Welcome to the web pages of Northop Hall Old Boys (over-35's veterans) Football Club, lovers of the beautiful game who put their ageing bodies on the line each week to satisfy that desire (and in a vain attempt to keep middle-age spread at bay!)
Click here to view the 2009-10 fixture list
*** LATEST NEWS *** LATEST NEWS *** LATEST NEWS ***
MARCH 2010
Sandbach game at Winsford is off
FEBRUARY 2010
Ken back in Connahs Quay hotseat
JANUARY 2010
Home defeat as Old Boys pay the penalty again
DECEMBER 2009
Big freeze makes it three in a row
NOVEMBER
Stalemate at Chester Nomads
OCTOBER
Hard earned draw at Rhewl extends unbeaten run
SEPTEMBER
Moore is too much for Stationmasters
AUGUST
Halkyn edge opening day nine-goal thriller
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SANDBACH GAME AT WINSFORD IS OFF
The eagerly awaited midweek game under the floodlights at Winsford has unfortunately been cancelled as Sandbach are unable to raise a team on the night. We hope that they will be able to find an alternative date before the end of the season.
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CROFT JUST TOO STRONG AS OLD BOYS COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH
After last week's unbelievable 10 all draw it was back to earth with a bump for Northop Hall at Warrington Croft, going down by three goals to one despite a battling performance. Mike Maletta scored the consolation goal on his debut for the Old Boys. Click here to view the match report.
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KEN BACK IN CONNAHS QUAY HOTSEAT
Former Old Boy Ken Price has been re-appointed as manager of Gap Connahs Quay in the Welsh Premier League, changing places with former Wrexham midfielder Mark McGregor who reverts to assistant manager while he completes work on his UEFA 'A' coaching badge. Ken, who appeared for Northop Hall six times last season, scoring once, has already obtained his licence and will now oversee the Deeside club's efforts to make the super 12 in the reformatted league next season. Needless to say, his high profile commitments have made him unavailable for us so far this season, but we wish him well in his new role and what will be a tough task ahead. Click here to read the full story.
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GREATEST EVER COMEBACK IN 20 GOAL FIASCO
Another low turnout led to only 10 players making the trip to Waterside for a fixture switched away because of the state of the home pitch. The usual handful of youngsters combined with their older team-mates had them 7-2 up by half time, but in the greatest comeback in Northop Hall history, the Old Boys got the score to 10-6 in the second half before firing in 4 more goals in the last 10 minutes to remarkably level things up. Click here to view the match report.
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This year's Sealand Cup has been drawn with the Old Boys coming out in Pool A with Liverpool Ramblers, Halkyn Veterans, Waterside Old Boys and Northop Hall Nomads. The draw has been kind on our travel arrangements as both the Liverpool sides will visit Northop Hall, with our away games taking us up the road to Halkyn and the very short trip to local rivals Nomads. Dates have been added to the fixtures - click here to view the updated fixture list. Full details can be found on the Sandbach Utd Vets website as they are running the tournament again.
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MUDDY HELL FOR OLD BOYS PASSING GAME
In very muddy conditions after yet more snow thawed, the Old Boys failed to adapt their game as well as Wirral Veterans and flopped to a 3-1 defeat. Click here to view the match report.
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DIARY DATES - PRESENTATION NIGHT & MIDWEEK GAME AT WINSFORD
This year's end of season PRESENTATION NIGHT will be held on Friday May 14th, once again at Northop Hall Cricket Club.
More details on tickets coming soon.
The MIDWEEK GAME against Sandbach Veterans that we have been trying to organise has now been booked for Wednesday March 10th. The game will
take place under the floodlights at Winsford United's ground, with a 7:30 pm kick-off.
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SPOT-ON FOR RETURN TO WINNING WAYS
The Old Boys took advantage of returning players and a successful penalty kick to finally record a first victory
of 2010, hanging on to beat Rhewl Veterans by four goals to three. Click here to view the match report.
