Soham Grammarian Autumn1947
SOCCER NOTES
The first full season of Association Football at the School, since it was reintroduced as the school game, has started very successfully.
So far the 1st XI has not lost a match and has defeated some strong school sides. Fortunately, most of last year's team, so ably coached by Mr RA Taylor, was still available at the beginning of the season, and with the increased experience has welded into a very strong side. The keynote of the team's performances has been the team spirit which has enabled the eleven to defeat opponents of more individual skill and ability. The determination, positional play and covering of the defence have been consistently good, and the forward line has developed an understanding and thrust which have been rewarded with some good scores. Next term we hope to have the help of an FA coach to give polish and improvement in footwork to an already sound combination.
The Second XI has played only two matches, it achieved a good performance in defeating Ely Kings' School 2nd XI by four goals to one.
The Under-14 XI was unfortunate in its first two matches in meeting much heavier and more experienced opponents. In its last match it achieved a meritorious draw in a high-scoring game. Its chief weakness is the hesitancy of the defence and inability to kick the ball cleanly first time. The forwards have shown promise, and the experience gained will be of great value in building future school elevens.
CJF
MATCH ACCOUNTS
FIRST ELEVEN
Saturday, Oct 4th March GS 2 School 3
March pressed for minutes, and then we attacked several times, Franklin missing a penalty from a foul on Bonham. Both goals had narrow escapes, and Hitch kicked off the goal-line. March scored just before half-time, making the score 1-0. Norman, who had been injured, was replaced by Forrester, who soon equalized in the second half. March, by clever mid-field play, again took the lead, but Bonham equalised from close-in. Godden later gave us the lead, which we held until the final whistle.Wednesday, Oct 8th: School 3 Newmarket 0
After both sides had made several attacks, the School settled down and Godden squared the ball across the goalmouth for Forrester to score. Newmarket tried, but failed to pierce our defence, and Bonham made the score 2-0 just before halftime. In the second half Newmarket had more of the play than previously, but all their efforts to score were blocked. Handley made the score 3-0 half-way through this half, and despite great efforts by both sides no more goals were scored.Wednesday, 22nd Oct: Newport GS 2 School 2
Franklin opened the scoring in the first few minutes from about thirty-five yards out, but the speedy Newport attack soon equalized. Each side gained the ascend ency for short periods, but somehow or other no further goals came.
Half-time 1-1Newport held the initiative for the first twenty minutes, after which we attacked for several minutes, but Newport took the lead ten minutes from time. Norman, however, made a fine run dawn the wing and hooked the ball into the net, making the score 2-2.
Thursday, 30th Oct: Kings' School (Ely) 2 School 2
Godden's absence due to injury caused the forward-line to be re-shuffled, and it lacked its usual punch and cohesion. The Kings' School forwards hit the uprights and the crossbar in the first ten minutes, but the School made sharp counter raids, and from one Sallis scored with a high lobbing shot.
Half-time: Kings' School 0, School 1The School again made several strong attacks and Norman scored a good opportunist goal. We held our lead until near the end when the Kings' School scored twice in quick succession, but failed to gain the lead.
Wednesday, Nov 5th: School 0 Newport GS 0
The main feature of this game was the domination of the forwards by the respective defences. Occasionally the forwards on both sides managed break aways, but they had no result. At half-time the score was 0-0.The second half followed the same pattern. The Newport centre-half was an impassable barrier before his goal. Towards the end the Newport centre-forward narrowly missed with several good shots, and the match ended in a goalless draw.
Wednesday, Nov 12th: Newmarket 0 School 4
Kicking with the wind at its back the School attacked almost continuously, but Franklin and Bonham both shot wide. Later Bonham scored from close-in. Newmarket missed two good chances at short range, and half-time came with the score: Newmarket 0, School 1.Newmarket benefited from the wind in the second half and launched a series of attacks. Dewey, however, increased our lead and Bonham quickly scored twice, one shot being from the right wing. Newmarket again attacked, but full time came with the score School 4, Newmarket 0.
Wednesday, Nov 19th: School 5 Saffron Walden Friend's School 2
The Saffron Walden forwards were perhaps slightly cleverer than ours, but by dribbling too much they slowed up their attack. Bonham opened the scoring from close-in and Godden increased our lead.
Half-time: School 2, Saffron Walden 0In the second half. Bonham again scored, but Saffron Walden scored twice and pressed for the equalizer. Bonham put the issue beyond doubt by adding two more goals. School 5, Saffron Walden 2.
