THE LEEDS SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
END OF SEASON REVIEW 2007/08
COMPILED BY RON WAITE

MSF PREMIER DIVISION

A dificult season in the top flight especially at the conclusion, as one or two teams were unable to fully complete their final fixtures, due to various reasons. However in the end the League Council in their wisdom decided to leave the table as it was without the usual points awarded, that would make a farce of the title, and no real damage was done.

HALTON MOOR

Reigning Champions Halton Moor were once again part of the deciding factor as to who would lift the Premiership Trophy. Love them or hate them you really can never rule them out of contention. However this season saw them relinquish their title and that was a bitter blow for them. Manager, Danny Walsh in the final run up to the end of the season and with games in hand, admitted that he could not guarantee keeping a fit squad together to complete all of their fixtures in the latter stages. The decisive factor was their forfeit of the game against close rivals Hunslet Green in the final two weeks of the season. This meant that they would not be able to compete for the title. Furthermore, and through no fault of Halton Moor, Roundhay Athletic, Old Halfway House and Middleton Plantation all cried off playing their last fixtures against Halton Moor. With Hunslet Green just having to defeat Red Star Harehills, the title would change hands to Hunslet Green. Red Star were defeated and Halton Moor's chance of the title had gone. All was not lost for Halton Moor's season, they lifted the MSF League trophy defeating Middleton Plantation and then went to Elland Road to compete against Leeds Combination team HT Sports. What was a revenge match against a team that easily defeated them two years ago, turned out to be the best display that Halton Moor had put on for many years, they went on to win the Leeds and District Sunday Senior up in fine style by a 4-0 advantage. They will start the new season as favourites to regain the title and the big test is, can they carry on with the experienced team they have or will they re-build. Time will tell!

HUNSLET GREEN

I am sure that Hunslet Green will admit they would have liked to have won the Premier Title under more sporting circumstances, make no mistake they did deserve the title and with an undefeated league campaign, who can say that they are not entitled to the crown. It has been a long time coming to Hunslet Green and the title was won with effort and determination from a squad that has the talent and ability to keep that trophy next time out. It is only 12 months ago that they lifted the Leeds FA Sunday Senior Cup and they went out to Halton Moor in the Quarter Finals. A big improvement this season in squad availability has seen a vast improvement in their position, from a sixth spot to champions is the measure of their achivement. The threat that they may move on to The Leeds Combination was abandoned and we are all grateful for that, the league needs teams like Hunslet Green and we are proud that they represent LSFL.

WHISTLESTOP

Their long serving and much respected Secretary, Brian Mountain, took ill in the early stages of the season and we Wish Brian well in his slow recovery. Last season saw them in 9th place, in a depleted division they were 8th this season, not an improvement, and clearly in the relegation area. What happened this season is a mystery, just three victories from 16 outings has to be considered as a poor reflection on the capabilities of this club. I am very dissapointed that they did not at least lift themselves into a mid-table position. I said last season that the defence had to be looked at and this season they seem to have not heeded that advice, they are an attacking team but lack the ability to defend under pressure. 29 goals scored but 48 conceded is the evidence. I look forward to seeing them rise to the challenge and get their act together and show that they are not relegation material.

HUNSLET WELLINGTON

Secretary, Steve Beck has to be congratulated on having actually kept this team playing. I mean by that, the fact that he has at times had very little choice, if any, of players. Premiership football is a great honour to those that compete, it is the highest achievement that you can gain in local league football. It baffles me why a team has to scratch arround to get at least 11 players to take the field.
Hunslet Wellington over the last two seasons have been on the verge of folding due to this fact, it was the efforts of Steve Beck who kept them playing. On the pitch they did better as they took a sixth spot and hopefully that will improve as they comtinue to try to add to their playing staff. Arrangements were being made to leave the LSFL and re-group with Parnaby Tavern of the Leeds Combination, that plan was abandoned as their loyalty to LSFL shone through. They now deserve better times and I for one hope they get them.

