We have beaten Chalfont St. Peter 2-1 in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round this afternoon. The draw is tomorrow. Watch this space...as they say!
Hopefully it will be kind to us & we will still have a Supporters' Team match on the 13th.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Friday, 28 September 2007
The next game...
is provisionally scheduled for Saturday 13th October.
Subject to who we might get drawn against if we beat Chalfont St Peter in the FA Cup at Champion Hill on Sunday afternoon, as 13th October is the scheduled date of the third qualifying round. We may have a Ryman League game, a Cup game, or maybe no game at all that day!
But Andy Tucker has emailed round to say we might be playing Welling United or even JK Jalgapallihaigla, from Estonia, at home!
Watch this space, as they say!
In the meantime if you are interesting in having a run out for the Supporters' Team then email him at Andrew.Tucker@justice.gsi.gov.uk for more details. no commitment needed, just express an interest and you'll get added to the team mailing list.
Subject to who we might get drawn against if we beat Chalfont St Peter in the FA Cup at Champion Hill on Sunday afternoon, as 13th October is the scheduled date of the third qualifying round. We may have a Ryman League game, a Cup game, or maybe no game at all that day!
But Andy Tucker has emailed round to say we might be playing Welling United or even JK Jalgapallihaigla, from Estonia, at home!
Watch this space, as they say!
In the meantime if you are interesting in having a run out for the Supporters' Team then email him at Andrew.Tucker@justice.gsi.gov.uk for more details. no commitment needed, just express an interest and you'll get added to the team mailing list.
No Special K's for The Rabblers!
Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' 1
Kingstonian Supporters' 3
Intenet Football League
Saturday 22nd September 2007
at Belair Park
A game I missed as I was in Berlin for the weekend (Four groundhops at 1FC Union Berlin; Hertha Berlin; FC Brandenburg 03 & BFC Viktoria 1889, in case you were wondering) and after two heavy defeats last season against the Ks fans this must have been a game approached more with intrepidation rather than anticipation! Although it's never nice to lose, the scoreline shows a much closer encounter than the last two!
Andy Tucker kindly sent me a few words about the game:
"A game we should have killed off in the first half, but went in at 0-0. A well worked team goal saw us go 1-0 up, but some slack defending for Ks first two goals killed us off, and they scored their third on the break as we pushed forward for an equaliser. Disappointing not to win, but always nice to play against the Kingstonian lads. Also our team was once again a genuine Supporters' Team, with no 'guest' players.
My man of the match was the evergreen Ferenc Morath; & the duo who are 'named & shamed' are Phil Doyle, for running off without paying his match subs,as well as not letting anyone know he was going to turn up in the first place! (That's what emails are for folks. Please keep Andy tucker informed of your availability! And Ian Wright, for not turning up, when he said he would be."
For his 'official' report to the IFA Yahoo Group, he wrote:
" A great game played in excellent spirits. The first-half ended 0-0 although if we had taken one of our numerous chances we had from close range it wouldn't have! Kingstonian always looked dangerous on the break, and we paid for our lack of goal scoring in the second half. The key moment of the game I thought was at 1-0 up, a superb close range save from Andy in the Ks goal stopped us going 2-0 up, which I think would possibly have killed it off. It was 1-1 a couple of minutes later, some slack marking allowed Ks to score a second from a corner, and as we pushed for an equaliser, they broke to be four on one and score the third with a minute to go!"
For those of you who are wondering, the IFA Yahoo Group is how you post fixtures and results. If you don't post the details of the game beforehand you cannot gain any points, and cannot post it retrospectively. Most teams include a little report, like this one, when posting the result; and the away team often reply to it.
Thanks to Chris Tabrett, who has kindly done a report of the match. Here is what he had to say:
"This game is always a familiar battle between the opposition as we have played them numerous times beofre in the past. The first half was a tight half with few chances with a few balls over the top for the two strikers to run onto, but the Kingstonian keeper came out and collected each time. This was until an awkward back pass was booted into the pathway of Gary Tabrett, but the referee quickly blew up for 'handball', when it clearly wasn't, but we didn't complain. There were a couple more chances for 'The Rabblers', with the ball getting played over the top to Matthew Virgo, which had a bit too much pace on it, but he never stopped running for the ball. The only chance I remember that Kingstonian had in the first half was a well hit shot to the right side of the goal but stand-in keeper Andy tucker pulled off a great save that any keeper would be proud of. Kingstonian did not have any chances in the eighteen yard box as the 'Rabblers' back line was too strong. At half time it finished 0-0. The second half there were no changes to the team and we were expecting more of the same. As the game went on it opened up a bit more. 'The Rabblers' goal came around the hour mark with a piece of brilliance from Matthew Virgo who hit a low, hard cross-shot across the face of goal to set up strike partner Gary Tabrett with an easy finish. Advantage to the 'Rabblers'. Then Kingstonian started to pile the pressure but the back line was coping well with some great challenges by Lawrence Marsh, Phil Baker and Ferenc Morath which kept the game at one nil. This was until Kingstonian equalised with a header from a well taken corner. With the score now level Kingstonian piled on more pressure and got the second goal through a couple of scrappy clearances where they took full advantage with a shot that couldn't be saved right in the corner of the goal. In the last five minutes Dulwich Hamlet pushed everyone forward and had a couple of half chances before Kingstonian broke away on the counter attack with a cross swung in from the side of the pitch with a great finish from a volley. So the game finished 3-1, but I think the result flattered Kingstonian. I think everyone today played very well and showed a lot of heart and never stopped.
Team: Andy Tucker; Lawrence Marsh; Phil Baker; Ferenc Morath; Chris Garrett; James O'Shaughnessy (Phil Doyle); Chris Tabrett (Dawn Taylor); Jack McInroy; Kublai Hoare; Matthew Virgo; Gary Tabrett (Mark Hutton).
Intenet Football League
Saturday 22nd September 2007
at Belair Park
A game I missed as I was in Berlin for the weekend (Four groundhops at 1FC Union Berlin; Hertha Berlin; FC Brandenburg 03 & BFC Viktoria 1889, in case you were wondering) and after two heavy defeats last season against the Ks fans this must have been a game approached more with intrepidation rather than anticipation! Although it's never nice to lose, the scoreline shows a much closer encounter than the last two!
Andy Tucker kindly sent me a few words about the game:
"A game we should have killed off in the first half, but went in at 0-0. A well worked team goal saw us go 1-0 up, but some slack defending for Ks first two goals killed us off, and they scored their third on the break as we pushed forward for an equaliser. Disappointing not to win, but always nice to play against the Kingstonian lads. Also our team was once again a genuine Supporters' Team, with no 'guest' players.
My man of the match was the evergreen Ferenc Morath; & the duo who are 'named & shamed' are Phil Doyle, for running off without paying his match subs,as well as not letting anyone know he was going to turn up in the first place! (That's what emails are for folks. Please keep Andy tucker informed of your availability! And Ian Wright, for not turning up, when he said he would be."
For his 'official' report to the IFA Yahoo Group, he wrote:
" A great game played in excellent spirits. The first-half ended 0-0 although if we had taken one of our numerous chances we had from close range it wouldn't have! Kingstonian always looked dangerous on the break, and we paid for our lack of goal scoring in the second half. The key moment of the game I thought was at 1-0 up, a superb close range save from Andy in the Ks goal stopped us going 2-0 up, which I think would possibly have killed it off. It was 1-1 a couple of minutes later, some slack marking allowed Ks to score a second from a corner, and as we pushed for an equaliser, they broke to be four on one and score the third with a minute to go!"
