McClurg Joins Binfield - 30th May

Ex-Finchampstead manager Steve McClurg has joined Sport Italia Hellenic League Division One East Binfield.

Steve will be managing the first team under Richard Whitty who has been appointed as Director of Football for the club. Mark Tallantire, remains as do Keith Pennicott-Bowen and Richard Lansiquot.

Chairman Rob Jones said, “We now have the most experienced football men in the area running our senior side. They are a great combination of knowledge, contacts and tactical ability. I always admired the way Steve’s Finchampstead sides played and got results. If we can add some of that to our Binfield side then we should achieve our objective of a top two finish this coming season and promotion to the Premier Division”.

Managers Post At Binfield - 26th May

Division One East Binfield FC are looking for a manager for the Reserve Team, who play in Division One Sport Italia Hellenic League Reserve Section, and also for the club's Allied Counties Youth Team. There is already training and administrative assistance available for both teams.

Ideally Binfield are wanting to appoint one Manager to oversee the U18's midweek floodlight games and also the Reserves who predominantly play on Saturday's, so that Youth players can be brought through into the Reserves and then onto the 1st team, although the roles could be split with the two persons working closely together and in conjunction with the 1st Team Manager Richard Whitty.

Interested parties should contact Binfield Chairman Rob Jones on 07860 292598.

Promotion Or Failure - 8th May

Binfield boss Richard Whitty says he will consider next season a failure if his club fails to win promotion to the Sport Italia Hellenic League Premier Division.

The Moles have endured a poor campaign by their standards, finishing ninth and never challenging at the top end of the table. But with the club moving forward off the field thanks to floodlights being installed at Stubbs Lane, Whitty knows results must improve on the pitch.

He said: “For me it’s promotion next season or failure. With the lights going up and the club going into the FA Vase things are moving forward off the pitch and the team needs to do that as well."

“We’re looking forward to it, everyone’s up for the challenge. We need to make sure that we get off to a good start and get the club buzzing.”

Whitty puts his side’s problems this season down to a lack of killer instinct and says his midfielders must start chipping in with goals. Binfield drew 10 games throughout their campaign, more than anyone else in the league, and the boss accepts that has to change if they are to compete with the league’s top sides.

He said: “We need to go on and win games after dominating which is something we haven’t done this season. We didn’t score enough goals from midfield. Midfield players should be getting 10 to 15 goals a season and I think the closest we got to that was eight.

“It’s strange how things happen. We had one of our strongest squads this season but this has been my lowest points tally since I arrived at the club. We’ve played some excellent football but we haven’t had that killer touch in front of goal and we need to improve on that.”

Binfield Light the Way Forward- 17th January

Binfield are delighted with the news that work on installing floodlights at the club's Stubbs Lane ground is due to start in the next week.

Manager Richard Whitty has long voiced his support for the proposal and feels the lights will help move the club forward to a new stage in its history. He says the lure of playing under lights will make it much easier for him to attract players in the future.

Whitty said: "They're supposed to be starting the digging this week and we're hoping to have them up by the end of the month. "It will be great for the club when they're up and will be a good incentive when we try to get players to come here. It will take the club forward to the next level and gives us a chance to move up some divisions now which is what I would like to see."

"I have to congratulate the chairman and the committee for getting it all done, they've done a great job."

The Moles' Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup fourth round clash with Holyport was postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch and will now be played this Saturday, conditions allowing. Whitty welcomes back striker Tim Walsh to the squad and admits his side face a big challenge against an in form Holyport side.

He said: "I've spoken to Liam Woozley who now plays over there and he says they are flying at the moment and can't see when they will lose another game. So we know it's going to be very difficult, but having last weekend off has given us a chance to rest some aches and pains."

Moles Boss Blasts Lack Of Discipline - 11th January 2008

Richard Whitty has warned his players about their discipline after Matt Davis became the fifth Moles player to be sent off this season.

The Binfield boss has finally run out of patience after seeing his side throw away the lead and forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Henley following Davis' dismissal on Saturday.He has said that any more of his players who see red will struggle to get back into the side as he looks to ensure his squad is in its strongest shape possible for the second half of the campaign.

