3-1 Victory Video Highlights

With thanks to The Hut for filming and Elbows for creating...

Post-match statattack #4

OK, so I neglected to perform a statattack after last week's drubbing, but no one wanted to read that we conceded our 700th (and 701st, and 702nd) 11-a-side goal in that match, did you?  So on to more pleasant Opta-tastic musings (but still no assists, sorry Shaky) arising from last night's far more enjoyable 3-1 win.

The headline was Simon Mesner scoring his 50th all-time Accies goal. That's 23 11-a-side strikes and 27 in 5-a-side games.  Simon becomes only the 6th Accie to reach a half-century of goals, after Jonathan Patterson, Graham Dietz, Ian Holmes, Joe Sene and David Rudd.  With David on 57 career goals for Effra and Joe and Ian on 62 each, no doubt Simon has half an eye on 3rd place in the all-time scorers list...

Three was the magic number last night - a 3-1 win, and the 3 different scorers all at different stages in the 11-a-side scoring stakes.  As stated, Simon is on 23 (now 3rd equal in that chart with Jonathan Patterson, behind Gary White (31) and Steve Spurdens (28).  Phil Caldwell, meanwhile, moves on to 13 goals in 11-sides, 10 behind Simon, while 10 behind Phil is relative newcomer Perre Heath, whose goal last night was his 3rd for the Accies.  So 23, 13 and 3 - nice symmetry for those of us with OCD leanings.

That's all for now - real work, sadly, beckons...

Champagne for everyone!

Ah, the ups and downs of being an Accie. Paxton landlord Stuart's offer of complimentary champagne if we beat Grafton Strollers was gleefully accepted following this evening's well earned 3-1 win. Coach Robertshaw called for total commitment and promised that if we gave that, the rest would take care of itself, and by and large he was right, albeit against probably our poorest quality oppo.

The evening got off to a shambolic start thanks to more Palace incompetence - the so-called move to the excitingly named pitch "P3" was a non-starter as it was seemingly lit by the neon light from a couple of mobile phones, rather than the more traditional floodlights. A bit of exasperated teeth gnashing in the direction of the staff followed, and they rightly agreed to let us play the game on the perfectly playable stadium pitch. Hooray.

We looked up for it from the off, with Shaky picking up where he left off last week, but getting better service and enjoying better interplay with fellow forwards. The only setback was Skipper Thorny going off with a calf injury, but by that point we were 1-0 up, Shaky grabbing a neat goal from close range when the less faithful among us thought the chance had gone. Token then Strolled past the Grafton defence and scored a fine goal for 2-0. The only blip was a rare lapse of concentration from Ant in goal, a soft concession just before the break for 2-1.

In the second half it seemed to be 2-1 for an age, while plenty of players continued to give good accounts of themselves - Mickael on the wing, Tremayne and Luis in the middle and Barry at the back, to name but four. To fail to win this game would have required throwing it away in some style, but after last week no one was feeling complacent. In the event, Token danced through the defence and a last-ditch tackle on him only sent the ball towards Elbows on the left wing (subbed on seconds earlier, impeccable timing by Miami), and our Crouchy smacked the ball into the net for 3-1 and a safe cushion.

Mickael got Man Of The Match for what was rightly described as his best performance in his time with the Accies, and was duly presented with a bottle of champagne by Paxton Stuart. This led to a very simple exchange between myself and Mickael, after I saw that he had cracked his prize bottle open and shared it among his team mates:
Me: "Mickael, I thought you'd have taken that home to share with the missus?"
Mickael: "No."

Team (more nicknames needed, I want a full set): Ant, Gobby, Bazza, TBALT (sub: Marathon Man), Elbows (sub: Werewolf), Champers, Coach09, Tremayne, Thorny (sub: Luis), Token, Shaky. Sub not used: Miami
Scorers: Shaky, Token, Elbows

Goodnight!

Great pass and the camera always lies

I knew as soon as the ball was sent along the floor by the trusty boot of Xavier into the corridor between the full back and centre back that I was going to score.  At last a ball on the deck.  Hopeful lobs forward are hard enough work when you are playing up front on your own but are even worse on the plastic with the high bounce and extra zip.

I had to take a decent touch to move the ball forwards and then steady myself to shoot across the 'keeper.  He hardly moved so I knew if I hit it hard and low it would go in.  And it did, albeit between his legs.  It was a good feeling especially as it was with my left foot.

I really like scoring goals and want to score bucketloads.  However, scoring is always tempered by losing.  It may be a cliche but it doesn't make up for not winning.

Scoring more will only come though if there are more of those balls as played by the bearded one.  The runs are being made.  But if you get fed on scraps you will go hungry.

