|
Today the team, (girls, management and parents) traveled to Oxford
Circus tube station to raise money by carol singing and as is usual
with the U14 girls and their parents we had the Craic. We started laughing
in the morning and were still laughing long into the evening. This bunch
of girls have already provided us all with so many memories and today
will be one of those occasions that will stay with us for ever.
My own family had promised to help us and so I was very disappointed
when they let me down at the last minute. It couldn’t be helped
though, my brothers had a big earner doing a driveway at a smart address
in Barton Hills and whilst I wont pretend that it take’s all day
to put down half an inch of tarmac, it can take that long to convince
the owners that the job’s a good un. My sisters would have come,
but the family decided that the penultimate Saturday before Christmas
was too good a chance to miss, so they were outside Covent Garden selling
lucky heather. Selling it, at a tenner a throw they were almost giving
it away! It cost us more than that in time and petrol to drive out to
the graveyard at Stopsley where we cultivate it, (no matter how much
we pick, it keeps coming back; every headstone has loads it of it).
Anyway the team all met at 08:30hrs in the Brache car park and we had
asked all the girls to wear their club track suits and father Christmas
Hats for the occasion, as we believed it would encourage the punters
to donate more money.
The girls must have privately agreed to go one step further and have
a real laugh; Zee Zee came as “Shaft” and she must have really
pushed the boat out to achieve the required hairstyle or at the very
least slept with her head out the window during the last major storm!
Kaiser came as “Slash” from the Hammer House of Horrors movie
and the pain she must have endured to get her hairstyle style right.
You cannot fake it; you have to be hit on the head with an axe to get
your parting that straight! Sniffer came as Alvin from the chipmunks
and actually put herself through major mouth surgery to achieve the
look, that is what I can dedication!
When we all managed to stop laughing and regain our composure, we set
off for Luton Airport Parkway Railway Station in columns of threes,
just like a well disciplined band of soldiers. That was a mistake; it
reminded Sue of the war and her dislike for Germans. We didn’t
realize how deep it went until we were on the train and some idiot mentioned
the Spanish holiday resorts. Oh no, it was the final straw, the red
rag to the bull. What terrible experience had poor Sue suffered to cause
her to feel such anger and resentment? Did she and or her family suffer
terribly at the hands of the Nazi’s; tortured, abused and worse?
It is hard to comprehend I know, but it was even worse than that, in
the summer of 72 they had actually removed “her” towel from
the sun-bed that she had bagsied and taken it for themselves! Bounders
and Cads all of them, don’t ever let our children forget the horrors
of war.
|
Pre Event Warm Up
|
 |
|
Whatever The Occasion, A Warm Up Is Essential
|
We arrived at Oxford Circus safe and well and then had to pick a side
that could get the job done. After prolonged discussion the starting
line up was The Cat, Sparkie and Trish at the front in Soprano; Sarah,
Jane, Rascal, Ollie, Kaiser, Sniffer, Zee Zee and Ninja, in the middle
in Mezzo-Soprano; Chopper and Ossie at the back and out of ear shot
in contralto and finally but not least Kirstie and Dinger on stand by
in intermediate voice types, (so intermediate in fact that we gave them
a bucket instead!) The first choice starters “on the buckets”
were Carlo, John and Martin, who were a bit miffed to have their status
undermined by the presence of Dinger, Kirstie and Laura Tambini, but
the girls did exceptionally well and have given me a headache for next
year; who do I now select as first choice on the buckets? Laura worked
really hard on the buckets, (definite starter next year). She even had
time to do an excellent solo rendition of Merry Christmas Everyone,
much to the delight of her daughter Ossie, who I thought was going to
double foot her at one stage.
|
First Half Action
|
 |
|
The Defence Looks Strong Today
|
 |
|
Meanwhile The Strikers Are Looking Dangerous
|
 |
|
The Subs Bench ??
|
 |
|
John On The Sideline. Contemplating A Tactical
Switch ?
