Horsforth Fairweather FC
|
HFFC 1991-92: It Still Hasn't Sunk In Yet. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Previous... the
1990-91 season.
Next ... the
1992-93 season.
Back: John Steenson, Tony Marcinkowski, Tim Vickerman, Bernie Gilmore, Dave Vernon, Kelvin Tapley, Sean Taylor, Phil Troughton. Front: Stuart Parmenter, Simon Hockney, Tony Reilly, Martin Woods, Craig Oddy, Simon Cockill. After eleven years of striving, Horsforth finally won their first trophy, the championship of the Combination League Division Six, in a hugely memorable season. Opinions were divided right down the middle as to whether this dramatic improvement in the club's fortunes was due to Steve Burns's management or to the fact that he was no longer in the team himself: he claimed it was the former, everyone else the latter. Bernie Gilmore did the honours in goals, while the defence was permed from Tim Vickerman, new star centre-back Sean Taylor, Kelvin Tapley, Simon Cockill (another new face), John Steenson and Tim Hirst, the last of whom enjoyed an extraordinary Indian summer to his career at left-back and assistant Manager, the two roles being not entirely unrelated. The midfield, now by design a foursome again, generally involved Simon Hockney, Craig Oddy, Lee Monaghan, Martin Woods, Phil Troughton and Marten Gadd, and up front the most usual suspects were Bob Matthew, Tony Reilly and Mark Bramfitt.
Back: Bob Matthew, Phil Troughton, John Steenson, Bernie Gilmore, Dave Vernon, Sean Taylor, Kelvin Tapley. Front: Stuart Parmenter, Steve Burns, Tim Hirst, Gary Watson, Simon Hockney, Craig Oddy. Bob opened and closed the season in great form, Tony bagged seven goals in one game, the 11-1 thrashing of Mulberry at Cross Flatts Park, but didn't play again after November, while Mark, though by no means injury-free himself, rattled in a phenomenal tally over the course of the campaign. Dave Vernon served the club in several capacities over the season, and credit should also be given to all the squad members: Gary Watson, Colin Wilson, Stuart Parmenter, Chris Fardon, Jason Green, Nick Brophy, reserve goalie Tony Marcinkowski and Steve Burns. It was in essence the squad system which won the title for the club. Such was the depth of the squad, and so interchangeable was the personnel, that Bernie and Craig were the only ever-presents, and few would have speculated as to what exactly was the first choice team.
Back: Stuart Parmenter, Kelvin Tapley, John Steenson, Tim Vickerman, John Hryszko, Bernie Gilmore, Sean Taylor, Chris Fardon, Dave Vernon, Mark Sweeney, Phil Troughton, Iain Davison, Marten Gadd.
Front: Tony Marcinkowski, Simon Hockney, Martin Woods, Gary Watson, Mark Bramfitt, Craig Oddy, Bob Matthew, Steve Burns.
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 - Sean Taylor. Goal of the Season - Kelvin Tapley (v. Merlins at home). Top Goal Scorer - Mark Bramfitt (36). Club Colours.First choice - Green and black striped shirts, black shorts and socks
Change - Orange shirts, navy shorts, orange socks. Back to top of page.
Previous... the
1990-91 season.
Next ... the
1992-93 season.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We actually lost the first game of the season, at home to FC Haigh,
but then embarked on a lengthy run of success.
As winter set in, there followed a further defeat at the hands of the side
who were to be our closest rivals, and a couple of cup exits
which perhaps cleared the decks for the real action in the league during the spring.
We went top of the table after beating Nat West on a frozen pitch in February,
and thereafter never looked like losing pole position.
An away win over Wheatsheaf at Wortley, coupled with the indifferent form of our competitors,
meant we needed only one point from the last two games to secure the title.
Although we lost at Cross Flatts,
the highest of many high points of this great season was probably the last game,
an 8-1 triumph over Mulberry at home, that finally clinched the championship,
and with it a double promotion to Division Four.
And, no, even more than fifteen years on, this one still hasn't sunk in yet!
