b'Football Club Report 2019/20The Football Club has been in a period of consolidation for the last couple of years, after reducing from four regular teams and a vets teamwho played once a monthdown to two regular Saturday teams playing in thePictured, left to right: Top: Roshaan Nelson, Sean Palmer, Birmingham AFA. Middle: Raman Ahmed, Niall Perry, Kymar Bookal, Tadhg Perry, Dan Rekha, Kavish Bhopal Covid-19 has also turned amateur footballBottom: Vinay Sandhu, Dillon Read. Manager: Pav Gill (not shown)on its head, with all fixtures after lockdown cancelled; we wait to see the ruling from the League on the eventual outcome of theSWIMMING CLUB season.The 1st Team, currently in Division 3, wereREPORT 2019/2020struggling in ninth place and with three games left were battling to avoid relegation. They had to contend with losing several good players to long periods of injury, but they have aIn 2019 the Swimming Club celebratedout of six in Division 3 and the A team tremendous team spirit and togetherness andits Centenaryyes, our Club hasfinished seventh out of seven, which by cutting out defensive lapses, which havebeen in existence for a hundred yearsmeans they will be relegated to Division proved particularly costly in the last few games,and is still going strong today. There2 next season. Warwickshire Senior and were expected to be able to get themselveswere numerous celebrations duringJunior leagues, Wrekin Winter league out of their predicament. Thanks go out tothe year, including the Under 21 v Overand U18 league were all still in progress Jason Clarke for continuing to keep the team21 match in January (the old oneswhen suspended due to Covid-19.positive and enthused for the challenge ahead. won the game 12-10). The LeagueWe were delighted when Tadhg Perry Presidents Challenge Match in April,was selected to represent the West The 2nd Team have seen a rebirth this season,bringing a team consisting of one after losing their manager, Rich Edgington, whoplayer from each of the Midland LeagueMidlands U14 team in a tournament retired at the end of last season after five yearsclubs, saw Handsworth Centurionsin Serbia, and he played in the West with us. His departure caused many of theirwin an exciting match 21-18. This wasMidlands U16 team later in the year. players to leave too. During the closed seasonfollowed by a Fun Match for membersHe has subsequently been called up to Dwight Blake, who has worked in football at allof all ages in May, with 20 players onthe England squad. Other stars were levels, approached the club and expressed aeach side. In June there was an outingAvesta Ismail, who won the Allison desire to run a team, which was duly granted.to Drayton Manor for our under-16Trophy, and Kye Bookal who won He has brought with him eight or nine verymembers, which everyone thoroughlymost improved U16 water polo player. good players and, along with a core groupenjoyed. Next up was the CentenaryPlayers player of the year awards went of four or five from the previous season, hasTournament, with six of the oldestto Niall Perry for the U18s, Ken Gower moulded a very good team in a short spaceteams in the League; Handsworthfor the B team, and Alun Rickards for of time. Whilst they are only playing in DivisionA played Boldmere in the final, in athe A team. The Richard Brough trophy 5, when games ceased they had 12 gamestightly fought game which Handsworthwas awarded to Klaud Reka.left and several games in hand over the teamseventually won 3-2. The annual Race Night in October above them, were in third place and looked awas well attended, with high-quality good bet for promotion. They were the onlyThe highlight of the year was theswimming and fiercely competed team in the Division to remain unbeaten in theCentenary Dinner held at Tally Ho on 7thraces. The Old Boys beat the School league. Dwight, with his many contacts withinSeptember, brilliantly orchestrated byand the U18s in the annual relay race the professional and semi-professional game,Philip Swann and thoroughly enjoyed byin October and were also victorious has already recommended two players to beall 116 guests who attended. Speakersin the polo match. All our awards and signed up by semi-professional clubs. included Dave Bathurst, the formertrophies were distributed to winners at International Referee; the President ofthe Annual Awards and Social Evening Looking to the future and using his involvementthe Swimming Club, Mr Simon Bird; in several academies, Dwight has proposed inCraig Figes, GB Water Polo Captain atwhich took place on 24th November at the long term to take the 1st Team to semi- the 2012 London Olympics; and Kenthe Clubhouse.professional status, following a plan that hasGower, Club Captain, in his fiftieth year been mapped out for several years. We areof playing water polo for Handsworth! seriously looking at reintroducing a vets teamA fabulous evening was had by all. We for next season; Dwight has also floatedwere especially delighted that many the idea of creating a 3rd Team consistingformer members attended, so we were of current U16 players with a sprinkling ofable to reconnect and reminisce with experienced players too, providing we can findold friends.a manager, and also to set up a Youth Team at the Club. Our League results were highlighted by the U16s who won their league and After a challenging couple of years, it verycontinued by winning the Handsworth much looks as though the Football Club isU16 tournament. The getting back on track and will hopefully returnU18s had a tough to the depth of teams and players that we havelast season, finishing had in previous years. sixth out of six. The B team finished fifth 46'