BARROW TOWN_20.08.22 prog

GRANTHAM TOWN www.afcmansfield.net | PAGE 1 ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF GRANTHAM TOWN ACADEMY | ISSUE 02 | 2022/23 | £1.00 Vs KIT SPONSOR SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST 2022 THE UNITED COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Vs BARROW TOWN KICK-OFF 3PM

PAGE 2 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME CONTENTS 1 COVER: ROBBIE ATKIN 3 JOE KEARNEY: MANAGERS NOTES 4 MATCH REPORT - GRANTHAM TOWN Vs SHILDON AFC 5 LEAGUE & FORM TABLES 6 MEET THE TEAM 7 THE UNTOLD GAME - THE TEA BOY WHO CREATED A DYNASTY 8-9 2021 - 2022 MATCHFACTS 10 SPORTS GROUND DEVELOPMENT - #UNITED TOGETHER 11 GALLERY Vs CLIFTON ALL WHITES 12-13 THE OPPOSITION: BARROW TOWN 14 THE NON LEAGUE PAPER 15 UHLSPORT ADVERT Back page TODAYS TEAMS GRANTHAM TOWN ACADEMY STAFF MIDLANDS PROUD BRICKWORK SHIRT SPONSORS CONTRACTOR OF GRANTHAM TOWN ACADEMY www.cmrbrickwork.co.uk ( 01623 259300

JOE KEARNEYACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 3 Iwould like to quite difficult to take welcome Barrow as we had most Town to the South of the possession Kesteven Stadium and limited our for our second home opponents to minimal league fixture of the chances and we season. We know really felt we should today will be a big have come away test as our opponents with a point at least. have been consistent But that is football performers at this we must ensure we level for many years. continue to improve We do however in both boxes this believe we are coming Saturday. capable of competing If we do so then I am and getting a result very confident that today to kick start our the 3 points will be season. staying in Grantham. Whilst the table Kind Regards doesn’t lie, we Joe Kearney have been pleased with the recent improvement in performance from our lads. Saturdays away defeat at Southwell City was GRANTHAM TOWN TV

PAGE 4 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME MATCH REPORT Grantham Town started their new season in the GRANTHAM TOWN 3 Northern Premier League East in the way they would SHILDON AFC 1 have wanted on Saturday. The Pitching In Northern Premier League Following a goalless first half, the Gingerbreads stepped further on the gas after the break to defeat Eastern Division - Sat 13 August 2022 NPL 'newbies' Shildon 3-1. their lead. Leslie whipped in a free kick from near It was a scorching hot day at The Meres with, the corner flag and Ashton was there to dink the ball thankfully, a decent breeze to give some relief. home. Despite the heat, the game was played at a pretty However, referee Mr Wesson saw fit to even things hectic pace throughout, with both sides at times up penalty-wise in the 59th minute, Jonathan Wafula displaying some neat moves. culpable of fouling Thexton in the area. Thexton took the penalty himself and fired home past a correct- Grantham had the first shot of the game in the fifth guessing, diving Haystead. minute but Daniel Cocks' close-range effort was blocked by Shildon goalkeeper Alex Curran, with Substitute Town striker Ricky Miller came on just Nathan Tyson volleying over with his follow-up strike. after the hour mark and immediately made an impact going forward. Cocks had a second chance on 14 minutes with a header but could only glance the ball into the arms of A frustrated Shildon saw the wrath of Mr Wesson Curran. when he showed a yellow card to Shildon's Alex White for an awful foul on Wood in the 77th minute. Shildon's first opportunity came in the 20th minute Ironically, Wood himself then also received a yellow after a nonchalant Town midfield gifted the visitors for a separate incident a couple of minutes later. the ball, but Aidan Heywood's eventual shot missed the target. Miller continued to cause the visitors problems, such as his 83rd minute cross that Curran was fortunate to Two minutes later, at the other end, Harry Wood fired get to first before any Gingerbreads could pounce. just wide of the post following a good Grantham move. Shildon did have a couple of late opportunities to grab an equaliser, Joe Posthill blasting over in the Shildon threatened again in the 24th minute, a quick 85th minute and fellow sub–Vinnie Steels glancing a break ending in a shot from Wilson Kneeshaw but he header wide of the mark. was unable to get enough purchase on his effort. However, that man Miller stole the show with an Town's free kick specialist Steve Leslie got his first absolute worldie of a goal, the shot from nowhere opportunity with a 30-yarder in the 29th minute, screaming into the top of the net from just outside the forcing a diving save out of Curran. penalty area to the joy of the ecstatic Gingerbreads supporters. Five minutes later, Shildon's Deon Thexton brought a similar save out of Gingerbreads keeper Dan Mr Wesson added a good few minutes or more of Haystead. added time but it was game over for the visitors as Grantham Town said thank you very much for their And Curran then made an excellent reaction save on season-opening day three points. 39 minutes to deny Damien McCrory success with his driven half-volley. Grantham Town: Haystead, Tootle, McCrory, Wafula (c), Townrow, Hall, McBride (Tuntulwana 90), Leslie, Shildon's Michael Sweet might have thought he was Cocks (Munns 84), Wood, Tyson (Miller 61). Subs not unlucky to strike the Grantham post two minutes used: Johnson, Jemson. later, but a goal would have been ruled out for offside anyway. Att: 269. The last chance of the first half saw Grantham clear Report by John Burgess for The Grantham Journal Chay Liddle's corner kick from the danger area, only for the ball to drop to Toby Poscoe who fortunately for www.granthamjournal.co.uk the Gingerbreads blasted wide from outside the box. Town had several half-chances early on in the second half, including one from Matt Tootle who fired over from the edge of the box. The pressure soon told on Shildon and they conceded a penalty on 50 minutes after Cocks was tripped in the area. Ashton Hall stepped up to take the spot kick and struck it high into the back of the net for 1-0. Six minutes later and the Gingerbreads had doubled

