Ladies Team – Page 2 – Tuffley Rovers AFC

New Football Chair appointed

Tuffley Rovers have a new Football Chair, with the appointment of Dan Boon, as Interim Chair, following the decision of the previous incumbent, Neil Spiller, to step down from the role two weeks ago.

Spiller, who will remain at the club, had been holding a dual responsibility as Chairman and Football Secretary, but decided to call time on one of those roles, which created a vacancy and this has been filled, at least in the short-term, by 36-year-old Boon, who has been involved with the club since 2011.

The new Chair will now work alongside his predecessor, as well as Ken Blackburn, the Head of Football Development, as they look to shape the future of the club, with any ambitions for success undented by the recent change in leadership.

“The club has been moving in the right direction for some time, and so I’d like to pick up where Neil has left off, but working with him and the rest of the committee to put Tuffley Rovers in a position where we can offer facilities and a club culture that we can be proud of”, confirmed Boon.

“We need to look at creating an environment where all of our teams, coaches, spectators and anyone connected to the club enjoy their football, whilst we also become as competitive as possible, challenging for silverware in as many competitions as possible”, he added. “However, we also need to focus on player development and retention, so individuals can see a pathway to whichever level they aspire to play at, as well as establishing a much stronger community presence, creating partnerships with the local community and then with more organisations across Gloucester.”

The outgoing Chair, Spiller, was quick to welcome the appointment.

“I am delighted Dan, who is someone who has become increasingly involved in the club, has stepped up to take on this role”, he said. “I think we’ve made great progress in recent years, but I felt that we need to spread the load by stepping back from some of the responsibilities that come with being the Chairman”, he confirmed. “With Ken Blackburn’s role now clearly established, I thought it was a good time to hand over the reins and Dan is, in my view, the right person to take this forward.”

With plans to start the 2020/21 season still very much up in the air, Boon might have to wait a while for his first competitive football as Chairman, with none of the nine sides he’ll now lead yet clear on when their respective campaigns will start.

Sunday Summary – 6th & 7th December 2019

Our five games over the weekend all offered an element of positivity, albeit with the weekend ending in disappointing fashion, with our Ladies’ team going down to their first defeat of the season, conceding an 85th minute goal as they lost their top of the table clash with Tytherington Rocks Ladies. That result aside, it was a weekend largely made up of success, with three wins and a draw.

The first games to kick-off on Saturday, at 2pm, brought wins for our two lowest ranked Saturday sides. The Fourths, who have been much improved this season, secured a solid 4-2 win over Frampton United, with Jake Anderson scoring twice, alongside goals from Brad Poole and a first Rovers goal for Tyerese Douglas. More notably, the Fifths recorded a first league win of their season, following promotion at the end of 2018/19, as their blend of over 40s and under 18s scored all their goals in the second half, as they beat Randwick Reserves 5-0. One of the elder statesmen, Andy Blackwell, scored alongside a brace for substitute Henry Jordan, as well as goals for Jack Webb and William Cronshaw (Jnr).

In the 3pm KO on Saturday, our Player/Manager Mark Pritchett was the hero for his side, as he scored twice – the second a contender for goal of the season – in a 2-2 draw away at Windsor. Rovers had trailed to a 7th minute goal from Billy Montague, before Pritchett fired home a free-kick, and then fell behind moments before the interval, when Danny Horscroft finished off an excellent Windsor move. Pritchett’s wonder strike, midway through the half, after good work from Liam Wright, levelled the scores and despite a late onslaught on the hosts’ goal, their keeper stood firm and a few chances went begging, meaning Rovers returned with a potentially valuable point.

Sunday started well, with the Vets Reserves recording a fantastic victory against top of the table and previously unbeaten Southside Star, with Dave Cornock scoring twice and Kevin Schmitz securing the three points with a late, late free-kick.

Then came the biggest game of the weekend, as the Ladies travelled to face fellow title challengers Tytherington Rocks, with both sides holding 100% records in the league. Chloe Taylor’s goal gave Rovers the lead, but the hosts levelled scores deep into first-half injury time. A tremendous battle ensued in the second period and it looked like the game might be heading for a draw, but The Rocks struck again, five minutes from full-time, and the game went their way.

Overall, a good weekend for The Rovers, albeit without a maximum haul of points that might have been possible with just a little more luck! #uptherovers

*Pictures courtesy of Brian Rossiter – full albums can be viewed at Brian Rossiter – Flickr

Sunday Summary – 14th & 15th September….

Once again, this Sunday Summary is a look back at the past seven days and what a week it was….goals, goals, goals!!

