Uxbridge Town AFC - Season 101 Preview

What a difference a year can make. One year ago, Uxbridge Town AFC was leading a new team with a mix of veterans, youth, and several lower-tier players into an unknown fate in their first AFPL season. After a slow start and some obvious growing pains, the Lions found some form and ended up with a 22 win 9th place season. Now this season, Uxbridge enters the year with a corps of talented young players and impressive veterans that make up a pretty formidable side. So much so, that multiple pundits have Uxbridge Town as the favourites to win the AFPL title, and only a small handful have them outside of the top 5.

At a recent press availability, President Bertrand Jeunechamp spoke positively about where the club was at the dawn of their second AFPL season. "Now that we are in this place, it really is our first year as an established professional football club" said Jeunechamp. "People know what to expect of us. We are a known brand, and one very much on the rise. Our stadium is going to be loud and packed full of our home fans on Saturdays, and I feel very good about that. It's exciting to see where this season may take us."

Manager MacCallum Barry returns for his second season with Uxbridge Town. In an interview, the 5-time AFPL Champion manager talked about the difficulty of being a perceived front runner. "Becoming successful, acquiring talented players, gaining the expectations that come with that, it definitely puts a target on your back" said Barry, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday. "Every team is motivated to get to play you, and so you get opponents with a little more energy, a bit more strut. But, you learn to deal with it. The difference between a talented team and a successful team is focus: you need to remember your game plan and execution don't let the surrounding talk affect what you do once you get onto the pitch. And now with a more experienced team, we can be a lot more free flowing this year. I feel like we have the talent and awareness to play a more interesting style of football."

The starting XI for the opening match is expected to look like this:

Wynward Garnis returns start in goal in his age 19 season after a solid rookie year, while Stratford United veteran MacMillan Andrews will serve as the backup. The young defensive quartet of Gaetano Gatti, Bafetbis Chalme, Stephen Mill, and Stefan Coda remain the starters in the back, with comparative veterans Edmon Breton and Amory Buchan joining the club in a supporting role. Uxbridge may have the strongest midfield in England. Tab Leigh and Lyle Maigny are back, though Maigny moves to the middle of the field with Leigh going from RCM to RM. Superstar midfielder Huenu Barragan and reliable Kenyon Paulo Canineu round out the starters in the middle. When they need to be spelled, the versatile Kipp Levenworth will fill in that role. At the front, 19 year old Kobe Otsuka, coming off a 27 goal performance a year ago, will be joined by French League veteran Gilbert Cadogan, who comes to his native England for his first AFPL experience. 23 year old Mehdi Florentin may be the strongest substitute on Uxbridge's roster, and will expect to score several goals in his opportunities.

Kobe Otsuka, while doing a recent profile for a 'Young Stars of the League' TV feature, was confident going into the new year. "I really felt like I found my footing about halfway through last season" said Otsuka. "It's tough trying to get accustomed to professional football, especially here in England. And I don't think that I would be here without the support of my teammates, both on and off the pitch. I truly believe that I can be a better player and a better teammate this season. My goal is to help the team win, and I know that finishing will be a big part of that. 30 goals is a very high number, but that is my target."

While much of the attention this offseason was on the signing of Huenu Barragan to the midfield, 33 year old Lyle Maigny returns after a very successful season. He was named the club's player of the year last season, and also was named the Player of the Year for JR Wellington Sports Management, and was a finalist for the AFPL Golden Ball, Losing to Carson FC's 42 goal scorer Kenway Lupton. "What happened last year was excellent, but unfortunately, that is all in the past now"said Maigny in a post-match press conference at a recent exhibition matchup, a 5-0 road win in Belgium against Halle Côte d'Or. "Our new season becomes our sole focus, and I know that all of the players on this team are ready to work hard and prepare thoroughly. It's the only way many of us know how." When asked about co-existing with his new star midfielder, Maigny called the transition "seemless", adding: "Watching Huenu [Barragan] on the pitch is a dream, and we have found a pretty good chemistry already. Jealousy can never enter into the equation in football. The only goal is to work with your team and present the best version of yourself."

Finally, captain Stephen Mill showed a great deal of maturity last year, and now the 19 year old has a year of professional experience under his belt, and is ready to meet the high expectations. "The pressure is on us obviously" said Mill after a recent training session. "But it has been good. We're keeping in good spirits in training, in our early exhibitions. I am looking forward to getting the season started proper, and I know the rest of the team is too."

Uxbridge open their AFPL season at home against Tekkers FC who finished in 3rd in the league last year.