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2005-06 season |
2005-06
BBFC started the season in fine form with three straight wins. The Cat played in two of these games but he was to make only two more appearance all season - and how we missed him.
A 4-1 home defeat to a frankly much better Broxbourne Rangers Reserves ended our 100 per cent record but things seemed back on track the following week as Si put us 3-0 up at rivals Turnford, promoted to our level for the first time.
The humiliating collapse that followed left us shellshocked and had a devastating affect on the rest of our season as Turnford smashed five past us.
We never recovered. We crashed out of all three cups at the first hurdle and registered just three more wins all season (plus a walkover against Brimsdown).
Conceding a last gasp equaliser to Highway and letting in three goals in 10 minutes against Rosemill to draw 3-3, in a game we dominated for the other 80 were symptomatic of our morale problems.
However, there were bright points. Notably a thrilling 8-5 win at Northaw - with Ed Prow hitting four - while Turnford were neatly despatched 3-0 on their visit to Presdales with PLayer of the Season Si bagging Goal of the Season with a ferocious free-kick.
Wootten, Franny, Ed, Paulo and Shane Good all announced their intention to quit the club following this season, leaving Brom with some major rebuilding work to do before the new season.
On the plus side, Mr B won the divisional linesman award for the fourth year in a row -fully deserved for his superb service to the club.
Also, BBFC picked up the league fair play award and earned a free kit for their troubles. While sometimes we are probably a bit too nice and could do with toughening up at times, this award sums up the spirit in which BBFC like to play their football and is a real credit to the club.
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2004-05 season |
2004-05
At last, BBFC secured an opening-day win - banishing the demons of that 7-1 defeat to PT Rangers by comfortably seeing off the same opponents 2-0. PT's nemesis Scott and a cracking goal by young new signing Tim Harbord saw to that.
A last-gasp penalty save by The Cat earned a 0-0 draw at Highway before a last-gasp own goal helped us bag a 3-3 draw with Real PB.
And although this season saw us keep on top of sides like Northaw and Chaseside OB Res, our season never seemed to get going.
Some disappointing results led to us being also-rans by March - culminating in a humiliating 9-0 defeat to Hoddesdon Snooker Club, our record defeat.
All credit to the lads then for bouncing back the following week against Hoddy's title rivals Enfield Crusaders and winning 2-1 in undoubtedly our worst-tempered game of all time.
Fortunately, Ian Pope was the two-goal hero as we at least played a part in determining the destination of the title.
We also performed reasonably in the Herts Junior Cup, making the last 16. Unfortunately we crashed to Landrovers 5-1.
The biggest bright spot of the season was the form of The Cat, who proved himself to be one of the best keepers in the entire league. His fantastic performances earned several points that would otherwise have gone begging and he ended Si Scott's stranglehold on the Player of the Season trophy. So it was something of a blow then when he announced he was to call time on his BBFC career - at least partly - to concentrate on his Saturday football and his missus. How would the BBs cope?
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2003-04 season |
2003-04
Following another opening-day defeat - this time 4-3 at Highway - BBFC picked up with a solid 0-0 draw with Wormley and another thrilling last-gasp 2-1 win against Cheshunt (Sunday).
Yet although this season saw us register some real thumpings - Northaw 8-0, King William & St Joseph's 7-1 and Riverside Hotpsur 6-1 - we also let ourselves down in other matches - losing 5-1 to Riverside, 4-3 to King William plus two abject showings against Winchmore Wizards.
It meant a relatively disappointing finish of 6th spot in the table.
Off the field, The Cat almost got a call-up to the Guyana squad to play in their World Cup qualifier against Grenada but lack of funds made it slightly impractical.
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2002-03 season |
2002-03
The pre-season started in surreal fashion as, following some misinterpreted email correspondence, Brom met a high-ranking official with Ghanaian division one club Kwaebibrium FC at an Islington cafe to discuss the possibility of a friendly. The confused man - also second in command of Ghana's opposition political party - was excited by the fact of playing a side from the English division four. He was less keen when it clicked we were slightly lower down the footballing ladder.
