1998 | 1999 | 2002 | 2003

1998

After an impeccable one minutes silence and a frantic opening 12 minutes this cup final erupted into life when Andy Parsons shocked the home support with a neat low drive beating Round into his bottom corner. As Slade tried to regroup and get back into it Lethal Les Sibley pounced at the near post to steer it past a bewildered Slade defence and goalkeeper to make it 2-0 after 20 minutes. The joy was short-lived however as Slade erupted into life when Dave Gunning struck a magnificent 20-yard drive into the top corner. Slade piled on the pressure with some good passing but some wayward shooting, with Kendall, Peake and Denigan all blazing over from long range. The Dreamers looked dangerous on the break, but alert defending kept them out. Then after some good play from Brock, the ball fell to Gunning who crossed it into the box where it was met with a glancing header from Paul Sweeney to bring the scores level just before the interval.

After the break Slade Farm looked more composed but could find no way past the resolute Dreamers defence. Then Denigan picked up a loose ball swung it into the area where it was controlled by Kendall who then unleashed a wicked low drive, the keeper pulled off a magnificent save only to see it fall to the feet of the far post finisher Dave Gunning who duly smashed it into roof of the net, giving Slade farm the lead. The lead was to last 2 minutes as a simple ball was played into the Slade penalty area where it was completely missed by Gunning and Les Sibley gleefully stuck it away for his second of the match. Slade Farm responded positively with creative passing, but then inexplicably Denigan brought down Parsons to concede a penalty. Keeper Dan Round watched the kick sail over his bar, keeping up his excellent record against spot kicks. Then after a surging run by Peake the ball ran free and he out jumped the keeper and watched it roll into the back of the net, Slade 4-3. The Dreamers then had a period of continuous pressure broken only sporadically by dangerous Slade breaks. With the Slade defence holding firm with assured clearances it looked as if they would hold firm against the barrage of pressure but then in the last minute of the game a highly contentious penalty was awarded against Peake for handball (although later video evidence cleared him of any wrong doing!) Steve Price who had an outstanding game for the Dreamers stood up and converted the penalty to draw thee game. To decide a winner on the night a penalty shoot out took place with Slade converting all their kicks and goal keeping legend Dan Round saving Sibley's, Parsons and Prices attempts for the Dreamers.

1999

Another large crowd gathered at Kings Meadow in eager anticipation. Some thunderous tackles set the field alight as the game rumbled through the opening exchanges. Suddenly a shot flashed at Round but the Legend smothered it. Then as Slade's Arron Kendall prepared to shoot he was hacked down on the edge of the area. He then stepped up and curled the passionate Slade into an important lead. The Dreamers were stung into action but the Slade Defence was not to be breached as they withstood a barrage of intense pressure. Slade then began their own assault passing the ball with great fluency picking away at the Dreamers defence. Besbrode, Sweeney and Kendall all went close. Then a great move down the right involving Downes and Sweeney led to Dengian unleashing a thunderous drive that smashed into the top corner giving Slade a two-goal lead, whipping the kings meadow crowd into a frenzy. It got even better for Slade as Denigan prodded in his second just before the break.

After the interval Slade looked more confident as they sprayed the ball around the park, another brilliant move led to Paul Sweeney adding a fourth as Slade went into a Kings Meadow wonderland. But the Dreamers then flew into action; clearly the pace of the game had taken a lot out of Slade. The dreamers seized the initiative battering away at the Slade defence, but Slade were unrelenting as they doggedly battled away, with keeper Round in inspired form, attack after attack was soaked up. Still the Dreamers could find no way past as the Slade defence of Peake, Downes and Gunning held firm. With the clock ticking round to the final minute there was still time for yet more drama in this true epic. A last desperate corner by the Dreamers was swung into the near post, Round came but never made it, the ball careered past him before cannoning off the luckless Peake, confirming his place as the undisputed King of own goals, much to the delight of the kings Meadow crowd. The delight carried over to the final whistle and Slade Deservedly lifted the Nick Leach Memorial cup.

