NEWS FROM AROUND THE RYMAN LEAGUE

Howse takes charge at Leatherhead
Leatherhead have appointed Clive Howse as their new boss and he will be assisted by his long-time friend Alan "Chick" Botley. Howse is the former number two to non-league football’s most successful manager of all time Kingstonian's Geoff Chapple. Howse also brings Ryman League experience with experience at Chertsey Town and Bracknell Town. Together with Botley, the pair will be a formidable team to reckon with in non-league football. Botley recently took Hampton to three promotions in five years in recent seasons.

Farnborough plans rejected
Plans for a seven-a-side floodlit pitch, club extension and other improvements at Cherrywood Road have been turned down by the local council. Directors of Farnborough Town had outlined the proposals to the council – and had secured sponsorship and a lottery grant to cover much of the cost. They were also hoping for assistance from the council with the cost of re-surfacing the car park. Full details of the decision to refuse permission are awaited, but the club says the plans are not dead.

CLARK QUITS SAINTS FOR CANVEY
Veteran striker Steve Clark has left St Albans City to join the Saints' Premier Division rivals Canvey Island.
The 36-year old decided to move on after failing to agree terms with the Hertfordshire side. Said Clark: "I will be disappointed to leave St Albans because I have a lot of connections with the club, but I feel I am worth more than the package they put before me." Clark played a total of 488 games for the Saints scoring an incredible 322 goals, just 18 of which were from the penalty spot. He was only 35 goals away from beating the goalscoring record at the club, which is held by Billy Minter.

Hampton & Richmond’s pitch work faces cash drought
Hampton & Richmond Borough commenced work on their Beveree pitch to install a drainage system in May and contractors E & S Sportsground Contractors were well into the work when news came through that the club’s grant application had been refused. Hampton & Richmond had approached a local charity, the Hampton Fuel Allotments for £30,000 to install a complete drainage and irrigation system at the ground. The Fuel Allotments Charity have assets of £40m and are allowed to issue up to £1.5m per year in grants to worthy causes in the Hampton community. Having believed they could expect a favourable decision, the club went ahead and ordered the works to be done mindful the pitch needed to be fit for use at the end of July. The news that the grant had been refused meant a quick re-appraisal of the works in hand had to be carried out as the club was now faced with covering the total cost out of its own resources. The additional irrigation system has been cancelled but the club have at least been able to install drains, a soakaway and sand slits which should improve pitch conditions at the Beveree. However the club will now be unable to extend its successful Saturday Mini-Soccer Coaching School and in fact will have to reduce the age grouping from 5-11 years of age to 5 to 10 years.

Windsor team boss steps down
After five and a half years Alan Davies has indicated that he wishes to take a break from the pressure of football management and has tendered his resignation as Manager of Windsor & Eton Football Club. Having gained promotion from the Third Division scoring more goals than any other Club in the Ryman League in that season, the Club has since advanced to the final of the Vandanel Trophy, the quarter finals of the Berks & Bucks Cup and has finished a creditable fifth in the Second Division in the last two seasons of the competition. Assistant Manager Byron Walton has taken the step up to Caretaker Manager for the time being.

Ringrose leaves Ware
Ware have announced they have parted company with Steve Ringrose, team manager for the last three and a half years. Steve's departure was by mutual consent and the club wishes to pay tribute to the work that he did, not only with the first team, but in helping to promote a strong club ethos through the successful reserve and youth sides. Steve's commitment and support will be missed. The management committee have moved quickly to fill the gap and have appointed Dave Edwards as Steve's replacement. Dave has had managerial experience at Saffron Walden, Harlow, Stansted, Bishop’s Stortford and Bromley.

QPR stalwart arrives at Wingate
Wingate & Finchley have announced the signing of Clive Wilson, ex-QPR & Spurs as player/coach for 2000/2001. The club believes Wilson will bring class in the midfield and having played under such as Terry Venables, George Graham and Ray Wilkins will bring a wealth of experience to the Blues

Hemel keeper moves north
Luljan Gjeloshi, a keeper at Hemel Hempstead Town last season, has been given a tryout at Scottish side Partick Thistle. The 25-year old arrived in the UK last September. His application for political asylum was granted and he has also been given a work permit, allowing him to play professional football. Gjeloshi played 15 games with Hemel on their way to winning Division Two. He can also claim 10 caps at under-21 level, three call-ups to the Albanian international squad and has also played for the under-16s and under-18s.

Canaries tie up with Brazilians
Hitchin Town may one day include Brazilians in their line-up if an innovative scheme in Latin America bears fruit for the Canaries. The club has been approached by its Brazilian-based agent, Willy Tigre, to consider a proposal to invest in a youth training facility in Foz do Iguacu in the state of Parana, Southern Brazil. The facility coaches players ranging from nine years old to under-21 level. Earlier this year, Hitchin Town was instrumental in bringing a team of Brazilians to England to play a series of games against non-league and full-time opposition. The club hopes to send, in conjunction with the PASE scheme, a team of youngsters to Brazil on a reciprocal basis. "We are looking for sponsorship for this project," says Club Captain and Brazilian project manager Mark Burke. "But this is a massive goodwill operation, which we feel will add to relations between football in this country and Brazil, one of the great footballing nations."

Heybridge to face Premiership newboys
The highlight of Heybridge Swifts pre-season programme is a match with the full Ipswich Town Premiership squad on Saturday July 29th. Kick is 3.00 p.m. and the match is all ticket, priced at £8 for adults and £4 for juniors and OAP’s. Tickets are selling well but are still available both from the Clubhouse and from ‘Yours in Sport’, Bentalls Shopping Centre, Heybridge; 01621 857087. This highly prestigious friendly is yet another feather in the cap for Swifts as the club continues to build its profile on and off the park. Also visiting Scraley Road in the pre-season build up are the first teams of Colchester United on July 25th and Leyton Orient August 1st. These will be smashing games and an opportunity to see our local league sides in the flesh at a fraction of the normal price.

Hutchings leaves Recreation Ground
Aldershot Town manager George Borg has confirmed that midfielder Otis Hutchings has left the club after it was agreed that the 29 year old would struggle to keep a regular first team place next season. The London based player re-joined the shots in December 1999 from Boreham Wood and in total he made 23 appearances last season. He originally joined the Shots as one of George Borg's early signings and was an integral part of the 1997/98 Ryman Division One championship squad and he was honoured by receiving the Supporters Club Player of the Season Trophy. Manager Borg said " I felt that with the midfield players I have brought in Otis would be just a squad player and would not be first choice for next season. It was best that he moves on and Otis was realistic enough to accept this. He has had other offers and I am sure that he will find another club soon".

Carshalton hit by fire
Fire has destroyed the clubhouse at Carshalton Athletic's Colston Avenue ground. The fire was contained to the offices and boardroom, but the dressing rooms and function room were spared. The fire brigade are investigating the cause, but have not ruled out arson. Chairman Andrew Hay described it as a disastrous day for the club, but was thankful no-one was hurt in the blaze. He also paid tribute to the fans who had given their help in the clear up operation and neighbouring clubs who have also offered assistance. The club had spent around £20,000 in recent years on improving the parts of the ground which have now been destroyed. Also lost in the fire were a number of irreplaceable items from the club's past. With the stands and dressing rooms still intact the club are hopeful they will be able to stage league games at home when the season starts in August.