Oh What a Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar to season 2009, the thirds again had a pretty ordinary year results-wise.
Our only win for the season was against Kew in round 9 at home. And what a win it was!!! After being belted in every game until then, it felt like we had won the Premiership and the Club song was never sung with so much Gusto and Enthusiasm.
The season was marred by having to give two forfeits due to injuries and sickness, stemming from the seniors to the reserves, and of course flowing on down to the thirds.
Apart from the first two rounds we really struggled to put eighteen on the field each week and in some games we finished with only 16 or 17 players, and even then some of those still on the field were carrying injuries and should not have continued to play.
Throughout all this, the Spirit remained high among those who turned up each week, and in just about EVERY game, the final scoreboard did NOT reflect the Effort, Endeavour, Spirit and Determination of those players still on the ground. In every game, the Hampton Rovers Football Club was never disgraced.
There were times when some players took to the field carrying injuries or illnesses to make sure we fielded a team.
On a brighter note, we would like to congratulate Adam Power for winning the 3rds Best and Fairest and if it had not been for him, in some games we would have lost by much greater margins than we did.
Congratulations also to Michael Flahive as Best and Fairest Runner-Up, and also to Graham Davis for Best Team Player.
A football team does not run out to play each week unless many people in the background have some say in making it happen, and we would like to thank the following people for their unselfish commitment :-
– Our Gallant Coach Glenn Gladys Roulent
– Jim Westhead and his tireless Committee
– Michelle Sobota our ever reliable trainer, sometimes helped out by Rachel Evans
– Bernie Woodland, our intrepid and totally unbiased Central Umpire
– Luke Morcom, Joel Emmins, Campbell Jones, Jack Campion, and Gary Morcom who all regularly helped out with Goal and Boundary Umpiring, Time Keeping, Scoreboard Duties and of course our Interchange Steward Jason Cave.
– Many thanks also to Jenny Voss who takes care of washing and cleaning the club jumpers each week and to the team of Ladies who never fail to provide us with GREAT Thursday night Dinners.
With a new set of Coaches leading us in 2011, we look forward to a much improved effort from our Thirds next season.
Denis Pilkington
TEAM MANAGER
