Tamworth Ladies have been declared the title-winners of the Staffordshire Girls and Ladies League following a league vote, the club says.
The FA announced that no more football would be played in lower league women’s football for the rest of the campaign last month with Tamworth top if their division by seven points.
The Lambs had not lost a single game and only drew one of their 14 matches in what was their first season after forming back in the summer of 2019.
They had notched a total of 40 points, hitting home an outstanding 116 goals and shipping just six.
Tamworth said that a vote by all clubs in the league decided that positions would be determined on points per game.
Tamworth Ladies netted 116 goals in 14 league games this campaign
The Staffordshire outfit pipped Sutton Rangers Lionesses – who had achieved 31 points in 11 games – to the post with the Lambs scoring 2.86 and their counterparts tallying 2.82.
The two teams had battled out a hard-fought 2-2 draw in the league back in November.
However, the Lambs will not be promoted due to the FA’s decision to block any movements between leagues in the women’s game meaning they will remain at Step 7.
A spokesperson for the club said: “Congratulations to all involved.”
Sport in Staffs also calculated the positions of the other Staffordshire clubs in the league.
Leek Town Reserves finish 5th with a score of 1.56 with Staffordshire Victoria placing 6th with a total of 1.50.
Stafford Town sit 7th (1.40), Doveridge LFC finish 11th (0.27) and Wyrley Women’s Reserves rock bottom (0.26).
The Denise Coates Foundation, set up by the co-CEO of Bet365 – who own a majority stake in Stoke City FC – has donated £10 million to the University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity (UHNM) to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Denise Coates CBE, daughter of Stoke City chairman Peter, established the charity in August 2012 before the name was changed to its current title in February 2016.
UHNM confirmed the donation on Monday with the helping to “deliver a number of significant schemes which will enhance and improve patient care and support our staff at both Royal Stoke Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford through the unprecedented demand for our services during this pandemic.”
UHNM Chief Executive Tracy Bullock said: “We are extremely grateful to the Denise Coates Foundation for this significant grant to support our staff and patients during Covid-19 and beyond.
“Covid-19 is affecting our local communities and this significant investment will also be used for initiatives with our partners in the community, mental health and social care to support them to support us.
A reminder of the Government’s guidelines on staying safe amid coronavirus
“Thanks to the Denise Coates Foundation, we will be able to prioritise the well-being of our staff at a time when they are working harder than ever before in extremely challenging circumstances and enhance and improve the care and experience of our patients and their families.
“We are also delighted that plans to redevelop our Cancer Centre can be brought forward and will have a legacy far beyond Covid-19 to protect our vulnerable cancer patients and for this we offer our deepest and sincerest thanks.”
Denise Coates CBE, Denise Coates Foundation Trustee commented: “The trustees of the Foundation are committed to supporting the efforts of the University Hospitals of North Midlands, as it, its staff and its wider community of carers and volunteers face what must be the most demanding circumstances in the hospitals and, indeed, the NHS’s history. It and they stand on the front line in the battle against Covid-19.
“There are many stories of people suffering without the comfort of close friends and family as restrictions on people’s movement prevent loved ones visiting. This is why I and the other Trustees felt we had to step forward and approach the UHNM to see what we could do to help.”
Boro revealed that a ‘Business Continuity Group’ had been set up in the wake of the outbreak to manage finances and “protect the club” during this period.
Through its Stand Together campaign, fan donations, “virtual matchday sales” and share sales have seen a whopping £23,000 collected as of Monday evening (April 6), according to the club’s website.
Nearly £2,500 of this was through donations alone.
Director and Vice Chair of Stafford Rangers said: “The response has been just fantastic, and we are humbled and grateful for people’s generosity at a time of such uncertainty, hardship and concern. We really do have some of the best fans in the country, loyal and so supportive.”
Boro has set a target of £50,000 to get them through this period, with £25,000 hopefully coming in from Government grants, it said.
Stafford Rangers were bottom of the Northern Premier League Premier Division when the season was cancelled last month
A spokesperson for Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit stated: “The initial target was set to cover a financial deficit the club had at the end of February as a result of some bad decisions off the pitch, made worse by the poor set of results throughout the season.
“On the pitch the club experienced an unprecedented number of injuries throughout the season to many players on contract, which further exacerbated the difficulties.
“The club recognises that the position they find themselves in is also a wakeup call and accepts that whilst fundraising initiatives are imperative many things need to be looked at in the forthcoming months.”
