Football tournament

On Saturday 4 August the second Max O'Connell Football Tournament took place at the Linford Christie Stadium. It was like the first day of summer after what seemed like weeks of unending rain. Suddenly the temperature soared and everyone was reaching for the suntan lotion.

When we, that is the parents, arrived with a variety of food: fruit, pizza, baguettes, cucumber sandwiches, and drinks which were never enough, we found that play was well underway.There seemed to be so many young men milling around that I found it hard to understand how it could get organized, but it did.Teams came on and off and referees appeared from somewhere and it went like clockwork.

Play continued throughout the afternoon ending with a hard and close fought final between Queen's Park and The West Hampstead All Stars. The All Stars won by 1 nil so holding on to the cup for another year. I cannot really comment on the standard of the football, but I can comment on the good spirit in which it was played and which made it such a great day. Max would have loved it.

So congratulations to the organizers, Queen's Park, and to the winners, and thanks to the parents for the food and support.

My photos were not very good but if anyone has some we could put on the blog please send them to Seamus. There's a picture of the winners below.

Victoria