Author: afcunity

by Julian Barker

(Click here for part one)

So just what is the more than just a routine storyline that links 2014 Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City and one of the just-ending season’s newest women’s teams in AFC Unity?

The link is being involved in an abandoned match. However, before anyone dismisses the link as tenuous, some abandoned matches have a much more interesting history/background than others.

In both instances we have a match which was abandoned with the away team leading and when the game was “replayed” it was the home team who came out on top and just for good measure, there is more than a “just for the record” story regarding the away goals in the abandoned games.

Where matches are abandoned (and then have to be replayed in their entirety) the statistics from the abandoned game are expunged from the records (note: I am not 100% sure on disciplinary matters should a player have been booked or sent off).

Here, it is the goals which were “scored”, but subsequently expunged from the records which provide the “hard luck” story for the respective scorers.

In the case of AFC Unity, their abandoned match was away to Beighton Magpies at the lowest level of open age women’s football in South Yorkshire, Division Three of the Sheffield & Hallam Women’s County Football League.

With all three divisions being small in size, teams were scheduled to play each other three times, the usual home and away, plus a third meeting, either home or away with all the teams having an equal number of home and away “third” pairings.

The fixture on Sunday 15th February was the third encounter between the teams. Unity, on their competitive debut, had been beaten 7-0 at home by Beighton Magpies in September and it was 8-1 to Beighton when the teams met for a second time at Unity on 8th February.

Lucy Strutt, who scored Unity’s consolation goal a week earlier, gave Unity an early lead at Beighton, but shortly afterwards an injury to Unity’s Sarah Richards caused the game to be abandoned.

As is becoming increasingly common in “Grass Roots” football, players diagnosed as having suffered cruciate injuries (or similarly long term injuries) are advised not to move until qualified medical aid arrives and so with Unity still 1-0 ahead the game was abandoned midway through the first half.

Beighton went on to finish champions, something which became increasingly more likely with each of their victories. Apart from a 2-2 draw in their second game of the season, Beighton scored at least 5 in each of their victories apart from against Rotherham United Development (4-2 away and 4-0 away). While Beighton were awarded walkovers in two instances with a third awaiting confirmation, it is reasonable to assume that they would have enjoyed comfortable victories had the games actually been played.

So, back to Strutt’s goal, the one which was legitimately scored and was valid for around 10-15 minutes. It was the only one conceded in a home league game by Beighton. The final table shows them with an unblemished home defensive record.

Had the game against Unity not been abandoned, the outcome may well have been a home win, but Strutt’s goal would have counted. Searching through records for the League (two seasons for which comprehensive data is not readily available), it is almost certain that Beighton were the first to complete a season without conceding a goal at home.

So the goal that never counted allowed the team which ‘conceded” (it) to set a notable first.

So what about the abandoned game involving Manchester City? Over the years City will have been involved in several abandoned games, but arguably none as famous their FA Cup tie at Luton Town which is among the most notable abandonments in the history of the competition.

Back in 1960-61 City were also in the top tier, the then “old” Division One, but they were not pulling up any trees. True, they had won the FA Cup in 1956 a year after finishing runners up, but otherwise they were not what would be termed a major force.

Drawn away to Luton Town of Division Two, the fourth round tie had the potential to be a banana skin, but City looked well on course for a place in the last 16 when leading 6-2 only for the game to be abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch after 69 minutes.

So, with just under a quarter of the game to go, City had victory snatched from their grasp and to rub salt into their wounds, Luton made the most of their reprieve and won the replay 3-1.

Back to the abandoned 6-2. All six City goals were scored by Denis Law who, at the time of the game, was 20 years old, (turning 21 on 24^th February) and had the award existed then, among those who would be shortlisted for the Young Footballer of the Year.

Imagine scoring 6 goals in a cup tie and still not finishing on the winning side? That was Law’s fate. Had the 6-2 game been completed and had those 6 or possibly even more goals by Law counted, then he would be the FA Cup’s all time leading scorer. His record, without those abandoned goals, was 41, a total surpassed by Ian Rush (44) in the 1990s.

Law departed City for Torino later in 1961 for £110,000, but his spell in Italy was relatively shortlived. After just one season, he returned to Manchester, but to United (not City) for a slightly higher fee of £115,000 which was a British record fee (paid).