Whitty said: "We've had five sent off now this season and that's not good enough. The players need to learn that they have to keep their discipline. I've said to the lads that it needs to stop as it's costing us points. I think we've thrown away eight points in the games where we've had players sent off and at the end of the season eight points could be crucial. Earlier in the season players who had been suspended would have come straight back into the team, but now everyone is fit and fighting for places you could find yourself on the bench because of a lack of discipline."

Binfield take a break from league action this weekend as they host Holyport in the fourth round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup.

They were left to rue Davis' sending off last Saturday as Henley Town fought back to earn a deserved draw at Stubbs Lane.

Callum Whitty had put the Moles in front early in the second half but the game turned when Davis saw red after an off-the-ball incident. The visitors took advantage of their extra man to level things up with 10 minutes remaining and could have even won the game if it had not been for Binfield stopper Martin Hutt.

Whitty said: "In the first half I thought we were the dominant team and we should have been at least two up by the break. Then we got in front early in the second half, but after the sending off they took control. They battled really hard and, to be honest, they deserved to get a draw. It was just a real shame because we should have won. That's our eighth draw now this season and draws are no good in this league.

Wins Not Draws - 20th December

Richard Whitty has urged his side to start turning draws into wins if they want to challenge for the title. The Moles could only draw 2-2 with Thame United on Saturday, despite leading 2-0 with less than 10 minutes to play.

That was the sixth draw of the season for the Stubbs Lane outfit in just 15 games - and only top two Chalfont Wasps and Marlow Utd have lost fewer games this season. Whitty is confident that his side are close to getting the wins they need to move them into the challenging pack. He will be hopeful of starting that run this week with games against local rivals Finchampstead and Eton Wick - both of whom are languishing in the bottom three.

The Binfield boss said: "These are must-win games.We are 15 points behind Chalfont but have to play them twice so there is all to play for still. It's a strange sort of league and the fact is that we have drawn too many games. Saturday was our sixth draw and if you convert three of those into wins we would be right on the tails of the leaders."

The Moles welcome former youth team player Matt Jones back into the first team fold and Whitty is hoping he can make an impact during his short stay back at Binfield. "Matt is a good player who is currently in America on a football scholar-ship. He was a youth team player for us and has come back for Christmas and wanted to keep in shape. So he started training with us and we have signed him up. It's nice to have him back, he's a good midfield player and it's good to have those sort of players in your squad."

Commenting on last Saturday's fixture aginst Thame United Whitty added "They [Thame] were better than the first time we played them, but we have to be looking to win those sort of games.One of the reasons is that we have not played for a couple of weeks and we were not as sharp as we could have been. But it is disappointing to be 2-0 up and not shut up the game."

Moles To "Tame" United - 13th December

"Moles" boss Richard Whitty has urged his Binfield side to try and get on a winning run before the start of the vital Christmas period. The Moles were left kicking their heels on Saturday along with all the other local teams as torrential rain put paid to their derby clash with Wokingham and Emmbrook. The Stubbs Lane outfit are hoping to get back into action on Saturday as they host fellow mid table side Thame United.

Whitty is looking for more of the same from his side after they secured a 3-2 win over the same opposition in September, that in turn could lead to a fruitful festive campaign. He said: "They are a good side, big and strong and we had an excellent game with them at their place earlier this season. Obviously they have dropped down through the leagues a bit, but they have got some big plans to turn the club around so they're clearly quite ambitious. It will be an interesting game because both teams play some nice football, but with home advantage we want to get three points. It's important to try and get on a run now ahead of Christmas so we can take some confidence into those games."

The Moles will go into that busy period without the experienced Liam Woozley who has left Stubbs Lane for fellow Division One side Holyport. Whitty believes the squad he has now assembled has got more than enough to make up for the departure of the centre back. "Liam had trouble making training sessions and we need everybody to be committed, which unfortunately he could not be. It's a shame to see him go,but he's only played one game for us so far this season so it's not a massive loss. We won't bring anyone in to replace him, I think our squad's strong enough as it is."

