Thursday, July 29, 2010

Torpey back at FC

Source: Bury Times

11:20am Thursday 29th July 2010

* By Liam Chronnell »


STEVE Torpey is back to boost FC United’s bid for promotion from the Evo-Stik Premier League.

The winger struck 17 goals in 32 games in the Rebels’ inaugural season before joining Halifax Town in 2006.

Torpey came on as second-half substitute in the Gigg Lane tenants’ 2-0 defeat to AFC Telford United in the Supporters Direct Cup on Saturday.

The loss came between draws with Glossop North End and Wigan Robin Park. Karl Marginson’s side travel to Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday followed Ramsbottom United three days later.

Monday, July 26, 2010

AFC Telford 2 FC of Manchester 0 (friendly)

Source: Shropshire Star
(the link also contains video from game)

The season is not yet started but already AFC Telford United have one gleaming piece of silverware locked away in the trophy cabinet.

The Bucks eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory over FA United of Manchester on Saturday to win the Supporters Direct Cup at the first time of asking.

Telford have never previously received the call to take part in the invitational event but were delighted to take up the offer – and to host the match against the 2006 winners and last year’s runners-up.

One division separates the two sides on the non-League pyramid but the gulf looked far wider.

Andy Sinton’s side were always in control and could easily have won by more than the two goals they did manage.

In the first half alone, Sean Evans and Alex Meechan both hit the bar – the first with a stinging half-volley and the latter with a side-footed shot.

FC United keeper Sam Ashton was also busy, turning a Sean Newton free-kick around the post, tipping a Phil Trainer shot over the bar and making a double save from Meechan and Liam Murray.

The one goal the Bucks did register in the first half came from the boot of Andy Brown after neat approach play from Trainer and Brown.

The second was well taken from close range by Meechan just two minutes into the second half, off a whipped cross by Martyn Naylor.

A flurry of substitutions after that point broke the flow of the game, but Telford were never troubled.

Cameo

Boss Sinton took the chance to look at a few more trialists – Dominic Merella catching the eye on the right while Karl Broadhurst was commanding at the back in his late cameo.

“Things are going very well,” said the Telford chief. “Other than the first 10 or 15 minutes I thought we played some really good stuff.

“They couldn’t have complained if it had been six or seven, to be honest.

“We need to be a little bit more ruthless if I’m to be critical, but at least we’re creating chances and everyone can see the way we’re trying to play.

“We made quite a few changes towards the end, but that will stop after Tuesdays game (away to West Midlands League neighbours Shifnal).”

AFC TELFORD: Young, Naylor (Wooliscroft 68), Newton, Bennett (Rodgers HT), Murray (Broadhurst 80), Killock, Adams (Carey-Bertram 63), Trainer (Davies 86), Meechan (Merella 70), A Brown, Evans (Harrison HT). Subs not used: Richards, Samuels, Maguire.

REFEREE: Steve Martin.

ATTENDANCE: 803

By CHRIS HUDSON

AFC Telford beat FC United 2-0 to lift Supporters Cup

Source: BBC

AFC Telford United beat FC United of Manchester 2-0 to win the Supporters Direct Cup.

The cup, which is competed for annually by fan-owned clubs, was secured with goals either side of half time by Andy Brown and Alex Meechan.

"It was a good performance against a useful side," the Bucks assistant boss Darren Read told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"Winning is a good habit, it's nice to lift a cup, and it posts a positive message for the club with local fans."

Scarborough beat Merthyr 2-0 in the inaugural secondary Supporters Shield.

Both games were hosted back-to-back at Telford's Bucks Head Stadium this year.

Telford's victory was earned when Brown, last season's top scorer, converted a Meechan cross on the half hour, with Meechan himself hitting the ball into the roof of the net following good work by Martyn Naylor minutes into the second half.

The invitational Cup was established by Supporters Direct in 2002, and the first ever final was won by AFC Wimbledon - who have won it three times.

