OLD BOYS MATCH REPORT

Another successful and mature day and night for the ageing All Stars!

Bright and Breezy the squad met at 10am at new digs for this year. The Ramada - tactfully chosen - due to it's location opposite the nightclub formally known as Crystals. This year's Memorial Tournament took a slightly different format: Venue - L'boro Dynamo's ground at Nanpantan - and a 12-a-side game over three 30 minute
thirds! (like one of Starnsey's Hills Soccer sessions)

The 89ers squad still featured the core members from 86-92 who were actually @ L'boro in '89 - but now the range spread from 82 - 96, with a 43 year old Nick Templeton making a welcome return!

Squad: Legs, Diver, Diver's kid brother, Little Otis, Strudders, Lizard, Temps, Dazza, Bodders, Pinky, Vegas, Little Ben, Dolph

Opposition: The 00ers! A young side of fit athletic serious types!

After a 10 minute opening where the 89ers looked like the 1889ers, the lads began to play some decent stuff and make a good game of it.

Highlights: Pinky's goal - a majestic tap in from 3 yards, Vegas telling contribution (fetching the ball out of the nettles), Willy & Renne Van de Kerkoff - Howarth brothers talking a good game, Bodders' scything down of the
sweeper, Crane crowning off our one total football move involving Howarth Snr and Matthews like in 89-90 by putting wide from 1 yard out, Pucker adidas kit - cheers LB!.....

Score: 3-1 defeat.

Eddie Gregg's dad came along and he was made up with our contribution. We raised almost £1,500 (including gift aid) see http://www.justgiving.com/the89ers

Got changed into Cup Final colours and headed towards the JC.
Hilarious moment #1: hick-hack-hock resulted in 7 x Graham Sounesses and 6 x Alan Devonshires. Great afternoon in the JC watching the cup final whilst supping a gallon and a half of lager and purple nasty (cheers Temps) each!

Back to hotel in cars: Hilarious moment #2: Dazza brought a pint of purple nasty with him in LBs car - put a full pint, 3 balloons on the back seat and speed hump put paid to that! At least we discovered my trousers were water proof!

15 minute turn around for a 6.15 meet in the hotel bar, wearing Hawaiian Barbeque Shirts. Gold Stars to Diver, Temps, Pinky & Lizard. Black marks to Legs, Vegas, Bodders, Dazza, Nook - resulting in a shot fine!

Pub for a few bevies. Kebab #1 for tea. Griffin for a few more. Crane & Matthews hit wall and lost ability to speak and began communicating only in gestures. Asked to leave Griffin by landlord @ 7.30, as spoiling pleasant ambience of Pub. Temps couldn't and still can't believe it.

Barracudas (opposite for Barley Mo) for more beers, tequilas (thanks Jonny) and shape throwing. Crane gets 2nd wind. Leave Barracudas at 9.30 as squad of 9. Turn one corner and managed to split ourselves into 3 separate parties. Temps - wanders off AWOL - and to pick up his pension. Vegas and Legs - head off down to the Rushes and the Amber rooms. Bodders, the Van de Kerkoffs, Dazza, Pinky & Lizard head to Vice Versa. Attempts to re-group fail!

More beers, shape throwing and communicating via gestures... Vice Versa squad splits into 3:
a) Matthew next to hotel
b) Howarth's and Lizard follow around 1am
c) Bodders and Dazza continue until circa 2am

Amber Rooms & Unicorn squad: Last men standing and go for 2.30am Kebab #2

Great day.
Great night.
Quality ballooning.