Chatteris-based Steve has been linked with job many times before, most recently in 2004 when he was at Ely City.

Apart from his stint at Ely, he has previously managed Chatteris, Warboys and Haverhill Rovers, whom he gained promotion to the Ridgeons Premier with in 2007 as runners-up in Division One.

At 41, he is the youngest non-playing manager since Terry Back in 2001

Not including caretakers, he becomes the Fenmen's 10th manager this century and the 42nd since 1935.

Billings has had experience of managing at a similar level to the first team since 1993 and has managed players from clubs including Romford and Billericay Town.
He has also commented that he already sees a lot of potential at the club and has outlined his plans for the future.

The club will also be looking to strength their first team squad following the recent departure of Hunt, who the club wish the very best of luck for the future.

The club have also appointed Ben Cowling as reserve team manager for next season.

Cowling was reserve team captain last season and already has the respect of his dressing room, so the club hope that this appointment will help him develop his coaching and managerial skills.

Lee Sharp, the top reserve team goal scorer last season, has also agreed to be his assistant as he recovers from a serious knee injury that he suffered in the final game of last season.

Chairman Steve Brown opened the evening by commenting on the up and down season that had just passed. He gave thanks to Steve Taylor, Paul Goodman, Neil Farlie and Hunt for their managerial efforts with the first team, especially Hunt, who had done exceptionally in the circumstances.

Brown also thanked committee members Dave Adams and Danny Wakeling for their help on match days, president Terry McGerty for the unbelievable time he spends helping the club, media officer Steven Esdale for his contributions, secretary Karen Smith, who was stepping down from her role but staying on as a committee member, treasurer Sandra McGerty for her excellent job with the finances of the club, Kerri and "Ted" Beavis for their efforts with match day refreshments, Mick Sisson for selling merchandise and John Linnane for the large amount of time he spends running the bar.

The President's Award went to "Ted Beavis" with the Chairman's Award going to Dave Gooch for the large amounts of time he spends on the pitch as well as several other tasks. The Clubperson of the Year trophy went to John Linnane.

Brown then announced that Hunt won the First Team Supporters' Player of the Year award with Joe Harvey in second and Marc Abbott in third. The Reserve Team Supporters' Player of the Year award went to Hammond with Gareth Thomas in second and Paul Abbott third.

First Team Goal of the Season was awarded to Marc Abbott for his long range strike against King's Lynn Reserves at Hamlet Croft.

First team player/manager Hunt then took to the floor and thanked Neil Franklin and Farlie for their assistance with the first team. First Team Manager's Player of the Year went to Marc Abbott for the 100% effort he puts it in at all times, whether it be in training or during a match.

Brown then awarded Hunt with the First Team Top Goalscorer trophy for the 14 goals he scored last season. First Team Players' Player of the Year was Harvey and flowers were also presented to Kerri Beavis.

Reserve team manager Peter Betts then thanked the committee, especially Brown and Linnane, before thanking committee member Keith Willis, who sadly passed away on 30th March 2008. Betts also thanked Lee Sharp (for producing match reports) and assistant manager James Catten for their assistance.

Betts also announced that he had resigned as reserve team manager earlier in the evening after 4 years in the position. He stated that he had achieved what he had set out to do and hoped that someone carries on where he has left off. His future includes a 5 month trip in July to work with the New York Red Bulls.

For the reserve team, the Top Goalscorer award went to Lee Sharp for his 19 goals in the previous campaign. Goal of the Season was chosen by the players and went to Jamie Challis for his goal against Debenham LC Reserves.

Manager's Young Player of the Year went to goalkeeper Tom Edwards, in a season that saw him keep 11 clean sheets since he arrived at the club, with the Manager's Merit Award going to Paul Abbott for his attitude and ability. Player's Player of the Year, with almost 75% of the vote, was Hammond.

The Managers' Player of the Year was a joint award after the team had been so successful defensively; Hammond and Lee Hurkett, who Betts commented had "improved unbelievably and has got better every year since he was 15", shared it.

Brown ended the evening by thanking the players for their efforts.

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SUMMARY OF AWARD WINNERS :

President's Award - "Ted" Beavis
Chairman's Award - Dave Gooch
Clubperson of the Year - John Linnane

FIRST TEAM
Supporters' Player of the Year - Marcus Hunt (Joe Harvey 2nd, Marc Abbott 3rd)
Goal of the Season - Marc Abbott's long range strike against King's Lynn Reserves
Manager's Player of the Year - Marc Abbott
Top Goalscorer - Marcus Hunt (14)
Players' Player of the Year - Joe Harvey

RESERVE TEAM
Supporters' Player of the Year - Neil Hammond (Gareth Thomas 2nd, Paul Abbott 3rd)
Goal of the Season - Jamie Challis v Debenham LC Reserves
Top Goalscorer - Lee Sharp (19)
Manager's Player of the Year (shared) - Neil Hammond and Lee Hurkett
Young Player of the Year - Tom Edwards
Manager's Merit Award - Paul Abbott

FIRST TEAM PLAYER/CARETAKER MANAGER COLIN VOWDEN LEAVES HRFC

On Wednesday 12th March 2008 first team player/caretaker manager Colin Vowden left his post to take up a position at Newmarket Town Football Club.

