Cottage Farm Ladies  - sponsored by

    After the success of last year's trip, it was decided to enter two team's in this year's tournament. So a party of 20 people, almost the whole squad, journied north up the M6 on Saturday 2nd July to Birkenhead in readiness for the tournament to commence the following day in nearby New Brighton. Alex Dockray's car managed to avoid last year's mistakes and didn't go through the Mersey Tunnel into Liverpool, however manager Roger White's car took a right off the M6 onto the M56 heading into Manchester instead of the other way. He claims it was his SatNav that told him to, yeh right!  

    By the time the final car load arrived (mine) at the hotel at 6.00pm, some of the players has already been trying out the liquid refreshment, a little too much in some cases Claire! Roger had found a nice hotel with its own bar and pool table and with the Live8 concert on the big screen television in the lounge. I have no idea what they got up to in the afternoon but judging by the state of them they didn't venture very far!

    On Saturday evening we all headed into New Brighton to an American Diner to feast on their delicacies!!! Some of the ladies went to a club for a while but we all met back up at the hotel for a few drinks while we played pool and watched the concert on the television. Suffice to say everyone enjoyed themselves, they must have done as the sun was coming up before some of us went to bed, I'm afraid I am guilty on this one. It's not funny when, two hours after you've gone to bed, you're woken up by brilliant sunshine beaming in through the curtains, and you can't get back to sleep!

    After the lovely full English breakfast, some things don't change, the group packed up and headed down to the beach ready for battle to commence. Hot Legs wasn't taking any chances this year and kept his legs completely covered up, the coward ! Nor did he let anyone take any dodgy photos of him this year as he was one of the last to go to bed, although the coach was probably the last, mad fool!

    The conditions weren't as hot this year which helped. Both teams played some very good football, especially as we don't get too many chances of playing on sand! There some very good teams on show, most of them play in higher leagues than we do, but both teams did themselves proud, one team got through to the quarter finals and the other team narrowly missed out. Well done to all the girls, a great effort by a great bunch of players who have the most amazing team spirit. Thanks must go to the Gaffer for his work in organising the whole thing. I know everyone enjoyed it, what they can remember anywway!!

    "The B team"

"The A team"