Boots 'n' All
Before
For the only time in recorded history, Lansdown is dry on a footballing Saturday. For the 247th time, it’s an early-morning search for the two Colditz-like changing rooms that are actually open. For the first time this season, Simpson packs all his clothes neatly in the top of his kit bag before realising his warm-up top’s at the bottom. It won’t be the last time. Croose doesn’t pack all his clothes neatly in his kit bag and, in the absence of a Persian rug, stands on his once-white shirt while changing into his playing kit. At least he hasn’t got his boots on yet.
Brockbank and Bevan enter into a rather strange pact that means they’ve agreed that neither will head the ball today for fear of ruffling one of their perfectly gelled hair follicles. Hine and Curtis emerge as the coaches’ favourite players due to their propensity for wearing traditional black boots. Ansermoz also wears black footwear. Bennett has a pair of off-white ‘Alan Ball’ slippers, Croose a pair of greys with a horrid yellow Nike tick lurking on the side. Milton, Ali and the hair-do twins stand together in a poor impression of a rainbow with no gold at its miserable end, while Beaumont (bright blue) and Simpson (bright pink) model footwear so horrible, Coach Wilson spends most of the pre-match soiree on the other side of the fire exit, wearing an out of sight, out of mind expression that says it all without uttering a single word.
During
We defend for 13 of the 15 minutes against Swansea A and win 1-0, Bennett’s pass and Croose’s fine finish the key moment. We attack for 13 of the 15 minutes against Bath and win 1-0, Croose’s cross and Ali’s far post finish decisive. It’s pretty much even-Stevens against Swansea B, but Bennett’s slide rule is accurate to a fault and Hine’s perfectly struck sizzler makes for a goal worthy of winning any game.
The display against Gloucester B, who are the better side, requires few words and none that a family audience might appreciate, while Newport attack for 13 of the 15 minutes, only for Hine to play in Ali for a very composed winner. Newbury take the lead in the final game, but Curtis clips in Croose and it’s 1-1; we top the group and along with Swansea A & B and Gloucester B, go through to Finals Day in a few months’ time. Today, for more reasons than one, Lansdown is indeed a happy place.
Thoughts
Ansermoz has a good day in goal, quickly off his line and standing up well to make several close-range saves. Distribution is, euphemistically, interesting.
Overall, we defend pretty tightly. Brockbank is reliable throughout and strides forward impressively at times when playing on the right. Simpson reads the game nicely, demonstrating the positives of being pretty much two-footed. Ali’s pace serves him well in both positions played and Curtis displays a cultured left boot that can both defend and attack. And, thankfully, it’s a black one.
In midfield, when we move the ball early, we look good; when we don’t, we look and are poor. Milton can see a pass and covers impressively when the full back pushes on, Bevan and Beaumont are bundles of central midfield energy, Bennett’s passing is both impressive and creative, while Hine can see a pass (and a shot) too. Up front, Croose causes problems with his pace and finishing ability.
One question for everyone, really. Can I impose myself on the game? If I’m playing at the back, can I be the defender that the attackers don’t want to play against? If I’m playing in midfield, can I get up and back, win the ball, then put my team on the attack? If I’m playing up front, can I move early, upset the defenders and be a constant threat?
And wherever I play, can I do the simple things well? Football, like life, is a simple game that we contrive to make difficult. The All Blacks’ mantra that they endeavour to do the basics as well as they possibly can has stood them in pretty good stead over the course of time. First class basics. Now there’s a revolutionary thought. And good old- fashioned black boots. Now there’s another one.
Gloucester A: Ansermoz; Ali, Brockbank, Simpson, Curtis; Milton, Bennett, Bevan, Beaumont, Hine; Croose.
For the only time in recorded history, Lansdown is dry on a footballing Saturday. For the 247th time, it’s an early-morning search for the two Colditz-like changing rooms that are actually open. For the first time this season, Simpson packs all his clothes neatly in the top of his kit bag before realising his warm-up top’s at the bottom. It won’t be the last time. Croose doesn’t pack all his clothes neatly in his kit bag and, in the absence of a Persian rug, stands on his once-white shirt while changing into his playing kit. At least he hasn’t got his boots on yet.
Brockbank and Bevan enter into a rather strange pact that means they’ve agreed that neither will head the ball today for fear of ruffling one of their perfectly gelled hair follicles. Hine and Curtis emerge as the coaches’ favourite players due to their propensity for wearing traditional black boots. Ansermoz also wears black footwear. Bennett has a pair of off-white ‘Alan Ball’ slippers, Croose a pair of greys with a horrid yellow Nike tick lurking on the side. Milton, Ali and the hair-do twins stand together in a poor impression of a rainbow with no gold at its miserable end, while Beaumont (bright blue) and Simpson (bright pink) model footwear so horrible, Coach Wilson spends most of the pre-match soiree on the other side of the fire exit, wearing an out of sight, out of mind expression that says it all without uttering a single word.
During
We defend for 13 of the 15 minutes against Swansea A and win 1-0, Bennett’s pass and Croose’s fine finish the key moment. We attack for 13 of the 15 minutes against Bath and win 1-0, Croose’s cross and Ali’s far post finish decisive. It’s pretty much even-Stevens against Swansea B, but Bennett’s slide rule is accurate to a fault and Hine’s perfectly struck sizzler makes for a goal worthy of winning any game.
The display against Gloucester B, who are the better side, requires few words and none that a family audience might appreciate, while Newport attack for 13 of the 15 minutes, only for Hine to play in Ali for a very composed winner. Newbury take the lead in the final game, but Curtis clips in Croose and it’s 1-1; we top the group and along with Swansea A & B and Gloucester B, go through to Finals Day in a few months’ time. Today, for more reasons than one, Lansdown is indeed a happy place.
Thoughts
Ansermoz has a good day in goal, quickly off his line and standing up well to make several close-range saves. Distribution is, euphemistically, interesting.
Overall, we defend pretty tightly. Brockbank is reliable throughout and strides forward impressively at times when playing on the right. Simpson reads the game nicely, demonstrating the positives of being pretty much two-footed. Ali’s pace serves him well in both positions played and Curtis displays a cultured left boot that can both defend and attack. And, thankfully, it’s a black one.
In midfield, when we move the ball early, we look good; when we don’t, we look and are poor. Milton can see a pass and covers impressively when the full back pushes on, Bevan and Beaumont are bundles of central midfield energy, Bennett’s passing is both impressive and creative, while Hine can see a pass (and a shot) too. Up front, Croose causes problems with his pace and finishing ability.
One question for everyone, really. Can I impose myself on the game? If I’m playing at the back, can I be the defender that the attackers don’t want to play against? If I’m playing in midfield, can I get up and back, win the ball, then put my team on the attack? If I’m playing up front, can I move early, upset the defenders and be a constant threat?
And wherever I play, can I do the simple things well? Football, like life, is a simple game that we contrive to make difficult. The All Blacks’ mantra that they endeavour to do the basics as well as they possibly can has stood them in pretty good stead over the course of time. First class basics. Now there’s a revolutionary thought. And good old- fashioned black boots. Now there’s another one.
Gloucester A: Ansermoz; Ali, Brockbank, Simpson, Curtis; Milton, Bennett, Bevan, Beaumont, Hine; Croose.
