If 12-14 Year-olds can do it why can't GTFC?!

By: Lord Sommet
Date: 27/10/2009

TODAY I found myself in very uncharted waters somewhere I haven't been for a few years. Going to Sunday afternoon football with a stonking headache. I used to be a professional when I played and didn't drink the night before (ok that's cobblers but I had recovered by the time of the match.)

I came down to Grimsby this weekend for two things: My niece's birthday and to see my little brother play football, haven't been all season due to me usually working Sundays, but I had the opportunity so I took it.

Yesterday (Saturday) was a cracking night out - it was different but I was wasted so it did the job, soooo today (Sunday) I've had a stinging headache all day (Its worse now) and so come 1.15pm I'm watching the FA. Cup draw Grimsby get Bath City at home (conference south side) difficult draw for the Mariners but I'm happy with it (yes I'm being sarcastic about the difficulty) and so it was off to St James playing fields to see Crow's Nest vs St James.

I've always hated St James - school rivals with me going to St Mary's high - Jordan used to play for them season before last and I honestly hated their **** of a manager. I was asked to run the line due to unforeseen circumstances, obviously I agreed to do it.

On arrival I helped warming up the keeper by doing simple shooting throwing drills with him - Given that he's small and podgey I was surprised he was actually not bad.

The game eventually kicked off 20 mins early and Crows took an early lead and then added another and another, to be fair on Crows they were some decent goals, I believe my brother got the 5th. So 20 mins had gone and I hadn't had to do anything at this point, run up and down, but Crows keeper claimed everything and their defence seemed pretty solid. St James finally got an attack worthwhile together and in the box Crows defender pushed a St James defender, I flagged for a penalty - Yup I went against my brothers team and gave the opposition a penalty - St James duly scored from said penalty.

Crows went on to score a few more with Jordan also grabbing another - I took my brother out last night with his manager for a couple of drinks, I needed to chill, and he promised us he would do some stupid celebration and when he got his first he did an impression of a gay lino, the second was something stupid but funny, certainly wound the oppo manager up - Love it!

HT came thankfully for St James with them trailing 7-1

The second half came and it meant me swooping sides and coming face to face with someone I really didn't like - St James manager. I must add at this point, I was also watching the United Liverpool game on my phone. Much to the managers annoyance.

St James still didn't seem to know what they was doing because within 5 minutes of the second half they were 9-1 down.

Now this is the bit, I'm confused about. 9-1 with 40 mins to go, your heads should be dropping, but no, not with St James, they continued to try - I won't say attack because every time they went forward they were offside - but they never seemed to drop their heads, it was really good to see.

They continued to cheer themselves on and tried to get back into it, it really was amazing, I continue to go see GTFC, they are a part of me, their in my blood you could say, but win lose or draw, if I can I'll go, given they have played so 15 games I've missed four games, and each time they concede their heads go down and they don't look like their interested -I'm not saying that's every game but most - and they just don't seem to have any balls, guts or passion. St James was the complete opposite to this and I have to applaud them for continue to try and not giving up.

St James attacked once more and their attacker did a me special - 30 yards offside, I had no choice but to give offside, at this their manager shouted from the other side of the pitch "keep going, don't worry about him, he's not gonna give you anything in this game" I'm sorry are you forgetting the penalty the referee didn't see? I can see why lino's no longer like coming to Blundell Park and will often seemingly give wrong decisions, for me to have to people abusing me pissed me off and made me even more content on making sure every decision was 100% spot on and even tempted to give a the odd decision which could go either way to my brothers team, up to this point I was doing everything by the book as the penalty suggests, so from now on I won't be one of the "oi lino - no" boys, I'll applaud his decision even if I believe its wrong simply because they are trying and they believe they have made the correct decision, and would hate to think that by us giving him shit he will help the opposition, maybe not the way to think about it but its possible.

Crows were at this point 10-1 up and now came the 11th from the resulting free kick, 6 or 7 passes strung together and from 40 yards out a spectacular goal, no idea who scored it, but I have to say I haven't seen a better goal all season professionally or amateur wise.

The game eventually went on with me getting wet from the rain and Crows scoring one more I think, I lost count at 12-1 and full time came.

My personal man of the match was - well I'm split for two players St James number 12 or their goal keeper, they both showed exceptional sportsman ship and while their whole team got hammered they never gave up, they played with balls, guts and passion something I personally don't see at Blundell Park very often.

So the question is: If 12-14 year old's can do it why can't a bunch of professional football players at Grimsby Town football club?

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