Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

There are five items of interest to Stowmarket area readers in today’s edition of the Bury Free Press.

There is a report and pictures from Stowmarket Tennis Academy’s clash with Culford and details of Stowmarket Badminton Club’s December activities, albeit the club has been renamed Stowbridge!

Despite a lack of on-green action, Stowmarket Golf Club gets two mentions with news that long-serving Paul Lilly is retiring after 17 years in charge of the kitchen. There are also details of two holes-in-one struck on the Onehouse course during the year.

Engine builders AB Performance, of Buxhall, also get a mention in the motor sport column, with their Sabre RGB making some promising appearances during the year and offering plenty to look forward to in 2011

• Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

Bowls: Royal launches triple bid for World titles

Stowmarket bowler Mark Royal faces a hectic start to the year.

The World No 3 and town bowls shop proprietor is in action at the Potters World Indoor Bowls Championships 2011 on the Norfolk coast, competing for three titles.

Action gets under way for him next Sunday (January 9) when he joins World No 5 Simon Skelton, of Nottinghamshire, in the World Pairs against either Billy Jackson and David Gourlay or an overseas qualifying pair.

Three days later comes the main event when the Rookery Bowls Club player starts his quest for the World Singles title against 50/1 outsider Jamie Chestney, from Fakenham.

Royal is 2/7 favourite to win that with Ladrokes and is 14/1 sixth favourite to be the overall victor.

Royal is in the lower half of the draw and will avoid all but one of the top six players before the semi-finals, where he is seeded to meet World No 1 Paul Foster, who is only ranked third in the odds. Ely's Greg Harlow and Mervyn King, from Fakenham, are joint favourites.

Victory over Chestney will give Royal a second round meeting with Australia’s Kelvin Kerkow or Nick Brett on January 18.

Before then, Royal joins Lancashire’s Janice Gower in the Mixed Pairs World Matchplay against Ian Bond and Julie Forrest on January 14.

• Updates will appear on Stowmarket Sport throughout the competition.

Click here for the full draw.

Click here to see the latest odds from Ladbrokes, here for SportsBet, and here for William Hill.
Click here for the oddschecker.com summary of prices being offered.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (In Touch With...)

There's plenty of sport in the January edition of In Touch With... Stowmarket, which has been landing on door mats this week.

As well as nine reports on the two sports pages, there are also five others in the 28-page publication.

Scorpion Martial Arts Academy is offering a free month of karate or kick-boxing training for new students, while Stowmarket Table Tennis Club is linking up with Suffolk Libraries with a display and have-a-go session.

There is a report from Old Newton Sports and Social Club with details of plans for 2011, news from Mid Suffolk Gymnastics Club and a tribute to Ron Barnes, of Meadlands Recreation Club, who died recently.

The sports pages include reports from Stowmarket Tennis Club, Stowmarket Football Referees, The Ramblers Association, Stowmarket Volleyball Club, Stowmarket Cricket Club, Stowmarket Squash Club and adverts from Stowmarket Golf Club and the squash club.

A triathlon at Wattisham Flying Station is mentioned, as are dance aerobics classes at Stowmarket Middle School.

• If you don’t get a free copy of In Touch delivered, you can pick up a copy at outlets listed here for 50p.

Football: New dates for Omnico Cup

Cedars Park must wait almost a month for their chance of giant-killing glory.

The Lions' Omnico Cup tie at Senior Division side Framlingham Town will now take place on Saturday, January 22, following Tuesday's postponement.
Old Newton United have re-arranged their tie for New Year's Bank Holiday Monday at Melton St Audrys.
The draw for the fourth round, which was due to take place this week, will now be made at Trimley Sports & Social Club after the Felixstowe United v Ipswich Athletic match on January 3.

Volleyball: New weekly sessions start for teenagers

Stowmarket Volleyball Club are hosting a series of coaching sessions. Volleyball 15:19 is aimed at youngsters aged 15 to 19 and consists of 90 minutes a week at Stowmarket Middle School Gym from Monday, January 24, until March 28 (except February 21 and March 7).

