Sunday 25th May saw a fitting finale for the Kesgrave Penguins as representative teams of the current first team and 2008 vintage played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Ipswich Academy. The 2014 team eventually won 3-1 on penalties and the game was followed by one of many drunken Bank Holiday Sundays enjoyed by the club's players over the years.

From a personal perspective it was nice to bow out on the winning side having bagged a goal and made two penalty saves in the shoot out, but what was most pleasing was to see so many former players gathered for the one-off game. It was testament to the culture that has grown at the club over the last six years that there was great humour about the match, but also no little skill and no-one wanted to end up on the losing side.

A combination of team spirit and hard work took us a surprisingly long way as a club - further than we had imagined or intended when the club was formed - and those characteristics were still on display right to the very end.

Playing for and managing a team of Kesgrave High School old-boys as we rocketed from RM5 to the top of the Sunday Premier Division was a unique personal achievement and one that I will always reflect on with great pleasure and pride. It would have meant far less though if it hadn't been achieved with the fantastic group of friends that rallied around me and gave me everything they had in the tank when they crossed the white line.

There will never be another team like Kesgrave Penguins. We reached the top of the Premier Division without an array of locally-recognised Saturday players, just a group of friends who improved every year and grew stronger, more formidable and were relentlessly organised and hungry.

I hope that all former Penguins players go on to enjoy their football elsewhere and can find a new challenge to sink their teeth into. Thank you to everyone who has made playing for and running this fantastic football club such a pleasure over the last six years - everyone has made a contribution and should there ever be a Kesgrave Penguins Old Boys I'd hope I would have your support!

Best wishes,
Nick Woolnough