Our Monday league finished up around 3 weeks ago, and what a season it was. Full of ups downs and all arounds. In the soccer domes eyes, it was very much plenty of ups, finishing in their best position of 3rd.
In one of the lows of the season we saw 9 times league champions Paris Ganja Man finish up and making this campaign their last and in the words Jay from the inbetweeners, it's because theythey quite frankly have “completed the soccer dome mate”. And boy did they finish in style with losing just one game (we were shocked by this too, unbeaten in the league 4 years on the spin) winning 17 games and a goal difference of 144. This season also season their best result winning a game 24-1 WOW.
Second place was Bayern Neverlosin, a new team that come in at the start of the season and within 3 weeks, they were Paris understudies. Losing their first game to none other than The Soccer dome (yep you read that right) and only losing another game this season to Paris. So officially apart from Paris.... us the soccer dome are the only other team to beat Bayern. I'm telling you The Soccer Dome is on the up. But credit where credit is due Bayern have slotted in to become a great asset to the Monday League, banter flowing on and off the pitch with some quality football to add to as well.
The season saw the return of Ji Sung Park, who tend to do a recurrent enter the league play the season, win the end of league tournament, drop out and miss a season then re-enter the next season. So, with them winning this season end of league tournament, we know the pattern they are following for the current season. ????
BBFC, Boba Feta, Phoenix and Sol Bamba all had comfortable seasons. Phoenix had their best campaign with us to date by not finishing dead bottom by winning a game comfortably as well may we add. The most reliable team of the Monday league, they turn week in week out regardless of the scores. BBFC had a good season, renowned to be the soccer domes bogey team, till this season we could never beat them, but of course we changed that in a flash. BBFC are a team who you know will never cancel and will always play to the rules... maybe a little too much, you know you're always in for a good game with them, some say its enjoyable like a tennis match. Boba Feta had a season were they were top 3 contenders, but narrowly missed out to again none other than the Soccer Dome by losing their last game of the season 4-1 (living rent free in everyone's head we are), but jokes aside Boba Feta had a great season as always and are definitely as side to keep an eye on in the future with the signings they have made.
And finally, Sol Bamba, like when you go to a coffee shop and they give you a free biscuit with the coffee, they were a little delight to the Monday League and a breath of fresh air some may say. It is fair to say they ruined any hopes of being a decent side with their incessant arguing and constant anger directed towards each other, however they were a joy to watch with the talismanic leader that is Greg Brady on the wing and the larger-than-life Jake Horan between the sticks. Perhaps if more of their squad reached the performance levels of the industrious Will Jones, they’d have had a shot at the title (the injuries to Tyler “Snavvy” Evans didn’t help, mind you.) Ultimately, the Bamba left a lot to be desired, but they will always be welcome back at the Dome. Although if they do return, they need to learn their lesson and not sub off PL10. After all, you don’t sub off Cantona.
This season saw teams enter and saw others leave. We said goodbye to one of our original teams who have been with us over 10 years at the start of the season, Hakuna Mo Salah like Paris were one of the originals of the Monday League so when these guys left it was Paris as the last OGs. It really was a sad day when Hakuna left the clocks stopped, Becky ran out of coffee, Freddie couldn’t use the word mate in a sentence and Frank went stair crazy over the number of knives in the dishwasher. It was an extremely sad day. We also said a brief hello and a quick goodbye to FPL who unfortunately just didn’t have what it takes or the facilities to keep up with the big boys of the Monday League. We also said a goodbye to Wallasey Wanderers another team who had been with us a good few seasons and we were sad to see them go, they started off being below average and after a good season and a half behind their belt they brought in some new recruits and really did give teams a good game so it was such a shame. But unfortunately, the chipmunks finally got their revenge on Tom and so Wallasey had to leave the league.
What entertaining season it was, we saw goals, skills, backflips, in team arguments, laughs and in game commentary. But most importantly every Monday Night was the best atmosphere you would see, "Stadia al Dome". The 2023 season has already started as a good one, but if it can be as good as last season's we are in for a treat.
2022/23 season honours:
League Winners: Paris Ganja Man
Golden Glove: Karl Graham
Top Goal Scorer: Karl Barker
Most Man of the Matches: Ale Reid
Tournament Cup Winners: Ji Sung Park
Tournament Plate Winners: 2 Goals 1 Cup
Joke Awards:
Most Reliable Team: Phoenix
Most Serious Team: BBFC
Team with the silkiest skills: Paris Ganja Man
Team with the most Passion: Soccer Dome Staff
The Catch me if you can team: BayernNeverlosin
Most Acrobatic Team (Best Backflips the League has ever seen): Sol Bamba
Most unstable Team: Ji Sung Park