To Clacton! ...on Sunday morning for the latest league matches in the North East Essex Walking Football Alliance tournament. Quite a mouthful. And technically it wasn't Clacton but Jaywick.
#
The plan was to cycle over. The weather forecast last night suggested rain. The last time I headed out to CO16 for walking football I took a soaking plus a few bicycle mechanicals. I blagged a lift instead.
#
We were actually up on numbers for WTFC. We play seven-a-side and had a squad of ten for the three morning matches ahead. The games were played out under the backdrop of the nearby wind turbines.
#
Clacton Airfield was also on the radar. It became difficult to hear instructions during some games with light air craft coming and going overhead.
#
This isn't a football blog and so I won't bore you with a tactical analysis. All you need to know is that we had a record of P3, W0, D0, L3. At least we were consistent.
#
The final game was half decent. We lost 3-2 after going ahead within the first minute. It was a crazy game that could have gone either way. I played out my role of BLOCKER with mixed results. We can't tackle in walking football, but we can block.
#
It was a well run tournament. Clacton Rhinos made up for in skill what they lacked in creativity when it comes to a team name. I suspect nominative determinism was at play. There wasn't the grace of a Partick Thistle or Crew Alexandra.
#
We cycled up to the University late in the afternoon. On our radar was the first home match of the new season for the Essex Rebels women's basketball team. It was my first roll out on the winter MTB. It took a while to get accustomed to the 28" wheels and the F-OFF handlebar once again.
#
The winter tennis bubble was also in operation up on campus. It always looks very space age, lit up like something from War of the Worlds.
#
Campus was very busy. Bags were being unpacked as the new arrivals for Fresher's Week continued to arrive at Wivenhoe Park. I remarked to A that we can still just about get away with walking around and not looking out of place - which was good news, seeing as though we arrived an hour ahead of tip off. We set out on a brisk campus walk to kill time.
#
The infrastructure of the University more or less remains the same compared to 32 (!) years ago. But the culture is very different. It's the micro changes such as table tennis table in the SU bar rather than arcade games. I think I would fit in better at Essex Uni in 2022 then I did in 1990.
#
We went rogue and snooped around where we probably weren't suppose to. The old Oliver Tambo Room has long been a legend, in our own household at least. We both have memories of Psychedelic Discos taking place until the early hours midweek. We've often wondered whatever became of the Oliver Tambo.
#
Our curiosity was dealt a blow when we discovered that the scene of our previous psychedelic trips in now a function room. Maybe 1990 was more my time.
#
We took up our seats in the Sports Arena. It's very, very impressive. The Rebels put on a fantastic game night experience. It was step up from last season with the production. There was a crowd of around 500 to match the occasion.
#
The Rebels were wearing a nasty new kit. The long basketball shorts have been replaced by something a little more close fitting.
#
Caledonia Thistle were the visitors this evening. That's one hell of a road trip. Rebels got off to a great start. They took their chances under the hoop and pressed Thistle whilst in defence.
#
The Dance Cam zoomed in on me during a break in play. You have two options: either sit there and sulk in public, or play the game and get the party started. I chose the latter and got a YO from the DJ.
#
Somehow the Rebels managed to collapse in the third. Caledonia pulled away, eventually winning 82-74. It was a decent way to end the weekend.
#