The first session is free and after that they are just £2 each. All sessions are from 6pm until 7.30pm.

A club spokesman said: "The sessions will be suitable both for beginners and those who have played before. Hopefully many of the participants will continue to play this Olympic sport indoors, on grass, or even on the beach for Stow Stingers or Stowmarket VC.

"Whether you want to improve your fitness after Christmas, meet new people or learn something new, these sessions could be for you."

For more details, contact Andrew Whitefield, andrew@stowmarket-volleyball.org.uk.

Football: Omnico Cup ties called off

The thaw did not come in time to save today's Omnico Cup ties involving Stowmarket-area teams.
Cedars Park's trip to Framlingham Town and Old Newton United's match at Melton St Audrys were both called off because of frozen pitches.
No rescheduled date has been set for Cedars Park yet but Old Newton will try again next Monday.

Tennis: Open tournament for New Year in Stowmarket

Stowmarket Tennis Club are hosting a Grade 6 Open Tournament on January 13, 14 and 16, consisting of men’s doubles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles events.

Entry is open to anyone aged over 18 on January 1, 2011, and application forms are available on the club’s website. Closing date for entries is December 31.

On-court action will not be affected by the winter's weather, thanks to the club's airhall dome, reported recently on Stowmarket Sport.

Book review: Stowmarket Town play away in new book

Stowmarket Town feature in the latest book by Suffolk author Matt Smith.

The Real Tractor Boys – Playing Away is the second book by the Ipswich-based Manchester City fan and tells of his trips around East Anglia following non-League football.

His first book concentrated on grounds in Suffolk but this time he goes further afield, following Suffolk teams around East Anglia and the South East.

The 216-page paperback covers July 2009 to March this year and features Stowmarket Town's match at Halstead.

Smith does cover the actual matches but features his journeys to the grounds in a humorous way as well as details of the ground and club, interspersed with facts and figures to keep all non-League fans entertained.

He also hands out awards for best ground and programme in a thoroughly entertaining read.

So, if you have Christmas money or gift vouchers sitting around the house, this is a highly recommended way to spend them. 

The Real Tractor Boys – Playing Away is published by Blackline Press and is available at book shops priced £13.99 or online for £12.99 post free at http://www.blacklinepress.com/. 50p of every book sale is donated to Grief Encounter, helping bereaved children get the best possible help.

Football: Stowmarket Town match off

Stowmarket Town players can enjoy an extended festive break.
This morning's Ridgeons League First Division match at Greens Meadow against Team Bury has been postponed.
Town are next due in action on Monday, January 3, with a trip to Ipswich Wanderers.

Swimming: Club ready to celebrate a year of success

Stowmarket Swimming Club will be celebrating a year of success when they hold their presentation evening.
Mid Suffolk’s Premier Swimming Club host the event at Needham Market Community Centre on Saturday, January 8, starting at 7pm, although swimmers are urged to be there for 6.50pm for a press photograph.

Darts: Latest results

Stowmarket and District Darts League

December 16: Old Newton SSC B 2, Huntsman 5; Royal William 2, Queens Head 5; Finningham 6, Kings Arms 1; Stonham Ten Bells 4, Stowupland Sports 3; Meadlands 4, Coddenham 3; Walnut Tree 2, Old Newton SSC A 5; Riverside 2, Pickerel 5; Stowmarket Crown 3, Onehouse Shepherd & Dog 4.

High out shot: 125 - M Woods (Stowmarket Royal William).

Football: Trio are back in action after Christmas festivities

Three local teams face festive bank holiday action if the thaw arrives in time.

Stowmarket Town start the ball rolling on Monday with a home Ridgeons League First Division meeting with Team Bury.

The game starts at Greens Meadow at 11am and the league leaders will be keen to get back into league action for the first time since their record-breaking 13-0 win at Cornard United more than two weeks earlier.

