Write up of the recent weekender by Nick Finney:
"Though my own weekend started off with a 160 mile trip up to Sheffield on Saturday morning, the weekender kicked off on Friday evening with a gentle shake out followed by beers. Ben took a group out for 4 miles, while Paul led a 3 miler. Rob oversaw a 2 mile walk before the pub beckoned.
While I was hurtling up the M1, the WTF Graves Parkrun takeover was proving to be a great success, with over 50 Fartlek family in attendance, 30 of whom volunteered. The results page was littered with familiar names, with Michael Slack and Pete Marshall finishing first and second, and Amy Bird, Ami Harrison and Paul Griffiths bringing up the rear in positions 240-242 on tail walking duties.
Then it was on to the main events, the men’s and women’s football matches. The men kicked off first. With two squads of 16-17 players each, it was a really competitive match. Roberham United took a two goal lead midway through the first half, but Mattlesfield Town pulled an important goal back on the stroke of half time. With their confidence up, the boys in yellow and blue dominated the early stages of the second half and turned the match on its head, going 3-2 up. There were plenty more twists and turns to come though; Rob’s reds clawed their way back in to the game and, once level, then grabbed a fourth goal. Would that be enough for victory? Hell no! Mattlesfield drew level once again, and then with only 8 minutes left took a 5-4 lead. Nerves were fraying in both camps when Roberham somehow got yet another equaliser, 5-5. The game probably could have gone on in this manner all day, but in the end, the WTF men’s cup was shared for the first time.
Whilst the men’s game had been played largely in sweltering sunshine, the start of the women’s match was greeted with a deluge of torrential rain. This didn’t dampen the spectacle though. After last year’s defeat, Samchester City came out all guns blazing, determined to take the trophy this time. With skipper Sam firing goals in from all over the park, they quickly built an unassailable lead, going on to triumph 9-1 over FC Donnalona, whose own skipper, Donna, suffered a rather nasty ankle injury.
Despite the various aches and pains of the players, most were able to drag themselves out for an evening of fun, friends, music, dancing and drinking. Thanks must go to Paul Lock for getting us the venue, and to Joe Lee (Joe Lee, Joe Lee, Joleeeeeeeee) for forsaking getting hammered in order to take on DJ duties for the night.
I’m sure there were even more aches and pains for some come Sunday morning, but a brilliant time was had by all. Already looking forward to the next meet up…."
