No, the floodlights weren’t switched off at Ruskin on Monday for SHWFC’s regular morning Walking Footy session. But everyone’s phone was, leading your blog writer to be completely in the dark (geddit?) about attendees and teams.
As members know (but not the rest of you) we do have a WhatsApp poll to try and establish in advance who will turn up. This is so that Andy Manager and others are not overwhelmed by unanticipated hordes bursting through the gates and clambering over the fences desperate for a fix of the beautiful game. But, of course, SHWFC’s membership includes several disciples of Ned Ludd; meaning that not everyone helps us out in this regard. Not to put too fine a point on it - the Poll is a vital aide for planning each session
So here is a name check of the following members who (I think) answered the call and went to Ruskin on Monday. Hope you had a good morning’s walking football.
In no particular order they were; Enoch, Chopper (welcome back!), Kirsty, Grav, Mark NR, Eileen, Monday Michelle, Mike McSpeed, Andy Manager, Steve the Honeyman, Cockney Rebel, Phil the Cat, Lee Jenko, Wickie, (wicky wick wick-wicky obscure Hip Hop/Electro reference there), Chris 4G, Jim, Stephen J, Roger, Tom Stretch’, Les Meldrew, Chris K, Mika , Barry Whizz, Citeh Geoff, Phil the Power, Les H, Eamon, Geoff P, Donal, Charlie, Aldo, Margaret (another welcome back) and Jeff Betty
Apologies to anyone I’ve missed out (that’ll learn yer to fill in our Polls!).
However, the news blackout did not extend to some match reports, for which I give much thanks to two ref/players on Monday, Steve Jones and Jeff Betty.
In Steve’s first match report (Sky v Orange) Aldo reffed and played for Orange (multi-tasking, very impressive!). Steve very honestly reports that Orange took the lead from a corner which he deflected into his own net. But in a very balanced game, the Honeyman received a pass upfront and made it 1-1.
Meanwhile on at least one other pitch Yellow beat Purple 2-1. McSpeed and Grav scoring for the winners, Andy getting the Purple consolation.
Steve officiated and played in a second game which was Sky v Purple, apparently good end to end play. Andy for Purple split the Sky defence to release Barry to make it 1-0, then a similar move which left Barry on his own again made it 2-0. Good football from Sky and Paul made it 2-1. Then due to an injury to Mike (bad back) Steve reverted to just refereeing to even the sides to 5 aside, Les scoring for Purple, making them 3-1 winners.
At the same time Yellow continued their winning streak with a 2-0 win over Pink, McSpeed back in the goals with a brace this time.
On to the 3rd game, Sky v Pink with Steve again enjoyed (or endured?) a dual ref/player role. Steve made it 1-0 for Sky after a super pass from Dave, game played with some good honest decisions which helped the Ref. Then in a breakaway Eamon was left with a 1 on 1 with the keeper, smashing his shot into the roof of the net past the diving Dave, game finished 1-1.
Finally, from reports from Jeff Betty I can also report that Black beat Purple 2-0 with Eamon and Tom the scorers; and Orange and Pink finished 1-1, Martin and Wickie the scorers.
On to Sutton on Wednesday where numbers were up after all the Euros excitement, meaning we could 4 teams of 7 a side, with Jeff Betty performing a dual Ref/playing role for Red, and a black-clad Lord Rainford saving his knees again and reffing throughout.
This time we DO have photos although – again – those of you still awake will notice some players appear on two photos, 1 or 2 on neither. This is due to our usual system of picking teams then, sometimes, juggling these around to around to get even sides. It’s no fun being on the end of large thrashing, so we try and keep it as even and competitive as possible.
The eventual teams were –
Reds; Enoch, Chris 10 P, Graham, Tom Stretch, Harry, Les H, Jeff Betty
Whites; MidweekMichelle, Andy Manager, Barry Whizz, Phil the Power, Chris 4G, Les Meldrew, Jason
Blue; Joe the Ghost, debutante Steve Smith, Grav, Simon, Roy, Deano, Jim
Green; Subbuteo Dave, Darron, Eamon, Disco Deggs, John C, Citeh Geoff, Gonzalo.
In the first games White took on Blue and in a tight game and emerged winners with Barry scoring the only goal of the game. Meanwhile Green overcame Red in another tight game, 2-1. Eamon and Gonzalo got the winning team’s goals, with the Tom Stretch going full -Armstrong to grab the Red goal.
In the evening’s 2nd game White v Green game White seemed on course to post their 2nd narrow win after Les finished off an awesome move where the whole team played pass and move to beat the Green press White then held firm against the waves of relentless attacks, Michelle covering herself in glory with some fine stops. But the tide couldn’t be held back for ever and John C and Gonzalo got two late goals to claim a 2-1 win. In the other 2nd game, it was Red who would be close winners, inflicting a 2nd 1-0 loss on Blue, with Chris 10p the scorer.
In the evening’s final game and after their two narrow defeats Blue set to with steely determination against Blue and raced into a 3-0 lead, with Grav, Joe and Simon scoring. Then with just 5 minutes remaining they seemed to freeze, panic at the lead they’d built up and started to enquire ‘how long to go, Ref?’. That’s never a good sign and so it proved as Green inched back into the game, first with Eamon, then with John C’s second Desperate defending, near misses and, free kicks just outside their box heaped pressure on Blue in the dying minutes
Lord Rainford finally blew the whistle, with the 8pm crew eagerly waiting to claim the pitch, Blues hung on for a 3-2 win!
And last but not least, White were able to post their second win of the night in their last game, shading Red 2-1, their goals from Andy and Jason, with Tom (again) getting Red goal.
As Jeff reported to your blog writer later that evening all games were played in a good spirit. There was some really good football on show, and it was also a joy to Ref Well done to all, well done.
While we have your unerring attention….
We have a number of very honest players in our Group - who will always own-up if they are the beneficiary of a Referee error - hands up Guv’ it’s a corner not a goal kick I got the last touch
We also have a bunch of those less-sporting individuals who take every possible advantage they can inveigle Appeal for anything and everything You know who you are!
Just to point out the blindingly obvious - this isn’t the World Cup final Your life will not be ruined by not getting that throw in in mid park, especially when you know it isn’t remotely yours
Enjoy the game grateful for the Referee giving up their time to officiate the game
Footsteps In The Dark* – The Isley Brothers great 1977 slow-jam, much sampled in Hip-Hop & R&B (new version not the real R&B apparently)
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