CHELTENHAM SARACENS NEWS

Rob Cruse - 29th November

It is with deep sadness that the Hellenic League announce that Rob Cruse passed away yesterday in Cheltenham General Hospital. Rob had been in intensive care following injuries sustained in a car crash two weeks ago.

24 year old Rob was highly respected by his club Cheltenham Saracens and his team mates, the loss of Rob has severely shocked all who knew him.

As a mark of respect to the player, the League has granted the request of Cheltenham Saracens to postpone todays fixture against Clanfield FC.

Rob had completed a transfer to Almondsbury Town shortly before his tragic accident, a club where he also had many friends. Almondsbury have also postponed their fixture today in respect of Rob.

The thoughts of the Hellenic League football community are with Rob's family at this sad time.
Aiming to End Run - 28th November

The Sara's will be aiming to end a four-game winless run when they visit Clanfield in Division One West tomorrow.

Saracens poor form, which continued with a 4-1 defeat at Oxford City Nomads last Saturday, has seen them slip to eighth in the table. Clanfield, who drew 1-1 with bottom club Cirencester United last time out, are in the bottom six despite only one defeat in their last seven league games.

Saras manager Gerry Oldham acknowledged his side's recent run was disappointing but insists they will got to Radcot Road full of confidence. "It's not happening for us at the moment but we'll just keep plugging away," he said. "Oxford Nomads were a good side but we just need a bit more application now and we'll be all right."

Saracens: Betteridge, Ireland, Bermingham, Tovey, Oldham, Finch, Tustain, Lewis, Crosskey, Griffiths, Bish, Slender, Smith, Bick.
Saracens In A Rut - 21st November

Cheltenham Saracens can go level on points with fifth placed Oxford City Nomads in FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West by beating their promotion rivals at Marsh Lane.

Gerry Oldham's side desperately need three points to resurrect their bid for Premier Division football after three league games without a win.

But Nomads, who won their previous meeting with Saracens 2-0 last month, have a 100 per cent home record they will want to hold on to. They are also hoping to bounce back following a 1-0 defeat at Winterbourne last Saturday, when Saras were beaten 3-2 at home by Tytherington Rocks.

"We haven't really performed and we haven't deserved to win games," said Oldham. "We're in a bit of a rut at the moment. We need to stick together and play like we have in the past. I still believe in my players."
Players Back For Sara's - 7th November

Stuart Lewis returns from suspension for Cheltenham Saracens' Division One West home match with Pewsey Vale tomorrow.

The former Aston Villa trainee was in fine form before he picked up the ban for being sent off playing Sunday League football and will be eager to pick up from where he left off.

Jack Oldham is also back after five weeks out with a groin strain, but Luke Tovey is missing because of a rib injury and TJ Bick continues his return to full fitness with a run out for the Saras third team.

Saracens, who are fourth in Division One West, are relaxed after a week off while Pewsey are in the bottom two, but manager Gerry Oldham insists it will not be easy. "They've had a poor start to the season but during my time here I think we've only beaten them once," he said. "We have been a bit up and down and we need to start getting a bit more consistency in there now."
Aiming To Jump 3 Places - 3rd October

A home win for sixth placed Cheltenham Saracens against Oxford City Nomads could put them third in FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West. Though it does depend on third and fourth placed Tytherington Rocks and Easington Sports, who play each other tomorrow, achieving a low score draw. Plus fifth placed Purton not managing to earn more than one point from their trip to Cricklade.

Though Saracens showed their ability and gained their revenge on Malmesbury Victoria, for their FA Vase defeat, with a 5-2 away win at The Flying Monk ground last Saturday

Tomorrows Squad: Betteridge, Bick, Ireland, Tovey, Crosskey, Finch, Bish, Ellin, Kennedy, Tustain, Lewis, Griffiths, Gill, Bermingham.

Saracens' youth team face Forest Green Rovers in the second qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup at Petersfield Park on Monday (7.30pm).
Out For Revenge - 26th September

Cheltenham Saracens are out for revenge in Division One West when they meet Malmesbury Victoria in FTL Futbol Hellenic League Division One West.

The Vics knocked Sara's out of the FA Vase 10 days ago with a 2-1 victory at the Flying Monk Ground and assistant manager Mark Lockwood is expecting another tough test.

