Tiger Roar frontpage archive - 2005 Q2
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| Tuesday 28th June 2005 |
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Lee Davis
Back at City |
Today's reports mixed news from Meadow Park with the story that young striker Lee Davis will be back with the Tigers for pre-season following a period at Forest Green Rovers in the Conference. Incredibly it's now the third time that the former Cheltenham forward has linked up with City and this time his previous experience should see him notch more than double the seven goals that he scored in twenty-three appearances last season.
Joining Davis will be former Luton Town youngster Richard Mansell who can play anywhere down the left hand side as well as ex-Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Yate striker Richard Kear.
City were dealt a blow however with the news that former Southampton and FGR defender Micheal Green has opted to join Cinderford Town. Barring any more sudden departures Chris Burns looks to be assembling a squad that may well surprise one or two people. |
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| Saturday 25th June 2005 |
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Harry Redknapp
Pre-season visitor |
City secretary Jason Mills has announced a provisional list of pre-season friendlies on the . Chris Burns' men start off with a game against Steve Chase's Cheltenham Civil Service side before entertaining league sides Southampton and Rochdale. There is a chance that there will be one or two aditions but until now here is the full list.
| Date |
Opposition |
Comp |
F-A |
Scorer(s) |
| 12/07/05 |
Cheltenham Civil Service |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7pm) |
| 14/07/05 |
Southampton |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7.30pm) |
| 16/07/05 |
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PSF |
- |
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| 19/07/05 |
Rochdale |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7.45pm) |
| 21/07/05 |
Kings Stanley |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7pm) |
| 23/07/05 |
Bristol Manor Farm |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 3pm) |
| 26/07/05 |
Highworth Town |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7.30pm) |
| 30/07/05 |
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PSF |
- |
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| 03/08/05 |
Shortwood United |
PSF |
- |
(k/o 7.30pm) |
| 06/08/05 |
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PSF |
- |
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| Thursday 19th May 2005 |
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Lee Smith
Cirencester player |
Lee Smith, City's best player last season has signed for Brian Hughes at Cirencester Town after agreeing a deal which will see him become the top earner at the Corinium football pitch with walls around it. Lee has risen through the ranks at Meadow Park after making his debut just after the turn of the millenium and during his five seasons has ammassed almost two hundred and fifty games, scoring thirty goals. The news has left a lot of City fans feeling let down by the club and it remains to be seen whether Chris Burns' attempts to sign four new players for next year do anything to raise hopes among the T-Ender's.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that following a meeting of the League and FA, Cheshunt have been placed in the Southern League and Maidenhead United reprieved by the Conference South following the demise of Hornchurch. |
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| Friday 13th May 2005 |
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Northwood
Cockney's - 'shudder' |
The Southern League Premier will see six new teams compete next season. Mangotsfield United, Yate Town and Evesham United (who will play their home games at Worcester City's St Georges Lane) are promoted from Division One West, whilst both old foes Salisbury City and north west London side Northwood make the switch across from the Isthmian League.
Maidenhead United are relegated from the Conference South although over the last few days there has been talk of a reprieve for them as Hornchurch are having financial difficulties and may well be thrown out.
Do you have any opinions of the shake up? If so, tell us on the .
Here is the full list (milages in brackets)...- Aylesbury United (72)
- Banbury United (50)
- Bath City (45)
- Bedford Town (106)
- Chesham United (90)
- Chippenham Town (52)
- Cirencester Town (23)
- Evesham United (36)
- Gloucester City
- Grantham Town (164)
- Halesowen Town (52)
- Hitchin Town (139)
- Kings Lynn (180)
- Maidenhead United (91)
- Mangotsfield United (33)
- Merthyr Tydfil (58)
- Northwood (94)
- Rugby United (89)
- Salisbury City (76)
- Team Bath (45)
- Tiverton Town (96)
- Yate Town (28)
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| Thursday 12th May 2005 |
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Kev Woodham
Super Stopper! |
The Pete Chase Cup, an annual game held in memory of the City fan who passed away in December 2003 was played between the Supporters and Gloucester City Ladies FC at Meadow Park this evening. With guest 'ringer' Lee Smith playing a half for either team there were goals aplenty, usually coming from the boot of the City star and to be honest I've no idea what the final score was although the Supporters did win.
