CRAWLEY is still hearing the shock news that local footballing legend Alan Wormull has died.

His passing was a shocking discovery for his son Simon on Saturday.The town’s sporting community this week paid heartfelt tributes.

Three Bridges manager Paul Faili said: “It’s absolutely devastating news. His son Simon played for Three Bridges last season so I saw a lot of him and knew him for the last 15 years.

“He was always good for a chat and was a massive influence.

“He kept a keen interest in local football and I offer my deepest condolences to his family.

Ali Rennie said: “Alan was a nice fellow and was always a font of knowledge. I liked the way his sides played.”

Observer photographer Jon Rigby said: “Alan will be sadly missed because his for his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game was immeasurable.

“He was a true inpiration to all in football, especially the youngsters and I’m proud to have known him.

“Our thoughts are with Simon and his family.”

Geoff Thornton said: “It’s a very sad loss and I certainly thought he was a lovely bloke.”

Farewell dear Alan page 54

THREE BRIDGES have lost the services of their explosive Pakistani all-rounder Hisam Ul-Haq who has joined local rivals Horsham

The big-hitting top or middle order batsman and right arm fast bowler was Bridges’ stand-out performer in an otherwise miserable season which saw them finish bottom of the table and relegated.

Ul-Haq, 21, from Southgate, was both the leading wicket-taker for the first team with 28 wickets and top batsman with 776 runs from 22 games.

Bridges captain Danny Alderman was not happy his star player had not told him himself he was leaving and the news was not confirmed until the Crawley Times informed him.

He said: “It is news to me he has departed and we wish him well.

The Premier League is probably where he needs to be although up to today we were building our plans around him for next season’s promotion campaign.

“He is a quality cricketer and will be very difficult to replace.”

Horsham beat off a number of other interested Sussex Premier clubs to snap up the talented Pakistani, and captain Craig Gallagher was delighted with the coup.

He said: “We’ve just sent-off registration to the league after Hisam emailed us yesterday (Wednesday) to say he was very happy to join Horsham.

“I know he had been approached by a few other clubs, including Roffey and some others so we’re glad to get him here.”

“He was Bridges top wicket-taker and their player of the year so he’s a top or middle order batsman and a very good bowler as well so it’s a great signing for the team.”

]]> 1.3549450 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:08:37 +0000 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/evans_wary_of_morecambe_threat_1_3549249

STEVE Evans says his Crawley side have ‘to deliver’ during a crunch run of games, starting tonight at home to Morecambe.

The Reds are likely to field a much changed side to one which lost 6-0 to the Shrimpers in September, and while Evans expects the personnel to be completely different on the pitch, he is wary about coming unstuck against a Morecambe side who have won seven games on the road. Crawley go to fellow promotion chasers Shrewsbury on Monday, before hosting a Torquay side who have been on a terrific run in recent weeks, and another Monday night trip, this time to Southend, another of the title contenders.

“We are a different team from that game, Morecambe are a different team.

“I watched them at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and they played extremely well. They have got a great away record in League 2 and always do well against the better teams.

“Jim (Morecambe manager Bentley) is a good young manager and I have got a lot of time for him. We have a period in front of us, we need to deliver. We are still the big scalp, hence being on television away, the cameras want to see us beat.”

BRIDGES lost a pulsating RUR Cup semi-final 3-2 at the hands of County League leaders Rye thanks to a late winner from Sean Kelly, but both sides came out with a lot of credit despite being without key players through a combination of suspensions, injuries and holidays.

The game had an explosive start with both teams scoring within the first four minutes.

James Grant appealed in vain for a throw-in as the ever dangerous Liam Upton broke away on the right after two minutes, waltzed across the face of the goal and then laid the ball into the path of Wes Tait to give Rye the early advantage.

But Lee Carney cancelled that lead out from the penalty spot after Abu Touray had been clipped on the back of the heel by Ben Radley.

Charlie Cooke, Elliott Romain and Tim Rivers all came close to putting Bridges in front, but finally after 28 minutes the excellent Carney won possession, drifted wide right and then delivered the perfect low cross for Touray to slam in.

Rye were level again within six minutes when Upton got the better of Cooke, the only player cautioned all evening by an excellent referee, and shot across goal into the far corner of the net.

Bridges’ keeper Simon Lehkyj had to leave the action at half time after he’d injured his shoulder in a fall, but it was Rye keeper Josh Pelling who was the busier of the keepers as the second half unfolded.

Excellent play by Grant ended with Marlon Maxwell being denied by a last ditch tackle, while Touray and Carney combined to set up Tim Rivers, who was denied by the post!

Rob Woodward had to make some timely interceptions as Rye threatened again, and there was a good shout for a penalty turned down as Bridges’ defence had to show its mettle.

