Seniors lose to Cranes in SIL "decider"
Former Ipswich Athletic boss Luke Hillyard couldn’t turn down Achilles challenge
24 August 2015 Chris Brammer
New Achilles boss Luke Hillyard admitted the opportunity to manage the A’s was too good to turn down, following his heroics with Ipswich Athletic. Hillyard guided Athletic to a treble success last season, winning the SIL Division One title, the Bob Coleman Cup and Suffolk Junior Cup.
“I played for Achilles for a number of years, my brother (Liam) did and so did my dad, Jeff, so with the family links it was too good an opportunity to turn down,” said Hillyard.
Achilles finished second to runaway champions Cranes but are hoping to go one better this term, with Hillyard having brought in a number of players from his former club.
“The year before Achilles won the title but Cranes ran away with it a little last season,” he added.
“My main aim is to get the title back from Cranes but there are some good teams in the Senior Division, Grundisburgh and a couple of other teams have made some good signings, so hopefully there will be a few teams in the running this season. From the Athletic team that had so much success last season, Hillyard has signed his brother, Liam, as well as Jordan Crane, Sean Hanley, Josh Little and Gavin and Darry van Oene.
“Those lads showed what they can do last season and a lot can play higher but, due to family commitments, have decided not to,” explained Hillyard. “I think we have got a good mix of experience and younger players. Achilles have always had an experienced team, so it’s like the new-look team.”
Achilles started their season with a 4-2 defeat at Haughley, and, in a twist of fate, host Ipswich Athletic in their first home game tomorrow. They then entertain their main rivals last season, Framlingham Town, next Saturday. The game against Athletic no doubt stands out for Hillyard who has nothing but good memories of his time with the club.
“It was a brilliant season, it was my first year in management, as I am only 29,” he explained. “I had a shoulder injury and then the Ipswich job came up and the first season was unbelievable. “I would like to make the step up (the football pyramid) in management, but I am still learning my trade.”
Luke Hillyard to replace Lee osborn as Seniors manager
Ipswich Athletic boss Luke Hillyard will manage Achilles FC next season. On the fringe of leading Division One Athletic to a famous treble, Hillyard admits that the opportunity to manage the club he sees as "home" was too good to turn down. Luke spent his childhood playing for Achilles and the club holds a very special place in his heart.
"My Dad Jeff ran the youth team from Under 14s to Under 18s so to be in charge of the first team is really exciting. I feel Achilles have the best set up in the SIL and have everything there to be really successful", said Luke in an interview with Will Ridgard of the Ipswich Star 17/4/2015
FULL STEAM AHEAD: Achilles boss Lee Osborn wants his side to put a winning run together following indifferent start to Touchline Suffolk & Ipswich Senior League
Will Ridgard Friday, September 12, 2014
After somewhat of an indifferent start to defending their Touchline Suffolk & Ipswich Senior League crown that they won spectacularly last season, Achilles boss Lee Osborn has issued a full-steam ahead message to his players. Osborn’s men visit high-flying Wenhaston United tomorrow with one win, two draws, and a loss under their belts.
“We’ve started slowly,” admitted Osborn, who oversaw his side draw with Leiston St Margarets (1-1), lose to East Bergholt (2-1), and draw with Ipswich Valley Rangers (2-2) in their opening three fixtures, before securing that first win last weekend against Westerfield United (3-2). "We had loads of chances against Leiston St Margarets but couldn’t take them, and that was the same sort of scenario at Bergholt,” explains Osborn. "We’ve created plenty of chances in all the games, but only recently have we started to take them - hopefully now we can kick on and keep going because we have a very good squad.”
Last season’s SIL Senior top goalscorer Dean Tournay-Godfrey has joined forces at Achilles this season, alongside Ben Deacon, a familiar name in the Eastern Counties Leagues over the years, as well as Dale Hammond and Tom Deller - again, players who have played at a higher level. Osborn thinks his side definitely have the minerals (sic) to win the league again, but is wary of the threat of others - particularly Felixstowe Harpers.
“I think whoever finishes above Harpers will win the league,” declared Osborn. “I think we’ll be there or thereabouts certainly.”
Of tomorrow’s third-placed opponents, Osborn said: “It’ll be a tough one. As league champions, everyone wants your scalp and to beat you.”
