Looking ahead to Tomorrow's East Anglian Cup Final against Ryman League club, and Ryman League cup holders, Tilbury - we thought it may be a good time to catch up with some squad news from the manager.

On Saturdays 4-0 home win over Swaffham Brown said;

"We managed to rest a few with Tuesday and Thursday in mind, and it paid off, as the boys that came in did very well"

"The fact that Tuesday's game was called off, may leave the rested lads feeling a little unlucky, but its the team, and the results we gain as a team, that matter"

On the final;

"This will be a huge ask for us, they are two leagues above us, and going reasonably well"

"I won't take any risks squad wise, as we have a huge game Saturday at March Town"

"I certainly haven't forgotten how we got here, with wins away at Lowestoft Town, and Brantham, as well as a home win over Maldon Town"

"They are big scalps for us, for anyone infact, and we were very proud of our performance at Lowestoft on that Tuesday night"

"Tilbury would be beatable if we were at full strength, played well, and it wasn't on a thursday night, but in the situation we find ourselves, the task may well be beyond us"

"Its a second cup final in two seasons, and coupled with our league progress, we are doing ok - winning it would obviously be great"

"The starting lineup will change from Saturday, but we will be putting a team on the pitch that I believe can compete....and with some luck, maybe win"

........................................................................................................................

Squad for Final From;

Wooten, Walker, Murfet, Stamp, Rushden, Devaux, Coe, Joslin, Townrow, Rayner, Morley, Lee, Osullivan, Gillespie, Oleary, Webb, Turner, Bryan, Pirie.

**Please come and support the lads in their continued quest for silverware** 

The Club is hosting a race-night on Saturday 17th April.

Doors open: 6:30,  First Race: 7:30pm

Race Sponsorship is available for £40 per race

Horse ownership is £5.

Full Tote betting available, £1 per bet.

Races shown in colour on full-size screen.

Our Annual Dinner/Dance and End of Season Presentation Night will be held at the clubhouse on Saturday May 15th.

Tickets are now available priced £25 each.

There is likely to be high demand, and early booking is advised.

For more information, speak to Jenny on: 07525 159574

Additional information can be found on our facebook page

The side have now put together a run of ten games unbeaten, including victories in both league and cup over sides in the top five, including Gt Yarmouth, Gorelston, and Brantham.

The squad looks stronger, although Jody Brown has not been tempted to rush the experienced players back into the starting lineup, and this must serve as a huge confidence boost to the younger players that have turned our season around of late.

The recent 3-0 victory over league leaders Gt Yarmouth, albeit in the cup was their first defeat of the season on home soil, and went a little way to regaining some pride following our league mauling at the same ground earlier in the year. An interesting fact, was that on the night; Ten of the 15 that travelled were under 21, and seven were still eligible for our academy side. This highlights the progress being made within the clubs youth set-up, and the hardwork being carried out to recruit young players ready to compete for 1st team football.

With the recent weather, the challenges have been great, and the young players have shown good character in tough circumstances. This was rewarded with a place in the final of the East Anglian Cup against Tilbury, after a tough encounter with a good Brantham side in thick fog (pictured above).

They have also climbed the table, but are still somewhat off the promotion pace, and Tuesdays game at highflying FC Clacton will serve as a good benchmark of our progress to date. The players are well rested following Saturdays postponement, and it will be interesting to see if the manager sticks with his young players, or gives into the temptation to bring in the likes of Chris Bryan, Lee Townrow, Terry Rayner, Judd Coe, Liam Morley, Tom Webb, or even the prolific Tom English, who after four months out, has returned to reserve team action netting 3 times in as many games. Either way, Tuesdays game will be an interesting one. 

Former Colchester United pair Tom Devaux, and Tom Webb were both recently subject of an approach from Zammeretto Midlands league club AFC Sudbury. Their departures may have rocked the club during the rocky period which has been experienced of late, but thankfully the pair opted to stay put, and continue their development with the club.

Hyunjin Lee, the teenage midfield player spotted during a trial period training with the club last season has secured a move to Blue Square Club, Staines Town. Hyunjin has featured in recent games for the Blue Square South Club, and the club are pleased to see his progress.

Manager Jody Brown was delighted to keep the two Tom's;

"Both players can be integeral parts of the squad over the coming seasons, so its great to have kept them"

"Devaux is now vice-captain, following his strong first season with us, he has developed during his time here, that coupled with his Professional experience will make him very attractive to a number of clubs"

"Tom is seen as a player we can build a back four around, and is contracted to the club, so it would take a substantial offer for us to consider letting him go, unless of course it was a move that Tom himself desperatley wanted to make"

"In this instance, he was not interested, and the offer was not anywhere near our valuation"

"Webby is a technically gifted player that has so much to offer, and once we get him fully fit i expect him to have a huge impact on games, and have no doubt that he to, will attract future interest from higher placed clubs"

