Football... WHY!?!

Why does it have to be so bloody heart-wrenching! This season, I've suffered both highs and lows. Mostly lows, it would seem! And this week I've had both extremes. So here it is, my football season's review, even though in some cases it hasn't quite finished...



Exeter City have exceded almost all expectations this season, mine among them! Manager Paul Tisdale has a reputation for achieving promotion, following his very successful stint with Team Bath before we snapped him up. And this season, he followed up last year's Conference Final win at Wembley, but repeating the feat of promotion... but without the lottery and potential heartbreak of the play-offs.

I remember thinking, on a murky November afternoon at Aldershot's Recreation Ground where City lost 0-1, that given our form at the time, scraping the play-offs would be a tricky task. But a rich vein of form at just the right time has helped erase the memory of that defeat and the even more painful defeat to Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup!

Needing a win away at Rotherham United to guarantee automatic promotion, it wasn't until way into the second half when BBC Sport finally told me Exeter had taken the lead. I bounced up and down on my comfy bean bag, frantically texted Wayno at the game (which, due to money issues, I was unable to attend - grrr!) and started chanting loudly... alone in the house!

When the final score came up, I immediately ran downstairs to the (sexy new) car and put my ECFC scarf on the parcel shelf... I'd never been as proud to be a fan of the Grecians!



Compare that to three days later. The last hope Arsenal had of winning any silverware this season evaporated before my eyes! Needing to turn around a 0-1 first leg deficit, Arsenal came out of the blocks, all guns (pardon the pun) blazing! And then Kieran Gibbs fell over. Fan-fucking-tastic. The fact that the whining, crying, arrogant, Portugeuse, diving wanker rifled in that free kick made it even worse (although not for John, who won the next goalscorer sweepstake!).

Arsenal had long been out of the title race, although had scraped a Champions League spot for next year. They'd looked capable of winning both domestic cups, but blew it when the got close to the final. I'd pinned all my gooner hopes of the Champions League trophy... and the bastard Manc scum took that away from me too! Thanks for that!

Still, we can get some kind of revenge at Old Trafford in a week or two and we have Chelski this weekend. 3rd place in the league is sneakable... and would make the season a little easier to swallow.



The fact that I was watching the Arsenal-Man Utd match at all was because my new 5-a-side team couldn't raise a side! Chawton Athletic Fives was started up as a means of getting through the off season. The first three games were a mixed bag... a horrendous 0-21 opener against the Alton Tuesday Fives League champions, was followed by a credible 1-1 draw. This was followed by another heavy defeat!

This week's game, however, had to be fortfeited. From a growing squad that is now probably double digures, I could only muster three of us. A very poor showing for a team that was well up for it before the season began. And three points given away to a team that, when we get used to playing together and get fitter, are most likely beatable!

Personally, I've not been doing too bad. My stints in goal haven't been too costly, outfield I've been getting stuck in (maybe too stuck in at times) although I have yet to score a goal. Having said that, the team have only scored three in total!



The 11-a-side Chawton Athletic team we take our name from didn't fare much better! Although we did manage a couple of wins in the season (none that I played in!), there were quite a few shoeings. This led to people dropping out, which led to more shoeings. A nasty vicious cycle. And bloody annoying at that!

Again, personally I had a really good season. I joined the team halfway through the Farnham and District Sunday League season, and instantly made myself a first team regular... not that we had any subs! As versatile as I am, it meant I was able to ensure that come next season, I should be in the starting XI. And I intend to stay there!



A stark contrast to Rockbeare Rangers where, despite starting up the Club in the first place, I never held down a regular starting place. I was happy taking my twenty minutes at the end of games!

This season has been another season of changes for the Rooks. I am now (Honorary) President of the Club I helped form with a few of my closest friends. I did even manage to make one appearance too, in a match I helped turn around and win 2-1.

The Club's Board has been taken over and it is now moving forward. Something I initially did not like the sound of, but have grown to accept as the best way forward. That aside, there were some sneaky side-shooting tactics employed when push came to shove... a move that wasn't "anything against me as a person". Indeed not; I can clearly see what the game was. And as it really made no odds, I did take it a little personally, though never showed it to anyone else...



So goodbye to 2008/09 (well, almost). Next season I doubt I'll play for Rangers (although I will sign on anyway) as we have a huge squad. I will instead be concentrating my efforts on both Chawton Athletic sides. Keep up to date with manager, Matt Ireson's blog for the 11-a-side match reports! Meanwhile the 5-a-side team also have a website!

Let's see if City can make it three consecutive promotions and if Arsenal can finally get their hands on some silverware!