WSFFL History - Halfway House

We're halfway through this league season and Aardvark Abacus have a five point lead. But how have previous mid-point leaders fared over the second part of the campaign...

2001/2
In the first 16 team season San Dimas led the league on goal difference from Claymore after 15 games. My team eventually sunk to third though 11 points behind eventual winners Aardvark Abacus

2002/3
No mid-point table was produced due to Sheriff's hospitalisation. And it's too much effort for me to try and do one now.

2003/4
Claymore had a point advantage over Aardvark and Clive's team went on to take the title by five points.

2004/5
Boston Rock went into the second part of the season with an eight point cushion over Aardvark but collapsed over the last few weeks and Claymore came through to take the title by two.

2005/6
Sheriff's team were in pole position again, this time on goal difference from Trusted. Boston Rock made no mistake this time, romping home by 11 points.

2006/7
Prettier Than You had a point in hand over Aardvark and still had a chance of the title going into the final day but Real Muppets ended by title winners by a point with PTY only third.

2007/8
Chris Howell's caretaker reign at Eleven Imaginary Boys saw him with a four point lead at halfway from Aardvark. Ady turned the tables in the second part of the season winning by a point from Fred with EIB six points behind in third.

Half-Term Report - San Dimas High School

After prompting from the co-ordinator...

Is it time to reassess what my team are capable of? It's been a couple of seasons since I was mixing it at the top of the table or at the business end of a Cup competition. Do I need to be content with battling for sixth place and putting one over the big teams once in a while?

OK, so I've been unlucky with injuries this season. Players of the calibre of Yakubu (one of the league's top scorers last season), Essien, Ashton and Walcott being on the sidelines for long periods have left a huge hole that my back-up players haven't filled.

Deco was my 'big' money signing of the summer and he hasn't really contributed as much as I would have hoped. Craig Gordon was brought in from Dynamo Kev seemingly to keep the other guys in the treatment room company! Johan Djorou is yet to adequately fill the gap that Phillipe
Senderos left (which is quite worrying when you think about it!)

The moths may need to be released from the San Dimas wallet to get me back in contention for a trophy. Whether that's in February in a bid to finish the season strongly or at the start of next season for a proper title tilt is something I need to ponder.

Peej, manager San Dimas High School

Week 15 Results

Aardvark Abacus 1 v 0 San Dimas High School
Dynamo Kev 3 v 0 22 Legged Groove Machine
Final Fantasy XI 1 v 5 Trusted By Millions
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 2 v 2 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Mega Buck Bandits 2 v 0 The Dead Parrots
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 4 v 0 The Fabulous Artisans
The Cow-Faced Juniors 3 v 0 Real Muppets
York’s Returning Glory 0 v 2 Claymore Athletic FC

Aardvark stretch their lead after their Cup Final disappointment.
CFJs and Trusted close on the top four.

Christmas at Dynamo Kev

The latest news from Dynamo manager Kevin Gunning...

There have been continued ructions at Dynamo Kev this week! So much so in fact, that at half-time during our midweek 'Arthur Shipway Memorial Flood-lit Trophy' tie against Grimthorpe City, I had the players sit in front of the away fans at half-time for their team talk!

I have reminded all players that their position at the club is in doubt if our results don't improve, so it will be interesting to see if the players put in a performance today against the 'Groovers', or whether I have indeed 'lost the dressing room'!

Brad Friedel and Brett Emerton still aren't talking following their Christmas party fracas, and 'Rocket' Santa Cruz has failed to return from Paraguay, after visiting his mum for a Catholic Christmas in Asuncion. There are positives however, with Abou Diaby, Robin Van Persie and Zat Knight all scoring in that midweek cup-tie comeback, and all three keep their places.

Good luck to us all...everyone.

San Dimas Sign Striker

Injury-hit (or perhaps that should be injury-prone) San Dimas High School have signed Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo.

San Dimas manager Paul Garratt moved into the market after news that Dean Ashton's latest injury was likely to keep him out for the season.

The loss of Ashton, Yakubu and Walcott meant 'the Saints' were short of cover up front so it's likely that the 20-year-old will make his debut in a baptism of fire against league-leading Aardvark Abacus today.

PCMT Final 2008/09

Aardvark Abacus 2
Keane 53, 58

v (2)

You Know Your Boston Rock FC 3
Lampard 45
A.Ferdinand (c)
King (c)

90,000 people gave up their Boxing Day cold meat and pickles to be at Wembley and watch the clash of the WSFFL behemoths in the Paul Cartmell Memorial Cup Final.

