Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 13/04/10…Three more points for Thame! (Contributed)

    AWAY MATCH – Saturday, April 10, 2010 – NEWBURY 1, THAME UNITED 4

    WITH promotion confirmed in their previous game at Eton Wick, United travelled to Berkshire looking to collect another three points in their bid to secure the league title.

    On a warm April afternoon, it was the home side who settled quickly in to their game, taking the lead after only 12 minutes when a free kick on the Thame right floated over the head of keeper Lee Orkney and in to the back of the net. United looked to respond swiftly, with Luke Ricketts and Ben Connelly on the left and right wing respectively, causing most problems for the home defence. However, United rarely tested the home keeper, and the best chance over the next twenty minutes fell to centre back Mitchell Meredith who placed a header just wide from a corner. United did, however, find the equaliser three minutes before the break. Striker Adam Stallwood did well to win a corner, and was then on hand to meet Aaron Rogers?s cross with a glancing header that beat the home keeper.

    United opened the second half brightly but were initially unable to take advantage of their greater possession. Indeed, they were indebted to Orkney in the 52nd when he made a point blank save to keep the scores level. Five minutes later and United were ahead. Rogers raced on to a through ball from right back Steve Newell and, starting the ball wide of the goal, expertly curled the ball around the keeper and in to the bottom corner of the net. Ten minutes later and United made it three. Luke Ricketts refused to give up on a through ball from Lawrence El-Kassir, collecting it on the bye-line before beating his marker and squaring for Stallwood who was on hand to comfortably place the ball wide of the keeper.

    Whilst Newbury continued to press, United were happy to play on the break and the fourth goal duly arrived on 82 minutes. Man of the match Luke Ricketts collected the ball just inside the Newbury half and beat three defenders before racing in to the penalty area and driving the ball wide of the keeper and in to the bottom corner of the goal. Five minutes later and Ricketts nearly repeated the feat and, despite several other half chances, United ultimately had to settle for a relatively comfortable 4-1 win.

    On Saturday (17th April) United travel to second place Wokingham and Emmbrook knowing that a win against their nearest rivals will almost certainly give them the league title.

    Thame United: Orkney (Searl), Newell, Meredith, Cowan, Way, Connelly (Hoskins), El-Kassir, Rhodes (Braun), Rogers, Stallwood, Ricketts.

  • Tories accused of ducking Henley hustings

    THE Prospective Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for the Henley constituency, Andy Crick, has expressed his disappointment that the Conservative candidate has declined an invitation to answer questions from Henley residents during the election campaign.

    A meeting proposed by Churches Together in Henley has been called off after the Tory candidate, John Howell, apparently pulled out.

    Andy said: “It is a shame the residents of Henley won’t have an opportunity to quiz all the candidates on their policies in advance of polling day. The election is often the only chance people have to really understand what the different parties offer.

    “This failure to be heard by voters may tell them more about the Conservatives than any number of election leaflets and broadcasts would. I hope this decision can be reconsidered. I am ready and willing to stand up for my beliefs – why aren’t the Tories??

    PHOTO: Andy Crick

  • Thame Youth Memorial Concert a sell out!

    ONCE again the young people of Thame have pulled out all the stops and shown just what wonderfully, talented people they are and how tragedy can bring people together in a common cause.

    Last night, Sunday, April 11, the Thame Youth Memorial Trust held their Variety Night and Raffle Draw at the the Player’s Theatre. The concert was a sell out and a triumph for both the organisers, supporters and performers.

    The entire evening was captured on video by Matt Evans and an eleven minute taster can now be viewed at http://vimeo.com/10857638

    The concert and grand draw were the latest in a series of events to raise money for a permanent memorial for the young people of Thame and the families and friends of young people who have died, to meet, talk and remember their friends and loved ones.

    THE PERFORMERS

    Compare, David Boyle, did a brilliant job, introduing:

    Wilber Sears ? is an ex-pupil of Lord Williams?s School, is a finger style Folk, Jazz, and Blues Guitarist, and was a finalist in the BBC2 Young Folk Awards. He has supported many well known acts including the Blues Band and the Commitments at Towersey Festival.

    Jugglists ? born and still living in Thame, Laurence attended Lord Williams?s School, is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University, and is now researching his PhD. Laurence took up juggling a few years ago as a hobby and has attended the last two European Juggling Conventions in Bavaria and Northern Spain. Laurence and his friend Alby, also a Brookes student, have both just today returned from the British Juggling Festival in Yorkshire.

    Dancers – The Shona Clack School of Dance celebrate their 20th Year this year. They started out in Princes Risborough with one class a week and now successfully teach Disco, Rock and Roll, Latin American, Ballet and Tap in Thame, Oakley and Longwick.