FC United - the club formed by breakaway Manchester United fans - won it in 2006.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Cliftonville v FC United: Reds united as Ciaran plots happy ending

Source: Belfast Telegraph



Cliftonville's European hero Ciaran Caldwell has barely had time to savour the enormity of the Reds' achievement on Thursday night but is already looking forward to getting back into action this afternoon.

Less than 48 hours after their historic victory over HNK Cibalia, Cliftonville tackle FC United of Manchester for the Ladbrokes Supporters' Cup (Donegal Celtic Park, 3pm) which, according to Caldwell, is perfect preparation ahead of their game in Croatia next Thursday night.

“We've had a decent pre-season and, as the European matches approached, our standard of opposition has improved — that's definitely helped us,” says the 20-year-old. “Macclesfield helped us step things up a wee bit last Sunday and I'm sure FC United will give us a good match as well.”

The Reds will be keeping their fingers crossed that this week doesn't mark the end of their international clashes and, with a tantalising showdown with CSKA Sofia dangled in front of them in the next round of the Europa League, Caldwell believes they have the quality to progress.

“Cibalia were a bit defensive-minded in the first leg and we know they're going to come at us much more back at their own place,” he explains. “They know they need to score but, at the same time, if we can get ourselves a goal then they'll be in big trouble. It's going to be much harder than it was at Windsor Park but I definitely think we're good enough to soak up the pressure and hit them on the break.”

The versatile performer, who has played in every position for Cliftonville — including as goalkeeper — since joining from Donegal Celtic less than a year ago, revealed that he and his team-mates were fired up after reading the comments of Cibalia skipper Mario Lucic in Thursday's Belfast Telegraph.

The former Dinamo Zagreb defender dismissed the Reds as a team of hoofers who “won’t look to pass it around on the ground” and Caldwell was happy to let Lucic write Eddie Patterson's team-talk for him.

“It was mentioned,” he says. “He said we were a weak team and that they shouldn't have any trouble against us but anyone who was there will know it was the part-timers who did most of the attacking and we definitely deserved to win.”

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/cliftonville-v-fc-united-reds-united-as-ciaran-plots-happy-ending-14879008.html##ixzz0utkiJsCP

Thursday, July 15, 2010

FC United picks stadium design team

Source: Place North West

15 Jul 2010, 10:31
Michael Hunt

The supporter-owned club, established when the Glazer family took over Manchester United Football Club in May 2005, has selected a design team to take a proposed ground and community sports development in Newton Heath, east Manchester, to planning stage.

Preston and Manchester-based Frank Whittle Partnerships has been appointed as project managers, Kath Ludlam as planning consultant, and Handforth-based Taylor Young as architects.

FWP, which has designed a 2,000-seat stand for Fleetwood Town FC, will oversee the project from start to finish including the responsibility of leading on appointments of further professionals and consultants; with regular reporting to the project board and the main FC United of Manchester board.

Ludlam, from West Didsbury-based Ludlam Associates, will oversee and deliver the planning application. FC United said her role also includes:

* Managing the consultation with Newton Heath residents and community groups
* Working with a range of other professionals
* Researching and producing a series of reports from the environmental impact of the development to traffic and transport

FC United said that the design team has been assembled following "a competitive tender process" overseen by a sub-committee of the club's elected board members and general manager Andy Walsh.

FC United added that the costs for each appointment were "factored into the overall cost for the ground at the beginning of the planning process".

Walsh said: "The whole project cost is £3.5m of which we are raising £2m ourselves through public cash donations, a community shares scheme, and the rest of the £1.5m needed we hope to receive through grant funding.

"We've had some very successful consultation events with resident and community groups in the Newton Heath area which are on-going. We are gathering the information from these groups and will form our design using what has been said before we hold further consultations after the design has been complete."

Walsh could not confirm when the club will have its design complete or an exact date for when a full planning application will be submitted, but the club has targeted the end of August.

