FIRST EVER GAME IN FA CUP WILL BE AT HOME.

HISTORY WAS MADE FOR SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB AS THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE DRAW FOR THE FA CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR SHORT HISTORY.

THEIR FIRST EVER GAME IN THE FA CUP WILL BE IN THE EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND OF THE COMPETITION AND THEIR OPPONENTS WILL BE GUISBOROUGH TOWN OF THE NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION 2.

THE DATE FOR GAMES AT THIS STAGE OF THE COMPETITION IS SATURDAY AUGUST 15th, BUT AS BRIDLINGTON TOWN ARE ALSO DRAWN AT HOME IN THE COMPETITION THEY WILL OF COURSE TAKE PRIORITY OVER 'BORO', SO THE ACTUAL DATE FOR OUR GAME IS TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER.

THE DRAWS FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO ROUNDS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE AND IF 'BORO' DO PROGRESS PAST GUISBOROUGH THEN THEY WILL FACE WAKEFIELD OF THE 'UNIBOND LEAGUE NORTH ONE' AWAY ON SATURDAY AUGUST 29th IN THE PRELIMINARY ROUND.

VICTORY OVER WAKEFIELD WOULD THEN TAKE THE TEAM FURTHER AFIELD AS THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL TO KENDAL TOWN OF THE 'UNIBOND PREMIER LEAGUE' IN WHAT WOULD BE THE 1st QUALIFYING ROUND OF THE COMPETITION.

'BORO' WIN TOP PROGRAMME AWARD AGAIN.

FOR THE 2nd SEASON RUNNING THE 'BORO' MATCHDAY PROGRAMME HAS BEEN VOTED THE BEST IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE DIVISION ONE.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE CLUBS PROGRAMME HAS ALSO BEEN VOTED THE 12th BEST OF ALL NON LEAGUE CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN BY 'THE SOCCER CLUB SWAP SHOP DEALERS' INTERNET SITE.



Top 20 non-league programmes were as follows:


1.Marske United. Northern League Two
2.Gateshead. Conference North
3.AFC Wimbledon. Conference South
4.Chelmsford City. Conference South
5.Steeton. W Riding County Amateur
6.Boston United. Northern Premier
7.Torpoint Athletic. SW Peninsula Premier
8.Sheffield. Northern Premier South
9.Buckland Athletic. SW Peninsula Premier
10.Poole Town. Wessex Premier
11.Hoddesdon Town. Sth Midland One
12.Scarborough Athletic. Northern Counties East One

BORO TO TRAVEL TO 'TEVVIE' FOR LEAGUE CUP CLASH.

Scarborough Athletic will travel to Teversal to play the Division 1 outfit in the new seasons 'Northern Counties East League Cup'.
'Boro' who were division 1 champions last season were handed a bye for the 1st Round of the competition.
The Premier division fixtures are due to come out in early July along with the Presidents Cup games.
The league season will begin on Saturday August 8th.

'SCARBOROUGH FC' AND MEMORIES FROM THE 1970's

I AM SURE THIS PHOTO' SHOWING THE SCARBOROUGH FC TEAM WALKING OUT ONTO THE OLD WEMBLEY STADIUM PITCH IN 1973 WILL BRING HAPPY MEMORIES FLOODING BACK FOR MANY FANS OF THE OLD CLUB. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF FOUR TRIPS WHICH THE 'BORO' TOOK DOWN TO THE FAMOUS STADIUM DURING THE 1970's. THEY WON THE F.A TROPHY ON 3 OF THOSE 4 OCCASIONS.



