NEWS ARCHIVE - 2007/2008

Gascoyne Inspires Field Shield Win 14th May 2008 Haddenham United won the Field Shield for the 10th time on Tuesday 13th May 2008 after a 3-2 win against Bierton at Tring Athletic's Grass Roots Stadium. It was a fitting end to Haddenham's season, ending the season on a double high after also winning the ADL Premier Division 3 days previous. Having lost in the final of the Field Shield for the past two seasons against St. Johns and Walton Court Wanderers, this season's opponents, Bierton, didn't suggest it was going to be any easier, but just seconds in to the game, Haddenham went on the offensive and mounted 5 minutes of constant pressure on the Bierton defence. This lead to Paul Alleyne grabbing the opening goal after 6 minutes when he converted a 25 yard free-kick with a precise right foot effort, with the skilful Nando Perna having won the free-kick. The goal fired Bierton in to life though and Lee Parrack gave Bierton a 2-1 half time lead with two goals in the space of 5 minutes, and Haddenham were struggling to find their form of the first 5 minutes. The second half proved to be a tense affair, with both sides looking to create the chance that would either put the scores level or put the game out of reach, and luckily for Haddenham, the next goal pulled the scores level, with substitute Darren Gascoyne striking a 30 yard volley which the Bierton goalie could only parry and watch as momentum took the ball in to the net. Haddenham had now regained the upper hand and minutes later Darren Gascoyne latched on to a Stuart Barr right wing cross to volley home a deflected shot and send the Haddenham players and support in to wild celebrations. Despite a few nervy last minute moments, Haddenham held on to claim the win and mark the end of a successful season. Super-sub Darren Gascoyne may have only been on the pitch 25 minutes, but his introduction added new life to the team with his fresh legs and powerful running, and the two goals ultimately won Haddenham the match at a time when it looked as though Haddenham were running out of ideas. Unfortunately, the match may mark the end of an era, with Manager Kevin Poole moving on to pastures new and uncertainty as to the players who will report back for pre-season training in July, but the cup and league success will be savored for the time being, and hopefully Haddenham will be back as a force to be reckoned with again next season.

Awards Presentation Evening 12th May 2008 Haddenham United held their annual Awards Presentation evening on Saturday 10th May 2008, with the best, most passionate, most hard-working and most reliable players and club officials rewarded for their season's efforts. In a change to the club's traditional Annual Dinner and Dance, this year's committee decided on a less formal evening in the Sports & Social Club, with a buffet instead of a sit down meal, and the evening was very enjoyable and successful. First up were the Young Player of the Year awards, with Glen Paul grabbing the Reserves award and Aaron Rogers for the first team. The Top Goalscorers weren't much of a surprise, with Paul Alleyne grabbing 50 goals for the first team and Will Smail notching 18 for the Reserves. The First Team player awards saw Matt Wakelin pick up the Manager's Player of the Year, with Nando Perna securing the votes of his fellow players with an impressive season to win the Player's Player award. James Ward was selected as the Reserve Team Manager's Player, for his loyalty and reliability off and on the pitch, and youngster Gavin White got the player's vote to pick up the Player's Player award. Clubman of the Year saw secretary Jane Kenny emotionally pick up the award for all the hard work she does on behalf of the club, with no other person more deserving of the award. Lastly, the Achivement Award went to the long standing Chairwoman of the HUFC Supporters Club, Linda Bamford. It was then disco and nibbles all night, celebrating the end of a successful season, made all the more enjoyable with the first team's league title win earlier in the day.

Champions! 12th May 2008 Haddenham United were crowned champions of the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 10th May 2008 when a 5-1 away win against Aston Clinton finally put everyone else out of reach and secured Haddenham's place at the top of the pile. On a very hot Saturday afternoon, the game started off with Haddenham applying the early pressure, but Aston looked to spoil the party when they took an early lead through Shaun Walker. Luckily for Haddenham though, man of the match Aaron Rogers ensured they were quickly back on level terms when he volleyed home from a wide angle on the left to level the scores. Minutes later Rogers latched on to a brilliant curling free-kick from Ben Lazaruk to head home and put Haddenham in front, much to the delight of the big travelling support. Haddenham didn't look back from here on in, with Ben Moses racing away and using his strength to get a third for Haddenham, and then Nando Perna added a fourth when he was felled in the away and stepped up to convert the spot kick, albeit at the second attempt after the keeper saved and parried the ball back in to Perna's path. Haddenham were now in party mood, but kept their heads ont he game with the second half still to come, but the second half had a typical end of season feel to it and a single goal from goal machine Paul Alleyne, his 50th of the season, made the final score 5-1, and the final whistle was greeted with the popping of champagne corks. It was deserved league title for Haddenham, who have without doubt been the best team in the league throughout the season. The league should have been wrapped up before the last game, but a dip in form towards the end of the season allowed Bierton to close the gap, but the form was regained when it mattered and congratulations to Manager Kevin Poole and all his players and coaching staff. The day was completed with the Annual End of Season Awards Presentation Evening - news and photos to follow soon. Haddenham's season isn't quite over yet though, with the Field Shield Final against Bierton still to play on Tuesday 13th May at Tring Athletic - 7.45pm kick-off.

Nearly There 9th May 2008 Haddenham United took a big step closer to winning the ADL Premier Division on Thursday 8th May 2008 with a 3-0 home victory over Aston Clinton. With just one game now left to play, against Aston Clinton again on Saturday, a victory for Haddenham would seal the title and put Bierton out of reach. Haddenham appeared to start off a bit nervy, knowing that only a victory would do, but still started the brighter team, immediately going on the offensive and looking for goals. It took a while in coming, but after hitting the bar through Nando Perna, Haddenham eventually took the lead when Paul Alleyne beat the offside trap and beat the 'keeper to a lofted Aaron Rogers through ball and nod home. The second half saw Haddenham extend the lead early in the half when Paul Alleyne grabbed his second of the game, and his 49th of the season, racing clear to side foot home. The game was effectively over at this point, although Haddenham did have periods of defending to do in the remainder of the match, but substitute Darren Gascoyne made completely sure of the win by side footing home a Paul Alleyne cross with 5 minutes to go to give Haddenham a 3-0 victory. So, it's now all eyes on Saturday, when hopefully the title will be clinched, and anything other than a win would mean Haddenham relying on Bierton failing to win one of their remaining games. After the match it is back to Haddenham for the Annual End of Season Awards Presentation evening, this year held in the Sports & Social Club. No ticket is required, so just turn up, take in the awards and enjoy the disco entertainment.

League Gets Tighter 6th May 2008 Haddenham United's lead at the top of the ADL Premier Division was cut again on Saturday 3rd May when their away match against Bucks CC ended in a 0-0 draw. With two games in hand, Bierton can now move to within 2 points of Haddenham at the top of the table, meaning Haddenham are in desparate need of points from the their last two games against Aston Clinton - home and away - with two victories securing the title. The match against Bucks CC was always going to be a tough fixture for Haddenham, having lost to the same opponents in the League Cup, and it proved to be a frustrating game, with goal scoring chances hard to come by and poor finishing proving costly for both teams. Haddenham had the better of the match, asking the most questions of the opposing defence, and both Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses could of found themselves on the score sheet with a mixture of clear cut and half chances, and Bucks CC nearly nicked it late on but for a last ditch slide and clearance off the line by Haddenham defender Matt Wakelin. So Haddenham are now left to sweat it out with two crucial matches against Aston Clinton within 2 days of each other. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves played out their last match of the season with a 3-1 home defeat to Mandeville Old Boys in Division 1. Will Smail grabbed Haddenham's goal, taking his tally to 18 for the season.

Held to a Draw 27th April 2008 Haddenham United were held to a draw by St. Johns at home in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 26th April 2008. It was a frustrating game and result for Haddenham, who were much the better team throughout the 90 minutes, but missing the strike force of Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses, failure to convert chances proved costly for Haddenham, with St. Johns grabbing a share of the points with 15 minutes of the match remaining. After a goalless first half, Haddenham eventually went ahead when Steve Newell beat the offside trap and poked home past the St. Johns 'keeper 10 minutes into the second period. Minutes later, Haddenham midfielder Nando Perna seemingly walked his way through 3 challenges inside the box and was presented with a somewhat easy chance with just the 'keeper to beat, but unfortunately the ball bobbled just as Perna struck his shot and the ball sailed over the bar. The missed chance would sum up Haddenham's game, and to add insult to injury, St. Johns capitalised on a bizarre refereeing decision at a throw in to then win a free kick, from which they worked an equaliser with their only real chance of the match. Haddenham now find theirselves 10 points clear of Aston Park at the top of the league table, but Aston Park have a game in hand to potentially cut the lead to 7 points with three matches remaining.

Reserves in Heavy Defeat 25th April 2008 Haddenham Reserves crashed to a heavy 12-0 defeat at home to high-flying Hale Leys in the ADL Division 1 on Thursday 24th April. As well as Hale Leys riding high in the league table, and even giving the first team a close game in the Field Shield earlier in the season, Haddenham Reserves were under-strength and missing a few key players, and the result was a dominant away win. Haddenham got off to a bad start when James Ward was adjudged to have fouled in the area, and with the penalty converted, Hale Leys romped off to a 5-0 half time lead. The second half proved to be a similar affair, with Hale Leys adding a couple of goals shortly after the half time break and then scoring a flurry of goals late in the match to end up 12-0 winners. Hale Leys were without doubt the better team, but Haddenham could be admired for how they never gave up, kept running and tried to play football, despite constant mickey taking from the opposition and the sidelines as the game went on, when it would have been all too easy for Haddenham to drop their heads.

9 Points Clear 23rd April 2008 Haddenham United went 9 points clear at the top of the ADL Premier Division league table with a 4-2 win over Walton Court Wanderers at home on Tuesday 22nd April 2008. Played on a mild early summer's evening, Haddenham were always the better team in terms of possession, chances and attacking territory, but after taking the lead through Nando Perna, Walton Court struck back to lead 2-1 at the half time break. However, Haddenham regained control of the match in the second half with substitute Paul Alleyne putting Haddenham level with a low shot at the near post, and minutes later a Darren Gascoyne finish from a wide angle to the left of goal put Haddenham back in front. Ben Moses then secured the win when he met a Stuart Barr cross with a powerful header, and it was a job well done for Haddenham, who now have just four leagues matches left to play.

