The non-musicians hurried through their final lessons, the big game being the only thing on everyone’s minds. After the second period had finished, the handsome players of the Wells football team jogged down to the backyard of the fire station, where the football game was to be held. Behind them followed an adoring sea of appreciation, in the form of the JTR students.
The stadium left much to be desired and extra challenges to be overcome by our noble squad of six littered the pitch. The ground was a coarse sheet of pebbles, causing those lacking in concentration to slip and stumble, partnered also with occasional boulders and strips of concrete which split the earth, creating a dangerous path for any unprepared player. But this was no match for the perilously attractive Wells Cathedral Team.
The lineup consisted of the top six players Wells could offer, who between them have spent many a happy and laborious hour in the gym pumping iron, back home in England. Our captain was brilliant and brave Benjamin Brookes, who stands at 6 foot 3 and uses his sheer manliness to control the play from his standpoint at the epicentre of the pitch.
Sitting, but not resting, just behind Ben were our dogged defenders, the cement of our team. But don’t get me wrong, these boys are far flung from the immobility and viscosity of cement but actually play a far more paramount as the eye candy of the team. Heroic Hector and terrific Tom worked as brothers in arms controlling, with superfluous ease the back of the pitch.
However, standing not far behind and forming border between the goal-line and no-man’s land was the head man of Wells Cathedral School, jacked Jayj. Who, with the reflexes of a cheetah, could occasionally stop balls shot at him and was ready to make some acrobatic and gravity defying saves.
The real high rollers of the unit, however, stood proudly at the head of our team, our front two; huge Hugo and fearless Freddie, standing at an average height of 5 foot 6, ready to strike, like coiled vipers, sometimes if they were lucky sending shots into the back of the net (always top bins.)
The heat sweltered the cracked concrete but the well hydrated Wells unit strolled nonchalantly onto the pitch. They stood defiantly in front of the scared opposition ready to show of the incredibly high level of sporting prowess Wells has to offer. The game started and within 3 minutes we were two nil down to a team half of our age. The embarrassment continued as Hector fell foul and stumbled after being Maradona turned and completely deluded by a boy of eight. A neat rainbow flick, a complex skill first performed by Neil Page in the 1956 World Cup, flew over the head of Freddie, adding insult to injury. Our harrowed boys clung to the seconds, until the liberating whistle of half time allowed some respite. The half time talk was met with serious complexions and we came back on to the pitch ready to fight. Almost instantaneously the play became better with precise through balls and stunning distribution. After a lofted pass from Freddie flitted through the gap between defenders, Hugo, with his weak foot, plunged the ball deep into the back of the net. This was just the beginning. High intensity play from both sides continued to span the field, but the score still stood at 2-1 to JTR. The clock ticked further towards full time and gameplay became more frantic, rising to a fever pitch in the 19th minute. Suddenly after a missed tackle by one of the JTR defenders Hugo strafed through to face the keeper, 1 on 1. This was the moment. Quickly evaluating the situation and considering all possible alternatives Hugo decided on a complicated flare shot as his chosen manoeuvre. After fainting the goalie to one side he pulled the ball back and flicked it with his back-heel, past the baffled keeper into the back of the net. The crowd went manic, storming the pitch and the final whistle blew, calling a 2-2 draw between Wells and JTR.
In the morning before the big game, the musicians were shown around the JTR school and admired the stunning views of the city from the balcony of the main school building. During this tour we passed a class which didn’t have a teacher present. We took it upon ourselves to teach these students to sing ‘London’s burning’. The students seemed very happy with this and were very enthusiastic when listening to us all sing Billy Joel’s ‘Longest time,’ which in the words of the non-musicians is a ‘top class banger’. After busting out some tunes it was time to prepare for the huge game. Litres of water was consumed and Factor 50 suncream was slapped on, meaning our football players were glowing even more than usual, if that is even physically possible.
After the big game we said our sad, but final goodbyes to JTR. Many of us received homemade gifts from the students we each had formed personal bonds with. The staff wished us thanks and farewell and generously gave all of us a polo shirt and other gifts to remember them by. Leaving the school proved to be a challenge as we had swarms small children clinging on to us trying to makes us stay. The footballers handled the situation well, used to dealing with large numbers of adoring fans. With great sadness and reluctance we hopped into the Musa-mobile and headed to the Ballanta Academy of Music. The ‘director’Leslie expressed his gratitude to us and kindly gave us all Sierra Leone wristbands to remember our stay. Some voice students from Ballanta performed a fantastic vocal piece for us, which was a brilliant send off.
From the Ballanta Academy of Music we drove rapidly, in the back of Francis’ van, to Leone prep school for our last concert of the trip. When we arrived the students of the school were particularly intrigued by the French Horn and seemed to enjoy Freddie and Amelia’s rendition of drunken sailor. One noticeable piece to be highly commended was Harriet’s performance of her original song, with June Rippon singing alongside; the audience enthusiastically clapped out of time throughout the performance adding an intriguingly alternative aspect to the original piece. Once again we sang Longest Time and despite a slight voice crack from JJ, the concert overall was a fantastic performance providing a perfect denouement to the final day- and the adulation of the audience for our performance in Krio of Akpo Uman, a traditional folk song.
Freddie and Tom
Freddie and Tom
