Paddock announce tasty trio

Stretford Paddock FC are pleased to announce 3 new additions to the squad. Gabriel Fernando (Attacking Midfielder), Kayode Adewale (Centre Half) and Denzel Kuzakwawo (Right Back/Right Wing) have today signed for Stretford Paddock FC and will be available to play next Saturday.

Gabriel Fernando is a Brazilian/Portuguese footballer, aged 24. He is an ex-Manchester City player. He most recently played at RedBull Bragantino.

Gabriel said: “I’ve signed for Stretford Paddock to get back to get back to my full fitness. I can’t wait to get out there to help the team.”

Gabriel Fernando in front of the Paddock tunnel at the Butchers Arms Ground

Kayode Adewale is a centre half who is looking forward to play for Stretford Paddock FC.

He sated: “I joined the team because I think this is a great opportunity for me to play for a good team and play at a good standard of football. I previously played as an international trialist for Cowdenbeath FC in Scotland, but was unable to get a contract. Before that I was at Witton Albion FC U21s and before that I also played for FC United U21s.”

Finally, we have Denzel Kuzakwawo. Denzel is a right back or right winger looking to make his mark in the squad.

He stated: ” I joined because it’s good exposure. There’s a good set of lads here and I buy into what you guys are trying to do. I’m enjoying the intensity and sessions so far. I can’t wait to get playing.”

Denzel Kuzakwawo in front of the Paddock tunnel at the Butchers Arms Ground

Manager Stephen Howson is excited to see the new players in action:

“Delighted to welcome 3 top draw footballers to the club. We’ve added strength, depth and some high level experience. Gabriel has got some fantastic experience and has looked great in training so I’m very excited to see him in a Paddock shirt. Kayode is a formidable defender, that I have seen play a couple of times, so I’m delighted that we’ve managed to get him. Denzel was highly recommended from my assistant, Pete, so I’m confident in his ability.”

“While we’re not technically bound by a deadline day ourselves, today’s signings represent the end of our active recruitment. We have a lot of players across the two squads, quality is deep, competition for places is strong and I am confident this group can challenge on all fronts.”

“We have begun to turn away players who arrive at training, and unless it’s someone with an extensive professional playing experience, I think that will remain in place.”

Paddock prove they can do it on a cold rainy afternoon in Stockport against Signol Old Boys

By Casey Evans

It was a cold and rainy match day in Stockport, but Stretford Paddock did not disappoint, as they overcame the torrid conditions and came out 3-1 victors against Signol Old Boys.

The early stages of the game were close, with both teams trying to find their footing and figuring out how to play on the sodden pitch, but the deadlock was broken in the 18th minute when Louis Fitzpatrick, back in the team after his suspension, was found out wide. He controlled the ball well before chipping the outrushing keeper to make it 1-0 to Stretford Paddock.

The rest of the half was slow for both teams, without many chances, with most of the game being played in midfield. The weather definitely played its part visibly sucking the energy out of the players.

Captain Martin Parker was forced off early on with a groin injury and needed to be replaced by right back Ritchie Adjei.

In the 38th minute Paddock got the chance they needed. A fluffed clearance by the Signol keeper left him stranded and found Nosa Imayu about 30 yards out. Paddock’s number 10 calmly curled it into the open net with his weaker foot and Paddock went into half time 2-0 up.

Rain poured down during Saturday’s fixture, leaving the pitch sodden

The second half brought more of the same for both teams, the rain continued to pour down and neither team looked able to adapt to the awkward run of the ball.

Signol began to put pressure on the young Paddock side and finally got their goal in the 72nd minute, with a high shot that keeper Jonny Hart was unable to keep out.

Signol then went close to equalising moments later with a chip that was very similar to Fitzpatrick’s goal in the first half, but Adjei did fantastically well to get back and clear off the line, tipping the shot onto the post.

Two red cards followed in the match, firstly Paddock substitute Okera Simmonds was sent off in the 78th minute and then in the 92nd minute substitute Jordan Corke was clean through but was brought down by the Signol keeper who was shown a red and Corke also had to leave the field as he suffered a serious wrist injury.

Paddock took the resulting free kick quickly and Ronaldo Brown found the inform Jay Phillips in the box who volleyed it home to make it 3-1 to Paddock and make his personal tally of four for the season, so far.

The match ended 3-1 to Stretford Paddock resulting in three wins in three games for the fledgling side and more importantly, put them three points clear at the top of the league.