However, promotion from division four of the Mercury Waltham League was obtainable.
Hopes were high despite a difficult start pitting us against PT Rangers, Wormley Rovers and Cheshunt (Sunday).
Things started badly though after a chaotic 7-1 opening-day defeat to PT.
A weakened side then collapsed 3-0 to Wormley as the BBs began to fear the worst.
However, things changed in a crazy game at Cheshunt.
With Si Hughes oversleeping, BBFC started with 10 men and Cheshunt started menacingly - having a seemingly good goal ruled out by ref Steve Wildgoose who claimed the ball hadn't crossed the line.
Then amazingly Si S put the BBs ahead as Si H eventually turned up.
A second-half onslaught - complete with missed penalty and several missed sitters - eventually brought an equaliser but, once again, Si proved decisive with a fantastic solo goal to get our season up and running.
Flukey the win may have been but, against easier opposition, the BBs started to clock up some more positive results and performances.
A fantastic 3-1 win at Wormley - courtesy of a Si Scott hat-trick - was the highlight of the season as BBFC sealed fourth spot - which, with a league reshuffle, was enough for a second successive promotion.
BBFC also recorded their best one-off cup result this season as they beat premier division side Everest 2-0 in the Roy Bailey Trophy.
With Si Scott missing, it looked as though the BBs had a mountain to climb (arf!) but Wootten and Pope (with a 30-yard screamer) helped the Blues reach their cup peak.
More controversial was our run-in with ref Wildgoose. Having been instrumental in our mad win at Cheshunt, he turned tables in the return fixture, sending off Fat Bob for 'violent conduct' after the midfield enforcer patted a throw-in weakly against an opposing player's chest.
Two weeks later, his decisions in our favour against Rosemill Reserves led to the opposition walking off the pitch after 30 minutes, trailing 3-0 and reduced to nine men. Things are certainly never boring (or predictable when Wildgoose is in charge.
Perhaps the funniest moment of the season came in the 2-2 draw at Northmet (Riverside) Res. In the website report of the home encounter, a certain Northmet striker was referred to as "the aptly-named Grimmer". He obviously took this to heart - after netting the opener in the return game, he celebrated by yelling: "Stick THAT on your website!"
Great anger. Even funnier was the fact that Si levelled with a scorcher 60 seconds later and we all took the p***.
In an incredibly close Player of the Season vote, Si pipped Woot by one point (thanks to Woot voting for him!).
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2001-02 season |
2001-02
The victory whetted the lads' appetite for competitive football and they applied to join the Mercury Waltham League. They were duly accepted into division five - much to the chagrin of rivals Turnford who only made division six.
BBFC were ready for the challenge with Simons Scott and Hughes set to bang in goals up front and Franny and Fat Bob Mullane forming a steely midfield pairing. The problem position of goalkeeper was solved when Brom swooped for Goffs Albion keeper Graeme 'The Cat' Wilson.
On September 1st 2001, England beat Germany 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Munich. But the following day saw an even more momentous occasion in football history -BBFC's first league game.
In front of a capacity crowd at Presdales, BBFC fell behind to groundsharers Roadhouse thanks to a dodgy penalty.
But Fat Bob and Si Hughes overturned the deficit before a disappointing late equaliser ensured the spoils were shared.
Indeed, the Blues' first three league games all ended in draws and it was a Herts Junior Cup tie that brought their first full competitive victory - 4-1 over RNOH Trustees.
The following week saw the BBs' first league win - in epic circumstances.
Against Roadhouse again, BBFC fought back from 4-1 down with 12 minutes left to win 5-4.
Following a 10-3 pasting in the Roy Bailey Trophy against Chaseside OB - a match notorious for the Finky incident - BBFC also suffered their first defeat in the league - 4-0 at home to Dysons Rovers.
Even so, they were still well positioned in the promotion race - as long as they could keep up their momentum. And the signing of Matt Hopkinson helped achieve that.
