Under 12's 08/09 season review

The U12’s finished the 2008-09 season as runners-up in Division B of the Tameside Junior Football League. We won 15 and drew one of our 21 league matches, scoring 98 goals in all competitions. In addition we were very unfortunate to lose in the League Cup Final and also made the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, losing by a single goal to a leading ‘A’ Division side.

To write all of this out seems so matter-of-fact, but it is absolutely astonishing that this side has achieved so much, and I would certainly have struggled to believe that even half of the above would be true back in August. Back then, a squad of 12 was down to a squad of 11 when one of last season’s key players abruptly announced he no longer wanted to play for the team. Having had an extremely tough first year – 15 defeats and a goal difference of minus 63 – and now only 2 weeks from the start of the season proper, things could not have been bleaker. I gave a lot of thought to withdrawing from the league.

However, it was with great thanksgiving that I received a couple of phone calls that were to change everything. In came Callum Barlow and Sam O’Neill, and a couple of days later we went across to Ridgehill Celtic’s ground and demolished them 12-1 in a friendly. From that unforgettable night we all suddenly saw what might be possible……

We should have put double figures past Denton on the opening day but in the end we just got over the line with a 2-1 win. But it was one win from one attempt! After demolishing Oldham at home, we travelled up to Failsworth to play North Manchester, a game which I believe really set the course for our season, a brilliant 6-2 win (see comments below).

And this was to be the way of it for much of the season. Sam was rifling home goals for fun, along with Jamie and Michael, Callum was winning all the plaudits for his energy and skill in midfield, and as the side settled down there were to be so many happy mornings as the goals flew in. After the Christmas break we got into a fabulous groove, and with a re-jigged back line we won eight out of nine – seven in a row – including a win against A Division Wythenshawe in a friendly. Although we stuttered – perhaps inevitably – with three losses on the bounce, the boys rallied well and finished the season with three successive wins and 13 more goals to secure runners-up spot, which was thoroughly deserved after so much effort and determination for nine months.

It was especially sweet to win at Medlock in our last fixture. This was the scene of our first ever 11-a-side win in 2007, but it was such a controversial and stressful match that the fact of breaking our duck was lost amidst some rancour at the time. Thankfully this is now all in the past and I get on very well with the Medlock management team. But to go there and really put on a show to round off 2009 was extremely gratifying.

Most of the B Division managers agreed early on that the side that finished second would have effectively ‘won’ our Division. Clayton Villa, the Division winners, were clearly put into the wrong league and their form somewhat distorted the season. Indeed, I’ve just watched them win the Challenge Cup final today, beating a top A Division side. They are team of inter-league and some academy-trained players, and they have set a huge standard, winning the league by some distance! We learned a harsh lesson in our first encounter, as we froze on the day and showed them far too much respect. In all honesty it was embarrassing. But we bounced back with a big win the week after and when we met Clayton again a few weeks later we became the only side to score against them in open play all season. In fact, that’s the last time they conceded and the most they let in during any game!

Our final league encounter with them was a much tighter affair and everyone was thoroughly heartened by a superb Reddish second half performance. This in turn gave us a lot of heart for our fourth meeting with them in the League Cup Final. The match has long gone but the bitter-sweet memories of the day will stay with me for a while yet. I have to settle on the fact that we came very close to causing a massive upset. Everyone present knows we were denied two clear goals which could well have changed the entire course of the game. But we put in a marvellous show with an under-strength team, emerging from the day with an enormous amount of credit.

While I have appreciated the many compliments I’ve received about the team, what gives me the greatest pleasure is the fact that every team looks forward to playing us. That is to say, they’re wary of us as a football team but they enjoy playing on our superb pitch and the friendly, pleasant atmosphere all our games are conducted in. Reddish North End have a reputation of good clean, sporting play, with no nastiness or unpleasant behaviour from any of the players - or the parents! And this is not something that just happens, it’s something we have worked hard on and that I am very keen to maintain. That is a massive credit to everyone.

Despite all the successes, this season hasn’t been a straightforward one off the pitch. There are so many different requirements that managers have to fulfil, not least the small matter of trying to keep 14 or 15 boys happy when the game remains an 11-a-side business, and at various times the ‘growing pains’ we have experienced have seen me fielding complaints and concerns from numerous different quarters. I have had to make several phone calls and/or visits that I would really rather not have had to do. I have put various noses out of joint, I’ve made mistakes, and there are too many things I could have done better. But overall I believe that I’ve got a lot more right than I got wrong, and for this I owe a debt of gratitude to some very supportive and helpful people within the club who I have the privilege of calling friends. Not to mention a great wife who has been more than understanding when football sometimes seems to be all that exists!

There is no telling what next season may hold. All I do know is that if this set of players stick together it will be something no-one will want to miss!

Finally, thanks to Rob, our website administrator, all the reports, numerous photos, and our presentation night can be viewed at your leisure.
Perhaps also if these memories underneath inspire you, you can send your own in.

FAVOURITE GAME: Every one that we won! But this is very difficult to call, there were so many great performances. However, if pushed, our 6-2 win at North Manchester Boys would be my pick. It was our first away game of the season against a strong team, who were favourites to finish top before the season started. I was edgy about what might happen to us (having lost to them 3 times last season). At half time we were 4-0 up and our eventual 6-2 win was greeted with stunned amazement by both me and the N.M’cr manager! It was unbelievable and I was ecstatic for hours after the game, unlike my friend Steve, the N.M’cr manager, who wouldn’t talk to me for two weeks!

BEST GOAL: With 98 to choose from it’s almost impossible. Both goals against Clayton were special, Callum’s equaliser against Brendon at home when he hacked clear off our line and then ran virtually the length of the pitch to get on the end of a move and score was amazing. But one that sticks in my mind was Michael’s cracking shot from the edge of the box at Medlock Rangers, which flew into the net. A genuine screamer!

BEST SAVE: Callum’s double stop at point blank range against Oldham in the League Cup. Absolutely brilliant. Running this a close second was the save he made in the League Cup Final to prevent Jake scoring an own goal!

James Emmerson