'BORO' WON THEIR FIRST FINAL IN 1973 FOLLOWING AN EXCITING 2-1 EXTRA TIME VICTORY OVER WIGAN ATHLETIC.
WE RETURNED TO THE STADIUM JUST 2 SEASONS LATER ONLY TO BE BEATEN 4-0 BY A MATLOCK TOWN SIDE WHO WERE COMPLETELY OUTPLAYED BY 'BORO' BUT IT WAS A STRANGE SORT OF DAY AND SOMEHOW AFTER HAVING MOST OF THE PLAY AND THE BEST CHANCES 'BORO' ENDED UP THE LOSERS. I THINK TOWN HAD 4 CHANCES AND TOOK THEM ALL.
BUT, THE FOLLOWING SEASON (1975-76) WE AGAIN REACHED THE FINAL AND THIS TIME WE WERE WORTHY WINNERS, OVERCOMING A VERY GOOD STAFFORD RANGERS SIDE BY 3 GOALS TO 2
JUST ANOTHER 12 MONTHS WOULD PASS BEFORE WE WOULD BE PLAYING AT THE FAMOUS OLD STADIUM ONCE AGAIN, OUR OPPONENTS THIS TIME, DAGENHAM, AND ONCE AGAIN WE WERE VICTORIOUS, WINNING THE TROPHY FOR A RECORD 3rd TIME FOLLOWING AN EXCELLENT 2-1 VICTORY OVER THE LONDONERS.
FOR ME, THE 1970's WERE THE GREATEST ERA IN THE HISTORY OF THE CLUB, IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO BE A FOOTBALL FAN IN GENERAL, SO MANY GREAT CHARACTERS WERE IN THE GAME, AND THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE GROUNDS WAS SOMETHING ELSE, UNLIKE THE PRESENT DAY LIFELESS STADIUMS WHERE MONEY RULES WHO WINS WHAT, 99% OF THE TIME AT LEAST
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE PHOTO', COLIN APPLETON CAN BE SEEN AT THE BACK OF THE LINE OF PLAYERS WALKING OUT ONTO THE WEMBLEY PITCH , COLIN WAS TO MANAGE THE CLUB ON 2 OCCASIONS, JUNE 1969-OCT 1973 AND JUNE 1975-JAN 1981.
IN FRONT OF COLIN IS DICK HEWITT, WHO HAD SPELLS WITH A NUMBER OF CLUBS , GERRY DONOGHUE IS NEXT CARRYING A BALL, AND WE THEN HAVE JEFF BARMBY, A REAL OLD FAVOURITE OF FANS EVEN NOW, HE WAS BRILLIANT TO WATCH AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN JEFF ATTENDING SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC GAMES.
ANOTHER FAVOURITE OF THE FANS IS IN FRONT OF JEFF, ALAN FRANKS, HE SCORED SOME EXCELLENT GOALS FOR THE CLUB OVER MANY YEARS AND LIKE JEFF BARMBY WAS A GREAT CHARACTER ON THE FIELD OF PLAY.
CARRYING ON LEFT TO RIGHT ARE MALCOLM THOMPSON, MALCOLM LEASK, GEORGE SIDDLE, HARRY DUNN WHO PLAYED ALMOST 900 GAMES FOR THE CLUB AND BERNIE FAGAN ARE THE REST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE PICTURE.
ANOTHER GREAT CHARACTER, GOALKEEPER BERT GARROW SADLY IS NOT IN THE PICTURE, NEITHER IS SKIPPER JIMMY SHOULDER.
COLIN APPLETON WAS ALSO NAMED THE CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR 1973.
THE 'SCARBOROUGH EVENING NEWS' ACTUALLY LAUNCHED THE ANNUAL 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR' AWARDS IN 1970 AND IT WAS THE SUPPORTERS WHO CAST THE VOTES.

HERE IS A LIST OF THE WINNERS THROUGHOUT THE 1970's.

1970. harry dunn.
1971. jeff barmby.
1972. ted smethurst.
1973. colin appleton.
1974. harry dunn.
1975. tony aveyard.
1976. john woodall.
1977. billy ayre.
1978. dave chapman.
1979. gerry donoghue.
In both 1980 and 1981 Neill Sellers won back to back awards.

ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE 70's

TROPHY WINNERS.
72/73
75/76
76/77
RUNNERS UP.
74/75
NPL RUNNERS UP.
72/73
NPL CUP WINNERS.
76/77.
VAUX NE FLOODLIT LGE CHAMPIONS.
72/73.
74/75.
IT WAS ALSO DURING THIS ERA THAT THE CLUB REACHED THE 3rd ROUND OF THE FA CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY.

