| Withdrawal
of Under 15 squad
"It
is with much regret that the under 15's have been
withdrawn from the Ipswich & Suffolk Youth
League.
After
a run of bad results, and a lack of commitment from
some players, it was decided that enough was enough,
this decision was not taken lightly and having been
team manager for this group of boys since 1998 it
was made with a great deal of sadness.
Some
of players in this team have been playing for
Brandon Lads since they were 5 years old, Stuart
Scott, James Sparks, Jamie Bird, Chris Robson, Carl
Smith & Ashley Woodger.
It
was this team that became the first Brandon Lads
team to play mini soccer back in 1998 playing
in the newly formed mini soccer of the Thetford
& District Youth League. The team was also made
up from younger players like Tom Brooks & Chris
Smith, who are now playing with the under 14's and
Adam Marriott who is playing his football for
Norwich City youth team.
The
team grew and when they went to full 11 a side
football other players were added to the squad,
Daniel Cooper, Jordan Craigen & Daniel Godfrey
all from Mundford and one of the teams most
influential players Aaron Bull from Weeting.
The
team joined the Ipswich & Suffolk Youth league
and in their first season enjoyed a good league
position and were runners-up in the leagues knock
out cup.
In
this our final season things got off to a bad start,
two players had left to join another team, and a
couple more did not return to training. The Lads
also suffered when Jordan decided to quit the team
half way through the season, Danny Bruce returned to
the club, but it was not enough to save a long
running team.
I
would like to take this opportunity to thank the
following people for their help over the past 7
years, and if I miss anyone out I'll apologise in
advance. All the committee at Brandon Lads including
all other team managers, all the parents who came
and supported us through thick and thin, again all
the parents who took the time to help with transport
to away games, Trevor who's help was priceless, and
then Frank who came to help but found Sweden to be a
more attractive offer. Then last but not least of
all, all my players who came in all weathers to
play, in what I still say, was one of the most
complete youth teams in their age group. Sorry guys
for things not working out, but it was a pleasure to
work with you.
Sean
Drake-Brockman, Stuart Scott, Ashley Woodger, James
Sparks, Carl Smith, Danny Bruce, Chris Robson, Jamie
Bird, Jamie Killingworth, Shaun Thorpe, Sammy Milan,
Ben McClurkin, Rio Bowen, Pietro De Macedo Daniel
Godfrey."
-
Kevin Briston, Under 15 Manager
|
|
| League |
13th
March 2005
|
Bramford
Utd 7 Brandon Lads 1
The
Brandon Lads manager's hopes of having a full
team for two weeks running was short lived
when only 10 players were available to travel
to Bramford, but despite this the Lads played
some excellent football in an evenly balanced
first half. Jamie Bird went closest when
he hit the Bramford post with a low drive
across the goal. Bramford took the lead
after Brandon failed to close down their
winger, who's cross was nudged in by the
Bramford striker.
The second half of this game was very
disappointing for Brandon and at the end it
became very embarrassing. Brandon
conceded two early goals, and then some of the
Brandon heads started to drop, this is not
what the rest of the team wanted to see,
especially from some of Brandon's more senior
players. Bramford scored three more goals,
before James Sparks scored a consolation goal.
It is not possible for me to write what I
really want to say, but the behaviour of two
of the Brandon players leaves little to be
desired, they were a very big let down to the
team the club and more than anything else
themselves, and they thoroughly deserve any
punishment that comes their way. A big
thanks goes to the referee, who handled the
match very well, and also a big thank you to
the players, management and supporters at
Bramford who were very understanding after the
match.
|
|
| League |
27th
February 2005
|
Brandon Lads
2 Hadleigh Utd 1
Scorers: Godfrey, Bird.
|
|
| League |
20th
February 2005
|
Brandon Lads
P Stow Falcons P
|
|
| League |
13th
February 2005
|
Ipswich
Exiles ? Brandon Lads ?
No
report
|
|
| League |
30th January 2005
|
Stow
Town 17 Brandon Lads 0
Yes,
I'm afraid that is the correct score line, but
not quite the whole story.
At
7.30pm on the Saturday night, I had at least
13 players for the match, but by 8.30 am the
next day 4 players had rung in sick, leaving the
team with just 9 players, and as league
rules state, a team "Must play with 9
Players" and also that no postponements
will be accepted within 48 hours of the
kick-off, or teams doing so will be charged
(usually loss of points and a fine). So after
consulting the only two parents who were
coming to the game we decided to travel to
play Stow Town rather than face the wrath of
the league. As anyone in our league knows Stow
are one of if not the best
technically minded under 15 youth teams
around, with very good footballers in all
positions, so from the start it was always a
extremely tough job for the players from
Brandon.
