NANTWICH TOWN HYDE UNITED - vs - Nantwich Town Football Club
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
NANTWICH TOWN
vs
HYDE UNITED
TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2021
KICK OFF 7.45PM
CLUB DETAILS & HONOURS
Nantwich Town Football Club CLUB HONOURS
Company by Guarantee
Company No: 0732 8670
The Optimum Pay Stadium,
LEAGUE COMPETITION:
Waterlode, Nantwich, CW5 5BS Cheshire County League
Telephone: 01270 621771 Champions – 1980/81
County Affiliation: Cheshire FA
Year Formed: 1884 Mid-Cheshire League
Champions – 1963/64
At the Top Runners-Up – 1950/51, 1961/62, 1964/65
President: Frank Blunstone
Chairman: Jon Gold Crewe Amateur Combination League
Vice-Chairman: John Dunning Champions – 1946/47
Directors: Mark Hawkins, John Dunning,
Clive Jackson, Dave Clapp, Dan Cheshire League
Dunning-Cole, Tim Crighton Division One Runners Up – 1900/01
Company Secretary: John Dunning
Shropshire & District League
Football Officials Runners-Up – 1891/92
Manager: Dave Cooke
Assistant Manager: Jay Bateman Manchester League
First Team Coach Mentor: Nigel Deeley Runners-Up – 1966/67
Goalkeeper Coach: Keiron Clarke
Head Physio: Callum Carey Northern Premier League
Physio: Pete Williams Div 1 South – Play-Off Winners – 2007/08
Kit Manager: Jason Clarke Premier Division Play-Off Final – 2008/09
Behind the Scenes CUP COMPETITION:
Club Secretary: Carl Thorpe Cheshire Senior Cup Winners – 1932/33,
Match Day Secretary: Gary Richardson 1975/76, 2007/08, 2011/12, 2017/18,
Business Manager: Emma Crossan 2018/19
Press Officers: Jack Beresford, Liam
Price, Adam Bateman FA Vase Winners – 2005/06
Club Photographer: Jonathan White
Groundsman: TBC FA Trophy Semi Finalist – 2015/16
Stadium & Safety Officer: Bob Melling
FA Cup First Round – 2011/12, 2017/18,
Social Networks: 2019/20
Twitter: @TheDabbers
Facebook: /nantwichtownfc North West Counties League Cup
YouTube: Nantwich Town FC Winners – 1994/95
Instagram: officialnantwichtownfc
Mid Cheshire League Cup Winners –
1961/62, 1963/64
WELCOME TO NANTWICH TOWN A very warm welcome to everyone to The Optimum Pay Stadium this afternoon, including the supporters, players, management and Directors of our visitors, Hyde United. It’s been a good few days with Nantwich signing midfielder Ibrahima Sy on loan from Stoke City on Friday morning with only minutes to spare to qualify him for the match against Grantham Town, and he was called into action with Prince Haywood taking a knock in the first half. The Dabbers went to clock up another win in the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory we have now been drawn against Banbury United, with the tie expected to be played on Saturday 18th September. It looks set to be a lovely and warm evening, so let’s hope for more of the feel good factor and another 3 points tonight! Enjoy the programme and the match this evening and Up The Dabbers! Carl Thorpe Club Secretary & Programme Editor
DABBERS FIXTURES
SEPTEMBER 2021 (subject to change)
Ticket Information: For all home games, ticket prices are as follows:
Adults £11, Concessions £6, U16s £3 (Kids are free when
accompanied by a paying adult. For ticket prices on away games,
keep an eye on the Nantwich Town website.
