The sun shone, the drink flowed (well, Diet Coke, Tango and bottled water flowed) and everyone was smiling. Had we all died and gone to heaven? No, we'd all got up early and gone to Herne Hill. For those not in the know, Herne Hill Cycling Track (the largest in the UK apparently) is south of the border, but under new EU regulations it is now no longer necessary to have a passport to go south of the Thames so our journey time was fairly short.
Cycling Track, I hear you gasp in utter amazement - surely not another surprising dimension to the Terriers' amazing repertoire of skills and sporting prowess? No, the velodrome was the location of this year's annual 6-a-side football tournament organised by 8 Kings Bench Walk Chambers.
The Terriers' squad was fully home grown - our contingent of current members of the firm (David E, the fearless goalie) was supplemented by former members of the firm (Martin D and Tom) and their mates (Steve and Imoja) as well as one of our loyal interpreters (Ali) and three of Kerryann's soccer legend mates (Martin, Terry and Anthony). That meant - thankfully - that Julian and Luigi could quite properly assume the roles of fourth reserve goalie and manager's gopher, respectively.
The sun shone, the drink flowed ....and the smiles were wiped off our faces by a 1-0 loss in our first game against a team of players who could have made the shortlist for "the Hulk". Still we then went on to score two victories and a draw to start our last game of the qualifying section in good spirits, but worn down by the relentlessness of the play and the heat. A win would have ensured our passage into the semi-finals. Instead, we lost which ensured our passage into the bar. Still, we acquitted ourselves very well, and we had a great laugh helped along as it was by a solid camaraderie...which is perhaps a little surprising, since so many of those proudly wearing the Terriers' shirt were doing so for the first time and alongside players they had never met before.
This year's tournament was especially enjoyable as a game of football was laid on for the dozen or so children who accompanied the grown ups, and a bouncy castle was also available for them to work off some excess energy. The bouncy castle was also made available to the children. Many thanks go to all the players and, of course to the supporters who included Kerry's mate Stacey, David's girlfriend Susie and Chan who observed the proceedings from the cool of the impressive pavilion (and to think everyone believed her when she said she was staying in the stands in order to safeguard the holdalls).
Most of all we could not have done without our ever-encouraging manager, Kerryann, whose steadfast loyalty was matched only by her ability to give clear and definite orders to every corner of the pitch from one single position on the sideline. Kerry almost certainly influenced the course of other matches which were being played at the same time. Next year we will train for weeks in advance, undertake many hours of strategic planning and walk off with the trophy.
Next year: it could be us!
