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Post by hatter_in_macc on Sept 10, 2017 19:45:12 GMT
The front-loaded nature of the fixtures-schedule will let up a tad after Tuesday night - following 11 matches in just over five weeks - but, before then, we have ourselves a jaunt down into Shropshire. Incredibly, there are no further planned midweek-evening matches in the National League North all season (although some will no doubt crop up due to postponements and/or FA Cup/Trophy commitments), and the conclusion of Tuesday's contest will see more than a quarter of our NLN programme completed! Post all the usual stuff here...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Sept 10, 2017 21:22:54 GMT
And, in the meantime, here is my 'Take Five' for COWS on Telford:
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TAKE FIVE… AFC Telford United
By Hatter in Macc
1. Ah, Telford United. One of the long-standing bastions of the non-league world - right?
Well, yes and no. Our hosting-club from Shropshire this midweek is technically quite a new outfit - the fourth-youngest in the National league North - having been formed during May 2004, and in the immediate wake of the original Telford United’s liquidation with debts exceeding £4 million.
That said, of course, the development was not without any continuity. Most obviously, for starters, the ’AFC’ title still incorporates the name of the former club! But in addition, the current playing kit also retains part of the colours sported by the original ‘Lilywhites’, and the team plies its trade at the same ground, too - although Telford United (as was) only got to enjoy the fully-renovated New Bucks Head stadium for a season before folding.
2. But the ‘old Telford’ had made its mark prior to that?
It had, indeed - and within a shorter time-frame than one might have imagined. For the Parish Church Institute club, based at Wellington, which started life in 1872, subsequently operated for some 90 years, from 1879, as Wellington Town - one of a dozen English clubs to win the Welsh Cup (thrice, in Wellington’s case) - before being re-named Telford United, after the surrounding new town, as recently as 1969 and whilst in the Southern League.
Over the next 35 years, Telford established a record, which still stands, for most appearances in FA Trophy Finals. Of the five Finals reached, the original ‘Bucks’ won three (in 1971,1983 and 1989) - also a record, albeit one shared with Woking and the now-similarly-defunct Scarborough. And when it came to the FA Cup, they were no slouches either - as Hatters of a certain age will painfully recall. Telford and the-then Fourth Division County were drawn out of the hat together three times during the 1980s - with the non-league side triumphing 3-0 at home in 1983/84 and stunning the Edgeley Park faithful with a single-goal victory two seasons later. The Hatters did scrape through, after a replay at EP, on the third occasion in 1987 - and, in fact, had made tidy work of Wellington Town some 58 years earlier, courtesy of a 4-1 win at the original Bucks Head.
3. I was wondering about the original Bucks Head. Where was it, and what happened to it?
The ground actually occupied the same site as the current stadium - but, as the last century drew to a close, its mix of cinder-banking terraces, a wooden stand and generally run-down facilities had become unfit for purpose and required complete rebuilding rather than mere refurbishment.
The Bucks Head pub that stood on the corner of the site - and from which the grounds and clubs have respectively taken their names and nicknames - is sadly no longer a licensed premises. But the building remains in use, occupied by a national pizza-takeaway chain - so that pre/post-match hungers, if not thirsts, can be satisfied.
4. How about players who have turned out for both clubs?
They are, as you might expect, largely confined to the recent years that have seen the Hatters and Telford rub shoulders as non-league opponents - although striker Jack Bentley (at County during 1961/62) was quite the pioneer, playing as he did for each in far more distant times.
Otherwise, those to have served the two clubs include: defenders Gianluca Havern (2006-10), Jordan Rose (2010-12), Kyle Brownhill (2011-13) and Mark Lees (2014-15); midfielder Greg Wilkinson (2015); and strikers Chris Sharp (2014-15) and Danny Glover (2015). Another forward, John Marsden (2016-17), left EP this summer to join the Bucks following a successful loan-spell.
5. So - placing any big Bucks on the outcome this Tuesday? Arf.
Wait until the reverse-fixture in SK3 on 14 April - provided, naturally, that you set any store by historical sequences! For our five seasons together, both matches have been won by the home team (in 2013/14), or by the visitors (2015/16), or else drawn (2011/12, 2012/13 and 2016/17).
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Sept 12, 2017 13:15:24 GMT
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Post by hermannsays on Sept 12, 2017 18:29:27 GMT
Lots missing tonight - Minihan, Winter, McKenna, Clarke all injured with Stopforth not match fit.
