Rhubarb October 2022

MARTYRS FOOTBALL

London, they were passing the ball with ease. It was only thanks to some superb defending from Jonathan Skull (Field House, 2000-2005) and TomArmstrong (Field House, 2000-2005) that we were 0-0 after 10 minutes. Captain Ben Riley (Cowell’s, 2000-2005) quickly took himself out of midfield and moved backwards to defence to ‘sure things up’; it did not work! Radley broke the deadlock in the twentieth minute with a 35-yard top corner screamer. Goalkeeper François Vainker (Cowell’s, 2001-2006) could not get near such a shot. 1-0 Radley. After this goal the boys from St Edward’s started to thread some passes together, but it was proving hard graft. Nick Roblin (Segar’s, 2000-2005) and Adam Reeve (Field House, 2000-2005) in the central midfield seemed to be outnumbered, the Radley fitness started to show through. Five minutes after the first goal went in, they scored number 2. Some solid work fromTomAllen (Sings, 2000-2005) andWill Power (Tilly’s, 2000-2005) down the flanks had made life harder for the Radley midfield.The game turned towards the end of the first half when the Martyrs lost Vainker in goal to a hand injury and Armstrong donned the gloves (Thanks again Army). Enter super sub Tom Macdonald (Field House, 2000-2005) at the back; he and Huw ‘Gary Neville’ Trythall (Field House, 2000-2005) really put in a solid performance.Trythall has always taken great pleasure in demonstrating how to make things tick at right back. We suddenly looked alive with a slimmed-down Macdonald on the pitch, the cattle prod the boys needed in the second half. Some lovely interchanges fromWill Power to Jack Teasdale (Apsley, 2000-2005) released John Barrett (Apsley, 2000-2005) on goal. Thanks to the most decorated scorer in the Bar Med series, 2-1, It looked like the Martyrs could be back in it. Five minutes later Barrett was fouled in the box, penalty to St Edward’s.To everyone’s shock the penalty went straight at the keeper.With our spirits deflated and injuries creeping in, Radley went straight up the other end and scored. Riley,Teasdale, and Macdonald’s offside trap worked; the goal was miles offside, however without a line judge Radley’s third goal was allowed to stand. It was after this that Allen and Skull limped off. Down to just 11 on the pitch and no subs left St Edward’s struggled over the finishing line eventually losing 4-1.Three years of no football, lots of babies born and overindulgence seemed to have caught up with the team. 17Years after leaving School, however, the spirit was still right there, which was great to see. 4-3 to Radley over the series but a very commendable performance. Had a few decisions and injuries gone our way it could have been different. Here’s to 2023 and levelling the series to 4-4.Thanks to the OSE society for pitch payment, use of the kit and contribution to the bar tab afterwards.

ST EDWARD’S 2005 MARTYRS Vs RADLEY 2005 OLD BOYS 5th February 2022

MARTYRS

A fter two years of waiting and two cancelled fixtures due to the pandemic the Martyrs finally got their shot at the 2020 ‘Bar Med Cup’.The ‘Bar Med’ series started in 2013, named after the group’s favourite nightclub in Oxford in the early noughties.The club/eatery provided every player from both teams a venue where they could socialise most Saturday nights from 2003-2005 and importantly the ID policy was an inclusive one and did not exclude anyone based on looks, size and, most importantly, age.As long as you wore black Base London school shoes, Dax wax in your hair and had enough money for your Orange and/or Tropical Reefs, Bar Med offered all you could need. So, to honour the establishment and the time in our life, the game of football is a great way for everyone to catch up. Having levelled the series 3-3 in 2019 the boys from North Oxford really wanted to move one ahead this year.Three years since the last time most of us had kicked a ball or participated in physical exercise at all, the challenge was a daunting one. Not to mention our best player and goalkeeper Nick Gleave (Tilly’s, 2000-2005) was unavailable this year due to work in the Balearics; we really had our work cut out.To make matters worse, also missing were our three flying wing backs, Nick Palmer (Kendall, 2000-2005) (broken leg), Pete Greenall(Segar’s, 2000-2005) (bad back – childcare) and Mark Perry ( Kendall, 2000-2005) (bad knees – dancing).Also missing due to foreign commitments were our dominant centre backs Ross Kerr (Tilly’s, 2000-2005) and Georges Haines (Tilly’s, 2000-2005). Once the game started it became clear that the men in red and white had still maintained a good level of football via 5-a-side leagues in Standing: Joe Barrett (Sing’s, 2010-14),Will Pickford (Cowell’s, 2021-17), Angus Spratling (Segar’s, 2008-13), Charlie Harris (Segar’s, 2006-11),Will Oakley (Field House, 2006-11), Ben Jacobs (Sing’s, 2018-20), Pete Ades (Segar’s, 2017-19), Charlie Everett (Segar’s, 2008-13), Matt Kitchen (Non-OSE), Calvin Dickinson (Field House, 2010-15), GeorgeWest (Sing’s, 2015-20), Jack Potter (Apsley, 2015-20). Kneeling:Tom Leeson (Apsley, 2015-20), Gus Knott (Kendall, 2010-15), Ed Jamie (Apsley, 2007-12), Charlie Shipperley (Kendall, 2010-15), Olly Oakley (Field House, 2008-13), Archie Blanchard (Field House, 2008-13), George Chaffer (Tilly’s 2007-12), RuairiWillis (Tilly’s, 2008-13).

Report by Ben Riley (Cowell’s, 2000-2005).

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