2014 - A Year of Big Highs & some Lows
The year started for Sholing unbeaten at the top of the Wessex League, although the first two months of 2014 were to be frustrating, due to the never-ending rain. Game after game was called off, meaning just TWO League games were played in the whole of January & February. Despite the Silverlake Arena having better drainage than many Non-League grounds, the vast quantities of water coming off the adjacent fields meant temporary ditches were dug in an effort to keep the pitch from flooding. We even ended up with a sizeable duck pond in the car-park for a few weeks!
When the weather finally relented, we were left with a huge back-log of games, not helped by us also still being in the FA Vase (more on that later). At one stage we faced NINE away league games on the trot, surely unprecedented at any level of football? However, the team reacted well to sometimes playing 4 games in a week and continued to rack-up some big wins on our way to winning the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League. The Boatmen fans were enjoying the many local derbies, there were often as many Sholing fans at away games as the home support, sometimes more. Although Alresford Town kept the League interesting with a strong finish to the season, the Boatmen clinched the title with a typical convincing win away at Moneyfields FC. In the end, we won 33 out of 42 games, losing only 4 and scoring a whopping 134 goals in the process. Lee Wort led the scoring charts with 49 goals, ably assisted by Ashley Jarvis with 30. However, it was a whole team performance from front to back that impressed, with Matt Brown keeping clean sheet after clean sheet, behind a defence that was one of the meanest in the entire country.
It was fitting that Boatmen legend, Tyronne Bowers, lifted the League trophy before our last home game against AFC Portchester.
Think that was about it for the first team.... oh hang on a minute... wasn't there a Wembley thing as well???....
The 10th of May will be etched on Sholing fan's minds for the rest of our lives, a day when dreams came true. However, the "March to the Arch" looked a long one back in January when we beat Hullbridge Sports 3-1 in the Fourth Round. That set up a home tie against Larkhall Athletic, who to be fair, battered us for most of the game, but when Worty got the winning goal in extra-time, I think that's when we started thinking our name might be on the Cup (or Vase). Wisbech were dispatched in front of a big crowd and then it was the two-legged semi-final. Eastbourne United were the opponents and probably for the first time, Sholing were the favourites, with the added pressure that brings. Mike Carter's late equaliser meant the second leg at Eastbourne could be treated as a one-off cup game. Backed by around 100 Sholing fans, the Boatmen had a dream first half performance, going 3 up before half time. Football is never that easy though, so when the home side pulled it back to 3-2, the nerves started to jangle. However, Nick Watts sent everyone into rapture when he scored the 4th and it was party time! WE WERE ON THE WAY TO WEMBLEY!
Around 3,000 locals made the trip to Wembley for the final, where we met strong Northern League side, West Auckland Town. The Northern League had dominated the Vase for a few seasons and West Auckland had been to the final just a couple of years before, albeit losing. It was thrilling to watch our little local club take to the pitch at the home of football. The lads seemed to take it in their stride, when they could have easily been totally overawed. The game itself seemed to pass in a blink of an eye (apart from the last 10 minutes or so!) Think we all remember Matt Brown's saves and of course, Marv McLean's winning goal that sent everyone mental in the stands. It remains a fantastic sight seeing Marv and the boys running to the celebrating Sholing fans. Never tire of watching it. Byron lifted the Vase and the boys partied on the pitch. I doubt any winning side at Wembley spend as long celebrating with team-mates, friends and family as we did that day. The lads were still out on the hallowed turf, 45 minutes after the game ended.
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The Celebrations continued for days, how some of the lads manage to appear upright at some events afterwards was a miracle in itself! But a Civic Reception and walk round the pitch at St Mary's in front of 30,000 applauding fans followed. It was a fitting end to the careers of Tyronne Bowers, Lee Bright & Marc Diaper, who all announced their retirement... at the top.
Elsewhere, Sholing Reserves won the Wyvern Premier League for the 3rd season in succession. They also picked up yet another Southampton Senior Cup with a big win at St Mary's. There were many thrilling games involving Sholing this year, but perhaps none had the late drama of the Reserves last game of the season. Needing a win to pip Portchester to the title, we faced Dorchester at the Silverlake Arena. Things were looking bleak with the Boatmen down to 10 men and drawing 1-1 as we entered injury time. The Portchester players watching on were getting ready to celebrate the title when a harmless looking cross, in super slow motion, deflected into the bottom corner of the net to send everyone into rapture... apart from the Portchester players!
