Leek Hockey Club Raises £10,000 for a Safe Space Bed at Royal Stoke Hospital  has successfully raised an impressive £10,000 for a new Safe Space Hospital Bed at Royal Stoke University Hospital thanks to a series of dedicated fundraising events which began in September 2024 and culminated at the club’s Beer Festival in April 2025 is a true testament to the community’s spirit and commitment to improving the lives of children facing serious medical challenges.  The initiative was sparked by the personal experience of some members of the club whose daughter who also suffers from severe epilepsy and developmental delays became the inspiration behind the fundraising drive The aim was to provide more specialised beds for children with complex medical needs at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM).  shared the emotional journey: “When Alice was just a week old she was diagnosed with CDKL5 at the age of two and managing her seizures has been incredibly challenging when we’ve had multiple hospital admissions.”  As Alice’s family navigated her medical journey they realised the critical need for specialised Safe Space beds which are designed to provide a safe and secure environment for children during treatment with only two available in all of North Staffordshire “There are currently only two Safe Space beds in the entire region and they’re not always accessible when needed,” Emma explained “We wanted to raise awareness and funds to provide more of these beds but for other children who require this level of care.”  The fundraising journey began with the LHC ‘Boots’ Fun Run in September 2024 and continued with various community and club events The final fundraising push took place during the club’s Beer Festival in April 2025 The funds will go directly to purchasing an additional Safe Space bed at Royal Stoke University Hospital ensuring that more children have access to the specialised care they need the lead organiser of the fundraising campaign expressed her appreciation for the tremendous support: “It’s been an incredible effort and we’ve managaged to do it in just six months The community has really come together to support this cause from those who participated in the events to those who made donations Club chairman Andy Spragg praised the efforts of Hazel and all those involved in the campaign “The efforts put in by Hazel and many other club members to make this happen is a great reflection of the club and its ethos This is exactly the kind of initiative that showcases the strength of our community and the values we stand for.”  The £10,000 raised by Leek Hockey Club will be used to purchase additional Safe Space beds significantly improving the hospital experience for young patients at Royal Stoke University Hospital https://www.justgiving.com/page/alicesbed-1725014466210 CDKL5 is a rare genetic disorder that affects brain function It is a condition that typically presents in infancy and requires ongoing specialized care making it essential for hospitals to have the appropriate equipment to ensure the safety and well-being of affected children Website by The MTM Agency We use cookies to make sure you get the most from our website. Learn more 31 Mar 2025 | Latest News, Ticket News We are able to provide ticket details for our trip to Leek Town on Easter Monday.  Tickets for our trip short trip to Staffordshire will go on sale at 8 pm this evening (31.03) via Leek Town’s Ticketing Website The Silkmen have been allocated 814 tickets for the game at the F.Ball Community Stadium however there will be scope for further tickets depending on sales Segregation is in place for this fixture with both seated and standing tickets available to Macclesfield supporters so it is important to purchase in the correct section Unreserved standing tickets will be in the Grace Sreet Terrace with a limited number of seated tickets available in the Main Stand Any supporters found to be purchasing tickets in the home section will be refused entry to the ground Tickets are limited to four per transaction *All under 18’s will need to be accompanied by a full paying adult* Tickets can be purchased online via the link HERE Car Parking will be available at Leek Cricket Club who will be opening their bar for anyone wanting a pre-match drink It is important that supporters buy in advance as this game is an ALL TICKET game Apr 28, 2025 | , Macclesfield FC ended their title-winning season on a high with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Whitby Town The first big opportunity came in the 19th minute as Lewis Fensome made his way into the box before a deflected shot just breezed past the post Apr 25, 2025 | , The Silkmen return to the Leasing.com Stadium for one final time this season as Whitby Town make the journey from North Yorkshire.  Robbie Savage's record-breaking side will be awarded the Northern Premier League - Premier Division trophy Apr 25, 2025 | North-West businessman and investor Darren Wright has officially acquired a stake in Macclesfield Football Club signalling further ambitious & strategic growth plans for the Club.  Darren states: “I’m thrilled to step into the world of football club ownership—a.. Apr 22, 2025 | , Apr 19, 2025 | , Apr 18, 2025 | , We are back at the Leasing.com Stadium for our penultimate home game of the season as Ilkeston Town make the journey from Derbyshire.  Robbie Savage's side have won nine games in a row and will be looking to get another three points closer to breaking Colne Dynamoes.. Apr 17, 2025 | The Club has submitted its annual report and financial statements for the year ending June 2024 Summary of Accounts In the latest fiscal period the club has experienced a robust financial performance marked by significant improvements across key areas Apr 14, 2025 | As the Silkmen embark on their journey to the National League North we are able to confirm season ticket and matchday ticket prices for the 2025/26 season.  Season ticket renewals will be sent out to current season ticket holders via email at 10am on Tuesday 22nd.. Email: info@macclesfieldfc.com Tel: 01625 426 708 Congratulations to Leek Town FC on winning the Pitching In Northern Premier League West The Blues’ 2-1 victory over Newcastle Town today secured the championship for Josh Brehaut’s men having topped the table since December and have not looked back since Next season they will be playing in the Premier Division of Northern Premier League for the first time since the 2007/08 season when they were relegated on the final day of the season thanks to a 3-1 defeat at Eastwood Town Keep your eyes on the Moorlands Radio website and social media channels as well as your ears to the radio for content over the next few weeks celebrating the promotion Steve and all the players and staff at Leek Town FC on their success © 2024 Moorlands Radio C.I.C - All Rights Reserved These cookies are required for the operation of the site and cannot be managed We use Google Analytics to track page visits through the site the route someone took through the site and an approximate location for the user This cookie helps us to understand a user's route through the site This does not record any personal details or monitor anything you type in our forms A major highways improvement scheme on Buxton Road/Stockwell Street junction in Leek will start this week is being carried out by Staffordshire County Council and will see crews make more than 120 repairs.  Work is expected to take around two weeks to complete and will include fixing potholes and footpaths repairs and replacement of damaged kerbs and ironworks verge and ditch clearance and updating signs crews will start at the four-way junction before making their way along Buxton Road.  Temporary traffic lights will be in operation throughout the scheme to make sure the works can be done safely Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Staffordshire County Council “Investing in our highways is essential to keeping Staffordshire moving and it’s great to see these vital repairs get underway “This is a very busy part of the town and as always crews will be doing their utmost to minimise disruption and get the work done as efficiently as possible.  I’d like to thank people and businesses for their co-operation and patience while this important work is done.” The scheme kicks off as the county council announced up to an extra £15 million boost to additional highways investment in the county on top of the extra £45 million over three years.  