2008-2009 season
Rowan Kitton joined the club committee dealing with Fund Raising and went on to introduce over six thousand pounds into club coffers by tapping into a number of sources, notably the Lottery Funded ‘Awards For All’ fund. Sam Latham and Debbie Treanor coordinated a sponsored walk, which was also very successful and raised over two thousand pounds.
As well as jackets and equipment, some of the newly acquired funds went towards paying for some professional coaching by Crewe Alexander whilst our Goalkeepers received instruction from Macclesfield Town FC.
Rovers� managers & team officials also went back to school to undertake the FA Level 1 Coaching Course; again paid for by grant money. Upon completion Congleton Rovers JFC expects to be awarded the FA Charter Standard for junior football clubs.
At Christmas we held a club outing to see Man City play Everton at the City of Manchester stadium – again organised by Kevin Manson. The Liverpool blues won 1-0 and everyone enjoyed themselves (…with the exception of the Man City fans amongst us! 🙂
Finally, at the start of the season the club had put in place a new shed for storing equipment. However, it soon became apparent that the construction was inadequate, so John Greening organised for this to be replaced by a very secure container, giving us a great facility for future seasons at Congleton High School.
Under 12s – A Fourth Placed Finish And A Very Enjoyable Season!
Then, on to the cup and it was no surprise again that we were drawn against stiff opposition. One of these seasons we will draw a div 3 team or even receive a bye � but then probably not!! Hartford and Frodsham Town were the opposition and despite losing both games there were a lot of positives to take.
After a high scoring win against Sandbach we then fell to bogey team Tytherington at home in our first league defeat of the season. Our good form continued through to Christmas and in early January when after a last minute victory against Winsford we shot to the top of the league (albeit having played a couple of extra matches). Next match was a top of the table clash against title favourites Hartford and this saw us play some superb football taking a goal advantage into the break only to then collapse in the second half. Then bad weather meant we only played one game in the month of February against second placed Tarvin going down 3-0 but playing the better football. This lack of games certainly had an effect on the team�s momentum along with the manager chopping and changing the large squad. Another bad defeat to an improving Egerton meant we had slipped down several league places by early March.
We then re-grouped and trained hard with the aim of finishing the season as strong as we could. And helped with better weather (I�m told we play better when it is warm!) we succeeded in beating league champions Hartford 5-2 and runners up Tarvin 3-0 in our best results of the season. The Hartford match in particular showed the boys fulfilling their potential and should no doubt be a turning point for the team as we go forward.
The next match was away to Tytheringon who after a poor start had vastly improved. The match had added incentive (not that it was needed) as the winners secured third place. Although we dominated the match we eventually went down 3-2 in a very competitive and ill tempered game. Our final match at home to Cuddington restored our faith in junior football with a 5-3 victory in a super match against competitive but respectful opposition and the boys finished fourth missing out on third place by just one point.
This was another entertaining season and it is great to see the boys improve and adapt as a team to the more physical side of the game that comes with playing in the older age groups.
Finally an end of season paintball event was organised in recognition of the boys� efforts and enjoyed by all that went, as fun was the order of the day…………I think the bruises have only just disappeared!
FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
1 HARTFORD—————-18 13 3 2 39 42
2 TARVIN———————18 12 4 2 33 40
3 TYTHERINGTON———-18 10 4 4 25 34
4 CONGLETON ROVERS—-18 10 3 5 14 33
5 EGERTON TATTON———18 9 1 8 -1 28
6 WINSFORD OVER 3———18 7 4 7 6 25
7 MACCLESFIELD TIGERS–18 6 4 8 -20 22
8 CUDDINGTON————18 3 4 11 -17 13
9 GRAPPENAHALL———-18 3 3 12 -20 12
10 SANDBACH EAGLES——18 1 2 15 -59 5
Awards 2008-09
—————–
Player of The Season (Manager):
–Tom Leese
Player’s Player:
–Tom Key
Supporter’s Player:
–Tom Summerfield
Most Improved:
–Lee Tayler
Clubman/Sportsman of The Year:
–Shaun Watson
Trainer of The Year:
–Matt Lakin
Player stats
GOALS SCORED:
Tom Key ————20
Matt Lakin ———- 14
Olly Long ———– 12,,Lee Tayler———–12
Tom Summerfield —6
Tom Leese ———-3
Alex Jackson——–2
Tris Cumberland—-1
Kieren Sefton——–1
Tom finishes the season top goal scorer for the third successive season, averaging a goal a game – Well done Tom!
