Longlevens AFC

Following the very successful day we had on Saturday 15th July, when we completed the 13th annual Seven-a-Side competition, the Club Chairman, making his nervous debut behind the microphone, made a blinding omission from his pre-presentation speech.

Only too aware of the fact that it is all too easy to forget to thank all of the right people, I actually made notes on my copy of the competition -

I had included the 'ground-crew' who had dug holes, erected temporary goals and turned up before 7.00am on Saturday in order to sort out the car parking arrangements - I'll no doubt miss someone here as well, but I know this crew was led by Jason Griffiths and included -

Martin Peters, Roy Gilbert, Anthony Silk, Matt Knight (alias Billy Elliot) and Jamie Edgecombe (Friday night) and on Saturday morning they were joined by James French and Ryan in putting up the nets.

On the day, we were struggling for numbers to serve behind the bar, but as ever people volunteered and stepped into breach - because of my microphone duties, the following list is bound to have omissions -  but I did see Dave Taylor, Daryl Organ; Jason Dodsworth; Mel Warren, Steve Farrell, Shaun Hancox and not forgetting the Disco Dancing efforts of Jase Griffiths, who had no right to have had that amount of energy left.

I thanked Club President - Roger Bevan and Emily for their work behind the barbecue - Emily standing in for Diane who has been there every other year.

I thanked the referees for doing such a grand job and we had a first for the competition in that Caroline Penrith, who is attached to the Greyhounds Ladies side, became the first female 'whistle blower' and she was ably aided and abetted by those regular stalwarts Jeff Crickett; Andy Davies; Terry Gladwin and Adrian Sysum - I've stuck to alphabetical sequence, as I don't want to be accused of favouritism.

So, as I was thanking all of these people, I was frantically trying to read my list upside down, because I had moved to the front of the 'stage' and was now on the wrong side of my desk.  (The stage incidentally looks suspiciously like a curtain-sided lorry - our thanks to Terry Hathaway for this and additionally for re-painting the car-park gate and bollards - all this from a guy who has no actual connection to the Club.)

Then there was 'Trigger' who loaned us the P.A. system and Trevor O'Neill who provided the generator - there are just so many people to thank.

I thought I had done the lot and moved on to thank the players and spectators for attending (although by this time I think we were down to just the two participating teams, the referees, the presentation party and a small smattering of spectators) and we then smoothly proceeded with the presentation itself - ok lads job done, let's get to the bar.

But no!  There was still work to be done, we then had the ground clearing crew - Jason Griffiths and Doddy were whipping down goalposts even as the presentation was taking place, additional thanks to Ryan 'Skipper' Bevan, Danny Moore, Craig Chambers, Kev Phillips, Andrea and Billy Griffiths for their litter clearance.

OK back in the car park, relaxing with Strongbie in my hand - Magners had run out hours ago and every soft drink was just about sold out - and the general consensus seemed to be that organisationally, this was probably as good as it has been and the referees commented on the fact that games had been played in the right spirit, with very few unnecessary incidents.

At this point Doddy turned to me and said that people were surprised that I hadn't thanked the organising committee - well, fan my hooter, as they say, well we do in our family, I could not believe that I had forgotten the essential part of the team - I know that you need every bit of the jig-saw to make the thing work, but without the committee, you just don't get the thing off the ground.

As well as this, these same committee members had been willing volunteers on the day itself, so can I say lads that I humbly beg your collective pardons and may I put my thanks on record for Ryan Bevan; Craig Chambers; Andrew Davis and James  French - once again I have stuck simply with alphabetical sequence.  Rumour has it that Craig Martin was also on this Committee, but he couldn't stand the pace and ran away to America.  If you're still 'hitting' the Website Spider, best of luck to you and the Trout!

Suffice to say that I owe you all a pint!

Can I just say what a successful and enjoyable day it was and there was the added bonus that people hung around into the evening and those of us who stayed the distance had a good night as I hope everybody else did.

Bill Davis (Club Chairman)