HYDE UNITED – MATCH PREVIEW The Dabbers are back in league action on Tuesday night (7.45 kick-off) with the visit of Hyde United, read on for our look ahead to this all North-West clash. Jekyll and Hyde The Tigers are in an interesting period at the moment. Sitting 14th in the league on 6 points, a recent eye-catching 2-1 victory over FC United has contrasted with defeats to Mickleover and, just like Nantwich ourselves, Bamber Bridge and Matlock Town. This has coincided with a very recent change in manager, with Jim Gannon being appointed at the very end of August. Gannon is a familiar name in both non-league and in Cheshire, having spent a brief spell playing at Crewe Alex and managing at Port Vale and Northwich Victoria. But it’s with Stockport County that he’ll be forever associated with, a successful playing career and three separate spells as manager, the most recent ending in January this year after taking them back up to the National League. It wasn’t a great start for Gannon, as his first match in charge saw Hyde thrashed 6-1 by Morpeth in the FA Cup. Last Time Out: We last played each other in January 2020, and it was a very strong result for the Dabbers, with Ethon Varian scoring two and David Webb and Troy Bourne making it a convincing 4-0 win, with all the goals scored in the first half. Varian’s first came after just 9 seconds in one of the quickest goals in the history of Nantwich Town Player to Watch: Of the 10 goals that Hyde have scored in all competitions this season, 7 have been scored by Tigers number 9 Liam Hardy. If his shooting boots are on Tuesday, it could be a tough time for the Dabbers back line. And with Sean Cooke’s continued contributions to the Dabbers’ goals, it could be a match that’s decided on which of these vital players comes up good in the big moments.
HYDE UNITED – BRIEF HISTORY IN TIME
CLUB INFO
Club Name: Hyde United FC
Year Founded: 1919
Club Nickname: The Tigers
Current Ground: Ewan Fields
Current Manager: Jim Gannon
CUP HISTORY
Cheshire Senior Cup: Winners – 6 times
Manchester Premier Cup: Winners – 6 times
NPL Challenge Cup: Winners – 3 times
NPL Chairman’s Cup: Winners – 2 times
FA Cup: 1st Round – 4 times
FA Trophy: Semi Finals – 3 times
LEAGUE HISTORY
Manchester League: Champions – 5 times
Cheshire League: Champions – 3 times
NPL Division One: Champions – 2003/04
NPL Premier Division: Champions – 2004/05
Conference North: Champions – 2011/12
LAST 5 LEAGUE SEASONS:
Season League POS PL W D L GF GA Pts
2016-17 NPL 1N 10/22 42 16 14 12 78 58 61
2017-18 NPL 1N 3/22 42 27 11 4 90 35 92
2018-19 NPL P 10/21 40 15 8 17 58 53 53
2019-20 NPL P ABAN 33 12 7 14 55 55 43 *
2020-21 NPL P ABAN 6 1 3 2 5 6 6*
* 2019-20 & 2020-21 Season both curtailed due to COVID-19
HYDE UNITED - HISTORY Hyde FC will always be remembered for the record 26-0 FA Cup defeat suffered at the hands of Preston North End in 1887. But the club, founded two years earlier, was anything but a collection of cotton-town bumpkins. It was a highly ambitious outfit which wanted to compete with the best sides in the North. The 1887-88 season actually proved to be very successful and at the end of it Hyde met Newton Heath (now Manchester United) in a match the local press termed the unofficial championship of Manchester. Hyde enjoyed a very productive period at the turn of the 20th century when the club won four league titles. It moved to Ewen Fields in 1906 after merging with Hyde St George’s and taking over the Saints’ place in the Lancashire Combination. In 1917, Hyde folded because of what was termed war reaction but in 1919 there were demands for the club to be re-established. United was added to the name because of a match between two groups which used to meet in the market place: the Forty Gang and the Discharged Soldiers and Sailors. The inter-war years were a purple patch. In the 1920s, Hyde won five Manchester League championships. This record allowed them to win election to the Cheshire County League in 1930, and four years later Hyde beat Stockport County Reserves to lift the league cup. In 1945-46 Hyde won the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time and in 1954 reached round one of the FA Cup, losing to a Workington side managed by Bill Shankly. In the following two seasons the club clinched back-to-back Cheshire League titles. Hyde’s nickname, the Tigers, was adopted at the end of the 1960s when they were founder members of the Northern Premier League. They were expected to struggle but fought like Tigers for two seasons and finished seventh and eleventh. However, the club could not compete financially and returned to the Cheshire League in 1970. It took ten years for Hyde to re-emerge as a force. In 1981-82 they swept the Cheshire League board and won election back to the NPL. Hyde returned to the first round of the FA Cup in 1983, losing at Burnley, and in 1989 made it to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. In 1986, Hyde took the radical step of selling Ewen Fields to Tameside Council so that a synthetic Baspograss pitch could be laid. They picked up several trophies, returned to the first round of the FA Cup (1994) and reached two more FA Trophy semi-finals. Grass was reinstated in 1995 but as the 21st century dawned Hyde began to struggle. They finished second to Leigh in 1999-2000 but were relegated to the NPL first division three years later. They won the championship at the first attempt and immediately followed up with the NPL title in 2004-05. In 2010, Hyde agreed a deal for Manchester City’s elite development squad to use Ewen Fields. The money secured the club’s immediate future but a decision to revert to the old name of Hyde FC, repainting the ground blue from the traditional red and to stop wearing red shirts, divided the fans. A poor season followed, but under the management of Gary Lowe, the Tigers amazed everyone in 2011-12. Beginning the campaign with ten consecutive wins, Hyde won the championship and promotion to the national division where they continued to surprise the pundits by finishing 18th and by beating clubs such as Wrexham, Hereford United, Luton Town and Grimsby Town.
