Monday 11 March 2013

Rio Kaiserslautern 10-2 RECREATIVO 10.3.13.


Away day at Battersea Park. Empty the car of Recreativo Juniors. Fill it with Recreativo Seniors. Sorry about the mud. Boo as we pass the Emirates. Head down Farringdon Road, via Holborn because of road works and follow the river. South West London. Battersea. Fulham. Think big boned boys rowing along the Thames. Ben Fogle. James Cracknell. Nordic types off time trialling around Richmond Park on gorgeous Pinarellos. South West London. Feels like another country. Let's get this game over with and get back to Hackney asap. The oppo are struggling in the league, it's going to be a formality. 
The half of team that have turned up warm up, all of us wondering how many times across the pitch we're going to stretch and sprint. Some of us dare not show we're knackered already. We're joined by the late arrivals, Dan who last pulled on a Reccy shirt 5 years ago, Tom who's travelled to Tooting wondering where we all are and Joe and Aaron who have no time to warm up because the ref is calling for the captains.
A game of football ensues. We stare accusingly at Radu for the first two we let in and mumble the words 'slow', 'off' and 'his line', shake our heads, self satisfied that none of us are to blame. But the truth is we don't even get into their half. Jimmie G hops off after his calf muscle goes 'pop!' and Jimmy L's mysterious buttock injury holds out until half time. Tom P comes on and makes a fight of it in midfield, despite the mud bath. We let in another six, score two ourselves and pray the ref will blow his fucking whistle so we can all head home. He shows mercy and off we trudge. Nothing to say. Cold. Extremely cold. Shell shocked we stumble back to the car, desperate to fall into the arms of wives and girlfriends, desperate for sympathy, some hot dinner and telly. We get stuck in traffic on Holloway Road for what seems forever as the radio commentator blurts out that Suarez has put one past Spurs. Could the day get any fucking worse?!
Gregg M is on kit duty. Maybe after this defeat maybe he should just burn it? We feel for him as he has a house full of visitors. Wonder if he gives them the full account. 'Tell them we won 2-1 and you scored' is our advice.
Despite it all, we'll be back next week. Back on home soil with vengeance on our minds. Sort of.

Team: Radu Atlas, Mario Pisano, Kelvin Brown, Jimmy Lloyd, Jimmie Gregory, Daniel Hall, Joe Haley, Joe Dunthorne, Jordan, Aaron Gayle, Sam Ahiadevor. Subs: Tom Perret, Gregg Morgan.