PAST SEASONS
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UNDER 14’S 1999/2000 WHAT A SEASON.
This season started full of hope and expectancy. Two early wins against ASC Strikers and Peacehaven seemed to justify this hope. Saltdean then dumped us out of the county cup but hey we always get knocked out of all cups early. Hangleton paid for our cup defeat by getting beat 21-0 in our next league game. Fate decreed that our first round K.O.cup match would be against Hangleton, we won 15-0. Another league win against Lewes Youth was followed by our first set back of the season. We lost against Old Town Boys, one team we had never beaten, with three minutes left and losing 3-2 we won a corner, the corner was taken and just as the ball was going in the back of the net the ref blew time, unbelievable. Our next match was in the K.O. cup against Falmer Flyers and we were narrowly beaten. A home league win against Peacehaven set up a top of the table clash at Saltdean. The Saltdean match was an acrimonious affair with The Hitman being sent off and Saltdean winning 3-2. As the year ended ASC Strikers visited fortress Rottingdean and left with nothing. On games played we were top of the league but Saltdean had games in hand.
Our first match of the year was against Thistle Youth, we were leading 5-3 with only 5 minutes to go only for Thistle to pull a draw out of the bag. Two more wins against Hangleton and Lewes Youth kept us in touch with Saltdean who were now top of the league. What we really needed was a miracle to happen and Saltdean to lose a match. Our prays were answered when against the odds Peacehaven beat Saltdean, now we knew it was in our hands to win the league. Unbeaten Thistle Youth visited us and we gave them a 6-0 hiding, their behaviour after the match suggested that they needed another sort of hiding. Langley Point were the next team to visit us , this game was the first round of the challenge cup. Langley are a first division side and with 5 minutes left we were losing 3-1, when Pocket-Rocket Watts scored a brilliant solo winning goal with the last kick of the match we had witnessed the greatest comeback of all time and fortress Rottingdean was still intact. THE BIG ONE Saltdean visited us knowing that victory for them would give them the title. 2-0 to Saltdean at half time did not look promising , 30 minutes and 4 goals to us later things looked fantastic. Our last league match , if we win we win the title, the opposition Old Town Boys! Every team that visited us left with the bitter taste of defeat except Old Town Boys who held us to a 2-2 draw. With Saltdean winning their last match a play off was going to be needed to decide the champions. The next match in the Challenge Cup gave us a trip to Old Town Boys and..... we won 1-0 , we beat Old Town for the first time ever and for the first time ever we had reached the semi-final of a cup competition.
Our semi-final was to be against Woodingdean and this would be our hardest match of the season. Although we lost this match 5-0 the worst thing about this match was the abmissmal ........... 3-0 would have been a fairer result and on another day the ......... might have brought his brain. The final match of an exciting season was the play off for the league title against Saltdean. Rottingdean expected every young man to do his duty and as the 4-0 scoreline suggests the lads did not let us down. Everybody went back to the clubhouse to celebrate and man of the celebrations was Mark the manager.
A few words for Rottingdeans second team, they are of course the supporters. The regular team are Terry Andrews, Carol and Alan the drifters grandparents, Mick Hide, Travis and Mrs Hulse, Leroy’s mum and granddad, Mr Imms, Russell, Kevin and Mrs Watts and of course myself. I must confess that I only go so that I can run the line and take a bucket load of abuse from Mark. Come rain or shine we are there cheering on the lads, most times we appear to be the home team such are our numbers and vocal support.
The most improved player of the year in my opinion is a two horse race between The Cat and Bulldog Imms. Ian The Cat Beckman has improved immensely this season and his display in the play off displayed immense maturity. Dave Bulldog Imms has grown in confidence and whereas last season he would have given up the chase once beaten, this season he keeps on snapping at the heels of opponents and chasing back. Everybody has improved this season but these two members of the team in my opinion have improved the most. A special mention should go to The Rock, Pocket-Rocket Watts, Smiler Rudd and I’m Getting Out Clark. As a unit they have improved beyond recognition, they talk to each other and cover the entire back line with confidence and determination, their finest 30 minutes came in the 4-2 win over Saltdean. As for player of the year a case could be made for every member of
UNDER
14’S PLAY OFF
ROTTINGDEAN
4 SALTDEAN 0
First
half we were playing up hill and against the wind. We started brightly
Golden-Head Walker had a good shot blocked. Saltdean were trying to make their
advantage count but try as they may The Rock, Smiler Rudd, Pocket-Rocket Watts
and I’m Getting Out Clark put up a wall of steel. Saltdean were being reduced
to long shots that the Cat left to go for a goal kick to waste time. The Hitman
had two good shots go just wide. Golden-Head Walker and The Drifter were playing
out of their skins. The Cat then stopped the ball just inside his area and with
no need to pick the ball up until challenged it took Saltdean over 30 seconds to
challenge him. The crowd were then treated to a sight only seen once a season,
I’m Getting Out Clark made a
headed clearance. With time running out Saltdean hit the bar and then I’m
Getting Out Clark made a goal line clearance. The first-half finished just as we
wanted it to , we had not conceded a goal and spirits were high.
The
siege of Saltdean began from the off. Leroy Kyrenhoff started off by shooting at
goal from the kick off. A free kick by The Hitman whizzed just past the post.
Two minutes into the half we won a corner. The Hitman floated in a delicate
kick, Golden-Head Walker rose like the phoenix from the ashes headed the ball
goalwards, the Saltdean goal-keeper was left clutching thin air and the ball was
in the back of the net. The Rottingdean supporters went wild with delight and
demanded more. Rottingdean were relentless, Saltdean could only boot the ball
out of their half and ready themselves for the next onslaught. A good long throw
from Leroy was met by the Golden-head but this time the header was just wide.
Shaun Hulse then rocketed in a good shot that went just wide. Some lax defending
by Saltdean combined with great battling by Matty Nicholls resulted in a well
deserved goal. The sweet smell of success was getting stronger by the minute.
Bulldog Imms came on for Matty Nicholls. After 25 minutes The Hitman won the
ball just inside the Saltdean half, he mesmerized three Saltdean defenders
pulled back the trigger and fired a rocket shot into the top of the Saltdean
goal. Sprout came on for Leroy and Deano came on for Lee. As the half came to a
close a throw in was won by the Saltdean corner flag, with Golden-Head taking it
every one was called up as this was as good as a corner. Golden-Head threw the
ball deep into the Saltdean goal area, the ball was only cleared to the edge of
the area and on the volley with all his might Shaun Hulse nearly broke the back
of the net with a cannonball shot. The match ended 4-0 and the celebrations were
long and loud. Many thanks to the extra supporters who came along and made sure
that our support was far superior to Saltdean’s.
THE
WINNING TEAM: THE CAT,THE ROCK, SMILER RUDD, POCKET-ROCKET WATTS, I’M GETTING
OUT CLARK, THE DRIFTER, SHAUN HULSE, GOLDEN-HEAD WALKER, LEROY KYRENHOFF, MATTY
NICHOLLS AND THE HITMAN. SUBS: SPROUT, BULLDOG IMMS, DEAN CALVO AND LANCEY-BOY.
WELL
DONE BOYS
CHAMPIONS