HYDE UNITED - HISTORY Unfortunately, Hyde were unable to continue competing at such a high level and suffered back- to-back relegations which have taken them back to the NPL. In the spring of 2015 Hyde, back under the management of Gary Lowe, returned to the name of Hyde United and announced plans to turn the club into a supporters’ trust. Hyde United parted company with six games left of the 2015/16 season due to a poor run of results and appointed Darren Kelly as manager for the remaining games. However, Darren wasn’t able to prevent the team from their third successive relegation, this time to the Evo-Stik First Division North. Darren Kelly was appointed first team manager during the close-season for the coming 2016/17 season after applications were invited for the vacant post, which attracted a large number of applicants and some from some notable names in football management. Hyde United FC secured funding from Tameside Council in March of 2016. The investment was to help fund a programme to transform the ground and its connections with the local community by laying a FIFA 2* 3G pitch, which was completed in July 2016. It enabled the Hyde United Academy to move to Ewen Fields from its 5 year home at Knutsford. Which will enable the academy players train and gain experience from the first team. The 2016/17 season did not start as expected with the squad only winning 6 of their first 24 games in the league. The first half of the season saw several players released that had not worked out and new players coming into the squad. The most significant signings were around Dec 16 and Jan 17, the additions of Paddy Miller, Matt Beadle Lawrence Hunter and Chris Sutherland were a turning point in the season. From late December, the team only lost 2 of their remaining 18 games, finally finishing 10th in the table. The 2017/18 season was one of the best seasons the club has experienced in recent years, with the restructure of the divisions at step 4, a possible 4 teams could be promoted from any of the 6 step 4 divisions. The top 2 from each league would gain automatic promotion with the team with the best points per game average finishing 3rd across the 6 divisions would also gain automatic promotion, then the next 4 highest placed teams in the divisions would compete for the last promotion spot via play-offs. It was Hyde that gained that automatic 3rd place with a last minute winner from skipper Paddy Miller, away to Mossley in the last but one game of the season. Right up to the final games it was very close between Hyde and Scarborough for 2nd place, and Scarborough told 2nd spot by 3 points in the end. It was also a season that saw the Tigers progress to the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 26 years, with a home televised fixture against MK Dons. The Tiger lost 4-0, but it was a fantastic tribute to the work and effort everyone had put in at the club, and it produced some much needed funds into the football club. Funds that enabled the management team to strengthen the squad and make a real attempt at promotion, which eventually paid off. So after 2 seasons of being in the Evo-Stik North Division, Hyde return to the Evo-Stik Premier Division. The 2019/20 season started with a new manager in the then assistant manager, Dave McGurk, taking over the reins as manager of two and half season, Darren Kelly, stepped up to the role of Sporting Director and centre half, John McCombe taking the assistant managers position. There were hopes of a decent finish in the league for the 2019/20 season, after finishing 10th in the previous season, but it looked like a tricky start with games away to the early favourites for the title, FC United and South Shields, in the first 3 games. But the Tigers got off to a good start, winning both of those away fixtures. It was an up and down season, but started to improve towards the end of the season, before the COVID-19 pandemic saw the season null and voided with Hyde sitting in 10th place and looking to improve on that position. The sudden end to the season saw the club robbed of two semi finals games in the League Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup.
