David Mehew has finally tied the rest of last seasons squad up with the news that Marc Richards has rejoined for the forthcoming Blue Square North campaign. Previously teammates Matt Rose, Neil Mustoe and Alex Sykes had committed to the cause.
More news coming out of the club sees physio Ade Tandy stepping down and being replaced by new sponge man Neil Light owing to him not holding the qualifications needed in the BSN. More good news comes in the shape of Ssangyong's continued sponsorship.
There are unlikely to be any more new sigings between now and the start of pre-season where Boris and Adie will look at a number of trialists, namely Ledbury striker Dorin Collin, midfielder James Baldwin plus wingers Dan Wallington and Steve Davies. A new goalkeeper will also sign as both Kev Sawyer and now Andrew Delve have left the club.
The preveiously arranged home friendly against Oxford United has now been cancelled and replaced with a visit by Merthyr Tydfil. See the full list of games below.
City boss Dave Mehew has issued a hands off warning to those clubs in and around Bristol who might be thinking of tempting his players away from the club by trying to persuade them that they'd be better off without the long distances required in the Blue Square North. This follows the news that Jack Pitcher, Jack harris, Lee Marshall Lee Smith and Tom Hamblin have all signed contracts for next season.
The rest of the promotion winning squad have all been offered terms and Boris is hopeful that they will agree to remain with the club so that he'll be able to add one or two new signings to add to that of midfielder James Palmer who rejoined the club last week.
Friday May 29th 2009
Blue Square North City's League
Mike Symons Has signed again
At the end of a week of decision making at the FA it has been confirmed that Gloucester City's reward for winning the Southern League playoffs will be a place in the Blue Square Conference North for the 2009/10 season.
As we all know football is no longer played solely on grass these days and last seasons SLP champions Kings Lynn find themselves demoted whilst bizarrely, Worcester City will continue to play in the Conference South and will reach most of their games by travelling along the M5 through Gloucester, whilst we do the same in the opposite direction.
Therefore City's league next season will be
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Blyth Spartans
Corby Town
Droylsden
Eastwood Town
Farsley Celtic
Fleetwood Town
Gainsborough Trinity
Gloucester City
Harrogate Town
Hinckley United
Hyde United
Ilkeston Town
Northwich Victoria
Redditch United
Solihull Moors
Southport
Stafford Rangers
Stalybridge Celtic
Vauxhall Motors
Workington
If you think being placed in the North is bad news then have some good news, both Will Morford and Mike Symons have signed one year contracts to play for City next season. Boris has also stated that he has almost agreed a deal with an as yet unnamed goalkeeper and a talented midfielder will also be joining.
Leaving the club is right winger Dean Grubb who has signed for Conf South Weymouth, speculation that Lee Smith will follow has been quashed.
Saturday May 16th 2009
Kev Sawyer Signed for Weston
Just two weeks after that momentus day at Farnborough and nothing seems to be going right if you're a Gloucester City fan.
First popular General Manager Tim Harris left the club and announced that he'd rejoined his former club Newport County, then we read leaked speculation that we'd been placed in the Conference North despite Worcester being closer and now we learn that goalkeeper Kev Sawyer has signed for Weston Super Mare after two years with the Tigers.
Whatever next?
Friday May 15th 2009
Alex Sykes Player of the Year
On the day of the Presentation night news leaked that City are likely to be recommended to be included in the Blue Square North next season, despite the fact that every away trip will see us pass Worcester, whose team will compete in the southern section. Chairman Dave Phillips however was at pains to express that it wasn't a done deal and the club will fight tooth and nail to be included in the south and there was likely to be more revisions over the course of the summer with clubs like Darlington and Chester City in a perilous financial state.
The big fear for City with being placed in the Conf North is not only the added travelling costs but also with a number of players based south of the county driving from Bristol or Swindon to join the team and then heading to the likes of Manchester or Leeds might not appeal to certain players and even more so those with young families.
The Citizen have organised a petition against City playing in the BS North.
On a more positive note Alex Sykes was named as the Supporters player of the season at the Old Richians club last night, while the absent Lee Marshall scooped the Players player award. There were several milestone memento's handed out for players who'd past 50, 100 and more games.
The City players pose for a final photo at this years Presentation Evening
Thursday May 7th 2009
Tim Harris End of an era
Just days after City had won promotion from the Southern League the man who laid the foundations for the success has announced that he is leaving.
Tim Harris, who had stepped down as manager last summer and handed the reigns to his assistant David Mehew has accepted an offer from his former employers at Newport County to take up a similar role of General Manager to what he has been doing for the Tigers this term.
