Milton Keynes Irish

[Rhodes]

On 18/08/2020 at 11:35, Rhodes said:

Wolverton Town participated in the FA Vase twelve times prior to the Club's sad demise in 1991/92 and after three brave attempts to reform in as many years as, firstly, Wolverton Town MK, secondly, Milton Keynes Wolverton Town and, thirdly, Wolverton. It was not until 2012/13 that a new Wolverton Town were formed and joined the SSML Division Two that season before changing their name to Unite MK for the 2016/17 campaign

Winslow Boy created an interesting thread on Wolverton Town in 2012 ahead of their 2012/13 'resurrection' when joining the SSML Division Two, Adie Haynes of New Bradwell St Peter 'fame' was very much involved. Seperately I have been doing some historical research on 'everything Wolverton' and note that the Wolverton Park & Recreation Ground was opened on Monday 3 August 1895 which was a Bank Holiday and the high profile event attracted over 1500 people (see link below). Also see a link to a When Saturday Comes magazine article about Wolverton Town from 2006:

When Saturday Comes - Making a stand (wsc.co.uk)

Wolverton Park and Recreation Ground – Wolverton Past

Edited March 1, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An article from the Melton Times regarding the curtailed United Counties League campaign, I assume that the Reserve Division will have its own supplementary competition and Milton Keynes Irish Reserves will be keen to take part:

United Counties League have cup competition they can 'set up right away' if clubs want to play on | Melton Times

United Counties League clubs have been given until March 12 to decide whether they want to play a supplementary competition to round off the curtailed season

[Rhodes]

Coming back to Wolverton Town if I may, I have unearthed an interesting programme from a 1957/58 FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie, at London Road on Saturday 2 November 1957, between Peterborough United, who were then a Midland League Club prior to joining the Football League in 1960/61, and Wolverton Town & B.R. who at that time plied their trade in the Spartan League. Peterborough United won 7-0 however it was the furthest any Club under the Wolverton Town name ever progressed in the FA Cup, Wolverton Town & B.R. entered at the Second Qualifying Round stage and beat Biggleswade & District 7-0 and Vauxhall Motors (Luton) 2-1 en route:

 

[Rhodes]

On 08/10/2020 at 04:24, Rhodes said:

Milton Keynes Irish also have a side competing in the North Bucks & District League Intermediate Division playing under 'the pseudonym' of Milton Keynes Irish Athletic and they currently sit proudly on top of the table with three wins from four matches. Last Saturday they triumphed 5-0 at Tattenhoe and the previous week 9-3 at Deanshanger Athletic, this Saturday (10 October) they entertain Twyford United and I gather play home fixtures at the quaintly named Walnut Tree sports ground, previously used by Unite MK and not a million miles from Manor Fields.

At a meeting last night the North Bucks & District League announced that their Club's had overwhelmingly voted to conclude the 2020/21 campaign by continuing during April and May until each team had played each other the once. There has been a lot of criticism of the decision however surely that is far better than a 'pointless' supplementary cup competition, the North Bucks & District League hierarchy must feel that they can't win. Milton Keynes Irish Athletic can now look forward to 'completing' their Intermediate Division season where they currently sit on top of the table, they last saw action on Saturday 12 December when winning 6-2 at Willen. Prior to that they beat AFC Santander 5-0 at the Walnut Tree Sports Ground with goals from Karl Ainsley, Paul Blackwell, Richard Yeboah, presumably no relation to Tony, and a brace from substitute Shane Lothian. Watch this space for further details on the conclusion of Milton Keynes Irish Athletic's North Bucks & District League Intermediate Division campaign:

POS		P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Milton Keynes Irish Athletic	9	7	0	2	25	21
2	Grendon Rangers	8	6	1	1	13	19
3	Willen First	8	6	0	2	20	18
4	Mursley United Development	9	6	0	3	2	18
5	Twyford United First	8	4	1	3	6	13
6	AFC Santander Saturday First	8	4	0	4	-6	12
7	Deanshanger Athletic First	8	3	0	5	-11	9
8	Great Linford FC Mens	8	2	2	4	-10	8
9	Tattenhoe First	8	2	2	4	-11	8
10	New Bradwell St Peter FC Reserves	8	2	1	5	-7	7
11	Buckingham United Reserves	9	2	1	6	-12	7
12	Hanslope Reserves	7	0	2	5	-9	2

[Rhodes]

An announcement on the United Counties League Reserve Division which Milton Keynes Irish Reserves participate in:

 

Update on the United Counties League Reserve Division

Thank you all for responding to the survey issued at the end of February. The decision of member Club's is that the Reserve Division League programme is to be curtailed with immediate effect and this decision was reported to the League Board this evening. The votes cast were 17 in favour of curtailment and 2 in favour of a Points per Game method of determining League placings.