SEASON 75/76 SAW A CROWD OF OVER 8,000 PRESENT AT THE ATHLETIC GROUND AS MALCOLM ALLISON'S CRYSTAL PALACE PROVIDED THE OPPOSITION. 'BORO' WERE NARROWLY BEATEN 2-1 IN A REALLY THRILLING ENCOUNTER WHICH FEATURED ON THE 'MATCH OF THE DAY' PROGRAMME.

2 YEARS LATER 'BORO' AGAIN REACHED THE 3rd ROUND OF THE CUP. AFTER VICTORIES OVER BOTH ROCHDALE AND CREWE ALEXANDRA IN THE EARLIER ROUNDS BORO WERE DRAWN AWAY TO BRIGHTON IN THE 3rd ROUND, ONLY TO BE BEATEN 3-0 ON THE DAY IN FRONT OF ALMOST 24,000 FANS.

THE CLUB HAVE ALSO WON THE NORTH RIDING SENIOR CUP ON 19 OCCASIONS.
UP THE BORO..............

'AMMERS' TO PLAY 'ARMY' IN CHARITY MATCH.

Yorkshire Amateur FC will play a pre-season friendly against 'The Yorkshire Regiment' who return home next month following action in Iraq.
The match will take place at the clubs Bracken Edge ground on Wednesday July 22nd with a 7.30 pm kick off and the club hope that supporters of other teams will also make the journey for this special occasion.
The club said of the game, "We are honoured they have agreed to play us in the middle of all the home-coming parades that are expected to take place across the country next month.
The club also hope to raise money on the night for the "Help the heroes charity".
It should be a great evening and the army team are sure to have lots of support themselves.

'BORO' ANNOUNCE PRE SEASON LIST OF FRIENDLY FIXTURES.

SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC HAVE LINED UP 6 PRE SEASON FRIENDLY FIXTURES, THE FIRST GAME WILL BE AN AWAY FIXTURE ON SATURDAY JULY 11th.
WE WILL BE HEADING ACROSS THE HUMBER BRIDGE FOR THIS FIRST GAME TO FACE WINTERTON RANGERS, LIKE OURSELVES THEY WILL BE PLAYING THEIR FOOTBALL IN THE NCEL PREMIER DIVISION IN THE COMING SEASON.
7 DAYS LATER WE WILL WELCOME LEAGUE 2 SIDE 'GRIMSBY TOWN' TO QUEENSGATE FOR OUR 2nd FRIENDLY, A DECENT SIZED CROWD SHOULD BE EXPECTED FOR THIS FIXTURE AND THERE SHOULD BE A GOOD ATMOSPHERE GENERATED INSIDE THE GROUND.
THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY WE WILL BE ON OUR TRAVELS AGAIN, JUST THE SHORT TRIP OVER THE MOORS THIS TIME TO WHITBY WHERE WE WILL TAKE ON THE UNIBOND SIDE AT THEIR 'TURNBULL GROUND'.
THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY (25th Aug) WE TRAVEL TO 'GOOLE TOWN', ANOTHER UNIBOND SIDE, AND 4 DAYS LATER ON THE TUESDAY EVENING WE WILL WELCOME NCEL DIVISION 1 SIDE 'YORKSHIRE AMATEUR' TO QUEENSGATE FOR OUR 2nd HOME PRE SEASON FIXTURE.
FINALLY WE TRAVEL TO SCUNTHORPE ON SATURDAY AUGUST 1st WHEN WE VISIT THE BIRCH PARK HOME OF BOTTESFORD TOWN TO TAKE ON OUR OLD RIVALS OF THE PAST COUPLE OF SEASONS IN THE NCEL DIVISION 1.
7 DAYS LATER THE SEASON PROPER WILL GET UNDER WAY, AND THEN ANOTHER 7 DAYS WILL SEE SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC ENTER THE HISTORY BOOKS ONCE AGAIN AS THEY WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST EVER GAME IN THE WORLDS GREATEST CUP COMPETITION, THE F.A CUP.

PRE SEASON HOG-ROAST FOR 'ATHLETIC FANS'

Scarborough Athletic fans can look forward to a pre season hog roast. The club have arranged the roast for the evening of July 31st at the Scalby Road home of Scarborough Rugby Union Football Club.
A disco will follow the roast and of course the clubs bars will be open to all. Tickets are now available from the football club. It should be a great occassion for the fans to meet up and discuss the teams prospects ahead of their NCEL Premier Division season.
UP THE BORO............

