Season 2010/11 was always going to be an interesting one for all concerned. Players departed the club in the spring, new players joined. There was a revamp of the club committee and direction. The season before, we managed to just stay in Division Two. With all the uncertainty, we had to make the best of the new situation presented and aim to stay in the Division following the influx of new players.

We had new summer signings in David Cresswell, Ryan Worrall, Adam Grace, Ben Mulchin, Chris Callaghan, John Shaw and Paul Welsh who joined the existing players and all began the pre-season programme of friendlies. During the course of the season, some lads would excel, some would find it difficult and naturally some would fall by the wayside.

Four friendlies were held with looseners against Old Albion (Liverpool Sunday District League) and Polonia Camps (CMS League) and then sterner tests against Regent and Star Of The Sea who were both from the division above us in the Liverpool Business Houses League. All four resulted in victories for Woodstreet and initial signs were that the gelling process was coming along reasonably smoothly and quicker than expected. The true test would be when competitive leagues started.

The new season began on September 5thagainst Melbourne and although we put in a great performance, we found ourselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 score line with Cressy getting a debut goal. Our next game against Quarry Green Reserves saw us pick up a point with a second goal for Cressy and a controversially allowed goal for Michael Brierley.

The opening months of the season were to prove difficult with the lads playing well and losing games narrowly. Inexperience was beginning to tell with lads failing to retain attention for all of game.

Our first win of the season came in the County Cup against Heart Of The City in October when a 5-0 win was recorded with two goals each from Michael Brierley and Joseph Brierley and Cressy adding another to his total thus far.

Despite this win, the results in the league were not improving. Our goalkeeper Adam Grace got a bad injury against Gears United which would put him out for most of the remainder of the season. Things were going from bad to worse.

In November, Matt Cawley returned to Woodstreet for a second spell. He debuted in what was to be the first league win against Breeze Hotel in a 3-1 victory where Ste Burrows scored a hat-trick.

December saw no games played through a combination of wet and freezing weather.

At the half way point of the season, Woodstreet Football Club was bottom of Division Two and this was on the back of the worst run of results in our history. An almighty push was required for the remaining eleven games if we were to stay in the third tier of the league.

Ricky Jefferies and Joe Nugent joined the club in January and for the remainder of the season were to make significant personal progress and produce some terrific displays.

David Cresswell had given glimpses of his goalscoring ability earlier in the season. For the second half of the season, Cressy would show his versatility by playing in goal for the rest of his season and playing a key role in the matches to come.

The match that was to provide the springboard for the turnaround came against promotion hopefuls Halewood Town at The Hollies. Two goals from Joseph Brierley and Matt Cawley gave us a 3-2 win having been 2-1 behind. The undeniable spirit shown in this game was to provide a clear belief that we could move off the bottom of the division and progress.

The following weekend was to provide an historical moment as Woodstreet played in a double header for the first time with the opponents being Athletic Clubmoor. The first game finished 1-1 with Joe Nugent on the score sheet. The second match saw a John-Paul McMullen penalty secure all three points. Some great football was played in the two games and the sequence of positive results and good football was to continue beyond.

High scoring wins against Heart Of The City, Breeze Hotel and Priory Villa all contributed to an eleven game sequence which recorded only one defeat against Brnesc Youth. There was a big bonus in that game when Adam Grace made a comeback and scored his first goal for the club playing centre forward.

The season was rounded off with a rousing 2-1 victory over Aintree Village. Two goals from Ricky Jefferies secured the points in a match which produced some excellent Woodstreet football.

On reflection, the season provided two complete polar opposite experiences. The first eleven league games garnered 4 points and the worst start in our history. The second eleven produced some magnificent personal and team performances and we gained 24 points. The spirit shown was superb and shows how the lads knuckled down and showed their determination as a group to stay in the division.

From a seemingly lost situation with Woodstreet sitting at the bottom of the division in February, the May final table was to provide pleasing viewing with a seventh place finish.

A specific mention should be made for Paul Welsh who over the course of the season produced a consistently composed sequence of performances in defence and midfield.

Well done to all lads that were involved in the turnaround. It is crucial all lessons from this season are learnt and are done so quickly. Our surge up the table was no fluke as it was down to the steely character of the current crop of Woodstreet players.