But a poor clearance five minutes from time gave Kelly the chance to hit a speculative 25-yard lob that beat Woodward all ends up, and Bridges will left to rue what might have been.

]]> 1.3548221 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:03:45 +0000 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/reds_keeper_shearer_does_not_need_surgery_1_3546200

REDS goalkeeper Scott Shearer will not need surgery on his knee injury, but expects to miss the rest of the season.

It was feared Shearer would have to go under the knife after an MRI scan last Wednesday revealed cruciate ligament damage sustained in the 4-2 win against Cheltenham two weeks ago. But now the 31-year-old former Coventry and Wrexham shot-stopper has spoken to a consultant, he does not need to undergo surgery.

“I don’t need surgery and that’s a massive boost for me,” Shearer said.

“The specialist told me it was a bad injury but it was the best possible bad injury as there is no damage inside the knee. It’s still going to finish me for the rest of the season, but I will be ready and fit for the start of next season.

“Having an operation is the last thing I wanted, you never know how long you will be out if you go under the knife. At least this way it will heal naturally. It’s quite a common injury for a goalkeeper to get; Chris Kirkland and David James have had the same injury, they have come back and are strong. It is all positive.”

Shearer suffered the injury when he collided with Cheltenham striker Jermaine McGlashan, he was on the bench for last week’s trip to Swindon, but after the scan revealed the extent of the damage - on his birthday - was forced to watch Sunday’s FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Stoke City from the stands.

Shearer added: “It was very difficult watching the match on Sunday, but that’s the sort of thing which happens, you have to take it and you always want to support the others.”

Manager Steve Evans acted swiftly to replace Shearer, bringing in Watford stopper Rene Gilmartin on-loan, initially for a month. Republic of Ireland under-21 international Gilmartin, 26, has been on-loan perviously at League 1 Yeovil this season, and rejected the advances of another league 1 club to the come to the Broadfield Stadium. He made his Crawley debut against Stoke.

Shearer added: “He is Championship quality and you can see he will be good enough.”

]]> 1.3546200 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:29:38 +0000 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/barnett_quits_crawley_for_peterborough_1_3545191

CRAWLEY Town’s Tyrone Barnett has left to join Peterborough United.

The Reds’ top scorer, who has 15-goals this season, will join Darren Ferguson’s Posh on loan until the end of the season which will become a permanent move - said by the club to be a League 2 record.

Championship Peterborough’s offer also far exceeded the £1 million price tag placed on the player by manager Steve Evans during the January transfer window.

Barnett was signed for £150,000 in the summer, and forged a prolific partnership with Matt Tubbs, who left for Bournemouth in the transfer window for a reported £800,000.

Chief Executive Alan Williams said: ‘’Steve Evans spotted Tyrone Barnett at Macclesfield Town when he was relatively unknown.

“We paid a significant transfer fee for him but our manager always maintained that with hard work and good coaching on the training ground he could make him a million pound player - he has done better than that.

“To be fair to Peterborough United, and Director of Football Barry Fry in particular, they have conducted their business in the most professional manner. I understand Darren Ferguson has watched the lad on a number of occasions and he has persuaded his Chairman to smash their transfer record to secure Tyrone’s signature.

“We all wish Tyrone every success and he leaves with our best wishes. He has scored some fantastic goals here and has always been a top class professional.

“As Steve Evans has always maintained, Tyrone Barnett is the best striker playing outside the Premier League and the combined loan and transfer fee certainly recognises that fact.

“Our manager is extremely disappointed that Tyrone is leaving but the offer from Peterborough not only met but exceeded our board of directors’ valuation. We must never forget we are first and foremost a business and this is a great deal for us.”

THREE Bridges managed to overcome incredible odds following a two-week lay-off due to the wintry weather.

Manager Paul Faili said it was a massive game, especially with key players missing and the frustration of losing two weeks to the weather.

He said: “It was a case of getting the season started again. No-one wanted to drop out of the top-five.

“We also had four top players out, so this was a really good win. we worked hard.”

Bridges are currently fifth, and although they trail leaders Rye by 14-points, have six games in hand.

They got straight on the front foot from kick-off and showed their intentions.

The hosts started brightly, and were on the front foot early on. And the impressive Elliott Romain could have put them in front from a fourth minute corner, but his shot went wide. For the next ten minutes it was one-way traffic and but for the final ball in the last third of the pitch you forgot there were two teams on the pitch.

Eventually Crowborough got forward and a blistering shot from Mike Culverhouse scraped the bar and went over and out.

Another corner for Bridges saw Charlie Cooke send over a dangerous cross which Abu Touray should have converted but some how sent the ball over the bar.

Dean Carden playing in an unaccustomed left back position tried to play himself out of trouble in the box and lost possession, which allowed Scott Taylor a shot on goal only to be saved by Simon Lehkj on the line.