Churchdown based Harris was appointed to the club in January 2006 and was able to attract fresh faces to help the club avoid relegation before building his own team with his two full seasons at the helm recording tenth place and sixth placed finishes respectively.
Tim has also been a key figure in the negotiations with the City Council over plans to return the club to a new stadium in Gloucester and has stated that he will continue in that role.
Tiger Roar wishes Tim all the best in his new job.
Elsewhere farnborough manager Francis Vines has been sacked in the wake of Saturday's playoff final defeat.
Wednesday May 6th 2009
Luke Ballinger Scored for City
So City failed to end their fantastic season on a even bigger high after going down to a 1-5 defeat at Ashton Gate against Bristol City in the final of the County Cup, but lets be honest it was a game that we were never likely to win. That didn't stop the T-End travelling in full force mind and it's not often you see a full supporters coach going to a noddy cup game!
The Championship side fielded a team of fringe players and youngsters led by midfielder Scott Murray who, like Christian Roberts the last time we played there was several classes above anything that City had.
Slovakian international Peter Styvar opened the scoring for the Bristol club with a shot from an acute angle that would've taken Kev Sawyer's hands off had he got a touch. Styvar netted again when he coolly rounded the City keeper before former Ebbsfleet United striker John Akinde scored following a slip from Saturday's hero Matt Rose just before the break.
Just after half time it was four when Murray found room on the edge of the box to drive a low shot inside Sawyer's far post before Marc Richards sent Akinde tumbling and the striker picked himself up to slam home the resulting penalty. But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Luke Ballinger, a former Bristol City trainee who'd had a good game and capped it when he got on the end of Dean Grubb's pinpoint cross to head home a consolation goal.
City : Sawyer, Sykes, Sysum, Mustoe, Richards, Rose, Smith (James 81), Ballinger, Morford (Nash 74), Pitcher (Grubb 61), Harris J. Subs n/u : Harris A, Mehew
Luke Ballinger's header beats Stephen Henderson to score City's consolation goal
Saturday May 2nd 2009
Matt Rose Greatest ever goal
We've only gone and done it!
After 68 years of membership of the Southern League Gloucester City AFC have finally rid themselves of the tag of "nearly men" and won promotion to the second tier of the non-league pyramid.
Backed by more than five hundred travelling fans at a sun baked Cherrywood Road David Mehew's men earned their playoff success thanks to a near faultless defensive display and a first half goal from Matt Rose, a player who'd failed to find the net all season!
Kev Sawyer stood out too mainly thanks to his vital save from Michael Charles just before the break but also because he guarded his net with an assured display. Farnborough fans will argue that Rose should've been sent off for an elbow on Leigh Rumbold just after he'd scored but despite the high profile of the game he was only shown a yellow. Tom Webb had already been withdrawn after he was fouled by Stefan Bailey but he was hardly missed as Jack Harris filled his position in midfield with Luke Ballinger emulating Harris at wing back.
The scenes at the final whistle were a joy to partake in and will live long in the memory of the City fans who were there.
Did you spot yourself in the photo gallery? Would you like copies of them as souveniers of the day? Click here to purchase prints for as little as 25p each. Proceeds go towards TR's excessive bandwidth bill!
We're looking for your Farnborough experiences to feature on a TR article that will immortalise the day forever more. I'm looking for 300-500 words about everything from when you got up to when you eventually hit the sack, you can read what other people did here.
Woooaahh! Matt Rose is on fire!
Tuesday April 28th 2009
Jack Harris Bagged the opener
Lee Smith Score then injured
Mike Symons Eased the nerves
In her latest video pop star Lily Allen complains that she's not getting satisfied in the sack, so by contrast the Lily Whites were well and truly f**ked tonight as the Tigers made it to the playoff final at Farnborough on Saturday on the strength of a 3-1 victory over a hundred pulsating minutes at the Corinium.
A record crowd of 745, the biggest to have watched the Tigers in exile in Cirencester included many familiar faces including Jamie Reid, Lyndon Tompkins, Matt Bath, Chris Thompson, Scott Griffin, Jody Bevan and Jason Welsh as David Mehew's team went one step towards shaking off the "nearly men" tag that has haunted Gloucester City's recent history.
Cambridge, who have been one of the best teams that City have gone head to head with this season were presented with a golden opportunity to score when Lee Marshall was adjudged to have fouled Scott Neilsen after half an hour but experienced midfielder Adie Cambridge sent his spot kick wide of the upright. He would've rued that miss as within four minutes City had scored twice.
