As a follow up to the excellent article by Gavin, as promised, I’d like to add my reflections of the last 3 years, even though 2 events this year, now mean I am no longer involved, ie we moved away from Brightlingsea, and at the same time I finished up having quadruple heart bypass surgery.
So, as Gavin stated, it all started 3 years ago, and as the numbers started to grow, many of us were attracted to this new growing sport, whatever our skill levels were.
It seemed like after a few weeks as things grew and developed, Gavin sought help in trying to run the WFC off the field activities. Then I offered to help and visited him at home. What I took on board was some of the admin, such as membership details, upcoming fixtures, whether friendly or tournaments etc.
One of the early problems, especially when taking part in tournaments under the jurisdiction of the WFA(FA) was that everyone had to have a FA Fan Number!
We took part in a number of tournaments that first year, especially at Foxash, who were always good hosts, and an Age Concern tourney at Ipswich.
I think it is fair to say at this stage, we were not as progressed as a number of other teams, but we were always willing to improve.
We did however enjoy the post training gatherings in the Freemasons, when we then tried to put the club on firmer footing re accounts sponsorship etc, whilst always recognising the support the parent club, Brightlingsea Regent FC, who had helped us in the first place.
Other tournaments followed in 2019. One in Colchester, memorable because Mick Barry came away with a bleeding split lip, erm! no contact, flailing arm, no foul. Another at Sudbury(?), the B team lost 2 players to injury in the first few minutes, no subs left, we lost 10-0, well it was against Cornard.
We then hosted our first tournament in May, which coincided with the FA Cup Final and the BRFC’s Party on the Pitch, what a long day that was, also memorable, as one of our players was sent off by our own neutral referee. It was Ash who called the ref, sadly the late Steve Akers, a banker, or something like that. Personally, I thought he was wrong, Steve, I think, was an accountant.
Another tourney was over at Buntingford, near Bishop Stortford, a day long event featuring many different forms of football, well organised, and everybody got a trophy. In 2020 & 2021 repeat tournaments were cancelled, but hopefully BRWFC will be invited back again in the future.
Autumn and winter came and we went indoors with coaching being led by either Gavin or Stich, numbers started to dwindle, then in early 2020 Malcolm and I attended the first meeting of the proposed Friendly League held at Foxash. In fact the first round of matches had been due to start in April that year. Sadly, along came Lockdown. That was that for 2020.
My wife, Janet and I had, by the end of the year, been thinking of moving, so although, I was still attending training, I felt that I needed to pass on my admin activities, which were taken up by Paul, and I must say that Paul and his colleagues, Tel at Clacton Knights and Graham/Richard at Foxash have done an amazing job with the league, it has been a very successful league. Whilst I was only involved in 3 rounds of matches, before other events took over, I thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competitiveness, and pleased to see how BRWFC gradually improved through the season.
2 other personal memories. I amazed Gavin with a step over movement(actually I amazed myself) in training earlier this year, and my ability to fall over when no one else is around, or when tackled by the ball, this seemed to happen frequently.
I did originally write these notes in 2021 after we had moved, and whilst I was still in the early stages of recovery following heart surgery (yes, Geoff, I do remember you telling me it will take time), it is only recently that I have been taking much longer walks, swimming, and keep fit at the gym, and in the very near future hope to start up playing football again.
But I wanted to say how pleased I am to see BRWFC doing so well both on the pitch, and seeing all the newcomers and ladies join, that all the effort from Paul, Malcolm W, John, Zoe Dave W, etc has been worthwhile.
But a special mention to Gavin who from the beginning, has coalesced the training into what it is now, and deserves that special appreciation.
I have been lucky. It is almost a year (20/07/21) since my heart quad bypass surgery, being discharged a mere 4 days later. In the period since then, BRWFC has lost 2 of its original members, Steve Akers and Ashley Bright, RIP to both.
I hope the club continues to progress especially, maybe one day, winning the league. Also, I can’t promise, but I would really like to visit and see you all again in the future
Tony Troop