Matt finishes second again, closely followed in joint third by Lee and Olly. Well done boys for a terrific achievement!
Under 13s – Topsy Turvy Season Ends In Mid Table
The first league game against newcomers Kingsmead also suggested good things with Rovers winning 8-0. Another comfortable win against Egerton Tigers, and then at half time being 4-0 up against Davenham had the Manager dreaming of promotion. Then the topsy-turvy nature of Rovers season began, as a second half collapse saw Davenham equalise with a screamer in the last minute.
An unfortunate injury had robbed Rovers of their new signing Hough, and they didn�t see him again for the rest of the season, which was a major blow.
Rovers had a nightmare against Winsford JB losing 8-0 at home and it could have been more, but they then put in a great display against 2nd Division Holmes Chapel in the Cup and were unlucky to lose 4-1 having hit the post twice.
Another great display against Winsford JB Athletic (previously 1st Division runners up) saw Rovers only 3-0 down at half time, however the second half was a long one with Winsford eventually winning 11-0.
Rovers scraped past an ever-improving Witton Villa before defeats to Winsford JB athletic in the League Cup and Frodsham in the league when they came back from 5-0 down and were unlucky not to go away with a draw, eventually losing 5-3.
After Christmas, heavy defeats to Winsford JB Athletic and Barnton saw the manager dip in to the transfer market to sign Whiston-Rowe to strengthen the midfield. This signing galvanised the team and Rovers won comfortably against Egerton Lions and Witton Villa, and lost narrowly to Barnton, Winsford JB and Frodsham with much better performances than earlier in the season.
Rovers finished the season on a high with wins against Kingsmead and Egerton Tigers.
All in all a mixed season in which the team were never really able to get going due to postponements, injuries and other disruptions.
There were some notable individual performances throughout the season with Oldfield scoring 33 goals, Beasley and Cameron being ever reliable, Thomason and Hurst making great improvement, and everyone contributing above and beyond when we were short of players in two games.
In the end Rovers finished 5th with 28 points, which was only 2 points less than the previous season, but were knocked out of the cups in the first round. If we can stay together we have a great chance of promotion in 2009-10.
Season Stats.
Name Apps Goals/Clean sheets
Beasley 20 3
Whiston-Rowe 6 3
Cameron 20 0
Roberts 18 0
Hurst 20 7
Thomason 19 0
Gravett 19 12
Lacey 15 0
Oldfield 20 33
Farrall 16 2
Parker 17 9
Kruze 15 0
Needham 18 0
Hulme 15 0
Hough 6 3
Players Player of Year � Roberts
Supporters Player of Year � Beasley
Most Improved Player � Thomason
Clubman of Year � Cameron
Most Influential Player – Oldfield
Under 14s – A Steady Season Following Promotion Into Division 2
Pre-season friendly�s against Bollington and Vale suggested that the team still had some adjustments to make. Ben Ambage was welcomed into the team and very competently filled a hole at Centre Back. But it was clear that opposition teams were getting bigger and stronger and central midfield was where the disparity was most apparent. The last game before the season started was against the previous seasons Division 1 winners; Holmes Chapel and resulted in a draw, giving grounds for optimism. It didn�t last long!
Despite the early promise as Carter and Wilson combined to open the scoring for Rovers season, a fresh Witton Albion snatched a last minute winner in the first game of the league season and then the following week Hartford really delivered a shock – comprehensively beating us 8-3!daas
A good win against Macc Boys boosted our confidence and last minute winner by Tom Wilson caused a cup upset as we beat Division 1 Egerton in the 1st round of the League Cup. But the 2nd round was away against our last season�s semi-cup final nemesis � Frodsham Town and despite our best efforts the home team again came out on top (…later going on to become Division 1 league champions!)
Rovers� frustrations continued the following week as Sandbach Falcons – dominant in midfield – cruised to a 4-1 win. James Crosby; busy in goal kept Rovers in it till the end. Following these back-to-back defeats, Chris succeeded in guiding the team to an important win against an excellent Tytherington side. The next 2 games were going to be tough and we�d needed that boost!
Northwich Vics resulted in a tight game as we matched them man for man. But they �knicked� the points as the game came to a close leaving Rovers with nothing for all their efforts (�except, that is an enjoyable football match!). After that came the 1st round of the FA District Cup against last season�s quarterfinal opponents 1st division Holmes Chapel. We�d beaten them last time with a glorious win, but they had different ideas this time and comprehensively got their own back 5-1, effectively ending our cup action for the season.
