The squads have been announced and are as follows:

1st Team: Scott Mortimer, Danny Fitzpatrick, Dave Rolfe, Adrian Kearsey, Mark Ilsley, Nadur Edmunds, Chris Kizlank, Sam Jennings, Andrew Bullett, Andrew Tipper, Dan Newman and their inspirational leader, captain and skipper Tim Sidwell (C)

Rapids: Ian Harvey, Adam Cassidy, Tim Zielinksi, Steve Woodrow, Steve Wood, David Morrison, Dean Williams, Sean 'Chopper' Kenny, Chris Lemm, Tim Morrison, Lee Worth, Paul Towner, Dan Sutton, Rob Maslen and their uninspirational leader Ryan Tipper.

On paper it looks an easy win for the 1st team but blood is thicker than water, we have to take each game as it comes and shut up shop early doors. Baring the Cliches it will be an interesting encounter as a couple of first team regulars have somehow scraped in the rapids squad. Adam 'I have to tackle 6ft off the ground' Cassidy and Tim 'ooh look a throw in' Zielinski have both been 1st team stalwarts this season and both players will be questioning why they aren't the first names on the team sheet. The 1st team will also have to be on the lookout for ex YM skipper Steve Woodrow who has a deadly left foot and a dead right one. Clearly the squads show that the Rapids have the strength in depth with 14 men and Ryan, whereas the 1st team are turning up with the bare 12. Some may even say its a battle of quality over quantity.

Some of the key battles to look out for will be Dan Newman trying his hardest to stay on side - however there is probably a long day in store for the linesman, referee Piere Luigi Lemm trying to keep control of the match and of course the battle of anyone going near Sean K with or without the ball - and that includes all players and officials, crowd, trees and those blokes that play lacrosse outside the clubhouse. Club coach Paul Meakin will also be battling his own personal demons...........on a seperate pitch. I have got a tenner on the demons to nick it in injury time. 1st Team skipper Tim Sidwell and Rapids skipper Ryan Tipper will be facing each other in what proves to be a monster encounter. Both players are going to have to fit in the centre circle and not move as they usually do on a saturday for an entire 90 mins. And on a personal note we are slightly concerned that the 24 pack of Carling may well prove an obstacle for anyone trying to play through us. A single spillage and we burst in to life scything down anyone in our paths including each other. YM's top scorer Drew Tipper is also facing his own battle against the dogs that will come flocking when he shouts for his first ball.

So what else is in store in this end of season family fun day. Well Rob Maslen is bringing some balloons and cake, and the lure of the bouncy castle and face painting may well prove too much for the young YM hitman. Paul Towner is going to providing some pre match entertainment by trying to get in to a pair of shorts, whilst Andy Bullett, Paul Meakin and Tim Zielinski will all be making sure the warm up is completed to full effect, with the rest of the squad cheering them on from the bar.

All joking aside there is a BBQ after the game which kicks off at 11.30am and plenty of beer will be consumed. If you are in search of a feast of long ball football, tough tackling and total carnage then this is where you need to be. Families are welcome and it will be a fitting end of season finale for Reading YMCA football club.

Sidders