Attenborough FC

03/05/25 – NSL Development Cup Final AFC 3 – 2 AFC Warriors A fantastic morning at Hucknall Town Football Club saw Attenborough top off a promising season in the best way possible, Cup Final success against old rivals AFC Warriors. Having suffered a harsh reality check away to Warriors in the final league game, Attenborough bounced back with a comprehensive victory that showcased all their talent and growing maturity. Some big players were back in the squad, all with plenty to prove, Fin Haywood, Simon Savage, Colm Keegan O’Kane and the suspended Ollie Mee all having been missing from the final league encounter and they all stepped up to the plate and added that extra bit of quality to deservedly secure a notable trophy. Manager Graham Mee was in charge for the fourth final of his long managerial career, all three previously having resulted in defeat at youth level, but he prepared his troops perfectly to peak at the right time following a three-week break since the last game...

12/04/25 – League AFC Warriors 4 – 1 AFC In complete contrast to last week, Attenborough capitulated in tame fashion faced with a trip to AFC Warriors and now may ultimately finish third for the second season running, despite looking to be in a two-horse race for the most of this campaign, which has to go down as disappointing given in so many areas the Blues appeared have improved this time around. Both away defeats this season have come on long trips to Newark and there’s no avoiding the fact that availability for these games he been poor compared to other matches, something which certainly doesn’t help, but, while our depleted squad gave their all in a narrow loss on the road to Newark and Sherwood a few weeks ago, this simply wasn’t the case this time around, some well-below par displays matched with half-hearted effort proving a recipe for disaster. A couple of well-worked goals from Warriors saw them two-up within the first quarter of the game and Attenborough did show so...

05/04/25 – League Cotgrave 0 – 7 AFC Attenborough shrugged off the disappointment of last week’s title decider with a superb performance away at Cotgrave. Despite missing star man Luke Smith and the suspended Ollie Mee, the Blues turned in an attacking display to excite the travelling fans. Having enjoyed little luck of late, two goals having been ruled out in the last couple of weeks, George Pursglove was back on the goal trail with a fantastic opener after ten minutes, volleying across the goalkeeper from just inside the area. And Pursglove soon added another assist for the season when his corner was powered home via Will Humphriss’ head. Attenborough were already three up before the half hour mark, Louis Smith’s shot falling to the feet of Lewis Caine to tap home. Louis produced a thrilling cameo from the left-hand side, ably replacing Luke and he topped of his first-half display with a stunning solo goal to make it four, skipping past several challenges before firing into t...

29/03/25 – League AFC 1 – 3 Newark and Sherwood After a season-long duel, Attenborough finally gave way in the league title race on a frustrating morning at the Strand. Missing a couple of regular players, including goalkeeper Fin Haywood and the influential Simon Savage, the hosts had their hands full against a well-stocked Newark and Sherwood squad. Graham Mee was, however, able to call upon Lewie Pearson for the first time since January and Morgan Jones bolstered the substitutes bench. Having come out marginally the worst over the two previous clashes with a well-organised Newark and Sherwood side, Attenborough set out to ensure this was a tight match with the intention to sit back, stop shots and crosses on our goal and counterattack with our talented forwards. Things started ideally for the hosts with Harry Morgan, making his first start for the Boro, immediately in the thick of things, his chest down providing George Pursglove with a chance he eventually converted on the ...

22/03/25 – League AFC 4 – 0 Red Sea FC With title rivals Newark and Sherwood recording a comprehensive win the week before, Attenborough were once more tasked with not just winning a game but also ideally doing so by as many goals as possible. Something which is easier said than done against a talented and physical Red Sea team that had already given the Blues difficult matches earlier in the season. A fast start was just what was required for the home side and an excellent pass from Lewis Caine saw Luke Smith set clean through within two minutes and he produced a confident one-touch finish to put Attenborough a goal up. This early opener rather lit the blue touch paper and set up a frantic end-to-end game that resembled more of a basketball match. Boro’s wing backs remained high and the mid-fields for both sides were extremely stretched, while the number of times early on that Attenborough were able to get themselves into attacks with spare men available really should have see...

 

08/03/25 – Dev Cup Semi-Final Cotgrave 1 – 2 AFC Attenborough had seen off Cotgrave with something to spare at home in the league just seven days earlier, but things are never straightforward when it comes to knock-out football and, with a prize of a spot in the final up for grabs, it resulted in a nervy affair at the Cotgrave Welfare Club. Graham Mee switched back to the 4-4-2 formation that had served the team well at times this year, with the returning George Cuesta-Sarris adding another string to his bow by undertaking the holding mid-field role. However, the visitors were slow to get going and within the first ten minutes Cotgrave were ahead after Fin Haywood was caught in no man’s land and Shaun Tunaly expertly lobbed in. Just seconds later Attenborough had the chance to level, but George Pursglove missed the target from twelve yards with the goalkeeper out of position. It soon developed into a frustrating half of football for the Blues, with the hosts managing their lead...

