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| Other news 29th July 2003 |
It is reported in the local
press that Brian Suchley has joined Mark Lord at Romford, as has another former
Blue Danny Benstock. |
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| New manager announced 29th July 2003 |
Chairman John Edgeworth has
announced the identity of Barking and East Ham United’s new manager. He is Mark
Shelton, Billericay’s 37 year old assistant manager. Mr Edgeworth said “This is
Mark’s first opportunity to manage a first team at this level although he comes
with ten years experience as assistant manager of various teams most of which
have been at Ryman Premier level. On meeting Mark I found him to be an
intelligent, forthright character with bags of enthusiasm and I have no doubt
that he will succeed in what will be a very difficult first season for him”
Mark, who was born and grew
up in Barking, was short listed last time the job was vacant and has
considerable coaching and managerial experience in the Ryman League Premier
Division but this is his first time in full charge. He coached at Purfleet for
two seasons, was head coach and assistant manager at Grays Athletic, and managed
Billericay’s Reserves in the Capital League. He has worked with some
distinguished managers including Gary Calder, Chris Snowsill and our former
manager Craig Edwards. Mark secured the post of assistant manager to another
former Barking manager George Borg at Boreham Wood but the job did not
materialise as George left for Hornchurch. In his playing days Mark was a centre
half and actually played for Barking Reserves twenty years ago and also turned
out for Barkingside first team and for Grays Athletic Reserves among others .
Mark said “I will be
signing a nucleus of players who played Ryman Premiership football last season.
My assistant manager will be Billy Gilman, a very experienced coach himself with
extensive knowledge of non league football including coaching at Grays’s have
presented the chairman with a three year plan and I will not be satisfied with a
mid table position in my first full management role. Only a top six position
will satisfy me. In my opinion Barking should be playing Conference football” |
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| Other news 27th July 2003 |
Michael Black scored for
Bishop’s Stortford in their 4-4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. Former Barking
goalkeeper Kingsley Banks has been forced to retire from Heybridge Swifts by
injury. |
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| Manager latest 27th July 2003 |
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The awaited announcement of the new manager could be made on Tuesday morning after further deliberations on Monday evening. The successful applicant will have three pre season matches as part of the rebuilding process following the departure of Richard Thomas and last season’s first team squad.
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| Ron Murrant Trophy 26th July 2003 |
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As mentioned previously August 5th marks the return of the Ron Murrant Trophy match after a gap of five years. This previously annual match is played in memory of this long serving and loyal club servant. To learn more about the Ron please click here
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| League restructuring 26th July 2003 |
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The Alliance Committee has issued details of the steps, as they are now called, in the new structure and the system for promotion /relegation. The implications for the Isthmian League include the following-
Step 3-Premier Division 2003-4
Champion promoted to Conference as usual 2004-5 onwards
Champion and play off winner promoted to Conference South four clubs relegated
Step 4-Division 1 2003-4
Champions of Division 1 N & S may participate in a play off for Conference South
2004-5 onwards - Three clubs promoted to Isthmian Premier-1st/2nd and play off winner two clubs relegated to Step 5 feeder leagues.
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| Manager latest 24th July 2003 |
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Chairman John Edgeworth has announced that “It is expected that the new manager of Barking & East Ham United will be named on Monday 28th July.”
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| Trials latest 24th July 2003 |
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47 triallists including some of last year’s reserves signed in for training at Mayesbrook Park last night (Wednesday) and another six were turned away due to saturation. The coaching was supervised by Dorian West aided by Dee Sagar and volunteer coaches from Barking Ladies and Global FC. The players will meet again next Saturday for further trials commencing at 1pm.
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| Trial matches 24th July 2003 |
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Sunday 27/07 at Terence McMillan Stadium, Plaistow Under 18's v Reserves KO 2pm Under 16's v Leyton Orient Community Team Kick off 4pm All four teams will have some representatives that will at some stage have an interest in the new Barking & East Ham Schooling programme. Admission is free and any spectators will be very welcome.
