World Cup Final - Manager's update 2

It's quite exciting to be writing my second blog entry on the eve of Titans appearing in the Division 2 Gay World Cup Final.

The club continues to attract worldwide media attention: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.aspx?axd=DetailPaging.Search1&axs=077065505%2c77016235%2c77016200%2c77016124%2c77015843%2c76306071%2c76097754%2c76097695%2c76064998%2c76062795%2c76062406%2c73159731%2c72874437%2c73159710%2c73159621%2c73159668%2c2531046%2c1589793%2c75877583%2c1589638%2c1589627%2c497895%2c4978930&id=77065505
and http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/afp/20070927/foto/pen-argentina-homosexuales-eb0e2dd522b60.html

However, let me update you with the events from the last few days. In yesterday's games, Titans Red (my team) played London Leftovers in the last 8 of the division 2 tournament. Things become a little confusing because Titans Red had to play in yellow. We won our London derby 5-0. Meanwhile, Londons Yellow (Sally's team, playing in red) drew their match against Seattle Rain, 0-0. This resulted in them having to have a penalty shoot out, which was in front of possibly the biggest crowd that the Titans have played in front of (about 300) and featured on last night's Argentinian local news.

Their victory meant that the Titans teams came head to head in a quarter final. It seemed quite strange for the Titans squads to be playing each other in the World Cup and the searing sun of South America was a long way away from Sunday training at Richmond's Old Deer Park. The Titans motto of "one squad not two teams" fell by the wayside for 60 minutes as both teams fiercely fought for a semi final place. Titans Red (my team) eventually won 4-0 leaving the Titans Yellow to take part in a penalty shoot out to try and secure a place in the semi final. Despite a valiant effort, they lost out to Chile.

Today Titans Red played their semi final game against Philadelphia Falcons. We quickly gained a 3-0 lead but by half time the Falcons had drawn level. The Titans went 4-3 up in the second half only for Falcons to draw level. The game ended 4-4 which meant that the tie had to be decided by a penalty shoot out. The first 4 Titans penalty takers calmly scored their goals and when 2 Falcons missed their target, we were assured of an appearance in the Gay World Cup final.

Tomorrow's final takes place at the Estadio Defensores de Belgrano (http://www.defe.com.ar/estadio.htm?PHPSESSID=8eb5b0028856f0095ec321c149a22a8d) and kicks off at 11am Argentinian time (Saturday 29th September 3pm UK time). Our opponents are West Hollywood. It seems that we have the support not only of the UK teams and our Danish friends from the Euromix team but also of the rest of the tournament's competitiors.

Whatever the result, the Titans squad has done me proud.

Manager's update

Update suggests that I've posted something before which I haven't. This is the first opportunity I've had to bring you up to speed with our progress in Argentina. Monday was the cup's opening ceremony. It was quite 'fruity' but the Titans attracted a fair amount of media interest. Photos of the Titans dancing have appeared in worldwide media:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/n/a/2007/09/24/state/n164653D79.DTL&o=1
This photo was also on the front page of one of the Argentinian newspapers. Other pics from the opening ceremony made the front page of one of the Danish national newspapers (as one of our two teams has been boosted by the inclusion of 6 Danish players.) Even the good old BEEB reported on the opening ceremony and although the picture suggests that it's Leftfooters, it is in fact our very own Mat Baker sporting our new kit (courtesy of http://www.clublinefootball.com/). See the report at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7010077.stm

We have even featured on an ITN news bulletin (The Titans Reds can be seen playing at the end of this clip): http://video.uk.msn.com/v/en-gb/v.htm?g=4658830d-496b-49bc-968c-a1dfc0894500&f=en-gb&fg=rss

Stage 1 of the competition has now ended with both our teams recording victories in the group stages (Titans Red over Mexico and Titans Yellow over Royal Canadians). We are on a rest day today before the knock out stage of the competiton begins tomorrow. London Reds have a derby with the London Leftovers and London Yellows are playing Seattle Rain. If both teams win then we are destined for a Titans showdown in the next round.

I've been doing my best to keep out of range of the cameras but seemed to have failed: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.aspx?axd=DetailPaging.Search1&axs=077016235%2c77016200%2c77016124%2c77015843%2c76306071%2c76097754%2c76097695%2c76064998%2c76062795%2c76062406%2c73159731%2c72874437%2c73159710%2c73159621%2c73159668%2c2531046%2c1589793%2c75877583%2c1589638%2c1589627%2c497895%2c4978930&id=77016200
All in all though we are having a great time. I haven't got time on this post to bring you up to date with the off pitch goings on, I've leave that for others.

Ed Connell

The Night Before...

The night before the team heads off on a 16 hour flight to Argentina I can't help but have a sense of excitment, optimism and desire for a gin & tonic (with ice n slice... thats frozen water and piece of fruit to posh people!).

After hours of packing deciding which outfits would mix n match nicely together, ensuring passport is up to date and pick nice toiletries from the local boots counter I think its time to head of to Argentina with heads held high and a song in our hearts (Queue Luka with "Titans Till We Die"!!!!

Here's to a fab adventure... never know we could win... stranger things have happened in football

Chairmans Farewell

Hi ya luvs!

Lads, have a fantastic time in Argentina. I know that you are there for a football tournament but don't forget to soak up the atmosphere of a wonderful country while you are there (and practice safe sex whilst you're at it ;-0).

Dying of jealousy here. Bring me a stick of rock somebody!

Ben