There are 8 Club's who wish to participate in a Cup Competition and further information on how this will be organised, along with fixture arrangements, will follow in about 10 days time once I have all the replies to the Premier Division/Division One survey which are due by Friday 12 March, initial responses that I have received confirm that sufficient Club's from those Divisions will also wish to participate in Cup Competition(s).

The eight Club's who wish to participate in the Reserve Cup Competition are as follows:

Bourne Town, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Harborough Town, Lutterworth Athletic, Milton Keynes Irish, Northampton ON Chenecks, Rothwell Corinthians and Yaxley.

Roger Walker, Fixture Director, Uhlsport United Counties League

[Rhodes]

I hope everyone at Milton Keynes Irish had a nice St Patrick's Day in spite of the circumstances this year when normally the Cluhouse would have been jam packed on Wednesday evening as well as tomorrow with the First Team entertaining Enfield Borough in a SSML Division One fixture:

Edited March 19, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 09/03/2021 at 22:33, Rhodes said:

Watch this space for further details on the conclusion of Milton Keynes Irish Athletic's North Bucks & District League Intermediate Division campaign

High flying Milton Keynes Irish Athletic travel to lowly Hanslope Reserves on Saturday 17 April when they resume their North Bucks & District League Intermediate Division campaign, just over four months to the day since impressively winning 6-2 at Willen in their last outing on Saturday 12 December, unfortunately the fixture in leafy Hanslope will be behind closed doors, kick off 3.00pm, however presumably it is possible to inconspicuously watch the encounter from some vantage point.

Edited March 25, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 10/03/2021 at 18:44, Rhodes said:

An announcement on the United Counties League Reserve Division which Milton Keynes Irish Reserves participate in

It would appear that Milton Keynes Irish Reserves are no longer participating in the United Counties League Reserve Division supplementary cup competition, it is not clear why the Club decided to pull out:

THE United Counties League has announced three end-of-season supplementary cup competitions to start on April 10.

In the Premier Division competition, GNG Oadby Town, Harborough Town, Lutterworth Town, Northampton ON Chenecks, Pinchbeck United and Rothwell Corinthians, will play each other once on Saturdays between then and May 8. The top teams will meet in the final on a date and venue to be confirmed.

Eleven clubs have elected to take part in the Division One Supplementary Cup. Aylestone Park, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Burton Park Wanderers, Holwell Sports, Huntingdon Town, Long Buckby, Lutterworth Athletic, Rushden & Higham United, Saffron Dynamo, St Andrews and Whittlesey Athletic will be split into two groups and will each play every other team in their group once on Saturdays up to May 8.

Each group winner will then play the runner up of the other group in a semi-final on Saturday, May 15, with the final venue and date again to be confirmed.

Bourne Town, Bugbrooke St Michaels, Harborough Town, Lutterworth Athletic, Northampton ON Chenecks and Rothwell Corinthians will take part in the Reserve Division Supplementary Cup which will follow the same pattern.

United Counties League announces three end-of-season supplementary cup competitions - The Non-League Football Paper

[Rhodes]

Do we know where the old Unite MK Manager Mark Robinson is now, is he still at Manor Fields in some capacity:

[Rhodes]

This was an article from Sports Shots that was 'trumpeted' in June 2014 and it was all good news however will the lease on Manor Fields be renewed in 2024, presumably the ground is owned by Milton Keynes Council who will no doubt be seeing pound signs in front of their eyes in three years time:

Manor Fields has been awarded a grant by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund which is allowing the ground to be brought up to the G Grade standard required for the Robins to continue to play in the UCL, work has already commenced with installation of a pitchside barrier, new boundary fencing and refurbishment of the covered terracing along with new dugouts and the introduction of a refreshment outlet inside the ground.  Work is also commencing inside the dressing rooms and will include female changing area, improved toilets and access.  Add to that a new turnstile and spectator toilets and Manor Fields will be second only to Stadium MK as a quality local sports venue.  Work is due to be completed by this September.

