Needham Market Trivia 
 
Needham Market were formed in 1919 although there is evidence that a Needham Market FC existed in the 1890s.
 
They initially joined the Ipswich and District League and slowly progressed through the divisions before being promoted to the Eastern Counties League in 1996.
 
In 2010 they did the double becoming Eastern Counties League champions and Eastern Counties League Cup winners and were promoted to the Isthmian League Division One North.
 
They were transferred to the Southern League Premier Division Central in 2018.
 
They reached the First Round of the FA Cup in 2022 when they drawn away to Burton Albion.
 
In 2008 they reached the semi final of the FA Vase losing out to Kirkham and Wesham who changed their name to AFC Fylde the following year.
 
Thy initially played at Young’s Meadow before moving to Crowley Park. In 1996 they moved to Bloomfields after they received a National Lottery grant and a bequest from a former player Arthur Rodwell.
 
Their largest gate was 1748 for a Fourth Round Qualifying tie against Cambridge United.
 
In 2018 they like many other teams installed a 3G pitch. They also built a new grandstand and new changing rooms.
 
Manager Kevin Horlock played 491 League games for the likes of Manchester City and Swindon Town. He also represented Northern Ireland 32 times many times lining up wityh Ilkeston town manager Jamie Ward.
 
Needham Market have lost their two league games without scoring a goal. Before that they had won two games without conceding a gial.
 
Their largest League gate of the season was 327 against Bedford Town. Their gate of 313 when they hosted Ilkeston Town was their second highest gate of the season.
 
Needham market have only won two of their last ten league games and have lost eight. They have only scored five goals in those ten games but have conceded fifteen.
 
After their ninth game of the season Needham Market were third in the table. They are presently seventeenth.
 
In their only other game against Ilkeston Town in February this year they lost 3-1 and Leroy Lita scored a hat trick. He has scored in every game he has played since.
 
Saturday is Needham Market’s first ever visit to the NMG.

Matchman wrote:

. 
Andy Nally hasn't given up on reaching the playoffs yet with two winnable home games to come against Needham Market then Royston. We then have to travel to Stourbridge who beat us at the NMG. If we were to get maximum points from those three matches then hopes may be rekindled. But even if we were to go to the end of the season unbeaten we would still need one of the top five to hit a remarkable collapse in form. 
It’s now a matter of trying to win as many matches as possible and seeing where it gets us. If we can’t make the playoffs our aim must be to finish sixth and above Mickleover. 

Assuming that we’re not promoted, the next unknown is which league we may be in next season. Some posters on the Non League Matters forum have suggested that we may be moved to the Northern Premier. A few enquiries have been made and the general consensus is that anything is possible. As I understand it, the fact that we have only had one season in the Southern League would not prohibit us from another change of league. The makeup of the teams North and South will depend on which teams are promoted and relegated. As Ilkeston are very much on the border between North and South we could go either way.   


Our remaining matches:
Sat 11 Mar  H  Needham Market
Sat 18 Mar  H  Royston Town 
Sat 25 Mar  A   Stourbridge
Mon 27 Mar A  Kings Langley 7.45pm  
Sat 1 Apr     A  Alvechurch
Sat 8 Apr    H  Hednesford Town
Mon10 Apr A   Basford
Sat 15 Apr  H  Nuneaton Borough
Sat 22 Apr   A  Hitchin Town



 

Just by looking at Belper being rock bottom , plus Stamford , Halesowen and Spalding all pushing for promotion it could well be us going across to the Northern ....but obviously other factors come into play as well.
 

Just been informed that todays game against Needham Market is definitely ON! the club are receiving many calls asking if the game is on. Well IT IS ON! Don't ring!

It's kickoff time. Ilkeston are in there home colours. Needham are wearing yellow shirts, black shorts.

We're off.

Good pull back by Crane but Foulkes saves,  At the other end Garnham saves. But Ilkeston score from the resulting corner as Fenton heads in at the far post.          1-0      11 mins  

Last edited by Matchman (11/3/2023 3:13 PM)

GOAL  Needham equaliser    1-1      19 minutes

Good run by Woakes but his cross is diverted for a corner.

Penalty for Needham for handball.   Very harsh in my opinion.

Updates 11th  March 2023
 
Southern League Central Premier
Basford United 0 Barwell 1
Bromsgrove Sporting 0 Coalville Town 1
Ilkeston Town 2 Needham Market 2
   Fenton for Ilkeston 11’
   Needham equalize 19’
   Hallam restores lead 23’
   Needham equalise again from the spot 28’
King’s Langley 0 Redditch United 0
Leiston 0 Stratford Town 0
Royston Town 0 Alvechurch 0
Stourbridge 0 St Ives Town 2
 
Others
Tottenham Hotspurs 1 Nottingham Forest 0
Oxford United 1 Derby County 1
Chesterfield 0 Yeovil Town 0
Banbury United 0 Buxton 1
Whitby Town 1 Matlock Town 0
Grimsby Borough 0 Grantham Town 0
Long Eaton United 0 Bridlington Town 2

O'Malley appears to be struck in the face, Free kick but nothing else.  Good head down by Lita in the box but nobody there. Good save by Foulkes.   Ward in trouble again.           2-2     39 mins

Last edited by Matchman (11/3/2023 3:42 PM)

Hallam effort goes wide. Both teams still creating chances as half time arrives.     HT   2-2

Free kick to Needham just outside area.  Ends with a Needham corner.. Good start by the visitors.    2-2    50 mins

It's not going to plan.  Needham are doing much better than their league position suggests.  Woakes replaced by Ward on   58 mins       2-3

Frustration is creeping in as passes go astray. Hallam wins a corner but nothing comes from it.     2-3    65 mins

Lita tripped on edge of box Terrific effort by Ward goes just wide.      2-3     75 mins