WINTERBOURNE UNITED NEWS

Promotion Hopeful - 3 February

Winterbourne United chairman Robyn Maggs still believes the club can achieve promotion from Division One (West) this season.

Last weekend's victory over Trowbridge Town moved United up to fourth place, and they take on Old Woodstock Town, the side directly above them, tomorrow.

"We might still get third place, but even finishing fourth could still be enough to see us go up because we are the only club in the top four with floodlights," said Maggs.

Winterbourne will be without the banned Ben Hopson and Geraint Williams. Matt Plant and Alex Hill come in.

Two Back In Contention - 27 January

Sam Vile and Ben Dowdell back from suspension for Winterbourne's trip to Trowbridge Town in Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West.

But they will be without Geraint Williams tomorrow, who misses the clash against the bottom-of-the-table side as he starts a two-match ban.

With just one defeat in their last five games, United head into the game as firm favourites. But chairman Robyn Maggs warned: "Although form might make it look like a banker for us, Trowbridge's pitch is boggy and anything could happen. We have to make sure we do the job."

Bright Start For Wilson - 6 January 2012

Dave Wilson has had a positive start to his managerial career at Winterbourne with six points out of a possible nine over the Festive period.

Wilson has the manager’s job until the end of the season at least. He took over when Chris Marsh departed the Hellenic Division One West football club just before the congested festive fixture list, after finding it difficult to commit to the job. After starting with a defeat at Lydney, Wilson has led Winterbourne to two wins on the bounce over Headington Amateurs and Purton.

Wilson played for Winterbourne and managed the reserve side before enjoying a successful spell in charge of South Glos Old Boys. He returned to the club at the start of the season as a first team coach, initially under Nick Tanner, who resigned following a poor start to the season before Marsh transformed their fortunes.

Winterbourne chairman Robyn Maggs said: “Chris was unable to put the commitment in. He started off really well, but home commitments didn’t give him enough time to dedicate to football. Dave has got good players at his disposal and we’re well placed to have a push for the top five.”

Jack Pitcher has certainly given the side a boost since his return to the club where he started his career. The former Almondsbury Town and Mangotsfield United striker left Southern League side Chippenham last month and scored on his second Winterbourne debut in the defeat against Lydney and he followed that up with another strike in the 4-2 win at Headington on Saturday.

Liam Morbey scored two goals early on for Headington before a reply from Geraint Williams. The second half saw Winterbourne add three further goals through Pitcher, Greg Stutt and an own goal. Winterbourne came from behind once again to beat Purton 2-1 on Monday at Oaklands Park. After trailing to a tenth minute goal, Sam Vile equalised on the stroke of half-time and Ben Dowdell hit the winner ten minutes from time.

Wilson Takes Bourne Helm Tomorrow - 30 December

Dave Wilson takes charge of Winterbourne United at Headington Amateurs tomorrow after manager Chris Marsh departed from the club.

Marsh took over the management role three months ago. Initially stepping into the breech on a temporary basis at the end of August, after then manager Nick Tanner resigned folowing a poor start to the season.

"Chris was finding it hard to commit the time needed for the job because of work demands," said club chairman Robyn Maggs.

Liverpool Legends Sparkle - 1 August

A crowd in excess of 1500 turned up in bright sunshine to witness Winterbourne United's big day.

The Legends, to a man, were fantastic they were very approachable all day signing countless autographs.

They all came back to venue of our presentation evening where Alan Kennedy acted as MC inviting talks from Jan Molby, Jimmy Case, John Wark and Craig Hignett.

He then handed out trophies to James Mainstone who won the players' player of the year, for the second season running while Sam Vile scooped managers' player. On his Hellenic debut season Ashley Knight picked up the golden boot from Jimmy Potts who has decreed to regain it. Physio Kenny Purnell won Clubman of the Year for all his hard work with the wounded.

It is also good to report that the club were complimented by Alan Pearce, a director of the GFA on the way the day went including the presentaion evening which he attended.