Jack Harris, out of favour recently but in the side to contain Neilsen stole in behind a pack of players to put the finishing touch to Alex Sykes' free kick before Lee Smith was found with a sumptuous pass from the Sykesmeister to bury a shot past Zac Barratt for his 50th Tigers goal.
The second half was hard to bear for City fans as Cambridge threw everything and the kitchen sink at Kev Sawyer's goal and were given hope when Neilsen, their best player by far pulled one back just before the hour mark.
City tried to kill the game as best as they could and picked up a number of bookings in the process as well as a serious looking injury to Smith who was stretchered off leaving question marks over his fitness for the final. His replacement Luke Ballinger beat the offside trap and was brought down by the keeper but was ruled to have dived and was himself cautioned but with the game into the seventh minute of injury time Will Morford found his strike partner Mike Symons who seemed to take an age to control the ball before sending his shot into the far corner and the home support onto cloud nine!
City : Sawyer, Sykes (Sysum 70), Marshall, Mustoe, Richards, Rose, Smith (Ballinger 73), Webb, Morford, Symons, Harris J. Subs n/u : Pitcher, Grubb, Delve
There will be a number of coaches running to Farnborough on Saturday. Prices will be £12 for adults and £9 for concessions, register your interest here or phone Joe Green on 07860 802839.
1st and 2nd Half Highlights from the playoff win over Cambridge City
Saturday April 25th 2009
Jack Pitcher Got City's goal
Jack Harris Got the elbow
City may've lost today but Cambridge could only draw at home to Yate Town so third place has been cemented and Mike Dunstan is, as we speak working hard to produce a programme for Tuesday's home play-off match.
Boris named a weakened team, probably with one eye on the more important fixture on Tuesday, a move which was understandable to many but not so to Oxford City and the punters who'd backed City at odds of 3/1.
All of the goals came in the first half when Marc Richards was caught for pace with a ball over his head that Drew Roberts controlled and fired home. Two minutes later Jack Pitcher levelled with a shot across the keeper after Dean Grubb had set him up with his only significant contribution to the game but Anthony Thomas secured all three points when he finished what was either a terrible corner or a great set piece routine ten minutes before the break.
City didn't really press their hosts in the second half until Mike Symons came off the bench and it took an elbow by defender Nathan Bowden-Hasse on Jack Harris to really rile Mehew's men into action. Hemel's Chris Dillon also provided a sweet comedy moment when he started lashing out at his own players. Knob!
City : Sawyer, Grubb, Marshall, Sysum, Richards (Mustoe 54), Rose (Webb 54), Smith, Harris J, Morford (Symons 73), Pitcher, Ballinger. Subs n/u : Sykes, Harris A
Tuesday's game is as big as it gets for this football club, if you're interested in the Tigers, if you just glance at this website now and again (and read this), if you used to come but don't since the floods, if you like football and are from Gloucester then please come along and show the club and the City thats this club deserves it's support. Get behind the Tigers give them all a shout and most of all say bollocks to the football on ITV. Now is the time to get behind the club, just in case you don't know kick off is at 7.45pm and we need your support.
Jack Pitcher celebrates his goal with the City fans at Hemel
Saturday April 18th 2009
Mike Symons 11th of season
Lee Smith Scored from corner
It's as near as dammit safe to say that we will be playing Cambridge City at home in the semi-final of this seasons Premier Division playoffs after our 4-1 win against Hitchin Town and their 0-1 defeat at Oxford City left the Lilywhites needing to win by a rugby score and us to lose similarly at Hemel Hempstead next week.
After the opening twenty minutes today it looked like another "Clevedon" was on the cards with City struggling to impose themselves into the face of a strong wind across the Corinium but managed to get their noses in front when Mike Symons was on hand to turn in Will Morford's header from a corner kick for his eleventh City goal of the season.
Five minutes before the break it was two when Lee Smith curled in a corner towards the far post and no-one seemed to want to prevent it arrowing inside the far post, which it did. Morford did claim that it had brushed his new barnet and briefly claimed the goal but it was awarded to the City winger who now stands just one goal short of fifty in his club career.
The second half was all about Alex Sykes thanks to his two goals, both quality finishes. The first came after the Hitchin defence had been caught at sixes and sevens on the counter attack and with City's top scorer unmarked in the penalty area keeper Martin Bennett had no chance of stopping the powerful half volley.
