Today saw the League season come to a close after 8 months of fun and spoils across our 5 divisions. There are 3 remaining Cup finals to be played, all at Sincil Bank, before the new season gets under way again at the beginning of September.
Premier Division
Hats off to Welton Sports AFC who struggled to raise a side today but as they are respectful of players and Officials making the commitment not do to other things on a Bank Holiday weekend they did, none the less, fulfil the fixture and full credit must go to them for doing so. They took on second placed New Swan and lost the game 3-6 and they finish the season second from bottom as Lincoln Moorlands technically finish bottom having resigned from the League in mid-season. New Swan finish in the runners up position which they had already achieved prior to the game today.
The same respect was sadly lacking from Rustons United. I am told that they turned up to play Champions Ivy Tavern with 9 players and then said that they would not play with only 9. The end result is that the game was postponed and the points were awarded to Ivy Tavern in accordance with rule. I am relying on hearsay evidence with these facts because nobody from Rustons has had the courtesy to inform the League that they had insufficient players so who knows what has happened there, I certainly don’t as nobody from the club has contacted me.
Newton United enjoyed the weekend as they defeated Ruston Sports AFC 5-3 in the remaining game, a game that saw the visitors play their final game in the League as they are withdrawing from the League next season
Premier Division Final Placings:
Champions: Ivy Tavern 43 points
Second place: New Swan FC 40 points
Division One
The top two sides were pitted against each other today with champions The Gatehouse winning 2-5 at runners-up Saxilby Athletic. Both sides will play each other next season in the League’s top division and both have enjoyed fantastic seasons. Trent Valley came unstuck 1-2 at home to third from bottom Horncastle Town which dented their recent run of impressive results.
The remaining game in this division between AFC Harpars and Lincoln Imp was postponed when Lincoln Imp informed the League today at 10.08am that their team had not turned up. The points have been awarded to AFC Harpars in accordance with rule.
Division One Final Placings:
Champions: The Gatehouse 58 points
Second place: Saxilby Athletic 45 points
Division Two
Second placed FVA Jerusalem romped to a fine 8-0 home win over Crows Athletic today whilst Bardney FC enjoyed a good 2-4 away win at Greenbank FC. Newton United Reserves completed a team “double” today by emulating the success of their first team by winning 0-3 away at Plough Sturton. Railway Inn AFC apparently turned up with an incomplete number of players at Lincoln High Street FC and the game was postponed with the points being awarded to the home side. Again nobody from Railway has been in touch with the League to either inform or explain the circumstances so again I am in the dark with the true facts of the situation, a very frustrating and unacceptable position for the League.
Division Two Final Placings:
Division Two Champions: Bassingham Bugle Horn FC 51 points
Second place: FVA Jerusalem 42 points
Division Three
Already Champions Wragby FC finished the campaign with a faultless 100% League record courtesy of a 1-6 win way at second placed Shakespeare Athletic. Ingleby Arms (Marton) FC ended their season, and their current association with the League, with an impressive 4-8 away win at third placed Cherry Willingham whilst North Lindum Hawks disposed of the challenge of Queen in the West when they ran out 6-0 winners at Ravendale Drive. Fox and Hounds FC won 1-4 away at HBW United and the final game in this division saw 6 goals shared out at Newtoft with the home side and Lincoln RNA finishing the game 3-3.
Division Three Final Placings:
Champions: Wragby FC 66 points (100% League record)
Second place: Shakespeare Athletic 50 points
Division Four
It was top v bottom in this division today when Champions AFC Golden Eagle took on The Blue Lion, a team who have been unable to register a single point in their first season in the League. Great credit must go to them for their commitment this season, I can think of plenty of players, and teams, who may not have been so keen to compete had they have experienced the results that Lion have experienced throughout the season. Today’s score of 3-0 to AFC Golden Eagle is more than respectable to the Lion and well done to all at the club for enjoying the season despite all results not being as you would have liked. Second placed Coningsby secured that position and today they enjoyed a slender 1-0 home success against Fred Quibell Junior Cup Finalists Birchwood United. Railway Inn United FC defeated AFC West End 4-2 whilst Hykeham Athletic and Nosey FC shared the points in a game that finished one a piece. Broadley FC finished the season in third place but their game today fell victim to another side that were unable to fulfil on the day for the second successive game, namely FVA Jerusalem Reserves.
Division Four Final Placings:
Champions: AFC Golden Eagle 57 points
Second place: Coningsby FC 53 points
The remaining Cup Finals will feature the following teams:
Jock Mitchell Memorial Trophy: (Already played)
Winners: AFC Golden Eagle
Finalists: Cherry Willingham
Kelly Read Cup – To be played on Monday 8th May 2017 kick-off 7.30pm
Finalists: Metheringham FC
Finalists: Bassingham Bugle Horn FC
Fred Quibell Junior Cup – To be played on Tuesday 9th May 2017 kick-off 7.30pm
Finalists: AFC Golden Eagle
Finalists: Birchwood United
Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup – To be played on Wednesday 10th May 2017 kick-off 7.3Opm
Finalists: Ivy Tavern
Finalists: Ruston Sports AFC
The League AGM will be held on Wednesday 7th June 2017 and ALL clubs remaining in the League, in addition to all new clubs entering the League, MUST be represented at that meeting to be part of the League next season. The 2017 / 2018 League season will commence in September 2017.
All clubs who have yet to inform the League of their intention to remain in the League next season MUST DO SO BY EMAIL IMMEDIATELY.
Finally I send my sincere thanks to all clubs on behalf of the League Management Committee for their involvement in the League this season as well as my personal thanks to all who read my weekly articles on this site.
Have a good Summer break and we will be back again before you know it in September, doubtless saying “where has the Summer gone”!
Ian Stephenson