Ben Brooks found

Here - and we were worried. Living in the Bay of Plenty, poor refereeing, pants pulled down - it couldn't be anyone else.

Hodges, Hodges give us a wave

(Photo: Ben practices his patented arms, leg and pout tackle technique)

That stale old smell may have cleared, but something still ain't right at the start of the new season. Its going to be hard to adjust to a Benless Stallions. And no word from the big guy yet - even with the chance to hassle Rauru's drunken master tape. So come on Ben, let us know how the search for a new team went, how you are umm fitting in, and how the first game of the season went ...

Comings & Goings 3: Ben B

'Your keeper is an absolute legend I must say, is he like that every week or was that a oneoff??? A couple of his saves were Gordon Banks like, not to mention the time he came flying out for a cross he was never entitled to take and casually stuck one arm out under pressure and somehow the ball stuck!' -Stopout player, 2008
A Tribute to Ben B - who would have guessed such a crap defender could become such a great keeper. I'm sure Jamie prolonged his injury just for fear of Ben been picked instead of him. For every 'Come the F**k out' Ben call, there were multiple amazing and at times gravity defying saves.
So many memories - Running half a field to punch Justice and get our first red card, busting an eyebrow open and coming back all taped up to ref. But lets hear the great one speak, from an earlier profile question: As a player I am susceptible to ...
• Strikers
• Midfielders
• Backs
• Referees
• Being nutsed
• Being beaten generally
• Slipping over when trying to pick the ball up and conceding a goal
• Justice
• Injustice
• Rain
• Kryptonite
• I could go on.

And Ben, you often do. Good luck with the move to Melbourne, hope you get a game or 2 before you leave. You too will be missed.

Shit finemaster though ...

One of the big questions for the season - will we see this or this?

And one more of G, just to raise the spirits.

Ben B - Another Stallion performance ...

What is scarier - Ben bleeding from the eye after a full body-on-the-line save, or coming back taped up as Mankind to ref the second half?

Top effort Ben!

'An absolute legend'

Check out someone from Stop Out giving their perspective of yesterday's game on the YF forum. Of particular note is the glowing praise of Ben B as 'an absolute legend'. If only they knew the full story ...

Those awol stallions must think we are totally taking the piss. Ben B, 3 clean sheets, and yesterday an array of magnificent saves. Personal favourite the come out, collecting and controlling the ball in one hand (Robin put in well - like Bowie in Labyrinth). But there were also power shots directly at him, saves made in the air, along the ground, and the other one where his big mit swiped at a ball mere cms away from the goal line. Brilliant effort Ben, Anyway, enough from me, here's Stop Out:

'Thanks G.

Was a hard fought game with you boys and thought the scoreline was a bit rough on us although full credit to the team that takes their chances! Your keeper is an absolute legend I must say, is he like that every week or was that a oneoff??? A couple of his saves were Gordon Banks like, not to mention the time he came flying out for a cross he was never entitled to take and casually stuck one arm out under pressure and somehow the ball stuck!

Was a game played in good spirit though and look forward to playing you guys out in the hutt later in the season.

Glad to see the Sealords dropped points looks like Marist are getting away at the top so could be a scrap for 2nd for the rest of us.........

PS . Whats with the state of nairnville park? Absolute bog despite hardly any rain throughout the week'

Ben doesn't even know who Gordon Banks is.

Let me put this out there - was this the best goalkeeping effort seen in a Stallions shirt? What do you say Jamie?

Another Player Profile ... Ben B

Position
Back/Goal Keeper

Stallion Hall of Fame:
The only person who belongs in the Stallion hall of fame is Steve.

How many seasons as a Stallion?
Four? Five? I can’t really remember they all blend into one muddy day where we dominate early earning a small halftime lead then let in a couple of goals early in the second and end up losing by three.

Are you a dual Stallion? If so what game are you best at?
I’m one of the original cricket/football stallions. I’ll leave it to the fans (Fash and Steve) to decide which I’m worse at.
* Cricket Stallion Greg says: 'Grumpy Bear Ben - the worst man for sledging...his own team...badly... famous for having his own captain throw the ball at him, and for holding himself back for that one moment of batting perfection...must be what he's working on while grimacing his way through another 90 mins in goal.'

Greatest Stallion Moment:
I think Rauru was right about the great win against Brooklyn to ruin their unbeaten season and deny them the grade.

Worst Stallion Moment?
Going into goal after Lachie went off injured, diving over the top of two shots/passes into goal, and then being replaced again by Lachie who was sick of such awful keeping.

Describe your last goal for the Stallions.
Pulled off a full length diving save from a penalty (Nick W – ‘handball’) with the scores at 2-2 and seconds left in the game, raced up field beating all of the oppositions players, came back down field beating 5 of our players before launching a rocket from 40 metres out and 10 metres in from the sideline. Yeh it was cool, I’m surprised you don’t remember it.

Complete the sentence - As a player I am susceptible to ...
• Strikers
• Midfielders
• Backs
• Referees
• Being nutsed
• Being beaten generally
• Slipping over when trying to pick the ball up and conceding a goal
• Justice
• Injustice
• Rain
• Kryptonite
• I could go on.

Most underrated Stallion?
An under-rated Stallion? Isn’t that a misnomer.

Finish this sentence. The Stallions need more?
Goals – some team in Capital 14b managed 15 last weekend.

Which international player are you most like?
My unique set of talents is tragically underrepresented on the international stage.

Where will the Stallions finish in 2008?
In a seedy Wellington bar talking about how we’re a real shot of winning the grade next year.

Classic Stallions Moment #1 – the first red card

I wasn’t there, but I’ve heard the story so many times the picture is pretty clear. This is the gospel truth.

The halcyon season of 2002-2003, vs United Terrace, or really ‘Justice’ and 10 other guys. Ben B in goal.

A typically spiteful game between these 2 teams (remember last season’s classic 35 minute half?). Earlier one of the Hodges gets in a bit of a scrap and is saved by the other.

Another scuffle breaks out, and is well controlled by the Stallions ref. Meanwhile Ben B charges out of goal, arrives at halfway just as everyone else is getting back on with the game and king-hits Justice from behind.

The Stallions are in shock at this unstallion-like behaviour and the 25 seconds it took Ben to get to the fracas. Terrace are more interested in scoring as our keeper stands over his vanquished foe on halfway.

Anyways, that’s how I heard it.