DITB Cup Round 1 Results

Diaby Does Dallas (P10) 31 vs 11 The Grapes of Raff (P12)

Yer Ma's Athletic (P8) 13 vs 12 Flexys Fairies (C6)

HIT THE BAR (P5) 19 vs 1 Barry's Elite XI (C3)

The Fernandos (C16) 15 vs 17 True Blue Strikers (P17)

The Blue Monkeys (P6) 21 vs 26 Maclacticos (P4)

Kirbs Crawlers (P16) 13 vs 16 Dirty Dubs XI (C19)

The Well Hungarian (C11) 21 vs 24 Prince of Darkness (P18)

Minibabybellefc (P19) 17 vs 24 Chamonix Albion (C19)

Howrtings (C8) 17 vs 17 Harpic Amsterdam (P9)

Gulladuff FF (P13) 16 vs 15 Feeder Club MUFC (P1)

Joeys Monsters (C12) 7 vs 16 Minus three FC (P3)

KFC Academical (P20) 12 vs 19 Gazza's Piping Hots (P10)

ABCDE FC (P2) 24 vs 18 Mersey Miracles (C13)

Cherry United (P15) 12 vs 13 Muckamore Uld (C9)

Real Goldlfish (C22) 28 vs 11 Making History (P7)

Brendy's Bruisers (P14) 23 vs 29 Probably The best (C1)

Dear All,

Before we look at the latest scores on the doors, don't forget that the DITB FFA Cup takes place this weekend so it's winner takes all and bye bye if you're knocked out!

I'm sorry but this week's update must be short and sweet as I'm up to my oxters at work and have to go to Dublin first thing in the morning.

Top scorer this week was Harpic Amsterdam on 72 points which moves Brother Molloy into 4th position.

The unpredictable ABCDE FC have taken over at the top with another fine score of 70 points and now has an eye on a record-equalling third league title. Can he handle the pressure at the top? Well, he certainly has the experience to do so.

Even The Grapes managed a decent score this week with 68 points moving the chairman up to the heady heights of 10th position.

It's as you were at the bottom, although the Prince if making a strong effort to catch True Blue Strikers. We could have a battle on our hands!!!

Probably the Best still leads the Conference from Bazking in Glory and Boys of Summer, while once again the bottom three remain the same.

So good luck to everyone involved in the cup this weekend. Transfers used wisely could be the key to the next round so you'll need this week's password, which is EDWARDS.

Until next time........

.............READ 'EM AND WEEP!!!!!!!!!

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos Overall Manager Team Week Pts Tot Pts 1 6076 Mr John McDermott ABCDE FC 70 869 2 6442 Mr Geoff Johnston Minus Three FC 64 867 3 6627 Mr Conor Walls Feeder club MUFC 58 866 4 14096 Mr Mark Molloy Harpic Amsterdam 72 839 4 14096 Dr Owen McNally Maclacticos 48 839 6 15244 Mr Declan Crudden HIT THE BAR 56 836 7 15649 Mr Gary McDonald Gazzas Piping Hots 61 835 8 32085 Mr Kurt Festraerts Making History 45 803 9 32780 Mr Paul Brogan Diaby Does Dallas 45 802 10 34765 Mr Michael Rafferty The Grapes of Raff 68 799 11 47055 Mr Brian Shields the blue monkeys 37 782 12 54606 Mr Fra Jones Yer Ma's Athletic 28 773 13 67189 Mr Brendan Devlin Brendys Bruisers 45 759 14 72032 Mr Matthew Henry Gulladuff F.F 46 754 15 77787 Mr Andy Kirby kirbs crawlers 53 748 16 91100 Mr William Cherry Cherry United 38 735 17 123095 Mr Jules Eilledge True Blue Strikers 27 704 18 133332 Mr Gavin Sheehy Prince of Darkness 66 694 19 176807 Miss Claire Baber MINIBABYBELLEFC 51 645 20 187998 Mr Kevin McCauley KFC Academical 52 629

