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Soham Grammarian Autumn 1946
EDITORIAL
As for sport, our change from Rugby Football to Soccer has increased interest in Games, and the début of the School Soccer XI was promising.
SOCCER NOTES
Since the beginning of term, a good deal of progress has been made. We have learned that enthusiasm alone is insufficient to play soccer well; it is a great help, but skill and knowledge of the game are also essential. We have played one interschool match against Newport Grammar School (a summary of this match appears below). Our juniors are very keen, as can be seen by watching the juniors kick around during the dinner hour!
IF
SOHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL v. NEWPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
School 3. Newport 6
This match, our only important one this term, was eagerly anticipated, as we wanted to see how our standard of play compared with that of other schools. We were not defeated as badly as the score suggests, and the game was by no means a walk-over for our opponents.
We opened by attacking, but Newport, settling down quickly, scored twice. Before they scored again, A Fowler reduced the deficit with a good shot from close in, making the Half-Time score School 1, Newport 3.
When play was resumed, we again attacked, and G Godden scored from an oblique angle. Play became more even, but V Grooms, our goalie, who played a splendid game throughout, was kept busy. Newport scored again and then Norman scored for us. It looked as if we might force a draw, but faults in our defence resulted in two more goals for Newport.
In conclusion, it may be said that we went for the ball and did not wait for it to come to us. Newport, however, moved more quickly than we did and their tackling was rugged and determined.
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Soham Grammarian Spring 1947
SOCCER NOTES
This winter has been the worst for fifty years, and naturally has affected the prospect of a good term's sport.
At the beginning of the term we had home and away fixtures with Ely King's School, Newmarket Secondary School and Saffron Walden Friends. From one of these fixtures we hoped to record our first victory of the season. We have quite a good school team and it is a pity they have not had a chance to show their real form. Next year we shall be without most of our best players, especially A Fowler, who has already left, but we hope that the positions left vacant will be ably filled.
To close on a more optimistic note I know we all look forward to next season with keen anticipation.
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Nov 6th SCHOOL 1ST XI v. SAFFRON WALDEN FRIENDS SCHOOL
School 2. Saffron Walden 2
This match was played under very trying conditions, rain falling almost continuously. Once again the School team was faced with better footballers than themselves, but deserved to draw because of their very quick tackling.
Saffron Walden kicked off and their inside forwards frequently opened up our defence with quick short passes. Their centre-forward was a constant menace to our defence with his speed and skilful ball control. It was not long before Saffron Walden scored, the greasy ball slipping from Grooms's hands, and leaving an open goal. Most of this half was spent in defence and our goal had many narrow escapes. Hitch once kicked off the goal-line. Half-time came with the score:
School 0 Saffron Walden 1In the second half Saffron Walden had to kick up wind and against the rain; consequently the School had much more of the play than previously. Play swung from end to end and from one of our frequent breakaways Parr sent Godden away to score. This gave us a slight advantage, but Saffron Walden almost took the lead, Hitch again keeping the ball out. Soon we took the lead, Franklin scoring from very close in. Saffron Walden struck back and despite desperate defence by the School, our opponents equalized. Play again swung from end to end, but neither side could quite score the deciding goal.
The final whistle went with the score School 2 Saffron Walden 2.School Team: Grooms: Hitch, Heffer: Ball, Whetstone, Handley: Godden Parr, Fowler, Franklin, Norman.
Feb 19th SCHOOL 1ST XI v. SAFFRON WALDEN FRIENDS SCHOOL
School 3 Saffron Walden 3
The prevailing conditions were almost identical to those of our previous match with the Saffron Walden at Soham. We kicked off downhill with the wind and driving rain behind us and quickly began to dominate the play. Several good opportunities were missed in the opening minutes of the match, but when success did come our way it was by a really magnificent effort by Godden, who finished off a solo run with a great shot and a goal.
Half-way through the first half Saffron Walden were awarded a penalty from which they scored, but we were quickly on the attack again and drew ahead when the opposing goalkeeper was bundled over the line.
Half-time: School 2 Saffron Walden 1After the change-over our opponents had most of the play and about mid-way through the second-half they drew level after a very bad defensive error on our part. From a breakaway Franklin found himself in possession about fifteen yards from goal, and to the amazement, yet relief, of everyone hit it first time into the top right hand corner of the net. During the last two minutes of the game Saffron Walden equalized. To sum up one could say that, if we had taken our opportunities in the first few minutes of the game, and if we hadn't conceded a penalty, and if on one occasion Whetstone had kicked the ball instead of kicking where he thought it was, and if our inside forwards had gone back in defence as well as up in attack we might have won, but then the Friends School could also concert this trail of 'ifs'.
As it was a draw was a fair result and we look forward to a decider next year. Result: School 3 Saffron Walden 3.
School Team: Grooms: Hitch, Heffer : Ball, Whetstone, Handley : Godden, Browning, Parr, Franklin, Norman.
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last update 7 Dec 2007