This year’s end of Season Presentation Night was again held at the Earl of March on the Friday the 11^th June with 58 people attending.

Although slightly later in this year’s calendar it was still very well supported and turned out as usual to be a great night.

We would like to thank Giles & Ruth and their team at the Earl of March for all their efforts in ensuring the evening went really well.

Also we would like to thank Daryl, Tom and Spider for their help before and during the presentation night.

Together everyone made the evening a great success and this year we only had one trophy breakage and that was Yax right at the end of the evening when he was leaving the pub. Apparnetly he has blamed Dave Kent according to Stuart eastwood.

The Winners of this season’s awards were as follows:

Saturday Teams:

Top Goal Scorer:
1st Team – Alan Sheppard
Reserves – Adam Yaxley

Man of the Match Award:
1st Team – Mike Neville
Reserves – Shaun Massey

Players Player:
1st Team – Chris Coe
Reserves – Dave Maclean

Clubman:
1st Team – Martin Pullen
Reserves – Mel Milburn

Miss of the Season:
1st Team – Tom Sheppard
Reserves – Adam Yaxley

Managers Player:
1st Team – Chris Coe
Reserves – Dave Maclean

Managers Award:
Ryan Seacombe

Sunday Team:

Top Goal Scorer:
Alan Sheppard

Players Player:
Mark Richardson

Clubman:
Stuart Eastwood

Managers Player:
Adam Yaxley

Tom Sanctuary Shield:
Alan Sheppard

Dont forget to come and help with this years fete.
Its from 2pm – 5pm on Saturday the 19th June.  

We run two game stalls every year, Football Skills and Beat the Keeper and we need players to help run these stalls as well as make up a team for the annual tug of war against the Allotment Assocaition.

Its a bit of fun on the day for the family and especially for the kids who try out there football skills and as a result every year since we returned to playing back at Lavant we have recieved a generous donation form the fete committee which helps with the running costs of the club.

So please make some time and come and help out on the day if you can. Thank you

Lavant First Team Photo, taken on the 17th April, home to Ashington Rovers

Back Row: Assistant Manager Dave Kent, Matt Hine, Ryan Seacombe, Justin Walsh, Neale Watts, Martin Pullen, Tom Parker, Dave Kennard, Ross Lines, Dave Parker Manager.

Front Row: Alan Sheppard, , Mike Neville, Matt Price, Louis Weller, Greg ockwell, Dave Knight , Chris Coe.

(Not in the picture but featured for the first team over the season, Chris Bowles, Shaun Gooding, Tom Turner, Daryl Hall, Ben Evans, Ben Thomas., Robbie Pinder, Tom Sheppard, Matt Court, Joe Perry and Shay Wiggins)

This season saw Lavant newley promoted and playing for the first time for just over 10 years in Division I.  This proved to be a hard and testing season as the first team had to travell further a field and also play a number of new teams for the first time, all at intermediate level.  To their credit they battle hard for every point and by early April had ensured their survial in the league.  This was no mean achievement as this is the only league in West Sussex where three teams are relegated each season.

Over the past few weeks lengthy discussions have been on-going regarding entering an under 18 team in the Arun & Chichester Youth Football League next season.

Our application has now been submitted to the league and we are now waiting to hear if we have been accepted for the start of the 2010-2011 Season.

It is a great opportunity for the Football Club for three good reasons.

Firstly the club are fielding a team in the U18 age bracket, which is a critical age when lots of youth players who have been playing from an early age tend to give up playing football.  It is our intention to try an encourage these youngsters to carry-on with the beautiful game with Lavant Youth.

Secondly we intend to also offer these youth players an opportunity to move across and play for the mens teams, of which we have two on Saturday’s.
This will then promote the integration from youth to mens football by staying with one club.

This will also will benefit the Saturday sides who will have potentially an even greater pool of players to select from. The Third reason is that running a youth team especially this season is very significant as it is our Centenary Season.  100 years this season the village of Lavant have ran an official football team.

To our knowledge we have only ever had two other Lavant youth teams (please let us know if this is wrong), which ran for very short periods.  Lavant Minors in the 1970’s and Lavant Lion’s in the 1990’s.

The management team for Lavant Youth will be Rick McKenna and Karl Gaffney who last year ran the Chichester Colts U16 B Team.

We would like to welcome them both to the club and wish them well with their team next season.

The youth will be playing their home games at Lavant’s Raughmere Park on Sunday’s am or pm dependant on the men’s Sunday Side Fixtures. If you are interested in joining the youth team then please let us know by contacting Karl on 01243 513950 or Rick on 07861748686 or via e-mail onlavantyouth2010@yahoo.com

Finally, as this is a new team they are starting from scratch and they would gladly welcome any offers of support or sponsorship to get them up and running.

If you feel you would like to help or know of someone who would be interested in supporting the promotion of local youth football, please let us know.

For the Centenary Season we are looking to replace the football kits and we have with the help of Adam scoured all the park kit manufacturers to come up with a kit matching Lavant’s colours.

The kit selected is made by Italian manufacturers Errea, which current is the same make as the Sunday side, but a differant style.

Because it is the Centenary and as the club on occasions in the past (see the history section 1960’s and 1970’s) played in an all yellow kit, it has been suggested we play in an all yellow kit next season to mark 100 year’s of our village football team and then the following season revert back to Lavant’s yellow and blue standard colours.

Proposed next Seasons Kit – Centenary Season 2010 – 2011  

Proposed Kit – Season 2011 – 2012

Please let us know your comments on the forum.

Regarding the kits we are currently looking for sponsors and have had already some positive reponses, however if anyone knows of any Company interested in sponsoring a kit or other training tops etc, especially as it is our Centenary Season please let us know.

Every penny helps. Also to mark the Centenary Season we will be introducing a revised club badge which will be embroidered onto the kits.

This badge design will be unveiled shortly. Keep It Yellow, will soon have a whole new meaning.

Long Season ends with a frustrating defeat

Faygate 2 Lavant 1

Lavant completed their season fixtures with a long away trip over to the far reaches of West Sussex at Faygate.

With 1st Division safety assured for both teams, the emphasis of having to win this game had gone and it showed from kick off as both teams started rather fragmentally, as the neither side failed to take control of the game.

It was however Faygate that had an early chance to take the lead as desperate defending resulted in the ball rattling off the Lavant post.

With 22 minutes gone, Martin Pullen pulled off a great save to again deny the homeside, with the follow up shot cleared off the goal line by Chris Coe, as Lavant rode their luck.

Lavant suddenly settled down, got organised and communicated better on the park. The results were instant as they worked together as a unit and played some of their best football of the game, forcing Faygate back and  to defend their goal for long periods of the reminder of the first half.

Continued pressure and a series of Lavant free-kicks on the edge of the home-sides box however failed to break the deadlock.

With minutes remaining another free-kick from the far right, whipped in by Matt Price only needed the slightest of touches to score, but agonisingly Lavant failed to capitalise.

Unfortunately for the visitors the whistle for half time came too soon, bringing to an end a long period of continued pressure which frustratingly they failed to capitalise on.

The second half saw the homeside start the brighter and they should have taken the lead on 50 minutes, but somehow the player headed over the bar a  yard out .

Ten minutes later Lavant again rode their luck clearing the ball off the line.  Lavant themselves had great chances also to take the lead, Oli Haggar forced a great save from Faygate keeper Martin Jepson and Jason Houghton’s midfield pass saw Ryan Seacombe though one on one with the keeper, but again Jepson pulled off a fine save to deny the visitors.

With 25 minutes remaining the deadlock was broken as Lavant conceded a very soft goal, as a poorly defended corner saw the ball run across the front of goal giving Tom May the easiest of tap ins, 1-0.

Lavant came close ten minutes later to levelling the score from a Price corner but the flick on was again well saved by the keeper.  Faygate reacted immediately punishing Lavant on the counterattack as they further extend their lead as Pullen failed to keep out May’s long range strike, 2-0.

Within four minutes Lavant had got a goal back from their best move of the game as Houghton won the ball in midfield, found Dave Kennard on the right flank and his cross cut back from the goal line missed the incoming Seacombe, but not Price as he drove the ball home in the corner of the goal, 2-1.

The last 10 minute were all Lavant as they tried in vein to level the score, Seacombe a couple of yards out was again denied by the keeper and with the last corner of the game somehow Lavant failed to convert the goal mouth scramble, with Dave Maclean blasting over yards out.

The final whistle blew bringing an end to a long hard season in which Lavant have fought hard and eventually successfully for the right to remain in Division 1.

The standards are higher, margins for error smaller and three teams in Division 1 are relegated each season, so the stakes are higher.  The last three games of the season were all lost by a single goal and could quite easily have gone Lavant’s way.

Turning these types of games into victories has to be our aim for next season as this is the difference between finishing tentatively fourth from bottom or finishing comfortably in mid table.

This season has been tough and a real learning curve, but we have proved we can hold our own in this league. If we can learn from this seasons experiences, keep the squad together and strengthen it further (Stuart Loversidge is back for next season) then we have a great chance to firmly establish ourselves in Division 1 during our Centenary Season.  From all the management staff.

