CHICAGO: The Full Magnificent
Story - By 1st Team Manager
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE:
As I enter my thirties, something extraordinary happened
in Chicago last week. Personally, I never thought anything
could come close to United's late, late victory in Barcelona
1999. Andy Walmsley might point to a recent night in Istanbul
which escapes my memory. Believe me Chicago 2006 was up
there.
This was no ordinary victory for Stonewall. This was a superhuman
effort against all the odds achieved with a strength, a
belief and a resolve that I have never witnessed before
in my 6 years at the club. If you were writing a Hollywood
film this would be rejected for being too far-fetched, a
fairytale. But fairytales can come true. Led by the inspirational
Darren Lewis this team battled through to win Gold at the
Gay Olympic Games/World Cup and claim Stonewall's greatest
ever triumph with a team which on paper was not amongst
the best we have taken on tour. There is a cliche: "there
is no 'i' in team" and how true this proved as it was
team spirit which gave us this success. Every player played
and behaved impecibly observing any rules that had been
placed.
2 years ago, Stonewall FC had hard times. 6 months ago our
league record was played 16 and lost 16. Now, we are World
and Olympic champions with a squad of only 9 first teamers,
2 players carrying serious injuries and 1 player who had
an operation 8 weeks ago. Some of the squad had never even
met one of whom I had never seen play. It surely couldn't
be done against teams with 18 players in the scorching heat.
But this squad refused to die, they refused to give up and
they earned the ultimate accolade. Here is our story....
DAY 1 + 2
The opening ceremony was enjoyed by all. A marvellous occasion
and the scenes of singing and chanting in the tunnel before
we went onto Soldier Field was the first indication I had
of the spirit amongst the guys with every player being given
and sung his own derogatory song by the others! The next
day and we managed to train for an hour, practising set-pieces
and tactics. Finally, i got to see Andy Francis play having
felt like Sven , taking a player to the world cup blind,
although Andy is double the age of Theo Walcott!
DAY 3 Stonewall 1-1 Florida Stonewall 1-1 The Americas
WOW, what a scorcher! 105 degrees, no wind, max humidity.
Survival was the order of the day on a massive pitch and
we battled well against 2 of our rival contenders. Even
Roger Taylor had to be used such was our tiredness even
despite his injuries and advanced years! Florida took the
lead (1-0 down would become a theme later on!) before a
late Doug equaliser salvaged a point. Even in this heat
we refused to wilt. Game 2 saw us fight out a bad-tempered
1-1 draw, Doug scoring first before we conceded a late goal
to a wonder strike. Special praise to Audley and Andy Francis
who lasted superbly despite having a combined age of 100
;) .
DAY 4 Stonewall 1-0 New York
By now, this was a must win game if we were to get a decent
quarter-final draw. This was the only time in the week that
tempers became frayed, myself included would you believe!
Some moaning and complaining but in saying that the team
stayed patient and Iain's second half strike, his first
of the tournament, gave us the crucial 3 points.
DAY 5 Stonewall 4-0 Atlanta
Our easiest victory by far, guaranteeing third place in
the preliminary stages which we were happy with. Liam and
Bill made huge contributions with a goal and an assist respectively,
Dan Miller(a backheel) and two more from Doug completing
the rout.
However, on Wednesday evening two players disgraced themselves.
Firstly, Doug showed his intellect by believing our scouse
leader for many hours that his hair would turn green if
exposed to the pool and secondly, Mikey's all red outfit
(t shirt, and 80's style footy shorts!) with black socks
and trainers for the official football party did nothing
for our trendy reputation as a club!
DAY 6 Stonewall 3-1 San Diego QF am
Stonewall 3-1 New York SF pm
The knockout stages began to thunderstorms and heavy rain
delaying kick off by 6 hours, which suited us as it was
cooler and not the original 9am kick-off! We played some
decent football which saw Iain score the rebound from his
own missed penaly. After a shock San Diego equaliser, we
put in a tremendous second half performance playing lovely
football on the deck.Iain got a second before Doug scored
my Stonewall goal of the tournament with a stunning free-kick.
This enabled us to rest players for the last ten minutes
and give everyone a decent run-out before our second match
of the day. Tiredness and injuries were becomming a factor.
I havent mentioned players individually, they will be mentioned
later.