Saturday morning's downpour meant that the Moles will have to wait before completing a hat-trick of victories over their local rivals, with just Wokingham remaining to complete the set. Despite the recent conditions, Whitty does not anticipate any problems ahead of this week-end's game. "The weather was just not playable. Wokingham did all they could and left it until 12 to have a pitch inspection. But after the rain in the morning there were puddles all over the pitch and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Our reserves had their game at home called off as well, so we're all set for this weekend."

Strongest Moles - 6th December

Richard Whitty has hailed his squad as being "as strong as we've had since I've been here" as he prepares for his third local derby in a month.

Binfield saw off Hellenic League new boys Ascot United 2-0 in the County Cup on Saturday, a fortnight after cruising past Finchampstead 5-0. And this weekend the Stubbs Lane outfit make the short trip to face Wayne Wanklyn's Wokingham and Emmbrook side in the league to try and complete a hat-trick of victories over their nearest rivals. Progressing to the last 16 of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday, Whitty is relishing the chance to get back into league action.

He said: "It's nice to be in the cups, but it's the league that matters and we want to finish as high up as we can. I think we have got as strong a squad as we have had since I have been here, so we can be looking higher in the table. But this weekend will not be easy.It's strange how the games have come about. It's our third derby game in a short space of time - I suppose it's the right league to be in for those sort of games. Games against your local rivals are always something the players look forward to and Saturday will be no different."

Whitty was quick to pay tribute to the efforts of new Wokingham boss Wayne Wanklyn, whose side is unbeaten since he took over at the helm three games ago. "Wokingham started the season pretty poorly but since Wayne Wanklyn has come in there they have been performing much better. It's a tough place to go to but we are playing well at the moment and have to be confident. Being organised and hardworking is what this league is all about - and that is something we have managed to be over the last four or five weeks and we'll be looking to keep going this weekend."

Binfield will be missing Danny Oliphant and Jamie Docherty (injured) as well as the weekend's two goal hero Tony Calvert (unavailable) for Saturday's clash with the Satsumas.

Moles To Halt Ascot Streak - 29th November

Binfield boss Richard Whitty says he has not been surprised by how well Ascot United have done this season and has tipped them for a top six finish in the league.

Whitty takes his side to Ascot this Saturday for a Berks & Bucks Cup third round clash and knows they will need to be at the top of their game if they are to make progress. The two teams have already met once this season, when Binfield ran out comfortable 2-0 winners,but Ascot's fortunes have been transformed since then. They are currently on a nine game winning streak in all competitions and Whitty knows his team will be tested to its limits when they visit the Racecourse.

He said: "It's going to be very difficult. We played well against them earlier in the season and caught them on the hop a bit. But I'm not expecting it to be as comfortable this time around. They are playing very well and are the form team in our league at the moment.

"They already had a good team but they've brought in some really good players recently and results have shown they are reaping the benefits. I always thought they were going to finish in the top 10 but now, with their new players, I think they will be in the top five or six." Whitty added: "All local derbies are tough but we're all really looking forward to this one.They're in great form but so are we so it should be a cracking game."

Goals From The Middle - 22nd November

The Binfield midfielders have been challenged by their manager to come up with more goals as he looks to take the pressure off his forwards. Binfield boss Richard Whitty had seen his side struggle in recent weeks before they returned to form last Saturday with a crushing 5-0 win against neighbours Finchampstead.

The rout was kicked off by an early goal from Danny Oliphant and Whitty has urged his other midfielders to follow Oliphant's lead. He said: "I think Danny's goal was the first time in about eight games that one of our midfielders has scored. We just haven't been scoring from the middle of the park since Danny Wing got injured and we need to change that. We can't keep relying on the forwards because it puts them under too much pressure. The midfielders have to get their share of the goals."

Binfield travel to Hellenic Premier Division side Badshot Lea this Saturday for a Challenge Cup match and Whitty knows they are going to be in for a tough game. Badshot went up from Division One (East) last season and are comfortably sitting in mid-table following a decent start to life in their new surroundings.

