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 Younie Commits - 23 December
Witney Town have received a major boost just before Christmas with the news that top scorer Andrew Younie has pledged to remain with the club.
Having been the subject of two official approaches understandably new boss Mark Love was delighted. "Knowing of the approaches I wanted to get Andrew's situation sorted as soon as possible and it goes without saying we are all delighted he has chosen to stay and try to help the club retain its Hellenic Premier League status" |
Double Swoop For Town - 20 December
Mark Love has moved swiftly to bolster the ranks at Witney Town making a double signing ahead of tonight's clash with Malmesbury Victoria in the Bluefin Challenge Cup tie at Marriotts Stadium.
  Joining the Blanketmen are centre forward Darren Smart (left) who has previously been with both Highworth Town and Shrivenham and midfielder Steve Bunting (right) formerly of Shrivenham and Devizes Town.
Only Bunting is in line to make his debut this evening as Smart is unavailable. Ian Lovegrove who will have a third attempt at serving his one match suspension and Tom Boxer who is also unavailable. Division One West Vics have become regular opponents of Town as they seem to get drawn together in a number of cup competitions with it being fair to say that Town definitely hold the upper hand. But as we all know cup ties are one off affairs and Love will be keen to ensure his new team are fired up for the occassion.
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Witney Love Affair! - 17 December
 Witney Town are delighted to announce that we have moved swiftly to appoint Mark Love as the new Manager of the club with immediate effect.
Following the decision to part company with Duncan Colwell last week the committee were keen to get a new man in charge to give the club the strongest possible opportunity of pulling away from the relegation zone and ensure Hellenic Premier Division safety. Speaking about the appointment Chairman Tom Amer was enthusiastic "On interviewing Mark it was clear here was a young ambitious manager who is keen to progress himself personally as a football manager and even more so progress the club forward. We have always been very up front that this season was all about stabilising the club off the field and ensuring that we maintain our Premier Division status. Whilst the club is getting there off the field it is now down to Mark to ensure that we can achieve the second part of this season's goal"
Love guided Devizes to 5th in the table last season and took the side on an amazing run in the middle of the season winning 13 out of 14 league matches. Love himself gave his thoughts on getting the role "I'm both excited and delighted to have taken over the role of 1st Team Manager. I would like to thank Tom, Gary and Mark for giving me this opportunity and also a special mention Andy Lyne who I spoke to about the role before applying. I arrive at Witney with Town currently occupying one of the relegation spots and my first target is to maintain our Premier League status for next season. We have 22 games remaining to achieve this and that has to be everybody at the club's aim. I have inherited a young but very talented squad which will be assessed over the next few games and will be strengthen if required." |
Captain Suspended - 16 December
 Witney Town will have to make do without captain Ian Lovegrove when they entertain promotion chasing Oxford City Nomads at Marriotts Stadium tomorrow. (3-00pm).
The skipper should have served a one match suspension for five bookings at Ardley on Tuesday but with the game being postponed he will now miss the return clash with the Nomads. The two sides of course are no strangers having met twice since the beginning of November with Nomads winning both matches without conceding a goal. Back at the start of November we met in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup when we went down to a 2-0 defeat at Marriotts Stadium and then just 18 days ago we were well beaten in the league going down to a 4-0 reverse. Nomads are on a current hot streak of form winning their last five league matches and also a Floodlit Cup match since their surprise last defeat which came in a 2-1 reverse at relegation threatened Fairford Town a result which Town must use to inspire them tomorrow. Other than Lovegrove missing Town will name the same squad that were victorious in the last outing a 3-1 win at Holyport although there will be a late decision made over Lewis Colwell who is struggling with an ankle injury.
The Reserves are also in action tomorrow when they go looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches when they travel to Wantage Town
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Nothing To Lose - 13 December
Following Saturday's excellent victory at Holyport its another difficult road trip for Town tonight as face title favourites Ardley United in the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League. (7-30pm kick off).
In fact its fair to say the next five days are going to be very challenging as on Saturday we entertain the team hot on their heels Oxford City Nomads at Marriotts Stadium. However the confidence took a lift with Saturday's win and with it being a local derby tonight there is always the chance of an upset result as Town go there with nothing to lose.
As a further boost there are no new injury worries and also returning is skipper Ian Lovegrove who has been unavailable for the last three matches but is back in the squad this evening. Ardley are currently sitting 3 points clear at the top of the table as they look to justify their pre-season tag as title favourites and are currently on a hot streak of form winning their last 12 league matches. However the last team to beat Ardley in the league was Holyport who went to Oxford Road and returned with a convincing 5-1 win.