First Team March On 21st April 2008 Haddenham United continued their march for the ADL Premier Division title on Saturday 19th April 2008 with a 5-1 away victory against Bedgrove Dynamos. Against the wind in the first half, Haddenham found it a little difficult to mount any real pressure on the Bedgrove goal, with Bedgrove enjoying a fair share of half chances, but it was eventually Haddenham who found the net first when Antony Dawson side footed home from 10 yards. However, no sooner had Haddenham gone in front, Bedgrove converted a 25 yard free kick to draw level, but in another twist, Haddenham broke on the counter-attack immediately before the half time break, with Antony Dawson and Ben Moses combining for Moses to eventually strike the ball past the Bedgrove 'keeper and regain Haddenham the lead. The second half saw Haddenham dominate, with the wind now in their favour and Darren Gascoyne coming on to freshen the midfield. And Gascoyne was soon in the action as his long range shot was only parried by the Bedgrove 'keeper, and an alert Aaron Rogers capitalised to beat the 'keeper to the rebound and give Haddenham a 3-1 lead. Rogers then turned on the style and got Haddenham's fourth when he received the ball in midfield, looked up and sent a thunderous shot in to the top right hand corner of the net from 30 yards. The game was now well and truely won, but Dawson made sure with his second goal of the match 15 minutes from time, converting from wide on the right hand side of the six yard box. Haddenham are now 6 points clear at the top of the league table, and also with a game in hand over second placed Aston Park.

Midweek Win 18th April 2008 Haddenham United extended their lead at the top of the ADL Premier Division on Thursday 17th April 2008 with a 3-2 away victory over Aylesbury Dynamos. Two goals from Ben Moses and a single goal from substitute Steve Newell gave Haddenham the victory.

Cup Final Defeat 15th April 2008 Haddenham Reserves saw their hopes of a ADL Reserve Cup Final win dashed on Monday 14th April at Tring Athletic's stadium, losing a closely fought encounter against Aston Clinton Reserves. Haddenham started the better team, attacking down the hill in the first half and constantly troubling the Aston Clinton 'keeper, but unfortuntely for Haddenham, the opposition number 1 proved to be the Man of the Match and kept his side in it with some fine saves. Nil-nil at half time, Haddenham were to attack up the hill in the second half, but still looked comfortable and the better team. However, the turning point was an injury to defender Crispin Satchell, who pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced on the hour mark. The disruption to Haddenham's back line proved costly, with Aston Clinton taking the lead minutes after the substitution, despite good work by Haddenham 'keeper Glenn Paul in keeping out the first effort in lead up to the goal. Haddenham never really recovered after this, and having committed more players forward in search of an equaliser, fell to two more goals and ended up on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line. It was rough justice for Haddenham, who deserved more from the game and definitely didn't deserve to lose with their dominant passing football, in contrast to Aston Clinton's one dimensional long ball football and feeding their speedy right winger. In was a proud performance by Haddenham though, who can hold their heads up high for having been the better team and battling right until the end, and on a different night it could have been all so different a result.

Double Bill, Double Victory! 15th April 2008 Haddenham United played host to another double bill on Saturday 12th April 2008 with both teams again playing league matches at home, one after another. In contrast to last week's double defeat, this week proved to be the opposite with both teams winning their matches with convincing ease. The first team were up against the Black Horse in the Premier Division, and goals from Paul Alleyne (3), Stuart Barr, Ben Moses and Ben Lazaruk earned Haddenham a 6-2 win, and with it, three valuable points. The reserves then took on Oving, with goals from Dave Sidor, James Hawes, Michael Carnell, Will Smail and Dave Hawes helping to clinch a 5-1 victory, and the three points do well to ease Haddenham's position towards the bottom end of the Division 1 league table.

Double Bill, Double Defeat 7th April 2008 Haddenham United played host to a double bill on Saturday 5th April when both the first team and reserves played league matches at home, one after each other. But it was to be a miserable day for Haddenham, with both teams losing 1-0 in their respective matches. The frist team were up against Aston Park, who are rivalling Haddenham at the top of the league table, and despite Haddenham dominating the match from start to finish, somehow they weren't able to find the back of the net, and in contrast, Aston Park grabbed all the points by scrappily converting the one chance that fell their way. It was a blow for Haddenham, but they are still in a commanding lead at the top of the table, and several regulars were missing through injury and suspension, with tonight's Field Shield Final against Bierton at the back of most player's minds. The Reserves may have also had their minds on their Reserve Cup Final as they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Quainton. This was a more even affair and neither side really did enough to deserve all three points, but Quainton snatched the points with a single goal when a draw would have been a fair result.

Through to Reserves League Cup Final 31st March 2008 Haddenham United Reserves put in a fantastic performance at home to Bucks CC Reserves on Saturday 29th March 2008 to win through to the final of the ADL Reserve Cup with a 3-1 victory. Despite having lost to their opponents in the previous league fixture, Haddenham dug in and turned the tables to go through to the final on Monday 14th April 2008 at Tring Athletic. Played in wet and windy conditions, Haddenham attacked with the wind in their favour for the first half, spending the majority of the half camped in and around the Bucks CC penalty area and plugging away at goal. Veteran midfielder Alan Lewis opened the scoring for Haddenham when he received a short corner on the left wing, cut inside and unleashed a powerful curling shot over a crowded penalty area and in to the top right hand corner of the net. This gave Haddenham all the confidence they needed, and the lead was then doubled when Gavin White struck home a free-kick from 30 yards with one of his trademark powerful missiles. The second half saw Haddenham have to defend their lead, with the visitors enjoying the wind advantage, but despite Bucks CC pulling a goal back 15 minutes in to the half with a header from a corner set piece, Haddenham held firm at the back, and the match was won when a counter-attack by forward Will Smail saw the youngster jink his way in to the box and score with a powerful shot at the near post. It was a much deserved victory for Haddenham, but the game was somewhat marred by the changing rooms being broken in to midway through the first half. Luckily, all the players and officials had locked away their valuables and nothing of any note was taken. Haddenham's Man of the Match was the energetic Will Smail, who chased and harried all game long and got his reward with the winning goal, and injury news for Haddenham saw James Ward have to be replaced in the first half after injuring his back and Michael Carnell suffering a cut and bruised cheek bone after a clash of heads late in the second half.

Changing Rooms Break In 31st March 2008 Haddenham Reserves' superb win over Bucks CC Reserves in the semi-final of the ADL Reserve Cup on Saturday 29th March 2008 was unfortunately overshadowed with the break in of the Haddenham changing rooms. The break ins were discovered by Haddenham player, James Ward, who had suffered a back injury and had to be replaced 15 minutes in to the match, meaning the break ins must have taken place just after kick off. All three changing rooms were locked, with all three doors kicked in to gain access to the rooms. Despite all three changing rooms being locked, with such low life scum unfortunately present in our society, luckily all the players and officials had still taken out all of their valuables, and nothing of any note was taken. Therefore the desparate thieving individuals responsible will have seen their efforts go to waste, in a victory for the innocent law abiding citizens, and the thieves only solace can be that the club now has three doors to repair. The incident has been reported to the Police, and if anyone has any information or saw anyone suspicious around the club between 1.30pm and 1.45pm, please contact the club.

Through to Field Shield Final 26th March 2008 Haddenham United won through to the final of this season's Field Shield with a dominent 5-0 victory over Bedgrove United at home on Saturday 22nd March 2008. In a game that was twice disrupted for hail storms and snow, it was Haddenham who booked their place in the final with goals from Paul Alleyne (3), Ben Moses and Criag Faulconbridge. With the strong wind on their side for the first half, Haddenham needed to build a lead in preparation for being against the wind in the second half, and an impressive first half hat-trick from Paul Alleyne and a poachers goal from Ben Moses gave Haddenham a 4-0 half time margin. As luck would have it, the wind died down for the second half and Bedgrove failed to have the wind as an advantage, making for an even second half with just a powerful 20 yard strike from substitute Craig Faulconbridge adding to the scores to make the final score 5-0 in Haddenham's favour. With Bierton beating Aylesbury Dynamos 5-1 in the other semi-final, Haddenham will take on Bierton in the final on Monday 7th April 2008, with the final being held at Tring Athletic - kick off 7.45pm. Haddenham Reserves also enjoyed a victory with an impressive 2-1 victory over Thame Town in the ADL Division 1. Goals from Alan Lewis and James Ward secured the victory, and with Thame Town riding high in the league table, it was a valuable 3 points to help move Haddenham away from the bottom of the table.

First Team Deducted 3 Points 17th March 2008 Haddenham United will be deducted 3 points in the Aylesbury District League Premier Division, following the fielding of Mark Wiltshire in the match away at Aston Park on 10th November 2007. Wiltshire was ineligible to play after playing more than 3 games for Aylebsury Vale between August and September, making him a senior player and unable to play in the Aylesbury District League. Aston Park brought up the matter with the ADL committee, despite however signing Wiltshire's signing on form prior to the match, which enabled him to play in the match.

Mixed Fortunes 17th March 2008 Haddenham United had mixed fortunes on Saturday 15th March 2008 with the first team winning away at Wingrave in the Premier Division and the Reserves losing at home to Wendover in Division 1. The first team powered on in their quest for the league title with a convincing 8-1 victory over lowly Wingrave with goals from Ben Lazaruk (2), Stuart Barr (2), Paul Allenye (3) and Darren Gascoyne. One of Ben Lazaruk's goals was the pick of the bunch, scoring just 10 yards in to the opponents half with a powerful looping shot over the standed Wingrave 'keeper. Haddenham Reserves put in a good performance against Wendover, but a bad last 10 minutes of the match saw Wendover earn a 3-0 win. With the score level at 0-0 for 80 minutes of the match, Wendover eventually took the lead, then quickly added a second and third for what looked like a convincing victory on paper, but Haddenham Reserves were arguably the better team and were unlucky not to have taken the lead at 0-0 when Will Smail's shot smacked off the crossbar.