FC United said more detailed work will follow the planning application stage with the yet to be appointed building contractors.

The design team also includes:

* Structural engineers Ian Scott-Hughes
* Highways consultants AECOM
* M&E consultants Beverly Clifton Morris
* Environmental consultants TEP

FWP has also been picked as quantity surveyor on the project and law firm Cobbetts LLP is providing the club with legal support and advice. FC United said its accountants, RSM Tenon, continue to act as the club's financial advisors.

The club announced plans to develop a football ground in Newton Heath in March which proposed new and renovated community sports facilities and a multi-function community space at the 5,000-capacity stadium.

Manchester City Council owns the site being proposed for development, which is the existing Ten Acres Lane sports centre.

The club has been working closely with the council and urban regeneration company New East Manchester for the past two years to develop the plans.

Provided planning and funding is secured and subject to consultation, FC United hopes the development will be completed in the next two to three years.

Last season the club finished in eighth position in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, which is six divisions below the more lucrative Premier League.

Newton Heath is the birthplace of the Manchester United FC, the runners-up in the Premier League.

Marine FC players can’t wait for FC United of Manchester

Source: Crosby Herald

Jul 15 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Crosby Herald

MARINE manager Kevin Lynch says his players can’t wait for the opening day of the season.

The Evo-Stik Premier Division fixtures have thrown up a mouth-watering clash on the first weekend of the new campaign as the Mariners welcome FC United of Manchester.

Lynch revealed several of the Whites’ squad were phoning him straight after the announcement yesterday, already desperate for Saturday, August 21 to be here.

Arriva Stadium boss Lynch is now hoping to channel that excitement from his players into their first pre-season match against Tranmere Rovers next Tuesday and has challenged the squad to force their way into the starting 11 for the visit of FC United.

“It is a nice, juicy opening game of the season isn’t it?” said Lynch.

“We are all really looking forward to it and I’ve already had players texting and phoning about the first game.

“All the lads can’t wait to get going and the early fixtures we have been handed are pretty pleasing. Places that are perhaps not the nicest to go to in mid-winter and can be bleak, we get out of the way early on. But for now the lads have seven games in this pre-season period to convince me their name should be in the starting 11 for the FC United match.”

Lynch also agrees the visit of the Manchester rebel side in just over five weeks time could provide Marine with the perfect start to a season which promises much.

When FC visited Crosby in April last season, 1,093 fans watched an enthralling 1-1 draw but Lynch is hoping to attract a bigger crowd and gain a better result.

“Certainly, this could potentially be the best possible way to start the new season. There is certainly great interest in the players we’ve signed and the hopes we have for next season. Getting a bigger crowd than we did last time would be a major plus and hopefully we can play some decent football and get a positive result.”

Lynch says he will be in dialogue with Tranmere Rovers this week ahead of the pre-season friendly with the Prenton Park outfit.

The manager wants to give game time to all 22 members of his squad but if Les Parry’s League One side want to restrict the game to just five substitutes then Lynch will respect the decision.

“I would like to play all the lads at some point on Tuesday night; in reality have two teams. But I don’t want to disrespect Tranmere and if they just want to limit it to five subs then that will be fine. I’ll speak to them in the next few days.”

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

New boys impress for the Rebel Reds

Source: Bury Times

9:00pm Wednesday 14th July 2010

* By Liam Chronnell

FC UNITED kicked off their pre-season campaign in style with a 4-0 victory at Sutton Town.

New boys Martin Parker and Michael Norton were among the goalscorers. Carlos Roca and Jake Cottrell were also on target.

Scott McManus, Richard Battersby, Lee Neville and Zach Hibbert also made their debuts, while Nicky Platt played on his return to the club after spending a year playing in Australia.

The Rebels take on Oldham Borough at Whitebank Stadium tonight before flying over to Belfast to face Cliftonville on Saturday.