2006/07 Pre-Season Training Starts Sunday 16th July

Spangels' management have announced today that pre-season training will begin on Sunday 16th July, with friendlies to following during August.

Pritchard is keen to gather together as many members of the squad as possible during Sundays in July and August prior to the season kicking off on Sunday September 10th.

Training will start at 10.30am and will be held at Spangels' home pitch - King George V Playing Fields, Braintree.

Fun In The Sun

It was hot stuff today for Sporting 77's annual 6-a-side tournament, wth temperatures souring immediately from 9am to the low 80's and despite Spangels only collecting three points in their group, the competition as a whole was an enjoyable one.

First up were Sporting 77 B and with players pulling on kit seconds before kick-off, the lack of warm-up time cost Spangels dear. Four goals were conceded in the first period, with the first goal coming without a Spangels player touching the ball! The second half saw improvement and the final score ended up 4-0. Next it was Brendans B, who managed to sneak one passed Ramsay and end up running out 1-0 winners.

Spangels' only success came against AFC Foxco, a team they are used to beating at 11-a-side. Whiteman chested a delightful Sayer cross into the net and the team as a whole combined to ensure a 1-0 win was achieved.

Their final game came against Clacton Town B, who were topping the group at this stage. Despite conceding early via Theobald's foot, Spangels equalised through Pritchard following good build up play and a Whiteman cross. However, Spangels couldn't hold on for a credible point as Clacton picked up a winner with seconds remaining.

So all-in-all not a winning day, but certainly an enjoyable run out for all...

Squad; Ramsay, Pritchard, Tivey, Theobald, Sayer, Wilson, Whiteman.

New Cup Structure For BNESL

A new format for BNESL league cup competitions was presented to and agreed by member clubs at the AGM on Monday.

All will now be played on a first stage group basis, with clubs randomly drawn into two evenly proportioned groups. Teams will play each other twice (home and away), with the winners of one group playing the runners' up of the other (and vice versa) in a two legged semi-final.

Competition finals will still be held as a one off game at either Halstead Town or Witham Town.

This means as well as Spangels 18 league games, they are gauranteed at least eight additional league cup games, as well as entry into the Charlie Turnbull Trophy and Essex Junior Trophy.

A busy season awaits...!

Sporting 77 6-a-Side Tournament

Spangel's annual entry into Sporting 77's 6-a-side tournament gives the opportunity for eight squad members to remember how to kick a ball again!

Pritchard has managed to coax Ramsay, Tivey, Theobald, Wilson, Whiteman, Sayer and possibly Lynch (subject to ankle injury) into agreeing to partake in this veritable footballing feast.

The action kicks off at 9am (!) on Saturday 17th June at Sporting's home pitch. There are four groups of five teams, with the winners of each going through to the semi-finals. Spangel's group consists of Division Three rivals AFC Foxco, Brendans B, Sporting 77 B and Clacton United B.

Reports and results of all the games will appear here!