In a stunning debut against Broxbourne Rangers Res, Hopko scored after just 10 seconds! He went on to score four in a 9-4 belter.
The former Northern Schoolboys ace put in several hugely influential displays as BBFC kept in touch with the front-runners.
A vital 2-1 win over Hoddesdon Snooker Club in a classic encounter virtually assured the BBs of a top-three finish. Ahead early in the second half thanks to an own goal, BBFC weathered a Hoddy onslaught - including a missed penalty - until an 83rd-minute leveller. However, Super Si's corner was flicked into the net by a Snooker Club defender just two minutes later and there was still time for Franny to get sent off in stoppage time (a decision that was later rescinded!)
Ten goals in the last five league games of the season saw Si Scott pull away from Hughes in the scoring stakes and ended up winning the BBFC Player of the Year vote ahead of Hopko.
Northaw Res and PT Rangers ended up pushing the BBs into third in the table but all three were promoted.
In the summer, the lads set about defending their Leicester 7s title. Bob was the BBFC hero, hitting three vital goals despite spending the night before in A&E after a Jackass-style stunt left him with a gaping hole in his side.
The final - against Lincoln City fans - was a backs-to-wall effort as the knackered lads clung on for dear life, then snatched the only goal as Poos ended final-winner for the second year in a row.
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2000-01 season |
2000-01
With almost all the original protagonists back from uni, BBFC exploded into life.
Thirty friendlies were arranged against diverse opposition such as Goffs Albion, Electric Yetis, Royal Holloway Uni V, Turnford Rangers and Dunmow - the side with officially the worst Saturday league record in the world (-2 points over two seasons!)
They also took part in some competitive football in Leicester - making the quarter-finals of the M'Duck Cup in October.
There was even a tour in February when BBFC visited the Midlands to play the Yetis (Leicester City fans) and Coventry City's Sky Blue Army.
The season ended in glorious fashion as BBFC - representing Enfield - won an epic Leicester 7s tournament hosted by the Yetis.
Schmee and Glyn 'Poos' Hughes hit the goals as BBFC came from behind to beat Birmingham City's Net Baloos in the final.
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1999-2000 season |
1999-2000
Under the new name of BBFC, the lads formed a committee, with Marley as chairman, Dave Bromage as secretary and Kevin 'Vin' Orford as treasurer. Mark 'Schmee' Smith, Steve 'Franny' Francis and Alex 'Ivy' Ivison formed the rest of the 'board.
Bromage took over the reins as manager and, with the aid of his local football contacts, BBFC's fixture-count increased with a range of varied opposition.
Rob Smith ended top scorer while Kev Francis was named Player of the Season.
Super striker Si Scott made his debut in inauspicious circumstances - scoring once in a 9-2 defeat to Royal Holloway University fifth team.
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1998-99 season |
1998-99
A season off ensued as the lads went off to their respective universities but come 1998, more friendlies were arranged with Green Lights. Under the banner of the Lazy Students XI (after a brief and dangerous flirtation with the moniker Marley's Men) they won all of these games - with the exception of a 3-3 draw in hurricane conditions when Chris 'Marley' Male went off with a 'leg injury' and ended up getting hypothermia.
BBFC first tasted defeat to rivals Broxbourne Borough, unable to cope with the ferocious tackling of Paul Bromage, the deadly scoring prowess of Si Scott and the fat-necked wing wizardry of Si Barry. David Wootten also played for Boro but scored an own goal.
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1996-97 season |
1996-97
BBFC were born in 1997 when a collection of Broxbourne School pupils challenged a team from the year below - Sam's Select XI - to a footy match.
The historic clash was played at Wormley Playing Fields and John Cranwell's goal was enough to separate the teams.
A rematch was hastily arranged and this time the result was far more comprehensive with BBFC (although this was not their name at the time) romping to a 5-1 win.
In between games, the lads took on Enfield FC supporters' side Green Lights who, with Broxbourne boys Chris Moore and Dave Bromage in their ranks, succumbed 6-3 at Enfield Playing Fields.
