1000 goals

Here's some of the footage from last night's game. Don't know if it's a sign of progress that people were so upset that we only managed to draw, or if it signals a return of the Accies Panto season. Let's hope it's the former.

  My approach will be to ask myself what i can do next week to help my teammates win rather than to dwell on who's fault it was that we didn't win this week.

  Big thanks to Baz for taking some great footage and to Junior for  coming down and playing in his least favourite position. Really nice to see Mickael again too. Luke performed a sterling job in his dual role as both  director of the communication centre and Barmy Army stalwart.

 Thanks to Greg and Perre for taking the time and trouble to help arrange extra cover for the squad. Everyone's contribution is appreciated and noted. Finally, huge thanks to Tremayne for helping out by  filling in for our absent coach. In my view it's no accident that our good run of form has coincided with the additional support Tremayne has provided for the coaching staff since his injury.

  We all have different views  and can learn from each other. Let's push on and win next week. After all, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum....

p.s  think we all got nervous when Gobby asked for  a pot of vaseline after the Grafton number 12 elbowed him in the head. Was Gobby seeking medical assistance or was he planning to exact terrible revenge on his assailant? 

  

goal 1000

I remember it so clearly. I'd just been subbed, I was strolling to find my water, couldn't locate either my bag or bottle, panicing, I found it 5 yards away from where I thought it was. There was a yell, players were running back to the half way line, arms in the air, the 1000th goal had been scored and I bloody missed it! Still inspired substitution though.

The Tricky Live Text Update!

10.10pm: 1-1, full-time. All to play for in the MI Cup group. Well played lads, 1pt on the board, could've been better but could've been worse! One final meaningless stat to finish with: October 2009 has been the most active month yet in terms of blog posts: 32 new entries this month, beating the previous record of 31. Thanks to everyone who's posted and if anyone out there who hasn't posted before would like to do so, give me a shout!

9.59pm: We've been under pressure for most of the second half apparently, but as Luke answered the phone just then we almost scored. On one of our counterattacking moves, Joe attempted to chip the keeper, whose 1oft height (apparently) enabled him to just tip the ball over the bar.

9.40pm: As well as the crucial points in the MI Cup that are at stake, there's a meaningless statistic now hanging in the balance - we've never previously lost to Grafton Strollers. There are precious few teams about whom I can say that, and certainly none that we've played as often as we've played Grafton. I think this is the sixth or seventh time we've played them and we've won all but one of our previous encounters, the other having been drawn 1-1. With 18 minutes to go I don't think any Accies player would be prepared to settle for the draw...

9.35pm: 1-1. Free-kick came in and was parried away by Junior, but a Grafton player was first to the ball and headed it, I think, in. Subs news: Luis came on for Joe and Phill came on for Dave in the first half. Mickael has just gone on for Greg.

9.30pm: Update from pitchside - Neil G received a cut to the head just before half-time, but is playing on, Terry Butcher/Paul Ince-like. We're currently under a bit of pressure, but we're holding firm.

9.23pm: Might phone TBALT for a match report so far, as the tension is starting to get to me. We're possibly 37 minutes away from 3pts in the MI Cup. Must find out where and when Grafton vs Mott is taking place in case it's convenient to attend. Could be a crucial match in determining whether we progress to the Quarter Finals. In the interests of keeping the footy cliches coming, I should point out that if we do manage to prevail tonight, our destiny will be in our own hands. Wahey.

9.09pm: 1-0!!! Simon Mesner. Long ball forward, headed flick-on from Greg Rainey and Simon ran on to it and slid the ball into the net. 1,000, just done it! And with that goal the Accies No 10 moves level with Gary White as top all-time 11-a-side goalscorer for Effra Academicals with 31 goals. And one closer to Thorny in the race for the 2009 Golden Boot - Lex has 11 and Shaky is now knocking on the Green Door in This Ole House behind which the Golden Boot is being kept, that analogy really doesn't work... anyway, Simon has 10 goals.