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UNLUCKY EIGHT FOR PLUCKY EIGHT
With an unprecedented level of unavailability and late drop outs, the Old Boys ended up mustering just eight players for the trip to Woolton. Despite
that, with a couple of players borrowed from the opposition, the team put up a performance that on another day would have reaped some reward for their efforts, the 8-0
scoreline not reflecting a day when all luck deserted us. Click here to view the match report.
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HOME DEFEAT AS OLD BOYS PAY THE PENALTY AGAIN
For the second time in successive weeks Northop Hall were rueing a missed penalty along with other chances that would have made up a 4-2 deficit against Sandbach Utd Veterans. Click here to view the match report.
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HOME DRAW IN SHOTTON STEEL VETERANS CUP
The quarter final of the Shotton Steel Veterans Cup will see the Old Boys host Eastham Veterans on Saturday, March 20th. Prior to the start of the season, we had originally earmarked that date to play at Eastham anyway, a game that was called off when we realised it was the cup date, so it's uncanny that we ended up drawing them in the competition! The full draw is as follows:-
Shotton Steel Vets v. Halkyn Vets
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RUSTY RETURN SEES DEFEAT AT SHOTTON
Finally the weather relented to allow the Old Boys to take on Shotton Steel Vets, the first action since November 28th last year - and it showed! A 4-0 scoreline was probably undeserved as the last two goals were late on and Northop Hall missed a penalty at 2-0 that would have made it closer. However, everybody got good playing time and will be better for having seen action.
Click here to view the match report.
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DERBY GAME IS LATEST CASUALTY OF WINTER FREEZE
Another significant snowfall has put paid to this week's local derby with Northop Hall Nomads as the prolonged wintry conditions leave us without a game for the sixth successive fixture. At least our rotund new signing (pictured above) should feel right at home! (Any resemblance to any member of the current playing staff is purely coincidental!!)
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NATIONWIDE BLANKET OF SNOW PUTS PAID TO SANDBACH VISIT
The winter chill shows no sign of abating. Snow covered much of the UK from early in the week and showed no signs of abating for the Saturday leading to yet another fixture call-off, the fifth in a row, this time at Sandbach. Rumours abound that we have had to let out the team shirts by a couple of inches to accommodate the Christmas excesses that aren't getting worked off!
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NEW DATE FOR ROCK FERRY FIXTURE
Amidst all the cancelled fixtures, we have at least been able to rearrange the home game with Rock Ferry Veterans, which is now due to take place at Northop Hall on March 27th. We will be looking to get a few extra games in at the end of the season to try and get some of the other postponed fixtures in. Keep checking the website for updates. Click here to view the updated fixture list.
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NEW YEAR, SAME PROBLEMS AS WEATHER HITS FIXTURE AGAIN
2010 has begun as 2009 ended with a deep overnight frost leading to yet another cancelled fixture, this time Upton Veterans being the thwarted opposition. After the excesses of the Christmas period, so many of the Old Boys squad were down to play this one that it would have resembled a Sven friendly for England with a different team in each half! Sadly, we're all going to have to wait at least another week for that long awaited return to action having seen December's fixtures already totally obliterated.
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BIG FREEZE MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
For the third week on the trot, the scheduled fixture has been called off, this time our away game at Halkyn. Heavy overnight frost left the ground frozen and unplayable to end the year in frustration. After a week's enforced break for Christmas we will try again for January 2nd 2010 and keep fingers crossed that the weather is a bit more amenable to us working off the season's excesses! Merry Christmas everybody!
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IT'S A GIRL! SEREN UP FOR WARDY!
Congratulations from everyone at the Old Boys to Phil Ward and wife, Christine, on the birth of baby girl, Seren Eva. We're pleased to report that mother and daughter are doing well. We hope the same can be said for Wardy in the next match and that the sleepless nights aren't affecting too much!