After a 2 hour break, the semi commenced vs New York who
had shocked favourites San Francisco on penalties. This
probably created an unwanted complacency and after a very
poor start we were 1-0 behind from a long throw, which I
had specifically warned about. After a bollocking from captain/
teacher(his new nickname) Darren we came out all guns blazing
but couldn't find the equaliser. Was it going to end here.
I couldn't see a way back, we had missed too many chances.
Suddenly New York broke and a cross led to a powerful downward
header which I somehow got a strong hand to, I still don't
know how. One of my best ever saves. Was that a turning
point, there would have been no way back from 2-0.
18 mins to go, corner to Stonewall, cleared to Darren who
hooked it back in for Nigel to rifle home. Cue delirium.
New York's heads went down and two late goals from the ever-improving
Iain ensured victory a mass celebrations. We had done it.
My target was to reach the final and to battle back from
1-0 was marvellous given that the players were so tired
and had given everything. What a resolve we had shown!
A sensible night was had by all, well, 2am mainly because
no one had the energy to go out any later! We now looked
forward to friday evening's final.....
DAY 7 Stonewall 3-1 Florida (aet)
The day has arrived. Judgement day and I couldn't be prouder.
My team has performed heroically and we have to conjure
up one last herculean effort. The injuries have piled up.
Roger and Andy Francis can barely move, Alexis is definately
ruled out. 13 shattered players fit. Surely this would be
a game too far and so what if it is? Reaching the final
was an achievement in itself.No shame in losing to a very
good Florida team. But little was I to know of the drama
that lay ahead.....
3pm meet in the lobby, I could sense a nervy atmosphere.
By kick off the mood was more relaxed and we were ready.
My team talk was calm and positive and I mentioned the fact
that we owed it to Nellie to win this match as he would
have refereed the final if we had been knocked out. Simon's
support throughout the tournamnent cannot go unmentioned.Thanks
mate.
20mins gone, we had hardly had a touch and were over-run
in centre midfield so I moved Nigel in from left midfield
and gradually took control by half-time. Nigel's subsequent
performance was immense and he was my man of the match.
However, Florida were unlucky not to be given a penalty
early on.
It was very tight in the second half, we had clearer chances
but they had more possession. It was also getting quite
dark. After 90 minutes it was 0-0. Extra time loomed. We
were shattered but you could see that Florida were feeling
it more.
4 mins into extra time and disaster. Their best played dribbled
in the box and scored a good goal thought I went down too
early. Our reaction to the goal is something that I will
never forget. You could excuse moaning and heads going down,
mine did, but not one player moaned or shouted. We just
got on with it and inspired each other as best we could
with encouragement.
Surely it was over now. How many teams concede a goal in
extra time and come back to win. France did it vs Portugal
in 1984 I think, but not often at all. 1 minute before half
time, we scored from a corner, a powerful header from Mikey
but the linesman had very harshly flagged for a push. Unbelievable,
but again no one complained to the officials we just played
on, even me and andy! I think we were too tired to argue
with the ref! By now I knew it wasn't meant to be and i
was already thinking about how to console the players afterwards.
HT, we changed to 3-4-3 and pushed nigel and doug wide where
Florida were by now very tired. It proved to be a masterstroke.
It was do-or die now. 11 mins were left when Iain took possession
on the right and skinned their left back before a pull back
to doug who waits for an eternity before slotting past the
goalkeeper. YES!!!!!!!!!! Pandemonium ensues. Even Wallace
is jumping about like a lunatic. Does this team ever give
up. Penalties it is but no. Minutes later and a corner is
spectacularly volleyed in by Darren, yes volleyed in by
Darren. What a turnaround from his agony in Sydney. The
team went ballistic, by now i was struggling to keep composed
and was ready to cry but it wasnt over. We had to regroup.
This was surely a dream, Florida were in shock and so were
the crowd. How did this happen. I have never seen team spirit
like this before. We must hold on.
The last 2 minutes took an eterntiy in almost complete darkness.
Somehow I claimed a corner and cleared to Iain who danced
around their defence and rounded the keeper for 3-1. It
was astonishing.The crowning glory. The holy grail had been
reached again but never before like this. Florida sank to
their knees. Sydney was fantastic but we we never in trouble
over there. This was about commitment, blood and guts. And
quality!
As we collected our medals all I could think of was the
admiration I had for this amazing squad I had with me. Heros
every single one and now Stonewall legends. I love them
all and it is a privilege to manager such a resiliant bunch
of guys with an extra-ordinary never say die attitude and
spirit even though some had never met let alone played together.
A truly monumental achievement
eric - click here for pics
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