The game was also interesting for the strange refereeing decisions.  He allowed their centre back to go unpunished for two cowardly fouls on me (a forearm smash when I wasn't looking and a grab around the neck when he had been done for pace) that were at least both yellow cards, one which could have been a red, but booked Dave 'Xavier' Rudd and Coach09 for a lot less.  He also allowed the 'keeper to go unpunished when he deliberately handballed outside the area and denied a clear goalscoring chance, despite awarding a free kick for handball.

The match video (as Elbows' slightly provocative comment indicated) showed my unintentional shove on the fouling coward at the back but not his fouls, the 'keepers handball or my goal.  As ever the camera always lies.  Ce la vie as Bobby is probably saying.

Listen to me!

This blog gets a plug from me on this week's Contrast Podcast, on account of the fact that the theme of the podcast this week is Football.  The idea is that the likes of me contribute a song (and introduce it ourselves) which links to the theme.  There are plenty of US-based contributors to the podcast, so they obviously think football is some weird rugby offshoot, but if you're prepared to tolerate them, you'll hear my own contribution and lots of other terrific stuff by downloading it from here: http://www.timyoung.net/contrast/.

The First Two Weeks

Reporting back after my first two weeks as coach is not a happy task. Two consecutive defeats have seen us sink down in our own estimation, and this should not be the case. All teams suffer a loss of form at some time and why should we be any different?

I have seen enough over the last year as a player to realise that this is a blip that can be rectified if we all stick together as a team. I shall endeavour to get everyone back to doing the basics well, which should give us a platform to put our year back on track and, as was mentioned to me by several players after our last game, at least we can't play any worse... so the only way is UP!

I hope to see everyone reporting for next week's game with a fresh and positive attitude and I hope that I get a good response on and off the pitch.

Up the Accies!!

I really, really hope that was just a blip

I'll keep this mercifully brief! Well and truly turned over tonight by Dolphin Riders, who must have been surprised to be given 9 Christmas presents in the month of January. We played like gentlemen who had never met one another before and rightfully got a rollicking from the Coach at half-time and full-time.

Echoes from the past, really - we're still capable of playing badly and getting trounced, just like all those years ago - and I told Ant after the game that my abiding memory of his first ever 11-a-side game (see previous post) was feeling really sorry for him having to pick the ball out of the net so many times, and I felt exactly the same tonight. A thankless task, playing in goal for us tonight!

Anyway, as I said on the sidelines during the second half, it's important that we stick together in the tricky times - as a team we can and will bounce back. It's so easy for that feelgood factor to kick in after a victory, but it was really encouraging to see lots of smiling faces in the Paxton afterwards, some unity just when it's needed most. I'll sign off with two positives: firstly Simon's top-notch goal, just reward during his Man Of The Match performance; and Stuart, the landlord of the Paxton, promising a round of drinks on the house if we win next week. Good man. Goodnight!

Team: Ant, Andy D (sub: The Werewolf), Barry, Hairy Cornflake, Marathon Man, Joe (sub: Luis), Steve (sub: Coach Robertshaw), Tremayne, Billy, Mickael (sub: Perre), Mes.
Scorer: Mes

Countdown to the 10th anniversary event #2: 9 months to go

Here's the second post in the series building up to the big event on Saturday 17 October 2009.  As for the anniversary itself, the committee meets next Monday to start the planning proper, so watch this space to find out what they come up with... So now I'll try to sum up Year Two in the life of Effra Academicals.

Part 2: 2000-2001

Despite the 10-1 drubbing in our first ever 11-a-side match in August 2000, we played nine more 11-a-sides over the next 12 months.  They included our first away game, a Sunday trip to Oxford to play Hellenic FC.  I recall a muddy-as-anything pitch and Gza without studs and, therefore, without goals.  It was also Ant's debut in goal - if my memory serves me, I met him the day before and almost immediately tapped him up to play in goal as we had no recognised 11-a-side keeper.  We lost 0-6 and I felt sorry for Ant!  But thus began a long Accies career, with Ant also continuing in goal for Blue Flag.  Another cracking game saw my sister's then boyfriend (now husband) Rob bring his then team Coltishall up from Norfolk to play on the Bar Pitch.  We were well beaten (5-1, with Gza scoring the consolation) but I remember a great atmosphere in the bar afterwards and I think it took the Norfolk boys hours and hours to get home as they stopped off at multiple pubs to celebrate their victory!

2001 also saw Accies debuts for several other legendary players: Simon Mesner (brought along by his mate Tom Wrigley), Dave Rudd (we stole him from another 5-a-side team), Lee Hodgkin (school friend of Andy Dade), John McDonnell (husband of colleague of my wife) and Warren Crawford (we stole him too).  And with most of them in the line-up we bagged our first 11-a-side win, 4-3 over the combined 'might' of two 5-a-side oppo teams, Exoterix FC & 1860 Lambeth.  Afraid to say I can't remember anything about that game - I played in goal, so maybe aversion therapy might bring back some memories?  Also in August 2001, Joe Sene did a Judas and starred for Big Pictures, who we promptly beat 3-1.  That'll teach you, Sene.

