LAMBOURN SPORTS FC NEWS

Winning Send Off - 29 April

Lambourn Sports gave boss Rob Clark a final match to remember as they defeated North Leigh Reserves in uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West.

Saturday was Clark’s final game in charge of Sports after he announced his intention to leave the club. Goals from Callum Griffin (2), Damian Harris and Matt Hendren gave him the ideal send-off. Gareth Beale and Alfie Saunders netted for North Leigh.

Clark Leaving Lambourn - 26 April

Rob Clark has decided to relinquish his position at Lambourn Sports on Saturday after the club's last league game of the season. Rob has been with the club for ten years as a player, captain and manager.

The club would like to thank Rob for all his efforts over the years in his various roles. Martyn Benson comments. "Rob has been fantastic for Shrivenham football club and everyone will be sad to see him go, but we wish him all the best in the future. Since he joined the club as a player back in the 2004/2005 season he instantly brought success. Winning the North Berks treble as a captain and then the double as a manager. Rob won the North Berks League Division One title on two occasions in five seasons. The club was denied promotion the first time he won it as we weren't ready to make the step into senior football. With Clark in charge we gained promotion into the Hellenic League for the 2011/2012 season with an unbeaten home record, along with beating Didcot Casuals in the Berks & Bucks Charity Shield Cup final to secure a league and cup double. Off the field Rob has also been fantastic, he knows what it takes to run a football club and was a major part in the securing the ground grading to achieve promotion. All at the club again want to thank Rob for all his hard work and I hope the boys give him the send off he deserves with a good performance Saturday."

Rob Clark said. "I have been at Lambourn a long time now in various roles and I feel it is time for a change. I don't have a job to walk into so I might not get one for next season yet, I just feel it’s time to move on from Lambourn. It’s a fantastic club and I have made some great friends in my time there. I want to thank some of the people who have made the last ten years a real experience. Dave Mooney, Jason Williams, Micky Towell, Michael McNally, Jason Brizell, Paul Barnes and Martyn Benson. Without these people my job would of been impossible. I would like to give a special thanks to the "two John's", Fairchild and Willoughby, these two are what the club is all about. Both ex-players they are at every game home and away, they have made me feel welcomed from my first day at the club and they give Lambourn a special atmosphere. I would like to thank anyone else who has helped me in my time at the club. I have been lucky in my time as manager and I have had some very good players who have come and played for me so I must thank all of them. A special thanks goes to veteran Sam Mooney who has been with me since the start and has decided to hang his boots up this season a great servant of Lambourn Sports. I wish the club all the best in the future and I hope they can push on from here and achieve great success. I hope the boys now end my time with the club on a high with a good win Saturday and a few drinks after."

End The Season On A High? - 23 April

Lambourn manager Rob Clark will try to bolster his troops for the club's final game at home to North Leigh Reserves on Saturday.

Clark said." This has been my toughest season since I took over at Lambourn. Our player turn over has been extremely high for various reasons and its been tough to get a settled side. I will be glad to get Saturday's game out of the way and I hope the boys will look to put on a performance ".

Lambourn Sports have played 3 games in 6 days, a disappointing end to the season, picking up only one point from a possible nine. That point coming against the league's bottom side in a 0-0 draw against bottom of the table Letcombe on Wednesday 17 April. Next up was the away trip to Hook Norton last Saturday, Clark set up his side with a defensive formation but Hooky punished Lambourn for defensive mistakes. O'Regan put the home side one up but the game finished 2-1 and could of been worse had it not been for a penalty save from Lambourn keeper Howe.

Last night the club's penultimate game finished with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Clanfield. A fairly even first half ended 0-0 as both sides looked like they couldn't wait for the season to be over. Lambourn took the lead early in the second half thanks to an own goal by the Clanfield skipper, but Lambourn paid the price for more defensive mistakes and throw away another lead.

The Lambourn Iron Man ? - 21 March

Division One West Lambourn Sports first team kit sponsor, Craig Pearce, has undertaken a fantastic challenge in aid of Kidney Research UK.

Craig has signed up to complete Tough Mudder on behalf of aHUSUK to raise funds for Kidney Research UK, and he say's (tongue in cheek)."To prove what a machine I really am!"

