Toby Appointed Coach

Former Exeter City defender Toby Redwood has been appointed club coach to Sydenhams Wessex League Division One club Hythe & Dibden.

Newton Abbot-born Redwood , now 35, started his career with Exeter City and then had spells with Dorchester Town, Basingstoke, Taunton, Weymouth and Chippenham Town before joining Winchester in December 2003.

He helped them to FA Vase success before switching to AFC Totton and then Lymington & New Milton (now New Milton) in the summer of 2006. He has since had spells with the likes of Poole Town and Winchester again.

Panic, Panic, Panic!

When I logged on at 9am on Friday, I couldn't get any dial up to conenct with the internet. At first I thought it wa s a Server problem, but that didn't prove to be the case.

I did all the usual and obvious checks, but still nothing. Panic!

The deadline for copy for next Tuesday's issue of 'The Grecian' match programme for Exeter City's fixture against Millwall was Friday, 5pm. I couldn't send articles, nor could I access articles that had been sent to me.

I contacted my Mac repair man! Sadly he was too busy on other jobs to see me on Friday, but would be able to call on Saturday morning.

So whilst that was good news, it was also bad news as there was no way I could meet the print deadline.

Calls were made not only to Exeter City FC but also to Kingfisher Print, the latter very kindly, despite putting themselves under immense pressue, extending the deadline to first thing Monday morning.

Mac repair man duly arrived. After about all of five mintues I was back on line! Yeeeesss! Much relieve and a few quid lighter thanks to his expertise.

So no game for me today, just sat working on the programme, and I am now sure, bar any other mishap, all the copy will be at Kingfisher Print for 8am Monday!

Burscough FC : On The Brink Of Closure?

UniBond League Premier Division club, Burscough, are said to lie just six weeks from closure after its wealthy owner Chris Lloyd quit the club and froze funding.

Current Exeter City players, Matt taylor (who played in goal for them at Wembley) and Alex Russell both played a number of games for Burscough during their early careers.

The Liverpool Daily Post reports that members of Burscough supporters’ club have pledged to try and keep the Linnets alive – but their resources will run dry by Christmas.

As fans launched the community fundraising drive to allow the club to battle on into 2010, a true picture of its off-field woes was laid bare.

Fans, who dug deep to pay players’ wages last week and help fund the players’ coach on Saturday, claimed:

A number of utility bills remain unpaid;

A Birmingham-based printer, owed £1,000 by the club, now refuses to produce the matchday programme;

A coach company is considering its options to recoup approximately £4,000;

Manager Andy Gray has not been paid for thirteen weeks, but has vowed to continue, and the club’s three contracted star players could leave;

Accounts have not been presented to shareholders since May, 2007, and 12 directors have resigned since Lloyd took over the club in 2003.

Chairman Richard Aindow said: “Since the start of this season, we estimate around £30,000 has come into the club through season ticket sales, sponsorship money, FA Cup prize money and gate receipts, and yet financially the club is now in its worst-ever position.

“We understand contracts entered into have not been honoured, rates and utility bills remain unpaid, and coach companies and programme printers are owed money, which has jeopardised the future of the club.

“This situation has arisen due to the way the club was run, where over-ambitious goals were set and the club has lived beyond its means. This has left a once-proud football club on the brink of going out of business.”

New City Book Launched

A new book is about to hit the shelves charting Exeter City from that dark day when Football League status was lost, through to life in League One. A remarkable story of how adversity was overcome by fans, sponsors, management and players.

The softback book. 'Never Say Die,' has been written by Nick Spencer, a sports jounalist who writes for the Daily Telegraph. He watched his first game at St James' Park in September 1979.

Well illustrated throughout, the book has been thoroughly researched with the help of many people including manager Paul Tisdale. The foreword has been penend by City celebrity fan, Adrian Edmonson.

The ISBN number is 978-0-9564193-0-9 and it is worth £12.50p of anyone's money! An excellent read

Offficial Statement on Chester City

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON CHESTER CITY
From the Football Conference

On Thursday, 12 November, 2009, notification was received from the Board of the Football League that they required further time to enable them to seek and take legal advice on the award and distribution of possible payments to Chester City FC from monies held by the Football League Ltd.

