UniBond Premier League Champions 2007/08

I thought that it was about time I wheeled the revised history page out again. It has been a couple of years since last time and there are a few new things tagged on at the end now! There must be many new supporters who are blissfully unaware of our senior non league history and the struggles and ups and downs we have had to endure over the last 98 years. Well for them, and to refresh the minds of all Fleetwood fans both old and young, here it is from the 20^th century onwards. To simplify matters I have not distinguished between Town, Freeport or just plain old Fleetwood because as far as I am concerned they are all blood related and therefore inseparable!
 

Now this really is my last article of the season but I am grateful to be doing it because it means that we are the league champions and not just play off finalists thank goodness!

Today’s visitors have not been to Highbury since we beat them 3-2 in November 1995. I well remember their first ever visit in 1970 after they had been relegated from the football league. We thrashed them 5-0 and their fans complained about our weak floodlights by flicking their cigarette lighters! We also beat them 3-1 in the league cup which we then went on to win. Anyway let’s have a look back at this tremendous season to see how it all happened. July 2007 started off with a bang with over 5000 fans coming through the turnstiles, mainly for the big attraction games against Blackpool and Manchester United. August saw the season start in earnest but three straight wins against Ossett, Hednesford and Ashton only saw us make fourth position in the league as Guiseley, Witton and Gateshead powered forward.

We climbed to third place at the start of September following a narrow win at Frickley but suffered a couple of worrying reverses during that month. Marine beat us convincingly at home and then we had a shocker on the road at Eastwood Town three weeks later, probably the worst performance of the whole season. We managed to finish the month in fifth spot due to six points gained at the expense of Worksop and Prescot. We made a great start in the FA Cup beating FC United at home in front of over 3000 fans and then we travelled over to the North East where we accounted for Billingham Town with relative ease.

October started very well with three home wins, two in the league against Leek and Matlock and a 5-0 hammering of Atherton LR in the thrilling Co-op cup. Four days later Barrow dumped us out of the FA Cup at Holker Street but we bounced back with a home victory against Worksop Town followed by a pretty fortunate 3-3 draw at Ilkeston. The month ended with a very shaky goal less game at home to Witton Albion when Danny Hurst suffered a broken hand and four days later Retford surprised us all by gaining a 1-1 draw at Highbury in the FA Trophy.

Shaun Beeley and Jerome Watt appeared on the scene in November and made an immediate impact but that was after the FA Trophy replay at Retford where we had to suffer the embarrassment of a 5-1 stuffing. We picked ourselves straight up and ended the month with five straight wins, Lincoln, North Ferriby and Ashton United in the league, Radcliffe Borough in the Co-op cup and  Warrington Town 7-3 in the league cup. So we rose to second position in the league and stayed there until four days from the end of the season!

The tremendous away win at Guiseley in early December was a milestone and we all thought 'this is it' before losing horribly at Chorley 3-1 in the Co-op cup. Many people didn’t get to the game due to a bad smash on the M55 but unfortunately some of us did! This was followed by a faltering home draw with Eastwood but the year ended on a very bright note with a commanding win at Hednesford and a Boxing Day cracker at home to Kendal.

The New Year arrived at Parkside but we failed to take advantage of Witton’s defeat at Eastwood and could only make a 1-1 draw in a game that we dominated. Milly was sick for the game so when we were awarded a second half penalty Kieran Walmsley stepped up only to put it over the bar. I thought, not for the first or last time, that’s it then. The following Saturday Marine recorded their second 3-2 win at Highbury, this time in the league cup, but two home wins against North Ferriby and Ilkeston began to heal the scars before Gateshead’s fateful visit at the end of January. That defeat was so hard to take as they were hot on our heels and Witton drew even further away towards the horizon.

We only had three games in February due to the bad weather. A narrow home win to Whitby Town was followed by two disastrous away defeats within a week. Gateshead overwhelmed us once again and Worksop scored goals on 45 and 90 minutes to win 2-1 in a game that we never deserved to lose and, due to motorway chaos, nearly didn’t start. Consequently Witton did indeed reach the horizon, a seemingly unreachable fourteen points ahead.

March arrived and our darkest hour was behind us as we strove to make our games in hand count. Wins against Ossett, Marine, Whitby and Prescot and draws with Matlock and Guiseley confirmed our intentions but the icing on the cake was the 3-0 defeat of Witton on their own patch with the snow showers providing the ticker tape for the Cod Army throng!

The final month and everyone thought that the play offs were the only way we would gain promotion. How wrong we were as Buxton (twice), Stamford (twice) and Lincoln were all sent packing leaving the away fixture at Leek Town the most crucial of games. A win would finally put us top, defeat was not an option, but Leek still needed a point to avoid relegation. The rest is history as we brushed aside an early home goal and won with a ballistic missile strike from Warren Beattie. Witton just couldn’t cope with it and fell to pieces on the last day to our benefactors Worksop; boy do I love their keeper!  We kept our cool against Frickley and the job was done, we had finally realised our wildest dreams by just two points. Phil Robinson was cruelly denied his own celebrations as he fell awkwardly and badly broke his arm. I really hope that he can make tonight’s presentation event as he is such a loyal player who has battled his way with us from the North West Counties days. Get well soon Phil.

What a season that was!

Records tumbled in every department as Fleetwood Town and the loyal Cod Army took on all comers, scoring 108 goals in 51 senior games, and came away with all the glory that their endeavours richly deserved. The celebrations went on well into Sunday morning and never was a hangover more pleasurably enjoyed! I spent the next day with my head buried in the Non League Paper to see who we may have waiting in the wings as we sail into the unchartered waters of the Blue Square Conference North.

