History - 2000

The first premiership!! Its all in Coach Billsy's report below.

Club Positions

Game photos

Muddy conditions, cold Cats and Raiders in blue and red!

The first win at Trailfinders! Note the lack of modern clubhouse in the background of such photos as club stalwart Big Al Dowdall

Down at Motspur Park the Wildcats blitzed a hapless North London - the scoreboard photos tell it all!

Social Calendar

This was held at the infamous 12A, and was an extremely organised event, with proper weigh-ins, a handicapping system, and PLENTY of grog.

Coach's Report 2000

The Year 2000 saw the Wildcats finally lift the Premiership Cup aloft after trying for the past 10 years. The Year 2000 saw a number of changes at Wildcat Land and all for the better. A lot of work and effort has gone into getting the Wildcats their first Premiership, below is a list of key events and people that helped to shape the Wildcats Premiership year.

Bush Raiders

The forming by West London Wildcats of the Bush Raiders was a gamble that paid off for the Wildcats this year and was reflected in the ultimate success, the Premiership Cup, at the end of the year.

West London took the gamble to enter a second side into the competition and finished the year an unqualified success.

Through the hard work of President Neil Talbot and committee member David McAdam the Raiders were entered into the competition and recruiting started at full swing.

The Raiders leading goal kicker Justin Sanson was responsible for the name of the club in an early season meeting at the clubs major sponsor, The Walkabout at Shepherds Bush.

After following Wandsworth’s lead in the previous year West London jumped into the fold to start up a second team.

The aim the committee set at the start of the season for the Raiders was not to forfeit any games throughout the season, this, I am happy to say, was achieved.

It was with great pride that the club were able to watch the Raiders become very competitive throughout the season and finally finish in 6th position.

Wildkittens

The Wildcats netball team this year really took an active role within the club and became an important part of the club atmosphere.

The girls had a similar season to the Wildcats losing only one game before the finals kicked in. Unfortunately for the Wildkittens it was not to be grand final success as they were beaten in the penultimate match by a very good side boasting regional netball players from New Zealand.

However the girls did not let this get in the way of their celebrations, which by all accounts were a lot of fun.

Thanks must go to Tracey Waller who was roped into coaching and organising the netball team at the start of the year and did an absolutely fantastic job.
Thanks Trace.

Change of Ground

The other major change for the Wildcats this year was the move from Gunnersbury Park to Trailfinders Sports Ground at West Ealing.

While the ground was more out of the way and harder to get to, it did provide a club atmosphere that was missing at Gunnersbury Park.

While the move to the ground actually cost the club money for the season, it did provide fantastic facilities. With the new season approaching the negotiations for next year will be starting shortly with the Wildcats looking to secure a more attractive offer for the upcoming years.

Sponsorship

A drop in actual number of sponsors this year was not reflected in the total bottom dollar.

The Walkabout, Shepherds Bush was the club’s main sponsor and saw a large patronage by the boys from West London.

In addition to this Trailfinders became our second sponsor and as always Taxback were on board as usual.

Once again through the efforts of the committee the sponsorship ball was rolling before the season began.

However with two teams in the competition now the club will be looking to expand their sponsorship in the next couple of years.

Club Functions and Fundraising

Year 2000 saw the club put on a number of functions throughout the year and a number of fundraising initiatives.

Various fundraising initiatives throughout the year included the ever present raffles and merchandising run by the Treasurer Derek Shaw which continues to amaze with the different pieces of merchandising the club can engineer.

This year saw the very popular introduction of the Terry Toweling hat, the brain child of Captain Chris Schleter; Stubby Coolers introduced by Jason Smith and the Raiders jumpers which were pushed through by Ewen Hill.

All of these new pieces of merchandise were very well received by players and supporters alike and the merchandising is an integral part to the club with West London leading the way in this area.

Other fundraising initiatives as well as club functions included the annual Drinking Triathlon won this year by BARFL General Manager, Matthew Glynn; Gambling Night; Dim Sim training nights; Gentleman’s Evening; Grand Final Evening and finally the club’s biggest event, the annual end of season trip to CORFU, Greece.

