Team sheet: 7th January 2011

Yellows: As ever is/was  (but with Paul being late!)

Stripes:  Gerry, Nick, Graham,  Richard, Ed, Mark (also being late)

P.O.Y 2010

More votes in and the race for the coveted prize hots up!

Anyone who has played his year may vote - the player you vote for must have played this calender year - ability is optional.

So far:

  Ed   1     Nick  2     Bob  2   Mick  1   Gerry 1  Richard 1  Jim 2

Comments : ooh its really hard - he doesn't come back - he dosen't close down the last man, his head drops when he fails to score for a while but simply for his amazing ability to score loads of goals and amazing ones too my vote goes to . . . .

My vote goes to Bob - fitness levels are almost as good as mine + for keeness in the battle.

I had better vote for myself then . . .

Players - (125)

I am trying to reconstruct the list of players - memory not what it was.

Possible re-union in September - if interested - email me.

Any thoughts welcome - email them to me at: Ray@Lambdapub.co.uk

** indicates founder member - * indicates pretty close to founder member!

So far (Dec 10th 2010) the list is 120 long:  No longer alphabetical order - will sort that out soon (ish)

1. Vince - Friend Of Colin
2. Jason - Friend Of Gerry
3. Alex ?
4. Howard Absalom Son in law of Duncan & New College Student
5. Andrew Ainsley New College Student
6. Roy Bacon Dorcan ?
7. Duncan Bamford Braddon Forest School *
8. Gary Bamford Son of Duncan & New College Student
9. Ian Bassam New College Student
10. Malcolm Booy Via Gary Bamford - Thursday football
11. Craig Bonham New College Student
12. Alan Bridewell Churchfields
13. Vince Brosnon New College Staff
14. Sinclair Brown New College Staff
15. A Builder Working at New College
16. Son1 Builder Working at New College
17. Son2 Builder Working at New College
18. Ray Burcham New College Staff *
19. Man Cable Working at New College
20. Rob Carpenter New College Student
21. Mark Carter New College Staff **
22. Nick Carter Neighbour of Ray
    
