The President has decided on a slightly later date this year with the event usually taking place in July.

He is hoping that by having the event at the start of the 2012/13 season, a few more people will be able to get involved including one or two of the players.

‘I have decided to freeze the price again as a thank you for our regulars and also in the hope of getting some new teams to take part, it is an important day in the clubs calendar and the later date may open it up to one or two more including hopefully players.’ said Smith.

The £160 includes a two course meal afterwards and a coffee and bacon sandwich on arrival.

Last year’s winners MSR Newsgroup, who won the trophy for the first time will have to defend it without their talisman as captain Mark Steggles is unavailable that day.

It was a fantastic 91 that helped win the day for the clubs main sponsors and the Chairman is expected to talk to one of the main stars Ian White about who to bring in for the absent Steggles.

Initially James will be getting involved with the clubs match day raffle and number cards but has already sold tickets for the forthcoming night at the dogs.

The move to bring in a fourth member of the commercial team is a realisation from the club that for the need to remain competitive, they need to have an ongoing programme of fund raising and money making schemes.

Manager Les McJannet has received an increased budget this season in part due to the fund raising efforts of Simon, Tim and Trevor but if the club is to compete for a top five place in this league or maintain Premiership status at some time in the future, it will need to have a rolling programme to make up for a shortfall from smaller gates in comparison to other clubs, not to mention money to upgrade the ground.

Willcocks has come to the club full of ideas and Chairman Mick Garton and Tournament Chief Mark Steggles were impressed with the 24 year old at their first meeting. Willcocks has since met Harris and spoke with supporters club chief Alan Murphy.

Tim Harris told us ‘He is full of enthusiasm and raring to go, he sees it as a challenge, as I did when I came here.’

The young addition to the Carlton team can’t wait to get started and put out the following press statement:

I would just like to firstly thank Mick and everyone at Carlton Town FC for welcoming me to the club the way they have. I have already in my first few days met some positive and enthusiastic people who I am really looking forward to working with.

I am joining a club with a real positive attitude both on and off the pitch and a club with plenty in the pipeline over the coming months.

After initial meetings with both Mick and Tim, we have already started moving in the right direction with regards to the future and I am pleased to be able to get involved with events straight away.

I am really excited about attending my first ever Race Night on the 10^th of February and have already started my first job of selling tickets and getting people along for a great night out.

I am also looking forward to my first home game at the club Vs Grantham Town on the 11^th and will be happily meeting all the fans while running the raffle and football card during and after the match. So be sure to get involved and buy some tickets and not only help the club but be in for the chance of bagging yourself some great prizes.

After being around the non league previously with Farnborough Town FC, remembered mainly for my role of 2 years as ‘BoroBug’ (club mascot), it’s great to be able to get started at a new club with a new vision now I am settled in my new home in Nottingham.

Be sure to keep a lookout for new events and exciting goings on around the club once all of the commercial team get working together!

UP THE MILLERS!!! 

There will be no charge for tickets on the evening but it will be on an invitation only basis with the club holding a draw on the night to raise cash. The club are delighted at the gesture from Nottingham's highly rated and respected coach and with a number of cricket fans at Stoke Lane, the evening on Friday 2nd March is expected to generate good interest.

Newell is expected to tell one or two stories and take questions from the floor in a 2 part session and tucked in between, a guest artist is expected to appear at the clubhouse sportsbar!

The club have two 20/20 international tickets up for grabs along with CB40 tickets for a fixture at Trent Bridge this season.

Newell told us "I am more than happy to help the club, i understand grass roots and I know how hard it is to raise funds, I drive past the ground on a regular basis and Carlton are doing well so hopefully I can do my bit."

Carlton Chairman revealed the cricket chief will not be taking a fee.

"He is doing it to help us out, It's as simple as that, thus we can reward our partners at the local schools and supporters who want to come along without charging for tickets. "

"We will hold a draw on the night with some decent prizes and hopefully have a good night on the bar."

"Money is extremely tight at the moment and hopefully this event and the Steve Kindon easter luncheon which is selling well will help us meet our obligations between now and the end of the campaign."

"it is a wonderful gesture from Mick Newell and hopefully the lads who play in the clubs cricket friendly fixtures can all make the evening, I for one am really looking forward to it."

