Football

i/c Football: Mr JT Balsdon (jtb@blundells.org)

Football at Blundell’s began to really kick off (excuse the pun) during the Rock ’n’ Roll era of Will Randall, with the roller coaster continuing under the enthusiastic management of Rory Drummond, when we took part in our first foreign tour, including a tournament in Barcelona.

In recent years, Football at has continued to make considerable progress. Within the school there is an increasing number of talented footballers who, when supplemented with a few natural sportsmen, provide the basis for a strong squad. The fixture card is beginning not only to fill, but also to find a degree of stability. However, it should be remembered that others are playing hockey, rugby sevens, squash, fives etc.

JTB 2005

2008 Season

Captain of Football: James Woodcock OH/W

	1st	2nd	3rd	U16	U15	U14
OBs	Drew 4-4
Wellington School		Won 6-0
Clifton College
Wellington
King's Taunton	Won 1-0	Won 3-1	Lost 1-4	Won 3-2	Won 4-0
Bristol Grammar	Drew 2-2	Won 2-1		Lost 1-5
Downside	Won 5-1			Won 7-2	Won 7-1	Won 9-0
Clyst Vale				Lost 1-7	Won 5-0
Exeter School	Won 4-1	Won 5-2
Millfield B & C	Lost 0-4			Won 5-0	Won 9-1
Stover						Won 4-2
Sherborne
Shebbear				Drew 2-2	Won 6-3	Won 4-1
Bramdean					Won 6-4
Uffculme				Lost 2-6	b Won 8-0	Lost 0-2

2007 Season

Captain of Football: James Righton P/W

	1st	2nd	3rd	U16	U15	U14
OBs	L 1-2
Wellington School		aL 2-9
Clifton College	L 0-2	L 1-6		L 2-3	L 2-8	L 3-4
Wellington					W 9-1
King's Taunton	L 2-7	D 2-2		D 3-3
Bristol Grammar	L 1-2	W 3-2		L 1-6	D 1-1
Downside
Clyst Vale				L 1-2		W 3-1
Exeter School
Millfield B & C	W 5-2	L 2-4		L 0-2	L 2-4	L 1-6
Sherborne	L 0-5	L 0-5		L 0-6	L 1-3	W 5-0
Shebbear A					W 8-0	D 4-4
Bramdean				L 2-4	D 2-2	D 1-1
Uffculme					L 0-1	D 2-2

2006 Season

Captain of Football: Sean Mardell, FH/W

	1st	2nd	3rd	U16	U15	U14
OBs	L 2-4
Wellington School			L 1-10
Clifton College	L 1-3	L 0-6		D 2-2	L 0-8	L 4-7
King's Taunton	W 3-1	L 1-4		L 2-8
Bristol Grammar	L 1-2	L 1-3
Downside				canc'	canc'	canc'
Clyst Vale
Exeter School	W 3-1	L 2-3
Millfield B	L 3-4			W 4-0	W 5-0	W 4-2
Sherborne	L 1-3	L 0-12		L 2-4	L 1-4	W 5-2
Shebbear A		D 4-4
Bramdean
Uffculme				L 1-5	W 5-0	W 5-2

2005 Season

Captain: Kwame Asare P/W

	1st	2nd	U16	U15	U14
Clifton College			L 0-2	L 2-6	L 0-4
OBs	W 5-1
Grenville	W 6-0			W 6-0
Shebbear		W 6-0			L 1-5
King's Taunton	W 3-0	W 5-0	L 0-2
Bristol Grammar	W 5-1	L 1-3
Clyst Vale			D 2-2		D 1-1
King's Bruton	L 2-3			L 2-3
Downside	W 3-2		W 8-6	W 4-2	W 3-2
Millfield B	D 2-2	L 1-3		W 13-1	W 1-0
Sherborne	W 3-1	W 3-2	D 3-3	L 2-4

1st XI: Football at Blundell's continues to develop well at all levels. I would like to thank in particular, the coaches, many of who have taken the time to develop their coaching skills through attending courses. It is extremely pleasing to look around Amory, and see boys of all age groups improving their individual skills through quality coaching.

Many of last year’s successful first team squad remained with us this year under the continued Captaincy of Kwame Asare, with Martin Loader as the obvious choice as vice-captain.

The OB’s were disappointingly weak this year. For some time now the they have relied heavily on a core of quality players, in particular, Matt Pynn, Kwabena Asare, Kev Anderson and Boyo, and in recent times have come close to beating us. I would therefore like to thank them for their efforts over recent years and pose the question where are the rest of you?

