Robinho to commence play in advance of season

Comings & Goings 2: Gus

Damn, it feels like only a few weeks back when I announced how we had managed to steal Gus from the Raiders. And then basked in the glory of my old school mate scoring with his first touch and getting a hat-trick on debut. No Stallion has made such an immediate impression on the team (Dan Vincent would put up an argument, but no way ...). Pushed Tristin for Golden boot in his first season, but then a bit of a disappointing last season due to ongoing injuries - including THAT decision to beat the Stokes Valley striker when playing left back. But still so many golden moments - a brilliant multiple cutback/beating Karori players followed by a blistering shot to top left in the last game of the season, getting pushed over by the insane Marist keeper, tackling Joe, etc etc. Damn, he will be missed. Even in a pretty average last season Gus was the one striker always pulling back to help out/play as another midfielder - lets see Rauru and Tristin pick that role up instead of standing around albatrossing or calling for balls to feet.

Sadly from a Stallions point of view Gus has yielded to the demands of adult life with a new full time job and baby Hux, which leaves less time for football, and less disposable income for fines. here's hoping for a few cameo appearances from the bench (hopefully against the Raiders!)

Good luck Logan, keep doing that physio - you are sure to be called on.

The last post mentioned how Ben H is retiring as 2009 Pony of the season, I guess since Gus was runner up in a closely fought battle last season and inherits the title, that makes him the second Stallion to leave a pony. The more I think about it, Jules may have started this tradition ...

Comings & Goings 1 - Ben H

This season we say goodbye to a few Stallions. Oddly they are 'personalities' of the team, who feature often in the blog (normally in the 'lets take the piss' kind of way). So in tribute of our fallen homies, lets start by taking out the trash.

Ben H - In many ways the heart and forehead of the Stallions. A fixture in the centre of the midfield for seasons, known for his never give up attitude, crap knock in goals, tripping over his own feet, cries of anguish, and, most importantly, bringing along Steve so the rest of us don't have to ref.

What can be said about Ben that has not been said here before; but here are a few highlights from the past:
Hodges Appreciation week, 2009
My Favourite Hodges Moment, 2008
Player Profile 2008
A Little Man, A Big Goal, 2009

For those of you who don't know, Ben is following the path of many over the hill, once great players by leaving the big leagues and retiring to play for a sea-side team. I'm sure the Raumati team will umm value you as much as we will Ben, good luck to you. All jokes and hassles aside, you will be missed big time. In classic Ben style, he is the first Stallion to retire holding the 'pony of the season' award (and hell yeah, you better return her to us!)

I'm sure you won't be lost to the team, so perhaps you should become a foreign correspondent type and give us weekly roundups of your adventures for another (clearly much worse) team. Keep in touch.

New Signing!!!

Today, 6 people come to the blog via the keywords 'University Stallions Blog Kaka' - perhaps the cat is out of the bag about our new signing ...

Or perhaps one of you just forget the blog address.

Time to fire this bad boy back up!

And what better way than with the draw for the new season:

CAPITAL 7:
Nth Wgtn Varsity __ SV Killer Bees __ Alex Moore 1 (2.30);
Wgtn United Elite __ Uni Stallions __ MacAlister 1 (2.30);
Uni Raiders __ Lower Hutt City __ Nairnville 1 (2.30);
Marist Cobras __ University 4th XI __ Miramar 3 (12.30);

Div 7 has had some changes; farewell Magpies and Marist Town, hello old enemies the Raiders, Lower Hutt City, and who the hell are Ngtn Wgtn Varsity? Start off with a grudge match against the Elite.

University 4th XII - what the - um they just avoided relegation and we nearly won the league(ish). Perhaps they should be called 'university players who think they are good enough to play higher but sucked at the trials, and are patted on the head and put in the 4ths to become fodder for the Stallions'.

Bring it.

Butchard starts preseason training in the backyard

Are you Gus in disguise?

Yep