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End of season review
Brendan Wilson2 Jun 2016 - 11:02
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By Paul Latham
A season that could have been, should have been, but eventually turned into a has been, finishes with the Colliery finishing in 5th position in the northern section north division of the central Midlands league. In February this year we were top, although Glapwell did have games in hand, and a top two finish and promotion looked odds on to happen. Somehow we managed to throw it all away from the 13th February by winning just four of the remaining eleven games, losing five and drawing the other two. Simply not good enough and when you think one of those victories was over a very poor Welbeck side then you start to look for answers. Number one and the main reason has got to be the number of players we have used this season. Fifty plus is far to many, just how Bren is expected to name a settled side is impossible. A few seasons ago I did a similar exercise as this and wrote a small piece on each player. That season we had the same keeper, same right back for all games, the majority of the side stayed together and we used under twenty players. Yes they were not the greatest side, but they had a team spirit and togetherness, something that is sadly missing from the current side. How many turn up when they are injured to watch their team mates, to be around their team mates in the dressing room? You just do not see it and regarding training!- the numbers attending in the final months were a disgrace. Do all our squad think that they cannot improve, that they are the finished article? Off the field a lot of people have put a great deal of effort in getting the ground up to north east counties football, but in the end to no avail and the efforts and attitude of some of the players has to be questioned.
It all started so well, the first game away to Ollerton ended in a draw, a game we should have won easily failed to take our chances and were pegged back in the 90th minute. Three wins on the trot were to follow including an impressive 4-0 away win over Phoenix, before our first defeat of the season 8-3 ( after leading 3-2 ) away to Glapwell. A cup victory over Bentley 9-8 on penalties got us back on winning ways, before a draw with Thorne saw another couple of dropped points. Two narrow cup exits to Hallam and Swallownest saw us out of the vase and Sheffield senior cup respectively, before a run of five consecutive victories put our promotion push back on target. Then we suffered a second league defeat 3-0 again at the hands of Glapwell, and another cup defeat away to Bulwell. Five more league victories were to follow, one, the 6-2 win over Appleby Frodingham, which was achieved with playing with ten men for an hour. But then a week after this impressive result the wheels began to fall off. A 1-0 home defeat to Askern, a side we had beaten 5-2 just two weeks earlier, saw one of the worst forty five minutes produced by the Colliery in quite a while. Although we did win our next fixture against Bilsthorpe, the crunch game at home to Phoenix saw us fall to a 2-1 defeat, a missed penalty proving costly for us. Although we did win two of our next matches, the final six games saw us win only one game, losing three and a couple of goalless draws, taking just five points out of the final eighteen. What ever the reasons for our failure, supporters just want a team that gives a hundred per cent effort in every game they play and that counts at which ever level of the game you watch, if you know your team has done that, then whatever the result you will accept it. What people cannot accept is when that effort is not there, being it playing or not even turning up and letting people down! All in all we probably flattered to deceive by being in the lofty position in February having lost just the two league fixtures. When it came to the crunch games we were just not good enough and at the end of the day we have finished where we deserved to. What do we do next?- stick with the under nineteens in my opinion, and add the senior players who want to represent the club and will be there most weeks. It may take a couple of seasons to get to the required standard, but rather that approach than to use fifty odd players again and have a season like we have just witnessed.
Anyway that is the negative bit out the way, on to the positives of which their are many. Our under nineteens which were started up again this season, were managed by Lath and Wibb, and on the whole the season proved to be a successful one, although the results may not have been the best. Trouble with the floodlights meant that some home fixtures were switched to either Balby Carr or turned into an away fixture, but the lads coped well and put in some impressive performances although the results did not reflect it. Don't get me wrong, there were still some woeful performances (Hallam away springs to mind) but our nineteens gradually got their act together and finished the season strongly. The fact that quite a few of the lads represented the first team at one time or another is testament to the success of the side, and finishing the first team fixture away at Appleby Frothingham with six of the lads on the pitch shows that the future looks good providing we can look after them and keep them at the club. The final nothing game of the season against Espial still saw a squad of seventeen turn up which shows the commitment to the club.