Tuesday sees two Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League teams in search of glory in the Omnico Cup.

Old Newton United are at Melton St Audrys looking to repeat their opening-day 3-1 victory, rather than the recent 2-0 home defeat.

a giant-killing is in the offing at Framlingham Town where Division Five team Cedars Park are the visitors to the Senior Division club.
The Stowmarket team will travel without their management team, as reported in the Green'Un.

Framlingham are struggling in the league but have two victories over Stowmarket Town to their name in both the FA Vase and Suffolk Senior Cup.

Both games start at 1.30pm.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Stowmarket Sporting New Year

Sporting activity has been thin on the ground in recent weeks but the Stowmarket Sport website has been thriving.
Thanks to your support, in its two months of existence there has already been more than 150 reports and stories featured and in excess of 3,000 visits from across the world to this blog.
The response to this venture has been amazing and I am grateful for all the words of encouragement I have received on my travels around the area.
I knew there was a demand for an ultra-local 'hub' to cover the plethora of sporting activity in Stowmarket but I have been blown away by the volume from both the participation side and the interest from across the world in what the town has to offer.
So far, Stowmarket Sport has had visitors from almost 30 countries. The UK and USA have seen the most but there have also been visitors from throughout Europe – Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden – Eastern Europe – Croatia, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia – and much further afield, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.
Stowmarket Sport is certainly proving a global phenomenon!
Long may that continue.
Thank you for all your support and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a sporting 2011.
Best wishes,
Stow Sportsdesk

PS Are you one of Stowmarket Sport's overseas followers? Write and tell us about your Stowmarket connections. Email us at stowsport@gmail.com or add your comment to this story.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

There are only slim pickings in today's Bury Free Press.

Stowmarket Town's bank holiday derby with Team Bury is previewed, including an interview with manager Steve Jay, and there is also a result from Stowmarket Golf Club.

• Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

Athletics: Ready to run off Christmas excesses

Do not worry if you see an array of fairies, Santas and other fancily-dressed people running through Stowmarket, Onehouse and Harleston on Boxing Day morning.

It will not be because you have over-indulged in the previous day’s festivities, it will be simply the Stowmarket Striders’ traditional Boxing Day run.

Runners will be leaving the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre car park in Gainsborough Road at 9.30am and taking a leisurely jog to Harleston Green and back.

Chairman Les Basham said: "The usual fancy dress is encouraged it may even help to keep you warm!"

The club has held their Christmas party, during which the result of the vote for Striders of the Year was announced.

Top of the polls were Frank Moggan and Jo Stephenson.

Recipients of London Marathon places were: Angie Burdett, Denise Wright, Neil Martin and Jon Milburn.

Football: Groundhoppers earmark Stowmarket for Bank Holiday double

If the weather relents, Stowmarket Town could be in for a bumper crowd for Monday's Ridgeons League match with Team Bury at Greens Meadow.

Unlike the majority of other games in the league, the match is due to start at 11am and will enable keen football fans to 'double up' with another game in the afternoon after sampling the delights of Stowmarket.
Non-League Matters, a popular 'Groundhopping' website, has already flagged up Stowmarket as the ideal first half of a Bank Holiday double and visitors from across the country can be expected to flock to Greens Meadow should the freezing temperatures abate in time.

Football: Ground award for Old Newton

Award: Michael
Brundish with
his certificate

Old Newton United groundsman Michael Brundish has picked up a prestigious award for the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League club.

Brundish has been presented with his certificate at the Suffolk County FA for coming second in the FA County Groundsman of the Year competition 2009/10.

The competition was won by Kevin Arbon of Framlingham Town, who went forward to represent Suffolk in the national stages.

Football: Old Newton seek new manager

Old Newton United require a team manager for their Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League Division Five 'A' team. The side have won just one of their nine league matches this season, but that did come in their last but one game.

