Anyone play Sunday league on here?

[chrismpw]

As a teen I joined a sunday league team I saw training as I cycled past. I knew nothing about this bunch but just sauntered up and asked. As it happened they were a nice bunch who were desperate for players so, inexperienced that I was at 11 a side, I got games.

We were rubbish. I remember 1 game against a Safeway side, we were playing uphill against a stiff wind. By half time we were 5-0 down and had only left our penalty area for kickoffs.

"Its ok," said the skipper at half time "we have the wind and the slope 2nd half"

By the end of the match we were 9-0 down and had only left our penalty area for kick-offs.

In my very early 20s I joined a works team for the works my wife was. All went well for a season or two apart from i was getting fed up that in our league in every team there was ALWAYS a striker who was short who made it their goal to kick lumps out of the tallest or biggest player on the pitch to show how tough they were - inevitably that was me at centre back. I just wanted to play togger and wasnt interested in the aggro so i was already going off sunday league. One week the skipper had a mate coming down to play. He was late for the match and we had 11 men. The skipper asked ME to run the line so that when his mate turned up he could come straight on. We started and played 30 minutes with 10 men ffs! It was a freezing fecking cold morning and I'd had enough. At half time I simply put my lino's flag down, said nothing and walked away from sunday league for ever.

Played loads since - staff teams versus other schools. Much higher standard of footie and sportsmanship, some of the lads were semi-pros. As skipper and manager I always got on the team sheet first and never had to run the line.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

Use to play in the Huyton league many moons ago on Saturday and Sunday was like going into battle every weekend, in the end changed to rugby was loads better social side was brilliant and had some great times, was nearly 50 before I retired reluctantly.

 

[PhilM]

I played during my twenties in goal or at left back and I loved it, but work commitments meant eventually I could never guarantee being available on a Saturday.

We had one really good season when were we got to the semi-final of the national cup, but a late collapse (two goals in last five minutes) knocked us out.

Some of the teams played to a really high standard whereas others were just yard-dogs loving a fight on a Saturday morning whether you wanted one or not.

I remember a game in Speke (at St Chris's I think) turning into a full on brawl when a gang turned up in cars and took on the opposition; we just walked off.

I still occasionally play as part of the job's sports and social league for charity competitions, and there is five-a-side on a Monday evening when I can make it.

 

[Kurt.]

Im 44 now and played my last competitive game 2 years ago, miss it like crazy. I was lucky to have played at a very decent standard and with some very good players, I don’t think I was anything special myself I just got lucky with the players around me. I now play 5 a side once a week which is very competitive as I’m one one of the oldest there playing against some very good players in their 20’s.... the winning or losing doesn’t really matter much these days I just get a buzz out of still being able to compete at my age. Will be devastated when I can’t play anymore.

 

[witchdoc187]

This. One of the reasons I stopped too.

I fouled someone once in a West London Saturday league match and he went crazy went to the side of the pitch and got a knife out of his bag. I was just laughing awkwardly and in disbelief. That was the last straw for me.

Played in a Sunday pub league for a couple of seasons. That was interesting. Going out all night then playing

 

[Billy Dean]

I fouled someone once in a West London Saturday league match and he went crazy went to the side of the pitch and got a knife out of his bag. I was just laughing awkwardly and in disbelief. That was the last straw for me.

Played in a Sunday pub league for a couple of seasons. That was interesting. Going out all night then playing

Haha yeah that was another reason I stopped - it was getting in the way of my hangovers. For me the bigger problem was people on my own team taking it too seriously. Fat, balding 40 year-olds (I'm now one of them myself TBF) thinking they were at Wembley and pissing and moaning every time someone made a mistake.

 

[arch stanton]

Play for the Everton Supporter's fan club team in london in a league with lots of other supporters of teams.

Before the league stopped we were second with two games in hand.

everton, that.

you need to push for finishing the league mate, for the integrity of the game like.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Used to, back in the day(sighs)

 

[Homer Jay]

As a teen I joined a sunday league team I saw training as I cycled past. I knew nothing about this bunch but just sauntered up and asked. As it happened they were a nice bunch who were desperate for players so, inexperienced that I was at 11 a side, I got games.

