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News 2011/12

News will appear here when we get it

An open letter from the Chairman of Whitby Town Football Club

Firstly can I set everybody’s minds at rest in that there is no long term problem with the financial health of the club. If we are relegated we will have to cut our cloth accordingly.

Secondly yes there is a temporary cash flow problem following from the postponement of the FC United match which is being addressed. We will not know the eventual loss until FC return on the 28th March let us hope they are pressing for a play off place as they will bring more supporters. If supporters would like to help financially why not join the Weekly Draw it is only £1 per week – just contact me.

Thirdly can I thank everybody who has shown their well intentioned if somewhat misplaced concern. We have always enjoyed a very good relationship with the League and you can see from our fixtures that all the long travels are either in Autumn or Spring. There have been suggestions that we should have played FC at home on the 10th March but that is a League Cup weekend and FC already have a game. To be fair to the League they have given us Burscough away on that day which is very thoughtful. I am sure the manager would prefer to play FC at home midweek rather than Burscough away midweek. We cannot really expect the League to alter FC’s fixtures to suit a home game for this club obviously there would be a severe impact on other fixtures in the League and total disruption. It was just this club’s bad luck the bad weather struck and we will have to get on with it and solve the problem ourselves.

I have always said that I am available to discuss anything with anybody at any time and before people jump on bandwagons I suggest they telephone me to find the full facts.

Let us put this behind us we need to all pull together to stay in this tremendous League.

Graham

Barking Mad

Whitby Town supporter Andy Lever, will be walking to the Blues' Boxing Day home game with North Ferriby United. Nothing unusual in that, you might think, but Andy lives nearly 15 miles away in Loftus.

The passionate Town fan will also be joined by his one-year-old springer spaniel Ibby, named after Whitby defender Ibrahim Hassan, on the sponsored trek along the Cleveland Way in aid of the football club.

Whitby Town Chairman Graham Manser said: "It's a great idea, but a long walk."

He added that the club were "totally behind" Andy and that sponsor forms are on the wall of the clubhouse at the Turnbull Ground.

Andy (44), known to some fans as Danger Mouse after dressing up as the cartoon rodent to lead the Whitby players out last season, moved to Loftus from Doncaster last year.

He told the Whitby Gazette: "It was always my dream to move to the Whitby area eventually, as I had ties through my Grandma.

"She was born in Yorkshire, but moved to Lebanon- every trip to England was the same though- she rented a cottage between the Saltersgate pub and Fylingdales.

"I'd been a diehard West Ham United fan since the mid 70s and come the early 80s it was fashionable to have a second team, so Whitby Town became mine."

Like many football fans recently, rising costs caused a re-think for Andy, around five years ago.

"By 2005-06, I was sick of paying stupid money out at West Ham and came to watch a couple more Town games.

"I fell back in love with real football again- I was amazed at how well the club was run and how great the supporters were and wish I'd started coming more often years ago."

Andy credits Whitby's Club Shop manager George Osborne with helping him make his decision, after opening up the store and ground especially so he could buy a replica shirt- he also says George and wife Maureen have assisted with an encouraging search for donations, adding:

"It seems to be going down pretty well.

"Within 20 to 25 minutes of the sponsor forms coming out, we had four or five names on each one.

Andy jokes that even groundsman Eric Wilson might assist if bad weather threatens to scupper the journey, claiming: "If it snows, I'm sure we can get Eric out in his tractor.

"We usually walk between three and five miles, but we'll get there don't worry."

It also isn't the former bus driver's first sponsored walk, he revealed:

"I did one about eight to ten years ago, I walked 174 miles down in Clacton, Essex and it just seemed like a good thing to do.

"It was for a little girl who needed life-saving treatment and took five or six days."

He's also planning to use modern means to keep fans upto date with his progress, though admitted he's still getting to grips with some of it:

"I'm not too sure how to use Twitter.

"I'll do it with the checking-in facility on Facebook

Andy is also hoping to be able to lead out Whitby Town against North Ferriby United, if he and Ibby make it to the Turnbull before 3pm and also "as long as Kevin Burgess doesn't punch me on the nose this time."

Sponsors can contact Andy on 0750 88 374 25, particularly any businesses or individuals offering two high visibility jackets- forms will be available at the Whitby Town v Buxton game on Saturday.

Banquet and Ball

TICKETS are on sale for just one more day for Whitby Town Football Club’s annual banquet and ball, which takes place this Friday.The evening, organised by Martin Hart, consists of a three-course meal and coffee, followed by music from a live party band and DJ.
There will also be a raffle and auction of promises – any offers or donations of gifts and services to this would be greatly appreciated.
Tables are available to groups of eight, 10 or 12, though it may be possible to arrange for smaller groups of four to share a table if necessary.
Reception starts at 6.45pm, with the meal being served at 7.30pm.
The bar remains open until 1.30am, with the ball finally finishing at 2am.
Tickets are £40 each, available from Martin Hart. For more information, call (01947) 601599, or 07779645908.

Williams handed Manager's role

On Monday evening a meeting was held with the players and a full and frank discussion took place regarding the poor results this season. The players were confidant that results can be turned round with everybody giving 100% and pulling together.

As a consequence of the team bonding together and not wanting to alienate them by bringing in an outsider the club have decided to promote within making Darren Williams player manager with David Campbell as player coach both being guided by the experience of Dennis Wheeler.. Darren played over 200 games for Sunderland and is anxious to get into management whilst “Cammy” is the club’s longest serving player with over 400 games played.