9pm: Well, we still await the 1,000th Accies goal (perhaps, like the first ever Accies goal, it'll be an OG?) but at least we can safely say we're doing better than in our first MI Cup group game in 2008. I think we were 3-0 down by now.

8.50pm: Junior in goal, Phil C at RB, Dave and Lee CB, Neil G at LB, Perre RW, Andy T and Sam CM, Joe LW, Greg and Simon up front (Greg playing "off" Simon. Bench: Luis, Phill A, Mickael. 0-0 after 20 minutes, the passing is "a bit scrappy" but " we're trying to play football".

8.40pm: Will there be a cup upset? I wonder.

8.30pm: First Contact has been made with a crocked player, a Mr Luke John Fallon, no 14, who is unsure as yet of the starting line-up on account of still being on a bus to the venue. He's "a few minutes away" and so, therefore, is any useful information.

8.23pm: Am now unsure of who, pitchside, will be providing me with info, because my usual reporter, Dade A, is in EN8 and is, in fact, the "you" that the previous sentence refers to. Shall wait until after kick-off and start badgering injured Accies.

8.20pm: Hoping to bring you (who am I kidding? There is no "you") the starting line-up soon.

8.11pm: Son and heir is now upstairs with the Board Of Directors. They're watching something called The Restaurant together. Feel free to contact Social Services. Before the next Accies tie I am going to have to run and/or swim off the 32oz steak I ate earlier today, otherwise I may resemble the cow I just consumed.

7.57pm: Am feeling slightly less guilty about missing The Big Match as I am actually a poorly chap - the usual throaty virus - so I'd have been a bystander tonight even if I had made it to Palace. Am intrigued to know the starting line-up and cautiously optimistic about our chances tonight.

7.53pm: This one won't be easy because the son and heir is still wide awake, having been allowed a major lunchtime kip in order to ensure total cooperation and cuteness out for an early evening meal with Nanny and Grandad Dade, Uncle Rick, Aunty Jenny And Cousin Bump. So his finger is literally on the mousepad as I type, making this a tricky task...

Excited all round!

It's Thursday, its 10.30am, already I'm getting my kit together, and have that slightly sick feeling in my stomach I only get on match days. Later, during the warm up it'll turn into a full blown retch, which I used to put down to eating too close to kick off, but since I cut that out, I know it's pre match excitment(I do'nt get nervous!!). This is a typical non work day pre match routine, I'll leave ridiculously early, as for some reason the 6.15 train does not stop at my station, and try to enjoy the 1.5 to 2 hours journey through the tail end of the rush hour to Palace. Work days will see me leave Welwyn Garden at 17.21, and enjoy the much quicker, but more hectic train/tube bonanza. It used to be so easy, 2mins walk from house through the car park, arrive at pitch side, even living in Bromley it was a 40min bus ride. How do other long distance Accies make it on a Thursday?
I'm equally excited to hear rumours of the return of the Dutch games. They are easily the pinnicle of any Accies season. The first year I played, myself Luke and Ant were asked by a Dutch waitress why we were in Holland, we told her playing football, she asked us if we were professionals! Gza put me and Sue up in a themed hotel, unfortunately Sue's vertigo prevented us sleeping in the jungle room, and we were woken very early on match day by one of those giant pipe organs outside. We enjoyed post match bitteballen, made out of shit supposedly, oh and I scored twice in a 3-1 win!! Bring it back ASAP

Emergency! 999!

Clearly the last thing anyone needs on the day of a crucial cup match is the distraction of a meaningless statistic. So look away now, strikers. Because the Accies have scored 999 recorded goals and so, maths fans, our first goal tonight will be the 1,000th in the club's history. Maybe everyone should be wearing vests underneath the Accies tops with "1,000 - just done it" and a Nike swoosh? No, definitely not - nothing would be a greater guarantee of us drawing a blank in front of goal.