If Carlton achieve promotion they will need to raise around £40,000 by March 2013 to bring their ground up to Evostick Premiership standard and although Simon Harris is doing the groundwork for a football foundation bid, the club are under no illusions that they will have to raise a substantial part of that themsleves, and the darts marathon, the idea of Commerial Chief Tim Harris was the first event of 2012 to boost that kitty.

Key Carlton figures popped in during the day and night to support the team, including Chairman Mick Garton, Vice Chairman Chuck Fowler and Club Secretary Paul Shelton. Stegs, Tim Bee, Whitey,Alan Murphy and Trevor Williams were all notable supporters of the day along with coaching staff Soggy and Matt and and an impressive number of Carlton fans. The fund had a mid afternoon boost with an £80 donation from a local carpet fitter Kev, who came along with his beautiful girlfriend. There were smiles as the bucket filled and donations came in.

As 10pm approached, the football was removed from the big screens and the tunes of Pete Tong lifted spirits in the throbbing clubhouse.

There was applause allround for a job well done as the 7 musketeers crossed the finishing line. The scottish man and one called Hoods were already on the beer!  Hoods was celebrating an average score of 64.5, Les was just thirsty!

Much of the £1000 + raised has already been collected and when the 7 strong team have got all their money in, this website will give an update of exactly how much was raised and where the ground fund now stands at.

For now it was back on the mower for Bob, the baileys and the dugout for Les, but for Simon and Tim and indeed Trevor, the fundraising continues. Rodrick has an NVQ to do, Stevie has a Newcastle Brown to sink and Alia, well shes busy wiping the sweat from "the Teapots" brow. Heroes off the pitch and indeed heroes on it!

Yes Carlton made it 15 goals in 2 games with the 8 nil demolition of lowly Quorn, and both Rubin Wiggins Thomas and Ian Brown have a chance of winning the divison one south golden boot this season, Brown hit a hatrick and Rubin got another goal to add to his total as the Millers went to the top of the table ahead of Grantham Town on goal difference, although the Gingerbreads have 2 games in hand. It had been a good 48 hours indeed.! 

Les, Tim, Simon, Roderick, Steve, Bob and Alia were all upbeat ahead of the challenge with plenty of banter flying around the clubhouse sports bar.

There was Test Match action on the big screens and a big bucket for donations.

Live action can be seen at www.justin.tv/carltontownfc

There is also a competitive edge with all the scores being recorded and an average 3 darts score for each player will be announced at the end.

Check out this website over the weekend to find out if the guys have achieved their goal and for all the reaction with pictures to follow.

Managing Director Michael Hampshire told us ‘I have been in talks with Carlton Chairman Mick Garton since before Christmas about getting involved and I can now confirm we have agreed a deal for 2012.’

‘I am delighted to help the club as a local businessman and am looking forward to working in partnership with them.’

Hampshire had attended the Christmas luncheon with Graham Taylor and the sold advertising space is a timely boost for the club.

Chairman Mick Garton put out a statement on behalf of the club ‘We are delighted to welcome a new partner on board in the form of Paul Smith Automobile Engineers, finances are particularly tight at the moment given the loss of money from Real Education and the demise of the Monday night five a side league so any new help and support is very welcome.’

‘Times are indeed tough so it is with credit that Michael has decided to advertise with us. We will hopefully see more of him and his family at the ground in the coming months.’

‘I am currently working hard with the commercial team down here to bring in the new funds to help pay the bills and to allow the club to remain competitive.’

‘We have the ground fund event down here on Friday with the darts and I would urge as many people as possible to come and show their face and support the darts team including Manager Les McJannet.'

In fairness to Leek, the scoreline flattered Carlton a little, Leek had a whole host of chances throughout the 90minutes but they were wasteful and Danny Marshall was in fine shot stopping form in the Millers goal.

Carlton meanwhile were ruthless in front of goal and both Ruben Wiggins Thomas who has turned down 3 moves away from the millers in recent weeks for better money and Ian Brown are in contention for the leagues golden boot.

It was the return of Anthony Griffiths Junior who got most tongues wagging however, he was sold last season to Hucknall Town for a fee of a £1000 and had since moved onto Barwell in the premier division but the lad was keen to rejoin his home town club and Les Mcjannet was keen to give him another oppurtunity at Stoke Lane.

Ricky Gardener, Josh Thornton, Neil Grayson and Griffiths himself are players' manager Les Mcjannet will be hoping to give some match time too on Wednesday night when the Millers take on a Nottingham university side in a friendly at Stoke Lane which will replace training this week.

