Friday, October 29

Scott - firstly any comments about team fixing are made in jest and do not reflect my gratitude for your organisation. Secondly, you have not realised the one thing that brings us rag tags together - we are all losers, we love to lose, we revel in our under-dog status - as I pointed out last night any goal for us is like xmas/birthday coming at once and is followed by jubulant celebrations (whereas a white goal merely affirms your superiority and is received with universal smugness). Thirdly, I do not think that picking the teams on the night will add anything but sadness for the last person selected (Clive). Fourthly, I think your management of the five - a - side has taken us forward and keeping it to 5s is without doubt the best. The games this year have been really enjoyable (and, for the most part, competitive) and I feel that any tinkering will be detrimental to this. Bibs for the rag tags is a good idea, though.
Good game again last night despite my poor performance for the Whites (or good performance for the Rag Tags!!)

I feel there are a couple of issues that need input / clarification...

Firstly, it would appear that certain individuals feel that I favour the Whites when putting the teams together?? Initially at week 1 I constructed the sides broadly in line with how they finished last year (and the Rag Tags won). Since then I have simply filled the vacant position (for whichever team) with any available person whilst trying to prefer TSJ people. I have not made wholesale changes to the sides as it is difficult enough to get 10 people each week without having to phone people to ask them to bring a different coloured top!!.

The second point (and I do not dispute this) is that the Whites in the main have been the stronger side - the scoreline of matches won demonstrates this. I see there being a few alternatives...

  • We choose the teams on the night and buy some bibs to distinguish the sides
  • Someone else takes over the organisation and constructs what they consider to be fair sides on a week by week basis - I don't have time to do this.
  • We continue as we are

Please give me some feedback as I do not want the Rag Tags to lose interest by getting beat most weeks and I am not prepared to have certain insinuations directed at me.


good game again - not as close in terms of scoreline (doesn't matter if we lose!) but I thought we competed really well. Matt will not be welcome back to the rag tags as he fitted into the whites all too well. Looks like personell changes for next week will bring the teams even closer......
Clive - my wife thinks I'm having a bit with you - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and you asking for Monday aswell!

Wednesday, October 27

OK people, as I have heard nothing to the contrary I am pleased to advise that the teams are as last week.

See you all tomorrow.

Monday, October 25

I know i'm really gutted I can't be there on Saturday but I am there on friday night.

I did watch a bit of the Currie Cup when I was over there but sarah was non too pleased but I managed to watch the City v Chelsea game! He he! How romantic am I!




Osama, great to have you back in one piece, half of me thought you'd be kidnapped and sold into the slave trade, the other half thought you might pop up playing for Western Transvaal in the old Currie Cup!

Shame you won't be there on Saturday. That's now ruined half my jokes. Damn.
Back at work rubbish!

South Africa was fantastic, what a place! Enjoyed every minute of it (and the wedding of course!).

Gutted! I can't make it to the race night its my bro's surprise 30th that night so i'm going to miss out!


Saturday, October 23

JUST A QUICKIE FOR ANY SECOND TEAMERS WHO ORDERED PRINTS FROM THE HUNTER CUP TRIUMPH - I'LL BE BRINGING THEM WITH ME TO THE RACE NIGHT PRICED AT THE ROCK BOTTOM AND VERY COMPETITIVE PRICE OF £3 EACH WHICH INCLUDES YOUR INDIVIDUALLY HAND PRINTED PICTURE IN ONE OF THOSE CLIPFRAME THINGIES. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A BIT OF A PAIN LIKE JONESY AND ARE A BIT FUSSY ABOUT GETTING YOURSELF A FRAME WHICH MATCHES YOUR SOFT FURISHINGS AND COLOUR SCHEME, THEN THEY'RE £2 TO YOU. HOWEVER, I HAVE FRAMED ALL OF THEM (EXCEPT JONESY'S OF COURSE) SO DARE TO MAKE A FUSS. DON'T FORGET YOUR CASH AS THIS WILL BE MY GAMBLING MONEY FOR THE EVENING!!!
see some of youse at the league do on Fri as well.
laters.......

