Wessex League Visit For Crusaders - 5th December

Hungerford return to the FA Carlsberg Vase trail on Saturday when they go to Wessex League Hamworthy United in the third round.

Hungerford, who beat Almondsbury Town away in the previous round, reached the quarter finals last season before bowing out to Whitley Bay.

Alan Clark commented: “I think if we do our jobs then there is no reason why we cannot have a good run in the competition again this year.”

Clark has a full squad available to him for the tie. Twenty three goal marksman Ian Concannon was left on the bench for Tuesday night’s 5-0 league win at Bicester Town, but is likely to return for the on loan Vinnie Rusher.

Gosling Back At Bulpit Lane - 20th November

Town’s hopes of going all the way to Wembley in the FA Vase have been boosted by the signing of Jamie Gosling and the 26 year old midfield playmaker is set to start his second spell at Bulpit Lane when Hungerford entertain Pegasus Juniors on Saturday.

Town will visit The County Ground in Hamworthy for the first time ever to face the Wessex Premier League side on December 6th with Alan Clark’s men aiming to come through the tricky Vase tie and repeat last season’s success in the national competition when they reached the last eight.

Clark, who was happy to avoid some of the competition’s big names in the FA Vase, is delighted to have Gosling back on board.

“We signed Jamie on Wednesday morning,” confirmed Clark. “It is a big signing for us, he will be in the squad for Saturday. He gives us more quality. Our side has been more hard-working this season without him, and if they can continue to do that, then we will have a lot more going forward.”

Clark admitted that competition for places will now be fierce and none more so that up front with new signings Gosling and former Milton United striker Vinnie Rusher competing for places with 23 goal top league scorer Ian Concannon and Pete Macklin.

Gosling To Return? - 14th November

The Newbury Weekly News reports League leaders Hungerford are hoping to strike a deal to bring former favourite Jamie Gosling (pictured) back to the club.

Gosling left Bulpit Lane for Blue Square Conference South Bath City in the summer, but he has found himself out of favour with new manager Adie Britton and has been transfer listed.

Hungerford manager Alan Clark has also confirmed his interest in veteran striker Vinnie Rusher, who is currently at Southern League Gosport Borough.

Hungerford bid to follow up last season’s FA Vase run when they enter the competition tomorrow away to fellow Hellenic Leaguer title chasers Almondsbury Town.

Rusher For Hungerford? - 7th November

"The Crusaders" defend their top of the table spot against fellow Hellenic League contenders Chalfont Wasps tomorrow with manager Alan Clark hoping to tempt veteran marksman Vinnie Rusher to join the club.

Clark fancies Rusher to team up with Ian Concannon to give his side another boost after they hit top spot with Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Abingdon Town.

Rusher, who inherited Concannons' Hellenic League Golden Boot mantle during his time at Milton United, played BGB Southern League clubs Thatcham Town and Didcot Town last season, and recently left Southern League Andover for counterparts Gosport Borough,

“We have got to get something out of Saturday,” said Clark in advance of the Wasps game. “It is must win for both sides.”

Hungerford will have midfielder Luke Brewer back in contention for tomorrow's fixture.

Green Has Been Good For Us - 23rd October

Alan Clark has bolstered his title-chasing squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Woodstock Town with two new signings including former Bath City forward Warren Allison.

Allison was released by the Blue Square South side last year, but Clark believes he can boost Town’s Hellenic Premier League challenge, while Jamaican Ricardo Kerr has also been signed on and he made his debut in Wedneday night’s 1-0 victory over Pewsey Vale.

Town progressed to the second round of the HPL Floodlit Cup with that slender win at the Division One West club thanks to a 20th minute goal from Mark McMeeking with midfielder Kerr making his club bow.

McMeeking got on the end of Luke Brewer’s cross after Ian Concannon’s dummy to side-foot the first-half winner for Town.

Town travel to lowly Old Woodstock Town with injury concerns as striker Pete Macklin was rested on Wednesday night after picking up a knock, while Richie Saunders came off at half time with a groin injury.

