Woodley Sports Football Club Press Cuttings Page

All pictures & stories by kind permission of Simon Smedley - Stockport Express Newspaper

New boss Willcock is back in business

Chris Willcock

4th July 2007 - SUMMER breaks are now over for the new management and players at Woodley Sports, and it appears that everyone at Lambeth Grove is already looking forward to next season with renewed vigour.

With the first pre-season friendly beckoning in just 13 days time against Blue Square Premier neighbours Droylsden, newly-appointed Steelmen boss Chris Willcock said: "Pre-season training gets under way in earnest for us this week, and it’s up to me now to take a good look at the existing squad.

"Of course I’ll be looking to add to last season’s talented squad, but although I have got a few new players in mind, I have spoken to all of the players who were here at the end of last season and they have all said they’re keen to come back

"I’ll be looking to carry a squad of 22 next season, so we’ll see what develops over the next few weeks.

"I’m very keen to bring through some of the excellent young talent at this club too.

"The youth set-up at Woodley is something that particularly encourarages me, and I’m hoping to nurture some of this eager talent, maybe with an eye on players making progress into the first team at some stage next season.

"Good young players and a sprinkling of experience can only be good for the team.

"We really want to push on with Woodley next season. A top six finish and a play-off spot would be the first priority, but we will be going for promotion."

UniBond division one north outfit Woodley host Dave Pace’s Droylsden on Tuesday, July 17, then follow that up with another home friendly clash on Tuesday, July 24, against Ramsbottom United.

"The clash against newly-promoted Droylsden will be a really good test for us," added Willcock. "I’m looking forward to that one already."

WOODLEY have been handed two plum ties in the opening rounds of the FA Cup and FA Trophy respectively.

In the FA Cup Woodley will host Tameside neighbours Mossley in what promises to be a real cracker, particularly for Willcock who enjoyed a successful spell as a player with the Lilywhites.

In the FA Trophy the Steelmen will host UniBond rivals Newcastle Blue Star, and if they come through that test, they will then travel to Colwyn Bay in the following round.

 

 

2nd May 2007 - NEW BOSS IMMINENT ?

COACH Ian Nevison, who has done an excellent job as caretaker manager since the departure of Ally Pickering in February.

INTERVIEWS are taking place this week for the vacant manager’s position at UniBond League outfit Woodley Sports.

The position was vacated in February by Ally Pickering, and since then assistant boss Ian Nevison has done an impressive job in a caretaker capacity.

However, Sports chiefs are keen to appoint a new man, with an announcement expected within the next fortnight.

Club secretary Rod Haslam told the Express: "We did intend to advertise the position, but since Ally left we have been inundated with applications via letter, email and telephone. We are interviewing some excellent candidates now, candidates who have both Conference and professional experience, both as players and managers.

"Applications have been coming in all the time, and just recently we’ve been very busy scrutinising each one. I’m sure when the appointment is made it’ll raise a few eyebrows, but whoever does get the job will know that the budget will be tight next year.

"Recently we’ve been busy trying to establish the youth and reserve set-ups at Lambeth Grove, and hopefully that will continue to be a successful avenue to go down. We have already utilised some of the youth and reserve team players at first-team level.

"The new manager will be asked to look realistically at the budget when he takes over."

The first interview took place last night [Tues], with more to follow before the weekend.

Meanwhile, Haslam was keen to salute Nevison, a dedicated Woodley Sports man who will stay with the club in some coaching capacity.

Haslam added: "Nevi has been great for this club for 16 years now, people like him are few and far between. His black book alone should prove exceptionally helpful once the new manager comes in."

It looks as though prolific striker Adam Morning will probably be on his way out of Woodley quite soon, however.

The 27-goal hit-man is in talks with Stockport County this week after impressing - and scoring - in a recent trial game, while the likes of Hull City, Peterborough United and Rochdale are waiting in the wings watching developments.

Woodley finished their UniBond division one season in 10th place in the table after Saturday’s final-day 1-0 defeat at Harrogate Railway Athletic

11th April 2007 - ADAM'S POSH CHANCE ?

LONDON ROAD CALLING? Woodley Sports striker Adam Morning must decide today [Wed] whether to join League Two side Peterborough United on an initial short-term deal.

HOT-SHOT Woodley Sports striker Adam Morning could be on the move south this week to League Two side Peterborough United.

Morning is set to hear confirmation from the London Road side today [Wed] that manager Darren Ferguson wants to take the 27-goal striker to Posh on an initial short-term deal until the end of the season.

Morning played for Peterborough’s reserves last week and impressed hugely in a 1-1 draw against a Coventry side that featured a clutch of first-team players.

Exciting times appear to be beckoning for Morning, with Peterborough currently heading a long list of Football League clubs who have been admiring the left-footer’s performances in the UniBond League this season.

Morning told the Express: "A lot of clubs are onto me, but the chance to join Peterborough until the summer really appeals to me.

"It seems that they are willing to look after me down there for a few weeks until a final decision is made once their season is over.

"To be able to train and just be involved full-time at a League club would be just brilliant for me.

"I do fancy Peterborough. They are a club who are on the up and I’d like to play a part for them.

"My head is in a spin, it’s a big decision for me, but Peterborough have already said that if I did join them, they would let me return at weekends so I could still play for Woodley in their final four games of the season."

Crewe Alexandra and Leyton Orient are new clubs who have shown an interest in Morning in recent weeks, while Mansfield Town, Bury and Preston North End have tracked Morning at various points throughout this season.

Meanwhile, Woodley’s division one play-off hopes all but disappeared over the weekend thanks to back-to-back defeats.

Morning scored in Good Friday’s shattering 2-1 home defeat at the hands of second-bottom Chorley, while the Steelmen then lost 1-0 at leaders Buxton on Monday.

28th March 2007 - SPORTS' MASSIVE WIN !

JOY AND PAIN: Woodley’s Nick Boothby netted the winner against Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday, then had to go off with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

WOODLEY Sports hung on for a crucial three points on Saturday as they edged out UniBond division one play-off rivals Bradford Park Avenue 2-1 at Lambeth Grove.

Gavin Salmon struck for the hosts in the first half, but after Bradford hit back to level just before the hour mark, defender Nick Boothby pounced to ram home a 71st minute winner.

Sports’ Ian Campbell said: "It really was a massive win for us, and we just about deserved it.

"We lost our way a little bit in the first half after we’d taken the lead, but we got our act together again after the break and in the end we squeezed home.

"Considering this result came on the back of the midweek heartbreaker at Matlock, it was a great effort from the lads."

Campbell was referring to Woodley’s UniBond League Challenge Cup semi-final defeat last Tuesday night at Matlock Town, where the Steelmen agonisingly lost 7-6 on penalties.

After extra-time the two sides were locked at 3-3 after Woodley’s goals had been scored by Adam Morning, Danny Queeley and Salmon.

However, Queeley and Andy Russell missed in the dramatic penalty shoot-out and Matlock now go on to meet Fleetwood Town in the final at Altrincham on April 17.

Woodley face another big test this Saturday when another three points would be just the job as they travel to fourth-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels.

"It’s another tough one for us," added Campbell.

"But if we are to make it into the play-offs, we can’t really afford to lose any more of our nine remaining games."

Last Saturday’s match-winner Boothby will be missing for the trip to Stocksbridge as he suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone late in the game against Bradford.