Sunday 25 June 2017

Smiley faces at the "Aces"!




Foxes end Tournament season with spirited showing at the "Champions League" in Nottingham

"So come roll with the ACES."




Football-loving "grime" artist Rezz Ra, author of the official Pitchero Aces Tournament 2017 anthem "Aces" (available for download on iTunes), speaks for us all when he sings/raps:

"So come roll with the ACES
Any challenge I step up an' FACE it
Then I ACE it
Born a winner, that's what an ACE is
I'm out of this world like a SPACEship
I score when I tie up my LACES

The Westbury Park Foxes play with a smile on their FACES
They know how to pass, they know what SPACE is
They pack up their kit and toothbrushes in their suitCASES
Then travel and play tournaments in interesting PLACES
Like Nottingham, with an overnight stay and pizza in Loughborough first..."

OK, maybe that second verse needs a bit of work.


It was with great excitement that a touring party of 36 Foxes and parents assembled at the internationally renowned Link Hotel near Loughborough (just off the M1, free wi-fi and a nice breakfast buffet) for this prestigious invitation-only "Champion of Champions" event. After the league title glory in May, the tournament season has been great fun and generally successful. Kicking off with the stunning success at the Bristol City FC Tournament, the Foxes couldn't then quite make it 4 in a row at our old friends in Carterton, with both teams exiting on penalties at the QF stage. Then it was 'seven go to Wells' on the hottest day of the year, surviving the baking sunshine, some tough competition, and the drama of "drunk shouty man loses it when some lads hit him with a football", only to be edged out in the final on sudden death penalties.


Loughborough/Nottingham would be the season finale. It was a major logistical and organisational challenge, and as always was carried off impeccably by Tamsin. Feeding of the 5000 with loaves and fishes? No offence, Jesus, but that can't compare to taking 36 three course advance orders for Pizza Express via WhatsApp, with the added complication of factoring in voucher discounts. It was indeed a miracle....and lo, it came to pass that a succession of bruschetta, doughballs, pizzas and even dolcetti and tea dessert orders all arrived on time and as requested. After a fine feast, the end of season awards and citations were dished out, along with the very stylish personalised "Bristol Girls League Champions 2016-17" hoodies, kindly courtesy of Steve and Solum Surveying, as modelled below....

Gang of hoodies in Loughborough town centre




After dinner, it was back to the hotel, where Graham and Mark in particular developed a keen interest in the local ale, or more particularly the very attractive beer glasses which the brewer appeared to have crafted in our honour......

Our controversial new sponsor



The next morning, while Martin and Betty, staying at the Platt residence in Nottingham, went ahead as an advance party to register our team and scope out the venue, the squad prepared as champion athletes do - with massive helpings at the breakfast buffet. They then rolled in to the impressive University riverside sports complex in time for the opening ceremony and tournament draw. Mr. Rezz Ra himself was in attendance, and expertly mimed (gr-mimed?) his "Aces" anthem as Betty marched out with the row of captains on stage. Whom would we be up against?
The very best. The big names from all four corners of England. The cream of Tyne (Blyth Town Barca) and Wear (Washington Lionesses). The Lancashire Hot Pot Shots of Blackburn. Nottingham's champions from nearby Southwell. And the Lads Club of Hereford (except they're girls).

Gazebo action in sunny Notts



With a strong breeze blowing, and on a true but swift playing surface, the Foxes were first into action against Hereford's finest. After dominating the opening exchanges, they fell behind to a sucker punch counter attack volleyed goal which injured The Cat's paw in the process. Try as they might, they could not equalise, and it was a slightly disappointing opening return from a decent performance. It left a nagging feeling that this was the one which might come back to bite us. Nevertheless, fortunes were soon restored in the next game against Southwell, when a fine Zoe chase on to a through ball secured the only goal of the game and a valuable 3 points. A battling goalless draw against Blyth came next, but the Foxes chances of progressing took a dip when they lost out to a late Blackburn goal.

Final team talk before playing Washington





The final game looked ominous. Washington had been imperious throughout, knocking in 5 against poor Southwell, not conceding a goal and generally looking like the class of the tournament. And when they cut through the Foxes defence after 10 seconds to open the scoring, the watching faithful feared the worst. But what do they know? Our brave girls, perhaps recalling the wise words of Rezz Ra, stepped up and faced it. Some passes were strung together. Pressure was applied to the Washington backline, for the first time in the tournament. And then....as Zoe powered through in the box, the ball was slipped to Ella, who from about 6 yards out, unleashed a shot of such 'deceptive' pace that it "Fox-ed" the keeper and rolled in at the far post. Cue wild celebrations and cheers from the Bristol crowd, and an exciting final 7 minutes. The coaches rang the changes and engaged in a novel "mass substitution" of virtually the entire team, just to keep Washington on their toes. Tackles flew in, clearances were made, Betty continued to make saves and catches with an injured finger, and the game finished in a highly creditable 1-1 draw.

One point, and one goal. That's how close we were to progressing to the quarter-finals. The top 8 teams from three groups of 6 went through, and we were 3rd in our group and 9th overall. But the Foxes can take enormous heart from the weekend's showing. Never outclassed, always competitive and (of course) always cheerful and sporting, they made a great impression on their opponents and the spectators. Washington went on to win the whole thing, and Ella's goal was the only one they conceded all day. There were too many great individual efforts to list in full. The coaches noted in particular the magnificent performance of Georgia in closing down opponents and winning the ball back, gradually encouraging the rest of the team to do the same in these high speed, confined space games. Olivia was similarly combative, Amelia came close with some great efforts on goal, and all of the defence were busier than usual - one particular highlight was Millie's 'steal' off the toes of the deadly Washington striker.

So it was back down the M5, wind and weather beaten but happy, to the soundtrack (for some) of Barry Gibb live from Glastonbury. No trophies this time, but all will take back happy memories of a great weekend. And some complimentary hotel shampoos and shower gels. And maybe even some other 'souvenirs' too....?

Cheers, Foxes!