Law ended the season with an FA Cup winners medal, Manchester United beating Leicester City 3-1 in the final at Wembley, but 1962-63 was a season which saw both Manchester teams finish in the bottom four of the Division One table. City were relegated with United just two places and three points clear of the drop themselves.

At the time of the Luton abandonment Law was the then British transfer record holder at £55,000. How many players in City’s match day starters and substitutes are paid less than that per week now?

The maximum wage for footballers was abolished in January 1961. That maximum was £20 per week. Yes, twenty pounds. The average manual weekly wage was £14. Fulham’s England international Johnny Haynes became the first £100 per week player.

So, as can be seen, prior to the abolition, many other players, even in the top tier, were paid wages not dis-similar to their neighbours, may be even used public transport because they did not drive and those who did own cars, did not have flash motors.

Law’s career was illustrious. At Old Trafford he formed part of the Manchester United “holy trinity” of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law.

He was European Footballer of the Year in 1964, made 55 appearances for Scotland, scoring 30 goals and played in the 1974 World Cup when Scotland went out at the group stage despite not losing.

Law’s last league game was, ironically, also a game which was abandoned, but the result subsequently allowed to stand. Having moving back to City in summer 1973, Law scored to break the deadlock at Old Trafford on the last day of the 1973-74 season. That goal in the last 10 minutes of the game was followed a few minutes later by a pitch invasion which caused the abandonment.

United were battling against relegation and to this day references to Law’s goal relegating United abound, but relegation would have ensued regardless of the result at Old Trafford that day as the teams above them all gained the points to ensure their own safety with no need for any favours from Old Trafford where City’s 1-0 lead was confirmed as a “final score”.

 

All images courtesy of Julian Barker

by Julian Barker

“Good morning, Mr Phelps…. your mission should you decide to accept it is…..”  So began the introductory scene setter for the 1960s/1970s TV series “Mission Impossible”.

In today’s vernacular #MissionImpossible would be how AFC Unity’s trip to play Beighton Magpies would have been viewed.

A long and eventful debut season for Division Three in the Sheffield & Hallam Women’s County Football League still had several games to play with this being the third last game of the campaign for both teams.

Newly crowned champions Beighton Magpies were completing their home fixtures and apart from a 2-2 draw at Hemsworth Minders Welfare (South) in their first away game, had not dropped a point all season.

AFC Unity started this game of their inaugural season with a top three place assured, but with much to do to overhaul Rotherham United Ladies Development who were four points better off from a game more, though a superior goal difference effectively meant Rotherham were five points better off.

Rotherham’s two remaining games are against Beighton and then Greasbrough Youth, the latter still to gain their first point, so assuming the form book prevailed and Rotherham collected all three points against Greasbrough, it meant Unity had to beat Beighton to stand any chance of claiming runners up spot.

A demanding task very much of the #MissionImpossible mould, especially as Unity had just nine players for the Thursday evening game. However, in this instance, even the “Mission Impossible” script-writers would have had their work cut out to weave a storyline whereby Unity upset the odds and ended the game with a highly unlikely victory under their belts. Indeed, Beighton finished 8-0 winners, but there was plenty of dignity in defeat for Unity.

No, the “mission” in this instance is to rack your brains and find a genuine football link (statistic) to Manchester City and AFC Unity. So, that is the mega-rich Manchester City of the Barclay’s Premier League and the relative paupers AFC Unity whose annual funding is the proverbial drop in the ocean compared to Manchester City’s annual spend on transfer fees and wages for their first team squad.

While “Mission Impossible” consisted chiefly of single episodes per story line, we will assume this time it is a two-parter so you will have to wait until next week for the answer.

 

All images courtesy of Julian Barker

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!

AFC Unity celebrated International Women’s Day with a 2-0 win at New Bohemians.

In the last stretch of the season, the “red stars” went to Handsworth with what’s left of their squad following the first several months of their first ever season. However, despite being low on numbers, they dug deep to get the win.

“With a few players from our remaining squad unable to make the game, it at least gave opportunity for others to step up and rise to the occasion, which they did,” said AFC Unity manager Jay Baker.

But the whole team, like their opponents, battled away on a tough playing surface with gusts of wind, and showed true mettle.

