24 January 2013  AFTER five years, 100 games and 933 balls in the back of their net, Britain’s worst football team has finally won its first match. Huncoat United Under-15s finally tasted victory when they beat rivals Brierfield Celtic 2-0 in the Accrington and District Boys League, in Lancashire. Elated team members jumped up and down at the final whistle, barely able to believe the result. Despite their woeful record, including one shameful 25-0 defeat, manager Paul Chadwick, who has been with the team throughout, said he wouldn’t swap his players for anyone. “We might be the worst team in Britain but we are the happiest,” he said. He set up the team in 2008 so he sons Joshua and Jordan could play football. “It’s easy to play in a team that wins all the time but these boys turn up every week and enjoy themselves. For me, that is was the game is all about. “But I am delighted that they can finally say they have won a game of football.” During the barren years Huncoat chalked up single points on three occasions – when they were awarded a draw for a match postponement. But they didn’t manage a real draw until their 3-3 scoreline against Rossendale Lads in October 2011. Paul, who runs the team with his assistant Saleem Ditta, admitted it was a feeling of sheer relief rather than one of ecstasy after ending the winless run stretching over five seasons. In that time, Huncoat have drawn just a few games - the last of which came at the end of 2011. “I think we were all just stunned,” said Paul after the historic win at Highams Playing Fields in Accrington. “All the boys were jumping up and down in the centre circle after the final whistle, I joined them and so did all the parents. “We were all delighted but it was more a feeling of sheer relief that we had finally won our first game.” Paul said there were times when he thought of folding the team but it was the players who kept him going. “I thought of packing it all in because there is only so much losing you can take, but the boys have decided to stick with it so I have as well. “After the win, parents came up and congratulated me but I have told them it is all down to the players. “Of course there have been those who have left because they were fed up of losing all the time but this is a reward to all the others who have stuck with it.” Paul said he could see the funny side of his team’s losing streak and his reports of played four, lost four at the club’s monthly meetings was an all too frequent occurrence. “We could have a laugh and a joke about it but all the other managers were willing us to win,” he said. “Now I finally have a victory to report at our next meeting.” Reece Hunt and Leon Pascoe scored the all-important goals while goalkeeper Charles Lucas saved a penalty as he kept his first clean sheet. But Paul said he would not let the new found success go to the boys’ heads. With Huncoat firmly rooted to the foot of the table and having already conceded 104 goals in 12 games this season, there won’t be any fear of that. “The boys have bit of confidence now and the aim is to win another game this season. But I don’t think they are world beaters just yet!”

The vital stats

2012/13 P W D L F A GD Pts 12 1 0 11 7 104 -97 3 2011/12 P W D L F A GD Pts 22 0 2 20 17 194 -177 2 2010/11 P W D L F A GD Pts 22 0 0 22 5 270 -265 0 2009/10 P W D L F A GD Pts 22 0 1* 21 10 247 -237 1 2008/09 P W D L F A GD Pts 22 0 2* 20 12 118 -106 2 * Draws awarded after matches were postponed