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LOBFC NEWSLETTER
SEASON 2002-2003
Chairman’s
Report
One of the most enjoyable and rewarding seasons for years. Our
two strong Lancing Old Boys football sides can be proud of their
achievements. The 1st XI finishing a very creditable third place
in the Premier division of the Arthurian League and semi-finalists
of the Arthur Dunn Cup. The 2nd XI finished as champions of Division
3, for the first time since 1974-75 and quarter-finalists of the
Junior Dunn.
Great credit must go to Dave Gurney and Lee Taylor for turning
around the fortunes of the 1st XI. Both on the field and off it
they led by example and I am delighted they got the rewards for
all of their hard work. Last season was one of the toughest leagues
I have seen, with all 10 teams capable of beating anyone on their
day. The mere fact that the two teams relegated were Chigwell and
Repton said it all. Chigwell who boast one of the best records in
the Premier League over the past 15 years and were Arthur Dunn cup
winners in 2002. Repton who, believe it or not, were the reigning
Champions of the division. Losing the semi-final of the Arthur Dunn
Cup in injury time to Charterhouse in the centenary year was a bitter
blow.
Congratulations to the 2nd XI for becoming champions of Division
Three for the first time since 1974-75. Their secret was competition
for places, which ensured that every week they were able to field
strong sides. Two fine goalkeepers, disciplined defence, a hard
working and creative midfield and two lads up front (Luke Bodkin
and Phil White) who scored over 20 goals between them.
With success on the field, the club had a stable year off it. I
must thank each member of the committee for their hard work in running
the club so smoothly. We are recognised by the Arthurian League
to be one of the top clubs administratively.
Once again, our annual dinner in March was another huge success
at the Radisson Hotel in Portman Square, with over 120 Old Boys
and guests attending. Neil Grainger spoke superbly on behalf of
the club and Dr Harry Brunjes was a fabulous guest speaker. The
Tim Buckley award was presented to Jeremy Taylor for all his valued
contribution to the club over the past four years as our President.
Tom Maberley collected the award as 1st XI player of the year and
Phil White as 2nd XI. Our thanks must go to Nick Evans and Nick
Rimmer, and especially to Simon Kelsey, for all their efforts in
organising a superb evening once again.
Looking forward, the club must continue to progress. We are realistic
about the forthcoming season and if we could match last season’s
efforts then it will be a major achievement. Numberswise we are
down. Unfortunately, we have lost a couple of key lads to overseas
business: Dave Gurney for half the season and Nick Hayday until
March. We have also lost Phil White and Will Rum to work commitments
and Luke Bodkin and Jordan Shriharen to University.
The Roman Abramovich millions have filtered down the line and are
affecting us greatly. Chelsea have bought the home ground that we
have rented at Cobham and we therefore started the new season at
a ground in Roehampton. We will, however, be moving our home games
back to a different area of the playing fields at Cobham which has
escaped Chelsea’s clutches. We intend to make the move by
mid November. In addition, between September and March the club
holds a weekly training session on the Astroturf at Battersea Park
on a Wednesday night between 8pm and 9pm. New faces are always welcome.
In the first round of The Arthur Dunn Cup this year we have a
favourable home draw against Wellingborough and the game will be
played on either Saturday 6 December or Saturday 13 December. Kick
off will be at 2.00pm at Lancing College. The Annual Dinner has
been pencilled in for Friday 19 March 2004 at the SAS Radisson Hotel
in Portman Square, London W1 with further details available on the
website in due course.
Please do look at the club website www.lobfc.co.uk for details
of the club matches throughout the season and we look forward to
welcoming your support and enjoying a drink afterwards.
Alastair Mercer
1st XI Captain’s Report
Having avoided relegation in our last game of the previous season,
the 1stXI would probably admit to the fact that they were happy
just to be starting the new campaign as a Premiership side. Having
said that, with the addition of a regularly playing Will Rum, and
that of Tom Maberly - who, in his first full season, deservedly
went on to win the player of the year award - things were looking
quite rosy. A convincing 4-1 victory against the school on OL day
led to the opening fixture against Eton a week later being contested
by a LOB side oozing optimism.
That first league game finished 3-2 in favour of Lancing, which
sparked an uncanny run of results. Having won seven out of our last
eight games the previous season (to secure safety), we won seven
out of our first eight games this time around, leaving us sitting
an astonishing nine points clear at the top of the table. Good wins
at home and away to Chigwell, as well as beating early season pace-setters
Westminster 2-0, and achieving the same score line away to Charterhouse
- where the Rum brothers combined to score arguably one of our goals
of the season - helped us maintain something of a roll. Travelling
to Brentwood and returning with all three points meant that by the
time we had disposed of Repton by three goals to two in early December,
the Arthurian Premiership table made very pleasant reading for all
those associated with the club. Our one slip was a 2-0 defeat away
to the eventual champions Forest, where I believe, in true Alex
Ferguson style, we were unlucky not to come away with a point -
their second goal coming from a last minute break-away, after they
had spent the majority of the second half resisting our advances
for an equaliser.