“It was such a tough game, and really tight, because New Bohemians put in a heck of a showing, as is obvious by the goalless scoreline at half time,” Baker said. “But I think what it sometimes comes down to is just enjoying the experience and doing the best you can, whereas I felt our opponents almost wanted it too much – sometimes you have to settle down, relax, go out there and just go for it.”

The manager added: “We’ve said it over and over again; as a brand-new alternative football club set up specifically for women, we came into this first ever season in this league as the underdogs, and the fact we never expect a victory actually helps us; we know we have to battle for it, and as showed in this game, often you have to tackle the conditions and the physicality in order to earn the right to play the football you want to play.”

AFC Unity’s last defences held out strong in the game, keeping a clean sheet, and allowing the “red stars” to keep pushing and eventually grab the two goals that made the difference.

“On International Women’s Day, what I saw was every single woman in my team playing their hearts out, right across the field,” said Baker. “I couldn’t be more proud – I was beaming the rest of the day!”

Goals were provided by Shanie Griffith and Sophie Mills.

AFC Unity uncannily beat Hemsworth South 5-2 for a second time at home this season in what was the last game at Hillsborough College for the 2014/15 season.

“No disrespect to Hemsworth, because they were really good and are a fantastic club with great players, but the first half was a bit of a mess for us due to our own distractions on the touchline, and it made my decision-making very difficult, before we then lost two players at half-time while we were trailing,” said AFC Unity manager Jay Baker. “Once the negativity was tackled, though, we re-set – and the fortitude, determination, and guts of every single player on the pitch in that second half was inspirational and absolutely incredible, in wind, rain, sleet and snow as well!”

AFC Unity banged in all five goals in the second half as they gritted their teeth and adjusted to a different team formation for the last 45 minutes.

“We’re called the underdogs, and all season we’ve prided ourselves on being able to fight back, because giving up isn’t in our ethos,” said Baker. “But I have never been so impressed by those players than in this game – they stuck together, stuck to the adjustment of positions, and never stopped believing they could win, in the face of adversity of all kinds, from stuff off the field, to the scoreline, to the weather, they showed their true character and I’ve never been so proud of them, each and every one.”

Injured defender Sarah Richards watched from the sidelines on crutches, but was given the win wished for in her absence.

Baker added: “We said we’d want to win for her, and we did. I want to thank everyone who came along to support us in such horrible weather, the coaches for their efforts, the captain, and all of our players who remain in the side, for showing true character as we approach the final stretch of the season on the road.”

AFC Unity goals came from Lucy Strutt (3) and Sophie Mills (2).

AFC Unity’s game at Beighton was abandoned ten minutes in, due to an injury suffered by defender Sarah Richards, as they were winning 1-0 in a blistering start.

Lucy Strutt scored after five minutes with the “red stars” looking like a different side to the one that got beat by Beighton 8-1 just a week before.

“As mentioned a week before, the benefit of a defeat like that against an undefeated and seemingly unbeatable team is that you get to try something different, because you have absolutely nothing to lose,” said AFC Unity manager Jay Baker. “So I tried a different approach, and right from the off it looked like it was working, and then we scored, and we were on fire.”

However, just after the tenth minute, veteran defender Sarah Richards went down near the edge of her own penalty area when her studs stuck in the mud and she dislocated her knee. Told not to move her until the ambulance arrived, after a long wait, the referee called the game off.

“It was just bad luck,” Baker said. “It’s nobody’s fault. Clubs at this level try hard to do their best to handle the pressure to keep games on and the playing surfaces at this time of year aren’t great, but this is why there have been calls for more investment into the game at a local level, where there are limited resources and there’s only so much all the clubs can do.”

AFC Unity players and coaches stayed with their injured teammate for nearly an hour until an ambulance arrived, and Baker hopped in with her for the bumpy ride to the hospital.

“On the stretcher, in the ambulance, Sarah was still talking about the game, pointing out the fact that Beighton have only had three goals scored against them all season – one from us last week – and we took the lead in this game, and then disaster struck!” said Baker.

He added: “She was so thankful for everyone’s support. She’s a good person, not just a good player, and the most important thing is that she takes care of herself and gets better, because knowing her, she’d try and show up to training with her leg hanging off!”

Everyone at AFC Unity wishes Sarah Richards a speedy recovery.

The game will be rearranged and the fixture will be announced soon.