HYDE UNITED – SQUAD & STAFF Joe Green Joe started his playing career in the Sheffield United youth setup, it was whilst at Sheffield he had the opportunity to play for a college in New York. On his return to the UK he had trials at Barnsley and Chesterfield and eventually signed for Newport County as cover for first choice Goalkeeper Joe Day. Joe finally ended up at Guiseley, where he spent a couple of seasons playing in the Conference, he also had a loan spell at Gainsborough Trinity. Riccardo Longato Ricardo is making fantastic progress having joined the first team from the Academy. We may look to get him out and playing men’s football regularly. Goal Keeping Coach, Chris Shaw, has done some great work with him and he’s got a bright future. Jordan Fagbola This will be Jordan’s forth season with Hyde, after signing at the beginning of the 18/19 season, from FC United where he spent a season and half. He was a regular in the centre of defence and had hardly missed a game in the 2018/19 and 2019/21 seasons, making 89 appearances in those 2 seasons. But suffered a devastating injury prior to the start of the 2020/21 season, when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. He will return as strong as ever due to his commitment levels over the last 12 months. He’s put in some serious work and we all know his abilities. He’s one of the best centre halves at this level and we have great competition for places now. He started his career as a Rochdale youngster and has had spells at Stockport, Colwyn and Solihull Moors Kyle Brownhill Kyle has had several stints at the club but loves the place so much, he keeps coming back. Kyle is a player who we know what I’m getting out of every week. Another one who sets standards in training and his fitness is up there with the best. He seems to improve with every season, and no doubt will continue to improve this season Bradley Roscoe Brad was our best player for the games we did play last year. We’ve seen a new side to him. He’s training at a new level and setting standards for players to follow. He’s had huge interest so we’re delighted he’s committed to us. He started his youth career at Preston North End before moving to Fleetwood Town in 2015. He had an on loan spell at AFC Fylde whilst with Fleetwood Town. He had spells at Ramsbottom United and Glossop North End before joining Buxton and was in the team of the year last season. Tom Morris Tom stepped up a couple of levels last year and made steady progress throughout preseason and then went on to be a consistent performer for us. He’s got great ability on the ball, and we feel we can improve his game as a centre half. He wants to learn and he’s still a young lad as far as Centre Halves go. He started as a Port Vale Youth player and had spells at Stafford Rangers and Kidsgrove Athletic.
HYDE UNITED – SQUAD & STAFF Jason Akiotu Jason was previously at Crystal Palace, playing for their U18s and U23s before being released. Liam Tongue Another player to re-sign with the Tigers for this season, having signed at the start of the 2019/20 season. He’s a crowd favourite scored some huge goals for us in his time here and he’s a local lad who’s enjoying playing for the football club, and he’ll be somebody we’ll be looking to get double figures out of this season. He’s another one who has attracted interest from a higher level, but he wants to be part of this football club. He started his career at Stockport Georgians, before joining Cheadle Town where he won the Players Player of the year in 2016. He had spells with Mossley, Marine and also our local rivals Stalybridge Celtic. Harry Benns After making a promising start to the 2019/20 season, Harry picked up an injury around December that kept him out for the rest of the season. He has looked sharp in training and the lockdown period has worked out well for Harry. He has got trust back in his ankle and now it is time for him to kick on. He is someone who rarely gives the ball away and now we are looking for him to take his game further with goals and assists. Harry can play anywhere behind the strikers, and he is an intelligent player who will provide goals and assists. He started his playing career at Port Vale and had a loan spell with Stafford Ranges. Theo Bailey-Jones Theo re-joins the Tigers for this coming season, He is technically gifted and can offer us a bit of everything in terms of a wide man. He has had a career threatening injury, after rupturing his ACL in a 4-0 defeat at Ewen Fields at the end of August 2019 against the Tigers, and we’re glad he’s come back looking in good shape. Bradley Page Bradley is another player that has come through the Hyde United Youth setup, following in the footsteps of Henry Carne. Brad, a central midfielder from the Under 21s team, is very strong, good on the ball and has a bright future in the game. Seydou Bamba The lads and staff love Seydou. The sharpest player in the league and his 1v1 ability is frightening. We need to work on his understanding in and out of possession and his attitude is brilliant. Jack Sherratt Jack’s versatility helps us in the fact that we can switch formations and he can do a very good job in any position he is asked to cover. Jack has also played for Stafford Rangers, Leyton Orient, Kidsgrove Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic and Northwich Victoria.