ROUNDHAY ATHLETIC

If ever their was a sad tale to tell, this is it. I predicted a bright future for this team after their promotion to the Premier Division. What happened this season is a disaster to say the least. They slipped to 7th place with only 4 victories to their name, they could not complete their fixtures and overall struggled to put a team out. The word is that they are leaving the League to play saturday football. I can fully understand individuals who put work, home and personal committments first before football, that is life, Roundhay Athletic found that they had a depleted squad due to these factors and that was their downfall. I have to say that once the signs are that you are struggling to put out a yeam then you must start to recruit players. It would be very sad if Athletic leave without trying to get a squad together to pick up the pieces and start again. Looking back at their form in their promotion year, I am so annoyed that they have given up on trying to re-build and taking the option of saturday football, they are a Premier Team and should have no problem attracting players, if they give it the effort.

HOPE FC

For two seasons Hope had a topsy turvy time of things, a strong start then a mid season crisis and then a strong finish. This season that was not the case. Always in contention and always in with a shout they maintained a very good season. So much so that they finished runners-up. they now have a blend of very good players and if they persist in playing good attacking football plus sound defending, they can prove to this Division that they are potential champions. They lifted the JFC Sports Trophy by defeating Pudsey 2005 in one of the best League Cup Finals the LSFL had witnessed for many a year. So they now have to come back next season just as strong if not stronger and show their potential. Hope should now be a real threat to the title and if they keep their heads that will be the case.

MIDDLETON PLANTATION

A new name next season for The Planny, New Middleton FC. let us hope that this will be a new beginning for this team. They ended their season 5th just as they did last season. They are in need of a new plan and that has to include more consistent performances, they look ragged at times and without direction, they have to play a team game, take out a couple of their play makers and they are a defeated team. They need to work together more and the results that they deserve will come.
They all have enthusiasm and commitment but they have to work for each other and not rely on one or two players to get the points.

OLD HALFWAY HOUSE

No victories and just 3 points from three draws with the bottom position, sounds like failure to everyone. Old Halfway House were actually heroes in the eyes of this league. we asked them to go into the Premier Division to make up the numbers and without hesitation they agreed, never really expecting to compete, they did what was expected of them except one fixture at the end of the season that they were unable to fulfil. Not once leading upto then did they ever complain or regret their descision. Next Season they will return to Division One and that will be with the thanks of the LSFL for their efforts to help our League. They were complimented many times by their superior opposition for the effort that they put into their matches, many of which were heavy defeats. I have spoken to their officials and they have said that the experiemce of playing in the Premier Division has given their team a boost and are looking forward to putting that experience in place next season. It will be interesting to see if that works. Good luck to them next time round.

RED STAR HAREHILLS

The League regrets the descision in losing this team, they are to join Leeds Combination next season. Promoted to the top flight as Division One Champions they soon made their mark amongst the big boys. They became formidable opponents to most of the division and very soon were at the top of the division and there they stayed for a very long time while most others played catch up. Looking at one time as if they would lift the title at the first attempt, they gave up the lead as the chasing pack picked up points in the latter end of the season after Red Star had finished their fixtures. Red Star proved a lot of critics wrong that said they would not survive the heat of the Premier Division. they played strong attacking football that won them points against more experienced teams, they had their defeats but only on 4 occasions out of 16 games. As with Leeds City Rangers last season, we will never know if Red Star Harehills and their talented side would ever have lifted the Premier Trophy. Red Star made a lot of friends in this League and gained the respect of all, we wish them well in the future. They will be missed and regarded as one of the great clubs of LSFL that never proved that they were.

