Town boosted by United visit
By Staff Copy
DESPITE losing 3-0 to FC United of Manchester, Bridlington Town had a day to remember as a crowd of over 1,000 was recorded at Queensgate.
The revenue that went Town’s way will help keep them going for some time, while the town as a whole benefited from the hundred of fans that travelled across the Pennines, with many vowing to comeback for another stay.
And while the football club’s coffers were boosted, many businesses in the town will have noticed a big difference in what is usually a quite time of year.
Many hotels and guest houses were booked up with fans making the most of the game on the east Coast making it a weekend break, while shops, restaurants and many others will also have had a peak in trade.
Bridlington Town chairman Peter Smurthwaite said: “I trust many local hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, cafes, shops and taxis benefited from the visiting fans over the weekend which shows the value of this football club to the town.
“It would be nice if some of these businesses could help the football club with much needed sponsorship to raise their own profile, especially with highlights from the game also being shown on the UniBond League TV channel, which can still be accessed on www.unibondleague.com this week.”
The chairman was also pleased with how the club coped with such a spectator boom, with the gate up around 600% on usual weeks. “I would like to thank my committee and staff who did a marvellous job to make sure the day was a success, I also thank our own fans, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Insp Steve Jackson at Bridlington Police and the Free Press for their help and support.
“Any businesses that may be interested in sponsoring a game, taking an advertising board, an advert in the match day programme or on the club website, can contact myself, the Free Press or the club website www.bridtownafc.co.uk for further information.”
Here are just some of the views the Free Press received from visiting fans, with many leaving comments on our website – http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/
“Thanks to everyone at Bridlington for their hospitality. Also a big thanks to the Beaconsfield Arms who made us very welcome.”
“A great weekend all round. Many thanks to Lyndsey, Simon and the staff at the Beaconsfield Arms, Patsy, Adie and staff at Ye Old Star Inn, Sue and the Staff at The Expanse and to all at Bridlington Town FC for their tremendous efforts.”
“Thanks Bridlington. We had a superb weekend both before the match at the Greyhound pub, during the match and after match party at Ye Olde Star Inn. Also big thanks to Trevor and Christine at the Ivanhoe Guest House who were friendly and welcoming hosts. We even had breakfast with the Brid Town manager and some of the players. We hope to be back and wish you all the best for the rest of the season. Anyone fancy a weekend way then Brid is the place to go.”
“We had a fabulous time this weekend. Comfortable stay at Radcliffe House. Good atmosphere at the game and in the social before, and yes the staff worked very hard. Cheap beer in the Old Town before the FC party.
Even managed a walk round the lighthouse at Flamborough to blow away the cobwebs. We shall definitely return.”
Last Updated: 06 November 2007 2:11 PM
Showing posts with label Bridlington Free Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridlington Free Press. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
FC United take the points at Queensgate
A fabulous atmosphere at the Lane Rental Queensgate Stadium as the travelling hordes of FC United fans saw Town able to claim the 11th-highest gate outside of the Football League.
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 3
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH
The 1006-strong attendance fell short of the hoped for 1500, but six coachloads heading east that would have made the difference were thwarted by an accident that closed the M62 and turned back to Manchester.
With Town eager to avenge a 6-0 hiding handed out at Gigg lane back in August, Ash Berry's young side shot out of the blocks and went close through leading scorer Neil Towler after only two minutes.
It then went horribly wrong for Town after just nine minutes however, as FC launched their first serious raid of the game. Chris Baguley chipped over the top, and Carl Giblin looked to have a fairly simple task of nodding heading back to his 'keeper Mike Price, but left his header yards short, and Aaron Burns nipped in to guide the ball round price and into an empty net.
The noise levels from the throng that had virtually taken over the main stand went off the dial, and Town had to dig deep for the next few minutes to quieten the expectant crowd. They did this splendidly, and could have been back on terms on 12 minutes, with Dean Lackie offering a good chance for Towler on the edge of the 18-yard box, but his shot fizzed inches wide.
The supply line was reversed in Town's next attack, with Towler turning provider to Lackie, who looked to have got clear on goal only for Rob Nugent to slide in with a brilliantly timed tackle. Luke Smith then sent a 25-yard free-kick whistling over 'keeper Sam Ashton's bar as Town desperately tried to get on terms.
