Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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Home > News > 06.05.2008 |
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NEWSReview of the 2007-08 SeasonDate Posted : 6th May 2008by Dave RowlandAfter a promising pre-season in which Brig overcame a lacklustre Preston North End by 6-2 at Irongate on the 13th July, the club went on to enjoy their best season since the Premier Division championship campaign of 1995-96. Manager Phil Entwistle and his assistant Neil Crowe effectively strengthened the side during the close season. Central Defender Adam Tong, who had been on loan from Premier Division champions Burscough in the last month of the previous season, was signed on and he was to play a significant roll in the club’s success over the coming nine months. Former soldier Sean O’Neil, who had played for the British Army national side, also joined the Irongate ranks in July. Influential midfielder Glenn Steel returned to the colours following a twelve month lay-off due to a niggling back injury and defenders Damian Dashti and Paul McMenemy were recruited from successful West Lancashire League sides Charnock Richard and Fulwood Amateurs respectively. Versatile young midfielder/defender Matt Mahoney rejoined the squad following a season with North West Counties League side Ashton Athletic. With goalkeeper David Newnes having flown the nest, Terry McCormick was drafted in from Skelmersdale United. These new faces, along with the talented players from the previous campaign, including promising young defenders Allan Fleming and Steve Williams, midfielders Tom Ince and Danny Mahoney and striking partners Alex Porter and Ryan Salmon who between them had knocked in an impressive 47 goals the season before, started out on the new campaign with confidence and lost just one of their opening 18 league and cup fixtures. Despite slight dips in form around Christmas and Easter, the team never dropped out of the top six in the First Division North throughout the entire campaign. In recent seasons the club have not enjoyed the best of fortune in either of the national knock-out competitions. This time around it took two Conference Premier sides; Histon in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, and Rushden & Diamonds in the First Round Proper of the FA Trophy, to deny us any further progress. Along the way Brig eliminated four clubs from higher up the National Leagues System. In the FA Cup we saw off Conference North side Burscough at home and in the FA Trophy knocked out Premier Division sides Ilkeston Town at home and high-flying Eastwood Town and Marine away. Joining the party later in the season was striker Neil Zarac from Clitheroe, the experienced Ryan Bowen and Dave Eaton from Skelmersdale United and talented midfielder Ryan-Zico Black from Lancaster City. Young midfielder Mark Edmeads, who had missed the early part of the season due to injury, did not return to action until December. Memorable moments there were aplenty, and not all of them on the field of play. The team coach caught fire along the M62 on route to Garforth Town on the 8th September, but we managed to get there and the lads returned victorious with a 2-0 win. Our long trip to Bridlington Town just before Christmas was made all the more difficult when the coach driver opted to go over the Yorkshire Wolds. It took almost twenty excruciating minutes to climb the hill in first gear, but we managed to get there in the nick of time and once again the lads took all three points. On the field too, we had so many memorable moments. Who could ever forget the two long distance strikes by Adam Tong at Bradford Park Avenue ? The superb triumph at Ossett Albion in that crucial six-pointer on the 24th April when we ran in five goals without reply in the second-half will be long remembered by those of us who were lucky enough to be present in Dimple Wells on the night. There was indeed so many highlights in a season that kept us all on our toes throughout. When we came to face second placed United of Manchester in the Semi-Final of the play-offs on Wednesday the 30th April, the lads had played four exhausting games within a period of eight days. Despite this, the team gave their all and in the end only lost out to the odd goal in five. We made some new friends along the way with first time visits to West Yorkshire side Garforth Town, Tyneside club Newcastle Blue Star and, closer to home, United of Manchester who play at Bury’s ground at Gigg Lane. We had a great day out at West Auckland Town over in County Durham where we travelled for an FA Cup tie in October. The long trek to Cambridgeshire to meet Histon was also a memorable day out despite the result and we played host to Northamptonshire outfit Rushden & Diamonds in the Trophy. We renewed old friendships with a visit to North West Counties League side Blackpool Mechanics in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy. Nostalgia abounded when we met Oldham Town in the FA Cup. Town were the first ever side that we met when starting out on the pyramid trail back in 1990-91. Happy days indeed! Glenn Steel, Danny Mahoney and Stephen Brown reached the milestone of 100 appearances for the club during the course of the season with Browny clocking up his century in that famous game at Ossett Albion at the end of April. He celebrated the achievement in style, netting two of the five goals scored. Ryan Salmon finished the season as leading marksman with 28 goals, 19 in the league and 9 in the cups. Goalkeeper Terry McCormick only missed one match throughout the campaign, a fine achievement indeed. Manager Phil Entwistle was unwell for much of the latter part of the season and brought in Chris Stammers to assist on the coaching side. With most, if not all the present squad, already committed to the cause for season 2008-09, we should be in for yet another exciting campaign down at Irongate. Season StatsLeague Points: 74 - highest number of points since 1995-96, 5th highest of semi-pro era League Wins: 22 - highest number of wins since 1994-95, 4th highest of semi-pro era League Defeats: 12 - lowest number of defeats since 1998-99, 7th lowest of semi-pro era League Goals Against: 54 - lowest number of goals against since 2003-04, 8th lowest of semi-pro era Goals Scored: 28 Ryan Salmon - highest number of goals scored since 2000-01, 4th highest of semi-pro era Step 4 League Position: 5th - second highest step 4 league position
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