

# How Oldman Athletic Won The League!

The Unlikely Story of an Ageing Underdog Six A-side Football Team Who Should Never Have Become Champions... But Did!

HOW OLDMAN ATHLETIC

WON THE LEAGUE!

by

Richard Parkes Cordock

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © Richard Parkes Cordock 2018

First Published 2018 by ELW Publishing Bath, UK

ISBN: 9780463998038

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# Overview

Have you ever wondered what it takes to win an amateur football league?

In this book you'll hear the story of Oldman Athletic, an ageing 6-a-side football team who, just like Leicester City, were never supposed to become champions. It should never have happened... but it did.

Told through the eyes of their captain, you'll read how Oldman went from bottom of the league, to middle and then top. You'll read about the decisions they made and the thinking behind each decision. You'll read about the strategies and tactics they adopted, and the things they did right in their title winning season, compared to what they did wrong in previous campaigns.

This is more than just a football book, it is a book about building a team and getting a group of individuals to come together who are worth more than the sum of their parts.

How Oldman Athletic Won the League is a must read for all football fans, especially those who play amateur football... but there are many lessons included in the book which are pertinent to business managers and leaders, and managers and leaders from all walks of life who want to achieve something extraordinary with their team.

## Table of Contents

Overview

Foreword By Gregor MacGregor

Oldman Players And Team

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Keep Hold Of Your Best Players (Retention)

Chapter 2 - Be Prepared To Let Players Go (Release)

Chapter 3 - Recruit New Players So Your Team Is Always Strong (Recruitment)

Chapter 4 - Set A Big, But Realistic Goal -- And Write It Down.

Chapter 5 - Get The Right Players In The Right Positions

Chapter 6 - Disciplined Performances

Chapter 7- Desire, Motivation And Belief

Chapter 8 - Create Tactics Which Take Advantage Of Your Strengths And Weaknesses

Chapter 9: Work Hard And Battle Harder

Chapter 10. 7 More Reasons Oldman Won The League

Chapter 11 - Keep Improving -- The End Of Oldman!

Chapter 12: Thoughts Of Ben Wilson - Club Tropicana Drinks F.C

Chapter 13. Steve Pyatt's Thoughts (Real Sosobad)

Chapter 14. Fran Harvey's Thoughts (Plus Fives)

Chapter 15. Matt Richardson's Thoughts (Lovehoney)

Chapter 16. Simon Withers' Thoughts (Oldman Athletic) -- My (Not So) Brilliant Career

Chapter 17: Will Hodges Thoughts (Ex-Oldman Athletic). Inside The Oldman Camp: Square Pegs, Round Holes... But Few Goals

Chapter 18. Dermott Rushe's Thoughts (Goalrushe) -- The Goalrushe Story

Chapter 19. Martin Fawley's Thoughts (Oldman Athletic)

Chapter 20. Rich Tomlinson's Thoughts (Galaxy Blasters)

Chapter 21. Alex Williams' Thoughts (CMARP)

Chapter 22. Business Lessons From Winning The League

Chapter 23. Postscript - The World Cup (Russia 2018)

Chapter 24. Greg MacGregor's Original Unedited Foreword

#  Foreword by Gregor MacGregor

In 'How Oldman Athletic Won the League', you'll hear the story of an ageing band of footballing brothers who united together to win the Future Fives 6-a-side league.

The book itself does a fine job of introducing the players and competitors, but I feel it is my duty to give you some background on the league. A league I know well, as I've played in it for many years, and I'm pleased to say, have won it several times as the former captain of a team called, Plus Fives. This is a team you'll hear much about in this book, as Oldman Athletic battled it out with Plus Fives during the Winter/Spring 2017/2018 season.

Had Plus Fives won the league this year, there would be no book to write as they'd be expected to win. Had Club Tropicana Drinks F.C., the league's perennial runners up eventually won the title, equally, there would be no shock there, and this book would not have been written... but when Oldman Athletic wins the league, there is a story worth telling.

Oldman were the classic 'also rans'... at best a mid-table team... at worst, one which was there to make up the numbers so the fixture list was even. They were never a team who looked likely to challenge for the title, yet alone win it. That all changed when the old men bizarrely set a goal to win the league this season -- and quite remarkably achieved it. In there is the story which is told in this book. A story which shows anything is possible in football when you get a team working together and playing to their strengths.

But before that story unfolds, first a word about the Future Fives 6-a-side league... a football league which was started over 20 years ago in the corridors of Future Publishing plc, once upon a time, one of the largest magazine publishers in the UK.

The league -- the brainchild of the dearly remembered Dave Williams -- began as a company wide knockabout on the concrete tennis courts at the back of the local leisure centre (a slippery moss doomed, water logged, ice rink -- affectionately known as the Carpark of Dreams). Eventually the league became all-out football war on a full astro pitch at a local secondary school (un-affectionately known as the Theatre of Screams, due to the carpet-burns and broken bones which comes with playing on astro).

Initially a 5-a-side tournament -- hence the league's name 'Future Fives' and my old team's name 'Plus Fives' -- , the league is now 6-a-side, but never changed its name to reflect this. This is one of life's big mysteries solved.

One thing which remained the same however was the league gave company departments at Future Publishing the opportunity to kick lumps out of each other every Monday night.

Ad salesman, accountants, IT professionals, writers and editors, videographers, commercial bods, company seniors. No-one was above being slammed into the wooden side-boards with a well-timed shoulder charge.

The Carpark of Dreams saw many dream shattered, as well as many players.

To this writer's minds there have been ambulances called twice, one serious concussion, more than five broken bones and dislocations, and some three to four punches thrown over the seasons. It matters.

This is football. Our football. Our league. Our team. Our mates. Our wins.

Back in the day, when the pitch was hard and the goals were wide, there were few rules, and scores of 27-0 and more were recorded, working out at a goal every 67 seconds in a half hour game. Utterly ruthless and completely soul-destroying for a bunch of blokes you'd then laugh about it over an early morning cappuccino in the Deli the next day.

With fresh impetus and ideas and more teams than ever, some bureaucracy was needed, ably provided by the new sheriff in town: Mark Donald (a life-long player with GoalRushe, a team who have frequently challenged for the title, but to date have never won it).

Referees, rule changes, squad registration, collection of the monies, running the end-of-season do, sorting out on-pitch squabbles, establishing whether as a freelancer you still counted as a 'Future' employee or not, inspecting the courts to see if games were 'on' after a rainy Monday afternoon. There was much to do.

Roughly on par with the formation of the Premier League, the Last Supper, the Night of the Long Knives and Churchill's Yalta Conference, league officiator Mark Donald held a meeting out the back of the Royal Oak pub one hot summer night.

Legend has it that, with possibly more interest in the last plate of sausage rolls quickly disappearing, a motion was passed, change was afoot and the league was moving on. A new venue had been agreed: Beechen Cliff Boys School. An astro turf pitch at the top of the highest hill in the city. A ball breaker to get to, but a significant improvement on the old Carpark of Dreams.

With the new venue came new teams to the league, some from outside of Future Publishing. Oldman Athletic was one such external team -- even though it was made up with many ex-Future employees who had previously been fired, made redundant or jumped ship. All of them older, wiser, greyer and certainly slower.

As with the league, Oldman has changed over the seasons. It has evolved, refined and improved, to the point where it worked and for one campaign only, knocked Plus Fives off its top perch. Still staffed with a smattering of ex-employees of Future Publishing, Oldman now includes its fair share of dads... friends of dads... friends of friends... and waifs and strays.

As you read the pages which follow, you'll discover how Oldman Athletic won the league. But to leave you with a mental visual; picture a bunch of older guys, dressed in orange, puffing and panting, exhausted, often injured. And that's just getting to the pitch.

What Oldman did this season was something special and should be celebrated. Many teams have tried to win the Future Fives 6-a-side league, but few have actually done it. Oldman did it this year and this book is the perfect way to celebrate their winning season.

Gregor MacGregor

Ex-Plus Fives captain, Ex-Future Publishing employee and current football writer.

#  Oldman Players and Team

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The Oldman team who played in the final match (Game 21). Photo taken at the end of season post-match awards ceremony. Front Row: Dudman, Withers, Lees, Palmer, RPC. Back Row: Gabs, Dan Kelly

Simon Lees - Goal Keeper

48 - Photographer

Appearances 17 / Goals 1

Leesy joined Oldman two seasons ago after a shock move from multiple league winners Plus Fives. Leesy is a natural left footer... some say he has two left feet, but that would be too generous. He is one of the fittest players in the Oldman team and can run and run. Unfortunately, he will run everywhere which makes positional play difficult. In his first season with Oldman Leesy played outfield, however this season (in a bid to control him), he played in goal and conceded only seven goals. Simon Lees is one of the best keepers in the league.

Simon Withers \- Defender

55 - Journalist

Appearances 17 / Goals 1

Withers has played in the Future Fives league for many years and for various teams, but had never won the title... until now. Withers played in the original 2015 Oldman team and has always been one of the oldest players in the league. At the time of joining Oldman Withers was 52... he won the title with Oldman at the age of 55. Simon Withers is the 'Denis Irwin' of the team. Ultra reliable and a cracking defender who is brilliant at reading the game. He gets the odd goal too, when he is allowed to cross the halfway line.

Martin Fawley \- Defender

42 - Project Manager

Appearances 15 / Goals 2

Fawley is a proper footballer and can even use the outside of his boot. He's taken some of his FA coaching badges and seems to know what he is talking about. Fawley has phenomenal positioning and is brilliant at reading the game... he is also capable of popping up and scoring the odd goal. Fawley is calm on the ball and is key in turning defence into attack. Martin Fawley joined Oldman in our second season and has been an integral part of the team ever since. Thankfully this season his hamstring has stayed in tact. That is a first.

Dave Dudman - Defender

55 - Software Engineer

Appearances 15 / Goals 0

Dudman is the hard man of Oldman. His first passion is rugby and many would argue he plays football like a rugby player, both in his tackling and shooting i.e. conversions which go out of the field, rather than shots which end up in the back of the net. Opponents struggle to get past Dudman. Those that do may come off worse and wish they hadn't bothered. Dudman has an incredible competitive spirit and is one of the main reasons Oldman conceded so few goals this season. This was Dudman's second season with Oldman, but he has played in the league for many years and won the title several times before with his previous team, Plus Fives.

Dave Manners - Striker

31 - School Teacher

Appearances 13 / Goals 24

Manners is by far, the best player in the league. Over six foot tall, he has a touch of Zinedine Zidane about him, but with his curly hair, looks more like Tony Woodcock of Arsenal circa 1985. Manners has a sublime first touch and is able to drift past players as if they were not there. Just when you think he has run out of options, he'll dribble past another player and score. Opponents hate playing against Manners and the first question they ask each week is "is Dave Manners playing for you tonight?". This was Dave Manners second season in the league with Oldman.

Dan Kelly - Forward

30 - Software Consultant

Appearances 12 / Goals 3

Dan Kelly is another natural left footed footballer. At 30, he is the youngest player in the team and not yet old enough to be called a proper old man. Dan joined Oldman this season, but had played in the league for many years and like Withers, had never won the title. In previous seasons Dan terrorised Oldman when we played against him. He is at his most dangerous charging down the left wing and unleashing his trademark shot. Dan has recently sold his Porsche 911, bought a motorbike and has shaved his head. Perhaps he is an old man after all!

Richard Parkes Cordock - Sub / Forward

48 - Business Consultant

Appearances 12 / Goals 0

That's me, also known as RPC. I'm the author of this book. I last played football when I was at primary school and have never really played again until I was 43. In my mind, I am Gary Lineker of Mexico 86 and Italia 90, sadly my feet say something different. I prefer to play as a forward and am pretty good at holding the ball up and laying it off. At the back, I am a liability and give the ball away too often. I was one of the original founders of Oldman Athletic and have been captain for three and a half of our five competitive seasons. This year, I played more as a sub as well as a handful of matches when we where short of better players. As captain I was responsible for choosing the team. One person recently remarked that I was so ruthless this season that I wouldn't even pick myself. There was a good reason for that!

Mike Reece - Attacking Wingback

34 - Software Engineer

Appearances 11 / Goals 5

Mike Reece was signed mid-way through our title winning season. It's a good job we signed him as we wouldn't have won the league without him. Mike is reasonably tall and very slim. Not an ounce of fat on him. When we were ordering new shirts, most people chose medium, a couple chose large, and there was one XL order (enough said about that). Mike ordered a small. He likes his shirts tight. Mike is an incredibly competitive player and works harder than anybody else on the pitch. He is the engine of the team. A N'Golo Kante type player who can run and run. For all of Mike's athleticism, he can often leave the pitch looking exhausted. When Mike looks tired, you know he has put a shift in and has battled hard for the team.

Gabriel Sanchez - Attacking Wingback

30 – Software Engineer

Appearances 7 / Goals 7

There is something about Brazilians' that they are only known by one name. Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar. We had Gabs. It was quite a coup to have a Brazilian player in our team, and it almost didn't happen as we initially thought Gabs was too young and too good to play for Oldman, and delayed signing him. Gabs is a brilliant left footed player who likes to play on the right and cut in. He looks like a proper footballer attacking down the right wing and was the final piece of the Oldman jigsaw for winning the league. That is, until we lost him after seven games when he injured his knee playing Sunday league football.

Jon Palmer - Forward

53- Journalist

Appearances 3 / Goals 2

Jon is one of the original founders of Oldman Athletic and back in the day, would have been one of the best players around. He is still a great player, but at 53 and old enough to be Dan Kelly's or Gabs father, time has robbed him of a yard of pace. Jon is still surprisingly quick though. Having been there at the start of Oldman, Jon left the team in Season one, then re-joined to play a big part in Season 3 and 4. This season, he has only played three games, but was still one of our top goal scorers for many months on two goals. Jon came back to play in our final game of the campaign, having spent most of the season tending to his allotment.

Matt Strickland - Forward

47 - Financial Services Exec

Appearances 2 / Goals 0

Matt Strickland was a last minute signing for Oldman, when our squad was depleted through injuries and absences. Matt played two games for Oldman (Games 16 and 18) and was instrumental in helping us secure the league in Game 18. Matt is a tall skilful player and natural goal scorer, who back in the day would have terrorised defences. He is still a danger on the pitch, but equally as dangerous to himself as the opposition. Sadly Matt injured himself after two games and wasn't available for selection in the final games of the season. In the two games he played, he helped us secure six points.

Chris Dawson - Sub / Forward

47 - Web Designer

Appearances 2 / Goals 0

Chris Dawson played in goal for Oldman for all of Season 3 and 4. He decided to take Season 5 off (our title winning season), but came back at the end of the campaign to play a pivotal part in our league winning match (Game 18). He may have only played five minutes in that match, but they were an important five minutes! In that crunch game, Chris offered to turn up as a sub and play or not play as needed. He was needed and helped us secure three more points and the league title.

Andy Fenton - Forward

44 - Sports Coach

Appearances 1 / Goals 1

Andy 'Fenners' Fenton played for Oldman briefly in Season 2, and even more briefly in Season 5, our title winning season. Fenners is one of the most talented footballers ever to wear an Oldman shirt, sadly this season he only wore it once for 20 minutes... but scored once and set up a few more goals. It turned out Fenners couldn't make the league games on a Monday as it clashed with his son's cricket training, but he played in a few friendly games later in the season and reminded us all of what we were missing. Fenners is a cross between a goal scoring Tony Cottee (of his beloved West Ham), and Jan Molby (ex-Liverpool), a maestro who sits in the middle of the park spraying the ball around.

*The season included 21 fixtures. In three of the games, the opponents could not field a full team so they forfeited the match. This means the maximum number of games any Oldman player could play was 18.

Teams who competed in the Winter/Spring2017/2018campaign (ordered by final league position):

Oldman Athletic (Orange)

Oldman -- the team this book is about -- have played in the Future Fives 6-a-side league for five seasons (the league has been running for 22 seasons). Oldman have traditionally been a mid to low team and never challenged for the title before. That all changed this season.

Club Tropicana Drinks F.C. (Blue and Black Stripes)

Club Trop as they are more commonly know, have played in the league for six seasons, although in years gone by, many of their players have played for other teams. A few Club Trop players have previously won the league with the all conquering Future Games. For the past four campaigns, Club Trop have come second in the league behind Plus Fives. A new award was introduced (Best of the Rest) to ensure they won something.

Plus Fives (Pink)

Plus Fives are the serial winners of the league having previously won the title nine times. This year Fran Harvey (who had won the league four times as a player) took over as captain. This was his first attempt to win the title as the man in charge. He failed!

Cry Me a River Plate (Yellow)

CMARP entered the league three seasons ago and have consistently been a mid-table team. They have a very strong team and a couple of game changing players. A few seasons ago, they even had Frankie playing for them, the only female player in the league. If Frankie played in Oldman at that time, she would have been the best player in our team.

GoalRushe (Red)

GoalRushe have played in the Future Fives league for many years and have come close to winning it several times. In the past four years they have come third behind Plus Fives and Club Trop. This year they have struggled to regularly field their full team and often had to rely on loan players (ringers). On their day, GoalRushe can play any team off the park and are a force to be reckoned with.

Lovehoney F.C. (Purple)

Lovehoney have played in the league for just three seasons. Their players all come from a local company coincidentally called Lovehoney (nothing to do with bees) and they have some of the most solid players in the league. Lovehoney have struggled to field a settled side but on their day are capable of beating any team.

Galaxy Blasters (Light Blue)

Galaxy Blasters was born from a merger of Bath Galaxy and Ball Blasters several seasons ago. When first formed, they were at their strongest, but have lost quite a few key players in the past couple of years and were down to a core of just four players this season. Galaxy Blasters are still a very difficult team to beat, especially as they have the fittest player in the league as their captain.

Real SoSoBad (White)

Real SoSoBad have played in the league for ten seasons or more and were previously known as A&E F.C. Their recent name change hasn't done much for their fortunes as they seldom score points and often concede over 100 goals in a campaign. That said, in Oldman's first season in the league SoSoBad beat us twice.

Oldman Athletic's results for the Winter/Spring2017/2018campaign:

*=Opposition were unable to field a team so forfeited the game. Oldman awarded 3 points and 5 goals.

**=Title winning match.

Some of the teams who have competed in the Future Fives 6 a-side league over the past 22 seasons:

AC YARDIES

BALL BLASTERS

BATH GALAXY

CIRCULATION FC

CLUB TROPICANA DRINKS F.C.

CRY ME A RIVER PLATE

DEPORTIVO LA PRODUCION

ESCAPE TO VICTORY

EVOLUTION

FARCELONA

FIORENTINA TURNER

FOR THE FANS

FUTURE GAMES

GALAXY BLASTERS

GOALDIGGERS

GOALRUSHE

L&C UNITED

LOVEHONEY FC

NEXT-GEN GAMES

NORFOLK 'N CHANCE

OLDMAN ATHLETIC

PHOENIX FROM THE GAMES

PLUS FIVES

REAL SOSOBAD

SONIC YOUTH

SWEET F.A.

THE UNDERDOGS

TOTAL SHAMBLES

WOOLLEY MONMOUTHS

#  Preface

Dave Manners, Oldman Athletic's star striker is trapped in the opposition's far right corner, 10 meters from the by-line.

He has a defender directly in front of him. Slightly off to his side is a second Defender closing off the pass back to any other Oldman player.

I'm stood about 2 meters in front of Manners -- my fellow team mate.

Behind me, I can feel the touch of a third defender, prodding me in the back, breathing down my neck... letting me know he is there. Three defenders pegging the two of us in. Trapping us in the corner.

There is only one way out of this.

My eyes are on Manners, trying to read if we are on the same page.

I see the move, so does he. I get the nod.

A classic one-two. It would take him even deeper into the corner, but may give him an angle for a shot on goal. An impossible angle for most players, but Dave Manners is not like other players.

The one-two is on. He plays the ball to me and immediately starts his short run to get past the defender who is tight to him. It was minute twenty five of the gruelling thirty minute match and the defender's legs had gone. We were all exhausted.

I receive the ball and hold it for a beat. Send it too early and he won't connect. Send it too late and the defenders will intercept it.

I've played with Manners enough now to know how this move works. Receive the ball... pause... release it. Not too fast, not too slow. It has to be the perfect weight of pass. On this occasion, it was and Manners receives the ball without having to adjust his stride.

Instead of snatching a shot, he seems to buy himself an extra second, giving the keeper the eyes and unleashes the league's most powerful shot, rifling the ball into the back of the net. The keeper never stood a chance.

One-nill.

Oldman take the lead in game eighteen of the season. A 'six pointer' game against our closest title rivals -- Club Tropicana Drinks FC. If we win this game, we win the league.

That goal, on the 25th minute puts us firmly in the driving seat, we just need to hold on for another five minutes and a season's worth of hard work will be rewarded with Oldman Athletic becoming champions of the Future Fives 6 a-side league.

Two minutes later, Manners scores a second. Club Trop had switched off and Manners broke through on goal once more releasing his trademark power shot. There is no way back from this for Club Trop.

I quickly signal to the subs bench to switch. I'd only been on the pitch for three to four minutes and was already gasping for air. That is the problem with being an old man in a young mans' game. It was better to get Chris Dawson on as my replacement. He had fresh legs, fresh lungs and could hustle, press and put pressure on Club Trop for the remaining few minutes of the game.

I went back to the bench and looked as the stopwatch on my phone ticked away. 28 minutes... 29 minutes... 29:30 minutes... 30 minutes. Game over. The league was sealed. Oldman Athletic were champions for the first time in their brief history -- and with three games still remaining.

#  Introduction

Just as Leicester City were not supposed to win the Premier League in 2015/2016, Oldman Athletic were not supposed to win the Future Fives 6-a-side league in 2017/18. But it happened.

How can a team of 40 and 50 year old 'has-beens' or 'never-weres' win the league?

How can a team of ageing players (some arguably over the hill), most with average ability and next to zero pace beat those who are younger, fitter and and in many cases better footballers than them?

It happened... since records began in 2004, as many as 30+ teams have tried to win the Future Fives (6-a-side) League, but only five teams have succeeded : Farcalona (x1), L&C Utd (x1), Goaldiggers (x2), Future Games (x6), Plus Fives (x9) -- and now in 2018, Oldman Athletic!

The adventure begins in the Widcombe Ram one fine Thursday evening in the spring of 2015. The Ram is the pub of choice for our football crowd, with its easy vibe, scattering of TV screens to watch football on, and an occasional basket of free chips provided by its landlord Mick.

"We should start our own football team" said James Price -- well into his fifth pint of larger and equal number of roll-up cigarettes. "And call it Oldman Athletic" chipped in Jon Palmer, looking more like Compo from Last of the Summer wine than a potential football champion. Jon was the most talented of the original Oldman line up, and one of the oldest too, at 51 when we played our first match in the summer of 2015 -- a match we lost 3-2.

Also around that pub table sat Andy Aswhin and myself, Richard Parkes Cordock. Andy and I were 42 and 45 respectively at the time we all started Oldman. James was 41.

To say we were poor at football would be an understatement. James, Andy and myself had barely played any football in our teens, 20s and 30s, and we'd all started playing again in our 40s. We'd each played at primary school and could kick a ball, but certainly the last time I'd played a competitive match, Adam and the Ants were No.1 with Stand and Deliver.

Still, with the four of us on board, together with a few other likely lads (Tramp - one of the most gifted 20 stone footballers you'll ever see, Simon Withers -- a 50 year old Pete Townsend lookalike, Craig, Martyn, Clawson and Simon Arblaster, the 32 year old young man of the team), we entered the Future Fives leagues, a league had been around for 20+ years. We were the new boys, and as it turned out, the whipping boys.

1981 was this last time I played in a football team. I was 11.I started playing again at 43 and won the league with Oldman Athletic at 48. I'm on the back row, far left.

Season 1: Summer 2015

I discovered recently that Oldman were only allowed entry because we didn't pose a threat to anybody else. That is certainly true. In that first season, we lost 12 of our 18 matches, drew 2 and had a minus 43 goal difference. We actually conceded 63 goals, losing 10-2 to GoalRushe and 11-0 to the mighty Plus Fives didn't help. On the positive side, we managed to score 19 goals and win 4 games. At that time, those victories felt like winning the league

In that first season, the real essence and culture of Oldman was set in stone. Oldman was not all about winning... clearly. It was about playing football with your mates and having fun.

It has been ever since, and still is today. It's just this current season, season No.5 (S5) we are a bit more organised, a bit more disciplined, we know what our strengths and weaknesses are, and we play better as a team. We are just as old. In fact, older. The average age of our championship winning team is around 42, this is skewered by a couple of 30 somethings, but most of our team are over 45 and several Oldman players are over 50.

Season 1 had its ups and downs, none more so than founding members, Jon Palmer and Andy Ashwin both leaving Oldman after disagreements with James Price, Oldman's original captain and co-founder. James, Andy and Jon had been mates for years, but for some reason, still never fully spoken about, it didn't quite work as planned on the pitch. This saga is best left alone and never revisited. Thankfully James, Andy and Jon are still friends, but just don't and can't play together in Oldman Athletic.

In our first season, Oldman finished fifth out of seven teams. The team in seventh position (who actually beat us in our first game, and again in the repeat fixture) had conceded 123 goals. That's how bad there were -- 123 goals conceded... and they beat us twice!

Season 1 Players (Bold = Played in Championship winning season)

1Jack Trowbridge

2Jonathan Palmer

3Martyn MacRae

4Richard Parkes Cordock

5Simon Withers

6Simon Arblaster

7Dave Clawson

8Chris Alston

9Andy Ashwin

10Stephen Wrigley

11James Price

12Craig Broadbridge

Season 2: Winter / Spring 2016

Season two was marginally better. Given the loss of Andy and Jon we had to find replacements. One of those replacements was Dave Curry, a 30 something beer drinking neighbour of mine. A cracking footballer who would have been even better if he didn't injure himself on a frequent basis. No other player I know has spent more time in A&E with self inflicted football injuries.

As well as Dave Curry, we had Dave Clawson still with us from Season 1. A proper player. Dave was probably the fittest player Oldman has ever had, and could motor up and down, box to box. Until, like many who have come before and after, Clawson got injured, knackered his ankle and has never played again.

We also signed Matt Richardson who would later go on to be our player of the year, only for me to fire him after another drunken night in the pub. More about that later.

Add to this list is Martin Fawley. Martin is still with Oldman today and one of the main reasons we won the league. What Martin lacks in pace, he makes up for in his football brain.

This current season -- season 5 -- , when I started taking things a bit more seriously, I said to Martin "I'd like you to play on this wing, but don't cross the half-way line". I was soon put in my place and told "I'll play where I like". That shut me up and made me wonder if I really was cut out to be the manager of Oldman.

I only became manager/captain as James Price (Oldman's original captain) injured himself part way through Season 2. Again quite like Dave Curry -- the master of self inflicted football injuries, James injured himself under his own steam and without contact from any other player. Sadly James has not played football since and has had to undergo knee surgery. Football with Oldman is dangerous.

We finished season 2 in fifth position out of seven. Real SoSoBad, the team which conceded 124 goals and beat us twice in the previous season failed to score a single point in their 18 games. At least we achieved 19 points winning five games, drawing four and losing nine. Our goal difference was minus 29. But things were moving in the right direction.

Season 2 Players (Bold = Played in Championship winning season)

1Dave Curry

2Dave Clawson

3Andy Fenton

4Martyn MacRae

5Matt Richardson

6Simon Withers

7James Price

8Martin Fawley

9Craig Broadbridge

10Richard Parkes Cordock

Season 3: Autumn / Winter 2016

Season 3 saw us plateau a little. More players came and went including Matteo Pavoni, an talented Italian player. Quite a luxury for Oldman. We needed a workhorse to do our running, but we had an artisan to would choose his moments carefully. One moment Matteo chose carefully was not to play with us in Season 4. He decided to play for one of our competitors -- GoalRushe. I really can't blame him!

Dave Curry incurred a more serious injury in S3, dislocating his shoulder after slipping over. His previous self-induced injuries include broken ankle, broken toe and another dislocated shoulder. This dislocation was a lot worse and required surgery together with a long rehabilitation process. As I said, playing for Oldman is a dangerous game.

Jon Palmer thankfully rejoined us after his disagreement with Oldman's ex-captain James Price. It was great to have Jon back, as he represents the true spirit of Oldman

With myself, Martin Fawley, Simon Withers and Jon Palmer in place, the nucleus of the championship winning squad was taking shape.

Add to that Chris Dawson, who played in goal for us for two seasons (S3 and S4), before ducking out on our championship year (S5). Chris thankfully came back in game 18 of our title winning run to play a very strategic role for us. As things got more intense in season five, tactics and micro tactics became even more important and Chris played a critical role in our title deciding match -- even if it was only for three and a half minutes. More about that later.

At the end of Season 3 I fired Matt Richardson to much discord. Matt was our player of the season for S3, but he also worked at Lovehoney. A toy company -- of sorts -- based in Bath who also fielded a team in the Future Fives league. Matt was torn between playing for us, and playing with his colleagues and friends at Lovehoney. After many drinks in the pub with Dave Curry one Thursday evening, I went home and penned an email releasing Matt. I was pretty sure Oldman would survive without him, but wasn't so sure Lovehoney would, as they had been struggling for players each week.

Matt fitted Oldman perfectly and it was sad to see him go, but I was soon to find his replacement for S4 -- Dave Manners. Oldman's very own cross between Jamie Vardy and Lionel Messi. At 30, Manners may not yet be an old man, but he was critical to our success in S5. But as you'll see in, season 4, even with Dave Manners in place, we still didn't achieve anything.

Season 3 Players (Bold = Played in Championship winning season)

1Richard Parkes Cordock

2Dave Curry

3Jonathan Palmer

4Matteo Pavoni

5Matt Richardson

6Martin Fawley

7Martyn MacRae

8Gary Tipp

9Chris Dawson

10Simon Withers

Jon Palmer, Simon Withers and Chris Dawson.

