Bramham were edged out of collecting a trophy by County Cup winers Thirsk and a full report appears on the Match report page.

The Season:-

In early July Mick Wright and Richard Woodcock having spent much of the summer patching up the changing facilities turned their attention to putting out a team.

It looked a difficult prospect with key targets already committed elsewhere and a long winter struggle looked on the cards for the second successive year, if Bramham were to retain their place in the Premier League.

Steve Davis and James Burton were drafted in from Tadcaster and Jony Walton from Garforth and they all featured in the opening game of the season at home against Sherwood.

It is hard to imagine any team making a worse start as they found themselves 7 goals down a after just 33  minutes of the season. Strangely from that point on Bramham have never looked back, and in the second half of that disastrous opening match the seeds of what was to follow were sown.

Bramham won the next five games taking the noteable scalp of Kirk Deighton in an impressive 2 1 win at Barr Lane.

The wheels came off at Otley Rovers where on a desperate day Bramham were never properly organised and went down 6 1. Not once after that day to Bramham fail to organise!

Off the field Bramham continued to add to their squad with Marcus Stapleton, Phil Zealand, Chris Duffield and Simon Wright all being recruited in the autumn.

Eventually taking up a role at the heart of the Bramham defence, Simon Wright has been a revalation, commanding in the air and good on the ground he looks one of the  most assured central defenders in the league.

The long winter lay off did Bramham no favours and a new year fixture line up with 2 games against league leaders Kirby Malzeard followed by 3 matches with Champions Thirsk was astonishing.

Malzeard went on to lift the title, Bramham had travelled twice to play them losing 2 1 on both occasions in the league and County Cup. Hard fought games which could have gone either way.

More new recruits were drafted in with Gavin Evans and John Crawley both long term targets, eventually agreeing to a switch to Bramham. Their impact has been massive with Crawley an immense presence in midfield and Evans bringing a new dimension on the left flank. Crawleys partnership with Jonny Walton has been impressive, two players able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate their opponents.

It was good to see the return of Paul Smith from Boston Spartans, his experience and sweet left foot  have added further balance to the side, and with the absence of Steve Davis and Matty Dodsworth as the season drew to a close his presence has been very welcome.

As Bramham closed in on a top four finish the run in was given a further boost  with Nigel Hutchinson coming in at the heart of the defence and looking very assured alongside Simon Wright.

The versatile Joe Collins missing due to work committments  meant Bramham had a problem position at Right back, but it was decided to switch Barry Dodsworth to this role where he has been a revalation.

It was collins who booked Bramham a place in the League Cup final scoring a late winner against high flying Pateley Bridge.

The season closed and whilst Bramham were without a trophy, they had secured a place in the top echelons of this Premier League, run the North Riding County Cup winners close and stunned many who at the start of the season saw them as relegation fodder.

Jason Wright was once again the scourge of defences up and down the county, finishing top goal scorer in the league, but this report would not be complete without commentary on the young man who has provided so many opportunities and bagged several important goals himself, Chris Pert. He oozes quality, always has time on the ball, the characteristics of class!

Roll on July!!!!!!!!