Blackstones F.C.

Blackstones

Full name	Blackstones Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Stones or Blackos
Founded	1891 Rutland Ironworks 1921 Rutland Engineering Works 1937 Lister Blackstone 1938 Blackstones 1969 Mirlees Blackstone 1998 Blackstones F.C
Ground	Blackstones Sports & Social Club, Lincoln Road, Lincolnshire, Stamford, PE9 1UU
Ground Capacity	2,000
Chairman	Gary Peace
Manager	Phil Gadsby
Coach	Andy Sharpe and Talal Karmara
League	United Counties League Division One
2014–15	United Counties League Division One, 17th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Blackstones F.C. is an association football club based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. The club plays its home games at Lincoln Road.

Stamford, Lincolnshire

History

Half Moon Inn, St Pauls Street, Stamford Blackstones FC Original headquarters

The first football club with links to Blackstones was the "Rutland Ironworks". The club's headquarters were the "Half Moon Inn" while football matches were played on Ryhall Road, Stamford. The first evidence of the ironworks was recorded in 1891, the Stamford Mercury local press reported them beating Stamford Town Reserves 1–0 on 20 January 1891.

Blackstones Works site of first football matches, Ryhall Road, Stamford

The club was founded in 1920 as the works team for the Stamford engineering manufacturer Mirrlees Blackstone and adopted the company's name. Mirrlees Blackstone Limited was formed on 1 June 1969 by the merger of Mirrlees National Limited (formerly Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day) and Blackstone & Company Limited. All were, at the time, members of the Hawker Siddeley Group.

Blackstone & Co Broad Street Stamford

Blackstones FC joined the United Counties League Division One in 1984. Finishing second in 1987–88, they were promoted to the Premier Division from the start of the 1988–89 season, where they remained until being relegated in 2013.

File:Blackstones in Stamford at St Peters Street.jpg

Blackstone & Co St Peters Street Stamford

2003–04 was a particularly successful season for the club, and they reached four cup finals. Also in 2003 the club was saved from demolition. The only one which they won was the Lincolnshire F.A. Senior 'A' Cup. This success spurred the club on in the following seasons; in 2004–05 they finished fifteenth in the UCL Premier Division, rising to tenth in 2005–06, eighth in 2006–07 and fourth in 2007–08. In 2007–08 they reached the First Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, losing 2–1 at Northern Premier League Division One South team Grantham Town in a replay. They have also reached the final of the Lincolnshire FA Senior Trophy.

Mirrlees Blackstone Anson 6072 an item which workers from the football team used to produce

In November 2013 the club achieved the FA Charter Standard Club Mark for its junior team. In 2015 Phillip Gadsby was appointed as manager.

The Blackstone Oil Engines - Enamel Sign

Stadium

The clubhouse, which stands behind the near goal, was extended in 1984, the year which saw the club join the UCL. In 1998, the parent company was taken over, and the club changed its name to Blackstones F.C. For several years the club was seen as the poor relation of Stamford (the Daniels) until Stamford secured promotion from the UCL. For a number of years during the 1990s, the club's future seemed in jeopardy, as the new owner of the Mirlees Blackstones company seemed intent on selling the ground where the club is based for housing development, but this did not happen. On one side of the ground there is a wooden stand, which has a some rows of benches and a mini terrace behind it. There are trees on either side of the ground, with a couple of dugouts opposite the stand on the far side. Floodlights were erected in 1989, along with a perimeter fence and various other buildings.

Blackstone OP X36 engine

The Blackstone Oil Engine

The club was told by the United Counties League that if a number of alterations were not completed by end of March 2010 they would be relegated. These included a stand for 100 spectators and alterations to the pitch fencing and hard standing. The Football Stadia Improvement Fund provided a grant of £2,000 to enable the club to carry out this work.

Blackstone reversible oil engine

Players

As of 14th December 2015

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 01– GK Lee Crockett (Club Captain) 01– GK Aaron Fagan 02– DF Adam Sparkes 03– DF Matt Simpson 04– DF Calum Parker (Vice Captain) 05– DF Jack Salt 06– DF Jacob Smitheringale – DF Matthew Porter – DF Ryan Birtles 15– DF Carl Griffiths 17– MF Nicky Butler – MF Danny Hotchkiss – DF Andy Hattersley – DF James Curran – MF Ryan Brown – MF Ian Bradbury – MF Liam Buttery – MF Sebastian Hood – MF Mark Hynes – MF Dominic Jones – MF Talal Karama

No. Position Player – MF Billy King – MF Grant McClean – MF Stephen Mastin – MF Daniel Morris – MF Ben Porter – MF Matthew Simpson – MF Sam Thompson – MF Guispno Stafferri 14– MF Kieran Arthur 12– MF Antonio Dello Russo 16– MF Jones Da Souza 07– MF Samuel Strange – MF Matthew Sharp – MF Rhys Ford – MF Tom Staggs – FW Daniel Evans 08– FW Scott Ginty 09– FW Adam Scotcher 10– FW Addie Stafferri 11– FW Jordan Avis

First Team Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit Manufacturer	Shirt Sponsor
2004-2011	Nike	Ideal Shopfitters
2012-2013	Nike	Hampton Carpets
2013-2014	Errea	G.P Services Pest Control
2014-2015	Nike	Ability Construction Services
2015-2016	Macron	HotSpring World

First Team Kit and Crest

First Team players wear a football strip of Lincoln green (Lister Blackstone had Brunswick Green engines) and Black shirt with Black shorts.