It was a far cry from the one-sided affair back in August, with Town now clearly giving as good as they got, and after Nugent had sent a header over the Town bar on 36 minutes, Town again went straight back on the attack with Harrison setting up Joe Brown for a shot which warmed Ashton's hands.
The game hinged on one pivotal moment just minutes after the break, as a superb through ball from Peter Naylor sent Towler scampering free of a static FC defence. The usually prolific hitman bore down on goal, but elected to take the ball around Ashton instead of shooting, and the 'keeper forced him too wide for a sight on goal. He laid the ball back to Lackie, who drove high over the bar and a golden opportunity was gone.
United showed no such profligacy as they roared straight to the other end and Jerome Wright shrugged off two limp challenges to stride into the era and fire home.
The league's top scorer Rory Patterson had been well shackled by the Town defence as the hour mark approached, but a player of such quality was not going to give in easily, and only needed a sniff of the ball inside the box on 56 minutes to send an opportunist chip over Price for FC's third.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Town, who had given everything up until that moment and had never looked second best at any point, and manager Ash Berry immediately began substitutions with another crowded week of cup football approaching.
Adam Smith was the pick of the replacements with another solid 25 minutes, and set up Brown for a good late chance which Ashton did well to beat out, but FC never looked likely to relinquish their lead as the clock ticked down.
Despite the outcome, Berry was not too downcast, saying "Their crowd can be worth a point in a league like this, when players are used to playing in front of 200 at the most, and I think it certainly distracted our lads at times.
"We looked the better side for a lot of the game, and only two mistakes really made the difference. Anyone who was at the game back in August can see the progress and the way the team is going."
A fantastic afternoon for everybody connected with the club despite the result, with deserved plaudits for the overworked bar staff, who had a non-stop shift of some seven hours, with the FC fans affording nothing but praise for the Queensgate set-up.
Town: Price, Rouse (Parker 50), L.Smith, Giblin, Naylor, Lackie, Dexter A.Smith 65), Harratt, Brown, Towler (Carter 60), Harrison.
Van Monster man of the match: Dean Lackie.
Last Updated: 05 November 2007 10:14 AM
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0
FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER 3
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH
The 1006-strong attendance fell short of the hoped for 1500, but six coachloads heading east that would have made the difference were thwarted by an accident that closed the M62 and turned back to Manchester.
With Town eager to avenge a 6-0 hiding handed out at Gigg lane back in August, Ash Berry's young side shot out of the blocks and went close through leading scorer Neil Towler after only two minutes.
It then went horribly wrong for Town after just nine minutes however, as FC launched their first serious raid of the game. Chris Baguley chipped over the top, and Carl Giblin looked to have a fairly simple task of nodding heading back to his 'keeper Mike Price, but left his header yards short, and Aaron Burns nipped in to guide the ball round price and into an empty net.
The noise levels from the throng that had virtually taken over the main stand went off the dial, and Town had to dig deep for the next few minutes to quieten the expectant crowd. They did this splendidly, and could have been back on terms on 12 minutes, with Dean Lackie offering a good chance for Towler on the edge of the 18-yard box, but his shot fizzed inches wide.
The supply line was reversed in Town's next attack, with Towler turning provider to Lackie, who looked to have got clear on goal only for Rob Nugent to slide in with a brilliantly timed tackle. Luke Smith then sent a 25-yard free-kick whistling over 'keeper Sam Ashton's bar as Town desperately tried to get on terms.
It was a far cry from the one-sided affair back in August, with Town now clearly giving as good as they got, and after Nugent had sent a header over the Town bar on 36 minutes, Town again went straight back on the attack with Harrison setting up Joe Brown for a shot which warmed Ashton's hands.
The game hinged on one pivotal moment just minutes after the break, as a superb through ball from Peter Naylor sent Towler scampering free of a static FC defence. The usually prolific hitman bore down on goal, but elected to take the ball around Ashton instead of shooting, and the 'keeper forced him too wide for a sight on goal. He laid the ball back to Lackie, who drove high over the bar and a golden opportunity was gone.
