Although it would not be sensible for him to continue playing he now has a real opportunity to carry on helping our club. I must also say at this point that we have been very fortunate to have the help of another former player Tony Bell on the fitness training and I hope that this will continue.

We could not have started this season much better. The 1st team although dropping home points on saturday to a competitive Old Actonians side bounced back in remarkable style with a 3-2 win against the SAL Select side. We have worked very hard over the years to get to a position where our first team is able to take on a representative team and give such a good account of itself. This is the strongest I have seen the club in my 16 years association. We should be challenging for titles at all levels. On top of this we have 5 brand new sets of kit, a new sponsor in Altus, and now a new website. A lot of hard work is being done and my thanks go to Dave Hallam and Steve Beckett for the website, Rob Chamberlain for the sponsorship, and Chris O'Connor for holding us together. Thanks also to Jonty for being himself and Rob Jones for the almost impossible finances. The captains of all our 5 sides have done a great job so far and all they have to do is keep it up! I especially want to praise Matt Rolfe because his work so far this season has been remarkable and far beyond normal duties.

Our 2's have started with 3 successive wins. Well done Peter Morris and Andy Lea and well done also to Grovey for providing the experience at the back. We now have a number of players in the 2's who will push for first team places, and some of these showed up really well against the SAL. The 3's have a League title to defend and started with an ordinary draw. Last Saturday was much better with a 5-1 Cup success against Old Carthusians. We have enough good players in the 3's to defend that title. Most pleasing to me was to see the 4's start their campaign by defeating last seasons champions 3-0. I have big hopes for Andy Cattell's men this season.

The Vets have started with 3 straight wins and loads of goals. I am assured by Dave Hallam that some of the boys are playing the best football of their lives and that for 20 minutes they could give the 1's a game. Whenever you can arrange it David you are on! We have floodlights and a full pitch waiting for a Tuesday night so don't let me stop you.

Brian

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR                                                                             1st Dec 07

November and the first week of December are usually riddled with Cup Matches, if you are lucky enough to get through the early rounds. I have therefore held off writing a Directors Chair until the main bulk of the pre-Christmas cup matches are out of the way. We have not fared as well as I would have hoped as a club. The 1's are leading the way with a quarter final spot in the Surrey AFA and the last 16 of the Senior AFA. The 2's are disappointingly out of both of these competitions. The 3's had a good win yesterday against HSBC in the SAL Junior Cup but are out of the AFA, whilst the 4's exited the AFA Cup last week after extra time. We really ought to be doing better than this and my feeling is that too many people are missing too many games for one reason and another. Yes we have had a lot of injuries. We have also had a large number of absentees for personal reasons and this, in my opinion, has rebounded on us.

If you had said to me at the beginning of the season that the 1's would have another good start to the season, but that between them Alex Ewin and Nick Stavri would only have scored 1 goal, I would have found that hard to believe. Both Alex and Nick have struggled with injury so far but it looks like they will both be back this week. We have done very well to keep in touch, with our main goalscorers from last season out of action. Andreas Atkins has done well with 4 goals and Jimmy Elliott has made a return. Jimmy will need another small operation before Christmas however. "Mr play anywhere" Matt Kerr has done a great job filling in up front. We have also had injuries at the back with Andy Szwajkowski missing more than half the games and Junior Urwin out earlier on. It is good to have Junior back and playing well. We have also had to bring in James Bohanna, Craig Bonser and Andy Pierce earlier than expected but they have all done well and Andy has already played for the SAL Rep side. The midfield has been the stable part of the side this season. We have a real find in Danny Marsland and he has combined well with the ever-reliable David Howson who gets better and better. On the flanks Chris Kerr and Nathan Violet have been their usual enthusiastic selves and this has also found favour with the SAL rep team. Just like last season the skipper Matt Rolfe has done a superb job. I am delighted that Steve Whitelock has agreed to be assistant coach and he has made a good start. As the counter to this I am disappointed that Tony Bell will be leaving us to go to Australia. It is a super opportunity for him, something he has wanted to do for a while, but I shall miss him for his reliability and his enthusiasm. The 1's strangely have not played that well yet this season, but they are defending better, and learning to win games where they are not at their best. The form is slowly returning and if we can get a settled side we will be in with a chance after Christmas.

