Belgium Welcomes All-Stars

For want of a better name, we will refer to it as Project X. I promised not to bring it up again but to give you the background for the weekend, I can't avoid it.

'Project X' was a kind of survival mission. We needed to find a system and players to help us survive after all the departures of 2011. Shane Griffin was like the poster child for this. Raw and somewhat uncontrollable up until then, he made the step from Shield to Championship panel and become a key member of the team.

In late spring he declared he was leaving Brussels and naturally I was none too pleased. He softened the blow by agreeing to lead an inititiative which I had wanted to get moving for a while.

Some day I will sit down and try and write a list of all the players who have togged out with us since 2008. I remember in 2009 alone, that figure was 60+. We must be twice that now, if not more. Very few would say they didn't find playing with the club to be a very enjoyable experience.

This leads to an obvious opportunity which we want to tap into - the idea of an annual fixture, pitting current v past players. For me there are three reasons to do this. The first is to provide us an additional competitive fixture in our calender. The second is to keep the former players close, so we can tap into that pool for fundraising and other such items!! Finally, its a great opportunity to catch up with fellas who made your time in Brussels so enjoyable. Thankfully Griff took the oranisational challenge on.

The past players are travelling with a strong panel, reflecting each of the five years the team has existed. The class of 2008 contributes Micheal O'Flynn, Keith Stephens, Cluxton, Phil Roche, Ollie O'Callaghan and Michael Hough. Ciaran Hudson, Ruairi Duffy, Jonny O'Riordan and Jim McGrath arrived in 2009. 2010 provided Shane Griffin, Brendan Lynch, Andrew Shorten and Ricky Collins. Fergal Ellis had a fleeting visit in 2012. (Apologies if my timing is a little out!).

It is a great cross section of players and they will travel from different parts of Ireland, England, Holland, Germany and Switzerland to play.

We had no big plans for the weekend beyond a match on the Saturday and a session that night. However, a few events will be added now; a casual meeting in The Old Oak on Friday night, the girls will play an in-house game before us on Saturday and there will be the session in the evening. On Sunday, there will be a club BBQ in de Valera's where everyone will gather to watch the All-Ireland final.

The success or failure of the game will depend on Friday night. This weekend's game gives great opportunity for guys to prepare for Copenhagen. We travel there with two teams and a lot of selection decisions to be made. I would expect the current players to practice moderation. The past players discipline will be tested. Currently, they have the best of intentions but I've seen this go wrong many times.

Assuming everyone turns up sober on Saturday, it should be a very competitive game. They travel with 15 players whilst we will have a panel of over 30. The game will be played in four, fifteen minute quarters. Our panel size will  allow us keep things fresh and that should be an advantage in that sense. On the other hand, it could upset the momentum.

The past players travel with a very competitive panel. Jim McGrath and Cluxton are two past players of the year. Michael O'Flynn and Phil Roche were mainstays of the 2008 Championship team. As far as I know, nearly all of them are active sports wise so they should be fit.

The game has generated interest outside the immediate circle of players with many friends of past and current players coming down for a look. Some of the kids club will be in attendence too and the ladies will be about after their game, no doubt to see Ollie O'Callaghan work his magic.

Without much hullabalu, a game has turned into a weekend event, as tends to happen in this club.

I've avoided descending into nostalgia for now. There will be plenty of time for that on Saturday.

For want of a better word, there will be a serious amount of pride at stake at the weekend. Everyone will want to show what they can do and no-one will want to be listening to the oppostion mouthing off on Saturday night.

If there is any concern that it might be a timid affair, I need only point to the 2010 intra club league as well as this year's in-house games and even some training sessions. Lads don't face any dilemmas when contemplating holding back. That should ensure everyone gets what they want out of Saturday.