Horsforth Fairweather FC
|
HFFC 1981-82: Everything to Play For. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Previous... the
1980-81 season.
Next ... the
1982-83 season.
Back: Mark Sweeney, Martin Riley, Ray Child, Bernie Gilmore, Rob Phillis, Dave Vernon, Mark Bickerdike, Steve Watson. Front: Tim Vickerman, Simon Hockney, Bruce Tremlett, Chris Fitzgerald, Andy Lewis. A few subtle but not insignificant changes had been made over the summer of 1981. The club's home ground was now the wildly sloping but quaint and lovable pitch 5 at Roundhay Park, destined to be our habitat for the next 14 years; we trained regularly on the astroturf at Fearnville Sports Centre; and the use of the word "Manager" was creeping in, Steve Burns having hitherto, "had the last word on team selection", whatever that meant. There was even a proper change kit, the new yellow shirts meaning the old "Court Jesters" could finally be put out of their misery. The arrival of several new players had been an added boost: Tim Vickerman and Simon Hockney came from our old friends at Thackley, Dave Vernon from the Biochemistry team. After early setbacks, the side hit what might be called a vein of form, and by Christmas was in a fairly respectable position in the league, mainly due to hard-earned but by no means undeserved wins against HA Spartans and Shoulder of Mutton; there had also been a stunning 6-2 Jubilee Cup win against Northern Star at East End Park to savour.
In the New Year, the lack of depth to the squad was beginning to be rather shown up,
and the results trailed off dramatically. In spite of two important new recruits,
striker Mark Burrows and the versatile Craig Oddy,
the team slipped to bottom place in the table, and stayed there.
But there had been glimpses of what we might do if we got it together,
and much tangible progress had undoubtedly been made. Highlight -
possibly the performance away to Whitkirk at Templenewsam, with Mark Bick's first ever goal,
even though we ended up losing the game 3-2.
Back to
top of page.
Back to
top of page.
Back to
top of page.
Back to
top of page.
Awards.Player of the Year - Mark Bickerdike. Goal of the Season - Mark Sweeney (v. St Annes away). Top Goal Scorer - Bruce Tremlett (16). Club Colours.First choice - Red and white striped shirts, white shorts, red socks.
Change - Yellow shirts, white shorts, blue socks
Back to top of page.
Previous... the
1980-81 season.
Next ... the
1982-83 season.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The line-up these days was relatively stable - Kenny (or Bernie) in goals;
Tim Vickerman and Ray Child at full-backs; Rob Phillis and Martin Riley centre-backs;
Steve Watson, Mark Bickerdike and Simon Hockney in midfield;
and an all-new combination of Bruce Tremlett,
Mark Sweeney (of Knife Edge, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Soul Shoes fame)
and Dave Vernon up front. Even Chris Fitz and Andy Lewis on the bench
seemed like permanent fixtures.
Bruce's goalscoring exploits illuminated many a dull Sunday,
but soon attracted the attention of other clubs: at the end of this season,
St Annes Villa poached him and he was to be a long time in returning.
Mark Sweeney was elevated to the captaincy during the course of the season,
as he was switched to midfield.
Others who took the field in those far-off days included midfield contender Simon Holmes
and utility player Howard Churchill.