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SECOND SUCCESSIVE POSTPONEMENT LEAVES OLD BOYS KICKING HEELS
A difficult decision on the state of the Northop Hall pitch was avoided before the weekend as Rock Ferry Vets gave notice that they were struggling to raise a team to come over to North Wales. The dreaded Christmas shopping is looming!
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SALTNEY GAME FALLS VICTIM TO THE WEATHER
The constant rain of the last few weeks left the pitches at Northop Hall unplayable for the first weekend in December and has led to the postponement of the game against Saltney Veterans. Let's hope for some drying weather over the next seven days.
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Defences were well on top at Chester but a late goal gave the Old Boys hope of victory, only for a late equaliser to claim a share of the spoils.
Click here to view the match report.
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QUIZ NIGHT THIS THURSDAY: ALL WELCOME
A reminder to everybody that it's the Old Boys Social Night and Quiz at the Black Lion on Thursday (26th), from 8:00 p.m. (Quiz to start promptly at 9:00 p.m.) All welcome for what should be a good night out. Players can bring along wives, girlfriends (probably best not to bring both though!) family and friends.
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CONTROVERSY AS UNBEATEN RUN IS ENDED BY BRICKFIELDS
A heavy downpour right on kick off created a mudbath, but it was the visitors' "referee" who made the biggest mess-up with a terrible second half decision that cost the Old Boys a deserved share of the spoils.
Click here to view the match report.
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SUNDAY FIRST WILL NOW BE AT HOME
BREAKING NEWS:- Sunday's (Nov 22nd) game with Brickfields Vets (Wrexham) will now be played at Northop Hall, kick off 2 pm,
the first Sunday fixture in the Old Boys short history. Click here to view the revised fixture list.
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CHANGE OF VENUE FOR SALTNEY FIXTURE
Please note:- The game against Saltney on Saturday, December 5th, will now take place at home as they are finding it hard to secure a pitch at their Westminster Park ground. Click here to view the revised fixture list.
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FOUR GOAL SECOND HALF COMEBACK EARNS WIRRAL WIN
The Old Boys came from a goal down at half-time to bag four goals without reply in the second half and take their unbeaten run to nine games.
Click here to view the match report.
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LATE EASTHAM EQUALISER DENIES OLD BOYS VICTORY
Northop Hall were only a few minutes away from recording another home victory when Eastham, who had already missed a second half penalty, came up with an equalising goal to deny the win.
Click here to view the match report.
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WINSFORD MID-WEEK DATE TO BE RE-ARRANGED
The fixture against Sandbach Utd Veterans under the floodlights at Winsford will definitely be going ahead some time over the coming weeks, but it WON'T be on November 11th as provisionally planned, with the ground being unavailable that night . KEEP WATCHING THE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.
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HARD EARNED DRAW AT RHEWL EXTENDS UNBEATEN RUN
It's now seven games since Northop Hall Old Boys last tasted defeat following this latest hard fought draw at Rhewl. The home side missed a penalty but Steve Bodey almost won it late on only for his shot to come back off the post.
Click here to view the match report.
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DIARY DATE: QUIZ NIGHT AT THE BLACK LION
Another date for the diary everyone. On Thursday November 26th, Phil Southern will be in the chair again for a general knowledge Quiz Night at the Black Lion. Everyone welcome - players, wives, girlfriends, friends and family. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
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OLD BOYS EDGE OUT SANDBACH 2nds IN ELEVEN GOAL THRILLER
Yet another high scoring game saw Northop Hall squander a 6-2 lead in a blustery second half and hang on to win by one goal after a second successive Matt Lucas hat trick.
Click here to view the match report.
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SUNDAY BEST FOR WREXHAM FIXTURE
Make a date in the diary - in a break from traditional Saturday afternoons, we are looking at a potential Sunday afternoon fixture against Brickfield Veterans from Wrexham on November 22nd, possibly at Queensway Stadium, Wrexham. Watch this space for more details.