The additional investment will see more repairs to potholes and drainage issues a full preventative maintenance programme to help stop defects forming in the first place and targeted enforcement on landowners with drainage issues affecting the highway.  Residents can sign up to get the latest highways news straight to their email here These contact details are for journalists and members of the media only: Email: pressoffice@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 01785 895050 If you are not a journalist or member of the media and have a general enquiry please: Email: contactus@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 0300 111 8000 it’s time to preview a game in the 2024/25 campaign Though the number indicates number forty-two including the pre-season preparations and magical cup runs We’ve come a long way since travelling the short distance to Club Thorne back at the end of July as we prepare to welcome Leek Town to the Kal Group Stadium and bring down the curtain on the most remarkable of seasons things are looking bright for anyone of a Holy Blue persuasion Should Russ and his Management Team be able to keep the core of the group that has brought us so many moments this season 2025/26 might even be bigger and better than the present one we look at ending this season the right way Gainsborough have picked up 28 points from matches at the Kal Group Stadium A ninth home victory could see Russ Wilcox’s men move onto 31 points Leek have picked up 27 points from their twenty games away from home Gainsborough can climb a place to sixth and drop as low as ninth Pride and placings certainly have plenty on the line at the end of an incredibly long and gruelling season The game earlier in the season saw Ollie Harrison head home from a corner before goals from Lewis Butroid (57 minutes) and Will Lancaster (90+3) saw Trinity secure the late turnaround and pick up their seventh point from the first fifteen available After the fixture is our Presentation Night join the players and staff in the Main Concert Room for a Video Review of a quite remarkable season the End of Season Player of the Year Awards and live music and entertainment put on by our friends Let's end the season on a real high and show our appreciation to Russ and the lads for a season full of memories that will last a life time it’s just the end of season positional jostling and pride at stake in one final run of the reel for 2024/25 Bank Holiday recycling and waste collections: There will be no collections on Monday 05 May 2025 Collections will take place one day later than normal for the week until Saturday 10 May 2025 The First Battalion Welsh Guards will be joining Bridgend Town Council to host a St David’s Day Parade and Leek Giving Ceremony on Saturday 1 March 2025 which is organised by Bridgend Town Council in partnership with the Welsh Guards culminating in traditional leek giving ceremony to serving personnel at the War Memorial in Dunraven Place which will be led by the Band of the Welsh Guards and include 60 First Battalion Welsh Guardsmen 250 Welsh Guard Association Veterans and up to 50 cadets followed by a march past and salute to the Lord Lieutenant and the War Memorial Bridgend County Borough Council and South Wales police are both offering support with the arrangements for the event with the council also providing a Tourism Events Support Grant funded through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund Residents are advised that they will be at risk of receiving a penalty charge if they abandon their cars in places that inconvenience residents or businesses Leek Hockey Club make it through to the England Hockey Club Championship Tier 2 National Final After a thrilling 5-0 semi final win against Sheffield Bankers Leek HC will be travelling down to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on the 30th April to play Tunbridge Wells HC.This caps off a great end to Leek Hockey Club’s Centenary Season The team captained by Bobby Dawson have performed very well this season finishing 3rd in their league and culminating in a trip to London for the final at the end of the month The semi-final was a great game with the opposition performing well at the start and putting Leek under pressure the first goal came from player/coach Ben White through a short corner Leek then started to dominate the game with a second short corner strike from Ben giving Leek a 2-0 lead at half time The second half started much the same with Ben White completing his hat-trick Leek’s 4th was the goal of the game with a lovely passing move which split the Sheffield defence coolly finished off by Joe Knott Towards the end of the game Leek wound up proceedings with their 5th goal coming from Joe Priestman played in good spirit in front of a large home crowd Andy Spragg Leek HC Chairman said: ‘What a great way to finish our Centenary season Starting with our Beer Festival next weekend which is our biggest fund-raiser and then organising a trip down to London for the final I imagine we will need a coach or two for the supporters that will want to go!’ Staffordshire County Council’s highways crews have completed essential repairs in Leek Crews carried out more than 100 repairs at the Buxton Road and Stockwell Street Junction in the town.  Work included fixing potholes and footpaths clearing drains and updating road markings and signs explained that investing in highways was essential in keeping the county moving “This is a busy part of the town with heavy traffic taking its toll on the road so it’s great to see the repairs finished “Temporary traffic lights were in operation for the duration and crews kept the road closures to a minimum to help minimise disruption.  They also only worked between 9:30am and 3pm making sure they were off the roads for the peak times.  As always I’d like to thank people for their patience and co-operation while the work was done.” The repairs are part of a wider £45 million investment by Staffordshire County Council in its roads over three years.  On top of that, the authority has also recently announced up to an extra £15 million boost for highways in the county.  The investment will pay for more crews to carry out repairs to potholes and drainage issues Subscribe now COVID-19 vaccinations are being offered at two new clinics in Leek Leek Pharmacy on Queens Drive and Fountain Street Pharmacy have opened their doors to members of the public in an expansion to the previous vaccination offer in the area said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer COVID-19 spring vaccinations at our pharmacy and encourage all eligible people to come forward for the spring dose which is why we need to top up our immunity with extra doses of vaccine and anyone aged 5 and over with a weakened immune system is eligible for the spring COVID-19 vaccination Walk-in clinics are also scheduled to take place at the Leek Fire Station on Friday 23th June A prolific shoplifter who stole more than £160-worth of wine from businesses in Leek town centre has been jailed for a year appeared at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Tuesday 14th January where he pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft from a shop and assaulting an emergency service worker He was also given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which bans him from entering the Co-op and Derby Street in Leek Standell stole a total of £162-worth of wine from Bargain Booze between Tuesday 7th January and Monday 13th January He was arrested by officers on 13th January whose actions have consistently impacted on the public and business premises alike “We’re continuing to use CBOs to impose conditions on prolific shoplifters across Staffordshire and to help signpost them to the right support agencies to help them stop their offending “Those who breach CBOs will be dealt with and brought before the courts.” In the last couple of weeks, Leek Town have appointed Anthony Bunn as the club’s first ever Community & Marketing Manager Bunn took time out of his busy schedule with the club to speak to Moorlands Radio about the role and what he hopes to bring to the club as he prepares the fanzine for its final publication Leek Blues & Americana Festival is back for 2024 from 2nd to 6th October with a packed programme of over 30 gigs in 13 venues around the town Festival pub gigs will again be free with two ticketed headliner shows at the Foxlowe Arts Centre the Chris Bevington Organisation take to the stage