Kings Team Win the Cup
With God on our side!
Ian Pearce enjoys an afternoon on the terraces as Christian football team Kings Sports take on Baldock Town.
Kings Sports v Baldock Town
Keith Hammond has two passions in life: football and Jesus.
Keith has devoted twenty-four years of his life to spreading the Christian message through the medium of football. He is Director of Christians in Football who organise national competitions and events for Christian Football Teams. Locally, Keith has been the driving force behind Kings Sports based in Hertfordshire. Kings run teams throughout the local leagues including womens' teams.
A reminder of the true meaning of Good Friday
Keith has been a regular on Melting Pot over the years updating us on the latest activities in Christian football. He is also a firm favourite in our weekly prayer slot where he urges people to "pray their socks off!".
Kings Sports compete at a good level in the West Herts Premier League and this year have reached the final of the Hertfordshire Junior Cup.
The final was to be played on Good Friday at the County Ground in Letchworth. I'm rather disillusioned about football at the moment so when Keith invited me along to the final, I thought that another football
match was the last thing I needed. I'm glad I went.
Kings Sports take to the field
It was a great game of football. Baldock are a young side built around the youth set up of the Baldock Club that went into liquidation some four years ago. This Kings Sports first team are older for the most part with some players who have played at a higher level.
Before the game Keith was allowed to address the 567 strong crowd. The 3 o'clock kick off time was significant for Christians. Christ died at three o'clock on Good Friday. Keith spoke of how the "Big Gaffer " paid the "ultimate transfer fee". Then some of the Kings players carried a large wooden crucifix across the pitch and propped it up against the Kings dugout.
Manager Keith Hammond and Assistant Richard Evans
So how does a Christian football side differ from a secular one? They play the game fairly: not kicking the ball away for example. The language is cleaner than normal. Interestingly it seems to rub off on the opposition. This was a physical, yet fair game and I felt the referee failed to grasp this when he sent Baldock's Michael Masters off for a heavy tackle.
The game started really well. Adrian Abramian twice fired Kings ahead with Baldock's Mark Nunn levelling twice. Baldock scored again just before half-time to make it 2-3.After the break Kings were asleep as young "H" - Baldock's Harry Holland put the game seemingly out of Kings' reach. But Kings weren't out of it and pulled it back to 4-4.
Tactics!
Extra time was taking its toll on both sides on a hard pitch and a hot afternoon. Keith had swapped things around up front and big striker Chris Turner finally broke the hearts of Baldock's ten men three minutes before the end. Kings keeper Ian Thompson had played a blinder. He's a big guy but supe
rbly agile. It was refreshing to not hear derisory chants towards him or any other players. It was refreshing to walk around the ground and to have a beer while watching the game.
Kings just shaded this game, but the younger players in Baldock's side showed real skills.
Before the game I spoke to Hertfordshire FA Secreatary Martin Bayliss. He was full of praise for Keith's work not just for Christian football , but grassroots football in Hertfordshire generally. Martin's own enthusiasm shines through as well.
Football is alive and well: not at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, but on parks and playing fields and in pubs, social clubs and churches the length and breadth of the country.
Thanks for a superb afternoon. For obvious reasons this was the most enjoyable game of football I've been to this year.
Ian Pearce enjoys an afternoon on the terraces as Christian football team Kings Sports take on Baldock Town.
Kings Sports v Baldock Town
Keith Hammond has two passions in life: football and Jesus.
Keith has devoted twenty-four years of his life to spreading the Christian message through the medium of football. He is Director of Christians in Football who organise national competitions and events for Christian Football Teams. Locally, Keith has been the driving force behind Kings Sports based in Hertfordshire. Kings run teams throughout the local leagues including womens' teams.
A reminder of the true meaning of Good Friday
Keith has been a regular on Melting Pot over the years updating us on the latest activities in Christian football. He is also a firm favourite in our weekly prayer slot where he urges people to "pray their socks off!".
Kings Sports compete at a good level in the West Herts Premier League and this year have reached the final of the Hertfordshire Junior Cup.
The final was to be played on Good Friday at the County Ground in Letchworth. I'm rather disillusioned about football at the moment so when Keith invited me along to the final, I thought that another football
match was the last thing I needed. I'm glad I went.Kings Sports take to the field
It was a great game of football. Baldock are a young side built around the youth set up of the Baldock Club that went into liquidation some four years ago. This Kings Sports first team are older for the most part with some players who have played at a higher level.
Before the game Keith was allowed to address the 567 strong crowd. The 3 o'clock kick off time was significant for Christians. Christ died at three o'clock on Good Friday. Keith spoke of how the "Big Gaffer " paid the "ultimate transfer fee". Then some of the Kings players carried a large wooden crucifix across the pitch and propped it up against the Kings dugout.
Manager Keith Hammond and Assistant Richard Evans
So how does a Christian football side differ from a secular one? They play the game fairly: not kicking the ball away for example. The language is cleaner than normal. Interestingly it seems to rub off on the opposition. This was a physical, yet fair game and I felt the referee failed to grasp this when he sent Baldock's Michael Masters off for a heavy tackle.
The game started really well. Adrian Abramian twice fired Kings ahead with Baldock's Mark Nunn levelling twice. Baldock scored again just before half-time to make it 2-3.After the break Kings were asleep as young "H" - Baldock's Harry Holland put the game seemingly out of Kings' reach. But Kings weren't out of it and pulled it back to 4-4.
Tactics!
Extra time was taking its toll on both sides on a hard pitch and a hot afternoon. Keith had swapped things around up front and big striker Chris Turner finally broke the hearts of Baldock's ten men three minutes before the end. Kings keeper Ian Thompson had played a blinder. He's a big guy but supe
rbly agile. It was refreshing to not hear derisory chants towards him or any other players. It was refreshing to walk around the ground and to have a beer while watching the game.Kings just shaded this game, but the younger players in Baldock's side showed real skills.
Before the game I spoke to Hertfordshire FA Secreatary Martin Bayliss. He was full of praise for Keith's work not just for Christian football , but grassroots football in Hertfordshire generally. Martin's own enthusiasm shines through as well.
Football is alive and well: not at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, but on parks and playing fields and in pubs, social clubs and churches the length and breadth of the country.
Thanks for a superb afternoon. For obvious reasons this was the most enjoyable game of football I've been to this year.
We won the cup!
Well done Mr.H
posted by dave b at 5:29 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home