Pitchero Non League

.....as player-coach hot on the heels of the news that the FA have re-admitted the club to the Pyramid at Step 6, meaning they look set to compete in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One.

Arguably the finest player ever to have pulled on a Saffron Walden shirt, Wardley joins the Bloods’ new management team of Colin Wallington and Nicky Smith as Walden prepare for an anticipated return to senior football next season.

The move will delight Walden fans who saw Wardley play for the club in the late 1990’s before he was sold to Queens Park Rangers who were then playing in the second tier of English League Football.

He made his debut for QPR on 7th August 1999 when he was a late substitute in Rangers’ 3-1 win at home to Huddersfield Town and in his first season at QPR scored fourteen goals and was voted the QPR supporters` player of the year for 1999/00.

Wardley, who played almost 100 professional games for QPR, Torquay United and Leyton Orient amongst other League clubs, returns to Saffron Walden after a spell with Haverhill Rovers.

Wardley said: “I am delighted to be returning to Saffron Walden Town – a club that I have tremendous affection for. I have been really impressed by the support that the club has received locally as it is being rebuilt and – after meeting with Nicky and Colin – I can see that there is real ambition at the Club.”

Meanwhile, a delegation from Saffron Walden Town met with Football Association officials last week at Wembley to discuss the club’s application to return to senior football.

Walden secretary Brian Wilson, club president Paul Daw and committee member Melvyn Seymour described the enormous amount of progress being made, both on and off the pitch, at Saffron Walden Town.

At a meeting of the FA Leagues Committee held on Tuesday, the Committee agreed to recommend that Saffron Walden Town should be admitted to the National League System at Step 6 of the football “Pyramid” for season 2012/13 and in particular allocated to the Eastern Counties League.

Discussions will now take place with Eastern Counties League to discuss the entry requirements.

Saffron Walden Town withdrew from the Eastern Counties League Division One before the start of last season and since then a new committee has been established at The Meadow with a new management team of Colin Wallington and Nicky Smith appointed.

Club secretary Brian Wilson said: “This is great news for the club and all Saffron Walden Town supporters. It is a ringing endorsement from the Football Association for the hard work by every member of the committee to return senior level football to Catons Lane next season. It is also a reward for the commitment and effort of all our volunteers to ensure we have a pitch and facilities worthy of Eastern Counties League football.

“We have a great management team in place and confidently expect to recruit players who will see us challenging for promotion. Come and join us at The Meadow for a new era in our 140-year history.”

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