THE 20 TEAMS WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE NCEL PREMIER DIVISION 2009-10.

HERE ARE THE 20 TEAMS WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE 'PREMIER DIVISION' OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE FOR SEASON 2009-10.


1. Armthorpe Welfare




2. Arnold Town



3. Bridlington Town




4. Brodsworth Welfare




5. Dinnington Town




6. Hallam




7. Hall Road Rangers




8. Lincoln Moorlands Railway

9. Liversedge




10. Long Eaton United




11. Maltby Main




12. Nostell Miners Welfare




13. Parkgate




14. Pickering Town




15. Rainworth Miners Welfare




16. Scarborough Athletic




17. Selby Town




18. Shirebrook Town




19. Thackley




20. Winterton Rangers

2ND PART OF CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING 2008-09 SEASON.

THE FIRST GAME OF 2009 OFFERED SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC THE CHANCE TO GAIN REVENGE OVER RAINWORTH MW FOR THE DEFEAT INFLICTED ON US BY THEM IN OUR FIRST AWAY LEAGUE FIXTURE BACK ON 8th AUGUST. A DANNY NAYLOR GOAL BACK THEN GAVE RAINWORTH AN UNDESERVED VICTORY AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY IN THE 88th MINUTE OF THE GAME.

IT WAS NOW OUR TURN TO GAIN A LATE VICTORY AS CRAIG HOGG GRABBED OUR WINNING GOAL IN THE 89th MINUTE OF THE GAME, BORO WERE WELL DESERVING WINNERS IN A THRILLING GAME WATCHED BY AN ATTENDANCE OF 573.

THE NEXT GAME FOR 'BORO' WAS THE FA VASE 4th ROUND TIE AWAY TO BIDEFORD IN NORTH DEVON, THIS WAS THE GAME WHICH I WAS HOPING MAY HAVE BEEN KEPT FOR THE FINAL BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE,

'BORO' WERE BEATEN 1-0 BY BIDEFORD AND SO ENDED OUR DREAMS OF A FAMOUS APPEARANCE AT THE NEW WEMBLEY STADIUM.

BACK TO LEAGUE ACTION NEXT AND THE SHORT TRIP ALONG THE A64 TO FACE TADCASTER ALBION. 2 GOALS APIECE FOR DANNY GRAY AND RYAN BLOTT RESPECTIVELY GAVE US A VERY GOOD 4-0 VICTORY AWAY FROM HOME AND GET THE VASE DEFEAT WELL AND TRULY OUT OF OUR SYSTEMS.

7 DAYS LATER AND A WELCOME RETURN TO QUEENSGATE WHERE GLASSHOUGHTON WERE THE VISITORS, GLASSHOUGHTON PLAYED ABOVE THEMSELVES ON THE DAY AND THE FINAL SCORELINE WAS 5-3 TO THE 'BORO'.

IT WOULD BE 14 DAYS TO THE NEXT MATCH AND IT WAS AGAIN A HOME ENCOUNTER, THE VISITORS WERE BOTTESFORD TOWN AND IN FRONT OF 477 FANS TOWN WERE BEATEN 6-0.

NEXT CAME AN AWAY DAY, ANOTHER SHORT JOURNEY, THIS TIME TO LEEDS WHERE WE TOOK ON LEEDS CARNEGIE AND A GRAIG HOGG GOAL IN THE 86th MINUTE SECURED THE 3 POINTS IN A 2-1 VICTORY, DANNY GRAY HAD SCORED OUR 1st GOAL.

THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE FROM ROSSINGTON MAIN WERE THE NEXT TO VISIT QUEENSGATE AND THE USUAL IDIOTS DID THEIR BEST TO SPOIL THE DAY OFF THE FIELD WHILE THEIR TEAM WERE WELL BEATEN 1-0 BY THE 'BORO' IN FRONT OF 545 FANS, DAVE THOMPSON SCORED THE ONLY GOAL OF THE GAME.