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MATT FINISH THE DIFFERENCE IN HIGH SCORING UPTON VICTORY
Last year it was 10-4 to the Old Boys; this year's fixture was heading the same way as Northop Hall edged a 6-4 win at Upton, with Matt Lucas netting four times. It isn't the best of fixtures for defenders!
Click here to view the match report.
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Despite going behind early on the Old Boys fought back with an excellent performance to defeat Warrington Croft by five goals to two in a cracking game at Northop Hall.
Click here to view the match report.
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WINDSWEPT DRAW AT WATERSIDE KEEPS RUN GOING
Youth was key in the battle of the Old Boys as Northop Hall stretched their unbeaten run to three games at Waterside. Matching the mixture of young and old legs that this opposition always puts out, an even game played in the teeth a gale force wind finished four goals apiece.
Click here to view the match report.
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MOORE IS TOO MUCH FOR STATIONMASTERS
Richard Moore was the four-goal hero as the Old Boys beat Stationmasters (Buckley) by five goals to three.
Click here to view the match report.
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DERBY DAY WIN GETS THE SEASON GOING
Despite a late keeper change and a rather thin squad, the Old Boys recorded their first victory of the season with a rare clean sheet to beat Northop Hall Nomads by two goals. Click here to view the match report.
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FLY PAST FAILS TO INSPIRE AS OLD BOYS RUE MISSED CHANCES
Despite being treated to a fly-past by the Red Arrows en route to the Airbus Air Show, the Old Boys couldn't come up with the right formation to beat Woolton Veterans, although with better finishing the 4-2 defeat could easily have had a different result. Click here to view the match report.
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The game scheduled for Saturday August 29th at Rock Ferry has had to be called off as the Old Boys have been unable to raise even half a team! A mixture of working commitments and the Bank Holiday weekend have left us woefully short. Hopefully, once that weekend is out of the way we'll be ok for future games.
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HALKYN EDGE OPENING DAY NINE-GOAL THRILLER
In an exciting opening fixture with near neighbours Halkyn Veterans, it was the visitors who took the honours with a late winner. Click here to view the match report.
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3-0 DEFEAT BUT A FAVOURABLE COMPARISON WITH MONEYSUPERMARKET
It was 8-3 last season, this time an excellent run out for the Old Boys ended in a creditable 3-0 defeat against the youngsters from the money comparison website based at Ewloe. Click here to view the match report.
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MONEYSUPERMARKET TO PROVIDE FRIENDLY FIRE
In the build-up to the opening game of the new season against Halkyn on Saturday August 22nd, a pre-season game against the lads from Moneysupermarket.com has been arranged for Wednesday 19th and will take the place of the usual 6-a-side that night. This is a repeat of last season's game around this time when our younger opponents were preparing for their league season and after a close three quarters of a game ran away with an 8-3 victory, Mel Barnes netting all three for the Old Boys. After a one year run, Moneysupermarket have dropped out of the league following several problems including the downsizing of the business that has seen people move on. However, they will still provide tricky opposition and a good warm up for us before the weekend. Kick off is at 6.30 pm at Northop Hall. Match report to follow as usual.
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STATIONMASTERS ON TRACK - ADDITIONAL FIXTURE FOR SEPTEMBER
One of the few gaps in the fixtures has been filled by Stationmasters, the young part-time team from Buckley who we played twice last season. The first encounter in December saw them equalise very late for a 3-3 scoreline to deny victory in a close game and then in February when the Old Boys secured a 4-1 result during a fine run that saw seven wins in eight games. This season's fixture will take place at Northop Hall on September 19th. Click here to view the updated fixture list.
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TOUGH AT THE TOP - KEN'S REIGN IS SHORT-LIVED
Ken Price's very short time as interim manager of Gap Connahs Quay (see below) has ended with the appointment of ex-Wrexham defender Mark McGregor at the Deeside Stadium. Ken will remain on the staff as first team coach though and maybe further opportunities at a higher level will follow. Watch this space !!