The club would like to wish Mr Vowden well in his new position and thank him for his efforts at the club both on and off the pitch over the past two years.

Former first team manager Paul Goodman and first team captain Marcus Hunt have agreed to manage the side for the home match against Felixstowe & Walton United this coming Saturday (15th March 2008) with a decision on the manager(s) from the next match (away to Wisbech Town on Saturday 22nd March 2008) to be made in the near future.

It was with regret that, due to work commitments and financial constraints, Haverhill Rovers Football Club manager first team manager Steve Taylor left the club on Sunday 9th March 2008.

Work has meant that Mr Taylor has been travelling large distances to games recently, which has been increasingly difficult.

Lack of support has meant low attendances at Hamlet Croft (just 39 and 46 for the Ridgeons League Cup Quarter and Semi Final matches recently and an average attendance of just 74 in the Premier Division since October 2007 (67 since Christmas), compared to 108 in the First Division last year) has meant that income has dried up and the club lost thousands of pounds in February, causing drastic measures to be taken and the playing budget severely reduced.

The club would like to wish Mr Taylor well for the future and thank him for the outstanding work he has done for the club over the past two seasons, which has included the best F.A. Cup run in the club's history last year, Rovers winning the First Division Knock Out Cup for an unprecedented third time and promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in ten years.

Player assistant manager Colin Vowden has agreed to take up the position of first team player manager with immediate effect until the end of the current season.

HRFL NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS !

The player lists for the Haverhill Rovers Fantasy League have now been updated for the new season so we are now accepting teams.
Don't forget... a 15 player squad based system, a January transfer window and just £5 to enter, with the money being split between club funds and prize money.
For more details, player lists, entry forms (and a sneak peak at my chosen side for next season !) click here or on the logo above.

F.A. CUP AND F.A. VASE DRAWS MADE
On Monday 2nd July the draws involving Rovers in the F.A. Cup and F.A. Vase were made.
- In the F.A. Cup Rovers travel to Bourne Town in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday 18th August. The winners then travel to the winners of Walsham-le-Willows v Stowmarket Town for a Preliminary Round tie on Saturday 1st September.
- In the F.A. Vase Rovers are at home to Leiston in the Second Round Qualifying on Saturday 22nd September.
Prize money for each of these competitions are :
F.A. CUP - Extra Preliminary Round £500, Preliminary Round £1,000, First Round Qualifying £2,250, Second Round Qualifying £3,750, Third Round Qualifying £5,000, Fourth Round Qualifying £10,000, First Round £16,000, Second Round £24,000, Third Round £40,000, Fourth Round £60,000, Fifth Round £120,000, Sixth Round £300,000, Semi Final £900,000, Final £1,000,000.
F.A. VASE - First Round Qualifying £500, Second Round Qualifying £600, First Round £700, Second Round £1,000, Third Round £1,200, Fourth Round £1,500, Fifth Round £2,000, Sixth Round £5,000, Semi Final £7,000, Runner Up £10,000, Winner £20,000.

ROVERS PRESENTED WITH NON-LEAGUE PAPER BEST F.A. CUP RUN AWARD
At a ceremony at The Emirates Stadium on Thursday 17th May 2007 Rovers were presented with the Best F.A. Cup Run Award 2006/07 by The Non-League Paper following a vote by supporters of non-league football.
Rovers beat other teams that included Aldershot Town, who knocked them out in the Fourth Round Qualifying.

Chairman Steve Brown is presented with the Best F.A. Cup Run Award

PRESENTATION EVENING - FRIDAY 11th MAY 2007

First team manager Steve Taylor (centre) presents Marcus Hunt with the first team Manager's Player of the Year Award, watched by chairman Steve Brown

The Haverhill Rovers Football Club Presentation Evening took place on Friday 11th May 2007 at Haverhill Golf Club with players Amanda Everett, Marcus Hunt and Colin Vowden picking up two awards each.