Pete's widow Sandra presented the trophy, donated by P&P Distributors to her son Steve (the Captain of the Supporters team).
Click for loads of photos from the game. |
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| Both the Supporters and Ladies Teams line up after the Pete Chase Cup at Meadow Park |
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| Saturday 7th May 2005 |
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Andy Varnham
Crucial penalty miss |
Kenny Blackburn's youth team were in action at Glevum Park this afternoon in the final of the Gloucestershire County Youth Shield. Their opponents Shortwood United had already won their league and it showed as they looked strong all over the field before taking the lead on the stroke of half time. However, Andy Varnham bagged the equaliser at the beginning of the second period following good work from Mark Pritchett. The Nailsworth team thought they'd taken the lead again minutes later when they had the ball in the net but the linesman ruled it out, although it was hard to see why.
There were no more goals and the game had to be settled by penalties, although they weren't without controversy as City keeper Dave Evans saved the first two kicks only to have them retaken (and scored from) as he moved off his line too quickly. Shortwood won after Varnham had turned from hero to villian and sent his kick over the crossbar.
For photos from the game, click .
In the meantime at Hardenhuish Park the final of the Southern League promotion playoff between Chippenham Town and Hednesford Town went the way of the Pitmen thanks to a late winner from Paul McMahon. The game wasn't without incident though as both teams had a player sent off in seperate incidents and the Bluebirds' boss Steve White was ordered from the touchline for the second successive match.
At the Victoria Ground Bromsgrove Rovers were surprisingly humbled 0-4 by Evesham and in the East Maldon Town saw off Uxbridge on penalties after the game had finished all square. |
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| Wednesday 4th May 2005 |
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Dr Wart Hoover
Penalty goal |
Ask anyone and they'd say that the only game of note in the country yesterday was Liverpool v's Chelsea, but those in the know would claim it was the annual City Players v's City Supporters face off.
At a rainswept Meadow Park Chris Burns' men came up against Andy Birchley's collection of half decent Sunday footballers, ringers and Joe Green. Whereas last season the majority of the goals came in the second half this time the ruthless Tigers roared from the off as Dave Wilkinson and Lee Smith were among the scorers when the players scored five without reply before the break.
Second half changes on both sides saw Burns' men (and his son Jake) continue to score whilst the Supporters got closer and closer as Derek Baker's impromptu lob almost found the back of the net, but when the Wolves fan took over in goal he fell flat on his face as he charged out to clear leaving an empty net for Lyndon Tompkins to roll the ball into.
City did get a consolation when Trevor Howard (Dr Wart Hoover) scored from an extrememly dubious spot kick. But in the end class told and the players won 9-1.
Click for some pictures from the game. |
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| The City Supporters line up before they take on the players at Meadow Park |
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| Saturday 30th April 2005 |
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Lee Smith
Last game? |
The Tigers brought the curtain down on another campaign with a dull goalless draw at Banbury this afternoon. The closest either team came to a goal was City in the first half though an Andy Varnham header and the Puritans in second half injury time when Neil Griffiths flashed a defensive header across his own goal. At least it wasn't p!ss!ng down like it was the last time we were there.
Click for some photographs and for a report.