OUR NEXT GAME PUT US UP AGAINST OPPOSITION FROM THE NCEL PREMIER DIVISION AS WE WELCOMED LOCAL RIVALS PICKERING TOWN TO QUEENSGATE FOR A PRESIDENTS CUP GAME.

WE NEED'NT HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY PLAYED IN A HIGHER DIVISION AS WE TOTALLY OUTPLAYED TOWN AND WERE RESOUNDING 7-1 VICTORS, RYAN BLOTT OPENED THE SCORING IN THE 4th MINUTE AND HE ALSO GOT GOAL NUMBER 7 IN THE LAST MINUTE OF THE GAME, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE HEROICS OF KEVIN MARTIN IN THE TOWN GOAL WE WOULD SURELY HAVE REACHED DOUBLE FIGURES AS KEVIN MADE SOME SPECTACULAR SAVES AND WAS EASILY TOWN'S BEST PLAYER OF THE NIGHT.

4 DAYS LATER WE WERE ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THE DESTINATION HEMSWORTH WHERE A DANNY GRAY GOAL JUST BEFORE HALF TIME AND 2 LATE EFFORTS FROM RYAN BLOTT AND RICHARD MEDCALF GAVE US A 3-1 VICTORY OVER THE HEMSWORTH MW TEAM.

ANOTHER 4 DAYS WOULD PASS BEFORE WE WERE AWAY TO GRIMSBY BOROUGH AND WOULD FIGHT OUT A DIFFICULT 2-2 DRAW, DIFFICULT MAINLY DUE TO THE REFEREE AND HIS SIDEKICKS PERFORMANCE. WORDS FOR THESE OFFICIALS FAIL ME..ENOUGH SAID.

THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY WE WELCOMED WORSBOROUGH BRIDGE TO QUEENSGATE AND COMFORTABLY GAINED 3 POINTS WITH A 5-0 VICTORY.

A RARE DEFEAT NEXT AS WE TRAVELLED ACROSS THE HUMBER BRIDGE TO BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS AND IN SPITE OF A LATE FIGHT BACK RESULTING IN A 90th MINUTE GOAL FROM DAVE HARTAS IT WAS NOT ENOUGH ON A NIGHT WHEN WE HAD ALREADY CONCEDED 2 GOALS, SO WE WENT DOWN 2-1 IN FRONT OF 345 FANS.

ANOTHER AWAY GAME NEXT AT TEVERSAL AND A SECOND HALF ROB ELLIS DOUBLE SECURED THE POINTS FOR THE 'BORO' IN A 2-1 VICTORY.

ROB ELLIS, SCORER OF BOTH GOALS AT 'TEVVIE'

THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY NIGHT BROUGHT BRIGHOUSE TOWN TO QUEENSGATE AND 'BORO' WERE 3-0 VICTORS IN FRONT OF 533 FANS.

ANOTHER HOME LEAGUE ENCOUNTER NEXT AS 'YORKSHIRE AMATEUR' TRAVELLED TO QUEENSGATE ONLY TO BE HAMMERED 6-0 IN FRONT OF AN ATTENDANCE OF 503.

'HALL ROAD RANGERS' OF THE PREMIER DIVISION WERE OUR NEXT OPPONENTS IN THE SEMI FINAL OF THE 'PRESIDENTS CUP', ONCE AGAIN 'BORO' WERE BY FAR THE BETTER TEAM AND PROGRESSED TO THE 2 LEG FINAL WITH AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE AND A 5-1 VICTORY OVER "SUPERIOR OPPOSITION".

BACK TO LEAGUE ACTION NEXT AND A DIFFICULT GAME WAS IN PROSPECT AWAY TO PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES, WE WERE 1-0 VICTORS THANKS TO A MARK GRIFFIN GOAL.

ONLY 3 GAMES REMAINED NOW BEFORE THE SEASON WOULD END, THE FIRST OF THESE GAMES WAS THE 1st LEG OF THE PRESIDENTS CUP FINAL AWAY TO NOSTELL MW.

THE RESULT WAS 1-1, DANNY GRAY WAS THE BORO SCORER AND WE NOW HAD TO BE FAVOURITES TO LIFT THE TROPHY IN THE RETURN GAME AT QUEENSGATE, BUT FIRST WE HAD THE FINAL HOME LEAGUE MATCH OF THE SEASON TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, A HOME GAME AGAINST LEEDS CARNEGIE JUST 2 DAYS AFTER THE DRAW AT NOSTELL MW.

