DCS Rapid FC

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Each year DCS Rapid, host a charity match between the current first team and past players from its 18 year history.

The match was held on Saturday at Easton College with the first team running out 5-1 winners (only their second win in the 8 years the charity match has been running). Footage below:

https://app.veo.co/matches/20240608-charity-match-8-june-10ab57d8/

Money raised goes to the charity chosen by the winning tea. This year, the first team chose the Alzheimer's Society https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-good-1717257033665

A whopping £364 has been raised (taking the total donated to various charities over the 8 years to over £2500).

The Alumni team's chosen charity, Rethink Mental Illness https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-good-1717257397468, also received donations.

Further donations to either charity are very much welcome.

A huge thanks to Easton College for providing the pitch, Jim our ref who donated his match fee, and to all who have donated. And thank you to the players for playing the game in such fantastic spirit. It is great to see so many players come back year after year. A special club.

Veo | Charity Match 8 June Watch Cringleford JFC matches on Veo. This video is recorded automatically using Veo's intelligent recording solution.

In June, we held our 8th annual charity match... current First Team vs our Alumni Team .

The Alumni Team ran out 1-0 winners in a hotly contested game.

The Alumni Team chose the Stroke Association as their charity. £381.50 raised. Amazing. Thank you to all players, the supporters who donated, and the ref (Andy Warnes).

£20 also raised for the first team's charity, Prader-Willi Syndrome Association UK

Photos courtesy of Neal Gardner. Thank you Neal.

It's game day! 2.45pm ko at Thorpe St Andrew school 3G pitch.

Each year DCS Rapid, a Norwich based adult football team borne a out of the UEA, host a charity match between the current first team and past players from its 17 year history.

The match kicks off at 2.45pm on the 10 June at Thorpe St Andrew school 3G pitch. All are welcome.

Money raised on the day will go to the winning team's chosen charity.

FIRST TEAM - Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) UK - https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-good-1686300912533?newPage=true

ALUMNI TEAM - Stroke Association - https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-good-1686301067140?newPage=true

Any further donations for either charity would be warmly welcome. Click on the links above to donate.

DCS Rapid’s second game of the season was against our old foes Newsman Celtic, who we beat and lost to in our fixtures last season. Today’s lineup was as follows:
Sephton (I had 10 pints, 4 shots, a Jaegerbomb and some pink gin. Got in at 2.30. I was wasted)

Parke
Hazel
Watts (c)
Taylor

Everett
Dekeya
Roberts

Fiddy
Guest
Warr

Subs

Cochrane
Mangham
Mallett

This game was not a classic by any stretch of the imagination. Neither side ever really found their rhythm, and it resembled more of a game of ping pong than a football match. DCS at least attempted to play some football, but a series of miscontrolled passes and lack of support for the player on the ball meant that Rapid were often limited to playing it around in their own half. Newsman pressed high but created few (if any) clear cut chances in the first half. Rapid’s only real chance of note in the opening stages was a good Roberts header from a corner.

That DCS were 2-0 up at half time mystified all in attendance. Their first came after the ball was worked down the right to Warr, with the front three pressing the opposition defence well. One of their defenders then shinned it towards the byline, with Warr giving chase. He cut the ball back across goal, with the onrushing Roberts blasting the ball into an empty net at the far post.

The second goal followed more play down the right. It seemed as if most of the 22 players on the pitch were attempting to stand in the same place near the corner of the box, with Everett managing to somehow wriggle free with the ball. With a look of instant regret on his face, Everett played the ball to Guest. However, still buoyed by last week’s tap-in, Guest looked up, saw the keeper off his line and hooked the ball over him into the net.

As the half drew to a close there only remained time for Watts to inexplicably give the ball to his opponent, then chase him down and produce a good slide tackle in the box. Unfortunately Rapid’s Captain Fantastic took a knock making the tackle, so Cochrane came on to shore up the defence just before the whistle.

Despite being 2-0 up Rapid were aware they were nowhere near their best. Praise was duly given to Guest for his strong running down the left, but there were few other standout performances. Sephton made two changes with Mangham replacing Dekeya and Mallett on for Fiddy.

The second half was not an improvement on the first. Celtic continued to press high but lacked any real quality to make their pressure count. It was clear that they would have to capitalise on set pieces to break Rapid down, which they duly did early in the second half. A knock down from a free kick led to their goal, despite Watts flagging for offside. The referee ignored all protests, seemingly making up a new offside rule to save face.

Despite conceding early this new look DCS side did not crumple. Nor did they do much else to be honest, but it was a clear improvement on the side that slipped to a 3-2 defeat after being 2-0 up against Newsman last season. There were only a few highlights for the remainder of the game. Taylor inexplicably allowed the ball to roll under his foot and out for a throw, then pretended to be injured in the hope we all forgot about it. He then got injured for real and was subbed off for Watts. The returning captain got overexcited in his new left back slot, and charged forwards before unleashing a long range shot… which almost went out for a throw.

Dekeya replaced the exhausted Everett, and with Guest suffering from cramp Taylor somehow returned to the field. He showed there’s still some life left in the old legs as the Newsman keeper tipped his left footed shot onto the bar. Hazel led by example in the closing stages, charging around the pitch and making countless interceptions while Cochrane looked on in awe.

The ref finally did everyone a favour by blowing the final whistle, and Rapid chalked up their second win of the season. It wasn’t pretty, but 3 points is 3 points and we can look to the next game with confidence. There was probably a man of the match awarded at some point, if anyone wants to claim it for today be my guest!

