June 2009 Archives

TWO young defenders released by Tranmere Rovers this summer have joined the Colwyn Bay squad for pre-season trials.
Full-backs Lewis Corrigan and Luke Denson were in the same Tranmere youth team as Ashton Taylor last season that reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, and Seagulls boss Neil Young said: "They have joined up with us for training and we'll have a look at them in the friendlies and see how they go."
Corrigan signed his first pro contract with Tranmere last season while Denson has been described on the Tranmere website as a good crosser and strong tackler.
Neil Young is still chasing one or two other targets but says he already has a much stronger squad than last year.
"I feel we've now got good options in every department of the team and overall have a much stronger squad - especally in midfield and defence with the addition of Carl Clampitt, Anthony Sheehan and Ian Sheridan, and in attack with the likes of Alex Hay, Rob Hopley, Tom McGill, Lee Davey and Eddie Jebb," he said this week.
"The players have knuckled down well to training with Tom McGill's pace and strength really starting to show through."
Steve Aspinall, who is recovering from a fractured leg, completed his first full training sessson tonight (June 30) and is progressing well along with Dave Challinor. Rob Hopley has picked up a slight calf strain, but it is nothing to worry about.
The players will have another tough hill running session on Thursday before starting on ball work on Saturday.
Hopes of adding an experienced midfielder to the squad remain in limbo at the moment with the player having still to make up his mind after being made an offer last weekend.
"I have told him we want an answer one way or the other by Saturday," reported the manager.
"I am still hoping we can pick up a couple more signings over the next month as players who have been unable to get the deals they wanted become available."

COLWYN BAY'S players put in another hard fitness session in the sand dunes near New Brighton today (June 27) as manager Neil Young again cranked up pre-season training.
That followed a tough session on Bidston Hill on Thursday and the manager says he has been very pleased with the fitness work that the players have put in.
"Their work rate has been fantastic," reported the manager. " We've got another week of hard graft ahead and it will probably be next Saturday before the players see a ball for the first time."
Lee Hammond and Eddie Jebb joined the squad today for the first time after returning from holiday, but there is still no definite news as yet on the signing of an experienced midfield player who has been training with the squad. He has been made an offer but has asked for time to think it over.
The Seagulls will know their early opponents in the FA Cup and FA Trophy when the draw for the opening qualifying rounds is made next Wednesday (July 1).
The Unibond Division One North league fixtures are due to be released on July 15.

CENTRAL defenders Danny Jarrett and Dave Challinor both put pen to paper to sign up for another season with the Seagulls when the players reported for pre-season training this evening (June 23).
That means 11 of last season's squad have now committed themselves to stay with the club.
Club skipper Challinor is recovering from a nasty leg injury that ruled him our of the closing games of last season, and although he only did some light training tonight he says the injury is progressing well and he expects to be back in full training soon.
Manager Neil Young is hoping to have a couple more new signings on board by the end of this week.
Talks are continuing with an experienced midfielder who trained with the squad tonight and who has been on the books of a number of Football League and Conference clubs.
Ex-Wigan Athletic winger James Dunn who was expected at training tonight with a view to signing, had to cry off at the last minute after a member of his family was taken into hospital, but he is expected to report on Thursday.
Although some players are away on holiday, new signings Tom McGill, Carl Clampitt , Alex Hay and Anthony Sheehan were among the players who were put through some tough training runs in which a very fit looking Clampitt was impressive, and Lee Davey and Rob Hopley also looked good.
The manager has secured impressive new training facilities at the Anselm's College sports ground on Wirral, where British Lions star Austin Healey played his early rugby.
The players will be training Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday over the next few weeks, with the emphasis over the next week on fitness and stamina work. The first pre-season friendly is scheduled for July 10 against Welsh Premier League champions Rhyl.