A Level 1 coaching badge is prefered but the club are willing to help the right candidate work towards this standard.
Contact secretary Roy Balmforth, e-mail rbalmforth@hotmail.com, or telephone 01449 673068 for details.

Football: League denies plan to disband division

Ridgeons League secretary Nigel Spurling has written to Stowmarket Town to allay fears the league’s first division would be closed down at the end of this season.

A report in the Green’Un said the lack of numbers in the division meant consideration was being given to making the league just one section.

That could have meant clubs being forcibly relegated to the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League and other leagues at that level throughout East Anglia if they finished outside the top three places this season.

But Spurling said: "There has been no consideration given to disbanding the division at any time.

"The management committee are, however, naturally concerned at the falling number of clubs in the division and are keen to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

"To that end the matter has been debated at our meetings.

"Our long-term aim is to grow the division back to its authorised capacity of 22 clubs in order that there can be healthy promotion and relegation to and from our Step 7 feeder leagues."

Spurling said the matter would be discussed with all clubs at the Regional Clubs’ Meetings in March.

• Read the Green'Un update, here.

Golf: Ion's Hibbert Trophy honours

Ron Ion won the senior section's December Gren Hibbert Trophy match in one of few competitions to beat the weather at Stowmarket Golf Club.
Ion (handicap 16) scored 36 points to beat Andrew Lillistone (hc 18) by a single point. Roy Rogers (hc 14) was third on countback.

Football: Home quarter-final reward for Stowmarket Town

Stowmarket Town's reward for beating three Premier Division teams to reach the quarter-finals of the Ridgeons League Cup is a home tie against fellow First Division side Team Bury.
The match will be played on Tuesday, January 25, at Greens Meadow.
Town have an early chance to check out opponents they have already beaten 3-0 away in the First Division Cup on Tuesday when Team Bury are the visitors to Stowmarket in the league.
The other three quarter-final ties are: Stanway Rovers v CRC or Brantham Athletic, Walsham-le-Willows v Wroxham or Godmanchester Rovers, Wisbech Town v Great Yarmouth Town or Kirkley & Pakefield.

Sport: Regional award for Stowmarket school

Hot on the heels of a Sport England report that Mid Suffolk is helping boost the number of people actively involved in sport in the county, see Stowmarket Sport report here, comes news that one of the town's schools has won a regional award.
Abbot's Hall Primary School has been crowned the best in East Anglia by the BBC and Sport England for its amazing 93 per cent success rate in allowing pupils to enjoy five hours of PE and extra curricular sport each week.
According to the East Anglian Daily Times report, every one of the 177 children at the Danescourt Avenue school takes part in at least two hours of sport every week.
And twice a week the whole school, plus parents, takes part in a morning 'shake and wake' aerobics session.

Football: Monthly award for Salvation Army

Despite a recent dearth of action on the field, Salvation Army have still managed to win an award.

The Chilton Fields-based team have been named as Junior Sportmanship Team of the Month award winners for November by the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League.

The awards are for the clubs with the highest average monthly sportsmanship mark given by referees, using the Respect criteria.  
 
The November award sees Salvation Army move up the overall league table into sixth place with an average of 22.1 points. They are the highest placed of the five Stowmarket area clubs in the league.

Second-placed local club are Old Newton United, in 25th place with 20.7. Cedars Park are 45th (19.6) with Stowupland Falcons 54th (18.9) and Haughley United 61st (18.0) of the 67 clubs in the league.

Overall leaders are Kesgrave Kestrels (23.1) with St Clements Hospital (17.2) bringing up the rear.

The October details can be seen here.

Football: ... and then there was none

Frozen out: There is no local
football action today.

A heavy overnight frost wrecked what remained of the local football programme.
Following yesterday's early postponements of matches involving Stowmarket Town's two teams and Old Newton United, all the remaining fixtures were called off this morning.
The whole of the Ridgeons League and Suffolk & Ipswich League programmes fell victim to the cold snap and there are no more games scheduled before Christmas.

