North Gloucestershire League, Premier Division Champions
Above:
Back row L-R: Joel Beeston James Shingles, Steve Bullock, Mitchell Smith, Dan Milin, Carl Adams (player manager), Billy Biddle, Matt Ridler, James Clarke.
Front L-R Jason Watkins, Harry Purrinton, Tom Grange, Tommy Biddle, Brad Willetts (capt), Finn Winstanley, Sam Hill.
J.O. Roberts Cup Winners
Bream Amateurs 4 Ellwood 1
BREAM added the JO Roberts Cup to the North Gloucestershire League Premier title with a 4-1 victory over Ellwood.
Two of the five goals in the final played at Lydney Town’s ground on Sunday (May 5) will probably rank among the most bizarre ever seen in the competition.
James Clarke opened the scoring for the league champions after 16 minutes and Billy Biddle added to Ellwood’s task when he scored a couple of minutes before the end of normal time in the first half.Ellwood came out strongly in the second and were causing Bream some problems.
They cut the deficit after Bream had been awarded a goal kick only for Ellwood striker Mark Wayman to notice that keeper Mitchell Smith had touched the ball, meaning it was back in play.Wayman pounced and put it in the back of the net and the officials agreed it was good.
The two goal cushion was restored by Jayson Watkins after 72 minutes and it was Smith who made up for his earlier error with a goal that was a nightmare for his opposite number, Jake Thomas.
Smith put in a huge kick that bounced once as it headed toward the Ellwood goal. Thomas came to collect but slipped on a surface made greasy by heavy rain during the match and could only watch as it hit the target.
Winning skipper Brad Willetts said: “Bream haven’t been in the (Gloucestershire Northern) Senior League for over 40 years so that’s a big achievement for us and this cup is icing on the cake.”Takings on the gate were £777 which will be added to the receipts from the other two ‘Hospital Cups’ – the F J Pope and Geo Sandoe – to be presented to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, a total of more than £1,900.
The Forester 8th May 2024
West Dean Charities Cup Winners
Bream Amateurs 2 Mushet & Coalway 0
Gaffer’s report
Carl “Coxy” Adams.
In what we knew would be our toughest test of the season against Northern Sentor League opposition, we didn’t take a backward step and played on the front foot, the way we have since Christmas. Pressing from the front with the lively front three of [Tom Grange, Billy [Biddle] and Clarkey (James Clarke. We went one up early with Harry [Purringtonj going down the right, squared to Billy whose shot was well blocked. But the ball came back off the bar and Grange put his head in where he could’ve got clattered and got it oVer the line for 1-0 Bream.
Now Mushet were trying to press for an equaliser and came very close but for Grange at the other end who kept the ball out excellently with his head to give us the lead at the break. The referee made some questionable decisions for both sides but we kept our heads. Joel [Beestoni and Brad [Willetts] keeping the Nushet danger man quiet all evening.
Harry Purrington and Jayson Watkins absolutely bossing the midfield. With 25 to go Harry produced an unbelievable pass to Grange who slotted past the Mushet keeper. 2-0 Bream.
With just five minutes to go Mitch [Smith] made a great save to keep the score at 2-0.
Excellent performance once again, I couldn’t ask for any more from the lads including the subs who came on and contributed like they have all season. Once again big shout out to all the support. Chris Matthews has been brilliant along with Pete Scullion and the legendary Ian Hill. Also to James Shingles for helping out on sideline last two finals.
Great support from the reserve team and club as a whole last night and also Beam RFC, absolutely outstanding.
Man of the match was Harry Purrington, absolutely unplayable last night.
Northern Senior League
Winning the North Gloucestershire League sees Bream return to the Northern Senior League. Bream were last in the Northern Senior League in the 1960’s
Bream Amateurs 1965-66
In the 1965-1966 season, Bream Amateurs finished in 3rd position in Division 1 of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. With 41 points, they narrowly lost the runners-up position to Cirencester on goal average. They won promotion from Division 2 the previous season.
100 years earlier in 1924:
Back Row : S Ward (Vice President), H Cox (Chairman), W Morse , L Guest, P Thomas (Hon. Secretary), J Fox.
Row 3 : H Watkins , R Ward , G Clutterbuck , F Yorke , T Morgan , H James , E Hyde , W Stephens, H Poulton (Financial Secretary),
Row 2 : J Thompson , S Worgan , B Fox , R Browning* (Capt.) , W Ellway, W Hawkins, Evan. A . Jones (Trainer).
Front Row : W.H. Watts, Garnet Clutterbuck, W Hatton.
The three Amigos with the 3 trophies.
Bream Sports Club stalwarts, John, Glyn and, Ian finally see Bream Amateurs win not just a single trophy, but three in one season. Glyn and John are both former chairmen of the Sports Club and all three are loyal former Bream Amateurs players.
Trophies L-R:
John with the J O Roberts Cup, Glyn with the West Dean Charities Cup and Ian with the North Glos League trophy.
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