The Longlevens Stadium Fairies
There is a surreal start to the day for Wixey, Harris, Hickey and Jones senior as they arrive at Longlevens together to help erect the stadium only to find the pre-dawn fairies have beaten them to it. Both pitches are surrounded by advertising boards, have goals and nets in position as well as all flags, benches, ropes and even bins all perfectly placed and readied for the day’s encounters.
All four are a little bemused as to how the fairies, sprites and imps are able to complete the task before their 7:30 arrival and then they immediately bemoan the missed opportunity for another hour in bed.
As the boys begin to arrive the threat of rain was growing, really pleasing Mullers who had apparently made his mum take him to the hairdressers that morning to have his locks shorn and styled into a work of art that would not appreciate the impending downpour. Fish turned up wine gum-less for his repeated flouting of the training top rule, stating he does not even know what they are. The coaches were not amused but at least their diets would remain intake for another week.
Once a minutes silence had been observed, the Geoff Richards Trophy game with London side Brent got underway. Gloucester pressed from the off and were encamped for the majority of the first half in the Londoner’s end. Jones, who was predominant throughout the entire game, was first to have a strike on goal, but the ‘keeper saved well. Mason’s header following a corner lacked the required power to score and then Kennedy somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar from 2 metres out after good work by Villiers and Bee. As the rain began to tumble you could be forgiven in thinking it was going to be one of those days but Kennedy had other ideas and made amends by this time converting Bee’s cross to give the homeside the lead. Fisher soon doubled the advantage, again after good work from Bee before provider Bee got in on the scoring act by slotting in the third Fisher swept in the fourth and his second before Taylor added to his collection of goal of the season contenders with a fine strike from distance to give the yellows a five goal lead at the interval and the rain more chance to soak everyone.
In the second half Gloucester were guilty of playing as individuals with all trying to rather than the continue with the quick interchange football that had brought them so much success in the first half. This resulted in fewer opportunities being created and allowed Brent back into the game. Boakes who had been a virtual spectator in the first half was called upon to make two saves to maintain a clean sheet. Gloucester did however add two goals to their tally, Villier’s driving run from the half way line wide on the right was slotted past the keeper with aplomb by the striker and Kennedy nabbed the seventh to complete a convincing seven goal victory.
The Brent boys did their district proud during the after match meal by not only clearing up all their plates but also all of the sauce bottles and condiments as well. I did not have the heart to put them right and waited until they were gone before putting them all back. A real credit to coaches and families.
For once Balala was not last out of the changing room. Taylor was not only last but was completely unable to dress himself appropriately. His short term target of reducing the number of touches he takes when on the ball has been replaced with learning to button up his shirt, clip on a tie and put his socks on. Listening to commands is now a distant third target for him. Maybe he needs to take a leaf out of his captain’s and coaches books by being more self reliant and responsible. Incidentally, the items left behind this week were: a training top with a yellow G1 (Captain Bulley) on it and a pair of black gloves that would fit someone just like coach Harris. Perhaps the Longlevens fairies would have found them and put them back in their bags for them!
Dory (Boakes), Bambi (Mason), DLM, Deep Lying Midfield – he hates playing defence so we tell him it’s DLM… in line with the other defenders (Werner), Bully (Ball), Lord Fartquaad (Jones), Rowling (Kennedy), Balala (Bee), Fish (Fisher), JV (Villiers), Piglet (Taylor), Mullers (Mulraney)
All four are a little bemused as to how the fairies, sprites and imps are able to complete the task before their 7:30 arrival and then they immediately bemoan the missed opportunity for another hour in bed.
As the boys begin to arrive the threat of rain was growing, really pleasing Mullers who had apparently made his mum take him to the hairdressers that morning to have his locks shorn and styled into a work of art that would not appreciate the impending downpour. Fish turned up wine gum-less for his repeated flouting of the training top rule, stating he does not even know what they are. The coaches were not amused but at least their diets would remain intake for another week.
Once a minutes silence had been observed, the Geoff Richards Trophy game with London side Brent got underway. Gloucester pressed from the off and were encamped for the majority of the first half in the Londoner’s end. Jones, who was predominant throughout the entire game, was first to have a strike on goal, but the ‘keeper saved well. Mason’s header following a corner lacked the required power to score and then Kennedy somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar from 2 metres out after good work by Villiers and Bee. As the rain began to tumble you could be forgiven in thinking it was going to be one of those days but Kennedy had other ideas and made amends by this time converting Bee’s cross to give the homeside the lead. Fisher soon doubled the advantage, again after good work from Bee before provider Bee got in on the scoring act by slotting in the third Fisher swept in the fourth and his second before Taylor added to his collection of goal of the season contenders with a fine strike from distance to give the yellows a five goal lead at the interval and the rain more chance to soak everyone.
In the second half Gloucester were guilty of playing as individuals with all trying to rather than the continue with the quick interchange football that had brought them so much success in the first half. This resulted in fewer opportunities being created and allowed Brent back into the game. Boakes who had been a virtual spectator in the first half was called upon to make two saves to maintain a clean sheet. Gloucester did however add two goals to their tally, Villier’s driving run from the half way line wide on the right was slotted past the keeper with aplomb by the striker and Kennedy nabbed the seventh to complete a convincing seven goal victory.
The Brent boys did their district proud during the after match meal by not only clearing up all their plates but also all of the sauce bottles and condiments as well. I did not have the heart to put them right and waited until they were gone before putting them all back. A real credit to coaches and families.
For once Balala was not last out of the changing room. Taylor was not only last but was completely unable to dress himself appropriately. His short term target of reducing the number of touches he takes when on the ball has been replaced with learning to button up his shirt, clip on a tie and put his socks on. Listening to commands is now a distant third target for him. Maybe he needs to take a leaf out of his captain’s and coaches books by being more self reliant and responsible. Incidentally, the items left behind this week were: a training top with a yellow G1 (Captain Bulley) on it and a pair of black gloves that would fit someone just like coach Harris. Perhaps the Longlevens fairies would have found them and put them back in their bags for them!
Dory (Boakes), Bambi (Mason), DLM, Deep Lying Midfield – he hates playing defence so we tell him it’s DLM… in line with the other defenders (Werner), Bully (Ball), Lord Fartquaad (Jones), Rowling (Kennedy), Balala (Bee), Fish (Fisher), JV (Villiers), Piglet (Taylor), Mullers (Mulraney)
