Story: Mick Ashman
There was mixed fortune this season for local Pitsmoor and Burngreavebased football club, Earl Marshall Juniors. The Club celebrated the players’ achievements at two memorable presentation nights on the 11th and 12th May.
The Under 9s enjoyed a second fantastic season. With new players joining the squad over the campaign, manager Anjam Aslam saw his team secure a fourth place finish after some terrific performances. They will play in Division B as Under 10s from September when they will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with!
An unexpected defeat on the last day of the season saw the Under 10s just miss out on promotion to Division A. They intend to strengthen the squad over the summer and already look well placed to secure a top three finish next season.
The Under 11s team took their time to adapt to eleven a-side football played on a bigger pitch but enjoyed an impressive sequence of wins in the new year that pushed them into contention for promotion to Division A. Unfortunately they drew their last two games but are well placed to continue where they left off next season.
For the two older teams, things didn’t go so well. The Under 15s lost some key players to academies linked to local professional clubs. A solid defence and excellent goalkeeping led to a good start but the team was troubled with injuries later in the season. It was also tough for the Under 16s. Despite some heavy defeats, the team spirit remained very good. Players who left were quickly replaced. Performances improved steadily over the season and they secured two well-earned victories.
There was a memorable end to another year of football when, for the third successive season, manager Garfield Walters was able to celebrate winning the divisional fair play award with his Earl Marshall team.
All the teams will hold trials for new players in early June. If you would like more information on Earl Marshall Juniors – a football club that is proud to reflect the diversity of our local community – then please contact Mick Ashman on 07843 731430.