I write this the morning after we won the league (WE WON THE LEAGUE!), from the comfort of my bed and with the realisation that those celebratory post-match tequila shots maybe weren’t such a great idea after all. Who knew?! Anyway, not sure if I’ve mentioned it yet, but we won the league…
This was CCFC Reserves’ first season in an affiliated football league – which, by the way, we won – and what a season it’s been. We started in flying form and won our first three games 8-0, 9-0, then 10-0. This is easy, we thought. Presumably we’d keep going in the same vein and win our final game 25-0. That’s just maths, right? Sadly not.
Soon came our first – and, it turns out, only – defeat. Our kryptonite in the form of Alexandra Park, who stopped us having an Invincibles season in a tough battle which ended 3-2 to them. Can’t win ’em all though, eh?!
After this loss, we had the threat of the return fixture looming and it soon became clear that our toughest game would also be our final game of the league: at home to Alexandra Park.
We secured promotion with two league games left to play, but this match would determine whether or not the title was ours. We needed a win or a draw to finish top. They needed to win to be in with a chance of securing promotion. Two teams, both alike in dignity, in fair Hackney Marshes… with everything to play for.
Understandably it took us a while for us to settle into the game, and though we dominated possession, it was clear this wasn’t going to be easy. Then, in the 38th minute, a beautiful cross in from Zoe McNiece on the left wing found Asantewaa Nisbeth, who confidently headed into the bottom corner.
A lovely moment, and with her mum watching on from the crowd too. I’m not crying, you are! So, we went into the break one nil up.
Super sub Teju Callisto managed to get her earring out just in time to start the second half, when she bagged a goal in the 47th minute of the game. Noora Oikarainen got the assist but Lauren Crawford is claiming the pre-assist for the integral role she played in removing said earring.
Straight away, Justine White killed the game to make it 3-0 with a tasty finish fed in from Kia George.
Word had spread and our crowd of *FFLAPS was growing, the singing getting louder.
*For those who haven’t heard of the FFLAPS, they are a very special group of people made up of CCFC Reserves’ Friends, Family, Lovers & Partners. They’re our crucial twelfth player, supporting us wherever we go (even Chiswick). They give us lifts, they chant, and they pick up last minute Lucazades for the players who forget to pick one up on the way (thanks Sarah!) Some even clean the mud off our boots (Ally, what have we done to deserve you?).
In the final three minutes of the game, AP scored an impressive goal, dinking it over our keeper, but thankfully, that wasn’t enough. The game finished 3-1 and we secured victory on the marshes, in the sun, and surrounded by our FFLAPS.
After Sunday’s game, the FFLAPS surprised us with an unofficial awards ceremony at Hackney Bridge. Reserves captain Elizabeth Atoyebi deservedly took home the ‘Clapton in the morning’ award for embodying the CCFC spirit, and former Reserves captain Noora took home the FFLAPs award for Player of the Season. I was honoured to receive The Duracell Bunny Award for ‘limitless energy’ which my hangover has immediately disproven.
Player of the Match, as voted for by the squad, was queen of throw-ins, Elysia Morton. A glorious performance with exemplary decision making and real discipline holding the line. A star in defence, who also supported well in attack, playing a crucial role in the build-up to our first goal.
There is exceptional talent in this squad, but the success of this team is down to the coaching staff: the iconic duo that is Amii Griffith (Head Coach) and Johanna Kuosa (Assistant Coach).
It’s incredibly cool and devastatingly rare to see two female coaches on the sidelines, let alone two coaches with such skill and integrity. Between them, they have inspired and nurtured this team with total care and attention on and off the pitch.
During pre-season, Amii and Johanna asked us to attend a meeting. Here they gave a presentation on the history of CCFC, our values as a club, and their expectations of us over the course of the season. I’m not usually a PowerPoint kind of gal, but this one really pumped me up. The slide which stuck in my mind was the one which had our ambition for the season on it: “To win the league”. Job done; Division 1 here we come! But first, water.
Annie McGrath