Touchline Suffolk and Ipswich League Predictions - Lee Osborn’s men have no Achilles heel
Will Ridgard
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Lee Osborn’s men made history last campaign as they ended their 26-year wait to re-establish themselves as League champions. Leading the charge from virtually the first kick of the 2013/14 season, the close-knit bunch never looked back. And now with the league’s top goalscorer last season in Dean Tournay-Godfrey on board, Osborn’s men are still very much the team to beat. Tournay-Godfrey netted 32 times for Grundisburgh last year and if he can form a partnership with Andy Coote upfront, Achilles could well be celebrating again.
Prediction: Champions
Achilles in pole-position with Grundisburgh in hot pursuit
Chris Brammer Friday, May 2, 2014
6:10 PM
Second-top Grundisburgh are the only team that can catch Achilles, Micky Squirrell’s team are at home to Ipswich Valley Rangers and must win to stand any chance of stealing the title from the ‘Mighty A’s’.
Long-serving chairman Dave Morgan, who played for the team in the 1950s, hopes his side can finish the job off. “It would be great to win the league, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I am fortunate enough to have been at the club when we have won the league in the past, under Keith Norton (Senior Division), who was a player with me, and promotion with Alan Middle (Division One) who was a player in one of Keith’s double-winning teams. Alan stepped aside and his number two Lee Osborn took over and has been brilliant."
“Apart from one season, he has been with Achilles all his career, since he was 14 or 15 and, like me, he would probably bleed the colours of Achilles. We just need a point to win the league and Lee knows what he has to do. Bear in mind, we have our top-scorer Andy Coote and Adam Sturman suspended, they both have three-match bans. Sean Bell has a nasty injury which is unfortunate as he has been a tremendous stalwart for us, while Jack Wilkinson has a hamstring problem. Fortunately for us we have had strength in depth all season.”
"That strength in depth has served the club well and the club’s reserves are on the verge of winning SIL Intermediate Division A. If Cranes lose at Wenhaston then the reserves will win the league,” said 77-year-old Morgan. “It would be excellent to do the double, while the reserves are in the final of the Gipping Press Cup, against Old Newton next Wednesday at Woodbridge FC.”
Achilles aiming to end 26-year wait and beat Grundisburgh to Touchiline SIL Premier Division title
Achilles’ 26-year wait to lift the Senior League title could be over come tomorrow afternoon. The leaders, managed by the long-serving Lee Osborn, need just four points from their last two games, away at Wenhaston, tomorrow, and at home to Felixstowe Harpers United next weekend. However, a point tomorrow and defeat for Grundisburgh at lowly Coplestonians would be enough for Achilles to seal their first championship since 1988.
“Fingers crossed we can do it, as we’ve been the nearly men for so long,” said Osborn, who has been with the club since 1992. I have had a lot of people say they really hope we do it this season which is a nice change, as Achilles used to have a reputation for being a tough, physical, hard team. Myself and my assistant Gary Bartlett have turned it round, although we have still got those qualities in the locker.”
Since returning to the top division in 2009, Achilles have twice finished second, including last season when Ipswich Valley Rangers won the title.
“It would mean so much to win it,” added Osborn. “I live 10 minutes around the corner from the club and most of the players are from the Chantry area and are a close-knit bunch. We started with about 17 players at the beginning of the season, but we have had strength in depth when it’s been needed. The reserves have stepped up when required and everyone has played their part because they know it’s for the good of the club.” He added: “There are so many people off the pitch for whom winning the league would be fantastic. The likes of Dave Morgan (chairman) who does so much behind the scenes that people don’t see, making the teas, putting the corner flags up, it’s unbelievable.”
Standing in their way are two teams safely in mid-table.
“Wenhaston will be a tough game,” explained Osborn. “I know their manager Carl Chenery who played for Leiston in the SIL and was one of the best midfielders in local football, before he made the step up to the likes of Lowestoft and Kirkley & Pakefield. We only beat them 2-1 earlier this season and it promises to be a good game. We then face Felixstowe but it’s in our hands now.”
He added: “I wasn’t at the game last Saturday (3-0 win at Ipswich Valley Rangers) but people havesaid it was the best we played all season and that a couple of our players were unplayable.”
At the bottom, Coplestonians and Westerfield are at home to Grundisburgh and at Felixstowe Harpers respectively. Old Newton (home to Leiston St Margaret’s) and Melton St Audry’s (home to Haughley) can move closer to safety if they win their games.