Aardvark Abacus were missing leading scorer Emanuel Adebayor through suspension while Boston Rock lost captain Rio Ferdinand to a back injury in the warm-up. The two old rivals, the winningest managers in the league's history, played out a cagey first half but the game burst into life with both managers contemplating their interval oranges.

First, Boston Rock's usually reliable striker Jermain Defoe dragged a penalty wide after the Aardvarks had been penalised for some penalty-box shenanigans but there was still time for Frank Lampard put the 'Sky Heroes' in front from close range seconds before the break. Micah Richards also left the field at the interval with a clean sheet safely in the bank, a move which brought him special praise from his manager.

Ady's re-hashed team talk brought a turnaround within 15 minutes of the re-start. Much maligned striker Robbie Keane, rising to the challenge of leading the line in Adebayor's absence, was the Aardvark inspiration scoring twice in five minutes to put his side in the driving seat. After that, chances were few and far between and Sheriff was looking to his trusted defence to hang on to the trophy. He wasn't disappointed. First Ledley King strolled to a clean sheet and then Anton Ferdinand repeated that feat to complete the late comeback.

Ferdinand dedicated his match-winning clean to injured brother Rio and Frank Lampard, one of WSFFL's most decorated players, lifted the Trophy in front of Boston Rock's adoring fans.

The beaten manager congratulated his opposite number on the victory which takes Sheriff ahead nine trophies to eight in the history books.

It's the fourth time Sheriff has led his team to the PCMT crown in six seasons, a second final defeat in three years for the league-leading Abacus who will resume league action, along with the rest of us, on Sunday 28 December.

Aardvark Abacus:
GK - Jones
DEF - Campbell, Alex, Eboue, A.Taylor
MID - Alonso, Modric, S.Davies, O'Neil
ATT - Keane, Carew
Subs - Cech, Hughes, Scholes, Kuyt

You Know Your Boston Rock FC:
GK - Robinson
DEF - A.Ferdinand, C.Davies, Richards, King
MID - Lampard, Milner, Bentley, Wright-Phillips
ATT - Defoe, Bent
Subs - J.Brown, Turner, Jenas, Derbyshire

PCMT Final - The Contenders

Aardvark Abacus

Current League Position: 1st

Route to the Final;
1st Round - Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 2-0
Quarter-Final - The Fabulous Artisans 4-1 (after a 2-2 draw)
Semi-Final - The Cow-Faced Juniors 6-1

Recent Results;
Week 14 - 2-2 v Real Muppets
Week 13 - 3-1 v 22-Legged Groove Machine
Week 12 - 1-2 v The Fabulous Artisans
Week 11 - 0-0 v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

You Know Your Boston Rock FC

Current League Position: 2nd

Route to the Final;
1st Round - Final Fantasy XI 7-2
Quarter-Final - 22-Legged Groove Machine 7-2 (after 2-2 draw)
Semi-Final - The Dead Parrots 4-1

Recent Results;
Week 14 - 1-0 v Final Fantasy
Week 13 - 3-2 v Trusted By Millions
Week 12 - 1-0 v The Dead Parrots
Week 11 - 2-3 v Claymore Athletic FC

Recent meetings between the teams;
2008/9 Week 3 - Boston Rock 4 Aardvark Abacus 5
2007/8 Week 20 - Aardvark Abacus 2 Boston Rock 2
2007/8 FAC R1 - Boston Rock 3 Aardvark Abacus 1
2007/8 Week 4 - Boston Rock 0 Aardvark Abacus 1

Good luck to both managers.

Half-Term Report - Claymore Athletic FC

(Or Clive looks on the positive side...)

“13” unlucky for some! Not so for Claymore Athletic FC. It was our 13th game of the season that saw us gain our first victory of the season, after a very slow start. At last the boys are now showing their true colours. We were the last team to record a victory this season, when we beat The Dead Parrots 3-2. We are proving to be the draw specialist, so far this season, with 9 draws in 17 games. Unbelievably, 8 of those 9 draws have been 2-2!

A colossal battle with The Cow-Faced Juniors, in the 1st round of the PCMT, saw them knock us out, at the third time of asking. Yes, you guessed it, the first two games were 2-2 draws! Our ambitions are to progress to the advanced stages of the FFA Cup, where we start with a very tough away draw against Fred West Landscape Gardening XI and to challenge for 4th in the league!

