Rizzy Returns To Hooky! - 7th July

After the various close season traumas of seeking to find a successor to Karlton Stratford as First Team Manager of Hooky, Chairman Mike Barlow delightedly announced on Tuesday morning that local man Dave ‘Rizzy’ Risato has accepted the offer with his usual level of gusto and now can’t wait to take charge of the first training session of the season which will take place at The Bourne on Tuesday 7th July, commencing at 7.00pm. At this stage, the new manager will extend a warm welcome to any players who believe that they can perform at FTL Futbol Hellenic Premier level.

In his former playing days, ‘Rizzy’ was an accomplished player with Banbury United before he went on to successfully manage a number of teams in the area, culminating with him being at the helm of the Hook Norton team which took the Hellenic Division 1 (West) by storm in Season 2001/2002, winning the Championship by 9 clear points and earning promotion to the Premier Division. Since those days, whilst still maintaining an avid interest in local football and especially in relation to his beloved ‘Hooky’, ‘Rizzy’ concentrated on his family life and in making a success of his own building business.

Following today’s exciting announcement, Mike Barlow commented, “It is with real pleasure that, on behalf of the entire club, I welcome back Dave as our First Team Manager. He lives in the village and is therefore well known and popular not only with those in Hooky itself but also with those from even further afield. What’s more, he’s a man of experience and integrity, with a great knowledge of the game and of players who all hold him in high regard and with immense respect. He has nothing to prove to this club and I have not the slightest doubt that he will seek to build on what the club has already achieved though the good work of his immediat predecessors.”

For his part, ‘Rizzy’ said, “It feels like coming home again! Whilst I was immensely proud of what I achieved with my team in Season 2001/2002 and in my first season in the Hellenic Premier Division, it was vitally necessary afterwards to give priority to my family and business. Whilst my family< and business are still the prime concerns in my life, I am, however, now able to find the time and energy, once more, to devote to managing Hooky’s First Team and I am looking forward to the Season ahead with the same level of enthusiasm that I had eight years ago. I thank those who have managed the First Team so well since I was last in charge and, in particular, I would like to single out Ben Spiero whom I brought to the club in my first term of office and who, thankfully, is still an integral part of this club. Finally, I thank Mike and his committee who have provided us with a clubhouse, together with a ground and facilities which deservedly now allow us to stage Level 5 football in the village. Up the Hooky!”

Short Working Week - 23rd June

FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division club Hook Norton are looking for another new manager after Chris Palmer did an about turn.

Palmer (pictured) quit last Thursday, less than a week after accepting the job, and has taken over at Aspire Midland Alliance outfit Malvern Town, where he used to play.

That means Hooky officials are back to square one in trying to find someone to replace Karlton Stratford, who stepped down at the end of last season.

Hook Norton Secretary, Garnet Thomas has confirmed Palmer has quit as the North Oxfordshire club’s First Team Manager. Garnet’s response to this unforeseen situation is: “Whilst the club was most surprised and disappointed with how this situation developed within such a short period of time after making the appointment, we nevertheless accept that these things happen and we wish Chris well in his new appointment. As a consequence, the club will now be looking at other options, with a view to making a new appointment when a suitable candidate has been found. In the interim, club director and former Player/Manager Ben Spiero, assisted by other trusted club officials, will take charge of First Team affairs, including pre-season activity which begins in earnest on Tuesday 7th July. As always at Hooky, there is no cause to panic and the club is looking forward to the new season with the usual mixture of optimism and excitement”

Match Day Programme "Once More A Hit"! - 22nd June

The Soccer Club Swap Shop Programme Awards for 2008-09 have just been announced, with FTL Futbol Hellenic Premier Division Hook Norton once more making a name for itself, both nationally and locally. Following recognition in previous seasons for the quality of its home match day programme, the North Oxfordshire club has again distinguished itself by being adjudged the winner of the section for Hellenic Premier Division clubs and by finishing 16th nationally of the all programmes of Non League clubs throughout England and Wales that were judged.

The Hooky programme is printed by village-based KMS Litho, one partner of whom is club committee member and former First Team manager Keith Willis, with another partner being Keith’s son Mark who, until his retirement in 2003, was a regular and accomplished defender in the club’s First Team. The programme is expertly put together by villager Alan White who is assisted by Stuart Deller, another local lad who plays usually at Second Team level but has also played, on occasions, for the First Team.

On receiving the news of this award, Geoff James said, “Whilst it doesn’t measure up, by any means, to winning something for our achievements on the field of play, this award nevertheless provides deserved recognition not only for the club but also far KMS Litho for what has been achieved over the course of all of last season, often within very tight time constraints. For my own part, I do enjoy making written contributions for the programme and I never cease to be impressed with the professionalism that KMS Litho show when they deal with the raw material that I provide for them. As we all know, match day programmes are quite properly a requirement at 1st Team level in the Hellenic League but it does disappoint me, and I am sure it must disappoint other programme editors, that more people at matches, especially the players themselves, don’t appear to be interested in them. It would be nice for this attitude to change since, apart from the time and expense put into the production of programmes, they are generally good value for money”.

Palmer Takes On Hooky - 12th June

Hook Nortons' search for a new First Team Manager was brought to a conclusion on Thursday evening with the appointment of Chris Palmer.

Palmer (pictured) who has played in the past for Didcot Town, Cinderford Town, Malvern Town, Ledbury Town and more recently for Cheltenham Saracens. Whilst Chris has not managed at Hellenic Premier level before, he nevertheless holds a Level 1 FA Coaching Badge.

In announcing this appointment, Chairman Mike Barlow said, “I am absolutely delighted that Chris has accepted our offer. We know the type of manager we want at Hooky and fortunately Chris ticked all the boxes. Above all, we were impressed with his openness and enthusiasm and his obvious desire to secure the post. Although he is a relative newcomer to the area, he can count on the full support of everyone at our club as they seek to consolidate the First Team’s position in the Hellenic Premier Division”.

For his part, Chris added, “Now my playing days are drawing to a close, the offer of this post is a dream come true. The facilities at Hooky are second to none at this level of football, I can’t wait to get started on the exciting and challenging tasks ahead: first and foremost the formation of a competitive playing squad and then pre-season friendly matches, followed by the League kick off in the second week of August”.