However, goalkeeper Dan Holdcroft’s availability again is unlikely to result in a starting spot for Saturday with Clark set to keep faith with Dominic Green (pictured). “I am keeping Dominic in goal, he has been very good for us and has kept two clean sheets so I cannot bomb him out for that,” said Clark.

Abysmal Defending - 2nd October

Alan Clark has described his side’s defending as ‘abysmal’ after they shipped seven goals in their last two games.

Town briefly led the Hellenic League Premier Division table last week but a shock 5-4 midweek defeat at home to Flackwell Heath and a 2-2 draw at rock bottom Harrow Hill last Saturday saw Clark’s side knocked off top spot. Town are without a game this weekend but return to league action next Wednesday (October 8) with a trip to Almondsbury Town which gives Clark a few days to try and sort out some of his defensive problems.

Clark arranged a home friendly against Abingdon United last night to help him resolve his defensive frailties. And he explained: “We defended abysmally against Heath and then carried on in the same vein against Harrow. We’d only conceded seven goals in eight games and then suddenly we conceded seven in two. Some of our decision-making has been really poor in recent games. Against Pegasus we had lots of time and space but decided to play it long while we had no time or space against Heath but tried to play too much football at the back.

“I give all my players a licence to play and encourage them but you have to choose when to play and when to put your foot through it. It’s most unlike us but we’re just making the wrong decisions at the moment. We looked better when we went to three at the back against Hill so we might stick with that and it’s certainly something I’ll consider.

“We’ve dropped five points in two games now but I’m hoping it’s just a wobble. We just have to draw a line under a bad week and move on but we’re still right up there as everyone seems to be dropping points at the moment.”

While Town struggled in both games last week, goal machine Ian Concannon maintained his remarkable scoring record as he found the net another four times.

Clark might have to draft in a loan keeper for next Wednesday’s clash against Almondsbury as new signing Danny Holdcroft is unavailable for the game against his former club.

Not Good Enough - 25th September

Alan Clark has threatened to wield the axe for Saturday’s trip to Harrow Hill after branding Tuesday night's 5-4 Hellenic League home defeat at the hands of Flackwell Heath as "our worst defensive display in two and a half years”.

Clark exempted only John Cant from defensive criticism as Hungerford produced a shambolic display that left the manager fuming. "They have been told in no uncertain terms that it was just not good enough,” he said. "It was shocking defending and our worst defensive display in two and a half years."

The team will be looking to make amends this weekend against Harrow Hill who have yet to register a FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division win this season. Though The Hill upset Ardley in The FA Vase last Saturday, with an unexpected 3-2 victory at the Oxfordshire sides ground.

Hungerford’s attack will be boosted by the return of wide-man Edney.

Back To Square One - 13th September

Hungerford Town boss Alan Clark is back to square one in his attempts to recruit a new goalkeeper after number one target Sam Warrell decided to play for Abingdon United.

Hungerford were forced to try and recruit a new keeper after Paul Thompson walked out of the club last week following a bust up with Clark. The Town boss had hoped to land former Old Woodstock Town keeper Warrell but Southern League Abingdon United drafted him into their first team last weekend for the 2-2 draw against Cirencester.

Clark conceded that he might have to look elsewhere for a new stopper now, although he can still call on the experienced Dominic Green to fill in between the sticks in the short term.

Town have another goalkeeping target in mind whilst thankfully, at the other end of the field, they have found their scoring boots since August Bank Holiday Monday as they blasted 19 goals in five games.

Clark felt his side has looked far more balanced with new signing Chris Copp, who arrived from Wantage earlier this month, slotting in superbly at full back and Paul Bedwell bringing some much needed stability on his return.

Hungerford should be at full strength today when they entertain Marlow United at Bulpit Lane in an FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division fixture. Though they could be expecting a tough match after the Bucks side took them to penalties to settle the FA Cup fixture between the two teams in August.

Veteran Released? - 4th September

Hungerford Town are reported to have released veteran goalkeeper Paul Thompson following Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Shrivenham.

