June 2008

The Reserves league is now down to 13 clubs as Romford, Dagenham & Redbridge, Billericay Town and Ilford have withdrawn from the Essex Herts and Bordering Counties Combination.

Therefore, the first Round the EHBCC cup will be played in four Groups as follows.

A Great Wakering Rovers, Waltham Abbey, Bowers & Pitsea.
B Basildon United, Barking, East Thurrock United
C Clapton, Concord Rangers, Brentwood.
D Stansted, Grays Athletic, Canvey Island, Heybridge Swifts.

Two more Friendlies have been arranged:
Saturday July 19th away Frentford at Elmbridge kick-off 2pm
Saturday August 9th away to May & Baker kick-off 3pm

As with the first team the Reserves league season kicks off on Saturday August 16th.

The Essex Senior League AGM took place at Hullbridge Sports FC on Monday 9th of June.

League line-up
Takeley FC (who we played in a friendly last season) were elected from the Essex Olympian League whilst Beaumont Athletic resigned. Concord Rangers were promoted to the Ryman League Div 1 North, leaving a 16-club line-up.

Cup draws

League Cup
Group A: Burnham Ramblers, Stansted, Bowers & Pitsea, London APSA
Group B: Clapton, Romford, Basildon Utd, Takeley.
Group C: Southend Manor: Barking: Enfield 1893, Hullbridge Sports
Group D: Barkingside: Mauritius Sports & Pennant: Eton Manor: Sawbridgeworth.

The Gordon Brasted Trophy draw has been held over until August 13th 2008 and the league season will start on August 16th.

There has been a slight change to our programme of friendles - we will now play Redbridge on Thursday July 17th at Mayesbrook Park Kick-off 7:45pm. As an added incentive the match will be played for the Peter Webster trophy, given in memorial for our late and greatly missed former chairman. This is the first time since July 2005 the trophy will have been played for. This means that on Tuesday July 22nd we will now entertain Waltham Forest kick-off 7:45pm

Below is the updated list of matches:
July
Thursday 17th home to Redbridge – Kick-off 7:45pm (The Peter Webster Trophy)
Saturday 19th home to Brentwood Town – Kick-off 3pm
Tuesday 22nd home to Waltham Forest – Kick-off 7:45pm
Saturday 26th home to Beckenham Town – Kick-off 3pm
Tuesday 29th home to Ilford – Kick-off 7:45pm

August
Saturday 2nd away to Dereham Town - Kick-off 3pm

No sooner than the new Reserve team management line-up have been installed (see below) they have two friendlies already booked to prepare for. The games are - Saturday 26th July away to Mountnessing at the Elmbridge and Saturday August 2nd away to Harold Wood. Details of further friendles will appear here.

The club is delighted to confirm that Anthony Ferguson will be managing the Reserve team next season. Anthony has assembled a management team including Michael Thompson who had previously confirmed his involvement for 2008-09

The full management line-up is:
Anthony Ferguson - Manager
Barry Todd - Assistant Manager
Mark Edwards - Assistant Manager and Goalkeeping Coach
Michael Thompson - Coach
Tim Gunning - Reserve Team General Secretary

Below are photos of the new management team (Michael Thompson's to follow)

Anthony Ferguson	Mark Edwards	Barry Todd	Tim Gunning

Good luck to Anthony, his management team and the players for the forthcoming season.