United showed no such profligacy as they roared straight to the other end and Jerome Wright shrugged off two limp challenges to stride into the era and fire home.
The league's top scorer Rory Patterson had been well shackled by the Town defence as the hour mark approached, but a player of such quality was not going to give in easily, and only needed a sniff of the ball inside the box on 56 minutes to send an opportunist chip over Price for FC's third.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Town, who had given everything up until that moment and had never looked second best at any point, and manager Ash Berry immediately began substitutions with another crowded week of cup football approaching.
Adam Smith was the pick of the replacements with another solid 25 minutes, and set up Brown for a good late chance which Ashton did well to beat out, but FC never looked likely to relinquish their lead as the clock ticked down.
Despite the outcome, Berry was not too downcast, saying "Their crowd can be worth a point in a league like this, when players are used to playing in front of 200 at the most, and I think it certainly distracted our lads at times.
"We looked the better side for a lot of the game, and only two mistakes really made the difference. Anyone who was at the game back in August can see the progress and the way the team is going."
A fantastic afternoon for everybody connected with the club despite the result, with deserved plaudits for the overworked bar staff, who had a non-stop shift of some seven hours, with the FC fans affording nothing but praise for the Queensgate set-up.
Town: Price, Rouse (Parker 50), L.Smith, Giblin, Naylor, Lackie, Dexter A.Smith 65), Harratt, Brown, Towler (Carter 60), Harrison.
Van Monster man of the match: Dean Lackie.
Last Updated: 05 November 2007 10:14 AM
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Over 1500 expected at Queensgate
By Staff Copy
ATTENDANCE records for a league game should tumble at Queensgate on Saturday as the FC United of Manchester bandwagon rolls into town.
The Mancunians regularly attract home gates in excess of 2,000, and their fans are treating the game as a ‘weekend trip to the coast’ with several hotels and guest houses already fully booked, and a crowd well in excess of 1,500 is expected at the Lane Rental Queensgate Stadium.
The gates open at 1.30pm, with all three front turnstiles in operation to ease entry into the ground. The game is not all-ticket, but fans are asked to bear in mind the likely attendance figure and arrive in plenty of time at the stadium.
There will be 800 matchday programmes available and these are expected to sell out quickly.
Supporters of both sides should be in for a treat on the pitch as well, with Town eager to avenge the 6-0 drubbing handed out back in August, when Town seemed to freeze on the day in front of 2253 fans, and the division’s top scorer Rory Patterson notched four goals.
But much has changed since that game, although United are still very much in the promotion chasing pack, having beaten second-placed Ossett Albion on Saturday to leapfrog them in the table, Town’s recent record is also impressive, with only one defeat in seven games, and striker Neil Towler is hot on the heels of Patterson with nine goals, making him the third top scorer in the division.
Following the 6-0 defeat back in August, Town manager Ash Berry said: “I thought a number of our lads froze on the day, and their crowd did their job well.
We also had a couple of players out, and our defence then was simply not mobile enough.”
But the gaffer expects a different game this time around, “I believe FC will see a very different side this week, and after recent results, we know we can compete with the best teams in this league and come away with something.”
Town maintained their good run on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over basement side Radcliffe Borough, in a game where the exploits of the previous Wednesday, in which Berry’s young side held Ossett to a draw despite playing 85 minutes with ten men, looked to have caught up with them.
Berry agreed, “We looked a bit off the pace, which was understandable given the Wednesday game, but enough of our key players stepped up, and I thought in the end any one of four or five had a shout for man-of-the-match.
“They had a typical strong defence, were sharp in attack, and looked anything but a bottom of the table side.
“Their skipper had turned down a big-money move to Fleetwood in the UniBond Premier Division during the week, and they had just signed a central defender from Conference North side Vauxhall Motors, so it was important to get the three points as they could start to put a run together,” he said.
Last Updated: 30 October 2007 8:37 AM
ATTENDANCE records for a league game should tumble at Queensgate on Saturday as the FC United of Manchester bandwagon rolls into town.
The Mancunians regularly attract home gates in excess of 2,000, and their fans are treating the game as a ‘weekend trip to the coast’ with several hotels and guest houses already fully booked, and a crowd well in excess of 1,500 is expected at the Lane Rental Queensgate Stadium.
