Irish-American Community Centre 9-a-side Soccer Tournament
East Haven, Connecticut
24 July, 2005

Hosted by Hamden Playwright SC

 

Hamden Playwright 1 El Grecos

2

 

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Fairfield GAC 1 Milford

3

 

1

Milford

3

2

0

1

6

4

2

6

Milford 1 Hamden Playwright

0

2

El Grecos

3

2

0

1

6

6

0

6

El Grecos 1 Fairfield GAC

3

3

Hamden Playwright

3

1

0

2

5

3

2

3

Fairfield GAC 0 Hamden Playwright

4

 

4

Fairfield GAC

3

1

0

2

4

8

-4

3

El Grecos 3 Milford

2

 

 
   
Championship Final                      
Milford 8 El Grecos

0

                     
                             

2005 Milford SC

Milford 01

Milford 04

Milford 05

Click on thumbnails to see larger picture

The Winners! Milford SC

 
The participants:
Hamden Playwright SC: The hosts. Play in the SASL Over-30s league in Third Division East in 4th place at the time of the tournament. Had a large squad (at least 15 players). They were hugely disappointing in their first game, losing 2-1 to El Grecos who they were heavy favourites to beat. They were 2-0 down until late in the game. Arguably, the loss cost them their traditional place in the Final. Playwright have threatened never to invite back any team who beats them (no, seriously!). El Grecos and Milford were not told this before the games and desperately tried to forfeit their games later on. Playwright are a funny lot though, especially that Canadian geezer (hello, Cannuck!) who volunteered to be an "assistant ref" for the Final, with a flag in one hand, and a beer in the other. As they say in the TV adverts, he's a Mitchum Man.
Fairfield GAC SC: Play in the SASL Masters League (Over-40s) in Fourth Division in 9th place at the time of the tournament. Had a small squad (around 11 players). Had a disappointing tournament, losing two out of their three games. Credit to them for showing up with what players they had though as replacements for Glastonbury Celtic FC who dropped out with a priority commitment a couple of weeks beforehand. We're glad Celtic didn't show up, so we could all talk about them behind their backs. And, boy, could those Fairfield GAC boys tell us a few things about Glastonbury Celtic FC. Could be worth a few dollars just to keep quiet...
Milford SC: Had three players from Milford Magic SC in the CARSL (Over-40s), but with several young, fit and fast players to help save their butts. All the young ones had not even started shaving yet. Puberty was questionable with some of them. A couple even had to have their diapers changed between games. A modest squad (around 14 players) but the youngest squad by far which ultimately proved to be a major advantage for playing four games from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on a very hot day. Dominated all their games -- except losing 3-2 to El Grecos in their third match, but they were already through to the Final. The Final, against a depleted and totally exhausted El Grecos side, was a stroll for them. It was 7-0 by half time and Milford simply took their foot off the gas in the second half. They drank Gerber's apple juice from the trophy afterwards...
El Grecos SC: A hybrid squad from all over Kingdom Come (and one or two perhaps from beyond). Originally started as a Greek team made up of mostly Over-40 players from CARSL, they also drafted in a couple of Mexicans, a Chilean old fart who could run faster than a cheetah, a Dutchman (with some Greek ancestry!), an English superstar (er, me), some US Americans, who came from out of nowhere for games #2 and #3 and disappeared just as quickly, and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Squad (or was that just me fantasising again). The largest squad by far (breeding like rabbits, I think they were up to 22 players by 3:00 PM). By the time of the Final El Grecos were down to 11 players (after injuries and players having to leave). The Final was "A Game Too Far" as the players, by their own admission, were out of gas. The motto of the team was (rough Greek to English translation) "Who gives a sh*t, we got to the Final, now let's go get a beer!" Mitchum Men through and through.
 
Many Thanks!
Regardless of the results, a great day was had by all of the teams and all participants thanked the Irish Club for the facilities (including THE EXCELLENT BEER!), Hamden Playwright for hosting and organsing the tournament and to the Parthenon Diner in Branford who provided and cooked all of the fantabulous food!

Thanks
Steve and Greg!

Cheers!
- Garry Archer (El Grecos SC)