In the past few weeks, we have come to the end of yet another good season for
club as a whole. The 1stXI again showed that they continue to progress in the
premier league and, had they not conceded a couple of last minute goals and
lost to the bottom club, they would have been pushing for a place in the top
four. The 2ndXI, having achieved their highest points total in recent memory
last season, went a step further, finishing second in the traditionally tough
Junior 1, and won the McClements Cup to boot. The 3rdXI, with a very young
team, finished mid-table in Junior 2, the 4thXI and the 5thXI (for the 3rd
successive season) both won promotion from their respective leagues and the
6thXI showed great promise to finish 4th in Junior 6.
PREMIER LEAGUE - 6th Position
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
14 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
24 |
34 |
15 |
Upon reflection the Bangor first eleven
season was one of near misses. Take away a couple of last minute goals, a
handful of lapses in concentration and one horrendous league result and we
could be cataloguing the most successful season the club has ever experienced.
But we aren't and it
is these lessons the squad must take forward to next year to build on the first
eleven's increasingly stable position in the top flight of Ulster hockey.
After a less than
ideal start to the season when the club fell foul of passport problems and
Pakistanis, Johnny Todd stepped into the breach alongside new captain John
Tormey and the pair of them can look back with pride at the job done.
In the 2005/06 season
Bangor beat every team in the Premier League, with the exception of Annadale,
at some stage. In fact, only one of those last minute goals prevented the side
from completing the set.
In the Kirk Cup
Bangor faced a tougher group then previous years because they had finished
outside the top four but this did not stop them progressing to the semi final.
That was made possible by the side's best result of the season when a superb
individual goal from Bill Clarke paved the way for a famous victory. The semi
final was a close affair but Bangor lost out to a last minute goal after
pushing Ulster's top team to the wire.
Performances in the
other cup competitions were not as memorable with a well-drilled Cork
Harlequins side comfortably dispatching of Bangor in the Irish Senior Cup. The
Anderson cup was also a disappointment despite a fighting draw with Annadale
and a fantastic comeback against Cookstown, with Jervis Fleming grabbing a last
minute goal and losing his shirt amid the excitement.
The league is the
most important barometer of any season and the first eleven squad had several
highs and lows. Results against a mediocre Cookstown side were of huge
disappointment and losing to North Down in Comber was a definite low point.
More positive results
were the 6-1 hammering of North Down in the reverse fixture, a fighting draw
with Lisnagarvey and the best display of the season when Banbridge were
dispatched 3-0 at home.
Overall, a finish of
sixth in the league is an improvement on the previous season but still
considered a letdown. It must be used as a starting point for next season when
the team must aim to break into the top four.
The team has bid
farewell to three popular players. Mark Daniel has answered the call from
Lisnagarvey and everyone in the team wishes him luck, except when he's playing
against Bangor. Jervis Fleming is heading to England to further his career. We
await the DVD with interest.
During the year club
stalwart Allister McVicar
also parted company with the team and has since established himself at the
PSNI. Ironically, there have been rumours he has complained about the lack of
professionalism and dedication to training shown by his new teammates.
On a more serious note
the most significant event of the season was the sad passing of Gareth
Callendar. Cali was as popular as anyone in the club and has many close friends
still playing on the firsts. It is a tribute to Adam Reading, Michael Harte and
others that they managed to play so well in the Kirk Cup semi final the day
after burying one of their closest friends.
Their organisation of
the commemorative match was also a fitting end to the season and a reminder
that we play not just for points. But a few more next season would cheer Tormey
up a bit.
SH
2nd XI
JUNIOR
LEAGUE ONE – 2nd Position
McClements Cup Winners
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
22 |
16 |
0 |
6 |
60 |
44 |
32 |
Gareth Stranaghan assumed command of the 2ndXI again this season, hoping to build on the promise shown the previous year and possibly add some silverware to the new trophy cabinet. This they did in what was without doubt the most successful season for a Bangor 2ndXI in the long history of the club.
