CP blurb

Welcome!
To the unofficial, official, home of Central Park Rangers Football (nee Soccer) Club.
Since 1998 our proud little club has been making Sunday that little bit more holy for those fortunate enough to have worn the blue and white stripes of Rangers Football Club. Sometimes we also make footballing headlines - most of their sordid details can be read about here, loosely remembered and largely embellished, naturally...
The Rangers of Central Park have really put Malvern on the sporting map whilst carving out an impressive legacy in their short footballing history - Pele, Dostoyevsky, Baryshnikov, Madame Curie, Basquiat and Pavarotti - they're all just names of famous people bandied around by poodle-rooters, and completely irrelevant to this dribble, but i digress.....

Household names are probably more our jig, not to be outdone though, Central Park FC too have been famed by many things over the years. Let's see now, from the Twitter dubbed "pub team from stadium of shite" to the unimaginative "cheating b*stards!". I guess we've all gotta be something to someone right? As the years tick over though, some of these 'superlatives' have given way to much more accepting terms including, but not limited to, the 'Elephants Graveyard', 'last chance saloon' and of course, 'ageing elite' (ouch - harsh!).

Call us what you will, but one thing we'll always be, is keen for a kick about down at old Central Park....Bless.

GO RANGERS!

Monday, 2 June 2014

Round 3, Masters Vs Fitzroy
Def. 1 - 8


The sun bathed the Fortress for our game against Fitzroy who look to be out for blood having been consigned to Runners Up last season

What looked like a healthy squad with plenty of fresh legs on the bench turned pear shaped in the last 48 hours before kick off

We scraped the bare 11 by kick off with Paul Cooper debuting and, in a show of selflessness, donning the gloves to fill our goalkeeping vacuum

We started brightly with Big Dave and Shay untroubled at the back whilst Mr Versatility (John K) and myself kept them quiet on the flanks

In the middle Klotzy, Rani and Wayne showed their combo is improving week in week out. All in all we were more than holding our own whilst Gerry tormented them up front

Then from nowhere an innocuous ball into the box looked to be covered only to fall to their striker. Not sure who was more surprised but it didn't stop him tucking it away.

In the next ten we still seemed to be sharing the honours but a look at the scoreboard revealed we were 3-0 down. Can't recall their goals but safe to say hey were lucky/unwarranted/offside - choose your favourite combo

Despite Phil and Aaron having to play more like defenders than attacking mids we kept pressing. Then a master stroke from Neil, super coach for the day courtesy of a strained hammy, shuffling midfield saw their keeper over stay his time outside the box, get dispossessed and Gerry slammed the ball home from thirty yards out

3-1 down and the half time whistle blew

The second half we really needed the first goal. We pushed hard. Despite being 50% fit Lars tormented them all day, Gerry outran the Duracell bunnies and Aaron continued to make the left flank his own

After saving us on numerous occasions Paul C was replaced by John K (by this stage playing on his one good ankle). Paul's rampaging runs down the right flank had Fitzroy all over the place

In the end we couldn't add to our tally and Fitzroy could, repeatedly. Considering our lack of manpower we played some great football and would have had the edge on most other teams in our League

The final score of 8-1 flattered Fitzroy a bit but we get another shot later in the season and I think we have the mental edge

This season has also seen our inaugural 45s team enter the fray with CP favourite Ricky a regular. Shay and I braved the storms to venture down to Brighton to join the fun

Having won their first two games 3-2 the pressure was on.

The game was very close throughout courtesy of us squandering a few early chances. We broke through before half time to lead 1-0 at the break

In the second half Ricky put one just wide that would have wrapped things up. We weathered a late storm both on the pitch and from the heavens to take the honours and keep the 100% record

Hopefully we can get a few more into the squad once injuries come good. If any one else is keen to return to the fray let me know

This weekend is a bye so there's a scratch game with our thirds at Central at 11am - please let me know if you can make it so I can let the boys know

Next match is away to Middle Park on May 25th, 3pm kick off. Hopefully a big squad for that one

Go Central Park

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