The Boardroom

Role	Name
President	Bill Sewell
Chairman	Gary Peace
Vice Chairman	Tony Laughton
Blackstones FC Secretary	Ian MacGillivray
Treasurer	A. Manners
Fixture Secretary	Ian MacGillivray
Registration Secretary	Ian MacGillivray
Committee	Martin Davies, Tony Laughton, C. Cramp, Mark Hudson, Shaun Wallace, J. Trevor, Ian Strange, Luke Jelley, Shaun Arthur, Dave Barwell
Vice President	Kevin Boor
Vice President	T. Arkin
Vice President	M. Wallace
Vice President	R. Grimsey
Vice President	V. Couzens
Vice President	C. Richards
Vice President	D. Morley
Vice President and U18 Secretary	Mark Hudson
Vice President	P. Mitchell
Groundsman	Kevin Boor
Press Officer	Martin Davies
Social Media Officer	Andy Sharpe

Coaching Staff

Role	Name
1st Team Manager	Phil Gadsby
1st Team Assistant Manager	Talal Karama
1st Team Coach	Andy Sharpe
Physiotherapist	Vacant

Youth and Community

Role	Name
Blackstones FC Junior Football Club Chairman	Mark Stembridge
Blackstones FC Junior Football Club Secretary	Justin Osbourne
Blackstones FC Junior Football Club Treasurer	Iesha Wallace
Under 18 Manager	Nicki Townsend
Under 18 Assistant Manager	Dave Barwell
Under 16 Manager	Nicki Townsend
Under 15 Manager	Paul Horsfall
Under 14 Manager	Mark Ellison

Under 18 squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — MF Edward Archer — MF Isaac Bell — MF Alexander Bishop — MF Joshua Collins — MF Anthony Elliott — MF Joseph Hodge — DF Joshua Hollobon — DF Oliver Humphrey — DF Henrik McAlinden — DF Luc Mugnier — DF Daniel Neal

No. Position Player — MF Charles Townsend — MF Jamie Webb — MF Ellis Westerdale — MF Samuel Williams

U18 Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit Manufacturer	Shirt Sponsor
2015-2016	adidas	Sainsburys

Honours

Peterborough and District Football League

• Champions 1918–19

Division 1

• Champions 1975–76 Blackstones Works
• Champions 1985–86 Blackstones Works Reserves

Division 3 (Northern Section)

• Champions 1972–73 Blackstones Works Reserves
• Champions 1975–76 Blackstones Works Reserves

Division 5

• Champions 1984–85 Blackstones Works 'A'

League Knock Out Cup

Year	Result	Goal Scorers
Champions 2002–03	Blackstones F.C 4-0 Buckingham Town

Lincs Senior 'A' Cup Winners

Year	Result	Goal Scorers
Champions 1992–93	Mirrlees Blackstone F.C 2-1 Bourne Town after extra time
Champions 2003–04	Blackstones F.C
Champions 2007–08	Blackstones F.C. 2 - 0 Bottesford Town F.C.	Phil Stebbing both goals

Lincs Senior Trophy Winners

Year	Result	Goal Scorers
Champions 2010–11	Blackstones F.C. 2 - 1 Grimsby Borough F.C.	Addie Stafferri and Robbie Pearce

Reserve Divisions Cup

Year	Result
1989–90	Mirrlees Blackstone
1995–96	Mirrlees Blackstone
2003–04	Blackstones F.C
2007–08	Blackstones F.C
2008–09	Blackstones F.C

Ancaster Cup

• 2004-2005 Blackstones F.C Reserves
• 2011-2012 Blackstones F.C Reserves

FA Respect Award

• Blackstones Football Club F.A. Respect Award 2013/14

Blackstones FC Chairmen History

Not a complete list of Blackstones FC Chairmen.

1. Andy MacDonald
2. Bill Sewell
3. Darren Laughton
4. Kevin Boor
5. K. Doyle
6. Gary Peace

Managerial History

Below is a list of Blackstones FC managers in chronological order

Name	Nat	From	To	Record
				P	W	D	L	F	A	Win %
Peter Thomas
Ian Jarvie and Stuart Gray
Chris Corby
Steve Blades
Dominic Genovese
Vince Adams
Ian Jackson
Mel Landin
Kevin Flynn
Tony Lowther			29 April 2008
David Bird
Mike Goode and Darren Jarvis
David Stratton
Gary Peace
David Bird
Nick Anderson and Pete Brothwell
Caretaker Manager Tony Laughton and Ian Strange		15th November 2014	16th November 2014	1	1	0	0	4	2	100
Neil Cotton, David Bird and Billy Stocks		17th November 2014
Phil Gadsby, Andy Sharpe and Talal Kamara		4th May 2015	Present

Former players

1. Alan Neilson signed by Newcastle United and later transferred to Southampton for a fee of £300,000
2. Daniel Cotton played for Blackstones FC, Stamford AFC and Boston United
3. Richard Jones played for Blackstones FC, Boston United and Stamford AFC
4. Andrew Boome played for Blackstones FC
5. Michael Duggan played for Blackstones FC and Spalding United
6. Phil Stebbing played for Blackstones FC and Stamford AFC
7. Avelino Vieria played for Blackstones FC and Peterborough Sports F.C.
8. Robbie Pearce played for Blackstones FC
9. Kevin Ainslie played for Blackstones FC and Stamford AFC
10. Steve Collins (footballer) played for Mirrlees Blackstone FC, Stamford AFC, Peterborough United

External links

• Blackstones Sports and Social Club Official Website
• Blackstones FC Official Website
• Blackstones Juniors Football Team
• Blackstones FC 2015-2016 Fixtures