Bond keeps a family tradition going by taking charge at Thornbury

BILL Bond has spoken of his delight at being handed the managerial reins at Thornbury Town.

The club's former under-18s boss led Thornbury to two wins from three games after taking temporary charge of first-team affairs, following Roy Irwin's decision to step down.

Bond, 44, who had assisted Irwin at the helm, said: "It's great to get the job and nice to keep a family tradition going. My late father Billy managed a few clubs, Patchway, Henbury and Ellwood among them, and my older brother, Shaun, was in charge at Henbury.

"Looking at the quality of our squad, I'm confident we can soon ensure ourselves a comfortable top-half position in the table."

Malcolm Carr will continue to assist Bond as physiotherapist, while the new boss has elevated promising youth midfielder Luke Franklin into senior contention for tomorrow's home match with Bishop's Cleeve Reserves.

Chipping Sodbury Town manager Scott Gibson is demanding an improvement in attitude against visiting Yate Town Reserves after witnessing a first-half horror show at Bishop's Cleeve last weekend.

Sodbury, who had won their three previous fixtures, trailed 4-0 at the break before eventually going down 4-1 and Gibson, who is without unavailable skipper Lloyd Harding for the next three weeks, said: "Our approach to the game was poor; we had clearly got carried away by an improvement in results and it showed."

Henbury's new manager Mark Love is a relieved man, having landed a new goalkeeper in time for their home tussle with Patchway Town. "When I joined the club recently I was a bit shocked to discover they had no senior keeper," said Love. "I've now signed Ashley Newman, who had been playing for Severn Beach in the Suburban League and comes well recommended, so hopefully that situation has been sorted."

Left-sided forward George Watts is set to make the leap from regular third-team duties for Henbury, while Patchway are poised to give a debut to ex-Tytherington Rocks striker James Hicks.

Talented teenagers Ben Francis (midfield) and Josh Dakwa (striker) are expected to maintain their places in Hanham Athletic's squad for their away encounter with Kingswood, although midfielder Craig Stone remains suspended.

Rockleaze Rangers are boosted by the return of Matt Beadle to their attack for the home fixture with Frampton United, but Savas Frangoullis, Nathan Bryer and Shane Budding are all injury doubts.

Skipper Danny Handisides is an injury doubt, but DRG Frenchay boss Dave Johnson is confident of adding a new striker to his misfiring team for the tough away tester with pacesetting Tuffley.

Southmead CS have signed former Taunton Town and Bristol Manor Farm star Leon Simpson with a view to giving the towering front man, who can also play at the back, his bow against visiting Bristol Academy, who are hopeful their leading striker Jake Jackson will have overcome an ankle problem in time to feature.