Billy the reserve team manager, with the help of Nick have done a good job in difficult circumstances. It is never easy when the first team are short of players, the reserves have to step in and fill the gap and our reserves have gone to games with a bare minimum. However they have not disgraced the club and have finished in a respectable position in the league. On the few occasions I have managed to watch them this season they have impressed so well done to them.
Our under fourteens and fifteens have done the club proud and a big well done to Dave Guy, Graham Ellis and all their players. Dave and the under fourteens managed to win every league game they played, a fantastic achievement on their way to promotion, and Graham and his under fifteens also have managed to get promotion to the top division. It all looks good for the club and if we can just get two or three of the players from each side (hopefully more) to play for the senior side then it would be a fantastic achievement by the two managers.
Mr Chairman - What this guy has done throughout the season to get the ground up to promotion standard is nothing short of miraculous. When you think of where we stood at the beginning of August, no Seating, no fencing, no walkway between the pitch, no turnstile and no floodlights. All this has been rectified and by the 31st March and our ground had passed the required grading to play at the higher level. But not only has Jony been a programme editor, a secretary for the under nineteens but the amount of work he has put into the club at all levels deserves better. To see someone that has put a full shift in at work from early morning, then at ten o clock at night still be running around after referees and opposing sides shows true dedication and if only the players had shown as much effort and work rate as our Chairman we would have gained promotion weeks ago.
Management- Bren is the one guy who is totally committed to the job, and no one takes defeat as badly as Bren does. Assisted this season by Lee and Mark the team seems to have worked with different opinions being spoken but Bren with the final decision. There is some uncertainty as if Bren will still be at the helm next season due to personnel changes in his life, personally I hope he carries on as I know how much he missed it last time and he really does care about the club, however we wait and see.
Mr Secretary - Having had a play at being secretary along with Rob Waite (to be fair Rob did most of the work) a few seasons ago, I can understand what a time consuming and busy job this is. Sorting out signing on forms pre season plus all the other secretarial stuff you have to do plus the match day duties, well done Dan keep up the good work, and you even managed to get an appearance in for the first team, at least it was not a minus!
Scott the gateman- sometimes with Stuart- well done to Scott on the gate to keep the money rolling in, plus selling the raffle tickets as well. Make sure though you eat more Weatabix for when you have to hold Captain!!!!!
Tea room team - A big well done to Brenda and Satch for all the hard work this season you two have put in. Without a doubt the best tea room in the central Midlands (as voted for by me) we have taken a fair quid in there this season. Also Satch for all the extra work you have put in at the ground, including painting and laying paving slabs etc your help is invaluable.
Committee - without a committee you just cannot run a club, so as well as the managers, secretaries and Chairman named above, also Kev, Ian and Martyn for all your help this season. Also Julie the treasurer and Julie in the Pavillion who feeds everyone. A big thank you finally to our supporters- once again your support home and away has been fantastic. At home the turnout has been exceptional at times, and it is a shame that on the big occasion the team has not performed. Away from home, the Harworth on tour team has been as far as Easington, top side of Sheffield etc the same old faces cheering on the lads. You people make the club a special one and we can always have a laugh and joke no matter the score or weather. Thank you to everyone who has attended a Colliery game this season and we hope to see you all next season as well.
I started this review on a negative note, but as you progress you can see the people that make the club what it is. We are at a point that off the field we are the strongest that we have been in all the time I have been involved in the club. We just have to make sure that we have a senior side that matches it.