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The entire history of BBFC |
1996-97
BBFC were born in 1997 when a collection of Broxbourne School pupils challenged a team from the year below - Sam's Select XI - to a footy match.
The historic clash was played at Wormley Playing Fields and John Cranwell's goal was enough to separate the teams.
A rematch was hastily arranged and this time the result was far more comprehensive with BBFC (although this was not their name at the time) romping to a 5-1 win.
In between games, the lads took on Enfield FC supporters' side Green Lights who, with Broxbourne boys Chris Moore and Dave Bromage in their ranks, succumbed 6-3 at Enfield Playing Fields.
1998-99
A season off ensued as the lads went off to their respective universities but come 1998, more friendlies were arranged with Green Lights. Under the banner of the Lazy Students XI (after a brief and dangerous flirtation with the moniker Marley's Men) they won all of these games - with the exception of a 3-3 draw in hurricane conditions when Chris 'Marley' Male went off with a 'leg injury' and ended up getting hypothermia.
BBFC first tasted defeat to rivals Broxbourne Borough, unable to cope with the ferocious tackling of Paul Bromage, the deadly scoring prowess of Si Scott and the fat-necked wing wizardry of Si Barry. David Wootten also played for Boro but scored an own goal.
1999-2000
Under the new name of BBFC, the lads formed a committee, with Marley as chairman, Dave Bromage as secretary and Kevin 'Vin' Orford as treasurer. Mark 'Schmee' Smith, Steve 'Franny' Francis and Alex 'Ivy' Ivison formed the rest of the 'board.
Bromage took over the reins as manager and, with the aid of his local football contacts, BBFC's fixture-count increased with a range of varied opposition.
Rob Smith ended top scorer while Kev Francis was named Player of the Season.
Super striker Si Scott made his debut in inauspicious circumstances - scoring once in a 9-2 defeat to Royal Holloway University fifth team.
2000-01
With almost all the original protagonists back from uni, BBFC exploded into life.
Thirty friendlies were arranged against diverse opposition such as Goffs Albion, Electric Yetis, Royal Holloway Uni V, Turnford Rangers and Dunmow - the side with officially the worst Saturday league record in the world (-2 points over two seasons!)
They also took part in some competitive football in Leicester - making the quarter-finals of the M'Duck Cup in October.
There was even a tour in February when BBFC visited the Midlands to play the Yetis (Leicester City fans) and Coventry City's Sky Blue Army.
The season ended in glorious fashion as BBFC - representing Enfield - won an epic Leicester 7s tournament hosted by the Yetis.
Schmee and Glyn 'Poos' Hughes hit the goals as BBFC came from behind to beat Birmingham City's Net Baloos in the final.
2001-02
The victory whetted the lads' appetite for competitive football and they applied to join the Mercury Waltham League. They were duly accepted into division five - much to the chagrin of rivals Turnford who only made division six.
BBFC were ready for the challenge with Simons Scott and Hughes set to bang in goals up front and Franny and Fat Bob Mullane forming a steely midfield pairing. The problem position of goalkeeper was solved when Brom swooped for Goffs Albion keeper Graeme 'The Cat' Wilson.
On September 1st 2001, England beat Germany 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Munich. But the following day saw an even more momentous occasion in football history -BBFC's first league game.
In front of a capacity crowd at Presdales, BBFC fell behind to groundsharers Roadhouse thanks to a dodgy penalty.
But Fat Bob and Si Hughes overturned the deficit before a disappointing late equaliser ensured the spoils were shared.
Indeed, the Blues' first three league games all ended in draws and it was a Herts Junior Cup tie that brought their first full competitive victory - 4-1 over RNOH Trustees.
The following week saw the BBs' first league win - in epic circumstances.
Against Roadhouse again, BBFC fought back from 4-1 down with 12 minutes left to win 5-4.