But the second was poetry in motion for the brains behind set piece moves during training sessions. As we've seen several times this year a corner was pulled back towards Sykes near the centre circle and he hit the bouncing ball clean without controlling it and it flew at head height through a crowded penalty box and into the back of the net with no resistance from the keeper. Alex makes my life hard when it comes to making a goal of the season video!
City : Sawyer, Sykes, Marshall (Sysum), Mustoe, Richards, Rose (Harris J), Smith, Webb, Morford, Symons (Pitcher), Ballinger. Subs n/u : Grubb, Harris A
The final of the County Cup will be held at Ashton Gate against Bristol City on Wednesday May 6th with a 7.30pm kick off. Watch this space for details of a possible coach to the game.
We will definately run a coach to Hemel next Saturday but are trying to fill a second. If you want to come contact Joe Green on 07860 802839, there will be pick up's at Meadow Park at 11.45am and the Chase Hotel in Brockworth at Noon. Cost is £12 for adults and £8 for concessions.
'ave it! Syko slams home his second and City's fourth
Wednesday April 15th 2009
Andrew Delve Shootout Hero
Lee Smith 300 Appearances
Stop the presses, City are in their first Cup Final since 1993 after beating Yate Town 3-2 on penalties because the game finished 2-2 after extra time.
The Gloucestershire Senior Cup isn't the most glamourous competiton in world football and that was backed up by the eighty-two hardy souls who'd braved thunderstorms over Gloucester to make the trip up to Ciren but those who did were treated to over two hours of decent football and what would've been a rugby score had it not been for Yate reserve keeper Adam Growcott.
A youthful City team, including new goalkeeper Andrew Delve and forgotten striker Karl Nash dominated the game but went 0-2 down with goals from Joe White with a third of the game gone and ex-City striker Michael Whittington after the hour, although both had a helping hand from City mistakes.
Matt Sysum pulled one back with a header a minute after Yate's second and Alex Sykes bagged his twenty-fifth of the campaign with a powerful volley at the far post from Dean Grubb's cross. Jack Pitcher had a goal ruled out for offside in injury time so it went to penalties.
Delve got down while to stop Scott Brice's penalty while Lee Smith, celebrating his 300th appearance for the club finished with aplomb. Ex-Tiger Michael Whittington found the top corner before Syko, usually so deadly from the spot was thwarted by Growcott. Another former City striker, Justin Pritchard showed more class with one kick than he did in his two half appearances for the club to put Yate 1-2 in front but Lee Marshall's effort oozed class as he drew the scores level and smiled as if he'd really enjoyed his turn.
Another Bluebells sub Sam Duggan, who had impressed in the league game on Saturday failed from the spot when Delve read his kick and dived low to his left to keep it out. Luke Ballinger got what turned out to be the winner because after he'd scored, albeit luckily with the keeper getting a hand to it Yate's Jordan Yeo smacked his kick against the crossbar.
OK so the celebrations weren't exactly wild but City are in a final!!!
City : Delve, Sykes, Marshall, Sysum, Richards (Webb 57), Ballinger, James (Smith 45), Harris J, Pitcher, Nash (Morford 57), Grubb. Subs n/u : Mehew, Harris A
We have footage of the penalty shootout but with the possibility of forthcoming play-off match(es) going to sudden death TR thinks it would be unwise to show them to prying eyes. They will go online at a later date.
Monday April 13th 2009
Luke Ballinger A goal at last
For the first time in the history Gloucester City AFC will be competing in promotion playoffs after securing their place thanks to this 1-0 win over Swindon Supermarine, a team whose players seemed to fall over a lot.
Luke Ballinger got the all important goal, his first since November 25th last year and it was just as well really because he'd missed a golden opportuntiy in the first half so when he cut in from the left wing and curled a shot inside the far post his relief was there for all to see.
It was a frustrating game which wasn't allowed to flow by a referee who seemed to have the whistle to his lips every twenty seconds and the fact that he was being assessed by Bob Desmond wouldn't have helped. Older fans will remember Desmond for his officiating at Meadow Park back in the 1990's so it was a case of the blind leading the blind!
Elsewhere Cambridge City won again to keep the pressure on the Tigers, meaning that we really need to beat both Hitchin and Hemel to be assured of a home midweek tie in the playoffs because playing away from home would hand the advatage to our opponents. At the very top Farnborough surprisingly lost at Bashley to relinquish their position as Corby took over. Could the title be going to Scotland?
City's next game is on Wednesday night in the County Cup semi-final against Yate Town at the Corinium Stadium, the kick off is at 7.45pm so be there to support the Tigers to the final.
