Season review 2025/26

So that’s the end of the season, for Brock at least.  I sometimes wait until after the final game to post my annual review, but when does a season end?  I’m still planning on attending at least one and probably two playoff semifinals; the final next weekend; the League Cup final; the U-18s final; and even the Vase final to cheer on the Purps.  And yes, I’ll write a report from every game I get to.  But the Vase final is still four weeks away and if I don’t post my season review until then – well, it’ll be nearly Christmas!  So let’s do it now, while football is fresh in the mind of Badgers fans. 

I always start my season review with the big picture.  Top marks to AFC Stoneham, what a wonderful season.  Best team in the league by a distance, title wrapped up when they still had 6 games to play, yet another season with over 90 points and thoroughly deserving champions.  There was only one team in the league that they couldn’t beat (take a bow, Badgers!).  They’re still in three other cup competitions I believe, quite apart from the FA Vase – and all this after suffering heartbreak for the last two or three years.  No praise too high. 

For a while, it looked as though Petersfield would chase the Purps most of the way in the league, but they ran into financial trouble and fell away.  So we end up with Hamble Club v Laverstock & Ford and Portland United v Andover New Street in the playoffs.  The bunfight to secure those final two places, with no fewer than eight teams still in the mix about three weeks ago, but then it was all done before the final day, rather surprisingly. 

At the wrong end of the table, the writing was on the wall a long way from the end.  Both Wincanton and New Milton struggled from the off, and despite the occasional flicker, neither of them ever really looked likely to pull clear.  It’s a real shame for the Brickies, at least, and they’ll be hoping to rebuild and come back stronger.  The Division One title race is terrific, Fleetlands remain favourites but their last two games are both pretty tough and Follands could still pip them – and the playoffs will be any four from five.  So I have no idea who we’re going to find in our league next season, not least because at least one of that group might get moved sideways if they went up!  And of course, the relegation of Bashley, Fareham and Horndean means that we’re likely to be meeting up again with some old friends.  But again, sideways movement might come into play; something for another time. 

And so to Brock.  I was quietly optimistic before the season began, but we had a terrible start to the season, losing the first three league games and also going out of the FA Cup at Moneyfields.  Then Danny Ackland resigned and, after a brief hiatus, Steve Devlin was appointed – and the impact was pretty immediate and pretty impressive.  A couple of games to understand the squad, and then the Badgers went on a wonderful run during the Autumn, steadily moving up the table.  There was a really impressive win at Foxcotte Park (Andover New St) followed shortly after by a dominant performance at Beatrice Avenue (East Cowes Vics) which showed a squad which had started to gel.  There were home wins against both Hamble Club and AFC Stoneham, the latter from 2-0 down – and let’s not forget that these are the two teams who topped the table.  I can see still Dylan’s winner against the Purps in my mind’s eye: the single most glorious moment of the season.  All of those four performances were probably better than the two 7-0 wins, secured against Bemerton Heath Harlequins in December and then more recently, away to Hythe and Dibden.  At the turn of the year, things were looking very bright – going to games feeling confident rather than hopeful, despite the very interrupted schedule through November.  But somehow it didn’t quite happen after that, for reasons I can’t really put my finger on.  The most obvious was that goals were harder to come by (especially after Mitch went back down under, and Connor picked up his injury), maybe some teams started to work us out… it’s so easy to groan and grumble from the stands.  (I do try not to!)  Fact remains though that there were some disappointing displays; Brock lost their consistency over the last couple of months and ultimately, inevitably, the chasing pack started to win their games in hand and move past.  And all this despite an outstanding performance at Stoneham Lane, going 2-0 up including a wonder-goal from Freddie Beale, falling behind 3-2 only for Connor to level things up and then almost find a winner right at the death.  Overall, 61 points was a very good return; ninth place sounds disappointing but only 8 points off the playoffs (and 7 of those went missing against the relegated teams!).  Lots of promise, lots to build on for the future, and a great way to finish the season with a comfortable win on the island in the sunshine.  That game featured three of the most promising youngsters, too, and that’s been terrific to see as we look to the future. 