Thursday, Nov 27th: School 1 Kings' School (Ely) 0
The School kicked off with the advantage of the wind and had most of the play in this half. The Kings' School goalie was very active. At the other end Heffer once kicked off the goal-line with Sargent beaten. Just before half-time Godden put a short pass to Franklin, who scored with a fine drive from just outside the penalty area.
Half-time: School 1, Kings' School 0In the second half the Kings' School came more into the picture, but Sargent was quite safe in goal. Most of the School forwards took shots at goal but all went wide. A fine and very close game ended School 1 , Kings' School 0.
The under 14 eleven have played three matches-losing 8-2 to Newport away, losing 8-1 to Newport at home and drawing 5-$ with Saffron Walden at home. Their two defeats by Newport can be put down mainly to the difference in size between the two teams. However, evidently there is a weakness in defence because after leading 4-1 against Saffron Walden they only drew 5-5 Despite their poor start they must not be discouraged; their time will come.
SECOND ELEVEN
School 4 Kings' School (Ely) 2nd XI 1
The 2nd X1 began their season with a good win over the Kings' School. The passing among the Soham forwards was very good at times, and Isaacson (2) and Smith scored with good shots, while Saul, putting a hard shot into the net - after a misunderstanding between an Ely back and the 'keeper, scored a fine opportunist goal. The Soham defence cleared well, and Leggett, in goal, played a very good game. Their left winger scored Ely's only goal, after a pass across the goalmouth from the right wing.I FRANKLIN
Soham Grammarian Spring 1948
SOCCER NOTES
The performances of the 1st XI this term have been very mixed. The season started with two very good victories in which the forward play reached a very high standard and a total of 16 goals was scored.
Our final game with Newport, with whom we had drawn on the two previous meetings, was in the nature of a debacle. The absence of a recognised goalkeeper with the consequent reshuffling of the team, and the arctic conditions did not offer sufficient explanation for the overwhelming defeat. A team must realise the importance of maintaining its morale under all circumstances and must not be panicked into losing its sense of positional play. It is a great pity that such a successful season should have ended on such a bad note.
The school has been greatly indebted to the Football Association for the services of the County Coach, Mr FA Barrett. His practical help and advice were much appreciated by the 1st and 2nd elevens, and it is hoped that the fruits of his coaching will be reaped next season.
Football Colours have been awarded by the Games Committee to the whole team: I Franklin, P Handley, JP Sargent, TR Hitch, LL Heffer, MJ Whetstone, EM Sallis, GJ Godden, FF Dewey, MT Bonham, RH Norman.
MATCH ACCOUNTS
FIRST ELEVEN
Saturday, Dec 5th: School 3 March GS 4
Taking advantage of the wind, March attacked strongly, and Sargent did well to save shots from the March wingers and centre-forward. The School took the lead from a sudden breakaway and Bonham scored. Godden further increased the lead when he cut in from the wing and shot from close range.
Half-time : School 2, March 0March scored immediately from the kick-off, soon added an equaliser and with 15 minutes to go, took the lead. After repeated pressure, Forrester equalised from a corner, but March once again took the lead a minute or so before time.
Dec 12th: School 2 Huntingdon 0
In the opening minutes Huntingdon were in the ascendency and were unlucky not to score. From almost the first School attack Norman scored from close range. This was followed by short spells of attacking by both sides, none of which, however, looked really dangerous.The opening minutes of the second half were a repetition of the first half and again Huntingdon went close to scoring. After about 10 minutes, Godden cut in and scored. The rest of this half was mainly spent in the Huntingdon goal area, but by determined tackling they prevented any further score.
Jan 24th: Huntingdon 2 School 8
Taking time to settle down on the small pitch, the School soon were a goal down. Bonham equalised with a fine drive from the edge of the penalty area and later gave us the lead. Play swung from end to end, but there was no further scoring before half-time.Soon after the restart Sallis scored from a free kick, and in a few minutes Bonham added three opportuntist goals. Norman scored the seventh a few minutes later, and Dewey quickly added another. Huntingdon by no means out of the picture, scored just before time.
Jan. 31st: Saffron Walden Friends' School 1 School 8
Saffron Walden attacked first, but their movements usually petered out owing to over-elaboration. Godden opened the scoring, but Saffron Walden quickly equalised. ' Bonham and Godden added goals a few minutes before half-time.The School made use of the strong wind and had most of the play. The scoring was again opened by Godden, and Bonham scored two more from close range. The Saffron Walden goalie was kept extremely busy during the ensuing minutes and despite stout defence by the opposing centre-half, Dewey and Franklin scored goals just before time.
