It was the dawn of a new era. After four years in charge, had decided that it was time his careful grooming of a successor bore fruit. But , the successor in question, certainly had his work cut out. Logica had narrowly avoided relegation the previous season, a number of experienced players such as and had retired, and the new Supremo would have the job of moulding a large number of new faces into an effective footballing machine.

Sadly, it didn't quite work out, although, ironically, Logica actually performed better than in the previous campaign. Optimism remained high throughout, until the Grim Reaper finally made an appearance in the final match of the season in fact. But an ultimately disappointing campaign finished with Logica being relegated for the first time in their history.

When it came to the crunch, Logica's failure can be attributed to their inability to win vital games against relegation rivals. Apart from a mid-season blip against Dark Star, they only lost three other games by more than one goal. Crucially, however, their last seven matches comprised one win, one draw and five defeats by a single goal. These defeats included mostly high-scoring reverses: 5-4 (twice), 4-3 and 3-2.

Three of these matches were against the two teams we were directly battling against to stay up. Consequently our destiny remained very much in our own hands even as the fat lady cleared her throat. Our last two matches were against Southfields and Montague Arms, both below us in the table, but with games in hand. After a fairly poor performance against the former, in which only a typically efficient hat-trick provided any consolation in a flattering 3-4 scoreline, we knew that we had to win our final match to stay up.

Montague Arms proved a poor side, certainly compared to previous years, and an early goal should have been the precursor to a decisive victory. Instead, defensive lapses somehow gave our opponents three gifted goals, and try as we might in the second half, we could only pull back a further solitary goal through . The players were devastated when the final whistle confirmed the club's historic fate.

This was perhaps the season in microcosm. Scoring goals was not the problem, for with thirty three in the onion bag, only the top two teams in the division managed to score more (34 and 36 respectively). The problem was at the back, and forty-seven goals conceded was ten more than any other team, although ironically not the worst ever goals-against tally that Logica has amassed (it was 59 the season before!).

Such a dramatic plot climax seemed unimaginable at the outset. An opening day goalless draw against Khellia was followed by a 1-1 draw against Southfields. The defence looked tight, and our problem was at the other end, particularly in the second match when a series of missed chances denied us both points.

A vast vista of new faces gave hope for optimism at this point. Brightest amongst these was new striker , whose pace was causing opposing defenders great problems. Indeed it was who showed the way to more experienced hands such as , by scoring an excellently taken goal against Southfields. It was to be 's bad luck that would pick up a horrific ankle injury early in October, and would miss most of the season as a result.

A visit to Tower set a more realistic precedent for what was to come. Logica managed four goals - including another for and a rare goal for - but Tower responded with six. But a titanic battle against old foes St Anselms once again hinted at a mean back line, and an equaliser earned a valuable point. This goal had been set up courtesy of a fine long pass from another new face - . Another of the season's few plus-points, the York full-back's terrier-like tackling, over-lapping runs and roll-your-own fags would feature in 16 of the 18 matches.

With spaces in the fixture list, 'beginner's enthusiasm' encouraged to arrange a number of friendly fixtures on empty Sundays as a means of trying out new players and improving general team performance. The first of these was against our old friends from Kenchels FC, but it was the old hands who stole the show. scored the first two and added the next four. played in goal in the first half during which time he scored the first of these goals from the penalty spot, thereby becoming the first Logica player on record to 'score with his gloves on' (a feat he would later repeat in the 2000 World Cup quarter-final). This match was also notable for an 'overly enthusiastic' sliding tackle from that incurred the ire of a number of his opponents, one of whom threatened to 'write a letter to Martin Read'. In fact, had not even made contact, but was immediately substituted to maintain friendly relations, and would turn his hand to more scandalous behaviour later in the season. A less inspiring friendly found Logica scraping a draw with Khellia's B side, a match most notable for 's long-awaited return to the fold. Indeed it was who set up the Logica goal for .

A 2-0 defeat to eventual Champions Cultural was not the end of the world, but whilst this was only our second league defeat of the season, we were yet to actually win a match. The following month would however prove to be disastrous, earning it the tag of 'Black November'. It began with a postponed match against Battersea Park. Both teams got changed before the referee cancelled the match due to fog. Both teams thought that the conditions were perfectly playable, and proved as much by playing a friendly without a referee.

, unadvisedly selected to perform the role of diplomatic envoy, was dispatched to the referees changing room. The series of sarcastic exchanges that followed had unforeseen repercussions the following week. One of the referees present turned out to be appointed for our game against Raynes Park Rovers, and some intended jokes from prior to this match did not find the man in black in good humour.

