Page 13 - Longwell Green Sports v Brislington 150423

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. The
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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 to have
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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.
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The season was a hard one on Lee & the 1 team with some heavy defeats and struggling to field sides
that were going 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 step down as it would be impossible to get a team
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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.
The 2022 / 23 season has bought new hope and we have managed to keep our management team and
retain a lot of last seasons playing squad.