Swifts hit GNP for six
GNP Sports 0 Stourport Swifts 6
Stourport Swifts stepped up their pre season preparation with a 6-0 rout of Division 1 side GNP Sports.
Swifts opened the scoring after just four minutes when Jim Hanson was brought down in the box and Jack Watts fired in from the spot.
Three minutes later Aaron Brett and Watts combined to set up Jim Hanson who cooly slotted home from eight yards out. Swifts went 3-0 up on 18 minutes when Watts was played through and chipped over keeper John Cleary from 20 yards. Bailey Fuller, one of three new signings from Kidderminster Harriers, then opened the GNP defence with some clever footwork, and squared for Brett to tap in from close range.
Swifts eased off after the break, but still managed to add a couple more to their tally, first when Cleary’s poor clearance dropped to Nick MacPherson, who lobbed the ball straight back over his head to make it five, and then Elliott Lees was sent through by Mark Danks and finished smartly from a tight angle into the roof of the net.
Swifts return to action
Shawbury Athletic 2 Stourport Swifts 3
Stourport Swifts were back on the pitch last night for the first time since March 13th in this pre season friendly at The Ludlow Stadium, played behind closed doors.
Manager Quentin Townsend took a full squad, including three of his six new signings, and raced into 3-0 lead in the first half. After 20 minutes Bailey Fuller and Jack Watts combined well to create an opening for Nick MacPherson to score from eight yards, and just five minutes later Fuller set up Watts for a close range tap in to make it two. With 37 minutes gone a Mark Danks corner was headed home by Ryan Wollacott to make it 3-0, but Shawbury’s Keanu Cooper pulled one back just before the break.
Townsend used all six of his substitutes at the break, and although it took time to find some rhythm, Aaron Brett twice failed to increase the Swifts lead with just the keeper to beat. Martin Slevin and Kirk Layton both hit the Shawbury bar with long range efforts as Swifts got their act together, but Shawbury set up a jittery last ten minutes for the Swifts when they grabbed a second with a curling 20 yarder from Joe Ratcliffe.
Townsend was delighted with their first outing for almost five months, and said after the game “We looked very sharp in the first half, and Jack Watts linked really well with Bailey Fuller and Nick MacPherson up front”. Townsend though was disappointed that last season’s skipper Matt Fulloway has left to join title chasers Sporting Khalsa. “We wish Matt well, but we will miss him. With Ryan Wollacott coming back it would have been fantastic if we could have played them together.”
SWIFTS: Richards, Cordell, Wollacott, Timmins, Jackson, Fuller, Slevin, Layton, Danks, Watts, MacPherson. Subs used: Jim Hanson, Joe Hanson, Matt Hanson, Brett, Yates, Phillips.
Swifts announce Covid 19 action plan
These procedures are in line with current government and FA guidelines as they exist and as such are subject to change in response to any amendments to those guidelines by any regulatory body, along with any fine tuning required due to practical usage experience.
Arrival
There is a fixed sanitiser station at the players and officials entrance to the ground.
Visiting teams will be asked to supply a full list of players, management and any other staff directly related to the match prior to arrival. This only needs to be names.
Visiting clubs may bring their 10 representatives, even for friendlies, subject to providing a list in advance as per MPL rules. This also only needs to be names.
No other spectators can be admitted to any matches at this moment in time.
All visitors must use the players gate as the turnstiles will not be available for use.
Changing rooms
There will be portable sanitising bottles in all changing areas.
All changing rooms will be cleaned before any matches and immediately afterwards.
The shower facilities will be available when approved.
Clubhouse
There will be fixed sanitiser stations at the front and rear entrances.
There will be a one-way system in and out of the clubhouse. The bar will be open.
All hard surfaces, including external door handles, will be cleaned before any match, again during the first half and again during the second half and prior to locking up.
All toilet facilities will be cleaned in line with the above timings. All cleaning schedules will be kept for inspection.
Outside
The main stand will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Please be aware that it will not be possible to clean the pitch perimeter railings once the game has started. They will be cleaned before each match
General
All age levels at the club have resumed training, but not at the ground, every session is carried out with strict adherence to the FA guidelines in every aspect.
All balls will be cleaned prior to any match and spare ones will be available should one leave the field of play.
All personal data will be kept for the mandatory 21 days
The club will expect all users of its premises to adhere to the social distancing protocols, of which there will be reminders around the ground and facilities.
Notices encouraging everyone to wash their hands regularly will be on display.
Stourport Swifts are not responsible for any symptoms that a visitor may get during or after their time with us.
The club reserves the right to both refuse admission and eject people who fail to comply with the government guidelines.
Midland League given go ahead for 5th September start
The FA have given grassroots football the go ahead to commence, as long as strict protocols are observed.
Friendlies can begin from 1st August, but these should be behind closed doors.
The league will re commence from Saturday 5th September, but crowd protocols, if permitted, are still to be advised.
Below is an extract from the official notification:
STOURPORT SWIFTS - Club Officials
President : VACANT
Chairman: Pip Hanson 07966 644762
Treasurer: Pip Hanson
Secretary: Graham Haighway 07780 997758 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Commercial Manager: Nigel Wager 07912 890997
Press Officer: Ian Johnson 07970 237758 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Committee Members: Ian Sword, Margaret Sword, Brian Hewitt, Tony Lavery, Stuart Adey, Paul Reynolds, Mark Wenham, Claire Davis, Paul Frankling
Covid 19 Officer: Paul Frankling 07786 380911 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Life Members: Ian Sword,Sylvia McDonald
Team Manager : Quentin Townsend
Assistant Manager: Mark Danks
Official Club Sponsor
