Road to Wembley - Evening All!

Our boys in Blue stormed to a 3-0 victory over South Park in the Fourth and Final Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and in the process securing their place in the hat for the 1st Round main draw.

Their reward was a home tie at Imber Court against the team currently sitting fourth in League One, Crawley Town and the likelihood of a full house of around 3,000 at the East Molesey ground. The only downer is that top scorer and Bermudian striker Jonte Smith, who is on loan from Crawley, won't be able to represent the Met.

The Met overpowered South Park (not named after the TV show incidentially) who were the lowest ranked club left in the competition and a record crowd of 643 came out to see the Combined Counties Premier Division side (8 divisions below the Premier League) get beat 3-0 by our Road to Wembley boys.

The Met's first goal came in the 17th minute poked in by HOWARD NEWTON and then the Blues quashed any South Park fight back after the break with a well taken goal from JONTE SMITH in the 48th minute. From here it was game over. SMITH went on to add another near the end (and make it ten goals in the FA Cup this season already) to give the Police a comfortable place in the 1st round draw. After the match, the players raucously celebrated on the pitch (photo courtesy of wearesophoto.com).

For an entertaining match report with photos, click here.

It will be the Met's first appearance in the First Round since 1993 when they also faced Crawley, then a non-league outfit, but the Sussex side were too strong on that occasion.

The Met Police FC is a community club that features three serving officers in its playing staff, however all the management and organisation of the club is carried out by Met officers and staff and the 1st Round tie is this Saturday.

Message from Ready

Good morning all. Most of you will be aware that I am still seeking a new position within the London Market. I would be grateful if you would keep your ears open on my behalf and make me aware of any opportunities you may become aware of or pass my contact details on to the appropriate person or organisation. My contact details are:-

keithyread@hotmail.com

Mob No 07854 453508

I also want to make people aware that I will be happy to take up any temporary positions, particularly with the busy year end quickly approaching. Ideally this would be within a broking capacity but any other positions would be considered.

Please feel free to pass this message to any colleagues or Brokers/Insurers to which this may be of interest.

I thank you in advance for your time and assistance.

Regards
Keith

Photograph of the week

Dirty Leeds.

League Cup 2nd Round Results

These games were played over week 8 and the results are as follows:

Div 1 League Cup 2nd Round Results

Pure Irish 29-43 Boys on tour
Woodys Round Up 37-39 We are the Darts
Hannoi Utd 51-52 The Jager Squad
The Magnificent Eleven 44-49 Brox Banditos
Keep the faith 38-47 Back in the Big Time
Blue Euro Champs 48-43 To Elland Back
This game should be played on paper 33-42 I hate Mark Hughes
Brighton Blues 33-37 2 Infinity & beyond
RVP's Red Army 52-46 Gooner win league
Guinness & eggs 46-43 Glasgow kiss
The Billion and a Half Dollar man 53-45 Tanus Terriers
Too Big to Fail 55-48 Loads of Roubles
OJ's Red & White Army 46-48 Bingo FC
Paris Eagles 63-28 Armitage Shanks
Ollympic Games 55-27 UnAthletic Madrid FC
Dalton Worblers 37-37 John Terry Loves a choc ice
Replay to take place over week 10

Some cracking games there. Ready lost by a point to Graham Ward, Steve Black went just 3 better than Kirsty and Geoff sneaked by Woody.

Wardy won away to Ryan and Rosie and Rich Richards have to try again. In the Bluefin derby Ryan easily beat Dan, and Chris beat Ken in the all QBE tie.

In the Seagull v Eagle match up Barry just beat Paul and in the most one-sided tie Barry thrashed Tim.

Div 2 League Cup 2nd Round
Aniseed Twists 48-56 Stiffsters
Goonersmoan 38-49 Mobotinho
Roger Melly is my hero 31-33 Muddy's Mavericks
Fulham Roadsters 40-42 Leave Myarsealona
Mark Hughes is @@@@ 43-45 Bardzo lubię nie musieć nic
Addington Bears 54-48 DTF FC
Back in Business 41-40 From SE6 to SB04
Dan's Dribblers 37-37 The Sloan Rangers
Replay to take place over week 10


Moral Hazard 44-43 Socceroos "stwike him centuwion vewy woughly" 33-50 Monster Smash
The Archdukes of Hazard 42-36 Morgan & Hannah Newco
Chillers Champions 44-39 FC Song Roi
Preston Pie Muncher 43-34 Norfolk 'n' Chance
Kings of Leon Osman 42-33 Hammer Nation
Arsene Knows 34-46 Jager Bombers
Kiwislop 47-28 Forest Green Gingers

Another set of really close matches. Nobby joined Ready out of the League Cup losing by a point to Wenners. Muddy just eased by Mark Sterry, Andi was two poinst better than Oakers and our Polish correspondent Mark likewise over Neil Wallis in what was billed (by me) as the tie of the round.

