Sportsdesk

Stories by Sportsdesk

Below are recent stories by Sportsdesk

• Published: 10 Apr 2008 19:00

  In Friday's Observer Sport...

  IN Friday's Observer Sport:

• Published: 5 Apr 2008 17:39

  Saturday Results Round-Up

  FOOTBALL

• Published: 3 Apr 2008 16:58

  In Friday's Observer...

  SLOUGH Town FC manager Derek Sweetman welcomes three new strikers to the club;

• Published: 29 Mar 2008 17:52

  Saturday Results Round-Up

  FOOTBALL:

• Published: 24 Mar 2008 17:49

  Easter Monday Results Round-Up

  Southern League Division One South & West

• Published: 22 Mar 2008 17:54

  Saturday Scores Round-Up

  Southern League Division One South & West

• Published: 15 Mar 2008 16:57

  Saturday Scores Round-Up

  FOOTBALL:

• Published: 8 Mar 2008 19:07

  Saturday Scores Round-Up

  FOOTBALL:

• Published: 4 Mar 2008 22:23

  Tuesday Football Round-Up: Blues lose at home as Royalists win on the road

  Southern League Division One South & West:

• Published: 1 Mar 2008 17:35

  Saturday Sports Round-Up

  FOOTBALL:

• Published: 18 Feb 2008 11:11

  Allen torment continues

  Southern League Division One South & West

• Published: 12 Feb 2008 13:18

  Council green light to stadium bid

  A RIPPLE of applause from the public gallery greeted a council decision to allow Slough Town Football Club to proceed with their stadium proposals. The passing of a motion at a cabinet meeting last night (Monday) saw Slough Borough Council agree, in principle, with the club's plans to build a new stadium on the former site of Arbour Vale School in Stoke Road. This will give Slough Town and their partners - developers led by Jayne Bradbury and funders Paradigm Housing - a three month period to develop their proposals, during which time the council will not speak to any third parties about the future disposal of the site. There is still a long way to go before the club can start celebrating a return to the borough after more than four years in the wilderness, but the council's decision was received as very positive step by club officials and supporters alike. Chairman of Slough Town Supporters Trust, Mike Lightfoot, was one of several fans gathered in the public gallery eagerly awaiting the decision. He said: "It is very positive. It is all we could hope for at this stage. That's one more hurdle crossed." FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S SLOUGH OBSERVER

• Published: 11 Feb 2008 15:00

  Blues sign Stewart

  BURNHAM Football Club made another signing over the weekend, bringing in striker Alex Stewart from league rivals Oxford City.

• Published: 9 Feb 2008 19:00

  Afternoon to forget for the Rebels

  Southern League Division One South & West Slough Town 0, AFC Hayes 3 SLOUGH Town FC manager Mark Betts says he never wants to see another performance from his side like the one he saw today (Saturday). The Rebels' lacklustre display against AFC Hayes was a complete turnaround from their heroics against Farnborough and Uxbridge last week and Betts was left in despair. "We didn't win our tackles, we didn't look like picking up second balls and our passing was abysmal," he said. "They didn't want to give blood like Tuesday. That was the total opposite end of the spectrum. "I'm hoping that we are never going to play that bad again. That wasn't just a bad half or quarter, that was a bad 90 minutes." Slough were totally off the pace from the first whistle and conceded after just three minutes. Ryan Kirkland was allowed to deliver a low cross from the right and AFC Hayes' top scorer Danny Jordan finished past goalkeeper Richie Barnard at the near post. The Rebels briefly looked like they might make something of the game towards the end of the first half and had the ball in the back of the net on 41 minutes, only for it to be ruled offside. Hayes scored their second with another delivery to the near post - this time from a free-kick - finished by Trevor Charlery in the 55th minute. There were vague signs of a revival from the home team in the final 25 minutes, but it was too little, too late and Dan Yeoman completed the scoreline with a simple finish in injury time. Elsewhere, there was more bad news for Burnham as they lost 2-1 to Paulton Rovers, despite initially taking the lead through Craig O'Connor. Windsor & Eton, however, got back on the winning track with a 3-1 victory at Abingdon United. Matt Seedel, Michael Chennels and Martyn Williams got the goals. MORE IN FRIDAY'S OBSERVER

