Cornwall County FA: Referees Courses

Fed up of nursing lumps and bumps between matches or can not get a regular game but want to still be involved – Cornwall County Football Leagues need you.

Cornwall County FA are holding four referees courses across the county between June 15-17 with the exams, practical and theory falling on the following Sunday – June 24.

Minimum age is fourteen; but if you’re worried that you might have missed your chance don’t count on it (Peninsula Leagues Age Range of Referees 18 – 54). This month a fifty-three-year old Cornish referee was promoted to Level 3 meaning he can Referee in the Southern League & assist in Conference South.

Anyone interested in taking part and being a qualified referee for next season should contact Ray Brown by phone on 07846270967/01208269010 or by e-mail ray.brown@cornwallfa.com.

BA (HONS) JOURNALISM: NEWS & MAGAZINE PRODUCTION (REFLECTIVE BLOG POST 3)

Patricia Hewitt passed Dave Collins’ contact details onto me and I e-mailed him introducing myself and my aims. He replied quickly and gave insightful answers to my questions, although I needed that little bit more in order to create an eye-catching piece.

Jason Whittaker went through my feature in the lecture on May 09 and basically cut it in half. One half would become a news article on Falmouth and its activities taking place along the route. This doesn’t have the benefit or colour of including any quotes as of yet and so I have e-mailed Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager, and Ms Hewitt once again in order to grind out those quotes needed to complete the article.

The second half became a feature article based on Mr Collins’ nomination to be an Olympic Torchbearer and the turnaround from the Olympic Trials he took part in during the seventies. I have got back in touch with him, as I go into the feature with a new angle, and am now awaiting reply.

Aside from the incoming contacts that I mentioned in my last post, I have been able to use advice from Jason in class to improve my writing. We talked about how my style was more accustomed to news articles, but I have now got a clear plan on how to make my Collins piece into an actual feature.

BA (HONS) JOURNALISM: NEWS & MAGAZINE PRODUCTION (REFLECTIVE BLOG POST 2)

My second piece was initially a feature on the Olympic Torch events in Falmouth which included an interview with local torchbearer Dave Collins.

To obtain the necessary information I first spoke – via e-mail- to Patricia Hewitt, Media Relations Manager at Cornwall County Council, who provided me with press releases relating to the torchbearers and activities taking place along the route. After this I shared a couple of e-mails with Falmouth Town Manager, Richard Gates, although he eventually replied with “…the amount of time I can spare you is very limited at the moment” and with that he hasn’t replied since. Ms Hewitt introduced me to a Chris Ridgers, the council’s portfolio holder for economy and regeneration, who again has been too busy to cooperate. I spoke to a member of the London 2012 Torch team who told me “We (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) are unable to meet the sheer volume of requests at present so, to be fair and equitable, we are unable to consider individual requests for information.”

With the information I was able to get from Ms Hewitt and the LOCOG website I was able to write up half of the feature, which left me needing to contact Mr Collins. Talking to these people and gaining contacts is useful as I build up a portfolio of acquaintances as a student journalist.

Godolphin Atlantic AFC 2-3 Newquay AFC

• SWPL Division One West – Fri 06th April

Newquay AFC secured the South West Peninsula Division One West championship in the most emotive way possible with three points at Godolphin Way on a breezy Good Friday lunchtime. In an end-to-end tie it was The Peppermints that prevailed after a brace from Captain fantastic Paul Hampshire and a crucial third from Mr Newquay himself, Luke Weldhen. Derek Martin’s Godolphin side played good football and bagged two of their own through Mark Rose and Kyle Brown as they ran Newquay close.

The Peppermints, unbeaten against their bitter rivals in 2011/12, were looking for a positive response after Tuesday night’s disappointing defeat to Penryn Athletic FC in the Durning Lawrence Charity Cup Semi-Final tie. Rousing manager Glynn Hooper brought the imposing Mamsy Sabo into his starting eleven to partner Mike Arscott and Dave Trott at the back. Hampshire found himself in the heart of midfield once again with Paul Robertson and Johnny Ludlum also included in the attacking third. Glen Squires, Andy Westgarth and Lee Bradd reverted to the bench.

Newquay took the upper hand from the off as Weldhen found Robertson in space whose low shot was saved by the G ‘keeper Shaun Semmens. At the other end of the pitch Lewis Hilton and Sabo defended admirably to keep the home side at bay. The unfortunate Joe Crane tipped a cross over his crossbar only to crash into the bar headfirst himself causing a stoppage in play while physio Ross McConie made sure he was fit to continue.

