FA Cup - Academics dominate again!
Yesterday saw the replay of Kettering Town and Notts County with four HE students involved. Brett Solkhon (Loughborough), Gareth Strachan (Staffordshire), Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) and Sean Canham (Bath). Kettering eventually ran out 2-1 winners to knock out League 2 Notts County to set up a 3rd Round tie with Non League Eastwood Town and the chance to play a Premiership side in the fourth round.
Kettering were 1-0 down but ex England Universities and Loughborough student Brett Solkhon scored the equaliser to allow Gareth Seddon 90 seconds later to give Kettering the win.
Leon McSweeney (Loughborough) played in Stockport's disappointing defeat of Gillingham to miss out on a tie with Aston Villa.
Regional Tournament - Warwick 15th / 16th December
Next Monday and Tuesday sees the second year of the Regional Tournament take place at Warwick. 62 players from the HE system will battle it out to be the Regional Champions. The defending champions are the South and they will be strong again this year. We are all looking forward to it and hoping that we find more stories like the above.
England Training and selection camp
This will take place again at Warwick on the 5th and 6th January. We will be taking 40 boys forward to assess suitability for the upcoming EU fixture list.
World University Games
As some of you may know I am on the staff group going to World University Games this summer and I have been charged with finding the best 40-50 UK based players. I really want to give them a chance to get on the plane to go to Belgrade so if there is anyone out there that you think I may have missed then please let me know. I am in contact with Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland as well. This will hopefully give our boys a good chance of being considered.
BUCs Domestic
The programme for the Premier Leagues have no come to an end and will recommence after Christmas. Both leagues look very competitive this year and looks very close for the final placings.
Universities in the Non League pyramid
Currently many football programmes are looking outside of the BUCs programme to find the required challenge for the development of their players. Below are a list of Universities that are currently challenging the development of their players in the Non League pyramid:
Bath University
Exeter University
Leed Met Carnegie
Loughborough University
Newcastle University
Northumbria University
It is great to see that Universities are giving the HE programme and the students that extra exposure they require.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
England call ups, The FA Cup and staff making the break through
FA CUP WEEKEND
It is that time where clubs are looking for that lucrative win that would maybe allow them to play a Premiership club in Round 3. Yet again HE is well represented in the 2nd Round. Tom Curtis (Loughborough) will captain Alfreton Town as they go to League 1 high flyers Scunthorpe on Saturday. Richard Pell (Loughborough) will be playing in the live game on Setanta Sports for Blyth Spartans as they try to overcome Bournemouth. Michael Symons and Lee Molyneaux (UWE Hartpury) will be playing for Forest Green Rovers as they try and overcome League 2 Rochdale. Leon McSweeney (Loughborough) will be playing for Stockport County away at Gillingham. Mark Nwokeji (London) will be playing for Dagenham & Redbridge and League 1 leaders Leicester City.
Sunday sees Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) play for Kettering Town against League 2 side and Sean Canham (Bath), Notts County.
We wish them all well.
ENGLAND CAPS
Congratulations to Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) who played in the England C game v Italy this month. The game ended in a 2-2 draw and sees England play in the final. It is hoped that this game will be staged at Wembley.
Curtis Holmes (Teeside) wins his first England call up for the 4 Nations Futsal tournament at Loughborough. The tournament takes place from the 19th - 21st December and the teams taking part are England, Rep of Ireland, Lithuania and Libya.
Congratulations to both players
STAFF ON DUTY
England Universities Sport Scientist Dawn Scott has just returned from duty with the Women's U17 side in New Zealand. The squad did very well losing out in the Semi finals to Korea and finishing the tournament in fourth.
HE PLAYERS MOVING ON
Steve Abbott (Bath) is currently on trial at Conference Premier side Wrexham in the hope of gaining a contract with Wales Assistant Manager Dean Saunders.
REGIONAL TRIALS
Year 2 of the new system and we are really pleased with how the North and Midlands trials have gone and look forward to the completion this weekend of the trial in the South to see who the 60 players will be representing their region at Warwick on the 15th and 16th December.