The Moles will welcome back goalkeeper Martin Hutt for the clash after the experienced stop-per was forced to miss last week-end's game with Finch due to work commitments. And Whitty added: "It's going to be a tough one for us as we all know that Badshot are a very good side. But we're playing well at the moment and if we can play like we did last Saturday we can be a match for anybody."

"A" Game Required - 15th November

Richard Whitty admits his team's league form has been hit by the amount of cup games they have had to play in recent weeks. The Moles enjoyed a fine start to their league campaign but you have to go as far back as September 15 to find their last three point haul when they beat Thame United 3-2. But in the two months following that win they have only played four league games - of which they have drawn three - due to the amount of cup clashes they have faced.

Whitty said: "It hasn't helped, it's been very stop-start and that's only going to continue over the next few weeks. We've got Finch in the league this Saturday but then our next two games after that are both in cup competitions. It's frustrating but I suppose that's the price you pay for doing well. It's not the best situation but you have to just deal with it. We need to get our league form back on track, starting this Saturday."

The Moles host neighbours Finchampstead this week and Whitty is expecting a tough test, despite the visitors' lowly league position. He said: "We need three points from every game between now and Christmas to get ourselves back into the picture at the top but Finch are battling hard at the moment so it won't be easy. I think it will be a great local derby.They've improved an awful lot recently and we will need to bring our "A" game if we're going to win."

Last One . . . Maybe? - 9th November

Richard Whitty says he has made his last signing of the season following the capture of former Reading midfielder Scott Taylor.

Whitty has brought in a number of new faces in recent weeks with the likes of Danny Oliphant, Tony Calvert and James Docherty arriving at Stubbs Lane. And he believes his squad now has the competition for places it needs to break into the top three.

He said: "The club is really moving in the right direction now. We've got a great squad, the floodlights are coming and I would like to think we can finish in the top three at least. We've brought in Scott and I would say that is our final signing of the season. If I get the chance to get a striker in maybe I will take it, but at the moment I think I'm done."

"Scott's a very experienced player and will be very important for us between now and the end of the season. We've got a lot of competition for places here now which can only be a good thing.We're in very good shape and I believe we can really challenge at the top of the table."

The Moles visit Marlow United this Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to six games. In that run they have drawn four times, however, and Whitty knows they must start turning those draws into wins.

Whitty added: "It will be a very difficult game because I think Marlow will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. But we need to get the points. We've drawn far too many games recently and we need to start winning if we want to keep up with the teams at the top."

Last Saturday forward Callum Whitty had to play in goal for the first half of Binfield's 1-0 Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup win over West Reading,but that still didn't stop him netting the winner. Goalkeeper Martin Hutt was stuck in traffic before the game and didn't arrive until midway through the first half so Whitty was handed the gloves.

But when the Moles were awarded a spot-kick he strode forward to fire home what proved to be the decisive goal.

The manager commented: "He's our regular penalty taker so it didn't matter if he was in goal or not, he was always going to have it. We played well and dominated the game.The scoreline looks like it was a tight game but we were by far the better side.We just didn't take our chances."

Aquisitions Bolster Moles - 1st November

The Moles have been bolstered by the recent acquisitions of Danny Oliphant, James Docherty and Tony Calvert. Last week former Finchampstead player Justin McClurg played his first game for the club, marking the occasion in style with two goals as Binfield brushed aside Hellenic Premier Division opponents Bicester Town in the Challenge Cup.

Manager Richard Whitty said: "We're beginning to look really good now. Our squad is very strong and I don't see any reason why we can't challenge right at the top. Danny, James and Tony all played a part last Saturday. I thought Danny was superb, he had a real influence on the game and will be a massive plus for us as he gets better and better.

James and Justin gave us real strength up front last weekend. All season we've been getting plenty of crosses in with little success but now we've got a real threat in the area. It's looking very good for us. It's going to be a job for me just to keep everyone happy because competition for places in so fierce."

Binfield host Reading League side West Reading in the Berks and Bucks Cup this Saturday and Whitty has called for more of the same from his team. He added: "All the Reading League sides battle hard so we know it will be a tough game, but if we play like we did last Saturday we should get through."

Experience May Be The Key - 26th October

Richard Whitty is looking to experience as he bids to get his team challenging for the title.

