Title delight as Quebec youngsters come of age

Quebec Rovers secretary Steve James has admitted that the team's Evening News Norwich Sunday League top flight title triumph exceeded expectations and congratulated the young players for showing maturity beyond their years.

“I thought we would finish in the top two or three but I must admit I didn't think we would win it - I didn't think they were mature enough as players,” said the long-serving club official.

Although Quebec lifted the title under the league's points average ruling, they did so from top position, despite having only played 14 games by the May 9 cut-off point. “I think if we had played all the games we would have won even more comfortably,” said James.

The club's eighth top flight title success and first since 2004 was engineered by former players Neil Read and Steve Brock.

Success was especially satisfying for Brock as his son Adam - representing the third generation of the Brock family to play for the club - was a member of the title-winning outfit.

Ex-Gorleston defender Steve's father Bobby was also a Quebec regular of yesteryear.

Commenting on the improvement on last season's fourth place, James said: “We had a more settled side this season.

“We had a regular goalkeeper Matty Coulton who has done really well and the young players have really grown up.”

He added: “If they stick together they should become even stronger. If we could add two or three more quality players there is no reason why they can't push on.”

A crop of players now at the veteran stage headed by Scott Davison, Greg Lawrence, Danny James and Gennaro Romano, had supplied vital experience in the winning formula for the Britannia Barracks-based outfit.

The goalpower was provided by 20-goal leading scorer Dave Matthews, supported by 15-goal marksman Richard Brett.

“It has been a major team showing from the management as well as the players,” said James, a player in the city pub side's star-studded outfits of the 1970s.