Anyway Saturday morning came and I felt awful...man flu definitely kicking in. I went to the U13 Whites semi final and was gutted to see them just lose out after creating enough chances to win 2 or 3 games, never mind one.
After trying to console the lads I headed towards the Oranges game.
I bumped into Brian Stewart (U13 Greens coach) out on his bike. "Have you seen the Oranges lads over there", "yeah, they are just turning up now".
Brian turned his bike round and headed over with me.
When I got there I started to get the lads together and seen that Brian was talking to a few parents. "Howay Bri lad, gis a hand warming them up"...even though he wasn't 'kitted up' he helped me warm the lads up and we managed to sort the starting line up out with the help of the lads.
This game was going to be a really hard affair, the opposition were Whiteleas, top of the league with a 100% win record. The Oranges were hanging around the bottom of the league.
The game got underway and both teams played really good committed football. At half time it was still 0-0...and Brian who had only been passing by on his bike was still there helping me, encouraging the lads all the way.
The second half got underway and Whiteleas took the lead. Now normally you would expect the league leaders to storm away with the game. This didn't happen and the Oranges kept battling away deservedly equalizing and then taking a 2-1 lead...guess what...Brian was still there.
The game continued, all the time with me moaning on about my man flu and Brian still there helping the lads out. Against the run of play Whiteleas scored an equalizer with about 30 seconds to go. A 2-2 draw was still a cracking result for the Oranges.
It just goes to show that HTJ gets into your blood...because the last 3 people left at the pitch getting the nets down were me, moaning about my man flu, Brian and his son Kai.
Firslty well done to the Oranges, great perfomance and result.
Next cheers to young Kai for helping put the nets and corner flags away, etc.
Next a massive "Cheers' to Brian for all his help...if you had just peddled past me you could have been sat in the house with a nice warm cup of tea.
BTW, Brian then headed off carrying the nets and going to do some coaching on the 3g for the 'Mash up' session...dedication without a doubt.
... Norm (u13 whites coach)