Season 4 : Spring / Summer 2017

With Dave Manners in place, we had a 20+ goal a season striker on board. That can be seen immediately by the fact that for the first time, we ended the season (S4) with a positive goal difference. In fact, Manners should have won the golden boot having scored 38 goals, but because I didn't register his goals on the league website, he lost out to Sam, Lovehoney's star striker, who bagged 28. To be fair, I hadn't expected Dave to score so many.

Season 4 saw things start to take shape in Oldman. We still weren't perfect in any way as losing eight games proves, but the championship winning personnel were moving into place. S4 was where we started to get the defence playing much better and we stopped losing by big margins. No more 0-10 losses!

Added to our team was Dave Dudman, or Dave Studman as I call him. Not because he is good with the ladies, but because he has been known to leave his studs in you. Dave has lost count of how old he is, but he is certainly mid 50s.

We also signed Simon Lees, 47 at the time of signing. Simon had won the league many times with Plus Fives. Plus fives are like Manchester Utd in the 1990s and 2000's or Liverpool in the 1970s or 1980s. Plus Fives had all the best players and winning was easy for them. Hats off to them, they recruited well and knew how to win. Nobody likes a winning team and nobody likes Plus Fives for this reason (Oldman might not be so popular this season after winning the league).

Leesy was Plus Fives keeper, but could play a bit outfield. The only problem with him, is that he played everywhere. Never one to stick to a fixed position! This worked to our advantage in game 15 of S5 when Leesy played in goal for us, then came out into attack for 10 minutes, scored the winner and went back in goal to make a match winning save.

It is said, everybody likes an underdog, and so everybody liked Club Tropicana Drinks F.C. A team which had come second for many seasons behind Plus Fives. Club Trop would turn out to be our main challenger in our title winning season as Plus Fives suffered after losing too many of their star players. You do need the right players to win a league and Oldman were getting theirs into place.

In season 4, Oldman signed Will Hodges, who played for us for just one season. I'll speak about Will in a later chapter when we look at getting the right players in the right positions.

We finished season 4 in fourth position. We should really have finished 3rd, but we were unlucky in a few games and dropped points, but the table doesn't lie and 4th it is.

Season 4 Players (Bold = Played in Championship winning season)

1Richard Parkes Cordock

2Dave Manners

3Jonathan Palmer

4Simon Lees

5Simon Arblaster

6Martin Fawley

7Will Hodges

8Dave Dudman

9Chris Dawson

10Simon Withers

Simon Withers in his university halls of residence team in 1981. Simon is fourth from the left wearing the headband.In this photo, Simon is 19. He won the Future Fives league for the first time at the age of 55.

Season 5: Winter / Spring 2018

And so to Season 5, the subject of the remainder of this book. What was so different about Season 5 which is worth exploring in more detail? How did we go from losing or drawing more than 50% of our games in previous seasons to winning or drawing more than 90% of them this season?

I believe it is worth exploring.

Many of the players from Season 4 are the same, including our star striker, David Manners. Other common players are me (RPC), Dudman, Withers, Fawley, Lees and Palmer. That is 70% of the same team in S4.

At the start of the season we also added another ex-Oldman player who re-joined us, just for one game as it turns out, that was Andy Fenton -- the classiest footballer ever to play for Oldman.

We added two more players as well who would play a pivotal part in winning the league. These were Gabriel Sanchez and Dan Kelly. Later in the season we would be active again signing Mike Reece when I could see we were struggling. Towards the of the season when injuries and absences were impacting us, I brought in Matt Strickland and Chris Dawson.

Over the course of the season, we have used 13 players. Without actively recruiting players and releasing others during the season, I don't believe Oldman would have won the league.

But the story of Oldman's title winning season doesn't start with recruiting players, it starts with retaining players -- principally Dave Manners and Simon Withers, which I'll tell you more about in Chapter 1.

Summary of Oldman's five seasons:

Season 1

P:18

W:4

D:2

L:12

GD:-43

Points:14 (Points per game: 0.77)

Overall position 5 out of 7

Season 2

P:18

W:5

D:4

L:9

GD-29

Points:19 (Points per game: 1.05)

Overall position 5 out of 7

Season 3

P:21

W:6

D:3

L:12

GD:-7

Points:21 (Points per game 1)

Overall position 7 out of 8

Season 4

P:21

W:9

D:4

L:8

GD:+28

Points:31 (points per game 1.47)

Overall position 4 out of 8

Season 5

P21

W:17

D:2

L:2

GD:+55

Points:54 (points per game 2.57)

Overall position 1 out of 8

# Chapter 1 - Keep Hold of Your Best Players (Retention)

It was clear during S4 that Dave Manners was significantly better than the rest of the players in Oldman Athletic. Dave almost looks like a professional footballer, or at least he does next to the other Oldman players.

Retaining Manners for S5 was certainly a big part of Oldman's championship winning season.

But there are two things to note here.

Firstly, Oldman did not win the league solely because of Dave Manners. We had Manners for the entirety of S4 and only reached 4th place in that campaign. Interestingly, Manners scored more goals and played more games in S4 than he did in S5.

Dave Manners makes a difference... a big difference, but winning football matches is certainly not all about him. If it was, he'd win every game he played in -- which is not the case. I've played enough friendly games against Dave Manners and I've been on the winning team many times, with Dave on the losing team. For sure, he is an incredible player, but he cannot win a football match alone. He needs a good team around him. Conversely, good organised and disciplined teams can beat him and his team --- and often do!

Secondly, it wasn't a given that Oldman wanted to keep Manners for S5. It sounds preposterous to even consider getting rid of your star player. Barcelona would never want to get rid of an in-form Messi. Real Madrid would not want to get rid of Ronaldo at his peak, so why would Oldman consider letting Manners go? (I know Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone to Juventus, but arguably Real Madrid had his best years).

The reason Manners departure was up for debate came down to the fact that the culture, values and ethos of Oldman was about having fun, enjoying football and having a good time. Manners was on board with that, but he also wanted to win the league and it was clear that playing with Oldman was holding him back.

A more natural fit for Dave Manners in S5 would have been Plus Fives or Club Tropicana Drinks F.C. Perhaps even GoalRushe.

Towards the end of S4, I told Manners he was welcome to leave if he wanted to go to another team and play more competitive football and win the championship. Remember, Oldman were never supposed to win the league and after another mediocre season in S4, it didn't look like we could any time soon.

This gesture was appreciated by Dave, but perhaps he saw something I didn't as he felt if we recruited one more player, namely Gabriel Sanchez (Gabs) -- a Brazilian player who had started playing in our Wednesday friendly game -- we would have somebody who would add the x-factor to Oldman and capitalize on the talents we already had there, especially our defence.

The perennial problem Oldman had was our inability to consistently retain possession of the ball. Our defence became adept at breaking up attacks, and I was reasonably good at holding the ball up and therefore played as a centre forward, albeit a non-scoring centre forward. I seemed to be better at providing assists than scoring goals.

Unfortunately however, the team were too slow to offer support to me as the lone front man, which meant I was left isolated up front enabling the opposition to regain possession quickly. This increasingly put our weary legs under more and more pressure.

If we managed to get players forward, we became very susceptible to a swift counter attack as our ageing legs could only make so many rapid sprints in a short space of time.

In Manners, I started to have somebody who could create that link between attack and defence, to give me somebody to lay the ball off to, but, as evidenced by our fourth place in S4, it was not enough. We were still missing a key piece of the jigsaw that would elevate us to the next level. We still missed the raw energy which comes from somebody who is in their 20s or early 30s, rather than that of somebody in their late 40s or early 50s.

And so we approached Gabriel Sanchez to join Oldman. Needless to say, had we not retained our star striker for S5 there is no way we would have won the championship. More likely Oldman would have finished 6th or 7th, simply because we would have not scored enough goals.

Equally though, if Manners had joined another team (possibly with the exception of Plus Fives or Club Trop), I don't think his new team would have won the league. In S5 of Oldman, things just clicked. We found that final piece of the jigsaw which gave us the perfect balance of attack and defence.

Simon Withers

Dave Manners was not the only person it was important to retain in S5. Obviously every player is important, but one more player in particular is worth talking about here. This is Simon Withers who had been with Oldman from Day 1. As the oldest player in the league, Simon embodied the very spirit and values of Oldman. Oldman Athletic was Simon's rightful home (as it is for any player over 40) and it was essential we retained him for S5. He is also a brilliant defender, and we needed him if we were to win the league.

However, Simon had approached me and was slightly concerned that with the addition of Gabriel Sanchez and Dan Kelly (another close season signing) that he would not get enough game time. At 55, Simon may be reaching the end of his playing days and just wanted to play each week. The Future Fives league only allows six players in a game (plus two subs) and Simon was concerned that in a squad of 10, with three younger players, he would get edged out.

I reassured him that this would not be the case. Borrowing from the Harry Redknapp school of management, I told Simon that he was one of three defenders, and we'd be playing two at the back this season, so there was a good chance he would always get a game.

As it happens, Simon has played most of the games this season, always in defence. Always dependable. When I get Simon's email each week saying 'I'm available' I always know we have a chance of winning.

## Game 1 vs GoalRushe (11th Dec 2017)

## Won 3-1

The first game of the season started just before Christmas on a cold, dark December evening. Our opposition was GoalRushe, a very capable team who had challenged for the title themselves many times. GoalRushe had played in the Future Fives leagues for 10+ years and never won it, but they were and are a formidable team who have beaten Oldman many times in the past four seasons.

Sadly we were without our new Brazilian star in this game as Sanchez had gone to Portugal with his girlfriend. Very inconsiderate I thought, but as was the case this season, we seldom had our first choice team on the pitch at any one time.

GoalRushe played well and gave us a tough game, but two amazing goals from Dave Manners and a neat finish from Dan Kelly, combined with some incredible defending from Fawley, Dudman and Withers saw us take three points and gave us a great start to the season.

On reflection, this set the tone for the season and laid the foundations for how we would play in the weeks to come. A combination of a solid back three and two roaming attackers to threaten their goal.

Another key element was the standard of distribution from back to front, especially when Leesy threw a pinpoint 30 yard pass to Manners, who spun his defender and smashed the ball past their keeper to give us the lead.

I was on hand as a substitute and Dan Kelly kindly offered to take a break and give me an outing. At that point, and given the opposition, I thought it better to keep our best players on the pitch when we can. That has been my philosophy throughout this season. Always try and have your best players on the pitch at any one time. Only sub to keep things fresh. Never -- if possible -- sub the defenders.

Lees (GK)

Fawley (Def)

Withers (Def)

Dudman (Def)

Kelly (Fwd)

Manners Fwd)

RPC (sub - unused)

Here's the email I sent out after the game:

Well done everybody, that was a great start to the season.

Amazing goals by Dan and Manners and incredible defence by Fawley, Dudman and Withers. A winning formula I think. Kudos to Sleezy for his pin-point throw to set up Manners for his first goal. More of that please Simon.

I'm interested in your thoughts on the game. Suggestions?

My feeling is that if we did not have 3 at the back, we would have conceded more goals. GoalRushe were pretty good and gave us a tough game.

Dan -- are you OK to login and update the score?

Cheers, RPC

P.S. Thanks Dudman for stepping in. I think you did a better job that I would have done.

#  Chapter 2 - Be Prepared to Let Players Go (Release)

The squad size in the Future Fives league allows for up to ten players per team. Only six can be on the pitch at any one time, but you can have two subs on the bench who can rotate with other players during the match.

Oldman were already at 10 players, so bringing Gabriel Sanchez in would require somebody else to move on. As it happened, Simon Arblaster, a very capable bearded footballer in his mid 30s could not commit to S5, so his space was freed up for Gabs.

However, I knew Oldman needed another attacker if we were to challenge for the title. Even though we had conceded 28 goals in the previous season, we were bizarrely defender heavy. Before the start of S5, I made a strategic decision (perhaps my only one!) to actually release one of our defenders. This player was Will Hodges who had been with us for the whole of S4. Will was a great footballer and had done everything that was asked of him on the pitch.

Will's main problem was that he was in his 30s and as I was still trying to be true to the culture and values of Oldman (by having older players), it was Will who was released to make way for another attacker (Dan Kelly).

Never before in Oldman had I made the decision to release a player, I was always happy to have anybody on board who wanted to play with us. But S5 was going to be different. In S5, we were setting out to win the league and it was important we had the right players in the right places.

As a footballer, Will was a good as any in the Oldman squad (our star striker aside), but because we had a abundance of strong defenders (Fawley, Withers, Dudman), in S4 we had played Will further up the field in a midfield position, rather than his natural central defence position.

Only once in S4 when Dudman was away did we play Will in his natural central defence position, and wow, what a game he had. What an extraordinary central defender Will was. We had played him in the wrong position through all of S4.

But to challenge for the league, or even win it, we need more personnel in attack and Will was duly released. This was not a pleasant thing to do, but he took it with great grace and immediately signed with our blessing to our title rivals, Plus Fives (you can read Will's own story in Chapter 17).

Will was not the only player I had to release in S5.

I also needed to release Andy Fenton. Andy had played for Oldman in a previous season and was a last minute signing for S5. He is a fabulously cultured footballer who seems to have more time on the ball than virtually any other player. He knows how to buy himself an extra second to two in a way others can't. He also has incredible vision and a pass to capitalize on this extra time. Andy was friends with Fawley and Manners, so I thought it would be good to get those guys playing together again. That seemed like the Oldman way.

Sadly for us though, the Future Fives league games on Monday nights was starting to clash with Fenners son's cricket training and he wasn't able to make our games. In fact, he only played once in the S5 in Game 2. By game 7, I made the decision that we needed a full and active squad, so asked Andy to step aside to make room for another player who could play each week. In football you need options, and for that you need players who can commit each or most weeks.

The hiring and firing didn't stop there in the season.

Jon Palmer, an original founding member of Oldman, and somebody who had been instrumental in S3 and S4 wasn't available to play at the start of S5 due to work commitments. As the season went by, Jon still wasn't putting his name down to play. In just the same way I knew that we couldn't hold the space open for Fenners, we also couldn't hold a place open for Jon. Oldman needed active players who could turn up each week and provide options if we were to win the league, and so Jon's space was freed up. I held off as long as I could, but by game 16, our squad was so depleted through injuries and absences and I had needed another player. Jon's time was up, which was sad for me as he was as much an Oldman as I am. Jon would often sign off his emails with OMTID. Oldman Till I Die. Hopefully that isn't any day soon Jonny boy!

Lastly, equally sad was having to release Gabriel Sanchez. This was done just before Game 18. Gabs is an incredible player. A total player who makes Oldman tick probably more than anyone else. We had signed Gabs for the last game of S4 (which we won easily with his help) and he was fully on-board for S5.

However, Gabs being Brazilian cannot get enough of football, so he joined a local Sunday league team, and within two Sunday games had injured his knee. This was around game 8 of S5 in the Future Fives championship, so from that point on, we were without one of our star players... the very player we had signed to transform our season. I said before, very rarely did we have our best team on the pitch at any one time. I think perhaps it only happened once, before Gabs got injured.

So, in Game 18, I had to release Gabs and re-sign Chris Dawson. Chris only played 3.5 minutes in Game 18, but those 3.5 minutes were strategically planned and worked a treat. We won the title in Game 18 and Gabs was there as a spectator to cheer us on.

## Game 2 vs Lovehoney (18th Dec 2017)

## Won 5-1

Our second game of the season was against Lovehoney. Lovehoney were a similar mid-table team to Oldman. Like Oldman, they had a star striker (Sam) who could score 20+ goals a season. Their players were a lot younger and fitter than ours, with many of their players working in the Lovehoney warehouse. Oldman however were a better organised and more disciplined team.

Around this time, I had started reading a book on football management by Pep Guardiola (Pep Guardiola: The Evolution). Pep is fastidious about detail and the book talks about how he creates charts showing the areas of the pitch were players should play.

It is important to note that I know virtually nothing about the tactical side of football. Every other player in Oldman -- without question -- knew and knows more than I do, so the thought of me offering tactical advice seems ludicrous.

That said, inspired by Pep, rather than just listing the players who were going to play each week (i.e. those who had responded to my email), I started creating 'Pep inspired' graphics showing where they should play. Principally this was about keeping the defence in position, and unlocking the energy of Gabs.

I knew that Gabs had the ability to play both attacking and defence, whereas our other older players could only play one of the positions -- i.e in attack or in defence. Not both.

I'm not sure if the graphics made much difference, but we won the match against Lovehoney quite easily. Leesy, our first choice keeper was away, so Withers played in goal. Unfortunately, he dropped the ball right in front of a Lovehoney attacker who scored. I was on the touchline at that point and let out the loudest "Noooooo" the league has ever heard.

Andy Fenton played his only game with us in S5 and scored, plus he set-up Manners a couple of times. Gabs scored two.

Dan Kelly was off on a shopping trip in London with his girlfriend. I bet Sir Alex never had that as an excuse.

Here's my post match email:

Quite literally, that was the best, most flowing football Oldman has ever played.

It should have been 5:0 but for a lucky freak goal by Matt (an ex-Oldman).

I thought the system worked really well with Dudman and Fawley providing the rock of the defence, Gabs switching between defence and attack -- and scoring two in the process.

In future games, let's try and always have Dudman/Fawley or Dudman/Withers or Withers/Fawley firming things up at the back, and Gabs or Dan playing in the attacking right back position.

I thought our defence had Lovehoney under control and going forward we were clearly too much for them.

Great to see Fenners back with a goal. He looked as classy as ever.

I'm feeling good about this season.

The next game is against SoSoBad on the 8th Jan. Jon Palmer is down for 30 mins in that game, but we'll sort the team out nearer the time.

Good job everybody, Have a great Christmas and I'll see you all again on the 8th.

Cheers,

RPC

P.S. Gabs gets my vote for MoM.

#  Chapter 3 - Recruit New Players so Your Team is Always Strong (Recruitment)

#

Recruitment has been a critical part of Oldman's success. Because I play a friendly game of football often on a Wednesday and Thursday evening I get to know quite a lot of other footballers. In fact, apart from my neighbour Dave Curry, every other player who has ever played for Oldman has been recruited through Wednesday or Thursday night football.

What I find interesting is the fact that captains and players of our closest title rivals also often play on Wednesday and Thursday and have access to the same network of players as I do.

In S5, Plus Fives and Club Trop would have had the same opportunity to recruit players as I did, players such as Gabs, Mike Reece or Dan Kelly. Even Dave Manners. But they chose not to.

I'm confident that if either of those teams had recruited those players, or had more players on their books they could have either given Oldman a bigger run for their money, or won the league themselves.

Why they didn't chase those or others players, I don't know. Perhaps they preferred having a smaller close knit team, but I'd argue you need strength in depth to win the league, especially if you don't have all the best players (Plus Fives are used to having the best players in their team so didn't always need a large squad).

That said, having a larger squad can be just as much of a headache as it can be a benefit. Players want to play all the time and don't really want to be substituted or play only partial games.

Avoid signing the wrong person!

As well as looking our for players to sign on a Wednesday and Thursday, I'm also mindful of players not to sign.

There are some quite brilliant players in these friendly matches, but I just know they wouldn't fit into Oldman Athletic.

Oldman need a certain type of player... a team player.... somebody who works hard for his team mates... somebody who passes the ball quickly... who talks to his team mates on the pitch... who helps us become more than the sum of our parts.

You could put a brilliant player in Oldman team, but if they do not fit our style of play or philosophy, they could do more harm than good. There certainly isn't room in Oldman for any Hollywood superstars.

My game changing signing.

It is hard give just one reason why Oldman won the league.

Was it because of Manners and his 20+ goals?

Was it because of Simon Lees in goal, making match winning saves... or even coming out of goal himself to score the winner in Game 15. It's hard to argue against that. I know he won't!

Did we win the league because we had the best defence with the wisest and oldest heads in Fawley, Withers and Dudman?

Perhaps it was because of Dan Kelly, who came back from his Grandma's funeral to score the opening goal and run the show in our 4-0 victory in our 'must win' game against our arch-enemy Plus Fives?

Was it because of Gabs, and his 7 goals in 7 games -- all before he injured his knee.

It was all of these and more.

But for me, possibly the most important factor in the season was the signing of Mike Reece just before the start of Game 8.

Up until Game 7, things were looking reasonably OK. We had lost only once against Plus Five but won every other match, including the game where I decided we need to strengthen our team.

In Game 7 against Galaxy Blasters, Dan Kelly and Simon Withers were missing and I played as a forward to make up the numbers. The Galaxy Blasters game was hard work. On paper, Oldman shouldn't struggle playing 'Blasters', especially with our strong S5 line-up. Galaxy Blasters were struggling for players in S5 also. But for some reason, Oldman made hard work of it. We didn't have a sub and Jon Palmer and Andy 'Fenners' Fenton were not turning up, and with Dan Kelly and Simon Withers out, our squad was at full stretch.

After that game, which we won 2-0, I decided that we needed to act.

Mike Reece was another player who had started playing on a Wednesday. He was a colleague of Gabs and clearly a very talented player. I knew his style of play and winning attitude would work well in Oldman.

Why no other team hadn't snapped him up I don't know. But thankfully Oldman did.

Before I could officially sign Mike Reece, I had to first ask Fenners to step aside to free up a space. I believe this was the most important in-season decision I made which was instrumental in us winning the league.

Without Mike Reece, I don't think we would have won the championship, especially given the fact that a couple of weeks after signing him, Gabs injured his knee and never competitively played again in S5.

## Game 3vs Real SoSoBad (8th Jan 2018)

## Won 12-0

Our third game was against Real SoSoBad -- and they really are so so bad... well they were on this day... we won 12-0. Later in the season, we would struggle against them in Game 16, only taking the lead through an own goal.

But on the 8th Jan, this SoSoBad team didn't offer much resistance to us. Jon Palmer played his only full (and last) competitive game of S5 for us scoring two goals. Manners bagged seven and Gabs added two more to his tally. Even Martin Fawley made a charging run from defence and got on the score sheet.

We have beaten SoSoBad by a similar score line in a previous game. I always think such big victories are false and it can lead to overconfidence. It is easy to think we are better than we are when we have a bumper results like this.

Perhaps I was right to think this way, as we lost our next game to Plus Fives 0-3.

Here's my post match email:

Well done chaps, another sterling performance, 3 points and a big boost to our goal difference.

If you let me know how many goals you each scored, I will update the stats, however I think it was something like this:

Manners 5/6

Palmer 2

Fawley 1

Gabs 2/3

We looked like a proper team this evening with good positional play and lots of running off the ball to create passing options. Great distribution from Leesy too, but equally good wide play from Withers and Gabs for always being available to receive the ball.

We need to take the best of tonight's performance into the next two games -- but also be aware that we need to be more disciplined defensively. It is very unlikely that we will cruise to a win over either team (P5 or Club Trop). Game management is the key in the next 2 weeks. I would like to see another six points on the table after these two tough matches and some day light between us and our closest rivals. If we win 1-0, that is fine by me.

I'm away from Friday for 2 weeks, but will send out an email later in the week see who can play.

Ideally, based on who I know is around in the next two weeks, the teams would be:

Plus Fives: Lees, Withers, Dudman, Fawley, Kelly, Manners + 1 sub

Club Trop: Lees, Fawley (or Withers), Dudman, Sanchez, Kelly Manners + 1 sub

BTW, does anybody know the P5 score from tonight?

Cheers and well done again.

RPC

#  Chapter 4 - Set a big, but realistic goal -- and write it down.

Setting the goal of winning the league in S5 crept up on me. In this book I may make it sound like it was a clearly calculated plan. It wasn't, at least until I sent an email a week before the campaign kicked off stating it as our objective for S5. That is when the goal became a reality.

Strangely enough, it all started because of a discussion in a pub between myself (wearing a nightshirt), Jon Palmer (wearing pajamas) and Dan Kelly (wearing a dressing gown).

I'd better explain...

Many Oldman players also play together (and against each other) on a Wednesday and Thursday evening. Simon Lees (Oldman's goal keeper) is the organiser of Thursday night football and has been for years. It is tradition for Thursday night footballers to have a kitty night twice a year. Once in the summer and once at Christmas. Good team bonding and all that.

For the past few years, Simon has insisted that we dress up. It started with Christmas Jumpers, then shirts bought from charity shops. The comedy glasses... comedy hats... This year, it was 'nightwear'. My suggestion which I instantly regretted.

As the kitty night wore on, the drink flowed and with twenty grown men dressed in nightwear (Simon Arblaster looked the best wearing an old ladies hospital nighty and shawl) the discussion turned to Oldman. I could sense some concern between a few older Oldmen and the new younger Oldmen. So at 2am after returning home, slight worse for wear -- but thankfully already dressed for bed -- I penned an email to try and calm the waters. In doing so, I set our expectation for the first time.

Ex-Oldman Dave Curry later said this email came out of the blue. Oldman were clearly an mid-table team, but here I am saying we can win the league. Well, it seemed to work. Would we have won the league if we hadn't purposefully set out to do so? Who knows? But looking back it is good to have set this goal.

Dear Fellow Oldmen players

I wanted to write a few words to set my expectation for the season ahead.

In short, this is the best chance Oldman have ever had of winning the league and I would love to win it this season.

The reason we have this opportunity is because of the youthful forward attacking players of Dave Manners, Dan Kelly and Gabriel Sanchez. Make no mistake about that. Without them, we are realistically P6 or P7.

At 40+ or 50+ (as most of the original Oldmen are) we just don't have the legs to compete for the top spot.

That said, our three 'youngsters' cannot win the league alone, and it is our formidable defence at the heart of Oldman which is just as important to winning the league.

Naturally, Oldman has changed a little this season, but the average age of the team is 42 -- which still makes us worthy of the Oldman name. Perhaps Oldman Juniors would be better.

As manager of Oldman, I am faced with the same challenges as any other football league manager, including Mourinho, Wenger and Guardiola. Namely, how do we satisfy the need of 10 players to play in a game which requires only 6 players -- and keep everybody happy?

My thinking is this. In my opinion:

Our strongest attacking formation is: Manners, Kelly, Sanchesz.

Our strongest defence is two from three of: Withers, Dudman, Fawley.

Our best keeper is: Lees (Withers, Fawley and Fenners as stand-ins).

This leaves super-subs of: Palmer, Fenton and RPC (who btw, are relaxed about not playing every game, but want to play every now and then).

To win the title, we will need a full squad of 10 players. Not everybody can play every week, so we will all play our part in winning the league. Rotation and subbing will be key.

We have strong competition, especially in Plus Fives and Club Trop... but as we saw last season, any team can beat us on the day -- just as we can beat any team.

The key for us winning the league is to find our rhythm and style of play. Hopefully that will come quickly. The obvious starting point is two at the back and three forward. We have the best attackers and best defenders in the league. The more we play together, the more we will anticipate each other's moves and this will give us an advantage.

Dan Kelly will be our on-pitch captain. Dan plays a lot of football (and knows a lot more about football than I do), plus he is very vocal on pitch and has a work ethic second to none. I have every confidence in him to help keep us on our toes. In particular, Dan will keep the forward players in check, ensuring they work hard defensively too (me included) -- and keep pressure on our defenders to release the counter attack quickly. We are not short of pace upfront this year!

In addition to Dan, every player in Oldman is a leader and communication has never been a problem for us. Let's keep talking and making ourselves available to receive the ball.

In the scale of things, the Future Fives league does not mean much.. but that said.. it would be wonderful for Oldman (a team started by James Price, Jon Palmer, Andy Ashwin and myself) to win the league. I believe this is our year.

Oldman has always been a fun team to play for. We may have stepped things up a bit more this year, but it should still be fun. If it isn't, we are doing something wrong and we will have truly lost the spirit of Oldman. That said, it is a lot more fun when you are winning each week.

The season looks to start on Mon 11th Dec and I'll let you know the details as soon as the fixtures come out.

Cheers,

RPC

## Game 4 vs Plus Fives (15th Jan 2018)

## Lost 0-3

I was away in Egypt for the game against Plus Fives, but I had made the team arrangements before I left. After the game, Fran -- the captain of Plus Fives -- emailed me with the words "Ooops".

WTF I thought. Ooops!

Was this Ooops because Plus Fives had lost, or was the Ooops because Oldman lost?

I asked him the score. 3-0 he emailed back.

He didn't say to whom. 3-0 to Oldman or 3-0 to Plus Fives?

I was staying in a run down one-star hotel in Cairo at the time of Fran's email which didn't add anything to the enjoyment of my dilapidated hotel room.

But Fran was enjoying toying with me.

I didn't believe him when he said Oldman had conceded three goals, It just didn't make sense. Oldman's defence wouldn't let three goals in... not this season. Surely.

It turns out all three goals were lucky goals. One off the post and back in off the keeper... another deflected and a third through our defender's legs.

This was a wake up call for me. If we couldn't beat Plus Fives we certainly couldn't win the league. Next time we had to beat them. You'll see in Game 12 I really went to town on devising a plan to beat them on the return fixture.

I actually think we had a very strong team for this first Plus Fives games. Fawley, Dudman and Withers at the back, and Dan Kelly and Dave Manners up front. But we didn't have a sub. Plus Fives did and used their spare player wisely.

I blame myself for this loss, as if I'd acted sooner and seen that Andy Fenton was not available to play more often, I could have recruited Mike Reece earlier. With Mike Reece in that squad, there is no way we would have lost that game. We might have drawn, but I don't think we would have lost. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

#  Chapter 5 - Get the right players in the right positions

I'm a big fan of the quote by the management writer Jim Collins. He says "Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats."

I was pretty sure we had the right people on the bus. Principally, the main players who won the league were:

GK: Lees (48)

Def: Fawley (42), Withers (55), Dudman (55)

Fwd: Manners (31), Kelly (30), Sanchez* (31) / Reece* (34)

(*Mike Reece pretty much replaced Gabriel Sanchez after he injured his knee around game 9).

I played my part as a sub, or played in games when we didn't have enough players. I like to think I filled in the gaps when needed and played in 12 (part or full) matches over the season.

