MVP: lL-

Team DPs: 26

DB are rivals to 1 teams.

Season 49 Preview

At times in season 48 it looked as if we might get relegated.  In the end we survived and had improved cup performances as compensation for our poor league showing.

Season 49 probably won't be any easier for us.  With three age 0 players to train up we are unlkely to be competing for league homours.  As I write this we are very unlikely to qualify from our SFLSL group into the knockout stages, so probably our only chace of silver will be the Dowson Trophy, as we failed to qualify for the Cup this season.  All in all, we are expecting another mediocre perfmance this season.  The most we can hope for is probably a bit of inspiration to take us into season 50....

Results Summary

Season 48 Preview

Season 47 was another decent one for the Broncos.  We finished 4th in the league and seem to have established ourselves in the "not quite good enough to win anything" bracket.  We reached the quarter finals of both cups, as well, which is an imporvement over season 46's performance.  As the season starts, our T17 is 4th best in the league, so in all probability we are looking forward to similar results in season 48, though with a healthy bank balance maybe we can improve on that through an early-season purchase.

Resruitment has gone well enough.  No potantial superstars have joined us but we have three players who will be valuable to the club, and any training points they save us can be put to good use elsewhere.

But how to break through to challenge OPT's dominance?  I have no idea....

Season 47 Preview

The Broncos had a good season 46, managing our best league finish (3rd) since season 35.  (I will skip past the Cup performances).  We led the league for most of the first half of the season, but couldn't quite maintain the tempo.  

Season 47 may be a tricky one as our back-up keeper is rather weak.  Perhaps we should have picked up a young keeper in the draft but I am hoping we can muddle through somehow, and maybe pick up a reserve keeper after MSA.  Otherwise I am pretty happy with the squad, though with the 5th best T11 and the 7th best T17 we are unlikely to be challenging for any silverware...unless luck is very much on our side.

You never know....

Season 46 Preview

The Broncos finished season 45 in 6th place.  We seem to be solid in Division 1 now, with mid-table places in the last four seasons, but breaking through to become a championship contender seems to be difficult.  Our first challenge this season will be to balance our squad - we are short of a defender and will hope to pick up a useful player from an early auction.  Failing that, we may have to squander a couple of TPs to reposition a forward.  In the long term, it seems that our strategy lacks a little something that could take us to a higher level.  I shall have to dust off the drawing board, I think.

Season 45 Preview

The Broncos fell back a little in season 44.  We slipped in the league from 6th to 8th and failed to make much impression on the cup competitions.  The league result was particularly disappointing as we led the league for a while early in the season.

Season 45 is likely to be a tough one, as we will be training up an apprentice keeper.  The rest of the squad is not in too bad a shape, though there are a few weak links here and there.  But with a strong bank balance we will be hoping to bring in some new blood through the auctions or via a private deal or two.  We will be pleased to finish in the top half again, and if we can get a run in one or both of the cups, that will be a bonus.

Season 44 Preview

Season 43 was a very successful one for the Broncos, finishing sixth in Divsion 1 and sneaking an SFLSL Cup win, much to my surpise and delight.  What will season 44 bring?  We will have to muddle through with the keepers we've got, I think, and it would be good to pick up a decent forward early in the season, but other than that I am reasonably happy with the squad.  The financial situation is also pretty good so I am hopeful of a top 8 finish once again, and maybe we can improve on 6th place.  I doubt that we will improve on our cup performance, though...

Season 43 Preview

Season 42 went rather better than expected.  We had anticipated a struggle to avoid relegation, with a playoff spot our highest ambition, but in the end we actually managed (just) a top half finish.

The squad is taking shape but there are still a few weak spots to fill.  Development of our three age 0 draftees will be important this season, and we will have to provide protection for our keepers, both of whom are somewhat substandard.  But with a healthy bank nalance we should be able to improve the squad.  The hope is for another top 8 finish with better things to come in season 44.

Season 42 Preview

The Broncos just avoided relegation in season 40 but face a significant challenge if they are to repeat that achievement in season 41. The squad looks rather weak (and too old) to make much of an impression on most of the other division 1 teams, so it seems to be necessary to rebuild – and maybe accept relegation as a part of that.  Sometimes one has to take a step backwards before moving forwards, of course....  

Season 37

Well after the heroics of season 35, Season 36 saw a return to usual DB form. That is a bottom half team enduring a constant struggle to fend off relegation or a play-off. Part of that was due to  run to the Dowson Cup Final where we were outclassed in the final 3-0 by FC Bearcelona. The rebooted squad that looked strong a couple of years ago is now looking old and tired and the constant struggle to get anything meaningful from the draft returns. We have cash but there is a real dearth in players available for trade and buying from auction can be a risking business when Max SL can wipe out any chance of turning a mid-range player into a star.

Season 36

Happily Mark Boland returned to the team in season 35, he just won't stay away. Last update says I've never seen my team relegated, sure that's my 3rd promotion now. When we returned the squad had been reset and there was a decent amount of cash and resources and that gave us a great platform to mount a promotion push. We didn't start off with the best squad but got ourselves to the top about half way through and ended up winning the division handily by 10 points. In season 36 we had a poor start in the cup and decided we would use the remaining games to focus on a good league start. We had a bottom half squad and didn't want to risk going straight back down so league was going to be the focus. I certainly did not expect anything like the season we had. We actually managed to get ourselves to the top for a bit but Glasgow Strangers were always breathing down our necks. When we faced them we could not compete and that was the turning point. We tried to chase them down all season but could never quite get close enough.  A couple of late defeat saw us slip 9 points behind but a 2nd place finish was a remarkable return to the top flight with many better squads below us.

