The Colls First Team squad celebrated being top of the NCEL First Division at Christmas by dressing up as geeks for their Christmas party.

The team – whose Christmas No 1 status was confirmed when Saturday’s big freeze denied their rivals the chance to overheaul them at the top of the league - were in high spirits as they met at the clubhouse to commence festivities. Led by manager Simon Houghton – resplendent in geeky specs and a rather fetching green burberry hat – the team enjoyed their party to the full.

Assistant Manager Darren Smith - a spitting image of “Where’s Wally?” – won the killer pool tournament to kick-start events, celebrating as if the league championship itself had just been secured, taunting his defeated opponents with all the grace of a gloating Jose Mournho. This was followed by a game of “Chase the Ace” which was characterised by some scandalous cheating as the player’s competitive instincts threatened to spill over. Particularly disgraceful was Carl Fothergill, whose impish “butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth” charm apparently masks a ruthless Machiavellian streak. However, his efforts were in vain, as new signing Duncan Bray triumped in the end.  

Despite their unsportsmanlike behaviour at the card table, the team excelled themselves in the fancy dress stakes. With many impressive outfits on display – ranging from Fothergill’s “Esther Rantzen” teeth to Paul Haigh’s magnificent pair of comedy ears – the team were dressed to impress! And, as festivities moved on to Xscape, impress they did. Members of the unsuspecting Pontefract and Castleford public found their jaws dropping at the sight of the team of geeks on parade.

The “Bah Humbug!” spirit was kept alive by Chairman Guy Nottingham, who completely failed to get into the Christmas spirit by dressing normally – by his standards, anyway. So here’s a gratuitous picture of the miserable sod looking like Tinky Winky on Death Row.

With their partying behind them, the team now turn their attention to the serious business of preparing for the match against local rivals Glasshoughton on Monday 27th, as the second half of the season get’s underway with the team perfectly poised to make a serious tilt at the championship.