The Staffordshire based music collective are well known locally and nationally and Chris and his band have been touring and recording since 2012 They have released four albums and continue to play their upbeat blues infused rock at countless venues and festivals The support act is Robert Plant’s former drummer “An Evening with Led Zeppelin” based on his experiences Rising country star Kezia Gill plays the Foxlowe on Saturday 4th October Kezia’s career has powered ahead since she last played the festival in 2019 Coming from a musical family of Irish descent her music pulls influences from folk Her busy schedule takes her across the globe and she has also gained the accolade of being a firm favourite of BBC’s Bob Harris In addition to the Foxlowe Arts Centre gigs twelve different pubs bars and restaurants will also be hosting gigs over the period giving punters an unenviable choice of live music it has been estimated that the festival brings an additional £200,000 extra spend to the town on Sunday 22nd September there is a free Leek Blues and Americana gig at the bandstand in Brough Park featuring local bands from 2pm The festival ends with its traditional crescendo The ‘Last Call’ at The Roebuck from 9pm on Sunday night when musicians and gig-goers alike can round off the festival with an unscripted line-up of bands artists and jam sessions to round off the weekend The festival relies heavily on help from sponsors who this year are Leek Town Council Leek Link Taxis and Richard Owen Aerials & Satellite There have also been contributions from the public Those contributing money to the festival have received tee shirts and even a free private gig from a local musician Festival chair Mike Gledhill said: “I’m really excited for this year’s festival As ever we retain our two founding principles of keeping most events ‘free admission’ and supporting our local hospitality and retail economy by attracting visitors and locals to a fantastic five-day festival in Leek “I would like to personally thank all our sponsors The festival is a real big effort from scores of people and we simply couldn’t do it without all the generous support.” Tickets for the headline acts are available online at WeGotTickets | Simple, honest ticketing or at the Foxlowe Arts Centre Details of the festival can be found at on the Leek Blues & Americana Facebook page In the coming weeks you’ll be able to hear Mike Gledhill and Chris Bevington on Mid-Morning talking about the festival After one of Leek Town’s most successful season’s the club inevitably turns it’s attention to preparing for life in a higher league and coping with the issues that brings Recruitment and retention of playing and non playing staff is crucial to that preparation This can often bring disapointment and excitement in equal measures Leek Town have certainly witnessed the high’s of signing players who will improve the squad and help it to compete at a higher level Likewise they have had to endure the disapointment of losing players they hoped would continue on the club’s journey to a higher status within the football pyramid There has been little downtime for the club’s Chairman Jon Eeles Club Secretary Tom Eeles and First Team Manager Josh Brehaut After a flurry of activity across the club’s Social Media channels recently I decided to track down manager Josh Brehaut for an exclusive interview with Moorlands Radio Sport to get his thoughts on the highs and lows thus far as they prepare for the new season in the Northern Premier League Premier Division Moorlands Radio Sport will work hand in hand with Leek Town Football Club throughout the coming season to bring you full match commentary on all home and away fixtures We will also continue with our exclusive and improved coverage of our local sides over the 2024/2025 season Keep a lookout across our social media channels for more details Leek Town have appointed former Stoke City and Port Vale midfielder Danny Pugh to the role of first-team coach As well as playing for both of our local EFL sides Pugh enjoyed a career spanning 17 years which started at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson he made his professional debut back in 2002 as he replaced Ruud Van Nistlerooy in a 5-2 win over Maccabi Haifa in the UEFA Champions League He went on to make a further six appearances for the Red Devils Pugh swapped Manchester for Leeds as he joined Leeds United in 2004 as a part exchange deal for Alan Smith He went on to play in the Football League at Preston North End Blackpool and Port Vale before moving into non-league football with Hanley Town in 2021 Pugh played 89 games for the Potters helping them not only win promotion to the Premier League but also reach the FA Cup final in 2011 where the side managed by Tony Pulis narrowly lost 1-0 to Manchester City at Wembley Pugh scored the only goal of the game to help Stoke defeat Swiss side FC Thun in the Europa League he became a senior member of the playing squad as Neil Aspin made him club captain in October 2017 In 2018 he took on additional coaching responsibilities following the departure of coach Gary Brabin and in 2021 he was appointed as caretaker manager following the departure of John Askey Upon Darrell Clarke being appointed as Askey’s successor at Vale Park just three months later he was working with Carl Dickinson at Hanley Town as he helped the club to the Midlands Football League title Pugh completes the management team that consists of Josh Brehaut (manager) Steve Pardoe (Kit and Recruitment) and Gilly Larkin (Physio) return to the Moorlands with the re-opening of the line from Leek to Stoke have been cautiously welcomed by the District Council – pending further details about the funding package to deliver the scheme The Government announced yesterday that funding earmarked for HS2 north would be re-directed to improving local public transport including projects in the Midlands An outline business case for reconnecting Leek to the national rail network by reinstating services on the line has been developed by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and its partners and was submitted to Government in 2022 said: “The Council welcomes the announcement regarding the proposed Leek to Stoke rail link We now need to see what the specific funding package involves and how the Government proposes to future proof the scheme against inflation and other factors “We hope to hear soon about details of timescales planning implications and operational matters so that we can be assured of the viability of the project “The creation of an upgraded network of public transport across the Moorlands is a priority for the Council The rail link has the potential to be a significant part of that alongside much needed improvements to bus services across our three towns and the rural areas to meet local needs boost our local economy and improve our quality of life “The Council is committed to working closely with all partners to develop projects that create better public transport in the Moorlands.” Leek Town have continued their preparations for the new 2024/25 season by re-signing midfielder Billy Reeves The former Port Vale youngster originally joined the Blues from Stafford Rangers in late September 2018 before going on to make 182 appearances for the club which included a spell captaining the side with regular skipper Marc Grocott out injured last summer Reeves chose to leave Leek as he joined league rivals Bootle He played 11 games for the Bucks before following manager Dave McNabb to North West Counties side Bury FC Reeves played 29 times for the Shakers as they made the playoff final for the North West Counties Premier Division after drawing 1-1 with Wythenshawe Town in the final He was offered a new deal with Bury last month but declined the offer choosing a return to the F.Ball community stadium 24 Dec 2024 | Latest News, Match Preview Boxing Day Football at the Leasing.com Stadium as Macclesfield FC host Leek Town in an A523 derby Robbie Savage’s sit pretty at the top over the Christmas period and will be hoping for another three points in front of a capacity crowd Leek will be hoping to spoil the party and come into the game after a victory over Basford United at the weekend If you are unsure of how to find us at The Leasing.com Stadium the link below will provide you with all the travel details you may need Paul Dawson is able to feature again after serving his three game ban There will only be a small number of walk-up tickets