Meg FC - Season review 2005 - 2006
'“ESPRIT de CORPS”
(A strong sense of enthusiasm and dedication to a common goal that unites a team)
Club History | Team Albums | Management Team | Team Archive
2005 - 2006 Season Review
Metheringham FC Review 2005-6
So we came to the end of another eventful and entertaining season in the history of Metheringham Football Club. In a couple of months it will all start again, after England has won the World Cup though! – sorry I just fell into a dream then.
After last seasons excellent results where we saw one side Champions and three others promoted, we didn’t think that this one could be as good but at the end it turned out to be its equal. After a wait of 33 years, the Saturday XI won the Village Trophy for a record fourteenth time in the competitions 101 year history. Winning it last time back in 1973 was clear in the mind of Club Secretary Pete Ford because he was in that winning side as the final took place 12 hours before his daughter Michelle was born). This time around they beat Plough Skellingthorpe at Sincil Bank 1-0 which capped the season for the team. For the Sunday 1st XI they couldn’t quite match the height of last season although they did reach the semi final of the Kelly Read Cup (the Sunday equivalent of the Village Trophy) only to lose 3-1 at Cherry Willingham. In league action, playing at the highest level, namely the Premier League, the side competed well but becoming draw specialists saw them finish just below halfway. As for the Sunday 2nd XI, who had finished in a mid table position in Division Two the previous season, this time they were vying for the title. Unfortunately, with two games left, when they had the title in their grasps, they went almost a month without a game, which saw them fail to win both matches and have to settle for runners-up spot. Despite this, next season they will be playing in Division One, which is a great achievement for a village club, as they will have teams in both the Premier and First Division.
Come next season the club will be introducing a third team which will compete in one of the lower divisions which will be a good platform for youngsters coming through the club’s youth policy. Talking of the youth teams at Under 18’s this season’s team was made up generally of the previous seasons’ U16’s and playing against sides who were a year older they acquitted themselves well to finish in a mid table position. This augurs well for next season as they should retain most of the squad which will be further strengthened by players from the current U16’s. Three players from this team made the transition into Senior football with Matt Robinson and Jon Miller both playing some 12 games for the Sunday 1st team, while skipper Vince Harley was a part of the winning Saturday XI in the Village Trophy final on Sincil Bank. Moving down the age scales Dave Atkin’s Under 16 had moved up a league after their championship season, the previous year. Despite struggling from a lack of fit players, due to numerous injuries they finished a creditable 5th, with several of his players making their senior debuts. At Under 14’s Lee Adamson’s side too, had moved up a division, having finished up runners-up the season before. With the club’s hotshot Rikki Smith in the team they looked like they would go straight through this division as champions but in the end were pipped for top spot and again had to settle for second place. Rikki finished the season by scoring no less that 54 goals in just 20 games, and this included 12 in one game and a total of 12 hat-tricks. Both our U13’s and U11’s struggled to reach the dizzy heights of last season but hopefully they will be back on the winning trail next season although the U11’s did reach the semi final of their League Cup competition. Our U10’s side did not get off to a good start but as the season progressed they improved immensely to finish in the top half of their division.
Each season for the club we have had the pleasure of seeing new managers join us and this season has been no exception. At U9’s we have welcomed back two ex-players, Paul Wooler and Nige Beck and together we Mark Burrell they have steered their youngsters to the exceptional height of a League Play-off final in what for most of their players was their first experience at a competitive level. Although they lost the match they still finished league runners-up in their first season which is truly fantastic. To finish off we have to say a big thank you to old stalwart John Haresign and Matt Petch (who is one of our current Under 18’s and has played over 250 times at youth level for us). Matt has not only given up his time to help John train the throng of youngsters who turn up every Sunday morning but he has also completed his F.A. Level Two coaching badge, a badge that few professional players ever achieve. Well done to him. Next season he is taking an U9’s team into the league and John will also be managing an Under 8’s. For all junior girls out there the club is looking to get a Girl’s team up and running next season and Matt is willing to coach them so please parents if you have a dead keen footballing daughter let us know. Pete Ford (Club Secretary) 01526 320016