Michael Owen will hopefully sign a new, improved contract and stay with us for at least one more season and if Wayne Rooney starts finding the “back of the net” more regularly, then our ambitions are very achievable. Defensively, we have strength in depth, with a very consistent midfield. With talented young players Jonny Evans, Branislav Ivanovic, David Edgar and Carlos Villanueva on the fringes of a first team break through, the future is bright.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2007/08

Why Boston Rock are the holders going into Friday's final...

Claymore Athletic FC 1
Rooney 20

v (2)

You Know Your Boston Rock FC 3
Downing og 22
Dempsey 60
Defoe 90

December 26/27 2007 at Wembley Stadium - Att: 90,000

Despite Clive's atrocious recent league form it was Claymore who started the better of the teams in front of the packed Wembley crowd, Wayne Rooney firing past Paul Robinson after 20 minutes to open the scoring. If Clive could have consolidated it may have been a different story but just two minutes later Stuart Downing, one of Claymore's best performers this season, sliced into his own net to level the scores.

It was the second-half before Sheriff's 'Sky Heroes' imposed themselves and September pool signing Clint Dempsey, on for the injured Frank Lampard, bundled them ahead from close range on the hour. As Clive went pushing for an equaliser late on Jermain Defoe prodded past Friedel to finish things off.

That's Sheriff's third PCMT trophy in five seasons and added to three FA Cups and two Championships (one as Athletico Sheriff IV) Mr Rose is now WSFFL's most successful manager. He has one trophy more than Ady's Aardvark Abacus and those two WSFFL behemoths will clash in the first round of the Cup on 5 January.

Congratulations Sheriff, commiserations Clive, now it's back to the 'bread and butter' of the league. (This was my first WSFFL match report - can you tell?)

Claymore's team was:
GK - Friedel
DEF - Sagna, Pogatetz, Cacapa, Clichy
MID - Malbranque, Pienaar, Koumas, Downing
ATT - Rooney, Owen
Subs: Neilsen, Ingimarsson, Bullard, Pizarro.

And the victorious Boston Rock lined up:
GK - Robinson
DEF - Ridgewell, R.Ferdinand, Richards, Samba
MID - Lampard, Rosicky, Smith, Bentley
ATT - Jerome, Defoe
Subs: Cerny, King, Dempsey, D.Bent.

Sheriff's team for this week's final will have a familiar look but Ridgewell, Samba, Rosicky, Smith, Jerome and Cerny have all left the 'Sky Heroes' in the past 12 months.

Aardvark won last season's league title to make it eight trophies apiece with his opponents on Friday. Another little edge added to the battle for the first pot of the season.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2006/07

When Trusted turned the tables...

Trusted By Millions 2
Lita 67, Barry 81

Vs

Aardvark Abacus 0

Boxing Day 2006, at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Attendance - 78,000

Revenge is a dish best served cold, goes the saying, and Trusted By Millions waited a full year before they could exact revenge on Aardvark Abacus. But cometh the hour, cometh the man, as a Gareth Barry-inspired performance ensured the 2006/07 Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy final was won by Trusted By Millions, by a 2-0 scoreline.

As befits a clash of two old rivals, the first half was a dour affair with the two teams sizing each other up. Long range efforts from Scholes and occasional buccaneering Gerrard runs enlivened proceedings, however, and the second half promised more.

Trusted switched into life following the early withdrawal of the ineffective Shevchenko. Gareth Barry, nominally left back but playing a more advanced role, then became more influential, and was the architect for Trusted’s opener, midway through the half. His searching midfield pass found Sidwell on the left flank, who crossed for Lita to fire home from close range, nipping in ahead of Carvalho.

Aardvark tried to hit back through Adebayor, but he overran an opportunity and Kuyt was unable to capitalise on the loose ball. However with 10 minutes to go, Trusted broke again. Gerrard fed Barry, and he capped a Man of the Match performance with a surging run, out-muscling Hreidarsson to fire the clinching goal into the bottom left corner. So it’s Trusted’s Cup - well done Beef!