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 Lyne Ends Association - 12 December
Andy Lyne has today decided to call an end to his 15 year association with Witney Town having resigned his post as General Manager for the club.
Lyne admitted it had been a huge decision to quit the Blanketmen but one which he felt was right both in its reasoning and its timing "It is quite a wrench as I have enjoyed success at Witney over a number of years and made many longstanding friendships. I am fortunate in my three spells with the club that there have been far more good days than bad days. However I feel I have done all that I can for the club and now its time for a change of voice and leadership. My leaving fits well with the club looking to appoint a new manager and it is only right that he has a clear path. Work commitments have made it extremely difficult for me to have been heavily involved over the last 18 months but I would never rule out a return to management in the future"
Chairman Tom Amer thanked Lyne for all he has done, commenting. "There is no doubt the man has been a vital cog in the Witney wheel for many years and it will take some getting used to him not being here. That said we will always as a club be grateful for what he has done for us both on and off the field." His attention then turned to the appointment of a new man "The club is on a sound financial footing and although we always knew this would be a year of transition this is still a fantastic opportunity for a manager to come in and manage this club." Applicants are reminded in the first instance they should contact Tom Amer on 07810 652741.
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 Colwell Goes From Witney - 7 December
Witney Town FC announce they have parted company with first team manager Duncan Colwell.
Colwell (pictured) took charge of the side in the summer following Richard Hill's departure but the side currently find themselves in the bottom four with just four league wins in the first half of the season. Town Chairman Tom Amer said of the decision "obviously it was a difficult decision to make as parting ways with any manager is but the results haven't been as we would have hoped for. We felt it was better to take action now and give a new manager time to improve the league position. We would also like to place on record our thanks to Duncan for his efforts and needless to say wish him all the best for the future" He continued "Our search for a new Manager begins in earnest now and we will be actively advertising the post and invite applications with immediate effect"
Town have announced that Andy Lyne will be Caretaker Manager with U18s Manager Roger Alder taking charge of the team for tonight's Floodlit Cup clash with Cheltenham Saracens.
Anybody wishing to apply for the position should in the first instance call Tom Amer on 07810 652741.
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Late Selection - 2 December
Witney Town will await late fitness tests on both Jordan Cormack and Carl Bloomfield before making any selection decisions for the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League clash at Thame United tomorrow (3-00pm).
Cormack missed the midweek trip to Oxford City Nomads whilst Bloomfield could only take a place on the bench and both will be given as much time as possible to prove their fitness. It is hoped that Tom Boxer who came off as a precautionary measure on Wednesday will be fit to play as Town go seeking some points to get them away from the drop zone. There is however a boost with return of both Andrew Styles and Alfie Saunders who missed the midweek defeat and also the return of youngster Jack Lonsdale who has been missing through injury in recent weeks. Defender Will Bridgewater has also been added to the squad as both James Kyberd and Ian Lovegrove are unavailable. Thame currently sit comfortably in the middle of the table but at their new home have been struggling for results winning only four of their ten matches. Ironically on the road this season they actually remain unbeaten. However they are unbeaten in their last five football matches which include their last two home matches which were an impressive 3-2 win over Slimbridge and a 2-2 draw with Shortwood United. One familiar face in the home side line up is likely to be ex Witney man Jon Steedman who of course made the switch to Thame in the summer and has been a regular this season.
The Reserves are also in action tomorrow when they entertain Cricklade Town in the Uhlsport Hellenic Reserve Division Two West at Marriotts Stadium.
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Selection Poser - 30 November
Witney Town face a selection poser ahead of tonight's Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League clash at Oxford City Nomads as injuries and suspension take their toll on the squad.
Definitely ruled out through suspension are the midfield duo of Andrew Styles and Alfie Saunders and they are joined on the side-lines by Ian Lovegrove (unavailable), Dan Sadler (hamstring) and Tom Smith (family bereavement).
The squad is boosted by the return of Jack Smith who is available and also James Kyberd who has missed the last two fixtures and Carl Bloomfield is fit after coming through Saturday's substitute appearance unscathed.
It will of course be equally as tough a test as Saturday was as we make the visit to the high fliers of Nomads who currently sit third in the table and are right up amongst the promotion contenders built in the main on an impressive home league record that has seen them win seven out of their eight matches with a 5-1 reverse against Flackwell Heath back in August the only blemish on the record. To add to this they currently sit on a run of 7 wins in the last 9 matches which has catapulted them up the table.
The sides have already met this season in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup when Town went down to a 2-0 defeat at Marriotts Stadium with former Witney man Jermaine Ferreira grabbing one of the goals.