So all that is left to say is a big thank you to all who run my beloved football club from top to bottom. Tony Greenwood has proved that he is definitely a legend and, together with Andy Pilley, the sky does indeed seem to be the limit! Have a great Summer one and all and I look forward to seeing you all next season when the Cod Army will rise up once again!
 

The end of season Peter Swales Shield fixture between UniBond Premier League champions Fleetwood Town and UniBond Division One North champions Bradford Park Avenue took place at Highbury Stadium on a fine, sunny Saturday afternoon. Both teams had already celebrated their own promotion successes the weekend before and saw this match as a low-key finale to their individual seasons.

Fleetwood Town kicked-off in a ground reminiscent to their Football League neighbours at Bloomfield Road. The demolition contractors were present at Highbury Stadium all week and the game kicked-off with one stand missing from behind the Park End goal. The flattening of the well-known landmark indicated the start of the seven-figure redevelopment of Highbury Stadium scheduled for the summer months. Prior to kick-off, both team displayed their respective championship trophies and the two skippers came together for a joint photo with their silverware.

The game started with no real chances for either side, although Fleetwood came closest with a well placed cross from Lennie Reid but ended just a touch too high for Phil Denney. Fleetwood went close in the opening ten minutes with a splendid Phil Denney move. His cross landed at the feet of Andy Moran who could only fire straight at the keeper. Town continued their pressure when Ricky Mercer put his name on the score sheet after 17 minutes. Mercer nodded in from the near post from a Jamie Milligan corner. Town finished the half on top and went into the break with their solitary goal intact. Commenting at half time, rested Andy Bell said, "we've had the better of the game and it’s been more like a practice match. It was a good header by Mercer for the goal and it's been comfortable so far".

Both sides started the second half in good style and Ricky Mercer could only see his header end up in the hands of the Bradford keeper. The visitors showed their championship form on 52 minutes. Steve Connors close range effort beat Danny Hurst to bring the teams level. The goal lifted the visitors and the Yorkshire side renewed their efforts against the Fleetwood defence. Town did come back with substitute Ashley Dunn putting an effort over the bar after 71 minutes. This marked the ascendancy from the UniBond Premier champions and Steve Foster was unlucky to see a narrow angled shot saved. Fleetwood enjoyed a strong period and their pressure paid off when Milligan scored straight a corner on 80 minutes. That wasn’t the end of Bradford and their efforts meant Danny Hurst needed to maintain his championship form.

If this commemorative but competitive match is anything to go by then Park Avenue are not too far behind the team who finished exactly a full division higher. Fleetwood Town won the Peter Swales Memorial Shield but the odd goal that separated them from their Bradford opponents reflected yesterday's meeting. The west-coast Cod Army' had home advantage for the fixture because they won the UniBond Premier, while Avenue picked up the First Division North title. The weather was fair, the pitch was flat and firm so the conditions were perfect. The wind increased from a gentle breeze in the second half but it did not interfere with the quality of the football.

Fleetwood broke the deadlock midway through the first half, and that was justified. They won a corner, centre back Ricky Mercer was sent forward and he netted with a header right into the top corner. Instead of consolidating and running away with the game, Fleetwood eased off and Bradford came more into the game. Mark Bett and Mike Moseley were narrowly flagged offside and Mark Jones sent in a shot that flew just wide. The equaliser came around the hour mark and, unsurprisingly, it was from Avenue's inspirational skipper Steve Connors. Left winger Liam Flynn curled a corner in, a defender headed the ball out but only as far as Connors, who lashed it into the net on the half- volley. Moseley flicked over when presented with a good chance to put Avenue in the lead and Fleetwood recovered to score a winner ten minutes from time. Once again it stemmed from a corner. Midfielder Jamie Milligan rose highest, his header took a deflection and then went in off the post.

Avenue had missed centre back Paul Stoneman - he was unavailable due to work commitments - and his aerial prowess. Dave Cameron's team is not a side that usually leaks goals from set-pieces. The Bradford boss has resolved to address the issue of height in the ranks during his first close season.

Cameron has already indicated that there will be a major influx of signings this summer as he and the board plot another successful campaign beginning next August. Avenue will be rivals with FC United of Manchester once more. The club spawned by disgruntled fans of the mighty Manchester United after the takeover by the Glasier family earned a third successive promotion yesterday. While Avenue were competing for a trophy at Fleetwood, it was FC United who were involved in a much more meaningful game. After finishing as runners-up, albeit by one point, to Avenue, they were forced to battle through the lottery of the play-offs. They were successful in the final, winning 4-1 at home against Skelmersdale United in front of a crowd of 3,258.

Having undergone final day disappointment for the second successive season last Saturday WITTON ALBION suffered the double whammy of play-off frustration in consecutive campaigns when they lost on penalties to BUXTON on Tuesday evening. With the play-offs having been in existence for four years it was the third consecutive occasion that the club finishing as Premier Division runners-up had failed to go up. Instead it was third place GATESHEAD who eased their way to promotion beating EASTWOOD TOWN 4-0 in midweek and then BUXTON 2-0 on Saturday. FC UNITED of MANCHESTER became the first lower tier runners-up to gain promotion via the play-offs when they came from behind to beat SKELMERSDALE UNITED 4-1 with “Skem” playing all the second half with ten men and the last twenty minutes with nine. The First Division South play-off final went to extra-time and penalties with NANTWICH TOWN, who had come from behind to beat GRANTHAM TOWN on Tuesday evening, overcoming SHEFFIELD FC 4-1 from the spot after the sides had finished all square at 2-2. Just over six thousand fans watched the three play-off games.  The curtain fell on the season with FLEETWOOD TOWN adding the Peter Swales Memorial Shield to their Premier Division title beating BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 2-1. 

FleetwoodTownFC.com || Match Archives 07/08