"He also has a good pedigree, and its mine, and my staffs job, along with Tom himself, to make sure his potential is fulfilled"

"Hyunjin, has done really well for us in a short space of time"

"Having spent the end of last season training with us, he played a couple reserve games, and although then reserve team manager, Wayne Lowry didnt fancy him as a player, i felt he was worth an extended period, and brought him in for pre-season"

"He was ever present for the first two months of the season, and when Staines gave him the opportunity of playing some reserve games, he duly took his opportunity to impress and has since been signed, and featured in their 1st team"

"Im really pleased for him, and do think he has a big future"

"Im pleased to say that Hyunjin will still be able to play for us when not involved with Staines 1st team, thats great news for both parties as it will serve to help his development, whilst helping us climb the table"

"I think all this serves to reinforce the fact that Halstead Town is a good place for any young player to play and develop their career"

Talking to manager Jody Brown it was clear that 2009 had been very frustrating, yet rewarding at the same time. Now looking forward to the new year, he hopes that the negatives can all be turned into positive for the club.

"Missing out on promotion by goal difference again was obviously a disappointment, however I was sure that we had progressed, the squad was still improving, the club was moving forward with its entire structure, and we were confident of continuing that progress this season"

"The Academy was a major development, and although its early days, we are already reaping the rewards of now having a youth set-up to match any non-league club in the region. And without doubt this will only get stronger over time"

"Working with the school, and the boys every day has been great, and I am certain that the partnership we are developing with Hedingham & Ramsey schools, will be a fruitful one"

"Who could have forseen the set backs we would suffer early on in the season - Daly and Rowell injured, then once fit left for Ryman Club Maldon Town. Bryan and Turner not fit to play together, Rayner injured, Artuns horriffic arm injury at Fakenham, Goalkeeper Woottens hand injury, Emersons toe, Townrows never ending suspension which had been unjust, the need to use 9 different left backs, San Lee's retirement and the ever present Joslin picking up a knee injury, Morleys knee, newly signed Tom English's groin, the loss of my assistant John Pollard, etc, etc...."

"To be honest, I found it to be the most testing time in my career so far. To lose an assistant and a captain that I had a great deal of trust in was a blow, to be without so many players just made it worse"

"However, we worked hard to still be competitive, and players like Lee Townrow, Adam Gillespie, and Tom Devaux deserve a great deal of the credit, having battled through, and sometimes carried the team on their shoulders"

"They say every Cloud has a silver lining, and this dark cloud brought Seb Murfet back to the club, a full back that is as good as there is at this level and the next, when enjoying his football. It also saw the emergence of Hyunjin Lee, an exciting 18 year old that has now been sgned by Staines Town of he Conference South, Jimmy Pirie, and Tom Webb, two young attacking players that can impact on games, 17 year old left sided player Adam Rushden and Jordan Page, a 16 year old that has already grabbed a hat-trick in the league for us, as well as promising academy players Jack and Adam Smith, and Danny Clements"

"These players coupled with youngsters Alex Oleary, and Shane Stamp, have seen us turning out sides with an average age of under 20 at times, and still compete, which must bode well for the future of the club"

"Looking ahead, we have an East Anglian cup semi-final to play this month. We beat Ryman clubs Maldon Town and Lowestoft amongst others to get to this point, so we would really like to get the reward of a cup final"

"We also have a league cup quarter final with league leaders Gt Yarmouth to consider, as well as our 21 remaining league games"

"Promotion is a very distant thought, our expectations cannot be the same as they were, following the loss and injuries to so many of the squad. Although the young boys are improving with each game, and slowly senior players are returning"

"It is my aim to keep us competitive, and gather as many points as possible between now and easter. If at that point we are within reach of the the top 3, then and only then does promotion become a realistic possibility. Before that we aim to bring some silverware to the club, and go one better than we did the season before last when losing to Ely on penaltys in a cup final"

"The squad is looking stronger now, and maybe the forced changes early on, and the return of fresh hungry players might just work in our favour....but its going to be a huge ask to catch the top 3, only time will tell if they can all maintain their early season form" 

"I think the year ahead is going to be a great one for the club, and very exciting for all involved. I hope we can all pull together on and off the field, get the supporters behind us, and really make a go of it down the home straight"

Saturdays important trip to Ipswich will see Town again field a young, inexperienced side. However, there are high hopes for some of these boys, and the experience they are gaining is sure to accelerate their progress.

Manager Brown will be without the services of the following players;

Artun, Morley, Townrow, Emerson, English, Hyunjin Lee, and Rushden.

With the loss of Rowell and Daly to Maldon Town, Pollard's retirement, and the recent departure of San Lee this season has been an uphill battle, although there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel, as the new players coming in are begining to settle.

Brown said;

"A run in the league now is very important, this year has been tough, but if we can overcome each of the obstacles, and almost continual set-backs and manage to achieve something -that would be special, and well deserved"

"Wanderers will be another tough game, and any points taken will be another step in the right direction for these young players"