Those of you who keep up to date with Rare’s goings-on will know that we’ve been doing some fundraising work for SpecialEffect, a great charity set up to help people with physical impairments enjoy video games, adapting equipment to suit their specific needs. This month, SpecialEffect held a football tournament at (well, near) Wembley where games industry teams battled it out for honour and victory. Rare’s team captain James Thomas gives us a full match report!
Rare doesn’t have the best track record in football tournaments. I think through my 11 years wearing the R on my chest, we’ve turned up many times enthused and optimistic but sadly can only claim to have left having given it our best rather than with any trophy.
That was then, though. With a broadly new squad unaware of our previous demons, we set off on September 5th to Wembley to play in SpecialEffect’s charity football tournament, in the shadow of the great stadium itself. Also there were the likes of Konami, Codemasters, Creative Assembly, and a host of other industry names. The day doubled as a cheerful reunion for many of us as we caught up with old workmates who we hadn’t seen for years.
The tournament itself took a Champions’ League format whereby the group stages would lead on to a series of knock-out games before the final. In our group Rare were drawn against Creative Assembly, Splash Damage, and Freestyle Games, some of whom we knew a little about due to moles who are now working in our own Barns. Kicking our campaign off against Splash Damage, the fast feet of Joe and Amrit proved devastating as we eased past the boys in orange 10-1. Similar success followed against a similarly tangerine-styled Freestyle Games and the boys filled their boots again with a 6-2 victory. Compared to the 2-0s and 3-1s we’d heard emanating from the other pitches, we were in buoyant mood.
What followed can only be described as over-confidence. After two sterling victories, our cavalier attitude to defence cost us dearly as a very well-organised Creative Assembly took advantage of the gaps at the back and tore us apart 6-10. Although Craig and Simon alternated well at the back, one body was simply not enough.
The reality check against the Total War creators served us well, and as we lined up against Natural Motion in the quarters we showed a level of discipline that had previously been absent. Andy, usually known for his flowing locks as he sprints down the wing, turned out to be a considered defender, and in our best performance of the day we ran out 2-1 winners.
Our semi-final opponents were Games Wagon. We came out 5-0 winners, although that doesn’t tell the whole story as not only were they playing the entire day in the beating sun with no substitutes but Craig was immense at the back, protecting James as well as if he were Carragher in his heyday.
So on to the final, and for an added twist we had a chance to right some wrongs as we faced Creative Assembly again. We started strong, and in amongst the meaty (but fair) challenges that proved both sides’ commitment, Luis proved clinical and put us 2-0 up.
What followed I don’t really want to dwell on but let me just say that if ever you get 2-0 up in a final, don’t change the way you’re playing. A series of good stops from their keeper kept the score down and after that we subconsciously dropped a little deeper, one hand on the trophy, inviting them on, trying to protect what we had. 2-1… 2-2. And painfully, with 30 seconds left, 2-3.
Ultimately it was a great game, cheered on by the rest of the 14 teams that had taken part, and you have to tip your hat to Creative Assembly for coming back from behind. They were a better team and so we felt no disgrace in our efforts against them.
With over £3000 raised for SpecialEffect and Rare proving once again it can handle itself on the football pitch, there were so many positives we couldn’t let a single scoreline be the focal point. And, at the end of the day, Trophy Thomas walked away with what he set out to get; it just happened to be a different colour to the one he’d intended.