Friday, October 22

I think the best comment on last night came from Micky J as we were leaving:

"The trouble with us [whites] is that when we're not firing we try and go more fancy, rather than keeping it simple. When we're playing well all the flicks work. The ragtags worked harder and put in the running"

Spot on - for 35 minutes last night, we were appalling and couldn;t string 3 passes together, which is to take nothing away from Kieran's one man super show when he banged in a number of screamers early on. Thankfully (for us) we then put in 20 minutes when everyone came good at once and we clawed right back. A tremendous last 25 minutes for both teams. Well done Ragtags for a superb game and thank goodness we started to put passes together or it could have been embarrassing!

Oh and thanks Nick for the swollen and bruised knee ;-)
Game of two halves eh....what...mmm!!

Really enjoyed last night. If that was CDO with a dodgy foot what will the fully fit version do next week. With the same teams likely I wouldn't like to predict the outcome (apart from me & Clive falling out of course).

Laters...
good game, good game! Thought a draw was better result (I would) - Rag Tags couldn't maintain the unbelievable start and whites took the honours - probably 2nd best game ever.

Thursday, October 21

Looking forward to another super game tonight, it should be extra competitive with the return of the Hud! Pity there's no Jedi, but then again ... come on you Whites!

Wednesday, October 20

Apologies once again to those who turned up last night for my non attendance. Unfortunately with 2 young children domestic matters sometimes take over!!

Anyway, one change for the football tomorrow...

WHITES

Scott
Ashley
Steve Pearce
Mick J
Paul

RAG TAGS

Kieran
Nick H
Clive
Craig
Dickie P

See you tomorrow.
Checked the constitution and we require 3 committee members to become quorate so last night did not prove to be a complete waste of time after all.
I gave my apologies over the weekend, together with the offer of our house as an alternative venue so that I could attend. Unfortunately Cathie has a rehearsal on a Tuesday evening at the moment, and without the availabilty of usual babysitter last night I could not leave the house.

PS never thought I would see the day when CDO classed 2 hours in the pub as a waste of time!!
Did people just not turn up? I gave Clive my apologies last Thursday ...
really bad turnout at comm meeting meant that we were not quorate (?) - basically means that those not turning up wasted our time....(present - Chairman, Secretary and CDO, with RP later).

Saturday, October 16

Race Night: really need to get 100+ there, so bring friends/family - kids are welcome also (there are a few coming - could be good to use as jockies, or is that sizist in this pc world?). Also need good turnout to recognise the trophy winners - as a club there have been some fantastic individual and team performances and we should really be giving everyone a big clap on the back.

Friday, October 15

Spot on Cliff, the pace was electric last night. Apart from a sloppy last 10 minutes, thought the whites put on a good show last night. Well done the Rag Tags too for some high energy stuff; maybe Jedi would have given you the finishing power to complement your improved outfield display?

Very enjoyable!

Thursday, October 14

Great game again tonight. Either the pace is getting faster or I'm getting slower.

A reminder that Committee Meeting is on Tuesday at 8pm in the Dungeon. All Committee members should now have their minutes and agenda.

Also last date for ordering NMCL tickets is next Weds (20th) and last date for Race Nite tickets is Weds 28th. Let me know how many you need especially with regard to the latter.
Well I'm particularly looking forward to the game, and let's hope this week that the ball isn't kicked onto the top of the cricket netting within the first 2 minutes! Nice one.

Glad to hear the CDO's gout has cleared, which should make the RagTags altogether more competitive, not to mention more sanitary! I fear some of us now just have to worry about our gut, not our gout!
same team .........hmmmmm........if only we can harness the force of the jedi and stop flash Gordon.....("Saviour of the Universe").
Me foot's better anyway.......
Come on Clive!

Wednesday, October 13

Thought the Welsh might have done us a favour... no such luck.

Same teams as last week for the football, not sure if that's a good or a bad thing for the RAG TAGS?

See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 12

Nick - perhaps your comments also apply to Rob Holt (missing from the batting averages!).

cheers paul, but after seeing my bowling figures i wish i hadn't said anything.
clive, who went up from the third and down from the second, looks like some nice grounds for the 2nds to play at next year.
laters

Monday, October 11

Chaps,

The 2nd XI averages have now been updated and are online.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Friday, October 8

yup - its gout! just been to Docs and been given tablets that make you vomit and crap - I said isnt the NHS great - I came in here with one problem and I'm leaving with two!
Was that not the same (or v. similar) team as the one which beat the whites on the first week? I thought we did great bearing in mind our best player is on a par with the white's 3rd best (MA and MJ respectively).
Clive you are a really bad driver.