Dan and Luke will replay in week 10 after drawing 37-37, the same score as the he Div 1 drawn game! Razor beat Rutts and Ben beat his old mate Henry by a point.
All the winners plus the victors of the two replays enter the 3rd Round draw.

Road to Wembley - 10 things you never knew about Met Police FC

Our latest N&R Road to Wembley team, the Metropolitan Police Football Club are playing away in the F.A. Cup 4th Qualifying Round against South Park FC, kick off at 3.00pm. South Park play in nearby Reigate. The match will be covered by ITV Sport, and highlights shown on ITV 1 on Sunday, in a programme starting at 1.30pm which will include the 1st Round draw.

Here are 10 facts about our boys in blue:

1. Founded in 1919

2. They play their home games at the beautiful Imber Court. The complex in East Molesey in Surrey has tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pool, gym, a number of bars and of course the football ground that has a capacity of 3,000, although they barely average over 100 people a game.

3. After 91 years the Metropolitan Police won their first senior trophy, beating AFC Wimbledon 5–3 on penalties after a 4–4 draw in the final of the London Senior Cup.

4. Up until 3 seasons ago all the players were full time serving policemen, but recently the club have relaxed that ruling.
5. Since then they finished the 2010–11 season as champions of the Isthmian League Division One South and last season finished in their highest ever position, 12th in Isthmian League Premier Division
6. The Met Police actually have a midfielder called Steve Sargeant.
7. If they beat South Park and enter the FA Cup 1st Round it will be for only the 3rd time in their history.
8. Manager Jim Cooper is in his 10th season.
9. Former Welsh international Vic Rouse managed the Met from 1972 to 1987. Goalkeeper Rouse played for 238 games for Crystal Palace.
10. Bermuda born Jonte Smith on loan from Crawley Town is the man to watch.

Quote of the week

Whilst we await Mark Simmons match report. I loved this quote as FIFA, the FA and the Polish FA decided in the pouring rain if it was worth pulling the roof over the Polish National Stadium in Warsaw or not:

"This is Monty Python. Both sets of supporters have been treated disgracefully. If I was a fan I'd be booing."”

Graham TaylorBBC Radio 5 live

Photograph of the week

When Scottish eyes were crying.

No week 9

Due to the World Cup Qualifiers there was no week 9. For our Scottish readers that was again no week 9 due to World Cup Qualifers. All complaints to Craig Levein at the SFA.

Barry goes to town

Week 8 - MoW
Barry Paull swept to the top of the week 8 leaderboard with a 63. Well clear of James Stiff in 2nd, although 56 points was by far and away a season-best for the newcomer.

Ryan Saveall and Alastair Bigg both swung their boot at a 55, Neil Addington headed in a season best of 54, Dewbs toe-poked a 53 and Graham Ward and Godders backheeled a 52.

Other scores of note to me were Jason Syrett's 48, John Hardiman's 47, Chillers' 44, Kirsty's 43, Steve Merchant's 42, Huw's 39, Richard R's 37 and Chris Minchell's 31.

Last out of the back line and therefore playing the opposition offside was Andy Shepherd with 19.

Paris in the Autumn time

N&R Division 1 - Week 8

Another leader. This time Paris Eagles, the veteran fantasy leaguer based and Palace fan based in Paris. Barry tops the N&R FL from Guinness & eggs with Gooner win league in 3rd. We are the Darts are 4th just ahead of Bingo, Hannoi Utd and To Elland back.

Three of the top 7 are previous winners of the coveted N&R title but worthy challengers such as Barry, Steve, Wardy and Geoff lie in wait.

Bix's Back in the big time are also on a good run, climbing from 18th in the past few weeks to 8th. Outside of the top 8 come a host of other teams all capable of mounting a title challenge. Boys on tour are 9th, Blue Euro Champs 10th, Brox Banditos 11th, Pure Irish 12th.

Olympic Games continued their better form and are now 14th and ahead of Soozie's OJ's Red & White Army.

Current champions Woody's Round Up fell again though and are now 16th. Further down The Jager Squad will be pleased to be out of the relegation pit, that can get very claustrophobic the longer one is tied up in it.

