Casswell looks to transfer market

With Blues’ last three home games called off due to the bad weather, Leek Town manager Lee Casswell has been busy scouring the transfer market with a view to bolstering his threadbare squad.

Casswell was down to bare bones in Blues’ last game at Shepshed leaving the Leek boss searching for a striker, a midfielder and a defender, as well as trying to resolve the goalkeeping situation whilst regular stopper Danny Roberts recovers from injury.

The Blues’ boss has issued a seven day notice for a goalkeeper and he has also speaking to Nantwich manager Jimmy Quinn about extending the loan of Ben Chapman although Chapman can be recalled at any time by the Cheshire club.

In addition, Casswell has also issued seven days notice of approach to a higher league club regarding the availability of a midfielder whilst Blues have had a 20-year old striker training with them in recent weeks who has been a member of the Nike Academy.

Roberts goes under the knife
Leek Town goalkeeper Danny Roberts finally had surgery on his fractured eye socket last Wednesday and is now on the way to recovery.

Roberts picked up the injury in an accidental clash of heads at Sheffield on 19 November. He was due to undergo surgery to insert three plates around the damaged eye two weeks ago but the operation was cancelled when the surgeon booked sick.

Meanwhile, long-term injury victim Dan Cope has attended his first two training sessions of the season last week after recovering from knee surgery.

The young striker damaged the meniscus in his right knee in the final game of last season and last week he was given the all-clear to commence training with a view to resume playing again in the New Year.

Coming up
Subject to the weather conditions, Leek Town are due to play their first game in many years at New Mills on Boxing Day 3.00pm.

New Mills made a good start to their first season in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South after gaining promotion from the North West Counties League last summer.

However, their early good form has slipped a little in recent weeks and they now find themselves in 11th place with 31 points from 22 games just 3 places and four points behind Leek who have two games in hand on their Derbyshire rivals.

If the match goes ahead Blues are likely to line up against former striker Dean Crowe who is in his second season at Church Lane.

Meanwhile, Blues are due to host Kidsgrove Athletic on Monday 2 January in the big local derby which will surely be keenly contested by both sides with numerous players having played for both clubs.

Kidsgrove’s current manager Peter Ward has managed both sides whilst former Leek manager Wayne Johnson still commands a place in the Grove defence,

Others in the Kidsgrove squad who have also played for Leek include; Steve Hodgson, Dan Smith, Steve Brannan, Sam Hall, Dave Walker, Karl Charlton, Andy Kinsey, Alex Morris, Paul Taylor and Andy Taylor.

Meanwhile, current Leek players who have also played for Kidsgrove include Nick Ward, Tim Sanders, Ashley Woolliscroft, Matt Haddrell, James McCarthy and Ricky Bridge whilst Blues’ coach Kenny Scragg was also assistant manager at Grove.

Winter blues for Leek
Leek Town's match against Romulus on Saturday was postponed due to snow and ice on the Harrison Park pitch.

This means that Blues have now lost three home games due to the winter weather in just eleven days following the earlier postponements of the games against Lincoln United and Brigg Town.

The Lincoln United match is so far the only fixture with a rescheduled date - the Whites are now scheduled to visit Leek on Tuesday 10th January.

Blues are next due in action at New Mills on Boxing Day, 26th December, kick-off 3pm and the next scheduled game at Harrison Park is a week later on Monday 2nd January, again kick-off 3pm when near neighbours Kidsgrove Athletic are the visitors.

Leading scorer Matt Haddrell was due to serve a one-match ban for accumulated bookings in the game against Romulus – he will therefore sit out the game at New Mills instead.

Leek Town Christmas Raffle results
£100 food hamper - ticket number 851 - Tammy
£50 meat voucher - ticket number 331 - Carl Bestwick
Two Stoke City tickets in executive box - ticket number 1977 - Nicky Woolliscroft
Two Premier Uttoxeter Racecourse tickets - ticket number 1100 - M Brown
Leek Town half season ticket - ticket number 1952 - Kay Lawton
Meal for two at Prince of Wales - ticket number 1726 - Glynn Jones @ AB Taxis
Meal for two at Dyers Arms - ticket number 1978 - Nicky Woolliscroft
Meal for two at Mel's Diner - ticket number 1790 - Edwin Hood c/o Calum Hood
Bottle of Champagne - ticket number 465 - Kay Carter
Bottle of Whiskey - ticket number 1146 - Tom Sutton
Bottle of Archers - ticket number 1042 - M Denny
Two bottles of Wine - ticket number 113 - Mr D Bates
Bottle of Wine - ticket number 521 - Kay Bowyer
FCUK Toiletry set - ticket number 2412 - Joe
Sanctuary spa set - ticket number 2120 - Gary Newsome

The draw was made in the Blues Bar by Irene, in the presence of Matt Beeby, Lee Casswell, Gavin Bateman, Chris Hermiston and Tracy Reynolds.