The gates open at 1.30pm, with all three front turnstiles in operation to ease entry into the ground. The game is not all-ticket, but fans are asked to bear in mind the likely attendance figure and arrive in plenty of time at the stadium.
There will be 800 matchday programmes available and these are expected to sell out quickly.
Supporters of both sides should be in for a treat on the pitch as well, with Town eager to avenge the 6-0 drubbing handed out back in August, when Town seemed to freeze on the day in front of 2253 fans, and the division’s top scorer Rory Patterson notched four goals.
But much has changed since that game, although United are still very much in the promotion chasing pack, having beaten second-placed Ossett Albion on Saturday to leapfrog them in the table, Town’s recent record is also impressive, with only one defeat in seven games, and striker Neil Towler is hot on the heels of Patterson with nine goals, making him the third top scorer in the division.
Following the 6-0 defeat back in August, Town manager Ash Berry said: “I thought a number of our lads froze on the day, and their crowd did their job well.
We also had a couple of players out, and our defence then was simply not mobile enough.”
But the gaffer expects a different game this time around, “I believe FC will see a very different side this week, and after recent results, we know we can compete with the best teams in this league and come away with something.”
Town maintained their good run on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over basement side Radcliffe Borough, in a game where the exploits of the previous Wednesday, in which Berry’s young side held Ossett to a draw despite playing 85 minutes with ten men, looked to have caught up with them.
Berry agreed, “We looked a bit off the pace, which was understandable given the Wednesday game, but enough of our key players stepped up, and I thought in the end any one of four or five had a shout for man-of-the-match.
“They had a typical strong defence, were sharp in attack, and looked anything but a bottom of the table side.
“Their skipper had turned down a big-money move to Fleetwood in the UniBond Premier Division during the week, and they had just signed a central defender from Conference North side Vauxhall Motors, so it was important to get the three points as they could start to put a run together,” he said.
Last Updated: 30 October 2007 8:37 AM
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Seasiders hit for six by FC United
By Staff Copy
UniBond League Division One North
Published Date: 30 August 2007
FC United of Man’ 6
Bridlington Town 0
After the previous Wednesday's defeat against Harrogate, Bridlington Town fans travelled to Bury's Gigg Lane ground wary that a similar performance could bring dire consequences against a team eager to get off the mark after two straight defeats in their opening games at UniBond level.
They were proved horribly correct, as Town produced an abject surrender in front of a 2253-strong crowd, in which the home side could have run up a cricket score but for some wasteful finishing and showboating from their front men in the second half.
The Seasiders' 3-5-2 formation played into the hands of a pacy home attack, whose simple tactic of the long diagonal ball over the top undid a shapeless Town defence time and again. Yet again, Town fell to an early goal, with lethal marksman Rory Patterson allowed far too much time to turn inside the 18-yard box to bury a crisp shot past 'keeper Chris Hill.
FC were even at this stage, totally in control, and with strike partners Stu Rudd and Jerome Wright allowing Patterson the freedom of the 18-yard box in which to ply his trade, the frontman grabbed his second on 23 minutes. Town simply could not gain a foothold in the game, with Tom Greaves isolated up front with little support. Skipper Pete Naylor was again a commanding figure in the Town midfield, but could count on few allies to stick their heads above the parapet in his battle against a rampant home side. Surprisingly the scoreline remained at 2-0 going into the second half, but with a couple of mystifying subsitutions further disrupting any game pattern Town had managed to establish, they fell further behind on 64 minutes, with Patterson again finding acres of space courtesy of Wright's measured through pass to fire home from close range.
Neil Towler had looked one of very few positives out on the left flank for Town, and had given full-back Matt Taylor plenty to think about, but with his withdrawal shortly before the strike, Town appeared to have effectively waved the white flag.
United continued to pour forward against an overworked Seasiders' defence, and Patterson struck again on 75 minutes, although the ball appeared to have taken a final touch on its way into the net off Town centre-back Lee Harper.
There was still plenty of room in the locker for United to heap more misery on the wretched visitors, and Rudd again had a large say in the fifth goal on 83 minutes, as his clever lay off found substitute Anthony Hargreaves, who notched his first goal for FC with a well placed low shot from the angle of the six-yard box.
