Saturday 8th January 2022. Gloucester 3 Sutton 2. Six thoughts about a memorable day – and their place in history:

One

While the season of goodwill has been and gone for another twelve months, the sieve that is Charlie Buckland benefitted from the not-so-secret Santa’s pre-match largesse when he received not one, not two, but three drinks bottles that he’d left at GL2 in 2021 as a ‘Welcome to 2022’, Happy New Year present. A similar thing may happen this coming weekend, as a review of the post-match changing room debris revealed a tracksuit top with the initials ‘CB’ emblazoned on the front and a pair of tracky bottoms which may or may not be his as they’re unnamed, but which were lurking suspiciously in the immediate vicinity of the CB top and smell surprisingly similar into the bargain. ‘He’s another Archie Myatt,’ said someone in the background. As those people in the know will readily concur, being ‘A Myatt’ is the sort of commendation that only those aspiring to the higher echelons of the Lost Property League are ever likely to receive.

Two

The second half comeback from two down to win 3-2 against a technically very good Sutton side will reside in the memory banks for an awfully long time. The September 2004 turnaround from 1-4 to 5-4 v St Albans and another 1-4 to 5-4 thirty months later (March 2007) v Bristol – both reversals achieved with four goals in the final 12 minutes, still head the all-time list, but this one is right up there. Archie White’s right-wing cross and Tommy Manning’s well-struck drive, followed by Jacob Bennett’s slide-rule pass and Samuel Clifford’s fine, low finish looked to have grabbed us a point, but Brother Manning’s excellent out-ball and Henry Brooks’s mix of both tenacity and composure completed a memorable final few minutes for everyone of a yellow & black persuasion.

Three

While it’s the goals that everyone will ultimately recall, everyone contributed hugely to that second half performance and eventual victory. NJH’s raking interceptions and last-ditch blocking, McLarney’s, Vaile’s and Buckland’s boundless energy and non-stop persistence – the latter player now a free spirit, unburdened of the mental anguish caused by losing so much (remember, at this point he still theoretically retained possession of both pieces of his GPSFA tracksuit) and gaining so little, the redoubtable Folley’s agility and all-round excellence and The Model’s tenacity and high-tempo competitiveness all played as much of a part in the team’s success as those people highlighted in the aforementioned scoring resume.

Four

The goal celebrations were great, too. Unscripted, unprompted and, while some might say, undignified, they summed up the raw emotion of the key moments. While there’ve been some amazing celebratory pile-ons over the years, with Michelangelo’s ‘Agony & Ecstasy’ (SCC Final v Wokingham; May 2019) a modern-day classic, today’s human humps were worthy of most occasions – apart from maybe a garden party with The Queen at SW1A 1AA. Let’s hope for more great moments and more unscripted, unprompted, undignified jollifications in the second half of 21/22.

Five

The Sutton manager, Roger Easthope OBE, who has overseen numerous successful Sutton sides from the late 70s to the present day, gave his view of the on-field proceedings afterwards. ‘Technically,’ he told me, ‘I think our players are a fair bit better, but Gloucester’s commitment to the cause was what won it. They out-battled us, out-fought us and in the end, outplayed us. I hope our players have learnt a very important lesson today – ability alone is nowhere near enough to be successful. Well done to Gloucester. You deserved it.’

Six

And to finish, a late 1920s quote from Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the USA. You might not agree with every single word, but the overall message is one well worth considering:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts.

In this world of ours, persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.’

Wise words indeed.

Gloucester A: Folley; McLarney, Hayes, Vaile; White, Hanlon, Bennett, Manning; Buckland-Myatt; Brooks, Clifford.