All info correct as of 19/3/01

Players Wanted

We’re actively looking for players to join us. All we ask is that you can play a bit (just a bit, you don’t have to be Zidane or Zola), you are, or are willing to get, moderately fit, and you are reliable.

If you’re completely crap, or think that standing in the centre circle for 90 minutes is acceptable, you’re probably not for us. And if you like to go away every other weekend, then Sunday morning football isn’t for you.

Apart from that, pretty much everyone’s welcome.

So what should you do now? Firstly, read this web page to get a feel for the club. Secondly (if you’re not put off), phone Adrian Finnis on 0370 274587 or (e-mail him at adrian.finnis@dennis.co.uk) for further info and to let him know you’re interested. Alternatively, phone Mark Hooper on 0777 192 1694 or e-mail him at mark.hooper@exprogroup.com

We are Beaconsfield Legion FC, a Sunday morning football team which plays in Div 4 of the High Wycombe Sunday Combination. We are so named because we are sponsored by the Beaconsfield branch of the Royal British Legion. They very kindly pay for our kit, sell us cheap beer in the club after games (and any other time we care to go in there) and give us free cheese cubes and peanuts.

Unlike a lot of teams, we train once a week all year round, and double up between July and September. Last year (2000), from July until September, we trained on our home pitch on Thursday and Sunday evenings (7.30 start on Thursdays, 6.00 start on Sundays).

From September round to June, we play 5-a-side at the Beacon Centre, Holstpur, every Thursday. We have a one-hour slot from 9-10pm.

Probably the easiest pitch to find in Bucks, we play at Holtspur (Beaconsfield). Simply drive along the A40 either from or towards Wycombe until you get to the Harvester (aka Kings Head) pub at Holstspur. At the roundabout, take the exit towards Bourne End. Go over the motorway bridge (which is within 100 yards of the roundabout) and the pitch is on your left. Plentiful parking, flat pitch with excellent drainage and not-so-clever changing rooms are the main features.

To see a map, click here

(we play just south of the M40, in the middle square of the map)

All our games are on Sunday mornings at 10.30am (kick off). We meet at 9.45am at the pitch for home games, and 9.15 at the Harvester (Kings Head) pub for away games.

Not bad at all. Some teams are good, some teams are not so good. If you’ve got a good touch, can pass and are semi-fit, you’ll do well. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that because it’s Div 4 it’s a crap standard.

In the past few seasons we’ve been competing with and beating teams like Kingston (now running away with Div 1), Lane End (in with a good shout of going up into the Premier league), Wycombe Town (unbeaten in Div 2) and Italia Reserves (holding their own in Div 2 despite going up two divisions last season).

Make no mistake, there’s some good football played in Division 4, and many of the players seem to play in sides because their mates do rather than playing to the highest standard they could.

Not bad. Not brilliant, but not bad. If you want to see a list of our results, go to www.yellowjersey.co.uk and select the High Wycombe Sunday Combination league.

We win more than we lose, and when it’s the latter we tend to get beaten by the odd goal. Very frustrating, but goes some way to explaining why we haven’t been promoted.

Quite simply, you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer group of people. Well, maybe that’s overdoing it a bit, but it’s certainly the most pleasant team I’ve played for. In true football club style, not everyone is best mates with everyone else, but we do all get on. We haven’t got any morons in our team to whom winning is the be all and end all, and we socialise on a regular basis.

Having said that, we all want to win and don’t like losing, but we’ve normally forgotten about it by the time we get to the Legion. By the way, everyone has a nickname – fortunately you get a chance to choose your own.

On average, we probably get together for a serious drink and a curry about once every six weeks. Smaller groups go out every fortnight or so.

There are some people who are always up for going out for a pint, and some who never come out. You can pick and choose how much you want to get involved.

Needless to say, win or lose, we always end up at the Legion club in Beaconsfield for a drink and some free bar snacks after the match.

Four quid per game (two if you’re sub or are subbed) and three quid for training. Credit facilities may be available upon request.

Last year, our pre-season tour took us to Galway, where we had a craic-ing time. Tales of excess drinking and tomfoolery are available on request.

This year, we plan to go to Perpignan (southern France, and only 50 miles from Barcelona) around the middle of August.