Rudd was then guilty of playing to the gallery, as Patterson's pass found him free on goal almost on the penalty spot, but with the home fans simply waiting for the net to bulge, he chose to chip extravagantly over Hill and sent the ball over the bar.
It mattered little, as on 88 minutes, United wrapped up an afternoon that any Town fan present will want to erase swiftly from their memory with the sixth from a penalty, as Hargreaves' run on goal was unceremoniously halted by Harper, and Taylor helped himself to a rare goal by blasting the spot kick high and wide past Hill.
Town's day was summed up on the stroke of full time, when the only real chance created throughout the entire match fell to an unmarked Harper at the far post, who could only direct his header from Wayne Harratt's fine lay-off against the woodwork.
Town: Hill, Bonarius, Harper, Stoneman, Giblin, Rouse (Harratt 56) Towler (Bradshaw 63) Naylor, Berry, Greaves, Lackie (Dexter 75).
Last Updated: 27 August 2007 10:11 AM
UniBond League Division One North
Published Date: 30 August 2007
FC United of Man’ 6
Bridlington Town 0
After the previous Wednesday's defeat against Harrogate, Bridlington Town fans travelled to Bury's Gigg Lane ground wary that a similar performance could bring dire consequences against a team eager to get off the mark after two straight defeats in their opening games at UniBond level.
They were proved horribly correct, as Town produced an abject surrender in front of a 2253-strong crowd, in which the home side could have run up a cricket score but for some wasteful finishing and showboating from their front men in the second half.
The Seasiders' 3-5-2 formation played into the hands of a pacy home attack, whose simple tactic of the long diagonal ball over the top undid a shapeless Town defence time and again. Yet again, Town fell to an early goal, with lethal marksman Rory Patterson allowed far too much time to turn inside the 18-yard box to bury a crisp shot past 'keeper Chris Hill.
FC were even at this stage, totally in control, and with strike partners Stu Rudd and Jerome Wright allowing Patterson the freedom of the 18-yard box in which to ply his trade, the frontman grabbed his second on 23 minutes. Town simply could not gain a foothold in the game, with Tom Greaves isolated up front with little support. Skipper Pete Naylor was again a commanding figure in the Town midfield, but could count on few allies to stick their heads above the parapet in his battle against a rampant home side. Surprisingly the scoreline remained at 2-0 going into the second half, but with a couple of mystifying subsitutions further disrupting any game pattern Town had managed to establish, they fell further behind on 64 minutes, with Patterson again finding acres of space courtesy of Wright's measured through pass to fire home from close range.
Neil Towler had looked one of very few positives out on the left flank for Town, and had given full-back Matt Taylor plenty to think about, but with his withdrawal shortly before the strike, Town appeared to have effectively waved the white flag.
United continued to pour forward against an overworked Seasiders' defence, and Patterson struck again on 75 minutes, although the ball appeared to have taken a final touch on its way into the net off Town centre-back Lee Harper.
There was still plenty of room in the locker for United to heap more misery on the wretched visitors, and Rudd again had a large say in the fifth goal on 83 minutes, as his clever lay off found substitute Anthony Hargreaves, who notched his first goal for FC with a well placed low shot from the angle of the six-yard box.
Rudd was then guilty of playing to the gallery, as Patterson's pass found him free on goal almost on the penalty spot, but with the home fans simply waiting for the net to bulge, he chose to chip extravagantly over Hill and sent the ball over the bar.
It mattered little, as on 88 minutes, United wrapped up an afternoon that any Town fan present will want to erase swiftly from their memory with the sixth from a penalty, as Hargreaves' run on goal was unceremoniously halted by Harper, and Taylor helped himself to a rare goal by blasting the spot kick high and wide past Hill.
Town's day was summed up on the stroke of full time, when the only real chance created throughout the entire match fell to an unmarked Harper at the far post, who could only direct his header from Wayne Harratt's fine lay-off against the woodwork.
Town: Hill, Bonarius, Harper, Stoneman, Giblin, Rouse (Harratt 56) Towler (Bradshaw 63) Naylor, Berry, Greaves, Lackie (Dexter 75).
Last Updated: 27 August 2007 10:11 AM
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