|
The other girls had tricks and faints that really worried the punters
and caused numerous chances for the rest of the team; for example, Dinger
was seen heading for the exit with a punter who was clearly struggling
to defend him-self against her. She disappeared for just a few seconds
and must have gone to ground under a heavy tackle because she returned
with a slight limp, loose clothing and a £20 note! If further
evidence was needed that the Ladies and I use that term loosely, may
be better equipped to undertake the arduous task of “on the buckets”
I had to Bring Sue on as sub and whilst I won’t go into detail
about her performance for fear of scaring the youngsters, I will tell
you that one of her moves resulted in one person, (who wished to remain
anonymous, something about married man and entrapment) giving her £50!
See boys, that’s the level of performance that I expect from all
of you, now go away and learn from the experts, (lip gloss and floss).
We were naturally concerned about the safety of the girls during the
day, particularly as we started to collect money, but thankfully we
had the personal protection of the Boss of Bosses, Carlo “Safe
Hands” Tambini and so never felt in any real danger. It was amazing
the amount of men in black suits that kept arriving on the station to
put money into Carlo’s bucket, kissing his hand and then bowing
as they backed away. I couldn’t understand a word that was said,
but Sue assures me that they were speaking German. Carlo obviously carries
allot of influence and so it was no shock when at 12:00hrs a large number
and variety of sandwiches and drinks were delivered to the station for
the girls and their parents, (All joking aside Carlo we can’t thank
you and your father enough).
|
Half Time
|
 |
|
By The Look Of It We Are Not Doing Too Well
|
It was a long day for the girls and they started to flag markedly at
about 14:30hrs. At that time I had to leave the station to go and change
the coins into notes and was concerned that when I returned the girls
would be on their knees or on strike, so you can imagine my surprise
as I came up the escalator and could hear them singing at the top of
their voices; please don’t tell me we’ve given them performance
enhancing drugs!
|
Second Half Action
|
 |
|
Looks Like Its Tough Going
|
 |
| But The Smiles Suggest We Are Doing Okay. Even So It Looks Like
Somebody Has Sneaked Through On The Blindside |
 |
|
It Is Nearly Over Now And We Are Still Looking
Good
|
What a shock; there in front of them was this great big red thing
bouncing up and down like some kind of space hopper. What the F—k
is that and why hasn’t someone called the Police or NASSA? Lo it
came to pass that in fact the big red thing was Dave Baker dressed as
Father Christmas and what a job he was doing in motivating the girls.
Talk about a decisive moment in a match. I am positive that the girls
would have given up if Dave and Fiona had not arrived when they did,
not forgetting the other fella who was with them. His name escapes me
for now, but you know who I mean. That is the type of people that they
are; yet again they have given up their own precious free time to support
this team and we all really appreciate it!
|
Extra Time
|
 |
|
Who Are Ya. The One In Red That Is
|
 |
|
The Final Minute And Somebody Tries To Get By
|
 |
|
But Nobody Can Beat Us Today. We Are The Winners
|
The article up to this point has been fairly light hearted, but to finish
on a more serious note; there were two outstanding performances from
the chorus line today, The Cat who carried the girls for the first hour
whilst they built their confidence up and who also sang silent night
“solo” on a several occasions and Trish who worked like a
Trojan to keep it going when the girls struggled. All the parents and
girls worked extremely hard, but I must mention Sarah and Jane who dug
deep into their own pockets to purchase CD’s of Christmas songs
to supplement the ones that we had; which to be fair were pretty heavy
going. In fact I would go as far as to say that they probably saved
the day and I personally can’t thank them both enough for doing
so.
Finally I have on more than one occasion talked about the support that
this team gets from its players and parents and how John and I really
appreciate all that you do. But let me reiterate just how fond we are
of our girls and their parents and impress upon you just how much we
really do value you all.
Lots of love and a Happy Christmas,
Boggy
|
