Yorkshire Terriers Football Club vs Brighton Bandits Football Club will be battling it out in the 2012 GFSN National Cup Final this Sunday at the Valley Stadium.

Simon Redhead and former REDS favourite, Asa Charlton will head up the trio with a soon to be announced coach completing the set-up ahead of pre-season.

“Too often in the past, clubs have relied too much on one person,” Chairman Chris Swan explained.  “What we are introducing is a three-tier approach – an exciting three-pronged attack on the Southern League.

“In Simon Redhead we have a manager who can seek out and nurture the best local talent, we will have a coach who will develop that talent and in Asa Charlton we have a player and assistant manager who can inspire them out on the pitch.”

After interviewing a number of candidates, the REDS Chairman said it was the pair’s passion for the Club that convinced him to give them the chance to build a successful side – both on and off the pitch.

“I sat down with a number of very good candidates and I am sure all of them could have done a good job at Redditch United,” Swan added.

“But in Simon and Asa we have two people passionate about the Club and desperate for the REDS to do well.   It was their pride and passion that shone through and those are traits needed to manage and be successful at this Club.

“Redditch United means an awful lot to many people and players and managers who have been involved over the years rarely stray too far!

“Redhead, a no-nonsense defender with Alvechurch and Studley managed the Club before when they were in the Blue Square Conference North twelve months ago.  Since then he has been scouting for a number of clubs.”

“When the Chairman offered me the opportunity to return to the Club there was no hesitation,” Redhead explained.  “The past year has seen me working with a number of clubs, scouting for new talent and developing some excellent non-league contacts.

“I am excited about working with the players who finished the season at the club and enhancing the squad.  I am also looking forward to working with Asa to bring a top coach to The Valley.”

Asa Charlton has had two spells with The REDS including the Club’s first year in the Blue Square Conference North.  He left the Club to join League Two outfit, Mansfield Town and his other clubs include Corby Town, Leamington and Worcester City.

“Redditch United’s results are pretty much the first I look for on a Saturday,” Charlton admitted.  “I have made a lot of good friends in football but most of them have been during my time at Redditch – it is a club that is dear to me.  There’s just something special about driving down that hill to the ground.”

The REDS Chairman added,  “Simon has always been an excellent man-manager and he has now added to his contacts over the last year.

“Asa is Redditch through and through and someone who is keen to learn the management side of things alongside his playing duties.”

The arrival of Redhead and Charlton means there will be no role for Mark O’Callaghan who had been Graham Hyde’s number two.

“I would like to put on record how impressed I have been with Curly during his time with Redditch United,” Swan added.  “I wish him all the best for the future and I am confident he will soon be back in management.”

by Ian Dipple

REDDITCH signed off the season in style with a convincing 2-0 win over a woeful Weymouth side but in truth the game could have ended with the scoreline in double figures.

Inspired by another sublime performance by the Hendrie brothers The Reds were rampant throughout but manager Graham Hyde will know his side have to be more ruthless in front of goal after missing a glut of gilt edged chances.

It took just 11 minutes for Redditch to take the lead as Stuart Hendrie warmed the crowd at a windswept Valley Stadium with a floating lob from the edge of the area giving Tom Manley no chance in the Weymouth goal. That was after he had narrowly failed to give Redditch the lead with only two minutes gone after seeing his shot blocked off the line by Rhys Baggridge.

Joe Hull was also denied, but this time by the post after seeing his close range shot cannon the woodwork in the sixth minute.

Hull had another chance to get on the scoresheet on 38minutes but scooped over the bar from point blank range while just four minutes later Lee Hendrie – who put in another talismanic performance – put Lee Osborne in behind the defence but he delayed getting his shot away and Baggridge was able to get a last ditch tackle in.

Weymouth offered little in return and had to wait until the stroke of half-time for their first real chance but Ben Gerring’s thumping half volley was tipped onto the upright by an alert Dean Coleman.

The visitors were a little brighter at the start of the second half and Ollie Tribe missed the chance to level proceedings when blazing over in the opening minutes from close range.

But it proved to be a false dawn as Redditch reasserted control. Manley was booked for handling a back-pass, much to his frustration, on 54minutes and Lee Hendrie’s resulting chipped free-kick from just inside the box had to be headed off the line.

