BIG DAY AT WHALLEY


-PAGE 62 T h u r s d a y , J u n e 2 9 th , 2 0 0 6


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SCUDERI HITS A TON IN VAIN


-PAGE 63 w ith y o u r s p o r t s t e a m o f E dw a rd L e e , C h r is B o d e n , P h i l S im p s o n a n d A d r ia n C a p s t ic k


Driver can’t stop leaders


By Adrian Capstick MICHAEL B ISP IN G ‘


has realised his ultimate dream.


The Clitheroe mixed


martial arts expert won th e U ltim ate F igh ter 3 hght-heavyweight final in Las Vegas on Saturday- night to secure a six-figure contract in America’s biggest growth sport - cage fighting. A contract in the Ulti­


mate Fighting Champi­ onship was up for grabs by competing in the televised show, and ever since Bisp- ing gave up h is job as a Sabden upholsterer three years ago, this has been his goal. The undefeated 27-year-


old, famous for dispatch­ ing his opponents in this , coimtry in under a minute,


; ' took the American-domi­ nated satellite television show by storm to become


■ its first British winner. A fte r 12:weeks living


with his opponents and two qualif3dng fights, all


L fc i


his hard work and training came down to Saturday’s live fin^ at the Haird Rock


■ ; Hotel ih Las Vegas. Bisping’s opponent for


' the coveted contract was.. American Josh Haynes who came out swinging from the start. But “The Count” stayed cool under


fire, and a minute and a half in, a heavy knee to the head dropped Haynes. Bisping hesitated and as


Ha,3mes went to rise, the Clitheroe fighter finally moved in and ended up losing a point'for kneeing his still downed opponent; ■ Cyprus-born Bisping wound up winning the first


" . frame, but mth the dediic- . tion, the fight was even at


9-9. : ' Looking to get back on


track, Bisping truly went tp work in th e second round, opening with a fly - ' ing knee and working on a myriad of submissions, but Haynes just wouldn’t go away as he tried to stay in the fight with his better


' skilled foe. By Adrian Capstick INFLUENTIAL player-coach Neil


.Reynolds has called time on his career at Clitheroe Football Club in search of first team football else­ where - at UniBond rivals Bamber Bridga ' The central midfielder, one of the


last few players remaining from the No^^hjWffit Counties championship side led by Lee Sculpher two years ago, will not be involved at'the club this season despite only accepting a player-coach role last month. 'This about-turn announcement


was made at Thursday night’s annu­ al meeting which also named Carl Garner as taking on the full role of' chairman, having enjoyed a success­ ful period as acting head, with Bob Kay as his vice chair. The former captain wasn’t ready


to hang up his boots just yet and wanted to play his football with focus without any added pressure. And players at Clitheroe had started to look on him as more of an assis­ tant manager rather than as a play­ er, leading to this clean break ending his five-year association., „• Reynolds said: “People were com­


ing to rely on me a lo t with extra duties as I ’ve been at the club so' long, and it had started to affect my game. I’m only 28-years-old and I don’t want to be an assistant man­ ager just yet. ■ “I thought the player-coach role would work out but I was being - leant on more as a manager than as


m m NeilReynolds


a player. Mark (Smitheringale) said we could drop the coach role and I’d just be a player, but it couldn’t work as I’d already put myself in a diffi­ cult position. Bamber Bridge boss Andrew Whitaker came in for me and it just felt like the right time for afreshchange.” • Reynolds added: “I can’t speak


highly enough of Carl Garner and what he has done for the club, and the same goes for the manager Mark, I’d like to thank everyone at


the club and wish them every suc­ cess. A ' ' “I’m gutted that I’m leaving but


I need a new start; It sure won’t be easy going back next season as I’ve loved every minute at Shawbridge.” Reynolds will be replaced in a


coaching capacity by former Burscough assistant manager Chris Stammers, but all of the new play­


ers the central midfielder had con­ tacted in the close season about joining the club started training this


