FOOTY JAPAN KNOCKOUT CUP 05/06

Swiss Make it 3 in a Row

Saitama Stadium Sat 10th June 2006. In a complete turn around from their league match of 2 weeks earlier, Swiss Kickers sent France FC to a 3-0 defeat, securing the Footy Japan Cup for the 3rd straight year. Second half goals from veteran Karl Hahne, Angelo Foscoli and Yan Vermeulen secured the victory, while league top scorer, Etsushi Yoshikoshi of France FC hardly got a sniff at the other end. more...
FJ

Sala Handed Third French Lesson

Hachioji Park Sun 30th April 2006. Sala suffered a heartbreaking third loss on penalties in two weeks, as France continued to hold the evil eye over them with three victories this season alone.
The manner of defeat was all the more disheartening. Sala struck the woodwork on three occasions and rarely looked threatened until the golden goal period of extra time.
France failed to hit the target with a single shot, but somehow went ahead in the tenth minute when Colombian enforcer Andres headed a corner into his own net. It was a novel way for Sala to lose an early goal, seemingly giving away penalties for handball has gone out of fashion.. more...
RC

77th Minute Goal Books Swiss Berth in Final.

Hachioji Park Sat 15th April 2006. YCACs miserable end of season run continued with its 3rd consecutive defeat, this time in the FJC semi final handing victors, The Swiss, a shot at a 3rd Cup win and, presumably, the right to keep the Trophy outright. more from YCAC...
ST
Saturday visit to the Saitama hinterland and lo and behold, a beautiful artificial turf pitch and a great day for a Cup Semi-Final.  Both the YCAC and the Swiss knew what to expect, this being the third meeting of the year and second in seven days.  Tough defenders and even tougher keepers meant goals were at a premium and one had to be looking at the possibility of penalties. more from Swiss...
KN

See all the photos from the 2nd Footy Japan / YC&AC Charity 6’s.
Photo gallery 1
Photo gallery 2

SCORING BIG FOR UNICEF.

YC&AC Sat 21st March 2006. 22 teams (6 more teams than took part in the inaugural tournament a year ago) took part in the 2nd Footy Japan / YC&AC Charity 6’s, held at YC&AC on March 21st. Many of the teams involved in this tournament were simultaneously raising urgently needed funds for UNICEF, to aid their ongoing plight of helping children in need throughout the world. more...
FJ

Last Years Finalists to Meet in Semis!

Yurakucho Sat 25th February 2006. At the Eigotown Intenational Party, under the watchful eye of Ref Ruairi & BFC Captain Brian Doyle, the draw for the semi-finals of the FJ Cup was made. In a rematch of last years final, TML Division 1's 2nd & 3rd places teams, Swiss Kickers & YC&AC were drawn against each other, leaving France FC and Sala FC to do battle in the other Semi. France have had the upperhand in both matches against Sala this season, while Swiss drew 1 all with YC&AC in their only meeting so far. The semi finals will be scheduled for the end of March/beginning April.
FJ

Swiss Send Hibs to 1st loss in 9 Months!

YC&AC Sat 18th February 2006. A chilly day at YCAC saw the Swiss Kickers line up vs. this year’s run-away league leaders, Hibs., in the quarterfinal of the Cup.  The Hibs. were missing their captain due to suspension while the Swiss were short in defense due to injuries.  Other than that, both teams were essentially at full strength. . more...

KN

Wall Street Crash…(…Out of Cup)

OiFuto Sat 11th February 2006. Two early goals and a resolute second half defensive display were enough for Sala to sneak into the cup semis after a tight game at Oifuto.

Missing several regulars and fielding a couple of debutants, Sala didn’t take long to gel, with Toby netting possibly the fastest goal in the chequered history of the club inside 3 minutes.
Lenny was first to claim the assist after the game (This writer was momentarily distracted and in the spirit of journalism didn’t bother to ask anyone about it afterwards. When are they going to get those giant video screens at Oifuto?), so history will remember that it was his through ball that set Toby a’scampering. more...

RC

Quarter-Final Draw sees Big Guns Face Off.

Sat 10th December 2005. In today's draw for the quarter-finals of the FJ Cup, the 2 top ranked teams, Hibernian & Swiss Kickers were drawn to play each other. For all the quarter-final fixtures click here.
FJ

YCAC Lose Captain but Walk Match

YC&AC, Sun 4th December 2005. Rather less exciting was the the Cup match between YCAC1 and Stoneds that afternoon. YCAC waltzed past the Visitors on a wet and slippery surface. Goals from James Absolom (2), Jumpei Ueda and Will Brady gave the home team a comfortable 4-0 victory. Any hopes Stoneds were harbouring of causing an upset were stillborn as they kicked off with 9 men and didn't reach their full complement of 11 until 3/4 of the way through the match.

Captain Steve Taw looks like he'll be spending the next few weeks with his leg in Plaster. He broke it after getting his studs caught up in the uneven turf of YCAC, the cause of many an ankle injury. He'll be happier having heard of the plans for the new artificial turf to go in next year no doubt.
S T

Vagabonds can't Stop Marauding Barbarians.

Hachioji park, Sun 4th December 2005. Having reached the heady heights of 2nd place in the league after last weekends victory Barbarians were hoping their winning ways would continue and that Sunday would be the start of a cup run. Once again Barbarians were able to field a strong team but subs were in short supply this week. more...
RC

Lenny in Swear Shock!

Hachioji park, Sat 3rd December 2005. An otherwise ordinary cup game was marred last Saturday in Saitama when Sala player Leonard ‘Lenny’ Tui embarked upon a foul-mouthed tirade. Gutter-mouth Tui (44) a native of the New Zealand country, audibly muttered a four letter word beginning with F (and not the place where cows and sheep live!) after he felt a pass to him could have been more thoughtfully placed.
Wing king Lenny was lucky to escape a caution as the red mist descended midway through the second half, when Clarkey set him up to shoot on his unknown right foot rather than his favoured left peg. Tui’s invective was primarily aimed at Clarkey but he kept some in store for himself as his shot from 8 yards flew over. more...
Roddy

French Squeeze Through on Penalties.

YC&AC Sat 3rd December 2005. Penalties are always a bad way to lose a cup tie and no more so than the fixture between the British Embassy and France FC at YCAC.
Make no mistake about it, this was a good game of football between two sides determined to make a go of it and reach the next round of the FJ cup. more...
Blip Pilot