Created for the 2017 – 2018 season the Bure Park Juniors Under 14 team elected to play in Division C of the Oxford Mail Youth Football League (OMYFL).  We knew we had a talented group of players but did not want to “punch above our weight” in our first season in a very competitive grass-roots league as we had no experience of the established teams in the league.

We made a great start to the season which continued week-on-week.  With two games still to play we had secured the league title due to one of our close rivals being penalised and having points deducted.  Nevertheless, we wanted to be winners in our own right, and not by default.  The team continued to play great football, winning both of its last two games, and the league, irrespective of the action taken against the rival.

The statistics are very impressive.  We won thirteen of the fourteen league games that we played, accumulated thirty-nine points and a goal difference of plus fifty-nine, conceding just thirteen goals.  These results speak volumes for the way that the team has gelled in its first season together.

Kai, our Goal-Keeper, has grown in confidence as the season has progressed.  He has kept a number of clean sheets and made some spectacular saves – not least in our Trophy Final match.  The low number of goals conceded is also a reflection of our very strong “back line”.  Callum, Josh S, Dylan, Kris, Taylan and Haydn have been solid in front of goal, as well as being able to push forward from the back.  Our mid-fielders – the “engine room” of the team, Eric, Korben, Brendan, Henry and Josh H, have been very versatile whether covering back in defensive mode, pushing forward in attack, running down the wing or distributing the ball to the strikers.  Our forwards, Alfie, Harvey and George, have grown in confidence with each game, willing to make penetrating runs at the opposition and scoring some wonderful strikes amongst the seventy-two goals scored in the league.

In parallel with our league success, we also made it to the final of the OMYFL Trophy knock-out competition.  The game had been postponed due to freezing weather and was re-scheduled for 20^th April.  The weather could not have been better – a warm and sunny late April evening.  The venue was the senior first team pitch at Oxford City football club.  We were given access to the changing rooms, did a warm up on the pitch in front of a large number of supporters and soaked up the atmosphere and opportunity to play at such a wonderful venue – under floodlights (as the daylight started to fade).  The boys arrived looking very smart in their Bure Park Juniors polo shirts, had a walk around the pitch prior to using the changing facilities to change into match kit ready for the warm-up. 

Our opposition was Cumnor Minors whom we had met twice in the league and who always gave a competitive game in great spirit. The game kicked-off at 6.30 p.m.  Both teams behaved impeccably and played some very attractive football.  The score at half-time was 3 – 0 to Bure Park Juniors and the match finished 5 – 1.  A well-deserved victory but it must be said the scoreline did not reflect the way that Cumnor Minors played – creating a number of chances that would have counted had it not been for a particularly strong performance by the Bure Park Juniors goal-keeper.