Tuesday 9th July 2024 ko 19:30

Pre-season Friendly

THAME UNITED 1 (79)

RISBOROUGH RANGERS 1 (43)

Att 54 at 3G Pitch, Meadow View Park

Free Entry

A few days after this game I received a message from another groundhopper in regard to Thame United’s friendlies. He wanted to know whether they would be played on the main stadium pitch, or like this one on the floodlit 3G next door?

I responded that most would be on the 3G to which his response was that he wouldn’t bother going; his interest was purely on games in the main stadium. The irony of his view was that my reason for being at this game was because it was being played on the side pitch! Each to their own of course!

It also helped that Thame and Risborough are both friendly, outward-looking clubs and let’s face it, my drive from Oxford wasn’t ever going to be onerus! And of course to see the legend that links both clubs- Jefferson Louis.

Jefferson is best known for stints at Oxford United and Bristol Rovers, but must hold the record for most transfers in a career- 51 in a 28 year career playing for roughly 45 clubs, noone seems completely sure. Now some will always ask why so many clubs, but as Jefferson always puts it, “All those clubs must have seen something in me to want to sign me!”

Now 45 he’s still playing, and doesn’t look anywhere his age but as player-coach opted to sit this one out- perhaps everyone knows what he can do. Instead we watched two sides packed with trialists play out an entertaining draw. So entertaining in fact that as I left I passed by the main entrance to the stadium where an outdoor television was playing one of the European Championship games. I’d completely forgotten it was taking place!