‘The Invincibles’ – Blackburn Leisure A Veterans football team win Division 1 championship without losing a game’

‘The Invincibles’ – Blackburn Leisure A Veterans football team win Division 1 championship without losing a game’
July 22, 2021 Lauren Cooper

The Hull Veterans Football League Division One league ended in June for the first time due to league scheduling being affected by the pandemic. Blackburn Leisure A Veterans final game was conceded by Kinloss who were unable to raise a team, however the maiden title for Blackburn Leisure was sealed in the weeks previous in a double header against LIV Supplies. The first game was a tight affair with LIV holding Blackburn Leisure A to a 1-1 draw. Blackies took the lead just before half time when a right-wing cross was turned in at the far post by Captain Chris Lazenby. The game ended 1-1 which meant the Blackies 100%-win record for the season had gone but they were still on course for winning the title without losing a game.

In the first period of the second game, it was goalless, and the sides turned round with everything to play for in the second period. Blackies took the lead mid-way through the second half when Chris Abbott hit a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection and nestled in the bottom corner. Liv then pushed men forward looking for an equaliser and whilst they caused problems for the outstanding Blackies defence they were unable to level things up. Blackies finally put the game to bed when Matty Sutton hit a deflected shot to make it 2-0 and once he had come back on the field from his lap of honour, the kick-off was taken, and the final whistle went with Blackies jubilantly celebrating the title.