THE BIGGEST CROWD OF THE SEASON WAS PRESENT FOR THIS GAME (791) THE GAME WAS A TYPICAL END OF SEASON ENCOUNTER AND ENDED IN A 0-0 DRAW. THE LEAGUE HAD ALREADY BEEN WON AND THE TROPHY WAS PRESENTED TO THE TEAM AFTER THE GAME ENDED, THOUGHTS NOW WERE ON THE TEAM WINNING THE PRESIDENTS CUP TO MAKE IT A NICE LEAGUE AND CUP DOUBLE.

DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS, 'SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC'.

7 DAY'S LATER IT WAS THE FINAL LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON, WE WERE AWAY TO SCUNTHORPE BASED 'APPLEBY FRODINGHAM', THE SUPPPORTERS CLUB PROVIDED 2 COACHES FREE OF CHARGE FOR SUPPORTERS WISHING TO TRAVEL.

ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS COACHES AT THE FINAL LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON AT APPLEBY FRODINGHAM.

ON A GLORIOUS SUNNY LINCOLNSHIRE DAY SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC LEFT BRUMBY HALL WITH 3 MORE POINTS FOLLOWING A 2-0 VICTORY.

BORO PREPARING TO PLAY THEIR FINAL LEAGUE GAME AS A DIVISION 1 SIDE- NEXT SEASON THEY PLAY IN THE 'PREMIER DIVISION'.

FINALLY JUST 3 DAYS LATER WE HAD TO PLAY THE 2nd LEG OF THE PRESIDENTS CUP FINAL.

WE WERE DESPERATLEY UNLUCKY TO GO DOWN 2-1 TO NOSTELL AS THEY GRABBED THEIR WINNING GOAL COMPLETELY AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY IN THE 89th MINUTE. THE ATTENDANCE WAS 559.

SO, THE SEASON ENDED WITH SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC CHAMPIONS OF DIVISION 1 AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW SEASON IN THE PREMIER DIVISION OF THE NCEL.

WE HAD A GREAT RUN IN THE FA VASE, AND OF COURSE WERE FINALISTS IN THE PRESIDENTS CUP.

PROMOTION AGAIN IS A REAL POSSIBILITY AND THE NEW SEASON CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH FOR ME...................

UP THE BORO.........

BRIEF RUN-DOWN OF THE 1st HALF OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.

It is hard to believe after the way the season ended but Scarborough Athletic's championship winning season actually got off to a sluggish start back in August 2008.

THE DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY


DAVE THOMPSON, SCORER OF BOTH GOALS IN BORO'S OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURE AGAINST ASKERN VILLA.

454 fans were present at Queensgate on August 9th as the NCEL Division 1 season got under way, our first opponents were Askern Villa and in spite of 2 early Dave Thompson goals within 18 minutes of the kick off we had to be content with just the 1 point as Villa themselves scored twice enabling them to share the points with the 'Boro'.


A WELL PROTECTED ARRON REID IN THE BORO GOAL IN THE OPENING FIXTURE.

