Now I know what you’re thinking,  “Nomadland, isn’t that the academy award winning picture directed by Chloé Zhao, what does that have to do with a Cambridge South hockey match?!”

Well you see, ‘Cambridge Nomads’ (our rivals of the day) and Nomadland (2021 Academy award winning picture directed by Chloé Zhao) both have the word ‘Nomad’ in them, a subtle joke but a rather elegant one.

Now I’ve never seen Nomadland (2021 Academy award winning picture directed by Chloé Zhao) but I don’t think it is unreasonable to assume that the events of the film are identical to that of our Saturday afternoon fixture. Unlike the movie though, no one received any Film or TV awards for their performance, apologies James Menzies, this isn’t 18th February 2018.

Without further ado though I will move onto the big day. Let me set the scene:

Saturday, March 19th. The city streets are crowded for the game. Even with the sunshine. Hidden in the chaos is Nomads, waiting to strike like snakes. And I'm there too. Watching. 4 years of Lola Lo’s have turned me into a nocturnal animal. I must choose my targets carefully. It's a big city. I can't be everywhere. But they don't know where I am. We have a signal now, for when I'm needed. When that light hits the sky, it's not just a call- it's a warning. To them. Fear is a tool. They think I'm hiding in the shadows. But I AM the shadows.

An excerpt taken from an interview with Tom Blair the morning of the game and definitely not an edited version of the opening monologue from ‘The Batman’.

Across the county of Cambridgeshire something felt different in the air, this is because day by day, week by week the M3s have been winning… and winning… and winning some more. Winning so much that promotion is now very much on the cards. Do these wins have something to do with the acquired talents from previous season’s M2s players, the wisdom of Tom Anns, the Tenacity of Chris Walsh, the calm temperament of George Anderson? Who’s to say, but also, who cares, all that matters is that if we can win the game today, we only need one more win to secure promotion.

The excitement was clearly all too much for Tom Anns who managed to lose his car keys right before the game. Oh no! How would he ever make it to the pitch in time… oh wait he was already at the pitch… with his car. It gradually transpired that he had made the ‘classic mistake’ of losing his car keys within his car. It still amazes me that a man who proudly promotes wearing a shirt with two front pockets refuses to utilise either of them. This carelessness of course earned him a nearly unanimous LOM.

Okay we’re one page in, time for the game. We had a confident start, with a strong 15 man squad against a Nomad’s bare 11 we came out of the gate with high intensity. This was rewarded with an interception in their half from Tom Blair, who selflessly offloaded the ball to Ali Smith who calmly slotted it into the back of the net within the first 2 minutes (1-0). (It is important to note Tom was on a 6 game goal streak, making this selflessness even more commendable)

The celebrations from this early goal were short-lived however as Nomads came back with intensity of their own and managed to equalise (1-1). The game continued with both teams fighting for the next goal, knowing the importance of it. Of course it came to south, largely thanks to the aforementioned ‘Chris Walsh Tenacity’ (2-1). Half time came and there was clearly still work to be done. We rehydrated within the blistering 13 degrees sun and were ready for action again. From the start of the half South showed the quality they have offered so often throughout this season and managed to put the game to bed, thanks to a well worked short corner routine put away by Eric Wong (3-1) and another great strike from Ali Smith (4-1).

An additional thanks has to be given to Jimbo Yarrow who had to rush off early to umpire another game, a move that ensured we did not have to forfeit our own!

South now only need one win from their remaining two fixtures to secure promotion, but it won’t be easy, with division champions Ely next week it will take everything South has to earn the number 2 spot. One thing is for sure, it will be a loose social next week if we manage to pull it off.

To close us out please see another excerpt from an interview we had with Tom Blair after the game:

I’m starting to see now. I have had an effect here. But not the one I intended. Vengeance, won’t change the past. Mine… or anyone else’s. I have to become more. People need hope. To know someone’s out there for them. This cities angry, and scarred. Like me. Our scars can destroy us… even after the physical wounds have healed. But if we can survive them. They can give us the power. To Endure. And the strength to fight.