MSF DIVISION ONE

BURLEY UNITED

Burley Uniteds's rise is legendary in the fact that it was not too many seasons ago that they were in the lower divisions and a steady rise up the higher divisions has now paid them great dividends. they finished this season as Division One Champions and some 16 points clear of second placed Oldfield Whites. Losing only 2 games from 18 is a remarkable achievement in such a competitive division, having said that Burley made it look very easy at times, always the team that everyone wanted to defeat, and it has to be said, not everyones favourite in the division, they silenced their critics with their achievements on the field. Only Moorhouse and East Leeds Celtic defeated Burley United in a season that they can be proud of. They are worthy champions after being promoted from third spot in Division Two. Now they will take their place in The Premier Division.
What is the future for them there? I believe that they will impress the established teams, just as Red Star Harehills did, maybe not as quickly but certainly in time. They have a very good and well organised team that is quite capable of pulling of a few shocks. They will be a good addition to the Premier Division and they deserve their place.

ARMLEY WHITE HORSE

Since leaving the lofty heights of The Premier Division some two seasons ago, I predicted that Armley White Horse would re-group and do far better in Division One. I was wrong, I also said that they are far too good a team to be fighting relegation battles and that their club, as well as been one of the better organised in local football, has a very loyal squad who come through with the club in good and bad times. That loyalty will again be tested for the start of next season. Armley White Horse once more dissapointed themselves and me by finishing ninth in the division.
I have always said that this team has the commitment and the enthusiasm to succeed, so why is it that again i have to say they are wallowing at the wrong end of a division. I have not got a solution and I just hope that they will try again as that is the only option they have.

EAST LEEDS CELTIC

Long serving Secretary Mike Goodwin once again had another celebration this season. His team have been promoted from third spot into The Premier Division. Following relegation to Division
Two and then bouncing back to Division One as Champions, they now look forward to Premier Football next season. It is quite remarkable how the events of recent seasons have unfolded for Celtic. Their battles with the likes of Oldfield Whites and Burley United over the recent seasons seems likely to continue into the Premiership. That can only be good for the Premier Division and LSFL as well. Celtic's young side will have to adapt as all newcomers to the top division have to, that will not be easy for any promoted team and hard work lies ahead. It is a big achievement for East Leeds Celtic and reward for the hard working Mike Goodwin. The good football produced by this team will pay off for them provided that they keep working together. By not being overawed by the big teams and playing steady football will assist them in survival.

OLDFIELD WHITES

A runners up berth has given the reward of promotion to the Premier Division to Oldfield Whites.
Promoted last season as runners up in Division Two and coming up with both Burley United and East Leeds Celtic, it is ironic that all three are again promoted together. Despite the run away points difference that Burley achieved, Oldfield Whites are one of the most consistent teams within the League. Always a threat and able to produce the goods when asked, they are rarely caught napping. They never give in and play to their potential. It is fitting that they are promoted this season and they too will I am sure give it their best as they always do.

MOORHOUSE

Finishing fifth in the season before last and having a dissapointing end to a very encourageing season, Moorhouse had the same place this season, yet they played better football. They were one of only two teams to have beaten rampant Burley United and progressed along stadily and yet were never really threatened the top 4. They can look average on a bad day but i have yet to see them play bad football and they are always entertaining. Their strength lies in team play and a they have flair, they are usually beaten when they fail to concentrate on the job in hand. A very organised and well run club that needs some success and quick. perhaps now that the biggest threat to them have all been promoted, next season may be their chance to shine.

SEACROFT

The 14ers were a mid-table team last season in their promotion year as Champions. They certainly did better this season and finished 4th, that place could very easily give them a wild card promotion to the Premiership. I have not seen them this season but I have heard that they have improved in all departments, I do hope that they get the promotion as they are a team that would add the spark to the Premiership. they have amongst them the experience and the youth to give it a good go in the top division. They have been more consistent this term and despite not scoring very many goals compared to others they have won half their games and lost only 5. A big improvement this season and one that they have to build on if they do go up.

AMARANTH 97

Eighth place will not please many at Amaranth97. They did worse than last season when they were in promotion contention. It is all down to commitment here, not in the management but the players themselves. Young players are at a premium these days and trying to keep hold of them in an age were distractions are many is a very difficult thing to do. I praised Ian Hesslewood last season and will again this, plus Phil Smith who joined him at the beginning of the season, they have done their best to bring out the talent that these yougsters have, they have done that but what is needed now is for these younsters to put that talent on show every week and repay their Club with some results next season. Football is a team game and to succeed you have to play your part in that team.