There was no change to the bottom 12 although Tanus Terriers made some good ground whereas UnAthletic Madrid didn't. The No Hopers remain bottom.

Twists again

N&R Division 2 - Week 8
Aniseed Twists remain atop of the Div 2 at the end of week 8 and over the international weekend. 14 points behind are Monster Smash with previous leader Moral Hazard dropping to 3rd.

The Sloan Rangers are 4th with Anfield Second XI and Mark Hughes is @@@@ tied for 5th. Jager Bombers lie in 7th with Mobotinho finding a rich vein of form now up to 8th.

Kings of Leon are 9th alongside new promotion entrant Addington Bears. Arsene Knows and Bardzo lubię nie musieć nic complete the top 12.

"Stwike him centuwion vewy woughly" slip down a few places to 17th, even behind Wenners' Back in business who are an unusual visitor to the top half of the table.

Dan's Dribblers were another big climber as to were DTF FC. Lower down a faller was Forest Green Gingers, yet Preston Pie Muncher remains bottom.

Photograph of the week

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has described the opening of its new centre of excellence as an "historic" day for the English game.

The £105m St George's Park complex in Burton will house all 24 England teams, from junior to senior levels.

The 330-acre site was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who left home with her top on, and they were given a tour of the park.

David Sheepshanks, chairman of St George's Park, said the new complex can help England close the gap on recent World Cup winners such as France and Spain.

"This is a place to inspire young people and young coaches to invest in themselves and go beyond just getting the badge," he said.

"The teachers of the game have the defining influence. We are investing in the teachers so that we can get ahead of what they are doing in France and Spain."

Let's hope so.

N&R Weekly Predictions

Another blank week and I will have to go to Wonga.com to get a loan at the rate I am going!

Nobby

West Ham v Arsenal DRAW No

West Brom v QPR HOME Yes

Chelsea v Norwich HOME Yes

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £16.18

Balance £-14

Ready

Wigan v Everton AWAY No

Chelsea v Norwich HOME Yes

Tottenham v Aston V Home Yes

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £7.40

Balance £-5.59

Week 8

The week in which Ashley Cole shocked the footballing world by declaring they were all #TWATS. Tell us something we don't know Ash. Like you have a brain cell somewhere in that stupid head of yours.

Mind you despite all of Chelsea's players problems they continue to lead the way in the Premiership. Oh and Mark Hughes got another vote of confidence. Tony Fernandes meanwhile has made himself favourite for the job when the time comes....

Week 8 scores on the doors:

Sun 7 Oct 2012

Southampton 2 - 2 Fulham
Liverpool 0 - 0 Stoke
Tottenham 2 - 0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 0 - 3 Man Utd

Sat 6 Oct 2012
Man City 3 - 0 Sunderland
Chelsea 4 - 1 Norwich
Swansea 2 - 2 Reading
West Brom 3 - 2 QPR
Wigan 2 - 2 Everton
West Ham 1 - 3 Arsenal

Down the Tube Station at midnight

Tube stations. How many can you spot?

There are 75! I'll start you off.... Brixton, Elephant & Castle....

N&R Truth and Dare 2012/13

N&R Truth & Dare 2012/13

We haven't done this for a few years but we used to get N&R managers to complete a Question & Answer paper and we would display the best ones on here.

Over the years we had some corkers and absolutely legendary answers to a range of questions (didn't we Rob?).

The Questionnaire's involved the important things in life.... football, beer, sex, insurance and life in general.

This year some of you have recently received the latest N&R Q&A entitled Truth & Dare. 15 questions where we are looking for just two things - humour and honesty. Actually scratch that, just humour. The more detailed and off the wall the better.

We have a lot of new managers and it is a nice way to get to know each and everyone of you better.

A sprinklering of new, recent or old timer N&R FL managers have Truth & Dare sat in their email in boxes. Please return them to me as soon as possible.

The first one coming up next....

N&R Truth or Dare - Mark Sterry

And the first manager in the series is Tokio Marine's Underwriting Manager Mark Sterry. Enjoy:

1) If your significant other said it was alright would you cheat on them?

There is no-one desperate enough to take me on – so no.

2) What is more important than money?

Nothing.

3) When have you broken your mother’s heart?

When ‘I married my wife.

4) When was the first time you had your heart broken?

18.

5) When is it alright to mix love and business?

See question 1.

6) When have you been fired from a job?
Not yet – but working on it.

7) When have you had to walk away in shame?
Every time I have a putter in my hand.