Support was coming in meanwhile for the darts marathon with Brian Dennett kindly donating his press fee to the fund raising evening as the Carlton crew attempt to do a 12 hour stint on the ocky.

The club are hoping that supporters will turn up and show their face next friday as the club attempts to approach the magical £10,000 mark for the ground fund.

It was some eight years ago when Kindon last spoke at the club and the brought the house down.

Carlton will be hoping he can do the same again and the Millers have already achieved sponsorship for the event with Britvic taking the top table.

With major sponsors MSR Newsgroup along with B4 Painting and tournament chief Mark Steggles all committing to tables already, the club will be hoping for a sell out for what promises to be a cracking afternoon.

The event will be a hog roast occasion with salad bar and tickets are available at the discounted price of £30 to members and season ticket holders.

The event will take place a week before Easter and if successful will become a regular fixture in the clubs calendar .

The bar will open at 1pm and the event will last throughout the afternoon.

Rob Gill has joined Rainworth after failing to nail down a regular place in the Carlton team.

Gill was a popular member of the Carlton dressing room and Les Mcjannet has not ruled out asking him to come back in the future but the Manager understands he wants to be playing and with 4 other top quality strikers at the Millers, his chances have been limited.

With Nick Hall and Matt Millns missing games recently due to personal circumstances and Rob Darkin and Ryan Goward now suspended, the emphasis will fall on the squad more than ever and it looks likely new signing Sam Mcvicor and the returning Ricky Gardener will have important roles to play.

Gardener has been out on loan at Greenwood Meadows and on saturday helped them to a 3-1 win scoring a goal as they moved off the bottom of the table.

The loyal Neil Grayson could also came back into the frame, he is another player who turned down the chance of a move to stay with the millers and looked lively when on as a substitute against Newcastle Town.

With Darkin suspended, Mcjannet could move Asher to centre back and bring back in Josh Thornton who lost his place following an injury or does Matt Mills come back into contention?

One player likely to return to the starting line up is Terry Hawkridge who has been suspended himself and Mcjannet will be hoping Adam Kimble can come back into the picture sooner rather than later after suffering a hamstring injury at Lincoln United.

Kimble had been on fine form prior to that and his injury has been a major blow to Mcjannet.

The one positive with Gardener coming back into the reckoning is he scores goals and with Ashley Grayson also capable of hitting the net on a regular basis it is another weapon in the Carlton locker from the midfield area of the pitch.

The Millers are known to be frustrated with Saturdays postponment having made the trip to Stamford understanding the game was on but the game looks likely to be now played on what would have been a blank week for the two clubs early in march.

For Mcjannet with the senior cup approaching too, his biggest tests are about to come!

‘We need to keep it moving, this is the best team we have ever had here and we need to give Les every chance by continuing our fund raising efforts on an ongoing basis.’

Williams has announced a deal with the Greyhound stadium for an initial event that will take place on Friday 10^th February. ‘Tickets to the event are £6 but the stadium will let us keep all of that so if we sell 100 tickets, we can make another £600 for the clubs ground fund and all have a good night.’

‘We need to think positive and bring this ground up to Premiership standard and the ground fund is key to this.’ Said Williams.

Chairman Mick Garton thanked Williams and confirmed the club would back this.

‘Club President Roger Smith said Trevor had this next initiative ready to go and he was fully behind it and that Les McJannet was in full support.’

‘Well the rest of us are up for it too, it’s a great idea. We now have a commercial department, the supporters and the playing side all successful and pulling in the same direction and that is a potent weapon for any club hoping to achieve success.’

‘This is a good place to be at the moment and I genuinely feel if we can keep the majority of these people together both on and off the pitch, we can make genuine progress.’ Said the Chairman.

He has also dispelled rumours there would be an Easter draw but said the end of season presentation night draw ‘would be expanded and enhanced.’

‘Two draws a season is enough for any club, we don’t want to go for overkill but with the prizes we have on the conveyor belt, the end of season draw will take on extra significance.’

‘We already have the Pete Bradley prizes, one of which will go into this draw, a mini portable digital sound system, more tickets for Cadbury’s world and the guys haven’t even started yet.’

‘There will be a launch night as there was for the Christmas draw and details will follow in the New Year.’ Concluded the Chairman. 

Here is the full list of the winners of prizes in the 2011-2012 Carlton Town FC Christmas draw.

