Football

By Andrew Tidswell Many of you reading this will have sustained an injury at some stage in your life – whether through sport or general activities. Injuries, unfortunately, are part of life. Whether it’s children falling over on the playground or a more serious injury which takes much longer than a graze to heal. Injuries are psychologically a very hard ...

Spalding United have confirmed that they are to run a reserve team this coming season. The all-new Spalding United Reserves will be managed by Kev Nottingham (last season’s under-18 supremo), with assistance from Andy Coaten. They will play in Division Two of the Chromasports and Trophies Peterborough and District League. It’s the first time in more than a decade that ...

Holbeach United Community Sports Academy are holding football trials next week. Trials will be at the University Academy Holbeach (formerly George Farmer)playing fields on Monday and Tuesday (6-8pm). They are for those interested in playing for Holbeach’s thriving and successful youth section next season. Those children interested in playing at under-10, under-11, under-12, under-13 and under-14 (school years five to ...

New Holbeach United joint-boss Graham Drury believes that winning the FA Vase and UCL Premier Division are achievable goals next season. The former Boston United, Stamford and Corby Town chief agreed to join forces with John Chand at Carter’s Park after holding talks last week – ending his 15-month sabbatical from the game. Drury admits that he was surprised to ...

At a time when English Premier League clubs are being criticised for neglecting British talent, it was perhaps fitting that one of our best exports was scoring the winner in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final. While the talent pool in England grows smaller by the year, Gareth Bale is walking the lonely road as a Brit abroad with the world’s ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...