Our Arthur Dunn first round match away to Harrow, was the most
exciting game that I have been involved in since I joined the club.
On a bitterly cold afternoon, we produced a stunning comeback to
snatch victory, by what was now becoming a familiar score line,
3-2. No less than 6 matches we contested ended in the same result.
Having fallen two goals behind early in the second half, Lancing
looked to be heading out of the competition at the first hurdle,
for the second season in a row. Dave Gurney brought on Alex Rum
and gradually the game began to change. Alex’s appearances
had so far been limited, due to his commitment to keeping the streets
of South West London crime-free, but he made up for lost time here,
scrambling home the first around the seventy minute mark. With five
minutes remaining, and with Lancing still trailing 2-1, Tom Maberly
picked the ball up in his right back position and decided that he
was the man to turn this game on its head. What followed was a stunning
run that took him past three or four opponents and, after a neat
one-two on the edge of their area, a sweetly struck first time shot
which nestled in the back of the net, leading to raucous celebration.
With what must have been only seconds remaining, Harrovians on and
off the pitch, were left open mouthed in disbelief, as Alex Rum
fired a brilliant near-post winner to make sure discussion of the
ins and outs of this match continued late into the evening.
The next round saw us drawn away to Brentwood, where we emerged
victorious again, winning, yep, 3-2. A memorable performance from
Toby Windridge along with a welcome appearance by Gary Toft strengthened
our attack significantly. Nick Hayday and Tim Kemp stepped in admirably
at the back in the absence of Dave Gurney and Ben Evans, and an
impressively strong defensive display meant that goals from Gary,
Ali Mercer and Nick Taylor saw us into the semi-final against Charterhouse
in early March. It was our home tie, and the match proved to be
a very tense affair on the Upper field. Although always a pleasure
to return to the college grounds to play, this time around was a
disappointing visit. With the sides locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes
(Goalkeeper James Butcher making a string of game-saving stops in
the process), and Lancing having lost Dave Gurney, Adam Pierce and
Ali Mercer to season-ending injuries, extra-time produced all the
action. Charterhouse took the lead, only to see Will Rum equalise
before the first period was out. With minutes remaining, and a replay
looming, Charterhouse pinched a place in the final with an untouchable
drive from around 25 yards out. It was an agonising end to an otherwise
fascinating cup run.
Unfortunately, in between our performances in the Dunn, we had
started to let our league form dip. Bad weather, amongst other things,
meant that we had a gap of a month or so over the festive period
without playing. Our first fixture in the New Year came as late
as 18th January, and was against Forest. A victory was needed to
ensure we stayed in the race for the title, but the Essex school’s
alumni proved a very strong and consistent side and we succumbed
to a 4-0 home defeat. An unavoidable lack of consistent availability
meant that we then managed to win only two out of our remaining
ten games, and we gradually slipped out of contention. Forest went
on to win the league by ten points, losing just the one game in
the process - and that coming after they were crowned champions.
It says a lot about the progress we had made in such a short time,
when I say that we were disappointed to finish a very commendable
third, on goal difference behind Brentwood.
James Butcher had a tremendous first full season in the Lancing
goal. Dave Gurney led the side well alongside Justin Davis in the
centre of defence, which I like to think I bolstered on my return
from a knee injury picked up the previous season. With Tom Maberly
impressing on the right, the evergreen Ben Evans patrolled the left
with his usual dominance, whilst the central midfield pairing of
Adam Pierce and Nick Taylor was fast becoming one of the most effective
in the league. Pete Alcock and Simon Lees continued to produce quality
performances week in, week out on the flanks - although the latter’s
versatility was highlighted by his appearance (at some point) in
every outfield position. Up front, Will Rum, Toby Windridge, Alex
Dodsworth and Charlie Martin all contributed greatly to the scoring
charts. Simon Brown had also started the season well until a knee
injury picked up in November unfortunately ruled him out for the
rest of the year. Ali Mercer, Ben Copithorne, Ed Davies, Tim Kemp
and Nick Hayday were all called upon on numerous occasions to slot
in comfortably where needed.
All in all, this was a very satisfactory season for the 1stXI.
As the familiar football adage goes, had we been offered a top three
finish together with a semi-final appearance in the Dunn, on the
eve of that first game against Eton, we would without doubt have
“taken it”. One of the factors that I find most appealing
about belonging to LOBFC is the team spirit that exists all year
round throughout the club, come rain or shine, and this definitely
added to what was an enjoyable nine months or so. Everyone involved
should be very proud of their efforts.
