Padiham Saints J.F.C

After last season of trying hard but not getting results, this season has started fantastically well for us. 4 games played 3 games won which eclipses our total points from all of last season. Our total points from last season was a mere 8 points. This season were on 9 points.

What has changed? errr not a lot to be honest, the team is exactly the same as last season with the addition of Josh. Looking back on last season we probably had 3-4 to many players for 7-aside and I was jiggling the team all the time and no 1 really settled.

We are starting to earn respect this season in a league that consisted of most of the teams from last. For a team that beat us 11-2 over 2 games last year to beat them 2-1 this year is the best victory in our short history.

Today we earnt in my opinion the greatest respect as we came off the field to jeers from the opponents who we beat 4-3, they were a physical team and at some points just plain dirty. No doubt it was another team who played us last year expecting to turn up and roll us over. Boy were they not happy in defeat.

Our lads have grown up over the summer as well has toughened up, we are still a small in height team but we make up for the height disadvantage with our battle like qualities.

As i write this we sit 2nd in our league.

A massive thanks has to go to the players to come back this season more determoned to do well and the parents in continuing to bring and run around after them transporting them here and there.

It's all good stuff and very promising, I think the change to 9 a side has certainly suited us and as Owen Coyle would say "and long may it continue"

Obviously hard work plays a large part but I think a couple of games this season we've come though by having a better attitude. A couple of sides have done an awful lot of moaning to the ref for instance which I've never heard our players do. I don't know but I think that having the right attitude counts for something.

Last season we did a lot of losing with grace and it would be nice if we could rise above some of the questionable sportsmanship and win with grace this season!

That said matching teams physically is also important and there were a number of examples on Sunday of young lads willing to put their body in where in hurts to get the job done!

Well done lads, hope you can keep it going.