Overall TABLESACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 5 FIXTURES & RESULTS LEAGUE TABLE P W D L F A GD PTS Attendances 1 Aylestone Park 0000 0 0 0 0 Team Lowest Highest Average +/- 2 Barrow Town 0000 0 0 0 0 1 Barrow Town 240 240 240 313.79% 3 Birstall United Social 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Hucknall Town 160 220 190 -1.04% 4 Blacks tones 0000 0 0 0 0 3 St Andrews 78 299 189 256.60% 5 Blidworth Welfare 0000 0 0 0 0 4 Birstall United Social 104 303 176 193.33% 5 Bourne Town 6 Bourne Town 0000 0 0 0 0 6 Holwell Sports 0 175 170 63.46% 7 Aylestone Park 7 Clifton All Whites 0000 0 0 0 0 8 Kirby Muxloe 75 249 162 88.37% 9 Southwell City 8 Clips tone 0000 0 0 0 0 10 Gedling Miners Welfare 80 180 130 31.31% 11 Saffron Dynamo 9 Dunkirk 0000 0 0 0 0 12 Newark Town 97 139 118 34.09% 13 Blackstones 10 Gedling Miners Welfare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 Harrowby United 102 132 117 N/A 15 West Bridgford 11 Grantham Town Academy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Grantham Town Academy 82 132 107 16.30% 17 Clipstone 12 Harrowby United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 Rainworth Miners Welfare 103 103 103 80.70% 19 Radford 13 Holwell Sports 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 102 102 102 N/A 14 Hucknall Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65 125 95 9.20% 70 101 86 -30.65% 15 Kirby Muxloe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 86 86 86 17.81% 16 Newark Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 81 81 81 8.00% 17 Radford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 61 85 73 -6.41% 18 Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58 86 68 -9.33% 19 Saffron Dynamo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58 58 58 -12.12% 20 Southwell City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Dunkirk 52 59 56 -11.11% 21 St Andrews 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 Blidworth Welfare 39 78 55 N/A 22 West Bridgford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 Clifton All Whites 35 50 42 -8.70% Up Next: VV V V SAT 20 AUG | 3.00pm SAT 27 AUG | 3.00pm MON 29 AUG | 7.45pm SAT 03 SEPT | 3.00pm UCL DIV 1 UCL DIV 1 UCL DIV 1 UCL DIV 1 Fixtures: Saturday 20th August 2022 UCL1 Aylestone Park vs. Southwell City 15:00 vs. Gedling Miners Welfare 15:00 UCL1 Blackstones vs. Radford 15:00 vs. Bourne Town 15:00 UCL1 Clipstone vs. Barrow Town 15:00 vs. Birstall United Social 15:00 UCL1 Dunkirk UCL1 Grantham Town Academy UCL1 Hucknall Town UCL1 Kirby Muxloe vs. Clifton All Whites 15:00 UCL1 Newark Town vs. St Andrews 15:00 UCL1 Rainworth Miners Welfare vs. Holwell Sports 15:00 UCL1 Saffron Dynamo vs. Blidworth Welfare 15:00

