CE were always going to struggle with the step up to senior with the various groups of excellent underage players they have had over the last 10-12 years. I have seen them an awful lot over that period as they and ourselves were toe to toe a lot. There was rarely more than a few points between them as the teams got older but at young underage generally CE were stronger. Bigger lads and bigger picks. As these lads got older the variety of different draws that there are around a town team I’m sure have been pulling at them, other sports, women, drink, studies, whatever! The same issues do impact other clubs but for some it’s easier to retain players than others.
CE had the early success bump going to 1a but never really but on it. There was an opening for a few years when we were struggling to break the stranglehold but they were not part of the group to benefit. We have regrouped and if we pull another one this year then I feel that might be the groundwork done for another decent unbeaten run. If CE don’t make the breakthrough in championship this year then I don’t see them doing it at all as the ability to retain players, particularly in the weird world we now live in, will get harder without success.
I mean controversy!!
