ALL CHANGE AT NAILSEA THIS SUMMER

Spencer Lee - New Chairman of NUFC

It has been a hectic close season at Nailsea United this year, with several changes taking place at the club. Chairman Dave Williams resigned from his position after 115 years in the role, and Spencer Lee has taken over. Spencer previously served as chairman of Nailsea Junior Football Club for 6 years, and now joins his sons James and Stuart at the Senior club, where he hopes to take the club into the Screwfix League. Vice-Chairman Tony Efford also resigned from his position, replaced by Barry Sampson, whilst Mike Day also left the committee. A number of new members were elected to the committee, taking it to fourteen members.

There have also been changes in the management team. Tony Peacock replaces Graham Cook and Marcus Ridge as manager of the "A" Team, and Mark "Boots" Efford takes over from Rob Ridge as "B" Team boss. The two new managers take up their positions having played for the club for over 10 years each, and both will continue to play as well as managing. Tony told the club website how his fellow players encouraged him to move into management as part of a drunken dare*:

"I was up a local pub with a group of young players last season ranging from the first team to the C's and they decided between them that I would make a good manager as I know everyone in the club and am at that age where I can interlink between the old and young. This was passed up through the club and when the position of A team manager was made vacant at the end of the season I was approached and went through a gruelling 3/4hr interview with the new club chairman and vice chairman. Needless to say they were satisfied with my ideas of how to get the A's promoted and my commitment to the club, so I was offered the position. My main aim this season is to get the A's promoted. The club can't afford to let the league gap grow to big between the A's and reserves because the players may struggle when making the step up to the higher standard".

Tony Peacock: "A" Team Manager

On the playing side a number of players returned to the club this summer, including Paul Frost, Rob Tracey, James Holman, Neil Mumford, Nick Allen and Nick Shipway. The club also welcomed many new players from the Junior club.

Finally committed supporter and referee-abuser Tony Smith has been taken on in an official capacity by the club as a voluntary nurse, masseur and witch-doctor.

*Mr Peacock has asked us to point out that he is actually a serious football manager, and was entirely sober at the time of his appointment.