Baldock Town Youth FC Under 10 Templars, sponsored by Leadermans Accountants and coached/managed by Dale Dewing and Cliff Pearce, entered the 2009/10 season as one of the favourites for the Division C title of the Royston Crow Youth Football League. It was also the first time their matches were ‘competitive’, in that they were playing for league points for the first time.

The squad consisted of Jonathan W in goal; William B and Mitchell S in defence; Robbie D, Owen A, Henry S and Joe F in midfield; Harry B and Elliot F in attack. It was a strong-looking unit with several players being adaptable and able to play in different positions if required.

The season started in stuttering fashion with a rusty performance against a poor side, but a win was ground out to set the boys on their way. This was followed up by two more wins for a perfect record after three games.

The next game against Bassingbourn resulted in the team’s only league defeat of the calendar year, which proved to be a shock to the collective system. They also conceded four goals in one game, something that was not repeated for the rest of the season.

The next four games were won, including terrific wins against strong St Neots and Bedwell teams, and a draw in the next was seen as two points dropped due to the lateness of the equaliser albeit against strong opposition. Three more wins followed, including a 3-0 revenge victory against Bassingbourn which was, in my opinion, the best performance of the season.

A draw against St Neots was followed by three more wins, but two of the next three matches were against a very strong Bishops Stortford outfit that were themselves pushing for the title. Both of these games were lost, the first of the two defeats being the only really abject performance of the season, and the second a 1-0 score line settled by the best goal I saw all season.

The final game was a comfortable romp in the sunshine, which meant that Baldock topped the table at that moment, but the destination of the title was out of the Templars’ hands. The teams in 2nd and 3rd were due to meet in the final game of their respective seasons. Provided St Neots avoided defeat against Bishops Stortford, Baldock would be champions. Fortunately, St Neots did Baldock a huge favour by winning the game, meaning that they themselves finished as runners up and Baldock ended up as the league winners.

In a very competitive league where there were six or seven teams out of 11 that were very good, Baldock did fantastically well to come out on top. Only two points separated the top three teams. Overall, no team conceded fewer goals than the Templars, they were the third highest goal scorers with the second best goal difference and had the most league wins to their name, winning 15 out of 20 games. The team exited the County Cup on penalties against a very strong Cheshunt side in the third round, and lost in the quarter finals of the League Cup by the narrowest of margins.

It has been a fantastic season for the boys, with every single player making contributions one way or another. Very well done!

Article provided by Dale Dewing