Manager Stephen Howson said: “We set high standards, of ourselves and of the players, and I am yet to see a performance that matches those expectations. I think I need to be better in my delivery of instruction, and the adherence has to improve.

“Three in three is a good start, but I’m not happy, and there’s a lot of work to done, before I will be. Next week, I want to see us push for a clean sheet and finish a game off without being nervous in the last 10. That would be a start.”

Stretford Paddock will now begin a three-game run at home, with the first of those games against Newton FC.

We hope as many supporters as possible can make the journey, but we would like to warn you not to attend if you, or anyone in your household is showing coronavirus symptoms and also to be aware of the ever-changing government guidelines.

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TOP OF THE LEAGUE; 3 Wins From 3! | Signol Old Boys 1-3 Stretford Paddock FC | Post-Match Podcast

It’s 3 wins from 3 for Stephen Howson and Streford Paddock FC! The boys keep their 100% record with a 3-1 win over Signol Old Boys.

Paddock preview: signol old boys vs stretford paddock fc

Stretford Paddock are back on the road for their next fixture, heading to Stockport to face Signol Old Boys in their 3rd competitive fixture.

Stretford Paddock will be hoping to continue their winning form, having already been victorious in their first two fixtures and sitting atop of the Lancashire and Cheshire league.

The boys celebrate Ronaldo’s goal in our previous win against De La Salle

Stretford Paddock come into this game off the back of a 3-1 win against De La Salle Reds in their first ever competitive home fixture at our new home, the Butchers Arms Ground. 174 came along and enjoyed what might be for some, their first taste of live football in many months and Paddock did not disappoint.

Stephen Howson’s men went behind early, when a cross found the De La Salle striker on the back post, but his team rallied and goals from Cam Watters, Ronaldo Brown and Jay Phillips (Two of which have been nominated for Paddock’s goal of the month) inspired the win.

Signol Old Boys will be hoping to get a win on the board or even a point as they have unfortunately lost their first games 6-1 and 5-2 respectively to Urmston Town Juniors and Newton 1st.

A key player for Paddock will be their September Player of the Month, Jay Phillips. Jay has been in outstanding form so far, scoring three goals in two games from midfield. His goals against Bury Amateur helped the team get back in the game and go on to win, with his free kick being a finely struck effort right into the top corner.

His goals from deep will be vital for Paddock’s form not just in the next game but throughout the season.

Cam Watters (left) & Jay Phillips (right) celebrate Paddock’s win at the final whistle against De La Salle

Stephen Howson said “This game represents another opportunity to test ourselves, which the lads are looking forward to. Training has been of an exceptional standard of late and the players are beginning to understand each other more and more every week. I go into this demanding another win to keep our run of form going, but I don’t pay any attention to either our position or our opponents position in the league, after just two games. It means nothing.”

“I’m looking for us to start showing the sort of standards we show in training, in games. While we’ve won our two opening fixtures, I can’t say I’m pleased with the performances. I expect better, I demand better, so do the players. We know performances can be improved upon and that’s what we need to do against Signol.”

The game will be taking place at Stockport Sports Village, Lambeth Grove, Woodley, SK6 1QX. However, the league are discouraging fans from attending the game at this moment in time.

Review – Stretford Paddock come back to win in Maiden home fixture against De La Salle Reds

By Casey Evans

Today marked the first ever home fixture for Stretford Paddock FC. For the entirety of their journey so far, Stephen Howson’s men have played every single game away from home, so the weight of expectation on the shoulders of the team as they faced De La Salle Reds was immeasurable.

174 people attended the match at the Butchers Arms Ground and were witness to a 3-1 victory for the home side. The atmosphere at the ground was immense, with cheers and songs ringing out while the fans enjoyed beers from the bar.

The early stages of the match were end to end and neither team could really gain a foothold. Paddock forward Kev Gale had a few searching shots, but they all were easily held by the De La Salle goalkeeper.

Disaster struck for Paddock in the 34th minute however when a cross went in and an unmarked De La Salle player at the far post was able to put it into the net, beating Hart by inches.

Paddock quickly got back in the right mindset and a swift passing move between Cam Watters, Nosa Imayu and Ronaldo Brown, which then led to Ronaldo passing it back to Watters just outside the box. He hit it low and clean and it beat the keeper, to bring the match back level as the half came to an end at 1-1.

At half time Kev Gale was subbed and replaced by Adam Ashton.

The Stretford Paddock team go in to the changing rooms for half time

The second half began much better for Paddock. With encouragement from the crowd, the team stepped up a gear and with constant pressure on the De La Salle defence, resulted in just reward early on.

