THE AMBERS£££££3.50

REAL FOOTBALL, MADE IN YORKSHIRE

ISSUE 1

MATCH REPORTAMBERS DEFEATED BY PROMOTION CHASERS PICKERING TOWN

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

MOXAM THE NORTHERN COUNTIES DEADLIEST FORWARD

DANNY BUTTLE MICK GODBER POSTER BOY: WILL EADES

RIPPONSPEAKS TO THE AMBERS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MARKSMAN AARON MOXAM SPEAKS TO THE AMBERS

18| THE AMBERS 19| THE AMBERS

From an Account Manager in the week to a goal hero by

the weekend, Aaron Moxam has not found it difficult to keep his impressive scoring form going with Handsworth Parramore.After joining from Rainworth

Miners Welfare in the January transfer window, Moxam is the NCEL Premier Division’s top goal-scorer with 43 goals in all competitions.

In an exlusive Q&A in-terview with ‘The Ambers' Moxam talks about life as a Non- League footballer, his own ambitions, scoring goals and much more.

Lets take a step backwards, who influenced you to be-come a footballer?

“I didn’t start playing football till I was ten and I just started playing on my back garden and then started playing for my local team in the Sheffield Under 10’s league.It was at Under 16s when I was scouted by Doncaster Rov-ers. I did a two-year scholarship with them but unfortunately got released at 18 and that’s why I fell back into non- league.”

What was your time like there at Doncaster?

“It was a good experience, ob-viously as a young lad everyone wants to be a professional foot-baller and I got chance to do a scholarship. First year went really well. The second year didn’t go so well.They were a Championship club

at the time and when I was there

it was difficult to get through and get a professional contract.”

You’ve been at the club since October, what have you made of your time here so far?

“I’ve enjoyed it, like I said Hand-sworth’s a side that wants to chal-lenge for league titles and cups.

Unfortunately, this year we’ve not been able to realise that ambition but I think we will do next year.Since my time here I’ve really enjoyed it and scored a few goals which is good.”

Why did you join Handsworth?

“The ambition of the club and where it wants to go. Speaking to Pete Whitehead, the Chairman he told me what he wants to do and where the club wants to go in the next couple of years.I’m an ambitious person and I want to do as well as I can in my football.”

What do you hope to achieve with Handsworth?

“I’m hoping next year we have a really good go at promotion. I think with a few additions to the squad, we can go and win the league which I’d love to do. I’d love to get promoted out of this league

into the Evo-Stik.The club has a lot of stuff going off in terms of the new stadium up at Handsworth which will be good for the community.”

You’re the league’s top goal scorer with a remarka-ble 43 goals in all competitions, how much confidence do you take from this statistic?

“I get a lot of confi-dence from this stat. You know I’m a striker who likes to score goals and whenever I go on the pitch my main aim is to score goals. If I can score goals it means that we will win more games than we lose.” that we will win more games than we lose.”

What are the benefits and down-falls of being a non- league footballer?

“There are a lot of people who earn some good money out of Non- League football. It’s lo-cal football, proper football in my eyes because you get a lot of

passionate fans who have been supporters throughout the years.It’s short lived and it’s not a settled place. You’re not going to have a team that’s together for three or four years.”

At the previous clubs you’ve been at, scoring goals hasn’t been a problem. What are the reasons for this?

“I like to keep myself fit, I enjoy playing football and I know if I enjoy playing football I’m going to score goals. You know, if you do keep yourself fitter than most people you’re going to reap the re-wards and excel especially in these leagues.”

Do you have any rituals before a game?

“If I’ve scored I never clean my boots, I leave them in my bag. If I don’t score, then I clean them.”

Finally, on a personal note, how do you feel about your overall performance this year and do you set yourself goal targets?

“I’m sometimes highly critical of myself. Even when I go on the pitch and I might score a goal or two, I think I could have scored three or four. Every chance I get I want to score.two, I think I could have scored three or four. Every chance I get I want to score.I don’t really set myself a goal tar-get, I just want to start off well and keep going and putting chances away.”