BUCS DOMESTIC PROGRAMME
The season is well into flow and it looks like at the top it is going to be close in both the North and South. With there two relegation spots this year it is looking like there is real competition and pressure on teams to do well each week.
It is that time where clubs are looking for that lucrative win that would maybe allow them to play a Premiership club in Round 3. Yet again HE is well represented in the 2nd Round. Tom Curtis (Loughborough) will captain Alfreton Town as they go to League 1 high flyers Scunthorpe on Saturday. Richard Pell (Loughborough) will be playing in the live game on Setanta Sports for Blyth Spartans as they try to overcome Bournemouth. Michael Symons and Lee Molyneaux (UWE Hartpury) will be playing for Forest Green Rovers as they try and overcome League 2 Rochdale. Leon McSweeney (Loughborough) will be playing for Stockport County away at Gillingham. Mark Nwokeji (London) will be playing for Dagenham & Redbridge and League 1 leaders Leicester City.
Sunday sees Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) play for Kettering Town against League 2 side and Sean Canham (Bath), Notts County.
We wish them all well.
ENGLAND CAPS
Congratulations to Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) who played in the England C game v Italy this month. The game ended in a 2-2 draw and sees England play in the final. It is hoped that this game will be staged at Wembley.
Curtis Holmes (Teeside) wins his first England call up for the 4 Nations Futsal tournament at Loughborough. The tournament takes place from the 19th - 21st December and the teams taking part are England, Rep of Ireland, Lithuania and Libya.
Congratulations to both players
STAFF ON DUTY
England Universities Sport Scientist Dawn Scott has just returned from duty with the Women's U17 side in New Zealand. The squad did very well losing out in the Semi finals to Korea and finishing the tournament in fourth.
HE PLAYERS MOVING ON
Steve Abbott (Bath) is currently on trial at Conference Premier side Wrexham in the hope of gaining a contract with Wales Assistant Manager Dean Saunders.
REGIONAL TRIALS
Year 2 of the new system and we are really pleased with how the North and Midlands trials have gone and look forward to the completion this weekend of the trial in the South to see who the 60 players will be representing their region at Warwick on the 15th and 16th December.
BUCS DOMESTIC PROGRAMME
The season is well into flow and it looks like at the top it is going to be close in both the North and South. With there two relegation spots this year it is looking like there is real competition and pressure on teams to do well each week.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
2008 Preview and its all go!!!!
Wolverhampton and EU player selected for National game XI
Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) who completed his studies last year and moved to Kettering Town in the Football Conference is not only sitting at the top of the league but this week has been selected by Paul Fairclough to play Italy for England C. We would all like to wish Exodus all the best for the upcoming fixture.
John Hall - Leeds Met
John has played a huge role in HE football over the past 2 decades and has helped myself and Steve especially move the new representative programme on. John has now stepped down at Northern Regional Manager but will remain in a position of support to the programme and will be ever present at Regional and National events. I would just like to personally thank John for his support of HE football and support of programme over the last 2.5 years. It is without doubt where it is because of people like John. Thanks John.
