two more Chapi wins as Spain heats up!

Due to inexcusable laziness, the updates to the blog are becoming more infrequent. So, here is a compendium edition.Three weeks or so ago, Chapi met the village from Ávila for what seems to be the 20th time this season in what became an ill-tempered affair with accusations of ref bias and general hanky-panky. Breaking convention, Chapi contrived to score first and I wish I could remember who got the goal. It was probably baby-face.

Picture: smug looking El Davo pre-match

Anyway, at the final whistle, the eleven battling Chapierians had chalked up another win (4-2) to add to the long unbeaten record stretching back to the autumn.

An informal post-match interview with baby-face Robert revealed that he is in fact 38 and played professionaly at a time presummably, when he looked about 18 months old.

Picture: Arthur, surrounded by defenders, trying to spot the ball



The following Thursday, a match was arranged during the holiday of Corpus Cristi at nearby Navas del Rey, on their dusty, rock hard, pitch in the middle of a grim industrial estate. A Chapi invitation team including several nationalities took on the locals.

Picture: Chapi International


Decked out in a 'Liverpool like' strip, in temperatures in the low thirties, Chapi survived the baking sun and aggressive opposition to record another victory thanks to the usual suspects, Arthur and baby-face Robert.

Chapi sweat in comeback thriller

Another tense encounter faced Chapi vets one sunny May Saturday afternoon after a thundery Friday night. On this occasion, El Davo was accompanied by Little El Davito Christopher, AKA 'fatboy', who volunteered to be both still and video camera operator.

Picture: El Davo in characteristically delicate challenge

Another match against the team from the mountains roughly translated as 'clean stones' ensued. As usual Chapi started slowly, presumably to raise tension in the sparse crowd. The introduction of El Davo after 25 minutes prompted the visitors to go ahead with a screamer, amazingly captured on video by star cameraman Christopher.
Picture: goal number three from Marcelo.

It wasn't long before Rafael put Chapi ahead (also on video) and the interval was reached with a fairly comfortable lead of 2-1. A steady start to the second half was blighted by a defensive mishap which allowed the visitors to draw level.

In a final flourish, new boy Marcelo, rolled in the third and Lucas with a speculative cross and Arthur with an outrageous flick from a corner, added two more. A highly disputed late penalty for the guests made the final score 5-3 to Chapi and another step towards immortality in the annals of Sierra de Madrid football.

Pictures below: Arthur hovering with the goal at his mercy and probably (but not quite sure), Lucas's precision cross on it's way over the keeper's head into the top corner..

Pictures below: Arthur's outrageous flicked goal from a corner and pre-match interview between El Davo and fat boy.

Miracle on Chapi Street

Omens are omens and they were not good as Chapi vets prepared for their next foray.

Picture: Luciano (watched by Lewis 2) , pirouetting elegantly - as his name would suggest - pre-match.

First: Only a bare eleven turned up including old lags the two Lewis's and El Davo.
Second: No goal keeper present and after El Davo vociferously declined, Charles 3 took the gloves.
Thirdly: Our opponents, Boadilla del Monte looked young, fit and good, with two or three subs.

The omens continued and after 20 minutes, Chapi were 2-0 down. No hope left, the unbeaten run over, let's try to avoid humiliation, no other option.

Picture: Before the match. Rafael, looking more and more like his Italian artist namesake, with a pensive baby-face.

Well, with the pressure off, Chapi started to play. Baby-face Robert pushed on to his left foot 20 yards from goal, unleashed a rocket that cannoned off the bar and was bundled in by Lucas. Not long after, Boadilla tried repeatedly (and ill-advisedly) to dribble from their own 6-yard area and in the resulting melee, the ball richoched slowly over the line.

More fun to come. Shortly before the break, baby-face found himself free again and in a one-to-one with the keeper, slotted home.

Picture: A disbelieving and knackered George 1 at half-time.

A bemused Chapi, spent half-time wondering how on earth they were winning. But what the hell! The second half proceeded with Chapi holding out despite (or due to) El Davo's tough tackling, and sometimes fouling, around the Chapi box. The final whistle went and Chapi ran out 3-2 winners.

After a break, it's probably time for more profiles. This week Lucas. A cultured defender or mid-fielder, Lucas did complain some months ago for having his 'air hot' pictorally highlighted on the El Davo blog. A quick interview determined that he works in the building trade and is finding it tough with the crisis. Father to a baby (of indeterminate sex) born in March, Lucas was one of the Chapi stars in the wars (along with George above of course - look hard for the joke!), in the Boadilla match going off with a knee injuring but bravely returning to see in the victory.

