Eagles
Seniors - 10/11 Season
Letchworth Garden City Eagles F.C.
Roy and Jason
Back in training and players required for 2010/11
Following the success of the eagles first team in winning the Herts Senior County League Division 1 title and the Aubrey Cup, managers Roy Boon and Jason Valentine, and reserve team manager Paul ‘Tenchie’ Howard are looking for new players to join the club for the coming season. Training is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Baldock Road recreation ground Letchworth, commencing at 7pm. If you are interested please come along and meet the team managers.
Competition for first team places will be fierce this season if the performance in pre season friendlies is any guide. After a 4-2 home win over Welwyn Garden City FC, the team put up good performances against higher level teams Wellingbough Utd ( lost away 1-5) and Peterborough ( lost 0-5), before a good 4-2 win over a young Hitchin Town side at the Hitchin Arena.
After such a good performance Hitchin manager Carl Williams challenged Eagles manager Roy Boon to a return fixture against the Hitchin first team and triallists. Eagles performed beyond any expectations and after taking the lead with a fine first half goal by newcomer Lee Pateman only lost 3-1 in the last 10 minutes after making a few substitutions.
In another mid week friendly at the Arena Eagles beat a new team from the HSCL div 1 Eight Bells FC 1-0 in a tight game and London Colney FC away 2-0.
The reserves team is still building with lots of triallists so perhaps it was not unexpected that they lost 7-1 to a strong Baldock Letchworth team containing a number of first team regulars, and 3-1 against a Hitchin PJ team.
Roy Boon can be contacted on 07977905837 and Jason Valentine on 07976365594.
Match Reports
HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 4 SEPTEMBER 2010
Letchworth Garden City Eagles 2-1 Croxley Guild
Letchworth continued their unbeaten start to premier division life with a hard fought 2-1 win over Croxley Guild at Pixmore Playing Field. Despite never really hitting top form, Eagles had enough in their locker to grind out their result, while Croxley will feel disappointed they did not take anything from their below par opponents.
The opening quarter of an hour was Eagles best period of the game. They controlled the tempo
and created chances from the off. Lee Pateman tested the keeper from range but saw his shot parried
wide. The resulting corner was cleared to the edge of the area where Rob Groves fed it back to
Mitch Cox whose near post centre was glanced in by the flying Paul McGennity.
Jay Drackford was then set free by Joe Tyler, and though he looked offside the flag stayed down.
Unfortunately the striker’s hesitation allowed a defender to get back to make a block.
Croxley began to grow in confidence, and last ditch challenges from Tyler and Lewis Mitchell
prevented clear cut chances being converted into goals. Mitchell was then forced out of the game
with an injury, whuch seemed to disrupt the team performance.
Just before the break, Rob Groves embarked on a jinking run across the pitch from his left-wing
position, and although his original shot was blocked by a defender, he regained possession and
placed a low shot across the goalkeeper for 2-0.
In the second half Croxley came more into the game as the Eagles failed to find their rythmn and reduced the arrears with half an hour remaining when their striker hit a great shot over the head of Dan Allison from a tight angle.
Eagles had several chances to wrap the game up, most notably when Tyler’s shot was spilled by the Croxley ‘keeper. Sub Jake Duguid followed up but saw his rebound saved, before Rob Groves hit the third shot in quick succession against the foot of the post with a gaping goal in front of him.
Croxley forced a few corners before the full time whistle but Eagles defended solidly and held on for the win.
Team: Allison; McGennity, Garwood, Mitchell (Brown), Locke; Platt, Tyler, Cox, Groves; Drackford (Duguid), Pateman. Subs unused: Morbin, Wilkinson.
Herts Senior County League premier division
Baldock Town Letchworth
1-3 Letchworth Garden City Eagles
Wednesday 1 September
2010
Letchworth Garden City Eagles claimed local honours last Wednesday when they made the short trip to the County Ground and came away with all three points after a hard fought win.
Thanks to the win, Eagles remain unbeaten since promotion to the Premier Division, while Baldock have already slipped to two defeats from four games after a good season last time out.