PAGE 6 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME MEET THE

ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 7 The Tea Boy who Created a Dynasty repeatedly, he would go to watch in person. If they impressed him, he would invite the to join Manchester Manchester United are (notwithstanding their recent United. The new system, along with Davies’ investment, difficulties) one of the most successful football clubs in led United to their first major trophies, the First Division Europe, and one of the biggest sporting brands in the title in 1908 and 1911, with the FA Cup in 1909. world. When the story of their success is written, certain obvious names leap off of the page. Sir Matt Busby, Rocca dreamed of a team made up of local players, who Sir Alex Ferguson, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, represented the people on the terraces. A couple of George Best, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes. This list goes on decades of building followed before, in the early 1930s, and on. But before all of them, and the man without United were bought out of more financial difficulty by whom Manchester United simply wouldn’t be what they James Gibson. The new owner shared Rocca’s dream, are today, was an Italian immigrant who snuck in to and allowed him (and new addition Walter Crickmer) watch Newton Heath. It was the beginning of a lifelong to set up the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club, relationship. what would now be understood as an academy. The system was a great success in finding and developing Louis Rocca, born in 1882, was promised a beating for local players, but war in 1939 limited how the system sneaking under the fence at his local football club, but translated into the senior team. It wasn’t until after the instead was given the task of making tea for the players war that the fruits of Rocca’s labour could really be seen. at half time. He dutifully and enthusiastically accepted his new position, and before long was also given the As the war concluded, Man United needed a new man- job of first-team kitman, a coveted position that made ager, and Gibson and Rocca thought they knew just the him the envy of older children in the area. Before the man. They had to act quickly though, as he had been end of the nineteenth century, he was the club’s first offered a position in Liverpool’s staff. Rocca reached out ever groundsman, but things were not rosy at Newton to one of his old friends quite cryptically, not wanting Heath. Liverpool to intercept the letter, and invited him to Old Trafford. That friend was Matt Busby. Busby hired Jimmy By 1902 the club had racked up considerable debts and Murphy as his assistant, and Rocca watched as his friend needed to raise funds to stay in existence. Rocca and led a team – full of the Junior Athletic Club’s protégés – other volunteers toured around the city for four days to the 1948 FA Cup. soliciting donations, notably taking a dog with them with a moneybox strapped to its back. It was this dog Rocca passed away in 1950, unable to see the fruits of who would ultimately save the club when he escaped, his work in all their glory as first the Busby Babes, and setting up a fortuitous meeting with John Henry Davies, later Busby’s rebuilt side after the Munich Disaster, who would step in and buy the club. His vision for the changed the face of English football forever. But make team was grand, much grander than the small confines no mistake, those sides, and the legacy of Manchester of Newton Heath. He proposed a name change, and United, could not have existed without the Italian. As while Manchester Celtic was considered, Rocca, just 19 Matt Busby wrote some four decades after Rocca’s at the time, is said (mostly by himself ) to have suggest- death, “he was a tremendous help to me in every way.” ed the name United. It stuck, and the club we know today was born. Enjoy the game. Martyn Green, The Untold Game Five years later, Rocca made the move that would shape the soul of the club, rather than just the name above the If you enjoyed this, find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk door. He was appointed as Chief Scout, and created an or on social media @TheUntoldGame extensive and inexpensive scouting network through- out Manchester, enlisting the help of priests and school- teachers and other volunteers to report back to him any exciting youngsters found in school and youth teams. He also had the local newspapers from each Saturday night brought to him every week, and poured through the local match reports. Any name that cropped up

