Horsforth Fairweather FC
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HFFC 1982-83: Over the Moon. |
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Previous... the
1981-82 season.
Next ... the
1983-84 season.
Back: Martin Riley, Tim Vickerman, Mark Sweeney, Mark Bickerdike, Bernie Gilmore, Simon Holmes, Mark Burrows, Rob Phillis, Andy Lewis. Front: Steve Burns, Simon Hockney, Ian James, Ray Child, Craig Oddy. The turning point, in many ways. Horsforth appointed Ray Child to the post of Player/Manager for this season, and finally gained some measure of relative success. With Bernie Gilmore now a regular in goals, the defence was based around Tim Vickerman, Martin Riley, Rob Phillis, Ray himself, Mark Burrows and Steve Burns. In midfield, Simon Hockney, Craig Oddy and Mark Bickerdike were joined by former Biochemist Steve Palmer, who soon became the club captain, with Simon Holmes and (especially) ex-Thackley Thumpers player Marten Gadd adding greatly to the available options. In attack, paradoxically, the departed Bruce Tremlett was scarcely missed, as his erstwhile foils Mark Sweeney and Dave Vernon formed a more lethal partnership at the edge of a 4-4-2 formation, reinforced by Ian James from time to time.
There were many occasions during this eye-opener of a season on which we surprised even ourselves.
The 4-0 win away to Hawksworth YMCA in the mud at Lawnswood was an early bonus,
featuring as it did a first-ever clean sheet for Bern.
But the 6-1 and 4-1 home wins against fairly decent mid-table sides
Shoulder of Mutton and Crossgates LUSC respectively
were performances and results that would have been unimaginable in previous seasons.
Though it would be wrong to deny there were problems,
and a few heavy defeats along the way to keep the euphoria under control,
the team had far more resilience than hitherto,
and a run of six games unbeaten towards the end of the season,
including an astonishing 10-1 win against Stanmore Springs,
led to our ending with more than a point a game -
maybe not something to get too excited about these days,
but a real achievement for the club that had done so badly two short years before.
Highlight - for your author, anyway, the 3-1 win against Abbey Wanderers in the snow
at Roundhay.
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Awards.Player of the Year - Dave Vernon. Goal of the Season - Mark Sweeney (v. Eastgate away). Top Goal Scorer - Dave Vernon (18). Club Colours.First choice - Red and white striped shirts, white shorts, red socks.
Change - Yellow shirts, white shorts, blue socks
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Previous... the
1981-82 season.
Next ... the
1983-84 season.
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