As a consequence of this request, the Football Conference has agreed, that in the interests of the competition as a whole, to extend the date of compliance to Monday, 30th November 2009 for Chester City FC to fully comply with the financial payments ordered against them. The Board re-iterate their previous statement that any failure to make such payments in full by this date will lead to a move to call a meeting of member clubs to consider the club's expulsion from membership in accordance with the rules of the Football Conference.

MEANWHILE .......

Chester City failed to find the money which would have enabled them to extend the loan signings of defender Jonathan Flynn and midfielder Michael Coulson.

With a transfer embargo hanging over the club, because of previous financial problems, the only way City manager Jim Harvey
could maintain a squad with an acceptable level of ability, was to extend the loan signings with continuity agreements of players already at the club.

This latest news will come as a hammer blow to Harvey, who said at the weekend: "I have asked for the loans to be extended, we just need to sort the financial side."

Ivybridge Joint Manager

Former Exeter City defender Nicky Marker has been appointed Joint manager of Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier side, Ivybridge Town.

Managing the team, along with Brian Howard, Marker lives in Ivybridge and had been chairman of lcoal side, Tamarside, until last season.

Originally playing for Exeter City until October 1987, Marker made 204 league appearances for the Grecians, scoring three goals.

After being transferred to Plymouth Argyle, he added a further 202 league games and 13 goals to his tally, then signing for Blackburn Rovers in September 1992.

Marker moved on to Sheffield United in July 1997, before returning to Plymouth Argyle in February 1999 for a second spell at the Home Park club.

Posh Boss

Former Exeter City mdifielder Mark Cooper was yesterday confirmed as the new manager of Championship side, Peterborough United, following his successful spell at Kettering Town.

The son of former Exeter City manager Terry Cooper, he started his career as a trainee with Bristol City but never made any first-team appearances for the club. After two seasons with the Robins, Cooper moved on to Exeter City for his first spell with the club, managed by his father, in October 1989.

He made his Grecians debut in a 4-3 defeat at Peterborough United in october 1989, and was a member of the Fourth Division Championship winning squad. During his time with City, Mark went on loan to Southend United, where he only made 5 appearances.

In September 1991, Cooper joined Birmingham City where he played a total of 39 games, and scored 4 goals. Cooper moved on to Fulham in November 1992 as well as having a loan spell with Huddersfield Town.

After only fourteen games for Fulham, Cooper moved to Wycombe Wanderers in January 1994, but a month later was back at Exeter City for his second and most productive spell at the club which saw him play in 88 league games, scoring 20 goals.

Cooper then signed for Hartlepool United in July 1996, where he made 31 appearances and scored 9 goals for the club. He played on loan at Macclesfield Town in September 1997, but three months later had signed for Leyton Orient as a non-contract player and making just the one substitute appearance.

He then spent two years playing for Rushden & Diamonds before moving onto Hednesford Town and then Forest Green Rovers where he was club captain and named Supporters' Player of the Year.

Joining Tamworth in May 2002, just over 12 months later he was appointed Player-Assistant Manager at the club, before becoming manager in his own right for the start of 2004-05. He left Tamworth by mutual consent in January 2007 and four months later was appointed manager of Kettering Town, as he guided them to the Conference national division in his first season with the club as champions of the Conference North.

Watkins To Hayes & Yeading

Blue Square Premier club Hayes & Yeading United have signed former Exeter City striker Craig Watkins, who was recently released by Blue Square South side Woking.

Watkins originally joined the Havant & Waterlooville at the start of March 2006 having been released by Exeter City, for whom he signed two weeks into the season from then Blue Square South rivals Sutton United.

Watkins made a goalscoring debut for Exeter City at Accrington Stanley in August 2005. The Grecians won 2-1.

However, Watkins only went on to make a total of five substitute appearances and didn’t score another goal for the Grecians.

He was previously with Ryman League side Epsom and Ewell, the then 18-year-old taking the club’s `golden boot` in his debut season in 2003/04.