For those of you who are wondering, the IFA Yahoo Group is how you post fixtures and results. If you don't post the details of the game beforehand you cannot gain any points, and cannot post it retrospectively. Most teams include a little report, like this one, when posting the result; and the away team often reply to it.
Thanks to Chris Tabrett, who has kindly done a report of the match. Here is what he had to say:
"This game is always a familiar battle between the opposition as we have played them numerous times beofre in the past. The first half was a tight half with few chances with a few balls over the top for the two strikers to run onto, but the Kingstonian keeper came out and collected each time. This was until an awkward back pass was booted into the pathway of Gary Tabrett, but the referee quickly blew up for 'handball', when it clearly wasn't, but we didn't complain. There were a couple more chances for 'The Rabblers', with the ball getting played over the top to Matthew Virgo, which had a bit too much pace on it, but he never stopped running for the ball. The only chance I remember that Kingstonian had in the first half was a well hit shot to the right side of the goal but stand-in keeper Andy tucker pulled off a great save that any keeper would be proud of. Kingstonian did not have any chances in the eighteen yard box as the 'Rabblers' back line was too strong. At half time it finished 0-0. The second half there were no changes to the team and we were expecting more of the same. As the game went on it opened up a bit more. 'The Rabblers' goal came around the hour mark with a piece of brilliance from Matthew Virgo who hit a low, hard cross-shot across the face of goal to set up strike partner Gary Tabrett with an easy finish. Advantage to the 'Rabblers'. Then Kingstonian started to pile the pressure but the back line was coping well with some great challenges by Lawrence Marsh, Phil Baker and Ferenc Morath which kept the game at one nil. This was until Kingstonian equalised with a header from a well taken corner. With the score now level Kingstonian piled on more pressure and got the second goal through a couple of scrappy clearances where they took full advantage with a shot that couldn't be saved right in the corner of the goal. In the last five minutes Dulwich Hamlet pushed everyone forward and had a couple of half chances before Kingstonian broke away on the counter attack with a cross swung in from the side of the pitch with a great finish from a volley. So the game finished 3-1, but I think the result flattered Kingstonian. I think everyone today played very well and showed a lot of heart and never stopped.
Team: Andy Tucker; Lawrence Marsh; Phil Baker; Ferenc Morath; Chris Garrett; James O'Shaughnessy (Phil Doyle); Chris Tabrett (Dawn Taylor); Jack McInroy; Kublai Hoare; Matthew Virgo; Gary Tabrett (Mark Hutton).
Goalscorer: Gary Tabrett.
And finally here's what they thought(from the Kingstonian messageboard!):
Lesmundo(Le fox in le box): "Well done to all the lads who played on Saturday! We were easily the better side and if we had not have won it would have been a huge injustice. "
Simon M: "Thought everyone played well on Saturday...I enjoyed playing centre back, but happy to move back out wide when Gary & Damo are back...definitely echo the words on Ben, Alex and Sam, without them we'd only have had 8, and they all did really well"
Simon B: "It has been a difficult start to the season for the K's supporters team but on saturday it all came together and an excellant TEAM performance resulted in a 3-1 win against our old friends Dulwich Hamlet. The game was very even in the first half and went in 0-0 at half time. Dulwich took the lead before Lesmundo equalised with a sweet finish. We took control of the game from here and it was no surprise that we scored a second, the only surprise being Foley scored and it wasn't a pen. We saved the best till last as Lemundo beat a man on the half way line and sprinted down the right wing and put a beautiful cross over for Ben Duddy to volley home with ease. A big thank you and well done to the 11 that made it and as Les and Si mentioned, Alex, Sam and Ben who were recruited at 9 o'clock Friday night and were brilliant. To finish, Dulwich gave our MOM to Lesmundo."
Thanks to Chris & Andy for their contributions, & I hope the Ks fans don't mind me plundering their messageboard!
For future games feel free to email me your match reports, I am more than happy to publish more than one if a few
of you are keen! Just email them to either myself, or Andy Tucker, & he will forward them on to me.
And finally here's what they thought(from the Kingstonian messageboard!):
Lesmundo(Le fox in le box): "Well done to all the lads who played on Saturday! We were easily the better side and if we had not have won it would have been a huge injustice. "
Simon M: "Thought everyone played well on Saturday...I enjoyed playing centre back, but happy to move back out wide when Gary & Damo are back...definitely echo the words on Ben, Alex and Sam, without them we'd only have had 8, and they all did really well"
Simon B: "It has been a difficult start to the season for the K's supporters team but on saturday it all came together and an excellant TEAM performance resulted in a 3-1 win against our old friends Dulwich Hamlet. The game was very even in the first half and went in 0-0 at half time. Dulwich took the lead before Lesmundo equalised with a sweet finish. We took control of the game from here and it was no surprise that we scored a second, the only surprise being Foley scored and it wasn't a pen. We saved the best till last as Lemundo beat a man on the half way line and sprinted down the right wing and put a beautiful cross over for Ben Duddy to volley home with ease. A big thank you and well done to the 11 that made it and as Les and Si mentioned, Alex, Sam and Ben who were recruited at 9 o'clock Friday night and were brilliant. To finish, Dulwich gave our MOM to Lesmundo."
Thanks to Chris & Andy for their contributions, & I hope the Ks fans don't mind me plundering their messageboard!
For future games feel free to email me your match reports, I am more than happy to publish more than one if a few
of you are keen! Just email them to either myself, or Andy Tucker, & he will forward them on to me.
Friday, 14 September 2007
Next game: Saturday 22nd September
10.30am kick off
at Belair Park
versus Kingstonian Supporters'
At the moment we do NOT have a full team for this match!
If you are available to play, & just as importantly if you are not available, then email Andy at andrew.tucker@justice.gsi.gov.uk to let him know!
If you haven't played for us before, and are just a Hamlet fan, no matter how long standing, or if you are a new fan, and want to play then please feel free to drop him a line to let him know.
We welcome, and positively need, more squad players.
We are one of the, if not the, supporters' team with the lowest fan base in the Internet Football Association, so need more people on board!
By showing an interest does not mean you are making a commitment to every game. You can play in as many or as few as you wish.
So get in touch today!
Thank you.
A last gasp defeat!
Dover Athletic Supporters' 6 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' 5
Saturday 8th September 2007 at Archers Court playing fields, Dover, Kent.
Dover were a step into the unknown for us, never having crossed swords with them before, though we did once enter a five-a-side competition run by their Trust a few years ago, which was played on their training area, just behind the goal, at the end of the ground where their bar is. What sort of 'monsters' were they going to be? For if you were to believe all you read on the unofficial Ryman forums then Dover is not the most hospitable place to come to. But I only judge on what I find, and from start to finish, they seemed a decent bunch. First they met us at the station and gave us lifts, right up to the final whistle when they handed out a tray of sandwiches, oh and some doughnuts mostly consumed in his epitimous gannet style by old man Hutty! Though they claimed to have had five goals disallowed, most were for pot shots at goal well after their own referee had blown for offisde, and one was after the whistle had gone after our keeper had been fouled! Though they said it was 'banter' I personally thought they gave their referee a bit too much abuse, and thought he did a reasonable job. We've certainly had a lot worse!
The only downer was the showers not working, as we were told by some of the locals that there was a problem with the pump, so it was plenty of deodorant and a somewhat sweaty bunch of Rabblers who headed to the Crabble for the big game in the afternoon. A game of two halves, Dover should have been 4 or 5 up at half time, but we turned in a superb second half performance, and matched them in the second half. not as one sided as some of their posters on their forum suggested! After we adjourned to 'The Cricketers' by the ground to watch the England game, and despite us coming back to deny them all three points the natives there were also friendly, and you have to wonder where Dover get such a reputation from? Jealousy perhaps?
