Rob’s a keeper…
Rob Kenton has been selected for the EWFL Over-50s representative squad following his stellar performances for Falcons throughout the season and a “player of the day” performance in the last round of league fixtures.
Congrats Rob on this thoroughly deserved recognition for your goalkeeping skills as well as your hard work and dedication to Falcons on and off the pitch in multiple age group squads.
Rob and Bob step out for Essex 70s...
Falcons Rob Evison and Bob Hodges were chosen by EWFL Reps League manager Gary Murphy to represent the league's 70s team (pictured) in mid-October.
The three 25-minute games were played at Heybridge Swifts ground – the first two against two Oxfordshire squads and and the third against the EWFL’s other team.
The nine-man squad had a good warm-up before the first game by which time the dreadful weather had abated. The clash with Oxfordshire A saw some very good football by both sides with the Essex squad winning and Rob contributing by scoring following a free kick 10 yards out. The second game vs Oxfordshire B saw the EWFL squad with a lot of possession and run out 2-0 winners. In the third match, the EWFL’s first team beat the seconds 2-1 with Rob scoring the winner from the penalty spot.
Mark helps England to Veterans World Cup semi-final
Falcon Mark Hughes, who currently plays the walking game for our 60s, 65s and 70s teams, made a memorable return to the full-on game in 2024 with the honour of playing for England 70s in the Veterans World Cup.
Mark made his debut in a friendly in July. He was then selected for the World Cup squad for the annual international tournament. This year it was held in Cardiff from the 20th to 24th August with a total of 14 teams from around the globe competing in 70 and 75 age group tournaments. The line-ups included Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, the USA, and Wales.
Within the two groups of seven teams competing for a place in the knock out stages (semi-finals) England had two teams – England and England A. An arduous 4 days of playing two one hour matches per day took its toll on both teams but both England sides qualified for the semi-finals and Mark’s team, England A, remained the only unbeaten team in the 6-match qualifying rounds, drawing with the eventual world champions Wales along the way.
In the semi-final an injury ravaged England A team held the US team to 1-1 until shortly before half time when three more injuries to an already weakened side resulted in a 4-1 defeat.
Although it was physically very demanding Mark described it as an experience he would not have wanted to miss and said that representing the country is an honour he hadn’t expect to achieve at this stage of his life.
Congratulations Mark: You did England and Falcons proud.