Three Match Weekend 10th March 2008 Haddenham United had three matches in the space of one weekend, with the first team taking on Long Marston away in the ADL Premier Division and the Reserves taking on Bucks CC at home in Division 1 on the Saturday, and the club's Oving Cup side taking on Steeple Claydon in the semi-final of the Oving Village Cup on the Sunday. The first team were victorious in their league match at Long Marsdon, with Darren Gascoyne (2), Ben Moses, Nando Perna, Aaron Rogers and a cooly taken penalty from Matt Wakelin earning them a 6-1 win. A negative from the match was the sending off of Haddenham's Stuart Barr and Jemal Thomas, both for two bookable offences, although both decisions were very harsh and not in fitting with the nature of the game. The Reserves struggled against a Bucks CC Reserve side and fell to a 5-2 defeat. The scorers were level at half time, with Michael Carnell grabbing Haddenham's goal in a 1-1 scoreline, but Haddenham didn't have a good second half, and despite another goal from Will Smail, ended up pointless. The Oving Cup match on the Sunday proved to be a one sided affair as Haddenham crashed to a 9-0 defeat. Despite playing some good football, Haddenham's make shift side couldn't compete with Steeple Claydon's speed and strength, and it is the North Bucks side that go through to the Easter Monday final.

Field Shield Shoot-Out Victory 4th March 2008 Haddenham United edged through to the next round of the Field Shield on Saturday 1st March 2008 with a penalty shoot out victory at home to ADL Division 1 side Hale Leys. Despite being lower league opposition, Hale Leys put up a good fight and made for a very closely fought match, played in the right spirit and tense right to the death. Haddenham striker, Ben Moses, gave Haddenham the lead after 20 minutes when he cleverly took a quick free kick from just outside the box. The Hale Leys defence were still arranging their wall when Moses spotted the gap and calmly side footed the ball home inside the left hand post. The fierce cross pitch wind made for a scrappy game for large periods, and Haddenham looked comfortable with their lead, but with 10 minutes remaining, the Hale Leys right winger cut inside and found the bottom right hand corner to level the scores. Extra time couldn't separate the teams so a penalty shoot out was required to settle the tie. Ben Moses stepped up first for Haddenham and found the net confidently, and 'keeper Ashley Jenkins then saved Hale Leys' first kick to give Haddenham an early advantage. However, Jemal Thomas missed Haddenham's second penalty and the socres were level again. Nando Perna, Darren Gascoyne and Antony Dawson then scored all their penalties, and with the last Hale Leys spot kick sailing over the bar, Haddenham were victorious, and they now go through to the semi-final to meet Bedgrove United on Saturday 22nd March 2008. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves travelled away to play the Dairy Maid in the ADL Division 1, and despite an even contest up to half time, the end to end wind proved to be Haddenham's downfall, with the Dairy Maid capitalising on the wind advantage in the second half to run away as 6-2 winners, with James Hawes grabbing both of Haddenham's goals.

First Team Lose First League Game 23rd February 2008 Haddenham United lost their first game in the ADL Premier Division with a 1-0 home defeat against Bierton on Saturday 23rd February 2008. With Bierton having won their last 10 matches, the game was always going to be a tough one for Haddenham, and a single goal 10 minutes from time was enough to give Bierton the win. Haddenham had the better of ht egame, constantly attacking and asking the most questions of the two defences, but a somewhat lucky goal turned the game Bierton's way. A right wing cross was missing by several Bierton forwards, which threw 'keeper Ashley Jenkins, and the ball continued it's path in to the back of the net at the far post. It is a blow for Haddenham, who were looking to go through the league season without a defeat, but the loss doesn't do much to dent Haddenham's hopes of lifting the league title at the end of the season. Haddenham Reserves also slipped to a defeat in the ADL Division 1 with a 4-2 loss away at Fairford Leys. After going 2-0 down early on, Will Smail pulled a goal back for Haddenham before half time, but Fairford Leys extended their lead to 4-1 in the second half, and a late goal from Scott Phillips could only act as a small consolation goal.

Reserves Through in Reserve League Cup 18th February 2008 Haddenham Reserves had a positive result in a cup competition for the second successive week, getting through to the semi finals of the ADL Reserve Cup with a victory against Fairford Leys Reserves. Adopting a change in formation, Haddenham produced one of their best all round team performances, dominating the game in terms of possession and chances with the only surprise being the small winning margin of 2 – 0. Patience proved to be the main theme of the afternoon with a succession of chances being created in the first half, which, in keeping with the rest of the season, were either wasted or well saved by the Fairford Leys keeper. In contrast Haddenham keeper Glen Paul was the coldest and loneliest player on the pitch, only having to make one smart save in the first 45 minutes. The second half continued in the same manner as the first with Haddenham camped in the Fairford Leys half. There were occasional signs of anxiety as Haddenham hit the woodwork 5 times, had the ball cleared off the line on 3 occasions and numerous other chances went begging. However the team kept their shape and concentration and the frustration was finally relieved when the hard working Will Smail scored a well deserved goal at the end of a typical flowing move. Despite having control of the game there was always the spectre of previous undeserved losses from winning positions so it was relief all round when evergreen Alan Lewis popped up with a goal a few minutes from time to seal the tie. Haddenham first team played host to Aylesbury Dynamos, and despite having 5 players away on a stag weekend, dominated the match and were 3-1 victors. Stuart Barr, Paul Alleyne and Steve Newell got Haddenham's goals, helping to secure the club's position at the top of the Premier Division table.

Oving Cup Victory 11th February 2008 Haddenham United progressed through to the next round of the Oving Village Cup on Saturday 9th February 2008 with a 2-1 victory at home to Wingrave. Due to the cup's player restrictions, Haddenham's Village Cup team is essentially made up of regular Reserve Team players, and the team did the club proud with a good win. David Hawes got Haddenham's first goal after just 5 minutes, and with Wingrave drawing level, Josh Rose stepped up to score the winner with a powerful shot late in the second half. With the Oving Cup match scheduled as a Reserve Team fixture, Haddenham's First Team were also in action and they bounced back from last week's League Cup defeat with a dominent 5-1 victory over St. Johns in the ADL Premier Division. Youngster Rob Smail got Haddenham off the mark after just minutes of the start and the score was still 1-0 at half time. However, Haddenham turned on the style in the second half and goals from Craig Faulconbridge (2), Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses secured the win. Faulconbridge's second goal of the match was the goal of the game, meeting a cross with a powerful volley.

Both Teams Out of Cup 4th February 2008 Haddenham United had a bad weekend in the Tom Sparkes League Cup when both the first team and the reserves crashed out in their respective matches on Saturday 2nd February 2008. The first team suffered only their second defeat of the season, and their first in the Aylesbury District League domain, falling to a 4-2 defeat against ADL Premier Division rivals Bucks CC. It was a defeat that was hard to take but Bucks CC were worthy of the win, despite a make shift Haddenham defence, with the influential Matt Wakelin missing from the center of defence. Bucks CC took the game to Haddenham right from the kick off, against the wind, but Haddenham held firm and then took the lead when Paul Alleyne volleyed home his 35th goal of the season from the edge of the box. With the wind in their favour, the 1-0 half time lead was worryingly not enough and this proved to be so as Bucks CC proved to be more of a threat in the second half when it was their turn to have the wind in their favour. An equaliser came when the Bucks CC number 10, who had constantly fouled all game and somehow evaded the referee's book, ran through the Haddenham defence and slotted home. Minutes later Bucks CC took the lead when their nippy left winger broke free and smashed home past 'keeper Ashley Jenkins, and just as Haddenham looked to get back in the game, Bucks CC converted a free kick that gave them a 2 goal advantage, although the free kick was allowed to be taken a lot closer to goal than the actual offence. Haddenham still went forward in an attempt to get back in the game and Craig Faulconbridge made for a tense last 5 minutes when he headed home to make the score 3-2, but with Haddenham pushing forward and short in numbers at the back, Bucks CC were able to capitalise and grab a 4th goal to put Haddenham finally out of reach. It was a disappointing defeat, but in a way, it may be just the defeat Haddenham needed to cut short any complacency, with recent performances suggesting a defeat was on the cards. Haddenham Reserves also crashed out of the League Cup when they suffered a last minute goal to lose 3-2 against Bedgrove United. Alan Lewis and Will Smail grabbed Haddenham's goals, but unfortunately they weren't enough to avoid the cup exit. In what was an even match, the late goal was harsh on Haddenham, but unfortunately this pretty much sums up the reserves' season so far.

Both Back in Action! 28th January 2008 After 3 weekends of waterlogged pitches, Haddenham United finally got back in action on Saturday 26th January 2008 with the first team victorious in the Field Shield and the Reserves falling to a defeat in the ADL Division 1. The first team travelled just along the road to play St. Johns in the Field Shield, and after a shakey start, ended up worthy 4-2 winners. A mistake from 'keeper Ashley Jenkins presented St. Johns with the opening goal after 20 minutes, but Haddenham then started to find their feet and press for an equaliser. A somewhat blatent penalty appeal was turned down as Nando Perna was tripped int he box, but minutes later, a just as blatent appeal after a foul on Paul Alleyne did see the referee point to the spot. However, Antony Dawson saw his penalty kick saved in what was Dawson's first ever penalty miss. Haddenham kept plugging away though, and after another Perna foul and penalty appeal, Darren Gascoyne settled any anxiety by side footing home an equaliser just before the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham take the lead within seconds of the kick off. The impressive Craig Faulconbridge broke through on the inside left channel, beat the 'keeper to the ball and Paul Alleyne was on hand to force the ball home on the line with his head. Alleyne then got his second when he calmly placed a shot past the 'keeper in to the right hand corner of the net, and Haddenham were firmly in control. Despite St. Johns continuing to press and grabbing a goal back, Haddenham still looked comfortable and Criag Faulconbridge setting the match with the goal of the game, taking the ball down from a corner kick and blasting home on the volley. Haddenham Reserves travelled away to Mandeville FC and fell to a 6-0 defeat, which is a somewhat disappointing result considering the Reserves' recent good run of form.

Kelman to Take Training Session 25th January 2008 First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, is glad to announce that he has arranged for ex-Wycombe Wanderers Manager, Jim Kelman, to come down and take a training session for the club. Jim is currently the Berks & Bucks County Coaching Representative, and he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, some of which will hopefully rub off on the players during the session. The session is to take place on Wednesday 6th February.

