Edge

It is like a little haven of greenery in the middle of Carricknowe, i had no idea it existed but if you can navigate your way to the Primary school deep in the centre of the estate you will come across an opening of playing fields surrounded by a border of mature trees.
Very pleasant surroundings for Sunday mornings encounter between Currie Star and Carricknowe.

Currie have been progressing well of late so the lads and the travelling band of die-hard support were justifiably confident on arrival.
With the game just minutes old and Currie 1 - 0 up confidence was ever higher. The game took a turn, it took a few turns actually and one of them was dark and brooding. Innevitable really, we are talking about boys here ( mostly anyroads ), sooner or later adrenalin pumps to the fore and games can take on an edgy quality, this game became very edgy indeed.
All relative i guess, up until now i can't recall a single incident in any previous game that had even the slightest malice. This one though had and edge.
This is Scotland and we love that sort of thing but i think i could be doing with seeing the lads turn into teenagers before they turn on each other!
I will not point any fingers, whoever started it got as much back as they dished out so all's fair in war and fitba.

All in all it was a fairly evenly matched game with both teams nip and tuck and defences struggling to cope with the end to end barrages, the score quickly raced to something like 4 - 3 to Carricknowe. Currie were perhaps guilty of some defensive lapses that seemed to have been sorted out in previous weeks, this though was countered with an enthusiasm to attack at any opportunity.

Unfortunately for Currie during that middle period Caricknowe managed to get 3 without reply and from then on Currie struggled to keep a hold of the game. A final score of 8 - 5 to Carricknowe just about deserved. The most memorable aspect of this one however will be that unmistakeable acid aroma of the edge.

The roof came off the stand

It would have if there had been one.
What an enthralling encounter this one was between Currie Star and Spartans Black.

Young lads it is true and there is always scope for a scoreline more like a rugby game than football, but i guess as the kids mature and their knowledge and skills increase the scorelines will inevitable stabilise to a more recognisable level. The scoreline in this one belied their relative youth and with that came a tension and an excitement not normally felt by the onlookers.

Currie started the game well and forced many efforts on goal, but it was clear this game would be a tough encounter between two evenly matched teams. A few misshaps in defecnce early in the first half allowed Spartans in for their own share of attacks but it was as half time approached Currie got their reward for a good half's work with a well constructed and equally well executed goal. This was almost immediately cancelled out with a breakaway by Spartans and the equaliser.

Half Time

Currie Star 1
Spartans 1

The Currie coach must have had some words of wisdom for the lads at half time, a couple of personel changes too and the team tore into the second half with even more gusto and purpose than in the first. Currie went on to dominate the game with run upon run up either flank a through the middle. The only thing missing was the telling final pass and shot on goal.
Countless attacks came to nothing and the tension grew accordingly, there was always the possibility of a breakaway goal for Spartans. With time beginning to run out and the tension growing ever greater Currie eventually closed in and forced the ball home to tremendous roar from the spectators - If there was a roof it would have come off.

A truly fantastic game, a privilage to watch, well done to the Currie lads, fantastic. A good performance too from Spartans, i will look forward to the next time these two teams match up to each other.

Just love football

After yesterdays riotous shambles at Tynecastle, i was in no mood whatsoever to go watch another game of football, especially given that winter had returned to Edinburgh with a vengeance.
Got to go watch the youngest play for Currie Star though and i am glad i did! A cracking game in the chill at Kingsknowe early this morning.
There were snow flurries and a strong north westerly for the youngsters to deal with and i will say now - each and every one of those boys playing in the cold this morning had more spirit and determination and love for the game than any one of those, for want of a better term 'bloody imposters' that pulled on a Hearts shirt yesterday.

Currie Star had the wind advantage in the first half and just like last week i was concerned and sure we would need a 2 goal lead to take into the second half. The lads used the wind in their favour to the full, pressing Beachwood hard back into their own half. The visitors were limited to breakaways, however those breaks carried a threat with their forward players running strongly with the ball. The ganme was poised for an engrossing affair.
First and second blood came to Currie Star, the first being a particularly well worked and finished goal - 4 or 5 passes moving up the park a slip inside and beautiful lob over the keeper - these lads are ten years old folks. It makes your heart sing to see it come together.
One of the Beachwood breaks came off and they brought the deficit back to one before Currie Star extended again just before half time.

HT
Currie Star 3
Beachwood 1

So the required 2 goal advantage was there ( just ), the game was very much there for the taking though so it was great to see Currie Star belie the tougher task ahead of them in the second half by stretching their lead to 4 - 1 early after the restart.
A period of give and take between the two teams then for the next 10 or 15 minutes where the game could have been killed off or brought right back to life concluded with Currie Star leading 5 - 2.
A victory looked assured and my spirit was renewed in love of the beautiful game.
To their credit Beachwood never gave up and brought the game back to 5 - 4 and just ran out of time to get the equaliser.

Great game today and a great win for Currie Star.

