Be The One*

Last week’s Blog contained a degree of inflammatory themes and subjects that the author included to provoke a reaction (allegedly) But at this time in the Club’s history we are witnessing a period of intense growth and renewal New members are a normal part of our week’s sessions, always great to see but after 10 magnificent years just what we’ve come to expect Players re-appear after months out of action, and we’re glad to see them, of course, as they effortlessly slip back into our sessions as if they just nipped to the sidelines to grab a drink (that took weeks to finish)

Our pitches are crowding with members having fun, enjoying their football and spending quality time with like-minded friends

Monday morning’s Ruskin Sports Village session was the usual mix of characters, enjoying their release from Homes Under The Hammer or Storm Huntley (no me either!) 39 hunkered down to stretch quads they didn’t know they possessed before splitting along designated lines into the following teams;

Green - Geoff Poole, Phil the Moss, Beachboy, Robin, Amazon and Les Meldrew

Purple - Big Tony, Donal, Cockney Rebel, Steve Harding, Andy Man, Billy Williams and Sheila

Red - The Honeyman, Mike Thomo, Chris K, Prout G, Wickie and Margaret

Black - Ashy, Les H, Mike Bates, Julie, Barry Wizz and Mark A

Blue - Jeff Betty, McSpeed, Enoch, Chris Gilmore (photographic model for Green Team too) Haggis and Tom Stretch

Old Gold - Jill Tomo, Snakehips, Glen, Rick, Little John and Gonzalo

In the event the games were played in great spirit with generally close games Blue played Green which featured 8 goals and some dubious refereeing verdicts (one player alleged) A hat trick by McSpeed and brace by long absent Chris Golimore steered the Azzuri to a victory despite Green shading the decisions Jeff Betty with two and Amazon Prime kept Green in the game 5-3 the final score The win sealed with two late goals, it was all square at 3-3 with less than 5 minutes to go

Purple came up a little short in their match with Red Seven goals and plenty to talk about Big Tony, Cockney Rebel and Andy with goals for Purple In reply goals by Mike Thomo and Chris K were sandwiched by a brace for the Honeyman to claim the Red win Purple 3 - 4 Red

Old Gold and Black was closer than the eventual winning margin Some excellent passing and teamwork produced lots of chances throughout by both sides But it was the goal power of Gonzalo with 4, Little John and Jill adding goals that handed Old Gold the victory A Barry brace plus singletons by Mark Armstrong (a Ruskin debut goal) and cool finish by Julie registered 4 Black goals in reply 6-4 the final result after an hour’s play

Wednesday’s Sutton SoccerDome was far from routine Thirty-ish members presented themselves for duty in the anticipation of a midweek meander As usual the Outward Bounders wrapped in anticipation of a mild British autumn night were sliced and diced ready for two games

Their posh boy cousins meanwhile stripped off ready for the Sports Hall white heat

All good so far…

The Outward Bounders teams were;

Yellow - Little John, Chris Sully, Andy Man, Mike Thomo and Haggis

Orange - James, Louise, Chris 10P (formerly Bomba) Graham and Deano

Green - Jo, Tom Stretch, Colin, Gonzalo and Chris 4G

Red - Ian H, Eamon, Les H, Deggs, J Betty (2 Refs pretending to play or vice versa?)

The players took to the pitch with a scene reminiscent of the Carlsberg advert with smoke bombs enveloping the middle pitch The Celtic Derby with glorious Green facing the Orange men took place with the smell wafting across the pitch more in keeping with Amsterdam’s Bulldog Coffee Shop Despite the air quality Green settled into an excellent team pattern Gonzalo found the net either side of a Tom Stretch effort and Green was 3 goals to the good Their passing short, sharp and accurate ripping Orange apart all too easily

Chris 10P rallied Orange with a great strike, Gonzalo replied to restore the 3 goal lead But Graham and then Chris 10P again struck to rock that lead A calamitous defensive error presented James (not Jason) with a chance to stab home from short range Just forty seconds left 4-4 the great escape or a dark day for clearing your lines? Let’s call it an honourable draw Orange riding their luck Green taking the metaphoric foot off the gas

Game two in Tweede Kramer Coffee Shop featured Oranje and Yellow It’s very rare when history repeats itself so soon and so closely Yellow took an early lead thanks to a cool finish by Mike Thomo Orange drew level thanks to Chris 10P before Thomo found the net to restore the narrow Yellow lead Undaunted Orange, thanks to Deano, equalised as the action gathered in intensity Next to score was Andy Man who left his defensive duties to fire Yellow 3-2 ahead

Two excellent goals by James handed Orange a narrow lead Lou was unlucky to have a ‘goal ruled out, the ball having gone dead on the opposite side of the goal Chris Sullivan, who was terrific on the night struck to draw Yellow level 4-4 sound familiar?

The breakthrough goal was claimed by Mike Thomo who kept his composure to claim victory for Yellow Two minutes left but Yellow played out time and might have grabbed another to emphasise the gulf 5-4 Yellow winning in a totally cosmic atmosphere High jinx rules

Elsewhere Green proved too strong for Red with a 5-2 victory with Gonzalo unstoppable claiming all five goals Deggs and Jeff Betty were on target for Red It might have been more but Tom Stretch had a goal ruled out for Green Bad day at the office for Red

The other game was another draw but an improbable 6-6 evidence that the wider Sutton goals are resulting in high scoring games with great regularity Mike Thomo grabbed a hat trick for Yellow with Andy Man, Sully and Haggis also netting We know that Jeff Betty did fire a screaming shot for Red but his team mates all signed the ‘no publicity’ waver and we respect their wishes with relish

The Innards game was over as a meaningful contest after just 40 seconds At this point the ball hit the side wall Some players played on whilst another decided to withdraw their labour

It’s apparent that an unofficial experiment to include one side wall as part of the playing area had been arranged Not everyone agreed however and hence the walk-off Whilst not condoning the action (or inaction more accurately) it should be noted that the experiment is now over

The side wall is not a part of the pitch The playing area is within the lines laid out

Health and Safety is the prime reason The notion of using the wall is risking a serious injury and will no longer be allowed

The withdrawal is pretty much covered by the Club Code Of Conduct reproduced below

The game, reduced to farcical numbers, ended in a 12-9 win for Yellow Enough said

* Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning

* Adhere to the rules

* Display and promote high standards of behaviour

* Promote fair play

* Always respect the match officials decisions

* Never engage in or tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour

* Never engage in bullying, intimidation or harassment

* Speak to my team-mates, the opposition, spectators and my coach/manager with respect

* Remember we all make mistakes

* Win or lose with dignity. 

* Shake hands with the opposing team and the referee at the end of every game

* Be an ambassador for my club

Be The One* - Dua Lipa