For the first time in the clubs history both teams achieved excellent success within their respective leagues, securing a Championship and Promotion.
 
1st Team
 
Hightower's 1st team followed up last seasons, runner's up spot in Division 1 West, with an equally impressive runner's up in the Premier Division. This Premier Division runner's position is worthy reward for excellent season which started so badly with a 7 nil drubbing at eventual champions Wrightchoice in September. However, the evolution of this season quickly took shape as the new players bonded to create an a unbeaten league run stretching through to March, when they were finally undone by Wrightchoice again 2nil.
 
Despite a sticky patch during Feb/March which included a 'abandonment', defeat to W'Choice & letting slip 2 nil lead to lose to Woodley Hammers, the team growth has been excellent with team and players developing in tandem and claiming their position as runners up.
 
Season highlights, including outstanding wins away at Ruscombe in September when the seeds of recovery were developing, excellent away wins at 116 Exiles, Bulmershe and the clinching win against Woodley Saints. The team also showed excellent potential in a defeat to Stevie B's in the B&B Cup 1-0 after extra time, something which shows the potential within the squad.
 
Next year will see Southbank for the first time compete in the Senior Division, yet again a new challenge we hope we can meet.
 
Reserves
 
Southbank Reserves turned the form book on it's head and turned their disappointing form of the last few years into a full on charge for promotion and league winning success in Division 3 Central.

Steve 'Budda' Booth's first season as Manager couldn't have started any better as they won the first 11 (ELEVEN) League games of the season to put themselves in the driving seat ahead of close challengers Purely Social and eventual runners up Bethel United.  Despite losing to both Bethel and Purley Social in the second half of the season the Reserves early season form, some off the field controversy involving Bethel and IBIS Res (resulting in The 'Bank being awarded 3 points and Bethel losing 3), and a fantastic last game victory over Henley YMCA was enough to see the Reserves win the league by 4 points.

With only two or three new players added to the existing squad the season proved how confidence, commitment, hard work and momentum can make a big difference at this level.

At the time of writing it's unknown as to which Division 2 the Reserves will be playing in but whichever Division it is it will mean a similar dose of commitment and hard work will be required.
 

Back