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Post by jimboslovechild on Sept 12, 2017 18:40:51 GMT
I don't understand that line-up: Thomas at right back? Or will Ball play CB? Or a back three with Stephenson as LWB?
John Marsden must be feeling very optimistic.
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Post by hermannsays on Sept 12, 2017 19:13:34 GMT
Yup, apparently Thomas is at RB. Smalley and Duxbury on the bench but no idea if they're also not 100%.
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Sept 12, 2017 20:26:51 GMT
there was apparently booing before marsden took the penalty, like there would be for any opposition taking a penalty against us; but then marsden gave it loads cupping his hand to his ear and shushing the county fans. come on john, you had your chance - you're at f***ing telford.
after my phone was going regularly in the first half, it's been suspiciously quiet in the second. good that bohan dixon has scored on his debut though.
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Post by jimboslovechild on Sept 12, 2017 20:40:33 GMT
Another defeat tonight, in front of about 800 people. Smalley and Duxbury were brought on at half time after getting stuck in traffic. McKenna didn't make it at all, nor did Stopforth. What a total shambles. Very depressing.
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Post by hermannsays on Sept 12, 2017 21:03:58 GMT
I guess that's what JK meant by him not being match fit!
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Post by gazz on Sept 12, 2017 21:35:29 GMT
I'm starting to wonder if this club will ever get out of this level.
The buck stops with the board, if they can't deliver their FL by 2020 then they need to hand the club over to someone who can.
Depressing is right, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jim jacking it in if it doesn't improve - he's better than this shower of sh*t level.
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Post by marketharborough on Sept 12, 2017 22:45:13 GMT
Negatives: Hoof ball most of the time No running for each other Clueless at times Poor attitude No service to the front three
Positives: Dixon scored on debut Hinchcliffe pulled off some blinders That we did not get beat 6-2 Noisy 12th man
Oh yes and I got home safely before the wind and rain really came down!! Hope everyone else did
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Post by marketharborough on Sept 12, 2017 22:45:54 GMT
Marsden certainly knew how to wind up the 12th man - there was no need for it
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Post by gazz on Sept 13, 2017 1:07:02 GMT
Marsden certainly knew how to wind up the 12th man - there was no need for it He's got to come to EP after that.
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Post by Epworth Hatter on Sept 13, 2017 5:47:47 GMT
Another disappointing result and performance based on your comments, mhh.
What is becoming more and more apparent is that going full time is now a precursor to promotion.
The board still have my full support, but I do think they need to address this issue. The Vision needs updating to put F/T as the key strategic aim, followed by promotion.
We've recently reported a small profit (after years of losses), but it's not nearly enough (£15k, was it?) as that was on P/T expenditure.
I'm sure the board are aware (not least because I imagine Jim tells them everyday), so it's time to share their position with the fans before the rumblings gather momentum.
We all really appreciate the turn around job they've done - not too long ago we genuinely thought we'd lose EP - but they've set expectations with a bold 2020 vision which is looking increasingly unlikely to be achieved. They can't let that go without comment - and soon.
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Post by gazz on Sept 13, 2017 7:02:30 GMT
Another disappointing result and performance based on your comments, mhh. What is becoming more and more apparent is that going full time is now a precursor to promotion. The board still have my full support, but I do think they need to address this issue. The Vision needs updating to put F/T as the key strategic aim, followed by promotion. We've recently reported a small profit (after years of losses), but it's not nearly enough (£15k, was it?) as that was on P/T expenditure. I'm sure the board are aware (not least because I imagine Jim tells them everyday), so it's time to share their position with the fans before the rumblings gather momentum. We all really appreciate the turn around job they've done - not too long ago we genuinely thought we'd lose EP - but they've set expectations with a bold 2020 vision which is looking increasingly unlikely to be achieved. They can't let that go without comment - and soon. It's time they either do something or get off the pot. How many managers? I think the problem lies elsewhere. We're treading water here, it's just not good enough. When even the owners have their own 'day jobs', is it any f***ing wonder why we're still at this level? Loyalty is all well and good, but this consolidatory bullsh*t has gone on long enough for me. The board need to deliver at least one promotion by 2019 or they can f**k off for me - anyone who says otherwise seriously needs to wake up. This is Stockport County, not the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. I've just finished 36 hours of crippling night shifts and I'm in a foul mood, hence the f***ing swearing!
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