Club Finance Manager Paul Griffiths added: “Even with the club in lock down and no activity on or off the field we need £6,000 per month to cover fixed costs.”
The club announced on Tuesday that fellow joint-manager Andy Fearn had become a Director of Football and, until a new manager is appointed, will “oversee everything in relation to discussions with players.”
Team Manager Alex Meechan was relieved of his duties on Monday
John Hayne, another club director commented: “It is likely that the playing budget will need to be cut for the next season as the club seeks to formulate budgets that are within the clubs finances and the uncertainties that will have to be dealt with in the future.”
Chairman John Bromley added: “We must now look at everything again and look at new things and will be looking in detail about how we change. New board members are needed, more people to share the responsibilities and a sea change of process changes”
The club went on to confirm that NHS workers will be given a free season ticket for the 2020/21 campaign when it starts as a thank you for their selfless efforts amid coronavirus.
Darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor generously helped out a NHS worker who had his bicycle stolen while on shift.
The Stoke-on-Trent sports star visited the Royal Stoke University Hospital on Monday to present imaging scheduler Spencer James with a brand new bike after being robbed of his when he was working at the hospital last month.
Taylor, who was World Championship champion a record 16 times, said: “After seeing that Spencer had his bike stolen in a local paper, I thought I could do my bit to support our NHS and help get him back on the road.”
The University Hospital of North Midlands Trust thanked Phil for his kind gesture.
Club chairman John Bromley released a statement which said: “We wish to advise you all that with immediate effect our Team Manager Alex Meechan has been released from his contract by the club.
“It has not been an easy decision but was the only outcome based upon what we believe is best for the business.
“Whilst Alex didn’t achieve the necessary results on the field we would like to thank him for the professionalism he has always shown and for his passion, honesty and integrity. He worked incredibly hard and we wish him all the best for the future.
“He will always be welcome at Stafford Rangers and we now move forward with a determination to succeed during these unprecedented times.”
No comment has yet been made on joint manager Andy Fearn.
Meechan and Fearn were appointed caretaker bosses last season and helped guide Boro to Northern Premier League survival.
The pair went on to lift the Staffordshire Senior Trophy last campaign – the club’s second in as many years.
A non-league football league has announced that it will give a helping hand to clubs from all three of its divisions financially, with many outfits face an uncertain couple of monthsafter the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) said it will provide a “package” that is worth over £35,000 which it hopes will help its members keep afloat despite the lack of matchday income.
Staffordshire teams Hanley Town (Premier Division), Eccleshall, Stone Old Alleynians and Abbey Hulton United (all First Division South) play in the NWCFL.
This package includes the wavering of the annual league subscription for the 2020/21 campaign with the same going for the Macron Cup and the Playermatch.com Cup.
Additionally, clubs will be reimbursed for fees paid to attend the Annual General Meeting and Awards Dinner in Blackpool after this was cancelled while teams who are owed money for match officials travelling expenses will receive payment for this “with immediate effect” too.
The league also said it is still looking into ways to further reduce costs ahead of next season.
The news comes as a massive boost for NWCFL clubs
A spokesperson for NWCFL said: “Earlier this week the Finance Committee held a meeting via our conference call facility to come up a package that can help our clubs.
“These recommendations have been subsequently been approved and ratified by the Board via email communications. The total amount of the package that was agreed totals over £35,000.
“The league are also looking to further reduce costs for the 2020/21 season through a variety of measures that can in turn be passed onto the clubs.
“Unfortunately, any outstanding amounts that clubs owe to the league via fines or referee equalisation cannot be written off. However any clubs that do owe money can request a deferment via the League Secretary on the amount owed to.”
NWCFL Paul Lawler commented: “I am delighted that we are able to help our clubs during this extremely difficult and uncertain times.
“As a League we have always tried to have contingency in place if needed. Now is the time. Unfortunately we don’t have huge sums of money but hope this goes some way to help.”
A football club in Staffordshire has offered its team bus to help members of the community amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Uttoxeter Town, along with providers Angus MacKinnon, has been helping deliver medicines and provide welfare checks to vulnerable locals who are isolating because of Covid-19.
The club’s football season was cancelled by the FA last month due to the outbreak and so now have decided to use their 16-seat minibus for good use in the area.
A Club Development Officer for Uttoxeter Town Jonathan Landells told Sport in Staffs: “Uttoxeter Town value our sponsors and as part of our sponsor packages for the last four years we have been provided a 16-seat minibus by Angus Mackinnon Ltd to transport our First and Reserve teams to away games in the Midland Football League Division 1 and Reserve team fixtures.