Following a 10-3 pasting in the Roy Bailey Trophy against Chaseside OB - a match notorious for the Finky incident - BBFC also suffered their first defeat in the league - 4-0 at home to Dysons Rovers.
Even so, they were still well positioned in the promotion race - as long as they could keep up their momentum. And the signing of Matt Hopkinson helped achieve that.
In a stunning debut against Broxbourne Rangers Res, Hopko scored after just 10 seconds! He went on to score four in a 9-4 belter.
The former Northern Schoolboys ace put in several hugely influential displays as BBFC kept in touch with the front-runners.
A vital 2-1 win over Hoddesdon Snooker Club in a classic encounter virtually assured the BBs of a top-three finish. Ahead early in the second half thanks to an own goal, BBFC weathered a Hoddy onslaught - including a missed penalty - until an 83rd-minute leveller. However, Super Si's corner was flicked into the net by a Snooker Club defender just two minutes later and there was still time for Franny to get sent off in stoppage time (a decision that was later rescinded!)
Ten goals in the last five league games of the season saw Si Scott pull away from Hughes in the scoring stakes and ended up winning the BBFC Player of the Year vote ahead of Hopko.
Northaw Res and PT Rangers ended up pushing the BBs into third in the table but all three were promoted.
In the summer, the lads set about defending their Leicester 7s title. Bob was the BBFC hero, hitting three vital goals despite spending the night before in A&E after a Jackass-style stunt left him with a gaping hole in his side.
The final - against Lincoln City fans - was a backs-to-wall effort as the knackered lads clung on for dear life, then snatched the only goal as Poos ended final-winner for the second year in a row.
2002-03
The pre-season started in surreal fashion as, following some misinterpreted email correspondence, Brom met a high-ranking official with Ghanaian division one club Kwaebibrium FC at an Islington cafe to discuss the possibility of a friendly. The confused man - also second in command of Ghana's opposition political party - was excited by the fact of playing a side from the English division four. He was less keen when it clicked we were slightly lower down the footballing ladder.
However, promotion from division four of the Mercury Waltham League was obtainable.
Hopes were high despite a difficult start pitting us against PT Rangers, Wormley Rovers and Cheshunt (Sunday).
Things started badly though after a chaotic 7-1 opening-day defeat to PT.
A weakened side then collapsed 3-0 to Wormley as the BBs began to fear the worst.
However, things changed in a crazy game at Cheshunt.
With Si Hughes oversleeping, BBFC started with 10 men and Cheshunt started menacingly - having a seemingly good goal ruled out by ref Steve Wildgoose who claimed the ball hadn't crossed the line.
Then amazingly Si S put the BBs ahead as Si H eventually turned up.
A second-half onslaught - complete with missed penalty and several missed sitters - eventually brought an equaliser but, once again, Si proved decisive with a fantastic solo goal to get our season up and running.
Flukey the win may have been but, against easier opposition, the BBs started to clock up some more positive results and performances.
A fantastic 3-1 win at Wormley - courtesy of a Si Scott hat-trick - was the highlight of the season as BBFC sealed fourth spot - which, with a league reshuffle, was enough for a second successive promotion.
BBFC also recorded their best one-off cup result this season as they beat premier division side Everest 2-0 in the Roy Bailey Trophy.
With Si Scott missing, it looked as though the BBs had a mountain to climb (arf!) but Wootten and Pope (with a 30-yard screamer) helped the Blues reach their cup peak.
More controversial was our run-in with ref Wildgoose. Having been instrumental in our mad win at Cheshunt, he turned tables in the return fixture, sending off Fat Bob for 'violent conduct' after the midfield enforcer patted a throw-in weakly against an opposing player's chest.
Two weeks later, his decisions in our favour against Rosemill Reserves led to the opposition walking off the pitch after 30 minutes, trailing 3-0 and reduced to nine men. Things are certainly never boring (or predictable when Wildgoose is in charge.
