CLUBS DEMOTED IN MATCH FIXING SCANDAL
28 June 2008
FA Chief Sir Trevor Brooking has today announced the immediate demotion of 48 non-league clubs. This comes after the allegations laid upon the clubs by a referee, who was bribed to fix a match. A trial was held yesterday in the Crown Court, where a unanymous guilty verdict was reached. The clubs, which have been named as all 24 Blue Square Premier Clubs, and a further 24 from the Blue Square North/South divisions, have all been given a one-division demotion. Additionally, the seventeen referees involved in the incident have been sacked.
This left the FA with a dilemma - there were no clubs left to play in the Blue Square Premier. So, a unique idea was brought up. Twenty four of Britain's richest men were to be given the opportunity to found their own clubs, and enter them in the Blue Square Premier. Mr Brooking said it would be difficult for them at first, especially finding players and managers, but with over a month still to go before the season starts, he said it was definately "possible".
The twenty four millionaires and their clubs are listed below.
- AFC Hazell - Christopher Hazell (hazellhead)
- BakkersElite - John Bakker (VeggiSmurf)
- Birdy Athletic - Chris Bird (BirdyFC)
- The Brave XI - Rod Petrie (ryryhibs)
- Broughton Fire - Alex Seth (Seth7724)
- Crookes AFC - Joshua Darling (Wednesdayboy)
- Dancing Diamonds - Jock McMighty (SNAPCRACKLEPOP)
- Edinburgh Eagles - Brian Quinn (ryryhibs' brother)
- Evesham United - Adam Scarpellini (adamjigey)
- Fansite United - Gušlaugur Valgeirsson (Arsenalfan)
- Fernieside United - Ryan Lee Gibson (Gibby)
- Grimsby Albion FC - Ross Hardie (hardie43)
- FC Lambretta - Jason Brough (Broughy)
- London City - Kieran Roche (smalldark1)
- Manchester Rovers - Andrew Stewart (AndyEs)
- NK Feddo Galactico - Bombardi Al Saxotrates (Fedorico Roma Fan)
- Plymouth FC - Brett Ball (Bretttheonly)
- Southsea Athletic - Dave Smith (Dave.)
- Stargate Athletic - Deano Gibson (Gibby's brother)
- Starkfield AFC - Luca Pellone (Redhawk)
- Skillz That Killz - Glenn Humphries (Glenn1wolves)
- Wickwar Wanderers - Ben Fineman (benjspurs)
- Windsor Cape - Aldo Rabbiati (dafudge)
- Zamalek - Mohamed Adel (Mohamed ADel)
Sir Trevor Brooking has wished each of the chairmen the very best of luck, and it is hoped that the English league system will not suffer as a result of the summer's controversial affairs.
July
All twenty four clubs have now suceeded in hiring managers who they believe will help them to succeed in their ambitious efforts to enter the Football League.
The Managers
AFC Hazell have hired 45-year-old Englishman Steve McMahon, who has had spells managing Blackpool and Swindon, as well as more recently the Austrailian side Perth Glory. McMahon is said to be a determined manager, with high levels of motivation and discipline.
BakkersElite have appointed 53-year-old Englishman Malcolm Crosby as manager. Crosby has been coaching at Middlesborough for several years, and was more recently Gareth Southgate's number two. He is a very balanced manager with great knowledge of the English game.
Birdy Athletic have hired unknown English manager Michael Salmon. With no experience before in the professional game, Salmon, 34, may be a bit of a surpising appointment. Birdy chairman, Chris Bird, however has said that he has "full confidence" in Salmon's ability, and has advised his critics to "wait, and watch".
The Brave XI have announced the joining of 49-year-old English manager Steve Beaglehole. Beaglehole was a long-term youth coach at Leicester, and has picked up a lot of knowledge on the game. He is a shrewd tactician, and given the work he has done with young players, is very good at getting the best out of youngsters.
Broughton Fire have unveiled former Bournemouth coach Joe Roach. Roach, 46, is a great all-round manager, and Broughton chairman Alex Seth will be hoping that Roach's abilities will hugely benefit the club.
