|
2004/05
brought great success to both district sides. The A Squad won the
Cotswold League, reached the Southern Counties Cup Final and for the
first time were victorious in all their six fixtures at the Jersey
Festival. The B Side meanwhile topped their section of the Cotswold
League for the first time, lifted the Webster Shield following a 1-0
success over Bristol and they too completed their Easter Festival programme unbeaten.
2005/06 saw the A Side finally lift the Witney Cup after 20 years of
trying, Solihull defeated 4-1 at Didcot Town. The team also ended the
Jersey Festival with the second-best record of competing sides – the
overall format now having changed – while an overall record of just
seven defeats from 32 games played demonstrated a high level of
consistency. The B Squad, after three straight defeats early on went on
a five-month unbeaten run, eventually retaining both the Cotswold League
and Webster Shield to cap another successful year in which only five
reversals were recorded.
The following year proved to be a
very successful 50th season for the independent GPSFA. The association
had its first dedicated set of changing rooms following the summer
transformation of part of a storage building at Longlevens. The Cotswold
A & B League titles were won, In the cups the A Side reached the final
of the Southern Counties Cup for a record sixth time, losing by the only
goal of the game to Wandsworth at Thatcham Town. The B Squad went down
by the odd goal in five to Sutton Coldfield in the Webster Shield Final
at Evesham United and took a half share in the County Cup following a
1-1 draw with South Gloucestershire. On the individual front, Zack
Kotwica notched a record 66 goals for the A Side from his 35 games
played.
2007/08 kicked off
with totally transformed changing and catering facilities at Longlevens.
The A Squad reached the final of the Witney Cup, going down 1-2 to
Solihull at Letcombe, were narrowly beaten into second place in the
Cotswold League and finished a highly creditable third out of eleven in
their debut season in a strong Berkshire (aka Southern Counties) League.
The B Squad proved to be a free scoring side equalling the highest
number of goals scored in a season by a GPSFA B Team. They retained
their Cotswold B title and narrowly lost out on a place in the Webster
Shield final. Dinglewell became only the second Gloucester school to
reach the National Finals of an ESFA competition - ending as national
runners up after a final played at Wembley Stadium.
In 2008/09, the A Squad
completed a 40 game season with only 4 losses, scoring a record 179
goals with Edjidja Mbunga contributing 63. The Southern Counties Cup was
won for a record fourth time, the Berkshire League courtesy of a 100%
record and the Cotswold League without losing a game. One of the
highlights of the season was a trip to play the Liverpool FC Academy on
Merseyside. The B Squad enjoyed a successful campaign which culminated
in the winning of the Webster Shield after extra time and penalties
against a strong Sutton Coldfield side. In the ESFA District 7-a-side
competition the squad reached the South West Finals and remained
unbeaten in all 8 games including winning the county title. For the
second year running a Gloucester school reached Wembley, with Harewood
becoming national champions after a 3-1 final victory - the first time a
city school has achieved this feat.
This
year – as have many before – has seen the teams travel by aircraft,
coach, ferry, car, train and minibus - for many, some of these will
have been new and exciting experiences. Add to this the exploring of
caves, swimming, 10-pin bowling, visits to league football grounds /
matches, theme parks and museums, new places and the making of new
friends, clearly a GPSFA season has come a long way since that biennial
trip to Cheltenham.
Through
a season individual skills improve and those individuals become a team.
Gloucester sides are renowned for good team spirit and their ability to
develop as teams through the year both on and off the field.
Over
the last
50 seasons the City representative side has had only 5 managers
/ management teams; Frank Stephenson (8 seasons), Don Bewley (15), Rob
Morris (4), Bob Owen / Lin Harvey (21 with assistance from Martyn Ellis,
Stuart Eckford and Kevin Howie) and Bob Owen, Stuart Eckford & Steve
Wilson (4). Ken Blackburn completed 10 years in charge of the B team,
while his original partner Andy Hainsworth was at the joint helm for 5
years.
2009/10 sees
Rob Lloyd and Stuart White beginning their
eighth
season in the hot seat and have now completed over 180 games in charge.
Brian Stait retired as Chairman and elder statesman of the Association
at the end of 2004/05 after 23 years in the post, Keith Steadman
replacing him
the following year. This continuity and
dedication has contributed greatly towards the very sound performances
given by the sides over the years, the stature of the Association has
never been higher within schools’ football nationally, but above all it
is about the enjoyment of so many youngsters who have become such good
ambassadors for the City of Gloucester. |
