04.10.06           CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN & JACQUE ON THE BIRTH OF THEIR SON FROM ALL AT O’CARROLLS – Sign him up Timmy!

 

A few words from the new Dad…

 

Well, if it's good news you are looking for, to start your working week. No we aren't coming back just yet, but Harry James Irons arrived whilst most of you were sleeping. Weighing in at 7lbs 1oz all is well with both baby and mother. Was a very tiring experience but Jacs helped me out!

 

To those for whom details aren't important... consider news broken and passed on. For others who won't necessarily get to see us or speak to us for the next while, here is the run down.

 

Jacs was due on Thursday 21st and with a colleague of mine off at work all week she did well to patiently hang on. A pearler of a day on the sunny south coast on Saturday and I was due to be playing football but when I found out it was an away game nearly an hour away I did the unthinkable and gave it a miss. So, how to fill a Saturday with no football???

 

Off we went to the beach for a walk along the golden sands of Bournemouth to Sandbanks. After a coffee (the English have no clue what one is by the way) Jacs felt 'funny' so we headed home in time for the half time scores coming in. Videprinter action for those who can relate!. New signing Darren Anderton had bagged a 40 yarder on his debut for Bournemouth - things were looking up. A few phone calls to the hospital later and we were off for a check to see if indeed waters had broken. They had, and 2 hours later we were home again, knowing that if she went to Monday night she would be induced. So, parents went out and we settled down to a ruby (one thing the English do do well) a quick beer and Match of the Day. That we did and whilst one of us nodded off, the other stayed up to watch a fantastic thunder storm whilst having contractions and remaining calm. Guess who missed the storm - gutted.

 

At 3am the calm of keeping her husband from panicking faltered and it all went off. In the car. At 4am in the hospital it was still all looking rosy for a casual water birth etc but then it all got a bit much and Jacs was battling with the pain. Gas and air were not up to the task. A successful epidural later and it was now about 8am and things were very calm again. That was a tough 4 hours for me but hey it's all about Jacs I suppose. She then relaxed and after an examination (not an IQ one which incidentally while we mention it we did the previous week on 'Test the Nation' and I cleaned up in the top 5%) reached full dilation at a canter. This was easy. I was now into my FHM and Mens Health magazines wondering... well, just wondering really. Then came the push time and I have to say a new found respect for my lovely wife. Whilst she might have not been up to the early pain, the ability to push was amazing. At 11.36am out arrived our Harry (HJ, Haitch, 'Has Nuts' - yes he does bloomin bigguns etc etc).

 

Anyway there is more to the tale but I am sure I have lost most of you so that's the summary. All is well. I have just left Jacs at the hospital and she will be home at lunchtime tomorrow. They don't hang about here and to be honest home is a good option with grandparents awaiting their turn and a fridge full of beer before I get back to work.

 

Here is a sample of the day’s action. We won't keep banging them out (photos and children!) as I am sure these things (children that is) change by the day but for those who do want updates of the young pretender to an England shirt we will no doubt set up a website or something which we can send links to those who are interested.

 

Cheers all... enjoy your week.

 John

 

        03.10.06           PAPAKURA 7-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT SEPT 23RD/24TH

 

The first competitive football since OC’s 10-1 Cup Final back in August was the Papakura 7-A-Side tournament two weekends ago, OC’s entering two sides into the two-day competition.

 

The contest consisted of 20-min each way games played on half-length pitches. After five group games the top teams went onto quarterfinals. Four of the group games were to be played on Day 1 and here’s how the teams lined up:

 

OC1: Richie, Tom, Tancell, Gus, Gibbo, Stu, Dan G & Lobster

OC2: Matt, Woody, Bundy, Nev, Joey, HIRDY (sorry), Mark & Colin

 

OC1 kicked off with a victory, a not so comfortable 1-0 win. Poor first half, but they got their game together and looked a much better outfit for the second period. OC2 kicked off against tougher opposition and after a battling 1-1 draw, the game was awarded to their opponents on corners won (for some reason the organizers chose not to award points for a draw so three points were up for grabs in every match).  OC1 comfortably won their second game (can’t remember the score but it was by 4+ at least) and this, for me, was their best performance of the day. OC2 made up some ground with a great 2-0 victory over some tough and flashy opposition (Matt was in unbeatable form), followed by another victory for both teams, Bundy coolly netting two goals for OC2 in their third game. Three games down and legs were very, VERY weary. The break of 40minutes+ between games was proving punishing and trying to warm up for the last game of the day was murder - stiffness and bruising had reached unbridled levels. OC1 hobbled onto the pitch for Game 4 and before you could blink found themselves 3-0 against very poor opposition. The final result was closer to 10-0, Lobster netting himself a hat trick. Richie took a nasty boot to the stomach that was to pretty much end his participation in the competition. OC2 finished the day with a victory also, but I’d gone home by then so couldn’t tell you the score (2-0 possibly). Apparently HIRDY (sorry) scored a screamer, or so he has been telling everybody anyway. So end of Day 1 and maximum points to OC1; OC2 unlucky not to match that, losing out only on corners in their first game. Notable debuts for Mark and Joey, netting a couple of goals each for their side – and of course there was Oneshots effort!

 

Day 2 saw a few changes to both sides:

 

OC1: Richie, Tom, Tancell, Gus, Gibbo, Biddy, Dan G, Lobster, Martin and Johnny

OC2: Matt, Woody, Bundy, Nev, Joey, HIRDY (sorry), Mark, Tom & Dan B

 

Both teams had 9.30 kick off times (on a Sunday!!!). OC1 faced the toughest opposition in their group and went 1-0 up early on. The pacy opposition drew level just after the half and Richie was forced off due to the injury picked up on Saturday – Paul Tancell stood in for the remainder. Some great last ditch defending from OC1 and they took the three points on corners won to finish top of the group. OC2 had a comfortable victory on the opposite side of the park, but finished second in their group on goal difference. And as most expected to happen, the OC teams were drawn to meet each other in the quarterfinals. A little reshuffling saw Dan B fill in for Richie in OC1 while Johnny went the other way. While OC2 had the better possession first half, it was OC1 who ran out 3-0 winners with two great goals from Gibbo and a blinding individual effort from Biddy, turning the OC2 centre half inside out (we all know who it was). Worthy of a mention was Dan B’s magnificent save early in the second half. Shame we did meet in the quarters because both sides were good enough to go all the way to the final. You have to give credit to OC2, most of them hadn’t played with each other before and they gave a bloody great account of themselves.

 

The sun was pretty strong, so by the time the semi-final swung round everybody was worn out. HIRDY (sorry), Woody & Matt joined the OC1 ranks for the remainder of the day. The semi was tough, but OC1 ran out 4-1 winners (I think) and booked themselves a place in the final less than 30 minutes later. The opposition looked very energetic for that stage of the competition, and with injuries to pretty much all of the OC team, Tancell withdrawing altogether, it was going to be a tough, tough final. They were young and quick and their passing and off-the-ball running was of a very high standard. OC battled hard and gave 100% but it was too much to ask this time and we lost the final 4-1. No excuses, but a fit OC team would have given these guys more of a game. Still, credit to them, they were a quality side and no shame in losing the final to such a good side.

 

It was a good weekend and a successful one for OCFC. We gave a good account of ourselves and next time round we’ll be better prepared to go all the way. To the new lads, welcome to the club and hope you enjoyed the initiations over the weekend. New Look-A-Likes will be up in due course. (Apologies if any of my information is incorrect, but I have wrote this as best I remember).

The Editor