Andy Mac's view on the team this season, player by player.

For what it is worth...

As one of the founder members of this team (back in the days of Duke of York) I thought I would shed some of my thoughts on out team, players manager etc. Some of you I have known for months, others years and some I wish I had never met.

So...

Ross 'Dracula' Parker – To sum up Ross, if Ross picked the team it would be; Ross in net, full backs - Ross, Centre halves - Ross, Ross across the midfield, Ross up front and on the bench…… defiantly not fuckin Ross otherwise he's goin home!!! A proper winging arse, Ross is always right and everyone else can fuck right off – an attitude of somebody from north of Cleveleys if I've ever seen one! Aside from all that Ross is a quality keeper and has made some brilliant saves over the course of the season. I think his performance against Fairhaven at home was his best to date, keeping us in the game. Ross has been used as a centre back during the season and has enjoyed reasonable success with his no nonsense approach.

Heather Mills – Could very well have been Heather Mills if the injury to his leg had been worse! When present, Millsy has been a safe pair of hands between the sticks. He commands his area well and is not afraid to make harsh one on one challenges. Once Mills gets back fit and playing regular he will be a massive bonus for the Excelsior.

Neil Harrop – Our marauding left back. From a defender's point of view Neil is a brilliant player to have in your team. His pace allows him to sweep the entire back four –which he has done on numerous occasions and also provides us with cover at corners and set pieces when the centre backs go up. Improves season after season and if he carries on, will nearly be as good as Ashley Cole. A tip for Neil though, save those right foot volleys for the opposite end!!

Daz 'Chopper Harris' Clarke – Veteren campaigner in the football league. Turned out for us initially as a striker but never really got the chance to prove himself. Not really sure how he came to play as our right back, but what a revelation. Extremely cool on the ball in tight situations, has built up an excellent rapport with Mercer down the right and is very good on the ground. I have even caught him challenging for aerial balls (not the washing machine variety) during recent weeks, further strengthening his credentials at right back.

Steve Mckenzie – On his day, probably one of the best centre-halves in Sunday league. Excellent in the air and fearless in the tackle. Still has the pace to recover and has a brilliant recovery tackle in his locker. The team has been unfortunate to have lost him during his spell abroad and he has struggled with some injuries but hopefully he can give us a big season next season.

Jon Evanx – Started out playing in either full-back position and filling in at centre half, Jon showed a massive improvement from the beginning of the season. Became an established centre-back in Steve's absence and rarely put a foot wrong. Became better and better in the air as the matches went on, solid in the tackle, Jon is also a very composed defender who has no problems playing the ball out of defence. It will be a big bonus when Jon is back..

Andy Mck – Reasonable season. I've struggled with niggling injuries which have affected me in matches and at training and I feel that I have not been able to show my best form. Hopefully with a summer break some of these problems will clear up and I will be able to have a better season next season. Failing that, ask Ali and young Danny if they have any YTS centre back mates we can train-up!

Steve Mercer – This has been a top season for Steve who has made that right wing position his own, in what is an extremely competitive midfield. Steve has chipped in with some important goals this season, not to mention the amount of assists he has contributed. That aside, those who have played in close proximity to Merce will know his biggest weapon…. his mouth! It has been a pleasure to watch him wind up some of the creatures we have encountered over the season. Quips about hairstyles, facial features and lack of ability are amongst his trump cards, and then… when he has whipped them up into a frenzy, BANG, he's past them like a ginger ninja raining in hell on their defence. Keep it up man!

Scholsey – Quality acquisition for the team. I still don't feel we have seen the best from him to date but he has shown glimpses of the quality he can provide. Has managed to notch up 7 goals this season which has helped the team, albeit one off Sean against Ansdell which he swears he touched! Scholsey's presence has allowed the manager to revert to a 4-5-1 formation at times which has seen Scholes slot into a holding midfield role effectively, bringing about some good results against tough opposition.

George 'Leg on a stick' Spittall – Martin Tyler once described Patrick Viera as "Gargantuan in every department" and this statement could quite easily be applied to George!! George has had a fantastic season, particularly the second half and it is no coincidence that his run of form coincided with our positive results. George does all the ugly stuff as well, putting in big tackles and vital headers all around the pitch. An aspect of George's game however, that rarely receives the praise, is his touch and passing. He rarely gives the ball away and the quality of some of his passing is exceptional.

