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Cheddar walking football club match report
30th of March 2021
In a much-awaited return to walking football the men of Cheddar Walking Football Club played in the first ever annual Vice-chairman's Cup match.
This meant that teams were picked by the current Vice Chairmen of the club, Paul “Jock” Rodgers and Steve Henderson.
In a game superbly refereed by Mervyn Brean the first task was for the two vice chairmen to toss a coin to decide who would wear the much looser yellow and black shirts, and who would wear the figure hugging (especially after a long lockdown) white shirts.
This toss was one by Henderson who then presided over his team in their smart kit as shown below.
Rogers gained revenge when it came to winning the toss for choice of goalkeeper and he chose Chris “Chatto” King as his choice of goalkeeper.
This left Henderson with Bobby Bunn as his keeper; however, the super stopper Bunn was unable to make the match and as a result was replaced by the excellent Steve “chairman” Gooding.
This was an extremely fortunate development as Gooding played fantastically in goal making crucial saves at all the right times.
The final task was for the two captains to toss to see who had first choice and once again Henderson did this and the first pick of the night was the club's own superstar, Paul Randall, who was clearly in demand from both managers come up based on being an ex-professional footballer!
The rest of the teams were picked in “school style” whereby players were picked in order from everybody available, this was quite some task, as over the evening, there were 26 players in attendance open brackets a fantastic response from the group come up befitting the superb fun that everyone has playing the game. All players were picked in random order (not as shown below)
TEAMS
Hendo’s Heroes
Steve Henderson
Steve Gooding (GK)
Paul Randall
Clive Vaughan
Rob Sheldon
Tim Youngberg
Dave People
Ben Chick
Andy Wright
Andy Burgess
Chris Underhill
Paul Brice
Jock’s Jokers
Paul Rodgers
Chris King
Ben Attwood
Mark Hudson
Shaun Palfrey
Colin Batt
Kev Attwood
Jerry King
Tony Scott
Paul Chick
Russell Young
Steve Grant
Robin Boyd
Bruce Bayliss
The teams were almost exclusively picked from the pre lockdown attendees but also welcomed one of the stars of Weston WFC, Mark Hudson, who rolled back the years with an impressive performance.
Also, as well as the welcome return of a number of regulars, it was great to see Paul Chick back, after a career threatening veterans football injury prior to Christmas, which looked as though it may have curtailed his walking football career. Also it was great to see veteran even for this group) Bruce Bayliss back on the pitch, strutting his stuff!
But the most welcome return was that of Steve “get back Granty” Grant, who returned from a serious illness to show his display of tricks and flicks, the ability to deliver that has not been lost in this break!
The game started with several players slightly concerned at the sheer volume of players on a small pitch, however it was decided that this was fair to both teams and we should carry on as normal.
Clearly the White team was stronger on paper, but as we all know football is not played on paper! The yellow and black team were well organised defensively and with a deadly forward line of the two baldies (Budgie and Hendo) supporting the ex-professional, superstar, Paul Randall, there was always a severe goal threat to Chris Kings goal!
Ironically, the baldie’s lack of hair was more than compensated for by the flowing locks of Randall, who clearly has not seen a barber in months!!
Both the Attwood’s, and the rest of the White midfield (starring two star players from Geoff Clarke’s Keyes Cup winning team of 1983 – Paul Chick & Russell Young. Geoff would be so proud!) was starting to dominate, despite fantastic efforts from Underhill and Youngberg on the yellow & black team, but despite all of this possession the white team with massive experience and ability up front, provided by Mark Hudson and Jerry King, were unable to breakdown the stubborn defence of Richens and Sheldon, alongside the man of the match Andy “Fingers” Wright.
And, on the odd occasion where they did breakthrough, they found an immovable object in Steve Gooding displaying the type of form that had seen him save a penalty in the previous season against Bristol Rovers!
One save from Gooding was unbelievable as everybody was pretty much expecting the a watch to take the lead that most people saw coming!
However eventually the white team did score an opening goal when a fierce strike by Kevin Attwood hit the post and rebounded out only to, unluckily, rebound off the back of keeper Gooding who was diving to save the first shot.
