Tiger Roar frontpage archive - 2008 Q2
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| Saturday June 21st 2008 |
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David Mehew
New City Manager |
In a surprise move announced by the club David Mehew has been named as City's new manager after Tim Harris decided to take up a role as General Manager and leave team affairs to his assistant Mehew.
Mehew, known as Boris brings a wealth of experience into the job having played professionally including a nine year spell at Bristol Rovers as well as a host of non-league clubs before linking up with Harris at Meadow Park in the summer of 2006. Veteran winger Adie Harris will be Boris' assistant manager.
On the playing front midfielder Matt Rose has agreed an extension to his contract for the coming season. He took a while to get going after an early season injury but played a vital role in City's playoff challenge. |
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| Lee Marshall and Neil Mustoe show off this season's shirts adorned by new sponsor Ssangyong Motors |
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| Monday June 16th 2008 |
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Ssangyong Motors
New Sponsor |
The club have pulled off quite a coup with the announcement that they've signed a five figure sponsorship deal with Korean carmaker Ssangyong Motors who have a local dealership at Blade next to the Esso garage on Westgate Island.
The final confirmed SLP line-up after the ludicrous elevations of both Dorchester and Weston now sees Bedford Town re-instated back into our league. It means that the only new clubs will be Evesham United (at Worcester City), Farnborough, Oxford City and Stourbridge.
- Banbury United
- Bashley
- Bedford Town
- Brackley Town
- Chippenham Town
- Clevedon Town
- Corby Town
- Dorchester Town
- Evesham United
- Farnborough
- Gloucester City
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- Halesowen Town
- Hemel Hempstead Town
- Hitchin Town
- Mangotsfield United
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Oxford City
- Rugby Town
- Stourbridge
- Swindon Supermarine
- Tiverton Town
- Yate Town
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| Thursday June 12th 2008 |
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Lee Marshall
New Signing |
Tim Harris has made his first two signings of the summer with the aquisition of Paulton Rovers left back Lee Marshall and Mangotsfield United front runner Luke Ballinger. Marshall gained useful experience in the league below City last season having previously turned out for Bristol Manor Farm, a club which has gained a reputation as a proving ground for up and coming young talent.
Marshall is joined in the City ranks by pacy attacker Ballinger who bagged fifteen goals in his first season at this level in a poor Mango's team that only pulled away from the relegation spots during the final few weeks of the campaign. Luke has previously represented Melksham Town in the Toolstation League where he scored thirty-six times in the season before last. He is also one of Alex Sykes' colleagues in the England Futsal team.
In other news more farce has occured at the league AGM's with the news that Dorchester Town have *earned* a reprieve to the Blue Square South following the liquidation of Nuneaton Borough FC and the second successive demotion of Boston United. Non-League football is becoming a bigger joke year after year and the suits can't see it. |
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| Thursday June 5th 2008 |
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Dave Wilkinson
Testimonial |
Surprise, surprise. Shock horror and all that, Weston have received yet another golden ticket back to the Blue Square South. Having finished in the relegation places for two consecutive seasons they have twice avoided demotion due to situations elsewhere, this time owing to Halifax Town being liquidated. It has been quoted elsewhere that "They are a turd that just won't flush away".
City have released a realistic list of pre-season friendly fixtures for the warm up to the 2008/09 BGBL Premier Division campaign including a testimonial game at Cinderford for popular ex-player Dave Wilkinson who was badly injured whilst playing for the bear killers last season. The days of getting big names down seem to be long gone but in all honesty why should the populous of Gloucester be afforded the opportunity to see big teams on their doorstep when they refuse to support their local team in their bread and butter fixtures? Bollocks to them. |
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| Date |
Opposition |
Comp |
Att |
F-A |
Scorer(s) |
| 14/07/08 |
Cinderford Town |
PSF |
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Dave Wilkinson Testimonial |
| 19/07/08 |
Pegasus Juniors |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 21/07/08 |
Witney United |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 26/07/08 |
Malvern Town |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 29/07/08 |
Weston Super Mare |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 01/08/08 |
Bishops Cleeve |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 08/08/08 |
Neath Athletic |
PSF |
- |
- |
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| 11/08/08 |
Longlevens |
PSF |
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| Friday May 16th 2008 |
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Dorchester Town
Old Foes |
The make up of the Southern League for the 2008/09 season has been revealed and those that have followed the club since the late 1980's will be pleased to see the inclusion of old rivals Dorchester Town and Farnborough amongst the teams who'll fancy their chances next year.