The club were pleased to announce the agreement of a 10 year lease at Manor Field securing the clubs home ground for the foreseeable future.

[Savagebee]

[Rhodes]

I see that Milton Keynes Irish have been promoted to Step Five and will play in the SSML Premier Division next season, many congratulations to them however is it deserved on merit for 'finishing' joint second in Division One this season after just nine matches: 

[JakeP]

2 hours ago, Rhodes said:

I see that Milton Keynes Irish have been promoted to Step Five and will play in the SSML Premier Division next season, many congratulations to them however is it deserved on merit for 'finishing' joint second in Division One this season after just nine matches: 

Done on PPG over the last 2 seasons (Including last season under the Robins name), I believe that had them 3rd for the division. Would be top on PPG if it only took this season into account. 

Edited May 18, 2021 by JakeMK

[Rhodes]

JakeP - Well congratulations again, I believe it's the highest level the Club have played at since 2006/07 when Buckingham Town were in the United Counties League Premier Division: 

[Daily Dose]

The potential for a club in MK to do well is huge. Large town (or self proclaimed city) with an abundance of talent. Just needs the right people to bring it all together. Maybe they have it now.

[Rhodes]

A beautiful shot of Manor Fields, it will do the SSML Premier Division proud next season:

[Rhodes]

Milton Keynes Irish will be exempt to the First Round of the FA Vase:

28 CLUBS EXEMPT TO FIRST ROUND PROPER (Previous season’s Clubs reaching the Third Round and not moved to the FA Trophy due to elevation) Ampthill Town FC, Brimscombe & Thrupp FC, Buckland Athletic FC, Chatham Town FC, Clapton FC, Consett AFC, Coventry Sphinx FC, Coventry United FC, Deal Town FC, Falmouth Town AFC, Fareham Town FC, Gorleston FC, Guildford City FC, Hanley Town FC, Kennington FC, Littlehampton Town FC, Longridge Town FC, Millbrook FC, Milton Keynes Irish FC, New Milton Town FC, Newark FC, North Greenford United FC, Norwich CBS FC, Norwich United FC, Radford FC, Seaham Red Star FC, Sunderland Ryhope CW FC and Vauxhall Motors FC

[Rhodes]

Milton Keynes Irish entertain an expected full strength Aylesbury United side on Friday evening in their third pre-season friendly fixture, kick off 7.30pm, having very disappointingly lost the first two against Old Bradwell United and Cogenhoe United, Terry Shrieves can't be a happy man at present:

The Ducks start their pre-season schedule on Friday 9 July at MK Irish FC.  The game will kick off at 7.30pm. The game is being played at MK Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Fenny Stratford MK2 2HX, from A5 duel carriageway exit for A4146, going south take 4th exit, going north take 2nd exit, at large roundabout by McDonalds and petrol station, towards Fenny Stratford and Bletchley.  In half mile turn left opposite Dobbies garden centre. Entrance fee for spectators will be £4 adults, £2 concessions, U16 free. The club has conducted covid risk assessments which can be seen on their website, www.mkirishfc.co.uk.  Track and Trace documentation is available for completion on the gate for those without smart phones; the NHS QR Code is displayed at several points on site for all others.  Face masks are mandatory in the clubhouse. We look forward to seeing as many supporters as possible as we return to action.

[Rhodes]

Milton Keynes Irish make their bow in the FA Cup this coming season however Buckingham Town played regularly in the competition and reached the First Round proper in 1984/85, famously losing 2-0 to Orient at a packed Ford Meadow on Saturday 17 November 1984:

Buckingham Town v Orient - FA Cup Round One - Nov 19th 1984 - YouTube

[Rhodes]

On 05/07/2021 at 16:20, Rhodes said:

Milton Keynes Irish entertain an expected full strength Aylesbury United side on Friday evening in their third pre-season friendly fixture, kick off 7.30pm

Sorry about this folks but it's him I'm afraid, the Groundhopping FC guy who was at a wet Manor Fields on Friday evening for the exciting pre-season friendly fixture with Aylesbury United which Milton Keynes Irish won 3-2: