Alumni V Students football match

Alumni win the day in the annual alumni v students football match. Every year LSBU alumni battle against current students in the annual LSBU Alumni Football match.  The match is played in memory of former student, Glen Paveley, who sadly passed away whilst studying in 2005. Ben Newson, who played for the alumni side has written his account of the match which was played on the 6 April.

LSBU's 2011 alumni football team

The 2011 LSBU Alumni XI retained the Smiler Cup on a sweltering afternoon at Turney Road.

A squad of 12 ‘old boys’ assembled at their old stomping ground to take on a far larger (and fitter!) squad of current students in a  very open match. The student side started well and looked very comfortable in possession, but failed to cause the Alumni back line or keeper any serious trouble. The youngsters confidence with the ball was ultimately their downfall, when a mix up between goalkeeper and defender let in Solhi Wial and he finished calmly from 25 yards into an empty net.

The current XI (student side) hit back shortly, after forcing a corner down their right hand side and finding an unmarked attacker from the resulting set piece. Slack from the old boys who had defended very well up until then with Cornell, Alf Dickinson, Steve Badu and Mike Scarlett marshalling the First XI threat. In fact, it was ‘Big’ Mike Scarlett who put the Alumni back in front. Bombing down the right, Mike whipped in a cross that looked both high and wide before dropping into the net at the far post. No matter what he tells you in the future, it was a cross!

Two became three towards the end of the first half with Ben Newson playing the Jose Chilavert role of goalkeeper slotting away a penalty following a handball in the box.

Half time: First XI   1 – 3   Alumni XI

The second half started with the Alumni midfield controlling the game and letting the ball do the work on such a hot day. Chances came and went for both sides until, with 20 mins to go; a goalkeeping error by Ben ‘Teflon’ Newson let the First XI back into the game. A routine catch from a long ball was dropped at a striker’s feet and he tapped in to set up what should have been a nervy finish to the game.

Those nerves vanished moments later when an under hit back pass let in Mark Sisson in to slot passed the keeper and restore the two goal cushion. Dave Court then added a fifth from the penalty spot to keep up his record of scoring in every Alumni game he has appeared in. The penalty came about after another lung busting run from Sisson ended with him behind barged over in the box.

The final minutes of the game brought little action culminating in an easy, if not tiring, win for the Alumni XI.

Full time:  First XI   2 – 5   Alumni XI

Alumni Squad – Ben Newson, Cornell Charles, Alf Dickinson, Stephen Badu, Mike Scarlett, Michael Brown, Mark Sisson, Dave Court, Ben Weldegabriel, Solhi Wial, Kristian Hudson, Jack McAllister.