Horsforth Fairweather FC
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HFFC 2009-10: Running to Stand Still. |
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Previous... the
2008-09 season.
Next ... the
2010-11 season.
Back: Adam Foss, Matt Smith, Kev Ferguson, Richard Horton, Simon Banoub, Andy Merifield, Jon Vernon, Simon Hinkins, Jamie Bell, Woody. Front: Sam Goodall, Chris Jones, Lee Monaghan, Barry Armstrong, Danny Murphy, Anthony Bell, John Newsome. Probably the club's most disappointing season for over a decade, but one which ended far more brightly than it had begun. The start of December found Horsforth propping up the table with not a point on the board, and our Premier Division survival threatened like it had never been before. Shocking heavy defeats at Rawdon and - especially - at home to Malt Shovel were low points of a sequence of results where we had been genuinely unlucky on occasions to earn a result, and an isolated but nevertheless quite astonishing District Cup win over Soccer City remained the only high spot of a dismal autumn. Launching a brave comeback away to AC Victoria but still going down 4-3, we finally earned a draw against St Margarets in a tense 0-0 affair, and then continued the season in our traditional hit-and-miss manner. With only nine clubs starting the campaign, and one of those dropping out (AC Victoria, ironically the week after our game against them), there was to be no relegation this year, but the indignity of finding ourselves in the bottom two will linger forever as a stain upon the proud record we enjoyed in the Wharfedale Triangle Premier Division. Among the many problems we faced and finally overcame, not the least was the increasingly high turnover rate in players. Mark Duce, such a key figure in so many of the great HFFC teams over the previous 13 years, had left to further his career elsewhere, Steve Sedgwick's appearances would be few and far between, and Phil Ridsdale's stint as goalkeeper had come to an end. Jermaine Ranger and Danny Murphy went down with long-term injuries at the start of the campaign; great things had been expected of both of them and indeed from a handful of others who never figured in the side at all. Kevin Ferguson suffered the double indignity of being beaten up and sent off against Wykebeck in the District Cup, a game that also featured the last appearance of Adam Foss for another season. Even club captain Lee Monaghan had a rare lengthy spell out injured after the Victoria game.
Horsforth turned to Andy Merifield to solve the goalkeeping question,
and the big striker adapted superbly to his new role.
Between the previous season's survivors Barry Armstrong, Simon Banoub, Jon Vernon, Fergy, Dean Herron and
a large and varied supporting cast, we muddled through in defence,
until the arrival of Andy Gough for the Maggies game finally gave us the stability we had been lacking.
Richard Horton and Lee Mon dominated the midfield in the autumn,
with Fossy also turning in some impressive displays,
but Lee's injury opened the door for Chris Markham to take over a holding role and allow the others
more freedom to join the attack.
Simon Hinkins was again the most consistent performer down the left,
while the right sided midfield spot changed hands many times before in the New Year Jamie Bell
was redeployed there from attack and accredited himself well.
Sam Goodall and Chris Jones were also regular contributors in various positions,
their versatility and ability to grab the odd goal very much part of what success the team enjoyed.
Anthony Bell was again top scorer, with John Newsome an able accomplice
though the unavailability of Alex Goodall hit us hard again.
At the back end of the season, several new midfield players were added to the roster,
including Oliver Frei, Mike Sinnott, Chris Buttery and Jake Harvey,
at least some of whom, it was hoped, would come into their own in 2010-11.
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Awards.Player of the Year - Barry Armstong. Goal of the Season - Anthony Bell (v. Yeadon Westfield away in the league). Top Goal Scorer - Anthony Bell (8). Club Colours.First choice - Green shirt with single black stripe, black shorts and socks .
Change - Yellow shirts, green shorts and socks,
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Previous... the
2008-09 season.
Next ... the
2010-11 season.
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