This was the first goal, and many people at the ground thought the first of several, by the dominant White team led superbly by Rodgers, showing a captain’s example throughout.
However, the Yellow & Black team of Henderson's gang were not to be denied and, somewhat against the run of play, they equalised when a back pass from Sean Palfrey (normally Mr Dependable) found its way to the right foot of Chris Underhill, and, in a really a rare moment, it was that right foot that slotted the ball past the helpless, and slightly surprised, Chris King in the goal for the White team.
Tim Richens would like to apologise publicly to Robin Boyd, who, from his position at the other end of the pitch, he thought had scored an own goal (he couldn’t see the stealthy Underhill, and certainly didn’t expect his right foot to be involved, unless it was for standing on!), but now realises that the youngster, Boyd, had in fact been an innocent bystander!!
Half time came and went, and the second half saw much the same pattern with the White’s having great territorial advantage, but the Yellow & Blacks looking lively on the break throughout but unable to break down Colin Batt and his fellow defenders, protecting King in the White team’s goal.
Several chances were created by Rodgers’ team, but when they did eventually get through the rock like defence of the Yellow & Blacks, the White team, were unable to get past Steve Gooding in the goal and the game ended up as a really exciting 1-1 draw.
The draw seemed a fair result after the game, with the Whites being territorially stronger but the Yellow & Blacks always dangerous.
Credit also has to go to Merv Brean for a great refereeing performance, despite Tony Scott’s continual moaning at him, for which the Winscombe man has threatened to bring his cards next week (already having written Scotty’s name on one!!)
After discussion it was decided to play a 10-minute “Golden Goal” session to see if a winner could be found, and agreed that if not a penalty shootout would take place on a sudden death basis with the captains taking the first penalties for each team.
The sudden death saw both teams have good possession, but defences in charge on both sides and so, at the end of a long game, “hand bumps” (covid aware as the players are) were made and then the crowd and players settled down for the penalty shootout. Suddenly the Yellow & Black midfield got into the game with the stamina of Clive Vaughan, Paul Brice Dave Pople and young Ben Chick seemingly everywhere, belatedly helping the goal hero Underhill.
The rules of walking football say that penalties are to be taken with one step only and clearly this gave the Yellow & Blacks a distinct advantage, as Steve Henderson is deadly with his left foot, but doesn't usually take a “run up” to boot it forward; and so when it came to his penalty (for the first of the penalties) Henderson gave the normally superb Chris King in goal no chance as the ball flashed by him in a millisecond!
This piled pressure on, the already slightly injured, Paul Rodgers with his penalty, compounded by the fact he was up against Steve “the Penalty King” Gooding, who had already saved in a match against Bristol Rovers.
Rodgers, possibly realizing this, stepped up and slotted the ball hard and low, to the keepers left, but unfortunately it was several yards left of the post as well, much to the amusement of certain players in his opposition!
As always Rodgers took this in great spirit, and had showed his bravery in taking the kick, although he had no choice, as the rules said this!
So, after a long and very enjoyable game, the first winner of the Cheddar WFC Vice chairman's Cup was Steve Henderson; and all that was left was for the match sponsor, and also sponsor of the trophy Pro Touch (SW) Decorating, represented by Shaun Palfrey, to present the trophy (see below - Shaun Palfrey of Pro Touch is seen presenting the trophy to winning captain, Steve Henderson as star defender, and Club Secretary, Tim Richens, looks on)
This has now got everyone to immediately look forward to next year’s return, and more importantly the return to no more walking football sessions at cheddar, commencing on Thursday the 8th of April at 7:00 PM.
The club would very much like to thank Shaun and Pro Touch for sponsoring this very impressive looking trophy as well as also thanking its main sponsors – Cheddar Cider Barn (men’s team) and DJB Taxis (the sponsors of the women’s team).
Our club would not survive without the financial support these forms give us, to keep going and support football for many people who thought their time in the beautiful game was long gone!
If you are interested in giving it a try please feel free to turn up, it is not only football, but more importantly it is fun great after lockdown, good for mental health and physical health and a place that you will be welcome by the current players, whatever your standard of football.
If you are not sure, or worried about an injury then just come along have a look and see how safe it is and how the game is played not only in the right spirit but in the right manner to make everybody want to come again!
