Season 2016/17 saw a new look Springhead Blacks U9’s welcome a number of new faces into the team. With the introduction of Lewis Wrigley, Jake McMurray & Harry Seel along with three other players taking their first steps into league football Isaac Jones, Jude Lightfoot & Thomas Harrott.

Mid-September saw the Blacks take to the field for the first time with Medlock Rangers providing the opposition. A keenly contested match with the Blacks unlucky to be on the wrong side of a 2-0 loss. Jude was nominated Man of the Match for his no nonsense robust defending a sign of things to come?

Due to the Saddleworth Olympics, it was another 4 weeks before we’d get back to our league fixtures. In the 3 weeks between the Blacks were matched up against teams from 1 & 2 divisions higher.

It was our third game before we finally got off the mark with a thunder bolt free-kick from Harvey Mould nestling in the top corner. The games now came thick and fast, with the Springhead players making a good account of themselves, in each of the games both as a team and individually. We were now starting to find the net, with Mason Abernethy, Patric Howe & Jack Hilton all getting off the mark.

The teams performances were improving week on week, yet the results weren’t going the way our performances had warranted. With that said, we were proving hard to beat, with all the players showing great determination, especially our back line of Lewis Wrigley, Toby Robinson, Jake McMurray & Jude. Each of them resolute in defence putting their bodies on the line. Isaac’s performances throughout were improving game after game making numerous top class saves and proving difficult to beat when faced up 1 on 1 with opposing strikers.

19th November saw another player make his debut for the Springhead Blacks. Harrison Eckersley swapping the oval ball for our round one and what an impact he had. Lightning quick and brave in the tackle, it was clear to see that this lad felt as comfortable on the football field as he had on the rugby pitch. Rounding of a great performance scoring his 1st goal of the season in a keenly contested 2-2 draw against Dukinfield Tigers.

It wasn’t until mid-December before the Springhead Blacks were able to record their first win of the season. A resounding 4-1 victory over local rivals Saddleworth Strikers with both Harry Seel & Patric Howe netting a brace a piece. Shouts of joy rang out from the terraces as the Springhead’s Red & Black army of supporters showed their support!

Our final game of 2016 the Blacks faced Chadderton FC Juniors. Finding themselves 2-0 down early into the second half, yet the performance had warranted more. Springhead were dominant but were unable to make the most of their chances. Finally, the breakthrough came with Harry Thackeray scoring his 1st goal of the campaign with a tidy finish. Could the fightback be on? With just seconds to play, one last chance surely? Harry Seel breaks through from midfield, striding forward he shoots beating the keeper and finding the back of the net 2-2. Was this a sign of things to come?

2017 brought the start of a New Year and what a year! The Springhead Blacks went on a run of 6 games without defeat, recording four wins and two draws along the way. Goals were being shared throughout the team, with all the midfield players registering. Thomas Harrott was to go on a goal frenzy registering 4 goals in as many matches. Patric & Mason were scoring now on a regular basis. It was during this period that Harrison Eckersley was to swap the Springhead Black for the Springhead Red joining Simon & Shaid’s band of warriors! A move which was thoroughly deserving of his performances to that point.

What was especially pleasing was the player’s attitudes. From the first minute to the last, not giving up and believing in themselves, that they can create chances and score goals. It’s surely no coincidence, that in a number of games during the season, we’d scored a couple of very late goals in ‘Gingie’ time! None more so, than when Lewis Wrigley went waltzing through the Dukinfield Tigers with a last minute winner! ‘What a way to score his first goal of the season!’ and with it the 'Man of the Match!'

A couple of narrow defeats were quickly brought to a halt, with a fantastic performance against a very good team in FC Sports. For once, there was little doubt in deciding the winner of the Man of the Match award on this occasion. Mason ran his socks off with great energy throughout and netting two goals along the way.

And then there was our Cup performances. First up, we faced tough opposition in the name of Signol Athletic, in the QF of the JFC Sports Cup. A pulsating cup match, with both teams giving no quarter, with battles across all areas of the pitch. The Blacks eventually running out 2-1 winners, in a match that went right to the wire. A game, where I feel was one of our best performances, in the face of intimidation, each of the Springhead players standing toe to toe, winning their challenges, with goals, near misses and brave goalkeeping. A game, where I think both Ginge & I got a little pumped up, with the result and the performance.

Next up was the semi-final against Saddleworth Strikers, with a place in May’s Cup Final up for grabs. Where the previous fixture against Signol Athletic had been played with great intensity from start to finish, dare I say Springhead had put Saddleworth Strikers to the sword racing into a 2 goal lead in as many minutes. A dominant display from beginning to end, the Blacks running out comfortable winners 4-1.

And so it was Cup Final day, with each of us looking forward in anticipation. But it wasn’t to be. The game was over in the first 10 minutes, as Heyside Blues raced into a 5 goal lead. With that said, it was a great day from start to finish, arriving at the ground, the team photos, walking out onto the pitch with the Champions League anthem playing, the trophy presentation, it’s fantastic, and was a great experience for everyone.

Yes, we lost the Cup Final, but one game does not define a season. We must remember all the good things that we’ve achieved over the course of this season, all the goals we’ve scored, the saves we’ve made, the tackles we’d won, the performances we’d put in. Each of the players had made huge contributions throughout the season as each one had laid their hands on the Man of the Match Award at some stage throughout the season.

Ours, was a great season and one the players should be really proud of, as I know the coaches, the parents and the carers are.

On behalf of Ginge & myself we’d like to say ‘Thanks’ to you all for your support throughout the season and we look forward to better things in 2017/18.