Following our relegation last year along with Bristol UWE B, the South Glos. first XI were determined to have a real go at getting promoted back to where we think we should be playing, BNWS 1.
We had a competitive Summer League in 2007 against some good sides as usual.
The squad and first team faces changed slightly for this season, with younger players like Tom Gilbert and Steve Payne involved. Dave Spink was also available more after a disrupted season the previous year (fancy going all that way to watch England get tonked in the Ashes!!!).
The season started at Golden Hill in September with a comfortable win over Westbury E, 3-0 the score with Craig, Sam Speller and Steve Payne notching.
A controversial defeat at Old Bristolians B set the tone for the season; South Glos and OB’s were clearly going to be slugging it out at or near the top.
This game was referred to at several key points later in the season; “Come on boys, remember OB’s!” was heard intermittently through the season, whenever we were not doing what we should have been or getting involved with opposition players or umpires!
Following a comfortable win over North Bristol at the start of October, we welcomed Fry’s to Golden Hill, and having already identified them as potential challengers, we ended the game nervously, conceding a late equaliser.
Another good win at Robinsons D away (but @ Golden Hill!!) featured a Steve Payne hat-trick as he took over the top of the scoring charts.
Somerset Gryphons arrived next at GH, with a team full of “experienced” and I must say one or two cantankerous old men. One such player was hell bent on damaging Nick Seggers. They seriously frustrated us and we had to come from two down to draw, their long range “no midfield” tactics really really dull, but effective.
November arrived and we won six-nil at Yate, with Lewis and Payne getting a brace each, our best display of the season so far.
Another 3 points at Golden Hill as OB’s C were the victims.
We then experienced the new water based pitch at Bristol UWE with no water on it, resulting in a bobbly equaliser for the home side that they managed at the death, denying us victory.
Ten wins on the spin were then to follow, before we played UWE again;
The first win was West Glos at home, a 6-2 win featuring a Spink hat-trick.
Decembers victims were Imperial away, where we experienced the most horrendous downpour of hail I have even seen (and felt), requiring a 5 minute stoppage, and Westbury away, before we entered the Christmas break.
We knew at this point that we would face the other two top three teams, OB’s and Fry’s, in the first three games of January.
OB’s were first up and revenge was on the agenda. We went 2-0 up and were totally bossing the game, before a lucky goal for OB’s set the nerves jangling, but we held on for a 2-1 win. Top of the league.
A less than impressive 1-0 away win at North Bristol (again in driving rain and freezing wind), led us to an away game at Fry’s, who lay third in the league.
Dave Spink scored two great goals and again we found ourselves 2-0 up and cruising. Another slightly generous goal against made us nervous again, but we held on comfortably for the win that put 6 clear points between 1st and 3rd.
It was the game that really decided the promotion places. It was also the game that ended captain Irwins season, with a football-sized ankle as a result of a nasty twist.
February brought Robinsons to GH, and they were dispatched with minimum fuss, 3-0.
We then went to Clevedon to face the cantankerous old grippers at Somerset Gryphons. 3-0 at half time, with Spinks murdering their back line with pace. Again, two goals back from the opposition as we went to sleep left us hanging on a bit. The final whistle was welcome, and the game will be remembered by me for the quite disgusting swearing of a home umpire during the game!!!
Yate were dispatched 5-1 at home after we fell a goal behind for only the second time all season.
We then had an early morning inspection at Failand as we encountered a 0930hrs pushback at OB’s C.
Tom and Dave Spinks fired the bullets in a 3-1 win, and I was thinking “League Champions”.
That was win number ten in a row, and as UWE arrived at GH on the first day of March, we knew they were the toughest remaining opposition, and so it proved as we failed to take a host of first half chances, letting the youngsters into the game late on, and they obliged with (another) late equaliser.
Badminton Girls school was the very pleasant venue of our penultimate League match, as we demolished 10 man West Glos 6-0, with Spink bagging another hat-trick, and Nick Butler a brace of the softest goals you will ever see.
We were now confirmed as being promoted, with Fry’s four points adrift of us with 3 points left available to them.
OB’s B were a point behind us, and this remained so following the final League game of the 2007/2008 season, fittingly at home, against Imperial.
They tried to spoil our party with some disgusting behaviour. I am convinced that some of this team should not be in the community, let alone with a 3’ stick in their hands.
They started with ten men, and seemed to blame us for it.
One “player” was obviously a lumberjack, trying to chop anyone down who ran past him, and eventually one of them was given a yellow card. Four or five refused to shake anyone’s hand and I heard their captain call one of our Umpires a cheating ******* to his face during the game.
Hopefully, they will be thoroughly ashamed when they grow up.
Anyway, we spanked them 6-2 and were crowned Champions!!!
WELL DONE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED AT THE CLUB, ESPECIALLY ANDY IRWIN AND OUR TOP CHICK SUPPORTER, MILLY.
My Player of the Season is Nick Seggers without a doubt. He is a very good player and I for one am delighted he chooses not to play at a much higher level, and stay with us.
Dave Spink has also been a star this season, with 24 goals and pace to burn.
Matt Maddelena is also a star in the making. He will play comfortably at University level and I wish him well.
Tim