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All left foot!
On Sunday September 8th 2006 a team of ex Loughborough and current
Nottsborough players played in, and won, a 5-a-side tournament held at the
David Beckham Academy in London.
 The tournament was held in aid of the leukaemia charity CARE and a team
was entered in a the regional heats in the South West by close friends and
family of Eddie Gregg - (the former student and player at Loughborough in
the 90's who passed away due to leukaemia, (also see the link to
'Tournaments' at head of page)). The team of 'Eddie's Legends' won their
regional heat and were invited down to the David Beckham Academy in London
to compete in the national final.
Unfortunately due to logistical reasons, the same team could not come down
to London on the day, so after a phone call from Alan Gregg (Eddie's
father) to Nottsborough a team consisting of ex-Loughborough and current
Nottsborough players was assembled to take up the challenge at short
notice.
After a intense training camp at Ray's Café and the Tolworth recreational
park, the team took to the task like a team with a mission. After playing
free flowing brazilian style football in the first game - the opposition
found themselves unlucky to loose! The team progressed through group
stages and the quarter final at a canter.
On the way they also managed to get 3 players through to the final of the
Crossbar challenge ......only for all 3 to be beaten by a 12 year old
claiming the Chelsea v Barcelona tickets after shanking a ball onto the
bar with more spin than a Matt Kerr close range finish (miss)!
At the semi-final stage rumours started circulating that the winner of the
tournament would then play an exhibition match against a Premiership
Legends team. What more incentive could you have to make that extra
overlap knowing you were on the verge of playing against Kerry Dixon,
Russell Osman, Clive Walker, Paul Devlin and Ian Andrews (...you'll need
to dig out the old Pannini Sticker Album for that last one!!)??
After a great display from keeper Rob Bullivant (1997-2001) in the semi
final, the Trophy was claimed in the final after a right foot swinger form
Nathan Violet (98-2001).
But that wasn't enough - they wanted the 'Legends'.
The game started a cagey affair with the Legends deploying Dixon as a
sweeper and they kept the ball confidently with all the grace of former
Div 1, Div 2, Div 3, Div 4 and Conference players. Tactical shouts by
Nathan Violet that Clive Walker was 'all left foot' were countered by
Clive Walker retaliating that Violet too 'was all left foot'!
A quick one-two between Violet and Matty Rolphe lead to the opening goal
for the Notts/Loughborough team. The legends upped their pace to walking
and got themselves back into the game via a Paul Devlin goal. With minutes
remaining Alex Ewin (N/Borough) struck one that went into the corner off
the bottom of Dixon's boot (much like Kerry's goals in the 80's if memory
serves me correct) .....and the Notts / Loughborough team held out for
Matty Kerr to lift the exhibition trophy.
Defining moment will be John 'Junior' Urwin nutmegging (and calling it)
fomer UEFA cup winner Russell Osman .....and Osman being remotely
bothered!!
Congratulations to the boys on a great day for not only representing
Loughborough and Eddie's memory in an excellent manner, but also for
donating quite a bit to the charity too. Congratulations also to Eddie's
Legends for winning the regionals and providing this opportunity!
The team was: Rob Bullivant (Rhino, 97-2001); Nathan Violet (98-2001);
Matt Kerr (95-99); John Urwin (Junior, 2001-2005); Alex Ewin (Nottsborough);
Matt Rolphe (Nottsborough Captain)
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