Bernard Bags the Booty

The club's answer to Captain Jack Sparrow plundered all of the buried treasure at our Christmas party.

The dress code for the do was 'optional fancy dress' but Bernard Bustin was the only member to turn up in costume . . . as a pirate.

But the party-poopers lost out because - unsurprisingly - Bernard won first prize in the fancy dress competition . . . and the runner-up prize.

In each case, the booty was a bottle of wine.

Bob Haywood wore a Bah humbug! Santa hat, and John Moore a fetching bright orange bow tie, but neither lame gesture was deemed to qualify as fancy dress.

Fair play to club chairman Mark Grazier for arriving in a (sort of) Peaky Blinders outfit - long overcoat, waistcoat, but no peaked cap! - but he must have felt that as he was the sole fancy dress competition judge, he couldn't give himself a prize!

Forty-four members, partners and guests attended the party at Stourbridge Football Club on Friday, November 24.

They enjoyed grand-dad (and grand-ma) dancing to a DJ, a very tasty (ordered-in) buffet, a few drinks and a lot of chat.

Mark presented Bob, John, and Kevin and Fiona Weston with Thank You gifts for their behind-the-scenes work over the past year and Fiona as our No1 fan. The presents were both unexpected and much appreciated.

In turn, Mark was thanked for his tireless efforts on behalf of the club, along with wife Jojo.

Medals were also presented to members of the Over 50s team who finished runners-up in the inaugural Birmingham FA Walking Football League. They were undefeated - and lost out on the title by just one point.

Well done and Happy Christmas everybody!