Still Washed Out! 23rd January 2008 The wet weather continues to cause disruption to the fixture schedule, with the latest round of Haddenham United fixtures again failing victim to waterlogged pitches, despite being confident that the first team game at St. Johns would go ahead and beat the weather. It is now three weeks worth of washouts, and the ADL are now struggling to juggle the fixtures in an attempt to get the schedule back on track.

Another Washout 17th January 2008 Haddenham United sat out another week of fixtures after another weekly downpour deemed most of the local pitches unplayable on Saturday 12th January 2008. The home pitch had several puddles that covered the majority of the pitch, and all the council pitches were called off on the Friday. Thanks to the all-weather pitch at Waddesdon though, Haddenham have continued to train in perfect conditions, and with the St. Johns pitch rumoured to be in good shape, the Field Shield match scheduled for Saturday 19th January 2008 is expected to go ahead.

Both Games Washed Out 8th January 2008 Both Haddenham United's ADL League Cup matches were rained off on Saturday 5th January 2008 with the Haddenham and Bucks CC pitches failing victim to the wet weather.

Gascoyne Hat-trick Earns Win 30th December 2007 Haddenham United kept up their 100% winning league record on Saturday 29th December 2007 with a 5-3 home win over Jakeman Sports, Haddenham's 12th straight win out of 12 games in the league this season. The match was only given the go ahead half hour before kick off due to a partially waterlogged pitch, but keen to play the game, the Haddenham players were out on the pitch with garden forks in an attempt to drain the excess water. The drainage worked and despite the worst affected areas in the centre of the pitch, the pitch stood up well to the test. As the game got under way, Haddenham started the better team and immediately set upon the Jakeman defence, despite being against the strong end to end wind. Haddenham had the comfort of lots of time and space on the ball in the midfield area, with Darren Gascoyne, Nando Perna and Craig Faulconbridge bossing the area and playing the ball around. However, despite Haddenham's attacking dominance and half chances, Jakeman were the first team to go close to scoring when a mistake at the back lead to a Jakeman forward rounding 'keeper Ashley Jenkins and hitting the near post from a wide angle. It was a wake up call for Haddenham, and minutes later Darren Gascoyne caught the ball with a sweet half volley and gave Haddenham the lead when the shot found the bottom left hand corner. Jakeman Sports didn't drop their heads though and were level 5 minutes later when another mistake in the Haddenham defence gave a Jakeman forward time to control, turn and volley the ball home from the edge of the area. But Paul Alleyne then restored Haddenham's lead with a fiercly struck shot just before the half time break, and with the wind to be behind them in the second half, it looked like Haddenham would make the scoreline more convincing in the second period. But despite going 3-1 up early in the half with Darren Gascoyne's second goal of the match, Jakeman pulled it back to 3-2 to stay in the game, and even when substitute Ben Lazaruk put Haddenham 4-2 up, a controversial penalty awarded against Haddenham's Matt Wakelin for handball enabled Jakeman to pull it back again and stay within touching distance at 4-3. The game could really have gone either way at this stage, with both sides looking dangerous on the attack, but with no more goals until stoppage time, Paul Alleyne was brought down for a penalty kick, and Darren Gascoyne got his hat-trick with the last kick of the game. It was a far from convincing performance and result for Haddenham, but the boggy and windy conditions were perhaps a leveller for what should have been an easier match for Haddenham on paper. The 3 points see Haddenham finish 2007 8 points clear at the top of the ADL Premier Division, with a game in hand over nearest rivals, Aston Park.

Faulconbridge Makes the Difference 27th December 2007 Haddenham United travelled away to Elmhurst on Saturday 22nd December 2007 in the ADL Premier Division and another solid performance earned a 3-1 win. After the fiery clash between the two teams back on 17th November, which ended with a closely fought Haddenham win and Elmhurst being reported for inproper conduct, the match was a high profile affair, but thankfully the game passed without any notable instances, with the only real talking point being the referee turning down a late clear cut Elmhurst penalty appeal. Elmhurst started the better of the two teams and mounted much of the early pressure, but Haddenham slowly started to find their feet and put together attacking moves of their own. However, it was Elmhurst who took the lead when a right wing cross was met acrobatically with a scissor kick that found its way past Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins. Haddenham were only behind for a few minutes though when a Nando Perna corner kick eluded everyone in the box and went in direct from the corner. With the scores level at half time, Haddenham just had to keep plugging away in the second half and after a few half chances, Haddenham had the perfect opportunity to take the lead when right winger Gavin Way was brought down in the box by the Elmhurst 'keeper for a penalty. Up stepped Craig Faulconbridge, the ex-pro centre forward whose previous clubs included Middlesborough, Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers, and the 29 year old wasn't going to miss from 12 yards. Faulconbridge then showed his class by extending Haddenham's lead with a close range header from a long Ben Lazaruk throw in, and Haddenham looked to be cruising. But Elmhurst didn't lie down and a late charge should have seen them awarded a penalty of their own to get back in the game, although the referee waved play on and the game ended with Haddenham 3-1 victors, leaving Elmhurst to question the referee about the penalty appeal as he walked from the pitch. Haddenham's man of the match was the defensive rock of Sam Buckle, who commanded the back four and made life very difficult for the Elmurst forwards, and his performance helps Haddenham keep their 100% record in the league for this season. Haddenham Reserves failed to pick up any points in their home match against Cheddington. The visitors proved to be too good, although Haddenham were ahead 2-1 at half time with goals from Michael Carnell and Mike Gladwin. The Reserves couldn't hold on to the lead though, and Cheddington drew level before finishing the better team and making for a convincing scoreline.

Winter Training 21st December 2007 Haddenham United have been maintaining their fitness levels during the cold and wet December weather by moving their training location to the all weather surface at Waddesdon School. The state of the art facility has a 'fake grass' surface similar to the pitch that England recently played on in their away game at Russia, and with the Haddenham training area being boggy, the Waddesdon location has allowed for perfect training conditions.

Reserves Impress 17th December 2007 Haddenham United Reserves put in a good performance to edge out Fairford Leys at home by 4 goals to 2 on Saturday 15th December 2007. The Haddenham pitch managed to recover from last week's waterlogged state and Haddenham made the most of it to bag all the three points on offer, with goals from Michael Carnell (2), Mike Gladwin and Rob Godolski. Haddenham started the better side but never really created any clear scoring chances early on, whilst Fairford Leys struggled for possession but mounted quite a few counter attacks on the Haddenham goal. It was Fairford Leys who eventually broke the deadlock when a long range effort beat the Haddenham 'keeper, and Haddenham went in a half time a goal behind. The second half saw Haddenham attack the 'Kop' end, and the goalscoring touch was suddenly discovered. Michael Carnell got Haddenham back on level terms when he beat the office trap to 'dink' the ball over the sliding 'keeper, and minutes later Mike Gladwin put Haddenham in front when he raced clear and poked the ball past the on coming 'keeper. Fairford Leys claimed off-side for both goals, but with their unenthusiastic linesman static on the sideline and only raising his flag to the players' shouts, the referee rightly wasn't willing to acknowledge him. However, Fairford Leys quickly got back on level terms when a mix up in the Haddenham defence allowed for an easy tap in, and it looked as though Haddenham's hard work in getting back in to the game and taking the lead had been in vain. Michael Carnell wasn't going to let it go to waste though, and with 15 minutes left, he didn't need any second invitations in calmly slotting the ball home from 12 yards, restoring Haddenham's lead. Then with just minutes remaining, a Haddenham corner kick resulted in the goal of the game. A short corner from Alan Lewis saw a one-two with Carnell, a jinking run in to the box by Lewis and winger Rob Godolski tapping in at the far post from Lewis's by-line cross. The game was now won and Haddenham were worthy victors. The win sees Haddenham climb away from the bottom of the Division 1 table to just below half way.

Oving Cup Washout 10th December 2007 Haddenham United's Oving Village Cup clash against Wingrave was postponed on Saturday 8th December 2007 due to a waterlogged pitch. With the Haddenham pitch virtually unplayable towards the end of last week's game against Steeple Claydon, and with more rain during the week, it wasn't surprising to see the pitch covered in standing water on the morning of the game.

Haddenham Youth FC Training 4th December 2007 In an attempt to bring the senior and youth football clubs closer together and bridge the gap between progressing through the youth teams and in to the senior sides, Haddenham United First Team Manager Kevin Poole and two first team players, Steve Newell and Sam Buckle, went along to HYFC training to take the session and put a few age groups through their paces. The sessions went down very well with both the kids and the watching parents, and HYFC Chairman Paul Thres was especially pleased, "Please pass on my many thanks to Kev, Steve and Sam who’s offer to help out at the Youth Football training session last Saturday was gratefully received." "Kev took the U14’s while Steve and Sam helped out with the U9’s. I have had nothing but positive feedback from both the age group managers and in fact a number of the U9 parents also commenting on what a good idea it was, along with how well the session went." "In an indifferent season results wise, the U14’s won their game on the following Sunday 7-0!!! What ever Kev did…. I have been asked 'Can he do it again?'" No doubt Kevin and a few other players will be taking more sessions throughout the season.

Out of Berks & Bucks 3rd December 2007 Haddenham United's run in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup came to an end on Saturday 1st December 2007 with a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Steeple Claydon, in what was the first team's first competitive defeat of the season. The match proved to be very close fought, with Haddenham's full strength side making for an even match in terms of possession and goal scoring opportunities. However, the match was dominated by the very wet and windy conditions, which both teams struggled to deal with, and the match even had to be temporarily halted for a vicious hail storm! Claydon took the early advantage when a mix up in the Haddenham defence allowed a visiting forward to side foot the ball home from 20 yards with Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins out of position. It should have been two-nil minutes later when Steeple Claydon broke the Haddenham offside trap and Jenkins brought down the forward as he was rounded. But Jenkins made amends with a fantastic save to his left and kept Haddenham in the game. Haddenham survived another scare before the half time break when a Claydon header hit the underside of the bar and bounced down on the line and Haddenham went in at half time lucky to be just the one goal down. With the wind with them in the second half, Haddenham put in a good second half performance and really pushed for the equaliser. Several half chances were created before substitute Craig Faulconbridge eventually found the net with a close range header from a Nando Perna right wing free kick. The game could have gone either way from here on but Steeple Claydon almost immediately scored a wonder goal to go back in front, and try as Haddenham might, another equaliser couldn't be found in the remaining 15 minutes. The defeat brings Haddenham's Berks and Bucks run to an end, but with realistic chances of winning the cup being slim, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise to get the cup out of the way and now concentrate on the ADL leagues and cups? Haddenham Reserves continued their good form with a 4-3 away victory at Oving in the ADL Division 1. Two goals from Michael Carnell and another two goals from Will Smail earned Haddenham the win, although Dave Sidor saw red for two bookings and will now face a suspension.