Season 31

Mark Boland sadly left the Broncos after season 30 having never seen his team relegated from Division 1 whilst in charge. He won two SFLSL Cups and finished 2nd in Division 1 twice in seasons 5 and 26 and from seasons 4-9 finished in the top four

Season 13

Dundee Broncos are back and are raring to go. After 3 seasons playing in Bantry Bay then Aberdour the franchise formerly known as the Broncos have returned to Dundee. This also saw the return of former manager Mark Boland who took over as caretaker for the last few games of season 13. Boland who resigned from the league after season 10, watched on in horror as the organisation which finished in the top 4 in division 1 for 6 consecutive seasons was relegated to Division 2 only 2 seasons after leaving. As soon a commish Dewar announced that current incumbent David Blair was looking to move on Boland felt compelled to return the fanchise to Dundee and restore it to it's former glory.

In season 13 David Blair restored some respectability to the franchise maneuvering them into a play off spot in division 2. Boland then took over the reins for the last few league games and managed to see them through the play-offs and back where this club belong.Then the hard part started. Avoiding relegation was the key and the aim was once the Broncos have consolidated their position in the top division it would then be a case of rebuilding the squad to hopefully allow it to compete again with the top sides.

Close Season 48/49

We have just returned from a visit to my younger son in Canada, a rather cold but very enjoyable break.  I mentioned in my last bio update that I was considering taking on a couple of new challenges in 2026, but am unsurprised to find myself unable to report any progress on either of them.  In retirment, I am still dogged by the laziness that dogged my working life.  Who was it who said that intelligent, lazy people made the best leaders?  

The grandsons are 6 and 3 now, still a joy to spend time with.  THe younger one, Zach, loves animals and we often take him to nearby Marwell Zoo.  He was looking forward to seeing the Capybaras which had newly arrived, but you will have seen in the news that one of them escaped and is rampaging around the Hampshire countryside doing what Capybaras love to do.  In compensation, a baby rhino has just been born and we believe that some camels have recently arrived as well.

I am looking forward to umpiring for my local cricket team once again this season.  Our first match is this coming Saturday and the forecast is of course for rain.  Life is so predictable....

Close Season 47/48

Life just kind of trundles along these days, though I am toying with a couple of new challenges for 2026.  One is to try my hand at writing arrangements for the big band I play in.  I've played in bands for most of my life and done a little arranging for small groups, but have never taken on the challenge of writing for a big band.  I have some ideas, some manuscript paper and a nice sharp pencil, and am hoping that that will be 90% of the battle.  The other challenge is to try my hand (or voice) at calling for American Square Dancing.  This a hobby I've shelved over the last few years, but I've always enjoyed the dancing, and loved the patterns it creates.  It's very visual and mathematical so suits my brain well, but I don't especially like standing up on stage so am somewhat apprehensive about taking a first step with this one.  But if I don't try it soon, I never will....

My love/hate relationship with bridge has moved into a hate phase but the team I've played for always seems to be short of players so I'm not being allowed to retire.  But actually I'm probably enjoying it more for not taking it very seriously.  There's perhaps a lesson there.

The two grandsons (5 & 3) continue to be a joy.  Both are into football at the moment as well as pretty much everything else.  They're both lovely kids and my wife and I are delighted to be a significant part of their lives - moving to be close to them has proved to be a stupendously good decision.

Close Season 46/47

Now aged 71, liife is pretty stable.  It's the summer, of course, and so I am involved with my local cricket club, umpiring for them every Saturday.  It is much more challenging than I ever realised as a player.  Maintaining concentration for six hours standing in the sun is no easy feat, but happily (most) cricketers are understanding about that.

My wife of 38 years, Mandy, had a birthday recently and we decided to celebrate by feeding the giraffes at nearby Marwell Zoo.  They are lovely docile creatures,    and it was very interesting talking to the keepers about them.  An experience we won't forget.

Most of the changes in my life are visible through my grandchildren these days.  Nico (5) is now taking an interest in cricket and other sports while Zach (2) is out of nappies and doing more and more independent play.  Nico seems to be a maths whiz like his dad, while Zach has more of an artistic bent.  Above all, they are both great fun!

Close Season 45/46

A new season, same old life.  Things tick along at home with my wife Mandy, and our two cats.  Our grandsons continue to grow, with 5-year old Nico now taking something of an interest in chess, as well as many other games.  And Zachary, 2, loves animals.  Fortunately we live very close to Marwell Zoo so are frequent visitors there with him.  Globe-trotting son Dan arrived yesterday from Vietnam for a couple of weeks before he flies off to Canada.  

My hobbies continue to keep me busy.  Bridge, music and it's not long until the new cricket season starts.  Hampshire has some of the loveliest cricket grounds I've ever seen, and I am looking forward to soaking in the sun and the atmosphere in the afternoons, and a few beers in the evenings.