One of my big ambitions at the start of the season, as I contemplated a new role, was to see the 2's win something this season. They started in superb style. Sadly the wheels have come off a bit in the last month as they have been beaten in the Surrey AFA and the Intermediate AFA and lost poorly yesterday to a resurgent Carshalton. Injuries in the 1's have not helped, with Andy Pierce and Danny Marsland stepping up, but there has also been too much unavailability, crucially at Icarus. When the results start to go against you it can be hard to turn it around when constant changes are being made. Peter Morris has done a great job in the circumstances, aided by Andy Lea and the experienced Mark Grove. We are however developing good new players in the 2's. Joel Korocz looks in training like a player with a 1's future, whilst Nimmo and Ben Hughes have been keen and lively. Leon Roberts has done well up front despite carrying an injury. Karl Warner has been his usual "big" self and Nick Green has been neat and clever and continues to impress in training. A player who has also impressed me has been Webby at left back who has been very steady after his early injury problems. Justin Robson has been out for too long to have made an impression yet this season and Ted Datta is also only just coming back from injury.. We are still in a very good position in the League and a return to winning ways this weekend will be just the thing needed.

The 3's won the League last season and just like the 1's it has taken them a while to adjust this season. Although they are just below half way there is plenty of the season left in what may once again be a tight league. As last season the skipper Mike McCoy does a good job both throughout the week and on match days. I have been very impressed with the way Matt Beckett has taken on the vice-captaincy and he is regularly at training. The side is built around Nottsborough stalwarts. Rob Cootes, Duncan Watkins, Noony, Graham Williams, Crofty, Bernie Rhodes, Rob Moore, Steve Beckett, Harry Rugg, Rob Chamberlain, Rozzer have all been around for quite a while and are all very good players. To them we have added a bright new face in Luke Kelly who regularly makes training and occasionally now makes the step up to the 2's. Also added to the squad this season are former 4's players Mark Johnson and Louis Darvill who were stars in our 4's. Sadly both have been injured. The 3's have the Junior SAL Cup to look forward to after Christmas and a march up the league.

My other big ambition at the start of the season was to see the 4's do really well. Skipper Andy Cattell has a bad injury and has yet to make an appearance this season. He does such a good job, assisted by Ian Whittear and Stu Donovan, that I really hope they can continue the good re-building exercise after Christmas. The 4's are in second place in the league and this despite a huge amount of team changes. They have a very good goalkeeper in Paul Nixon, which is always a start. The defence has been quite unsettled with numerous changes and it is here that Andy needs to re-build. A good draw away at West Wickham looks like the start. In midfield Andy has some very good players with Alex Gardner, Pies, and James Kennedy in good form. Sadly the first 2 are injured at the moment. Joe Holden has made a comback to the club although he should be climbing up the sides. Mark Weclawek and Matt Holt are good regulars in this side, whilst Dustin Seale is the only Vet regularly playing at 4's or above. Gaz Goldsmith has been with the club for a few years and is a neat tidy footballer. If they can get all their players fit, or almost fit, they will still have a very good chance in the League and the Minor Cup.

All our sides have par or better records in the league. Keep coming to training, especially after Christmas, and we can improve on that.

Brian

On the first weekend of the New Year we had three really good results. The 1’s produced a super second half at Alleyn Old Boys, whilst a very strong 2’s squad put seven past Old Wilsonians. Perhaps the best result was the 3’s win against a strong Old St Josephs 2’s in the AFA Junior Cup – unfortunately before Christmas I suggested that the 3’s were out of this Cup but they have just proved me wrong with what I think is a Quarter Final place. Only our 4’s disappointed last week with a 2-1 defeat at Alexandra Park.