Beef's victorious line-up was:
GK - Jaaskaleinen
DEF - Barry, Dawson, Carragher, Ben Haim
MID - Kranjcar, Sidwell, Milner, Gerrard
ATT - Shevchenko, Lita
Subs: Schwarzer, Cahill, Davis, Angel

While these Aardvarks picked up losers medals:
GK - Kirkland
DEF - Carvalho, Riise, Hreidarsson, Heinze
MID - Scholes, Park, Emre, Alonso
ATT - Adebayor, Kuyt
Subs: Jones, Campbell, O’Neil, Doyle

Only six of Trusted's team beaten a year before survived by the time this match came around. Ady has shipped out six of his beaten team since this Final.

FA Cup 1st Round Draw

22 Legged Groove Machine v York's Returning Glory
You Know Your Boston Rock FC v Trusted By Millions
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Claymore Athletic FC
Real Muppets v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Final Fantasy XI v Mega Buck Bandits
Aardvark Abacus v The Fabulous Artisans
San Dimas High School v The Dead Parrots
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Dynamo Kev

Games to played 2-5 January 2009.

Half-Term Report - You Know Your Boston Rock FC

OK then, Peej, Boston Rock half term report - I'd have to give my team a "B-" at the moment, together with a "Should Do Better, Don't Rest On Your Laurels" comment!

"But you're second in the table and in the PCMT final", I hear you shout; believe me, no-one is more surprised about this than I am! Happy with my start, playing well and scoring goals, sweeping to the PCMT final primarily on the strength of that early season form. Went through a sticky patch, lost a couple of games due to poor team selection, and have since been playing poorly but grinding out results. Really need to regain that early season form to be a credible contender.

Players? Well, the usual suspects are doing well for me - Rio Ferdinand is my MVP thus far with 7 "goals" and many other non-scoring clean sheets; fat Frank is chipping in with his usual midfield haul (6 so far, although suspiciously quiet of late); and Bent and Defoe, both finally guaranteed to get games, have weighed in with 7 goals apiece. Beyond that, I've been disappointed. I was expecting a considerable production increase when I effectively swapped the fragile Tomas Rosicky for Shaun Wright-Phillips, but it's been his Man City team-mate (and former Boston Rocker) Stephen Ireland who has been getting the midfield goals at Eastlands, and I've got 1 solitary goal to show for my £17 mill so far. Likewise David Bentley, whose corker against Arsenal is the only time he's notched for me this term. No wonder I launched an ultimately unsuccessful bid to bring the Artisans' Ashley Young to the "Sky Heroes"...

A couple of nice surprises - Michael Turner is chipping in with both goals and cleans, and has nudged ahead of the disappointing Micah Richards in my defensive pecking order. Also, I knew I was buying Man United's right back of the future when I picked up Rafael Da Silva; I just didn't expect the future to be now! The boy's done great, and might be the player who prevents me from building an all-English squad in the future.

So, I'm looking for more from my squad, to justify my position and really contend for honours this season. Let's see what you've got, boys...

Sheriff
Manager, You Know Your Boston Rock FC

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2005/06

Aardvark Abacus lifted the trophy three years ago with this performance...

Aardvark Abacus 3
O’Neil 43, Hreidarsson 90, Gallas 90

Vs (3)

Trusted By Millions 2
Crespo 25, Mido 66

31 December 2005, at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Attendance - 78,000

The Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy was won by Aardvark Abacus, who regained the trophy they originally won in 1996/97 by beating Trusted By Millions by 3-2 in a hard-fought final.

The competitive nature of the final was emphasised in the early stages, with hard challenges leading to some early substitutions. After the game took shape, Trusted initially made the running and went ahead midway through the first half. A Steven Gerrard-inspired move was finished off neatly by Crespo at the far post. Ady’s team however fought back, Keane going clear on a couple of occasions before being pulled back for offside, before Gary O’Neil levelled with a deft strike just before half time.

The second half see-sawed in the early stages, and Trusted again went ahead, Mido finishing off a move following a Le Tallec cross on 66. However, inspired by an energetic midfield performance by Man-of-the-Match O’Neil, Aardvark fought back and took control, and two late goals, both headers, from the recalled Hreidarsson and Gallas, pipped Trusted, and gave the victory to Aardvark. Hard luck on Beef, but congratulations to Ady!

