Football

Respected Stamford AFC skipper Richard Jones has backed Graham Drury to be a big success at Holbeach United. Drury brought the talented defender to Stamford back in 2012 and immediately made him captain. The duo were pivotal in guiding the Daniels to second place in Evo-Stik League Division One South before the boss moved on to Boston United. And Jones, ...

Spalding United are closing on another incredible transfer coup after verbally agreeing a deal for ex-Boston United captain Ian Ross. The 28-year-old midfielder shook hands on a one-year deal with the Tulips on Wednesday, having decided to leave York Street at the end of last season. Ross is expected to sign the contract after he returns from a close-season break and ...

Talismanic defender Nathan Stainfield picked up four of the five awards on offer at Spalding United’s end of season awards night. The popular centre back was named manager’s player of the season, players’ player of the year, and supporters’ player of the year at the Springfields Events Centre bash on Saturday – while also winning the man-of-the-match series trophy. Tulips’ ...

John Chand reckons that Graham Drury was the ‘perfect choice’ after revealing that the former Stamford and Boston United chief will be his co-manager at Holbeach United next season. Drury, who has also bossed Corby Town, agreed to join the Tigers on Thursday after talks with Chand. Holbeach had been searching for a new joint chief after Steve Appleby performed ...

Full-back James Cullingworth has become the third Spalding United signing of the week. The defender, who can play on either side, follows Julian Kelly and Kern Miller in agreeing terms with the Tulips. Formerly of Boston United and Ilkeston, the 26-year-old arrives at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field from Belper Town. Having won promotion with all three of his ...

Ian Dunn has called for a change in mentality at Pinchbeck United after sealing a return to the club as player/manager. The former Spalding United and Holbeach United striker guided Pinchbeck to one of the best seasons in their history back in 2011/12 as they clinched a Peterborough Premier Division and PFA Senior Cup double. His achievements didn’t go unnoticed ...

By Andrew Tidswell Spalding United player and Elite Sports Academy MD Twitter: @AndrewTidswell Another football season has drawn to an end with all league titles, domestic cups and presentations decided. The anticipation now for many football fans will be what changes they will see to their supported clubs, whether it be the top English teams or a lower ranking side. ...

Jamie Stevens could soon seal a return to Holbeach United after holding talks with boss John Chand this week. The defender has won back-to-back UCL Premier Division titles with Spalding United and Holbeach over the past two seasons and left the Tulips last week by mutual consent. Returning Tigers chief Chand, who led the club to that UCL triumph, told ...

Spalding United boss Pat Rayment has declared himself ‘ecstatic’ after sealing a deal to bring former Arsenal youth talent Julian Kelly to the club. Kelly, who agreed terms with the Tulips on Wednesday morning after protracted negotiations, has already been labelled the club’s ‘greatest ever signing’. Equally adept at right back, left back and on either flank, the 24-year old ...

Defender Kern Miller has become Spalding United’s third signing of the summer. The centre back, formerly of Boston United, Lincoln City, Barnsley, Accrington Stanley and Hereford, was with Lincoln United last season. Tulips chief Pat Rayment is a long-term admirer of the 22-year-old and has backed him to shine at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field. He said: “Kern is ...

Keeper Leigh Overton was the big winner at Holbeach United’s end of season awards night on Saturday. The loyal number one, who was one of just a few players to stay with the club after a mass exodus at the end of the previous season, won the prizes for manager’s player, players’ player and first team clubman of the year. ...

When a Rolls Royce pulled up outside his house in Cradge Bank, Spalding United goalkeeper Peter Roberts was about to be kept a promise from several months previous. It was 1958 and stepping out of the pristine car was Kettering Town manager Tommy Lawton and the club’s chairman and secretary. Peter had caught Lawton’s eye during the Tulips’ 3-2 FA ...

By Andrew Tidswell Spalding United player and Elite Sports Academy MD Twitter: @AndrewTidswell This week has seen some significant changes and proposals in the beautiful game worldwide. Over in France, second division Clermont Foot became the first major European side to appoint a female manager (Helena Costa). Would football fans like to see a female in charge of their club? Would ...

Pat Rayment has declared himself happy after seeing Spalding United placed in Evo-Stik League Division One South next season. That means that the Tulips, promoted as UCL Premier Division champions, return to the league they were relegated from back in 2011. It was Spalding’s preferred destination in terms of travel – and manager Rayment remains confident that his side can achieve ...

Monday’s reveal of the England World Cup squad came as a bit of a welcome surprise to me. I was 95 per cent sure that Roy Hodgson would play it safe and pick the old guard for one last hurrah – but to be fair to him, he’s picked pretty much the same squad I would have. It seems like ...

Ambitious Spalding United have completed their biggest signing of the summer so far after unveiling Gareth Jellyman as player/coach. The 33-year-old former Peterborough United left back joins the Tulips from Corby Town and is a direct replacement for the popular Danny Hussey, who has left the club for personal reasons. Jellyman, who played more than 100 games for both Posh ...

Excited Holbeach United boss John Chand has already snapped up four impressive signings for next season. Chand, who returned to Carter’s Park just over two weeks ago, has agreements with Jonny Allen, Adam Jackson, Tom Roberts and Gary King. Versatile defender Allen, left back Jackson and keeper Roberts all join from UCL Premier Division champions Spalding United, while striker King ...

Defensive lynchpin and UCL Premier Division-winning captain Jamie Stevens has left Spalding United. The centre-back, who also skippered Holbeach United to UCL glory in 2013, has rejected fresh terms from the Tulips and is now deemed a free agent. Spalding supremo Pat Rayment told The Spalding and South Holland Voice that he believes Stevens has been offered more money elsewhere. He ...

  A proposed sports academy in Holbeach has received a £340,000 grant and could be built by the end of the year. Kings Academy, as it will be known, will comprise five grass pitches, four changing rooms, an officials’ room, kitchen and community hall. Holbeach United Football Club has always had a thriving youth section and this project – started ...

Holbeach United Reserves are celebrating promotion to the ChromaSport Peterborough League… despite losing 2-1 at Thorney on the final day of the Division One season. Needing a point to clinch second place on Saturday, the Tigers found themselves 2-0 down at the home of the champions before striker Tom Waumsley pulled one back in the second half. It mattered little, ...