Pick Of The Cherries - 16th July 2003

Last updated : 20 July 2003 By Mick Robins
30 June
After Shaun Teale’s rather surprising sacking at Trophy winners Burscough, Ian Bishop is appointed as Assistant Manager there.

2 July
Warren Feeney is still considering the club’s final offer of a one-year deal. Steve Fletcher is hoping to reach (and overtake) Sean O’Driscoll’s appearance record. If he has an injury free time, he could get close in a season and a half.

3 July
Karl Broadhurst has been given the all clear to start pre-season training. James Hayter and Warren Cummings have had no reaction after hernia operations and warren Feeney is also making good progress. Jason Tindall is now off crutches and should be able to resume training in late August.

4 July
Neil Young has signed a new appearance related 12-month contract today.

8 July
Warren Feeney is likely to sign a new deal soon. The new season kicks off tonight when AFCB visit Magna Road for their first run out of 2003/2004 against Hamworthy Recreation.

9 July
AFCB run out 0-2 winners in last evening’s match played out in balmy conditions in front of well over 400 spectators. James Hayter (75) and Gareth O’Connor (78poen) are the scorers. The game should have had a lot more goals but for some inspired defence from the hosts, especially in the second period. Cherries fielded virtually two different sides for each half. Gareth Stewart and Alan Connell picked up knocks that could rule them out of the Poppies friendly later this week.

16 July
Warren Cummings could miss out on the start of the season following a flare up of a groin problem. It is in the same area where he had a hernia operation, and has had an anti-inflammatory injection that is hoped will cure it. There is no match report for the west Ham United game in the Echo, and no mention as to why Carl Fletcher appears on the back page sporting a blood stained shirt and head bandage. Jermain Defoe was given a warm reception, but Don Hutchison (2), Trevor Sinclair and Joe Cole are credited with the goals.