Latest news with #IsuzuFAVase
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atherton LR ready to go again after their historic treble season
History was made last season for Atherton Laburnum Rovers. Five years ago, the club was a week away from being suspended from the league, but the recent campaign saw them secure not only the Edward Case Cup, but the Champions Cup and the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Division One North title - securing LR's first ever treble and a return to the Premier Division for the first time in nearly 15 years. Advertisement Not many 25-year-old's have that on their managerial CV, but David Jones, who led the team to glory not only in the league, also had LR three games away from Wembley in the Isuzu FA Vase, falling where short to Bourne Town in the Round of 16 as the last northern team left in the competition. With all the success from last season fully enjoyed, everyone is now looking ahead to a year of new challenges, further away days and a chance for boss Jones to prove himself in a higher division. LR will enter the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup this year for the first time in 15 years - the Yellows have not had the best history in the competition with their furthest progression being the Third Qualifying Round in 1996, beating sides like Liversedge, Ilkeston and Curzon Ashton before eventually falling to Bamber Bridge in a replay. Jones has, however, enjoyed lengthy cup runs so far with LR in the FA Vase 2024/25 and Edward Case Cup last season, so an FA Cup run is not out of the question. Advertisement But before then there is work today with the squad and staff. Over the summer, LR said goodbye to two coaches, Michael Moran and Gareth Flitcroft, whose efforts in the 2024/25 season and prior helped in the restructure of the first team and they both excelled at the club. Jones said: 'Mick stepped away due to more work commitments, and going up a league means more games so that means more strain on him. 'Gaz has been outstanding for the last two years, leading a lot of the coaching, and just being fantastic for us. 'He has had the opportunity to take more hours at Stockport County which is brilliant for him and his personal progression. Advertisement 'We would like to thank Gaz and Mick for their outstanding hard work, commitment and playing a huge part in our success over the last two seasons.' LR recently confirmed the replacements for the coaching pair in the shape of former Southport coach, Simon Beswick, and ex-Glossop North End assistant manager, Lew Sumner. The pair arrive to the club with a heap of experience, especially in the art of promotion with Sumner working with Jones during the pair's stint at Bootle Under-21s. With the arrivals and departures of staff, there have also been a rake of departures from the first team, most notably Ryan Talbot, whose goals in the FA Vase last campaign were crucial in LR's advances, and young star Cristian Mukoko Advertisement Jones added: 'We have to keep moving forward. 'Every player from last season will forever be remembered here, that's for sure. 'Players coming in, we're looking at four or five really and that'll be it. 'Looking at ourselves over the last two years, we're built on stability, hard work and togetherness and we plan on continuing that trend.' After winning the title, and with it promotion alongside play-off winners Euxton Villa, LR will be playing in the NWCFL Premier Division in 2025/26 - Step Five of the non-league pyramid. The newest league format will see LR play 46 games across the season with 24 teams, including two national cup competitions and two domestic cups, which will certainly be a challenge the team will need to overcome. Advertisement Most fans have given a bold prediction of a top-half finish by LR, but Jones gave a less restrictive view on the matter. He said: 'I have no expectations, there's no need for them really. 'We've been fantastic for the last two years to achieve this and we'll just keep the mentality of striving to be the best we can. 'There are no expectations of where we'll finish or how far we'll go in the cups, it's just a case of let's see where we go, roll up our sleeves and see where it takes us.' The league campaign will start on Saturday, July 26 with the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round taking place a week later on August 2.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Whitstable Town secure trip to Wembley for FA Vase final
A non-league football club in Kent is celebrating after securing a trip to Wembley Stadium for the first time in its Town Football Club drew 0-0 against Hartpury University FC in the second leg of the Isuzu FA Vase semi-final on Sunday – progressing 2-0 on have called the achievement "unbelievable" and said that reaching the final was a "dream come true".Whitstable Town manager, Jamie Coyle, said: "We're hoping to take as many fans as we possibly can. It's going to be one hell of a final." Supporter Polly Burgess she hoped that abut 6,000 Whitstable Town fans would make the trip to Wembley."We're really pleased for the boys, for the fans, the coaches – the club deserves it," she said."It's going to be fantastic. If we can get a huge contingent up there, it will be amazing."Fellow fan Nathan Grant said the day of the semi-final second leg began "a bit nervy", but the atmosphere improved in the second half when the trip to the capital looked certain."I've got a sore throat and struggling to talk this morning after so much singing," he said."I'm very happy and relieved that it's over and we're going to Wembley."Whitstable always travel with a large amount of fans and they didn't let the town down."Whitstable Town will play AFC Whyteleafe in the final on 11 May.
BBC News
05-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hartpury's Stephen Sarkodie hopes to fly mum out for Wembley game
A goalkeeper who moved to England with a dream of playing at Wembley may fly his mother from Ghana to watch it come Sarkodie arrived in England in 2018 to pursue his education at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire, and turned down a professional contract to put his studies Sarkodie, who learnt English before moving, said the language had been "the most challenging", but had shared his culture with his team by cooking them jollof - a traditional West African rice a Master's student, he will play against Whitstable Town with his Hartpury University team mates on Sunday in the Isuzu FA Vase semi-final second leg. Mr Sarkodie told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he had been on "a long journey" since moving to England."I've always had a dream of getting a degree before I play football so I wanted to focus on that dream and that's how I ended up here," he said."In Ghana, going to school is one of the most important things to do and my mum has always supported that, so to fulfil my mum's dream, I just wanted to get a degree."Mr Sarkodie said to move to England, he had to pass his English exam, but the language was not the only "challenging" aspect of moving thousands of miles from home. Cultural differences "The culture is quite different to where I was, everything is about church, Christianity and religion [in Ghana]," he said."I'm still drawn to my local food, I still eat that a lot. My favourite Ghanaian food is jollof - it is made of rice and tomato sauce - with plantain on the side. "My favourite English food is mashed potato and sausages."The Sports business management student said he introduced his team mates to jollof, and they thought it was "the best food in the world". 'Wembley dream' Mr Sarkodie has special plans for 11 May at Wembley Stadium, if all goes well on Sunday."I'm going to fly my mum to England for the first time to watch me play at Wembley," he said."I've always had a dream of playing Wembley, the dream is not gone yet."We still believe, and I still believe, we're going to get there."
