RECKLESS GUIDE TO AFC TELFORD

AFC TELFORD v BARNET

Vanarama Premier League

Saturday 13^th September 2014

Kick Off 3pm

Stadium The New Buck's Head Stadium, Bucks Way, Watling Street, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2TU.

Telephone 01952 270767

Club Colours White and Black

Nickname The Bucks

Official Website www.telfordunited.co.uk

Key Personnel

Liam Watson is the current manager at the New Bucks Head and started his tenure in May 2014. Injury in 1994 cut short the strikers professional career while at Preston North End. We went on to play semi professionally at Witton Albion, Marine, Accrington and Runcorn.

He has had previous managerial experience at Runcorn, Southport and Burscough.

Liam Watson

Brief Directions by Road

M1 onto M6 (Junction 10a) and onto the M54 Turn off the M54 at Junction 6 (A5223). Turn right at the exit roundabout driving down a hill with Tesco (Wellington Retail Park) on the left. Over a small roundabout to the main island at the bottom of the hill where you turn left along Bennetts Bank (B5061). This road is signposted Wellington. Continue on for approx. 1/2 mile to a set of traffic lights. Turn right at the lights and after a short drive the stadium entrance will be on your left.

Car Parking

Parking is available at the ground at £3.00 per car but the car park fills up very quickly. There is also ample parking available in the industrial estate opposite the ground for the same price. Street parking is not recommended.

Directions by Train

from London Euston Wellington (Shropshire) station is situated just under one mile from the stadium. It is served by trains from Birmingham New Street. It is around a 25 minute walk to the New Bucks Head or you can catch a number  44 & 55 bus (southbound), from the nearby Wellington Bus Station.

For fans arriving early and who wish to sample the delights of Telford town centre then Telford Central is the station for you, and is only 2 minutes walk from the town centre and a further 25 minutes walk to the ground but trains are more frequent form London. The aforementioned 44 & 55 (northbound this time) departs from outside Telford Central station every 10 minutes and stops outside the ground. The journey time by bus is 20 minutes.

Eating and Drinking Locally

The Swan Hotel, which is 100 yards down Watling Street towards Wellington centre is Ok and I am told has a Carvery. Across the road is the Cock Hotel, which I am told is the best local real ale pub and probably the best bet for lovers of decent beer. The Whtehouse Hotel next to the ground has a small bar called the Dugout which admits away fans.

Swan Hotel

Social Club

There is a small bar located within the Study Centre Facility behind the Jack Bentley Terrace, however this does not admit away fans. Back in the 1980’s when visiting supporters were allowed into the social club, digging a tunnel underneath the foundations would have been quicker to get in! We used to “pal” up with a couple of the non playing Barnet squad – that never failed!

Ground Description

The Stadium was transformed to the tune of £9.5 million which is marvellous news for Telford and the town but our younger fans will not experience the old ‘Theatre Of Dreams’ where our club won their first piece of major silverware for over 10 years. Bucks Head was the venue for Barnet’s glorious 1989 Club Call Cup final victory over Hyde United on penalties.

Scene of one great stack in 1989

The main stand or Sir Stephen Roberts Stand holds around 2,000 and has executive boxes to its rear. Both excellent end terraces are covered and the Frank Nagington stand will be our home for the day. The open Jack Bentley terrace completes the picture adding up to a capacity of some 6,300.

Frank Nagington Terrace

Admission Prices

Adult £13 Concessions £10

Previous Meetings and Memories

The last visit to Bucks Head was December 2003 when Geoff Pitcher and Giuliano Grazioli goals were featured in a 2-1 victory.

A stunning hatrick from Gary Abbott in 1988 was also a joy to behold as was a 5-0 demolition of the Bucks in the 1983 Bob Lord Trophy semi final at Underhill.

Gary Abbott

Season 2001/2 and a 2-1 Bees victory was the first Barnet away victory for what seemed 40 years or so at the time (!) and the celebrations by the Bees fans at the final whistle was “stacksville”. Mark Arber opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 29 minutes, Telford’s Albrighton equalised on 38 minutes. However Mark was the hero of the day as he smashed in the rebound of another penalty in injury time. Cue the famous Arber star jump immortalised by my good self on film and subsequently published in the local Barnet papers and various other oracles too numerous to mention. I am still waiting for my copyright royalties.

Arber Star Jump (c) Reckless 2001

Telford’s goalkeeper in the mid and late 1980’s was Kevin Charlton and he was always very popular with the West Bank. Not only was he a superb keeper but also took the time to chat to us and have a laugh during the game. Top man was Kevin.

Barnet lost 3-0 to Stafford Rangers in the 1972 FA Trophy final and that has been well documented but who remembers the 1-0 victory over Telford Utd in the semi final played at the old Northampton Town ground? Dickie Plume scored a last gasp penalty in a dust cloud to take us to the Twin Towers.

Sir Dickie Plume

Celebrity Watch

Billy Wright CBE 1924-94 was born in Ironbridge, just an Eddie Stein corner kick away from Bucks Head. He was the first footballer to win over 100 caps for England, he captained the England team in three World Cups (1950, 1954 and 1958), and wore very long silly shorts. The first person ever to swim the English Channel in 1875 was Matthew Webb and he was born in nearby Dawley in 1848. The fattest man in the world in the 1840’s was William Ball who weighed 40 stones - he lived in Wellington. TV’s Mr Artistic and Vision On and Morph creator Tony Hart was a Telford fan.