January 2nd, 2012
Webmaster
Following the official farewell of longstanding club servant Jackie Johnson last month, the Bristol Athletic board have today announced the resignation of the Sunday side from the Bristol Regional Premier League.
In the email club Chairman Patrick Hart cited a variety of reasons for the resignation including lack of suitable facilities, poor player turnout and finance. He said today
“ It really has been a double blow to the club with the loss of our most loyal servant Jackie Johnson who had become such an important part of our club and part of our family. We will be eternally grateful for her longstanding dedication to a club that has supported so many young people through various stages of their lives, without Jackie we would never have been able to do that. Her ill health has meant a move closer to her family in Kent and we wish her well, now with todays announcement it does feel strange as we started as a Sunday morning side with a degree of success with promotions, league titles and a league cup, but we’ve done our job in paving the way for more multi faith and mix race sides to enter the league and also highlighted very well the continued need for equality in local football”
The loss of the regional Sunday side does NOT affect the Saturday Suburban Prem set up nor the Under 18′s who are registered separately.
The old Vets side will now be called the BAFC Casuals, giving the opportunity to the handful of players left who won’t get a a game elsewhere to play once a month.
December 20th, 2011
Webmaster
This Friday night Bristol Athletic FC will celebrate Christmas but also say goodbye to jackie Johnson who has moved to Orpington in Kent but will be there to say goodbye !
The event is at Papa’sLounge (underneath La Grotta) on Friday 23rd Dec from 7.30pm.
November 14th, 2011
Webmaster
Following last weeks encouraging performance from the Saturday side, this weeks opposition decided to pull out at the eleventh hour handing all 3 points to our boys.
Meanwhile both the Sunday Prem side (0-2) and the Under 18′s (7 – 3) both slumped to 2nd successive defeats.
November 7th, 2011
Webmaster
This weekend saw three out of the four Bristol Athletic sides in action (Vets called off) with all three teams playing their top of the table sides.
1st up were the Bristol Athletic Saturday side still without a number of key players including Simon Smart (knee) , Ricky Newton (hamstring) Leandro Smith (Ankle) and Max Jones ( Ankle). Easton Cowboys Suburbia had been runaway leaders at the top of the Suburban Prem 2 and Athletic needed a disciplined performance to stop their fine form. In fact Athletic could have won the game after a string of chances late on and a dubious offside decision after Marcus Smith had netted from A Kanwarpreet Singh Cross. Man of the Match Ben “Harry” Serle ended up in hospital with a broken finger whilst the opposition could only applaud the Athletic lads after the match saying “We were the best side they’d faced all season”
The following day BAFC Sunday took on All Saints who were sitting at the top of the table with maximum points and had conceded just 1 goal !. It was a tough call but Athletic battled hard despite a furious BAFC management team who witnessed keeper Chris Prewitt off after just 7 minutes with his knee sliced open (8 stitches) plus a number of what could only be described as ” leg breaking tackles” scissor tackles, lunging tackles with studs leading & showing were the order of the morning & despite the early setbacks went in 1 – 0 down at half time only to equalize 10 minutes into the second half through Martin Brock from a Kanwarpreet Singh cross. The score ended 4 -1 to the home side but that result really didn’t tell it all. (we would say that) but ask the opposition who were given a real good game. After the match Chairman Patrick Hart said “ Freedom of speech is a right in this country but not when it comes to commenting on the performance of a referee in a football match, so I’ll just compliment the hard work & bravery from my side”
The last game of the weekend saw our Under 18′s team face an unbeaten Yate side in a top of the table clash at Soundwell. It was apparent why Yate were as yet unbeaten but Bristol Athletic had the players to get a win, however a lack of fluidity in their play, some terribly lacklustre performances and the surprising substitution of their in form striker Isaac Kahar (8 goals in three games) meant that they played the last 20 minutes chasing the game after Yate were awarded a penalty that they duly converted to lead 2-1 and eventually gain all the points.
It was the Under 18′s sides first defeat of the season and will hopefully provide a learning curve for all involved.