Football: Frost claims early victims

Stowmarket Town's Ridgeons League First Division clash at home to Gorleston tomorrow is an early victim of the winter weather.

The Greens Meadow pitch is frozen and an early decision was made to postpone the match this afternoon.
Town Reserves' trip to Norwich United Reserves was also called off at tea-time, as was Old Newton United's SIL trip to Westerfield.
Any more news of other local matches called off will appear here as they become known.

Paper Talk: Stowmarket sport in the local media (Bury Free Press)

With Christmas looming, local newspaper paginations shrink but there is a still a healthy number of Stowmarket area reports on eight pages of sport in today's Bury Free Press.

Stowmarket Town's record-breaking 13-0 win at Cornard gets a page lead and there is also a report on the midweek League Cup win over Histon Reserves as well as details of matches involving Haughley United, Salvation Army and Stowupland Falcons U3 Girls.

Elsewhere there is a report of Stowmarket RUFC's win over Thurston and results from local chess and darts leagues.

• Some sports reports are on the Bury Free Press website, or you can buy the paper for 70p at outlets throughout the area.

Darts: Latest results

Stowmarket and District Darts League

December 9, 2010: Huntsman 7, Queens Head 0; Needham Institute 3, Finningham 4; Kings Arms 3, Stonham Ten Bells 4; Stowupland Sports 4, Old Newton SSC B 3; Pickerel 6, Coddenham 1; Onehouse Shepherd & Dog 1, Walnut Tree 6;  Old Newton SSC A, 7 Riverside 0;  British Legion 6, Stow Crown 1.

Greene King Stowmarket & District Friendly Darts League

Week 15: Stowupland Crown 10, Old Newton SSC A 1; Old Newton SSC B 3 Stowmarket Little Wellington 8; Beyton White Horse A 9 Stowmarket Royal William 2; Haughley Kings Arms 4 Onehouse Shepherd & Dog 7; Great Finningham Chestnut Horse 6 Stowmarket Kings Arms 5; Ixworth Greyhound 5 Beyton White Horse B 6.

Top six:

	Pld	W	Ps
Beyton WH B	15	13	148
Ixworth Greyhound	15	12	143
Stowupland Crown	15	10	141
Beyton WH A	15	10	124
Stowmarket LW	15	9	122
Stowmarket RW	15	9	108

Sport: Mid Suffolk punches above its weight

When it comes to encouraging participation in sport, Mid Suffolk is punching well above it weight.

In figures released today by Sport England, there has been a steady increase across the country in participation during the last five years with almost seven million people taking part in sport at least three times a week.

And the Mid Suffolk District Council area is at the heart of that increase. Of 356 districts in the country, Mid Suffolk has seen the 18th largest increase, up from 12.7% to 17.6%.
Districts ahead of Mid Suffolk include many larger places,such as Brighton, Cheltenham, Oldham, Tameside (Manchester), Westmister and Wolverhampton.
Suffolk takes three of the top 18 places with St Edmundsbury (up 5.5%) and Mildenhall-based Forest Heath (up 5%) just ahead of Mid Suffolk in the standings.
Overall, the national total has been improved by a strong growth in athletics, which has risen by more than 263,00 in two years, and cycling, which has increased by almost 100,000 over the same period.
Swimming is down 88,000 to 3,156,300, while football has dropped by 54,700 to 2,090,000.
Golf (87,400), tennis (50,000), bowls (31,000), rugby union (36,100), cricket (32,900) and basketball (34,200) have also witnessed significant reductions.
Netball has emerged as one of the success stories with participant numbers up by more than 26,000 - an increase of a fifth in the size of the sport in two years.

Football: Fingers crossed for escape from snow

Fingers will be firmly crossed that the Stowmarket area misses the latest band of snow sweeping the country.

