Satisfactory Season for South

The football season often feels like it may never end but most of South Liverpool’s teams are now in the close season as we enter mid-May.

The first team finished comfortably (in the end!) mid-table in their second season in the North West Counties League having had to replace the majority of the team’s stalwart players and reduced the average age of the squad by at least five years. The team reached two quarter finals but lost one on penalties to Abbey Hulton United having dominated the game and the other to the eventual runners-up Bacup Borough. The team scored more goals than every team bar the top two (both of whom got promoted) and finished three places higher than their debut season.

The reserves finished fourth, their highest-ever position in the second division of the West Cheshire League and credit must go to their manager, Barry Roach, and his youthful backroom staff.

The third team, barring defeat in their final league game, should finish runners-up in the third division of the West Cheshire League, having lost only one league fixture since the end of August. Unfortunately, the team will be denied promotion yet again as the club have a team in the division above. Credit must go to the youthful management team of Tom Bagan and John Smith who took charge when the team were in the bottom half of the table.

The Youth team finished runners-up in the Youth division of the West Cheshire League despite being a year younger than their main rivals and must be ranked as one of the favourites to win the title next season.

Both Veterans teams had successful seasons –the Saturday team finished third in their division, their highest-ever position while the Sunday team won their division, dropping only two points all season - well done to manager Shaun Williams and his squad.