GLAPWELL 0, ALFRETON TOWN 2
Alfreton Town recorded a 2-0 win at Field Mill to spoil Glapwell's first ever ground sharing game at the home of the Stags.
Jake Moult chipped in the first on 47 minutes from six yards with Anton Brown adding the second on 70 with a low ten yard drive.
The Reds now have a week off before taking on Mansfield Town at the Impact Arena on Saturday, August 7th. Kick=off is 3pm.
Kettering Town match report online here
Kettering Town picture album by Dave Pursglove here
REDS UP FOR BIG BONUS IF KALDOUN KINGDOM WINS AT GOODWOOD
Conference sponsors Blue Square Bet will be paying a huge bonus to Alfreton Town if the Richard Fahey trained horse Kaldoun Kingdom is successful in the Bluesq.com Stewards’ Cup on Saturday over six furlongs at Glorious Goodwood.
Full story
Rotherham United picture album by Dave Pursglove here
ALFRETON TOWN 2, KETTERING TOWN 2
Despite this being a fourth game in ten days, Alfreton Town preserved their unbeaten pre-season record thanks to Jake Moult's 87th minute leveller as the Reds twice came from behind.
Blue Square Bet Premier Division visitors Kettering took the lead somewhat against the run of play on 43 minutes when Ashley Westwood headed
in a corner from ten yards.
Reds man of the match Nathan Arnold equalised on 68 minutes with a ten yard angled drive but the Poppies were gifted the lead again on 74 with Paul Furlong taking advantage of an awful defensive mix-up in the home ranks to net a simple goal.
Jake Moult thumped home the equaliser three minutes from time to ensure Alfreton's impressive run of results continues.
Attendance 223.
LAW SATISFIED BUT STILL LOOKING TO ADD
Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law declared himself satisfied with how pre-season has gone so far, but admits that he is still looking to strengthen before the big kick-off on August 14.
The Reds boss has seen his side hit ten goals and concede only one with last Tuesday’s 5-1 success at Armthorpe Welfare followed up with home wins over Luton Town and Rotherham United.
Blue Square Bet Premier Division visitors last Saturday Luton Town were despatched 3-0 with a terrific all-round performance and goals from Anton Brown in the first half and two in a minute in the second from Chris Hall and Josh Law.
On Tuesday night the Reds manager felt his side performed even better as npower League Two visitors Rotherham United were seen off by two goals in four minutes midway through the second half, Anthony Wilson firing home the first on 69 and then heading a second on 73.
With just over a fortnight to go to the start of the season Law is still planning to strengthen his squad.
Whether that includes former Burton Albion trialist Darren Stride or not remains to be seen as the former Brewers legend limped out of the Rotherham game around the hour mark with a knee injury.
It is bad news for Stride who has impressed in his last three outings for the Reds.
Law said: “We will just have to wait and see how bad the injury is before any of us make a decision.
“I am very satisfied with how things are going at the minute. I was hoping we were not going to get a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ having played so well against a very strong Luton Town side on Saturday.
“Pleasingly, I think we played even better against Rotherham’s first team squad and we deserved our win.
“But, if we can improve any particular area, we will. I am also looking to bring in at least one more player before we start the league campaign on August 14.”
The Reds are home to Kettering Town tonight (Thursday, 7.45pm) before facing Evo-Stik First Division side Glapwell on Saturday.
The hosts are groundsharing at Mansfield Town’s Field Mill ground where kick-off is 3pm.
Admission for Glapwell’s historic first game at Field Mill has been reduced to just £4 adults, £2 concessions, with all accompanied children getting in for free.
Rotherham United match report online here
ALFRETON TOWN 2, ROTHERHAM UNITED 0
Alfreton Town continued their impressive pre-season build-up with a deserved 2-0 victory over a strong Rotherham United side on Tuesday evening.
Both goals came from substitute Anthony Wilson who netted 20 seconds after coming on in the 69th minute and headed the second four minutes later.
Attendance 373.
The Reds are at home again on Thursday evening when they entertain Blue Square Bet Premier Division side Kettering Town. Kick-off is 7.45pm.