Your league is placed 799 out of 10686 with an average score of 856. DITB Conference League Pos Overall Manager Team Week Pts Tot Pts 1 9992 Mr Mark Stevenson PROBABLY THE BEST 44 852 2 31439 Mr Barry Corr bazkinginglory 54 804 3 37478 Mr Austin McGinley Boys of Summer 48 795 4 53718 Mr Barry Jones Barry's Elite XI 25 774 5 61599 Mr Brendan Kelly flexys fairys 57 765 5 61599 Mr colly mckenna micky hartes x1 51 765 7 81842 Mr Alan Stewart Muckamore Uld 49 744 8 99252 Mr Simon Patrick O'Sullivan Sheer Kidology 30 727 9 102415 Mr Conor Donnelly The Busted Sofas 64 724 9 102415 Mr Brendan Henry HOWRTINGS 35 724 11 106556 Mr Connell McGinley Mighty Con Villa 27 720 12 117023 Mr Andrew McCabe Joeys Monsters 50 710 13 128250 Mr Simon Jenkins Stickshifter FC 64 699 14 132292 Mr Conor Nugent The Well Hungarian 30 695 15 136330 Mr Gareth Bradley Hoofers UTD 45 691 16 140231 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Mersey Miracles 41 687 17 143081 Mr Alan McCabe Dirty Dubs XI 61 684 18 155330 Mr paul maynes The fernandos 38 671 19 176054 Mr Philip McCabe Chamonix Albion 32 646 20 189339 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Cool Dude Zoo 27 627 21 201899 Mr conor mc avoy REAL GOLDFISH 28 605 22 211030 Master Eamon Eastwood Virgin Surfers 47 585 Your league is placed 4464 out of 10686 with an average score of 798.

Dear All,

Welcome to Belfast and the live draw for the first round proper of the DIVING IN THE BOX FFA CUP.

Before, we start the draw, on behalf of the DITB League, I'd like to say get well soon to 'Doc' McNally (Maclacticos) who picked up a bad football injury last week when he smacked someone in the elbow with his face, breaking his jaw and cheekbones in four places. He no longer looks like Petr Cech, but more closely resembles former Northern Ireland striker Iain Dowie.

We hope the surgery goes well and that you make a full recovery 'Doc'!

Now, on with the draw...

This year, I will once again be ably assisted by independent adjudicator Brother Johnston (Minus Three FC).

Brother Johnston will draw the home teams while my good self will draw the away teams.

This year's prize will be £50 for the winner as well as the coveted FFA Cup trophy, currently held by Brother Stewart (Muckamore ULD).

Runner-up gets zilch, diddly squat, sweet FA, BFH... bus fare home, nothing in this game for two in a bed... etc, etc, etc.

Anyway, to repeat the rules...

To coincide with the fourth round of the cup, the first round of our very own FFA Cup randomly pits one team directly against another in a knock-out situation.

Our 16 winners will progress to the second round and so on, with each round coinciding with that of the English FA Cup - right up until the final.

The winner of each match will be the team that scores the most points in that particular week.

In the event of a draw, there will be a replay between the teams concerned the following week. If, in the unlikely event, of another draw, then the team with home advantage will go through.

We have 20 Premier League teams in the hat, alongside 12 Conference League teams so will we witness any giant killing feats?

Will there be any close friends or allies pitted against each other in the first round?

Will teams sacrifice their league position for the chance of FFA Cup glory (as did last year's champion)?

There's only one way to find out...

Once the draw has been made, please fell free to post any messages you might have to your opponent on screen for all to see. Let's get the rivalry going!!!

Brother Johnston, can you stop playing with your balls and start the actual draw....................

Cool Dude Zoo, can you give us a roll on your new Roland electronic kit please....................

And we're off. Just scroll down.....