    Pupils also take part in Regional Competitions throughout the year in Disco Freestyle and Rock and Roll and have won many trophies and places at the ISTD National Disco Freestyle Finals. Some of the dancers tonight are National finalists and winners, including Gemma Strathdee and Melissa Mairs who gained first place in the Under 16 Silver/Gold Disco Freestyle section to become National Champions in October 2009.

    Holly Nicholls ? Holly?s interest in music began at the age of 7 when she joined the local church choir and took up the violin. She studied her GCSE’s, including Music, at Princes Risborough Upper School and in year 11 auditioned for and was accepted as a first study singer and violinist at the Junior Royal Academy of Music in London. She has been there ever since. Holly moved to Lord Williams Upper School in Thame for sixth form where she is taking A level Music, English Language and Maths, and intends to study music at University, and to make it her career.

    Thame Youth Theatre ? Thame Youth Theatre started up in 1989 and has been providing drama coaching for young people between 7 and 18 years old ever since. The youth theatre?s ethos is all about affordable yet quality teaching: giving young people the chance to build on theatre skills, keep active in a friendly and social environment and perform regularly to their local community. This year the youth theatre also re-introduced dance coaching to their program and tonight Thame Youth Theatre will be presenting both a dance piece and a short selection from the Junior drama group?s latest end of term performance.

  • Money available for local community projects

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council has set aside

  • 09/04/10….Thame United are promoted!

    THE Champaign corks popped on Thursday evening (08/04/10) when Thame united secured promotion to the Hellenic Premier League as a result of a 2-1 win at Eton Wick.

    A jubilant Captain, Mark West, said: “It?s really nice to have achieved promotion with five games to go. We have established a good lead at the top but still need to be at our best to secure the championship which will be the icing on the cake.

    “Our main aim this season was to try and gain promotion, especially with our new stadium underway, so Frank and I are delighted.?

    Thame now go into their final games knowing that 10 points from their remaining fixtures will guarantee the title. “That?s on the basis that Wokingham win all of their remaining games which will be no mean feat in itself,” added Mark.

    “We were really pleased that Ben Connelly came through 90 mins last night and Stuart Braun put in a good hour with both returning to the side after recent injuries.”

    Thame travel to Newbury on Saturday with influential midfielde,r Adam Rhodes, also back in the squad after missing last night’s game due to work commitment.

    MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

    After a good start, United took the lead in the 7th minute when Adam Stallwood played a ball to Luke Rickets who ran on the left wing before hitting a good cross which Connelly met with a superb glancing header which finished in the bottom right hand corner on the goal. United had the majority of possession for the remainder of the half with both Ricketts and Stallwood going close and goalkeeper Lee Orkney largely untroubled.

    Thame?s second came five minutes after the restart when Stallwood took the ball from a defender near the halfway line and ran at goal. When challenged, he passed to Connelly who made a run on the right before squaring the ball back to the unmarked Stallwood who finished confidently from 16-yards. Thame controlled the play and created several chances. Lawrence El Kassir was unlucky to see his goal bound shot blocked and substitute Tom Hoskin forced a good save from the Eton keeper. With the light fading and about five minutes remaining, the home team were awarded a free kick near their left corner. Matt Bell hit a hard ball into the box which hit a Thame player and was deflected into the goal, giving Orkney no chance. When the final Whistle blew United were sportingly congratulated by the Eton Players and left the field to the applause of the dozen or so Thame faithful who had made the journey.

    With five matches remaining the focus moves to gaining the ten points needed to secure the league title. This assumes that Wokingham gain maximum points from their remaining fixtures, including a home tie with United on 17th April.

    Thame United: Orkney, Newell (Wakelin), J. Way, Meredith, Cowan, EL-Kassir, Connelly, Rogers (c) Stallwood (G. Way), Braun (Hoskin), Ricketts.

    United?s last home game of the season is at Wallingford on April 24th when they will again face Eton Wick.

  • News in brief – news round up- 09/04/10

    THAMES’S Jubilee swimming pool will soon cease to be the responsibility of Thame Town Council, which is currently in the process of transferring the management, maintenance and services of the pool to South Oxfordshire District Council.
    The pool was built at a cost of

  • 10/04/12….Club Chairman subs for Thame United

    LEAGUE MATCH – 07/04/12:Fairford Town 0 Thame United 3.

    THAME united returned to their winning ways at Fairford Town on Saturday (07/04/12) when they defeated their hosts 0-3. Due to non availability, suspension, and injuries United were forced to make six changes from the side that played mid week, fielding three reserve players and even bringing Club Chairman Jake Collinge on as a substitute in the final minutes. It was difficult to play quality football on the uneven playing surface and, as assistant manager Frank Thompson remarked at half time ?the pitch had more bobbles than a woolly hat shop?.

