In a repeat of last year’s final, we play the French in our first round of the Cup this year. The game is this Sunday at the Lidu pitch, kicking off at 2 pm.
Come and Support !
EDIT: GAME NOW STARTS @ 4pm
Do you want play football (soccer) in Beijing? With two 11-a-side teams, regular training and midweek 5-a-side matches, we’ll find a place for you. Send us an email now to find out more.
scan the QR code below to subscribe to our Wechat account and contact / Join Forbidden City FC now!
2018 will mark the 7th year in a row FCFC attends the now infamous Bangkok Far East Tournament. Provisional dates are set for April 21-22…
Not sure if you should attend? You have a habit of staying at home and seriously considering quitting English Breakfast tea in favour of Earl Grey? Have no idea that cooking oil is one of the safest contraceptives available in supermarkets across Thailand? Would rather not know what El Colorado + Carousel = ? Not interested in what this all means?…STAY AWAY! THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.
For the rest of you…STAY TUNED and SAVE THE DATE
FCFC October Break Season Update
We made sure that this season started with the traditional FCFC bang as we welcomed new members during our Season Opening Party @ longstanding FCFC watering hole Lugas in Sanlitun. Throughout the night, we discovered that Fran wasn’t lying when he said he can’t drink, acknowledged FCFC’s biggest dick and watched some great videos from FCFC stars of the past (Ivan). New guys such as Christoph and Pedro stepped up to remind us that despite the demolitions currently taking place in Sanlitun, FCFC can still bring the party…
So far this year has seen some quality football in the IFFC Premier League from Forbidden City. Four games, four wins, with 16 goals scored. Despite initial fitness issues causing problems for City in the second half of some games, we are now top by two points – long may it continue!
Ollie is currently leading the scoring charts for the club with six goals, whilst newbie Pedro and old timer Mehmet have three and two goals respectively. With tough matches against French L’Equipe in the Cup and Beijing Celtic in the league coming up, if you are not playing come and support City and cheer the lads on as they continue their quest for what could be a memorable league and cup double if the football Gods continue to favour us!
Despite a tough start to the 2017/18 season for Summer Palace in the IFFC First Division, the team has been gaining momentum with each game, culminating in a 5-0 thrashing of Chaoyang Park Rangers and some quite exquisite football against Too Sexy in the final match before the October break. Despite not managing to get over the line and win that game, further performances like that should see Palace make a strong push towards the league’s summit once a long string of pre-Christmas games resume on October 21st against Celtic Beijing. With the league wide open, it is all to play for for the mighty Palace!
On a less positive note, we have already said goodbye to FCFC lothario, Denis, who was top-scorer for Palace this season so far (both on and off the pitch) before deciding to make the switch to Shanghai, ensuring the FCFC tradition of meiyou mingtian continues to spread…
If you are wondering What Next?! in the league and Cup – here’s a breakdown of all our upcoming fixtures up until December:
Oct. 15 – 2pm @ Lido -Thomas Marechal Cup Round 2
City vs French L’Equipe
Oct. 21 – 12pm @ Lido – IFFC Premier Div.
City vs Celtics
Oct. 21 – 2pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs Celtics B
Oct. 29 – 2pm @ Lido – IFFC Premier Div.
City vs French L’Equipe
Oct. 29 – 4pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs UCFC
Nov. 5 – 12pm @ Dulwich – IFFC Premier Div.
City vs Barbarians
Nov. 5 – 2pm @ Dulwich – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs Barbarians
Nov. 12 – 12pm @ Lido – IFFC Premier Div.
City vs Kozo Japan
Nov. 12 – 2pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs Red cards
Nov. 18 – 4pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs China Club Football
Nov. 19 – 2pm @ Lido – IFFC Premier Div.
City vs Cavaliers
Nov. 25 – 12pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs Anejo FC
Dec. 02 – 12pm @ Lido – IFFC First Div.
Palace vs Beijing Rockets
Dec. 03 – 4pm @ Lido– IFFC Premier Div.
City vs Afrika United
Palace,
Below is the squad list for Sunday game vs Red Cards. Meet at the Lido at 11:30am, kick off at 12 noon. Please don’t be late.
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Cheers,
Patrick
PS: any change in your plans, call me on my mobile: 135 xxxx xxxx
Patrick
PS: any change in your plans, call me on my mobile: 135 xxxx xxxx
Citizens!
Top game this weekend! make sure you can make it!