Bucks CC Defeated 25th November 2007 Haddenham United powered on at the top of the ADL Premier Division with a 3-1 home win over mid-table Bucks CC. A poor start from the Aylesbury based opposition resulted in Haddenham taking an early two goal lead. Nando Perna was blatently fouled in the box and stepped up himself to convert the penalty kick to give Haddenham the lead after 10 minutes, and minutes later, a Haddenham corner lead to a Bucks CC player heading in to their own net. With Haddenham not dropping a point so far this season, it was a head start which Bucks CC could not afford to give them, and despite having missed a couple of good goalscoring chances before the half time break, Bucks CC trailed 2-0 at half time. The second half saw Haddenham appear too relaxed and unable to find the dominent grip they desired, and as a result, the visitors went in search of getting back in to the game. It was a search that did eventually see Bucks CC find the net with a well worked move, and the game was to be finely balanced from here on in. Bucks CC continued to press for an equaliser whilst Haddenham looked to break on the counter-attack, with Haddenham's Mark Wiltshire having a powerful shot hit the left hand post and then seeing a shot central to goal go wide of the goal. Nando Perna also tested the Bucks CC with a snap shot which the keeper palmed on to the post, and it was left to goal machine Paul Alleyne to secure the points for Haddenham when he got Haddenham's third with roughly 5 minutes remaining. It was the case of another game and another 3 points for Haddenham, but the warning signs are there as the past three league games have now seen close scorelines, albeit against teams high up in the league table. There was also a win for Haddenham Reserves when they travelled away to play Waddesdon in Division 1. Having lost their last three matches, Haddenham got back to winning ways with an impressive 3-1 win, with goals from Will Smail (2) and Michael Carnell. However, with Waddesdon's goalkeeper putting in a man of the match performance with many fine saves, the winning margin could have been a lot more.

Still Undefeated 19th November 2007 Haddenham United came up against an agressive and intimidating Elmhurst side on Saturday 17th November 2007 and justice was done with a hard fought 2-1 league victory. With no score at half time, Haddenham were the better side with a couple of efforts cleared off the line, but the game was to come to life in the second half. Elmhurst players and supporters became increasingly frustrated with what they saw as biased refereeing decisions against them, when in fact the general concensus was that the refereeing performance was very good and fair, and Elmhurst's real anger was sparked with 20 minutes to go when the referee awarded a penalty to Haddenham after a foul on Paul Alleyne. Antony Dawson struck the penalty kick home to give Haddenham the lead, and with Elmhurst failing to threaten the Haddenham goal for much of the game so far, the penalty looked to have sealed the win. However, Elmhurst hit back straight away with an equaliser and the game was to be finally balanced for the remainder. But then enter youngster Rob Smail, who came on as a substitute and ended up as the match winner for Haddenham when he got on the end of a left wing cross and superbly volleyed home. Wild celebrations followed, with Smail being mobbed by his team mates and the home crowd roaring with delight. The win sees Haddenham further cement their position at the top of the table, still not having dropped any points so far this season, and the Haddenham team must be appauded for not reacting and getting involved in any of Elmhurst's intimidating tactics. The whole team just got on with the game and made football the winning way. Haddenham Reserves failed to turn around their current poor run of form when they travelled away to Cheddington in Division 1 and returned with a 3-0 defeat. Haddenham's task was made all the more difficulty when Alan Lewis was sent off with the score at 2-0.

Top of the Table Triumph 11th November 2007 Haddenham United took on league rivals Aston Park in a first versus second clash in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 10th November 2007 and Haddenham came out worthy 3-1 winners. In a match that was exposed to the blustery conditions, the play from both teams wasn't pretty, and Aston Park probably enjoyed the greater possession during the match, however Haddenham had the clinical touch in front of goal to take all three points and keep up their 100% record at the top of the table. Paul Allenye was again Haddenham's saviour, scoring twice inside the first 25 minutes of the match to put Haddenham in command, with the second goal featuring great build up play from new signings Mark Wiltshire and John Gilbert. The score stayed at 2-0 until the 75th minute, when it looked like a penalty for a Matt Wakelin handball would give Aston Park a way back in the match, but Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins made a great save to keep the two goal margin. Haddenham then punished Aston Park for the miss by extending the lead to 3-0 when another well worked goal saw Wiltshire power home, and it was left for a last minute headed consolation goal from Aston Park to round off the scoring. It was a good victory for Haddenham, as despite not playing particularly good football, Aston Park failed to create many goal scoring opportunities whilst still grabbing goals at the other end to win the match. One negative from the game though was young midfielder Aaron Rogers going to hospital with torn ankle ligaments, which will keep him out of action for 4 weeks. Haddenham Reserves were up against Bletchley Town in the Berks and Bucks Junior Cup second round, and despite their best efforts, fell to a heavy 7-1 defeat. David Hawes got Haddenham's goal early on in the match, and James Ward missed a penalty whilst the score was 3-1, which could have got Haddenham back in the match, but instead Bletchley powered on and ended up worthy winners, despite also missing a penalty of their own along the way.

Berks & Bucks Success 6th November 2007 Haddenham United edged through to the third round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday 3rd November 2007 with a hard fought 2-0 home win over Lavendon Sports. With the opposition putting in an impressive performance, Haddenham did well to earn the win. Lavendon were arguably the better side in terms of possession and goal scoring opportunities, but Haddenham's killer instinct saw them convert their chances and win through to the next round. Defender Rob Easton got Haddenham off the mark with a first half headed goal, and then Mike Gladwin secured the win late in the second half when he tapped home after the 'keeper had parried a Paul Alleyne shot. Haddenham Reserves failed to continue their good cup form when they fell to a 4-2 away league defeat against Bedgrove United. Phil Heggie grabbed both of Haddenham's goals but they weren't enough to add to the Reserves' league points tally.

Double Victory 29th October 2007 Haddenham United enjoyed a double win on Saturday 27th October with the first team winning away at Jakeman Sports in the league and the reserves winning at home against Cheddington Reserves in the ADL Reserver Cup. The first team continued their dominance with a 6-1 winning scoreline. Two goals apiece from Paul Alleyne and Darren Gascoyne gave Haddenham a 4-0 lead at half time, and despite Jakemans pulling a goal back early in the second half, Haddenham made sure with further goals from Aaron Rogers and Antony Dawson. The reserves advanced in the ADL Reserve Cup with an excellent 5-3 win over Cheddington Reserves. Haddenham started brightly and took the lead after 5 minutes with the first of many flowing moves that were a feature of the game. Gavin White crossed deep into the box from the right where the ball was headed back by Jake Rea to debutant James Hawes who coolly picked his spot giving the keeper no chance. Regular followers of the reserves will know that a confident start and early lead can only mean one thing and sure enough Cheddington followed the script perfectly. A free kick from 35 yards out was pumped speculatively in the general direction of the goal evading defenders and attackers alike before gently brushing the back of Captain James Ward and nestling in the goal. Cheddington soon added a second from what had now become a fairly scrappy performance from both teams and there was a real feeling of déjà vu as the game wore on. Undeterred the team dug deep and another flowing move that started on the left ended with Rob Gadowski delivering a precision cross from the right which was met by Hawes making a perfectly timed late run, heading home his second goal and putting Haddenham back on equal terms. Thoughts of getting to half time on equal terms were soon dispelled when just before the break Cheddington broke free and scored a well taken goal to restore their lead at the interval. The second half saw Haddenham really take control of the game. Within minutes of the restart Hawes completed his well deserved hat trick when he calmly placed his shot into the corner of the net following a save from a fierce Dave Sidor shot. We had to wait another 25 minutes for the goal that broke the deadlock. Rea won the ball on the edge of the Haddenham area and delivered a defence splitting pass to the hard working Will Smail who finished superbly. The game was wrapped up 5 minutes later when Dave Sidor latched onto a through ball from Rea and smashed the ball past the keeper to cap a very good second half performance. This was a well deserved win for the reserves that saw a great debut by James Hawes, a return to fitness and form for a number of players as well as a really good all round team performance. The hope now is that the same team will be available next week (which will be a first this season!) and that this form can be translated into 3 points next Saturday.

HUFC Babe Sponsorship 25th October 2007 Haddenham United is proud to announce that Aylesbury based tyre fitting company, Total Tyre Solutions, are sponsors of the HUFC Babes page on the website. To mark the launch of the partnership, popular HUFC Babe and villager, Tracy Kiss, visited the Total Tyres workshop for some promotional pictures. The Aylesbury based tyre, exhaust, brakes, batteries and general servicing specialists have a fully equipped workshop on the Broadfields Industrial Park, situated next to the Drive-Thru McDonalds, and Tracy had fun posing with two racing motorbikes that Total Tyres also sponsor, as well as also jumping in the middle of a stack of tyres! Please show your appreciation for Total Tyre's support by considering them for all your tyre and general servicing needs in the future.

New Article - So Far So Good 25th October 2007 Haddenham United First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, takes time out for another monthly article, with his view on how the season is panning out and his thoughts for the future. Visit the articles page to read the article.

