A triumphant return to Rocks Lane
Thursday 4th February 2010 was the day of
Wandsworth Athletic’s first league title. An enthralling, epic victory over
BRNO Athletic – surely the greatest game in the club’s history – secured a
maiden gold star on the white jersey. Just over four years and four months
later, a third star can now be stitched above the club crest. Wandsworth’s
designer (and number 13) Matt C Stokes has some work to do…
Yet many would have doubted the need for Stokes to dust
off his pencil any time in the foreseeable future. For Wandsworth have been down
and out in recent times. After the pinnacle of 2010, when a second league title
was added later in the year after Wandsworth went unbeaten all season, form has
slowly but surely slipped away. 2011 saw an impressive showing during a European debut in Valencia, but the good times soon dried up. 2012
was arguably the nadir in Wandsworth history, as the club struggled with
injuries, player availability and form.
After one particularly wretched season at Rocks Lane, a
major decision was taken in early 2013, with the club removed from its home in
SW13 and beginning competition in the less fashionable, lower standard Raynes
Park setting. At times in this cold, damp and hostile environment some must
have seriously questioned what the future held. But a promotion and league
victory in September 2013 began a slow journey back upwards, and now in June
2014 redemption is finally complete. Wandsworth are back in the big time.
At the first time of asking back home, Wandsworth won the
league title. There may no longer be the fierce, bitter rivals – no BRNO
Athletic, no Magic Monkeys FC, no Number 4 Kings – but a championship medal at
Rocks Lane is something to be savoured. And it marks a wonderful return to
success for the South West London club. Wandsworth have dragged themselves off
the canvas, beat the count and returned with a knockout blow. Their opponents
made the deadly mistake of letting their guard down.
When the campaign begun, even the most optimistic of
Wandsworth followers would not have dreamt of a league title. But a well-fought,
hard-earned opening win was a sign of things to come. Looking back now, that
8-6 victory over a well organised and experienced opponent was more significant
than anyone would have imagined.
A comfortable win against a young Sheen Lane Royals side followed,
but a lack of shape and structure were an indication that everything wasn’t
rosy. And sure enough, the following week saw the low point of the season; an
11-5 defeat to the team that would become Wandsworth’s title rivals, Glipton
Giants. In truth it was a poor performance all round – slow, passive and
incoherent. There was clearly work to be done.
Wandsworth showed what you need for a league title though
– character – and responded with a good win next. Another victory the following
week, albeit far less polished against the league’s whipping boys, made it four
wins out of five. Wandsworth were sitting ominously in second place, breathing
down Glipton’s neck.
With the business end of the season looming, Wandsworth
then secured an absolutely key victory, coming out on top in a 12-11 blockbuster.
Leading comfortably early on, the players succumbed to an unfortunate
Wandsworth trademark of easing off the gas and losing concentration. Suddenly
Wandsworth were 10-9 down deep into proceedings, but a resounding late surge
with goals from Frank Pearce and Zaid ‘Shrubba’ Shoubber secured three points.
Pearce and Shoubber were both fine examples of the collective squad effort that
proved so important – stepping up when needed and providing vital
contributions.
Another three points followed and all of sudden the
season hindered on a huge title showdown. Wandsworth’s winning steak had seen them
climb to the top of the table, but with three games remaining it was time for
the return encounter with Glipton – just two points adrift. Winner really was
likely to take all.
What followed was a colossal fixture between the league’s
leading sides. While the game may not quite have compared to that wondrous
finale against BRNO Athletic all those years ago, it was a fittingly tense and
close battle. Wandsworth, as history shows they often do in big games, started
strongly, charging into an early lead and stamping their authority on the game.
The predator, Andy Michel, was hungry and led from the front with early
strikes, while Liam ‘Lahm’ O’Brien fired home two utterly unstoppable hits. The
experienced spine of Wandsworth’s side stepped up to be counted, with Matt
Snelling sharp and commanding between the sticks and Ben ‘Romeo’ Lewis full of
energy and composed passing. Joe ‘Don’ Hancock linked play and ran hard, while
a mention must go to Dave Skinns too. Skinns was severely under the weather pre
kick-off but he wasn’t going to miss this and battled hard through illness.
Wandsworth’s good start was soon undone though, with the
opposition’s organisation and experience coming to the fore. All of a sudden it
was 6-5 to Glipton, and the title was slipping away. But Wandsworth showed the
character that had been present all season and simply refused to be beaten. A
powerful burst saw a brilliant revival, and three goals from James Platt meant
the score ended 8-6.
The title was mathematically obtained the following week after
a cancelled fixture – not the way Wandsworth wanted to secure the silverware,
but an emphatic 18-3 final day victory meant the winner’s medals were collected
in style.
After some difficult recent times, Wandsworth’s return to
the summit of the amateur game in South West London is surprising, remarkable
and above all, very welcome. There was a notable shift up in gear from the
whole squad to meet the superior standards at Rocks Lane, and a mention should
go to Snelling, O’Brien and Skinns for being ever present. Wandsworth will now
hope it’s not four more years until Matt C Stokes can sketch out another gold star…
End of season
statistics
Played: 10
Won: 9
Drawn: 0
Lost: 1
For: 104
Against: 58
Player
|
Appearances
|
Goals
|
Matt Snelling
|
9
|
0
|
Liam O’Brien
|
9
|
21
|
Dave Skinns
|
9
|
19
|
Ben Lewis
|
8
|
5
|
Joe Hancock
|
6
|
4
|
Andy Michel
|
5
|
14
|
James Platt
|
7
|
20 (1 pen)
|
Zaid Shoubber
|
3
|
4
|
Alex Platt
|
1
|
0
|
Frank Pearce
|
3
|
11
|
Simon Hazelby
|
1
|
0
|
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