Our second game of the season was against Grenville who put in a gutsy performance, however we were just too strong, which was reflected when even Alex Kingdom scored.

The first real challenge of the year came at Kings’ Taunton. The opposition were, as always, well organised, however, our key players rose to the occasion and we came away victorious for the first time at King’s (0:3). Kwame lead the line magnificently with Martin Loader and Shaun Mardell controlling the back four with great authority and Harry Hare-Scott and Liam Lewis totally dominating the midfield. This was followed by a truly brilliant display of passing and finishing against Bristol Grammar School, winning 5:1.

After half term, the boys continued to play attractive football, with the passing game of Lewys Ryan and Mark Cole creating many goal-scoring opportunities. The 3:2 win over Downside set us up nicely for the trip to Millfield. Here we were weakened considerably, calling on Frazer Spackman to play in goal in the absence of the excellent Simon Sobzcak, and a number of the second XI, however thanks to a remarkable team effort we returned an excellent draw (2:2) with goals from Ryan Mason and absolutely stunning volley from Liam Lewis.

The final game of the season was against Sherborne where we rounded of a great season with a 3:0 victory, with a Hat-trick for Charlie Fursdon (has anyone seen the match ball?). JTB

Half-Colours: Martin Loader, Simon Sobzcak, Liam Lewis, Alex Kingdom, Harry Hare-Scott, Mark Cole, Charlie Fursdon, Frazer Spackman.

Full Colours: Kwame Asare

U16 This hugely enthusiastic team led by Freddy Beard is full of individual talent but who rarely gelled as a single unit. Top striker, Will Banbury, has a hit the target rate of about 1 in 6 but was latterly well supported by David Lewis and Joe Smith. At the back the 'flat-back-four' have generally sliced, mis-kicked and tripped the opposition into submission and contributed hugely towards the memorable 14 goal bonanza against Downside's Spaniards. This team have thoroughly enjoyed the season, win or lose, and they are an improving side, who should be perfectly capable of going on to play in a good over 30s veteran side in years to come! JGP

U14 A mixed season with some well deserved wins. Captain, Will Denford, showed goos leadership and organisational skills. There was a marked improvement as the term progressed and as they began to function more as a unit so their team spirit increased. Leading forward was James Hawkins, who showed good strength and pace. All in all, a pleasant season with the side developing the customary Blundell's spirit and improvement. BW

2004 Season

1st XI v OBs, January 2004

Captain: Kwame Asare P/W

Old Boys	D 2-2	I Dodds, OG
Shebbear College	W 6-0	C Fursdon x4, H Hare-Scott, S von der Ohe
Clifton	L 1-3	L Lewis
King's Taunton	W 3-2	L Lewis x2, I Dodds
King's Bruton	W 5-1	C Fursdon, I Dodds, K Asare, L Lewis, H Hare-Scott
Exeter School	W 3-0	C Fursdon, K Asare, L Ryan
Millfield 2nd X1	W 2-1	I Dodds, H Hare-Scott
Sherborne	W 5-2	I Dodds x2, H Lawrence x2, L Lewis

After the outstanding 2003 season where many of the squad were leavers, it was envisaged that 2004 would be a season of development. The boys, however, had a very different idea!

Captains Asare: Kwabena v Kwame!

Result: 2-2

The Old Boys returned with a fine attacking squad and were once again shown too much respect by the fresh faces among the 1^st XI. A draw was a fair result with both sides producing an exciting spectacle. Trips down to Shebbear can prove to be difficult, however on this occasion we were too strong for them, with Charlie Fursdon scoring four goals in his usual clinical fashion. At Clifton we were quite simply second to the ball and subsequently outplayed. The highlight of the first half of the season was a thrilling game against King’s Taunton. Stefan von der Ohe proved to be the missing piece in the puzzle, working well at centre-half alongside Martin Loader, thus allowing Kwame Asare to return to his favoured striking role. In a thrilling game (of two halves) we came away victorious thanks to two goals from Liam Lewis and a late winner from Iain Dodds. To my knowledge, this was the first time we had beaten King’s, thus phrases such as “skeletons in attic’s” and “sick as a parrot” appear appropriate.

The second half of the season also proved successful with victories over Exeter School and perhaps most notably Millfield 2nds and Sherborne, who were both enjoying particularly strong seasons of their own.

In summary, a young team is beginning to come of age. The football is fast and fluid and players are becoming winners, taking responsibility for not only their performance but also the team as a whole.

Half-Colours: Kwame Asare (Cpt.) - Iain Dodds (V.Cpt.) - Henry Lawrence