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Boxer Back In Ring - 26 November
Witney Town welcome back central defender Tom Boxer to the squad for today's Uhlsport Hellenic Premier League clash with Binfield at Marriotts Stadium (3-00pm kick off).
The young defender has missed the majority of the season but returns to bolster the Town backline along with James Kyberd who missed Tuesday's home reverse against Slimbridge. The Blanketmen will still have to do without striker Carl Bloomfield though who remains side-lined with a chest complaint. It will of course be a difficult test of football for Witney as we go up against one of the sides in with a realistic shout of the title and who currently sit in 5th position but we will be given a little bit of hope in the fact that in their last league fixture they went down to a surprise 3-2 reverse at home to Abingdon Town. Binfield had an energy sapping FA Vase encounter last weekend drawing 2-2 at Ringmer on the Saturday before drawing 0-0 after extra time in the replay before eventually winning through on penalties. The two sides have of course met once already this season when despite an encouraging performance Town went down to a 2-0 defeat.
The Reserves meanwhile make the trip to Highworth Town in the Reserves Challenge Cup 2nd Round. Having drawn 2-2 with their opponents in the league earlier in the season they will be looking to go one stage further.
Witney Town FC of the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division are delighted to announce that the new website is online at www.witneytownfc.com. Although the site is very much in its infancy and has a lot of work still to be done it is anticipated the site will be up to full scratch within a couple of months. Added to this the club are delighted to announce that former website editor Mark Reid has agreed to take running the site over again having successfully ran the old Witney United site for the last few years.
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Keeper Signed - 16 September
Witney Town have signed goalkeeper Adam Lonsdale after Richard Barrett suffered a double cruciate knee ligaments injury.
Barrett was stretchered off the pitch in the 2-2 draw at leaders Flackwell Heath last Saturday, and spent the night in hospital. Lonsdale, who appeared for North Leigh in the Southern League last season, will take over between the sticks for the Premier Division game against high-flying Highworth Town at Marriots Stadium tomorrow.
New signings Lenny Sackey and Charles Kimbangi, who were at the now-defunct Bicester Town, also come into the squad.
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Witney United Name Change - 20 July
Witney Town FC, first established in 1885, has been re-formed for the coming season to bring some much-needed positive news for local footballers and fans alike, following the winding up of Witney Utd as a Limited company and the resignation of club chairman Steve Lake.
Witney Town FC is the chosen name of the management team under the guidance of new Chairman Tom Amer, who was a member of the Witney United club. The decisions already taken will ensure that West Oxfordshire not only retains a high-profile club for both supporters and talented young players, but also raises money for good causes as a result. As a registered charity itself, the new organisation will fund two beneficiaries: the well-known Help for Heroes and Heads Up, a local head and neck cancer research charity.
Local businessman Tom Amer is the driving force behind the famous club's resurgence, said, "It's been an honour to help revive Witney Town FC. Thanks to volunteers and sponsorship from local businesses, we have been able to achieve a great deal in a short space of time to be ready for the new season. Our ambition is to create a fantastic facility in the community for all talented local footballers. We have had great success recently with several of our U18s stepping up to the 1st team and one being signed by Southern League club, North Leigh. We want to build on that." Witney Town FC's 1st team will play in the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division and the reserves will play in the Hellenic Division Two West, while the U18's will play in the Allied Counties league. A newly created supporters club will offer discounted admission to matches and free entrance to its younger members.
To mark the rebirth of the club, Witney Town FC hosts the Oxford United youth team this Saturday, July 23rd, at 3pm, gates open from 1pm. For ticket information, please contact the club and for business sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tom Amer. |
Boxer Retained - 7th June
Witney United general manager Andy Lyne has confirmed that talented young central defender Tom Boxer will be staying with the club next season.
20 year old Enfield based Boxer, who was with Spurs and Leyton Orient as a schoolboy footballer, joined The Blanketmen last season from Spartan South Midland League Premier Division Cockfosters. "Box did a really good job for us last season. He has a good physical presence and his ability to get on the ball and play out from the back made a big difference to our game" said Lyne.
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Colwell New Man At Witney - 3rd June
Former Oxford City youth team coach Duncan Colwell has taken over as manager of Witney United.
He follows ex-Oxford United player Richard Hill, who quit the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club last month. Colwell spent ten years at City managing teams in the youth structure before helping secure Oxford City Nomads' promotion to the Premier Division in 2009. He also had a short spell at Abingdon Town before joining Witney as assistant manager last season.
When Darren Teggart left, Colwell assumed a caretaker manager role before the appointment of Richard Hill. General manager Andy Lyne said: " The club has been through a difficult period on and off the field.In Duncan we feel that we have a safe pair of hands, someone who knows the club and has a good knowledge of young local players." |
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