2G - PlayFootball, Shepherd's Bush - 8pm - 5-a-side - vs Randoms
Well, it's been a long hard journey to get footy up and running, let alone get to this junction in our story. Last year, as the Covid pandemic struck the planet, we remained positive and worked on getting football up and running, much kudos go to my partner in crime, Jumbo, who helped throw some ideas together. We started playing again on the 9th September and have played every week since, barring some national lockdowns, when we weren't legally allowed. We've upped our numbers overall, improved our weekly turn out.
On a personal level, players have got fitter and and better, but we've spoken at length before about a more competitive level of game. We have successfully setup our weekly Thursday Fun Day, but there's now a need to create a more competitive game for the better players.......open to all....but primarily ability based. If players fancy a harder workout and take the more shouty nature of the game, then this is for you.
After some early hiccups, we gathered our best outfit, those who are not only committed, but have the ability too. FC7 is a great entity that we have all created, but it's time to step up, time to see how we really fare against the rest. Time for the talk to stop, and to deliver on-field.
Teams:
Jumbo (c)
Frodo
Tey
Chris
Sean
We got our best 5 above who were available for the game on that date. This was more a trial, to see if there was an appetite for what me, Jumbo & Frodo had been speaking about for a couple of months. The group, as mentioned before, is open to all, and we'll start with 5-a-side, focus on that, and start to build a committed and ability based group. I, myself, I'm not good enough, at least from a fitness perspective, until I can prove myself, I'll not be throwing my hat in the ring. But if we needed numbers, I'll volunteer for a match in goal.
This is a good chance to introduce Chris to the fold, a player we have regularly met during our Thursday fun games, and is probably the best we now have, fit, skilful and embodying of the FC7 spirit.
We won this game 25-17, FC7 were firmly in control throughout the whole match, we never really were in danger of losing this match, but still there were a lot of things that were exposed, which proves that although we have the talent......we have much work to do also.
From the start, we maximised, and turned the screw and were maintaining a healthy +8 lead. But around the halfway point, mistakes, snuck in, defensively, we were getting caught with route one balls and there was a lack of concentration. The game also showed how useless we all are, in goal, so scouting for a full time keeper will be a big task, which could really make us step up to another level.
At one point, our opponents, pegged us back to a 3 goal deficit, before the wake up call kicked us back into action and we finished the game off, to chalk up our 1st victory of the 2G era, a 25-17 win.
It's easy to get excited. These 5 players played well, we proved we do in fact have the ability. I still felt, watching the game from the sidelines, that our fitness, both individually and as a unit can improve massively, but this will only make us better. It was our first game too, so understanding each other will come with time. There were times, when communication wasn't great, players turned off for small periods of time, and defensively we need to work a little more. Attack-wise, we have a lot to look forward to, but with anything, we need to temper ourselves. We played 5 good random players, but they likely haven't played together before, where as, we have some understanding of each other. We need to accept that, and always keep in mind that we may have that little advantage over other randoms we play.
But this is just the start, we have to from somewhere. FootyAddicts have been in communication with us, and have said they will be able to set up some friendlies, against proper teams, so I think once we have got into the routine of organising and have built up a bit more commitment from our players and upped our numbers by 2 or 3, I think we will start that up. We also have some other teams/companies that have been interested in playing us. Before, I think the sides we have from Thursday, wouldn't of been good enough to compete, or even have a fun experience. So we have a foundation now for putting teams out for these kind of games.
The future is looking good. At the end of the day, football is a unifying force, despite some idiots trying to associate themselves with this beautiful game and tarnish it. We have a friendly, comfortable environment on Weds/Thurs for people to take the sport up, work on their fitness and have fun. We also have a more competitive level on Mon/Tues for those who want it, ability based but open to all, something for mid-tier players to target for. Something to measure ourselves up against.
FC7 is a unit, have so much to look forward to.
During a time, when some of the darkest sides of humanity have been exposed. We have been positive throughout, got people together who might not of met each other before, had fun, and above all, played football.
The FC7 Way.
We have another 2G game setup for the 3rd August, at PlayFootball, a 5-a-side match, but with players on holiday, it'll be an interesting one, we have added to the team, so let's see how good we really are now our strength in depth is being tested. We're taking it slowly, there's no rush. But so far, so good.
Final Result
Player of the Match (Hippo): Chris
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