SGS Year 10 2014/15

The last post. No - not the song, but the final article this page shall exclusively see is Renny Anto's season summary, as (though it is excruciatingly late!) we can still confirm an early publication of the Suttonian U15 A Season Review!

A big thanks to everyone who has worked behind the scenes to make this page work, including Affan Rashid and Luke Gonsalves who have helped with graphics, and Kavi Mahendran, Jack Smillie, Henry Dalton-Stone and Renny Anto who have contributed articles and all the interviewees and of course the two teams themselves - well picked and managed by Mr Blunt throughout the season.

I'm Aki Lunn and it's been a pleasure to run this page throughout this year group's last season as a team. It's been a great 4 years, and everyone involved should be proud of themselves.

But - without further ado - Renny's season review...

Player of the season: Tinniswood (C)
Top goalscorer: Dalton-Stone (20)

U15 A team Season Report

As we embarked on our final year playing as a year group everyone wanted to finish on a high. Being called "the best team the school's ever had" we had a high expectations for the season. Surprisingly, even though we had won the WTSSG league and reached the semi finals of the district cup (which was poor by our standards), this happened to be our worst season as a team as we had lost six games this season. In the previous seasons, we had only lost 3 games in Year 9, 4 games in Year 8 and 3 games in Year 7. However, the team did seem to improve especially in defensive areas however that may have staggered the development of Fashoro and Dalton-Stone who accumulated 30 less goals than they did last season with Fashoro getting only 16 and Dalton-Stone with only 20.

The season began with the traditional fixture at Hampton and being the only school team that usually beats them or draws against them, we fancied our chances but the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Defeating rivals Wilsons in a seven goal thriller with Fashoro scoring a definite contender for goal of the season curling a shot from 35 yards with the perfect power and pace to direct the ball in the top right corner to make the score 3-3. And to top it off Fadipe got the winner in the dying seconds of the game to make it 4-3. Our form continued as we beat a good Glyn side who had reached the National cup Quarter finals a couple of years ago which is a very good achievement. another great match was against Cheam where a 9-a-side match was played as they didn't have enough players but we proved we can beat anyone in anyway as we came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3. As the season progressed Sutton remained unbeaten and with the style of football that we were playing and the way we dominated teams it seemed that we were going to go the season unbeaten. However, along came Ardingly who scraped a very lucky 3-2 victory and ended the run. Mr Blunt's style of play was questioned by a few players and he seemed to adapt his long ball and defensive style (similar to Tony Pulis) to work with our fast flowing passing game that had given us the fame that we earned throughout the years.

As always there were weather problems, but it didn't affect the season much except for maybe the change of footwear. We sat at the top of the WTSSG league but finally the District Cup quarter final came against Greenshaw and we qualified into the next round with an easy 4-1 win.

A surprise match was organised by the PE staff as the elite performers of our team were to play in a match against the First XI in which turned out to be a thrilling game however 1'st XI size and strength was too much for the Select XI (as we were called) as they grinded out a lucky 3-2 win.

As the season progressed Sutton seemed great in form but it was soon ended by a strong Wilsonns side who beat us 2-1 in a very physical game. It seemed that defeat was only just the beginning as Sutton suffered a string of games with draws and also picking up another defeat against a poor Latymer side that we should have easily beat by nine or ten goals. It was the worst time for dry patch to hit us as we had pivotal matches coming up including the District Cup semi-final against Cheam High. Too make a long story short it was a total nightmare and we got knocked out losing 2-0. It was only getting worse as we suffered a very unlucky 1-0 defeat to Hampton even though we totally domianted but it elucidated that luck wasn't in our favour. As our final league game of our season approached against Wimbledon College surely after all these years as such a formidable team under Mr Bangs, Mr Hewitt, Mr Finlinson and Mr Blunt we had to end our last game on a high but even though we came from 2 goals behind it wasn't to be ur day as we lost 3-2. An emotional speech from Mr Blunt cheered us up as we realised that this wasn't to be our lst game as a team as we had a few more District Cup games in Year 11.
We may have lost the last few games of the season but the one thing that we will never lose is our title of being called the best team of all time in SGS history. A big thanks to all the fans that turned up to the games even in a darkest of days and a big thanks to Mr Blunt who trained us Thursdays after school and managed us on a Saturday morning. There will still be many big things to come from us in the next few years and now all you can do is wait and see.

