The Huxley Cup

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The Huxley Cup. A competition between the in the Sports in tranmere. At the end of every season, six weeks of games Culminating loop in the Huxley cup. A couple of ex Dock lads played (Tony Fishers Furies v Stevo’s Steelmen) Micky Stevo who played for the Dock.

Tony told me the story that him and a few other lads were at a pub quiz and There was a tie break between Tony’s team and another. The tie breaker question was What is the name of the trophy that was the World Cup for flower arranging? The other team knew and Tony was gutted but thought that it was hilarious. After that Tony renamed the weekly five a side games. The Huxley Cup. Tony also wrote match reports which were really funny because he told it like it was a real competition but was a Genius at taking the piss.

Initially played at Byrne Ave baths, we moved it to ‘Lower Wembley’ at Victoria park because it was so flat. It proved too small so we moved to the next pitch which had a metal grid that one week my head tested at full speed. The following year, I couldn’t play after an ACL op, I lived nearby and had a video camera. And Tony wanted me to come and film the games. The first couple of games I was still pissed from the night before so didn’t film nearly enough. We did a post interview and I only did it the first week and regret not doing more. We were taking the piss out of some of the lads playing improvising subtitles.

After it finished we used to go the sports and playback the footage. People had their nicknames flash up only telly and the laughs rattled the pub windows. Rows would start over whether goals were in or out over a pile of clothes as goalposts. We got five a side goal later on as the competitive nature. As each week went on I started to plan what I was going to do A couple of years ago Tony passed away 2019 so the lads got back one more time 25 years later and this time I had a camera on the ref to catch all the banter. The bellies might’ve been bigger, the hair has disappeared or changed colour but the beating heart of those Sunday mornings still lives on.

Have a look at the picture gallery by clicking Here

The Huxley Cup 1993

Lower Wembley

Victoria Park

Tranmere

Fisher’s Furies, last season’s reigning champions, go through a rocky start,losing three of the first four games. The first game only had a few clips( possibly because the cameraman was still drunk from the night before) as each game went on, it looked increasingly unlikely Fisher’s Furies could repeat last years triumphant win. Could Tony Fisher motivate his troops or would Micky Stevo’s Steelmen canter all the way through? Time will tell…. Games 1-2

The Huxley Cup 1993

Lower Wembley

Victoria Park

Tranmere

After pummelling defeats in the two games, still missing his cup winning goal machine ( that’s enough about you-Ed) will a morale boosting win raise hopes for the Furies?

Bloodbath at Lower Wembley

The battle of Santiago had nothing on this game!

Blood bath it certainly was. With Stevo and Niggsy in midfield, Alan Curry and Stevie Robbo running riot with Freemo aka Diogo chipping in, the Steelmen romped to a 7-1 Mauling. Did I mention the Furies were missing their star striker? ( yes-Ed)

The Huxley Cup 1993

Lower Wembley

Victoria Park

Tranmere

Game 4 The Nark in the park. Goals flying in at both ends. Tony had a last throw of the dice (not you-Ed) Tony dons his boots. No one knew what the score was so VAR was brought in operation 28 years early and everyone in the Sports bar saw the recording because the boss of the Sports let me connect my camera to the pub TV. The jumpers weren’t enough. The vote in the bar gave the Furies their first win.

The Huxley Shield 1st leg

After pummelling defeats in the 1st three games, a morale boosting win in the 4th game, Suddenly it’s gone tighter and tighter. Tony had a plan, could he motivate his men for the first leg of the Huxley Shield. He worked out a plan in work…Game on!

The Huxley Cup 1993

Lower Wembley

Victoria Park

Tranmere

The Huxley Shield 2nd leg

1-2 down from the first leg, could Fisher’s Furies use their away goal to their advantage? Would the Steelmen buckle? It’s all to play for…

The Huxley Cup 1993

Lower Wembley

Victoria Park

Tranmere

The Huxley Cup final

After a devastating series of games, could the Furies summon up the gumption to retain their crown? Without last years goal scorer who spent the whole tournament fucking about with a camera (yeah,yeah,Germany won 1-0-Ed) Tony had one more trick up his sleeve. A full kit. Will it be enough? Damn right it would!

In 2018 25 years after these games were played,Tony passed away so all the lads who played, came together one more time Some people I hadn’t seen for over 20 years and it was a magical day.The bellys’ were bigger and the hair thinner but a game of Togger in the park on a sunday morning with mates can’t get any better. Tony’s sons played for Fisher’s Furies, the team their dad created. Tony would’ve been proud as punch.

This page and the page of previous match reports is dedicated to one of the finest people I ever had the chance to call a friend. RIP Tony Fisher, you live on the internet for eternity

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