One of more bizarre things about Step 5 football is that we start the season in no fewer than six cup competitions!  We were out of three of them by the end of August (two to Southern League opposition, plus one on pens) and then well beaten in the Russell Cotes.  Semi-final of the Southampton Senior Cup was good but no cigar; quarter-final of the League Cup ditto.  If I could choose one thing for next season, it would be another proper run in the FA Vase; if Stoneham can get to Wembley, why can’t we!

So overall, a very decent season, some ups and downs along the way but lots to look forward to.   Some outstanding performances, most of which I’ve referenced above; some horror shows (away to Poppies was a particular lowlight, also the bizarre defeat at Millbrook); and the occasional moment of real joy (thinking here of Jamie’s late header against Hythe & Dibden, a thing of beauty). 

Player of the season is an invidious game: ultimately, the team wins and the team loses, and the good that anyone does is tied into what goes on around them.  But it still feels like a game I should play, at least half-heartedly.  I’m going to start by saying that lots of players can hold their heads up high and be very proud of their efforts this year, and basically everyone made a contribution at different times.  But let me pick out a few.  Marcelo, emergency centre back at Horndean in August who then found himself playing there all season, really stepping up when required.  Liam, what a superb season.  Turned 18 during the year but was probably our most reliable defender, learning all the time, deserves a mention in dispatches.  He probably doesn’t get as much praise as he should in my match reports because he’s just there, unflashy, doing the job.  Henry, unexpectedly moved to right-back where he has excelled, driving runs forward and helping Brock get up the pitch.  Freddie… ah, Freddie.  How many times have I written “just Freddie Beale doing Freddie Beale things”, twinkling feet and often the creative outlet (as well as scoring an absolute blinder at Stoneham).  I can well imagine that he’ll be named supporters’ player of the season, and I have no problem with that; he’s always the guy you want to pick up the ball and run.  And I haven’t even mentioned Dylan, top scorer and always a lively addition to the team.  But ultimately, I have decided that player of the season is a different kind of award: the player we can’t do without, the one we miss most when he’s not there.  And I have decided to pick two, because it’s my blog and you can’t stop me.  Jordi Valero has, yet again, been outstanding for Brock this year.  He spent years making miracle saves against us; finally we signed him, and he’s doing it for us instead.  His sweeper-keeper tendencies have certainly led to hearts in mouths (at least one per game!), but I wouldn’t swap him for anyone in the league.  And Toby Bailey.  On 2 December, after the mid-season friendly at Hamworthy United, I wrote this of Toby: “Never less than 100%, a second captain on the pitch, offering his “observations” to the referee – hard to overstate how important he is to this team, an incredibly intelligent player who it’s a privilege to watch every week”.  Yup, exactly that.  Too many bookings, boy! – but he’s the player you hear driving the team on.  Sets high standards for himself and others: always tries to meet those standards, often succeeds.  He only rejoined in mid-October, but a massive influence ever since.  There’s no prize for Jon’s player of the season except for a very large imaginary mango, so Jordi and Toby can share that between them. 

And finally, all that remains to say is – thank you.  To Devs, Sam, Josh and everyone on the management team.  To Matt, who keeps everything going.  To opposition committees for their friendly welcome (special mention here to Sherborne who provide the best half-time refreshments!).   To all the Badgers fans, especially those who come to away games and make it a less lonely existence – there are too many to mention and if I tried I’d miss someone out, but it’s been great having you around, thanks for your company.  To the Content Adviser, especially for playing chauffeur from Totton station during the car saga.  To the players, for a great effort: a good bunch of lads who I’m proud to be supporting.  And to you, for reading.  Keep an eye out for the final few reports (especially the u-18 final)… I’ll probably be back next season, so – to be continued!