Player of the (Half) season:

Well, it was looking like a shoe-in for Guy to get it as his goal and general brilliance have been well above the standard of the MSFL. However, it has to be Marek Mach for me.

I can’t remember Marek having a bad game (possibly Ostrava away) in the red shirt, he spent most games driving the team forward from midfield. Guy and Jirka Tulajdan also deserve a mention for their consistency.

Game of the season:

I really enjoyed the 5-2 win away at Znojmo. Five goals away from home and the first opportunity to witness the threat of Guy it was by far the most entertaining game of the season for me. After all the turmoil in the summer, it was confirmation we could play in this league.

Best trip:

Well, we haven’t really had the opportunity to go on too many trips together. Znojmo with the media team, Otrokovice for the chance to meet up with friend of the blog, Phil, in Zlín post-match. I think, although we got mullered 4-0, any trip where you can fit Český Těšín and Cieszyn in has to get the vote. It was also an opportunity to introduce Wingy to groundhopping with a game, a brewery and some weird leather pants (not modelled by us) in Heřmanice.

Surprise of the season:

Floodlights! The one thing we didn’t get the chance to see in the FNL was a game under the lights. So, thank you Kroměříž, you made my season by playing at 6.30 on a Friday evening. We may have lost, but I didn’t care.

And a special mention

Best Away Fans:

An easy one to answer, it has to be Hlučín, what a lovely bunch of people. Love their football and the MSFL, great people to chat to during the break, we’re looking forward to our match up in Silesia.

Best Away Pub:

I quite enjoyed the morning beer in Cafe MUO in Olomouc. Ordering a Pilsner in a hipster cafe at 9.00 AM was both a surprise to us and the regulars tucking into their avocado and eggs benedict. However, I have to give it to the brewery pub in Český Těšín before we played Baník B at the legendary Bazaly.

Should we also give a lot of love to our local, The Sleeper? I think in the 10 years we have been going to the games, it’s always been a favourite of ours. The staff are lovely, we’re Štamgasti at the bar and we’re already looking forward to March. Keep our seats warm, please.

Best opposition and player:

We got caned by both Sigma Olomouc and Baník Ostrava youngsters, so we could pick any of their players. The player who sticks out for me is Samuel Kulig, captain in Baník B. Lots of their players look as though they have very bright futures, but he stood out for me.

Things to improve at the club:

A football club in any village, town or city should be the cornerstone of the community and we can see from the attendances that sadly this is not the case at Blansko. We’ve gone from the heady days of Oldřich Merta and crowds of 1 000 to 120.

Getting the kids involved more, creating player profiles for all of them on the website, and regular match reports from the parents would be an excellent start. Finding more sponsors for the club would be great, but we know it’s difficult.

Wish for 2022:

We should use this season and next to consolidate in the MSFL. If we take away the last couple of years, Blansko are a team which have spent many years in the 4th or 5th tier of Czech football. After the first half of this season, we should be safe from relegation to Divize,so if we can find good local players, bring through some of the youth team players, I think we can spend a good few years in the second league.

So, this week we start again in the MSFL away at Vratimov in North Moravia. See you all there!

Forza Blansko!