2005 - 06

Annual Report 2005-06

Chairman

In 2005-2006 we made good progress on last season, noticeably the 1st team once they got settled, and the 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th teams all having highs and lows. The 2nd team were outstanding going 14 matches unbeaten, and then going into the last match against Parkfield needing just 1 point to clinch the Inter West Championship, but unfortunately went down 1-0, but a big thanks to Marvin for taking them so far. Also a huge thank you to the other Captains, Steve Jackson, Paul Hamilton, Zak Ajawin, Dave McGovern and Roy Marett.

It has been great to see a lot more youngsters joining the club and some of them breaking into the 1st and higher elevens. The Cup holders Old Manorians Veterans team had a disappointing season after losing in the quarterfinals of the Jack Perry Cup.

We had a well supported Annual Dinner this year at the Cumberland Hotel, which was well supported. My congratulations to Freddie Newman winner of our Young Player of the season, also Paul Keegan for Top Goal Scorer. A big congratulations also to first time winner Omar Mohammed of the Arnold Bane Clubman of the year award and also all the players and players of the year. We had a

A big thanks to Kerrin Hands for all his support over the years as he leaves to start a new life in Toronto, Canada and to Clint Anglo who is hanging up his boots after many years of playing for the club.

Boxing Day was a great success last year and we played two matches raising £200.00 for Cancer Research. Cup Final day was the most successful it has ever been since we started the event in 2003 raising £890 for Cancer Research. We played 2 matches, the Chairman’s XI against the Steve Tucker XI in memory of Debbie Tucker and also an inter club match organised by Marvin Blake and David Mc Govern. A big thanks again to Steve, Clint Anglo, Marvin, Dave, Jean and Keith Hows for organising the food and all the kind donations by everyone.

I want to thank Sue and John O’Reilly for doing our food every Saturday throughout the season and also to Tracy Pearman for doing the bar so well.

As in every chairman’s report I do I must thank the hard core of the committee, who put in countless hours of their time to assist and run the club, they are Darren Morris, Dave Mitchell, Tony Bicknell and Keith Coton. Although not on the committee a big thanks to Omar Mohammed for his superb fundraising.

Finally I have a feeling that some of the above could be about to relinquish their posts that they have held over the years on the committee and even though this will be a great loss for the club there are plenty of you that could help, and if we want this club to succeed and continue we need your support.

David Smith.

1st Team
This season had its highs and lows. At the beginning we started of on the wrong foot with a bit of confusion with regards to managing the side. Once i stepped in to save the day it did not get much better. I tried to bring in some players, some good some not so good (no names).
With lots of help from my co manager Dave Mitchell, we tried to rebuild the team
for the remainder of the season and put a bit of pride back into the side. With the help of the other team captains we managed to get a much more consistent side for the second half of the season, and started off with six straight wins, which were much needed as we where fighting to stay up. As for the cup games we played, I think ” the less said about them the better”, apart from the most important one of course, THE SPRING CUP, which we managed to get to the final of so a big well done to all those who took part.
I would like to thank all those who have played for the 1st team this year, and to all those who have stepped in when needed. I would also like to thank Dave Mitchell for all his help this year - without him there might not have been a team.

Steve Jackson

2nd Team
Second. Bloody second. What a season. So close, and yet so far. In a season which had more highs then lows, the second string showed that they had what it took to succeed in this division. From start to finish, every player showed a level of commitment and consistency in which this being my third year of management was not too much of a surprise, what with the players I had at my disposal.
Victor and Andy, both new to Manorians, fitted in well with the banter with the rest of the squad. James and Marcus played out of position for long periods without any form of selfishness which demonstrated their character and football abilities. Wayne, Patrick, Anton and Steven, our tacklers never made the man and ball pass them. Khallid and Gerard proved they are passers of the highest quality, and Greene finished with 7 goals in the last 8 games – it was certainly good to have him back! Ronarco proved to himself that he’s as good a footballer as we all knew he was, and Lee, would played for us before being abducted left his mark on the side nonetheless. Thanks to Jeremy for his versatility – he could easily have been a Dutchman, having played in every position save goalkeeper. And to Freddie and Neil, my fallen soldiers – you have not been forgotten!
A special thank you to Neville – my right arm, and team captain. He played through the pain barrier for the last 2 months of the season and still scored vital goals! REST NOW!
Thanks, it’s been a pleasure – and remember what it says on the TIN – and that’s WIN!

Marvin Blake

3rd Team
With a poor start to the season, it looked like we were going to have another disappointing year a head, just like the two previous ones. After a battering at the hands of Old Magdalenians and early cup exits, change was the order of the day and in came some new faces; Bobby Hutchinson, Clint Anglo, Chris Ede and Zak Ajawin to name a few. Our season soon started to pick up and we enjoyed some decent results, including victories against the top two sides. We had a few bad results at the end of the season, but all in all, I had to be happy with the improvement seen over the season.

I would like to thank Andy, Rob, Dave and Gareth; all third team main stays. But my biggest thank you goes to Zak, without whom the team would have really struggled. He was a great help on and off the park and made my life a lot easier.

Paul Hamilton

4th Team
After a promising pre-season and two early league victories, the 4th X1 went six games without a win and were knocked out of both the AFA and LOB cups within this period.

We then struggled to hold on to our “better” players as the top sides came knocking on the door. Emanuel Papa and David Moriaty were quite rightly called up to the first team and other players such as Zak Ajawin and Paddy Bleakley were also called up to higher sides.

We pulled together in the second half of the season and avoided relegation, thanks to consistent performances from players such as Warren Sullivan, Anthony Sheehan, Del O’Brien and Graham Elder.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everbody who played for the fourth team this season, with a special mention for Del O’Brien – a real help both on and of the pitch.

David McGovern

5th Team
The season started well and we showed a real promise of finishing in the top half of the table. By Christmas this seemed beyond the team who had several key players promoted to higher teams.

The second half of the season was tough for the remaining players, but team spirit was still high, mainly due to the manager’s (Smithy’s) team talks.

The top scorer was Freddie, one of those snapped up by the first team, along with Marlon, and few goals came from other areas, perhaps the main problem with the later season results. This said we avoided relegation, despite having an Omar / Smith combination in goal, and all who played, I’m sure enjoyed the crack.

Special thanks to those, too many to mention, who keep putting in sound performances, (we were rarely beaten by more than one goal), and those who played in several positions to ensure we were always competitive.

Tony Bicknell

6th Team
After taking on the Sunderland of Manorians endeavoring to bring the young players on and enjoy football at the same time, I had second thoughts after a very sticky start only winning 1 game prior to Christmas against the current and possible league leaders. This showed me that the potential was there – I just had to try and develop it.

When I lost the Walsh brothers plus Paul Kennedy to the 5ths, I was left with an even younger side and after several position changes, we finally came up with a well balanced side winning 7 and drawing 1 out of the remaining 12 games, only losing in the cup quarter finals to a Pheonix 3rd XI formerly Holland Park 1st team to be Pheonix’s 1s next year. We ended up mid table doing a Portsmouth, and a very enjoyable season with the emphasis on enjoyment giving the whole squad a run out which meant leaving some players out totally whom I would like to thank for their understanding.

Special mentions for James Boyles, Tom Marett, Wayne Ayers and Simon Marett (super sub), and Daniel Baxter for his 12 goals in as many games – what a great asset. I would also like to thank Lee Worley, Paul Kennedy and David Smith for playing in goal in the absence of Lee Walker, who we hope will be able to play next year.

Again, it was great fun overall as the lads were fantastic throughout the season.

Roy Marett