Optimism surrounded Netherfield at the start of the season with two sides (first & reserve team) and some good ex-players returning, Manager Shaun Pates hoped his squad could build on a depressing season previous, but from as early as the clubs first friendly match, things would turn out to be very difficult, if the club would want to take two sides in to the NAA. Out went the likes of James, Adcock, Mulvany and Pongetti, in came former players Lewis Johnson and Neil Robinson with former Bassingfield defender Chris Gossling and ex Shooters full back Scott Carnelli along with Midfielder Mark Buckley, returning from a two year injury lay off, each added for the season’s opener with Boots Athletic. Despite Manager Pates down to bare bones and still trying to select two sides moments before kick off, optimism was to continue despite Albion’s thin squad, both sides won, with the first’s helping themselves to a tightly contested 2-0 victory.

A week later, Albion took on Bottesford, a side in which less than a year ago, you could hardly separate like for like with Albion. Netherfield’s over confident approach this time around doing them embarrassing harm, 4-0 down in less than twenty minutes Albion eventually trudged off the field with a 9-3 defeat. A lot of work to do, a week later and despite the signings of Richard Hatherley and more impressively former Sneinton Town winger Devon Graham, Albion were again humiliated this time at the hands of Burton Joyce 8-2.

Albion’s lack of choice in the playing department was effected by the Reserve sides lack of willingness to contribute to the first team, the Reserves, sitting at the top of their league would not send players to the firsts in case of jeopardising their own positions, against Westside, Netherfield were forced to play Manager Shaun Pates in goal, recovering from a long term injury but placed upfront was Matt Cooper, a centre half who was only to play once more outfield for the club all season due to his injury and with a bare XI Albion took to the field against a side also struggling, to narrowly lose 3-2 despite Carnelli being sent off in the opening twenty minutes.

Things were to get worse for Albion by the start of October, with the Manager on holiday Albion’s deeply thinned squad were to meet at the sponsor ‘Inn the Bank’ pub prior to kick off against Newark Flowserve in the County Cup, Albion’s failure to grab anything near the needed amount of players was an all time low in the season, as the club decided not to travel and took a heavy fine for the trouble.

How would Manager Pates react upon returning, with a tough no messing attitude, but Albion still struggled to field a squad for their next tie in the League Cup this time, Albion won in a dramatic game after extra time, 4-3 against Kirton Brickworks of the league below. Despite Cup success, six more defeats followed, Pates eventually folding his Reserve side despite them doing well in the league, Albion’s worst performance of the season coming at the hands of to be Champions Basford United, 11-1 to the then league leaders, Netherfield though were to turn a slight corner just one week later, and by December comings and goings were plenty. Out went Graham (regrettably after some good performances) to Arnold Southbank, Richard Brodsky to Nottinghamshire along with short stayers Badder, Key, Hunt, Hatherley and Newman. In came Gary Bone, a winger from Wycombe who was studying in Nottingham, Paul Linley, another winger with ability, Nathan Wolf a striker with reputation formerly of Clifton and signed from Winning Post and Mark Forman, a goalkeeper once of Culimore Athletic and latterly Hickling. Albion continued to lose their next three games over the Christmas and New Year’s period, but a dramatic improvement in performances was evident, a 4-2 loss to Vernon Villa was cheered by debut goals from Linley and Wolf, a narrow 4-3 loss by Premium was frustrating, as was a 2-4 defeat by Bottesford, where Albion struck the woodwork on three occasions. That match however, was to be the one game, which dramatically changed fortunes and the direction in which the club seemed to be heading. With Steff Carey returning to the club after a couple of season’s out, he was to bring with him striker Winston Morris and former Kimberley full back Joe Jackson. A week later Albion had seven substitutes in which two would have to miss out, in came left full back Carlton Cousin’s, former Culimore centre half Mark Foster and ex Carlton Town centre half Michael Tinkler, dramatically changing the Albion back four, Netherfield beat a Boots side after eleven straight league defeats 2-1, a change in fortunes was on the cards.

Regrettably three of the clubs most admired and well served players left from the current crop, Vice Captain and Defender Tom Creswick after nearly ten years with the club took a back seat due to family commitments, full back Matt Stone decided also to call time on his Albion career after six years and nearly 200 appearances, Stone left for Boots. Andy Merrin, legend of nearly fifteen years and over 200 goals also admitted that he would not be likely to rejoin the club in the following season, finally Chris Gossling, signed in the summer also left after being unhappy with the changes at the club.

Albion’s new look side beat Westside 7-3 but were still too far off the mark to challenge Champions elect Basford who beat Netherfield for the fifth time in two seasons convincingly again. A spirited display however saw Albion overcome Matrixgrade 4-3 at the Rec, Gary Bones sensational winner enough to turn round a 1-3 deficit. Albion left it late to clinch a point at Limekiln, very late in fact, Carlton Cousins goal the last kick of the game in a hard earned 1-1 draw. Albion’s ability to give teams head starts continued against Premium at Colwick Rectory, 2-0 down in fifteen the homeside eventually turning things round to win 5-2 and lifting themselves to their highest position since the opening weekend, seventh. With Albion’s fixture list diminishing though, a two-week layoff didn’t help against title challengers Nottinghamshire, Notts winning 3-1 in the end. A week later though Albion were back in force, in a thrilling game Albion again snatched a late goal giving them a 3-2 win over the unlucky Limekiln who again fell short against Albion on ninety. Kiln were to get their own back by leapfrogging Netherfield in the eventual table, Albion had a four week layoff before taking on Stanton Ilkeston, a wreckless performance from a side who’s season should have been over saw Netherfield heavily beaten, the return and last match of the season against Stanton, the team who eventually came second in the league, saw Albion play much better in losing 3-2, the future looking brighter for the club with a good end to the campaign, but didn’t we say this last year?

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

Notts Amateur Alliance Premier Division Table

Jason Adams 0(1)-0, Dave Badder 1-1, Gary Bone 14(1)-3, Richard Brodsky 5-0, Steven Brodsky 21(2)-5, Mark Buckley 21-11, Steff Carey 6-0, Scott Carnelli 3(1)-1, Matt Cooper 4-0, Chris Corthorn 2-0, Carlton Cousins 10-2, Tom Creswick 9(1)-0, Mark Forman 6-0, Mark Foster 7(1)-1, Adam Glenn 1-0, Chris Gossling 14-1, Devon Graham 4(1)-5, Kirk Gregory 1-0, Richard Hatherley 3(1)-0, Alex Hunt 2-0, Joe Jackson 8(2)-1, Lewis Johnson 19(1)-7, Ashley Key 1-1, Paul Linley 4(5)-2, Andy Merrin 3-0,  Stuart Morris 7-0, Winston Morris 3-4, Red Nally 2-1, Matt Newman 4-0, Shaun Pates 2-0, Danny Peacock 10(6)-0, Ben Rowson 3(2)-0, Andy Richardson 11(2)-1, Neil Robinson 3-1, Phil Schofield 4(5)-1, Matt Stone 10-1, Michael Tinkler 8(1)-0, Vinny Toulson 16(1)-1, Anthony Upton 0(1)-0, Nathan Wolf 11-7.