Wymondham College Magazine 1972 (Amalgam)

The 1st XI . Back row : B . Sandwell (linesman), R . Rix, A . Holmes, A . Macdonald, A. Southgate,M. Warner, M . Ellis, S . Shurety, Mr . Norton .Front row : C . Bussens, A . Clarke, R. Hill (Captain), the Warden, P . Major, I . Brown, M. Keeley .During our first season of soccer we have gainedvaluable experience, though the results show thatmuch more is needed . Of the 29 matches played,9 were won, 2 drawn and 18 lost . However, the 1stXI had a slightly better record, for they won four oftheir nine matches and drew one .The season started for the 1st XI with the longjourney to Holbrook School . It was an importantday for us, the beginning of an attempt to emulatethe standards set' by Wymondham College on therugby field . Conditions for this game were not ideal- it was bitterly cold, raining, and there was a strongwind . However, it was the same for both sides, andalthough we were 2-0 down at half-time, spiritswere high as the wind was behind us in the secondhalf. Unfortunately we failed to take early chancesand soon were 3-0 down . Hill then netted from apenalty, but this was not enough and 3-1 was thefinal score .The 1st XI followed this with a fine display at theUniversity of East Anglia to win 1-0 . Macdonald ingoal played particularly well that afternoon, includinga fine save not long after we had scored . Next cameour best effort, when against Eaton, an establishedsoccer school, we held them to a 1-1 draw . Our goalcame only in a driving finish, a fine effort byA . Holmes . Warner, Rix and Southgate all playedwell, and indeed the defence was outstanding . Thispleasing result was not all, as shortly afterwardsMr . Norton received a letter from Eaton congratulatingthe College on their standards of sportsmanshipshown in this game .The Old Boys match was particularly interesting .After making no headway in the first half - in factwe were two down at half-time - the College foughtback to level the scores, only to have the final nailput in the coffin by Mr . Taylor .I shall not say much about the match with thestaff, as we lost 3-1 . I have no excuse except that ourplayers were feeling the effect of several matches ina few days, this being reflected in our play in thelast twenty minutes when the game was lost andwon . This is not to take away the credit from apowerful and workmanlike Staff performance .I would like to finish by recording, on behalf ofthe team, my thanks and appreciation for theorganisation and coaching carried out by membersof the staff .R . Hill (Captain)