SQUAD: FCFC vs Celtics Sunday meet 3:15pm
SQUAD:
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Cheers,
Philippe
Hey Guys,
Big games coming up for both teams this weekend! Try and make it tonight!
Don’t miss out
Thanks,
Philippe
Hello Lads,
A football tour they said. In Bangkok they said. Next March. What do you say?
I know the date ‘end of March’ seems way off but the chat about our Easter 2012 tour is just dying down so I thought six months would be the right time to start the banter for next year’s tour!
About 20 of us headed down to Bangkok last year to play in the German All Stars Bangkok (http://www.gasbkk.com/?page_id=2237 – need VPN in China) 11 a-side open football tournament. Even if you are a new recruit to City you should already have heard some banter about the football and fun we had during that week. If not, ask the lads at the weekend.
We WILL be going again next year. Get on board. Saturday 30th March and Sunday 31st March are the important days.
Good Friday is 29th March, while Qing Ming Jie is Thursday 4th April. Hopefully you will have one or both of these holidays available.
Last year about 10 of us went a week early and had a lovely and quiet ‘rest and relaxation’ few days on the beaches of Koh Chang. Maybe this year because of the Chinese holiday the week after, we could plan a recovery session of a similar nature. Get your ideas in now and start the plans forming.
The 11 a-side tournament is open to all ages, while there is likely to be a Masters 7 a-side tournament for over 35’s at the same time. Let me know now if you are interested to join in one or the other or both??
Flights cost about ¥3,000 (less if indirect or booked now!), hotel was ¥200 a night and spending money less than a night out in Sanlitun, depending on your pleasures. So start saving and get involved.
FCFC New and old are more than welcome whether you are in the US, Indonesia, Canada, UK, Thailand, Sweden (you know who you are!)…etc..or in China of course. All you need to do is book the time off work and start saving. Right now I want to hear who is interested and some ideas for side trips before or after.
Let’s get this party started.
Your tour captain,
Pikey
Match report for Summer Palace vs ISB Dragons, IFFC first Division league, Saturday 20th October, Lido
On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon Summer Palace played its 5th league game of the season against the high-school team ISB Dragons.
Early on in the game, Palace had the lion-share in terms of ball possession and created numerous chances, with in particular Ian Crouch, playing up-front and giving their central defenders a hard time. However, the lack of luck (we hit the bar 3 or 4 times during that game), combined with a lack of composure in front of goal meant that it was still 0-0 after 10 minutes. It was then the high-school boys who drew first blood on one of their rare incursion into our half of the pitch. Loose marking at the back post from Patrick R. let the little Dragons plenty of time to head the ball on Jason D.’s cross-bar and then get the rebound into the goal off his back…
Palace, 0-1 down but not panicking, re-took control of the game and quickly equalized as Peter H., with a simple tap-in, could take advantage of the Dragons’ inability to defend corner kicks. In the rest of the first half Dragons were getting more of the ball as the (older) legs of the Palace were tiring. The young Dragons, deceptively short-sized, grew more aggressive too and Gabriel de T. had to leave the pitch injured after a clumsy challenge. Then, 5 minutes before half-time, a through-ball caught our central defense off-guard and Jason had to dive in the feet of the on-rushing forward. Being at least twice as big as his opponent, Jason got the ball and the boy too! The ref had no hesitation, penalty against Palace! The well-taken penalty kick left no chance to Jason, and Palace were once again behind. Fortunately, just one minute after the restart Mike Zheng could convert one of our chances with a great demonstration of shooting on the turn. A great tackle from Adam Nowak saved us from conceding a third goal in the dying seconds on the first half. 2-2 at half time.
Early on in the second half, Palace were the quickest off the starting block and managed a great move involving at least 7 or 8 passes with the ball going from one side of the pitch to the other before Chris Lupton could release a nice ball in the feet of Charles Wharton who coolly converted the chance by slotting the ball under the Dragon’s keeper. 3-2, Palace was finally leading on the score-sheet in this game. We however could not extend our lead, despite having most of ball possession and a few more opportunities to score. As a result, the last 5 minutes of the games were a bit nervous as the Dragons were pushing for an equalizer. But we hold-on to preserve this narrow lead and to claim another win and the 3 points associated to it.
Few people made it to the bar after the game and Peter was voted Man for bringing friends to support us during the game, while Adam N. got Donkey for playing chess while in the bar.
