fixtures and results | home page
The following reflects the view of the author only (right) who follows the Leafe home and away, but knows little about the game and stopped playing aged 13 to take up a career in drinking, smoking and habitual obesity. Still, here we go:
Page 1 (of 6)
The Dave Swindlehurst era was over after a rather eventful season culminating in defeat to Merstham in the Surrey Senior Cup Final in a game we twice lead. Popular former player and manager Stuart Massey returned for a second spell in charge. After a very low key pre-season optimism still filled the nostrils as the back bone of last season's side remained intact; outstanding keeper Rob Tolfrey, midfield playmaker Rob Smith, Captain Ali Reeve, versatile defender/midfielders Adam Broomhead and Alhajie Jabbie and top scorer Sean Rivers.
A surprise departure during the summer was Player of the Season Sam Clayton who moved to the Crem, but Mass did bring back the very talented Paul Scott, powerful striker Denva McKenzie and battling midfielder Jason Goodchild. Three more excellent additions were left-back Steve MacNamara, versatile right sider Asher Hudson and exciting young forward Riccardo Williams.
The season's opener was at home to Merstham and it was to be an anti-climax as the visitors took a convincing 1-0 victory at a strangely flat Church Road. Four days later a trip to Eastbourne Town saw us go 2-0 up in the most unseasonal weather, the second a stunning strike by Riccardo and hope was restored - until the Pensioners scored three times after the break. A 3-0 capitulation at Kingstonian, clearly the class of the division, suggested a long hard slog lay ahead.
Our first victory followed, at home to perennial strugglers Corinthian Casuals before a paltry crowd of just 84, a sad trend that stayed with us and other clubs for the campaign as the credit crunch went mainstream. They still fill the Arsenal's Emirates at £45 a pop though don't they? Steve MacNamara "Macca" was catching the eye with a fierce shot, excellent dead ball skills and an eye for goal.
The last Saturday in August our FA Cup campaign began with a tepid home draw with Peacehaven & Telscombe, followed four days later by an exciting 3-1 victory at Lancing's ground in monsoon like conditions with a Denva brace and another Macca strike. How a Cup run would lift the spirits......
We lost at Leatherhead, as usual, by a hefty 3-1 that didn't really do the hosts justice, only stoic defending by the impressive Hudson and ever reliable Broomhead preventing a duck shoot. On a brighter note new signing "Rocket" Ronnie Green had a fine debut on the right wing adding some much needed width and pace. A midweek home draw with big-spending Folkestone Invicta (£100K in debt, it later emerged) suggested that things were improving and a strong performance at Horsham YMCA in the FA Cup was only spoilt by a last minute equaliser. In the replay Denva and Scotty struck for a 2-0 victory rewarded with a trip to Blue Square side Welling United.
In the meantime we took our new found form into the league with a 2-1 home win over Walton & Hersham with debutant Nicky Greene, a tricky left winger and Smudger grabbing the goals. On the Tuesday we went to Chipstead and destroyed them 5-1 with an outstanding display of pace, skill and deadly finishing with Denva (2), Smudger, Macca and Scotty all finding the net. At the other end Tolfrey pulled three wonder saves out of the bag, reaffirming his status as best keeper in this Division.
page 1 | Page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6