Wellingborough Town Football Club
MARCH NEWSLETTER by Laurie Owen

Northants League Cup Final
The Northants Senior Youth League Cup Final has been scheduled for Monday 18th April, 2005 at the Fernie Fields Sports Ground, the home of Northampton Sileby Rangers FC who are currently top of the UCL Division One League, KO 7.30pm.
Wellingborough Town U.18's are to play Rothwell Corinthians U.18's who are in the middle of a successful run of victories which has taken them into the top four of our league, so it is likely to be a keenly contested game. For those who are attending the game there is a bus leaving the Dog & Duck Football Ground at 5.30pm. (Please see Colin Ridgway if you wish to travel on the bus).
For those supporters who aren't familiar with the ground you take the turning off the large Overstone round-a-bout that leads into Moulton Park Industrial Estate and 250 yards on the left is the ground.

Charter Standard Award.
Wellingborough Town Football Club continues to develop and a recent meeting attended by the Secretary and Kelvyn Casson with Jamie Leeson from the NFA indicates that they believe we are now in a position to apply for a Charter Standard Development Award.
This recognition is given to clubs that build youth and adult teams and develop a plan to cater for woman's and disabled football.
Wellingborough town Youth Section currently has five youth teams, shortly to be increased to eight and when the first and reserve teams have been assembled in time for nest season, we shall have the requisite ten teams to qualify for the award.
The Secretary and Barry Fletcher are currently working on the Development Plan that includes disabled and woman's football and hopefully by June we should have this in place. The benefits of having this award is that you receive favourable consideration when applying for grants and receive ongoing support from the FA Professional Staff.

Forthcoming football trials at the Dog & Duck.
As we edge nearer to the end of the current season Wellingborough Town shall be looking to organise a series of trial matches for adult, youth, woman's and disabled football within the Club. Colin Ridgway with the adult teams, Danny Morrish U.18's, Barry Fletcher the 6-16 years, Graham Norris the disabled squad and Alper Ozdogan attempting to build a woman's section, will be those persons responsible for the individuals squads.
If you know of anyone who is interested in any of the aforementioned categories, please encourage them to put their names forward. We anticipate the trials will commence in early May when players have terminated their registration with their current clubs.

We shall also be requiring physio's ( bagmen) and linesmen for the first and reserve teams and ancillary staff to help on the gate, car-park, Ann's Pantry and in the Clubhouse, or merely as social members. Ask your friend, relatives or indeed anyone interested in becoming part of an extremely progressive football club that intends going places.

Ground Development
There are a number of small yet important jobs that require completion before the next season commences. These vary from pitch and training area improvements to cleaning and installing the showers in the changing rooms. We also require volunteers until the end of this season to assist with the bar, Ann's Pantry, Sunday morning Weetabix Youth responsibilities, selling the football cards around the ground on match-day, helping to organise a Pool and Darts team and playing in the league.
A notice will be displayed on the board in the clubhouse requesting the names of those who are willing to help in any of these areas.

Waendel Walk
Barry Fletcher has agreed to co-ordinate the names of all those persons who are willing to take part in this years Waendel Walk. Barry believes that if the majority of the members raise £10 by walking, running, cycling or any other means we could raise a four figure sum for Wellingborough Town Football Club funds. It would be a great lift for the profile of the Club if we could win the certificate for being the largest group representing one organisation. So lets all pull together on the 13th or 14th May and take up the challenge.
Please let Barry know if you are 'up for it'.

End of season dinners
To celebrate the first year of Wellingborough Town Football Club's existence it has been suggested that two end of season celebrations are held. The first one involving those up to the age of 15 years will be held at Wellingborough Town Cricket Club, Redwell Road, Wellingborough on a Sunday in early May.
The one for the U.16's and U.18's will be held at the Dog & Duck Football Ground, probably under a marquee, around the same time.
Barry Fletcher will be organising the younger players event whilst Colin Ridgway and Danny Morrish will organise the two senior teams function. If anyone is willing to offer their help and support to these two events please see the above mentioned persons.

Recent and forthcoming football matches
The girls finals on Sunday 20th March was a tremendous success. For those that attended, the sight of every seat in the grandstand being occupied must have taken your mind back to the halcyon Southern League days of the Doughboys. It is estimated that between 350-400 persons attended that match.
The other final between Northampton Squirrels and Kettering Unit also attracted a healthy crowd. The two events were a financial success as far as bar receipts were concerned and John Johnson and David Birkett are to be thanked for staffing the bar on the two occasions.

