Friday is a funny day, really; it conjures up so many wonderful memories. For example, when I was a child Friday was the day of fish suppers from the Chippy; when at Grammar school Friday was the day that marked the end of another gruelling week and welcomed the fast approaching evening at youth club. Only one thing has changed about the regular occurrence of the day called Friday – the emergence of the regular glorious game called football.
Two of our comrades in football boots, Jonny "Always a Waster" Martin and Tommy "Woody" McClaine, have left the local postcode area and headed to somewhere that probably doesn't even have a postcode, namely the Philippines. We publicly want wish our friends all the very best, safe travels, happy times and a very Merry Christmas. We're missin' ya lads!
Due to the absence, new recruits to the Friday game were sought. After being sought, they were found. These new recruits were (in no particular order): Neil "Square Ball" Gill, Jake "Safety First" McMahon and Ben "Rookie" Connolly. All three settled in to the game well. Gill was popping shots in from left, right, yes and even centre. McMahon was running faster than a fast runner and slotting in some impossible shots to keep his team ahead in the game. Connolly being the youngest, shortest and lightest person on the field of concrete was up against it but he met the challenge head on with some simply splendid play setting up his team mates for shots.
The regulars didn't know what hit them! Well, Mark "Forever the Victim" Ingram knew precisely what him when McMahon launched the big yellow ball toward his butt at no less than the speed of a bullet. The poor boy still can't sit down properly without feeling the sting. Pete "Eagle Eye" McCausland was our striker in defence – having noticed that his team was losing, he humbly took a defensive role and was key in preventing a very one-sided score line. Craig "The Governor" Allan and Joe "Stock" Walls played an excellent game: Guv with some good holding of the ball and keeping; Joe with great tackles and strong shooting.
Unfortunately, the team-of-more-regulars couldn't defeat the might of the team-of-more-new-comers. As this reporter has already mentioned, McMahon and Connolly were superb in their fancy footballing footwork, and their team mates were equally impressive. Tim "Baron" Matchett was stronger than a 300-year-old tree in central defence; the few who passed him did so by shear excellence and nothing less. Sammy "Romeo" Brownlee had a dose of the runs... during every play he was making a run forward that cut through his opposition like a hot knife through butter. And Hugh "Action" Wallace! What can I say about Hugh?! His commanding presence in nets was something to be awed at. No matter how many shots were squarely aimed at his net, he almost always was right there to make the save.
It is Sunday afternoon as I write; the match happened on Friday afternoon. As such, I have forgotten the score line. I think it was the team-of-more-newcomers who scraped the win in the end. In my opinion, the difference between the teams was not as much a matter of skill as it was perseverance in defending. The losers were too keen on moving forward but not just as eager at moving back when the dynamic of play shifted.
Winners
Hugh "Action" Wallace for his superb goal keeping skills.