Crookes AFC have annouced that 56-year-old Englishman John Ward will become the club's new manager. With huge amounts of experience in the English game, "Wiley Ward" should be the perfect choice to take Crookes up the footballing ladder. He has previously been the manager or assistant manager at Cheltenham, Carlisle, Wolves, Bristol City, Burnley, Bristol Rovers, York, Watford, and Aston Villa.
Dancing Diamonds have appointed former Stevenage and Barnet boss Paul Fairclough as manager. 57-year-old Fairclough has also spent time at Arsenal, as a scout.
Edinburgh Eagles have hired 60-year-old Irish manager Colin Murphy. Murphy is a tactical and attack-minded manager, who has previously had spells with Hull, Lincoln and Derby, amongst others.
Evesham United have appointed 59-year-old Englishman Denis Smith as manager. Smith brings in a wealth of managerial knowledge, having been with Oxford, Bristol City, Wrexham, West Brom and Sunderland. He is well known as a very determined man, and will try anything if he thinks it may benefit his team.
Fansite United have chosen Keith Burkinshaw as the man to lead their club forward. The 72-year-old Englishman, who played for Liverpool in the 1950s, has since managed Aberdeen, Tottenham, West Brom, Newcastle and Bahrain, before becoming the assistant manager at Watford. He is the most experienced of all the managers in the Blue Square Premier, and Fansite chairman Gušlaugur Valgeirsson has described him as "perfect" for the job.
Colin Andrews is the man that Fernieside Athletic have chosen to take control of the club. The 59-year-old English man has lived in Belgium for a lot of his life, and has managed no fewer than 14 clubs in his career.
Grimsby Albion FC have hired former Huddersfield and Lincoln boss Peter Jackson as manager. The 46-year-old Englishman is reknowned as a very determined and ambitious manager, who hopes to delight the Grimsby Albion faithful.
FC Lambretta have hired 39-year-old footballing journeyman Chris Wilder to take over the reigns at the Innocenti Stadium. This is his first fully managerial job, having previously been the player-manager at Halifax, one of the teams involved in the June match-fixing scandal.
London City have hired 54-year-old Englishman Terry Burton as manager. Burton is a talented manager who has previously coached at Arsenal, Wimbledon, Watford and Cardiff.
Manchester Rovers have hired unknown 29-year-old Scot Duncan Harty as manager. Harty, who has been managing boys' and non-league teams since he was 17, is being described as one of the brightest young prospects in British management, and hopes to emulate the achievements of managers such as Leo Beenhakker, who has broken into the top level of management despite having never played football professionally.
NK Feddo Galactico have hired 36-year-old Ian Baraclough as manager. Baraclough has never previously managed, but has played for many clubs, including Scunthorpe, whom he left for NK Feddo. He is described as a very technical and tactical manager, who thinks and prepares very carefully before matches. He has a tough first managerial test on his hands though, with NK Feddo predicted to finish last in the Blue Square Premier.
Plymouth FC have appointed 54-year-old Scot John Robertson as their new manager. Robertson has been capped 28 times for Scotland, and has recently been Martin O'Neill's assistant at Aston Villa.
Southsea Athletic have hired 43-year-old Welshman Mark Bowen as the man to take the club forward. Bowen has won 41 caps for Wales, and has played over 250 Premier League games for Norwich and Tottenham. Since his playing days he has been an assistant manager, most recently at Blackburn, working closely with Mark Hughes.
Starkfield AFC have appointed 45-year-old Irishman Kelham O'Hanlon as manager. O'Hanlon spent several years as a player in the English game, and has since been the assistant manager at Barnsley.
Skillz That Killz have appointed 53-year-old Brian Little as manager. Little, who has earned one cap for England, has managed nine English clubs in his career, including West Midland rivals Aston Villa and West Brom.
Former England international Graham Roberts is the man that Wickwar Wanderers have chosen to take over the reigns at The Playing Fields. Roberts, 48, has managed a number of non-league English clubs before being appointed Wickwar boss, as well as Scottish League side Clyde.
