool and a regular right back for England with fifty caps, Phil has won just about every honour in the game.

Gary Gillespie came to Liverpool via Coventry City. Capped thirteen times for Scotland, Gary played well over 200 games in Liverpool’s colours.

John Wark: starred for Ipswich Town before joining Liverpool in March ’84. A Scottish international with twenty-nine caps, John played a century of games for ‘The Pool’

Jan Molby:  Capped thirty-three times for Denmark, Jan made his Liverpool debut in August ’84. Bought for £225,000 Jan went on to make 292 appearances and notching 60 goals.

Jimmy Case:  Born in Liverpool, Jimmy made his debut for the club in 1975. He went on to play 269 games for the side. After winning four title medals, three European Cup medals, League Cup and UEFA Cup medals, he moved to Brighton for £350,000.

Don Hutchinson :Kenny Dalglish brought Don to Anfield from Hartlepool United in 1990 paying £175,000 for his services.He made his debut against Notts County in March 1992 . Hutch scored 10 of his goals in a red shirt, as well as 42 of his overall 60 appearances for the club in 92.

Howard Gayle -Liverpool-born Howard made his league debut for Liverpool as a substitute at Maine Road in October 1980. He played a big part in a European Cup semi-final after Kenny Dalglish limped off early.He was on the bench though which meant the exclusion of the promising Ian Rush.

Craig Hignett, is a lifelong Liverpool fan and started his career in the youth team at Liverpool before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 1988 he made 150 appearances and scored 57 goals.

John Durnin scored on a regular basis for Liverpool Reserves - 60 goals in 84 Central League matches .He was on the bench at the beginning of the 1988-89 season and made his first team debut against Arsenal in the Centenary semi-final.After leaving Liverpool, he went on to be leading scorer at Oxford and Portsmouth in the lower divisions.

John Beresford was born in Sheffied in his footballing career he played for clubs Manchester City, Barnsley, Portsmouth, Newcastle United, Southampton and Birmingham City. Beresford is best  remembered by LFC fans  for missing his spot kick in the 1992 FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout against Liverpool while playing for Portsmouth. Ironically, Liverpool agreed to sign him after the end of that season, but he failed a medical and Kevin Keegan signed him for Newcastle instead.