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Huge Weekend Ahead!!! 11th March 2010
I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve used that particular headline but it does go to show the level of success that the Club has achieved over the last few years and particularly this season as all four teams battle for honours – and it is really great to see it as an “old timer” watching from the sidelines nowadays...
I will be fulfilling that particular job this Saturday at the magnificent HSBC ground in Beckenham where our 3s will be taking on EBOG in the club’s first ever AFA Junior Cup Final. Having endured the disappointment of losing in the mud of Old Aloysians 10 years ago in our only other ever AFA Junior Cup semi final (Smithy and Parky colliding together with disastrous effect with one minute to go), I am really thrilled to see Simon Owen’s boys reach this national Final. Of course the 3s are having an awesome season but of course it had to be EBOG who ended their run of 17 consecutive victories so no-one will be taking anything for granted on Saturday. But best of luck to the boys and special commiserations to striker Leon Best who has received a very harsh 5 match ban for being sent off by an over-zealous (“don’t come back on to the pitch unless I allow you”) type ref in a recent game at Owens. Leon wouldn’t say boo to the proverbial but now has to miss both this and the SAL Junior Cup Final. Now I never criticise refs who are at the heart of our amateur game but has this particular one really thought through the consequences of what he did? Having disappeared immediately after the game one assumes not..... but hey ho, I’m sure Leon will be there cheering them on.
The 1s get back to less Roy of the Rovers stuff on Saturday with a nonetheless critical game at Polytechnic in the league. If the 1s are going to have any chance of adding another title to their already impressive list of achievements, they will need to start picking up points just to get themselves out of the relegation slots!! I think it is a very hard ask but if they take every game at a time.... who knows. Again a special mention for Ted Datta who will not play a part in that end of season run-in having broken his leg on Saturday in the AFA Senior semi game against Broomfield. I’m glad to say he has now been operated on and no plate or pin was needed which should make the long hard slog of rehabilitation a little easier. The thoughts of the club are with him and special thanks from me to those at the AFA, West Wickham, Winchmore Hill and Broomfield who have asked after Ted this week – much appreciated.
The 2s and 4s both have huge matches this weekend against our old foes at both levels – Old Actonians. Games against the Accies are never other than tough and these are both potentially make or break games with regard to potential Title aspirations. Pressure on injuries is always high at this time of the season but hopefully both teams will rally round and get the results I know both Pete and Dustin will crave.
Finally a thanks as always to Brian who, not only oversees the 1s, but also continues to put on great training sessions at Tolworth on Tuesday nights and we regularly have 20+ even in March which is great. I will be looking for people to come forward in due course to start helping Brian in both team and training issues so let me know if this is one of your ambitions – as you know the Club is always looking for players to take on more responsibility across a whole range of areas so this could be the one for you!!
Once again best of luck to all but especially the 3s!!!
Jonty/Mr Chairman
It’s A Knockout 27th January 2010
Well it’s been a while since my last Chairman’s Chair for which I can only apologise but I have been busy enjoying myself with 3 months gardening leave post my departure from The FA... What I have been able to enjoy over the period has been a fantastic start to the Nottsborough season and this after a reasonable amount of change at Captain and Vice Captain level at the summer AGM.
By my reckoning the Club has amassed an amazing 9 Quarter Finals across AFA and SAL football this season across our 5 teams and to date has already bagged 4 Semi Finals, two in each “code” and indeed the only team to have failed thus far was the Vets in the Open Cup. Well done to all and particular well done to Brian for keeping everyone engaged and interested at training, especially after a slow start to the season for the 1s.
Of course none of these stats means anything unless we win any of these competitions and we are clearly coming to the sharp end of all of them and the 1s in particular have two difficult Quarters coming up, both away from Tolworth. The other edge to the sword is the fact that Cup runs, coupled with bad weather, always lead to pressure on fixtures at the back end of the season so there is a lot of work to be done on all fronts yet. However with all of the 2s, 3s and 4s going like trains at the moment we remain hopeful and more to the point it would appear that all teams remain committed and determined to build on this solid start – a refreshing attitude under the circumstances.
Leaving my job at the FA after 7 happy years reminds me that nothing is forever and I continue to ask all Club players to think about their role in the Club moving forward and how they might represent the next phase of the Club’s progression in whatever capacity – we certainly continue to need committed individuals in all areas of the Club. Talking of which my mid-term thanks to all of the Captains this year who are doing a great job and I can’t wait to see who wins the 3s v 4s 100% battle – but you can be as sure as hell that there will be lots of teams out there who will want to inflict that first defeat.
Let’s make sure we keep Stuart Hall laughing and Eddie Waring happy by continuing to be going up and never under...and best of luck to all five teams this weekend, all involved in Cup football again!
Till the next time
Jonty |
