2000/01 was the ‘nearly’ season for Shaun Pates and his young set of players, but it took time to get going, after a busy summer of transfer activity saw the club bring in some of the finest talent ever, at Netherfield Albion Football Club. In came former Ilkeston Town winger Gary Williamson, along with the colossal centre half Gary Wright (pictured), Midfielder Mark Buckley and goalkeeper Phil Rippon who after a short unsuccessful spell at Arnold Town, rejoined the club along with former Midfield playmaker Kevin Camplin.

The new players however took time to settle, and after a good pre season, found things in the leagues second division tough going. An opening day loss at ITB was followed by defeat to McLoughlins (formerly AK Construction) who had former Albion player Lee Roberts to thank for scoring their winner. A match abandoned at Boots Athletic and a draw to Crookes Healthcare left Netherfield second from bottom after the opening month of the season. The team, however was only to get better from their on in and with the side hosting league leaders Durham Ox in October, Netherfield handed in the performance of the season. With former Notts County youth Lewis Johnson making his debut, his hat-trick on the day helped give Netherfield a comfortable 6-2 win, in which saw the excellent referee Mick Leslie on the day sending two frustrated Ox players late on.

Further emphatic wins at Hickling (10-1) and ITB, in the cup against MRA outfit Sutton Trinity (5-0), Vernon Villa, and SSR (in the league cup) was followed by defeat (to the absent Managers disgust) against an organized Woodborough United (pictured) out of the Midland Amateur Alliance in the County Cup.

A Williamson & Johnson inspired win at McLoughlins was to be marred by a New Year slip up at SSR, but another League Cup win and victories against Boots (centre half Wright heading home a hat-trick of identical headers from corners) and Crookes Healthcare, put Albion well and truly in good stead for the trophies.

A mini blip against the leagues two table proppers is still to this day looked upon as those points lost that should have won Netherfield the title. With stand in keeper Ian Wilkinson not having the best of days against Basford and Lewis Johnson leaving before the draw with hickling, Netherfield, could have been excused to be thinking their bubble had burst.

This was not to happen though, as one quality player left the club the previous week, another came in to face the return fixture at Basford, and Richard Brodsky (pictured) was bravely thrown straight in by Shaun Pates, helping himself to a goal, an inspired performance and a 9-1 victory (Ben Rowson scoring three) which got the club back on course for the title.

Elsewhere the club was going strong in the Junior League Cup, they faced promising fourth division title favourites Clifton Vale in the Quarter Finals, and were outplayed for 85 minutes against surprisingly good opponents, but a late sending off for Vales striker after verbally abusing an official left the underdogs down to ten men and although 3-1 up, Netherfield got the luck which seemed to desert them previously in the game. With three minutes remaining a cross was knocked in for Steven Brodsky to slide in seemingly a consolation, moments later and with injury time looming a throw in was flicked on and Brodsky dived in again to embark crazy touchline scenes. With extra time looming and Clifton down to ten men, Netherfield were favourites from here but with the experienced Wilkinson having other ideas, a free kick 30 seconds from time was deliberately drilled over the goalkeeper from the half way line to create outrageous bursts of joy on and off the pitch, Netherfield were through to a tough semi final tie against McLoughlins, but first had to get down from cloud nine as they faced Cotgrave in the league. With Goalkeeper Rippon, confirming injury before kick off, Manager Pates had to go in goal, and found it hard without preparation as Cotgrave stuck eight past the big man to leapfrog Netherfield in the table. That however, was to be Netherfield’s last defeat in the league, and after a run of eight games without defeat (including extra time cup semi final success), the match against Durham Ox on the 28^th April was thought to be pivotal in winning the championship.

On the morning of the game news broke through that ITB had resigned from the league, this brought Netherfield to within two points of Durham Ox (who they were also to play in the cup final four days later) and an inspired Albion outfit knew that a win would see Netherfield go top during the final weeks of the season. Another superb display (not at least by goalkeeper Phil Rippon) and a late Richard Brodsky strike, helped Netherfield to win and top the table, but days later, and without the absent Gary Wright, Ox got their own back in the Cup final, Rippon on that day done straight from the kick off whilst Netherfield were 2-1 down at half time, and needing to win their last two games against Cotgrave, the Wellow outfit pipped Netherfield in both competitions to do do the double.

Key: F-Friendly Match, L-Notts Amateur League Division Two Match, LC-Junior League Cup, CC- Notts FA Junior Section Cup. n-neutral venue, h-home, a-away.

Notts Amateur League Division Two Table

Richard Brodsky 13-4, Steven Brodsky 30(2)-12, Mark Buckley 31(1)-2,  Kevin Camplin 5(4)-3, Stef Carey 0(1)-0, Nigel Carney 1(1)-0, Tom Creswick 30-2, Paul Guy 23(4)-0, Lewis Johnson 13(1)-14, Andy Merrin 32-37, Kevin Parsons 14(8)-3, Shaun Pates 1-0, Danny Peacock 3(1)-0, Andy Richardson 2-1, Phillip Rippon 18-0, Ben Rowson 22(4)-6, Phil Schofield 1(14)-1, Danny Smith 14(3)-0, Matt Stone 26(4)-1, Ian Wilkinson 9(12)-2, Gary Williamson 29-20, Gary Wright 24(4)-9