By Renny Anto

We'd like to give a big thank you to Kavi Mahendran for all of his work this year, as we bring an exclusive early publication of the Suttonian U15 B Season Review!

Player of the season: Wainwright
Top goalscorer: Wainwright (21)

U 15 B team Season Report

The first game of the season against Hampton started off with a 6-2 loss. This wasn’t a surprise; beating Hampton is just as likely as James Wainwright passing the ball. The next game, however, was a surprise. We played against the Chigwell A team as they requested not to play our A team. We lost this game 4-3 thanks to many skied attempts from Midu Loganathan. This was, thankfully, Wavey Mids’s last game as a striker for the B’s. This was, however, the start of James Wainwright’s goal-scoring dominance. The next game was against Royal Russell. We lost 5-3 with two goals coming from Wainwright and one from myself. The last game of September was against rivals Wilsons which we lost 4-2 due to some dead refereeing from their referee. 3 games in September, 3 losses.

October started off better with a 1-1 draw against Ardingly followed by our first win of the season against Kingston Grammar. We won 5-2 with a James Wainwright hat-trick, a stunner from Alex Compton and a brilliant finish by Nick Veerapen. After this, it was back to losing ways against Glyn. A 6-2 loss with goals coming from James Wainwright and somehow Midu Loganathan (what?). October finished with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss.

In November we beat St Bede’s 4-0 and then drew 3-3 in a thrilling game against rivals Wilsons. We were hugely disappointed not to get a single win against local sidemen Wilsons (even though a few of them are ‘safe’). After not having a single game in December, we moved onto the new year.

Unfortunately, I didn’t play this game for the B’s against Kings’ College as the A team was short in players so I had to fill in for them. Whilst I was enjoying winning 3-2 against Kings’ College in the A’s, the B’s drew 4-4, conceding a goal in the last minute of play. Must have been devastating. This was the first game that Zak Vick and Ricky Stallard played as a centre-back pairing. Our next game was in February against Dulwich College. We lost this game 3-1. This wasn’t our usual Zak Vick-Ricky Stallard centre-back partnership but I’m pretty sure we still would have lost with both of them.

Our next game was against Latymer. This was a very good game for Nick Veerapen who scored a brace to help us win the game 4-1.The first game of March replaced our games lesson and it was against St Pauls’. A private school who were supposed to be ballin’, but their changing rooms told us otherwise. Nevertheless, we won that game with ease (3-1) and headed onto our next game against Wimbledon College (we were meant to play Hampton but, thankfully for them, they pulled out). We were greeted by the Wimbledon road-men and Felix Turner’s friends Douye and Tyrone. Turner then turned into a snake by scoring a hat-trick against them to help us win 4-0. This was the first game that James Wainwright hadn’t scored in since the opening game of the season.

We went into the last game of the season, having not lost a single game in 2015, but like all streaks, this was to end. We lost 3-2 due to some ‘misunderstandings’ during the game against Ewell Castle. Some nutty geezer from their school also decided to start beef with Max Sinclair-Johnson, but, as a true Suttonian, he backed out, of course. Great way to end the season (!)

This was definitely one of the bad moments of the season. But everyone had their good moments: James Wainwright’s hat-trick against Kingston Grammar, Nick Veerapen’s brace against Latymer, my two assists against Chigwell, and Midu Loganathan’s name being on the team sheet for two consecutive weeks (what?). I must mention, however, that this brilliant season would not have been so great was it not for Captain Caldwell and his dad for managing us. I must also mention a thank you for Joseph Hearn for writing a few reports and filling in right-back and doing a very good job of it (a position that no-one wants to play in). Thanks to Jack Smillie and Hisham Taj for playing in goal (another position that no-one wants to play in). Also, well done to Sarangan Balakumar and Nathan Michael for playing pretty much every position on the pitch. Quick shout-out for the Vick-Stallard partnership that nearly lasted undefeated was it not for the Ewell Castle geezers.