Ticket Number                      Name                                            Prize
0500                                       Margret Asher                                 Flat Screen 32"Tv
4589                                       Mike Plumb                                     Thorsby Hall Day Spa.
6932                                       John White                                      Forest Hospitality Package.
6347                                       M.Shelton                                        Mountain bike.
4091                                       Cath Steadman                                Site Radio.
2074                                       M Allison                                         Photography Session.
1020                                       Mark D                                            Helicopter flight.
6668                                       Wendy                                            Oakmere golf package.
0625                                       Micheal Foster                                  Karting session.
5880                                       Paul Shelton                                    Donnington Museum.
3431                                       Sam                                               T40 Cricket tickets.
5061                                       Paul Shelton                                    Cadburys World.
0721                                       Mike Czeraisky                                 Nottm rugby tickets.
0403                                       Widdowson                                      Skegness break.
4396                                       P. Gilnen                                         Ten Pin bowling session.
1243                                       Ray U9s                                          Notts County Tickets.
5928                                       R Holden                                         Ferry Park Farm Tickets.
0426                                       Alan T                                             Wheelgate Farm tickets.
2629                                       Evo                                                 White Post Farm Tickets.
5258                                       Pete Gibson                                     Travellers Rest Meal x4
6831                                       Sophia Borghisani                             Wheatsheaf Meal x4
5600                                       ian Brown                                        Seven Mile Inn Meal x4
0134                                       Bob H                                             White Post Pub Package.
3197                                        Trev                                              Starting Gate Pub meals.
1503                                       Joan Garton                                    Nottm Night Meal x2
2665                                       Sue Solloway                                   Tally Ho Meal x2
1902                                       C.Heatherland                                  £25 All in one voucher.
3910                                       Ruth                                               Haircut.
4901                                       Marlene Cook                                  Champagne Flutes.
5741                                       Mick Stevens                                   Appollo Fish & Chips x2
4384                                       Julie Parker                                     Fleece.
0427                                       Alan.T                                             Flask.
1661                                       Ray U9s                                         Gym Voucher.
3297                                       Diane Clark                                     Wine.
0464                                       Helen                                              Jaffa Cakes.
2865                                       Gail                                                Gardening Book.
2653                                       Dan Turner                                      Old Spot Voucher.

Although an official announcement has not yet been made, it is understood that the final figure for the xmas draw is over £5000 worth of sales.

There were 38 prizes in the draw and Paul Shelton and Ian Brown were two people at the club among the prizes although it was Alistar Asher who held his hands aloft has his mum won the first prize, a 32" flat screen tv.

Guests of honour Steve and Rodrick Hoods made the draw and a full list of winners and numbers will appear on this website.

The mood was festive in a packed sportsbar after a 4-2 win over an impressive Coalville side with Nick Hall and Ruben Wiggins Thomas getting a brace a piece.

Les Mcjannet surprised supporters with a new signing in his line up, striker Sammy macvicar who was brought in just 24 hours earlier from Loughborough  after impressing the Miller's manager a couple of weeks earlier, MacVicar came off the bench, went close and set up Nick Hall for the Miller's 4th goal.

The young supporters from Carlton Le Willows were awarded with their half season tickets by skipper Ashley Kitchen as promised by the Chairman and once again they gave the home side fantastic vocal support.

Daniel Fletcher was rewarded for selling the most xmas draw tickets on the playing side (134 in total) and there were also arena tickets for pupils at the Carlton Le Willows academy who have done so much for the club in recent weeks.

Brian Dennett and Simon Harris awarded a £120 donation for the ground fund, to the club for their match reports and all in all it has been a good week for the promotion chasing club and they go into christmas with spirits high!

Chuck told us ‘It was a nice gesture from the Chairman to reward those lads who have given such excellent support and they will get their half season tickets on Saturday straight after the game.’

‘Anyone else wanting to purchase half season tickets can do so at the following prices: Adults £50, Concessions £37.50 and Kids £25.’

‘Just see myself or the Chairman or ring the office on 0115 9581735.’

‘We are also wary there may be some snow around in the next couple of days but I can confirm that the Xmas draw will still go ahead if the game is called off. We will draw it in that case between 3 and 4pm and Steve Hoods will still be joining us.’ Confirmed the Vice Chairman.

The incident happended 17mins into the 2nd half when Kitchen was accidently clattered in the head by his own keeper Neil West.

Kitchen fell to the ground unconscious but the game was allowed to continue and fellow defender Ryan Goward admitted to Kitchen later he could have cleared the danger, but the ball was to close to Kitchen's head to clear. A scramble followed and Cotton nipped in to put Goole into a 2-0 lead.

