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 »

20/09/2009 by Russell.

United at the death beat old City rivals, thanks to a scouser, you just can’t write a script like it, life better than fiction, first Manchester derby I have missed in 4 years, and this is the one which seems to be the one to end all derbies.  Ah well, plenty of others to come.  Well let’s see if it does the trick for United’s less than convincing start to the season in terms of performances.

As for the boys - U15s - we got off to our first win in the cup today, thanks to a patched up team and a superb hat-trick by my centre forward Ben.  he scored a very late winner with a last kick of the match from the edge of the area after a mix up between keeper and defender.  However, we conceded defeat because we were playing two unregistered players.  I didn’t want to incur a club fine, money which can be better spent elsewhere.  Our Greg was ill, Keeper Toby felt sick and dizzy (another sterling display) and so we had players under the weather.

Greg has settled well into central midfield, and has the technique to look for the pass, and had two wonderful dribbles today leaving their No 7 on his backside.  Big Keiran needs his fitness levels to be improved, there were some flagging players at the end, but on the whole we deserved our victory against Cookham Dean.

Source: Daily Telegraph 20/09/09

Posted in Keiran, Man Utd, ben Standish, Greg, Football | 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 »

15/04/2009 by Russell.

What a great service, very touching for those who remember the tragic events of the day 20 years ago.

I particularly enjoyed listening to Mr Hicks, who lost two daughters that day, the words he found to say were very challenging to football supporters and yet uplifting, it is individuals such as he who continued to fight for justice. I also remember the documentaries at the time and he (Hicks) was clearly central to seeking justice.

At the service he even read out a concluding statement from Lord Justice Taylor’s report and it was as damning then, as it is today. Hicks challenged football supporters to never forget it was becasue of standing at football matches that 96 people died, not because of seated stadia. He implored people to use the seats for sitting on. At Old Trafford, there are occasions where we all stand for the duration of a game, forgetting that we should be seated, and he is right.  Sit down for safety.

I remember the day quite well -coming in from a match at Chesterfield, and hearing about the events up the road at a ground I had played on.

I do remember my immediate thoughts that the Police would have had some involvement, they still are (see recent G20 protests in London for recent evidence) and were awful at crowd control even in those days.  Wherever you went in those days (1970’s & 80’s), the Police were uncomfortable with crowd management. It was always football supporters who were to blame. It could never be anyone elses fault. Thus a blameless society was born, no-one will take responsibility for their actions anymore. Will Blair ever own up about WMD? doubt it.

More can be read at the Hillsborough Support group web-site, not for the faint hearted:
Hillsborough Support group website

No football fan should die because of going to a match, and yet they still do, and will continue to do so, even as recent as 30th March 2009 at a World Cup Qualifier in the Ivory coast (Didier Drogba’s country), 19 people died.

What will happen in South Africa in 2010….

Posted in Liverpool, Hillsborough, Football | 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 »

22/02/2009 by Russell.

Thanks goodness, after so many close shaves Chesham Strides make winning look comfortable again. 8-3 away to Gerrards Cross. Even Greg tucked away a penalty.  Of course Ben only scored 5 because he was wearing my socks, he will have to get in the habit of wearing and scoring in his own socks next week…..We have now won 3 and are pulling away from relegation, one mute point is that we collected our second yellow card of the season - shame on Tom.

Greg  was not our star performer or Ben or Louis for once, honours went to Will our centre half, who has been easily our player of the year. 3 fixtures to go….

On the  other wide ranging issues, life goes on and have to keep pushing my boulder up the hill, am nowhere the summit, but there’s a few key decisions to be made over the next month, all as important as each other.

So March is nearly upon us, Spring is in the air, I should be making my ‘turnip’ of an appearance on Eggheads this month, I should be in good spirits if my degree prgramme is revalidated, I should be uplifted if United win against Spurs, Inter and the Scousers, I should feel happy that I am off to New York later in the month- but there is a flip side - and it’s all grim reading.

Anyone on twitter out there?

Here’s what Greg and some of his mates did over half term….scary eh? and who’s nicked the chocolate muffin?

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

01/12/2008 by Russell.

Cor blimey!

Its all downhill to Christmas, have already seen snow and ice, which is a bit of a rareity before Christmas.
Whats been happenin?

Been to London, HRH was out, had to pull my blog on my tv appearance on Eggheads.  The prog is to be aired in March 2009,  suffice to say I played like a turnip and apart from that I contravened my confidentiality statement..can see me on  facebook though lol!

My boys team have only won twice this season, and we are losing 8-6, or 7-5, 0r 6-4, we are so close to many victories, but can’t turn such performances into wins.

Greg is now so keen on shooting he’s off to joing the army cadets - oh my goodness, we had to go ‘cherche’  a bullet down Portobello Road market.  So we came up with an AK47 round. (Not live), and found Banksy pic for Emily’s boyfriend.

Not seen much of United this season, have seen Champions League and an odd league game, so hopefully will get across to see them play Sunderland with Bazil.

My Dad, is now in his third month in a Nursing Home in Clay cross, to be honest it smells, they have had a change of ownership, and it really isn’t my cup of tea, but for my Dad its the safest place for him with all his bladder-kidney-legs-cancer etc.  He is making a fist of it.  It is like a death camp, except no-one knows when the executioner will arrive. No-one leaves except my dad on his zimmer to get out and about.  He has to be out, there is no social interaction, no-one able to be communicate or share a game of cards or even Uno.

he puts on a brave face, Brenda  had to regain her sanity, but my dad wouldn’t be where he is now without Brenda’s efforts. i am just a visitor into his life.

Phillip is out there doing stuff when he can, been to Amsterdam on busines already..but does Accountancy grab him?

Then there is me, work, work and a flipin knee ligament injury for 3 weeks. Hobble hobble, no 5 a -side i guess until after Christmas..bck to where I started.

Posted in eggheads, Phillip, Football, dad, Uncategorised | No Comments »

25/09/2008 by Russell.

Not written for a while, must get in the swing of things. I really don’t know who’s reading this blurb.

Kirsten successfully passed her driving test at the end of August, and have got her some wheels - diesel peugeot 106 to scoot about in.  I know nothing other than she has a boyfriend went to Greece and probably got drunk in Bournemouth recently.

Our boys football season is under way, lost our first match with only 9 men - wasn’t planned, but got back to winning ways with a 5-4 victory against Gerrards Cross.  We play Aylesbury this Sunday, could be quite a game.  Gregory is one of the few who can pick out a pass, which is pleasing.

What am I doing tonight? birthday treats are not on the agenda. I am working this evening (why me eh?) but no worries, getting long in the tooth to worry about the years whistling by.

Still trekking up to Old Trafford, not been a great start, have only seen them play once so far.

On a much sadder note, have had to arrange for my father to go into a nursing home in Clay Cross, Derbyshire. Cancer, kidney what will it be? he is being awfully brave and is coping whatever mother nature puts in his way with admirable courage.  This will be a strong fight against the odds over the coming months. If I have an aim for him it would be to reach his 80th birthday in December.  I am up and down every weekend to visit him and take him out when he is well enough.  Even more galling emily and kirsten will not share his birthday as they will be in Switzerland.

Phillip was awarded a 2:1 for his degree at Manchester, got the photograph and nowt else.  He is working at ICI in Slough which is a great start for him and hope he finds his feet there.

Greetings received from Peter today and Captain, wonder whats on the doorstep when I get back?

Posted in Phillip, Football, dad | No Comments »