Marathon man

Huge congratulations to Stuart for his excellent first marathon effort.  5 hours 18 minutes is a fantastic time.  The above pictures are him at 22 miles and then basking in his post marathon glory.  I'll leave it to you to work out which one is which.

To put things in perspective, Stuart wasn't a regular runner when he started his training.  The recommended time to start training for your first marathon if you are a non-runner is around September the year before.  Stuart started training at the beginning of January of the same year.  He also started at a weight of 17 stone or 108 kg.

But in just under four months he went from running 4 miles to being able to complete 26 miles.  He also shed 2.5 stone or 16 kg.  He has grown capillaries in areas he didn't know he had, washed clean his arteries of fatty plaques and add a decade to his life expectancy.  He has also raised thousands for charity and inspired family and friends alike.

The first run that was termed a marathon in Ancient Greece ended with the runner dying at the feet of the general to whom he was conveying a message.  Not only did Stuart not expire he managed to down several Kronenbourgs with the relish of a man that hadn't had a drink for months.

Very well done.  Now for a sub 4 hours 30 minutes next year...

Talking heads following the 1-3 defeat to Billy FC, 9th April 2009

Talking heads following the 1-3 defeat to Billy FC, 9th April 2009

Talking heads following the 1-3 defeat to Billy FC, 9th April 2009

Talking heads following the 2-5 defeat to Wyecliffe 26th March 2009

"Everyone is expected... to be as fit as their own personal circumstances allow them to be"

London Marathon 2009: 5hrs 18 mins 33 secs - now, we shall wait and see whether it makes any difference to my capability on a football pitch...!

Mike misses

'Oh!...ahh!!... f***kin... that is a f***ker ....... should have been 2-1'

Love it long time

*Nb. New high res footage allows you to see the goal.

Quick bit of footage from last night. More to come over the weekend if i get time.

I'd forgotten the treasure trove of comedy that is Stu's match day commentary.

Marvel at the informative 'who scored that?' in this clip. Certainly more authoritative than the usual 'Did we just score', although no match for my personal favorite, ' oh no! Player-Cam strikes again.'  No evidence of Stu's  insideofcoatpocketcam this time. Good work Marathon Man and good luck on Sunday.

Right bunch of ladyboys...

(Hmmm, actually that headline might quadruple the traffic to this blog, what with all them preverts out there...)

2-1 defeat to MHP, mirroring the 1-0 defeat to them earlier in the year in terms of margin of defeat. We got off to a sluggish start, went 1-0 down to a bit of a silly goal, but rallied well in the first half and Mickael grabbed the equaliser which I think I caught on camera, but given that half the time I thought I was recording, the camera was on standby, and vice versa, who knows?

After Mickael's goal we settled down, grew in confidence and the oppo's confidence shrank. Mickael should have scored again to make it 2-1, and again I'm pretty sure that's on video, too, so you'll be able to see that on the blog soon, if Elbows does his duty. Just as I was on the way over to the other side of the pitch to say as much to the Coach, we conceded another, even sillier goal, which turned out to be the winner. And before half time some of us forgot to act like a team again, but I won't dwell on that because I already had to dwell on it enough tonight, infuriatingly. The people involved know how I feel about it and the Coach was unambiguous when discussing it after the game.

In the second half we played some good football and really should have equalised - Perre apparently got in the way of what almost certainly would have been a Thorny headed goal and we exerted some decent pressure without quite looking like we had the cutting edge to get the goal.

Team: Lee, Elbows, Gobby, Barry, Werewolf (sub: Miami), Spudgun, Thorny, Rushy (sub: Munky), Joe (sub: Ladyboy), Dangermouse, Mickael. Sub not used: Luis
Scorer: Mickael

Then, in the Paxton afterwards, landlord Stuart insisted that he WILL run the Marathon next year, despite me giving him another opt-out. And then, while I was out of the room urinating, the DVD vendor apparently called Simon a ladyboy. I suppose the truth had to come out sooner or later. Up the Accies and, as for Sunday, in case I don't get a chance to blog again before then: BRING IT ON!!!!!!

Fantasy Football

On this podcast, esteemed bloke David Hepworth leads a brief discussion about the fact that grown men have a tendency to play professional sports in their heads, and this naturally struck a chord with me, albeit for the last almost-decade in my head I've played amateur sports, ie for the Accies, in my head, not professional sports (eg a surprise England call-up to solve the age-old left-sided problem). Before I ever scored even a 5-a-side goal for Effra, I used to fantasise about doing so on an almost daily basis - albeit the reality, when it finally came, a preposterously long-range thunderbolt vs the boringly named Gibsons, was so much better than I ever dreamt it would be.  Then, when we started playing 11-a-side, I started daydreaming about scoring a goal at that level.  My one 11-a-side goal to date was enjoyable, but it hasn't stopped me scoring far more spectacular goals in my head.  The most popular variety is the marauding run down the left flank, followed by a one-two with the left winger as I reach the penalty area.  As the ball rolls perfectly into my path I unleash a bending strike inside the far post and celebrate exactly like Justin Fashanu after his goal of the season for Norwich City vs Liverpool in 1980.

