24/01/2010 by Russell.

Back to winning ways in a keenly contested game against Widmer End.  After taking a lead somewhat against the run of play after 10 mins played, the first half ended with Strdies 2-1 down. An end to end game with both sides playing competitively.

The second half saw Chesham conceded a goal against the general direction of play.  Not to be deterred, CHesham game back gamely to score a second goal fromEric’s corner.  As the minutes ticked by and with ten minutes left Eric scored only his second goal of the season with a swerving drive from the edge of the box, 3-3- and game on.  With only miutes left, the ball dropped to Eric on the edge of the box who shot unerringly into the net from 20 yards, the ball was parried on to the crossbar and over the line.  Eric has been consistently one of our top players all season.

The last minute wasn’t without its drama with Tom, clearing a ball dropping over the line for a corner after Toby had been lobbed by the Widmer number 9.

We march on……….

Posted in Keiran, Eric, chesham strides, Tom, Greg, ben Standish, Football | No Comments »

12/11/2009 by Russell.

Well the clock keeps ticking, birthdays come and go (Emily17, Phillip 23), life goes on.

As well you may know, my 50th birthday was a raucus event…well,,it was a quiet 50th spent on the M6 travelling to my friend Barry’s gaff near Crewe with his family.  Bless, they stayed up to blow the candles out.

Typically, he was the only person who raised a cup of cheer with me.  Greg had a great time on his mower and on the wii with Jo.

At last number 1 is now cmpleted for rent, well no-one is renting yet, but its costing me money all the time now, am expecting the local authority to drop a council tax bill through the letterbox.  All decorated, all carpeted and burglar alarmed, who could resit? seems that no-one is ready to go to number 1, its been on the market a fortnight now.

As for the boys, the season is up and down, hammer Amersham 15-2 and lose 9-5 the next week.  However, I must say it’s rare to be awarded two penalties in a match for two weeks running, which Greg has despatched for two successive weeks. Well done. Ben is flying in scoring, but hpefully we have a little gem in Rob who has joined us, more pace in attack.

Now where’s me glasses. £220 later, 1 week later and my new proper reading glasses have been lost in the car? Wearing them on the bridge of my nose, I go to 5 a side footy, only for them to have disappeared….need a brain as well.

Hey ho - counselling is steady…….

Solicitors bills for house is an ongoing cost along with everything else.  No worries Greg got his apple computer which is splendiferous.

Now we are on with Spitfire making - thanks to James May.

Posted in Chesterfield, Barry, chesham strides, Wingerworth, Greg, Uncategorised | No Comments »

13/09/2009 by Russell.

Hi jolly campers

Forgot to mention that Greg and I went camping bank holiday weekend inbetween Portsmouth and Chichester.  We had a great time, weather fine, a bit windy, but nothing untoward.  the tent went up like a dream, what’s more we could just get up and have a ready made footy pitch.  Pity there was no floodlights though, once darkness set in, it was card games til late.

We were relativley prepared, tv, dishwasher, bathroom and bedroom. This is interpeted as Archos for tv,  Greg for dishwasher, bathroom - having a pee behind the car, and inflatable beds for cosy bedroom.

We visited the naval dockyard, lucky to see the Mary Rose as it is closing for two years in September 09 - moving to a new display, the Victory etc.  We had a saunter round Chichester and the Marina, the D Day museum at Portsmouth, but sadly no beach bumming, too breezy.

We managed hearty breakfasts and cooked our suppers without a hitch.  Our only incidents we had were checking sleeping bags for earwigs.

We are now ready for the Eiger summer 2010.  Well not exactly at the summit but in the foothills.

More recently the boys have started the season, we should get 16 registered U15s - whoo-hoo, the most ever, but results are required on the pitch, first game today and after leading 1-0, we suffered a 5-2 defeat.  Early days.

Kite Festival, Southsea, August Bank holiday 2009

very windy, it was busy on the front.

Posted in camping, chesham strides, Greg | No Comments »

06/05/2009 by Russell.

End of year pics of players, team and award winners

Not the best playing season, but well done to everyone involved.

Posted in chesham strides, Will Silman, Tom, Louis, ben Standish, Football | No Comments »

26/04/2009 by Russell.

All to play for and all to lose, will United be the bride or the bridesmaid over the next month?

Penalty! some are given others not, united had a stonewall penalty agaist Everton - I was there at Wembley sitting over 60 yards away and of course in the red end, we screamed penalty only to denied by Old Mother Riley, yesterday we all repeated ourselves in the East Stand - penalty - and this time it look conclusive until apparently tv replays from ‘n’ angles disproved.  We saw it at the same speed as the ref, our concern was whether Gomes would be sent off.  Thank goodness he wasn’t otherwise there would be more hot air wasted over the penalty. i.e. video replays for refereees etc. One week you get a pen the next you don’t, as they all claim it evens itself out over 8 moths.  yesterday was United’s evening out.  Penalty - Ronaldo - goal.. nuff said.

United win 5-2 and it is about time they played like Champions, they have been searching for performances like this for 15 home games.   Now can they sustain it for at least 7 more games?

Off to OT for the Champions League Semi on Weds versus Arsenal, hopefully it will be as nerve wracking and exciting as Saturday versus Spurs.

Can they do it? yes! will they do it? yes! will it be close? yes! will I have egg on my face? yes! - thats the unpredictability of sport.

Last U14 boys get together on Saturday 2nd May - player of the year awards ceremony, who will win? wait until Sunday.

Then theatre to see ‘An Inspector Calls’ with Emily and probably to Derbyshire for hedge trimming etc.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/5220449/Premier-League-action.html

Posted in Ronaldo, Man Utd, chesham strides, Emily | No Comments »

15/03/2009 by Russell.

We were up then we were down, Chesham Strides U14s needed the win against the league leaders. We were always up in the game until the last 2 minutes again, what is it about our results? Another hard defeat to take, I can’t do much more. On the positives we have found our formation, 4-5-1.  We have played much better and with more steel.  We should have been 5-4 up just after half time, but we hit the post for the second time in the match.

A failure to communicate, to pass and to finish teams off.  However, we have more-or-less found a settled side and now its up to the boys to finish the season with a flourish.   If we get relegated, it would be too much to bear, c’mon boys.

Next up is New York City, I fly off next Sunday in the late afternoon - ah well see what comes round the corner next.

Posted in Tom, chesham strides, Louis, ben Standish, Greg, Football | No Comments »