Well this is where it all started,September 2007.A new team called Tower Hill Stars U-8s.Twelve boys to start with,Damon Marshall,Jack Jenkins,Jack Peedle,Chris Rocha,Bartek Formela,Joe Spicer,Jamie Street,Sam Perry,Hugo Thessieu,Harvey Savin,Lewis Clapton,Callum Arnold,a week later Jack Hamblin and Ryan Scarrott made up the squad. Stuart Perry took command with his coaches Charlie Forkner and Eric Marshall.First up Garden City away,4-1 to the home side, I was not there so no comment.Next up local derby Tower Hill, my first match, do i shout, if so how loud,or do i keep quiet.Strange i do not know anyone,so i started talking to all the mums and dads, nice lot i thought.I then went and introduced myself to the manager Mr Perry,he shook my hand but said very little. More important things on his mind a local derby to contest.No goals but very enjoyable.History was made our first league point and against our enemy made it even sweeter.The following week home to Yarnton,this time a 2-0 defeat,I was wondering at this point where are the goals coming from ? I need not have worried,a brilliant 5-0 demolition of Witney Vikings put that thought well and truly to bed seven days later.Six goals scored and six goals conceaded,a good start,and i am starting to get to know everybody.Good month September.

This was to be our first real test.Runaway leaders Cumnor Minors were to visit fortress West Witney.They left with with three points and a healthier goal difference.Eight nil though was not a true reflection of the game,however it was a steep learning curve,and one to benefit for the rest of the season.As we were never to see such a scoreline again.It was at this match that something strange happened.I was asked to do the website,match reports etc.My first response was YES YES YES.Afterwards i thought why did i agree to that.Computers and myself do not exactly go hand in hand together.Anyway in for a penny in for a pound.So this is where it started,away to Ducklington on a foggy Saturday morning.I was armed with no notebook,no nothing,just my memory.Bad mistake,i soon learnt my lesson and the players names very quickly.Duck won two one,but i thought we played very well in the conditions.That was the only two games we played that month,half term and all that.Roll on November.

With the winter nights drawing in, we started indoor training at the Witney leisure centre,at least it was nice and warm if nothing else.This month was without a shadow of doubt,Hugos month. He started in fine fashion with a hat trick against Eynsham which was played on a great sunny morning,was this really November ? Next on the fixture list was the visit of Garden City. We played very well but lost three one.Our goal coming again from Hugo. In the second game,goals from Hugo again and Jack Peedle,his first of the season secured the victory for us.Then the big one a local derby against Tower Hill.It was moved from Saturday to Sunday. What happened next was unbelieveable,a monsoon appeared, with gale force winds and constant driving rain.Great credit just for turning up i thought.Final result three one to the enemy.Hugo again getting our goal.In hindsight maybe the game should not have been played,as i felt we would have had a better game in better conditions.Never mind onwards and upwards.We finished the month with a nil nil away to Yarnton,which was also the score in the second game.Two games no goals but both matches were of a high quality standard and entertainment level.Another good month,we are making great strides and moving forward,but it was still Hugos month.

If you thought that other things were on the teams minds,on this merry month,then you were wrong.Ten goals scored but nineteen in the opposite direction.First up a great six nil demolition of Witney Vikings,Harvey two,Hugo three and Chris Rocha with the goals.In the second game one nil to the vikings,were we too confident? dont count your chickens,or something like that.Next up the league leaders away,Cumnor Minors.The scoreline seven one to the home side which i thought slightly flattered them.For the record Hugo scored our only goal.A great turn around in the second game,no goals but plenty of action and something to build on.The last game of the year was against Ducklington.A 09.30 kick off,dont the fixture men realise that we like to have an extra hour in bed on a Saturday morning ?.Never mind great match but wrong result,five two to Duck.Harvey and Hugo grabing our goals.In the next game six one to Duck.Our goal coming from Chris Rocha with his second of the month,confirming what we all knew that Chris is a good player.The last training session took place at Wood Green School on the A T P.Players,parents and coaches alike all joined in for a game.For some of us the years have caught up,but never mind it was fun anyway.Thats the great thing about this team a real sense of togetherness.On the month of January i will be focusing on the start of the cup run,and all the twists and turns that followed it.December was certainly a great entertainment value month.

The month started off with the last league game of the season.A home game against Eynsham looked easy on paper but they have improved over the months and deserved the nil nil draw.In the second game stars came out on top with goals from Lewis and Hugo to secure a two one victory.Next up was a friendly against Garden City.The first game produced no goals,but in the second a well earned victory with two goals from Harvey and one from Hugo gave the Stars a three two victory.The last game of the month saw the start of the cup campaign.A home tie against Brackley Town saw a goaless draw and a five two reverse in the second game,with Harvey bagging a brace.

February seemed to be a strange month,we played four games in the shortest month of the year.This month was to define our season.We started with a goaless draw at Bampton on a very dodgy pitch.In the second game Hugo hit four and Ryan got his first goal of the season in a great five nil victory.Deddington then flew down from the north but went home empty handed after a two nil defeat.Stars scorers were Harvey and Hugo.Credit to Deddington as they produced the same score in the second game in their favour.Following the cancellation of the Brackley game, the league decided we had to play two games in two days.Bampton at home produced a three one defeat with Harvey grabbing our goal.Then a one nil defeat in the second completed the misery.Sunday the twenty fourth,winner takes all.Away to Brackley and the killer blow.They score with only minutes left.We are out of the cup.Harvey,Hugo and Bartek with his first of the season gave us a three one victory in the second game.But we all knew the season was over.

The last cup game was played at Deddington.With nothing at stake but pride the game ended in a goaless draw.How these three nil nil draws have come back to haunt us !.However we finished with a fine three nil victory with goals from Damon and two from Jamie.

Just the one friendly in April against the much improved Vikings.Lewis got the winner in the first game.While Damon got both in the second game.Progress is now being made at a great pace.The last four games show six goals and four clean sheets.And no goals from Harvey and Hugo !

The end of the season ? not quite.A six a side at Garden city saw us enter two teams with some great results.Also another six a side at Vikings produced another fine display.Harvey,Hugo and Chris all left,but the lads are more than capable of filling thier boots no problem.Next season will see new heroes and goalscorers.My highlight was seeing my own son score his first goal of the season at the six a side in the two nil win over Cumnor.It did not get any better than that.From a team point of view one year on,these lads have improved to new heights,and will get better and better.It has been tremendous fun.