18 SPORT
Got tales from the team? sport@palatinate.org.uk
Friday 8 May 2009 palatinate.org.uk
SPORT
Durham City AFC are the pride of the north
Rajvir Rai WHO SAID FOOTBALL in the north east was on the decline? Durham City AFC are only heading one way, and that’s up! >>>Those football fanatics from the north east who are desperately in search of a successful team support need look no further than our local club. >>>The club have recently joined an elite group of teams who have achieved back to back promotions. >>>The squad last year were crowned Amgrove Northern League Champions, and followed that up this season by winning the Unibond North League Championship. >>>Next year they will compete in the
Unibond Premier League where they will meet teams such as Boston United, FC United of Manchester, and Hednesford Town. >>>While the north east’s premiership giants have struggled to find the net all season, this has not been a problem for the Durham boys. >>>The team have scored well over 100 goals in both the league and the cup this season. >>>Barcelona have Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, and Samuel Etoo, and Durham City boast their own lethal trio of Steven Richardson, Adam Johnston, and Gavin Cogden who between them have scored 77 goals. >>>Maybe Gareth Southgate, Alan
Shearer, and Ricky Sbragia, should come down to the Arnott stadium and check out the training methods of Durham’s manager Lee Collins. >>>However, the team did leave it to the last game of the season to secure the championship title. >>>Knowing they needed a win away from home against mid table Woodley Sports, the pressure was on. >>>This seemed to tell as the team found themselves 3-1 down at half time, and the title they so deserved was slipping away from them. >>>However, a magnificent second half turn around - which saw Richardson score a hat trick - gave the travelling supporters what they came for!
>>>Durham narrowly edged out their nearest rivals, Skelmersdale United, by a solitary point and ended the season with an impressive goal difference of plus 57. >>>Notable highlights of the season included a 6-1 home thrashing of Mossley, and a mere 10 goals being put past Bolden C.A. >>>With confidence high in the Durham camp the team were relishing facing their southern counterparts Retford United. >>>Durham had Lewis Dodd and Tommy English to thank as they secured a 2-1 victory and the all important bragging rights. >>>However, the team could not keep up their winning momentum as last Saturday they were defeated 2-1 by Eastwood
PAUL GAYTHORPE / PK4IMAGES.COM
Town in the final of the Peter Swales Challenge Cup. >>>However, despite their heartbreaking final defeat the team can look back on the season and be proud of what they have achieved and the manner in which they achieved it. >>>So forget the all-seater stadiums and disappointment of the north east’s supposed elite; if you want drama, goals, controversy, and importantly a win here and there, then Durham City AFC is definately the team to watch. >>>Palatinate would like to congratulate all the staff and players at the Abbott stadium on all their successes, and will definitely be taking a keen interest next season to see how they get on.
Team Durham cyclists look to end season on high HANNAH READ
Hannah Read AFTER LAST YEAR winning silver and bronze medals in the BUCS Cycling competitions, DUCC had to go some way to top the achievements of the 07/08 season. At the very start of the 08/09 season though, they had already started to make inroads into that tally. >>>For DUCC the team actually received a set back as the BUCS cycling season begun with news that the Track cycling championship was to be cancelled, This announcement denied the Palatinates the exciting opportunity to participate in an event with previous record holders, Olympic gold medalists Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. >>>With the combination of Hamish Batchelor, Rob Simpson, and Harry Evana, they won the Men’s Team bronze medal in the BUCS Hill Climb Championship with some considerable style. >>>Batchelor also came agonisingly close to winning an individual medal in the event coming in a respectable 4th position overall. >>>In the time trial competitions Women’s Captain Hannah Read also had a very strong showing, narrowly missing out on an individual medal coming 4th
in both the 10 and 25 mile Time Trials respectively. >>>Arguably the performance of the season for the Palatinates was in the Mountain Bike Championships, where Hamish Batchelor secured a well earned silver medal in the Cross Country event. >>>Strong performances from Ewan Brown, Anthony Swales and Henry Smart meant all finished in the top 10 of the Men’s Sport event, and the team gained an overall 6th position on top of their silver medal. >>>The team looks now to the BUCS Road Race where they will be striving for more medals to cap off an excellent season; with an ever expanding squad, the Palatinates will approach next year’s BUCS competitions hoping to secure that elusive gold medal. >>>For season 09/10 DUCC will be lead by co-captains Matt Daniel and Ewan Brown, both cyclists have been committed members of BUCC, and with their undeniable experience they will look to lead from the front in what could prove a very successful season. The DUCC are looking to strengthen their squad for next season by recruiting extensively in the upcoming Freshers’ Fair. >>>If you want to join DUCC see: www.dur.ac.uk/cycling.club
C M Y K