Blues overcome FA Cup disappointment

After the disappointment of their FA Cup exit just four days earlier, Leek Town breezed into the second qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy on Saturday with an emphatic victory over league rivals Hucknall Town.

Blues now go into the draw for the next round which will be made at Wembley on Monday and published at around noon.

Leek picked up £2,200 in prize money for beating Hucknall and a further £3,000 will be on offer for the winners of the next round which will be played on Saturday 5 November.

Leek fixtures begin to pile up
As a result of their successes in FA Competitions this season, Leek appear to be heading for a fixture pile-up that is already interrupting their league campaign.

During the cup runs, Blues have dropped off the pace and out of the play-off zone to 10th in the league table but with games in hand over those clubs above them.

On Saturday they dropped two places in the table after Coalville, New Mills and Carlton took advantage to leap-frog Leek with victories over Quorn, Market Drayton and Loughborough respectively.

Leek will lose another league fixture on 5 November when the home fixture against Lincoln United will be postponed in favour of the FA Trophy tie.

Meanwhile, Blues’ Staffordshire Senior Cup tie against Stafford Rangers has been postponed for a second time due to both club’s FA commitments. The eventual winners will face Kidsgrove Athletic away in the quarter final.

Coming up
Leek Town face a stern test on Saturday when they return to league action with a visit to third-placed Stamford.

Stamford have done well this season after finishing in 19th place in the table last term but they have suffered some upheaval in recent weeks after manager Simon Clark walked out to take over at Worksop.

However, The Daniels have now appointed former Carlton Town manager Tommy Brookbanks who himself left Hucknall Town two weeks ago. Brookbanks has taken with him winger Nathan Watson and defender Joe Pheasant.

On Saturday Stamford lost 3-0 in the FA Trophy at Matlock Town and finished the game with nine men after having a player sent off in each half.

However, Stamford who are unbeaten at home this season, may have both players available for the visit of Leek although Sam Mullarkey is reportedly about to sign for Corby Town whilst Greg King looks destined for Worksop Town.

Winger Wayne Corden (holiday) and midfielder Danny Holmes (foot) will return to the Leek squad for the game at the PK Arena.

Fans wishing to travel on the team coach should ring 01538 386356 for further details – the coach leaves the ground at 10.30am.

Blues link up with The Meadows School
Leek Town Football Club, in co-operation with Jamie Leaning, the Staffordshire FA coach for special educational needs and disabled children and young people, has established a link with The Meadows School in Leek with a view to forming teams in the County ‘Ability Counts’ scheme organizing coaching sessions in school.

The young people attending the school come from a wide area, some from Leek and the Moorlands but a good number from mid-Staffordshire and East Cheshire.

The school is superbly equipped and caters for a wide range of young people, some with serious to moderate physical disability but many physically able but with various learning problems.

The young people whom Jamie is currently coaching, belong to the last of the above groups and have a typical sporting ability range, some with evident aptitude and skill but all with an enthusiasm and eagerness to develop their skills further.

Together with staff members Chris and Julie Boult, they visited Harrison Park on Monday 10 October and were shown around by members of the management team, club directors and Barbara Hermiston.

The visit ended with an informal discussion over refreshments in the Blues Bar during which the young people impressed with their knowledge of football.

The club hopes to arrange a visit to Harrison Park for some of the seriously disabled youngsters in the near future as part of their series of community visits.

It is the club’s intention to develop its relationship with The Meadows and to extend it to other schools and clubs catering for the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and various levels of disability.

Fundraising
Recently, Leek Town’s younger junior section teams held a successful ‘Race Night’ in the Blues Bar raising over £600 for section funds.

The evening was organised by our U14 Pumas coach Allan Derbyshire and hosted by Anthony Knight, now chairman of Ball Haye Green FC.

Eight of our junior teams were represented and over ninety team staff, parents, friends and children attended the event. Our thanks go to Allan and Anthony for their excellent organisation of the evening and to all of the parents and friends who supported it.

The ‘Race Night’ for U12-U18 teams will take place in the Harrison Park Blues Bar on Friday 18 November at 7.30pm for 8.00pm.

Football Coaches needed
Leek town Football Club invites applications from female or male coaches preferably with an FA Level 1 coaching certificate or with coaching experience and a commitment to take the Level 1 course.

The club needs coaches to develop its work with children and young people with various levels of disability and to coach an already forming U7s team.

Please contact Dr Dennis Bates, the junior section coordinator on 07770752203 or Email djamesb@uwclub.net

Revised fixture
Evo-Stik NPL officials have announced the re-arranged date for Leek Town's away league fixture at Rainworth Miners Welfare after the original game scheduled for 1 October had to be postponed due to Blues’ involvement in the FA Cup.

The game will now be played at Kirklington Road on Tuesday 15th November, kick-off 7.45pm.

However, the home games against Brigg Town and Lincoln United also postponed due to FA Cup and Trophy commitments, remain outstanding.

Family Halloween disco
Next Saturday, 29 October, Leek Town are staging a Family Halloween Disco in the Blues Bar commencing 7.30pm.

There will be fun and games for all the family and fancy dress is a must – it is hoped the players will join in all the fun after returning from the league game at Stamford the same evening.

Tickets are £3 with concessions £1.50, available from Matt Beeby on 07712 584 356