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 »

The work of Bradley Stoke Youth FC’s (BSYFC’s) Martin Lee has been recognised by the Gloucestershire Football Association (GFA) at its 2010/2011 season awards presentation evening.

Martin, a founder member of BSYFC, was named winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Community Football Award at the event held on Monday 27th June.

This award was presented in recognition of Martin’s successes with developing football opportunities and increasing participation in the club and the local community.

Since its formation in 1998, Martin has been a driving force behind the growth of the club. In 2007, a school-club link was started, which this season has covered 14 schools and involved 300 children, giving the opportunity of football coaching experience to pupils.

An announcement on the BSYFC website reads:

“This is a well deserved award and well merited. Well done Martin.”

The club itself also received an award, being named the Community Club of the Year for the GFA area.

Read on for more news about the club’s award »

A family fun day and a five-a-side football tournament are being held at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre (BSLC) this Saturday (2nd July), to raise funds for equipment at a local children’s hospital.

The combined event, organised by the Willow Brook Centre and CJ Hole estate agents, will raise money the Cots for Tots Appeal, which is seeking to raise £1 million for intensive care equipment needed by the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol.

This will be the second running of the combined event, following a successful inauguration last year, which raised money for the Help Toby Walk appeal.

The family fun day runs from 12 noon to 4pm in the overflow car park at the Leisure Centre.

The football tournament, for the Bradley Stoke Community Shield, is open to any team from the local community and entries have already been received from the Willow Brook Centre, Tesco Extra, the Leisure Centre, the Aztec Hotel, the local police and Bradley Stoke Town Council.

The football action gets underway at 4pm, preceded by an opening ceremony performed by Bradley Stoke’s local flag waving troop, the South West Winterguard Academy.

The tournament will end at around 9:30pm and will be followed with a trophy presentation by Cllr Charlotte Walker (Vice Chair of Bradley Stoke Town Council).

For further information, contact Mark Wathern of the Willow Brook Centre on 01454 205040.

Read on for a list of local business that are supporting the day »

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 »

Some of  Bradley Stoke’s pubs are hoping for a bonanza four week period as the 2010 FIFA World Cup gets underway tomorrow (Friday).

Baileys Court Inn is bringing in an extra 37 inch screen to supplement the three others that normally show sporting events around the newly-refurbished venue. The pub will be showing all World Cup matches live and is looking to attract extra punters with special football offers on food and drink.

Over near Tesco Extra, The Three Brooks will also be employing an extra (third) screen, but only for England games. Other matches will be shown on the regular screens, but “at a low volume” says manager Steve Williams.

The Bradley Stoke in Brook Way will also be showing all games live and is extending its Curry Club offer (normally available only on Wednesdays) to World Cup match days.

There’s less enthusiasm for the football in the north of the town, where The Orchard (Toby Carvery) in Woodland Lane says sport isn’t a big draw for its regular customers, many of whom are attracted instead by the establishment’s bargain £5.25 carvery offer.

Saturday’s Bradley Stoke Community Fair will be finishing at the earlier time of 6pm this year, to accommodate England’s first match (against the USA) which kicks off at 7:30pm.

Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre is staging a ‘family viewing night’ for Saturday’s game. The bar and café will be open and children are invited to “bounce on the bouncy castle and join the kids’ kick around”.

Related link: Pubs in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)