But back to our game in the morning...I'll hand over to Andy Tucker to give you his version of events:
" The Supporters' Team were beaten in a frustrating manner in their first iFA match of the season away to Dover. A slow start saw Dover take the lead but Dulwich roared back at them to go 2-1 up at half-time, the second from Chris Garrett reminiscent of his one man march against PSG (Belgium) in Paris in January. Dulwich continued where they left off for the first thrity minutes of the second half with some marvellous play on the break, and with fifteen minutes left found themselves 4-1 up. As we started to tire against the fresher and younger legs of Dover (they had a squad of over twenty lads to choose from!) 'The Rabblers' were pegged back to 4-3, only for some comedy keeping to gift Lawrence Marsh our fifth with eight minutes to go. But tired legs told and it looked to be finishing 5-5 (probably fair on reflection) before 'time added on for the opposition to score' saw the cruel ending with Dvoer scoring the winner with literally the last kick of the match, despite nano-seconds earlier the referee indicating that there was still two minutes left to play. Well done to everyone who played-a stirling effort. Special mention for Shaun Dooley who returned to 'active service' after a break of almost a decade!
Named & shamed for not turning up and not letting anyone know in advance: Phil Doyle."
"The Rabblers": Andy Tucker; Nicolas Lucas; Paul Griffin; Chris Wheeler; Danny King; Mick O'Shaughnessy; Andy Murphy; Shaun Dooley; Lawrence Marsh; Ference Morath; Chris Garrett. Subs used: Dawn Taylor; Mishi Morath.
Goalscorers: Lawrence Marsh (2); Chris Garrett (2) Andy Murphy.
Back row: (left to right) Ferenc Morath; Lawrence Marsh; Mick O'Shaughnessy; Andrew Tucker; Mark Hutton; Nicolas Lucas; Chris Wheeler; Paul Griffin.
Front row: (left to right) Chris Garrett; Dawn Taylor; Shaun Dooley; Danny King; Andy Murphy; Mishi Morath.
More Estonian thoughts...
this time from team organiser Andrew Tucker, who was instrumental in setting up the tour:
"The tour to Tallinn was one of my favourites. Having been involved with running the team, and subsequently doing a lot of the organisation for the tour, for about three years, this was undoubtedly one of the best! I was quietly pleased with just how smoothly most of it went. Eight (I think) of us picked up a taxi from Champion Hill at some ungodly hour in the morning on the Thursday and got to Stansted within about fifty minutes. We then had the traditional fry-up at the airport before strolling through passport control, wandered round the shops then on to the gate.
The flight left apporximately on time, and before we knew it we were in Estonia. We then all got cabs to the hotel. And were greeted by Hutty and Big Nose wondering why their name wasn't at the hotel. Read your e-mails you buffoons! Anyway, we all checked in with little fuss and were up and running. Madis kindly came and joined us for some lunch/dinner before taking us to a UEFA Cup game that FC Flora Tallinn were playing where we saw some more of our friends from JK Jalgpallihaigla. The next day saw a few more join us and then that evening, the first major problem. Lucas Green was stranded by the floods in England and had missed his flight. Whilst everyone else enjoyed the food and company at the pub we were at, I spent most of the time on the phone or texting to work out what could be done. Could we change kick-off time, as he may be able to get here for 1 0'clock if he goes via Prague? Hang on, what about a flight to Helsinki, then a ferry? A quick stop at Kiev before boarding? As the price and air miles racked up, it became increasingly apparent it wasn't going to happen. When all of a sudden, he says 'Hang on' and hangs up! The next thing I know I get a text saying he will be on the Easyjet flight from Stansted the following morning as someone has dropped out. One of those 'happenings' which are a pain at the time, but will live long in the memory as 'making the tour'. And I settled back to the strange concoction of food in front of me, relaxing in the knowledge we now had thirteen players again!
So onto the game itself the next morning. I was very proud of our boys (& girl) who worked incredibly hard throughout. Six goals for Gaffer Marsh-surely a Club record that will never be beaten-,the greatest own goal of all time by Mr Griffin, and a water bottle in the balls for our very own Belgian Admiral! Despite the result, we all enjoyed the game and enhanced our friendship with the Estonians which was the real point of the tour! A good night out was had by all, including Lucas providing more entertainment by getting into a fight with the Russian taxi-driver. Bloody drunken tight wad!
I don't remember much about the Sunday except for the evening where the squad went out for a meal together. Both Lawrence & I were very grateful for everyone paying for our food that night-it really was appreciated. The evening got better as we reitred to the hotel back yard and entertained the rest of the hotel with Daddy O'Shaughnessy's collection of punk rock, heavy metal & assorted jurassic tunes from the seventies, the pick of the bunch being 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' by those shy, retiring lads from 'Rage Against The Machine'. Due to the amount of noise we were making we were forced to adjourn indoors to the hotel bar, where the chap behind the jump kept us entertained with a Shakin' Stevens album(I kid you not!) and we entertained ourselves with a rather childish but very funny peanut fight. Then it was time to say goodnight. Apparently Mick spent a good thirty minutes throwing up in the toilet later, much to Shailer's disgust as Mick had their room key. Hutty provided the cabaret in the corridor for Vern, the Gaffer & me by announcing to the world 'Farewell comrades!', turning to his bedroom door and squealing 'Oooooh, I've locked myself out!'
Monday saw the majority of the squad leave, thus the tour 'proper' ended. I was very pleased with how it went-very little in the way of hiccups (at least ones we could have avoided) and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We look forward to hopefully returning next year, at the same time conquering Latvia, as we also hope to play a match in Riga."
"The tour to Tallinn was one of my favourites. Having been involved with running the team, and subsequently doing a lot of the organisation for the tour, for about three years, this was undoubtedly one of the best! I was quietly pleased with just how smoothly most of it went. Eight (I think) of us picked up a taxi from Champion Hill at some ungodly hour in the morning on the Thursday and got to Stansted within about fifty minutes. We then had the traditional fry-up at the airport before strolling through passport control, wandered round the shops then on to the gate.
The flight left apporximately on time, and before we knew it we were in Estonia. We then all got cabs to the hotel. And were greeted by Hutty and Big Nose wondering why their name wasn't at the hotel. Read your e-mails you buffoons! Anyway, we all checked in with little fuss and were up and running. Madis kindly came and joined us for some lunch/dinner before taking us to a UEFA Cup game that FC Flora Tallinn were playing where we saw some more of our friends from JK Jalgpallihaigla. The next day saw a few more join us and then that evening, the first major problem. Lucas Green was stranded by the floods in England and had missed his flight. Whilst everyone else enjoyed the food and company at the pub we were at, I spent most of the time on the phone or texting to work out what could be done. Could we change kick-off time, as he may be able to get here for 1 0'clock if he goes via Prague? Hang on, what about a flight to Helsinki, then a ferry? A quick stop at Kiev before boarding? As the price and air miles racked up, it became increasingly apparent it wasn't going to happen. When all of a sudden, he says 'Hang on' and hangs up! The next thing I know I get a text saying he will be on the Easyjet flight from Stansted the following morning as someone has dropped out. One of those 'happenings' which are a pain at the time, but will live long in the memory as 'making the tour'. And I settled back to the strange concoction of food in front of me, relaxing in the knowledge we now had thirteen players again!
So onto the game itself the next morning. I was very proud of our boys (& girl) who worked incredibly hard throughout. Six goals for Gaffer Marsh-surely a Club record that will never be beaten-,the greatest own goal of all time by Mr Griffin, and a water bottle in the balls for our very own Belgian Admiral! Despite the result, we all enjoyed the game and enhanced our friendship with the Estonians which was the real point of the tour! A good night out was had by all, including Lucas providing more entertainment by getting into a fight with the Russian taxi-driver. Bloody drunken tight wad!
