A REVIEW OF THE 2023 SEASON
At the start of any football season, anywhere across the world, there is much excitement within clubs as to what the following weeks and months will hold in store. It was no different for us and even before a ball was kicked, the feeling in the camp was high since we would be competing in our brand-new Surprise Shirts sponsored home and away kits! We were really looking forward to getting our AFL Campaign underway which was to begin with a game against Lymers FC on 22nd January. Despite a bright first half, our opponents went on to score three unanswered second half goals to secure the points.
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Matthew Brown, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Muhaiyuddeen Abdul-Ali, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander
One week after our season opening game, we took on Attackers FC and sadly succumbed to our second straight defeat, this time by 2 goals to 0 after falling behind to an early strike which was doubled goal early in the second half.
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK & C) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge, Rachad Thomas, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Sepron Lowe, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander
Our third game of the 2023 season saw us putting on a much-improved performance against Eagle Claw. Despite being on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline it was great to witness us putting on our best performance of the season so far.
Uprising Goal Scorers: Delani Francis x 2
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander
Following on from our improved performance against Eagle Claw we went on and secured our first win of the season in our next game – a resounding 5-1 success against West End Predators. We were 3-1 up by half-time and scored two second half goals to round off that all important first victory of the campaign.
Uprising Goal Scorers: Tre Gumbs, Delani Francis x 2, Defari Francis, Troquanee Carter (og)
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander
We came back down to earth with a huge bump in our fifth game of the season when we were on the wrong end of an 8-1 scoreline against a hugely impressive Docs United. The boys were 5 goals down at half time, but credit must be given to all the lads on that day for not letting their heads drop and for carrying on to the end!
Uprising Goal Scorer: Jordan Deans
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Nathaniel Gumbs, Matthew Brown, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Defari Francis ( C ) Keonandrew Alexander
Our following game was against Spartans FC and in a tight game, the points were shared with the game ending 1-1. A highlight of this game was seeing young Roshani Gumbs-Richardson getting his first goal of the season which put us 1-0 up only for our opponents to draw level four minutes later.
Uprising Goal Scorer: Roshani Gumbs-Richardson
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Darian Carty, Delani Francis, Nathaniel Gumbs, Matthew Brown, Tre Gumbs ( C ) Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Dion Williams, Defari Francis
The next three games of the season were, well……………. disappointing to say the least! Three losses against Diamond FC (0-3) Roaring Lions (0-4) and Roaring Lions (0-5) and unsurprisingly the morale in the camp was very low! But there was light at the end of the tunnel - football is a funny old game as you will soon discover!
Uprising Starting XI v Diamond FC: Keronni Vanterpool (GK & C) Darian Carty, Delani Francis, Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Te-vaun Richardson
Uprising Starting XI v Roaring Lions (0-4): Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Matthew Brown, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Colyn Cannonier, Defari Francis,
Uprising Starting XI v Roaring Lions (0-5): Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander
Our next game of the season was against Attackers FC which turned out to be our best performance of the campaign thus far! Yes, we went on to lose the game by 2 goals to 1 but we matched our opponents for large periods. We went 1-0 down early in the first half but levelled matters on 73 minutes through a goal from the returning Jauron Gayle. It looked like the points would be shared only for Attackers to grab a winning goal in injury time!
Uprising Goal Scorer: Jauron Gayle
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexander, Jauron Gayle
Despite the defeat in the game against Attackers, I think it is safe to say that this was the turning point of our season! Our following game saw us taking on Diamond FC who had beaten us 3-0 in our previous encounter. However, we roared into an early 2-0 lead courtesy of goal by captain Asharn Hodge and an own goal, and although our opponents grabbed a goal in the 89th minute we held on to a very important three points!
Uprising Goal Scorers: Asharn Hodge, Malachi Gumbs (OG)
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Jordan Deans, Stephan Fiedtkou, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle
Our next game saw us making it back-to-back wins for the first time this season which also coincided with securing our first double of the campaign, a 5-0 win over West End Predators having already beaten them 5-1 in an early season match.