Within seconds of the game starting, executed a perfectly fair tackle that was penalised by the grumpy umpire. This triggered a complete mental breakdown from the turbulent Teesider. After lambasting the referee for a poor decision, he refused to come over to be booked. When he finally relented, and the yellow card had been shown, a second tirade ensued that accused all referees of "personality deficiencies". The red card duly appeared and had the dubious honour of procuring the quickest sending off in Logica history.

would never play for Logica again, not through any disciplinary action on the part of the club, but rather due to a stream of stroppy letters delivered to the mandarins at London FA HQ. These letters reasserted his plea of innocence whilst simultaneously lambasting the particular referee in question and ridiculing the species in general. Surprisingly such eloquently debated arguments fell on largely deaf ears. The only impact of each appeal was to result in an extension to 's ban from all forms of football. Eventually the extensions ran beyond the natural lifespan of 's playing career, and the unrepentant strop-merchant officially retired with a move north to Leeds. It goes without saying that Logica went on to lose the match in question, but had never the less guaranteed himself an auspicious place in the record books.

From here, the month got no better. Having been generally outclassed in the first round of the Ron Le Beau Cup by Sporting Club from the premier division, Logica took their place in the Gladys Perry Challenge Cup with all the other first round losers. We drew Racing Club of Balham from the division below us, but turned in one of our most spineless performances of the season in going down 4-0 to fairly moderate opposition. Knocked out of both Cups, we had contrived to concede eleven goals in those two ties without troubling the scorers ourselves. November continued with our worst defeat of the season, when we crashed 8-2 to Dark Star. All in all not a month to remember.

Remarkably our fifth game in the month brought a sharp turnaround in fortune. A creditable 3-3 draw was achieved against Raynes Park Rovers courtesy of eleven men on the pitch and goals from , and . was on target again with a brace in the next game as we beat Khellia by three goals to one. scored his first and so far only goal for the club to clinch our first competitive win of the season. In fact this was our first victory of 1997, our last win coming in the famous 'Roy of the Rovers' match against Gardeners Arms almost exactly a year earlier.

Optimism was thus carried into our final match of the year against Montague Arms. An opening goal from and a hat-trick from the brilliant repeatedly put us into winning positions, but an inability to deal with Arms' aerial threat eventually did for us as we went down 5-4. Remarkably we lost the next match by the same scoreline, despite more goals from , and , along with 's first goal for the club.

We had to tighten things up, especially as we playing league leaders Cultural next. Logica actually turned in a superb defensive display, and were very unlucky to go down to a late penalty. proved a more than competent goalkeeper in this match, as the team continued to struggle to find a specialist keeper. The season ended with donning the number one jersey, but he would prove to be a tad on the unreliable side. had been the only other specialist glove-wearer to be lured from under his Sunday morning duvet, but his day job as a hospital doctor restricted him to just two appearances. So it was one of 's more laborious chores to try and persuade an outfield player to play between the sticks. , , , , and even newcomer for about twenty minutes all did their duty. A special end-of-season award was even touted for the 'Goalkeeper of the Year'!

As the season approached its climax, Logica had one final trick up their sleeve. was lured back from Tokyo for a special guest appearance, and his impact was the stuff of legends. Within seconds of the kick off against St Anselms a typical mazey dribble from had set up for the opening goal, and it was himself who completed the scoring in an impressive 4-2 victory. Sadly, the man from Japan had to trek home thereafter, but Logica were still able to gain a valuable point in a 1-1 draw against high-flying Dark Star courtesy of an own goal.

Unfortunately the team could not build on this late rally, and those two final defeats against Southfields and Montague Arms meant that Logica's fate was decided even before their opponents had finished their fixtures. This was the first time in their eighteen year history that the club had ever been relegated. had been unfortunate with the loss of many experienced hands, a plethora of young raw talent, and no goalkeeper for the most part.

It was telling that 31 players were used as desperately sought the quality needed to survive at this level, and that of these, twelve individuals made just two appearances or less. Even the return of half way through the season could not save the day. The only consolation for was that he now had the chance to mould a winning team in a lower division. Surely the drop in standard would provide an excellent opportunity for some long-awaited silverware. Wouldn't it?!?

SEASON AT A GLANCE:
Most Appearances: (17 out of 18 games max)
Golden Boot: (9 goals in 16 games)
Players' Player of the Year: Not Voted For
Football Writers' Player of the Year: and (3 MoM's each)
Biggest Victory: 4-2 v St Anselms (h)
Heaviest Defeat: 0-7 v Sporting Club (Cup)
Goals Scored: 33 goals in 18 games (average 1.83 per game)
Goals Conceded: 58 goals in 18 games (average 3.22 per game)
Clean Sheets: One in 18 games (average one in every 18 games)