Bangkok Veterans League

Season #4, Event #25

— Annual Traditional Friendly Derby Match —

• 2nd Annual “Bangkok Veterans -vs- RBSC Veterans” •

13/Dec/2008 • Polo Club

RBSC easily cruises to a repeat victory over the Vets

Report Date: 09/Sep/2009

The Bangkok Vets were delighted to be able to fit in this annual traditional friendly against the RBSC Veterans before the end of the 2008 season.

A quick e-mail went out to all the Vets on the VetsLeague mailing group, and we had another huge squad in a flash once again:
■ Veterans League
♦ Eralp (M)
■ BSL Veterans
♦ Rod
♦ Bruce
♦ Roland
■ LeCoq French
♦ Keith
♦ Philippe
♦ Gonzague
■ British Club
♦ Preben
♦ Ashley
♦ Vern
♦ Wayne
♦ Martin
■ Yingcharoen Standbys
♦ Graham
■ Eton Rifles
♦ Peter
♦ John
■ Pickled Liver
♦ Mark “Rocket” (C)

We knew this was going to be a challenging game, so we opted to go with our usual defensive 4-1-3-2 formation

The Starting-11 was decided as follows:


Fwd.	Keith		John
Mid.	Philippe	Graham		Bruce
	Rod
Def.	Vern	Peter		Mark
	Roland
GK	Gonzague

Substitutes Bench:
■ Ashley
■ Martin
■ Wayne
■ Preben
■ Eralp

1st Period:
After the initial pleasantries, handshakes and photo-shoots, the match in Period-1 turned out to be a testing ground, both teams keeping their composure. There were not many chances on either end, and very fair and friendly stroll.

• First Break ==> Veterans 0 - 0 RBSC

2nd Period:
The Period-2 was a completely different story, in which we totally lost our focus, especially in the last 15 min.

First goal came out of a high ball coming off our post, and RBSC’s Nakornsri (#86), who many of us thought was offside when the ball was originally kicked, headed the ball in easily. [Score: 0-1]

About 5 min later, we turned over the ball in the midfield, and again Nakornsri (#86) sped down the right wing to slot the ball into the opposite sidenet past Bruce. [Score: 0-2]

RBSC’s 3rd goal was a screamer. An easy ball kicked towards our right post, and a massive miscommunication, the ball simply went through between them Bruce and Keith in for a goal. [Score: 0-3]

The 4th goal, what we thought was a chest-hand controlled in the midfield, coming down from the left wing in for a goal, Nakornsri (#86) not forgiving once again. [Score: 0-4]

• Second Break ==> Veterans 0 - 4 RBSC

3rd Period:
After a calm and collected teamtalk about playing the Ref’s whistle and not against each other, the Vets took the field in Period-3 with the aim to at least get on the board. It was also visible that RBSC sort of took their foot off the pedal as well.

We started playing better, and were able to mount serious attacks, putting the RBSC goal under a lot of pressure.

Our 1st goal came off the feet of Ashley via a long range high ball that lobbed the RBSC goalkeeper from about 35 meters out. Nice shot. [Score: 1-4]

And, towards the end of the period, in the corner-kick mêlée in RBSC’s 6-yard-box, the unusual suspect, Vern stuck his head in for an easy one. [Score: 2-4]

The remaining minutes of more pressure on RBSC did not produce any more goals, and we had to finish the 2nd year of this major annual traditional derby on the losing side again.

• Full Time ==> Veterans 2 - 4 RBSC

4th Period:
Yes, of course, there was a Period-4, when we sat around and enjoyed each other’s company with beers and cigars, until we were politely hinted by the Groundsmen that it was nearing midnight (much the same as last year 😊).

Under the bright shiny night skies of Bangkok, away from the bustling traffic of the city, on a cool December evening, with plenty of beers and banter, and a makeshift lifesaver toilet behind the nearby golf umbrella as a peeing spot . . . . . what more we can ask!

Overall:
Great game, great venue, great afternoon!

A lot of trophies, photos, laughs, beers and toasts in the post-game celebrations. Totally enjoyable!

Overall, we enjoyed the hospitality extended to us again this year, and despite the loss and leaving the Permanent Cup with RBSC Veterans again, we look forward to be back on the immaculate pitches of the Polo Club as soon as possible.

Our sincere thanks go to Kh. Rojanasit and RBSC for the invitation and all the healthy amounts of beers they served generously, a day in our annual calendar we will be looking forward to again next year.

Kind regards,
-Eralp

Photos:

Picture 1 — Bangkok Veterans brought another impressive squad to this year’s annual traditional friendly. Pictured are:
● Standing: Ashley, John, Philippe, Preben, Mark “Rocket”, Bruce, Martin, Graham
● Front: Eralp, Wayne, Roland, Gonzague, Keith, Peter, Vern, Rod

Picture 2 — Bangkok Vets Captain on the day Mark “Rocket” shaking hands with RBSC Vets Captain Kh. Rojanasit.

Picture 3 — All the silverware (and more!), raring to go!

Picture 4 — John, Vern and Wayne are determined to get to RBSC’s goal on the right wing in Period-1.

Picture 5 — RBSC Vets appear relaxed in their first-break teamtalk.

Picture 6 — One of Wayne’s incisive runs is stopped by RBSC goalkeeper.

Picture 7 — RBSC Vets (and their #86) are in the process of building another attack.

Picture 8 — LeCoq Philippe’s kids want some piece of the silverware as well.

Picture 9 — The crowd gathers for the trophy presentations.

Picture 10 — The most senior Bangkok Vets, Martin, Mark “Rocket”, Bruce and Preben, line up with smiles in their face (and beer in their hands!).

Picture 11 — Eralp kicks off the ceremonies.

Picture 12 — RBSC’s Kh. Yossagorn presents the Runners-up Trophy to Vets Captain Mark “Rocket”.

Picture 13 — Mark “the Rocket” intense in his acceptance speech.

Picture 14 — Graham presents Kh. Nakornsri (#86)’s Goal of the Day trophy (with a hat-trick on the day).

Picture 15 — RBSC Vets heavyweight, Kh. Sretha, receives their Winners Trophy and the Permanent Cup from Bangkok Vets Manager, Eralp.

Picture 16 — Oh, yes, it’s time for Winners bottoms-up.

Picture 17 — A very happy joint-teams picture at the end of the day.

Picture 18 — And, the band played on!

Picture 19 — The Period-4 deliberations under the bright shiny night skies of Bangkok.

Picture 20 — The Vets (Bruce, Keith, Eralp, Mark “Rocket”, Rod) hadn’t had enough of it, and even ended up at the Crossbar for more.

Picture 21 — And, the band played on!

Contacts:

Feel free to e-mail to me (contacts at the footer), if you would like to voice your take on the above event report, or have more photos from the event to be posted on this page.

Veterans		-vs-		RBSC

	0	-	0
		-FB-
	0	-	1	Nakornsri
	0	-	2	Nakornsri
	0	-	3	[?]
	0	-	4	Nakornsri
		-SB-
Ashley	1	-	4
Vern	2	-	4
		=FT=
	2	-	4

Legend:
● FB: First Break
● SB: Second Break
● FT: Full Time