Why the team from 2007/08 was better than the current side

'Banter have come on leaps and bounds'
'The team has improved so much'
'Ever since getting a white kit, Banter have been much better'
'The current crop smell so much better than the original mob'

Those are just some of the quotes we've been hearing of late. But we here at banterfc.com say: "Don't believe the hype."

You only have to realise that the team going into 2010/11, much the same as the side from last season, failed to get past their semi-final showdown with Maple Tree. But the team in 2007/08 never failed at the last four. The 16 on final day have the runners-up medals to prove it.

Banter's first incarnation were young, hungry for success and played the game in a professional manner. These days we see overpaid prima-donnas turn up to the ground in their matching blue adidas jackets with custom initials on the breast, we see thousands of pounds spent on cars, iPhone contracts everywhere and a new pair of football boots bought every other season.

So we're agreed that the attitude is all wrong, sure. But even if we look back at achievement and compare the two sides player for player, it's obvious which would win in a head to head duel.

Starting at the back of the 07/08 team, there was the imposing figure of Luke Manhire. “Big Luke” we used to call him, because he is a big man. He would often bully his defence to the point where they would be petrified to let in a goal. They'd all get so scared that they'd sometimes switch off completely, which was a shame. The #1 missed just one game all season, his dedication bettered only by Euro, in that sense. He used to do a great Superman impression (pre-wheelchair).

In front of him were two full-backs who the club sorely miss and can be likened most to Pearce and Neville, back in England’s Euro ’96 days. They were of course Pasty and Village, or Chris Davis and Andrew Hills, if you will. They complimented their wingers in wonderfully different ways; Pasty had stamina and could run all game, his accurate passing and long throws brought many a threatening attack for either team. Village, meanwhile, had fantastic physical strength and was a smoker too, which proves he’d never quit on you.

Playing centrally would often be the experience of Ben Doherty, who at the time was still in his twenties. Andy Sheridan – or Tino, to his friends – was and still is an imposing figure who won the hearts of many that season by picking up the Player’s Player Of The Year. He once kicked a penalty so hard in the warm-up that he pulled his hamstring and couldn't play. A playa of the year of a different kind was Parin Patel, who was playing his first full season of adult football. He managed to score four goals, which would prove to be a fantastic contribution for fellow Croydon League teams.

The midfield would consist of many stars, most of whom would be injured most of the time. Adkins spent the season on the treatment table, his bid to get himself a “free Saturday night” due to his injury lasted a little longer than he’d really have liked. Yeoman, likewise, only played 3 matches due to a knee complaint. Jonny Gill would join the fold late and be available only sporadically towards the end, Wommy would only feature on the right side of midfield ‘every other week’, because he wasn't smart enough to pass exams first time around like everybody else. That left Rob Stewart, Banter’s diehard central midfield maestro, James ‘Legend Dancer’ Manhire, who would pull the strings from the middle and back in those days attempt a ‘Hollywood’ pass every one in one. The wide men included Cling, the captain who struggled throughout the campaign with a hamstring complaint and needed goalkeepers to have a total nightmare on any penalties taken. 18 year-old David Baird, who dived and handled his way to success when scoring 8 goals from full-back and midfield, that season was a mainstay. Conor Shannon would play wide left, right or even up front when needed; and was the best player in the team, if you asked him. He had a glorious ability as well to find himself in acres of space. During the early goings of course, there was Lawsy; club sponsor and central midfield spoiler, who is best remembered for having the turning circle of an oil rig as well as his lobbed goal against Sanderstead Spitfires.

Up front was where there was stability. It was the position the club excelled in most. You could always rely on the front pairing and more often than not it was arguing with one another that was most relied upon. First was Justin Said a.k.a. Euro, the top goalscorer with 11 goals. Though he missed 3 penalties – two of which cost his team the game and another of which really should have but didn’t – the wee man was a key player in the Banter setup and the main reason that Golden Lion hated us so bloody much. His partner is a player that we still dearly miss. Forget Brownie, who is nothing more than a goal getter with quick feet. Banter's #9 was Hore, who had pace, power, strength and even more strength on top of that. He chipped in with four goals and a lot of bullshit left his mouth, too.

This was a team that didn’t need a Chris Mann at the back, it didn’t need a “talent” like Tom Ridley, particularly when we could call upon Euro’s mate to fill in - who would ironically later try and fill in Euro's sister and fail. It certainly didn’t need a holding midfielder of Wilkes’ nature when Lawsy could control games.

This was a squad that made the League Cup final. Which has proved to be a level beyond the current crop of overpaid flops. After the disappointment of the semi-final loss, it just goes to show that passion and commitment is what is needed, here.

To be as good as or go beyond the 2007/08 squad, 2010/11 would probably need to win the quadruple. But even then they'd need to win a 5th trophy that hasn't even been invented yet. It could be a tough season ahead.

  The good old days: October 2007, when Banter drew 3-3 with Eagle Royale - the latter's first and only league point in two seasons