The Weymouth goalkeeper was lucky to still be on the pitch just five minutes later as he gave away a penalty after rushing out and bringing down Osborne. Referee Craig Taylor chose to keep his cards in his pocket and Sam Adkins wasted the chance to double Redditch’s lead with a soft penalty Manley comfortably held low to his right.

Then came an embarrassing miss from Stuart Hendrie who despite being free at the back post and having all the time in the world to tap in Tesfa Robinson’s dangerous low cross across the box he somehow managed to miss the ball.

Jimmy Deabill then had his shot cleared when heading for the goal after Lee Hendrie had once again carved open the Weymouth defence while Deabill then turned provider for Stuart Hendrie who forced a wonderful diving save from Manley.

Redditch finally deservedly doubled their lead on 81 minutes when they were awarded a second penalty after Joe Halsall was brought down by Manley. This time there was no escape for the Weymouth shot-stopper as he was given his marching orders.

Lee Osborne stepped up to rifle home the spot-kick but six minutes later he had egg on his face after putting Lee Hendrie’s squared ball wide of an open goal.

He did not have too much time to reflect on his miss though as moments later he pulled up and collapsed to the floor chasing a long ball and had to end a fine game by sliding himself off the pitch.

It was the only blot on an otherwise fine performance which will leave Reds fans hopeful the club can begin to match the success it has had off the field this season, on it during the next campaign.

* BEFORE the game a minute’s applause was held in memory of Alf Kimberley who was a much loved fan, supporter and volunteer at the club and who passed away recently.

Events like that put everything into perspective and Alf would have been proud of what everybody has achieved at the Club this year.  We have taken the Club forward from the depths of despair and the jaws of liquidation and had a season where although it has not been pretty at times, we have survived on the pitch, developed our youth structure, made strides in generating sustainable income and beyond all, set out our mark of being a community club, opening our doors and being inclusive to everybody.

I am particularly proud of the relationship we have built with our partners, namely the YMCA, NEW College and the Council.  We are also very fortunate to have community leader support with Karen Lumley and Carole Gandy in particular being great ambassadors for the Club.

We have two mission statements going forward.  Firstly to compete at the highest competitive level but that will be done with development of facilities and infrastructure, not throwing money at it and secondly, to be at the heart of the community in everything that we do.  This year has been exhausting for everybody but I really do feel that we have the supporters, infrastructure and external champions to make this happen.  I am working on exciting plans for the stadium facilities which will take time but if they come off will transform the Club and enable it to hit our two key principle objectives.

I would like to thank the players. Management, coaching and backroom support staff.  I would especially like to thank the many volunteers which give up their time so freely and support the Club unselfishly.  I would also like to thank Sallie, Jeff, Tim and Garry who work so hard, sometimes without the full appreciation by everybody to glue everything together, we could not do without them.

We enter challenging times.  It is well known that the UK has entered recession and the Chief executive of the FA recently said that a third of football clubs are insolvent and facing receivership.  Our sails are set fair against this background; we have enthusiasm, passion and above all an operational and financial plan.  It is really important that everybody plays their part in it and again all supporters using the snack bar, coming to a match, holding family parties and attending Club events can play their part in the exciting future we have.  Please be as supportive in this was as you all can.

Now that we are safe today’s match against Weymouth I hope will be a celebration with the Players Awards and a live band after the match.  I would like to take the opportunity of welcoming everybody from Weymouth and inviting them to join us in those celebrations.

Redditch United has been a bug fro Sallie and me, and we love it.  Despite everything we remain very proud and privileged to be involved in it.

Come on you REDS.

Chris Swan

Chairman

Pictured left to right is Jeff Watson from the Club, Oliver Prewitt an apprenticeship hopeful, Sallie Swan deputy Chairman of the Club and Councillor Carole Gandy.

Pictured left is Managing Director Thomas Floate and right  Adam Higgins Senior Consultant.

“We are delighted to sponsor the Club.  The heart shown by the players over the past few games has been inspiring.  This matches what we are aiming to do for local companies as we develop and build internet solutions which help companies market their service to customers.  We are looking forward to a great season for the REDs”, said  Thomas Floate, Managing Director.