We had such a brilliant day with Old Bedians on August Bank Holiday.
It was fantastic to have such huge interest this year, with 44 Old Bedians signing up to play, ranging from those who left 10 years ago to our most recent leavers of 2021. The highest number of alumni to date!
All the players stepped up to the challenge on the day and it was great to see everyone come together with such good humour.
Headmasters 1st XI v Old Bedians 1st XI
Headmasters 1st XI v Old Bedians 1st XI
Alumni [reds] clockwise from left (house and year left Bede’s): Tom Howard (Stud 2021), Ashley Crocombe (Deis 2012), Farrall Ryder (Deis 2018), Alex Leigh (Knights 2012), Manager Dave Leggett (former staff), Josh Goldin (Knights 2017), Harry Prow (Dorms 2017), Ollie Welbourn (Dicker 2017), Tommy Trenaman (Knights 2018), Archie Collett (Dorms 2020), Paul Turner (Knights 2000), Tom Frame (Dicker 2020)
The old boys started the game well, dominating possession and controlling the game through the strong Midfield of Goldin, Howard and Welbourn, whilst the pace and trickery of Ryder and Trenaman was a constant threat.
The current 1st XI threatened on occasions on the counter attack although the superb defending of Frame and Crocombe stopped any real chances materializing. As the match developed, the old boys pressure told with goals from Howard, Ryder and Trenaman with a late consolation goal from Charlie Yeates for the current 1st XI meaning the game finished 4-1 to the old boys.
It was a great test for the 1st XI to play against the quality and physicality the old boys showed and with help with their development for the season ahead. I would like to thank all the old boys for coming down it was great to catch up and reminisce about old times.
By David Caryer (Director of Football and 1st team manager)
Bede’s Staff v Old Bedians
Bede's Staff v Old Bedians
Back row from Left to right: Tom Welch (Deis 2018), Stephen Fairbrother (staff), Ethan Parker (Dicker 2018), Rohit Venkateshan, Sam Avery (Deis 2018), Jacob Adlam (staff), Josh Corver (Knights 2013), Laurence Collier (staff), Henry Gomer (Stud 2020), Justin Sealey (staff), Luke Noble (Knights 2018), Stavros Manos (staff), Oscar Steward (Deis 2018), James Ravilious (Camberlot 2013), Toby Wiltshire (Dicker 2018), Will Fricker (Knights 2018), Phil Trenaman (Manager & staff)
Front row From left to right: Barry Jackson (staff), Ryan Welch (Deis 2018), Dan Blaney (staff), Ian Trenaman (Knights 2018), Andrew Waterhouse (staff), Ben Harvey (Knights 2018), Ben Jones (Dicker 2013), Oliver Young (staff), Jacob Llamas (Deis 2018), Oliver Davies (Knights 2009, staff), Bhavick Patel (Knights 2013), David Byrne (staff), Harry Scowen (Knights 2018)
On a sunny Bank Holiday weekend in August, an Alumni team made up of former 2nd, 3rd and 4th players returned to Bede's to play the staff in what was a fiercely competitive football match. The chance to "leave a bit on sir" was obviously too much of golden opportunity and the Old Bedians came out in force. Led by their ever-vocal manager Phil Trenaman, the Alumni team came flying out of the blocks and dominated the opening exchanges, knocking the ball around with relative ease as the staff huffed and puffed from side to side, fully feeling the effects of their summer holidays. Despite the Alumni going close on several occasions, the staff began to adjust to the pace and create a few chances of their own. Just before the end of the first quarter, debutant Laurence Collier played in Dan Blaney with a perfectly weighted pass for him to calmly slot the ball past Tom Welch. The second quarter carried on in the same fashion, with the Alumni dominating possession but the staff looking dangerous on the break.
After a much needed half time break, the second half commenced and as the space opened up, Ryan Welch began to dominate the midfield, weaving through the staff team on numerous occasions. The mounting pressure began to tell, and the Alumni equalised thanks to a tidy finish from Bhavic Patel, who coolly guided the ball beyond the reach of the catlike Ben Jones. This set up a pattern that persisted for much of the match with Harry Scowen, Oscar Steward and Jacob Llamas spraying the passes around the rapidly tiring staff, who were defending deeply and hanging in desperately. Ian Trenaman and Josh Corver were rocks at the back and this gave the old boys a strong platform from which to pin the staff back and release the ever-willing runners Luke Noble, Henry Gomer and Ethan Parker, who caused no shortage of problems for the weary legs of the staff backline.
As we entered the final quarter all square, Oliver Davies attempted an audacious effort from the kick-off, lobbing the keeper from the re-start. Nobody enjoyed this more than Mr Davies himself and do not be surprised if he tells you all the details the next time he sees you (whether you want him to or not.) This brought the staff to life and soon they were 3-1 up thanks to a towering header from the silky Stavros Manos. As the Alumni pushed to get back into the game, going very close again, there was one more sting in the tail of the staff as Dan Blaney was able to tap home to complete his brace after a well worked counterattack. Man of the match and 2nd team coach Jacob Adlam commented: ‘It was a terrific game which saw both teams display a high level of quality. I think the manager got it spot on with the tactics and substitutions so really it should be him that gets the plaudits. I thought our experience gave us the edge and it was clear to see that lots of work had been done on the training pitch as wins like this do not happen overnight. I’d like to thank the old boys for a well conducted game, and I cannot wait for the rematch.’ Thanks Geoff…
By Barry Jackson (Head of Business and Economics)
More images are available on the Old Bedians facebook album: 2021 Old Bedians Alumni Football matches. You can sign up here
