6 Ps in South Park

If the first half at Ramsgate on the opening day of the season was like a blancmange, the performance at South Park on Bank Holiday Monday as a bit of an Eton Mess of a thing. Or akin to an evening at Port Soif, an occasional promising move but, ultimately, no penetration.

In the South Park goal James Wastell, a tremendous chap, was rarely troubled. In the photo above you can see him relaxing midway thought the second half.

Bright spots were few but Tom le Tissier did alright between the sticks, and there were some decent cameos from the young 'uns (Seb Skillen's was more than a cameo to be fair).

All in all however it looked like a pre-season performance, with a few more games needed before we're ready for the season proper.

Bizarre story in the Press about Tony Vance laughing off suggestions that GFC are - or will be - involved in a relegation battle. Can't imagine anyone's really thinking about relegation at the moment, other than in a moment of black humour looking forward to the prospect of a return to the Small Field. That said there's no reason why we won't be involved in a relegation battle, someone has to be after all.

Let's not tempt fate by predicting anything against Chatham at the ARS tomorrow but a nil return would be followed by Corinthian Casuals, Carshalton, Faversham and Tooting & Mitcham, none of which will be a walk in the park. In a month's time the GP story may not seem so bizarre, let's hope not though.

If you're to the ARS tomorrow be the twelfth man and get behind the lads.

Keep it Green.

Allez les Verts!!

Norwegian Blue

This week's 'One for the Ladies'.

Despite it's proximity to the approach to London City airport Thamesmead is not permeated with the odour of kerosene.Everyone present on Tuesday was aware of something in the air that night though due to a combination of the whiff from the local sewage treatment works and midges. Whiffy as it was, compared to Nutty Neale's aftermath on the terrace at Tooting & Mitcham, it was like something by Christian Dior.

Other than the result it was a good evening all round with the performance of Thomas Dodds being the clear highlight. Making his competitive debut for GFC a neutral would have been forgiven for thinking he was our most experienced player. OK, a visually impaired neutral but bearing in mind his position on the pitch it was a seriously impressive performance.

Thamesmead's ground is a fairly typical municipal facility but tidy, functional and more up to date than most. Importantly, no running track around the pitch so everyone's close to the 'action'.

The moment of the match was Simon Geall putting in a peach of a ball for our goal. He enjoyed the moment so much that he revealed a face that only Mrs Geall had previously witnessed (just the once on the beach at Port Soif a few years ago).

After the game someone mentioned that Tony Vance had been quoted in the media along the lines of taking a reduced squad to away games due to cost reasons. If that's the case the club needs to sort its priorities out, fewer blazers and more tracksuits on the plane in other words.

A draw against Greenwich Borough was, on balance, not a bad result. Big strong team, the sort we have always struggled against, against our notoriously porous defence. There are signs that work is in progress to address that notoriety though so the lack of a win so far this season is not, yet, a reason for concern.

Tomorrow we head to South Park, always a good day out with a nice clubhouse, decent tea/burger bar, friendly natives and 'bants' with the keeper.

If you're going by road allow plenty of time each way as huge tailbacks are predicted on the M25 tomorrow. If you're going by public transport I suggest you don't get a train to Reigate as you'll then need a taxi. Take it from me, the taxi drivers of Reigate are next to useless, if they knew their way around town it would help.

Instead get off at Redhill take a 435 bus to the Prior Road stop along Park Lane East. Walk in the direction of travel of the bus, turn left into Sandcross Lane then right into Whitehall Lane. Should take you just over 5 minutes walk after a 13 minute bus ride. Coming back do the same in reverse but you'll be catching a 430 bus. Google Metrobus Redhill for precise times but the buses tend to leave Redhill 5-10 mins after the train arrives and so on.

An alternative walking route is to turn left into Eastnor Road and toddle down to the Barley Mow, a watering hole would you believe. After an hour or so there cross the road and walk down North Road. At the end turn left and Whitehall Lane is a hop and a step on the right.

Like you may have have been I was shocked to learn of the Dear Chairman's resignation. Shocked as I wasn't expecting it until Wednesday.

The power struggle could be interesting unless the club achieves its vision of being democratic. One or two of the existing directors would make excellent DCs but if the club appoints a replacement director in respect of the original DC I hope they go for someone 'left of field' who can provide a different perspective whilst having sound ideas of their own and being separate from the day to day commercial/playing side of the club.

As for the original DC, I join in the several others that have thanked him for his undoubtedly hard work in getting GFC up, running and where it is today. I can't help thinking that if it wasn't for the time spent on GFC other things may have turned out slightly differently.

Keep it Green

Allez les Verts!!

POETT Day

One for the ladies.

A decent enough crowd of 1142, though not a patch on the days when we were, apparently, playing pub teams, saw what can only best be described as a game of two halves at the ARS on Saturday.

Eschewing the opportunity to log in to a dodgy stream delivered via servers in multiple former Soviet republics (yes Dear Reader the match was being touted alongside numerous top flight matches across Europe) I witnessed proceedings courtesy of  Auntie Beeb's wireless coverage via the iPlayer.

Now I already knew that Simon de la Rue has a face (and hair) fit for radio but it turns out he's got a voice for it as well. It probably helped that he had a co-commentator from Thamesmead so the mix of commentary and conversation not only kept him awake but made for a balanced broadcast that provided more than enough pictures for anyone with a vague notion of what a football pitch looks like. Very good coverage indeed.

If I was the DC and I was thinking about relaunching GFCTV I would give serious thought to a mix of live audio stream and video highlights at a reasonable cost, £3-4 a month say.

