They say it's a marathon not a sprint and the victorious (and near victorious) players pictured in the rogue's gallery below spent a disproportionate amount of their lives studying form books, league tables and fixture lists. To think that instead they could have had a life. Still, it makes for some lively discusions and wobbly lips in Bradley's as alcohol fuelled crowing, bragging rights and acrimony fill the post match air.

Here's to a sporting competition in 2011/12.