THEY COMPLETE THE DOUBLE, WITH THE WHOLE
SEASON UNBEATEN IN LEAGUE AND CUP COMPETITIONS

Welland Juniors Under 14s team won the Mercian Festival Under 14s Cup Final last Sunday at Malvern Town's Langland Stadium, winning a tough encounter 1-0 with a good Drakes Broughton side. The winner was scored by Richard Phelps midway through the first half, but it was Drakes Broughton who took the game to Welland in the second half and only spirited defending led by 'Man of the Match' Liam Paddock - an accolade selected by the Wolverhampton Wanderers scout for the area who was watching the match - saw Welland home to achieve the double.

Welland Juniors Under 14s have made it through the entire season unbeaten, having rounded it all off with a 5-0 win at home to Bromyard Town on the previous Sunday, to win the Mercian Festival Junior Football Under 14s League. Their league record was impressive - having played twenty-six matches and won 23, drawing three, losing not a single match. In addition they are the league's leading scorers with 128 goals and amazingly have only conceded 13 goals all season - a remarkable statistic for a junior side.

Manager Gerald Phelps has done a sterling job, bringing the team together three years ago and seeing them improve year on year until this season, when they have gelled well as a team and played some excellent football on their way to the title.

The dedicated management team includes Gerald Phelps, his assistant Andrew Richards and an important addition to the 'team' this year, coach Steve Hynds. Gerald's wife Jeanette deserves special mention for her dedication to the team which is equal to that of everyone else in the squad!

As the 'stats' suggest, the success of the team has been built largely on a resolute and miserly defence, ably led by captain Liam Paddock, who has also weighed in with eighteen goals, many from free kicks and other set plays. The whole defence has been outstanding this season, with goalkeeper Austin Watts playing a key role when he was called into action, but ably supported all season by a defence of Ashley Shouler, Alex Wood, Liam Paddock and new acquisition this season Kurt Doyle, whose no-nonsense approach has been a major factor in keeping the opposition at bay.

In midfield, the other major newcomer this season, Ben Raol, has been outstanding, scoring some stunning long range goals. He has been ably supported by Ben Marks, a clever midfielder or left winger who has scored twenty goals - most with his excellent left foot - and Josh Bretnall who has shown clever ball control up and down the right wing this season, contributing ten goals for the team. Latest acquisition Andrew Smith has brought more steel to the midfield and since joining Welland Under 14s, has looked an exciting addition, with good distribution skills.

Up front, the regular strikers Richard Phelps and Aaron Richards have been knocking goals in for fun, scoring 41 and 23 goals respectively, many of them spectacular efforts, but on the rare occasions when they were off target, goals from midfield and other areas of the team provided excellent backing to ensure the team remained unbeaten.

The strength of the Welland side has been the fantastic team spirit and squad members Tom Jeffs, Tom Hynds and Dan Griffiths, whose season was sadly cut short by broken leg, have played their part well, regularly coming into the side during the year and providing excellent cover.

"It's been a fantastic season for the lads," said Welland U14s Manager Gerald Phelps. "Our boys have shown fantastic enthusiasm and the team spirit has been unbelievable. They've played their hearts out for each other. Winning the league was the most important achievement, but winning the cup as well is the icing on the cake."

The team has a celebration presentation evening this Friday (7th May) at the Horse & Groom in Ryall starting at 7.30pm, at which the team will receive their league championship mementos.