FLACKWELL HEATH NEWS

New Assistant Manager At Flackwell - 21 May

Graham Malcolm, manager of Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club Flackwell Heath, has spoken of his satisfaction that Paul Shone has joined the Heathens as assistant manager.

Shone (pictured) is a local man, and has spent the last six years as a reliable defender at Binfield FC.

He will join the management team as Flackwell seek to improve on last season's tenth place.

Malcolm commented: "I am delighted that Shoney is joining us. He is experienced and really knows his football, and I am looking forward to working with him."

Tough Matches Ahead - 29 March

Flackwell Heath face two tough league matches in three days, according to boss Graham Malcolm who is also hoping to put behind him the disappointment of the club being expelled from the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy.

“We have a difficult series of games in the next few days." Said Malcolm, who's team earned a valuable point in a 3-3 draw at Oxford City Nomads on Wednesday night. "We make the long trip to Cheltenham Saracens on Saturday and then entertain third-placed Ardley United on Monday.

Prior to the Nomads game his comments on the three games in front of him were.“If we come away with four to six points from those matches I’ll be satisfied.” He added: “After the disappointment of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy, I just want to draw a line under the whole thing and move on. We have plenty of football still to play and there are plenty of places up for grabs for the lads. We have nine league matches remaining plus are in the quarter-final of the Bluefin Insurers Supplementary Cup, having a home tie against Headington Amateurs.”

Malcolm also admitted that he already has one eye on next season and is looking for players to stake a claim for a place in the 2013/14 set-up. He said: “The core of this squad is made up of good young players who hopefully will form the basis of squad next season. I have already had discussions about next season with the club and been given the go-ahead to start planning.”

Flackwell Out Of Senior Trophy - 27 March

It is reported in the press that both Flackwell Heath and, Combined Counties League, Windsor FC have been excluded from the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy following both clubs citing that the other had fielded ineligible players during the game.

Heathens and Windsor both fielded players who were cup-tied, having played for another club during an earlier round in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.

In a Maidenhead Advertiser report it states the club's received a letter yesterday informing them they had been removed from the competition, and both have also been fined £100.

The Berks & Bucks FA have commented as follows:

The above match was played on Wednesday 6th March 2013, with Flackwell Heath winning 3-2.
Following the match it came to light that both clubs had possibly played ineligible players in the match. Each club were asked for their observations.

Following the receipt of the requested letters from both clubs, both admitting that they had infringed Cup Rule 8B(ii), a meeting of the Berks & Bucks FA Cup Competitions Emergency Committee was convened.

The Committee decided that both clubs had infringed Rule 8B(ii) on their own admission; and were both fined £100. It was further decided the Windsor FC and Flackwell Heath FC be removed from the Senior Trophy Competition for season 2012/2013.This decision is final and binding..

With no opponents for the Senior Trophy Final, Aylesbury United FC will be awarded the Senior Trophy for season 2012/2013 at a date to be arranged.

No further comment will be entered into on this decision.

Outcome Awaited - 22 March

Flackwell Heath are still waiting to hear who will go through to the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy.

The Heathens thought they had booked their spot in the final with a 3-2 win at Stag Meadow a fortnight ago. But things took a dramatic turn when Windsor discovered Flackwell had fielded an ineligible player during the semi-final, Windsor reported Flackwell to the Berks & Bucks FA but then last Wednesday, the Heathens learned that Windsor had also fielded an ineligible player. So Flackwell also appealed to the FA who launched an investigation into both incidents which is still ongoing.

Flackwell Heath manager Graham Malcolm just wants the decision to be made as soon as possible. He commented in the Maidenhead Advertiser “I’m told, although this isn’t official, that the Berks & Bucks will sit down and look at the complaints from both sides on Thursday (yesterday), so hopefully we will know by early next week. From our point of view we just want to know so we can move on, which is something we can’t do while this process is on going.”

Malcolm is also hoping that his club’s appeal won’t be discounted because the paperwork was not sent to the county within seven days. He said: “I am aware of the seven day rule. We appealed at 6.30pm by email on Wednesday, which is when we found out about the Windsor player. We followed it up the next day with the paperwork. I hope the Berks & Bucks don’t throw out our appeal on a technicality. They replied to us and said both appeals would be considered, so we’ll see what happens.”

Micky Woodham, manager of Combined Counties League Windsor, added: “What I will say is there is no skullduggery involved whatsoever and that goes for both sides. It’s nothing more than a clerical error. It’s a bit of a shame and I don’t know where it will go from here. But whatever  the punishment, I will explain it to the boys and take responsibility.”

County Cup Enquiry Launched - 15 March

Reported in the Maidenhead Advertiser, it claims. The Heathens thought they had booked their spot in the final against Aylesbury when they edged a thrilling contest at Stag Meadow 3-2 last Wednesday. But, Combined Counties League, Windsor then learned that Flackwell keeper Craig Garrett, who played the entire 90 minutes, should have been cup-tied and submitted a complaint to the Berks & Bucks FA. The shot stopper is dual-registered with Harefield and played for them against AFC Hayes in the Middlesex County Senior Cup on December 4. Flackwell were unaware that Garrett was cup-tied for the game but having learned that Windsor had submitted an appeal, were expecting to be kicked out of the competition.

But in a sensational twist to the story, they have now uncovered that Windsor midfielder Jason Sheehan should also not have featured in the semi-final. Sheehan, who played the entire game for the home side, was a Chalfont St Peter player earlier in the season. He also turned out for the Saints in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, coming off the bench for the final 14 minutes of their 4-2 defeat at Chesham United on November 6.