Other players certainly contributed, including Jon Palmer and Andy Fenton, albeit for a very brief time.

Towards the end of the season, Matt Strickland and Chris Dawson played an invaluable part when we didn't have enough players, or needed more in-game strategic options.

But, the season was mostly about Leesy, Fawley, Withers, Dudman, Manners, Kelly and Gabs/Reece. These were the players on the bus (some people will say we parked the bus! I don't mind that, on occasions we had to).

Finding the right positions to play each player in was easier said than done, as you can see from the ever changing graphics I put together each week.

Part of the problem is that I never had the same team from week to week. One key player was always away, injured, or pulled out at the last minute.

A classic example of my dilemma of getting the right players in the right places is the centre back position.

Will Hodges who we released at the end of S4 is a brilliant central defender, but given we had so many people who could play in that position we had to let him go. We just didn't have the right seat on the bus for him.

At the start of S5 (and all of S4), my go-to centre back was Dave Dudman. Dudman is like a warrior. Nobody is getting past him, Many have tried, and many have failed -- coming off worse for wear. I always felt we were in safe hands with Dudman sitting in the middle of the defence and strutting round like peacock with his shoulders back and chest puffed out.

Dudman also has a wicked shot on him. Mostly it is a toe-poke, and over the years for Oldman and the other teams he has played for he has scored many important goals with his famous toe poke (Dudman was a key defender at Plus Fives for many years).

This year however, his accuracy with his toe-poke seemed to have failed him, and more balls were going over the fence and into the bushes than into the back of the goal.

I'd also given Dudman specific instructions not to push forward. He was on a 10m leash from the edge of our penalty area and was not allowed to go beyond that, which to be fair, in the main he stuck to. At 55, I wasn't sure Dudman could charge forward and then get back in time.

I'd said the same to whoever was playing left back, which was either Simon Withers or Martin Fawley. "Do not cross the halfway line". Often this instruction fell on deaf ears. Occasionally, I'd spot our left back attacking in the oppositions far right corner. I appreciate the game can take you there, but I was much happier when the defence stuck to their natural zones. This was something I'd picked up from reading the Pep Guardiola book. Pep is bald, probably from pulling his hair out when players don't stick to their positions. I know my hair is thinner and greyer after this season.

On the Right, for much of the season we had Gabs or Mike Reece, who in their early 30s were much younger and fitter than our other defenders who were in their 40s and 50. Gabs and later Reece (after Gabs was injured) played the role of an attacking right back, and were expected to both attack and defend. This attacking right back idea worked fantastically well, especially as we always had two defenders back.

Without the ball, we had three defenders, with it, we had three attackers.

We didn't always have Mike Reece or Gabs on hand to play the attacking right back role, in which case we'd play Fawley, Dudman and Withers as a classic three line defence. We played that back three many times.

In which formation was always the question? They were all equally good defenders, and could each play any of the back three positions. But was there an optimal setup, especially which could help with attacking?

With three older defenders, if one pushes up, you run the risk that they will be out of position if we lose the ball further up the field. This leaves a gap at the back which opponents can exploit. It is hard for a 55 year old man to out run a young twenty something, especially towards the end of the game when fatigue is setting in. Defenders pushing forward is a big risk.

But, if you don't push forward, you are expecting the front two attackers to score alone. This is a very hard strategy to make work, hence our attacking right wing back offered us a solution.

But in the games with no attacking right wingback, we had to find another way.

In the second half of the season, I started to play Martin Fawley in the central defensive position. I just felt he offered more options going forward, Not necessarily with him playing further up the field, but by controlling the ball more and making good choices. He may not have been the same hard 'toe poking' warrior as Dudman (he was not far off though) but he offered something else. The Pirlo factor.

So, for many games, we played with:

Left back - Withers

Central Def - Fawley

Right back - Dudman

As our squad became even more depleted, there were games we were played this back three, and pushed Mike Reece up into a forward position, especially in a couple of games when our regular attackers Dave Manners and Dan Kelly couldn't make it. Mike Reece was the only other player who was scoring regularly, so it made sense to play him further up the field when we had no other strikers to hand.

The more I got to know how the players played, and how they played with each other, the easier, but also harder team organization became. I think the graphics helped in getting my message across, and more often than not, players stuck to those positions,

I'd like to think our tactics worked, especially at the back as we only conceded 8 goals all season.

Three of those goals came from one match against Plus Fives -- which if I'd acted earlier and had signed Mike Reece sooner having him available as a sub for that game, I don't believe we would have ever conceded three goals.

One of our eight conceded goals was a comedy gift of a goal from when Withers played in nets for us and effectively gave the ball to the opposition for them to score an easy tap in. One goal scored against us was in our first match when we were still finding our feet. The sixth goal conceded was in game 10 against Lovehoney from open play. That one still annoys me!

The last two goals came in games 19 and 20 after we had already won the league. We were still trying to win those matches, but perhaps not as hard as we had before. We were playing at 95% effort, rather than 100%.

## Game 5 vs Club Trop (22nd Jan 2018)

## Won 3-0

This was another game I was away for, but thankfully we won this one 3-0, rather than losing 3-0 as we did the week before. Club Trop have some of the best players in the league including an ex-premiership player who also famously played for Wales, and made his international debut against Brazil! Happily, he never played against us this season and I think only played once for Club Trop in S5.

Club Trop also have Ben Wilson, an equally strong defender or attacker and a natural goal scorer. They also have a 36 year old father (Nathan) and his 16 year old son (Jay), who are both game changers and would be the top players in any team.

In Oldman's four previous seasons we had only ever beaten Club Trop once (in our final game of S4), so our result today was very sweet.

The main difference between last weeks game against Plus Fives and this weeks against Club Trop was Gabs played in an attacking right back position. This offered us more attacking options, whilst still protecting the right back position.

Gabs is a left footer who likes to cut-in, just as Lionel Messi does. Interestingly, Dan Kelly is also a left footer, but he scores most of his goals from charging down the left wing and shooting from the left. It worked having them both in the same team, playing on opposite sides of the pitch.

In this victory against Club Trop, Manners scored two and Sanchez scored one. If we had Gabs and Manners available for every week, I think we would have won every game. But Gabs knee injury put paid to that.

If we were going to win the league, we would have to beat Club Trop, and we did!

# 

#  Chapter6 - Disciplined Performances

I regularly play 6 a-side football on a Wednesday and Thursday evening. I might stop one of these game soon as I feel as stiff as an un-oiled C3P0... I permanently ache... and I can barely walk the morning after a match!

Although both of the mid-week games follow the same rules, number of players and format as the Monday league, there is massive difference between Monday football and mid-week football -- particularly in the amount of goals which are scored.

(NB, the only difference between Monday football and Wed/Thursday is the length of time we play. On Monday, the competitive game is 30 minutes and is played on a larger astro pitch. On Wednesday and Thursday the friendly games are each one hour and are played on a smaller 3G pitch).

In the mid-week games, once a team has scored five goals, that match is finished and a new game is started.

It is not unusual to play three games on a Wednesday or Thursday night with typical scores being 5-4 in match one, 3-5 in match two, and 3-0 in the final match, before our hour is up and we run out of time.

It is very rare that only one game of football is played during the one hour on Wednesday or Thursday, and it is unheard of that any team would keep a clean sheet for the full hour, or only one goal would be scored between the two teams.

Wednesday and Thursday night football is a lot more gung-ho. All rules about shape, defence, discipline seem to go out the window, and virtually everybody -- including myself -- sees themselves as a centre forward.

Next to nobody sees themselves as a defender.

I'm one of the biggest culprits of this. My argument has always been that I can play at the front, or at the back, but I cannot do both. I just don't have the legs to run that much.

Contrast that scenario to Monday night football in the Future Fives league where at one point, we had played a cumulative 8+ hours of football without conceding. The two approaches to football could not be more different.

On Monday nights, we are incredibly disciplined, especially at the back. I don't believe there is a more disciplined team in the league this season. In particular I'd have to point to Fawley, Dudman, Withers and Reece who just shut the door and simply would not let anybody through.

Good defending is not rocket science. But if it is was that easy, why do other teams not do it, or why do teams not play this way on a Wednesday or Thursday?

If you look at the goals conceded by other teams in the Future Fives league this season, you'll find over 21 fixtures, teams have conceded as many as 20, 30, 40 goals -- and SoSoBad even conceded 100+ goals. Compare that to Oldman's 8 goals conceded all season.

I'm sure any other team could have followed our tactics and closed the door at the back, but not everybody has the discipline to do that.

But when one of our defenders pushes forward to join the attack, the door is opened, it opponents can exploit this. This is when goals are scored.

I received a lot of stick from my own teams mates for not letting Withers, Fawley or Dudman cross the half way line, but I knew as soon as I did the door would be open and the opposition would pounce. That is not to say they did not cross the half way line all season, but in the main they focused on their defensive duties and tried to support the attack from the back.

As I said before, playing three at the back is a hugely unconventional way to approach 6 a-side football, because it just does not give you enough fire power going forward, But by using Gabs and later Mike Reece as an attacking wingbacks on the right, we seemed to find a balance between attack and defence.

It certainly would have been good to have more attacking players further forward at times, and often it just didn't feel we had enough up front, but it is a judgement you have to make. With Dave Manners, we had a player who could almost do the work of two and we somehow management to find a system to make things work.

## Game 6 v Cry Me a Riverplate (29th Jan 2018)

## Won 3:0

In this game against CMARP we tried something a little different, For the first fifteen minutes, I played up front with Dave Manners and both Dan Kelly and Gabriel 'Gabs' Sanchez played as attacking wingbacks. Dan Kelly on the left and Gabs on the right. This gave us more going forward, but it certainly didn't feel as secure defensively without a second defender.

In the second half, Fawley came on and played left back. I rotated upfront with Dan Kelly for the remaining 15 minutes. Two attacking wingbacks was worth trying, but I think if we played this formation against a top team, we would have been punished at the back.

Thankfully we won 3-0 with Manners getting all three goals.

This was the post match email I sent out:

Well done everybody, a good result tonight with a lot of positives.

CMARP offered us some strong competition, however getting the early goal was a massive advantage and we were able to control the game on our terms.

I think our team looks the strongest with Dudman/Fawley (or Withers) at the back and Kelly/Gabs/Manners attacking. No surprise there!

I wanted to see how the team played differently with me up top as a pivot. OK I think, but it comes at the expense of Fawley at the back, and I'd only look to use that option if we are chasing the game. I felt a lot more comfortable seeing Dudman and Fawley sitting back.

That said, I thought Dan Kelly and I subbing worked well. A five minute switch now and then can mix things up and hopefully confuse the opposition.

I'm not sure who scored tonight, can you please let me know and I'll update the stats.

Good news also tonight that P5 lost to Club Trop (3:1). That should put us back on top again.

We have JJ's team (Galaxy Blasters) for the next 2 weeks. JJ is always a tough competitor, so be prepared for a couple of tough games.

Great result and the league title is back on!

Cheers, RPC

Standings after Game 6

#  Chapter 7- Desire, Motivation and Belief

I'd like to talk about the intangible side of Oldman winning the league. These are things you cannot always see or touch, but are essential to us coming first over a 21 game championship.

You can lump these intangibles all together or pick them apart, but subjects such as motivation, desire, belief, hunger, ambition, drive and the will to win are a key part of what made Oldman different.

Let me just pull out a few of these subjects as they are all slightly different, and worthy of examination.

Motivation

People often think it is the managers (captains) role to motivate their players. I don't believe I had to motivate anybody in Oldman to turn up each week and play and win. You either want to play for Oldman and win, or you don't. This goes back to recruiting the right players who share the Oldman values and philosophy.

In S5 I believe Jon Palmer's desire and motivation to play for Oldman had weaned. Partly because he had other work commitments, and partly because in the end he just didn't want to. It was a long way to come for a 30 minute game, in which you may only play as a sub. There was nothing I could say which could convince him to change his mind. I did try, but his time with Oldman had come to a natural close. The same was true with Andy 'Fenners' Fenton.

But the other Oldmen players who turned up each week, in the cold dark winter... in the freezing rain... in the snow... and as winter rolled into spring then summer, under the scorching sun and heat, did so because they wanted to.

We play on a football pitch at the top of a hill, a mile or so outside of the city centre. It is not the easiest place to get to. Some people (certainly Gabs and Simon Withers) would always cycle up. Leesy would occasionally walk up. We are talking about a very big hill! It can be a long way to come for 30 minutes of football. If you are rotated or subbed, you may only play for 15 minutes or less. You choose to turn up each week because you are the right player for Oldman (the players who play for our competitors are equally motivated to walk up the hill to play for their own teams).

Rather than motivating players who were already self-motivated, I saw my responsibility as keeping everybody focused and keeping our eyes on the big prize. Equally though, we needed to stay focused on the next game. You hear it from every football manager, 'we just take one game at a time' which is exactly what we did... with a bit of forward planning on how to beat Plus Fives.

I did most of my communication to the other players before the match via email and using the graphics to get my message across. Before the match, I said very little. More often that not, the more natural on-pitch leaders and experienced footballers (such as Martin Fawley, Dave Dudman, Simon Withers or Dave Manners) would sometimes say a word or two. Usually, after a quick warm up, each player would just get into the positions I'd set out in the graphics as everybody already knew what was expected of them.

On the pitch, I am often quite quiet as in the throws of the game, there are people who are more tactically astute than me. That said, I did bark a few orders from the touchline, more so trying to keep the energy levels high and the pressure firmly on the opposition.

Roger Bannister

I'm not one for sharing motivational stories, it is very easy to come across as David Brent when sharing them. But before Game 18, (the title deciding game against Club Trop), I shared one picture with the team. It is a picture I currently have on my office desk of Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile. I particularly like this photo because it shows three runners. Chris Brasher (No.44), Roger Bannister (No.41) and Chris Chatterway (No.42).

Photo curtsey of Getty Images.

Just as our game against Club Trop would be won, drawn or lost based on tactics and the rotation of our front players to keep the energy levels high, Bannister's 4-minute mile record was achieved with the tactical help of his friends Brasher and Chatterway acting as pace-makers and rotating the lead to keep the energy levels high.

In the photo, you can see the sheer effort of Chris Brasher's face as he is working hard to set the pace in his first leg of the race.

I wanted that sort of effort from all our team, but specially our forward players (Strickland, Manners, Dawson and myself). I'm happy to report, when Strickland came off after his first stint, he could barely breathe. I couldn't ask for more!

Incidentally, the school we play football at is the same school Roger Bannister went to, and he has written about running up the big hill (Beechen Cliff in Bath) as a formative experience for him which helped contribute to building his stamina and running abilities.

Desire

Aside from Fran, the captain of Plus Fives, I don't think anybody wanted to win the Future Fives 6 a-side league more than me! I surprised myself how much I wanted to win it.

As the campaign moved on, and we started to have success and could see that winning the league was doable, I think everybody else in Oldman started to have the same desire I had (if they didn't already have it from Game 1, which I suspect they may have done).

In the end, our will to win at all cost became fever pitch.

I'm sure the other captains -- especially of Club Trop or Plus Fives -- wanted to win the league (and thought they could win the league), but I know each week I certainly went out of my way to ensure that we put out a team which was capable of winning. Often this included recruiting new players mid-season and release existing players, devising plans and tactical strategies to win. I even brushed my teeth before the second Plus Fives game just to give me a minty fresh edge. I don't think any other captain will have thought of that one.

Other captains may have wanted to win as much as I did, but perhaps they weren't as obsessed with winning the league as I was. I think I must have a bit of OCD, but unless you have the best players (as Plus Fives had in recent years and usually won the league at a canter -- and often still hung-over from the weekend before), you need to work harder than everybody else to win. I think we did, and my obsession hopefully filtered through to the rest of a team in a positive way. It may have been annoying at times as I regularly shared my thoughts, ideas and concerns on email.

Belief

Belief is an interesting subject. It is the most intangible of intangibles. Every Oldman player believed we could win the league.

We believed we could win every game. We didn't particularly believe we had the best players, but we believed we had the best team, and if we worked hard for each other, the team would find a way to win. And in the main, we did.

In the big games against Club Trop and Plus Fives, we needed to believe more than ever. It is easier to believe however if you have the right players in the right place, you are playing to your strengths, you have a strategy and tactics in place, options and a plan B. We tried to have that in place for most games. So game-by-game became about executing on our plan.

In previous seasons, we may have just turned up and played. But this season was different.

As fun as it has been over this campaign, winning regularly brings its own pressures and in many ways, it may have been more enjoyable in previous seasons when we just won the occasional game. We now expected to win and the pressure to win (or not drop points) was building game by game. This takes a little of the fun out of things, but actually winning the league (with three games in hand) soon makes up for it.

Passion

It is worth adding passion to the mix here. It is fair to say all Oldman players are passionate about playing football. Football is an addictive sport, both to watch and play. It is a wonderfully social game as well.

To win the league, you have to have passion. You need passion to keep chasing an opponent when you are exhausted and have nothing left in your legs. I saw our players do this time and time again. If you didn't care, or didn't love playing for Oldman, or it didn't mean anything to you, it would be too easy to give up. You don't go chasing down an opponent in the dying seconds, or keep pressing to get the winner or equalizer if you don't have passion, desire and belief. Thankfully, Oldman players had these qualities in spades this season.

Occasionally, passion spilled over, never in a nasty or malicious way, but just in the pure will and desire to win. I think Oldman worked harder and fought harder than virtually every team in the league. Did we want it more than other teams? Possibly, this season at least.

Proper football managers talk about leaving nothing left on the pitch. I can see now that is what it takes to win a league... game after game.

Some teams, like Manchester City who won the premier league this year (the same year Oldman won the Future Fives league -- 2017/18) did it with the best players in the premiership. That is how Plus Fives won each year, they always had the best players (Fran, Jamie, Greg, Bucket, Headers, Alex, Joe, Shaw all spring to mind).

Our victory was much more akin to Leicester City winning the league.

We didn't have the best players, but we had the best team. Just as Leicester did in 2015/16.

In Dave Manners, we had a Vardy who could score goals. In Dudman, Fawley and Withers we also had our Morgans, Huths and Fucs... our ageing defensive rocks.

Mike Reece was our N'Golo Kanté, Dan Kelly our Marc Albrighton and Simon Lees our Kasper Schmeichel (although he was more the age of Peter Schmeichel).

Sadly, our Riyad Mahrez was Gabriel Sanchez who we lost midway through the season. Imagine Leicester winning the league without Mahrez -- impossible. We found a way to win without Gabs.

My motivation, desire, passion to keep going again for another season is low right now -- at the time of writing this book (around Game 19) and having already won the league. I'm not sure I have the belief that we can do it again, especially as I know we'll lose a few of our key players. Without that passion, belief, desire and motivation, I think Oldman would slip back to being a mid-table team again. More about my thoughts on that in Chapter 11.

## Game 7 v Galaxy Blasters (5th Feb 2018)

## Won 2-0

This Galaxy Blasters was a pivotal game for us. After this game, I decided we needed to recruit Mike Reece, a colleague of Gabriel Sanchez and somebody a few of us had got to know recently through Wednesday night football.

Dan Kelly was supposed to play in this game against Galaxy Blasters but dropped out at the last minute having injured himself running the day before, so I stepped in. 'Running injury' so he said... I also heard he was hung-over from a night on the town with Fran, the captain of Plus Fives. Just like Sir Alex Fergurson at Man Utd, news gets back to me. I'd sooner he was hung-over than injured!

On paper, Oldman should have comfortably won the Galaxy Blasters game, but we really struggled, especially going forward.

We didn't have a sub and didn't really have any other options other than to just keep pushing.

Thankfully Martin Fawley ignored my advice about not going beyond the half-way line and finished off a quite brilliant passing move which Barcelona would have been proud of. Once we got the lead, we were able to control the game and Manners popped up with a second.

This game made me realise that without more attacking power, we would not be able to win the league. Hence recruiting Mike Reece. This was the best decision I made all season!

Here's the post match email I sent out.

Man... that was a tough game. Surprisingly so, as GB are not at their best this season, but they gave us a good game.

Thankfully, Fawley came to the rescue with a sublime strikers goal, straight from the Thierry Henry school of finishing. In fact, the whole build up play was very Arsenal/Barcelona.

Manners added to it with another classic goal -- so 2:0 looks quite respectable, but it certainly wasn't easy.

We have Galaxy Blasters again next week. Dudman is not here, so Withers, get back in training. You are playing center back. Dan, stop running... we need you. Palmer and Fenners dust your boots off too. Oldman need you.

Plus Fives won again tonight, as did Club Trop.

I think who ever wins the league will need to win all their remaining matches. We are very capable of doing that, but we need to draw on our squad and use subs. I was certainly knackered after 10 mins this evening. Also, my grand vision of sitting on the D and laying the ball off to Gabs and Manners didn't quite go according to plan.

Anyway, a win is a win, and this latest one keeps our title chances alive.

We just need to beat them again next week.

Cheers and well done everybody.

RPC

Standings after Game 7

#  Chapter 8 - Create Tactics which take advantage of your strengths and weaknesses

Tactically, in the ideal world, Oldman would set up like a 6-a-side version of Manchester Utd circa late 90s

Up front, we'd have Cantona to bang in the goals.

As attacking left wingback, we'd have Giggs. He'd be responsible for both attack and defence. I think Giggs could do that OK.

On the other side, as attacking right wingback, we'd have Beckham.

Central defence (from a different era to Cantona I know) would be Rio Ferdinand. Rio would read the game and snuff out the opposition attacks as well as quickly set up our forward play. I'd also Make Rio the on-pitch captain.

In goal we'd have be Peter Schmeichel. Enough said there.

And finally, to glue it all together, we'd have Scholes sitting in the middle.

I think that team would win the Future Fives league hands down. Plus Fives wouldn't get a look in.

Even a legends version of that team, when all the players were in their 40s and 50s would comfortably win the Future Fives league, beating Plus Fives and Club Trop along the way. Have you ever seen a legends game and compared it to regular football with players who are in their 20s and 30? It is a lot slower and often the players are a lot fatter!

I've watched a few video clips of Oldman playing and it almost looks like walking football. Although when you are in the thick of the game, it feels like it is being played at premiership speed (search YouTube for 'Oldman Athletic 2017/2018' or go to '<https://youtu.be/POUxvdaaaYM>' to watch one of those clips).

Sadly we didn't have Cantona, Giggs, Beckham, Ferdinand, Schmeichel and Scholes available.

We had Fawley, Dudman, Withers, Reece/Gabs, Manners, Lees, Kelly... and me!

Playing to your strengths

Each of these players (me aside) are strong experienced footballers, and I'm sure 30 years ago, players like Withers and Dudman would have been athletic dynamos when they were in their mid 20s. But those two specifically are older than Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel, and many Oldman players are older than Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Ferdinand who are in their early 40s.

My point is, Oldman had to make the most of the talents we had available. We had to play to our strengths and devises a tactical plan which would allow us to win.

I could not expect Wiithers at 55 to run up and down the wing like Giggs in his prime -- and as good a footballers Martin Fawley is, he is not quite up to the standard of Scholes or Ferdinand.

But, we did have a brilliant striker in Dave Manners. That said, we also had Manners for all of S4 and Oldman Athletic still only finished in fourth place in that campaign. In S5, we only had him for 13 out of 21 games.

The tactical key to winning in season five was the addition of 'Gabs' Sanchez (30) and later Mike Reece (34) when Gabs was injured. These two offered the extra pace and energy which we had been lacking in previous seasons.

Defensive Back two or three

Gabs and Mike Reece also allowed us to set ourselves up as a strong defensive formation, playing two from three of Withers, Dudman or Fawley.

Typically, we would play with a fixed left back and fixed center back (choosing from Withers, Fawley or Dudman). These two 'older' Oldmen focused more on defence than attack and were not allowed to go beyond the halfway line. Occasionally they did (and twice scored), but mostly they adhered to this instruction.

On the right hand side, we'd played Gabs (and later Mike Reece) as an attacking wingback. As Mike Reece and Gabs were younger and arguably fitter than Fawley, Dudman or Withers, I felt they had the energy to push forward in attack, but also fall back into defence when needed.

I think this tactic worked well. Where possible, we would set up like this at the back.

In a number of games, particularly towards the end of the season when we were missing Dave Manners and Dan Kelly up-front and Gabs was injured, we had to push Mike Reece further forward into attack (we had no other goal scorers available the team), and so played Withers, Fawley and Dudman across the back. This changed the dynamic significantly, because at that point, our shape was more defence minded than attack.

Attack - scoring goals

For 13 games of the 21 game season, we had Dave Manners playing up front. Dave is a natural goal scorer. There are a few players like him in the league. They are all capable of scoring 20+ goals a season... people like Joel, Headers, Sam, Ben and even 16 year old Jay. I think you need a 20+ a season goal scorer like this if you are to win the league,

In seasons gone by, Plus Fives had Chris Headly, Bertie Ivory-Peters and Jamie Orrell (all in the same team) who could each score 20 goals in a campaign. No wonder Plus Fives constantly won the title. Take those players out of their team, and they would struggle, as they have this season when they only had Headers as a striker. Headers was away for a few games and I don't think Plus Fives won any of those.

In the main, strikers who score 20+ goals a seasons all share one common trait. It is unfair to call them selfish, perhaps single minded is a better way of explaining their approach to football.

When they see and opportunity, they go for it. Other players may think about passing, but these star strikers take on the opportunity and often score. Many times, this will include dribbling past one or two players, or even shooting from a distance. Club Trop's Ben Wilson is the master of this. We all know Ben is going to shoot as soon as he gets the ball, but many times defences are powerless to do anything about it.

We had our own player who fell into the 'single minded' category, and that was Dave Manners. In S4 he scored 38 goals. Possibly a league record for a single player. Sadly, as I did not officially record those goals he missed out on the golden boot trophy that season. Sorry Dave.

Oldman clearly took advantage of Manners talents up front, and with our two 'old men' defensive players (take your pick from Fawley, Dudman or Withers) and an attacking wing back on the other side (Gabs and later Mike Reece) we had the makings of the winning Oldman formation. Defend hard, release the ball quickly to Manners, often via Gab or Reece, and see what happens.

The Mystery of Dan Kelly

There is one more player in is team which made Oldman work -- sort of.

That is Dan Kelly. We had released Will Hodges, an defender in S4 to make room for Dan.

Dan -- the youngest player in Oldman (aged 29 at the start of the season, 30 at the end of it) -- is a natural left footed attacking player and a game changing player in his own right.

Over the years, most Oldman players will have played with or against Dan on either a Wednesday or Thursday evening and we all know what a brilliant player he is. Dan works harder than most, runs more (both in attack and defence), plays other players in and regularly scores (he scored six on a Wednesday recently) -- usually with his left foot and usually after charging down the left side of the pitch.

Signing Dan at the start of S5 looked like the perfect move for Oldman and he would complete the jigsaw.

But, for some reason, which I still cannot fully explain, we were rarely able to get the very best from Dan.

From the way we know Dan plays on a Wednesday or Thursday, and from his playing days for other teams in the Future Fives League, I would have expected him to score between 5 and 10 goals this season. He scored 3. All important and match defining goals and he did miss a number of games due to injury and a family bereavement, but his three goals represent the frustration both he and I felt in the season.

The season started off well with Dan scoring in the first game which we won. The game wasn't perfect and I recall Dan saying it would take time to work out how to play together with Dave Manners.

Mid way through the campaign, we were still trying to work out how to get Dan and Dave to play together well! Eventually, accepting that we couldn't!

It is perplexing, and could well be anologised in the same way as trying to get Lampard and Gerrard to play well together for England. Sometimes it just doesn't work, or at least not in the formation you choose to play.

On the other side of the pitch, Dave Manners and Gabs, or Dave Manners and Mike Reece was working, but Dave Manners and Dan Kelly didn't.

I've seen Dave Manners and Dan Kelly play on the same team on a Wednesday and Thursday, and it works well there, but in the defence heavy formation we played with Oldman, it just didn't. I think perhaps because they were both playing in the same space. Or it was unclear who should go up top and who should drop in to a central role.

I personally think the reason it didn't work too well is because Dan is more of a pass and go player and would make a run expecting the ball back form Dave, but Dave being single minded striker he is, would take the ball, and rather than return it, just go for goal himself. Often scoring. It is hard to tell Manners not to do that when he is our top scorer and regularly putting the ball in the back of the net! It is like telling a scorpion not to sting. If Dave sees an opportunity, he is going to go for it. And why not... that is his game -- and it is why part of the reason Oldman has been successful this season.

Either way, I know our style of play frustrated Dan, and many times he said 'I just don't know how to play in this team'.

One game where Dan showed his true form, was a game were Dave Manners wasn't playing. This was the 'must win' game 17 against Plus Fives. In the absence of Manners, we played Dan Kelly upfront with Mike Reece. The back three were Withers, Fawley and Dudman.

We played some of our best passing football as a team in that match. Dan got the opener and controlled the game. Everything went through him (I videoed a couple of minutes of that match, so have re-watched it and can see Dan dictating the tempo of the game).

Two other fixtures where I think it worked better with Dan as the first half of Game 6 and the second half of Game 8 where he played as an attacking left wingback. This gave Dan more space to play in and do what he does best, which is attack from the left wing.

But, over the course of a season, I believed playing with attacking wing backs on each side would have cost us defensively, so we tended to play with two or three fixed defenders.

In doing that, we wasted the talents of one of our best players -- i.e. Dan Kelly. We still won the league, by playing to our strengths in other areas and Dan certainly contributed to our many wins, but it would have been good to find a way to better capitalize on Dan's clear abilities.

To be fair to Dan, I played his position in S4 and in a few games in S5 when he was absent. It is a position where you have to sacrifice yourself for the team and try and feed in Dave Manners -- who has a reasonable chance of scoring. In the games I played, I seemed to be constantly running round, closing down the opposition and doing very little else other than chasing the ball. I haven't scored on a Monday night for years!