I don't remember much about the Sunday except for the evening where the squad went out for a meal together. Both Lawrence & I were very grateful for everyone paying for our food that night-it really was appreciated. The evening got better as we reitred to the hotel back yard and entertained the rest of the hotel with Daddy O'Shaughnessy's collection of punk rock, heavy metal & assorted jurassic tunes from the seventies, the pick of the bunch being 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' by those shy, retiring lads from 'Rage Against The Machine'. Due to the amount of noise we were making we were forced to adjourn indoors to the hotel bar, where the chap behind the jump kept us entertained with a Shakin' Stevens album(I kid you not!) and we entertained ourselves with a rather childish but very funny peanut fight. Then it was time to say goodnight. Apparently Mick spent a good thirty minutes throwing up in the toilet later, much to Shailer's disgust as Mick had their room key. Hutty provided the cabaret in the corridor for Vern, the Gaffer & me by announcing to the world 'Farewell comrades!', turning to his bedroom door and squealing 'Oooooh, I've locked myself out!'
Monday saw the majority of the squad leave, thus the tour 'proper' ended. I was very pleased with how it went-very little in the way of hiccups (at least ones we could have avoided) and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We look forward to hopefully returning next year, at the same time conquering Latvia, as we also hope to play a match in Riga."
Friday, 7 September 2007
A jolly day out this weekend
when we open our Internet Football Association season with a match away to the Jollyboys from Dover Athletic, who Andy Tucker has managed to pursuade to join the IFA, with 'The Rabblers' being their virginal opponents!
Last weeks short sided warm-up away to Erith & Belvedere supporters' was cancelled when they couldn't raise a side, but Andy tells me there are tentative plans to accept an invite from them for a full eleven a side match at the end of the season on their Park View Road stadium pitch, which they co-own with Welling United!
It should be fun, no matter the score, & they are being kind enough to meet us at Dover Priory station, to give us lifts to the pitch they have booked.
We have a large squad due to travel down to the Kent coast, in our usual 'rag bag' public transport style. With a mix of us on the London Bridge & Victoria services, both due in Dover at around quarter to ten.
The squad named earlier in the week is as follows:
Andy Tucker; Steve Rickerby; Mick O'Shaughnessy; James O' Shaughnessy; Nicolas Lucas; Robbie McLintock; Mishi Morath; Ferenc Morath; Mark Hutton; Paul Griffin; Chris Garrett; Danny King; Phil Doyle; Chris Wheeler; Andy Murphy & Lawrence Marsh.
Though I understand that Robbie McLintock has already sent his apologies & Steve Rickerby may not be fully fit to have a run out, as he is recovering from a back injury.
Possible late additions, in case of drop-outs are Phil Baker & Dawn Taylor, who are bringing their boots in the hope of a run-out.
Not playing but popping down to cheer us all on are injured Matt Hammond & long retired, but hopefully he can be enticed to get his boots out of the loft, our former player-manager Shaun Dooley.
Last weeks short sided warm-up away to Erith & Belvedere supporters' was cancelled when they couldn't raise a side, but Andy tells me there are tentative plans to accept an invite from them for a full eleven a side match at the end of the season on their Park View Road stadium pitch, which they co-own with Welling United!
It should be fun, no matter the score, & they are being kind enough to meet us at Dover Priory station, to give us lifts to the pitch they have booked.
We have a large squad due to travel down to the Kent coast, in our usual 'rag bag' public transport style. With a mix of us on the London Bridge & Victoria services, both due in Dover at around quarter to ten.
The squad named earlier in the week is as follows:
Andy Tucker; Steve Rickerby; Mick O'Shaughnessy; James O' Shaughnessy; Nicolas Lucas; Robbie McLintock; Mishi Morath; Ferenc Morath; Mark Hutton; Paul Griffin; Chris Garrett; Danny King; Phil Doyle; Chris Wheeler; Andy Murphy & Lawrence Marsh.
Though I understand that Robbie McLintock has already sent his apologies & Steve Rickerby may not be fully fit to have a run out, as he is recovering from a back injury.
Possible late additions, in case of drop-outs are Phil Baker & Dawn Taylor, who are bringing their boots in the hope of a run-out.
Not playing but popping down to cheer us all on are injured Matt Hammond & long retired, but hopefully he can be enticed to get his boots out of the loft, our former player-manager Shaun Dooley.
Friday, 24 August 2007
Two, well one & a half, games coming up:
Two new teams who we've never played before for our next two fixtures.
On Saturday 1st September we have a 7-a-side match away to Erith & Belvedere supporters'. They don't quite have the numbers to play full eleven a side games. But then it's never stopped us before, what with the amount of late cry offs we have to put up with, and our liberal use of 'guest players' to make up the numbers!
The following Saturday we have an 11 o'clock kick off away to Dover Athletic Supporters' Team, prior to the 'big boys' match at The Crabble in the afternoon. This is, potentially, already one of our biggest first Team matches of the season, so you don't really have an excuse not to play have you? Even Nicolas Lucas will be there, travelling all the way from Namur, in Belgium! Whilst we've not played the dover fans before, we did enter a five a side competition they ran about four or five years ago, where we were made very welcome & had a good day out. More of the same hopefully!
Once again please remember to let andy know ASAP if you are available for either game. You should have had his email a couple of weeks ago, but if you've forgotten to reply & deleted it already just send him one to: Andrew.Tucker@justice.gsi.gov.uk
On Saturday 1st September we have a 7-a-side match away to Erith & Belvedere supporters'. They don't quite have the numbers to play full eleven a side games. But then it's never stopped us before, what with the amount of late cry offs we have to put up with, and our liberal use of 'guest players' to make up the numbers!
The following Saturday we have an 11 o'clock kick off away to Dover Athletic Supporters' Team, prior to the 'big boys' match at The Crabble in the afternoon. This is, potentially, already one of our biggest first Team matches of the season, so you don't really have an excuse not to play have you? Even Nicolas Lucas will be there, travelling all the way from Namur, in Belgium! Whilst we've not played the dover fans before, we did enter a five a side competition they ran about four or five years ago, where we were made very welcome & had a good day out. More of the same hopefully!
Once again please remember to let andy know ASAP if you are available for either game. You should have had his email a couple of weeks ago, but if you've forgotten to reply & deleted it already just send him one to: Andrew.Tucker@justice.gsi.gov.uk
Thursday, 23 August 2007
More snaps from Tallinn...
These ones courtesy of Paul Griffin. They were taken on the Sunday evening, when those of us who had not had to dash back to dear old Blighty, enjoyed a medieval style banquet at one of the many pleasant restaurants in the old town. We opted for the sumptious menu that included such tasty dishes as wild boar; bear; various game, salmon, elk and more! It really was quite delicious (well most of it anyway...) and a great way to wind down the tour. Highlight was the toast & words of thanks by our elder statesman Mark Hutton, offered up to thank Andy Tucker & Lawrence Marsh for all their hard work in arranging the tour, & making it such a success!
This snap is of Hutty, who couldn't resist posing by the Belarus
National Under Eighteen sides team coach, after we watched them
beat the Estonian Under 18's on the Saturday evening.
One old communist relic posing with another...
Oh dear, that's the sad sight of the sunburnt legs of Mishi
Morath, that little gap between the shorts and the top of the
socks, from his brief runout against Jalgpallihaigla!
(Don't worry Griff...you might help me with the photos, but I
do this blog, & don't worry son: revenge will be sweet! ;-)
This snap is of Hutty, who couldn't resist posing by the Belarus
National Under Eighteen sides team coach, after we watched them
beat the Estonian Under 18's on the Saturday evening.
