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Tractor FC [8] v's Bench FC [4], 15th November, 2004.
Report courtesy of the TFC Bench Press

It has long been said that the TFC team of the 2002/2003 was the best that TFC ever produced. At the time their commitment was unrivalled and it was said that Tim Nicholson (now injured) even once ordered a pint of tuna milkshake and not a champagne cocktail simply because John Wark told him if he drank the concoction one day he could play for Tractor FC.

It is not often that teams like that one are able to go on unbeaten runs that appear at the time as if they will never end. In doing so the act of winning in itself becomes instinctive - a winning team never thinks it can lose. It's not that it can't, it just doesn't know how. In fact the only thing that can beat a team in that form is itself, and it's complacency that is often found to be the problem.

And so it was on the 23rd October 2003 TFC were on the verge of a historic achievement. Were they to defeat a new side called Selby Squad (aka Bench FC) that night they would have gone 1 year unbeaten. But, for whatever reason it wasn't to be. TFC were beaten heavily and then beaten again later on in the season. Bench had entered Plough Lane, scored twice as often as TFC, and left their record in ruins. Never before had Tractor FC not been able to beat a team over the course of an entire season.

Bench pressed for options on the night

If the TFC team today have one thing however, it's boucebackability. On Monday they knew the task in hand and were determined not to sit on the laurels of three straight victories so far this season. In their mind there was also faith in their own ability; most of TFC are couch potatoes and so smothering the Bench was not going to be too alien an option for them.

Immediately from the off Rob threatened the Bench goal with a dipping shot from range that cannoned off the underside of the bar - sofa so good. Soon TFC were ahead with their one touch football mesmerising fans and players alike. Fletch who had been on the bench last week was positively all over the Bench this week as he attached and defended well.

Wilko, with one goal under his belt from a corner, began to chair proceedings with authority and was ably helped out by Robbo who sat in behind him and battled hard throughout the game. Rob Shields, whose accurate shooting has been compared to that of the US army, added his name on the sheet just before half time via a wonderful dummy from Sparrow whilst Saddam helped out in both halves of the pitch brilliantly. Sparra himself held the ball up front for TFC and set up and scored many stylish goals. By half time TFC had a cushion over the Bench that they would not surrender for the rest of the game. "There's no-one I can pass to!" yelled a Bench player in despiration, as the Tractors ploughed on to victory.

Can this team be as good as 2002/2003? That remains to be seen, but they have already started out where TFC has not gone before...

For TFC:Gaffer, Suck, Sparra, Robbo, Fletch, Rob, Wilko
For Bench:Mark, Chair, Sofa, Pew, Stool