Thursday, October 7

the return of clive has coincided with the return of my gout - probably have to resign myself to being Alan Rough tonight.
Sorry Rag Tags can't seem to get you a settled side....

WHITES

Scott
Ashley
Pearcy
Paul
Mike J

RAG TAGS

Kieran
Craig
Matt A
Dickie P
Clifford the Invincible

See you tonight.

Tuesday, October 5

Nick - I remember you bowling an over or two. If you're concerned, you can have my figures. No wickets and not very economical (the batsman's friend) but at least it would look like you did something other than creep in at the end of our innings and try to sneak off with the batting prize with all those not outs!
laters
Nick - I remember you bowling an over or two. If you're concerned, you can have my figures. No wickets and not very economical (the batsman's friend) but at least it would look like you did something other than creep in at the end of our innings and try to sneak off with the batting prize with all those not outs!
laters
Please send me the updated averages whenever they get done and I'll pop them up.

Monday, October 4

At present got 18 booked into league do ! These are Steve x3, Jedi x3, Rob x2, Smithy x2, Phil, Mike J, Mike A, Cotters, Skudders, Me, CDO, Birdy. If anyone else wants a ticket let me know ASAP.
Chaps

I cannot take all the credit or dis-credit for the averages. Steve has compiled the 2nd XI ones so please take up any discrepancies up with him.
I do agree that 258 divided by 10 is not 21.5 but I did not check his figures. I do apologise !!!
well just been looking at the averages for the 2nds and i know i didnt have the greatest season with the ball but i do recall bowling a few overs and taking the odd wicket.
who could forget the swearing at the woodbank batter incident, when i had to eat humble pie and apologise. not me anyway as it was the only time i bowled well!
laters
Just eyeballing the 2's batting. SURELY 258 divided by 10 is 25.8.....even with MY maths??? Clive - don't forget, not outs don't count!!!!!!
Chaps,

Thanks to Cliff for compiling them - the 1st and 2nd XI averages for 2004 are now available from the left navbar. Huge cringes for the first XI batting, which fell away towards the end of the season (4 of us averaging over 30 in August), but the bowling stats make great reading for all our main bowlers, no-one going for more than 3.9 an over.

And please note who took the most catches in the field ;-)

Sunday, October 3

Scott, I think you'll like this - following on from yesterday's stuff with Kaye, read this!!!

Peacock child given unfortunate name ... magnificent!
Heartiest congratulations to Matt and Sarah who were successfully wed yesterday - as the attending minister remarked "half of Matt's possessions" are now shared by Sarah - which by our reckoning means she must have about a quarter of last season's subs!!!

It was a very good day out, attended by the Johns contingent of Dickie and Kaye (P. Cock ;-)), Scott and Helen, Mr and Mrs CDO, CLiff and myself. A particularly nice touch was in Ian (father of the bride)'s speech, he made good mention of last season's Calverly Cup final success. Good man.

There was one particular challenge when the lights went out halfway through the speeches, leaving Matt on tenterhooks for the best part of 2 hours! Given that we were in the middle of nowhere, it was quite interesting ... and allowed certain people, who shall remain nameless, to get very very drunk indeed. I think we're clear that the title CDO actually means Club Drinking Officer!

One added bonus - Kaye and Richard were booked into Room 19 at their hotel, which is apparently haunted by the ghost of a nun, Sister Benedict, who hanged herself! So we'll await a report from Dickie this week to see if any ghostly goings on were noted!

Friday, October 1

Sorry. Sarah. Must have skipped the 'a' key.
First off, GOOD LUCK Matt & Sarh. Have a great day!!!!!
Secondly, Kieran, if you didn't get my text: Bobby Goldsboro (told you), Summer (the first time), August '73, got to no.9 you'll be glad to hear.
Alert for anyone driving to Matt's wedding tomorrow and following the "from manchester" directions. The A471 road through Read is closed for resurfacing tomorrow morning and afternoon - so allow an extra 10 or 15 mins for the inevitable diversion!

Great game last night - bossed by the whites until the last 10 when we ran out of steam. Something Jedi will seemingly never do. That's the last time I'm man-marking him for 80% of the game ;-) I'm knackered still! Thought all 10 pulled out the stops last night, some wonderful goals and great play all round. Well done Rag Tags for keeping going and playing some neat stuff despite another mass change of personnel!
well played whites - (stock email for Friday morning) - Q: where was Matt running to? A: Where wasn't he running to!