- Banbury United
- Bashley
- Brackley Town
- Chippenham Town
- Clevedon Town
- Corby Town
- Dorchester Town
- Evesham United
- Farnborough
- Gloucester City
- Halesowen Town
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- Hemel Hempstead Town
- Hitchin Town
- Mangotsfield United
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Oxford City
- Rugby Town
- Stourbridge
- Swindon Supermarine
- Tiverton Town
- Weston Super Mare
- Yate Town
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There has been little news coming out of the club regarding comings or goings from the playing staff but manager Tim Harris has allayed fears of him re-joining his old club Newport County by committing himself to the Tigers. |
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| Saturday April 26th 2008 |
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Neil Mustoe
Player of the Year
Jody Bevan
Goal of the Season |
And so the curtain comes down on another season of football for Gloucester City. Despite flirting with the playoffs it wasn't to be and the club continue to be the longest serving members of the Southern League.
Ironically enough the final game was away at Cirencester Town, a team who were mathematically relagated a few weeks ago but nothing is ever confirmed until the AGM in June so expect to see them handed a reprieve again just as they were last season. The fact that the Centurians will become our hosts next season and that they were already down didn't enter the Tigers' minds as they scored an easy 4-1 victory to cement sixth place ahead of Hemel Hempstead.
Tim Harris' men took a second minute lead through Jack Pitcher who got the faintest of touches to Will Morford's goalbound effort from Lee Smith's cut back. Morford made up for it with a goal of his own ten or so minutes later when his pace took him past the last man from Alex Sykes's pass and he finished with aplomb past Matt Bulman in the Ciren goal.
Pitcher then fell awkwardly after catching his foot in the ground and left the field with a serious looking ankle injury after twenty minutes. The incident seemed to take the wind out of City's sails and the game limped into the interval.
Cirencester enjoyed their best spell of the game at the start of the second half and pulled a goal back through Steve Robertson then they should pegged level when ex-City man Matt Shaxton was found in acres of space with just Kev Sawyer to beat but it's never as easy as it sounds when Kev is around and the City keeper saved brilliantly. It got worse for the home side as Morford was the grateful recipient of good pressure from tenacious midfielder Tom Webb who charged down a clearance that gave the striker a shot into an empty net with Bulman stranded in no mans land.
Jody Bevan made it four with a contender for Goal of the Season when he shielded the ball from Lee Molyneaux before turning on a sixpence and lashing an unstoppable half volley beyond Bulman, almost lifting the net pegs out of the ground due to the power of the shot.
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Congratulations to City Skipper Neil Mustoe who was voted Player of the City by Gloucester City fans following his consistent performances for the Tigers this season. He netted more than half of the votes with goalkeeper Kev Sawyer second and centre-forward Jack Pitcher in third place.
If you're a registered member of the City Open Forum log in and take a look at the and have your say on what's hot and what's not from this season for a bit of fun. |
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| OUCH! Jack Pitcher falls badly after controlling a bouncing ball and injures his ankle |
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| Jody Bevan scores his contender for Goal of the Season at Cirencester |
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| Saturday April 19th 2008 |
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Kev Sawyer
Penalty Save |
City's playoff dream is finally over as today's hard earned point against wannabee Champions Kings Lynn wasn't enough as a goal from Justin Keeler gave Bashley all three points at home to Mangotsfield to confirm their place.
At the New Lawn, for the final time before next seasons move to Cirencester, City almost shocked the Norfolk team after surviving a wind assisted first half onslaught which included a Kev Sawyer penalty save whilst the Tigers were unable to make the little possession that they had count. In the second half Tim Harris' men made more of a dent in the opposition back four and took a surprise lead when Jack Pitcher's header caught Lynn keeper Scott Howie flat footed and bounced back off the post to present Alex Sykes with the easiest goal he'll ever score. City couldn't hold on though and Matt Nolan equalised with ten minutes remaining but Will Morford will rue the soft lob that he presented to Nolan when put through in injury time.