By Adrian Watts

First game of the season away to Hasbeens.
A new look DCS with league debuts for Will, Josh, Scott, Ryan, NJ, Brad and Joel

Pitch was a typical Sunday league with very few flat areas. A few blades of grass and overall texture firm to say the least.

DCS started the game with fresh faces very up for making a good impression.
Dominated the play for the first 20 minutes with good communication throughout. Nice spells on the ball winning a corner. Then another with Graeme taking from both sides. Hasbeens keeper came and claimed the second and started a very quick counter leaving DCS exposed with one perfectly weighted over the top ball Hasbeens RW was through one and one. And slotted home with a tidy finish into the bottom right corner. 1-0.

DCS continued to show spirit. Stuck to the game plan which allowed the spaced to open up for newby Ryan to burst from CM down the right wing and into the box past 2 or three players. He then drilled a cross towards the back post and a stretching Brad got what can only of been studds on the ball leaning the keeper stranded 1-1. Deserved goal.

Half time came and refreshments were needed. No changes but belief amongst the Rapid camp.

Second half and more domination on the ball with Hasbeen only really creating snap chances. 70 minutes came and Dan Guest replaced NJ on the LW. Instant impact from Dan who wriggled his way round a defender and onto the end of a threw ball. Worked his way onto his left foot and tried to slot home. The keeper stretched and managed to get fingers onto it but pushed it straight into the patch of the on rushing Chuks. Who opened his account with ease. 2-1.

Hasbeens started to look a worn out and it wasn’t long before Rapid created another chance. A long ball over the top straight to Hasbeens keeper. Who looked flustered. As Chuks rushed towards him and forced him to attempt to kick long. The ball was released and landed straight at the feet of Dan Guest. With sheer delight Dan put the ball in the back of the net and became joint top scorer. One he will certainly dine out on.

Other things to note, a red card for the Hasbeens striker, who a argument with the ref.

Man of the match performance from Graeme.
Overall a very solid dominating performance form the new look rapid. The bar has been set.

Next week Newsman Celtic at home. Pitch TBC

Come on you Rapid.

Sponsorship still available 

It’s Matchday!! First league game of the season away vs Hasbeens! Come on Rapid!!

Hi got a 3G pitch booked at Thorpe and ref sorted for Sunday 10:15 kick off, other team just pulled out anyone interested?? (Mens)

Would you like to get into adult Sunday league football? Can't commit every week to training and matches? We could be the club for you. Our home pitch is at the excellent Norwich Hellsedon Recreation Ground. Training is on Wednesday evenings / Sunday mornings, friendlies start July, and the season commences early-September.

DCS Rapid held their end of season awards night yesterday. A mixed season on the pitch; some great results, some disappointing ones, and finishing mid-table in Division 2 of the Norwich & District league.

With otherteams folding around us, it’s a credit to the players and the club volunteers to not only keep going, but actually keep enjoying Sunday league football with plenty of laughs along the way.

Now on to the stats and awards:

Stats:
* League Position – 8th (of 11) in Division 2
* Games – 22
* Goals – 49 league goes (joint 6th highest in the league). 2.45 goals per game (21 more than last season and I believe the highest in recent years)
* Conceded - 45 (6h best in the league). 2.25 goals per game (10 more than last season)
* Clean Sheets – 4
* Own Goals – 0 (first time in many years!)
* Number of different players used – 35 (four more than last year, and I believe the most in record)

Stat Based Awards:
* Clubman – Joint 3rd – 20 Rory, Andy, Adrian; 2nd – 21 Owen Sephton; 1st – Playing all 22 games - Chuks
* Dirtiest Player – 5 players booked. The winner, with three yellow cards – Jono Hale
* Most Assists / Playmaker - 3rd with 5 assists – Neal and Georgie; 2nd with 7 assists – Goody; 1st with 12 assists -Chuks
* Most Supporting Acts - 11 players won the award this season (same as last year). Joint 1st with 2 – Neal, Goody, Jono and Adrian.
* Golden Glove - Two keepers used. 100% record for Adam Everett – 1 game, 1 clean sheet. However, with three clean sheets, the award goes to Owen Sephton!
* Golden Boot - 14 different players netted (same as last year). Joint 3rd with 4 goals – Georgie and Neal. 2nd with 6 goals – Eddie Webster. 1st with 22 goals – with the most in recent history, Uyaebo Chuks
* Manager’s Player Of The Year (based on most man of the matches) –11 different players received nominations (one less than last year).
Second – With 2 - Chuks
Joint First – With 3 - Goody and Eddie Webster.
Of those, the person with the most supporting acts, and therefore this season’s winner is Chris Good (2 vs 0)

Player Voted Awards:
*Goal Of The Season:
6 goals on the shortlist. Top 3 in reverse order:
3rd Place (with 14 points)
Al Guest - April v Newsman - Team passing goal followed by nest finish.
2nd Place (with 26 points)
Georgie - April v Newsman - 25 yard half volley smash.
1st Place (with 42 points)
Mallet - September away v Viking - audacious scoop lob over the keeper from left wing.
*Players’ Player:
8 players with some form of nomination… Top 5 in reverse order:
5th place – Chris Good (10 points)
4th place – Eddie Webster (15 points)
3rd place – Neal Gardner (18 points)
2nd place – Adrian Watts (20 points) –
1st place – Chuks (60 points) – highest total since this approach to nominating started 6 years ago

Special Notices:
Jone Hale is stepping down as Chairman after one season in charge, with Owen Sephton taking over the hot seat in addition to his Manager responsibilities.
Chuks is taking on the Treasurer role from Owen.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us.

Bring on the 2022/23 season, which starts in September.