Newsdesk
Ten for Woods in pre-season game
Northwood continued their encouraging pre-season programme this afternoon when they delivered an accomplished performance as they won 10-0 at Spartan South Midlands Leaguers Leverstock Green.
Woods were five-up at the break with Pat Adamson opening the scoring, then there were two goals each for A Triallist and Jamie Doolan.
The goals continued the flow in the second half, with Harry Newman hitting a hat-trick; Ryan Debattista and Jack McDonnell also netted. The match report is here.
28 July 2017
Manager Simon Lane continues to tweak squad
With the new Evo-Stik League South, East season just two weeks away, Northwood manager Simon Lane is continuing to tweak his squad ahead of the opening fixture at Hartley Wintney.
You can find out about the players who have signed for the Woods by visiting the squad page on this website.
Tomorrow the Woods make a trip to Spartan South Midlands League side Leverstock Green, followed by Bostik League Division One team Molesey next Tuesday. Lane's side finish pre-season with a second home game, this time against Brentwood Town, on Saturday 5th August.
28 July 2017
Win in first home friendly
Simon Lane's fledging Northwood squad continued their encouraging pre-season form with an impressive 2-1 victory agaisnt Metropolitan Police yesterday evening, in their first game at Chestnut Avenue this term.
The Woods played some decent football against the Bostik Isthmian League Premier Division outfit, and they went ahead on 35 minutes with a well-worked goal scored by a triallist.
The same player added a second goal from close range four minutes after the interval, before the Police pulled one back on 51 minutes. There were no further goals as both sides made a number of substitutions, and it was a satisfactory evening's work for the Woods as they continue to prepare for the Evo-Stik League kick-off on 12th August. The match report is here.
26 July 2017
Hayden-Smith celebrates signing with brace
The latest signing by Woods’ manager Simon Lane, Tayshan Hayden-Smith celebrated joining the club with a two goal haul in the 2-1 friendly victory over Hadley on Saturday.
It was Northwood’s fourth consecutive pre-season victory and Hayden-Smith was instrumental. The diminutive midfielder has signed from Austrian division club FC Eurotours Kitzbuhel, having previously seen service with Brentford, QPR, AFC Wimbledon and Aldershot as a youth, then Hayes & Yeading, Grays Athletic, Canvey Island and Ryman Premier Enfield Town, where Lane saw his ability at first hand when he was at Wingate and Finchley.
“Tayshan has been excellent when playing against my sides in the past. So he was one of my targets during the summer on this massive rebuild we are undertaking. However, actually securing his signature with our resources was another matter. Fortunately, despite interest from other clubs, he is another one who decided to come for football reasons and his own development, which is really pleasing.”
Lane’s Woods, are now preparing for this evening’s pre-season friendly against Bostik Isthmian League Premier Division side Metropolitan Police, their first at Northwood Park. The gaffer said: “It will be a big test for this young team. We have done some good physical work on the training ground but this will tell us where we are in the readiness process."
25 July 2017
Two-goal Tayshan wins it for Northwood
Simon Lane's new-look squad narrowly came out on top in this afternoon's friendly away to Spartan South Midlands Leaguers Hadley.
After the hosts had taken an early lead, Tayshan Hayden-Smith scored a goal in each half to clinch Northwood's 2-1 victory, with the pitch in good condition despite torrential rain before kick-off.
Match details and photos are here.
22 July 2017
Meshach Williams hits hat-trick in Edgware win
The Woods ran out 3-0 winners in Tuesday’s pre-season friendly against Edgware Town, played at Merchant Taylors’ School. Meshach Williams netted twice in the first half, before completing his hat-trick after the break. Match details are here.
Simon Lane’s squad continue their preparations for the new campaign with a trip to Spartan South Midlands League outfit Hadley on Saturday; Hadley’s ground is Brickfield Lane, Arkley, Barnet, Herts EN5 3LD - here -kick-off is at 3.00 p.m.
20 July 2017
Lane begins Woods rebuild with only three from last season
Northwood Manager Simon Lane is undertaking a root and branch rebuild of the first team squad following his arrival in the summer after last season's disappointing campaign. Only three players have been retained and in line with the manager’s policy of developing young players in the first team.
They are youngsters Jamie Doolan (age 19, who progressed through the club’s junior sides to make his senior debut last season), Jay Thorne (who made his senior debut last term after playing in the reserves) and centre-forward Ryan Debattista. Ryan worked with Lane as a youngster at National League Maidenhead United and was Woods’ joint top scorer last time around with 12 goals.