The 291 Kings Lynn fans that made the trip to the New Lawn was the largest away attendance at a City match for as long as I can remember. Well done on them for their raucous and rowdy support and they deserved the ovation that they got from the City players at the end of the game. Good luck to Lynn at Merthyr next week because that kind of support would make a real splash in the next league up, wheras Team bath's wouldn't make a ripple.
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Great news off the pitch this week as City boss Tim Harris secured goalkeeper Kev Sawyer on a contract for next season. The popular stopper with a habit of saving penalties joins both Jack Pitcher and skipper Neil Mustoe who have both tied themselves to the Tigers for the next twelve months. |
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| Syko can't miss as Jack Pitcher's header falls kindly for him against Kings Lynn |
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| Tuesday April 15th 2008 |
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Will Morford
Two Goals
Callum Preece
Record Breaker |
Following tonight's BGB Premier Division results any outside observer could be forgiven for thinking that the final playoff place isn't worth holding onto. The Tigers have been flirting with it since the home win over Team Bath late in February but recent results have seen it slip from our grasp, or has it? As a poor Cheshnut team were easily beaten 4-0 at the New Lawn fifth placed Bashley were being thumped 5-0 by Saturday's opponents Kings Lynn at The Walks and losing key players to injury at the same time.
Cheshunt only arrived at the ground just after 7pm and were five players light with them unable to leave work early in the London area so they fielded a vastly changed side to the one that we'd beaten on the opening day and also named just one substitute as well as their manager Gordon Boateng on the bench.
It took fifteen minutes for the first goal to arrive, although Lee Smith had put the ball in the net as Jack Pitcher was adjudged offside in the build up previously. Alex Sykes was the scorer as yet another team gave him and his fearsome left foot far too much room outside the area and he drove a shot in that was too hot for keeper Nedvet Hussein to hang on to. Pitcher grabbed the second when he was put through down the left wing and had a free run on goal before he cooly slotted the ball past the keeper.
Will Morford poked home the third, a goal which should've been for his hat-trick after he'd been denied twice, once in a one-on-one and secondly with a brave block from Hussein. The goal that he did score came from a driven right wing cross by Smith and Morf got to the ball before the keeper to stab it home.
In the second half it looked as though the City players wanted to walk the ball in and were guilty of wasting chances but Morford got his second when Smith spotted his run to beat the offside trap and easily roll the ball beyond the grasp of the keeper. Further chances came when Sykes saw his free kick rasp against the side netting and substitute Jody Bevan was guilty of scooping the ball over the bar from six yards with his first touch and somehow heading wide after Hussein had failed to grasp a Smith cross.
History was made too tonight as Callum Preece, at just 15 years and 30 days old came off the bench with five minutes to go to become the youngest ever player to appear in a Gloucester City shirt. Sat alongside him was Adie Harris, twenty-nine years his senior!
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| GOAL! Cheshunt keeper Nedvet Hussein is helpless to stop Alex Sykes' shot finding the net |
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| Sunday April 13th 2008 |
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Helen Wood
Guest Appearance |
The City Ladies team finished a disappointing season (by their standards) with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town at Frampton United, thus denying their local rivals the chance of overhauling Penzance and blowing their chance of winning the title.
The Tigeresses starting eleven took on a nostalgic look with the inclusion of record goalscorer Helen Wood who'd recently parted company with Cornish side Newquay following their decision to releive her partner and their manager of his duties. She clearly had her opponents rattled as they doubled up on her and looked to keep her out of the game at every opportunity.
The first half ended goalless although the opponents had the better of the chances but City's Yvette Kemp should've hit the target from Wood's cross as she stretched to reach the ball at the far post.
Cheltenham took the lead on a breakaway attack midway through the second half but were rocked when another Wood cross from the left wing found Laura Meheran unmarked at the far post and her header looped powerfully over the Cheltenham keeper to dash their Championship dreams.
Awww.
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| Laura Meheran powers a header beyond the Cheltenham keeper to equalise for City |
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| Saturday April 12th 2008 |
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Lee Smith
Two Goals |
Despite a fantastic start where two Lee Smith goals put the Tigers in a strong position against the students (n.b. full time professionals) of Team Bath, City were unable to keep a firm grip on the game as two goals in each half led to defeat and dealt a serious blow to the clubs playoff aspirations.
