Author: Meiyou Mingtian

Citizens, the new 11 aside IFFC season, run by CIFL, is just around the corner.  Training, tours, friendlies and nights out are planned as we gear up to attack on all fronts! Here are some important dates for you to be aware of as we launch our bid for silverware.

Key dates:

• Sun 15 Sep: First games of the new IFFC season (run by CIFL)
• Tue 17 Sep: Training (8-10 pm Side park, Lidu)
• Sat 21 Sep: IFFC game week 2, followed by club rooftop social
• Tue 24 Sep: Training (8-10 pm Side park, Lidu)
• Sat 28 Sep: IFFC game week 2
• Sat 19 Oct: FCFC Season Opening Party to welcome newcomers @ The Local!

No matter if you’re a veteran of FCFC or considering joining, everyone is welcome to get involved. If you are interested in joining the club, contact KP by scanning the QR code below or emailing us at forbiddencityfc@yahoo.com

CITY!!!

“Oh no! There’s no league football over golden week. Does this mean I’ll have to spend time with my girlfriend/wife/tinder date?” Fear not Cityzens! Forbidden City FC have organised a host of events to keep our players, fans, and WAGs out of trouble over the holiday. Here’s some dates to pencil in:

Saturday 1^st October 5pm – FCFC opening season party

Monday 3^rd October 11am – FCFC Annual International 5k championship

Tuesday 4^th October 8pm – Training

Thursday 6^th October 4pm – Intrasquad 7 aside

Saturday 8^th October – Club friendlies (TBD)

Free up your calendar, cancel your plans, practice your left swipe, and get involved over the holiday!

Huge day for the club tomorrow as both teams face off against Celtics in the league playoff finals. Palace will kick off at 4 followed by CITY at 6 with both games at Guanyintang. Get down and support! CITY!!!

Breaking News: FCFC and Summer Palace qualify for the championship playoffs in their respective divisions. FCFC will face Celtics A while Summer Palace play Celtics B to decide which team gets bragging rights for the next few months.

FCFC (5) vs (2) Afrika United

FCFC went into the game against Afrika knowing that they needed a draw or better to secure second place and qualify for the championship playoffs.

FCFC started the game in the worst possible fashion, conceding a penalty in the first 10 minutes after #dannyOnPens fouled their winger in the box. The penalty was converted and FCFC had a mountain to climb.

Fortune appeared to be hiding for FCFC as a blatant penalty was denied after Turtle got to the ball before the Afrika defender and was taken out by the attempted clearance. Despite being kicked in the calf, the referee somehow adjudged him to have fouled the defender and showed him a yellow card.

Despite the early setback, FCFC looked the better team and created a host of chances, which finally paid off as a corner fell to TOM who volleyed it into the bottom corner. Shortly after tempers started to flare as a (admittedly fair) George tackle angered the Afrika midfield. Perhaps he has been reading too many of these match reports and got the wrong idea about George.

FCFC would continue to dominate and would take the lead 30 minutes in, as newly converted striker (in the absence of literally anyone else capable of playing there) Turtle pounced on the pinball in the box to convert from close range. Shortly after, the Afrika winger headbutted Campbell off the ball. Not content with only bottling one major decision, the referee claimed not to have seen it, got informed by the linesman that there was a headbutt, and promptly gave out a yellow card.

Afrika would have a difficult task in the second half, needing to score twice to qualify for the championship playoff. Their more attacking display looked threatening but left them vulnerable at the back. #dannyOnPens would be the player to take advantage of this and his volley from the edge of the area arrowed into the bottom corner. Kene (previously known as Hug) would be the next on the scoresheet, finishing off a counterattack with a powerful shot. FCFC fans will be watching this youngster’s career with excitement.

Campbell would be in the wars again in the second half, this time being elbowed in the face by the same twat that headbutted him. Such a disgraceful move was harshly punished by the referee who gave him a “talking to” and nothing else. Thankfully, the linesman did understand the violent conduct rule and informed the referee that attacking players isn’t usually acceptable on a football pitch. The Afrika winger was finally sent off.

The final minutes of the game would see a both teams score. TOM tapped in at the back post from a #conorOffPens cross (although he nearly missed it), and the other Afrika winger beat several FCFC players and finished off a well taken consolation goal.

A great team performance from FCFC, with extra credit going to Enrico who bossed the midfield for the 75 minutes that he was on the pitch. Final score 5-2.

Summer Palace (3) vs (0) Rockets

They’ve done it! Summer Palace secured their place in the championship playoff with an impressive win against Rockets, proving that Rocket fuel doesn’t melt Palace’s nerves of steel.

Palace got off to a quick start with the league’s most fearsome finisher (*some details modified for storytelling purposes) Tommy P scoring after just 5 minutes. Tommy P would almost double his tally after rounding the keeper but placed it just wide with his weaker left foot. Palace’s second goal would come from Ole who hit a looping volley that span on the bounce and caught the keeper out.

The second half would see little change, with the Palace defence giving no opportunities to the Rockets attack. Wim, minutes after being subbed on, would pick the ball up in the midfield and, seeing how far forward he would have to run, hit a speculative shot from 35 yards which arrowed into the top corner. Absolute screamer!

Despite the win there was one negative for Palace, which was Marcel who had the ball smashed in his face by Jothan. Despite his teammate going off injured, Jothan looked pleased at finally finding a teammate with a pass.

Palace face Celtics B in the championship playoff in a couple of weeks. COME ON PALACE!!!!!!

FCFC (6) vs (1) Anejo

FCFC arrived at fortress Guanyintang knowing that they needed a win to ensure the title charge remained in their hands and produced a dominant win over their Spanish opponents. The game kicked off at 6pm, apparently to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Champions League final. FCFC played with a barebones squad, having just 11 players at kick-off and had to borrow a few Palace players. Unfortunately, star man Tommy P was unavailable after doing a spartan run and then playing for 90 minutes (in 490BC an actual spartan ran 26 miles after fighting a battle against Persia, but apparently 90 minutes and a muddy run is enough for modern day millennial snowflake “Spartans”).

While the likes of De Bruyne, Mahrez, and Sterling spent 90 minutes not scoring, the fearsome attacking trio of Turtle, TOM, and Paul took only 30 seconds to put FCFC ahead. Turtle ran onto a long ball from McLuckie, crossed across the face of goal, and the ball was tapped in by Paul (although some sources say it was an own goal).  Paul would come close shortly after, chipping over the out of position keeper, but the ball fell just wide of the post.

#conorOffPens would start to rebuild his reputation by scoring FCFC’s second of the game, clever link up play in the final third saw #conorOffPens one on one, and he coolly slotted home. FCFC would continue to dominate, and Turtle would finally find the net, shooting into the bottom corner after beating the Anejo centre back with a clever touch.

FCFC would continue to dominate in the second half and their relentless attacks paid off, with McLuckie volleying home from a corner. #conorOffPens would score his second of the game with a completely forgettable finish (as I have forgotten how he scored it), before Anejo would pull a goal back, with their winger tapping in from the back post as the FCFC defence took a mid-game siesta. #conorOffPens would finish the game off with his hattrick goal, curling the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

FCFC head into the final game of the season against Afrika knowing that a draw or win will see them qualify for the championship playoffs.