Chaos Cup 2025 - An excellent Branch effort

18 August 2025

2025 Chaos Cup, 21 June 2025, Douglas Eyre Stadium, Walthamstow E17

Weather permitting (clouds that is) you can generally guarantee that 21 June will be the longest day of the year because, well, it really is, but, facts aside, it absolutely flew by for the Branch members who took part in the 2025 Chaos Cup.

Falling on a Saturday, it meant it was an early Friday night for the players hoping to be fresh enough to go for gold and actually win the competition this time round.

Veterans Jugsy and Steve both ran at different park-runs as a warm-up, Jugsy the other side of E17 and Steve, who has been around the world in 2025, at the fairly near Oaklands College.

16 teams, 6-a-side, with four groups competing. In previous years CUSCLB had finished 3rd in their group and gone on to win the 'plate'.

First up were Birkbeck Orient, celebrating their 20th anniversary as a team. In a surprisingly physical game, some of the BOFC players saw Steam with their challenges.

CUSCLB decided to Let It All Go and concentrate on the football. BOFC took an early lead, a break clean through on goal, James did well to take the power out of the shot but, as it spun towards the nets, Jugsy was able to back heel it off the line, only for the onrushing Tom to rebound it into the net.

In the searing heat, players were changed and CUSCLB got their deserved equaliser, good play by Lucas on the left, leaving BOFC Counting Clouds, found Gijs unmarked at the back post and despite his fumbled attempt the ball somehow spun into the goal. The game stayed this way. It's Alright, it’s alright, everything's gonna be alright. 1-1.

Next up were the local Coppermill Swifts, out to avenge their defeat to CUSCLB last season. Captain Chris started with a different line-up which saw the Swifts leading 1-2 at half-time. Joe scored the Blues goal.

In the second half Carlisle had their Best Days play. Lucas played in dad Chris, who forced a handball to win a penalty. Having won the spot kick, it was Chris who stepped up to take responsibility with a perfect one-step-back finish. Jugsy started doing tricks, his back arm throw-in was genius at work, though too quick for the Swifts.

The winner was pure Lucas magic, rounding his opponent and striking cleanly from distance leaving the Coppermill's brassed off for the second year running. 3-2.

Steve, not knackered enough from his parkrun and match play (having also cleared a Swifts effort off the line!), volunteered to referee the match between BOFC and Coppermills. His leniency to tackling paid off and the game was well won by CSFC.

This win meant Carlisle were into the last eight for the first time and a deserved place in the 'Cup' competition.

The final group game was against a very impressive PSG who were all French and fit as a frog catcher’s apprentice. Captain Chris wanted to start deep, and park le-bus. Despite several good saves by James the opening soon came as a PSG break through put them in front.

Hoping for another comeback on came the four changes. Jugsy's legs had gone, and PSG got their second after a dubious corner was retaken. Hey Child, the PSG praised young Lucas as a top player, stopping many chances. (Let’s hope they don't poach him like they do the fish in the channel) and Steve cleared another effort off the line. 0-2.

Time for an hour break whilst the officials decided who was to play who and where. Don't You Feel So Good played from the speakers and there was a buzz that we might just be able to cause an upset.

Worthing, winners of group C, were our quarter-final opponents. Captain Chris again went defensive to start, with Lucas at the back. This looked to be working but as he stopped all play down the left it was a ball across to the right that caught Carlisle napping, and the Worthing player got lucky striking the post and forcing it beyond the diving James.

Harvey battled well up front, linking with Tom B, but couldn't forge a real goal chance. In the second half Carlisle stepped up the pace and everyone put in a good shift. Tom E pressed and Lucas hit the bar, but Worthing were Worthy winners in the end. 0-1.

Elsewhere Coppermill went on to win the plate and PSG won the final 4-1, showing just how good they were, and possibly how good we were too only losing 0-2 to them in the group stage.

After a scorching day, post-match beers were enjoyed as God finally decided to Let It Rain, the players mused Betcha Can't Wait until next year. Steve and Jugsy went off for a sneaky burger and pool match, won spawningly 3-2 by Steve.

It had been a great success and I was wishing I could Stay Another Day.