European Tournament (Belgium, 18-20 May)

Before Euro 2012, we'll be playing (and spending) our own euros at our own European Tournament, which is taking place in Blankenberge in Belgium from 18th to 20th May.

The tournament features 8 teams (Belgium, England, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland) and is played over two days (2 groups of 4 then semi-finals or play-offs then final).

We will be taking up to 15 players and as many supporters/family/friends as we can. For the new players amongst us, this is a fantastic tournament that's been going since 1993 and that we've won twice (1994 and 2009). In 2011 we were runners-up to Hungary at Bisham Abbey.

The total cost (excluding travel) is 250 euros (£209 as at 31 Dec) if staying 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) or 220 euros (£185 as at 31 Dec) if staying 2 nights (Friday to Sunday)

If staying for 3 nights, the cost includes hotel accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, dinner on Friday night, gala dinner and entertainment on Saturday night + all your football (3 refs, usually great pitches)

If staying for 2 nights, the costs includes hotel accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, dinner on Friday night, gala dinner and entertainment on Saturday night + all your football (3 refs, usually great pitches)

As regards travel, most of us will be travelling by car/ferry so we can share the costs.

If you want to participate, you then need to do the following:

1) Pay your £110 deposit now to:
Account name: Lokomotiv Londres FC
Account number: 86700715
Sort code: 601711
Ref (important): Your full name + deposit

2) Email lokomotivlondresfc@hotmail.co.uk  once done and tell us if you want to stay 2 or 3 nights

The balance (approx £100 if staying 3 nights or £75 if staying 2 nights) will be due in late April.


Ivan

Sportsmans Div 4 Results

Sunday 18 December

Parklife 'B' 3 v Pacific Sporting Jubilee 1
South West Wolves 4 vs Lokomotiv Londres FC 0

The table has now been updated

Match report - South West Wolves v Loko

Sunday18th December 2011
Sportsman's League, Division 4

South West Wolves 4 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 0


Wolves pounce on Loko-men

The game vs Sportsmans’s League debutants South West Wolves was an opportunity for Loko to consolidate its second place just before the festive break. South West Wolves have had an inconsistent start to their first season so the Railwaymen were confident they could get a good result despite the fact that they were missing five regulars.

From the word go, though, Loko were all over the place. Passes were going astray, clearances were being miskicked, players were caught napping on the ball, tempers were frayed and the defence and midfield were panicking. Waves after waves of Wolves attacks saw Loko defending the trenches and unable to develop their game whilst Steve and Terry upfront were feeding on scraps.

Loko simply didn’t know how to deal with South West Wolves and Gavyn as well as Morris (pictured above) in particular were fouling a lot on the edge of our own box but, thankfully, Wolves' free-kicks didn’t threaten much.

Following a rare attack where Loko looked like they might break the deadlock, South West Wolves’counter attack saw them outflank our defence and their forward crucify Junior from the edge of the box on 29 minutes. This was followed by almost a carbon copy goal with, again, the Loko defence out-of-position and their tall centre back not believing his luck when he found himself one on one on Junior who he beat with a low shot to our goalie’s left from 10 yards out.

Having rarely been in such a predicament over the past few weeks, Loko were floored and wondering how they were going to turn the situation around.

Half-time South Wolves 2 v Loko 0

At half time, Junior was livid and directed his anger at Ivan in particular for venturing too far afield and not doing his defensive job.

Our goalie’s message seemed to have the necessary effect as Loko started the second half with renewed vigour, getting their tackles in, passing the ball slightly better and beginning to threaten their goal. From a long ball from the midfield, Terry found himself one on one on their keeper and odds on to reduce the deficit from 7 yards out but their diminutive goalie made a splendid save by diving to his right.

On 57 minutes, a Wolves attack on the right saw a cross find its way behind Junior but Ivan cleared the ball on the goal line, only for their winger to win the ball back and cross again to their oncoming centre forward who was now clear on goal and simply tucked the ball into the empty net from two yards out.

At this stage, Ismail, who’d been playing his heart out despite not having fully recovered from a recent illness pleaded for Chris to go off but the gaffer was keen for him to stay on the pitch. Consequently, Alejandro gave way to Marcel but Loko were rapidly running out of ideas. The game was becoming predictable with some of our players losing their discipline and even trying to take on four players in the middle of the park instead of passing to their teammates.

A fourth goal came on 68 minutes where the defence got caught out again. Their forward beat the offside trap and smashed the ball past Junior from 12 yards out. There was now simply no way back and, to make matters worse, Loko were reduced to 10 with 15 minutes to go when Ivan got injured and had to come off. Terry was desperately trying to rally the troops but as the game wound up with no more serious Loko challenges, heads dropped as Loko were closing 2011 with the worst performance of the season.

Club Secretary Ivan Rahal said: “We were very poor today – inaccurate passing, poor defending, no discipline, no team spirit. Does this mean that we are just an average team when our star forwards are missing? Our first game back on 15th January is also against South West Wolves, so we need everybody back and in good shape to show Wolves what this season's Loko is all about.”

Man of the match: Although rather isolated, Terry tried his best but the last M.O.M award of 2011 goes to Junior for his performance and fighting spirit.  