Player of the season, as voted by the team, was James Wainwright for getting 21 goals. And no, this does not make him a better finisher than Henry Dalton-Stone. Next year will not be the same as we will play for the XI’s so hopefully most of us can get in.

COYO.

By Kavi Mahendran

If you want to see more of Kavi Mahendran, then you can re-watch his exclusive interview can be found in the Videos section of this page!

Have you got any pictures of the football team from last year? Send them in and we'd love to put them on the page!

The very last game this age group will play together came today as the B team narrowly lost to Ewell Castle School. Thanks to Affan for the last result card: 2-3

It was an emotional round of games, as this week saw the FINAL fixture the teams would play together (unless they all get into the same team in the next three years).

Hence there was a full turnout by everybody selected by Mr Blunt. The same couldn't be said for Wimbledon College, who had to borrow two or three players in both teams.

Therefore the final game as a team saw some players playing against their team-mates for 4 years. Those forced into Wimbledon's ranks may have in fact contributed to their victory in the A team, where Wimbledon College for Boys won 2-3.

The B team have a game next week, but DofE by Outspark meant that some players would miss the final fixture. The Bs ran out 4-0 winners, to ensure that they were on track for finishing on a high.

Fatigue may be kicking in as Sutton made it 3 losses in the last 8 days (4 games) as they narrowly missed out to Hampton School, in the last fixture between the teams who kicked off the year 7 season.

Today was a grim day for the team, as the As were knocked out of the district cup, in a repeat fixture of last year's final. Unfortunately the scoreline was not repeated and the result made it the second loss on the trot for "Blunty's Boys", who face a packed week of football including a tricky trip to St Paul's on Thursday to make it 4 school games in 8 days.

And the final score was actually 0-2

St Paul's School B 1 - 3 Sutton Grammar School B
MotM: Kavi Mahendran
Goalscorer(s): Wainwright, Vick, Smillie

Last Thursday gave the Year 10 B team their first chance to play a game on a Thursday afternoon; which would usually be their games lesson. The atmosphere on the stuffy coach was palpable, everyone was raring to go. Upon our arrival, we realised that this place was just as grand is its name and location suggests; it was incredibly posh. Naturally, many comparisons were being made, one being that the opposition's boots were worth more than our school's coach. We were shepherded into the away changing rooms; which smelt of urine and was tiny, we couldn't fit everyone in, and that was at a tight squeeze.
Soon, we were out on the pitch warming up. St. Paul's were being taught some complicated-looking drills by one of their many coaches, while we, including Felix Turner in his North Face jacket, were just taking shots at Hisham in goal. Mr Finlinson came over and while we stretched he decided who was playing where. Hisham Taj was in goal, across the back four (left to right) was Alex 'brontosaurus' Compton, Zak Vick, Ricky Stallard and Joseph Hearn, in midfield was James 'modelling' Wainwright, Max Baugh, Max Sinclair-Johnson and Kavi Mahendran. Up front was a quick duo of Jack Smillie and Nathan Michael. Felix Turner and Nick Veerapen started on the bench.
We won kick off, so Jack stepped up to take it with Nathan. Rather embarrassingly, we lost the ball after only a handful of seconds. It took the St. Paul's midfielders only a few passes to set their striker one-on-one with Hisham; he then calmly slotted the ball home and we were a goal down already. Dreading a humiliation to these posh boys, we upped our game. We had a few chances but, ultimately, there was just no end product. Luckily for us, Kavi smoothly slotted the ball past their left back, Jack Smillie ran on to it and knocked it across the six yard box at full stretch. Fortunately, the school's top goal scorer, James Wainwright, was there and tapped the ball into an empty net. We were back in the game! 1-1.
The rest of the first half was a fairly cagey affair, neither side had any clear-cut chances and the score remained 1-1 until half-time. Huge credits to the defence and especially Hisham for making some truly amazing saves that even David De Gea himself would have been proud of. At half-time, Mr Finlinson told us to stop showing St. Paul's so much respect and to "get more stuck in." Substitutions were made, and James was now playing as striker and Jack had moved back to left midfield.
St. Paul's are probably the most violent and aggressive school that we have ever played, ask our C team if you don't believe me. Tensions were certainly running high in the first half of the second half: there were a few filthy slide tackles, stamps and pushes being committed by members of the opposition. One boy in particular, who was the smallest on their team, tried his best to start a fight. As a result of one of the fouls, we won a free kick just outside their eighteen-yard box. Zak Vick stepped up confidently and placed it perfectly in the top of the net, the goalkeeper was stunned. We had done it, we had come from a goal down and now led by a goal: 2-1.
The game now became more open, St. Paul's were desperately pushing for that equaliser but we contained them and now the game was under our control. There were many good chances created by the likes of Nick and Kavi; however, the St. Paul's defence was not easy to break down. St. Paul's had many chances themselves to score, one of these resulted in Hisham catching the ball and quickly throwing it out to Joe on the right. Sutton were on the counter attack and soon the ball was in a good crossing position up in the right wing area, the ball was crossed in and a few people in the box attacked it, but everyone missed it. The ball found its way through to Jack, he hit it first-time and it sailed into the back of the net. Sutton were now 3-1 up!
After Sutton's third goal, we closed the game out slowly and the game ended 3-1. That was our second win of the week, and we were all eagerly anticipating the match against Hampton just two days later.