SUPPORTERS' ASSOCIATION AGM ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Alfreton Town FC Supporters' Association is holding it's 2010 Annual General Meeting in the Reds Bar at the Impact Arena on Wednesday, July 28 with a 7.30pm kick-off. All members are welcome to attend.
GLAPWELL FC'S FIELD MILL PARTY SPECTACULAR FOR REDS GAME Alfreton Town's opponents on Saturday, Glapwell FC, are turning their first ever 'home game' at Mansfield Town's Field Mill into a party spectacular that reflects its community support. Full story
BLUE SQUARE ANNOUNCE HORSE RACING COMPETITION
Football Conference sponsors Blue Square are delighted to announce a bluesquare.com Stewards’ Cup competition for all clubs within the three Conference divisions. Full story
ADDITIONAL FRIENDLY ADDED, KETTERING TOWN VISIT ON THURSDAY
Alfreton Town have added one more pre-season friendly to their itinerary and the Reds will now host a full strength Kettering Town team at the Impact Arena this Thursday evening (July 29th).
Kick-off is 7.45pm with admission prices of £6 for adults and £3 concessions.
Luton Town match report online here
Josh Law (second from left) watches his shot curl home for Alfreton Town's third goal against Luton Town.
Dave Pursglove's match picture album from the game can be viewed here
ALFRETON TOWN 3, LUTON TOWN 0
Alfreton Town continued their pre-season warm-up games in impressive style as they beat Blue Square Bet Premier Division visitors Luton Town 3-0 on Saturday.
The goals came from Anton Brown on 11 minutes and two in a minute in the second half from Chris Hall on 69 and Josh Law on 70. Attendance 392.
Report and pics to follow.
Next up for the Reds sees a visit from npower League Two club Rotherham United who are at the Impact Arena on Tuesday night.
Kick-off is 7.30pm and admission is £6 for adults and £3 concessions.
ARMTHORPE WELFARE 1, ALFRETON TOWN 5
Alfreton Town continued their pre-season build-up with a 5-1 success at Koolsport Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Armthorpe Welfare on Tuesday evening.
Reds boss Nicky Law fielded two almost completely entirely different sides in each half although former Burton Albion stalwart Darren Stride was given 90 minutes.
Law saw his first session team take a 1-0 lead through Chris Hall's ninth minute low 12-yard shot.
The hosts equalised through Craig Morley right on the stroke of half-time but Alfreton were back in front just three minutes into the second half when Anthony Howell scored from the penalty spot.
Three goals inside the last ten minutes wrapped up victory for the Reds with man of the match Liam Hearn netting on 81, Ian Ross on 86 and Anthony Wilson on 89.
At half-time in the Chesterfield game, Alfreton Town secretary Bryan Rudkin (left) presented supporter Gavin Atkinson with his winnings for finishing first in last season's ATFC results prediction league.
Dave Pursglove's match picture album from the Chesterfield game is here
ALFRETON TOWN 1, CHESTERFIELD 1
Alfreton Town began their pre-season games with a 1-1 draw in front of an attendance of 776.
The Reds put in a superb first half display of crisp passing football and Liam Hearn gave Nicky Law's side a deserved lead on 38 minutes with an angled six-yard drive which visiting keeper Shane Redmond got a hand to but could not prevent from rolling over the line.
Chesterfield came more into it in the second half after a rash of changes at the interval but their equaliser was a complete gift on 64 minutes with Kyle McFadzean's header back to keeper Paddy Gamble lacking pace and the prolific Jack Lester beat Gamble with an angled eight yard shot.
Both sides had late chances to win it but all in all it was a very good work out.
Match report to follow here (teams and stats already up).
CHANGE TO DERBY COUNTY RESERVES, FOREST TO VISIT
Derby County Reserves have a change of opponents for their originally announced totesport.com Reserve Central League fixture on November 17. The Rams will now host Nottingham Forest Reserves on that date at the Impact Arena with a 2pm kick-off. Forest have taken over the fixtures of Shrewsbury Town Reserves who have withdrawn from the competition.