Not for the first time a dreadful first half performance. Words were spoken at half time, aren't they always you might be thinking and you'd be right. Sometimes the half time talks reveal a side to Messrs Vance and Fallaize that would make some in the Garenne feel ever so slightly uncomfortable.

I witnessed this myself at halftime in the play-off match at Leatherhead a couple of years ago when a combination of accoustics and a very small open window at the top of the wall meant I heard voices as I made my way to the clubhouse. So enthralled was I that I never made the half time pint.

Anyway the 2nd half was largely like the first but flipped on its head and turned inside out. The press was on, the momentum swung and Oi Oi, that man Pedders otherwise known as the ageing,balding (not say one of the finest footballers the island has produced) Dave Rihoy pulled rabbits out of his magic hat. Both teams could have got a late winner and there's probably a scientist somewhere that can explain how Thamesmead hit the inside of the post only for it to bounce out. Witchcraft probably, courtesy of someone from the Torteval definitely.

So a cracking cup tie, lots of plebs got their picture with the cup and I discovered some enticing prices for a trip I'm planning in the Autumn at the kind of hotel that's right up my street. I will be paying my own way however, unlike the bloke(s) from the FA.

All of the above means that Tuesday is POETT day.Talk to people in some parts of London and they'll have you believe that Thamesmead is the last place on earth you'd want to visit. All I can say is everyone I've ever known from that neck of the woods has been completely lovely and the football club and all associated seem sound as a pound, so a warm welcome awaits. It's not on a tube line though which may explain the negativity in some quarters.

Make your own way to London then it's about 30 minutes by train from London Bridge to Abbey Wood then 5 minutes on the 229 bus towards Thamesmead Town Centre (get off at Lister Walk). Going there trains and buses run approx every 11 minutes, lots of them coming back as well. Abbey Wood is in TFL Zone 4 so a travelcard or season ticket that includes Zone 4 will cover the bus as well. Alternatively pay via an Oyster card and the bus will be £1.50 each way, you can't pay with cash on London buses. Otherwise it's a 2 mile walk. The Lister Walk bus stop is just a few minutes walk from the football club (walk in the direction of travel of the bus, the ground is on the right).

If you do need to rest between getting off the train and getting a bus there is a boozer next to the station as well as the usual variety of eating, plucking and retail opportunities you expect in suberbia.

All we need is for a decent squad to turn up, got to be worth a go as a home tie against Chertsey Town of the CCL awaits the winner.

Keep it Green

Allez les Verts!!

Fever pitch

They say the best way to treat a fever is rest and plenty of fluids. Which probably explains why the GFC directors and associated liggers holed up in the OGH for a drinks reception with the 2 year old version of arguably the most famous trophy in the people's game.

The OGH is the perfect venue for this iconic symbol of the people's game, there's no better place in the island to ensure it's centre of attention for the island's proletariat during its stay. It certainly won't be anything to do with some bloke from the FA getting a couple of nights in one of their over priced, over chintzy, pokey little rooms. Could it?


The plebs needn't worry though as they will get their chance to be close to the cup tomorrow morning at the ARS, if they're prepared to miss a few minutes of 'Ring and Buy' to guarantee their place in the queue that is.

Tomorrow's match against Thamesmead will be the first FA Cup tie played outside of the UK. Thamesmead are up for it. Everyone at GFC is up for it. Having turned up in their thousands for the likes of Bedfont Sports (usually known as the Small Field) and Spennymoor, not to mention the hand wringing at away draws in previous seasons) you'd think the Guernsey public would be up for it. With a quarter of the seats at the ARS yet to be sold it could well be that Guernsey prefers Dengue to Cup Fever but I'm hopeful that the great Guernsey public has finally woken up to the fact that sitting at football (unless forced by the Feds) is just for the elderly, infirm and criminally insane.

Sadly though I suspect the match will attract an audience somewhat smaller than was the norm in the CCL days. Thamesmead have got off to a good start in the Isthmian North. Our lads must be feeling they have something to prove having just a single point from two games. Notwithstanding we have a few injury problems this could be a cracker of a match in what IS the only domestic club knockout competition that captures imaginations around the globe.

If you can be there you have to be, surely?

After the match do what I would do. Put your champagne socialist hat on and piss off down to the OGH to enjoy yourself with everyone else.

Keep it Green

Allez les Verts!

FKW, Cray, Results...

A full midweek propgramme in the Isthmian South saw Carshalton cruise to a 3-0 win at home to Molesey last night in front of just 137 whilst Tooting & Mitcham won 3-2 away at Chatham.

Tonight's scores:-

East Grinstead 2 Dorking W 3, Faversham 2 Ramsgate 0, Greenwich B 4 Horsham 1, Herne Bay 1 Hastings 1, Hythe 1 Chipstead 1, Sittingbourne 4 Three Bridges 4, Whyteleafe 3 Godalming 1.

Early days, there's a surprise, but just 3 teams remain with a 100% record - Faversham, Dorking Wanderers and the oft derided Carshalton.

Tomorrow Cray Wanderers visit the ARS. With origins dating back to 1860 they've a bit more history than we have. Spent a few seasons in the Isthmian Prem not so long ago but following relegation had a couple of season in Division 1 North. Many consider D1N to be weaker than Division 1 South, Cray's time in the North saw a not too inspiring finish in 16th in the first season but they made the playoffs second time around.

Saturday saw a 3-3 draw at home to Sittingbourne and Cray themselves have recognised a bit of good fortune  - they were 3-1 down at one stage.

Advantage must lie with GFC for this one, despite the defeat to Ramsgate who succumbed themselves tonight in their long trip to Faversham.

Before you head to dreamland tonight please spare a thought for people old enough to know better than to wear replica shirts and shorts out in public.

Keep it Green

Allez les Verts!!