Not sure where I'm going to be later, so the thrill-a-minute typo-fest that is the Live Text Update might not happen tonight. But I'll be in mobile contact with the Barmy Army of injured Accies and I demand good news! Good luck lads - and thanks in advance to any fellas that come and help us out. Up the Accies!

Accies in MI Cup strong squad shock

Against all the odds it looks like we've actually got a strong squad for this week's cup game. Joe is now available , so we should have  a strong  first 11 plus at least 2 subs.

Greg's brother in law Charlie is available if needed.

Return of the Anglo Dutch Cup?

 2010 could be the year that the Dutch mount  a belated challenge for the cup that was won in dramatic style by the Accies in 2007.

More details to follow over the next few weeks.

Also in the pipeline - possible 3 team tournament in Durham - Lots of football fun, and we may even get to stay in a castle.

Plans are still at a very early stage.

All i need you to do now is let me know whether you're up for a trip to Holland and/or the North East. Events are likely to take place in the spring and autumn of 2010.

Two-Two

Good goal from Mes.

I'll put more highlights on the blog over the next week if i get time

nil-one, one-one.

Here's Claxton's first goal and Sam's swift response.

plenty more good footage. 

Thanks to Miami for some excellent camerawork.

A Game too far....

I suppose the best that can be said about last night's 2-4 defeat was that when we played, we played well and when we didn't we were punished. All in all I don't think we deserved to lose the game on the balance of play as we created a fair few chances throughout the match but finishing was our nemesis yet again.

We need to be more clinical in front of goal when chances arise, as well as being more selective about when to pass and when to shoot. When we attack with confidence we are very threatening but on many occasions we give away the ball too easily and instead of trying to wrestle back possession we leave the defence exposed to breaks and there is only so much they can do before being breached.

Hopefully players will be contemplating this prior to next weeks MI Cup match and these errorswill start to be eradicated.

Injury time

I have about 10 minutes before I need to leave Now Towers and head for Palace, so I thought I'd knock up a quick post before setting off to face Claxton.  I wanted to say how great it is when injured Accies attend matches, lending their support either in practical ways (assisting the Coach with tactical shenanigans; videoing the action) or just as Barmy Army members, shouting encouragement.  It shows terrific commitment to the cause when a crocked player comes down to stay involved - and believe me, that commitment is noted by those of us who are "running" the club.  I know how it feels to be on the sidelines as I missed a couple of months back in 2005 with a horrible shoulder injury.  Sadly my video work at the time left a great deal to be desired (Phil will testify - he says my efforts are 'comedy gold', which wasn't the effect I was aiming for).

So if you're out of action at the moment or, heaven forbid, at any time in the future, please do keep turning up at the True Theatre Of Dreams (still don't accept Man Utd's hijacking of that title for their home) - it means a lot to those of us out on the pitch and it shows tremendous commitment.  Right, got to go!  Up the Accies!

full highlights

Best make a brew and put your feet up for this one - it's quite a long clip.

There's loads more good footage that'll probably end up in an end of year or anniversary DVD,

In truth, the quality of the camerawork surpasses that of the football but i hope the film reflects that it was an enjoyable, friendly game.

Oscar speaks

....just about.  Great to see Oscar on Saturday. From the evidence of this interview it looks like he had to go deep into the red zone to pull out what was an excellent performance.

Penalty shootout

Here's the penalty shootout.My favourite moments include Gobby's emphatic penalty and the look on Ant's face when he realises he's going to have to go and fetch the ball after Oscar blazes high and wide. Also, couldn't help enjoying Billy's superlative 'Mr Burns' impression - at least Billy had his mate Alex there to...ahem.. console him.

Highlights of the actual game to follow in the next few hours or possibly days.

Also - don't think we actually decided on names for the 2 teams in the end - any suggestions?

I've always liked Real Ale Madrid as a sunday league name.

Free Blue Peter badge for winning entry.