Kitchen regained consciousness when attended to by physcio Naomi Clarke but it was clear to her straight away and to striker Ian Brown that the situation was a serious one.

Carlton officials are known to be extremely dissapointed at some of the comments made while Kitchen lay stricken on the ground but Brown and Clarke were adamant he could not be moved until the paramedics arrived.

Kitchen was given morphine on the pitch and the game was delayed for 45 minutes before he was finally taken away in an ambulance.

That Carlton came  back and pulled the game level with just minutes to go given their injury,illness and suspension list was a massive statment of intent from the players and must go down as one of the best results of the season given the circumstances and the injury to Kitchen but the result was very much of secondary importance while everyone waited to hear the scan results from the hospital.

The news came late on the Saturday evening that Kitchen had regained feeling in his back and legs and that his neck was not broken as many had feared.

He woke Sunday morning feeling extremly sore and with alot of back pain but hopefully with no lasting damage and thanked the supporters and others for their messages of support.

" I was out cold and then saw Naomi over me, it seemed like I was in some sort of dream, I had no idea what was going on or where I was , then I realised I couldn't move my legs or feel my back.

It was an horrific experience and one I wouldn't wish on anybody, I was so relieved when I suddenly got the feeling back in hospital, I remember the supporters clapping me off and I would like to thank everyone who has inquired after me and sent messages of support and particually our supporters who are the best.

Iv'e spoke to the manager and chairman today who had both been trying to get in touch and thank them too, I would also like to pay tribute to Naomi and Ian Brown who were brilliant. I will be glad when this year is over to be honest, it has finished the way it started and wasn't much better in the middle on a personal note but hopefully 2012 will be better" concluded the Millers skipper.

Credit must first of all be given to the six pupils from Carlton Le Willows Academy school who as part of the clubs school partnership came and gave their time up throughout the afternoon and helped bar manager Jenny Shaw and her team put on a cracking afternoon for all who attended and the club would like to thank Neil Kendrick at the school for making this possible.

Chairman Mick Garton described the six lads as " a credit to the school, their parents and themselves."

They were all awarded half season tickets by the club which were presented by Graham Taylor himself.

Five Live's Darren Fletcher was at his very best giving some inetivable stick to the chairman and everyone else within spitting distance and the sell out audience were well up for it.

The club achieved their best ever results for the £10 super draw somewhat helped by the five excellent prizes on the envelope while xmas draw ticket sales went over the magical £3,000 mark with the chairman's now famous "trust me" challenge. It was a cracking afternoon for the club and one that will go down in Carlton Town folk law.

The former England manager stayed on for well over 1 hour after he had finished speaking for photos, autographs and to talk to the club's supporters about everything football along with the excellent Darren Fletcher.

Taylor had earlier spoke from the heart, particually about his time as England Chief and his honesty caught a cord with everyone as he revealed what the England manager's job really entails. It was gripping stuff and certainly opened a few eyes in terms of opinions, reality and fact.

Taylor finished the afternoon deep in discussion with Alan "the barrister" and Greg Last which must have tested him as much as managing the likes of "Gazza" but he came through with that challenge as well as he had done with every other one in his remarkable career and everyone was smiling as he left the building.

Christmas had well and truly arrived at the Bill Stokled Stadium as the Pogues, Wham and Elton John appeared on the clubs big screens, Taylor wondered if Elton would still fit behind the piano but after speaking effectionatly of his former Chairman, perhaps one should leave it at that, it had been a fantastic afternoon indeed.

Merry Christmas.

The gate was initially recorded at 270, but the sponsor’s party had been missed off and the official gate has been confirmed at 280.

Carlton’s previous high was 226 against Grantham Town three years ago and before that 202 against Dunkirk.

A good percentage of this record figure can be put down to Ilkeston’s excellent away support.

 Carlton’s gates have been on the up this season and they average above a hundred for the first time in their history.

Carlton Manager Les McJannet will have been delighted with the win that keeps them in the play off places.

They hit the woodwork twice and saw two efforts cleared off the line as well as having two good penalty shouts turned down by the referee while despite several aerial bombardments, Carlton’s Danny Marshall had been largely untroubled in the Millers goal.

Reuben Wiggins Thomas was voted man of the match by Premier Electrical, the evenings match sponsors but the award could have gone to a number of players including strike partner Ian Brown who scored a brace to see the Millers home.