PAGE 8 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2022 Opposition V Competition Att. F-A Goalscorers o.g. Date CLIFTON ALL WHITES H UCL1 81 0-2 Revuelta Cook Kirk-Ellis Atkin Kudla Richards Jul Sat 30 KIRBY MUXLOE A UCL1 97 1-5 Brettoner Eatough Cook Cox Atkin Kudla Richards BLACKSTONES Wedgwood Aug SOUTHWELL CITY A UCL1 125 1-4 Lawe Eatough Cook Kudla Gibbons Atkin BARROW TOWN Jemson Sat 06 ST ANDREWS A UCL1 102 0-2 Eatough Kudla Cook Ofushine Atkin H UCL1 78 Wed 10 RADFORD H UCL1 RESULTS A UCL1 80 Sat 13 DUNKIRK 65 Sat 20 BOSTON TOWN A UCL1 40 Sat 27 HUCKNALL TOWN 61 RAINWORTH MW A CUP 59 Mon 29 GEDLING MW 101 Sept NEWARK TOWN A UCL1 Tuesday 2nd August 2022 0 Radford 160 Blidworth Welfare 2 97 Sat 03 AYLSTONE PARK A UCL1 102 WEST BRIDGEFORD H UCL1 Saturday 6th August 2022 103 Tues 06 H UCL1 CLIPSTONE 180 Sat 10 BOURNE TOWN H UCL1 Aylestone Park 8 0 Gedling Miners Welfare 121 BLIDWORTH WELFARE Blackstones 2 1 Rainworth Miners Welfare 175 Sat 17 SAFFRON DYNAMO A UCL1 3 2 Southwell City 35 Tues 20 H UCL1 Clifton All Whites 0 1 Barrow Town 85 KIRBY MUXLOE H UCL1 Clipstone 1 1 West Bridgford 139 Sat 24 BIRSTALL UNITED H UCL1 Dunkirk 2 6 Birstall United Social 86 Oct HOLWELL SPORTS 86 WEST BRIDGEFORD A UCL1 Harrowby United Sat 01 125 CLIPSTONE H UCL1 Hucknall Town 4 0 St Andrews 220 Tues 11 RADFORD A UCL1 Kirby Muxloe 5 1 Grantham Town Academy Sat 15 SOUTHWELL CITY A UCL1 Newark Town 7 1 Holwell Sports 104 Tues 18 HARROWBY UNITED H UCL1 39 Sat 22 0 NEWARK TOWN A UCL1 Saffron Dynamo 2 1 Bourne Town 50 Sat 29 BLACKSTONES H UCL1 Tuesday 9th August 2022 0 Saffron Dynamo 82 Nov CLIFTON ALL WHITES H UCL1 70 RAINWORTH MW Aylestone Park 3 75 Sat 05 58 GEDLING MW A UCL1 Birstall United Social 4 0 Barrow Town 58 Sat 12 HOLWELL SPORTS 102 A UCL1 Bourne Town 4 4 Harrowby United 78 Sat 19 AYLSTONE PARK H UCL1 Clifton All Whites 2 2 Holwell Sports Sat 26 SAFFRON DYNAMO A UCL1 Clipstone 1 3 Blidworth Welfare Dec ST ANDREWS H UCL1 Kirby Muxloe 6 0 St Andrews BIRSTALL UNITED Sat 03 HUCKNALL TOWN A UCL1 Rainworth Miners Welfare 2 2 Southwell City Sat 10 H UCL1 West Bridgford 3 0 Newark Town Sat 17 BARROW TOWN A UCL1 Wednesday 10th August 2022 1 Grantham Town Academy Mon 26 DUNKIRK H UCL1 Blackstones 4 Jan-23 BLIDWORTH WELFARE HARROWBY UNITED A UCL1 Hucknall Town 2 3 Dunkirk Sat 07 H UCL1 Saturday 13th August 2022 0 West Bridgford Sat 14 BOURNE TOWN H UCL1 Birstall United Social 3 Sat 21 A UCL1 Sat 28 H UCL1 Blidworth Welfare 1 2 Blackstones Feb A UCL1 Bourne Town 0 2 Hucknall Town H UCL1 0 1 Newark Town Sat 04 A UCL1 Clifton All Whites 1 2 Dunkirk Sat 11 Gedling Miners Welfare Sat 18 Sat 25 Mar Sat 04 Sat 11 Sat 18 Sat 25 Apr Sat 01 Sat 08 Mon 10 Sat 15 1st Sub Harrowby United 0 2 Saffron Dynamo 2nd Sub 3rd Sub Holwell Sports 0 3 Aylestone Park 4th Sub Radford 3 0 Kirby Muxloe MoM Rainworth Miners Welfare 1 0 Barrow Town ������������ Goalscorers in BOLD RED Southwell City 2 0 Grantham Town Academy CAPTAIN St Andrews 0 2 Clipstone

ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 9 Parker Glossop Noon Milne Brettoner Johnson J Carr Wedgwood Cox Johnson H Brettoner ������������ Glossop Noon Lawe Milne Wedgwood Smith McGrady Parker Johnson J Parker McGrady Brettoner Lawe ������������ Milne Richards Noon Lees-Collier Cox Kirk-Ellis Parker Wedgwood Gibbons Lawe Richards McGrady Johnson Kirk-Lewis Noon Cox

PAGE 10 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 11 CLIFTON ALL WHITES

PAGE 12 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Football in Barrow upon Soar has its’ origins After the Second World War, The Old Boys in the late 19th century. The population of the reformed in 1947 and following a public village at that time would have numbered meeting at The Working Men’s Club, entered around 1000, compared with around 7000 the Leicestershire Senior League with today. immediate impact. They reached the semi-final of The Senior Cup but were beaten by Whitwick The team, known as the Barrow Rising Stars Colliery. The competition also included were based at The Railway Inn (now the Soar Leicester City Reserves. bridge), and played their football near the Mill. Members of the Loughborough and District In 1968/69 The Old Boys finished runners-up in League, they were obviously formidable Division 2 and were promoted to what was then opposition as their record shows they were Division 1. Managed by much respected local winners of Division 1 in 1901/2 and 1902/3 man Billy Williamson, they were also winners and also Division 2 champions in 1911/12. of The Loughborough Charity Cup and The Cup success included the Bass Charity Cup, Sileby Cup, (later renamed The Billy Williamson Rolleston Cup, and the County Cup. In one trophy in his honour). Soon after Barrow moved particular season four trophies came their way. to their current headquarters at Riverside Park under the new title of Barrow Town. The early years of the century saw the birth of the Old Boys (now Barrow Town). This team The success of 68/69 was emulated by the also played down “Mill Lane”, and comprised team of 92/93 managed by two more local mainly of boys from the village grammar school, favourites Arthur Chadburn and Colin Sykes. their record though did not compare with the This team gained promotion to the Premier stars. Division as champions. The 94/95 season was a landmark in Barrow’s history with a number Immediately prior to the First World War of records being broken. Highest ever placings another Barrow team, The Trinity were for the 1st and 2nd teams. Ian Hunter’s haul gaining prominence. Also members of the of 61 league and cup goals. 119 goals scored, Loughborough and District League Division with an 18 game unbeaten run-in, culminating 1, they rivalled the stars as top team from the in being pipped to the Premiership title by one village. Other members of the league at that point. The team again consisted of the nucleus time were Quorn Havelock, Quorn Emanuel, of the promotion winning side, under the same and no less than four teams from Sileby (Imps, successful management team. Excelsior, Amateurs and Vics). A referee’s match fee in 1913 was 2/6d and football boots In recent years, the club has grown in stature 6/- per pair (30p). and maintained their Premier Division status. Three times winners of The Loughborough Trinity FC had an illustrious spell from 1918 Charity Cup, defeating Coalville 3-1 in 96/97, onwards and during an 18 year period picked Ibstock 1-0 in 98/99 (the competition’s up a league championship, the league cup, centenary year), and under Richard Pitman and the Rolleston Cup. The Trinity’s glories defeating Shepshed Dynamo on penalties in could not last and 1930 saw the emergence of 2000/1 after the teams were locked at 2-2 after ‘The Gunners’ and ‘Barrow Athletic’, The Old extra time. Boys reappearing in 1932. The Old Boys were members of the Leics. Mutual League and for a In 2008 they became founder members of the while were based at Cotes Road, before moving East Midlands Counties League, where they to North Street and joining the Loughborough have remained since. In 2011 -12 they reached Alliance. the third qualifying round of the FA Cup and in

ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 13 2012–13 they finished as league runners-up. The village of Barrow has had a thriving junior football set up for over 25 years. At the end of the 2017/18 season the Barrow Town and Barrow Juniors committees merged in order to form one club. 2019/20 season saw the ‘Riversiders’ under BARROW TOWN FACTFILE: new management for the first time in five years. Former manager Liam East moved on YEAR FOUNDED 1940 to United Counties League side St Andrews, NICKNAME THE RIVERSIDERS taking his management and a large entourage CHAIRMAN MICHAEL BLAND of First Team and Reserve Team players - MANAGER WADE BALL leaving new manager Kris Nurse to rebuild 2 from scratch. After one year at the helm Kris LEAGUE TITLES STEP 6 and his team moved on. HIGHEST LEVEL 3RD QUAL ROUND BEST FA CUP RUN 2ND ROUND The loss of the management team combined BEST FA VASE RUN with the Covid crisis left the club with significant challenges both on and off the field Year League Honours of play. Wade Ball and Jordan Holmes were 1992/93 Leicestershire Senior League Division 1 champions appointed First Team Player Managers. Wade 2002/03 Leicestershire Senior League League Cup winners and Jordan steadied the ship and we looked 1940/41 Loughborough Alliance Champions forward to the 2021/22 season with renewed 1968–69, confidence and optimism. 1996–97, Loughborough Charity Cup Winners 1998–99, Season 2021/22 also saw Barrow Town joining 2000–01, Battle of Britain Memorial Cup Winners the United Counties First Division following 2006–07 Sileby Cup Winners the disbandment of the East Midlands 2006–07, Counties League. 2007–08, 2010–11 Riverside Park has undergone several 1968–69 improvements in recent years, most notably the addition of floodlighting for both the main pitch and training area; a new clubhouse and changing rooms; a 50 seater granstand; covered standing paddock; and new dugouts. The recent amalgamation of all junior, youth and senior teams, makes Barrow Town one of the largest football organisations in the county, that now caters for soccer from under eight to senior level.