Marc Richards could've been sent off for a trip on striker Joe Arnold who looked to be through on goal but it wasn't long before the same player had pulled a goal back. Takumi Ake (isn't it great how our taxes pay for foreingers to play football for a living) poked in an equaliser before Sean Canham put Bath ahead midway through the second half. Matt Cooper made it four in injury time but to be fair the game looked lost as soon as Bath had scored their first goal.
Bashley's poor form continued with a defeat at Hitchin meaning that the Tigers need to win their last three games whilst the New Forest team need just a win and a draw from theirs to confirm their place. They play at Kings Lynn on Tuesday before hosting Mangotsfield on Saturday and travelling to relegation haunted Bedford Town a week later. You never know!
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| Lee Smith smashes home his and City's second goal against Team Bath |
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| Saturday April 5th 2008 |
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Jack Pitcher
Was bound to score!
Neil Mustoe
Own Goal |
After his less than amicable departure from the Hand Stadium in the closed season (according to Clevedon boss Phil Bater) and his injury enforced absence from the away game in November City striker Jack Pitcher was keen to leave his mark on this game. And he did!
Both sides had a number of first half chances, City should've scored through Marc Richards when he stole in at the far post but headed over and Matt Rose shot over with his left foot from eight yards whilst Clevedon's on loan winger Kerry Morgan caused the Tigers back line no end of problems but at the break it was goalless and had the feel of an end of season game.
In the second half the Tigers attacked towards their own fans as the sun played peekaboo through some dark looking clouds over Forest Green and it was when the sun had it's hat on that the City fans went "Hip, hip, hip, hooray" when Alex Sykes played in Pitcher to angle a shot across goal and in off the far post.
Jack's second had more than a touch of good fortune about it as he beat the offside trap, rounded keeper Danny Greaves but took the ball too far wide and struck a shot with his left foot that got air and smacked against the underside of the crossbar before hitting the unfortunate Josh Brigham and finding the back of the net. I think Jack would complain strongly if anyone suggested words beginning with "O" and "G"!
Clevedon got what turned out to be a consolation goal when a Danny Haines corner was hit back across the goal by Morgan where Neil Mustoe slid the ball into his own net, just preventing Brigham from doing the same. It made for an uncomfortable last few minutes as the Sea-Sea-Seasiders tried to force an equaliser and came close when Scott Hendy just failed to get a touch on a deep free kick to the far post. Phew!.
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| Lets play Twister! Josh Brigham untangles himself after helping Jack's 2nd over the line |
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| Tuesday April 1st 2008 |
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Lee Smith
Goalscorer |
City boss Tim Harris, away watching players with next season in mind left the team in the capable hands of his Assistant Manager David Mehew as the Tigers tore into Merthyr Tydfil to keep their slim hopes of a playoff berth alive.
There was an aire of "Can we start again?" after the Martyrs got off to a dream start when a clearance took a fortunate deflection off of young defender Matt Sysum for Merthyr striker Michael Jones to get a free run on goal and shot low into Kev Sawyers left hand corner, despite the City keeper getting a hand to the shot. After Jack Pitcher had been denied a penalty when he was kicked in the head by Dale Griffiths, Sawyer returned the defensive clearance back upfield where Will Morford controlled the ball and shot low into the far corner from the edge of the area.
With a strong wind blowing across the New Lawn and once the Tigers had weathered the Martyr's storm early doors in the second half it was one way traffic and a Neil Mustoe free kick proved to be Merthyr's undoing as it looped in the air and the header that Griffiths had stretched to get to the ball only succeeded in turning it past his own goalkeeper. The struggleing Welshmen looked a beaten side once City had taken the lead and it was no surprise when City grabbed a third in the dying minutes when Morford spotted Lee Smith unmarked and the right winger strode into the penalty area before unleashing a powerful drive past highly rated goalkeeper Ashley Morris.
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| Ashley Morris looks devastated as the ball sits in the back of his net after Will Morford's equaliser |
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Tiger Roar news streams from January, Feb & March 2008 can be found
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