Bye bye 2021

What a year 2021 has been.
For the first three months we were unable to play as the country was in lockdown. When restrictions were finally lifted (on Monday 29th March) we were so excited that we ended up playing that very afternoon. From that moment on, football has never stopped, in a true rollercoaster of emotions.
The highlight of the year must be the Master Game 7 at Chelsea’s Cobham training. Never in the history of the Club we had played in a more prestigious location. I have to watch the video every one and then to remind myself. And what a match it was. We lost to the Kids, credit to them, and that can only offer us extra-motivation for the inevitable revenge to take place in 2022.
In July the Parks Police told us we couldn’t play anymore. The following week we were back, this time with official blessing. That’s what happens when you have people like Hossam, Andre and TonyL running our diplomatic and corporate communications.
Our team continues to expand. This year we said auf wiedersehen to Philipp, who went back to Germany, but we were blessed with an influx of great players, from Alessandro C, now solidly in charge of one of the goals, to Leo, Giacomo and the other youngsters, who brought a new level of energy and brio to the game, contributing massively to the Kids’ win in the MG. Club’s doors are always open, people come and go, but once a FD always a FD.
The veterans are as strong as ever. Giancarlo turned 60 in style but shows more enthusiasm and class today than when he was 20. JeremyG and TonyS have returned on the pitch after a long hiatus. Francesco surprises every week with incredible goals and even more incredible misses.
But the most striking thing is to see how our youngster are growing. Take Sara, Marco or George for example. This year they have been all devastating, much to the joy of their proud parents, that introduced them to Saturday morning football since they were toddlers.
We are more international than ever. In 2021 our nation list grew to 60 with five new entries: Peru, Sudan, Slovenia, Albania, Sri Lanka. Still way more to go before we reach and possibly exceed the number of nations registered with Fifa.
Oh, and we completed a successful funding round that enables us to look ahead with new resources.
But enough with 2021. The focus is now on the new year, and most importantly on the new Master Game. There is no way we lose again.
Happy new Year to everybody!