23. Builder Casey Working at New College
24. Son1 Casey Working at New College
25. Son2 Casey Working at New College
26. Peter Cejer Nationwide Friend of Ray
27. Richard Chamberlin Kingsdown School
28. Kai Crayford New College Student
29. Pete Crayford New College Staff
30. Son1 Builder Working at New College
31. Son2 Builder Working at New College
32. Mick Dams New College Staff**
33. Robbie Dams Son of Mick
34. Gerrard Davies New College Staff
35. Brian Deacon Friend of Ray
36. Jason Devoys New College Student
37. Bob Eckerlsey Kingsdown School *
38. James Eckersley Son of Bob
39. Andy Farmilo Cranfield (via Ray)
40. Nick From Purton via Bob
41. Derek Fuller Friend of Tom Jones
42. Darren Garmen New College Student
43. Ian George New College Staff
44. Richard Gibbons New College Staff
45. Nathan Gibbons Son of Richard
46. A.N. Other Gibbons Son of Richard
47. Jim Goddard New College Staff **
48. Adam Goddard Son of Jim
49. Ian Grant Someones Dentist!
50. Ben Graham Related to Tom Jones (I think)
51. Craig Graham Related to Tom Jones (I think)
52. Dean Greenwood New College Student
53. Paul Haigh New College Student
54. Dan Hall   Friend of Adam (Son of Jim)
55. Josh Hall  Friend of Adam (Son of Jim)
56. Dave Hardman  New College Staff
57. James Hastings via Catherine (daughter of Ray)
58. Steve Heaven New College Staff
59. Andrew Hilton Oxford Connection
60. Roger Hood Husband of a friend of Rays wife.
61. John Hurst New College Staff
62. Chris Hurst Son of John
63. Kathy Hurst Daughter of John (only lady to play . . . so far)
64. Paul Jacks Swindon College ** (is this right?)
65. Gareth Jeapes (Gruff) Via Gary Bamford - Thursday football
66. Clint Jones New College Student *
67. Paul Jones New College Staff *
68. Tom Jones New College Staff *
69. Vince Jones New College Staff
70. Martin Keating New College Staff *
71. Steve Kimber Husband of a friend of Rays wife
72. Danny Kimber Son of Steve
73. Ian Kirtland ?
74. Steve Large Neighbour of Ray
75. Andy Larter
76. Andy Lauder New College Student *
77. Simon Lawson Kingsdown School
78. Keith Lockett Churchfields School
79. Shaun McDonald New College Staff
80. Clive Maggs Braddon Forest School *
81. Mal Major1 Cranfield via Ray
82. Lee McKenzie Cranfield via Ray
83. Chris Meaden
84. Andy Meadows New College Student
85. Danny Meridith New College Staff
86. Rob Murray  Brother of Sue (Wife of Jim)
87. Danny Myers New College Staff
88. Charles North Kingsdown
89. Chris Owen Kingsdown
90. Chris Owen  (the other Chris Owen) Swindon College
91. Rusty Orwin Cranfield via ray
92. Magnus Painter New College Student
93. John Palmer New College Student
94. Richard Penning Dorcan?
95. Ed Pritchard Oxford via Nick Smith
96. Gerry Przbyszewski New College Student
97. Steve Ridge New College Staff *
98. Mick Ruddock Cranfield via ray
99. Andy Sayer New College Student*
100. Gary Squires Husband of a friend of Rays wife
101. Clive Smith Oakfield School
102. Gerry Smith Kingsdown School *
103. Gerry Smith New College Staff
104. Nick Smith Oxford - via New College
105. Jonathan Smith Brother of Nick
106. Russell Smith Son of Kingsdown Gerry
107. Other (son of Gerry) Smith
108. Steve Smith Cranfield via Ray
109. Michael Sole New College Student
110. Andy Staff (Young Andy)   Kingsdown
111. Nick T.Wells Boyfriend of sister of Ray
112. Graham Taylor New College Staff
113. Kevin Theobald Via Gary Bamford - Thursday football
114. John Thomas Churchfields School
115. Mark Tolley New College Student
116. Andy Tucker Friend of Jim
117. Martin Turnbull Kingsdown
118. Ben Turner
119. Steve Vitti New College Student
120. Colin Volters Friend of Tom Jones?
121. Tony Farley Man who did my pointing
122. Jason Ward New College Staff
123. Kirk Wheeler New College Student
124. Alan Williams New College Staff *
125. Ben's mate Ian!

Rules, rituals, events

Picking the teams - I have no idea how this works.

Colours - we tried bibs then for a long time it was White Shirts v Colours
Now, and ever more, Stripes - based on Graham having a set of stripped shirts v Yellows - based on Swindon Town selling off their away kit cheap one year.

Rules: Shout roof when the ball (or in the old days a player tackled by Alan) hits the roof,. gasp if Ray shoots with left foot. (Unless in his team in which case substitute the word cry for gasp).

Two v 2 in the new College Gymn.
Vince Jones appearing as if from a cupboard.
Danny Myers arriving late and proceeding to comb his hair - for hours.
John (Mr Motivator) Hursts cry of HURSTY which scared my children (then aged 2 ) who were in a car 50 yards away.
Duncan's Grunt
Colin becoming Coin

Back of the net!

Away days

Will take me a while - after all I am meant to be working today.

For now a couple of snaps

Duncan said . . .

Now, since I've been sicker than a parrot and I'm playing the second period of this funny old game of two halves, think of me as I enter extra time or even paying the penalties of being a mere mortal, you might say.

Don't stand on the terraces and talk of me as some by-gone has-been. Rather, imagine us still at The Grange with the Yellows, the Blues, the Stripes -whatever shirts we could pick up, going cheap!