From there he joined Sutton in the summer of 2004. During the 2004/05 season he became a popular figure at Sutton, eventually sharing the golden boot, and maintained links with the U`s in October 2005 when he returned to the side on loan from Exeter, eventually leaving with a tally of eighteen goals from fifty-nine appearances.

He left the Hawks in July 2007 to re-sign for Sutton but became former Grecian Shaun Gale’s first signing as manager.

However, Watkins was available on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2009 but couldn't join Woking because Havant were holding onto his registration.

The Hawks were asking for a fee of £7,000 for the services of the striker but the Cards were unable to come up with the required funds.

However, Watkins' transfer was sealed when he decided to buy his own registration from the Hawks for £1,700.

Rico off To Moors

Blue Square North club Solihull Moors have signed experienced defender and former Grecian, Jon Richardson in time for the trip to Farsley Celtic today.

Richardson has been without a club since turning down an offer to stay with Blue Square South club Worcester City last season.

The 33-year-old defender, who made forty-two appearances for former Exeter City defender Richard Dryden’s team, was one of five players asked to take a pay cut for the 2009/10 campaign.

However, he has opted to move on after just one season as he continues to study for a physiotherapy degree in Birmingham.

Richardson turned down a deal to remain with Exeter City in 2008 in order to further his education, a move that saw him link up with the part-time St George’s Lane outfit.

At the time he left Worcester, Manager Dryden said: “I think Jon is going to struggle to do the Monday night training sessions and playing on a Monday so he’s going to look elsewhere.

“He put his degree on hold for a year and he can’t really commit to the training session.

“Jon’s a good professional on and off the pitch and was an experienced head which we needed.”

Chester City: Fit And Proper Person?

The Football Association last night revealed they are examining whether Stephen Vaughan can remain owner of Chester City ..... reports The Chester Chronicle.

The Chronicle has learned that FA officials will consider whether Vaughan is 'a fit and proper person' to own a football club after this week's revelation that the Blues supremo has been disqualified from acting as a company director for 11 years following his involvement in an alleged VAT fraud.

An FA spokesperson said: "All I can say at this stage is that we are aware of the decision and that we will be considering it in line with the requirements of our Fit and Proper Person Test."

The latest twist in the soap opera that is Chester City comes just days before the club discovers whether they will be kicked out of the Football Conference.

The Blues have been set a deadline of Monday to comply with a compromise agreement containing the club's conditions of membership to the league, and pay off their football creditors, who include neighbours Wrexham and Vauxhall Motors.

The Chronicle understands Chester aim to do this by using the money owed to them by the Conference and the Football League.

As of last night, Motors were yet to receive the £2,500 they are owed for Paul Taylor while Wrexham are also still waiting for the away ticket sales from September's Racecourse derby.

Ales Of The Unexpected

Disaster was averted on two counts today. It looked for a very long while that we would be 'dogless' in the Watermill at Ings. Then, lo and behold, just before we left, i nwalked two canines!

Secondly, it started to rain whilst we were in the Watermill, slowly at first, then steady, then a downpour, so we were indeed grateful that we had managed to walk around Kendal in the morning with no rain in sight.

The first ale of the day, in the 'Miles Thompson', a Wetherspoons pub, was 'Bat's Hat' (4.5%) from Banks and Taylor. I quite liked this one - a good ale to start the day off with.

On moving to the Watermill later on, the slection appears to have narrowed down to mainly beers brewed in Cumbria as the pub are proud memebrs of CAMRA's Locale scheme.

First up was'Autumn Fever' (4%) from Yates brewery, Wigton. Not unlike thef irst ale tried, but more malty.

I then decided to go for 'Old Peculiar' from Theakstons, having enjoyed it so much ion my previous visit. Strange that I hadn't tasted this for some time, now twice in two weeks!

Finally I thought I would support the Watermill Brewery itself and ended the visit with 'Colliewobbles,' a very enjoyable brew and seemingly quite a favourite amongst fellow drinkers.