8) Assuming every man/woman has their price, what is yours?

About £10m – or a blow job.

9) If you will be given a chance to become invisible for one day, what would do with this ability?

Sit in the female changing room of L A Fitness.

10) If you could see 24 hours into the future what would you do with this ability?

Put my house on the largest odds bet I could find.

11) What is the first physical feature you look for in someone you are attracted to?

I’m a breast man.

12) What is a rumour you spread that you knew was not true?

Reidy was going for a hair transplant.

13) Who was your first crush with?

Too long ago to remember or possibly I had to walk away in shame and is therefore erased from my memory.

14) When have you seen sexual harassment in the work placement?

Every summer party.

15) If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

A young Demi Moore and I would have to play with my tits – all day long.

Photograph of the week

"Let me know when we get to Wembley. What's that? Rio? No he's shit, won't play again. JT? Racist twat. Jordan Henderson, ooh lovely boy. This is between us right?"

Fry up!

N&R Division 1 - Week 7

The first appearance at the top of the N&R FL for Guinness & eggs, normally we have to wait until the spring to see that. Steve is 7 points ahead of previous leader Gooner win league and the Barsnley fan from Atlanta will be hoping that this might be the year when we see our first ever Non-British resident win the title.

Paris Eagles, another non-British resident is 3rd, We are the Darts are up to 4th, Bingo FC holding his own (not for the first time) in 5th and N&R veteran Rob and To Elland Back in 6th.

After a 6 week sojourn Pure Irish is back in the top 8 and Ready pops' Hannoi Utd make a welcome appearance, just 3 weeks after being in the relegation zone. Look and learn peoples, look and learn!

Moving up the table with the wind behind him is Ollympic Games and my favourites the Dalton Worblers are also out of the bottom 12.

The No Hopers, showing up the Non-British residents (Michael is in Munich) is now bottom of Div 1, after the The Billion and a Half Dollar Man had their best week for ruddy months and moved above them.

Jason sewing his seeds

N&R Division 2 - Week 7

Moral Hazard lose their top spot after 6 weeks and it is taken by Aniseed Twists, who with 253 points sit 11 ahead of Ben. The Sloan Rangers are up to 3rd with Monster Smash, Anfield Second XI and Mark Hughes is @@@@ tucked in nicely behind.

Two cracking weeks have taken Kings of Leon Osman up to 9th and "stwike him centuwion vewy woughly" and Mobotinho both make a welcome appearance back in the promotion spots.

Bardzo lubię nie musieć nic pole vaults out of it (you see what I did there?) and Archdukes Hazard and Socceroos do likewise, the first time Henry has been out of the top 12 this season.

Limited to £50m are getting to grips with the cut and the thrust of the N&R FL and climb to 18th. Muddy Mavericks was another mover and shaker (sho-show girl!!).

Going in reverse is Goonersmoan after a brief flirtation with the top of the tree in week 5.

At the bottom Preston Pie Muncher remains trapped on the floor with 109 points and a growing gap is now between Martin and James Stiffsters.

Crossing the North London divide

Week 7 - MoW

Ryan Saveall collects a fiver to spend on nappies after smacking a sweet 60 points in week 7. Incidentially from the photo it looks as if Ryan has changed his team!!

Ryan's 60 was 5 better than last week's MoW Sarah Sheron and Paul Keaveney, who comfortably hit a season best.

Aaron Barden also managed a best season weekly score with 54, Richard Nathan and Ready hit 53 each and Kirsty 52.

Hills also dug out a best season score as did Lee Horne and Mark Dewberry, which frankly wasn't hard.

35 was the average score acheived by Alex Boswell, Chris Minchell and Neil Reynolds.

The weekly worse belonged to Rutts and a sad looking 14.

The best weekly score

A little bit early but I thought we would have a look at the best weekly scores so far. I prize for the best one over the season. Here are the best 13 so far:

1. Paul Hodges, week 2, 78 points
2. Ben Guarino, week 2, 72 points
3. Brett Davey, week 2, 69 points
4. Neil Wallis, week 2, 65 points
5. James Down, week 2, 64 points
6= Jason Syrett, week 2, 63 points
6= Alan Oakley, week 2, 63 points
8. Ryan Saveall, week 7, 60 points
9. Rob Munden, week 2, 58 points
10. Barry Plummer, week 2, 57 points
11= Danny Rose, week 5, 56 points
11= Henry Williams, week 2, 56 points
13= Sarah Sheron, week 6, 55 points
13= Chris Wright, week 3, 55 points
13= Sarah Sheron, week 7, 55 points
13= Paul Keaveney, week 7, 55 points

