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| Purple Hearts and Green Goddesses |
Around February 2020, Clinton McCreery of Bloomfield FC contacted me as somebody had told him that we were a football club with a drinking problem. I told him that we were in fact a Drinking Club with a football problem and we realised that we had something in common. A match was hastily arranged but a pandemic got in the way, until yesterday. In the interim, several members of the wily crew have been forced into retirement and others crocked temporarily and permanently. Fielding eleven able bodied verdiblancos was itself a challenge, never mind getting them to talk to each other.
It was a great strike from debutant Chris Courtney that opened the scoring for the home team but it wasn't long before the competitive nature of a football match and the requirement to run started to take it's toll. Ron Manager's assistant for the day, Jinky Madden, was called on to provide restorative groin massage to several players before half time. A new career in the local pornographic industry beckons for Eoin "Chopper" McKinney who obviously enjoyed it too much. Changes in defence allowed Bloomfield in for a deserved equaliser before half time when Jinky rung a few more changes.
The Purple Hearts of the East came out strongly after the break and pushed on, scoring two more goals. The writing appeared to be on the wall, but half time replacement, Trung "Nakamura" Duong started to make a difference in the home midfield and was rewarded with a goal, celebrating with a bow to the home fans. There were chances at both ends before the referee (who provided the arbitration free of charge) blew the final whistle.
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| The mercurial midfield maestro, Trung |
As has been the case in most of these competitive games, the pitch and changing room fees were waived and a healthy whip round meant we were able to donate a sum in excess of £250 to a suicide awareness charity close to the hearts of the Bloomfield team. Well done lads!
Due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, post match hospitality was limited to a couple of big tables in the Errigle but at least we got to witness Manchester United take an absolute pasting. One or two players who graced the hallowed Ulidian turf could have played in that team. If rules and regulations continue to be relaxed, there is every chance of a rematch with Bloomfield as well as The Armstrong Cup to be contested on December 27th and a chance to regain The Love Street Cup in the new year.
In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and get fit, not fat, this winter.