• Published: 8 Feb 2008 13:09

  Connor available for Hayes game

  BRIAN Connor has made himself available for selection ahead of Slough Town's home game against AFC Hayes tomorrow (Saturday). Despite only returning from international duty with Anguilla this morning, the centre-back was straight on the phone to Rebels boss Mark Betts to tell him he is happy to play, if required. Betts said: "In all fairness the players that have come in to play in that position have done well. But it is nice to have him back." Slough have lost two and drawn one of the three games they have played while Connor was away. Connor captained Anguilla in a World Cup pre-qualifier against El Salvador on Wednesday night. The Caribbean islanders, who have never qualified for the World Cup, lost the first-leg tie 12-0. Slough welcome AFC Hayes to their home ground at Beaconsfield SYCOB's Holloways Park at 3pm tomorrow for another crucial game in their battle against relegation from Southern League Division One South & West.

• Published: 7 Feb 2008 16:43

  No joy for Anguilla seven

  BRIAN Connor was named Anguilla's captain ahead of their World Cup pre-qualifier against El Salvador last night (Wednesday).

• Published: 7 Feb 2008 10:00

  Sables on form for Slough U12s

  TOM Sables scored 20 points for Slough Rugby Club's U12 team as they produced some exciting rugby to beat Ealing 40-0 on Sunday.

• Published: 6 Feb 2008 10:00

  Two clubs make County Cup quarter-finals

  TWO football teams from the area have reached the quarter-finals of the Berks & Bucks Sunday Junior Cup.

• Published: 6 Feb 2008 00:07

  Rebels heartbroken by last-gasp Boro winner

  Southern Football League Division One South & West Slough Town 2, Farnborough 3 SLOUGH Town fans were left heartbroken tonight (Tuesday) when their side was denied a share of the spoils by an injury-time goal after matching table-topping Farnborough for 92 minutes. The Rebels gave one of their best displays of the season and twice took the lead before their big-spending opponents clawed their way back into the game and had to dig deep into their resources to get a favourable result. After the game, Slough manager Mark Betts admitted he was ‘deflated' by the loss, but took so much heart from the performance. He said: "They wore the shirt tonight. They served with honour. "I've told them hold your heads up. You can be disappointed but you can't hold onto that. Not when they gave what they gave." Terry Davies twice put the Rebels into the lead, but Farnborough levelled through Rob Saunders and Adam Doyle before substitute Michael Barima scored the winner. Elsewhere, Burnham and Windsor & Eton's home games were both abandoned to the weather at half-time. MORE IN FRIDAY'S OBSERVER

• Published: 5 Feb 2008 11:17

  More movement at The Gore

  BURNHAM manager Dave Mudge continued to make changes to his squad over the weekend as he looks to pull out of their New Year slump.

• Published: 4 Feb 2008 12:55

  Fu Jau start 2008 in style

  FU JAU Martial Arts Academy picked up nine trophies at their first tournament of the year.

• Published: 2 Feb 2008 18:53

  Barratt goal earns vital point

  Southern Football League

• Published: 31 Jan 2008 17:40

  A message from Anguilla

  THE seven players and two coaches who have flown out to Anguilla to take part in a World Cup qualifying campaign have been welcomed with open arms by the population of the tiny Caribbean Island. The group of semi-professional footballers, who all have family in Anguilla, are slotting into daily life on the island, but coach Lawrence Richardson admits they are being treated 'a bit special'. In between being introduced to the community at church on Sunday and dining with the President of the island, they have been set a tough regime that sees them train twice a day at 5am in the morning and 5pm in the evening. The times are partly to fit in with the working lives of the island based players and partly to take advantage of the cooler stages of the day in a part of the world where the temperature can rise to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. "It's amazing, that's all I can say," said Richardson, who has found it quite a change from his weekly duties as assistant manager of Chalfont St Peter Football Club back in England. "It's like home from home. I've actually met three people I went to school with in Slough. "The Anguillian population have taken the boys to their hearts. "They are such a lovely race of people. They have been so friendly. I've met members of my family that I've never met before in my life. "It's idyllic. It's probably one of the best places in the world." The players are staying in a hotel in Anguilla's capital, The Valley, which Richardson estimates to be roughly the size of Langley and Colnbrook combined. The whole island itself is only 24 miles long and four miles wide and with a population of 13,000 there are only around 300 registered footballers. Therefore, coming from a football-mad culture in the UK, the group have found they all have something to give. "The abilities of players vary," Richardson said. "There are two good lads who have come over from America who are technically very clever on the ball and we've got a very good centre-back. "There are one or two grey areas. They are playing catch-up and we are showing them how to catch up with our technical know-how and organisational abilities." Seven players from the local area - James Williams-Richardson, Brian Connor, Jermaine Gumbs, Romell Gumbs, Roy Gumbs, Rob Paris and Emerson Brooke-Meade - were selected to join the Anguilla squad ahead of a World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on Wednesday. Maidenhead United reserve team manager, Kerthney Carty, has been named as the country's new manager and Lawrence Richard as part of the coaching staff.

