Six of the Best

What. A. Day.

It was the season-ending Under 10s tournament this afternoon, and I took these guys.  It has been my first year managing them, and it has been a long, tough season.  We have been beaten week in, week out, with a recent 21-1 loss topping it off.  However, these guys turn up without fail and really play for fun.  It is great to hear them after such a drumming saying things like, "Hey, we scored one, that's great!"

It is 7-a-side at this level, and I only have 8 players in the squad.  I knew that one couldn't make it, but one more emailed to say they weren't going to make it just this morning.  We were going to have to hope that the other managers would put 6 out against us (they don't have to, they could field 7) and that a lack of substitutes wouldn't result in tired legs.

However, all the managers did play a fair 6 - probably due to a little sympathy over our season!

THEN IT HAPPENED.

Game 1: a draw
Game 2: a win!
Game 3: a win!
Game 4: a draw

We had 8 points and came top of our group.  TOP OF OUR GROUP!!!!!

Legs had gone by then, and we did succumb in the semi-final, but none of us minded as my little 6-pack had achieved so much.  I still can't believe it.  One of our two wins was against the eventual winners too!!!

Six of the Best - bless ya.  Bless ya of your grit and determination, bless ya for your excellent team spirit, bless ya for always giving it your best when the results go against us.

One other manager commented as he left, "It's so good to see nice things happen to nice teams."   Every dog has its day.