The Crown and Anchor football team have a tough assignment ahead of them as they look to stave off the threat of relegation.
The Stafford and District Sunday League Division One club have endured a turbulent year, with positive results proving illusive. However, they will have to dust themselves down after a run of two straight defeats, both coming before a recent two-week lay-off.
The first of the defeats came away from home in the Sunday bowl competition to league four opposition, although, if this proved to be a bitter pill to swallow, then losing 3-2 to fellow basement battlers the Rifleman Joiners a week later was doubly unpleasant.
The Anchor’s manager, Jan Scrivens, believes they face an uphill struggle to make avoiding the drop an achievable goal. He said: “We have a possible 12 points available. We would need to bag all of those and hope that results go our way in order for us to avoid relegation.
“I suppose the loss of key players through injury, work and other things has hampered our progress this year. So I believe that Division two is, at the moment, the future of the Crown and Anchor.”
Next on the Anchor’s fixture list lies the unenviable task of playing host to promotion chasing Coach and Horses FC. Coach and Horses currently lie in third position in the league and just three points off the automatic promotion spots.
The Anchor, however, currently propping up the division, will be desperate for the win, if they are to close the six-point gap that has now been opened up between them and their closest competitors the Rifleman Joiners.
Defiantly though, Scrivens believes that if they do get relegated, the Anchor will come back stronger for the experience. He said: “We are a good club, with a brilliant team ethic and some great characters in the dressing room.
“We have also confirmed a new kit and sponsorship deal with Glow Worm heating systems, so we may be going down but we have got long-term plans in place to secure this club for years to come.”