The week started with a flurry of goals in a first team fixture, as Mark Pritchett’s side won their Banbury Litho Floodlit Cup tie 6-1 against Hellenic League, Division One (West) side Thornbury Town. Ross Langworthy and Jack Beardsell both had a brace within 24 minutes, before second half-goals from Pritchett and seventeen-year-old Niall Priday saw us to a comfortable win.

On Thursday, it felt a little like deja vu! Priday scored again (three times, in fact!) in a thumping 6-1 win for the U18s over Cinderford Town. The other goals came courtesy of Kai Jordan, Kyle Rogers and a sumptuous Charlie Holliday free-kick. A great start to the league season for our remodelled U18s squad.

The weekend’s action started with four games on Saturday and it was a generally disappointing day for the club. The Reserves’ good run came to an end, as Cam Bulldogs left Glevum Park with all three points, courtesy of a 3-2 win, after Mike Palmer’s squad had led 2-1 at the interval, thanks to goals from Priday (again!!) and a first Rovers goal for Xander Jones. That wasn’t the only disappointing result, as the Fourths lost 4-0, at home to North Nibley, and the Fifths succumbed to a 6-0 reverse at Chalford 3rds. The bright spot for Saturday came from the Thirds, who won 3-2 at home to Tibberton United – continuing their unbeaten start to the season – thanks to goals from Miracle Osabuohien, Alfie Fortey and Cory Anderson.

If Saturday was a little disappointing, Sunday was altogether different and full of goals!

The opening game on Sunday saw a first win for our new Veterans Reserves side, with Dave Cornock scoring four times in a 5-3 win over Grays Athletic. Debutant Chris Gooch got the other goal, as Rob Wordley’s side recovered from 3-1 down, with less than fifteen minutes remaining!

Our final game of the week/weekend saw a moment of history, with a first ever open-aged Women’s team playing under the Rovers banner…and what a way to start! The newest of all the Rovers teams travelled to Winchcombe Town and won 14-0 in a superb performance. Chloe Taylor and Holly Kay scored five apiece, whilst Jayne Papps got a brace, to go with goals from Jade Papps and Lizzie Barstow in a fantastic opening day victory. If that wasn’t a good way to end a goal-filled week, albeit one with mixed results, what more could you want? #uptherovers

Sunday Summary – 10th & 11th August

Replay needed, as Rhodes keeps Rovers in the FA Cup

This has been a fairly quiet weekend, in one sense, with just two official games, but incredibly busy for the club as we hosted North Greenford United in the Emirates FA Cup, Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday – with the game ending in a draw, necessitating a replay in Middlesex on Tuesday evening.

Rovers looked to be in big trouble, after Jai Maisey’s 68th minute red-card, with Pritch’s side already trailing 1-0 to Sam Olanipekun’s 19th minute header, but a stunning goal from Jake Rhodes levelled scores and although both sides had chances, the game ended without any further goals and a replay will take place this week.

The other game took place on Sunday, with the Ladies’ team continuing their preparations for a first season in the Gloucestershire County Women’s League. Their latest pre-season game saw them narrowly defeated at Mitcheldean, with Jess Dobbins’ goal not quite enough to reduce a 2-0 deficit completely. Rovers also missed a great chance to score, when Chloe Taylor missed a penalty, but it was another good run-out for the newest Rovers team and the 2-1 defeat included plenty of encouraging signs.

Rovers’ welcome new Ladies’ team to Glevum Park

Tuffley Rovers are on the hunt for the next generation of female players after receiving a £1,500 Grow the Game grant.

The scheme, which is funded by The Football Association [The FA] and delivered by the Football Foundation, will enable Tuffley Rovers to create a new team, alongside their existing structure, providing a significant boost to female participatory opportunities in Tuffley and the surrounding area.

The Grow the Game scheme sees grants of £1,500 awarded to community football clubs wishing to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.

This year, funding was made available for clubs looking to create new female and disability football teams, which can assist towards the costs of FA coaching courses; FA league affiliation costs; referees’ fees; first aid kits; football kit and equipment.

“It has been our ambition to start a new Ladies’ team for a number of years and with the help of this grant, generously offered by The FA and Football Foundation, we have the opportunity to do so”, confirmed Neil Spiller, Secretary of Tuffley Rovers. “We already run seven adult male teams, so this was the next logical step in broadening our offer, specifically to the communities of Tuffley and Podsmead, but more generally across the city of Gloucester. We believe there is definitely a place for a Tuffley Rovers’ squad in local women’s football.”

Following the award of the Grow The Game grant, Rovers’ Ladies successfully applied to join the Gloucestershire Women’s County League for the 2019/20 playing season.

Training sessions are already underway and new players are welcome. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Neil Spiller, via admin@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk for further details.