AFC Totton
WHILE THE FOOTBALL SEASON may already be over for the vast majority of non-league clubs, AFC Totton had to find time between important cup matches to squeeze in their annual awards presentation, held in the Monarch Suite at the Snows Stadium on Sunday evening.
Held as a relatively low-key affair among players, sponsors and club officials, it’s fair to say that the mood was somewhat subdued following recent disappointments on the pitch in the finals of both the Southern League Premier Division South Play-Off and the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup.
However, having finished as Runners-Up in their Step 3 division, the players deserved to be recognised for taking AFC Totton to its highest ever league finish in the entire 138-year history of the club, with the SDFA Southampton Senior Cup still there to be won for a third consecutive season.
As Manager Jimmy Ball said to the assembled guests:
“It says something about the standards we have set for ourselves at this club that we have finished clear Runners-Up in a league that nobody expected us to win at the start of the season, scored the most goals, lost the fewest number of games, and we’ve still potentially got another cup final on the way… and we’re still not happy!
“But it’s not lost on me how much these players have given for me, this season. All those times they’ve risked their limbs getting broken, or taking a whack in the face or in the head, putting their bodies on the line to win important tackles or stop opposition players – they’ve really given me everything and I couldn’t be any more grateful or any prouder of this fantastic group of players.
“I’m gutted at how things worked out over the last week because I honestly believe that this squad is the best group of players in this division, and over the course of the season, we deserved to go up and to play at a higher level next season. The players haven’t got their just rewards but we’ll use this experience, channel it and use it as fuel to drive us to success next year.
“For now, though, let’s enjoy this evening and take stock on what was still a very impressive season, and recognise those players who have really excelled themselves over the piece.”
SILVER MEDALISTS: AFC Totton receive their medals for finishing Runners-Up in the Southern League Premier Division South 2023/24.
THE FIRST PRESENTATION of the evening saw the whole squad receive their medals for finishing Runners-Up in the Southern League Premier Division South 2023/24.
The Stags ended the 42-game regular season with 23 wins, 12 draws and 7 losses – one fewer defeat than Champions Chesham United. They were also the top scorers with 89 goals, four more than the next best, Merthyr Town. Their defensive record of 45 goals against was bettered only by Gosport Borough, who conceded 43 times.
Totton’s biggest league wins of the season were the 6-0 away victory at Winchester City on 19 August, and the 7-1 home success against bottom-of-the-table Didcot Town on 25 October.
Tony Lee, who only re-joined the club in mid-February, notched 14 league goals, including his stunning free-kick against Bracknell Town in the Play-Off Semi-Final and his headed goal against Salisbury in the Final. Added to the 14 goals he had already scored for Poole Town in the first half of the season, Lee finished the season as the division’s third top scorer, behind Ricardo Rees of Merthyr Town with 36 goals, and Ricardo German of Chesham United on 31. Scott Rendell tied for fourth place with Conor McDonagh of Hungerford Town, with 24 goals each.
Navigate to:
- Introduction; Squad receive medals for finishing SLPDS Runners-Up 2023/24 (this page)
- Player Sponsors presentations
- New Inductees to the 100 Club
- Club Person of the Year 2023/24
- Supporters’ Player of the Year 2023/24
- Media Team & Directors’ Player of the Year 2023/24
- Manager’s Player of the Year 2023/24
- Players’ Player of the Year 2023/24
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Images courtesy of Tom McKenzie
