Saints gearing up for 2020/21
After a rollercoaster 2020, St Panteleimon FC are playing some pre-season friendlies now, and gearing up to the start of the new season in the Spartan South Midlands League, Division One.
The team started training over the summer when the restrictions were eased and allowed some element of group park activities and socially distanced exercises.
It seems likely that the new season will start in September, and so the coach George Frangeskou has been working hard with the players during pre-season and towards match fitness.
The way the last season concluded was a huge disappointment. The SSML decided that the whole season was to be considered “expunged”. This was a new word to most people. It means eliminated, removed, as if it never happened.
For the Saints this was a bitter bill, since they were on course to win the league title and in two cup finals – a historic treble was firmly in sight! In fact the Chairman of the League, Pat Burns, stated that as St Panteleimon were on equal top points and had two games in hand, either an average points per game award basis, or any other fair way to conclude the season, would have seen the Saints crowned as Champions and secure their 4th league title in their 5 years of existence.
Of course, football is a game, and a sense of perspective is important. The whole Saints family sends their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to anyone who has lost loved ones during this dreadful pandemic. Michael Petrou and Spiros Timotheou are two dear friends amongst many within the community that we sadly lost and shall be missed. Eternal Memory.
Matches in August were arranged with Highgate & Muswell Hill FC, Enfield Town FC and Windsor FC and the results were as follows;
St Panteleimon FC 5 – 5 Highgate & Muswell Hill
Enfield Town 2 – 3 St Panteleimon FC
Windsor FC 3 – 4 St Panteleimon FC
All Covid related guidance was observed with appropriate distancing, sanitation and no spectators. This time of year, with friendly matches, also allows the coach to test out some triallists, and bring on from fresh talent to hopefully improve an already excellent team.
The Saints will be based at a new home ground this season of Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, in Enfield, ground sharing with Enfield Town FC. A happy three year ground share at North Greenford United, allowed the team to progress up the National League Steps. They are at Step 6 now and have ambitious plans to progress in a steady way. The Club works hard to ensure community support, finances, coaches and players are all aligned.
>
> James Neophytou