Saturday April 11th 2009
Mike Symons Double Strike
Dean Grubb First Tigers goal
Last season Yate Town threw a spanner in City's works when they won 2-3 at the New Lawn in a game well remembered for v-flicker Tony Court's antics at the end of the game. However things are all change at Lodge Road now with long serving manager and one time City striker Richard Thompson getting the boot and half of his mates / squad who'd been treading water this year following him out of the door.
Now led by David Mogg, another former Tiger and one who played more than thirty-two times as many games as Thompson did for City they might have to go down before they turn things around and this 4-0 defeat will have done their fight for survival no good whatsoever.
Mike Symons did most of the damage with his first brace of goals since the 3-0 win over Bashley in September with the injury prone Jack Harris getting a deflected header and recent signing Dean Grubb netting his first for the club. Anyone who had that scoreline on the fixed odds will be a happy man tonight!
As far as the play-offs go Cambridge City are applying the heat and can catch the Tigers so it's imperative that we match their results else a midweek away trip to either Milton Road or whoever comes second out of Corby or Farnborough will be our reward for the seasons hard work!
City are next in action at Swindon Supermarine on Easter Monday (km/o 3pm). There is a coach running to the game and it's not too late to get in touch with Joe green to book a place, his number is 07860 802839.
Player of the season candidate Lee Marshall takes a throw-in against Yate
Tuesday April 7th 2009
Tom Webb Perfect Volley
Hambo thinks he's Rambo
Having taken maximum points from six games before the trip to Cambridge, just one point from nine might not be anything to shout about but at least tonight's draw at Stourbridge has put paid to the alarming run of defeats that had threatened to begin and derail the clubs playoff aspirations.
It didn't start well and City looked anything but promotion hopefuls against a Glassboys team looking to avenge a 4-0 opening day defeat which seems so long ago now. For once the favoured 4-4-1-1 formation that Boris likes to use away from home failed to take effect on a blustery Amblecote pitch as the ball refused to stick to Mike Symons and possession was returned to the home team with alarming ease.
With less than ten minutes to go before the break Stourbridge took a deserved lead from the penalty spot after Kev Sawyer had sent striker Leon Broadhurst tumbling with a clumsy challenge and the home team's number nine dusted himself off to score the resultant penalty kick.
Half time saw a change with Matt Sysum making way for Will Morford to play as a second striker and it was almost as if the Tigers were a different team as they finally began to show their teeth. After Alex Sykes had sent a shot inches wide of the post Tom Webb took over his mantle of scorer of spectacular goals when his first time volley from twenty-five yards had Lewis Solly rooted to the spot. Suddenly the goal of the season competion looks a bit more interesting!
Minutes afterwards there was more action as a Jack Harris foul led to a mass brawl and yellow cards for the City man and Luke Ballinger plus home defender Ross Collins. Injured City player Tom Hamblin had waded in to protect his team mates and was sent to the stands for his trouble, with chants of "Hambo thinks he's Rambo" ringing in his ears.
The draw was probably a fair result for both teams and City will look to build on it by annililating Yate Town at the Corinium on Saturday (k/o 3pm).
First and Second half highlights from the 1-1 draw at Amblecote
Saturday April 4th 2009
Luke Ballinger Denied
This time last week I loved football. Now I hate it. Thats what two defeats on the bounce when your team has an outside chance of winning the title will do!
This was one of those games where in any normal league top (ish) versus bottom (ish) would see a landslide result but since our 4-1 win against Clevedon at the Hand Stadium the Seasiders have had a change of manager and an influx of new players. And it showed.
Despite City having all the possession it was Clevedon who took the lead midway through the first half when Marc Richards, who had his hands full against their striker Tom Billing inadvertently headed the ball into the path of Sam Small who made no mistake from ten yards out.
Clevedon showed true grit and mettle to defend their lead and had the referee to thank for denying City a penalty for blatant handball and ruling out Richards' equaliser from a corner, ironically enough citing that he'd used his hand!
Josh Brigham however deserves a mention for his diving header off the line that denied Luke Ballinger a certain equaliser as the game approached injury time.
OOF! Lee Smith feels the full force of Josh Brigham's elbow
Tiger Roar news streams from Jan, Feb & March 2009 can be found here
Page last updated : 28th August 2009
Tiger Roar is an unofficial, independant production. It has nothing to do with Gloucester City AFC 1980 Ltd or the Gloucester City Supporters Trust. All comments expressed on here (unless stated) are those of the author and not those of the football club.
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