The afterglow of our 1st Festival of Footy at the company had certainly boosted the appetite for a game of soccer.
We had many women and men who had either rekindled their love for the game or found that this silly game where people kick a pig’s bladder around and into an onion bag……….was, after all, half alright.
But I’d seen this before and was hoping that this wasn’t a false dawn.
The soccer tournament we had organised, was a watershed moment, it was special, it was in memory of our well-loved colleague. We had rallied as a company in the face of adversity. Shown our true colours. People cared. As with a bit of exercise, it can often refresh the adrenaline rush that had wilted with age.
Talk is cheap.
We had to follow this up, strike while the iron was hot. Follow up on the good will and enthusiasm we had garnered.
The women had been chatting amongst themselves, many who hadn’t participated, regretted it, those that did, were feverish for more foot on ball action (behave yourself Jumbo, I can see you giggling away like a school child already!)
The days passed, weeks followed, and I think Frodo had seen more action than our lonely football……still sat under my desk slightly under pumped as was my hopes.
Now I can’t really take any credit for what happened next. We introduce our latest character on the FC7 books, ManBaby. So-named for his uncanny resemblance to a baby………but man-sized body. If he waltzed in wearing just a nappy, dummy and a Farley’s rusk in hand……..I’d be like “….that’s odd……but then I’d carry on working…unperturbed….an eerie but OK self-reconciliation of what I’d just seen”.
So, turns out, this large lovable creature, was somehow absent from our mini tournament. I still need to find out how this happened. The office was so empty that day, I don’t think you could even pretend to be doing any work. I then realised that his partner in crime (another new character alert!, we’re spoiling you more than GoT could ever have had), COSBY had also managed to sneakily duck out of the festival. Tsk. I’ll let it ride, cos they were integral in this next chapter. MB, it turns out, had some contacts at John Lewis, who had been, unbeknownst to us, been goading us for a match of football for a while. YES! Game on……
Many emails buzzed between our companies like a migration of excited bees. Sometimes it lulled, and things went dead as a door-nail, for a few days. The HMS Se7en, a metaphor for our hope, precariously dipped on the high seas, jerking and rising as the emails flowed. But then it happened…….a date was set.
I again have to put my hands up. I was injured, quite badly. My ankle was the size of a well pumped soccer ball…….there’s a backstory to be had here…….quite a serious one, which I’ll devote a whole post too later.
Although a date was jotted down, I, as many of you, know it’s not like King Arthur's Excalibur, solid, gleaming, set in stone. The cruel hand of fate had many times, ripped this number from the calendar, in the past and consigned it to the trash can. Why would it be so different now?
Jumbo was expecting the usual:- “I’m playing internet sudoku with my mum” (yeah cool story Frodo, why the internet? You live with your parents), excuses. He like me had seen our many attempts at a game fall futile before.
But somehow things gathered pace again. I believe there was an unintended slight over email which had stoked the competitive fires within ManBaby’s heart. The Game was ON. Honour was at stake.
The day arrived, who would of believed it……….I had to pinch myself. The venue down in Battersea was amazing, Jumbo arrived with his gear and like a child on Christmas day opening his presents, sent me a video. He was made up. I was made up. I was still out of action and was really regretting giving up me kidney (more to come on this later) at this point.
It’s worth mentioning, the venue was juicy. On a roof top, bar, tables and the footy area was well enclosed and a top-quality 3G pitch. Maybe worth giving out reviews on some of the pitches we play on, give you all an idea what to expect when you book your own games.
The Match Report – FC SE7EN’s 1st game (my best Roy of Rovers impression below falls short; I know. The rest of my recovery from injury was spent improving my commentary I assure you):-
Twas a unusually balmy day in Autumn so fitness had to reign supreme. Fitness which we had in bucket loads……. except it was one of those buckets with holes, you know, the ones you play team games with at Cub Scouts.
A cautious start which saw Cosby hilariously nutmegged. Not just megged, but he was dropped like Audley Harrison, floored in the dizziness, up there with the ref’s exaggerated fall after being pushed over by Paolo di Canio eons ago. Not a great start……
Things didn’t bode well but slowly and surely, FC7, managed to get a foot hold into the game, adjusting to the new fabled idea of playing a match.Grab a coffee, let’s introduce a few other characters in our odyssey.
MB was beginning to look like the biggest find of the season (certainly in terms of head size). Billy Blue Hat, despite looking like a hangman extra (seen more meat on a Morleys chicken wing), proved quite stubborn in defence. Even the much-maligned Frodo had stepped up to the plate and redeemed himself………somewhat.
More structured possession and creativity saw FC Se7en take an early 2-0 lead before some John Lewis physicality broke us down and they clawed it back to 2-2 at half time.
Everything was still up for grabs………
Although honour had firmly evaporated for all due to 10 grown men being completely exhausted.
The 2nd half was balanced on a knife edge, both sides probing, creating the odd chance, before being shut down like a chat up line from me on a Friday night out at the King’s Arms.
Jumbo finally broke the deadlock with a screamer of a goal late on and earned FC7 their first well deserved victory. Not a whinge or moan in sight……. he had ample time to recover and a have a wee at half time, so everyone was spared his remonstrations.
John Lewis 2 – 3 fc se7en
Our first game. And victory……..a milestone. We had done it. Talked the talked and organised a kickaround and then walked the walk, by schooling these John Lewis kids in the ways of football.
The first step had been made………..what was the next stop on our journey.
Stay tuned and find out.
FC7 march on…….
Gallery......we'll get better at taking photos, promise!
Jumbo in awe of the venue we played at, bless!
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