Dixie handed the perfect send off with Chesworth double

In a fitting tribute to their departing manager the Chesworth boys beat rivals Dorkinian Saints 1-0 on Finals Day at Broadbridge Heath to lift the John Laker Memorial Trophy - named after Dixie’s dad, who founded the club in 1969 and passed away in 2006.

It made for an emotional day for Dixie, who is standing down having managed Chesworth Rovers youth teams to an incredible six doubles, four of these while managing his son Ashley’s team and a total of ten league titles.

Dixie said: “The boys have worked exceptionally hard to win the double again and make it three league titles on the trot. Each time it’s harder to win because teams always raise their game against us but the team have shown true fighting spirit.

“And to step down after 17 years by winning my dad’s trophy was just the perfect send off and the boys knew how much it meant to me.”

Jamie Holme scored the only goal of the cup final early on to take his personal season’s tally to 33 goals, making him joint top scorer in Division A and bringing the John Laker Memorial Trophy home to Chesworth Rovers and the Laker family.

It was a dogged performance with the defence holding firm to keep a clean sheet and ensure a deserved win to go with the league title they won by ten clear points.

Adding to the emotions of the day, captain Joe Blake who has played for Chesworth since he was six has been signed by Harlequins rugby, and Franklyn Taylor who signed three seasons ago and has scored vital goals for the team, both played their last games for Chesworth.

In all it capped a great year for Chesworth’s squad, with every player playing their part in what has turned out to be a fantastic season, with assistant managers Mark Howes and Mark Price supporting Dixie in his final season.

Chesworth squad: Max Paterson, Ryan Howes, Joe Blake, Kyle Hamond, Dan Weekes, Jack Price, Dan Longo, Ali Garbutt, Sol Releen, Toby Withers, Louis Blake, Dan Taylor, Joe Lamberty, Franklyn Tayler, Zak, Jamie Holme.