Leci, Bennett, McVeigh, Street, Shaw (Loney), Naidu, Binns, Townsend, Pinz, Steinebrunner, Sejdic.

Judging by the state of the majority of our squad at approximately Midnight on Saturday, as they sat by the pool at the Swiss Club, playing drinking games, spiking each other's beer with vodka and generally behaving like the 8 year-old children of hereditary dipsomaniacs, it was a miracle that the Hotspurs even had a squad for Sunday's game against Nippon.

In the end, we managed to gather together 13 (with thanks to Simon who kitted up and was chomping at the bit at the prospect of savouring his first action of the season) but it was a significant 13, and comprised most of the players who have been as close to ever-present as possible this campaign, and who have seen the club through thick and not quite so thick.

We knew we had to win, and we didn't know what we were going to get from a Nippon side that, on its day, is a match for anyone. The fact that they seemed to have brought at least 2 teams down to SJI probably didn't do our collective hangover-inspired sense of belief too much good.

Fortunately for the Hotspurs, we got off to the best possible start, with Jamie driving in from close range within the first couple of minutes, following excellent work from Esad, and Anis.

Nerves were, at least temporarily, calmed, and on a slightly boggy pitch, we set to the task of securing our third win in 5 days, knowing that it would have been enough to secure 3rd place in the table.

Nippon however, had other plans for us, and started playing some very attractive football - building nicely from the back, switching play with aplomb, and running around a great deal.

Deservedly, they got an equaliser before half-time - a well taken shot from the edge of the box that the Hotspurs keeper was slow to get down to and won't be telling his grandchildren about. He claims he was unsighted/saw it late...and we'll let it go for now, since this particular story does have a happy ending.

The worry was that with a full half still to play, and plenty of alcohol still coursing through the veins of most Hotspurs players, Nippon would come on strong in the second half and snatch away our dream of finishing 3rd.

The writing was on the wall, and before long the ball was in the back of the net - a Nippon striker springing the offside trap and converting the chance with conviction past a partially sighted keeper who saw it late, didn't get down quickly enough, and whose gloves weren't the right colour.

It would have been all to easy at this stage to have given up the ghost, shrugged our shoulders and said "it wasn't to be...this is our third game in 5 days for heaven's sake, we're not robots, etc." 

And that is, of course, when the spirit and character of team comes to the fore, and it's delightful to report that the Hotspurs responded in just the right way.

Anis equalised following a fine cross from Jamie - whose energy levels were directly proportionate to his alcohol intake over the previous 24 hours.

Jorg then smashed in a free-kick to give the Hotspurs the lead, and Ally L provided the coup de grace, slamming home from 12 yards after Esad had done another of his eel impersonations in the box. How Esad managed to retain possession of the ball in such a tight space, surrounded by defenders (and his own team-mates), and still lay on a pass, will remain a mystery, but it's the kind of thing he does...regularly.

Nippon had their chances - hitting the bar once, having a goal disallowed for something or other - and continued to play excellent football in what must have been a very good game to watch.

With legs and minds tiring, Hotspurs defended resolutely and saw the game out for the win. 

3 wins in 5 days for the Hotspurs to end the season tells a story, but not the whole story. In truth, our run-in started in mid-March after defeat to the Casuals. 

Since then, we have won all 8 league games to end the season, and scored 35 goals in the process, and securing 3rd spot on goal difference from Brewerkz proves that nothing less would have been good enough.

There were turning points as well, and games in that run that we could quite easily have lost, but we came from behind with 10 men against the Vikings and got the points; beat the Swiss playing on an impossible pitch and with 10 men for half the game; and then overcame a deficit in the final match of the season to bag the spot we've coveted for much of the season. 

Without getting too emotional, I would like to thank every Hotspur who has made this season so much fun and, ultimately, our best campaign for many years.

You have shown passion, commitment, endeavour and no small amount of skill. We have celebrated as a team; commiserated as a team; got drunk as a team, and even ended up in establishments of dubious propriety as a team, and I, on a personal note, am honoured to have been your gaffer.