The weekend started on Saturday with an early drive North up the M6, or South down the M6 for Letty and co, sat navs fault (hmmmm!!!)

2 cars left from Roger’s with myself and Spanna full of enthusiasm waving the CFRFC flag high and Beckie, Susan and Nat ready to go back to bed!!!

However after a few laughs mainly at Spanna’s expense with a couple of ‘fcuk head’ comments, (as written on Nat’s hat), we were soon all in the Cottage Farm Tour Spirit.

After a quick stop for breakfast, or 10 more mins kip for Susan and Beckie, most of us arrived at the hotel with enough time to sort out the rooms and get changed into our kits before heading off to the beach!!! A little confusion over who was wearing which colour shirts but after insisting on blue for the B team, (red shirts with blue boots a big no no for Pugh), the teams were as follows; In the red shirts were team A managed by James and Emily (aaaah) with Captain Alex, Letty, Cobby, Kayleigh, and tour ‘virgins’ Leanne, Beckie and Sheena.

In the blue shirts were team B managed by Roger and Kev with Captain Pugh (enough of the pugwash jokes please), Nat, Susan, Steph, Hannah and newbies Wizz and Spanna.

We arrived at the beach with plenty of time to spare and after claiming a nice spot of erm sand we were soon pitching the tents and figuring out how best to hang the flag. Nice work by the way Spanna, nothing better to do came to everyone’s mind but quality nevertheless!!! Next activity was the team photos and after 10 mins of cheesy posing and flashing of those legend pants im sure half the beach knew who Cottage Farm were!!! The weather at this point was quite sunny however by the time we were playing it was cloudy and the rain inevitably came forcing a few into tent hiding or hoods to protect their hair (girls ay?!!) Roger and Kev were particularly impressed with a certain player’s ‘roll’ in an effort not to get sand in her hair but I won’t embarrass her anymore than necessary, especially with the colour face she had to go out in that evening!!!

OK now comes the football seeing as that was the whole reason for going away, right girls?! (wink wink). What else can I say except how impressive everyone’s efforts were throughout all the games, even after we realised it wasn’t going to be Cottage Farm’s day. Nobody gave up and that’s the most important thing we should carry through into next season!! Expectations were high and they should be because on a different day with better conditions and some lucky breaks many other teams seemed to be having, we could have easily progressed to the knockout stages. This was emphasised in the last Cottage Farm game which for team B was the ‘match of the day’ and I think most of team A watching would agree. The game was exciting end-to-end football with some quality goals and 2 Cottage Farm free kicks to remember (for different reasons!!!) The game was played in great spirit with neither team wanting to lose and we came away smiling in true ‘sportswoman ship’ style.

With the weather taking a turn for the worse we headed back to the hotel for the fun of shower sharing and getting ready for the evening meal (2 hours is not long enough for some of us!!!) A quick decision was made to go to the burger bar on the sea front which conveniently enough is right next door to the nightclub. Everyone was tired and hungry but after some hearty meals, more photo shoots and 2 for 1 cocktails it was time to embark on our next adventure; the girls are hitting the town (and it didn’t know what had hit it!!!)

13 of us girls strolled into ‘the Playas Lounge’ with the shots lining up and the tunes turning up (standard!!!). We were among the first to enter the club and last to leave, how else can I describe it except we sort of took over the dance floor with our moves, singing, shout-outs, random tag-along and inflatables (where did they come from by the way, oh more importantly where did she come from?!!) P**shead awards go to Beckie and Wizz, (as if the newbies are taking this award, come on girls!!), who were more acquainted with the taxi floor rather than the dance floor by the time we got back to the hotel. Legend award goes to Susan who kept us entertained all night long with her quality dancing, posing, songs about poo (yes poo!!!), and classic lines such as 'i don't know where the f**k i am', Susan you are priceless x

The morning after was the usual you would expect; states emerging one by one, stories from the night before and Kev sneaking around with his camera (surprise, flash, website, arrrrgh!!!). Leanne, or should I say ‘Shakira’, was well up for another round of beach footie coming down to breakfast in her kit, you are meant to take it off for bed (bless!!!) After breakfast and ‘shots’ of orange juice half the team decided to depart for home leaving the hardcore folks ready for more at the bowling arcade.

Roger and Kev were particularly excited about this as they got a chance to join in the competitive fun and show off their ball skills!!! After some ‘fast’ food, (yeah right), and a walk along the front it was time to head home in time for our 2 favourite things; footie and sleep!!!

Special thanks to Roger and Kev for organising another memorable weekend and all of you ‘Cottagers’ for providing the memories!!! A special mention to the newbies Beckie, Wizz and Spanna, I hope it was the quality welcome you deserve.

Lots of Cottage Farm Love
xxxxxxx

Zoë Pugh
Social Secretary