October 31st, 2011
Webmaster
Bristol Athletic talisman Ricky “Shrek” Newton was amongst the scorers again as he played despite a hamstring injury to spur on the Bristol Athletic saturday side to a 3 – 0 victory away to St Aldelms in Prem 2 of the Bristol & Suburban league.
The other goals came from Kanwarpreet Singh & Shah Singh .
Athletic are still without former captain Simon Smart (Knee) and were also missing their regular keeper , centre back Max Jones ,midfielder Leandro Smith & striker Marcus Smith however joint manager Robbie Collins said he was “pleased” with the performance despite the lack of players.
With the BAFC Under 18′s continuing their great run with a 4 -2 Cup victory over Kingswood, it looks as though some of their players may well be called up to the senior Saturday squad. Chairman Pat Hart said “ Part of building a club like ours is to provide experience and opportunities for our younger players, we cannot just look at each team as a separate club, Bristol Athletics current 1st team squad are dominated by players who came from our U18′s 3 years ago and they were sometimes playing two matches in a weekend. We must give them the opportunity to experience mens football at a good level which will help them in their Under 18′s football.”
Isaac Kahar continued his incredible scoring run with a brace against an over physical kingswood side who were leading 2 – 0 at one stage. however a determined fightback and real resolve in intimidating circumstances saw the boys through with further goals from Omar James and winger Kieran Sargent.
Bafc Vets went down 5 – 8 at home in a thrilling first game of the season. On target for BAFC were Robbie Collins, Robbie Clarke, Martin Brock, Lee Rankin (Pen) and Jay Belling.
October 24th, 2011
Webmaster
Bristol Athetic’s youngsters set the standard again this weekend with a fine performance at home against Thornbury. An Isaac Kahar hatrick, Ryan Jones strike and an absolute cracker from Adao Hart was enough to keep the youngsters at the top of the table whilst Athletics flagship Saturday side were crushed 8-0 away to Stoke Gifford.
October 17th, 2011
Webmaster
Bristol Athletic Sunday 4 – 0 Lazz FC
Bristol Athletic U18′s 6 – 1 Bishopston
The weekend saw two great results for Athletic as both the Sunday Prem side & U18’s gained victories . Kankard Singh got a brace with Kelvin Williams & Shah Singh chipping in to give the Prem boys a much needed 4 – 0 victory over Lazz FC. Then Isaac Kahar netted a 2nd half hatrick to give the BAFC U18’s a 6 – 1 victory over Bishopston. Other scorers were Kieran Sargent, Ryan Jones & Owain Joslin.
October 10th, 2011
Webmaster
BAFC talisman Ricky Shrek Newton returned to the Bafc Saturday side to get the only goal against Whitchurch to earn the lads their 1st 3 points of the season !
But on Sunday it was a different story as the Prem side slumped to a 3-6 home defeat against the bottom of the table side. Key players Kanwarpreet Singh, Moby & Shah Singh were absent after a late night out in a city club where according to our sources Kanwarpreet was carried out after being sick !
October 3rd, 2011
Webmaster
Following the chairmans appeal several veteran players have volunteered to help keep the side going this season, mainly to ensure they all get a game now and then!
So fixtures are being sorted by Paul Barnett, who will also act as treasurer. Jackie will coordinate pitch bookings with matches being played this season at King George V playing fields in Downend, and at BAWA.
Other roles to be filled include web editor, first aider, kit person and keeper of the balls.
So get ready for a glut of fixtures between now and Xmas; clean off those boots now.
All fixtures and results will appear on this site in the new twitter section, and also if you want to be on the text group for fixture details, contact Barney on 07557774254
October 3rd, 2011
Webmaster
Sunday 2nd October 2011
Bristol Athletics newly formed under 18′s side were again the silver lining in the clubs cloud as the senior Sunday team lost 3-1 to Lebeq earlier in the day.
Wotten Rovers were on the receiving end of what can only be described as a complete rout as the Athletic youngsters (without a number of 1st team regulars) slammed 16 past Wotten. Kieran Sarget hit seven whilst Adao Hart gained a hatrick. Full match report will appear hear later in the week.
Well done boys !