Ales Of The Unexpected

This evening I am drinking a bottle of 'Three Sisters' (4.5%) from the Atlas Brewery, Kinlochleven. A pleasant, dark beer with a fruity aftertaste.

Brian Lightly?

A bit of a long shot, but you never know, someone may have heard of him.

I am trying to trace what happened to former City player Brian Lightly. He signed for Exeter in June 1957, played four games, but was then called up to do his National Service with the Hampshire Regiment the following December.

No one seems to have any knowledge as to what happened after that? He certainly didn't play again for the club. He came from the Portsmouth area, so could well have returned there. Any info gratefully received.

John Lobbett

As mentioned before one of the joys of working on the Exeter City A to Z of Players book is that from time to time you get to speak to former players.

This evening it was the turn of former City goalkeeper John Lobbett who lvies in Mid-devon and played for the Grecians in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The now 71 year-old Exeter-born player appeare din a total of 44 league matches for City, having signed professional forms in March 1956. This followed a couple of appearances for the first team in floodlit friendlies and several reserve team outings, during which time he had impressed.

He had quite a wait for his league debut for the Grecians though, getting his chance after regular keeper George Hunter had sustained a broken leg.

Lobbett took over between the posts for a 3-1 home win over Millwall in March 1959 and played in the final ten matches of the season.

He started off as first choice keeper the following season, but then lost his place to Alan Jones and as a result only played in 14 league games.

He added another 20 appearances in 1960-61, before being released on a free transfer and signing for Bath City, where he remained for two seasons, before linking up with Barnstaple Town

Ales Of The Unexpected

In a quiet and chilly Lancaster this morning (thankfully no rain), time was somehow found to pay two visits to Wetherspoons to ensure that thes festival was being run in the correct manner!

In the 'Richard Owen' I sampled 'Liberation Ale' (4.5%) from Thwaites Brewery, Blackburn. Nice fruity drink. Enjoyed it very much.

Later on I called in to the 'Green Ayre' where I tried 'Supernova' (3.5%) from J.W. Lees of Manchester. I wasn't impressed - very thin and apart from a slight chocolate after taste, it was like drinking coloured water. Very poor.

Exeter City A To Z Of Players

With only one home game this month - Exeter City versus Millwall - it has enabled me to really crack on with the ‘Exeter City A to Z of Players’ volume one project.

I have now completed biographies for all players A to L who have appeared in league matches (including when the first team were in the Southern League and the Conference)

For the past couple of days I have been working through my own records and adding various anecdotes and additional information.

This is quite time consuming, but nonetheless fascinating to look back at past players and adds a great deal to what otherwise would simply be a playing record for each individual.

Once I have completed that, I’ll be sourcing photographs for the book. Obviously we won’t have room or indeed have a photo of every player, but nonetheless the volume will be well illustrated.

The publishing date is October 2010, which may seem a long way off, but there is still a lot of work to be undertaken before it hits the shelves, not least of which is proof reading and typesetting.

I hope to start volume two sometime next year, with a target date of publishing in October 2012, but earlier if possible.

That Is it!

I reckon that is it as far as attending FA Cup matches this season are concerned. Nowt of interest for me. No matches involving non-league I can get to. Roll on the extra preliminary round in August 2010!

Not only is it a disappointing FA Cup second round draw for yours truly, but also for Exeter City. I cannot imagine they would have chosen to travel to Milton Keynes Dons?

I was hoping that Barrow would get another home tie - but they didn’t - away to Oxford United.

My other hope was that the winners of the Morecambe versus Carlisle United first round replay would get drawn at home to a non-league side - but they didn’t - Norwich City at home.

So there is absolutely nothing here in the North West that involves a non-league team for me to get along to. Northwich Vics at home to Lincoln City is very difficult for me to reach, assuming it played at 3pm on a saturday afternoon. Very, very disappointing.

Oh well, there is still the FA Vase next Saturday. Hoping to get along to Penrith of the Skilltraining Northern League, versus Hallam of the North East Counties League.

Ales Of The Unexpected

With rain bouncing off flags in Morecambe this morning, I sought somewhere where I could keep dry, and where better than Wetherspoons ‘Eric Bartholomew.’