One old communist relic posing with another...
Oh dear, that's the sad sight of the sunburnt legs of Mishi
Morath, that little gap between the shorts and the top of the
socks, from his brief runout against Jalgpallihaigla!
(Don't worry Griff...you might help me with the photos, but I
do this blog, & don't worry son: revenge will be sweet! ;-)
Monday, 20 August 2007
Greeting from Estonia!
Not long after we got back I received this message from Madis Hallimae, who helps to run JK Jalpallihaigla:
"In my opinion it was a marvellous weekend with marvellous people.
It was nice to see again familiar faces of the people who were great hosts for us when we came to Dulwich in May.
I think the friendly we played in Tallinn was an interesting one-to see so many goals in the game was surprising for us. I was really happy about the one I scored in the last minute-this is the first ever goal I have scored because usually I have to stay between the posts as a goalkeeper. But of ocurse the star of the game was Lawrence Marsh, for your team. Scoring six goals is real class in itself, to be honest our star-striker only got three himself. And the own goal from your player. It was a pretty good one and many of our players voted it 'the most beautiful own goal ever scored!'
I am pleased that you all enjoyed your time in Tallinn, it is really nice to hear you say so. Our team also enjoyed the weekend, both on & off the field. We will definitely see you again!
Madis.
Wonderful words there, from a wonderful person. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to go back out there next summer. We also hope to fix up a game in neighbouring Riga, in Latvia. This would be the first time we have taken in two countries to play games on a single tour. More "Rabblers" history in the making!
"In my opinion it was a marvellous weekend with marvellous people.
It was nice to see again familiar faces of the people who were great hosts for us when we came to Dulwich in May.
I think the friendly we played in Tallinn was an interesting one-to see so many goals in the game was surprising for us. I was really happy about the one I scored in the last minute-this is the first ever goal I have scored because usually I have to stay between the posts as a goalkeeper. But of ocurse the star of the game was Lawrence Marsh, for your team. Scoring six goals is real class in itself, to be honest our star-striker only got three himself. And the own goal from your player. It was a pretty good one and many of our players voted it 'the most beautiful own goal ever scored!'
I am pleased that you all enjoyed your time in Tallinn, it is really nice to hear you say so. Our team also enjoyed the weekend, both on & off the field. We will definitely see you again!
Madis.
Wonderful words there, from a wonderful person. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to go back out there next summer. We also hope to fix up a game in neighbouring Riga, in Latvia. This would be the first time we have taken in two countries to play games on a single tour. More "Rabblers" history in the making!
Looking back at Estonia...
Time moves on, but the memories linger....
The Jalgpallihaigla website has a report of the game, but unfortunately for us it's all in Estonian! (Naturally, I suppose) But one thing that does stand out at the bottom of it is their list of goalscorers, or to be precise the one that put them 2-1 up in the seventeenth minute. Click here and check it for yourself...
Yes it really does say BAKER when it was actually GRIFFIN who scored the wonder oggie. For the record it was Phil Baker who hit the back of his own net in 2003 against the host team on our Prague Tour, our last match of that tournament. But it was indeed Paul Griffin who swivelled on the proverbial sixpence to hit the ball low into the corner of the net past poor old Matt Hammond. At least Phil had the satisfaction of knowing he'd kippered Ian Wright when he got his! Though Phil 'El Pussy' Baker is no stranger to being on the other side of the dreaded oggie when Mick O'Shaughnessy put one past him in our 3-2 victory over Red Star supporters' in Paris in 2005!
There are some cracking photos from our Estonian tour on the Jalgpallihaigla site here.
And if you haven't seen the snaps taken by Paul Griffin you can view them here.
Enjoy!
And thank you to both photographers for letting me use them here.
The Jalgpallihaigla website has a report of the game, but unfortunately for us it's all in Estonian! (Naturally, I suppose) But one thing that does stand out at the bottom of it is their list of goalscorers, or to be precise the one that put them 2-1 up in the seventeenth minute. Click here and check it for yourself...
Yes it really does say BAKER when it was actually GRIFFIN who scored the wonder oggie. For the record it was Phil Baker who hit the back of his own net in 2003 against the host team on our Prague Tour, our last match of that tournament. But it was indeed Paul Griffin who swivelled on the proverbial sixpence to hit the ball low into the corner of the net past poor old Matt Hammond. At least Phil had the satisfaction of knowing he'd kippered Ian Wright when he got his! Though Phil 'El Pussy' Baker is no stranger to being on the other side of the dreaded oggie when Mick O'Shaughnessy put one past him in our 3-2 victory over Red Star supporters' in Paris in 2005!
There are some cracking photos from our Estonian tour on the Jalgpallihaigla site here.
And if you haven't seen the snaps taken by Paul Griffin you can view them here.
Enjoy!
And thank you to both photographers for letting me use them here.
Tucker Sun Shark Photos
Not content with our recent trip to Estonia, team fixture secretary, wannabe manager & Larry's gopher, Andy Tucker, was down in St. Ives, down in Cornwall with a free lance photographer mate, rather than taking in the 'delights' of the Hamlet First Team & Reserves double header in the Crawley suburbs of Three Bridges. And who can blame him? For he had nothing more planned than a couple of hours sunbathing & gawping at the local girls when 'The Sun' roadshow turned up with a couple of Page Three girls in tow. And this is where a bit of lady luck shone on him. For they had forgotten to sort out any promotional staff, & he became 'camera boy' for his snapper mate as they helped out. As if that wasn't jammy enough he got paid £250 for the privelege, which more than paid for the weekend away!
'Well I didn't quite get the tour T-shirts done, anyone for
St. Ives next season?'
The Cornwall Shark-even more plastic than the claims of Paul Griffin to come from the Duchy!
Monday, 13 August 2007
Apologies for anyone looking in
but I haven't had the time, or means, to update this site over the last few weeks.
I am hampered somewhat by not owning my own computer, and don't expect to update anything on here until the evening of Monday 20th August.
Please look back then. Thanks!
I am hampered somewhat by not owning my own computer, and don't expect to update anything on here until the evening of Monday 20th August.
Please look back then. Thanks!
Saturday, 28 July 2007
What a wonderful tour: JK Jalgpallihaigla 10 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' 6!
Despite the scoreline it was yet another successful tour for ‘The Rabblers’, enjoyed immensely by all who took part. Our Estonian friends were even better hosts than we imagined, and Tallinn itself was an even more beautiful city than we’d been led to believe. The only ‘downer’ was that we didn’t all have enough time there!