Hampshire played a lovely ball to Ludlum on the left side whose cross-shot deceived Semmens who was relieved to see the ball sweep into the side netting. Godolphin were in sixes and sevens at the back as Hilton found himself in acres of space but Robertson’s ball was hit a little hard for even his pace to reach.

Josh Fearon saw a tame header saved by Crane in Godolphin’s only real chance of the opening twenty. Hilton dinked the ball to ‘Robbo’ with the G only being able to clear to hotshot Weldhen whose curling shot scraped the apex of post and bar. In the very next attack it was Fearon who saw his effort off the post after driving from outside the box. The hard working pair of Robertson and Hilton were causing all sorts of problems as the persistence of the former led to the latter having a shot blocked.

The pacy Brown was kept at bay by Sabo as Crane gathered the ball to eliminate any danger, while Sabo also did well to stand up against Phil Lowry allowing Hilton to intercept and shield from Mickey Thompson. Rose’s free-kick on the edge of the area was punched away by Crane in a crowded penalty area as Godolphin tried to assert themselves. Lowry beat his man and sent an effort on goal which was fantastically saved by Crane diving low to his left while Scott Flannigan went for glory but his shot was always rising.

After that spell of pressure The Peppermints stamped their authority on the match with Danny Brook’s free-kick headed into the box by Weldhen finding Hampshire who crashed the ball into the back of the net. However, two minutes later Brook was, somewhat harshly, penalised and booked twenty-five yards from his own goal giving Rose the opportunity to take aim. It was an opportunity duly taken as Rose sweetly lifted the ball over the bar and past Crane to equalize on thirty-four minutes. Third placed Godolphin could have completed the comeback as first Arscott and then Josh Kemp made critical blocks at the back. Pushing for the lead Aidan Martin saw his free header over the bar.

At this stage, whoever scored the next goal of the game would have the advantage as it would deflate the other side. Ludlum slalomed between defenders and was brought down in the penalty area with the referee correctly pointing to the spot. In the absence of Chris Reski it was down to Hampshire who slotted the ball home to give Newquay that important second goal. It could, and perhaps should, have been three before half-time as Weldhen was stopped in his tracks by Flannigan and Ludlum had his cross punched away before Hilton or Robertson could capitalise.

The half-time whistle blew and it was time for both teams to take stock of what was a pulsating first-half in the spring sunshine. For all Godolphin’s endeavors it was that second goal that really took the air out of them. After the restart, Robertson found himself through on goal only to be adjudged offside. The match became stretched as Newquay pushed to put the game to bed and Godolphin pushed to equalise for a second time. Weldhen hit the bar at one end with Fearon doing the same at the other, while Lowry headed Godolphin’s best chance wide of goal.

After an hour of play Newquay scored a farcical goal as G ‘keeper Semmens lost concentration and sent his goal kick to Weldhen, of all people, who smashed it  home to rapturous applause which was preceded by a moment of silence as everyone tried to work out what had happened. Most in the ground had turned away as Semmens had the chance to look up and create another Godolphin attack-no one saw his mistake coming. Top scorer Weldhen wheeled away in celebration ripping off his jersey in pure emotion, escaping a booking, as he edged his local side to within half an hour of league glory.

Martin’s Godolphin side, in their final home match of the season, were desperate to pull one back immediately as the nifty Rose had two efforts saved by Crane who was once again reliable between the sticks. Hilton’s diagonal ball allowed Weldhen to shoot but Semmens recovered some dignity, after his earlier mistake, by making the save. Squires replaced the terrier Robertson up front while Bradd came on for Kemp to provide fresh legs at the back.

Inside the last ten minutes, Brown picked up the ball in the centre circle and strode forward hitting a peach into the top right of Crane’s goal which signalled a whirlwind of pressure before the final whistle. Dart came closest to levelling but his drive spun wide. In stoppage time Westgarth was brought on for Ludlum as Newquay wound down the clock.

The full time whistle blew and Newquay staff and fans alike ran onto the field as the league title was secured at the most fitting of grounds other than Mount Wise itself. The group congregated around the centre circle as Hooper and his assistants praised the players after what has been an excellent season with the managerial team winning the league at the first attempt. The majority subsequently returned to the clubhouse at Mount Wise to celebrate together.

As ‘Hoops’ will be sure to tell you the season isn’t over yet and he will be expecting full commitment in the final three matches away at Dobwalls, Hayle and Penryn Athletic as they look to finish the season with only that one defeat.

Next up in the SWPL is an away trip as Newquay takes on Dobwalls on Saturday 14th April with a 3.00pm kick-off. Peppermints fans won’t want to miss this as the league trophy will be lifted aloft as Newquay march on up to the Premier Division!