The “Kick a Ball” Challenge from AFC Unity aims to engage women who have had little or literally no experience in kicking a ball, let alone playing football. Under the tutelage of coaches Jonny Hodgson and Olivia Murray, AFC Unity first team players will step up to the challenge as ambassadors in order to help develop two opposing 5-a-side teams over three one-hour sessions, with a fourth session featuring a 30min game (two 15min halves) between the two sides! The winning team and their ambassador(s) will receive a prize! The major rule is: “Absolutely no registered football players allowed in your team!”
Ambassadors should seek to develop players with little or no experience. Sessions will take place on:

*February 14th
*February 21st
*February 28th
*March 7th (The match!)

Each session, AFC Unity ambassadors will pick the brains of the coach on the day and oversee their own group of players to develop their skills and strategies. More experienced players can help less experienced players so that every participant benefits.

Ambassadors should ask themselves:

• “Do I have enough players to field a team on March 7 th ?”
• “How can I recruit more players to my team?”
• “In what areas do each of my players need to develop the most?”
• “How can I utilise the coach to develop my team of players in front of one 5-a-side goal?”
• “In the time I have, how can I put together a winning team?”
• “What strengths do my playes have that I can have my team play to?”
• “How can I apply my 11-a-side football knowledge to 5-a-side?”
• “If my players are likely to get tired, do I have a big enough squad to rotate on matchday?”
• “How can I build the confidence of my players in preparation for matchday?”

If ambassadors wish to distribute project leaflets to their locality in order to recruit their team, these can be provided upon request. Please advertise on your social media pages too.

If you are interested in getting involved, please get in touch!

AFC Unity lost to Beighton Magpies by a seven-goal margin for the second time this season.

“They haven’t lost a game this season; they smash almost everyone in this division,” shrugged AFC Unity manager Jay Baker. “It is what it is, and it’s important we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”

“Credit to Beighton for playing great attacking football, creating so many chances and taking them – it definitely made this hard to defend against,” admitted coach Olivia Murray. “Nonetheless, we battled hard to the core and never stopped, and this showed when we got one back. We also played some quality passing football at times and showed how much we have developed and come on since our first meeting.”

“My primary focus, as mentioned before in recent weeks, is the welfare of my players, and the ethos of our club,” reiterated Baker. “The top spot has never been in doubt; it’s up to us other six to battle over the spoils, which is where it gets interesting. We went to kick the ball around a bit and stick to our principles, being disciplined with our heads held high, and it’d never be any different.”

Co-founder and captain Jane Watkinson agreed: “The team played with real passion, solidarity and respect, and we kept going and importantly had a smile on our faces, enjoying playing as a team,” she said. “Lots of positives from the game; everyone should be really proud of themselves.”

Recent signing Chloe Rodgers added: “Unity displayed the true meaning of team spirit; despite an unreflective score line the team battled together and played some brilliant passing football. I think with some good tactics, hard work and belief in our own strengths we can certainly give them a game at their place next week!”

“Games like these are useful as they give us an opportunity to try out different things,” said Baker. “I mean what have you got to lose?”

AFC Unity face the Magpies again, at Beighton, next week.

Lucy Strutt scored for AFC Unity.

AFC Unity again continued to exceed expectations, hosting Hemsworth Miners Welfare (South) and beating them 5-2, incredibly going 4-0 up at half time. “And Hemsworth are no slouches,” said AFC Unity manager Jay Baker, “they’ve got a solid background and play strong football.”

However, Baker feels any pressure has dissipated, and this has only made his “red stars” stronger.

“I think we’re relaxed about the season, and that helps,” said Baker, referring to the low expectations of the newly-formed team’s 2014/15 season. “We’re trying to win games, but we don’t have to win games, and that lack of pressure in this final stretch means we can just enjoy ourselves, and sometimes that means the players perform better – what do we have to prove?”

AFC Unity played some fantastic football, and going into half time 4-0 up meant Baker had the luxury of being able to be more adventurous with his substitutions at a time when, as previously stated, high quality in the squad has made his role much harder.

“The team agreed before the holiday break that it was time to play them out of their comfort zones so we could get back to fulfilling our potential, but it’s also always important to remember it’s not just about healthy competition for spots but also enjoying the experience, and when games aren’t so tight, it gives you chance to make more substitutions and give patient players a run out, and so many players have been so very, very patient.”