Suffolk FA Senior Cup semi-final: Touchline SIL leaders Achilles relishing chances as underdogs against holders Ipswich Wanderers
Will Ridgard
Friday, February 21, 2014 9:08 AM
Achilles boss Lee Osborn is relishing his side’s Suffolk FA Senior Cup semi-final chances against current holders of the competition, Ipswich Wanderers, this weekend. With Touchline SIL Senior rivals Grundisburgh drawn against last season’s beaten finalists Whitton United, Achilles, who have sat at the top of the SIL Senior table for the majority of the campaign, will fight it out with Thurlow Nunn First Division outfit Wanderers for a place at Portman Road.
“Everyone is absolutely buzzing for the game,” said Osborn. “I turned up to take training on Wednesday evening and people turned up who I haven’t seen all season! We can’t wait for the challenge and I fancy our chances of causing an upset, I really do.”
Situated in fifth place in the League above Achilles, Osborn acknowledges it will be a tough test for his side but is confident it’s one that his experienced side will relish.
He said: “We’ve got experience right through our team. Players like Andy Coote, Chris Leys, Robbie Smythe and James Horsfall all have a wealth of experience and nothing will faze them.”
Osborn will be without key duo Brent Richards and Ricky Deasy, a former winner of the competition with Stowmarket Town, this weekend due to unavailability but the Achilles gaffer hasn’t wasted any time in bringing in replacements.
“Brent and Ricky are away which is obviously a big blow for us but we’ve drafted in Matt McCarthy from Ipswich Valley Rangers as well as Phil Deller,” added Osborn. “Phil’s a former winner with Stowmarket and both players are proven and will go straight into the squad and hopefully have a big part to play.”
Achilles go into the game on a run of just one win in their last five games in all competitions, but Osborn thinks the form book goes out of the window in cup games.
“We haven’t been at our best since the turn of the year,” admitted the Achilles manager. “But I’m told we should have won last week against Haughley and that’s a positive for us. With Wanderers where they are in the league and being holders of the competition, we’ll go into the game as underdogs but I think that tag suits us.”
Like the other last-four clash, tomorrow’s match is set to be played at a neutral venue - with Brantham Athletic the hosts. Again, the kick-off time is 2pm and again, it promises to be a cracker.
SIL: Achilles boss Lee Osborn knows top-of-the-table clash v Grundisburgh is key
Will Ridgard
Friday, January 3, 2014
9:26 AM
Achilles boss Lee Osborn knows this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Grundisburgh will be pivotal to the outcome of the Touchline SIL Senior title race this season. Osborn’s men have led the way in the league for the majority of the season and should they defeat their arch-rivals tomorrow, could go eight points clear as league-leaders.
"It’s a massive six-pointer,” said Osborn. “Grundisburgh arguably need the three points more than us as we could go eight points clear but we’ll be going there to win.”
The pair met in a warm-up match in the Bob Coleman Cup last weekend, which after a 120-minute 1-1 stalemate, was settled with the lottery of penalty kicks. Grundisburgh bought the lucky ticket and progressed into the fourth round with keeper Adam Wilson the hero. And Osborn is expecting a game of similar nature this weekend.
“It’ll be a tight game that’s for sure,” said Osborn, who has been involved with Achilles in a playing and managerial capacity for 22 years. "Last week the four centre-halves were fantastic and I expect it to be another similar game this weekend. We’ve got a couple of players to come back and so have they so it promises to be a good game.”
Osborn’s men have only failed to gain maximum points in three of their league fixtures so far but Osborn, who brought himself on to take and score a penalty last weekend, knows that there is a long way to go.
“Look at Ipswich Valley Rangers. They’ve slipped off but everybody slips at some stage,” said Osborn. “Every side goes through a bad patch, and I’m sure Rangers will pull back through and will still be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. I’m certainly not writing them off.”
Achilles are on a mission this season to finally end their wait for the Senior title having gone mightily close in previous seasons – having been runners-up on two occasions in recent years.
“We’ve been known as the nearly men for a few seasons and we normally start slow and then pick up in the second half of the season,” said Osborn. “But this year we’ve started really well and will do everything we can to carry on this run. The lads’ attitude has been phenomenal so far and they’ve really dug in together. We’ve got a good sized squad with lots of quality.”