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| Other news 24th July 2003 |
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Former player Chris Stevens has left Ilford to join Maldon Town while another former Blue Danny Clarke has joined Ilford from Enfield Town where he was leading scorer for the last two seasons and indeed duly scored against us in last weeks friendly match. Former manager John Bennett is joint manager of Debden Sports FC in the Essex Intermediate League.
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| London Senior Cup draw 23rd July 2003 |
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The following information has been obtained from the AFC Wimbledon website and it has not yet been possible to confirm it with the London FA Barking could be at home all the way to the semi final but we might have to beat Ilford or AFC Wimbledon and/or Tooting and Mitcham United en route
Round 1 Bye
Round 2 Home to either Brimsdown Rovers/Cray Wanderers or Hoddesdon Town
Round 3 Home to either Ilford/AFC Wimbledon or Croydon Athletic
Round 4 Home to either Tooting & Mitcham United or Bedfont/VCD Athletic/Crown and Manor or Thamesmead Town/Beckenham Town/Greenwich Borough.
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| Next week 23rd July 2003 |
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Barking continue their pre season programme on Tuesday with a visit from Premier Division Billericay and then travel to Loughton the following evening to play Barkingside Please note that this match kicks off at 6.30 in the absence of floodlights on the Bank of England ground.
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| Manager 23rd July 2003 |
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Following a meeting of leading Club Officers on Monday a decision is expected to be announced shortly.
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| Opportunity for players 20th July 2003 |
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Secretary Roger Chilvers has announced - “While we await the appointment of our new manager, we would like to invite all players to a training session on Wednesday 23rd July at the club at 7.00pm. All you need to bring is your own training gear. If you are interested in playing non-league football and think you have the skills come along and see us on Wednesday”
The club is looking for players to fill several positions which is a golden opportunity for players of the appropriate quality to play at a high level and to be part of an exciting season in the national game as clubs jostle for positions in the following season’s restructuring.
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| Resignation of Richard Thomas 14th July 2003 |
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It is with great regret the Club has to announce that Richard Thomas has decided to resign from his post as player–manager/coach. Following a meeting on Saturday 12th July with Chairman John Edgeworth Richard feels that he is not experienced enough to provide the club with a team which could compete on the budget which has been set for him this season. It is too early to say who Richard’s successor will be. John Edgeworth said “Unfortunately the club is in no position to improve its offer so Richard’s resignation has been accepted. There has been no animosity between the club and Richard and he has announced that at present he wishes to remain with the club as a player. We would like to thank Richard for all his efforts in the past three seasons and wish him all the best for the future. His decision to resign is respected. There is now a vacant post and all applications will be considered”
Richard said “I had a long meeting on Saturday with John and new coach Mel Jeffries largely about the playing budget. I do not feel that I am ready to work in such a tightly controlled environment as I don’t know enough players to draw to the club for the money available. I am not questioning John’s situation or criticising him but with the level of budget available I would not be able to attract enough players of the right quality to bring success. The club needs a more experienced manager with more contacts and favours to call in. I am not prepared to sacrifice my principles of playing quality football. I will be happy to stay as a player if required by the new manager and if I feel that I can be developed as a player. I have already received offers in the short time since resigning, which is gratifying, but I would prefer to be at Barking and it is a big decision for me to walk away.”
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| Ladies roundup 13th July 2003 |
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The Ladies may have finished bottom of the FA Women's Premier League but they did win the Programme of the Year in Division One South. The Wirral Programme Club who make the awards gave Barking fourth place in the FA Women's Premier League, first in their Division and 217th out of 1024 Clubs who entered. This is the second year in succession that Barking have picked up the divisional awards.
Five Barking players were involved in matches this weekend for Essex County FA against American Opposition at Greenwich. Nicole Manning, Stacy Savage, and Sarah Ball all played for the Under 18's in a 1-0 defeat, whilst Brooke Herbert and Maddie Zucker played in a 1-1 draw for the Under 16's.