The majority of the fifteen strong tour party arrived by Thursday, with the rearguard getting to the hotel on Friday. The early bunch were lucky enough to catch a UEFA Cup match, at the national A Le Coq Arena, on the Thursday evening. Local side FC Flora going down to visiting Norwegians Valerenga IF by the only goal of the game. Our match, at 1 o’clock on Saturday, was somewhat more high scoring! We eventually lost by the amazing scoreline of 10-6, but in truth the four goal margin flattered the hosts somewhat, though it was such dun we weren’t complaining too much. But even before a ball was kicked in anger there was real drama in the Dulwich Hamlet camp as a flurry of phone calls between a stranded Lucas Green & a despairing Andy Tucker made the possibility of one of our touring lynchpins not being with us. Unbeknown to us soaking up the rays in the sunny Baltics, there were near monsoons all over England, & Lucas had his train severely delayed by a landslide on the line as he tried to make his flight at Gatwick. Attempts to namedrop “Don’t you know who my brother is…” were doomed to failure & the plane was airborne without him. A major disaster was looming, but Lucas would not be beaten. All remaining flights to Tallinn were full, and he searched for all possibilities. Going via Helsinki, then boat. Prague. Berlin…train onwards. You name it, he tried it. But then, after more badgering, a seat became available on the morning flight! And with an hour to spare Lucas was on the touchline! A true “Rabblers” hero, who deserves to go down in folklore for his efforts. And although we did not win the game, he put in a sterling performance that, on any other day, would have won him our player of the match award. But not today. As true Hamlet history was made. The all-time known Dulwich Hamlet First Team club record of goals scored in a match by a single player is six, the only one post-War was Matt Fowler in a London Senior Cup tie at Bromley in the late nineties. Prior to that you have to delve all the way into the dim & distant past of the nineteen twenties when both Sid Nichol & the legendary Edgar Kail hit a double hat-trick each in the same match no less! Now the name LAWRENCE MARSH can be added to that list as he scored all six for “The Rabblers” on this tour against JK Jalgpallihaigla! Who would have ever thought it eh? Lawrence Marsh mentioned alongside the great Edgar Kail? How fitting that he achieved this wearing our new “Rabblers” kit of thin Pink & Blue stripes, modelled on the 1919/20 FA Amateur Cup & Isthmian League championship winning double side, that Edgar was part of.
Of the match itself…well we were always the underdogs, & our main hope was to stifle them a little, not let them play & keep in the game for as long as possible. Which was not going to be easy. The temperature was in the mid seventies at least, and we only had two substitutes. A large part of our party were the wrong side of thirty, and two were well into their fifties! But Jalgpallihaigla had wave after wave of youthful substitutes with which to ring in the changes. Their oldest player, & he was their eldest by far, was a ‘young pup’ of 42. We went a goal behind after eleven minutes, but only five minutes later Larry Marsh had evened things up. But any hopes of a lift from this, that ‘we can do this’ self belief factor, was smashed less than sixty seconds later when Paul Griffin put the ball through his own net, under no pressure from the opposition, when all he had to do was knock the ball into touch, either for a corner or a throw. But no, he hit it with hard precision into the bottom corner of the net, leaving a bemused Matt Hammond in goal with no chance. A crestfallen Griff collapsed to the ground, and held his head in his hands. And so he should. This moment was a far cry from his moment of glory when he scored against the Swiss in Prague back in 2003. After the final whistle Griff tried to tell us that he was ‘aiming for the corner flag.!’ Not long after Matt conceded, what he will admit was a ‘soft goal’. But not entirely his fault. Firstly, he was suffering from an attack of ‘Severe Post Traumatic Stress’ as a result of that own goal; & secondly, he was playing the game with a finger strapped up, which he’d injured playing in the Sevens a few days before. Unbeknown to him he had actually broken his finger & was playing through the pain barrier to take part in this tour. But going two goals behind was going to stop our man making history, and by the half hour mark it was even stevens once more, before the Estonians edged in front again. But minutes before the half time whistle Larry had again put the ball in the back of the net to make it four all at the turnaround.
After the break the heat, and advancing years, made it a wearisome task for “The Rabblers”, but despite starting to wilt not one player gave up & battled gamely on, even when the Estonians pulled away with a two goal lead. Larry pulled one back in the 63rd minute, & held on for another seven minutes before Jalgpallihaigla hit two more in a five minute spell, which would have finished off lesser sides. With two minutes to go they hit another, before Larry gleefully scored his record breaking sixth goal of the game, their tenth in the very last minute moments later, almost seeming like a ‘consolation’ as all of us enjoyed a breather as the desperately awaited final whistle blew not long after.
I could go through the whole team and mention them all one by one. But there is no need. I have been watching, and involved in, the Supporters’ Team since it was formed back in May 1989. This was-despite the scoreline-one of our finest moments. Wilting in the heat everyone gave their all & never stopped working. Each and every player who pulled on a Pink ‘n’ Blue shirt last Saturday can be proud of themselves, for if heads had dropped then the scoreline would have been much higher. Never have I got so much ‘pleasure’ from a defeat.
The parting continued all night. We knocked back the beers they had provided on the touchline, then dashed back to our hotel to dump our gear. Some returned to the pitch next to where we had done battle to watch a top flight Estonian League match between JK Tallinna Kalev & Parnu Vaprus, before popping into a local bar. We then saw an international match at the same place between Estonia Under 18’s & Belarus. After the final whistle we headed to a local pool bar that our Estonian friends knew well. We left there just before midnight & headed into the Old Town, one of their number stripping naked and jumping into a fountain for fun! Yes…they really were that crazy! We settled into one of the main tourist pubs, and at about two in the morning we split into two groups, some heading back to the hotel, others going onto a local punky-type nightclub in a shopping centre!
Sunday was spent relaxing, sightseeing, or even watching more football as a few caught a local second division match. In the evening we all had a ‘team meal’ in a medieval style restaurant in town, some of things being sampled were wild boar, rabbit, bear, salmon & plenty more I can’t recall as I type, washed down with lots of wine & jugs of honey beer. A splendid end to a marvellous weekend.
Once again, a BIG THANK YOU to Lawrence Marsh & Andy Tucker for organising & everything, & liasing with Madis & company from Jalgpallihaigla.
The sadness at leaving Tallinn was tempered by the fact there is no doubt we will return to play the boys from Jalgpallihaigla again in the not too distant future. The beauty of travelling to unchartered places with ‘The Rabblers’ is that another small part of Europe becomes embedded in our English hearts. A little part of Tallinn will forever be Pink and Blue.
The majority of the fifteen strong tour party arrived by Thursday, with the rearguard getting to the hotel on Friday. The early bunch were lucky enough to catch a UEFA Cup match, at the national A Le Coq Arena, on the Thursday evening. Local side FC Flora going down to visiting Norwegians Valerenga IF by the only goal of the game. Our match, at 1 o’clock on Saturday, was somewhat more high scoring! We eventually lost by the amazing scoreline of 10-6, but in truth the four goal margin flattered the hosts somewhat, though it was such dun we weren’t complaining too much. But even before a ball was kicked in anger there was real drama in the Dulwich Hamlet camp as a flurry of phone calls between a stranded Lucas Green & a despairing Andy Tucker made the possibility of one of our touring lynchpins not being with us. Unbeknown to us soaking up the rays in the sunny Baltics, there were near monsoons all over England, & Lucas had his train severely delayed by a landslide on the line as he tried to make his flight at Gatwick. Attempts to namedrop “Don’t you know who my brother is…” were doomed to failure & the plane was airborne without him. A major disaster was looming, but Lucas would not be beaten. All remaining flights to Tallinn were full, and he searched for all possibilities. Going via Helsinki, then boat. Prague. Berlin…train onwards. You name it, he tried it. But then, after more badgering, a seat became available on the morning flight! And with an hour to spare Lucas was on the touchline! A true “Rabblers” hero, who deserves to go down in folklore for his efforts. And although we did not win the game, he put in a sterling performance that, on any other day, would have won him our player of the match award. But not today. As true Hamlet history was made. The all-time known Dulwich Hamlet First Team club record of goals scored in a match by a single player is six, the only one post-War was Matt Fowler in a London Senior Cup tie at Bromley in the late nineties. Prior to that you have to delve all the way into the dim & distant past of the nineteen twenties when both Sid Nichol & the legendary Edgar Kail hit a double hat-trick each in the same match no less! Now the name LAWRENCE MARSH can be added to that list as he scored all six for “The Rabblers” on this tour against JK Jalgpallihaigla! Who would have ever thought it eh? Lawrence Marsh mentioned alongside the great Edgar Kail? How fitting that he achieved this wearing our new “Rabblers” kit of thin Pink & Blue stripes, modelled on the 1919/20 FA Amateur Cup & Isthmian League championship winning double side, that Edgar was part of.