Last week's league positions are in brackets along with P (Premier League) or C (Conference League).............. these positions are BEFORE last weekend's scores

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Diaby Does Dallas (P10) vs The Grapes of Raff (P12)

Looks tighter on paper than in reality. Only a fool would bet against Brother Brogan given the chairman's current form.

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Yer Ma's Athletic (P8) vs Flexys Fairies (C6)

Our first inter-league battle. Yer Ma must be favourite to secure a home win, although Flexy is performing well in the Conference.

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HIT THE BAR (P5) vs Barry's Elite XI (C3)

Brother Crudden will fancy himself against Conference League debutant - but could be a potential banana skin as Barry is going well in the Conference.

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The Fernandos (C16) vs True Blue Strikers (P17)

One of those ties where both managers will be happy. After knocking out Paddy Sulls, Brother maynes will fancy his chances at home to a disappointing Brother Eilledge. Potential upset with a Conference win?

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The Blue Monkeys (P6) vs Maclacticos (P4)

Contender for tie of the round between two Premiership high fliers. Maclacticos will fancy an away win, based on the current form of The Monkeys, but Brother Shields is already planning to target the Doc's face in the first five minutes. Ouch!!!!

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Kirbs Crawlers (P16) vs Dirty Dubs XI (C19)

Not the most exciting of ties between two teams in the lower regions of their respective leagues. Enough said.

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The Well Hungarian (C11) vs Prince of Darkness (P18)

A good local derby to whet the appetite! Brother Nugent will fancy his chances against premiership struggler Cheeko - will the Premier League quality tell in the end? Tie of the round contender.

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Minibabybellefc (P19) vs Chamonix Albion (C19)

Potential family feud warning as McCabe#3 takes on his brother's fiancee in yet another Conference vs premier league clash. Not a good draw for McCabe as no-one likes to potentially be beaten by a girl!

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Howrtings (C8) vs Harpic Amsterdam (P9)

The Conference teams continue to avoid each other as another fixture pits Brother Henry Snr against Brother Molloy. Tricky away tie but Molloy should have the edge.

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Gulladuff FF (P13) vs Feeder Club MUFC (P1)

League leader Brother Walls will be fairly happy with an away tie against Brother Henry Jnr. Never easy but the guru should have too much fire power.

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Joeys Monsters (C12) vs Minus three FC (P3)

Brother Johnston is jumping around the room punching the air with this draw. "Bye Bye Joey!", he's shouting. Can McCabe cause a famous cup upset?

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KFC Academical (P20) vs Gazza's Piping Hots (P10)

Gazza Mac gets the draw that everyone was hoping for!!! Can KFC salvage something from this season with a decent cup run? Brother McDonald is the Piping Hot favourite for this one.

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ABCDE FC (P2) vs Mersey Miracles (C13)

Probably the most one-sided tie of the round. ABCDE is the in-form team in the DITB league at the moment and should prove far too much for the young Miracles at home. In fact, Son of Chuckie will NEED a miracle to get through this one. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles would stand a better chance! Looks like it's gonna be a Miracle Whip for Brother O'Sullivan!

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Cherry United (P15) vs Muckamore Uld (C9)

Its Utd vs Uld as defending champ Brother Stewart travels to Cherry Valley (what's YOUR FF team's home stadium called?). Cherry should still be favourite on paper but Muckamore has that cup winning experience. Could be a tight contest.

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Real Godlfish (C22) vs Making History (P7)

The Professor could hardly have hoped for an easier draw than an away trip to the hapless Real Goldfish. Unless Brother Mac, having given up on any promotion hopes, decides to pile his resources into winning the Cup? An undoubted away win.

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Brendy's Bruisers (P14) vs Probably The best (C1)

Unbelievably, no Conference team has drawn another Conference team!!! What were the odds on that!!!! This final tie is the 12th inter-league tie of the round and is a tricky one indeed for the Bruisers at home to the Conference's runaway leader. Great match in store.