By Jack Smillie

The final Festival of Football was at the luxurious setting of St Paul's School . With pristine pitches, an adjacent boathouse, and unnervingly friendly students, we were sure for a treat against one of the most expensive schools in Europe!

This was one of the last games for the A team, and dropping down to a personal level for a moment, I can honestly say this was one of the most enjoyable games I've played. A tight contest saw the goal count move in our favour after a beautiful ball was played through to Williams, who went on the chip the ball over the out-rushing keeper. Mr Waller managed the team through this fairly even contest.
The B team won a convincing victory, though the first half was unusually devoid of masses of action.
The C game saw some grat flashes of skill and sight by the players, particularly up front, but the whole team's defensive efforts could have been improved.
There really was a rout against the Ds, with Sutton being allowed an extra man to limit the damage to only 5.
Speaking to the keeper after the Es had played, he blamed the wind and bounce for a couple of goals. Admittedly weather conditions may have been out of favour, but his team seemed hard-pressed to find other faults!

Before thanking Affan Rashid for the result cards, another big incident of the day was the mess left by some Sutton players as St. Paul's provided great hospitality in typical private-school fashion. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the school on behalf of the year group.

This week the round of games fell against The Latymer School . In what proved to be a very tight set of fixtures. Thanks to Affan Rashid for producing the result cards for the games.

The A team lost 3-1 to a very tall opposition, but some errors by key players meant the result sounds more one sided than most of the game really was.
The Bs fared better as 9 goals were scored on this cold Winter's morning!

Sutton Grammar School B 1 - 3 Dulwich College B
MotM: Max Baugh
Goalscorer(s): Wainwright

It had been three weeks since the B’s had played a match together due to the awful snowy conditions and the Select XI games but we were back against Dulwich College. None of us really remembered the game against Dulwich College last year, if we had even played them, so we didn’t know if this was a game everyone should look forward to. We welcomed ex-A team player Max Baugh into the team which did need improving after a draw against Kings College. Baugh provided that extra safety at the back. Sam Buchan-Davis also made a second appearance in the B’s after impressing in his last game. The warm-up was awful because everyone was too cold and could not be bothered to do a proper warm-up, something we would regret.