Stowmarket Town will be keen to build on their remarkable week when they welcome Gorleston to Greens Meadow on Saturday. Town rattled up a league record 13-0 away win last weekend and followed that with a third victory over Premier Division opposition in the League Cup on Tuesday.

All other local clubs, bar Cedars Park, are also due to be in action this weekend before they enjoy a scheduled day off for Christmas next week.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday, December 18

Ridgeons League (3pm)

First Division: Stowmarket Tn v Gorleston.

Reserve North Division: Norwich Utd Res v Stowmarket Tn Res.

Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League (2pm)

Senior Division: Westerfield Utd v Old Newton Utd.

Division 1: St Johns v Stowupland Falcons.

Intermediate B: Stowupland Falcons Res v Haughley Utd Res.

Division 2: AFC Hoxne v Salvation Army.

Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Sizewell Assocs.

Division 5: Old Newton Utd A v Westerfield Utd A.

Omnico Cup, 3rd round: Haughley Utd v Capel Plough (1.30pm).

Touchline Sports Trophy, 2nd round: Old Newton Utd Res v Grundisburgh Res (1.30pm).

Club Colours Cup, 2nd round: Cedars Park Res v Bacton Utd '89 Res (1.30pm).

Sunday, December 19

Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League (10.15am)

Premier Division: Unicorn v AFC Woodbridge.

Football: Stowmarket Town hit back to earn cup progress

Stowmarket Town 3 Histon Reserves 1
by JOHN GILLINGHAM
Both teams and referee Mr A. Sannerude (from Lowestoft) were keen to see this Ridgeons League Cup tie get under way, and get under way it did with both teams playing a fast and 'slick' passing game.  

The young visitors from Histon certainly had all the early play with Unwin and Taaffe looking very dangerous every time they got forward, but it was Stowmarket Town who came the closest to open the scoring when a neat build up saw Ross Myhill's shot well saved by Lawton.

Equaliser: Wayne Proctor
got Stow back into the game

But on 25 minutes, it was visiting Histon that took the lead. A corner caused confusion in the home penalty area, the ball fell to Zac Mills and he slammed the ball past Kevin Bugg.  

But the Old Gold & Blacks of Stow weren't behind for long, three minutes precisely as Wayne Proctor crashed home the equaliser after good build-up play between Dan Tredray and Marc Wake. 

Two minutes later and Stow took were in front, a corner from Drummond, saw Nathan Birch throw himself at the ball, he missed, the ball fell to Dan Smith and  'bang' 2-1! 

Stow were now looking at ease on the ball and right on the stroke of half-time they were 3-1 goals to the good, another ball across their box from Wake saw Lee Drummond thrash the ball home although it looked like it got a wicked deflection off Histon central defender Kenny Smith. 

The second half was all about who could keep their feet as the conditions got more frosty by the minute.

Both sides had a lot of the ball but there was little goalmouth action.

Unwin went close for Histon with a couple of long-range shots, while Graham (with a header ) and Dean Tournay-Godfrey, with a couple of rasping drives, and a header from Rob Canfer were the closest Stow came to increasing their lead.

With the game, which had been played in a good spirit drawing to a close, Histon substitute, Polley was sent off ( a straight red) after three silly tackles on Dan Hall, all inside a minute.

Football: Treble top for Town

Stowmarket Town claimed their third Premier Division scalp of the competition tonight with a superb 3-1 victory over Histon Reserves in the Ridgeons League Cup at Greens Meadow.

Having already seen off the challenges of Hadleigh and Felixstowe in away ties, Town beat a Histon team boosted by several members of the Cambridge club's Blue Square Premier squad.
Histon opened the scoring but Stow led 3-1 by half-time thanks to goals from Wayne Proctor, Dan Smith and Lee Drummond.

Football: Ling at the double for Unicorn

Dean Ling scored twice but it was only enough to earn Unicorn a point in the Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League.

Unicorn have a swift chance to amend matters following that 2-2 draw at AFC Woodbridge. They are the visitors to Chilton Fields on Sunday in a swift rematch, 10.15am.

