The Rise of the Red and Blue!     >> Back to team's page

APC entered the competition in 2003 led by the charismatic David MacDonell. Charisma can rally troops but knowledge of the game, structures and tactics may be handier tools in organizing them. Not too bad in their first season some would say (inaugural seasons are general a rude awakening), managing four wins against the likes of SELC and Milton. However, the team finished bottom of the table.

2004 saw the illustrious Michael Corkery at the helm. A great footballing mind, equal in charismatic stature to ‘DMac’ but with a fire deep down few could equal. But, alas, great management needs great players to create the balance so required for league success. A dismally disappointing season for the school and the team, managing only two draws for the whole season. A totally gutted Corkery fell upon his sword in despair and thereupon into despondent depression for many months vowing never to return to college football management. Here is a recovered transcript of one view of those early years: - (some details have been altered slightly to protect the innocent).

“Michael Corkery had the singularly undistinguished honour of managing the paucity of footy resources that constituted the APC team in '04. We went through the entire season without a single win. “They” offered to treat the team to lunch if they won a game but the closest it came were two draws and that was as good as it got.The year before DMac was looking after things and HATED it with a passion. He didn't even know the rules of the game. He was assisted by a shapely lass with a strategically placed tattoo of a scorpion (don’t ask!). Her good looks and pleasant demeanour more than compensated for DMac’s lack of football nous.”

2005 brought yet another management change in the form of Bill Beare. Bill arrived from the recently defunct SIS International College. His credentials alone were enough to get him the position of coach, manager and occasional player for APC. SIS, under his stewardship had won the cup in 2000 along with three Knockout cups (’98, ’99 and ’02). Although less of a tactician than Michael, he more than made up for this with sheer enthusiasm and a motivational force never before seen at the college. Within a few months he had gathered together an array of talented players and instilled a hungry lust for the title. However, fortune does not always favour the brave and 2005 just so happened to be the year of the well oiled and experienced Milton College, who had done the double the year before. A good close campaign was fought, but no cigar. APC missed out on the ’05 cup by a mere 2 points.

2006 was a different thing altogether. With Bill Beare still in control and the core of the ’05 team still available and keen, APC had the will and the means to do what they had failed to do the year before. Michael Corkery also came back from semi retirement to add that touch of expertise to the management, giving it the edge it needed to put together a winning season. The league ended in a tie between APC and GCA and in the ensuing playoff, APC won the match 4 goals to 2. The team went on to win the knockout and so do the double that year. APC – 2006 ELSA Cup champions.

2007 didn’t go so well for APC. The players of the previous season had left for more lucrative positions overseas or were unavailable due to other commitments and so the ‘08 team failed to emulate former glories, finishing 4th in the league and coming last in the Knockout Cup.

In 2008 it was not surprising that a new management was in the offing; that of Geoff Hyde. Geoffrey was no stranger to ELSA. Way back in the old days of the competition he had managed the ACL team and indeed was responsible for the Kosovan refugee episode so fondly remembered in ’99 (see archives). He had even tried to revive Milton after it sadly fell away and withdrew from the comp at the end of 2006. Now Geoff has been given the mantle and the reins, and although current results are not flattering, as everyone knows, good things take time. Let’s hope he is allowed that luxury. Only time will tell.