The Bradley Stoke Journal

Bradley Stoke Town FC (BSTFC) celebrated the official opening of its new clubhouse at the Jubilee Centre on Saturday with a quiz and race night.

The clubhouse aims to provide players with an environment to relax in and enjoy a drink following games on Saturday afternoon.

Up until now, the club has not had an exclusive clubhouse, instead using the local pub as a venue to meet. Members of the committee hope that the clubhouse is just one of the steps that will help push the club forward in their ambitious development plans.

Club Chairman Ian Drew explained to The Journal that the eventual aim is for the first team to play in the Gloucestershire FA County League, five levels above the outfit’s current status in Division Two of the Bristol and District League.

Recognising that their ambition requires a series of improvements to the facilities at their home ground, including a clubhouse, pitch improvements, railings around the pitch and ‘dug outs’ for both teams, the club has now cleared the first of those hurdles.

Four promotions in the past six years and two league cup final victories suggest that the club’s lofty aims might well be achievable, says the Chairman.

The ‘clubhouse’ consists of the foyer, conservatory, bar and kitchen areas of the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.

More: Defeat for first team following mass scuffle and sendings off »

Bradley Stoke Town FC (BSTFC) have run out winners of the Gloucestershire FA Intermediate Cup with a 2-1 victory over Mendip United FC.

Last night’s match at Oakland Park, Almomdsbury, saw the local team fight back strongly after going 1-0 down 15 minutes into the game.

Two goals from central defender Ben Osborne (in the 42nd and 51st minutes) turned the game around and sterling work from the BSTFC defence prevented Mendip getting back into the game.

BSTFC Chair Ian Drew told The Journal:

“I am extremely proud to be associated with Bradley Stoke Town FC winning the Intermediate Cup 2-1 against Mendip United.”

“The way they played with total togetherness and in the correct spirit of the game and a never say die attitude. The whole squad cannot be praised enough.”

“Congratulations to Ben Osborne for scoring both goals. Matt Burgess as captain and leading from example and especially Manager and Head Coach Martin Lee for his continued success. Long may it last.”

“I would also like to thank those from Bradley Stoke who attended. Of the approximately 200 spectators, there must have been 175 plus who were cheering their team on to victory.”

This is the club’s first victory in the competition, having been narrowly defeated 2-1 by Brislington Cricketers in the 2007 final.

The Mayor of Bradley Stoke has appealed to football fans in the town to get behind their local team as they prepare for the final of the Gloucestershire Football Association (GFA) Intermediate Cup.

The Bradley Stoke Town Football Club (BSTFC) 1st Team, who normally play their home games at the Town Council’s Jubilee Centre, came from behind to beat De Veys 2-1 in their semi final match on 19th February.

Despite going down 1-0 in the first five minutes, the team managed to equalize just before half-time and a strike six minutes from full time was sufficient to make it through to the final for the second time in their short history.

When informed about the team’s victory, Cllr Ben Walker (Town Mayor) said:

“This is fantastic news for the club and the whole town. The club committee, members and players work so hard to maintain such a high standard throughout the club and this final proves that their collective dedication and enthusiasm, continues to pay off.”

“As a town, we are so lucky to have such committed sports clubs, and The Town Council will continue to support them in any way we can.”

“I ask football fans throughout the town to come along with me to the final to support our side and celebrate another Bradley Stoke victory!”

Read on for more details of the Cup Final fixture »

A meeting of the Southern Brooks Area Forum on Tuesday (1st September) is set to discuss grant applications from Bradley Stoke organisations.

Area forums, organised by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), give local people the opportunity to talk about issues and concerns that affect their neighbourhoods. They champion local needs and aspirations and gather the views of residents about specific community issues.

In the Southern Brooks Area, which covers Bradley Stoke, Filton, Frenchay, Stoke Park, Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne, 14 organisations have made valid applications for a share of the £32k+ pot of grant funding made available by SGC.

Shopmobility South Gloucestershire has applied for a grant of £3,000 towards the cost of setting up a Shopmobility service at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre. The total cost of the project is said to be £8,000, which includes the purchase of four ‘Shoprider’ powered scooters.

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive explained to The Journal:

“Whilst the facility will be based in the centre, it is possible to connect to the neighbouring library and leisure centre for those who use the scooters. The Shopmobility scheme will be run from a prominent location in the centre of the mall making it more convenient for those using the scheme.”

Mr Lahive says that WestWorld, the mobility and lifestyle retailer shown as a prospective tenant in a marketing brochure for the Willow Brook Centre, has now decided that it won’t be opening in Bradley Stoke.

“We felt that a shop mobility scheme would provide a great service for less mobile shoppers and when WestWorld felt that it wasn’t possible to operate a shop within the scheme, we approached South Gloucestershire Shopmobility.”

Another local project looking for funding is a scheme to improve drainage on the lower football pitch at the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road. Bradley Stoke Youth FC and Bradley Stoke Town FC are looking for grant of £6,500 to carry out the necessary works.

The clubs claim that drainage problems cause matches to be “cancelled on a regular basis when there is any rain”, adding that “last December and January no matches were possible on pitches due to waterlogged damage.”

Bradley Stoke Town Council has already spent over £8,000 during the past year in an attempt to improve drainage on the upper football pitch at the same site.

The Southern Brooks Area Forum meeting takes place at the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne, starting at 7pm.

More Information: Meeting Agenda (SGC)

Bradley Stoke Town FC is looking to recruit new players to strengthen its first team squad for the upcoming football season.

Last season the team gained promotion for the third time in a row and officials are now seeking more good quality players to ensure that the remarkable record can be continued.

Pre-season training is already underway – at Wheatfield Primary School on Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30pm.

Interested players are invited to contact Nick Potter (Secretary) or James Palmer (Chairman) – click on poster for contact details.

The club says it is also looking for new team sponsors. Information on the club’s website shows that sponsorship of the first team away kit could be had for £350.

Related Link: Football in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

Bradley Stoke Town Footbal Club (BSTFC) have won promotion for the third consecutive season after a 3-0 victory over close rivals Shireway Sports at the Jubilee Centre on Saturday.

The local team needed to win the match as a draw would have left Shireway with a chance of clinching the title with victory in their final game next Saturday.

The result guarantees BSTFC a winning margin of three points in Division 4 of the Bristol & District Football League.

Team Manager Martin Lee praised the team for keeping 13 clean sheets and letting in just one goal at home during the whole season. He told his players:

“We have performed as a team this year, we defend from the front and we attack from all sides. Everyone in every match has tried their best for me and I really appreciate that. You have listened to me and have showed great respect for me which I thank you all for.”

Leading scorers for BSTFC this season were Adam Sykes (18 goals), Liam Dixon (13), Sam Chillcott (11) and Ashley Lloyd (10).

Players putting in the most appearances over the season were Liam Dixon & Ben Osborne (24 each) and Ashley Harrington & Ashley Lloyd (23 each).

Club Secretary and Assistant Manager Nick Potter told The journal:

“I never imagined that since starting the club with James Palmer (Chairman) in February 2005 our club would have come so far in such a short space of time This is the second Championship win in three years, gaining promotion in each of the last three seasons.”

“We are a young team with some very talented players. There is a belief that with this squad of players and with the management structure we have in place, this team could go a long way.”

Related Link:  Football in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)