“As we considered the minibus as a valuable asset to the club, we made the bus available to the local community and asked the local community if anyone had any ideas to utilise the minibus with a driver.
Uttoxeter Town has offered their bus to help vulnerable community members
“Balance Street Health Centre (BSHC) responded to us with the idea to transport needed medical prescriptions to isolated & vulnerable people in the local community.
“We immediately agreed as we can provide a valuable service to the people who need this and be able to observe social distancing by having a member of staff from BSHC on the back of the bus who then delivers the prescriptions upon arrival at various locations in the community.
“We considered that it was a vital service and having a asset that could best serve the local community in such unprecedented times we needed to help.
“Uttoxeter Town Football Club is a community-oriented club who operates with an ethos of community first from our base at Oldfields Sports & Social Club in Uttoxeter and many of the people we are helping are known to us or family members.
“We rely on the local community for their support, so to give something back was a must.”
The bus has covered the local area, travelling to places such as Marchington, Doveridge and Kingstone among many others.
Uttoxeter Town tragically lost manager Dean Arnold earlier this year, after he passed away aged 49.
The club stated: “The loss of Dean has been very hard on us all but we know he would have been the first to offer the local community the minibus in the way we are.”
The club pays tribute to late manager Dean Arnold earlier in the season
Managing Director of Angus MacKinnon, Stuart MacKinnon told Sport in Staffs: “As we all know, disaster struck a few weeks ago with the sudden passing of manager Dean Arnold.
“We understand how devastating this must have been for the club and his family. In an attempt to help the club through this tough time, as a company we decided to donate all the running/hire/insurance costs of the mini bus for the entire season.
“Obviously, in these recent unprecedented times the use of the minibus ceased operations. At this point Jonathan , brain waved the idea and personally turning its use to the local community, an extremely successfully bid to help those in need, and the ability to transport people whilst maintaining that ever so important social distancing.
“May I take this opportunity to thank each and every other person out there who is also ‘doing their bit’ whist we all pull together through these uncertain times.”
The business has also given out a van Free of Charge Edmonston Family Butchers in Uttoxeter, so they can deliver fresh produce to the isolated and vulnerable for the duration of the outbreak.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced that the domestic season is now over due to the coronavirus outbreak and that places will be decided by a “best playing record formula.”
This formula has not been disclosed but the decision covers the Championship down through the English system.
A statement from the RFU said: “Following the early end of the rugby season in England as a result of COVID-19, The Rugby Football Union has announced the final league positions.
“Proposals from the RFU governance committee to conclude the season for those leagues at both professional and community level were yesterday ratified by the RFU Council.
“It was agreed that final standings for the Greene King IPA Championship and men’s and women’s community game would be calculated on a best playing record formula maintaining promotion and relegation for those leagues.
The RFU has announced the season is now finished
“The tables for levels 4 to 7 only show promotion and relegation, they take no account of any potential level transfers. These will be reviewed in the coming weeks in accordance with the normal end of season process.
“Please Note, many promotion and relegation issues at Level 8 and below cannot be decided until the Constituent Bodies have been able to study these tables and work on any new club applications and possible re-structuring. This is only a guide.”
This means that in the Midlands Premier, Burton finish 9th with a ‘score’ of 48.00.
In Midlands 1 West, Lichfield get 98.22 meaning they finish 3rd while Stoke sit 8th on 63.90.
In Midlands 2 West North, Stafford finish in 3rd (81.89) followed closely by Leek in 4th (78.10).
Longton sit in 5th with a score of 55.00 while Tamworth finish 7th (52.86) and Newcastle, 10th (25.67).
The RFU’s announcement means that Uttoxeter win the Midlands 3 West North title with a score of 94.11.
Linley are in 7th on 54.73 and Eccleshall stay 9th on 44.83 in the same division.
In Midlands 4 West North, Rugeley finish 5th (64.78), Trentham are in 6th (61.78) and Cannock stay rooted to the bottom of the table with a score of 13.60.
England Hockey announced that all hockey activity in the country is suspended until at least June 30 while declaring that the domestic England Hockey League season are finished due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Positions in the were determined on a “percentage points basis” with the Midlands Mens Hockey League stating that “there are no teams where this small difference affects promotion or relegation.”
A statement from England Hockey said: “England Hockey has today taken the decision to suspend all hockey activity until 30 June 2020.