PAGE 14 | ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME By Jon Couch “I said not this season but we will work it for next season. I haven't forgotten it and everything has got IT’S fair to say the 2020s has not been too kind a worse since then. decade of football clubs thus far. \"We've done some work as to how much floodlights First, of course, there was the curse of the Covid actually cost, and we know in cup competitions we pandemic, which kicked in within three months of the allow £75 to £85 for floodlights, but is that enough? It decade starting and ended up curtailing back-to- used to be. back seasons from Step 2 and below, right up until the start of the 2021-22 campaign. “What it's going to be on the new energy costings, we don't know - but certainly for league matches if Just when we thought all was well with the world clubs can go to a 12:30 kick-off or even if they just again, we then get hit with the next crisis to engulf come forward an hour or so, they can save them- society and put our Non-League clubs at threat once selves some money.” again. But it’s not just energy costs which are hitting clubs As energy and fuel bills soar to unprecedented levels, in the pocket. Travel costs have also sky-rocketed clubs, fans and the game as a whole have been left to the point where coach travel is now a thing of the feeling the pinch. The question is ‘what can we do past for Non-League clubs. That leaves players hav- about it’? ing to pay for their own fuel and between 10-15 extra cars on the road for each away journey. Hardly ideal In his column in this week’s NLP, Northern Premier when it comes to protecting our environment, is it? League chairman Mark Harris acknowledged the ex- tent of the problem and the lengths that league chiefs To combat this, Harris revealed that coach travel have gone to cut down costs. expenses that clubs can claim for the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase have been increased by 20 per Harris told us that a recent report revealed that cent this year to ensure all fixtures are fulfilled. around 2,600 grass roots football clubs folded as a result of Covid with a further 6,000 across the UK in While slight tweaks such as changing kick-off times grave danger of following suit if we do not address and increasing travelling expenses will make a the situation swiftly. difference in balancing the books, clubs and volun- teers can also play their part. Creating a safe and Household energy bills increased by a record 54 per comfortable environment amid the parameters of cent in April and are likely to rise substantially again your stadium goes a long way and helps to enhance in October. One NPL club, previously paying 15p per community engagement which in turn has an effect kWh, now has to pay over 65p, taking their annual on your club’s ability to generate secondary income spend up to £100,000. from clubhouse/refreshments and merchandise etc. With that in mind, fellow Pitching In Trident league But let’s not start to panic just yet, however. Average member, the Isthmian League, issued a statement attendance figures across Non-League remain as earlier this month offering its 82 member clubs at healthy as ever and there are no indications as yet Steps 3 and 4 the opportunity of bringing forward that the cost of living crisis is preventing the average Saturday kick-off times from 3pm to 12.30pm in order fan from clicking through the turnstiles. to save on costs. It’s the actions of the loyal supporter which are keep- Chairman Nick Robinson explained: “In March, I went ing Non-League club self-sustainable in comparison to a ground when things were just starting to go up to their EFL counterparts and that’s what makes and the clubs said to me ‘our energy bills have gone football at this level unique. up this amount - can you help us, can we kick off early?’ We’ve united before and beaten off the effects of Covid, now we can do it again.

ACADEMY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | PAGE 15 PROUD SPONSORS OF Contact Us: E: [email protected] T: 02879 549934

GRANTHAM TOWN BARROW TOWN (MANAGER) JOE KEARNEY WADE BALL (MANAGER) (AST. MANAGER) JAKE HEMSTOCK JORDAN HOLMES (MANAGER) (PLAYER/COACH) (PHYSIO) BEN HANKER MICK HOLMES (COACH) (PHYSIO) NIC EATOUGH AUSTIN WOOD ROBBIE ATKIN (C) OLLY PRESTON LUKE BROWN TEVES PANARITI NATHAN BRETTONER (C) JAKE MCKINTOSH ROMEN CARR DANIEL CHAPMAN JOSHUA LAWE SID COX WADE BALL ALEX ENGLAND JORDAN HOLMES HARRY GIBBONS FABIAN RENNELLS ANDREW GLOSSOP KUWSI OFUSHINE TOM MANGAN TOM JENNINGS CEZAR TRANDAFIRESCU THOMAS LEES-COLLIER JACK JOHNSON ANDREI RACEALA PIOTREK KUDLA JOSEPH FRENCH FREDDIE MCGRADY RYAN NOON KAI THOMAS OLIVER SMITH BEN RYBICKI JAI WEDGWOOD CHRISTOPHER LARTER JORDAN KIRK-ELLIS JOSEPH HOPEWELL DANIEL WRIGHT MITCHELL WOODBINE MAX JEMSON ETHAN BALLANTINE CALLUM PARSLEY DAN HAWKES ROSS JEFFERIES HARRY SAUNDERS OFFICIALS REFEREE: SIMON TOWE ASSISTANT: MICHAEL MCGILL | ASSISTANT: STEPHEN KING NEXT UP FOR THE ACADEMY SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST ST ANDREWS - HOME 3PM KO VENUE - SOUTH KESTEVEN STADIUM - NG31 7XQ