01/03/05 – League AFC 5 – 1 Cotgrave Attenborough were quickly back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Cotgrave on a sunny morning at The Strand. Following last week’s narrow defeat to the league leaders, the home side were boosted by the return of Simon Savage and Louis Smith to the squad and the manager elected to revert to three at the back, with Reece Caine stepping into the holding mid-fielder position. After a scrappy first few minutes, Attenborough found their feet and it always felt like they were in command of this game once Brad Greatorex had broken the deadlock with a good finish from the edge of the box, the hosts then doubling their advantage only two minutes later with a well-worked goal expertly finished off by Luke Smith after a clever ball through by George Pursglove. It felt like the game had been wrapped up shortly before half time when Pursglove’s corner crept over the line to make it 3-nil. However, just seconds later Reece Cyrek skewed a cro...

22/02/25 - League Newark and Sherwood 2 – 1 AFC Attenborough’s availability issues finally caught up with them in Saturday’s top of the table clash away at Newark and Sherwood, but only after a game effort from the squad of twelve that made the long trip to Lincolnshire. Three of the squad from the previous week’s excellent victory were missing this time, including the important Simon Savage which left a huge void to fill in defence. Graham Mee was able to make a last-minute signing of forward Harry Morgan to ensure we had an option off the bench, while the versatile Lakshay Sharma was tasked with filling in at right back. Like us, the hosts hadn’t dropped a point since the opening day 3-3 draw between the sides and these remaining two head-to-head clashes had the feel of title deciders. It was clear Attenborough were up against it given the lack of options to manager Mee, not necessarily in terms of ability, but certainly numerically, the home side having a fully stocked ben...

15/02/25 – League AFC 3 – 1 AFC Warriors Attenborough returned to league action at The Strand up against one of the three main title challengers and came out on top in a fiercely competitive clash. Once more the home side had a whole host of injury issues but were blessed with the return of George Pursglove up front, while Alex Lawrence filled in for Fin Haywood in goal. On a muddy pitch it was clear right from the off that this was going to be a severe test of character for both sides and Attenborough started strongly with some excellent link up play down the right-hand side, Simon Savage and Lakshay Sharma both using their pace to good effect. The opening goal set the tone for the rest of the match, Lewis Caine thundering in a near-post header from a corner after 17 minutes to give the home side the lead. The Blues kept up the pressure and could have doubled their advantage shortly after, some good work between Luke Smith and Pursglove laying a golden chance on a plate for Sh...

08/02/25 – Cup Linby Colliery 3 – 3 AFC The last game of the group stage of the Development Cup saw Attenborough travel to Linby needing just a draw to qualify for the semi-final, but once more they were forced to do so with a numerically depleted squad, George Pursglove’s needless red card the week before rendering him suspended and leaving us without our main producer of goals and assists. Lakshay Sharma was tasked with filling Pursglove’s boots up top and the talented pair of Simon Savage and Colm Keegan-O’Kane returned to the side to add some quality in the wide areas. The Blues started fast and some excellent wing play from Keegan-O’Kane created an early opportunity for Sharma, but the enthusiastic forward was caught out by the bounce of the ball and spurned a great chance to put us in front. It didn’t take long for him to gain redemption, though, and, after a quality cross from Riley Billson had caused havoc in the Linby backline, Sharma was once more in the right place a...

01/02/25 – League RED SEA FC 1 – 4 AFC With several injuries in the camp and a couple of others unavailable for various reasons, Attenborough begun the second half of their league campaign short on numbers and faced with a difficult trip to Vernon Park. Having needed luck on our side when beating Red Sea FC with a full squad shortly before Christmas, this tricky fixture had the potential to derail any title ambitions. In from the cold came Saul Riley at left back, while manager Graham Mee had managed to rush through the signing of Lewis Sanderson just in time for the game to ensure we had an option from the bench. A 4-4-2 formation fitted the available players best with the emphasis on a rigid shape when we didn’t have the ball, ensuring the pacey Red Sea FC forwards were unable to get space to run at our defence. While attacking responsibilities were left largely down to the wingers and Brad Greatorex to feed George Pursglove. A frantic start to the game saw Attenborough ahe...

18/01/25 – Junior Cup Quarter-Final AFC 1 – 3 TRENT VINEYARD FC After the best part of a month off over the festive period, Attenborough were thrown straight into the intensity of a quarter-final match against opposition from the league above and fell short in a frustrating afternoon at The Strand. Freezing temperatures had seen last week’s planned reappearance and preparation match for this big clash called off and it is testament to the efforts of the ground staff that the pitch was fit to play at all. However, that lack of an outing certainly caught the inexperienced home side out up against canny visitors. While Trent Vineyard had struggled in their league campaign so far this season, they proved robust opposition in a first half of few chances, the best of which undoubtedly came when Lewis Caine was felled in the penalty area after some quick feet drew a late tackle, on this occasion, however, the skipper was wide of the mark from the spot and the sides went in level at the ...

