Clapham Alexandra 2-4 RECREATIVO 12.9.10

It's sunday morning and we have a training session with 30+ local kids in Clissold Park, all back from their summer holidays, brimming with boundless energy and eager to make it into the team for next week's games. After two hours of mini matches, shooting and dribbling, the kids vent their disappointment when we bring the session to a close, telling them we have two hours to get to Clapham and ready ourselves for a senior match. "Hope you lose!", one of them calls, wearing his Recreativo kit and wagging his finger. A five minute turn around as we pack away
the balls and bibs, the goals and paraphernalia of youth football and grab the senior's kitbag. We are soon crammed into the car, stuck in traffic on Caledonian Road, heading once more to Clapham Common. We pondered the age old question that comes up every year around this time. Is the ground too hard for studs? What about blades? Who's playing in their trainers? The mood is good as we discuss yesterday's Premiership results and thoughts turn to today's game. And what a fantastic game it turned out to be, Recreativo once more turning on the style and bagging a hatful of goals (courtesy of Aaron and Max who got two a piece). Another fast moving

game unraveled across the surprisingly soft green turf of Clapham, despite the referee doing his utmost to keep stopping the game every few seconds, blowing his whistle just in case we failed to realise who was in charge. Another three points in the bag and a satisfying journey back across the river to a evening in front of the telly for Antiques Roadshow, Sevilla vs Depor, a fine film about a school teacher's lust for her 15 year old pupil and a dark lesbian control freak, accompanied by a gorgeous rioja, pork chops, chocolate. Another fantastic sunday.

Team: James Humphreys, Marcus du Sautoy (Miguel Morales), Chris Read (Umar Ba), Joao Spinola, Jimmie Gregory (Tino), Connor Joseph, Aaron Gayle, Joe Haley, Benson Chambers (Steven Afro), Liam Greenaway, Max Bland.

Injured, sick notes, working, film premieres etc : Joe Dunthone, Gregg Morgan,

Jimmy Lloyd, Russel Smith, John Megaughin, Mario Pisano.

Next up..Sandmere at home