## Game 8 v Galaxy Blasters (Back to Back) (12th Feb 2018)

## Won 2-0

This was our first game with Mike Reece in the team. I decided to play Mike as an attacking right back and relieve Gabs of his main defensive duty. Gabs naturally wants to play as a forward. The problem I had now was how to fit all the attacking players into the team. In this game, we had Manners, Gabs and Dan Kelly all available.

I decided to start with Sanchez and Manners upfront and introduce Dan Kelly as an attacking wingback in the second half. It seemed to work as both Gabs and new boy Mike Reece scored.

Here is my post match email:

Great news all round this evening.

We won 2-0, and Plus Fives drew 0-0.

That puts us on 21 points and P5s on 19. Club Trop won too, but we are still ahead of them in points.

Tonight's game was another tough one, and I thought JJ's team did a great job of defending and severely limiting our chances.

Two things stuck me.

1. We need to pass more, recycle the ball and be patient to find the right opportunity. That may mean going backwards at times.

2. We need better game management. That game could have ended 1-1 just as easily as it did 2-0. We can't afford many draws if we are going to beat P5 to the title.

All that said, another great victory and a solid team performance.

Goalrushe next week at 6.30pm. A tricky team, probably with Fran playing for them, so expect a high tempo game. Fran can run and run -- and he'll want GoalRushe to take points off us.

The march continues. P8 W7 L1 D0 -- 13 games remaining.

RPC

P.S. Great to see Mike Reece in our team. He had a great game gave us another attacking option in addition to locking down the right defence.

PPS. My MoM goes to Fawley. No one was getting past him tonight.

Standings after Game 8

#  Chapter 9: Work hard and Battle Harder

As I look back at the match reports of our 21 games, it is clear how hard we had to fight to win the league.

Every time you cross the white line and step onto the pitch you are essentially in a battle for 30 minutes, with two teams fighting each other -- within the sporting rules of football -- to win the match.

Some games were harder than others, and the ones which are explored below are the games which stood out as the difficult ones... the games which defined our season... the games where we truly had to fight and battle even harder than usual.

That doesn't mean to say that we didn't have to fight or battle in every other game or our competitors were any less strong. It is just when you put out your strongest team... have substitutes... and can play in the formation you want to play... the match can be easier.

Possibly also your opposition doesn't have a substitute -- or perhaps they don't have their first choice team, or they even have loan players to make up their numbers. In those cases, the cards are already stacked in your favour and the chances of you winning are greater. It doesn't always pan out that way, but often you can have an advantage before you even start the game.

Here are the matches where Oldman had to work hardest to win the points.

Game No.9 vs GoalRushe

Won 2-0.

Our 2-0 victory over GoalRushe was incredibly tough, principally because they seemed to want it more than us. GoalRushe seemed to have more energy than Oldman. The put more pressure on us and hustled harder. Their communication was better and their desire seemed stronger than ours. The played like Oldman should play if we really wanted to win the league.

Both teams had a spare player, which was good as the game was played at 100 miles an hour. I wish Oldman could find a way to play at that tempo every week. It is hard to know why one week we are on it and another we aren't.

Game No.10 v Lovehoney

Drew 1-1

Like Oldman Athletic, Lovehoney were a reasonably new team to the league, entering two seasons ago. In those two prior seasons Oldman had beaten Lovehoney twice, lost twice and drew twice. It is fair to say we were similarly matched teams.

We had played Lovehoney once already in S5, comfortably beating them 5-1.Any illusions that we could repeat that score line soon came crashing down in this second encounter of the 2017/18 campaign.

Lovehoney are always dangerous. They have Sam, their star striker who will shoot from anywhere and will often score. They also have Matt Richardson, an ex-Oldman player and the engine of the team. Each week, Lovehoney will often turn up with a range of players including Welsh Dave, Big Phil, Lee, John, Dave, Dean and whoever else can make it. Lovehoney's challenge has always been fielding a settled team. If they could find a regular set of players, I'm sure Lovehoney could do what Oldman did this season and win the league.

In this particular match, Lovehoney only had five players so they had to call in a loan player (a ringer). As always, Fran – the captain of Plus Fives -- offered his services. Fran is like a machine who just keeps playing football, whenever and wherever he can -- all on top of his 60 hour week work and him prototyping his new food business idea (The Creative Slider Company).Bizarrely, Fran seems to have as much energy in his last game of football as his first.

Fran is also the antagonist in Oldman's story this season. We all love Fran but he is the classic argumentative Dennis Wise character. I've only ever seem one person punched on a football pitch and that was Fran. He probably deserved it!

Fran is hands down the best keeper in the league. Initially Lovehoney wanted to play Fran in goal, which was an immediate hard no from me. They then asked if he could play outfield, which was still an no from me, but as nobody else stepped in to play as a 'ringer' and with one minute to kick off, I relented and allowed Fran to play for Lovehoney. Big mistake.

Lovehoney put us under an immense amount of pressure with Fran running and running and running. It wasn't long before Sam got a shot away, which went straight into the back of the net.

We had to fight hard to get the equaliser there, harder than any other game in the season to date. So far in the campaign, apart from losing 3-0 to Plus Fives, this was the only game Oldman had gone behind in. You have to dig a lot deeper when you go behind in a game -- and we did in this one.

This game more than any other riles me, because we should have won it. We had no excuses for not winning. We had a good team of Simon Lees, Simon Withers, Dave Dudman, Mike Reece, Dan Kelly and Dave Manners. Martin Fawley and I were there as subs.

We had eight players to their six.

On the day, Lovehoney were just better than us.

Game No.12 vs Plus Fives

Won 1-0

I wasn't around when we lost the first game against Plus Fives earlier in the seasons, so I don't know how hard we worked, but I'm certain we fought hard and gave it everything, but struggled by not having a sub -- unlike Plus Fives who did, and used their extra player wisely.

I was there however for the second game of the season against Plus Fives (Game No.12) and this was a game I had meticulously planned to win, and which we fought like warriors to secure victory. Sun Tzu would have been proud of us.

Fran played in goal for Plus Fives in this game, which was both good and bad for Oldman. Scoring past Fran is never easy, and that is exactly what we would have to do if we where to win this match. But not having Fran on the pitch meant we wouldn't have to contend with him running round like a mad man for 30 minutes. Also, being in goal meant Fran could have less influence on the game.

I'm not sure what was the better option for us, Fran in goal or him playing outfield. Either way, he is trouble.

Plus Fives were also without their star striker, Chris Headley who was having a weekend away with his girlfriend. I cannot imagine Fran was happy about that, but they still had a very capable team and brought a spare sub to keep us on our toes.

When you want it more, you work harder... fight harder... battle harder. You do whatever it takes to win. That is what we did.

None of us wanted to lose this game, it was too important to the overall championship. We fought and battled hard. We stuck to our plan and responded quickly making in-game changes to make sure we won this match. Winning this game gave us a big psychological advantage (and points advantage) over Plus Fives.

Victory tasted sweet after that game.

Game 15 vs Lovehoney

Won 1-0

Games 15 (v Lovehoney), Game 16 (v Real SoSoBad) and Game 17 (v Plus Fives) were three significant games for Oldman.

We were without our main striker Dave Manners for these three games. In fact, with the exception of one more game (Game 18), Manners would not play for us again all season. If Oldman were to win the title, we now had to do it the hard way without our main striker.

The first of these three games against Lovehoney was without doubt was the most intense game of the season. It was this game were we brought Simon Lees out of our nets to play up front briefly as a striker, score a goal and then return back into the nets to make more match winning saves.

I'm sure if we had Dave Manners playing, we would have easily won 4-0, but we didn't. We improvised and won 1-0.

Lovehoney had a goal disallowed which added to the tension of the game and resulted in them saying we were taking things too seriously, which we were! But if we were going to win the league we had to take it seriously.

At this stage, we had Club Tropicana Drinks FC breathing down our necks and and rubbing their hands with glee that Dave Manners was no longer playing for us. Word got back to me that Club Trop believed we were beatable now without Manners and I suspect they thought they could shortly overtake us in the league.

Beating Lovehoney was essential to winning the title. We needed those three points to stay ahead of Club Trop and we battled hard to get them.

The following week (Game 16) we played Real SoSoBad and really struggled against them. Perhaps Club Trop were right, we were now beatable without Dave Manners. But again, we dug deep and managed to win by two goals, the first of which was an own goal by SoSoBad. We'll always take the luck when it comes our way.

We had one more match before Manners returned for a cameo performance in Game 18. That was Game 17 against Plus Fives. Plus Fives seemed to have given up by then and we won comfortably 4-0.

In two of those three matches without Dave Manners we had to dig deep and battle harder than virtually all other games. Winning games without your main striker is in many ways more satisfying. What we lost in talent, we made up for in effort and desire. Thankfully, Manners returned for one more game... Game 18 against Club Trop when we secured the league.

Game 18 vs Club Tropicana Drinks FC

Won 2-0

Game 18 was a title deciding game with Club Trop. Club Trop needed three points to keep their league hopes alive, a draw would have been okay for us. This was possibly the only time in the season I'd have been happy with a draw.

Our striker Dave Manners made a welcome return for this match. I think he knew how important it was, and thankfully he scored two goals.

But we ran our socks off in that game, hustled, hurried, had urgency and energy. We did what we needed to do to ensure we didn't lose that game. That meant keeping things fresh up front by rotating players, closing the door at the back. Dudman, Reece and Withers played a three man defence and battled as hard as ever. They needed to as Club Trop were relentless and one mistake would have let them through.

We won the Club Trop game 2-0 and in doing so, secured the league title for Oldman Athletic. It felt good. It felt like we had earned it and deserved it.

Other games and teams which gave us a hard time.

Galaxy Blasters

Our three games against Galaxy Blasters have all been incredibly tough. After the first match against them (which was a very difficult 2-0 win) I decided we needed to strengthen our squad and signed Mike Reece. We won our second game 2-0, but it could easily have been 1-1. Our final game against 'Blasters' was 1-1 and was an incredibly tough match.

At the heart of Galaxy Blasters is JJ, a player I have the greatest respect for. He is a game changing player and would improve any team with his energy, skill and will to win. Add to that, Ben Tryer who I would suggest is the most improved player of the season and Harry who is the signing of the season. Not forgetting Rich, who is old enough to play for Oldman and indeed got the equaliser against us in our final meeting.

Galaxy Blasters have played this entire season with only 4 or 5 regular players. Sometimes even less, but they have constantly been a thorn in Oldman's side!

Cry Me a River Plate

Oldman beat CMARP twice and lost once. If CMARP had a striker who could score 25+ goals a season, I think they would be capable of winning the league. They have the players to do so and always made it hard work for us. Our defeat to them (only our second in the season) came in Game 19 once we had already secured the league, so thankfully it didn't hurt us too much. But we struggled to break CMARP down and the best we could have hoped for in that game was a 1-0 win. In the end, it did end up 1-0, but to them, not us!

Real SoSoBad

Real SoSoBad completed the season with one championship point and conceding over 100 goals. They scored just five goals. But man, they made us work for our win in our third encounter with them. I think SoSoBad are a team on the up as they are getting the players and team together to win more matches and score more points. This season, we won our first game against SoSoBad handsomely and the second game was forfeited when they couldn't get enough players together.

The third SoSoBad game of the campaign (which we played without our main striker Dave Manners) we were lucky to win. Oldman fielded it's oldest team in that match and SoSoBad fielded their youngest and fittest team. Fitness and athleticism aside, the only real difference between the two teams was Oldman's discipline and organisation. It is games like that when you realise why you play three at the back.

In total, the 2017/18 season had 21 fixtures in it. On three occasions, opponents forfeited the match as they couldn't get enough players together. That means Oldman played 18 games. Apart from one 12-0 victory over Real SoSoBad I cannot think of an easy win. Every goal scored, save made and every point earned was worked hard for. Every game was a battle.

In seasons gone by, when Plus Fives were winning leagues, they made it look easy. I don't think we did. We made it look hard... because it was!

Here's the score sheet for the entire season.

*=Opposition were unable to field a team so forfeited the game . Oldman awarded 3 points and 5 goals.

**=Title winning match.

## Game 9 v GoalRushe (19th Feb 2019)

## Won 3-1

We introduced new shirts for this game. We'd found that our black shirts were not so visible in the dark winter nights, so this was our first game with our new dayglow-orange tops.

Thankfully in this game we had three attacking players to fill two spots. I decided to keep Gabs off the pitch for the first 10 minutes and play Dave Manners and Dan Kelly together to start with.

Our opposition (GoalRushe) were on the money this evening and put a huge amount of pressure on us. We really needed to step up our game. Things weren't really happening for us going forward, so after 10 minutes, I decided to take Manners off and Gabs went on -- scoring with his first touch. Happy days. Manners went back on later and got a second goal.

That was a very tough match against some very tough competitors. Both teams had a sub, and both teams needed the extra player to cope with the tempo at the game was played.

Here's my post match email:

Well done again everybody. That was a hard-fought victory against a team which tried to hustle us off the pitch -- in a good way :-)

Lots of positives to take away again. A few thoughts:

1. Three at the back suits us, and probably explains why we are not conceding.

2. Subbing up front worked, and it was good to see Manners subbing off breathless after 10 mins.

3. We pressed and hustled a lot more today, more than any other game. Let's try and add this pressure to our game -- and keep subbing (upfront) to maintain the energy.

4. Mike Reece is fitting in really well and is giving us a new attacking option on the right. He has also freed up Gabs hustle/attack up front.

5. We still need to recycle/release the ball more (Manners!!) -- but equally, the front man needs options to lay the ball off to.

6. Great goal from Gabs. First touch of the game. Nice.

7. The orange shirts worked well.

8. We were a lot more vocal this evening, and I think that helped us step up the energy.

We should expect more hi-pressure games like this, especially from P5 and Club Trop. We need to keep winning if we want to win the league. Club Trop and P5 won again tonight. We are still two points clear, but one slip up and we could be in trouble.

Great fun though and although I am not playing much, I am enjoying being part of a winning Oldman team.

Lovehoney next week at 6pm.

Cheers, RPC

#  Chapter 10. 7 More Reasons Oldman Won the League

In the previous nine chapters of this book, I've examined what I believe to be the main reasons Oldman Athletic won the league this season. That really has been about trying to get the right people in the right places and playing to everybody's strengths.

There are a few more reasons I think Oldman won the league which I'll talk about in this chapter. I don't think any of these factors had the same impact as those outlined in the previous chapters, but they are worth mentioning.

1. Organisation and Decision Making.

After James Price, the original founder and captain of Oldman injured his knee part way through season 2, the captaincy fell on my shoulders. I was the only remaining founder as Jon Palmer and Andy Ashwin had already left Oldman due to 'creative differences'.

For the remainder of S2 and all of S3 and S4 I wasn't taking the captaincy too seriously. There wasn't any planning, very little organisation, our recruitment wasn't strategic and we'd play with who ever turned up on a Monday. We still tried to play a formation in those previous seasons, but we didn't have the right players in the right places to regularly achieve results. In those seasons, we won the occasional game, but drew or lost more than we won.

This season, S5, things were massively different, in so much as we took things seriously, we were organised, we had the right players in the right positions, and as captain, I have tried to make good 'off pitch' decisions which helped us win games 'on pitch'. This included recruiting and releasing players.

A team needs a captain and decision maker. There are so many differing opinions and ideas in the team, that at the end of the day, somebody has to make a decision and stick with that decision. I tried to listen to everybody's different ideas and opinions, but then make the decision which I thought best to win games.

This wasn't always popular. For example, I know many times, Withers and Fawley would have liked to have played further forward in games, but I was wedded to keeping two defended at the back at all times.

One occasion, towards the end of the season when the squad was looking thin, I asked the team if we should recruit more players. This had mixed feedback and some existing Oldman players thought we could get by with our current squad or bring in a ringer form another team if needed. I felt we should always have ten players on our books who were eligible and available to play. I believe the last minute transfers were essential to securing at least six points.

The main decision I made each week was setting out the formation, which I communicated through a weekly JPG image. I felt I had a good understanding of each players strengths and weaknesses and had a good idea how to set the team so each player could play their best football. I think the JPG images played an important part on Oldman's success, as everybody seemed to play a disciplined game based on the role they had been assigned in the graphic. At least of four of the eight goals we conceded were because players were out of position and not sticking to the plan.

Without wanting to state the obvious, a team needs somebody in charge who makes the decisions. Hopefully these are decisions which everybody else follows! Much of a captains role (at least in the Future Fives 6 a-side league) is organisation, recruitment and communication. But decision making is up there with those three. Good 'off pitch' decisions help win matches 'on the pitch'. I think this season, I/we made more good decisions than bad ones. Thankfully!

2. Communication (on field and off field)

Communication is one of those subjects which pop up in management books the whole time as a key element of high-performance teams.

It seems silly to say Oldman Athletic is a high-performance team, but in many ways, for many games this season, it kind of was.

I think communication, both on and off the pitch was an important part of Oldman's success.

Off Pitch Communication

Communication off the pitch took place principally through the emails I sent out each week. Usually there were three emails.

1. To find out who was playing each week. This was sent on a Friday ahead of the Monday game.

2. To confirm the team and formation. Usually sent later on Friday or over the weekend. This would always include a JPG image.

3. A post match analysis which was sent within an hour or so of the game. Often, other players would respond to this and share their thoughts also.

In addition to these three weekly emails, I'd often send emails about ideas, league news, points accrued and updates on the standings, planning ahead to find out who is available for the next few games.

It's hard to find the balance between too much and too little communication.

If we had zero communication, literally no one would turn up on a Monday. If you have too much, then people would switch off and your message would not get through.

I certainly wondered at times if I was sharing too many thoughts and ideas or sending too many emails. But I believe communication is important to keep everybody on the same page, to create a unified team who are working toward the same goal.

On the Pitch Communication

On the pitch, communication takes a different form. In football, you need to be talking the whole time, telling each other were opponents are, passing players over to each other, calling for the ball. I think I am better at off pitch written communication than on pitch verbal communication.

There are many more experienced players than me in Oldman who can read the game better than me and have wiser words to say.

Simon withers is a good example of someone who talks a lot during the match. You'll often hear him call out 'Simon's ball'. Martin Fawley is good too, and he is not afraid to tell me to shut up if I'm talking nonsense. Dan Kelly tells everybody "work hard guys... keep pressing". Mike Reece keeps telling me to 'drop in', whatever 'drop in' means. Dudman never gives up, and encourages everybody to keep fighting.

But by far, the best on-pitch communicator is our goal keeper Simon Lees. It's quite usual to hear Simon shouting from his goal "it's too quiet", "hustle", "pressure", "keep talking". He is reading the game from his position in goal and barking orders from the back.

Talking and communicating on the pitch is very beneficial for keeping the energy and tempo high.

Just when you feel exhausted and have nothing left, you can always find a little more when your team makes tell you to run faster, hustle more, press harder or close somebody down.

In Game 12 against GoalRushe, I think we had our best on-field communication, and we needed it to match their tempo and energy.

This is the power of on-pitch communication -- it can help you win matches.

On pitch communication can be a real motivator and has been a important factor in our success this season. Oldman has been fortunate that we have had so many players in the team who are natural leaders and much better on-pitch captains than me.

3. Adapting to Change

Change has been the one constant for Oldman this season, and our ability to adapt and respond to change has been one of our key strengths. Looking back, I cannot think of one game when we had all that players available to choose from.

Our team and available players varied each week, but our formation principally stayed the same. The biggest 'off pitch' challenge Oldman this season and our ability to adapt and respond to change.

One of the biggest challenges we had to deal with was the loss of Gabriel Sanchez around Game 8. I'm sure if we have Gabs, our season would have been a lot easier.

Thankfully we were able to recruit Mike Reece and without Mike, there is no way we would have won the league. We also had to deal with the loss of a star striker Dave Manners. Manners played only 13 games for us and without his goals, we had to find another way to win. Dudman missed a couple of games when on a Rugby trip in Japan.

Fawley bowed out early from the season with his charity walk in the mountains. Withers was injured for a few games. Leesy missed one around Christmas, as did Dan Kelly who went shopping with his girlfriend in London. Dan missed quite a few games later in the season due to injury and a family bereavement. Strickland injured himself after two games, and Dawson played only two games before things like his daughters school play and a night out with his wife clashed with Monday night football.

It is hard to plan a title winning campaign with so many changes in personnel. Oldman are not alone in this, as every team in the league has the same problems. I think we overcame these challenges well and adapted to the players we did have on hand each week. I'm pleased to say Oldman never needed to use a ringer this season. That is very satisfying. Ringers seldom work well, as they do not understand your system and positional play.

That said, occasionally they can work well, as was the case with Fran (Plus Fives captain), when he played as a ringer for Lovehoney and inspired them to a draw against us. That draw was my biggest disappointment of the season. We should have won that match.

4. Risk Taking

I've included 'risk taking' as another factor which contributed to the success of Oldman this season. Principally because I don't believe we took huge risks to win games.

In fact, I think we took a very conservative approach this season with our fixed two man defence plus an attacking wingback on the right hand side (Gabriel Sanchez and later Mike Reece).

For sure, we could have taken a lot more risk in games and played with only one central defender. Many other teams took this approach. That would have made things a lot easier going forward, but I personally believe it would have cost us more defensively and we would have conceded more goals and scored less points.

At the end of the season, we had only conceded eight goals, which is less than one goal per hour of football played.

Naturally, the game changes massively if you score the first goal. You control the game and don't have to push forward as much.

Having Dave Manners as our main striker (for 13 of the 21 games) always gave us a chance of getting the first goal. As soon as you go behind, you are chasing the game and have to take more risk. In that moment, you often find yourself exposed defensively and this is when you are most vulnerable to your opposition punishing you, potentially even getting a second, third or even more as you take greater risks to score yourself.

Our season was built on a strong, robust defence. Many people will think our season was all about Dave Manners and the 24 goals he scored, but I think only letting eight goals was equally, if not more important.

In playing our conservative approach, I don't think we played the most thrilling, attractive or entertaining football. Club Trop by far played better football than us. Plus Fives (when they put out their A-team) play better football than us. But, I'd argue, position for position, both of those teams have younger, fitter and in many cases, better footballers than us -- and can therefore play more like Brazil or Manchester City.

I think Oldman were a bit more West Brom or Stoke this season, and what a story it would be if either of those teams won the league!

5. Team spirit

In the five seasons that Oldman Athletic have played in the Future Fives League, I believe we have always had a strong team spirit.

Principally that is because in the first four seasons Oldman played in the league, we were just out to have a good time and enjoy playing football. Win, lose or draw we always enjoyed playing.

In order for that to happen you have to have the right people who share your same beliefs and values. If we won, which we occasionally did, all the better. These victories were to be savoured. If we lost or drew, which we did more often... then 'oh well' at least we enjoyed playing.

I've played with and against some people who take football very seriously. Even a friendly they take seriously, and that starts to affect the enjoyment of playing football that everybody else has.

We didn't have anybody like that in Oldman (although I/we did get a bit serious in the run-in to the title), but I suspect even if we lost the league in S5, we wouldn't have been too bothered because we'd had good fun in the process. There just wouldn't have been a book worth writing. 'How we nearly won the league' is not quite as enticing as 'How we won the league'.

I'm not sure how you manufacture team spirit but I'm sure having people who share the same values as you is a big contributing part of it.

In many ways, I think team spirit is developed by the shared experiences that you go through with your teammates... the highs the lows... the wins the losses... the battles you share together. Team spirit comes from working together -- each week -- towards a common goal. It comes from communication (both on and off the pitch). It comes from working hard for each other and respecting each other for what they bring to they table. This is much easier if you have the right people in your team.

What always makes me smile is how after a couple of emails, everybody turns up ten minutes before the game on a Monday evening. We have a quick kick around and a bit of banter, and then we go into battle for each other to try and win the match.

The same thing happens in football teams (and sports teams) around the world. Such is the power of football and sport to create an incredible team spirit.

6. Respect your opposition

Some matches on paper would appear easier than others, but I've played enough football now to know that any team can beat any other team on the day.

Just because you are top of the league and your opposition are in the bottom three doesn't mean you have any right to win that match, and therefore you should plan to put out a team which is capable of beating your very best opponent.

Oldman have learnt the hard way to respect their opposition at all times.

One time we didn't give a team the full respect it deserves was in the final game against Real SoSoBad (who score just one point in the season and conceded 100+ goals).

This was game 16.

Dudman felt this would be an easy win and offered to sit it out. Wrongly I agreed and I should not have let him as we really struggled in that game, playing without a sub. So much for an easy win. We did win 2-0, but it was anything but easy.

There are no easy games in the Future Fives League, but there are lucky games -- where you can get either good luck, or bad luck. We were lucky to get a draw against Galaxy blasters -- second from bottom -- in Game 20 of the season. And we were lucky to win 1-0 against Lovehoney in Game 15, when Simon Lees came out of goal to score our winner.

Conversely, were unlucky to lose 1-0 to CMARP when the ball rolled under Leesy in goal due to the slippery conditions caused by torrential rain. Some you win, some you lose, but we never thought just because we were leading the league that we had any right to win. Each win or draw had to be earned. Even when we lost, we went down fighting.

7. Doing what it takes to win.

I think Oldman did a few other things right this season which helped us win. These are 'marginal gains', but helped gets us a few more points.

New Shirts

This included changing the colour of our shirts. Historically Oldman have always worn black shirts, this is a legacy from when the team was founded and Andy Ashwin already had a smart black football top. He encouraged us all to buy the same shirt as him, which we dutifully did.

Unfortunately, what Andy didn't tell us was the shirt he had was reversible and had an inside lining. This made it super thick and super heavy which was great in the winter but in the summer meant that we were passing out with heat exhaustion.

Oldman had those same shirts or similar black tops until part-way through our title winning season. But we had noticed when playing in the darkness of December and January nights that we were struggling to see each other, and the black shirts made it harder for our keeper (Simon Lees) to find a player when throwing the ball out.

Leesy suggested we changed to day-glow orange shirts, which looked super smart and made it easier to spot each other. We also looked like a more professional team it certainly made it easier to find each other. I'm sure those tops were worth a couple of championship points.

As they say... 'orange is the new black'.

Ringers

Another example of doing whatever it takes to win, was my attempt to stop ringers from Club Trop or Plus Fives playing against Oldman. Occasionally, teams need to borrow players from another team to make up their own numbers. You can have a maximum of two ringers in your six man team.

I felt, that when teams outside the top three such as (Lovehoney, CMARP, GoalRushe, Galaxy Blasters or Real SoSoBad) needed a ringer, they should not be able to take a player from our main rivals, namely Plus Fives or Club Trop. This was because Plus Fives and Club Trop were full of game changing players who could help take points off Oldman.

Fran did exactly that when he played as a ringer for Lovehoney, and we ended up drawing that match 1-1. Fran helped take two points away from Oldman, much to the benefit of his own team Plus Fives.

Equally, I felt if any of those same teams (Lovehoney, CMARP, GoalRushe, Galaxy Blasters or Real SoSoBad) needed a ringer when playing against Club Trop or Plus Fives, they should not be able to call on Oldman. It would be too easy to supply Dave Manners, our main strikers as a ringer and he would help teams take points off our rivals.

I thought that was a fair suggestion, but seemed to get a lot of stick for that idea. I wanted Oldman to win fairly and didn't think it right that Club Trop and Plus Fives could have another bite of the cherry against us, by loaning out their best 'game changing' players.

That said, there was one instance when Oldman's Simon Lees played in goal as a ringer against Fran's Plus Fives team. He made some heroic saves and helped hold Plus Fives to a draw. Plus Fives dropped two points in that game. I felt that justice for the time Fran played as a ringer against Oldman and we dropped two points. That evened things out.

Recruitment

But probably the most important thing we did to win which perhaps other teams didn't do, was to continually recruit new players when we could see existing players couldn't play anymore. The mid-season recruitment of Mike Reece helped us secure 30+ points. The last minute recruitment of Matt Strickland and Chris Dawson helped us secure six points.

Thankfully, during the season, we never had to borrow a loan player (a ringer). I'm particularly pleased about this, as in previous seasons, we have learnt to our detriment that ringers don't always work, as they never quite know how to fit into our system.

We never had to forfeit a game also due to lack of players, which meant we never dropped points that way. In fact, we gained nine points without even having to play a game, simply because on three occasions, our opposition couldn't field a team. We'd sooner earn the points the hard way, but equally, we won't say no if they are handed to us on a plate.

## Game 10 v Lovehoney (26th Feb 2018)

## Drew 1:1

It was just before this game that Gabriel Sanchez got injured playing Sunday league football. He would never play competitively for Oldman again this season, which is a great shame as we were just staring to find a winning way. At the time of his injury, we thought he may be back after a couple of weeks rest. He wasn't.

We could have certainly done with Gabs in this game which turned out to be our hardest of the season to date, principally because of Fran, the captain of Plus Fives (one of our main title rivals) had been asked to make up the numbers for Lovehoney, our opponents today. I had originally said no to letting Fran play as a ringer, but with one minute to go before kick off, and not other option for Lovehoney, I agreed to let him play. I wish I hadn't!

There is probably nobody in the league who wanted to win the title more this season than Fran. Plus Fives had won league in the previous four or five seasons, firstly under the captaincy of Greg and then under the captaincy of Jamie. It was now Fran's turn to continue Plus Five's legacy and winning streak. Not too much pressure on Fran then!

Today, with Fran playing as a 'ringer' for Lovehoney he had another chance to help make Oldman drop points. And we did.

Fran ran and ran and ran and inspired Lovehoney to raise their game to another level. Hats off to Fran.

We should have won this game, but ended up drawing, which is crazy given that we had two subs and Lovehoney had none.

Lovehoney actually took the lead, and for only the second time in the season, Oldman were trailing in a match. I was pleased to have a hand in the equalising goal by playing Dave Manners through, but we ended that game feeling like we had lost.

We had in fact drawn and scored one point, but we had dropped two points. This draw put Fran's own team (Plus Fives) back on the top of the table. Never again wouldn't I let Fran play as a ringer for another team against Oldman.