Close Win 22nd October 2007 Haddenham United secured a narrow 2-0 victory over Bedgrove Dynamos in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 20th October 2007 thanks to late goals from Kevin Poole and Paul Alleyne. Fielding a somewhat weakened side, Haddenham found Bedgrove hard to break down for the majority of the match, but Player Manager Kevin Poole finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go when he poked home in a crowded penalty area. Paul Alleyne then made the scoreline a little flattering when he broke in to the box and finished from a wide angle in the last minute to secure the 3 points. It was a scare for Haddenham, as Bedgrove had arguably had the better chances in the match, and but for better finishing, should have got more from the game. However, Haddenham keep up their 100% record in the league and still sit in second place, a point behind Aston Park who have played a game more than Haddenham. Haddenham Reserves had a tricky away fixture at Hale Leys United. With Hale Leys placed second in the league table, and Haddenham propping up everyone at the bottom, it was always going to be a tough match for Haddenham to get anything out of, and indeed this was the case as Haddenham fell to a 6-2 defeat. Going 1-0 down early on, Haddenham equalised when a low Jake Rea corner was deflected in to the net by a Hale Leys defender, but Hale Leys regained the lead to be ahead 3-1 at half time. The second half saw Hale Leys continue to extended their lead, going 6-1 up before the goal of the game saw Darren Gascoyne find the top corner from the centre circle. It was little consolation though and Haddenham still look to find a consistent run of results to move themselves away from the bottom of the league.

HUFC Babe in Nuts 19th October 2007 Haddenham United have again been featured in Nuts Magazine, the popular weekly lads mag. HUFC Babe, and villager, Tracy Kiss, is seen sporting the club's warm up t-shirt in a photo from her HUFC Babe shoot last season. Tracy has just given birth to her first child - a daughter, Millisent Teresa Grace Kiss, but despite being a little bit out of shape following her pregnancy, she will be back in the colours of Haddenham United sooner than you'll think! Watch this space!!! Congratulations to Tracy on her new arrival, and also a big thanks to her for helping to promote the club through her work.

First Team Survive Scare 15th October 2007 Haddenham United survived a minor scare in the Aylesbury District League Premier Division on Saturday 13th October 2007 when they came from 2-1 down to eventually beat the Black Horse 7-3. With the Black Horse just behind Haddenham in the league table, the game was to be a good test, and the first 20 minutes of the match backed this up, with both teams matching each other. However, Haddenham's Nando Perna was brought down in the box for a penalty midway through the half, stepping up to convert the penalty himself, and giving Haddeham the lead. The Black Horse got back on level terms before the half time break though when their first shot on goal managed to sneak its way past Ashley Jenkins in the Haddenham goal. The second half then saw Haddenham concede again to go 2-1 down, and doubts were setting in as to whether Haddenham would be dropping their first points of the season. The pressure was eased when Denal Thomas got a headed equaliser, and then Nando Perna scored the goal of the game minutes later when he ran through from midfield and cooly finished. Haddenham were now back in charge, and a delicate goal from David Champ put Haddenham 4-2 up, and despite the Black Horse making things interesting again by getting back to 4-3 with 5 minutes left, Haddenham put on a later goal surge when Rob Smail, Paul Alleyne and Darren Gascoyne all netted to give Haddenham a good victory. It was good news for Haddenham Reserves too, as they got their first competitive win of the season with a 4-2 home victory over Quainton in the ADL League Cup. Will Smail was the star of the show with a hat-trick, with Guy Currie making up the scoring, and the victory was more than well deserved. The Reserves now hope that this win gives them the confidence to go on and get the victories their performances deserve.

HUFC Holly! 12th October 2007 Another big name in the world of modelling has taken time out to pose in the royal blue kit of Haddenham United, this time in the form of Holly McGuire. Aside from her modelling, Holly is probably best known for her acting role in ITV's Footballer's Wives series, but she has of course now topped this by becoming a HUFC Babe!

Win at Wing 8th October 2007 Haddenham United won through to the second round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday 6th October with a dominant win over North Bucks side Wing Village. With the two sides being closely match in the past, from when both clubs used to play in the ADL, the match was due to be a good test for Haddenham's new look side, and it was a test that Haddenham came through with flying colours. After starting the game the better team in terms of attacking posession, Haddenham were the first to find a break through when David Champ did well to get on the end of a left wing cross and direct his header back and inside the near post. Goalscoring machine, Paul Alleyne, then quickly added a second goal, and Haddenham maintained their two goal lead until the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham continue from where they left off, and winger Shoehi Yamakashi made it 3-0 when he broke through and calmly finished. Aaron Rogers then saw his cross deflected in for an own goal to make the score 4-0, before the goal of the match saw left winger Ben Lazaruk power home a thunderous left foot drive from 20 yards in to the top left hand corner. Wing grabbed a late consolution goal when the referee somehow saw an off the ball push, but the match was aloready well and truely tied up for Haddenham, and minutes later the final whistled signalled Haddenham worthy winners. Haddenham Reserves continued their poor run of results when they lost in the league at home to Thame Town. After finding themselves 3-0 down after just 25 minutes, Haddenham were facing an uphill struggle to get anything out of the game. But as Haddenham pushed forward in search of a reply, extra gaps were left at the back and Thame capitalised to extend their lead to 5-0 before the end of the game and end up convincing victors.

Eleven Heaven 1st October 2007 Haddenham United cruised through the first round of the ADL League Cup with a comfortable 11-0 victory over lower league opposition, Lugershall. Kicking down the infamous Ashenden hill in the first half, it took Haddenham a while to break down a resilient and spirited Lugershall team, but Antony Dawson finally made the break through with a long range effort after half an hour, and with two further goals before the half time break, the flood gates opened in the second half as Haddenham completely dominated from start to finish. The final goal scorers tally for Haddenham was a hat-trick apiece for Antony Dawson and Paul Allenye, two for Shoehi Yamakashi and single goals for Denal Thomas, Darren Gascoyne and Kevin Poole. Haddenham Reserves, still looking for a result that would match their performances, went into the home tie against Bedgrove United determined to turn the hard luck stories into 3 valuable points. Additionally the management team had sacrificed a lamb to the footballing gods the previous evening in an attempt lift the curse that appears to be haunting the reserves. The game started brightly with Haddenham controlling the play with some of the best passing and movement they have produced this season. The partnership of Adam Finch and Will Smail in the centre of midfield working particularly well and the balance and work rate of the team meant that Haddenham were a real threat whenever they broke. Having controlled the game for long periods the inevitable happened when a long punt from a Bedgrove free kick on the halfway line was knocked down in the penalty area and Bedgrove took the lead with a well taken goal. Haddenham showed their spirit by not allowing this set back to upset their game. A powerful run and low drive by the superb Adam Finch saw parity restored before half time. The second half continued in much the same fashion with stand in keeper Phil Heggie pulling off three magnificent saves, including one corker for the cameras that prevented an own goal. Spectators were becoming worried as Haddenham continued to be in command as that is usually a sign that the opposition are about to score. Right on cue Bedgrove came up with a scrappy goal to take the lead. Undaunted Haddenham continued to press with second half substitute Dave Hawes timing his run well to coolly slot home and Gav White putting United in front with a terrific low strike 5 minutes from time. With less than a minute to go it turned out the sacrificial lamb would have been more beneficial to the club if it had been sold to the kebab van in Thame. Bedgrove came up with a last gasp equaliser from a shot that hit Scott Phillips (Scott's take on the goal) and deflected past Heggie. The final whistle soon followed and another week ended without 3 points.

Sponsor Jakki Degg 26th September 2007 Top model, and HUFC Babe, Jakki Degg, is climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of the Entertainment Software Charity on the 9th October 2007. After Jakki's generosity in posing in the Haddenham United kit, the club has pleasure in trying to help Jakki raise sponsorship by posting a link to her donations page. So, dig deep, show your appreciation to Jakki and support her charity by going to the following link and donating what you can. www.justgiving.com/jakkidegg

First Team March On 26th September 2007 Haddenham United kept up their dominant march in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 22nd September 2007 with a 5-3 home victory over Long Marston. Goals from Paul Alleyne (3), Antony Dawson and Aaron Rogers gave Haddenham the win, and keep Haddenham at the top of the league table on goal difference over Aston Park, who also have a 100% record. The reserves disappointing start to the season continued with a 3-1 defeat to Wendover. Playing on an undersized pitch that even the local under 12’s would have had problems with, Haddenham started slowly, but as the first half wore on, began to take control. Rarely troubled at the back the chances started to come but the recent problems of converting chances into goals were all too apparent. Awarded a penalty, it looked like this trend was going to change. Unfortunately Scott Bryson missed the target and the score remained 0-0 at half time. The second half saw the introduction of Mike Gladwin, who was making his debut for the club. He latched onto a clever through ball from Mike Carnell and coolly slotted home to give Haddenham a well deserved lead. At some point in the past the reserves must have really upset the footballing gods. Within two minutes of taking the lead a fairly soft goal was given away and to prove that it wasn’t a fluke, this was followed by a second only a few minutes later. Add to this a further two missed Haddenham penalties from Alan Lewis, and a third Wendover goal delivered by a clever basketball type move by the opposition, and the day was completed in a depressingly familiar fashion. The reserves came, they played well (for most of the time), they created chances but still left empty handed.

New Babe 19th September 2007 Candice becomes the next babe to pull on the Haddenham United kit for some HUFC Babes pics. The ex-gymnast provides us with some funa dn unique pics in a variety of somewhat painful looking poses, but the results are even better than the first team's so far this season! Even more HUFC Babes to follow soon...

Dominent Victory 17th September 2007 Haddenham United continued their great start to the season with a very convincing 10-1 victory away at Walton Court Wanderers on Saturday 15th September 2007. On paper, the fixture was expected to be one of Haddenham's toughest of the season, having lost to Walton Court Wanderers in the Field Shield Final at the end of last season, but with both teams having new 'looks' for the new season, it was Haddenham who came out worthy winners this time around. Despite creating a few decent chances to score in the first half, Haddenham kept a clean sheet and at the other end proved to be too strong, with the forward line causing havoc, putting Haddenham 6-0 up at the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham continue to dominate, but Walton Court Wanderers did eventually find the net in reply to Haddenham's final goal tally of 10. On the scoresheet for Haddenham were Paul Alleyne (3), David Champ (3), Denal Thomas (2), Nando Perna and Shoehi Yamakashi, with Denal Thomas scoring the goal of the game with a 35 yard volley. It is now 20 goals in three games for Haddenham, with just three goals in reply, and it is hard to see anyone stopping them in their quest for the league title. It is a slightly different story for Haddenham Reserves though as they have had a tough start to their season. With two league defeats in their first two games, a home fixture against the Dairy Maid was their chance to get off the mark, but despite being 2-0 up late on in the match, the lead was lost to draw 2-2. Youngster Aaron Rogers gave Haddenham the lead when he brilliantly timed his run and executed with even more brilliance, and Jake Rea doubled the lead when he curled in a left foot shot from 25 yards. But Dairy Maid fought back and two somewhat scrappy goals levelled the scores and left Haddenham disappointed at the result.

