Teams played against: Oakwood FC; Broadbridge Heath; Athenlay FC (Peckham, London); Crawley United (winners of their league and cup); Tulse Hill FC; Chipstead FC; South Park FC and ourselves, Handsworth JSC.

Most had done well in their respective leagues if not won them; the team from Peckham had won their league. Apparently, their manager who had started his youth career with John Terry at Chelsea; so a weath of experience and putting something back into youth football.

We started off poorly and lost in the first league game, 2-0 to Crawley United, who we were to meet again in the final; but won the next two games 4-0 against Chipstead and Athenlay which put us into a semi final meeting with the hosts Oakwood, with whom we shared accommodation with in the tournament in France earlier this year. We didn't get to play them in France as they were in a different group and didn't make it to the semi finals. So this was our first meeting.

This game was excellent in terms of spirit, good passing football, wanting to win but in the right manner. As in every game every one shook hands at the end of the game, players, management and officials. Handsworth win 2-0.

The final was against our league opponents, Crawley United. We agreed to no extra time as Crawley had been operating on just 11 players all day and were absolutely shattered; as were most players, good weather, wall to wall sunshine and must have been around 25C.

Crawley opened the scoring; they received a corner on our left, played in to the near post and the handsworth left back got his head to it first, but unfortunately steered into his own net. 1-0 Crawley 6 mins.

Handsworth took the initiative; put the pressure on Crawley and a super strike from the edge of the box by Dexter Brebner, into the top corner of the net. 1-1 10 mins.

Handsworth kept pressing up to half time with no reward. Crawley keeper, apparently the best in the area, and apparently being watched at times, and amongst others Manchester City. He was to go on to be my man of the match with three superb saves, including another superb strike from Dexter Brebner that he parried on to the inside of his left hand post, the ball rolled accross the line, behind the 'keeper and out the other side.

The second half started lively with handsworth in the assendancy, and our pressure was rewarded with a goal from a corner. One of the new boys, Harry Hurst (ex SWYO) headed the far post corner back into the mix and we scored; can't say who it was, I couldn't tell, the boys are still discussing it! But 2-1 to Handsworth.

Handsworth thought they had scored another in the 25 minute, to make it 3-1 and no way back for Crawley, but was ruled offside.

With two minutes to go the referee awarded a penalty for what we thought was a fair block tackle. Converted. 2-2. Penalties ensued.

After the first of 5 penalties, it was 4-4.

Then sudden death. Their keeper saved one. Crawley win 6-5.

Hospitality superb.

Hope to be able to invite them to Sheffield next year.