FARSLEY LIBERALS

The Liberals were a creditable fourth last season after the drop from The Premier. This season saw them drop to sixth and winning half and losing half of their 18 games leaves them with a pretty average season. Farsley Liberals can bounce back, they are not a club that can be discounted from promotion, they have the ability to compete and that shows time and again in some of their results, they have the worst pitch in Leeds and maybe a change of venue would settle the team. This plus a more positive attitude, meaning that once you have been a Premier Team you should always play as if you still are, will get this club back on top it's game. The Liberals are too good a club to be average and they can be better.

EAST END PARK WMC

Coming from one of the most famous Football Stables in Leeds means that a lot is expected of you. They had a very good season last time round and this season they finished seventh, dissapointing for most as I expected a better season again from them. They rounded off last season in excellent form but that form was lacking this term. They will re-group and the depth of talent they have at the Club should help. They really do have a very good set up behind them at East End Park WMC and I hope that the success of their Senior Teams will rub off and encourage them next season.
I am sure they will forget this season and come out with a positive attitude in September.

BEACON

An end of season confrontation with WRCFA put the seal on the worst season Beacon have encountered. It was touch and go as to their future and I am happy to say that the bottom club will be there next season. It would have been a sad day not only for The Beacon but for LSFL if this Club had folded. I congratulate all concerned for keeping this good club alive. In an area like Bramley, it is very difficult to attract new players, with a Club on every street corner trying to attract the best. As I said last season, The Beacon go on regardless with the squad that love the club. They will rise again and compete as they always do and with some luck and good football, they will be back to the force they once were.

DIVISION TWO

WYKEBECK ARMS FC

A famous club name in Leeds local football and the trend is continuing with Wykebeck Arms Fc Sunday. Another team that joined the LSFL and were promoted to Division Two last season and again they taste promotion as Champions to progress to Division One. A quite remarkable achievement from a team that is a mixture of experience and youth. Unbeaten throughout their 16 matches and winning 13 of them, they were a formidable force in the division and never really looked anything but winners as they left a 10 point gap between them and runners-up Wellington at the end of the season. They will I am quite sure be in the thick of things in their new Division and will be contenders for the title, their football is hard and fast and no prisoners taken, they also have depth in their ranks plus a will to win, all that will be there again next season. Not an easy proposition for the Division One teams but one that will be exciting to see unfold.

WELLINGTON FC

Division Runners Up and a very proud club to have been promoted this season after an indifferent season prior to this. Wellington took the task in hand and played heads up football all season. They were a very different team to last time as they showed class and imagination. Losing only 4 of their 16 fixtures they never looked in danger of not being promoted. That was the target they had in mind and they achieved that aim with keeping their concentration on playing good football and not being distracted from the job in hand. If they can take the good form that they found this season into Division One, they will be in contention.

ORIGINAL OAK

The Oak had one of their best seasons for some time, after their relegation it looked bleak at The Mighty Oak and they had a job to do. That job was to get back on track and fight their way back to Division One. They achieved that with an excellent season, finishing third with some very good results under their belt. An enthusiastic set of players and a well organised club is the key to making sure that past seasons do not deter your current progress. The Original Oak have all that and more. A friendly and well thought of Club, the Oak made certain that their stay in Division Two would be a short one. Well Done to all of them and let us hope that now you are back in Division One you are there to stay or maybe you are looking for Premier Status???

