Teddington Athletic Lightning at the SCI Isle of Wight Mitre Ultimatch Tournament 2022

This was a tournament that was a long time coming. For TAFC Lightning veterans it had been two years in the making, kiboshed by subsequent years of Covid cancellations, but for every player, and indeed the manager, Richard, this was to be a new experience. Their first overseas tournament.

Even as the ferries were boarded to carry them across the waves to do battle in the SCI Isle of Wight Mitre Ultimatch Trophy the anticipation was palpable. Seven games lay ahead for the ten brave warriors and no one knew what the future would hold...

The sun shone brightly on Saturday morning as Lightning took to the field. But unfortunately the weather was the highlight of what proved to be a very testing day for the boys. You never know what you’re going to face in a tournament and the standard proved to be very high. We knew this from the start, having been drawn against club-mates and reigning champions Teddington Turbo in the first game but the lads dug in well and came away with only a 4-1 loss, including a thrilling moment where Stefanos put Hector through to score an excellently worked goal.

Sadly, in the second match Lightning were less successful and were put to the sword by Vectis Youth, despite some solid work from Joseph, turning and shielding, George putting in some powerful tackles and blocks, including one right in the ‘family jewels’ which left him reeling but determined to continue, plus several confident saves from Samuel between the sticks.

There was a change of pitches for the third game against Ruislip Rangers, with the slope on this particular pitch looking like the north face of the Eiger compared to the already considerable slope of the last one! Hector scored again, but despite their best endeavours Lightning just couldn’t seem to find their rhythm and Rangers emerged victorious.

One game left to play in the day, and as Lightning squared up to Sandown Hornets, they did eventually find some of their rhythm. A handball decision in the box gave Luke the chance to step up and take the penalty, which he did with his usual cool head to put Lightning 1-0 up. Hector had several chances which he frustratingly just couldn’t convert, including one which rattled off the Sandown woodwork! And all in all, the first half of this game had definitely been Lightning’s best performance so far. Unfortunately Sandown came back strongly in the second and snatched the victory 2-1.

It had been a frustrating day for the Lightning lads, but for a first tournament, they were all learning some valuable lessons and tomorrow is always another day.

And meteorologically speaking at least, Sunday was indeed, a completely different day. The sky was overcast and there was a light rain falling. Lessons learnt from the day before, Lightning lined up in a more defensive formation with four at the back as they faced Evergreen FC, a team that even the mighty Teddington Turbos had only narrowly beaten the day before. Once again, Lightning held their own in the first half, with an excellent free kick from Stanley that nearly beat the keeper and at half time they had only conceded one goal. Despite some incredible work from Samuel in goal Evergreen managed to get two more in the second half to claim the win, but with every game Lightning were looking stronger and stronger.

The penultimate game of the tournament was against Darlaston Town and again, despite battling performances from Moses, Enrique and a penalty kick that Samuel almost got his fingertips to, Lightning just couldn’t find the back of the net.

But Lightning definitely saved their best performance until last. There were certainly tired legs out there for all of the players, but the Lightning lads dug deep and put in some sterling work to hold Gurnard Tigers to 0-0 at half time. One of the main highlights being an incredible goal line clearance from James who flew in from nowhere like an exocet missile to keep the ball out of the Teddington net. Unfortunately the relentless nature of the tournament had done its dastardly work and, try as they might, they just couldn’t hang on in the second half and the elusive first win stayed agonisingly just out of their reach.

It’s often said that football is a results game, and in some instances that is certainly the case, but away from the capitalist trappings and money-soaked machinations of the professional game there is something simpler, something more pure. Something that encapsulates the true meaning of Sport. Yes, of course everyone likes to win, and everyone abhors the bitter taste of defeat, but at the end of the day that is not why we play the game.

Sport is a teacher; it prepares us for the fact that life doesn’t always go our own way. Sometimes you have to take the knocks, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and screw your courage to the sticking place. This was a tour where at times, as Nietzsche would have had it, the boys all stared into the abyss, but crucially, at the same time the abyss stared back into them. The Lightning lads all learnt a valuable lesson.

Win or lose, it matters not.

The joy of the game is there to be found in the precious moments. The moments of exhilaration such as James’ herculean goalmouth clearance. The moments of courage such as Samuel’s steely determination to continue having been struck full in the face by the ball. The moments of composure such as Luke’s pinpoint penalty kick. The moments of teamwork where everybody comes together and realises that there’s someone else who’s got your back and that together you are all stronger. And, most importantly of all, the moments of camaraderie and occasionally downright silliness, when you can play together and laugh together simply for the love of the game.

This is what we learn from Sport and if this tournament has taught the boys that, then they are all winners.