Last weekend was notable for the well attended Fireworks Display, the Ladies’ 1sts magnificent 2-0 away win over Chelmsford and the failure of any of the Men’s teams to record a win except for the Veterans and they did so twice with the Saturday team beating Bedford 9-1 at home and the stronger and more youthful Sunday side defeating IES 8-2 away in the EH Masters Over 40’s Cup. On Saturday Andy Palmer made a welcome if tentative return for his first game since breaking his arm very badly playing in goal at the end of last season when he had a run out at right half and on Sunday it must have felt like a return to past first team glories with Stuart Baker scoring a hat trick and Philip Cobbald, back from Hong Kong, chipping in with a brace. The other scorers were Roger Kent, Andy Caston and David Blackmore. In the next round on December 6 the team will be at home to Pelicans.

The thanks of the organising committee go to everyone who supported the Fireworks Display as paying customers or as helpers with the bonfire building and lighting, stewarding, car parking and catering. Unfortunately the weather forecasters got it right and it began raining at about 5.30pm and continued for most of the evening. Despite the weather I hope everyone enjoyed the event and especially the superb fireworks display.

Congratulations to the Ladies’ 1sts for moving to within a point of Ipswich at the top of the league. They have another testing match this Saturday at Chigwell (11.30) when they take on Old Loughtonians and by coincidence the Men’s 1sts entertain the OLs on Sunday (2.15) after being frustrated by a late Indian Gymkhana equaliser last Sunday in the 3-3 draw. Well done also to the Ladies Development for their 4-1 win over Yarmouth and to the Ladies’ 3rds for their 9-0 victory over Evergreens. The young and skilful Development team had to be patient until their almost constant pressure paid off with the first goal approaching half time and the 3rds proved why they have a 100% record after five games with a commanding performance with Frances Taylor in fine form in the middle. Meantime the Men’s 3rds played out a good 2-2 draw with fellow league leaders Norwich Dragons. Unfortunately skipper Mark Lewis will be unable to play this season after sustaining a shoulder injury when he was the innocent party in a serious car accident in the summer. Mark is sportingly carrying out the duties of skipper except for playing as did Joel Nelson, his predecessor, for much of last season.

This weekend will be an especially busy two days for the club as in addition to the usual league programme on Saturday (and the Men’s 1sts on Sunday) we are fielding teams in the England Youth Cups on Sunday at U14 Boys and Girls, U16 Boys and Girls and U18 Boys and Girls levels. The U14 Girls travel to Spalding and the U16 Boys are away to City of Peterborough with the other teams at home. This means that the club is putting out 20 teams this weekend! I wish them all good luck. Please see the Home Page on the website for more details and please come along if you are free to cheer our teams on.

Comments in brief

· Both pitches and internal paths have been given their annual treatment to keep at bay the dreaded algae and moss which can so easily devastate water based pitches in particular and I ask members to wipe their boots before entering the pitches as algae can be spread from grass or contamination from other pitches.

· Honorary Life Member Andrew Longe has been maintaining the floodlights since the first pitch was built in 1991 and I thank him for the recent work he has carried out.

· Congratulations to Cherry Seaborn who has been selected for the England U18 training squad from which the final team will be selected, to the U11 Boys who won the Minis Tournament at Weybread last Sunday and to defender Melissa Hunter who last Saturday scored her first goal for the club for seven years! In fairness I should add that for three of these years Melissa was away at university!

· I apologise to the Ladies’ 2nds (including Melissa) for not giving their first win of the season the headline it deserved last week. I hope to do better next time they win!

· Please note your diary for the Ferret Racing and Bangers & Mash Night to be held in the clubhouse on Saturday 5 December. Further details to be announced shortly.

With kind regards and best wishes Mike Denham 01603 506925 [email protected] 10/11/09