The one down side, however, was the teams’ failure to progress past the 1st round of the Irish Junior cup. Initially drawn against eventual winners Annadale 2ndXI, Gareth thought his team had a stroke of good fortune when, due to an administrative error, the Ulster Branch decided to do a redraw. Bizarrely, the same two teams came out of the hat again and Bangor went down in a close contest 1-0.
This gave the team the opportunity to play in the McClements Cup, available to teams knocked out in the 1st round of the Junior cup and all other teams in Junior 1 & 2. And their ‘luck’ with cup draws continued when they were drawn against a resurgent Bangor 3rdXI. In a very competitive game, in which the 3rds gave a good account of themselves, the 2s emerged victorious 3-1. Victories against South Antrim 2ndXI and then South Antrim 1stXI followed, setting up a semi-final with the mighty Lisnagarvey. The fact that they had already beaten this team in the league held them in good stead and they won a tight game 1-0.
In the final, they met a tough Raphoe side that had already beaten the 2nds this season but the team held their nerve and came through victorious 4-3, much to the delight of Gareth and his team.
In the league, the team proved themselves to be genuine title challengers but just fell short to a very strong Banbridge team, something they can remedy next year. Several memorable victories were recorded, most notably a 6-1 victory away to a very strong Cookstown 2ndXI, a game that will live long in the memories of all those involved.
It only remains for me to pay tribute to the outgoing captain of the 2s - Gareth Stranaghan. He has brought a professionalism and work ethic that has been lacking in the 2ndXI for several years. His ability to motivate his team and to create team spirit are second to none, getting the best out his more senior players as well as providing a stepping stone for future 1stXI players such as Stewart Kirk, Ricky McMillen and Simon Cox.
Again, thanks to Gareth for all his hard work and commitment on selection committee as 2nd XI captain. Hopefully he leaves his team in rude health for the new captain next season.
3rd XI
JUNIOR LEAGUE TWO – 8thPosition
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
22 |
7 |
3 |
12 |
41 |
50 |
17 |
Looking at the league table, it would seem to be an average season for the 3rdXI, finishing two places lower than last term. However the statistics, as usual, do not tell the whole story, as this season has been a season of real promise from a side that grew as the season went on.
With an average age in the high teens (albeit when the captain, Michael Claney, and the ‘senior pro’, Ray Parker, weren’t playing) there was a lot of concern within the selection committee that the team would be too inexperienced to survive in a league as tough as Junior 2. We needn’t have worried, as the 3rds continually exceeded expectations by taking points off teams that would have expected to defeat them.
Although perhaps too young and inexperienced to sustain a push for promotion, this team impressed many with their free-flowing style of hockey and never say die attitude. Indeed, had it not been for a high level of unavailability, there were suggestions that they could have caused a major upset against the 2ndXI in the McClements Cup, although they did give them an almighty scare.
Memorable matches include victories against Newry 2ndXI, North Down 2ndXI and the two drawn games against Harlequins 2ndXI, all teams strong enough to compete in the league above.
All in all, a memorable season, and one for which Michael and his team deserve great credit. Again, thanks to Michael for his unique style of captaincy, and to Raymond Parker who led the side in Michael’s absence.
4th XI
JUNIOR LEAGUE FOUR – 2nd position - promoted
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
22 |
14 |
2 |
6 |
74 |
37 |
30 |
After two seasons of near misses, the 4thXI finally achieved their potential by gaining promotion to Junior League 3. That they came second in a league containing several 2ndXIs, many of which ply their trade on gravel, is a great credit to their new captain, David Shields.
As with the previous two seasons, the team got off to a blistering start, winning their first 9 games and scoring 51 goals in the process. However, again following the pattern of previous seasons, they faltered somewhat, collecting 2 points from their next 5 games.
