OH Football by Euan Broderick
A
new captain, new players and a number of injuries led to a very slow start to the season. Five straight league defeats as well as two cup exits dented the team's confidence and dampened all pre-season optimism. Then, showing great character and determination, Old Habs registered their first win with a convincing 9-3 victory over Old Wellingtonians helped by a first half hat-trick of headers by Tom Nichols. This was then followed by a 2-2 draw with Old Chigwellians, with OH (despite playing the whole game with 9 men) desperately unlucky not to win all three points. The good run continued with an away win at Lancing to move up the table and onto a slightly more respectable points tally. 2013 began with a late comeback earning a 4 4 draw away at Repton before the team's best performance of the season against Charterhouse II, a team we had not beaten for over five years. Old Habs started very strongly taking a 3-0 lead with goals from Andy Evans, Joe Robinson and Eoin Broderick. Charterhouse scored just before halftime and then pulled back another goal just before the hour mark. Old Habs, now down to 10 men due to injury, could have collapsed but instead pulled together and great breakaway goals from Robinson and Nichols sealed a well-deserved and famous victory. Wins in the Junior League Cup included an impressive 6-0 victory against Old Amplefordians lit up by stunning goals from Anish Patel and Chris Coles. Our run was sadly ended in the quarter finals, but the focus now was on league survival. As the weather had worsened, so too had Old Habs's position in the table.
The season was punctuated with sloppy performances, poor availability of players and defeat. With three games to go, OH were in an outright fight with Old Wellingtonians to avoid the last relegation spot. A tense 1-0 victory over Old Cholmleians ensured that the battle would go to the final day of the season, with a game against Old Wellingtonians, where only a win would be enough for Old Habs to avoid relegation. OHFC had been here before, avoiding relegation with last gasp wins in two out of the previous three seasons but the task was made much more difficult with a number of key withdrawals from the squad. The game was played at QPR's training ground and the players turned up hoping to avoid their host’s same fate of relegation. After a tense and scrappy first half hour, Wellingtonians took the lead. It was only some fine goalkeeping by Mat Smith that ensured OHFC went into the break only trailing by a single goal. The second half was a very different. A committed and passionate OH fought back, equalising through top scorer Robinson before Ben White stepped up with the second. Some scary last minutes followed but with big performances from Ed Broderick, Alex Keenlyside and James Richardson, OH held on for the vital victory. Old Habs had survived against the odds and in the process consigned their opponents to relegation. It has been a difficult year for Old Haberdashers’ Football Club but one in which the team has shown great spirit to overcome a dreadful start and secure our position in Division 2 of the Arthurian League for another season. OH games are never dull with 115 goals coming in just 21 games but too many of those have come at the wrong end. However, the character shown in the latter half of the season promises better fortunes for next year.
OH Golf by Alan E Morris
A
t Hunstanton this year the weather was by no means clement. The team went out in the wettest of conditions on the cold Saturday 9th Mar 13.The report came in as a win for O.H the visitors. The hospitality there remains ‘the highest’. During the year we again held a Spring Meeting at Harpenden Hammonds End run so well by John Lidington.Winner ,our captain Peter Mackie. The Summer meeting at Hendon ,organised by our captain resulted in a win for Peter Annett. The Autumn meeting at Gerrards Cross G.C. was a success with thirty –four participants, thanks again to our captain .The Presidents Trophy being won by Derek Woolerton. There were the two annual triangular matches at Moor Park G.C. our positions being second, twice. Mr. Andy Ward ran a match between boys , old boys and masters. We remain no match for some of the best school golfers ever. The Aldwickbury G.C. event ,the Elstree Trophy and father and sons pairs,with a host of further awards, and buffet ,was a tribute to
organisation by Mr.Ward. We drew in the O.H v Old Albanians, (now a regular event in our fixtures). The society acknowledges ,with gratitude ,the guidance and organisation provided by Robin Matthew these many years, at the Chorley Wood July match, and the similar skill shown by John Lidington in running the Spring meeting. Heart felt thanks go to them both and we accept with no little anxiety their passing on of the baton. The Grafton Morrish team of low handicappers, played in May, in the qualifying round at Denham G.C. under the captaincy of Richard Paffley .This competition has a final played at Hunstanton and Brancaster at the end of September,when forty-eight of the original one hundred and forty entry teams, play in a three day event. Sadly 2013 was a year in which O.H.G.S. did not go to the final knock out. Do phone me at 01494722385 if you wish to join in on our activities, or speak to Peter Mackie 01707 661725 or Robert Clarke 01582761986.
old boys notes
53