So, over to whoever's reading this: what professional sport or fantasy Accies moment do you play in your head?  Or, if you're lucky enough to be a prolific scorer for the Accies, maybe you prefer to replay glorious moments from Accies history in your head instead?  (Easier to do these days as many of our finest moments are captured on video!)

Anniversary shirts

The new anniversary shirts have been delivered.

One Nil to The Accies

Excellent performance from The Hut behind the camera as per. Captured most of the good stuff, although sadly not Barry's crossbar rattler. Have a look at Tremayne's fantastic crossfield ball to Steve in the build up to the goal - Tremayne meant it even if Steve didn't mean to shoot. At the Hut's request i've included footage of me jockeying the Grafton right winger. What can I say? There was contact, he went down. I am suitably ashamed. Check out Marathon Man rolling back the years with an old fashioned pitch invasion. That doesn't count as an appearance though Stu. 

Breakthrough at Last......

All good things come to those who wait and my god have I waited!!!

It was a very relaxed changing room before the game and that made the initial team talk easier for me to put across. We were reverting to a standard formation 0f 4-3-1-2 to try to allow for a compact team formation during defence but an expansive forward option.

Several times in the first and second half watching the lads get back to receive goal kicks nearly bought a tear to my eye as the set up was a joy to behold!!!

Great communication, teamwork, movement, passing and discipline gave us a win we have deserved for weeks and if they continue to apply themselves to the way they are asked to play as they did last night we have nothing to fear.

Well done to all the accies, I was proud of you all...

Steve definitely didn't not not mean it.

Ahhh, the blessed relief of a much needed win. But the view from the touchline, from before kick-off and all the way from whistle to whistle was that the mood was positive and the teamwork and togetherness was right there, front and centre. We acted like and played like a team and that, even more than the enjoyment of the win, was the most satisfying thing for me. Debutant keeper Lee, trying out for us, was given a warm welcome in the changing rooms from a grateful squad. Throughout the game all the talking was positive and encouraging - stern words when needed but nothing stupid, especially from one player who's let himself down in that department recently.

No tonking, then, Grafton - instead, 0-0 for 75 minutes, with some scraps of chances for the oppo, but nothing too worrying. And at the other end the Accies patiently applied themselves with some really fine incisive pass and move football. As previously Tweeted, Barry hit the bar in the first half following one of many, many expertly delivered corner balls. Strollers' lanky keeper was on fine form throughout and if he hadn't been, the scoreline would've been more impressive. But we did more than enough to deserve our slice of luck, coming in the 75th minute when Steve floated a cross towards the far post that swerved and dipped unstoppably into the top corner. I thought he'd meant it, but his stationary near-motionless celebration betrayed the fact that it had been a cross, not a shot. Didn't stop me invading the pitch and planting a smacker on his head, mind you.

A quick word about the successful use of the 4-3-1-2 formation, which enabled the midfield to boss the game and support both defence and attack. It worked a treat and brought the best out of more than one player tonight. The Coach had a good night, his pre-match and half-time talks were calm, clear and considered and his substitutions were spot-on - the one benefit of him being crocked!

Dangermouse headed a strong field of candidates for Man Of The Match for his tireless running for 90 minutes, with Gobby runner-up for the honour. Full respect to Lee Clifford for the clean sheet on his debut, too! As I said to Lee after the match: "See you next week, and the week after that, and the week after that...!" Paxton gaffer Stuart obliged with the first round of the evening, sealing a good night for the team that, at last, really played like a team tonight.

Team: Lee, Elbows, TBALT (sub: Baz), Gobby, Werewolf, Rushy (sub: Miami), Thorny, Spudgun, Joe, Mickael (sub: Luis), Perre
Scorer: Spudgun

ONLY WAY IS UP!!!!

In the first twelve games of this season we have only managed two wins an a draw wich considering how we have played in some games is quite disappointing.

As coach I will take a proportion of blame for not yet finding a language that players can understand when giving instructions (sounds like english obviuosly translates as double-dutch!).