    After an encouraging start, Thame took the lead in the 15th minute when Brad Chalmers did well to rise above defenders and head in a Luke Ricketts corner from an acute angle. Thame had slightly more possession for the remainder of the half but there were few chances at either end, although Ricketts went close just before the break.

    United controlled the second half. Their second goal came in the 50th minute when Ben Grey met a ball from his left with a glorious 20-yard volley, the ball hitting the far post before crossing the line. Then Nil Rhodes, Grey, and substitute Jacob Davis all went close to increasing the lead. It was however Adam Rhodes, recently returned to fitness after a lengthy spell out with an injury, who got Thame?s final goal, 15 minutes from time. Rickets made the goal by beating his marker and running to the left by-line before playing a superb cross to Rhodes whose hurried shot hit the same post before crossing the goal line.

    Whilst Fairford are one of the league?s weaker teams this was a good performance by Thame. The players who usually play for the reserves were impressive, and have good prospects of many more first team appearances.

    Thame United: M Higgs, I Pykett (Davis), P Pykett, Chalmers, N Rhodes, Barr (Hunt), Connelly, Grey (Collinge), Hall, A Rhodes, Ricketts.

  • 08/04/10…..Romanian Mayor to visit Thame

    FOLLOWING a private visit to the Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia recently by the Mayor of Thame, the Mayor of Sinaia will be visiting Thame from tomororow, April 9.

    Following the visit to Romania, which included Marius Ciortan, originally from Romania himself, his wife Zoe, Town Councillor David Bretherton and his wife Margaret, it was Zoe’s idea to explore forming cultural links between Sinaia and Thame.

    The Mayor of Sinaia and four of his Councillors have a busy itinerary including a visit to Barley Hill school on Friday afternoon (09/04/10), a trip to Oxford on Saturday, a visit to Great Haseley Farmers’ Market and a trip to Thame Museum on Sunday, and finally a meeting with Thame Town Council on Monday before flying home later that day.

    Any Thame organisations interested in exploring links with Sinaia and meeting the delegation, are being invited to contact Marius Ciortan on:
    01844 214992, Mobile: 07764 85 49 49

  • Positive changes and swift improvements for Tetsworth school

    STAFF, parents and pupils at Tetsworth primary school near Thame are celebrating after receiving a promising report from Ofsted inspectors.

    The school was given a Notice to Improve by inspectors in January 2009 and in a bid to raise standards, Oxfordshire County Council worked with the school to identify areas needing improvement and worked with governors to bring about a federation with John Hampden Primary School and John Hampden Nursery School in September 2009.

    RAISING STANDARDS

    In its latest inspection, published this week, inspectors judged Tetsworth to be a satisfactory school with many good features and with good capacity to improve even further. The inspector commented: “Tetsworth is an improving school and has made significant positive changes since the last inspection and since becoming part of a federation with John Hampden Primary and Nursery Schools.”

    The Early Years Foundation Stage, which had previously been judged as inadequate, moved from inadequate to good in the space of a year. The report stated: “The provision for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage is now good and sometimes outstanding.”

    WHAT IS A FOUNDATION?

    A federation is an arrangement of two schools with one governing body, allowing parents and staff from both schools to become governors and make strategic decisions that influence and help both schools. This is only the second federated school in Oxfordshire. The other is the Banbury Dashwood Schools Federation – a federation between Banbury School and Dashwood Community Primary School in Banbury.

    Peter Callow, Oxfordshire County Council?s School Improvement Leader said: “This is a very promising report for Tetsworth primary and shows how federations can play a positive part in raising standards. Tetsworth is a relatively small community primary school and the additional support and leadership have undoubtedly helped to bring about school improvement.

    “Oxfordshire County Council is committed to offering a high standard of education in schools throughout the county and we will continue to work with Tetsworth and its partner schools to further improve standards.”

    Alison Charlton, Head of Teaching and Learning at Tetsworth Primary School said: “This is excellent news and I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and commitment to bringing improvements to our school. Since entering into federation with John Hampden School, we have been able to offer so many more opportunities for the children. We will continue to work hard to offer the very best for Tetsworth’s pupils.?

  • Constituents will be better off under Tories, saysThame MP

    ALMOST 20,000 people in the Henley constituency will be better off as a result of his party’s National Insurance pledge, claims Thame’s Member of Parliament.

    In a recent statement, John Howell MP said: “Under those pledges the cost of Labour?s tax rise on employers will be reduced by more than half and anyone earning between