Of the match itself…well we were always the underdogs, & our main hope was to stifle them a little, not let them play & keep in the game for as long as possible. Which was not going to be easy. The temperature was in the mid seventies at least, and we only had two substitutes. A large part of our party were the wrong side of thirty, and two were well into their fifties! But Jalgpallihaigla had wave after wave of youthful substitutes with which to ring in the changes. Their oldest player, & he was their eldest by far, was a ‘young pup’ of 42. We went a goal behind after eleven minutes, but only five minutes later Larry Marsh had evened things up. But any hopes of a lift from this, that ‘we can do this’ self belief factor, was smashed less than sixty seconds later when Paul Griffin put the ball through his own net, under no pressure from the opposition, when all he had to do was knock the ball into touch, either for a corner or a throw. But no, he hit it with hard precision into the bottom corner of the net, leaving a bemused Matt Hammond in goal with no chance. A crestfallen Griff collapsed to the ground, and held his head in his hands. And so he should. This moment was a far cry from his moment of glory when he scored against the Swiss in Prague back in 2003. After the final whistle Griff tried to tell us that he was ‘aiming for the corner flag.!’ Not long after Matt conceded, what he will admit was a ‘soft goal’. But not entirely his fault. Firstly, he was suffering from an attack of ‘Severe Post Traumatic Stress’ as a result of that own goal; & secondly, he was playing the game with a finger strapped up, which he’d injured playing in the Sevens a few days before. Unbeknown to him he had actually broken his finger & was playing through the pain barrier to take part in this tour. But going two goals behind was going to stop our man making history, and by the half hour mark it was even stevens once more, before the Estonians edged in front again. But minutes before the half time whistle Larry had again put the ball in the back of the net to make it four all at the turnaround.
After the break the heat, and advancing years, made it a wearisome task for “The Rabblers”, but despite starting to wilt not one player gave up & battled gamely on, even when the Estonians pulled away with a two goal lead. Larry pulled one back in the 63rd minute, & held on for another seven minutes before Jalgpallihaigla hit two more in a five minute spell, which would have finished off lesser sides. With two minutes to go they hit another, before Larry gleefully scored his record breaking sixth goal of the game, their tenth in the very last minute moments later, almost seeming like a ‘consolation’ as all of us enjoyed a breather as the desperately awaited final whistle blew not long after.
I could go through the whole team and mention them all one by one. But there is no need. I have been watching, and involved in, the Supporters’ Team since it was formed back in May 1989. This was-despite the scoreline-one of our finest moments. Wilting in the heat everyone gave their all & never stopped working. Each and every player who pulled on a Pink ‘n’ Blue shirt last Saturday can be proud of themselves, for if heads had dropped then the scoreline would have been much higher. Never have I got so much ‘pleasure’ from a defeat.
The parting continued all night. We knocked back the beers they had provided on the touchline, then dashed back to our hotel to dump our gear. Some returned to the pitch next to where we had done battle to watch a top flight Estonian League match between JK Tallinna Kalev & Parnu Vaprus, before popping into a local bar. We then saw an international match at the same place between Estonia Under 18’s & Belarus. After the final whistle we headed to a local pool bar that our Estonian friends knew well. We left there just before midnight & headed into the Old Town, one of their number stripping naked and jumping into a fountain for fun! Yes…they really were that crazy! We settled into one of the main tourist pubs, and at about two in the morning we split into two groups, some heading back to the hotel, others going onto a local punky-type nightclub in a shopping centre!
Sunday was spent relaxing, sightseeing, or even watching more football as a few caught a local second division match. In the evening we all had a ‘team meal’ in a medieval style restaurant in town, some of things being sampled were wild boar, rabbit, bear, salmon & plenty more I can’t recall as I type, washed down with lots of wine & jugs of honey beer. A splendid end to a marvellous weekend.
Once again, a BIG THANK YOU to Lawrence Marsh & Andy Tucker for organising & everything, & liasing with Madis & company from Jalgpallihaigla.
The sadness at leaving Tallinn was tempered by the fact there is no doubt we will return to play the boys from Jalgpallihaigla again in the not too distant future. The beauty of travelling to unchartered places with ‘The Rabblers’ is that another small part of Europe becomes embedded in our English hearts. A little part of Tallinn will forever be Pink and Blue.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
The invasion has begun!
As a crisis mounts in Whitehall between the James Bond wannabees of the United Kingdom and Russia with mandarins set to be expelled left right and centre, 'The Rabblers' set out on their latest attempt at footballing glasnost with a ground-breaking trip into former Soviet Union territory as we travel to, now independent, Estonia to take on our friends from JK Jalgpallihaigla, in Tallinn.
As is befitting an outfit such as ours we are going over there in dribs and drabs. Advance parties include Mark Hutton & Phil Baker who are in Warsaw, Poland as I type, before making their way down to the Baltic state of Estonia. Paul Griffin arrived in Tallinn this morning, with most of the rest leaving Stansted tomorrow morning. I will be with the rearguard on the Friday morning flight. Though we are all based in the same hotel!
The match itself is at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon their time. I don't think we are expecting to get any sort of result over there, apart from keeping the score 'respectable', but there's no harm in dreaming....
The important thing is that we enjoy ourselves, make friendships stronger & do Dulwich Hamlet proud!
Estonia is added to our growing list of tours, our first of which was six years ago! Time really does fly.
The full list being:
2002: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
2003: Prague, Czech Republic.
2004: Rimini, Italy.
2005: Paris, France
2005: Liege, Belgium.
2006: Namur, Belgium.
2007: Paris, France.
& now Tallinn, Estonia.
I wonder if there is any supporters' team in the country who can boast a better European touring record than us?
Apparently Tallin is a city full of internet connections, so hopefully I will post a brief score of the match on here Saturday evening, or Sunday morning. If not, then when I am back in London on Monday afternoon.
As is befitting an outfit such as ours we are going over there in dribs and drabs. Advance parties include Mark Hutton & Phil Baker who are in Warsaw, Poland as I type, before making their way down to the Baltic state of Estonia. Paul Griffin arrived in Tallinn this morning, with most of the rest leaving Stansted tomorrow morning. I will be with the rearguard on the Friday morning flight. Though we are all based in the same hotel!
The match itself is at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon their time. I don't think we are expecting to get any sort of result over there, apart from keeping the score 'respectable', but there's no harm in dreaming....
The important thing is that we enjoy ourselves, make friendships stronger & do Dulwich Hamlet proud!
Estonia is added to our growing list of tours, our first of which was six years ago! Time really does fly.
The full list being:
2002: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
2003: Prague, Czech Republic.
2004: Rimini, Italy.
2005: Paris, France
2005: Liege, Belgium.
2006: Namur, Belgium.
2007: Paris, France.
& now Tallinn, Estonia.
I wonder if there is any supporters' team in the country who can boast a better European touring record than us?
Apparently Tallin is a city full of internet connections, so hopefully I will post a brief score of the match on here Saturday evening, or Sunday morning. If not, then when I am back in London on Monday afternoon.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Girls against boys
The record books will show that on Sunday 7th July Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Football Team overcame their female counterparts by EIGHT goals to nil, on the all weather pitch at Dulwich College. Emphatic it was, but not quite as easy a rout as the scoreline suggested, in this truncated game of only half an hour each way, at the girls insistence. Which is a bit strange, seeing as they billed this game: 'HISTORY IN THE MAKING' & claimed that WE were more like 'ramblers', rather than 'The Rabblers', given our pace! I think the scoreline tells you how seriously we can take their pre-match hype! ;-)
Despite never looking like losing, as would be expected, due to the natural physical strength of theboys, the Village had a few chances to score, and Matt Hammond had to earn his post match BBQ burgers to keep a clean sheet. It was good to see a number of non-regular "Rabblers" making a re-appearance in the Pink 'n' Blue, namely Tony Mullins, Roger Deason, Paul Griffin & Mishi Morath. Though Danny King has become a bit of an irregular player himself, and could almost be included in that list. Star of the show was Larry Marsh, who hit half of the 'Rabblers' goals, one in particular being a 'blaster' right at the keepr from yards out! The other goals came from Andy Murphy, who in my book was our man of the match, Chris Garrett, Chris Wheeler & Steve Rickerby, who sublime chip from the touchline at least thirty yards out, has been compared to that famous Nayim lob against Arsenal in that European final..or, alternatively, a cross gone wrong!