Post match interview

Steve and Mes start a rumour in this short clip

Goal?

For what it's worth I think this footage shows that Tremayne was correct in his decision not to award Steve's 'goal' on Saturday.  

There's lots more great footage from Saturday's anniversary match - Big thanks to Mes for his sterling work behind the camera. 

Thanks to everyone who came on Saturday to play and to watch the game.

I'll put more footage on the Blog tomorrow if i get time.

Anniversary Match Day Programme

Here's the plan:

Two 45min 11 a side fixtures tomorrow.

2pm Current Accies XI vs Oppo XI

3pm Dinamo Bar Pitch XI vs Streatham North End XI

If either tie is level after 45 mins , a penalty shootout will decide the winner.

Hopefully everyone will be able to play in both fixtures. The first fixture is self explanatory. For the second fixture, attendees will be split into 2 squads to form the 2 sides.

Should be a great afternoon - emphasis is on having a bit of fun, not winning at all costs. . Strictly no dodgy tackles and no handbags.

Please all turn up by 1.30pm , so we can be ready to kick off at 2pm.

Up the Accies!

Grafton Strollers Full Time Score just in...

"4-1 F-T. Coach with last kick of the game"

Grafton Stroller Live Score Update (21:58)

"3-1 up. Perre 2, Thorny 1"

A non-statistical post!

To win 7-3 in a game full of attacking football is a marvellous way to spend a Thursday evening in London.

Let's talk about goals but not the ones you think I mean. Sam's goal owed much to his 'bust a gut' run after the ball was cleared from the corner. If you watch the video, Phil (I think) hit a great clearance from our box to the half way line. I thought I could get the ball and had two go's at the defender, the second one knocking the ball away from him a couple of paces and making him stumble. However, I was on the wrong side of him to get there easily and thought that he'd recover before I could get the ball. But like a cross between a giraffe and a cheetah, Sam arrived at great speed and left the 1860 defenders trailing in his wake. I was running to his left and just behind him so had a great view of him looking up to see where I was, clocking the 'keeper then shaping for the shot and putting it high in the net (in a similar way to Joe's goal two weeks ago). It was a lovely finish but his alertness from the clearance and his great run gave him the opportunity.

Perre's goal was well deserved as in the second half he gave the Lambeth boys a roasting (not the type the tabloids associate footballers with) particularly down our right flank. The finish with his side foot on the run, ahead of his marker was highly skilled. But let's not forget the assist from Joe, a delicious curling left foot low cross from the left wing after a sprint down that side following good approach play from both players previously in the build up.

I also enjoyed two comments at half time. Neill described a gap in the opposition's defence as 'a fucking big fucking hole'. I'm not sure exactly how large this is but it sounds enormous. Andy Thornes then called the Lambeth back line, 'Slugs'. I'm sure he meant they were slow rather than they were leaving silver trails behind them. It reminded me of David Brent after he has been told off by Neil Godwin, the new boss from the other office, referring to the 'Swindon lot' as 'little slugs'.

Here's hoping for more goals and a few more comedy comments this week.

A largely meaningless table, posted purely to see what it looks like and to 'prove' that we're on 991 goals...

Year	Pl	Won	Drwn	Lost	For	Against
1999	30	2	2	26	17	77
2000	92	16	14	62	60	161
2001	181	38	46	97	131	303
2002	194	29	47	118	128	356
2003	112	39	29	44	150	180
2004	47	18	6	23	128	179
2005	41	8	7	26	68	140
2006	62	19	10	33	111	174
2007	34	11	4	19	81	98
2008	38	8	4	26	65	123
2009	33	7	6	20	52	104
Totals	864	195	175	494	991	1,895

Stats: The Big One

OK, a quick one before I turn in for the night.  By my reckoning (ably assisted by Excel's ability to count), in all matches across all forms of the game (we've played 5-a-side, 8-a-side, 9-a-side and 11-a-side over the years) for all the many teams under what I traditionally call 'the Effra Academicals umbrella', a total of 991 goals have been recorded as scored.