The game was played at a high pace, with both sides’ conflicting styles making for an entertaining spectacle. Baldock had more joy in the opening exchanges with their direct approach, while Eagles fashioned plenty of opportunities themselves with a more patient build up. Jack Gregson was the home side’s biggest threat, but Eagles debutant ‘keeper Dan Allison was on hand to block an early effort with his feet, while Joe Tyler made an important tackle on the rebound. Baldock’s wingers were getting a lot of joy by latching onto long balls over the top and were unlucky to be denied a penalty, but Eagles’ well marshalled backline ensured that the keeper was rarely troubled.
The opening goal was straight out of the top draw. Eagles forced a corner on the right hand side, which Rob Groves played short to Mitch Cox. He then rolled it back to the midfielder, who unleashed a bullet of a shot into the far corner from at least 25 yards out. Both sides continued to have chances but there were no more goals in the first half.
Baldock came out fighting in the second half and eventually forced an equaliser when Furness
bundled in the ball from close in after some poor Eagles marking in the goal area and a
deep free kick from the right which was accurately placed on to the far post..
Both teams were now determined to push on for the win, and it was Eagles who eventually made
the break through with 20 minutes remaining. A long ball over the top by Groves was collected
by Lee Pateman, who intelligently rolled across the box for strike partner Jay Drackford gleefully
smack the ball into the back of the net with no defender anywhere close by.
Eagles were then happy to play on the break and soak up Baldock pressure, but nearly played the price when Gregson burst into the area and flicked a shot against the post. The rebound bounced along the line and David Locke did brilliantly to scramble the ball clear. Mitchell Cox then cleared off the line after a close range header was powered in from a corner.
It proved to be Baldock’s last chance though, as Eagles substitutes Mitch Crook and Dave Morbin combined for Morbin to seal the victory in stoppage time with a calm finish from close range.
Eagles team:Allison; McGennity, Mitchell, Garwood, Locke; Platt (Morbin), Tyler, Cox, Groves;
Drackford (Crook), Pateman. Subs: Jan Genesis, De La Salle, Holt.
Movie courtesy of
http://www.thecoldend.blogspot.com
Eagles' Assistant Manager hails 'fantastic' season
After completing an unprecedented league and cup double, Letchworth Garden City Eagles assistant manager Jason Valentine has lavished praise on the side's achievements. Read Comet Article
Spurs Legends put five past the Eagles
Letchworth GC Eagles 1
Spurs Legends 5
TOTTENHAM Hotspur Legends ran out the winners against Letchworth Garden City Eagles in a charity match in memory of Antonio Samuels, a former Eagles player who was stabbed to death last year.
John Lacy, Graham Roberts, Garry Brooke, Steve Sedgley and former Stevenage Borough manager Mark Stimson were among the former Spurs players putting themselves on the line to raise money for the Eagles’ young players and to help beat knife crime.
More than 1,000 fans turned up for the game at the Eagles’ ground in Baldock Road while there was a Caribbean theme, as Mr Samuels’ family came from Jamaica, plus attractions for youngsters.
Spurs took the lead when Steve Smart fired home nine minutes in before the same player made it two just after the quarter-hour mark when he caught the Eagles defence napping.
Eagles looked for a goal of their own but went three behind when Stimson scored, and then had a chance of their own only to see Danny Ryan’s effort ruled out before Steve Sedgley scored on the counter-attack while the Eagles players were protesting.
The hosts did finally get on the scoresheet on 38 minutes through Kevin Smith but they conceded a fifth in the second half when Micky Jarrett made the final score 5-1.
Speaking about the game, Legends’ co-ordinator Billy Shaw said: “Several of the Spurs lads commented on the terrific crowd in attendance, and the nice weather certainly brought out the masses.
“The players very much enjoyed the afternoon but a few of them had to put their feet up afterwards having been out of the game for a while. Letchworth Eagles did a fantastic job to stage the game and hopefully the event will have raised a significant amount of money for a very worthy cause.”
The total raised was not available before going to press.
Spurs Legends: Tony Tillbrook, Andy Edmonds, Tony Galvin, Graham Roberts, John Lacy, Mark Stimson, Garry Brooke, Steve Sedgley, Glen Southam, Steve Smart, Mark Falco. Sub: Micky Jarrett.