FLYBE Man of the Match: Paul Hampshire 

Local Boy Makes Good

Promotion was sweet for all involved with Newquay AFC but it doesn’t come much better than for Newquay lad Luke Weldhen.

The clubs top-scorer in 2011/12 slotted home his twenty-fourth of the season in all competitions to put the game out of sight at Godolphin Way on Good Friday to secure the South West Peninsula Division One West crown.

In an emotional scene Weldhen momentarily got carried away by ripping off his jersey and leaping topless into the air with clenched fists as he celebrated the feat.

He said proudly: “I could not have asked for a better end to the season it was just an absolute storybook ending, unbelievable.”

It has been a landmark season for Weldhen who grabbed five goals in a single match earlier in the season at Porthleven AFC.

He continued: “I’m pleased. Being honest, I didn’t really expect myself to be in the side this year. Top goal scorer-I’m absolutely delighted.

Weldhen, whose passion and love for the club is undeniable, is full of praise for the managerial prowess saying:  “Being honest, Jim (Hilton, previous manager) didn’t have any of the resources but what he did was absolutely fantastic to take us to second in the league that year and we won a cup with him.

“Then when Glynn came along it has just moved it up another step and you can see the difference. It has got us to where we should be to be honest.”

Being a Newquay lad for the whole of his career, Weldhen has seen many changes at Mount Wise but believes the current crop is the strongest yet.

“As a team, we seem so much stronger. When you look around and see the players they look stronger and fitter, just quality players throughout the whole team really.

“There has been a good team spirit as well, seeing that we have brought in players from all over. The team spirits been immense and it has helped us to get through.”

Having said that, the crowd favourite singles out one man who deserves special praise for the success this season: “Got to say Hoops. He’s orchestrated it all and it has all worked out perfectly in the end.”

Weldhen will be looking to finish the season strongly with a flurry of goals in order to maintain his position of top goal scorer and move on to replicate his form next time around in the Premier Division.

Club Captain Full of Pride

Newquay AFC club captain Shaun Middleton may not have made a first-team appearance since suffering a knee injury back in October but he has still played a part in Glynn Hooper’s side’s success.

Middleton was on the pitch for a matter of minutes at Vospers Oak Villa when he scored a blinder and celebrated with his teammates. Unfortunately, during the celebrations Middsy’s long standing knee injury reoccurred after being jumped on by jubilant Newquay players.

Since then, he has used his experience and knowledge to provide advice and context to the playing staff and couldn’t hide his pride after the league title was secured at Godolphin on Good Friday.

He said: “It has been a great day for Newquay Football Club, you look at the lads there all buzzing their heads off.

“The boys have been absolutely fantastic this year and they have dug in, come in from the division below, won the league and got promotion for Newquay. We haven’t got promoted for the last six years and now we have done the job, got promoted and we are looking forward to next year.”

Middleton, who has made several appearances for the reserve and third teams in his comeback trail, reserved special praise for two players who have proved their worth this season.

He said: “People like Luke Weldhen, he is a local lad and he has done everything he can this year. He is top goal scorer and he has been superb, and Paul Hampshire, they have both been superb.”

The leader, both on and off the pitch, will look to regain fitness over the summer in order to come back prepared for the step up to the Premier Division next season.

Hooper and Newquay Meet Targets

Glynn Hooper and his team secured promotion at the first attempt as Newquay AFC defeated Godolphin Atlantic away to claim the South West Peninsula Division One West title.

The target of promotion was set upon Hooper’s arrival from St Blazey AFC during pre-season and that target has been met in style as Newquay sealed promotion with four matches to spare and the league title a match later.

Hooper was full of pride at the full-time whistle after seeing his side perform so well. He said: “It was our priority at the beginning of the year; it was all about getting promoted. We were given the tag of favourites but favourites don’t always win leagues.”

The inspirational manager was quick to point out the fantastic work of others at the club as well as the supporters, modestly adding: “I have got a really great squad of players, a really supportive committee and an excellent chairman along with really good backroom staff in Kelvin, Phil and Ross.

“I think you can see from today what it means to Newquay supporters to be back in the Premier where, after a very short period of time at the club, for me they fully deserve to be because it is a true football club and I’m delighted for everyone involved that we’ve managed to achieve that.”

In a season of milestones ‘Hoops’ picked out a handful of highlights which included two pivotal moments in Newquay’s season.

He said: “I think Porthleven away was a special moment because it was the first time I changed things and went to three at the back, it worked and we scored nine and I have stuck to that system for a large part of the second half of the season. Also Plymstock away, to go there and win one nil against a really big side-I sort of felt that game secured the title a little bit that day.”