Fine fair

Blustery and rainy start to Currie Star's latest outing at Kingsknowe this week, it felt like winter folks!
Warmed up nicely and quickly though as the game burst into action from the off. The game then succeeded in serving up highly enjoyable fair to the faithfull dozen or so souls who braved the weather.
Currie Star started positively using the wind at their backs to full advantage, hemming East Craigs into their own half for much of the opening period.
The goal for Currie was on the cards and came after 15 minutes, a welcome goal indeed but it could have been 3 or 4 at that point and i was worried. We needed to be 2 up at half time to stand a chance given the strength of the wind in our favour.
East Craigs found a gear and some space though and started to cause a few problems for the Star defence. They turned their efforts into 2 goals in quick succession to go into the break with a 2 - 1 advantage.
With the wind at their backs and confidence in their sails East Craigs kicked on quickly in the second half and forced their way into a 4 - 1 lead within 5 minutes of the restart. A real shame for the Currie Star lads as they had played well in a keenly contested and evenly fought match.
To their credit Currie Star did not fold under the weight of the defecit and played out the remainder of the game with creditable spirit. The lads were rewarded with a second goal with the last kick of the game.

A defeat to East Craigs but a great effort from the boys nonetheless.

I have been hunting around looking for the club crest on the net, found this during my ( as yet in vain ) efforts.
Looks well worth promoting

http://www.unitetheclubs.co.uk/Supporters/Clubs.htm

I have played like that for years

This morning, early this cold damp morning at an almost waterlogged Kingsknowe the featured event was the return of under tens football for Currie Star.
First drama cascaded off the pitch as my boy, resplendent in his brand new Toto 90's had moments earlier scrambled out the car and run the 200 yards to the pitch. We sat in the car eeking out the last of the warmth for a while and watched guiltily as other mummys and dummys helped to put up the goals. Within a couple of moments he was back at the car, as he opened the door, he exclaimed "They have given me two left feet !?!"
If i had time to think about it i would have retorted "i have played with two left feet my whole life, ching ching!"
Sure enough two left footed Toto 90's and i recall the purchase the day before, we arrived at JJB Sports, Hermiston gate at 5:58 - 2 minutes before it shut, earliest i could get there after the Falkirk game. One pair of size 4, shiny silver and maroon Toto 90's in the sale 1 tenner. Jobs a good un!

We raced back to the house and for once in a month of Sundays, his brothers old boots size 41/2 were right at the front of the black hole of Calcutta - i mean the shoe cupboard. Got back up to Kingsknowe just as the game was kicking off, no subs so straight into the action.

First game since early December so it was understandable that things were a bit rusty and they were for the first 5 minutes or so. The game was against the old enemy and frequent adversaries Currie Boys ( and girls in this case ). Both sides took time to settle into a game but it was Currie Star who eventually settled first and imposed themselves on the game, resulting in the first goal, a fine strike from 15 yards out.
From that point on though it was a struggle for Currie Star, many references to too many christmas pies and too many left feet out there. Currie Boys equalised just before the half time and took a 2 - 1 lead shortly after half time. They kept that lead to the end. Currie Star were never out of it but equally Currie boys had chances to extend their lead.
Looked like the boys are needing to get back onto the training ground to bring back the improvements that were made before the break and i am sure they will.

Went back to JJB sports earlier this afternoon and those f***ers refused to give me a refund on the boots. Because they have been worn apparently, aye for all of two minutes!
Got to say i lost the plot a bit in there, apparently the young assistant manager was shaking with fear according to my daughter. My reaction to their refusal to refund was immediate, started as "Don't be bloody ridiculous you sold me two left feet!!" and just kind of degenerated from there.
The manager of the shop, who was not on duty ofcourse is due to call me tomorrow to sort it out.. i await her call.

Currie's Star is blown of course

Stormy conditions overhead, and treacherous conditions underfoot made Currie Stars game this morning away against EastHouse difficult to say the least.
Especially given a couple of the lads had forgotten their boots so had to play in their astros and consequently spent a fair chunk of the game on their butt's.
After a dodgy start to the game where an avoidable early goal was lost, Currie regrouped and pushed hard for the equaliser, this came midway through the first half. The Star then went on to control the possession and territory in that half and were unlucky to see the interval at 1 - 1 and not a goal or two to the good.
The second half brought a change in fortunes, maybe the switch of sides benefitted the home team, the wind seemed to be blustering right across the pitch though. In any case Easthouse hit Currie Star with two quick goals to take the game by the scruff of the neck at 3 - 1. To their credit the Currie lads stuck to their task and got themselves back into the game with a goal born out of pressure leading to forced errors, 3 - 2. After that the game flowed between pressure to get the equaliser and dangerous looking breaks by Easthouse. No more scores to be had however as the game finished 3 - 2 to the home side. Well done to them ( i believe that was their first win of the season ) and well done to Currie Star for good work and some decent stuff in harsh conditions - It will build up the stamina in their legs if nothing else.