COLWYN Bay manager Neil Young will today (June 19) complete the signing of Cammell Laird striker Alex Hay.
The ex-Tranmere Rovers front man is the the high profile striker the manager has been chasing to form a potentially prolific strike partnership with Rob Hopley and he is delighted to have finally got his man.
"I took him to both Rhyl and to Cammell Laird when I was there and he is a great signing for us," said Neil.
The 28-year-old Hay played in the Football League for Tranmere and Rushden and Diamonds and also had spells at Altrincham and Bangor City as well as Rhyl.
Neil Young is also hoping to complete another couple of signings before the squad report for training next Tuesday (June 23), but hopes of making a significant midfield transfer is in some doubt because of the high valuation the player's present club have put on him.
James Dunn, a 6ft 2ins winger who had a season with Premiership club Wigan Athletic is also set to train with the squad on Tuesday with a view to possibly signing.
The manager's squad for next season is now taking shape and those who are NOT being retained include Tom Spearritt, Mick McGraa, Matty Wood, Billy Webb, Craig Garside and the experienced Graham Branch, who I understand has been advised by a specialist not to play again following the serious eye injury he suffered at Rossendale last season.
Daniel Jarrett is expected to sign on again, while Robbie Williams will be training locally in North Wales and will join up with the rest of the squad for the pre-season games starting against Rhyl on July 10.
The Seagulls squad for the 2009/10 season, with some additions still to be made, currently looks like this: Chris Sanna and Farai Jackson (goalkeeperrs), Lee Hammond, Tim Brandreth, Dave Challinor, Ian Sheridan, Carl Clampitt, Anthony Sheehan, Steve Aspinall, Robbie Williams, Eddie Jebb, Lee Davey, Rob Hopley, Alex Hay and Tom McGill.
Tom McGill, who was with Capenhurst Villa last season, has recently been named the West Cheshire League's Player of the Season for all three divisions.

A FRUSTRATING weekend has left Colwyn Bay manager Neil Young having to revise his transfer targets after seeing several offers gazumped by other clubs in the past 48 hours.
He had been hoping to complete at least four deals this week after players initially agreed to sign, but admitted today (June 15): "We have not just been gazumped by a small margin, we've been blown out of the water in some cases.
"Some clubs are offering highly exaggerated wages in order to get players to sign for them and I am not prepared to pay silly money."
He is still hopeful of completing at least one signing this week and is working hard to further strengthen the squad, but admitted: "We are up against Welsh Premier clubs who are offering big money and that is making it very difficult."

COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young said today (June 12) he is very close to securing several more new signings before the squad report for pre-season training on June 23.
He hopes a new striker will be signed by Sunday, while negotiations for a centre back, left sided defender and midfielder are at an advanced stage and could be completed by the middle of next week.
"We are very close to tieing up four or five deals and there should be news on those within the next week," he reported.
That will add to four summer signings already secured, the latest being 23-year-old midfielder Carl Clampitt from Cammell Laird who the manager describes as a great passer of the ball and who would have signed a four year professional contract with Scottish club Hearts but for failing a medical on an old injury suffered at Preston North End.
He joins other summer signings Tom McGill, Ian Sheridan and Anthony Sheehan.
Neil Young has also been in talks for the past 10 days for what he describes as "a significant signing", but added: "We are still a long way off completing that deal, although it is not yet dead in the water."
The manager is also optimistic that club skipper Dave Challinor will sign up again for next season after positive talks with the former Tranmere Rovers defender on his return from holiday this week.
So far eight of last season's squad, including midfielder Steve Aspinall in the past week, have signed up again.

COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young has revealed today (June 6) that defender Tim Brandreth and goalkeeper Farai Jackson are the latest members of the current squad to commit themselves to the Seagulls for next season.
Farai looks certain to open the season in goal as Chris Sanna, who is away coaching in America until the end of July, has to serve a suspension following his red card against Durham in April.
Tim Brandreth, for me, seemed to get a new lease of life after returning to the club and I made him one of my top candidates for Player of the Season.
Meanwhile efforts continue to further strengthen the squad, following the signing of midfielder Anthony Sheehan from Cammell Laird earlier this week, with the priority being a centre forward to play alongside Rob Hopley.
The club have been given permission to speak to one highly rated striker after an offer for another candidate had been rejected by his present club who want a much bigger fee than Colwyn Bay are willing to pay.
"I am also speaking to a centre half in the next few days, but if that does not pan out there is a possibility of taking another centre half on a year's loan which we are currently exploring," commented the manager.
He is also trying to sign a left winger and another left sided defender, but an offer made for a central midfielder looks to be dead in the water as the player's current club have failed to respond.