Poppies announce early pre-season fixturesThe club announced several pre-season fixtures have been arranged, notably Ipswich Town and a Glasgow Rangers XI, as well as local sides, Northampton Town and Rothwell Town. A pre-season tournament, called the A-Line Tournament is scheduled for mid-July with further details to be announced later. The dates listed so far are as follows: Thursday July 12th Ipswich Town (H) Posted on May 21, 2007
Cooper takes over the Poppies hot-seatThe club announced today that Mark Cooper is the new manager of Kettering Town Football Club. Cooper, who is the son of former Leeds Utd and England defender Terry Cooper, was a player at Birmingham City (before adding a host of other clubs to his playing resume) and recently managed Tamworth in the Conference National.
Next stop was Hartlepool Utd and following a season up North, returned South, joining Leyton Orient on a non-contract basis before joining our neighbours up the road for two seasons. Hednesford Town and Forest Green were added to his resume, before he eventually joined Tamworth in May 2002. Cooper was appointed assistant manager at the start of the following season and took over as the Lambs manager from the departing Darren Gee at the start of the 2004-05 season. After almost three seasons in charge of the club and taking Tamworth up into the Conference National, he departed the Lambs in January 2007 by mutual consent and was replaced by Gary Mills. During his spell in charge at Tamworth, the Lambs finished 15th, 21st (spared relegation when Canvey Island resigned) and 22nd (relegated) in the Conference National. Cooper's league record while manager at Tamworth is as follows: For the rest of the 2006-07 season, Cooper made 15 appearances for Conference North outfit Hinckley Utd. His move into the Poppies hot-seat marks the 5th managerial appointment that Kettering Town chairman Imraan Ladak has made since his arrival in October 2005. Posted on May 16, 2007
North and South Promotion places all claimedFollowing Monday night's Conference North play-off Final the remaining Conference League promotion place has been claimed. Congratulations to Conference North Champions Droylsden and Conference South Champions Histon, who will be joined next season by Salisbury City, winners of the CS play-off Final and Farsley Celtic, winners of the CN play-off Final. Salisbury City beat Braintree Town 1-0 on Sunday courtesy of a Matthew Tubbs goal on 85 minutes to clinch their spot, while Monday night's dramatic high-scoring Final ended Farsley Celtic 4 Hinckley Utd 3. Gareth Grant gave Farsley Celtic a 1-0 lead on 15 minutes, but just 6 minutes later they trailed 2-1 as Sam Shilton (19 mins) and Neil Cartwright (21 minutes) fired Hinckley Utd in front. The Knitters held their slender lead going into the final stages of the tie, but Damien Reeves equalised on 79 minutes to pull Celtic back level at 2-2. The Farsley fans joy lasted just four minutes when Neil Cartwright scored his second and Hinckley's third goal on 83 minutes to restore the Knitters one-goal advantage, but Celtic refused to give-up and came storming back to make it 3-3 on 87 minutes through Ryan Crossley. With just 60 seconds of normal time left, Celtic were awarded a penalty and Simeon Bambrook slotted home the spot-kick to send the Farsley fans into a frenzy and his side dramatically into the Conference League next season. Posted on May 14, 2007
Poppies lose out 4-2 on penalties to Farsley Celtic - CN play-offs SF 2nd leg (1-1 agg)
Farsley Celtic 0 Farsley Celtic win 4-2 on penalties after extra-time. Poppies manager Graham Westley was forced to into one change for the 2nd leg as Craig Westcarr's four game suspension has now begun and Andy Hall, who's introduction in Wednesday night's 1st leg 1-1 draw eventually saw Kettering finish the stronger of the two sides, comes in to start today's match and also Luke Graham replaces David Theobald. A fairly quiet start to the first 25 minutes with neither side yet able to make the breakthrough in an edgy match with so much riding on the outcome it's understandable the players are taking awhile to settle and at the moment it's still 0-0. Workington v Hinckley is also 0-0 at the half-hour stage although four Knitters players have already been booked. Still no goals at the newly-named A-Line stadium and it looks like the first 45 minutes will remain goaless between Kettering and Farsley. At Workington in the other semi-final, Hinckley have just taken the lead through Jackson on 40 minutes. Half-times:
