Union of Football Academies Season 5 Roundup

Division 1
Faversham Town claimed the UFA title for the 3rd time in their history, beating off the challenge of Relegation Fodder to top the table by 6 points having only lost four games all season. Strawberry Fields pipped Wymondham FC to third place by just a single point, resigning Wymondham to their worst finish in the UFA to date.

At the bottom of the table Queens Park Stone Age, Derry City and FC Dallas were relegated, with Linton Brown finishing 2 points clear of the relegation zone on 29 points.

• UFA Division 1 Player of the Season: Thom Bjork - for the second season running, an average rating of 7.90, including 49 goals and 6 assists from his 33 appearances for title winners Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Boot: Thom Bjork - An amazing 49 goals in 33 appearances for Faversham Town, his UFA second golden boot award.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Gloves: Saul Blanco - 15 clean sheets in 33 appearances for Wymondham FC.

Division 2
4ytry made short work of their first season in the UFA, winning the Division 2 title with a 9 point lead at the top of the table, they will be joined in Division 1 next season by The Mighty Iron and Wilbury Wanderers. Huish FC will be kicking themselves after missing out on promotion by just a single point following a final day showdown with Wilbury to decide 3rd place. A 0-0 draw was enough to see Wilbury retain 3rd spot. This is the second season in a row that Huish have Narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 1, but their young squad has time on their side yet.

• UFA Division 2 Player of the Season: Manuel Cagliano - an average rating of 7.33, including 2 goals and 14 assists from his 30 appearances for The Mighty Iron.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Boot: Rudy Ahamada - 33 goals in 33 appearances for 4ytry.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Gloves: Diego Hernandez - 19 clean sheets in 34 appearances for title winners 4ytry.

UFA Challenge Cup
Relegation Fodder met last seasons beaten finalists Hammers United in a final that got off to a slow start with both teams defenses dominating the opposition forward line. The first goal of the match came from a lightning quick counter attack, with Hammers' players commited up field for a freekick on the edge of the area, Fodder's Enrique Galvan intercepted the cross and hit a 40 yard pass upfield for an unmarked Lima Ferreira to latch onto and dispatch past Alan James in the Hammers' goal.

Relegation Fodder sealed their first Challenge Cup victory in the 82nd minute courtesy of an excellent goal from subsititute Marcelo. Following excellent work from Bernardi down the wing, Marcelo took a first time shot from just outside the penalty area smashing the ball into the far corner of the goal leaving James grasping at thin air.

UFA Super Cup
The UFA Super Cup saw this year's Challenge Cup victors Relegation Fodder attempt to defend the Super Cup they won against Wymondham last season. Meeting them in the final was Cat Vegas' Birmingham Bearded Women.

The capacity crowd only had to wait 10 minutes for a goal; Mariano Gamboa heading in from a corner kick to put the Fodder 1-0 up. Fabio Bernardi made it 2-0 shortly after the hour mark and it looked like BBW were going to be on the end of a heavy defeat at this point. On the 50 minute mark BBW thought they had pulled a goal back when Calle's deflected shot looped over Lynch in goal, but it was ruled out for offside. 10 minutes later, on 64 minutes they finally scored a deserved goal when Andre Teixeira broke the offside trap and slotted past the onrushing 'keeper.

With 15 minutes left to play BBW drew level when Mickael Forest rose above a flat footed defense to head in at the near post from a corner kick. From such a comfortable position Relegation Fodder looked in serious danger of capitulating under the pressure from BBW, however the Fodder's two star players linked up expertly to score the winning goal in the 77th minute, Teixeira's defense splitting pass to Bernardi allowing him to round the keeper and slot home experly from a tight angle for his second of the match.


UFA U19 Division 1
The UFA U19 Division 1 season saw the most amazing title battle this writer has ever seen, with a single point seperating the top five teams. Last years champion's, Relegation Fodder, defended their crown claiming the title by a single point over a chasing pack of 4 teams who all finished on 75 points -- Balls of Steel, Wandsworth Rovers, Strawberry Fields and Ariadni FC could only be seperated by goal difference after a 34 game long season. 2nd and 3rd place was only decided by +2 goal difference.

• UFA U19 Division 1 Player of the Season: Marcelo Souza Campos - an average rating of 7.52, including 33 goals and 7 assists from his 32 appearances for Wandsworth Rovers.
• UFA U19 Division 1 Golden Boot: Marcelo Souza Campos - 33 goals in 32 appearances for Wandsworth Rovers.
• UFA U19 Division 1 Golden Gloves: Davor Krajnc - 19 clean sheets in 32 appearances for Wandsworth Rovers.

Union of Football Academies Season 4 Roundup

Division 1
Wymondham FC regained the UFA title after 2 seasons in the shadow of Faversham Town, and did so in emphatic style, finishing on 88 points, 12 clear of last season's champions. Lenny Bernstein's Wandsworth Rovers were the surprise package of the season, claiming third spot with 67 points ahead of Relegation Fodder and Phantoms, both on 63.

