Once again! - Chapi Stadium Resurrection

Picture: Opposing captains speculate on where the bloody sun has gone.

A typical English February morning (except it was Spain) welcomed our heroic Chapi team back into action in a friendly in the impressive Chapi Stadium. Against a spirited but initially disorganised Villanueva de Perales Vets, Chapi raced into a 3-0 lead until over-confidence at the back allowed the visitors to sneak a goal just before half-time. An end-to-end second half with the aged Chapi legs feeling the strain, Villanueva scored twice to pile on the pressure. Despite an Arthur strike putting some distance between the teams, Villanueva once again pulled one back only to be finally sunk in the last minute as El Davo (yes, El Davo) took a pass from Arthur and despite doing his best to let the opposing keeper save, saw his shot spin off the keepers gloves into the corner.

Picture left: Chapi Stadium

Picture right: Damp Chapi Vets, Rafael 1, Rafael 2, El Davo, Charles 1, Stand-in Joseph, Arthur, injured Joseph, Michael, Peter, Lewis, Francis and El Negro.

Interesting fact from Spain. The word 'once' in English translates to 'eleven' in Spanish. So, the heading 'Once Again' can mean 'Once Again' as in Chapi playing once again, or in Spanglish, 'Eleven Again' meaning not football sevens but football elevens. If you know what I mean!

Sensation as Chapi booted out for ref abuse

It seems like the shenanigans of the previous week and the girlie nature of match officials has resulted in our well-loved Chapinería 12 being unceremoniously expelled from the Navalcarnero Futbol Siete league. All dressed up and nowhere to go in our six piece training and playing kit, we walk the street kicking empty Coke cans and the odd stray cat. Moves are afoot to arrange friendly games with local villages and thanks to the excellent state of Chapi Stadium we expect to be revived and kicking before long.

As for El Davo, he has been treating his dodgy calves with the 'stick' (wwwthestick.com) and is planning a regimen of running up and down the Sierra in preparation for future challenges.

Keep tuned!

George sees red as Chapi trip up in handbag finalé

Under uncharacteristically leaden skies, 3rd placed Chapi took on 2nd placed C.F Casarubios in what turned out to be a bruising encounter. Going one down to an early goal and with talisman Arthur marked out of the game by tough-tackling opponents, it was left to George to fire in a long shot to keep Chapi in the game at 1-1 at half-time.

Going behind again early in the second half, Chapi responded well and once again George restored parity with another stormer. In a game geting increasingly bad-tempered, Chapi withstood a barrage of attacks from Casarubios with the ball pinging from both posts and the crossbar. Just as it seemed escape was in the offing, a dreamy move from Casarubios ended with a sweet volley sailing past Rafael 2 into the corner to go 3-2 up.

With time running out, Chapi forged forward in search of an equaliser and George broke clear only to be bundled down by a defender. Somewhat piqued by not even getting a free kick, George told the referee (translated literally from Spanish) "go to the shit". In Spanish this does not mean go to a specific shit, but is a general insult. The referee responded with (again literally translated) "go the street". This does not mean go and stand in the road, it means 'sorry mate, you're off'.

Pandemonium then ensued and handbags were swung by both sides. Even normally mild-mannered Lewis despite being similarly ancient to El Davo, had to be retrained from laying one on one of our considerably younger opponents. The referee having apparently decided this was all too silly, blew for time and both sides drifted back to the changing rooms paradoxically trading a mixture of handshakes and insults.

Interesting fact from Spain: The Spanish word for 'bunged up' or congested when you have a cold is 'constipado'. This results in many Spanish tourists to the UK asking in the pharmacy for a cure for 'constipation 'when they have a cold. Consequently, a runny nose might not be all they get.