Corfu 2000

The Corfu trip 2000 saw the largest contingent of Wildcats to take part in the annual end of season trip.

A total of 42 players made the trip, even if it was for about 8 or 9 hours as was the case of Dick Haines who flew to Greece for one night of fun.

This trip was supported by the players throughout the year and the club in total spent £3,500 on this trip for its players.

The only club in the competition to support so heavily an end of season trip for its players. At West London this end of season trip plays an integral part of the make up of the year.

Fund raising initiatives from the players throughout the year go towards this event and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of the players.

As this report will be made public I am unable to divulge any information regarding the trip, suffice to say it was bloody good fun.

West London Wildcats Football Report

West London played a more team orientated and dedicated style of play this year, and it was this team ethic that made the club so strong. After losing a lot of the height that was evident in the 1999 squad the Wildcats had to play a different style of football to be successful. We started the season off well with some resounding wins. The core of the club had remained after the 1999 season and the new talent that was added to the club in the off season made for a very strong squad to take the club through the year.

With the recruiting that was taking place throughout the year strongly pushed along by Matthew Glynn and Mike Billing the club managed to have over 120 players come through the doors. The Wildcats this year took a week and a half off training during the Pampolona weekend, which gave the players a much need rest. This however may have been too long, as the following game against Wandsworth saw the Wildcats humiliated in their first loss for the season. This however was not a bad thing as the players who were previously getting too confident, now saw that they would have to work to secure the spoils at the end of the year. From this point the intensity at training and work ethic of the players started to increase. The coaching staff worked the players harder and harder to ensure that the fitness of the players was the best in the League.

The Wildcats managed to secure top spot and finish minor Premiers for the season and the ever important double chance. This double chance was not needed in the second semi final against North London. In what can only be described as the perfect preparation which was followed by a near perfect performance the West London side ensured their second successive Grand Final birth with a 20 goal humiliation of North London. Two crucial coaching initiatives were brought in to help the Cats have a successful finals campaign the first was installing Shane Metz as full forward for the North London game, he proved his worth kicking a bag for the Cats. The other coaching initiative that I’m sure will become a part of the competition from now on was the zoning on kick ins. North London were unable to overcome the Cats zone and this enabled many more scoring shots for the Cats who totally dominated this area of the field.

West London went into the Grand Final as favourites and played as such, dominating the first quarter to score 4 goals all off the boot of the new full forward Shane Metz. The Cats dominated the mid-field with Wandsworth playing a rebound style of football that would eventually cost them as West London dominated possession and were willing to run and defend, unlike their Wandsworth opponents.

Click here for Grand Final photos

The second quarter saw a more even contest with the domination the Cats displayed in the centre not as evident, however still went into the half time break with a lead of just under 3 goals in ever worsening conditions.

The half time break saw the Cats with a lead that they would need to build on to be assured of taking the Cup back to West London. The players went out onto the ground in the third quarter with the half forward line targeted by the coaching staff, as an area that needed to lift and provide the team with a spark. They did not let the coaching staff down with Sam Smith and Captain Chris Schleter showing the great form they had shown throughout the year. The Wildcats again dominated the mid field as well and were able to provide good supply to the Cats forwards. The Cats took what looked like an unassailable lead going into the last quarter.

Once again the coaching staff pleaded with the players not to ease up in the final quarter and drive Wandsworth out of the contest. The final quarter became more or less an anticlimax with the game all but over after the first 10 minutes saw Wandsworth unable to breach the gap. With the final siren sounding wild celebrations ensued with the Wildcats finally doing what others had tried to do in vain for so long, bring the Cup back to West London.

In what was the most successful year ever for the Wildcats the club is now looking towards a bright future. If the hard work of the Year 2000 is continued there is no reason why the Wildcats will not be able to dominate the BARFL over the next few years.

C’MON THE CATS!!!!