Remember the resounding of Mick Dams' "roof" call or his urging to place the back pass into the safety of the "side-netting"? How some of his shots physically found their way into the goal remains a mystery to this day -but, at least, if Mick said they were a goal, then that was so.

Do you recall Paul Jones who, having turned up already changed for the fray, would brush your tackle off like a Welsh ram tossing a bale of straw over a hedge? There are many indentations in the walls of the Grange which bear witness to this outstanding talent and, don't forget, Jones' shooting wasn't bad either.

Surely we all remember Alan "Crusher" Williams to whom a tackle from the front was anathema and who was more than politeness itself as you nursed your damaged ligaments? A milder man with a softer manner and smile you couldn't hope to meet but, show him an opponent at 5 yards and this Forest supporter could floor him in less than the time it took to say "Brian Clough".

Never forget Jim Goddard who sometimes, by accident, would puff on his contact lens and stick his inhaler in his eye in his anxiety to set out on one of his crazy, mazey runs which would end in a spectacular volley, striking either the top right-hand corner of net with a tumultuous thud or the top right-hand comer of the gym with a mile-long expletive.

And Gerry Smith -the master. Despite his increasing waist-line this cheerful cockney could still show lads half his age a thing or two; the through pass, the Cruyff turn, the retaliation - Gerry had them all. And despite his years as a teacher of mathematics it was amazing the number of times Gerry seemed to make simple scoreline errors in favour of the team for which he, himself, was playing!

"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn" - unfortunately they had in the case of Duncan Bamford, the man who, despite all the cajoling of his team mates, insisted on turning up every week. True, this was mostly to enjoy his cup of tea but occasionally to allow himself the luxury of a pass or a shot followed rapidly by a spell in goal to recuperate.

Steve Ridge was the defender par excellence. If you got past Steve he must have been looking the other way. On occasion, he would venture forward and relish the opportunity to show the rest that he could pack a shot. One thing you rarely saw from Steve, when he was in goal, was a quick throw-out, particularly at five minutes to six when his side held a 1-0 lead!

Next, if you're talking goalkeepers - and other positions -you're talking Manchester's own Bob Eckersley. There was nothing to touch the cat-like antics of this fearless 21st century Bert Trautmann. Whether grabbing the ball from just under the bar or diving at an opponent's
boot, no-one else wore away as much of their knee caps as did the Stockport Smotherer.

The imperturbable fixture secretary of this crowd went by the name of Ray Burcham who forewent bank notes of interest to selflessly finance the year's use of the hall. Ray was no mean athlete and his back passes were legend; he could pick out an opponent from any distance! Ray was a man with a measured shot, often considering the Boolean alternative before unleashing his 30 yard curler inside the far post.

The non-stop member of the pack was Martin Keating whose only weakness was supporting Bristol City. Martin was the marathon man who could play in any position and tended to do just that. His lissom figure belied the ability to tackle even the sturdiest of players or at least to ensure that they failed to complete their route to goal. Martin was a fighter admired by all for his positive attitude in the face of serious adversity.

Looking back over many years we shall never forget the likes of Clive Maggs whose career was shortened far too prematurely, Ian George who went off to play in some Colombian jungle team, and the unique John Hurst to whom the rest of us were just "boys". John knew every trick in the book and we were the pages on which he tried them out. Nobody could simultaneously talk and play such a good game as Big John.

Gradually, over the years, new regulars came to join the Friday night mob. Lest we forget, let us pay homage to Steve Heaven and Tom Jones, to Dr Nick Smith and Principal Graham Taylor, in addition to remembering the numerous students and friends who, often at short notice, would come along to keep the tradition going.

And now, as the big referee in the sky consults his stopwatch and life's stewards begin to wend their way around the universal perimeter, we offer up grateful thanks for the undeniable fun, the undoubted enjoyment, the considerable exercise, the inexpressible comradeship and the different manner in which Friday nights at the Grange has touched each and everyone of us. Thank you lads. I wouldn't have missed it for the world