AFA Record - November 2003

The report below was originally published in the November 2003 issue of the AFA Record.

As ever, the London Legal League starts and ends its season earlier than any AFA league, and generally not victim to the vagaries of the weather. Despite some administrative headaches, illustrating the need for young blood to come through and run their league, groups of suspicious looking, suit-clad, young men are shuffling around London on weekday evenings (or more often, housed in taxis) looking for their fix of football.

In the First Division, the pace setters are Baker & McKenzie. Last season’s Division Two winners promptly ran off a series of eight league victories to start the season, their only hiccough a Challenge Cup defeat to third division FSA. A defeat to Gray’s Inn at least offers hope for the pursuing pack. Indeed, a changing of the guard may well be in the offing, with long time powerhouses Denton Wilde Sapte and Gray’s Inn both in danger of relegation.

Shocks abound too in the Challenge Cup, with Clifford Chance, Simmons & Simmons and Dentons all losing in the first round to lower ranked sides. In the second round, the First Division rather re-established their dominance, and the quarter finals are dominated by their sides.

Much credit is due to Steve Reilly and Pat Ryan, who have announced their intentions to retire as Fixture Secretary and Referees’ Secretary respectively. In both cases, the league are actively seeking successors and both are staying in the posts to keep things going until this is achieved.