for home supporters only on the day All seated tickets have sold out and only standing tickets are available online Please note that Disabled and Carer tickets can only be claimed from our Club Reception on the production of relevant identification All concession tickets will be asked to provide relevant identification upon entry to the ground You can purchase your ticket HERE Traveling fans will enter the Stadium via the turnstiles located in between the Silkmen Terrace and Moss Lane Stand We would like to remind supporters to please park respectfully in and around the vicinity of the Leasing.com Stadium and take care when arriving and leaving the ground Matchday Programmes will be on sale around the ground priced at £3 for all league games this season Bar Twenty Seven will be open before kick off for Food and Drink for home supporters only The Westwood Group Fan Zone will be open from 13:00 with Wood Fire Smoke serving a delicious range of pizzas All our door kiosks will be open serving range of drinks The dulcet tones of Matthew Todd will be back once again with Full Commentary on our Mixlr channel from approximately 14:50. You can find the link to listen HERE We will also be providing Live Match Updates via our Social Media Channels as the game goes on Supporters can find our Social Media Channels below: For those who don’t have social media profiles then you can access Football Webpages for goal updates via the link below: https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2024-2025/northern-premier-league-premier-division/macclesfield/leek-town/504061 May 2, 2025 | There were some stunning strikes during the month of April It’s now time to vote for your Kenny Waste Management Goal of the Month for April Here are your four options: John Rooney vs Workington Neil Kengni vs Guiseley.. May 1, 2025 | , Ahead of our debut season in the Vanarama National League North Macclesfield FC are thrilled to announce that our seasonal hospitality and sponsorship packages are now available to purchase With Robbie Savage's side attracting significant national attention and with.. Apr 30, 2025 | As a season like no other comes to a close it's time to look back on what a special season 2024/25 has been for the football club and the town of Macclesfield After the play-off heartbreak against Marine expectations were high going into the 2024/25 season The Silkmen return to the Leasing.com Stadium for one final time this season as Whitby Town make the journey from North Yorkshire Robbie Savage's record-breaking side will be awarded the Northern Premier League - Premier Division trophy signalling further ambitious & strategic growth plans for the Club Darren states: “I’m thrilled to step into the world of football club ownership—a.. Guiseley ended a run of three consecutive defeats last weekend and will be hoping to get back to winning ways as they visit struggling Leek Town, writes Scott Kelly It will be the Lions first visit to Leek since April 2008 with the Staffordshire claiming the upper hand in a 1-0 victory lost three and drawn three of the 10 previous encounters which saw Gabriel Johnson equalise late on after Alex Hurst’s opener for the Blues midway through the second half A Jordan Thewlis penalty before the half time break cancelled out an earlier Colin Daniel goal as the Lions ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a point at Nethermoor Daniel’s low strike from a well worked corner routine came after 34 minutes Thewlis won and later converted the penalty after his initial effort struck the arm of defender Tom Marshall The 32-year-old sent Robins keeper Matt Yates the wrong way for his seventh league goal of the season Chances were few and far between in the second half on what was in places a difficult surface to play on Lewis Whitham forced a good save from Yates as his low drive was parried out for a corner It finished 1-1 and with the Lions now winless in four league matches they will start the weekend in 3rd following Ashton United’s 2-1 victory over Lancaster They played their game in hand on Tuesday night too with Matlock Town doing the Lions a favour and securing a point and a 2-2 draw meaning Ashton are just a point ahead heading into the weekend’s fixtures “On the balance of play you would probably say it’s a fair result But in terms of chances created then we should have probably won the game” Boss Mark Bower felt that based on the efforts created but they will head to Leek off the back of a well contested draw “That quality from back to front needs to be better It turned into a bit of an arm wrestle at times” Bower felt against Ilkeston the team struggled more to get the ball forward more quickly “The lad has raised his arms to block a shot that is going in the goal I thought that was a red card offence but apparently not these days” “The rules keep changing” says Bower as he expressed his frustration that Tom Marshall was not sent off for what looked like a deliberate hand ball which led to the Lions penalty Bower confirmed that Leo Farrell will likely not be seen in a Lions shirt again this season as he returned to Barnsley for treatment on an injury Lucas Odunston returned to the bench over the weekend and will be pushing for a start Will Longbottom however is still likely to miss the game with a groin problem The Blues have struggled for a consistent run of good form throughout this campaign which is why they sit just two points above the bottom four Defeat at Warrington Rylands on Tuesday meant they have won of their last five league matches Only one of their nine victories this season have been won by more than the odd goal Their meagre goal tally of 31 is worsened by only that of rock-bottom Blyth that tally is only bettered by Gainsborough Trinity Forward Hayden Campbell is the clubs top goalscorer with seven Leek signed Louis Potts from Clitheroe in December and has impressed Other key players include goalkeeper Dino Visser and midfielder Ollie Shenton Tickets are available to purchase on the on the day from the turnstiles by cash or card or online in advance priced at: Matchday programmes will be available to purchase on the day or online priced at £3 If you purchase a match ticket online in advance of the fixture you will receive a free digital copy of the programme Coach travel is available with Guiseley AFC Supporters’ Club just call Paul on 07518 445861 to secure a seat The coach leaves Nethermoor at 10:15am priced at £25 for members and £30 for non-members Guiseley AFC: A family-friendly football club playing in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division based in the Leeds/Bradford area of West Yorkshire 27 Dec 2024 | Latest News, Match Report Macclesfield FC’s unbeaten home record comes to an end after losing 2-1 to Leek Town The first half did not showcase any particular chances until the 18th minute when James Edmondson’s shot from outside the box just raised over the bar Leek thought they had broken the deadlock when a mistake from Justin Johnson saw Alex Hirst play the ball into Louis Potts who thought he had scored Luke Duffy took the lead for the Silkmen from a well-constructed goal Leek Town drew level as after taking advantage of a mistake by Alex Curran Ollie Shenton had room to shoot across goal despite Neil Kengni making his best efforts to clear the ball off the line Macclesfield came close to taking their lead back on the stroke of half time when a cross was fizzed in from Laurent Mendy almost producing an own goal as it was flicked out for a corner The second half had two teams eager to get three points as inside 60 minutes Duffy was denied a chance to give himself a brace after a low save from Dino Visser to push it past the post The Blues nearly took the lead when Potts’ shot was just wide after some chaotic defending in the six-yard area a corner would give Leek Town the win as the ball fell to Julius Ndene who fired in a late winner for the Staffordshire team nicking a vital three points for their side Despite a heartbreaking defeat on Boxing Day the Silkmen are thirteen points clear at the top of the table Macclesfield’s next fixture will feature a trip to Greater Manchester as they face Hyde United on New Year’s Day annual meetings of Biddulph Town Council and Leek Town Council took place town councillors elected the new Mayors and Deputy Mayors for 2023-2024 for both towns Councillor Ken Harper was elected as the new Mayor with Councillor Nigel Yates as the new Deputy Mayor In Leek Councillor Matt Swindlehurst was elected Mayor with Councillor Barry Birch as Deputy Mayor groups and one-to-one support are a safe space to get guidance and meet people who understand.  