Upto week 7

The worst weekly score

And who is low balling us week in and week out. The top 5 lowest weekly scores so far remembering that incredibly we give a prize for this crap:

1. Brett Davey, week 3, 6 points
2. Michael Sstout, week 3, 7 points
3. Mark Dewberry, week 2, 8 points
4. Kirsty Baillie, week 3, 9 points
5. Martin Singleton, week 6, 11 points

Upto week 7

N&R weekly bet

2/3 for both of us in week 7:

Nobby

Arsenal v Chelsea HOME No

Everton v Southampton HOME Yes

Norwich v Liverpool AWAY Yes

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £10.04

Balance £-12

Ready

Everton v Southampton HOME Yes

Sunderland v Wigan HOME Yes

QPR v West Ham DRAW No

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £16.68

Balance £-3.59

League Cup draws 2nd Round

The draw for the Div 1 and Div 2 League Cups 2nd Round was drawn this morning out of my favourite coffee mug. The games will be played over week 8. This is what happened:

Div 1 League Cup 2nd Round
Pure Irish v Boys on tour
Woodys Round Up v We are the Darts
Hannoi Utd v The Jager Squad
The Magnificent Eleven v Brox Banditos
Keep the faith v Back in the Big Time
Blue Euro Champs v To Elland Back
This game should be played on paper v I hate Mark Hughes
Brighton Blues v 2 Infinity & beyond
RVP's Red Army v Gooner win league
Guinness & eggs v Glasgow kiss
The Billion and a Half Dollar man v Tanus Terriers
Too Big to Fail v Loads of Roubles
OJ's Red & White Army v Bingo FC
Paris Eagles v Armitage Shanks
Ollympic Games v UnAthletic Madrid FC
Dalton Worblers v John Terry Loves a choc ice

The match up between Woody and Geoff looks the tie of the round here, although there is a Bluefin derby between Ryan and Dan. Ken and Chris from QBE also meet. There's also some pride at stake in the Seagull v Eagle fixture between Paul Long and Barry Plummer.

The draw also allows one of the three bottom teams to progress to the last 8 as Dewbs hosts Lee Horne.

Div 2 League Cup 2nd Round
Aniseed Twists v Stiffsters
Goonersmoan v Mobotinho
Roger Melly is my hero v Muddy's Mavericks
Fulham Roadsters v Leave Myarsealona
Mark Hughes is @@@@ v Bardzo lubię nie musieć nic
Addington Bears v DTF FC
Back in Business v From SE6 to SB04
Dan's Dribblers v The Sloan Rangers
Moral Hazard v Socceroos
"stwike him centuwion vewy woughly" v Monster Smash
The Archdukes of Hazard v Morgan & Hannah Newco
Chillers Champions v FC Song Roi
Preston Pie Muncher v Norfolk 'n' Chance
Kings of Leon Osman v Hammer Nation
Arsene Knows v Jager Bombers
Kiwislop v Forest Green Gingers

Mark Simmons travels to Neil Wallis in the tie of the round, athough closely followed by the game between Danny Rose and Mitesh and Ben and old mate Henry.

I like the German/Japanese clash between Muddy and Mark Sterry plus the game between Rutts and Razor.

May the best teams win. Results next week.

Week 7 overview

Ole, ole, ole, ole..... oh sorry this is soccer football isn't it? Mark Hughes gets his first vote of confidence, but don't worry Steve Kean had 94.

Liverpool found their shooting boots, and Tottenham won at Old Trafford for the first time since Ossie Ardiles was a small child. John Terry was found guilty of being a nasty little shit and stop the back page, Jimmy Bullard will be more regularly pissed up in Bexley Village like the last time I saw him as injury has forced him to retire after just 3 games with Franchise FC.

Week 7:

Mon 1 Oct 2012
QPR 1 - 2 West Ham

Sun 30 Sep 2012
Aston Villa 1 - 1 West Brom

Sat 29 Sep 2012
Arsenal 1 - 2 Chelsea
Everton 3 - 1 Southampton
Fulham 1 - 2 Man City
Norwich 2 - 5 Liverpool
Reading 2 - 2 Newcastle
Stoke 2 - 0 Swansea
Sunderland 1 - 0 Wigan
Man Utd 2 - 3 Tottenham

Photograph of the week

Get in the hole! Ole, ole, ole, ole.....