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Back: Karen, Marc Rayner, Will Low, Jon Vernon, Chris Markham, Richard Horton, Chris Buttery, Steve Sedgwick, Andy Gough, Simon Hinkins, Phil Smith. Front: Anthony Bell, Simon Banoub, Sam Goodall, John Newsome, Scott Scott Robinson, Oliver Frei, Lee Monaghan, Mike Sinnott, Woody.

  The summer of 2010 saw several changes at HFFC. After eleven years, it was agreed the time was right to leave the Wharfedale Triangle and rejoin the Leeds Combination. The home pitch was moved from pitch 1 at Bedquilts to our former stamping ground of pitch 6, now renamed as pitch 4, With relatively few variations, the formation settled into a 3-5-2 shape. Chris Buttery, signed as a midfielder, took over the vacant goalkeeper's jersey, and with him from the north-east arrived Phil Smith, a classy defender. With Andy Gough now settled in, Simon Banoub still going strong (though sadly it appears he was making this his last season), Steve Sedgwick available more regularly than hitherto, and Barry Armstrong in as good form as ever, the defensive unit was as solid as it had ever been. Though we had a few good options at right wing-back, new recruit Mike Sinnott became first choice in that role, while Simon Hinkins, excellent left-sided midfield player and often unsung hero at left-back, was the natural choice on the opposite flank. After 20 years' sterling service, Lee Monaghan was to play significantly less part in midfield; though Lee retained the club captaincy, the armband was more habitually worn by Sedge. Richard Horton, for so long the rock on which the midfield was founded, was now ably supported by Chris Markham in the central zones, while another newcomer Jamie Francis drifted between midfield and attack as the situation demanded. Up front, early injury to John Newsome might have presented us with a major problem, but we were spoilt for choice now. As well as the excellent Anthony Bell, we had acquired the services of Scott Scott Robinson, a tricky and deceptively strong striker, and Will Low, destined to play a key role in the centre-forward position. Ant, Will, Scott and Jamie all scored for fun, with strong support from Phil and of course Lee Mon. It was of course first and foremost teamwork that led to the season's success, and as ever the roll call of valuable squad members is a long one: Jon Vernon and Will's brother Tom in defence, sound whenever called upon; Dean Herron, versatile and intelligent; Jake Harvey, several major contributions in midfield; Dean Smith, a talented player with a great family history at HFFC, wish we had seen more of him; Sam and Alex Goodall, added greatly to the attacking variations; not forgetting Sedge and Mezzer for their displays as stand-in keeper; and many more who contributed at training and on the touchline on Sundays.

  The Combination consisted of five divisions at this time, and we were shoehorned into the middle one, Division One as it was called, looking to do as well was we could in our new league without necessarily expecting great things first time around. The start was steady if unspectacular, three narrow wins and three draws putting us into a position of some strength. A single, shock defeat away to Bramley, and a handful of League and District Cup wins completed the opening half of the season, and the New Year found us steadily picking up points again. The season turned on a desperately hard-fought 2-0 win against Pudsey Libs at home, both goals from the penalty spot, a game which made us realise that the championship itself was within our grasp, in a division where so many other contenders were beating each other every week. This was the start of a five-match winning streak which reached its zenith in a superb 4-3 win at Seacroft, and climaxed in what was in the end a comfortable 6-0 stroll against Bramley to give un an unassailable points lead at the top of the table. Though Pudsey Libs had ended our interest in both cups, the title was ours, and a summer of celebrations could begin.

Christine and various Sedgwicks, Woody, Andy Gough, Simon Banoub, Chris Markham, Jamie Francis, Phil Smith, Lee Monaghan, Will Low, Richard Horton, Chris Buttery, Steve Sedgwick, Alex Goodall, Simon Hinkins, Dean Herron, Barry Armstrong, Joe Waite, Mike Sinnott, Danny Riley, Marc Rayner, Kev Collier.

  The low spot of the season was almost certainly the miserable 1-0 defeat at Leeds Maccabi: Sedge sent off, several others booked, and above all a game we should have won, yet this game perhaps served to concentrate minds on the task ahead of us, and it was probably no coincidence it was followed by the aforementioned heroics against Pudsey. Hard to choose a highlight, there were so many of them, but pride of place must surely go the Seacroft game, Ant's goalscoring, Sedge's goalkeeping and the complete lack of dodgy substitutions. All in all, a brilliant season, made possible by lots of hard work, but no more than we deserved, if only for the way we had finnally arrested the slow decline of prior campaigns.

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Awards.

Goal of the Season -  

Top Goal Scorer - Anthony Bell, Jamie Francis (both 11).

Club Colours.

First choice - Green shirt with single black stripe, black shorts and socks .

Change - Yellow shirts, green shorts and socks,
worn in the away matches with Leeds Maccabi and Manston Wanderers.

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