The Dietz Cup 2011: Flacas & Fatboys [Rotterdam] 2 Effra Academicals [south London mostly] 5
Every year my mates' football team in south London, the Effra Academicals, play against my mates' team in Rotterdam, the peculiarly monikered Flacas and Fatboys (best not to ask). The details of (most of) the fixtures are summarised in this handy picture of the back of the Anglo-Dutch trophy:
It's been going for nine years now, ever since a stag do for the 'O.A' (Original Accie), Ian Holmes, shortly after V and I moved to Rotterdam. And it is, not to put too fine a point on it, one of the top 10 things I'll most treasure from my four-score-years-and-ten when I'm getting ready to shuffle off... That's how much I love these weekends.
We had a great, great time, in the city I probably love above all others. I'm in awe of New York City, of course, and sometimes I do love London and wish I lived (near) there, and Berlin is just brilliant, but I do get very sentimental and partisan about Rotterdam. It's where V and I first lived after we got married, and where The Monkey was born (1, 2, and 3). And I've still got a great bunch of mates there, even six years after leaving.
As soon as I arrived, I hired a bike straight away from near Centraal Station, and headed up to the wonderfully designed, super-cheap but not hangover-friendly Stayokay hostel in the cube houses. We had a sensible-ish night the night before.
On the day of the game, I managed to persuade the Londoners to hire bikes,
which turned out to be fully vindicated, as we cycled through the utterly lovely Kralingsebos [Kralingen woods] in glorious sunshine. Quintessentially Dutch.
We stopped off at De Naachtgaal [The Nightingale] pancake house in the woods, for some pre-match yummy pancakes - surprisingly approved by the Accies' nutritionist, Simon.
I found out just before the match that, because it was a one-off and hence not a full Anglo-Dutch Cup fixture, the game's unique trophy had been renamed...
I could hardly speak, for being moved.
The game itself took place at VVOR, the home of various East Rotterdam football clubs, including the youth team for the F&F's captain, Nils Ligtart.
As to the match itself, normally I play for the Rotterdammers (even though I started with the Accies, and scored their two goals in the inaugural match in 2002, I had 'gone sufficiently native' by 2003 to defect). On this occasion, the Accies needed bodies, and so I swapped sides. This was the first time I personally had ever worn my Accies shirt (Liam had worn it more often than me)
The Accies romped home, after being 2-1 down at half-time (yes, there is edited footage on YouTube!), in a gutsy and accomplished team performance. I scored two of the Accies goals, the first being the 1-1 equaliser (atoning for a horrible miss five minutes previously, which was brilliantly saved by Fred in the Dutch goal: 4:12 on the previous footage), while for the second - the Accies' fourth, to make it 4-2 (at 3:12 in this footage)- I'm ashamed to say I jokingly goaded the wives and girlfriends of the Rotterdam Ultras with the old hand-to-the-ear-"what's-that-you-were-singing?" routine. Served me right my calf muscle pinged in the process, requiring an immediate substitution!
Apparently, that puts me back as the all-time 2nd highest goalscorer for the Accies. Glad to have been of service, boys, but if the F&Fs want me back next year, I'll 'do a Cesc'. Rotterdam's my 'home'! (My mate, Ed, rather likes the fact that every time I go to Rotterdam I forget to pack something and so leave something behind in the city; as he says, "what would Freud say?!")
Dutch mates, look away now - turncoat/mercenary gloating imminent!
We spent the Saturday night with the two squads together, drinking in some fine city bars until Stupid O'Clock, including in the undisputed new favourite Boudewijn, plus the timeless Rotterdam classic, Rotown, and the absurdly over-rated but still fun (and great T-shirts - when you're drunk), De Witte Aap, topped off with a 5am kebab.
The Accies blog has a number of entries covering the glorious weekend, including a full match report/ summary from the Accies captain; an entirely justified homage to said captain, Andy Thornes; a triumphant team photo; and - I kid you not - media coverage in a Rotterdam newspaper!