Cassidy calls time at Town after a year and a day

By Andrew Snaith

Former Whitby Town manager Tommy Cassidy has apologised to supporters after leaving the club at the weekend, almost a year to the day he was appointed.

After exiting the FA Cup seven days earlier, The Blues crashed out of the FA Trophy on Saturday and the former Newcastle United midfielder told the Whitby Gazette it was the final straw:

"I watched the game from the stands and it was the most embarassing thing I've seen in many years, not months, years. But then it's my team, I brought them- well most of them- so I take the blame."

Cassidy, who led Workington to promotion from the same division six years ago, took over when Harry Dunn resigned last October, successfully avoiding relegation in April, but the Seasiders now sit third from bottom in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, after just one league win.

Committee member George Osborne, acting on behalf of Chairman Graham Manser, stated just before noon on Sunday, via www.whitby-town.com, that Cassidy had left the club 'by mutual agreement'.

The statement concluded: 'Whitby Town Football Club would like to thank Tommy for all his efforts over the past year and wish him well for the future.'

Mr Manser also confirmed that goalkeeping coach Dennis Wheeler will take temporary charge ahead of the weekend's gruelling 380-mile round-trip to fourth-placed Hednesford Town.

He added: "We liked Tommy for what he tried to do at the club, but both parties realised it wasn't working."

Cassidy spoke to the chairman and his understudy Andrew Spenceley straight after Saturday's defeat- Town's fifth in six games- and on Sunday morning.

The outgoing Blues boss revealed: "I said to them, what's your thoughts?"

"They thought it wasn't working and we came to an agreement that seemed to satisfy both camps.

"I want to make it clear- I take the blame- we've won once in 14, so it's my fault."

The Northern Irishman who played at the 1982 World Cup and managed in the European Cup with Cyprian side Apoel Nicosia, stated:

"I brought in a lot of young players and it didn't work out.

"Harry(Dunn) said last year, I've done all I can and that was with senior players- I thought we needed a revamp.

"Graham Manser said six months ago, you'll find it difficult to get players in, I said we'll see, but he was right. I spoke to a player last week, he said 'You travel to Birmingham and Manchester, but I get more money in the Northern League'."

However, the former Gateshead manager doesn't regret trying to freshen up the squad with teenagers on loan and released Football League youngsters, as experienced former-pros Tony Hackworth and Jimmy Beadle left for Scarborough and Swedish football respectively.

"I apologise to our supporters, but I still think it's the right way to go, to nurture them for 12 months.

"If we were mid-table now, there's no way I'd have resigned as it would've been much easier and less pressure on the kids.

"I tried to revitalise the club, I thought one year from now, we'll see the results."

Cassidy, who also fell out with popular defender Ashley Lyth last month, revealed:

"I left with a heavy heart, I just find the circumstances were very difficult and Saturday brought it to a head, I walked down to the dressing room at half-time and I didn't know what to say.

"I was talking to them at 3-0 down and one or two were blaming each other, it's never their fault and I cant stand that, so i thought to myself, that's not for me. I would like to think players went home at night, considered things and realised how they'd let the club down.

"I saw a completely different game from up in the stand and I saw our back four watch their strikers walk 10 yards in front and they let them do it- that kind of thing has been happening all season."

Despite his disappointing departure, Cassidy stressed he has no hard feelings towards Whitby Town FC, concluding:

"Nothing would give me more satisfaction than seeing Whitby further up the table, but I don't know how another manager is going to get players into the club when the circumstances don't lend itself to that, either financially or geographically.

"At Workington, it's a bit of an outpost, but the Lancashire area helped me more than the Middlesbrough area has helped me at Whitby.

"It was an experience- a manager takes the plaudits and a manager takes the blame, that's just the way it is."

Tony Elliot leaves

Tony Elliot has been offered and accepted the position of Assistant Manager of Workington FC.
Obviously this makes sense as Tony lives in Carlisle. The club thanks Tony for his hard work and wishes him every success in the future.

FA Cup 2ndQ Draw (North)

1 Northwich Victoria v Ramsbottom United or Nantwich Town
2 Stalybridge Celtic v Guiseley
3 Workington v Droylsdon
4 FC Halifax Town v Tadcaster Albion
5 Wakefield v Kendal Town
6 Armthorpe Welfare v Colwyn Bay or Stocksbridge Park Steels
7 Burscough or Clitheroe v Radcliffe Borough
8 Pickering Town or Staveley MW v Hyde
9 Blyth Spartans v Bedlington Terriers
10 Ashton United v Spennymoor Town
11 AFC Fylde or Chorley v Gainsborough Trinity
12 Hebburn Town v Squires Gate or Runcorn Linnets
13 FC United of Manchester v Lancaster City or Woodley Sports
14 Bradford (Park Avenue) v Bamber Bridge or Warrington Town
15 Whitby Town v North Ferriby United
16 Frickley Athletic v Harrogate Town
17 Altrincham v Witton Albion
18 Shildon or Ashington v Vauxhall Motors

Hassan and Burgess back on board

Whitby Town's two players of the season have re-signed for this upcoming campaign. Ibby Hassan and Kev Burgess have agreed terms with Chairman Manser. Also confirmed as returning to the Turnbull are Andy Campbell and Andrew Leeson.