Check out the Joe O'Connor interview 20th June, 1998
They Think It's All Over?
No it's not?. Well not until you read the Sir Geoff Hurst interview, courtesy of Gamespot UK, in which he tells us about 'that 'goal, the modern game, and lots more.
Plus Gamespot review the official England computer game, Three Lions. and
And we have a chance for you to win 3D Voodoo 2 cards - in the Gamespot special Virtual World Cup competition.
Slough Town have been thrown out of the Conference and relegated Telford United handed a surprise reprieve. The move, which came at the Conference AGM, could even lead to Slough going out of business, as wealthy chairman and backer Alan Thorne is retiring though ill health. He was said to have been disappointed by the local council’s decision to turn down planning permission on improvements at the club’s Wexham Park stadium. Despite last-minute pleas on Slough’s behalf, the Conference management, fearing the club might not be able to fulfil their fixtures next season, voted 16-6 to end the Rebels’ membership and reinstate Telford, who were expecting to be in the Dr Martens League next season. Slough, managed by former Arsenal midfielder Brian McDermott, were beaten FA Trophy semi-finalists but crowds at Wexham Park were down 28 per cent last season despite them finishing eighth in the league. They have been members of the Conference, no longer sponsored by Vauxhall next season, since 1990. Meanwhile the Conference has agreed in principle to adding a second division to the competition from 1999-2000, though this needs formal FA approval. The league will be without a sponsor next season for the first time. Their 13-year tie-up with Vauxhall came to an end last summer and no suitable new sponsor has been found. Thanks to Paul Fry of Stevenage Borough for the Info.
5th June 1998Main Stand Terraces Adults £8-50 £7-00 Children/O.A.P. £5-00 £4-0028th May 1998
Hednesford Town are signing Hartlepool captain Russell Bradley. 31 year old Bradley, a left-sided defender, captained the Teeside club last season. Manager John Baldwin said " He will be very good for us for two reasons, he is an organiser and he is very tough. He is also a big, strong boy who will toughen us up. We have high hopes for him." Baldwin said "I've agreed everything with the player an club and everything should go by the end of the week."
Hednesford have also signed 18 year old Matthew Hall who has been released from his YTS at Rotherham United and Leon Jackson from Port Vale. Baldwin said "We think they both fit into the 'ones for the future' category. Matthew is sharp and impressed me, scoring goals in the Central Conference. He works hard and has goalscoring ability. Leon is unnaturally quick because he is big, but he also has talent." Both have signed one year deals.
Hednesford Town have today announced that Saturday July 25th is the day that Bryan Robson will be bringing his team to Keys Park. Hednesford Manager John Baldwin said "Bryan Robson has assured me that he will be bringing his first team squad and that is a mouthwatering prospect for everyone at Keys Park."
That would mean the likes of Gascoigne, Paul Merson and Columbian striker Hamilton Ricard lining up against the Pitmen before they compete in a four team tournament against Newcastle, Fiorentina and Benfica at the Riverside stadium the following weekend.
Hednesford are confident of attracting a full house for the clash and hope to have tickets on sale next week.
Season Ticket Prices (Excluding Car Parking) Main Stand Terraces Adults £155 £125 Children/O.A.P. £95 £76 Season Ticket Prices (Including Car Parking) Main Stand Terraces Adults £175 £145 Children/O.A.P. £115 £96 Junior Pitmen Main Stand Terraces £40-00 £20-00 Matchday Prices Main Stand Terraces Adults £8-50 £7-00 Children/O.A.P. £5-00 £4-00Please note that Season Tickets and Junior Pitmen only apply to Conference home LEAGUE games and not Cup games. It also applies to all Home Reserve team fixtures.
John Baldwin has snapped up 28 year old Hyde striker Ged Kimmins. Baldwin said " We have been aware of Ged for some time but he would have been quite expensive to buy but now we have been able to snap him up under the Bosman ruling. He has played for England's non-League side and has been looking for a shot at Conference football. He is a clever player, quick, mobile and scores goals. We are delighted to have secured his services."
The Pitmen have confirmed two pre-season fixtures with a trip to Halesowen Town on August 1st and a home clash with Birmingham City on August 3rd. The club are hoping to attract two more Football League sides to Keys Park and are still finalising a date for their attractive clash with Middlesbrough.
7th May, 1998Manager John Baldwin has signed his first new man ready for next season. Striker Matthew Hall, from Rotherham, aged 18 has been a regular trialist with the Pitmen and made a hat trick at Willenhall where Hednesford Reserves won 4 - 1.
John is looking for offers for Hednesford striker Tony Ecclestone.
Lee Colkin and Jake Sedgemore have both signed two year deals.
Work is beginning on the refurbishment of the pitch, for the third time in three seasons, in an attempt to overcome the drainage problem that has plagued the club since moving to Keys Park.
Staffordshire County Council Safety of Sports Grounds Panel has criticised Hednesford Town lack of Stewarding at its home game against Halifax. Violence erupted in the ground during the game and the Halifax fans ignored instructions not to change ends at half time, resulting in a large contingent of police being sent to the ground.
General Manager Dave Degg said that many of the 25 unpaid stewards expected to marshall the match failed to turn up on the day and the police had advised the club not to segregate the fans.
Panel Chairman Derek Davis said he would be demanding assurances from the club that it would increase its stewarding. He said "We are awaiting a report form the police and a reply from Hednesford Town over the matter. There are certain issues we need to investigate that were not up to standard. There were not enough stewards to cope with the numbers of fans and that is something we must deal with to make sure similar problems do not occur again."
Mr Degg said about 400 more Halifax supporters than anticipated crammed into the ground, many of whom had spent the afternoon drinking in the town centre.
Midland Sports Promotions have been appointed as Commercial Managers to Hednesford Town.
They will not be based at Keys Park but will operate from their own offices.
Terry Brumpton, of Midland Sports Promotions, is a former Commercial Manager at Hednesford Town and on the appointment said "Hednesford is in my blood. I've been watching them for 38 years and it's the first result I look for. Hednesford are now high profile, it takes a lot of money to run a Vauxhall Conference club but they know I can do a job and I'm delighted to be back. Anything John Baldwin sets his mind to usually comes off and I want to help him and the club fulfill the dream of League football."
Midland Sports Promotions invite sponsorship for Hednesford Town -
call Terry on 01543 468880