Hooper is already hard at work as The Peppermints look forward to making the step up to the Premier Division next season.

He said: “A lot of work needs to be done between now and then. We will need to freshen things up; I will need to speak to players about how they feel.

“We look forward to the challenge, we know what it’s all about in the Premier and we know where we need to improve upon but we’ve got a fantastic start with the squad that we’ve got.”

Newquay AFC will be presented with the league trophy at their next match away at Dobwalls on Saturday, 14^th April and will play out the 2012/13 season in the premier Cornish Division for the first time since 2007 when the old South Western Football League was disbanded in place of the South West Peninsula.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, THE ENGLISH TOURING OPERA, THE HALL FOR CORNWALL, 26TH MARCH 2012

I won’t lie to you; I fall in to the belief of the stereotype that opera takes up your evening with its glamorised talking and its nonsensical composer. However, I was pleasantly surprised upon enjoying the English Touring Opera’s rendition of The Barber of Seville on the first of three shows at The Hall for Cornwall between March 26^th-28^th.

The English Touring Opera scales the country each year with it 75 strong assembly bringing opera to the biggest and best stages.

Adapting Rossini’s work of genius in period Seville into the English language brings the enjoyment to a much wider audience enticing an English speaking audience. The Barber of Seville has a beautiful, yet dusky, storyline that conveys the tale of the three protagonists as love makes life difficult as usual!

What makes this performance special is its reach to an unconventional opera audience. Its humour will have you belly-laughing; its tension will have you on the edge of your seat and its affection will leave you smiling.

Once all these elements fall into place you can enjoy the emotive orchestral soundtrack that gorgeously accompanies the onstage occurrences.

A lot of praise must go to those at ETO who are taking opera to new levels with their invention, talent and dexterity.

ETO performed not only one, but two shows in Truro as they used their diversity to perform Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. These rudiments result in a classical experience for a brand new generation.

Penryn Athletic FC 5-3 Newquay AFC

• Durning Lawrence Charity Cup: Semi-Final 

Newquay AFC fell at the penultimate hurdle in their pursuit of Charity Cup glory as they were undone by an efficient and productive Penryn Athletic FC after 120 minutes of all-action, end-to-end football at Poltair Park.

 

In a match that will live long in the memory it was The Peppermints who began as favourites with Lee Bradd, Josh Kemp, Luke Weldhen and Andy Westgarth all coming into the starting XI while Sheffield Hallam University student Mamsy Sabo returned to the squad for the first time since the 1-9 win at Porthleven at the turn of the year. The line-up showed definite respect for a Penryn side who, up until a few weeks ago, were in with a chance of overtaking Newquay and taking the SWPL Division One West crown. They also knocked-out fellow title challengers Helston Athletic at the quarter final stage.

 

Kicking right to left in the first half The Peppermints took the initiative in the opening exchanges as Chris Reski, Westgarth and Weldhen all looked dangerous in the final third, the latter came the closest as his snap shot flew wide of the target. At the other end of the pitch Captain Mike Arscott kept the Penryn attack at bay with a key header, while Kayne Trevaskis had a header that didn’t trouble Joe Crane in the Newquay goal. Opposition captain Peter Maclean had an interesting five minutes as his slip allowed Westgarth to steal a march and test Jason Peters before shooting wide himself.

 

Bradd thought he had given The Peppermints the lead after heading home from a corner however, as he wheeled away in celebration with his team mates, the referee and linesman conferred and gave offside. It was a contentious issue that could have changed the face of the whole game. Danny Brook saw his free-kick which missed the goal by a whisker and Bradd tried his luck again firing over from long-range. Arscott made a crucial interception as Kirk Davies bore down on goal with Bradd clearing the ball out of danger.

 

Crane showed forethought as he leapt on a loose ball in front of Greg Hobbs, while Reski had two opportunities to give Newquay the lead but couldn’t beat Peters as both sides back lines dictated the play.

 

Davies was pushed away from the eighteen yard box but worked a way past his marker to whip a ball in that Trevaskis only had to tap into the back of an open goal from barely two yards out. To the disbelief of everyone at the ground he clipped the ball over the bar when it looked a certain goal. This seemed to knock Penryn for six momentarily as Hilton showed his pace on the wing, firing a pile driver that was saved by Peters. Nonetheless, Newquay had the lead moments later as the ball fell to Glen Squires who struck the ball through a crowded penalty area and past Peters.

