Christian league winners are in seventh heaven
Witard Road Baptist Church men’s football team were in seventh heaven after beating UEA Wanderers in their final league match to clinch the Norfolk Christian Football League title on Saturday, May 17.
Needing three points from their last game to clinch the league title on goal difference, they did it in style, winning 7-0 against a gallant UEA Wanderers team. Hat tricks from Ben Lewis and Aaron Kay, and one from Kyle Appleton saw the smiles gradually fade from the faces of the watching Proclaimers team, who finished runners-up.
Both teams finished on 51 points, with Witard Road having a goal difference of +62 against +51 for Proclaimers, who performed very creditably in only their second year in the League.
Witard Road manager Mike Culwick said: “We would like to dedicate this season to our friend John Sewell who died 19 months ago, aged 18. The lads are now looking forward to next season to try and win the Bishop’s Cup which has so far eluded them. Winning the plate finals in their first and second season in the League and now the League title in their fourth is a great achievement for a team with the majority still under 21.”
 Witard Road football club was started by Mike Culwick about nine years ago with lads from Thorpe, but his desire was to start a team from the Heartsease estate. Handing over his Thorpe contingent to Jim Green to start Vineyard youth, Mike then soon found enough lads and in three eventful seasons collected a 5-a-side trophy, two runners-up and an under-16 cup win. With Paul Rendell and a few young Christians from the Baptist church, they entered the adult league.
Mike said: “Myself and Paul see this collection of young men not just as a football team but more of an extended family. Enjoyment of playing and being together in this league is more important than any silverware. If that changes, then it’s time to rethink our motives for turning out on Saturday mornings.
“As I once told the teams before a game: ‘If you think you will not be in church this weekend you are wrong. Standing here in the middle of a football pitch, you are in church, because God is here with his people,’ and that is all that matters to us as managers.”
The trophy was presented to Witard Road by League chairman Pete Loughborough, watched by a crowd of around 30.
The final events of the season will be five-a-side tournaments for youth teams on Saturday June 7 and for adult teams on June 14, both at Towers Field, Sale Road, Heartsease. The adult competition is for the John Sewell Charity Cup, starts at 11am and will support the East Norwich Youth Project. For more details, contact Mike Culwick on 01603449852 mobile 07769670327 or 07989537997 or email: m.culwick1@ntlworld.com
Plea for new league secretary and treasurer
The Christian Football League League holds its AGM on June 19 at 8pm at Surrey Chapel. It is appealing for new committee members and in particular for a League Secretary following after long-standing committee member Rob Varley has stepped down after many years of sterling work. Also for someone who can take on the very important treasurer role.
Other positions which need filling are: Chairman, Vice-chairman, Fixtures Secretary (Youth), Fixtures Secretary (Men’s), Referees Secretary (Men’s), Child Protection Officer, Results Secretary.
For more information, or to discuss any positions, please contact current league chairman, Pete Loughborough at Pete@C-Scape.co.uk
| 