Last of the Summer Wine...

There is much in common with the 1980's sitcom about a group of misbehaving old men getting up to trouble in their dotage and Super Vets Football.

We have a group of guys that often speak in hushed tones, recall long-forgotten memories and look at life through rose-tinted bifocals. There will be the drinking of real ale pints, excuses to get out of the housework and adjustments to football kit that once fitted, but now does not.

Every Saturday during the season the boys get together to discuss the latest hair-brained scheme from The Gaffer and debate the scrapes from the weekend before. Like the long-running Sunday evening programme, White Roding have a ensemble cast of Foggys, Cleggs, Sids and the ageing lothario Howards. Once a month, will come the request from the Referee Secretary to pick up Compo (aka Kenny Ward) so he can officiate our 90mins of football. The scruffy urchin who is famous for his angry outbursts, flat caps and love of old ladies in wrinkled stockings, Kenny has been likened to the character played by Bill Owen by many an observer.

Despite a squad of 23, CM6 is very similar to a scene to Holmfirth in that whoever appears, there is a comforting familiarity with whichever faces turn up, the jokes remain the same and stories are on repeat.

This weekend a patched-up White Roding limped to Chelmer but still managed to a full squad and 4 spectators as well. A bright first 5 minutes were quickly undone by some loose possession and 2 rapid fire goals inside the first 15 minutes. Roding then bounced back with Mark Corner continuing his confident run of form by smashing the ball against the bar and then Ian Hollanby halving the deficit. Back came the hosts and the stand-in keeper Adie Jervis was once again booting the ball back out of the net. Ian this time joined Mark in painting the woodwork a shade a of mud brown, then minutes later grabbing his 5th goal in 4 games. A stiff halftime team talk saw the introduction of Tony Brown for the Gaffer and Dave East for Gary Devine, as well as a change in formation. Roding dominated the next 15 minutes but could not turn posession into goals despite 2 very clear penalties missed by the referee. Chelmer broke free and with further luck going their way added another 3 from miss-kicks, sliced crosses and a fine effort from distance. With Broomfield hospital a stone's throw away, we should have played in the A+E Dept as Ian Hollanby and Dean both came off with injuries that will keep them out until the New Year. Still not to be undone, Steve Mills steam-rollered the midfield when he came on and Dave East got off the mark for the season with a consolation goal. A tough game where we could and should have walked away with a point. A week's rest before the QF on the 30th... hopefully with a few faces fit and ready to return. Special mention goes to Dean whose PoF date with a Nora Batty Friday night did not go to plan when he suggested some slap'n'tickle. Nora did not appreciate the tickling, so Dean got a slap. Fortunately it did not affect his performance this week until he rolled his ankle late on.

Line Up

Adie (GK)

Tony C

Gaffer

James

Crocker

Gary

Dom

Dean

Spencer

Ian H (2)

Splinters

Millsy

Cyril

Tony B

Dave E (1)