HISTORY INDEX

2003 / 2004 Season Review

(Old Lady Submission)

This was always going to be an interesting season for the Bank's five sides that play in the Southern Amateur League (SAL) as it was a year of change and restructuring across all divisions. For the top three sides, league restructuring meant that all three teams, currently doing battle in the second division of their respective leagues, were chasing just one promotion spot whilst avoiding three relegation spots. In the fourth and fifth team sections, it was the first season of North/South regionalisation which meant that both teams were pitched into a new set of leagues that were broadly formulated on their previous season's achievements.

After last season's long awaited promotion from the 3rd division, first priority for the 1st XI had to be survival but a good run of early form saw them challenging for the sole promotion spot under the captaincy of Rich Taylor. However, an extremely strong Nottsborough have cemented promotion after dropping just two points all season which leaves the First XI battling for third place with just one fixture remaining…against Nottsborough. A very respectable season first team which hopefully they can build on next season when there will be two promotion spots available again. Away from the league program, the First XI were the only team in the club to add to the silverware cabinet, romping to a 6-1 victory over Granby in the LFFA Cup final with a hat-trick from veteran striker Dave Samuels.

The Second XI have suffered inconsistency this season as results have been a bizarre mixture of impressive wins against supposedly better teams littered with frustrating losses to lower sides. Given their topsy-turvy results, they have always been statistically within touching distance of the single promotion spot but a particularly tight league has meant that they have also always had one eye on the drop zone. With one game remaining, their safety has been secured but a win would cement seventh position.

The Third XI have had another glittering season in the second division. They have been consistently challenging for the promotion spot and have spent a good proportion of the year at the top of the table. However, good cup runs for Old Stationers and Alexandra Park have meant that they have always had games in hand over the Bank and it is these teams that have overtaken the Third XI towards the end of the season which has meant that the Bank team has finished a very respectable third. Continued pressure from the Third XI must eventually see them promoted to the first division soon.

The regionalisation of the lower end of the SAL saw the Fourth and Fifth teams placed in leagues that were, in retrospect, evidently too strong for them as they have both finished bottom of their respective leagues. The Fourth XI have won three and drawn two of their eighteen league fixtures whilst the Fifth XI have shown much better consistency by loosing all of their league fixtures. The overwhelming feeling that has come from both squads has been the remarkable spirit despite the results so we hope that they are both in more suitable divisions for the 04/05 season.

Away from the league program, the Bank had an extremely successful Easter tour in Madrid where the 15 man squad finished runners-up in the official tournament and they also saw off a team of young locals in an impromptu match in a Madrid playground. Additionally, The Vets XI are due to test out Portugal later this year before the national squad go out there in June.