Hetton in the Final Again
Former champions Hetton Lyons travelled down from the north-east to Liverpool to defeat ten men Paddock FC by 2-0 in the Semi-Final of The FA Sunday Cup. Adam Johnston was the hero of the tie, as his brace before half-time put the game beyond the hosts in a tempestuous affair that saw a Paddock man ejected after the interval for two bookable offences. Current north-east champions Hetton, who won The FA Sunday Cup in 2006, were defeated on penalties in the Second Round last year to eventual winners Coundon Conservative and with Coundon defeating Brantham Athletic in the other Semi-Final, they will have the chance to gain revenge in an all north-east affair in the Final at Anfield.A delighted Hetton manager, Bradley Groves, said: "It was scrappy game. We didn't play particularly well, but we were very worthy winners. Our goalkeeper only had one save to make - and that was in the 75th minute. They had a lot of possession without ever really threatening."Johnston's first goal came about after 10 minutes, from a 20 yard shot that whistled its way into the Paddock net. The striker then stuck again just before the break, giving the visitors a psychological edge over their opponents."We had a really good move for the second goal," continued Groves.
"Gavin Cogdon beat his man, and went on a run, beating a couple of people. He then found our left-winger Stephen Capper with a really good ball. He got to the by-line, pulled it back and Johnston scored his second."We have a very experienced squad and we dealt with their intimidation tactics. Now we are playing Coundon (left) in the Final."We respect and rate them as a side, but when they beat us in the Second Round last year we had an under-strength side. What better place to get our revenge than Anfield?"Meanwhile Paddock FC manager, Billy Owens, insisted his team would return next year.
"They scored a soft goal after only five minutes and then got the killer goal just before half time," he said. "We were struggling to get back into the game after that. They held out strong but we will be back."This is the second time we have entered the tournament. We got to the last 16 last season and to the Semi-Final this year. So really next year will be our year - we will be back to win it!"
Reigning FA Sunday Cup champions Coundon Conservative defeated debutants Brantham Athletic 2-1 in a closely fought Semi-Final at AFC Sudbury's Kings Marsh home. Coundon, who went into the break two goals up, will now face 2006 winners Hetton Lyons in the Final at Anfield, after their fellow north-easterners defeated Merseyside club Paddock FC in their Semi-Final at Marine FC.Brantham Athletic manager Stuart Ward was pleased with how his team rallied at half time, but it was not to be.The contest, which was almost postponed after Saturday night's downpour, was, he says: "The old cliche - a game of two halves."The pitch played quite well in the end, despite last night's weather. In the first half, Coundon played really well and showed their class. The first goal you could have seen on Match Of The Day - it was a fantastic strike. "The striker took the ball on his chest before slotting home from 18 yards - it was a great goal. Their second goal, before half time, came in from the left, and our defence stood still. They headed in to make it 2-0."
Ward continued: "At half time, I told the lads to play for their pride - they are the holders after all - and we gave them a really good game in the second half. We pulled one back though Ben Newson with about half-an-hour left.
"We gave them a really good working over, and they defended really well. If we had got the equaliser, I think we would have beaten them in extra time. We gave a good account of ourselves.
"Their manager came into our changing room at the end of the game and told us we were the best side they had faced this year."
Coundon reached the Semi-Final via an impressive 2-1 victory over St Josephs (Luton) FC, and will be looking for a repeat performance of last year's Second Round when they defeated Hetton on penalties.
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Welcome to the Stepys Coaches Durham Sunday Football League Web Site for the New Season 2006-2007. The 40th Anniversary of the founding of the League comes in 2007-2008 Season.The League is, in particular,looking for memories and memorabilia of those forty years.Please contact the League Secretary on the Contact Us Link.The Mail Link at the Bottom of the Contents Column. if you have any Memeories or Photos from the Past 40 Years the League has been in Operation.
I got off at Durham... and fell in love with it instantly in a serious way. Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city.... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful. "Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island, 1995
The North East's Premier Sunday Morning Football League. sponsored by 'STEPY'S COACHES'The League was founded in 1967 at a Meeting in the Travellers Rest Public House in Broomside Lane Belmont, then playing with only 24 Teams in two Divisions, since then it grew at One stage to Seven Divisions with 98 Teams, but due to the shortage of Referee's the League has now reverted to 64 Teams playing in 5 Divisions, Premier, First, Second, Third and Fourth.The League Holds its meetings in the Clubhouse of Durham City A.F.C who play in the Northern League.The League is Affiliated to the Durham County Football Association, and is the biggest Senior League in the County of Durham.Teams that play in the League come from three Counties County Durham,Teeside and Tyne & Wear.
Teams in the League play for the following Trophies, The League Cup Sponsored by NTLTransport,The Stafferrie Trophy Sponsored by Micro Mix Concrete,The Presidents Trophy sponsored by Deerness Driveways. The League Knockout Trophy Sponsored by Lasertech.The Guards Cup Sponsored by JB Taxis.The Cup Winners Cup Sponsored by the Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club.Castlebank Butchers Sponsor the Leagues Fairplay League.