Carlton’s former reserve and Academy championship winning manager and now supporter Ian Spencer described it as a ‘thrilling and compelling contest, played with intensity and pace.’

‘It was a great result for Carlton and a fine advert for local football and as good a match as I’ve seen all season.’

Whether Ilkeston’s fans would agree with that assessment is open to debate, in fairness many leaving the ground admitted their team had been beaten by the better team on the day and were complimentary of Carlton’s performance.

Notts County teamed up with Carlton Town to make it an evening to remember for the Sheppard family at Stoke Lane.

First Brian Sheppard and his family were invited to Meadow Lane to meet manager Martin Allen in his office and for a photo call on the pitch before the naming ceremony at Stoke Lane where Notts County Captain Neil Bishop was the guest of honour.

Over 200 packed onto the patio and into the clubhouse sportsbar to see Bishop present trophies and kits to the teams that had triumphed in the final tournaments before the name change.

Local darts player Stephen Hood who had contacted the fire brigade and helped stop a catastrophe at the ground recently was presented with VIP tickets for the premiership darts at Nottingham Arena next April.

Hood , cousin of former Carlton legend Ian White came forward following an appeal on Radio Nottingham and in the Nottingham Post and is seen as a community hero by the Carlton Town hierarchy.

Teachers and friends from the Carlton Le Willows School, family and locals alike, some had travelled from afar to be part of this special evening waited as the main event of the evening came closer and closer.

The packed clubhouse then fell to silence as the Notts County captain presented Terri's parents Brian and Cheryl with special plaques commerating the evening before Carlton Manager Les Mcjannet and Bishop unveilled the huge sign which is to be placed above the arena.

Emotions were raw, particually when the family saw the sign and as cameras clicked and people had a moments for their thoughts, Carlton's Tim Harris took to the decks and lifted spirits with some upbeat tunes and the evening turned to a celebration of Terri's life and acknowledgement of a lasting legacy.

The first event in the Terri Sheppard arena will be "The Terri Sheppard Mini Olympics" when about 12 teams will battle it out for the top prize. That will take place on Sunday 20th November from 2.00pm and the presentations for that event will be made by the Sheppard family who are also taking part at Carlton's christmas party on Friday 2nd December when seven little sisters will be the special guests.

Carlton's Christmas draw was also officialy launched with Neil Bishop being the first to put his hand in his pocket to get the big fund raiser underway.

It was a special night indeed and one that will live in the memory of so many.

Carlton Town Chairman Mick Garton admitted that in many ways, "this coming season would be tougher than the previous one as expectation levels rise at Stoke Lane", speaking to us exclusively from Cafe Mambo in Ibiza, the chairman gave an insight on his thoughts.

"We struggled to win a game last pre season, didn´t attract enough of the right players until right up the to kick off while this summer, we moved early and got the main buisness tied up and have made several promosing additions losing only Deon Meackle at this stage and Ricky Gardener who is travelling."

Garton is in an upbeat mood, overlooking the sea in this beautiful part of the world having had the oppurtunity to see Judge Jules and the Swedish House Mafia while out here but he admits the pressure will be on.

"It was good to hear of the excellent wins over Staveley and Eastwood while I have been away and am told the competition for places is intense. There was no expectation last season other than to stay up and we told the manager it would be nice to have a decent run in the senior cup." As it was Carlton finished 8th and reached the final of the cup only to be well beaten by Eastwood at Field Mill. " It will be different this time round and we are most certaintly aiming for the play off´s but it will also be tougher. Apart from the expectation level, Ilkeston are going to be a big threat and Grantham could well be the team to beat having finished well last season and having invested further during the summer and I expect Belper to be in the running this time round aswell and as always there will be dark horses as we proved to be last season. It will be nice to go one better in the senior cup and obviously the big cups are important as they can help balance the budget and although we are doing well pre season, those results will mean little when the real action starts. "

" I hope players are patient at the start of the season because if everyone is fit the manager can only name sixteen but with two games most weeks and injuries and suspensions no doubt kicking in as the season progresses, Les and Clarkey will need a strong squad and with no reserve side, that will create new challenges in itself."

" Other positives this season are the excitement of the extra local Derby´s involving Ilkeston FC and Hucknall Town, our new relationship with the local school and the new kit player support scheme which is already proving a hit with our supporters and I expect to give an update on that on my return."