The evening opened with reserve team manager Peter Betts thanking Dan Pilcher, Bryan Jones, "Will" Jones, Karen Smith and Kirsty Jagger for their work with the ladies side, who he complimented on reaching the First Round of the Women's F.A. Cup. Trophies were passed on to all the ladies in attendance, with Hannah Robinson also being presented with the Clubman of the Year award, Kate Shorter with Opposition's Player, Charlotte Halls with the Manager's Merit Award, Louise Anderson with Most Improved Player and Everett with Players' Player and Manager's Player, with Betts stating that she was the best ladies player that he had worked with. Zoe Klimke then presented Betts with a plate from the side to thank him for the two years he had been manager. Chairman Steve Brown also thanked Betts and the ladies.

Brown gave flowers to Kerri Beavis, Sandra McGerty and Smith to thank them for their work this year before presenting Keith Willis (and Dave Gooch at the match the following day) with awards for their work on the pitch. The Chairman's Award went to media officer Steven Esdale before president Terry McGerty thanked the first team and the backroom staff for their efforts this season and awarded John Linnane with the President's Award.
Brown then continued, awarding secretary Smith with the Clubman of the Year award. He praised the players for their efforts in the F.A. Cup run, which culminated in the Aldershot Town match. He then produced physiotherapist Bryan Jones with some chocolate boots to "help him get on to the field quicker during games". Brown also thanked the committee and other helpers for their efforts.

Betts then thanked "Will" Jones and Brown for their work before also complimenting first team manager Steve Taylor, Hunt, Trevor David and Paul Abbott and presenting the awards for the reserve team.
Manager's Merit Award was presented to Ryan Kent, Ross Elkins just pipping Russell Palmer and Neil Hammond to receive Players' Player. Hammond took the Manager's Player award.

Brown then presented awards to the first team. Young Player of the Year was Joe Harvey, Adam Salmons won Goal of the Season for his overhead kick in the First Division Knock Out Cup Final, Hunt was Top Goalscorer and Colin Vowden was Supporters' Player.
Taylor then "took the stand" and thanked Brown, "Will" Jones and Terry McGerty, stating that this was "the first club in 25 years that I've thoroughly enjoyed managing". He then presented the Manager's Player award to Hunt before also thanking Bryan Jones and Rob O'Tang for their physiotherapy work and presenting Colin Vowden with the Players' Player award.

"Will" Jones stood to thank the attendees and especially thanked Taylor, the club sponsors, Paul Goodman, Brown, Terry McGerty, Smith, Willis, Gooch, Dudley Haylock, Kerri Beavis, Rhiannon Beavis, Betts, his father Bryan, O'Tang, his brother Jack, Josh Vowden, Mark Ashford and Barry Whelan for their work.

Players Dan Pilcher and Marcus Hunt then presented awards to Taylor (sun tan lotion) and thanked "Will" Jones, Bryan Jones and O'Tang. Richard Heller was given a trophy in cotton wool as Most Injured Player, Colin Vowden was given a DVD of "The Goonies", Martin Westcott a novelty rugby ball for training with a rugby side instead of the club by mistake when a session was cancelled, Marc Abbott was Cheesiest Player, a fashion book to Dan Pilcher as Worst Dressed Player and a walking stick to Neil Cogger.
Brown then returned to the stand to show the First Division Runners Up trophy and award the players with the most appearances individual trophies for the achievement as well as Paul Abbott, "Will" Jones and Steve Taylor. He also presented Terry McGerty with a bottle of drink to thank him for his efforts this season.

AWARD SUMMARY
LADIES
Clubman of Year - Hannah Robinson.
Opposition's Player of Year - Kate Shorter.
Manager's Merit Award - Charlotte Halls.
Most Improved Player of Year - Louise Anderson.
Players' Player of Year - Amanda Everett.
Manager's Player of Year - Amanda Everett.
MENS
Chairman's Award - Steven Esdale.
President's Award - John Linnane.
Clubman of Year - Karen Smith.
Supporters' Player of Year - Colin Vowden.
RESERVES
Manager's Merit Award - Ryan Kent.
Players' Player of Year - Ross Elkins.
Manager's Player of Year - Neil Hammond.
FIRST TEAM
Young Player of Year - Joe Harvey.
Goal of the Season - Adam Salmons (goal in First Division Knock Out Cup Final).
Top Goalscorer - Marcus Hunt.
Manager's Player of Year - Marcus Hunt.
Players' Player of Year - Colin Vowden.

From 2007/08 the club will be running a fantasy football league, namely the HRFL (Haverhill Rovers Fantasy League).
It will cost just £5 per team and will be based on a squad type format where two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three strikers are chosen and your best goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers are the ones that score you the points ! No more worrying about injuries, players leaving the league or underperforming players !
There will also be a transfer window in January with regular updates here on the web site, in the programme and in the club house.
If you are interested, click here or on the logo above.