COMMERCIAL HQ

Can HQ take a wild card entry into Division One?? We will see, they certainly had a traumatic season as they stumbled through the first half of it with points at a premium. Then after Christmas their fortunes changed as they made a charge up the table and finishing a creditable fourth was a reflection on their commitment to the club. They can play winning football but at times they are distracted by events and if they concentrated more on the game, they will achieve more in the future. Overall they have a team that can only get better and that will be a factor if they are promoted,

HALFWAY HOUSE

Another dissapointing season for Halfway House, finishing eighth in a division that really they should be higher. Last season I said that they were a team that had been around a while and that should give them the experience to go further, yet they are worse off now than last season. Another team on the Bramley/Stanningley border where new players are hard to find, but they must re-build and bring in if possible some youth. The management of this team is well known and with that i would have thought that they may attract some new blood. They have to improve soon and fast. On the field, playing against the young breed of kids is no easy job when you lack pace, that is not a slur on any one, shall we say past their best, but a fact of life. Come on Halfway House your a lot better than this!!

FC CROOKED BILLET

What happened here?? Good Club, Good Management and Keen Players.....finished seventh!!!
Not that much better than the ninth last season and yet I saw some good football from this outfit.
I thought that they would get things right this season and move up into the top half of the division, no, they stayed rooted to the wrong end of the table. This team is not an also ran club and they should be challenging the leaders. They have the players and all that goes with a good club. Is it a case of just here for the sake of it? Get it on Billet and let us see the true side of the story here. I am not convinced that they are relegation material and looking at next season they have a lot to do and prove.

WATER INTO BEER

Well done Water Into Beer, the team that were amazed to be promoted to Division Two last season, consolidated their status in the Division. They did the double over promoted Original Oak and that ranked their best results of the season. They will progress, if they make the steady progress that they are doing, I see no reason why they will not promote again. They love to play football and are well liked by all teams they encounter. They finished a well earned fifth in the division and that is nothing to be downhearted about. Good Luck to them!!

ACORN

After relegation, Acorn shook off the dissapointment and set about re-establishing themselves. No easy task for a team on the brink of folding last season. They did survive thanks to Secretary Keith Huggins. This season they ended up in sixth place and now they must look forward. They still have a lot to do at Acorn but the job of rebuilding is progressing slowly. If they continue in that vain they will improve. Acorn is back and here to stay.

HAREHILLS WMC

A steady slide down the division ended at the bottom and once there, Harehills WMC stayed. A poor reflection on a very good club. It is pity that from mid-table last season the way was down for this old established club. The will to perform when you are at the bottom of the table is always evident in a struggling club. I think Harehills WMC is big enough to turn things round next season and reverse the fortunes of the club. they will do that with the support of the Players and all concerned at the club.

DIVISION THREE

MOORTOWN CORNER

These boys went one place worse than last season and finished bottom of the table. Will that deter them from another season, no way, they are their again next season and will enjoy every match as they have this season. They have an appetite to play and be part of our League, they enjoy themselves and unlike others before them that have given up because they are bottom of Division Three, these guys think different. Yes they would wish that every week they would defeat teams, but it seems unimportant to them. To have 118 goals scored against you, is to some failure but to Moortown Corner the 32 they scored is a victory. I truly hope that they improve and their is no reason why they should not. Well done to them and best wishes for another season.

OSMONDTHORPE RANGERS

This team is leaving us and looking to join The Leeds Sunday Alliance, well I am at a loss as to why that descision has been reached. They maintained seventh place, same as last season and they carved out some decent results along the way. So what has happened?? maybe they are looking for a change, ok, but the challenge will not be the same and as the saying goes, better the devil you know. Good Luck to them.

IMPERIAL

A very successful season for The Imp and they should be very proud of it. they defeated old rivals Pudsey 2005 in the Presidents Trophy Final in a nail biting 1-0 victory, they were never out of contention for the title and finished a very worthy third to secure promotion under the firm leadership of John Gorman and his team. Scoring 96 goals along the way they showed good character and were always a tough team to break down. Winning 16 of their 20 fixtures and fielding a very experienced and competitive team, they will again progress next season and I expect them to be in contention again. A job well done at Imperial and more to come I am sure.

