Fleece Spring music fest/fundraiser.

This Saturday's spring music fest looks all set to be a belter with no less than 7 acts set to play (it was going to be no less than 8 but Keith Burton and his beef curtain have pulled out (sounds painful).

Old hands Tony and Genna (previously of The Flying Seamen) kick off proceedings about 2pm.
Followed by Metro at 3
No Av on the Tv at 4
Your New Antique at 5 (before going on to compete as semifinalists at The Snooty Fox/Wakefield Battle of the Bands)
Stu Campbell provides a solo effort at 6
Dirty Robbers at 7
and last but not least The Labels headline at 8 (all times approximate)


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Quite a lot of people have gone to a lot of effort to put this show on the road - mostly at their own expense, time and effort. Whilst a great many thanks are due to the performers, technical crew and suppliers, particular thanks are due to Ken, Nanette and family - hosts of The Fleece and patrons of the Fleece football teams.

For them (and the artists) it is hoped that this is part of something bigger (ideas are already forming for next year - let's get this one going first, eh?)

Band profiles can be found at -
myspace.com/No AV on the TV
www.younewantique.co.uk
www.metro.org.uk
myspace.com/DirtyRobbers
myspace.com/Labels
Sound engineer Chris Olenczyn - myspace.com/aosound.

Once again, many thanks.
Other info to follow.

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This also ought to make a new beginning for the Fleece FC. Apart from raising funds we should view this as the gelling of the team's spirit.
There are many talented individuals, gutsy players, hardworkers, improvers and the odd huff 'n' puff merchant bringing up the rear - all together quite a squad but we need to do more than just turn up for training and matches. We need to rethink elements of our game, our attachment to the club and role within it - no-one gets a free ride.
Perhaps a bit more application off the pitch - analysing the game, a consideration of team layout, player's strengths and weaknesses and our own areas for improvement as well as club stucture and practicalities.

Of course we don't want to get bogged down with technicalities - it is after all a beautiful game (sometimes).

Shepherd's Arms Vs Fleece. Local derby, Sat. 25th March.

Round town bragging rights at stake on this one. Before the match Fleece were one point to the good and 5 games in hand (l think) but that and arguably the better football, possession and efforts at goal could not be translated into a win.

Fleece were fired up from the off and a break down the left wing on 2 minutes saw Ash MacGhee lash in a fine cross and narrowly missed by two attackers, out for a corner. At ten minutes a sitter missed again by two fleece forwards, then from the right Mark Lemm narrowly shooting over from a tight angle. The opening period was all Fleece but Sheps battled well, played to their strengths as a team and individuals and managed to steal a breakaway goal that really shouldn't have happened.

Despite having large parts of the game sewn up Fleece couldn't turn chances into goals - the best was a chipped shot from MacGhee on the half hour. l cheered thinking it was in only to see the keeper dive and tip over the bar. Ooohhh . . . !

Halftime 1-0 down.

It should come, Fleece always looking capable though perhaps offering their local rivals a little too much respect. The build up from the back, so often a feature in training loses out to the long lofted ball and 50-50 chance, if won then oft going again to 50-50. Fleece here tend to make life hard for themselves. Instead of spreading wide and using an expansive though bobbly pitch and play a pass and build game we go for the 100% commitment and battle in the centre of the park - though both teams playing some very good football at close quarter.

Fleece pressure did eventually pay off when debut boy, and second sub, Barnesy held his nerve in the box to slot in the equaliser at the threequarter mark. Phew! l was thinking it would never come. Fleece then entered the final session with renewed vigour - a series of efforts on goal - good, bad and despicable, Sheps too coming close on the breakaway, once from a glaring passback and lack of concentration allowing a free-kick just off the six yard box. Scary and unnecessary. Too often a feature of the Fleece game - giving advantage away when not under pressure.

The dying minutes of the game saw Karl Walker's well hit effort strike the base of an upright. It just wasn't to be though the game never disappointed and drew a reasonable crowd of old players and passersby, at a guess 80-100 watched.

The ref was having no shenanigans and calmly stated his authority on the game. Handbagging was kept at a minimum although Jamie Brearley did try it on.

On reflection Fleece should have won and possibly need to think about their game more.



Reserves won away 5-0 against Westgate Common.

Fleece Reserves 4 Vs. Stanley 2

(Bloody cold afternoon, Fleece with 4 subs, yours truly on the sidelines, poorly shoulder etc. and no film in the camera.)

What a game! largely enjoyable throughout, nothing too untoward with the reffing and much needed points in the bag.
First interchanges revealed usual blood and guts challenges in a game where a strong wind was a constant presence and so coold!! In some situations it seemed like an extra man lofting the ball upfield or holding up the clearance from the other end. Whatever it was Fleece rode it and Paddy opened up with a shinner after about 10 minutes.

There were plenty more near misses and other chances that should have been buried in the next period of play and some lapses where Stanley burst through only to misshit but overall Fleece played the better football, seemed more aware of each others presence and better focused. This was rewarded at about the 25th with a 6 yard tap in supplied by a well battling Andy Williams and a sweetly hit 42nd minute left footer - pick that one out! Andy Sugden scoring both and playing well just off the front and through a large part of the midfield.