 

The goal gave Newquay the advantage at half-time but Penryn came out after the break with the bit between their teeth with both Davies and Trevaskis having shots saved and over respectively before Josh Burton equalised, slipping the ball past Crane at the far post. Five minutes later the comeback was complete as danger man Dan Richardson put Penryn ahead for the first time. Referee Gary Cornish gave a soft free-kick against Dave Trott which was teasingly sent into the danger area by former Peppermint Justin Miles for Richardson to sneak the ball in.

 

Trott embodied the spirit that Newquay needed making a great defensive tackle at the back setting up Brook who came close to levelling the scores. Paul Hampshire and Johnny Ludlum were introduced in place of Westgarth and Kemp. Nonetheless, Penryn kept attacking as Hobbs was allowed through too easily but was thwarted by a mixture of Crane and Hobbs.

 

It was top scorer Weldhen who pegged Penryn back after Davies had made a fine save from Arscott, only for the hotshot to smash the ball past him. As both sides pushed for the lead again it was the daring Richardson who came closest but couldn’t get enough on his header. The match imitated the action of a basketball tie with one attack matched by another. Miles’ long free-kick bulleted into the wall while Reski had a shot saved and Squires’ header was cleared off the line. In the final moments of normal time Reski or Ludlum (twice) could of won it for Newquay while Richardson, Burton or Hobbs could of done the same for Penryn.

 

It wasn’t to be though as a winner couldn’t be determined after ninety minutes and extra time commenced and it was Liam Streat who ghosted through to put Penryn ahead again and it could have been four had Hobbs’ first touch not let him down. After a barrage of Peppermints attacks substitute Ludlum cracked the ball into the net to make it 3-3 at the 100 minute stage. The match became very stretched on a damp pitch as Hobbs and Squires both came close to claiming glory however David Broglino put Andrew Parry’s side ahead yet again acrobatically sending the ball past Crane.

 

Shortly after, Richardson grabbed his second and Penryn’s fifth as the result was put to bed. At the full time whistle a roar went up from the Penryn bench as they progressed to the final. Nonetheless, Newquay shouldn’t let their heads drop although had they made more of their chances they would surely have won the match. It was a fine performance though credit must go to an impressive Penryn side that matched The Peppermints over the tie and outplayed them in stages.

 

Next up for Newquay AFC is the crucial derby against the G at Godolphin Way on Good Friday, with a 12:00noon kick-off. Be there as The Peppermints look to secure the required point to clinch the league title then head back to Mount Wise to celebrate!

 

FLYBE Man of the Match: Lee Bradd

Newquay 3rds 3-0 Praze-an-Beeble Reserves

• Trelawny League Division Five – Sat 31st March

Jim Hilton’s Newquay 3rds extended their extraordinary unbeaten run to sixteen matches with a complete performance over sixth placed Praze-an-Beeble Reserves. Club captain Shaun Middleton grabbed a brace while Jake Viette put the icing on the cake as The Peppermints stormed to the top of Trelawny League Division 5.

With the first and second teams not in action on the day it was the third team that welcomed the support of the 44 who attended Mount Wise to see the side win for the tenth time on the bounce.

Newquay were slow in breaking into their stride and it took 15 minutes for them to fashion their first opportunity. Middleton’s free-kick gave Viette the chance to burn pace but neither he nor George Starkey could test Jack James in the Praze goal. Alex Coles made impressive advances in the final third only to mishit over the crossbar when through on goal. The adventurous Viette gathered Bonor Maull’s long ball from defence but again was thwarted by the Praze defence. Shortly after, Middleton and Starkey both flashed headers narrowly wide as the pressure on the away side built.

Middleton, who is regaining the rich vein of form he had before his knee injury struck in October last year, set-up the onrushing Coles who struck the near post with a low shot. The Peppermints quality shone through as Middleton blasted the ball into the back of the net from 18 yards to put his side ahead on forty minutes. A minute later the club captain doubled his and Newquay’s lead giving The Peppermints the advantage at the break.

Two minutes after the restart Viette scored a fine goal after a good run and fantastic teamwork, thanks to the tutelage of Hilton whose record with Newquay speaks for itself. Praze couldn’t get into the match although Brett Prentice was called upon a number of times without having to exert himself drastically-denying Ben Widdershoven, Luke Williams and Dan Bray.

As the second-half was coming to a close 50-year-old Hilton brought himself on for a cameo appearance, if only for a short period! Within seconds of coming on the pitch the referee Paul Roberts blew the full-time whistle. The three points mean Newquay 3rds top the league,  two points above West Cornwall Reserves in second. A fine all round performance, on this form they would be confident against anyone!

Peppermints Man of the Match: Shaun Middleton