So in a tit-for-tat move, Flackwell Heath submitted an appeal to the Berks & Bucks FA on Wednesday night, throwing the whole situation into total disarray. The Berks & Bucks FA have launched an investigation following the complaints of both clubs but it is as yet unclear what the outcome will be. Chief Executive of the Berks & Bucks FA, Brian Moore, said: “We can confirm that protests have been received by both clubs and there is an investigation underway. No further comment will be made until a decision has been reached.”

First Win Delight - 4 January

Graham Malcolm was delighted to finally win his first match as Flackwell Heath manager after four straight defeats.

His side overcame rivals Holyport  3-2 on Saturday. The last time the Heathens had won a league game was also against the Port on November 21 when they triumphed 5-1. However, this clash was more even with Port actually having more chances to score.

Malcom (pictured) was not getting too caught up in the statistics, prefering to enjoy the success. “I think it’s difficult to say we nicked it when we were 3-0 up with five minutes to play,” he said. “It was a good game given the conditions and that we had lost four in a row and Holyport seven in a row. I’m delighted to get a first win as manager, but it had been coming. We were unlucky not to get anything at Ardley.”

Looking ahead, Malcolm said: “We are in a transition period. We lost three players at around the same time that previous manager Jamie Pritchard left, although that was not why they went. So I am rebuilding with the emphasis on youth. The club want me to build for the future and I am happy to do this."

The Heathens make the trip to Newbury tomorrow and then on to play host to Kidlington on Tuesday 9 January.

SYCOB Too Good To Turn Down - 7 December

James Pritchard has admitted that the last week has been ‘frantic’ following his surprise departure from Flackwell Heath to take over the reins at Southern League Central Division outfit Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Pritchard, who had been in charge at Wilks Park for three-and-a-half years, was offered the job at Sycob on Wednesday evening of last week. Within 24 hours he had accepted the position as manager, met with the chairman and players at Flackwell to say his farewells and then introduced himself to his new team at Holloways Park.

The 36-year-old then found himself in the dugout twice in three days as SYCOB played Guildford City on Saturday winning 1-0 and Burnham, in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on Monday, winning 2-0.

Now having had a few days to reflect on a hectic period, Pritchard is looking forward to the challenge of managing at a higher level.

“It was too good an opportunity to turn down,” he said. “It all happened on Wednesday evening. I had met with the Braconsfield officials before, but was offered the job on Wednesday and was delighted to accept it. It was the start of a frantic few days especially Thursday. I needed to get to Flackwell and speak to those involved especially chairman Geoff Turner and the players as I wanted to do the thing the right way. Geoff’s not just a chairman but a good friend and he told me it was a chance I had to take. It was a chance for me to test myself at a higher level. He gave me the opportunity at Flackwell, alongside Matt Flint initially, at the tender age of 32, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that. He wished me well as did the players.”

He added: “It was really difficult telling the players as they turned up for training. I had brought them all to the club over the last few years. They were my players and all had come to Flackwell because I asked them to. Now I was telling them ‘I’m off’. But they understood I had to take this opportunity. I left with a clean slate and best wishes. I know I have left the club in a good position."

Assistant manager Matt Miller also joined Beaconsfield SYCOB with Pritchard.

The committee at Flackwell Heath have acted swiftly to appoint first team coach Graham Malcolm (right) as the new first team manager on a permanent basis.

Chairman Geoff Turner commended Pritchard and Miller for the progress the club has made under their tutelage over the past four years and all at Flackwell Heath FC wish them every success for the future.

Graham Malcolm steps up to the hot seat following three years with the club as first team coach.

Harry Potter Star Weaves Magic for Flackwell - 6 October

Harry Potter actor Louis Cordice conjured up an extra-time winner for Flackwell Heath FC in the 3-2 success over Hellenic League rivals Marlow in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy on Tuesday night at Wilks Park.

The 23-year-old, who joined the club in the summer from Thame United and has scored 10 goals this season, nodding in the crucial goal with just seven minutes of the derby match remaining.

Cordice played Blaine Zabini in three of the worldwide smash-hit films adapted from JK Rowling’s books, but has also taken centre stage for the Heathens and been a real bonus to manager James Pritchard.

Pritchard praised match-winner Cordice but scoffed at some Marlow comments that the goal was scored with his hand. “Louis joined us from Thame in pre-season and has been a revelation. He’s quick, scores goals and has linked up well with Riccardo Cannon who has recently rejoined us. He’s been a real bonus as he wasn’t in my plans at the start of the campaign. At the moment he’s scoring for fun.”

He said: “I know Marlow are claiming handball, but I think Louis fell into the ball and it pretty much hit him on the head. The ref said he saw it and it was a header so that’s all that matters.”

Could the disputed goal have been down to the magic taught at Hogwarts? See more about the Uhlsport Hellenic League player at www.louiscordice.com

Positive Recruitment - 13 July

Flackwell Heath FC have recruited well during the summer and will be looking for a strong showing in the Hellenic Premier Division.

Boss James Pritchard has signed Jon Case (pictured)from Marlow while John Isaac and Adam Harman have both returned to Wilks Park after short spells at Oak Tree Road. Also joining from Marlow are Mitchell Woodwood, Stuart MacLellan and Zac Gill.

The additions have delighted Pritchard who was worried earlier on in the summer when he lost a few of last season’s squad.

He said: “I knew at the end of the season that Harps (Dean Harper) wasn’t going to play again. But then Danny Jordan snapped his Achilles and Mark Weedon went to become assistant manager at Harefield. So I lost three good friends and valuable players at the same time. But then the Marlow scenario worked in my favour. A number of their players thought it was time for a change and now I’ve got five or six new players which is great. I’ve gone from worrying about the season to believing we’ve got a decent side who can be up challenging again.”

The Heathens begin their summer friendlies with a trip to Holmer Green on Tuesday.