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Worksop Town - Defender Andy Boyce is making his return to UniBond League Premier Division club Worksop Town. The 6'4” defender won himself a full-time contract at Doncaster Rovers last season and impressed while on loan at Sandy Lane. Tigers` manager Peter Rinkcavage has confirmed that Boyce has agreed to return to the club for another six-month loan spell. Rinkcavage expressed his delight at once again capturing the services of Boyce. He said: "He's doing well for Doncaster Rovers and we're very pleased to get him in again." "He's training full-time with Doncaster over the summer and he will have matured." Rinkcavage expressed his thanks to Rovers for allowing Boyce to go out on loan again. He added: "I'm really grateful to Doncaster for helping us out and hopefully we can do them a favour by giving him a decent quality of football and some games."

Buxton - John Reed, manager of UniBond League Premier Division club Buxton, has added another new signing to his squad for the coming season. Gavin Knight, who had been on trial with the Bucks, has now put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal with the Silverlands outfit. Ex-Barrow and Guiseley forward Knight impressed Reed with his performance in the Bucks first pre-season friendly at Hatfield Main. He has previously played for clubs including North Ferriby United and Brigg Town. "Gav Knight is a great signing for us. "The three new signings are all absolutely magnificent for different reasons. Steve Brodie is an experience player and a fantastic lad, Mark Hume causes so much trouble for defenders and this year will hopefully do the same. "We are in a great league and have got to make something special. With the nucleus of the team from last year and the three new signings we've got chance to push even harder. "If you look at clubs like Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue, FC United of Manchester and Boston United they are big, big teams and we need to try and stay with them as much as we possibly can. "I am pleased with all the progress the players have made in pre-season training. Scott Maxfield has done some really good sessions and really raised the bar as far as the work and the players have responded really well. "It will be difficult this season facing the big teams and every game will be a good challenge. "The people of Buxton need to understand that we are playing in a really good level of football. I keep saying their support is massive for us but it would be great if we could just get a few more people along. If we get another few hundred through the gates we will have the chance to compete with the other big teams. "We want to try and move up as quickly as everybody else. "The club has had three fantastic seasons but what we don't want to do is just stay where we are. We want to keep trying to push on and push up. At this moment in time we need something else. We need someone to give Chris Brindley some assistance or we will stay where we are for the foreseeable future."
FA CUP - For the first time in history, FA Cup matches involving non-League clubs will be filmed and available to a large audience, thanks to a partnership between ITV Local, ITV.com and the Football Association. ITV and FA camera crews will capture early round FA Cup action on camera from the first weekend of the E.ON sponsored competition when over 400 clubs begin their bid for glory. A number of matches have been selected for filming on each FA Cup weekend during August, September and October. Highlight packages will be made available to watch on ITVLocal.com, ITV.com and TheFA.com. Clubs that aren't covered by an ITV Local camera will be given access to an exclusive area on ITV Local's Grassroots Sport website where they can upload their own club videos for all to see. ITV Local's Director of Content, Lindsay Charlton, said: "For the first time in the history of the FA Cup, dozens of preliminary and qualifying round matches will be captured on camera, thanks to ITV Local. What makes the FA Cup exciting is when small clubs manage to smash their way through from the early rounds to face Premier League giants. With a little luck ITV Local will be able to follow some of this year's giant killers all the way." Head of Content at ITV.com, Marc Webber, said: "With this development we're bringing the big match atmosphere to the smallest of clubs. Everyone that plays in the FA Cup should have their day in the sun and we're proud to be the first broadcaster to cover the FA Cup from the very first kick." Editor of TheFA.com website, Jamie Bradbury, said: "The FA Cup is such a unique competition and the early rounds can really inspire the players and fans involved, with a chance to meet the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool a possibility. Last season TheFA.com featured highlights of games in every round of the competition, but the link with ITV.com and ITV Local means we'll be going even further this time around." This 2008/09 FA Cup season sees a record 762 enter the world's greatest domestic cup competition. It all kicks off on 16th August with the Extra Preliminary Round. All FA Cup videos from early round matches will hosted at http://www.itvlocal.com/facup
