TMUFC_SeasonReport

“FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1939 - WHEN
THE WORLD PREPARED TO GO TO WAR - A
SEASON HAS BEEN ABANDONED...”
As we all trooped dejectedly away from
Imperial Fields on Saturday 8th February,
following a disappointing 2-1 reverse
against Chertsey Town, who would have
believed we had just witnessed our last
home game of the season? At that stage,
there were still sixteen matches left to play,
seven of which were scheduled for our
own turf. Although we had dropped from
fourth to eighth during the course of the 90
minutes, and occupied our lowest placing
of the season (outside the play-off spots for
the first time), optimism remained high and
with plenty of football still to be played,
hope was intact. Of course, we all now
know what happened next and a virus that
had already been identified in the far east
as a potential global hazard subsequently
brought not only an end to all levels of
football in the UK, but the whole of Europe,
and much of the world, came crashing to a
grinding halt.
So, for the first time since 1939 - when the
world prepared to go to war - a season has
been abandoned and an announcement
has been made that the outstanding
fixtures will not be played out. Officially,
the completed matches have been rendered
‘null and void’; usually, when this occurs
(for example, if a team folds in mid-season
and results involving them are expunged),
appearances made and goals scored have
effectively not occurred, and are therefore
not included when official statistics are
compiled. Quite how that leaves this season
remains to be seen, as twenty-two league
matches have been completed, as well as
a significant number of cup-ties; does this
mean James Shaw, for instance, who played
every minute in all of them - is yet to make
an official appearance for the club? (signed,
as he was, in the close season of 2019).
Well, these questions are yet to be answered
but we can still reflect upon what the season
provided - the usual highs and lows, hope
and regrets; and, as always, the belief that
‘there’s always next season’, when all our
dreams may be fulfilled.
The summer of 2019 brought a number of
high-profile departures - we had known
before the previous campaign ended that
Isaiah Jones would be taking his prodigious
talents to the north east to link up with
Middlesbrough’s development set-up; in the
event, he had a friendly face to accompany
him as Sam Folarin also accepted an offer
from the ‘Boro. Abraham Odoh crossed
south London to join up with Charlton’s
youngsters, and Lexus Beeden made the
journey west to sign on with Reading; four
graduates from the class of 2018 moving
on to the second tier of professional
football is not bad for a club at our level,
and strengthens once again the reputation
Tooting & Mitcham United have for bringing
through quality youngsters.
In other moves, Tope Fadahunsi left these
shores to link up with third tier Finnish
side Kemi City and fans favourite Saidou
Khan stepped up two levels to sign for
Maidstone. Danny Bassett joined him in the
National League south, accepting an offer
from Canvey Island based Concord Rangers.
Former Tooting boss Frank Wilson raided
his old stamping ground and enticed Peter
Wedgeworth, Eddie Dines and 2018/19
player-of-the-season Antonio Simeone
to join him in the Isthmian Premier at
Merstham. Stefan Illic also made the jump
into the higher division when he signed
for Lewes and their delightfully eccentric
Dripping Pan ground.
But it wasn’t all one-way traffic, as there
were plenty of new faces arriving also. There
was shock news when it was announced
that consistent wing-back Ajani Domingo-
Carrington was involved in a car accident.
Happily, his injuries were not overly serious
but we wouldn’t be seeing him in action for
some weeks. George Ademiluyi was signed
as his replacement, and his credentials
could not have been better, as he had spent
the previous campaign with both of the
sides promoted from the division - Hayes
& Yeading United and Cheshunt. Another
defensive arrival was old favourite Dean
Hamlin who rejoined from Chipstead, a
decade after his previous stint as a Terror.
The back line was further bolstered by the
arrival of Nathan Daly from Hythe Town, and
Alex Filipe making the short journey from
Molesey. A new custodian between the
posts was secured as James Shaw arrived
from Three Bridges to don the goalkeeping
jersey.
The midfield ranks were bolstered by David
‘didi’ Castanho who signed from Walton &
Hersham, and the strike-force given a boost
with promising young striker Nebay Haile,
who’d scored an impressive goal against
us for previous club Ashford Town at the
back end of the previous season, adding his
name to the roster. Additionally promising
youngsters such as Omari Hibbert, Dontai
Stewart and Ahkeem Belford were preparing
to step up from the successful U23s setup
and challenge for first-team places; the
squad was starting to take a settled shape.