The Aardvark line-up was:
GK - Cech
DEF - Campbell, Gallas, Hreidarsson, Heinze
MID - Scholes, Park, O’Neil, Alonso
ATT - Baros, Keane
Subs: Jones, Lauren, Solano, Gudjohnsen

And Trusted went in with...
GK - Schwarzer
DEF - Thatcher, Knight, Dawson, Carragher
MID - Le Tallec, Ambrose, Dunn, Gerrard
ATT - Crespo, Mido
Subs: Jaaskaleinen, Taylor, Rossi, Angel

Zat Knight and David Dunn on the losing side a year after winning with Boston Rock. Eidur Gudjohnsen picking up a winners medal after two PCMT final defeats previously.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2004/05

Another one from the archives and another win for Boston Rock...

You Know Your Boston Rock FC 3
Sinama-Pongolle 44, Defoe 54, Rio Ferdinand 90

Vs (2)

San Dimas High School 0

28 December 2004, at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Attendance - 78,000

The Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy was retained by You Know Your Boston Rock FC, who beat a gallant San Dimas High School 3-0 in the final. The “Sky Heroes” therefore matched the feat of Kylie Bumcheeks by winning the PCMT 2 years in succession, and also become the first team to win both cups 2 years on the trot, having won the FA Cup on 1999/00 and 2000/01.

The build-up was marked by some friendly banter between the 2 wily old managers, old adversaries in their playing days. There was also drama before kick-off, intended Boston Rock starter Alan Smith being forced to pull out with Bevandodge-itis, his replacement Michael Chopra falling victim to the same ailment shortly after kickoff. So, after an evenly contested first half, it was the “Sky Heroes” sub forward, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who struck first with a fine finish, just before the interval.

The “Sky Heroes” then took control after the break, Frank Lampard firing close before setting up Jermain Defoe for a second, a coolly taken shot from the angle. Lampard again set up Robert Pires, but he squandered his opportunity, characteristic of an out-of-sorts performance. For San Dimas, Yakubu was lively but was well marshalled by an imperious performance from Boston Rock captain Rio Ferdinand. And it was Ferdinand who capped a Man of the Match performance with a towering header on the stroke of full time to seal victory for “the Sky Heroes”.

The Boston Rock team that day:
GK - Robinson
DEF - R.Ferdinand, Ferreira, King, G.Johnson
MID - Pires, Lampard, Kewell, Hendrie
ATT - Defoe, Chopra
Subs: Fulop, Knight, Bentley, Sinama-Pongolle

And the defeated San Dimas were:
GK - Sorensen
DEF - Terry, Distin, Queudrue, Tebily
MID - Holland, Sibierski, Johansson, Miller
ATT - Kanoute, Yakubu
Subs: Harper, Goma, R.Gardner, McKenzie

Alain Goma had picked up a winners medal the year before but picked up the losers version this time after moving clubs. Considering this is only four years ago it's a surprise to see that only four players are still in my squad.

I can't remember what the "friendly banter" was, nor can I remember why I thought it was a good idea to buy Norwich's Leon McKenzie!

Week 14 Results

22 Legged Groove Machine 0 v 4 The Cow-Faced Juniors
Claymore Athletic FC 2 v 2 Mega Buck Bandits
Real Muppets 2 v 2 Aardvark Abacus
San Dimas High School 3 v 0 York’s Returning Glory
The Dead Parrots 4 v 1 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
The Fabulous Artisans 3 v 0 Dynamo Kev
Trusted By Millions 2 v 4 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 1 v 0 Final Fantasy XI

None of the top three win.
Boston Rock climb into second place.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2003/04

I'd better start doing these more frequently if I'm going to squeeze them all in before this year's final! The 2003/4 edition saw the rise of PCMT specialists You Know Your Boston Rock FC...

You Know Your Boston Rock FC 5
Otsemobor 28, Pires 35, Delaney 62, Lampard 73, Ferdinand 90

Vs (1)

Final Fantasy XI 2
Smith (OG) 18, Campo 54

Sunday 28 December 2003, at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Attendance 78,592

You Know Your Boston Rock FC won this year’s Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy Final 5-2 over Final Fantasy XI, in a highly competitive and thrilling final. So the “Sky Heroes” now have the “full set” of trophies, having previously won the League Title (1995/96, under their previous guise of Athletico Sheriff IV) and FA Cup (1999/00 and 2000/01), thereby becoming only the second team (after the inevitable Aardvark Abacus) to do so.