HYDE UNITED – SQUAD & STAFF Carter Waters Carter, a winger, has impressed the management with his performances for the youth team. Especially in the youth teams run in the FA Youth Cup, where they reached the first-round proper, only losing out on penalties to Tranmere Rovers, after holding them to a 0-0 draw after extra time. An academy graduate, he impressed in the friendlies we played at the back end of last season after getting the call up to the first team. Another one who we have high hopes for this coming season. Cameron Fogerty Cam has progressed through the academy and has impressed us massively since he has been training and he’s got no fear has a fantastic mentality for an 18-year-old, he’s come into the group and been fearless and his tactical understanding has really surprised us. Jonah Mitchell Jonah, born in Belfast, joins the Tigers from NIFL Championship side Queens University FC, whom he joined in the 2019/20 season from Ards FC. Jonah made 24 appearances and scored 12 goals for Queens University, but it could have been more had COVID not disrupted that and the following season. Tom Pratt Tom was signed from Trafford at the start of the 2017/18 season and this will be his fifth season at Ewen Fields. The club skipper is a fans favourite because, of the 100% commitment he gives for every game. Able to play anywhere across the front line and knows where the net is. Finishing the 2017/18 season as top scorer, second in the 2018/19 season and joint top scorer in the 2019/20 season. And in the goals in the previous two seasons until they 2019/20 was null and void and 2020/21 was curtailed. The first player signed for the 2021/22 season, the club having to fend off interest from other clubs. Liam Hardy Liam is a proven goal scorer at this level of football, being in the top 10 goal scorers in the NPL Premier Division 5 out of the last 6 seasons, the only season he wasn’t was when he wasn’t playing in the division. Having won the golden boot in the 2017/18 season, whilst at Buxton, with 34 goals and only narrowly missing out on the same award by 4 goals in the 2014/15 season. Liam has also played for, Grantham Town, Harrogate Town, Harrogate Railway, Darlington and Buxton.
GRANTHAM TOWN – MATCH REPORT Nantwich Town eased through to the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Grantham Town at the Optimum Pay Stadium. Before the game, there was a minutes’ applause for legendary Dabber James ‘Pat’ Smith who sadly passed away during the week, brilliantly observed by all supporters including those who’d travelled from Grantham. The Dabbers were looking sharp from the early stages and could have taken the lead after just 12 minutes, a low shot from captain Caspar Hughes was mishandled by Grantham keeper James Pollard and Ben Harrison fired wide on the rebound with the keeper still on the ground. But Nantwich only had to wait another four minutes for the opener, Sean Cooke finding a pocket of space on the left and squaring for Argentine Thommy Montefiori to tap in for his first FA Cup goal to follow in the footsteps of some of his countrymen like Ricky Villa and Sergio Aguero by scoring in this iconic competition. The tempo and energy was well and truly back in the Dabbers build up play and was fantastic to watch at times, a slick move involving Caspar Hughes, Matty Devine and Cooke led to him seeing a shot deflected just wide. Cooke could have added to the lead again, hitting the crossbar with a brilliant free kick on the half hour, Pollard may have got something on it to make it a great save. Devine and Walsh were also linking well on the left hand side, a 1-2 between them saw Devine play it across to Joel Stair who was just offside as Pollard made a good save. But while the lead was only one, anything could happen, and Grantham nearly pulled things level twice, Harvey Grice forcing a good Cameron Terry save with his legs, and an Adam Watson header that was cleared off the line by Luke Walsh on the stroke of half-time. Probably the major downside to today were injuries to both Matty Devine and Prince Haywood who had to come off either side of half-time, a real shame as both have already had injury problems this season. Haywood’s withdrawal meant an early debut for Ibrahima Sy, who had only joined the club on a month’s loan from Stoke City on Friday and only met his new teammates on the morning of the game, and put in an impressive first performance considering all that. Grantham did threaten more in the second period, especially through forward Michael Williams. In the space of a couple of minutes, he twice had Terry worried with a couple of long-range efforts, the first a low deflected drive that spun wide of
GRANTHAM TOWN – MATCH REPORT
the left post, and the second a clean strike from 25 yards that didn’t miss the top left
corner by much.
After surviving that spell of pressure, it was Nantwich who doubled their lead just
after the hour. Shaun Miller, only on the pitch for 6 minutes, was first to react to a
quick Cooke free-kick, and finished calmly with the Grantham defence only
watching. It was smart play once more from Cooke, who’s now up to 4 goals and 2
assists in 7 games this season, and a typically cool finish from Miller.
