Sports and leisure 5

THE SCHOOL'S VICTORIOUS YEAR IN MINOR LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Our readers will be both proud and pleased to know that our School Senior Team (16 to 18's) have won the Waltham and District
League, Division One, in the first year of itsr formation, gaining 30 points out of 32, 'and having a goal average of 83 for and
20 against.
It was our-cherished ambition to gain the maximum number, of 32 points and finish the season with an unbeaten record; but the
fates were not kind to us in our last match, and to our great disappointment we were beaten.
on Easter Monday, we had the pleasure of welcoming to the School, Mr. Rouse and Mr. Wollin, Chairman and Secretary
respectively of the Waltham and District League for the purpose of presenting to the League Champions the League Shield, a
most handsome trophy, presented by the Enfield Highway Co-operative Society. Ex-House-Captain Wilson of Aberdeen
received the shield from Mr. Rouse, who then gave an excellent and much appreciated speech
In addition to our League success we were also runners-up of the Hertford and District Challenge Cup, and on 1st May, our last
match of the season, we played Ware Youth in the Final of the Hertford and District Challenge Cup, on the Hertford Town
Ground.
Elaborate arrangements had been made for this match, and before the start of play, both teams were lined up on the pitch and
introduced to the Mayor of Hertford, who kindly presented the Cup and Medals to the players at the conclusion of the match.
A really high standard of football, watched by approximately 500 spectators, was played throughout the entire game. The first
goal, which gave us the lead till the sixtieth minute, was scored by Matthews from a penalty, when Ware Youth gained an
equalising goal.
At' the end of ninety minutes play the score was still i—i so extra time was played in a very heavy-thunder-storm. But not even
this deluge could dampen the spirits of the players, nor the enthusiasm of. the crowd, who had constantly voiced, in, no
uncertain fashion, their appreciation of a thrill packed game. '
At the end of extra time the score was still unaltered, and the light to bad to play any further extra time, so, as season official
y ends on 1st May, as far as the Hertford League is concerned, the Committee decided to make the teams joint Holders of the
Cup.
They further decided that the respective captains should "toss " for the privilege of holding the Cup for the first six months, and
receiving the winners medals; and to our great delight, our Captain won the toss, and we were able to bring back the Cup-to
Goldings.
Thus we have now created a new School Record for Football, the previous best year being in the season of 1927-28, when the
School First Eleven won the League Shield.
It would perhaps be of interest to our readers to know that our hoped for success of this season, now fulfilled, dates back to last
August at Dymchurch, when the idea came to me to get together sixteen boys, who would be prepared to give up much of their
leisure time, in order to fulfil a training programme based on the methods of professional football. The equipment for carrying
out this programme was readily granted, i. e. training kit, skipping ropes, knee pads, embrocation for massage, and the facilities
for daily showers after training periods and matches.
The training programme throughout the season has included 20 minutes each day before breakfast, used for skipping, running,
obstacle jumping, general physical exercises, and finishing with hot and cold showers.
Tactical talks, with illustrations on the blackboard, have been held each Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoons the
theories the previous evening, have been put into practice on the Passage" for the entire team, and "pep talks" have also
preceded each match.
We have had to face many difficulties. Members of our team have left Goldings, until now, only five members of the original
sixteen remain with us.
But our "Old Boys'' have shown loyalty to the team by their voluntary return to play for the "W. B. T. S.," and for this much
appreciated gesture, I give them all my warmest thanks; especially to ex-School Captain, Frank Hewitt, who has returned
weekly since December last, and whose excellent goalkeeping has contributed much to our success.
May I thank every member of the Senior Team, past and present, players and reserves alike, for their splendid efforts and
co-operation both on the field and in training. May you have success in all your football ventures for many years to come!
Good luck to you all.
F. A. WILLIAMS.
Goldonian Spring 1948