Some might say it's a somewhat arbitrary figure, as it includes goals from a couple of ad hoc 5-a-side mini-tournos down at Elmers End in 2006, where we split into 3 teams and had a competition, but for my money those games/goals count as the matches were refereed and the results were recorded for my "official" stats document.  Besides, the mere fact that I've managed to figure this out before we pass the milestone is, in my sad existence, tremendous news!

So, does anyone think there should be some prize for the player who scores what I shall refer to as the 1,000th Accies goal?  And if so, what?  And how would you feel if we were on 999 goals and you stepped up to take a penalty?  Yikes.  In the meantime, I'll do my best to double check the total before we get any closer to it!

Just to keep Stu on his toes....

Just been looking over few stats(some good, some bad), and just have few points to stick in with a view to upcoming games...

Over the last ten games our win percentage is 40% which is extremely encouraging we have also scored more than we have conceded (32-28) so we are averaging 3.2 goals per game! Our overall win percentage for the year is 21.2% but our current loss percentage is 60%. This is mainly down to a very poor middle section of the year in May and June where we only managed two draws in nine games.

But the way we have rallied together since this period and have started performing to our capability is a testament to the desire of the players witin the squad and long may it continue.

It's all looking good.....in da accies hood!

7-3, it's been a while since that sort of scoreline has been in our favour, but if it was ever deserved last Thursday was it. An absolutely superb all round team performance even given 'The Mighty Mes Show' on the goal front!

A very slow start from us, which was something we had not suffered from for a while, cost us a poor goal for which everyone shared the blame. This was just the catalyst we needed to burst into life, the movement at times when attacking was mesmerising and the passing matched at times to make us extremely difficult to defend against.

Again, the defence were outstanding as we were under pressure for several periods throughout the game, yet Lee and those in front of him repelled wave after wave of oppo attack. Each time we were under the cosh we were also very threatening on the break (Sam goal and Mes slide shot are examples of this).

Again the signs are very encouraging as our run of form continues to impress. Thanks to asst coach Tremayne for his handling of the game again judging subs with great finesse.

Long term signs are good with Andy Dade on the road to recovery as well as Tremayne and hopefully Graeme and Bobby not too far off the selection headaches will continue.......unfortunately now I have lost a form player in Mr Sene for a month at least but that is for reasons we are all happy for and wish them all the best.

Up the Accies

1x marauding run as per request

Stu - Here at 'The Accies Blog'  we value  feedback from our readers.

I'm sorry that on this occasion you felt that your contribution  to the team's performance was not adequately reflected in the weekly highlights package. Whilst not seeking to excuse this editorial failure,  'The Accies Blog ' would like to point  out  that Mrs Elbows was due back from the shops any minute, resulting in a curtailment of the usual quality auditing process. 

 I hope that this clip goes some way to restoring your confidence in 'The Accies Blog'

Goals galore

By the miracle of  modern technology - here are the full second half highlights - coming to you like a digital phoenix from the flames. Perre's goal, a couple of near misses, an 1860 O.g and  the 3rd and 4th goals from Mes. Phew!

Some Footage retrieved

Managed to retrieve the build up to  the first goal of the second half

'ave it Sam

Thanks to Miami for capturing this footage  of Sam's great goal last night.

Unfortunately it  seems that Miami taped over footage Mes's fantastic four goal haul whilst filming  Mes's  semi nude speech. Sorry Mes. On the plus side I could make a few copies and get the DVD lady to sell it on as mild gay porn*. - few quid for the club - everyone's a winner.

*In response to feedback from Mes, the Accies Blog would like to Apologise unreservedly to the Accies number 10 for any distress caused. We are happy to concede that the semi nude footage of Mes could equally be marketed as straight porn for a female audience. In fact, good idea.... 

Random ramblings for 10 minutes

A few quick thoughts...