James Williamson headed over as Grantham tried to get back into the tie, a decent
opening that might have made things interesting in the last ten minutes.
Both Cooke and Thommy nearly added a third late on, Cooke a low strike that
Pollard kept out well, and Thommy trying a left foot curler that deflected out for a
corner.
But the important work had already been done as Nantwich made it into the next
round, with the draw coming on Monday. We don’t have to wait long to play
Grantham again, as we travel to Lincolnshire on the 28th September.
Teams:
Nantwich Town: Terry, J. Stair, Devine (Bourne, 52), Harrison, Langley, Hughes,
Montefiori, Haywood (Sy, 43), Heath (Miller, 58), Cooke, Walsh
Subs not used: O. Hawkins, T. Stair, Hatton, Mwasile
Grantham Town: Pollard, Williamson, Latty-Fairweather, Parkin (Modest, 70), Watson,
Adelekan, Molyneux (Scrivens, 81), Grice, Lee, Williams, Kianga (Ademir, 62)
Subs not used: Chapman, Coleman, Walters
Attendance: 459
NANTWICH TOWN 2
Montefiori (16), Miller (64)
GRANTHAM TOWN 0GRANTHAM TOWN – MATCH PHOTOS Photo’s by Jonathan White
VOLUNTEERS WANTED! As the new season is underway, the Club is looking for additional volunteers to help with the upkeep and maintenance of the club and to help deliver the match day experience. Dabbers Chairmen Jon Gold says “As most people will be aware, Nantwich Town is a community club and a non-commercial enterprise, for the community and the local area and we are all proud of the part we play within the town. The club’s viability is made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers, whose commitment, skills and time in all areas, ensures that the club continues to thrive and play an active part in our community and as we develop, we are looking for more people in all areas, who have some spare time, no matter how little this maybe, to join our team and help share in our continue development and success”. Do you have any spare time? Would you like to give that spare time to your local Football Club? Do you have specific skills and knowledge that could help us? If you have answered yes to any of the above, then please contact Lyndon Wain our Community Development and Volunteer Manager fdo@nantwichtown.com You may be retired? or just have some free time? We are looking for people who are interested in the following: General Maintenance, Plumbers, Administrators, Match Day Stewards, Bar Staff, Grass Pitch Maintenance, 3G Maintenance, Electricians, First Aiders, Football Coaches, Other Sports Coaches, Schools Liaison Officer, Match Day Refreshment Sellers, Painters, General Cleaners, Plant Maintenance Technicians, Welfare Officers, Safeguarding Officers, Security, Marketing, Fund Raising, Media (Social Platforms, Written, Digital, Video, Radio, Broadcast). In return we offer Induction Training, a friendly and welcoming environment, free tea and coffee whilst you are at the club, the chance to socialise and interact with likeminded people additional training where required and only if desired and Free Admission to all our games. Please contact fdo@nantwichtown.com we will be delighted to welcome you and discuss things further with you.
