Post by Dave on Jun 4, 2023 19:52:08 GMT
Today’s main aim is to raise money for the Devon Mind Charity. Devon Mind is an independent mental health charity affiliated with the national Mind association. They provide advice, information and support to empower anyone in Devon who may be experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve local support services, raise awareness, and promote the understanding of mental health across Devon.
The main event of the day will be a match between the Madri Boys (representing Totnes, Dartington & Meadowbrook FC) against the Plymouth Argyle Legends.
The Madri Boys Tell us who they are.
After a one off random game at an Astro Turf in Exeter uni in late 2021 and a few beers after a hard fought victor we all agreed it was a great excuse to get together play the beautiful game, have a catch up and a few beers after… Needless to say in 2022 The Madri Boys were born…. So why the Madri Boys? Well we like beer and this beer Madri had burst onto the scene and was everywhere… I can’t remember exactly how it came about but a few of us were in the pub (there’s a theme here) and when it was suggested that as the last game had been such fun we felt we should do a few more. We then needed a name! It was fellow founder and club captain Dan Wood that was drinking a Madri (this was likely after several) that suggested the name Madri Boys and the rest is history.
More games did follow Against various teams, some vets sides some not so vets sides (due to late cancellations) and also the surprise and honour of being asked to play in a representative game at the Devon Fa where we represented the vets team for Dennis Smith who was retiring from Devon FA duties in the Celebration of Football evening last July.
The Madri Boys squad are a mix of players that have played for various clubs across South Devon at various levels. We are now a members club as we had to affiliate to the Devon FA and form properly to play on a casual basis. This is the Madri Boys Mantra we all signed up to: Madri Boys Social Sports Club is exactly that… Primarily playing vets football we will also play cricket and other sports around once a month. The group is a chance for us men to get together to have a laugh, play some sport and have a pint after. We have around 30 official paid members and many associates As we had been borrowing kits we decided to fund our own and put VX3 to work in creating us a custom kit funded by members. This group is about having fun as a group and looking out for each other too as we support and recognise mental health in men. (And in general of course) We will do the odd charity event too.
We have teamed up with Totnes, Dartington and Meadowbrook FC who we are representing as this is a club close to many of our hearts who many of us have represented in its various guises over the years and we all wanted an excuse to grace the Foxhole turf again… which is always turned out brilliantly by the legend that is Charlie Stephens. When we contacted Alan Blake club President about the possibility of hosting this game as always he was full of enthusiasm and support to make it possible and I must be honest without the likes of Charlie and Alan this game would not be happening and I am so grateful to them for their help.
Madri Boys squad currently from Dan Wood, Liam Lindon, Richard Whatman, John Potter, Michael Powell, Mark Titchard, James Wills, Liam Collings, Jay Revell, Gary Rivers, Tom “Gordi” Comyn, James Bailey, Danny Brown, Ken Armstrong, Adam Biggs, Alan Hamlet, Jared Baker, Rob Wilcocks, Russell Williams.
Current Argyle squad: Graham Kimberley, Paul Edwards, Katie Middleton, Shaun Sullivan, David Byrne, Lee Coxon, Ryan Cross, Paul Smith, Andy Bowker, Wayne Powney, Andy Duncan, Chris Hargreaves, awaiting confirmation from Marc Edworthy plus some others.
Report On The Day In Words & Photos
What a lovely summer afternoon in such a lovely location and I was so impressed with the warm welcome from members of the Totnes & Dartington club, Foxhole will be on my must visit ground for next season.
Many thanks to Liam Linden for all his help supplying all the information and also a team sheet. Thanks also to the Plymouth manager for all his help as well. My own personal highlight was having a good long chat with Chris Hargreaves as I knew him well back in his Torquay United days.
There has been so many generous donations of gifts for the raffle, I am sure lots of people have gone home happy today with the quality of the prizes.
Before today’s main game sixteen junior teams were in action. They were all have the time of their lives and it does not matter how old they might have been, they all played their hearts out.
A bench was presentation took place, read Alan Blake contribution further down to learn more.
Glad to see the Red Arrows recognised the very good cause today’s game was in aid off and did a fly past over the pitch on their way to the Torbay Air show.
The piece from Alan Blake
This is our 5th such event for various charities ranging from BLISS, ELSIESBIGSTRIDE, BRISTOL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, DEVON AIR AMBULANCE. TOTNES CARING, ROWCROFT and this year to MIND.
