Our first match in the Monday Night League is this coming Monday at 7.15.p.m. when we play New River 'B'.
They are a new team to the League and therefore an unknown quantity (unless they have changed their name ?)

Just a reminder that this match is being played on grass, and although the Southgate Hockey Centre have told us that the pitches are badly waterlogged at the moment and they will therefore be doing a pitch inspection on Monday morning, the weather forecast is dry, fairly warm & windy from tomorrow onwards and throughout the weekend, so I expect Monday Night's matches to be ON !

Although tonight's game has been called off, I will stick with the squad I was originally going to pick for Monday night, so the Thursday Night players will just have to wait a week...unless a number of those listed below are unavailable.
The squad (of 8) for Monday Night is therefore as follows (at the moment):
Tim Beeden (GK)
Terry Moore
Courtney Brown
Sam Benjamin
Tony King
John Scouller
Chris Adjei
Fraser John

Courtney & Sam are from Tim's Saturday team and Chris & Fraser work with John Scouller. All four of them are very good players and interested in joining us.

I need Barney & Loveday to play on Thursday next week as myself, Trevor & Terry Moore won't be there.
After that I will put them both in the Monday Night squad if they prefer Mondays.
If one or both of them can come over to help me out this coming Monday night though, that would be excellent.

The first 2 or 3 weeks of the 7-a-side League may see players not getting a game because I am absolutely snowed under with work at this time of year and don't have time to phone people. The same applies to other members of the Management Committee, while Trevor has gone away on holiday for two weeks. We will just have to muddle our way through things for the time being and hope that everybody is looking at this Forum regularly, so please be patient.

Don't forget that EVERYBODY playing on Monday MUST bring £7.00 with them and pay that to me before the game kicks-off so that I can get the ticket from the bar. If we can't find £38.00 between us, we will not be able to play and we will lose the points.

Also don't forget to bring your own shorts (black preferably), socks & shinpads. We will only be supplying the shirts. As it's on grass, we are allowed to wear whatever studded boots we want.

Please get there by 7.00.p.m. and meet on the grass bit between the Astroturfs as usual.
Don't forget that the showers and changing rooms are available for us to use after the match...as it's going to be very muddy if we play.
It will also be good to have a drink in the bar afterwards bearing in mind it's an early kick-off.

If Tim cannot make it I can play 2 nights next week.

Sam & Courtney are both ok to play on Monday I will bring them both along. I'm quite happy for Jacko to play.

John Scouller, Chris Adjei & Fraser John are all playing.
I have texted Terry Moore and Tony King but not had a reply yet.

Yes, Ok to play

Tony King is not available so I have now added Loveday to the squad as his replacement. Terry is playing golf with him tomorrow (Sunday) and will check on his availability.

Loveday is playing golf again today so we only have 7 players for tonight.

First player to come on here offering to play gets in.
We need a midfielder preferably.

Courtney just text me saying he is ill and is unable to play tonight.

I have texted Barney & Danny Hagan to see if they can play. No reply as yet though.

There is still a threat of the match being called off waterlogged pitch at some stage today as it is supposed to chuck it down during the next few hours.
Best to avoid calling up more new/fringe players while there is this uncertainty with the weather.

I'll be there tonight unless it is called off.

Liz at the SHC has just e-mailed to confirm that the grass pitches are o.k. and tonights' matches are definitely ON.

Barney is not available. Hagan says he will play tonight but has to go home and get his boots first. He will let me know by 3.00.p.m. if there is a problem.
Terry Moore is trying to get Gavin Mardell to replace Courtney Brown.

The squad at the moment is therefore now:
Simon Jackson (GK)
Terry Moore
Sam Benjamin
John Scouller
Chris Adjei
Fraser John
then hopefully at least two out of
Danny Hagan
Gavin Mardell
Tim Beeden (as an outfield player !)

I will be there but I wont be playing

Gavin Mardell is not playing and neither is Fraser John.
John Scouller has got another new player to replace Fraser but we definitely only have a bare seven (including Hagan, who has presumably managed to get off work in time to get his boots).

There is another place in the squad up for grabs if anybody wants it. That includes people who owe loads of subs.

After all that...GAME OFF !!!

Here's the message I have just received from the Southgate Hockey Centre...
Guys
Really, really sorry, but I have to cancel the football tonight.
The grass was supposed to be cut today and I have just found out that because of an emergency, they haven't been able to cut it. It is too long for you to play on safely, so I have had to cancel tonight.
I will re-arrange all the games to the end of the phase.
Liz

Barney (or Tim)...you will have to come round to me to pick up the kit, etc. for Thursday night now !
I will be in tonight and Wednesday night, but out filming tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Will be in touch on Wednesday mate, I've got cricket nets that night, so I'll be just up the road.