Tough Mudder events are hardcore 12 mile-long obstacle courses designed by the Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses and 700,000 inspiring participants worldwide to date, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world. http://toughmudder.co.uk/

Craig expands on why he is taking on the challenge. " I am doing this to support a close friend of mine who was diagnosed with aHUS in 2011. I am trying to raise awareness and support to get her trial drug nationally commissioned. aHUS is a very rare disease that causes irreversible kidney failure in children and adults for which there is no cure and was no effective treatment until recently. Please read this Facebook page for more information - www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/AHUShelp"

If you could make a donation to support the cause please go to Craig's Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/Craig-Pearce2

Lambourn Sixes - 2 March

Entries are now being taken for the Lambourn Sports Six-a-Side Tournament to be staged on 8 June 2013.

After last years successful tournament places are expected to be taken up fast, so please hurry if you wish to enter a team.

All teams shall consist of six players plus three substitutes if required. Once your Entry has been confirmed by the secretary you will be informed by way of telephone, text or email message. A few weeks prior to the competition date you will receive by email or post all details for the event such as times, parking etc. Food and drinks will be available throughout the day until its conclusion.

Download Entry Form

O'Regan Makes His Return - 21 February

Former player Bryon O'Regan has returned to Lambourn Sports after being out of football in recent seasons through injury.

Lambourn manager Rob Clark commented. "It's great to see the kid back playing. He was making a real impact at the club a couple of years ago until he suffered a horrible leg break. He is a powerful midfielder and has been playing a bit of local football so his fitness looks ok. He trained well tonight and I will be looking to get him some minutes on Saturday."

Clark also signed Kane Lackenby tonight he added "I dont know to much about Kane he has moved down from up North and will have a game for the reserves on Saturday."

Promising Lambourn - 4 February

Following their win on Saturday Lambourn manager Rob Clark said the team are beginning to look promising for a positive run in to the end of the season.

Clark commented. "The boys are starting to get on a bit of a roll, We did this last season and I think we went unbeaten for about ten games. I hope we can put something like that together again. We face Clanfield at home and Malmesbury away in our next two fixtures, no disrespect to those sides but if we play like I know we can I expect to get six points."

Lambourn were without four players on Saturday through various reasons. Clark said. "The signing of Tom Eatwell couldn't of come at a better time for us, he looked sharp at training and with the lads missing that have been playing centre midfield I had no worries about throwing him straight in."

Lambourn Eatwell - 31 January

Division One West Lambourn Sports have signed Tom Eatwell on transfer from local rivals Letcombe.

Rob Clark commented on gaining the services of the player. " I am delighted to sign a player with great versatility. He can play full back and centre midfield so it gives me options. He was Letcombe's player of the season last year and will give us a real boost going into the closing stages of the season."

Eatwell should make his debut against New College Academy at Lambourn Sports Ground on Saturday.

Need To Show Up - 14 January

Lambourn manager Rob Clark said after the 2-1 draw at Division One West leaders Brimcombe." We can compete against the top sides but don't seem to show up against the teams around us in the table".

He continued. "That has been frustrating for me this season. It's time for us to show we have the quality to beat anyone in this league. We showed that today and I expect us to show that every week. We host New College next Saturday and although they needed a late strike to grab a point at their place they were the better side and outplayed us, I don't expect that to happen again".

Clark has now challenged his side to show they can rise up the table and has set them a target of nine points in the next four games.

Proud Of Performance - 4 December

Lambourn manager Rob Clark said he was proud of his players effort last Saturday in the Bluefin Insurers Hellenic Challenge Cup.

Losing to a goal in the 88th minute against Premier Division Wantage Town, the manager of the Division One West team said. "We have showed we can compete against the best teams in the Hellenic premier. We set are stall out to be tough to break down today as we did against Slimbridge, I knew this would give Wantage the greater possession but as long as we were solid at the back, kept our shape and sharp going forward we had a chance."

Lambourn's Jake Rowe was red carded in the 80th minute, which Clark feels affected the outcome of the game. "I really believe if it hadn't been for the red card we would of won the game. I have spoken to Jake and the kid is gutted, he knows he made a stupid mistake and he will learn from it. I was pleased with the performances of Guy and Mooney today both looked sharp, but Steve Howe produced two or three saves today that were different class and he deserves his MOM."

Pedder About Turn - 17 November

After a meeting with Manager yesterday Lambourn Club Captain Matthew Pedder has turned his back on a move to Newbury and opted to stay at the club.