Now I not really into foreign beers, but there are two that I make an exception for, and both are brewed in Belgium.

Chimay is a superb beer and I have been known to have the very occasional bottle.

But my favourite has to be ‘Carolus’ which Wetherspoons seem to like to sell on draught during their beer festivals.

Lo and behold, they had ‘Carolus’ on sale this morning. On asking for it, the barmaid (yes, the same one I previously mentioned on the Blog, with the rather nice superstructure and low cut top - It’s worth calling in just to see her), pointed out that it was 8% just in case I didn’t know.

I replied that I did know and that the brew was an exceptionally nice one which I had drunk many times before.

Not surprisingly the ‘Carolus’ was well up to standard and I took my time savouring it whilst the rain continued to fall outside.

David Pleat, Nuneaton and Exeter City

There is sure to be shiver down your back every time Exeter City get drawn against, and indeed, away to a non-league team in the FA Cup.

Only 12 months ago the Grecians were humiliated by Unibond league side, Curzon Ashton, but that is just one of several Cup nightmares that City have suffered over the years, from Alvechurch to Bedford Town and Gravesend and Northfleet to Bognor Regis Town.

Surprisingly there are several playing links between Exeter City and tomorrow afternoon’s opponents, Nuneaton Town (previously known as Nuneaton Borough).

None more so than David Pleat who played for the Grecians for a couple of seasons in the late 1960s, making 68 league outings and netting 13 goals.

Pleat, better known for his career as a manager and television pundit, started his managerial learning curve at Nuneaton Borough, before going on to the likes of Luton Town, and Tottenham Hotspur.

He commenced his playing career as a winger with Nottingham Forest, winning England schools and youth international honours whilst at the City Ground.

Pleat was then transferred to Luton Town for a fee of £8,000 but sadly sustained a broken leg during training in his first season with the club.

He then moved on to play for Shrewsbury Town in July 1967, before arriving at Exeter City 12 months later.

After leaving St James’ Park, Pleat linked up with Peterborough United, but only stayed one season and at the age of 26, moved to Nuneaton Borough as their player-manager.

This stood in him good stead when the opportunity to become manager of Luton Town in December 1978 presented itself, having until then been on the coaching staff.

Pleat was offered the manager’s job at Tottenham Hotspur which he accepted in May 1986, however he lost his job at White Hart Lane in October 1987 following disclosures about his private life.

He made a quick return to football though, for two months later he had become the manager at Leicester City, a position he held until January 1991.

In June 1991, Pleat returned to Luton Town as manager for a second spell at the club.

He went on to take charge at Sheffield Wednesday and stayed there until November 1997.

He returned to Tottenham Hotspur as Director of Football in 1998 and in September 2003, after the sacking of Glenn Hoddle, he took over as caretaker manager for Tottenham Hotspur, a position that he held until the end of the season.

In August 2006, Pleat returned to his first and home club, Nottingham Forest, this time as a football consultant.

Ales Of The Unexpected

Despite being in some pain on and off throughout the day with a trapped nerve in my upper right arm, which prevented me bending it without muttering an obscenity, I did manage to sample three beers today.

In order to do so, I had to resort to bending my left arm and using my left hand to hold beer glass. This was of coruse a tremendous hardship to overcome, but thankfully all three brews proved to be excellent, although not 'new.'

Calling into our regualr haunt of the Watermill at Ings, we were greeted by the sight of four collies and a labrador. So a good dog count to start with. They were later joined by another three canines to make eight in total.

The first beer today was 'Ruskin' from the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery. An Ok ish brew just bordering on the bitter side. I don't like overly bitter beers, but this was alright.

Second up was Theakston's 'Old Peculiar' which I haven't sampled for quite some while. Well up to standrad. Excellent and the best beer of the three.

Had it not been for 'Old Peculiar', then the Watermill's own 'Dog'th Vader' would have been the best of the day. A really good dark, fruity drink as always.

Meanwhile I'll keep taking the Hypericum pills every two hours in the hope that my usual drinking arm will be functioning again very shortly.