Horsforth Fairweather FC
|
HFFC 1986-87: In the Driving Seat. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Previous... the
1985-86 season.
Next ... the
1987-88 season.
Back: Ray Child, Dave Vernon, Iain Davison, Mark Sweeney, Simon Vickers, Tim Vickerman, Andy Davison, Neil Oddy, Tim Hirst. Front: Craig Oddy, Steve Burns, Mark Bickerdike, Phil Troughton, Chris Fardon, John Steenson, Mrs Hirst. In 1986, Horsforth left the Sunday League to join the rival Combination League, starting out in the newly-formed Division Seven, while Dave Vernon took over the reins as Manager. In many respects, this was the start of a long, steady upward path for the club's fortunes, and the beginning of a process that would climax with the great events of 1991-92. With Dave's more rigorous (if not exactly universally popular!) training methods, and a few new players, mainly Biochemists, we started out like a house on fire, winning the first game against the Deer Park at Roundhay 11-0, then a record, and setting the early pace in the division. New strikers Andy and Iain Davison played up front with Dave, while Mark Sweeney, Mark Bick, now the club captain full-time, Craig Oddy, Tim Hirst and new boy Phil Troughton contested the midfield spots. The defence usually included Chris Fardon and Ray Child at full-backs, John Steenson and another of this year's crop, John Hryszko (pronounced "Risko"), in the centre, and Simon Vickers in goals. Reserves Steve Burns, Howard Churchill and new striker Gary Watson made up what was a particularly strong squad.
Back: Iain Davison, Dave Vernon, Craig Oddy, Simon Vickers, Tim Vickerman, Mark Sweeney, Phil Troughton, Chris Fardon. Front: John Steenson, Steve Burns, Mark Bickerdike, Ray Child (and Leon), Andy Davison, John Hryszko But, as the season wore on, some of the impetus was lost, and a run of bad results in November and December coincided with a spate of team selection problems. Neither of the Davison brothers could complete what they had started, with Andy dropping out injured and Iain leaving the area, and the flow of goals all but dried up. As the season unfolded, the team changes were rung again. Mark Sweeney switched to central defence, in which capacity he was to serve the club with distinction for many more years. Hirsty often joined the forwards in the latter part of the campaign, while Chris moved up to midfield. By the spring, although any thoughts about actually winning anything had long since evaporated, the side recovered its poise and consistency, and finished comfortably mid-table.
The most memorable moment of the season was Mark Bick's last-minute mazy dribble
from inside his own half which won the tempestuous home game with Swarcliffe -
those who were there generally reckon this to be the greatest HFFC goal ever.
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 Bickerdike (v. Swarcliffe at home). Top Goal Scorer - Mark Bickerdike (18). Club Colours.First choice - All green. Change - Not worn. Registered as Silver shirts, green shorts, white socks. Back to top of page.
Previous... the
1985-86 season.
Next ... the
1987-88 season.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
