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MEMBERS VOTE TO WIND UP THE CLUB
On Monday 12^th January' at an EGM of members at the Town Hall it was resolved to wind up the club. Attempts to save the club have failed. It is expected that the club's record will be expunged from the league tables of the Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier division and the North division of the Suburban League.

Future football at The Broadwater stadium depends on who leases it next from Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited. Ben Terry, a supporter of the old club is investigating setting up a new club that might operate as early as next season. He has a meeting lined up with the ground's owners. Those who wish to support that venture can contact him on 07779 352562.

A frozen pitch meant the scheduled league match at Hanwell Town on Saturday 10th January was postponed.

UPDATE ON BERKO FINANCIAL CRISIS
Berko were pleased with the turn out at the recent public meetings, which with the 200 plus crowd for the game at Tring last Saturday showed there is interest in the town in keeping the club going in some form. Professional experts are investigating to clarify the true liability on the club's reported debts. This week Berko are also in discussions with a potential white knight whose identity is being kept confidential whilst negotiations continue. The backer is considering advancing sufficient funds to restore electricity to the Broadwater stadium, allowing Berko to return virtually immediately to playing home games in the Premier Division of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League and guaranteeing that senior non-league football would continue on the ground next season.

Even if that plan comes off, Berko are still looking for more helpers to run the club. Offers of help (time or money) can still be made to Keith Hicks on 07767 430087.

TRING ATHLETIC 2 BERKHAMSTED TOWN 0 match abadonded after 50 minutes
A bumper crowd of 224 turned up at a frosty but flat Cow Lane and the match was given the go ahead, whilst other local grounds like Leighton and Hemel suffered last minute postponements. Referee Wilkinson eventually calling a halt to procededings as the temperature dropped back to freezing when the sun had gone down early in the second half.

It was the former Berko players that had most success for Tring. Ashley Addison forced a fine save from Kevin Turnham in the 16^th minute and an Andy Mullins header was tipped ono the bar by Turnham. Addison stretched to reach a pass from Trevor Gibbs to net and to put his new team ahead 10 minutes later. In the 36^th minute Berko failed to clear the danger as Andy Mullins went down the right wing and eventiually the ball was laid back for another ex Lilywhite Mark Burfoot to score with a shot. Ryan Blake and James Esprit on his debut looked dangerous when they got service uphill in the first half.

One time Berko keeper, Dave Clark saved Tring as he just managed to turn a shot from Berko skipper Tony Fields over the bar. He also saved from the overlapping Luke Bartlett. In the closing stages of the first half Berko launched a series of five dangerous corners from Ben Butler that Tring struggled to deal with. Gianni Marotta headed one against the bar and another fell to Tom Allnutt but he blasted over the bar from 6 yards out.

The game was halted by a pitch invasion from young Owen Nightingale. It resumed but an attempt at a throw in saw a player fall over and the referee ruled it was getting too dangerous and called a halt to proceedings.

Berko:Turnham; ,Groves, Bartlett Allnutt, Marotta, Gunary, Fields, Butler, Blake, Esprit,Chapman, Subs. Not used Denham. Chandler Lewis,Biswell,Walsh.

FUTURE OF BERKHAMSTED TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

A second well attended public meeting was held at the Town Hall on Monday 29 December to discuss the way ahead for the financially troubled club, whose clubhouse and ground is currently closed, as the electricity supply was cut off earlier this month.

Some money has been pledged to keep the existing club going but it is dwarfed by the size of claims from creditors. The club is still looking for potential saviours in the town (individuals or sponsoring businesses). To date offers have been insufficient, but more may emerge after the Christmas break. Offers of help (time or money) can still be made to Keith Hicks on 07767 430087. Unless sufficient finance is found in the next two weeks to restore power to the club, the existing club will have to withdraw its first team from the Premier Division of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League and its reserves from the Suburban League.

The club will be honouring its fixture at Cow Lane against Tring Athletic this Saturday, 3^rd January k.o.3pm. The club is appealing for a bumper turn out for the match to boost morale and its survival prospects. It may be the last chance to see the current club play locally, so many former players are likely to attend.