The many Sholing Youth teams also had great seasons with many winning their leagues. The club probably doesn't get the credit it deserves having 15 youth teams, plus a Ladies team representing the local community. Many other local clubs with bigger resources than we have, don't do half of what Sholing does in Community youth football. It's to the credit of the many volunteers who make this happen, giving their time & great effort to ensure local kids have the chance to play for their local side and maybe, just maybe, end up playing for the First Team, following the likes of Mike Carter, Lee Wort & Alex Sawyer.
So the summer arrived and with it, the announcement that Dave Diaper was stepping down as first team manager. Diaps wanted to concentrate his efforts on moving forward the New Clubhouse & 3G pitch development. He was replaced by long time assistant, Mick Marsh and Reserve team boss, Dave Fear. Also arriving to assist with the coaching, was Stuart Hussey.
As well as the First Team losing the 3 senior players who retired, we also faced life without long time match winners, Lee Wort & Mike Carter, who both joined Gosport Borough. Everyone wished them nothing but the best, as they clearly deserved a shot at playing at a higher level. We also had the news that Pete Castle would be out for a long time after a knee operation. Also leaving the club were Ashley Jarvis & Lewis Fennemore, so from that Wembley squad, the first team was now EIGHT players lighter, meaning a big rebuilding job for the new management team.
New faces brought into the squad included, Dan Mason, Mike Byrne, Stuart Mott, Jude Nwachuwku, Jack Smith, Taurean Manders, Rory Anderson, Tobi Adekunle, Nathan Lynch & Sam Wilson.
The club had been accepted back into the Southern League South & West Division, a higher standard than the Wessex, full of clubs with lots of experience at Step 4 level and higher. Those included Totton & Bashley who both dropped down from the Conference South following Financial problems.
Overall, it was a very promising pre-season, with some good football & some impressive wins against Gosport & Guernsey. The season started well, with two draws before picking up our first win at home to Stratford. Then a run of defeats saw us slip down the table and lose confidence, including getting a hiding on Merthyr's 3G pitch. Captain Byron Mason was then offered the chance to join Gosport, which he rightly took. After a disappointing performance at Bridgwater, there was a management change with Dave Diaper returning. Mike Marsh & Dave Fear reluctantly stepped down & left the club, it was a real shame it didn't work out better for them, but they remain very popular at the club and will always be welcome at the Silverlake.
In September, we were all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Club Vice President, Arthur Fox. Arthur had been a driving force at the club for decades, first as a player in the 1960's and then club secretary, during the Vosper & VTFC days. We all miss him, but as we reflect back on the year, we take solace in the fact he was able to witness his beloved club's greatest moment at Wembley. RIP Arthur.
With Diaps back in charge, the team has slowly been gelling back into a more organised unit and the results have improved. Byron Mason has returned for the rest of the season, being dual-signed with Gosport, where it was very tough to break into a high flying first team at the moment. The club has been beset with injuries all season and perhaps some of the good fortune we received in the Vase run has come back to bite us with some debateable refereeing decisions. So it's been a season of rebuilding thus far, but with encouraging signs in recent weeks that we can have a strong second half to the season based around an improving young team, helped by the experience of Barry Mason & Kev Brewster.
Off the pitch, the club has this new website and is pushing forward with bringing more local businesses into partnerships with Sholing FC. With the legacy payments from what was once Vosper Thorneycroft now ended, the club has to stand alone financially and be self-sustaining. This does mean the playing budget is under considerable pressure at all times and makes the plans for the new Clubhouse and 3G pitch, crucial for the club's future. Diaps & the committee have put in an incredible amount of time & work (and shown great patience) to progress the plans, overcoming all manner of obstacles when dealing with different parties. Hopefully the day when diggers start work on the redevelopment isn't far away.
When I started writing this, I didn't expect it to be a long reflection on 2014. However, it was hugely eventful and overall, hugely enjoyable year for Sholing Football Club. The club is nothing without it's supporters, volunteers & players, so although we may not hit the heights of 2014 for a while, we still love our football and our great little club. - MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR & UP THE BOATMEN!