FA Cup
Many of our students will be involved in the 1st round proper this season below is a snap shot:
Sean Canham (Bath) - Sutton United v NOTTS COUNTY
Stephen Luckket & Andy Jones (Worcester) - Torquay United v EVESHAM UNITED
Michael Symons & Lee Molyneaux (UWE Hartputy) - TEAM BATH v Ashford Town / FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Leon McSweeney (Loughborough) - Yeovil Town v STOCKPORT COUNTY
Rob Taylor (Worcester) - Huddersfield Town v PORT VALE
Tom Curtis (Loughborough) - ALFRETON TOWN v Bury Town
Marcus Garnham (Anglia Ruskin) - Alfreton Town v BURY TOWN
Peter Vincenti (Liverpool Hope) - Leicester City v STEVENAGE / Horsham
Johnny McClaughlin (Leeds Met) - MK Dons v BRADFORD CITY
Andy Rushbury (Nottingham Trent) - Darlington v Droylesden / BELPER TOWN
Andy Brown (Loughborough) - Northwich Victoria/AFC TELFORD v Southend United
Tom Birch (Manchester) - HINCKLEY UNITED / Curzon Ashton v Exeter City
Matt Taylor (Bath) - Hinckley United / Curzon Ashton v EXETER CITY
Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) Brett Solkhon(Loughborough)- KETTERING TOWN v Lincoln City
Mark Nwokeji (London) - Hereford v DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
Daniel Sleath (Loughborough) - Wrexham / EASTWOOD TOWN v Brackley Town
Matthew Towns (Derby) - Harlow Town v MACCLESFIELD TOWN
Regional Trials 2008 - Sunday 23rd November
Can you please ensure that your nomination forms for the players within your squads are now on their way to the office so that we can start to sort out the trial process. It is really important that we keep the profile of this programme up so if you have not already done so can you please ensure that this is complete.
Players released from football league clubs going into HE
Attached is a list of players that have been released from football league clubs and have gone into HE/FE both in the UK and the USA. Could you please have a scan through and see if any are at your institutions that you may have missed.
BUCS domestic programme
The season has started and Birmingham are leading the way in PLN and Hartpury and Bath are doing so in in PLS. Over the past few weeks we have had issues with officials, team sheets etc. Hopefully you all understand that the reason for doing all of these things (or at least going some way to delivering them) is to raise the standards in HE football. We know we are not going to get them right in the first instance but the commitment to do this will ensure that the experience players, staff and institutions have will improve. Thank you all for supporting this.
England Universities programme
This year will be kicked off by the regional trials and tournament (December 15th and 16th at Warwick). After Christmas we will deliver a 2 day camp as a training and selection camp that will allow us to assess the players this year. It is hoped that we will go on tour to Ireland and play the Irish Universities side plus an Eircom Premier league team.
World Student Games 2009
This year the games are in Belgrade and hopefully the programme for selection and training will be available soon. There are undoubted players that will be playing at a level to push for places for this years squad.
World University Futsal Championships 2010 (Serbia)
I have attempted already to start to develop a player development programme for players in HE for the next tournament. Although there is not much resource available I am determined for us to deliver a programme that may in 18 months be able to challenge the FA National team programme. I will be sending out details on this when we have moved it on.
Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) who completed his studies last year and moved to Kettering Town in the Football Conference is not only sitting at the top of the league but this week has been selected by Paul Fairclough to play Italy for England C. We would all like to wish Exodus all the best for the upcoming fixture.
John Hall - Leeds Met
John has played a huge role in HE football over the past 2 decades and has helped myself and Steve especially move the new representative programme on. John has now stepped down at Northern Regional Manager but will remain in a position of support to the programme and will be ever present at Regional and National events. I would just like to personally thank John for his support of HE football and support of programme over the last 2.5 years. It is without doubt where it is because of people like John. Thanks John.
FA Cup
Many of our students will be involved in the 1st round proper this season below is a snap shot:
Sean Canham (Bath) - Sutton United v NOTTS COUNTY
Stephen Luckket & Andy Jones (Worcester) - Torquay United v EVESHAM UNITED
Michael Symons & Lee Molyneaux (UWE Hartputy) - TEAM BATH v Ashford Town / FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Leon McSweeney (Loughborough) - Yeovil Town v STOCKPORT COUNTY
Rob Taylor (Worcester) - Huddersfield Town v PORT VALE
Tom Curtis (Loughborough) - ALFRETON TOWN v Bury Town
Marcus Garnham (Anglia Ruskin) - Alfreton Town v BURY TOWN
Peter Vincenti (Liverpool Hope) - Leicester City v STEVENAGE / Horsham
Johnny McClaughlin (Leeds Met) - MK Dons v BRADFORD CITY
Andy Rushbury (Nottingham Trent) - Darlington v Droylesden / BELPER TOWN
Andy Brown (Loughborough) - Northwich Victoria/AFC TELFORD v Southend United
Tom Birch (Manchester) - HINCKLEY UNITED / Curzon Ashton v Exeter City
Matt Taylor (Bath) - Hinckley United / Curzon Ashton v EXETER CITY
Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) Brett Solkhon(Loughborough)- KETTERING TOWN v Lincoln City
Mark Nwokeji (London) - Hereford v DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
Daniel Sleath (Loughborough) - Wrexham / EASTWOOD TOWN v Brackley Town
Matthew Towns (Derby) - Harlow Town v MACCLESFIELD TOWN
Regional Trials 2008 - Sunday 23rd November
Can you please ensure that your nomination forms for the players within your squads are now on their way to the office so that we can start to sort out the trial process. It is really important that we keep the profile of this programme up so if you have not already done so can you please ensure that this is complete.
