Russell Vale United: Champions 2011 @ Russell Vale Soccer Club

Russell Vale United: Champions 2011

Posted on September 17th, 2011 Ricky 7 comments

Russell Vale United capped a memorable undefeated season in 2011 by emphatically winning the Grand Final of the Amateur Masters 40 competition in a 7-0 rout of Gibson Park Rangers at Ian McLennan Park in Kembla Grange.

The Thirroul team, having forfeited the Major Semi Final due to a lack of numbers, were able to take out the Preliminary Final against Sweat Hogs and entered the Grand Final with enough recovered and previously unseen personnel to start with a few on the bench.

What they encountered was a Russell Vale outfit full of determination, confident in the roles they were meant to play, aware of where their team-mates were and prepared to play to their strengths.

On a gloriously sunny spring morning (a bit less glorious sun might have been nice, actually), and on a fairly well-grassed pitch that was nevertheless hard and bumpy, United simply carved the game up through structure, teamwork and the individual brilliance of Snowy and Tony in particular.

Four goals to Snowy and two to Tony tells much of the tale (Andy scored the other, the first of the game). Gibson Park suffered a 0-4 half-time scoreline, two penalties, a red card and – to add injury to insult – a player hurt badly enough to require an ambulance (hope you’re OK, Craig).

But this was a victory that Russell Vale thoroughly deserved. United has had an astounding season. Taking out byes and forfeits (each 3-0), in 19 matches played we won 18 and drew one, scoring 74 goals at 3.89 goals per game. We conceded just ten goals. And while in this Grand Final Gibson Park remained competitive to the end, with shots hitting the woodwork, Russell Vale United played with the authority that comes from being champions.

Click here for Mike George’s online gallery of photos from the day.
7 responses to “Russell Vale United: Champions 2011”
1. Mikey G September 18th, 2011 at 07:55
  
  Fabulous win boys!!!
  
  Photos of the GF are at the link below.
  
  http://www.dragonphotography.net.au/index.php/gallery/sport/russell-vale-sc-over-40-s/grand-final-overs-40-s/
2. Hollers September 18th, 2011 at 12:13
  
  Love your work Ricky and Mike…First class
3. Tony September 21st, 2011 at 17:41
  
  I agree, much appreciated!!
4. Jodie September 21st, 2011 at 19:11
  
  Great Photos Mike….
  Great win by the Greens…..
  I would like to say thank you to all those whom I have played with over the years.
  It was my last game on Saturday a wonderful way to go out, a WINNER & UNDERFEATED…
  I`m going to have a rest…….
  Thanks again Jodie..
5. Dave McGregor September 27th, 2011 at 18:23
  
  Great win! … 7 nil?… if it weren’t for the excellent photos I would have thought you played their under 10′s! Top job, top photos, and top reports. Russell Vale club is really hitting the mark. For us remote ‘members’ I appreciate the updates, would like to see a report or photos of the preso night also. All the best for next year.
6. Ricky September 27th, 2011 at 22:27
  
  The Preso Night, you say, Dave? Well, some footage has come into my possession that might be illustrative. I’ll see if I can put it up here.
7. Snowy September 28th, 2011 at 23:01
  
  Ricky…Most of us old blokes can,t stop the feet when the Bee Gees start to play…your just lucky it is only photos, as any recording of the singing would be like nails down a blackboard.
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