" I will sit down with the manager on my return and get an overview of where he feels we are at in terms of players and preperation and then the real action starts and I for one despite the extra pressure am really looking forward to it" concluded the chairman.

MSR WIN THE GOLF DAY

Carlton Town’s major sponsors MSR Newsgroup won their first ever Carlton Town golf day and had Carlton Town’s very own Mark Steggles and Ian White to thank as they carded a terrific 91.

They follow in the footsteps of Mick O’Keefe, JMD Textiles, Great Northern Inns, Carlton Town FC, Trent Concrete and last years winners The Bumble Bashers who came second this time round after equalling last years score of 90 but it wasn’t enough this year as they came up against the colossal Steggles.

MSR will be delighted they entrusted the great man with running their two sides as the second MSR team came in 4^th just behind 3^rd placed Rick Webster after the count back rule had to be applied, both teams scored 89.

Steggles who also had teammates Wilson, Burrows and of course the popular Ian White to thank. President Roger Smith made the presentations with assistance from Carlton Town Manager Les McJannet who had signed a contract with the club earlier in the day.

It was a good day again indeed, most of it in tremendous sunshine and one that helps the club raise vital funds towards their annual expenditure and for once the drinks will be on Stegs, a proud and powerful winner.

“HE PRODUCED MIRACLES” SAID STEGGLES

Carlton Town have agreed a one year signed contact with manager Les McJannet, the first time in the clubs history they have given a manager a contract and the first manager’s contract McJannet has ever signed.

McJannet speaking at the club’s annual golf day at Oakmere Park where he officially signed the contract in the presence of chairman Mick Garton, the club’s tournament chief Mark Steggles and the club photographer Tim Scott, McJannet told us

“I’m delighted the chairman and the club have shown faith in me and I hope to repay that faith, certainly giving my best to bring success to the club and attempt to improve on last season’s 8^th place finish.”

Steggles has been delighted in what McJannet achieved in his first season in charge after taking over

“With practically no players, Les has worked miracles in his first season and we offer him our full support. His achievement in taking us to the Senior Cup Final was nothing short of a miracle given the rebuilding job he had to do and it is the first time we have achieved that as a club, we look forward to continued success with Les at the helm, with a good team of people around him.” Said Steggles.

McJannet’s appointment of the inspirational Mark Clarke as his assistant was seen as a master stroke by the Scotsman and both first team coach Soggy, Naomi and Jeppo who have shared the physio duties all played their part.

The club will be hoping that McJannet can now take things onto the next level and achieve the playoffs this coming season, given the boards backing.

Over 100 people packed into Carlton's clubhouse sportsbar to celebrate Les mcjannet's first year year in charge of the club and Nick Hall and Rob Darkin took the major honours in a cracking night at Stoke Lane.

The success of the under 18's was recognised first with a league and cup double win and a runners up medal in the league cup and managers Michael and Everton spoke proudly of their teams achievements as Les Mcjannet and club Captain Ashely Kitchen presented their medals and indivivual prizes.

Reserve manager Tony Cox was next up and Ross Lawerence received the manager's player and Seb Firman the players player and Cox also presented the clubman's award which this year went to his hardworking assitant Will Thompson.

After a break for the Spit Roast and a good dose of tunes from DJ Matt, it was time to reconviene for the main event of the evening, the first team awards.

The chairman's award went to the legend that is Neil Grayson and there was also a bottle of best whiskey for manager Les Mcjannet who it has been revealed by the Nottingham Evening post is on the verge of signing a contract at the club.

The most improved player went to young Terry Hawkridge while the supporters club player of the year was Rob Darkin , the outstanding Darkin also picked up the managers award but the players played went to midfield general Nick Hall . Darkin came 2nd in the vote and Josh Thorton 3rd while goalkeeper Danny Marshall is known to be have been heavily considered for the most improved trophy but was just pipped by the excellent Hawbridge , Darkins family also cleaned up in the raffle, it was no more than they deserved for the great support they have given their son and the club this season.

There was just enough time for the chairman and Chris Chappo to have their annual dance off although this year they danced in harmony rather than in competition , Matt the DJ was impressed , Les not so and Kitch , well he just looked the worse for ware , it was his annual drink you see! Clarkey got the award for the best dancer this year and Jeppo for the best speech although Alan the barrister ran him close, Les however was just happy ,his first season was a good one, a packed sports bar and a bottle of the best  scotch and Jeppo still couldn't understand him and  probablly never will!