Boost for Local Cricket Club

The May Bank Holiday is normally one of the busiest cricket weekends of the year, yet this will be a strange one for Midsomer Norton Cricket Club, with the coronavirus outbreak ensuring that during lockdown not a ball will be bowled. 

2019 saw all 3 of the club’s Saturday sides in the top two of their respective leagues and the ladies team winning the Somerset Softball Cricket Competition for the second year running. Such has been the success of the ladies that the club is now running two ladies’ sides. This was the most successful playing season in the club’s 140 year history. The 2019 season also saw the youth section going from strength to strength with over 80 children signed up for All Stars and club sides being coached and run at under 11s,13s and 15s levels. 

‘Due to the current covid-19 lockdown it has been impossible to contemplate when and if the 2020 season will start which is a great disappointment to us all following the successes of 2019,’ explains club Chairman Graeme King.

‘When we will actually start this season is anyone’s guess, if at all,’ adds Graeme. ‘However it is not all doom and gloom as we are very active behind the scenes with our coach Jake posting online fitness videos and the Outfield Music Festival team running a very successful Saturday evening online music quiz. The club’s members are keeping in touch using in-house social media.

A further boost to the club has been the announcement from local solicitors Thatcher + Hallam that notwithstanding the fact that not a ball has been bowled, they are nevertheless continuing to support the club with their sponsorship cheque for the 2020 season. Thatcher + Hallam are a specialist sports law firm already supporting several local clubs and earlier this year hosted the ‘Off The Ball: Sport and The Law’ conferences.

‘We are absolutely delighted to be supporting Midsomer Norton Cricket Club in any way that we can, particularly at this really difficult time,’ says Thatcher + Hallam partner George Persson. ‘I know that the club, as with other local sports organisations, has the full support of the whole community. One of the key members of the ladies’ team at the club is Annette Swain. Annette is also a member of our Litigation + Dispute Resolution team, so all of us here are keenly aware of the frustration felt by Annette and her colleagues as we all wait until it is safe to play again.’

2019 also saw the demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of the clubhouse at the Withies Lane ground. Once cricket resumes not only will the facility be available for the players, but also the community at large.

Virtual Silverware for Radstock Town

The Coronavirus might have foiled Radstock Town’s bid for promotion this season, but it couldn't stop the Miners winning the first (and hopefully last) Virtual Cup competition.

The Virtual Cup was the brainchild of the author of the FansofWesternLeagueClubs twitter feed, who wanted to run a competition to keep fans amused during lockdown. Using the simple format of rolling two dice to decide the final score of matches, "Nick" ran a Champions League style tournament allocating all 41 Toolstation Western League Clubs to groups, before proceeding to the knockout stages.

The Miners faced local rivals Shepton Mallet in the final and had the game be played on grass, First Division Radstock would have gone into the match as big underdogs against their Premier Division neighbours. And so it proved in the Final, with Radstock coming from behind to take the victory by four goals to three.

Radstock took the lead through Ryan Child only to be pegged back before half time with an equaliser from Mallet's Joe Morgan. Despite a bright start to the second half, Radstock fell behind, through a Jack Fillingham chip. Yet the Miners were not giving up without a fight and promptly levelled through Simon Millard, only for Shepton to retake the lead from the penalty spot.

Former Paulton and Welton player James Billings nearly put the game beyond doubt for Shepton, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. With only 3 minutes left in the game Radstock were a long way away from lifting any silverware, so cometh the hour cometh the man and Elliott Dugan tapped home from close range, following a free kick into the Shepton box. Yet the drama wasn't complete, as Nathan Legge had a chance to win it for Shepton, only for Radstock’s James Rustell to secure the winning goal late into stoppage time.

Did any of that really happen? Virtually! The full match commentary was played out in real time on twitter and whilst the result was predetermined by the role of the dice, the match action was broadcast thanks to the imagination and research of the social media accounts author, plus a few helpful suggestions from some of the players involved!

On their way to the Final, Radstock saw off Premier Division opposition in the form of Westbury, Roman Glass and Bridport. The Miners also topped their Group which featured Cadbury Heath along with fellow First Division sides Warminster Town and Almondsbury.

Social media fan, known only as "Nick", devised the tournament as a way of paying for NHS heroes to attend a game at the wining Club next season. However, with the Western Leagues announcement that any NHS staff member can attend a League game for free next season, Nick has evolved his original idea, in conjunction with Radstock Town, to provide a group of key workers in the Radstock area with the opportunity to enjoy a game at Southfields next season.