Feb 21st: School 0 Newport 11
The School were without Sargent in goal and the consequent reshuffling of the team deprived it of its usual steadiness when under pressure. Newport soon settled down to the icy conditions, and by half-time had scored three good goals. Dewey, the substitute goalie, had little chance with these or any other of the goals scored. The School had their chances; Norman shot over from long range and Bonham just headed over.
Half-time: School 0, Newport 3In the second half Newport attacked almost continually, and the forwards added goals at a steady rate. The School defence went to pieces before the man-to-man passing movements of our opponents. The School forwards failed to make any impression on the sound Newport defence.
SECOND ELEVEN
Since the last issue of the Magazine the 2nd XI have played and won three matches, and so finished their first season undefeated.
School 2nd XI 9 Huntingdon 2nd XI 0 (home)
Play was fairly even in the first half, both defences playing well. Just before half-time, a good pass from the wing enabled Smith to score. Immediately after the interval the School XI. began to assert its superiority. The forward-line functioned well, and goals were scored by Smith (2), Leaney (2), Saul (2), Isaacson and Routledge.School 2nd XI 4 Huntingdon 2nd XI 3 (away)
On a strange pitch the football was not of a high standard. Smith wasted a good chance, and a goal was disallowed for offside. Huntingdon also failed: to score. Soon after the interval Huntingdon opened the scoring, but the School soon replied with three goals in 10 minutes-scored by Forrester and Routledge (2): Huntingdon reduced the lead, but Smith added another for the School. Huntingdon scored again just before.time to make the final score:
School 4, Huntingdon 3School 2nd XI 4 Newport 2nd XI 1
The game was marred by the fact that both teams were playing below full strength. The School played well and scored twice quickly through Smith to make: the half-time score:
School 2, Newport 0After the interval Newport played the better football and attacked much of the time. Leaney scored twice for the School, but in the last stages of the game the visiting centre-forward scored from close range.
1st XI CHARACTERS
SARGENT, JP: A really sound goalkeeper who has improved with every match. He is extremely good at catching high shots, has a strong kick and has had excellent understanding with the full backs.
HITCH, TR (right back): A very strong tackler with a powerful clearance. He has good anticipation, as is proved by the number of times he has cleared off the goal-line. His enthusiasm has occasionally forced him to bring the ball too far up field, and this has left his man unmarked. Should try to make first-time clearances more often.
HEFFER, LL (left back): He and Hitch have been a sound pair of backs throughout the season. Small but sturdy for his position, he has overcome this disadvantage in height and is quick at recovering himself. He has a good left-foot kick.
WHETSTONE, MJG (centre half): Has improved out of all comparison since last season, and has been a tower of strength to the side. He kicks equally well with either foot and his heading is remarkable, especially as he wears glasses. Has a fine sense of position.
SAWS, EM (left half): Another player who can kick well with either foot, and his heading is also first rate. He is quick into the tackle, and is not afraid to bring the ball up to his forwards.
GODDEN, GJ (right wing): A small, fast, and very clever winger, whose ball control is extremely good. Can be, and often has been, a match-winner. He has a good shot in either foot and puts over very dangerous corners.
DEWEY, FF (inside right): He has taken some time to settle down in the team and in consequence has been rather goal-shy, but this should disappear with more experience. He and Godden have reached almost perfect understanding, and are a lively wing pair.
BONHAM, MT (centre forward): A strong fast centre forward who has scored nearly half the side's goals. Good opportunist. He has a very hard shot in his right foot, but must improve his left. He has not used his head enough in both senses of the word, and also has not distributed the ball as often as he might have done.
NORMAN, RH (left wing): Tall, strong, but completely unorthodox, as he dribbles the ball on the outside of his right foot. His left foot shot has improved considerably this season, but he should centre the ball instead of almost invariably taking it down to the goal-line.I FRANKLIN (Capt.)
FRANKLIN (Captain): Has proved an able Captain and has welded the team into a very effective unit. He has distinct ability and an excellent knowledge of the game, but should endeavour to get the ball moving more quickly once he has got it under control. Although he possesses an excellent shot, he is apt to be too unselfish in the goal area and often passes when a shot is called for.
HANDLEY (Vice-Captain) : A strong and forceful half-back who is rarely beaten in a tackle and feeds his forwards with excellent passes. He should try to improve his "throwing in," which often infringes the rules. He has given loyal and enthusiastic support to his captain.
CJF
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