harnham USA football team

Some lives are defined in short unexpected, spontaneous moments. For 5 young stallions on a chilly night in early March, under the glittering lights of the Empire State Building, lives were changed forever in 30 exhausting, passionate and gut-wrenching minutes.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I say true beauty is evident for all to see.

What occurred on the corner of 11th Avenue and 23rd Street was truly beautiful and will be talked about for generations. Many years from now, grandchildren will hear the story of the 5 British men, who walked through the streets of western Manhattan seeking glory and honor.

What they discovered is that there can be no glory without hard work, sweat, and tears.

As our heroes puffed out their chests and stood there motionless for the team photo in front of a sellout crowd consistent of 1 guy walking a dog and someone who was lost! Nobody could predict what lay ahead.

The early minutes were cagey, tight, menacing, yet promising too. Harnham moved the ball with swagger, confidence, and agility.

In between the posts was the irresistible force that is Adam ‘Keenos’ Keene. In front of this agile man was a brick wall made of guts and cement in the form of Ireland's Allister Duncan, also known as 'Dunc' and the bald headed maestro that is Jamie ‘Salmon’ King. These two were on the same page from start to finish. If Dunc was bread, then Salmon was the spread.

In front of them was no mere mortal. Some are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them. For Sam ‘Maughany’ Maughan, it's a bit of both. He commanded the center of the field, and quite possibly slipped this paragraph in!

It was his. He owned it.

He glided across the pitch like no man had ever before.

Just in front of him was a spiky fellow known as Mark ‘Hedgehog’. Hedgehogs are not known for their pace or agility, but this cunning mammal was like no other seen before. Having declared himself unable to participate in any type of sport before the game, this tiny creature covered every blade of grass with the sort of desire and purpose that few have ever seen.

5 minutes had not passed when Sam Maughany picked the ball up 20 yards from goal, drove at the heart of the enemy's midfield and launched an audacious and gorgeously crafted lob that floated over the hapless keeper.

Harnham led 1-0.

Believing the impossible dream could become reality, Harnham searched for a second, and they didn't have to wait long for it either.

Keenos distributed the ball wide to the Salmon, the Salmon drifted inwards and sprayed the ball left where Dunc was waiting patiently. Dunc threw his opponent out of the way with a force that could be only admired, then Dunc slid a delightful ball through to the Hedgehog, who fainted one way, then the other and released Maughany; who made haste and crossed the halfway line.

With options limited ahead, he decided to unleash a pile-driver of a strike which flew faster than the speed of light and dipped deliciously into the top right corner. Maughany was mobbed by his teammates as Harnham celebrated a 2 goal lead.

Our heroes now had room to breathe. But like every love story, a moment of heartbreak is never far away.

With half time only 5 minutes away, Harnham's fitness levels finally became evident. They had none.

Harnham were literally on their knees. It was quite a sight to behold. Our brave warriors looked defeated. These guys were seriously struggling and alas an opportunity came for their opponents to take advantage.

Within 3 stomach turning, painful minutes, their lead was no more.

2 brilliant strikes had left Keenos with no chance whatsoever and Harnham were staring down the barrel of a famous football collapse.

Seconds before the break Harnham had one last chance to restore the lead but Jamie Salmon's close range strike was weak and well-kept out by a desperate dive from their keeper.

2-2 at the break.

Our generals gathered in a team huddle. A new source of energy appeared out of the darkness. There was a sense of optimism in the air that few have seen before. You could see the belief pouring out of them, this was to be their night, and nobody was going to take that away from them.

Mark Hedgehog reminded everyone of how far they had come... some from Brooklyn, others from the Upper East Side and one from the Village that lies far to the East. There was no way they were returning without 3 points.

The first 10 minutes of the 2nd half were cagey. Both sides feeling out the other, probing for weaknesses.

Within those 10 long grueling minutes there was a moment of greatness. Our opponents launched a devastating attack, tearing through Harnham. We seemed undone. Despair was inevitable.

But one man said no. One man stood up to be counted and said you shall not pass. That man was Adam ‘Keenos’ Keene. As a stinging, rasping effort flew towards the bottom corner, the outstanding Keene flung himself in its path, and with an outstretched arm he pushed the ball around the post. It was sheer magic!

Harnham went straight up the other end. Dunc found Maughany in space and the midfield maestro completed his hat-trick to send the traveling fans absolutely wild. Maughany had beaten two men and coolly slotted the ball under the despairing dive of our opponent’s keeper.

3-2 up, the final 60 seconds were a little chaotic as the enemy launched long balls deep into Harnham territory, but our heroes stuck together and beat everything away.

At the final whistle, Jamie Salmon collapsed to the floor. Sam Maughany was exhausted, Mark Hedgehog fell into the grateful arms of Allister Dunc and Adam Keenos kissed his goal posts.

Harnham had done it. 3 points that literally nobody had given them any hope of claiming were theirs.

This is what it means to be Harnham... This is what it means to win.... This is what it means to seek glory and to find it...