Next year is the TENTH anniversary, when - as Nils has put it - 'revanche' is plotted!
It's been going for nine years now, ever since a stag do for the 'O.A' (Original Accie), Ian Holmes, shortly after V and I moved to Rotterdam. And it is, not to put too fine a point on it, one of the top 10 things I'll most treasure from my four-score-years-and-ten when I'm getting ready to shuffle off... That's how much I love these weekends.
We had a great, great time, in the city I probably love above all others. I'm in awe of New York City, of course, and sometimes I do love London and wish I lived (near) there, and Berlin is just brilliant, but I do get very sentimental and partisan about Rotterdam. It's where V and I first lived after we got married, and where The Monkey was born (1, 2, and 3). And I've still got a great bunch of mates there, even six years after leaving.
As soon as I arrived, I hired a bike straight away from near Centraal Station, and headed up to the wonderfully designed, super-cheap but not hangover-friendly Stayokay hostel in the cube houses. We had a sensible-ish night the night before.
On the day of the game, I managed to persuade the Londoners to hire bikes,
which turned out to be fully vindicated, as we cycled through the utterly lovely Kralingsebos [Kralingen woods] in glorious sunshine. Quintessentially Dutch. We stopped off at De Naachtgaal [The Nightingale] pancake house in the woods, for some pre-match yummy pancakes - surprisingly approved by the Accies' nutritionist, Simon.
I found out just before the match that, because it was a one-off and hence not a full Anglo-Dutch Cup fixture, the game's unique trophy had been renamed...
I could hardly speak, for being moved.
The game itself took place at VVOR, the home of various East Rotterdam football clubs, including the youth team for the F&F's captain, Nils Ligtart.
As to the match itself, normally I play for the Rotterdammers (even though I started with the Accies, and scored their two goals in the inaugural match in 2002, I had 'gone sufficiently native' by 2003 to defect). On this occasion, the Accies needed bodies, and so I swapped sides. This was the first time I personally had ever worn my Accies shirt (Liam had worn it more often than me)
The Accies romped home, after being 2-1 down at half-time (yes, there is edited footage on YouTube!), in a gutsy and accomplished team performance. I scored two of the Accies goals, the first being the 1-1 equaliser (atoning for a horrible miss five minutes previously, which was brilliantly saved by Fred in the Dutch goal: 4:12 on the previous footage), while for the second - the Accies' fourth, to make it 4-2 (at 3:12 in this footage)- I'm ashamed to say I jokingly goaded the wives and girlfriends of the Rotterdam Ultras with the old hand-to-the-ear-"what's-that-you-were-singing?" routine. Served me right my calf muscle pinged in the process, requiring an immediate substitution!
Apparently, that puts me back as the all-time 2nd highest goalscorer for the Accies. Glad to have been of service, boys, but if the F&Fs want me back next year, I'll 'do a Cesc'. Rotterdam's my 'home'! (My mate, Ed, rather likes the fact that every time I go to Rotterdam I forget to pack something and so leave something behind in the city; as he says, "what would Freud say?!")
Dutch mates, look away now - turncoat/mercenary gloating imminent!
We spent the Saturday night with the two squads together, drinking in some fine city bars until Stupid O'Clock, including in the undisputed new favourite Boudewijn, plus the timeless Rotterdam classic, Rotown, and the absurdly over-rated but still fun (and great T-shirts - when you're drunk), De Witte Aap, topped off with a 5am kebab.
The Accies blog has a number of entries covering the glorious weekend, including a full match report/ summary from the Accies captain; an entirely justified homage to said captain, Andy Thornes; a triumphant team photo; and - I kid you not - media coverage in a Rotterdam newspaper!
Next year is the TENTH anniversary, when - as Nils has put it - 'revanche' is plotted!
posted by Graham at 12:57 PM
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