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Back: Christine, Karen, Woody, Alex Goodall, Matt Hazel, Richard Horton, Andy Merifield, Simon Hinkins, Steve Sedgwick, Adolph Masocha, Mark Duce, Simon Banoub, Mark Bonner, Matt Ridsdale. Front: Jamie Bell, Anthony Bell, Joel Graves, Sam Goodall, Richard Hudson, Simon Parker, Barry Armstrong, James Hunt, Lee Monaghan, Andy Bowler, John Newsome.

  If fourth place represented the team's best league position for five years, that achievement was overshadowed by the club's first ever appearance in a Final of a Leeds & District FA cup competition, in 28 years of trying. Two key arrivals at the club were Joel Graves, who generally played on the right of the midfield, and Anthony Bell, a 17-year-old striker whose goals contributed greatly to the renewed optimism.

  Anthony's goal tally almost matched that of the now legendary Simon Parker, with John Newsome and Andy Merifield providing back-up when needed: Ant's brother Jamie could be another big signing, if and when he recovers from long-term injury. With Richard Horton and Lee Monaghan again at the heart of the midfield, Joel and Simon Hinkins were the regulars on the flanks, though Sam Goodall was used often and effectively in attack or midfield. Sadly, Andy Bowler's long career with the club began to fade away as the season progressed, but there were still a few moments of the old magic to savour. Adolph Masocha, formerly with Park Rangers, added a dash of old-fashioned wing play during the earlier part of the season, though he was transferred to Westfield before the cup contests had reached their crucial stages. Jamie Martin once more headed a strong supporting cast in midfield, while Mark Bonner was another who suggested the squad was getting better as well as larger. Barry Armstrong, Steve Sedgwick, Mark Duce and Richard Hudson made an effective combination in defence, so much so that Simon Banoub, returning to the colours, could at first only get an occasional place in the starting line-up. James Hunt, playing what may be his last season, was now understudied by the great club servant Phil Ridsdale.

  The early fixtures presented a stern challenge, as we went down narrowly to Rawdon, then overcame champions Shipley Town and took key points off Crossflatts. A string of nine wins in ten games, reminiscent of the glory days of 2000-01, saw the club progress past the Quarter-Final stages of both the League Cup, with a memorable winning goal from Parker against the Hockney, and the Sunday District Cup, with a hard-fought extra-time triumph over Harehills WMC. We also beat Shipley Town again in another last-gasp encounter at Esholt.

  The New Year found the club facing Crossflatts and Rawdon again, two games that, had we won them, would have sent us to the top of the table, and in a strong position to challenge for the coveted league title itself. But our problems began with lengthy suspensions for Joel and then Richard Horton, both for alleged offences not committed while playing for this club, and the loss of Richard Hudson, moving to Ireland with his job, delivered another major blow to our hopes. Simon Banoub and Jamie Martin stepped into the breach, becoming regulars in the early months of 2008, and central defender Kevin Ferguson, transferred from Horsforth Town, signalled that the longer-term future of the club was in good hands, but the results in the league started to slip away from us, and in the end what might have been a serious challenge to the Rawdon / Crossflatts hegemony faded away into a still-impressive fourth place. Crossflatts beat us in a wind-affected League Cup Semi-Final, but at the same stage of the District Cup we entertained Hyde Park Power Athletic in a game that went to a penalty shoot-out, Hinky's final spot-kick proving decisive.

Sunday District Cup Final 2008: James, Sedge, Richard and Lee Mon being presented with runners-up medals. Sorry for the poor quality, not many photos of this occasion exist.

  The Final saw us facing the awesome Pudsey 2005, at Bracken Edge on a Tuesday evening, and in a season where the number of clubs in the Premier Division was reduced to a farcical eight, it had been particularly maddening to have to play the Horsforth derby just over 48 hours earlier. The 2005 game was just about the tightest many of us have ever watched or played in, as well as possibly the most important single match in the club's history. However, the lack of eligible subs due to the onerous qualification rules hampered us (thirteen players reported for duty, four of them strikers), and the absence of Manager Martin Woods was a further hurdle to overcome. For the third time in that cup run, the contest went to extra time, but two goals in the last five minutes saw the Pudsey side claim the trophy. Nevertheless, it had been a most encouraging display for 115 minutes, and overall the season ended on a very positive note.

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Awards.

Goal of the Season - Simon Parker (v. Horsforth Rangers at home).

Top Goal Scorer - Simon Parker (13).

Club Colours.

First choice - Green shirts, black shorts and socks .

Change - Yellow shirts, black shorts and socks,
worn in the District Cup Final against Pudsey 2005.

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