The remarks suggested Baker is already looking towards the post-season.

“The post-season is also a pre-season, and we’re thinking about that already,” admitted Baker. “The main thing we want to achieve going forwards is the reinforcement and reiteration of our progressive values, and we’re wanting to make sure everyone is enthusiastic about that, because we’ve talked with similar yet established clubs like Easton Cowgirls, United Glasgow, and Republica Internationale, and they had teething troubles once, too.”

Baker added: “You have to use your first season as a learning experience, something to build on, and at the moment I’m clearly focused on what we can take from what we’ve got, going forward.”

AFC Unity goals were scored by Lucy Strutt (2), Shanie Griffith and Jane Watkinson, while Charlotte Marshall forced an own goal.

In the first of many exciting initiatives to bring broader activities to first team training – from sports psychology to master-classes – AFC Unity will be welcoming Chris Honor as a guest coach on January 19th, 2014.

“We’re not even a year old yet, but we said at the start that we wanted to be a club with a difference, finding innovative, interesting, and fun ways to give players a richer experience with us,” said manager Jay Baker.

“One of the key reasons for why we set up AFC Unity was to try new approaches with the aim of getting more women – at different levels and from different backgrounds – involved in football,” added co-founder Jane Watkinson. “This includes holding master-classes – such as guest coaching, alongside involving a range of people in opportunities from sports journalism to sports psychology, and through such events, activities and roles we provide players, supporters, volunteers and others involved with the club the chance to see the game from different perspectives, rather than sticking to a one-size-fits-all mentality.”

Chris Honor started his coaching career at the age of 17, when, while at college, he became involved with Northampton Town’s development centre, working as assistant coach as well as watching regular sessions with Leicester City FC during Peter Taylor’s time in charge there.

He moved to Cambridge United, becoming community coach with a short spell as ladies manager at just 18. He had further experience with Histon, Darlington, and Rotherham United elite development centres, where he was assistant to the under-15’s in the famous Umbro Cup, testing his knowledge against coaches from Stoke City, Port Vale, and Holland.

Since gaining his Level 2 in 2012, Honor has run his own football develoment centres and had spells coaching at Middlesbrough FC Ladies, Burnley FC Girls Centre of Excellence, and holding down a job with Grimsby Town FC, where he works alongside what he affectionately calls “a great team.”

Recently, he was open age manager of Shaw Lane Aquaforce, who beat Leicester City in their respective tournament and gained the Respect trophy for their performances voted by teams in the FA Women’s Premier League, which Chris calls “a great honour.”

It was during his time at Shaw Lane that he and AFC Unity manager Jay Baker first connected, organising a pre-season friendly with the expectations of facing each other in Division Two of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s County Football League. It was not to be, as the friendly fell through, and the division was split into two, so they’ve yet to meet.

Honor is now coaching with Barnsley FC Ladies to pursue his dream of coaching in the Women’s Super League in the next five years, and also helps out with other clubs such as Leicester City Ladies and Barnsley FC, when his busy schedule permits.

“This man has staggering experience beyond his years and his passion for women’s football is infectious,” said Baker. “We need more like him, and I’m excited to bring his own unique perspective to our training at AFC Unity.”

Watkinson, who also happens to be team captain, added: “As a player, I find opportunities like this helpful, as football is a sport that can be approached from a number of directions, but sometimes people can get bogged down in the same, traditional approaches, afraid to try new things out. Therefore, getting as many people as possible involved in the club – with the aim of engaging as many women as possible by offering a range of interesting and diverse things to get involved in – is important to us as a club.”

Meanwhile, regular AFC Unity first team coaches Jonny Hodgson and Olivia Murray welcomed the news.

“Guest coaches will always benefit us to give us ideas on how they approach training,” said Hodgson.

“It’s is a really good idea because it gives variety to sessions and keeps people on their toes,” added Murray.

Honor feels the same way.

“Guest coaching can benefit both players and coaches as it allows both parties to get new ideas, and establishes contacts for a good professional working relationship,” said Chris. “We’re all learning, always; I’ve benefited by watching others coach, regardless of experience, and it’s an ideal way to get feedback on your session from a different group, which helps in coaching development.”

AFC Unity hope to bring in more special guests from the community soccer scene going forwards towards the summer break and their second season in the league.