On the 5-a-side front, we were, thankfully, getting better and better.  Luke, Tom W, the Gaffer, Gza and Joe lined up for our biggest ever Elms League win, a 4-0 tonking of 1860 Lambeth.  That same night I scored my first ever Accies goal, which I can still remember like it was yesterday.  It was struck from just inside the oppo's half and I celebrated Beckham-style with arms outstretched in front of the Barmy Army.  God, I enjoyed that.

Looking back at the 5-a-side results from Year 2, we were so much better - a six-game unbeaten run in March stands out, during which Macca scored a hugely enjoyable goal vs the hated Surrey Envelopes.  We celebrated that goal like he'd just completed a double hat-trick in a World Cup final.  Because there were 3 games a week, there are so many memories from that era - I recall how proud myself and Luke were when we kept two clean sheets each in a row, so the Accies didn't let a goal in for 4 whole matches.

The major event in Year 2, however, was the suspension of Effra's 5-a-side activities, replaced by 2 teams: Dinamo Bar Pitch and Streatham North End.  There were two reasons: firstly, our squad was really too big for just one 5-a-side team and there were various mates hoping to join in the fun (Simon in particular was mad keen).  And secondly, the Elms League were struggling to find enough teams for the competition, so we 'helped out'.  Dividing the teams equally was tricky but we did OK: Dinamo started as Luke, Gza, Tom W, Chris, Simon, Paul (Luke and Gza's then housemate) and Lee (Ant joined them in Year 3).  Streatham were myself, Luis, Dave, Oscar, Andy, Ross (husband of another of my wife's colleagues) and the Gaffer, with John McDonnell joining during Year 2, I think to replace Ross.

There were simply too many 5-a-sides to sum up here, but obviously the derby games between DBP and SNE were tense, fraught affairs.  The first ever was won 1-0 by DBP thanks to a brilliant swerving strike from Tom.  I'd just been subbed off the pitch for SNE so I had a great view of that goal.

That's all for now - I might revisit this post in due course to add more meandering nonsense!  Feel free to add your own memories of Year 2 by clicking on 'comment'.

Post-match statattack #3

Precious little to report on the stats front this week, aside from one previously trailed milestone: as usual I forgot to mention it on the night, but Joe Sene notched up his 100th 11-a-side appearance for the Accies.  An excellent achievement bearing in mind the time he spent unable to play due to swanking it up in New York!  And, of course, he marked his ton-up by putting in a Man Of The Match performance.  Congrats, Joe.

Joe becomes the ninth player to reach triple figures, joining this reporter, plus Andrew Dade, Phil Caldwell, Steve Spurdens, Luke Fallon, Dave Rudd, Anthony Emery and Luis Sandoval.  Next to play his 100th game will be Simon Mesner, currently on 91 appearances.  After that it'll be a while before anyone gets there - Billy Monckton is next in line of the currently active Accies, and he's played 68 times.

That's all for this week, spod fans...

Rauchenbye!

Hmm, that's quite a poor 'pun' headline, isn't it. Sorry. But the point is, tonight was Bobby's last game for a few months as he once again pegs it to France on 'business'. Cheers Bob, see you later in the year, top lad.

The first game of 2009 was against one of the better oppo teams we've played and although we held them to 0-0 for 75 minutes, eventually they managed to find the net and then found it again, so we lost 2-0. Not a disgrace of a result against a decent side, but in truth Wessex were off colour tonight and if we'd created more in the final third, we could well have got a better result. Great to see Simon back and playing, albeit this reporter was worried when Si was on the end of a clumsy challenge, but he's back back back. And great to see a good turnout in the wake of the AGM - long may that continue. Joe Sene was named Man Of The Match, having put in another great stint in defensive midfield.

This is by no means a match report - indeed, my regular midnight post-match posts are intended as nothing more than a quick notice of the score and the basic details - if anyone wants to post a more thorough report on the 90 minutes, go for it.

Team: Ant, Andy D (sub: Elbows), Coach Robertshaw (sub: Gobby), Luke, Marathon Man, Joe (sub: Luis), Steve, Skipper, Le Bobby, Billy (sub: Tremayne), Mes. Sub not used: Mickael.

Goodnight!

Up The Accies!

Come on you Accies!

Here's to a great performance tonight and hopefully our first victory of 2009.

Fit at last

For the first time since 30th October 2008, I am able to declare myself fit for Thursday.  In the game against MHP on the 30th, I felt good and was, even though I say so myself, having a good game.  At the break we were 3-2 up and I had scored one and played the final pass for the other two.  Unfortunately after about 15 minutes of the second half, whilst chasing another good ball down the line, I was tackled.  The tackle took my legs away whilst running fast and as I came down, the toes of my right leg landed not on the pitch but on the ankle of the clumsy tackler. 