So that concludes the draw for the first round proper of the Diving in the Box FFA Cup. Ties to be played on the weekend of January 24 / 25.

There you have it folks! The countdown is on again to FFA Cup glory. Anyone can win a one-off game and the magic of the cup should ensure that we have plenty of thrills and spills at the end of the month.

I'm looking forward to the pre-match mind games which I hope will be put on screen for all to see. Let me know your thoughts too on the tie of the round.

Thanks to Brother Johnston for his assistance.

Good luck and I'll be in touch with the league update soon.

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/

PS: As a special task, can everyone please send me the name of their home ground as soon as possible, e.g., Cherry United plays at Cherry Valley.

Dear All,

The only thing I can say this week is thank the lord for Kevin McCauley!!!

When everything I touch is going pear shaped for The Grapes, I just look at the bottom of the table, and suddenly I feel better again! And I'm sure that others feel the same. Good on you Colonel!!!

Meanwhile in the topsy turvey world of the DITB Premier League, the lead has changed hands once again like the proverbial hot steaming turd (or should that be potato?).

Brother Johnston's Minus Three FC have bottled it again and now it's the turn of self-professed football guru Walls and Feeder Club MUFC to take over the mantle - and all the pressure that comes with it!

Look what the pressure did to the Blue Monkeys for example!!!

One minute Brother Shields was basically league champion, calling in his bets (albeit in November). Next minute he's hurtling down the table faster than Linford Christie's lunchbox on speed.

Not that I can talk, with my paltry 9 points placing The Grapes in the bottom half of the table for the first time in what must be 12 years!!!

What are the odds on the chairman getting relegated????

As I said, KFC always cheers me up!

So Guru Walls sits proudly at the top of the league, just one point ahead of two time champion Brother McDermott who has come from nowhere (I remember a girl saying that about him before as she wiped herself clean) to make a challenge for the title - and equal The Professor's record of three league crowns!!!

Unbelievably, Brother Crudden's HIT THE BAR squad is in the top five too, but how long can he stick the pace before he gets a nose bleed. Well, if he keeps 'coggin' McD's team, he might actually do okay!!!

The top five is completed by perennial bottler Minus Three FC and the steady former champ Maclacticos.

Yer Ma's Athletic made good ground this week, as did Gazza's Piping Hots, both leapfrogging The Grapes and making it a good week for the newly promoted teams.

Still, it's all very tight with just 54 points separating the top 12 teams.

It looks like it's going to be a real scrap until the end of the season but it remains to be seen who's up for it and who wants to go home crying to mammy!

At the bottom of the table, or the leper colony as it's oft referred to, the week's lowest score of just THREE points puts KFC in extreme danger of experiencing life in the Conference next season (shudder at the thought!) - and the same could be said for the Prince of Darkness whose FIVE point total places him firmly in the relegation zone, some 30 points from safety.

In between, Minibabybelle may be planning another miraculous last-minute escape but, like Torvill and Dean, she'd need to get her skates on (boom boom!).

Maybe she misses her man Andy, but as there's no chance of him ever getting promoted, the only way for them to be together is for her to sacrifice herself and get relegated.

Hold on to that woman McCabe - she's one in a million!!! Not many other women would let themselves be dragged down to your level.

Top scorer of the week is the Conference League's Dirty Dubs XI with a very impressive 42 points, ahead of Gazza's Piping Hots and The Fernandos (yes the Fernandos!!!), both on 37 points.

Staying with the Conference League, there looks to be no stopping Probably the Best who now leads the table by almost 70 points from Bazkinginglory, who is fighting it out for promotion with Barry's Elite XI and the Boys of Summer.

Taking Brother Stevenson out of the equation, there's still a lot to play for in this division for teams in the top half of the table.

Less than 100 points separates second place from 14th position and that's by no means impossible to make up with half the season remaining.

That's probably the best news that The Busted Sofas have heard in years (apart from his wife being pregnant..., no actually, INCLUDING his wife being pregnant!!