Use our free nurse helpline or email our nurses a question ask questions and chat to people who understand each in an iconic destination surrounded by spectacular scenery Raise awareness of breast cancer in your local community or network by booking a free online or in-person talk Dr Caroline Leek talks about the Fruitfly Collective which she founded to empower people with a cancer diagnosis to navigate family life and to support their children I was playing with my little kids and thinking how they learn… I was perplexed why at school they learn all the sciencey things which they need to know They need to know about space and magnetism and all that stuff is there anything about when a parent or a loved one in their family is sick You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts You can also watch this episode on YouTube Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1160558) Scotland (SC045584) and Isle of Man (1200) Leek Town’s promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division just got a bit more real as the FA have published their allocations for the 2024/25 non-league system The full lineup for the Premier Division is as follows: Ashton United It means that Leek will renew friendships with the likes of Bamber Bridge They will also face FC United of Manchester Morpeth and Stockton Town for the first time in their history Prescot Cables joined Josh Brehaut’s men in being promoted from the NPL West Blyth Spartans have been relegated from the National League North While two more North East sides in the form of Hebburn Town and Stockton Town join from the Northern Premier League East division Mickleover FC have been transferred from the Southern League Central Premier While Leek are preparing for life outside of the Northern Premier League West The Bears won the Midlands Football League Premier Division last season They have been confirmed as going into the Northern Premier League West they will face several local derbies including Nantwich Town The full list of that division is as follows: Atherton Collieries Along with Congleton- Wythenshawe FC and Wythenshawe Town have both been promoted (albeit from the North West Counties League) Atherton Collieries and Stafford Rangers have both been relegated from the Premier Division Hednesford Town have been handed a reprieve having finished in the bottom two last season Stone Old Alleynians continue to play in the Midlands Football League Premier Division and next season they will face: 1874 Northwich Whitchurch Alport and Wolverhampton Casuals They will be up against: Abbey Hulton United Winsford United and Wolverhampton Sporting Community Leek Town fans keep an eye on the Moorlands Radio website over the next few weeks as we hope to preview the teams you will be facing in the 2024/25 Northern Premier League Premier Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks There is currently a transition period in the leek market are "spot on," shares Jeroen Buyck of Calsa so everyone was harvesting at full speed to get all the leeks into cold storage Everything that needed to be stored should now be in and the last leeks are being harvested and prepared for direct sale," he explains we are currently seeing somewhat larger leeks as everything has grown significantly in recent weeks due to the nice weather there will once again be more available that are smaller in size." How will the market develop in the coming weeks and how the weather behaves will ultimately determine the rhythm of the market." you traditionally see demand for a winter product like leeks decline I hope the end-of-season leeks will perform as they have in previous years Prices for cold-stored leeks have been decent during the summer months It's also necessary because the costs involved are significant and that must be compensated for in the selling price." They consistently hovered between 40 and 60 euro cents much of the supply went mainly to Eastern Europe and partly to Southern Europe but prices were always carefully considered there Customer demand drops were not so significant that they were willing to pay more but not a situation where prices shot up quickly There was still quite a bit of supply from France we are seeing prices slowly but surely starting to rise over the past few days." Jeroen notes that demand is shifting towards greenhouse vegetables "It is really peak season for us at the moment and cucumbers are replacing winter vegetables We are seeing good demand for these products I don't fully understand why prices have to be this extremely low We see this to a lesser extent with vine tomatoes We haven't often seen this happen so early in the season everyone needs to be able to earn a living." For more information:Jeroen BuyckCalsa Roeselaarsestraat 9b8850 Ardooie, BelgiumTel: +32 (0)51 74 73 74[email protected]www.calsa.be FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com Leek Town have pulled off a transfer coup as they have brought in Brendon Daniels from Southern League Central side Stourbridge Local lad Daniels spent over a decade at Crewe Alexandra coming through the youth set-up before making 10 appearances for the first team In 2013 he was released by the club with manager Steve Davis saying he did not feature in his plans It was from here he played for several non-league clubs including Tamworth AFC Fylde (where he won the National League North in the 2016/17 season) and Alfreton Town he impressed the then Port Vale manager Neil Aspin who brought him to Vale Park in May 2018 Daniels made his debut for the Vale at Walsall in the EFL Trophy group stages as he replaced Anthony Kay in the second half His time at Vale Park did not last long as he was sent out on loan to National League North side AFC Telford United first on loan in November 2018 before making the move a permanent one in the new year It turned out to be an inspired move for Daniels as he became a key player for the Bucks playing over 100 games for the club before he left in August 2023 following their relegation to the Southern League He then joined Stourbridge who played in the same division as the AFC Telford United A new fast-food ‘drive thru’ restaurant is coming to the Moorlands Fast food giant McDonald’s has been granted planning permission at the planning meeting of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council today (Thursday 9th March) The restaurant and ‘drive-thru’ is planned for the Churnet Works Abbey Green Road in Leek adjacent to Sainsburys and will be their first restaurant in a Staffordshire Moorlands town The development is described as ‘a freestanding restaurant with drive-thru facility including customer order displays and a play frame.’ Part of the proposals put forward promised around 120 new jobs as part of the development The fast-food giant’s proposals have not been without controversy with some residents campaigning against the development 1352 people wrote in support of the application Buxton & Leek College’s “class of 2023” have been celebrating their achievements at Level 3 following results being made available on Thursday 17th August Students queued up at both Buxton and Leek campuses to find out their grades in various Level 3 subjects with the college reporting outstanding results being achieved across the board Amongst those celebrating high achievement was Tea Gaines,19 who was graded Triple Distinction Star in Art & Design She will be going on to study Costume Design and Textiles at Huddersfield University Merit in Health & Social Care with Applied Psychology Eve’s next steps are going to Staffs University to study Forensic and Criminological Psychology Another BLC student starting his next chapter with the highest possible UCAS points is Dylan Marriott-Richardson who got triple Distinction Star in his Media Level 3 “I’m planning to go to Salford University to do the Film Production degree and eventually I’m hoping to go into Film Editing.” Said Dylan Zara Siaghi achieved a double Distinction Star** Distinction in her Business course and is now Pursuing a Higher Degree Apprenticeship with Whittaker & Biggs She was invited on to talk about her next steps on the BBC Radio 1 programme was also overjoyed to open her Art & Design results to see triple Distinction Star Standing in front of her work that was on display at Leek School of