Manager Clark said. "It has been a nightmare trying to speak to 'Peds' he sent me a text message saying that he wanted to join Newbury, I text back saying that I wanted to speak to him and I finally got the chance to do that today. I told Matthew my feelings and he explained how he felt. to be fair to the lad I think a few of the Newbury lads had turned his head but when it came down to it he stayed loyal which has really impressed me."

Pedder (pictured) commented. "I was tempted to make the short trip to Newbury but after a chat with the Manager and speaking to a few of the Lambourn lads I feel it's best for me to stay. I enjoy my football there and have so much respect for the manager."

He added. "They have a great group of lads there who did give me a bit of stick for even thinking about leaving, it made me think I was making a mistake. I'm going to give it everything to try and bring Lambourn and the manager some success this season. I know the lads will give me some banter today but I'm ready for that. The Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup is the Lambourn's best chance of some silver wear this season, so this is a must win game."

Lambourn Raid? - 16 November

Lambourn Sports Manager Rob Clark has been left shocked and upset this week as his squad has been raided by local clubs.

Allegedly, as stated by the club, taking advantage of having a budget to entice his players away. Clark has lost three players in the space of seven days. Midfielder Danny Langford and striker Alex Toley have followed former committee member Jim Greenwood to Thatcham Town. Club Captain Matthew Pedder has decided to leave the club again, last season it was for Hungerford Town FC and this time joining Newbury Town.

Clark said. "I'm not happy after the week I have had. Just as you feel your building something, three players are gone in the blink of an eye. I could field a really strong team just from the players that have left me for various reasons and it's made things very difficult."

He added. "There is no loyalty in football anymore as soon as a club offers the players £20-£30 they are gone without a second thought about what myself or the club has done for them. Some of these players have more clubs in one season than I had in eighteen years of playing the game. It puzzles me, When I signed for a club it was for the season and we all stuck together but players of today just move from club to club, chasing the money."
 
"We have an important game in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday and I'm now having to shuffle my squad again. I think we still have a very talented squad and even with the loss of the players I am hoping for a very strong finish to the season."

Two Signings For Lambourn - 3 November

Lambourn Sports announce the signings of two new players, Richard Guy and Chris Collin.

Former Lambourn player Guy (left) returns from Clanfield, Collin (right) has transferred from Newbury.

Manager Rob Clark said. " I am pleased with both signings. Richie left as he was lacking a bit of confidence but he looked sharp in training so I hope he delivers for us this time. Chris has a fantastic engine and can play in a few positions."

Must Win Meet - 27 October

Lambourn face Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West 'basement boys' Malmesbury Victoria today at Bockhampton Road - kick off 3pm.

With both clubs in the bottom four places of the league table this is a must win fixture for either club. Lambourn have gained nine points from eleven games so far this campaign and 'The Vic's' have yet to register a point from the nine games they have completed.

Lambourn are without manager Rob Clark this weekend, Jason Brizell will take charge of the side for this fixture. The boys from the 'Valley of the Racehorse' are without injured striker Ben Hopkins and Matty Pedder is unavailable. On the plus side Jake Rowe (pictured) returns from suspension.

New Kit For Lambourn - 12 September

Lambourn Sports proudly display their new first team strip, provided by club benefactors Craig Pearce and Highbury Electrical Engineering Ltd of Newbury.

Lambourn v Swindon Town - 7 August

To officially mark the opening of their new seated stand Lambourn Sports will play a Swindon Town Select 11 on Tuesday 21 August - Kick Off  6.30pm

The Official Opening of the Doreen Rackham Stand at Bockhampton Road, Lambourn RG17 8PS will take place before kick off.

(Webmaster:It is suggested a local legend will declare the stand open, although no name has been mentioned. I wonder if the local legend could be the excellent Uhlsport stockist who has a stand named after him at Swindon Town's County Ground?)

Ground Improvements At Lambourn - 12 July

Work was completed on the installation of a 108 seater stand at Lambourn Sports on Tuesday 10 July.

The stand was supplied by leading local company Arena Seating.

Lambourn Secretary Martyn Benson reports the next challenge is pursuing the requirement to install floodlights at their Bockhampton Road ground.

Martyn hopes this will all happen within the next year and the club will be pushing for promotion to the Premier Division, where in the last century, Lambourn Sports had many successful seasons under the management of former Swindon Town legend Don Rogers.

Don's sportswear business in Swindon is a franchised stockist of Uhlsport the Hellenic League main sponsor.