POOL have had a choppy ride this season. Winning the Wharfedale & District FA Saturday Challenge Cup was cause for great celebration, but this sat alongside a double relegation for the club.

The first team paid for their poor start to the campaign, while the reserves struggled on their travels and came rock-bottom of West Yorkshire Alliance Division One.

Club secretary Peter Wilkinson was frustrated with the overall performance of the firsts, saying: "We've been strong recently, and we finished fifth last year. It's disappointing to be relegated because we're undoubtedly a Premier Division side.

"We beat Sherburn White Rose earlier this month (a 2-1 win on May 9) in an amazing game of football.

"They're a strong side and we put in a top four performance against them. The squad showed what they are capable of."

Wilkinson suggested that Pool's cup final win over Otley Town in April was the turning point of their season.

He said: "We went out in the second half of that clash all guns blazing and that performance led into our league form. It's a pity the game didn't get played a month earlier or we'd have finished mid-table."

Regarding the reserves, Wilkinson admitted: "They were promoted from fifth place in Alliance Division Two three years ago and have always struggled in the higher division.

"Winning games encourages you and gives you confidence. Hopefully they can do that next season and come back on merit."

Pool are celebrating their 50th anniversary and are hosting an event on Friday, July 13 from 4:00pm at the club and Pool Village Hall, with music, entertainment and food. Tickets are £20 and available from the club.

Wilkinson enthused: "We'd love to see a few old players, even if it's just to reminisce and have a few beers. The social club will be buzzing.

"We're hoping for a good old-fashioned reunion, which brings old and new together. The Wharfedale FA are also bringing the cup down, so it will be nice to have that for the night.

"It's also a personal celebration as it's my 40th year as secretary, and I'll have all of my old newsletters there, right back to 1978!"