20th Feb

Weekly Roundup 20th Feb 2010

RESULTS for 20th Feb

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	Beckenham	A	Lost 64-10	London 1 South
2nd (Mustangs)	Dover II	H	Lost 0-38	Invicta Division I
3rd	Beckenham III	A	Won 6-8	Invicta Div II
4th	Gravesend III	H	Lost 0-40	Mid Kent A
5th	Gravesend V	H	Lost 5-22	Mid Kent C
Vets	Played 4th team fixture

Why does it always rain before training on thursdays and freeze hard on a friday night? I'm sure that someone up there doesnt like us!!

Most people within the club will be aware that this week has seen the departure of Tim McBennett as Head Coach after many years of commitment and dedication to Maidstone FC. (See notice in News Section) Leaving aside the training field, what stands out in my memory as typical of Tim is the last day of what had been a very tough and disappointing season last year, helping to drink the bar dry with the players till silly o'clock and then going on to Lashings afterwards and ending up sleeping on someone's sofa before going home to Bromley the next day. No one could ever say that he didnt live and breathe for the cause and I hope that he will continue to be a welcome guest and frequent visitor at Maidstone FC for many years to come.

It was another difficult encounter for the 1st Team at Beckenham this week, brightened for the away supporters by another superb individual try from Craig Webb. Well done to veterans Mark Thurgood and Mayhem for stepping in to save the day in the front row. The game also marked a useful debut for Polish flanker Damian Grab, who gave a good acount of himself in his first game for Maidstone.

The Mustangs had selected a pretty credible looking side on tuesday but were disrupted before kick off by two or three drop-outs, which certainly didnt help in trying to contain a big brawny Dover II - with the inevitable consequences.

The 3rds had a point to prove after having suffered their biggest loss in memory against Beckenham III in the previous League fixture. Whilst not redressing the points balance, a gritty 6-8 win was every bit as satisfying as a try fest although its a shame that there was a late red card for both sides after a minor scuffle broke out. The Beckenham skipper said afterwards that there were only 3 players different from the team that skinned Maidstone in the Autumn, so one can only conclude that they must have been pretty good players to make that much difference - or their replacements dire !!

Having no opposition of their own to play and with a dearth of available 4th teamers, The Vets stepped up en masse to play the 4th Team's league game vs Gravesend III. Although the 40-0 score-line suggests a thrashing, the reality - especially in the 2nd half was that Maidstone were camped on the Gravesend line for long periods but could not batter their way through the resolute Gravesend defence, which conceded penalty after penalty instead. Former Vets skipper Glyn Richards took the sponsor's bottle of champagne for the Maidstone man of the match, although current Vets skipper Steve Vincent also had a stormer.

The 5ths seemed disappointed with their performance against Gravesend V - mainly on account of having enjoyed the bulk of the possession and territory and still having failed to win. However, if its any consolation, the referee said afterwards that he's often seen the 5ths play far worse than that !! Ben Pritchard made a good impression on his debut after joining recently from Bexley, scoring Maidstone's only try of the day.

Next Week

Some uncertainty around fixtures for sat 27th. We would like to get our Kent Plate match vs Canterbury II played on saturday if possible but we wont find out until Tuesday evening whether they will agree to play it this week. Seems unlikely that the Mustangs will play - unless the 1sts dont, but it definitely wont be against Sheppey as published in the fixture list as Sheppey are otherwise engaged. The 3rds wont be playing their friendly vs Whitstable II on saturday, in order to keep themselves pure for the Evergreen Cup Quarter Final on sunday at 2pm at The Mote vs Charlton Park Vets. The 4ths will play Lordswood II at home on sat and the 5ths should play Lordswood III away - although Lordswood III forfeited their league game last week so don't hold your breath. Meanwhile the Vets are looking for some oppo, as Battersea Ironsides cant host their friendly owing to re-arranged League games.

Court and Social

On 13th March, there will be a St Patricks night at the club, where the Guiness and Murphy's will be flowing and the Irish Stout merchandise departments will be working overtime. Irish Stew is on the menu and the music will be provided by the quite superb Beats Workin' (courtesy of Gary Griffiths of the 5th Team). A nominal charge of £3 per head will be levied but it will be the best £3 you spend this season. We're even planning to have the heating on.

More Serious Matters

Next, a note from a well known Maidstone character: If you disregard the bit where he says that until Nov 2009 he was a normal bloke, the rest of it is well worth reading:

London to Paris Bike Ride

2 bikes, 2 blokes, 2 cities, only 3 kidneys…..

My name is James Walker, and up until November last year, I’d not really thought much about cancer, or how it can devastate and totally change peoples’ lives.

Up until November, I was a normal bloke, aged 30, just engaged, playing rugby every weekend, riding my bike, going to the gym – and then after some routine tests, it was found that I had a tumour in my right kidney. To say this came as somewhat of a shock is an understatement, from what little I knew, Kidney cancer was only found in men in their early 60’s, not fit young men; not me. What followed for the next few months were rounds of tests to confirm the type of cancer, if it had spread, if surgery was necessary etc. After fainting repeatedly at the mere thought of needles, I underwent a radical nephrectomy to remove the tumour and my right kidney, which has left a large scar in my right side.

I was incredibly lucky. My cancer was caught early, and completely by chance. In January 2010, I was given the all clear. My life has had to change dramatically, but I am just thankful that I am well and have many more years to look forward to.

My friend Nathan had mentioned he wanted to take part in the London to Paris Bike Ride, and from this we started to make a plan, to do our own unsupported bike ride from London to Paris, in September 2010. We have decided to do our own as looking at the distances on organised ones we didn't feel that they were long enough and not all money raised will go to the charity. We will self finance the ride along with sponsorship from local and national companies, covering our progress on a number of websites and blogs and with various news agencies.

OUR ROUTE

15/092010: London – Portsmouth 73miles

16/09/2010: Cherbourg – Courseulles-sur-Mer 90miles

17/09/2010: Courseulles-sur-Mer – Breteuil 90miles

18/09/2010: Breteuil – Paris 75 miles

This is going to be a struggle, I’ll have to take some extra precautions, and training will be difficult and lengthy as I’m still recovering, but the Charity we’ve chosen to ride for, Macmillan Cancer Support absolutely deserve our efforts and every penny we raise. The Charity supported me and my family throughout these last few difficult months, from information about the cancer itself, to information about taking sick leave and travel insurance advice. They really have been an invaluable resource.

Nathan and I really hope that you'll give your full support to our bike ride and sponsor us or help in any way you can to raise money for this incredibly deserving charity.

Many thanks,

Nathan and James

Contact details, James Tel: 07855054842 E-mail:[email protected]

There is also a Facebook page which is:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=307552649547

And a just giving sponsorship page which is:

http://www.justgiving.com/2men3kidneys

Fixtures for 27th/28th Feb

Team	Opposition	H/A		Competition
1st	TBA (Kent Plate?)		Sat 2:30
2nd (Mustangs)	TBA		Sat 2:30
3rd (Evergreen Cup)	Charlton Park		SUNDAY 2:00	Invicta II
4th	Lordswood II	H	sat 2:30	Mid Kent A
5th	Lordswood III	A	Sat 2:30	Mid Kent C
Vets	TBA		Sat 2:30	Friendly