The tone for this competitive encounter was set in the first minute, with a bone-crunching tackle between Boston Rock’s Dunn and FF’s Fortune, leading to the early departure of both players. Final Fantasy held sway in the early exchanges, and led on 18, after Boston Rock’s Smith sliced into his own net under pressure from Bergkamp. Otsemobor levelled on 28 with his final touch before being substituted, and recent signing Robert Pires put the “Sky Heroes” into the lead for the first time, coolly slotting home a slide-rule pass from Scott Parker.

The second half burst into life after a thundering 20-yard shot from FF defender Ivan Campo, which levelled matters at 2-2. Thereafter Boston Rock took charge; Mark Delaney overlapped with Pires and shot home on 62 to give Boston Rock the lead again; Parker set up the impressive Lampard on the edge of the box for 4-2, and the mercurial Pires capped a Man of the Match performance with a last-minute cross for Rio Ferdinand to head home and secure the Cup for Boston Rock!

(Sheriff rightfully trumpeting his victory!)

Boston Rock's team that day were:
GK - Martyn Sub - Robinson
DEF - Ferdinand, Otsemobor, Delaney, Goma Sub - King
MID - Pires, Lampard, Parker, Dunn Sub - Jenas
ATT - Smith, Kewell Sub - Sinama-Pongolle

And the Final Fantasy line-up:
GK - Howard Sub - Ellegaard
DEF - Fortune, Harley, Campo, Scimeca Sub - Dodd
MID - Berger, McManaman, Inamoto, Nolan Sub - Hitzlsperger
ATT - Bergkamp, Djorkaeff Sub - Heskey

Six of Sheriff's squad are still 'Sky Heroes' today. Has anyone won more WSFFL 'medals' than Frank Lampard I wonder?

It was Ceri's first season in the league and remains the high point in Final Fantasy history. Only Kevin Nolan of the team that played that day is still on Ceri's books.

Real Muppets, Trusted By Millions and Claymore Athletic have all since completed the 'full set' of WSFFL trophies.

It's the highest scoring PCMT Final and Boston Rock are the only team to strike five in a PCMT Final.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2002/03

The third in our Paul Cartmell Memorial Final review series and the first in which one of this season's finalists appears.

Kylie Bumcheeks 3 v 1 Aardvark Abacus
Shearer 58 Anelka 84
Beattie 73
Howey 90

Congratulations to Kylie Bumcheeks, who won the 2002 Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy Final, thus retaining the trophy for the second successive year. Rich Smith’s team did it the hard way, though, by beating a tough and resilient Aardvark Abacus side in a tense and thrilling final.

The first half was the tense affair, with both sides adopting a cagey approach to their opponents. Carl Cort was substituted early on after a recurrence of his knee injury, and his sub Nicolas Anelka came closest in the first half, firing just wide after good flank work from Solano.

Kylie burst into life as an attacking force in the second half, however, after obviously getting a rocket from manager Rich Smith at half time. After sustained pressure, Shearer finally broke the deadlock on 58 minutes, with a trademark header from a Griffin cross. The other half of the league’s hottest strike force, James Beattie, extended the lead on 73 with a sweet volley. This brought Aardvark back to life, and they set up a grandstand finish when Anelka netted with a cool finish, with 6 minutes left on the clock. However, Steve Howey headed home in the last minute to ensure the cup went to Kylie!

The Millennium Stadium was the home for the match over the weekend of 28 December 2002. 78,592 watched the action. Sheriff's match report was put together while recuperating from his life-threatening pancreatitis.

The Bumcheeks side for the game was:
GK - De Goey Sub - Nash
DEF - Griffin, Hyypia, Short, Howey Sub - I.Pearce
MID - Foe, Mustoe, Djetou, Oakley Sub - Savage
ATT - Shearer, Beattie Sub - Huckerby

While Aardvark's team was:
GK - Keller Sub - Kirkland
DEF - Campbell, Lauren, Gallas, Riise Sub - Svensson
MID - Scholes, Smicer, Solano, Pedersen Sub - Legwinski
ATT - Gudjohnsen, Cort Sub - Anelka

The Bumcheeks also won the league this season with Aardvark as the runners-up, four points in arrears. That was three trophies in four season for Rich Smith before he left the league and the team became Eleven Imaginary Boys led by Jared Prothero.

Ady did win the FA Cup this season beating Trusted in a replay after an incredible 5-5 draw.

Anelka is still banging in WSFFL goals, albeit for the Cow-Faced Juniors but Kirkland, Gallas, Scholes and Campbell are all still Aardvarks.

