Sinjuns 3’s season review - 2023/2024 Division 2 South 

Fresh from our Division 3 South League victory, the 3s were in buoyant mood going into the 2023/24 campaign.

Sporting director Theo Diejomaoh worked his magic yet again to bring in some exciting additions to the squad in the hope of securing more shiny silverware for the club.

Through the doors came centre midfield maestro Ben Coleman (we’ll forget that stint at left back), versatile defender Jim Scott (that goal against Wandsworth Borough will live long in the memory), and the permanent recruitment of Jordan Pickering.

 After two disappointing cup runs in 2022/23, the double was in our sights this season, with only arch-rivals Old Guildfordians the stand-out threat from securing league and cup success. 

Our league stats of played 16, won 14, draw 1 and lost 1 sounds like we should have won at a canter, but despite eventually finishing six points clear of Guildford, they were still in our wing mirrors right up until the penultimate match day, like an annoying stench you can’t quite get rid of.

That may have been in part due to our only loss of the season coming at the hands of Guildford in the third game of the season. However we then went unbeaten winning 12 and drawing 1 of our remaining fixtures to secure the title when not playing - pints galore and many beautiful renditions of our anthem throughout the season, Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds, later it was party time.

The league title was all the more sweeter, with the sour taste of the harrowing 2-1 defeat to Guildford (yes, them again) in April’s LOB Cup final. On what seemed like the hottest day of the year, the two teams contested their third match of the season. Despite Gary Hargreaves leaping like a salmon to put Sinjuns 1-0 up in the second half, Guildford kept playing their passing game which eventually bore fruit with two quick-fire goals late on. The double wasn’t to be this time. 

To pick out some memorable moments from the league season - it’s hard to ignore the penalty save from Cliff to keep the score at 2-1 (and not 3-1 to Guildford). Which then meant Jack Bedford Barnard’s 86th minute overhead kick against the same opponent turned out to be the winner. Whilst vital home victories over Hamptonians and Economicals (thanks Rory) edged us closer to the promised land. 

The Economicals victory at Kings House was also the first time club stalwart Theodore Diejomaoh wore the captain’s armband - an emotional moment for the man who has been everything from player, transfer guru and even opened his wallet to be kit supplier during his illustrious career in red and black. 

After some tough battles through the years, we did a famous double on old-foes Old Wokingians, and in what became our best and most fluid performance of the season the 9-3 victory over Old Suttonians - another team who have been our nemesis in years gone by.

In truth though, we didn’t romp to many free-scoring victories - six games were won by a single goal. The season was built on resilience and staying power - getting the job done by any means necessary, often relying on moments of brilliance by someone in the squad. 

Now levelling up to become the club’s second team for the 2023/2024 season, expectations will grow no doubt - but this tight-knit squad will surely rise to the challenge once more.