HYFC Football Fun Day 10th September 2007 Haddenham Youth Football Club held their annual Fun Day on Sunday 9th September, with hundreds of kids from different age groups competing in full size and small sided games. The senior football club is looking to bridge a closer relationship to the youth setup, with new First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, coming along to see the potential Haddenham players of the future. Overall, the day was a great success.

Deja Vu 10th September 2007 There was a strange sense of deja vu on Saturday 8th September as Haddenham United won their league game by the same scoreline as last week, and the Reserves were again unlucky in defeat in their away league match. The first team played host to Wingrave in the ADL Premier Division, and despite a shakey start, settled down when Paul Alleyne got Haddenham off the mark, somewhat against the run of play. A penalty from Antony Dawson soon doubled the lead, and Alleyne got his second before half time, pretty much securing the win. The second half saw Haddenham dominate, but the strikeforce wasn't so accurate, and it took 25 minutes of the half before David Champ finished off a good passing move, and then Champ turned provider when he squared for Will Wallace to force home. At 5-0 up, Haddenham were cruising, but a late penalty for Wingrave saw them grab a consolation goal, making the final score 5-1. The Reserves travelled away to Meadowcroft to play New Zealand, and as last week, despite playing the better football, left with nothing to show for it. Having gone 1-0 down, Haddenham staged a second half comeback to level through David Hawes, but New Zealand fought back to regain the lead and added a third to secure the match. It was a frustrating match for Haddenham, with several chances going begging, and James Ward limping off with ankle ligament damage which will keep him out of the side for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

HYFC Fun Day 3rd September 2007 Haddenham Youth Football Club are holding their Annual Fun Day at the Playing Fields this coming Sunday - 9th September 2007. The Fun Day consists of tournaments for each of the youth club's age groups, with other stalls and attractions to keep the whole family entertained. With the senior and youth football clubs looking to form a closer relationship in the near future, it is a great opportunity to come down and see the potential future HUFC players in action.

Off to Winning Start 1st September 2007 Haddenham United made a winning start to the new season with a 5-1 victory over Bierton in the ADL Premier Division. After getting off to a somewhat dodgy start, Haddenham went one nil down late in the first half, but a 30 yard screamer from Darren Gascoyne ensured Haddenham were level at the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham find their feet and Gascoyne popped up to put Haddenham in front when he ran from the half way line on the right wing, cut inside and finished with a simple side foot shot. Substitute Shohei Yamakashi then extended Haddenham's lead with a fine left foot finish, before then supplying Paul Alleyne with a header at the far post for Haddenham's fourth. Left-back Ben Lazaruk then rounded off the scoring when he ventured forward, played a one-two with Alleyne on the edge of the box and powered home with his trusty left foot. It was just the start Haddenham were looking for, with a winning start the only acceptable outcome. Meanwhile, the Reserves travelled away to Quainton in Division 1 and despite taking the lead through Will Wallace early in the second half, Quainton hit back to take the honours 2-1. David Hawes hit the post for Haddenham, and Will Smail the crossbar, but it wasn't to be the Reserves' day.

5-A-Side Competition 27th August 2007 Haddenham United held its annual 5-A-Side competition on Sunday 26th August 2007, with a team consisting of mainly Haddenham first team players taking the honours with a penalty shoot out win over J. White Builders in the final. After the original date for the competition was postponed due to the wet weather, the competition was held on the unusual date of the August Bank Holiday weekend, but in contrast to the original date, the weather couldn't be faulted and it was a hot summer's day.

Reserves Vs Under 18's 24th August 2007 Haddenham Reserves took on Haddenham Youth Under 18's in a pre-season friendly on Thursday 23rd August 2007, with a close match ending in a 6-4 victory for the reserves. Two goals each from Aaron Rogers and Will Smail, and single goals from David Hawes and Scott Bryson earned the win. The standard of play from the Under 18 team was very impressive and encouraging for the future of football in Haddenham, with both clubs looking to form a closer link between the Under 18 and senior teams in the near future.

For HUFC's Eyes Only 21st August 2007 These HUFC Babes are well and truely For Your Eyes Only, as they work in the Bournemouth gentlemen's club of the same name. As well as dancers, friends Demi & Crystal also use their good looks to model, and they made time at a recent car photo shoot to grab a couple of HUFC reserve team shirts for these sexy pics. More HUFC Babes to follow soon!!!

Dairy Maid Defeated 20th August 2007 Haddenham United eased past the Dairy Maid on Saturday 18th August 2007 with a convincing 5-0 friendly victory. Played away at Meadowcroft with an 11am kick off, Haddenham dominated from start to finish, despite missing a couple of key players, and the game proved to be a good build up match in preparation for the league season. Darren Gascoyne got Haddenham off the mark with a long range effort, with the prolific Paul Alleyne then quickly doubling the lead. Allenye then made the score 3-0 with a finish from a wide angle and strike partner Antony Dawson made it 4-0 before the half time break. Haddenham continued their domination in the second half but weren't quite so sharp in front of goal, and the only goal of the half came from the head of Manager, Kevin Poole, who beat the Dairy Maid 'keeper to a cross ball to nod home and round off the scoring at 5-0.

Reserve Team Friendly 17th August 2007 Haddenham reserves continued their pre season build up with an away fixture against St Johns reserves. The first half started brightly with both sides creating good chances. Haddenham took the lead following a flowing move that finished with Dave Hawes cleverly laying the ball off to Gavin White who drilled a superb shot low into the St Johns goal. The rest of the half failed to live up to the early promise and was littered with individual errors culminating in a St Johns equaliser when Haddenham were caught in possession in defence. The second half saw Haddenham take control of the game creating chance after chance with Aaron Rogers and Will Smail in particular having an increasing influence on the game. Three goals were added in quick succession with goal scorers Rogers, Smail and Adam Finch getting just rewards for their efforts. The last ten minutes saw St Johns get two scrappy goals to make the final score line 4-3 to Haddenham. Overall this was a pleasing return to form with all the members of the squad turning in good performances and showing how they are developing as a team.

New Article - One Month In 17th August 2007 Coming towards the end of the pre-season schedule, First Team Manager Kevin Poole takes time out to reflect on his time at the club so far, discussing his thoughts on the friendlies played so far and looking to the future. Visit the articles page to read the article...

Aston Clinton Retain Cup 16th August 2007 Aston Clinton retained the Haddenham Challenge Cup for the fifth season in a row on Wednesday 15th August 2007 with a 1-0 final victory over Bierton. With the majority of the match played in a torrential downpour, conditions were very difficult for both teams, but Aston Clinton had the edge with the winning goal just after the hour mark. Bierton had their fair share of possession and chances and had a penalty appeal turned down because of a handball leading up the incident, but it was Aston Clinton who take the honours again. The Haddenham Challenge Cup is played in memory of Bill and Joan Marshall and their grandson Roy Hutton, with Keith Marshall presenting the trophies on gehalf of the Marshall family.

Six-Appeal 15th August 2007 Haddenham United continued their undefeated run of pre-season friendlies with a 6-3 home victory over Mandeville Old Boys on Tuesday 14th August 2007. A penalty from Antony Dawson put Haddenham in front on the half hour mark, in what was a first half dominated by windy conditions, against Haddenham's favour. The second half saw Haddenham dominate with the wind behind them, with a David Champ goal and a hat-trick from Paul Alleyne putting Haddenham 5-0 ahead. However, Mandeville had their fair share of chances and pulled two goals back, before youngster Aaron Rogers got a 6th for Haddenham to ease the pressure. A last minute free-kick from Mandeville then rounded off the scoring, making the final score 6-3.

Fixture Updates 13th August 2007 In a change to the advertised fixtures, the first team will now be playing at home on Tuesday night in a friendly against Mandeville Old Boys, and the reserves' friendly against St. Johns Reserves has been changed to an away fixture on Thursday 16th August. The two friendlies sandwich the Haddenham Challenge Cup Final between Bierton and Aston Clinton which will take place on Wednesday 15th August - kick off 6.30pm. The first fixtures for the league have now also been released, with the first team travelling away to Bierton for their first match, and the reserves travelling away to Quainton, on Saturday 1st September. The draw for the Berks and Bucks County Cups has also been made, with the first team travelling away to Wing Village in the Intermediate Cup and the reserves drawing a bye in the Junior Cup.

Chairman Resigns 10th August 2007 It is with regret that Haddenham United announces the resignation of Chairman, Richard Marshall. As a life long committed player and committee member, Richard's decision to step down is a personal one and not anything influenced by the club itself. As Vice-Chairman, Mark Witney takes on the role of Acting Chairman, with a committee meeting scheduled for a couple of week's time to finalise plans for the future following Richard's departure.

Reserves in Friendly Defeat 10th August 2007 Haddenham United Reserves fell to a 6-3 defeat against Grenson in a pre-season friendly on Thursday 9th August 2007. With Grenson the more senior team on paper, it was going to be hard for Haddenham to get a winning result, but a closely fought game saw Haddenham match their opponents for the majority of the game, with only three late goals from Grenson separating the teams. Having gone 0-2 down, Haddenham got back in to the game with goals from James Essex, Aaron Rogers and Josh Rose, putting them ahead 3-2. But a quick equaliser and then the three late goals spelled defeat for Haddenham.

