SPORTYWEST NEWS . . . SPORTYWEST NEWS . . . SPORTYWEST NEWS
BRISTOL City boss Steve Coppell has refused to engage in speculation that his club are targeting England's World Cup goalkeeper David James as a possible recruit.
The City supremo would only say: "I can neither confirm nor deny; I don't deal with speculation. That goes for any player we're linked with."
The Robins continued their preparations for the start of the Championship season at home to Millwall on Saturday, August 7 with a 3-1 victory over Yeovil Town at Huish Park, thanks to goals from Ivan Sproule, David Clarkson (pen) and youngster Marlon Jackson.
Mike Green is bracing himself for an unlikely first team start when Bristol Rovers travel to take on Peterborough United for their opening League 1 clash on August 7. Rookie shot-stopper Green, a product of the Filton College Academy, has capably stood in for injured No.1 Luke Daniels during recent friendlies against West Brom (lost 1-0) and Cheltenham Town (0-0). Daniels recently signed a season-long loan deal with The Gas from West Brom but is struggling to shake off a persistent back complaint.
Manager Paul Trollope confessed: "We do need another keeper as it's not an ideal situation at the moment, but I am very pleased with Mike. In the meantime he is back at West Brom being assessed."
Forest Green Rovers boss Dave Hockaday is fighting to ensure there is a future for Lee Ayres at the New Lawn after all. The influential centre-half, 27, has been with the club for two years but appeared set to exit this summer as Rovers hit financial turmoil.
Forest Green will continue to perform in the Conference top-flight this term following Salisbury City's demise and Hockaday hopes that reprieve, plus the aid of a fans' group set up to raise crucial coffers for transfer funds, will help in his attempts to keep Ayres and attract others to a squad still looking concerningly thin on the ground.
Scott Murray says he can't wait to get his legendary teeth into a promotion challenge when he starts a new life with Conference National newcomers Bath City at the age of 36. The former Bristol City, Reading and Yeovil Town flier, now 36, became a significant summer signing for the ambitious Romans and the Scot chirped: "I'm not here just to enjoy one final pay-day. I'm here to see if I can help get Bath into the Football League."
It has been an intriguing period for the one-time Aston Villa prodigy - he has just accepted full-time commercial and community work with Bristol City, where he famously scored 26 goals in a season in the 2002-03 campaign.
Murray wasted no time settling into a Bath shirt either, scoring seconds befotre the interval in the 1-0 friendly win over Gloucester City.
Weston-super-Mare battled hard before falling to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Torquay United at Woodspring Stadium on Wednesday, July 28.
Southern League S&W hopefuls Mangotsfield United face two final pre-season warmers before entertaining Stourport Swifts for their league opener on Saturday, August 14. They entertain Carmarthen Town on Thursday, July 31 before hosting Gloucestershire County League champions Thornbury Town on Saturday, August 7.
Clevedon Town fans can look forward to some exciting pre-season action at the Hand Stadium, with Swansea City the visitors on Friday, July 30 (7.30pm) before Bristol City make the short trip 'up the road' to face the Seasiders on Tuesday, August 3 (7.45pm). Richard Phelps has been appointed press liaison officer with Mickey Bell's Clevedon.
Clevedon's' rivals Yate Town, meantime, have been enjoying an encouraging pre-season themselves, having beaten Longwell Green Sports (1-0), Welton Rovers (5-1), Hengrove Athletic (3-0) and Winterbourne United (5-0) in recent warmers. Yate take on Larkhall Athletic away on Thursday, July 29 (7.45pm) before finishing their friendly campaign at Shortwood United on Tuesday, August 3 (7.45pm).
Winterbourne boss Nick Tanner said of the defeat to the Yate XI: "Luckily it was only a friendly but I learned a hell of a lot from the game and we will be much better equipped for the start of the Hellenic League season as a result of the game.
"Things are beginning to take
shape although unfortunately a couple of last season's squad are talking to other clubs and
I want definite answers regarding their commitment to Winterbourne. This is the worst time for any manager, especially ones with no money like
ourselves. Unfortunately loyalty went out of the non-league game many years
ago and in my opinion decisions are made for the wrong reasons, but that's life at
this level.
"Luckily we have a group of young players chomping at the bit to play for the club, so they will all get their chance."
Winterbourne have agreed a kit sponsorship deal with www.pinkmotoringclub.org
Southern League newcomers Almondsbury Town have been busy in the transfer market as boss Richard Thompson gears up for the new season. Marvin Brown, Matt Beadle, Stuart Nelson, Matt Beadle, Joe White and ex-Yate skipper Scott Brice are all aboard the ambitious Oaklands Park ship, with former Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers winger Mark McKeever set to join them.
OTHER SPORT
RUGBY: Bath have confirmed that their Samoan back-row forward​Jonny Fa'amatuainu is to sign for Magners League outfit Scarlets on a one-season loan agreement. England skipper Lewis Moody, meanwhile, has begun training at Bath following his recent arrival from Leicester Tigers.
SWIMMING: Chipping Sodbury's Olympic 2012 hopeful Richard Webb is to make his European Long Course bow in Budapest in August. He told the South Gloucestershire Gazette: "I feel like getting the experience of swimming alongside the best in the world, and going to the World Championships and the European Championships coming up is a great rehearsal for London."
CRICKET: Gloucestershire Gladiators were due to commence their Cheltenham Festival programme on Thursday, July 29 with the 40-over Clydesdale Bank clash with Yorkshire Carnegie. The Gladiators then take on Glamorgan (Fri, July 30) and Worcestershire (Wed, Aug 4) in four-day LV Championship fixtures before wrapping up their Cheltenham programme with a one-day Clydesdale Bank meeting with Middlesex on Sunday, August 8.
ATHLETICS: Bristol & West AC pole vaulting ace Lucy Bryan, 15, registered a championship record of 3.71 metres in clinching the British Schools' title in Glasgow.
SOCCER RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TABLES . . .
Click here for all the national and local results, tables and fixtures
Click here for the Hellenic League results, tables and fixtures
Click here for the Gloucestershire County League results, tables and fixtures
Click here for the Somerset County League results, tables and fixtures
Click here for Toolstation Western League results, tables and fixtures
Click here for BGB Southern League results, tables and fixtures
Click here for Blue Square South results, tables and fixtures
