14^th March 2020 - Patchway Town stun Little Stoke with derby win.

Ron Holpin

A very local derby Little Stoke v Patchway Town with just a mile between the two Clubs. On paper Little Stoke nestling in mid table were probably the favourites to win this game with Patchway Town propping up the table. But how wrong can you be as the visitors looked the much better side throughout the game and thoroughly deserved to go away with a 3-0 win and the three points. The first 30 minutes saw constant attack from Town and they took the lead on 14 minutes when the Little Stoke keeper dropped the ball and Joe Barnes was there to knock the ball in. They went further ahead on 31 minutes from a good break down the right and a cross to the far post that was neatly headed in by Jamie Packer. Just before the break Little Stoke had a couple of half chances the first was brilliantly saved by keeper Sam Burgess and the second was scrambled away.

Five minutes into the second half Patchway scored a third goal a brilliant shot from the edge of the box by Barnes that flew into the net. Little Stoke made several substitutions to try and get back in to the game but it was definitely not their day that belonged to Patchway Town.

An entertaining game at Broadwell Amateurs who played host to a Wick side looking to gain points on the leaders. It turned out to be an eventful game that saw the home side come back twice but then conceded a very late goal to lose 3-2. Wick had a great chance to take the lead in the first 20 second but Sam Thomas fired over from 10 yards. On 20 minutes a half chance for the home side was cleared off the line. Wick went ahead on 28 minutes when Alfie Clarke picked up a poor clearance and he fired the ball into the corner of the net. All in all, the home sides performance in the first half was way below par. Things looked a bit better on 52 minutes when Liam Thomas intercepted a pass and hit a first time shot past keeper Joe Pople to level the score. The home side performance was much better now and Ben Fishwick could have made it 2-1 but shot over the bar. Wick retook the lead from a quick free kick that caught the home defence napping with Mike Hardiman driving the ball past Watkins in the home goal. A couple of minutes later 17-year-old Watkins pulled off a great one handed save to keep his side in the game. Broadwell levelled again in the 86th minute Danny Latham turning in an Adam Fowler cross. But with just 2 minutes left to play up popped Hardiman to grab the winner and move his team into second place.

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Little Stoke (Black/White) v Patchway Town (Red), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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Top of the table Frampton United versus second bottom Hanham Athletic looked like forgone conclusion on paper but the visitors surprised the leaders and went home with a point. Frampton were not at their best according to the report and had a lucky escape after 15 minutes when they managed to clear the ball off their line. The best they could offer in the first 45 minutes was long range shot from Craig Mills that sailed over the bar. Mills was at it again on 50 minutes with the same result the shot went wide. The home side did however, break the deadlock in the 73^rd minutes when Jonathan Lewis squared the ball across goal for Ethan Dunbar to tuck it away. Just 3 minutes later Hanham forced a corner and the cross fell to Darius Davey whose shot was deflected into the Frampton net for an own goal. On 88 minutes Manolo Espada dragged his shot wide when in a scoring position and right at the death Dunbar’s shot was saved by the Hanham keeper.

Hardwicke one Gala Wilton one was the final score. The home side took the lead on 17 minutes from a 25-yard free kick taken by Marcus Foxwell. A minute later Steve Bick had a great chance to make it 2-0 but shot wide. On 27 minutes Gala keeper pulled off a good save to deny Bick getting a second for the home side. Gala drew level in the 63^rd minute from a Craig Howell pass into Ryan Dobbins and he ran clear to score. Gala almost snatched the three point in the 80^th minute but for a great tackle from Pat Vernall to deny Martin Smith.

Two teams in the top four had to make do with a point a piece in a 1-1 draw between Sharpness and Rockleaze Rangers at Hamfields Leisure Centre. The first chance fell to the home side a cross from Tom Freeman that found Alex Gayner but keeper Lewis Brodie saved well. 30 minutes into the game Fin Small set up Gayner but he missed the target. Sharpness took the lead in the 35^th minute Tom Freeman rising high from a corner to head past Brodie. Rangers levelled the score just 3 minutes later Mark Hatfield put Dan Webb clear to fire past Hobbs in the home goal. Rangers had a great chance to take the lead on 48 minutes when a mistake in the home defence allowed Webb to round keeper Hobbs but then he shot wide. On 52 minutes Alex Gayner might have scored from Fin Small cross but Brodie denied him again. On 60 minutes Fin Small found himself in a one-on-one situation but failed to get the ball past Brodie. In the 62^nd minute a collision between Webb of Rangers and sharpness keeper Hobbs resulted in the keeper having to leave the field injured. Alex Gayner took over in goal and was called up on to make two really good saves late in the game denying Rangers the three points.

23^rd December 2019 - Respect Awards 2019/20 for the First 10 Games

In keeping with the Leagues Respect programme, five clubs will each receive £70 towards fees because they did not have a player sent to the sin bin in their first 10 matches.

A vast improvement saw only 23 players sent to the sin bin, however 3 clubs ended up with officials and players receiving Yellow and Red Cards.

On behalf of the Management Committee may I take this opportunity to wish all those connected with the Gloucestershire County Football League a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Peter Langley

Chairman.

25^th June 2020 - Update From FA on Step 7 Leagues

James Earl - FA

1. Step 5 / 6 Leagues Meeting

As has been widely reported, there was a National League System Step 5 / 6 Leagues Meeting held via Microsoft Teams on Friday.