The Shortage Of Referee's Football leagues' bosses says a shortages of refs would be catastrophic.John Topping, Durham FA's company secretary, said: "We're talking about tournaments and league matches that it's going to have an effect on. It could be hundreds of games."All the new refs do it as part of their course but it's existing referees that were affiliated before."For some reason some have not done it, but we don't know why."Some would regard the response as laziness. Some have said they don't see why they should have to carry this out, but in September 2008 the Vulnerable People's Act comes into play and everybody who comes into contact with children must have a CRB check."It's proving that you do support the safeguarding of children and we would say get this done as soon as you can."To complete the process, FA referees have to pass the CRB check, which is carried out with the help of senior staff and costs £18, fill out a form and watch a 30-minute video on child protection.The organisation says additional officials, such as assessors and coaches, and 800 referees have already completed it or taken it as part of their training, but that the shortage would still cause problems.Any referees who continue to oversee matches without being affiliated could invalidate insurance policies.The Durham Sunday Football League advise clubs not to play games with out an appointed referee, as this invalidates isurance policies ,If the club haven't got a ref, then the games simply can't go ahead.The FA has told County Associations that referees who officiate from September 2008 (but referees must be CRBd for season 2007-08 – otherwise no appointments) without completing the Child Protection Course (CPC), enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, and then been 'accepted' into football, will be committing a criminal offence and liable to a fine of up to £5,000. Similarly officers of a County, League or Club that appoint a referee without CRB clearance will also be liable to a fine of up to £5,000.This is the result of a QC's legal opinion obtained by the FA on the implications of the 'Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act' passed in November 2006. The legal opinion appears to confirm that all refereeing is a 'regulated activity' under the Act, because officials even in open-age football could be frequently 'in contact with children' (age up to 18) and anyone who seeks to referee must apply to be 'subject to monitoring'.The FA has already decided that no referee can be registered for 2007/8 season unless they have satisfactorily completed the CPC and CRB checks. The FA also says it is in dialogue with the Home Office regarding the implementation of the Act and particularly in relation to open-age football.
We in Durham Sunday Football League have a major problem. As you have no doubt seen we have a shortage of referees this year so I am writing to you and your club calling for volunteers to become the man with the whistle. If each club in the League sent an Official from their club on a Referee’s Course at the Durham County Football Association, this would help the problem.
Without your help the sides of the Durham Sunday Football League will be without a referee – a situation I am sure you will agree with me is most unsatisfactory.With an average of thirty matches to cover each Sunday and mid-week, we need as many referees we can get. Please discuss this matter with your fellow club members. I am sure there are ex players, retired players or players coming to the end of their playing career who will make excellent referees. The Durham County Football Association will train you, coach you and advise you along your path . Even if someone is only avaible every other Sunday this doesn’t matter, get in contact with me.
Graham Lilley
Enjoy this Season the 40th in the Leagues History,a milestone for Sunday League football, the League has come a long way from the meeting that set the league up in the Travelers rest at Broom side Lane Belmont. Remember it is not just about what we have achieved in the past, but what we are prepared to achieve in the future.
I thank you all for remaining a very important part of the Stepy’s Coaches Durham Sunday Football League
Michael Henderson
Chairman
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The Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday Football League Affiliated to the Durham County Football Association to become Football Association Charter Standard League. The League met with the Durham County Football Association Development Officer Andy Brown at Durham County FA Headquarters in Chester le Street last Year. The League decided that all Clubs in the League would be Charter Standard by November this year. This was achieved and at the November League meeting for all the Clubs in the League Andy Brown came along and presented all Clubs in the League with a £100-00 Umbro voucher for each Club to use. The FA Charter Standard Programme was launched in 2001 with the aim of raising the standard of grassroots football in teams, coaching, administration and Child Protection. The Clubs by achieving the Charter Standard Award are demonstrating to all members and the public, that they are a well organized & safe club. The 'hidden' benefits are also an excellent way of promoting your club to potential members, volunteers and sponsors. League Secretary Graham Lilley was very proud of the way the Clubs had all worked to get the Charter Standard from the Football Association, thus making the League the First Sunday Football League in the County to get the award and probably the First in the Country to get the award.
The Stepy’s Coaches Durham Sunday Football League is committed to raising the standards of grassroots football by achieving the FA Charter Standard Award for all it’s member clubs.
The FA Charter Standard Club Award has been introduced to raise standards, recognise good practice and reward the quality within our clubs at all levels within the game.
Obtaining the award is recognition for all the hard work, good practice and effort put in by all involved within the game at club level.
The Durham Sunday Football League sponsored by Stepy’s Coaches is well regarded as one of the most reputable and most recognized grass-roots Sunday football leagues in the United Kingdom. The main reason why our league has been so successful over its 40 year history is due to the tireless work that the league committee who make this league possible put in on a weekly basis throughout the whole season year in year out.
The whole of the committee do not get paid to do the jobs they do. They do this voluntarily and for the love of the game. More importantly they give up vast amounts of their time for the running of the League and the players who play week in week out. This is only possible due to the hard work and the free time the committee put in.
The league is also celebrating its 40th year this season and there will be more features on it throughout the season.
If you want to know about other sections of our league then please check all the other pages.
The league is very proud of our referees for their hard work, reliability and professionalism throughout the season. The hardest job on a Sunday morning is that of a referee. Ask yourself this question... without a referee turning up, who would officiate your game? Without one the game would not take place. The bottom line is you should all respect our referees and the hard job they do. For £20:00 per game they do not get paid enough to take or referee in fear of verbal or physical assault. Any player/s or teams that subject referees to this will be dealt with in the strongest possible manner, a very heavy club fine and if the club is persistently reported to the league, then on a week when the League may be short of Referee’s then that club can expect to be without one. The Durham County Football Association will be informed and that Clubs F.A Charter Standard will be removed resulting in the club being removed from the League. We have the highest turn out of referees on a Sunday in any other Sunday league. It is very rarely a game in this league is not covered by a referee. This is down to the dedicated referees we have and the hard work of Chris Tindale and Dale Moon the referee's secretary and assistant who work tirelessly to keep all games covered throughout the season.
To make an application to become a Member of the League next Season click on the Link Below
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