NANTWICH TOWN – PLAYER PROFILES CAMERON TERRY (Goalkeeper) Cameron joined the Dabbers this summer after a season with Widnes. Cameron has had a very promising pre-season with Nantwich Town and has been awarded the number 1 shirt for the upcoming season. TROY BOURNE (Defender) Troy is a graduate from the Dabbers’ youth team, having impressed former manager Phil Parkinson in 2015/16 pre-season training. He spent much of the 16/17 campaign on loan at Alsager Town but did make a couple of first-team appearances for the Dabbers. Troy is currently a regular in the centre back position but can also play at right back when required. He won the Manager’s Player of the Season in 2017-18 and has excelled in Dave Cooke’s first two campaigns in charge. JOSH LANGLEY (Defender) Josh joined the club in the summer of 2019 with the club looking to bolster their defensive options ahead of the new season. The defender is great with the ball at his feet and has an excellent reading of the game, and as a former captain in a higher division, brings another leader to the Nantwich Town dressing room. BEN HARRISON (Defender) Ben re-joined the club in the summer of 2019 after a two-year stint with Altrincham, where he not only won the Northern Premier Division in 2017-18, he helped the Robins reach the National League North play-offs the following season. The defender is a favourite among Nantwich supporters after two excellent previous spells at the Weaver Stadium, and brings experience, a super reading of the game and a hard tackling but disciplined head to the field. JOEL STAIR (Defender) Joel joined the Dabbers in 2016 after impressing at North-West Counties Football League side Hanley Town. A warrior in defence, Joel is highly regarded at the Weaver Stadium, after winning the club’s Player of the Season in 2017-18 and captaining the club on several occasions. Joel can play across the back four, with his main strength being at centre-half, but can also adequately fill in at right-back and can even offer a threat in the box from set- pieces, having netted several times from corners during his time at the Weaver Stadium. MATTY DEVINE (Defender) Matty switched Cheshire allegiances in the summer of 2019 as he joined the Dabbers from Witton Albion. An attacking full-back, Matty offers a huge threat going forward but is equally as effective at the back. The defender is highly regarded not only at the Weaver Stadium but around the league as he has frequently been mentioned around the Team of the Season squad over the last few seasons. Jack HATTON (Defender) Jack joined the Dabbers from Widnes in the summer. The young full back has good pedigree spending his youth at Bury FC and is able to play both left and right back. Jack had hoped to play for Ytterhogdal in Sweden, however due to the pandemic despite moving and training there didn’t play. He returned to England and signed for Widnes in August 2020.
NANTWICH TOWN – PLAYER PROFILES CASPAR HUGHES (Midfielder) CLUB CAPTAIN Caspar re-joined the Dabbers from AFC Fylde at the start of the 2017-18 season, before being named captain in January 2018 after the departure of Sam Hall. While Caspar is an excellent ball-winner in midfield, the skipper can also play at full-back. The midfielder was a highly rated prospect in the famed Crewe Alexandra youth academy before joining Nantwich, where he spent two solid seasons before moving on to Fylde. The midfielder helped Fylde gain promotion from both the Northern Premier League and the National League North and is regarded one of the better midfielders in the league. SEAN COOKE (Midfielder) A productive attacking midfielder, Sean is the son of manager Dave and is a dynamic threat from his number ten role. A danger from set-pieces – especially free-kicks – Sean has a keen eye for goal and has proved that not only with Nantwich but at other clubs higher up the non-league pyramid. Sean, along with captain Caspar Hughes, was part of the AFC Fylde side that won promotion from the Northern Premier Division and has also played for FC United of Manchester. He has also won the Northern Premier League’s Young Player of the Season as well as making three Team of the Season appearances. DAVID WEBB (Midfielder) David joined the club after impressing in 2019-20’s pre-season series, with the midfielder capable of filling in across the pitch. Webb has displayed a good range of passing and an indefatigable attitude to his trial spell with the club. David has Northern Premier League experience having featured for Marine, and along with playing on Merseyside, Webb has also played for the Royal Air Force’s side. CARLOS “THOMMY” MONTEFIORI (Midfielder) The young Argentinian winger signed for Nantwich in February 2021 after turning 18. Thommy has been residing with his family in Chester for the last couple of years and was spotted and invited to Nantwich and subsequently signed. Thommy is a technically gifted winger having come through at All Boys FC in Buenos Aires. Having shone during pre-season we hope he carries this into the upcoming season. PRINCE HAYWOOD (Midfielder) Prince signed from fellow Premier Division club Radcliffe in January 2020. Ghanaian born, Prince previously played in Italy and has had spells with several different clubs in the North West at the non-league level, having played for Stalybridge Celtic, Colwyn Bay and Witton Albion. JOE MWASILE (Midfielder) A powerful winger with pace to match anyone in the league, Joe joined the club in 2016-17 originally after starting the campaign with Marine. He left at the end of the season to join fellow Cheshire outfit Warrington Town but re-joined the Dabbers in October 2017 after featuring in limited minutes for the Wire. Joe can not only beat his man for pace and strength but can put in a decent cross and has an eye for goal, having scored a few lovely efforts during his time with the club. A product of the Morecambe academy.
