Page 9 - Shirehampton FC v Brislington 070423

BRISLINGTON F.C.

Greenslade and Lee Williams, our U18 Youth Division were also champion of the league and
gained promotion to the Premier Division of the Somerset Youth Floodlite League. With a new
Assistant Manager – Lee Perks, assisting Jeff with the First Team, the side reached the semi-final
of the Somerset FA Premier Cup where we were beaten by local side – Weston Super-Mare by a
goal to nil. Half way through season 2012/2013, the club was tested to the extreme with the sad
sudden loss of Chairman Fred Hardwell, following a hard battle with Cancer. However, he was
commemorated with a steam of success from our teams; The First Team become Western
League Premier Division Runners-Up, but were rejected for promotion by the FA for ground
standard issues. Our Reserves battled their way to the Somerset FA Senior Cup Final where they
unfortunately lost 1 – 0 against Wincanton. Our Ladies didn’t fail to impress either and finished
the season Somerset County League Champions and League Cup Winners as well as Somerset
FA Junior Cup Winners.
Vice Chairman - Phil Rex was elected as the new Chairman with former Reserve Team Manager
Rich Chaffey taking the position of Vice Chair. In 2013/2014, Brislington reached to furthest point
yet in the FA Cup, following wins over; Barnstaple Town, St. Blazey, Wells City, Truro City and
Weston-Super-Mare. Eventually we were knocked out at the last qualifying round by Conference
Prem side Welling United 1 -0 at home with a record breaking attendance of 700 spectators. The
prize money from winning five consecutive rounds allowed us to carry out essential upgrades to
our floodlighting and pitch draining systems as well as erecting a new turnstile block. Our Ladies
Team retained the title of Somerset FA Womens Junior Cup Champions as well as gaining
promotion to the Premier Division of the South West Women’s Football League with a goal
difference of +76 after losing only one game. The new season will see Paul Keen and Steve
Jenkins take over the ‘A’ Team following the resignation of Jason Hughes, after managing to gain
the team promotion to Prem 1 of the Bristol and Suburban League.
At the end of the 2015/16 season manager Jeff Meacham stepped down after 7 years in the role,
with Reserve team manager Lee Perks taking on the role with Dave Payne & Kevin Hazell as his
assistants. Bradley Haynes & Danny Guibarra ran the reserves.
The season itself bought a 10 place finish for the 1 team & a 4 place finish for the reserves.
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The ladies again done well winning promotion from their league.
The 2017/18 season seen a change in the committee with Phil Rex stepping down as Chairman
with club stalwart Steve Jenkins taking on the main role. The committee was completely
overhauled with the following taking on roles within the club Lee Williams (Vice Chairman), Phil
Vicary (Treasurer), Angela Hazell (Secretary).
The next couple of season remained much the same. Lee Perks continued in his role as first team
manager and now had a settled management team of Rich Ford & Kevin Hazell. The Reserves
had a few managers over a couple of years which ended with relegation in the 2018/19 season.
The 2019 / 20 season bought a new problem COVID hit us in March 2020 and all football was
suspended eventually ending with the season being null & void. We also withdrew the Reserves
from the Somerset County league due to player availability issues.
The following season 2020/21 was again suspended after the Christmas break and again ended
with the being declared null & void. During the 2 disrupted seasons the club were able to build
brand new changing rooms on the far side of the ground a welcome addition to the ground.
The 2021/ 22 season bought new challenges with the FA Restructuring the 1 team were going
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to have to endure at least 9 trips down to Devon & Cornwall which would stretch the club
finances & player commitment. The club did apply for lateral movement but this was rejected at
a hearing with the FA. We also restarted the Reserves in the Bristol & District League under
manager James Peart which seen a few former players return to the club. The season was a hard
one on Lee & the 1 team with some heavy defeats and struggling to field sides that were going
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to be competitive in the league. After the last game of season away to Millbrook an emergency
meeting was held as the club knew with the current fuel costs meaning travel costs for the 2022/
23 season were going to be hard to meet & the fact that the 1 team management were going
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step down as it would be impossible to get a team which could compete in the Western League.
The club made the hard decision to apply for voluntary relegation to Division 1. This was granted
and secured the future of the club. The decision was made harder due to the fact that we had
been members of the Premier Division for 20+ years.