Interestingly though, I think Fran playing as a ringer and making us drop points spurred us on further. We never wanted to feel like that again, and it made us fight even harder in future games.

Here's my post match email:

I feel sick.

WTF just happened?

I've started and deleted this email many times, but not sure what to say...

...other than SoSoBad next week at 6.30.

Let's win that game and get our mojo back.

Somebody stole it this evening.

I think it was Fran.

The (Unhappy) Manager

P.S. P5 won 1-0 to add to our woes.

P.P.S. Let me know your tactical analysis. We cannot beat Plus Fives on that display, so something needs to change.

This was Fawley's analysis:

Let's put tonight down to experience – not a great day at the office for any of us.

OK – here are my thoughts (in no particular order). All in my humble opinion and by no means intending to criticise anyone as we all put the effort in.

Defensively, we are ok, but still need to be more disciplined against the better teams. Even tonight where we weren't at our best, they had very few clear options.

We struggle when we concede the first goal and the opposition go defensive. Whilst I'm the first to advocate width, it often leaves Dave M exposed in the middle and surrounded with little support.

We need to get the best out of our attacking players, especially when we are behind. To that end my thoughts are thus:

I think Dave M does his best work when facing the goal, where he can shift and go to get a shot away. Therefore, playing Dave as the focal point/fulcrum up top may not be the best approach where he often has his back to goal and has little support and playing from deep might be a better option. That way, when we recover the ball, Dave is closer to us and if we shift it quickly to him, he can set up the counter attacks.

Dan is a little bit wasted stuck out on the left. I think he looks more effective when he's through the middle where he can use his strength and speed to roll defenders, or hold it up to bring in the supporting players. Therefore, maybe playing Dan as the focal point, linking with a deeper Dave could work. If it's crowded in there, we can switch it out to the wings and start again. This is also a role that RPC can play if that's the rotation option of the day.

Gabe and Mike can also offer good options from deep so if they are playing either of the "wing back" roles, we can have the option of switching from a 3-1-1 when we don't have the ball, to a 2-2-1 when we do.

Let's be honest, we defenders (me, Dudman, Withers) rarely score (or even hit the target!!) and are prone to nosebleeds when we get 20 yards from goal. I'm as guilty of that as anyone. Unless it's a clear one on one, let's have the confidence to control it, and look for a better option with our attackers. Start again if we have to. Do what we do well which is stopping the opposition and leave the fancy stuff to the forwards!

I think this approach would work against P5. A compact back 3, with Dave M just in front, with an outlet ball if we need it. Swift counter attacks and keeping Hedders quiet (a tough task both physically and verbally!).

Hope this helps our thinking. Happy to be told I'm talking absolute b*ll*cks, it wouldn't be the first time!

#  Chapter 11 - Keep Improving -- The End of Oldman!

In the perfect world, Oldman Athletic would build on this season's success and go on to dominate the Future Fives six a-side league, winning the next three seasons back-to-back.

If we had Gabs back and Dave Manners available, plus the rest of the squad (and with me acting as manager rather than playing) I'm confident we'd have the team to repeatedly win the league.

But this is not a perfect world and the reality is Dave Manners has other work and family commitments on a Monday... Dan Kelly has started Crossfit which clashes with the league games... Gabs is still injured... and I fancy a year out, as I no longer have the will, desire and ambition to fight for the league again.

Without somebody else willing to step in as captain, it feels the right time to bring an end to the Oldman story.

Therefore, after the final game (Game 21), the Oldman Athletic team will disband. No doubt other Oldman players who want to keep playing will join other teams, but Oldman Athletic will retire as a team and will go down in the record books as league winners for the 2017/18 Winter/spring season. This is something I'm very proud of, given where Oldman started in 2015 and where it finished in 2018.

Oldman was never supposed to win the league, and was only about having fun. It was a vehicle for guys in their 40s and 50s to have a team to play for. This season, things got a little more serious and to some degree, towards the end of the season, the fun went out of it a little... but I suspect when you are fighting for a title, perhaps this is what happens. There is too much at stake and it becomes more serious than fun. That was never the Oldman way.

You can read about Oldman's final match at the end of Chapter 21. In this last ever game we won 5-0 and lost 0-2. Figure that out!

At the awards ceremony which followed the final game of the season, Oldman won four awards.

1 - Most improved team.

Like all the awards, this one was voted for by all the other teams and players. I was happy that Oldman won this award, but it seemed fair, given that we went from fourth last season to first in this campaign. The time round, we accrued more points, scored more goals and conceded less goals than in any previous season. We actually won 'Most Improved Team' last season as well, but last season was more about Dave Manners. This season, it was more about the rest of the team.

2. Player of the Season

Dave Manners won player of the season, even though he only played thirteen games for us. That's how much of an impression he made on the other teams and players who voted for him.

Dave wasn't there to collect the trophy, so I picked it up on his behalf. Sitting on the next table to the Oldman team were three players from the Club Trop team including Jay, their young 16 year old striker who was voted the second best player of the season. This was Jay's first year in the league and he scored 17 goals. Quite an achievement. I don't think I've score 17 goals in the entire five campaigns I've played in, yet alone in one year. I think Jay has the opportunity to be the best player the league has ever seen. Certainly the toughest.

As Manners wasn't there -- and I didn't think he'd miss the trophy too much \--, I gave the trophy to Jay and the next day asked Dave if he could email Jay and ask him to accept the trophy as Player of the Season as voted for by Oldman Athletic. I think every Oldman player would accept that Jay was the best and toughest player we played against this season, and he was a worthy winner of this new one-off award. Even Manners himself voted for Jay as player of the Season.

When I said Oldman didn't have the best players this season, I meant it. Club Trop did. We just had more players and used them wisely.

3 - Villains of the Season

The next award we won was Villains of the Season. An award which I think was unfair, even Doug, the captain of Club Trop questioned why we had been given that award. I personally think it was Lovehoney taking revenge on us! I can't blame them, as I told our team to vote for Lovehoney. Dudman, our biggest villain went up to collect that award... a red card!

4 - Winners of the 2017/18 Championship

This was a particularly satisfying award to pick up as Fran and all of the Plus Fives team were sat rooted to their seats, and had to applaud us as we walked past them. Usually, it is the other way round and we are applauding Plus Fives as they collect their customary winners trophy.

There was one more award I think we should have won, but didn't and that was Keeper of the Season. Given that Simon Lees had played an outstanding season and had only let in seven goals and scored a goal himself when he came outfield for 10 minutes (Withers let in the eighth from his one spell in goal), I'm not quite sure why Leesy didn't win keeper of the season. Perhaps tactical voting was at play once more.

Next season

For Oldman to win the league, every single player needed to want to win it. Each of us needed to have the desire, will and ambition to make it happen. We had that this season, but I'm not sure that ambition is there to keep going for the next few seasons. That's where Oldman and Plus Fives differ.

Plus Fives have reinvented themselves season after season. They have won the championship nine times, with various captains and various players. The juggernaut of Plus Fives just keep going on -- and long may it last

Although Fran didn't win the league this season, I'd be astonished if he doesn't win it next time, especially as he's already recruited ex-Oldman Athletic players Simon Lees, Dave Dudman and Martin Fawley to play for him next season. A wise bit of business I think.

If I was to play for anybody next season, I'd probably try and play for Real SoSoBad. I've played many times for them as a ringer and always enjoyed it. SoSoBad play football just because they enjoy playing football. They seldom win, and every point is savoured. Just as it was in the early days of Oldman.

That said, having had this experience of winning the league with Oldman, would I be tempted to try to improve SoSoBad? Possibly? It would probably be the end of them... just as it has been with Oldman. But I reckon using the ideas in this book, SoSoBad could win the league within three years! The first thing I'd do would be to recruit the remaining Oldman defenders (Withers and Reece) and stop SoSoBad conceding 100+ goals!

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Oldman Athletic at the end of season awards ceremony. Also in the photo is Andy Ashwin, one of the original founders of Oldman.

## Game 11 v Real SoSoBad (5th March 2018)

## Game forfeited.

## Default win 5-0

Our game was cancelled this week because Real SoSoBad couldn't get enough players together to field a team, The league allows for two 'ringers' per team, i.e. borrowed players from other teams, but on this occasion, SoSoBad needed more.

It is a shame, because Oldman could have done with another game to get the Lovehoney draw out of our system. Also, we had a very big game the following week against our closest title rivals, Plus Fives.

#  Chapter 12: Thoughts of Ben Wilson - Club Tropicana Drinks F.C

I had originally planned to write 21 chapters in this book explaining why Oldman won the league. With 21 chapters of insight into our strategic thinking and tactics, I'd have space at the end of each chapter, to reflect on the 21 games we played.

The problem is, I'd said all I wanted to say about tactics and strategy in the first eleven chapters. So for the remaining ten chapters, I have asked fellow captains, players and team mates to reflect on their own season and offer their thoughts on why Oldman won the league this year. After their thoughts in each chapter, you'll still see my relevant match comments.

Here's the first insight from Ben Wilson of Club Tropicana Drinks F.C.

I grew up playing football in some of the roughest areas of South London, so figured there was nothing to fear on signing up for a five-a-side league in England's most middle-class city in the winter of 2005.

The league was affiliated to Future Publishing, home of magazines devoted to video gaming and sewing and family trees. The city was Bath, antique and sleepy and polite and quintessentially English. The assumption was completely, categorically wrong.

We played on a concrete court a short walk from Bath's rugby ground, and many of my initial experiences seemed more in tune with the oval-ball game. I saw a goalkeeper spring from his area to attack an outfield opponent while the match went on around them; players barged into the wooden wall which surrounded the pitch, like John Fashanu-era Gladiators; language so industrial it was shocking to consider these guys were journalists and designers in their day jobs.

In a competition with more than a dozen teams, it quickly became clear that having good players alone wasn't sufficient to capture league title honours. The team I'd joined, Future Games, went on to win eight titles between 2005 and 2013, eventually retiring following the only 100% season in league history. Ability was a factor, but so too was a critical 'R' word. Relentlessness.

In a league without referees we contested every close decision. Weaker teams were crushed with no apology; when friends within the department formed their own rival side, they were duly obliterated 19-0. In one match, against second place Farcelona, with both teams unbeaten so far that campaign, an opposition player touched the ball inside the area to concede a penalty. Farca's keeper placed the ball on the spot for the kick to be taken... only for the guilty defender to whip it away, protesting his innocence. The ensuing stand-off lasted ten minutes, and resulted in said defender requesting we be kicked out of the league for our actions. (Relentless as ever, we went on to win 2-1.)

This context is important because even five years after the demise of Games, that 'R' word has remained a dominant factor in deciding the title. One team, L&C United, joined the league, won it in their first year, and were chased away from returning, such was their aggressive on-pitch attitude and determination to run up scores against lesser sides. Sandwiched either side of that season are multiple victories by a team who've effectively monopolised all trophies since 2013.

History paints Plus Fives and Future Games as heated rivals, but in truth they're more similar than either set of players would like to admit. Fives have had the best roster in the league for the last half-decade; they've also been relentless – there's that word again – in their pursuit of silverware. There are no 50/50 decisions against Plus Fives, only 30/70s, the side's Geordie core barking "howay man" in chorus at every borderline tackle or contestable throw-in. NFL scores are preferable to soccer ones, with a 20-0 drubbing of Ball Blasters living long in memory of those who witnessed it; and the best performers from other squads are beckoned with wicked whispers at the close of each season, in the hope of extending the pink-and-black dynasty.

Plus Fives are critical to the Oldman story because the latter are steeped in the former's DNA. Oldman begun life with a spine made up of Fives' players who'd passed the age at which professionals retire (Simon Lees and Dave Dudman); both teams were known to be drinking buddies, and much like that upstart Games team, few expected the court jesters to ultimately overthrow the kings. One fixture between the pair sums up their nascent face-offs, Plus Fives's captain protesting vociferously about the match being curtailed a few minutes early, because it had kicked off late. Nothing wrong with that in principle – other than the fact Fives were already winning 5-0.

What few acknowledged back then was that Oldman were no court jesters. Forged in Plus Fives' steel, the relentless streak needed to win league titles lay dormant until the addition of an elite forward player in Dave Manners, and an ambitious yet fittingly silver-flecked captain in Richard Parkes-Cordock. Recognising his squads' strengths, 'RPC' set about masking its weaknesses, such as conceding goals on the counter attack.

By this stage the league had become six-a-side, played on an astro-turf pitch with hockey-sized goals. Parkes-Cordock recognised that a capable keeper and deep backline made it difficult to concede in such an environment, and as a result in many matches four of those six players barely passed the halfway line. Experienced custodian Simon Lees' reach filled the goal, and as a result clean sheets became de rigueur. Relentless.

Going forwards, the enterprising Dan Kelly provided chances for Manners, by some margin the league's outstanding striker. Big Dave might miss one; he never resisted a second bite at the cherry, often powering shots through the opposition goalkeeper a la Hot Shot Hamish. In this way, even Plus Fives – shockingly – were suddenly cut down by their brothers-from-an-elder-mother. Relentless.

Twice second-place Club Tropicana (my current team) met leaders Oldman knowing that victory would likely put us in prime position to steal the title away. Twice we waited at 0-0 for their defence to be drawn up-field, or cave in to tired legs: 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes. And twice in the dying embers of these battles of will, just as we were certain we'd taken a position of ascendency, Manners crept in to smash home and break hearts. Relentless.

And that, like so many teams before them, has been the keyword in Oldman's season. Relentless not in bickering over close decisions or talking their opponents down, but sticking to a tactic and adopting surgical focus for the duration of every match. Even when the talismanic Manners has been absent, they've found a way to grind out 1-0s. And it's been fascinating to watch.

Their unlikely success is very-much merited, with the only disappointment Parkes-Cordock's decision to call time on the team in its finest hour. In retrospect I wish Future Games had carried on for another season or two, just to see how much longer we could have crested our wave. I wonder whether, given time, the evergreen 'RPC' will feel the same.

## Game 12 v Plus Fives (12th March 2018)

## Won 1-0

I have never prepared for a game so much, as I did this one. If Oldman were to win the league, we had to beat Plus Fives.

In the 21 game campaign, Oldman would play Plus Fives three times. We had already lost to them once, and another loss could be catastrophic, mainly because of the head-to-head rule. This rule says that if teams are equal on points at the end of the season, the deciding factor in terms of final positions would not be goal difference, but head-to-head results. It was conceivable that both Oldman and Plus Fives could end the season equal on points, so beating them today was essential.

A few days before the game, I had still thought Gabriel Sanchez would play. We didn't know at that point how bad his knee damage was and thought with a week or so off, he'd be OK for the Plus Fives game. All my original planning included Gabs as attacking right back.

On the Friday before the Monday match, Gabs emailed and said he couldn't play.

Not good, but my planning was solid. I knew I could use the same tactics I had planned (4 graphics this time, rather than my usual one), and I could re-jig the personnel. That is what I ended up doing.

It was my intention to keep Dave Manners off the pitch for the first 10 minutes and then introduce him so he was fresh towards the end of the game.

I had seen that Dave was tiring towards the end of 30 minute games (principally due to our crazy formation of 3 at the back, and the extra pressure this puts in the front two). I knew also, that if we could keep a clean sheet for the first 10 minutes, we would frustrate Plus Fives and we may nick a goal at the end, which we did!

But before we could do anything, my original plans needed to be rejigged to account for the lack of Gabs. This was quite simple and Mike Reece moved to attacking right back, and Simon Withers came into play! Simon was originally going to sit this one out.

Having read the Pep Guardiola book now, I learnt more about phases of play. I took this to heart and set up three phases of play which you can see in the JPG images below.

JPG1 = 0 - 10 mins - Defend like dogs. Hustle from the front. Pounce if we can.

JPG2 = 10 - 15 mins - Give Dan a breather. Reshape. Get Manners on.

JPG3 = 15 - 30 mins - Open them up. Get them on the counter

JPG4 = Plan B (if we go behind, last 10 mins if all else fails!).

You can read the email below I sent out explaining my thinking and the graphics, You might be the first person to read it as I suspect no one from Oldman did!

I had never planned to write such a long email (this was the one and only time I did any tactical planning of this sorts), but I was determined to win. I knew Plus Fives would bring subs and would give us a very tough game, There was no room for error. I wrote the email more for myself to get my thoughts straight.

In short, we started the game with a flat back three of Fawley, Reece and Dudman. This was for the first 10 minutes in which we kept Manners off the pitch. Once Manners came on, we switched Reece over from central defence to attacking right back. Manners would need the assistance of Reece when attacking. In the few games they had played together, they were already forming a good partnership.

After 10 minutes, we also took Dan Kelly off for 5 minutes to give him a breather. In this game he was asked to run his legs off hustling up front and put pressure on the opposition. That is an incredibly exhausting thing to do, so he needed to come off and rest for a few minutes. Dan had also played in an 11 aside game the day before, so was naturally tired from that too. Withers then went on and took Dan's place to give him a breather for five minutes.

Once the goal came (from Manners), we parked the bus. Dan was already back on by then but I could see he was tiring. I decided to take him off, push Reece further up field to defend from the front and put Withers in at right back.

We held on for our life.

I was on the side with my phone watching the seconds tick away until we reached the 30 minute mark. What a victory! Fran took the defeat like the gentleman he is.

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Here's the email I sent out before the game to explain my tactics. I don't think anybody read it!

NB. This was my original plan with Gabriel Sanchez playing. The text doesn't reflect the images, as the images were changed once Sanchez said he was out. The text wasn't changed. It all got too confusing!

OK, so I have finished the Pep Guardiola book obviously now think I am Pep. The only difference is that he knows what he is talking about. That said, here's my tactical thinking for the game.

Fawley -- Left back. If Headers plays, he likes to attack on this channel (word is he is away, but P5 have plenty of other good attackers, i.e. Charlie, Tom, Joe). Martin, no need for you to push up. If Mike has pushed forward, then come in more centrally, and pair up with Dudman (first 10 mins). Also, no long balls in the corners for Manners, Send them for Dan, but not Manners, We need Manners in the middle of the pitch. But, do make yourself available (as you always do) to receive the ball from the attack, especially if the ball is stuck in the left corner and needs to come back to you.

Dudman -- Right back. Same as Fawley. No need to go forward, but body on the line defending. If Mike has pushed out, then get closer to Fawley. Dudman, you are only on for 10 mins, but it is an important 10 mins, and essential that we do not concede in those first 10 -- otherwise my plans are f**ked.

Reece -- Central Def. Mike, for the first 10 mins, you are the 3rd attacker (and 3rd defender). Try and stay central in both attack and defence and bring Dave and Gabs into the game. Try not to push too far forward, as it is hard to get back if they counter. After 10 mins, Dudman will go off and Gabs will revert to attacking right back. However, when Gabs is forward, can you move to the right, freeing up space for Manners in the middle of the pitch. In defence, come back to the middle and Gabs get back to the right back position. It is essential we free up space in the middle for Manners.

Sanchez -- First 10 mins, Gabs, you are playing as a forward, predominantly on the right. Get stuck in and rough them up! Win the ball back... do what you do best. You have a good chance of scoring in those first 10 mins, so take it. BUT, when we do not have the ball, we need you goal side, quite likely putting pressure on the ball, especially if the ball is on the right hand side of the pitch. After 10 mins, when Dudman goes off, you will play attacking right back as you did at the start of the season. Ideally, you can still push up and Mike will drift to the right as a defender (freeing up space for Manners in the middle), but there will be times when you need to get back in the right back positions, and Mike back in central defence. If any long balls are played into the right corner, you get those, not Manners, We keep him central. That is where most of his 19 goals have come from this season.

Kelly -- left side attack... and most forward player... and most running!! First 10 mins, same as Sanchez. Defend from the front, get stuck in, put pressure on them, close off passing lanes on the left. We don't always need to pressure their defenders in their half (Joe and Will) as that can be exhausting, but once they get closer to our half you need to work hard to win the ball back. Ideally the pressure forces them into mistakes which one of our players can take advantage of. After 10 mins, you should be knackered and need a breather. I'll come on and do the same for 5 mins, then you are back in business. Try and stay on the left which is where most of your goals come from, and Manners, Fawley will try and play you into shooting positions.

Manners -- First 10 minutes, watch the game from the sidelines and work out where the space/opportunity is. We want you playing in the central position (think Jan Molby // Paul Scholes) owning the middle of the pitch, playing the ball to Dan, Gabs or attacking goal. No need to be too close to the D, as you will just get ambushed. Coming on after 10 will mean you are fresh towards the end of the game, when P5 are tired. No hanging onto the ball too long. The ball can go to Dan and Gabs and come back to you tiki taka style, opening up space. Playing in the central position means you have to be the 4th defender too and behind the ball when we do not have it. If anybody is staying up, it is Dan. Also, Manners, stay out of the corners. Let Dan or Gabs run there. When the ball is in the corner, it can always come back to Mike or Martin and be recycled back to you.

Lees -- GK I think playing the ball out to feet works best, but the occasional long throw works. Joe Warren who plays at the back for P5 will intercept virtually every long ball. He knows what the opposition is thinking even before the opposition knows what they are thinking. But we have the players at the back to pass the ball around. Slow the game down too if it is getting to hectic.

Counter attack. We are probably best on the counter attack. We certainly struggle when the opposition is camped out in their D and there is no space. That means we need to control the game more in our own half. Play the ball back to Lees if needed. If Dan is further forward, we can always play a killer pass through to him, where he holds it up and lays off for Manners or Sanchez (ala Tony Rees of Grimsby Town!). What we don't want, is to stuck in their half/ third, trying to break down a wall of defenders -- and lose it and let them counter. Recycle the ball back to Martin or another defender at that point and let's start the attack again. Drawing this game is ok, but losing could be the league title over.

Long balls into the corner. We often find ourselves getting stuck in the corners and trying to play our way out. I think very little comes from this as that whole area come congested and it is a tough angle to score from. If possible, just play the ball back to a defender (Mike, Dudman or Martin) and restart. The quicker we do that the better. Often, if we lose the ball in their oppositions corner, they can break quickly and we have 2 or 3 players out of position.

Plan B. If we go behind early in the game, we just stick to Plan A and try and claw back a goal. A draw would not be the worst result. It just means we need to beat them next time. But if we are still losing with 10 mins to go, lets change again to Plan B. This means Fawley off, Dan to attacking left back, and RPC as the most forward player. Intense pressure then to win back the ball and create goal scoring opportunities. Lots of passing. No hanging onto the ball too long Dave M!

If we are winning (or even drawing) towards the end, I may bring Dudman back on to calm things down. Game management is the key. It depends how much pressure we are under.

What could go wrong?

RPC

P.S. Next season, I don't plan to be manager, so you won't have to put up with this nonsense.

Here's my post match email:

Has a victory ever tasted so sweet?

That was an incredibly hard fought team performance which required all eight of us to get over the line.

Everybody played out of the skin and battled for this win.

We are now three points clear at the top of the league. We still need to win all our remaining games, including next week against Club Trop to claim the title.

I suggest we use similar tactics next week -- and more importantly, battle as hard as we did tonight.

Well done everybody. That was incredible.

RPC

Standings after Game 12

#  Chapter 13. Steve Pyatt's Thoughts (Real SoSoBad)

The Real SoSoBad story starts a long time ago, too long to accurately remember the first season myself and my brother Mike entered a team.

Venues have changed, players have come and gone, let's say at least ten years ago but it might be even longer. One thing which has been consistent though is losing.

We're the team you'd love to play every week, and we can do wonders for your goal difference or anyone looking to achieve the golden boot.

There have been far too many weeks in preparation for a match we were left wondering if we had enough players, rather than being at all tactical with the squad selection

This has meant working with the little we had, although there were a few players (the spine of our team) we could build from.

Myself, Mike Pyatt (my brother) and Matt Bailey have been that spine for a long time - I can say with some confidence we've become comfortable with losing, but even so we continue to have a level of optimism going into games.

Beating Oldman when they first joined the league was, and still is a highlight for me. The optimism I mention was at it's highest, we finally had a side in the league that matched both our skill level and general fitness.

Seeing how they've improved and become a far superior side to us in a relatively short space of time is both depressing and inspiring - maybe we can get our points for a single season into double figures if we keep working at it!

I would like to put on record the Oldman story is not one of zero to hero, my side have always maintained the zero status (some seasons finishing with nill points) - but it's still an amazing achievement, trust me I know, having propped the table up season after season.

There are fairly obvious differences between my side (SoSoBad) and the Oldman season winning squad - skill can't be ignored, but general fitness and having all the pieces of your jigsaw puzzle in the same box at the same time, makes a huge difference.

To overly use the jigsaw analogy, we've always been missing a least one piece (currently a striker) but Oldman this year especially seem to have spare pieces - this is a combination of getting the right players to join the squad and then moulding others to fit around them. Having that balance in the squad like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, will just fit together and work.

Understanding how that jigsaw fits together is key - I remember asking Rich (RPC) about possible ringers one week (as we were again short on numbers). Rich responded with positions he could offer (rather than their names) this is the first time I realised we were not dealing with the same team. Winning had now become a habit for them and they'd managed to get that consistency within their squad and a understanding on the different roles each player had and therefore getting the best out of each of them.

We (Real SoSoBad) are stronger now than we've been for years, that spine I mentioned has some arms and maybe a leg - we're getting there, slowly. Our evolution might take two or three times longer than that of Oldman - but who knows what the next chapter might be for my side - that's all part of the beautiful game

Football is a team game, with a sprinkle of outstanding individuals.

For Real Sosobad to evolve, I believe we need those two things - a squad to become a team with that sprinkle of outstanding individuals - Oldman had both this season.

##

## Game 13 v CMARP (26th March 2018)

## Won 3:0

This image is wrong. No Sanchez, so Dudman played, manners went up top.

This is another game were we had hoped that Sanchez would be available. With injuries, you never quite know how long it will take to recover, so you just take it week by week. I'd originally planned this game with Sanchez playing the centre forward role and Manners sitting in central defence. I felt teams were getting wise to Dave's Manners attacking style and could just close him off around the box. By sitting back, he could attack from deep. It was a risk as we'd be without Dudman at the back, but it was a risk I was prepared to take (Fawley was also away this week with work).

Gabs being injured put paid to the idea of Manners as an attacking central defender and Dudman took up his usual position in central defence and Manners in his usual attacking position.

I subbed with Dan Kelly a couple of times to try and keep the energy high. Even though we had Dan Kelly and Dave Manners in attack with Mike Reece joining the attack in the right wing, we still looked liked we needed more players to join the other forwards and create more triangles. I was constantly faced with the perennial question of pushing more players forward to try and score, or keeping players back so we don't concede. I always favoured the latter. However, if you go behind in a game, you have no choice but to push up and take risks. Thankfully we had only gone behind twice in the season (so far) in the draw with Lovehoney and a loss to Plus Fives. All the other games we had taken the lead first.

Something worked against Cry Me a Riverplate, as we won 3-0. Not a pretty game, but 3 points which is all that matters.

Here's the post match email I sent out:

A hard game, but a good result.

Also good that P5 and Club Trop drew, which means we are clear at the top by 4 points:

Oldman 34

Club Trop 30

P5 29

Tonight's win wasn't pretty and the football isn't glamorous, but we are grinding out the wins.

We should also take note of our defensive record. We have now played 6.5 hours of football and only conceded 6 goals. Being solid at the back costs us going forward but I think it is worth it.

No game next week, but we return on 9th May to play GoalRushe (6pm). Every game now until the end of the season is like a cup final. Lose a game and we probably lose the title. Win, and we get to collect the trophy and watch Franny have to applaud us whilst he remains sitting in his seat. What more motivation do we need?

Have a good break and well done again tonight.

RPC

Post Match Message from Dave Manners

I have to say I think that was one of our best games so far. Admittedly it was a bit subdued to start with and could've ended up like another Lovehoney performance, but we were very patient with our build up play and showed lots of quick passing and movement towards the end, creating some slick goals. I also think we made better decisions when weighing up whether to take on the shot or recycle the ball. Well played all!

Post Match Message from Dan Kelly

I agree with Dave, I felt it was one of our best performances. We recycled the ball well, held it up well. Manners in that deeper role really works well. Mike's marauding runs from right back to add another attacker. Dudman the tank and Withers showing the kids how to press. Lovely stuff.

Post Match Message from Mike Reece

Well done last night lads that was a proper team effort and I agree I thought we played some really good stuff once we got going. I thought our decision making on the ball was good and we kept everything simple. When we played quick pass and move in the final third, we created a lot of really good chances. We aren't going to lose many, if any, if we carry on playing like that - someone will get a hiding (once my shots stop clearing the fence!).

#  Chapter 14. Fran Harvey's Thoughts (Plus Fives)

'Old Manners Athletic', that's what we called them'

A flippant name thrown out one mild spring evening during our regularThursday friendly football match.

Amusing? For sure.Though through the course of their successful campaign, I started to consider that it may have been more than just Dave Manners, the player, that won Oldman the title this season and more a case of what I'm calling, 'The Dave Manners effect'.

Let me flashback four or five years to when I made my debut in the Future Fives League.

I was invited to play by Club Tropicana Drinks F.C.'s skipper, Doug.

At the time their team was called the Wooly Monmouths and I played against a team in Pink, Plus5's. Little did I know at the time but that opposing team would become my permanent footballing home and the place where I would go on to win four league titles as a player.

In my debut I wanted to make a statement and spent most of the time trying to kick Jamie Orell, Gregor MacGregor and Nathan Irvine. It didn't go well. They either kicked me back, skinned me or got inside my head.

I slowly got into my groove as a player and even though I'm relatively new to this league compared to many others, I still got to play a few matches on 'The Car Park of Dreams'.

I'd played a fair few games for Wooly Monmouths but a clerical error from Doug meant that I was snatched up to play in my strongest, (not favoured, I might add) position as Keeper for Jamie Orell's Plus5s.