Winterbourne United v 'Liverpool Legends XI' - 14 July

Centenary Celebration match on Saturday the 23rd July at Oaklands Park, Almondsbury, Bristol 3pm kick off.

Winterbourne United Under 13s are playing Cardiff Academy at 11-30 on the morning of the match,so the gates will be open around 11AM should anyone want to come and support. There are various food and drink outlets on site so everyone should be catered for and we suggest people get there as early as possible to ease congestion near kick off time please.

Anyone wishing to come and see the likes of Phil Neal, Jimmy Case, Jan Molby,John Wark,Gary Gillespie, Bristolian Julian Dicks and many others are welcome to attend. See squad advice below.

Tickets are available,or people can now pay on the day, prices are: @£10 adults, £5 U16's, U10's go free while accompanied by an adult. For ticket information please contact Winterbourne United Chairman ROBYN MAGGS on 07976 255666 or e-mail to robynmaggs@hotmail.com

There is limited parking at Oaklands Park, however more is available at North Bristol Rugby Club situated on the same site @ £2 per car. A raffle and a collection will be organised at the game in aid of The Jessie May Trust. The Trust is a charitable organisation that helped our own Scott Cameron and partner Sarah through their ordeal of losing baby Theo.

Liverpool squad as advised:

Bob Boulder:  Liverpool paid out £125,000 in 1983, to bring Bob to Anfield as understudy to Brucie before he moved on to seek first team football at Charlton and, later, Sunderland.

Julian Dicks.has the honour of being the last Liverpool player to score in front of the standing Spion Kop in a 1–0 win against Ipswich Town near the end of the 1993–94 and went on to make 23 appearances scoring 3 goals.

.Phil Neal:  Nearly 700 games for Liverpool and a regular right back for England with fifty caps, Phil has won just about every honour in the game.

Gary Gillespie came to Liverpool via Coventry City. Capped thirteen times for Scotland, Gary played well over 200 games in Liverpool’s colours.

John Wark: starred for Ipswich Town before joining Liverpool in March ’84. A Scottish international with twenty-nine caps, John played a century of games for ‘The Pool’

Jan Molby:  Capped thirty-three times for Denmark, Jan made his Liverpool debut in August ’84. Bought for £225,000 Jan went on to make 292 appearances and notching 60 goals.

Jimmy Case:  Born in Liverpool, Jimmy made his debut for the club in 1975. He went on to play 269 games for the side. After winning four title medals, three European Cup medals, League Cup and UEFA Cup medals, he moved to Brighton for £350,000.

Don Hutchinson :Kenny Dalglish brought Don to Anfield from Hartlepool United in 1990 paying £175,000 for his services.He made his debut against Notts County in March 1992 . Hutch scored 10 of his goals in a red shirt, as well as 42 of his overall 60 appearances for the club in 92.

Howard Gayle -Liverpool-born Howard made his league debut for Liverpool as a substitute at Maine Road in October 1980. He played a big part in a European Cup semi-final after Kenny Dalglish limped off early.He was on the bench though which meant the exclusion of the promising Ian Rush.

Craig Hignett, is a lifelong Liverpool fan and started his career in the youth team at Liverpool before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 1988 he made 150 appearances and scored 57 goals.

John Durnin scored on a regular basis for Liverpool Reserves - 60 goals in 84 Central League matches .He was on the bench at the beginning of the 1988-89 season and made his first team debut against Arsenal in the Centenary semi-final.After leaving Liverpool, he went on to be leading scorer at Oxford and Portsmouth in the lower divisions.

John Beresford was born in Sheffied in his footballing career he played for clubs Manchester City, Barnsley, Portsmouth, Newcastle United, Southampton and Birmingham City. Beresford is best  remembered by LFC fans  for missing his spot kick in the 1992 FA Cup semi-final penalty shootout against Liverpool while playing for Portsmouth. Ironically, Liverpool agreed to sign him after the end of that season, but he failed a medical and Kevin Keegan signed him for Newcastle instead.