Peckham Village, I think it would be fair to say, are a development team. They finished last in their third division in the Greater London Womens' League last season. And despite some who thought this may have a been a silly mismatch beforehand, it became a decent game, with some of the skill on dplay and the 'never say die' spirit from the girls earning the full respect of the boys by the time the final whistle was blown. I don't think there is anyone who took part against them who would say they will be rock bottom come May 2008. On this showing they should be comfortably mid table at least. They are a team who the majority had not played any football at all before froming Peckham Village FC. So credit to them all.
If you've nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon next season you could do a lot worse than checking out their site & popping down to the Griffin sportsground in Dulwich Village to cheer them on. Provided it doesn't clash with Dulwich Hamlet Youth Team games of course! ;-)
The new kit, based on the great Dulwich Hamlet 1919/20 Amateur Cup & Isthmian League double winning side, looks splendid. Big thanks to Larry Marsh & Andy Tucker for arranging it.
After the final whistle we had a fun penalty shoot out, I can't remember the exact score, but they won in sudden death. Phil 'Big Nose' Baker contrived to miss his, so we could get onto the important matters in hand, namely the post match BBQ at Dawn Taylors place in East Dulwich. Those of us who went enjoyed immensely, some more than others eh Big Nose, and we let the girls come out tops at the cooking as well, thanks for slaving over the barbie Dawn, and also the silly 'pick up the box' game in the garden after dark! Not half as sordid as it sounds!
Hopefully this match will become an annual event.
Enjoy the photos below, kindly uploaded by Paul Griffin, albeit too big for the page, but if you click on each one you should be able to look at them.
You can also see the snaps Griff took of the match himself by clicking here.
Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' FC, Saturday 7th July 2007: Back row, left to right: Tony Mullins; Chris Wheeler; Mark Hutton; Steve Rickerby; Lawrence Marsh; Phil Baker. Front row, left to right: Chris Garrett; Danny King; Roger Deason; Matt Hammond; Andy Murphy; Phil Doyle; Mishi morath. (Not in photo: Paul Griffin ,arrived a liitle late)
Peckham Village FC: Saturday 7th July 2007, at Dulwich College all-weather pitch.
Boys and girls together!
Didn't want to leave anyone out on the sideline!
Just as well it's only hoops that make you fat! ;-)
At last the final whistle!
But where's your Dulwich Hamlet tattoo?
I take back that earlier caption: it looks like he's from another planet! ;-)
So it's true you only have one eye...
And so to the penalties...
At least one of them knows how to smile...
So who's nicked the jam jar?
Is this what Cameron meant when he said 'hug a hoodie?'...
The girls gwt in party mood
As the boys drink on outside
Someone get some more beers from the kitchen sink...
The boys line up with our host Dawn
The George Galloway of Champion Hill
The Jonathan King of Champion Hill....
You had to pick up the box without your hands touching the ground. Each round the box got cut down shorter & shorter, until it was no higher off the floor than a box of cigarettes.
It got all too much for some. As 'Big Nose' Baker dozes off on the sofa I'll say good night to you too at the end of this post!
Despite never looking like losing, as would be expected, due to the natural physical strength of theboys, the Village had a few chances to score, and Matt Hammond had to earn his post match BBQ burgers to keep a clean sheet. It was good to see a number of non-regular "Rabblers" making a re-appearance in the Pink 'n' Blue, namely Tony Mullins, Roger Deason, Paul Griffin & Mishi Morath. Though Danny King has become a bit of an irregular player himself, and could almost be included in that list. Star of the show was Larry Marsh, who hit half of the 'Rabblers' goals, one in particular being a 'blaster' right at the keepr from yards out! The other goals came from Andy Murphy, who in my book was our man of the match, Chris Garrett, Chris Wheeler & Steve Rickerby, who sublime chip from the touchline at least thirty yards out, has been compared to that famous Nayim lob against Arsenal in that European final..or, alternatively, a cross gone wrong!
Peckham Village, I think it would be fair to say, are a development team. They finished last in their third division in the Greater London Womens' League last season. And despite some who thought this may have a been a silly mismatch beforehand, it became a decent game, with some of the skill on dplay and the 'never say die' spirit from the girls earning the full respect of the boys by the time the final whistle was blown. I don't think there is anyone who took part against them who would say they will be rock bottom come May 2008. On this showing they should be comfortably mid table at least. They are a team who the majority had not played any football at all before froming Peckham Village FC. So credit to them all.
If you've nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon next season you could do a lot worse than checking out their site & popping down to the Griffin sportsground in Dulwich Village to cheer them on. Provided it doesn't clash with Dulwich Hamlet Youth Team games of course! ;-)
The new kit, based on the great Dulwich Hamlet 1919/20 Amateur Cup & Isthmian League double winning side, looks splendid. Big thanks to Larry Marsh & Andy Tucker for arranging it.
After the final whistle we had a fun penalty shoot out, I can't remember the exact score, but they won in sudden death. Phil 'Big Nose' Baker contrived to miss his, so we could get onto the important matters in hand, namely the post match BBQ at Dawn Taylors place in East Dulwich. Those of us who went enjoyed immensely, some more than others eh Big Nose, and we let the girls come out tops at the cooking as well, thanks for slaving over the barbie Dawn, and also the silly 'pick up the box' game in the garden after dark! Not half as sordid as it sounds!
Hopefully this match will become an annual event.
Enjoy the photos below, kindly uploaded by Paul Griffin, albeit too big for the page, but if you click on each one you should be able to look at them.
You can also see the snaps Griff took of the match himself by clicking here.
Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' FC, Saturday 7th July 2007: Back row, left to right: Tony Mullins; Chris Wheeler; Mark Hutton; Steve Rickerby; Lawrence Marsh; Phil Baker. Front row, left to right: Chris Garrett; Danny King; Roger Deason; Matt Hammond; Andy Murphy; Phil Doyle; Mishi morath. (Not in photo: Paul Griffin ,arrived a liitle late)
Peckham Village FC: Saturday 7th July 2007, at Dulwich College all-weather pitch.
Boys and girls together!
Didn't want to leave anyone out on the sideline!
Just as well it's only hoops that make you fat! ;-)
At last the final whistle!
But where's your Dulwich Hamlet tattoo?
I take back that earlier caption: it looks like he's from another planet! ;-)
So it's true you only have one eye...
And so to the penalties...
At least one of them knows how to smile...
So who's nicked the jam jar?
Is this what Cameron meant when he said 'hug a hoodie?'... The girls gwt in party moodAs the boys drink on outside
Someone get some more beers from the kitchen sink...
The boys line up with our host Dawn
The George Galloway of Champion Hill
The Jonathan King of Champion Hill....
You had to pick up the box without your hands touching the ground. Each round the box got cut down shorter & shorter, until it was no higher off the floor than a box of cigarettes.
It got all too much for some. As 'Big Nose' Baker dozes off on the sofa I'll say good night to you too at the end of this post!
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