Letchworth GC Eagles squad: Garry Hoy, Keith Wilson, Scott Herberts, Danny Ryan, Graham Austin,
Russell Aylott, Kevin Smith, Paul Bush, Roberts Reilly, Andrew Russell, Alan Haynes, Jason
Valentine, Daryl Finan, Gary Redmond, Hendy Manning, Jimmy Adide, Colin Geddes, Chris Beedell,
Garry Grindal, Mark Nunn, Steve Ward, Ben Bracey, Garry Williams, Rob Day, Steve Houghton,
Roy Boon, Martin Gittings. - Article From Comet
Eagles Champions of Herts Senior County League division 1
Letchworth Garden City Eagles claimed the Herts Senior Counties League Division 1 title last week – giving them a prestigious league and cup double. Thursday’s victory over third placed Harpenden meant they clinched promotion with two games to spare, after winning the league cup a few days earlier. It is a fantastic achievement for the Eagles, who embarked on an 11 game unbeaten streak during the run-in.
They travelled to Harpenden on Thursday knowing a win would mean only a monumental slip up could deny them promotion.The opening goal came mid way into the first half from Rob Groves, who although was grounded by a challenge in the penalty area, managed to turn home Sam Gittings’ left wing cross.
Harpenden were occasionally dangerous on the break, but Eagles managed to control the first half. They could have added to the lead when Gittings’ went through on goal, but he was denied by the ‘keeper.
Harpenden were fastest out of the blocks after half time and pressed hard before Joe Tyler doubled the advantage for the Eagles mid-way through the second half when he forced Harpenden’s defender into an error while he was shielding the ball back to his ‘keeper. The midfielder then slammed into the net from close range.
Soon after, Harpenden got back into the game when sloppy Eagles marking at a corner allowed a simple headed finish from 6 yards with no one picking up the Harpenden player.
Paul McGinnity made the game safe in the closing stages when he broke into the penalty area on the right hand side and shot across the goal for 3-1.
Eagles faced Allenbury Sports on Saturday in a game that was now meaningless with regards the title race. This seemed to relax Eagles, who played at a slow pace, but still managed to prevail with a 5-1 victory.
An own goal opened the scoring after the Allenbury’s ‘keeper miss-kicked a back pass that rolled on into the net. Gittings and Groves made it three before half time with close range efforts.
Allenbury’s pulled a goal back just after the break when the Eagles defence relaxed, but McGinnity struck the fourth to end hopes of a comeback.
Usual goalkeeper Dan Eely was given a second half run out in attack, and completed the scoring by glancing in a header for the fifth.
2 May 2010 - Eagles triumph in the Aubrey Cup
On Bank Holiday Monday the Eagles senior team achieved a magnificent result against Met Police Bushey in the final of the Herts Senior County league Aubrey Cup, by winning 2-0 at the County Ground, Letchworth’s spiritual and rightful home.
Eagles took the lead within 20 minutes with a well executed finish by Jason Drackford after breaking clear of the Met Police defence and passing the ball under the onrushing goalie and into the net from fully 30 yards. By 25 minutes Joe de Ka Salle had added to the lead with a deflected shot, and the Eagles dominated the rest of the half. Jamie Platt had an excellent game up front and Marcus Brown was solid at the back. After half time Met Police applied constant pressure for over 20 minutes, and did not score only because of heroic shot stopping by Dan Eeley in goal, who was awarded man of the match for his efforts to keep a clean sheet. In the final minutes Eagles could have scored more. A breakaway by Drackford was only foiled by a brave stop by the Met Police keeper at his feet, and Rob Groves sliced wide when clear on goal, so untypical of the player whose mature and cool play has been a feature of the season.
Eagles survived some anxious moments towards the end but eventually were comfortable winners.
Thanks to our Sponsors
"We are pleased to see senior football return to the Garden City after a number of years
and wish the Eagles all the very best for the forthcoming season." |
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The Three Horseshoes is a traditional British village pub offering customers a warm and welcoming environment in which to enjoy quality real ales, fine wines and a classic British menu. |
The Grange Community Association Middlefields, Grange Estate Letchworth, Herts. SG6 4NG. gfca@btconnect.com |
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