Art these results mean I can go to Plymouth University to study Illustration was awarded a double Distinction and Merit in Health & Social Care with Applied Psychology; she said: “I’m so grateful to my tutor Jess for supporting me through the course My next steps are either going to Nottingham Trent or Sheffield Hallam Uni and after that I’d like to get a job in Adult Nursing.” practical based programmes that open doors for employment The college has a wide range of routes available for GCSE students that have just received their grades and welcome calls from students still unsure of their next steps With the new Northern Premier League West season being just 15 days away Leek Town have provided the following squad update First up is the arrival of midfielder Tom Scully following his departure from Nantwich Town He started his career at Everton’s academy before having spells with Norwich City It was while he was with Stanley that he made his first team debut as the Reds defeated Leeds United under 23’ 7-0 in the Papa John’s Pizza Trophy in September 2020 Scully joined Nantwich Town originally on loan from Accrington in September last year before going on to make the move a permanent one in November He played 28 times for the Dabbers as they were relegated from the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the season Following Scully through the door is young defender Julius Ndene The youngster has impressed the management team at Leek Town throughout pre-season and is a versatile defender who can be deployed as a centre back or fullback He arrives from Midlands Football League side Uttoxeter Town and has previously played seven times for Stoke City’s under-18s team The Blues have three pre-season friendlies remaining before they host Widnes on the opening day of the season the home of Stafford Rangers before welcoming Ndene’s old club Uttoxeter Town to the F Ball Community Stadium on Monday night (the game is an 8pm start) They conclude their pre-season programme by hosting Sky Bet League Two side Crewe Alexandra next Friday evening A look back at Saturday’s win in the Emirates FA Cup… By Matty Paddock - 14/09/2024 HARRIERS made it through to the Third Qualifying Round thanks to a dramatic injury-time win over Leek Town at Aggborough Amari Morgan-Smith notched a 78th minute leveller before going on to win the tie in the third minute of added time with Christian Dibble saving from Leek’s Okome before Zak Brown had a chance held by goalkeeper Dino Visser Brown was inventive in fashioning a finish in the tenth minute his shot scrambled behind by Visser for a corner that Tope Obadeyi headed over the bar There was a blow for Harriers midway through the half when debutant defender George Cooper was forced off through injury Weir for Leek going close seven minutes later with a snap-shot over the bar The home side did up the ante in spells and there two big chances for them to take the lead Jack Lambert’s rising rocket of an effort crashed back off the woodwork from 18 yards before Joe Foulkes had a goalbound effort cleared off the line Alex Hurst’s looping effort dropping beyond everybody in red and into the net One of the closest Harriers efforts of the game came seconds later the other end Obadeyi getting in another thumping header that shaved the bar before landing on top of the net Morgan-Smith drove with venom towards Visser’s target Foulkes then seeing another effort blocked on the line as the Reds searched for a route back to parity Reece Devine almost marked his first start for the club with a goal on 67 minutes his dipping effort heading towards the bottom corner before Visser did the necessaries He ensured his team were level ten minutes later supplying a delightful cross that Morgan-Smith met with a finish back across Visser and into the net and Luke Summerfield struck an 80th minute free kick with almost pinpoint accuracy the effort flying over the angle of bar and post with an inch to spare Seb Thompson headed on to the pitch with 86 minutes gone and he thought he’d won the tie for his team with a headed effort but the goal was ruled out due to an apparent foul a header back to Visser fell far too short leaving Morgan-Smith in a flat face he won with ease holding off his man before poking the ball under the goalkeeper and finding the net Get full team line-ups and key match facts at the Match Centre… This article is about: Match Introducing Sunday’s Match Sponsor… Privacy Policy  -  Terms of Use  -  Contact  -  Safeguarding Policy Kidderminster Harriers Football Club Limited Website hosted and maintained by Swof Media. New Leek Town full-back Liam Buckley believes that the 2023/24 season could be an exciting season for his new team The young defender joined the club from league rivals 1874 Northwich last month and which was a big factor in him joining the club could help get them promoted out of the league Buckley discussed the importance of being able to play in more than one position and how much he is looking forward to learning and developing as a player under the management of Neil Baker and Peter Ward Defender Ollie Heywood has been recalled from his loan at Hanley Town and has immediately joined Leek Town on loan until January Leek currently sit 17th in the Northern Premier Division and visit Hyde United tonight for a 7.45pm kick off are a community benefit society operating under the name of Chester Football Club and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority The club is fan owned and does not have any major shareholders The Sports Report is ready to view for today’s game… Leek Town have signed five new players ahead of the 2023/24 Northern Premier League West season Phil Mooney and Tom Freeman have all arrived at the F Ball Community Stadium and they will be hoping that they can help Leek go one step further and win promotion back to the Northern Premier League Premier Division First up to be announced was defender Liam Buckley who joins the club from 1874 Northwich The young fullback started his career at Chester where he came through the youth ranks before he opted to head to the Welsh Leagues where he joined Cefn Druids his time in Wales was short as after 12 months he was returning to the English leagues as he joined Northern Premier League side 1874 Northwich ahead of the 2022/23 season He rapidly became a key member of the 74’s team as he made 40 appearances in all competitions last season Next to be signed up by the Blues was former Hanley Town winger Jake Avery from Belper Town he joined Hanley in October 2021 where he helped the Bucknall based club to win the Midlands Football League He would also chip in with a few goals as he netted eight times during his stay including a consolation goal during Hanley’s 4-1 defeat last October Avery chose to join Belper at the beginning of 2023 where despite him scoring twice for the Nailers he couldn’t keep them in the Northern Premier League Premier Division Signings Three and Four will know each other well as Tom Reilly and Phil Mooney both join Leek Town from Cymru North side Cefn Druids Reilly is a tenacious hard-working midfielder who has an eye for goal He started his career at Accrington Stanley before featuring for Eskilstuna City before moving back to the UK as he turned out for Bangor City and Prestatyn Town While vastly experienced central defender Mooney is well known in the Northern Premier League circles as he has turned out for the likes of Warrington Town Widnes and Skelmersdale United in the past The final signing to be announced by Neil Bakers’ men was that of former FA Vase winner Tom Freeman as he joins from recently demoted Skelmersdale United Freeman was a second-half substitute for 2021 FA Vase winners Warrington Rylands as he replaced Jack Tinning He also scored Warrington’s first goal in that run to Wembley as he netted in the 5-2 win over Daisy Hill back in September 2020 Last season saw him play 19 times for Skelmersdale United as they finished 11th on their return to the Northern Premier League but were ultimately relegated back to the North West Counties Football League as the ground they were sharing with Burscough FC failed to meet the required standards for the Northern Premier League We will be hoping to speak to all five of the new players in the next couple of weeks as they settle into life at the F Ball Community Stadium Winning Best Building Society at the British Bank Awards a highlight as 2023 sees profit member satisfaction and employee engagement all