I will leave you with my highlights of the season. The FA Vase performance at Hallam has to be my favourite moment. The first half was the best I have seen any Colliery side play, and to be 3-0 up at the interval was phenomenal. Their supporters and management were blaming everyone from the linesman, referee or even the corner flag but our display and finishing deserved it. OK we lost it in a ten minute spell in the second half, but we regained our momentum and IF only Josh D had put in that last minute chance!!. I was really proud of the lads that represented the Colliery that day. The 6-2 victory over Appleby Frodingham was also up there, and as far as the under nineteens are concerned the cup victory over Long Eaton in November on penalties with the clock saying 10.20 pm will stay with me. Their first victory albeit on penalties was greeted by wild celebrations and from then on the season progressed.
So in a nutshell season 2015/16 summed up in a few words!. Apologies to anyone who I have missed their are probably many, but to everyone involved in the club roll on August.
It all started so well, the first game away to Ollerton ended in a draw, a game we should have won easily failed to take our chances and were pegged back in the 90th minute. Three wins on the trot were to follow including an impressive 4-0 away win over Phoenix, before our first defeat of the season 8-3 ( after leading 3-2 ) away to Glapwell. A cup victory over Bentley 9-8 on penalties got us back on winning ways, before a draw with Thorne saw another couple of dropped points. Two narrow cup exits to Hallam and Swallownest saw us out of the vase and Sheffield senior cup respectively, before a run of five consecutive victories put our promotion push back on target. Then we suffered a second league defeat 3-0 again at the hands of Glapwell, and another cup defeat away to Bulwell. Five more league victories were to follow, one, the 6-2 win over Appleby Frodingham, which was achieved with playing with ten men for an hour. But then a week after this impressive result the wheels began to fall off. A 1-0 home defeat to Askern, a side we had beaten 5-2 just two weeks earlier, saw one of the worst forty five minutes produced by the Colliery in quite a while. Although we did win our next fixture against Bilsthorpe, the crunch game at home to Phoenix saw us fall to a 2-1 defeat, a missed penalty proving costly for us. Although we did win two of our next matches, the final six games saw us win only one game, losing three and a couple of goalless draws, taking just five points out of the final eighteen. What ever the reasons for our failure, supporters just want a team that gives a hundred per cent effort in every game they play and that counts at which ever level of the game you watch, if you know your team has done that, then whatever the result you will accept it. What people cannot accept is when that effort is not there, being it playing or not even turning up and letting people down! All in all we probably flattered to deceive by being in the lofty position in February having lost just the two league fixtures. When it came to the crunch games we were just not good enough and at the end of the day we have finished where we deserved to. What do we do next?- stick with the under nineteens in my opinion, and add the senior players who want to represent the club and will be there most weeks. It may take a couple of seasons to get to the required standard, but rather that approach than to use fifty odd players again and have a season like we have just witnessed.
Anyway that is the negative bit out the way, on to the positives of which their are many. Our under nineteens which were started up again this season, were managed by Lath and Wibb, and on the whole the season proved to be a successful one, although the results may not have been the best. Trouble with the floodlights meant that some home fixtures were switched to either Balby Carr or turned into an away fixture, but the lads coped well and put in some impressive performances although the results did not reflect it. Don't get me wrong, there were still some woeful performances (Hallam away springs to mind) but our nineteens gradually got their act together and finished the season strongly. The fact that quite a few of the lads represented the first team at one time or another is testament to the success of the side, and finishing the first team fixture away at Appleby Frothingham with six of the lads on the pitch shows that the future looks good providing we can look after them and keep them at the club. The final nothing game of the season against Espial still saw a squad of seventeen turn up which shows the commitment to the club.
Billy the reserve team manager, with the help of Nick have done a good job in difficult circumstances. It is never easy when the first team are short of players, the reserves have to step in and fill the gap and our reserves have gone to games with a bare minimum. However they have not disgraced the club and have finished in a respectable position in the league. On the few occasions I have managed to watch them this season they have impressed so well done to them.