All options are being considered. In case finance is not found, secretary Keith Hicks has arranged for the local newspaper to carry notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of club members at 8pm on Monday 12^th January 2009 in Berkhamsted Town Hall in the High Street to consider a resolution to wind up the club

The Broadwater stadium is owned by Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited. Jan Cowper told the meeting that the Association remains supportive of continuing football in the town at Broadwater. The ground is graded for step 4 football, which is the level that the current club competed at until it was relegated to Step 5 in the summer. Should the club be wound up, a brand new club would probably have to start at an even lower level. However, the FA are imposing new tougher ground grading rules in the summer. Many clubs that are currently at Step 5 do not have facilities of the required standard, so there may be vacancies for clubs at Step 5, or other clubs may be looking to relocate to Broadwater.

Ben Terry, a supporter, is investigating setting up a new club that might operate as early as next season. Those who wish to support that venture can contact him on 07779 352562.

KENTISH TOWN 4 BERKHAMSTED TOWN 3
The two sides produced an exciting match on a gluepot of a pitch in the cold on Saturday with the home side eventually taking the points at the Barnet Copthall stadium by the odd goal in seven.

Teenager Gianni Marotta got his first goal for Berko to open the scoring after quarter of an hour. Ryan Blake won the corner which Ben Butler took and Tom Allnutt's header was saved by Lee White but only half cleared allowing Marotta to strike. The young Berko defender had to retire soon after as he had not fully recovered from flu. The pitch had quite an effect on the game with defenders finding it dfficult to clear and play really needed to bypass the centre circle if it was not to get stuck. The home side beingmore used to the conditions adapted better with Butler struggling on the middle although Allnutt, one of three university students back on holiday in the Berko side did well.

When Berko did not clear their lines despite a save by Sam Bridges and Jack Copson clearing off his own line and winning a tackle eventually, Jonathan Donoghue netted the equaliser. However, Berko got in front when another Berko teenager Ryan Blake pounced to put the Lilywhites ahead again. However, within a minute Donoghue went down the middle to make it 2-2 at the interval. Luke Bartlett came on for Terry Philips as he injured a quad and Saen Biswell's groin went on an energy sapping pitch so Greg Walsh played the whole of the second half as Berko had to use all their subs.
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HOLMER GREEN 2 BERKHAMSTED TOWN 5
Berko opened their league season with a big away win to finish the day on top of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League's Premier division. There were plenty chances most of the afternoon on a good playing surface in the pouring rain with the Lilywhotes clearly the better side.

Home keeper Simon Mines was in action first, tipping a free kick over the bar. Then Ben Butler headed over from a fine cross by Gareth Aldridge. Holmer Green then forced a couple of corners with Sam Bridges also tipping the ball over the bar. Tony Fields nodded Berko in front when he got on the end of a fine cross. However, they say teams are at their most vulnerable as soon as they have scored and so it proved. The lead only lasted a minute as sloppy defending allowed Dean Allen to fire home the leveller. Five minutes later the home side were in front, when the match officials missed Lee Taylor controlling the ball with his hand, before beating his man and curling a shot past Bridges into the top corner as three goals came in the opening quarter of an hour.

Gianni Marrota went close when Aldridge won a free kick that he took himself and crossed into the danger area. Another Aldridge cross was met by Fields but this time he headed inches over the bar. As the end to end action continued, Bridges collected a header from Talylor. Berko were continually stretching the home side with some fine passes and won quite a few free kicks when they chose to dribble. On one such occasion Alex McCarthy was fouled and Butler was involved as the low kick found its way to Fields who equalised.

Green will be kicking themselves over Berko's third goal. Mines was slow at the corner of the penalty area and Ashley Addison slid in and won the ball and the keeper hauled him down from behind as he tried to cut in for goal. Ben Butler tucking the penalty away with applomb. Again Berko nearly conceded soon after, as Fields conceded a free kick when he brought down Ashley James and Green nearly scored from the dead ball.

Berko's fine play should have ensured a bigger interval lead as Butler hit the post after being played in by Addison. Substitute Neil Richardson scored the goal of the afternoon within 5 minutes of coming on as substitute. Butler threaded the ball to Aldridge on the left wing and his perfect cross was nodded home at the back post by Richardson. Green did not give up and Bridges tipped a shot from substitute Adam Seymour.