Still no goals in a very tight match at Rockingham road and as the clock ticks away it looks increasingly like one goal could settle this Semi-Final 2nd leg and send the winners through to face what at this point will be Hinckley Utd who are 2-0 up and appear to be well in control of their tie. Kettering and Farsley still unseparable as they go into the final ten minutes of their tie ... Workington have pulled a goal back ... they now trail 2-1 to Hinckley in the other SF ... Neither side deserve to be in front in what has so far been a very poor match at the newly named A-Line stadium and unless something special happens in front of goal, it looks like ending 0-0 after 90 minutes. In the other Semi-Final .. Workington lost 2-1 to Hinckley Utd .. Kettering and Farsley finished 0-0 after 90 minutes and the game has now gone into extra-time ... Kettering have strangely reverted to a 4-1-1 formation with Rene Howe ploughing a lone furrow up front. Farsley have had much the better clear-cut chances than Kettering who despite playing at home appear to be playing far too conservatively. Free-kick by Caskey who has come off the subs bench and despite beating the wall the keeper is forced to make the save and clears for a throw-in to Kettering. Boucaud fires one in but the shot is not accurate and clears the crossbar by a wide margin. 10 minutes gone in first-period of extra-time .. still 0-0. Midgley broke through for the visitors but Osborn is alert and collects the ball. Shot by Grant is put wide for a corner to Farsley. Bambrook's corner is cleared by Hall but the ball is played back in and another corner for Farsley. McIlwain put the ball out for a third Farsley corner. Osborn misses cross and Caskey puts out for 4th corner in row, but this time Kettering finally clear upfield. Kettering on the break and Hall's cross looked to have been handled by Ryan Serrant but the referee waves play-on with the home crowd screaming for a penalty. That's about the last action of the first period of extra-time and the score remains 0-0. Second period of extra-time kicks-off ... Kettering corner by Hall, Farsley clear and Boucaud feeds Caskey who's first shot is saved and then Caskey regains possession and hooks the ball just over the crossbar. Much better from Kettering with 4 minutes of the second period of extra-time gone. Hall on the break but a poor ball doesn't reach the charging Dempster and a good chance is wasted for Kettering. A corner for Kettering, ball in by Hall falls to Howe played to McIlwain but thow for Kettering who are applying good pressure. Andy Hall shot beats keeper but balls goes just wide of the post for a goal-kick. Six minutes left of extra-time. Farsley break forward and an inter-change between Midgley and Bambrook ends with a Farsley corner. Corner cleared but ends in Farsley throw and Osborn tried to punch clear but mis-punches and fortunately for the Poppies Grant heads wide. Stephane Seanla comes on for Jean-Paul Marna with 4 minutes left. Corner for Kettering who throw most of the team forward for this one. Hall into the box and a mad-scramble is eventually cleared by the visitor's defence. Into the final two minutes of the match and looking to be headed for penalties at this point. A cross by Hall to Seanla is halted by an offside flag and apart from the players who came off the bench there are a lot of very tired legs out there on the pitch. Final whistle sounds to end the match and extra-time and it still stands 0-0 .. we're headed for penalties to decide who goes through to face Hinckley Utd in the Conference North play-off final at Burton Albion's Eton Park. Kettering up first ... Solkhon misses ... Farsley Celtic go through to meet Hinckley Utd in the Conference North Final ... Kettering face another season in Conference North .. Att: 2,033 Kettering: Mark Osborn, Nathan Peprah, John Dempster, David Perpetuini, Craig McIlwain, Brett Solkhon, Luke Graham, Andre Boucaud, Andy Hall, Jean-Paul Marna, Rene Howe. Subs: Darren Caskey, Nick Bussey, Stephane Seanla, David Theobald, Moses Olaleye. Farsley: Tom Morgan, Stephen Downes, Ryan Serrant, Ryan Crossley, Roy Stamer, Carl Serrant, Iqbal, Andy Watson, Simeon Bambrook , Damien Reeves, Gareth Grant. Subs: Craig Midgley, Paul Cuss , Ryan Sugden, Ashley Allanson, Damion Dunne. Posted on May 4, 2007
Poppies draw 1-1 at Farsley Celtic - CN play-offs SF 1st leg
Kettering Town 1 Poppies manager Graham Westley opted for both Craig Westcarr and Jean-Paul Marna in the starting lineup with Darren Caskey and Andy Hall on the bench. At the back, Peprah, Dempster, Perpetuini and McIlwain all start with Luke Graham relegated to the bench. Ten minutes into the match and both sides taking awhile to settle down and although the two keepers have both had an early touch of the ball, neither has yet had a real save to make. A couple of testing long shots in the early stages have set the stage for the Poppies to take the game to Farsley and Kettering have had the better of the early exchanges. Continue reading "Poppies draw 1-1 at Farsley Celtic - CN play-offs SF 1st leg"Posted on May 2, 2007
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Cooper's footballing career began at Bristol City where he was a trainee, before moving to Exter City, then managed by his father. Following his stint at Birmingham City, Cooper moved to Fulham, Wycombe Wanderers and returned to Exeter City for a further two seasons.
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