Radstock Town Needs You!

Like all grassroots football clubs, Radstock Town are asking fans not to forget about them while the Coronavirus lockdown continues. With its clubhouse out of action, the Miners have lost out on valuable revenue that would have been used pay their utility bills, as well as support the club's groundworks and pitch renovations.

With this in the mind, the Club have set up a Go Fund Me page and are encouraging supporters to make donations. Club Chairman, Simon Wilkinson said; "If you are able to help and donate even a couple of pounds all this will help towards ensuring the clubs survival both on and off the pitch."

The Club are calling upon anyone affiliated with them, past and present, along with anyone in the Radstock community to help support the Miners in any way they can. The Club would also welcome any donations of painting and building supplies they could use on the dressing rooms, grandstand, dugouts and pitch. 

Simon Wilkinson said: "If you're clearing out your garage, shed or van and you come across any paint, weed killer shower heads or lights, we'd love to hear from you. These items could be a huge support to our Club."

Covid-19 Financial Support offered by the Western League

Following the Football Associations decision to void the 2019/20 season, the Toolstation Western released a statement to all member Clubs on March 27th, setting out a seven point plan to “help with the cash flow difficulties that the abandonment of the season has caused”.

All forty one Western League Clubs have now received a payment of £600. As the season has been declared void, prize money and sponsorship has been shared equally across all Clubs, a decision the League could not have taken had the future of the 2019/20 remained unresolved.

In addition to the cash payment, the League have also suspended player registration and transfer fees incurred between 1 December 2019 and 27 March 2020 and affiliation Fees for the 2020/21 season will not be invoiced before football can resume.

The Government have set out a number of financial initiatives designed to support the leisure industry, promoted by The FA. However, the Western League have set up their own interest free loan scheme, available upon request, for up to £1000.

Western League General Secretary, Andy Radford said: “The Western League Board are well aware of the difficulties faced by our member clubs at this unprecedented time and we believe it is imperative that we take action to ensure the well being and future of all in the League. We want to do everything we can to help with the cash flow difficulties that the abandonment of the season has caused”.

Toolstation Western League Keeps Podding Along

Ian and Tom wearing #Footywatch t-shirts supporting
 the Cystic Fibrosis Comfort Fund.

Their season might have ended but the Toolstation Western League Podcast team are continuing to produce their weekly programme. Now in its fourth season, Western League Bulletin Editor, Tom Hiscott and presenter, Ian Nockolds, have produced over 125 episodes of the weekly podcast, featuring interviews with managers from the Western Leagues Premier and First Divisions.

“We’ll keep the Podcast going for at least another month, when our season should have ended”, said Ian. “This weeks episode is an absolute belter. We spoke to two managers challenging for promotion, Plymouth Parkway’s Lee Hobbs and Calne Town’s Ben Redford. Both giving a frank account of what the FA’s decision to void the season means to their Clubs”.

Over the next few weeks the Toolstation Western League Podcast will carry interviews with managers, players, match officials and supporters, to find out how they are coping with the Coronavirus lockdown and the lack of football. Ian said, “Its not all going to be doom and gloom, Tom is giving us his recommendations on what to watch on the tele and we’ll be speaking to all our guests about what they are most looking forward to when football resumes. One season may have ended, but another will begin and that should give us all a sense of optimism for what our Clubs can achieve”.

The Toolstation Western League Podcast can be found at http://toolstationleague.com/podcasts.php and is available on itunes.

Free Entry to the Toolstation Western League for NHS Staff

The Toolstation Western League will be offering NHS staff free entry to all its League matches next season, in recognition of their exceptional work and sacrifice during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The virus has forced the League programme to be abandoned this season, but when football does resume, the Western League Board have asked all member Clubs to honour the contribution of NHS workers by allowing them free entry into games. Those wishing to make use of this special offer will be required to show a valid form of NHS identification at the turnstile.

Since 2015 the Toolstation Western League has run a scheme whereby serving members of the Armed Forces can gain entry to league games on production of a military ID card. The NHS scheme will run at least until the end of the 2020/21 season, with Clubs able to extend the offer further if they wish.

Radstock Town U18s Looking for Players

Radstock Town FC are looking for players to join their successful Under 18s side in the 2020/21 season.

Games are played Midweek evenings in the Wiltshire County Floodlight League.

Players should register their interest by clicking here.

