Alderney and inter island football...

"FORWARD get that BLOODY thing forward!" I have to say I am not a particularly nice person on the touchline at any football match, wanting two things attacking flair and winning football. When I am in the fantasy technical area I am completely ruthless, not there to be loved but to maybe be feared.

Stevie, the coach's brother, sat earnestly wishing that the guy next to him had been stuck longer at Southampton Airport. The week before had been a disaster had been at Wembley watching The Almighty Blues lose to The You Will Never Walk Alone Lot. At Wembley, my big brother Charlie and I had been yelling at defenders because of a lax playout from the back. If we can shout at Azpi and Rudiger then we can damn well shout at Benfield and Adamson...

Josh C is a great coach, he resembles a mixture of Sean Dyche, Antonio Conte, and Diego Simeone. It is the Josh show he is tactically very astute but boy does he love his defensive football. I myself do not really tolerate defensive football for me the game is about winning in style. It appeared as if Josh was now doing an impression of Super Tommy Tuchel. When an Earth do Alderney FC get the ball past the halfway line? The game ended 1-1.

Before the game, Josh had taken me up to what resembles the Directors Box. Half expected to bump into Ed Woodward or a smartly dressed Arsenal scout. Josh and I were chatting tactics chewing hard on gum and planning an assort on the ketchup and burgers downstairs. I've known Josh and Stevie a long time, half Dupont's they really are locals.

Next, I went to chat up the footballer's wives who were discussing yellow cards and Alderney interiors. For what is effectively a village club with stunning coastal and harbourside views Alderney Football Club is pretty decent. It was fun to chat up the wives and girlfriends but really I was just here for the beer, burgers, and football.

Alderney is a highly politicized place and everyone began to slag off the referee who was some dirty Guernsey person apparently. During the game, I had wanted more attackers, why not play 3 up front? Josh is an elegant footballer always in control in some strange way he resembles Chelsea's, T Silva.

As I watch a fishing boat pass the breakwater I wondered if there was any place I'd rather watch football? Surrounded by friends who had grown up with me. People who had seen me bring half the beach back to the second home pad in Little Street. I was just so happy to have a season and a half loan move to Alderney. Alderney is home and the people of Alderney feel more like family and friends.

Can Alderney get to the Muratti final? Wish such a solid defensive mind as Josh's sure they can. But can we go more maverick and attacking... Thanks, Josh for making me tea, you will go far.