01.05.06 AND FINALLY...
Cup Final weekend in the Horsham and District League saw fine performances from Brockham Badgers - but no silverware.
The U14As and U16s had both done fantastically well to make it through to their respective League Cup Finals, played in a day of youth football at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. Despite spirited performances, both teams narrowly missed out on the big prize - but can be proud of their runners-up medals, rounding off an excellent season.
Congratulations are also due to the U11As. Bottom-side Lower Beeding, due to provide opposition in the final game of the season last Monday, defaulted on the fixture. The three points go to Brockham, securing second place in the League, and promotion to the top division for next season. The runners-up medals were awarded at Broadbridge Heath, along with the Fair Play Award for their colleagues in U11 (Black).
Two more teams have completed their league programmes. The U10As rounded off a strong first-season in the Epsom and Ewell League with a 2-2 draw; whilst the U15s secured an excellent 1-0 away win against champions Henfield - making it fifteen wins out of sixteen league matches, in an unbeaten run stretching back to mid-November.
The U8s have competed in the first of two end-of-season tournaments. The Red squad went through the entire Tadworth Tournament without conceding a goal and made it through to the Final, which had to be decided on a penalty shoot-out. Unfortunately, at that point, luck deserted our boys. Next week, they get to try once more in the Friends Provident Tournament.
THE BROCKHAM BADGERS ANNUAL 5-A-SIDE FUNDAY
On Sunday, 230 players took part in the annual 5-a-side funday for both club members and guests. It was a terrific turnout on a day when only the sun was absent!
There were a number of successes - the quality of the football, the excitement as the scratch teams competed eagerly and the funds raised for the Club. The Treasurer is still counting - but early indications are that the profit will top last year's event.
The number of girl players was also particularly encouraging, as Brockham Badgers is looking to help develop girls' football in Surrey. Congratulations and thanks to Peter Suchy and everyone who helped organise and run the event on the day.
Next - its the new Brockham '06: World Cup Tournament. So far, we have well over 1,100 players from throughout the southern counties registered to come to the Big Field over two days in June. More details about this exciting event will be here on the website very soon.
10.05.06 PIPPED!
It's been an agonising wait for the U13As. They ended their season just over a week ago with a 3-0 away win at AFC Walcountians. The victory left Brockham at the top of the Epsom and Ewell Premier Division...but with our two nearest rivals still having games to play, it was simply a matter of sitting back and hoping....
In the end - it wasn't to be. Results didn't go our way and the Badgers missed out on the Championship by the slenderest of margins (currently just a single point). With one more league match still to be played, the U13As will find out this weekend whether they will finish in second or third place.
Either way, it's a terrific result for the lads in their first-ever season against the strong opposition, from throughout Surrey, in the Epsom and Ewell League. They finished the year with fifteen wins, three draws and just two defeats. Not only that, but their goal difference of +80 was far and away the best in the Premier Division - nearly thirty goals better than their nearest rivals. Congratulations to Graham Mackrell and his team.
Meanwhile, some of Brockham Badgers' other age groups have begun taking part in the traditional end-of-season tournaments. The U8s, U10s and U11s all took part in the annual St Paul's Panthers event - which this year moved from Dorking FC to the picturesque surroundings of the Friends Provident Sports Field.