One sad footnote though. While our very own Sheriff was winning his battle, Marc-Vivien Foe was to lose his life after collapsing during a Confederations Cup match between Cameroon and Colombia the following June.

Week 13 Results

Aardvark Abacus 3 v 1 22 Legged Groove Machine
Dynamo Kev 1 v 3 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Final Fantasy XI 0 v 0 The Dead Parrots
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 1 v 4 Claymore Athletic FC
Mega Buck Bandits 0 v 4 San Dimas High School
The Cow-Faced Juniors 5 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans
York’s Returning Glory 2 v 0 Real Muppets
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 3 v 2 Trusted By Millions

The Groovers' unbeaten run ends as Aardvark take top spot again.
Boston Rock keep up their pursuit as the Muppets slip up at York's.

WSFFL Phrasebook

The first (and perhaps last) dip into the WSFFL dictionary.

'Doing a Boston Rock' - to purchase a talented young English player out of the pool with the hope that his development will continue and he will become a regular and valued member of the team in years to come.

Ryan has done 'a Boston Rock' with the signing of Aston Villa's 17-year-old striker Nathan Delfouneso. The Birmingham-born youngster has represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 level and has joined the title-chasing Muppets for £500,000.

WSFFL History - PCMT Final 2001/02

Time for another Final from the archives, this time the 2001/02 edition.

San Dimas High School and Kylie Bumcheeks had already fought out a 2-2 draw (San Dimas' Michael Ricketts had scored at both ends) so here's how the reply, on New Year's weekend 2002 in front of a 78,592 attendance at the Millennium Stadium, panned out.

Kylie Bumcheeks 4 v 0 San Dimas High School
Shearer 69 (1)
Carbonari 72og
Kelly 90
Perry 90

The Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy final replay was a rather one-sided affair, with underdogs Kylie Bumcheeks easily defeating an off-colour San Dimas High School 4-0 to win the first silverware of the season. Rich Smith therefore achieves the notable feat of winning a major trophy in his first full season of WSFFL Fantasy League.

Rich elected to stick with the same line-up as the first game. Peej, however, tinkered with his defence, recalling Franck Queudrue and giving youngster J Lloyd Samuel a chance on the big stage. However after a largely forgettable first half, Kylie Bumcheeks exploited the hesitant San Dimas defence, with Shearer going close before finally breaking the deadlock on 69, with a trademark header from a Gary Kelly cross. Kylie then doubled their lead 3 minutes later, San Dimas’ sub Carbonari deflecting another dangerous Kelly cross into his own net.

San Dimas’ defence then crumbled, and man-of-the-match Kelly grabbed a late goal for himself, before Chris Perry sealed the win for Kylie Bumcheeks in injury time.

(Sheriff provided the words again)

The Bumcheeks line up was:
GK - Van der Sar Sub - Walker
DEF - Elliott, Hyypia, Perry, Kelly Sub - Short
MID - Johnston, Savage, Wright, Oakley Sub - Mustoe
ATT - Shearer, Ravanelli Sub - Beattie

And San Dimas would have hoped that this lot could have done better:
GK- Sorensen Sub - Harper
DEF - Queudrue, Terry, Costa, Samuel Sub - Carbonari
MID - Sinclair, Reuser, Svensson, Ziege Sub - Ouaddou
ATT - Ricketts, Kanoute Sub - Burton

There will be more on Kylie Bumcheeks in the next History post but you can probably tell from the names Van der Sar and Hyypia that this team have morphed into the Cow-Faced Juniors.

Of my team John Terry and Steve Harper are still in the squad, Thomas Sorensen and J Lloyd Samuel ae still playing in WSFFL. Overall though, it's a surprise to me that San Dimas were ever favourites for anything!

Week 12 Results

22 Legged Groove Machine 2 v 1 York’s Returning Glory
Claymore Athletic FC 2 v 0 Final Fantasy XI
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 0 v 1 The Cow-Faced Juniors
Real Muppets 1 v 0 Mega Buck Bandits
San Dimas High School 1 v 4 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
The Dead Parrots 0 v 1 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
The Fabulous Artisans 2 v 1 Aardvark Abacus
Trusted By Millions 2 v 3 Dynamo Kev

Groovers go top on goal difference.
Muppets cut the gap to a point.
Seven points cover the top five.