Football

South Holland duo Spalding United and Holbeach United learned their fate in the three FA competitions today (Friday). In the FA Cup, Holbeach will make the trip to Diss Town in the extra preliminary round on August 16 – with the winners banking £1,500 in prize money. There is then a chance of a Lincolnshire derby in the preliminary stage, ...

Spalding United have swooped to seal a deal that brings speedy striker Jordan Thomas back to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field. The forward, who impressed during a loan spell from Lincoln City last season, has had a change of heart over re-locating to Newcastle. Thomas will be the fourth striker on the Tulips’s books, joining Andrew Tidswell, Mark Jones ...

There has been much to admire about the 2014 Brazil World Cup so far. Glorious goals (take a bow Tim Cahill, Robin van Persie and James Rodriguez), all-out attacking football (I’m looking at you Colombia, Holland and Brazil) and ingenious innovation (OK, I may have over-egged the referees’ invisible spray a little too much). But Luis Suarez and Uruguay have ...

Pinchbeck United have swooped to secure their first two signings of the summer. Returning player/boss Ian Dunn has raided Boston United Reserves for central midfielder Elliott Price, while also moving to secure the services of former Peterborough United youth talent Tyler Wright – who shone at Knight Street last season. Dunn, who won the ChromaSport Peterborough League Premier Division and ...

On the eve of his third pre-season with the club, Spalding United manager Pat Rayment has spoken of his regret that last year’s UCL Premier Division winning squad has broken up. The Tulips waltzed to the league title last term, winning 32 of their 36 games en-route to amassing 97 points and promotion to Evo-Stik League Division One South. But ...

Holbeach United completed the signing of versatile former Boston United man Liam Parker after their first pre-season training session of the summer last night (Thursday). Parker, who spent last season with Skegness Town, can play at either full back, centre back or in midfield and has been one of the Tigers’ top transfer targets of the summer. Co-boss Graham Drury ...

Graham Drury will return to the training pitch tonight after a 15-month break – and he can’t wait to see his new Holbeach United players. The former Stamford and Boston United chief, who is working as co-boss with John Chand, will take the Tigers’ first pre-season training session at Carter’s Park. There will be a host of new faces on ...

Holbeach United co-boss Graham Drury has completed his fourth capture from UCL Division One champions Oadby Town in 48 hours. He’s added captain Jake Duffy to goalkeeper Luke Pickering and strikeforce Courtney Meade and Lee Dube. Drury likened Duffy to the style of England midfielder Frank Lampard in the way he operates and knows where the net is. He said: “Jake ...

Peter Bore has become Spalding United’s ninth signing currently on contract. Manager Pat Rayment is purring after adding yet another quality cog to the Tulips’ machine. Bore, who was at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on loan briefly last season, has been brought in after news that James Cullingworth will miss all of pre-season and some of the Evo-Stik ...

Three more quality signings have been added to the Holbeach United squad – with the promise of more imminently. Defender Ross Watson, striker/defender Danny Spencer and goalkeeper Luke Pickering have all agreed terms. Tigers co-manager Graham Drury is delighted with the captures as he and John Chand build a squad capable of challenging for the United Counties League Premier Division ...

Holbeach United have revealed their ambition to win promotion from the United Counties League. The Tigers say they will ensure moving up the non-league ladder is feasible, if the team finishes in a top position in the Premier Division next season. The Tigers won the title in 2003 and again in 2013, but had not applied for promotion on either ...

Holbeach United have unveiled a spree of new signings as they strive for a squad capable of winning the United Counties League Premier Division. Experienced defender Ross Watson was captured early this week and he was joined yesterday by fellow ex-King’s Lynn Town striker/defender Danny Spencer, who has Conference North experience with Nuneaton and Solihull. Tigers co-manager Graham Drury then made a ...

Spalding Sunday League stalwart Barry Barnes was among the award winners at the league’s annual general meeting. Barnes has been on the committee for many years and has been rewarded for services to the league. The highest goalscorer award went to Sutton Bridge Sunday captain Ben Partridge, who hit the net 31 times in his 27 appearances. Meanwhile, Spalding Seas ...

Joint Holbeach United managers Graham Drury and John Chand have worked their magic to complete deals for two exciting wingers. Drury swooped to snap up ex-Spalding United ace Jake Gibson on Tuesday, just days after Chand brokered a deal to bring former Kettering Town left-sider Ashley Fuller to Carter’s Park. Pacy left-footer Gibson was a firm favourite for Drury during ...

Pat Rayment admits he has “mixed emotions” over Ian Ross’ decision to turn down Spalding United. The former Boston United skipper, who is now likely to join Belper Town, had agreed terms with the Tulips prior to going on holiday. But he’s since informed Tulips chief Pat Rayment that he’s decided against the switch to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing ...

Flying winger Ashley Fuller has become the latest signing for ambitious Holbeach United. The Tigers swooped to snap-up the former Kettering Town left-sider on Saturday, with co-boss John Chand hailing him as an exciting addition to the United Counties League Premier Division. Chand worked with Fuller during his days as Magnet Tavern chief, with the duo reaching the final of ...

Former Gainsborough Trinity captain Michael Leary has become the latest – and final – big name summer signing for Spalding United. The 31-year-old midfielder, who also lists Luton Town, Barnet and Grimsby Town among his former clubs, sealed a deal with the Tulips on Thursday morning. Spalding supremo Pat Rayment is absolutely ecstatic after completing the capture of another top ...

Wing wizard Ashley Fuller heads a sizeable list of targets for ambitious Holbeach United. Fuller, who is a long-term target of joint Tigers chief John Chand, was a key part of the Kettering Town side that reached The Calor League Division One Central play-offs last season. He’s one of five targets Chand and co-boss Graham Drury are looking to bring ...

Holbeach United hot-shot Tom Waumsley has surprisingly crossed the South Holland divide after completing a move to Spalding United. The former Bourne Town and Deeping Rangers hitman, who was the Tigers’ leading scorer under Glen Maddison last season, agreed terms with Spalding on Wednesday. Tulips chief Pat Rayment moved to snap-up Waumsley after missing out on Lincoln City forward Jordan ...

Fenway marked their final ever season in the Spalding Sunday Football League with a trophy-laden presentation evening at the weekend. The bash took place at Brennans Sports Bar – which will become both their main sponsor and their new team name next season. The evening began with an emotional speech from club stalwart Joel Newton, who gave his review of ...