A much need win over struggling Weaverham got us back to winning ways before we came up against the divisions obvious champions Hartford. On a less than adequate pitch, the home team came quickly �out of the blocks�, dominated midfield and had the game won by half time. A spirited 2nd half saw Rovers match them as Luke Shields and Richard Hancock made their presence felt in midfield and Harry Goostrey grabbed a good consolation goal – drawing the 2nd half 1-1 (for what it�s worth!).
For the next game against Tytherington, Rob Hill and recent new signing Jack Curwen were introduced to central midfield in an attempt to add strengthen and pace. It seemed to work as Rovers easily overcame a good passing side with a 5-2 win. The home leg against Northwich Vics lead to another good game and despite both Harley Cooper and Chris Hibbert driving the team forward for the equaliser, we again finished with nothing to show for our hard work. Nevertheless, the season was picking up and a strong finish looked likely.
Barnton were next brushed aside in a 4-1 win. Witton Albion looked well-beaten right up until the final 10 minutes when they came back into the game levelling the score and nearly winning it. Next Macc Boys were beaten before Barnton surprised us in a 3-3 draw. But confidence was still high and losing 3-2 to eventual league runners-up Winsford was against the run of play.
A win against Weaverham in an unusually poor spirited game allowed Rovers to continue their good form before beating Winsford Over 3-2 in the home leg with a crucial opener by Andy David-Brown and a superb lob by Jordan Ratcliffe. Mossie also demonstrated his skill in a new role at Centre Back.
For the last game of the season vs Sandbach, Rob and Ben started in Central midfield and helped Rover dominate for most of the game. Rovers finished the first half 2 goals ahead but it should have been won. Sandbach showed their class in the dying stages of the game and despite tremendous efforts by Jack Spooner (Capt.) to keep his defence together, they fought their way back into it for a draw.
Finishing mid-table following promotion is a good result and we should be pleased with ourselves. We improved as the season went by and we can be confident as we go forward into the new season.
AWARDS: –
Players Player: Ben Ambage
Sporstman: Andy David-Brown
Supporters Player: Jack Spooner
Most Improved Player: Rob Hill
Best Team Player: Luke Shields
Under 16s – A Season Of Two Halves
Pre-season friendly�s gave us a chance to �bed in� the new team. First impressions were mixed but the season got off to a good start beating a strong Weaverham away on a pitch that Rovers had struggled with in the past. It turns out that this would be their only defeat at home all season and 1 of only 2 defeats in total (…surfice to say they went on to win the League).
The following week injuries unsettled defence and Middlewich gave us a shock opening the scoring in the first few seconds of the game. However things did improve and we won the next 3 league games – putting us 2nd in the league. We also won the first round of the League cup away at Frodsham Town.
Late October, with just 11 players available and in second place we travelled away to challenge for the top spot against the current league leaders Moulton. Unfortunately the home team won out and held on to their position at the top of the league.
Rovers then faced a testing run of games against 1st division opposition and division 2 challengers. First of all, we faced Witton Albion losing out despite a strong challenge and nearly drowning in the rain. Then in a poor-spirited match against Winsford Over, despite taking the lead for most of the game, we seemed to be kicked off the pitch by a team that didn�t seem to care about the �cost� of winning!
The next week; a critical match in our league challenge against Barnton went wrong. A game that on paper we were supposed to win ended up in a draw following a last minute penalty award. Then in the last game before Christmas, our other apparent main contender beat us when 20 minutes from time when the referee missed an incredible offside violation to kill the game off 4-2. All league hopes were shattered after Christmas when Macc Tigers walked over us 3-0.
Then ironically, as if the pressure had lifted, Rovers went on to win against league leaders Moulton in another poor-spirited game. Another 2 wins followed before defeat to Holmes Chapel on a chewed-up rugby pitch seemed to finally kill-off our season. The last few games were disappointing.
End of season drinks were held at the Coach & Horses and despite not achieving the rather ambitious target of League Champions, everybody had a smile on their face and we can be proud that we gave it our best efforts (certainly in the 1st half of the season) and we�re stronger for the experience!
AWARDS: –
Players Player: Ben Goostrey
Sporstman: Jamie Kettle
Supporters Player: Callum Harvie
Most Improved Player: Nick Whiteman
Best All Rounder: Charlie Highgate
