[I’M JUST THINKING ABOUT] COOLING OUT (*)

Not exactly phew what a scorcher time, but SHWFC’s members enjoyed a balmy (barmy?)  week of walking football this week.

Monday had started a bit chilly when your correspondent went out to get his paper at sparrow’s fart; but by the time 32 eager walking footballers had arrived at Ruskin the sun had got his hat on, hip hip hoor......- OK; y’all know the rest.

Andy Manager channelled the divine judgment of Solomon to divide us into 4 teams of 5 and two of 6 whilst we were given a reminder from our Great Helmsman....err. I mean our esteemed Chair Peter F -.......on the new goalkeeper head height and team penalties for not walking rules. Two weeks and 4 sessions into these changes and so far (fingers crossed) SHWFC have adapted to them well. Although as one or two dyed in the wool Speedy Gonzalez’s return from holiday, then’ll be the tester!

Here's how we lined up:-

Pinks: Mark ‘no relation’ Davies, Tony W, Tom ‘Stretch’ Parr, Glenn, wor Eillen & Geoff P

Purple: Paul F, Wicky, Barry Whizz, Citeh Geoff, Ashy & MikeA

Orange: Mike McSpeed, Lord Rainford, Phil the cat, Jill Tomo & Colin ‘the late’ Williams

Black: Mike Bates, Chris K, Mike T, Robin, Monday Michelle

Yellow: Phil the power, Triallist, Brain P, Steve the Honeyman & ‘Roger’ Moore

Sky Blue: Haggis, Kirsty, Ian ‘lefty’ Bridge, Andy Manager & Eamon

Banished to the far pitch our two 6 a side teams fought out a match where the score line belies the evenness of the game according to my spies. Ref. Jeff Bettye oversaw a 3-0 win for Pinks over Purple with Geoff and Mark (2) being the scorers.

On pitch 2 (El Presidente reffing both games) Orange got off to a 3-0 start against Black with Mike McSpeed making light of the new rules with a well taken hat trick. But just like the Pinks and Purples this was no one sided game. A defence well organised by Tomo and some excellent saves in goal from Phil the cat particularly from Mike T and Chris K kept a clean sheet. The game saw a welcome return to SHWFC for Mike Bates who – apart from forgetting we play 3 touch early on – slotted back in as though he’d never been away.

At the same time on Pitch 1 Sky Blues narrowly beat Yellows 2-1. Not for the first time the deadly left foot of Ian Bridge contributed, plus a goal from Kirsty;  countered by one from Steve Honeymoon. Tight game.

In the final matches the heat did begin to take its toll as evidenced by nearly a doubling of goals scored compared to the first games. On pitch 2 Yellows again were narrowly edged out, this time with a 3-4 loss to Blacks. Michelle (2), Mike Bates and Mike T made up for their previous game’s blank sheet, with 2 for Brian and an Eamon goal making up Yellow’s 3.

The 2nd game on pitch one saw a real humdinger with the leads changing hands twice, with our new trainee ref Charlie B ruling the roost. Mike McSpeed scored early on for Oranges and at that time it was looking like business as usual given Orange’s first game result. But Lord Rainford’s defensive concentration wilted in the heat and first Ian ‘lefty’ Bridge and then Haggis put Sky Blue 2-1 up. But credit to Oranges, they went up another level and Tomo equalised with about 10 minutes left. Sky’s play was now the one to go ragged as players didn’t track back (to Andy Manager’s disappointment) and so two more goals from Mike McS gave him his second hat trick of the day and a hard-fought win for Oranges 4-2 in an exciting game.

On to Sutton on Wednesday where the 7pm start meant a less heat influenced session although the dipping son meant both games had teams switching round at half time so that everyone had a share of being dazzled.

26 players meant we lined up with one game of 7  side reffed by El Presidente and on of 6 with Jeff Bettye wielding he whistle

Orange: Mark Dav, Grav, Haggis, Joe the Ghost, Tom ‘Stretch’ Parr, Subbuteo Dave and Steve Carine.

Yellow: Little John, Chris 4G, wor Eileen, Gaz, disco Derek, Steve S and Ian H (and trying to kidnap/influence ref Jeff Bettye in the picture!)

Blues: Jen, Lord Rainford, Jason C, Andy Manager, Simon K and Phil the Power

Reds: Citeh Geoff, Wednesday Michelle, Andy Holland, Neil Simm, Eamon, Steve the Honeyman.

The 7 a side Orange v yellow clash left our referee and chairperson breathless with end-to-end stuff and another case of the lead changing hands frequently. Yellows charged into an early 2-0 led but by half time were trailing 3-2. They then equalized but found themselves behind 4-3 before getting the last two goals , with the winner coming from Steve Smith with about 3 minutes to go. Yellows were also only 1 ‘non walking’ offence away from giving a penalty away, so had to be very careful in the final stages ! Scorers for Yellows were Steve s (2), Degs, Gas and Chris 4G, while Mark Dav, Subbuteo Dave and Steve C(2) got Oranges 4.

Blues and Reds also had a close game with the final score being an honours-even 3-3. Under the cosh in the first half Blues struggled to get out of their own half and despite some good defensive work turned round at 1-0 down, Eamon scoring. A switch of Jen and Michelle to even the teams up didn’t look to have worked as although Blues equalised through Simon, Eamon with his second and Andy H put Reds a healthy 3-1 up; their 3rd goal coming after Blues had committed 4 ‘not walking’ offences. But with time running out two further goals from Simon meant that by the end it was Reds hanging on to avoid defeat.

To sum up, anther enjoyable weeks walking football. And you doubt my word look at all those smiling faces in the pics!

(*) Jerry ‘The Ice Man’ Butler; RIP. (written by Gamble and Huff – a Philly classic!)