Ronaldo got on the end of a cross into the box and under fierce competition from the opposition keeper was able to slot the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-1, putting Paddock ahead for the first time in the match.

The rest of the match resulted in a lot of pressure for Paddock, De La Salle were searching for an equaliser and more in the following half hour, and in the 89th minute De La Salle unleashed a fierce shot from distance which looked destined to nestle in the top corner of the net, but showing unbelievable reflexes, Jonny Hart at full stretch, saved the Paddocks lead and left manager Stephen Howson overjoyed, with his heart in his mouth.

A few minutes later he had more reason for celebration, as Jay Phillips continued his scoring form getting Paddocks third and sending the Butchers Arms crowd into thunderous cheers.

The goal confirmed Paddock’s victory as the game ended 3-1 and marked two games for Paddock with two wins.

Paddock’s first ever home starting XI –
(Back) Jay Phillips, James Oatt, Martin Parker, Mo Barakat, Jonny Hart, Luke Zakian
(Front) Aaron Hopley, Kev Gall, Cam Watter, Nosa Imayu, Ronaldo Brown

A perfect day for all involved and we thank everyone at Droylsden who shared their fantastic facilities and for helping to make it happen, despite the terrible circumstances that led to them having to withdraw from competition this season.

Our collection for the Bloods totalled £186.22 and we will be continuing to collect voluntary funds at every home match this season to help the Droylsden club get back on their feet. If you want to donate follow the link here: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/droylsden-fc

PHOTOS BY GREG WESTWOOD

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Our Official Sleeve Sponsor – Gripd

Stretford Paddock FC are proud to announce that we will be partnering with Gripd for the coming season as our official shirt sleeve sponsor.

Gripd will adorn the sleeves of both our home and away kits for every match we play this season. 

Gripd create state of the art non-slip socks which allow the wearer to twist turn and run with greater precision and control. Their innovative design providing comfort while allowing the user to achieve their maximum performance.

Speaking to the Gripd team they said: “When we heard Stretford Paddock were starting a football team we felt we just had to get involved.

“We have always tried to align ourselves with companies that have ambitions as high as ours. That coupled with the fact our performance socks are designed for sports and specifically football we felt it was the perfect fit. 

“We can’t wait to see where this journey goes and are excited to watch the lads play and express themselves week in week out, with GRiPD proudly sponsored on the sleeves and the our socks on the players feet.”

You can find out more about Gripd using the link here: www.gripd.co.uk

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Preview: Stretford Paddock FC vs De La Salle Reds

By Casey Evans

Saturday 26th September, marks Stretford Paddock FC’s first home game at the Butcher’s Arms ground, Droylsden, where they will be taking on De La Salle Reds, Salford, in what is expected to be a tight fixture.

Stretford Paddock FC come into this fixture off a deserved win in their maiden competitive fixture against Bury Amateurs AFC, where they recorded a 4-2 victory. 

Jay Phillips scored a brace including a beautiful top corner free kick just after half time and his performance earned him the man of the match performance. Adam Ashton and Ronaldo Brown also got on the score sheet either side of half time to confirm a win for Paddock in a game that they dominated, both in shots and possession.

At the moment, Stretford Paddock FC lie third in the table and manager Stephen Howson will be hoping for an even better performance against De La Salle come 2pm on Saturday.

De La Salle Reds also recorded a victory last time out, winning 4-3 away at Newton. They will also be hoping to record a victory this week to make an early surge up the table.

Manager Stephen Howson said, “This game represents something unique for us, as for the entire journey of Stretford Paddock so far we have played away.

“I’m eternally grateful to Dave Pace, and Droylsden for allowing us to share their home, and also a big shout to Ryan Hopper for making the introduction. 

“I knew we’d end up in a stadium for the season, although I wasn’t sure which, so I wanted to make it feel special, invite loads of people down and celebrate the birth of this club. 

“During this match and throughout the season we will he raising money for Droylsden, so I hope whatever we can do helps get them back playing come next year.

“For us, I hope the occasion is marked with another 3 points. We started well last week and we have a chance to build on that. I’m excited by finally seeing club captain, Martin Parker, in a Paddock jersey, and we’re lucky to be able to bring in Nosa after a week out, in replacement for Louis who is suspended. 

“That adds a little more experience to the XI, and I’d like to see if we can keep improving in attack, and also get a clean sheet at home, too.”

