The Eleven Plus
Let’s start off with a good bit of cheese. Something of the strong kind - that probably Paul would like and has a good old stench to it.
I blinking love being a part of GPSFA.
The words ‘GPSFA family’ get thrown around a lot and as cheesy as that sounds, I love it. For me, what it means is that when someone steps into the GPSFA world, whether that be a team member, coach, chef, car park attendee, any kind of helper, parent, sibling, friend, grandparent, dog, cat or hamster, they belong to something and this weekend had 18 hours that showed that this more than eleven boys. It’s about the eleven plus…..
The Friday training session started with two of the teams coming together to see how they could help each other after having some time off. The B team stepped up against the Development squad and played like a team (for the majority) that had some of that spirit back from New Year until tour. The exercise went well.
This was followed by the delights of seeing the A Vs B parents - accompanied by siblings and coaches. The boys of both squads cheered and booed on emphatically and the game was played in superb fashion. It definitely showed that competitiveness does not diminish with age. Even Middle Butcher said (upon being take out from behind (behave!)), “God, they’re taking this more serious than I thought!”
Both teams played some really nice football and some really shoddy football at times. The Seniors of Badham, Balkwill, Butcher and Moroney looked like they hadn’t lost their (somewhat) touch over time. Senior Ball looked like he still hadn’t found a touch, but did still have that trusted swede that gets in the way of anything slightly aerial and Senior Young, as expected, had the energy.
Until his body gave way, Sir Limp-a-lot….sorry Senior Badham had looked dangerous up front - alongside Middle Butcher, who provided the pace. Middle Balkwills provided some nice intricate play (including Jacob) and Middle Moroney played well in goal.
The game went extremely well for Coach Harris (Traitor/Winner) as the A team parents came out victors in a 4-2 beating. The game was played in a brilliant spirit, that was refereed (somewhat bias-ly) by Senior Evans, who organised the whole thing to raise a little cash for GPSFA after the last few weeks’ cancellations.
My favourite moment of the game was not long after Chink (Senior Burr) had made a cameo appearance and for his trouble, got taken out by Senior Ball - which, if you’ve played football with Senior Ball, is no surprise.
Anyway, thank you all.
The following morning, the B team welcomed Newbury. A team who have been doing quite well this season and having previously given the B team a lesson earlier in the season - winning 7-1 in a lacklustre performance, lacking fight.
After recent performances and the previous game in mind, it was put to the boys to stand up and be counted…..and this they did.
The first half showed little in terms of quality. Newbury easily looked the team to control the game, however the Yellow’s fight seems dogged from the get-go. Moroney had a free-kick from long range go just wide and Newbury striker Jones, went straight up the other end to also just strike wide after an attack down the right.
A moment of switching off allowed Jones to strike at goal again from the right, only for GBalkwill to parry the shot back out into play and Willison follow up with a finish and allow the visitors to go into half time as the leaders.
The second half saw the Bs go up a gear. Not one player was letting their team mates down in terms of effort and trying to play some football. Ball punished the away team when a throw-in from the right left the defender and goal keeper confused as to who was dealing with it and Ball stepped in to finish easily, drawing level.
Both teams then had plenty of opportunities to score. Burr, having a good defensive game, cleared off the line, GBalkwill saved low to tip round the post, DBalkwill had his low shot saved by the Newbury keeper, Burr’s free kick somehow stayed out, Butcher somehow missed from the centre of the goal and GBalkwill saved another great chance again to keep level.
Sadly, another moment of flat-footedness allowed Jones to slot home after a free-kick was again parried out to any number of Newbury players waiting to finish the follow-up. However, Gloucester got exactly as the deserved a Moroney run gave the ball to Young, who did a lovely one-two with Butcher. The through-ball allowed Young to finish neatly, putting the ball over the closing defender and goal keeper to draw level.
The boys responded brilliantly to the questions asked of them. GBalkwill showing again his agility in goal. Harris, Moroney and Fogg put in some brilliant interceptions and (especially second half) brought composure to starting to play football from the back. Evans, Burr and DBalkwill worked tirelessly back and forth and made some strong tackles to break up play. Badham, Young and Butcher covered so many blades of grass in recovering that ball back and putting pressure on the Newbury back-line and Ball held up the ball where possible - bringing team mates into the play. It was a brilliant effort from all. Well done Gents.
Once the food was eaten, boys, parents and siblings gathered around the food tables to find out who had won what on tour. As the boys have been a delight, each boy won a number of prizes and then given back to their parents ready to inhale copious amounts of sugar in the style of Easter Eggs or Haribo.
To top off the 18 hours of GPSFA family time, the annual Race Night took place at The Gala Club. A B team rabble….sorry, table was seated well and truly next to the bar. Shock!
As shown in the ‘Parents’ game’ the night before, there wasn’t many winners on that table :-), but the atmosphere from them was brilliant. As the night went on, the more slurry the words became, but the more money that was spent. I cannot thank you guys enough for getting into the true spirit of the night and adding massively to the joy of the evening.
Overall, this weekend was one that, when I have my moments of questioning how much longer I can do GPSFA for, adds even more time to my tenure with this great organisation.
Thank you all.
