WITH another domestic season over and most players having departed for the beach, it is time for the fans to deliver their verdict.
Back in August, many of Yorkshire's clubs set off full of optimism with supporters of Hull City, in particular, be
ing excited about their impending top-flight debut.
Similarly, all at Doncaster Rovers were eagerly looking forward to a return to the second tier of English football after half-a-century away while those whose allegiances lie with Sheffield United, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town or Bradford City were dreaming about possible glory after ending the previous campaign strongly.
Elsewhere, Rotherham United had one target in mind – survival – after being docked points for a third consecutive season as Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday looked to maintain their own steady progress.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the next nine months and when the Football League regular season drew to a close on the first weekend in May there were familiar tales of 'what if' and 'if only' being told across the county.
No team from the Broad Acres had won automatic promotion but, nevertheless, hopes were still high that both Sheffield United and Leeds United could make the step up via the play-offs.
The reality, of course, was rather different with Burnley and Millwall, respectively, putting paid to dreams of a glorious end to the campaign for the White Rose to ensure that for the first time in more than two decades no club from within God's Own County had won promotion. There was happier news to the east of Yorkshire, however, with the Tigers winning their fight for survival at the expense of Newcastle United.
Here, supporters from all eight of the county's Football League clubs give their verdict on last season along with a Hull City fan still basking in the pride of being Yorkshire's only representative in the top flight.
SHEFFIELD UNITEDChris Cook, DoncasterWhat is your assessment of the club's season? Success or failure?
Overall, it must be regarded as a failure because we did not achieve promotion. Now we are faced with the prospect of trying to get back into the top flight with less cash.
A great effort in the second half of the season took us to within touching distance of Birmingham and we finished above Reading who looked certainties to go up at one stage. In the end, however, it was just a step too far. Generally we were good away but our home form cost us dearly; five defeats and dropped points to the likes of Blackpool, Southampton and 10-man Nottingham Forest.
Player of the season: Chris Morgan. After the Barnsley controversy, our captain never put a foot wrong.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Anthony Stokes. His loan deal from Sunderland was a complete waste of time.
Best moment: Jamie Ward's late winner away at Southampton made a long trip to the south coast club in wretched weather worthwhile.
Worst moment: The final whistle at Wembley. The team didn't really turn up.
Best side faced: At home, Reading but overall would have to be Burnley.
Worst side faced: Sheffield Wednesday!
No, not really. Probably, Charlton Athletic.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer?
We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and a creative midfielder to replace Gary Speed.
Maybe another centre-back but the defence is okay if we keep the youngsters, like Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
Yes. We are ambitious with solid finances. Our ticket pricing is good – the only thing lacking is Premier League football. Some supporters don't fully appreciate Kevin McCabe.
Advice to the manager:
Believe we are the best. Our target should always be a top two spot. I don't agree with
his view last season that a play-off place at Christmas is good enough.
HULL CITYGareth Richardson, Beverley What is your assessment of the club's season? Success or failure?
It went from very, very good to very, very bad before, thankfully, ending happily. So, in that respect, it has to be seen as a success. I have to say though that in the final few weeks I was not enjoying it at all – unlike the opening months when I even came away from our 5-0 defeat at home to Wigan and thought 'okay, we have lost, but that was actually a really good game'. I couldn't say the same about any of our games towards the end of the season.
Player of the season: Michael Turner. I predicted in the Yorkshire Post last August that he would be the standout performer – and he was.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Dean Marney. And if there was an 'award' for most frustrating player, it would have to go to Bernard Mendy.
Best moment: Winning at Arsenal and having my stag do at Bolton when we got the point that ultimately kept us up.
Worst moment: Being 2-0 down at home to Stoke in the latest in a long line of 'must win' games.
Best side faced: Fulham on the opening day were outstanding for the first half-hour.
Worst side faced: Newcastle United. What has happened to Michael Owen?
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? The midfield, someone like Kevin Nolan would sort it out. And the attack.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
I wish the chairman would be less vocal at times and be a bit more reluctant to try to get in the spotlight.
Advice to the manager: Don't be as cautious as you were in the second half of the season. We won promotion by being adventurous and kept that going when winning at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
SHEFFIELD WEDSStephen Wilson, Crosspool What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
A new dawn has come. Last season was a respectable finish that we simply must build on. The season was riddled with inconsistency, when you consider we took 12 points from the play-off finalists, but lost twice to the likes of Plymouth. Off the field has seen the biggest changes and the new regime has, and will, continue to allow the feel-good factor to run throughout the club.
Player of the season: Marcus Tudgay. His work-rate and contribution to the team have been outstanding.
Most disappointing player at the club this season:
Jermaine Johnson. Proved against Cardiff that he does have an end product. We need to see more of it.
Best moment: Completing the double over the Blades.
Worst moment: Woeful performance at Derby.
Best side faced: Wolves. Not pretty but effective.
Worst side faced: The Blades, they never turned up (twice) – but it seems they never do in their Cup finals!
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? A striker and another midfielder as a minimum to complement the early signings of Darren Purse and Tommy Miller.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? Oh yes! After years of suppression, we really have got our Wednesday back.
Advice to the manager:
We believe in you. Install belief into the players and this will be our year.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWNAndrew Pearce, Huddersfield What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
Our season could be split into three distinct parts – under Stan Ternent was a waste of time and money, the middle saw Gerry Murphy do outstandingly well and the third saw Lee Clark make an encouraging start. To finish ninth was disappointing but the damage Ternent did was always going to make that the case. Just 14 points from the first 14 games.
Player of the season: It was between Alex Smithies and Michael Collins.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Pick one from several of Ternent's signings.
Best moment: The Town fans shouting 'attack, attack, attack' in the final minute at Elland Road and the players doing just that to score the winner.
Worst moment: The back-to-back games against Stockport, Colchester and Millwall in February and March when we conceded in the 90th minute.
Best side faced: Leicester City by some distance.
Worst side faced: The biggest disappointment in terms of their performances was Leeds but the worst side were Cheltenham.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? We need a natural goalscorer and someone to play alongside him. I would also like to see some more pace at the back and the toughening up of midfield.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? I am just delighted that, in (new chairman) Dean Hoyle, we now have a genuine Town fan at the helm.
Advice to the manager: Work out a way to demolish teams when they are reduced to 10 men.
