THURROCK Football club have lost their appeal over playing an ineligible player and will remain in the Ryman Division One North. The club had been docked three points by the FA after playing Joel Barnett. But the club appeared to be unaware that the player had a ban hanging over him from a previous club.
AFTER managing Blues for two years, Hakan Hayrettin has decided to seek pastures new, and has agreed to join Conference Premier side Luton Town as Assistant Manager reports gafcjones. The ex Purfleet and Waltham Forest manager arrived at the club in May 2011, taking over the reigns from Julian Dicks. He overhauled the squad that summer, and almost gained promotion; his first season in charge ending with a play-off semi final defeat on penalties at Enfield Town.
ONE OF THE up and coming football teams in the borough has thanked the former boss of Grays Athletic for helping them move towards their dream.
LTD Foxes had a tremendous season winning both the Essex under-18s cup and the Essex Womens Cup.
ON AND OFF the pitch, there are big changes down at the Mill Field in Aveley. Having fallen at the play-off hurdle, the excitable but determined manager, Justin Gardner has promotion and advancement on his mind as the team return for pre-season over at Belhus park. Aveley FC report, Scott Hately looks forward to the new season.
EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry has announced that he will be welcoming Kris Newby back to the club for pre-season training and says that the door is not closed on a return to the starting line-up for the Rocks for the highly-rated young player.
CORRINGHAM Cosmos under-9 team won the Hawkwell FC tournament after beating Billericay Town on penalties 4-2. They progressed through the group stage by winning all their games, beating Romford FC in the semi-final as well.
FORMER Ormiston Park student, Alex Pritchard is preparing for his England bow in what is the biggest stage for a player of his age. The Tottenham Hotspur forward was picked by Peter Taylor for the U20 World Cup last month, his first England call-up at any level reports FA.Com.
"Grays Athletic recently approached us with a request to ground share having the lost their home at Rush Green due to West Ham United insisting on sole use. "The impact on our local neighbours could have been disastrous as FA rules state that ground shares have to be agreed by the 31st March for the season following.
The question of a contract has always been a matter for debate. When Grays Ath moved into the ground in July 2012, West Ham said on the club website that the Blues had been given "permission" and "loaned" the ground. The matter could end up with a legal battle but newly promoted Grays have had to make contingency plans and are believed to have spoken to Billericay and Aveley – among others – with a view to a groundshare for the new season and sources say Aveley’s Mill Field ground is the most likely option.
THURROCK FC remain optimistic that they will avoid relegation to the Ryman One North despite a ruling today that penalises them three points for playing an illegible player.
Thurrock, together with Tilbury FC and Bishops Stortford, appeared before an FA hearing over the signing of Joel Barnett, who was the subject of a West Riding FA sine die ban at the time.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Grays Athletic, Andy Swallow has stepped down from his position at the club. In a statement on the club website, the chair of Grays Athletic, Keith Burns detailed the changes off the pitch. Mr Burns said: "Andy Swallow will step own as CEO following the under-18s final at Beaconsfield next week. His business partner Joel Nathan will thereafter takeover the role .
THE management and fans of Thurrock FC face a nervous few days as their immediate playing future hangs in the balance. The club have been charged with playing an ineligible player by the Football Association - and if the case is proved they will be deducted points - a move that will see them relegated to the Ryman One North next season.
GRAYS Athletics great season continued as the u-18s from the Southern Counties won their first final last night. This is just the first of three that they are in. They travelled to Colney Heath to play Reading FC in the Merton Shield.
THURROCK required a nail-biting penalty shootout to secure victory over Brentwood Town in the final of the Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup, completing an unprecedented County Cup quadruple in the process.
The result also saw the South Essex side avenge last season’s 2-1 defeat to the same opponents, whilst many of the squad had been involved in 2012’s Cassells Under 16s Cup final reverse against Tempest. “I’m massively over the moon for the boys,” beamed boss Mark Sambridge straight after the final whistle.