reach new highs while investment continues Leek Building Society has today issued its report and accounts for 2023 a year of more records and awards for the Staffordshire-based mortgage and savings provider which operates nationally Underlying profit before tax increased by 28% to £6.4m notwithstanding significant investment in new technology branch refurbishments and various community initiatives This profit boosted capital reserves to record levels supporting the Society’s ability to help members achieve their financial goals and to fund future investment in the business The Society also attracted national media attention when it won the UK CIPD award for health and wellbeing in recognition of its employee focus and culture which was further highlighted when it was named Employer of the Year by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Community support activities saw a record level of donations to local charities and community groups a doubling of staff volunteering days and the commencement of an innovative programme to install 100 life-saving defibrillators in those areas where the Society has branches Andrew Healy said: “While these results highlight our excellent financial health what is most pleasing is the highly rounded nature of our performance we don’t of course seek to maximise profits but it is in the interest of the Society’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability that sufficient profits are generated to maintain our financial resilience and to ensure there is ongoing investment in our business Our mortgage and savings growth levels significantly outperformed the market evidencing the competitiveness of our offerings in challenging times and we’re hugely proud of the support we’ve provided to our members and colleagues throughout the cost-of-living crisis We continued to invest in new technology during the year completed our branch and head office refurbishment programmes and not only maintained but stepped up even further the high standards we set for ourselves in terms of risk management The future for our Society has never been brighter.” 2023 saw the completion of the branch network refurbishment programme All branches have now been upgraded to offer improved facilities including more meeting points and ‘engagement zones’ for discussions about products and services the development and testing work to implement a new mortgage platform has been completed and this will be rolled out in the first half of 2024 significantly improving the mortgage journey experience for new borrowers and broker partners The Society’s head office refurbishment was also completed during the year thereby greatly enhancing the working environment for colleagues all of the Society’s premises now present a modern In line with its broader environmental commitments positive changes have concurrently been taken to ensure waste control lighting and other utilities are from renewable sources and are as kind to the environment as possible The Society expanded its product set during the year to include Green Further Advance mortgages to support borrowers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Awards 2023 Hanley Town have announced the arrival of Leek Town forward Lucas Baker on an initial one month loan deal Baker joined Leek Town during the 2021/22 season from AFC Alsager and made his debut against Kidsgrove Athletic in December of that year He has since played 19 times for Leek scoring just one goal for the club which was the winner at Kidsgrove Athletic in February earlier this year He will go straight into the Hanley Town squad for their trip to Widnes in the Northern Premier League tomorrow night XFASTINDEX Brough Park Leisure Centre is getting a major makeover and will become It is the latest in a series of schemes being delivered by Alliance Leisure for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and forms part of a wider regeneration of Leek town centre funded by Levelling Up grants from central government The development is being delivered by Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework which is owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd The project team includes contractor Speller Metcalfe architect Roberts Limbrick and project manager Abacus The centre will be managed by the Council’s new in-house health and wellbeing company The current four-lane swimming pool will be replaced with a new 25-metre six-lane pool as well as a larger teaching pool The gym will be expanded from 35 stations to 60 while a second group exercise studio and group cycling studio will be added to increase the fitness provision One of the old  squash courts will become a ‘community wellness suite’ Other new features will include an indoor soft play and party area and the changing facilities will be updated The refurbishment also aims to transform the centre into an all-electric facility. Gas boilers will be replaced by air source heat pumps while solar panels installed on the roof will generate approximately 42 kW of energy Speller Metcalfe director Rob Lashford said: “We’re delighted to start work on the redevelopment of Brough Leisure Centre and create an exciting Leisure centres are Speller Metcalfe’s bread and butter and we're proud to be working with the project team to drive positive change across the county.” Alliance Leisure is working on two further Levelling Up funded projects for the council: the revamp of Leek’s indoor market halls and the refurbishment of the Nicholson Institute – home to the town’s library The leisure development specialist is also driving a £2.1m project to reduce carbon emissions at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre after the council secured £1.9m from the public sector decarbonisation scheme fund Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 8 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 3 days A Devon housing development has emerged as the centre of a web of corruption. 8 hours Controversial government plans to allow developers to pay into a central nature levy to offset local environmental harms are generating increasing opposition. 3 days Dolphin Living has appointed The Hill Group to deliver the redevelopment of the New Era housing estate in Hackney. 3 days Tilbury Douglas continues to progress after collapse of parent company 3 days John Sisk & Son has started work on a £65m refurbishment of Haringey Civic Centre in London. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' Ceri ThomasEditor, Which? GardeningCeri studied horticulture at the University of Reading and RHS Wisley. She edits Which? Gardening magazine and our online gardening content. plus they provide something to eat from the garden at times when there’s not much else to harvest Breathe new life into your outside spaces. Sign up for our Gardening newsletter, it's free monthly Leeks sown in module trays and grown in clumps won't have long white roots but all of the leek can be used for eating Which? members can log in now to see the full results and detailed reviews of our Best Buy varieties. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get instant access 'Below Zero''Bleu de Solaise''Chefs White''Lyon Prizetaker''Malabar''Nipper'Show all rowsBB/RC = Best Buys/Recommended OVERALL RATING ignores price and is based on total yield from 2m row 35% rust resistance 5% and resistance to bolting 5% We selected 22 widely available varieties, including previous Best Buys and some that hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit. In early April, we sowed each variety in strip modules in a Best Buy compost for sowing seeds in the greenhouse at our trial grounds in Capel Manor Once the seedlings were large enough to handle we potted them into long pots to grow on and harden off in a sheltered spot outside we planted each variety in a single 2m row allowing 15cm between plants and 30cm between rows The whole trial was covered with a tunnel of Enviromesh netting to protect the crop from allium leaf miner and leek moth leaving the remainder for a second harvest in February the following year All the leeks were weighed and assessed for quality During the trial we kept the plot free of weeds by hand weeding and ensured that the crop was watered when necessary Get bloomin' great resultsOur product tests & advice help you get the garden you want Get an annual membership and we'll send you a £10 Amazon.co.uk voucher plant the whole clump with a trowel or dibber If you sowed in a seed tray and pricked out individual plants use a dibber to make a hole around 15cm deep Discover our best watering cans Allow around 30cm between rows to make weeding easier, and space plants at 15cm intervals for full-sized leeks. If you’re short of space, plant closer together and harvest alternate plants as baby leeks, leaving the rest to grow on to maturity. Leeks need little attention during the growing season. Keep the plot weed-free and well-watered in dry spells. Cover with insect-proof netting to avoid allium leaf miner and leek moth. Leeks can be harvested from autumn until late winter. For individually-planted leeks, ease a fork into the soil next to the leek and gently prise from the ground. For leeks planted in clumps, use a trowel to cut through the clump and remove individual leeks as you need them.  