As mentioned above, I won many league titles with Plus5s, with some of the best players the league has ever seen. Every one of Jamie's teams was put together to ensure there was a fine balance of defensive and attacking players. This is a skill I didn't manage to replicate during the 2017/18 season when I took over the captaincy of Plus5s from Jamie.

'The Dave Manners effect' had well and truly had its impact on Oldman as they started to find goals and victories easier to come by... but I question if they really were an old man team at all.

Dave Manners was 31 and new signings Dan Kelly was 29, Gabs Sanchez was 30, and mid season signing Mike Reece was 34. Not so old I think.

Admittedly, defenders Dave Dudman and Simon Withers were in their mid 50s (Simon Lees and RPC are nearly at the half century mark) and Martin Fawley is in his early 40s, but going forward -- this season at least -- their attack was a lot younger than their Oldman name implies.

Age, experience and discipline at the back, youth, athleticism and talent at the front. Quite a good mix I think.

With the help of youthful transfers and the new tango Adidas orange shirts, Oldman's title win this season was very much in the vein of Leicester City's championship winning campaign.

A magical, romantic, fairy-tale... but I believe the shortcomings of the other teams (Plus5s in particular) was more of a factor than the strength of the Oldman squad.

This may seem unfair (and probably a little bitter as everyone knows I hate to lose), but let me explain...

There was only one game this season where I was able to put out a full strength Plus5 team, with quality and the will to win in every position.

That was Game 4 of the season which was our first of three encounters against Oldman.

I was in nets, Chris 'Hedders' Headley was up front and Dave Manners, for all his efforts, was well and truly in the pockets of our defenders, Joe Warren and Will Hodges (an ex-Oldman player). If I could have put that squad out every week, I'm convinced this book would not be written.

Having said that, as we've seen during this years World Cup in Russia, you can only beat who's in front of you.

Oldman were organised, disciplined and at times, ruthless.

Rich's desire to not only sacrifice his own playing time for the team, but also his personal time, is a testament to the desire he had to win.

I know of few others who are willing to put in that much effort to win a league with little significance to those outside of it... and rest assured, those few (i.e. me) will be taking back the title next season.

Francis Harvey \-- Captain of Plus5 - Winter/Spring 2017/18 season.

## Game 14 v Goalrushe (9th April 2018)

## Game Forfieted

## Default Win 5:0

This was another game in which we were given three points because the opposition couldn't field a full team, so they forfeited the match.

I was rather pleased they couldn't get a team together to tell the truth. GoalRushe gave us a very hard game earlier in the season and with Gabriel Sanchez and Dan Kelly both away for this one, we may have struggled.

I still felt we had a strong team to put out, and I'd decided now to move Martin Fawley into the central defence position. I felt Fawley offered an extra dimension in the middle of the park, and may be able to join up with the attack, something we had been missing with the absence of Gabs. Fawley would play in central defence for the reaming games (with the exception of a few games towards the end which he missed).

The game was called off on the Monday morning after GoalRushe couldn't get enough players, but the previous Friday I'd been swapping emails with Dermott Rushe, the captain of GoalRushe. He needed two ringers (loan players) and wanted Fran (the captain of Plus Fives) to play. I said no, having learnt from my mistake in game 11 against Lovehoney.

I also said I didn't think it was fair to use ringers from either Plus Fives or Club Trop as that would give teams another chance to take points off Oldman. But equally, I said Oldman would not provide ringers for matches which involved Plus Fives or Club Trop. This suggestion caused quite a stir in the league and I ended up having to back track on that idea.

In the end, GoalRushe needed more than two ringers so had to forfeit the game. We happily took all three points without playing.

.

# Chapter 15. Matt's Thoughts (Lovehoney)

They said it would never happen. They laughed at even the idea of it happening. Well I hope they've learnt some Manners now.

Oldman are a team close to my heart. I played for Oldman Athletic for two seasons -- S2 and S3 -- before I was unceremoniously booted out at the age of 23 and told to come back in twenty years time when I was a proper old man.

To be fair, I was torn between playing a third season for Oldman, or playing for the team of the company I work for -- Lovehoney F.C. This was before RPC made the decision for me!

Some would argue it shook the league to its core when I was kicked out the door, replaced by a player only slightly better than me. Others would say Dave Manners was leagues apart and represented the deal of the century for Oldman Athletic! Manners, now the League Player of the Season for the second year running, took Oldman to heights never before thought possible.

Whilst Dave Manners quite rightly takes a lot of the plaudits, so should the rest of the team. Everyone in Oldman this year knew their role and excelled. Manners was the missing ingredient... the key which unlocked the door to the talents which were already present at Oldman. He offered Oldman something I didn't... goals, and lots of them!

Like many others, my story with Oldman starts in the weekly Thursday evening friendly football match where I was approached by ex-Oldman captain James Price to join the old boys. Many people who play on Thursday evening also play in the Monday league. I wasn't attached to any Monday team, so James signed me up. This was season 2 of Oldman's existence.

Football in the Monday night Future Fives league was (and still is) significantly different to our Thursday night friendly games. For one, Monday night league football is competitive... very competitive and punishingly exhausting. The pitches are notably bigger, the pace is much faster and the tackles are much harder -- as is the ground. On Thursday we play on forgiving lush 3G turf. On Monday we play on astro, which is just one step up from playing on concrete.

At 23, I was the young-man of the Oldman Athletic team. I was supposed to be the athletic part of the team, but at times I may as well have been an old man as I suffered from agonising shin splints from running around for thirty minutes on the hard astro pitch. Many times, I would have to slow down or stop as the pain was unbearable. Perhaps this is why RPC kicked me out, even after I had won the team's Player of the Season in my second and final season with Oldman Athletic.

But to be fair, I know he asked me to leave to help save Lovehoney F.C.(or the 'fun loving dildo boys' as RPC liked to say). Lovehoney were struggling sometimes to field a team, and RPC knew I was guaranteed to turn up each week, so it was better for the league if I turned up and ensured Lovehoney could field a full team, rather than play for Oldman, who often had a spare player.

Lovehoney is a team I actually helped set up for the company I work at. In my first season with Oldman, the league only had seven teams and the fixture list was unbalanced. To make the fixture list work, each team had to play the occasional one-hour game. Oldman would usually get hammered in these double length games as they didn't have the legs to compete -- and with my painful shin splints, I didn't either.

So, to help balance the league, I asked around at work (Lovehoney), if anybody wanted to be part of a new team. Enough players were interested, the owners of Lovehoney paid for some shirts, and striker Sam became captain, but I never joined them in their first season in the league. I played one more season (S3) for Oldman.

In Lovehoney''s first season (when I was still an Oldman player) Lovehoney beat Oldman twice and even finished higher than the old boys in the league on 26 points, vs Oldman's 21 points.

You can imagine the stick I was given at work with Lovehoney regularly having the upper hand over Oldman.

I left Oldman at the end of S3 to join Lovehoney. On the face of it, I was joining a younger, fitter and arguably better team. Lovehoney is a marketing and distribution company and has lots of younger guys who were keen to play football. The only problem is that you never know who is going to turn up and play each week. Lovehoney FC are like a Lovehoney Mystery Couples Sexy Bundle TM, you never know what you're going to get.

Oldman however had built their game around strict tactics, game management, discipline and consistency. This wasn't the Lovehoney way. My new team was more about passionate youthful energy -- what else would you expect from players from a sex toy company? We'd start off with a game plan and formation, but that would often get lost within minutes as the desire to push forward grew stronger than our will to defend.

It has been two seasons now since I switched from Oldman to Lovehoney, In that time, Oldman have gone from a mid-table team (who finished below Lovehoney), to a championship winning team, whilst Lovehoney F.C. have remained firmly fixed in the mid-table.

Certainly, Dave Manners -- my replacement at Oldman -- has played a big part in their success, but it is definitely not all about one player. At Lovehoney in Sam, we have a striker who is capable of scoring 20+ goals a season, and in fact, in my first season playing for Lovehoney he scored 28 goals, that is more than Dave Manners scored for Oldman in their winning season.

To win a league, clearly you need a goal scorer, but you also need everybody else to do their job, and do it well. Oldman this campaign did that better than anybody else. Their defensive discipline was exemplary, which is witnessed by the fact they only conceded eight goals all season. Compare that to the 42 goals Lovehoney conceded. Coincidentally, 42 I am told was the average age of the Oldman team this year, I would suspect the average age of our Lovehoney team was mid to late twenties.

To win the Future Fives league is quite an achievement. I know from my time at Lovehoney that simply getting a team of six players to turn up each week (and bring a couple of footballs) is hard enough, yet alone get them to play with shape and discipline or get the correct balance between attack and defence.

Over the years, Lovehoney has had some real ding-dongs with Oldman, no more so than our encounters this year. What was noticeably different this season was Oldman's drive, ambition and will to win...seemingly at all costs. They wanted it and fought hard to win each match, which ultimately secured them the title. I know RPC considers Oldman's games against Lovehoney some of the toughest they have played this year and taking points off them when we drew 1-1 is more than most other teams did all season.

Player for player, I think Lovehoney can match Oldman, or come pretty close, but for Lovehoney to win the league, we'll need to introduce some of Oldman's organisation, consistency and discipline. If Oldman can do it, my new team -- Lovehoney -- certainly can win the title too!

In Oldman's final fixture of the season I found myself playing against Oldman as a "ringer". As expected there weren't many chances until I found myself with a rebound bouncing to my untrusty right foot. Time slowed. Two seasons' worth of memories at Oldman flashed before my eyes, this was my moment to prove them wrong for releasing me from the team. I swung my leg. Top corner. Winning goal. Vindication.

Joking aside, I couldn't be happier for my former team in winning the league, particularly the players who were there when I was at Oldman (Withers, Fawley, RPC, Palmer, Dawson). They are deserving champions.

(All words and thoughts are my own and don't represent the rest of Lovehoney FC, the Future Fives league or Lovehoney as a company)

Matt Richardson (Ex-Oldman, and current Lovehoney Player).

##

## Game 15 v Lovehoney (16th April 2018)

## Won 1-0

Lovehoney always seem to be our bogey team. We struggle against them more than against any other team.

Today's game was no exception.

Going into the game, I was pretty confident we could win, and I planned to use the same formation as the previous week (even though our game last week was forfeited, the formation was good).

However, on the morning of the game, I had an email from Dave Manners (our star striker) saying that he couldn't make it. He wife was not feeling well and he had to take care of her, as well as put his young daughter to bed.

As it turned out, Manners would be absent for the final seven games of the season, with the exception of game 18 - the title decider. We were on our own from that point forward.

Our squad was pretty depleted at this time already. Dan Kelly was absent, Gabs was still injured and Palmer wasn't putting his name down.

We only had six players and I was one of them. Other than Mike Reece, it was hard to see where the goals were going to come from.

I usually drive to the game with Simon Lees our keeper and virtually every match, Simon tells me that he should be playing outfield. 'Unleash the beast' he'd tell me on a regular basis. Simon is an exceptional goal keeper and a fine outfield player. What he lacks in positional discipline, he makes up for in energy.

On the way to the match Simon was giving me the same old story... 'unleash the beast'. Only this time, it made some sense. We hatched a plan that if we hadn't scored, or were losing at the half way point, Simon would come out and play as a forward. I would take is place in goal. As unlikely as it is, Simon came out, scored the winning goal and then went back into the nets, made a match winning save and we won the game. Real Roy of the Rovers stuff.

In the ten minutes I was in goal, I let in a 'disputed goal'. I say disputed because just before the Lovehoney striker stuck the ball, he (or a team mate of his) fouled one of our players. One of Lovehoney's players called foul -- as did we and everybody stopped playing, but the attacker still shot and the ball went in at the near post. To be fair, if the foul had not been called, I would still not have saved the shot. But after much argy bargy, it was agreed the goal didn't stand. Moments later, Simon Lees, our unleashed goalkeeper scored for us! We'll take the luck when it come our way.

This was a very heated game, made even more heated by the fact that I asked a spectators what time is was. 7pm he said, which is the time the game was due to finish. I said the game was over. Lovehoney complained and said we had started 3 minutes late, so we agreed to play for another 3 minutes, but I'm sure we played for another 7 minutes. It certainly felt like it.

Thankfully we still won and the Lovehoney players were pretty pissed off with us, accusing us to taking the fun out of the game and taking it too seriously. In their complaining, I think they showed that they were taking it seriously too.

I agree, Oldman were taking the championship seriously and had the hunger to win. I think that is what you need to win the league.

Here's my post match email:

F**k me... that was tough -- and ugly.

But, we won. Thanks to Sleezy....saving goals at one end, and scoring at the other -- AND an amazing team effort.

If Manners had played, I think we would have won 4-0, but in his absence, we will take a 1-0 victory.

I thought the back three formation looked fantastic tonight and Martin in the middle worked really well, as did Dudman and Swithers left and right.

Lovehoney were royally pissed off with us and think we are are taking winning the league too seriously.

Perhaps we are (I am!), but we need to.

If we win the league (there is still a long way to go)it is games like tonight -- when we are missing Dave, Gabs and Dan -- which will really justify us as champions.

Next week, SoSoBad. Probably an easier game, but still no guarantee. We need to win that one.

Well done again, and thank you Leesy. Those 3 points were because of you.

RPC

P.S. Apparently, Plus Fives lost 3-0. Club Trop won 1-0 and remain our biggest threat.

Upcoming Games: We need 13 points from these.

23-Apr 6:30 REAL SOSOBAD

30-Apr 6:00 PLUS FIVES

14-May 6:00 CLUB TROPICANA DRINKS F.C.

21-May 6:30 CRY ME A RIVER PLATE

04-Jun 6:30 GALAXY BLASTERS

11-Jun 6:30 CLUB TROPICANA DRINKS F.C.

No Manners -- He dropped out at the last minute. RPC in

Sleezy comes out of goal to get the winner!

Standings after Game 15

# Chapter 16. Simon Withers' Thoughts (Oldman Athletic) --My (not so) brilliant career

I've been playing football for pretty much as long as I can remember, from school playgrounds, at university in the Bath Saturday and Sunday 11-a-side leagues, and in the Future Fives for a variety of so-so teams. My school team when I was 10 and 11 – Metelko/Frost (an alternating keeper scenario long before Shilton and Clemence), Rumble, Withers – in my customary left-back role – Dalling, Smith, Fenton, Bolwell, Parker, Monk, Chantry.

Just as with my Moorlands Junior School team, whose 2-3-5 formation was shaped by a dedicated football fan, so Old Man Athletic played with a great deal of organisation.

It has become something of a cliché in sporting areas and elsewhere but the phrase 'by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail' (Benjamin Franklin, apparently, I never knew that) is more than just empty 'strong and stable' flim-flammery. For an amateur 8-team 6-a-side league our coach RPC put in far more thought and attention to detail than many might seem necessary. An example of this is that part way through the season we changed kit, from black to fluorescent orange. And it made a difference, making a quick pass when you're just about to be tackled it gives you an extra fraction of a second, which could be the difference between a pass to feet and a hoofed clearance.

I'm quite a limited footballer skills-wise, though having played for the best part of 50 years I do make the most of my abilities. For years I could get by just on speed and fitness; if you're playing on a Sunday morning against players reeking of beer from the night before, the fact that I could still run like a kid after 70 and 80 minutes was a massive advantage. While I've retained fitness, speed decreases by six per cent a decade, so I have to be cannier – positioning, blocking, tackling, passing, calling. There's not much in the way of dribbling in my repertoire, few tricks or thrills. But it works, especially in the Old Man formation

Sporting perspective

My ambitions for football are probably a little different than most other players' aims. Why? Well, I'm still competitive, from sports to quizzes – three-time winner of the Brain of Bath corporate team quiz – but I have to temper that with football.

When I turned 40 I was still playing football in the Bath Sunday League for Future United, having bizarrely been turned into a central defender, something my Old Man colleagues may find hard to believe. I was also looking forward to becoming a veteran triathlete, as being at the bottom of the age group I had a chance of actually achieving higher finishing positions. It wasn't to be. Before I'd turned 41 I'd had both knees operated on after they'd ballooned up, yep, like footballs, the result of sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, though that wasn't diagnosed until later by a rheumatologist who drained both knees using something like a knitting needle; he said it might hurt. He wasn't joking. This was possibly the most traumatic couple of minutes of my life. And it didn't get better very quickly. Oh, the condition itself was also excruciating, any knock or jolt to knee or ankle sending waves of pain through both knees, and having been allergic to most painkillers for decades I'm actually pretty good with pain, in spite of being a mere bloke...

My surgeon ruled out cycling more than 15 miles a week – I test bikes for a living – and football was totally out of the question. I was also on anti-arthritic medication for more than four years. But about nine months after having my knees drained and having done no exercise other than stiff-legged walking, I started longer walks and very short bike rides of two or three miles.

This whole period of my life coincided with some serious emotional issues. And after seeing a counsellor I discovered that I'd been using high-intensity sport to keep my emotions in check. Without that outlet I was suffering from work-related stress and depression which resulted in time off from work.

So I have a slightly different perspective when it comes to football. Yes, I love to win and will try hard for the whole game, but equally important is getting up the next morning and being comparatively pain free. And talking of being competitive, the thing that annoys me most in any team I play for is people not trying; I don't mind a lack of ability – I'm not exactly Ronaldo, either of them – but even more that means giving 100 per cent the whole time, and no back heels. It does mean trying to keep possession, even if it means passing back to the defence or keeper and starting again, maybe along the other flank. This is a lesson that England – finally, finally – achieved. Okay, so they got knocked out at the semi-final stage, but a team without stars achieved more than expected by playing to a strict shape, led by a manager with a clear, simple vision and a game plan for each game. Which is pretty much what Old Man Athletic did, at a much, much, much lower level. But I really don't believe the comparison is invalid.

So, from a little cycling and walking I made a very tentative return to football, in goal for one of the poorer Future Five teams. I slowly made the move to playing outfield occasionally, which resulted in a few years later joining the ranks of Old Man Athletic. I could bring age to the party, but I'm not sure how much athleticism I contributed. From being an enthusiastic if not especially good triathlete and duathlete, and a regular runner – numerous half-marathons and one London marathon – literally the only running I now do is on the five- or six-a-side pitch, though I'm now testing bikes again for a living so there is at least some aerobic capacity there. But what I'd give to be 18 again, back at university, Saturday afternoons playing hours of five-a-side as a gun for hire and for my own team, and Sunday morning for my hall of residence. Happy days, nine-and-a-half stone, a blur of running legs and the ability to run seemingly forever without even a twinge.

Even after a broken collar bone in my first term I was back playing a month or so later (word of advice: don't get a lift to hospital in a cramped MGB sports car when you've got a freshly broken collar bone. It'll hurt like f**k! Something else I learnt: laughing gas – nitrous oxide – really does work, though the pain-killing effect is short-lived. Don't worry, it was only medical usage to discover where the location of the break).

Step forward 30-odd years to the summer of 2015 and I leave Bath Galaxy, where I'd been for few far-from-successful seasons and join the nascent Old Man Athletic, then run by James Price. This means no more shouting at my BG colleagues for their propensity to try back-heels they didn't have the skills for (Jeff Ruggles, I'm thinking of you!) or just going to sleep at important times, which we did far too often. During my first season Old Man finished behind Bath Galaxy, who'd been strengthened by the addition of one of the team's stronger players.

We were initially a limited team, but an experienced one, so we made the most of our ability, by not trying to do too much, and with a changeover of personnel we became stronger, so that by the Spring-Summer 2017 season we were firmly mid-table, fourth out of eight, and just two points behind longstanding title challengers Goalrushe, and we had a much superior goal difference.

The reason for this was that during that season, yes, we were playing better as a team, but thanks to RPC's dealings in the transfer market we signed Dave Manners and we had the same goalkeeper for most games too, something that also can't be overestimated. All I'd wanted in my time playing in the Future Fives was to be in a competitive team where I wasn't expected to be a regular keeper; occasional games, yes, but not week after week. After all, it's the running around like a teenager that I need for all sorts of reasons. Having a younger, fit, skilful player up front was just the icing on the cake.

Come the 2017-2018 season and RPC – now eyeing up a serious tilt at the title – had somehow not only persuaded Manners to stay, but also brought in a left-footed striker, Dan Kelly, a new keeper and Mike Reece, a strong, give-everything player who can play in all sorts of areas. We still, at least partly, lived up to the Old Man name, our back three average over 50 with Simon Lees in goal not too far behind.

The season started strongly, which added to our sense of belief. But what really stood out for me this season was the sense of belief. RPC's conviction that we could win was so strong that I think we started to believe him. But, more than anything, this was backed up by meticulous planning. It was almost comical at times, but before every game RPC would put out how the team would line up – this was to be strictly adhered to and was altered week on week, depending on the strengths of our opposition and our own line-up.

After experimenting with various formations over the years (like England at sundry tournaments) we found a shape and system that worked for us, which was playing three across the back and two up front, with perhaps one sitting slightly deeper, and Dan Kelly occupying the left. The plans were there and they worked. We had four natural defenders, Dave Dudman, Martin, Mike and myself, and the team to some degree, with absentees from injury and holidays, tended to pick itself.

Any season is based on your ability to score goals while conceding as few as possible. Yes, I know this is screamingly obvious, but it still needs saying. As a defender every goal we concedes hurts. Our first game was actually a portent of things to come. Lovehoney have been a team at our level or just above for the previous few years, often beating us in tight, hard-fought matches. But this time we beat them 5-1, and that goal was a result of a goalkeeping howler by me – their attacker cut out my throw out and, very cutely, dinked it back over me. To say I was annoyed is an understatement. I'm not a great keeper, my positioning is good but I'm not as mobile as the best, but what I pride myself on is my distribution. Get the ball, look up quickly and if it's safe to do so get the ball out quickly and accurately. Not this time. Bollocks!

I missed a few games in the early mid-season – including two in a row with my old team, now merged with Ball Blaster to become the Galaxy Blasters – thanks to a rib injury. And there's a little irony to this too. Quite a few of us also play on a Wednesday or Thursday evening and during one of these 'friendly' games in a nothing tackle against Dave Dudman, we turned into each other at the wrong time and his sharp, pointed elbow caught me in the ribs; not that hard but enough to keep me off the pitch for three weeks.

The only real negative early in the season was the defeat to regular champions Plus Fives. A tight first half when it was nil-nil turned into our heaviest loss of the season – 3-0. Each of the three goals, all scored by one of the league's regular top scorers Chris Hedley, had elements of luck – one hit the crossbar and bounced in off of Lees's back, one was deflected off my legs when I tried to block and the final one went through Dudman's legs – but they absolutely deserved the win.

One other thing I think I bring to the game is a sense of perspective. I can remember years ago when my Saturday team lost 10-1 or something like that, and mainly proceeded to blame the ref for the defeat. Nope. While he may not have been a great ref, we were beaten by a team that were much better than us, which is the same as with Plus Fives.

Highs for the season: our team structure, communication and just how well we communicated and played together, along with the extensive pre-match planning. Our 'wall' of steel' defence let little through, and there was some great last-ditch tackling and blocking particularly from Dudman and Reece. When we were breached, Simon Lees had a great season in goal.

Lows for the season: there were very few, quite frankly. The early loss to Plus Fives was a massive eye-opener, but other than that... Dan Kelly, a quick, young (by my standards anyway!) and skilful left-footed player scored surprisingly few goals, though was often a handful for the opposition and I enjoyed playing with him a lot, as he got into very good positions. And the mid-season injury to Sanchez left us relying on Dave Manners for our goals, which was fine until he became unavailable for a large swathe of the latter part of the season.

A personal high, and I believe important for how our season panned out, followed our loss to Plus Fives. This was a run of five consecutive wins including victories over serious rivals, if we were to have any chance of winning the league, Club Trop and Goalrushe. And during those games we didn't concede a goal, which at this level is quite an achievement. This was broken by a 1-1 draw with Lovehoney, after which we won another eight on the bounce and without conceding a goal. That's 14 games with just one goal in the 'against' column. As a defender that's something I'm incredibly proud of (I reckon one of those may have been a walkover, but even so...).

Another positive. RPC likes to plan for specific opposition and even for specific situations that may occur during a game. I can't remember which game it was – perhaps our 1-1 draw with Lovehoney – but RPC and Leesy hatched a plan that if we were behind or in need of a goal halfway through the game, then Leesy would come out of goal and use his pace against tiring legs to try to score. Not only did it work, but it worked to perfection the first time we tried it. Neat, and a great example of how preparation can really help. Okay, one can't plan for every eventuality, but in any game there are a handful of stories that can play out, and RPC's use of substitutes was another area that I think we did as well as any other team.

We tended to keep the starting back three, most of the time anyway, and switch front players, every few minutes if necessary. Always fresh legs, always keeping the opposition busy. And towards the end of the season, in a spell of three games without Dave Manners, we won 1-0, 2-0, 4-0, which ultimately took us over the line or at least very close to it.

Further positive notes/comments:

RPC's selflessness and willingness to not pick himself, all in the name of getting Old Man Athletic the title. Plus, for me personally, the talking and advice from Mike and Martin. Martin has some coaching qualifications and I discovered that it's not too late to learn, and Martin was continually communicating about where the real threats are coming from – in front of the goal rather than out wide. And Mike was of similar importance, though with the added advantage of having a bit more ability to play up front if required, which was quite often late in the season.

I was disappointed at my own lack of goals, especially considering the on-target shots in one of our wins over Real So So Bad, the only team that I would regularly go on runs against. Our last game against them – four shots, all well struck and on target, each one saved by their excellent octopus-limbed keeper. My only goal was a scuffed shot against one of the league's better keepers, and even that was after I'd controlled it with my gonads.

The future:

I'm totally behind RPC's decision to step back from Old Man and go out on top. I may transfer to another team, I may just play Wednesdays or Thursdays once I've recovered from my newest injury (hey, I'm 55, I'm allowed to be injured occasionally, even if it is a pulled/spasming shoulder muscle caused by carrying heavy bags through Geneva airport). We'll see.

I am incredibly chuffed at this season's performance, as it might be great to go out with a gong. My trophy cabinet from my lifetime's on-and-off football career is not what you'd call full-to-bursting. My junior school team did well but were up against the better-funded private schools (bastards!), and then there was 1981-82 at uni, some promotions in the Bath Sunday League, and that's about it. I'm also pleased to still be playing football, or any sport, given the state of my knees a decade or more ago.

Cheers RPC for all your work.

Simon

## Game 16 v Real SoSoBad (23rd April 2018)

## Won 2-0

By game 16 of the season, our squad was rapidly depleting. Manners was out again due to family commitments. Dan Kelly's Grandma had passed away and he was with his family in Ireland. Gabs was injured. Palmer hadn't played since game 3. Four men down. Six still standing.

I knew without Dan Kelly and Dave Manners we needed more firepower up front, so once again I made another mid-season signing. This was Matt Strickland (46), a fellow Wednesday and Thursday footballer and a Dad at the same school a few of our children go to. We know Matt well and knew his style of play. Matt knows how to score goals and was an obvious signing for us. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Jon Palmer as a squad member to make room for Matt, but I think Jon said goodbye to us some months ago.

Traditionally, a game against Real SoSoBad is an easy win. Because of that, Dudman said he would sit this one out. I wish he hadn't!

This was anything other than an easy win and we had our backs against the wall for most of that game. SoSoBad had their best team out tonight with most players seemingly in their 20s or early 30s. Mike Reece aside, we were all in our late 40s or mid 50s and having run around for 30 minutes, we felt like we were in our 80s.

I started playing up front with Matt, but soon tired so happily switched with Mike Reece who moved to a forward position and I dropped in at right back, making up a three man defence of Withers, Fawley and me. Fawley was magnificent in controlling the game and covering up my mistakes.

We were lucky that SoSobad conceded an own goal midway through the game. Once you take the lead, the game is much easier, and you can take control of it. We did that and Mike Reece added a second. SoSoBad kept coming though and we had to be at our defensive best to protect our lead.

Three more points in the bag.

Here's my post match email:

Man... that was another tough game which we had to work super hard for. That was SoSoBad's best team and their youngest. I think their fitness and younger years showed. There are no easy games, as I said.

Who scored our goals tonight? Did Mike get both?

We have 5 games to go, and without Manners, Gabs and Dan, we are well and truly an Oldman side, with all the challenges with come with that. i.e. lack of running/fitness/energy in the final third (Mike aside).

Matt Strickland did a good job playing up front for us tonight (thanks Matt), but like previous seasons, there are no runners to help him out.

However, at this stage of the season, I'm not sure there needs to be, as we need to control games and take the points.

We did that well tonight. Fawley and Withers, hats off to you both.

At times, we had 4 at the back, which is fine by me --- so long as we get the points.

Next week is Plus Fives. We need to think about how we can get points from that. Suggestions welcome!

Well done anyway, another 3 points and another clean sheet.

Cheers, RPC

No Manners

Own goal by SoSoBad + Reece scores

This image is wrong. Lees played in goal, and RPC forward. However we switched in the game to RPC at right back and Reece forward. Leesy also came out of goal to score the winner - and then went back in goal to make a game winning save!

#  Chapter 17: Will Hodges Thoughts (Ex-Oldman Athletic). Inside the Oldman camp: Square pegs, round holes... but few goals

#

As a one season wonder (S4), I had a unique 'sneak preview' of the Oldman success story.

I was recruited by Richard late on in the "transfer window" after our regular weekly kick-about up at the 'Field of Screams' that is the Beechen Cliff astroturf. Being new to the Bath football scene, I wasn't quite sure what I'd signed myself up for. I thought I was playing a one-off game in some kind of old person's tournament, before I realised there would in fact be several months of this.

As a fairly agricultural player in the old-fashioned English centre-half mould, it was obvious to me that Richard had recruited me for my tough-tackling defensive skills. I had moulded my mediocre 14-year Sunday league career on the Martin Keown mathematically sound school of defending: if you're a 6/10 player, find a striker who's 7/10 or above and cancel him out of the game.

However, Richard had other plans for me. As a younger member of the team (i.e. yet to enter the Just-For-Men phase of life), I was to play a kind of Dirk-Kuyt-esque role - i.e. that of a speedy, hard-running support striker providing service to the focal point of the attack (in Oldman's case, Dave Manners).

