Seasons End

Tomorrow is the last match of the Football Season for us and I’ll be glad it’s over. I can’t recall a season like it and I can remember the 2013–14 season when we were actually relegated only to be reprieved because Worksop Town could not continue in their league due to a financial crisis. My Tragedy, Injuries post really covered how bad this season has been.

Last Saturday we travelled to Lewes where both teams showed why they’re down the lower end of the table – a 1-1 draw with neither side looking like scoring in the second half. At least recent signing Ruben got a chance to celebrate…

…While neither side could afford to lose it always felt like both clubs knew that all they needed was a single point to guarantee safety and that is what was achieved. Apart from some choice challenges…

…There really wasn’t much to entertain both sets of fans and it was a quiet audience apart from a small contingent of Lewes fans whose ability to hold their beer was seriously lacking. A shame really because the general atmosphere was friendly and the real ale (Harvey’s Best Bitter and Old Ale) in the bar was excellent. But as they were drinking that Lager stuff, hardly a surprise…

So we approach tomorrow with nothing more to do than give promotion candidates Aveley a good match. They and Billericay Town share the same points total and are only separated by goal difference. As such, we have a duty to make Aveley work for the win while the same duty falls on Welling United in their match against Billericay. Who faces who in the play-off’s is down to us!

Of course, the end of the season is a time for farewells – some of them brief as we’ll be back to face the new season in a couple of months. But this season has seen the passing of a couple of long serving club members. One of these, David Wolff, will be greatly missed by both the club and the London FA due to his work with youth teams across the capital…

…Seen here giving our Chairman some sage words of advice.

We’re also going to lose our long suffering Goalkeeping Coach – Gavin King. He’s decided to retire after serving with the club as both Keeper and Coach from 2008. Here’s an early shot of him punching clear in a match against Witham Town…

…And here, doing a warm-up routine with Shane Gore…

…He played a key role in getting us promoted in 2010/11 and is a favourite with the fans and team mates alike – always a friendly face with a kind word for all 😎 I know that our pun-meister supreme, Tom, is preparing “The king’s Speech” for the end of season awards 🤣

Seasons End also brings with it some sad non-football thoughts. Climate change makes football somehow seem irrelevant – I’ll leave you with Marillion…