CONFERENCE CLUBS TO BENEFIT FROM £6m FINANCIAL SUPPORT COMMITMENT FROM PREMIER LEAGUE
The Premier League has announced a solidarity package with The Football Conference worth £6m over the next three seasons.
Following the £1m payment made to the Football Conference in 2009/10 the Premier League has decided to provide funding for seasons 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 that will support all Football Conference clubs.
The funding will be split into general payments made to all 68 Conference clubs and a separate club development fund which any Conference club can apply to for specific projects.
The funding will be structured in the following way:
- £1.2m per season provided as funds to support all Football Conference clubs;
- £800,000 per season committed to a new club development fund to which all Conference clubs can apply;
Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The Premier League and our member clubs recognise the importance of the continued health of football outside the Football League and it is with this in mind that we have made this commitment to the Football Conference.
"In particular, we are extremely pleased to be working with the Football Conference to establish a new club development fund that will allow Conference clubs, all extremely important within their local communities, to invest more funds into local youth development and good cause initiatives."
Football Conference Chairman, Brian Lee, said: "This is a further wonderful gesture of friendship from the Premier League towards The Football Conference.
"The solidarity commitment for three years is most welcome whilst the new funding will allow our Clubs to express themselves in a tangible form for the benefit of their communities. We accept the challenge with gratitude."
REDS FACE CHESTERFIELD TEST
WITH the start to the new league season just four weeks on Saturday, Alfreton Town move to the next stage of their preparations as they play their first warm-up game this Saturday.
NPower League Two neighbours Chesterfield FC visit the Impact Arena and John Sheridan's side - buoyed by the recent move to their brand new b2net stadium - will provide a stiff test.
It is the first time the Blues have made the short trip down the A61 since the Reds deservedly beat them 2-0 to lift the Derbyshire Centenary Cup on July 25, 2003, in front of 918 thanks to goals from Mick Goddard on 46 minutes and an Alan O'Hare own goal on 75.
Reds manager Nicky Law said: "This will be a difficult first run out for us against full time opponents. They will obviously be in front of us in terms of fitness, but this game won't be all about the result for me, it is about how we react and shape up.
"Having said that, it is a very interesting game for the fans with Chesterfield only just falling short of the League Two play-offs last season and us losing in the Conference North play-off final."
Admission prices
Admission prices for all four of Alfreton Town's home games in pre-season have been announced at £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.
At half-time in the Chesterfield game, the club will present supporter Gavin Atkinson with a cheque as his prize for winning the 2009/10 season prediction league based on results from all last season's league games.
Next Tuesday, the Reds travel to the Doncaster area to face Koolsport Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Armthorpe Welfare. Kick-off is 7.30pm.
The following Saturday (July 24th) Alfreton take on Luton Town at the Impact Arena (3pm).
REDS LISTED AS FAVOURITES
Meanwhile, Nicky Law's side have been installed as favourites to win the 2010/11 season Blue Square Bet North title with the Reds listed as low as 5/1 with two leading internet betting sites.
Corby Town and Droylsden are second favourites at 6-1.
It is the second season in succession the Reds will set out as favourites.
Other lowest odds are:
7/1 Eastwood Town
8/1 Stalybridge Celtic and Workington AFC
10/1 AFC Telford United
14/1 Gainsborough Trinity, Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Nuneaton Town
Season tickets ready for collection
Reds fans who have ordered season tickets are reminded they can collect them personally from the Impact Arena at any of the club's four forthcoming home pre-season games.
These are against Chesterfield (Saturday, July 17, 3pm), Luton Town (Saturday, July 24, 3pm), Rotherham United (Tuesday, July 27, 7.30pm) and Mansfield Town (Saturday, August 7, 3pm).
Fans wishing to collect in person at the pre-season games must produce proof of identification, eg driving licence, passport, etc.
REDS TO HOST DERBY COUNTY RESERVES AGAIN
ALFRETON Town's Impact Arena stadium will host Derby County Reserve games for a second successive season.
And the Rams Reserves will be looking to repeat their success of last season when they won the Totesport.com Reserve League Central Division title.