■week. The Preston-based Stammers


won’t link up with the Blues until Monday though as he is currently completing his UEFA A licence in Wales, and, as a result, is regarded as one of the most qualified coaches in North-West non-league football. . Until last month, when he myste­


riously parted company with Burscough, the number two had spent three successful years at the Merseyside club, memorably facing Nigel Clough's Burton Albion in the second round of the FA Cup last. December. Meanwhile, for the second season.


running, Clitheroe’s match day pro­ gramme has won an award. Last season the Blues programme was voted the best in the UniBond


League after winning the best in the division title and being the highest placed UniBond club in the national awards;


has once again been voted the best in the UniBond First Division with Prescot Cables winning the Premier Division best programme award. B u t in the national survey


Clitheroe's programme was voted the fifth best non-league pro­ gramme in the whole-coimtry. The only other UniBond club to featine


. in the national top 40 was Prescot who were placed 20th.


Hpwever, the award was the swansong for programme editor


11 This season the club’s programme


Tim Lees who has been forced to resign from the position due to ill health. The club showed their appreciation for Tim's three seasons of work for them by inviting him and his partner Angela as guests to their end of season party. Mr Lees said: “I'm sorry to have


to give up the job. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Clitheroe FC and met some very friendly and dedicated people. Last season was a traumatic time for the club so I hope this award and the high national position gives Clitheroe some pride and see the club benefit from the positive publicity.” He would also like to thank both


Roy Fearnhead and Andy Alston for their contributions to the pro­ gramme, as without their input their wouldn’t have been an end product.


• This Sunday (July.2nd) is the


club’s open day with the opportuni­ ty to buy discounted season tickets and order the hew home and away shirts for the forthcoming season. Those who choose to take up the


reduced offer for £100 will also gain free entry to all of the club’s home pre-season friendlies and be entered into a free draw to become thecliib’s tracksuit sponsor f6r,the next two seasons.


• .


a training session; so the opportuni­ ty will be there to greet some of next season’s players. The day kicks-off at 11-30 a.m. and shuts up shop at •2-30 p.m., the bar will be open and refreshments will be served.


The first team will also be holding 977096336511926 9 ____________ __ - f In the final minute of


the round, Bisping was able to jar Haynes, and he began letting loose with an array of strikes. Hayes eventually fell under the assault, and the bout was ended by the referee. Bisping now aims to


carve a name for himself in the UFC and succeed where other Brits before him have failed. The sport is big business in America and is s ta t in g to thrive in


Europe, but u n t i l now there had been no local interest. “I t ’s a dream come


true,” said Bisping. “I t ’s the top organization in the world, and here it is, three years after I started, and I’m here. The final is just a stepping stone in to the UFC and hopefully I can go on and have a decent career here. I s t i l l can’t believe it, to be honest - it’s almost surreal.”


WILL D r iv e r ’s stature continues to grow and grow. The 17-year-old has


already proved his worth over the past 18 months. Last sea son saw him


emerge as the top run-scor­ er at Whalley Road, as well as receiving the Jack Cross Young Player Award. That was met with ele­


vation into the Lancashire Academy setup, alongside team-mate Chris Holt. And it seems as though


Driver is already se t on surpassing the 799 he accu- ^ ■ mulated in the Ribblesdale League in 2005. The youngster grabbed


another 64 ag a ins t Clitheroe on Saturday, to


take his tally to 427 in just 10 outings. Despite his tender age.


Driver is s t i l l one of the leading amateur batsmen in the league. But he has also added


wickets to his name this season, to turn him into a genuine all-rounder. Another four wickets


here took him to 17 for the campaign, making him the leading w ick e t taker - above professional Dodda Ganesh. However, it s t ill wasn’t


enough to earn his side vic­ tory a g a in s t runaway league leaders Clitheroe. Numerous high quality


knocks inspired the visi­ tors to a 31-run success, to cement their lead at the top of the table. Paid man Shahid Nawaz


once again top-scored with 62, as he and skipper Neil Bolton (32) laid a solid foundation for the others < to build on.


. Driver would eventually *


remove both batsmen, as well as Mark Bolton for a duck when caught behind by Adam Chester.


continued on page 63 m


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