There were reports via Social Media and other reporting mechanisms that there were references to ‘Step 7’ in that meeting regarding the 2020-21 Season.

This was not the case – I attach the Slides from the meeting for your information. Our Scenario Planning has explored Steps 1-6.

Regional NLS Feeder Leagues are sanctioned by the relevant County FA and as such, the Guidance published by your County FAs (based on the Grassroots Guidance) around restart will assist your Leagues in their planning.

There are, of course many ‘what ifs’ in the planning we are all undertaking. For example, if we were to have a heavily impacted Season due to a later restart, we may need to consider consistent approaches to Regional NLS Feeder Leagues to assist with Promotion Candidates to Step 6, however this is not yet been undertaken in detail. If we need to consider such an approach we will advise.

2. Step 7 to 6 Promotion Candidates

We will be writing to all of the 2019-20 Step 7 promotion candidate Clubs to inform them that:

• a. The Leagues Committee agreed at their meeting on 16th June that in line with no Promotion and Relegation following the expungement of Season 2019-20, that also Vacancies at Step 6 will not be filled by upward movement of clubs. This also falls in line with our guidance to Leagues that Constitutions will remain the same for 2020-21
• b. That application will be carried forward to 2020-21 Season. This will not deter any new applications from any Club in a Regional NLS Feeder League by the usual process.

3. Ratification of 2020-21 Constitutions

Thank you to all of you for sending through your draft Constitutions. I appreciate many of you are wishing to know when these will be ratified. The ratification is on Agenda for the next Leagues Committee on July 14th. In regards to AGMs. Leagues will be able to decide how best they wish to manage this either by delaying AGM till after this date or continuing with the current AGM and either put a note that Constitution’s will need future approval by any agreed means. Due to the unprecedented times we are in, we do not think that anyone is going to raise the point that AGM’s are being held after the normal deadline. The FA nor County FA’s are going to raise any concern by a delayed AGM during the pandemic.

FA Covid-19 Planning for NLS

Note that this document is planning for the National League System and has been attached as it's referenced by the FA in their message, this League will work with the Gloucestershire FA on the restart.

NLS Covid-19 Scenario Planning Slides

29^th May 2020 - Referee Appointment Officer

Peter Langley

Following interviews, I am delighted to advise you all that Graham McNulty has been appointed as the new Referees Appointment Officer.

We look forward to Graham joining the Management Committee and wish him every success in the role. I hope that all clubs will also support Graham.

An introduction from Graham

Firstly, and most importantly I very much hope you are all well in these unfamiliar times we all find ourselves in. Let us hope that we are all back to normal sooner rather than later.

May I take this opportunity to introduce myself. I have just been appointed as the new Referee Appointments Officer for Gloucestershire County League and I want to provide you all with a little background information about myself. I very much look forward to meeting with you all in person over the coming months and throughout the duration of the season.

To date I currently hold the role of Match Appointment Officer for the Gloucestershire Under 18 mid-week Floodlit league, as well as the referee secretary for the Cheltenham Youth League and I am a member of the referees committee at the Gloucestershire FA. In addition, I am the mentor co-ordinator for the North of Gloucestershire as well as a tutor/coach for newly qualified and active referees. In addition, I am operating at Level 4 referee status and intend to continue with this.

I very much look forward to meeting you all and working with you next season and beyond.

10^th April 2020 - FA Council decision season 2019/20

Ron Holpin

The FA Council has today ratified the decision to conclude the 2019/20 season across Steps 3-7 of the National League System, Tiers 3 to 7 of the women’s football pyramid and the wider grassroots game

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, The FA has been working collaboratively with the leagues within the National League System , the Women’s Football Board, the Women’s Football Conference, and the wider grassroots game to identify the most appropriate way to conclude the 2019/20 season at each level.

The request to end the 2019/20 season was taken to The FA Council by the representatives of the relevant committees having been fully supported by The FA Board.

The FA Council’s vote today was overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying the decision.

This link will take you to the FA statements: http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/apr/09/fa-council-statement-090420

26^th March 2020 - League Statement season 2019/20

Peter Langley

Dear Colleagues

The Football Association has taken the decision today, that all football at levels 3 to 7 will end immediately for the 2019-2020 season.

The FAs decision will affect the MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League whereby those restrictions will also apply to this league for season 2019-2020.

This means that those leagues now become null and void and records expunged for the season.

The League Management Committee, for the first time in its history, will see the 2019-2020 season become null and void and all records will be expunged.

The decision will mean no club will be promoted and no club will be relegated.

FA Statement below

I am sure that along with you all, the health and safety of others is more important at this time.

We look forward to resuming in the future.

Regards

Peter Langley
Chairman
Gloucestershire County Football League

FA Statement

10^th August 2019 - Pens and Badges for Sale

The league has some 50^thAnniversary Pens and Badges for Sale

Pens at £3, Badges at £3 or £5 for a pair

To send the pens and badges by post it will cost £1.15 (Second Class) £1.35 (First Class)

Please make Cheques payable to Gloucestershire County Football League
Or Direct Bank Transfer
National Westminster Bank
Sort Code - 60-01-29
Account Number - 50003666

Please send to:
Ron Holpin
27, Brockley Close
Little Stoke
Bristol.
BS34 6HA.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

If you wish to contact me by email: sec.gloscountyleague@btinternet.com
Tel: 01454 612842 or 07816 947169