• Published: 29 Jan 2008 23:26

  Blues suffer third straight loss

  Southern Football League

• Published: 25 Jan 2008 10:37

  Seven head to Anguilla

  SEVEN local non-league footballers are preparing to fly out to Anguilla tomorrow (Saturday) to take part in a World Cup qualifying campaign. Brian Connor, Romell Gumbs and Jermain Gumbs (Slough Town), Rob Paris (Hampton & Richmond Borough), James Williams-Richardson (Maidenhead United), Roy Gumbs (Beaconsfield SYCOB) and Emerson Brooke-Meade (Leighton Town) will all take leave from domestic action with their club teams and join a training camp ahead of the tiny Caribbean island's game against El Salvador on February 6. The match is the first step in a long process of trying to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The group will also be joined by Maidenhead United's reserve team manager, Kerthney Carty, who has been named as the country's new head coach, and Chalfont St Peter assistant manager, Lawrence Richardson, who will join the coaching staff. Carty said: "We are the underdogs, no doubt about that. We have got to go with our own game plan and if I can get the boys to blend we can hopefully come away with something." PICK UP TODAY'S (FRIDAY) SLOUGH OBSERVER FOR MORE

• Published: 23 Jan 2008 11:19

  Thirds survive toughest test

  MBB&O Division Five

• Published: 22 Jan 2008 12:47

  Former Rebel signs for Forest

  FORMER Slough Town FC player Gareth McCleary has signed for Nottingham Forest.

• Published: 21 Jan 2008 13:12

  Davies returns to Slough

  NEW Slough Town manager Mark Betts has brought top scorer Terry Davies back to the football club.

• Published: 21 Jan 2008 11:03

  Betts confirmed as manager

  SLOUGH Town Football Club have confirmed the appointment of Mark Betts as manager.

• Published: 18 Jan 2008 13:25

  Bubb leaves Blues

  BURNHAM Football Club's top scorer Byron Bubb has left to join promotion rivals Farnborough. Blues boss Dave Mudge has confirmed that the Grenadian international forward left last night (Thursday), but said the move came as no surprise. "We have been doing the groundwork for a couple of weeks knowing that Byron Bubb was going," Mudge said. Bubb made a storming start to the season that saw him score 10 goals in the first three months, but his form has dropped since the weather turned sour and he has only netted once since November 10. Mudge signed striker Dean Papali on loan from Wealdstone in December but, due to injuries and suspensions in his squad, says he kept Bubb on for a little longer than expected. "I wasn't happy in general with his performances. That's why we got Dean Papali in," Mudge said. "Other than scoring direct from a corner against Thatcham three or four weeks ago I think his previous goal was the first week in November." After Saturday's 2-1 victory over Abingdon United, Mudge feels his side are beginning to move out of their mini-slump that saw them fail to win in four matches. "I have looked at the way we have been playing, I've changed it in the last few games and I think it has been going well," he said. Papali's loan deal has been extended for a further month with a view to making it permanent and Mudge expects Daryl Jones to make a return from injury in the next seven days, which will further strengthen the squad. Five of Burnham's next six matches are at home and Mudge expects to begin picking up the points and consolidating a play-off position soon. "We have got a very good run of games," he said. "I think four or five points on from what we've got now will put us right back in there. We will be looking to win 80 per cent of those games." However, the one big issue for the Blues is fitting all of their required games into the busy schedule. Since December 1 they have seen three games abandoned to the weather and another due to an injury to Miles Norman. Tomorrow's (Saturday) match against Andover will also be in doubt after the heavy rain this week. "There is a possibility that we may have to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday towards the end of the season," Mudge said.