“Currently hockey activity is suspended until April 15 but, with the continuing social restrictions caused by Covid-19, this extension is pragmatic in the circumstances and provides clarity for our clubs, players, officials and volunteers.
“The health and wellbeing of those in the hockey community is our overriding concern so please follow the government guidance and stay safe.
England Hockey revealed that the domestic season is over
“Following the suspension of hockey activity until the end of June, given the time it would take to complete the league and prepare nationally and locally for the 2020-21 season – which naturally we hope will be able to run as normal – there is now insufficient time to complete the 2019-20 season.
“Remaining games in the Men’s and Investec Women’s Hockey Leagues 2019-20 seasons will not be played.
“However, the League Finals between the top four teams in the Premier Division to determine the league champions and EuroHockey placings cannot be concluded in their prescribed format, nor can the Play Offs to determine promotion and relegation between the Premier Division and Division One North and South.
“England Hockey understands there are significant implications to ending the seasonat this point and is mindful that the integrity of the League is important. We have begun a thorough process to deliver a fair and balanced outcome for teams.
“A recommendation will be made to the England Hockey Board in April and communicated to clubs thereafter.”
The Midlands Mens Hockey League also released a statement.
It read: “The Committee have agreed that the 2019/20 season will be regarded as completed from this date.
“To calculate final League positions we will use a percentage points basis.
“This is calculated on total points won (three for a win, one for a draw), minus any points deducted for disciplinary offences, then divided by the total number of points available from the games played, multiplied by 100 to give the percentage.
“Should teams have the same percentage points, goal difference will then be used.
The Midland Mens Hockey League was decided on a “percentage points basis”
“Resulting percentage values are displayed on this website – and though the tables are still shown in ‘points’ order, a couple of positional changes will be made when the tables are archived. There are no teams where this small difference affects promotion or relegation.
“Using this basis takes into consideration that at the point we have closed the season not all teams will have completed the same number of games and this method gives fairness to all teams.
“Final promotion and relegation issues have yet to be finalised – and will be posted in due course.
As a result Leek finished 7th in the Midlands Premier Division with a percentage score of 42.59%.
In Midlands Division 1, North Stafford placed 9th (40%) while in Division 2 Burton finished 5th (63.33%) and Stone, 8th (43.85%).
In the West Midlands Premier Division, the scoring system meant that Cannock finalised securing their title finishing 1st with a percentage figure of 90%.
Tamworth finished 11th in Division 2 with 11.66% after only winning once in 22 games while Stafford narrowly missed out on pole position in the same league, only missing out on top spot on goal difference to Bromsgrove (+46 to +29).
The standings regarding the Midland Region Hockey Association Women’s League arecurrently unclear with Eligibility Secretary Eileen Edwards posting on Monday: “England Hockey hugely disappointed to suspend all hockey activity until June 30!”
Staffordshire football clubs Uttoxeter Town and Tamworth along with over60 other non-league outfits have signed a letter addressed to the FA to reconsider the cancellation of the football season.
Several teams from all these steps have now signed a letter asking for the footballing authority to re-consider the decision.
Within this letter, it said: “We are writing to express our profound concern and displeasure regarding the decision to null and void entirely the 2019/20 playing season from steps three to six of the non-league.
“The decision also disregards the millions of pounds invested and countless hours expended collectively by clubs, and so has critical financial implications.
“In writing this joint letter, we recognise that the decision to expunge results for the 2019/20 season still pends official ratification from the FA Council.
“However, we believe it is unacceptable that such a decision has been handed down to us in this manner. We urgently seek constructive dialogue with the FA with the aim to have the decision re-considered.
Uttoxeter Town and Tamworth representatives were among those who signed the letter
“All clubs agree with the decision that the current playing season should be indefinitely discontinued until it is safe to resume; it would be both irresponsible and reckless to consider resuming playing football at this time. We would like to take the opportunity to echo government advice for everyone to stay home to protect the NHS, and thus save lives.
“We urge the FA to reconsider its decision and to slow down the whole process, offering proper consultation with afflicted leagues and clubs as the picture becomes clearer, before deciding a way forward.
“We stand ready to play our full part to help achieve a fair outcome, allowing the integrity of England’s football pyramid to be upheld in such a period of national adversity.”
Elsewhere, an online petition has been set up to try and convince The FA that it should “conclude 2019/20 the season and award promotion and relegation based on Points Per Game.”
To date, over 2,700 people have signed the form on change.org.
WE HAVE MOVED! 