TWFC

This week we welcomed back Eddie117 from a self imposed hiatus abroad, which, we believe, was for a period of agrarian existence. We had not seen him at the club since April 2025 when he top scored with eight goals and received Player of the Match in a 20 - 8 drubbing of a team lead by Jimmy9 and Israel90.

The last match report deals with the unsuccessful machinations to get the championship belt outcome overturned. With Israel90 the new belt holder Leon94 was left to ask for an immediate rematch. Israel90 agreed to face him again next week. A series of drop outs led to Elvis, who was fifth on the waiting list, being propelled into the fixture and immediately into an eliminator bout against Jimmy9. Neither of them had captained in the Old School Captains League before.

The mind games and strategic psyching started immediately the team selections were finalised. Elvis commiserated with Jimmy9 on the only possible outcome for the match. Leon94, who was not even turning up, advised that to make things fair Eddie117 should join Jimmy9's team. To the delight of his team Jimmy9 silenced critics with the simple line:

'I am happy with my team.'

When the detractors told him it was his funeral his further simple urbane response was:

'Wear black.'

Apologies we have no video this week, the rain played havoc with our camera. I will try and paint a picture of the match with words.

Someone once said 'football in England had become a grey game, played on grey days ...', we knew what they meant as the mid evening drizzle started. However, we did not feel like grey players as our fixture was lit up by the White Bibs playing a formidable defensive line up that contrived to go into every tackle 100% and get to every loose ball first and stymie shots. This set up confused the attack minded Muftis to the degree that early doors they were pulled forward enough for the White Bibs to go 2 - 0 ahead and hold that lead for a long period. When we look at the anatomy of what the captain Jimmy9 had done we see that he had created a hugely strong defensive line up and then given Chev and JonF the licence to go forward. The interesting aspect of this White Bibs' formation was that the club had not seen Chev play the attacker role before nor has the club often seen Jimmy9 sit back and play the defender role. This was in essence not what the Mufti could have prepared for.

Here we commend Jimmy9 for placing himself where he could see and influence the whole game as captain.

However, we all know that 2 - 0 up is at times the most dangerous score in football (just ask Spurs after the European Super Cup 2025). When VIIGeorgeVII finally beat the White Bibs' defence and keeper to get the first goal for Elvis's team they celebrated with uncommon gusto at having finally broken a stubborn defensive unit. When they drew level their joy showed the relief at the fruits of their labours and when the Mufti went ahead the players exhorted each other to produce the standard win that their captain had predicted before the match.

White Bibs 2 - 3 Mufti - Though not on the rocks the White Bibs' defence seemed to be being ground down.

White Bibs 2 - 4 Mufti - At this point Elvis's team had daylight going into the closing stages of the match and his attacking philosophy was winning the day. On the other hand the obdurate defence of Coach Hagenius, Israel90 and Jimmy9 did not break formation and continued to track every runner and refuse them time to calmly place the ball into the net.

Even the combined force of Eddie117, Kenanaliriza, Naz and the twinkle toed Elvis were unable to increase the Muftis' lead. No matter how they tried they were unable to unpick both the White Bibs' defence and beat their keeper. In coming forward the Mufti were left less structured at the back and with time running out the White Bibs moved the ball forward to bring the game to White Bibs 3 - 4 Mufti. During the period of play both sides missed open goals and also the woodwork spectacularly denied a beautiful strike. In extra time the White Bibs hit again to bring the score to 4 - 4. As the clock ticked on we were deep into the next team's time. But they had not come to the gate. The rain was working in the favour of the teams on the pitch. Jimmy9 was quietly encouraged to call the game a Noble Draw. But with his lion heart against VIIGeorgeVII's warrior heart the teams had to accept that the match would go on. With the next twist Israel90 became the big target man for his keeper to go long to. After years of teams building up for the back, Route One is something that quite a few players have somehow forgotten about.

A voice said last goal wins and through sheer grit and determination Israel90 muscled his way to own the ball up front and slot it home for the White Bibs.

White Bibs 5 - 4 Mufti - In that moment Naz extended a gentleman's hand to gracefully accept defeat. He would later reflect that he was not captain and so technically he should not have done so but did it anyway in the belief that things were unlikely to improve.

VIIGeorgeVII was awarded match ball for being the only person to score a hat-trick in the nine goal thriller. Ever the perfectionist Coach Hagenius later stated:

'George scored 3 as a result of the defensive work that we put in against the attacking players Naz, Elvis and Ellis. He took advantage of the space he was given, so fair play to him.'

In the spirit of recognition of ones opponent Ellislewis123 later kindly nominated Niyi as Player of the Match for having a good shift in goal for the White Bibs. Other players agreed and Niyi accepted this but was clear that it was for the team as their prowess meant their opponents had precious little time to beat him.

Final Score

White Bibs 5 - 4 Mufti

Match awarded to the White Bibs

The win launches Jimmy into a title shot position against the winner of the Israel90 vs Leon94 rematch.

In the stakes of Old School Captains (arranged in alphabetical order where WLD the same)

Leon94 C7x W5 D0 L2

VIIGeorgeVII C5x W3 D0 L2

Israel90 C2x W2 D0 L0

Jimmy9 C1x W1 D0 L0

MGure C1x W1 D0 L0

Jumhal C2x W1 D0 L1

Mash10 C2x W1 D0 L1

Naz C5x W1 D0 L4

BILZ96 C1x W0 D0 L1

Elvis C1x W0 D0 L1

Fabiocc17 C1x W0 D0 L1

Hagenius C1x W0 D0 L2

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC