UCL Review 2015 16

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the 2016 edition of the United Counties League Review. It is our 33 rd seasonal review and the fifth to appear in electronic form.

The 2015-16 campaign was a bitter sweet one in many respects. As always, the season will be remembered with fondness by those clubs which enjoyed on field success, but the backdrop to our football has been the struggles experienced by many clubs in these days of dwindling committees and often a lack of player commitment. The problems have been heightened by the disappearance of Northampton Spencer from our competition after 48 years. With many of the club’s senior members wishing to take a break after the best part of a lifetime running the Millers, the search for younger replacements proved unsuccessful and the inevitable outcome was closure for a club which for most of the last half century has been number two only to the Cobblers in the town. Spencer have faced extra burdens in comparison with many clubs, notably the regular floods which have engulfed the Kingsthorpe Mill ground, and more recently the problem of vandalism at a secluded location, but in some respects they are the tip of the iceberg, as manpower issues affect all clubs. Further sad news to report was the start or mid-season departures of no fewer than seven teams which held membership at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. The Potton second string failed to see it through pre-season and were followed early in the campaign by Huntingdon while four of the summer recruits to Under 21 football, Daventry, Stamford, Wellingborough and Bedford, joined the casualty list. Completing the early exits were St Neots Saints in Division One. One happy departure to report was that of AFC Kempston Rovers. After 63 years in membership of the league they go on to higher things in the form of promotion to the Southern League Central Division. That lengthy membership of our competition has seen as many downs as ups, but in recent seasons the Walnut Boys have made fast progress off the field, with facility improvements and the development of income streams to support a move into higher football. Good luck to them in the future, may they continue to thrive! The Walnut Boys were one of the 2015-16 campaign’s success stories, as were Leicester Nirvana who matched them stride for stride in the Premier title race and ON Chenecks who won promotion to the top flight for the first time. The team of the year though was Peterborough Sports who combined a title winning league campaign with a successful pursuit of silverware on three cup fronts. Few would bet against them making a big impact on their top flight bow in 2016-17! The league welcomes three new first teams in Division One. Daventry Town return after six years playing at higher levels. They have enjoyed some success but have found the costs of playing in a far flung league prohibitive and opted to regroup in a more local competition. We welcome two clubs on the up, promoted from step 7. Melton Town join us from the Leicestershire Senior League and Whittlesey Athletic from the Peterborough League. Both clubs have been consistent performers in their previous competitions and both will be playing on relatively new grounds. Some of our recent arrivals have been quick to enjoy success and these newcomers will no doubt be hoping to enhance their reputations.

After a recent decline in numbers reserve football seems to be on the way back with eighteen clubs starting the new season. A shortage of numbers has seen the Under 21 Division shelved for 2016-17.

We’ll be back in the summer of 2017 to review the events of the 2016-17 campaign. Enjoy your football and support your local clubs.

Jeremy Biggs League Press Officer and Registrations Director

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