We here at Stretford Paddock hope as many of you as possible can make it down to the ground. We will be checking the temperatures of the fans as they enter the ground and also be implementing social distancing measures to make sure everyone remains safe while watching the games.

If you can not attend due to distance or due to coronavirus related issues, the highlights of the game will be available after the match.

For those of you hoping to watch Manchester United play Brighton before the game, we will unfortunately be unable to show the game in the bar but there are a number of pubs in the surrounding area which will be showing the game.

In terms of the bar, fans will be able to enjoy a beer or a number of other drinks while watching the match but the bar will be cash only for this week as we are having problems with card payments.

All that’s left to say is roll on Saturday and hopefully roll on another win for Stretford Paddock FC.

Our Official Shirt sponsor – Buckley Design Solutions

Stretford Paddock FC are delighted to announce that they will be partnering with Buckley Design Solutions as one of our main sponsors for the upcoming season.

BDS will be our shirt sponsor and therefore will be displayed on the front of our home and away shirts in every game we play this season.

The company are based in the North West but operate all over the country, providing innovate and unmatched scaffolding design solutions and advice for many sectors of the construction industry, including Rail, Industrial, Commercial and Events.

Buckley Design Solutions will feature on the front of Stretford Paddock FC’s home and away shirts

Managing Director of BDS, Lee Buckley said “We have sponsored many football teams over the years, but these sponsorships have always been centred around youth teams, as I love the thought of contributing to kids getting a chance to do what they love.

“Sponsoring an adult team was never something that I considered, until Stretford Paddock FC came along. As a big Man Utd fan & season ticket holder, I have followed Stephen Howson, Stretford Paddock & Full Time Devils for many years on their social media platforms, so when I heard the announcement of Stretford Paddock FC forming a team, I immediately wanted to be involved from the start. I love the enthusiasm & passion shown by Stephen & his staff/team, & would really like to be part of the journey…who knows where it will lead..?!”

As a club who are proud of our northern heritage and the acknowledge the importance of hard work in striving for perfection, we are proud to partner with a company like BDS that champions these same values.

Find out more about Buckley Design Solutions here: https://www.buckleydesigns.co.uk

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Review – Philips Inspires paddock to win in first competitive fixture

by Casey Evans

On Saturday afternoon Stretford Paddock marked their first ever competitive fixture with a win against Bury Amateur AFC, in what was a hard fought 4-2 victory for Stephen Howson’s men. The anticipation around the pitch was palpable as both sides wanted to kick off this new season with a win.

Things started badly for Paddock, as Bury scored early on – a long ball over the top of the defence prompted a footrace between the Bury striker and Stretford Paddock’s ’keeper, Josh Hollobon. Unfortunately, Hollobon was beaten to the ball and the striker prodded it home. Their experience both in the league and as a team showed, Bury’s long balls caused problems for the fledgling Paddock side, in the early stages.

Paddock continued to apply pressure throughout the first half, with little reward for their efforts. Ronaldo Brown dribbled well to work his way into the box, but found his effort saved by the Bury keeper.

Stretford Paddock’s fortunes changed when a clearance from a corner landed back at the feet of the taker Jay Philips, in the 41st minute, who delivered a cross-come-shot towards the back post. The cross went past everyone in the box and nestled in the net, getting the equaliser Paddock were searching for.

Minutes later, midfielder Cameron Watters went down under a challenge in the penalty area, but the loose ball fell to Adam Ashton, who hit the ball into the top corner, with some venom. Paddock went into half time 2-1 up.

Jacob Philips directs his cross towards the net for Paddock’s equaliser

The scoring continued early on in the second half when Luke Zakian was brought down in the 47th minute, just outside the box. Philips stood over the free-kick and smashed it over the wall, into the top right corner, scoring a brace in the first competitive match for Paddock.

Philips went close to getting his hat-trick, with a curling effort, from outside of the box, hitting the post.

Bury, again, exploited the high line of the Paddock defence in the second half – using a long ball to get in behind and made it 3-2, resulting in the closing stages of the game being quite tense.

However, Ronaldo took the game in his stride, breaking through the Bury defence before being brought down in the box. He took the resulting penalty and slotted it home, making it 4-2 to the Paddock.

The ending of the game was marred by a second yellow card for Louis Fitzpatrick who left the pitch after a decent performance, but he will now be suspended for Paddock’s next fixture.

Manager Stephen Howson and the coaches were happy with the team’s performance and will be hoping they can use this win and take this momentum into the next fixture, which is Stretford Paddock’s first ever home game, next Saturday, against De La Salle Reds.

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