Carlo Ancelotti's moon face flickers wide across the big screen at Ryan's Bar, a Benny from Crossroads kind of a face, a salivating village idiot look but dressed up in sharp Italian clobber. We sat spread out on the sofa watching Sky's post match analysis of Chelsea's 7-0 battering of Stoke, slightly ragged ourselves from not just today's end of season match against Sandmere, but a very long eight months of wall-to-wall sunday football, through one of the most wretched winters we can remember. It was fitting we finished at the Marshes, which today had an end of season feel, quiet for a sunday. Out on the East Marsh it almost felt like being in the countryside, but for the Olympic building site on the horizon.
The team talk was simple; whatever happens today, win, draw or lose, let's just enjoy the football, enjoy this final game. And after Henry the ref gave everyone a pre-match warning about heavy tackles and the like, we kicked off with the sunshine beating down like a midsummer's day. Beautiful. Sandmere turned out to be one of the best teams we had played all season, neat passes, fast and in truth, a little too good for us today. Still we made a game of it, Mario getting on the score sheet (it must be two goals in seven seasons now!) and Max coming close. Heads dropped a little too easily today, but for most of us, being out on the Marshes, enjoying the banter, having a laugh and ending up in the beer garden after the game soon washed over the score line.
We raised our glasses to another season and another big chapter in the life of Recreativo FC. It's been a tough one for some of us older lads with injuries, family duties and work, but bringing in some younger legs has certainly turned our season around. We've had at least 15 players wanting to turn out every week for our club which is a good sign for next season. And with a new found resilience in the second half of our campaign and a buoyant belief and spirit running throughout the team, we look forward to next September and pulling on the majestic red of Recreativo once more. Take a bow lads...
We raised our glasses to another season and another big chapter in the life of Recreativo FC. It's been a tough one for some of us older lads with injuries, family duties and work, but bringing in some younger legs has certainly turned our season around. We've had at least 15 players wanting to turn out every week for our club which is a good sign for next season. And with a new found resilience in the second half of our campaign and a buoyant belief and spirit running throughout the team, we look forward to next September and pulling on the majestic red of Recreativo once more. Take a bow lads...Team: James Humphreys, Marcus du Sautoy (Gregg Morgan), Joao Spinola, Jimmy Lloyd, Joe Dunthorne, Mario Pisano (John Megaughin), Adam Bradbury, Joe Haley (Nick Candy), Chris Read (Aaron Gayle), Max Bland, Connor Jospeh.
Sicknotes, partying, worn out, work or AWOL: Jimmie Gregory, Russell Smith, Bilal Talib-Ali, Ben Chambers, Tino, Lee Walsh.