We have raised in excess of £20,000 for these various charities and it looks like this we will add another considerable sum to MIND.
We also took this opportunity to present a bench to the family of Ken Phillips who sadly passed away after 35 years of devoted service to both Totnes and the merged Totes and Dartington F.C. Ken held every committee post during his many years and was respected across all the leagues and by all those involved in football.Without such volunteer's local sport would not survive.
Ken was once asked who he supported. The expected reply was one of the countrys big clubs. No not for Ken His reply was " Well really I support Dartington and Totnes F.C. " That summed Ken up, an absolute gentleman and servant to local sport.
The bench made by LANDWORKS, DARTINGTON BY " CHOP" and was presented to Joan, Kens wife and the whole family.
Ken would have loved the day where we showcased our junior players and our newly formed Girls team. This was followed by a match between ex Tand D players The Madri Boys v Plymouth Argyle Legends.
A truly fantastic day where we lived up to our motto
MORE THAN A FOOTBALL CLUB
Alan Blake
The Main Match
Match Referee Paul Owen’s
Final Score Mardri Boys 2 Plymouth Argyle Legends 2
I do not think I have ever covered a game where the ball was on the deck for 95% of the game. Both teams so good on the ball and happy to play out from the back. I did miss trying to catch those shots where the players go up to win the header, but it did not matter as I enjoyed what was on offer. This was a gentleman’s game played the way you want to see a game played, legs and bodies might be older, but the skill never goes away. Chris Hargreaves so cool on the ball finding those inch perfect passes rolling back the years to the days I so enjoyed watching him play.
The Mardi boys might get together to have a laugh, play some sport and have a pint afterwards, but they play as a team and play to win. I was impressed with the work and effort they put into their game.
A draw in such a game is always a good result, but winning the game by two goals to nil and should have been three nil up, they do have to thank their keeper in the latter stages of the match. I do not know who Dan Woods played for in his younger days, but he is one of the best keepers I have seen all season.
The match referee got the game underway and the first half chance fell to the Mardi player Russell Williams. He stabbed at the ball from just outside the Legends box, but his effort went wide of the right hand post.
The Legends had a really good chance to take the lead in the match when a long ball was played up to Lee Coxon. But Lee was only able to hook the ball wide of the left hand post.
Next chance fell to Legends Chris Hargreaves who really was trying to roll back the years with a 25 yard effort that flew over the crossbar. The sun was beating down and the referee blew up for a much needed water break.
Legends Lee Coxon found himself in a good postion again on the edge of the Mardi Boys box, but his shot was wide of the target. From just inside the box Katie Middleton hit a shot just wide of the right hand post. She had such an impressive game, her passing and vision is up there with the best of them.
That was it for the first half, Plymouth created the better chances but were unable to find the back of the net, time for the players to rest those legs and get some air back in their lungs.
The second half got underway and the Legends Ryan Smith shot from the edge of the box saw Dan Wood pull off the first of a number of class second half saves.
The Mardi Boys front players looked full of running and it paid off for them when they scored the first goal of the match. They fought hard to win the ball in the middle of the pitch and an inch perfect pass played in Alan Hamlet who coolly lobbed the ball over the keeper.
The Mardi Boys soon added to their lead when there was a defensive mistake, the ball was as good as given to them and it was pushed up into the air where Tom Comyn was able to head the ball into an empty net.
While the Mardi Boys were looking the more dangerous of the two sides going forward, Katie Middleton came ever so close to getting a goal back for her side. A great strike at goal out on the right hand side that Dan Wood did ever so well to beat away at his near post.
Another water break was called for and as soon as play resumed that man Dan pulled off another wonder save this time from a Ryan Smith shot. . The youngest legend player and he was starting to make a difference up front for the legends.
Alan Hamlet was forty yards away from the Legends goal, looked up and saw the keeper off his line. He hit such a powerful shot that really deserved to go in, but the ball somehow it the left hand post and stayed in play.
The Mardi Boys Dan Looker really should have put his side three nil up. Close in with just the keeper to beat he fired his effort over the crossbar, a real left off for the legends.
It was a miss that was to prove costly as moments later the Legends got their first goal of the match. Lee Coxon forced Dan Wood into another fine save, but the loose ball went back to Lee to lob the ball home.
Ken Armstrong then scored the Legend second goal to make the score all equal and I think both sets of players were happy when the final whistle came.
A different experience for me and I really like what the Mardi Boys are all about.
