Time for the traditional look back at the year, so what have we been exercised about this past 12 months? Well, a spectacularly good season in 2011/12, who can forget being top of the League in April? And finishing a superb fourth. Wasn't everybody saying when we touched top in October it was a flash in the pan? And me among them! But we kept it going very nearly to the end, fair made me proud. And, when all is said, it was the best ever season in the Northern League for the raggy lads from Ryhope, and by a long way, so worth a mention over the mince pies and whisky; did someone say whisky? Yes, please, I will.
Very well done indeed to the players, and to Neil, George, Ian, Carl, Scon and all the other staff on the sidelines, a magnificent achievement to get so close with a club of our size. Has anyone in this league got a better management team? Bad tempered, and a bit quick on the trigger some times he maybe, but he knows what he is doing, and George, Carl and Ian can certainly back him up. And plenty of plaudits due to those behind the scenes, Mr Defty in the clubhouse, keeping the punters in line, Rob keeping the paperwork right, Owen, Ron, John Mac, Dave, and the lads, manning the gates, sorting the goals and chasing the balls down the street. There may not be many of them but what can go wrong with a team like this, as no doubt Custer said just before the indians arrived....
Almost inevitable we would lose some of the lads from that side over the summer and so it proved. It's a shark filled pool and no mistake, but who would have it any other way. A top league, and very well run, even if sometimes they get a bit obsessed with things peripheral. And we steadied the ship and started fair to reasonable, until the aforementioned manager embarked on a full scale rebuild, still work in progress as we speak, but of course it will all work out in the end, won't it?
And what to look forward to next year? Well, hopefully the very great occasion of the first Ryhope Northern League derby, unless one of us does something very wrong between now and May. And what a day that will be, I hope I can see it.
Good luck and best wishes to you and yours, roll on next year, and spare a thought for the lads over the fence, we also serve who only lie and moulder....