Introduction
All good things come to those who wait and with Dare FC you have no exception. After months of preparation and hard work, Dare FC finally brought back silverware to rival the already bulging Dare trophy cabinet.
Early on Sunday morning, before most people are even awake, Captain Green was greeted by 11 eager faces. The faces of some of Dare FC’s finest men. There they were, all busy readying themselves in their own special way for what was to be their biggest football challenge so far – The NABS / Mediaweek 5-a-side Tour 2007.
With all honesty the event didn’t get off to great start, with Lexi Cherniavsky, Phil Wright and David Boleas placing the B Team in early controversy with their late arrivals. Cherniavsky tardiness being firmly blamed on the classic cliché “my alarm clock didn’t going off in time”. Young Boleas tried desperately to justify the hysteric timings the Spanish like to keep in regards to their hours of socialising at the weekend. He received little sympathy as going to bed at 7am was simply never going to be a winning strategy for the usually passive Spaniard. Then arrived the ever-green Phil Wright who gratefully spared us any of the previous excuses and got on eagerly with arranging his footwear.
Before these absences we’re accounted for, drastic action was required as the tournament began with the B Team only have 4 members active. A saviour was needed and who else than captain Green to setup and take the challenge. With myself included the B Team was now complete and with luck cruelly putting the B Team as a the 1st fixture of the day, there was little time for dwelling on second thoughts. The eventual lack of B Team players proved to be quite useful for the eager Lexi Cherniavsky, with the circumstances later forcing himself to be graduated to the 1st team with captain Green’s new commitments to the B Team. It wasn’t an easy decision, it was a sacrifice, which he already knew could come back to haunt him later in the tournament.
The B Team lead the way
Miles Gilder [GK]
Mark Wheeler
Jamie Green [c]
Phil Wright
Dan Vaughan
Jon Reidy
Dave Boleas
With the referee looking both impatient and ridiculous (full head of bleached hair featuring a diagonal black stripe - featured above), captain Green gathered his players; Mark Wheeler, Dan Vaughan, goalkeeper Miles Gilder and the powerhouse Jon ‘Your not gonna knock me down’ Reidy. It was clear they all looked nervous, but who wasn’t. A few brief, strong words we’re laid down and the haunting scream of the opening whistle rebounded in their heads. The first match had begun.
With both teams looking erratic from the start. Some early errors of discipline from debutant goalkeeper Miles Gilder led to 2 penalties being conceded by Dare (2) in the opening first 5 minutes. Dare (2) we’re not to recover from this early combination of unforced errors and despite a convincing late penalty from new-boy Mark Wheeler, Dare (2) went on to lose their opening game 3-1. The tournament continued with Dare (2) providing a strong physical presence to Group J with captain Green exhausting some of his early frustration via definite tackles on directly the opposition.
Goals we’re scarce for Dare (2) throughout, with their next 4 fixtures all resulting with no goals. Clearly frustrated by his teams lack of luck Mark Wheeler pushed forward and started to open up more opportunities for his team mates. Phil Wright’s eventual arrival provided further forward options, opening up play with his clever position movement off the ball. Dan Vaughan elevated to roaming midfielder and on occasion was again denied by poor luck. Even our new Spanish playboy Boleas made an impressive appearance displaying some decisive tackling suitable of La Liga. However the sun had got the better of eager David and after his dogged tournament debut finished he was not to feature again the mighty Dare.
The group gradually came to a close with the tempo surprising upbeat among the Dare (2) camp. Captain Green made an unusual appearance in goal in the final game, and with the bulky presence of Wheeler and Gilder - Dare (2) fought their way through a tasty last fixture and secured a hopeful 2 – 0 victory. The final whistle came and Dare (2)’s journey ended on a positive note despite just missing out norrowly on qualification. There next test would the mighty test of getting served at the BBQ.
Dare FC (2) Results
...and then came the A Team, Dare FC (1)
Greg Sines (on loan)
Jamie Green*
Stuart Peddie
Rohan Nayee
Will Rose
Lexi Cherniavsky
Kit Suman
Matt Firth
* Later banned from further competing in the competition due to the unforgiving memory of my favourite referee.

It had always be in them to win, Firth with his experience and technique, Peddie with his powerful shooting and strength on the ball, Rose with his determined tackling and concentration, Suman with his unpredictable and uncontrollable forward runs, Greg with his Jekyll and Hyde goalkeeping (a modern David James if you will), Lexi with his impressive stamina and reaction, and last but not least Rohan - the man who models himself on the great flamboyant Frenchman David Ginola (and why not?).
Despite there early potnetial the 1st team struggled to get going in their first group game, and we’re unlucky to lose in what was an even match. However, this result would prove to be the perfect tonic for their next fixture, as Dare (1) became wide awake winning comfortably 2 – 0 in there next game. The tournament progressed evenly for the 1st team and Peddie’s intimidation and physical presence began to come across as a nuisance to the charismatic long-haired referee taking charge. Enough was enough for some what ‘pirate’ like referee and he soon ordered Peddie off the pitch during a crucial encounter and became ‘sin-binned’ for remainder of the game. Dare (1) hung on however and remained strong to survive the barrage that an extra man will bring to an uneven fixture.
The remainder of Group B would feature a range of unfortunate draws for the first team. Qualification was eventually secured and Dare (1) began prepared themselves for the Silver Plate division of this thriving agency tournament.

