AAA Festival 2023 / The Derek Nichols Memorial Trophy

Back Row: Graham N, Rob S, Phil C, Perry K.
Front Row: Richard G, Alan B, Paul W, Mark K.

The rain stayed away and the sun made an appearance on Wednesday 23 August, and eight O65s (with concessions) walking football teams came together to compete in the 2nd AAA Festival, with the winners taking the Derek Nichols Memorial Trophy.

Following a mixed set of results, the 'Nero Verdi' finished 4th with 9 points, this put us into the Cup play-offs against top place Bicester. The bottom 4 teams play-off for the Plate.

High Wycombe  1 v 1   Calne Town
Oxford United  0 v 0  Calne Town
Calne Town  3 v 1   Rotherfield
Calne Town  0 v 0   Maidenhead
Bicester  2 v 0  Calne Town
Calne Town  3 v 0   Abingdon Yellows
Calne Town  0 v 2 Abingdon Pinks

We played out a 0 v 0 draw which took us to penalty shoot-out, winning 5-4 and earning our place in the final against the Abingdon Pinks - a replay of last years final!

However, the outcome would not be the same as last year and Abingdon went on to win by a single goal. We'll put aside that undoubted 4 touches that were taken in the lead-up to the goal and congratulate AAA on the victory!

As always, getting our name on the trophy for a second year would have been great, but the taking part was still a win.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to Abingdon Almost Athletic for hosting another great walking football event and pub visit. 

We'll see you somewhere on a football pitch soon, and at Tilsley Park for the AAA Festival next year.

THE FINALISTS WITH DEREK'S FAMILY.

HOSTS AND WINNERS OF THE 2023 DEREK NICHOLS MEMORIAL TROPHY, ABINGDON PINKS.

Click here and take a look at AAA's full array of event photographs on their facebook page.