Coronavirus special newsletter

They say a week in football is a long time. Well if that is true, then the last three weeks have felt

like a lifetime with so much going on.

We played our last game at Frickley Athletic on the 14th March drawing 0-0. Since then, our

league has decided to suspend the division due to Covid-19, we've parted company with man-

ager Ryan Austin after more than three years in charge of the club before appointing club leg-

end Scott Dundas as the new manager. Also, our captain, Anthony Malbon, has agreed to sign a

new deal to keep him at the club for another two years.

That isn't even to mention that the FA decided to terminate the 2019/20 season between step

3 and step 6, that includes us.

Here is a timeline of events since the 14th March.

14th March- Frickley Athletic 0 v Kidsgrove Athletic 0. The last game that we played.

16th March- The Northern Premier League suspend all three of its leagues due to Covid-19.

19th March- The club parts company with manager Ryan Austin after more than three years at the helm.

22nd March- Club captain Anthony Malbon agrees a new two-year contract with the club to take his time at least 2022.

23rd March- former all - time top scorer Scott Dundas is appointed as the club's new manager.

26th March- The FA decide to terminate the 2019/20 season, they also Null and Void the season meaning no promotions or relegations out of the

league will take place.

We don't know when football will return, but when it does, we hope to count on your support for the new manager and his players.

The FA's decision to void the Non-League season has come under extreme criticism

from some (not all quarters) primarily those who have

suffered the unfortunate fate of missing out on pro-

motion/league titles. For those clubs who received the

get out of jail card of not being relegated, there is an

expected silence amongst a huge sigh of relief.

No matter what the decision the FA simply couldn't

win. We can only hope that there is a consistency

throughout the whole of football now, not simply look after the big boys.

For me the top club on a point per game basis in every division should have been pro-

moted and if currently top of their division like South Shields. Leek Town, Workington,

1874 Northwich, Vauxhall Motors (already achieved promotion) and Lower Breck they

should have been crowned champions.

Likewise relegation of the bottom team in every division on the same basis. As harsh as

it may sound forget the teams occupying playoff positions, there is no guarantee of who

wins them anyway. I know how I would feel if it was Kidsgrove Athletic who had been

top and missed out, it must be heart wrenching. Our rivals and friends at Leek Town

have shown incredible dignity following the decision.

Of course, the enforced break has caused lot bigger worries for clubs like ourselves, with

no income whatsoever the day to day utility bills don't stop, then there is the small

matter of renovating the pitch, players contracts before we come onto planning for next

season. Budgets, pre-season friendlies none that can be organised until we have a defi-

nite return date, that's if we even get a start date in the next two months. By then it

maybe too late for some clubs and I include Kidsgrove Athletic in that.

Football aside, people's health is far more important. Football will return at some point

we can't bring back those that we lose to this terrible virus. So please stay in, stay safe

and pray for a return to normality. Oh and take time to appreciate what we do have and

our wonderful NHS staff and other key workers.

Take Care, Coop

A message from Ian Cooper, Vice - Chairman Wordsearch

Can you find these teams in the wordsearch?

Carlton Chasetown Cleethorpes Daventry

Ilkeston Lincoln United Market Drayton

Matlock Town Newcastle Town Spalding

Stocksbridge Wisbech Worksop

How many times does the NHS appear in the wordsearch?

The word NHS appears

12 time

NEED A ROOM? - WHY NOT HIRE THE

PHOENIX CLUB—KIDSGROVE BRANCH

FOR BOOKING INFORMATION CALL

01782 782412

DUNDAS IS BACK!

As you will have seen on the front of the newsletter,

the club has appointed Scott Dundas as their new

manager. He gave his first interview after being ap-

pointed to Grove's Callum Crabtree which you ca

read below.

As mentioned earlier, we are delighted to announce

club legend Scott Dundas as the new manager of

Kidsgrove Athletic.

Former Grove manager Ant Buckle also returns to the club as his assistant manager.

Dundas spoke to us earlier about the appointment.

“It all seems surreal considering the circumstance at the moment but I’m absolutely delight-

ed to be the Kidsgrove manager.”

“It’s difficult to start planning at the moment with everything going on as we don’t know if

the season will finish. If it does we’ll have to see what league we’re due to the restructuring

and plan accordingly to get the right people in.”

Dundas also spoke the aspirations he has for his new side going forward.

“We want to get the players in who will know the league and ultimately compete at the

right end of the table,” he said.

“You can expect my side to play fast, attractive football and be disciplined. My teams score

goals so if we can find our feet early on we’ll be on the right track.”

Dundas, who was previously the record goal scorer for the club before being surpassed by

current club captain Anthony Malbon, reminisced on his fruitful time at the Grove as a play-

er.

“I started in 1992 under Pete Ward before moving to Newcastle but I came back and made

great memories,” he continued.

“Scoring 53 goals in a season, winning the league and league cup on top of an FA Vase Semi-

Final run produced some fantastic moments. So to come back as manager is great.”

To read the full interview visit the club’s official website.

Baking with the Grove Fancy becoming the next Paul Hollywood while we have no football? Well look no further as we have two recipes

to have a good at. Thanks to Vice-Chairman Ian Cooper and club captain Anthony Malbon.

Malbsi’s Tuna Pasta Bake

Ingredients

300g Pasta Tuna Pasta Bake Sauce Tin of Tuna 500ml mater Seasoning Approx 200 g Cheese

Method

Malbsi likes to cook in an apron, nothing else just an apron and white socks!

-Wash hands and prepare surfaces. -Preheat oven to Gas Mark 6, 180 Fan - Put pasta into a baking tray - Add the pasta sauce (tuna pasta bake sauce) to the pasta. - Add the water to the mixture with a little seasoning. - Add the tuna and mix well. - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes . - Remove from the oven not forgetting to give it a little taste! - Add grated cheese and bake for a further 25 minutes . - Eat and enjoy your tasty bake.

Coops’ Spiced Breakfast Delight

Ingredients

6 Rashers of Bacon 4 Sausage 2 Eggs Approx 100 grams Cheese Tinned tomatoes 1 Chilli Mushrooms Chilli Powder / Tabasco Sauce Method

- Line Large Bowl with cheese - Prick Sausage and grill on medium heat for 20 minutes. - Chop mushrooms, 4 of the bacon rashers and chilli and add to wok . Cook on medium heat adding spice to taste. - Cook tomatoes in microwave until piping hot. - Add remaining chopped rashers of bacon to the wok. - Cook for 10 minutes on low heat. - Melt cheese in bowl - Build into layers. - Add tomatoes base - Fry 2 eggs - Add 2 rashers of bacon and sausages - 1 of the eggs - Cover with chopped bacon, mushroom, chilli mix - Eat and enjoy the most important meal of your day!

A note from media man Callum Crabtree

Being apart of the media team at the club

has been a fantastic, hands on experience

working within the clubs set-up.

I’ve expanded my skills greatly in numerous

areas of the profession including: Live

tweeting, match reports and Website Con-

tent amongst many others.

The club has a very close knit family type

bond which is apparent to see straight away,

and I felt like I was apart of that from the

very start.

Ryan Austin was a very approachable and

forthcoming manager who was always will-

ing to speak no matter how good or bad the

previous result was and helped me hone my interview skills and for that, I thank him a lot.

Being apart of the media team is just that, a team. Head of Media Richard Scott has been very

helpful and his passion for the Non-League game is incredible, and helped me along the way

with constructing pieces for a Non-League audience. It was also a pleasure to share a press box

with Ben Durber who exudes enthusiasm and as a team we worked very well.

For any student reading this, I would jump at the chance to work for Kidsgrove as you can come

forward with any ideas and work with less restrictions than you would at a professional club to

really show off your talent and enthusiasm.

My final thanks would go to everyone behind the scenes at the club, including Ian Cooper who

allowed me to be apart of the media team throughout the year. From free food to free travel to

away games, the volunteers who go the extra mile to ensure everyone is looked after are truly

the one’s who keep Non-League Football going.

Whenever the Football season starts again, I’ll most certainly be looking out for the Grove’s re-

sults going forward.

Come on the Grove!

OUR SPONSORS

We would like to thank our supporters for all of their support during

the season. You’ve had to make sure really long distance trips to the

likes of Cleethorpes, Spalding and Gainsborough Trinity.

We hope that when everything blows over you can continue to sup-

port us.

Also we ask that you support as many of our sponsors as possible.

Like everyone they’re finding it hard due to the current situation and

would greatly appreciate your support to get things back on track.

Autonet Insurance Swinton Insurance Carole Nash Insurance P2P Logistics

Fitzjohn Group Intium Construction Coopers Pitch care DFH Developments

One Sure DEH The Blue Bell Kelly Molyneux

Gilker Flynn Bee Active LB Carpets Baskervilles

Kindertons Fridays Business Products Dirty Dicks Discount Kitchens

Beer Trading Joseph Edwards & son The Railway Inn Mike Doig Family Butcher

C.Edwards & Son Harecastle Carpets Andy’s Manclub Jordan Burndred CRY

Prestige Roofing Service Metals Mid-

lands

Moorlands Radio Evans Hotel Llandudno

Kingsway Winn Solicitors Markers Study Samuel Makepeace

Carlton Caterers Barber club, Newcastle

Photos of the season.

We will see you all when football returns!

Our photographer Paul Griffiths and programme editor John Naisbitt are busy each game captur-

ing photos of the games. Here are some of the best ones below.