Match details can be found on the league website, here.
Read Unicorn's report on the club's website, here.

Bowls: Royal's champion hopes end

Stowmarket-based Mark Royal's hopes of qualifying for the Champion of Champions final stage of the Bwin Super8Series suffered a fatal blow yesterday.
A second-place finish for Les Gillett in his final leg of the qualifying stage put him on 42 qualifying points. That is eight more than Royal, who was in action today. Even a win and the eight points that brings for the Rookery bowler would not have been enough to oust Gillett from the final qualifying berth though because the Stow man has an inferior number of game wins.
Royal started today's final leg with a defeat, going down 1-8, 7-4, 1-2 to Billy Jackson in 67 minutes.
His next match against Robert Paxton was lost 5-7, 4-7, but he concluded the qualifying process in style with an 8-7, 7-5 victory over Kevin Carrie to earn four qualifying points to take his tally to 38, four short of Gillett in fourth place.

Football: New manager announced for Salvation Army

By MARTIN COBBOLD

Despite the wintry weather, November was a busy month for Salvation Army, especially off the field. 

With current First Team Manager, Danny Reynolds having a break from his duties in the new year due to family commitments, his current assistant, Sam Dickie has stepped up to the plate and will become Army’s ninth permanent manager.

Dickie has impressed the management of the club while taking over from Reynolds while on a recent holiday and a look at Dickie’s footballing credentials show a pedigree on the pitch which will hopefully be evident in a managerial role. 

A former county representative at youth level, Dickie eventually progressed into the ranks at Stowmarket Town but he has also had a long affiliation with the Army making his debut back in September 1992. 

After more than 250 appearances and 70 goals for the club, Dickie will take over in January 2011.

Dickie will inherit a team that has shown strong improvements in recent weeks, with two league victories against Parkside part of a four-match unbeaten run. 

The only disappointing news for Army is that Jon Doughty, who had performed stoutly in the middle of defence since moving from left back, has now jetted off to Australia for an indefinite period. 

Doughty was captain for the day in his last match and epitomised his playing style when he smashed in a left-footed free kick with tremendous power low and hard into the Parkside net to give the Army the lead in a game where they eventually ran out 2-1 winners.

Weather permitting, the Army have two more games scheduled for 2010 and one in January before Dickie takes control of matters and they will be looking to continue their recent good form into 2011.

For more information on the club, please visit www.salvationarmyfc.co.uk

Football: Premier challenge for Stowmarket Town

Stowmarket Town have little time to bathe in the glory of Saturday's record-breaking 13-0 win at Cornard United.
Tomorrow evening they take on Ridgeons Premier League side Histon Reserves in the League Cup at Greens Meadow, 7.45pm.
Stow have already beaten two top-level teams to get this far but will face an even tougher challenge against a visiting team boosted by members of their Blue Square National first-team ranks.
Town general manager John Griffin said: "The Manager of Histon Reserves has confirmed at least five first-team players will be in the squad against Stowmarket Town." 
Should the weather get the better of the tie, there will be updates on the club's website.

Darts: Latest results and table

Greene King Stowmarket & District Friendly Darts League

Stowupland Crown 9 Ixworth Greyhound 2,

Old Newton SSC B 6 Stowmarket Kings Arms 5,

Beyton White Horse A 7 Great Finningham Chestnut Horse 4,

Haughley Kings Arms 4 Old Newton SSC A 7,

Onehouse Shepherd & Dog 5 Beyton White Horse B 6,

Stowmarket Royal William 4 Stowmarket Little Wellington 7.

Ingham & District Ladies Darts League

Section Two:

	Pld	W	Ps
Gt Barton Bunbury Arms	6	5	27
Walsham Six Bells A	6	4	24
Haughley Kings Arms	6	4	21
Walsham Six Bells B	5	3	16
Walsham Sports Club	5	1	9
Troston Bull	6	0	5