"They were the only team that have outplayed us this season in the first half of that last game," he said."But we've been working on a few things in training and hopefully they will play off."

The Saracens first team will be hoping to replicate the form of their youth side, who were 5-0 winners over Westbury United in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.

Ryan Masling, Lewis Dawes and an Elliot Kennedy brace put the Sara's juniors 4-0 up at the interval and Sonnie Burrow completed the rout in the second half.

Saracens For Staurday: Betteridge, Bick, Ireland, Pates, Crosskey, Finch, Bish, Ellin, Kennedy, Lewis, Tustain, Tovey, Griffiths, Cruse.
Saracens Storm Hits Weston - 9th September

Cheltenham Saracens Youth Team were drawn away to Conference South side Weston Super Mare in Sara’s first ever tie in the FA Youth Cup. After dominating the first 30 minutes without really testing the Weston keeper the Saracens found themselves down 1-0 against the run of play. As the first half drew to a close Weston went further ahead when a simple shot took a bad bounce to beat Eddie Farrell in the Saracens goal

In the second half Saracens huffed and puffed until Sunnie Burrows gave Saracens a life line on 60 minutes. Saracens stepped up the pace and with 15 minutes remaining Joe Donahues' long range shot flew into the top corner to bring Saracens level on 75 minutes. As Weston came forward they started to leave holes at the back but Saracens failed to finish. With five minutes to go Elliot Kennedy was being ushered away from goal but he hit a low hard drive across the goal that went into the net for the winner.

Saracens Youth manager, Chris Ibbitson, said; “Saracens deserved to win having played the better football they delivered a fighting comeback to win the game which looked as if it would slip away from them”.
Young Bloods In Vase - 5th September

Sara's play their first ever game in the FA Vase when they go to Hellenic One West rivals Malmesbury Victoria tomorrow.

The signs could point to a successful bow if last season's league form is anything to go by, with Saracens finishing fifth while the Vics ended in the bottom three. However, new additions at the Flying Monk Ground may mean the teams are more evenly matched this time around with Malmesbury currently sixth in One West, two points behind Gerry Oldham's Saras.

Oldham has been delighted with his side's start to the season as Saras have overcome the loss of key players to start the campaign with just one defeat in six. He is hoping they can maintain their impressive form in Wiltshire – weather permitting.

Oldham said: "When we had a lot of rain last year it was up to the top of the goalposts at Malmesbury so any more this weekend and I can't see it going ahead. It is a nice draw for us because they're in the same league but I think we're capable of beating teams from the league above too."

"We've had to contend with different players being unavailable and last week we had nine Under-20s in the side but we're still performing well."

There will be two 16-year-old Saracens making the trip to Malmesbury with Elliott Kennedy and manager's son Jack Oldham both in the squad. But they will have to make do without the missing quartet of Joe Tustain, Andy Sherlock, Mike Wilce and Lee Rayson.

Saracens: Betteridge, Moxey, Tovey, Ireland, Bick, Bermingham, Rutter, Crosskey, Griffiths, Ellin, J Oldham, Finch, Lewis, Maslin, Kennedy.

Saracens have also entered a team into the FA Youth Cup for the first time this season and the youngster are away to Weston-super-Mare on Monday.
One On His Travels - 8th July

FTL Futbol Hellenic One West side Cheltenham Saracens started training last week and all players from last season have returned except for Top Goalscorer Andy Sherlock who has decided to go on world travels until Christmas.

Several new players have shown an interest and Manager Gerry Oldham is quite confident of a good season and a push for a top two place and promotion to the Premier Division. Saracens, who will play in the FA VASE for the first time will be away to fellow One West side Malmesbury Vic's in the 1st Qualifying Round on 6th September.

Due to the Club's Youth policy it has been necessary to form a fifth team in the local Cheltenham League so that players from the club's 11 junior teams can progress through the system and are not lost to other clubs in the area. As an FA Charter Standard Club Saracens are applying to become a Community Charter Standard Club by November with their link with the University of Gloucestershire.

1st Team Pre season friendlies have been arranged with: -

17th July Kings Stanley H
19th July Alvechurch H
22nd July North Leigh H
24th July Ellwood A
29th July Winchcombe H
2nd August Milton A
5th August Old Woodstock A