A weekend off due to some saint or other will hopefullly be followed by another outing shortly.

El Davo is back!

Well, first of all, here is the ElDavomachine. Purchased from nephew James, this Kawasaki ZZR600 is lighting fast just like El Davo............ or at least how he used to be last century. Reaching nearly 100mph in second gear, it has been useful in scaring the life out of El Davito 2 (aka Fatboy) and El Davito.

Talking of El Davito, he is recovering from ramming a white van with his souped-up scooter and spreading himself and various bits of the bike over the road. The offending motorist, who pulled out without looking, took one look at the prostrate El Davo, mumbled something and went back into his house. A trip to hospital in an ambulance resulted in the diagnosis of various abrasions, and strains to his leg, shoulder and neck. While bringing his lifeguard training to a temporary halt, he has recovered well enough to continue his breast-stroking (allegedly) and irritating all a sundry.

The all-star Chapinería team that recently took on unfancied Villanueva de Perales in a tournament consisting of only two teams. The match was played on a pitch that was half way between a concrete car park and Weston-super-Mare beach with a healthy sprinkling of weeds and razor-sharp stones. El Davo, enthusiastic as usual, managed to take the skin of both knees within 10 minutes of the start to the dismay of both teams and the hoards of spectators.

Suffice to say, Chapi won again (4-2), to take their unbeaten record past the six-month mark, with strikes from baby-face Robert and I can't remember who else. A cup was presented with little fanfare and the legendary band trouped off for adventures new. Watch this space.

Picture: Josephs 2 and 1, El Negro and baby-face prior to kick-off.



Picture: Rafael taking on opposing defender

Young El Davo triumphs

Before the days of colour photography and when men's hairstyles were still fashionable, El Davo (3rd from left) is here depicted sometime in the early seventies - exact date under investigation - with his team-mates at the Bristol Downs League side Durdham Down Adult School, having just won the Norman Hardy Cup. This competition involved (and still involves) teams in the top two divisions of a league which boasts sixty odd teams all playing on the same patch of grass on Bristol Downs.

An interesting point of interest is that the bushy-haired young man (far left) named Adrian O'Connor, is the step-father of one of El Davo's colleagues at a language school in Madrid - small world eh?

El Davo between the sticks in the sticks

The eternal optimist, El Davo arrived for the game against Griñon (Green-yon) at Chapi Stadium carrying the previous week's injury but not unduly concerned. However, things became more tense in the changing rooms when it transpired that we only had 11 fit players (or supposedly fit players) and no goalkeepers. Occasional player, Charles 3 donned the keeper's kit but it became evident quite quickly that although able to run after a fashion, El Davo could not kick the ball with his right foot. While not a particular handicap for Maradona in his prime, this was a severe restriction for somewhat less talented El Davo.

Picture: El Davo or is it Peter Shilton?

So, shirts were swopped and El Davo took up an unfamiliar position in goal. The first time in nearly forty years of amateur football. Well, things did not start well as after 10 minutes or so an opposing forward was put clean through and slipped the ball passed a groping ED.

Fortunately, Chapi were coming more and more into the game and strikes by Arthur and baby-face Robert put our heroes 2-1 up at the break with no further particular alarms at the back. However, El Davo's teamates were somewhat astonished by their new goalkeeper's proclivity to attack incoming crosses by punching the ball upfield whilst soaring spectacularly through the air. I think they thought it was some kind of English thing.

Picture: Half-time discussions. Those English are nuts!

Shortly after the start of the second half El Davo thew himself to his left to parry a Griñon thunderbolt only to be beaten sortly afterwards by a screamer from the edge of the box into the bottom left corner. However, baby-face was a determined man (or boy) today and scored two beauties to seemingly put the game beyond the visitors.

But Griñon are made of stern stuff and El Davo could only stand and watch as a shot from the edge of the box thundered through a sea of players into his top right corner. This followed almost immediately by the Chapi defence going awol and Griñon slamming in another.

Despite having to kick left-footed from the hand, El Davo continued to look surprisingly accomplished and a late strike from baby-face sealed the 5-4 win and a fun day out for all. Particular mention should also be made of a captain's performance from Charles 1 and sterling work from George 1 until forced off with a thigh strain.

With a crunch match against El Davo's home village of Robledo next week, the offending right knee was quickly packed in a packet of frozen prawns with the hope of a quick recovery.

Hard duel at El Escorial

Chapi encountered a tough El Escorial side on a warm February afternoon in the Madrid Sierra. Going 1-0 down 20 minutes into the first half, a spectacular solo goal from baby-face Robert evened things up and was quickly followed by an Arthur strike to take Chapi into the break 2-1 up.