1. Nice 10th anniversary win, fellas.

2. Thanks for understanding re: the postponement of certain aspects of the anniversary do (all invited guests will receive email confirmation of the New Plan today). It probably helped that you all heard the news from a man (Mes) standing in his pants.  It kept the heckling to a minimum because we all just wanted it to be over... Elbows wasn't far off the mark (as usual) when he said "the day will be exactly the same, but without the speeches" - the truth is that the evening do, when it happens in January, will be much, much more than just a couple of speeches.  It'll be a truly fitting celebration of 10 years of this mighty club.  But for the time being, Saturday 17 October will do nicely.  We want as many players and spectators as possible for 2-4pm in the stadium, then all back to our favourite pub/nemesis (delete as applicable).  Elbows is considering an Accies "what happened next?" DVD quiz!

3. Enjoyed Joe's impersonation of Surrey Envelopes' "Fat Gazza" last night, and also listening to a few Blue Flag Sunday league "war stories".  I always enjoy the Blue Flag tales but I also enjoy the fact that the ex-Blue Flaggers are now playing football at a level where punch-ups and other acts of stupidity are foreign things!  Does that makes sense?  Well, I know what I mean, anyway.

4. Enjoyed the levels of positivity last night.  Although it helped that we managed to go in at half-time 2-1 up, not 1-0 or even 2-0 down!  We would've rightly been given a verbal kicking after 45 mins if Simon's goals hadn't turned the game around!  We deserved the first-half goals because as I recall, Joe forced a good save, the Coach stabbed a shot agonisingly wide and Simon had at least one other first-half chance, if not two, on top of the brace he scored - but my word, we needed the brace he scored.  It must've hurt 1860 Lambeth to have been so much on top of us, only to end up 4-1 down not far into the 2nd half.  Ouch.  When 1860 made it 4-2, I heard one of their lads say "Come on, we can do this," and remembering Accies comebacks in the past (0-3 down against the Dutch, anyone?) I did shudder at the thought that in football, anything's possible.  Luckily Sam made it 5-2 very soon after that Lambeth call to arms (and congrats Sam for a well deserved and emphatically taken debut goal).

5.  Anyone else in the club an Excel geek?  I've just started work on an Excel stats document to replace my current document which is basically a long-hand list of results and line-ups etc.  I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to Excel, so if you know the tips and tricks, let me know and I'll email you the document, albeit it's very much a work in progress!

6. Son and heir is, not unreasonably, demanding attention.  So I'm off.  Up the Accies!

Dietz turn

In a vain attempt to get cracking with an anniversary film, i've  dusted off a few clips from the Accies' video vault. Here's some footage from a few years ago.

Photos

Here are some of the excellent photos taken by Joe on Thursday.

Just Bad Luck

Well, what can I say, in my personal opinion we were extremely unlucky in our latest contest with Dolphin. To lose 2-0 considering our performance is a little hard to take, but that's football.

Dolphin were always going to pull out the stops considering last week's game and the inclusion of John Lizou proved that they wanted to turn us over in revenge!

However we were not about to let them have it their own way and defended resolutely througout the game with the back four doing their upmost to preserve our current run, unfortunately we were undone by two clinical finishes by Mr Lizou.

Throughout the game we defended well and attacked very well, we mixed up our approach play and passing ranges and kept Dolphin guessing all the way, turning thier defence on a multitude of occasions just to find our luck was out, two dodgy offside decisions, a missed penalty and a goalie on form kept us from a deserved victory.

Well played to all and to Tremayne for his handling of the game from the sideline.

C.S.I

Hard to believe that Dolphin actually protested against the ref's decision to award  a pen. For the record it was definitely a  foul, certainly in the area and probably constituted an actual crime.

The ref was in no doubt - He pointed to the spot before Greg could get his Tazer out. 

He shoots...but he doesn't score!

Sorry Andy, but couldn't help posting this picture of your penalty being saved last night!