The following Tuesday night we travelled to Nottinghamshire to face the team which would eventually gain promotion along with ourselves to the Premier division of the NCEL for the season 2009-10, I am referring of course to Rainworth MW. A physical or should I say 'dirty' performance by the Nottinghamshire team earnt them the points as they kicked, pushed and fouled their way to an undeserved victory helped by an utterly useless official who had very little control of the game. He was just one of many idiots with whistles we would come across as the season progressed.
Welfare ended up 1-0 winners on the night thanks to a lucky break in the 88th minute of the game which allowed Danny Naylor to score for the home side in front of 215 fans. Scarborough Athletic were the only team playing good football and it was a mystery how they managed to lose after showing their superiority over Welfare in all departments.
7 days later we had our first victory of the new season, it was not a league game but the 1st Round of the League Cup our opponents were Leeds Carnegie and we were 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Dave Kemp and Ryan Blott.
Saturday 23rd August saw us achieve a 5-0 victory over Grimsby Borough, Scott Phillips grabbed himself a brace of goals, one from the penalty spot.
2 days later it was off to the West Riding via the M62 to play Brighouse Town and we were worthy 4-1 winners, 2 of the goals were Scott Phillips penalties.
The following Saturday we welcomed Emley to Queensgate where a Graham Botham hat trick helped the team to a 4-0 victory and also go to the top of the league in front of 450 jubilent fans.
Next came a mid-week Wilkinson Cup 1st Round tie away to Askern Villa and with goals from Ryan Blott and Richard Medcalf we progressed to the next round with a 2-1 victory, this did not exactly make up for the 2 points lost in the seasons opener with Villa but it was a nice feeling to turn them over anyhow.
Back to league action next and the visit to Queensgate of Hemsworth MW. 389 fans were present at this game and witnessed an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Next came another Division 1 away day, this time to Stavely MW, where we ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, Craig Hogg grabbed himself a couple of goals.
3 days later we were on our way to basement club Glasshoughton and in front of 231 fans Ryan Blott and Scott Phillips scored the goals in a 2-0 victory.
The 2nd qualifying round of the FA Vase was next and we looked forward to the journey up to Washington FC's ground to face Birtley Town of the Northern League, and in a hard fought game we emerged 3-2 winners, in a game which attracted 240 fans.
7 days later we were on our travels again, this time a fairly short journey across the Humber Bridge to Bottesford Town, where 2 Scott Phillips goals and a Dave Thompson effort secured the 3 points in a 3-1 victory.



BORO FANS ENJOYING A HALF TIME BURGER AT BOTTESFORD.

Next was the 1st Round proper of the FA Vase and another long journey to face yet another Northern league outfit, this time the destination was County Durham and our opponents 'Esh Winning'. Esh took the lead and it took an own goal to pull us level in the 74th minute of the game and later substitute Danny Gray scored the winning goal for us, which was also his first for the club with just 8 minutes remaining. Thoughts of Wembley were firmly on the minds of the supporters after this thrilling game.

STUCK IN THE MUD AT 'ESH WINNING'


THE 'ESH' FANS CHECKING OUT THE TRAVELLING 'BORO' FANS.

THE TEAM CONGRATULATE DANNY GRAY AFTER HE SCORED WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WINNING GOAL AT 'ESH WINNING'.



EVEN THE BORO PLAYERS TRIED TO MOVE THE COACH BUT IT WOULD BE ALMOST 9.00 pm BEFORE IT WAS FREED.

It turned into a long day as the supporters coach was stuck in mud and it would be almost 9.00pm before the coach was finally freed from the mud by a recovery truck.

4 days later it was back to Bottesford Town, this time for a Presidents Cup tie and we were once again just too good for the Town team, this time we were 7-1 winners. How they must hate playing us.

3 days later and once again we had to travel, Doncaster based Rossington Main were our opponents and a Ryan Blott hat trick helped us to a 4-1 victory. I thought about donating a couple of footballs to the club as they seemed to be short of spare balls as they only had one extra ball available and so there was a delay in play every time the ball was booted out of the ground by the home defence, their manager when ribbed by the Boro fans insisted that only 2 balls were needed, it was a tactic to try to frustrate the Boro players but it did not work as once again we were easy winners.

14th October and a rare home game, after 7 successive away games we welcomed Tadcaster Albion to Queensgate and in front of 442 fans we again scored 7 goals in a 7-0 victory.

4 days later we entertaned Stavely MW in front of the best attendance of the season so far, a crowd of 522 were present but we could only manage a 2-2 draw.

Next came a journey to Leeds to play Yorkshire Amateur in the Wilkinson Sword Trophy and we faced a rare defeat, going down 2-0, I was not too concerned as we were facing a lot of games in various cup competitions and this was not one of the major trophies to aim for.

Next, back to league action and a trip to Barnsley based Worsbrough Bridge, a dark and dismal looking ground but with goals from Ryan Blott, Rob Ellis and Danny Gray the day brightened up for the numerous travelling Boro fans as we won the game 3-0, I remember it as a bit of a bad tempered game as the Bridge players were really bad losers and they had no discipline, this is one ground I will not miss going to in the future.

