5 June 2011

The news of Ryan Bird’s new contract with the Blues hit the paper this week with the note on the back page of the Burnham Advertiser “Bird signs new deal to stay at the Gore”, much to the disappointment of some other clubs who had been casting envious eyes.

The news first broke apparently via a Charles Watts Twitter entry, although the article inside the paper does not credit him.

The headline “Boost for Burnham as Bird signs new contract”, is further enhanced by the news that Will Dunlop looks set to stay as well.

Martin Stone, says the paper, “expressed delight at the news....” with the Blues top scorer with 24 goals apparently being tipped to go “to pastures new”, with Slough Town being in the queue to sign him, but Stone persuaded him to stay.

Stone told the paper that Will had also committed himself to the club and added “It’s great news for us, getting these two signed shows other players that we’re serious”.

Praising Bird, Stone went on “For a lad who is just 23, Ryan is a huge presence in the team.  He’s a good footballer and comfortable in any position.  He’s committed himself because he believes in how we are trying to move the club forward.”

On Dunlop, Stone told the paper “...Will is probably one of the best three centre halves in the league.  He is a fantastic defender and we are so happy to have him.”

He went on to say that these signings showed that the side would be looking to be challenging at the top of the table and gave the team a platform to get other players on board.   Stone commented that he knew Steve Bateman at Slough had been interested in both players as were Hendon, Chesham and Wealdstone, but he was delighted with their decision to stay.

He had already started talking to players he would like to bring to the Gore as he started work to build the squad for next season, and admitted to being happy with the response so far, with a lot of them expressing keenness, but forms could not be signed until June 18^th unless we put them on a contract, but the club was not going to do that, but would continue to talk to them as they looked to get people on board.

In other news, the midfielder Tom Collins, who ended the season with Burnham, has signed professional forms with Stevenage Borough FC, for three months with a possible extension for a further 12, with the League 1 club.

26 May 2011

Now the season is over, I will update a few items of interest for the Blues as they come along.  This week, the news has to be
about whom we will be playing next season.

The FA have just released the breakdown of the leagues for 2011/12 season and the Blues are, as expected in the Southern League Central Division, but there are a few surprises, with The Southern League Central Division, apart from the promotion of Arlesey and Hitchin, losing three teams, gaining five new ones and retaining one relegation candidate.

The Southern League disposition can be seen at http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/news/

Firstly, the Central Division is the only one not to gain a team relegated from a higher division.  Surprisingly the three teams relegated from the Southern League Premier Division have all been placed in the South and West.  Tiverton is understandable, but Halesowen Town is a bit of a surprise.

Secondly, by a strange interlinking of Leagues, Beaconsfield SYCOB will remain in the Division having been given a reprieve.  The story is that
Retford and South Glapwell have withdrawn from the Northern Premier League, and Glapwell were ineligible for the Evostick League to which they were prepared to drop.  As a result of the changes, Beaconsfield and Ryman North Waltham Forest both got reprieves on the points
per game basis. 

Thirdly we have three sideways transfers, Chertsey, Fleet Town and Ware. Chertsey are there as a result of them taking the promotion spot from the Combined Counties league of Guildford, who are in dispute with the League over a ground grading issue, which should it be resolved , could still result in a change and Guildford coming through. The other two are straight geographical transfers with Fleet joining us from the Isthmian League South and Ware from the Isthmian League North.

Fourthly, we are joined by two promotions, Chalfont St Peter promoted from the Spartan South Midlands and St Neots from the United Counties League.

There are three departures from our league, Atherstone, who decided to drop down for financial reasons, although they were eligible for relegation anyway and two teams, Bedworth and Rugby Town, who have been switched into the Northern Premier South.  These moves were also a consequence of the same situation which saved Beaconsfield, as these two make up for the loss of Retford and Glapwell from the Northern Premier South.

This transfer, in my opinion, makes the Halesowen drop to the South and West Division all the more strange, given its geographical location. 

Rugby would have been strong contenders in the next season, so Daventry, Biggleswade and Slough Town who made the play-offs must be really fancying their chances. 

But then, so are we!