However the Wiltshire Times reports that that the former Devizes Town player-manager has made a return to his old club six months after quitting the top job as manager of the team, after signing on Monday he featured in the 2-1 league defeat to Calne Town the following day. The paper further adds "Thompson, who is also signed on at Fairford Town (as printed), will play in mid-week games if Hare is unavailable."

The Newbury Weekely News state in their Hungerford Town piece that ". . after “clear the air talks” this week, Clark decided to release the player and will turn to Dominic Green to go between the sticks while he searches for a permanent replacement."

"Thompson’s second spell at Bulpit Lane lasted less than six months since he rejoined the club after leaving his position as manager of Toolstation Western Premier Division side Devizes Town."

Green kept a clean sheet in Wednesday night’s 7-0 win at Clanfield in the HPL Floodlit Cup, while Clark has also re-signed full back Chris Copp and has made a bid to sign midfielder Ritchie Saunders from Shrivenham.

Club skipper Paul Bedwell is expected to make his first league start of the season at Carterton on Saturday after returning from suspension.

League General manager,Brian King, comments that as far as the FTL Futbol Hellenic League records are concerned, Thompson is still registered with the Hellenic League as a Hungerford Town player, and no paper work has been received to cancel his registration with Hungerford, or conversley no transfer or registration documentation has been received in respect of Fairford signing the player. Though King did confirm that the transfer of Saunders was completed in time to allow the player to be available for selection against Clanfield on Tuesday evening.

5th September

Following the report yesterday it is confirmed that Paul Thompson has signed for Fairford Town - The club provided Briam King with the transfer documentation at an Hellenic meeting held at the Fairford last night.

The Newbury Weekly News report that Hungerford Town have hijacked Southern League near neighbours Thatcham Town's move for striker Marc Green by completing his signing last week.

Thatcham Town had announced two weeks ago that their former favourite was returning to the club after agreeing terms for next season and coming to a verbal agreement with manager Gary Ackling to play for him in season 2008-2009.

However, it appears Green has now made a dramatic U-turn and signed FTL Futbol Hellenic League Registration forms for Hungerford Town, with manager Alan Cark also signing his former Thatcham and Tadley Calleva team-mate Chris Blackford.

Hellenic League General Manager Brian King was unable to confirm the signing as, at this time, Hungerford Town have not submitted any Player Registration Forms for the coming season.

It was also reported in the Newbury Weekly News that Gary Ackling, former manager of Milton United, held Thatcham's first pre-season training session on Saturday morning but his squad did not include Green and he said he was "disappointed" that the striker had decided to join Hungerford after originally agreeing to a return to Waterside Park.

50/50 Gosling Stays At Hungerford - 20th June

Hungerford Town boss Alan Clark hopes to persuade star player Jamie Gosling to stay at Bulpit Lane with the attacking midfielder emerging as a target for his old club Bath City.

Clark confirmed that Gosling has been the subject of “two or three offers” with Blue Square South side City and Southern League outfit Didcot Town said to be the clubs interested in signing the attacking midfielder.

That has led to Clark concluding that there is only a 50/50 chance that he will stay at Hungerford Town for a third season. However, Clark desperately wants him to be a part of Town’s promotion bid for the 2008/09 campaign and will speak to him this week to try and convince him to stay.

“He has had a couple of teams in for him,” said Clark. “There have been two or three offers for him and we always knew that would happen. But hopefully he will remain here and play with us. He has enjoyed it here and in our team he has a lot of freedom which he may not get at a higher level.”

Gosling took up the option of an extra year on the contract that he originally signed in 2006 but that has now come to an end and it was thought that he may want to try his luck at a higher level again.

One player unlikely to be in Hungerford’s squad for next season is young striker Charlie Austin as Clark admitted that he is expecting him to leave the club.

Clark announced that he will be talking to four new players in the coming weeks, including Gosling’s cousin Joe Macklin from Lydney Town, and he will also make another attempt to convince former skipper Bradley Ward to re-join the club.

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