The Vets/Reunion Match 11th May 2006 at CTCRM
By Shaun Foster
The 4th annual Vets/Reunion game took place again this year at CTCRM on the 11th May in front of a large crowd which included former RMFA Chairman Clive Hunter and guest of honours, Exeter City Chairman Denise Watts and Soccer am funny man Pugsy. Notable absentees this year included the UAE brigade of Russ Wilson, Paul Dixon, Ricky Miller & Tiv Lowe. Also missing was Sammy Boyadjis, Merv Shepperd & Angus Hepburn who failed to receive their invites due to a clerical error (I am sure Mitch said it was “DONE” when questioned on their availability?) Rog Bannister, Ian Pomeroy, Myself & Paul Collinson were involved in the Tunney cup final and therefore unavailable, and finally Tony Blandon blamed a stroke for his absence (any old excuse).
Anyway stalwarts George Kent & Brum Daly sorted out the best players for their team and left Al Tweed & Bob Fardoe to sort out the duffers they had left ( like BJ Farrimond and Don Major), But the hardest task they faced was getting Johnny Byrne away from the BBQ tent. (Talking of tents as anyone seen Stevie Marr’s Y Fronts?).
The Referee BJ Broadhurst (BJ stands for Blind as a Judge) got the game underway and the first ten minutes saw both teams tussle for domination in the searing heat and it wasn’t until the unlucky for some 13th minute when Corps Backstroke swimmer Jason Margretts loose back pass evaded the on rushing Keeper Gaz “Is my hair ok” Popple and ended up in the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the Laurels and a own goal credited to Magsy (another one to go with his ever growing collection).
The Laurels back rear guard of Bob “the Cat” Fardoe, BJ Farrimond, Shaun Johnson, Don Major & Al “the hatchet” Tweed held firm until the 26 minute when the poachers poacher Paul “the Badger” Curry (who was recently released from Heathrow Airport due to a Bovine TB scare) nipped in to even up the score and make it 1-1. George “Washboard” Kent & Jock Clark were now getting tired the better of their opposite numbers Nelly “Hello Sailor” Frame & John Storey and this possession lead to Jason Margrett redeeming himself to put the Globes 2-1 up. Just 3 minutes later & after some good approach play from the lovely named Dave Sommerton-Rees and Woody down the left flank lead to Royal Navy Football Development officer Stevie Johnson slotting past the hapless Bob “the cat” Fardoe to make it 3-1 going in at the break.
Half Time Quotes
George Kent - Go forward Go Square, lets enjoy it, some of us might not be hear next year.
Robbie Buglass - F*cking get a grip boys.
BJ Farrimond - keep it off the tens head. XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
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Al Tweed - keep the low balls lower and the high balls lower.
Jonny Byrne - Has the chef flashed up the BBQ yet.
Mitch - Its done, leave it to me.
2nd Half
Colin Thomas came on for Paul “half a game” Curry & quickly got into the swing of things linking up the play with Jeff “I won the Tunney cup in 2000” Jefferies & Brum Daly down the right flank and a “go square” ball to Stevie Johnson was despatched with ease from the edge of the box leaving Bob “the Cat” Fardoe to make a token dive (by the time Bob landed the players had already restarted the game).
5 minutes later Jock Clark’s sublime through ball pitted Steve Johnson against BJ “baby calf on ice” Farrimond in a straight race for the ball, however some one from the crowd sneakily put a running machine under BJ & he got nowhere fast, Steve however stopped in his tracks as the on rushing Bob “the Cat” Fardoe just collapsed in a heap with no one near him, the crowd gasped fearing the worst, the players all stopped and rushed over to check on Bobs welfare, all that is except George “washboard” Kent who saw the opportunity to ignore Bobs health and take a cheap shot at an open goal which he duly missed to the crowds amusement, it turned out Bob had only pulled a hamstring, “that’s the only thing he’s pulled in years” said his sons Darren & Brian.
The Laurels took off Don Major (no one realised he was on anyway) and fetched on the much younger but much uglier Sean “Adonis” Welburn (who had earlier in the day played a full 90 minutes in the plate final). Jimmy Lyons had a couple of long range shots which kept Gaz Popple on his, Gaz was threaders because he was combing his hair at the time & having a manicure. Eventually Dave “I look like my brother Martin” Sharp sprung the offside trap as the back four of Traffic Cones 1 2 3 & 4 Magsy, Woody, Jeff Jefferies & Mitch was flatter than the top of Bevs Beverley’s head, Sharpy unselfishly cut the ball back to Jimmy Lyons who coolly slotted home from 18yds out to make it 4-2.
There was a couple of solid challenges to note, firstly Shaun “I don’t give a shit who he is” Johnson & Jock Clark clashed in a fifty - fifty which had the crowd cringing, then Shaun Johnson went in with a two footed challenge on his namesake Steve Johnson but fortunately the latter rode the challenge well. The upper class Dave Somerton-Rees clipped a great ball down the flank for George Kent to chase but the nod young recruit on the touch line couldn’t work the scenery quick enough and Mexican international BJ “Yosemite Sam” Farrimond cleared the danger. The laurels reduced the score to 4-3 when Sean Welburn scored a brilliant not bad individual goal and despite Ref Brian Hughes sneaking on in the 92nd minute to give the Laurels 12 men they were unable to find the equalizer.
Full Time Quotes
Al Tweed - We did not under estimate them, they were just better than we thought!!!
Magsy - Fozzy how much for you to not mention the OG
Mitch - Fozzy does this count as a Corps Cap.
See you all at the back post next year
Yours in Sport
Fozzy.
