The 2016 Reunion Kickabout
This Year's Teams
BLUE BIBS 5 (J Reakes 2, T Reakes 2, Middleton) RED BIBS 1 (Speight)
BLUE BIBS: J Reakes, J A Hobson, N J Szczepanik, R E Cockton, M Palmer, *H K MIDDLETON, T Reakes.
RED BIBS: J H Reid, A M Palmer, P Reakes, R Palmer, J Palmer, S Speight, C G Eyre.
Absent: D McDonald (dentist), R D Taylor (usual excuses).
Attendance: 4
They say that good football brings the crowds back, and last season's quality offering attracted a record attendance to the annual New College 2nd XI reunion kickabout at the famous St Cross Road ground. And they were richly rewarded with another banquet of the beautiful game.
The sward was as lush as ever as the Reds pressed early on and a backheeled effort by J H Reid rolled tantalisingly across goal with no other scarlet-bibbed player on hand to snap up the chance.
It was a costly oversight, as the Blues took full advantage, Reakes touching on Hobson's cross to REAKES, with the top corner of the net preventing the ball clearing the Cherwell.
REAKES notched another before MIDDLETON distorted the score still further with a close-range header.
The second half was a similar story, as, despite a low cross-shot by C G Eyre that hit the inside of the far post and spun along the goal-line, the Reds failed to dent a Szczepanik-Cockton central defensive partnership that brought back the memories of the clean sheet they kept in the Dave Kendall Testimonial match in 1974, the only known goalless draw in New College 2nd XI history.
Sadly there was to be no repeat as a header by SPEIGHT brought the Reds a consolation goal, but the Crimson-bibbed men's own rearguard was even more porous, REAKES and REAKES adding a further goal each to send the spectators home happy. Via the Turf, of course.
NJZ
NJS, HKM and 50% of the record crowd
Not sure what's happening here.
NJS appears to be using advanced technology (a remote-control embedded in his neck?) to send Spike into a paralytic trance...
Reds warm up...
Reds are still warming up... To no avail, in view of the final score.
Haydn, 'der Kapellmeister', orchestrates the Blues defensive unit.
Reds (after one of the five goals conceded) debate whether it's worth kicking off again.
The lost ball. A misdirected shot from the Reds had slipped under the netting and rolled languidly into the river.
The 'Ball in River - Penalty Goal' rule was deemed not to apply.
The ball remains lost at this point...and was eventually recovered with the help of some passing punters.
Szczepanik presents the Man of the Match award to...
... Haydn Middleton - who is momentarily lost for words.
'Starman' Haydn M with his award, earned for his performance on the pitch...
and for his efforts to make all the day's participants observe a minute's silence for the late David Bowie.
I think we managed about 45 seconds while team photos were being taken, but for Haydn and to remind us all of 1972...
Bowie, Beverly Hills Hotel, 1972