Players released from football league clubs going into HE
Attached is a list of players that have been released from football league clubs and have gone into HE/FE both in the UK and the USA. Could you please have a scan through and see if any are at your institutions that you may have missed.
BUCS domestic programme
The season has started and Birmingham are leading the way in PLN and Hartpury and Bath are doing so in in PLS. Over the past few weeks we have had issues with officials, team sheets etc. Hopefully you all understand that the reason for doing all of these things (or at least going some way to delivering them) is to raise the standards in HE football. We know we are not going to get them right in the first instance but the commitment to do this will ensure that the experience players, staff and institutions have will improve. Thank you all for supporting this.
England Universities programme
This year will be kicked off by the regional trials and tournament (December 15th and 16th at Warwick). After Christmas we will deliver a 2 day camp as a training and selection camp that will allow us to assess the players this year. It is hoped that we will go on tour to Ireland and play the Irish Universities side plus an Eircom Premier league team.
World Student Games 2009
This year the games are in Belgrade and hopefully the programme for selection and training will be available soon. There are undoubted players that will be playing at a level to push for places for this years squad.
World University Futsal Championships 2010 (Serbia)
I have attempted already to start to develop a player development programme for players in HE for the next tournament. Although there is not much resource available I am determined for us to deliver a programme that may in 18 months be able to challenge the FA National team programme. I will be sending out details on this when we have moved it on.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Exodus goes full time
Wolverhampton University student Exodus Geohaghan and winning goal-scorer in the British University Championships this year playing for England Universities has finished his studies and turned full time signing for Kettering Town in the Blue Square Conference.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Team Bath striker turns pro
Congratulations to Sean Canham who after being on trial at Charlton Athletic has now signed a two year deal with League 2 side Notts County. Sean has been prolific for Team Bath in both the BUSA competition and the Southern League.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Worcester students prepare for Para-olympics
Keryn Seal, Lee Greatbach, and Ajmal Ahmed will be taking part in the B1 squads bid for an medal in Beijing this summer. Congratulations to all at Worcester and a great example of the diversity of the programmes we are providing in the HE sector.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
England Universities v Ipswich Town FC
On Friday a squad of 17 players played the Championship side at Loughborough. Ipswich played all of their first team squad of 24. The England lads did really well and were a credit to their institutions and themselves. The scoreline ended up being 4-1 with Bradley Pritchard (Loughborough) scoring a goal in the second period to bring the score back to 2-1. The goal came from an excellent diagonal pass from Exodus Geohaghan (Wolverhampton) and some good work from Alex Rodman (Nottingham Trent) on the right. Steve Foley, Assistant Manager at Ipswich Town said that the lads were a credit to the shirt and that they would be very happy to play them throughout the season as we play good football.Special thanks to Dawn Scott, Tom Curtis and Graham Potter who staffed the game.
This was the last game of the 2007 - 2008 representative programme and was a fitting end to a successful year where England were crowned British Champions, 7 players went back in to the professional game, the regional set up has increased in staff numbers and the interest in the programme has increased tremendously.
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