Challenge Cup Defeat 9th August 2007 Haddenham United went out of the Haddenham Challenge Cup on Wednesday 8th August 2007 after a 4-2 semi-final defeat against Aston Clinton. With Aston Clinton first having had a goal disallowed for an infringment, Haddenham took the lead minutes later when Danny Burnell headed home at the near post from a corner set piece. Aston Clinton were soon level though, and then they quickly took a 2-1 lead following their equaliser. Haddenham were then dealt another blow when an off the ball scuffle resulted in defender Leon Cosier controversially being sent off. The referee's decision was greatly influenced by one of his linesmen, who claimed to have seen the incident, although the linesman pointed out the wrong Aston Clinton man involved, who was for some reason only booked for his part in the scuffle, and the linesman was apparently later heard to admit he had not seen all the incident, with his witness account to the referee no doubt greatly influenced by the large contingent of Aston Clinton support on the touchline behind him. Haddenham just accepted the decision and knuckled down and got on with the match though, and were the better team following the sending off. The second half saw Haddenham have to commit men forward in search of an equaliser, and this inevitably left gaps in defence, and unfortunately the next goal was that of a third for the visitors. Haddenham still pushed forward and didn't give up hope, and a powerful Darren Gascoyne shot was turned in to the net to put Haddenham back in the match at 2-3, but minutes later the match was killed off by a fourth Aston Clinton goal.

Friendly Victory 6th August 2007 Haddenham United continued their pre-season warm up with a 6-4 victory over last year's ADL Champions, Aston Park, on very hot Sat 4th August 2007. After a poor first half, Haddenham struggled to get going and were lucky to only be 3-1 down at half time - a half volley from Steve Newell keeping them in the game. The second half saw a few changes and Haddenham were much better, upping the work rate and totally dominating the game. Goals for Paul Alleyne (2), Ant Dawson, Darren Gascoyne and a Gareth Jackson header rounded off the scoring, earning Haddenham the victory. Manager Kevin Poole commented, "I was very disappointed by the first half performance but we got everything out in the open at half time and the lads showed great character to come back and win. Hopefully we can take that spirit into our tough semi final versus Aston Clinton on Wednesday night"

Quarter-Final Victory 2nd August 2007 Haddenham United progressed through to the semi-final of this season's Haddenham Challenge Cup with a 7-2 home victory over Grenson on Wednesday 1st August 2007. Kevin Poole's new look team rarely looked troubled during the match, and new signing Paul Alleyne was the driving force behind the win, scoring 4 goals. Antony Dawson (2) and David Sidor chipped in to make up the seven, with the pick of the goals being a well worked goal finished cooly by Alleyne, and a curling shot from Sidor after a great run and turn. Haddenham now go on to face Aston Clinton in next week's semi-finals, although it is not yet known whether this will be the Tuesday or Wednesday semi-final fixture.

Honours Even 1st August 2007 Haddenham United Reserves continued their pre-season friendly schedule with a 1-1 drew at home to Thame based side Cross Keys. A bright start saw Haddenham take control, but Cross Keys slowly got more and more in to the game as the match progressed and eventually took the lead midway through the second half. However, Haddenham fought back and super-sub Alan Lewis hit a spectacular 25-yard equaliser with 10 minutes to go, and if it weren't for a goal line clearance minutes later, Alan's nephew Anthony Lewis would have given the Haddenham the victory.

New Pitch 1st August 2007 Haddenham United's main pitch was readied and prepared for the first time since the end of last season on Tuesday 1st August 2007 for the Reserve Team friendly against Cross Keys. After the heavy and persistent rain that has plagued the British summer so far, the pitch is in a very green and healthy condition. The goalmouths were also re-seeded in the summer, and again, thanks to the committee's time and maintenance on the pitch, the pitch is to be envy of most clubs in the area.

New HUFC Babes 31st July 2007 The list of HUFC Babes continues with the inclusion of Becky and Janine. The promotions girls are seen in the current first team strip, having taken time out from a recent car show at Santa Pod Raceway. Are you a HUFC Babe, or know someone who should be??? Get in touch with the webmaster and join the 'hall of fame' of HUFC Babes.

More New Signings 26th July 2007 First Team Manager Kevin Poole took the inter-club friendly on Wednesday 25th July 2007 as an opportunity to annouce a few more of his signings. Following the capture of David Champ, Poole has now also signed Tony Njogu, Denal Thomas and Matt Ives to the club's squad. Njogu and Thomas both sign from Hellenic Premier Division side Kidlington. Njogu is an excellent right back who is tough tackling, strong and likes to get forward. Thomas meanwhile is a talented midfielder, and Poole sees him as the type of player and personality to captain the side this season. Having previously played for the Haddenham Sunday League side, Ives is welcomed back to the village as part of the Saturday setup. At home either in defence or midfield, Matt is known for his combative style of play and his fitness levels. Poole is very complimentary about his new signings, "All three will compliment the side very well, and will all be great assets for the club."

Inter-Club Friendly 26th July 2007 Haddenham United's preparations for the new season continued on Wednesday 25th July 2007 when a first XI took on a reserve XI in a proper training match. It was the first chance to see the new look first XI in action, with a vast number of new signings in the team, and an impressive first half performance saw the first XI take a 4-0 half time lead with goals from Adam Finch, Leon Cosier, Stuart Barr and Denal Thomas. The second half was a more even affair but further goals from Thomas and Dave Sidor extended the first XI's lead to complete a 6-0 victory. New First Team Manager Kevin Poole was pleased with the performance, "It was our first chance to work together as a proper team and I am encouraged by the performance of the players we have at the club." New Reserve Team Manager Mike Rea was also pleased with his team's performance, "We were up against a good side tonight and it was a good test for us."

New Signing 23rd July 2007 First Team Manager Kevin Poole is pleased to annouce the signing of talented midfielder, David Champ. Previously of Thame United and Abingdon Town, 'Champy' is sure to be a valuable member of the squad. Kevin is pleased to have got David at the club, "Dave is an excellent midfield player with a great touch and technique, and he will compliment the team nicely." Kevin added, "This shows the level of player and the standards I am trying to set for the club, and hopefully this will instill optimism in the whole squad for the coming season."

New Article 23rd July 2007 In what will hopefully be the first of a series of articles from the management teams on the website for the coming season, new First Team Manager Kevin Poole gets us underway with his first article on his arrival at the club. Visit the articles page to read the article.

First Friendly 19th July 2007 Haddenham United Reserves had their first pre-season friendly at home to Taylor Woodrow on Wednesday 18th July 2007, and a very closley fought match ended in a 2-1 defeat for Haddenham. A familiar looking Haddenham side saw a few new faces and a few old faces return for Mike Rea's first match in charge, and it was only a mistake from 'keeper Alan Lewis which cost Haddenham the game. Taylor Woodrow went ahead after 30 minutes when their left back ventured forward and struck a sweet volley in to the net from 25 yards. Haddenham were level before the half time break though with an own goal from a James Ward free-kick. The second half saw Haddenham's Simon Ellis strike the post with a rasping shot but victory was Taylor Woodrow's when a poor clearance from 'keeper Lewis went straight to an opposition forward for an easy finish with just minutes to go. Meanwhile, the first team squad continued their pre-season training at the opposite end of the playing field, with their friendlies and more reserve team friendlies just around the corner.

New HUFC Babe! 12th July 2007 New season - new HUFC Babes!!! And what bigger a name to start off with than Jakki Degg - voted Page 3 Girl of the Millenium by Sun Newspaper readers! Having worked with the HUFC webmaster on other previous website projects, Jakki took time out at a recent car show to pull on the current first team shirt for a few pics, and in the process she goes down as the most well known HUFC Babe to date. Jakki has even promised to do more pics in the kit in future, so keep checking back!

Haddenham Challenge Cup Draw 11th July 2007 The draw for this season's Haddenham Challenge Cup is as follows: St Johns v Taylor Woodrow Bucks CC v Bierton Haddenham United v Grenson Aston Clinton v Long Crendon These quarter-final matches are to be played by 4th August 2007, with the semi-finals taking place on 7th and 8th August, and the final on 15th August.

New Look Website! 11th July 2007 Haddenham United Online has got a new look in preparation for the new season, so hope you all like it??? As well as the new look, it is hoped that some other new features will be added to the website this coming season, with the management teams and players getting involved to provide regular content, along with the old favourites of the HUFC Babes, Look-a-likes and Funny Sayings features continuing as normal. If you have any ideas for ways to add and improve this website, please contact the webmaster.

AGM News 11th July 2007 Haddenham United Football Club held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 5th July 2007, but with the managers for next season already sorted, there was not much to report on from what was quite a routine meeting. Officers Richard Marshall (Chairman), Mark Witney (Vice-Chairman), Denis Taylor (Treasurer) and Jane Kenny (Secretary) were voted for on block and will stay in their repsective positions for another year, with Norman Mead also staying on as President of the club. Jane Kenny's Secretary Report confirmed that the first team has been entered in to the Premier Division of the Aylesbury District League, and the Reserves in to Division 1, which is the what the club wanted, so this news was well received. Other than this, it is business as usual as the club moves in to the new season.

Training Gets Underway 5th July 2007 Pre-season training for the new season got underway on Wednesday 5th July 2007 with an impressive 28 players turning up and joining in the session. New First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, took the session in what was his first opportunity to start working with his playing squad. There was a good mixture of new and existing players present, and it won't be long before the pre-season friendlies come around. Also, a reminder that the club is holding its Annual General Meeting tonight (Thurs. 5th July) at the Sports & Social Club, starting at 8pm. Everyone is welcome and it is your chance to have your say on the running of the club.

New Manager Appointed! 31st May 2007 It is with great pleasure that Haddenham United today names Kevin Poole as the new First Team Manager for the up and coming 2007/2008 Season. With the management team of Gary Leach and Frank Thompson standing down at the end of last season, the club's search for a new manager was a concern for the club, but the club is confident and delighted in naming Kevin as the new boss. Kevin has had recent success in managing the Royal Oak Sunday League team in Oakley, and he is to be a popular choice amongst both the current players and other local players who will now consider joining and playing for the club. Heading up the First XI management team, Kevin will have Darren Gascoyne and Simon Ellis as his assistants, and Mike Rea will take over as Reserve Team Manager, with Mike's assistants yet to be named. Mike's appointment will also be a popular choice within the club, having assisted Simon Ellis in the Reserves Management Team last season, and the club is very optimistic of the value and success both Kevin and Mike can bring to the club. Pre-season training for the new season will start on Wednesday 4th July 2007 at 7pm. Any past, present and new players with the intention of playing for the club are welcome. Another date for your diary is that of the club's Annual General Meeting on Thursday 5th July 2007 at Haddenham Sports and Social Club, 8pm start. The meeting provides the opportunity for anyone to come along and have their say on the running of the club.