I can see signs of improvement in specific areas and if we can gel these all together we will be capable of matching most opposition teams.................just hope to get chance before dreaded vote of confidence!!!!!! The old chestnut of injuries not helping does not matter as the remaining players are more than capable of stepping up to be counted I can give improvements for most players in squad this year............

Andrew Dade, Neil Gardener, Phil Caldwell - Improved distribution is one example

Luke Fallon, Steve Spurdens - Positional Play

Joe Sene, Graeme Were, - More confident tackling

The list could go and on it's just a case of trying tgo keep these items and blend them all with the players around to make a single coherent unit, it may take time but I am confident that all the players in this squad have the ability and hopefully the desire to turn this around in coming weeks.

A message from this week's oppo

If anyone needs help getting fired up for tomorrow evening's match, take a look at this text I received from the oppo's Gaffer, in reply to my usual "all OK for Thursday?" text message:

"Spot on. Prepare 4 a tonking!"

I suspect the mild-mannered Barry from Grafton Strollers had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he typed that out, but either way I thought you'd like to see his message!

"Left-Back Kids"

The Werewolf and any other Accies left-backs past or present might want to look away now... Clip from Danny Baker's 606 programme.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Even though last night's game ended in a disappointing 3-1 defeat, I can now see some things begining to show signs of improvement. The second half display was very encouraging as we took game to opposition and unsettled them with some good play as well as pressing space and nicking 50/50 balls.

Against an oppo that was a lot more mobile (age a significant factor there though) we tried to cut off routes to goal and it began to take shape.

Significant performances from Mesner, Sene, Gardener, McDonald were overshadowed by a good battling first game back for Graeme 'Werewolf' Were but even that was surpassed by the 'Big hairy Cornflake' Dave Rudd who offered to go between the sticks and was inspirational, although he may have dug himself bit of whole while we search for keeper in coming weeks.

A mention for Billy Monckton who formed oppo for game at short notice and again was quite afactor in his teams win and hopefully will bring that form forward to our upcoming fixtures.

For the first time this year I am begining to look forward to games as I can see improvements all over park and when it clicks it will be a good sight to see.

Score Draw

 Footage of Ant's last game before his move to Northampton.

Have a look at Perre's excellent goal.

The last 10 minutes: text update!

10.03pm: I wish I could type faster. Mott just shot into the side netting. It's all over! 2-2!

10pm: Not long left, surely we can get this draw and end the little run of defeats. Last time we played Mott it ended 4-4, so another draw on the cards. Coach Robertshaw is shouting: "Stop panicking" Lots of defending going on, with the Accies trying to attack on the break.

9.58pm: Controversy! Referee Henry blows for time, with the lights still on and maybe 5 mins to go. Good sense prevails and the match is restarted. Good grief. The Hut is explaining some weird Accies keeping mix-up to me, I can't follow it.

9.57pm: Brilliant, that was brilliant! Someone slid a ball in and Perre smacked it in from about six yards out.

9.56pm: Billy's making a run and The Hut says he's worse than Wally Waller! One for the Norwich fans, there. Luis is indeed on the pitch, GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!

9.55pm: Right, let's see how easy it is to type while The Hut talks me through the closing stages. Ah, speakerphone will surely come in handy.

9.52pm: As I type, Anthony has just received his hero's farewell, so young Anton is in goal and Mr Emery's Accies career has come to an end, at least in the 'turning up week in, week out' sense. A hearty round of applause is the least this Accies legend deserves. So long and thanks for all the saves - hopefully there'll be other opportunities for Ant to play for the Accies again in the coming months and years.

Live Update!

Well, what else can I do when I'm stuck at home, under the thumb, instead of cheering from the touchline?! With half an hour to go, we're 2-1 down, having gone 1-0 down early doors, then equalised thanks to a Thorny goal following a long throw, only to go in at half-time 2-1 down.

A third successive goal from a long throw - Stoke City, eat yer heart out.

The starting line-up was: North-Ants, Elbows, TBALT, Munky, Gobby, Miami, Thorny, Joe, Shaky, Rushy, Dangermouse. Barry has come on for Luke, Spudgun has come on for Andy Dade and while I received the latest news from touchline reporter The Hut, I heard the Coach telling Luis to get warmed up. I believe that later in the game Anthony will be subbed to a hearty round of applause, bringing to an end a glorious era of goalkeeping from the one and only No 1. Gutted that I won't be there to join in for that.

So hopefully we can keep our concentration and bag at least an equaliser - failing that, anything less than conceding 5 goals again would be nice... Come on you Accies!

Early lead vs Wycliffe

We lulled Wycliffe into a false sense of insecurity with these two early goals last week.

Thanks as ever to the Hut, who kept kept the film rolling throughout  last week's horror show.