We followed that excellent 3-0 victory with a 6-0 home victory over Teversal and the crowd of 544 became the best to date.
Ryan Blott scored 5 goals in the next game which was a 6-1 victory away at Yorkshire Amateur, a Scott Phillips penalty made the Boro score 6.

RYAN BLOTT SCORED 5 GOALS AWAY TO 'YORKSHIRE AMATEUR'.

We faced Askern Villa away next in the League Cup 2nd Round and achieved a 2-1 victory after extra time in front of just 76 fans.


THE F.A VASE ON DISPLAY AT THE 'SUNDERLAND NISSAN' GAME.

The long awaited FA Vase 2nd Round tie at home to Sunderland Nissan was next. A new record crowd was set (664) and a fantastic game which went into extra time with the scores level at 2-2 was eventually won by Scarborough Athletic as Craig Hogg netted the winner in the 95th minute of the game, Richard Medcalf had scored both of our earlier goals, the first in the in the 3rd minute and his second in the 69th minute of the game. A terrific game played in the right spirit by both sides.

'BORO' OPEN THE SCORING AGAINST 'SUNDERLAND NISSAN'.


CRAIG HOGG, SCORER OF THE WINNING GOAL IN EXTRA TIME AGINST 'SUNDERLAND NISSAN'.

A North Riding Senior Cup tie was up next and the game ended in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Stokesley.

Just 3 days later normal service was resumed as we travelled to Emley for the away league fixture and returned home with 3 ponts following a resounding 6-1 victory. The FA Vase came next and we were drawn at home to Blackstones FC, 583 fans were present for this 3rd round encounter and thanks to not only a Ryan Blott hat trick but also a Danny Gray hat trick we progressed to the next round with another terrific 6-1 scoreline, unbelievably 3 days later on December 9th we again won a game by the scoreline of 6-1, this time it was Appleby Frodingham's turn face the might of the Boro attack.

'DANNY GRAY' HAT TRICK HERO ALONG WITH 'RYAN BLOTT' IN THE BLACKSTONES GAME.

Another home game followed and our opponents Pontefract Collieries were beaten 2-0, then 4 days later we welcomed Barton Town Old Boys to Queensgate in our 4th cosecutive home fixture and can you guess what the score was ?... Yes, 6-1 and there were 560 fans inside Queensgate, including a number of Town fans.

Finally the last game of 2008 was upon us. We had to face what could have been a difficult trip to Askern Villa once again, but a Ryan Blott double along with a Scott Phillips penalty gave us all the points in a resounding 3-0 victory.

The next game will be the start of the next post as I will cover the whole of the 2ndhalf of the 2008-09 season beginning with the home league game against Rainworth MW which was played on January 3rd. No fewer than 21 games were played by Scarborough Athletic between 3rd Jan' and their end of the season culminating in the 2nd leg of the final of the Presidents cup which was played on April 25th.

PLENTY OF SILVERWARE TO AIM FOR NEXT SEASON.

Scarborough Athletic will kick off the new season in the Premier division of the 'NCEL' and they are sure to be among the favourites to gain yet another promotion.
They will also have 5 other trophies to play for.
Once again the club will be involved in the 'FA Vase', they were so unlucky to lose out in the competition last season going down by the only goal at Bideford in North Devon after some excellent performances in the earlier rounds. This will also be their first season in the FA Cup, everybodys favourite competition and it would be nice for the team to gain a few scalps from so-called 'bigger clubs' in the early rounds, also they will compete for the 'NCEL League Cup' and the 'NCEL Presidents Cup', the competition in which they reached the final and lost out right at the very end of a 2 leg final against Nostell MW.
The 'North Riding Senior Cup' will be the other competition which they will have a realistic chance of winning.
So, lot's of exciting times ahead for the club and their supporters.

UP THE BORO...........................

NEW RESERVE TEAM MANAGER NAMED.

Jimmy Reid's replacement as reserve team manager has been named. Reid stepped down from the job at the end of the season and his successor will be Dean Cressey.
The reserves will play in the Humber Premier League Division 1.
Andy Dorsey will continue in his role as Assistant Manager.
Dean Cressey held a similar position at Barton Town Old Boys.