A
big thank you to Giles and Ade for travelling
with the boys and a big thank you all the
players who tried to contained Stow.
This
may have been just a one off, with boys away
and others falling ill, but one does wonder
just for how long, this team will
continue, without new committed players
joining us.
|
|
| Vase
Quarter Final |
23rd January 2005
|
Brandon
Lads 5 Thetford Town 0
Scorers,
Bowen, Killingworth, Smith and Godfrey x 2
|
|
| League |
16th
January 2005
|
Brandon Lads
P Moreton Hall P
|
|
| League |
9th
January 2005
|
East
Bergholt 3 Brandon Lads 0
A much improved
performance from Brandon, even though the match
went against them, playing the league
leaders was always going to be tough and Brandon
welcomed back Danny Bruce to the team.
After some resolute defending, and again fine
goalkeeping by Sean Drake-Brockman, along with
some indifferent finishing, Brandon went
into half time with a clean sheet.
Chances for Brandon
were counted on one hand, and it was Bergholt's
rugged determination that eventually paid
off and they scored three well taken second half
goals.
Brandon MOM Keeper
Sean Drake-Brockman
|
|
| League |
19th
December 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 1 Stow Town 7
A
very disappointing end to 2004 for the Brandon
Lads Under 15 squad. A bright start from both
teams saw Brandon take an early lead when Jordan
Craigen's left foot shot from the edge of the
area beat the Stow keeper. Stow continued to
work and pass the ball well, and put the home
side under pressure, forcing the Brandon keeper
to make some fine saves. Stow equalised when
their striker out paced the Brandon defenders to
slip the ball past the advancing keeper. An
unfortunate clash of heads between two players,
saw Brandon's Jamie Bird having to leave the
pitch to go to hospital with a broken nose. This
changed the game for Brandon and they never
found any rhythm to their play. Brandon's
manager was very disappointed with the way some
of his players reacted, by just not bothering about
playing, these players not only let their team
mates down they also let themselves down !
Stow
went on to score with ease and only brave and
excellent goalkeeping from Sean Drake-Brockman
for Brandon kept the score below double figures.
Well done to the players for Brandon who did
continue to put in some effort for their team.
M.O.M
jointly Sean Drake-Brockman & Ben McClurkin.
|
|
| League |
12th
December 2004
|
East
Bergholt P Brandon
Lads P
|
|
| League |
28th
November 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 2 Thetford Ind 2
A
cracking local derby, with end to end football.
Thetford as always, looked strong and
created some early chances which made the Brandon
defence work hard. Indies took the lead half
way through the first half when from a corner a
Brandon player headed into his own net. The
away side then increased their lead when Kyle
Parish reacted quickly and beat the home keeper
and put the ball into an empty net.
To their credit, Brandon kept their heads up and
continue to work hard and at times played some
neat passing football, and early in the second
half a long ball out of defence was controlled by
Daniel Godfrey who slotted the ball home and get
Brandon back into the game. Both teams
continued the end to end football and from a
Brandon corner, Carl Smith headed home for
Brandon's equaliser, this lifted the home
side and they pressed for the winner, which also
left them bare at the back which Indies tried to
exploit, but both teams held on well for deserved
draw.
M.O.M.
James Sparks
|
|
| League |
21st
November 2004
|
Hadleigh
Utd 1 Brandon Lads 2
Brandon
had a great start, taking the lead after
only a couple of minutes, when Jordan Craigen ran
on to a through ball to score. Brandon then
played some good passing football creating plenty
of chances, and winning a large number of corners
but they could not make this pressure pay and find
the net.
Hadleigh
were much sharper in the second half and got a
deserved equaliser which seemed to lift the home
team and they caused a lot of problems when coming
forward for the Brandon defence, and had some good
chances to take the lead. Brandon struggled
to find their first half form but from a corner
the ball was bundled into the Hadleigh net off a
Hadleigh player. The home side continued to
work hard and went close again, with James Sparks
heading off the line for Brandon, and keeper Sean
Drake-Brockman making a good save low to his
right.