The Moles have failed to take advantage of their dominance in recent weeks, drawing four of their last five games despite creating numerous chances. So Whitty is mulling over the signing of former Wokingham and Emmbrook trio James Docherty, Tony Calvert and Danny Oliphant who he feels could add vital killer instinct to his squad.

All three were due to play in a friendly at Wallingford this week, with Whitty set to make a decision on them afterwards. He said: "We will have a look at them and see if they still have the appetite for it. If they do and I feel they could add something to the squad then we will hopefully sign them. I keep seeing us dominate games but we haven't had the experience to finish teams off so signing these three could help with that."

Binfield were without a game last weekend but return to competitive action tomorrow with a trip to Bicester Town in the SBJ Sports Insurance Challenge Trophy. Some of the first team were given a run out in the reserves last week but most were given a day off to rest their legs after a tough start to the season.

Whitty said: "Everyone's looking forward to getting back to the action, especially me. Bicester will be tough and to be honest this isn't a cup competition we can really expect to win so I may use it as another opportunity to have a look at a few things. Tim Walsh is fit again so he will definitely play and Callum Whitty will also get a run out."

Moles Boss Hails 'Exciting' Season - 27th September

Binfield boss Richard Whitty feels the Hellenic League season will be the most exciting for several years thanks to the strengthening work carried out by most of the sides over the summer.

The Moles have started well and picked up another point at high-flying Penn and Tylers Green last Saturday to maintain a top six place.

Whitty has been delighted with his side's early form and admits he is looking forward to seeing how the rest of the campaign pans out, he said: "It looks like it's going to be a really exciting league which is good for everyone."

"Apart from Chalfont, who seem to be running away with it, everyone is taking points from each other at the moment. Everyone thinks they have a chance which is good, you want to see the league being competitive. We've started well and if we can get a win at Henley on Saturday we'll be in a very strong position. Henley are a good side though, they're going really well at the moment so we will have to be at the top of our game. I think they will be up there at the end of the season but if we show the form we have been showing hopefully we will get something from them."

The Moles had keeper Martin Hutt to thank for their 0-0 draw at Penn and Tylers last Saturday as he saved a late penalty to keep the scores level. In truth, Binfield should have had the game wrapped up by half-time after a dominant first 45 minutes, but chances for Callum Whitty, Carl Withers and Tim Walsh all went begging. The hosts got themselves into the game after the break but Hutt's late save ensured they had to settle for a point.

Whitty said: "We absolutely dominated the first half, it was so one-sided that I don't even think they had a shot. They came back into it towards the end of the second half and could have nicked it with the penalty but I still look at it as two points dropped for us. The lads were all very disappointed at not winning which for me is a good reaction. It shows they weren't happy with just a point."

Tallentire Help For Binfield Boss - 9th June
Former Bracknell Town favourite Mark Tallentire has agreed to join Sport Italia Hellenic League Division One East club Binfield next season as part of the management team. Tallentire will work alongside manager Richard Whitty and his assistant Keith Pennicott-Bowen in a trio that Whitty hopes will move the club forward.

The Moles boss is determined to see his team challenge for honours during the coming campaign after a disappointing season last time around. He said: "Mark is definitely coming, which is great news for everyone at the club. He will be a great person to have around, he knows the players and I'm confident he will be a great addition to the management team. He knows what he wants and he will bring a very professional attitude with him. That's what we want here now, we want to make the next step and really start challenging up the league."

Former Wokingham & Emmbrook physio Richard Lansiquot will also be heading to Stubbs Lane for the coming season after deciding to move on from his current role at Flackwell Heath.  And manager Whitty has also revealed that former Wokingham centre back Simon Turner has agreed to join for the 2007/08 campaign.  The Moles boss said: "He will give us good experience at the back."

Meanwhile, the club is hoping to have floodlights installed at Stubbs Lane by September and Whitty feels this is essential if his team are to challenge for the title.
He said: "It's very important we get the floodlights up as soon as possible. It will allow us to train during the winter, which is vital. Fitness levels will improve and it will make things a lot easier for me."

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