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Tuesday 16th February 2010

MARGY'S NEW SIGNINGS
 - Competition for places hots up!

In the lead up to the league game against Kendal Town this Wednesday Margy welcomes two new faces to the Club and is delighted to place an existing midfielder on contract.
 
"We have added to the squad this week by signing a centre back called Mark Ayres, who has been at Salford City. Although he is a completely different player, he gives us some cover at the back for when Tongy leaves. He is a very steady player, who never lets you down.
 
We've got a couple of good defenders now vying for Tongy's place, including Rob Nugent, so we are very strong in that position.
 
We've also brought in another midfielder in the shape of Angelos Tsiaklis to add to competition for places in that department. He started off as a youngster at Manchester City and has recently been at Wrexham. We're waiting for international clearance for him, so it may be a bit soon for him on Wednesday but he will feature soon.
 
It's a real boost getting new players at this time of the season as competition hots up for places and everyone in the squad raises their games."
 
"We're also chuffed to have signed Jake Cottrell up on a contract. He's been a great find for us and I think he has a bright future even higher up the football pyramid. He could quite easily cut it professionally in our opinion. But for now, we are happy he is with us."
 
Despite a difficult pitch Margy was pleased with the second half performance of the team last Saturday in the 2-0 home win against Worksop Town.
 
"This time of the season it's quite often a case of getting the points and not worrying a great deal about how you get them.

That was certainly true of Saturday, when we weren't at our best but still managed to get a reasonably convincing three points off Worksop.
 
The first half wasn't great and we seemed intent on passing the ball through the middle of the pitch, which bearing in mind that they had five across there and the pitch was quite hard and bobbley, it was not the best way to play.

SIMON CARDEN
SHOWED     
HIS QUALITY                

When we got it down the channels and in behind them in the second half we looked a lot better."
 
"Simon Carden's goals showed his quality once again and he just keeps on going. Five years on from when he joined the club he has continued to be one of our best performers at whatever level we have played.
 
His game has changed slightly and he is more selective of when he gets forward these days, but he showed once again on Saturday that he is a top finisher when near the goal."
 
Kendal Town are aiming for promotion but with FC coming into form themselves Wednesday's game could have a major bearing on the final positions at the top of the league. It's 3 wins to Kendal and one to FC over this season and last so the players will need all the support they can get to extend their current run to four wins in four.

• On fire: Simon Carden

FANS CORNER

I wanna go home
 
With the excitement of the new ground buzzing around and all the talk being of pastures new containing a bar, a function room and a life size bronze of Andy Walsh next to his private helipad, thoughts turn to our current home Gigg Lane.
 
I actually thought Gigg Lane was ideal back in 2005 due to being 'a nice little ground' but the more away games I attended the more I craved the smaller set up, stood on a grassy verge or under a bus shelter centimetres from the pitch, places where social clubs are inside the ground. Over time I went off Gigg without really thinking about it and I started to give Gigg a bit of a rough time.
 
On Saturday, however, I had what they call an 'epiphany moment'. There aren't many things that make the hair stand up on the back of my neck but when I belted out the line, 'I sang not for sale and I meant just that' I realised that it didn't matter whether I was at Gigg Lane, Ramsbottom United or The Nou Camp, it's not the about the ground, it's about the feeling.
 
So on Wednesday night you'll find me at Gigg Lane again and when the banter flows, the songs start and the match kicks off I will be proud to be there.
 
GP

OFF THE PITCH...

The first FC United home game in over two months also spelled the return of Malcolmses, and with it live, pre-match entertainment. Prior to the Worksop game on Saturday, local band ‘The Hidden Gem’ provided 22 minutes of their quality indie set, well received by the packed crowd in CYCMs.
 
Malcomses was a hive of activity as the usual suspects, plus a few more, entered into the realms of Manchester’s finest tater hash - with or without red cabbage - traditional Manchester ales and a selection of homemade cakes and biscuits.
 
For those oblivious and confused as to the whereabouts of such things inside the ground before kick-off, Course You Can Malcolm’s is FC United’s own bar. It’s situated in the MRE every Saturday home game and all club members are welcome. Members can also sign in a guest.
 
Aware of the fact that there are those who shun the MRE and believe that the Mainstand is the place to be, there is an alternative. The Mainstand Inn is open before all home games, offering the same selection of drinks as its MRE counterpart.
 
Profits from both bars go straight to the club, so when debating over where to find your pre-match provisions, the solution is simple. The next Malcomses is 27th February, before FC host North Ferriby United at Gigg Lane.
 
VF