Windsor Cape have appointed 55-year-old Welshman Ian Evans as manager. Evans, who has previously managed Swansea, was most recently Mick McCarthy's assistant at Wolves, and knows how to get the most out of his players.
Zamalek have hired 53-year-old Englishman Gary Peters, who has previously managed Shrewsbury, Exeter and Preston. Peters has a high level of discipline, and has a lot of knowledge of the English game.
So, with the managers hired, it really is time to get busy for the 24 new clubs. With players to sign, pitches to tend to, and many, many forms to fill out, the prospect of profession football is close, and for all the new chairmen, very exciting.
(Betfair have made AFC Hazell 7/4 favourites to win the Blue Square Premier.)
August
Saturday, 11 August 2007
AFC Hazell 1 - 2 Lambretta
B-Elite 0 - 0 Plymouth
Broughton 4 - 1 Fernieside Utd
Crookes 2 - 1 Diamonds
Evesham Utd 1 - 1 Edinburgh Eagles
Fansite Utd 3 - 1 Birdy Athletic
Grimsby Albion 2 - 1 Southsea Ath
Man Rovers 3 - 1 London City
NK Feddo 1 - 2 Stargate Ath
STK 4 - 1 Starkfield
Wickwar 1 - 1 Zamalek
Windsor 3 - 1 Brave XI
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
AFC Hazell 3 - 2 Birdy Ath
B-Elite 2 - 0 Lambretta
Broughton 1 - 4 Zamalek
Crookes 3 - 1 Brave XI
Evesham Utd 3 - 1 Fernieside Utd
Fansite Utd 2 - 2 Southsea
Grimsby Albion 1 - 2 Diamonds
NK Feddo 0 - 2 Edinburgh Eagles
Plymouth 1 - 1 Starkfield
STK 3 - 1 Stargate Ath
Wickwar 2 - 1 Man Rovers
Windsor 1 - 3 London City
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Stargate Ath 3 - 0 AFC Hazell
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Brave XI 2 - 2 Wickwar
Diamonds 2 - 1 Broughton
Edinburgh Eagles 2 - 2 Fansite Utd
Fernieside Utd 1 - 2 Grimsby Albion
Lambretta 3 - 1 STK
London City 1 - 2 Plymouth
Man Rovers 2 - 1 Windsor
Southsea 2 - 1 Evesham Utd
Starkfield 2 - 2 B-Elite
Zamalek 2 - 1 Crookes
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Birdy Ath 2 - 1 NK Feddo
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Lambretta 3 - 0 NK Feddo
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Birdy Ath 1 - 1 Evesham Utd
Brave XI 0 - 2 Man Rovers
Diamonds 2 - 1 Wickwar
Edinburgh Eagles 1 - 2 Grimsby Albion
Fernieside Utd 1 - 1 Crookes
London City 1 - 1 B-Elite
Plymouth 1 - 1 STK
Southsea 1 - 1 Broughton
Stargate Ath 2 - 1 Fansite Utd
Starkfield 2 - 2 AFC Hazell
Zamalek 1 - 1 Windsor
Monday, 27 August 2007
AFC Hazell 1 - 1 Plymouth
Broughton 1 - 1 Edinburgh Eagles
Crookes 2 - 0 Southsea
Evesham Utd 2 - 0 Stargate Ath
Fansite Utd 3 - 0 Lambretta
Grimsby Albion 2 - 1 Birdy Ath
Man Rovers 0 - 2 Zamalek
NK Feddo 1 - 2 Starkfield
STK 2 - 2 B-Elite
Wickwar 3 - 0 Fernieside Utd
Windsor 1 - 3 Diamonds
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Brave XI 1 - 3 London City
Blue Square Premier Table August 2007Awards
Manager of the Month - Gary Peters (Zamalek)
Player of the Month - Barry Hales (Fansite Utd)
Young Player of the Month - Mike Pearson (Diamonds)
Transfer info to follow.
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