On
reflection of the game Hadleigh were disappointed
not to earn a draw, with Brandon holding on for
the win at the final whistle. M.O.M Chris Robson
|
|
| League |
14th
November 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 4 Bramford Utd 2
Brandon
welcomed newly promoted Bramford for the first
time, and the away side gave Brandon the run
around in the first half and they scored just
after one minute played. Bramford
scored from a penalty to go into half time leading
0-2.
Brandon
still struggled to play any decent football in the
second half, but a change of team formation got
Brandon back into the game with Jamie Bird heading
home. Brandon equalised through Daniel Godfrey and
then they looked a better team, both Bird and
Godfrey scored again to give Brandon the three
points.
M.O.M.
Chris Robson
|
|
| Suffolk
Minor Cup - 1st Round |
7th
November 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 2 Ransomes Sport Youth 4 (aet)
Brandon got off to a flying start in this
cup match and found themselves 2-0 up after just 15
minutes, with goals coming from Pietro De Macedo
(his very first for the club) after some great work
on the left from Jamie Bird, and then Bird himself
found the back of the net, with a powerful strike.
Ransomes continued to pass the ball around well
and made plenty of chances, which made the Brandon
'keeper Sean Drake-Brockman pull off some tremendous
saves. With half time approaching Ransomes
pulled a goal back after Brandon failed to clear
from a corner.
The away side came out in the second half in a very
determined mood and scored an equaliser from close
range. Brockman in the Brandon goal was on
top form and produced still more first class saves
to keep Brandon in the game, and for the second
week running Brandon went into extra time.
Ransomes were the stronger of the two teams in
this extra period and put the game beyond Brandon
with two more goals from close range.
Excellent work from McClurkin, Smith, Sparks and
Craigen in the Brandon defence, but Brandon's man of
the match was 'keeper Sean Drake-Brockman, who did
not deserve to be on the losing side.
|
|
| KO
Cup |
31st October 2004
|
Trimley
Red Devils 2 Brandon Lads 1 aet
Division
two's Trimley showed why they are top of their
league with an impressive display against Brandon.
From the start the visitors were put under immense
pressure, and only some resolute defending kept
Trimley out. On twenty five minutes Trimley
were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area,
and scored with a curling strike into the top
corner. Brandon did press and Bird made the
Trimley 'keeper save well. With half time
approaching Scott put in a low ball across the
Trimley box, which went under the Trimley keeper
for Jamie Killingworth to tap into an empty net.
The
second half was much the same as the first and
ended goalless, which took the tie into extra
time. Trimley took an early advantage, when
the ball was finally bundled into the Brandon
goal. Brandon tried to respond but could not
make a break-through against a strong Trimley
defence. Final score Trimley 2 Brandon 1.
Good luck to Trimley in the next round.
Brandon M.O.M. Jordan Craigen
|
|
| League |
24th
October 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 3 Ipswich Exiles 4
A good start from
both teams saw both 'keepers called into early
action. Brandon were slow to react at a corner
from which Exiles took advantage to open the
scoring. Brandon 'keeper, Brockman, made some
good saves, with Bird and Godfrey going close for
the home side. Brandon played the ball well
down the left side and this lead to the equaliser,
with Bird putting in a low cross for James Sparks to
score. Bird was again causing trouble on the
left, and he beat two defenders to slot the ball
past an on coming 'keeper to give Brandon the the
lead at half time.
What a shame Brandon had to have a half time,
because they never looked the same after the break.
Exiles scored two quick goals to regain the lead and
looked the far more dominant side, but Brandon did
pull the game level with Bird once more finding the
net. Exiles continued to press and after two
bad defensive mistakes they scored to take the lead
again, a lead they held upto the end. This was
a lacklustre second half performance from Brandon,
who will now find themselves in the bottom half
of the league. Brandon M.O.M. Sean
Drake-Brockman.
|
|
| League |
17th
October 2004
|
Stow Falcons 1
Brandon Lads 2
Brandon worked hard and put together some
good moves with no reward in a goaless first half.
In the second half, two goals from Jamie Bird gave
Brandon some breathing space, only for some poor
defending to let the Falcons get a goal back.
This set up a tense finish, but Brandon held firm
for only their second win of the season.
Brandon M.O.M. Chris Robson
|
|
| League |
10th
October 2004
|
Moreton Hall 7
Brandon Lads 0
Brandon struggled from the start to contain
a well organised Moreton Hall team. The home side
made the most of the wind and put in some excellent
crosses from both the right and left which exploited
the Brandon defence. Moreton Hall won all the
midfield play and went forward with ease scoring six
unanswered goals in the first half.
