A Tale of Three Coaches

A short blog this time, but its all positive, which makes a change.

Last Saturday, at Hullbridge Sports FC, I saw one of the most exceptional fightbacks from a Clapton team in many a year.  I was in good company, as the boys and girls from the Ultras had hired a coach (1) for the trip and were in splendid voice throughout, even when things were going a bit pair shaped. Well done to them, and how marvellous it must have been, for our team, to see that, out of an attendance of eighty-odd, at least half of them had made the trip into Essex from Forest Gate, in order to cheer them on.  There is absolutely no doubt that the voiciferous support for the team, home and away, is having a very influential effect on both our players and, certainly in the case of Hullbridge during the last 20 minutes, the opposition.

At the same time, the influence of the other coach(es) is proving to be just as important. There is no doubt, and I keep saying this, that the contribution of  Peter Harrington and Dan Portsmouth has made a remarkable difference to the team.  This is not only in respect of the new faces they have brought to the club, but also it is becoming evident with every game, that our lads have very high fitness levels for this level of football.

Putting aside last Saturday's comeback, there have already been a number of occasions this season when our team has recovered from a losing position or scored late to win matches.  For instance, the comeback at Sawbridgeworth, the recovery at home to Ilford or late winners against Newham, Greenhouse and Takeley all seem to prove that this Clapton team are going to be battling in each match for the entire 90 minutes.

We are also hitting a rich vein of form in front of goal.  In the past 12 matches we have scored 3 or more goals on 10 occasions, which is probably costing the pyro bods a few more shillings than they would have anticipated, but this is good stuff indeed, and is a joy to behold.

Onto this week and its off to Harlow to visit Enfield then, on Saturday, a trip to Broxbourne to be entertained by former 'local' rivals, Eton Manor.  That all sounds 'up the pictures' to me, but that's modern non-league football I suppose.

Lets hope our lads keep up the good work and we get something from both of these games.  In the meantime, "Well Done One and All"

In closing, I wish to claim money owed to me, in a bet, that I could not write a blog article without mentioning Vince...... ,    oh bugger.