Photo: Kick-off at picturesque El Escorial Stadium.

El Davo, having picked up a twisted knee, continued on and vented his discomfort in a number of crunching tackles on opposing forwards. A tough and combative second half saw El Escorial level only for Arthur to strike again. Two further goals from the hosts resulting from defensive mixups looked like ending Chapi's long unbeaten run. However, a re-energised Arthur equalised with minutes to go and still had time to miss a sitter in the dying moments. So, a 4-4 draw and probably a fair result.

Photo: a relaxed El Davo, enjoying the sun.


Further pictures. Nervous Chapi bench close to the end and nervous Joseph 2 (that goal looks too big)

This is not England

Sometimes our children impress us, sometimes disgust us, sometimes surprise us. Things are no different with El Davo.

Youngest son of El Davo, Christopher (aka fatboy) is becoming a living legend in provincial Spain. His behaviour should not be condoned in any way and his exploits should be used as a warning to others (really!).

Earlier escapades included the construction of bombs from various chemicals and a Coke bottle which apparently can be viewed on youtube - this is along with a video of a battle between the family cat, who was later forceably evicted, and an invading squirrel (the squirrel lost).

More recent adventures have involved blowing up neighbours' post boxes using homemade explosives. These have attracted the attention of not only the neighbours involved but the local constabulary.

As for El Davito (small El Davo), his recent claim to fame is running over a rogue partridge, stuffing it in a plastic bag (while still half-alive), taking it home, killing it, cooking it and eating it for dinner.

This all makes El Davo's regular runouts with Chapinería Vets significantly less impressive.

Burgohondo Reprise

This sunny February afternoon started in perplexing fashion for El Davo when told that our opponents were Burgohondo. Were'nt last week's opponents Burgohonda or Burgohondo? Anyway, they had Burgohondo on their their shirts so that seems to be a big enough clue.

Picture: Arthur's boots which he is proud to say, have not been cleaned in two years.

A typically lazy start by Chapi saw the vistors take a quick free kick resulting in the ball flying over Joseph 2 into the top corner. Despite coming back ito the game it was late in the first half before who else but baby-face Robert leveled things. This was followed by Arthur challenging for ball near goal and for the second week running, slamming his head into the metal barrier surrounding the pitch. Once may be considered unfortunate but headbutting a hard metal object twice (in two weeks) appears to be bordering on carelessness.

Picture: Chapi team photo.

Anyway, this incident conspired to inspire Chapi, who took the lead just before half-time when Raphael chipped the keeper. The turning point in the game arrived part way through the second half when El Davo, who had been providing sterling defensive and attaking options down the right, was harshly judged to have conceded a penalty by scything down an opposing forward without the luxury of taking the ball. The resulting spot-kick slammed off the post and was thumped away by George 2.

Picture: If we looked this depressed going into the break winning, how will it be when we are losing?

From then on, it was all Chapi. Edu (Edward), the other foreigner (from Argentina) slotted home from short range and it was the baby-face show for the rest of the afternoon. A 25-yard piledriver was followed by two more and Chapi ran home comfortable 6-1 winners in the end.

Picture: Arthur with an ice pack following his head-banging.

Hard work of Burgohonda

After a long absence, El Davo returns. Having suffered from some kind of virulent flu that left him coughing and spluttering for the best part of a month, El Davo finally felt well enough to don his Chapi strip and continue his adventures.

The day started well with Charles 1 issuing yet another set of kit. This is good except that our sports bags are getting increasingly full with the danger of finding rogue socks or half-eaten sandwiches in their depths.

Picture: happy Chapi bench with George 2, Luciano (El Negro) and Lewis 1.

So off we went in a league match against Burgohonda from neighbouring Ávila. The first few minutes elicited howls of laughter from the Chapi bench as Luciano (El Negro) had taken the field in his brand new shorts without finding the time to take off the labels (see picture).

A lazy start from Chapi led to the visitors taking an early lead which they held into the crucial introduction of El Davo. In fact, it was probably coincidence that goals from Baby-face (I think) and George 1 turned things around. So 2-1 at half-time.

Picture: Swarthy El Davo pre-match.

An increasingly ill-tempered match continued apace until Peter, charging into the box found himself (despite his substatioal bulk), launched through the air by an opposing defender. Baby-face converted the resulting penalty and all seemed over for the day. This was however until Joseph 2 in goal froze as a feeble header rolled past him into the net. Despite constant attacks and a combination of desperate defending and good luck, Chapi survived to win 3-2.

Picture: George 1 showing that where real Brits have a pint post-match, their Spanish equivilents prefer something more sophisticated and girlie.