The Rams Reserves are scheduled to play all of this season's league games at Alfreton, beginning with a visit from Sheffield United Reserves on Wednesday, August 25 (7pm).
The full list of Derby County Reserves home games is:
Wed Aug 25 Sheffield United (7pm)
Wed Sept 22 Bradford City (2pm)
Wed Nov 17 Nottingham Forest (2pm)
Wed Jan 12 Rotherham United (2pm)
Wed Feb 9 Sheffield Wednesday (2pm)
Wed Mar 16 Port Vale (7pm)
Wed Apr 12 Barnsley (7pm)
The Rams Reserves have also entered the Reserve League Cup and have potential group stage fixtures on September 1, October 20, November 10 and December 8.
PAGE UPDATES
The following website pages have been updated Contacts, Sponsors, Gold Bond, Fixtures/Reports, Links.
CHRIS HALL AND ROSS TURNER AGREE NEW DEALS
ALFRETON Town manager Nicky Law has seen his squad grow to 17 in numbers after winger Chris Hall and goalkeeper Ross Turner agreed new deals with the Reds in the past week.
Hall, 27, has agreed a new one year contract with the club while Turner has also agreed to sign for another season.
Law admitted former Burton Albion and Gainsborough Trinity winger Hall joined the club at a difficult time last season, just as the Reds were putting a strong run together which culminated in a play-off final defeat.
Law said: "It was a tough time for him to try and establish himself in a side which was on a winning run and he will feel all the better and benefit for a full pre-season with us.
"We know Chris has plenty to offer and his quality is proven. It is up to him now to push on and stake a claim for a starting shirt."
Turner, 31, proved himself a more than capable deputy for former Forest keeper Paddy Gamble when he produced a string of clean sheets in the crucial run in as the club clinched a second successive third-placed finish and an appearance in the play-off final for the first time ever.
Training
Assistant manager Russ O'Neill praised the players for their attitude and application in the tough first week of training. He said: "The boys have really looked after themselves well during the closed season break. We are fortunate to have a good set of fit, strong players who have trained very well in the first week.
"The new signings, Nathan Arnold and Anthony Wilson are looking good and everybody is keen and raring to go for the first game already."
One local player hoping to force himself into the management's plans is Langley Mill-based former Heanor Colliers FC left-sided attacking player Cory Bowler.
He has been invited to pre-season training and will also possibly figure in the first pre-season game against Chesterfield at the Impact Arena a week on Saturday.
O'Neill ended: "Cory has done well in training. He has become more and more confident on top of which we have a good set of lads who have warmed to him and made him really welcome."
SEASON TICKETS CAN BE COLLECTED FROM GROUND
Alfreton Town fans who have ordered season tickets can collect them personally from the Impact Arena at any of the club's four forthcoming home pre-season games.
These are against Chesterfield (Saturday, July 17, 3pm), Luton Town (Saturday, July 24, 3pm), Rotherham United (Tuesday, July 27, 7.30pm) and Mansfield Town (Saturday, August 7, 3pm).
Fans wishing to collect in person at the pre-season games must produce proof of identification, eg driving licence, passport, etc.
Meanwhile, Alfreton Town supporters are reminded that the discounted season ticket offers ended on June 30.
The prices for season tickets which are available up to and including Friday, August 13, 2010, are now:
£161 for adults, £80 for concessions and £331 for a family ticket (two adults and two children aged 15 or under).
A Ten Match ticket is now priced at £90 for adults and £50 for concessions.
Juniors Reds membership are available to fans up to and including 15 years of age.
After an initial membership fee of £5 per junior red, they can gain admission to each home league game for just £1 per match provided they are accompanied through the turnstile by a paying adult.
Season tickets, ten-match tickets and Junior Reds membership can be ordered by contacting Lisa Towerzey on 01159 392090 extension 107.
THE FIXTURES ARE OUT - REDS START WITH HOME GAME
ALFRETON Town begin the 2010/2011 Blue Square Bet North season with a home game against Hinckley United on Saturday, August 14th.
The next two fixtures are both away with a trip to Redditch United on Tuesday, August 17 followed by a journey to Tameside to face Hyde on Saturday, August 21st.