The worst team in the league bar none is still the Virgin Surfers and while Real Goldfish are second from bottom, Brother McAvoy can console himself that he still has more points than Brother McCauley (talk about clutching at straws!!).

Chamonix Albion and Cool Dude Zoo are locked together in battle to avoid that third relegation place... so we might as well congratulate Brother McCabe (herewith to be known as McCabe#3)now.

Remember that, depending on how many people want to join the league next season, those relegated from the Conference League, may actually be relegated into a new third division!!!

"Oooooooh," I hear you say, as you hold your handbags to your chins!!! That's wiped the smiles of a few faces!!! Even the Hoofers have just filled their togs!

So my friends (I call you that but in reality if I see you walking down the street I always cross to the other side) that's about it for this week.

I personally am looking forward to a weekend where I hope to have more than two players taking to the pitch, as I'm sure many of you do.

Anyone wanting to avail of Defoe's 'debut' hat-trick for father figure 'Arry can put him into their team with the password QUINN.

And with that hot tip, I leave you to ponder over your selections for Saturday.

Good luck, and until next week...............

READ 'EM AND WEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos Overall Manager Team Week Pts Tot Pts 1 9713 Mr Conor Walls Feeder club MUFC 24 775 2 10007 Mr John McDermott ABCDE FC 31 774 3 12644 Mr Geoff Johnston Minus Three FC 12 766 4 13798 Dr Owen McNally Maclacticos 16 763 5 22526 Mr Declan Crudden HIT THE BAR 16 745 6 23661 Mr Brian Shields the blue monkeys 10 743 7 27909 Mr Kurt Festraerts Making History 13 736 8 31886 Mr Fra Jones Yer Ma's Athletic 32 730 9 32612 Mr Mark Molloy Harpic Amsterdam 18 729 10 33344 Mr Gary McDonald Gazzas Piping Hots 37 728 10 33344 Mr Paul Brogan Diaby Does Dallas 26 728 12 38612 Mr Michael Rafferty The Grapes of Raff 9 721 13 62464 Mr Matthew Henry Gulladuff F.F 35 694 13 62464 Mr Brendan Devlin Brendys Bruisers 22 694 15 71612 Mr William Cherry Cherry United 18 685 16 87215 Mr Andy Kirby kirbs crawlers 29 670 17 106005 Mr Jules Eilledge True Blue Strikers 15 653 18 139713 Mr Gavin Sheehy Prince of Darkness 5 622 19 171239 Miss Claire Baber MINIBABYBELLEFC 18 589 20 197172 Mr Kevin McCauley KFC Academical 3 553

Your league is placed 1407 out of 10687 with an average score of 765.

DITB Conference League Pos Overall Manager Team Week Pts Tot Pts 1 5237 Mr Mark Stevenson PROBABLY THE BEST 32 794 2 34125 Mr Barry Corr bazkinginglory 11 727 3 35604 Mr Barry Jones Barry's Elite XI 26 725 4 38612 Mr Austin McGinley Boys of Summer 11 721 5 52094 Mr colly mckenna micky hartes x1 21 705 6 62464 Mr Brendan Kelly flexys fairys 13 694 7 82951 Mr Connell McGinley Mighty Con Villa 11 674 8 88307 Mr Brendan Henry HOWRTINGS 18 669 9 98274 Mr Simon Patrick O'Sullivan Sheer Kidology 20 660 9 98274 Mr Alan Stewart Muckamore Uld 36 660 11 108225 Mr Conor Nugent The Well Hungarian 23 651 12 121653 Mr Andrew McCabe Joeys Monsters 18 639 13 131303 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Mersey Miracles 22 630 14 133391 Mr Conor Donnelly The Busted Sofas 25 628 15 140750 Mr Simon Jenkins Stickshifter FC 17 621 16 141779 Mr paul maynes The fernandos 37 620 17 146935 Mr Gareth Bradley Hoofers UTD 18 615 18 153903 Mr Alan McCabe Dirty Dubs XI 42 608 19 176345 Mr Philip McCabe Chamonix Albion 22 583 19 176345 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Cool Dude Zoo 14 583 21 195356 Mr conor mc avoy REAL GOLDFISH 25 556 22 213642 Master Eamon Eastwood Virgin Surfers 20 520 Your league is placed 3666 out of 10687 with an average score of 734.

