Determined Dunmow football players have vowed to keep playing despite ending the soccer season with an embarrassing minus two points.

Dunmow FC dropped to the bottom of the division after player-manager, Simon Gypps, scored 16 own goals in 16 fixtures and the team was repeatedly short-numbered.

The club, which was on nought points, had two points deducted when it was unable to muster a team for a fixture.

Decorator, Simon, 30, started the team two years ago and took on the role of manager after the first season.

"We didn't have a very good team this year as so many of our players left," said Simon.

"I really wanted to keep the team alive so I asked a load of 15-year-old boys to play in the side but still we were often two or three players short.

"If it wasn't for the youngsters we wouldn't have had a hope. I just love my football, and so long as I can get a team together I'm happy to play.

"We don't have any illusions, we know we're not going to win but we don't care. A lot of the teams take themselves far too seriously - to us it's just a laugh."

The team has written to the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District League requesting a drop to a lower division for the next season.

"I'm going to try and keep the team together no matter what," said Simon.

"My main goal is just to try and get 11 players together every weekend."

Disciplinary secretary at Essex County Football Association, Andy Piercy, said: "I have certainly never heard of anyone having negative points before, although I don't really see how you can deduct points which aren't there -- it isn't usual practice.

"It's not very fair to label them the worst club in Britain as plenty of clubs out there may be getting hammered every week.

"It may be that they're a bunch of no-hopers who have been stuck in the wrong division, but you have to admire their determination."

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