Boxing Day sees a local derby at Eastwood Town while the Badgers visit the Impact Arena New Year's Day.
Opening day fixtures on Saturday, August 14th, 2010
AFC Telford United v Hyde
ALFRETON TOWN v Hinckley United
Boston United v Stafford Rangers
Corby Town v Harrogate Town
Droylsden v Eastwood Town
Guiseley v Nuneaton Town
Ilkeston Town v Vauxhall Motors
Solihull Moors v Blyth Spartans
Stalybridge Celtic v
Redditch United
Worcester City v Gainsborough Trinity
Workington AFC v Gloucester City
Full list of fixtures:
Saturday 14 August HINCKLEY UNITED Home
Tuesday 17 August REDDITCH UNITED Away
Saturday 21 August HYDE Away
Tuesday 24 August GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY Home
Saturday 28 August BLYTH SPARTANS Away
Monday 30 August STAFFORD RANGERS Home
Saturday 04 September VAUXHALL MOTORS Home
Saturday 11 September NUNEATON TOWN Away
Saturday 18 September BOSTON UNITED Home
Saturday 02 October STALYBRIDGE CELTIC Away
Saturday 16 October AFC TELFORD UNITED Home
Saturday 23 October ILKESTON TOWN Away
Saturday 30 October WORCESTER CITY Home
Saturday 06 November HINCKLEY UNITED Away
Saturday 13 November HARROGATE TOWN Home
Saturday 27 November CORBY TOWN Away
Tuesday 30 November WORKINGTON Home
Saturday 04 December HARROGATE TOWN Away
Saturday 18 December GLOUCESTER CITY Home
Sunday 26 December EASTWOOD TOWN Away
Tuesday 28 December BLYTH SPARTANS Home
Saturday 01 January EASTWOOD TOWN Home
Monday 03 January STAFFORD RANGERS Away
Saturday 08 January STALYBRIDGE CELTIC Home
Saturday 15 January GUISELEY Away
Saturday 22 January WORCESTER CITY Away
Saturday 29 January ILKESTON TOWN Home
Saturday 05 February BOSTON UNITED Away
Saturday 12 February WORKINGTON Away
Saturday 19 February SOLIHULL MOORS Home
Tuesday 22 February AFC TELFORD UNITED Away
Saturday 26 February GUISELEY Home
Saturday 05 March VAUXHALL MOTORS Away
Saturday 12 March CORBY TOWN Home
Saturday 19 March DROYLSDEN Away
Saturday 26 March HYDE Home
Saturday 02 April DROYLSDEN Home
Saturday 09 April SOLIHULL MOORS Away
Saturday 16 April GLOUCESTER CITY Away
Saturday 23 April REDDITCH UNITED Home
Monday 25 April GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY Away
Saturday 30 April NUNEATON TOWN Home
CHAIRMAN OFFERS 'SUBSTANTIAL' REWARD AFTER THEFT FROM CLUB
ALFRETON Town chairman Wayne Bradley is appealing to the local community for help in the return of around £7,500 worth of essential matchday communications equipment which was stolen from the Impact Arena in a recent break-in.
And Bradley is offering a 'substantial' reward for any information which leads to the prosecution of the people who took a quantity of two-way radio's, batteries and power chargers which are used by stewards on match days.
Bradley said: "The club prides itself on it's long-standing involvement and commitment in the local community through various events, and we are hoping that someone within the town knows who has done this and can help us get back what is obviously valuable to us, but almost certainly to no-one else.
"We are absolutely gutted by the theft of what is vital equipment which plays a big part in health and safety at the ground on match days.
"I would urge people in the know to come forward and contact the Police if they have information about where we can get this equipment back from, and we are quite prepared to pay a big reward to get it back."
Club health and safety officer Nigel Flint discovered the break-in last Friday morning. He said: "We found a significant amount of damage caused to the exterior and interior of the club's match control room which both ourselves and the Police think took place last Thursday night.
"The thieves have taken all the club's match day radio gear, battery chargers and power supplies. It is disgusting that people's safety may now be put at risk."
