On Saturday AFC West End manager Sam McDonnell posted the following message regarding the future of the club.
On Saturday AFC West End manager Sam McDonnell posted the following message regarding the future of the club.
Ivy Dominant as West End Cup Hopes Dashed
AFC West End suffered a thoroughly bad day at the office as they were defeated 8-1 by old enemy Ivy Tavern, ending their Ron Eaglen trophy dream for another year. AFC were dealt a blow before the game as the appointed referee for the tie failed to show leaving the teams with no alternative but to play under the authority of the Ivy manager. Although this didn’t have an overriding impact on the game it was still a very frustrating development. This could also be said of the number of absentees AFC found themselves with, ideally they wouldn’t have forced Dan Hill and Jack McDonnell into starts, or moved co-manager Sam McDonnell into an unfamiliar central midfield role, but West End adapted as best they could. Continue Reading

Debut – 4/9/2005 vs Red Lion Dunston Res
Manager (2006/07) (2010/11)
Appearances - 150 (All Time Leading Appearance Maker)
Goals – 71 (All Time Leading Goalscorer)
Clubman Award (2005-2006)
The other remaining founder member of AFC West End is Chairman and forward Sam McDonnell. A predatory striker Sam averaged seventeen goals a season in the club’s opening two campaigns despite wearing some horrific coloured boots in the process. Following an impressive pre-season Sam was all set to lead the line again in 2007-2008 only to suffer ankle ligament damage on the opening day of the season (and a dick of the day vote for his trouble as he heroically remained on the field to limp around the centre circle). Thankfully Sam returned to the fold in the final months of the season and finally found the net too on the closing day. Last season Sam struck 13 times to become the club’s joint top scorer, a title he claimed outright earlier this season.
On a sweltering hot September day AFC West End went into their first competitive game, with no idea of the standard of football awaiting them. However, from the first whistle West End were on top keen to make an early impression, Michael Northern went close before the deadlock was eventually broken. Andy Kirk latched onto a long ball and lobbed the keeper from around twenty yards. A great finish for West End’s first competitive goal. With their noses in front West End again pushed forward and another goal followed soon after, Chris Denman turning well in the box and finishing coolly after Dunston failed to clear a corner. Continue Reading