Berko wrapped the points up with a 5^th goal in the last 10 minutes. Aldridge found Addison and he was tackled just as he shot with the ball ballooning up over Mines and it came down into the net. Mines saved another Addison effort as Berko were well on top.

With Green only just escaping relegation last season Berko will need to play a few matches against stronger teams to assess their chances for the marathon ahead, but they have already won the sprint.

Berko: Bridges;Marotta, Till, Barber, Badu ,Gunary, Fields, Butler Addison, , McCarthy(Richardson), Aldridge.

POTTERS BAR TOWN 0 BERKHAMSTED TOWN 3
Berko stormed into the semi-finals of the Herts. Charity Cup with a convincing win at higher league Potters Bar on Saturday, not only scoring three goals, but having two more chalked off for fouls, as well as striking the bar and keeping a rare clean sheet. Rob Butler and Ian Richardson awarded competitive debuts to six new players and all six were an improvement on last year's team. They were a trio of teenagers that have followed new reserve boss Ben Williams to the club (defenders Gianni Marotta and Jack Badu and midfielder Gareth Aldridge), the new strike force of Alex McCarthy and Ashley Addison (just 20 & 21) and the more experienced Wayne Barber in midfield.

It was hard to believe that the first half ended goalless as both sides had good chances. For Berko, Addison robbed a defender and Aldridge beat his man on the left of the penalty area, but his cross went begging. Alex McCarthy broke free in the box, but his low shot was saved at the expense of a corner by Dave Lovell. For the home side Nick Mackay hit the side netting with a 20 yard drive. Addison nodded wide and scuffed one shot wide. He also put the ball just over the top of the post when Berko won a free kick in a dangerous position. George Sifoniuos flashed a header past the upright from a free kick fro the Scholars. It looked like Addison had nodded Berko in front with a powerful header, but it was disallowed as another player was caught pushing a man to the ground off the ball.

A couple of real quality crosses from teenager Aldridge early in the second half saw Berko into a two goal lead. Ex Leighton striker, McCarthy volleying home the first and then Tony Fields adding the second. Itw as ample reward for some hard work on the training ground on Thursday night. Addison nodded another cross from Aldridge into the net, but again a push ensured it did not count.

Experienced midfielder Wayne Barber (ex Tring Town, Leverstock Green, Harpenden Town & Welwyn Garden City) was battling hard on his debut for Berko and ended up getting a yellow card. Sam Bridges kept his first clean sheet for the first team as he saved a Hector Mackie free kick. The save of the day came from the home custodian Lovell as he tipped a Fields shot round the post after Fields was released by a fine Jack Denham pass.

Sean Biswell came on for a cameo appearance, taking three successive corners before having to go to hospital with a dislocated shoulder. McCarthy beat his man on the right wing and with three men waiting in the box, the neat cross found Fields who headed his second goal to put Berko three goals ahead with quarter of an hour left. A foul on McCarthy allowed Barber to take a pot shot at the goal from a free kick and the ball came back off the crossbar as Berko were rampant.

The result was an upset as Berko are now down in the Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier division, a division below their Ryman North hosts. It was the Lilywhties's 5th win on the trot in one of their most successful pre-season schedules for many years. Berko will be at home to another Ryman North side, Ware, in the semi final on a date to be arranged.

Berko: Bridges; Marotta, Till, Barber,Gunary, Badu, Fields, Denham, McCarthy, Addison (Richardson), Aldridge(Biswell(I.Brumwell)). Subs. Not used Groves and Gilbert.

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2008		RES.		OPPONENTS	BERKHAMSTED TOWN SCORERS
Sat 2 Aug	HCC	W3-0	40	A Potters Bar Town	McCarthy, Fields 2
Sat 9 Aug	Lge	W5-2	51	A Holmer Green	Fields 2, Butler (p), Richardson, Addison
Tue 12 Aug	Lge	L0-3	65	H HAREFIELD UTD
Sat 16 Aug	FAC	L3-5	163	A Tring Athletic