League’s thanks to teams
Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
THE LEAGUE has issued a festive thanks to members after yet another hugely successful year draws to a close.
The Spenny League has undergone yet further off-field initiatives throughout 2005 which has seen encouraging developments.
Particularly, all teams successfully completed the league’s forward-thinking ‘First Aid First Class’ scheme in the summer, which involved training its members in emergency First Aid and gifting every club with brand new fully-equipped first aid kit bags.
The scheme attracted praise from Sunderland AFC and Durham County Football Association.
The league also launched its innovative ‘stamped’ footballs in October, while a host of changes and improvements to the official website – www.spenny-league.co.uk – attracted increased advertising enquiries which has opened new income streams for the league.
On top of all this, the numbers and standard of referees continues to improve – with the majority of all fixtures covered every week – while the standard of football and general sportsmanship has also maintained the league’s good name.
“It has been yet another successful year for the league,” said Secretary Mike Hill. “Our members have obviously been key to our success, as well as all the hard work of the Committee, and a lot of credit must also go to our loyal pool of referees.
“We’ve seen a number of new developments and initiatives in 2005 which have not only improved the league, but have also enhanced our reputation in the region as one of the best Sunday leagues in the North-East.
“We look forward to 2006 and we’d like to thank everyone connected to the league for all their efforts over the course of the year. Best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
Meanwhile, the league’s fixture programme was dealt a blow when no less than ten games fell foul of last week’s freeze.
Only three games were played as frozen pitches put paid to three games in each division, as well as four cup games.
Tudhoe United did manage to play their game against Browney in Division One – and ended up scraping a win after taking a three-goal lead.
Allan Barratt scored twice and Billy McClacklen once to give Tudhoe a 3-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes.
Browney did pull one back through a Peter Boucher penalty just before the break, but McClacklen grabbed his second and Tudhoe’s fourth after the re-start to seemingly all-but guarantee their win.
However, Browney had other ideas. Rob Barron pulled another back before Kevin Kitching netted their third – yet despite hitting the bar and the post, as well as having a goal disallowed, Tudhoe managed to hold on.
“It was close in the end,” said their Secretary James Curley. “We were cruising at 3-0 inside half an hour but then just sat back and let them come at us. They were a totally different team in the second half and it was a case of hanging on in the end.”
Frustrated Browney boss Gerard Crooks said: “I was pleased with the way the lads played in the second half. Again we have taken a while to get going but I can’t remember the last second half we haven’t won – it just wasn’t enough, but we were unlucky.”
The three games that were postponed were: Eldon Arms v Penny Gill, Bay Horse v Hogans and Masons Arms v Thorns.
Croxdale and Shildon Athletic were the only other teams to bag three pre-Christmas points in Division Two last week.
A goal either side of half-time ensured three points for Shildon against the Tree - see the latest Game of the Week.
Croxdale, meanwhile, went top of Division Two with a narrow, 1-0 win at Aycliffe side the Southerne Club.
The postponed games were: New Brancepeth v Belvedere, Atlantic Bar v Masons United and George & Dragon v Ash Tree.
Meanwhile, both Division One Cup quarter-final games – Voltigeur v Lakeside and Old Shildon v Hunwick – as well as the Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup quarter-final games – Horndale Celtic v North Briton and Quinns v Victoria – were also postponed.
• The next league meeting will take place at the Bay Horse in Middridge on Wednesday 4th January 2006, from 8pm.
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