Hangover Chapi scrape it

Picture: intense midfield battle

Fresh from that glorious victory over Rayo Valecano Vets the previous weekend, Chapi Vets came down to earth with a tepid display against Piedralaves Vets who made the 50km trek from the distant Gredos mountains way out west. With a name translated apparently as 'stone washes' our guests played well above the level that their varied and uncoordinated styles of kit would have suggested.

Playing in the first half like a bunch of strangers, Chapi unsurprisingly went one down close to the interval. George 2 gave everyone (particularly the ineffective midfield and attack) a half-time bollocking which obligingly coincided with a torrential downpour. Slightly more on the ball in the second half, Joseph 1 headed home to put our sodden heroes level before a superb cross from Peter (who insisted later it was a shot) sailed over the diminuative opposing keeper into the far corner. So 2-1 it was for the second week running but a sudden realisation that we are just a bunch of Sunday morning footballers like all the others. Well almost, there's only one Chapi!.

Picture: El Davo with shortlived smug smile


See below rare pictures of El Davo in action as he is usually the cameraman. Pay special attention to second picture where goalkeeper Joseph 2 seems to have been abducted by aliens because none of us noticed he wasn't there! Also, the third picture shows typical El Davo close marking. I think the winger was off the the left - but then again it could be to the right. Note a confused looking Joseph 2 landing after being teleported.

Little Chapi humble ex-pros

An historic evening at a typically balmy Chapi Stadium, in front of a crowd of at least 200 partisan supporters, saw Chapi Vets take on the mighty Rayo Vallecano Vets in a specially arranged friendly match.

Picture: swapping of memorabilia.

The visitors, consisting entirely of ex-professionals with experience in the higher Spanish leagues, provided a stern test for the bunch of car mechanics, lorry drivers, cigarette salesmen and one English teacher turning out for the team in blue. Yet, Chapi were not daunted or overawed but performed illustriously and with passion. A baby-face Robert strike late in the first half saw Chapi retire to the Chapi room in confident move but wary of the potential from so many talented feet.

Picture below: Opposing Captains pre-match pose


El Davo, shared the right back slot with Lewis 2 (see last week's profile), playing the second half of each half (if that makes sense) . With the defence solid, the midfield inventive and the attack penetrating, it seemed impossible to add more clichés.


Newcomer John slammed a second with 15 minutes to go before Rayo pulled one almost immediately. With a last throw of the dice, Rayo pitted a winger against El Davo that looked as if he could run the 100m in about 2 seconds. However, our heroes held on to provoke jubilation in the crowd more than partly fueled by the proximity of the open-air bar.

Picture: Packed Chapi Kop

An somewhat optimistic suggestion during the usual after-match shower ritual was to take on Barcelona next week at the Nou Camp. More likely, it will be a local village. just up the road.



Picture: Pepe Guarding the Chapi goal.

Picture below: Post-match photo of the famous protagonists.