Our under fourteens and fifteens have done the club proud and a big well done to Dave Guy, Graham Ellis and all their players. Dave and the under fourteens managed to win every league game they played, a fantastic achievement on their way to promotion, and Graham and his under fifteens also have managed to get promotion to the top division. It all looks good for the club and if we can just get two or three of the players from each side (hopefully more) to play for the senior side then it would be a fantastic achievement by the two managers.
Mr Chairman - What this guy has done throughout the season to get the ground up to promotion standard is nothing short of miraculous. When you think of where we stood at the beginning of August, no Seating, no fencing, no walkway between the pitch, no turnstile and no floodlights. All this has been rectified and by the 31st March and our ground had passed the required grading to play at the higher level. But not only has Jony been a programme editor, a secretary for the under nineteens but the amount of work he has put into the club at all levels deserves better. To see someone that has put a full shift in at work from early morning, then at ten o clock at night still be running around after referees and opposing sides shows true dedication and if only the players had shown as much effort and work rate as our Chairman we would have gained promotion weeks ago.
Management- Bren is the one guy who is totally committed to the job, and no one takes defeat as badly as Bren does. Assisted this season by Lee and Mark the team seems to have worked with different opinions being spoken but Bren with the final decision. There is some uncertainty as if Bren will still be at the helm next season due to personnel changes in his life, personally I hope he carries on as I know how much he missed it last time and he really does care about the club, however we wait and see.
Mr Secretary - Having had a play at being secretary along with Rob Waite (to be fair Rob did most of the work) a few seasons ago, I can understand what a time consuming and busy job this is. Sorting out signing on forms pre season plus all the other secretarial stuff you have to do plus the match day duties, well done Dan keep up the good work, and you even managed to get an appearance in for the first team, at least it was not a minus!
Scott the gateman- sometimes with Stuart- well done to Scott on the gate to keep the money rolling in, plus selling the raffle tickets as well. Make sure though you eat more Weatabix for when you have to hold Captain!!!!!
Tea room team - A big well done to Brenda and Satch for all the hard work this season you two have put in. Without a doubt the best tea room in the central Midlands (as voted for by me) we have taken a fair quid in there this season. Also Satch for all the extra work you have put in at the ground, including painting and laying paving slabs etc your help is invaluable.
Committee - without a committee you just cannot run a club, so as well as the managers, secretaries and Chairman named above, also Kev, Ian and Martyn for all your help this season. Also Julie the treasurer and Julie in the Pavillion who feeds everyone. A big thank you finally to our supporters- once again your support home and away has been fantastic. At home the turnout has been exceptional at times, and it is a shame that on the big occasion the team has not performed. Away from home, the Harworth on tour team has been as far as Easington, top side of Sheffield etc the same old faces cheering on the lads. You people make the club a special one and we can always have a laugh and joke no matter the score or weather. Thank you to everyone who has attended a Colliery game this season and we hope to see you all next season as well.
I started this review on a negative note, but as you progress you can see the people that make the club what it is. We are at a point that off the field we are the strongest that we have been in all the time I have been involved in the club. We just have to make sure that we have a senior side that matches it.
I will leave you with my highlights of the season. The FA Vase performance at Hallam has to be my favourite moment. The first half was the best I have seen any Colliery side play, and to be 3-0 up at the interval was phenomenal. Their supporters and management were blaming everyone from the linesman, referee or even the corner flag but our display and finishing deserved it. OK we lost it in a ten minute spell in the second half, but we regained our momentum and IF only Josh D had put in that last minute chance!!. I was really proud of the lads that represented the Colliery that day. The 6-2 victory over Appleby Frodingham was also up there, and as far as the under nineteens are concerned the cup victory over Long Eaton in November on penalties with the clock saying 10.20 pm will stay with me. Their first victory albeit on penalties was greeted by wild celebrations and from then on the season progressed.
So in a nutshell season 2015/16 summed up in a few words!. Apologies to anyone who I have missed their are probably many, but to everyone involved in the club roll on August.
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