BIOGRAPHYName: Aaron Moxam

Age: 25

Residence: Killamarsh, Sheffield

Profession: Account Manager

Position: Centre Forward

Previous Clubs: Rainworth Miners WelfareSheffield F.C.Hallam F.C.Pontefract Colleries

35| THE AMBERS 36| THE AMBERS

MATCH REPORT: HANDSWORTH PARRAMORE 0-1 PICKERING TOWN

The Parramores fell at the hands of promotion contenders Pickering Town with a narrow 1-0 loss at Sandy Lane.

A first-half header from ex Amber, Sam Denton, inflicted a fourth defeat in five games for the Ambers but kept Pickering Town in the hunt for promotion. Second placed Pickering Town was the latest high profile team to visit Sandy Lane as the games came thick and fast at the business end of the season. Paul Marshall’s side has the best defensive record in the league, and on showing, it’s easy to see why. In an even start to the game, the visitors were indebted to keeper Wells who tipped a goal-bound header from Handsworth defender Reece Hands onto the bar in the 8th minute. This before Ged Dalton broke down the left hand side for Town but was stopped in his tracks by young Ambers’ defend-er, Jack McCarthy as he attempted to supply into the box.After controlling the early proceedings of the first

half, the Pikes took the lead after 15 minutes when a deep corner from the right was misjudged by Hand-sworth keeper, Gary Stevens, and fell onto the head of Pickering defender, Sam Denton, who nodded home from 12 yards.

However, after going 1-0 up, Pickering was hit with a blow when combative midfielder Ryan Cooper limped off on 20 minutes following an innocuous challenge from Ambers’ captain Richard Tootle. Town’s replacement Eddie Birch slotted in well to his position supporting lone striker Ryan Blott who was being well marshaled by the Ambers’ back line. As half- time approached Handsworth cranked up the pressure and a penalty appeal was waved away from referee Edward Cook as forward, Joe Thornton, tumbled in the box. After an evenly contested first half, the Ambers started the second period lively and forced the Pikes back towards their own goal, but whatever was thrown at them, they dealt with ease and it was easy to see why Pickering has the best defensive record in the league. Ambers’ strikers Joe Thornton and Alex Rippon linked up well up front but chances were far from few as Pickering Town centre-backs Sam Den-ton and Niall Tilsley defended resolutely. Rippon who was fresh from his exploits with Sheffield F.C. in midweek and central defender Jack McCarthy both passed up close range opportunities, before Hands went close again, hitting the cross-bar with an audacious 25 yard curling effort.

Pickering celebrate Sam Denton’s opener

The Ambers started to press the defence of Pick-ering and on 75 minutes, Joe Thornton played a defence-splitting pass to strike partner Rippon who raced clear of his marker and got his shot away but, was was to be denied by an outstanding save from Pickering keeper Toby Wells.

Ambers striker Alex Rippon bears down on goal

The league’s top goal-scorer Aaron Moxam was in-troduced from the bench just 12 minutes from time as the Ambers went with three at the back. Although, it was Town who came closest to scoring next as for-ward Eddie Birch broke free but Ambers’ shot-stop-per Stevens redeemed himself with an excellent stop. With only 10 minutes left to play, Handsworth kept pressing and probing but were always susceptible to a quick breakaway. Opportunities came and went for the visitors and Handsworth created a couple of half chances. Despite their efforts, the Ambers were unable to find that killer equaliser and were left frustrated at the final whistle.

Line- ups:

Handsworth Parramore: Stevens, Ludlam, Macarthy, Eades, Tootle (Smythe 62’), Hands (Moxam 78’), Bam-forth, Warne, Buttle (Dunne 72’), Thornton, Rippon. Substitues: Moxam, Smythe, Grffiths, Dunne, Khalifa.

Pickering Town: Wells, Parker, Denton (Ingram 68’), Tilsley, Denby, Thompson, Chipps, Cooper (Birch 20’), Dalton, Blott, Taylor (Kamara 74’). Subsititues: Birch, Dale, Kamara, Dunnett, Ingram.

HE Barnes Man of the Match- Stuart Ludlam

Referee: Edward Cook (Lancashire)

Attendance- 116

Handsworth’s star man: Stuart Ludlam