Friday 14th March 2003

   Chaps, Shan't be there, at the footie, tonight Lindsey's taking me'n Mum out for a meal to celebrate her new venture.

   She's running the Beauty Salon at LA Fitness, the new health club, on Winchester Rd - I'm sure Dads will get a whopping discount - esp with mother's day coming up etc and she does gift tokens.

    Dave, put me down for a fiver and a quid on you finishing on 4 hours dead (emphasis on the dead)

Yackky Dar Mal

    Robbie's off to Amsterdam to visit the clinic, Jim Allen's confined to lying on a hard board, Chris bust his wrist, Sean's back on his feet but is working overtime charring at LA Fitness and Jon Elms has got the late shift at the Samaritans.

    Thanks for the advert. Hope you had a good evening.

    At footy we had a very eventful time and have two ot three candidates for "Springhill Dads Hero of the Season Award. After much debate about whether to bother as only six of us turned up we eventually braved the astro at 8pm.

    A game of three aside inside the 18 yard box where you could only score with your head ( where's Jim when you need him), saw six very tired but enthusiastic men attempt the almost impossible.

    Not content with this handicap Tony Pascoe thought it would be fun to try and make me headbutt the metal hockey goal post. With pinpoint accuracy Tony put each tempting ball closer and closer to the post in the forlorn hope i would crack open my skull and provide merryment for the rest of the players. I was not playing ball, but I was left wondering if he can pass like that in training why doesn't he do it when we have a match?

    First heroic moment of the evening came when T Pascoe asked several young players on another pitch if they would like to join us! We then played a five a-side match which I am sure you'll be pleased to know brought another victory to Springhill Dads. When they left after their heavy defeat (which saw Rob have Optica Statistics of 35 shots 2 on target) Owen said those words he was later to regret "Let's play penalties".

     Needless to say I won the first competition and never looked in trouble on the second game when disaster struck. I sent Owen to the left with a superb penalty which hit the back of the net like a rocket. Several minutes later Owen's dive for the ball ended as he hit the ground but strangely didn't move afterwards. Various enquiries were made " What's wrong" to which the reply "my shoulders popped out" was given. In disbelief the question was asked and answered five more times. Until the classic reply that only someone who realises they are surrounded by idiots, could give,

    Owen stated "It's really hurting now" Dave Hedges obviously fancying his chances wanted to carry on with the penalty competition but Chris who was already out said we should call it a day. As luck would have it the people on the next pitch had three doctors playing for them and one heroic soul popped the shoulder back in much to the delight of everyone present but especially Owen. A tear of appreciation was shed by those who witnessed the medical miracle.

Springhill Hero of the day ????

    Tony Pascoe then won a tenner in the Red nose day raffle and

donated it to Comic Relief as Rob watched his free drink slip back from where it came.

    Springhill Hero of the Day - It's up to the panel - All I can add is that it was a fine penalty and I would be pleased to get a nomination.

  Next game proper vs P&O March 21st at the Astro Dome