The biggest talking point among the supporters seemed to be Lee Smith being dropped to the bench for apparently not signing a new contract and many wondered if it would be his last game in a City shirt. He came on the in the second half and injected much needed life into the match. If you're reading this Lee, the fans want you to stay. I've seen pretty much every game that you've played for the club and want to continue to watch you play for my team. |
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| Chris Burns and his team applaud the fans for their support through the season |
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| Saturday 23rd April 2005 |
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Neil Griffiths
Two goal hero |
City brought the curtain down on their home campaign with a laboured win over Kings Lynn thanks to two first half goals from defender Neil Griffiths. The rest of the game provided few talking points other than Chris Burns' booking for bringing down Lynn sub Danny Bloomfield on the halfway line and also cumbersome left back Gary Setchell's vile lunge on Daryl Addis that only brought a yellow when a red was the more appropriate course of action.
Click for some photos and for a match report.
Before the game City's Lee Smith was awarded with the annual Supporters Player of the Year award. Chris Thompson came a close second.
The win means that City are guaranteed Premier Division football next season whilst all four relegation slots have now been filled with both Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead joining the long departed Solihull and Stamford at the next step down next year. Goodbye and good luck guys! |
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| Neil Griffiths scores his and City's second against Kings Lynn |
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| Saturday 16th April 2005 |
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Dave Wilkinson
Consolation Goal |
With just two games of the season to go Chris Burns will be greatful for a rest after seeing his patched up, injury ravaged and inexperienced looking team soundly beaten 1-4 at Hednesford. On a ploughed field of a pitch the home team shocked City with two goals in two minutes early doors and were four goals up within half an hour. Dave Wilkinson pulled one back on the stroke of half time but despite large periods of domination in the second period City fell to defeat.
Click for some photos and for a match report.
As much as it pains me to say I was pleased to see Bath beat Hemel as it made us almost mathematically certain of staying in the Premier next year. At the top though the Roman's A4 neighbours Chippenham Town will rue their draw at home to Bedford as it allowed Histon to leapfrog them into top spot. The Stutes and the Bluebirds play each other on the final day in what will be a fascinating encounter. |
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| Saturday 9th April 2005 |
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Neil Mustoe
Closest to scoring |
There are only a couple of things that are certain in life. One is that you'll pay tax, another is that one day it will all end (later rather than sooner) and the third is that City will always lose at Rugby. Despite having the best of a large part of the first half the home team scored five minutes before and after the break in what was a comfortable victory for the relegation haunted home side. Oh well, at least we don't have to go there for another year!
Click for photos from the game and for a match report.
Our winless afternoon in the Midlands didn't plunge us back into the relegation mire though as none of the teams below us who could cause us any trouble won. City stay in fourteenth place whilst Solihull Borough become the second club to go down leaving Dunstable Town looking doomed and Hemel Hempstead seven points behind the Tigers with a game in hand. |
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| Saturday 2nd April 2005 |
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Chris Burns
Goal and an injury |
City made light work of Hitchin Town at a sun baked Meadow Park this afternoon. The visitors started stronger than the Tigers but once the game had settled down it was City with two strikes in four minutes that put daylight between the two teams. Chris Burns notched the first with a sweetly struck free kick whilst Lee Smith capitalised on uncertainty between the defence and keeper to slot into an empty net for the second.
Josh Sozzo pulled one back for the Canaries a few minutes into the second half but a well hit shot from outside the area by Keith Knight gave all three points to the Tigers as any talk of relegation is finally put to bed.
The victory cements City's fourteenth place in the and put us eight points clear of the dropzone whilst draw a goalless draw at Bath City saw Stamford become the first club to be relegated this term.
Click for photos from the game and for a match report.
For those folks that missed the game at Halesowen last Saturday City fan Andee Stephenson has kindly allowed me to upload his video of Lee Smith's opening goal. Click to see it.
The Ladies team are in action tomorrow against Team Bath in what is their penultimate game of the season. The match kicks off at 2pm and is being played at the Sports Training Village at Claverton Down. |
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| Lee Smith rolls in City's second whilst Keith Knight thumps home the third |
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Tiger Roar news streams from January, Feb & March 2005 can be found
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