Bridges gained a free-kick just on the edge of the box which Lee Carney swung in, the ball bobbled around in the box and was cleared out to the edge of the six-yard area to find Andy Howard who shot on the volley and straight into the roof of the net.

Just before the break Romain who was a pain to the Crowborough defence all afternoon found himself one-on-one with the ‘keeper but shot straight into his hands.

The second half saw Crowborough come flying out of the traps and pushed forward on to the Bridges defence.

This soon evaporated when Romain put Bridges two-up after confusion in the box allowed him to score. After this both sides seemed to settle for the result with Howard and Callum Donaghey marshalling the defence with ease.

Substitute goalkeeper Robert Woodward replaced Donaghey at centre back.

The final piece of action saw Romain go on a solo run from the centre circle and his pace took him past the defence and slot home wide of the keeper.

l Bridges faced Rye last night in the Sussex RUR Cup semi-final.

BRIDGES: Lehkj, Cooke, Carden, Howard, Donaghey (Woodward), Faber, George, Carney, Romain, Rivers (Maxwell), Touray (Moore). Unused sub: Buchan

AEROTRON MAN OF THE MATCH:

Elliott Romain

]]> 1.3545149 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:56:34 +0000 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/crawley_sign_millwall_midfielder_1_3542639

CRAWLEY Town have snapped up Millwall midfielder Shaun Batt on loan.

Batt joins from Kenny Jackett’s Championship side, and can play either as a winger or in a more advanced role. He has featured 19 times for the Lions since signing from Peterborough in 2010, his only two appearances this season have come in the FA Cup; in the Third Round tie and subsequent replay against Dagenham and Redbridge.

The 24-year-old has joined on an initial 36-day loan.

Manager Steve Evans said: “Shaun Batt is a talented lad who I have watched many times.

“He has good technique and explosive pace. That gives defenders in the Championship a headache and will cause League 2 defenders even more problems.

“In fairness to the lad he had a number of options in respect of clubs wanting to sign him so I am delighted he has joined us.

“I watched Shaun last week when he was outstanding in a closed-doors match. I made my move then but with him being cup-tied it did not have to happen until yesterday and we are delighted he is here.”

]]> 1.3542639 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:04:56 +0000 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/wolves_hungry_to_snap_up_poyet_brighton_boss_second_favourite_for_job_1_3542529

Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers are eyeing up Brighton’s Gustavo Poyet as a potential replacement for recently sacked Mick McCarthy.

The Black Country outfit had interviewed Alan Curbishley, Neil Warnock and Steve Bruce but were left having to widen their search after all three turned their backs on the job.

Reading’s Brian McDermott is also believed to also be on the Molineux club’s shortlist and is considered a more likely option than Poyet because of his greater experience in the second flight.

Poyet has previously said he would remain loyal to the Albion unless faced with an offer he considered too good to turn down.

However, with a relative inexperience in management and a CV which currently boasts a single promotion from League One, the popular boss is unlikely to be in the running for more high profile vacancies in the near future.

Online bookies SkyBet currently have Poyet as joint second favourite at 5/2 with McDermott at 9/4.

CRAWLEY’S David Hunt has revealed the tackle which earned Rory Delap a red card in Sunday’s FA Cup Fifth Round defeat to Stoke has left him with a broken foot.

Delap was dismissed after the 17th minute challenge at the Broadfield Stadium, and Hunt took to twitter to reveal the extent of the damage after manager Steve Evans described the injury as a four inch gash.

Hunt said on the social networking site: “Enough’s enough All stoke fans callin me divin cheat & disgrace 2 football..Fractured foot & out for 4 weeks!”

Sussex County Cricket Club have announced that they will be returning to Dubai in March as part of their pre-season preparations.

It is with thanks to the Crimson Hotel Group and Sport Arabia Ltd that Sussex are able to make another trip abroad following the Caribbean T20 last month and the club are grateful of their support and the continued partnership between themselves and the club.

The squad will fly out to the UAE on Tuesday 20th March and will play initially in the Emirates Airlines Twenty20 2012 Tournament, alongside Durham Dynamos, Lancashire Lightning and an MCC XI, featuring Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, with the matches taking place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

The tour’s primary objective though will be preparing the squad for four-day cricket with a program of practise sessions planned, culminating in a two-day game against Durham, as they look towards their season opener against Surrey at the Kia Oval, which begins on Thursday 5th April.

Sussex’s Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson said, “Guaranteeing being able to play on good wickets against good opposition in good weather is a key commodity in pre-season, and we’re grateful to our sponsors for not making us rely on the unpredictable English weather during this vital time.”

Sussex supporters can win a trip for two to Dubai to watch the Emirates Airline Twenty20 by visiting the Sport Arabia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sportarabia

]]> 1.3542402 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:15:58 +0000