TWFC

We used the match video shared by Fabiocc17 this week. Many thanks Fabio. We are not allowed to publish the video link for business sensitivity reasons.

Hagenius did not play this week but was still kind enough to pick teams. We thank him for that.

We welcomed back Shain who has not been since 15 February 2023 when referee MarkA handed out two yellow cards in eight minutes.

The match proceeded in a reasonably normal fashion with goals by Elvis and JakeFlowers for the Blue Bibs equalling goals from Jumhal and Fabiocc17 for the Orange Bibs. The only difference from normal was a shot by Austin that deflected in off of JonF, thereby giving the latter the unwanted accolade of an own goal.

At 13:30 on the match clock Andyhibbert blocked a shot struck by JonF and the ball went over the fence behind the Blue Bibs' goal. When a kind passerby threw the ball back JonF requested an uncontested strike of the ball from the corner where it went out. This was granted by the Blue Bibs and the match continued. However, this decision has been queried both in match and after by the Blue Bibs' goalkeeper, Steve, who can be seen walking out of his area seemngly in protest then going back in again as the match continued. We have since learned that the controversy was that JonF had done the equivalent of awarding himself a corner but the keeper felt a ball over the fence behind the goal was normally returned to the keeper.

JonF is the club captain and Andyhibbert is widely recognised as his vice captain. With this in mind they were later asked to explain how JonF came to be awarded a corner in a game without corners.

Andyhibbert went on record to state

"I like Jon. I gave him the ball".

JonF within seconds corroborated this with

"I like Andy, He gave me the ball, which was nice of him".

This Andy and Jon, Ladybird book Pippi Longstocking, response served to do little more than cause further frustration, particularly as it was Elvis (not Andyhibbert) who threw the ball to JonF.

Fabiocc17 came to the club's rescue and explained the following:

"The question is, if we give the ball to the team that did not touch the ball last before exiting the pitch from the side, why not do the same on the fences behind each goal? "

Rationale and Decision

The club has always played to the FA Small Sided Football rule modification 'Goalkeeper restarts if the ball crosses goal line' when the ball goes over the fence behind either goal. JonF and Andyhibbert are identified as having actioned and subsequently confirmed a private deviation from the established procedure. Of their own volition, they introduced the restart of a kick-in, which is in accordance with FA Small Sided Football Exception 8. With respect to the captains, no two gentlemen can unilaterally alter an established rules based process. That is not the Tottenham Wednesday way. Until the rule is reviewed through a democratic process, the club's FA Small Sided Football rule modification remains as follows:

Goalkeeper restarts if the ball escapes the pitch behind the goal at either end.

The irony will not be lost on many as the club thanks Fabiocc17 and Steve for their joint efforts to solve this particular conundrum.

Back to the match. Orange Bibs 2 - 3 Blue Bibs.

On 16 minutes the Orange Bibs' goalkeeper handled the ball outside of his area and a penalty was awarded to the Blue Bibs. Austin took it and scored. There was some disagreement as to whether Austin had taken more than the permitted one stride but no call was made to take the matter to VAR. Replays suggest a jog on the spot before the allowed single stride.

The FA Small Sided Football rule is that an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper touches or controls the ball with his hands or feet, in the penalty area, for more than four seconds. On 30 minutes the Blue Bibs' goalkeeper was seen to retain the ball for a full nine seconds. An indirect free kick was awarded against Steve and he is believed to be the first keeper in the club's history to have been formally penalised for a time violation. Nothing came of the indirect free kick other than the aforementioned footnote in club history.

Anyone wishing to enjoy a fine goalkeeping compilation please go to the 58th minute of the match where Steve simply became the footballing embodiment of the Bank of England and saved everything sent to him.

At the end of the match the match ball was shared between Austin, JakeFlowers and JonF who each scored five goals.

Final Score

Orange Bibs 11 - 14 Blue Bibs

Match awarded to the Blue Bibs

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC.