There was double delight in the Desai household recently as Coolin Desai added Christ Church Crusaders coveted title of `Super Veteran of the Year` for 2015 to the British National Ballroom Championships in the Over 35 category that his wife Janine had won in Blackpool earlier in the week.
Whilst acknowledging Janine`s success Coolin was quick to point out that his award recognised his achievements over a whole year playing through blizzards in January, Spring showers and the tropical heat of a Chorleywood Summer.
The award was one of 8 presented at Christ Church Crusaders annual awards evening held in Chorleywood Golf Club recognising footballing excellence is not actually one of the awards.
Team manager Sean Brew explained that the name Christ Church Crusaders came about when he recognised there was a desire to combine discussion groups for local dads on meaningful topics of the day with healthy outdoor sport.
`Unfortunately` said Sean ` such is the pace of life that nobody could actually make the discussion groups so we just played football instead`
That was almost 20 years ago and though the team was originally only for members of Christ Church it has since opened up to embrace other young men from Chorleywood. `We had to` explained Peter Wisbey one of the founder members ` None of us are getting any younger and the only logical move was to consider switching to walking football or bringing in younger players and tying their boot laces together `
The influx of youth brought a faster more challenging aspect to their weekly games and the arrival of Klaus Allion from the lower leagues of German football brought education on continental methods of training and nutrition. `Before Klaus arrived I just thought it normal to have a Big Mac Happy Meal before I played and 4 pints of lager afterwards` confessed Peter Higgins winner of the Super Super Veteran of the Year ` I now just have a quarter pounder with small fries and 2 pints after a game, though I do miss the toys in the Happy Meal, I was only a Mr Potato Head away from the full cast of Toy Story`
For striker Alan Watson it was exposure to continental mental strengthening techniques that made the difference to his game, Big Al explained ` I used to be a bundle of nerves leading up to kick off but now I find myself a quiet corner of the pitch to clear my head, reflect on the game ahead and empty myself `
Despite the youngsters fresh legs it was the wise old heads who scooped up the majority of the trophies with an amazing 8 out of 8 awards going to players over the age of 35.
Overall player of the season Pete Fitzgerald explained the secret of his success as ` Shout a lot and let the youngsters do all the running, I don’t actually run about a lot, they just think I do `
It was left to Young Player of the Year, Steve Donnvann to sum up ` They are a great bunch of guys and I’ve learnt so much from the old hands like how to wash the shirts every week, pump up the balls and always to be the first in The Rose and Crown to organise the drinks kitty.`
Michael Duffy