Thank you Ciaran

Paulton Rovers bid a fond farewell to Media Assistant Ciaran Skinner, who is moving away from the area. Dave Bissex, the Club Chairman, issued a special message of thanks for all the hard work Ciaran has put into the Club over the past 3 years.

Dave said: "On behalf of Paulton Rovers Football Club and myself, thank you for all the work you’ve put in over the past three years, and under the guidance of Tony, you have achieved a very good standard in media, interview skills, and using the tannoy system for Matchday announcements at the club.

You are still at a very young age and your dedication and achievements will I am sure help you progress further and will give you a good grounding for a long and excellent career in the field. Take care and best wishes".

Ciaran's departure leaves a vacancy for a media assistant at the Club, a role that involves writing match reports, match announcements, Social media work, editing the match day programme and producing posters. Training, support and mentoring will be provided. Anyone interested should contact Tony Walsh on 07765 888 375 for mor information.

Paulton are also advertising a vacancy for a first team football secretary, which will also incorporate the under 18's side. Some experience would be beneficial although it is not essential as training will be provided. Anyone interested in this role should contact Dave Bissex directly.

Paulton Rovers Prepare for New Season

With the BetVictor Southern League season officially over, Paulton Rovers' groundsmen have made use of the extra time available and brought forward their pitch renovation works.

It was already decided this closed season the touchline closest to the club house, that had gradually built up a 'hump' over the last 20 years had to go, so the extra growing time available was ideal. With club member Paul Lynch on the grading bucket & groundsman Mike unloading the trailer, we estimate a whopping 10-12 tons of soil was removed!

Paulton were hoping to do the same with the other touchline and provide astro-turf to the dugout areas but with the club shut and no income coming in the financial outlay was too much, so this has been delayed to next year.

Radstock Manager Stands Down

Brett Partner has stood down as Manager of Radstock Town after 15 months in charge at Southfields. Brett will be replaced by his assistant Nathan Farquharson.

The news came as a bitter disappointment to Miners fans, already reeling from the news that the 2019/20 Western League season has been voided by the Football Association. Before the Coronavirus caused football to be suspended, the Miners sat 6th in the First Division table, with games in hand over all the sides above them. Thanks to the large-scale restructuring on the grassroots pyramid planned by the FA for next season, the top four sides in the Division were all in line for promotion, although Brett had made no secret of his ambitions to achieve promotion as League Champions.

Brett leaves Southfields as a very popular figure, widely praised as the architect of Radstock's success this season. Yet Brett's contribution to the Club was greater than simply brining success to the field of play.

Brett explains, "My aim was to make the club better again, on and off the field. I hope I have made the players better and calmer temperament at the same time. We all can be proud of what we have achieved this season, drawing against Yeovil, winning two League Respect awards, having the top goal scorer in the league and having a fantastic style of play, which all teams have complimented us on. I wanted to win the league so much this year, but it wasn’t to be. But every other aim I set out has been met."

Whilst Brett is proud of his achievements at Radstock, he also recognised the contribution the Club has made to his development as a coach, "Everyone at the club, I honestly can’t thank you enough for what you have done for me. You have been respectful and given everything for me. I feel since I have been here I have improved as a coach and manager and as a person."

Due to his commitments at Bristol City Brett could not be at every game and with an imminent wedding to plan for, Brett felt he could no longer devote the time and effort to the Radstock hotseat, that he felt the Club deserved.

Radstock Town Go Undercover

Over the past season Radstock Town FC lost 22 fixtures across their three representative sides due to a waterlogged pitch. This gave the Miners a huge backlog of games and prior to the Clovid-19 outbreak, the team were scheduled to be playing upto four games a week.

The Radstock Committee have been putting together plans to improve the Southfields playing surface, however to transform the pitch into a 3G ground will take long term finance and planning. Therefore the management have been looking at short term options to ensure that games get played.

Radstock Town are pleased to confirm that with the support of the Toolstation Western League and The Football Association (FA) games between November 2020 and March 2021 will be played indoors, with the installation of a Dome at Southfields.

The construction will be a temporary structure similar to many Tennis Domes across the world. There are similar structures used on football 3G Training facilities such as the Swindome at Swindon Supermarine FC.

The Miners have signed an agreement with The LTA who’s developers Connerie who will be constructing the dome, which only takes 1 day to build.

As the playing surface will remain natural it will still continue to be maintained as normal. During the period of November-March there is little growth. To allow Photosynthesis to take place the canvas of the Dome allows UV light and Floodlights to penetrate the lining. To maintain an element of moisture to the profile of the pitch 6 sprinklers are built in the roof.