At the bottom of the table Pompey PFC, Ragnarok FC and Tycoons Gunners found themselves a little out of their depth, managing just 9 wins between them and finishing 17 points away from safety.

• UFA Division 1 Player of the Season: Thom Bjork - an average rating of 7.61, including 47 goals and 5 assists from his 31 appearances for Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Boot: Thom Bjork - An amazing 47 goals in 31 appearances for Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Gloves: Leonardo Viera - 15 clean sheets in 30 appearances for Wandsworth Rovers.

Division 2
Hammers United FC claimed the Division 2 title with a 9 point lead at the top of the table, Waukesha 1834 and Sporting Nelson Cuevas claimed the two other promotion spots with a chasing pack of Huish FC and Team Awesome FC narrowly missing out on promotion by only 2 points.

• UFA Division 2 Player of the Season: Norbert Angyal - an average rating of 7.38, including 24 goals and 4 assists from his 27 appearances for Hillsboro'.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Boot: Danny Hoesen - 28 goals in 32 appearances for Sporting Nelson Cuevas.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Gloves: Alex Smithies - 13 clean sheets in 32 appearances for title winners Hammers United FC.

UFA Challenge Cup
Faversham Town & Hammers United met in a final that saw Division 1 runners up face Division 2 champions. Division 1 player of the season Thom Bjork underlined his excellent campaign with a hatrick to seal a second UFA League and Cup double for Faversham Town.

Two goals in 4 minutes from Bjork, just after the half hour mark saw Faversham take a commanding lead, but on the stroke of half time Danny Groves powered home a shot from the edge of the area to give the Hammers hope for the second half. Bjork effectively sealed the vitory for Faversham in the 66th minute completing a swift Faversham counter attack to claim his hatrick.

Hammers' fans may feel slighty aggrevied by the result as it was a much more closely balanced game than the scoreline woudl suggest, but with promotion to Division 1 already secured they will have their chance to avenge this defeat in the league next season.


UFA Super Cup
The UFA Super Cup saw the best teams from last season meet in this prestigous cup competition. Relegation Fodder met last season's runners up Wymondham FC in a forgetful final. Wymondham didn't manage a shot on target over the 90 minutes, and their famed rock solid defense nullified the threat of the Fodder's front 3 of Bernardi, Lima Ferreira and Teixeira.

In fact it was a defender that settled the match, with just 6 minutes left on the clock and extra time looming large substitute Sebastien Parodi, who had only been on the pitch 10 minutes, headed in a Gamboa corner to seal a victory that will be long remembered by Fodder fans, even if they'd rather forget the match itself.


UFA U19 Division 1
This season saw the UFA expand into under 19 competition for the first time and it proved to be an exciting addition to the organization. At the top of the table Relegation Fodder and The Birmingham Bearded Women fought took the title race to the final day of the season.

David Parker's Relegation Fodder went into their final two games of the season knowing they had to win both to stand a realistic chance of securing the title, but they would stillbe reliant on BBW dropping points. Their 5-1 thrashing of Phantoms and a 4-0 defeat of Faversham Town gave meant that BBW would need to claim maximum points from their final four games of the season to secure the title. A 4-0 win against Faversham Town was followed by a narrow 2-1 victory over Steaua Radoi Bucharesti, but in their penultimate game of the season Cat Vegas' team failed to break down Damaged FC's 10 man defense and their title dream was over.

• UFA U19 Division 1 Player of the Season: Fabio Bernardi - an average rating of 7.66, including 35 goals and 8 assists from his 32 appearances for champions Relegation Fodder.
• UFA U19 Division 1 Golden Boot: Fabio Bernardi - 35 goals in 32 appearances for Relegation Fodder.
• UFA U19 Division 1 Golden Gloves: Branislav Momcilovic - 16 clean sheets in 34 appearances for Wandsworth Rovers.

Union of Football Academies Season 3 Roundup

Division 1
Faversham Town retained their UFA title, emerging as clear winners in the first UFA season where the title was decided before the final day of the season, finishing 11 ahead of second placed Wymondham FC, who led the chasing pack on 63 points, narrowly beating Relegation Fodder to second place by a single point.

At the bottom of the table Metairie FC and Hammers United FC failed to stay in touch with the rest of the league. But the final relegation place was a closely fought battle between Queens Park Stone Age, Strathmore Cloggers, Bradfax City & Wizardos with only 3 points seperating them at the end. Queens Park Stone Age had survivial in their own hands when they went into their final game of the season against Derry City, but unfortunately they succombed to a 1-0 defeat, with Smederevac putting the ball into his own net to send his team crashing down into Division 2.