We were rubbish. I remember 1 game against a Safeway side, we were playing uphill against a stiff wind. By half time we were 5-0 down and had only left our penalty area for kickoffs.

"Its ok," said the skipper at half time "we have the wind and the slope 2nd half"

By the end of the match we were 9-0 down and had only left our penalty area for kick-offs.

In my very early 20s I joined a works team for the works my wife was. All went well for a season or two apart from i was getting fed up that in our league in every team there was ALWAYS a striker who was short who made it their goal to kick lumps out of the tallest or biggest player on the pitch to show how tough they were - inevitably that was me at centre back. I just wanted to play togger and wasnt interested in the aggro so i was already going off sunday league. One week the skipper had a mate coming down to play. He was late for the match and we had 11 men. The skipper asked ME to run the line so that when his mate turned up he could come straight on. We started and played 30 minutes with 10 men ffs! It was a freezing fecking cold morning and I'd had enough. At half time I simply put my lino's flag down, said nothing and walked away from sunday league for ever.

Played loads since - staff teams versus other schools. Much higher standard of footie and sportsmanship, some of the lads were semi-pros. As skipper and manager I always got on the team sheet first and never had to run the line.

that is one of the harshest but somehow funny things I’ve ever read. Run the line and play with 10 men.

 

[chrismpw]

that is one of the harshest but somehow funny things I’ve ever read. Run the line and play with 10 men.

Damn right! I was quite a tidy and regular centre back as well. Thing is - the skipper was the other centre back and so was this mate who was 30 mins late! Bet the sod wasn't even registered either.

 

[chrismpw]

Another time I was mugged - I was visiting a girl I had designs on at work, at her family home in Glynneath. Her brother asked me if I could make up the numbers for a match on the sunday morning - I said sure and he lent me some rugby boots. Consequently I wasted a saturday night being light on the ale.

On the day they had their 11 and I was handed the whistle. Only ended up refereeing a grudge match between two rival valleys teams ffs! A bit different from reffing school matches I have to say. I don't mind a bit of physicality in my game so I overlooked the diving and writhing looking for fouls. I did however send off this enormous barrel chested goalkeeper for a Schumacher-esque professional foul in the 2nd half.

"He's a bloody Englishman inne?" I heard someone mutter.

"Yes" I replied "so let's play the game properly, stop being such soft whinging cheats and get on with it."

Somehow I escaped the match intact.

The brother described my performance as "memorable". lol

 

[degsy]

I used to play Saturday leagues and occasionally Sundays to keep fit. Sunday league is largely dogturd. Crap players, crap pitches, crap facilities, crap referees, no linesmen. I'd pick up way more injuries on the Sunday games because the players were fat slow thugs who couldn't play but could kick.

tbh, sounds just the same as Saturday league.
At one stage iirc there were 10 or more Divisions in the Sun L.
Some very good teams, National Cup winners...and some very good players
I played open age until I was 44, then dropped down to O35s
Played my last game aged 59 and 3/4 scored a near post header in a 3-0 win.
But work got in the way and I never kicked a ball in anger again

 

[degsy]

Im 44 now and played my last competitive game 2 years ago, miss it like crazy. I was lucky to have played at a very decent standard and with some very good players, I don’t think I was anything special myself I just got lucky with the players around me. I now play 5 a side once a week which is very competitive as I’m one one of the oldest there playing against some very good players in their 20’s.... the winning or losing doesn’t really matter much these days I just get a buzz out of still being able to compete at my age. Will be devastated when I can’t play anymore.

Then get back into it as soon as you can, if you leave it too long, you'll stiffen up
Use it or lose it

 

[Kurt.]

Then get back into it as soon as you can, if you leave it too long, you'll stiffen up
Use it or lose it

It’s gone lol lol

 

[degsy]

It’s gone lol lol

Nah, not after 2yrs.
As i said I packed in at 44, spent 3 yrs doing family / job related stuff, then fell off the wagon and bingo mrs degsy was a football widow again.
You said you played at a decent level, so you'll still have some residual fitness left. Get a fitness regime going, then when all this virus stuff dies down, find a team , do a hard preseason and away you go.
I expect weekly reports
Jump to it !