This strategy contained a few glitches, however: 1) I was (am) pretty slow across the ground and not especially fit; 2) my technical footballing ability is fairly limited; 3) unlike most strikers, I can't really shoot.

But the theory had legs (even if I didn't). With Dudman marshalling things alongside Fawley and Withers in front of our box, Oldman's defensive line was solid, perhaps the strongest in the league in many respects, but not especially quick or adept at powering down the flanks.

It left a big gap between the back three and Manners up front, resulting in a not entirely helpful reliance on long kicks or throw outs by Leesy in goal. Trapping a slippery ball - slung at me at 40 miles an hour - on my chest, and then having to gently bring it down to foot level, before dribbling it around the man plastered to my side wasn't exactly my forte.

Someone needed to connect the play. This missing link had to be able to start deep and carry the ball up the pitch. They also needed to take some of the workload off the main striker by giving the opposing team something to think about.

I'd like to say I made a good stab of it, but my stats tell a different story: I only managed five goals during the course of the season (and we played Real SoSoBad three times, remember).

With a much punier (and possibly slower) Emile Heskey at his side, the pressure on the star man was that much greater. While, playing alongside Manners against weaker teams, I could get close to him and play off him reasonably well, the stronger, more technical teams simply passed around us.

Moreover, they knew they could afford to put a man (or two) on Manners, safe in the knowledge that there would be a limited goal threat coming from elsewhere. He'd have to beat two or three players in order to get a shot in on goal, which - to be fair - he often did. He scored 38 goals that season. 33 more than me!

While we won our fair share of games, it was clear that the set up wasn't quite right. Dave Manners and I did our best to make it work, but it wasn't exactly Shearer-Sheringham. Ultimately, a striker - however able he may be - is only as effective as his supporting case. See Messi-Argentina version 2017-2018 for evidence of this theory.

It therefore wasn't a huge shock when, with the season concluded, Richard tactfully informed me one evening that I was being "transferred" out of the team to make way for Dan Kelly - an excellent player: quick, skilful and with an eye for goal. Nor was it a surprise that Oldman, now with the final pieces of the jigsaw in place (including Gabriel Sanchez and later in the season, Mike Reece), were able to kick on and storm the league.

For my part, having been picked up in the next window by rivals Plus-5s, I had the pleasure of playing two grudge matches against my former team mates (for the record, we won these 3-1 on aggregate). Now installed in my preferred position at centre back, and essentially relieved of all footballing duties, I found life a lot easier. Plus 5-s would later go on to lose 4-0 to Oldman in the third match of the season, but I had left the team by then to pursue a new business opportunity overseas.

Ultimately, the old maxim about square pegs and round holes rings true. To his credit, Richard figured this out pretty quickly and recalibrated his team in order to optimise its key assets: strong defence and dynamic attack.

Who knows, had he been part of the England set-up back in the mid-2000s, maybe Paul Scholes mightn't have had to spend his best years shunted out on the left wing...

## Game 17 v Plus Fives (30th April 2018)

## Won 4-0

This was the 3rd time we had met Plus Fives in the season. We had lost the first game, won the second and now had to win again to try and secure the league early (according to my spreadsheet, victory this game and the next would make us champions).

Plus Fives had started to falter in recent games and had lost a few of their team members, including their key defender (and ex-Oldman, Will Hodges). Plus Fives should never be underestimated however, and we showed them the due respect they deserved.

Prior to kick off, I had thought that Dave Manners would play, but 20 minutes before the game I received a message saying he couldn't make it. Last minute logistical problems. These meant that our attacking options were Mike Reece, Dan Kelly and me as a sub. Our three man defence was our now classic Withers, Fawley, Dudman.

They say football is a 'funny old game' and this game was. It just worked. Mike Reece and Dan Kelly played out of their skins together and raised the performance of the whole team. Plus Fives seemed off the boil in this game and we were bubbling at 100 degrees. Both our right back (Dudman) and Left Back (Withers) offered extra width by playing as traditional wing backs, and Withers even scored.

Dan Kelly who was recently back from his Grandma's funeral opened the scoring and Mike Reece added another two.

When it works, it just works.

Sadly for us, Dan Kelly injured his back a few days later playing in a Sunday league game and would be out for the next few weeks. We could have done with him in Game 19, but it was not to be. We lost that match two weeks later 0-1. I don't think we would have lost if Dan was playing. He made this formation tick.

Still, today, it worked. We won this game 4-0 and that put us on 46 points. If we could win our next fixture against Club Trop, we would be champions!

My post match email:

An amazing 'team' performance... phenomenal!

Goals for DK, SW, MRx2.

Sleezy was reasonably busy too and I'm sure made a few critical saves.

Let's try and field this same team/formation for the remaining games, and if Manners can make it (i.e for the Club Trop games) then that is a bonus. But playing like that, we shouldn't fear anybody.

Still 6 points clear with 4 games to go.

14-May 6:00 CLUB TROPICANA DRINKS F.C.

21-May 6:30 CRY ME A RIVER PLATE

04-Jun 6:30 GALAXY BLASTERS

11-Jun 6:30 CLUB TROPICANA DRINKS F.C.

Well done everybody. A performance worthy of champions.

RPC

# 

#  Chapter 18. Dermott Rushe's Thoughts (GoalRushe) -- The Goalrushe story.

#

'It's like no other 5 a side you've ever played in' said the slightly sheepish looking advertising manager when I agreed to get involved in their league campaign. He was right and that glint in his eye was there for a reason.

That was eleven years ago, October 2007 to be exact. The Future Fives league at that time was being dominated by a Future Games team who were a bunch of young gamers with a ferocious competitive spirit who didn't like to lose. I was keen to go up against them and get involved. Although I never did make an appearance for that sales team, as getting settled into a new city with a young family was my priority at the time, but our paths did cross at a later stage.

My debut is a distant memory but what I can remember is being lumped together with various other lost souls who were either new to the league or had previously been part of a disbanded team, but none the less we were all keen on a kick about after work on a Monday evening. When we got up and running, victories were scarce but not even the Car Park of Dreams and its concrete ice rink of a pitch deterred us from carrying on. Players came and went but a particular game lining up in the torrential rain alongside goalkeeper Dave Atkinson, midfield maestro Keith Jepson and striker sensation Andy 'Fenners' Fenton lives long in my memory. As this was our first win, a comprehensive victory albeit with a man down!

I quickly fell into the position of captain of the team, not because I was the natural leader or best player unfortunately, but I seemed to be the only one willing to try to get a team together every week -- which is easier said than done!

More players came and went, a fellow colleague Mike Goldsmith, came on-board and offered to share the running of the team so we felt a change was happening, a new beginning that needed a new dynamic team name to launch us into this new football adventure. We thought long and hard and hoped for a name to reflect everything we stood for and hoped to achieve. But instead laziness prevailed and with a little help from a friend, surnames were combined and Goldrushe was born. A little lame I know but it would do.

Next steps, recruitment. This involved tapping up any decent players from other teams with the lure of a better future, a brighter future under the Goldrushe umbrella. Friends were asked, friends of friends were asked and some did join us amazingly so when a decent team started to form, astonishingly it wasn't long before silverware followed.

With advertising mavericks in our ranks such as Sean Igoe and Paul Guest, we were the bookies hot favourite to win the most undesirable opposition award, we didn't disappoint! Thankfully they moved on fairly quickly and were replaced with new speedy, skilful young blood in the form of Chris Hedley, Russell Jones and Marc Aird and lest we forget 'Scary' Steve Chalmers in goal. But times were a changing and in one momentous season we managed to pick up no less than 5 awards and the infamous end of season bash including top goal scorer, keeper of the year, most improved team, the Plate Trophy and of course most undesirable opposition. All this and on TWO separate occasions we fielded a team where a player was completely intoxicated and in no fit state to walk never mind play football.

So yet again players came and went but we had higher aspirations now as we'd tasted success. Mike moved on so I took the easiest route and replaced the Gold in Goldrushe with Goal, pretty pathetic I know but we were good to go as the newly renamed 'GoalRushe'.

A merger was on the cards with a team with a very strong Future Fives heritage. Farcelona F.C, were big challengers to the champions and one of the top teams in the league and had previously won the title themselves. They were losing some players so to combine our squads was a big step in the right direction. Seasoned veterans came on board such as Jason Hudson, Brian Hook, Neil Owen and of course the man behind the fixtures, Mark 'Donaldo' Donald. The future was exciting and we hit the ground running with a Cup Final victory against Future Games in a momentous battle. A shot at the league title was surely next?

So with our strongest squad to date, we tried to win that elusive league title. The reign of Future Games was finally coming to an end as players naturally went their separate ways but instead of us taking centre stage, sadly it was Plus Fives time to shine under the steer of Greg McGregor. This reign was set to last for many a season.

Shortly afterwards we had to say goodbye to the nostalgic car park of dreams with the prospect of playing on astro turf in a nearby school. Some found the reality of leaving a little bit hard to take, as that concrete jungle holds a lot of great memories for many. Personally, I couldn't wait to leave. The new pitches were a huge improvement for the league, gone were the days of kicking through puddles, being crushed into the walls, ice-hockey style and wondering whether we'll have to play in the dark as the flood lights haven't been switched on. Glorious all-weather pitches were now the norm, with an extended journey time rewarded by a vastly superior playing surface, flood lights that actually work and even dug outs to put your bags. Simple things.

Plus Fives continued to dominate, new challengers came to the fore in what must be arguably the best team name the league has ever seen in Club Tropicana Drinks FC who alongside us, filled the top three positions of the league for quite a few seasons. We never did win that league title but still we plough on hoping that one day we can emulate the team that against all the odds, managed to do a Leicester City right here in our own back yard.

Oldman Athletic were a mid-table team, aptly named as they were one of the more experienced teams in the league with grey hair in abundance and a willingness to run when the rest of their bodies didn't want to. They plodded along occasionally recording an upset until a master stroke of recruitment from their captain Richard PC changed all that. The foundations were previously set with the capture of two of the elder statesmen from Plus Fives in Simon Lees and Dave Dudman who tightened things up defensively but they now needed flair, someone with an eye for goal and an ability to take a game away from the opposition if they wanted to make a serious challenge for the title. Step up, Dave Manners. A familiar face to some as he played in the league in its infancy but with his name on the team sheet plus the introduction of a couple of offensive others, Oldman were ready. And they didn't disappoint, their timing was impeccable as Plus Fives were in transition as were Goldrushe, Club Trop pushed them but couldn't do enough to stop the fairy tale ending.

Oldman achieved what so many others failed to do by taking on the big boys and succeeding. The rumour is the team will disband and go their separate ways which only adds to the intrigue and strengthens their legacy. It's the type of thing books are written about.

Dermot Rushe (Goalrushe captain, 2007-2018)

## Game 18 v Club Trop (14th May 2018)

## Won 2-0

This was the big game... win this 'six pointer' today and we would win the championship. This game felt like 'match point' as we still had three more opportunities after this game to win the league, but if we could get it sown up today that would allow us to enjoy the remaining games.

Club Trop were breathing down our necks and we knew they were capable of winning all their remaining fixtures. With Dave Manners looking less likely to play the final matches and Dan now injured, the road ahead didn't look so rosy for us.

Club Tropicana Drinks FC are an amazing football team. Better than Oldman in certain ways. Oldman had relied heavily on one player (Dave Manners) to get us the goals, but in Club Trop, they had four or five people who could score. Jay the 16 year old son of Nathan had scored 15 goals so far this season (his first full season). Nathan had got 10 himself, and there were a three more players who had scored between six and eight goals in the season so far.

We didn't have many different goal scorers available to us.

Gabs had been scoring for us at the start of the season but was now out through injury. Mike Reece had got five since he joined, but he was more a attacking defender than a center forward (by his own admission). We were in trouble.

I knew if we played 6 v 6 against Club Trop, we would probably lose.

But, equally, I knew we didn't need to win this game... Club Trop did.

They only way Club Trop could win the league now would be to beat us tonight and win their remaining fixtures, one of which included playing us again in the last game of the season. We were in a good position, but football, as has been said many times is a funny old game!

My intention for this match was not to let Club Trop win. I didn't care if we drew and gained only one point, but we had to stop Club Trop winning.

To do this, we needed more personnel and immediately I turned to an ex-Oldman called Chris Dawson. Chris had played in goal for Oldman in S3 and S4 but had decided to take a break this season. But now we needed him and he was happy to help and took Gabs Sanchez's place in the squad, keeping us at our ten permitted players.

Manners had said he could play in this Club Trop game, but I'd heard that before, so wasn't sure if he would show or not. Therefore I had to have options in place.

If he didn't show, I would have Strickland, Dawson and myself available to rotate upfront. This was key. None of us has the energy to compete with Club Trop toe-to-toe (Jay is a super fit 16 year old who can run rings round us all day), but if we kept rotating the front two players, we could keep the tempo high.

We may not score ourselves, but we could stop Club Trop from scoring against us.

Fawley was away with work, so we had Withers, Reece and Dudman in defence.

On the day of the match, Gabs and Dan Kelly (both injured) turned up to watch this title decider and support their team mates. I liked that.

With one minute to kick off, Manners was nowhere to be seen. Had he struggled to make it again?

It wasn't a major problem as we still had myself, Dawson and Strickland to play and rotate upfront. All we needed to do was keep pressure on club trop and hustle them for 30 minutes. Not easy!

The game kicked off with me and Strickland up front, charging around after the ball. In the distance, I could see Dave Manners arriving late and he took his place on the side of the pitch next to Dawson, Kelly and Gabs. Once Manners had stretched, I signalled for him to take my place. I'd played only 3 minutes and was already knackered.

For the next 30 minutes, we battled, fought and ran our socks off to stop Club Trop scoring. My rotation idea was working to some degree. Manners however didn't want to come off -- and it is hard to remove your best player from the pitch. Strickland needed to come off and rest for a few minutes as he could barely breathe having run himself into the ground. Getting him to come off wasn't so easy though.

Earlier in the week, Simon Lees had sent an Alan Partridge video clip around where Partridge is stood in a car park shouting Dan... Dan... Dan.. Dan... Dan... Partridge must have shouted Dan about 50 times. This video was sent in response to Dan Kelly's missing another game due to his latest injury.

I tell you this, because I looked very similar to Alan Partridge, but I was shouting Matt.... Mattt... Mattt... Matt.. Matt Strickland.

After shouting for 2 minutes, Matt Strickland begrudgingly came off, barely able to breathe or walk. Dawson went on for a couple of minutes until Strickland had recovered. Surprisingly, Strickland recovery time was pretty good, and from looking like a dying man two minutes earlier, he now seemed fighting fit and went back on the pitch.

When I could see Strickland was struggling again, I told him to come off (it was a bit easier this time as he was about to get punched by one of the Club Trop defenders) and I took his place.

The rest they say is history... or at least it is now as I wrote about the winning goal in detail in the preface of this book. A one-two played between me and Manners when we were boxed into the oppositions left hand corner of the pitch and Manners rifled a shot into the top corner of the goal. A second goal a few moments later and the league was officially ours. I got off the pitch as quickly as I could with 3 minutes still remaining and Dawson came on to calm things down.

All our seasons hard work had been worth it. We were now officially champions of the Future Fives 6-a-side League, rubbing shoulders with previous champions Plus Fives and achieving something Club Trop and GoalRushe were yet to achieve.

It was a proud moment, and a wonderful climax to a quite extraordinary season.

Still, the season was not over, and we had three more games to play and win. The problem was things didn't quote go according to plan which you'll read about in the next chapter.

Here is my post match email:

This is a very pleasing email to write.

By my reckoning, Oldman Athletic have WON THE LEAGUE!!

That victory puts us on 49 points. Club Trop are still on 40 points with 3 games to go. They can still get to 49 points, but we will have beaten them on head-to-heads.

That said, we have 3 more games to play and more points to play for and could get to 58 points. Lets make that our new target.

That was a great game tonight and a real team effort -- all 8 of us (big thanks to Matt and Chris), plus good to see Gabs and Dan there to support their team mates. Great to see Manners back too. Thankfully, he still knows where the back of the net is.

I've never won a league before and may never again -- but this has been an incredible experience and one I've really enjoyed.

I won't be captain next season, so fight amongst yourselves for that position.

Now, lets finish the season off in style with three more wins.

RPC (Championship winning manager).

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Standings after Game 18

#  Chapter 19. Martin Fawley's Thoughts (Oldman Athletic)

I've played football pretty much all my life. From being the youngest player in my primary school football team, through youth football at Yorkshire Amateurs, the University of Bath, Larkhall Athletic in the Somerset Senior Division, the mighty New Inn United in the Bath and District Sunday League and a team I set up with Andy Fenton and ran for four years in the Bath & District Saturday league - Sportzcoach United.

All of these (with maybe the exception of New Inn United!) have been at a pretty decent level and 6-a-side football has always been a nice distraction from the structure and competitiveness of full-on 11-a-side competition. However, my competitive nature means that for the duration of any game, 6-a-side or 11-a-side, I want to win. I really want to win.

Having moved away from Bath for 8 years, on my return I was keen to start playing again in a local league. Andy suggested Oldman and without really knowing what I was letting myself in for, I signed up and played my first game sometime in the summer of 2016. The name should maybe have given me a clue and whilst the squad were certainly getting on in years, they didn't have the same level of experience and nous that I maybe expected, thinking that they would all have been playing competitive football for at least 30 odd years.

Having been the captain for most of the teams I played for and player/manager of Sportzcoach, as well as having gained a couple of my FA coaching badges, I really had to rein in my competitive tendencies and accept that there were certain realities of playing for Oldman and not try to stick my oar in too much. I would try and do my talking on the pitch.

But this was difficult. The team at that time had very little structure - essentially a couple of us would stay back and the rest would run around and chase the ball. I've never seen a team try so many long balls on a 6-a-side pitch! It was very frustrating standing 10 yards away from another player and calling repeatedly for the ball, but not getting it because it wouldn't have been a forward pass! With our overall levels of fitness compared to the other teams in the league, we were really making things hard for ourselves.

My footballing philosophy has always been pretty simple - get a good defensive shape, make it hard for the opposition to score and retain possession when you get the ball. We were doing none of these things.

Things started to change when myself, Dudman and Withers started to play regularly together at the back, creating a defensive platform (the Axis of Boredom!) where we stopped conceding numerous goals on a regular basis. The premise of this was quite simple: don't get sucked out of position or try to engage the opposition too high up the pitch - only close them down when they get within shooting distance; play short simple passes and retain possession, or dump it in the corner if you're under pressure; and the thing I think made the most difference - not chasing a player across the pitch, rather, calling and passing them on to the next defender. The level of communication improved between us all - we weren't getting in positions where we suddenly had three left backs and no cover in the middle, or chasing attackers 30 yards across the pitch. We had better defensive structure and were saving our tired old legs.

But this in itself was never going to be enough for us to become a competitive force. We still struggled to retain good possession higher up the pitch and score goals on a regular basis. The signing of Dave Manners changed this. Suddenly we had an outlet, someone who could retain the ball under pressure, give us some relief and smash goals in left, right and centre. But this still wasn't enough as evidenced by our penultimate season.

Yes, Dave's goals were incredibly important. Yes, our defensive discipline and having a regular keeper in outstanding form was a great platform. Yes, having players like Dan Kelly, Gabs and Mike Reece improved our squad. But I believe the two most important factors in us winning the league were the organisational discipline that was instilled in us and the mindset that we absolutely weren't just there to make up the numbers. That we were going to push that extra yard to get the block in, that we would keep possession even if it meant going 30 yards backwards and starting again, that losing just wasn't an option.

If we were standing on an X-factor stage explaining our background, I'm sure some bore would say we'd been on a "journey". I'm not going to be that pretentious. We're just a bunch of guys who love playing football and want to eke out every bit of playing time before our bodies well and truly fall apart.

But it does go to show that with a bit of organisation, passion and belief what would have been deemed "extremely unlikely" at the start of season, actually happened. OK, so we had a Tony Woodcock look-a-like goal machine, a Brazilian wizard, a defence tighter than Withers' lycra shorts, a goalkeeper who would have thrown himself in front of rhino and a manager who took the role so seriously, I think he's actually written to Pep Guardiola asking if he will adopt him. But that's by the by. It all came together perfectly and history has been written.

Some people will say "it's only a game". In fact, some people would say that "it's only a game in a league that doesn't really matter" (the fact that they'd be wrong could be the subject of another entire book!). When you've put in as much hard graft as we did week in, week out, it begins to transcend that. All the aching muscles, heaving lungs, sprains in places we never knew existed - it was all worth it.

In some respects, I will concede that it is only a game. But games are always more fun when you're winning. And we did. Vive la revolution!

## Game 19 vs Cry Me a Riverplate

## Lost 0-1

We'd technically won the league the week before this game, so even if we didn't play the remaining matches it wouldn't have any bearing on whose name would go in the history books. Oldman were officially there. But we had said between ourselves that we wanted to keep pushing and win our remaining three games and not concede any more goals.

We were without quite a few key players for this CMARP fixture, particularly our goal scoring forwards.

Dave Manners was back on fatherhood duty, Dan Kelly was still carrying the same back injury which had kept him out of the previous weeks title decider... and Matt Stickland had to take his son to Judo. I didn't read about Pep having these problems when I read his book.

But we still had a good team, Leesy, Fawley, Dudman, Withers, Reece, RPC and Dawson.

There where however two problems.

Firstly, most of this team had played 5 x 20 minute games of football the day before in Martin Fawley's charity Football Tournament. Martin was raising money for a charity in Ghana and had organised a fund raising football tournament. Five of the seven man Oldman squad had played the day before in energy sapping searing heat. We came third in that competition, having lost all discipline and shape by the end of game two.

Contrast that scorching heat to the conditions today which were torrential rain, making the ball and pitch incredibly slippery. Our sunburned red faces looked out of place in this evenings chilly downpour.

I felt we matched CMARP and gave them a good game. We could have easily won, as could they... and they did!.

I shared a lift with our keeper Simon Lees up to the match. As usual, Simon was suggesting he came out of goal (he is capable scoring a winning goal) if we were struggling or losing, but as the game progressed and we were under the cosh I felt it better to have our best keeper in goal. I don't think he was too happy about that.

My feeling was we just didn't want to concede. Attacking harder would expose us to more pressure at the back and given the torrential conditions we may very likely concede. Probably more likely to concede a goal than score one. I was happy to take a championship point and have zero goals conceded. We really didn't need to take too many risks to get a victory which we didn't need.

As it happens we got nothing from the game.

Leezy stayed in the nets under my instruction(and much to his protest), and from a relatively weak shot from a CMARP player, the snail paced ball trickled under Simon and went over the line for a freak goal. At that point we switched keeper as we were now chasing the game, but the damage was done. We put CMARP under a lot more pressure from that point forward, but were running out of time.

Should we have made the switch earlier? I don't know. Attack vs defend has been the constant dilemma all season.

Tonight, perhaps we or I got it wrong. But in the end, it doesn't really matter as we had already won the league. Thankfully!

What hurts more for Oldman as a team is conceding another goal. Prior to this game, we had only conceded six goals all season. Tonight, our tally had risen to seven. It was still eleven fewer than our closest rival (Club Trop), but we prided ourselves on not conceding. Tonight, our pride took a dent.

To put that in perspective, this season (so far) after 19 games (570 minutes or 9.5 hours of football), we had only conceded 7 goals. Less than one an hour (0.73/hr to be precise). I'd have taken that at the start of the campaign!

In season 1 (Summer 2015), we played only 18 matches which is 9 hours of football and conceded 63 goals, or 6.8/hr. Oldman had certainly got better at defending!

Here's the post match email I sent:

Ooops. That wasn't in the script.

RPC was supposed to get the winner and Oldman would celebrate another victory, three points and a clean sheet.

As it happens, we lost, not to a better team, but to the dreadful conditions. A slippery wet ball on a slippery wet surface slipped under a slippery wet keeper.

It was actually my mistake in giving the ball away in our half (for the 10th time tonight) which led to the CMARP guy having a shot. More my fault than Leesys. Sorry about that.

But guess what... we won the league with 3 games to spare, so this result doesn't matter. The only thing we lost is pride.

I heard that Club Trop and P5 drew, so there is no way Club Trop can even reach us on 49 points, therefore we don't need to rely on the head-to-head.

Fawley told me tonight that he cannot make the last two games, so that will be his last Oldman game, as Oldman will be officially retired at the end of this season. A new captain is welcome to start a new team (NewMan Athletic, or TopMan Athletic as Martin suggested), but I think it is only right that Oldman go out at the top, with our name firmly etched in history.

A few of you have suggested a celebratory night out, possibly a curry and beers, or dinner at the Ram. Perhaps we should even get Fran to cook for us! We'll get that sorted after the end of the season.

I don't know about you, but drawing 1-1 against Lovehoney felt 100x worse than losing tonight. Perhaps we could have played it differently, perhaps we should have unleashed the Leesy beast earlier, but we lost tonight, fair and square... to the rain.

RPC

This was Martin Fawley's response. It made me smile :-)

Win as a team, lose as a team. No one's fault.

Sorry I won't be around for the last two games. The penultimate one is 3 days before I fly out for my charity trek and as there's nothing riding on it I don't want to risk turning an ankle or something daft and I fly back late on the day of the final game.

Can I just say it's been an absolute pleasure being a part of the old man evolution. We didn't win the league by luck - a hell of a lot of hard graft went in week in, week out.

Definitely up for a night out to celebrate - maybe RPC could organise an open top bus parade through the city for us!

#  Chapter 20. Rich Tomlinson's Thoughts (Galaxy Blasters)

Before Beechen Cliff there was the Leisure Centre, where fixtures for the Future Fives league were played in the 'old days'.

New to the league in 2011, I was told by Simon Arblaster captain of our team, the unfortunately named, F. C. @*ts, that the 'pitch' was next to the car park. I arrived to find that the 'pitch' effectively was a car park, surrounded by chain-topped boards, whilst pretending to be a tennis court. I didn't mind too much as I've been privileged to play on many dubious grounds over the years.

At times it seemed more like a fighting cage for people to vent their frustrations - verbally and physically. A bit like a Sunday morning match on Hackney Marshes. When it rained it became as slippery as a curling surface, which further added to the danger. I still have (and wear) my torn shirt as a reminder/souvenir.

Our team had committed players including Dougie, our legendary culinary, and sometimes armour-suited goalie. On a couple of occasions we had some quite skillful players, although they quickly moved on when they realised they might have a better chance of winning the league with other teams. There's no loyalty anymore, they only want the big prizes.

After moving to the exalted heights of Beechen Cliff our team morphed, merged and changed names several times, eventually becoming Galaxy Blasters the year before the monumental season of Oldman's triumph.

Playing on a flat, green albeit hard, Astroturf surface was quite a treat, despite the occasional burns acquired from contact with the ground after over-exuberant tackles. Even with the larger hockey goals the change produced a lot of very close games at first.

I have to admit that when Oldman Athletic first emerged I thought, what a good theme and name to match. Comrades in arms so to speak. However much I liked the idea, I never expected them to go on to eventually win the league. Like an old boxer they used all their experience to good effect.

Perhaps the oft-quoted Sir Henry Newbolt's passage "Play up! Play up! And play the game!" became RPC's rallying cry. Stiffening the resolve of old legs to carry the fight from the fumes of memories conjured of younger days.

As determined as they may have been though, some astute signings certainly had a significant impact. But still, the sum may just have been greater than the parts. They struck the right balance. Teamwork.

Effectively organised, they exhibited a plan and stuck to it consistently. Impressively, in spite of their determination to win, they were in my experience, always fair and sporting. I think that counts for a lot.

It's a bit bloody annoying though when a team that we were able previously to beat suddenly became very difficult to win against. They set themselves up to defend, which they did with dogged determination. And then disappointingly, after all your efforts trying to break them down, their forwards would produce a flash of skill resulting in a goal. Who feels like an old man now?

Without our talisman keeper Dougie, and with a new set of players, Galaxy Blasters did not have a great season results wise, but at least we put up a good show against them in back to back 2-0 losses. And, although believing we may finally secure a win against them, we did finish with a 1-1 draw in our third meeting. It was a fair result in the end.

To win anything you must first believe you can win, you must be determined in your efforts and, in a team you must work together and play for each other. Oldman were able to manage all of these things. By the end of the season I was actually pleased that they had won league. Fitting winners.

But why stop now? Play 'till you drop – or your legs fall off. Play the game!

Play up! Play up! And play the game!

By Sir Henry Newbolt

There's a breathless hush in the close to-night

Ten to make and the match to win

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play, and the last man in.

And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat.

Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,

But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote

"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"

The sand of the desert is sodden red-

Red with the wreck of the square that broke

The gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,

And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.

The river of death has brimmed its banks,

And England's far and Honor a name,

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks-

"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"

This is the word that year by year,

While in her place the school is set,

Every one of her sons must hear,

And none that hears it dare forget.

This they all with joyful mind

And bear through life Eke a torch in flame,

falling fling to the host behind-

"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"

## Game 20 vs Galaxy Blasters (4th June 2018)

## Drew 1-1

Since Oldman have become successful, I hate drawing football matches. I never used to, a draw used to be a good result. But now, they are lost points... they are missed opportunities. They are 'what ifs'... 'if onlys'... 'could have beens'. They are about two points dropped rather than one point gained. The difference between drawing and winning (or drawing and losing) are slim margins.

Quite literally, it's about being a second too late to the ball. One second earlier and the defender wouldn't get their foot in and block the shot. One second earlier and we'd have scored. One second earlier and we'd have stopped them scoring. That is what tonight's game was about. Just being a second off the pace to win the game. Galaxy Blasters are captained by JJ. The league's fittest player and arguably one of the league's most competitive players. JJ wants to win... he chases every ball... hustles all the time and can run at 100% for the entire 30 minute game. Galaxy Blasters had a strong team tonight and I'm sure if they had that team for every match of the season they would have picked up a lot more points.