We are hosting two further finals of the John Henry League on Thursday 7th and Tuesday 12th April, 2005, KO 7.30pm. Please support these events, it's good to see a big crowd at the Dog & Duck and it helps to raise the Club profile.

Forthcoming Social and official events
On Monday 11th April Graham Norris, the Disabled Squad Coach, is holding a sub-committee meeting at the clubhouse to plan for the development of his squad. If anyone has any ideas or would like to assist him please contact the Secretary on 01933 226538.

On Wednesday 13th April Louise Rice, who is studying sport at Winchester University, is visiting the clubhouse to interview several members of the volunteer workforce attached to the Club. Her thesis involves the role played by volunteers in building a Club and taking it forward.
If any member of the various committees wishes to take part in the interview, again contact the Secretary.
On Tuesday 19th April several members of the Executive have been invited to a presentation by Team 18 of the Prince's Trust which is taking place at the Fire & Ice Club, Northampton Road, Wellingborough.
This gives the Club representatives the opportunity of cementing the relationship between the two organisations and again raising the Club profile.

Thursday 21st April is the regular monthly Executive meeting at the clubhouse.

Friday 22nd is the Race Night organised by Chris Trotter to raise funds for U-Pol FC. As you know Martin Goode, Barry Baddock and Chris Trotter all work at U-Pol and their contribution to the success of the majority of our social events is immeasurable.
This is a small way of showing our gratitude for their efforts by assisting them to raise funds for their firm's football team. Please offer your support in return.

On Friday 29th April there is a Coaches meeting at the clubhouse commencing at 7.30pm.

Saturday 30th April sees the successful Wilby Football team having their presentation day at the Dog & Duck football ground.
As you are probably aware our Vice Chairman David Smith and our groundsman, Steve Furnell, have strong Wilby connections so lend them your support in whatever way you can.

For those who seek to organise events at the Dog & Duck please remember that the clubhouse is occupied every Wednesday evening with the Theatrical group practicing for their forthcoming show at the Castle Theatre.
This means that the bar will not be available for other events.

Sportsman's Evening
Martin Goode reported that the final figure for this event was £6,500. I think you'll agree this was a magnificent achievement and grateful thanks go to all those who gave of their time to make this event a success. Special mention must go to Dave Clingo, Martin Goode, Gary Ward, Dave Ekins, Jim Harmon and Alper Ozdogan.

Sponsorship and Promotions
Our Commercial Manager, Dennis Randell, has been busy over the past month. He has secured an excellent deal with McDonald's the international company.
Rutherford's the town centre store has opted to be the main Club Sponsor and we are extremely grateful for their generous support.
Hornigold Haulage have also joined forces with us and for their manager, Tony Franklin, it's a return home to the Dog & Duck where he was a prominent member not to long ago. Dennis has also cemented an additional sponsorship agreement with Wellingborough Dental Practice. This firm have given the Club valuable support over the last year and we are indebted to them for their generous offer.

Please do not hesitate to give Dennis the name of any company or individual who you consider would want to 'come on board'. He is relishing the task of encouraging sponsors and if the trend continues we shall be in a healthy financial position so that we can develop the facilities even more at the ground.
It is indicative of the fact that the future appears to be promising for the club because so many firms wish to be part of our development.

Club Tit-Bits
We unfortunately had a break-in at Ann's Pantry where almost £100's worth of sweets, drinks and crisps were stolen.
A & J Sectional Buildings repaired the damage, which was considerable, the day the break-in was discovered.
We thank them for their instant response to an emergency. We now have to remove all the 'goodies' from Ann's Pantry after every match so there is nothing to steal if we are subjected to a similar attack.

Colin and Steve have repaired the end of the grandstand and welded sections to each end so that sheets of perspex can be attached to keep out the wind and rain.

The drainage pump that drains water from the playing and training area is working again. Thanks to Colin for repairing this and saving us pounds.

A pay-phone is soon to be installed at the Club to comply with UCL regulations of supplying the press with a land-line.

Dave Clingo has recently given us a deep-freezer for Ann's Pantry and he has promised us a television for the bar. This will be installed at the earliest opportunity.