AFC Bournemouth
Junior Stanislas popped round to the home of Cherries fan Adam Sevenoaks this week for a FIFA rematch.
Adam, who is also a player for AFC Bournemouth Warriors, the club’s powerchair team, had been shielding at home between March and the end of July, and welcomed Stanislas round for a long-awaited recommencement of FIFA action.
Adam spoke to afcb.co.uk on the background of the pair's rivalry: “I was at Julia’s House when the players came in around Christmas, and there was a game between me and Junior against another person and Ryan Fraser.
“We lost that one unfortunately, and then the year after Junior wasn’t there because he was at Poole Hospital.
“I message him quite a lot on my dad’s Instagram, during lockdown I’d message him and say well done if he had a good game, then he asked: ‘Can we have a rematch?’
“I said I was on Xbox but he said he could come over after I was out of shielding, I answered that quite quickly!
“He came over on Thursday, which was quite surreal really. We cleaned my bedroom first, that was mum’s job!”
Thanks you @JuniorStanislas for coming to over for the @EASPORTSFIFA rematch with #Adam today. After shielding since Mid March this is just what he needed. I can report that @JuniorStanislas may need some more practice 😀 @alexdeutsch @kcb49 #afcb pic.twitter.com/InxmOit8Am
— malcolm sevenoaks (@malcolmsevenoa4) August 13, 2020
With the tidy – and, as you can see from the above photos, very red and black – backdrop prepared, the stage was set for the rematch, and across three fixtures it turned into a nail-biting affair.
“In the first game we were both Bournemouth and Stanno won 4-0, I picked him in my team, and he picked himself too,” said Adam of his slow start.
“Then I won the second game 3-1, I was the Soccer Aid team and Stanno was an Argentinian team.
“In the last game it was Manchester United against Chelsea, it was 1-1 but luckily I won 3-2 on penalties. That meant I won two and he won one, so I won!
“He’s already suggested that we have another rematch soon, it’s a friendly rivalry we have now.”
The return of the FIFA battle brought a positive end to a long period of shielding for the 14-year-old, Adam keeping himself busy with plenty of baking as well as building and increasing his Lego Star Wars collection.
Ever-positive Adam spoke of his recent experiences during the pandemic and his hopes to return to Vitality Stadium in the new season.
“Shielding has been a bit difficult and a bit annoying, we’ve been doing it since March and when Stanno said he was coming it was something to look forward to, at some points shielding was a real struggle,” Adam said.
“When we were shielding we weren’t even allowed out for walks. Shielding finished at the end of July so now we can go out a bit more, still being cautious by wearing visas and washing our hands thoroughly.
“I hope we’re able to get back to the stadium soon, it’s my second home. It will be a bit odd, but the atmosphere won’t have changed I think.
“I don’t think being in the Championship will be any different, you support the team that you love and if they go down hopefully most people will still support them.”