Perhaps the funniest moment of the season came in the 2-2 draw at Northmet (Riverside) Res. In the website report of the home encounter, a certain Northmet striker was referred to as "the aptly-named Grimmer". He obviously took this to heart - after netting the opener in the return game, he celebrated by yelling: "Stick THAT on your website!"
Great anger. Even funnier was the fact that Si levelled with a scorcher 60 seconds later and we all took the p***.
In an incredibly close Player of the Season vote, Si pipped Woot by one point (thanks to Woot voting for him!).
2003-04
Following another opening-day defeat - this time 4-3 at Highway - BBFC picked up with a solid 0-0 draw with Wormley and another thrilling last-gasp 2-1 win against Cheshunt (Sunday).
Yet although this season saw us register some real thumpings - Northaw 8-0, King William & St Joseph's 7-1 and Riverside Hotpsur 6-1 - we also let ourselves down in other matches - losing 5-1 to Riverside, 4-3 to King William plus two abject showings against Winchmore Wizards.
It meant a relatively disappointing finish of 6th spot in the table.
Off the field, The Cat almost got a call-up to the Guyana squad to play in their World Cup qualifier against Grenada but lack of funds made it slightly impractical.
2004-05
At last, BBFC secured an opening-day win - banishing the demons of that 7-1 defeat to PT Rangers by comfortably seeing off the same opponents 2-0. PT's nemesis Scott and a cracking goal by young new signing Tim Harbord saw to that.
A last-gasp penalty save by The Cat earned a 0-0 draw at Highway before a last-gasp own goal helped us bag a 3-3 draw with Real PB.
And although this season saw us keep on top of sides like Northaw and Chaseside OB Res, our season never seemed to get going.
Some disappointing results led to us being also-rans by March - culminating in a humiliating 9-0 defeat to Hoddesdon Snooker Club, our record defeat.
All credit to the lads then for bouncing back the following week against Hoddy's title rivals Enfield Crusaders and winning 2-1 in undoubtedly our worst-tempered game of all time.
Fortunately, Ian Pope was the two-goal hero as we at least played a part in determining the destination of the title.
We also performed reasonably in the Herts Junior Cup, making the last 16. Unfortunately we crashed to Landrovers 5-1.
The biggest bright spot of the season was the form of The Cat, who proved himself to be one of the best keepers in the entire league. His fantastic performances earned several points that would otherwise have gone begging and he ended Si Scott's stranglehold on the Player of the Season trophy. So it was something of a blow then when he announced he was to call time on his BBFC career - at least partly - to concentrate on his Saturday football and his missus. How would the BBs cope?
2005-06
BBFC started the season in fine form with three straight wins. The Cat played in two of these games but he was to make only two more appearance all season - and how we missed him.
A 4-1 home defeat to a frankly much better Broxbourne Rangers Reserves ended our 100 per cent record but things seemed back on track the following week as Si put us 3-0 up at rivals Turnford, promoted to our level for the first time.
The humiliating collapse that followed left us shellshocked and had a devastating affect on the rest of our season as Turnford smashed five past us.
We never recovered. We crashed out of all three cups at the first hurdle and registered just three more wins all season (plus a walkover against Brimsdown).
Conceding a last gasp equaliser to Highway and letting in three goals in 10 minutes against Rosemill to draw 3-3, in a game we dominated for the other 80 were symptomatic of our morale problems.
However, there were bright points. Notably a thrilling 8-5 win at Northaw - with Ed Prow hitting four - while Turnford were neatly despatched 3-0 on their visit to Presdales with PLayer of the Season Si bagging Goal of the Season with a ferocious free-kick.
Wootten, Franny, Prow, Paulo and Shane Good all announced their intention to quit the club following this season, leaving Brom with some major rebuilding work to do before the new season.
On the plus side, Mr B won the divisional linesman award for the fourth year in a row -fully deserved for his superb service to the club.
Also, BBFC picked up the league fair play award and earned a free kit for their troubles. While sometimes we are probably a bit too nice and could do with toughening up at times, this award sums up the spirit in which BBFC like to play their football and is a real credit to the club.
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