Excellent turnout : Rich, Les, Mark, Jimmer, Jim, Matt Pat, Dave Q, Neil W and apologies from Jack, Carl, Gaz, Batty, Tom, Tom P, Bertie, Swifty and a bulletin from Colin who may be back for the new season. I introduced the meeting by reminding people that his 60th birthday is pending so it may be time for someone else to take over as manager. Much as I love the team I don't think I'll want to do the arranging if I can't get on the pitch.
We were very pleased about the new kit and are still solvent so proposed £10 only subs this season - Les will confirm. The debate for a re-branding ie name change but we won't be doing anything official before the start of the season.
There's further emphasis on the league's fairplay (Corinthian) ethos so a grading for the opposition must be given when a result is posted. Teams will also be penalised for posting results later so please feel free to remind or hassle me to do this and also to let me your rating of the opposition after matches. I will also ask the league to give Les access to the form.
We used the report below to enjoy some of the memories of a successful 1st season in the 3rd division, drank beer and looked forward impatiently to the new season.
We hope to have a Curry Cup pre-season friendly.
Awards were announced but not presented as not engraved yet (see below).
Real Wood FC Season 2014-15
August
31/8/2014
Cup 1st Round SCS 6 vs 5 Real Wood FC (goals from Jim, Felix, Mark, Steve, Sam. Man-of
the-match Rob)
September
7/9/2014
Farmhouse Nailsea 3 v 2 Real Wood FC (Goals from Gaz, Felix, Man-of-the
match Louis)
October
5/10/2014
Westbury Wanderers 4 v 6 Real Wood FC (goals from Jimmer (3), Jim, Les, Dan. Man-of-the
match Jimmer)
November
16/11/2014
Real Wood FC 2 v 3 Axbridge Saxons @ Frys (2 goals from Man-of-the-Match, Batty)
December
14/12/2014
Real Wood FC 0 v 0 Henleaze Corinthians
2015
February
1/2/2015
Real Wood FC 3 v 5 Rapid Viagra (Jimmer 2, Felix 1, Man-of-the-Match, Tom P)
22/2/2015
Real Wood FC 0 v 2 Avon Retreads (Swifty & Tom shared the Man-of-the-Match
award.)
April
12/4/2015 Real Wood FC 0 v 1 Redland
Ramblers –(M-o-t-M Gaz)
19/4/2015 Redstar Redland 2 v 2 Real
Wood FC - (Jimmer,
Carl M-o-t-M Matt Pat & Swifty)
21/4/2015 Banjo Munchenbadback 1 v 2 Real
Wood FC - (Jimmer
Mark M-o-t-M Swifty)
Summary:
Goals
Jimmer 8
Felix 3
2 each for; Batty & Mark
1 each for; Carl Dan Gaz Jim Sam
Steve Les
Man of the Match
Rob, Louis, Jimmer, Batty, Tom,
Swifty/Tom, Gaz, Matt Pat/Swifty, Swifty
Manager’s Report:
We started
the season by going out in the cup to SCS who finished 5th in
Division 1 by the odd goal in 11, a thriller!
Then
resplendent in our new kit we lost by a last minute goal to Nailsea who had
beaten us 5-0 the previous season. We were only able to field a minimal team so
this was a great result. We then produced a huge squad and a terrific
performance to beat Westbury Wanderers 4-6 where Jimmer showed us he was
prepared to step up to the mark and produce goals. A great season and a real
tragedy that he’s injured but a justly deserved Golden Boot.
1 point from
a loss to Axbridge where we started with 10 men. Batty brought all his family
to show that he no longer had to wear fascist shirts and to show his pride put
in a man-of-the-match winning performance and scored a couple of goals. Then a
point in the Curry Cup (0-0 vs Corinthians) and 2 defeats in February to Avon
Retreads and Rapid Viagra (the eventual top 2 teams in our division) meant we
entered April with a job still to do. We missed opportunities by losing to
Redland Ramblers (by 1 goal) and drawing with Redstar Redland by conceding with
the last kick of the match. So we had to beat Banjo and thankfully we never
doubted it and goals from Jimmer and Mark proved that when the result is
absolutely vital we can produce a result.
We avoided
relegation by goal difference.
Twice beaten
by 2 goals (and once won by 2 goals)
2 draws and
twice lost by the odd goal.
Finally in
the last match of the season (as with last season) we turned the tables and
Mark nicked us the odd vital goal which kept us up. Alongside Les’s chip these
were nominated as Goal-of-the-season
Significantly
we suffered most when we had a bare 11.
I think we
were surprised to be drawn into a relegation battle after so many very good
performances but I think we discovered that there were no weak sides in the
division and all had some good players. Lessons to be learned; win the games we
drew and learn to finish games off either by getting that extra goal or by not
conceding late in the game. Simples.
Team news:
Shame we
haven’t seen Neil or Bill in midfield this season especially as Neil shelled
out his subs and never played.
Great to have
Dave Q back and showing us some nimble footwork which helped us out in his new
defensive role.
We must thank
Bertie and Tom for introducing Dan and Tom P who have both been excellent
introductions.
Special
mention to Jimmer. With last season’s Golden Boot not being available much
goals had to come from someone and Jimmer showed he was capable of finishing
when other people provide such as in the Banjo match from Jim’s corner but
Jimmer also put in massive efforts hassling defenders and creating his own
breaks. Such a terrible pun in the light of his current injury. Having said all
that Felix still chipped in 3 goals from not many appearances and we also had 9
other goal-scorers which from 10 matches (9 league, 1 cup) is impressive.
Les,
returning from injury started well and got better throughout the season. Batty
though not present enough performed brilliantly and Les and Batty have both
been nominated for most improved player though many of us feel they’ve always
been that good!
Tom was
brilliant as always despite the distraction of his new baby daughter. Tom had
the support of Jack who had another excellent season but sadly is currently
injured so we hope he’ll be back for the new season.
And Swifty
who has consistently been praised for his tremendous contributions with
man-of-the-match performances in the final 2 matches to retain our 3rd
Division status. Matt Pat has been praised every match for his fantastic,
tireless work as a holding midfield player and has put in full matches when he
was barely well-enough to turn out at all. On top of that Matt has continued
with the thankless task of organising the Thursday 5s so earns the award of Clubman
of the Year.
Lots of love
also for Tom P, Jim, Rich for consistently good performances and effort and to
Mark for keeping us up however the award of Player of the Year will be shared
by Swifty and Matt Pat.
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