AFC Unity manager Jay Baker says his team need a miracle for the last three games of the season, following a six-week gap that has seen his side lose momentum – and several players.
“It’s important to remember that our aim at the start of our first-ever season was to finish away from the bottom,” Baker said. “Although we’ve done that, we now face playing the last three games with a depleted squad and fielding teams of insufficient numbers.”
Several players have either sustained injuries, moved away, are unavailable for the night match, or made plans from April onwards, when they anticipated the season would be at an end for AFC Unity, whose astroturf home field at Hillsborough College sports complex helped them avoid postponements and finish up the majority of their matches ahead of many other teams in their division.
“To come out of any of these last games with anything at all will take a miracle,” Baker admitted. “Beighton have won the division, Brampton have beaten us before, and Greasbrough are massively improved.”
But the underdog spirit at AFC Unity means the players still have much to play for, Baker added.
“We play for pride, and several players are no doubt thinking of the future, and pre-season, and want to do well for themselves as well as their team – it’s about never giving up, and playing to the last whistle of every game. As a club, we won’t give up, either; we’ll be back next season.”
With only three games left, this is your last chance to see the club’s first season side in action – and support them when they most need it!