The Hampton Walking Football team turned up at the Nene Valley Community Centre on the 26/2/2023 on a sunny afternoon with two lunchtime kick-offs. With the squad well rested after a lazy Sunday morning we were fresh to face the Stamford Stroller and for us, our local derby against Huntingdon B.
For me, Stamford Strollers are the best footballing side in the division. With their continental style of rotating football played by players who are comfortable not only on the ball but in any position, this team were going to test our rigid 2-1-1 system. We started well! Andrew ‘Angry’ Allison and Tim ‘Bobby Moore’ Peters were calm and resolute at the back. Andy ‘I’m Wednesday’ Hovey blocked and played through midfield and Richard ‘scored again’ Talby, well scored again which meant we lead a great game at half-time 1-0.
Just before half-time Jonathan ‘JT’ Thompson had a goal ruled out where the ball may or may not have gone over the height of the goal before landing in the back of the net. This became an important part of the second half story as a defensive error meant the game was levelled. We continued to play well however after making a number of substitutions (think of France in the World Cup Final) we lost our shape and the Strollers overwhelmed us to win the game 3-1. We may have lost however we played well against a good side!
So we move forward, straight to the tea, coffee, bacon and egg roll HUT as we re-fuelled for our second game.
This was going to be a cracker, and so it was! Huntingdon B have not got the continental style of the strollers however have the 1970’s Leeds Untied about them. Strong, direct with a couple of cracking players that can score from anywhere, and so they did! 0-1 within a few minutes of the kick off. However, Andy ’I’ll save you’ Hovey scored again to bring it back to 1-1. Again though we could not hold our shape and we found ourselves 3-1 down. I could see it in Julie’s eye’s. Our number 10 wanted to get the boys going around her and she zipped the ball about like Gianfranco Zola and our spirits lifted. First Mark ‘West Ham’ Ansel-Crook fired a shot into the top corner and then Richard ‘Scored again’ Talby saved the day in the last minute securing a 3-3 draw from what looked like another defeat.
Due to the amazing efforts of the team Tortoise Property have added £40 to the charity sponsorship kitty through their goals for charity sponsorship scheme.
These two games were a great test for the squad. With a regular group of 11 we are now looking to bring in another 5 players next season so we can field two teams. If you interested, no matter your ability and you are over 40 for the ladies and over 50 for the gentlemen, come down and get involved.
We look forward to reporting the exciting walking football results to you in 2023 and if you want to get involved come down to Beaumont Way, in Hampton at 7PM on a Monday night with £3, boots, shin pads and a smile.
Your football correspondent in the sheepskin coat Mike ‘John Motson RIP’ Matthews