Gloucester; G Balkwill, Harris, D Balkwill, Burr, Young, Badham, Fogg, Butcher, Ball, Evans and Moroney
I blinking love being a part of GPSFA.
The words ‘GPSFA family’ get thrown around a lot and as cheesy as that sounds, I love it. For me, what it means is that when someone steps into the GPSFA world, whether that be a team member, coach, chef, car park attendee, any kind of helper, parent, sibling, friend, grandparent, dog, cat or hamster, they belong to something and this weekend had 18 hours that showed that this more than eleven boys. It’s about the eleven plus…..
The Friday training session started with two of the teams coming together to see how they could help each other after having some time off. The B team stepped up against the Development squad and played like a team (for the majority) that had some of that spirit back from New Year until tour. The exercise went well.
This was followed by the delights of seeing the A Vs B parents - accompanied by siblings and coaches. The boys of both squads cheered and booed on emphatically and the game was played in superb fashion. It definitely showed that competitiveness does not diminish with age. Even Middle Butcher said (upon being take out from behind (behave!)), “God, they’re taking this more serious than I thought!”
Both teams played some really nice football and some really shoddy football at times. The Seniors of Badham, Balkwill, Butcher and Moroney looked like they hadn’t lost their (somewhat) touch over time. Senior Ball looked like he still hadn’t found a touch, but did still have that trusted swede that gets in the way of anything slightly aerial and Senior Young, as expected, had the energy.
Until his body gave way, Sir Limp-a-lot….sorry Senior Badham had looked dangerous up front - alongside Middle Butcher, who provided the pace. Middle Balkwills provided some nice intricate play (including Jacob) and Middle Moroney played well in goal.
The game went extremely well for Coach Harris (Traitor/Winner) as the A team parents came out victors in a 4-2 beating. The game was played in a brilliant spirit, that was refereed (somewhat bias-ly) by Senior Evans, who organised the whole thing to raise a little cash for GPSFA after the last few weeks’ cancellations.
My favourite moment of the game was not long after Chink (Senior Burr) had made a cameo appearance and for his trouble, got taken out by Senior Ball - which, if you’ve played football with Senior Ball, is no surprise.
Anyway, thank you all.
The following morning, the B team welcomed Newbury. A team who have been doing quite well this season and having previously given the B team a lesson earlier in the season - winning 7-1 in a lacklustre performance, lacking fight.
After recent performances and the previous game in mind, it was put to the boys to stand up and be counted…..and this they did.
The first half showed little in terms of quality. Newbury easily looked the team to control the game, however the Yellow’s fight seems dogged from the get-go. Moroney had a free-kick from long range go just wide and Newbury striker Jones, went straight up the other end to also just strike wide after an attack down the right.
A moment of switching off allowed Jones to strike at goal again from the right, only for GBalkwill to parry the shot back out into play and Willison follow up with a finish and allow the visitors to go into half time as the leaders.
The second half saw the Bs go up a gear. Not one player was letting their team mates down in terms of effort and trying to play some football. Ball punished the away team when a throw-in from the right left the defender and goal keeper confused as to who was dealing with it and Ball stepped in to finish easily, drawing level.
Both teams then had plenty of opportunities to score. Burr, having a good defensive game, cleared off the line, GBalkwill saved low to tip round the post, DBalkwill had his low shot saved by the Newbury keeper, Burr’s free kick somehow stayed out, Butcher somehow missed from the centre of the goal and GBalkwill saved another great chance again to keep level.
Sadly, another moment of flat-footedness allowed Jones to slot home after a free-kick was again parried out to any number of Newbury players waiting to finish the follow-up. However, Gloucester got exactly as the deserved a Moroney run gave the ball to Young, who did a lovely one-two with Butcher. The through-ball allowed Young to finish neatly, putting the ball over the closing defender and goal keeper to draw level.
The boys responded brilliantly to the questions asked of them. GBalkwill showing again his agility in goal. Harris, Moroney and Fogg put in some brilliant interceptions and (especially second half) brought composure to starting to play football from the back. Evans, Burr and DBalkwill worked tirelessly back and forth and made some strong tackles to break up play. Badham, Young and Butcher covered so many blades of grass in recovering that ball back and putting pressure on the Newbury back-line and Ball held up the ball where possible - bringing team mates into the play. It was a brilliant effort from all. Well done Gents.
Once the food was eaten, boys, parents and siblings gathered around the food tables to find out who had won what on tour. As the boys have been a delight, each boy won a number of prizes and then given back to their parents ready to inhale copious amounts of sugar in the style of Easter Eggs or Haribo.
To top off the 18 hours of GPSFA family time, the annual Race Night took place at The Gala Club. A B team rabble….sorry, table was seated well and truly next to the bar. Shock!
As shown in the ‘Parents’ game’ the night before, there wasn’t many winners on that table :-), but the atmosphere from them was brilliant. As the night went on, the more slurry the words became, but the more money that was spent. I cannot thank you guys enough for getting into the true spirit of the night and adding massively to the joy of the evening.
Overall, this weekend was one that, when I have my moments of questioning how much longer I can do GPSFA for, adds even more time to my tenure with this great organisation.
Thank you all.
Gloucester; G Balkwill, Harris, D Balkwill, Burr, Young, Badham, Fogg, Butcher, Ball, Evans and Moroney
