THE current season is proving to be a difficult one for Keynsham Town’s young team as they find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle in the Toolstation Western League Division One.
However, November saw what will hopefully be a turnaround in the team’s fortunes with two much-needed wins in a week.
A convincing second-half performance at home to Cheddar led them to a 4-0 victory, which was then followed by the weirdest five days I think anyone connected with football can remember!
Firstly, the Ks hosted Shirehampton in the Les Phillips Cup on a cold Tuesday night and somehow contrived to turn a 3-0 lead after a scintillating first half into an embarrassing 9-4 defeat.
But they bounced back with aplomb the following Saturday when they played Shire again in the league. Despite worried looks from the Ks faithful when Shire once again reduced the Ks’ lead to 4-3 early in the second half (Keynsham’s supporters must have thought “here we go again”), the Ks stepped up a gear to go on to record an impressive 7-3 win.
Keynsham still have a couple of games in hand on clubs around them, and Ks secretary Jules French said: ”It is important that everyone, from our committee to our supporters, get behind Ash, Marv and the lads to help us get to where we want to be”.
Off the field, the committee are delighted to announce that Martin Parfrey has stepped up as acting chairman.
Martin has years of business and IT experience that are already proving to be a great asset to the club, with improvements in our social media and match programme.
Martin said: “At our last committee meeting, I was asked to stand in for our chairman Phil Gane, who is off to Australia for three months to see his family. I was delighted and honoured to be asked to fill the role, and I look forward to continuing in helping Keynsham Town FC in the coming months.
“May I also take the opportunity to wish Phil a safe journey and hope that he has a fabulous time with his family over the festive season, and we look forward to his safe return in 2024”.
This year the club is once again entering a tree in the Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s Church, Keynsham, from December 8 to 10. This is a celebration of everything good about our town and the role the club plays in our community, with football teams from the juniors at age five to their walking football section for those aged 50 to 70 and over.
Back on the field, the Ks reserves have shown real improvement after a difficult start to their Uhlsport Somerset County Premier Division campaign.
With several players returning from lengthy injuries, the team now sit in a healthy upper mid-table position.
The Ks ladies are also showing an improving trend in the FA Women’s Division One South-West. They currently lie sixth in the table with four wins from eight games, and are also still in the Women’s FA Cup.
There’s plenty of football for both the men’s and ladies’ sections to look forward to at Crown Fields in December:
Saturday December 2: Men’s first team v Middlezoy Rovers, 3pm
Saturday December 9: Men’s reserves v Clutton, 3pm
Saturday December 16: Men’s first team v Gillingham Town, 3pm
Sunday December 17: Ladies’ first team v AFC Bournemouth, 2pm
Boxing Day: Men’s first team v Brislington, 3pm
Saturday December 30: Men’s reserves v Chard Town, 3pm
Pictured, Jake Wilson has grown in stature after taking on the captaincy
Twin victories bring hope to Keynsham Town FC
