|
BoE AFC Mid-Season Newsletter 2002/03 On the pitch It is pleasing to be able to report that the soccer section is currently in a very healthy position with all areas of the club sharing the success. Our league and cup representation remains strong from the 1st team through to the Vets and the challenge now is to turn these strong post-Christmas positions into silverware by April. Quite appropriately it is the First XI who are leading the charge as, at the time of writing, they are top of division 3 with two games in hand and six points over their closest rivals. In addition to their strong league position, they are also still competing in each of the three cup competitions as they are defending the LFFA Challenge trophy and fighting for the coveted AFA Surrey Senior and AFA Senior trophies. It would be a tragedy for the 1st XI to end the season without any silverware but priority has to remain on promotion from a division that they are quite simply too good for. The Reserve XI are currently in fifth position in the league but extensive cup runs means that they currently have five games in hand over the team in pole position so there is everything to play for. They are through to the quarter-finals of the AFA Intermediate Cup but the cup highlight of the year occurred in the LFFA Challenge Cup where, for the first time in recent memory, they clashed with the bank’s own 1st XI! In a well contested game and despite a couple of very good chances for the Reserve XI either side of the break, any thoughts of an upset were quashed by three second-half goals for the First XI. The third XI had an uncharacteristically poor start to the season when just one point from the first three games left them bottom of division two. Thankfully this was followed by an emphatic resurgence that leaves them in their current position of joint third in the table with a game in hand over the leaders. The fourth XI have tactically chosen to exit all cup competitions early in order to concentrate on the league but consistency has let them down as they continue to battle for mid-table status. The fifth XI, however, are mirroring the First XI as they are currently sit proudly at the top of division three but unconventionally they are the only team in the top half of the table to have a negative goal difference! The Vets XI continue to play friendlies on Sunday mornings and have won as many as they have lost but they have also reached the quarter final of the LFFA Vets Cup which is an impressive achievement and we wish them luck in the next round. Off the pitch Banchors Away! Aside from the activity on the pitch, the section has been equally busy off the pitch with a well attended river-boat disco on The Thames (poorly dubbed “Banchors Away!”). A big thanks from me to all those who attended and made it a success. Getting away from the Sports Club and into Central London seemed to be a popular choice so expect something similar yet different next season. Tours Tour season is also well under way with the forthcoming Easter Tour to Rimini, a Central Bank Tour also to Italy, the Vets hoping to visit Athens in early May and organisation for a major tour in 2005 already well underway. Annual Awards
Dinner The date for the annual awards dinner has been announced as 16th May 2003 so keep this date free in your diary. As ever we hope to have something to celebrate but win, lose or draw, this is always a night to remember. Free Sports Quiz The second BoE AFC Sports Quiz will take place on Tuesday 25th February in the upstairs bar of The City Tavern (29 Lawrence Lane, just round the corner of the Bank), 6:00pm meet for a 7:00pm start. The format will be the same as last year (regular Saturday sides teaming up against each other) so the 5th XI will be defending their crown. Only the 4th XI didn’t field a team last year which I’m sure will be rectified this time round. I’ve even managed to scrounge £200 out of Committee and 100 Club funds which we will duly spend on the important things in life; namely beer and pizza. In order to enter yourself, please send me a quick e-mail at grant.macnaughton@ants.co.uk so that I have an idea of numbers. Alternatively, if you wish to organise a team then send me a list of names and I’ll ensure that you are together on the night. Please make every effort to support the evening as a great deal of work has gone into writing the quiz! Website Have you checked out our dedicated web-site lately? I admit that the lure of alcohol over the Christmas period meant that it wasn’t particularly frequently updated but I have made it a resolution to ensure that the site becomes everyone’s first point of call for results, league tables, club information, tour information and hopefully some general amusement. If you haven’t looked recently then check it out at www.boeafc.co.uk and don’t hesitate to e-mail me with any comments / suggestions. Membership Cards Two things… 1) The Sports Club have been carrying out a number of random spot checks recently and have asked me to pass on that whenever you are down the Sports Club, you should be in position of a valid membership card. Failure to comply may result in having to share the shower block with the rugby section. 2) The new membership cards contain an error in the information line number. The correct number is 020 8878 6682 so please use this number as the owner of the number that was actually printed has made a formal complaint. SAL
Regionalisation Proposals Continuing difficulties in both the match travel and playing numbers has led the SAL Committee to put forward a proposal for the regionalisation of the leagues for Minor Sections. Under the scheme, essentially all of the sides from 4th XI downwards will be merged into one Minor Section with a London-wide Division 1 and then further divisions split on a North/South basis (roughly divided along the course of the River Thames). Based on the 2001/2002 season results, the 4th XI would fall into Division 3 South and the 5th XI into Division 4 South. An amended proposal has been submitted by Old Parmitarians who advocates regionalisation beginning at 3rd XI. Although the proposals must be ratified at the SAL AGM later in the season, they will be discussed at a Council meeting shortly. Having discussed the plans at length, the Section Committee has concluded that, as it is not in the best interests of the Club, we will not support the proposal. However, if, as anticipated, the proposal is carried we would vote in favour of the regionalisation commencing at 4th XI rather than 3rd XI. This view is based on the Committee's view that as an 'institution-based' Club (as opposed to Old Boys set-up) then our players are not linked to the Club by close geographical proximity and therefore travel is not an important issue. Interestingly, on cursory analysis of the teams fielded by the 4th and 5th XI one weekend in January, less than a third of players lived in the South-West of London which suggests that many of our 'away' games are in fact closer to home for many of us. The significance of this debate should not be underestimated - the SAL is one of the few London-wide amateur leagues which does not have regionalisation at any level. Should you wish to discuss this issue further or disagree with the Committee's proposed approach, please contact either a Committee Member or your Captain. Gerry Seager It is with sadness that I have to report the death of the ex first team coach Gerry Seager who passed away last June. Gerry was the club’s first official coach over a number of seasons during the 1970’s. He will be remembered not only as a dedicated coach and trainer but also as a friend to many players and club members. Foul Play It might not sound like much to shout about but when you consider that our club contains such ruffians as Roger “argue with anything” Dickson, Scott “did you look at me” Simmons and Chris “chewie” Tilley it is truly a miracle that we avoided a fine for our disciplinary record last season. Let’s try and go one better this year and battle for the Wilkinson Sword Fair Play trophy! Training Finally, as always can I take this opportunity to advertise that we train down the Sports Club in Barnes every Wednesday evening from 7pm onwards and that anyone interested in playing should contact the club secretary, Mark Woodward (woodwardmark@talk21.com) or the membership secretary Ayyaz Ishaque (ayyaz.ishaque@bankofengland.co.uk). Cheers, Grant MacNaughton |