NANTWICH TOWN – PLAYER PROFILES LUKE WALSH (Midfielder) Luke joined the club in the winter of 2018-19 after impressing for Eccleshall in the North-West Counties Football League and made a solid step up to the Dabbers’ level, holding his own against EFL League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra in his debut. A wide player who can also play through the middle, Walsh is another product of the Crewe Alex academy. SHAUN MILLER (Forward) Miller started his career with Crewe Alexandra's youth system, and he signed a professional contract with the club in July 2006. He made his first-team debut in November 2006 in a 4–0 FA Cup loss to Bradford City at Valley Parade. Shaun has recently been with Bolton Wanderers recently scoring his 100th career goal and achieved promotion with the Trotters last season. He signs for Nantwich Town with a vast amount of league experience and a scoring threat. JOE MALKIN (Forward) Son of former Tranmere Rovers striker Chris, Joe joined the club at the beginning of the 2018- 19 season from North-West Counties Football League side Cammell Laird 1907 and enjoyed an exciting first season with the club, where he won the Northern Premier League Young Player of the Season. Malkin scored some excellent goals during his first season with the club, and offers a natural goalscoring threat, both from his feet and in the air. CONNOR HEATH (Forward) Connor is a new signing in the summer of 2000 after being released from Crewe Alexandra, after impressing during his 2-year scholarship period with a number of goals he signed a professional contract in the summer of 2019. Connor has impressed during the pre-season period with a few goals and will be looking to stamp his mark with Nantwich this season. IBRAHIMA SY (Midfield) Loan signing from Stoke City, Ibrahima moved to the Potters from Stade Reims in France and has playing in the Under 23’s for Stoke. A tall defensive midfielder who will hopefully give us some steel in the middle of the park and will be looking to impress his parent club during his loan spell here at Nantwich.
EMIRATES FA CUP FIXTURES
SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW
Fixtures - Saturday 18th September 2021 (3.00pm KO)
Marine v Warrington Town
Atherton Collieries or Bridlington Town v Witton Albion
Blyth Spartans or Bootle v FC United of Manchester
Morpeth Town v Lancaster City
Mossley v Radcliffe
Prescot Cables v Whitby Town
Runcorn Linnets v Bamber Bridge
Marske United v South Shields
Sherwood Colliery or Buxton v Rushall Olympic or Stafford Rangers
Nantwich Town v Banbury United
Mickleover v Basford United
PRIZE MONEY
WINNERS - £3,375
LOSERS - £1,125
TONIGHTS FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAYS
Bridlington Town v Atherton Collieries
Buxton v Sherwood Colliery
FC United of Manchester v Bootle
Stafford Rangers v Rushall OlympicPITCHING IN NPL RESULTS & FIXTURES
Results - Monday 30th August 2021
Fixtures - Tuesday 7th September 2021 (7.45pm KO)
Bamber Bridge vs Radcliffe
Buxton P-P Scarborough Athletic (FA Cup Replay)
Gainsborough Trinity vs Morpeth Town
Grantham Town vs Mickleover
Lancaster City vs Warrington Town
Nantwich Town vs Hyde United
South Shields vs Ashton United
Stafford Rangers P-P Matlock Town (FA Cup Replay)
Stalybridge Celtic vs Basford United
Whitby Town P-P FC United of Manchester (FA Cup Replay)
Witton Albion P-P Atherton Collieries (FA Cup Replay)PITCHING IN NPL STANDINGS
NANTWICH TOWN HYDE UNITED
MANAGER MANAGER
DAVE COOKE JIM GANNON
1 Cameron TERRY 1 Joe GREEN
2 Joel STAIR (C) 2 Brad ROSCOE
3 Jack HATTON 3 Jason AKIOTU
4 Ben HARRISON 4 Cameron FOGERTY
5 Josh LANGLEY 5 Jordan FAGBOLA
6 Ibrahima SY 6 James JONES
7 Thommy MONTEFIORI 7 Jonah MITCHELL
8 Prince HAYWOOD 8 Jack SHERRATT
9 Joe MWASILE 9 Liam HARDY
10 Sean COOKE 10 Liam TONGUE
11 Luke WALSH 11 Tom PRATT (C)
12 Troy BOURNE 12 Seydou BAMBA
14 Shaun MILLER 13 Riccardo LONGATO
15 Theo STAIR 14 Theo BAILEY-JONES
16 Jimmy LAWRIE 15 Carter WATERS
17 Caspar HUGHES
REFEREE: William Davis
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Alexander Phillips, Lee Harding
MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSORED BY:
NANTWICH REFRIDGERATION SERVICESYou can also read
