FA ABANDON STEP 5 RE-STRUCTURING

BOROUGH NOT GOING EAST

The FA have concluded that their proposed restructuring of Step 5 Leagues (basically reducing them from 14 to 12) is impractical and unworkable.

So at the end of next season Borough will not be dragged eastwards kicking and screaming  after all !

The main objective was the creation of a situation where there would be an equal number of relegation spots (ie 14) from Step 4 and Champion Clubs of Step 5 Leagues for promotion.   This has been achieved as the Isthmian (Rymans) League will be increasing the number of Clubs in their two Division Ones from 22 to 24 in 2013/14 and relegating 3 teams each year.   The two Evostik (Southern and Northern Premier) Leagues will not be increasing their Division one sizes or relegating more than 2 Clubs each year.

Also of interest is that the 3^rd placed Club in any Division 5 League would be eligible for promotion – ground facilities etc. permitting – if both the Champions and Runners-up were ineligible for any reason.

See “LATEST +” “Spartan Team" option on left for full text of FA Statement

BOROUGH WOMEN OFF TO ABU DHABI

Borough Women are delighted to have been invited to be one of six teams to participate in a 5 a side Womens Tournament in Abu Dhabi from 26^th to 31^st May.     Borough will be competing in 40 minute games on a “round robin” basis against two sides from the United Arab Emirates and one each from Jordan, Hungary and Uzbekistan.

The Tournament is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the United Arab Emirates FA Womens Committee. The teams will be accommodated at the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel in Abu Dhabi and all matches will be played on a pitch within its grounds.

 Borough have been invited as winners of the “Unity Cup” Womens 5 a side Tournaments in London in both 2010 and 2011. The “Unity Cup” is an annual event started in 2007 as a commemoration of the 7/7 London bombings and brings together London's communities, social and corporate organisations and UK Government Departments.  The core aim is to encourage the crossing of ethnic and religious barriers and to unite against terrorism, extremism and Islamophobia by bringing together young people of all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds through football to create a better world through the global appeal of the game.   

STATISTICAL RETROSPECT 2011/12

Almost certainly, this has been Borough’s best ever season.   Between them the Mens and Womens teams have played 96 games (Men 64, Women 32) and won 58 of them.   The MEN have finished in their highest ever position (5th) in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League  and won the most prestigious of the Leagues internal competitions, the League Challenge Trophy.   The WOMEN recovered from a disastrous start to grab runners up spot in Division One South of the Eastern Region Womens League and thus regained the Premier Division status they lost last season at the first attempt.

MENS TEAM

WOMENS TEAM

COMBINED RECORD

REGRETTABLY THE CLUB WILL NOT BE RUNNING YOUTH TEAMS AT ANY AGE GROUP IN 2010/11 OR 2011/12

But our former Head of Youth Development,RAKI HUDSON, has now formed a new Youth team - AFC SOUTHGATE and they are currently looking for players in the 6 to 11 age range (both boys and girls). You can contact Raki on 07861 233993 or by e-mail to afcsouthgate@gmail.com  Their website is www.afcsouthgate.com

Also note that Liam Davis, who ran Borough Youth Teams for several years has formed a team WHITE HART LANE FC,  mainly composed of ex- youth team players to move in to Adult football which will  participate in the North London Sunday Football League.  Home matches will be played at the White Hart Lane Community Centre (formerly New River Sports Centre).  Contact with Liam can be by e-mail to liamdavis84@hotmail.com or by phone to 07508 708062