New Brighton Promenade*

For the purposes of clarity this week’s Blog owes nothing whatsoever to the Sussex seaside town named after the Costa del Merseyside’s very own New Brighton This will be no surprise to anyone within the Club but for our Facebook followers might come as a major shock A Blog with no tenuous mention of Sussex’s Regency centre? Shurely shome mishtake!

Promenading was described as taking a leisurely stroll about a place, often a waterfront, so as to meet or be seen by others Walking or strolling as opposed to running, jogging or other pacy activity Credentials established we proceed to the week’s action

The outbreak of Mediterranean weather meant Monday morning temperatures reached unheard of levels by the time the weekly session got underway at the Ruskin Sports Village As Executive members reached for their factor 50 in darkened rooms 40 plus members made their way to the AstroTurf acres for priming, ignition and eventual lift off

The teams selected for duty were;

Yellow - Mike Thomo, Eamon, Andy Man, Cockney Rebel, Jan Moore (Monday debut), Deggs and Donal (sensibly be-capped for the heat)

Black - Gary, Haggis, Eileen, Citeh Geoff, Phil the Power and Barry Wizz

Neon - Amazon Prime, Michelle Monday, Lefty Bridge, Chopper, Honeyman, Grav and PaulF

Purple - Mike, Les H, Snakehips, Julie, Aldo and Harry the Hatchet

Pink - Lewis Honeyman (on leave from Oz), Tony W, Mark NR, Phil Moss, Willo, McSpeed and Jill Tomo

Sky - Glen, Steve Jones, Kirsty, Geoff Pr, Mike Bates and Little John

Haggis’s spell of good form continued with a brace in Black’s comfortable 5-0 rout of an outgunned Sky One of his goals was described as a ‘cheeky little dink’ over the Sky keeper His game included his usual attacking flair but Belfast has added a defensive aspect to his game His tracking back to help out a welcome addition to his armoury The game was more even that the score line might suggest 2-0 at the break then 2 late goals to emphasise the victory In hazy mist of memory we are assured Barry Wizz found the net

Yellow and Pink was a close affair Mike Thomo and Eamon O’Vice 2 on target for Yellow Willo was endebted to a deflection off McSpeed’s rear for Pink with Jill Tomo also on target 3-2 Yellow squeezing home Jan making her first appearance on a Monday grew in confidence thanks to her supportive team mates

Yellow’s second fixture against Purple ended all square Purple dominating possession and thanks to goals by Aldo 2 and Mika took a 3-0 lead Yellow regrouped and thanks to some astute substitutions hit back through Mike Thomo 2 and O’Vice to finish with a hard earned 3-3 draw

No other news reached our editorial team with the administrative team stretched on Monday with several Executive Committee members visiting our money in offshore locations scattered around the world in tax havens

Congratulations to Les Hewitt and Family on the news of the arrival of their 5th Grandchild on Tuesday Theo joins a long list of potential future members of SHWFC

The midweek return of good weather arrived just in time for the Sutton SoccerDome Wednesday tester A tricky wind added to the usual fast playing surface difficulties but a bumper turnout meant 2 x 6 a side games plus a 5 a side game were possible

Referee and part-time tyrant El Presidente took up a watching brief between the two six a side pitches (mistake right there) before adjusting his ambition to restrict his interventions to just one game at a time

For the record the teams were;

Five a Side

Blue - Peter T, Andy Man, Tracey, Geoff Poole (newly arrived from Tampa Bay) and Benno

Orange - Phil the Power, Steve Smith, Lewis Honeyman, Steve Honeyman and Darron

In the event Blue were peeled wide open by Orange with the Honeymen grabbing a hat trick, plus goals by Ste Smith and Darron The Honeymen, Steve and son Lewis were selected on the same side thus avoiding any temptation for unofficial team adjustment during a game If you played on Monday this will make better sense than this lame explanation delivers

Blue, included new signing Geoff Poole (a Saint who has lived in Florida until recently) hit back thanks to Tracey (enjoying her first outing at Sutton) and PJ (Peter T) Geoff impressed our Football Manager with his touch and all round game, but will need time to adjust to the vagaries of Walking Football Walking Soccer is yet to make an impact in USA USA USA

Orange 5 v 2 Blue the score after a very decent game

In the night’s other action the teams were;

Yellow - Grav, Haggis, Gonzalo, Cockney Rebel, Citeh Geoff and Joe the Ghost

Red - Tom Derby, Gaz, Subbuteo Dave, Wickie, Andy Holland and Wor Eileen

White - Deano, Jason, Meldrew, Colin, Les H and Helen

Blue - Chris 4G, Eamon, Simon, Graham, Chris 10P and Midweek Michelle

Red and Yellow provided a close opening match for starters, with Gaz firing Red in front only for Cockney Rebel to draw Yellow back on terms Gaz repeated his goal celebration firing past Gonzalo in a rare keeping blip 2-1 Red back in front Yellow hit back with the impressive Haggis equalising 2-2 As time elapsed Gonzalo took sweet vengeance with a smart finish to seal a 3-2 win for the Yellow

White and Blue started with Chris 10P firing his Blue team ahead, Eamon was on the end of some smart passing to double the advantage When Chris 4G scored to make it 3-0 El Presidente examined some personnel changes that he enacted once a fourth goal was scored soon afterwards Colin the Late and Eamon were switched to even out the apparent imbalance The move paid off with Helen firing White back in contention 4-1 and soon to be 4-2 with her second goal on the stroke of half time

For the second period the Blue played Yellow to determine the night’s overall winner

Gonzalo fired Yellow into an early lead 1-0 with Yellow struggling to clear their lines A shocking clearance was picked off by Chris 10P to equalise Blue calmly back level as the game opened up

However, Yellow moving with real purpose took the game away from their much fancied opponents with a series of goals scored in bursts Haggis claimed a fine hat trick, Joe the Ghost 2 and Gonzalo his second as Blue lost confidence and their appetite for the game 7 - 1 Yellow were denied 2 other goals that on another day might have counted Yellow top scorers and top dogs on the night

Tom Derby hit an equaliser for Red 1-1 before El Presidente focused on the other match On returning the score had advanced to 4-4 A game every bit as balanced as the score would suggest News of the scorers was not available in the Brighton Argos Pink supplement, if such an august publication was even a thing

In the dying minutes chances to snatch victory were wasted by both teams In the final action the ball was dispatched in some style by Tom Derby, but his ‘goal’ was quickly ruled out for a clear run in reaching the ball

The Boot Room media session was started al fresco before a chilly wind led to our heroes retreating to the Turks Head ‘best side’ in search of some heat The absence of Lord Rainford was noted and ‘put on report’ for possible future action The return of Derek Deggsy Taylor from his Spanish sojourn was a tonic for the troops after a hard night’s promenading

New Brighton Promenade* - Boo Radleys Wirral-based popsters