Pevensey and Westham U13 boys are league champions

Evidence of their hard work in the off-season was evident from the beginning. The team started the season with a string of victories, a nervy 1-2 away win at Tonbridge followed by a 14-0 demolition of Tunbridge Wells Kestrels and a 2-5 win at Westerham before a good cup run and bad weather saw them start to fall behind in league fixtures and trailing the league leaders. Back to back wins at home (3-2) and then away at Crowborough Panthers (2-8) got them to the Christmas break.

The New Year saw the team humble Tunbridge Wells again 1-15 before a 4-0 professional dispatching of Rotherfield Renegades and 3 points from a cancellation by Hawkhurst United. Unfortunately continued bad weather forced a change of venue for their home game against Pembury Athletic Dragons, one of the league’s best teams and brought the first dropped points (2-3) in an evenly matched game with Pembury’s goalkeeper delivering an outstanding performance. Only short slip quickly reversed by a 1-11 away win at Hawkhurst United.

Then P&W were back under Pevensey Castle at home for their next fixture and a fortress indeed was what it was becoming with a high-scoring 10-3 victory over Crowborough Cerberus before a 2-6 victory over them in the reverse fixture 2 weeks later with 3 points from Tonbridge Junior Broncos in between. P&W were top of the league and nearly untouchable.

Mid-March saw revenge and a 2-3 victory away at Pembury to seal the league in the wettest, muddiest conditions imaginable and the team saw out the coldest months with a 3-6 away win at Rotherfield Renegades. The start of April and the final game of the season came with only their second defeat of the season (2-3) in an incredibly competitive game against Westerham Junior Lions who had been challenging at the top all season. The table at the end of the season showed a 7 point gap at the top and only 6 points dropped over the whole season.

It was a professional campaign marked with standout performances front to back under the continued tutelage of Mick Modestou, Callum Holles and Ty Bewick with some sensational goals and Louie Dunnett just missing out on the league Golden Boot.

The last 2 years have seen a core group of players of about half a dozen added to and then moulded into a group that behaves with sportsmanship to match their ability. The coming season sees them test their mettle in the more challenging Sussex leagues against unfamiliar teams with familiar faces but the future looks bright for this talented and unified group.

Thanks to all the parents, supporters, drivers, linesmen and referees for giving up their time and especially to Tim Hilton the Chairman, Treasurer and Head Groundskeeper for support and improvements at Fortress Pevensey Recreational Ground along with the rest of the club staff.

The Team – Jayden Turner (Captain and Players’ Player Award), Kevin Watson (Keeper, Improved Player Award), Cody Bewick (Improved Player Award), Louie Dunnett (Top Scorer and Managers’ Player Award), Nathan Houghton, Ethan Fitzgerald, Max Fletcher, Hugo Erridge, Archie Douglas-Weston, Ted Diaper, Cosmo Trott, Mason White, Jenson Turner, Connor Courtier, Archie McInally, Devon Craig Perry, Harrison Debreczeny, Joseph Lambourne.

Visit PevenseyandWesthamfc.org.uk for news and details to get involved in boys and girls teams of all ages.