2002

The match played between Slade Farm United and Sibley’s Dreamers for the Nick Leach Memorial Trophy turned out to be a true roller coaster affair.
After a scrappy opening period Mark Gunning opened the scoring with his first goal for Slade in 2 years, volleying into the roof of the net. Barely 5 minutes later the Dreamers were level, Paul Sweeney got in behind before unleashing an unstoppable half volley beyond the despairing Round. It got even worse for Slade, Besbrode had cleared off his own line in a goalmouth scramble but after another bout of desperate defending the ball dropped to the Dreamers Daniel Price who coolly drove the ball into the top corner giving Sibley’s Dreamers a surprise lead. The Dreamers comfortably held on to the lead till half time as Slade struggled to find their rhythm.

The second half saw a complete change around, Slade began stretching the dreamers defence with quick clever passes laying siege to goalkeeper Les Sibley who led a charmed life as Slade buffeted his goal. Young players Philcox and Meeks particularly effective. Eventually the pressure paid off, after some amusing ping pong in the dreamers defence Sergio Strong lashed the ball home to bring the scores level. Five minutes later Slade regained the lead as Chris Cooke weaved his way through threading the ball home. Just as the home crowd looked set to celebrate, the Dreamers spectacularly leveled the score. Dave Horle picked up a loose ball 20 yards out driving it goal wards before it careered off the luckless Peake and past a disbelieving Round. Yet sometimes football allows redemption, neat work and pass by Strong set up Peake to crash the ball into the bottom corner beyond the cat like Sibley to give Slade a deserved lead, Luke Phillips added a thunderous volley near the end, ensuring that Slade Farm again retained the Nick Leach memorial Trophy.

2003

After an impeccable one minutes silence Slade farm took only 2 minutes to open the scoring through a well placed Kendall drive past the slowly diving and despairing Les Sibley. This gave Slade the
extra confidence to tame the arid and wild Kings Meadow surface with an array of attractive passing moves. After more pressure Denigan delivered the perfect ball for Kendall to rise above the crowd to
make it 2-0. The Dreamers were simply stunned and struggled to find any fluency as Slade continued to dominate possession. Yet another free flowing move found its way to Blenford who ghosted past the last man and drove it past Sibley to make it 3-0. Blenford was soon to grab his second of the game shortly after bringing down a driven ball on his chest before half volleying Slade into a 4-0 lead. The
Dreamers briefly rallied but found the Slade defence to be organised and determined and the spell of pressure was soaked up, and after more pressure Slade broke quickly and Barker made it 5-0 just before the break. Slade continued to pass the ball with real purpose and with the central defenders Besbrode and Philpott providing attacking width Slade continued to look dangerous, Denigan smashed one against the post and the half time whistle blew.

The second half was much more competitive fare, the Dreamers began well but again found the Slade defence strong. Slade rode the storm and again gained the upper hand through neat play between Phillips and Suter who set Blenford away only for the shot to flash wide. Then the Dreamers came to life with a succession of chances, first a low cross from Mortlock found the far post finisher Les Sibley who gleefully smashed it from 5 yards but Slade legend Dan Round pulled off the most remarkable of saves to deny the Dreamers. The Dreamers began to put Slade under pressure with cross after cross, Henderson and Besbrode dealt solidly with them all.

Then Slade again took control more excellent passes gave Phillips a shooting opportunity; his shot swerved onto the crossbar much to the relief of the Dreamers. The Dreamers then caught Slade on the Break and Mortlock placed the ball round the Stranded Slade keeper to make the score 5-1. This re awoke Slade and Blenford was hauled down by Price and Slade were rewarded with a penalty that Besbrode calmly slotted home. Then with the final whistle beckoning Barker got his second of the game with a beautiful volley from the edge of the area to finish the game Slade Farm 7 Sibley’s Dreamers 1.

The game was played in a terrific spirit and the trophy was presented
by Nick’s sister Victoria Leach with man of the match going to Owen
Suter.