Coleshill Town 1 v 0 Cradley Town

[Alan Beckett]

PRE-SEASON
Coleshill stepped up a level on the non-league pyramid into the Midland Combination top division after several years knocking on the door at the top end of Division Two. The main reason for not gaining promotion was the ground, playing at the memorial park meant they failed to meet the ground criteria to take the step up, hence, the move to Pack Meadow and then when they finished Runners Up of Div 2 in the 1974-75 season, promotion was finally granted. However, the step up was a big one and the Colemen struggled to establish a foothold in Div 1 with 17th, 12th, 17th finishes and in the previous year, 1978-79, bottom of the league. Coleshill were reprieved from relegation but something had to be done and so the CTFC committee turned to David Kite to try and turn the clubs fortune.

CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
READY FOR NEW SEASON
A new Manager and a host of close season signings suggests that Coleshill Town are determined to grasp with both hands the opportunity of being re-elected to the Midland Combination's First Division. David Kite, who has had experience with Nuneaton Borough and Coventry Sporting has taken over as manager, in succession to Mervyn Parsons who is staying with the club. Among the newcomers to Pack Meadow are several players who could boost the club's standing in the Midland Combination virtually overnight. They include, Martin Boycey from Merthyr Tydfil, Nigel Montague from Witney Town, Peter Dawkins, Bermuda, Nuneaton and Paul Montague, Morris Cars, Coventry. Pre-season games include V.S.Rugby, Shirley Town, Tamworth, Triumph Coventry, Midland All Stars and Nuneaton at Home. Coleshill's First League game is on Saturday August 18th at Home to Cradley Town, kick off 2.45pm.

CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS ALSO WROTE
NEW BOYS AT PACK MEADOW
Coleshill Town kick-off the new football season this Saturday with a Home game against newly promoted Cradley Town in the First Division of the Midland Combination and their confidence has been boosted by satisfying results in the pre-season friendlies. Entertaining V.S. Rugby from the West Midlands League, Coleshill's new signings Paul Montague, Danny Conway and Martin Voicy all impressed and it was Paul Montague who scored to give the Pack Meadow squad a fine 1-0 victory. Another West Midlands League side Shirley Town visited Coleshill and they too were beaten 1-0, Conway got the all important goal for Coleshill, who can thank new goalkeeper Alan Goulden for an amazing penalty save. Goulden flung himself to the right to palm the ball back to the penalty taker, who then shot on the volley, only to see Goulden acrobatically make another spectacular stop. With two wins under their belt Coleshill then took on Tamworth who this coming season will be competing in the Northern Premier League. Coleshill withstood early Tamworth pressure, helped by an outstanding display from Nigel Montague and the midfield grafting of Tom Hardy, up front Conway, Voicey and Paul Montague were always threatening danger to the Tamworth goal and Paul Montague snatched a dramatic winner for Coleshill when he headed home a cross from Voicy. Last Saturday Coleshill took on Triumph (Coventry) but had to field a weakened side owing to injuries and holiday committments. Two of the club's Colts side Russell Gordon and Andrew Foote were both prominent in the goalless draw. And so in four practice games Coleshill did not concede a goal. They look far more accomplished than last season and now everything points to them doing well in the Midland Combination.


Saturday 18th August 1979
Midland Combination Division One
Coleshill Town 1 v 0 Cradley Town
Scorer: Stan Komoroski.

Team From: John Capper GK, Alan Gouldon GK, Colin Sarson, Nigel Montague, David Colvin, Gordon Ritchie, Johnny Allen, Alan Mathews, Paul Cummisky, Stan Komoroski, Tom Hardie, Danny Conway, Paul Montague, Martin Voicey, Peter Dawkins.

CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
GREAT START FOR MANAGER KITE AS NEW_LOOK COLESHILL BID FOR SUCCESS
Coleshill Town, so much in the doldrums in recent seasons in the Midland Combination, got away to a cracking start in their opening game of the new campaign, beating Cradley Town 1-0 at Pack Meadow. A narrow victory, but last season it took Coleshill nearly four months to chalk up their first success and for new Manager David Kite and his 10 close season signings it was sweet reward for their efforts. David Kite has come to Coleshill determined to prove a point and has set his sights on making the club one of the most successful in the Midlands. A former player with Coventry Sporting he became coach to Nuneaton Borough in 1970 and assisted manager David Pleat until 1972, when Pleat left to become manager of Luton Town. David Kite took over as coach at Coventry Sporting in the 1972-73 season and was then appointed manager until 1976. During 1975 Coventry reached the second round of the F.A.Cup after beating Tranmere. In 1976 David went to America and enjoyed three years coaching, before returning to this country at the beginning of the year. Colin Turnbull is assistant manager at Coleshill and he played for Coventry Sporting in 1974 and was later their trainer. He also took charge of Canley Social before renewing his link with David Kite. Coleshill's new managerial pair have built up a useful squad which could provide Coleshill with a firm foundation to consolidate their Midland Combination standing. Goalkeepers John Capper and Alan Gouldon will be battling for the first team place. Capper previously played for Coleshill for Five seasons, while Goulden, signed from a junior Coventry club, has revelled in the experience of playing in South Africa alongside Alan Ball and Bobby Moore - albeit at centre forward. Seventeen years-old full back Colin Sarson has excelled in pre-season matches, while left back Gordon Ritchie - a tenacious tackler comes from former clubs Nuneaton and Coventry Sporting. Ray Hartry is another back four player from the Coventry area. Brendan Casey another solid defender remains with the club from last season, while at the heart of the defence Coleshill welcome Nigel Montague, who has been snapped up from Witney Town. He will probably play alongside David Colvin, who has had considerable Midland Combination experience. Andrew Foote, a promising 15 year old has graduated from Coleshill's youth team and could be challenging for a regular first team spot in defence. Yet another defender is 18 year old Paul Cummiskey, who played for Stockingford and in midfield Alan Mathews comes from Darleston in the West Midlands League, together with other newcomers Tom Hardie, Prestwich Hayes, who has been appointed captain, and Stan Komoroski, Canley. It was the six feet tall Komoroski who headed in Coleshill's first League goal of the season against Cradley, capping a great move involving Hardie and Danny Conway, who had come from Coventry team Westwood. Up front Coleshill are looking to ex-Merthyr Tydfil striker Martin Voicy to get among the goals and also Paul Montague, brother of Nigel, who is another former Coventry Sporting player. Peter Dawkins is also expected to play a big part in Coleshill's attack after a successful season with Nuneaton side Bermuda and having previously played for A.P. Leamington, Atherstone Town and Nuneaton Borough. Altogether, an impressive line up for Coleshill, built by David Kite, and everything points to the start of an exciting and successful period for the Pack Meadow camp.

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