I am sitting here (12^th January) reflecting on a superb result by our 1’s to knock out the SAL Senior Cup Winners West Wickham on their own patch – never an easy thing! Despite the late arrival of three players we put together a very spirited performance. We have played well at West Wickham in the past and got nothing. This time we played well and won. The results from other games show that our win at Alleyn Old Boys last week should not be under-rated as they put Old Owens out of the competition.

No team has made a convincing case at first team level to win the Sal Senior and I have to say we will never have a better chance to retain the title. We only have 2 players injured at the moment in Andrew Szwajkowski and Danny Marsland. We appear to be finding the net again and in a close League the sides that score goals always give themselves a real chance. Matt Rolfe and Nathan Violet have done a good job in organising the side and we have a squad every bit as strong as last season. Andy Pierce, James Bohanna, Craig Bonser and Danny Marsland have all come in and done well whilst Micky Lyons has returned from Enfield. The only thing that may disrupt things is this SAL League competition where we lose a Saturday by providing several rep players. We want to give players the chance to play representative football and we support the League, but it is so difficult losing so many Saturdays. The League really must look at this again. To start a season so late and then take out 3 or 4 Saturdays puts unreasonable pressure on sides pushing for League and Cup titles. With clubs adopting their own policies regarding availability for the Rep side, the clubs that are putting players forward are being placed at a disadvantage.

Our second team had a bad month before Christmas rather losing their way. However they were able to put out a really strong side last week and that side would give everyone in the Intermediate Division a hard game. If we can keep the availability high then Peter Morris’s boys still have a good chance in the League. What I have noticed is the very high attendance at training and the team spirit. This will transfer into League results. A draw yesterday was disappointing but there is half a season left and clubs that put three or four results together will reap the rewards.

The 3’s had a superb season in 2006/2007 and just had not got going this season. The first two results after Christmas indicate that a revival may be under way. Not only was there that very good win against a second team in the AFA Junior Cup, but yesterday they went to Winchmore and came away with a 2-1 win. One of my gauges of how well we are doing is the results against Winchmore. They are a strong club and like Old Owens and West Wickham they are usually there or thereabouts. If you are winning at their ground then you will not be far off. Once again it is competition for places that is the key. You know when things are getting tight when Rob Moore comes training. We had 35 at training last Tuesday on a wet windy evening so people know they have to put the preparation in. Far too many people think they can go to the gym and that will be enough to play 90 minutes. It is one of the reasons why players get injured at this level because they have not prepared correctly.

The 4’s have made great strides and if they get their best side out they are a match for anyone. Apparently last Saturday they were very unfortunate not to win at Alexandra Park and with the side they had out they should have won. This Saturday they have bounced back with a 3-2 win at Carshalton and a place in the SAL Minor Cup Semi Final. Once again those people at the Cup draws keep pulling us out of the hat second and we will be away to either Polytechnic or West Wickham. It would be great to see Andy Cattell and his boys in a Cup Final and one more very good performance will do it.

So what about that all-round strength then? The 1’s are in the AFA Senior Quarter Final for the second year in a row and stand second in the SAL Senior league. The 2’s can go second in the SAL Intermediate Division 1 if they win their game in hand. The 3’s are through to the AFA Junior Quarter Final and moving up the League. The 4’s are through to the SAL Minor Cup Semi Final and can go second in the League if they win their games in hand. I am not sure we can hope for much more than that in a season but I am always looking for improvement. Final places are available and we can still go very close in three leagues. Let’s keep working hard. The availability has suddenly improved and with it better results. We can win something again this season!