Line-up:
Junior
Stefano
Ismail
Chris
Ivan
Gavyn
Serik
Morris
Alejandro (then Marcel, 60’)
Steve
Terry

Sportsmans Div 4 Results

Sunday 11 December

Bec United 'B' 2 v Parklife 'B' 2
FC Lonsdale 4 v South West Wolves 3
Hurlingham Energie v Northcote Falcons (Away Win was awarded)
Kensington Athletic 0 v Wessex Rangers 'B' 0

The table has now been updated

Match preview: South West Wolves vs Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 4
Opponents: South West Wolves (H)
Date: 18th December 2011
Kick Off Time: 10am
Meeting Time: 9.15am
Location: King Georges Playing Fields, Kimber Road, Earlsfield,
SW18 4SS
Directions: Regular trains run from London Waterloo to the nearest station which is Earlsfield. The pitches are a ten to fifteen minute walk down Garratt Lane and across Kimber Road.  Alternatively, email the team as someone who lives close by maybe driving down and will be able to pick you up.
Subs: £6 (£3 Subs/Substituted)
See Map:


View Larger Map

Squad: Junior, Stefano, Chris, Steve, Ivan, Gavyn, Ismail, Morris, Dave F, Alejandro, Terry, Serik, Marcel

Sportsmans Div 4 Results

Sunday 4th December 2011

Kensington Athletic 0 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 5
South West Wolves 4  v Pacific Sporting Jubilee 3

The table has now been updated

Match report - Kensington Athletic vs Loko

Sunday 4th December 2011
Sportsman's League, Division 4

Kensington Athletic 0 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 5


Athletic demolition sends Loko 2nd

Kensington Athletic were soundly beaten 7-1 by Loko in the cup just over a month ago. Revenge was undoubtedly on their minds, hence a few new faces on their team including a Fabrizio Ravanelli doppelganger in goal in place of their previous blundering keeper and a very composed and skilful 45-year old centre back who used to play with Les Ferdinand at QPR in the eighties.

Yet, once again, Loko were first out of the starting blocks. On 4 minutes, Terry wriggled past his marker down the left and despatched a perfect cross for RENATO to nod into the empty goal from one yard out.

Kensington Athletic 0 – Loko 1.

From then on, it was one-way traffic with Loko playing the beautiful game to perfection despite a greasy pitch. Kensington Athletic were playing better than a month ago though and were occasionally threatening our goal. From a corner from the left, their number 10 smashed the ball from 8 yards out but Ivan was closely guarding the front post and kneed the ball out of the way. Yet, danger was still in sight but Junior sprang like a squirrel and saved a close-range shot that looked like a sure equaliser.

On 23 minutes, with Athletic defending heroically in their goalmouth, RENATO strode forward, nicked the ball as if by magic, twisted and turned past 3 bewildered players and drilled the ball into the net from an impossible angle to the delight of the scout videoing from the touchline. Rumour now has it that Renato might be on his way to the Swedish first division….

What followed was yet another wave of Loko attacks. Dave J, who was venturing forward more and more frequently, dribbled past three players all the way to the Kensington byline and his cross was only deflected at the last minute. Then, from a corner, Ed volleyed beaufifully from the edge of the box yet his clean and powerful strike was saved by their keeper. Five minutes later, Imants took his chance from twenty five yards out and his low shot came within five inches of their goal.

On 35 minutes, Gavyn, who was making his presence felt across the middle of the park headed an Athletic goalkick back towards their goal and into the path of IMANTS who scampered down the channel, rounded their keeper and scored Loko’s number 3 from a narrow angle.

Half-time: Kensington Athletic 0 – Loko 3

With 49 minutes on the clock, an exchange between Imants and Renato ended up with TERRY on the right outpacing their left back and placing an accurate shot past the Athletic keeper for number 4.

Was it tiredness? Was it a feeling of mission accomplished? Whatever, it was, it must have come as a surprise to all and sundry for Loko were now suffering at the hands of a very lively Athletic. Their attacks had more zip than ever before and they almost reduced the deficit when a long cross from the left was parried but then dropped by Junior dangerously close to the goal line only for Terry to clear from behind our keeper.

5 minutes later, Chris (pictured above) misjudged the direction of the ball out on the left and was taken over by their forward only for Junior to save in style. The crossbar also came to Junior’s rescue from a long shot a few minutes later. Remission was close at hand though.

On 68 minutes, Renato drove a hard shot from the left edge of their box but it got blocked by their central defender. The ball wasn’t cleared properly though and ALEJANDRO, who was lurking in the 6-yard box, enjoyed the easiest of tap-ins from one yard out.

Despite their comfortable lead, Loko kept playing as if their lives depended on it. Ed and Gavyn in particular were as passionate and physical as ever but it was definitely mission accomplished, namely yet another great result and second place in the league.

Club Secretary Ivan Rahal said:  “With a squad like this, we can give any team a run for their money. We’ve only got one game left to play this calendar year (on 18th December) so let’s make it a perfect midseason post-match celebration with the first round of drinks on the club! “

Man of the Match: TERRY – one great goal, one assist, one goal line clearance and plenty of effort throughout. Special mention to Junior, Dave J, Gavyn, Imants and Renato.

Team Line-Up:
Junior
Dave J
Chris
Steve
Ivan (then Stefano, 45 mns)
Gavyn
Ed
Terry
Imants (then Alejandro, 60 mns)
Renato
Dave K