My ankle twisted both ways with my weight through it.  The action was accompanied with a cracking and grating feeling in my ankle.  I've badly damaged this ankle before but not for 14 years and the feeling was familiar but not welcome.  I doubled up in pain and crawled off the pitch where I was highly agitated as I knew what this meant and that I was playing well.  It was disappointing to hear that some of the opposition questioned my reaction, making out that I hadn't really done anything.

I hobbled around the pitch with boot and sock off to the bags where the tackler lay, also injured.  He did have the decency to apologise.

My ankle was now sore but I could weight bear.  I could also move it up and down.  When Joe got injured I tried to hop around up front for five minutes back on the pitch but it was hopeless and I had to come off.

I needed a taxi home from London Bridge later on.  The next day the ankle and foot had swollen up and was lightly bruised, one of the dirty black smudges that I seem to bruise with.  I couldn't walk on it with out pain and had to call in to work to say I wasn't able to nor could I until the Wednesday of the following week.

Annoyingly I was going back to visit my parents that weekend so I had to get another taxi across London to Paddington to catch my train and pick up some crutches from work.

After the weekend giving it some rest, the hard work started.  I began at a low level and built up.  I also visited an ankle surgeon friend of mine who X-rayed it.  Fortunately there was no fracture although some old bone spurs were seen, probably from the injury in the '90s.  I was asked to come back for a review in three weeks.

By then I was walking without crutches but there was still a lot of pain on the inside of the ankle.  I had an MRI scan with contrast dye, which caused me to miss the game on the 27th November.  The next day the results came through which showed ligament damage to both sides of the ankle (a strange type of injury) and extensive bone bruising, which was the cause of my pain.  However, my main concern was for the joint surfaces.  Fortunately they were in great condition.

I stepped up my rehabilitating despite the pain.  By the 18th December I was nearly there but no games for three weeks meant that my status as 'injured but present' would have to wait to change to 'present'.

I've gritted it out in the snow, in the dark, in the gym on my own, up and down stairs, performing hops, plyometric bounces, sprints, strength, balance and football drills.  I've had to watch from the side lines as we've won and lost, in the evening at the stadium under clear skies and in the morning in Tooting in sleet and rain.

It wasn't life or death and other Accies have come back from worse injuries and from longer set backs but it's been hard work and it's been frustrating.  But I'm fit now and am ready to play, if selected of course.

AGM warm-down

Plenty of time for post-AGM analysis elsewhere - and there's certainly plenty for the studio pundits to discuss - but for now, before I retire for the day, I'll just say how delighted I am at the exceptional turnout. 20 people there, 5 of whom weren't even members when the evening began. Only 4 members absent. Terrific. Here's hoping that this sets us up for a great 2009. Up the Accies! Should also say: full respect to the good folk of the Paxton Arms for the space and all the food - much appreciated.

AGM warm-up

Of course it's vital to warm up properly for a match, but I have decided that it'll help us all to prepare for this week's Annual General Meeting to take a quick look at a few snippets from AGM minutes from days gone by. The excerpts that follow show the lighter side of AGM discussions - while every year there's undoubtedly lots of important, some might say serious business to attend to, equally every year there are some laughs along the way. So...

2001: "Graham to pay £2 for subbing Macca vs Hooter Shooters while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with some French Marxist’s gibberish. Unopposed. Macca to pay £2 for not bringing own shirt and cornering an alarmed Chris in the Gents to use his vs MSW. Unopposed, banana-republic kangaroo-court style."

Also 2001: "There was broad agreement that as a 5-a-side outfit we have reached an upper limit on squad size (12). A moratorium on dealings in the transfer market to bolster the squad with new recruits was unanimously endorsed, even if Thierry Henry begs us, kicks and screams and threatens to tell his Dad."

2002: "Stuart and Ian have worked on a definitive history of every single fixture for the Accies (5-a-side and 11-a-side), as well as for Dinamo Bar Pitch and Streatham North End, including who played when, who scored, who kept a clean sheet – the lot. Apparently on one occasion Stuart phoned Caroline to clarify squad lists and interrupted a conversation about threesomes (and there are people who would pay good money for a transcript of that)."

Also 2002, my personal favourite of this bunch: "Simon holds a ‘UEFA B’ coaching badge, and offered a coaching session – which was unanimously supported." Terrific idea, Mes.

And finally, it seems that in 2003 the Paxton Arms came close to being the club's drinking venue of choice: "The meeting was brought to a close by a brief agenda item of AOB. Andrew raised the matter of a potential boycott of the Bar Pitch bar. However, the meeting decided that it continued to be handy, despite the beer being rotten and almost undrinkable…"