The manager said: "It was always going to be a case of rebuilding the squad from scratch this year and having that transition during the campaign. We will all need to be patient, and it will take time of course. Whilst it means a lot more work for me to bring the right players to the club, and then to work through things on the training ground, I am more than happy to be doing it. Having had a look at last season's squad and had some conversations with them, I am pleased to sign Jamie, Jay and Ryan – and all three have responded extremely well to what I have asked of them so far."
The Gaffer continued: "It is clear that things feel very different to them this year, and the feedback we have had from the players – old and new – has been extremely encouraging, when they have the breath to speak that is!!"
17 July 2017
Northwood beat Harefield in friendly
The Woods were in pre-season friendly action this afternoon, when they took on Spartan South Midlands League neighbours Harefield United at Brunel University. After a goal-less opening period in which the Woods failed to make the most of a host of chances, Harefield took the lead following the break, but Northwood hit back to win 2-1 thanks to two goals from Meshach Williams. Match details here.
Northwood had won a training ground friendly during the week, coming out on top 3-1 against Chivas (Florida) Under 23s, a touring side from the United States. The goals were scored by Ryan Debattista (penalty), Hakim Nyariki and Mickey White. Match details here.
15 July 2017
Can you join the Woods' help days?
To help bring the ground up to scratch, the club would be grateful for any help in carrying out essential work around the ground before the fixtures start later in the month; therefore, we are planning to have a couple of 'help' sessions, at 4.00 p.m. on Monday 17th July and on Tuesday 18th July.
Any assistance will be much appreciated as yet again we have been the victims of mindless acts of vandalism of late, including the toilets and the turnstiles being set on fire. The works that need to be carried out include:
- Repair of seats
- Painting
- Weeding
- Cleaning of ground toilets
- Repairing the turnstile entrance
Northwood chairman Ian Barry said: "These repeated acts of mindless violence are taxing the club's resources to the limit. We will be very grateful for any help that supporters are able to offer us, in order to ensure that the ground is back to its best when the new season opens." Please advise Ian by email if you are able to help the club with this essential work.
14 July 2017
Evo-Stik League South fixtures are out
The fixtures for the new Evo-Stik League South, East Division season were released this morning - and the Woods start with an away fixture against newly-promoted Hartley Wintney on Saturday 12th August.
Simon Lane's team's first home game is against another new side, Moneyfields, on Tuesday 15th August. The Christmas fixtures see Woods visit Hayes & Yeading United on Boxing Day and play at home to Chalfont St Peter on New Year's Day; Northwood end the campaign at Aylesbury on Saturday 28th April. The full fixture list is here.
The opening day's full fixture schedule looks like this:
AFC Dunstable v Fleet Town
AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Hanwell Town
Arlesey Town v Marlow
Aylesbury United v Beaconsfield Town
Cambridge City v Ashford Town
Chalfont St Peter v Thame United
Egham Town v Barton Rovers
Hartley Wintney v Northwood
Hayes & Yeading United v Aylesbury
Moneyfields v Kempston Rovers
Uxbridge v Bedford Town
13 July 2017
Weather disrupts pre-season
Yesterday's heavy rain resulted in the pre-season friendly against Walton & Hersham being called off, disrupting manager Simon Lane's warm-up plans, as he looks to structure his squad for the upcoming Evo-Stik League South campaign.
The Woods' opening friendly will now be on Saturday, when they take on Spartan South Midlands League neighbours Harefield United at Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PN; kick-off is at 3.00 p.m.
12 July 2017
FA competitions draws released
As the build-up to the new season continues, the draws for the early rounds of the Football Association competitions were released today - and in the Emirates FA Cup, the Woods were drawn away to Evo-Stik West Division Swindon Supermarine in a Preliminary Round tie, scheduled for Saturday 19th August. The sides last met in the Hellenic League during the 1983-84 campaign.
In the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy, Northwood host Maldon & Tiptree - with a home First Qualifying Round tie against Walton Casuals or Canvey Island the prize for the winners. The FA Youth Cup sees Woods at home to Haringey Borough in the Preliminary Round, the winners playing at Chesham United in the First Qualifying Round.
7 July 2017
Trials for Woods' Under 18s
Trials and training for the Woods’ Isthmian Youth League Under 18s squad for the new season start at Northwood Park on Wednesday 19th July from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Players aged under 18 on 1st August 2017 are invited to attend this session, bringing with you training kit and water.
For any queries, contact Mark Fox on 07932622389 or email here, or Richard Elderfield on 07951702514.
3 July 2017