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WEB-SITE RELAUNCHED
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PRICE IS RIGHT FOR CONNAHS QUAY! KEN TO FILL THE GAP!
Congratulations and the best of luck to Old Boy midfielder Ken Price who has been handed the interim manager's job at Gap Connahs Quay for the start of the forthcoming Welsh Premier League campaign. Initially it's a caretaker role but if things go well it could become a permanent appointment. Mancunian and City fan Ken says he wishes he had the funds available that Mark Hughes has got! Hopefully we'll be able to get along to the Deeside Stadium to support him when we haven't got a game. Likewise, we hope Ken will continue to turn out for us on occasions when Connahs Quay have no fixture!
Click here to read the full story.
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SHOTTON STEEL VETERANS CUP INVITE
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FIXTURE LIST / 6-A-SIDE
A reminder that we continue to provide 6-a-side sessions on Wednesday evenings at Flint High School, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the astroturf at the back of the school.
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LEG BREAK ANGUISH FOR MATT
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Croft just too strong as Old Boys come back down to earth
Greatest ever comeback in 20-goal fiasco
Sealand Cup draw
Muddy hell for Old Boys passing game
Diary dates - Presentation Night and midweek game at Winsford
Spot-on for return to winning ways
Unlucky eight for plucky eight
Home draw in Shotton Steel Veterans Cup
Rusty return sees defeat at Shotton
Derby game is latest casualty of winter freeze
Nationwide blanket of snow puts paid to Sandbach visit
New date for Rock Ferry fixture
New year, same problems as weather hits fixture again
It's a girl! Seren up for Wardy!
Second successive postponement leaves Old Boys kicking heels
Saltney game falls victim to the weather
Quiz Night This Thursday: All Welcome **** Cracking night; good work Phil ****
Controversy as unbeaten run ended by Brickfields
Sunday first will be at home
Change of venue for Saltney fixture
Four goal second half comeback earns Wirral win
Late Eastham equaliser denies Old Boys victory
Winsford midweek date to be rearranged
Diary date: Quiz Night at the Black Lion
Old Boys edge out Sandbach 2nds in eleven goal thriller
Sunday best for Wrexham fixture
Matt finish the difference in high scoring Upton victory
High five puts Croft away
Windswept draw at Waterside keeps run going
Derby day win gets the season going
Fly past fails to inspire as Old Boys rue missed chances
ROCK FERRY GAME OFF
3-0 defeat but a favourable comparison with Moneysupermarket
Moneysupermarket to provide friendly fire
Stationmasters on track - Additional fixture for September
Tough At The Top - Ken's reign is short-lived
Web-site Relaunched
Price is right for Connahs Quay! Ken to fill the Gap!
Shotton Steel Veterans Cup Invite
2009/10 Fixtures / 6-a-sides
Leg break anguish for Matt
Northop Hall Old Boys v. Eastham Vets
Northop Hall Nomads v. Rockville Vets
Chester Nomads v. Saltney Vets
This is the relaunched website for Northop Hall Old Boys FC. All the old features are still here, many packed into last season's archives, but also a few new ones including player profiles. Use the buttons down the left to navigate around the site. Feedback always welcome.
Northop Hall Old Boys will replace Argoed Rangers in this season's Shotton Steel Veterans Cup in March 2010. The competition is run on a straight knock-out basis with 8 teams drawn in the quarter finals. Rules of the tournament are very strict on having only over-35's and players must have played for their clubs for the majority of the season to avoid bringing in "ringers". This will add another dimension to our end-of-season but there are some very good Veterans sides involved.
The fixture list for 2009-10 is taking shape, just a few gaps to fill and several new opponents this season. Click here to view it.
It will be a few months before we see Matt Lucas back playing after the injury that kept him out of the end of season games was finally diagnosed as a broken leg. We all wish him a speedy recovery.