PUDSEY 2005

Probably the one team in the LSFL that had the most hectic run in at the end of the season. As well as having 2 League Cup Finals, The Presidents and The JFC Trophy to contend with, they also had quite a considerable ammount of catching up with league fixtures on their plate. Most teams would have buckled under this pressure, Pudsey 2005 coped with this pressure and played all their cup and league fixtures despite the most fixture packed end to a season possible. they had double dissapointment in both the Cup Finals, narrowly beaten by Imperial 1-0 in the Presidents and again beaten by the odd goal 5-4 in a classic with Premier Team Hope. Then they concentrated on the League and duly picked up all the points required to overtake Imperial and Rothwell Juniors, who had both completetd their fixtures, to lift the Divsion Three Title with style. Scoring some 104 goals and only 22 against was a very exceptional achievement and they are sure to figure in the Division Two title race next season.

ROTHWELL JUNIORS

Yet another success story for a team entering open age football from the junior ranks. After many weeks in top spot and looking as though they could lift the title, they were overcome by Pudsey 2005 and their end of season catch up campaign. The Juniors finished an impressive and confident season in runners-up position and will play Division Two Football next season, gaining promotion at their first attempt. Young teams playing open age after junior football can get pushed around a little and suffer at times at the hands of established teams. Rothwell never suffered that problem, they played good football and scored 100 goals along the way, handing out some heavy defeats to lesser placed teams. They also conceded only 30 goals and that shows the calibre of their team. A bright future ahead and with this team they will have that more reasons in the future to celebrate.

PACK HORSE VITA UNITED

Since relegation two seasons ago, Vita have never really recovered and recorded their worse position at ninth in their history. I had faith in them to recover from last seasons dissapointing performance, they did not do that and slipped further into the mire. They have to show the determination that they once had and lift their game back to the standard they once enjoyed a few seasons ago. This is not an easy task and will require a lot of work to get themselves out of this situation.

WEST HUNSLET CONSERVATIVE CLUB

One of the New Clubs this season and a very welcome addition to the Division. hey have finished a worthy fourth and a wild card promotion is not yet out of the question. All this in their first attempt at the LSFL, they do have an experienced side I must admit, yet results still have to be won and they did that with some quality results, nothing is handed to you on a plate at this level. They scored 92 goals and yet had 64 scored against them. 64 goals in fourth place needs attention, I believe that to be the factor in the gap between them and third place Imperial which was as much as 15 points. they will be as strong next season but an higher division will give them more of a test, they will rise to that and we will see more of their character.

DESTINY FC

Originally a break away from Multifaith, Destiny entered the League in their own right and have proved that they can compete. They were up in the thick of things for some considerable time during the first half of the season. They fell away a little as the title race got heated and finished a respectable sixth place. Winning 8 of their 20 games and looking at times very impressive, they could not maintain their early season form and then only the odd victory was recorded. however another season awaits this team and they will get another chance to try their luck. Well done to them.

EAST LEEDS WHITES

Another new team to the League, and originating from the York Road Area, that seems to be breeding ground for good clubs, East Leeds Whites impressed quite a few onlookers. Finishing fifth in a first season is very good, it can take a couple of seasons to get your team established, this team looks as if they have been here for some time. they have good good management and organisation as well as a very lively squad, all ingredients for a bright future.

MULTIFAITH

Fifth last time out and a slump to ninth this time. Not the best of seasons for Multifaith. They failed to win 15 of the twenty fixtures available. I had hoped that they would build on the progress that they made in the previous season, that was not to be and now what will they do?? is their another season for Multifaith with LSFL, that is their descision alone.

SOUTH LEEDS CITY

Since the capitulation of Rothwell Park Rangers and John O Gaunts it was pleasing to see the rise of a new team from that area in the shape of South Leeds City. They finished eighth and were not disgraced in their first attempt at the League. The question as always is will they survive to play next season?? the League and all connected hope so, we need these teams to create the future of the League, despite the fact that they struggle to begin with, it takes time to establish yourselves and one season as a struggler is not the end of the world.

THESE COMMENTS AND VIEWS ARE NOT PRINTED TO CRITICISE TEAMS OR INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE MEANT TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND TO ENCOURAGE.
THEY ARE ALSO THE VIEWS OF THE WRITER AND NOT THE LSFL.