BUDE Under 15 Girls played away to Wadebridge today (February 22) in a seven-a-side league. What I witnessed went way beyond good football.
Bude were only able to field five players and Wadebridge were waiting for them with a full team and substitutes. In a smashing spirit of sportsmanship Wadebridge agreed to field only six players. As grateful as the Bude girls were this still left them at a six-to-five disadvantage with all of them needing to play a full game against a team regularly introducing fresh players.
The Bude girls rose to the challenge admirably, they played their hearts out. More than that, they were focused, disciplined and carried a positive attitude throughout the whole game, right to the final whistle, that won them the admiration of all of those present regardless of which side they were there to support.
I watched a short handed team of teenagers who had been trained by coaches only a couple of years their senior, play with dogged determination. Their training shone through and although they were ultimately beaten 3-1, they held their own for most of the game and gave Wadebridge many anxious moments.
This letter is not, however, about football, it is about young people. With the sensational horror stories that abound the tabloids, I thought it important to bring this game to the attention of a wider audience. It is no exaggeration to say that the Bude girls displayed fantastic teamwork; they trusted each other and were obviously confident that they could rely on their fellow team members. As a result they, for most of the game, overcame their numerical disadvantage. Had fatigue not become an additional adversary, I feel sure the final score would have been even closer.
Lauren Averall, Tegan Nichols, Alice Weaver (captain), Rachel Hardwick and Nikki Bromwich (goalie), with their coaches Tom Gerry and Jordan White, are an inspiration. If any of my fellow 'old fogies' despair for the future I can only say that, with youngsters of this calibre at the helm we can totter into old age in safe hands.
I wish to thank Wadebridge and in particular, Bude for the best game of football that I have seen all season. You should all be very proud of yourselves.
A special thank you to Jane Cann for making the team happen in the first place.