Gainsborough Trinity sit one point and one place above the Trawlerboys in the league and Lowestoft will be hoping to build on the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, to claim three points this time round.

Here's some information on the match, along with some history about Gainsborough Trinity:-

Admission Prices:-
Adult - £12
Concession - £9
Under 16 - £3

Programme Cost:-
£2

Sponsors:-
Our Main Sponsors – Smith Bros Timber
http://www.smiths-timber.co.uk/
Ball-boys (sponsored by Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Ltd) – Waveney Cougars U14's

Ground:-
Name - Crown Meadow
Postcode - NR32 2PA
Capacity - 3000
Seating for - 466
Car Parking: Limited on-street parking but agreement with local college 250 yards away for cars to park there.
Food & Drink: There is a fully licensed bar within the clubhouse. While in the ground there is Muriel’s Tea/Coffee Bar, Barbara’s Tea/Coffee bar at which a selection of pastries is also on offer, our burger van and our excellent chilli van that has had rave reviews from travelling and home supporters for its curry, chilli, nachos, jacket potatoes, etc, etc.

BT Sports (LIVE - 12pm) – Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United:-
Prior to the game the big screen TV's in our Social Club will be showing the Live Premier League match from White Hart Lane between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
The clubhouse will be open from 11:30am and as usual our fully licensed bar will be open to serve hot/cold drinks and bar snacks. So why not come along early to enjoy a live premiership game and a couple of beers before Lowestoft Town take on Gainsborough Trinity.

Form:-
Lowestoft Town (16th) - Last five league results; LLDWL
Leading Scorer (League) – Chris Henderson & Jack Ainsley (5)
Gainsborough Trinity (15th) - Last five league results; DLLLW
Leading Scorer (League) – Paul Beesley (6)
Lowestoft Town will be looking to build on their 3-1 home win over play-off chasing Chorley, last time out at the Crown Meadow. The blues suffered at the hands of some very questionable officiating on Boxing Day in a 5-3 defeat at Boston United and while the defence will no doubt be looking to tighten up after conceding eleven goals in their last four league games, goals are now coming for the Trawlerboys. Jake Reed has now scored five goals in his last five appearances and the blues have forced chances in the oppositions penalty area with Jack Ainsley taking his goal tally to eight on Boxing Day, with six of them coming from the spot.
Gainsborough Trinity come into the game off the back of a 3-0 Boxing Day home win against North Ferriby United. However, prior to this they had lost their previous three league matches and have an away record that reads; played ten, won two, drawn one and lost seven. This will be the furthest away league trip for the Trinity and with both themselves and the Trawlerboys sporadically picking up points, a haul of three points from this game would prove to be a great filet for either side.

Reverse Fixture:-
The two sides last met in the fourth game of the season with Lowestoft unbeaten at the time and the blues taking an away point in a 0-0 draw at The Northolme. The Trawlerboys looked comfortable throughout the match and a times played some good football with Henderson and Louis coming close in injury time to snatching all three points. The blues kept their third successive clean sheet in this game but did have goalkeeper Jones to thank after making a seventy-fifth minute penalty save.

Club History:-
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY FOOTBALL CLUB was formed in 1873 as Trinity Recreationists, set up by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church for young parishioners. In 1889 they became members of the Midland Counties League, losing their first match 1-2 to Lincoln City and going on to finish 7th out of eleven clubs. The club quickly became well known, and won their first Midland League championship in 1890/91 and after finishing runners-up the following season were elected to the Football League Second Division.

Their first match was against Newton Heath, who went bankrupt ten years later before reforming as Manchester United. Trinity held on to their place in Division Two but based in an area with a small population it was always a struggle and the club returned to the Midland League in 1912.

Here they were to settle and earn more success, winning the championship in 1927/28, 1948/49 and 1966/67, also finishing in second place on two occasions. In 1960/61 the league was suspended for one season and Trinity competed in the Central Alliance. On returning to the Midland League the club remained there until becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1969.

Gainsborough have never won the Northern Premier League although the club twice finished in 4th place and have taken league cup honours on two occasions along with the Chairman’s Charity Shield. Trinity was the longest-serving member of the Northern Premier League, ending a 36-year stay after finishing tenth in the Premier Division to earn a place in the extended Conference Nationwide North for 2004/05.

After joining the Conference North the club held their own with a number of mid-table finishes; 2004/05 (11th), 2005/06 (16th), 2006/07 (12th), 2007/08 (11th), 2008/09 (13th), 2009/10 (14th).
In 2010/11 the club flirted around the bottom end of the table, eventually ending up safe in 18th place but this was to be followed by their best Conference North season to date in 2011/12 when they finished fourth, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. However, after beating Halifax Town in the semi-finals, Trinity lost the final 1–0 to Nuneaton Town in front of a Northolme packed to capacity.
In 2012/13 the club finished in 8th place and reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy for the first time, losing to eventual winners Wrexham.

However, the combination of money and Steve Housham’s undoubted skill at management was not to last. At the end of that season, major change was to come again as the Chairman took his money and moved to Scunthorpe United. Despite the Chairman fulfilling his promise of not leaving the club in debt, he did leave a club with the turmoil of finding new directors, new investment and new players on a vastly reduced budget.

It was at this time, the beginning of 2013/14, that the spirit of Gainsborough came to the fore and local businessmen, many relatively young, volunteered to take over the helm. It was a very challenging time, but the work of the new team of directors, together with the skills of Steve Housham in choosing players, many on loan, ensured that a season of transition did not end in relegation and the town breathed a sigh of relief as they finished in 16th place.

The present season, 2014/15, has seen the new spirit at the club develop and the desire of the new directors to make Trinity a true community club come into being. It is the endeavour and enthusiasm of the new team of directors, the backing of the Trinity Supporters (The Blues Club) and the support shown by local businesses that is driving a new era at the club which they hope will transfer into success on the pitch.

Trinity has also long been noted for finding players who have gone on to play in the Football League and the man who was to become their Honorary Manager for over 30 years, Charles Caldicott, arranged the transfers to League clubs of 19 players in the 1930’s and 40’s. Several former Trinity stars went on to play for England; goalkeeper Ronnie Sewell, who also played for Burnley, Jackie Morton who was sold to West Ham United and left winger Fred Spicksley who went to Sheffield Wednesday and played seven times for his country, twice scoring hat tricks against Scotland.

Lowestoft Town v Gainsborough Trinity
Vanarama Conference North
(Crown Meadow)
Sunday 28th December 2014
3pm kick-off

Come on you Trawlerboys!!

Terry Bullen