This was a season of pleasing progress , particularly for those members of the A team squad who had played with the Under 9s in season 1998-1999. Having only won 3 matches in all of that season , this was equalled in the first 3 weeks of the new campaign. The A team were a force to be reckoned with at home - in fact with the season starting in September , they remained unbeaten there until the following March.

Highlights of the first half of the season included a superb 1-0 league win over local rivals Lostock Rangers. Although they got revenge a few weeks later ( again by 1-0 ) we romped home in the following friendly 4-1.

By Christmas the A team had a league record of Played 12 Won 4 Drawn 4 Lost 4. With that sort of record it was unsurprising , when the teams were divided on merit , that they were placed in the middle of 3 Divisions.

Things got a little tougher in Division 2 , but 4 more league wins were to follow together with an excellent draw against Juno United , who the previous season had beaten us 10-1!

Probably the best performance of the season was against top side Norbury Athletic. In the first match of the new year , when the boys gave every appearance of having overdosed on Christmas pud , Norbury had whooped us 4-1. The return match at St.Pauls couldn't have been more different. All season the A team had shown itself capable of playing superb passing football in patches. On this occasion it all came together. Combined with gut-busting defending all over the pitch and an unbelievable effort from all concerned , the boys ran out 2-1 winners , and could easily have won by many more.

All in all it was an exciting season and the boys can be very proud of their efforts.

Goalscorers 1999-2000

Bobby Cash 13 ( plus 2 for B team ) , Matthew Smith 12 , Aaron Elder 4 , Jonathan Nicholls 3 , Chris Wilson 2 , Sam Russell 1 , own goal 1 .