3-0 half time.

The oft familiar and ugly head of complacency apparently raised its head 5 minutes in to the second half with Nicky Stevens abley running the ball out of defence only to lose out further upfield and Stanley cut through and got one back.
Haggis wasn't wrong when he said it always looked like coming and in truth there was never really a 3 goal difference between the teams. Fleece though didn't fall apart and continued to battle it out against the wind and some robust playing from the reinvigorated and burlier chaps of Stanley.

With some 15 minutes to go stanley were awarded a freekick, ironically for a debateable shoving incident which had been an undeniably obvious part of their game. Still, it's a man's game and handbagging was thankfully rare. Anyway it went in and the game poised at 3-2. Could fleece hold out? ' course they bloody could.
True there were times when luck was well ridden - a Stanley striker bursting through on goal and point-blankedly saved by Herpy (oops), a goal mouth scramble and ball perilously close to bobbling in only to be poked well clear by Neil Barlow - phew! And some scarey moments when Fleece managed to lose the ball when under no pressure. All vastly entertaining but something just told you that the boys were gonna pull it off.

And so they did. Suggy capping off a Splendid performance with a tidy chip for his hat-trick. The number on the back is? 26 and Man of the match . . . yeah, on reflection. In truth the team all played quite well and more united than previous outings, didn't lose too much shape under pressure and so on.
Mark Bowden played his usual sturdy game, Nicky Stevens largely dependable despite his earlier blunder. And luvverly boy Craig Kellett was a demon in defence and counter.

I'd like to see him as extra fire power upfront as complement to Andy Williams and await the return of other Kellett as defensive stalwart. From strength to strength? And likewise see myself out of the team forever (we'll see yer bastards!).

Home handbag award goes to Heppy for overusing his goalkeepers gobshiting privilege and Baz for a bit of aw, reffing (but l can't remember what for). Get on with the game fellas.


The only way is up?

Perhaps so. Fleece at the foot of the table after fielding an ineligible player twice - losing both games and 6 points deducted for the privilege. Still it's not all bad for us anyway - apparently one point behind and three games in hand and others teams wrapping in soon. That last point is a shame and we can't afford complacency.

There is always room for improvement - the careless losing of the ball, the long hoofed clearance against the wind when in training we'll build out from the backfour - who wants it? We should all bloody want it and get into space to receive it.
Minor points in an improved performance.
Keep it up.

Horbury Fleece Vs Kexboro' White Bear. 11/3/06

Following the 7-1 away drubbing to KWB some 3 weeks ago The Fleece had some honour, and points, to regain in this home match. White Bear, top of the league and cruising, found Fleece a different proposition this time. Whether White Bear assumed they'd be in for an easy ride is hard to say but Fleece were up for it proper.

The game was pretty much even throughout although in early exchanges KWB had a marginal edge until Mark Morgan set up Ben Ingham for a well taken goal - Fleece 1 up on 15 minutes.
Bearing in mind that Fleece took the early lead in the away fixture this could hardly be called a safety margin. This time Fleece had seemingly learned their lesson in dug in well.

On the half hour Karl Walker coolly struck home a well fought for second, again supplied by Mark Morgan. Fleece, looking good for their lead but couldn't afford to be complacent and keeping up the battle.

A young and occasionally hesitant referee tended to blow up a little late and quietly which tended to wind up the players - not that they need any encouragement. He could've been allowing for play to flow or perhaps was wary of tackling Horbury and Barnsley's handbaggers - a tough job but someone's gotta do it. Overall he managed quite well and dealt with some fairly tough decisions in games that are always going to be half-a-dozen-o'-one and six of the other.
White Bear had 2 players sent off - the goalkeeper for foul and abusive language at 65 minutes and with 4-5 minutes to go a defender for a semi-malicious swipe at Mark Lemm, Fleece's resident 'ginner' which may go some way to explain it.
It could've gotten uglier but all soon blew over.

The match had its fair share of stoppages and play frequently broke down as a result. Whether this or Horbury Fleece's tendency to lose concentration allowed KWB to breakthrough and get one back with 9 men - something that should never have happened. Fleece, for some reason, do have this problem although White Bear, or any other opposition, should never be underestimated.
Despite this KWB had fewer chances on goal and those that they did have met with some dogged defending. Lee Wellburn in goal made some good catches and clearances from corners and pulled off an excellent save when the defence awaited a whistle that was never going to come and KWB through one-on-one.

Despite being a hard fought for game Fleece could have had double this score. Germaine Jones having too much time and firing too close to the keeper, Mark Lemm with a clear header and again just a moment's too much hesitancy when Ben Ingham only had the keeper to beat and firing over the bar.
Still better to have the chances and miss than not having any at all.

for results and official table cut and paste this link -
http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do

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Fleece reserves drew 1-1 away to Cross keys, Normanton. Graeme Hardwick opened for the fleece in the first half, Cross Keys equalised in the same. Cross Keys had a player sent off for two bookable offences which by all accounts made them raise their game. According to a couple of Fleece players we were scrappy, again.

For results and official table cut and paste this link -
http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do;jsessionid=F83C1CFE2A783E97C5F7ED85B22740D0