Stage set. Hottest UK May day on record. Extreme heat. We had a staged plan, including positive & hydration.

The morning Pitchero indicated full team, plus five subs. Personal circumstances took its toll : three players pulling out on the day ---> thank you for your prompt whatsapp / Pitchero updates whilst you sorted out those life topics. All the best, lads.

In this Summer League, the first four games grade us into a more balanced final five games.
This means there is a chance we might face much higher level Mens 1's level opponents at the start and still enjoy it. We did today.

In such times, context is vital. Each SHC squad player coped admirably with the exceptional conditions. We had support in the public areas as well. Thank you, you all should be proud. Tough day.
Game split into quarters.

In such adversity, a fine opportunity to learn from what we did right, and items we must focus on next times to improve -- always interesting what happens when the stage light is on, and boy was it on !!!

Good energy awareness management - no-one had heat stroke. ✅
Everyone kept going, heads-up, positive ✅
Tracked back, some delightful timely friendly "take the ball or foul". ✅
Every Newbie brought along Maynard's Jelly Babies.✅

Supported team mates. Plenty of
occasions where position advice shared. As Thurrock moved the ball quick & precise, they tested that communication, stretched us, then exploited it.

To see that done to us live is a tough daunting ask. Makes us go quiet. Seize the delight by keep talking and moving. Supporting.

As Eddie shared, back to front, front to back clean comms, your movement makes space for others, or use that space created. Their exploitation means their overloads -- as you see it, call it. React. Reflect on how they did that afterwards!! Call it immediate.

Our opponents arrived together prompt at 7pm. Their equipment was on, or promptly sorted (shin pads / mouth guards / sticks / keeper kit). They immediate warmed up together, declaring strong intentions alongside laughter. Shared their previously communicated plans / strategy. Bolstered their youth. They only got 7 goals, which is testiment to our resilience in the face of what we just faced ! Well done all. Lets do what they did at our next one!!

Yes, it was crazy hot. Our M1 have hotter tonite.... whereby new records for excess heat will be recorded. Good luck to them -- hydrate hydrate hydrate!

MoM: Carl Birchall.
Goals: 4’ 14’ 16’ 27’ 34’ 43’ 49’

Stuff in the feedbacks provided, if not written already:

- Stopping the ball with flat stick
- Recycle around the back
- Quick, precise ball.
- read the pre-match report.

Please continue to send your feedback through

thanks for reading this far,
Russ