Our team was strong too but we couldn't find a way to unlock Blasters - who defended very well and snuffed out any space to attack in.

We took the lead through a disputed goal. Withers played the ball to me from the left. I was on the edge of the D. I held it, and laid it off to Dan who fired it home. 1-0. At least it was until JJ said "no goal". JJ felt that Dan's foot entered the 'D' after shooting the ball. After much disagreement, we agreed the goal stood. I had a clear view of Dan's goal and could see both Dan and the ball were outside of the 'D' when he shot. The ball wasn't even on the line! It was outside the box.

I'm all for doing the right thing and giving up a goal if it is illegal, but this wasn't so I stood my ground. That didn't go down well.

But, fair play to Galaxy Blasters, they equalised in the later stages of the game after JJ charged down the right wing, and crossed the ball to their striker. His shot was saved by Leesy who parried it back to JJ. JJ crossed again for Rich ( Galaxy Blasters defender) to shoot and score. It was a good goal, but I'm not sure where our defence was at that point. I have a feeling Rich was my man to mark, as I was the closest player to him. Nice goal I remember saying to him, realising I should have stopped him shooting.

The game ended 1-1. A fair result.

Here's my post match email:

A draw it is.

A disputed draw... but Dan's disputed goal was good. Neither Dan nor the ball was in the 'D'. Hence the goal stands and has been agreed with JJ (who is still disagreeing even after agreeing!).

Despite their league position, Galaxy Blasters are a very good side both going forward and defensively. They made us work hard and run around in circles. They crowded the defence and we struggled to find a way through. They did to us what we do to other teams, so hats off to Blasters.

We played well though and had loads more chances than them. I should have scored right at the end, but went for glory rather than the goal -- and predictably hoofed it over the fence.

Leesy coming out of goal changed things again. Perhaps we should have made the switch earlier? But with JJ charging all over the pitch, it is risky removing your best keeper. Still, we have another point which puts us on 50, six clear of Club Trop who we play next week in the final game.

Next weeks game will be Oldman's last game --ever. Hurray! I've thoroughly enjoyed this season, but now cannot wait for it to finish. I think winning the league three games early can do that to you :-)

I said at the beginning of the season that if playing football stops being fun and we take it too seriously, then we will have lost the spirit of Oldman. I think we may have lost that spirit!

Oldman are now a far better team than it has ever been, but 'back in the day' when we won only a handful of games, football was strangely more enjoyable. Oldman never expected to win, so when we did, it was something to be savoured. Now, we don't expect to lose and drawing feels empty because we have lost points or conceded a goal.

Jimmy Greaves was right... It's a funny old game.

If anything, I think it shows that this is the right time to retire Oldman.

That said, I still want us to win next week. It is more fun when you win!

RPC

# Chapter 21. Alex Williams' Thoughts (CMARP)

Throughout this book Rich gives great examples of how to put together the perfect 6-a-side team, covering everything from recruitment and tactics, to the very mind-set needed to win the league. Unfortunately however, this 'recipe for success' is something that Cry Me a River Plate have ill been able to afford and just goes to show how hard it really is to lift the Future Fives title.

Cry Me a River Plate was born roughly four seasons ago after I and another person, also bizarrely called Alex Williams, were rejected from playing for Club Tropicana.

Disillusioned with the selection policy we set out to create our own 6-a-side team that would rival the best.

After sending out emails to the whole company and spending our lunch breaks walking the floors to try and invite anyone who knew how to kick a football, we just about managed to make the league deadline, and submitted our team for the season.

For our first season in the league we were certainly the best looking team on the field, a friend of a friend of a friend owned a retro football clothing company and gave us all 1980's Brazil kits for free! Unfortunately however, we could not quite channel our inner Zico and ended up finishing just a couple of points above Real SoSoBad in 2nd bottom.

It was at this stage we realized that for a team made up of players who had not played football in a long time and some who had never played football at all, winning the league was not a likely possibility.

At this point we made a crucial decision as to the direction of the club, we weren't going to draft in experts and winning the league was not our priority.

Rich has pointed out already how much effort and time that really takes and truthfully we were neither that driven, nor that ambitious. Rather, we decided Cry Me a River Plate would be an inclusive team; anyone who wants a game of football and is free on a Monday night can play, regardless of skill. We wanted to ensure that the same thing that happened to us, being shut out of playing for Club Tropicana, did not happen to anyone else.

As a result, throughout the 4 seasons Cry Me a River Plate have been active, I believe we have fielded the most amount of players out of any team. We have put out onto the field the first woman Future Fives player in a long time, a future European bodybuilding champion, Back End web developers who haven't kicked a ball since school, Future's Group Financial Controller (who kicked more balls over the fence than the other Alex Williams) and everyone in-between.

Great players have come and gone, thus is the nature of being a team made up of people entirely from Future, as people join and leave the company. However, one thing has remained, if you want to play football on a Monday night, you are always welcome to play for us.

All that said... we are getting better!

Our points for the past four seasons are increasing. S1=16. S2 =27. S3=29. S4=30. In our last season where we scored 30 points, Oldman scored 53. We clearly have some way to go to emulate their success, but in most of the previous seasons we have been within a couple of points of Oldman, or even finished above them.

What Oldman Athletic had this season which we lacked was principally three things:

1. A 20+ a season goal scorer.

2. Focus, discipline, organisation and game management

3. A fierce will and determination to win

We may never have these extra ingredients in place, but in previous seasons it was not clear that Oldman had them either. In their championship winning season, it was as if Oldman flicked a switch and went into title winning mode. Perhaps we will do the same one day.

Interestingly enough, we were one of only two teams to beat Oldman in their championship winning season. Admittedly, they had already sown up the league... admittedly they were without any of their star players and admittedly the conditions were horrendous and our winning goal could be classed as a 'freak goal', but we still won.

In fact, roll back a couple of seasons and we were the only team to beat Plus Fives in a 21 game campaign.

Even though CMARP are getting stronger each year, will we ever win the league? That is debatable. As this book has shown, winning the league requires you to go the extra step... it requires you to have the hunger, desire and will to win over a 21 game campaign... it also requires you to have a certain ruthlessness.

But at what cost? Oldman disbanded after winning the league.

We never set up CMARP to win the league, we just wanted to have fun playing football. I think that was Oldman's original ethos too, but arguably success changed them. Perhaps we'll learn the lessons from their success and be true to our founding values and be a team which is open at to all Future employees. Every victory will be celebrated like winning the league -- just as it was for Oldman back in the day.

## Game 21 vs Club Tropican Drinks FC (11th June 2018)

## Game forfeited.

## Default win 5-0

##

## Friendly played against a Club Trop team with four ringers.

## Lost 0-2

Tonight's game... the final ever Oldman game was one of my most enjoyable games of the season. Principally because our opposition, Club Trop didn't have sufficient players to field a legal team. The rules say you can only have two ringers, and they needed three or four extra players so they forfeited the match. This meant we took all three points. Additionally, we were allocated another five goals to our goal tally, and we played the game as a friendly.

It was a beautiful sunny day and everybody wanted to play football ahead of the end of season awards ceremony, so Ben (Club Trop's Vice Captain) put a call out for extra players. He managed to field a team of seven (rather than the usual six), including three Club Trop players plus Dermot from GoalRushe, Matt and Sam from Lovehoney, and Andy Ashwin, one of the original founders of Oldman. Not a bad 'makeshift' Club Trop side.

Oldman had struggled to get a six-man team together for this game. Fawley was away on his charity trek (three Alpine peaks in three countries in three days), Manners was on Dad duty, Reece was on holiday, Strickland was injured and Dawson who was originally down to play, had to cancel at the last minute because the match clashed with his daughters school play. These are the challenges of organising an amateur football game which are shared by football captains all over the world. No wonder no one wants to be captain!

Thankfully, I managed to persuade Jon Palmer to come back and play for the final match. Jon playing seemed fitting as he was one of the original founders of the team.

Prior to the game, I told everybody this match may well be a friendly, but as I had suspected for a long time, Dudman never reads my emails, which is why he played the entire game thinking it was a competitive match, and the rest of us were taking it easy and just enjoying playing football.

I don't know why Dudman didn't question why we had seven players (Ben had suggested we play seven a-side so we borrowed another player to add to our six). We even had an injured Gabs, fully dressed in his work clothes playing in goal for us for a few minutes until Simon Lees arrived. Simon was travelling back from work and his train was cancelled, so he had to get a bus, then a taxi, then run! True commitment to the Oldman cause.

The final game felt much more like playing for Oldman of yesteryear, when we just played football because we enjoyed playing football as a team. We didn't take tonight's match so seriously (apart from Dudman) and had a laugh and a joke on the pitch. Just a bunch of older guys having a good time playing the game they love. That was why Oldman was set up in the first place.

And true to the form of Oldman of yesteryear, we lost 2-0. Thankfully, it didn't matter as the record books will show we won 5-0 given that Club Trop officially forfeited the match because the didn't have enough players. Strange then, how Oldman ended up having to borrow an extra player to make up a 7 a-side team. It's a funny old game.

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Oldman Athletic receiving their winners trophy.

My final post match email:

And so it is over. Thank goodness.

The Oldman journey from 2015 has been massively enjoyable, and whichever point you joined the journey, it has been great to play on the same team as you.

Winning the title is an amazing accomplishment, made all the sweeter for beating Fran and Plus Fives.

I've really enjoyed this season, but it feels right to end Oldman now. It made my day that Jon Palmer came back to play for the final match.

Tonight's game was an interesting one. I think we all knew it was a friendly apart from Dave Dudman, which explains why he was taking it so seriously. I was impressed with his commitment and energy, but now, knowing that he thought it was a competitive match, it all makes sense.

Thanks again for being part of Oldman -- it has been a season we'll never forget. Especially as I've written a book about it, which will soon be available in all good book shops.

See you at Wednesday or Thursday football.

Cheers.

RPC

#  Chapter 22. Business Lessons from Winning the League

In years gone by I have written various business books, specifically about entrepreneurship, leadership and marketing.

Initially, I had thought I could turn this book about Oldman's title winning season into a business book and reflect on the lessons which came from winning the title and apply them to business.

It soon became apparent when writing it, that it wasn't a book about business, but clearly a book about football. No surprises there.

But, at a deeper level, it is actually a book about a group of people, with different skills and abilities, different strengths and weaknesses, coming together to achieve a common goal in a competitive environment.

This book is about a team getting the most out of the sum of its parts. And to my mind, that is what business managers and leaders strive to do each day.

On reflection, I think there are worthy business lessons to take away from the Oldman story, which are worthy of business leaders bearing in mind. None of the lessons are new or breakthrough ideas, but are simply plain old leadership truths, which prove once more that the fundamentals of leadership and teamwork hold true.

In this short chapter, I'll touch on each of the lessons learnt and apply them to business.

But before I do, I'd like to talk once more about my nemesis and friend this season, Fran Harvey, the captain of Plus Fives.

I have maintained through this book that it is easier to win the league when you have the best players -- and historically Plus Fives has always had the best, fittest and most skilful players, which is why in years gone by have been able to romp away with the league. In one recent campaign, Plus Fives went the entire 21 game season undefeated and scored 93 goals, conceding only six.

Fran maintains that Oldman had the best players this season and that in previous year Plus Fives had been down to its desire and team spirit -- as well as having good players. I don't dispute in years gone by they wanted it more and had a great team spirit. Plus Fives would regularly celebrate their Monday night victories in the Widcombe Ram, mostly because one of their players -- Kris Russell (also strangely known as 'Bucket') -- had Tuesdays off work and this was his 'night out'

I don't dispute that Plus Fives had greater levels of desire in their winning years, and greater leadership and discipline. Two years ago in their invincible season, Jamie Orrell, the then captain of Plus Fives would not let Fran play outfield. That was firm and uncompromising leadership.

Fran spent the entire season twiddling his thumbs in goals as Plus Fives were so strong, hardly any opposition had a shot on goal. Plus Fives conceded just six goals that season. I admire Jamie for his decision to keep Fran in goal.

But what I do dispute with Fran is that Oldman had the best players this season. We had good players, some very good, but, Dave Manners apart, not the best, not the most skilful, not the fittest, and certainly not the youngest. I think Club Trop had better and more game changing players. They certainly played more attractive football.

I have challenged Fran to tell me which players from Oldman he would sooner have over his Plus Fives players.

I argued the following point with Fran.

If Plus Fives had Dave Manners (24 goals this season) and we had their main striker, Chris Headley (28 goals this season), Oldman would still have won the league.

If Plus Fives had Simon Lees in goal and we had Fran, Oldman would still have won the league.

If Plus Fives had Mike Reece or Gabriel Sanchez as attackers and we had Fran playing outfield as an attacking wingback, Oldman would still have won the league.

If Plus Fives had Martin Fawley or Simon Withers in defence and we had their main defender -- Joe Warren -- , Oldman would still have won the league.

If Plus Fives had Dan Kelly in attack and we had one of their attackers (Charlie, Lewis or Tom), Oldman would still have won the league.

If Plus Fives had Dave Dudman in defence and we had Will Hodges, Oldman would still have won the league.

This is simply because the sum of the parts of Oldman (this season at least) worked better than our competitors.

Our discipline, formation and greater desire, plus the defensive foundation on which the team was built (Fawley, Dudman, Withers, Reece and Lees) was exceptional.

Yes we had one of the best strikers in Dave manners, but so did Plus Fives in Chris Headley, who actually scored more goals than Manners (in the same amount of games).

My argument to Fran was that as captain of Plus Fives, he had one job to do at the start of the season, which was to recruit the right players and get them on the pitch in the right positions.

Everything else is secondary.

I think if I did something right this season as captain, it was to recruit the right players and play them in the right positions, which often meant not playing myself. There are many better players than me in every position, so I just filled in the gaps when needed.

Here are the business lessons which can be taken from Oldman Athletics' title winning season.

1.Retention: Keep hold of your best employees

People change job regularly, seeking new opportunities, new growth and a better financial package. This is good for them, but can have a dramatic impact on the business they are leaving. It takes time to find and develop good people. When they go, they leave a hole and cause disruption. Recognise good talent, and try your best to keep hold of then... just as Barcelona does with Messi and we did with Manners and Withers.

2. Release: Be prepared to let employees go

Just as important as it is to keep hold of your best players, it is important you do not carry passengers who are not contributing. Sometimes, to achieve your goal, you have to sever ties. Emotion and sentiment can get in the way, but you need a fully functioning team to achieve your goals. During the season, we had to release Will Hodges, Andy Fenton, Jon Palmer and Gabriel Sanchez to make room for new players who could help us win the league.

3.Recruitment: Recruit new employees to keep your team strong and fresh

Keep your eyes open for new talent who can help contribute to the team. One person can inject new life into an existing team. Not everybody will fit in your team or share your values and belief. The wrong person can do more damage, even if they are technically brilliant. Our most important signing was Mike Reece. Without signing him mid-season, we would not have won the league.

4. Get everybody in your team/organisation on board with your goals and vision

Set a BHAG -- a Big Hairy Audacious Goal, and get everyone onboard with it. You may fail to reach it, but at least you'll give it a good go. We set a goal to win the league, and did it! Every decision we made was based on achieving that goal. Working towards the goal upped our game too. In previous seasons we had just turned up and played. This year, we took it more seriously.

5.Get the right people in the right positions

Once you have the right people on the bus, you need to make sure they are sat in the right seats... more specifically, ensure everybody is doing the right work where they can excel. Everybody in Oldman knew the position they played in and the responsibility they had. We tried hard to make sure everybody was playing in a position where they could play their best football and make their biggest contribution to the team.

6. Have discipline

You need discipline to succeed and reach your goals. You need to do the right things at the right time. This may mean doing unglamorous tasks or doing things you don't want to when you don't want to, but often this is what is needed to win. Oldman had incredible self-discipline during the season. Our defence stuck to their guns, held their shape and made it incredibly difficult for the opposition to score. It would have been very easy for our defenders Withers, Dudman or Fawley to lose their concentration, switch off and leave us vulnerable, but they didn't. They had discipline.

7.Have passion, desire and belief

Winning takes more than skill and talent. It takes passion, desire and belief. It takes persistence, commitment and hunger. It is the intangible things which make tangible differences. Ben Wilson said it best in Chapter 12. He said Oldman were 'Relentless'. This is because we had the necessary passion, desire and belief to keep pushing. All teams need these intangibles to reach their goals. It is the responsibility of the leader to create the environment where the team can succeed. If the passion is not there, then changes are needed -- either in environment or personnel.

8.Play to your strengths and minimise your weaknesses

Ever individual and team has its own strengths and weaknesses. The key to winning and reaching your goals is to capitalise on you strengths and find ways to minimise your weaknesses. In Oldman, we played to the strengths of Dave Manners as a goal scorer and the defensive strengths of Fawley, Dudman and Withers. We minimised our weaknesses(i.e. lack of pace in Fawely, Dudman and Withers) by playing Gabs and later Mike Reece as an attacking wingback. These two guys had the legs to both attack and defend. In creating this balance, we had an incredible attacking formation, but strong defence. Essentially though, we played this formation due to our lack of pace at the back.

9.Work Hard

There is no getting away from it. Winning, succeeding and reaching your goals takes an incredible amount of hard work and effort. In Oldman's case, this was not just hard work on the pitch, but also hard work behind the scenes, organising, communicating, planning, recruiting, releasing... doing whatever it takes to win.

10.Do whatever it takes to win!

Winning and reaching your goals needs to become an all consuming obsession (for every member of the team). Once you are clear in what you want to achieve and you believe you can achieve it, then you need to do whatever it takes to reach your goal. Oldman tried everything to find an advantage. We kept looking for small areas of improvement, whether that was buying new 'day-glow orange' shirts, stopping 'star players' from playing as ringers for our rivals, or fighting for ever '50:50' decision. We wanted to win the league and did whatever it took to win.
Chapter 23. Postscript - The World Cup (Russia 2018)

11th June 2018 was the final game of the Future Fives league for the Winter/Spring 2017/18 season.

Three days later on the 14th June, the 2018 World Cup started.

For a few barmy, sticky, heat wave filled weeks, we -- England -- thought 'football was coming home'.

It nearly did... but nearly is not good enough.

In my lifetime, England have been in the semi-finals of a major tournament three times. Italia 90, Euro 96 and now Russia 2018.It seems when it gets to the big crunch games, England just don't have enough to get over the line.

In Italia 90 we lost to Germany on penalties.

In Euro 96 we lost to Germany again on penalties, and in Russia 2018, we lost to a superior Croatia team in extra-time.

Everybody has their own views on why England couldn't go the whole way. I thought I'd end this book with mine.

1. Lack of on pitch leadership.

Clearly England have leaders all over the pitch, but when it really mattered, in the second half and in extra time against Croatia England grew weaker rather than stronger. To my mind, the team was missing a real leader who stepped up and owned the match. I'm thinking here of Beckham in the Euro qualifying match against Greece when he scored a last minute free kick. Or Sol Campbell (in a defeat) against Argentina in France 98 after Beckham had been sent off. Occasionally one player steps forward and raises the performance of everybody else on the pitch. I didn't see that against Croatia. It is easier said than done, but when we needed somebody to step up, no one did.

2. Lack of world class midfield players.

A massive difference between England and Croatia was the lack of world class midfield. For sure, Dele Alli and Jessi Lingard are exceptional players, but they 'currently' fall short of Modric and Rakitic'. Modric won the Golden Ball in the World Cup for the best player. I think that seems right. He was phenomenal and turned it on when it mattered. I still think Croatia were the better team and had the referee not given a questionable VAR influenced penalty for handball, I'm sure Croatia would have gone on to win the final. I had tipped Croatia to win the World Cup from watching their early games as they just stood out as a winning team. Their ability to bounce back from going behind in two knock-out games was extraordinary, and the energy and hustle factor they had was mind blowing. Modric was at the heart of all of that. In Modric, they had a leader and world class midfielder. If only Gareth Bale, Modric's Real Madrid team mate was born 40 miles further west of Cardiff, England would have had such a player and I think we could have won the World Cup! Sadly, he's Welsh.

3. Lack of goals from open play

England scored 12 goals in the world cup (13 if you include the 3rd vs 4th place match), more than many other teams. But we all know much of that tally was down to the 6-1 win over Panama. That win is a bit like Oldman Athletic beating Real SoSoBad 12-0. It doesn't really reflect reality. What is interesting is the fact that only 3 goals came from open play (Jesse Lingard against Panama, Dele Alli against Sweden and Harry Kane against Panama -- with a lucky deflected touch), all other goals were from set pieces or penalties. I think this shows the real problem with England. Football wise, we are just not good enough at the moment. Interestingly, England had the best statistic in the tournament for passes completed, but few of them unlocked the door and penetrated defences. We needed a midfielder who could find a killer pass, or a player who run at defences. Defender Harry Mcguire seemed to be the only person who was capable of running with the ball.

4. Substitutions

My personal feeling is that Harry Kane should have been substituted in the semi-final game against Croatia. In the first three games of the tournament, Kane was on fire. In the remaining games, he looked off the pace, he wasn't making the runs he'd previously made, and he was missing chances he'd normally have scored. It is a big call to take off your main striker, but I wonder if Vardy would have offered more in that role (or was he unavailable due to a thigh strain?). Vardy on for Kane at 60 minutes could have made all the difference. I thought the same with Dele Alli. He didn't seem to be on top of his game throughout the whole tournament, and to beat a team like Croatia in a World Cup semi-final, you need every player playing their best football.

5. Too many mistakes and poor decisions

In the semi-final, the number of mistakes and poor decisions made by England was significant. We lost concentration. Naturally the stakes are so high that judgement can become impaired, but watching the game, we were lucky not to be caught out more often by some wayward back passes or underweight passes.

For all these negatives, there were many positives for England in the 2018 world cup. Gareth Southgate possibly being the main one. It was his squad and team selection, his tactics (no doubt with the help of his back room staff) and his day-to-day decisions and leadership which I suspect had the biggest impact on the success England had.

Football very nearly came home... we may never have another chance like that with the easy path to the final where we avoided the big footballing nations.

Qatar 2022 will be a different story altogether. I wonder how that will pan out with the heat and environment. Qatar conditions are not conducive to the English game.

But as a final thought, I am not sure it is the conditions which make or break a team. I think it is the mindset of the players. Every player on the England squad has the footballing ability (and fitness) to warrant being there. They are some of the best players in England. But when the chips are down, and their backs are too the wall (as they were with Croatia), do they have the mindset to win on the biggest stage?

Ex-footballer and now TV pundit Roy Keane came in for a lot of stick for his comments suggesting that English fans got carried away with the ride. He was right, especially with his comment of 'do you know how hard it is to win a World Cup semi-final yet alone a final?'.

Irishman Keane played club football at the highest level and knows what it takes to win big tournaments and championships.

How we would of liked to have a player and leader like Keane in the England side. A player and leaders of his standing would have made all the difference.

Oldman and Plus Fives players watching England vs Belgium in the Ram. This game was on a Thursday night and most people had played in our regular friendly game beforehand.

This was one of the hottest days of the year, and was twice as hot in the pub. Thankfully £350 spent on food and drink helped cool us down. Mick the landlord seemed happy.

Plus Fives and Oldman rivalries are put to one side as we all support our national team.

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Dejected faces shortly after Belgium scored. As it turned out, losing to Belgium was the best thing that could have happened as it gave us an easier route to the semi-finals.

#  Chapter 24. Greg MacGregor's Original Unedited Foreword

I asked Greg MacGregor to write the Foreword for this book. Greg has played in the league for many years and won it five times with Plus Fives. In the actual foreword to this book, I changed quite of bit of Greg's original text, as I felt it mentioned too many different people and distracted from those who this book is really about, namely Withers, Fawley, Dudman, Lees, Gabs, Kelly, Manners and Reece.

But... In memory of all those who have gone before Oldman Athletic in the Future Fives league, I wanted to include Greg's original text. The names will not mean anything to most readers, but they will mean a lot to those who have played in the league in the years following its inception in 2004.

Here's Greg's original Foreword unchanged:

What is the fascination with football?

It's an age old game, that may or may not have started on these very English shores or even in China if you take the word of the upstanding, cough, Sepp Blatter, for many years piloting the direction of the world's favourite pastime.

And that allure to play both footie or footy attracts all sorts. And from every walk of life. Just look at our ludicrous five-a-side league that grew from being a company wide knockabout on concrete tennis courts around the back of a leisure centre to all-out football war up at Beechen Cliff.

Of course the competition has changed over the years, from playing on those moss-of-doom filled concrete ice rinks to straightforward carpet-burn astro turf. Heck, it's not even five-a-side any longer \- we've picked up a player along the way.

Starting at the beginning then: here's to the dearly remembered Dave Williams who kicked off the league. He saw the Future: company departments kicking lumps out of each other every Monday night but everyone uniting in their belief that Sean Igoe was a dick.

Ad salesman, accountants, IT professionals, writers and editors, videographers, commercial bods, company seniors. No-one was above being slammed into the wooden side-boards with a well-timed shoulder charge. The Automotive floor colleagues seemed to excel at this.

Ah, the carpark of dreams.

To this writer's minds there have been ambulances called twice, one serious concussion, more than five broken bones and dislocations, and some three to four punches thrown over the seasons. It matters.

This is football. Our football. Our league. Our team. Our mates. Our win. Our trophy. Or is that just how Plus Fives and Future Games thought?

Way back, after the initial years saw the team from ad sales take the early honours via the vicious bashing of Igoe and co, it was the brilliance of Future Games who established a first dominance.

The neat promptings of Dan Dawkins and Nathan Irvine supplied Ben Wilson, Nathan Ditum and others to thunder into the net from all angles. Could anyone ever beat Lee Hart in a one on one?

That was the second iteration of their all-conquering side after sharp-shot Lee Collins had monopolised the goal-scoring charts for several years, only successfully completing three passes to team-mates on the same side across some 23 months. Even now he may not realise that he had team-mates, blissfully unaware. That xG though; off the scale.

An early prototype Plus Fives side under Dave Williams and Gary Tipp challenged before the likes of Damian McGee and Steve Pashley helped break the status quo.

Inter Circulation - the guys from subscriptions, nothing to do with keeping the ball - were another half-decent outfit with Russell Hughes, Andy Fenton, Richard Jeffries, Mike Shakespeare and Russell James briefly in the reckoning.

They followed on from the relentless squeaking and on-pitch harassing of Garrick Webster powering their midfield.

Chris Wiles was barely proficient now. And Goalrushe - despite a heavily armoured Neil wearing gardening equipment to keep goal - were competing for the league too; Jason Hudson, the effervescent Brian Hook, Phil Aster and later Dermot Rushe augmenting the team from the production side of the company.

From Scary Steve Chalmers in goal to one-rocket-shot-per-game Jules Truss there was a good level of competitiveness (with a pint at the end of the season)until you met the likes of Farcelona under Ben Richards and Simon Withers many moons ago.

In those times there were few rules, and scores of 27-0 and more were recorded, working out at a goal every 67 seconds in a half hour game. Utterly ruthless and completely soul-destroying for a bunch of blokes you'd then laugh about it over an early morning cappuccino in the Deli the next morning.

A new wave of players with great potential was emerging however: Chris Hedley, Ryan Lewis, the overly energetic James Jarvis, and briefly foreign footballers with tremendous skills, Thun and Jackie.

A second Games team sprang up, under Andy Leung and Dave Boddington, and another from ad sales. With fresh impetus and ideas and more teams than ever, some bureaucracy was needed, ably provided by the 360-degree-spinning new sheriff in town: Mark Donald.

Referees, rule changes, squad registration, collection of the monies, running the end-of-season do, sorting out on-pitch squabbles, establishing whether as a freelancer you still counted as 'Future' or not, inspecting the courts to see if games were 'on' after a rainy Monday afternoon,. There was much to do.

Roughly on par with the formation of the Premier League, the Last Supper, the Night of the Long Knives and Churchill's Yalta Conference, league officiator and perennial runner-up Donald held a meeting out the back of the Royal Oak one hot summer night.

Legend has it that, with possibly more interest in the last plate of sausage rolls quickly disappearing, a motion was passed, change was afoot and the league was moving on. A new venue had been agreed: Beechen Cliff.

It would take some three more years however before which on-pitch markings were universally accepted as being a zone around which everyone could stop Hedley blasting the ball at them from. Was the school janitor laughing as he painted them blue to diminish visibility further on dark, dank winter nights? "It was inside!" is a refrain likely etched into many a caring mind across the seasons.

The change saw some older players such as Ollie Alderton, Tim Clarke, Andy Hartup and Nick Moyle disappear from the scene.

Others remained however such as former international player Andy Williams, with three caps for Wales no less including playing Brazil, playing on and being told what to with the ball from the side-lines along with everyone else, that pedigree firmly discarded.

New teams were springing up and ringers were rung in from all over.

Future Games were no more and Plus Fives jumped in to fill the power vacuum as fast as they hit a swift one in the pub after games, the skilful Jamie Orrell to the fore.

Exquisite players such as Dave Manners, Kristopher Russell, Gabriel Sanchez and Dan Kelly joined up or were coaxed back. Doug Walker was now an unbeatable rock in goal playing one-twos with non-stop running son Aaron from his own 'D'.

Invitational teams were invited and then had the temerity to win. The league instantly fought back - how dare these outsiders turn up and score more goals than existing aristocrats?

And so we arrive at something like the present with local Bath veterans - Fran, Dave Dudman, Andy Shaw and others - signing up and adding to the circus.

The league has carried on despite hardy times and at it's current expansion rate will likely be broadcast on pay-per-view TV channels for millions of pounds in the year 2072 competed for by professional players. And still Goalrushe will fail to win the title.

To quote the great Sir Alex Ferguson who may or may not have been watching a Future Fives game in the sheering rain for half an hour with four rolling subs on a Monday evening before constantly refreshing the online Republic league recording website the next day hoping for a quick update from the administrator:

"football, bloody hell..."