Fiss – Our very own Captain Planet. Fiss's desire to win and passion for the game is infectious both at training and in matches – the qualities of a captain. His attitude on and off the pitch has made him a highly respected member of the team. On the pitch Fiss drives the team forward and the standard of some of his through-balls, crosses and short passing has been exceptional all season. Whenever a good passage of play is carried out on the pitch Fiss is usually at the heart of it. Fiss also has a strong defensive side to his game and time rarely goes by on the field without a robust challenge! He takes so much pleasure from a goal whether he has scored or someone else has bagged and in contrast it can take him days to get over defeats- such is the man's passion.

Dance Mat – Harshly dubbed the pretender to Carey's throne, as in his own right, Danny has forced his way into the team with some excellent performances. He has bags of ability and is probably the most skilful player in our team – sorry Ross! He can drift past defenders with ease and uses his pace to good affect in wide areas. I think I am right in saying that this is Danny's first season at open age and you can see the improvement from when he first joined us.

Dezzy Warral – I am a big fan of Daz and I believe that he has a lot to offer this team, as he has already shown in patches this season. Probably the best long-range passer in the team and has the ability to play some killer through-balls. Whilst this side of Daz's game is tip-top, too often he has been found wanting with the gritty aspects of the game. By his own admission he struggles to compete in the air and doesn't show the much needed bite in midfield that this level requires. If Daz can get to grips with that side of the game he completes the midfield package and the competition in midfield will further intensify next season.

Ali – Not too sure of his surname but what a good prospect for the future. His touch, passing and movement has put some of us to shame on the training pitch. Due to the nature of the Sunday League it has been difficult for Steve to put Ali on the pitch but when he has made an appearance he has always been able to cut it. It is up other players in the
team to help Ali mature as a player and with some of the midfielders in our team, I am sure there is much we can offer him.

Young Dan – Another member of the YTS, Danny has been restricted to one appearance so far this season. Yet in that appearance we saw qualities in the lad which have been seen by the manager and all the players which lead us to believe we have another star in the making! He dealt with tough tackles, he was very composed and calm on the ball and even managed to get a goal – which was unfortunately disallowed. Same applies to Dan, we have the players in our team that can teach Dan and help him improve.

Wazza – Having played against Wazzle twice before, I have seen both sides to this player. The first time I played him he didn't really want to know and subsequently did nothing. The second time he violated me and bagged 5 goals (Holario Downing was in net though)! He appears to be able to score, whenever he feels like it, with his trademark runs down the left and cool finishes, on his day Wazzle wouldn't be out of place at any level of Sunday league. With more motivation and aggression Waz would be bagging 50+ goals a season.

Sean Lonsdale – Sean has been at the heart of all that is good about Excelsior this season. The best performance for me by any player of this team this season was against Fairhaven away. Those defenders will still be having nightmares about that game – the levels of energy and persistence were outstanding. That game summed up why Sean is our top goal scorer this season. He has worked extremely hard and his runs, aerial ability and the mither he gives defenders have earnt him every goal. Sean took a lot of stick earlier in the season over his decision making and this is another aspect of his game that has started to improve as the season has gone on. Same again next season pal.

Steve Downing – Has had a difficult season managing the team for one reason or another but instead of ringing around for players at the death to make 11, Steve's problems have been much different. Steve has had to make tough decisions ALL season in respect of picking a starting 11. The team has a lot of big personalities and Steve has had to deal with this and to be honest has done a good job. It's all very well for us to criticise decisions and say who WE think should be playing but Steve has to carry the can for those choices. To be fair to the team, the players who have had to sit out a game or two or have found themselves on the bench have taken it reasonably well. It is easy to get frustrated as nobody wants to come down for a Sunday team and sit on the bench – but as injuries have shown us this season, that nobody is far away from the starting 11. I would like to personally thank Steve for this season, I know it has cost him financially and the time he has put in to the club is appreciated by all the team.