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jauron Gayle x 2, Jordan Deans x 2, Asharn Hodge
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Jordan Deans, Javis Jones, Defari Franics, Keonandrew Alexander, Jauron Gayle
We then made it three games undefeated with a 2-2 draw against Lymers FC. Having led by 2 goals to 1 for much of the game we were pegged back in the third minute of injury time! Disappointment, yes! But this was still a positive result having struggled earlier on in the season!
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jauron Gayle, Stephan Fiedtkou
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Jordan Deans, Stephan Fiedtkou, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle
Our next game was against the impressive Docs United who beat us 8-1 earlier in the season. This time around we were much more competitive and although we went on to lose by 3 goals to 0, we were by no means too down hearted. The improvements being made were there for all to see!
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Tre Gumbs, Jordan Deans, Stephan Fiedtkou, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Javis Jones, Jauron Gayle
Our penultimate game of the regular season was against Spartans FC and just like in our previous game, the points were shared – result 1-1.
Uprising Goal Scorer: Jauron Gayle
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Matthew Brown, Tre Gumbs, Roshani Gumbs-Richardson, Stephan Fiedtkou, Javis Jones, Jauron Gayle
We rounded off the regular season in fine style by securing a very impressive 3-1 victory against Eagle Claw. This game will be remembered for a brilliant hat-trick by the Anguillan Archer – Jauron Gayle! We finished the regular season in 7th place which meant a place in the AFL Development League alongside Lymers, Spartans, and West End Predators.
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jauron Gayle x 3
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Javis Jones, Te-vaun Richardson, Jauron Gayle, Jamaine Murray
Our first game in the 2023 AFL Development League was against West End Predators who we had beaten twice in the regular season. Hopes were high for another win, and we did just that by 6 goals to 2 in what was a very entertaining spectacle!
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jordan Deans x 2, Jauron Gayle x 2, Antoine Fleming, Asharn Hodge
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Rachad Thomas, Antoine Fleming, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle, Jamaine Murray
A second straight win in the competition was secured when we put on another entertaining display of attacking football to beat Spartan by 4 goals to 0. Another hat-trick by Jauron Gayle in this one helped us to the win!
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jauron Gayle x 3, Rachad Thomas
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Rachad Thomas, Antoine Fleming, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle, Jamaine Murray
Our final group game saw us taking on Lymers FC who beat us 2-0 which prevented us from getting a third successive win. This meant that we would meet Spartans FC in the semi-finals.
Uprising Starting XI: Keronni Vanterpool (GK) Delani Franics, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Antoine Fleming, Jordan Deans, Stephan Fiedtkou, Javis Jones, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle, Jamaine Murray
Having already beaten Spartans in a group game, our hopes were high for another win against them in the semi-final. However, our task was made very difficult when Jordan Deans was sent off early in the game! We rolled our sleeves up and took the game to our opponents and opened the scoring courtesy of a Jauron Gayle strike. Spartans levelled matters but we marched on and grabbed a winner just ten minutes from time through an own goal!
Uprising Goal Scorers: Jauron Gayle, Andre Samuel (OG)
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Nathaniel Gumbs, Tre Gumbs, Denny Derrick, Jordan Deans, Te-vaun Richardson, Defari Francis, Keonandrew Alexandrew, Jauron Gayle.
Uprising FC v Lymers FC – The 2023 AFL Development League Final! The first thing to say is – what a match! This was a fantastic advert for football in Anguilla! The boys took the lead in the 5th minute through a Jauron Gayle strike only for Lymers to draw level just five minutes later! We regained the lead early into the second half with another Jauron Gayle goal but again Lymers levelled the game! Extra time couldn’t separate the two sides and the game was decided by a penalty shootout which our opponents won 3-1.
Uprising Goal scorers: Jauron Gayle X 2
Uprising Starting XI: Darian Carty (GK) Delani Francis, Asharn Hodge ( C ) Rachad Thomas, Antoine Fleming, Denny Derrick, Stephan Fiedtkou, Javis Jones, Te-vaun Richardson, Defari Francis, Jauron Gayle
It was a story of so near yet so far, but we were all very proud of how far we had come after a poor start to the season! The future is definitely looking very bright, and we look forward to taking you on our journey with us in 2024!