Wandsworth Athletic: a new beginning

Starting again from the very bottom...

The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.

 

These words from renowned Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes will have no doubt been in the hearts and minds of every Wandsworth Athletic player and fan over recent weeks. 2013 has been a tumultuous time for the cult South West London club, and readers of this blog will surely have wondered where the regular updates have gone…

 

There are difficult periods in the history of any successful organisation and early 2013 was a time of major decision making for Wandsworth’s senior personnel. With financial burdens rising, injuries and player unavailability ravaging the squad and results simply not good enough, a tough call was made. Wandsworth would be removed from the elite Thursday league at Rocks Lane.

 

Yet as de Cervantes cites above, fortune’s spite very much can be defied, and this move is seen as a new and exciting chapter in Wandsworth’s illustrious history. Other famous names such as Fiorentina and Juventus have broken up, gone back to the bottom and started again. The former two times champions must now do the same.

 

From late April, Wandsworth began competing in Raynes Park – part of a league operated by a less salubrious governing body but nonetheless a very appropriate stepping stone in the rebuilding process. Beginning at the very bottom, the club hopes to rise back to former glory with a series of promotions.

 

An initial 10 week period of cup and seeding fixtures has now been completed and the hard work begins this very Thursday. The early games have shown signs of promise and encouragement, but there remain several areas for progression. A record of four wins from 10 games will have to be improved if the promotion charge is to commence with a bang.

 

Early acknowledgements in this new era should be given to club legends Matt Snelling and Ben Lewis for leading the appearance rankings, and the rejuvenated Andy Michel for demonstrating his predator instincts with 17 goals. Also a mention of new all-round midfielder Dave Skinns is warranted. Now signed on a permanent contract, Skinns has hit the ground running in the South West London suburbs.

 

Full statistics from this initial series of games are copied below.

 

The talking, the decision making, the speculating: it’s all over. Now it’s time for action. Now it’s time for Wandsworth Athletic to rise again…

 

Played: 10

Won: 4

Drawn: 2

Lost: 4

 

For: 58

Against: 60

Appearances

Snelling: 9
Lewis: 9
O’Brien: 3
Skinns: 7
A.Platt: 4
Shoubber: 3
Hancock: 7
Michel: 7
J.Platt: 8
Pearce: 1
Nicholls: 1

Goals

Snelling: 0
Lewis: 0
O’Brien: 3
Skinns: 15
A.Platt: 0
Shoubber: 0
Hancock: 4
Michel: 17 (1 pen)
J.Platt: 13 (2 pens)
Pearce: 4
Nicholls: 0
O.G: 2