Dear All,

In what was a tricky weekend's fixtures, the preliminary round of the DITB FFA Cup saw some surprisingly high scores and some unexpected results.... ah the magic of the cup!!!

Without further ado, let's see who made it through to join the Premier League clubs in the first round draw.

Remember that the 11 winners PLUS the highest scoring loser will go through.

Here we go.....

Joeys Monsters 22 vs Cool Dude Zoo 14

No surprise here. Cool Dude Zoo are and always will be CRAP! Easy win for Brother McCabe over Chuckle Brother Snr.

Real Goldfish 25 vs Virgin Surfers 20

First thing Brother McAvoy's had to smile about all season. He was playing the only team below him in the league though!

Mersey Miracles 22 vs Mickey Hartes XI 21

Son of Chuckie makes it through in a tight scrap against the higher placed XI. Good home win to see at least one O'Sullivan in the first round.

Boys of Summer 11 vs Probably the Best 32

Seems to be no stopping Brother Stevenson at the moment. Relentless scoring secures an easy away win against an off-form Brother McGinley.

The Well Hungarian 23 vs Stickshifter FC 17

Good home win against debutant Jenkins should stop Brother Nugent whinging for a while... and no, the FFA Cup winner DOESN'T win promotion to the Premier league!!!

Flexys Fairies 13 vs Mighty Con Villa 11

Low scoring match between two of the Conference League's high fliers. Home advantage edges it for Flexy. End of the road for the McGinley Brothers.

HOWRTINGS 18 vs Bazkinginglory 11

Despite yet another awful team name, Brother Henry Snr enjoys a comfortable win over second placed Baz, who can now focus on a much coveted promotion to the big league.

The Busted Sofas 25 vs Muckamore Uld 36

Excellent away win for the defending Cup champion Stewart, overcoming a gutsy performance from Brother Donnelly. Don't know what Uld stands for though?

The Fernandos 37 vs Sheer Kidology 20

They'll be singing in the streets of Bristol Avenue as former Muppet Maynes sends Chuckle Brother Jnr packing. FAF anyone????

Hoofers Utd 18 vs Chamonix Albion 22

Another McCabe makes it safely into the first round at the expense of wiley campaigner Brother Bradley - hoof hailed to step up to the mark! Chamon you!!!

Dirty Dubs XI 42 vs Barry's Elite XI 26

The shock of the round makes it a hat-trick of wins for the three McCabe Brothers - it's like the Sons of Katie Elder in here!!! Fellow debutant Jones sent home with his tail between his legs.

Or was he....?

Yes, Barry's Elite XI (the chairman appreciates your correct use of the apostrophe!) keeps his cup and promotion double hopes alive by edging home as the highest scoring loser in the preliminary round.

Much to the chagrin of Brother Donnelly who, on 25 points, scored just one point less. Imagine having your sofa busted on the strength of a single booking or a substitution!!! Unlucky lad. Come and take a look at what you would have won.

So my friends, to recap, the following teams will join the 20 big guns in the first round FFA Cup draw. How many of them will survive?

Joeys Monsters

Real Goldfish

Mersey Miracles

Probably The Best

The Well Hungarian

Flexys Fairies

Howrtings

Muckamore Uld

The Fernandos

Chamonix Albion

Dirty Dubs XI

Barry's Elite XI

Congratulations to all the winners.

And finally, for our our losers, as we always say at this time of the year... you're s**t and you know you are!

Until the next time.

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/