Thanks everyone for your efforts this season. Enjoy the break and we look forward to seeing you all back pre-season.

Team: M.Pullen, N.Watts, D.Kennard, C.Coe, O.Haggar, L.Weller, J.Houghton, B.Evans, M.Price, R.Seacombe, A.Yaxley.  Subs M.Hine, D.Maclean.

Lavant Reserves Team Photo, taken on the 10th April, home to Milland

Front Row: Dave Maclean, Shaun Massey, Adam Yaxley, Ben Evans, Mel Milburn, Guy Pinder.

(Not in the picture but featured for the reserves over the season, Tom Turner, Chris Withall, Alex Waters, Adam Clarke, Christian Swain, Dan Mortimer, Dan Baker, Martin Smith, Scot Yaxley, Shay Wiggins.)

Lavant Reserves finished the season with a win at home against Milland which
ensured they ended the season in third place in Divison IVSouth of the West Sussex Football League, just two pionts behind second placed Tangemere and three points behind winners Fishbourne Reserves.

This season has been a complete contrast to the previous and that has a lot to do with the new management team of Cliff Massey and Mel Milburn.

Also as a reflection of the progression of the team the Reserves won West Sussex Football League sponsors Covers Team of the Month Award for March winning £50 which will go towards next seasons new kits.

Well done, especially from the Director of Football and Treasurer.

Hunston 2 Lavant 1

Shaun Jenkins 25 yard strike in 87 min against a Lavant, then reduced to 9 men, gave Hunston the 3 points from this Division One clash.

Desiring the game more than the visitors, breaking well from midfield and passing the ball better, Hunston were the better side in the first half and Lavant were fortunate to restart the second half at 0-0.

Lavant then produced the best move of the match but Seacombe’s volley hit the bar. Within 2 minutes Hunston were awarded a disputed penalty and Jenkins converted the spot kick on 50 minutes.

The visitors equalised when Captain, David Kennard, headed home a Matt Price corner on the hour. But then everything went wrong for Lavant.

Already they had lost their key midfielder, Alan Sheppard, through injury half way through the first half. Now, controversially, referee, Adrian Harris, dismissed midfielder, Jason Houghton, for his second “technical” offence.

When Dave Knight was carried off with a serious leg injury, the Chichester side were reduced to 9 men.

Nevertheless they nearly snatched the winner 5 minutes from full time but uncharacteristically Seacombe skewed his shot wide 7 yards out.

Within 2 minutes, Jenkins hit his wonder goal to give Hunston their coveted victory.

Team: M.Pullen, D.Kennard, T.Parker, C.Coe, D.Knight, J.Houghton, B.Evans, A.Sheppard, M.Price, R.Seacombe, A.Yaxley.  Subs G.Ockwell, R.Lines, M.Hine.

Lavant 0 Ashington Rovers 1

Dan Holliday’s 87 min goal grabbed Ashington the 3 points in Lavant’s last home game of the season.

Safe in Division One now ,Manager, David Parker, asked the homeside to concentrate on and develop their passing game.

Ten minutes in Lavant began to deliver on the request with some delightful moves that produced five good enough chances to have won the game.

Ashington were however resolute and relied on long ball with quick breaks from midfield.

The Lavant defence led by “Man of the Match” Tom Parker looked comfortable enough and Dave Kennard kept Rovers’ main threat, striker Daniel Yeomans under control.

The second half continued in the same vein and when 5 mins from time, Rovers’ ‘keeper, Graeme Lock, saved brilliantly from Seacombe’s finish to another well constructed move from Lavant , the match seemed to be drifting to a 0-0 draw.

It was then that an innocuous looking long ball saw Holliday clash with ‘keeper, Martin Pullen but head the ball on into the empty net. Lee Charward, Rovers manager, declared ” We got a great result”.

Manager David Parker’s laconic comment was ” The best team lost!”

Team: M.Pullen, D.Kennard, T.Parker, C.Coe, D.Knight, G.Ockwell, J.Walsh, A.Sheppard, M.Price, R.Seacombe, R.Lines.  Subs L.Weller, N.Watts, M.Hine.

