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Luton Town Belles
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Club History
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2003/04
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Luton Town Belles
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| Football Association National
Charter Standard Club |
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Of The Year 2003/04
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Sir Geoff Hurst Presenting The Charter Standard
Club Of The Award
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We said that the 2002/03 season had been our most successful
season so far. Call it an old cliché, but we have to
say it again in so much as the 2003/04 season had been our most
successful season so far. The honours and accolades were coming
in even before a ball had been kicked in anger. Just before
the season started we learnt that we had been awarded The Bedfordshire
F.A. Charter Standard Club Of The Year. We then went forward
for the Regional Award. Again we were successful, and that led
to us being nominated for the National Award. On the eve of
the new season came the news that we had won the Football Association
National Charter Standard Club Of The Year. To be considered
the best in the country is something to which we were all very
proud of. It is not just about being successful on the field
of play, but just as importantly being successful, and doing
things right away from the field of play too. We have always
strived to do both, and this was our reward
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Luton Town Belles Under 10 2003/04
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Hertfordshire Girls League Under 10 League
And Cup Double Winners
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| Back Row, Katie Davis, Alexia Mouriadias,
Olivia DaCosta, Nicole Jennings, Sophie Clark, Lily Knowles, Amy
Garrett .............................. ........
.... .. Front Row, Shauna Keers, Maisie Wyatt, Tricia Gould,
Bethany Smith, Laura Pethybridge |
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On the field of play the 2003/04 season was an undoubted success,
our best season ever as far as honours were concerned. Three
league championship were won at Under 10, Under 12 (Saturday)
and Under 13. The Under 10`s and Under 13`s went on to win the
league cup to complete the double, and the Under 15`s were league
cup winners having just missed out on the league championship.
The Under 12 (Sunday) finished as runners up in both the league
and league cup. The ladies team won promotion to the Southern
Region Premier Division having finished runners up in Division
1. This hopefully will turn out to be a significant move as
we attempt to climb our way up the Women's Pyramid System
The Under 10`s swept all before them in winning the league
and cup double. They won all of their 28 matches, and scoring
198 goals and conceding just 10. They set all kinds of club
records quite naturally, notably the 198 goals that they scored.
They completed their season by beating closest rivals Tottenham
Hotspur 5-1 in the league cup final, that after going 1-0 down
early in the match
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Katie Davis scores The Under 10`s third goal
against Tottenham
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The Under 12 (Saturday) saw an "experienced" squad
under the title of "Oranges" win The Bedfordshire
League without losing a game. Meanwhile an "inexperienced"
squad under the title of "Tangerines" ended the season
in a creditable fourth position. As for the Under 12 (Sunday)
squad it was a case of so close but yet so far. They lost out
right at the death in the league championshipl. In the league
cup final it would have been little consolation to know that
they took part in match that was described as " a great
advert for girls football" when they were beaten 2-1 by
Watford
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| Luton Town BellesUnder 13`s celebrate
after winning the League Cup Final and therefore completing the
League and Cup Double |
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The Under 13`s emulated the Under 10`s feat in completing the
League and Cup Double.In doing so they suffered just one defeat
all season, that against Enfield Town. However they gained revenge
for that by beating them 2-1 in the cup final. The match they
played against Stevenage Borough on November 30th will live
long in the memory for those who were fortunate enough to see
it. With just six minutes left on the clock they trailed 4-2.
Then with what is the most remarkable comeback in the clubs
history they scored three times to win the match 5-4. That sort
of spirit typified what this team was all about. They found
a way to win matches when it did not always look on the cards.
The Under 14`s had a tough season finishing half way in the
league. There was however to promising signs that there is some
talent in this squad that will make the step up to senior football
in twelve months time. The highlight of their season would have
been the 2-1 win over Hertfordshire County Cup Winners Hitchin
Town
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League Cup Winning Captains
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| Maisie Wyatt Under 10 |
Kristina Mullen Under 13 |
Gemma Vale Under 15
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| The Under 15`s season was in many ways encapsulated
into a three week spell, and two matches against Leyton Orient.
It was between The Belles and Leyton Orient as to who would win
the championship after Cambridge United`s hopes had faltered.
In the penultimate match of the season The Belles were beaten
4-1 at home by Orient. That result gave Orient the League Championship.
Two weeks later the two teams met once again in the League Cup
Final. With twenty minutes left in the match Orient led 2-0. It
looked like there was no way back for The Belles. But then they
staged a remarkable recovery, scoring three times to win the match
3-2. The winning goal coming in the very last minute. During the
season the Under 15`s took part in a match that we believe was
a first for girls football. We were invited by Cambridge United
to play their home match at The Abbey Stadium after the mens match
against Cheltenham Town. Is this the first time that a girls match
has been part of a double header at a Football League or Premier
Division ground ? For the record the result was, Cambridge United
0 - Luton Town Belles 2 |
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Luton Town Belles Under 15 League Cup Winners
2003/04
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| Back Row, Shelley Miller, Tanya Blacksley, Lizzie
Randall, Rebecca Kane, Lauren Bishop, Alice Burbury, Janine Daly,
Fay Rolls ............ Front Row,
Chrissy Baker, Alice Middleton, Gemma Vale, Michelle Byrne, Kelly
Halsey, Natalie Forbes |
| It was a case of third time lucky for the ladies
team as they gained promotion to the Southern Region Premier Division
after narrowly missing out in the previous two seasons. They soon
overcame the disappointment of missing out in the play offs the
previous season by winning six of their first seven matches. That
set the tone for the season, in which they were never outside
the top two places all season. However a defeat at AFC Bournemouth
always looked as though it would mean The Belles would be playing
catch up, and so it proved. Third placed Portsmouth were the only
threat to the second promotion spot. However a 2-0 home win over
"Pompey" in January gave The Belles one foot in the
promotion door |
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Fay Howell scores The Belles second goal against
Portsmouth
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| When the return match was played in February a win
for The Belles would clinch promotion with a win. They duly delivered
with a 3-0 victory, and although they eventually had to settle
for the runners up position in the end it was mission accomplished.
Promotion had been achived. And now we must look forward as we
attempt to climb through the Women's Pyramid System |
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Its champagne time after clinching promotion
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So Where Do We Go From Here ?
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| Each year we ask that question. The one big thing
that is going to happen in the 2004/05 season is that for the
first time we are running a ladies reserve team. This is a very
important step, as we now have players coming out of our youth
system that need to play somewhere. So for those who wish to stay
with us this is the answer.We will also be fielding teams at every
age groupthrough the youth system, which we have never done before.
It remains to be seen if we can continue our success on the field
of play. Standards are improving, so therefore we have to raise
our standards too.One thing that is for sure as well, girls and
womens football is becoming more and more popular, and we are
just pleased to be part of that as well. |
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