• UFA Division 1 Player of the Season: David N'Gog - an average rating of 7.61, including 36 goals and 6 assists from his 34 appearances for title winners Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Boot: David N'Gog - 36 goals in 34 appearances for Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Gloves: David Onana - 13 clean sheets in 34 appearances for Cardiff United.

Division 2
Spaghetti Delight claimed the Division 2 title with a hefty 8 point lead at the top of the table, Carter FC took second place by 9 points from Ann Arbor Arsenal who claimed the final promotion spot to Division 1.

At the other end of the league True Blues FC had a truly dreadful season, claiming only 7 points from their 34 games. Langdon F.C. filled the final relegation spot, trailing 16th position Stoke City FC by 6 points.

• UFA Division 2 Player of the Season: Manuel Fischer - an average rating of 7.68, including 32 goals and 2 assists from his 29 appearances for Carter FC.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Boot: Manuel Fischer - 32 goals in 29 appearances for Carter FC.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Gloves: Frank Thijssen - 15 clean sheets in 32 appearances for title winners Spaghetti Delight.

Division 3
In a close title race Perfect Mic Habbit FC won Division 3 by just 2 points ahead of Wandsworth Rovers.

• UFA Division 3 Player of the Season: Reimond Manco - an average rating of 7.42, including 13 goals and 7 assists from his 14 appearances for CF Byzantium.
• UFA Division 3 Golden Boot: Reimond Manco - 13 goals in 14 appearances for CF Byzantium.
• UFA Division 3 Golden Gloves: Saliou Traore - 7 Clean Sheets in 18 appearances for Perfect Mc Habbit FC.

UFA Challenge Cup
Cardiff United & Phantoms met in the final. The result was never in doubt in the most one sided final in the history of the UFA, with Neil Roberts' team taking a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes that they rarely looked like relinquishing. A wonderful goal from Sergio Alvarez in the 46th minute put the result beyond doubt. With 10 minutes remaining Wilson Folleco nodded home a cross at the far post to give Phantoms a glimmer of hope, but 3-1 it ended, with Cardiff United claiming their first UFA trophy.


UFA Super Cup
The inaugural UFA Super Cup saw the best teams from last season meet in this prestigous cup competition. Strawberry Fields F.C. met Wymondham FC in a dramatic final. A 21st minute penalty gave Wymondham FC an early lead which they held on to until the 67th minute when Brazilian striker Gabriel Machado headed Craig "Tweej" MacLean's team level. With extra-time looming large Wymondham FC 'keeper Rhys Taylor parried a Javes Morrison freekick straight into the path of a grateful Wellington Peca who calmly placed the ball into the back of the net to put Strawberry Fields F.C. ahead with only 2 minutes left on the clock.

Union of Football Academies Season 2 Roundup

Division 1
Newly promoted Faversham Town backed up their reputation as the best U21 team in the world by claiming the UFA Championship.

Three draws in their last six matches, including a 2-2 draw against The Birmingham Bearded Women, conceeding a late equaliser in the 83'rd minute), followed by more dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Fen Ditton in their penultimate game of the season left Faversham manager Dan Wiles knowing only 3 points against Caius IV in their final game of the season would see them leapfrog Strawberry Fields F.C. and claim the title; a match they ran out convincing 5-2 victors.

Despite eight wins and a draw in the last ten games of the season Craig MacLean saw his side finish runners up for the second successive season.

At the other end of the table things were not quite so close, with 5 points seperating the relegated trio of Rushmore Academy, Salterbeck Snails and Kavchester City from the safety of 17th place.

• UFA Division 1 Player of the Season : Aaron Ramsey - an average rating of 7.35, including 10 goals and 8 assists from his 29 appearances for title winners Faversham Town.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Boot: Maicon - 27 goals in 33 appearances for Wymondham FC.
• UFA Division 1 Golden Gloves: Francisco Santana - 14 clean sheets in 37 appearances for Strawberry Fields F.C..

Division 2
A three horse race for the title saw Bradfax City pip Cardiff United and King Krimson FC to top spot. 7 points seperated the big three from the chasing pack.

• UFA Division 2 Player of the Season: Emiliano Alfaro - an average rating of 7.61, including 20 goals and 7 assists from his 19 appearances for Bradfax City.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Boot: Emiliano Alfaro - 20 goals in 19 appearances for champions Bradfax City.
• UFA Division 2 Golden Gloves: Kenni Furbo - 13 clean sheets in 19 appearances for KS Piast Nowa Ruda.

UFA Challenge Cup
The top two teams met in an epic encounter, after going a goal down following a (dreadful mistake by Faversham's 'keeper) the league champions proved, once again, why they are the team to beat at this level with two goals in 5 minutes, including a screamer by Paulo Henrique. With only 2 minutes to go Antero Ferreira da Silva found himself in space in the penalty area and made it count.

To penalties the game went and Vito Mannone emerged as the hero, saving 2 spot kicks to seal victory for Faversham Town.