Saturdays Results

10th April

Division 1:
Ashington 4  Partridge Green 3
Faygate Utd 1 Angmering 5
Fishbourne 4 Lavant 0
Hunston CC 0 Watersfield 2
Wittering Utd 0 Henfield 4 Division 4 South:
Ambassadors 2 Yapton Reserves 2
Coal Exchange 2 Tangmere 3
Lavant Reserves 5 Milland 3
Lodsworth Reserves 0 Selsey FC ‘A’ 0

Fishbourne 4 Lavant 0

Ryan Seacombe edges out two Fishbourne players to win the ball

Fishbourne advanced one step nearer the premiership with an emphatic win at Florence Road.   The teams sparred evenly until a Fishbourne throw-in was “topped on” by Hugh Howden’s head. In an attempt to clear, Jason Houghton headed the ball just inside his own post on 24 minutes.   Three minutes later, a rasping drive from the homeside’s midfield took a deflection from Lavant’s Tom Parker, leaving his ‘keeper, Chris Bowles, stranded and Fishbourne 2-0 in front.

Justin Walsh quick to move the ball on as Fishbourne’s Hugh Howden comes steaming in

But there was no doubt about Fishbourne’s third, when Duncan Terry found himself in possession on the right of the visitors’ penalty area and deftly curled the ball into the far top corner 6 minutes from half-time.  Eight minutes into the second half, Fishboune’s Darren Cox fired wide from the penalty spot after Ockwell had decked Howden. Three minutes later, Lavant completed a hat-trick of own goals when Kennard headed into his own net, defending a right-wing cross to the far post.

MOM Greg Ockwell shields the ball ftrom the Fishbourne player

Lavant’s weakness throughout the game was a tendency to hit long balls forward too early, leaving their forwards isolated. But in the last 20 minutes they overcame this and looked more dangerous.

However manager, David Parker commented, “Fishbourne deserved their win. I particularly liked the way they controlled the game with composed passing even when we began to play better. I hope they get to the Premier Division. We need a Chichester side in there.”

Team: C.Bowles, D.Kennard, T.Parker, C.Coe, M.Neville, J.Walsh, G.Ockwell, J.Houghton, L.Weller, R.Seacombe, R.Lines.  Subs R.Pinder, D.Knight, N.Watts.

Lavant Reserves 5 Milland 3

Lavant Reserves won their final game of the season by five goals to three on Saturday, but Lavant manager Cliff Massey would be first to admit the final score-line actually flattered his side at the end of this very scrappy match.

Early pressure from the homeside paid dividends as Lavant went ahead through leading scorer Adam Yaxley, with a neat finish from the edge of the box, 1-0.

The game then became very scrappy, with the ball being treated like a hot potato, as neither team were able to settling on the ball and taking control of the match.

Then with 30 minutes gone, the move of the game saw the homeside extend their lead.  Left back Jon Strange played the ball up field to Ben Evans, whose square ball found left winger Daryl Hall just inside the Milland half, who then produced a 40 yard pinpoint pass into the path of the incoming Dave Mclean just inside the visitors box, who controlled the ball in mid-air on his foot and then volleyed into the net without the ball touching the floor, 2-0.

This then settled Lavant, who went on to dominate the remainder of the half, but unfortunately were unable to capitalise on their dominance and increase their tally going into half time.

A stern talking to by the Milland coach at half time bought the best out of the visitors as soon after the restart they were on the score sheet.

Two identical goals from long throw-ins to the back post saw the keeper Stuart Eastwood beaten twice, leaving the manager fretting on the touchline at 2-2.

Then in a frantic 5 minutes it saw Lavant get their third goal through an impressive finish from Tom Sheppard from the edge of the 18 yard line, 3-2.  Straight from the kick off Milland won a corner.

The dead ball kick was floated over to the back post where their unmarked centre back coolly passed the ball into the back of the net, 3-3.

Following this Lavant made a change as Andy Strange replaced Yaxley and with only 5 minutes remaining and the game heading for a deserved draw for both sides, Daryl Hall won a free kick 35 yards out from goal.

Up stepped man of the match Shaun Massey who converted a peach of a free kick straight into the net, once again restoring Lavant’s lead, 4-3.

This destroyed Milland and with only minutes remaining on the clock a well placed cross from Ben Evans this time found Daryl Hall at the far post and with an acrobatic flick was able to steer the ball into the net, there ending the visitor’s gallant fight back, 5-3.

Assistant Manager Mel Milburn said afterwards “From such a poor game we still managed to score five goals and three of them are definitely contenders for goal of the season.”

Team: S.Eastwood, D.Morris, M.Ayers, J.Strange, D.Maclean, S.Massey, T.Sheppard, B.Evans, D.Hall, A.Yaxley, G.Pinder Subs: A.Strange, M.Milburn.

Mondays Results

5th April

Division 1:
Angmering 6 Henfield 1
West Chiltington 7 Wittering 0
Watersfield 2 Lavant 2

Division 4 South:
No fixtures