The game got underway and in the first ten seconds, we looked amazing. However, we gave the ball away and then were on the back foot. They came charging forward at every opportunity, only for their attack to be thwarted out by Max Baugh, and sometimes even Ricky Stallard playing in his newly found position as a centre-back.

Within 3 minutes, we had got an injury; Nathan Michael jumped up to head a ball but came out with a bloody nose. Nathan went off to get some help and Faiz Yuusuf came on for him. About ten minutes later, Nick Veerapen also had a nose bleed, after being punched by one of their players. His wasn’t as serious but it may be another battle scar that he can add to his face (some say he was bitten by a crocodile). We nearly conceded as well; Baugh tried to clear the ball but it deflected off of their attacker who was through on goal only for Baugh to use his incredible pace and conjured up a tackle that Sergio Ramos would be proud of.

We did get one chance towards the end of the half: Max Sinclair-Johnson was put through on goal but then he waited for support and attempted to find top goal scorer James Wainwright but his pass was poor and possession was given away. The rest of the half was dull apart from Felix Turner shouting words of encouragement from the side line. This consisted of many “ayyyyy”’s and “oiiiii”’s. Half time score, 0-0.

We made a few changes in the second half with Captain Caldwell filling in at centre-back alongside Max – ‘the Rock’ – Baugh and Felix – ‘ayyyyy’ – Turner going upfront. We started the second half poorly after Sam Buchan-Davis side footed the ball brilliantly into our net. 1-0 to Dulwich College. We tried to open up the Dulwich defence on many occasions but no one could find the pass. And then the magic happened. After ten minutes of beautiful play, Joseph Hearn passed the ball into Nick Veerapen who gloriously spread the ball out wide for Kavi Mahendran who put it through for James Wainwright to finish expertly into the bottom right corner. It was probably the best goal we scored all season. 1-1 with 16 minutes to go and we looked incredible.

Obviously, we could not carry on this amazing run of play as we conceded from a corner; I’m not sure if we were doing zonal marking or man marking but it didn’t work. 2-1 to Dulwich. We attempted to come back from this with amazing play down both wings by both wingers and full backs. Alex Compton attempted to unleash one of his lethal shots but they were blocked by the opposing defenders.

We had amazing play, but the final ball was the problem. The ball set up perfectly for Mahendran who volleyed it only for a defender to block hi [sic] yet again. Our final attack came from solid centre-back Baugh; before the game, Baugh, Stallard and Mahendran were talking about how Baugh should go for a David Luiz-esque run. He did exactly that. He took the ball from centre-back and drove all the way up the pitch only to scuff his shot. The game got worse for us as tiredness and fatigue came into play and their striker had an easy shot at goal that goalkeeper Taj could do nothing about. 3-1. We had amazing spells at the end of the game but we just could not score.

So 2015 does not seem like the year for the U15 B team with 1 draw and 1 loss in 2 games.

The A’s, however, are doing really well with 2 wins in 2. We have a goal scorer in James Wainwright (top goal scorer with 17) and we have plenty of people who can get him the pass. We also have a solid centre-back in Max Baugh (who played outstanding in this game). We just don’t have that game winning mentality.

Hopefully after half-term we can get our first win of 2015.

By Kavi Mahendran

A round of games finally came around again on a chilly Saturday morning against Dulwich College.
The A team won 1-0 after battling out a late winner, in keeping with the Premiership weekend. Mr Waller, 1st XI Manager, coached and refereed. Controversially, Mr Waller disallowed a goal by Joshua Fashoro, though photographic evidence shows that he made the correct call (see Sutton VS Dulwich photo album).
The Bs lost 1 - 3 in a lively game that saw three players recieve blows to the head. Alex Compton almost scored an audacious effort and James Wainwright kept up his push for the WTSSG Golden boot with a slick finish, though Same Buchan-Davis scored an own goal. However Nathan Michael got an elbow on the nose which could see him out for a long time.
In other news, Affan Rashid, who we are thankful to for creating these result cards, refereed the Year 7 C game against a Dulwich Year 8 team, though Sutton lost 2-3.