Lee Taylor
2nd XI Captain’s Report
Having put out two teams against the school on OL day with mixed
results, it was decided to have a trial for those who wished to
represent the LOBs 2nd XI to allow the joint captaincy of Mssrs
Mercer and White to have a closer look at the squad in action. Certainly
not something that happens every season.
The squad was strengthened by a number of new faces, all of whom
played a big part throughout the season. Heyday swept with authority,
Jordan added some flair to an already robust midfield, Spink and
Poulain added a huge presence to the midfield, and finally Bodkin
and Williams took turns to fill the boots of 'Bullet', sadly lost
to paternal duties.
The league campaign got off to a cracking start at home against
Haileybury, who had been promoted, having won their division. A
3-1 victory (Alcock 2, White 1), had us topping the table....but
could we last the season?
We then entertained Forest 2's at home, and as I seem to remember,
we retired to the dressing room somewhat dismayed and deflated at
losing 2-1 to the team who would probably be our biggest rivals
in our quest for that ever elusive silverware. An excursion two
weeks later to play Old Egbertonians saw us out of the OB Cup. Surely
our season hadn't fizzled out already?
The following week, saw a fantastic performance, in the 1st round
of the Junior Dunn, putting four past Bradfield on their very wet
home pitch (Bodkin 2, M Kemp, White). It was a fantastic display,
especially by the midfield who challenged everything (winning most!),
and distributed the ball in very difficult circumstances efficiently,
accurately, and effectively. This was a great result that re-established
the belief that the 2's would have a great season.
Two weeks on and Forest 3's came to visit us at Cobham. A superb
mix in midfield, combining youth, Jordan, new blood, Spink, with
a few of the more experienced representatives of the club, Bailey
and Mercer alongside. Cunningham sat comfortably in front of the
ever-miserly defence, Hannam, T Kemp and Heyday. It was a fantastic
display of possession, and its importance. A 4-1 victory resulted.
Three points had been added and a team (and three subs), went home
happy and beginning to believe that we should be title contenders.
Another week off, was followed by the away fixture against Forest
2's, who had turned us over at home. A hugely important fixture,
realised by all, including Goulstone, who apparently had enjoyed
an early night. To prove his doubters, Goulstone had one of his
best games in goal, saving a (rather dubious) penalty, and barking
instructions constantly for 90 minutes to all in front of him. Bodkin
scored his 5th in four games, and goals from Mercer and White had
the Essex lads arguing amongst themselves. At a guess, I would think
that they were unable to comprehend just how different a performance
this was by the LOBs 2nd XI, compared to the home fixture. But they
were playing a team who were confident, keen to work hard for each
other, and fuelled by belief in ourselves and each other.
A draw away at Haileybury, however, bought us back down to earth.
If we were to contend for the title, it wasn't just going to happen,
we had to make it happen. Cholms 3's were then invited down to Cobham,
and comprehensively beaten 7-2, which again lifted our spirits in
the run up to the Christmas break.
A month off, was followed by another trip up to Essex, to face
Forest 3's, and Harari donning the gloves to yet again 'help out'
the 2's. Probably the most physical of our encounters (Taylor will
vouch for that!) saw the LOBs take home all the points (winning
3-2), after a very disciplined, tireless performance.
The following week, saw the 2's dumped out of the Junior Dunn,
by Eton 2's, of the division above, a shame, but this meant that
we could really concentrate on our quest for the title.
Five league games remained. The title was achievable. The introduction
of Arthurian league websites, meant that we were all able to check
our progress, and position in the league, and to check the results
of our rivals in our chase for the title. With only one loss in
our run-in against Bradfield 2's (possibly something to do with
the LOBFC dinner the night before), the 2's added an impressive
+11 to their goal difference, and 12 points in their closing games.
In doing so, the team secured the Division 3 title for the first
time in 29 years.
It is incredibly difficult to name everyone who donned a 2nd XI
shirt this season, but to all those who did, 'Thank you'. Thank
you all for working so very hard for each other, as a result, the
team spirit, both in the changing room, and on the pitch was fantastic.
It was a tremendous season, unfortunately probably my last for the
LOBs, but one that I will cherish for many years to come.
Phil White
KEY DATES FOR THE SEASON 2003-2004
The Arthur Dunn Cup: the 1stXI will be at home to Wellingborough
on either Saturday 6 December or Saturday
13 December. Kick off will be 2.00pm at Lancing College.
(Please confirm details on the website or with the committee).
The Annual Dinner has been pencilled in for Friday 19 March
2004 at the SAS Radisson Hotel in Portman Square, London
W1 with further details available on the website
Refer to the club website www.lobfc.co.uk
for full details of the club matches and activities throughout the
season.
Click here
for last season's final league tables
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