Phil Painter took on the
captaincy in 2001 leading a team containing a blend of older players, Ralph
Rollins, Chicken Hansen, Ian Wallace, Fridge Butler, Darren Collingwood,
Sean Toothill and Shannon Killarney and youngsters Ian Walker, Steve Grainger,
Phil Collins, Marcus Hope, Darren Wright, Steve Wright and Colin Freeman The
league campaign was a mixture. A disappointing 8-8 draw with Dixonians, the
eventual league winners, was followed by an excellent 11-10 win over
favourites Aston Old Edwardians. In the home game against Lichfield, losing by
a few points, a last twenty minutes assault on their line was stunted when
Dave Rimmer had to leave the field with a badly broken leg. With relegation
threatening, the team turned things round winning the last four vital league
games against Old Halesonians, Leek, Bridgnorth and Telford to finish in sixth
place. However, because of Midland clubs being relegated from leagues above,
five out of our league of ten were dropped down. We were also moved across
the league structure to Midlands Four West (South) containing mainly
Warwickshire clubs. Steve Grainger had an outstanding season winning both
OYs and Greater Birminghams awards for Player of the Year.