At this stage, many thought that the writing was on the wall for the 4thXI, that they would again fall at the final hurdle. But a team captained by David Shields will never lack competitive spirit and, where in previous seasons they continued their losing streak, this team dug deep, fought hard and pulled themselves out of their slump to eventually gain promotion at the third time of asking.
My personal thanks to David Shields for his sterling work as team captain, and on behalf of the committee I would congratulate him and his team on gaining promotion and wish him every success in Junior 3 next season.
5th XI
JUNIOR LEAGUE FIVE – 1ST Position
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
22 |
17 |
1 |
4 |
81 |
32 |
35 |
Just 3 seasons ago, the 5thXI had just been relegated to Junior 6 and the 6th XI had been withdrawn from their league due to a lack of players. Now, the 5thXI have won promotion for the 3rd successive season, winning their league with consummate ease and the 6thXI seem to have almost too many players to pick from.
It
would be naïve to give credit for this to just one person, but John Mitchell
deserves much recognition for his part in the resurgence of the lower club.
John has succeeded in bringing the enjoyment back to this level, building a
team that everyone seems to want to play for and encouraging new members
galore. The effect that this has had on the club cannot be underestimated, as
the success and enthusiasm created by John has been infectious and has
galvanised the club to stride forward in recent years. It is no coincidence
that the 4thXI, 3rdXI and 2ndXI have also progressed since John’s arrival at
the club.
That
they would win the league was never really in doubt. They led from their first
few games and never really looked back. They perhaps lost a couple of games
they should have won and maybe would have liked a longer cup run but overall
this has been another fantastic season for an excellent team that does not seem
to get the recognition it deserves.
Thanks
to John for his hard work, commitment and resourcefulness. I am confident that
this run of success will continue in the years to come.
6th XI
JUNIOR LEAGUE SIX – 4TH Position
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
20 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
42 |
42 |
20 |
It is often said that the strength of a club can be gauged by its weakest side. If that is the case, the club is in a very strong position as the 6thXI, although never reaching the dizzy heights of the two teams above it, made good progress again this season.
In what is regarded as many as the hardest job in the club, Mark Russell has again proved himself to be the ideal man to captain the side, showing organisational skills and resourcefulness that belied his tender years.
Although the team were never quite good enough to gain promotion, they showed sufficient potential to do so in the coming seasons.
Again, I must make mention of the effort, organisation and commitment of Mark who has done an excellent job this season and will hopefully make more positive contributions to the club for years to come.
In conclusion, I would just like to
mention a few other names. To all those club members who umpired both home and
away, a very big thank-you. To the team captains who organised Monday night
club training. To Simon Hunter, our Press Secretary, who week in week out
ensured match reports and club notes were printed in our local press. And
finally to our webmaster Glenn Stranaghan for the
work he puts in updating our website.
This report would not be complete without thanking our club sponsors the Richard Schwartz Partnership - their financial support has been invaluable in allowing the club to focus on activities on the pitch and the club looks forward to strengthening the relationship over the coming seasons.
PMcM
Congratulations to the following players who gained
representative recognition this year:
|
Ulster |
Dawie Holley |
|
NI Universities |
Mark Daniel |
|
|
Mark Daniel |
|
NI Unis (Manager) |
Adam Reading |
|
Ulster Juniors |
Gareth Stranaghan |
|
Ulster U21 |
Chris Cargo |
|
|
Johnathan McNaught |
|
Ulster U18 |
Stewart Kirk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
Goals Scored |
|
Simon Harper |
32 |
|
|
|
|
Gareth Stranaghan |
22 |
|
|
|
|
Bill Clarke |
18 |
|
|
|
|
Glenn Watterson |
17 |
|
|
|
|
Michael J Ferguson |
13 |
|
|
|
|
Calum Togneri |
12 |
|
|
|
|
Jeremy Macafee |
11 |
|
Andrew McIlhagga |
11 |
|
Jonathan McNaught |
11 |
|
Ricky Parker |
11 |
|
Adam Tweed |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Gerry Hamill |
10 |
|
Gareth Morton |
10 |