Brandon reorganised for the second half, but still
made little headway, creating a few half chances.
The 'Lads did contain Hall better in this half, but
the home side did manage to score once more making
the final score 7-0. Some good debut
performances from B. McClurkin and S. Milan for
Brandon. Brandon M.O.M. Stuart Scott.
|
|
| League |
26th
September 2004
|
Walsham 0
Brandon Lads 2
The Brandon Lads under-15 squad got their
first win of the season following a hard fought
match to claim three points at Walsham.
Both teams started well and chances fell at either
end, with Daniel Godfrey and Jamie Bird both hitting
the woodwork. Brandon had some heart-stopping
moments when Carl Smith saved Brandon from falling
behind after he had to clear off the line after a
Walsham shot had beat his 'keeper and with the first
half drawing to an end Walsham were awarded a
penalty which Brandon 'keeper Sean Drake-Brockman
saved.
After the break Brandon took a lead early on after
Carl Smith volleyed home from the edge of the area.
Jamie Bird increased the Brandon lead when he
slipped the ball past the advancing Walsham 'keeper,
but then Walsham enjoyed a good spell of pressure
and created some good chances. The Brandon
back four played extremely well to contain the
threat before the final whistle. Man of the
match was Sean Drake-Brockman, the Brandon
goalkeeper.
|
|
| League |
19th
September 2004
|
Thetford
Independents 3 Brandon 0
For the
second week running the Brandon Lads under-15 squad
were hit by injury and illness, with some players
only half fit. Despite all this the Lads put
up an excellent performance against a strong
Thetford team. Terrific performances from
all of the players, who worked very hard throughout
the game and a special mention for Daniel Godfrey,
Jordan Craigen, Stuart Scott, and Brandon's man of
the match, Carl Smith.
|
|
|
| League |
12th
September 2004
|
Brandon
Lads 1 East Bergholt 5
A disappointing start to the new season, with
key players missing through injury, leaving the home
side with just the bear minimum of eleven players.
East Bergholt started well and played the much better
football in the first half, with Brandon rarely
creating any chances, the visitors then took the lead
after 10 minutes and went on to increase this to 3-0
by half time.
Brandon
played a little better in the second half and got
back into the game when Jamie Bird scored from the
penalty spot, but Bergholt were the much stronger
team and with Brandon tiring towards the end the
visitors scored twice more. Good debut
performances for Brandon by Shaun Thorpe, Jamie
Killingworth and Rio Bowen.
Brandon
M.O.M. Jamie Bird.
|
|
|
| Fixtures
/ Results: |
13/03:
Bramford Utd (A)
LEAGUE |
L
1-7 |
27/02:
Hadleigh Utd (H)
LEAGUE |
W
2-1 |
20/02:
Stow Falcons (H)
LEAGUE |
P-P |
13/02:
Ipswich Exiles (A)
LEAGUE |
?-? |
30/01:
Stow Town (A)
LEAGUE |
L
0-17 |
23/01:
Thetford Town (H)
LEAGUE |
W
5-0 |
16/01:
Moreton Hall (H)
LEAGUE |
P-P |
09/01:
East Bergholt (A)
LEAGUE |
L
0-3 |
|
| 2004 |
19/12:
Stow Town (H)
LEAGUE |
L
1-7 |
12/12:
East Bergholt (A)
LEAGUE |
P-P |
28/11:
Thetford Ind's (H)
LEAGUE |
D
2-2 |
21/11:
Hadleigh Utd (A)
LEAGUE |
W
2-1 |
14/11:
Bramford Utd (H)
LEAGUE |
W
4-2 |
07/11:
Ransomes (H)
Suffolk Minor
Cup |
L
2-4
(aet) |
31/10:
Trimley Devils (A)
2nd Rnd KO-Cup |
L
1-2
(aet) |
24/10:
Ipswich Exiles (H)
LEAGUE |
L
3-4 |
17/10:
Stow Falcons (A)
LEAGUE |
W
2-1 |
10/10:
Moreton Hall (A)
LEAGUE |
L
0-7 |
| 03/10: 1st Rnd KO-Cup |
BYE |
26/10:
Walsham (A)
LEAGUE |
W
2-0 |
19/09:
Thetford Ind's (A)
LEAGUE |
L
0-3 |
12/09:
East Bergholt (H)
LEAGUE |
L
1-5 |
|
| |
|
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