SHEFFIELD SIGNING LANDS TITLE

Sheffield FC’s latest signing Curtis Woodhouse landed the International Masters Light-Welterweight title last weekend when he stopped Jay Morris, the only man to have been beaten him, in three rounds on Sunday. Woodhouse has won eleven of his twelve professional fights and now takes on French Champion Christophe Sebire in the next step to achieving his ambition of landing a British title. And a huge crowd is guaranteed to watch that fight as it is on the undercard of David Haye’s defence of his world heavyweight title scrap against John Ruiz in Manchester on 3rd April. As a professional footballer Woodhouse won four England Under 21 caps and made around three hundred appearances in the full time game. 

UNWANTED HAT-TRICK FOR WHITBY

Prior to this season no follower of Whitby Town could remember their side losing a fixture to floodlight failure. Tuesday’s abandonment at Frickley Athletic, however, was the third time on their travels in less than six months that the lights have gone out on Whitby. They first suffered a blackout at Retford in October followed by darkness at Marine in November with Tuesday’s light failure giving the North Yorkshire club an unwanted hat-trick.

WALKER ENJOYS HIGH FIVES

Not many players at this level score five goals in a game but Kidsgrove Athletic striker Dave Walker managed it for the second time this season on Tuesday evening when he scored all his side’s goals in the 5-2 defeat of Leek Town. Even more amazingly when he scored his earlier five timer against Spalding United back in August he was again the only Kidsgrove player on the score sheet. Despite his two five-timers Walker still can’t match the highest individual scorer this season who is Lee Gregory when on loan to Glapwell. He notched six of his side’s seven goals against Willenhall Town in November.  

‘KEEPER PROBLEMS FOR CABLES

Prescot Cables experienced severe goalkeeper problems in Tuesday evening’s home game against Salford City. First choice ‘keeper Andy Paxton was sent off after being adjudged to have brought down an opponent and was replaced by outfield player Krystian Liptrot who in turn was dismissed to be replaced by yet another outfield player Jamie McCulloch! Not surprisingly Cables went down 3-1. 

500 UP FOR GILCHRIST

Long serving Ossett Albion manager Eric Gilchrist this week chalked up his 500th game in charge when his side visited FC Halifax Town on Tuesday evening although he was hardly in the mood for celebration after his team went down 5-0. He is approaching ten years in the managerial hot seat after being first appointed in July 2000 and in his first season at the helm Albion won promotion to the UniBond League although that success was short-lived as they were immediately relegated back to the Northern Counties East League. By the end of season 2003/4, however, Gilchrist had restored Albion’s fortunes to the extent that they finished runners-up to Brigg Town and were promoted back to the UniBond as Brigg were denied promotion on ground grading criteria. The last two seasons have seen the club narrowly miss out on the play-offs finishing one place outside on both occasions.

REED GRABS 150th GOAL FOR BUXTON

Tuesday evening saw Mark Reed score his 150th goal for Buxton in his side’s 2-2 home draw against Marine. His goals have come at a fantastic strike rate arriving in just 229 starts and 23 substitute appearances. The draw, however, failed to end a long standing hoodoo that the “Mariners” hold over the Bucks as Buxton have now failed to beat the Crosby based side at home since 1982 in nineteen attempts.

SALFORD MANAGERIAL POSITION

Salford City have decided to defer the appointment of a permanent team manager until the end of the season with results under Chairman Darren Quick and his assistant Mark Molyneux being encouraging. It was felt that stability was required for the remainder of the campaign but applications already submitted will be retained whilst other interested parties should make contact with the Club Chairman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 1st May. 

UNIBOND “FAIR PLAY” AWARDS

The UniBond “Fair Play” awards for February have gone to OSSETT TOWN, LANCASTER CITY and QUORN respectively. Ossett had just two cautions in four games during the month and have closed right up to Boston United in the season to date tables with only one-hundredth of a point separating the top two.

Lancaster were clear winners in the First Division North with three cautions in six games and have closed the gap on season long leaders AFC Fylde to just 0.14 of  a point in the race for the season’s £1,000 first prize offered by the League sponsors. It was close run thing in the First Division South where Quorn with four cautions in seven matches just pipped Mickleover Sports to the award although the latter are now right on the heels of season to date leaders Kidsgrove Athletic

STAMFORD SUFFER DOUBLE LOSS

Stamford this week suffered double sadness with the deaths of Vice Chairman Richard Jacobs at the age of 67 and one of their all time playing heroes Keith Alexander at the even earlier age of 53. 

Jacobs, a life long fan of the “Daniels”, first joined the Board as Treasurer in 1974 becoming Vice Chairman in 1999 and took the Chair for Stamford’s AGM held just a few days before his death.

Keith Alexander’s death shook the football world at a national level but not many obituaries in the national press covered his days in the game outside of the Football League. The St Lucian international, however, played for several clubs currently in membership of the Northern Premier League including Worksop Town in the late seventies, Stamford in the early eighties and then Boston United and Spalding United. It was with Stamford though that he enjoyed prolific success scoring the first goal in the club’s 2-0 FA Vase Final victory against Guisborough Town in 1980 to complete a historic treble of the United Counties East League Championship, League Cup and FA Vase. He again completed the UCEL double with the Stamford in 1981/2.

WITTON EXTEND THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP TO CHESTER FANS

Witton Albion have extended the hand of football friendship to supporters of fellow Cheshire side Chester City by inviting them to enjoy free admission to Albion’s remaining home UniBond First Division South league games.

Witton, who remain in contention of at least a play-off position, are hopeful that many will take the offer up. Football Secretary Graham Shuttleworth said: "It is without doubt the worse thing that can happen to any football supporter, and that is to see your club removed from whatever league you're competing in. It must be a double blow to the supporters of Chester City after having enjoyed Football League status.

"We will be more than happy to allow any Chester supporter, who can produce a season ticket or can prove membership of their City Fans United organisation, free admission. To make sure that the younger element at Chester don't miss their Saturday football match, anyone under 14-years-of-age who is accompanied by an adult can also gain access for free.

Albion chairman Mark Harris said: "These are sad times for a fantastic club in Chester City, and the least we can do is to extend the hand of friendship to Chester supporters who are now without a team to watch for the remainder of this season. They are sure of a warm welcome at Wincham Park."

BOSTON SIGN SEMPLE

Boston United have completed the signing of former Peterborough United and Lincoln City winger Ryan Semple from Gainsborough Trinity. The 24 year old started his career at Peterborough and made his debut for them in 2002 against Bristol City as a seventeen year old. His promise was such that he had an extended trial with Manchester United but a broken leg in 2003 hampered his progress and he only went on to make around fifty appearances in the full time game before dropping in to the semi-pro ranks.

Signings