21/12/24 – League Red Sea FC 1 – 2 AFC Having enjoyed a sheltered existence at The Strand over the last couple of months, Attenborough ended their unfeasibly long run of home games with a daunting trip to face improving Red Sea FC at Vernon Park and it was to prove a serious test of character for the squad. After two large steaming dog turds had been removed from the pitch and several ankle-deep holes filled in, we were ready for kick off. A couple of regulars were missing from the squad this week, but Graham Mee had the important Simon Savage back available and new signing Colm Keegan-O’Kane also made the bench. It is fair to say the difference between The Strand and Vernon Park is big. Our neat and well-manicured home pitch is a fancy Tapas meal compared to the wide expanses of the badly-packed donner kebab that stretched out in front of us. Could we stomach it at 10.30 on a Saturday morning? This wasn’t a classic, conditions never likely to make playing good football easy,...

14/12/24 - Development Cup AFC 4 - 3 Pegasus FC Pantomime season well and truly arrived at The Strand on Saturday morning as Graham Mee's troupe went through their full repertoire of farce during Act 1 of the Cup game with Pegasus FC. Having played each other regularly over the last couple of years, Pegasus had devised an excellent game plan to nullify our lead actors in mid-field and up front, not to mention the amount of pace they filled their attack with to terrify our ugly sisters at the back. After fluffing our lines right from the first kick off, Attenborough were on the back foot throughout the opening ten minutes and, while the soft and slippy pitch wasn't easy, Reece Caine was more Cucurella than Cinderella as he floundered around in desperate need of a costume change for a more suitable pair of footwear. Sadly, with no back up soft ground boots available he had to continue in his glass slippers. It only took thirteen minutes for the away team to take the lead and cont...

We face higher-league opposition, Trent Vineyard FC, in the quarter final of the Junior Cup.  The tie takes place on Saturday 25th January at The Strand and will be an afternoon kick off (date subject to change)

30/11/24 - League  AFC 6 - 1 West Bridgford  Attenborough made it nine wins in a row in all competitions with a familiar home display. After a scrappy first half hour which saw the visitors bang up for the challenge of taking on the league leaders, Boro conceded the first goal of the game for the fourth time on the bounce as a good move down the right from West Bridgford was swept home. Graham Mee wasted no time in bringing on a couple of subs to liven things up and five minutes before half-time parity was restored after an intelligent header from Lewis Caine was tapped home by George Cuesta-Sarris. George had done little wrong to lose his starting slot and produced a typically industrious display off the bench to emphasise Attenborough's strength in depth.  Just before the break a vicious in-swinging corner looked sure to put the away side back in front only for Luke Smith to produce a stunning goal-line clearance, this served warning that the Blues were not out of the w...

 Ahead of our return to league action at The Strand this coming Saturday (10.30 am) here is an update on Goal Contributions to date.

 16/11/24 - Development Cup  AFC 5 - 2 Red Sea FC After a week off, Attenborough started their campaign in the Development Cup group stage at home to Red Sea FC, a club formed in the last couple of years and made up of refugee and migrant communities from Eritrea and Sudan.  Red Sea's results had picked up in recent weeks and they came out the blocks full of enthusiasm and forced a controversial early goal. The ball appeared out of play down their left flank but the visitors played to the whistle and put a good ball into the box for Ashraf Abdallah to fire home after just four minutes. Familiar territory for Attenborough, this the third game in a row they'd fallen behind within the first ten, but they typically responded well and were in front before the end of the quarter, Will Humphriss converting a close-range headed chance from a corner before George Pursglove had the freedom of Broxtowe to fire the Blues into the lead.  Attenborough, supported by a season-high c...

  02/11/24 - League AFC 5 – 3 South Notts AFC Returning to league action on the back of seven straight wins in all competitions against a side yet to get a point on the board, it seemed hard to envisage anything but a comfortable home victory, but, as is the way of football, Attenborough were handed a real chastening in the first half by a South Notts side that upped their game in pursuit of what would be a memorable victory against the league leaders. It took just three minutes for the visitors to open the scoring, South Notts pouncing on a heavy touch by Jack Brownbill and freeing Takunda Mundirwa, who finished expertly to silence the home supporters. Despite George Pursglove’s classy finish to equalise shortly after, Attenborough never settled at any stage in the first half and our previously solid defence was subjected to its firmest test yet by some excellent direct play by the spirited away side. Indeed, on the half hour mark a firm free kick from Felix Alexa proved t...