Five Star Performers                                                                                   09 Feb 08

The SAL Rep team have reached the FA Carlsberg National League Systems Cup Semi Final. Five of our players Nathan Violet, Alex Ewin, Matt Kerr, Chris Kerr and Nick Stavri were in the side that completed a 3-1 win over the Dorset League in the Quarter Final. We are immensely proud that we have provided so many players to a successful SAL Rep team. This competition has caused quite a lot of disruption to our season, in terms of postponed games and free Saturdays for the remaining players. Nevertheless we have made a clear decision this season that we wanted more players to get representative experience and we have fully supported the SAL Rep team. It is a real plus for these players to come up against good players from around the country. In addition the opportunity to play against the Army, Navy, RAF, and other rep. sides can only help the confidence of our players and enhance what they get out of amateur football. Andrew Szwajkowski and Andy Pierce are two other players who have played for the successful SAL side this season and I feel that we have one or two other players who should gain selection in the next 12 months. Our defenders Greg Swindle, Matt Rolfe, and Junior Urwin have shown for several seasons that they have the ability to make the step up whilst we have a couple of midfielders in Micky Lyons and Dave Howson who I feel are as good as some of the players currently in the side.

These two squads of 14 were not the only Nottsborough players taking part in a big cup game as we had 5 players selected for the SAL Representative team in the Semi-Final of the Carlsberg National Cup for amateur leagues. Out of the whole of England the two major London leagues had made it to the semi-final at Dulwich Hamlet, which says quite a lot about the standard of London amateur football. By implication therefore, having 5 players selected says quite a lot about the standard within our own club. Unfortunately Nick Stavri had to withdraw with a hamstring strain, but Alex Ewin, Nathan Violet, Matt Kerr and Chris Kerr all started the game. Alex Ewin was the two goal hero for the SAL in their 2-0 win, although Nathan assures me that he had a hand (or foot) in both goals. The SAL has therefore booked a final against the Isle of Man League or Midland Amateur League on the 3^rd of May. The winners of this match will represent England in a match in Spain at the start of next season. Nottsborough has fully supported the SAL Rep side this season at some cost to defending our League title. I still believe it has been the right thing to do. Representative football is very good for good players and we want to encourage as many of our players as possible. Micky Lyons also recently represented Nottsborough in the AFA Select side against the Sussex League at Corinthian Casuals, along with Nathan Violet.

I chose to spend my Saturday afternoon supporting Pete Morris’s 2’s team who were top of the SAL Intermediate. The game at West Wickham was going to be difficult but another win would put even more pressure on Carshalton who were in second place but with a game in hand. Unfortunately for Peter and his talented side we did not get the run of the ball and most definitely did not deserve to lose. With Carshalton winning, the League is now out of our hands. In the first half West Wickham made the most of the conditions and deserved to be ahead at half time. They extended their lead at the start of the second half with a most fortunate second goal as a speculative shot turned into a superb pass to their right winger and his cross was turned into the net. The last 35 minutes was one of almost unremitting Nottsborough pressure as we finally started to play well. Ted Datta spurned a great chance before Nick Greene thumped the ball home from 20 yards. Ben Hughes then hit the inside of the right hand upright and saw the ball roll along the line and just past the left hand post. The WW keeper made a great save from Hughes in the last 5 minutes whilst Karl Warner put a header just wide, and Rob Hawkins flashed a shot just wide of the far post. Enough chances therefore to win the game and as in all football matches you have to take them or suffer the consequences. Nevertheless I saw enough talent there to believe Peter’s side will be stronger next season for the experience and one or two of this side will be knocking on the first team door.

It was not therefore an ideal “big” Saturday. We only picked up one trophy and we missed out at West Wickham. I am very pleased for Andy Cattell and the 4’s players. They have fully deserved their success. The 3’s have taken quite a while to get going this season after winning the Junior League last season. Now they must concentrate on finishing the League season on a high and getting into the top 3. It is perfectly possible! The 2’s have only one game left which they must win. They all need to stay fit as there will be plenty of midweek games throughout the club. The 1’s Rep players will have their big Cup Final. Finally the 1’s have the AFA Senior Final on the 12^th April to look forward to and the chance to retain their SAL League title. All heady stuff in our 20^th year.

Brian