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Jeff, Tony & Billy make their debuts
Alwyn Day19 Nov 2023 - 11:19
Top o’ the morning!
Our goalkeeper Jeff Grimes and utility player Tony Malone made their debuts for the Republic of Ireland 70s team on Saturday 18th November at John Henry Newman college in Chelmsley Wood near Birmingham against a WFLA England 70s team that is managed by Coventry & District ex-player and friend Simon Atherton.
The college also hosted England v ROI games in the age categories 50s and 60s where another of our players Billy Morrison was making his debut for the England 60s team.
The games kicked off at 1pm and each team played four games against each other to give opportunity for the whole squads to get a game.
All three players enjoyed their afternoon and their debuts and played very well and I’m told will be ‘certainties’ for the next fixtures.
Having watched all four 70s matches, England v ROI, Tony Malone playing up front was cruelly denied two, what looked like perfectly good goals, by a referee who was stationary on the half way line for all four games, one for what he adjudged was running and the other because he wasn’t sure if the ball had crossed the line! At the other end, Jeff who mostly had a quiet day in goal, made one outstanding save, getting his finger tips to the ball to push an excellent shot on the turn from the England forward, onto a post where it bounced to safety.
England manager Simon Atherton said after the match “Malone played well up front for the ROI and I was surprised the first goal he scored was ruled out, I couldn’t tell if the ball had crossed the line for the second one, but I think both sides can be happy with a 0-0 draw on this occasion”.
Coventry & District Walking FC offer their hearty congratulations to all three players and look forward to them winning many more caps for their respective countries.
The college also hosted England v ROI games in the age categories 50s and 60s where another of our players Billy Morrison was making his debut for the England 60s team.
The games kicked off at 1pm and each team played four games against each other to give opportunity for the whole squads to get a game.
All three players enjoyed their afternoon and their debuts and played very well and I’m told will be ‘certainties’ for the next fixtures.
Having watched all four 70s matches, England v ROI, Tony Malone playing up front was cruelly denied two, what looked like perfectly good goals, by a referee who was stationary on the half way line for all four games, one for what he adjudged was running and the other because he wasn’t sure if the ball had crossed the line! At the other end, Jeff who mostly had a quiet day in goal, made one outstanding save, getting his finger tips to the ball to push an excellent shot on the turn from the England forward, onto a post where it bounced to safety.
England manager Simon Atherton said after the match “Malone played well up front for the ROI and I was surprised the first goal he scored was ruled out, I couldn’t tell if the ball had crossed the line for the second one, but I think both sides can be happy with a 0-0 draw on this occasion”.
Coventry & District Walking FC offer their hearty congratulations to all three players and look forward to them winning many more caps for their respective countries.
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