After a dramatic climax to the Western Counties Floodlight League Youth League last week, Clevedon Town Under 18’s clinched the title with a last game win at Welton Rovers.

Sadly for The Seasiders, league officials had expected title rivals Weston to win and took the trophy to their game at Portishead, so Clevedon had to wait to finally get their hands on the cup in a special presentation at the Everyone Active Hand Stadium last Tuesday.

Under 18’s Manager Lee Archer was joined by first team manager Alex White in congratulating the players before they were presented with the Trophy by League Secretary Richard Sloane and Chairman Les Jordan.

Richard Sloane said Clevedon were deserved winners in the closest title race for years which recognised the club’s positive encouragement of Under 18 football as shown by first team manager Alex White’s attendance on the night.

He said this fully reflected the ethos of the league to provide a pathway for young players to develop their football careers.

North Somerset Times: Team captain Sol Kent being awarded the league trophy by Richard Sloane (left)Team captain Sol Kent being awarded the league trophy by Richard Sloane (left) (Image: pitchero.com/clubs/clevedontown)

The title winning season was built around the best defence in the league which smashed the club record for conceding the fewest goals in a league season.

This year’s under 18’s squad only 10 conceded goals in 16 games beating the previous best of 11 in 14 games by the 2003/04 league winning Seasiders team. 

The title win was all the more remarkable as the team lost eleven players with injuries throughout the season, the most serious being Alex Taylor’s broken leg and broken ankles to George Bellis and Ronnie Johnston-Allen.

Keepers Zach Ford and Luca Bushell also picked up injuries, whilst a number of other key players were sidelined for numerous games throughout the season.

Under 18 Manager Lee Archer said afterwards: “I’m really pleased for the lads because they’ve put in so much hard work.

“When I came in, we had only a handful of second years remaining from the previous season, and we had to build a new squad with mostly 16-year-olds who were well supported by Sol Kent, Sam Germain and James Tait.

“When you build a new squad, it takes time for players to bed in so what was most pleasing was to see them not only developing as footballers but turning from kids into young men so quickly.   

“Realistically we’re a year ahead of where we thought we’d be, but I think it will set them in good stead and give them the confidence to build on it.”

“So, if we’re going to top this season, we’ve got to be looking at a league and cup double and it would be nice to have a decent run in the FA Youth Cup. We might not get Manchester City again like 2018 but a game against a league club would be a good test!”