The Silver plate stage of the tournament would be made up of all the teams coming 3rd or 4th respectfully in there groups being entered together into a knockout tournament stage.
Dare (1), currently being led by vice-captain Rohan Nayee in captain Green’s absence, we’re woefully unlucky to miss-out of the Champions Cup part of the tournament with a last-minute, last-kick-of-the game goal from Rohan’s former agency (Haymarket) forcing a draw and denying the 1st team a deserved 3rd place group position. This was especially frustrating for Dare (1), as Group B was one of exception with qualification to the Cup also going to the 3rd placed team.
Dare (1) accepted there fate and commenced to the enormous queue for the BBQ, knowing they we’re securely through to the later stages of the Silver Plate.

The Silver Plate (or UEFA Cup as we see it)
Onward we went with our patient bellies now full of sausage, burger, couscous and in Kit’s circumstance, lightly cooked vegetarian saugage. The injured Kooch Chung made a welcome mid-lunchtime appearance to help bolster his team mates in there new energised state. With an hour for break in-between playing, Will’s WAG was busy both turning heads and taking photos of the boys in there tired worn out state.
Captain Green discreetly returned to the 1st team with the group stages now being over, and was soon unsympathetic to this fiasco of supposed tiredness amongst his squad. A constant series of drills and exercises we’re quickly organised to keep the blood pumping for the Dare FC faithful. The players we’re not exactly delighted by captain Green strict methods, but would later understand that this was the sacrifice that winners make.

2nd Round - Dare (1) 3-2 Carat
Goals (Lexi, Peddie, Rohan)
The Captain later gets controversially suspended.
This game was a cracker of a fixture with Dare dominating but having to fight for victory late on. The game would feature Captain Green’s only appearance in the Dare (1) Team with the referee controversially banning him from playing with the 1st team after his earlier games with the B Team group stages. However Captain Green gave a heroic last playing appearance with spectators comparing it to that of Roy Keane’s contribution to Man Utd’s semi-final against Juventus in the Champions League campaign of 1999. Green was never going to bow out a loser.
Quarter Final - Mindshare 2-2 Dare (1)*
Goals (Lexi 2)
*Dare win 4-3 on penalties
With captain Green now installed in his new role as coach, it was Greg Sines turn to prove the new saviour. Sines produced some heroic saves during the eventual penalty shootout after what was a tired and poor performance all round. The game proved a turning point in Dare FC’s current bad fortune during the tournament and coach Green was in some way able to put away the ghosts of the Umbro cup safely behind his now proud team. We we’re in the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Final – RKCR/Y&R 0-3 Dare (1)*
Goals (Kit 2, Rohan)
Kit Suman stepped up his game for the Semis and secured a surprising comfortable victory on route to the final with his inspiring forward display. Rohan continued to lead the team well having featured in every single game throughout the tournament. Lexi was still proving to be the engine of the team with his constant running, and the interchange between Peddie and Rose was also proving successful in defence. Things we’re beginning to look very bright for Dare FC as the final whistle went. Bring on the final....
NABS/Mediaweek Silver Plate Final - Dare (1) 2-1 MediaCom
Goals (Matt Firth, Lexi)
Matt Firth got the game off to great start with decisive low drive that got the crowd hopeful. Peddie took one for the team early on with a wild elbow being shot into his chest from the start. An unfortunate error from Greg would a quick equaliser raising the tension with both teams looking exhausted. Rohan continued to prove an example to the 1st team along with Lexi’s determination. Cherniavsky would later become the hero via a late freekick with a clever decisive last-minute finish to secure long awaited silverware to the Dare FC squad. Celebration continued through to the bar where Dare would later be presented with the glorious Silver Plate, having competed with nearly 70 other agency teams and endured the scorching heat of early July.
Winners


The team later retired to the bar in boyish jubilant mood, and rested easily among the now forgotten tournament players still on location. On the big screen boomed the Men's Wimbledon final and was providing suitable background viewing as we all waited eagerly for our medals of honour. A round of celebratory drinks we’re quickly organised and the glare of drunken red men gradually materialised the Wembley club house. Eventually our moment came and we gladly accepted out medals and surrounded our trophy closely all in the knowledge that we had finally justified our lavish kits and would return home all sharing the memory of Dare FC’s finest hour.
Congratulations Dare FC!
Man-of-the-tournament – Rohan Nayee

Man-of-the-tournament – Rohan Nayee

Despite Lexi’s outstanding contribution and goal scoring finesse, the Man-of-the-tournament goes to the equally outstanding Rohan Nayee. It was an even contest between the two players playing extremely well, but with Lexi’s early jeopardy of being very late, which unfortunately tainted a glorious tournament performance.
Rohan was ever present throughout the 1st teams journey and was closely behind Lexi in the goal scoring charts. Rising to captain with little effort he provided an excellent example for the rest of the team to follow and was the key factor behind Dare FC’s recent success.
Top Scorers
5 - Lexi
4 - Rohan
3 - Kit
2 - Matt Firth
1 - Peddie
Played 9 (10)* – Greg
*conceded goals