Barking Ladies start their pre-season campaign next Sunday with matches for both the First Team and Reserve Team. The Reserves are first on with a 11am kick off when they take on Wellington School Under 16's from the USA. Barking will field mainly a young side themselves, and although they have no knowledge of the opposition a tough game will be expected.
Manager Paul Glibbery said "The Americans take their Girls football very seriously and are always fit, well organized and fully committed." The First Team take on their old friends Chelsea Ladies who finished mid-table in Division One South of the FA Women's Premier League last season. Glibbery said "Chelsea are a tough side, they have lost a couple of their best players to Fulham during the close season, but i know they will have a large squad to call on and will be fielding a few new players." For Barking who have seen 40 players at pre-season training, 28 will be involved next weekend. Glibbery commented "We have a few such as Nicole Manning and Leanne Couch from the first team on holiday, a few Reserves are also away and a number of players are coming back from injury so are not in a position to play in games at present. The First Team game hopefully will see two new players involved but I will keep their names under wraps until I have secured the signatures."
The match against Chelsea will kick off at 3pm in Mayesbrook Park alongside Barking Football Club.
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| Ryman League fixtures 10th July 2003 |
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Our League fixtures for season 2003-04 were unveiled this morning and the Blues entertain newly relegated Enfield on August 16th and travel the short distance to newly named Waltham Forest on Tuesday August 19th. Looking forward the season closes with two tough away games at Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted Town on April 17th and 24th respectively and the final game is at Mayesbrook Park on May 1st when Chesham United are the visitors.
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| Friendlies confirmed 8th July 2003 |
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The club has confirmed the following pre-season friendlies:-
Wednesday July 16th away to Ilford kick off time to be confirmed.
Tuesday July 29th home to Billericay kick off 7:45pm
Wednesday July 30th away to Barkingside at the Bank of England ground, Loughton kick off 7:30pm
Tuesday August 5th home to Ford United kick off 7:45pm
Saturday August 9th away to Harold Wood which will consist of two games kick offs at 1 and 3pm
As mentioned last month the Ford game will be played for the Ron Murrant Trophy which has been re-instated after a gap of several years. The Ryman League season starts on August 16th and the fixtures are expected on July 9th.
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| Management change 8th July 2003 |
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Richard Thomas has appointed Mel Jeffries as Assistant Manager to replace Mark Lord who will play for Romford this season. Richard said "Lordy made a statement regarding his resignation due to his desire to have one last season as a player which obviously could not happen at Barking. We could not have both Manager and Assistant playing at the same time. I was reluctant to announce this as I was rather hoping he might change his mind. In response to this I have appointed Mel Jeffries as my assistant which is a very positive appointment for the club the players and myself. Mel is an excellent and very professional coach as well as good friend whom I can trust which is vital in such a relationship."
It is understood, subject to confirmation, that physiotherapist Donna Smith will next season be working for Grays Athletic.
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| Playing squad 8th July 2003 |
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Paul Salmon has returned to his former club Waltham Forest (formerly Leyton Pennant), Jay Murray is spending the pre season with Conference club Farnborough Town and Billy Read has not yet resumed training Training began on June 28th and Richard Thomas commented "Jay Murray has joined Farnborough for pre season but we will maintain contact so that if things don't work out for him there he may return. Other than that (and the other players mentioned above) every other member of last seasons squad has reported for our first couple of sessions which is great news. We also have one or two exciting prospects trialing with us at the moment so if we are in position to retain last season’s players and add four or five we could be strong. Obviously given the restructuring of the pyramid it is important that we finish in the top eight so as not to drop down a tier. It's a big season."
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| Other news 8th July 2003 |
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Ex Manager Craig Edwards is reportedly to be employed full time by Ford United this season. Ex Blue David Guiver is reportedly Aveley’s new Assistant Manager.
Walthamstow Avenue, resurrected in 2000, will play in the Middlesex League Premier Division this season, following the collapse of the London County League. Their application was backed by astrologer and national game supporter Russell Grant. They will join the resurrected Ilford and Romford, plus AFC Wimbledon and Enfield Town in trying to emulate the feat of Leyton in bringing a famous name back to the Isthmian League.
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