Monday, April 15, 2002

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside

As it was Christmas, I felt obliged to visit the aged relatives in deepest Cornwall (just to ensure that the mention in the will is maintained). Unfortunately this meant that I missed a marvellous win over Kingstonian and Deano’s stunning goal, or so his old man tells me. On the positive side this meant that I was able to take in the delights of Newquay FC in a howling gale. ‘What’s this got do with me?’, the average Dulwich supporter may ask. Well, the game in question was Cornwall versus London Counties in the 3rd Round of the FA County Youth Challenge Cup and in the London side were SIX representatives from Dulwich’s youngsters, included Damien Stewart and Tyrone Myton.
As I strolled into the bar, there were one or two surprised exclamations from the Dulwich parents, but once I had explained that both the league game against Bromley and the Reserves were off, I’m sure they understood. This was a hop that had been denied to some of our older followers thanks to a 2-0 win over Newquay in the 1973/74 FA Amateur Cup. To be honest though I don’t think anyone in their right mind would want to come here. The ground, Mount Wise, is one of the better Cornish grounds boasting floodlights, a covered seating as well as some cover in one corner for those who wish to brave the elements. It sits atop a hill just above the harbour and is exposed to the worse the Atlantic can throw at it. On this particular day the weather was at its worse and the London players certainly seemed shocked at having to play in such conditions. Across the whole of Cornwall not a single game of senior football took place. However, FA officials had obviously decided that the youngsters were made of tougher stuff that their elders. Wind and rain lashed the pitch and the sky frequently darkened as clouds scuttled in from the sea. But never once did it cross officials' minds to call the game off. London’s use of alternative therapy on the bench was to prove of little use too. The trainer, a certain Charlie Millard, was listed as providing FIST AID. Obviously something John Langford is encouraging at Sandy Lame.
The game itself was not a bad exhibition for youth football, given the conditions. When the gales subsided there was actually some good football played, although regular opportunities for this were few and far between. The difference between the two teams was due in the main part to the level of football played. Whereas the majority of the London boys still played youth football against their peers, the Cornish were, and had been for some time, playing against older, wilier and stronger players. If only Ryan and Browne had been here a few months earlier they might have learnt a lesson from it. That is that a young player can learn so much from regular competition with older players. Thank God, that Dave ‘Two Pubs’ Garland is a little less ageist and is prepared to give youngsters like Damien & Tyrone a chance to prove themselves.
By the way if you’re interested in the result, which by the end of ninety minutes I wasn’t, the idea of a few more pints in the clubhouse being much more welcoming, Cornwall managed to sneak it One-Nil. The goal that decided it was, fortunately a good one, the Cornwall full-back curling in a free-kick from just outside the box. If had not been for the large Pink’n’Blue contingent in the side, I might have felt pleased at the result, but you known where your loyalties lie when you feel gutted at the end.

‘The Cornish Exile’

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