Ashton United - Ashton United took on Blue Square North neighbours Droylsden in the inaugural Tony Downes Memorial Cup on Saturday. Tony, from Droylsden, was on a tour of duty in Afghanistan with The Grenadier Guards during 2007 when he was killed in action, aged just 20. The match itself was blessed by excellent weather and a good number of Droylsden supporters made the short trip to help provide a healthy gate at Hurst Cross. In the game itself it was the higher-ranked Bloods who proved too strong for an Ashton side made up of a mixture of last season's regulars, new signings and some triallists. Despite looking offside, Neil Prince gave the visitors the lead after just 11 minutes and Ashley Burbeary doubled their advantage 10 minutes later when Ashton's Darren Bowman failed to find his keeper with a back-header, leaving the Droylsden striker with an open goal to slot home into. The lively Prince had already struck a post with a shot that bounced to safety before ending a mazy run with another shot against the woodwork - this time the spin on the ball carried it across the line via the other post for Droylsden's third goal. As the second half wore on the pattern of the game was altered as both sides made several substitutions to give players a run-out in the hot conditions but this didn't stop Droylsden adding a fourth through Carl Lamb. Ashton's best effort came from a former Butchers Arms favourite, Ian Fitzpatrick, whose shot was cleared off the line by a covering defender with the Bloods' keeper Jon Kennedy beaten. After the game an impressive looking trophy bearing Tony's name was presented to the victorious Droylsden team by his parents, Sheryl and Ronnie Downes, who were themselves the recipients of a small gift from the Ashton United directors.
Matlock Town - Lloyd Kerry grabbed a 35th minute winner, striking in the loose ball after UniBond League Premier Division Matlock Town`s keeper Andy Richmond had parried a fierce Jack Lester shot on 35 minutes to retain the Banner Jones Cup for Chesterfield. But plucky Matlock went close through Steve Warne, Liam King and Dene Cropper early on, making life tough for the Coca-Cola League Two outfit. After the break, new signing Ross Hannah (pictured) and Simon Barraclough might have levelled, while Phil Picken and Kerry again might have netted. Matlock will be encouraged by their performance and a healthy 1,083 gate.
Eastwood Town - Lindon Meikle, 20, has told manager Paul Cox that he wants be part of the UniBond League Premeir Division club`s plans. Cox has told Meikle (pictured) that he will now have to go out and earn the opportunity to be awarded the much-improved contract that was on the table at the end of last season. Cox said: "Lindon must have been watched by more big clubs that any other player in the local area. But I am fed up of hearing how good Lindon could be. It's about time he fulfilled his potential. I have had the kid since he was 16 and thought he would be playing at a much higher level now. “It's up to the Lindon to show everyone what he is made of and start ripping defences apart and hitting the back of the net consistently. “He has messed us about a bit but tells me he no longer has a football agent and will knuckle down and focus on playing for Eastwood Town."

Tony Hesketh, manager of UniBond League Division One North club Chorley, has strengthened his defence with two new signings, Rob Henry and Chris Smalley. The pair have played in the pre-season friendlies against Northwich Victoria and Preston and arrive at the Chorley Nissan Victory Park Stadium as replacements Dave German and Liam Coyne, who have joined FC Halifax Town and Witton Albion respectively. Henry is a right back with experience at both Lancaster City and Kendal Town, while Smalley joined from Vodkat North West Counties League neighbours Atherton Collieries and has previously played along side James Mullineux for the Lancashire FA youth side. Meanwhile, Hesketh has made midfielder Mark Drew available for transfer in a shock move following a telephone call from the 24-year-old saying he had joined UniBond Premier side Witton. Hesketh said: “As he is a contracted player with Chorley, we hold his registration and if he moves we would expect a fee for him. “I am disappointed in Mark, but if he doesn’t want to play for us, then he’s not part of my plans.”

© Kendal Town Football Club 2008