'Football eh? Bloody hell'
These were the only words Alex Ferguson could muster after United snatched a last gasp surprise victory from the jaws of defeat against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.
As a quote it typifies the unpredictability of the sport, and succinctly encapsulates that feeling when the unexpected occurs and wonderful stories are written on the pitch.
Never was this truer or those words more appropriate than this Sunday on Clapham Common, where a Clapham Alex team, sporting injuries and ferreting around desperately for 11 players in the run up to kick off, over-came Project Clapham, a side previously unbeaten in 3 years of Sunday Super League football.
Given that Project were two to the good after 50 minutes, the size of the achievement becomes even more remarkable. Most of the bookies in the Clapham had already paid out by half-time, before the Alex produced the most remarkable of comebacks, and sent shock-waves through the world of football (central London amateur football).
The day started most like any other. Nothing was that different in preparation, indeed as the 4 of us who had arrived stood on the side of the pitch with 15 minutes to kick off, it all seemed pretty normal. Project had been there for about an hour, fully bibbed, dancing around cones. While we phoned around desperately looking for anyone who had 2 legs and lived close enough to get to the pitch by at least half time.
But something was clearly in the wind, maybe it was a derby atmosphere, fate, or a lower than normal hangover ratio. But the Alex started brightly, knocking the ball around well and keeping a remarkably disciplined shape. Daisy, Woody and Fordy worked brilliantly, winning everything in the middle, while a remodelled defence after an early injury to Rupert looked like they had been playing together since primary school.
Few chances were created in those first 40 minutes so the Alex felt hard done by when just before half time the ball broke kindly to a project player who played a very neat finish past the diving Gandi.
This was compounded by a nasty black eye/broken cheek for new recruit Eddie. Who put in a selfless 45, and was left to go to hospital by himself, trudging away to calls of ‘can we have your shirt back?’’
Feeling aggrieved from the goal Alex started the second half brightly, attacking down the slope with the sun behind them, and Eddie’s replacement Jack slotting seamlessly into left back. So it was a knife to the heart when Gandi slipped and Project forward Gaz cooley headed home.
What happened next though I doubt you would write in a comic book. Alex redoubled their efforts pressing further up pitch and were rewarded when the ball broke to the tireless Mantell who slotted it away. Due reward for his constant work up top.
And flicker of hope. Though few in the crowd still dared to dream. but 5 minutes later it was 2. Woody arrived out of the sun to dispatch a header with power into the back post from a good corner.
The power of belief is a potent force and it coursed through Alex veins and 10 minutes from time Woody was hauled down by the keeper. Immediately he stood up to take the kick, the rest of the team cowered being trembling palms. But with balls of steel the Woodsman drove the ball under the keeper’s despairing dive.
The last 10 minutes was a lesson in resilience as the Alex repelled attack upon attack. Keeping their shape well and even creating more chances. The final whistle blew! The Alex celebrate. Jubilation in the stands.
A truly memorable game against and excellent side. One swallow does not a summer make, but this is a huge result for Alex fans and local bragging rights are theirs till the next time, which is sure to be a cracker.
