The Lancashire Cloggers veterans team were invited to bonnie Scotland to compete in this year's international invitational before the boarder closes. The Cloggers are largely made up of Lancaster and Morecambe older boys and girls reinforced by players from local clubs. The team travelled up on Friday. Once we had established base camp in the hotel bar and renewed old friendships with the Dutch boys the party started at the Lord Mayor's reception. (photo courtesy of Norman Adams-Aberdeen City Council)
After loads of waffle and haggis hors d'oeuvres, we accepted the free hospitality with relish. Things are a little sketchy thereafter but I believe we sampled a few pubs before return to base camp.
The next morning bright and breezy we played hockey and won 1 ,drew 3 and lost one to some young boys with underage ringers. The result was later scratched when the tournament organisers scrutinised passports. Stealth Blobby in goal marshalled his defence of Richard Belk, John Belshire, Peter Bardsley, Linda and Graeme Mundy. No goals conceded is fine testament to these gritty old school defenders. In midfield our lady vets Hayley Winder and Pam Fawcett assisted by your reporter and Phil Smiley Hyman provided penetrating passes for the lethal forward line of Chris Holland , Martin Stringfellow and Bruno Brookes. Holland and Stringfellow netted. Super sub McCormack after his 7 goal heroics of last year was nil points this year. Perhaps too many drams laddie?

Now Back to the serious business of the night's festivities. After free beer and a Scottish ceilidh sent some(Brookes /Holland) to an early bed or base camp the team were even brighter for the last two matches on Sunday. After another nil all encounter the tournament decider went down to the final game against the Welsh.
The Cloggers dominated the game and clinched the win through a sublime touch from Mr Brookes. We were crowned equal winners with two other teams . We left our long suffering coach Ian 'yoda ' Hunter to wrestle for the trophy. Well done Cloggers ! Thanks to Margaret Belk our physio for her pitch side support .
Next year we are in Swansea.

M Winder Capt