Staffordshire F.A.

Senior Cup Final

2008

 Kidsgrove Athletic   v   Rocester

Wednesday 16th April at Vale Park, Burslem.    Kick Off 7.30pm.

Directions to Vale Park:

From Uttoxeter take the A50 towards the Potteries all the way to the Britannia Stadium, and then turn right onto the northbound A500 'D' Road.

Take the third exit (Festival Park/Hanley) and turn right onto the A53 (signposted Leek).

(Beware of speed cameras) Stay in the right-hand lane over the fly-over, go straight ahead at the island and continue forward to Cobridge traffic lights (Mercedes dealer on left).

Turn left into Waterloo Road and continue forward to the major traffic lights in Burslem (by the War Memorial).

Turn right into Moorland Road and then immediately left into Hamil Road. The ground is on the left.

There are two car parks at the ground, and there is ample street parking in the surrounding areas.

 

Supporters Coach Travel: Fully Booked.

 

Admission Prices: £6 (Concessions £3).

 

Programmes:  £1.

ROUTE TO THE FINAL

Kidsgrove Athletic: (Holders)

Round 1 Meir K.A. Away Won 9-1
      Michael Lennon(3); Aiden Matranga(2);
      Wayne Brotherton; Ashley Hill;
      Steve Jones; Alex Morris.
Round 2 Tamworth Home Won 2-0
      Michael Lennon(2).
Semi-Final Pelsall Villa Away Won 3-2
      Mark Beeston; Craig Lovatt; Steve Jones.

Rocester:

Round 1 Hednesford Town Home Won 2-0
      Nick Ward; Ishmale Reid.
Round 2 Rushall Olympic Away Drew 3-3 (won 3-1 on pens)
      Dave Shaw; Gary Beardsley; Ishmale Reid.
Semi-Final Eccleshall Away Won 1-0
      Dave Shaw (pen).

 

Rocester's Senior Cup Record >>>

A History of the Senior Cup >>> 

 

 

Both teams will be wearing their usual home colours in the final.

 

Kidsgrove will be in an all blue strip with white sleeves, while the Romans will be wearing their amber and black kit.

 

On Wednesday of this week most of the first team squad went up to Vale Park to familiarise themselves with the ground and the facilities.

 

The players were shown around the dressing rooms and several other areas in the main stand like the medical room, the restaurant and kitchen areas and the executive boxes looking out across the ground, and they were allowed to walk through the tunnel into the dug-outs and up to the side of the pitch.

 

We were told that Rocester have been allocated the 'home' dressing room for the final, however the two dressing rooms are more or less identical so there's no extra 'comforts' for us!

 

The Vale Park pitch is the widest in the Football League at 77 yards across, and 114 yards long - making it one of the biggest playing surfaces in the country. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 20,000.

 

Kidsgrove Athletic Pen-Pictures

James Coates (Goalkeeper) DoB 22/02/85. A string of fine performances made James an instant hit with the Kidsgrove supporters after he originally joined on loan from Worcester City just over a year ago. Was previously with Bromsgrove Rovers, and was once a part of the Welsh Under-21 squad. 
Matthew Elder (Defender) DoB   /  /  . Matthew is a former Everton Youth team player who signed from Warrington Town in February 2008. Formerly with Welsh League side Buckley Town.
Richard Eyre (Midfield) DoB 15/09/76. Experienced player who made almost 50 appearances for Port Vale before moving into non-league football with Hyde United. He first played for Kidsgrove back in 2001-02, but returned to Hyde and then moved on to Leek Town before rejoining Kidsgrove in January 2005. Recently he has been used in defence.
Mark Beeston (Central Defender) DoB 25/11/80. Started his career with Crewe Alexandra before moving into non-league football with Hyde United. Mark spent four seasons with Newcastle Town before signing for Kidsgrove in February 2007.
Anthony Kielthy (Central Defender) DoB 06/04/83). Popular defender who originally joined Kidsgrove in November 2003 on loan from Hyde United. During his time with the club he has proved a reliable, consistent and committed performer in a number of positions. He was Players' Player of the Year in 2004/05 and club captain during 2005/06.

Alex Morris (Midfield) DoB   /  /  . Alex spent his early years with Crewe Alexandra, and he first joined Kidsgrove on loan from there in November 2002. His career at Crewe was blighted by injury and, after a spell at Northwich, he returned to Clough Hall during 2006/07 in a coaching capacity.

Steve Jones (Midfield) DoB 31/01/72. Vastly experienced player who returned to Kidsgrove in October 2005 where he first played as a teenager back in 1991. His career took him to Leek Town, Ashton United, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport and Lancaster City. Always likely to pop up with a goal.

Ryan Baker (Midfield) DoB 28/08/80. Ryan is a former Crewe Alexandra trainee who first joined Kidsgrove in July 2003 from League of Wales side Rhyl. He moved to Witton Albion for £3,000 fee in 2004 and then on to Colwyn Bay before rejoining Kidsgrove in July 2006. He then went on his travels to play for Flixton, Trafford, Caernarfon, Warrington and Alsager Town before returning to Clough Hall for a third spell in January 2008.

Aiden Matranga (Midfield) DoB 30/11/86. Pacey winger who joined Kidsgrove in June 2006 after being released by Macclesfield Town, whom he had represented at both Youth and Reserve team level. Aiden soon became a regular goalscorer, and marked last season's Staffs Senior Cup Final with a memorable strike at Vale Park against Rushall Olympic.

 STAR MAN  Michael Lennon (Forward) DoB 25/07/81.

Michael takes the match ball home after scoring a hat-trick in last season's final.

The Bishop Auckland born striker signed from local rivals Newcastle Town in June 2006. During his five-year career at the Lyme Valley club he was regularly at or near the top of the North West Counties League goalscoring charts, and finished the 2005-06 season with 33 goals. In a stunning first season at Unibond League level, he led the way with a remarkable tally of 51 goals, including a hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Rushall Olympic in the Staffs Senior Cup Final. Michael was capped by British Universities, and he has also played for Spennymoor United and Colwyn Bay.

Phil Hadland (Forward) DoB 20/10/80. Experienced forward who has played League football for the likes of Reading, Leyton Orient, Brighton, Darlington and Colchester United. In October 2003 he moved into the non-league game with Leek Town and also played for Stalybridge Celtic and Bradford Park Avenue before signing briefly for Kidsgrove at the end of 2005-06. He spent last season in the UniBond Premier League with Hednesford Town from whom he signed in June 2007.

Ashley Hill (Midfield)
Simon Everall

Craig Lovatt (Midfield) DoB 16/11/78. Craig rejoined Kidsgrove in July 2007, ten years after making his first appearance for the club. As a teenager he was a key member of the Kidsgrove squad that won the North West Counties League and Cup double in 1997-98. In common with most of that squad, he moved on to Leek Town in the summer of 1998 before joining Stafford Rangers. He made over 300 appearances there and contributed 27 goals as they climbed from the Southern Premier League into the Conference.
Neil Edwards (Defender)