World Mental Health Day Cup 2008
The PMA Sports Foundation Trust held their 4th Annual ‘World Mental Health Day’ 5-A-Side Football tournament at Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, Score on Friday 3rd October.
They was a fantastic turn out with 20 teams across London and nationwide with clubs coming as far as Wales. In total, there were 208 players and including team management and spectators, we had about 260 in attendance.
It was a great day for football; the weather was dry and crisp.
The day got off to a start by the PMA League founder and event organiser Janette Hynes opening the day with a motivational speech on The Positive Mental Attitude of Individuals throughout their life.
There were four groups with five teams in each group, playing each other. Games lasted 10 minutes one way and were played on four pitches.
Games began with a quick tempo, players showing their intention and desire to win focusing on good sportsmanship, but of course with a lot of passion.
Service users, who carried out their duties to highest degree to where Dermot Gallagher (Retired Premiership Referee) would be proud, refereed the day games.
The World Mental Health Day Shield Final
Both teams played in-group c with Warriors F.C winning the group and Air Football A F.C coming in a very close second. The scene was set could Warriors F.C show their domination or could Air Football A F.C change their game.
It was a hard contested game with Air Football A F.C taking an early lead, Warriors F.C did not know how they conceded an early goal. Minutes after some great passing and moving came a second goal.
Air Football A F.C 2 - Warriors F.C 0, warriors gained a free kick drawn from a foul, playing to the referees whistle they took a quick free-kick and managed to pull the game back 2 -1.
This just seemed to Air Football A F.C into another gear and they rose their game and found and scored a beautiful goal created by all players on the pitch, pass and move with a glorious finish making the score 3 – 1 to Air Football A F.C.
Warriors F.C could not find the answers and seemed if Air Football A F.C got their game plan spot on. It was not long before they scored another goal to seal their victory, displaying superior skills and showing teamwork in the World Mental Health Day Shield final to which they were worthy winners
The World Mental Health Day Final
Millwall B F.C and Hackney F.C both had similar journeys into the final, both winners of their group with Millwall taking superior goal difference, while Hackney took the most out of their games by winning all their matches scoring 17 goals and only conceding 3 times.
The game kicked of with high anticipation spectators lined around the pitch, David and Thomas from the Olympic and Paralympic Unit based in Hackney were cheering both teams on and some of the Leyton orient 1st team came to watch the talent on display. Also, the team from sporting chance charity run by Tony Adams ex Arsenal/England player, now Portsmouth FC assistant manager where so enthralled with the amazing event and stranded of football played.
The crowd looked forward to a great match and they were not let down. Hackneys kicked off and were soon one nil down, it seemed Millwall carried the confidence of winning last years PMA league straight into this match.
It was not long before Hackney found themselves down to a quick fire double, they almost looked shell shocked. Millwall F.C 2 – Hackney F.C 0 with only 5 minutes gone in the first half.
After a few shouted comments and some hard stares by Hackney F.C manager the players seemed to pick themselves up and managed to pull a goal back and get a foothold in the game, the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half.
During halftime managers gave a brief team talk with their players, Millwall could smell a win and another trophy but they had Hackney in their way to actually realise that dream.
The second half started as it ended with a goal but this time it went to Millwall B F.C making the score 3 – 1 to Millwall. At this point, the manager made some instrumental changes and brought on two subs, which had an immediate impact on the game. Hackneys seemed like a different side attacking at will and where rewarded with a goal from a fantastic strike from their striker.
Score now 3 – 2 with Hackney gaining impetuous and with Millwall beginning to drop their heads. Hackney raised their game again trying to find that equaliser.
With some pass and move and one two’s Millwall lifted there heads with a great move and finish to edge further in front 4 – 2 to Millwall. Somehow it seemed Hackney needed a minor miracle to get back into the game.
Through a positive mental Attitude approach, Hackney FC fought back with 2 spectacular goals within the last 3 minutes. As the club always say ‘When the going gets tough Hackney FC get going’, then In the last second of the game hackney F.C nearly nicked the win with a screamer of a shot from the winger, it went inches over the bar, the whistle blow for fulltime score 4 - 4.
It now was all on penalties the crowed all shouting for their teams to stay calm, all the player scored all the goals and it went down to the two goal keepers to battle it out.
Millwall keeper took the first shot, Hackney F.C keeper saved, wow, now Hackney F.C keeper got ready to take his shot. Deep breath and he hit his shot in the top corner, it was in, all the team ran towards him, and this was the same outcome in Germany when Hackney came away with the European cup this may 2008. Hackney F.C are the true Cup Champions unbeaten for the 4th Year running. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!
A big thank you goes out to the referees of the day, they worked so hard!!!
Other accolades for the day, Awarded on the day by Danny Granville Leyton Orient professional footballer;
Best goalkeeper; Team Air football
Fair play award; Wales FC
Best Player; The Warriors
Referee F.A Peter Seal
PMA Shield Champions; AIR FOOTBALL
PMA CUP CHAMPIONS; HACKNEY F.C
All the teams that took part went away with certificates and a few balls donated by Hackney Olympic Unit and rain jackets by the PMA League.
What a fantastic day we all have to thank, Janette, Luke, Peter, David from the PMA League in organising this event, and to all the teams, supporters and sponsors for making it happen.
Good Luck everyone for the coming PMA League season see you all next year.
PMA Player reporting.
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