The young caterpillars of leek moth burrow between the surfaces of the leaf, like a leaf miner, creating brownish-white patches. As they get bigger, they bore down into the shaft of the leek, or the bulb of the onion, causing more substantial damage and allowing in rotting fungi and bacteria. At this stage, the vegetables tend to develop yellow leaves and go slimy.  Remove any caterpillars you find and cut back badly damaged foliage. Leeks can often recover and still produce a reasonable crop; onions are less likely to. Undamaged parts of the leeks can still be used. To avoid this problem, cover your leeks with fine insect-proof mesh when you plant them. Allium leaf miners tunnel through the leaves and stems in spring and autumn and you may find their brown, barrel-shaped pupae if you peel back the leaves in autumn and winter. To avoid it, cover your leeks with fine insect-roof mesh when you plant them. The first sign of attack is often rotting towards the base of the leaves caused by fungi or bacteria invading the wounds caused by the miners. If visible, the mines themselves are narrow and linear. With onions, the leaves may become deformed, curled or wavy. If left unchecked, secondary rotting can soon destroy the whole plant. Leaf mining takes place mostly from April to May and from October to November. However, the damage is most obvious later, once rotting has set in, so is usually seen in overwintering leeks between December and February, and in onions in June. Once rotting sets in, the plants won’t recover. Undamaged parts can still be eaten, but affected onions can't be stored. If they're too badly damaged to be used, affected plants are best consigned to your local council's composting scheme, which will destroy the pest, or buried deeply so the adults can't emerge from the pupae. Leek rust is a fungal disease that causes rusty-orange blotches on the leaves. It’s prevalent in warm, moist weather. Severe infections can make the leeks inedible, but this is rare and slight infections will affect only the outer leaves, which can be peeled off, and will usually disappear when the temperature drops in winter.  There aren’t any chemical controls, so your best defence is to dispose of any affected leaves, ensure your plants aren’t crowded to improve airflow and grow your leeks (or garlic) in a different spot each year. This is when leeks start to produce flower spikes before the leeks are ready to harvest. It’s usually caused by the weather, with a late, cold spring often to blame. Very hot conditions can also cause bolting. Improving the soil so that it doesn’t dry out may help. Lift any affected plants and use what you can straight away. White rot is caused by a fungus that destroys the roots, killing the plant. It then produces resting bodies that can last for many years in the soil. Onions, shallots, garlic and leeks all suffer from this disease. Spring onions and overwintered onions seem particularly susceptible.  Look out for yellow and stunted plants in May and June among your overwintered onions, and later in the other onion-family crops. When you pull up sickly plants, check for a white/grey mould around the base. In advanced cases, you will see black, pinhead-sized, regular spheres. These are the sclerotia, or resting bodies, that will carry the disease from one crop to the next. When you see white rot, remove the plants and a few inches of surrounding soil. Burn or bin them. This will make sure that you don't add more sclerotia to the soil. Avoid transplants grown in soil-based compost. Gather and use an attacked crop as soon as you can, as damaged bulbs will be unusable and won't store well. There are no chemicals available to gardeners to control this disease, and there are no resistant varieties. giving you on-the-go access to our reviews celebrated double success as both men’s and women’s 1s battled to promotion The men will also be playing national league hockey next season Leek Ladies 1st XI were the first to secure promotion with a week of the season remaining when they dispatched Tamworth in a 12-0 rout to see promotion back to Midlands Division One Leek Ladies captain Nicola Weallans said: “This was an outstanding effort by the team and it was all the more satisfying to see so many of our talented juniors develop and improve as the season progressed.” The Men’s 1st XI promotion was achieved in the final game of the season after an initial tense encounter with Telford HC.  Going into the final match level on points with second placed Loughborough Students Leek needed to win and hoped that second placed Loughborough would not do the same and overturn their goal difference advantage They won 4-0 and then had the agonising wait for confirmation that Loughborough had only drawn their game before the celebrations could begin Leek captain Rich Cordon said: “Leek have been so close to promotion to National League in recent years so it feels amazing to finally be champions The Championship follows the National Tier 2 Cup win last season and is a great credit to all the players “All bar two of the team stated their careers at junior level at Leek and will now get to show their skills at a National League level.” Club chairman Andy Spragg added: “For a small town such as Leek we really do punch above our weight in the hockey league – and now we are bringing National League Hockey to the Moorlands Leek Town’s summer signings continue to arrive at the F.Ball Community Stadium as Joe Woolley is the latest to arrive at the club from Bootle The exciting forward signed for Kidsgrove Athletic last summer after eight years with 1874 Northwich having joined the Cheshire club in 2015 Woolley played 39 times for the Grove finding the back of the net on nine occasions including goals against Chasetown Hednesford Town and Sutton Coldfield Town before he moved to Bootle in March he scored twice to help the Bucks make the Northern Premier League West playoff semi-final Ultimately they went out at that stage to eventual winners Prescot Cables Josh Brehaut will be delighted to have secured his services as they have had to fight off a lot of competition to bring him to the club Former Leek Town manager Neil Baker has been appointed as the new boss of Northern Premier League West side Newcastle Town Baker, who had a spell on the coaching staff at Macclesfield FC following his departure from Leek Town in September, has replaced Paul Moore who was asked to step down from the role this afternoon Moore was appointed as manager of Newcastle Town earlier this year as he replaced Robin Van Der Laan at the helm guided the club to important victories over Leek Town and Trafford to help them stay in the Northern Premier League West last season Newcastle have secured fantastic wins away at local rivals Nantwich Town His last game as Newcastle Town manager was yesterday’s (Boxing Day) 3-0 defeat away at Leek Town In the statement announcing Bakers’ arrival at Newcastle Town the club said: “We are very happy to announce the appointment of Neil Baker as the club’s new men’s first team manager “Neil is no stranger to Town and non-league fans having recently spent 6 tremendous years at local rivals Leek Town narrowly missing out on promotion on several occasions Neil spent 23 distinguished years at Crewe Alexandra and is known as a superb coach “We all welcome Neil and wish him a long and successful reign at The Castle.” The first game of the Neil Baker era at Newcastle Town is on New Years Day as they welcome local rivals Hanley Town to the Red Industries Stadium You can hear the thoughts of Newcastle chairman Gavin Appleby about the decision and hopefully in the coming days we will hear from Neil Baker