The Bradley Stoke Journal

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)

A community football tournament organised by the local police team is to help raise funds to send a five-year-old boy to the USA for a life-changing operation.

The Bradley Stoke Community Shield five-a-side football tournament, to be held on Saturday 5th June at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, will raise money to help cerebal palsy sufferer Toby Cox.

Family and friends are currently trying to raise £36,000 to pay for an operation at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital that will hopefully remove the spasticity in his legs and allow Toby to walk unaided with a significantly improved level of comfort.

Officers based at Filton police station and staff from the Willow Brook Centre have joined in with the efforts to raise the money.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Paul Baxter said:

“We were already planning to run a football tournament as part of our efforts to bring the community together to make it safer and stronger.”

“When we heard about Toby, we immediately decided to make the event bigger and better in support of the campaign.”

Teams representing the neighbourhood police, the Willow Brook Centre, Tesco, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, teachers from Bradley Stoke Community School and Shirehampton Ladies’ football team will play in the contest.

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Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar was guest of honour at Bradley Stoke’s Baileys Court Inn on Saturday night at a post-match function organised by local football club Winterbourne United.

Winterbourne manager Nick Tanner, a team-mate of Grobbelaar at Liverpool, seemed to have pulled off a coup when he announced that the wacky 51-year-old would play for his team against local rivals Patchway Town in a Gloucestershire Cup tie.

Tanner was later forced to changes his plans, telling the Bristol Evening Post:

“We felt that, out of respect for our opponents and the competition, it would be best for Bruce not to play in the game.”

Instead, Grobbelaar would take part in a half-time penalty competition and would be on hand to warm up the players, sign autographs and pose for pictures.

In the event, the star’s presence failed to inspire the Winterbourne lads, as they crashed out of the competition in a 0-1 home defeat.

Undeterred by the afternoon’s result, the team and supporters made merry at Baileys Court Inn on Saturday night at “An Evening with Bruce Grobbelaar”.

A chilli supper was followed by a quiz and then an “informative and hilarious” question and answer session with the footballing legend.

Grobbelaar also made a draw to nominate the Baileys Court Inn charity of the year for 2010, which went to Southmead Cancer Research.

Photo (L-R): Mark Hodgkiss (Manager, Baileys Court Inn), Ellen Winfield (Winterbourne United FC), Bruce Grobbelaar, Nick Tanner (Manager, Winterbourne United FC).

A number of youth football teams in Bradley Stoke are looking to recruit new players as the 2009/2010 season gets under way.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC is recruiting players for its new Under-7s team. Contact Marlon on 07872 399053, or Gunnar on 01179 096557 if you are interested.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC also needs players for its new Under-10s and Under-11s girls’ teams. Contact Andy on 07773 305477, or Gunnar on 01179 096557 to find out more.

Bradley Stoke United FC is looking for more players to join its Under-15s Girls team, which is playing in the Bristol Girls League this season. Contact club coach Dave Stephens on 07737 155901 or Vice Chairman Neil Short on 07905 974119 for more details.

Bradley Stoke United FC is also seeking players for its Under-7s team.

Related Link: Football in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)